Naruto kept her close. He never left her side. His hand never left hers. He saw the way they looked at her. The men and the women. They had lust in their eyes.
Ino stood close to Sai, as well. He had brought some of his art supplies as requested. Juni had met them while Sai was sketching Ino at the fountain at the edge of the village. He was highly impressed at Sai's talent and had invited them to dinner and commissioned Sai to capture some events of the evening. The fee offered was too generous for a traveling artist to turn down. He enjoyed using his art to bring pleasure instead of battle but the air surrounding them felt peculiar.
Hinata could feel Naruto's tension. She needed him to calm down. He needed to be the 'Hiro' Juni met yesterday for the mission to move forward. They were chosen for a reason and Juni was very clear in his initial contact as to what that reason was.
At the present time, the guests were in the study, enjoying some cocktails along with conversation. They took turns approaching the newcomers not to overwelm them. They enjoyed watching Sai quickly and masterfully sketching conversations across the room, glasses on the mantle, the sunset through the window and much more.
When they were finaly left to themselves for a few minutes, Hinata stepped in front of Naruto. He brings his eyes down to hers. She puts her arms around his neck and pulls him down to her as she rises to her toes to attach to his lips.
After a few seconds, he pulls away slightly, "Hime...?" He can't watch the room this way.
"This is what drew him to us." She brings one hand and slides it down his chest, seductively and leans her body into his. "We need to keep his attention."
His palm rests at her jaw, his long fingers running under her ear and ending at the nape of her neck.
"I don't think I can, Hime. I can't help them look at you like a piece of meat."
Hinata pulls away from him just enough so their bodies are no longer touching. "You said you wanted them to know who would be undressing me." She takes her hand off of his chest and brings it to her own. She runs her thumb down the edge of the material covering her breast as her fingers barely graze over the bare flesh of her cleavage. "Let them know, Naruto-kun." She says his name lower than a whisper but knows he heard her loud and clear. He looks down at her parted lips then wraps his other arm around her resting his hand low on her back, where her skin meets the material covering her luscious ass.
He pulls her face towards his and connects his mouth to hers. She groans around his tongue.
Sai and Ino are across the room. Hinata's back is towards them. Their view is in the sketchbook in front of him.
Emi, the hotel front desk attendant, looks down to the sketch and releases a small gasp. "What a superb depiction. It carries as much eroticism as the live subjects. May I purchase it?"
"I've been commissioned by Juni. I'm sorry to say but these are his property."
"Aww..." She pouts. "Oh, Juni. Juni." Their host walks over.
"I was just asking this young man about purchasing this piece of artwork but he's informed me that you're the rightful owner."
"I have hired Sai for tonight but if you have an interest in anything he's created you may purchase it directly from him. Anything not purchased I will take ownership of."
"That is very generous of you, sir." Sai responds.
"Please, I've told you already. It's Juni. I appreciate your fine work and know how difficult it is for artists to make a profit."
Sai looks to the woman and says, "The sketch is yours."
"Emi claps her hands with glee."
The entertainer from Hono Theater, Niko, approaches. He raises an eyebrow at the sketch and questions, "Juni, what do you suppose the chances are that the couple would pose for something a little more...risque? Of course, I would pay them along with Sai."
Ino cocks a brow. Normally she would be the one fully advocating for the request but the seriousness of the mission makes her wonder.
Juno replies, "I couldn't say. It couldn't hurt to ask."
"Dinner is ready, sir."
"Ah, wonderful. He looks to Niko. We can discuss this over dinner. Everyone, let's move to the dining room. Dinner is being served."
As Hinata expected, she is seated across from Naruto with Sai on one side of her and Ino across from him. In between bites, Naruto's eyes are on Hinata drinking in every drop of her beauty.
"So, Hiro." Niko places his chopsticks down, props his elbows on the table and laces his fingers together. Naruto looks over to the man who is flanking Hinata. "I was wondering, since we are lucky enough to have such a talent as Sai with us tonight, if you would be interested in posing with Hina to be sketched?" He reaches into his yukata and pulls out a large roll of money. "I can pay you, handsomely."
Ino gets his attention, inwardly. 'Naruto, remember. You're a young couple, traveling. You have no home to go back to. That offer would most likely be jumped on by a couple in your position.'
Naruto gets what she's saying. He looks at the money as to show interest. "That sounds like a possibility." He gives the man an innocent smile.
"Well, Hiro." Juni interrupts, "To be perfecty clear, Niko is interested in something more erotic than a normal portrait."
Naruto's grip tighten around his chopsticks. "What, exactly, are you thinking?"
"An inside look of a night of passion between the two of you."
Naruto puts his utensils down before he snaps them and sits back in his chair. "I hope we're still talking about a portrait." He looks from Niko to Juni and back to the former.
Niko responds, "For starters."
Naruto repeats his words, "For starters." He looks down at the bank roll.
"That...would be for the artwork." Niko states referring to the money. "Anything beyond that would add further compensation."
Naruto slams his hands on the table, rattling the dishes, and rises. His anger making his already towering stature seem even larger.
He growls out, "NO ONE IS LAYING A FINGER ON HER!" His deep voice vibrating through each of the diners.
Juni smiles and looks at the entertainer, "Did I not tell you of the passion in this young man?"
Niko raises his hands to show submission. "My apologies, Hiro. I did not mean to suggest what
I believe is fueling your anger. Please, forgive my miscommunication." He bows his head.
Naruto's chest is heaving.
"Hiro-kun..." Her voice brings him back from his rage. He looks to his lover and the angry lines in his face soften. His eyes don't leave her as he descends back to his chair.
Akira, a restaurant owner, claps her hands giddy at the silent exchange between the couple. "Oh, my! What a wonderful interaction! The power of a beauty to ease the fury of her beast of a man! Truly wonderous..."
Ino looks around the table and can see the arousal of it's occupants.
Niko tries to clear up the confusion. "Hiro, we here all have great respect for the bond of love. We would never try to interfere, tempt or destroy something so pure. We revere such a union and believe that something truly magical will happen when the perfect pair come together. With that said, we would like to partake but only by being an audience to the coupling of your passion."
Ino speaks up and states, matter-of-factly, "So, you guys are voyeurs."
The konbini manager, Kei answers, "Such a tainted word but yes. And if I may say so myself, the only downside of Sana capturing the event is that we won't have the pleasure of enjoying the two of you at the same time, Raku."
"Well, Kei, by the looks of things," Ino looks to Naruto, "you may not be enjoying anyone."
Naruto's eyes are on Hinata and with Ino's assistance asks, 'What do we do?'
'Naruto...ask to be excused to discuss things with me.'
He calmly rises from his chair and looks to Juni. "Will you excuse us? I'd like to speak with Hina for a few."
"Of course. Go back into the study for some privacy. Take your time."
Naruto circles the table and puts his hand out to Hinata. Looking up into his eyes, she slides her hand into his, rises and they leave the room.
Once back in the study, she wraps her arms around Naruto's waist and presses her forehead up against his chest. Using his body for cover, she activates her Byakugan and surveys the area.
She deactivates it and looks up to Naruto. "There isn't anyone around and no cameras or recording devices set up anywhere in the house."
They begin their private conversation, with Ino and Sai involved as well.
'Naruto-kun, if these people are who we think they are, they tempted those young, traveling couples who probably saw this as an easy way to make a very substantial amount of money.'
'I have to agree, Hinata.' Ino responds.
Sai asks, 'But what would be the motive for killing the couples?'
Naruto responds, 'That's what I'm saying. I mean let's say they were propositioned in a similar way, I don't think they were killed for refusing? When I had my outburst, I didn't feel any negative emotions from them. I don't even think they would've stopped us if we decided to leave at that moment.'
Hinata adds, 'I know what you mean, Naruto-kun. The comments they've made seem to almost worship love and passion. Their veneration seems almost ritualistic. Did the couples accept and something more deviant was pushed upon them? Their praise is very hard to read.'
The four stay quiet for a moment, deliberating.
Ino breaks the silence, 'So, the question is, how far are you guys willing to take this?'
'I don't know...if I can...ya know?' He says shyly.
'We block them out, Naruto-kun...think about Kusuburi. We weren't even together then.'
He still blushes at their actions. Ino giggles.
'Stuff it, Ino.' Naruto embarrassingly responds.
'The question remains, Naruto...will you be stuffing it?' She snorts out a laugh.
Hinata rolls her eyes as she tightens her hold on him.
'Hime...are you okay with this?'
'I've told you, already. I have no shame when showing my love for you.'
'Let's go back.' He kisses her on the forehead.
'Okay, Naruto-kun.'
They return to the dining room. He walks her to her seat then goes back to his own. The light conversations they return to continue as they settle back in.
He hasn't made eye contact with anyone yet. He reaches for his glass to take a drink. As he lifts it to his mouth, Naruto looks across the table and focuses in on Hinata placing her glass on the table, licking the remnants of the sip she just took off of her fading blood red lips. He tilts his head back to finish off what was in his glass then returns it to the table and returns his gaze to her mouth. Hinata knows he's watching her. She lifts her chin slightly and parts her lips. As she collects part of her bottom lip between her teeth, her hand goes across her body pulling her opposite elbow close to her body causing her
breasts to close in on each other and her cleavage to deepen. She sensually runs her hand up and down along her upper arm as if rubbing away a chill, causing the moving forearm to massage her breasts. Naruto licks his own lips, returns his eyes to Hinata's and grins realizing what she was purposefully doing to him.
He leans forward and props his elbows on the table clasping his hands together. He rests his chin on his thumbs as his intermingled fingers cover his mouth. His gaze never leaving the mouthwatering view in front of him. She smiles seeing the poor job his hands are doing hiding his smirk and he knows it. His eyes finally leave her and move to the man beside her. He drops his hands and leans back.
Niko is staring back at him with a grin of his own.
Under the table, Naruto bumps his knee up against Ino and privately says, 'Make sure you stay out of my head.' She smiles behind her glass.
"So...I hope no one here has an early morning."