Chapter Thirty-Two
The view from the top of Hokage Rock was rich in a honeyed color as the sun began setting over Konoha. For Hinata, the view was both soothing and anxiety-inducing at the same time. The sun will go down, and in a few short hours it will come back up. Hinata looked at her watch, almost 2015 on June 30th. She stared out at the landscape before her, trying to memorize the details – the steam rising from the hot springs district, the ornate Hokage's Mansion, smoke rising from Ichiraku's, and the imposing fortress that was home. Home, in a couple hours, you'll find out if it still is home. Her gaze soon shifted to an unassuming three story building a few blocks from where Naruto's family lived – Stony Bridge Apartments.
They had their worst-case scenario planned had placed down the deposit on a small studio apartment. Apparently, the apartment building was the affordable go-to place for orphaned shinobi too old to be kept at an orphanage. Kushina and Minato had both lived in the apartment building when they were academy students until they moved in together at had already packed her bags with her few personal belongings. Unnerving was the fact that Grandfather hadn't so much as packed a toothbrush in preparation. Either he knows something I don't, or his arrogance is overwhelming. The thought of walking into another trap of some kind didn't sit well with Hinata.
"Hey, you awake?" Naruto called from behind her as he began working on the knots in her trapezius muscles. Hinata squirmed nervously as his powerful fingers shaped her like an artist with clay.
"H-how did you learn this again?" she suppressed a moan. While Naruto was far from an expert massage therapist, he wasn't half-bad, either.
"Mom taught me," Naruto said cheerfully as he continued to work, oblivious to the effect his touch was having.Good old Aunt Kushina, you've done so much for me! Kushina was more a second mother now with all the time Hinata had spent training with her, Naruto, and fact, they had to start taking turns with the dojo and back yard due to the growing number of young shinobi training at the house – Neji, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, Konohamaru, Lord Minato, and the two of them. If we have any more people over, they'll need a larger house!
Hinata laughed slightly at the thought. When this was over, if all went well, a trip to a bathhouse was in order. In fact, Naruto had insisted their last full day before the duel end woke up, warmed up, and ran a few practice drills with Neji for what they had in mind for tomorrow. They had run a few worst-case scenario drills, too, refreshing CPR and other first aid with Sakura and had called a halt to things after being convinced that there was nothing more to be gained from repetitive practice. He wanted Hinata well-rested and flexible for what promised to be a hard day awaiting tomorrow. His cheery, confident smile did not conceal the dark circles of exhaustion under his eyes. He's as invested in this as I am…
She leaned back into him as he massaged the sides of her neck. Naruto, shivered slightly, but he continued to work her muscles with his firm but gentle fingers. Hinata closed her eyes, and breathed him in. He wore no cologne, but he had a mild musky scent mix with the aroma of the broth from Ichiraku's he'd dripped on his shirt at the ramen shop earlier when they'd had dinner. Afterwards, he'd asked what she'd wanted to do, and she wanted to see Konoha from the top of Hokage Rock. She wanted to see this view one more time. In twelve hours, she could potentially go from being clan heir on top of the world to being a commoner on her own in the world. Stop thinking like that!
Hinata relaxed under the sensation of his fingers remaking her, letting her mind wander. She remembered when they had curled up for warmth on their first mission; she had dreamed she was getting married to Naruto. Mother, Father, Neji, and Hanabi had come to wish he well before the looked down from their vantage point, recognizing the reception center, down to the window she was standing in.Do well tomorrow, make that dream a reality! Hinata also felt the weight of what would happen if she won would be clan leader, not just would be responsible for setting a new tone and undoing decades of harmful actions by her grandfather. She again thought back to the dream of her family wishing her well on her wedding determination to win surged at the pleasant thought, as it did with the thought of the boy massaging her back someday becoming her husband – a dream she'd had since he came to her rescue on a snowy December day over nine years ago.
"You are so tense, Hinata," Naruto observed, "What's on your mind?"
"Ask me again when this is all over," she smiled quietly to herself. He wasn't ready for that revelation, and she wasn't yet ready to share it. Why not? In another twelve hours, he might be standing over your lifeless corpse. The thought made her openly shake and her heart quake in her chest. Even if she survived and lost, could she really live with the shame of losing after he'd pour his heart, soul, and sweat into training her? The horrific thought threated to bring her to tears.
"Hinata!" Naruto's voice cracked, as it had intermittently over the past few months."Are-are you all right? Was I too firm?! Did-did I hurt you?"
Hinata felt her emotions bubble to the surface. After six months of preparing for the day she thought would never come, it was here! "N-Naruto-kun!" she shook, turning and burying her face in his shoulder.
"I'm here, Hinata, tell me what's wrong!" Naruto put his arms around her, making her feel warm and safe again.
Nevertheless, she began to cry, feeling a total fake. She wasn't ready to lead the clan if she won, and she wasn't ready to leave home if she lost and survived. Will he still be the same? Will you still be able to look at him the same if you lose? Will you ever have another chance?
"Hey, hey, hey," Naruto pulled her back, staring her in the eyes, "Talk to me, what's wrong?" Hinata could tell he was nervous, judging by how much his throat was bobbing up and down.
Hinata could also feel her heart in her throat, and cold goosebumps were erupting along her arms from where she was touching him. "N-N-Naruto-kun," she blushed as his eyes searched deep into her soul, "do you remember that sensation you have when you're about to do s-something incredibly stupid?" He nodded with his blue eyes wide with concern.
Her future Hokage had given her the slip before, but she wasn't going to let him get away this time. If this was the last time she'd ever see him, she didn't want to lose him without letting her feelings being known. Now or never, don't miss! Hinata grabbed Naruto by the collar of his jacket and lost herself in the warmth of his lips.
Naruto was working a particularly stubborn knot in the back of Hinata's neck when she shook violently and began whimpering like she was starting to cry, "Hinata!" he squeaked awkwardly, trying to get his vocal cords to cooperate, "Are-are you all right? Was I too firm? Did-did I hurt you?" Naruto's heart raced. He felt his heart in his windpipe, feeling it pulsate as he held her.
"N-Naruto-Kun!" She spun suddenly in his arms, burying her face in his shoulder. Naruto's heart lurched at the sudden increase in contact with her. If he was being opportunistic, he could take full advantage of the were no parents, no bodyguards, and no one else anywhere nearby."I'm here, Hinata, tell me what's wrong!" He encircled her in his arms, feeling his good intentions threatening to abandon him. Oh god! If she gets any closer, I'm gonna die! His heart threatened to jump out of his throat.
"Hey, hey, hey," Naruto too her by the shoulders, hoping to calm her as much as himself, "Talk to me, what's wrong?" Naruto struggled to sound calm, but he was anything but. Poor Hinata, she must be terrified.
"N-N-Naruto-kun," she stammered as she turned red as a cute strawberry, "do you remember that sensation you get when you're about to do s-something incredibly stupid?" Naruto nodded dumbly. Where is she going with this?
Before he could ask her to clarify, Hinata's hand clutched him by his collar, and her lips answered by connecting to his. Naruto almost choked on his own throat in surprise. Naruto had seen things and done things in the past year that had left him spellbound, but none of them came even close to what he was experiencing right now. It was innocent, gentle, thrilling, and frightening all at once. "H-Hinata…" he said breathlessly to her lips as the hunger for air forced them to separate.
Something unusual in the back of his head tingled. Danger! He saw the shadowy figure in the fading light. Hinata must have noticed the look in his eyes. Her Byakugan activated, and she shoved him backward onto his back. Two lethal shuriken whizzed overheard, and Naruto rolled putting himself over Hinata and between their assailant as another shuriken cut the air beside where they'd been.
Instinct kicked in. Get her to safety! "Come on!" Naruto heaved Hinata to her feet, and they were over the side of Hokage Rock, falling rapidly toward a lower outcropping. They slid off the stone rendering of Dad's forehead, slid down his nose, and bounced off Dad's chin as gravity grabbed hold.
Naruto clutched Hinata in his arms as he ran fast as his legs could carry him down the sheer rock ten meters from ground level, he jumped outward and ran across the grounds of the reception area at the base of Hokage Rock, not stopping until they reached the gate. Naruto finally set Hinata down and remembered to breathe. Who the hell was that?! "H-H- Hinata…" he huffed and puffed.
"GET DOWN!" Hinata seized him by the collar, barely getting him low as two shuriken carved narrow slits through the back of Naruto's jacket. The skin on his back parted as the cold razor edge licked him like a predator hungry for he prepared to spring off the ground, Naruto caught a glance back over his shoulder. He finally had a clean view of his assailant – tall as Uncle Kakashi, dressed in dark red head to toe, and wearing a white porcelain mask with a demonic Oni the assailant's right hand, long, jagged blades extended like dragon claws, glowing silvery in the rising moonlight
Naruto weighed their options as another volley of shuriken grazed his cheek, and they bolted back toward the village hand in hand. They could stand and fight – ill-advised as they were unarmed, and their attacker was well-trained. They could keep running, but they had no hope of outrunning him forever given how quickly he had pursued them down the mountain. Instinct kicked in, as did the memories of everything Kakashi and his parents had taught him since he was old enough to walk. Make lots of noise, get where people are, get the attention of law enforcement if possible.
The shrill TWEET of Hinata's alarm whistle pierced Naruto's clan heir, she'd had some of the same training to avoid abduction or assassination legs pounded the pavement, but he could still hear the clopping footfalls of the man's boots damn close behind. Must go faster! Must go faster!
"Jeez, why didn't you just say something, already!" a familiar voice called in his head.
"Kyuubi?!"
"No, it's your momma, of course it's me, dope!" Naruto felt a sudden heat surging throughout his body, and his legs began moving impossibly , Hinata dragged, but she soon matched his pace. She continued tweeting loudly with the whistle as the entered a heavily trafficked section of the market district. Naruto glanced over long enough to see her chakra burning around her a deep purple , too, noticed his chakra was burning a pale orange throughout his body.
"Naruto, STOP!" Hinata shouted.
He did as commanded, coming to a clumsy stumble. "What is it?" Naruto scanned the area with paranoid intensity.
Hinata scanned around with her Byakugan, "He's gone!" she heaved.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, we lost him shortly after Nine-Tails jumped in!"
Naruto shook his head, "I never thought I'd see the day," he paused, looking at Hinata, realizing he was still holding her hand, "Are you okay?" Part of him wanted to awkwardly let go, but another part of him held on protectively, ready to put himself between her and any assassin.
"I'm fine," she blushed, "Naruto, you're hurt!" She ran to him, inspecting the long cuts up his back.
"Just a flesh wound," he reassured her, hoping that was all it was. "Let's get back to my parents' house!"
As they reached the safety of the house, they were greeted by Kakashi, "I can't leave you two alone for five minutes," he scanned the areas as he ushered them inside.
"Sorry, Uncle," Naruto sighed, "given everything going on, we were hoping to have a quiet moment as friends." Really, was that just a moment among friends you were looking for? Were you not hoping it would turn into what it did? Despite the assassination attempt, Naruto felt more worried about where he and Hinata stood now – she had just kissed him!
"And I'm hoping that's what you got," Kakashi winked at him. Could he know? Uncle clearly hadn't been up top with them, or the assassin wouldn't have gotten even , Kakashi was no fool.
"Naruto!" Mom's voice called over, "Hinata!" She ran over and hugged them both, "What happened?"
"Someone just tried to kill us," Naruto shrugged, "It's getting to be a bit commonplace nowadays," he wasn't that Naruto wasn't shook up by what had happened, it had scared him, but he was more concerned with tomorrow.Clearly, someone doesn't want Hinata in the duel tomorrow! "Mom, I think old man Hattori was trying to make sure Hinata doesn't win tomorrow!"
"Fair assessment," Kakashi noted. Mom nodded.
"I-I don't think so," Hinata objected.
"Hinata?" Naruto asked, confused, "why not?"
"Why wouldn't Grandfather have just murdered me in my sleep?" she asked, "Or made it look like an accident?" She shook her head.
Naruto scanned mom and Kakashi's faces.She has a point, but who else would want to kill her? "I think," Mom said, "It would be safest if you remain her tonight, Hinata." Hinata looked shocked, but Mom answered her concerns, "As you put it, this assassin could murder you in your sleep much more easily there versus here, and you need to rest tonight if you're going to do well tomorrow." Mom clenched a fist and nodded, "I'll call your parents and let them know what happened," she turned to Kakashi, "Kakashi…"
"I'll secure the perimeter," he said, not needing her to complete her command.
"Mom, what can I do?" Naruto asked.
"Stay down here with Hinata," she commanded, "I'll get the guest room ready." Mom gazed at the kitchen clock, "It's almost time for you two to go to sleep anyhow."
Hinata sat on the couch, feeling uncomfortably awake despite being Minato had arrived home not long after she and Naruto had assurances that the house was safe, certainly safer than home right now, Hinata couldn't help but be on edge.
"Lord Hokage," Itachi Uchiha spoke to Uncle Minato near the front door, "no one answering that description has been spotted anywhere in the village."
Hinata strained to hear as Minato kept his voice low, "We know she didn't imagine it; the cuts on Naruto's back are real."
"I know," Itachi rasped, "that's what concerns me! This isn't some foreign mercenary half-wit, this person is a trained professional!"
Minato stormed around the corner, staring at Hinata. For a long, hard moment, he stared with the same intensity he had when Aunt Kushina told Naruto and her about being Jinchuriki."Hinata," he tried softening his voice, "are you sure I can't convince you to try postponing the duel until we get this guy?"
She shook her head, "Uncle Minato, I've been waiting on tomorrow for over six months now, I don't think I can take another delay!"
"But your life could be in danger," Minato replied, pausing as he realized that her life was in danger turned back to Itachi, "And your investigation came back with nothing?"
The younger shinobi came into view, "Hattori Hyūga has an airtight alibi backed by over a dozen witnesses, including her father," he shook his head. "A check of phone records indicated nothing unusual or otherwise abnormal, and there are no known current threats against the family under the investigation."
Hinata felt her heart sink. Nothing made sense."Hinata, earlier you said you doubted your grandfather was targeting you, Minato started, "but you didn't think so. Would you know anyone else who would want to hurt you?" Minato asked.
Hinata shivered as she thought about what she had meant to say."It's okay," Itachi got down on his knee next to her, "we won't laugh or be upset, no matter how odd it seems; tell us, please," the boy pleaded.
"I-I," she stammered, "I thought… what if Naruto was the target, and not me?"
The two men exchanged a troubled glance. "What would make you say that?" Itachi asked.
"I… I don't know," she shook her head, "just a feeling."
"Our first feelings are usually the most correct," Minato said, sitting next to her, "What triggered the feeling; something has to be making you think that way."
"I—it just doesn't make sense. If Grandfather was so confident in Hanabi winning, why not leave it to chance that she'd kill me?"
"Go on," Itachi nodded.
"And if he wasn't so confident, why now, the night before, when there would be the most suspicion on him?" Hinata felt gears in her head grinding, "Why not immediately after the New Year's match when it could have been made to look like a heart attack? Why not kill me and Mom when I got back from the Land of the Waves and claim it was self-defense?"
Itachi exchanged a stare with Minato, "Have you ever considered…"
"No!" Minato answered firmly.
"You really should," Itachi replied with a smile.
"That's an argument for another day, Itachi," Minato's voice suggested to Hinata he was telling Itachi to drop whatever it was. Curious.
"Hinata, you should try getting some rest," Minato eyed the clock, 0600 will be here before long.
"Is… is it all right if I stay down here?" she begged, "The window upstairs…"
"It's okay," Minato said."Just please promise me you won't stay up too late."
"If there is nothing else," Itachi rose to his feet. "I'll arrange to have escort for her back the Hyūga compound at 0800."
"Itachi," Minato grabbed the young ninja by the arm, "are there any threats to Naruto that I need to be aware of?"
"He's the Hokage's son," Itachi said grimly, "There are how many active threats to him and your family at any given time?"
Minato nodded, "I'll see you first thing in the morning." He turned back to Hinata, "Again, get some sleep, Hinata, you'll need to be sharp for tomorrow.
As Itachi left and Minato went upstairs, Hinata sat in the still of the now empty living much as she wanted to go upstairs and go to bed, there was something about sitting on this couch that made her feel safer. The downstairs windows weren't close to it, the way the window near the bed was, and the couch had been the location of many heart to heart sessions with her and Aunt Kushina. Don't forget how you and Naruto almost kissed right here!
Her heart raced at the mischievous had kissed up on Hokage had been irresponsible. It had been impulsive. It was the most wonderful moment of my life. She leaned back on the couch and sighed. "Hinata," Naruto's familiar voice shattered the silence.
"Naruto!" she gasped, covering her mouth, suddenly afraid she might have woken his parents.
"Hinata, what are you still doing up? You should be asleep."
"I can't sleep, Naruto," she shook her head.
"Would you like to talk?" he asked, taking a seat next to her.
As much as she would, all she could think about was him and the moment they'd had on top of the Hokage Monument."N-Naruto… I… I think it'd be better if we talk after…"
"But if you don't sleep," he said, eying the got off the couch and walked over the shelf, selecting a well-worn children's book."Would you like me to read to you?"
Hinata eyed the book with fond recognition, "The Moon Princess Warrior," she said. It had been her favorite bedtime story. Aunt Kushina had read it to her and Naruto many times. "Yes," she said hopefully.
Naruto sat in the corner of the couch, patting the spot beside him. "Sit with me."
Hinata's heart thundered as she slowly, awkwardly slid next to she realized it, she was lying with her head on his chest as he started reading, "Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived on the moon." Naruto's voice carried on, but soon was drowned out by the sound of his heart. It was steady but rapid. He felt warm and soft. Hinata didn't remember closing her eyes; she just remembered the sound of his heart making her feel safe and warm.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who lived on the moon," Naruto read the story, as his mom had read it many times."This young princess was deeply in love with a young, handsome prince who lived on the Earth." Naruto yawned as he had burrowed into a comfortable spot under his arm, with her head resting on his chest."The prince and the princess lived happily until one day the evil queen of shadow destroyed their great kingdoms," Naruto yawned again,feeling Hinata's full weight on him – she had fallen asleep.
Naruto debated the merits of trying to delicately slip out from under her and go back to his room, but his eyelids turned to soon, he felt her carrying him down into sleep, and his eyes was an odd sensation of the book being slipped from his hand and a blanket covering them over. There was a click, and the lamp left him in darkness – just him and his princess in the darkness.
The sound of rustling in the kitchen caused Naruto's eyes to open had come on July 1st.Mom was preparing breakfast as quietly as raised a finger to her lips and gave him a looked down at the beautiful girl curled up in his arms. A huge part of him wanted to kiss her right now, forget Mom in the kitchen , Naruto remembered that Hinata was about to have a very difficult day ahead.The last thing she needs is you as baggage. Figure this out first, and then we'll figure out what happened up on Hokage Rock.
Author's note: hey everyone, hope you are all staying healthy and safe wherever you are in the world. I was hoping to include the rematch in this chapter, but I'm sad to say it will have to wait for next week's update - work is keeping me crazy busy lately! Have a great weekend, and I'll see you all next week!
