Hinata stands outside Naruto's apartment. After digging up some courage, she knocks. Naruto answers the door. There he stands, tall and built, wearing only a towel. Ringlets of water trickle over his muscles from his wet hair, steam rising from his freshly-washed skin. Hinata's mouth goes dry as her lips part in awe. Her cheeks flush with desire. She so longs to touch, she unconsciously begins to raise a hand.
She catches herself just in time.
"What's wrong, Hinata?" inquires an oblivious Naruto.
Hinata does the only thing she can think of to do in a situation like this. She runs. "I-I—I just need some air!" she mutters over her shoulder on her way out of the building. "I'll wait for you outside!"
"So where is everyone else?" asks Naruto once he joins Hinata in front of his apartment building.
"Th-they will be meeting us at the Hokage's office. I just came to get you to make sure you didn't oversleep. You did drink a lot last night."
Naruto bows his head, not remembering a thing from that night. But he thanks Hinata, and the duo walk side by side to their destination. He and Hinata are the first to arrive at the Hokage's building. Naruto takes this opportunity to ask Hinata an embarrassing question that he just has to have the answer to.
"Hinata…um…I gotta ask you something. It's kinda embarrassing, but I have to know."
"What is it, Naruto?"
"Damn, I got a headache. That doesn't help. Anyway…uh…I really don't remember much from last night after about my third shot. Did I…I mean…did I behave myself? Do I…need to apologize to anyone? I do seem to remember Sakura trying to sock me for some reason…what did I do last night? What did I say? Please tell me the ugly truth. Whatever I did wrong, I gotta make right again, ya know?"
Hinata smiles warmly. "You were a little drunk, but not out of hand. You didn't offend anyone other than Sakura, and she's just…well…kinda easy to tick off. I'm sure she's forgotten all about it by now. Don't give it another thought!"
Naruto smiles. "Thanks, Hinata. I'd kind of like to know what the hell I did to Sakura to make her want to punch me...but don't tell me! If she's forgotten it, it doesn't really matter, and I don't need something else to worry about."
"You really didn't do anything wrong, Naruto. Please believe me."
Naruto smiles at her again, satisfied with her answers. He puts the night before behind him, and walks with Hinata into the Hokage's office.
"Your assignment," says the Hokage, "is to go to the Aikiri falls for five days while a dignitary from the Land Hidden in the Grass travels here. They do not have the manpower to keep him safe, and because of his progressive ideas, he has made powerful enemies who still believe in the old ways. There is a real possibility of an ambush at some point along the way, both on the way here and on the on the way back. And the dignitary will be here in Konoha for a whole day to discuss his reform ideas with me and the Council. That's why you'll be stationed at the falls for five days. Time enough for him to get here, discuss his policy reforms, and get back. I already have two Jonin meeting the man in The Grass to escort him here, but his enemies could come from anywhere surrounding the path they will be taking. That's where you guys come in, as well as the other support teams I'm sending in other directions to ensure no one gets to our guy by taking another path around. Hinata, your Byakugan will be particularly useful for this mission for obvious reasons. Sasuke, Naruto, you will be the muscle, as usual. Sakura, your medical ninjutsu could be a lifesaver here. Sai, your aerial ability could give advance warning of an attack. And Shikamaru, you will lead this mission as a strategist. Your ability to completely immobilize an enemy with your shadow jutsus is an asset, too. Now, if there aren't any questions, you may depart as soon as you've all gathered your things. That's all. Good luck!"
The six companions set up camp when they reach their destination. They scout the land in all directions, then make a fire and visit with each other over grilled fish. When the hour grows late, they all turn in after a final sweep of the area.
Naruto wakes from his slumber to a small sound. It's the tent zipper. He looks up to see Hinata exiting. Must have to use the bathroom, he thinks, and closes his eyes again. Before long, though, he begins to worry. She should have been back by now…what is she doing?
I hope she didn't run into any trouble…
That's it. He gets up and sets out to find Hinata, afraid she may be hurt.
He searches in a wide circle around the tent, softly calling her name so as not to wake the others. He receives no answer, and decides to trudge deeper into the forest in front of the tent, the most likely place he thinks she would be. He ends up on a hill overlooking the Aikiri falls.
There in the river, up to her waist in water and tilting her head back into the waterfall, is Hinata. Naked.
Her long, black locks frame her delicate face. Her slender arms hover over her head, her daintly hands maneuvering through her wet hair. Water trickles like liquid fingers over two perfect breasts. She glistens in the moonlight like something out of a dream.
Naruto is struck. His lips part as his heart begins to thud and his manhood stands at attention.
I shouldn't be looking, he thinks to himself while gaping at the beauty before his eyes. I REALLY shouldn't be looking! But he is frozen in place. The sight before him is mesmerizing.
Finally, he gets hold of himself. What the hell is wrong with me?! Move it! Ultimately, the order reaches his feet and he tears himself away to head back to the tent.
Hinata quietly reenters the tent, softly zipping the door shut. She walks over to her sleeping bag, and climbs inside. Naruto, anything but sleepy now, watches her intently, ready to fake being asleep at any moment. He can't help but think how lovely she looks, her eyes closed for sleep, her wet hair spilling all around her.
I want to touch her…I wonder how it would feel to kiss her…
He stares at her lips, slightly parted as she breathes. The waterfall image floods his mind. God, I can't get that picture out of my head…what the hell is wrong with me? This is HINATA for crying out loud! She deserves more respect than this! Even Pervy Sage wouldn't have peeped at her! I am so going to Hell.
Naruto tears his eyes from Hinata's now-sleeping form, feeling ashamed of himself. He tells himself to forget about it and go to sleep…but the flagpole is raised, which is impossible to ignore. He knows he'll never get to sleep unless he does something about it. But I CAN'T do THAT, he thinks, immediately discarding his first thought to go off and masturbate to the memory of the waterfall scene he witnessed. Geez, how creepy can I GET?
In frustration, he gets up and sneaks out—to take a dip in the same cold water he spied Hinata in earlier.
Hinata's eyes open when she hears the tent zipper. She watches Naruto leave, and wonders where he is going in the middle of the night. He must have to pee, she rationalizes. With that, she closes her eyes again, trying to get to sleep. But knowing Naruto will be back any minute, she can't relax. She waits for his return.
Meanwhile, Naruto wades into the icy water in only his trunks, waiting for his hard-on to go away. He tries desperately to think of something—anything—but Hinata. A very naked Hinata. It's proving difficult. He starts to recall battles to keep the exciting image out of his head. It takes a while, but finally, between the cold water and memories of fights, his body relaxes. He heads back to the tent, now able to sleep. Or at least he thinks so.
Hinata, however, is beginning to worry by now. Naruto has been gone too long for just a pee break. She is about to get up and go search for him when she hears the zipper again. Relief washes over her. When Naruto enters, though, Hinata notices that his hair is wet. Did he fall in the river? Is that why he took so long to return? But whatever the case, he was back now, so she could finally relax and go to sleep.
Naruto slips back inside his sleeping bag, deliberately avoiding looking over at Hinata. He turns away from her and begins to count—a trick he learned from an insomniac he once met to clear your mind and allow you to sleep. He didn't need the sheep, just the numbers. Eventually, it works and he falls asleep.
Naruto wakes just before dawn, erotic dreams of Hinata racing through his mind. She's the sweetest girl I ever met. How can I do this to her? I have to stop this!
He chances a glance in her direction. She looks like an angel. I just…want to protect her. I never, ever want to see her hurt. I have to get a hold of myself before *I* end up being the one to hurt her.
Sleep at this point is out of the question. He slips out of bed, keeping his back to the gang so as not to reveal the lump in his britches should anyone awaken, and heads outside to start a fire.
Hinata hears the zipper again. Realizing that morning will be upon them shortly, she takes this opportunity to be alone with Naruto. She gets up and heads outside.
"Hinata!" exclaims a shocked and suddenly panicking Naruto, quickly lowering the backpack he's holding in front of his crotch. "Y-you shouldn't be up! It's too early! Wh-why don't you go back to bed?"
Hinata smiles. "I'm not sleepy. I'm used to getting up early. Would…would you like some tea?" She holds his eyes despite her usual blush.
Naruto thinks that's a great idea. Keep her busy and distracted until the evidence of his perversion is gone.
By the time the tea is ready, Naruto has calmed down. He enjoys talking with Hinata, and just being near her. Then she accidentally spills her tea all over her lap. Naruto rushes to her aid, pulling a cloth from his pack and dabbing up the wetness as best he can without thinking. "Well, I'm afraid that's the best I can do," he says, "I hope you brought a change of…" He looks up from her lap and the closeness of her face chokes off his words. He stares into her eyes, his heart beating fast, desperately wanting to kiss her. She stares back at him, just as intensely, her cheeks redder than usual.
Uh-oh. Now what? SAY SOMETHING, YOU BAKA! SHE WILL FIND YOU OUT AND THEN SHE'LL HATE YOU!
Much to his relief, he hears the tent zipper. The sun had come up without his realizing it, and now everyone else was getting up.
I'm saved! God, that was close!
"OK, now that breakfast is out of the way, let's get down to business," says Shikamaru. "Sasuke, you and I will head north and check things out there; Naruto, you and Hinata check out the south. Sai, you patrol the east and west from the sky. Sakura, you stay here and defend the center. If anyone encounters an enemy, send off a flare and whoever is free will come to help. We'll all meet back here in an hour. Agreed, everyone?"
"Hai!" they all say in unison. Then they all head off, save Sakura who is stationed at the base camp.
Naruto now wants to spend every possible moment with Hinata, but at the same time worries he'll say or do something stupid and give himself away. The last person in the world he wants thinking poorly of him is her.
Even if I do deserve it.
But he can't help be glad he was being paired up with Hinata, despite his fears.
"I'm not complaining or anything, Shikamaru, but…" Sasuke begins. "Why did you team with me? I mean I usually get stuck with that irritating Naruto."
Shikamaru thinks for a moment before answering. "Well…the two of you are both the muscle of the team. It only makes sense for Hinata and I to each have that strength with us during our scouting missions in case something happens."
Sasuke accepts the answer as reasonable and inquires no further. But Shikamaru has something else to add. "But," he says, "there's also another reason. I thought it wouldn't do any harm to let Hinata and Naruto spend some time alone together."
Sasuke is surprised that Shikamaru would think so romantically for such a seemlngly UNromantic guy, much less tell him about it. He wonders why he did either. But since it doesn't really concern him, he lets it go and continues with the look-out mission.
"Well, have you seen anything yet, Hinata?" Naruto asks mildly. He feels so happy and content to be walking side-by-side with her, but more than that, he is grateful that the lusty thoughts and images of her seem to be gone. At least for the time being. Now he can just enjoy her company as they search their assigned area.
"No, not yet. Just animals and birds. But maybe you should go into Sage Mode to check for unfamiliar chakra?" She blushes, feeling like she was giving Naruto orders. To her relief, he doesn't take it that way.
"You got it!" He enters Sennin mode and looks all around, but sees nothing. "There's no one out there anywhere that I can sense. I think this area is clear. We can go back now if you want." He returns to normal.
"W-well…actually…I…uh…"
"What is it, Hinata? Don't be shy, tell me!" He smiles genuinely at her, finding her shyness that he once thought weird adorable.
"Well, it's just that…we don't have to go back for a while yet, and…well I'm sorta hungry now, and I just thought…I thought if you were too, I could make some ramen for us. I have everything I need for it in my pack, though it's just cup ramen. It's not as good as Ichiriku's."
Naruto is delighted that she actually wants to stay with him long enough to prepare and eat ramen—together.
"I can never turn down ramen, no matter where it comes from!" He beams at her, and she responds in kind.
"C-could you maybe start a fire for me? I'm really not that good at it. But I will be happy to make the ramen for you!" She blushes again, embarrassed that she came off so eager.
Naruto doesn't notice, being the dimwit he is about girls. But he builds the fire happily-not for the ramen, but for the opportunity to spend more time alone with Hinata. Every time he looks at her…his heartbeat picks up. He can't help notice and admire her loveliness. His "evil" thoughts have gone for the moment, and the 'nude photo' he has stored in his mind is keeping itself out of his conscious thoughts for the time being. He is grateful. Maybe it's gone for good now, and I can go back to being someone Hinata can respect. Not to mention myself. I sure hope so.
Ramen finally ready, the pair begins to eat. They spend so much time talking and laughing instead of eating though, that their noodles get cold before they can finish.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I've been talking so much I've kept you from eating your meal. It's gone cold now. I apologize." Her face turns downward, feeling like a nuisance just boring Naruto to death and causing him to have to eat cold ramen. Nontheless, she can't regret it, for these 'mistakes' on her behalf have given her more time alone with Naruto. Little does she know he has been thinking the same thing.
Naruto offers her a warm smile. "Don't you worry about that, Hinata! I like ramen even when it's cold, and I certainly don't mind having you here for company!"
Hinata smiles widely at that, happy knowing that Naruto enjoys being with her.