Note: I don't own Naruto, any of it's characters, or original story lines. Any similarities to any other stories published on the internet is unintentional, and purely coincidental.
ABOUT THIS STORY
I started writing this back about a year ago, just for myself. But, I figured later on, why not put it out there? So here it is. It really isn't meant to impress, I'm just curious if anyone else would like it or not. I don't do technical battles well, am not trying to stick to canon, and want this to be seen as just a story for fun for die-hard fans of NaruHina. If you have a problem with the tech stuff in this story, please try to give me a break. Jutsu is cool, for sure, but this is a shojo-type story, and has more of an emotional/psychological/spiritual theme to it than anything. Just be aware of my intentions before you review! There will be detailed LEMONS present. Please be aware that I am an older adult writing adult-themed stories. If you are a kid that isn't legally old enough to be reading such things, then don't go any further.
Also, this is set after what I think will be the ending of the manga/anime. I'm not going to ever get specific about what I think happens, or who lives or dies by the time of Kishimoto's ending. In my version here, though, Naruto isn't Hokage after all is said and done.
1.
Naruto stood at the side of the ship, watching the seagull that had been following along since they left the port at the Land of Waves. The sky was brilliant blue that early morning, but it did nothing to lift his spirit. At 18 years old, Naruto felt like a weary old man. Physically, he was as fit as a human could be, but mentally, he felt like he had lived too long already. So much had happened, so many tragedies, so many lives lost. People he cared about, gone forever. The recent events in his life took its toll on the Shinobi world, and so much had changed.
This job his makeshift team was on, seemed like a real "job". Tedious, boring, without much satisfaction. But, he felt, at least the destruction, the death, the uncertainty of the future was over. For now, he supposed. He turned to the sound of Kiba getting sick off the side of the boat. Again. Akamaru whined at his side, patiently waiting for his partner to lean back from the rail. Funny, Naruto thought, the sea is relatively calm today. Poor Kiba just wasn't cut out for the open ocean.
"Make sure you drink a lot of water, Kiba," Naruto warned. "You don't want to get dehydrated on top of everything else."
"Yeah, I know," Kiba replied shakily. "The stale water they carry on this tub is so nasty, though, I have trouble even keeping that down."
"I hear you," Naruto laughed. "The food and drink they push on us here makes gross look good!" Naruto wanted to try to cheer Kiba up, as he knew how miserable he was. There were at least 4 days left until they reached port. Hopefully Kiba would find his sea legs soon and feel better. Things didn't look good, though.
"I'm going to go back and lay down on that lifeboat again, and see if I can't get some sleep," Kiba announced. "C'mon, Akamaru." Akamaru walked slowly beside Kiba, letting his partner lean on him for support as they made their way to the other side of the ship where the lifeboat was kept. I'll have to check on him later, Naruto reminded himself.
Dissatisfied with looking at the endless ocean and feeling completely depressed, Naruto decided to take a walk around the ship. They were on a basic, dull, cargo ship with the uninspired name of Sea Lady. The mission was to guard trade cargo that the Land of Fire was sending to the far-off island nations to the southeast. It was important in its own way for the village, and Naruto tried to remember that. But, he was bored. As commander of the team, he only needed to see that the goods were traded, the papers were all signed, and the new cargo from the islands arrived safely back in Konoha, where it would be distributed among the other villages in the Land of Fire. It seemed so ordinary, as there weren't even pirates in the areas they were travelling any more. He didn't know if he could get used to such mundane missions.
As he turned the corner, he caught sight of someone sitting in the center of a large coil of mooring rope, reading a thick, worn paperback book and humming to herself. It was Hinata Hyuuga, beauty and grace personified as far as Naruto was concerned. She was sitting so the breeze would blow her hair behind her, instead of in her eyes. It swirled around the back of her head like India ink in water, and the vision made him stop cold in his tracks. Her pale lavender eyes scanned words in the book dutifully, but he couldn't help but think she had realized he was there. Things were awkward between them since she declared her love to him as she put herself between him and Pein that fateful day. He was really confused as to what to do about Hinata. She had loved him all this time and he barely was aware of her before she spouted out her feelings in the middle of a dangerous battle. Sure, she was the definition of beauty, and she was so sweet and caring. But he felt like she was definitely too good for someone like him. And so he had avoided her as much as possible, admiring her from afar, not letting anyone know what had happened between them.
Ah, she's noticed me, he realized. I'd better at least be nice and greet her. I wish I wasn't such a dork when it came to these things. She probably thinks I'm a stuck-up jerk because I never talk to her. I just don't know what to say that won't make me sound like a complete idiot. Well, here goes….
"Good morning, Hinata!" He tried desperately to look relaxed and waved slightly. "Good book?"
"Oh, h-hi, Naruto," Hinata half whispered. Her gaze fell on his chest, as she just couldn't bring herself to look in his eyes. She pushed the sadness in her heart away for a moment so she could appear nonchalant. "Y-yes, the book is ok. I've read it several times, already. But, it's one of m-my favorites. I….I didn't have time to buy a new one before we, you know, had to leave." Ugh, like he cares! She sighed to herself. He looked like he was going throw up when he found out I was assigned to this mission. I wish I would have never told him a thing about my feelings for him. He's acted like I have a disease ever since. It's been so long since I've told him, I guess he'll never want me to be the one to love him. She smiled wanly, and turned back to the page in her book. "Have…a-a nice walk."
"Oh, uh…..sure", he said in a small voice. "See you later, I guess." And he strode off as fast as he could without looking panicked. Aaah, she hates me now, I can see it. I'm too late to fix things. She's probably got tired of waiting and moved on. She's only being as nice as she is because of the mission and we have to work together. Dammit, I'm such a loser. This sucks! His throat tightened and he walked slower along the ship, feeling even more morose than before.
