This IS a partial AU. So they rarely use the
Chakra in their body… so DON'T murder me!!
This is greatly appreciated…
Soft, buttery, golden rays of early morning sunlight filtered threw the blinds of the main bedroom onto two perfectly serene figures. Their breathing even and deep, it was obvious that they were asleep.
Hinata came into wakefulness slowly, as she always did. Her vision a blurry mess of gold skin, she waited patiently for it to clear and found that she was nosing the jugular of a person. Her body was pressed tightly under that of another, a leg fit snugly between hers, and her hands contoured to the chest of her unknown bed mate, the unknown person's arm around her waist. As Hinata was not accustomed to waking with a partner that she did not remember going to bed with, she yelped in shock and tried, in vain, to extract herself out of this persons hold.
Naruto came awake to a obviously distressed female trying to escape his hold. He released the struggling body and watched as she hit the floor with a soft thud.
Hinata crab-walked/scurried away from the bed-raider until she was the safe distance of her bedroom away from the culprit, she risked a glance at him. Her eyes rested on a bewildered and slightly guilty looking gold god that kneelt on her bed. In the shirt and trousers that she had bought for him only a day earlier, Naruto's chin now rested on his chest, his hands resting on his upper thighs, waiting for something.
Hinata looked at herself, then at the ex-pleasure slave, and then back to herself in her position, she let loose a giggle. That giggle soon turned into a laugh, a heart felt laugh that had Naruto looking at with a expression of embarrassment and guilt.
When Hinata finally sobered, Naruto chanced a peek at the woman sprawled out on the floor. "Mistress, forgive me, but what is so laughable?" he whispered.
Hinata stared at him momentarily, her cheeks slightly pink. "It was just so funny. The way I reacted and the expression on your face at the moment. Oh, I'm sorry… It should not be funny." Hinata picked herself off the floor and looked down at the clothes that she had worn yesterday. "How did I… Did you…?" the question was accompanied with random points of Hinata's finger toward the bedroom and living room.
"I carried you. You fell asleep on your sofa, and I… thought you would be uncomfortable there so I brought you into your bedroom." Naruto told the comforter on her bed. The comment, spoken so soft and quiet, hit Hinata straight in the heartstrings.
Hinata padded over to the male that sat on her down blankets, still as if waiting for something. "Thank you, Naruto." she whispered, looking at him with a tender heart.
She exited the room then came back when she realized she was alone. Sticking her head in the door jam, she looked at Naruto, who still held his position on her bed. "Naruto, what are you waiting for?" she said moving to stand full in the threshold.
"Mistress, I am waiting for whatever punishment you have for me…" he replied in a small puzzled voice, as if she should have bestowed the horrid abuse the instant she found him beside her.
"Punishment?" came Hinata's startled voice from beyond Naruto's line of vision. "Why would I punish you?" she said.
"Because…" Naruto's voice trailed off. He did not know why he had to be punished, he just knew he had to be.
He remembered a time when something similar to this had happened.
He had stayed with an owner over night, and her husband had come home the next morning. Caught in the act, the harlot-wife had accused him of raping her.
Despite his protest of innocence, her husband had taken him to the center of the encampment, strung him up and beat him relentlessly. Only when the man's arm had given out did he stop, but then husband had invited more men to take turns abusing him. All the time, Naruto said nothing, knowing no one would believe the one known as the bandit whore.
Naruto felt a shudder run down his spine at the memory. Not looking at the woman that ambled over to him, the bed sinking as her slight weight pressed into it. The next thing he felt were delicate hands enfolding his face, fingers pulling his head toward the little woman, until he looked at her.
"Naruto, you have done nothing wrong. You do not deserve any form of punishment. Come, help me fix breakfast." Hinata gave a tug on a hand he had not known she had taken possession of. Pulling him off the bed and toward the kitchen.
After taking turns changing, Hinata and Naruto, each clad in fresh clothes, went about making breakfast. As the two shifted through the kitchen for the necessary ingredients for what the were preparing, Hinata turned from the refrigerator and straight into Naruto's broad chest. Strong hands encased her upper arms and pulled her from his sternum.
Hinata was cross eyed from trying to look at her nose then murmured "Am I bleeding?". Naruto looked startled then dumbstruck then laughed. And laughed. Hinata took offence to this.
"Well, its not my fault! Its like running into a brick wall!" This only made Naruto laugh harder. When he sobered, he wiped away the tears of mirth, and leaned forward to inspect her injured nose.
They finished breakfast without anymore altercations. As they ate, Naruto piped up with "Mistress, your nose is quite red." Hinata, once again, went cross eyed to consult her nose. Then she looked at Naruto inquiring a silent question. "Naruto, you do not have to call me mistress. It makes me feel… monstrous. Unfeeling. Just Hinata will be all right." Naruto looked up from his plate and gazed at her in amazement.
"As you wish, Mis—… Hinata." he said, with a smile.
Hinata grinned at his smile. "Naruto, please, you must understand. I will not order you to do something that is uncomfortable or demeaning. " He and Hinata got up to wash the breakfast dishes. While they washed the soiled dishes, they talked about whatever came to mind until Hinata questioned his life before her. His eyes clouded with pain and humiliation and she wished she had not asked. He told her of abuse, hunger, and otherwise belittling tasks and Hinata then knew the true meaning of a monster. Naruto finished his tale with a pained breath and seeing this pain in his ridged stance, his hands gripping the side of the sink with crippling strength, Hinata pulled his head down and waited for his eyes to open.
When they did, she pushed his spun gold hair out of his eyes so he could see her clearly. "Naruto," she spoke clear and calm regardless of the fury that was ignited on his behalf, "I will never, never treat you that way, you are human and do not deserve such horrible treatment." Naruto released the pent up breath the was caught in his lungs. He then lowered his head to the scoop of her shoulder and just stood there. Hinata linked her arms around his waist and just held him, giving him comfort the only way she could.
They stood there for the longest time but a knock on the door forced them apart. Hinata chuckled and went to see who was there, while Naruto began to put the dishes that had dried up in the cabinet.
Hinata answered the door and found the greenest landscape she had ever experienced. "G-g-ai-s-sens-e-i, how mm-ay I h-elp you?" she inquired. Gai drew a large breath and spoke in rapid secession. "Yes, Hinata, the Fifth requests your presents at her tower to inquire about your charge, Naruto, to see how he has settled in his first few days. She asks you be there within the hour."
Hinata thought of how Naruto had responded to the kindness. "Y-y-es. We wi-l-l be th-er-e." Hinata said shutting the door after the older man had left with a light snap.
All the while, Naruto grew curious and anxious. Was this "Fifth" person going to separate him from Hinata? Then something hit him like a ton of bricks, Hinata didn't shudder around him like she did around other people. He felt his chest swell with pride. But that pride was outshined by the anxiety of what was to come at the "Fifth's".
"Aww, the kit worries." came the dark snicker from the back of his mind.'What the hell are you talking about?" Naruto shot back at the overgrown feather-duster. "The kit worries about his vixen…"the voice purred silkily into his psyche. 'You know nothing!' he whispered fiercely. When Hinata had donned her clothes for the day and a jacket, they left for the tower of the Hokage. Naruto was relieved that something else occupied his attention other than the conversation that had transpired between him and his animal counterpart.
They reached the immense tower on time and ascended up the stairs to the main office. Hinata approached a desk containing a small secretary-like woman with curly black hair, "We a-a-re h-e-re—" she started then a boisterous voice boomed from the doors down the hall. There stood the mighty Fifth Hokage, Tsunade. She ambled leisurely over to them and spoke, "Hinata, I would like to see Naruto first, if you don't mind."
Naruto watched Hinata speak to the blonde woman he vaguely remembered from his days in the hospital and saw her nod and sink down into an overstuffed chair to wait for something. He also looked up at the woman motion for him to follow her to a room.
'Come, you're a pretty one… oh, yes, very handsome…' the voice of his past droned in to nothingness.
Naruto stiffen as the memory tore through him. But he forced his muscles to move him from his place by the door to the room that was indicated. The woman, called Tsunade as he had heard Hinata say, looked at a chair in front of the desk at which she now sat. He sat and looked at her, still unsure of why he was here.
"How are you adjusting?" she said to start the conversation. "Fine" he murmured. Tsunade chuckled and returned to the questioning. "Well, Naruto, the real reason I have asked you here is that I wish to know about the seal present on your abdomen." Naruto went rigid, ready to bolt for the door any minute. Tsunade held up a hand to stop his untried escape. "I just wish to know, I have no malicious intentions just wish to know what is concealed inside your body." she said.
He considered his options. One, he could tell the woman sitting a short distance away from him his secret, or two, he could refuse and she could summon Hinata to her and have her force his tongue, and that meant having two people hear the confusion. And he couldn't bear having Hinata, kind, gentle, sweet Hinata, look at him with an expression of horror and disgust like so many had done before her.
He gaze became fixed on a piece of carpeting. "The seal contains the only thing close to a friend or family that I have had all my life. The Kyuubi. I have never told anyone of this, for the simple fact that this little tid bit of information only leads to more pain and suffering on my account." He waited for the intake breath that would signal a faint or the scream of revulsion or even the attack that he was sure would follow. It never came. Instead he heard the furious scribbling of a pencil against paper.
When she looked up again she gazed at him with an expression he had never seen in another's eyes. She stood and strode over to him, when she reached the stunned man she held out her forearm. Naruto looked at the extended extremity, clearly bewildered. Tsunade chuckled and pulled his hand toward the bend in her arm until she clasped the exact same place Naruto did. "Thank you, Naruto. I will hold your secret."
"Thank you, Lady Hokage." Naruto started toward the door. "Oh and Naruto?" Naruto froze in mid-step, "Yes, Hokage?" he said facing the door, ready to exit the heavy slab.
"Send Hinata in, please. Thank you." Tsunade said in a small chuckle.
With a sigh of relief, Naruto exited the grand Hokage's chambers and went down the short corridor to were the "waiting room" was and to were Hinata sat, twiddling her dainty thumbs.
He cleared his throat to attract her attention and said softly, "Hinata, the Hokage wishes to see you." He glanced up quickly to see the registered shock on her face then went to sit beside her while she rose to go speak with the Lady Hokage.
"I'll be back shortly, Naruto" Hinata promised. He just nodded dumbly and relaxed in his seat but Hinata could see that he was still ready to spring if he was threatened in this strange place. Hinata made the same trip Naruto had just minutes before but in reverse. As she entered the large room, she was greeted pleasantly by the Hokage herself. "Hinata, thank you for coming. All right, I just want to say thank you for taking Naruto in the first place. He hasn't been top much trouble has he?" the woman said, anxious to hear about the ex-bandit slave.
"Oh, n-no, h-e's f-in-e-e." Hinata said, knowing this information was true. "Alright, I want you to take Naruto to a training ground someplace and test his abilities, I just want to see the extent of what he was learned or was taught." Tsunade explained her plan to the woman sitting in the chair across form her desk.
Hinata withdrew from the door about thirty minutes after she went in, a mysterious grin on her angelic face pricked Naruto's suspicion. She sashayed her way over to the confused young man and whispered "Come on, let's go." She gripped his hand and tugged him toward the door to leave.
They both dove into the bright afternoon sunlight together and took off for the east side of the large city. They passed shops, stands and small games that the children had made to entertain themselves while their parents worked. They pasted many things but neither of them noticed the beautiful scenery. Hinata was focused on her location, Naruto fixated on the movement of the woman guiding him through the maze of roads.
They passed a quaint little workshop, and entered a lightly wooded area. They traveled past the trees that looked as if they had been cut back because of new housing being built, but the structures never having being built, the woods had grown back.
When they had come to what seemed the very center of the forest, they heard a commotion. "Well, who is that making all that noise?" Hinata murmured. They went to investigate and soon discovered that it was an odd combination of people. Kiba, Gai, and Tenten all stood as if about to brawl with one another.
Tenten and Kiba faced each other and held fighting positions, poised and ready to kick the opponent's ass. Both their heads spun when the two people entered the grounds. Gai was first to welcome them.
"My young friends! Care to join us?" He offered. Naruto wished he could say no, but Hinata nodded enthusiastically. He followed her over to a thick oak tree and sat waiting for her to finish what she wanted to do here.
Hinata ambled over to Gai shyly. The older man noticed this and inquired about her behavior. "Hinata, what is the matter? Is there something you wish to ask me?" he said, turning to face the young lady. "Y-e-es, G-g-ai-s-sens-e-i. The Ho-kage aske-d me to in-spe-ct Naruto and I don't kn-o-ow h-ow…" Hinata started.
"Ahhhhhh, I see you want me to inspect him for you. Of course, Hinata I would be happy to." Gai smiled and went back to watching the faux battle between Tenten and Kiba.
As the battle ended, Tenten out on top, Gai came over to Hinata and Naruto's shady spot under the tree, ready to inspect the young man's worth in his defensive skills. Then the problems dawned upon him Naruto had no opponent. Tenten lie on the ground at the side of the grounds, dozing. Kiba nursing a nasty looking wound Tenten had given him in her excitement of the fake battle. And Gai himself could not test the man. It would be unfair and inappropriate. Then his eyes landed on the little woman fiddling with her hands. Yes. The former Hyuuga heir could hold her own against any rival.
"Naruto, Hinata!" the green giant called. Naruto's head snapped to attention and Hinata looked upon him with curious eyes. He continued, "Since Kiba is injured and I will no risk being impaled by Tenten for interrupting her sleeping habits, I have no other adversary for Naruto's examination. Hinata if you would not mind, would you consent to being the… for lack of a better word… guinea pig?" Gai said flashing his startlingly white teeth.
Hinata looked shocked. As did Naruto. He looked at the small woman, who barely reached his chest. They expected him to fight her. Naruto grew more and more worried be the second. What if she became angry with him for hurting her after this little coup? What if he hurt her very badly? She didn't look strong enough to break the twig lying by her feet, let alone disarm him in a spar.
As Hinata worked through the thoughts rushing through her head, she noticed something. Gai was right. No other was here to be Naruto's assailant so why shouldn't she fill the spot?
She looked at Naruto first then Gai. "Al-lri-ght" she said. She finished her walk over to the center of the battle grounds and made a motion for Naruto to follow. Once the reached the middle, she placed Naruto fifteen feet in front of her and walked backward and stopped.
Gai watched the event unfold and nodded. Then began to wonder if he had made the right choice when both Naruto and Hinata dropped into the stance of their choice. Ready to take the other on in a mock battle.
oh my GAWD….
cliff hanger
I know I'm EVIL...
NO! I'm worse than that I'm the AUTHOR!!
