star vessel

AFrom a jealous boyfriend to missions together, honeymoon, overprotective husband, nightmares and reveries. Everything from the moon and back.
Chronological One-Shots / Canon-Compliant / Post-War / After The Last
(Can be an extension read for secret lovers)

Disclaimer: Characters and several scenarios in this work belong to Masashi Kishimoto et al.

entry one

prompt

They all gathered to surprise them with a hero's welcome,
but it turned out the other way around

/first/

beginning

Evidently, everyone felt relief as soon as they sensed the stop of the moon's approach to Earth. It was like a miracle after what it seemed to be the final hour of humanity and Earth.

The village had immediately began settling down; those who had lost their homes were given temporary shelters while the others ensured their own was still safe to live in and standing.

The remaining members of Konoha 11 ecstatically reconvened with their Hokage to welcome their comrades who saved, not only their village, but also the fate and future of the whole world.

Each had their own stories of what transpired during that breath-taking one hour of their lives, but their attention was instantly caught when Shikamaru's team arrived.

Their faces all lit up upon seeing their comrades, but their expressions instantly switched upon seeing the joined hands of Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuga Hinata.

Gasps were heard amidst the silence.

They couldn't believe their eyes. The once shy Hinata was now comfortably leaning close at Naruto's side. On the other hand, the excruciatingly oblivious Naruto was affectionately whispering something on Hinata's ear.

Shikamaru immediately approached their Hokage and explained what happened.

Kakashi smirked underneath his mask. This one he didn't see right through his hunch, but the overlapping shadows he saw right up above earlier, was right.

"W-What's the meaning of this?" Ino asked and the two finally became aware of their surroundings. They immediately froze and blushed for a while. "What's going on between you two!"

Not letting go of each other's' hands, Hinata just quietly dipped her head low as Naruto shrugged and rubbed the back of his head, "Well…"

Kiba grunted and with a shit-eating grin, he brusquely pulled Naruto away. "You big idiot! It's about damn time! You finally get it!"

"I know! I know -ttebayo!" Naruto was saying happily.

"Congratulations, Naruto! Who would've thought you'd be the first one among us." Chouji greeted, while Shino was making heart shape figures out of his bugs as his mean of greeting and Irukas-sensei watched with eyes that of a proud parent.

Meanwhile, Sai figured out that he had a wonderful scene before him—an image of his friends and comrades joined together in celebration after another triumph—and he meant to put this image into good use through his skill.

In the background, were Gai-sensei and Lee, parading their musings of love and youth despite the season of Winter.

"At last! Springtime comes even in the coldness of Winter!" Gai-sensei proclaimed as his student affirmed with equal spirit.

"That's the power of love and youth, sensei!"

On the other hand, the unfortunate fangirls who snuck and followed Konohamaru over heard of the news from afar and it seemed that someone else had finally stolen their senpai's heart?!

Konohamaru might be just as oblivious as his nii-chan, needless to say, he was very happy that the very person he idolized had finally gotten a girl.

Hanabi also felt the same and more for her nee-chan. Ha! She was proud at some point. Though, it was her abduction that made her sister worry a lot and put their world at risk, at least, she sort of became an instrument to her nee-chan's happiness. At least, she can finally smile whole-heartedly now.

"It's my idea to pair them up during the mission." Sakura whispered and winked at her friends as she squealed, "It worked!"

Ino and the girls grilled on Hinata as they wanted to know all the details of her 'literally' out of this world romance.

"Well, that's…" Hinata hesitated as she blushed.

"He kept on murmuring her name, just so you know. It was very dramatic!" Sakura added and the others squealed. Again.

"I know nothing about that." Hinata professed as Ino squeezed in further.

"So are you official?"

"Huh?"

"I mean you guys kissed already, right?" Sakura interjected.

"Aha! So that's what I saw!" Tenten affirmed making Hinata blush more.

"So it's the two of you, huh?" Kiba, hearing the girls' conversation, butted in and teased Naruto. "Did you make sure you do it right?"

"O-Of course, I do!"

"So are you two finally…" Tenten trailed, while looking at her friends' face.

Everybody braced themselves in silencesas they await the answer that will put their frustrations to rest. For years, Naruto and Hinata had become a vexing love situation. Hinata was just too shy to express and show her affections while Naruto was too dense to realize what's been there all along. It's like they needed a special divine intervention just to wake up and learn how easy everything was if they would just go out of their own shells.

But right now, was the moment of truth and they were all anticipating with dry gulps and heavy inhales. Set aside Shikamaru's moon team members who knew how the two desperately fought for each other.

"Just say it, are you two official?" Ino questioned with sternness showing that she really belonged in the T&I Division of Konoha.

Hinata just avoided everybody's gazes as she knew her heart still couldn't keep quiet with all the happiness she was feeling right now. Naruto was trying to catch her eyes, and as soon as he did, he knew what the answer was.

He smiled from ear to ear and said cheekily, "Yeah."

The area was surrounded by loud squeals and hoots as Kiba tightened his grip around Naruto's neck and so were the girls' squeezing on Hinata.

"So you did say it after all, Hinata!" Tenten cheerfully greeted.

"A-Actually…" Hinata started, but it was Naruto who interrupted,

"It's me. I did."

"You?!" They were all astounded.

"Damn! Who would've thought!" Kiba teased. "How did you convince Hinata, huh? What did you say?"

"I just told her what I really feel."

The rest waited for him to continue but he hesitated and gave a shy grin instead.

"Just say it, Naruto!" Sakura scolded, which made him jump into his feet.

Naruto shared a look with Hinata. Right then and there, he knew that they both held no reservation on what they both feel for each other, and he was more than willing to let the whole world know how much he loves her.

"That the rest of my life…I only want to share it with you, Hinata." Naruto reached for Hinata's hand and smiled at her. "Only with you, Hinata."

At that moment, time stopped for the both of them and nothing else mattered. They didn't even bother about the presence of their friends.

This was only the beginning yet their jaws were hanging as their minds tried to process what to make out of Naruto's confession. It was not a simple profession of love it was…

"Wait! Did you just-

Hello everyone!

First, why star vessel? Star Vessel is the title of the Credits song played during The Last movie where we see scenes of Naruto and Hinata's wedding. The meaning of the song is about the beauty of being linked into one soul and becoming one and all. That's why.

This can be a continuation of my previous story, secret lovers, which will now focus on Naruto and Hinata's relationship after the moon mission.

Just like in secret lovers, I started out with a short teaser chapter for this one.

Updates will be on alternate week with my other work, afternoon sky (High School AU).

Happy Tanabata!

Your Quirky Novelist,
Fern~