Triple the Love, Triple the Trouble

Chapter 13

Hinata had been confined to her bed for what felt like an eternity, suffocating in the grip of depression. The mere thought of facing anyone or leaving her sanctuary held no appeal. All she yearned for was to curl up in her bed and drift away forever. Sasuke and Naruto, concerned for her well-being, occasionally checked in on her, ensuring she ate and drank. They knew better than to overcrowd her, understanding her need for space. However, the relentless paparazzi, fueled by a recent scandal, had become her unrelenting shadow, relentlessly hounding her day and night. Hinata despised every moment of it. On top of that, Toneri persisted in reaching out, urging her to meet him, but she wanted nothing to do with him. In fact, the mere mention of his name sent a shiver down her spine. Hinata listened to the flood of voicemails people had left for her, each one a reflection of the chaotic aftermath:

"Hey Hinata, have you seen the news? What the hell happened??"

"Polyamorous relationships are pretty self-serving, don't you think? Plus, you knew Sakura had feelings for Sasuke. What kind of friend are you?"

"Go to hell."

"Never speak to me again!"

And finally:

"Hinata, I know it's tough, but you'll make it through. I love you, girl. Chin up and screw everyone else's opinion. I love you!" Ino's voice carried a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

Letting out a deep sigh, Hinata rolled over onto her side, her gaze fixed on the wall as she scowled at it. Why had she ever thought this was a good idea? She loved Sasuke and Naruto equally, but did that make her a terrible person? Was she being selfish? Another heavy sigh escaped her lips, lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts, until the sound of the door opening and Sasuke's frustrated voice snapped her back to reality.

"Get up," he demanded, forcefully ripping the sheets off her and exposing her to the cold air. "We're done with this shit. Get up."

Reluctantly shaking her head, Hinata resisted the idea of leaving the comforting embrace of her bed. However, Sasuke was not about to let her wallow in despair. He scooped her up in his arms, determined to pull her out of her desolate sanctuary.

"Hinata, you need to get your ass out of bed. This isn't healthy," he scolded, his voice filled with both concern and frustration.

Allowing her head to hang in defeat, Hinata acquiesced. Sasuke guided her to the bathroom and turned on the bath, practically depositing her in the tub, still fully clothed. "Just leave me alone," she muttered, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions.

But Sasuke refused to back down. He cupped her face gently between his hands, his eyes softening as they locked onto hers. "Hinata, you know I love you, right? It kills me to see you like this," he confessed, placing a tender kiss on her lips.

Sasuke proceeded to undress and joined her in the bath, offering to wash her. Hinata leaned against him, feeling the weight of her defeat. "I just don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Everyone is calling me a whore for loving two men." Sasuke chuckled softly as he picked up the shampoo, his fingers massaging it into her hair. "Babe, forget what they think," he reassured her. "The only opinions that matter are ours—yours, mine, and Naruto's. Don't let anyone else's judgment cloud your heart." Hinata turned to him, locking her white eyes with his black ones. "I love you, Sasuke. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Interrupting the intimate moment, Naruto cleared his throat, leaning against the bathroom door. "And what about me, huh?" he chimed in with a grin. "I love you too, Naruto," Hinata replied, relieved to see him. Naruto approached them, settling on the toilet seat. "Glad to see you out of bed," he teased, propping his head against his hand. Sasuke couldn't help but interject, annoyance lacing his voice, "I practically had to throw her in here." Naruto burst into laughter, the sound filling the room. Hinata managed a small smile, realizing just how much she had missed these moments.

"I miss this," she whispered softly, closing her eyes and allowing herself to sink deeper into the warm water. "Just the three of us, no drama or scandals."

"Yeah," Naruto agreed, his voice filled with warmth. "We'll get back to that soon. But first, we need to weather this storm."

Sasuke nodded in agreement, his fingers gently massaging Hinata's scalp. "We'll get through this, together."

Hinata leaned back, savoring the weight of their words. They were right. They were in this together, and they had to face it as a united front. "Thank you," she whispered, tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.

"Always," Sasuke whispered back, sealing his promise with a tender kiss on her head.

Naruto smiled at them, his contentment radiating. "You two are so mushy. I'm gonna go make us some ramen," he declared, stretching his limbs as he left the bathroom.

While Sasuke continued to wash her hair, his fingers gently running through her strands, he spoke softly. "You know we love you, right?" his voice low and filled with sincerity.

Hinata nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I know," she replied, her smile now more genuine.

For that brief moment, they forgot about the outside world and reveled in the comfort of being together—just the three of them.

Everything changed for Hinata with a sudden knock on the door. Naruto answered it, and Toneri's voice reached her ears. "Toneri? What are you doing here?" Naruto questioned. "I could ask you the same. I see you and... what's his name, Sausage, are still together with my fiancée," Toneri sneered. Sasuke growled, swiftly wrapping Hinata in a towel and assisting her out of the bath before storming out of the room, bringing her along. Toneri followed them, his gaze fixated on Hinata.

"What do you want?" Sasuke spat, glaring at Toneri. "Ah, it's Sausage and my fiancée emerging from the bathroom together. How lovely!" Toneri remarked with a smirk, prompting Hinata to roll her eyes. Sasuke, however, didn't find it amusing. "And so what if we did?" he retorted, smirking back at Toneri.

"May I speak to Hinata alone?" Toneri requested, trying to catch a glimpse of her around Naruto. "We are her partners, so maybe we should be present too," Naruto interjected. "Were her partners. This ends today," Toneri replied. "Like hell it will," Naruto shot back.

"Sadly, you have no say in the matter, Mr. Uzumaki," Toneri taunted with a smirk. "You guys are not marrying her. I am. I have a say, and I say this ends now," Sasuke growled, stepping closer to Toneri with Naruto at his side.

"Now, now, boys. I wouldn't do anything rash. It wouldn't look good for any of your companies, and I'm sure Hinata's father will sever his partnership. You wouldn't want that, would you?" Toneri threatened.

"I don't want to marry you," Hinata finally spoke up. "I will not marry you, nor do I ever wish to be associated with you."

"Oh, but you will. Do you want to know why? I have someone in my possession whom I think you wouldn't want to see hurt," Toneri said with a smirk, taking out his phone and showing Hinata a picture. She gasped. "H-Hanabi!"