Chapter 5
After getting the materials from Naruto's locker, he and Hinata went straight for the parking lot where Kō was already waiting. They placed the materials in the car's and trunk and once they were all set, Kō drove them to the Hyuuga estate which was north from the school. The school of course was near the center of the town but as they headed for Hinata's place, the houses in view became a lot fewer until there were only large trees surrounding the road.
"I've never been to this area of the town before." Naruto said as he watched the scenery through the car's window. It looked peaceful in some way and yet also a bit scary. He wouldn't even dare walk this road during the night.
"Oh, I suppose you haven't. This area is owned by our family." Hinata informed.
"OWNED BY YOUR FAMILY?" Naruto looked at her in shock. "But this area is so big."
"From that last house we saw a minute ago until our main estate and a little bit beyond that, it's owned by the Hyuuga clan."
"Wow. I didn't know the Hyuuga were this rich to own such a large piece of land."
"It's been passed from generations to generations since the last century. Land was a lot cheaper back then. And besides, it's not only my family who lives here. There are more than 20 households in the whole estate. We're all related to each other."
"I see. Oh look there's a house." Naruto pointed at the left side of the road where a two story wooden house with a white fence stood. "I never thought your clan really lived together. There really is no kidding when you say 'clan'. It's like living in the old days."
"I suppose."
The entire ride from the school took them nearly ten minutes before they were greeted by a 15-foot steel gate. Naruto could only conclude that this was where Hinata lived. From behind the gate was an old style Japanese house that probably had a floor area of their entire school. From his view he could even see a garden, a very beautiful one at that and it even had a small pond and a bridge over it. Almost everything looked so traditional. He made a mental note to ask Hinata later if he could walk around the garden.
Soon enough the gate was opened for them and Kō dropped them off at the front entrance of the main house where a young woman was waiting for them. Naruto didn't even have to ask to know she was a Hyuuga because of her pale eyes. She had short dark hair with a slight green tint and she wore a black kimono and a white maid's apron.
"Good afternoon Lady Hinata." she greeted her with a small bow then she turned to Naruto with a smile. "And you must be Naruto, my lady's project partner. My name is Natsu. I'll be accompanying you to the study room where you can work on your project."
"Uhm, hi." Naruto responded, lost for words due to his shock. It wasn't every day one visit's a millionaire's or even possibly a billionaire's household and be greeted by a maid, which he assumed her to be due to her clothing.
'Hinata really lives here? My classmate that I barely even talk to. The girl that Kiba likes. She lives in this place?' Naruto's mind was filled with those thoughts and suddenly he felt so out of place. Hinata wasn't even her friend and he was invited to step foot in her house.
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata called him.
"Huh?" he looked at Hinata confused.
"We should get our things from the car's trunk."
"Oh that. Yeah, let's get them."
Kō helped them take out the materials from the trunk, especially the two 2 by 3 feet wooden boards that Naruto brought with him. It was a wonder how it fit in there and even in the locker at school. Natsu then led them inside the house and to the study room. The house was very traditional with its tatami mats, bonzais and ikebana decorations. The only reminders that they were living in the modern times were the TV, sound system and the AC
To the right of the living room was a hallway where Natsu led them into. It was open aired and one could appreciate the view of the garden and this made Naruto wonder what they do to protect the house when there were storms.
Natsu stopped at the second room which was the study room she mentioned and opened for them the sliding door. There was a low table in the middle and around 5 floor pillows were placed on a shelf on one side of the room. It also contained a decent number of books and a few office equipments such as pens, scissors, stapler, glue, etc. There was also a small sound system, probably used to play relaxing music when one wants to focus on studying or doing other things.
The flooring unlike in the living room did not have tatami but rather only wooden planks that appeared very well kept as they shone off the light from the ceiling above. The room was air conditioned too and Naruto couldn't expect any less. The Hyuuga had money to spare after all.
Naruto and Hinata placed their materials on the table while Natsu got two floor pillows for them to sit on.
"Would you like some snack and refreshments Lady Hinata?" Natsu asked.
"Yes Natsu. That would be appreciated." she replied then looked at Naruto. "Uhm, Naruto-kun. Do you have any preferences for drinks?"
"Oh that. Cold water would be fine but if you happen to have orange juice..." Naruto said, scratching his head shyly.
"Orange juice it is." Natsu then said and then she informed Hinata she would come back in a few minutes for them.
"So, should we start now?" Naruto asked excitedly. Ever since he thought about that ramen sign he couldn't wait to make the project. At first the electronic circuit that he couldn't understand made it seem like a chore to him but seeing that Hinata has already done the design, it made him a bit more enthusiastic about it.
"Of course. Although if it's okay..." Hinata once again began to ask Naruto in a shy manner. Even if she has met with him for the fourth time since the project was announced, her confidence was always fluctuating and a probable reason was that Naruto was here inside her home. The boy of her dreams was here alone with her. That thought alone made her face go red and it wasn't left unnoticed by Naruto who was looking at her curiously after she stopped talking.
"Hinata, is everything okay?"
"Huh? Ye-yes. I just wanna ask if it's okay if I change into more comfortable clothing. I know it's rude to leave a guest behind but..." she said as she twirled her forefingers around each other but Naruto cut her off before she could fully explain.
"It's okay Hinata." Naruto assured her. "I'll prep up the board and the materials while you change and we can start as soon as you ."
"A-are you sure it's okay if I leave you for a while?"
"Yeah Hinata, I'll be fine. Believe it." Naruto gave her a thumbs up with a very bright smile which made Hinata's heart flutter a bit. How she loved seeing that smile from Naruto. She excused herself and promised to be back soon.
Naruto on the other hand did as he said and laid out the board they were gonna place the circuit on. He brought out 2 pencils, a straight ruler and a measuring tape. Once he was done with those, the full realization that he was alone hit him. He scanned the room for details, not having much to do until Hinata comes back cause she was the one who knows more about the design.
After two minutes though he heard the door slide open and was utterly surprised by what he saw. Hinata was there but he almost had to take a second look because somehow she didn't look like Hinata.
Her face, eyes and long black-blue hair was the same but instead of her usual jacket covering up top, she was wearing a navy blue t-shirt that hugged the shape of her chest and trunk and dark blue pants that were just below her knees. And because of that Naruto couldn't help his eyes from shifting to her chest were her very gifted breasts were well outlined.
'They really are big, just like when I touched them. And damn, who would have thought she had an hourglass figure behind that jacket?' Naruto thought for a second before catching himself thinking such a perverted thing of Hinata. He quickly averted his gaze from her chest and waist and back to her face which was looking very nervous and tinting red.
"Hi-hinata, you're back." Naruto said nervously, afraid that Hinata might have caught him checking her out. And to think of it, that was probably the first time he looked at Hinata that way. But how could he help himself when it was rare to see Hinata dressed like that.
"I hope I didn't take too long." she said as she made her way inside. Naruto was sitting on one side of the table while the other floor cushion for her was on the other. She was about to sit down when Naruto suddenly asked a question from her.
"Hey I was thinking, maybe we should sit together." he suggested.
"Si-sit together?" Hinata repeated in surprise and shyness. Naruto wants to sit with her? For real?
"I mean, we're gonna draw the outline of the circuit first right? So if I sit on the other side of the table it would be hard for me to draw 'cause I would be looking at it upside down."
"I suppose so." Hinata replied without really telling Naruto she was okay with it but Naruto smiled at her and stood up, picking up his pillow and making his way around the table to sit on the right side of Hinata before she could even speak.
"There. Much better." Naruto didn't notice the effect this had on his partner. Hinata's chest was pounding like crazy. Naruto was only a few inches away from her, much closer than when they were seated together in the car ride.
"We sh-should start then." Hinata suggested. It was probably best if she focused on the task at hand in order to not be affected this much by Naruto.
"Just tell me what to do."
And so the two finally began the project. Hinata brought out the layout the she drew on a piece of bond paper detailed with the measurements and angles. Hinata was the first to draw the layout on the board while Naruto watched, not much confident in his skills. Sure he could draw some pretty decent doodles and even anime characters when he was bored at school but when it came to measurements and straight lines, it was just a little bit more difficult for him.
And while they were doing the project, it wasn't only Hinata that was feeling uneasy being so close to her crush. Naruto's gaze would sometimes linger for much longer at Hinata. Even he didn't know why he had urges to look at her even though the project was right in front of them and Hinata was at his side.
Sometimes too Hinata's right hand would brush against his left hand, creating awkward moments for the two of them. Naruto tried his best to ignore it though because this was Hinata and he shouldn't be feeling awkward and maybe a bit nervous around her.
If he did he could only blame it on that incident yesterday and further intensified by Hinata wearing such a snug t-shirt right now. He could see them if he looked sideways and damn did they look...
'No, no, no.' Naruto stopped himself mentally and looked away. 'You're being a pervert to Hinata. What if she catches you?' he told himself.
He was already sixteen and of course he had his hormones going every so often. He wasn't innocent about the sexual things and honestly, just like most teens he's fantasized about girls naked before, most especially Sakura.
But Hinata? That was like way off limits. Kiba would fucking kill him if he knew he was having thoughts about her that way. And Hinata was such an innocent angel. Yes, if he were to describe the girl, an angel would probably fit her.
His musing was interrupted when he heard two knocks on the door, a voice calling out to Hinata and it sliding open as Natsu appeared with a tray in hand. On top of it were chocolate bread rolls and two glasses of orange juice.
"Excuse me. Here are the snacks and refreshments." Natsu announced as she made her way towards the side of the table that was free of materials and placed the tray on it. It was nearer to Naruto's side.
"Thank you Natsu." said Hinata, with Naruto also saying it although a bit softer.
"If you need anything Lady Hinata, just call for me." she bowed lightly and then took her leave.
"Do they really always bow like that and call you Lady Hinata?" Naruto asked with a curious expression.
"Yes. Although I've told her and the others in the house that they can just call me by my name and not to bow but they insist. It's just been that way ever since I remember." Hinata explained shyly, worrying about what Naruto might think of her. She didn't want to look like a pampered child.
"For real? You're just like a princess." Naruto said and it was just as Hinata feared.
Hinata sat still in her seat, not knowing what to respond to that. Honestly, she didn't like it too much how she's being treated at home and even when going out. Her father was just too overprotective of her and treats her, well almost like just what Naruto said. Both for her and her little sister.
Perhaps it showed how he cares for them even if he had little time at home. Despite the perks of being a child from the Main Hyuuga house, it also comes with her father being utterly strict to the point of Hinata not having much freedom and being forced to always excel at everything and not doing so meant consequences. This was why she had to do the project at home where she could be watched and that her father told her to be quick with the project as possible.
She didn't want to finish it soon though because this was her time to be with Naruto. She didn't even have an idea what might happen once they're finished with the project. She thought that Naruto would probably go back to not noticing her and she would be too shy to approach him.
"Hey, you wanna take a break and eat?" she heard Naruto ask him.
"I suppose we could eat for a bit." Hinata laid down her pencil and then tried to reach for the chocolate bread but it proved too far for her reach. To her surprise Naruto took a piece of it and handed it for her.
"Thank you." she said softly as she took the bread. Naruto then placed the glass of juice in front of her.
"No problem." said Naruto with a smile then also took a bite out of his own bread. After finishing half of the bread, he asked a random question to Hinata. "Hinata, have you ever thought about how this is the first time we've worked as a pair since like... well I don't even remember if we ever have been paired before."
"Uhm yes, I've thought about it too. This is the first time I've been paired up with you." Hinata answered, not even needing a few seconds to think because she knew that this was the first time. That was why she was both so excited and nervous when their names were called by Mr. Sarutob i
"Right? Actually, I don't really recall talking much with you at school too. Kiba loves talking about you a lot though." Naruto finally said. After trying to figure out when to input the subject of his best friend, he was finally able to. It wasn't the best and he bet that Kiba might not even approve about him telling Hinata that but how else could he do it? Kiba didn't really give examples. "And speaking of Kiba, he actually had me bring something for you."
"Kiba-kun?"
"Just wait for a bit while I get it." Naruto then took the plastic bag near him and out he took the four bread rolls he bought from the store and laid it on the table. "Kiba told me to give this to you."
It was a lie though. Kiba wasn't the one who asked Naruto to give them to Hinata but rather it was Naruto who thought about giving something for her when he was at the store to buy the anmitsus. If Kiba was gonna give Sakura the anmitsus in his place, he supposed it was only fair if he did the same for his friend.
Hinata saw the bread rolls and read the label. Cinammon rolls. Her favorite bread.
"Here." Naruto handed them to her and she had no choice but to accept. First because it would be rude to decline it and second, they were cinnamon rolls. How could she refuse?
"Do you like cinnamon rolls? Naruto curiously asked. It was only now he realized they were cinnamon rolls that he bought and he was hoping Hinata was okay with them. After all, not all people are fan of cinnamon.
"Yes. They're my favorite bread." she replied eagerly.
"Really?" Naruto was relieved to hear that. Talk about coincidence. Kiba would love to know this. And speaking of Kiba. "As I was saying, Kiba loves talking about you."
"He does?"
"You don't have to act all innocent Hinata. Of course Kiba loves talking about you. I'm sure you must already know that he likes you a lot." Naruto said as nothing was more obvious.
"I... I know. He's told me that before. I didn't want to believe him though."
"You don't believe him?" Naruto was surprised to hear that. He may not be always at Kiba's side when the brunet tries asking her out or even when initiating conversations but he knows that Kiba has always been direct with his intentions. He also didn't believe Kiba would lie about whenever he would tell Naruto on his failed attempts of asking Hinata out. "But it's true Hinata. Kiba does like you. Why else would he ask you out?"
Hinata sat before him speechless. She definitely didn't expect that she would be having a conversation like this, and especially when it's her crush reminding her of it. She felt so embarrassed that she couldn't look him in the eye but it wasn't only because Naruto was talking about an admirer of her, it was more of how Naruto talked about it so casually. How he was much okay with the fact that Kiba likes her and wants to go out with her and he was even reminding her of that. It crushed her heart and it only made it known to her that Naruto would never feel about her the same way she does for him.
"Hinata? Hey, you okay?" Naruto asked with worry when Hinata didn't respond.
"Huh?" Hinata turned up to look at Naruto. "Yeah, I'm fi-fine."
"Uhm, did I make you feel uncomfortable? I'm sorry if I sounded intrusive. Sometimes I say things without thinking. I didn't expect you'd be so shy talking about Kiba." the blond said, thinking the exact opposite of why Hinata reacted that way.
"No, it's fine." she shrugged off. Naruto was thinking about adding more excuses but decided not to.
After that awkward conversation, he mentally slapped himself. He should have known Hinata would react like that in such as sensitive topic. It wasn't like he's been friends with her for a long time to just talk about it, heck he didn't even know if they were friends already or just 'friendly project partners'. He wasn't in the right position to tease her about Kiba.
And so he decided to keep quiet for a while, not knowing what to say after that. He finished eating his share of bread and drank his juice and after just a minute he went back to work. He focused on cutting up the wirings to the specified lengths Hinata has given her as it was proven earlier that he was not that good at drawing up the circuit. Hinata also finished eating soon and she continued to take care of drawing on the board the design of the 'ramen sign' and marking the places where they will place the sockets and switches.
Silence was kept between the two. Naruto was too reluctant to begin conversation again in fear of making his partner uncomfortable. Hinata's reaction earlier was unusual. When he asked her if she was okay, she replied that she was fine but even Naruto could see that she wasn't. This kept Naruto thinking about what he could have done or said wrong. He only reminded her about Kiba's feelings for her and that wasn't in any way offensive, right?
Then he remembered about something Kiba wanted to know. Was there anyone that Hinata likes?
He most likely have let the opportunity to ask it slip by. They still have time though and a few more meet ups before they finish the project. He supposed Kiba can wait. It made him think about what could be happening with Kiba and Sakura right then. Was he able to give her the anmitsus? Does she even like anmitsus as Kiba believes? Did she take them? Would that up his chances with her even if for a bit when she knows it was him who sent for those anmitsus?
He gave out a sigh. He probably shouldn't think much about it and rather focus on their project. After all he still had other homeworks to do and stuff to study once he gets home. He took another measurement on the wire and was about to cut it when he heard three knocks on the door and a voice of a girl on the other side calling out Hinata's name before sliding the door open.
"Onee-sama."
A young girl who looked around 12 years old stood on the door, bearing a striking resemblance to Hinata aside from her long dark brown hair tied at the ends with two pink ribbons in front. Naruto also immediately noticed the light orange color of her shirt since it was his favorite color.
"Wow! It's really you!" the young girl said with excitement. "Naruto."
"Hanabi!" Hinata gasped out in surprise at her little sister's mention of Naruto's name while the owner of the name stood in wonder at how this kid knows him.
A/N: I had to cut there. The chapter was getting longer than I planned. Well at least we can wonder why Hanabi knows who Naruto is and what else she's going to say. Does she know about Hinata's crush on Naruto and will this slip up reveal to Naruto about Hinata's feelings for her?
We'll see in the next chapter.
Thank you for those who left reviews. I've read suggestions as to the pairings. It appears that SasuKarin is okay with the readers who left reviews and someone even wants a KibaSaku. I'll think about those thoroughly. I lean on going with the SasuKarin but still finding a way to make it work. As for Kiba, it's still too early.
So, feel free to leave a review and/or suggestions. They'll help me a lot in writing this story. Also, belated greetings to Sasuke. It was his birthday two days ago. I forgot about it though because if I remembered about it a week before, I would definitely have written a birthday fic for him.