After the incident with the realtor, Naruto and Hinata continued to spend time together and not interact with anyone else that they didn't have to. They did that mostly by going back to Naruto's apartment, stopping only to get a few things for dinner later as well as a few simple games to amuse themselves with. Naruto was glad to be able to get some games that were intended for more than one player for once, and Hinata was relieved that during that shopping experience no one gave them crap or tried to trigger either of them any further.
However, in truth with the way they were feeling, they could have cared less about what other people around them saw or thought. All that mattered to them right now was that they were together. More than once they ducked into an alley so that they could make out. Never in their lives had the two of them felt happier.
During the afternoon, the two sat down on his couch deciding to watch a movie that was airing on TV. Hinata cuddled into him and he had his arms around her. Naruto glanced at her without her knowing it, he smiled softly at her as his fingers twirled around her silk like hair absently.
'It's weird, I never thought someone like Hinata would have wanted to be with me like this. I mean, what did I ever have to offer her? I remember how Sakura and Ino would go on about what they thought being with Sasuke would be like. All the places they'd go, things they'd do, gifts he would buy them. And me? All I've ever been able to offer is a cup of ramen, a smile, and the shirt off my back. I've never seen a single girl who said that would be enough for them. Even Ayame said that I would be lucky to get a second date if that was all I could provide. She said if I wanted to keep a girl, I'd need to be stable, not just charming.'
He frowned a bit but tried not to show it. 'But Hinata hasn't minded at all. She knows that there's no guarantee I can give more than I already have. She knows that things might get worse before they get better. And yet she still made sacrifices for me. Sakura and Ino never said anything about making sacrifices for Sasuke, only what he could do for them.' His fingers ceased to twirl in her hair as suddenly a thought entered his mind; what if someday the two of them had children together? How would he be able to provide for a family? Especially in a village that seemed determined to deny him even the smallest of happiness.
His frown got worse, prompting him to close his eyes and look away. Hinata felt that and looked up to him. "Is something wrong Naruto-kun?" She asked as she leaned closer into him.
"No. Well... maybe. I just realized something." He said, taking a few breaths then looking back to her with gentler eyes. "I remember hearing that when it comes to love it shouldn't be about looks or money or anything like that. It's supposed to be about fun and appreciation and personality. I've never had anything to offer except personality and appreciation, and look at how many woman have actually cared about that. Yet Sasuke had neither and yet he got all the girls. Shikamaru and Neji both have girlfriends, I think, and even Lee has some kind of better friendship with Sakura than I ever did, and he's practically as poor as I am."
As he spoke, he felt a kind of heat rising in him. Thinking of how his friends seemed to so effortlessly get everything while he had to claw and scrap for it.
"But you Hinata-chan, you were the richest girl in the whole damn town, and yet you gave it all up just to be with me." He continued, his hand lightly caressing her face. "You knew that I had nothing but personality, and you still said yes. Any other girl would dump me like a sack of rocks. Sakura wouldn't do the same for me, hell she wouldn't even do the same for Sasuke. For her, giving up her family and home to be with him would be trading up, not making a sacrifice. And she'd still be able to see her family whenever she wanted. I think she honestly never intended to sacrifice anything for love. I can't believe I actually thought I had to prove myself worthy to a girl like that. I wish I had known your feelings sooner."
Hinata smiled and gave him a small peck on his cheek. "The important thing is you know now."
"Still, I should be doing more do more for you." He said, taking her hands into his own. "Ayame-neesan once told me that it's expected for a man to do more for a woman, but I don't want that to be an expectation. I want to do things for you because it makes you happy, because I want to show that your sacrifice was not in vain. I don't want our relationship to be based on some kind of system of owing. I want to be able to say what I feel and not have some kind of rule getting in the way."
Hinata nearly gasped. If she was interpreting him correctly, Naruto just confessed that he wanted to say 'I love you' to her, but something was stopping him. Either some kind of standard that said he still wasn't good enough for her, or some kind of honor that wouldn't let him diminish such a gesture by having it tainted by a present circumstance. Either way, he wanted to say it to her, but he wanted it to mean more than it would right now.
She reached up and placed a hand on his cheek, letting her fingers stroke against his skin. He let out a sigh to feel the soft cool touch of her finger tips.
"Naruto-kun, what is it that is hurting you? Do you think you're not good enough for me?"
"I know I'm not good enough for you Hinata-chan, and I don't want to be. Because I don't ever want to think I can get away with taking you for granted."
Hinata smiled and shed a tear. "I don't think I'm good enough for you either, and you're right, I don't ever want to think I can take you for granted either."
Naruto smiled. "That's what I'm talking about Hinata-chan. You want to make me happy too. You don't just expect me to do it all. That makes me want to do more for you. That you deserve more. I never cared that much about what my home was like or how much money I made or what there was to do around town. Now I want my home to be more comfortable so you can be happier. I want to earn more so that I can do more for you. I want to be able to treat you to fun days and nice nights. I want to treat you like the princess... no, the goddess that I know that you are."
She smiled, but his calm expression faded, making her lose her smile.
"But I can't do that as long as this village hates me."
Hinata frowned slightly, but she nodded too. "I don't mind that you can't spoil me Naruto-kun, but I do mind that even if you could, so few here in this hateful place would let you. It makes me want to do more than just tell off my clan or teach some vile bitch a lesson."
Naruto nodded. "I think I need a break from this place. But I won't be on any missions anytime soon and if I go rogue I'm practically giving everyone who wants me dead permission to kill me."
Hinata suddenly perked up a little and smiled. "I think I have an idea." She got up and went to the door, pausing to look back at him. "Wait here. Go ahead and get started on dinner, I'll be back in time. Hopefully with good news."
She then walked out, leaving a confused but curious Naruto to head to the kitchen to prepare a delicious non-ramen meal for the two of them.
Hinata went straight to the hokage's Tower, she marched right past the ANBU guards at the front doors, and when she got to the top level, Shizune was at her desk, she looked up and before she could say a word, Hinata strode past her and pushed open the double doors of the Hokage's office.
Lucky for her Tsunade wasn't busy in any meetings, just doing some of the mountains of paperwork that seemed to be ever present on her desk. But the sudden intrusion startled her and caused Tonton, who had been napping in her bed, to wake up with a squeal.
"Hinata? What are you doing here? I wasn't told you were coming." Tsunade said, confused. As she looked over Hinata's shoulder she could see Shizune simply shrug in confusion as Hinata walked towards Tsunade's desk.
"There's a lot you don't know, like how many people actually take the 'Don't Talk About the Fox' law seriously. And I'm here because I need you to do something. And if you care about Naruto-kun at all, you won't say no." Hinata stated when she was standing right in front of the Godaime Hokage, crossing her arms.
Tsunade eyebrow arched in announce, she was not used to being spoken to like this by anyone, especially not Hinata. "Watch your tone chuunin. That could be seen as-"
"With all due respect Tsunade-sama, I don't give a fuck about your feelings right now." Hinata interrupted, surprising the slug sannin greatly and causing Tonton to give a fearful oink.
The tension was thick in the air, so thick that it could be cut with the blade of a kunai. Tonton sensing this quickly rushed out the door to Shizune who picked up the startled pig and gave him a reassuring hug. Though even she could not deny that what she was witnessing was sending shivers of apprehension down her own spine.
Tsunade and Hinata stared at each other, like two she-wolves challenging the other to make the first move. After an intense moment of silence, Hinata exhaled and let her posture relax. Tsunade, seeing that she had won out, relaxed in her chair.
"Now, I don't appreciate you just barging into my office, disrespecting me, and making demands." In fact had Hinata been anyone else, Tsunade would have sent her flying out the window, thankfully she had her temper under control. "However, given the series of events that have taken place, I'm going to overlook your behavior and listen to what you have to say. So long as it is done calmly."
Hinata took a breath and exhaled before speaking. "Naruto-kun needs help and this time kind words and moral support aren't going to cut it. Now I have an idea that could work if you're willing to make it happen. And trust me, I am not going to take no for an answer."
"No, it is clear that you won't." Tsunade said as she tented her fingers together. "So, what is your idea?"
Hinata gave a smile. "Well here is what I am thinking-"
The next day, Naruto was still as confused as before. Hinata had returned to the apartment just as he had finished setting dinner on the table. He had turned to greet her but before he could even utter a word of welcome, she threw herself onto him. Wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. The rest of the night had been filled with passionate and heavy lovemaking. Their bodies entwined with each others and the air filled with moans of pleasure.
Dinner had laid on the table, completely forgotten.
The next morning, after a clean up of the food, a quick breakfast, and a hot shower together, they left the apartment.
He wanted to know what had happened yesterday, but she refused to answer, instead she promised him a surprise. So, he followed Hinata and she led him to the Hokage tower that morning. "Come on Hinata, can't you give me some kind of hint?" Naruto practically begged as they entered through the front door of the Hokage Tower.
"Can you seriously not wait 30 seconds?" Hinata asked as they entered the elevator. The moment the doors closed, Naruto trailed kisses up and down her neck while his hand groped her chest.
"Patience is not one of my strong suits." He whispered into her ear.
Hianta gave a soft moan, a blush forming on her pale cheeks. "Well... you will have to be patient this time." She said as the elevator dinged and they broke contact. Hianta regained her composure and strolled out first, with Naruto in tow, like a loyal puppy dog.
As they reached the double doors to the Hokage's office, Hinata came to a brief halt and looked over at her blonde lover. "But I will say this, from now on Naruto-kun, we are a team and as a team, when one of us has a problem, we will work together to solve that problem." She said with a wink as they walked into Tsunade's office
The slug sannin was at her desk, with the pile of paperwork just as big today as it had been yesterday. 'Does anything ever get done here?' Hinata wondered to herself as they approached the Hokage, who was ready for this encounter, unlike yesterday's intrusion.
Tsunade set aside the papers she had been going over, thankful for a distraction from the pointless drivel that her position required her to endure on a daily basis. She tented her fingers and looked at the couple, her eyes shot to Hinata first, the two of them stared at each other briefly before she directed her attention to the blonde shinobi.
"Now Naruto, it has come to my attention that you've been under a lot of stress lately. As someone who got out of the hospital recently and is on medical leave due to a previous mission, an excess of stress can be counterproductive. Therefore, I have decided that for your health you need to take a vacation."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why are you saying it like it's an assignment then?"
"Two reasons. The first is you likely wouldn't do it unless I assign it. Before you object, it will be a paid vacation. The pay will be used to pay for your escort to your destination."
Naruto frowned. "I don't need a damn babysitter! I didn't get one when I needed it and-!"
"The second reason this is an assignment is because I am assigning Hinata a C-rank mission to escort you as a client to Wave Country." Tsunade cut him off firmly. "Yes, you will be Hinata's 'client' and your 'vacation pay' will be used to pay for her mission so she can legally accompany you."
Naruto shut up, but he smiled a bit. He looked to Hinata, who had a cheerful knowing expression on her face.
"You will go there and enjoy two weeks of rest and relaxation. Hinata will be there to ensure you get exactly that." Tsunade continued. "I chose Wave Country as you are familiar with the area and that should help you, but I should warn you about a possible problem there." She saw she had recaptured his attention with that. "Informants have alerted us as a man named Tenzen Daikoku has made his presence known close to the country. Locals have reported him as terrorizing and killing a few, along with alleged suspicions of graverobbing."
"Fucking bastard." Naruto said under his breath.
"Now remember Naruto, your job is to avoid stress. And Hinata, your job is to ensure Naruto avoids it." Tsunade told them. "However, accidents do happen. So if the two of you just happen to accidentally encounter this men or his subordinates, or you end up in a situation where Tenzen threatens you, then you do have medical permission to defend yourself. You can't relieve stress if you're dead after all."
Naruto and Hinata nodded. "Is that all?"
Tsunade nodded. "That's all that you need to know. Better get packed and head out while you can."
"No problem, I already did." Hinata told the whiskered blonde, holding up two storage scrolls.
"Thank you." Naruto said, pulling the former heiress into a hug and kissing her quite affectionately.
Tsunade's eyes widened to see this, but she quickly smiled. It was good to see him getting the love he deserved. However, her thoughts changed when she saw his hands creep lower and grasp her ass. "Hey! Show her some respect Naruto!"
Hinata broke the kiss to look at him. "You know, she's right Naruto-kun. I told you that your wandering hand is supposed to go for the front of my pants, not the back."
The look on Tsunade's face made them both laugh. They kept it up even after she told them to get out of her office.
Hiashi had been walking down the hall heading towards the restroom when he heard the sound of rushing footsteps coming his way from behind him. Annoyed, he turned to see who could have been in such a hurry, and saw it was a Branch member.
"Hiashi-sama, the former heiress just left the village with the Uzumaki."
"What?" Hiashi asked, not liking the sound of it.
"They were just seen leaving the village gate, I presume on a mission. I'm sorry but there's nothing more I can say on the matter."
"Then leave." Hiashi ordered and the Branch Hyuuga obeyed. 'Okay, now I have a chance to put those two in their place. I've just got to get the pieces into motion. After one thing of course.'
He proceeded to the restroom.
Once the two of them were out of view of Konoha, Naruto sighed loudly with relief and stretched his arms. "Ah this was a wonderful idea Hinata-chan. I honestly didn't know how much I needed this until we got out here."
Hinata nodded. "We all need a break once in a while. Though technically I'm still working here you know."
Naruto grinned and wrapped an arm around her. "As far as I'm concerned this is your vacation too. And you know, we don't have to go directly to Wave."
"Anywhere along the way you want to go to?" She asked.
He shrugged. "No idea, my team never got a chance to sight-see or anything. But we're not on any missions and if that guy Baa-chan warned us about was really so bad she'd send some ninja to deal with it rather than expect us to do it when we're supposed to relax."
Hinata's smile dipped a little. "Unless she's trying to get us to fulfill a mission without having to pay us for doing it."
Naruto smirked to her surprise. "Well if the old drunk is hoping to use us for free labor, then I say we take a few liberties on our actual job out here."
Hinata smiled playfully. "Like what?"
Naruto put both arms around her, making them stop. "Tell me, what's something you've always wanted to do that you never could with your clan or your team around?"
The white-eyed girl blushed but kept her smile and put her arms around him too. "I know exactly the thing, but first we need a waterfall."
"So the boy is outside the village?"
Hiashi nodded, seated across from Homura and Koharu in a private room in Homura's house. "Yes, one of my clan saw my former daughter leave with Uzumaki. I know not where they're going or for how long, but knowing the hokage it was sanctioned and will be for some time."
"And to think that woman insisted on keeping him within the village despite the danger of drawing the Akatsuki to us." Homura muttered. "Clearly her faith in the boy isn't as strong as she pretends it is."
Koharu cleared her throat. "Hiashi, you didn't come here just to tell us this for no reason. What is it you expect us to do about these two being away from Konoha?"
"We all want the same thing, the death of that blonde shitstain." Hiashi claimed. "Right now he is alone and unprotected. No jounin, no sennin, nothing but my ungrateful child. This is the best opportunity we've had in over a decade to be rid of the cretin once and for all."
Koharu couldn't resist a snort. "Hiashi, while it is true we want Uzumaki removed from this world, you are not looking at this rationally. I am absolutely certain you are more interested in doing away with your daughter and just using Uzumaki's death as a selling point to make us want it too."
Hiashi frowned. "That little bitch has disgraced my clan in the second biggest way imaginable and she is damn close to committing the only way that is bigger. I will not permit her to live long enough to become that monster's whore."
"At least you're admitting that this is about you and not the village." Homura commented. "What exactly is stopping you from killing them yourself?"
"That bitch hokage permitted my former daughter to commit a Nigeguchi. Any harm that comes to her during this time would make me an immediate suspect. I need the one responsible to be someone who cannot be traced back to my clan in any way whatsoever."
Koharu smiled in a devious way. "So you want to commit murder without getting your own hands dirty?"
Homura smiled deviously too. "Which means you need us to do your dirty work for you. But what's in it for us?"
"The death of the kyuubi should be reward enough for you." Hiashi grumbled.
"If it was enough we would have killed him long ago Hiashi." Koharu countered. "Especially since the kyuubi won't stay dead."
"Yes it will. I distinctly remember hearing that the seal was made so that when the boy died the kyuubi would die with him and stay dead." Hiashi protested.
"You are wrong Hiashi. Yes the fox will die with the boy, but the 'stay dead' part is nothing more than wishful thinking on your part." Homura corrected.
Hiashi slammed a fist on a table. "I refuse to believe that!"
Koharu shook her head. "If you truly were adamant on the matter Hiashi then you would have killed Uzumaki yourself long ago. Either you are more afraid of the law than you are kyuubi or deep down you know that the risk of resurrection is there."
Hiashi grit his teeth. "Even so, their deaths will be worth it. It will remove any risk of Akatsuki taking an interest in Konoha and Tsunade's inevitable reaction will prove how unfit for the hokageship she is, so we can remove her and have someone more suitable take her place."
"Someone like yourself you mean?" Homura asked.
Hiashi leaned back and this time looked pleased. "Well, if I were hokage I would be able to benefit those that made it possible for me to get the hat much better than a mere clan head could. And while I know you've both got a soft spot for your old comrade Danzou, I'm sure neither one of you actually trust him to let you keep any power if he were to become hokage."
Homura and Koharu looked at each other, then back to the Hyuuga head. "While there is truth to what you said, we still have no reason to support you in your endeavor. If you want us to arrange something now, you'll have to do a lot better than hypothetical promises."
Hiashi frowned. "What do you want?"
Koharu leaned back. "The real question is what are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal?"
Hiashi raised a brow for a moment, then he crossed his arms and looked at the two elderly members of the village council. "Whatever is necessary, for the village."
Homura and Koharu nodded approvingly and echoed. "For the village."
It took them a little while out of their way, but around the time afternoon was ending and evening was beginning the young couple had found a waterfall. This one was downriver from Taki but still within Land of Fire's territory, and it emptied into a lake with a steady stream draining out to the south. There were some trees around the lake but not enough to qualify as a forest. There was no natural cover here to give them any privacy. Not that there was anyone around to observe them.
"Yes, this will be perfect." Hinata said, looking around and taking in the scenery.
"What exactly did you want to do here?" Naruto curiously asked, as Hinata had kept her lips sealed on her intentions.
Hinata smiled coyly, though there was a significant blush on her cheeks. "Don't you remember my little waterfall story Naruto-kun?"
That jogged his memory. "You want to repeat it? In broad daylight? With me watching on purpose?"
"Oh no, not at all." She said, and his smile slightly diminished. "You're going to be participating, not watching." His eyes widened to the point they looked like they might pop out of his skull. This made her giggle
"Admit it, you were disappointed when you thought I was going to keep my clothes on." There was a faint coyness to her tone that entranced him.
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of you being this bold. Even if no one else is around."
Hinata chuckled. "Well, if someone shows up, you'll just kick their ass for trying to see me won't you?" She said as she gestured up and down her still clothed body. "After all... this is for you and you alone."
Naruto nodded his head. "Damn right." He would never let anyone else have Hinata. Not after all that happened recently.
Hinata smiled, evidently pleased with his response. She then stepped away and seductively began to remove her jacket. "Then come and get me Naruto-kun."
"I think I'll give you a head start. Much more fun for me that way."