Chapter 5: The Taboo
"Most things break, including hearts. The lessons of life amount not to wisdom, but to scar tissue and callus."
― Wallace Stegner, The Spectator Bird
Hanabi (Festival Outskirts)
'Who is he?'
A stab of uneasiness runs through her like a cold breeze, but she straightens her posture. The last thing she'll do is let this man know he is getting under her skin, a Hyuga stays calm no matter the situation before them.
Though this man with skin and cloths as pale as snow isn't like anyone she's seen within the village or even heard of before.
And he acts as if she should maybe know him, a connection she can't place from any of Father's weekly morning sessions with the entire clan despite at times her drowsiness in straining herself to pay attention throughout the whole spiel.
'I should've focused more during all those meetings!' She silently berates herself, or at least gone to bed earlier.
His gaze wanders over her from head to toe despite his shut gaze, lingering on her eyes in a way that makes goosebumps rise along her arms.
"Do you remember the Festival of Lanterns a month ago or the Feast for the Remembrance of the Dead?" Toneri starts.
Hanabi swallows, distinctly recalling both festivities. There's been so many as of late trying to sweep away the sorrows of war though one would be hard pressed to forget the golden glow of scarlet lights being wafted down the Naka River or the meals and gifts left at the cemetery daily. For the past few weeks, nearly every restaurant has been celebrating in some way the remembrance festival via discounts on the favorite meals of those recently passed from the war or on missions from years ago.
"What about them?" She asks back and Toneri's grin widens just slightly.
"Do you remember the people you were with?" He pursues.
The uneasiness twists in like a knife, eyes narrowing activating her byakugan while drawing out a kunai.
"Should...Should I know you?" Hanabi finally asks without answering his question.
Toneri chuckles, voice light and easy holding up his hands in surrender.
"We met or I at least saw while you played balloon pop and indulged in teriyaki. Don't you remember all those jokes cracked about the poor aim of the bully who tried to beat your score; well I guess my associate wasn't very memorable to you for you to forget all the games you did together."
He steps closer to her, fingers nearly brushing at her cheek making Hanabi jolt back.
"Didn't you two take some photos together afterwards, will those finally jog back your memory?" He questions her a bit sharper.
'After?'
Her stomach constricts sourly then recalling smoky cologne invading her nose, light whispers in her ear that made her whole body warm while hearing a clicking flash of a camera somewhere behind her. At the time though all she felt was wanted even if just for a night or a few hours and bile swishes up to her tongue as her cheeks flood red in shock.
'What happened to those pictures?'
But before she can form any words a blast of energy whizzes past separating them, tearing into a nearby tree leaving a mangled spiral along the snapped branches and ripped leaves.
A Rasengan.
"Get away from her!" Naruto's voice yells out launching out another sphere and Toneri clicks his tongue, stepping back.
"I'm good at hunting people down, reminding them of what they thought stayed buried." He mentions pointedly at Hanabi's stricken look.
"Your memories from that night, I know you recall them." He hums in quiet delight before blending into the night.
Toneri (Festival Outskirts)
'Next time. Next time I'll ensure we're alone.'
There's been too many 'next times' though with how careful he's been; he hadn't spoken to Hanabi nearly long enough before Naruto and Hinata had intervened. He's sure neither got a very good look at him going by how far away they were, but there is a chance any passerby or bystander might've seen his face which could be used against him at a later point.
Photos; cameras.
These simple private moments could easily backfire even against himself.
Fireworks burst overhead, sparkling displays of reds and yellows briefly making the ink black of the night awash in colors.
He grits his teeth, stomping down the flames of rage he feels pooling in his chest until only his calm resolve remains. Though it's impossible to crack or stomp at this new thrumming pulsing in the back of his head, the sudden churning in his gut and he curses under his breath.
"Another vision; why now?"
It's more insistent than the ones of the past, forming the images before he can blink or push them away.
They might be easier to tolerate if maybe it were just Naruto and Hinata alone, but their children's presence always looms either in the corners just out of sight or directly in his line of vision.
He'd thought he was getting better at preparing for when they came. How they demand and seize his attention, forcing the reminder that Hinata is not yet his.
Perhaps it's because he saw Naruto and Hinata so closely together just now, saw the way Naruto put himself between him and her not even allowing him to indulge in Hinata's beauty for even a mere fleeting second.
Because for once he was looking at her without the need of a picture or lens as a barrier.
And then the memory is ruined, burned away into the ripples of what has yet to come.
"Are you sure you can handle this on your own Dear?" Hinata asks hoarsely, cheeks flushed red with fever. She tugs the thermometer out of her mouth, dismayed to see it reads even higher than before now at 38.4 C (101.1 F).
She glances up meeting Naruto's gaze and firm nod, sighing as he applies another cool washcloth to her face while stopping her from getting up. Once she leans back he gives a gentle kiss to her head then her cheeks, breathing in the scent of jasmine and lily.
"You always take care of me, Bolt, and Hima when we're sick! I think I can handle being a househusband for a day!" He remarks proudly when he moves back from her.
A giggle bubbles up before it twists into a cough, Hinata reluctantly fully going back beneath the covers. Daylight will soon spill over Konoha, having spent a majority of the night watching the silver half moon rise then fall, traced the patterns of the constellations before they too disappeared in the violet-pink of the sunrise.
"Rest. That's the best way to make this flu go away like Sakura said." Naruto repeats.
"I could come down for breakfast? At least help with setting everything up?" Hinata suggests, though Naruto's sharpening blue eyes makes her resist saying anything more on the subject.
"I'll make you some soup or porridge, for once ramen sounds like a good idea!" He beams and Hinata laughs at the thought of the dozens of ramen specialties he'll create for her.
Boruto and Himawari await at the dining table, twin sets of cobalt orbs peering curiously towards Hinata's empty seat as Naruto trots downstairs alone. Boruto slows at setting the plates and silverware down, Himawari matching his speed with placing their glasses down.
"Where's Mama?" Himawari points to her spot, frowning.
Boruto at 6 is at least a little more perceptive of the situation, though it doesn't stop his own pout from forming to match his sister's.
"Is Mama still not feeling well; I heard her coughing last night?" He questions in concern, words racing together as nails scratch into the ends of the table.
Naruto nods and immediately holds up his hands when tears prickle into Hima's eyes.
"Don't worry you two, Papa is going to handle all the normal household chores and tasks until Mama is feeling better!" He declares.
He's helped Hinata vacuum and do the laundry plenty of times, and gardening is a no-brainer as they always take turns watering the plants. Cooking though is Hinata's strong suit, not that he can't make a mean scrambled egg or bowl of cereal when he's in a hurry!
Boruto pauses in disbelief and Naruto winces catching the glint of an idea forming in his expression at this new development.
"Mama always makes us hamburgers for breakfast, you know! We should do that!" He chirps.
Naruto scoffs, gesturing for the pair to follow him into the kitchen.
"No she doesn't Boruto, did you forget I eat breakfast with you guys? Besides, that's too much sodium to have so early in the morning you know!"
Himawari patters by his feet, pulling out pots and pans making them clang about.
"Papa, you have to wear Mama's apron if you're going to do what she does!" She asserts giddily.
She pushes the lavender smock into his hands while Boruto moves for the fridge.
"I'm going to crack the eggs, I've seen Mom do it plenty of times!" He grins.
"And I can do the toast! It's easy!" Himawari calls back, taking out a whole package of bread.
The two get about moving to their decided stations, not waiting for his instructions.
Naruto's barely tied at the apron on properly before noting a faint burning smell in the air coming from the toaster.
Crap.
An hour later the kitchen is coated in the fine white powders of flour and sugar along with splatters of grease, broth, half-chopped vegetables, and eggs layered upon the oven and countertops.
"Mama's going to be so happy we cooked on our own!" Himawari grins, though Boruto eyes their burnt concoction cautiously, meeting his Dad's equally wary stare that what they made is not fit for human consumption.
"...Alright, new plan! We'll get takeout from that buffet down the road!" Naruto determines with a clap of his hands.
He gets Boruto and Himawari into their shoes and jackets hurriedly without even considering the stains marring their outfits, taking the stares they all get in stride.
"I'm the househusband today!" Naruto explains at an old man's arched brow as they wait on their orders getting made, as if that was all the explanation needed.
Toneri blows out a breath as the vision finally passes, the fairgrounds now quiet with the last of the fireworks crackling in the distance.
"You aren't even a good Father." He murmurs into the air.
A flurry of wind crosses through the woods in seeming reply, a hissing mock his own plans are still so far out of reach.
Hinata (Kurenai's House)
'Should I say something or not? It's going to be awkward to bring up...oh, but I could really use the advice.' Hinata debates with herself.
And even after spending most of the morning into the afternoon questioning this very idea, her footsteps took her in the end to her old sensei's home anyways. Sunlight passes over the wood paneling of the steps they rest on, catching along the patches of dandelions and amber wildflowers growing along the sides making them shimmer.
"Look at me Big Sis Hina, I can blow all the seeds off at once!" Mirai yells over to her and Hinata smiles as the dandelion seeds drift off into the air, dots of white hovering over the wide greenery of the backyard.
A duo of butterflies the colors of pastel blue to sunny yellow twirl in, heading to the gardens and instantly grabbing Mirai's attention to catch.
"Don't go too far!" Hinata calls out.
But Mirai is already moving deeper into the grass, brown hair thinly poking out roaming towards the vegetable patch to find more things to show and bring them.
"You've barely touched your tea Hinata." Kurenai voices making her nearly jump.
She laughs gently at her startled look, cheeks gaining a faint pink she's seen time and again.
"I know that expression, something big must've happened." Kurenai pursues and Hinata winces, wondering if she has absently been tapping her fingers against her now lukewarm cup.
Hinata shifts to straighten herself, sighing. "I, um wanted your advice Sensei. I just have been having trouble finding a way to say it."
Kurenai's smile widens, crimson orbs warm with patience. Hinata has come along way since her genin days on Team 8, now a young adult carving her own path in the world.
"Does it happen to involve these rumors I've been hearing about you? Kiba mentioned last month when he stopped by with Akamaru for my birthday that you've been more distant lately with him and Shino, away on these peace missions with Naruto?"
Hinata can feel her face burning, pursing her lips. Everything has become so much more than simple peace missions that she wishes it was that alone that she and Naruto were dealing with.
"Ah, so he told you his suspicions. Though he doesn't know that Naruto and I, well we've been dating already for a while now. We haven't told any of our friends really because of these photos we took..." She trails off into a mumble.
At Kurenai's puzzled look she pushes herself to go on now matter how embarrassing this is, to explain the provocative photos she and Naruto took that have now been cruelly morphed into being used against them as blackmail, and finally now to the man they saw the other night at the cultural festival with Hanabi.
"Without proof there isn't enough to confirm this is the same man behind your two's photos or even the man who was with Hanabi at the festival. For all we know, that could've been a transformation jutsu." Kurenai reasons and Hinata hums her agreement, though that man gave her a sick tightening in her gut that he would be back.
And possibly with reinforcements.
"I wanted to ask why you and Asuma-sensei tried to keep your relationship a secret for so long and the stories behind any photos of you two together." Hinata begins.
Kurenai's features soften then, a blend of nostalgia and mourning for her lost spouse.
Her gaze drifts back to the mini memorial stand with Asuma's framed grinning photo near the foyer, sighing.
"There's a photo album on second row of the bookshelf, can you fetch it really quick while I keep an eye on Mirai before she decides to try and dig into the weeds again to make a mud/grass pie for us." She gestures.
Hinata nods, heading back inside. The shelve is crammed with dusty books on strengthening one's youth (most likely old gifts from Gai-sensei), well-read books on genjutsu practice, and children's books laden with messy colorful scrawls before she comes across a title covered Yuhi-Sarutobi album in golden cursive.
'This is it.'
She pulls out the collection, taking in the first photo on the cover page: Asuma-sensei with Kurenai near the dango shop, flustered but beaming for the camera clearly caught by surprise, but just rolling with it for once leaning into each other.
The one beside it makes her pause in surprise, the duo dressed in traditional wedding attire under a wisteria tree. Violet-blue petals flutter around them like raindrops; Kurenai in a pure white kimono with Asuma in a distinguished montsuki. It didn't look like any location near Konoha, none of the other jounin-sensei or even their family members anywhere in view.
So it was just a simple private ceremony for them alone and Hinata peeks over to indeed see the simple golden ring on Kurenai's left hand as she sits back down beside her.
'They were married.' The realization makes a knot encircle her throat.
Most everyone had only assumed they were merely lovers without the ties of marriage.
"People asked us all the time if we were a couple, Dad even asked once he noticed Asuma had stopped smoking if he was about to pop the question not knowing we had gotten married months prior with just a priest officiating. I was in the early stages of my pregnancy with Mirai then." Kurenai describes, smiling recalling his confusion on what exactly to call their relationship. Rumors came and went, neither of them ever giving a true confirmation even to their closest friends until her pregnancy brought it all to light.
"I suppose it made sense, his wondering when I rarely wore my wedding ring in public. He always wanted me to settle down and give him grandchildren, especially with how grisly missions were getting then with daily reports on tracking the Akatsuki." She hoarsely continues as she leans to look a bit closer at the pictures, caught in the flood of memories.
"Your Father must love showing his granddaughter off around the village now." Hinata notes, briefly wondering if her own Father would react the same way she's seen much of the old generation acting now that peace seems set to last. Hiashi rarely smiled in her and Hanabi's childhood, though she imagined with these change of times maybe he would be less harsh on her own kids.
"Heh, well he does love to spoil Mirai with sweets, maybe that's why she's been so hyper as of late! I'm sure Asuma would've done the same..." Kurenai muses softly, voice barely above a whisper now.
A choking noise escapes her lips then and Hinata pats at her hands, her own thoughts switching then to Neji.
'This is too much, the reminder is too painful.' Hinata knows, ready to switch topics but Kurenai moves ahead after a pause and clear of her throat, flipping through the rest of the pictures.
Though there are only a few photos left, they each paint a picture, tell the story of how Asuma and Kurenai met and fell in love. Grainy yellow-white photos of when they first met at the Academy, how they cheered each other on during their chunin exams, the little 'not-dates' they had to Yakiniku Q or Ichiraku's...
"Asuma and I weren't like you and Naruto. You two are so bold and carefree in expressing your love through photography!" She teases and Hinata feels her cheeks starting to burn all over again, taking to avoiding her knowing stare by skipping ahead to pictures taken during Kurenai's pregnancy and Mirai's birth with her Dad at her side.
'Maybe Naruto and I have been looking at this the wrong way, keeping our friends out of the loop like a forbidden romance.' She considers.
And Kurenai, sensing her thoughts catches her gaze once she finally looks up again.
"You and Naruto shouldn't need to hide your love and whatever you two do in the privacy of the bedroom should remain private! But if you want to keep your relationship secretive for now until this all clears up, that's perfectly understandable too. I'm sure you two will find the blackmailer or blackmailers before they can do any real damage or harm, they've messed with the wrong people so give them a gentle fist for me as well!"
Hinata returns her grin with pride, the knowing Kurenai-sensei has always believed in her even when she had no confidence in herself.
"Mama, Big Sis Hina; come quick! I found a lot of crawly creatures out here!" Mirai beckons, holding up what looks to be like a caterpillar.
Hopefully.
Kurenai is up in a heartbeat and Hinata watches in awe how easily she switches between mentor and mother.
"Mirai, I told you not to dig in the garden, you're disturbing all those crawly creature's homes!" Kurenai scolds.
'Mother.'
The word lingers in her thoughts and she inevitably of Naruto, of what their own children will look like, of who they will act like...
Naruto (Apartment)
"I'm trying to sleep! This is one of my only days off in the coming weeks you know!" He gripes.
If Sakura has heard anything he's said, she ignores it by making a show of her tightening fists that no, he can't sleep in until past noon.
"It's already almost 11:00 am and I reminded you about this meeting plenty of times last week! Ugh, I don't how Hinata deals with your lazy butt or how you'll be Hokage one day if you can't get up early! She complains.
Though his room is cleaner than she's seen it in years, for once she isn't needing to wade through piles of dirty clothes or empty ramen cups.
And she does a near double-take catching a lavender top that most definitely isn't Naruto's among his strewn mountain of items in need of laundry.
'Hinata's influence?' She considers with a smile.
Naruto straightens a bit, throwing off his blankets just as Sakura pulls open his curtains and window, squinting at the burst of yellow-white into his room.
The streets below are alive with chatter, sounds of construction in the distance to the faint wafts of seasonings in preparation for the coming lunch rushes.
"Why bring up Hinata?" He questions mid-yawn, hoping there isn't an edge of nervousness in his tone. While it seems like more and more people are learning about the true nature of their relationship, it was still best to keep it quiet in light of those photographs.
Sakura smirks, verdant orbs practically glittering with mischief. "I may not have Kiba or his clan's sense of smell, but I recognize this jasmine-lily scent as one of Hinata's favorites."
Naruto opens his mouth to retort, before shutting it only making Sakura's grin widen.
"Admit it, something's going on between you two. I covered for you at the festival with Ino, but now you can give me an honest answer as your teammate!"
"There's nothing to admit!" He hisses back.
Mercifully though he gets the sense they're being watched before he has to think of another quick excuse, a light clearing of a throat making him turn his head a bit to see Kakashi-sensei lazily regarding them perched upon his windowsill.
"Are we still having this meeting Sakura? Because as much as I want to skip the ones I have to have at noon and 1:00 pm, the elders will hunt me down if I don't attend on time." He questions.
It's enough to make Sakura fortunately switch gears, nodding as she pulls a scroll out from her back pocket.
"Yes, I have news from Sasuke."
Naruto perks up hearing that, neither of them have heard from Sasuke in perhaps months now. Since he started on his redemption trip they've only heard his name in passing that he moves to and from villages, never staying for more than a day or two in one spot.
'Sasuke could maybe be of help with that guy and these photos.' Naruto considers.
But then again, Sasuke was one of the last people he wanted knowing about his and Hinata's situation, granted he probably wouldn't care though there was no reason to tell him about his private life if he didn't need to!
"What does he have to say? I'm sure you've already read it or at least snuck a peek at it." Naruto questions.
Sakura moves it out of reach before his curiosity gets the better of him.
"We'll look at it over brunch, I made reservations at Kushiyaki Leaf for a reason!" She huffs, gesturing for him to hurry and get changed.
Kakashi straggles behind Sakura matching Naruto's pace a few minutes later, eyeing him amusingly at his slouched position.
"Any updates on you and Hinata's...'mission'?" He asks lowly enough for Sakura to not hear.
Naruto shakes his head, blue eyes turn stormy though at just the mention of said topic.
There's already this pressure of keeping his and Hinata's relationship secret (when too many people are asking questions now), on top of now dealing with that white robed freak.
'He's connected in some way, I just don't know how yet.'
His fingers twitch and quickly he digs his nails into the palms of his hands, tiny crescents at least a temporary distraction to the swirl of emotions stirring through him.
Kushiyaki Leaf is far too fancy for him as he takes in sleek black and gold décor, feeling underdressed in his usual orange jacket and black sweatpants. The usual patrons here are akin to those of the daimyo's status or higher like dignitaries or heads of clans, people who wear their fanciest gowns of foreign silks and ties despite just going out for a simple walk or lunch.
"Sasuke hasn't run into any trouble, has he?" Kakashi asks as they settle down into a booth in the corner and have their orders taken. He knows he asked him to look into the recent disappearances of some of Kumo and Kiri's shinobi last month, but he hasn't heard anything from him since then.
Sakura shakes her head, emerald eyes flickering to Naruto in a way that makes him straighten as she finally takes out said scroll again.
It seems she's read it at least a dozen times over, ink smeared in various spots and the paper of the scroll having started to bend and crinkle at various points.
"He mentions he is doing well and looking into the Otsutsuki family line, he brings up a good point that Kaguya needing the White Zetsu army in the first place could mean there are other people in her clan we have yet to know about." She reads over.
Naruto bristles, water roiling in his stomach. Absently he taps his foot against the edge of the table as his mind goes into hundreds of scenarios, each worse than the last.
"He's specifically been noticing a pattern at least when it comes to their ocular abilities too." She continues, keeping them in suspense.
And again her gaze fixates on him and Naruto barely controls himself not to ask Sakura to just spit it out already.
"Which is?" Kakashi questions in a drawl, saving him from his impatience erupting and creating a scene.
"The byakugan. The Hyuga clan is connected to them in some way."
Naruto & Hinata (Nightfall-Outskirts of the Hyuga Manor)
"Kaguya was the first time any of us heard about the Otsutsuki family. There's so many other old clans as well like the Uchiha, Senju, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and even the newer clans like the Aburame or Inuzuka. Is Sasuke sure they have ties to only the Hyuga?" Hinata questions.
Naruto shrugs, it's possible the family line is connected to many others not that that information makes this any better.
Hinata leans into his shoulder, body pressing close to him in the coolness of the night. Her first time truly touching him since the end of their trips and the beginning of them finding those photos...
"I'm going to find a way to look more into that white haired guy. He clearly knew Hanabi or one of his connections did, he's our best lead as the person behind the photos of us as well." Naruto remarks.
'If...If it's him then I wonder how long he's been following us around for or one of his associates maybe?" Hinata questions, clenching her teeth at the thought.
This man, what did he want with her? With Hanabi?
A shiver rises up before she can control it, goosebumps dotting along her skin and Naruto squeezes her closer, dropping a kiss to her head making her muscles relax again.
Neither speak, the quiet buzz of the glowing fireflies overhead and the sharp hum of crickets dancing filling the silence. Hinata falls back into the thicket of grass, dew and leaves splashing up tangling into her violet hair. Naruto tumbles down beside her with a wide grin taking in the glow of her cream skin in the moonlight, the flush of her pinkening cheeks, her lips twisting into a sudden frown...
"Naruto, you're bleeding!" Hinata sits up again in alarm, fingers reaching for her pack pulling out a salve ointment.
He taps his fingers in the direction of where she points, coming away with droplets of red along the tips of his nails. Hinata pushes his fingers back before he can scratch at his face, smell of marigolds and daisies filling his nose.
"It's a cream I learned from watching Ino at her shop, many flowers have medicinal uses as well." Hinata explains.
But Naruto just thinks of their time during the chunin exams when she first offered ointment to him for his injuries, the first time perhaps someone offered to heal his wounds instead of he himself waiting for said burns, cuts, or bruises to heal on their own. Otherwise, he often tried to use his own makeshift bandages and gauze typically making things worse.
"You came prepared." He notes in amusement at her pouch and Hinata nods with a light laugh.
"We're shinobi Naruto, we need to be prepared no matter the situation." She retorts back gently.
Though the mindset of constant surveillance, constantly alert for an enemy or spy they both know has lessened for them since the war's end and their long hours together...
"You have sandburs stuck to you; hold still." Hinata orders after a pause, motioning for him to shift closer for her to take off the prickly weed carefully one by one.
"Hinata, you've drawn more blood from me than this silly little weed." Naruto emphasizes with a chuckle, smirk widening as her face darkens even more. It does admittedly sting how much they cling to his face and clothes, like tiny pinchers hanging on for dear life.
Naruto leans into her just as she brushes off the last bur, helping her rub in the last bit of cream.
This close he can take in the naturally sweet scents of vanilla to warm amber on her mixing with the night air, drawing their lips together in between a slow draw of breath.
Carefully he rolls them away from the sandburs and thornier blades of grass, pressing his rising erection into her until he elicits a gasp.
"Naruto, please-" Hinata moans out softly.
"Shh, I don't think the crickets, owls, or fireflies will tell on us if we're quiet enough you know!" He beams, blue eyes shining with a familiar lust and excitement that perfectly encapsulates how their outside encounters always began.
But they were never this close to the manor.
And when his fingers shift her panties aside, thumb and index finger at her wet center Hinata has to bite down on her lip before her cry echoes out into the woods.
"I know, it's been a long time." Naruto groans, drawing his fingers back licking at her essence.
The air shifts then at the very moment, the low hoot of the owl from earlier rings out before it takes flight over them.
Naruto straightens, adjusting himself to listen. Even the crickets stop chirping, disturbed by the sudden rustle of movement through their home.
In a flash Naruto pulls them into the darkness of the bushes enough meters away the Hyuga compound disappears from full view, Hinata activating her byakugan. A series patrol guards no more than ten come into sight a minute later, their own kekkai genkai active looking around.
"Strange, I'm sure I heard something coming from the southeast end here." The first officer mentions.
"We need to update Hiashi in that case, he said any disturbances found between midnight and 6:00 am needed to be reported directly to him!" The second officer mentions.
"He may just be a bit more on edge since the loss of Neji. Two daughters coming of age now that war is over would make any Father nervous for their safety and sanctity!" The third guard muses with a light chuckle.
Naruto lets out an amused snort that it's far too late regarding the latter part of his statement before Hinata nudges him hard to hush.
"A thunderstorm is supposed to be blowing through later tonight though, most likely making all the nocturnal creatures more restless than usual." The fourth guard guesses.
The rest linger there scouring the area for a painful few minutes, staring sometimes what seems like right at them before finally moving back up the front of the manor. Father has more guards around than usual, more than she's seen since she received those photos of her and Naruto...
'He doesn't know, does he?'
No, he would've given Naruto a stern talking to, taking him aside with a haunting glare that could rival Yamato-sensei's.
Naruto moves to stand as soon as they're all fully out of sight and earshot. "Let's take the northwest end back up, I know we can get to your room in time before they make their rounds on that end!"
Hinata almost asks how Naruto would know such a thing before shaking her head with a nod, letting him guide them through the shadows and corners back to her room, dispersing the clone.
"Tomorrow, let's look into places near Suna. We took pictures there I know." Naruto recalls.
Sand. The heat. The first time they seriously questioned the nature of these photos and their relationship...
"Tomorrow." Hinata agrees.
-x-
I am back, apologies on the delay in getting this chapter out hopefully you guys haven't forgotten about this story! Does anyone else read/watch Gokushufudo: The Way of the House Husband? Lol, I based Naruto's scene with Boruto and Himawari loosely on that show/manga; it always brings a smile to my face! Anyways, I'm excited for Naruto and Hinata to get back on the road and of course the people they'll encounter. Let me know your thoughts as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!