Chapter 4: Photograph

Their picnic lunch has ended, and now they are preparing to head off to the deeper parts of Koshien Forest. Each of Naruto's friends is preparing their things. It makes him feel a bit embarrassed because he had nothing of use for this mission. So he instead helped Hinata clean up her picnic setup. He's still feeling awkward from what happened earlier, but whenever a smile from her was sent his way, he couldn't help but feel light and want to smile back. It looks like the awkward atmosphere from earlier was dispelled from just that exchange (though it was replaced with some romantic tension that both seem to not notice).

Just as they were about to finish packing up the sealing scrolls that contained the lunch boxes and tea flasks, Naruto noticed that both Shino and Kiba are looking at him intensely and they are whispering to each other. Was it about his earlier slip-up? He felt uneasy…are they plotting something to him? He won't be murdered right here right now, right?

Team 8 plus Naruto entered the forest and regrouped at a nearby small pond that was shined by a small ray of sunlight that passed through the shading of the surrounding tall trees. They brought out the stuff they needed to fulfill their intended objective.

"Here are the insect lures you requested from me Shino!"

"Thanks, Kiba. I have the container to keep some samples. Hinata?"

"Yes, Shino-kun. I brought my camera with a zoom lens attached."

That equipment made Naruto super curious. It's the first time he saw such kind of camera."

"Whoa. What's this camera, Hinata? Looks quite bigger than I used to see back home."

"Oh, this? It's a new type of camera, Naruto-kun. Unlike what is sold in Konoha right now, this one is more advanced and has the ability to swap the camera lens."

"Oh wow…so it means it is much better?" Sorry, he's a bit of a dummy when it comes to technological stuff.

Shino heard the question and started explaining stuff to Naruto while slightly pushing his sunglasses upward with a single finger.

"This kind of camera is much better in every function. Why? Because this is used by professional photographers nowadays to capture stunning images you see in magazines. It has a very fast shutter and focus speeds to clearly capture moving objects in a single snap. The image quality it produces is superb, capturing colors accurately. It also can clearly capture images at low light, so it is very suitable to conditions like here in the forest where there is not much sunlight, plus we don't need a flash of light to cause disturbance. And, the interchangeable lens can provide a clear zoomed in view of images from far away, or images that are too small for ordinary camera to get a good image."

He didn't know Shino was such a…what do you call it? A nerd? Yeah, a nerd. He didn't understand much of his explanation though.

"*Whistles* This thing is so awesome! Maybe I'll get one for myself someday. Hyuuga clan is really something!"

"Kiba-kun, I bought this with my hard-earned mission earnings. I used our family connections to secure this model for me, though." She said with a little guilty expression. "I really like to capture nature's beauty and collect memories as photographs."

While he still couldn't understand the appeal of the item, Naruto is quite impressed with Hinata. Even if she came from probably the richest clan in all of Konoha, she's still humble and will still work hard for what she wants in life. He knew her humility and simplicity from the way he sees her carry herself, but to see an example more tangible like right now made him believe it all the more.

The team got a short debriefing from Shino on how to go about the research mission. With their tools in tow, they set out for a whole day of insect hunting.

From their overnight research operation, they successfully found 6 new species of insects. While most of the ones they caught were all just look the same from other insects to his eyes, according to Shino they were newly discovered. He's even mumbling possible new names for their discoveries. Shino was about to give a detailed explanation as to how they are different from the others when Kiba rudely cut him off.

'Leave it to the expert, I guess…'

As there were packing up their things and preparing to leave, Hinata spoke up. She seemed hesitant, head low, fidgeting her camera.

"Ummm…everyone, I-I…can I ask you all a favor?"

"Sure, Hinata! What is it?"

"Well…since we are all here, ummm…canwetakesomepicturesheretogether!?"

She kind of shouted that request. Kind of because it still sounded so gentle to call it shout. With all the attention on her, she's now blushing. Very cute.

He noticed that the expression of her teammates softened. They really are fond of Hinata. These guys can really be softies, huh? Somehow, witnessing their moment that gave him mixed feelings. Happy for her, happy for their strong bond, and some inexplicable sadness and a bit of pricking pain in his heart. He didn't understand why some negative emotions are there, but the positive feeling overwhelmed him so those thoughts were pushed out of the way. Maybe he'll figure it out someday.

They did not let her suffer enough and they gave her their approval of what she wanted them to do. With his absence during their younger days and being totally all over the place after he came back with his training with Ero-sennin, he won't say no to new pictures with his friends. Hinata mostly took pictures of them, her excuse was because "they are her favorite boys," which made them suddenly bashful when they heard it and made Hinata giggle. Obviously, her team won't let her be missing from the pictures, so from time to time some of them volunteered to take her place as the photographer, and set the camera on what Shino called a 'timer mode' so they can be captured altogether without a photographer present. He's starting to get a bit more interesting in this new tech stuff.

When they reached outside the forest where they settled for picnic yesterday, Kiba, Shino and Akamaru excused themselves. Naruto didn't catch their conversation with Hinata. He only heard the last part that they will only be gone for a short while. Now he's alone with Hinata. He noticed that she was fiddling with her camera again.

"N-Naruto-kun, can I ask you a favor?" She seemed nervous.

"W-what is it, Hinata?" He seemed to get nervous as well.

"Ummm…can I take a picture of you? Well, I have a solo picture of my close friends, except for you. I hope you don't mind." There's nervousness in her voice, but she's now looking at him with determined eyes. That made his heart skip a beat.

He was about to happily say yes, when a gust of wind flapped his right long sleeve. He was suddenly reminded of his missing arm. He felt like he's ugly, hideous…his happy energy just got drained. His face lost its vibrant color, though he did try to smile to hide whatever he was feeling that time.

"Ummm…w-well you see…" He then couldn't look into Hinata's eyes, feeling shameful for missing what was there to consider himself normal like the others.

If there's one thing he shouldn't forget about Hinata, is that she has an uncanny ability to see through him. Maybe that's why he averted his gaze when he tried to answer her, because he knew she can easily see his insecurities. He felt her hand hold his and gave it a light squeeze. It made him snap out of his thoughts and his gaze is suddenly locked into hers.

"Naruto-kun, it doesn't matter to me if you lost an arm. It is a reminder that you are the hero that saved us all. To me, Naruto-kun is the coolest in all of nations because of his beautiful smile, his kindness to everyone, his strength to fight for what he believes in, his warm soul that keeps enduring all the pain, and his unshakable will to never give up. So never look down on yourself, okay? You taught me that before, right?" She ended everything with a heartwarming smile that instantly made him feel so fuzzy.

Those words made his heart beat so fast and so strong. He can even hear it right now, like it's drumming his ears. Can she hear his heartbeat right now? That thought made him oh so nervous. He hoped he's not embarrassing himself in front her right that very moment.

"U-ummm, okay Hi-hinata! P-p-please make me lo-look handsome, alright?" Damn, he's stuttering so badly.

"Don't worry, Naruto-kun, you are h-handsome right now! Ummm, let me fix your clothes a bit."

His heartbeat got stronger and faster, if that's even possible.

'Oh no…Am I gonna die right now?'

After a few minutes of checking angles and fixing poses, she finally got what she called a "perfect shot." She looked so happy he can't help but share the feeling as well. She promised him of a handsome photo of him, so he can't wait to get a copy of it.

With such perfect timing, the other members of Team 8 arrived. They were smiling in a way that made him feel nervous. He was hoping he looked normal by then. Otherwise, they would probably make fun of him like what Ayame did to him some days ago.

Kiba then asked Hinata to let him borrow the camera while looking at him. What's that dude planning to do?

"Yo Naruto, Hinata! Let's take a photo of you together while we still have 1 shot left in this film! C'mon now, go position yourselves at that spot!"

"Wait a moment Kiba-kun! Naruto-kun…is that fine with you?" Hinata shyly asked him, but she was looking at him straight, soft blush and all. Come to think of it, recently she's been looking directly at him a lot more when they talked. That was not the case when they were younger. How can he ever reach her level of coolness when she keeps getting better and better?

"O-of course, Hinata! I ummm…I would like that very much!" On the other hand, it's now him that's shying away from her. How could that happen?

As they were about to get a picture together, Kiba kept shouting "Move closer!" while Shino at the back was snickering. Naruto felt like he was getting played. Damn those fools!

But the moment their shoulders touched and Hinata's head leaned a little toward him, he just felt so warm and happy that he didn't mind the teasing.

'That Kiba better not mess up this picture!'

After a few hours of travel, they finally arrived back at Konoha. Before they headed out to report back to the Hokage, they decided to give the films to the shop first for developing the pictures so that everything was getting processed while they were reporting to the Hokage at the same time.

Their mission report to the Hokage was uneventful. Kakashi-sensei was looking more into what Shino has to say, since he's both the client and the leader of this mission. With a handed out pay (except for Naruto) and a promise of a mission report later (plus a secret promise of Icha Icha to Kakashi-ero-sama), they headed back to the shop that developed their pictures. Shino checked and confirmed all the copies he ordered and distributed the necessary photos to everyone outside waiting.

"Did you get all the pictures you need Hinata, Kiba,Naruto?"

"Yes, I think so. Thank you again everyone for these!" Hinata said while smiling brightly. Naruto noticed that his solo photo that she captured was at the top of her deck. He felt like bragging it to his male companions, though he didn't make his thoughts escape accidentally this time.

"Oh sorry, I have to go back home soon. I promised Otou-sama and Hanabi to cook dinner for them. Goodbye for now, everyone!"

And with that, Hinata was gone. He was about to ask her…errr he meant all of them for ramen dinner. But maybe next time, when she's not busy.

Looking at that same copy from his hand, he felt really impressed with Hinata. She promised to make him handsome, and she delivered. Plus the background surrounding was amazing. She really did have an eye for these kinds of things. And then he looked at their picture together. He can't help but imagine that they look like a very cute couple. Weird thoughts again, damn it. But he has to thank Kiba for this.

"Why are you blushing Naruto, hmmm?" Or maybe not.

"Nothing, you know!" His body betrayed his words with that flustered face.

Then as he glanced at Shino, he noticed that one picture that he had never seen before when Shino fanned out the pictures he was holding.

It was a night capture of Hinata's side profile sitting over a large rock, nearby the pond where they started setting up yesterday. She was smiling, with purple glowing butterflies sitting on top of her left hand, her head, and her left shoulder. There were more glowing butterflies at the far end of the background, acting as illumination to the whole image. If he felt like she was glowing before, at that moment she was literally glowing.

The image was so beautiful. He stopped breathing for a moment.

He double-checked the pictures that he had and confirmed that he doesn't have a copy of it.

Those were the purple glowing butterflies Hinata and Shino discovered, part of the 6 new species they found. They already captured samples and recorded data on those butterflies when he and Kiba met them, so it was possible that Shino took that picture of Hinata. He wondered why didn't he have a copy of it.

'Why is Shino keeping it for himself? Or does Kiba have that one too and only he has none of it?'

There was that pricking feeling again…

Like a moth drawn to the flame, he was reaching out to that very specific photo of Hinata. Too bad Shino caught him in the act.

"What are you doing, Naruto?"

"I was just trying to get a good look at that picture…is all."

"Okay."

"…"

"…"

'That's his only follow up? Okay?' Naruto snapped.

"Why do you have a copy of that!? I don't have that here! Does Kiba have that one too!?"

"No. Only I have this copy."

"Okay, but why only you!?"

"For research."

"For research!?"

"Yes."

"…"

"…"

Naruto found the reasoning absurd. Researching Hinata? Are her teammates this weird around her? And Shino said it like it was a normal thing to say.

"What do you mean research!? What's Hinata got to do with your research!?"

"You see those butterflies in this picture?"

"Ummm…yes that's obvious."

"Those butterflies were the objective of the mission, correct."

"Yes…so?"

"That is why this picture is for research."

"…"

"…"

He can't argue with that. He scratched his head out of frustration and let out a groan of frustration.

Kiba was just laughing like a maniac, with Akamaru howling like he's laughing too. He had no time for those two mutts. There's a much pressing issue in front of him.

"So, I take it that you want this picture?" Shino was intensely looking at him (he can't see Shino's eyes but he's sure of it!), exuding an extreme pressure like a con man selling some shady stuff.

He gulped. Of course he wanted it! But he had to act cool because there is a catch for sure.

"Uhhh…o-o-of course, you know!" Yeah, never mind.

"Well then, you can pay for it…for a reasonable price."

He didn't want to look so desperate, but damn Shino was being so hard!

"Ugh, alright then! How much is that reasonable price then?"

"…"

"…"

…Some more seconds of silence. He was getting sweaty due to stress.

"Just kidding."

"Wait…what!?"

"I said I'm just kidding."

"I mean you're kidding about what!?"

"About selling this." Shino said while teasing him again with the picture. He didn't know he was this cruel!

"C'mon! Shino-chaaan we're buddy-buddy right? Please!" Maybe his pleading-eyed look will work.

"You misunderstand, Naruto."

"…huh?"

"I am not selling this because I am giving it to you."

"…"

"…"

"Why didn't you say so earlier!?"

'Hinata won't be mad if he punches her dear teammate, right?' Naruto's veins were popping out.

"Do you not want this anymore?"

"No! Ah...I mean yes I want that! Thank you very much!" He grabbed Shino's hand tightly to show gratitude and took the Hinata's photo before that dude changed his mind.

"Why do you want Hinata's photo anyway Naruto? Planning something naughty, perhaps?" Kiba butted in with that ugly smug on his face. He didn't understand what Kiba meant but he felt like someone guilty for planning something illegal.

"What!? N-no! Of course not, stupid Kiba!" His guilty blushing face revealed something to them that he didn't even know himself what. And the looks they returned to him just made him want to get out of there before he further embarrassed himself.

"Well, gotta go home now! Bye!"

He comically ran away like he forgot he's a ninja.

"Man, you took mercy on him in the end Shino! That's not so like you."

"I meant to give him that anyway, Kiba. Why? Because he helped us in this mission for free. I know how to pay my dues."

"Heh! So you did all that just to torment him, huh?"

"Yes, as payback for years of ignoring me."

"Hahaha! I'm so glad we are teammates, man."

"Hn."

Naruto never had much pictures in his life to really look back and relive some memories, but seeing the new additions to a very little collection of photographs made him really glad and gave him motivation to collect more in the future.

'Next time I will ask Hinata to help me buy a camera. Yeah, that's a good idea'

Taking one last look at that beautiful photo of Hinata he begged so hard to get, he called it a night and slept in a very good mood.

-Chapter 4 End-

End notes: A section of this chapter was inspired by the short comics strip made by Satomi, where Hinata asked Naruto to let her take a photo of him. Satomi really makes awesome NaruHina doujin. Check her Pixiv account to find out more good stuff.