Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
I intended this to be a NaruHina one-shot, but I suddenly got some ideas to take it just a little further. I'll keep it going just for a while, but I don't intend to make it larger than four chapters. Now that it's December, and Christmas is getting close quickly, I decided to start with this "first chapter". I know that the subject might be quite repetitive, but I wanted to give it a try. So, enjoy, and please review. (For those who might want to continue reading my larger story, it will be updated quite soon)
A Christmas to Start Over.
The day: December 23th. The Hidden Leaf Village was preparing itself for the Christmas celebration, and every single villager was doing its best to receive the holidays in good mood…
All but one…
Hinata Hyuuga walked down the streets of the village, wondering what she would give her special someone for Christmas. She was watching the snowflakes pour down from the skies, and, as she found the chance of being alone, he activated her bloodline trait. The Byakugan allowed her to see the snowflakes in its most detailed way, and she just marveled with the sight she had. Noticing that people would be seeing her soon, she deactivated the Byakugan and kept walking.
She still thought of the last Christmas, and of her 19th birthday last year. The person she loves most had surprised her with a beautiful present for each of those days, making of her the happiest shy girl of the Hidden Leaf. She wouldn't ever take off the necklace he gave her the last Christmas: a small silver necklace with the symbol of the Hyuuga Clan made in lapis and sapphire; and she would play alone everyday at her room with the plush she got from him on her 19th birthday: a funny plush fox with nine tails, blue eyes and a grin in its face that she loved to see. Actually, she still used to sleep with this plush, and sometimes she even kissed its foxy grin, dreaming to do so when she saw the original owner of that grin she loved so much.
But now, she seems to not be able to find him anywhere, and she desperately wants to return the favor to him.
She walked towards the center of the village, finding the building where he lived. She saw him in the small balcony of his apartment, sitting in the security fence, alone. She hid a little to see him, and then she noticed that he was crying, as he watched the sun slowly getting close to the west. Why should Naruto-kun be crying, during these times of joy?
She decided to gather up courage and walk to his apartment. The problem is, she had lavender eyes following her, and these eyes seemed to be really upset.
Naruto Uzumaki was thinking on his balcony, quite sad. This was the day when he would be lonelier than ever; everyone would stay with their own families, and they will give and receive presents. He tried once to give presents to a few people, and the result was the same every year: he saw how his presents were just discarded, or broken. The last year he tried to do so with the girl he liked most, and he almost got a beating from her family.
On the other side, the few presents he would be receiving during these "times of joy", which didn't ever seem to bring any joy to him, were brought by people who just felt pity for him. He was the strongest ninja in the whole damn Hidden Leaf, an uprising Taijutsu fighter, a marvelous Ninjutsu user, a talented and unpredictable strategist, a sealing master and a ninja that had reached and passed his deceased father: Minato Namikaze, the beloved 4th Hokage; but still, at his age of twenty years he still felt the despise of those he protected, and the pity of many of those he would acquaint with.
Hinata Hyuuga stared at the door, still thinking about what to say to him, or how to react when she saw his wild blue eyes. She even blushed before she tried to knock the door. Finally, after breathing deeply, she gathered enough courage to knock the door.
Naruto heard the knocks on his door, jumping out of his line of thoughts. He noticed the snow, and he thought that it was some of those people who felt sorry for him and tried to make his Christmas happy, not exactly succeeding at all. He got inside his apartment slowly and reached the door, cleaning his tears with his jacket's sleeve. He found Hinata at the other side of the door and smiled:
- Ehm, hi, Hinata-chan.
Hinata blushed like mad when seeing his sad smile, and stuttered:
- U-um, h-h-hi, N-Naruto-k-k-kun!
Damn it! Hinata, calm down! You can do it! Naruto saw the Hyuuga heiress blush again and he just couldn't avoid a small chuckle. He realized, after so much time, that her blushing was not a fever, and he also had dedicated himself to study her, as he started to like her since the last year. He just said:
- What brings you to my humble place, princess?
Hinata's blush turned crimson:
- I-I-I… um, I-I just w-wanted to ch-ch-check out o-on you, N-Naruto-kun. It's j-just… I-I saw you c-crying, and I w-w-wanted to…
Naruto realized she was just trying to not faint with all of her willpower, and just replied:
- If you want to come in, Hinata-chan, remember that this is your house too. And I mean it.
Hinata smiled, thankful for Naruto's words, as she could gather some more willpower and catch some air. She entered and saw the poor decorations he had done by himself, and she noticed his growing sadness. She took a breath and said:
- W-why is it that you end up being so… sad, Naruto-kun?
Naruto was a bit shocked at the question, but he just moved to the small Christmas tree he put beside the window. Hinata saw his bitter look and asked:
- Um, I-I was just wondering, Naruto-kun, w-what would be a… a nice gift for you…
She's asking me that…Naruto tried to talk, but Hinata had continued:
- It's… it's just that, that I really loved the gift you gave me l-last Christmas, and I've been longing to r-return the gesture to you…
Naruto Realized she was wearing the necklace, and a small smile formed in his lips. Hinata noticed it, and she smiled too, in a sweet gesture. Naruto just said:
- I'm really glad you liked it… I guess the beating I got from your family was worth it, after all.
Hinata was shocked, and she just asked, stuttering again:
- D-d-did m-m-m-my f-family h-hurt you, Na-Naruto-kun??
Naruto noticed the tear coming out of her left eye, and then he said:
- It doesn't matter anymore, I'm glad you liked it, princess Hinata…
Hinata hugged Naruto, and he said, returning the gesture gently:
- Anyways, I guess no one can actually give me the Christmas gift I've been longing for so much time… not without getting into trouble…
Hinata listened, still hugged to Naruto and blushed:
- Only Granny Tsunade had done this for me, but she's in coma since almost four years ago, and now no one can give me the Christmas gift I really desire… company…
Hinata heard those words, and she shed tears, hugging him stronger. She didn't like to see Naruto so weak, and now she wanted to free him from his overcoming sadness, the same way he freed her from her overcoming fears in her childhood. But now, she had to go home, and also she had to live her own depressing Christmas with an ungrateful family. She whispered:
- I'm so s-sorry, Naruto-kun… I-I just hope I could ch-change that some day…
And, with those words, Hinata left Naruto's apartment, with tears in her eyes. Naruto was shocked, but he then turned sad again. Hinata-chan is living so sadly, I just cannot stand that… but I can do nothing…
Hinata rushed to the Hyuuga compound, as it was the dusk hour. She passed through the guards and passed through the halls, quickly arriving to her room. She hugged her plush Kyuubi, as she already knew about Naruto's prisoner, and she really didn't care, until she heard how his door was fiercely open, forcing her to hide the plush:
- Hinata Hyuuga!
Hinata turned to see the owner of the angry voice, and got up to try and face him. She knew it was him, and it hurt her to know it:
- Y-yes, F-Father?
No answer came from his lips, only a hand-back slap that hit her right cheek, and then a palm hit in her stomach. Hiashi's scream of rage said:
- I warned you not to get close to that demon again, but you wouldn't listen!
Another slap, this time with his palm, reached Hinata's left cheek, and a foot would reach her left side of the ribcage. Hinata kept crying in the floor, once more beaten by her own father. He grabbed her neck, slightly strangling her, and said, with threatening voice;
- No matter how much you grow up, you'll always be the failure of this family, and I won't tolerate it any longer…
Hiashi slapped Hinata again, releasing her in her bed, as he closed the door fiercely, leaving the room. Hinata cried the whole night, and wasn't able to sleep, or at least, she didn't want to.
December 24th. Naruto Uzumaki walks through the streets of the Hidden Leaf, as the dusk hour arrived, and suddenly, he sees a weird image on the Hokage's building. He sees Tsunade Senju, beside the Seventh Hokage: Hatake Kakashi, receiving the Hokage robes from him. Well, Granny Tsunade seems to have recovered, that's a good thing.
After walking in circles around the village, he saw many people who still stared at him with anger, others who saw him with pity, and others with indifference. Resigned, he sighed, returning to his apartment.
In the Hyuuga compound, Hiashi Hyuuga was reunited with the elders of the Clan, discussing about Hinata's fate. Meanwhile, Hinata was crying, hoping that one day she would end up with no more tears to cry, but then she felt her resolve come up as she heard a familiar voice:
- Hinata-chan… sister…
- Hanabi-chan? What's wrong?
- You don't like it in here, do you?
Hinata saw her 15-year-old sister Hanabi with tears in her eyes. Hanabi got close and said:
- Father is talking to the Elders to decide your fate. They want you to marry some old bastard of the Branch Family.
Hinata's world crumbled at these words. How can this family be so cruel? Hanabi just said:
- But I know who you're willing to give yourself to, and I want you to be able to do so.
Hanabi drew the plush Kyuubi out from under her sister's bed and said:
- And I know he loves you too.
Hinata nodded, seeing how her sister grinned evilly:
- What are you…?
- I've seen you suffer so much, and mostly because of me. I will certainly miss you a lot, Hinata-chan, but if you need to get out of this place and never come back to be happy, then I shall grant you your way out of this hell.
Hinata smiled, all of a sudden, and Hanabi said:
- Pack all of your stuff, seal it all in some scrolls, and go to Naruto's home. He will surely appreciate you to spend your life with him.
Hinata hugged her sister and started packing. She sealed everything in scrolls, just like Naruto taught her how to do it, and Hanabi opened the door, checking on the corridors. She said, when seeing Hinata pack her plush Kyuubi at last:
- Neji is already entertaining the council and Father, so, let's go.
Hanabi led Hinata outside the house, and, in the moment they were reaching the exit of the Hyuuga compound, a furious voice, matching a mad face in Hiashi, was heard, as he was running towards them. Hanabi stood in the Hyuuga stance, yelling:
- Run, Hinata-chan! Neji and I will handle this!
Hiashi started attacking Hanabi, as she put up a good fight to avoid him from reaching Hinata. Neji ran to the place of the fight and joined a tired Hanabi, willing to stop Hiashi from his rage attack. After the fight reached a null point, Hiashi just asked:
- Why have you all betrayed the Clan? Hanabi! Neji!
Neji answered:
- Because you're not doing the best for the Clan, but for your own interests.
Hiashi enraged, but Hanabi's answer was just enough to make Hiashi stop in shock:
- You have now the strong heiress you wanted to have, and as such I command you, father, to allow Hinata Hyuuga live her life in peace.
Hiashi turned his lavender eyes to his younger sister, and noticed the seriousness in her expression. Hiashi smirked, realizing the truth on her words, and admiring her firm stance, and just said:
- You're right, Hanabi. This Clan will be a lot better without that failure. I'll let her live, as long as she doesn't even dare to get close to this place again.
Hanabi and Neji smiled, happy for Hinata's final freedom.
Hinata, all the while, ran without looking back.
Naruto, at his apartment, looked at the starry sky, like waiting for something to happen. He shed tears, as he knew that the Christmas was getting closer, and that no once would come to him, no matter how much he wished for it. I guess that Father would've never expected me to live like this, and I don't blame him; but it still hurts…
All of a sudden, he heard a desperate knock on his door, waking up from his thoughts again. He ran to open the door and got completely surprised after seeing who expected on the other side:
- Hinata-chan??
Hinata was staring at him, sad, but hopeful, hugging her plush Kyuubi as she cried, blushed. Naruto noticed the dark bruises in both her cheeks and neck, and also noticed she had snow on her hair and shoulders. He got close to her and put a gentle hand on her cheek, listening to her shy question:
- N-Naruto-kun… - Hinata turned away, still in pain, but she didn't want to ruin it: - M-may I…?
Naruto noticed she carried her backpack full, and realized she had run away from her home. Is she willingly coming here? He asked:
- You want to stay here, Hinata-chan?
- Y-yes! I've got n-nowhere else to go, and I-I don't want to go back home!
Hinata left the plush fall to the ground, and started hugging the real Naruto, still in pain, but blushing slightly. Naruto realized that his prayers could have been heard, after all these years, and said, whispering:
- Hinata-chan, I'd be honored to share my house with the most beautiful woman in the whole Hidden Leaf. Welcome home.
Hinata smiled and jumped to kiss Naruto's lips. Naruto stared in awe, eyes wide open, but then he decided to sink his hand in her hair and deepen the tender kiss. Hinata hugged him and kissed him as if there was no tomorrow; and Naruto let her enter the place. Hinata, breaking the kiss to catch some air, replied, still sobbing in joy:
- Thank you so much, N-Naruto-kun! I-I love you so much! Since the first day I met you! I'll m-make sure you won't r-regret it!
Naruto, staring at the mystical lavender eyes, recognized the truth in her words, because he also felt the same for her:
- I love you too, Hinata-chan… I'm so glad to see you happy after all you've been put through, and I want to do all what I can, and even more, for you to be happy.
Hinata said, hiding her face in his neck:
- This is the best gift I've ever got for Christmas, Naruto-kun: your kisses and your love…
Naruto kissed her forehead, whispering:
- I'm so happy now, Hinata-chan! You fulfilled your promise, and changed my Christmas; and my whole life!
Hinata glanced to his teary blue eyes, and kissed his lips again:
- Merry Christmas, Naruto-kun…
- Merry Christmas, Hinata-chan…
In that moment, the door was knocked. Naruto got surprised, so as Hinata, and both went to the door. Hinata was scared, and Naruto was upset, but when he opened the door, both youngsters smiled in relief:
- Granny Tsunade! You came!
- Um, merry Christmas, Lady Tsunade!
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, had expected many things as she returned to the position, after four years of being in coma, but this was completely unexpected. Well, Kakashi said it himself: he's the most unpredictable ninja of them all. She smiled, relaxed, and relieved, and said:
- Merry Christmas, Hinata, Naruto. May I come in?
- Sure!
Tsunade came in, bringing some prepared food in a paper bag. As the group joined the table to eat, Tsunade asked:
- Hinata-chan, I see you've decided to celebrate your Christmas with Naruto. What happened?
Naruto saw Tsunade, kind of concerned, and she noticed it. Hinata answered, lowering her sight:
- I won't go back to the Hyuuga compound ever, l-lady Tsunade…
Tsunade smiled to her:
- You did the best you could have ever done, Hinata-chan, – She turned to Naruto: - and I see you've got a good place to stay. – Realizing how both blushed, she said: - Actually, I'm quite sure this is the best place for a couple like you, kids. A place where the "village's misfits" can live a happy life and become stronger everyday.
In that moment, Tsunade noticed Hinata's bruises, and realized that Hiashi beat her mercilessly, once again. She made her Medical Ninjutsu hand signs, and her hands glowed in green chakra. As she healed Hinata's wounds, she said:
- Even so, I'm just so sad that you've had to endure things like this from your own father, Hinata-chan. You'll surely be safer with Naruto here.
Tsunade smiled kindly, while Naruto caressed her left hand's fingers playfully, to make her forget those terrible things. As Tsunade finished, Naruto kissed Hinata's hand tenderly, almost making her faint. Hinata smiled, and with a great effort of willpower to stand on her feet, she kneeled, picking the plush Kyuubi from the ground and hugging it again. Naruto smiled to her with tenderness, and said:
- I guess that this place will have more light with Hinata-chan living here!
Hinata blushed to a deep red tone, but she was smiling and giggling. Naruto was delighted with her giggle's sound, and Tsunade smiled happily. Tsunade said:
- Well, I guess I finish here and start my paperwork, so I can make sure that Hinata's mission payments in the future, and the New Year's bonus come directly to her hands, and not to her father's. By the way, I've got something for you.
Naruto saw Tsunade draw a small book out of the paper bag. She said, grinning:
- Now that you two will live together, I guess it's time for Naruto to stop eating ramen. This will help you.
Naruto and Hinata stared in awe at the book Tsunade handed to them:
- A cookbook!
Tsunade smiled:
- Now that you'll live together, you'll have to make better grocery shopping, and with Hinata's natural cooking talent, I'm pretty sure you'll abandon the ramen in favor of her cook. Here are all the recipes for the most common and delicious appetizers, meals and desserts in the Five Great Nations. So, enjoy yourselves.
Naruto and Hinata hugged the busty Hokage, and she let a tear fall off her eyes. She said:
- Also, you've got, just for tomorrow, this coupon. Buy all the groceries you need with it, in the central market.
Hinata received the coupon, and Tsunade said:
- Very well, kids, thank you for receiving me into your home, I'll go back to my own. Merry Christmas!
Tsunade left, kissing Naruto and Hinata in their foreheads before leaving. Naruto looked at Hinata, who was just amazed, and closed the door, jumping to kiss her lips passionately, and it quickly turned into a make-out session that would have inspired Jiraiya for one of his pervert novels. Then, they would lock themselves in his room... I mean, their room.
December 25th. It was close to the noon when Hinata and Naruto woke up. They were together on his bed, naked, and covered by the blanket. Hinata laid her head on Naruto's chest, playing with her fingers around his belly, and tickling him a little. Naruto was caressing her indigo hair, and playing with his fingers around her face. Naruto said:
- Good morning, Hinata-chan…
- Good morning, Naruto-kun…
Both were blushed, and Naruto joked:
- We must have a real fever, Hinata-chan! We're just as red as a tomato!
Hinata giggled, and Naruto brought her over his body. He smiled at her, saying:
- I love the way you laugh, Hinata-chan, you knew that?
Hinata put her hands on his chest, staring at his playful blue eyes while she felt his warm body touching hers:
- I always dreamed of this moment, Naruto-kun… and now that I'm living it, I still… I-I still can't believe it…
Naruto ran his fingers softly through her spine, making her shiver and giggle:
- If you want me to be sincere, I did so too… and I just loved it… almost as much as I love you, my princess Hinata…
Hinata said, a bit melancholic:
- But, I'm no longer the heiress of my Clan…
Naruto pressed his forehead gently onto hers, whispering:
- But you're still my princess, Hinata-chan, and I'd rather make a kingdom for the two of us than stop calling you my princess.
Hinata almost let a tear fall from her eyes, but he claimed her lips with his, and another long kiss made Hinata reach the heavens.
Later, that afternoon, they were together in the central market, filling a cart with lots of groceries: milk, bread, cheese, carrots, onions, fish, meat, chicken, pork, lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, fruit juice, some spices, cinnamon, sugar, salt, flour, different kinds of fruits, some sweets, rice and some random vegetables. The people looked at them with weird looks, but neither Naruto nor Hinata cared about it at all. They had each other, and nothing else mattered to them.
December 27th. Kiba and Shino were walking through the whole village. Kiba said, quite angry:
- What was that with Lord Hyuuga?
Shino replied, quite calm:
- It seems that he was quite proud to say that Hinata didn't live there at all. Also, he told us to look for her in the demon's haven.
- Yeah, what the hell is that supposed to mean at all?!
A voice behind them said, quite cool:
- She's living with Naruto now. And they seem to be really happy together.
Kiba turned to see the person behind them. Shino just said:
- You come to her birthday meeting too, Neji?
- Sure. I'm not like my father, and also I want to see how she's doing now.
Kiba said:
- Well then, to Naruto's house then.
The trio ran, reaching Naruto's building. When they arrived to his apartment, they saw the couple in the kitchen, having fun while waiting for a cake to be ready. Kiba just laughed, as Akamaru barked playfully. Neji grinned, a bit surprised:
- Now you cook, Naruto?
- With Hinata-chan, it all becomes easier, Neji! Come in, guys!
The trio entered the room, still surprised with Hinata's carefree attitude towards Naruto, and towards them all. Kiba smiled, and Shino just said:
- Well, I don't know if you'll ever match your Clan parties ever, Hinata, but I see you're living the happiest of all your birthdays.
- Sure I am, Shino-kun!
Naruto hugged Hinata, who was showing a pink blush, like he was, and he said:
- You want to stay for the cake? It will be fun!
The trio nodded, smiling happily. The intimate group joined the house, chatting and telling stories, and, for the time the cake was ready, they all got stunned to see a perfect design of Hinata kissing Naruto in the forest. Akamaru barked, and Kiba said:
- This will surely be delicious!
The group ate the cake, kept joking and chatting, and later they all left.
Janaury 1st. Naruto and Hinata were at the Hokage's office. Tsunade was reading some papers, until Naruto cleared his throat, and the distracted Hokage turned to them:
- Oh! I'm sorry, kids! I didn't know you were there!
Hinata giggled, and Naruto asked:
- What did you call us for, granny?
Tsunade smirked and teased:
- Well, punk, it's just that I'm ready to give some papers to Hinata. I actually don't remember calling you at all.
Naruto was about to set out in rage when Hinata took the word:
- What are those papers, lady Hokage?
- These are your release papers, Hinata. The Hyuuga Clan was quite happy to sign this form I've made, and they actually don't want to know anything about you.
Hinata's smile was quite huge, and Naruto liked to see it. Tsunade read the terms of agreement, and said:
- Do you agree with this?
- I do, Lady Hokage!
- Then, sign the papers, and you're free.
Hinata signed the papers and ran back to Naruto, hugging him with renewed happiness. Naruto kissed her forehead tenderly, and Tsunade said:
- Well, kids, you may start your lives over from now on. Good luck, and don't let this chance be wasted by anything, or anyone. Happy new Years.
Naruto bowed, so as Hinata, and then they left, handheld, to walk happily through the village's streets. Their new life had just started now, and no one would ever tear them apart.
Fin.