Sanctuary

Chapter 7 Home

Naruto brought the groceries home by himself. The look in Hinata's eyes when she had seen her sister was something Naruto understood, it was pure happiness. There was no way Naruto could ever deny Hinata that. As he entered the house Naruto looked around. It was spotless.

Smiling he went to the kitchen and began putting away the food, thinking about a certain someone. Hinata was a beautiful girl, Naruto acknoweledged it. Her pale glittering eyes always shined warmly when they were cast in his direction. Her hair shined in the sun, as her indigo locks swayed when she moved. Her porcelin colored skin had at one point made Naruto fear touching her, as he was scared of hurting her in any way.

'She could pass as porcelin doll if it wasn't for how tough she is.' Naruto mused to himself.

Yes, Hinata looked the part and acted the part, for she was silent and beautiful. However she could not be, Hinata was much stronger than a doll. A porcelin doll, dropped once was most likely to shatter into thousands of peices.

Hinata had been dropped, thrown, crushed, smashed, and broken. Every time she stood strong, bending but refusing to break. Each trial took more and more out of her, but for each bit of love and encouragement she was shown and given Hinata grew more and more, able to accept the unacceptable, and deal with the pain in her life.

Seeing him go through trial and tribulation gave Hinata the will to hold on, just a bit longer. Holding the weight of the world on her shoulders, Hinata never grew cold, she never hated those who had caused her pain. She would forgive, but not forget,how could she? He was beaten bruised broken and bloody, as was she. They shared a similar childhood, getting glared at, and treated wrong by people who knew better, but refused to act appropriately.

But through all that Hinata could still love, she loved her sister, she loved her late mother, she loved her team, she loved her sensei, and for reasons Naruto would never understand, she loved her father as well. However, she also loved him Naruto Uzumaki, the class dunce, the jailer of the kyubi, and the fool who had barely registered her exhistance as a possible girlfriend.

Yes they were friends in school, though Hinata was mostly quiet, and Naruto mostly skipping class to pull stunts and tricks. However all that time since then she had never stopped loving him, not once.

Naruto finished with the groceries and sat on the couch still thinking about the long haired beauty that was Hinata.

She was indeed a strong fighter, dispite what she was told by the clan. Hinata had even adapted the "perfect" Hyuga fighting style to adapt to her elemental needs, making her own style. She had even made a new move, a defense even better than Gaara's or Nejis.

The first time she used her newly adapted style in battle was when they had been searching for the Bikochu beetle.

Naruto sighed "That mission would have never even happened had it not been for Hinata in the first place." he said softly continuing to let his mind drift.

He remembered how scared he was on that mission when Hinata's kidnappers sent the note into their camp. it was as if his heart broke then and there.

He remembered the Chunin exams and how she had even offered to let him cheat off her paper. And her fight with Neji, the Hyuga prodigy.

Naruto recalled vividly how Hinata had pushed herself above and beyond her limit, how every time she fell, she rose again like a phonex from the ashes, determined to prove her self, even if it meant death.

But that final hit from Neji ... Naruto grimanced at the thought, it was the strike that had stopped her heart.

As she fell, Naruto jumped from the balcony down towards her, desperate to see if she was ok, he had not done that for Sakura.

Hinata was coughing up so much blood, and she was stark white, the colors clashing grotesquely. It was there, Naruto recalled, that he swore on Hinata's blood, that he would defeat Neji for her.

Was he so blind that he had not noticed Hinata sooner? Was he as blind to her as her family was, or even more so? Blind to the strong beautiful girl who trained so hard to prove not only her abilities, but herself as a person! To prove herself to her family, and to him as well.

Naruto stood sighing "How could I have not noticed sooner?"

walking to the hall Naruto noticed several cans of paint and a note that had not been there previously. The note was only a line long.

'Naruto thought you guys might need these.-Tsunade

P.S. Hinata's favorite color is Purple...Take the hint!'

Naruuto laughed at the note. 'I'm not that dense Granny.'

There were 5 cans, but one in particurlar had a light purple splotch on the lid, the lable saying 'Lavender' Naruto smiled, 'The color of the paint's just a shade darker than Hinata's eyes.'

Grabbing the can of paint, and roller brush Naruto ran upstairs to Hinata's new room, closing the door behind him and opening the windows.

Naruto spent the next hour painting her room, but as he put down the roller he smiled, the room looked great. All that was left was furniture, and Naruto knew they wouldn't be taking Hinata's from the Hyuga clan.

Leaving a note for Hinata, Naruto ran into town.

"Hey Hinata, what happened at the hospital? Father came home furious, I heard that there was some kind of fight." Hanabi said, taking a sip of her iced green tea.

After leaving the Hokage's office the girls wandered the shopping district, buying little things here and there. Eventually they ended up at a resturant.

"Well, I was a bit drowzy from some of the medication, but this is what I remember,

Flashback~~~

Hinata's laying in the hospital bed, Naruto sitting right next to her on the chair. Tsunade comes in to check on things, and after a moment she and Naruto begin talking. As they talk the door suddenly bursts open. Everybody jumps including Hinata, who wakes up looking around.

It's Hiashi, holding a scroll in his hand. "What's the hell is the meaning of this woman?" he snapped shoving the scroll into her face.

Tsunade's eyebrow twitched dangerously. "It means exactly what it says Hiashi. Because of what you've done tonight you are not to be with in 100 feet of Hinata, no contact, nothing."

Hiashi scoffed, "The Hokage has no right to interfere with clan affairs. What I do with my daughter is none of your concern."

Tsunade simply raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Because if that's what you think, then you need to brush up on village laws Hiashi. An act was passed into law in the first's time, it's an old law yes but still valid and useful. It was called the clan council act, it makes it possible for a hokage to interfere with a shinobi's homelife if it affects the quality of their work, and their ability TO work."

Hinata lay there silently but alert, Naruto was getting irritated as Hiashi spoke.

"And Hiashi you are to call me Lady Hokage. You lack respect for your superiors.

Naruto laughed at that comment, and as Hiashi turned to him Naruto tried passing it off as a cough. Hiashi glared, eyes flicking towards the boy and Hinata who he noticed was awake.

"And what's that waste of life doing here? You should know better than to waste your time healing the inept."

Tsunade glared at him as Naruto visably stiffened. "Excuse me?" Tsunade growled. Noticing as Naruto glared at the man. 'If looks could kill, Hiashi would be dead twice over.'

Placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder Tsunade took a breath as he relaxed 'calm down' , the touch seemed to say to him. Naruto turned looking at Tsunade who shook her head ever so slightly, then at Hinata who looked a bit stunned.

Tsunade was the first to speak "Naruto's not here because he's sick, he's here watching over a friend." By now Tsunade was irritated, but was enfuriated at what she heard next.

Hiashi scoffed "Not that monster, that waste of space taking up the bed."

Naruto's eyes flashed crimson as he stood, knocking away the chair in the process. He had Hiashi pinned against the wall by his throat.

"Naruto! Put him down, you can't do it like this." Tsunade ordered

"After what he's said and done to Hinata? Not a chance in hell." Naruto growled gripping Hiashi's neck tighter.

"Naruto, please. H-he's not worth it."

Naruto turned towards the soft voice. Hinata was shakily sitting up in the bed. Naruto looked into her pleading eyes. "Please."

His own eyes softened as red slowly changed back to blue. Naruto released Hiashi, who fell to the floor. "You're lucky, because i'd like nothing more than to rip your head off. But for some reason Hinata loves you enough to keep me from doing so." Naruto looked towards Hinata. "I'm sorry Hinata."

Hinata, who had laid back down nodded wearily. Tsunade looked at Hiashi her eyes narrowed into slits. "Go out into the hall, we need to speak."

As the two walked out Naruto fixed the chair,and just as he was about to sit down a large crash was heard. Hinata sat up again, and Naruto ran to the door, flinging it open. His jaw dropped at the sight.

Tsunade's hand was still clenched in a fist, and she looked infuriated. Peeking his head around the corner Naruto seen at the end of the long hallway the form of Hiashi picking himself up off the ground. Gaping Naruto stared at Tsunade.

"Granny Tsunade, what did you do!" Though it was quite obvious, Naruto was in awe. Once outside the room, Tsunade had punched Hiashi so hard he flew down the hall and into a supply cart. Tsunade turned and smiled at the two.

"That was for the completely rude and unacceptable things he said to you two. He shouldn't be back any time soon, but I need to finish my rounds so I'll see you two later." Tsunade said simply as she turned and walked away, giving them a slight wave.

End Flashback~~~

"Oh my gosh she slugged him! That explains EVERYTHING!" Hanabi gasped almost knocking over her drink in her excitement.

"Yeah, I think Lady Tsunade did it so Naruto wouldn't have to." Hinata smiled at the thought of the handsome blonde waiting at the house. "Well, lets get going, we have been out for quite a while." Hinata said getting up. she smiled slightly as she walked with her younger sister.

'It's time to go home'

That is chappy 7, man I love snow, but I just wish it would melt faster, sigh a good 2 and a half feet of snow. Well that's new england for ya! thanks for reading and reviewing! till next time