Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Naruto or any of the characters. BELIEVE IT!

Phew, ok so this one came out a lot faster than the third chapter, but don't expect that for chapter five (I'm still working on that bad boy). Thanks once again to the people leaving reviews, and of course the favourites and follows ;)


Chapter 4: Naruto's Anchor

Hinata stood there frozen, unsure of how to act next. It had been so long since Naruto-kun had spoken a single word, not including how he ceaselessly told her to go away. Thus, when Naruto unexpectedly asked this Hinata was paralyzed with astonishment. "Stay" Did… Naruto-kun really ask her to stay here with him after all?

Her heart was racing, pounding against her chest relentlessly; she struggled as she tried to control her breathing. He did hear her confession of absolute love and devotion. But she still couldn't understand why he would be asking her to stay, she was so sure that Naruto-kun was angry with her, it was the only logical conclusion she could think of. Why else, would Naruto would have been mute for so long?

"Hinata-chan please stay," Naruto said again, almost pleadingly this time "you were right I need a friend." The pain of all his loss and suffering was clear in his voice.

Hinata returned to her recently vacated seat, doing as Naruto-kun requested without question. What she really wanted though, was to sit a little closer than usual next to Naruto. She was craving to be close to him, to be touching him even if it was only limited to shoulder to shoulder. She didn't mind, wanting to be his anchor to reality. Something that he could be distracted with, as the endless struggle with the raging ocean of despair kept it's firm grasp on his imprisoned mind.

To Hinata's surprise, Naruto still hadn't let go of her hand. She could feel the warmth radiating from his hand into hers, it filled her with the combination of disbelief and desire. The desire to be there for him when he needed stability, the desire to be there for him when he needed someone to share his victories, and most of all, the desire to be the one he came to when he needed to be loved.

"Hinata-chan, how come you have never told me before how deep your feelings were for me? If you've been watching me all this time you should have noticed, long ago, that I gave up on chasing after Sakura. It was clear, even to a knucklehead like me, that Sakura would never stop loving Sasuke." Naruto said. "I know that you told me you loved me while trying to protect me from Pain, but I didn't think you meant it in a romantic sense. I didn't acknowledge your feelings, I never meant to hurt you and if I did I apologize."

"Truth is Hinata-chan, after the invasion from Pain protecting the village was a greater need, which meant that I had to do a lot more training. I didn't have any spare time to think about how I might have felt about it. That was then, I was taken to special training, where I learned how to work with the Kyuubi. Shortly, while away training with Kumara, the war started." Naruto confessed, slowly lifting his head and turning those piercing blue orbs towards Hinata. "You are beautiful, kind, and you care deeply for your friends; always willing to sacrifice your own life to protect any of them."

"I can say that I do care a lot about you, but I need time to examine my own feelings first. Since we have been back from the war, you know just as much as I, how absorbed I've been in my grief and disappointment. I made a promise on the battlefield to protect everyone and not let another person die; I wasn't able to do that, I broke my promise. All I've been able to think about is how I wish I could go back and save Neji and the others."

With a little hesitation, Naruto raised his hand to Hinata's chin gently cupping it in his strong, calloused, yet comforting fingers and slowly turned her head to face him. Locking his sapphire eyes on her pale lavender ones; nearly drowning in them, he said "Hinata-chan thank you for following me today, at first I was annoyed that you wouldn't leave. You see I have always been on my own, I never had anyone care about how I was feeling. The only thing anyone has ever cared about was keeping the Kyuubi safe from the Akatsuki."

Hinata could feel the heat in her cheeks begin to rise. The way he was looking so intensely into her eyes and the silkiness of his usually raspy voice making her melt, causing her to break the eye contact but keeping his hand on her face.

Hinata couldn't believe what was happening to her! Naruto-kun just told her that he cared for her and was willing to think about being in a relationship, she felt like she was about to faint. Seizing her only opportunity, Hinata slowly carried her hand to Naruto's face, placing her palm on his cheek, ready to look him straight in the eye.

"Naruto-kun, I have always been too shy to talk to you so directly and fearing any rejection by you I stayed in the shadows longing to be by your side, even after realizing you weren't interested in Sakura." Hinata admitted truthfully.

"I've never been confident or very confide-"

"Eep!" Hinata squeaked, cutting herself off mid sentence, when in one sudden and swift movement Naruto pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on top of her head. Her heart hammering against her rib cage and her stomach a nervous ball of knots, she managed to say "N-N-Naruto-kun ..." Completely flustered that she couldn't say another word. This was something she had dreamed of since their days at the academy. "Please stay with me Hinata, let me hold you in my arms. I-I-I," he started saying but stopped as he was getting more nervous.

Hinata, laid her finger upon his lips, hushing him. "It's ok Naruto-kun you don't need to explain anything, didn't I tell you earlier, I want to be here for you." She whispered, barely audible.

With nothing more to say Naruto wrapped his arms around Hinata pulling her body into his lap and holding her close.

For Naruto, it felt good to have someone to hold, although in the past he only envisioned of holding Sakura in his arms, but somehow with Hinata it felt right. Holding Hinata in his protective arms, felt like she was the missing piece to his puzzle all along. While feeling all of these new things, he subconsciously settled into Hinata a little more comfortably, pressing his cheek deeper into her raven hair, while inhaling the intoxicating aroma of her shampoo.

For Hinata, it was a fantasy becoming reality. She couldn't believe she was wrapped in Naruto's strong embrace. It all seemed like a dream and she never wanted to wake up! She knew that he never thought of her beyond a comrade and friend but sitting there in his arms she felt safe, it felt right, like this was exactly where she belonged.

When she felt Naruto settle into her and relax, she rotated her hips so that her legs fell more comfortably across his thigh and buried herself deeper into his arms. Settling her head on his strong chest, listening to the harmonic rhythm of his heartbeat. A heart that had been in so much pain and suffering its whole life. She knew what it felt like to be ignored and belittled, but she would never know what it is to be hated without knowing why, or to never have been loved. Just thinking about everything this man had to overcome to be the person he is today made her heart ache.

"N-Naruto-kun." Hinata said, somewhat sleepily.

"Mmm, Hinata-chan," Naruto replied sounding drowsy. "Please just call me 'Naruto', that would make me happy."

Feeling heat again rise in her cheeks, Hinata started over again, "N-N-Naruto-ku … N-Naruto, it's getting late and if I don't go home now, father will worry and send people to look for me. Besides the gates will be closing soon, you should head back too."

Reluctantly Naruto slid his arms from Hinata "Ok, Hinata-chan," he said.

As Hinata turned away from him Naruto placed his hand on her cheek forcing her to look into his eyes once more. "Hinata-cha-"

"N-Naruto, please just call me 'Hinata', we don't have to be so formal." she said still not comfortable addressing Naruto without any honorifics.

"Hinata, please come back here with me tomorrow? I'm still on leave and I can't take another second being in the village alone. I'm going to lose my mind in my apartment with just my shadow clones to keep me company … That is, if you aren't busy and you're able to get away from the Hyuuga estate." He asked.

Placing her hand on top of his, holding it to her cheek, she looked deep into his eyes, liking to see them so up close, replying "Naruto I will always be there for you, I'll meet you here tomorrow afternoon, I promise."After sliding her hand off his, Naruto dropped his hand from her face and watched as she turned to leave.

Leaving Naruto standing there Hinata jumped into the branches of the nearby trees, pausing before heading back into the village.

Looking back over her shoulder she couldn't help but get the feeling she was abandoning him. He looked never so alone and vulnerable standing there; his shoulders once again slumped over. Her heart screamed at her to go back to him but she knew better that she had to get back to the village. Ever since the end of the war, her father had been more protective of Hinata and her sister, Hanabi. With frustration, Hinata turned back to the village, running through the tree tops to the Hyuuga estates. Oh how she wished she could stay with him and ease his suffering a little longer.

Naruto stood for an extra 15 minutes in that clearing, he could still feel Hinata in his arms, her scent lingering in his clothes. "How could I have missed all the signs earlier? Why the hell did I continue to chase after Sakura for so many years?!" He thought.

Confused by his new feelings Naruto followed in Hinata's steps and jumped through the trees back to the village, back to his one room apartment, back to another sleepless night plagued by nightmares and visions of death.

After a dinner of instant ramen, Naruto laid down onto his bed, crossing his arms behind his head. He lay there trying to absorb the events of the day. He had left full of pain and anger, but returned confused and distracted. He recalled Hinata's confession and his talk with Kumara. Thinking back to his actions earlier; that surprised him the most, the moment he pulled Hinata into his arms, he could feel her against him so clearly, the memory of her scent, stirring emotions in him that he never thought he would feel again. Longing for another time to feel her body pressed up against his again.

Naruto rolled over on to his side and closed his eyes trying to fall asleep, knowing all too well that whatever sleep he did find would be short and fitful.

The wooden spikes were flying through the air driving towards a prone Naruto when Hinata threw herself in between Naruto, the man she has loved since their early days. Seeing as the spikes drew nearer, thinking she was moments away from being impaled, is when Neji dove over the pair and took the full force of the spikes, driving into his body, dyeing his Jonin vest a crimson red.

Naruto tossed and turned in a disturbed sleep as the nightmare ravaged his dreams for another night. This had become a recurring thing since Neji and the others were killed. Tonight, he was reliving Neji's death, last night it was Kakashi, tomorrow maybe it would be Bushy-Brow sensei, or Choza, or one of the many others that perished at the hands of the Uchiha duo. At the sight of Neji falling towards him with the… Naruto shot up to a sitting position covered in a cold sweat, his heart racing with adrenaline.

"Gah, not again." Naruto said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "How long did I sleep for this time?"

Looking over to his clock, Naruto saw that it was only past 1 am, with a sigh he flung his blankets off his legs and swung them over to the side of the bed. He knew it was useless to try to go back to sleep, the only things that waited for him there were more nightmares. He stretched his back before walking over to his tiny kitchen, putting the kettle on the stove for some tea.

As Naruto sat at his lone table, his thoughts once again drifted back to Hinata, he wished that she was with him right now. He couldn't help but wonder if she was awake at this hour like he was. He sat there, sipping his tea and dreading the long hours of the night, trying to decide on what he would do until his meeting with Hinata came.

Sakura was busy at the Konoha Hospital tending to patients still recovering from injuries received during the war. Sasuke was being held in interrogation unit of the new Konoha special services. Baa-chan told him that because he was a missing nin for so long the sensory types were still making sure that he was no longer a threat to the safety of the village, but it was looking good enough that he might be released soon under close supervision.

If there was one thing from the war that Naruto did look back on fondly of, was when Sasuke came to help defeat Obito and Madara, agreeing to come back to the village when it was all over. The rest of the Konoha 12 were either staying close to their families or helping to rebuild.

[Go to her Naruto] the Kyuubi said. [Go to the Hyuuga estate and check to see if she is awake.]

"What?! I can't do that, the Hyuuga estates are patrolled all night I'd be caught and risk getting Hinata in trouble with her father." Naruto replied.

[Naruto, you know that you want to see her again why wait until the afternoon?]

"You know the Hyuuga's have the Byakugan I'll be spotted right away"

[Then go and examine the watch, they can't have their Byakugan activated all the time you might get an opening to slip in unnoticed.]

Naruto sat there for a few moments before deciding that Kumara was right. It took a lot of chakra and effort to keep the Byakugan activated so there was a possibility he could go and check on the woman who had been his watchful eye for so long, now the roles are switched! Standing, he moved over to his pile of discarded clothes and pulled on his trademark orange clothes after passing his sniff test.

"I really should get around to washing these" he said, chuckling to himself.

With a half drank cup of tea still positioned on the table Naruto rushed out the door, making his way over to the Hyuuga estates. Stopping across the street, he slid behind some building materials and started collecting natural energy. His plan was to enter Sage Mode and use his sensing abilities to see where the night patrol guards were located. When he finally emerged his pupils were flat and horizontal, with orange outlining his eyelids.

He moved silently around the perimeter of the Hyuuga estate, able to see where all the guards were. As an added bonus he found Hinata's familiar chakra in a room to the back of the estate.

With the new village being built in the crater created from the *Shinra Tensei blast Pain unleashed, the Hyuuga's built their new estates from the crater wall out and for Naruto this was a blessing because the Hyuuga's thought backing onto a cliff wall to be a tactical advantage. There weren't as many guards posted there, in fact Naruto had only found one. It was clear he was a very bored and sleepy guard. The rest of the estate was surrounded by a 10 ft. wall made of solid stone.

When approaching the wall he started to gather chakra at the soles of his feet, intending to walk straight up and over the wall easily. But near the top he saw something he wasn't able to sense before. The top of the wall was lined with a seal that would set off the alarm if anyone other than a Hyuuga were to cross over the estate boundary. "Tch, Hiashi sure is a cautious clan head isn't he!" Naruto muttered to himself.

[Ha! Bet you wish you knew your father's Hiraishin no Jutsu] Kumara mocked.

"Ugh! Be quiet Kumara, maybe I will pay a visit to Baa-chan later this morning to ask for the scroll containing the jutsu" Naruto said.

[Actually that's a really good idea, coming from you, which is rare] Kurama said. Ignoring his comment, Naruto said, "I wonder if the jutsu would get past the wall seal without setting it off. I'll have to ask Hinata about that."

Walking back to his apartment, he thought more about the Jutsu and how it would be nice if both he and Hinata learned it together. The more he thought about it the more he liked the idea of being able to see her without the prying eyes of the village. He liked the idea of surprise visits from Hinata as well. Instead of nightmares wandering in his subconscious that night only Hinata remained. He couldn't remember the last time he smiled, but today was definitely one which he did.


*Honorifics: (-kun is primarily used for male, while –chan is primarily used for women) and can be attached to first names as well as surnames, for example, Peter-san, Jessica-san, Smith-san. Using an honorific is generally required when referring to someone, but in some cases it can be dropped.

*Byakugan: The primary ability of the Byakugan gives the user a near 360º field of vision, except for one blind spot. Can see through solid objects, as well as telescopic sight, ability to see chakra, chakra flow, and chakra circulation system inside the body with great detail as well as the color of chakra.

*Shinra Tensei: Ability to manipulate repulsive force, at the user's will to push matter or ninja techniques away

*Hiraishin no Jutsu: Is a technique created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, which allows the user to transport themselves to a given marked location instantaneously.

Once again thank you to NaruHina108 for helping me by being my beta reader, you rock! And like I said earlier chapter 5 is coming but I haven't finished writing it yet, I've barely started! I will get it done as fast as I can.