Author Note: Yo, peeps! I hope ya'll had an amazing holiday! Holy crap, over 900+ followers?! I think I might have to present you guys with a special gift once I reach 1k! I feel so happy and grateful for the continued support. I hope you guys enjoy the newest chapter of Setsuri. It's a bit of a long one, but I worked really hard on it with my friend Jerniman's help. This chapter has a lot going on, so I hope you enjoy what I have in store!
"Disembodied voices of higher beings."
"External Dialogue of Lesser Mortals."
'Structured Thoughts'
摂理
Setsuri
Chapter Sixteen
"Reason is the first victim of strong emotion."
It was mid-morning as the sun shined bright in the partly cloudy skies, the birds sang their melodies within the surrounding canopies, and the temperature was comfortably warm with a light breeze. Normally, such things would be rather soothing. However, Hinata couldn't help but shift uncomfortably from where she rested. Nervously biting her lip, she found herself once again glancing towards the entrance of the practice area known as Training Ground Three.
'...Where's Naruto-Kun?' Hinata wondered with steadily growing anxiety. Neither Kakashi nor the energetic blond had shown up for their scheduled training. So far, she and Sasuke had waited in tense silence for close to two hours past their standard meeting time. It wasn't uncommon for Kakashi to be late once in a while, but Naruto was usually rather punctual.
What could cause Naruto's absence today? Did something happen? Could he have fallen ill? Hinata had been concerned for her friend's well-being ever since their return from Nami. However, after their week-long break, his spirits seemed to lift mysteriously. Hinata hadn't felt the need to press him on his drastic change, deciding to simply be grateful that he was happy once again.
Stealing a glimpse at her other teammate, Hinata observed the opposite to be true for Sasuke. He'd become more withdrawn and bitter in the past three, almost four, weeks since they'd returned to Konoha. This saddened Hinata, as she thought they'd made some progress with the troubled boy over the past few months.
In the Academy, Hinata never thought much of Sasuke. She remembered how the other girls fawned over him and how their teachers often praised him. Hinata recalled the times even Naruto had been jealous of the other boy's accomplishments and supposed talent. It seemed a bit funny to think about, after everything they'd experienced on their recent mission. The whole thing seemed a bit silly - childish really.
To Hinata though, Sasuke had never been anything special. She could acknowledge that he worked hard for his position as the top performer in their class. However, he was always so withdrawn, too focused on his personal goals, and could care less about much else. Even after graduating this part of his personality hadn't changed much.
However, once their team was formed, Naruto had been working with fervor to break Sasuke out of his shell. It seemed her cheerful friend's efforts had paid off initially. Sasuke still hadn't been much of a conversationalist. Every once in a while, he'd let down his walls to crack a joke, offer advice, or smile in his own small way. At least, that was, until their mission to Nami concluded.
Now though? Sasuke's behavior reminded Hinata of the issues she often faced at home. He was quick to temper, surly, and terse. If that wasn't enough, he'd returned to the behavior of putting Naruto down at any given opportunity. Sasuke was rather unfair and cold to him. Especially if Naruto messed up on a mission or during training. Sasuke didn't yell or berate Naruto. No, instead, he was dismissive, disdainful, and relatively unforgiving.
Watching her ill-tempered cousin over the years, Hinata knew it was only a matter of time before Sasuke's frustrations reached their boiling point. The problem was she didn't know how to help the situation. He felt so unapproachable. If her questions had nothing to do with a mission or training, Sasuke would usually give her an ambiguous grunt at the most.
Sasuke was never rude or hostile to Hinata, but neither was he congenial. To compound things, Hinata doubted they would ever be friends. It seemed they'd be comrades-in-arms and colleagues at most, but nothing more. It was as if, when Naruto persuaded Sasuke to apologize to Hinata during the bell test, it'd placed her in an isolated bubble of neutrality within the Uchiha's mind. Hinata was bewildered how Sasuke could be so discourteous to Naruto and yet was still willing to abide by Naruto's urging to remain respectful towards her.
It was then that Hinata was brought out of her thoughts when a swirl of leaves whirled in front of her. Within the gust of leaves, their sensei appeared, carrying a somewhat disoriented Naruto under his arm like a sack of rice. The instant Kakashi unceremoniously dropped Naruto down on the grass, it became apparent that something was amiss. Instead of Naruto's usual vibrant orange shinobi-grade attire, he wore a simple black shirt and a pair of faded green cargo pants. As Naruto turned to glare at Kakashi, who was smiling down at the boy apologetically, Hinata also noticed that Naruto's Hitai-Ate was rather damp.
"...A-Anou-"
"Why are you so late, Kono-Usuratonkachi? In civilian clothes no less?" Sasuke interrupted with a growl. The two adolescent boys glared at each other briefly before Hinata perceived something that caught her off-guard. Naruto seemed scared about something and maybe a bit ashamed?
"Mā…That would be my fault." Kakashi quickly asserted apologetically. "You see, Naruto was helping me return a lost kitten to its home. The poor thing seemed quite taken with him too." Kakashi mused sagely, earning exasperated looks from all three of his students. "Now, let's not waste any more time standing around, shall we?"
The team went to work helping each other stretch before starting their warm-up exercises of the day. However, it was apparent to Naruto that Hinata and Sasuke didn't believe Kakashi's relatively weak excuse. The pair kept looking his way throughout their exercises. They wanted to talk to him, but their motivations were different. Hinata only appeared concerned and confused. While Sasuke, on the other hand, looked angry, resentful, and suspicious.
Sasuke's ire was so evident to the blond, that Naruto couldn't help casting Kakashi an incredulous look after he'd paired the boys up for sparring practice. Could Kakashi not see how much that was a bad idea right now? Kakashi merely smiled, urging the boys to proceed with a motion of his hand.
'Seriously, Sensei? I think if Sasuke glared at me any longer I might actually catch fire…' Naruto thought miserably as he and the Uchiha carefully circled each other.
"So, Naruto, why were you really late?" Sasuke asked quietly as Naruto blocked one of his punches.
"None of your business, Temē," Naruto retorted, following up with a kick that Sasuke deftly dodged. The Kyūbi's guidance was starting to show results, most notably in Naruto's strength and reflexes. It only took Sasuke being kicked the previous week for the slightly older boy to learn it was better to avoid the hit altogether. Not that Naruto meant to send him flying. Even after apologizing, Sasuke still didn't believe that it'd been unintentional. Regardless, Naruto did sincerely feel bad about the incident.
Sasuke quickly retaliated, delivering an onslaught of varying punches and kicks onto Naruto before catching him off-guard with an elbow to the chin. Distracted by the pain radiating from his jaw, Naruto was unprepared for a kick to his gut that sent him sprawling on the ground gasping for air.
Naruto might've been steadily improving, but Sasuke was still the better fighter of the two. The Uchiha was fast, relentless, and methodical with every strike and kick. It wasn't very often that Naruto saw him waste a move during their spars. Well, at least any that Naruto could perceive, Kakashi and Hinata were of a different opinion.
Sure, Naruto could've asked the Kyūbi for assistance. The beast always seemed willing to jump at the chance to put Sasuke in his place, for some reason. Understandably, Naruto didn't think it'd be fair. If neither Sasuke nor Hinata was allowed to use their Dōjutsu during spars unless Kakashi directed otherwise, then why should he use something that'd give him an unknowing advantage? Above all, these were his teammates, people he had come to rely upon for support. Why risk betraying their trust? Not to mention, Naruto didn't want the fox's newfound cooperation to become a crutch for his development. It wouldn't be much of a partnership if he wasn't pulling his weight after all.
"...Not my fucking business?!" Sasuke snarled with anger. As he jumped on top of Naruto, jerking the smaller preteen up by the collar of his shirt till they were nose to nose. "You mean like knowing how you were capable of defeating that enemy ninja was none of my business?" He hissed, his Sharingan flashing to life.
Naruto couldn't help but grimace from the sight of lethal crimson boring into him. It didn't help that Sasuke's aura had become thick and oppressive. This seemed awfully familiar, to the point Naruto forgot himself and reflexively flinched as Sasuke readied a fist. It might've been about five years since that particular incident, but Naruto couldn't help squeezing his eyes shut expecting another beating.
"Sasuke, that's enough." Kakashi barked, causing Naruto to hesitantly open his eyes again. At the sight of his mentor holding back Sasuke's raised fist, Naruto visibly relaxed.
Sasuke snapped his attention to Kakashi. Turning his built-up ire on the more experienced shinobi, he stepped off of Naruto. "Coming to Naruto's rescue," the boy's voice carried sarcasm. "...Again, Sensei?" Sasuke's inflection took a tone of contempt and irritation. At this, Kakashi let go of Sasuke but stayed close to the boy.
With the growing tension, the temperature around the area seemed to drop a couple of degrees. As Hinata bent down to assist Naruto to his feet, the pair froze and stared in shock at Sasuke's disrespectful tone toward Kakashi. The prideful idiot was flirting with insubordination, and both his fellow Genin knew the dangers involved.
"Naruto, Hinata, you're dismissed for the rest of the morning. Report to the tower for our scheduled mission after lunch. It seems Sasuke and I need to have a discussion." Kakashi stated calmly, though never taking his eyes off the angry adolescent before him.
Without missing a beat, Naruto grabbed Hinata's hand and pulled her toward the exit of the training ground. Though they weren't wholly gone before Sasuke started his tirade. "Oh? And what could we have to talk about? You never seemed interested before, always lying, changing the subject, or dismissing the conversation altogether. Just to protect him!" Sasuke scathingly responded back.
"What makes Naruto so special? He's the 'Dead Last,' an idiotic, talentless loser. He's constantly holding back our team! Why else would we be suspended from missions and training our first week back? Ever since we've been stuck doing useless D-Ranks and training tailored to his detriments!" Sasuke continued passionately. Kakashi just patiently nodded, resting his hands in his pockets as he placidly watched the boy's ongoing meltdown.
"What's Naruto done to receive so much special treatment?! First, he becomes a Genin even though he failed the graduation exam. Then, even though he fell for all of your tricks during the bell test, which just showed how incompetent he is, I was the one singled out! Despite you admitting I had better skill. He never got in trouble for almost costing us the mission in Nami, nor do you ever reprimand him when he screws up simple D-Rank missions! On top of that, now you're giving him extra training? Seriously–" Sasuke abruptly stopped as Kakashi held up a hand. The breathless boy frowned but quieted.
"What makes you think I've been giving Naruto extra training?" Kakashi asked curiously, watching as Sasuke rolled his eyes in response.
"It's obvious, isn't it? He's been getting better at a freakishly fast pace, and it hasn't even been a month yet. He's too stupid and clumsy to improve on his own!" Sasuke raised his voice to a shout once again in annoyance. "At first, I thought Hinata-San might've been helping him, but the improvement is too drastic. Compared to him, I haven't improved at all…" The frustrated preteen explained, balling his fists as if the admission was painful to confess aloud.
"Then, you confirmed my suspicions when you both turned up late this morning. I mean, come on. Naruto didn't even bother to wear his shinobi attire for training. So, he's either been good this whole time and chooses to screw around during training and missions." There was a pause as Sasuke attempted to give an intimidating glare. "Or, you've been giving him special treatment ever since he proved his worth during that last fight in Nami." He accused, shaking visibly with rage. Though, Kakashi could also see the hurt and betrayal hidden behind the boy's tough exterior.
Kakashi let out a sigh and looked up at the sky as he gathered his thoughts. This was one part of the job that he hadn't been looking forward to but expected once he agreed to take on a team of Genin. After all, they were kids and could be rather shortsighted to the grand scheme of things. Of course, Sasuke would see their week-long break and light duty as a punishment. He wouldn't be conscious of his own slowly recovering injuries. After all, Sasuke wasn't going to heal and recover as quickly as Naruto. Kakashi doubted anyone could compete with Naruto in that department, not with Naruto's pedigree and the added benefit of his tenant. The Strong body of an Uzumaki indeed.
"That's an interesting theory you've concluded, Sasuke. However, you're mistaken about a few things." Kakashi started, looking down at the now confused Uchiha. "Firstly, Naruto might be a bit clumsy, but he's far from stupid. I thought you would've understood that after our first fight with Zabuza."
Sasuke looked like he wanted to retort, but Kakashi powered on, ignoring the boy's grunt of annoyance. "Secondly, why would I waste time sneaking around to give Naruto additional training sessions? It'd benefit the team's cohesiveness to be aware of each other's skills and abilities. I'm not afraid of trampling over a few kids' feelings if it makes you better prepared in the field." Kakashi professed cheerfully, smiling at Sasuke's growing indignation.
"You're correct that Naruto's been participating in additional training, but…" He paused to raise a finger as Sasuke once again tried to speak. "I only became aware of it recently. It seems he's as much aware of his weaknesses to the team as you are. No one's going to be as hard on Naruto as he is on himself. Sort of like another misguided Genin I know." At this, Sasuke had the decency to look at least a little ashamed.
"As for why we were late this morning, it was a personal matter that, Naruto quite accurately told you, is none of your business. You've never shown interest in either of your teammates' personal lives. So, if they don't feel like divulging their private information to you, they're not obligated to do so." Kakashi concluded matter-of-factly, though his gaze softened as he put a reassuring hand on the wayward youth's shoulder.
"If you want to change that relationship dynamic, might I suggest opening up a bit to your comrades? I bet you'll be more than a little surprised how receptive they might be if you tried to be friendlier to them. After all, the world is quite lonely without someone to call a friend, don't you think?" Kakashi asked before patting Sasuke's shoulder and walking away, signaling that the discussion was over.
摂理
After being dismissed for the morning, Naruto and Hinata retreated to a quiet section of the Naka River, the primary waterway that intersected through most of Konoha, including Team Seven's usual training ground of choice. They sat on the edge of one of the few petite crimson bridges that decorated this part of the waterway, chatting quietly amongst themselves. As usual, it was Naruto doing most of the talking. He'd decided to come clean about the misadventure that began the previous evening, unable to withstand Hinata's large innocent eyes watching him with nervous worry. To say the kind girl was displeased with what she was told regarding his detainment would've been an understatement. Though true to her nature, Hinata didn't let it visibly show as she listened attentively to Naruto's story.
"...Then, when I woke up the next morning, can you guess who was there to greet me?" Naruto asked excitedly, watching as an enraptured Hinata vigorously shook her head. "Kakashi-Sensei, of course!" He answered happily, flashing a bright smile.
"You should've seen him, Hinata-Chan!" Naruto went on animatedly. After all, he still couldn't believe it himself and was deeply touched by Kakashi's actions. "I swear nothing fazes Sensei -ttebayo!" He added with a chuckle before settling down. Naruto couldn't help rubbing the back of his head, ashamed of the next part of his tale.
"I was a little scared during the meeting with Hokage Jii-Chan and Shikakamaru's dad, though," Naruto admitted with a sigh. His smile shrinking as he gazed wistfully at the water lazily passing beneath their feet. "At first, I thought I got Kakashi-Sensei into trouble…" He mumbled bitterly, his expression morphing into a frown as he remembered the meeting and Shikaku's words.
"W-What do you mean, Naruto-Kun?" Hinata prodded gently, causing the boy to snap out of his guilt-ridden thoughts.
"Hm? Oh… Nothing much. It's just that- Well, Shikamaru's dad said something weird. He said to think of Kakashi-Sensei as a parent. If I do something bad or suck at being a ninja, it can reflect poorly on him. Then, if they decided it was Kakashi-Sensei's fault, he could've been punished." Naruto explained with a huff, gripping the guardrail until his knuckles turned white, trying to temper his emotions.
"I think that's really messed up, don't you?" He asked rhetorically, continuing without giving Hinata a moment to reply. "It really sucks that if I screw up or make a mistake, someone else suffers," Naruto murmured, pressing his forehead firmly against the railing as he closed his eyes and bit his lip.
Hinata had observed Naruto for many years and was sensitive to his feelings. He wore them on his sleeve, especially when they were alone together. It reinforced that he valued her above others in a personal way. She could see the defeat in his body language, but the complete loss of confidence was almost soul-crushing for both kids.
"A-anou, I think…I think maybe Nara-San meant that since Kakashi-Sensei is more experienced, he knows better." Hinata started hesitantly, gaining courage as Naruto turned to watch her intently as she spoke. He carefully listened while absorbing her every word. Naruto watched her lips move and found himself staring at them, every syllable conjugating and enunciated with a level of sweetness.
"Think of it this way. Sensei's been a shinobi for a long time, right?" Hinata began, watching as Naruto nodded in reply. "That means he's gained a lot of knowledge over the years, either from past mistakes or the wisdom of others," she elaborated.
"Oh… I think I get it -ttebayo! Like, how fire's hot, most poisonous mushrooms smell bad, or how soggy ramen tastes gross, right?" Naruto asked, tapping his fist in his open palm absentmindedly as he looked over at Hinata for confirmation.
"Err…Yes, precisely." Hinata confirmed with an awkward smile, slightly puzzled by Naruto's examples. "Sensei's more skilled, intelligent, stronger, and wiser than us. As such, it's his job to guide and protect us until we're capable of passing our knowledge and experiences down to the next generation. At least, that's what I think Nara-San meant." Hinata concluded humbly. Though, she hadn't expected Naruto's completely awestruck expression and became rather flustered in response.
"Wow…You're right; I never thought of it that way before." Naruto mused, leaning back, his knees touching the bottom of the decorative wooden balustrade while resting back on his hands, looking up at the sky. "Is… Is that what it means to be a parent?" Naruto wondered aloud, uncertainty evident in his voice.
Hinata inhaled sharply, her eyes widening at Naruto's question. This was new territory in their friendship. Nervously, she chewed her lip, carefully pondering his question. "I think so, but I'm not too sure myself." She admitted, tapping her fingers together as she looked away.
"I… I know that if I were ever to become a mother, I would want to pass down all the things taught to me by others. But, I'd also want to make the world a better place for my children. I think I would want to protect their smile just as much as anything else." She asserted, her blush returning as she imagined such children, thoughts of bright cobalt eyes and messy golden hair invading her mind.
Naruto turned his full attention toward his daydreaming companion. He continued studying Hinata carefully, gauging her strange new emotions. She was bursting with a tingly warmth that recently started to cause a strange feeling within himself. Just watching Hinata brimming with such tranquil happiness elicited a sensation of tepidity and giddiness within Naruto.
"You're really amazing, Hina-Hime. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful mother someday -ttebayo!" Naruto found himself blurting, causing Hinata's blush to turn a lovely shade of reddish-purple. It was a warning hue that Naruto had seen quite a few times in his life, but much to his relief and surprise, this time Hinata remained conscious.
'Why did I say that? Now she's uncomfortable. Real smooth, Bakayarō…'
"A-Actually, since we're on the topic of mothers…" Looking for a distraction, Naruto hurriedly transitioned the topic to his recent discoveries, hoping to keep Hinata focused and distracted from his most recent comment. Naruto started by explaining to Hinata his confidence in uncovering the identity of his mother. Though all he had at the moment was a simple theory, and a coincidental name etched on the Heroes' Memorial. As Naruto spoke excitedly about his visits to the Memorial Stone, he noticed with confusion that Hinata was feeling happy, nostalgic, and sad. Well, saying she was sad would've been an insult in all honesty.
"...Are you okay, Hinata-Chan?" Naruto inquired delicately, cautiously leaning over to wipe away a stray tear from her cheek. He watched his stunned friend with horrified eyes, unable to comprehend this turn in events.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry -ttebayo. We can talk about something else if you want." Naruto offered quickly, unsure of what could've caused Hinata's sudden shift in mood. Naruto hated to see Hinata in such a state. It always made his chest hurt, twisted his stomach in knots, and made him want to cry alongside her.
Hinata blinked, before quickly rubbing her eyes. "Oh, dear… It's not- It isn't you, Naruto-Kun. I'm quite happy for you, in fact." She assured with a wave of her hand and a feeble smile.
"...But?" Naruto pressed gently, pushing away from the bridge's edge and turning to give Hinata his full attention.
"It's nothing, really. It's just with our conversation; I was reminded of my own mother. You see, she passed away when I was five…." Hinata confessed much to Naruto's astonishment. He listened intently as Hinata went on to talk about the few memories she still held of her mother. How she'd been a very kind and gentle woman who inspired part of Hinata's dream to be a strong yet kind shinobi in a bid to keep her mother's memory alive.
Then mid-sentence, Hinata broke down completely, catching Naruto off-guard. He was afraid of the sight before him and instinctively enveloped Hinata in his arms, unsure of what else he could do. Naruto wracked his brain, trying to emulate the mannerisms others had used to soothe him. He shakily patted her back, rocking back and forth, murmuring assurances to counter her doubts and self-deprecations. It seemed Sasuke wasn't the only one bottling up a lot of stress lately.
For a time, the pair embraced each other awkwardly from where they sat on the bridge. Hinata gripped the front of Naruto's shirt like a lifeline. Leaning against him, she muffled her pitiful sobs into his comforting hold.
Listening to Hinata express her pent-up suffering caused Naruto's earlier panic to return. It was as if hearing Hinata cry caused him pain as well. Naruto couldn't begin to fathom it, but he realized that he sought comfort from the girl as much as she needed from him. Nuzzling his cheek against the top of Hinata's head, Naruto could feel his own tears falling. The blond hugged his friend just a little tighter, completely overwhelmed by all the recent events.
After some time, Hinata quieted down. She sniffled weakly into the crook of Naruto's neck as he continued to rhythmically pat her back, his mind elsewhere. Inwardly, Naruto struggled with various thoughts. Were most mothers like how Hinata described? Or, just hers? Would his mother have been similar? Was it wrong to feel a sliver of envy that Hinata at least got to know her mom for a little while? Would she hate him if she ever found out he felt that way?
"...I'm sorry," Hinata finally uttered, pulling shyly away from Naruto. He looked at her face flushed from embarrassment and recent tears. Forcing a grin on his face, Naruto chuckled and pushed away his dark thoughts.
"Hey, don't sweat it, Hina-Hime. I mean, what are friends for?" He commented with a shrug, turning back to watch the river once more as Hinata recomposed herself. Wiping the remnants of tears from his own face. The bizarre moment of fragility gave Naruto an odd sense of relief, who knew crying could be so freeing?
"A-Anou, if you don't mind…Could you finish your story, Naruto-Kun? I think we might have gotten off track, before." Hinata prompted, earning a more honest smile from the blonde. Placing her hand over the top of his, she offered a gentle smile of her own.
Naruto didn't pull away from her touch but looked at their hands, then to her eyes. "Oh… Uh, sure thing. Now, where was I…"
As Naruto continued telling Hinata about his morning and the conclusion of the meeting with the Hokage, the conversation shifted to Naruto voicing his grievances about the Hokage. He was still rather hurt, confused, and upset about many things. The discovery of the Uzumaki Temple, its state of disrepair, and the fact that it was kept a secret from him was the most recent slap to the face. Even Shikaku stated that Naruto had a rightful claim to the property. Naruto was thankful to the man for his support. But, why was the Hokage keeping his heritage a secret? What right did the Hokage have to keep this information from him? All of that on top of his mother's potential identity frustrated Naruto greatly.
"...Anyway, that's pretty much everything. Jii-Chan said he's gonna schedule sometime later this week to have a meeting with me. Hopefully, I can get some answers then." Naruto explained, resting his chin in his hands as he continued to sulk sullenly.
The duo sat in reflective silence for a brief period after that. As Hinata struggled to find a way to cheer up the usually sunny boy, Naruto surprised her once again. He straightened up, slapping his face firmly with both palms, eliciting a squeal as he rubbed his now stinging cheeks.
"Enough of that!" Naruto proclaimed with renewed confidence. Jumping to his feet, he reached his arms to the sky as he stretched. Naruto was determined to shake off the accumulating depressive thoughts, and what better way than a fun distraction? Adding to Hinata's growing bewilderment, Naruto started climbing over the guardrail, hopping down to the river whose water level had risen recently due to the seasonal rain.
With what seemed to be practiced ease, Naruto managed to stay balanced on the river's surface. Turning away from Hinata, he maintained a light grip on the bridge's edge. Naruto experimented with powering chakra into his legs and feet. He'd been having visions of this action ever since learning the technique and really wanted to test it out.
"Naruto-Kun, what are you doing?" Hinata asked as she leaned over the railing to watch him. From her vantage point, she could see the water start to ripple and churn away from Naruto in small waves that were steadily increasing in agitation.
"Well, when we learned to walk up trees, too much chakra pushed us off the trunk, right?" Naruto explained, crouching down as he added more power. "That got me thinking. Why couldn't I do that on the water to move faster? Kind of like when I set up that grease trap back in the academy and Iruka-Sensei was sent flying down the hall? But, you know, with more control and stuff." He elaborated with a chuckle, pushing and pulling against his grip as he tested his balance.
Hinata watched him with interest and growing concern as she overlooked the blond-haired boy. Was this really okay? Shouldn't they only try out new skills under Kakashi's supervision? "Anou… Naru-" She began, but it was already too late. As soon as Hinata started to speak up Naruto had let go of the bridge.
The boy shot off like a rocket, leaving a torrent water spray in his wake. At first, Naruto flailed his arms a bit to regain his balance. He hadn't expected the sudden thrust as he flew over the water. Thankfully, he was able to adjust quickly and found the new sensation thrilling.
The wind screamed in Naruto's ears as he skated down the river. It felt liberating to harness his chakra to such a degree, rather than trying to control and contain it like usual. For the moment, he could forget his worries. The complicated issues that had been plaguing him throughout the previous night and this morning.
After some time Naruto figured he'd traveled far enough and shifted his weight, turning sharply. He headed back towards the waiting Hinata, who watched from her vantage point on the bridge. Naruto dropped the power he'd been flooding to his lower extremities figuring it was the simplest way to slow his approach. However, even as Naruto felt his legs sink briefly into the water, it hadn't hindered his trajectory in the slightest. As such, he was still incoming too fast to control.
'Shimatta!' Naruto cursed inwardly as he neared the imminent danger of the bridge pier that was rapidly approaching. Seeing Hinata's horrified face, Naruto knew that she'd figured it out - he was in trouble. 'If I don't do something soon, I'm going to be in for a world of hurt!'
"Jump!" The Kyūbi barked. Instinctively Naruto listened to the command, narrowly avoiding Hinata as he leaped over her. However, in his descent, Naruto's foot caught the parallel railing attached to the other side of the bridge, sending him cartwheeling towards the river's surface. Reflexively Naruto tucked into a ball while still in the air. It was one of the skills he'd been taught throughout his time in the academy. One of the things he thought would never be used in the 'real world.' But that trite lesson did little to stop the air from being knocked out of him as his back impacted unforgivingly with the water.
Even as his world started to dim, Naruto couldn't help but grin. In the recesses of the boy's mind, a large demon fox shook his head as Naruto laughed and went on and on about how awesome that move had been. The boy didn't even seem phased that he'd lost consciousness in the outside world and was currently at risk of drowning.
The Kyūbi rubbed his face irritably, going to work healing the more severe bruises his container received in his stunt. The fox wanted to be angry with the boy, but seeing Naruto's enthusiastic face as he danced around their shared mindscape caused him to pause. Instead, the Kyūbi's expression softened, and with a huff, he turned away from the energetic blond as a slight smirk crept on his lips.
"Foolish brat…"
摂理
'So, soft…' Naruto mused as he started to return to the realm of consciousness. He felt warm and comfortable. Which was weird since last he remembered, he'd crashed into the river. Slowly, Naruto opened his eyes, only to be blinded by the sun. Squinting his eyes closed again, he shifted away from the bright rays into the softness behind him. Turning slightly to his right, he buried his face in the softness away from the bright light. It smelled pleasant and distinctly familiar, yet unique. Naruto inhaled the scent with a sigh, remaining content until his pillow shifted uncomfortably.
"N-Naruto-Kun?" Hinata squeaked, snapping Naruto out of his reverie. Now properly awake, Naruto cautiously turned, lifting his head to take in his surroundings. He was laying in the grass near the river. Leaning over him was a concerned Hinata. His comfortable pillow was Hinata's lap, and he'd been nuzzling his face against her torso.
As the realization dawned on Naruto a blush formed on his whisker-striped cheeks. Quickly he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck as he laughed nervously, "Sorry about that Hinata-Chan, d-dattebayo!"
"A-Are you alright, Naruto-Kun? That impact looked bad. I was worried when you didn't get up."
As Naruto went to reassure her, he felt a bundle of fabric fall into his lap. Looking down, Naruto observed a familiar cream-colored jacket resting across his thigh. With confusion, he looked up and felt his eyes widen even more as realization struck. Across from him, Hinata sat in nothing more than a dark elbow-length shirt, her Kusari Yoroi just barely visible at the center of the shirt's V-neck collar.
It'd been quite a while since Naruto had seen Hinata without her signature jacket. Even when they trained in Nami she'd never fallen into the water, and thus never needed to discard the extra layer of clothing. It had been at least two years, now that he thought about it. Who knew in such a short amount of time Hinata could change so much.
As he stared, Naruto could feel the heat spread from his cheeks down his neck, but he couldn't bring himself to look away. What was this strange feeling? It was different from the nervous fluttering he'd felt earlier in his chest. Unable to place the new sensation, Naruto's thoughts once again zeroed in on his immediate epiphany. Hinata, his best friend, and teammate was a girl. A very pretty girl with big–
'I think they're almost as big as my Oiroke Henge…'
"Oi, Kozō. I'd stop drooling if I were you. You still haven't answered her question."
Blinking rapidly, Naruto noticed Hinata's worried expression. Coughing, he averted his gaze, offering her back her coat as he spoke. "I'm fine…Thanks, Hina-Hime. Sorry for worrying you." Pausing a moment, wanting to try and shift away from his recent revelation. "Ettou… I didn't think it'd be so hard to slow down, -ttebayo. Maybe I used too much chakra?" He pondered with a shrug, sneaking a glance as Hinata slid her jacket back on. This caused that funny feeling to bloom in his gut again, but the heat he felt in his face earlier moved south. The physical reaction, his body seemed to stand up, making the boy sit up very straight. He fidgeted uncomfortably trying to pull his shirt over the bulge at the front of his pants.
'N-Nandayo?!' Naruto screamed internally, unable to comprehend his body's awkward and embarrassing betrayal. What was going on? This was a new and unwelcome experience. Sure, Naruto was familiar with this strange aspect of his anatomy, but it usually only happened in the morning.
"M-Maybe, but I'm not sure," Hinata said, fixing the jacket into place and seeming to not notice Naruto's current discomfort. "I'm just glad you weren't seriously hurt. Please, promise you won't try that again unless Kakashi-Sensei's nearby? It looked rather dangerous." she implored, smiling softly as Naruto gave her a brief nod in agreement.
He couldn't help but notice that her jacket wasn't fully zipped up. Attempting to stay focused on her beautiful eyes, rather than the small amount of cleavage that showed at the top of her shirt, Naruto willed himself to focus. "Definitely! I-I mean, it was really fun -ttebayo. I just need to figure out how to slow down more effectively." He mused, giving her one of his mischievous foxlike grins. This earned a nervous giggle from Hinata.
Looking towards the sky, Naruto roughly calculated that it was close to the time for the two to report for whatever D-Rank mission Kakashi had arranged for them that day. He sighed, remembering the reason their training had been cut short that morning.
Standing, Naruto stretched, testing his back for any lingering soreness. Satisfied, Naruto silently conveyed his gratitude to the Kyūbi. The fox didn't have to speed up his healing process for such a minor injury, especially when it was caused by Naruto's own stupidity.
"Looks like we should head for the tower soon to meet up with Kakashi-Sensei and Sasuke. Wanna grab something quick to eat on the way? I'm pretty sure there's a shop in that direction." Naruto suggested looking a little guilty as he rubbed his head. "I didn't mean for us to miss lunch." He added apologetically, offering Hinata a hand to help pull her to her feet.
Accepting his outstretched hand, Hinata smiled once again. "Don't worry about it, Naruto-Kun. Accidents happen and…" Hinata trailed off, as his hand left hers. Averting her gaze, she twiddled her fingers. "I enjoyed our talk."
Naruto felt his blush returning as he mutely nodded; fortunately, his body's earlier reaction started to settle down. He turned, starting to walk away, to which Hinata followed. "You know, we pretty much avoided talking about Sasuke-Mē's attitude problem this whole time. You think he'll be fine during our mission this afternoon?" Naruto contemplated interlacing his hands behind his head while the pair walked. He tried his best to sound dismissive about the whole ordeal. However, the other boy's violent outburst still weighed heavily on Naruto's mind.
"I'm sure Sasuke-Kun will remain professional during our mission." Hinata offered diplomatically, earning a pouting frown for her companion. "I doubt Kakashi-Sensei would allow anything less." She added, causing Naruto to snicker.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right about that. Sensei did seem really mad."
"You think so?" Hinata asked in disbelief. Naruto nodded knowingly.
"Sure, especially with what happened this morning before we showed up for training. I honestly wouldn't blame him. I still can't believe he didn't yell at me." He affirmed, raising a brow as Hinata giggled in response.
"Sensei doesn't seem like the yelling-type." She stated, offering a small smile.
"True…" Naruto accepted with a laugh as he picked up the pace into a jog. Hinata didn't miss a beat and ran alongside her blond teammate.
摂理
Much to Naruto's relief, Sasuke's attitude was controlled for the rest of the afternoon. This was fortunate since the Genin had to work together to repair an elder's fence that'd fallen into disrepair over the years. Even with the extra help of Naruto's six allotted clones, the project still took the team until early evening to finish. After reporting the success of their task, Kakashi asked Naruto and Hinata to stay behind as he released Sasuke for the night.
"Are we in t-trouble, Sensei?" Hinata asked nervously as Sasuke disappeared around a corner.
"Not at all, but there's something I'd like to discuss with you two," Kakashi replied, turning a page in his book. "Hinata, am I right to assume you're aware of the actual reason Naruto and myself were late this morning?"
Hinata looked over at Naruto before nodding hesitantly, "N-Naruto-Kun explained that you were busy attending a meeting with Hokage-Sama involving a recent incident."
"Did he elaborate on how his detriments lead to a situation that could have otherwise been avoided?" Kakashi further pressed, resisting the urge to chuckle as Naruto sent him a rather adorable scowl that he pretended to ignore.
"What do you mean, Sensei?" Hinata replied in confusion, looking over at Naruto for answers. The boy gave her a guilty look, rubbing his arm awkwardly. Naruto had tried his best to leave out the uncool and embarrassing parts of the story. He didn't want Hinata to think he was lame or stupid, after all.
"Well, for starters, you're aware of Naruto's substandard reading-comprehension skills, correct?" Kakashi affirmed, watching as now Hinata appeared shamefaced. She ducked her head, biting her finger in nervous reflex as she hesitated.
"H-Hai…" She finally admitted in a defeated whisper. "I used to help him with class assignments, and still try my best to help him when he asks." She couldn't meet the boy's eyes, knowing it was a sensitive topic and didn't want to add to his humiliation.
"Oh good. That'll make things easier then. You see, Naruto needs to meet the base standards required of Konoha Shinobi before the end of summer. If he doesn't, he risks being sent back to the academy and dropped from Team Seven." Kakashi explained nonchalantly, snapping his book closed to give both horrified Genin a genial smile from behind his mask.
"NANDAYO?!" Naruto screeched, drowning out Hinata's more subdued and forlorn response.
"Unfortunately, I can't waste the team's time getting Naruto's reading skills up to standard. This is why I'm assigning you to tutor him in the evenings. You two can work out a schedule amongst yourselves that doesn't get in the way of your other obligations. Once a week, I'll evaluate your progress, offering advice and modifications to the regimen if necessary." Kakashi elaborated, remaining unfazed by Naruto's outburst.
"Understood, Sensei." Hinata acknowledged with a short bow, accepting her new responsibilities readily. After all, she couldn't disobey a direct order from her superior. Not that she'd want to, as this meant she'd be able to spend more time with Naruto and less time at home.
Naruto didn't seem to be thinking along the same lines, but just as he was about to retort, he stopped and turned his attention to Hinata. She was quite literally glowing at the prospect. Naruto bet if he closed his eyes, he'd see her violet flame roaring like a bonfire. That didn't mean he had to be happy about being seen as a detriment to the team. So, to compensate, Naruto crossed his arms, sulking as he glared at the ground.
"...I'll be in your care -ttebayo." He muttered in resignation. Hinata nodded, consolingly patting his shoulder.
"Perfect," Kakashi exulted, ruffling Naruto's hair playfully. Naruto huffed, though the corners of his mouth twitched as he fought off a smile. "Starting tomorrow, I'll be assigning you a book to complete. Each time you finish a book, I'll give you another of increased difficulty. If you pass my evaluations, of course." He teased before returning his attention to Hinata.
"I also want you to continue his etiquette training. Start off by simply teaching him the proper way to conduct himself and address a client of high standing. It's rare for Genin to be given missions where they'd be expected to dress or engage in a more formal setting, so those skills aren't as prudent just yet." Kakashi assured dismissively. He also doubted that either Genin would be comfortable in such a situation, regardless of their friendship. If a mission called for Naruto to dress in formalwear, Kakashi would personally see that the boy was adequately prepared ahead of time.
"I hope both of you understand, especially you, Naruto." Kakashi started, garnering the boy's attention, "I'm not pawning my duties off onto Hinata. I will always be available and step in if need be." The mentor softened his gaze as he turned to the shy wallflower of his ragtag group. "Hinata, if you ever feel overwhelmed or have difficulties, let me know. I have a feeling that this is only the beginning of some much-needed supplementary lessons Naruto needs."
"Hey!" Naruto whined indignantly.
"Naruto, this isn't a slight against you. It was inevitable that you'd be deficient in certain skills, given your lack of…structure over the years leading up to and during your time in the academy." Kakashi explained with a shrug.
'What's that supposed to mean?' Naruto thought, confused if he should feel insulted or not.
"He means that since you didn't have anyone at home to teach or hold you accountable while growing up, and that you did well with the resources you were given." The Kyūbi quipped, causing Naruto to visibly deflate.
'Oh… What about Iruka-Sensei?'
"He only managed to keep you in the classroom. Well, most of the time anyway. He had to manage a whole class full of brats, and couldn't focus solely on you too much. Sure, he tutored you a bit with your sensor abilities, but you were still lacking in noticeable and overlooked skills.."
'Like what?'
"I'm not a shinobi, so I'm not completely sure. If we compare you to your peers, however… I'd have to say your literacy and etiquette are lacking refinement. You lack knowledge of local, national, and international government and politics. Your dietary knowledge and culinary skills are non-existent..." The fox prattled on making Naruto's confidence crack and crumble with each new criticism.
After all, it wasn't Naruto's fault he'd been without a defined guardian his whole life. Hiruzen was there when his schedule allowed, and always had an open-door policy for Naruto unless he was in an important meeting. The ANBU tasked with observing Naruto never directly spoke to him. Over time their presence decreased to infrequent check-ups until he'd finally been left to his own devices completely at the age of eight.
Iruka tried his best, once he'd chosen to acknowledge Naruto. But, he'd been very young when first becoming Naruto's instructor, and thus was vastly inexperienced. He could only give Naruto so much of his time, and it wasn't like Naruto made it easy on Iruka, either. He'd been a terrible student, disrupting class, being distracted during lessons, and not even bothering to show up to the academy on the rare occasion. If it wasn't for Hinata, both as a helper and as motivation, Naruto probably would've been worse off than he already was.
"...ruto? Oi, Naruto!" Kakashi called, breaking Naruto out of his thoughts.
"Huh? What? Oh, sorry, Sensei." Naruto chuckled sheepishly. Rubbing the back of his head nervously. Kakashi let out an exasperated sigh.
"As I was saying, tonight work out a routine amongst yourselves and meet for training tomorrow morning at our usual time and place. Any questions?" Kakashi asked, studying his charges carefully. When neither responded he nodded approvingly before turning to walk off for the night, leaving the pair to their own devices.
Naruto found himself torn once again, which seemed to be a trend lately. Why did life have to be so complicated? It was awesome that he'd be able to spend more time with Hinata. They didn't get many chances to hang out and talk when they were busy training or doing missions.
However, it made him feel a little nervous too. Especially given the reason they'd be spending more time together. Would she think he was lame now? Would Hinata tire of his inadequacies and prefer the much smarter and cooler Sasuke, even if the guy was a jerk most of the time?
"A-Anou, Naruto-Kun?"
Hearing Hinata's gentle voice, Naruto shook off his insecurities. Plastering on a foxy grin as he turned to face her, his hands clasped behind his head once again, "Yeah?"
"What time and place would work best for you?" Hinata asked, poking her fingers together as she blushed. Her gaze averted as she fidgeted nervously.
"Any time's good for me, -ttebayo. As for a place. Well, if you don't mind, how about mine?"
"...Eh?" Hinata voiced in shock, causing Naruto to become flustered.
"E-etou, that's-that is… O-Only if you want to, dattebayo. I mean, uh… It's quiet and I got ramen. If…If you're uncomfortable we can choose a different place, -ttebayo." He went on to explain with anxious anticipation.
Hinata's surprise eased into a tender smile as she shook her head, "No, that's fine. I'm just unaware of where you live…" She admitted with a tinge of shame as her blush deepened.
Naruto blinked for a moment before letting out a laugh, "Well, I can show you right now, if you're free?" He inquired with building excitement that only grew when Hinata nodded. "Great! Let's go, then. Dattebayo!" The exuberant boy cheered, dragging Hinata down the street while driven by his enthusiasm.
After all, Naruto wasn't used to having anyone at his home. Let alone a friend. A pretty female friend, whose lap he'd been resting on earlier, and had large-
'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea?' Naruto worried as the funny feeling came back again. Hinata was a girl. He was going to be spending time at home alone with a girl. The thought caused Naruto's face to bloom as bright as a tomato.
He gulped as the weight of the situation settled, before quickly shaking his head. 'What am I thinking? This is just Hinata-Chan. I've known her forever. It'll be no different than training, just with books instead of kunai.' Naruto dismissed with a breath as they made it to the stairwell leading towards his condo.
'Wait, this is Hina-Hime! Kuso! She can't see how I left the place this morning! I need to buy time...' Naruto realized slapping his hand over his eyes. Cursing once more under his breath, Naruto let go of a rather disorientated Hinata to create a small gang of Kage Bunshin. The crew saluted without a word before pursuing their task of preparing Naruto's home for company.
"Naruto-Kun?"
Chuckling nervously, Naruto rubbed his neck as he turned back to Hinata, "Uh, sorry about that, Hinata-Chan. I-Uh…What do you say we grab something from the convenience store down the street before I give you the grand tour? We totally deserve a reward after that D-Rank today, Nē? My treat?" Naruto offered wishfully. To his fortune, she agreed. Setting off at a more leisurely pace, the pair detoured to their new destination.
Enjoying some freshly bought ice cream on the trek back, Naruto smiled as the last of his clones dispelled, letting him know that it was safe to return. Naruto fished out his keys, unlocking the door and stepping aside to allow Hinata entry.
"It's not much, but it's home." He expressed with a shrug, watching her reaction closely as he kicked off his sandals.
Hinata slipped off her footwear with more care as she looked around. The first thing she noticed was that the dwelling's air was saturated with Naruto's scent. It wasn't an offensive smell, rather it was soothing, and made her feel safe and comforted.
Following Naruto's lead, Hinata turned down the short hall into a quaint kitchen area. She could see with some sadness by the single chair at the table that he wasn't used to having guests over. Hopefully, under the guise of Kakashi's new orders, she could change that. What astonished Hinata was the plethora of plant life the small room contained, but what did she expect from a boy who enjoyed 'watering plants'?
As Naruto showed her around the first half of the condo, he couldn't help but study her every reaction closely. It was with great joy and pride that Naruto showed off his current collection of ramen, including some limited-edition varieties he'd managed to acquire. What would Hinata think of him now that she got to see his home?
Throughout the first part of the tour, Naruto could feel Hinata's emotions repeatedly transition between happiness, awe, sadness, guilt, and determination. He wasn't quite sure what she was thinking but assumed part of it was in pity for his circumstance. He'd felt something similar from Iruka and Kakashi on separate occasions. If Naruto was honest, he didn't like being pitied. It made him feel underestimated and looked down upon. Though, at least their hearts were in the right place. So, he couldn't fault them for that.
"...And this is my bedroom, -ttebayo! I figured we could work here since it'd be easier." Naruto explained as he opened the door to the last room, stepping aside to let Hinata explore.
Hinata nervously stepped into the space, unsure of what to expect. She'd never been in a boy's room before. The first thing that caught her eye was the orange comforter covering his bed. It wasn't a surprise to see Naruto's bedspread in his favorite shade of vibrant orange, but to know they both possessed the same blanket of choice caused a faint blush to dust Hinata's cheeks.
After she took a moment to absorb this information, Hinata's eyes caught sight of something else that shone brightly in the early evening light. Perched atop Naruto's windowsill was a small flowerpot full to the brim with blooming dwarf sunflowers of every shade. The scarlet pottery was a familiar sight for the completely shocked girl. It touched her heart to know he'd kept such great care of the first gift she'd ever given him. Especially when considering the fragility of the object in question. Even more so, that he'd kept up the tradition of filling the container with the same type of flower each season.
Turning away from the window, Hinata's attention moved toward the cabinet near the head of Naruto's bed. She smiled seeing the framed photograph of their team. Hinata remembered fondly how she'd been so embarrassed and excited that afternoon.
Exploring the room with less reservation, Hinata began to understand that this was Naruto's haven of memories. Everything precious to him throughout their childhood and budding shinobi careers was located here. Though, there was something amiss. Walking around to the foot of his bed, Hinata noticed a bundle of fabric, thread, and what looked like the beginnings of a crudely sewn doll. Inspecting it with curiosity, Hinata looked up to Naruto questioningly.
"Heh-heh, yeah. I-uh…Well, I thought I'd practice making a better…training dummy of Kakashi-Sensei." He stammered, internally kicking himself or more specifically the horde of clones that didn't hide the project away. "Yeah, a training dummy..." He explained with a bit of embarrassment before pulling out some rough-looking dolls from under his bed to show Hinata what he was talking about. These looked vaguely like Sasuke and Kakashi and appeared to have seen better days. Most likely the pair had been on the receiving end of some pent-up stress from her uncharacteristically shy friend on multiple occasions.
Hinata couldn't help but giggle. She knew Naruto wasn't being wholly forthright but didn't press the issue. The newest project looked too refined, with a lot of thoughtful care going into the piece. The doll wouldn't be something Naruto would abuse later - it was precious. What she couldn't understand was why he'd felt the need to create a doll in their Sensei's image. Did Naruto admire their mentor to such a high degree? The two did seem to have a strange bond that Hinata couldn't explain. Not that she was complaining. It wasn't like Kakashi neglected his other students in favor of Naruto, and what they did in their off-time wasn't any of her business. In fact, she was happy that others cherished the boy as much as she did.
With a sigh, Hinata remembered how hurt Naruto had been during their accidental kiss a few months back. He'd been so terrified as if she'd abandon him over something so minor. If anything, Hinata regretted the fact that she hadn't been conscious enough to remember the act.
"...Say, Naruto-Kun?" Hinata asked, gaining the boy's attention after he shoved the training dummies back under his bed.
"Yeah?"
"What's that door for?" She inquired, pointing to the large door across the room. Naruto grinned, brushing past her to slide the barrier aside, revealing a balcony-like area. Following the giddy blond out onto the deck, Hinata was in awe of the view. From here, as she walked around the small platform, Hinata could clearly see the Hokage Monument and the Hokage Tower. While beyond the townscape and village walls she could even see the hills on the horizon.
"...I know, right?" Naruto mused with a bit of pride as he leaned against the railing. "It's even more amazing at sunset, and since I don't live that far from the market district. In the morning I can even smell the freshly made bread from the bakery if the wind blows just right." He teased, unable to stop himself from laughing as he sensed Hinata's excitement and jealousy. After all, where there lay freshly baked bread, cinnamon rolls weren't far behind.
"Maybe we can do our sessions in the mornings." Hinata thought to herself secretly.
Hinata wanted to stay longer but knew she needed to head home soon. She could already feel her built-up fatigue setting in, the hard day's worth of grime was becoming difficult to ignore, and her father needed to be notified of her change in routine. It didn't help that Naruto's teasing had reminded Hinata that she'd only had a small lunch and a light snack. If she wanted to be honest with herself, the weary kunoichi was famished. As if on signal, her stomach let out a soft growl causing her to blush once again as Naruto giggled.
"If you're hungry, I can fix up some ramen." Naruto offered, turning to head back inside.
"A-Anou…Actually, Naruto-Kun. I should probably head home soon." Hinata admitted regretfully, becoming even sadder when she saw the smile evaporate from the boy's face.
"Oh…Well, I guess that's understandable. We did have a long day after all." He agreed with a sigh. Then it seemed like an idea sparked and Naruto's smile returned, "How about I walk you home then?"
"S-Sure, and tomorrow we can have dinner together?" Hinata proposed, poking her fingers together anxiously. She squeaked in surprise as Naruto suddenly appeared in front of her, clasping her shoulders in a shaky grip. The intense look of hope, trust, and longing on Naruto's face almost caused Hinata's heart to break. Though, the closeness of his face made her want to faint instead.
"Really? You mean it, dattebayo?" Naruto asked in an unexpectedly vulnerable tone.
Hinata swallowed nervously, gathering her nerve as she nodded, "H-Hai."
"Yatta!" Naruto cheered, giving Hinata a quick hug before he started to jump around excitedly.
Hinata watched him fondly, patiently following him back inside. She figured that they could decide a schedule that worked for both of them on the way back to her clan's compound. Though, whatever they came up with, Hinata doubted that either of them would be left dissatisfied.
For Naruto, one of the single worst days of his life had ended up becoming one of the best. The only questions he had left were what type of ramen Hinata liked best and how he could rework his schedule with the fox. Regardless, he would do whatever he needed to ensure that he could spend as much time with Hinata while continuing his efforts with his fuzzy-tailed partner.
Unbeknownst to Naruto, while bouncing around in excitement, he failed to notice a black t-shirt that'd been peeking out from under the bed. The clones didn't actually fold or put things away - they just stuffed clothes under the bed or in one of the cabinets. Hinata hesitantly stopped and reached down to pull out the garment. It was a black t-shirt with his favorite Ramen brand plastered across the back of it. She smiled at it as she folded it up neatly. Holding it in her hands a moment as the thought of folding his clothes crept into her mind, a slight blush peppering her face.
"Hinata-Chan!" Naruto's voice echoed through the hall. "Are you coming?"
His voice broke her budding thoughts of doing his laundry and other domestic chores. Hinata didn't say anything as she left the shirt on the bed and met him at the front door.
摂理
Author Note: So what do you guys think? Still alive after all that sugary fluff? :) Don't expect any more leaps with their affection just yet. I'm just having fun introducing the kids to the first stages of puberty. You know…mood swings, body changes, etc. (Thought it was funny that an English explanative was more suitable during Sasuke's tantrum, hahaha) I did a lot of research for this chapter in regards to Naruto's home, puberty, etc. I was a bit nervous making this transition, but it was needed to get to the next stage of everyone's development.
Originally this was supposed to be a part of Ch15, but as you can see both chapters ended up being very long. ^_^;; This Arc is almost concluded, then afterward there will be one more non-canon arc before we return to the canon material. FYI, the poll is still going on if you want to vote for the upcoming arcs!
Keywords:
Kusari Yoroi - Chainmail Armor, specifically the type used by samurai and shinobi. (The kind that appears in Naruto. Yes, that's armor, not mesh you pervs.)