Block happened and was awful. And when it ended and could finish this chapter for once and all, my internet failed a week until today.

Seriously, it hasn't been my month.

Anyway, part of this late update was that I watched at like a fifty times the episode #65 of Boruto (and #66, Uzumaki's family is just that wholesome.) if you don't I'm sure you watched the 6574356464 sakuga gifts of the episode. God bless Sekibeing.

TL;DR Long chapter and full POV Naruto ahead, (13k when this happened?)

I don't own Naruto, if I had I would ask to be adopted by Uzumaki's family.


Chapter 12

The miso ramen looked gorgeous.

Really, it was the best thing he's seen in weeks, believe it.

Ichiraku was almost empty. Ayame-neechan was behind the bar alone, waiting for her father to come back from buy ingredients and Naruto was trying to pick up the noodles with his left hand and watching frustrated how they slipped of the chopsticks, fell in the broth and got soggy. Damn it, he should have asked them extra firm. The flagrant smell of pork and miso was from another world, he wanted to sink his face in the bowl, but Naruto won't give up: he would eat it and repeat it; this wound in his right hand wasn't going to win.

His right arm was taking his time to heal, even with his amazing healing skills (and the Fox wasn't helping him, but that was another problem). Sakura-chan had mended him but making three Rasenshuriken consecutive, not only broke his bones but also cut some flesh at cellular level or some complicated blabber like that. Kakashi-sensei had said to him the greater the jutsu, the greater the risk to the user. Got it. He'd been careful with it but in that moment it wasn't like he had an option, this jutsu was his secret weapon and, in some way, he won against that Kakuzu guy.

But…

He felt frustrated and not only for the noodles.

Those guys caught Fu and she…

"Fuck."

Ayame-neechan sighed helplessly at his twenty-two attempt to lift the egg right.

"Take it" and gave him a chopstick helper with the form of a little fox.

"I'm not a kid 'ttebayo."

"Is this or eat cold ramen and believe me, if you do that, my Father will ban you from here." A shiver ran through Naruto's back. "I'd help you but…" She pointed at spring onions that she was cutting and shrugged.

"It's okay, Ayame-nee, but this is a secret between us." They shared a smile.

Naruto finally started to eat well. And while he tasted his egg, his mind ended up wandering in the idea of being feed by a girl. He imagined sitting close to her and smelling her sweet perfume, watching at her how she put some strands of her lavish black almost blue hair behind her ear and she blew with her full lips the bites with her natural gentleness… He shook his head with force, erasing that thought in his mind.

"This was so uncool." He said, trying to sound normal and took a piece of menma. It was a good thing that Ichiraku was almost empty but he missed some company. Sai preferred paint in the street and Sakura-chan didn't want to come with him. Naruto was secretly plotting his date as usual, but she had to work with some late reports, mostly about the people who had been hurt in the Attack.

Konoha had been lucky that only two people had died, if that was a lucky thing.

He shook his head and gulped down the ramen.

"Always here brat" said a familiar voice.

Naruto turned back. "Ero-Sennin!" recognized. His sensei appeared behind the curtain with his spiky white hair, his green kimono, his timeless sandals and his laid back attitude. "Long time without see ya!"

"Yo, Naruto! You should eat another thing, more nurturing, for a change."

"Ramen is nurturing, dattebayo."

The old man rolled his eyes and started to flirt shamelessly with Ayame-neechan while he asked for a bowl of shoyu ramen, kaarage and sake. Naruto was sure that Teuchi-ojisan would kill him for trying to hit his daughter, only if those corny phrases didn't do first.

"Lame…" coughed Naruto.

"Pot calling kettle black. You are using a cute chopstick helper" he bit back. "Problems to eat?" he pointed at his right hand.

"My new awesome jutsu" he said casually.

"I heard from Kakashi, Rasenshuriken. Not the most amazing name." Naruto pouted and Jiraiya laughed. "You mixed your Natural Release with the Rasengan. You are really something, kid… Be proud, even Minato your favorite Hokage, hadn't been able to do it."

"He he he. I told ya that I'll get it, 'ttebayo." Naruto scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed, the compliments always had been difficult.

"But he invented it, points for him. If only you paid me attention with Senjutsu… And? How did you do it?"

"Hinata-chan proposed me to put another clone, like I did with the Rasengan."

"Ojou-san?" Jiraiya send him a knowing smirk that Naruto couldn't decipher. "You're so lucky, Naruto." Said dreamy.

"Whaddaya mean?" But a round of fresh and cold ramen was served in the counter and interrupted them. This time he didn't care anymore about the childish chopsticks and devoured it, throwing himself into his bowl with the spicy tickle of the ginger in his nose. It was full of new firm noodles, delicious seasoning eggs and pieces of juicy chāshū. Ero-Sennin began to drink sake and continued praising Ayame for everything that she did.

"Oh! I've brought you a present for you. Happy birthday, Naruto."

"Guaglly?" He said with his mouth full of noodles.

"Manners, Naruto" he complained "You never win over princess eating like that"

He gulped quickly. With everything that happened these weeks he forgot his birthday again.

(Not like it really matter, it was a day more. His birthdays always had been a little problematic (blame the Fox and the Villagers, and the rocks and the whispers, and his missing Parents and well, he didn't want to think about that…) and he always passed those days alone or with Iruka-sensei or training. This time he didn't have the spirit for share that with anybody and nothing that bowl of ramen couldn't solve (Teuchi-ojisan gave him for free!). He didn't care less about his birthdays. Maybe a bit, but really he was okay.)

It was the first present he received in a long time, Ero-Sennin always gave him amazing things, like his new orange jacket or a set of kunai, and he was so happy with that. Naruto cleaned his hands and took the present with reverence. He unwrapped it with all his care and found…

"A book?"

It was an old book with a green cover and the title of "The Tales of Gutsy Ninja". When he read the author was the very same Ero-Senin. He looked at him suspiciously "Y'know that your perverts' books don't work on me."

"Read well, brat. It's not one of my masterpieces that you don't understand in that thick head of yours." Naruto shrugged. "It is my first novel, I'm sure you would like it. It's not popular like the others, but it was good, and my favorite. I remembered when I published… nobody attended the signing hahahaha"

Naruto smiled. Something cool in Ero-Senin (but he never told him) he never gave up in his dream to be a writer (an awful one but a writer nerveless) and change the world with his works. The boy was sure that he will do it, they nindos were similar.

"All my pupils loved it and you won't be the exception. And who knows…" he sighed "Maybe with this you can start to appreciate my work. You really need it."

Naruto laughed. "Well, thank you very much, Ero-Sennin. I'll read it 'ttebayo."

"The Magnificent Jiraiya-sama, for you kid, geez"

He ignored him and started to leaf through the pages. Something grabbed his attention.

""To Nagato"? Who's that?"

"Ah, yeah, it was one of my pupils in Ame, after the Second War. I wrote this book while I was there. Great kid, nice and brave. He remembered a bit of you." Naruto grinned. "But I've lost contact with him and his teammates since I came back to Konoha. I just hope that he'll be okay… he, Yahiko-kun and Konan-chan… Great kids…" The old man was lost in his thoughts while he drank his bottle of sake.

Naruto wondered how that Nagato guy was. Maybe he was a strong ninja and he knew more secrets technics of Jiraiya, and he could teach him Senjutsu for once of all. Or maybe he was a pervert like his teacher; he bet that was probably the later. "It would be nice to meet him" he thought while swallowed the broth and finished his ramen. Naruto asked for more.

"I came back as soon as I knew. About the Attack of Akatsuki. They were sooner than I expected." Jiraiya palmed his back, comforting him "Sorry for not be here."

"It's okay…"

"Are you all right, Naruto?"

"Great question." He responded with a sigh. He wasn't okay.

He was aware of the void that Fu talked and, like a cruel joke, it was with her.

Three days after the Attack, in the bed of hospital Naruto had felt how they took the life force of Chomei and Fu and how they disappeared in an instant, leaving him with a hole of nothingness in his chest, cold and numb and trembling. Later when he talked with Gaara, he sensed the same, the perks of being a monster.

That night in front of the cage of the Fox, his eerie silence was worse than his hard words and before that was insupportable the Kyuubi responded the first question he had asked in the summer and kicked him out of there.

Kurama.

His fucking name was Kurama.

But in that moment Naruto discovered that he wasn't interested in know it now. It was too late for Fu, for tell her his name and saw her face bloom in wonder and her mouth in silly questions.

Stupid Fox. Always ruining everything.

He promised himself that he won't feel again like that anymore. He will beat those monsters of Akatsuki and made them pay this suffer. He will bring justice for Fu, for Utataka and the others. He won't give up. This time was for them.

"Fu was my friend" he tried to say, the knot in his throat was tight and heavy. "She was great, a bit weird but funny and smart. Y'know, the first time that met her he said me that I have to be friend of the…" He made a gest to his belly.

"Really?" said Jiraiya. "I never thought about that"

"Yeah, she was like that, friendly with everything. I tried to do the same but he is a jerk. He doesn't talk to me." Unless it was to threaten me or break the Seal. "Fu told me that hers was nice."

And since then, Naruto couldn't reach the Cage of the Fox.

He was half pleased-half irritated for his new attitude: no more nightmares and strange voices in his head but that silent fury felt a lot more dangerous. His anger was familiar, a mix of rejection and revenge that haunted him not so time ago (or still did, sometimes those voices never shut up). With his voice silenced at least he hadn't to worry to lose the control again, but he wanted to be his friend and not only because Fu told him.

"Y'know, she could fly, that was so cool. Docha'know if I can do the same?"

"I don't know too much about the Bijuu, Naruto. All the knowledge we had in Konoha disappeared a long time ago, before I born. And Takigakure doesn't have that information, they were a small village. I guess that the girl learned for herself, but yes it would be cool, like you said." He took a sip of his cup. "I clued in about the son of Sarutobi-sensei… that was a sad too."

"Yeah… he was going to be a dad."

As he thought, Konoha had been lucky that only two people had died from attack of Akatsuki. One was Fu and the other was Asuma-sensei.

While Naruto and Hinata were fighting with that thread freak, Asuma-sensei was the only ninja who chased his clone and battle with the scythe guy in the Nara Forest. When Shikamaru and his team came, they found him almost dead and they couldn't do anything for him. The funeral was a week after the attack; they buried him along his father, the Sandaime Hokage. Konohamaru cried a lot but the thing that broke his heart was saw the swollen belly of Kurenai-sensei. Those bastards left a baby without his father.

And he felt frustrated. Why didn't he fight when he could? Why didn't kill that Kakuzu bastard quicker? If he didn't make that clone, if he wasn't so desperate for the Fox's words, if he called for help or if he did something different maybe Asuma-sensei would carry his child when he born or Fu would be here, laughing with Shino and Kiba. Since that day the universes of If I didn't haunted him in his dreams worse than the Fox's nightmares. Naruto rubbed his eyes and held the tears, he had cried enough.

"But I won't give up." He couldn't, for them. "I'll carry them inside me and I'll make those bastards of Akatsuki pay. I'll bring justice and I never go back on my words, that's my nindo."

Jiraiya smiled sadly at him. "I know, kid. Just… don't lose yourself in that justice." And looked at him with a surprising seriousness "And remember that you are not alone in this."

"Yeah… I know Ero-Senin"

He sighed loudly. "Jiraiya for you" He gulped down his glass of sake and finished his bottle. Ayame-neechan served them another ramen and more alcohol, excused herself and went to the bathroom.

"Tsunade-chan is furious. Taki trusted in us to take care of their jinchūriki and we couldn't protect her. I only hope this wasn't mean war."

"Why war?"

He opened another bottle. "Well, I never told you but all the Hidden Villages had jinchūriki or two, it balances the power, but those deals never helped so much anyway. I guess that one of the goals of Akatsuki, break that balance, but I'm not sure." He shrugged and moved closer to him and murmured "Between you and me, I went back before, sorry for not tell you. I was investigating Konoha, Tsunade asked me for that."

"Why?"

"'cause the genjutsu they used to get inside the Village wasn't a normal one. It needs a lot of chakra to control and deceive an entire town and full of tourist, and when I said a lot is a lot. I don't know many ninjas who are able to do that. And before you ask no, Uchiha Itachi is not one of them. That probably would kill him."

"Serves him right, if he was dead, maybe Sasuke'd come back." Ero-Senin made a grimace, like always he mentioned Sasuke. "Maybe, y'know, that's why they want to collect the Kyuubi."

"I don't think so. Control the Bijuu's chakra is difficult too, you have to be an Otsusuki or have some unknown kekkei genkai and think a bit, Naruto, is a waste of chakra to use it only for sneak in a town. No, my theory, and Tsunade agreed, is that they had help from inside."

Inside? "Eh? That's mean… that Konoha has…"

Ayame went back. The man glared him to shut up and asked for more kaarage. "Rule number one: Don't use the T-word aloud, kid. But yeah, if "someone" used a catalyst is possible that they could do the genjutsu."

"Cat what?!"

"Catalyst. To explain it simple, is like a smell or a drugs that made people more vulnerable or easy to fall in the illusion. In little doses in the water every day and bingo: the simplest genjutsu can work, even if you literally bumped into them or touch you, you don't feel them." He poured more wine in his glass "Believe when I said this was planned for months."

Naruto couldn't believe, someone betray them. And why? "It might be for the Kyuubi maybe he hated him and... and maybe he was right, to betray us, it's easier to live without that danger… without me…" He tried to shut up that thought, which was never good. "But all Konoha was outside; it had a lot of patrols. It wasn't more simple for them that, y'know, a normal day."

"Well, three jinchūrikis in the same place was really tempting for them." A knot formed in Naruto's stomach. "And only a few people had known what that friend of yours was. So yeah, someone leaked it." Jiraiya continued drinking unconcerned. "This would be simpler if that guy that you name in Kakashi's report…"

"Kakuzu?" he said quickly.

"No, the other, the masked one."

"Ah, the crazy one, Tobi? Whadda'bout him?"

"Tobi, he is the new one. He smashed the brain of Kakuzu. If it wasn't, we could read in his mind and know the name or face of that someone, you know, easy-peasy. Or at least find for once and all Akatsuki's den. But Yamanaka Inochi can't work with a smashed brain."

Naruto remembered that Ino commented once that his dad was able to read minds of the dead; it amazed and freaked him in equal's parts. He started to think that maybe that Tobi guy wasn't a psycho after all. "But if isn't like that, he should know a lot about Konoha. Maybe he spied us and that someone doesn't exist." Naruto didn't want to believe to someone betrayed his home. "'nd the other one? Why ain't use his brain, 'ttebayo?"

"Your friend Shikamaru cut his head sealed it and buried in depths of the Nara forest. The guy is practically immortal, so Shikaku suggested us that he has to stay there, if he can, forever." Team 10 avenged his sensei and for Chouji's tale they were brutal. "He deserved that..." He slurped his noodles "…and more."

The old man was sipping his bottle and thought in loud voice "The strange thing in all this is… why was you the first one in detected them? You're awful with genjutsu."

"I ain't that bad, dattebayo. Kakashi-sensei trained me." He pouted. "It wasn't me who noticed, it was Hinata."

He stopped to drink. "Ojou-san?"

"Yeah, she was with me when we saw them."

"In a date."

"It wasn't a date; we were just hangin' out in the festival."

He raised an eyebrow. "That was a date, Naruto. What do you think, Ayame-chan?"

Ayame paused to cook and smiled "Eh? Well, to me "hangin' out in the festival" sounded like a date."

"Not you, Ayame-nee" the boy complained "And it's not. Don't get weird ideas, geez."

"So…" He looked at him interested. "How was that?"

"We were eating yakisoba and scooping fishes and she was winning and I…" Naruto stopped. Something in his mind warned him that it wasn't a good idea to tell Ero-Senin about his "joke"

(It was a joke, isn't it? He only played with her hair and he wanted to know if her cheeks were soft and fuck, that sounded like… like he was a freaking pervert, but he wasn't, believe it, even it was true and felt… arghh and she didn't matter (or she did? If not why she was so red, but Hinata was like that, always.) Damn it, why is this so confusing.)

He couldn't tell that to the biggest pervert of the world.

"And you…?"

"Whatever… Look the important is Hinata saw those guys with her Byakugan, y'know she sees everything and you said that the genjutsu was weak, a piece of cake for her, dattebayo. And you've already read it in the report: we hide, we fought, Kakashi-sensei was late, I did my awesome jutsu, that Tobi guy freaked us, we ran after Fu and lost her. End of the story." Naruto said this quickly and finished his ramen, enough for today.

The old man glared him behind his new glass of sake.

Lately, Hinata was another delicate topic and another thing that frustrated him.

Since they fight he hadn't seen her.

He knew she was busy, with the tracking missions and Shino and Kurenai-sensei and Kiba in the hospital, but that wasn't the problem.

He left her alone when they chase for Fu, in the middle of a heart attack.

She fought besides him, protected Gamakichi and him and before he was aware that was happening she started to run after the bombing bird and, Naruto knew about her health problems that she always hid, but in that moment it wasn't important (or yes, because Hinata never said anything about her, always putting everyone ahead of her and he should have known about that) and he left her alone. And then he lost. And when everything finished and his arm was pain and the worry was killing him, a very pissed Neji didn't let meeting her in a hospital. "You did enough, Naruto" he said.

And Naruto knew that he was right.

And that frustrated him a lot because it was his fault and that day he could have lost her. And that thought drove him crazy, really. The Fox didn't give him nightmares anymore but the worst what if nightmare was Hinata, lying in his arms, cold and pallid and livid because he was too late to save her. He didn't know how apologize to her.

"… She will leave you alone..." No, she won't.

"That wasn't in the report. Buzz kill." Jiraiya blurted. "And where is she?"

"Dunno. In her home or with her Teammates. Why do ya ask?"

"'cause the last time I was here you were with her 24/7. And I've wondered how it is that she wasn't helping you today. With that broken arm of yours, is easy to see at Ojou-san blowing those noodles for you and feed you with an ahhh…"

A flash of her full lips blowing gently his food and her smiling white eyes invaded him. A blush climbed up to his ears. He felt his face burning.

Fuck.

Ero-Sennin laughed at his face. "I'm right. Something happened." He knocked the counter. "Details, Naruto."

"Eh?"

"Eh?!" he mocked "Don't play dumb with me. I need new material for my next masterpiece and Ojou-san is… a bit inspiring."

Inspiring? For what? Masterpiece? Those novels are… "Shut up, pervert. She ain't like those girls of your novels." Naruto was furious, that fuckin' old man, what the hell he was thinking?!. "And don't ya dare to think 'bout her or ogle her or..."

"I don't ogle her, haha." Ero-Sennin seemed amused with his reaction and that made him more furious. "But I must say… Ojou-san grew up pretty well. Lovely, elegant and delicate, especially in…" he did a gesture in his chest.

(He didn't know why but Naruto's mind was in the piggyback ride. He felt a phantom tingling in his back, where he felt something warm and soft (and big) and that was… really… something...)

He shook his head. That had nothing to do with that Old Pervert looking at her like she was… she was… Yes, she was a girl and p-pretty and cute and he missed a lot her little giggles and her comforting presence and lately he can't stop to think about her and his heart clenched every time he did that but that was because he hadn't apologize. And the fight. Yes, it was that. Hinata was his best friend and he will protect her, even from the eyes of his teacher.

"Shut up! Hinata is my friend. Don'cha ever talk 'bout her like that, Goddamit Pervert!" he shouted.

"But you tell me nothing."

"'cause nothing happened."

"But you wanted that something happen"

"What?!"

The man hid his face behind his hands. "You're impossible, Naruto. Three years travelling with me and you learnt nothing."

And what he wanted him to learn, peeping girls in the onsen? Go to brothels? Naruto rolled his eyes, Ero-Senin was like that every time they talked about women and his pervert advices never sounded good. And never worked, he was still pestering Baa-chan and wining some of her infaumous chakra punches. Behind the bar, Ayame was laughing and sent him a shrug.

Naruto sighed and tried to make peace. "By the way, how was your trip?"

"Don't change the topic."

"I ain't doing that!" he yelled.

"Yes, you do. I wasn't born yesterday." Naruto pouted. His teacher sighed and poured some sake in his glass. "If you want to know so much… I got the permission of Fukusaku-sama. When I come back from my next mission I'll take you to Mount Myōboku"

"Really?

"Yes, so once and all you start to take seriously the Senjutsu."

"I take seriously, dattebayo, it's just I ain't good in that meditation thing." It was a problem that he could get still and quiet in one place, since he was a kid he always had the pressing need to move and what's that ridiculous thing to "put your mind in blank"? It was practically impossible. "And when will ya teach me the Hiraishin no Jutsu? You promised last time."

Jiraiya looked at him, thoughtful and after a pause he said "If you tell me about Ojou-san, we can go after I finish this" Hi pointed out at his new bottle of sake. It was full, damn drunkard.

Naruto thought about his propose, but he simply couldn't say "that" (and even he didn't know what the hell "that" meant, everything was so confusing) but he said the true.

"… Apologize" He mumbled.

"What?"

"It's just… I have to apologize to her, 'ttebayo" Naruto repeated loud.

"Why? Did you do something wrong?"

"I didn't protect her when I should…"

"Is only that?" The man was skeptic "I'm pretty sure she wouldn't get angry for that, rather she'll be upset if you do." He stirred the glass of sake and sighed. "Brats…" He took a slip "Anything else?"

His response made him feel like his worries were stupid. Well, sorry for not tell him something big, and he was sure that he never would tell him about "that". It probably ended in one of his smutty novels and Neji, Kiba and Shino would castrate him. And why she'll be upset? It was his fault, he didn't get it. Even Sai with his plastic smile would give him a better answer. And speaking of Sai he remembered a long question that he had to ask to him. He hoped a better response.

"Yeah. It's weird but… whaddaya know about the Otsutsuki?"

Jiraiya changed his sulk; this question was far more interesting for him. "I've doubted why you never asked anything. What do you wanna know?"

"Dunno, anything. I know they're rich" If paid those zeros for a girl mean something, yeah those bastards were filthy rich.

"Rich isn't the word to describe them. Powerful, maybe. I like legendary. All big clans of Konoha, Senju, Uchiha and Hyuuga, descend from them. They founder was the Sage of Six Paths, the creator of the Tailed Beast, or that was the legend said." So not only they'll take Hinata, that damn Fox was their fault too? He's already detested them. "But I tell you something more fascinating."

"Blow me" he said ironically.

"They only have one member. Thirteen years ago all the clan disappeared in one night."

"Eh?" Yes, he surprised him.

"Not only the clan, the entire city. Main family, branch members, servants, guards, civilians, all dead. And it wasn't for the money and was plenty; whoever has been didn't touch a piece of ryo or jewels or anything value, heck they even left those old books. They went through all those impossible barriers, kill everybody and only took one thing."

"What?" Ero-Sennin was good in keep on the edge his stories.

"The eyes of the clan." Naruto was astonished "They had a kekkei genkai but the Otsutsuki weren't ninjas, they were priests of some cult to the moon. Nobody knew what they do with that, so much secrecy and legends. My favorite one is they controlled the destiny, the death and the reality, but I guess that was something like the Rinnegan or another form of the Sharingan."

"And the survivor? Ain't him the one…"

"Nope. The kid was almost dead when they found him and like everybody, he hasn't his eyes. He didn't remember anything, only a fast shadow and a mask. Weird, isn't?" Naruto nodded "I always was curious about what happened that night, it's a big mystery, I wanted to investigate but they don't trust in Konoha, or at least, they didn't until the deal with ours friends, the Hyuuga."

He served another glass of sake. "Sensei ordered at the Uchiha, at that time they were the Military Police, to help with the case but they found nothing, not ever a footprint, a trace, a kunai, a sword or rests of chakra, nothing." He took a slip "I remembered that Fugaku went with his prodigy, the little Itachi, and that was a scandal… He was too small, seven or eight years old… Too much blood for a kid. Well, you know how that ended." Naruto looked the rest of his bowl. "And there is the next husband of Ojou-san, a rich, blind and traumatized man. Maybe one day she'll know something."

"He isn't." said Naruto in quiet voice. "He isn't… yet"

The silence pocketed the moment while Jiraiya was finishing his sake.

Naruto was processing all this information. And what he supposed to do with this entire story. That man went for all that shit and the biggest mystery in the world (and what the heck was Sasuke's brother doing in all this mess) and he was pretty sure that Hinata knew this and maybe is why she hadn't fought back. ("She will leave you alone" No. She promised me that she won't.) But that man was wrong, he always was and he always would. That's not the way to be a family, that's not the way to don't be alone, with money. People weren't things. In the end, it didn't matter how he was or happened. He shouldn't have asked. But he still had time. He will save her but…

Jiraiya palmed his back. "If you don't mind I'll give you an advice" he was unusually serious "Don't waste time doubting in you. You aren't like that, Naruto." He smiled "Sometimes is necessary, think, but with… this friendship or whatever you have with her, don't do it. Be with her, make her happy, and make yourself happy with her. I know you do, you always had that idiot smile when you are with her."

"Hey!" What's smile? Did he really look like an idiot with Hinata?

The man laughed and showed his soul-scar, the one that long time ago he saw when they travelled together. It was black frog in his elbow, Ero-Sennin told him that once was red. "Not everyone find their match... And we are shinobis, soldiers, sometimes we get lost too fast."

He thought in Fu and Asuma-sensei. "I know."

"Good. And don't worry about that. Destiny always finds a way"

"I don't believe in destiny, 'ttebayo. But I won't give up."

"You should, maybe a little, it'll surprise you. And when it'll do, tell me how it ended. I told you, Ojou-san would be a good heroine…" Naruto frowned "…but for this sequel." He pointed his new book.

Naruto laughed, that was a good advice, better than the previous one. When he wanted, Ero-Sennin was good with words. He remembered his nindo. He wouldn't have gone so far if he had given up. And now more people depended of him, he didn't let them down. He felt a lot better and the backpack of frustration was a lighter.

"Well, I have to go with Tsunade-hime."

"Hey, whadda'bout my training?"

He didn't look too enthusiastic. "Tomorrow."

"You said it today 'ttebayo." He complained.

"It's late and I an old man" Naruto rolled his eyes. "Tomorrow in the morning, Ground 3 next to baths and I won't accept any complaint about your arm, you asked for this." He got up and stretched his arms a little. How he was sober with all that sake he drank, was a mystery too. "Bye, bye, Ayame-chan. Happy birthday, Naruto" and he disappeared leaving behind a cloud of smoke and leaves.

That Ero-Sennin… but he was happy that he was back and tomorrow he will surpass again at his hero. And he will beat Akatsuki and save Sasuke and free Hinata and be the Best Hokage ever, believe it.

"Thanks for the food." Naruto got up of his chair, ready to go, but the cough of Ayame-nee stopped him and she gave him a piece of paper. Oh, the bill. When he read, it included his food and all the bottles of sake that Ero-Sennin drank.

"WHAT?!" He shouted.

"Well, Jiraiya-sama went away…" She shrugged "And if you have change, better for us."

"Y're fuckin' kiddin'me!"

He corrected his words, tomorrow the first thing he'll do was beat that old bastard, and that would be awesome.

In the middle of the dark, the black water felt warm in his foot.

Something that was there and he didn't notice until now vanished, leaving a hole that engulfed the silence.

"They won't get me, brat" the Fox growled.

"They won't" said Naruto and left.

The gates of the Hyuuga Compound were tall and bare.

The day was clear in the autumn. The house was in the rich part of Konoha, in the other side of the Village and he felt misplaced: a street rat like him has nothing to do there, with their white and pristine walls, their cleaned flowerbeds and their invisible people and so visible disdain. Even the air felt different, heavy, solemn, expectant, like if at any minute he'd break something valuable.

Yeap, it wasn't good idea.

It was Kiba's fault.

After his (finally) successful training with Ero-Sennin -it took him twenty clones and a week-, Naruto rushed off to catch Hinata to tell her about his new super duper awesome jutsu but he only found Kiba and Akamaru and he suggested -or loudly forced was more or less correct- that he was so interested in see her, he should go to her house.

Easier to said that to do.

Hinata had been in his apartment multiple times (and always he felt that his house was more a home when she was there) but he never visited her house, and she never invited him in another of their multiple unspoken deals. Naruto knew (and Hinata knew) that if he bumped into Hyuuga Hiashi he was sure that he would punch him in the face and that wasn't a good thing when you visit a friend's house. And the Hyuugas were such proud and boring jerks –with a few exceptions, obviously. So there were fine with that.

But he wanted to see her.

Sneaking in didn't seem an option, it was impossible against a clan full of eyes which were able to see through everything. So he asked at Kiba for moral support, he was her teammate and he was sure that he had been in the damn house before. But that Mutt refused saying that he had his hands full of Shino.

"Ya're such a wimp, they look scary but they don't bite." He said. "Not at you" he wanted to retort.

But to his luck, Kiba told him that neither Neji nor Hiashi-sama were in home. Apparently, he was a worse gossiper than Ino and he knew that Hiashit was in a business trip. And Neji was helping in Kumogakure with his team after a new Attack of Akatsuki. (But he knew that, after all he was the first one to sense it. Baa-chan and Ero-Sennin'd banned him to go)

"And Hanabi is nice, buy her some sweets and you get in" said Kiba, like if was the easiest thing in the world. Sure, he knew very well how deal with the lil'girl.

And it seemed the chance to thank Hinata and give her something after her b-day gift (It was a simple amulet with her "Do your best!" to him meaning a lot.)

And the conversation of Ero-senin was in his head.

(And he missed her.)

In that moment looked like a good idea.

Naruto sighed. The maples behind the walls were red and orange, his favorite color, and that gave him a little courage. He knocked the door.

Two Hyuuga guards responded, with their practically same bare face and their same white eyes, they looked like the extension of the house.

"Huh, Hello I'm Uzumaki Naruto, 'ttebayo" he greeted clumsy "Is Hinata here?"

They exchanged looks and one of them responded "If you excuse us for a moment, Uzumaki-sama." and bowed and closed the door.

Naruto waited for eternity (a whole five minutes) and when he was decided to leave and relieve stress punching that Stupid Mutt for this wonderful idea, the door opened and Hanabi, Hinata's little sister, next Hyuuga Heir and self-proclaimed rival, was there with all her proudly self and her naughty smile.

"Uglymaki"

"Shorty"

They greeted as usual.

Since he met with her when they were children in the park, Hanabi called him like that and years didn't change it. She was like the little smuggest version of Neji, always displaying an honest and loud animosity towards him. Unlike most people who despised him, that didn't upset him, rather it amused him so much 'cause making her angry was funny, like infuriating a little rabid dog.

"I came to see Hinata, Kiba told me that she was in home." He announced.

"I see…" She leaned back in frame of the door and was more interested in the tiny details of her nails.

It exasperated him. "Can I come or…?"

She made a smug "Mmmm… The day's been so boring and I need a clown"

"Eh? Whaddaya say?" Naruto mocked her, looking everywhere, looking for her voice. He pretended surprise when he found her. "I don't hear ya from here, ya're too small?"

"You heard me!" she shouted, angry and red and growled. Yeap, making her angry was so simple. They looked at each other and clashed with the lightning of their silent threats.

"If ya'll excuse me Your Tiny Highness but I don't have time for brats like ya, I come to see your sister"

"Nee-sama is busy, you can wait for her with me, the… how did you call me? Brat…" she laughed with self-sufficiency "…or come later when Neji-niisama and my Father are back."

Waiting for Hyuuga Hiashi was the worst option ever; a little banter with Hanabi was a piece of cake.

"Ok" he muttered, gnashing her teeth.

"What?"

"I wait for her…" and he gulped like he was swallowing a bowl of green and fresh vegetables. "…with you"

Her smug grow in her face, damn brat. She cleared her throat to hide her happiness. "Hanabi-sama for you." She said and let him to pass. "Follow me and don't say anything." She murmured.

The girl guided him into the house. He had imagined it luxurious, full of mountains with golden coins, but he found a place austere like outside, too austere for a rich and old family. Only a few delicate porcelain vases or simple paints were the proof of their fortune.

It was a traditional building, too big and too silent and with too many invisible rules incarnated in each room with white walls and each hall with wood floors, which only Hanabi's bright yellow hakama and his own orange jacket seemed to break it.

He saw a few members with marks in their foreheads cleaning in silence. They bowed respectful at them and Hanabi smiled and promised to bring something to drink later. The polite conversation died and the people disappeared when an old woman with a clean forehead and a black kimono appeared. She was like pure steel, grey, sharp and cold.

"Hanabi-sama" the woman bowed.

"Sayo-sama." Hanabi's voice was different, serious and formal; she was making an effort to sound like an adult. "Did my sister finish her lesson?"

The woman looked at her. "No, Hinata-sama has for half-hour more. She had been… training with the Inuzuka and the Aburame and she was behind her schedule. I sent a request to Hokage-sama to stop her missions but she still considers that child necessary." Naruto noticed a tinge of disdain in her voice, what the hell she was saying? "May I ask you to do the same? Your sister can't carry anymore those missions. We can't allow another wound."

"That is something that my Father has to decide." Said the girl with all the cold she was able to put it. "Can you tell her that when she finish she can go to the backyard garden, please?"

"As your order, Hanabi-sama" The old woman inclined her head.

"If you'll excuse us…"

Hanabi and Naruto started to walk when they heard "Don't you present your guess, Hanabi-sama? Or you forgot your manners again?"

The girl flinched "Oh him… Well, he is…" she was a bit nervous but coughed and returned to her serious voice. "A fellow ninja from another team, yes, and he's come to bring a message from Hokage-sama to my brother. Important stuff and… and… I was offering some tea while he waits for him."

"Your... brother…" the old hag said the word like she was spiting. What the hell was her problem? He supposed to respect the elders but she was making him really difficult. "…Doesn't come until night. I thought I heard that someone came for Hinata-sama, that cursed boy… "

Cursed…

"Yes, but he left, nothing important. The message to Niisama… he has to say personally, he can wait for him until night."

Hanabi hit him with her elbow "OucYES, yes, I can wait for him, very secret, 'ttebayo." She hid her face in her hands, disappointed.

"Can I ask you your name…?"

"Uzu…" Hanabi and crashed his feet. Fuck, this brat. He bit his lip to shut up his shout.

"Tanaka… -san" responded her quickly.

"Yeah, that, I mean, I'm Tanaka Tarou 'ttebayo. Nice to meet ya. A pretty common name, y'know." He laughed and tried to look natural. For the expression of the witch, he didn't.

"Nice to meet you… Tanaka-san" The woman bowed "I'm being curious but…"

"Tanaka-san had to rest, long travel" cut in Hanabi, threw off her polite mask, tired of everything "Now, if you'll excuse us." She bowed and dragged him quickly without looking behind. Only when they arrived at a big garden (bigger than his apartment, he was sure), she growled angry and began to complain, punching the air with her fist.

"Damn it, Elder Sayo is the worst, and she was a big ear-hustler, I'm sure she will say everything to Otou-sama."

"What was that?"

"Nee-sama can't see anybody beside her teammates." she sighed.

"Eh? Why?"

"Just orders." She smiled sadly.

"Whadja she mean with that? 'bout Hinata?"

Hanabi shrugged "I don't know the details but they always wanted that Nee-sama stop to be a shinobi, but she is too stubborn."

Yeap, Hinata was like that, it didn't surprise that being shinobi was her way to rebel. "And she didn't like Neji."

"She believes that Neji-niisama should have stayed in the Branch and that my Father broke the "tradition", Stupid Hag. Well, it doesn't matter, I'm going to be the next Heiress and she'll eat every word she said to him and Hina-nee."

Naruto laughed, Hanabi was less proper than her sister but her loyalty was the same. "Y'know once ago I promise Neji that I'll change the Hyuuga" he said "Welcome to the Club, Hanabi-chan" And he offered his fist and his smile.

She looked at him with surprise while her smile widened. And she bumped his fist with force.

"Maybe this is why she liked you so much." She murmured.

"Eh?" he didn't get her.

"And I see why they don't progress, jeez." She shook her head "Well, is better for me that you are an idiot."

"Hey! I heard that." Hanabi laughed.

The song of a bird interrupted her and Naruto saw for first time the garden. It was different to the house, that place had colors and life, even in the late autumn all shine like it was spring. The plants grew in an organized mess and he saw little nest boxes and a little green pond. It smelled delicious, at wet earth and fresh mint and honeysuckle. "Nice garden"

"Tell that at Nee-sama, she's taken care of it. It was of my Mother." She frowned and had a strange look in her eyes "I guess she does it to remember her."

"That's nice." And while he was wishing for a same garden, he noticed a big bush, a bit withered and abandoned. It seemed weird in the middle of wealth. "Those camellias need water, can I…?"

"Yeah, sure. Nee-sama tried to teach me but I never have the patience."

And while Naruto was watering the plant and cleaning the dry leaves she said, teasing him "Who would have believed it? A clown like you is good in something. I always thought that you were an idiot who only knows to lose…"

"U' wanna bet, Shorty? I can take you down wherever you want, believe it."

"Ok, fight with me Uglymaki. Best of three. If I win, you'll give me those cinnamon rolls you brought." Heck, how did she know that? Oh, Byakugan… He was hiding it in one of his scrolls, ready to surprise Hinata, they were her favorites. That damn brat…

He took out a shuriken. "If I win, you'll call me Naruto-sama" And the shuriken flew.

Naruto became aware of her presence when he listened to her lightly laugh.

It was his last match with Hanabi -She won the first (with advantage!), he the second- and they were in the middle of the garden and it was his final blow: he was ready to put a kunai in her neck and heard her shout "I quit" and when he looked up, Hinata was there, in her blue kimono embroidered with white flowers, sitting in the porch and swinging her foots and watching at them with her most dazzling smile and Naruto held his breath with only see her.

In that instant, the brat took advantage of his distraction and blew him away with her palm. Naruto fell next to the gardenias. That hurt.

"Yay! I won!" said Hanabi happy, free of him and ran to hug her sister. "Did you see it, Hina-nee?! Did you?! I win, I win! I'm the best! I have to tell Neji-niisama and Moegi-chan and Konoh-"

A marked kunai landed next to the sisters, Hanabi blinked and Naruto was there like a lightning, with his favorite jacket filled in mud but a grin in his face. The girls were astonished.

"Yoo, Hina-chan" said casually with his best smile. "Long time without see ya."

"Amazing, Naruto-kun!" said Hinata with her eyes shining with admiration. "You did it!"

Naruto beamed.

"HOW DID YOU DO THAT?" shouted Hanabi without hiding her surprise.

"That is the Hiraishin no Jutsu." he said proudly while he was spinning round his kunai "A secret jutsu that mastered the Nidaime, the Yondaime and now me, your next Hokage"

"C-can I see the kunai?" asked Hinata and Naruto lend it and started to explain all the symbols he invented and the seals with detail, basking in her attention.

Next to them, the little girl rolled her eyes and pouted at them, somehow she'd underestimated him. She tugged the sleeve of her kimono, cutting him in the middle of his ram seal and called her with her most cutely voice, she ready to don't lose this war. "Nee-sama…"

Her big white eyes, so similar at her sister, flickered. That was a low blow; he couldn't win against those puppy eyes.

Neither Hinata did. She smiled and patted gently her brown hair. "You did so well, Hana. That final move… It taught you Neji-niisan, didn't he?"

"Yes, I've been practicing it. It really works!"

"Psssee only 'cause you took me for surprise" Naruto countered "If I used my ninjutsu, you'd be cryin'" Hanabi stuck out her tongue. "Well, you're better than Konohamaru…" Her face lighted up a bit "…but only in falling down"

"But I win and you don't." Hanabi was blazing with anger but the laughs of Hinata stopped them.

"So have you two been having fun? I'm glad"

"We are not!" Naruto and Hanabi shouted at the same time.

"Don't copy me"

"You are the one who was copying me, Shorty."

"Say that again Uglymaki, I'll use your face to sweep the floor"

"Mmm… I-I'm sure you two are tired" said Hinata calming the storm "Do you want some tea? I asked at Natsu-san to bring us the cookies that I made this morning…"

"No, it's fine, Hina-neesama. I have some cinnamons rolls." She glared at Naruto and he opened with a sigh his scroll, a deal was a deal and he never broke one. "And I'd rather have a bath. I don't want to stink like others…"

It was the turn of Naruto to stick out his tongue and shook off the soil of his clothes. (He didn't stink, did he?) "Next time, I'll win 'ttebayo." he gave her the damn rolls. That sucked. Shit, they weren't cheap, y'know.

"Anytime, Uzumaki." She said with a self-sufficient smile. "Nee-sama, we can eat it together after dinner with Neji-nii, he'll come tonight."

Hinata smiled brightly. "I can't wait"

"So that was her plan all along" though Naruto. He had to acknowledge: Hanabi was a formidable opponent; she was brattier than Konohamaru, if that was possible.

"Later, Nee-sama." the girl hugged her. And before she went into the house, Hanabi nodded at him. "Uzumaki"

The girl left them with the green and the afternoon.

"That cheeky brat…" sighed Naruto, she exhausted him and made him grumble but it didn't trouble him, he'd seen her coldness and he was sure that all those banters were her way to being kind. Deep inside, she was a good and brave girl who loved her siblings.

"Naruto-kun, you can sit down, if you want…" offered Hinata.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks Hinata." He sat next to her, in the porch, and under them the garden extended, beautiful. A Hyuuga girl brought them tea and a tray full of cookies, they thanked her and she left them alone. Naruto tasted one of the cookies and it had butter and vanilla, it wasn't too sweet and melted in his mouth. It was delicious.

"I apologize for leaving you waiting." Hinata began and bowed her head. "I-It's the first time you come here and I've been rude to you."

"It's okay, Hina. Sorry for came uninvited… Kiba told me and I thought…"

"Oh no, it's okay. I-it was a surprise but I'm h-happy." She blushed a little. "W-was someone... being d-disrespectful to you?"

"If someone was Hanabi…" he joked. Hinata smiled sadly. "Don't worry ´bout that. We've handled it very well."

"I'm glad." Said alleviated.

"But Tanaka Tarou was too obvious" He thought "And that Hag may bother you again" …That cursed boy… Well, he was more than cursed. He hid his scowl while he was drinking his tea, all those matches had left him thirsty. "Your sister is a bit funny, 'ttebayo."

"Hana is adorable"

"Siscon" he coughed.

"Guilty" she admitted. And they burst in laughs.

"What are you doing here, Naruto-kun?"

"Dunno. I wanted to see you" he said suddenly without think. When he saw her reaction, her face was red and that made him a bit nervous, maybe he was too blunt. He scratched the back of his head. "And… show you the Hiraishin. I did it." She giggled. "Anyway, I wanted to say I'm sorry." He bowed "I left you behind when they…"

"It's okay Naruto-kun." She cut in. "Do you remember? It was me who started to r-run. I should have waited for Sakura-san, like Kakashi-sensei had said. It was my f-fault. I've worried you, I'm sorry" She bowed again, always so formal. "I'm sorry for Neji-niisan too, he is a bit overprotective with me and he'd been rude with you."

"Nah… it's okay." It seemed that Ero-Sennin was right, she didn't get angry with him, but Hinata was taking the blame again and it didn't seem right. It's like it wasn't her fault, that just… happened but she didn't taking care of herself again, like she wasn't important, and that's weird. "Just… take care, Hina. Don't do that again."

"Ok" She nodded and looked down to her hands which she was warming with her mug, her eyes were in a lost place in her mind, thinking. Maybe I upset her a bit.

Naruto tried to lift the mood, he knew with what.

"I brought ya something. Actually, it was two things but Hanabi won." He chuckled. She was curious. "Nee, Hina-chan, remember when you told me that you wanted to read a novel of Ero-Sennin?"

She nodded.

"Well, I bring the perfect novel for you. I'm sure Neji and Sakura-chan would approve."

"I-Is a… pervert novel?"

"Nope." He grinned. And took out the book of his jacket and put in her hands.

"The Tales of Gutsy Ninja" she read.

"Is the first novel of Ero-Sennin, y'know? IMO, the best. Dunno why he didn't continue to write like this." She started to leaf through the pages. "The main character had my name." he added and felt a bit stupid.

"Really? That's great, Naruto-kun. Now I can imagine he is like y-you."

"Yeah, he is amazing… like me." He smirked

Hinata laughed. "Mmm… I-I really like the idea that… that Naruto-kun is an h-hero" She mumbled and her last words lost in her shyness. Naruto felt equally nervous and high in the same time, being a hero was his dream.

"Maybe I'm too inspiring" he responded, trying to not lose his cool; he didn't want to look like an idiot. "When I asked Ero-Sennin why he named him like that he only say that 'cause he was eating ramen. A bit lame, don'cha?"

She shook her head "No, it's a cute story. Maybe your parents liked the book, so they named you like him."

"Or maybe they liked ramen." It was his only clue about them, his name, and it was actually a good thing, and maybe he took his love for ramen for them. "Y'know, if they did that, it'd be so cool. He is like super-duper awesome and fights with the evil guys and he's brave n' y'know, he never gives up. Maybe ya're right." If that was possible, it would be amazing; Ero-Sennin would be like family. "And ya?" She looked at him curious "Why did they name you Hinata?"

"It's a bit boring." She frowned. "The kanjis of Hyuuga can read as Hinata, "sunny place". Father wanted something different, but ended too obvious. That's the awesome story." She looked a bit down.

"But it suits you" He burst out. "I mean a sunny place, it feel warm and fluffy and full of nice things. I really wanna stay in a place like that forever, 'ttebayo."

Hinata blushed and her eyes shining with a new true. A bright smile formed in her lips. "Thank you." She said honestly and his heart beat more and something in his stomach fluttered. He ate another cookie, it was hungry.

"C-can you…" she started a bit hesitant and bit her lower lip. "C-can you r-read it for me, N- Naruto-kun?" She blushed. "T-the book, I mean. M-my eyes are a b-bit strained and…"

Why she was asking him something so weird? He stopped to read in loud voice when he finished the Academy and never tried again. He always goofed when it was his turn, hiding his shame for not understand those difficult words, and always everyone laughed and mocked at him and everything always ended in a mess, usually with him grounded in the classroom and coming late and hungry at night. That wasn't a pleasant memory. Why she was asking for this?

"U' sure?"

She nodded.

"It's not like I can't do it, y'know, but I don't have a good voice and… and… Look, I don't read very well, Hina, sometimes I got wrong and Iruka-sensei always scolded me and…"

"I-it doesn't matter… to me." She insisted. "A-and I-I l-like your v-voice." Hinata's face was like a tomato.

My… my voice… Usually the people said that he was too loud. He admitted he was too loud and Hinata… like it? Weird. He scratched the back of his head and took quickly the book of her lap and sank his face in the pages, hiding his uneasiness and the stupid smile he was sure he was making. "Ok. But only for this time and don't say any of this to Sai or Kiba or Sakura-chan or anyone, promise?"

"Promise" She nodded.

Naruto cleared his throat and without looking Hinata started to read the first sentence "O-once upon a time…"

"-As long as we cursed to live in this Ninja World, there will be no peace…" Naruto read with deep whining voice, trying to imitate the painful tone "-Then… I'll break the curse" he shouted dramatically in his normal voice and Hinata trembled stunned. "-If there is such a thing as peace, I'll seize it. - He said with conviction. –W-who are you…? –My name is…"

Naruto looked at the girl, she was with her mouth slightly open, eyes expectant, attending at each word, full focus in the story. He smiled inside; Hinata was the best public ever, she had patience with him and corrected him simply without mock and laughed when she had to do and gasped when something bad happen with the hero. And he never imagined that reading at someone was so fun.

"To be continue" he shouted and closed the book. "Ok. My work is done 'ttebayo." He left her in suspense, Hinata sulked. He laughed and gave her the book. "Next chapter is all yours."

"Ok." She laughed. "You read very well, Naruto-kun. Usually I am who reads at Hanabi or the kids of the Branch, but today I was really tired. Thank you very much." She nodded.

"Yeah? That's cool, so next time is your turn." She smiled. "Ain't bother you that slipped all'time?"

"No. I like you did different voices to the characters, it's funny."

"One of my many hidden talents" he said proudly, he was (secretly) glad that she liked it.

Hinata giggled. "If I was Iruka-sensei…"she said mischievously and thought for a moment. "I'll give you… a B+"

"Hey! Whaddon't an A? It was perfect 'ttebayo."

"Your falsetto was too high pitched, woman don't sound like that."

"Psss'cause you don't hear ya" he said in lower voice.

She looked at him outraged, her pouted face was always so cute, her cheeks looked soft and he was dying to pinch them. He laughed. "Anyway, did ya like it?"

"Yes, very much. Jiraiya-sama is a good writer. He knows very well to manage the action and the comedy." Naruto was sure if Ero-Sennin listened this, his ego'd be to the size of the Hokage Monument. "And you were right with "Naruto" he is a bit like you"

"He is a lot like me, I said ya, I'm that inspiring."

"Well, he is a bit cooler and he doesn't wear orange."

"Hey! Orange is like the coolest color ever, Hinata." It was his turn to pout, he pushed with his elbow her sides in fake anger and she laughed behind her hand. We're even. "Well, ya welcome for my awesome reading. Remember not tell this to anyone, especially to Kiba, it's our secret."

"Ok, it's a secret. Thank you again, Naruto-kun, it was fun. I promise to finish it quickly."

The boy smiled, finished his tea and listened to the birds. Reading tired him a bit. The scent of honeysuckle and mint invaded him again. It created those confortable, silent moments that he never experienced with another other people but her. The weird thing was sometimes he hoped for that, for sit next to her, enjoy her presence and simply be.

But when he looked at her, ready to tell her another stupid thing that made her laugh again, Hinata was watching the garden with a haunting gaze, lost in a dark place, far for everything, far for him.

"Naruto-kun, there is something that I have to tell you" she broke the silence with her soft voice. "P-promise me that you won't say anything to anyone."

"Ok, Hime." He responded "I promise."

"Well… Mmh… I-it's just that Shino-kun c-confessed to me that he wants r-revenge… against them…" She played with her fingers; her eyes were in her hands. "He wants to Kiba-kun and I h-help him… and…"

"Hina…" He looked at her and Hinata was different, serious and certain, it was only her voice that hesitated, maybe for fear for his reaction and Naruto understood, he hated the words she said after.

"And we've already accepted… To go." she finished in a murmur. "We'll hunt Akatsuki."

"What?! You're gonna escape from the Village to search them? Like missing nins?" Naruto couldn't control the irritation of his voice, he sound bitter and harsh. "Y'know, Hinata, I've already had my hands full of Sasuke-teme and Shikamaru's gonna complain if he has to search for one of us again. Troublesome." He tried to joke and laughed idly. "Fuck, Hinata, we're chunnin. This shouldn't happen again."

"I-I know. But it's not like that; I think I-It's different to… to Uchiha-san. He really wants to ask this mission to Hokage-sama, but if not… well…mmh we're going to… anyway..." She clenched her fist. "Naruto-kun, I don't like that, r-revenge, but I feel that Shino-kun was right and I have to go. Fu-san… she was innocent and she didn't deserve that. She didn't deserve that pain." She sighed and looked at him, with distress. "I thought you'll understand this."

Naruto couldn't hold her stare. This time his anger didn't let to share her pain.

"I-I… just… it just these days, when I've met Shino-kun I always felt that I-"

"…could have done more." He exhaled in a murmur.

Yes, he felt the same. He had done what he could but it wasn't enough. Not for Fu. Not for Asuma-sensei. Not for her. They shared the same nightmares. But this wasn't a dream. He was awake and there was Hinata, kind and honest Hinata, telling him that do more is revenge that she wanted to fight against those monsters again, to go far away from him like Sasuke did, ("She will leave you alone"), that he wasn't enough, that he didn't enough, that this will never end and… and if it ended like his nightmares… with Hinata in his arms, pale and cold, and her blood dyed his hands and she was trying to breathe and the universe collapsed. She can't.

"Don't go." He blurted.

"I have to"

He didn't have the right to tell her anything because he thought the same; he wanted his justice they have to pay for all this sorrow, they deserve suffer for this not only for Fu but also for all his nameless brothers but… "You don't have to go Hinata. I know. With all this, about Fu and Asuma-sensei, I think I understand Sasuke a bit but… but it's not right, y'know, it's not the answer."

"And what is?"

"Dunno. I'd want to find it. The answer. Is like the book of Ero-Sennin said that the cycle of hatred had to end, we have to seize peace."

"But what do we have to do? Forgive is difficult, Naruto-kun" Hinata's voice sounded hard. "And there are things that don't deserve to be forgiven, what they did with Fu-san is one of them." She made a pause. "These days, I thought a lot about this. I always believe that forgive is necessary." Yes, she did. She was the girl who forgive at her cousin for almost kill her. "They're people, they aren't perfect, they had different lives, their own circumstances and they get wrong like me. I try to understand why but…"

Hinata shrugged "I can't." Her sad smile was shattered crystal and ripped his heart apart. Naruto controlled himself to give her a hug. "It hurts. Her absence hurts so much, Naruto-kun. I miss her a lot."

"Yeah, I miss her too."

"What do we have to do with all this…?"

"I-I…"

He didn't know. The void in his chest, the void of Fu, ached and the anger and the sorrow blubbered in his stomach. She only wanted to be free and eat ice-cream. She was so weird with her silly questions but he understood her when she asked to be her friend. She was friend of Chomei, a monster and, heck, she even felt sorry for that damn fur ball. "And she will never know his name" he thought. She didn't want be alone. She was the same as him. "Fu-chan probably wouldn't wanna this happen, y'know, to Shino and Kiba and you do this, to put in danger for her revenge. I mean, you three were her first friends."

"Yes, I know." Hinata said idly "She didn't like fighting. She loved walking in the forest and eating strawberry and asking about everything… She was so kind..."

He smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry." He said "I told you "Don't go" and I feel like an hypocrite telling you this, 'cause I wanted to do the same, y'know, I wanted them suffer the same of us, the same of she suffer" He sighed "Y'know, Ero-Sennin told me "don't lose in that justice", I didn't understand him but now I think I get it. Revenge is not the answer." The red eyes of Sasuke were in his mind. "I don't say that we have to forgive them, you're right, and I don't say that we have to nothing but…" He scratched his head, messing his hair, he didn't know how to explain this. "It's just I'm like Fu, I mean, If I were her I wouldn't wanna to you did this for me. And after I heard you, and I thought 'bout Sasuke-teme and I think understand it, he was right, we don't have to lose."

He grabbed her hand and looked at her eyes, decided.

"That's why I have to find another answer, that's why I want to save Sasuke." He said with all his hope "Don't worry, they'll get served, 'ttebayo, we'll find our justice but let me help you and I'll help Shino too, just don't do this alone. And if this" he touched his heart "causes so much pain in you. Let me bear it. I'm strong, Hinata." He squeezed her hand. "Don't give up."

Hinata looked at him with her eyes widened. Maybe I say too much…

"And… and you weren't counting that Neji and Kiba's mom would kick Shino's ass for his great idea. I mean, he looked so smart with the glasses and those difficult words and he is being stupid like Sasuke-teme. So you need my help for that too 'ttebayo"

Hinata burst in laughs.

"What?! It's not funny. I'm right" Hinata continued laughing, hiding her face of him with the sleeve of her kimono. "And you know that I'm stronger than him, 'ttebayo."

"But Hanabi-chan beat you" she giggled.

"Duh! 'cause I let her. She and her little pokes were too easy" he said faking his scowl. She made a pout but her lips trembled and betrayed her. They laughed together. And when he looked at her, with her back straighten a bit, as if a weight left her, happy again he knew that somehow he, Naruto, made her felt better. And that knowledge hit him, twisting his gut and made him felt so good and high, so… so… needed.

A timidly poke in his ribs brought back to the Earth.

"Hey!" Hinata had a playfully spark in her eyes. He smirked, if she really was thinking about he was thinking, this would be so fun.

She poked again. Naruto ignored her, struggling so hard to not laugh. Another poke, this time in his belly, that was bold. He waited a bit more… and she poked again, more insistently under his arm.

And he exploded.

He approached at her face. "You have to do it better, 'ttebayo." Said in her ear, next to the blue ocean of her hair.

Hinata's face tinted in a warm red and that was his signal to attack. Naruto ticked her sides, his hands poking in her waist, in her obi, touching all the white flowers of her kimono. Hinata squirmed at his touch and fought against his hands and laughed beautifully.

"Naruto-kun" she tried to step aside in a little jump "Stop"

"You started this, Hinata"

And now he was in the dilemma to catch her both hands or continued teasing her, her laugh was addictive and he wanted to hear more.

She counterattacked and before she reached at his belly, Naruto grabbed one of her wrist. "No, stop Naruto-kun" she yelled in another wave of tickles and she snorted (Snorted!) like a pig. Naruto burst in laughs, prim and proper Hinata was far from elegant with that laugh but the sound was new, beautiful and magical. "No" she said miserably and laughed unrestrained. She curled up herself, twisting and jumping but Naruto didn't give up, he moved forward and attacked and she snorted again and hid her laugh behind her hand, leaving her unprotected, it was his chance. And now he was up to her, ready to hear more and in the impulse, she tried to throw him off and they rolled in the floor of the porch and he lose the balance and they fell in the grass.

"Ouch" That hurt.

He's hit his shoulder of her bad arm and he felt dizzy. He felt something soft below him. Naruto shook his head and woke up and when he opened his eyes, he quickly realized that he was on top of Hinata, embracing her.

They were lying in the grass in the most compromising position ever, his knee between her legs and his nose a mere centimeters from touching hers. He saw her cheeks flushing insanely and her eyes were so close that he could see her white pupils. A fire climbed from his neck to his face.

"S-sorry" he shouted and tried to get up, his elbow was behind her back and when he pulled back the pain started to flow, apparently his arm had cushion the fall.

"A-a-re y-you…?" she stuttered.

"Y-yeah…" he said awkwardly "A-and you? Are you hurt? Did you hit…?"

She shook her head slowly.

"I-I'm…"

"I-It's okay" she said, avoiding his face. She looked at her hand in the grass; he was still holding her wrist with force. He put down quickly, like it burned him but she took it again and interlaced her fingers with him. Her hand was small and warm, they two suns in their wrist overlapped perfectly again.

That encouraged him.

"Hina" He called her. She tilted her head in response, pink cheeks and was adorable "Don't blame you"

"Ok" she nodded. "You too"

"Ok. And let me help ya, don't do this alone."

"Ok." She nodded again. "Naruto-kun, if that pain is big, let me bear it too."

"Ok, Hina" He smiled and pressed her hand. "Let's find the answer together."

"Ok." And she smiled softly. "Thank you, Naruto-kun" He found him and lost him in her shining eyes. "Thank you for understand me."

"Nope, thank you for understand me" She laughed softly and Naruto felt that sensation in his stomach again, like a twist and bubbles and a sweet pain in his throat.

Naruto's eyes were on hers and felt that the time slowed in his heart beats… thump… She was on her back, her long hair entangling with the green grass. Her scent reached him, smelling like vanilla and lavender and honeysuckle and fresh mint …thump thump… He noticed his long black lashes, fluttering like butterflies in her soft ivory skin, warm like her, and her lips were …thump thump… full and pink and charming, so… so… charming… Her mouth probably tastes so sweet…Naruto got closer to her face, thump… her nose touch his… thump thump… her heart was beating next to him in the same rhythm… thump thump… he was lost again in her moonlighted eyes… thump thump… he sensed her breath in his mouth…

The crashing sound of the broken cup awakened them.

They heard someone gasp and when they looked up Neji was there in the porch with his Byakugan activated and the veins of his forehead throbbing.

"Hinata-sama" he said "Naruto"

Shit.

Naruto gulped. Apparently Neji-niisan came a bit earlier.

And with his best smile, still holding Hinata's hand, still lying over her Naruto greeted him.

"Ahh… Huh, Hi Neji… 't-ttebayo" and with every word he said, Neji was cracking his knuckles telling him that he wanted to close all his tenketsu in the most painful way. "Long time, d-don'cha?"

The vein in Neji forehead snapped.

Fuck. He was sure that he never ever ever would be back to that house again.

Yeap, it wasn't good idea.

It was Kiba's fault.

The only thing that Naruto noticed when he came inside was the smell of cigarettes. The room was dark and big. It had a big glass, bright and blue and clean, the only light source. Without asking for permission, he walked into.

Shikamaru was there, smoking, like a big dark and quiet shadow. His eyes were lost in the other side of the window where Tsunade-baachan, Sakura-chan and Ino were trying to keep alive the body of Yakushi Kabuto.

"'U shouldn't be smoking here." Said Naruto. Shikamaru shrugged.

"Tsunade warned her about some hidden jutsus in his mind, he was Orochimaru's second after all" Shikamaru pointed at Ino with his cigarette. She was in a green overall, touching the white hair of Kabuto with her green chakra, trying to break his memories. "She wanted to try it anyway; she can't do it if he is dead, troublesome." He exhaled the smoke "Who told you?"

"Neji" he responded, watching at Baa-chan cut some guts with her scissors "He said me that he catch the explosion, while he was coming back after Kumo"

"Yeap, that helped us a lot." He said and observed him. "You look like a shit. What's happened to you?"

"… I've sparred with Neji"

"Troublesome." Shikamaru smiled. He didn't prying for more, good Shikamaru.

Naruto looked behind the glass. Sakura-chan was pumping her green chakra in the body and had her forehead sweating with the effort. Once a long time ago, he believed in Kabuto and he hated him when he knew his true colors, when he hurt Tsunade-baachan who was now desperately trying to save his life. Naruto felt than he couldn't die here, something about the real justice he was trying to search was in play here. And it was another chance to find him, to reach him, to understand what happened to him. He needed to know Sasuke.

"Hey, Shikamaru" he called "Did you found something of… of…"

"No, nothing. I want to believe he escaped but I doubt." Naruto didn't have doubts, the Teme was strong. "Whoever it was he destroyed the freaking lab. And it is Orochimaru, they must be something."

They? "Akatsuki?"

"I don't think so. They've already had a Sharingan user." He inhaled a whiff of his cigarette "And they're busier hunting jinchūriki"

The word reached with the smoke and Naruto froze, like an animal in a hunt. Shikamaru knew, he didn't know from whom, it was supposedly a secret. Someone… No, he was so freaking smart, he knew for himself.

"Can I asking something?"

Naruto glared at him, wary. His face was indifferent as always but his eyes were looking at him, uncertain. He sighed deeply and nodded, ready for his judgment and rejection.

"Why do you keep insisting with Uchiha?"

The question surprised him. He expected everything but that. He had his answer, since the first time he went after him.

"He is my friend, I wanna save him."

"Troblesome." he sighed and smiled a bit. "And Uchihas were always a pain."

"Ya right in that." He sneered.

A loud whistle sounded behind a glass. The body jumped in a spasm and Sakura-chan fought. "You can't die here" ordered Naruto in his thoughts. Tsunade-baachan was shouting to the nurses and injecting more and more chakra in the body of Kabuto. And like he obeyed, the whistle started to sound regular as before. Ino nodded at Baa-chan and got out from the room.

Shikamaru put off his cigarette; it was his signal to go. "Take care, Naruto."

"Wait" he said suddenly. He felt something weird in leave their conversation like that and there something more he was worried since he talked with Hinata. "Can I ask something too?"

He nodded. "It's weird but did you lose you? I mean, in your justice?"

"…yeah, I did"

"Ya'll be fine?"

"Dunno." He said honestly. Shikamaru played a bit with his lighter, the memento of Asuma-sensei. "Hey, Naruto, that time, if you had been able, would you have saved me?"

"Yeah, always." He responded quickly, because that was something that Naruto never doubt. "Next time, don't do that alone. Let me share the weight, Shikamaru"

"Then I'll be fine." Shikamaru smiled. "It's a good thing be your friend, Naruto. Thanks"


Hakama was a type of kimono, it uses in kendo or aikido.

Tanaka Tarou is the Japanese equivalent of John Smith (or Juan Perez in my country or the two most common names and surnames in yours). That's my pathetic joke.

So I'll reread and fix and edit all previous chapters 'cause the next chapter is drama incoming and I think some things don't function or worse I forgot to put it, so please have patience for the next update.

Thank you so much for all the reviews, I hope you like this chapter.