Manga/Animé: Naruto de Masashi Kishimoto/Studio Pierrot
Words: 1 882
Published: 03/19/2020
Summary: It's time for Hinata to fall in love.
Author's note: This short story has been inspired by shamyliciouss fanart

Flashback

Oh god, did she really say these words? At Naruto's raised eyebrow, the answer was yes. Was she in her right mind? No time to think nor to panic since he drove his saber out of its scabbard. Instinctively, Hinata backed off but stopped when he gave her the hilt.

"Let's see what you can do." He said, never letting her go of his sight. "If you can scratch me, I'll bring you back to Kumo tomorrow. Pretty equitable, isn't it?"

"Y-You don't have a weapon..."

"No need." He waved "I'm sure you won't touch me."

Despite his shining eyes, he was serious which sent shivers down Hinata's spine. Spread Naruto's blood. What a joke. Even if he was drunk, she wouldn't be able to touch him. However, she demanded to be heard and if for that, she had to express herself as a pirate then so be it.

Looking down at the weapon, she concentrated herself to not tremble and extended her hand. A new shiver shock her when her fingers brushed against his for half a second, letting her know that his skin was pleasantly warm. She felt his gaze burning her but she only looked at him when he let go and when she bent down because of the saber's weight. This time, she was sure, she saw the beginning of an amused smile on his lips. Pursing hers, she lifted the weapon and her arms were so tensed that she had the feeling her muscles would snap at any moment.

"You should spread your legs, you'll have more balance and more strength in your arms." Naruto advised her. "Come on, do what I told you." He added at Hinata's questionable look.

Slowly, she put one foot in front of the other and, indeed, she felt much more comfortable with the saber in hand. Suddenly, Naruto undid his belt and took off his coat which he throw to the side before folding up the sleeves of his white shirt, four buttons of which were open. Hinata found herself staring but she blinked to clear her mind.

When he came back in front of her, she tightened her hands around the hilt and rushed forwards him. She took time to be used to the idea of having a lethal weapon in her hands but, once she was closed to him, she attacked him with the blade. He easily dodged it but she didn't give up and did it again. In contrary at what she thought, Naruto didn't care to comment and kept his mouth closed whereas Hinata's was half-opened since she was out of breath.

The saber, the wind in her back and her heavy clothes on didn't help her move like she wished to. That's why he took off his coat. She was completely disadvantaged since at each rotations she made, sand fell on each and every part of her body, slowing her even more.

Suddenly, an idea came to mind. Attacking him once more with her blade, she made Naruto shift and, taking support on her foot, Hinata kicked a small sand dune. The gains flew towards her opponent who was windward. Surprised by that attack since he was only watching her hands around the saber, he didn't had time to protect himself.

Forced to close his eyes, Naruto swore and Hinata, seeing him perturbed, tried her attack with the sword again. But, against all odds, she felt her body lose balance and a gasp left her lips. Her wrist was captured but it changed nothing and she heavily crashed on the ground, her head banged against the sand. Seeing stars, she released a groan of pain but a nice noise had her open her eyes.

Was she hallucinating? Not believing her ears, Hinata turned her head. Laying next to her, a hand on his stomach and the other rubbing his eyes, Naruto was laughing.

Did her eyes were playing tricks because of the bang of her head? Not at all. His face split by his grin made him less severe, more childish. He was so handsome that her heart shoke. Or maybe her body was shaking and her gusts were knotted like that because of the adrenaline. The melody was so deep and pure that her cheeks overheated. Or maybe it was because of the hot and humid climate of the tropical island.

"Oh boy..." he sighed to calm himself down. "P-Pretty good kick!" He exclaimed. "Itches closer and I was completely blind. Thankfully, you lost control but I liked the risk-taking, I really wasn't expected that."

"You tried to help me" was all that came to her mind.

His head then faced hers, his blond hair followed the movement, and his bright eyes met hers. Speechless before them, Hinata believed she was back under water, forced to let herself be guide as the currents were strong. She never paid attention before but the colour of Naruto's pupils could challenged the ocean.

"I suppose it's thanks to these low blows and your throwing knives you survived at Kumo." he said out of the blue.

"I never held a weapon before coming here-"

"You're wrong." he replied. "You held one every day, you just hadn't have the mind it takes to see it as a weapon. That's something..." he added as he frowned.

He didn't finish his sentence and she didn't had time to ask him what he meant since he was already back on his feet. She wanted to do the same but the world around her started to spin. Once more, her wrist was caught and she found herself standing on her legs, a bottle of rum in her hands.

"It'll make the headache go away." he advised her as he put back his clothes on.

Without knowing why, Hinata was conscious that before her, Naruto had his lips on the neck of the bottle and this made her legs feel like jelly. No it was just the knock on her head.

"Right, see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Hinata repeated taken aback

"Well yeah, you royally missed me today." He playfully said as he glance at her one last time.

Speechless, Hinata let him go then, remembering she still had the bottle in hand, she shyly brought it to her lips. The smell was strong but not as strong as the taste which burnt her throat. She coughed a few times but, at the pleasurable sensation in her stomach, she tasted again. As the mouthful progresses, she found herself enjoying it.

The following mornings looked like the first one. She would always find Naruto at the same spot, would try to hurt him but would always finish on the ground. The only difference was that, since he got a fit of the giggles, he was more relax with her, less withdrawn. This helped Hinata gained confidence in herself and the more she looked at him staring at the horizon while eating a fruit with her at his side in the sand, the more she found him fascinating, less frightening.

The rest of the day, she would go back on her tasks all the while wondering why this sudden change of behaviour? She didn't know. Just like she didn't know why she had kept Naruto laugh a secret. Just like she didn't know why the crew and her would see him more often out of his cabin. Just like she didn't know why he would always sit next to her during diner. Just like she didn't know why their duals became lessons. Just like she didn't know why but everytime he was near her, she felt more and more strange.

Surely she felt more comfortable with herself because she was improving and giving him a hard time during their sessions to the point that one day, he bought two sabers. One for her and one for him.

That day, a real change worked on them when they took off their coats and their belts before standing face to face, stable on their feet. No words were exchanged since only the clash of the two blades was enough noise. From time to time, Hinata tried to throw a knife - which her control had improved - or a kick but Naruto always stopped her, catching her wrist or her thigh.

It was always at these moments that she would lose her focus and end up on the ground. Despite that, she would do it every day, waiting for - like the rum - her skin to get used to the burn of his hand which in her dreams seemed to always explore the rest of her body.

"Focus Hinata."

Too late. He had already kicked in her support leg and, tired, Hinata ended up on the ground. Shivering of fatigue, she didn't move to be able to catch her breath and to get rid of the black spots dancing before her eyes. She then heard Naruto approaching her to take her saber and to stick it a little further with his before coming back towards her to squat.

"What's got into you? You're in your own little world."

"I can't do any more." she pretended

"So you give up?"

Hidden behind her long dishevelled hair, she bit her lip and pushed him to make him fall on his butt too. Oddly, he said nothing and kept looking at her.

Following his silence, she said "You never asked me why I wanted so badly to go back home so what's the meaning of all of this, eh?"

"We're the only two survivors..." he said under his breath. "So..."

On the corner of her eye, she saw him quickly turn his head, falling into his quiet contemplation of the horizon. This picture squeezed her heart. Hinata then stood up, took off her boots then lowed her trousers and let it drop on the sand. In her underwear and light shirt, she was less hot.

"You shouldn't go." he mumbled.

"I'm not afraid. Right, see you later."

After she gave him a meaningful look, she went towards the sea, the warm sand stinging the sole of her feet. The contrast with the fresh water made her shiver but she kept going, it strong wet caresses washing the sensation of his hand on her and of her frustration. She sprayed her body, cooling down the burning fire within her.

Seeing nothing but the sea relaxed her, a smile drew on her lips and, when she was ready to have well deserved bath, a hand wrapped itself around her wrist. Her solitary bath had been shorten. Now towards him, salted drops ran all down her face and the choppy water made the hem of her shirt stick on her tights as the waves around them calm down everytime they collided with him.

"See, nothing to fear."

Naruto's hands caressed her thin arms making her silence. Unsure to understand everything they were feeling, they stared at each other motionless in the water now calm. But, they were so close that she just had to take his cheek in her hand and to tiptoe to kiss him with passion. Already overwhelmed with emotions, Hinata nearly fainted when Naruto hold her against him and kissed her back with fervour before carrying her to his cabin.

I hope you and your close relation are safe during this rather trouble period