Happy New Years! Welcome to another chapter!
Let me start by saying thank you for all the support I've received for this story. I have surprised myself in continuing to write more scenes for this story. So I guess this will turn into a series of sorts. I got no overarching theme or plot so I don't know how far or how long I keep writing for this but I hope you enjoy this journey with me.
Now onto the story!
Books upon books upon books filled Hanabi's vision. It certainly was the last thing she expected to see when she walked into Naruto's apartment. Hanabi gracefully weaved through the piles of books. She entered Naruto's bedroom to see him and a bunch of clones scattered throughout the room pouring over books. They all wore deep scowls as many of them were taking notes as well. Hanabi put the stack of takoyaki boxes that she was carrying in an open spot on the floor. One of the Narutos said nothing as he waved Hanabi over. Hanabi took a seat on the cushion next to Naruto and silently pulled out her homework and methodically began to pour over her own work.
A few clones puffed into existence and departed the room only to return with a warm pot of tea and a platter of pastries. Hanabi eyed the homemade-looking pastries before she reached out and took one. Her eyes squeezed shut as a small hum of delight escaped her. In a blink of the eye, the entire platter was gone. Naruto's eyes briefly left his book to see Hanabi sipping her tea with a few crumbs on her face. With a roll of his eyes, Naruto returned to his reading. A content sigh escaped Hanabi as she returned to her homework.
So, they sat in silence. Only the sound of pencil scratches, the turning of the page, or the sloosh of a brush full of ink broke the silence. Hanabi closed her book with a snap as she leaned onto the back of one of the clones and stretched.
"Done with all your homework, Hanabi-chan?" the Naruto sitting next to her asked.
"Mmhmm, nothing hard, just really tedious stuff" Hanabi began to eye some of the book titles. "What's with all this? You're turning your home into a library?" Hanabi reached down and picked up a book about herbs.
Naruto chuckled, "No I don't think I could ever do that. I'm just trying to expand my knowledge as much as I can. Hopefully finding a few things I really enjoy learning about so I can specialize in that. Maybe I could just become a jack of all trades?"
"Why not ask your sensei? Surely, he'll have some suggestions." Hanabi picked up another book, this one about disguises.
"I did, or at least I tried. You know what he said," Naruto said scowling, "'Naruto, you need to focus on improving your taijutsu and your chakra control.' Then he just left. No pointers, no tips, no direction, no fucking help. He probably expected me to run through my katas in the middle of the field until I quit or practice my tree walking." Naruto slammed his book on the table causing Hanabi to jump. A wince crossed Naruto's face before he closed his eyes and took deep breaths. "I'm sorry Hanabi-chan. I… I… I just wanted to become better. Not just to become Hokage, and you better believe that I will!" Naruto said grinning, drawing an eye roll and a smile from Hanabi. "But I also wanted to make sure that I was still a good teacher to you, to Konohamaru, to Moegi, and to Udon. I know you four look up to me and I couldn't, wouldn't forgive myself if I failed to teach something important simply because I overlooked it." Naruto's voice was soft and his eyes were blank as he said the last part.
"Naruto-nii," Hanabi said, drawing Naruto's attention, "we don't just look up to you because you teach us cool, interesting, and useful stuff. We look up to you because you're you. You care for each of us. You push us to improve at what we are weak in and good in. You taught us there is no such thing as good enough, that there is always better. You push us to do our best in everything, even if you were a poor model of it. Especially, if it revolves around schoolwork." Hanabi giggled at Naruto's mock outrage. "You're our inspiration to be the best we can be because you believe in us. We know you don't have all the answers, Naruto-nii, we're not expecting you to."
Naruto blinked. His eyes were watery as quickly pulled Hanabi into a hug. One that she quickly returned. The two held each other for a few minutes before separating.
"I believe in you brats. I believe in the fact that you're going to turn me into a soft marshmallow instead of a badass motherfucker," Naruto laughed as he ruffled Hanabi's hair.
"Oi!" Hanabi said before laughing. "You can't fool us, you're already a softie."
"No, I'm not," Naruto said, crossing his arms and putting on a cross look. That look cracked as Naruto smiled. "Okay maybe, but just for you four."
Hanabi shoved Naruto a little as she smiled. Naruto smiled as he clapped his hands. The clones that filled the room stood up and began to move the pile of books onto a bunch of scrolls. Columns of chakra smoke filled the apartment as the tower of books disappeared leaving a somewhat neat pile of scrolls. Naruto grabbed his head as his clone memories washed over him. Hanabi looked up at Naruto with concerned eyes.
Naruto was quick to wave it off. "Just a little headache from info overload. I'll be fine in a second." Hanabi nodded before she focused on the large pile of scrolls. "Taught myself how to make sealing scrolls," Naruto said, catching Hanabi's attention. "It took a little practice, but I managed to get it down. I teach it to you and the others another day." Naruto stood up and picked up the empty platter, cups, and teapot.
"Where did you get those pastries? Those were really good; I want to buy some more," Hanabi said as she stood up and rubbed her stomach.
"Oh, those? I made them myself," Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head.
"You made them yourself?" Hanabi said, nearly tripping over her own feet. "Since when have you learned to bake? I thought you were an incurable ramen addict!"
Naruto pouted at Hanabi's pointing finger.
"Yeah, so what if I am? I taught myself how to make those for you. Do you have any idea how many trays of black charcoal and oven fires I had to deal with?"
"That's 'cause you're an idiot." Hanabi scoffed before she gently punched Naruto on the arm. "You didn't have to go out of your way and teach yourself how to make pastries. I appreciate it."
"I'm happy you enjoyed it. I think the only time I'd seen you eat faster was with the takoyaki."
Hanabi's eyes began to sparkle as she jumped from spot to spot searching the room.
"Where's my takoyaki? Did you eat it all? You better not have or I'm going to kick you where the sun don't shine," Hanabi said slightly muffled as she stuck her head underneath Nartuo's bed..
"They're in the kitchen you damn firecracker. One of my clones sealed it up so it stayed warm. Get your head out from underneath my bed already."
"Why? Is it where you keep your porn stash? You pervert," Hanabi said before squirming underneath the bed more.
A clone took the tray of dishware from Naruto as he growled and marched over to his bed. Naruto reached down and grabbed Hanabi's ankle. She squeaked as he pulled her out and held her upside down. She glared as she tried to jab Naruto's leg, who simply dodged and began to walk towards the kitchen.
"Unhand me baka. This is in no way how you treat a lady." Hanabi said just missing Naruto's knee.
"It's a good thing you're no lady then huh, you gremlin," Naruto said with a cocky smirk.
"Why you pussy footed clam sniffing dog. Let me go so I can make you taste the sole of my foot after it went through your ass," Hanabi said flailing around.
Naruto simply laughed at Hanabi until he dropped her into a chair. With unimaginable grace, Hanabi managed to right herself so that she was sitting in the chair completely immaculate. Naruto snorted as a gleam filled her eyes as she stared at the scroll in the middle of the table.
Soon enough Hanabi was digging into the mountain boxed takoyaki. Naruto himself just rolled his eyes as he dug into his own box. A couple of bowls of stir-fried greens and rice were placed before the duo after they finished their respective box(es) of takoyaki.
Hanabi's nose scrunched up.
"Must we?" Hanabi stared at the food.
"Eat it, unless you want to stay a shrimp of course."
"You're one to talk, mister shorty." Hanabi reluctantly picked up the bowl of rice and began to eat the stir-fried greens.
"Yeah, and as you can see, I'm eating it now. Watch, eventually, I'll be towering over you cause you will always be short."
"I won't and I'll remember this Naruto-nii," Hanabi said as he stabbed her chopsticks in Naruto's direction.
"Sure thing… Shrimp."
Hanabi growled as Naruto burst out laughing. Laughter escaped from Hanabi a few moments later as she and Naruto enjoyed eating together.
000
Hinata stared at the plain door in front of her. Today was her day off. Normally, Hinata spent her breaks with Hanabi but her sister had disappeared somewhere. As she was wandering the town, Hinata ran into Sakura who was shopping with Ino on their own day off. Apparently, it was a rare weekend that the genin schedules lined up for some free time. A brilliant and scary idea crossed Hinata's mind.
That was how Hinata found herself standing outside Naruto's door. Hinata took a deep breath as she reached up and knocked on the door. A few moments of silence before Naruto's cheery voice calls from beyond the door. A wide grin crossed Hinata's face. She was going to do it, she was going to spend the day with her crush and finally, finally befriend him.
From what she knew of Naruto, Hinata didn't expect him to answer the door in an apron and be covered in flour.
"Hinata? It's great to see you again! Are you well? Did you need something?" Naruto's beaming smile caused Hinata to blush a little.
"H-h-hello, Naruto-kun," Hinata said softly, "I was… I wanted to—"
"Onee-chan!" Hanabi said, shoving Naruto out of the doorway. Hanabi ignored his cry of protest as she hugged Hinata.
"Hanabi-chan?" Hinata asked.
"What are you doing here onee-chan. Never mind, come on in. You can help us bake some cookies!" Hanabi said pulling Hinata inside the apartment.
"Wait, Hanabi-chan, hold on." Hinata's pleas fell on deaf ears as Hanabi dragged her through Naruto's apartment and into his kitchen. There Hinata saw three more kids around Hanabi's age.
"Hey Kono-kun, Moegi-chan, Udon-kun, my onee-chan is joining us!" Hanabi said causing a loud cheer to sound out. Hinata was warmly greeted by the academy students before being given an apron. Hinata took a moment to sit on a barstool. She listened to the soft music coming from the radio and the happy laughter from her sister. Hinata watched as the four friends covered in flour joke and teased each other. Hinata felt some tears well up as she watched her sister's smile.
"She doesn't get a lot of chances to be 'just a kid' does she, Hinata," Naruto said softly next to her.
Hinata's eyes filled with sorrow as she nodded, "Father would never allow for someone of the main branch to act so… immaturely."
"Well fuck him then, both for how he treats you and Hanabi." Naruto crossed his arms and huffed.
"You-you know about… that?" Hinata said looking up to Naruto with wide eyes.
"Hanabi-chan is quite vocal about how the 'bestest onee-chan' deserves all the love in the world while the rest of the clan needs a good kick to the nuts." Naruto chuckled at the end.
Hinata sighed and shook her head before she watched Hanabi who was licking the dough off a spatula with Moegi. Konohamaru and Udon were wiping the flour off their face with a towel. Hinata watched them before turning to Naruto. She noticed how Naruto seemed to beam with pride while smiling contentedly as he watched the four students.
"How long have you known Hanabi-chan?" Hinata asked.
Naruto blinked before he turned towards Hinata.
"Oh, we've known each other for… a couple of months now? Yeah, that sounds about right." Naruto shrugged. "She ends up spending her afternoons working on her homework here sometimes with the others. Sometimes we train together, stuff like trap making or throwing practice."
"You train together?" Hinata said softly to herself before she stood up from her seat and bowed low in front of Naruto. The kitchen went silent. "Thank you for taking care of Hanabi-chan. Please continue to watch over her, Naruto-kun."
"Onee-chan," Hanabi whined.
"Don't worry Hinata-chan. I will always look out for Hanabi-chan, believe it!" Naruto said grinning a foxy grin and giving a thumbs up.
With pink cheeks, Hinata smiled at Naruto. She quickly turned around to face the academy students.
"How about I teach you all how to make some cinnamon rolls?" Hinata said getting a loud cheer from everyone.
While Hanabi bounced around the kitchen cheering about how delicious Hinata's cinnamon rolls were. Hinata quickly wrote out a list of ingredients onto a notepad and handed it to Naruto.
"Er- I… Please don't take this as me kicking you out, but can you… Could you buy all the ingredients missing from this list?" Hinata asked in a whisper.
"Don't worry about it Hinata, I have my clones buy everything we don't have!" Naruto said before a puff of smoke appeared. The clone gave Naruto and Hinata a jaunty two finger salute before running off with the list and money. Hinata smiled, then she blinked. Her face turned redder than a tomato as she reached out and grabbed Naruto's hand.
"I-If that's the case, would you help me start making the dough from scratch?" Hinata said with her head tilted down and her eyes peering up towards Naruto.
"Kawaii," Naruto said in a soft whisper before blinking and giving Hinata a thumbs up with his free hand. "Let's go then, we're going to make so many cinnamon rolls we won't know what to do with them all!"
Before another word could be said the entire kitchen was filled by a cloud of flour.
After a few moments of coughing, the flour settled. In the middle of the kitchen, Hanabi and Konohamaru stood with two halves of a torn bag of flour. They quickly jumped to hide the torn bag behind them. However, the damage had already been done. Two pairs of dark ominous empty eyes glared down upon the two troublemakers shrank in on themselves.
"Aniki," Konohamaru said before gulping.
"Onee-san," Hanabi said before gulping as well.
Lightning fast hands found Hanabi's ear in a second. Hanabi whimpered as Hinata began to scold her for causing a big mess. Konohamaru was forced into a groveling position while Naruto stood with a foot on his back. After the two were done begging for forgiveness, they were forced to scrub the entire kitchen and make it spotless. Naruto laughed maniacally at their tears of sorrow before Hinata gave him a disapproving look which instantly made him stop and begin working on mixing the dough. Hinata taught Moegi, Udon, and Naruto how to knead the dough while making sure Konohamaru and Hanabi got every spot of flour in the room. When the clone came in with the missing ingredients Hanabi practically leaped at it and begged for its help. The dark glare Hinata gave the clone made the clone gulp before dispelling. Hanabi whined for a moment before she caught Hinata's stern look. Bowing her head, Hanabi returned to her cleaning without another sound. As if a switch had been flipped, Hinata was back to blushing from everyone staring at her.
"Don't crowd the dish, make sure each roll has enough room to proof and to expand even more once we bake them," Hinata instructed in a quiet but firm voice.
"Like this, onee-chan?" Moegi asked holding up her dish of rolls.
"Perfect Moegi-chan. Udon-kun, move that one to the right," Hinata said pointing to two touching rolls. "Naruto-kun, why are you putting orange food coloring into the frosting?"
Naruto gave a sheepish smile as he was caught squeezing in a few drops of red and yellow food coloring.
"Well, orange is the best color. So, I thought the best way to make these cinnamon rolls the best ever would be to make the frosting orange."
"Are you saying Onee-chan's rolls aren't already the best!" Hanabi said jumping up from her spot. She pointed her at Naruto with a dark glare. "Say that again I dare you, I turn you into a pile of dog shit for insulting Onee-chan's rolls."
"I'm not saying anything bad about Hinata-chan's rolls. I'm just saying that everything is better by being orange," Naruto said rolling his eyes.
"You can't improve on perfection just by changing the color," Hanabi said crossing her arms.
"Oh yeah? Let's try improving your imperfection by adding some dye to your hair hmm?" Naruto reached out and grabbed Hanabi in a headlock. He squeezed the food dye onto Hanabi's head. Hanabi was busy flailing around trying to break out of Naruto's hold.
Hinata watched their childish actions in shock for a few moments before a small sad smile crossed her face. She continued to watch them roughhouse a few more moments.
"Naruto, Hanabi, enough. Please?" Hinata said in a near whisper.
Even so, Naruto and Hanabi immediately jumped away and bowed apologetically.
"Sorry, Hinata/onee-chan." The two spoke in unison.
Hanabi quickly disappeared down the hallway while Naruto started to clean up the few spots of food coloring on the floor. The sound of running water echoed from the other side of the kitchen wall. Hinata tilted her head and stared at what she assumed was the bathroom before she focused on putting the rolls into the oven. Konohamaru, now finished cleaning, eyed the bowel of frosting and was about to stick a finger in before he caught a look at Hinata's disapproving eyes. Konohamaru shrunk below the counter till Hinata couldn't see him, but she did hear him whisper to an amused Moegi and Udon.
"Onee-chan is scary, I bet it's a Hyuga thing. Hanabi is like that too sometimes."
Hinata simply shook her head at the thought of her being scary and continued washing the bowels and spatulas.
Soon enough the rolls were done baking. They were allowed to cool off before being generously covered in orange icing. Everyone had gathered around Naruto's dining table. Hanabi sat in a fresh pair of clothes, her hair wet from her taking a quick shower. Her classmates had also followed her example and sat in clean clothes and with wet hair. Naruto praised them for thinking ahead and bringing a clean pair of clothing. Though he moaned dramatically about how prepared they were to make a mess of his kitchen. Shaking her head while smiling, Hinata passed out plates of rolls. Cheers echoed through the small apartment as everyone dug in. Naruto watched with wide eyes as Hinata devoured a dozen rolls in seconds.
"Whoa, I thought I was crazy with ramen and Hanabi was crazy with takoyaki, but damn Hinata, that was amazingly fast." Naruto had sparkles in his eyes causing Hinata to turn beet red. "I got to take you Ichiraku and challenge you to a ramen eating contest."
Hinata had a shy smile as she nodded her head. Naruto cheered, causing everyone else in the apartment to cheer as well.
For the first time in a long time, Hinata felt a warm feeling in her chest. A feeling of belonging, contentedness, and love, the feeling of being home. In that moment, Hinata knew she wanted nothing more than to persevere this feeling.
I hope my attempt at writing Hinata was decent and not too annoying or cringe to read. I wanted to try my hand at writing a shy and meek character. Though I don't want to make that Hinata's only trait as that would be boring. I am sure you can see my attempts of trying to balance her shyness with a more hidden confident side that comes out in certain situations.
I want to say that there is currently no pairings planned. That's still up in the air for later, if I even want to go that route.
Again happy new years! Let's make 2021 better than any other year!
PK Out!