Chapter 10: His Feelings, Revealed

He had never felt this much agonizing distress before. The face of death had been at his doorstep more times than he can count, but this time he would gladly welcome it with open arms before experiencing this type of pain again. It was a pain that overcame anything physical and exacerbated everything psychological. He was not prepared to deal with this and he hated himself because of it.

Dammit, Hinata..

She was in his arms, comatose. He wanted to stop running, to lay her down and hold her, but they were behind enemy lines, a risk he was not willing to take.

Seeing Hinata had been a shock to Naruto. Why was she here, and how did she manage to track them from across the country? The thought barely managed to cross his mind, before witnessing her take down nothing short of a hundred skilled shinobi and blowing up half a mountain.

He couldn't be mad at her, but he was flustered. She had been reckless and by the looks of it she hadn't slept or eaten in a while. Was there something you were trying to tell us, Hinata?

Naruto glanced down at the ebony haired girl in his arms. Her clothes were tattered and ripped with a coat of mud covering just about every speck of lavender her shirt composed of. Her hair was wet and grimy and her overly long bangs were scattered across her stained face. But despite these vices, her beauty could not be tarnished.

He managed to tear his face away. He was no pervert, but he couldn't help but have this opinion. Her looks were of no interest to him, but of recently, he couldn't help but look at her. She was graceful and she was kind. A friend he could always trust with his secret. Someone he could call special.

He grimaced as he recalled a scene displayed before him several days ago. He couldn't stop thinking about it. A recurring thought every time he admired her. He didn't want to think about it, but it was unavoidable.

"Err…Tamaki m-meet my friend, Naruto."

He had been a little tense to see his friend again after being away for so many years, but he was also happy. He should have known better, he guessed. She opened the door in a robe, her slender legs bare and her petite shape, transparent.

He was uncertain, but most of all he was mad. He didn't want to look at her. He couldn't look at her. Instead, his eyes remained glued to the shirtless man behind her. His build was strong, a shinobi most likely by the way he carried himself. The man's grey eyes flickered a warning into Naruto's narrowed blue specks. There was something sinister about this man.

Naruto could feel the dormant demon inside him become restless. But it wasn't the spirit within him that gave Naruto a nasty idea. A menacing idea that still makes him feel guilty whenever he sees Hinata.

He wanted to kill the man.

And he was going to. Before Sasuke sensed his murderous intent and knocked the asshole out. He knew Sasuke was pissed at him, but he didn't care.

"Naruto, I thought you said she would alone." Sasuke says shooting Naruto a fierce look.

I thought so too, Naruto thought. He remained stiff, his eyes unmoving from the man's body that laid on the floor.

"Ohh, looks like we've interrupted something." Sakura chimed in while walking through the door past Naruto.

He didn't want to visualize what had been interrupted, but the strewn clothes that lay beside Hinata's bedroom door were enough to conjure up something obscene.

Sakura circles around Hinata and lowers Sasuke's sword. He hadn't realized Sasuke had drawn his sword at her. And he hadn't realized Hinata was crying. He felt like shit, but he couldn't think of anything to say that could make the situation better.

Sakura had said some words, but Naruto was too fixed on the man before him to care. They needed to get rid of him. He knew too much. "Sasuke, drop him off somewhere in the village and use Genjutsu to wipe his memory of us." Naruto thought he was being somewhat overly benevolent to the man who dare cross him, but he didn't think Hinata would forgive him if something were to happen to the asshole. "Sakura, take Hinata to her room, I'll be guarding the entrance."

He turned. There was nothing more to say at this moment. He was thoroughly confused and looking at Hinata was proving more and more difficult. He needed to leave and clear his head. A gentle hand grabbed his shoulder, her angelic voice shaking Naruto to his core.

"Naruto…." She says.

He turned to see her lavender sphere's pleading. He felt sick for doing this to her. He should have never come, but at the same time he was relieved to know she wouldn't spend the rest of the night with a strange man.

Her eyes begged him to show any kind of emotion, but he couldn't come up with an expression at this moment in time. He simply stared at her as she let go of his shoulder and cried. Naruto was already out the door by the time Hinata was pulled away by Sakura.

He couldn't help but wonder if Hinata loved this man.

Naruto sits in a tree close by the small house, cautious and alert. That was how he spent most nights. The ninja world was a cruel place, especially for Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura.

"Well, Hinata is asleep now, safe and sound in her bedroom as ordered."

Naruto looked down to see Sakura leaning against the tree he was in. She had a smirk on her face and her arms were folded across her chest.

"I don't suppose you want to talk about what happened back there?"

"No." He really didn't, but Sakura liked to meddle.

"She's a young woman now, what did you expect? A gorgeous, strong kunoichi is bound to have many suitors."

Sakura was always on some female power kick. She believed a woman had to be strong in order to survive. And Sakura was living proof of that.

Although bitter, Naruto knew Sakura was right, but he didn't want to admit it. "She could do better than that asshole." He says through mumbles.

"So you're going to set the standard for her, are you?" She started to giggle. "You know, you are such a blockhead sometimes, Naruto."

Naruto didn't appreciate this and jumped out of the tree, landing in front of Sakura. "What do you mean?"

"Hinata obviously feels something for this man or else she wouldn't have let him into her bed. You need to respect her feelings, Naruto." She unfolded her arms and began to walk back towards the house. She turned to look back at Naruto with a compassionate manner. "Besides, a woman can't wait forever for a man to realize his own feelings."

It was early. The village of Konohagakure was still asleep as the suns glare was barely peaking over the horizon. Naruto didn't like coming back to his home village, Hinata being the only exception. He remembered a lonely, miserable life here: a life with no meaning.

The Hokage at the time was an extremist geezer with an all-empowering ego. Naruto was often confined beneath the village, with few exceptions to leave and enjoy sunlight. The day he ran away was the best day of his life, not only because he was finally free, but because he had met Hinata. He had never met anyone kind and he had never met anyone that didn't fear him or call him "Demon." She gave him hope.

"We are here like you asked, what do you want?" Sasuke's tone was indifferent. It didn't matter if he was talking to a civilian or the Hokage; his tone was always the same.

The Hokage had been replaced two years ago after the previous one went insane and decapitated fifty civilians for looking at him the wrong way. The new one was in his late thirties and always had a mask that covered his mouth and nose. He was somewhat different than the other Kages. He treated Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura with respect and secretly supported them despite knowing the deadly consequences that would ensue if anyone found out about their private meetings.

Kakashi handed Sasuke a map, pinpointing the location in which they needed to be. "I received a tip that a group a bandits are assaulting small villages and towns just south of here through the mountains pass. I need you three to intercept them and take them out."

"How many will there be?" Sakura asks twirling her hair in boredom.

"About fifty, but I hear they are no more than mindless thugs. Should be easy for you guys."

Easy for us, but not easy for any other random shinobi, he meant. Naruto glances at the map being held in Sasuke's hand. They would have to travel across country. Should be about a five-day journey if everything goes smoothly.

"When do we leave?" Naruto didn't want to leave quite yet before resolving the issue with Hinata.

"I'll let you know. In the meantime, find somewhere to stay, concealed of the public." Kakashi says flatly. "You may leave."

Their meetings were never long, always short and straight to the point. They couldn't afford to be seen together. Naruto someday hopes to change that.

When they get back, Hinata is gone.

"Don't worry, I'll find her." Says Sakura as she runs into the forest.

Naruto and Sasuke wait by the door, bored. The sun had now begun to show itself, its rays half blinding Naruto as he continues to stare off into the woods waiting for her.

"You were going to kill him."

Sasuke's words held no question. It was a fact, a statement that Naruto could not deny. So instead, Naruto didn't respond. He was ashamed, but also he was not.

Sasuke smirked and leaned against the wooden door. "Not that I care if you did or didn't, I suppose." His face suddenly became serious as his eyes narrowed. "But, you were weak at that moment. He would have killed you."

"What did you just say?"

"Heh, you finally understand now, idiot."

Naruto didn't have time to retort before his eye caught two figures walking towards them. It was Sakura and Hinata. She had a white dress on and her hair had gotten much longer since the last time he saw her. He had remembered explaining her to Sasuke and Sakura and accidently exclaiming that she was gorgeous, but that was three and a half years ago, at a time when looks were the last thing on his mind. They still were, but he couldn't help but admire her now.

"G-Good morning!" she says nervously.

Why did she always have to be so damn polite? Naruto thought as Sasuke begins to speak. While their talking, he notices her snagging glimpses at him. He tries to smile, but it's forced.

"Sasuke, we should probably get going to set up Barrier Jutsu's around the perimeter." Sakura says. Naruto knew she was probably doing this for his sake.

"Yeah. Naruto, keep watch here."

Naruto stares at the ground, unsure of how to go about the many questions he wanted to ask as Hinata stands there. He wanted to know more about the man inside her house last night. 'You need to respect her feelings...' Sakura's voice was inside his head now. He settled on one question that seemed appropriate to him as he looked up at her. Their eyes locked.

"Do you love him?"

She seemed to be confused. "I don't know what you're talking about, Naruto. Please te—."

"The man inside your house last night, Hinata." He didn't mean to sound as harsh as he did. This was a personal matter, something that he had no business asking. Except that he couldn't really stop himself.

"Naruto, I-I-I…er."

He relaxed his hands on his head and tried to smile. "The reason I ask Hinata…" He had a reason, and what it all boiled down to was simply her happiness. He would support her even if he didn't agree. "I don't want you to give yourself to someone that isn't special to you."

She couldn't give an answer and that was okay, however, he didn't know why he still felt bothered by it.

They walked to a clearing in the woods that displayed many different kinds of flowers that Naruto had never seen before. The sky had turned grey except for the few beams of sunlight trying to escape.

Hinata walked in front of him and stood there with her eyes closed taking in the sweet scent of the rain and blooming flowers. She looked elegant in Naruto's opinion. She peered back at him, her lips were curved into a smile that fell nothing short of pure.

"What?" she asks.

He looked away. He shouldn't be gawking. "Err, I was just thinking is all, dattebayo."

"Naruto?"

"Yes, Hinata?"

"Don't die on me."

Her words stunned Naruto. He didn't know why she was so nice to him, even after everything that had happened the night before. He didn't deserve it.

He took a step forward. He was close now; close enough to take in her scent. Without much thought, he lifted his hand. He wanted so desperately to touch her silky pale skin, to run his fingers along the outline of her form. His fingers nearly graze her cheek, but stop. This isn't right, he thought.

Her head tilts up to meet his, her lavender eyes illustrating curiosity. A new sensation started to build inside Naruto, a sensation he had never felt or experienced. Before it had a chance to give him more ideas, he dropped his hand to her shoulder.

"You can count on me."

The way back was awkward. He didn't like this newfound feeling he was facing. It was uncomfortable and unfamiliar to Naruto. It was something he couldn't face head on like how he usually solved his problems. He felt vulnerable for the first time in his life, and he did not like it. Not at all.

He sensed movement ahead and as it got closer he detected its ominous aura. It was him.

"He's here." Naruto says, although more to himself than to Hinata.

Naruto jumped a few yards back from tree to tree, completely concealing his presence as the man stopped in front of Hinata.

"There you are."

"T-Tamaki!" Hinata says surprised.

That's what the assholes name was. Naruto was briefly introduced to him before he was knocked out, but hadn't bothered to remember his name. He was known as "asshole" now.

"Was there someone with you?" Tamaki asks.

Naruto could sense something looking for him, something as dark as the beast inside him. The nine-tails became increasingly disturbed.

Kill him.

"No, I am alone."

"I could have sworn I sensed some-, never mind."

Naruto had been found, but he could do nothing but stay where he was. He felt a danger looming near Hinata, but Tamaki was showing no signs of malicious intent. He was unreadable, a talent only few skilled shinobi possess.

"So I'm not sure exactly how I woke up on a bench in the street with a bottle of sake in my hand, feeling drunk as hell, but I apologize for leaving you."

Tamaki comes closer to Hinata. Naruto tries to ignore this as he continues to listen in.

"I have to leave on a mission in about an hour."

He leans into her and grabs her slender waist, an act not for himself, but for Naruto. The asshole was putting on a show.

"And I was thinking before I go, we could pick up where we left off." Tamaki finishes with a seductive smile.

He was trying to provoke Naruto. And if Hinata weren't there exposed and unaware, he would have met Tamaki with his fists. Naruto hated hiding, but it was a part of life for him, something that had yet to be changed. Tamaki seemed to be aware of this. He knew Naruto was stuck, unable to face him.

Hinata pretended to be sick and Naruto couldn't help but shake his head at her performance.

"I guess that poses a problem. Well, I guess I'll be seeing you, Hinata. Get well." With that Tamaki left.

Finally.

Naruto couldn't sense the disturbing aura surrounding him anymore. He dropped near Hinata, and didn't realize he said his next words out loud. "He's good."

Hinata was speaking to him, but he couldn't focus on what she was saying. Sasuke's words of bullshit were in his head, somehow he felt they were relevant. "He would have killed you." The thought was ludicrous.

"Naruto?" she had a concerned look on her face.

Unconsciously, his hands curled into fists. "He knew I was here." he says.

"He doesn't know who you are, so it shouldn't matter right?"

The problem was, he did know, but he didn't want to worry Hinata. He was relieved that Tamaki was leaving for a mission for more reasons than one, some Naruto didn't care to admit to. Tamaki was dangerous, but telling Hinata something like that wasn't easy. He didn't want her to think he was interfering, again. "I guess not, lets head back. Sasuke and Sakura should be done by now." He replied.

That night was eventful and flavorful. Hinata had made a delicious meal, Sasuke managed a snicker, and Sakura's temper was unleashed on Naruto's jaw. But the best thing of all was Hinata's sweet laugh.

The next day was interesting to say the least. Hinata had challenged him to a sparring match. She was strong indeed as she released her modified Twin Lion Fists jutsu. He couldn't help, but stare in wonder as its brilliant blue body ran toward him.

"Naruto, move!"

She was so silly. He was behind her now.

"Why would you scare me like that?" She said while throwing a fist at him. He caught it with ease.

She was quite amusing. "You are really something else, Hinata. To be concerned about me during a sparring match..." He couldn't help but give a slight chuckle as he remembered the little girl he met eleven years ago. "You were always so kind and caring to me as kids and even now…" The hand that had caught Hinata's punch seemed to move on its own as his fingers intertwined with hers. He likes her delicate touch and the warmth of her skin on his. "Your jutsu and chakra is just as beautiful as you are." He doesn't know why he says this, a slip of the tongue. Nonetheless, it was true.

A blush creeps on Hinata's pale face. Had he managed that? Before he had time to take pleasure in her bashful state, her head had leaned gently against his chest, the moist from her tears seeping into his jacket.

"Then take me with you!" Hinata mutters through her tears.

It was a heartbreaking plea to Naruto. A plea so selfless and pure. He had predicted this, her compassionate nature leading her to sacrifice life just to watch him. But he could never let that happen. Never.

His hand moved to the back of her head, pressing her closer. He had a feeling the sparring match she encouraged had a more significant meaning than she let on. It was a match that would determine her capability. And although, she was especially capable, the missions he went on were of the darkest parts where salvation ceases to exist. It was a part of him that he never wanted her to see and he did not know how to explain this.

He pulls slightly away from her so he can look at her. Let me take you when I go. "I thought you might ask. But I will not allow you to come with me. You are too…important to me. I need you to understand." he says firmly. I don't want to do this on my own.

She looks at him now with dry eyes. So here we are at the end now.

Sasuke and Sakura appear before them. Shit. His fingers unlink from Hinata's. "Sasuke! Sakura! Why are you here?" He could see a look of sympathy on Sakura's face and his heart immediately fell. It was time.

"We got word that it's time to strike." She says with a tinge of remorse.

"Unfortunately, we don't have time for goodbyes." Sasuke motions for him to follow before taking off with Sakura in pursuit.

Naruto attempts to smile as he turns to look at Hinata. Her lavender eyes were open wide, watching him intently.

I need to leave.

"Wait for me, Hinata."

But I only want to stay with you.

She would wait for him like she always did. At least, that's what Naruto thought. But now she was in his arms unconscious.

He should have known she wouldn't wait forever.