Day 22

First fight and Making up

"Kaa-san, have you ever been mad at tou-san?" Boruto asked with his mouth full of food.

"Boruto, chew your food then ask the question," Hinata scolded softly.

The Uzumaki chewed quickly before repeating the question.

Hinata locked gazes with Naruto who sat on the other side of the table. They simultaneously shook their heads. "I could never get mad at your tou-san."

"Really?" asked Himawari, her curious blue eyes shining.

"Hai," responded Hinata quickly. "Yes, your tou-san has his flaws but I love him even more because of them." The two love birds blushed but Naruto was smiling widely.

Boruto suddenly grinned. "Tou-san, I have a bet for you."

Naruto's blue eyes glistened. "Oh really, buddy?"

Boruto matched his father's expression. "Here's the bet, tou-san. Kaa-san is going to give you the silent treatment and you have to endure it till the end of this week." Hiimawari suddenly giggled.

"Tou-san won't last that long," she said with a smile.

Naruto stood up suddenly, his face set with determination. "I take your challenge, little buddy, and I won't back down because that's my nindo!"

The Uzumaki children cheered while Naruto nodded his head like he was about to win a battle against a strong opponent. Hinata, however, shook her head with an amused smile. She knew her husband well and one thing that always stood out to her was his need to constantly have her attention or physically touching her. If only Naruto knew that he will lose the bet quicker than he thinks.

1st hour

Naruto's smile never left his face. He was really confident that he'll win that bet and he'll get forty bowls of ramen for free. Oh yes, his little buddy doesn't know what he's up against. He glanced around the office and noticed that not even the stacks of papers would dampen his mood. He joyfully stamped away the requests and looked outside the window, taking in the unusual bright, sunny day. It was approaching afternoon and his stomach grumbled at the thought of his wife's food. She'll always drop off his lunch around this time before heading out to finish any errands she has left. Her gorgeous face and presence always lifted his spirits when she makes time to personally make him some food and dropping it off here in his office. He momentarily stopped doing his work and eagerly looked at the door. He expanded his senses and smiled when he felt Hinata's chakra in the building. He heard her soft, quiet steps and before he knew it, she was in front of his door. He was there in a second and slammed it open, startling his beautiful wife.

He nearly drooled when he smelled the food coming from the basket she was carrying. Considering his big diet, he took the basket and kissed her lips. He quickly went back to his desk and opened the top, smiling goofily when scents of ramen and other delicious platters invaded his senses. He glanced up and saw Hinata smiling at him with tender, lovely eyes. He reached her side and kissed her breathlessly.

"Thank you, Hinata-koi," he whispered against her lips.

She didn't respond but simply nodded with a small smile on her face.

He cocked an eyebrow and kissed her nose. "Why didn't you respond with 'You're welcome, Naruto-kun?'"

She shook her head and laughed. She made her way around him and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote something down and showed him the message.

I can't talk to you, remember? Silent treatment.

He gaped and tore the paper from her hands.

Silent treatment.

Silent treatment…

Silent…

He was blinded by his own competiveness that only now he realizes what he actually signed up for. Hinata wasn't going to talk to him. He's going to go a week without the sound of her precious voice.

"Crap."

5th hour

He was going crazy. Literally. It hasn't even been a full day and he already missed the sound of Hinata's voice. He knew what he took for granted the moment Hinata left smiling out of his office. Maybe she was secretly enjoying the torment? He was currently running back home and the thought that Hinata won't welcome him with a "Welcome home" greeting made him miss a step but he regained his footings quite quickly.

He opened the door and Himawari was already racing his way. His little girl jumped and his arms were opened for her arrival. She snuggled into his chest and he smiled, kissing her forehead.

"How was Hima-chan's day?"

"It was great! Kaa-chan took me to visit Neji-oji-san again and then I helped her make dinner!" She flailed her arms at the last part and Naruto couldn't help but laugh.

"I can't wait to try out the food then."

He jumped when he felt lips against his cheek and he turned around when he saw Hinata giving him a smile. She walked away, however, after a few seconds of intense staring. His heart dropped when he remembered the silent treatment she was giving him and ran after her, Himawari jumping in his arms.

"Hinata," he whined, "at least tell me something. Anything!" He pouted like a child and Himawari giggled.

"I told you so, tou-san," she sang before signaling that she wanted to be put down.

Hinata turned around and shook her head, a teasing smile on her lips.

"Hinata, no!" He ran after her and turned her around. "I want to hear your voice, please." She shook her head and pointed behind him.

Boruto smirked when he saw his father holding his mother's shoulders, a desperate look on his face. "Do you give up yet?"

Naruto faltered for a moment before he felt his shirt being tugged. He turned around and looked deep into Hinata's light, lavender eyes. They tendered and she shook her head, a large smile on her face. 'She has faith in me,' he thought disbelievingly.

"I won't give up so easily!" he responded to his son. Hinata clapped her hands and gestured to the dining table.

At least Hinata's homemade food made him a bit happier.

2nd day

Last night was just terrible. He doesn't know where Hinata saw that he could complete his son's challenge. If he knew her as he knows he does, he knew that Hinata knows that he can't live without her. She is his other half and everything she does keeps him alive and going. Taking away her voice has crippled him greatly and waking up with bags under his eyes because he couldn't sleep was one sign of him weakening already.

He constantly waited for Hinata to make one, tiny slip but it never came. He always glanced at her direction and stared at her lips that could be directed to him but nothing was ever said to him. He hated every minute of it.

He was currently in his office but he blankly looked at the papers he was supposed to sign. Yesterday his day was going so well, what went wrong? Someone knocked on his door and he snapped out of his musings. He grunted and returned to trying to do some work.

Hinata stepped in and immediately noticed the dark mood her husband was in. She made her way to his desk and placed the basket of food on it. He looked up at her only to look the other way.

"Hey Hinata." His voice was soulless and she flinched when she took note in the major changes his behavior began to undertake. He had bags under his eyes and he was slumped over his work. He wasn't even reacting to her food. She didn't know that she had such control over him.

She parted her lips to respond, a natural reaction for her, but stopped. She knew more than anyone else how big Naruto's ego gets when he makes a bet. He's always determined to win the competition and becomes incredibly depressed when he becomes the loser. Should she just end his misery now or wait until he cracks?

She decided to wait it out. There was a little part of her that was curious how long her love would last. She kissed his forehead and waved, leaving him alone once more.

Naruto could only look at the love of his life as she left without a single word.

The silent treatment is a horrible, horrible thing.

2nd day: 6:00 p.m.

"I can't take it!" He slammed his hands on the table and everyone looked at him. He pointed at a smiling Boruto and said, "You'll get those forty free ramen bowls, little buddy, and a little something extra." He had this gleam in his blue eyes that made Boruto shivered. 'This is what I get for making tou-san suffer.'

His eyes locked with Hinata and that smile she missed for the past two days appeared. "You can finally talk now. No more silent treatment."

He leaped over the table and kissed her lips, snuggling closer to her. He ignored the protesting of his son and the giggling of his daughter and instead focused on Hinata who was smiling widely.

"No more silent treatment then, Naruto-kun."

He whooped loudly and kept her going in converstaions. He really did miss her voice.