Chapter 24: Naruto, Please?

Naruto strolled up to them just as Team Eight walked through the Aum gates of Konoha. She ran to him and he instantly knew something was wrong. Normally she would've launched herself at him, but she only stood in front of him with her head bowed. Hinata had a bandage on her right arm, there were scorch marks on the back of her uniform. Parts of her lovely hair were singed. His heart started beating a worried rhythm. He looked at Shino.

"Take her home, Naruto," he said. "Why? Because she needs you."

Naruto looked at Kiba, normally so brash and outgoing, but his face was pale today. Kiba looked shaken, at a loss for words as he tried to explain to Naruto what happened.

"She almost di—" Kiba said but broke off when Naruto paled. Instead, he continued, "She's not badly hurt, but it was bad."

And Naruto held on to his control as he gathered her into her arms, gripping her tightly even as Kiba's words echoed in his brain.

"Take me home, please," she said quietly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He looked at Shino and Kiba, his eyes full of gratitude. They nodded back at him.

"Okay, Hinata," he said gently. "But we're stopping by to see Sakura first."

"Thank you," she said in a tiny voice.

He found her quickly at the hospital, activating his sage mode. Sakura was about to protest him rudely interrupting, but took one look at his face and Hinata in his arms, more quiet than usual, and stopped. She pointed to a seat and Naruto sat Hinata on it.

"What happened?" Sakura asked as she looked at the burn marks on Hinata's uniform.

She told them.

Team Eight had been on a mission to deactivate some explosive seals at a nearby village. A terrorist had planted several scroll bombs in various buildings, but he'd been apprehended. The bombs just needed to be found and cleared away. Hinata's byakugan, Shino's bugs, and Kiba's keen sense of smell had been perfect for the work required to do. They'd been smoothly going through each one they'd found when a child had suddenly wandered into the area they'd been working in.

The little girl had run away from her mother and had been curious to see Akamaru working alongside Kiba. She'd run headlong into danger.

Hinata had sensed her presence first, and she'd also been the closest to the little girl. Without thought, she'd sprinted as fast as she could and launched herself at the child, trying to prevent her from accidentally setting off any of the bombs and causing them to explode. Too late, though, as Hinata had barely been able to grab the child and tossed her into Kiba's waiting arms when the scroll burst into flames as it detonated.

The blast had propelled Hinata head-first towards the face of the hard mountain rock. She'd been ready to protect herself by using her Gentle Fist jutsu to counter her trajectory, using the opposite burst from the mountain to lessen the impact. Luckily, Shino's insects had also been there to cushion her. But Hinata had still felt the pressure of the hot gust of wind on her back as the air exploded around them.

Sakura nodded, smiled in sympathy, then told Hinata to strip off her top. She turned around to show her back to the medic.

When she did, Naruto's breath came out in a gasp. "Hinata…"

Her back was an angry shade of crimson and there was a slight purple bruise forming right below her left shoulder blade where debris had struck.

"It's fine Naruto," Hinata glanced at him, smiled briefly then said quietly, "It doesn't hurt actually. Lucky my uniform took the brunt of it."

But he only looked at her, his face still frozen in dismay.

Sakura examined her gently, running her fingers over Hinata's body to check for any signs of internal or head injuries.

She breathed a sigh of relief when there was none. She smiled at both of them. "Nothing to worry about, Hinata. Just some bruising. Your back's red but it's not really burned. I can give you some medicine for it. I'm just glad you're okay, Hinata."

She turned to Naruto. "Take her home, Naruto."

"Sakura, can you send a message to my family?" Hinata asked.

A look of understanding passed between the two. "Yeah, Hinata. I'll do that for you."

"Thanks, Sakura. I owe you one."

Sakura smiled at her.

They left the hospital, and Naruto was about to head into the direction of her home, but she stopped him.

"Naruto, your place is closer. Can I just rest there for a little bit before I go home?"

He hugged her. "Of course."

He carried her in his arms, clutching her to him, trying to keep her as warm as he could, but trying to be gentle to avoid hurting her back any further. She was more subdued than normal, and it made Naruto worried. They finally got to his apartment and she finally smiled at him when they were inside.

She kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks. I'm just going to take a shower?"

"Anything."

She took off her boots and slowly walked towards the bathroom, but she paused when Naruto asked, "Hinata, are you okay?"

She flashed him another brief smile. "Yes."

He looked her in the eyes. She seemed calm and not as shell-shocked as before, so he nodded. "I'll be here."

She stepped out of the shower when she was done and changed into her favorite of his shirts. He was waiting for her with a towel in his hand.

She walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him. She sighed into his chest, murmuring, "I feel a bit better now."

"Okay," he said as he led her to the living room. They sat on the floor, cross-legged and facing each other. He toweled her hair dry as best as he could then combed his fingers through her long hair. When he was finished, she scrambled into his lap and leaned her head onto his shoulder, her hand reaching to touch his cheek.

"Thanks for the shower. I think I'm just feeling shock right now, but don't worry about me, okay?" she said, the normal, cheerful lights flickering back in her eyes.

He sighed and squeezed her. "I'll try."

"I just feel really drained right now," she said as her eyes drifted close.

"Go ahead and sleep. I won't let go."

"Okay," she murmured.

He watched her until her breathing was deeper and he continued to hold her, marveling at how normal he was acting when all he wanted to do was pull out his hair and scream with the frustration of it all. He hadn't been with her when she got hurt. He couldn't stop himself from shaking.

When he'd seen the look on Kiba's face as he'd said, "It was bad," Naruto had almost blacked out. He was pretty sure Kiba had meant to say Hinata had almost died today but had changed his mind. Naruto was grateful Kiba had refrained from saying the words out loud.

Hinata sighed in her sleep.

Still, Naruto's stomach was in knots as he watched her lashes flutter against her cheeks. He was so sick with worry, he didn't know what to do.

He leaned his head back against the arm of his sofa, closed his eyes, and gave a deep sigh. He was feeling drained, too, discovering how much of his happiness depended on having Hinata in his life. He hated seeing her so grave and not her normally calm and sunny self. But he was glad she was in his arms now, safe and alive.

He didn't think he'd be able to sleep, but he did.

When she woke up, she put her hand on his cheek. "Naruto, wake up."

He opened his eyes and put his on the hand that was laying over his cheek and smiled at her.

"Hinata, how do you feel?"

"I'm good," she said. "Naruto, I want you to make love to me."

He blinked rapidly and shook his head, but his heart started pounding. He must have heard her wrong.

"What?!" he whispered.

"I want you to make love to me," she said, more firmly this time as she held on to his cheeks with both hands and forced him to meet her eyes.

He shook his head, shocked to his core. This wasn't the time. She'd just had a brush with death. "Hinata, I told you I'll wait. I'm not going to go back on my word. I'll wait even if it takes forever. You just went through a scare. I don't think this is the time to be thinking about sex."

She laughed. "I can't believe you're turning down sex, Naruto!"

But her face became serious. "Actually, this is exactly the time to be thinking about it, Naruto." She looked at him, her eyes full of resolve. "You know what my last thought was before Shino saved me? I was thinking I didn't want to die without knowing how it felt to be finally yours, how we'd feel together."

He felt his heart drop. How we'd feel together. He swallowed. "Hinata…I..."

"You don't want to?" came her whispered question, and a deep red flush was now climbing up her neck, her cheeks.

He looked at her aghast. "With every fiber of my being, I do! Hinata, I want you so much, I hurt with it! But we can wait when the timing's better, don't you think?" He looked at the clock. "I should probably take you home. Your family's probably worried about you."

She shook her head. "I asked Sakura to send a message home. It's only my father, so he knows I'm here with you. Hanabi's out on a mission with Anko-sensei. She won't be back for a couple of days. Can I stay with you tonight?"

His heart was pounding. Things were quickly spiraling out of control, but he nodded, feeling happy and anxious at the same time.

"Okay," Naruto said. "But you should really rest, Hinata."

Hinata was silent for a long moment, looking at him, and he felt himself losing his breath as her lavender eyes pierced him. Naruto wanted so much to make love to her, he was shaking, he realized, as he glanced at his hands.

How we'd feel together...

He shook his head. She didn't realize what she was saying, she was probably still feeling shock from the explosion at work.

He tried to smile. "Hinata, we should—"

She stopped him with a kiss, as she sat up in his lap, straddled him, grabbed his jaw and assaulted his senses with her mouth, opening his lips as her tongue slipped into his mouth, surprising him and making him grip her, splaying his hands over her back.

She broke the kiss and looked again at his face. She was red in the face, but her eyes were pleading.

"Naruto, please?" she asked. There was fear in her voice.

Fear of rejection, as he finally heard it clearly.

Oh, god. He was being a dumbass.

Naruto reached out to cup her jaw, watching as her eyes closed at his touch.

"Yes," he finally breathed against her mouth and the tension left her as he kissed her this time.

He really was an idiot. Hinata shouldn't be the one asking, begging him. Here she was offering herself up to him, but he was being a dumbass, turning down her gift. This was no time to be chivalrous. She needed to be loved.

"I love you," he said, but he'd meant to say I'm sorry for making you feel rejected.

But he was suddenly hit with uncertainty. He sighed against her temple, hugging her, hating to disappoint her, but he wanted to be honest.

"Hinata, it's my first time, so I don't know if it will be good for you. Don't expect too much."

Her hands tightened around his shoulders as she drew back and looked into his eyes. "Naruto, it's with you, so that's all that matters. Just you and me."

He felt her words squeeze his heart, but he groaned. "So much pressure!"

Naruto eventually smiled, hoping to relax her and to ease his own anxiety about the situation. "You know, I've been thinking about the whole thing all this time?"

Her answering smile was wry. "I bet."

He chuckled as he took a strand of her hair and twirled it through his fingers. "Well, we're both ninja and we've been training, using our bodies since we were young, so I figured we can approach this as practice."

"Naruto!" she gasped with a surprised laugh. "That is the most unromantic thing I've ever heard describing it, but it works."

His smile was tinged with relief, but she was looking at him with so much adoration, her eyes darkening with desire...? he thought, as her hands continued to touch his heated skin.

Her voice was husky when she suggested, "How about we just start with a kiss then? We've got that part down, right?"

He grinned, finally unleashing all the craving in his body at her words. "Okay."

Then his mouth was on hers, forever nibbling at her lower lip, opening her mouth with the gentle licking of his tongue.

She met his seeking mouth and opened hers wider. He gasped, and the hand on her neck slid down to her breasts to gently cup and knead through the t-shirt. He was gentle, exploring every curve, lifting, caressing.

His hands moved to her shoulders and arms, feeling her, warming her skin, while Hinata's hands threaded through his hair and held on to the back of his head. Then he was brushing his lips on her cheeks again, her eyes, her temples.

"Let's go to the bedroom," he said as he lifted her and carried her to the bed.

He stripped off his shirt and took hers off, too. He kept his boxers on just to set her at ease. She wore no bra underneath his t-shirt. She sat on the mattress in just her panties, flushing, but content to look at him as he paused to gaze at her.

They were finally going to do it.

"Let me just look at you," he said, his gaze roving over every part of her, drinking in her beauty. Then he sighed. "Hinata, it hurts just to look at you. You're glorious. You're everything a woman ought to look, strong and soft."

Hinata laughed softly and shook her head. "I'm not. Naruto, you're beautiful." She ran her hands over his arms then his chest. "To touch, to look at."

"Gah!" Naruto said with frustration as he pounced and hugged her again. "Stop being so freaking cute!"

She gasped when his arms wrapped around her, and he realized with a guilty start that he'd forgotten the injury on her back.

"I'm sorry," he said as he dropped his arms. "Are you okay? Did I hurt your back?"

"I'm fine, Naruto. I don't even feel it. Just keep on holding me."

Hinata had gasped because her nipples had scraped against his chest and the sensation had been achingly wonderful. She wanted to do it again, and she'd been surprised at herself, finally discovering that shyness had no place in the bedroom when she was a woman being loved.

As she looked at his eager face, flush with desire and longing, she realized now how stupid she'd been to make the both of them wait. But she was grateful that things were clear now. She wanted this, wanted this intimacy in their relationship. The only way was forward. There was no going back.

"Okay," Naruto said. He reached for her again and he pressed her to his chest. He closed his eyes at the touch of their skin.

She closed her eyes, too, her skin so sensitive to the feel of him. He was hot, giving off so much heat, she wondered how they were both not incinerated by it.

She leaned back as he felt him lay her down on the bed. His hands drifted over her body, caressing gently, making her feel so lethargic and drugged. His lips were burning a path down the column of her throat, slowly laving, until he cupped her breasts and brought her nipples to his mouth and suckled gently, sending heat to the pit of her stomach, making her cry out and tighten her hands in his hair.

Then his hands were on her stomach, and then slowly tugging her panties down her legs.

Hinata felt heated and restless. The weeks of heavy petting had made her so eager, she knew she was embarrassingly wet. She could feel his fingers touching her at her core, one finger slipped inside, making her moan out loud. She bit her lip as he went deeper. She was drowning in sensation, felt the warmth of his body against her skin even as his hands spread her legs, opened her more, his finger stretching her, burned her even as dampness gathered between her legs.

"Let me know if there's anything you don't like, okay?" he said with concern as he saw the expression on her face.

Her eyes flew open and Hinata frowned, misunderstanding, her mind so foggy with lust. "Naruto, don't stop now!"

He froze, taken aback, then he blinked and went even redder. "Oh, god," he said with feeling, then he leaned closer and kissed her on the lips again, laughing. "When you say that, I don't think I can stop."

She nodded then her breath left her in a soft cry as she pressed her head against the pillow when a second finger entered her. She turned her head to the side and gripped the sheets when they began a steady rhythm.

She was unable to keep her eyes open. Hinata was overwhelmed. Everything around her was amplified, the fresh smell of his soap on his skin, the heat of him, their heavy breathing in his bedroom, the cool sheets at her back, the friction of his bandaged arm supporting her at her shoulders, his tongue busy at her breast, suckling, gently biting a nipple, his fingers in her, bringing her close.

"Naruto!" she finally cried out softly as she felt herself coming apart, shattering as pleasure burst in her. She needed to feel him, so she reached up and hugged him, clung to him, clutching at his shoulders, her hands in his hair, eyes squeezed shut because everything felt too much.

Naruto felt her arms tighten around him as her body tensed, his heart quickly beat against her chest. It looked like he was doing it right, he thought with relief. If the sexy sounds she was making were any indication, then he was doing okay. She looked beautiful as he watched her.

And he added another item to his 'Hinata favorite list': Her gasping his name in pleasure.

She came back to him with a sigh and plopped back onto the bed. She finally opened her eyes when his fingers stilled.

"Hinata?" he asked, his voice was husky as he looked into her drowsy eyes. "Can I put the condom on?"

She blinked at him and quickly sat up.

"Let me do it."

He nearly lost it when he heard her words. This was going to be torture, but she looked eager and Naruto realized she just wanted to please him.

Ugh, he really was weak, he thought as he silently reached for the box in the bedside drawer by his bed. He handed it to her. She opened the box and drew out a packet.

He shucked his underwear then Naruto sat on the bed, not bothering to hide his erection. He didn't think he could hide it, he was so aroused beyond anything he'd ever experienced. He had a death grip on the sheets even as he desperately held on to his control, his body on fire, seeking release. But he could only watch her mutely as she made him wait.

Hinata was completely red, from her face to her legs, but she had a studious look on her face as she browsed through the instructions on the paper she held. She nodded to herself as she looked at his face, quickly at his rampant erection, and finally at the condom packet lying on the sheets.

She turned her attention to the paper again. Finally, she looked at him and said, "Okay, I got it."

But she bit her lip as her eyes flicked to his erection then back again to his eyes. She took a deep breath and asked with uncertainty, "Should I …?"

Naruto's mind blanked. Oh, god. Just imagining her lips on him would kill him and render him useless.

"No!" he managed to bite out and he had to chuckle at the relief on her face. "Next time?" he asked hopefully.

She nodded. "Okay."

Hinata then ripped open the packet and drew out the condom. She smiled at him and Naruto gripped the sheets even tighter until his knuckles turned white.

It was a slow erotic slide as she rolled the condom on, caressing him as gently as she could.

Even as he died from the pleasure of it, there was still a part of his mind that felt proud he didn't lose it like he did the first time they'd explored each other.

Naruto drew out his breath slowly when she was done. He laid her back on the bed and started kissing her again, starting with her mouth and then her neck, then down to her shoulders, her breasts.

Her hands were on his hair and she was sighing his name.

He brought his fingers back to her and was relieved to find the slickness in her warmth. He brought his lips back to her temple.

"Hinata," he whispered achingly against her ear as he settled between her legs. He hated that he would cause her pain. She looked at him and nodded. He entered slowly but stopped when he felt her tense. He leaned down to kiss her on the mouth, hoping to relax her. It did, as she sighed his name in her breathy voice and he entered her slowly, feeling her clenching sensuously around him.

When he was all the way in, he heard her gasp.

"I'm sorry, Hinata," he said, brushing a kiss on the tears that had pooled in her eyes.

She shook her head, smiling that luminous smile she always had for him.

"It's not the pain. I'm fine, Naruto. It doesn't hurt at all. I just feel stretched," she said as she looked up into his eyes, touching his cheeks. "I'm just happy I'm finally yours."

Hinata stroked his cheek with her fingers and smiled at him. "It's okay. This is what I wanted. It's just this one time, right?" And then she hugged him, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling against his neck.

Naruto felt his heart twist. He wanted to cry. He was the one that had caused her pain and here she was trying to make him feel better.

"God, Hinata, I love you," he whispered. He thanked the gods for this beautiful woman who'd gifted him with not only her heart but her body.

"Naruto," she whispered his name against his neck. Then licked and nipped at his skin, making him stiffen in surprise. Her hand went to his butt to press him deeper into her, clearly urging him to move.

Naruto breathed into her shoulder, trying to get control of himself. He wanted to move, but she needed time to adjust. Already, she was squeezing him, her body pulling him in. She was hot and slick, her inner muscles lovingly gripped him, and it was all he could to hang on to his sanity.

He flexed his hips and heard her gasp. He did it a second time and he felt her lifting her hips to meet his thrust and the low moan from her throat almost undid him. He wanted to do it slowly, knowing it was their first time, but their weeks of exploration had taken its toll, making him impatient to finish. His body moved on its own, and Naruto increased the pace, instinct guiding him. And then he was lost as he shuddered and groaned her name.

He lay on her for a while and gloried in the feeling of her legs and arms wrapped around him. Eventually, he pulled out of her and moved to his side so he wouldn't crush her, his arm pillowing her head. She turned to him, eyes smiling and sated.

"Thank you," she said.

He sighed. "Stop it. I should be thanking you."

She shook her head, and her hair tickled his chest. "Thank you, Naruto."

Naruto laughed and kissed her on the lips. "Just remember, you're the one who asked."

"I did," she said. Then her voice full of surprise, but also pride for herself, she repeated, "I did!"

She chuckled. "I'm glad."

"Hinata, are you okay, though? How's your back?" Naruto asked as he shifted to his side to fully look at her.

He knew it was ridiculous, considering they'd just done what they did, but he blushed as he said, "Are you sore anywhere else?"

She shook her head again and sighed. "I feel wonderful."

He felt his heart twist, and satisfaction ran through his entire body.

"Hinata," he groaned, fell onto his back, and slapped a hand over his eyes. "Stop saying things like that!"

"I can't help it!" she protested. "I love you and being with you is an amazing feeling. It just slips out of me."

"Argh!" he yelled before he plastered his mouth against her lips.

"Okay, okay," she said, laughing as she pushed at his chest so she could breathe.

He smiled at her as she fought a yawn. She needed to rest. So Naruto gathered up the blankets and wrapped them around her, carefully laid a hand on her back, and pulled her closer to him.

They lay there in silence, waiting for sleep to come.

Hinata breathed in his scent as she continued skimming her hands on his chest.

Before she drifted off to sleep, Naruto wanted her answer to a question that had him burning with curiosity.

"Hinata, do you always read instruction manuals?" he asked her when the movements of her hands slowed.

"Doesn't everyone?" she asked sleepily. She yawned then, her eyes already closing as sleep claimed her.

He chuckled softly and grinned into her hair.

No, not everyone. And not for condoms.