So-so-so-so-so sorry everybody! School just started - I know that's not much of an excuse but rest assured y'all I plan to finish this story! Only a few more chapters! Bear with me… and an occasional review to remind me definitely helped!
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He finally arrived home exhausted, sore, and dirty all over. He couldn't wait to find his way to his bed and get a well-deserved sleep for a week. The blonde shinobi was unprepared for the aroma of fresh ramen and the sound of melodic humming that assaulted his senses. It confused him greatly, wasn't he living alone? Who is this intruder? He better not be eating his ramen!
He sprinted toward the kitchen consciously noting the place somehow had gotten bigger while he was away. He only had a hall, bathroom, and a bedroom. Now this… this is just too big! Hold a minute… is he the intruder?
The shinobi slowed into a walk just before the threshold to the kitchen. He peeked in and felt relief when he identified the intruder as a woman. However he could only see the back of her, he couldn't see exactly who she is. By his instinct he felt he should embrace the woman even though he doesn't know why he should.
It spurred him to walk closer, taking in the features he could see along the way. She wore loose clothes, typical fashion for women of the household. Short height, the top of her head would reach his collarbone he guessed. Her dark blue hair so long it reached the small of her back. She had cooked the noodles and is mixing the flavors and extras into the bowl. Her hands tiny but riddled with thin scars, a kunoichi.
A kunoichi who settled down and made a home, with him? The feelings connected but his mind couldn't believe it. Who is she? His mind screamed for an answer and the only way to get it is to… follow his instinct. He hugged her from behind and sniggered as she jumped in surprise.
"Ah! Oh Naruto you got to stop that!" She gave a breathy laugh that perked his ears. He craned his neck to look at her face but it was veiled with her hair. Becoming annoyed he used her hands on her hips to turn her. At first he was slightly distracted with the young woman's cleavage then he shook himself out of it and looked to see…
Tsunade's face.
"Ahh!" He shrieked and covered himself with his blanket.
"Oh good you're finally awake!" Tsunade said unperturbed of Naruto's antics.
"What're you doing here!" Naruto asked unnerved not with the fact that the former Hokage is in his room but the fact she is in his room and perched on the side of his bed waiting until he woke up.
"You're late," She said simply with a gesturing glance to the clock. Naruto followed her gaze to the clock, 11:30…
"Eleven thirty!" He screamed as it hit him. He was supposed to meet Hinata at the barbecue shop for lunch! He scrambled for his clothes and did a world record costume change in the bathroom. Rushed or not there was no way Tsunade would get a peek, it was bad enough Shizune saw.
"A-hem! You're not going just yet Naruto, you have Hokage duties first, come along," Tsunade sang mockingly as she walked out. She led him to the top of the Hokage monument.
"Here we are, tomorrow is the Chunnin exams visitors will be arriving at any moment to watch. Perfect time to do the Kekkai: Tengai Hojin… the barrier that detects anyone who moves within it… Didn't Jiraya teach you?" Naruto nodded absentmindedly with his gaze focused on the direction of the barbecue shop.
"Yeah… He did… Uh, ahem," Naruto focused his chakra as he clacked his heels together. The barrier formed and expanded across Konoha. The skilled ninjas could sense the change in the atmosphere whereas the villagers felt nothing. Tsunade was impressed, not only did Naruto complete the barrier into the outer bounds but extended it farther than necessary. As for Naruto using the Tengai Hojin meant he could sense Hinata's being, her exact location and thankfully she haven't arrived at the shop but soon will be. Naruto sprinted off planning to surprise her.
Naruto was in perfect timing; he landed beside Hinata just as she was about to enter the threshold. Hinata did expect him but didn't expect to be picked up and become dizzy with the twirling.
"Oh!" Hinata gasped as she struggled with her footing. She clutched to Naruto's robes for stability and found herself blushing at the unintended close contact.
"Uhm hey," Hinata chuckled nervously. Naruto, without delay, took Hinata's hand and brought her in the shop.
"So…" Hinata started to say as they waited for the raw meat to cook. The silence wasn't uncomfortable but it was… pleasantly strange. The Hokage haven't been this quiet before and he isn't busy eating or anything like that. His eyes looked at her, somehow content and at the same time lost in his thoughts.
"What are you thinking?"
"You feel good," Naruto responded. Unfortunately he said so just as Hinata sipped on her drink. The spit spray wasn't like a fountain but went everywhere like a mist.
"Wh-w-what?" Hinata coughed.
"Oh! I meant the chakra! I can sense your chakra and it's good! It's healthy!" Naruto hastily explained as he rubbed Hinata's back to ease the cough. Thankfully Hinata's drink was water, for sure if it was sake the barbecue would have burst into flames scorching them all. They settled down after that, with Hinata's quiet apology and Naruto's 'no harm done' grin. The barbecue was ready and they started to eat. In a moment of quiet chewing Hinata couldn't stop herself from observing his features. With tiny bits of clues there and there it was of no surprise that it made Hinata curious.
Naruto felt the sensation of someone looking at him and looked up. Seeing his eyes gazing into hers, another twinge in her heart. She looked down into her plate it's happening too often now, when he nudged her she explained.
"Your eyes… remind me of Naruto's."
"Hm-Mm. Is that a bad thing?" Hinata frowned, what an unusual thing to say.
"It is when you are not him," she rationalized. Hinata waited for his reaction, when there was none she looked up and was drawn into his eyes again. She couldn't explain the message the Hokage's eyes were trying to convey. They were so intense it was as if they were trying to draw some realization out of her. Like 'Yeah? What if I am?' and the quirk of his lips with a raised eyebrow only encouraged it. Wait. What?
"Yeah! I'm starved! Hinata!" Choji disrupted the gaze and pulled Hinata away to his booth. "Come join me!" Matching Choji's rude interruption Konohamaru came in and pulled Naruto away muttering about the Kazekage arriving too early and demanding the Hokage's presence. It couldn't be helped they lost sight of eachother as Naruto was dragged away and Hinata couldn't breathe.
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Now the next chapters are mine, complete original! Hope to update tomorrow night :)
