As promised! Here is another chapter! I hope you guys are enjoying the story, it gets a little dark at times, but I like writing how when you have the right partner that understands you, you can make it out. That's Naruhina to me! I wish Shikaino worked out, but I do like the relationships they decided to give them. Anyways on to the story!
She jogged, telling herself that she was almost done. She told herself that she would jog for 30 laps around the village and then she would be done for the day, she was coming up on 30.
Breathe in, Breathe out. Keep it calm, keep moving. Endure the pain, pain is good. It means you're alive.
Hinata trained heavily, sometimes she would train with Ino, sometimes with Neji and sometimes even with Naruto. Today she trained in Hyuga style with Neji, they went for about 3 hours non-stop and she said she wanted to jog some laps before she was done for the day. Neji often made light of her and said she needed a green spandex jump suit next, but to Hinata endurance was just as important as anything else.
What good was she if she was only good for one good fight, she had been trained over the years that she had to fight like a machine. Never get tired. So, she worked on her endurance just as much as her skills. Sometimes she would add weights and sometimes she just wanted to run free. It was also a method that helped with her recovery. It cleared her mind and helped her focus, she felt free this way.
Finally reaching her 30th lap she slowed down until she finally stopped. It was fall, so her clothing to run in was a pair of black sweat pants and a black long sleeve V-neck shirt, the sweats were loose, but the shirt was fitting. She wore two sport bras for her running routine's, so she was not uncomfortable during her long-distance runs.
She sweat like any normal person would and it would drip down from her chin down to her chest. Her hair was tied in a high-ponytails and her bangs clung to her forehead. She had a large water canteen that looked to be about half a gallon sitting on the ground where she left it when she first started her jog. She chugged half the water in it and decided to take a cool down walk while she sipped on the rest.
Hinata looked around the battered village while she sipped her water, a towel around her neck to help with the sweat. As she looked around she wondered if any of the villagers knew that she was on the Akatsuki side when the invasion first happened before she came back to her senses. Some of the scared stares she got from people she was sure someone saw her in her manic state and spread the word. People didn't treat her badly due to her family, but she was sure they didn't really care for her either. Which was fine to her. She wondered her way to team seven training ground and caught herself observing the young adults, the three people that would go down in the history books as hero's.
Naruto was solid muscle. He was tan, lean, and had a masculine strong face. He had broad shoulders that she found enticing and everything about him screamed dominating. His attacks were not quiet and deadly like hers, but loud, bright and smoldering.
Sakura was almost the same way, everything she did was loud and overpowering. She was smart though, very intelligent kunoichi. She made her presence known and her fists spoke for themselves, the green-eyed beauty would be in the medical squad helping people that were injured. Hinata wondered if Sakura was okay with that.
Sasuke of course was the opposite of the two bright stars, he was the moon. He was dark, mysterious and he was dangerous. Him and Naruto together she thought could bring nations down. People feared this team.
Hinata felt like it was good that people focused on team seven so much, because they missed out on all the other deadly ninja's of Konoha…and there was quite a bit. They ignored those ninja's and that would be their worse mistake.
She must have zoned out so much she didn't notice they were finished training, maybe she caught them at the end, or maybe she really stood there that long staring. "Oi! Hinata! You're sweating." Hinata looked up at Naruto and took note how his height was starting to kick in for him. He was starting to become obviously taller than her. A small breeze brought her attention to the sweat that was still on her chest, she took her towel that was around her neck and starting dabbing at her chest. She noticed Naruto was staring at her with a concerned look on his face, she shot him back with a confused look back.
"You went on a jog?"
"Yes, a few laps. 30 laps."
"You are thinning out a lot."
At this Hinata arched a brow at the Uzumaki, she saw behind him Sakura looked so taken back by what he just said. Hinata liked that about him though, he was always honest and blunt. "Hmm, do you not like it?"
Naruto gave a small smile at her humor of the serious comment, "I hope it's not a goal of yours or something. You look beautiful the way you are."
"I will eat more then. To even it out." Naruto smiled a bigger smile at this, and Sakura's mouth was open at hearing Hinata accept Naruto's advice. So, the dark soul of Hinata did have a weakness. She also was devastated to see how Hinata thinned out, but her breast was still very much there and large. The only thing she would ever say she was jealous of Hinata about.
"You all fight very well. You're dominating, good command presence." When she finished her sentence, she had a brief flashback to when she had to endure training to work on her command presence and speech impediment, she immediately frowned, and her mood almost teetered to a dark space. Permanent scars still on her body to remind her of how pathetic she was, how she couldn't protect herself or Ino. She was innocent back then and Lord Orochimaru told her she had weak command presence and used to punish her for her stuttering. She sometimes felt the need to harm herself if she did catch herself stuttering. It was like an old habit.
Naruto immediately picked up on the negative behavior and grabbed one of Hinata's hands. The Hyuga looked at him with cold eyes before she realized she was actually not with Lord Orochimaru any more, he was dead, and she was here with Naruto. The man that many times have kissed her scars and told her she was beautiful. Her eyes softened and she gave him a soft smile and tightened the hold of his hand. "Hmm, just a memory."
"Of what, tell me. Do you want to go somewhere private?"
"No, it's fine…. I always had a stutter Naruto and I was so shy, remember?" She watched as Naruto nodded at this and Sakura did as well. "Orochimaru-sama wasn't a fan of my stuttering, shyness and overall lack of command presence. However, he was a fan and took great joy in breaking me out of the habit. When he felt I was overcoming it, he would say 'Good command presence' and…we would go on to training." Naruto frowned at this and as usual when Hinata would share a story like this to him his blood would boil. He'd get so angry he felt bad because it seemed like Hinata had to comfort him and calm him down. However, he always felt like Hinata was hiding something. Like the training wasn't the only problem she had there.
"How often do you have these memories?" Sasuke asked, he spoke with Naruto weeks ago about his concerns of Hinata being involved in the war and going after Kabuto. He told Naruto that he could lose the Hyuga to herself. He still believed Hinata and Ino were not prepared for war mentally but understood every man power was needed and the power that Hinata and Ino brought was definitely needed. Hinata looked at Sasuke studying the face of the Uchiha before speaking, "I would say every day, once a day."
Sakura's lips thinned at this, that was a concerning answer. "Oi, Naruto you should have let us know she was still in bad shape."
Hinata looked at Sakura and tilted her head, maybe it was because of the previous memory she just had that made her look at the cherry blossom in such a maddening way. That had to be the reason her chakra spiked and started to practically ooze out of her, threatening to ingulf Sakura.
"What do you expect Sakura? Are we not all in some way or form in bad shape? You honestly believe it is fine to say it is not okay for me to fight in a war, but it is okay for this Uchiha to fight in a war after finding out horrid things about his family, that I might add he witnessed blood on the walls? What makes him more stable than me? Because you trust him, and you do not trust me?" Her eyes than narrowed at the pink haired woman, Hinata had great respect for Sakura, but the woman was very much pushing her already thinned out patience. The urge to show the woman in front of her who was the dominant one between them was itching at Hinata, she just wanted to show the loud bold woman she was not to be looked down on.
'I want to feel how warm her blood is too.'
Just like that Hinata straightened up and fixed her composure, she didn't need to go down that road again. Sakura was not a friend, but Sakura wasn't a bad person. She was a sister to Naruto; she was looking out for Naruto and in reality the realization that Sakura didn't trust Hinata to take care of Naruto was what really bothered her. "I apologize Uchiha-san, there was absolutely no reason for me to mention such a thing." Hinata bowed at Sasuke, feeling legitimately awful for what she said. Sasuke didn't acknowledge the situation, but gave Hinata a nod at her apology, because she also had a point. Ninjas faced trauma; they endure what happens.
"Trust me with Naruto. While I am beyond confident he can take care of himself, I will still give my life to make sure nothing happens to him or Ino. Even if I have to end my life to stop myself from harming them. I am not well mentally, and I may never get there, but I do not go back on my word and I will protect the people that care for me."
The dark- and light-haired women stared eye to eye at one another, two polar opposites with one person in common. Sakura let out a sigh, "I trust you with Naruto, Hinata. I trust you will do everything you can for Naruto and Ino, hell for anyone even if you don't want to admit that. I don't trust that you will take care and look out for yourself and in return that is what will hurt Naruto."
Hinata's face was once again confused and Sakura gave the dark-haired woman a smile, the girl had the slightest clue how to let someone take care of her, how to let someone love her. Sakura was happy Naruto was the one to initiate his affections towards Hinata, because this Hinata would never have made the first move. She laughed to herself, because if she thought about it, the old Hinata wouldn't have made the first move either. Sakura was sure Hinata never stopped caring for the baka, when she came back with Ino, Hinata treated Naruto different. Hinata cared for him still, but Sakura felt that Hinata didn't think she deserved to have Naruto, she probably still feels that way.
Hinata was feeling extremely out of place, the weird smile Sakura was giving her made her eye twitch. It was enough human interaction with people she didn't really know for one day, "Hmm, I will take my leave now then…will you be coming Naruto?" Said blond gave her a look that screamed, 'obviously'. Naruto turned to Sakura and Sasuke and gave a nod that he was off, he wished for Sakura and Hinata to have conversations that wouldn't dive into a heated conversation-debate. Still, Hinata would always tell him she understood that Sakura was just protective of him, but it still annoyed him when people made Hinata feel out of place.
The two went to Naruto's apartment, he didn't want to let Sakura and Sasuke know that Hinata had clothes at his place and could shower there. Sakura especially would never let him hear the end of it.
Shikamaru didn't know how long Ino could continue doing muscle failure workouts, her love for diamond push-ups was ridiculous. The young woman opted for a light blue crop top workout sweat suit. She'd do push-ups and then immediately switch to mountain climbers.
"Ino, you've been at this for an hour already and we've been training for over three hours. Asuma and Choji have left for the day already to eat."
"So, I will continue as long as you continue to have that annoying doubt in me you always have." The sweaty blond finally stopped and looked at Shikamaru, "You never believed in me Shikamaru, not now and not four years ago. First I was too weak physically and now I'm too weak mentally." She was clearly referencing to him stating that he didn't think Hinata nor her should be a part of the war or pursing Kabuto.
Shikamaru resisted to groan and say a smart remark back, Ino had been on the rather quick-tempered side since finding out that she would have the opportunity to face Kabuto again. While in the beginning Ino made light of the therapy, the rehabilitation sessions were starting to show the cracks in Ino now and she was holding it in as much as she could. Shikamaru noticed every now and then she would snap, and emotions of her past would come out.
Ino was not as welcoming to the treatment as Hinata and didn't want to share what happened to her. Shikamaru practically lived with Ino now, his parents giving to go for it, sensing their God child needed them. During Shikamaru and Ino's pillow talk, memories of her past would slip from her and she would try to laugh it off or immediately block off any attempts of going deeper into it. They argued over her doing this, and Shikamaru being skilled in dealing with Ino, would basically wait her out when she behaved like a child and she would start to open up more.
She stood up from her position and Shikamaru noted she was breathing heavy and he was sure it wasn't from the workout, "You know one of the things I could agree on with that fucking snake? This place didn't care about us, the Hidden Leaf Village could give a rat's ass about me and Hinata. There were two whole fucking rescue missions for the chicken ass hat Sasuke, but what did me and Hinata get? Nothing, but a stupid fucking apology. I don't want a fucking apology, I wanted to not have a whip dipped in boiling water hit me until I passed out. I wanted to not have to lay in a bed with a man I was going to slit throat after he had his way with me. I wanted to not have to watch my best friend die on the inside because she took punishment if I failed to meet the expectations. I fucking hate this place, Orochimaru was right, I wouldn't fit back in. No one accepts us."
Shikamaru looked at Ino in a long pause, he knew she was venting, it was all part of the process. He shouldn't really be shocked, of course he knew Ino had the same trauma as Hinata, he could only hope it wouldn't get as suicidal as Hinata. He secretly was thankful that Hinata did push Ino to get the curse mark removed, seeing how down it pushed Hinata he was sure Ino would have been in the same shape.
Ino was just so in your face with her anger, he supposed that was better than the silent torture Hinata gave herself. It was still painful to hear her memories, because he thought the same as her, he was just as angry with Sasuke, the Hokage and everyone else that was so absorbed on getting the Uchiha back.
The young Nara reached for Ino and lightly touched her hand to see her initial reaction. She didn't pull away, but she still looked crazed and distant. "Ino, come back to me…You have to talk to me, it's just you and me here. You're not on your own anymore, you can trust me. You have to tell me when it's becoming too much, I will not look at you as weak, I know you're strong in all aspects of a ninja. I never looked at you as less. NEVER. So, don't you EVER start to believe that bull shit that snake fucktard put in your mind. I don't care if it takes me the rest of my life, but I'll find a way to make you realize you belong here. Not because you belong with Konoha, but because you're mine, you belong with me."
He gently pulled Ino to his chest and was shocked she went with it so willingly, obviously showing how emotionally drained she was. They sat in silence for a while, the whole time he rubbed her back and played with her hair. "I'm tired for today Shika."
"I know." He let out a held breath when he felt her fully relax in his embrace. He than started to rub soothing small circles on her back.
"Will you put me to bed after my shower?" He smiled at hearing the light teasing in her voice, "After we get something to eat Ino. We're human, we have to eat."
Hinata looked up at the ceiling while laying on Naruto's bed under the sheets, she just got done taking her second shower of the day and decided against putting lounge clothing on again. She noted how her hair was getting pretty long, she liked it long and that thought sickened her a little. He Liked it long, and she just couldn't stop herself from still wanting a dead man's approval.
It was a good day for her though, Naruto and herself had been so busy since finding out when to report to their units for battle, he was busy training with his team, and she was busy training as well. So, when she finished jogging today it was like her body was on autopilot and made its way to Naruto, she guessed that was her mind's way of telling herself that she missed him.
She twitched a little and she noted how she was starting to get goosebumps with Naruto arms over her rubbing her waist ever so lightly. He was practically half draped over her and served almost as a weighted blanket for her. It was tranquil. His window was cracked, and the fall crisp air came in his candle lite apartment and gave a nice cool fresh feel.
'I'd like to stay like this, I don't want this moment to end.'
"So, don't let the moment end." Hinata looked over at Naruto confused, "Hmm, I said that out loud didn't I?" Naruto grinned over at Hinata and gave a low chuckle, "Yes weirdo, but I love when you do that. You'd never say some things out loud to me, even though I want to hear them…we don't have to stop having moments like this ya know."
"Naruto…I don't want to stay in the village. I want to be free. I stay to make sure people precious to me don't die during the war." Naruto stayed silent and looked deep into her lavender eyes, it amazed him how in her fit of anger they can turn so hollow, silver and deadly.
"Well, what's the problem Nata?" She donned a confused face again, she was so off reading people today, "You don't want to be in the village, but I want to be with you. So, I'll just leave with you."
Hinata sat up swiftly from her position holding his sheets to her chest, "Naruto will do no such thing. Naruto will not give up his dream of being Hokage. Lady Tsunade is practically going to give you the position when this is all said and done, you will not give up something so important just for me. I am not worthy Naruto."
She took in a sharp breath as she watched his eyes darken into a cool blue, for the first time she felt like he was trying to dominate her, and he was succeeding. She'd be lying if she said she didn't like it.
"You know some things never change Hinata, for the life of me I don't know why you think so low of yourself. My dreams for four whole fucking years straight have been you. Seeing you, talking to you, touching you, holding you and doing what we just did! Hokage is important, but you're more important. Choosing you over being Hokage isn't going to put me through some great depression contrary to what so many people may think. You mean everything to me Nata, do I not mean everything to you that you're just willing to leave me here in the village to be some depressed lonely Hokage?!"
Ohhh, lovers quarrel happening. It's typical, bound to happen. Naruto can only be patient but so much, right? Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, this one was more interesting for me to write. Until next week!