secret lovers
After the Fourth Shinobi War, Naruto's huge crush on Hinata gradually surfaces and the whole village of Konoha knows it…Well, aside from him. Chronological One-Shots / Post-War / Pre-Last / Contains references from Hiden novels.
Disclaimer: Characters and several scenarios in this work belong to Masashi Kishimoto et al.
entry eight
prompt
Naruto and Hinata both realized something about having a family.
/family/
belongingness; a bond that cannot be broken by any means
The fog from the hot water simmered her skin causing a beautiful blush on her cheeks. Hanabi was supposed to join her in but their father called her little sister for a meeting. Well, although she loved to take a bath with her, there were times like this when Hinata would enjoy the peace, the quiet and, of course, the absence of her sister's teasing. The younger Hyuuga would always pick on her sister whenever they take a bath—always saying how much she found her to be beautiful but would later on add how distasteful her fashion sense was much to Hinata's dismay.
A sigh escaped her lips. Hanabi sure was growing up. Hinata was starting notice her magazines run missing one-by-one. It couldn't be Natsu, since she was also pretty simple herself. She guessed it was her sister, who, for certain reasons, started to pay more attention to her hair.
She giggled a little at the thought and started dressing up. The cold breeze of February hit her skin and she couldn't help but shiver. A hot chocolate would surely warm her up and perhaps a cinnamon roll would be a perfect match
Hinata wrapped a warm scarf around her neck and headed outside to buy some cinnamon roll. Snow painted their village as she strolled around—there were few people outside and the establishments were all covered by white. She actually appreciated the fact, that by coincidence, she wasn't given any mission yet during this kind of weather, but she also wondered how everybody else were holding up.
"Oh, there you are, Hinata-chan!" The store owner greeted her as soon as she entered the shop filled with delicious pastries, but for the kunoichi there was only one that caught her taste.
"Good afternoon."
"Well, cinnamon rolls again, ain't it?"
"Y-yes, I just thought that it would be best paired with hot chocolate."
"Okay, I'm going prepare them for you nice and warm."
"Thank you very much." She said and afterwards sat at the chair overlooking the store's window.
Although the freezing air was kind of harsh, the snow made their village look magical. She smiled sweetly at the realization, but was abruptly cut when she saw a little kid crying outside. He was about two years of age by the size, he looked freezing and his brunette hair was tousled and covered with snow.
"Uh, I will just come back for that," she bade the shop owner and hurriedly went outside approaching the young boy.
Her heart suddenly felt the hurt she once felt.
The little boy reminded him of a young Naruto—crying his heart out with whatever the people were calling him.
Hinata always had a soft spot for people who were lost, beaten and weak. She always associated herself with them and just couldn't simply stand doing nothing.
"A-are you okay?" She met the little child at an eye level. Her hands clutched on his small shoulders.
The boy kept on crying and mumbling words she couldn't understand.
'Where's his mom?" Hinata asked but everybody just stared and one vendor informed her, "I don't know he just suddenly appeared here."
"Why did no one even do something?" Her voice was as soft like always but there was an obvious sternness in it that made people around her cower a little.
Yes, she was a bit angry. How could nobody care?! The boy was lost and no one even bothered to assist him!
"Hey! We're going to find mommy okay?" He told the boy who just nodded his head at her and she wrapped the scarf that was once on her around his in order to keep the boy warm. She was sure he was freezing.
"What's your name?" She gently asked him, but he kept quiet. The kunoichi understood this and just decided to take action, "Please, if someone searches for him, inform that he was alright and safe in the Hyuuga compound." She told the vendors and other by-standers as she held the little boy's hand and walked with him to her home.
"I'm Hinata, by the way." She informed the boy and he just stared at her with his big green eyes.
"'Nata?" She giggled softly at him,
"Yes, Hinata. We'll find your mom okay?" She assured him and they approached each shop introducing the young boy and informing them that he will be safe in the Hyuuga compound.
They soon reached the compound and she informed that she will be leaving the boy there while she was looking for his mom. However, the boy gripped on her hand tightly—signifying his opposition on the thought that she would be leaving him.
"No, 'Nata, don't like. Don't leave." His speech was a bit incorrigible yet but Hinata understood him.
"And, Hinata-sama," The guard on their front gate informed her, "the elders are having a meeting right now. It wouldn't be a wholesome environment, especially for a lost kid."
Hinata agreed, "I understand, but if someone went looking for him here…"
'I'll take care of them, Hinata-sama"
"O-okay,"
The two walked around the village until a certain sound made Hinata chuckle a bit—the young boy was looking at her. "Oh, I see. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?"
"'Koyaki!" The boy chirped happily while jumping up and down.
"Takoyaki?"
The boy nodded his head in approval and they made their way to the Takoyaki stand Hinata knew.
"Since, you don't like to give your name I'll just call Takoyaki, is that okay? It seemed to be your favorite." She asked and the toddler happily responded with an affirmative giggle.
As they strolled around, she noticed that the boy kept on staring at her. She didn't find it uncomfortable, rather she find it interesting. Perhaps, she looked like one of the characters in his story books, Hanabi used to tell her that when they were younger
Realizing that Takoyaki wasn't capable of sitting on his own yet provided that the stool at the stand was not suitable for his age yet. Hinata placed him on her lap as she ordered a set for him.
"Hinata?"
"Naruto-kun?" She asked as her head turned to see him.
"I thought it would be you, with the jacket and all. What are you doing here –ttebayo?" He asked with a tilted head.
"Well, this little one here was lost and we're finding his mom and got hungry. So I bring him here. He said this is his favorite."
Naruto stared at the boy, who was happily munching his takoyaki.
"Does it taste good?"
The little boy nodded as she tried to feed him once more.
"It just gets messy in this way," She said while smiling softly, but the little boy didn't seem to bother.
"Well, let me help you dattebayo!" Naruto said as he tried to get Takoyaki from Hinata, but he refused almost crying.
"Uh, wait Naruto-kun, I think it's better if I introduce you to him first."
"Naruto-kun, I call him Takoyaki and this is Naruto." Hinata said pointing to the blonde. At first, the boy stared at him with skepticism, it was when he grinned at him that the little one started to laughed and clapped his hands. Naruto just rubbed his hand at the back of his head at the boy's reaction.
"Nayuto?" The boy looked at Hinata as she nodded then the boy asked her something that they couldn't really understand, "'Nata, Nayuto, tart?
"T-Tart?" The kunoichi voiced out echoing what she heard of the boy, but he nodded in refusal.
"Wong wong! 'Nata, Nayuto, tart?" the boy voiced out as she just laughed in defeat. She figured that the boy meant Wrong for the Wong part, "Okay, okay, yes." Although, she didn't really understand him.
"Is it alright if you go to Naruto-kun for a while?" She asked him and he approved while clapping happily, "Nayuto!"
"Wait!" The blonde halted and he summoned several clones, which went on their own ways afterwards, "I just summoned clones to search for his mom. I figured I could also help out in that way. Here, let me have him dattebayo."
"Thank you."
Naruto carried the boy and let him sit on his lap as Hinata fed the little one. She watched closely as he chewed his food—his cheeks puffing as he did.
So cute! She thought and wondered what her children would look like.
Will they also have the color of her hair?
Perhaps, they would have her byakugan. Hopefully, they would appreciate her kekkei genkai.
She sighed at the thought. She really preferred her children to have blue eyes and with whiskers just like Naruto-kun.
Hinata quickly snapped the thought away.
What was she thinking?
She looked at the boy who was staring at her but avoided the blonde's face. With what she thought of just now, she wasn't sure if she could look at his eyes directly. Hinata was also certain that she was blushing.
Her musings were stopped when the boy placed his small hands on her cheeks.
"'Nata, pwincess!"
"You called Hinata a princess?" The blonde asked as the toddler nodded his head, "Well, Hinata is really a princess! A princess ninja warrior dattebayo!" He said with a vibrant energy and a proud face. The little one seemed to agree and both shared a grin that only them could understand what lie behind.
"'Nata-hime!"
"Hinata-hime!"
The shy Hyuuga couldn't hide her joy away and chuckled at the sight of the two while sporting a cute blush
Once Naruto and the little boy were finished crafting how the 'Princess Ninja Warrior', Hinata-hime defeated the giant monster, they prepared to leave the stand. It was then when Takoyaki noticed something as he was being carried by the shinobi, "What happened?" The kid pointed out to his missing limb.
Hinata and Naruto shared a look.
"Well, I lost it while fighting alongside Hinata-hime."
Takoyaki, for a second, looked quite hurt and Naruto quickly caught up with it, "So let's find it dattebayo!"
"-ttebayo?" The toddler questioned as the whiskered shinobi just laughed at him.
On the other hand, Hinata marveled at their exchange. Just the sight of Naruto carrying the little boy like that made her heart swell for several reasons
He would definitely be a good father.
But although she thought of him being with her, she would always assume he would end up with another. In that way, it would hurt her less if they would not happen.
At first, Hinata admired Naruto because of his strength to get up everytime he would fall. She wanted to be like him. But his continuous and consistent support from the Chuunin exams up until now and his belief that she's strong made Hinata love him.
Naruto believed in her, he had faith in the kind of strength she possessed—something her father failed to provide her when she was younger. It was Naruto who gave her the acknowledgment her father should have given her.
She always loved him—admired him whenever near or afar. However, if he cannot give her the love her she gave him, they wouldn't make up a happy family.
Yes, that's right.
A happy family. That's what Hinata always yearned for. Her mother's passing not only broke her heart, but her family as well.
Yes, she may thought that Naruto-kun would be a great father, but no matter how much she wanted him to be with her, if his heart would not belong to her, he could never be her husband. The thought gripped her heart with a painful ache.
Who would have known that an unreciprocated love could eat you alive and whole like this?
Naruto saw the change in Hinata's expression. He actually didn't know why, but her emotions always resonated through him, he would always get it whenever she's down and he didn't like her feeling like way.
"Hey Hinata-hime! Look! I taught this little one here something new dattebayo! What does Naruto say?"
"-ttebayo!" The little boy shouted as they both laughed afterwards except for the girl who gave just gave them a curt smile, but hastily turned away.
The blonde felt a soft knock on his chest. There were moments in his life when he was disappointed with himself, but his dismay now was a new angle he was surprised to find out himself. He failed to make her happy. Naruto always wanted to make his friends happy and they included her. However, he'll be honest that for certain reasons, Hinata was always a cut above the rest.
They strolled around the village asking people if someone searched for the lost toddler, but no one seemed to encounter anyone and some were just too busy to care. The blonde also checked out with his clones, but to no avail.
Still searching for the toddler's mom or any guardian, the two teens were sure that the little one was getting tired by the number of times he already yawned, however, just like a kid that he was, his energy was restored just at the sight of marshmallows from the store they passed on.
"Oh, you like that?" Naruto asked and the boy agreed, "Well, I'll get you some -ttebayo." He said, but unfortunately, he recalled that he just spent the contents of Gama-chan to buy some instant ramen—his staple food. The only thing he could give the boy was an embarrassed grin, hoping that he wouldn't cry nor be disappointed.
Naruto, in that moment, realized that he had the tendency to spoil. Right away, he felt the worry that his children might become and right away he prayed that he won't have spoiled children.
Quickly figuring out the dilemma, Hinata came to the rescue, "Don't worry, I'll get some for you." She volunteered and approached the stall right away.
While following the dark-haired girl, Naruto just sweat-dropped at himself. If he wanted to have a family in the future, he better should know how to be a good father. And right now, what he knew of a good father, was someone who knows how to provide well for his family. He cannot always let Hinata to be the one buying necessities around. That would be embarrassing.
He paused for a moment—thinking to himself what he just thought of. Did he just literally envision-
He turned to look at Hinata, who was already approaching them. She was happily feeding the boy with the marshmallows she bought, "Okay, just only eat this few. Too much would be bad, okay?"
And thank god, Hinata is a stickler for discipline.
"Naruto!" Someone called him before he could even make something out of what he was thinking.
"Sai?"
His teammate approached them with a smile that appeared sinister, "Well, I'm really sorry to break your little play-house, but I think that child's caretaker is already looking for him at the Hokage office."
For a while, the two teens smiled in relief, thinking that the little kid can finally go home; however as soon as they got closer to the office, they both couldn't deny the hint of sadness, which was slowly making their hearts heavier. They all had a fun day.
Hinata blushed at the thought, that somehow, whatever Sai-kun said was kind of true. She and Naruto-kun were playing house. Her heart sunk further at the thought that their play-house with the little Takoyaki might be the one and only time she could get as close as being with Naruto-kun as a family.
Well, her little pretend also had an expiration and there were things that were meant to be over.
Naruto, on the other hand, couldn't exactly figure out the sudden bad vibes he was feeling and he was slightly annoyed with that fact. He must be happy that the toddler would now go home. Well, realizing he was being irrational about feeling unusually down, he just plastered a forced grin on his face. It was kinda' hard though.
As soon as they reached the office, the little boy's caretaker's joy welcomed them - the worry was quickly washed away from her face. Hinata bowed down to greet her, Tsunade-sama and Kakashi-sensei, who were currently discussing the apprenticeship of the latter in taking over the mantle as the Hokage.
The blonde let down the little one on the floor and he quickly ran towards his caretaker with a bright smile on his face.
Naruto numbed at what happened. He didn't know but having the little boy in his arms made him feel good. He was at lost at the feeling—to have someone to take care of, someone to protect and someone to love. A family.
Since he was a small child, Naruto always dreamed to have one, but what he was feeling right now was different.
Yes, he dreamed to have parents—a family he could call his own and a loving home he could boast around his classmates or friends with. However, those days were gradually fading. He won't be lying to say that he still craved for his mom and dad's touch and presence, but right now, he was old enough to understand that it was a dream that could not be. And no matter what he would do, he would never have that kind of family anymore. Actually, he was lucky enough to meet his parents given the fact that they were already dead.
What he was feeling was a different kind of longing. It never occurred to him that, although he would never have that kind of family anymore, he could still have one in a different form, until then. Carrying the little boy in his arms a while ago made him wonder what it was like to hold someone as dearly.
It would be wonderful. He thought.
"Thank you very much for taking care of him." The caretaker told them with a courteous bow, which the kunoichi returned.
"It's no problem dattebayo!" The blonde responded.
The little boy realizing it was time to say good bye tried to unwrap himself with the scarf Hinata shawled around him earlier.
"It's okay. You can keep it."
"Thank you 'Nata!"
The young girl couldn't hide several beads of tears to fall from her eyes. She was inwardly cursing herself for being such a crybaby, but she couldn't just help it.
Naruto, quickly noticing her sobs, tried to comfort her, "Don't worry Hinata. I'm sure he'll come back to visit us again right?"
The boy nodded enthusiastically and stopped while looking back and forth at Hinata and Naruto with the blonde softly petting the back of her head, while she wiped away the tears from her eyes.
"Nata, Nayuto, 'tart!" The toddler exclaimed happily while clapping his hands, which caused the kunoichi's sobbing to stop as curiosity started to baffle her.
"Tart?" She questioned gently as the kid's caretaker giggled.
"Well, it's sweetheart. That's what his parents call each other."
As soon as realization struck her, Hinata hid her reddened face beneath the curtain of her hair.
"Of course! Hinata is such a sweetheart –ttebayo! Don't forget the legend of our Princess Ninja Warrior, Hinata-hime!"
"'Nata-hime!"
Tsunade was irked and it was blatant. She didn't know if that gaki has selective hearing or he just outright showed-off in front of the shy Hyuuga girl. Come to think of it, Naruto would know how to flirt? Hmph! Must have been all because of Jiraiya all along.
That pervert!
Could he possibly teach his student some of his lewd ways?
Meanwhile, Kakashi, who knew his student like the back of his hand, just sighed. Naruto was being Naruto all along and he was just plain simple. That's it.
Sai, whose smile never left his face, thought to himself that Sakura might be right. Naruto was a great test subject for his new case study. Perhaps, he should also buy that magazine Ino was suggesting him to.
Sadly, things must come to a close and they all bid their farewell. Takoyaki couldn't help but cry either which broke Hinata's heart. The dark-haired girl stooped low to hug him—whispering words of concerns,
"You should love your parents okay? I don't want you getting lost again. Some monsters may find you and I really want you to be safe alright?" Her litany of worries went on and Naruto just stood at the scene with a sweet smile on his face.
There's something about Hinata that reminded him of his Kaa-chan. Well, his Kaa-chan and Hinata was in no way alike. His Kaa-chan was more like him—quite boisterous and energetic. Hinata, on the other hand, was demure and gentle. However, there's that tenderness he recognized that they both possessed.
A deep sigh escaped him. Well, Naruto truly loved his mom even in just the short time they spent together. Her love really penetrated him. He felt it deep in his bones.
But seeing how Hinata was to the little boy…
Her calming voice.
Her sweet expression.
Her warm embrace.
Naruto couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to have Hinata as a mom.
He shook his head and the idea away rapidly.
It was just…weird.
Why would he want to have Hinata as a mom?
Surely, his thoughts were getting crazier lately. He just confirmed that. Must've been because of boredom.
After the little boy left, they discussed the sequence of events, which Tsunade didn't even bother to finish as the two were simply narrating how they play-house together. No, she wasn't being bitter. She just knocked-out Naruto after calling her baa-chan so that they could quickly disperse out from her office. She just did that to cover-up her thoughts. She just thought of what it would be like if Dan was still alive.
Tsunade smiled at herself. She was already too old to be thinking of such stuff. At this point in her life, she only wished to see her students achieve the fulfillment life has taken away from her. That, alone would make her feel contented.
Side by side, they walked along the snow-covered street. Hinata was thinking to herself how could a simple trip to the cinnamon shop led to something like this. It was fun and she surely found the little boy adorable. But in her heart, sprang new emotions of uneasiness and uncertainty. Perhaps, her closeness with Naruto-kun right now also had a deadline just like her brief filial moments with Neji-niisan, just like the presence of her mother.
She shook her head hard. Why was she thinking such things!
"Hinata, you're so silly!" He asked her while poking her cheeks, which caused her to blush a little bit. "I was always wondering what's running on your head. There were times that I could easily get you and there were times that I just couldn't really figure out. But somehow, I was always feeling the way you feel. Right now, I could tell you were sad and you were trying to shake it away."
She gulped hard at his statement.
"S-Sorry. I guess I was thinking too much." She muttered with head tilted down embarrassment clouding her emotions.
Naruto lifted her chin up with a curled index finger—her pale eyes meeting his blue gaze, "Well, people say I don't think too much and they sometimes say that I don't think at all dattebayo!"
She suddenly laughed at the implication he was going for and her sweet laughter echoed at his core. Naruto couldn't help but smile at Hinata and let the sound of her laughter fill his ears creating a light harmony with the naïve beating of his heart.
What was she doing to him?
A snow, then, fell atop his finger making him realize that he was still touching her chin. The mere thought alone caused him to panic and he rapidly slipped his hand away and inside his pocket.
What the hell did just happen? That was very uncool of me.
Hinata, thinking that her fit of laughs threw him off, "I-I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"No! No! Hinata! It's not like that I-uh-" He replied as he rubbed his hand at the back of his head. What he did was totally not cool.
They strolled in quietness, trying to figure out what was going on. Until, she decided to break the very awkward silence,
"Well, I guess I am really silly and an overthinker."
"I am stupid and simple-minded dattebayo!"
They both looked at each other and started laughing heartfully. They were both being crazy, irrational and childish. But who cares right? These little things were what the people find unattractive about them. And it just felt so right to find someone who can just laugh it off with you. Someone who wouldn't make you feel less even if you tell them the dumbest thing about you.
The two stopped and started to admire the sparks and lights that illuminate the establishments around them. The street lights illuminated their village as the night began to rise painting the sky with blue, purple and orange.
Looking up above, he marveled, "The dusk truly is perfect for the sky."
"Just like how Konoha is during Winter." She responded.
Just like ramen and a cold weather.
Like cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate.
Just like Naruto and Hinata.
Hello everyone!
I don't know if you guys felt the rollercoaster of emotions in this chapter. From something quite bitter in the middle to that cute yet awkward fluff at the end. I just realized it that way after I read it as a whole.
This chapter is intended to explore Naruto's maturing consciousness, although he didn't fully realize yet what he really wanted. I patterned this chapter to that scene in The Last that marked his emptiness despite all the attention he was getting from the village folks. I really felt that it was the moment when he finally realized what he was missing. I mean, with his reaction and all and the way he looked at his mom's scarf.
And that angsty Hinata musings, it was my favorite part, to be honest. Although, it was a bit of a torture though. TT-TT I feel like it's just being realistic that she would somehow feel that way. I mean all of those who has been in an unrequited love would surely get the feels. And because I love you guys, we'll have more of that coming!
Again, if you have prompts, suggestions or any ideas just bring 'em down here!
Your Quirky Novelist
Fern~
CHAT TIME!
J. D: I'm glad I delivered it well. There's more Hanabi and Naruto interactions to come so need to worry though ;)
Tiramisusu: Thank you so so much! It's so heartwarming that I managed to pull some emotions with my writing. TT-TT.. I never really thought I'll get to be that effective. I think we're twinsies in the way we think. ^~^ I really think that my author alter-ego was bit peculiar! /
RavenShadow, itsxoi, Hinatalover4ever: Thank you so so much for your consistent support! There are still more chapters to come just for y'all
maquina19: HAHAHAHA! I re-watched those episodes just for this one!
kayna96: He's such a precious little baby, right? I can't wait to write him transition as a man though.
