Hey! The song for the ball dance I have in mind is Naruto and Hinata by Lars Sorensen. Enjoy!

xx

Beauty and the Beast

"Who else died, Pervy Sage?" Naruto asked for the billionth time in the past two days. After finding out about Hinata's mom, both Naruto and Hinata have not seen each other much. Naruto even offered to push back the ball to some other time but Hinata denied saying, she is actually looking forward to it. So, here Naruto was sitting in bubble bath, curtain drawn asking Jiraiya same question again and again.

"It is not your burden to carry, Naruto."

The same response, AGAIN!

Naruto was angry at everyone for not telling him about anything. But everyone said to him the same thing, "It is not your burden to carry, Naruto." Over and over again, that he has decided we won't bring up the topic much. He knows they are hiding something. But now he was more worried about the clothes he was about to put on.

#

In her room, Hinata was admiring the dress Tsunade got her.

"How did you find this?" she asked, amazed.

"This was a gift to Naruto's mom for someone."

"I can't possibly wear this then!"

"Well, actually you see… this dress is purple and Naruto's mom hair were striking red. So, she never ended up wearing this dress. She used to say that she wanted Naruto's wife to wear this." Tsunade said making Hinata blush instantly.

"I'm…I'm not his wife…" Hinata managed to say her face completely red. After finding out about her mom, Hinata felt her world crumbled. She couldn't believe what she saw at first but soon, she thought it was good that she saw it. She now knows the truth and why it was so painful for her father to tell it. Who would like to remember the gruesome death of their own wife?

"Well I didn't say you were! Your hair just happens to match this dresses' color…" Tsunade said trying not to laugh as she saw Hinata flustered.

Hinata looked at the dress with admiration. It was a dark shade of purple, and off shoulder. The bottom was decorated with a lighter shade of purple, merging gracefully with its darker shade. The dress had both dark and light purple shining stems and leaves. Hinata fitted in the dress perfectly, as if it was made specially for her. As she looked in the mirror, she could see how much skin she was showing. And oh god that v-cut did not help to hide her breasts.

What would Naruto-kun think…. She wondered.

"Let's just do your hair, you look absolutely stunning." Tsunade said. Hinata agreed and sat on the small stool in front of the mirror.

#

"Please?" Naruto said for the millionth time. His choice of clothes was a bright orange tuxedo with a white shirt and orange pants. It was instantly rejected by Jiraiya and Kakashi. He sat in the corner pouting.

"Here" Jiraiya said, handing him a deep blue tuxedo, "wear this."

Naruto looked at the tux in front of him. It had embroidery on the sleeves, cuff-lings, and on sides of the buttons of the coat. The coat itself was long and the pants were also deep blue. The shirt inside was a simple white button up shirt. Naruto immediately recognized the tuxedo as his fathers'.

"I can't wear this!"

"Yes, you can." Jiraiya said sternly.

"But… he wore this on his wedding day!"

"He wore it on his most important day-"

"No, he wore it when we got married, his second most important day, first one being the Hokage, you know?"

This earned Naruto a smack from Jiraiya.

"You don't realize how important a wedding can be to someone, Naruto. Just wait and watch" Jiraiya said, and continued, "as I was saying, Minato will not mind you wearing his on your one of the most important day."

Naruto was about to argue, but Jiraiya dismissed whatever he had to say with a wave of his hand. In end Naruto wore the tuxedo.

"It feels like it was just made for me!" He exclaimed. Looking in the mirror, he puffed out his chest and it was indeed looking amazing.

"Hinata will love me after she sees me like this!" Naruto wanted to say that in this head but got excited and said it out loud. Everyone laughed at the flustered Naruto, who went to find his shoes, completely red.

"Oi! Naruto, we need to control your hair. Come back here, you lovesick boy!" Jiraiya said, making Kakashi laugh in the room.

#

After being completely dressed, and having little bit of makeover both Hinata and Naruto made their way to the staircase. They already decided to meet at the joining of the western and the eastern towers joining stairs. Their heartbeat fast, both took three deep breaths and made their way on the spot.

She is absolutely stunning.

He is dangerously gorgeous.

Both of them looked at each other with content. Taking each and every detail in.

Naruto took a step down his eyes never leaving Hinata. Her face looked so simple yet elegant. He looked at every inch of her body, he thought he was being creepy but he didn't care at all. Her dress had the ability to kill him. He never wanted to forget this image, he never wanted to forget her. A soft smile lingered on her lips and that smile reached her eyes. He was dizzy with the feelings which were bubbling inside him. He wanted to compliment her but no words came to his aid. To him her beauty could not be measured in words, no one should be allowed to have such an effect on others. No one. Instead of speaking, which he was sure he wasn't capable of anymore, he extended his hands towards her. Calling her to join him.

Hinata looked at the extended hand. Her eyes watched Naruto ascend down the stairs, never breaking the small eye contest they were having. Her hands were sweaty with nervousness, she didn't want to feel this way for the man who captured her. But he was no longer that aggressive, broody person instead he was sweet, caring and most of all the most attractive guy she had ever met. She didn't even realize that she was at the bottom of her staircase when she was right in front of the man of her dreams. Breaking into a huge smile, she took his hand.

Naruto sighed. Thankfully, she did not reject him.

And if looking at her form a distance was difficult, being close to her was absolutely insane for him. Yet he managed to walk, with her small, soft and warm hand in his big and rough ones.

"Y-you… you look really nice" Hinata said suddenly to break the silence between them.

NICE?! Is this the best compliment you can come up with Hinata! Why did I even open my mouth! She thought.

However, Naruto have her a charming smile.

"Well… you also look absolutely… dashing!" He exclaimed.

You don't call girls dashing! Idiot! He scolded himself.

Both of them sensed each other's nervousness. And broke into laughter.

"I am sorry!" Naruto said in between laughing.

Hinata just gave him a big smile.

After reaching the end of another big staircase, both headed towards the ball, hands locked together. The ball room was huge with red curtains and big glass windows, recently cleaned. There were four chandeliers, all lit up giving the room a majestic glow.

"What I meant was you look really beautiful, Hinata." Naruto said making his way to the corner of the ball room.

"And you look really dashing as well, Naruto-kun!"

They shared a longing look, Naruto bending in aiming for Hinata's lips and Hinata trying to meet him halfway. However, the music startled them they went back to holding hands.

"Would you like to dance with me, Hinata?"

"I would love to dance with you, Naruto-kun." Hinata replied and both went in the center of the ball room. On the dance floor there was no one expect them. The music got louder and louder until it drowned any external noise. Just as both Naruto and Hinata drowned in each other's arms. Their dance came natural to them, with the instrumental music played by Jiraiya, Kakashi, Yamato and Tsunade, both danced in so much sync as if they have done it a million times before.

After the music ended, both of them were out of breath. But neither leave the other. They were engulfed with their dance rendezvous that they did not notice the light around them diming and everyone else leaving the ball. Now they were both actually alone.

Even in the dim lights, Naruto could see Hinata clearly. She was what Naruto was missing in his life, romantic love and friendship. She completed him. He was the beast in his story, but she was the beauty. And she deserved to know what he felt about her. The moment presented itself, Hinata in Naruto arms. This was the perfect moment to express his feelings, to say out loud that he is completely and irretrievably in love with her. But once again, words failed him and the moment passed.

"Do you want to get some air?" Hinata said, straighten up.

"Y-yes. Sure." And they both made their way towards the balcony.

#

I cannot say it to her. Naruto thought standing in the balcony. The cold air hitting them felt nice. He looked over at Hinata on his left and as expected his heart skipped a beat. She looked even more beautiful somehow. But there was a vague hint of sadness in her expression. Naruto noticed it and knew what she was thinking about.

"You miss him a lot, right?" He said, scouting closer to her. "Your dad?"

Hinata looked at him, wide-eyed.

"Yes. I do."

"Would you like to see him?"

Hinata was surprised to hear this. All this while she was thinking it was wrong to love the person who was so cruel to her father and not to mention she knew somehow this place is responsible for her mother's murder. She couldn't deny she loved him, but it her feelings for her family conflicted with her. But now… was he letting her go?

"Yes… are you letting me go?" She asked.

Maybe. Naruto thought.

From the inner pocket in his tuxedo, he took out a small golden framed mirror.

"This is truly magical… from his mirror you can see the person you love. Just think about them and they will appear, in real time on his mirror." He said and handed the mirror to Hinata.

Without thinking twice, Hinata took it and thought about her father. Her face vanished from the mirror and was replaced by a prison cell. In there, her father was looking barely alive. Hinata froze.

What happened to papa? Is he okay! Who would do this to him!

She thought of Hanabi. Once again, the mirror changed and showed a small girl sleeping on Kurenai's lap. Thank god, she is safe. But what happened to Papa?!

Lastly, she thought of Neji. The mirror turned form reflecting images to complete white.

They took whoever she this thinking of. They are a White Zetsu now. Naruto thought, horrified.

Her anxiety went off the charts. She thought of her father again and this time saw Toneri punch him. She knew where this prison was… it was not a prison at all. It was the mental asylum. She looked at Naruto desperately.

"Go." Naruto said. Hinata did not understand her.

"Go to your father!" He exclaimed.

I need to let you go. He thought looked into her eyes. She was giving him back the mirror.

"No, keep this. Now go!" He said. Hinata nodded, and ran off. Leaving Naruto alone with the cold wind, turning his heart cold all over again.