I'm BAAAAACKKKK! Author slides in on a silver skateboard. Just kidding. New chapter, with lotsa Nejinaru and fluff! Warning, MAJOR FLUFF! Hell ya!
To all my reviewers: ThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyou so veryvery much cuz you all make me feel so..so...loved. Waaaahaaaahaaa... (Neji hands me a tissue)...sob...thanks...anyway, for those of you sadists out there who want to see Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi pay for what they did to poor wittle Naru-chan, don't worry cuz I'M A SADIST TOO! Mwahahahahahahaha...cough cough... sorry. (Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi cower in fear) Right now I'm centered on developing Neji's relationship with Naru, so that will have to wait. But I promise that THEY WILL PAY! Now on with the story!
Chapter 3: Confessions
SPLOOSH!
"Hey! Neji-baka, what was that for?" Neji grinned and splashed Naruto with more water.
"Why you…" Naruto smiled evilly, and suddenly disappeared. Neji looked around cautiously. When Naruto didn't come to the surface after a period of time, Neji began to fret.
"Naruto, this isn't funny." Suddenly a shadow fell overhead. Neji looked up just in time to get a faceful of fox-child.
KERSPLOOSH
"Itai…" Having a person fall on top of one from six feet up doesn't do well on one's nerves and pain tolerance. As Neji had the privilege of discovering. He wrestled with the blonde for a few minutes underwater before the water sent both of them scrambling for oxygen above surface. The pair clamored for air, completely forgetting they were still entangled.
Which left them a little too close for comfort.
And it didn't help that both boys were half naked and dripping wet.
Curse those damned teenage hormones.
Time seemed to take a breather while the duo stared into each other's eyes. Then Neji completely surprised Naruto and himself by leaning up and brushing his lips against Naruto's forehead, giving it one last lick before breaking apart from the other.
Naruto was stunned. Mr. Ice Creamsicle Hyuuga giving him a KISS! Weeelllll. The world has come to an end, Jiraiya admitted he was gay, and Orochimaru just hugged someone. But any further musings were erased when Neji spoke.
"Payback time." Naruto blushed. And eeped. The hot springs were getting a li-ttle too hot.
"Wanna get out now, Neji?" Neji frowned.
"But since this is the only pass we have and passes are so rare, shouldn't we enjoy it a little longer?" Naruto laughed.
"Who said this was the ONLY pass we had?" And the kitsune held up thirty more passes. Neji choked and coughed frantically.
"WHERE IN THE SEVEN POINT FIVE HELLS DID YOU GET THOSE!" Naruto giggled madly.
"Whoever invented the Xerox machine should get an everlasting supply of Ramen." Neji gasped, then grinned evilly.
"You're not as dumb as we assumed."
Neji eeped as well and waded out of the hot springs. The boys strolled out of the resort and passed the owner (who was currently hyperventilating on the floor; Naruto took out a red marker and drew lips on the man while Neji snickered) before making their way down the streets of Konoha. All of a sudden, Naruto paused and sniffed the air.
"What?" Naruto smiled.
"The old hag is beating up the Ero-Sennin. Lets go to the Hokage Tower and see!" Naruto bobbed happily on the tips of his toes, bright azure eyes sparkling.
"How did you know?"
"Remember? Training with Kyuubi heightened my senses! I can smell Ero-Sennin's discomfort! Well, what are we waiting for? Lets go!" And with that, Naruto dragged the Hyuuga toward the Hokage tower.
Once there, they narrowly dodged Tsunade's desk and watched Tsunade decorate her wall with another Ero-Sennin shaped hole.
"IF I EVER CATCH YOU LOOKING DOWN MY SHIRT AGAIN, I WILL HAVE GAI DISPLAY HIMSELF TO YOU IN NOTHING BUT A THONG, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
Jiraiya squeaked and ran for dear life. Tsunade sighed, repaired her wall, retrieved her desk from its unruly perch on a nearby tree, and slumped in her chair, rubbing her temples in a slow circular manner.
What was left of Naruto's control dissipated, and he burst into laughter, Neji joining in as well. Tsunade looked up.
"Oh, hello. What are you here for?" Tsunade questioned curiously. Naruto laughed.
"Just visiting. I haven't seen my nee-chan for a long time." Neji mouthed "nee-chan?" and Naruto mouthed back "long story". Just then the door opened and yours truly, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi strolled in. Naruto visibly wilted.
"Tsunade-sama. The mission was successfully accomplished." Tsunade looked up.
"Arigato. You may go now. But I have a question. I had recommended Naruto as part of your team, yet you didn't take him with you. Why is that?" Kakashi looked sheepish.
"Well, Naruto…simply doesn't posses the stealth skills required for the mission. I mean you have to admit that his jumpsuit would stand out anywhere, and he is much too impatient, loud, and obnoxious, wouldn't you say?"
"Yeah," Sakura chimed in. "That baka doesn't even deserve to be a ninja. He's just a hindrance, a bother, a pest, and nothing more. Now Sasuke-kun, on the other hand…" And Sakura went on to list all of Sasuke's good qualities while Sasuke just "Hn"-ed.
Neji was utterly disgusted. To treat a team member this was unforgivable. He could feel his Byakugan stirring with rage. He snuck a peek at Naruto to see how he would react.
Normally brilliant shining clear eyes had turned a shade of smoky blue, and brimming with tears. Naruto bit down hard on his lip to staunch the salty moisture. His entire body had gone rigid with sadness, loneliness, and anger. And without a backward look, the fox-child leapt out the window.
"Naruto!" Neji cried desperately to the kitsune, but Naruto paid no heed, jumping blindly off the rooftops to God-knows-where. Neji turned furiously on the offending trio, steel dripping from every word and every gaze.
"You cowards are nothing but trash, nothing but pitiful fools who don't bear any feelings whatsoever. Naruto has far more capacity than you will EVER achieve. You think you're so cool, berating a boy who has suffered far more than you shall ever feel? Naruto is indeed stronger than all of you combined. He has never given up, never wavered in his quest for happiness even after all the hardships he has endured during his life. And what's more, he is the most innocent, kind, gentle, pure, and overall amazing boy that has ever walked the streets of Konoha, yet you see him as nothing but a failure. Are you so blind? You are just jealous of him, jealous pieces of shit that don't deserve to be looked upon."
And with that, the Hyuuga genius left in search of a heartbroken boy.
Kakashi looked ashamed, Sakura regretful, and Sasuke sheepish. Tsunade turned a full on death glare at the three.
"You heard what he said. Now think about it. If I ever get the wind of you rejecting Naruto, or even insulting him again, I will demote you to lowly trash collectors and imprison you for five years. Do you understand? And yes, even you, Kakashi."
Tsunade was seething. The team mumbled a "yes" and shuffled meekly out of the room.
"Naruto! Naruto! Naruto, where are you?" Neji cried out for the boy. Oh screw this.
"Byakugan!" A familiar red signature appeared on a hill in the woods.
"Good." Neji leapt towards the red chakra. He made his way towards the boy and was about five yards away when he stopped. And listened. Naruto was….singing? Damn, he had a good voice. A VERY good voice. His voice seemed to penetrate Neji's soul, working its way into crevices of Neji that he didn't know existed.
The lilting melody of the song brought tears to Neji's eyes. It was a soothing melody, but with Naruto singing it in his state of mind, it had a heartrending haunting quality to it, almost unearthly sounding. Neji crumbled within.
Naruto sung the last few notes, then lapsed into silence altogether. Whimpers emitted from the blonde kitsune. Neji decided to make himself known and quietly came up to the blonde.
"N-Neji?" Naruto's voice was sad. Neji felt a wave of anger, remorse, and empathy. Naruto looked more broken than he ever was before. Neji sat down next to the blonde and stroked his hair gently.
"Naruto…are you ok?" Naruto snorted.
"Does it look like I'm ok?" Bad question. On Neji's part. Neji sighed and engulfed his fingers completely with blond spiky locks. They were soft, so soft, almost made of air.
"Naruto. What your team did to you today was unforgivable. But no matter what happens, I'm here for you." Naruto smiled sadly and caught Neji's silver eyes with his own. Neji melted. Gone were the feelings of deep solitude and sadness. Naruto's eyes radiated such joy that it was almost tangible. Neji smiled, a genuine smile.
It was then that Naruto flung himself into Neji's arms and sobbed out enough tears to rival Niagara Falls. Neji held the boy, rocking him gently back and forth, whispering words of encouragement to Naruto. After a long period of time, Naruto stopped crying and the two just sat there in silence.
"Neji?"
"Hmm?"
"Arigato."
"S'okay." Silence ensued.
"Naruto." This was more of a request than a question. Naruto looked up, eyes shimmering with gratitude. Neji gently traced over the whiskers on Naruto, stroking them slowly, then ran his thumb and forefinger down the blonde's jawline. Licking a few renegade tears off of Naruto's cheek, Neji bent down and whispered,
"My kitsune."
And with that, Neji leaned the rest of the way and caught Naruto's lips with his own.
"Mmff.." Naruto squirmed a bit, but settled down and gave in to the kiss as Neji silenced him with a nibble. The kiss took on a hungry, lustful quality when Naruto leaned into Neji, licking the other (Neji tasted like shrimp and lemons) while Neji deepened the kiss by delving into the blonde's mouth with as much passion as he could muster.
Entrance was demanded as Neji slid his tongue slowly around Naruto's lower lip. Access was granted, and Naruto opened his mouth. Neji gently lapped at the other's tongue, then stiffened his own and slid it gently across the roof of Naruto's mouth, earning a low, seductive moan from the other.
All right. Neji couldn't always be in control. Naruto fought his way to dominance and began exploring all crevices of Neji's mouth in return. As he touched and caressed a particularly sensitive spot, Neji let out a low, throaty moan, half-lidded eyes clouded with love and just a hint of lust. After what seemed like an eternity, the boys broke the kiss and gasped for air. Naruto leaned up and whispered into Neji's ear.
"Aisheteru, Neji-koi." Neji smirked. Neji-koi? Well.
"I love you too, Naruto."
At that moment, a bright glow illuminated the clearing, disappearing only to leave a bright spinning crystal in the air. This one was a topaz, only it emitted strange red flashes of light, and was shot through with silver.
"What.." Naruto and Neji gasped. A figure began to appear.
"Naruto. It seems that you have finally found your precious person." Naruto gawked.
"Old geezer? You're back again?" Sandaime chuckled.
"Didn't I tell you I'd be checking up on you? Now, Hyuuga Neji. Put that crystal on the center of your forehead." Neji reached up, plucked the crystal out of the air, and loosed his bandages on his forehead.
"But what about my curse seal?" Sandaime chuckled.
"Your curse seal shall disappear once the crystal is utilized." Neji grinned happily.
"Thank you, Hokage-Sama." Neji bowed, then placed the crystal on his forehead.
A shocking surge of energy coursed through the Hyuuga before seals like Naruto's own appeared on his forehead.
"This crystal binds you to Naruto, and shall bind him to you. You will still have your own chakra system, but can give some to Naruto if he ever needs any. The crystal has increased your chakra by one hundred times, as it did to Naruto. It also lets you summon seven Sickles, each sickle different in its form. These sickles, when combined with the seven Glaives, shall prove to be very effective, but only when they work together. You may use them as you wish."
And with that, Sandaime began to disappear.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot. Kyuubi, who resides in Naruto, shall help you with your training." Sandaime smiled.
"Well then, Ja ne, you two, and good luck." Sandaime melted away into nothingness. Neji rubbed his eyes and pinched himself.
"That was interesting." He rubbed the jewel on his forehead dazedly. Naruto smiled, then stretched and yawned. Neji smiled as well. Naruto looked so damn cute when he yawned.
"Betcha I can do better." Neji yawned as well, stretching his jaw to the limit.
"Pfft. That was nothing." And Naruto yawned so wide, his jaw cracked. Five minutes later, both boys were sprawled on the ground, utterly exhausted.
"I think one of us should've quit."
Neji rolled over and smiled fondly at his kitsune. Naruto stared up at the night sky, eyes reflecting the stars overhead. The pair lapsed into a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company and the view of the sky. Presently, Neji spoke softly.
"Mmm. Naruto?"
"Ya?"
"You wanna come over and spend the night at my house? Beds are so much softer than grass." Naruto grinned.
"You may be wrong."
"I guess I could be. So what do you say?"
"Ok then. As long as you promise not to do anything perverted to me while I'm sleeping." Neji smirked devilishly.
"Great idea, thanks Naruto. I hadn't thought about that one before." Naruto punched him playfully, then hopped to his feet and made a mad dash towards the Hyuuga mansion, Neji in hot pursuit.
"Hey, it's my house, I get to lead!" Naruto turned around and stuck out his tongue.
"Says who?" And the blonde dashed wildly towards the Hyuuga mansion. Neji chuckled and followed close behind.
See, see! More fluff! See ya next time!
Silver-eyed Hyuuga
