The Bonds of Time Chapter 5 : Words, a naruto fanfic

Once again, thanks for the reviews! One of the reviews actually inspired me to change something for the better from what I had first planned in a later chapter. See, reviews help!

Oh, I'm sorry of inconsistency when it comes to the –chan or –san suffix. The problem is that I don't know how everyone refers to everyone else in the anime because they don't all talk to everyone... So I'll just stick with the obvious ones. Anyways, this is several years later than the anime, so their relationships might have changed. Yeah, that'll be my excuse.

The Bonds of Time

Chapter five: Words

Sitting on top of a stone hedge, Naruto was looking up at the clouds and sighed. What was happening to him? Was he turning into Shikamaru? No, he thought, Shikamaru has a relatively normal love life and family, unlike him.

Naruto was distracted from his dark thoughts by the warm smell of cup-ramen under his nose and Sakura appearing at his side.

" Sakura-chan! You shouldn't be jumping like that! Your baby..." the blond said as he pointed to his friend's swollen belly.

" I'm fine. You, on the other hand, you haven't eaten anything, have you?" Sakura said as she offered him the cup. " I brought you this."

" Thanks!" Naruto grabbed the ramen and chopsticks and ate semi-happily. " You're due soon, aren't you? "

"Yeah. I wonder what he'll do when the baby gets born..."

" Don't worry, Sakura-chan! Nothing will keep Sasuke out of the village when it's time to see his kid!"

" Yup, I think so too." Sakura smiled, then shook her head. " But I didn't come here to talk about myself. I came to talk about you!"

Naruto scratched his cheek awkwardly.

" Me? I'm...fine."

" Oh really? You're always depressed and brooding alone lately. You're not being yourself, Naruto!"

The young man was silent for a while, but then he finally snapped.

" Why in the world would Neji do such a thing, damn it!! And Hinata...I thought that she...you know..."

" So that's it. I knew it!" Sakura grinned. " Naruto, you do like Hinata, don't you?"

" What's it matter now? She's the mother of Neji's child...So I..."

He seemed so pained by sadness that it hurt Sakura just looking at him. Naruto wasn't meant for sorrow. The woman sighed.

" Naruto, it's a lie."

"Uh?" the boy blinked, confused.

" It's not true. It's not Hinata's baby. Her mother is Tenten."

" Tenten is Hinata's mother!?"

" No! Tenten is the baby's mother!"

" Tenten and Hinata had a baby?!"

" No! Hinata doesn't have a baby. Tenten does."

" But what about Neji's baby?"

" It's Tenten's baby!"

" Then who's the father?"

" Neji is!"

" But you just said he doesn't have a baby!"

Sakura hit Naruto on the head and decided to try again.

" Tenten and Neji had a baby.Or did you fail to notice Tenten was pregnant before? Hinata is pretending to be the mother, but she never had a baby herself. "

The pink-haired girl told Naruto everything, even though Neji had asked her to keep quiet. She simply couldn't bare to see Naruto suffer because of a lie. Once he knew the truth, the blond man suddenly regained all lost energy.

" It all makes sense now! Wow, Hinata sure is a kind person! Going through all this for her cousin's sake!"

" Yeah, but keep quiet about it. You're not supposed to know!"

" You can count on me, Sakura-chan!"

Somehow, Sakura had a bad feeling...

Kiba held a tiny jar of baby food in one hand and a spoon in the other and was trying the old airplane trick to get Kouga to eat. The little girl refused to take a bite no matter what he tried.

" Come on, Kouga! Why won't you eat?"

The baby turned her head away as soon as the spoon approached her face and her father sighed.

" Isn't that stuff yummy?" the man said as he swallowed a spoonful of the baby's food. " Ugh! It tastes like crap! No wonder you won't eat it! Let's see if there's another flavor..."

Kiba looked through his cupboard while the girl was fidgeting in her highchair with both Haimaru and Akamaru at her side.

" Arf!Arf!"

" No, Kouga," the man scolded as he returned with another jar. " You gotta talk with words! The dogs bark, but they understand human words."

" Arf!" the girl repeated.

" No! Say 'papa'. Come on," Kiba said as he pointed to his face. " Say 'papa'!"

Kouga looked at his father for a few seconds before answering.

" Arf!"

Kiba sighed. Kouga was already one year and a half old, yet she was still unable to speak any words. All she did was bark. She 'talked' with Haimaru and Akamaru like this, and though her barking was not actual dog words, the dogs did understand her somewhat. However, Kiba did not. He was much exasperated that his daughter wouldn't speak despite his efforts to get her to talk.

To make things worse, Kouga had yet to make her first steps. In fact, she couldn't even stand up on her feet yet. She was very good at walking on all fours, though!

Despite being part of a clan focusing on dogs, Kiba was chafed that his daughter was growing up to be a dog, and not a girl.

A familiar scent distracted the man from his daughter and he turned around to see Shino and his daughter Aruki at his door.

" Kiba, I came to see..." the Aburame's voice trailed off as he saw the inside of his friend's apartment.

Dirty clothes covered the floor, used dishes laid everywhere, the garbage can was overflowing and the stench of dog was very strong in the air. Shino frowned, but kept any comment about the Inuzuka's life style to himself.

" What the hell?" Kiba called out instead of any greetings. " You got your daughter sunglasses already?"

Aruki was indeed wearing dark glasses, a look quite unusual for a baby.

" Aburame have sensitive eyes," was all Shino said on the matter.

Kiba rolled his eyes and turned back to his daughter.

" Look, Kouga, it's Shino. Can you say 'Shino'?"

" Arf! " Kouga barked.

" Not 'arf'! 'Shino'!"

" Bark!"

Kiba grunted, and almost on cue, Aruki said 'Shino' , repeating after Kiba, and even pointed at her father.

" Papa!"

" That's right, we all know you're smart! Rub it in my face, why don't ya?" Kiba said annoyingly at his friend's baby.

He found it frustrating that Shino's daughter, although nearly 6 months younger than his, was already doing so good. Kiba got Kouga out of the high-chair and onto the floor, where the girl proceeded to play with the dogs. Shino would've let Aruki play with her, but the ground was so filthy that he decided against it. Besides, if Kiba found out that his daughter could already walk a few steps, he'd only be even more irritated.

" I don't know what to do with her," the Inuzuka started. " She acts like a dog and thinks Haimaru is her mother..."

The female gray dog was indeed following her wherever she went, making sure she stayed out of trouble, licking her face clean and sleeping next to her. Haimaru was actually making a better job than Kiba as a parent.

" Kouga needs to be in company of more people, not just dogs," Shino said.

" Right, about that, I was going to ask if you could babysit her tonight, cause I've got a date with

my new girl."

" I can't," Shino shook his head. " You should ask Chouji. I hear he likes babysitting."

" Guess I'll do that..."

Both men turned their heads as Haimaru came in, picking up clothes off the floor in her mouth and placing them in the hamper.

" I think Haimaru is trying to tell you something."

Kiba snatched underwear from her teeth.

" Haimaru! You don't have to do that! I don't want you to act as my house-cleaner!"

The dog growled something at Kiba and returned to Kouga's side.

The man sighed.

"You never did like me, eh, Haimaru? You're so overprotective."

" Maru!" said a little voice.

Kiba and the female dog turned to the little girl.

" Maru!" Kouga said as she hugged Haimaru.

" Kouga, you said a word!" Kiba grinned. " Can you say 'papa'?"

" Arf!"

" I knew it..."

It was night when Naruto sneaked around the gate of the Hyuuga compound. Rather than going through the entrance, the blond decided to climb the high stone wall instead, in case someone would prevent him from coming in. He had business in there, and no one would stop him.

Naruto had almost gotten to the top of the wall. Just as his head peeked up the highest point, he came face to face with someone else climbing up on the other side!

The surprise caused Naruto to fall all the way down painfully with a "gah!" yelp, as the shadow of the other person jumped down on his side. The blond choked.

" Neji! What the heck?"

" Keep it down!" the Hyuuga snarled.

" Why the hell are you sneaking out of your own place?"

" If I'm seen leaving my room at night, people will start talking again," Neji explained as he brushed himself off. " Why are YOU sneaking in?"

" I'm going in to see Hinata!"

The older man frowned.

" You've got no business with her!"

Naruto raised a fist.

" That's for me to decide! Don't be so defensive, I know the truth!"

" So Sakura talked..."

" N-No, she didn't say anything about Hinata not being your baby's mother!" the blond spat out, not realizing what he had just said. " I'm going in there, no matter what you say!"

Neji grabbed Naruto's collar.

" You'll blow my cover!"

Despite the threatening act, Naruto smirked.

" You're one to talk! I know why you were sneaking out the Hyuuga compound! You're going to see Tenten, and you don't want anyone seeing you!"

When the Hyuuga released his grip, Naruto knew he had nailed the truth.

" You're the same as me. If you can sneak out, well I can sneak in!"

" Fine," Neji sighed. " But don't do anything stupid."

Of course, 'stupid' and 'Naruto' were things that went very well together, but Neji knew he couldn't stop the blond from sneaking in without a fight.

" Say hi to Tenten for me!" Naruto called out as he returned to the top of the wall.

Tenten couldn't hide her smile when she saw her boyfriend at her door. She was mad that he

hadn't come to see her in days, yet she was still happy to see him.

" Hi," she said softly.

" Hi," he replied on the same tone.

She let him in and there was an awkward moment. The man knew she was upset about the rumor with Hinata.

" Tenten, about Hinata-sama..."

" You don't have to say anything. I know why you did it. That doesn't mean I agree with it, though..."

" Sorry, I..."

" Neji," she cut him off, " I really don't want to talk about it, okay?"

" Alright."

The two sat down and talked about other things, and although she smiled, Neji couldn't help but notice a certain distance between them. He knew it was his fault for neglecting her, but hoped Tenten couldn't forget years of being together. He remembered what he had told Lee a few days back:

" If she should stop loving me, I'll just accept it."

That's when Neji realized that wasn't true at all. Part of him was scared. Scared that Tenten would stop loving him because of the things he had been doing. He wasn't even listening to her anymore as she was explaining what had happened to her lately. Neji was lost in the image of the woman he loved and all he could hear were the pleading words in his head he could not say aloud.

Without warning, he grabbed Tenten's waist and pulled her over to him, forcing the girl to rest her head on his shoulder as he embraced her.

" What...?"

" Please," the man whispered. " Don't say anything right now."

Hinata sat quietly in her room, reading a book by dimmed lighting, while Aoi slept in her crib. She suddenly heard a noise above her head, and looked up to see a tile in the ceiling being removed. She instinctively reached for a kunai and braced herself. A person's shadow fell down the room and Hinata lunged at it with the weapon, screaming in fear.

" Hinata! It's me!"

Naruto gasped as he just barely avoided a kunai through his chest.

" Na-Naruto-kun!?"

The blond flashed her a grin and Hinata's heart started beating faster. She had not seen Naruto ever since she had left for her training in the Grass Country several months ago. It was the first time he had come to see her after she came back to Konoha. And he had sneaked in through the ceiling to see her, no less!

Hinata was distracted from her blushing by the sound of the crying baby her earlier screaming had woken up.

" Ah, so this is Neji and Tenten's daughter! I finally get to see her!" the man exclaimed.

" You know...?" the coy girl said as she picked up the child.

" Yeah... It sucks that all this is happening. It must be hard on you and Tenten..."

" Yes..."

Hinata felt like a big weight had just been lifted off her shoulders. Naruto knew the truth. She wouldn't have to fear what he'd think of her with the lies going around the village anymore.

When Neji looked at the clock, it was almost midnight. He quickly picked up his belongings and apologized.

" Sorry, I have to go. It's late, Ive got to make sure Naruto doesn't screw up"

" I see..." the woman replied as she put on a robe and followed her boyfriend to the door.

" I'm leading a squad to the River Country tomorrow. I'll be gone a few days."

" Okay. Be careful."

" Hinata-sama said that she'll take Aoi on a stroll to the park tomorrow so you can meet her there."

Tenten smiled. Occasions to see her daughter were so rare that she wouldn't miss one for the world. The lovers said their goodbyes and Neji left. The girl was ready to close the door when she heard his voice.

" Tenten, " the man said on a serious tone ,a few steps away ." I love you."

" I know."

She finally closed the door and sighed. The tone of Neji's voice was not one of a boyfriend telling sweets words to his girl, but rather those of a person trying to convince and reassure another. Still, those words were not some Neji gave away freely, even to her. Hearing them always warmed her heart.

The light to Hinata's chambers were still on when Neji came by, and he wasn't sure what to expect when he lightly knocked on the door, making sure no one was looking. Being seen coming into Hinata's room so late would only cause another scandal.

" Um, who is it?" came the woman's small voice from the other side.

" It's me."

" Come in."

As Neji imagined, Naruto was still there with his cousin, but the two of them were just quietly sitting casually. The younger man was cradling Aoi with excitement, like a person who had never held a baby before.

" Look, it's your daddy!" he said to the child.

Upon seeing the familiar face, the baby babbled some happy sounds and tried to reach for her father.

" She recognizes you!" Naruto said in an amazed voice.

" Of course she recognizes me!" Neji answered, snatching his daughter from the other man. " It's late. We'll all get in trouble if you stay here. People will be talking again if they see you."

Naruto gave his friend a smug look.

" You're saying that, yet you're the one who's wearing his shirt backwards!"

Neji looked down at his clothes and fought back a blush, his wearing his shirt the wrong way only confirming what he had been doing tonight.

Hinata giggled lightly and turned to the blond, realizing what time it was.

" But he's right, Naruto-kun..."

" Sure, whatever. See ya!"

He waved and disappeared. Neji put the child back in its crib and turned to say good night to his cousin. Hinata said the same with such an happy smile, that the man knew something good must've happened.

000

To be continued!

Alright, I hope you enjoyed that! Like I said last time, updates will be slower because of college work and my job... Bleh. Feel free to make suggestions on what you'd like to see happen or try to guess what will happen. I might be inspired :D