I'm really sorry folks but I'm really stressed out in in my new job. I spend 40 hours a week arguing with people about their phone bills… I never thought I would miss tech support.

So I've been coming home and blowing stuff up on the xbox to relax …. Which may not be healthily.

But never mind… so heres the next chapter.


First Love

Hinata eventually cried herself to sleep in Naruto's arms. Naruto didn't want to move in case he woke her and he was too angry to try and sleep himself. The change in Hinata shocked him, she had never been this emotional before. He begun to wonder if she had told him the whole story.

In the morning Hinata woke with a jump, a nightmare she explained. Naruto reassured her that she was safe at home. Hinata hugged herself then excused herself to get a shower. Naruto didn't know what to do, so he thought at the least he would get some breakfast ready for her. Hinata was out before he decided what he would make but he did get a cup of tea waiting for her. Hinata took the cup with a weak smile.

"Thanks Naruto…"

"You want something to eat?" he offered.

"No… the ramen didn't sit well last night." Hinata curled up on the sofa cupping the tea in her hand. Happy to be clean, in clean pyjamas, her hair in a towel, Hinata allowed herself to relax again. There was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it" Naruto chimed and trotted down the hall. It was Sakura at the door.

"Hey Naruto, is Hinata here? She was meant to stay at the hospital last night." the pink haired girl looked worried.

"Yeah, she just wanted to go home." Naruto glanced back down the hall, Sakura glanced under his arm and she could see Hinata on the sofa. Sakura made a move to go inside but Naruto blocked her.

"Listen, don't try to talk about the Sound." Sakura was about to ask why but the look on his face and the stain of dried tears on his shoulder stopped the question before it even formed. Sakura nodded then Naruto stepped out of the way to let her in.

"Morning Hinata" Sakura came into the living room and sat on the sofa with Hinata. She offered the medic a weak smile.

"Morning…"

"You didn't want to stay at the hospital last night then?" Sakura probed.

"No…"

"Don't worry about it, so how are you feeling today?"

"A little queasy"

"Did you get something to eat. Last night?"

"Are you just here to check up on me?" Hinata smiled at the medic.

"Kinda…" Sakura smiled guiltily, Hinata chuckled dryly.

"I ate half a portion of ramen" Hinata admitted.

"If you haven't eaten in such a long time it would be a good idea to avoid heavy meals like ramen. Your stomach might not be able to handle it." Hinata nodded. "Also Tsunade wants to see you today, she wants to know any information you can tell us about the sound"

"Okay, I'll head over once I finish this" Hinata held up the tea, Sakura nodded.

"Its good to get fluids into you're system, and you," she turned on Naruto, "No more ramen for a while, soup will do for now."

"Er… okay then." Naruto wondered why it sounded like he was in trouble. Sakura listed off things Hinata was and wasn't allowed to eat for a while she recovered her strength. Hinata finished her tea and again put on her hooded cloak. She still didn't want to cause a fuss just yet. Naruto and Sakura walked with her and diverted the attention of anyone who came to talk to them. Sakura was held up distracting Shikamaru so Naruto and Hinata headed on up to Tsunade's office. Takara and Jiraiya were already there.

Naruto was dismissed but he was reluctant to leave, Hinata reassured him she was fine and he went to wait outside. Hinata took a seat in front of the hokage's desk, Tsunade was on the other side, watching her coolly over her clasped hands. Jiraiya was leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed, and Takara was perched on the edge of Tsuande's desk. Hinata offered her a smile, Takara smiled back but her eyes were filled with worry.

"Good to be home?" Tsunade suddenly said, Hinata nodded. "Alright then. Now Hinata I need you to tell me all you can about the sound village, do you remember where it is?"

"I'm not sure… do you have a map?" Takara nodded and slipped off the desk to allow Tsunade to spread out the large map.

"This is where you where found" Takara jabbed near the western border of the Land of the Sea. Hinata glanced at the map for most of the way she travelled directly east so she drew her gaze west from Takara's finger. There was a river marked on the map, did she pass a river on her way out? She tried to remember seeing one.

Yes, she had.

She had been with Sasuke at that stage. Continuing west from the river there was a mountain on it's own.

"There, the village is here" Hinata jabbed the map.

"You sure? That's a volcano" Jiraiya read the name of the mountain.

"I'm certain, the civilians live in buildings in the crater and the cone is full of tunnels like a honeycomb, that's were Orochimaru and the main military are. That's why we never found a large built up area because the village is stacked on top of itself." Hinata said this to Takara.

Takara and Hinata had scouted that area before they had meet up with Naruto and Jiraiya in Rice.

"You're positive?" Takara asked, Hinata nodded again.

"There's and easy way to find out." Takara ran through the summoning seals and the little blue dragon appeared in a puff of smoke.

"Hinata!" the little launched himself at the teen and wrapped his scaly little arms as far as they would go around her neck in a hug.

"Good to see you too Ryuu" Hinata grinned at the dragons antics.

"Okay enough of that Ryuu," Takara said, the little dragon broke off his hug and settled on Hinata's shoulders instead to listen. "We need you to check something out for us."

"Yeah? Where am I going?" Ryuu asked.

"Here, it's in Rice, we think it's where the sound village is." Takara instructed. Ryuu hopped down on to the map and put his little claw on the marking.

"Here?" he confirmed, "Okay then, I'll see what I can see" he chirruped and got ready to take off.

"Wait, let me open the window, you've broken enough on me" Tsunade said and opened on of the large windows for the dragon. Ryuu chuckled and flew outside then darted towards Rice.

"He'll take sometime to come back, so for now, what can you tell us about the Sound forces?" Jiraiya turned his gaze back to Hinata.

She told them about everything she'd over heard, about the different staging areas, the numbers mentioned, and even a few of Orochimaru's attack plans. He'd been foolish to discuss this with Kabuto while Hinata was in the lab, then again he never guess Hinata would have gotten away.

"If I'da thought I would have stolen the plans from his office" Hinata told them.

"No, it's enough to get you back" Takara said,

"Besides you've given us a lot of usual information as it is." Tsunade added, Jiraiya nodded.

"We should sent ANBU to check out the staging areas Hinata mentioned." Jiraiya pushed off from the wall and joined them at the desk.

"I'll arrange it, Orochimaru is overconfident but not stupid, it he suspects that Hinata overheard him he may move his staging areas." Takara answered.

"Then lets see if we can use his arrogance against him." Tsunade said. The three sannin began to discuss ANBU deployment and village defence strategies, every now and then they would confirm a detail with Hinata but over all the teen began to feel a little over her head. Takara noticed the girl rubbing her arms as if she could sweep away the needle marks.

"There's no need for you to stay here any longer, you can go on if you want, I'm sure Naruto is still waiting outside for you." Takara said to the girl more to distract her from the marks.

"Okay" Hinata said her goodbyes and left the room and Takara's prediction about Naruto waiting outside was right. He jogged over from Sakura's desk where he had been waiting with the pinkette.

"Ready to go?" she asked him with a smile,

"Sure" Naruto smiled back and the two headed outside.


"Takara"

"Huh, oh sorry" Takara had been watching Hinata leave and was glaring at the door once it had closed, Tsunade had called her breaking her train of thought.

"You okay?" Jiraiya asked, the Royki had been distracted most of the night before and today.

"Yeah it's just…" Takara trailed off and glanced at the door again. Tsunade glanced up from the map, the younger woman was rubbing the inside of her elbow without noticing it.

"You know more than any of us what she's been through…" she started gaining Takara's attention,

"Let's hope she stronger than I was…" Takara muttered under her breath and returned to the planning session. She would talk to Hinata when she got away from here.


"I'm telling you it isn't right!" Neji ranted. He and his team got relieved the day after they found Hinata and were sent home under strict orders not to mention anything about their mission. This, however, made Neji very irritable. The rookie nine, as they where still called by the older jounin, where in Naruto's old flat, minus Sakura, Naruto and of course Hinata. Shikamaru had pried the information out of Ino because he suspected something when the girl was unusally quiet. Chouji told Kiba and Shino just knew.

"Take it easy…" Tenten tried to calm him down.

"How can I its been nearly a week and we've heard nothing!" he snapped back,

"At least sit down you're gonna wear out the carpet." Kiba snapped at the Hyuuga's pacing, he was sitting on the ground next to his nin-hound.

"Naruto wasn't on the walls this morning" Chouji said.

"I saw him and Sakura heading over to the hokage tower. He walked on with a client I think he's been given a bodyguard mission. Least that's what Sakura said.

"Anyone interesting?" Ino asked.

"Dunno couldn't see em" he shrugged at his girl friend.

"Speaking of missions when's our next assignment?" Tenten asked Neji to try and change the subject.

"It starts on Monday, we'll be on a daily patrol of the mountains above the Royki and Bakuhi villages." He answered bluntly. A silence fell over the room as Neji's angry aura flooded the room. Akamaru whined,

"I'm gonna go take Akamaru for a walk…" Kiba pushed himself off the ground and patted his thigh, Akamaru got up and trotted down the small hall behind him. Outside Kiba trotted down the steps to ground level and he spotted Naruto talking to someone whose back was to Kiba. He walked over to greet the blond, but Naruto didn't notice him and continued his conversation.

"Are you sure you want to? I mean we can leave it till tomorrow if you like?" Kiba didn't hear the others reply but saw the hood of the cloak shake as the owner spoke.

"Okay then, if you're sure" Naruto said then he looked up and saw Kiba.

"Hey Kiba." Naruto waved. Akamaru trotted over to the one in the cloak and the figure crouched down to pet the dog, Akamaru's tail wagged furiously.

"Hey Naruto, I heard Shikamaru say you got a bodyguard mission." Naruto looked confused so Kiba continued, "Is this your client?"

"Well I guess you could say that." Naruto scratched his head and looked to the figure for answers. Akamaru was getting excited and started licking at the other persons face.

"Get off you overgrown puppy" came the chuckling reply. Kiba was about to call the dog back but Akamaru had pushed the hood off in his tongue attack.

"Hey Kiba" Hinata grinned stroking the dog. Kiba's jaw dropped.

"She said she feels up to seeing everyone again." Naruto explained as he helped Hinata get up from her crouched position.

"When did you get back?" Kiba stammered out.

"Yesterday morning, but I spent most of yesterday in the hospital so I really wasn't in the mood to socalize." Hinata explained.

"Is anyone up in the flat?" Naruto asked.

"Er, yeah, pretty much everyone is. Neji's on a bit of a war path up there too." Kiba told them

"I guess I should let him know I'm okay, he's the one that found me and I don't think anyone let him know what happened after the ANBU took me." Hinata said wiping her face of the doggie kisses.

"Oh wait, I wanna see his face" Kiba grinned evilly, Before he ran up the steps again he grabbed Hinata in a hug.

"Its great to have you back" he added then bounded back up to the flat with the giant dog trailing behind.

"Last chance to back out…" Naruto said.

"May as well get it over with, besides I don't want to be alone right now." Hinata shrugged with a smile.

"Alright then, lets go" Naruto led the way upstairs, Hinata followed behind. Naruto kicked the stiff door to get it open,

"You'd think someone would fix that…" Hinata said with a chuckle, Naruto shrugged guiltily and continued on in. With an evil grin he signalled for her to stay behind him. She laughed slightly to herself at his antics. From the living room they heard Ino,

"I thought you were talking Akamaru for a walk?"

"I was but he didn't feel like it." Kiba answered.

"You mean you're just lazy." added Naruto as he stepped into the room, there was a chorus of greetings from the others.

"I thought you had a bodyguard mission." Shikamaru piped.

"I do kinda, an injured leaf shinobi who needs to get back into shape." Naruto explained.

"Anyone we know?" Lee asked from the bean bag chair

"Maybe, why don't you come on in" Naruto called over his shoulder, a few of the group looked up in interest. Hinata walked up behind him with a huge smile plastered on her face.

"Miss me?" her voice attracted the attention of the rest.

"Hinata!" Neji shouted, he bounded over the sofa, nearly kicking Lee in the head in the process and grabbed Hinata in a bear hug.

"Didn't know you cared so much…" Hinata muttered into his ear, "Seriously, can't breathe…"

"Oh sorry." Neji let go quickly and blushed. Naruto laughed at Neji while the Jounin shot him a look.

"Hinata how are your wounds?" Ino appeared behind Neji in full medic mode.

"The ANBU patched me up and I spent all day yesterday in the hospital just after I got back." Hinata explained.

"It's good to see you well Hinata." Shino was behind Ino with a rare smile.

"Hi Shino." Hinata smiled back at her old teammate.

Hinata excused herself to go to the bathroom. While she was out of the room Naruto said to the others in a hushed voice.

"Don't try to talk to her about the sound." the others looked concerned but agreed, Neji scowled. When Hinata returned the other did as Naruto asked and didn't ask about the sound or what had happened to her. Instead they let her know what had going on around the village. Tenten told Hinata about the date Neji had taken her on, it turned out to be a nightmare. Nothing went right and Neji ended up in a fluster. Neji blushed in the corner while Hinata laughed at Tenten's story. They played a few games on the PS2 and Lee headed to rent a movie. The group tried to make it as normal as possible and Hinata seemed to be having fun, she was smiling and laughing, but Naruto knew she was pretending. Still angry and upset at what had happened she just didn't want to upset her friends.


After they watched the film members of the group started to drift off and headed home. Naruto walked home with Hinata, it was still early in the day.

"Are you hungry?" Naruto asked.

"A little…" Hinata answered.

As Naruto slid the key into the door of the apartment Takara came up behind them.

"Hey I was looking for you"

"Hey Nee-chan" Hinata gave a real smile, Takara had a large brown paper bag filled with groceries. "Shopping?"

"Yeah, normal people like you and me can't live on ramen." Takara rose the bag up to indicate it's contents was for Hinata. Naruto frowned at the snide comment.

"Have you eaten yet?" Takara asked once inside with the couple.

"No, we were about to get something." Hinata answered sitting on the counter in the kitchen.

"Sakura told us to keep to lighter foods…" Naruto said as he rummaged through the brown bag and put the groceries away.

"Then this will do" Takara plucked a packet of chicken soup powder from the bag.

"I don't have a cold Nee-chan" Hinata pouted.

"Yeah but it will help." Takara grinned, Hinata chuckled then shrugged.

Takara prepared the soup while the three of them talked in the kitchen.

"Hey Nee-chan…" Hinata asked.

"Hmm?" Takara replied as she poured the hot soup into three bowls.

"If our dorm was trashed, where are you staying?"

"Erm… with Gai." Takara answered and put the pot in the sink.

"Yeah and not on the sofa" Naruto muttered "Ouch!" Hinata sniggered as the pot reappeared to bounce off Naruto's head.

"Don't speak of what you don't know" Takara said with a raised vein.


After they ate Naruto was banished to the kitchen to do the dishes and the two woman went to Hinata's room. Most of her stuff was still in boxes from when it was moved here and Takara help her put her clothes away.

"How long before they fade?" Hinata asked. Takara looked over, the teen was rubbing the red marks on her wrist.

"Eventually…" Takara said reluctantly, "You weren't wearing those things for long, they didn't cause any deep wounds, so no permanent scars…" Hinata didn't say anything.

"I get nightmares, Nee-chan, I can still feel him touching me…" Hinata sat on her bed and hugged herself.

"Touching you!?" Takara clutched her fists.

"Not that way… he kept touching my face" Hinata ran her fingers down her scar. "His voice, that oily, smug tone…" she shuddered as her eyes watered.

"I know all about it, and I can do for you what I wish someone could have done for me." Takara sat next to Hinata on the bed.

"What's that?" Hinata sniffed, Takara pulled the girl forward and wrapped her arms around her back.

"It's gonna be alright." Hinata was expecting more than a hug, but just that simple gesture made her feel safe again.


"Get out!" the sound jounin ducked as a beaker shattered over his head. The jounin didn't need telling twice and he was out the door like a shot. Orochimaru was seething.

"Idiots! All of them!" he roared and threw another empty beaker against the wall.

"You should have put me in charge of the search…" Droned Sasuke from the corner that Orochimaru wasn't throwing things at.

"Shut up!" the otokage snapped. "Did any teams find any trace of her!?"

"Looks like one team did but she killed them."

"Where was this?"

"About five miles from the Sea border."

"Then why are you back here? Get out there and find her!"

"Alright alright, I'm going." Sasuke threw up his hands and left the Otokage's lab. Pausing in the office he glanced over his shoulder at Orochimaru. He had his back to Sasuke and was still muttering under his breath. Sasuke side stepped over to his desk and swiped the battle plans and anything else useful he could see. This would be a nice make up present to Tsunade. Now all he had to do was get the hell out of sound and think of a way to contact Hinata, that is if Hinata even managed to get back to the village.

First things first, get the fuck away from the angry tyrant.


Naruto heard a quiet knock at his bedroom door. He glanced at his alarm clock, it was three in the morning. Getting out of bed he pulled on his pj bottoms before opening the door.

"Hinata?" The girl was standing in the darkness, only the moonlight though the window lit up her outline,

"I… I don't wanna be alone right now…" she said.

"Er sure… come on in." Naruto stepped aside to let her in.

"Thank you Naruto." she said quietly, "I'm sorry for waking you…"

"It's alright." Naruto returned to his bed, Hinata stood in the middle of his floor, Naruto held up his blankets and Hinata scurried underneath and got close to him wrapping her arms around him and snuggling close to his warmth.

Hinata had been asleep when Takara left earlier that night. Woken by another nightmare Hinata found herself alone in her bedroom. In the darkness she panicked and thought she was back in the tiny cell but the warm wooden floor reassured her of that she wasn't. Alone in her room she jumped at every breath of wind and creak of trees. It was like she was four again, afraid of the dark and monsters in the wardrobe. Back then her mother had chased away the monsters before tucking her back to sleep with panda-chan. Sliding out of bed she crept to her bedroom door, her mouth twitched in a smile as she pictured Takara waiting with the stuffed animal. Hinata didn't need Panda-chan anymore she had Naruto. He was lying on his back and Hinata rested her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat and steady breathing. He had his arm wrapped around her and was slowly stroking her side.

Hinata was safe and happy with the man she loved. Looking up at him she smiled in the dark.

"I love you" she whispered

"I love you too" came the hushed answer and a set of lips closed over hers as Naruto pulled her into a kiss.


BANG!

"Wazz sat?" Takara and Gai were woken by the loud noise. Takara was out of bed and ready for a fight while Gai wondered where his warm blankets went. Seeing no enemy shinobi ready to attack Takara looked for the source of the noise, meanwhile Gai collected the blankets from the floor. At the window came a tapping noise. Opening the curtains she saw little Ryuu standing on the window sill rapping his little claws against the glass, above his head was the tell-tale smudge of an impact.

Frowning at the dragon she let him in.

"Do you have any idea what time it is Ryuu?" Takara rubbed the sleep from her eye and sat back on the bed,

"umm, 4:38 am" the dragon piped after glancing at Gai's digital alarm clock. "Anyway, Hinata was right, there where buildings in the crater of the mountain." Now Takara was instantly awake.

"You're sure?"

"Yup, a whole little town." Ryuu covered his eyes with his little paws while Takara threw off her Pj's and quickly got dressed.

"I gotta tell Tsuande." She said while pulling on her jacket

"Tell her what?" Gai, who wasn't really awake yet, asked from the bed.

"That we found the sound" Takara replied with a grin. "Come on Ryuu" the little dragon jumped from the bed to her shoulder and Takara jogged out of the flat. She bounded over the rooftops with a grin on her face, she couldn't help it, now she knew where the bastard was. Chakra clinging to the wall next to Tsunade's window Takara tapped the glass after waving off the ANBU guards.

At first there was no answer so she knocked harder.

"This had better be good!" threatened Tsunade as she yanked the window open, normally the pissed off hokage would scare Takara but now she was too happy.

"She was right, we found it"

"The village!? You're sure?"

"She asked me the same thing…" Ryuu said.

"Yes" Takara answered. "It's hiding in that volcano that Hinata pointed out it must be extinct."

"Pretty clever of him…" Tsunade muttered.

"Please don't compliment him…" Takara scowled.

"Sorry, are you going to hang there all night or are you going to come in?" Tsunade opened the window wider to allow the younger woman to enter. Takara release her chakra cling and hopped into the window. She'd never been in the Hokages private residence before. It looked like the older woman was trying to unwind with a book and a few bottles of sake, Takara noticed the smell of alcohol on her breath.

"You're drunk…" Takara lifted one of the empty bottles from the table.

"No…. I'm tipsy… there's a difference." Tsunade snapped and offered Takara a drink. "Go on, its something to celebrate after all this shit."

"No thanks" Takara turned down the bottle offered, "Isn't it a little early to be drinking?"

"Not if you haven't been to bed yet." Tsunade chuckled and took a swig from the bottle Takara had refused.

"……" Takara tried to think of an argument, "Okay that's a valid point" and failed.

"So should we tell Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked while swaying slightly

"Maybe you should sober up first…" Takara suggested.


The morning sunlight danced on Naruto's face waking him from his sleep. He yawned and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. Hinata was still asleep with her head on his chest. She looked so adorable in her powder blue pyjamas, he arched his neck and kissed her on her forehead. Hinata's eyes opened halfway and she looked up at him.

"Five more minutes." she muttered and tried to snuggle deeper into his chest. Naruto chuckled as her hair tickled him.

"No we have to get up" he said softly

"I don't want to…" she whined childishly.

"Tough cuz I have to pee." Naruto sat up disturbing Hinata.

"Charming…" she muttered rubbing her eye. Naruto flashed his trademark grin and rolled out of the bed.

Hinata got out of the bed and shuffled to her room to get dressed. She buckled on her vambrace, a familiar weight on her arm, but it seemed heavier than she remembered. It didn't matter her chakra had finally fully returned and with it her strength, but she knew Naruto and Takara had a hand in that as well.

After they ate breakfast Naruto posed the question,

"What do you want to do today?"

"Lets go to the training grounds."

"You up to it?"

"Naruo I haven't lost a limb, I'm just out of practice"

"Okay then…" he replied sheepishly.

Hinata and Naruto headed on over to the training grounds, Hinata veered in the direction of ground thirteen were team three were training.

"Hey it's sensei." Shin shouted, he sheathed his sword and jogged up the hill to greet the two teens, Megumi and Aiko where close behind him.

"I though you guys were gonna visit yesterday" Hinata grinned at her gennin and chuunin.

"We were but Takara-sama told us to let you rest." Aiko answered.

Hinata chatted with her team for a little while then chased them off to continue their training.

"So shall we spar too?" Hinata asked Naruto but he looked hesitant, "Oh come on…" Hinata pulled him to his feet. They spent the remainder of the morning sparing with simple tai-jutsu. During her imprisonment Hinata had loss the majority of her body fat, but because of the IV's and the sparring sessions with Orochimaru there was no major muscle wastage. Now that she had been able to rest and regain her chakra, movement was a lot easier. The drug inducted haze was long gone, she could think clearly, use her Byakugan, see his moments and react quickly, things where back to normal. However Naruto was beginning to annoy her, he was holding back and slowing his movements, maybe she was just used to Orochimaru's speed.

Naruto parried her attack and swung his arm towards her stomach, something distracted him and he faltered Hinata took her chance. Grabbing his arm she threw him to the ground.

"I told you not to go easy on me" she grinned, but Naruto was looking up at her in shock, "What?"

"Your eyes" Naruto scrabbled to his feet, Hinata felt the warm trickle on her cheek. Without knowing she'd used the Crimson Tears. She deactivated trait and used a tissue to wipe away the two bloody teardrops.

"Don't worry about this" she said dabbing her eyes, Naruto looked panicked. "It's a new technique I picked up…" This explained why Naruto seemed to be moving so slow, no wonder Orochimaru wanted it, the Crimson Tears was a powerful technique.

"Is that what he did?" Naruto said darkly.

"Kinda…" Hinata nodded. "It looks gruesome but it doesn't hurt anymore…" Hinata didn't want to tell Naruto that he was responsible for it in the first place, then again if it wasn't for Orochimaru she never would have known that herself.

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

"It's an advanced version of the Byakugan… that is, according to Orochimaru." Hinata explained and tucked the bloody tissue in her pocket. "Don't look so angry".

"Sorry" Naruto had been glaring at the ground, but his expression softened when she smiled at him to cheer him up. She took his hands and repeated,

"Don't worry about it" into his ear.

"Hinata and Naruto sitting in a tree…"

"Meg!" the red head laughed and ran back to her two team mates. Dispute Hinata's glare after the red head Naruto started to chuckle.

"You're just as bad." Hinata shoved Naruto playfully, he started to laugh out loud and Hinata dropped her glare and grinned too. "Come on lets go get the genin" she pulled him towards the three kids.

Around dinner Takara wandered down to the training fields.

"Nee-chan?"

"Hey Kit" Takara grinned.

"You look exhausted…" Naruto added.

"Thanks…" she replied bluntly. "So how was the work out? Feeling any better?"

"Chakra works, body works" Hinata said.

"Good good. Hungry?"

"Little bit, you seem really happy today" Hinata pointed out.

"I am, Ryuu brought back some good news last night."

"So it's been confirmed, I was right"

"About what?" Naruto asked.

"Yes you were, me, Tsunade and Jiraiya set up a recon to find out if anything's been moved yet." Takara explained, Naruto looked from smiling Takara to beaming Hinata.

"I'm I missing something?" he asked.

"Its not common knowledge yet, so shh" Takara shhed him and waved him away. "Anyway food?" Takara offered again.

"Yeah, I could eat."

"Me too" Naruto piped into the conversation.

"Er… what about us sensei?" Aiko came up behind Hinata, team three had been easedropping on them.

"Well…" Hinata glanced at her watch, "since its dinner time you can run off if you'd like"

Shin's stomach let out a growl almost on cue.

"Maybe we should fed them before we let them go" Takara said with a chuckle. "Alright come on then"

"You're gonna treat us all?" Naruto asked.

"I'm in a good mood" Takara said.


"Thanks for treating us nee-chan" Hinata said while stifling a belch.

"Myeh it was nice to get everyone together." The older woman shrugged. The two women and Naruto where walking towards the couples flat.

"Wanna come in for a cup of tea?" Hinata offered while Naruto opened the door.

"No I should head on, but a quick word…" Takara jerked her head to indicate she wanted to talk to Hinata along, Hinata nodded at Naruto who was hovering at the door.

"I'll make some tea then." then he disappeared inside.

"So, now that we're alone, tell me want Ryuu found." Hinata started.

"Just as you said civilian buildings in the crater, so we've sent someone in infiltrate the village. Now we can take the fight to the sound."

"I like the sound of that" Hinata said.

"Anyway you up for lunch tomorrow? Maybe a trip to the spa?" Takara offered, "Come on, girlie day, we haven't done that in ages." Hinata laughed at Takara's hopeful face.

"Alright sounds fun Nee-chan"

"Great" they arranged a time to meet the next day and Takara headed on home.

"That was a short conversation" Naruto commented when Hinata came inside.

"Yeah, Nee- chan wanted to know if I was up for going to the spa with her tomorrow." Hinata explained as she accepted the tea offered to her.

"A little bit of pampering might be just what you need to unwind." he said and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Or maybe I just need a hug" she said playfully.

"Well I can do that." Naruto teased, Hinata giggled as she wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck.

"You're tickling me!" she laughed and pushed him away, Naruto grinned and let her go.

"I'm gonna go get ready for bed." he said after gulping down the remainder of his tea.

"Okay"

"You can come in again if you want" Naruto offered.

"Thanks Naruto." she smiled as he blushed and retreated into his room. Hinata followed his example and got into her pj's after she finished her own tea. She checked everything was closed and locked then knocked on Naruto's door.

"Come on in" he answered, Naruto was standing next to his bed, seemingly just about to get in it. He was only in his pj bottoms with no top. Hinata paused and looked at him. At his well toned abs and broad chest, she could feel the blush rising to her cheeks. Naruto climbed into his bed and held up the blankets for her. Hinata smiled and scurried in beside him. Naruto lay on his back as usual and Hinata used his chest as her pillow. However tonight she wanted more. She started to kiss his neck and trailed her fingers up and down his bare chest. Naruto rubbed her back as he always did. Hinata worked her way up to his mouth and in the process was leaning over him. With her free hand she guided his under her pj top. Pausing she broke the kiss to look at his bewildered face. Then she whispered in his ear,

"I love you"


The light from the window woke Naruto. He yawned but didn't want to move. Laying on his side Hinata was in front of him, her back to him and his arms wrapped around her. Last night had been the first time for both of them. Naruto lifted his head slightly to look at Hinata. The sun light danced across her skin and a tiny smile was on her lips. She was beautiful and she was with him. Laying his head back down he snuggled into her warm hair and tried to doze off in her scent. His nose jabbing Hinata's neck however woke her. She took a deep breath and yawned. Naruto propped himself up on his elbows and Hinata rolled onto her back to look up at him.

"Mornin'" He whispered and kissed her on the forehead.

"Mornin'" she smiled back.

"What's the plans for today then?" He asked.

"Well the team are on a mission today with another Jounin so I don't have to go anywhere until 12 when I meet Nee-chan. And your mission is to keep an eye on me so I don't think you're going anywhere either." Hinata told him.

"So what does that mean?" Naruto asked.

"It means another half hours sleep." she pushed him down from his elbows and snuggled into his chest, Naruto chuckled and wrapped his arms around her again.

"That sounds good" Hinata got close up against him, her breasts pressed against his chest.

"…or … did you have something else in mind?" Hinata asked teasingly as she felt something brush her leg. Naruto gave an embarrassed chuckle as Hinata sniggered at him.


"Something's different about you…"

"I thought we already figured out it was the eye colour" Hinata said over her food.

"No I mean from yesterday…" Takara stared at the younger woman trying to put her finger on the difference.

"Seriously stop staring… I hate it when you do that…" Hinata said, Takara did stop staring but she kept the suspicious expression, then something clicked.

"I'll kill him." she suddenly said then looked around as if Naruto was hiding behind one of the planters in the café.

"Nee-chan!" Hinata scolded and kicked her under the table.

"What?"

"I'm a grown woman I can make my own choices." Hinata said defensively.

"Hmmm" Takara pursed her lips.

"Don't hmmm at me. It's the same with you and Gai! I've been with Naruto about the same length of time you've been with Gai." Hinata shot back.

"That's true but still…" Takara found it hard to tone down the maternal instinct. Hinata couldn't help but laugh at Takara's expression, it was somewhere between murderous intent and acceptance.

"Where are you going?" Hinata asked as Takara got up.

"Bathroom"

"Get back here," Hinata grabbed Takara's sleeve and pulled her back to the table. "I know you're going to find Naruto."

"What gave it away?"

"Sit" Hinata said with more force in her voice. "And let it go" the older woman sank back into her chair.

"He didn't talk you into it did he?" Takara asked.

"No, he didn't" she answered.

"Alright then…" Takara leant back in the chair and sipped on her tea, Takara was defeated, Hinata was eighteen now after all and she did love the boy.

"So no killing Naruto?" Hinata said, sounding more like a question.

"Alright I won't touch him." Takara shrugged. "Suppose I understand, you're teenagers after all." Hinata blushed slightly and returned to her tea. "So then…" Takara probed, "How was it?" Hinata nearly choked on her tea.

"Nee-chan!" Takara smirked at the rising brush on the teens face.

"You were defending it a moment ago." the sannin grinned almost evilly.

"You're mean nee-chan"


Despite Takara's teasing and prodding Hinata said nothing about the night before.

"You'll tell me eventually" Takara shrugged as the two of them left the spa where they had spent most of the day. The sannin had been right the spa felt great.

"Hey Hinata!" Hanabi was coming along the street towards them.

"What's up Hanabi?" Hinata waved at her little sister, the girl bounded up and gave Hinata a hug.

"This arrived for you at the main house." Hanabi dug a scroll out of her jacket after she let her big sister go. Hinata took the scroll, it had a Fang country postmark, more than likely delivered by one of the post ninjas, the creepy freaks that they were, still they got the job done.

"Whose the letter from Kit?" Takara asked over her shoulder.

"Dunno…" Hinata tucked it in her pocket to read later. Hinata chatted to her little sister while they walked down the street to a nearby dango stand. The young genin had to run on because she was going to be late for training. Takara went to get the snacks and drinks and Hinata picked open the wax seal and unfurled the scroll.

"Who's it from?" Takara asked setting down the tray.

"Erm… remember I said I had help getting out of Rice? It seems it's time to return the favour…" Hinata let Takara read the name on the letter.

'Uchiha Sasuke'.

End chapter 44


Well I hope you enjoyed it. Hinata and Naruto finally did the naughty (evil giggle)

Any during a really boring day in work I wrote a one shot about Team Three, I'll be posting it later on tonight under the name 'Gennin Tales'

This may be a continuing thing… I don't know yet. Make sure you check it out.

I'm gonna be an auntie in a few weeks too :) My sister is 8 months pregnat with her first baby don't know if its a wickle baby girl or a boy yet.

Happy St Patricks day for Tuesday!

I can't believe I've been working on this for nearly two years…. Wow….