CHAPTER 8
The violent flow of falling water from the falls made a comforting sound to her ears. For a reason unknown to her the place soothes the tension in her body. The place had been her hidden training area since she had passed as a genin.
Feeling her left foot sinking, she quickly adjusted her chakra. Although standing on the surface, she could still feel the coldness of the water under her, damping her feet.
There she stood in the middle of the river, meters away from the cascading water of the falls. She'd been there for almost four hours now. She'll be missed if she'll stay any longer.
Sneaking from home isn't really a crime but to her father it might be a crime. After she had brough the little fox with her home her father was enraged and kept on interrogating her where she got the fox. It had been a mystery to her why her father was so interested in a small vixen. The Hyuuga leader immediately left home after that, he said he was going to talk to the Hokage about something.
She had trained long enough, might as well go back.
She inhaled deeply and exhaled in slowly. She was about to prepare to leave when she heard a loud crash not a long distance away.
Aki's, who had been watching Hinata's practice, sharp ears twitched at the sound.
Curious she walked toward the source of it. The raven hair signalled the little fox to stay put. Still barefoot, she slowly approached the clearing, hiding her chakra for good measures.
Her eyes widened at the sight that greeted her. Trees have fallen everywhere. She could tell that it was made by a brute force. The only suspect for such a display was no other than the blonde who was standing in the middle of it all.
The boy lifted his fist again and made contact with a tree. A surge of chakra enfolded the spot where he hit it. A second passed and the tree exploded from the inside.
The exhibition of such power made her jump in fright. Before she knew it she had already released a small amount of her chakra.
Not a second passed the blonde spotted her location. Piercing blue eyes met with her lavender ones. It seemed like eternity when he broke eye contact with her and darted it behind her.
The stranger opened his mouth to speak which made Hinata start once more. She gulped. 'Who could this be?' She was already close to tears.
The blonde in front of her only wore a tan sleeveless shirt and a forest green sport shorts. He sported black shinobi sandal too. Yet even with the laid back attire he had shown such formidable power. His eyes that had stared straight at her a second ago was so cold. Like it might pierce through her if possible. She could tell that she is no match to him if they fought.
"Aki." The deep baritone voice sounded so cold to her ears but the familiarity of how the blonde rolled the name in his tongue was noticed. She jerked her head to her back. There she saw Aki wagging its tail in excitement. The fox ran pass her with such speed she could not keep up.
She returned her startled gaze at the blonde in front of her. The fox already settled itself at the boy's side.
"A-a-" Hinata opened her mouth to speak but word could not come out. "Ano ne, a-are you Aki-chan's master?" alas she found her courage to speak.
The boy gave her a blank expression then recognition dawned to him.
"Were you the one climbing a cliff that time?" the question came out from him.
Startled by the sudden question she tried to suppress her surprise but to no avail. "H-Hai! S-so y-you were t-the one S-Sakura-chan was arguing to." She stated the obvious. Why does this stranger make her feel flushed and stutter?
The stranger's face softened even by just a millicule. He held out a hand to her. "Uzumaki Naruto by the way. I haven't thank you yet for stopping that amazon from pounding me." Hinata eyed the outstretched hand for a second and took it. Naruto's hand was warm and welcoming, which surprised her. How could such a caring hand destroy a tree minutes ago?
"H-Hyuuga Hinata, Uzumaki-kun." Shamefaced she withdrew her hand from the blonde.
Naruto gave a faint smile that didn't even reach his eyes. "I immediately recognized you because Aki was with you."
Hinata tilted her head sideward, puzzled.
"Before I left I instructed Aki to help you guys, mainly you, if needed. The earthquake was my fault any way. I apologize for bringing you to such a situation." He even bowed his head at her.
Waving her hands in front of her she blushed, "I-Iie, I'm the one who should thank you. Even with just a short time of acquaintance you still troubled yourself by leaving Aki-chan to us, Uzumaki-kun."
o 0 o
Naruto stared at the porcelain beauty right in front of him. Moments ago her presence was unwanted and he was ready to drive her away when Aki caught his eyes.
He was a fool consider driving the girl away just because she interrupted him. He could tell her fear of him moments ago has already dissipated.
The girl right in front of him only wore white training attire. She stood barefoot. Her silky raven hair was on loose and some were sticking to pale face due to perspiration. The thing that really took his breath away was her stunning lavender eyes. With her white complexion added with her garb she was striking. Yet he could easily tell the she her curves at the right place.
'I'm turning into a pervert.' He shook his head to erase that thought. He fixed his eyes on her concerned face.
o 0 o
He shook his head, probably in disagreement. "Naruto is fine and it was no trouble at all. I was just practicing when Aki ran in your direction. I followed her and ended up being tormented by that woman. I was not in the mood for an encounter so I thank you once again." He smiled once again, but now it was definitely genuine.
At that the poor girl felt herself going faint. She made a mental note to endure it. His calming voice makes her blush. His blue gaze seemed like it was piercing through her heart. His smile made her knees go weak.
Her face couldn't be any redder than it was already. Where her fear of him did moments ago went? Now that she thinks of it, she doesn't just feel faint she feels like she's having a fever.
She averted her eyes away from his profile. A second more and she will definitely faint. She cleared her throat and fidgeted at her place.
"Is there any problem?"
Hinata yelped in surprise. Shaking her head she tried to change a topic. "P-Practicing. You said practicing. Were you also practicing like this?" She gulped before adding, "N-Naruto-kun?" She eyed their surroundings.
o 0 o
Somehow the girl's presence was serene to him. She was like an innocent child asking common stuffs. The way his name rolled in her tongue sends shivers down his spine. Yet he doesn't know why though.
He was drawn to her innocence. He can't seem to lie in front of her.
"Ah, no. It was summoning."
"Summoning?" She bowed her head once more blushing. "What animals do you summon, N-Naruto-kun?" She paused. "Ah, you don't need to answer. Gomen, I was ahead myself. I didn't mean to pry."
"Toads—"He then eyed Aki who just tilted its head at him. It didn't really matter much if he reveals it, "and foxes."
"You mean Aki-chan is a contracted kitsune?" Naruto nodded.
"You could say that. And before anything else, she can understand what we are talking about although she can't talk back." Hinata's eyes widened in amazement.
Naruto seemed pleased with her reaction for he sat down and continued to explain further. "Speed is a must for kitsunes like her. They can stay anytime in this world and also possible not to return to their realm, but it depends on their master. She can turn into a weapon too."
The raven hair's mouth formed an 'Oh'. Naruto smiled at that. She reverted her lavender eyes from Aki back to Naruto. Her face now full of concern. She had sitted herself in front of him.
"Then will you be taking her back Naruto-kun?"
He didn't like what he saw. He can't stand looking at her anxious face. "You need not worry. Aki can accompany you anytime; she'll aid you in times of trouble too. Anytime you want she can transform into a red dagger. Right, Aki?" Aki's ears twitched. She raised her snout in agreement.
Hinata's face brightened in an instant which gave relief to Naruto.
"But I must warn you though; summoning a kitsune became a taboo to shinobis. Although they are a big advantage in battle they are difficult to handle. Please don't tell anyone about it."
'So that's why Otou-sama was in a fit when he saw Aki. That explains it all.' She thought.
"But don't worry about that. Aki is in contract with me and not you so you'll have no trouble with her." He added.
"It seems unfair that I'm to be guarded by Aki while-"
"No problem with that. I've come to like you." Naruto interjected. Hinata's blush returned, profusely.
'He only meant what he said as friends. He only meant what he said as friends.' She kept repeating her thought while her blush never left.
The blonde stood up and offered his hand to Hinata, blushing once more, who took it.
A/N: Finally! They've met each other. It's pretty hard to make first meetings like this. As most say, first impression lasts. Hopefully I could come up with adorable scenes of them. Hopefully!
