A/N: Well, the next few chapters are going to be spread out among a few different characters, so don't expect much major to happen. Should be fun regardless.

Time for chapter 24

Enjoy!

Hanabi sighed as Hinata dragged herself into her room. The heiress had just been brutally reprimanded for her actions during the preliminary round of the chunin exams by the Elder members of their clan. Despite not having been in the room, Hanabi had managed to piece together the majority of what was discussed due to the heightened volume of the ancient clansmen.

"Any particular reason that you've come to my room, Ne-san?" she asked as Hinata closed the door and slid to the floor. The elder of the two sisters sighed heavily and drew her knees up to her chin.

"I would rather not smell my own perfume right now, if you know what I mean" she said. Hanabi stood up from her bed and walked over to her sister. She knelt down in front of her and sighed.

"I don't claim to fully understand your reasoning for doing what you did, but it was wrong, and you were punished accordingly. If you're here to sulk, then leave" she said. Hinata shook her head and leaned back against the door.

"Don't worry. I have no self-pity. I know what I did was awful. If I am to be honest, father gave them a fairly favorable account of the match. I was spared a harsher punishment due to my position as heiress as well, so I have no room to complain" she said. Her sister sat down beside her and leaned back on the wall as well.

"Why...did you give in to that seal? I just don't understand why you would do such a thing. Was it really rooted in your jealousy of his progress?" she asked carefully. The heiress swallowed and wiped away a ghost of a tear from her eye as she recalled her transformation.

"Initially, it was because I was desperate. I despised the idea of using that seal. I knew what it was the moment I regained consciousness after being marked, and it didn't interest me at all. But...once control of my fight with Naruto-kun began to slip away, my logical mind took a vacation. He was so much more efficient and slippery than he had been before. I wasn't ready. I couldn't have beaten him" she said. Hanabi frowned at one particular aspect of the explanation.

"Initially? Did your reasoning change as the match went on?" she asked curiously. Hinata nodded and ran a hand through her hair.

"That seal did things to my mind. Things that I would usually find appalling were suddenly...intoxicating. That shift in preference became completely impossible to resist about ten minutes into the match, when I got a good look at Naruto-kun's face for the first time since we had been given our instructions" she said, sounding ashamed of the information she was about to reveal.

"He was covered in blood and cuts. He was bruised and swollen. Sounds disgusting, doesn't it? Well, to me, in that moment, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on. I was almost...aroused by the sight of his injuries. I needed more. I needed to hurt him more. Even while my mind fell into that perverse abyss, a small part of myself was screaming for me to stop. Somehow, that small sliver of humanity made its way to the surface for a brief moment" she said, her voice wavering in strengths several times throughout the account.

Hanabi felt her stomach churn at the uncensored description of her sister's dark and sanguinary emotions, but motioned for her to continue. Hinata took a deep breath before obliging.

"Right as my body was fully taken by the curse mark, he questioned my reasoning for being so excessively aggressive and antagonizing during our match. For the briefest of moments, I saw him for who he was again. He was Naruto Uzumaki, whom I adore passionately, not a piece of meat to be minced. He deserved something resembling an explanation. So, I gave him as honest a speech as I could. Within said speech, I inadvertently admitted that I desire him" she said.

Hanabi winced and gave her sister a sympathetic look as she imagined how she herself would feel given the same situation.

"Talk about poor timing for a confession. Knowing him, though, he likely didn't hear you. What did you say, exactly?" she asked. The Hyuga heiress thought for a moment.

"I told him that I was going to bludgeon him despite my affection for him. I certainly sent conflicting signals, but it was clear enough. Also, he did hear me. He said as much after the fact" she said. Her sister raised an eyebrow.

"You make it sound like you've already spoke with him about this. Have you?" she asked skeptically. Hinata nodded and smiled, much to Hanabi's surprise.

"I discussed this topic with him in the hospital yesterday. It was both hellish and heavenly at the same time. On the one hand, it was clear to me that I badly hurt him emotionally. He gave me the same speech he always does when I say something hurtful and try to apologize, which is that I am not alone in his persecution. Whenever he says such things, it tends to mean that he is suffering psychologically" she said. Hanabi nodded and awaited the rest of the story.

"After wading my way through that part of the discussion, he pointed out that I was openly referring to him as 'Naruto-kun'. Given the situation, I was forced to explain myself. I expressed to him that I harbored deep, consuming affection for him, all while wishing I didn't. He did not reject me outright. In fact, he stopped me from tearing myself down and comforted me, even though I didn't deserve it. After that...well, I tackled him to his bed and refused to let go. As it turns out, he sacrificed two years of his life to suppress the curse mark" Hinata said somewhat emotionally.

"I was about to criticize your decision to force yourself upon him, but such a sacrifice warrants a hug" Hanabi said with a chuckle. The heiress nodded and stared off into space blankly as she recalled the physical contact.

"What was his exact response?" her sister asked curiously. Hinata stood up and stretched. She then made her way to Hanabi's bedside table and picked up a stray pair of earrings.

"He told me that while he did not entirely reciprocate now, that he almost certainly would in the foreseeable future. Insurance, if you will. He also let me take a nap while essentially laying on him, which was a sweet gesture" she said as she put on the earrings. Hanabi raised an eyebrow as her sister opened the door to leave.

"Earrings? Have you somewhere important to be, Ne-san?" she asked as Hinata exited the room quietly. The heiress glanced back over her shoulder and smiled innocently.

"Nothing formal. Can't a girl indulge every once in a while?" she asked before closing the door again and walking down the hall. Hanabi sighed and shook her head.

'Oh, elder sister. You're so hopeless'

Naruto rubbed his throbbing head as he made his way towards his front door, which was being knocked on. While his physical had improved overnight, literally, he was still fairly uncomfortable moving around on his feet. Every step he took elicited a painful pulse in his skull. Coincidentally, the person who dwelled on the other side of his front door happened to be the source of these discomforts and pains.

"Good afternoon, Naruto-kun" Hinata, who was carrying a handbag, greeted jovially. The blonde felt his face heat up slightly at her casual use of the affectionate honorific in relation to his name.

"You're in a good mood. Did you get off easy with your clan?" he asked. The Hyuga girl sighed and nodded.

"As easily as I possibly could have. I have been assigned cleaning duty. Every night for the next four months, I am to clean up the dining quarters of both the branch and main houses. Eight rooms in total" she explained. Naruto chuckled.

"Wow, that's pretty harsh. Cruel and unusual punishment, huh?" he joked. Hinata shook her head and pursed her lips.

"It was either cleaning or a caged bird seal. I would much rather be a maid for a few months than have my freedom taken away from me" she said. Naruto furrowed his eyebrows at the statement.

"I've never heard of the Caged Bird Seal. What...is it exactly?" he asked carefully, sensing that the topic at hand was a sensitive one. The heiress sighed and stepped through the doorframe, prompting Naruto to step to the side and let her though.

"Forgive me for intruding, but I would rather keep this conversation fairly private. Not that this isn't somewhat common knowledge, but it still is controversial" she said as she sat down at his dining table. The blonde nodded and closed the door before making his way to the dining table.

"For starters, the seal is only given to members of the branch family. It is a precautionary measure to protect the Byakugan from thieves. The point of the seal is to destroy the eyes of he or she who bears it upon their death. The second, much more cruel purpose of the seal is to 'discipline' members of the branch family. Should a member of the main family so choose, they can activate the seal, which, in turn, will cause them severe pain" she explained.

The Jinchuuriki's face contorted in disgust as he processed the details of the information that had been revealed to him.

"That's awful. It's almost like a form of slavery from the sounds of it" he said. Hinata nodded stiffly and put a hand on her forehead.

"It is one of the things I will abolish as head of the Hyuga. As much as I dislike some of the members of the branch family, they're still people, and they deserve to be treated as such" she said firmly. Naruto smiled at the short speech.

"That's an awesome goal. Don't give up on it. You'll make a lot of people happy if you achieve it" he said. The Hyuga heiress returned the smile and leaned back in her chair.

"I don't plan on relenting. I will likely have to walk through some fire to make it a reality, but those seals will be outlawed within my lifetime. I swear it" she said. Hinata then noticed something about Naruto's face, namely his forehead. She slowly reached across the table and outstretched her fingers to graze two small marks on either side of his hairline, where her horns had pierced him.

"What are you…?" Naruto asked skeptically as the Hyuga girl slowly pulled her hand back and folded it in her lap.

"Those markings on your forehead. They're going to be permanent scars, aren't they?" she asked quietly. The Jinchuuriki sighed.

"Yeah, they will. I injected my chakra into you through your horns, which is why I pulled you towards me and deepened the wound. The chakra fried the skin so badly that those marks are permanent. It's no big deal, honestly. Scars are only visual" he assured her. Hinata shook her head and stood up.

"In a way, I marked you in the same way the main family marks the branch family. Every time you look in the mirror, you will be forced to remember the pain I caused you. I cannot control you with those scars, but I've imprinted myself on you in the worst way" she said as she made her way into his kitchen. Naruto stood up and followed her.

"I had to look at the scars this morning when I woke up. I didn't think of anything terrible when I saw them. What I thought of was how proud I was of surviving everything that happened. It motivated me to actually go for a run" he said as he and the heiress entered his small kitchen.

"Even if you find those marks to be motivational, it still hurts me to be reminded of my greatest blunder every time I look at your face, which is something I enjoy doing and do quite often" she said as she set down her handbag on the kitchen counter. The moment she had set the bag down, she realized that she had said a bit too much. She slowly glanced over her shoulder at Naruto, who was a rare shade of red.

"I'm...glad you...like my face?" he said awkwardly. Under most circumstances, Hinata would have likely lost her composure and burned red as well, but this occasion was different. For what reason, she did not know. A small grin slowly spread across her lips as she tilted her head to one side and studied the Jinchuuriki.

"You look quite...nervous, Naruto-kun. Is there any particular reason for that?" she asked innocently. Out of absolutely nowhere, the heiress was brimming with an alien confidence.

"I never said I was nervous" Naruto said defensively as he shifted uncomfortably in place. Hinata turned around and stepped forward into his personal space.

"Your body language says otherwise. Don't worry, I'm going to cook us a nice dinner. It's five-thirty now, so I think it's high time we ate something. Consider this my apology for blemishing your sweet face" she said with a giggle before turning and unpacking her handbag, which contained cooking supplies and ingredients.

"I'm going to go sit down now" Naurto said before retreating into the dining room again, leaving the heiress to herself to cook. The moment he was gone, the sudden surge of forward confidence she had experienced vanished completely.

'What on earth did I just do?' she wondered as she activated her byakugan to spy on the jinchuuriki, who appeared to be processing what he had just experienced. Hinata then mentally kicked herself.

'Wonderful. He's never been approached by either gender in such a manner, and now he's catatonic. What in god's name compelled me to do that?' she thought to herself with a sigh. She then went to work preparing a simple meal of noodles and chicken. Within twenty minutes, the food was cooked and ready to be consumed.

"I hope you like chicken" she said as she set down a plate in front of Naruto and sat down across from him. The blonde studied the food for a moment before shrugging and taking a bite of the meat. He chewed it for a moment before swallowing and smiling.

"Damn. Not bad at all. You're a good cook" he complimented. Hinata released the breath she had been holding and began to eat her own food.

"I'd like to think I am. Other than reading, cooking is one of my few hobbies" she said as she sampled the noodles. Naruto nodded and took another bite of the chicken.

"Are you going to be allowed to attend the finals of the exams?" he asked after several seconds of chewing. The Hyuga girl sighed.

"I don't know. Most likely, but there are no guarantees. Father let me visit you, so I like my chances. You are set to face Gaara, correct?" she asked. The excitable genin nodded once more.

"Yup. I just had to get paired up with the scariest guy in the room, didn't I?" he said humorously. Hinata chuckled and took a sip from her glass of water.

"I actually think that you may defeat him more easily than you anticipate. The difference in taijutsu between you two is monstrous. Should you close range and evade his sand, you'll be able to hit him as hard and as often as you want" she said. The Jinchuuriki pursed his lips.

"Getting around his sand is easier said than done. Lee is faster than I am, and probably still a better representative of taijutsu, and he had a hell of a tough time past a certain point. I think I'm more durable than Lee, but he's way stronger when he's using the gates" he said. The heiress sighed.

"Try to think positively. A defeatist mindset will lead you to exactly that, defeat. I have confidence in your ability to adjust as the fight goes on and find a way to win. If push comes to shove, you also have enormous reserves of power that you refused to utilize against me. I think you'll be just fine, Naruto-kun" she said. The blonde glanced at her somewhat nervously.

"So you knew I was holding back, huh? You probably don't like that I did that, right?" he asked. Hinata gazed at him for a moment.

"Initially, it made me angry that you didn't fight me at the height of your strength, but after reviewing the battle in my mind, I have a different outlook on the situation" she said. Naruto squirmed a bit under her stare.

"What do you think of it all now?" he asked. The heiress finished the last of her chicken and set the plate aside.

"You knocked me unconscious with a single strike at the end of our match. Had you unleashed the full breadth of your power, you would have blown me into the stratosphere. It would have been even more humiliating than being beaten by you in a drawn out slugfest. Thank you for allowing me to fight. I hate to lose, no matter the circumstances, but you made this loss much easier to accept. Both during and after the fact" she said. The blonde shrugged.

"I genuinely had to fight for my life once you transformed. You were stronger than I was man to man. I needed the fox to beat you. Be proud of that" he replied. The pair continued to discuss the upcoming finals and the matches that would be taking place for another half and hour before Hinata stood up from her chair and turned to leave.

"As much as I am enjoying myself, I must be off now. Breaking curfew is the last thing I need to be doing in my current situation" she said as she made her way towards the door. As she opened it and stepped into the hallway, Naruto called out to her awkwardly.

"Hey, Hinata" he said. The Hyuga heiress looked back over her shoulder at him and gestured for him to continue.

"Out with it, Naruto-kun. I don't have all night" she urged. The Jinchuuriki smiled at her and gave her a thumbs-up.

"I like your face, too" he said. Hinata stared at him silently for several seconds as her cheeks and ears tinted themselves pink. She then fully stepped into the hallway.

"That's good, because you're going to be seeing quite a bit of it from here on out"

A/N: Training begins next chapter. I'll be mixing it up and vary who he trains with and how often. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

See you next chapter! Read and Review!