A/N: I do not own Naruto at all. If I did, there would be more worthwhile romance.
He was finally home after being gone for three years. A feeling of relief settled just as a sense of anger started to build. No. He would not allow himself to feel anger. Sometimes it was better to feel nothing at all than to feel anything, especially anger.
No one had expected him to be gone for so long. He knew that he would be gone a lot longer than anyone expected him to be gone. He just wanted to get rid of his feelings, and what better way to do that than to go on a training trip as far away as he could. After all, if Sasuke was allowed to leave the village, he should be allowed to too.
He settled into his mask of lazy uninterest as the village wall started to come into view. He hadn't felt happy in a long time, so it was hard for him to fake the emotion any longer. It wasn't fair to direct his anger onto anyone around him since most of them were not to blame. In all, it was just easier for him to show how uninterested he was with everything around him since, for the most part, that's how he felt.
Of course, it was Shikamaru who came out to greet him at the gate. After all, Naruto would report to him about his activities outside of the village. Although most of the reports that Shikamaru received simply stated, "I'm fine. Learned a new jutsu. Will check-in in two weeks." While not the most detailed, they were merely meant to ensure that he was fine while he mends. And the few times that he had to meet Shikamaru in person at Suna, he tried to keep the meetings as short as possible.
"Welcome back at long last," Shikamaru greeted.
"Nara," greeted Naruto with a curt nod.
"To be honest, I don't know why I have to show you around, but I guess the village has changed since you've been here. Kakashi will wait for you to give your report until the end of the week."
"Aren't the reports I sent you enough?"
"You've got to be kidding. You really should prepare to give him more, or he might just kill you."
"Huh. That would be interesting."
"Only you would think so. Anyway, coincidentally, the gang has decided to gather together for lunch, so that's where we are headed now."
"Great. Just what I wanted as soon as I returned," Naruto muttered under his breath.
"I think you need a little practice with your sarcasm," responded Shikamaru with another roll of his eyes.
As they start their walk to their lunch destination, Shikamaru pointed out minor changes to the village. The bakery in the street corner was now a café that served really good dango and tea. The small bookstore in the next street was now two stories tall and one of Jiraya's Icha Icha series biggest seller.
Naruto pretended to listen, but in truth, he didn't care. He was more concerned about making sure that he kept his temper in check so his mask didn't fall. It wouldn't do for him to lose it the first day he was back. Although seeing the rest of his friends might be nice. But it would also be a reminder that they had moved on with their lives with little to no clue as to why he had left in the first place with no goodbye. He doubted she made any mention of what had happened.
He could see them now in the distance. "Do they know I am coming?" Naruto turned to observe Shikamaru as he asked.
"I don't think so. Seeing as I was only invited last night," answered Shikamaru.
"Just great," replied Naruto with slow-rolling eyes.
On getting a closer look, he noticed that not everyone was there. A few people were missing, especially the person he didn't want to see at all.
"Well, look who's back. How are you, Naruto?" Greeted Choji first as they approached.
"Hi, everyone," was all Naruto said in response.
"So, are you going to tell us all about your adventures for the past three years or why you even left without saying anything?" Ino aggressively butted in. To which Naruto just shrugged.
"So are we going to go in get some grub yet?" Choji shifted the topic.
"We are still waiting for Ugly," was Sai's response as Ino added, "She should be coming with Hinata. She had an appointment today at the hospital, so Sakura agreed to walk her to join us. But I think Shino walked with her there, so he will most likely be with them on the way here."
"He is. It was his turn for this appointment, and it's my turn for her next one." Kiba interjected.
While Naruto was off watching the sky. He was still paying attention to the conversation. It was confusing him to no end. Why would a capable kunoichi like Hinata need to be escorted around? Especially to the hospital. It didn't make sense, but he also reminded himself that he shouldn't care. He would be gone before the month was up, back to traveling the world with his self-pity.
"Here they come now," pointed out Tenten after most people in the group started conversation in smaller groups. At that, Naruto's curiosity had made him turn his head in the direction that everyone was looking at. What he did not expect to see was Hinata walking between Sakura and Shino. Pregnant. She probably wasn't that far along, but it was obvious that she was pregnant. At that realization, Naruto turned back to glare at Shikamaru, who was already smirking at him. "Later." was all Shikamaru said, already knowing that Naruto wanted to have a private conversation.
As the party of three grew closer, everyone started to beam and greet Hinata. As she grew closer, the smile on her face grew wider.
"Hello, Naruto-kun. Welcome home" greeted Hinata with a beaming smile.
"Hinata," Naruto replied with a slight nod of his head while seemingly not acknowledging Shino or Sakura.
"When did you get back?" continued Sakura.
A couple of awkward, tense seconds went by before Shikamaru responded, "Not too long ago, actually. We came straight here from the gates."
"Shall we all go inside?" inquired Shino with a monotone voice.
"I call dibs sitting next to Hinata and the baby," yelled Kiba as they entered the restaurant
"Yosh. I do too," agreed Lee.
"Kiba-kun, you see the baby and me more than the others. What about letting someone else sit next to me," interjected Hinata to try and keep the peace.
"But Hinata…" whined Kiba.
"Yeah, Kiba, it's my turn to sit next to Hinata," Tenten proclaimed.
"Tenten, you spend just as much time with her as we do," loudly countered Kiba.
"Then that means I get to sit next to Hinata," exclaimed Ino.
"Everyone, please! I appreciate that you all want to spend time with the baby and me. But there really is no need for arguing. I love spending time with each and every one of you. Although if we are going to go by who I see the least, it would be Lee and Sai since they're constantly on missions," intervened Hinata again.
That made everyone quiet down and finally take their seats, although Shikamaru and Naruto were already sitting. Small talk ensued as everyone placed their orders. But with Hinata around, it was hard for the conversation not to drift towards her quickly.
"So, Hinata, how did the appointment go," Tenten was the first to ask.
"It went well! The baby is nice and healthy! I am still having a bit of morning sickness but nothing too serious," she replied with a smile on her face.
"She has to get a lot of rest, though. Most of her chakra is being used to protect the baby. So, Shino and Kiba, I'm assuming you'll be the ones to make sure she's not out and about too much or that she is being stressed out by her clan. The assholes, the whole lot of them."
"Sakura-san, really, it's fine. My family may not be as supportive as all of you, but I wouldn't say it's stressful," softly murmured Hinata.
"I don't know how you can say such nice things about your family considering they kicked you out of the main branch," rebutted Kiba.
"It's not so bad, Kiba, honestly."
"I think we all agree with Kiba on this one, Hinata," was Shino's only comment so far into the group meal.
"Shikamaru, now," Naruto commanded Shikamaru with steel in his voice as he started to get up.
Shikamaru simply sighed out a "troublesome" as he also got up. But while Naruto simply gave everyone a general wave as he turned to go, Shikamaru stayed back to give everyone an excuse for his sudden departure. "There were a couple of things we need to go over from Naruto's trip outside the village before meeting with the Hokage." While it wasn't really a lie, it wasn't the truth either. With that, everyone waved and muttered a quick good-bye.
With that, Shikamaru started to follow Naruto out of the restaurant. With another sigh, he prepared himself for a long awkward conversation. Naruto eventually stopped walking when they reach the clearing of a training ground. Shikamaru stopping only a few feet from him.
"Who?" was the first question out of his mouth.
"From what I know, he was a chunin. They had several missions together and became good friends. Although I don't think they ever thought of each other as more. Hinata told me that they went out one night, got drunk, and decided to well, you know. It was only meant to be a one-time thing, but then she became pregnant. He actually died a little over a month after that night on a mission. Hinata didn't know she was pregnant at the time, so she mourned him as a friend. She still misses him, but she had time to process his death before the baby."
"Her Clan?"
Shikamaru gave another sigh, but with this one, you could hear his annoyance and anger. "They don't like it one bit. They removed her title as heiress stripped her to the side branch. Although she gets treated worst, then they do. They gave her a small apartment if that's what that place should even be called on the clan compound's outskirts. It's actually just outside of what is considered their compound. Once the baby is born, she along with the baby will be branded."
"Why didn't you tell me any of this before?"
"Would you have actually come back? Or even cared? What would you have done? You missed my wedding and let me tell you Temari was none too happy about that. You also missed Ino and Sai's wedding. You would have come when you were ready and wanted to. And believe me, I know that you were planning on leaving as soon as you could."
"I still want to. But not if she is going to be thrown out by her family like that and branded," Naruto replied while barely keeping his feelings in check.
"Kiba and Shino tried to get her to agree to marry one of them, so has Lee. At least that way, they have the backing of their clans to do something. She refused. She honestly just as stubborn as you are sometimes."
"Damn it. You knew if I saw her, that I wouldn't be able to just leave. That's why you had Kakashi told me back, didn't you?" asked Naruto with annoyance starting to creep into his voice.
"Did I know? Yes. But I didn't tell him to. I simply suggested that you shouldn't be allowed to roam wherever, or he would be stuck being Hokage for longer than he planned," replied Shikamaru with a shrug.
"I don't want to be Hokage anymore," Naruto whispered. After a brief pause, he finally asked Shikamaru, "well, are you going to help me or not?"
"Of course, what exactly do you need?"
"First things first, I need an iron-clad marriage contract where Hinata nor the baby will get sealed. How long do you need?"
"It's pretty much drawn up already," he replied with a smirk. "Although I figured that you and Hinata would want to add some conditions of your own. You really think she'll agree to marry you?"
"Yes. I do for the baby's sake. I think right now, that should be the main priority. We'll meet tomorrow for lunch then. Also, where am I staying for now? I don't think my old apartment is even still there."
"It's not. You'll be staying at the ambassador hotel for now. Kakashi set it all up. Although, he only did it for a week, so you will need to find something more permanent after that."
"That's no problem. Then we'll meet in my hotel room tomorrow for lunch. And make sure that Kakashi knows that he is going to have to help in one way or another if he really wants me to stay."
After getting quick directions from Shikamaru as to where Hinata lived, Naruto set off to the shopping district. He would get her a small present before going over to see her, but now that he was actually in the shopping district, he felt a slight sense of panic for the first time in so long. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the perfect gift.
After paying for it and asking the seller to wrap it nicely for him, he set out again, this time towards Hinata's home. As he arrived, he really couldn't believe what he was seeing. The small apartment complex with only four apartments had the paint chipping on the sides, with a roof that looked like it had holes in and even missing some side parts. The metal stairs were rusted orange with a couple steps missing.
The more Naruto looked at it, the more his blood rose with anger. He was doing his best to not let his anger get the best of him, especially now. He took a deep breath to keep from his anger rising with each step that he took. Only ten steps in total, which wasn't too bad but for a pregnant woman… He shook his head took another ten breathes before knocking on her door. After the last breath, he finally raised his arm and knocked on the door.
It didn't take long for her to answer the door. "Naruto-kun?" she gazed up at him with curious eyes, clearly not expecting him.
"Hello, Hinata. May I come in?"
"Oh. Umm. Of course, Naruto-kun. I am sorry I don't have much space. Would you like tea?" She asked him as she led him to the low table in the middle of the room.
"It's fine. No need," was his only response as he turned to look around him and take in what could only be described as a hobble. There was no paint on walls, just stains that covered the corners and random patches. The floor was bare except for the brightly flower-patterned matt under the table and the matching cushions.
Before he could continue his observations further, Hinata quietly whispered, "I am surprised you are here to visit me. It's nice to have you back in the village."
"Marry me."
A/N: This is my first fanfiction and my first creative writing piece. I really dislike writing, but I am trying to get over that. So, please leave a review with constructive criticism. If you don't like the story, then please do not read or comment. I will try to update as frequently as I can, but reviews will definitely motivate me.
There is hopefully something obvious that happened between Naruto and Sakura, but I haven't decided exactly what or how it will play out. So if you would like to leave some reviews with ideas that you are willing to allow me to use, then please do!