From a distance, the village looked so different than Konoha.
Naruto assessed the community from a shinobi's standpoint, looking at the size and coverage of the large perimeter wall…. taking into consideration the clustering of certain crucial facilities…. and judging the various approached from the mountain and the lower rolling plains.
That all might mean something to the city planners, but it didn't amount to a pile of beans to him.
No.
What was most different, and was important, were the people.
Konoha had better craftsmen. It also had a more highly educated populace, and a better contingency of ninjas. The restaurants were finer, as were the supply shops and hospital center.
But, the people in this village didn't know his secret. They had heard of the tales of the great fox, with some of the younger generation thinking it was all a tall tale.
So, while many of the residents were standoffish or downright rude, none of them hated him, or felt a need to persecute him.
As much as he missed his old haunts and his group of friends, Naruto did not miss the pervasive and perpetual undercurrent of anger, hatred, and fear that seemed so prevalent in some age groups.
He slowed to a walk.
It was time to go about his business, so as to not be a liar.
Naruto had not come to the village in order to compare it to Konoha. He had come for supplies, even though they could have gone another few days.
His conscience was stabbing at him more and more, until he felt like a virtual porcupine, with kunei sprouting out of him. Until he heard back from Jiraya, he was uneasy about leaving Hinata alone. He doubted that anyone would attack her, or try to capture her for use as a pawn.
But, you never know….
"Coward!"
Naruto had come into town because he had been thinking up reasons to be on his own tthe past few days.
It was not that he disliked Hinata. I wasn't that he hated being around her. Quite the opposite.
That was the problem.
The two of them had walked home from the Ramen competition, hand in hand. It had him feeling as if the two of them were drawing closer together. He wondered how things might go, were they civilians…… or if he simply didn't have Kyuubi sealed within him.
There may come a day when Akatsuki struck, and he didn't want Hinata caught up in that. No doubt, such an attack would be brutal, calculated to succeed at any cost.
He couldn't stand to think about Hinata's name being added to the monument in Konoha's training area.
He might also be forced to run hard and long, if not forever, just to keep out of the grasp of those power hungry assholes. He would never have a chance to stop any place long. He would never have an opportunity to put down roots. He would never have a family.
Naruto was willing to do whatever he had to for his village. But, he was not comfortable hurting others in the process.
"Who wants to live like that?"
For some people, life was rich and filled with so many possibilities. It just took time for some to find out what they really need.
Hinata deserved a chance at that.
Sorting through large bins at one store, he selected the bulk food items that they needed. After that, he picked an item here and an item there, walking down the small crowded aisles of his favorite food shop.
Everywhere he went, people wanted to talk about the evening of the cook-off. So many had nice things to say about Hinata, impressed as they were by her demeanor and unexpected success.
Not a few men told him how lucky he was to be around a girl like that. Many wondered how long they had been dating. One old man actually referred to her as 'The Missus.'
As far as Naruto had walked, it seemed he couldn't escape Hinata after all. At least this way, he didn't feel uncomfortable talking to her, looking at her, or holding her arms when he went through certain instructions during training.
He wondered what she was thinking. He wondered what she might want or hope for.
The way she acted and spoke to him at times, he was certain that she cared about him. He just wasn't sure how much. And, part of him still couldn't accept the idea that Uzumaki Naruto could have any good fortune when it came to the ladies.
Girls with pink hair still had him thinking back to Sakura.
Finished gathering groceries, he had headed over to a General Store to purchase heavier blankets. Walking past one shop, he nearly stumbled. One upscale shop had female manikins in the display windows. They were wearing shear….. frilly….. things….
"That's just wrong!"
He couldn't imagine how the Town Council in such a conservative village could let something like that stand.
That wasn't what really had him on edge. He had jerked, almost dropping his parcels, when he caught a glimpse of one manikin. She had been of medium height, with closely cropped hair, much like that of someone he knew.
The lingerie that model wore did little to hide the underlying anatomically correct figure.
Unaware that he was doing so, Naruto began jogging, putting the one store behind him. When he finally came back to a socially acceptable pace, he looked over at one particular shop and swallowed.
Hinata had asked him to pick up certain things that a girl needed, giving him a short list.
Naruto could bring himself to speak any of the items out loud, and had merely slid the list over to one woman, blushing up a storm. Smiling, the woman had gathered everything Hinata needed. She also added some nice items at no additional cost, in honor to the Hinata's performance at the cook-off.
The woman had placed a small sampler of perfume and a small make-up kit in the bag.
"I recommend that perfume…. but if you want to try all the different scents to see which one you might like best on her…." The woman waved over at a counter lined by small vials and spray bottles.
Naruto thanked the woman and sped out of the shop, short of breath for some reason.
But, the sights he saw upon leaving the shop were just as unnerving. At that very moment, there seemed to be countless numbers of couples strolling the streets, hand in hand or arm in arm. Some paused now and then to embrace, or to kiss.
"Get a room!"
Why was he stumbling across all these things today? Or, was he just noticing certain things that he never paid much attention too? Did it really matter either way?
This was ridiculous. He needed to clear his head.
Striding out of town, he looked up along the long path awaiting him. The small twisting dirt and gravel trail wove its way between copse and hillock, disappearing into the late morning mist.
If he didn't already know that path, he would have no idea what kind of climb awaited him. The philosophic part of him compared that observation to his life, but he was in no mood to think about that at the moment.
He just wanted to get back to camp and begin practicing his most powerful techniques. He needed to get ready, just in case that damn Sennin never returned.
"Well…… is that all for my welcoming home party…"
The voice had Naruto whirling. It was Jiraiya. He looked no worse for wear.
"What do you f-cking think?" Naruto answered with more heat than he had intended. "Uhhh….. sorry…… no…."
The two men continued up the path, Jiraiya looking rather thoughtful.
"I went pretty far, Naruto." The older shinobi shook a nearly empty supply bag at his student. "I don't have much in this bag to show for it. A few writings I need to translate, and a bunch of scribbled notes. The men I was looking for were on the run. They suspect something, but had no hard evidence."
Naruto nodded his head.
"The scroll that Granny Tsunade sent you listed a few more prophetic verses….. apocalyptic stuff, it would seem…." Naruto remembered being banged on the head a lot during one lecture form his master, learning the difference between prophecies and apocalypses."
"You read a scroll meant for me? " Jiraiya's voice dropped an octave or two.
"Neither of us had any way to know when you'd be back, Ero-Sennin!" Naruto felt a bit guilty. "But, in case I got sucked into something complicated…."
Jiraiya scratched himself, then thought a moment. He nodded his head. "It's good to see that you started thinking. That, and making difficult decisions that might break some rules. A lot is resting on you, but I don't need to remind you, do I?"
Naruto just spat.
"Hmmmm. It's good that you also started other things as well." Jiraiya smiled, looking at the bags and packages Naruto carried. "That one bag is from the woman's store. I've done a fair amount of research in there….. with genjutsu, of course…."
"It's for Hinata!" Naruto grumped.
"I guessed that," Jiraiya laughed. "No, I hoped that!" He began to laugh even louder.
Naruto frowned.
He wasn't really in the mood for joking around.
Jiraiya sniffed, then sniffed some more. He smiled, closing his eyes. "Perfume. I smell perfume. It seems that you and Hinata have started something, indeed." He sniffed some more. "Frankincense of Arabia…… Oriental Aloeswood…… and Indian Sandalwood…… very nice blend. Mitsouko, I would guess."
"It is just a damn gift from the lady at the shop! It wasn't on Hinata's damn list. Do you hear me, you damn old pervert?" Naruto stepped off the path, losing a sandal in a deep patch of sucking mud. He cursed as he pulled it back out and brushed it off with some tall weeds.
"Aren't we in a cheery mood?" Jiraiya smiled. "Maybe I should have brought you back a lollypop!"
"I could tell you where to put….." Naruto stopped, not wanting to get too rude.
None of his concerns and challenges were his sensei's fault.
"I doubt this foul attitude is a result of the other night's Ramen fest, right? It seems that the villagers all wanted to talk about that…… at least those who recognized me as being Hinata's teacher…." Jiraiya watched Naruto's face closely. "Though, I suppose it could have something to do with what other people saw, after the crowd had scattered."
Naruto's face went blank. His one hand trembled ever so slightly, but enough for the sharp-eyed Sennin to notice. He had wanted his teacher to be back safe. But now, he wished he were alone.
He didn't say anything.
"There's nothing wrong, Naruto, if the two of you have found something special in each other. If there is anything you ever learn from my experiences, let it be this: life can pass you by real quickly. There are plenty of things people do that they regret. But, there are more things that they let slip by, that they regret even more."
More silence followed, for a sizeable length of time. Finally Naruto spoke.
"We don't have something special, Master. I won't let it come to that. I can't." He kicked hard at a stone that was buried too deep in the soil. He came away with a bloody toe. "Sometimes I regret being born. My life is one big regret after another."
"Then, you're a dead man walking?" Jiraiya asked. "That would be a shame. It would make you something like Itachi and his brother, except that they have burning desires." Jiraiya stopped, and signaled his pupil to do so too. "You once said you wanted to be Hokage…… more times than I could hope to remember, even with one of Tsunade's memory jutsus."
"Yeh. I wanted that. I still do. For real, not because it sounds important or something." Naruto frowned, wondering what the older man was getting at.
"Well, you need to be alive to accomplish that, right? And it would likely take a good number of years, since Tsunade isn't ready to step down yet, no matter how much the gambling syndicates beg her."
"So…… what's your point, old man…." Naruto eyed his master, wondering if there was anything the Sennin could say that would make him feel good at the moment.
"If you live long enough to put on that silly looking tri-corner hat…… then you also live long enough to do other important things as well…." Jiraiya rubbed the back of his neck, then shook out his hair. "Right?"
"Yeh…." Naruto admitted. "For a while. Some people probably deserve more than a while…."
"That's right. If they live that long themselves…." The older shinobi broke a stout branch off of a nearby tree and began using it as a walking stick. "If every ninja looked at that kind of stuff too closely, there wouldn't be too many ninja children, would there?"
"Shit," Naruto answered, not wanting to accept that logic. It was for other people. No one else had his unique set of problems. Right? "I'm not every ninja."
After that, the two of them resumed their hike.
After a brief while, Jiraiya dropped a bombshell.
"I can't make you stop feeling sorry for yourself, Naruto." He stepped over an area where the path had fissured. "But, I suggest you shake off your funk for Hinata's sake." He walked around another small gap. "You won't be much fun at the Dance tonight if you don't."
Naruto, shell-shocked, looked over at Jiraiya, then swore when he sank up to his hip in one of the areas where the ground had pulled apart.
"WHAT??!!"
"Dance. D…… a…… n…… c…… e……" The hermit smiled, wondering if that news might shake Naruto out of his self-absorbed state. "Both a gathering of like-minded individuals…… usually men and women…… and a physical act bearing the same name." He watched as Naruto's temper began to build again. "Dance."
"I know what a f-cking dance is!!!" Naruto practically spat his words. Stupid old pervert! That was the last thing he needed to deal with at the moment.
"Then why did you ask? Sheesh. Maybe I should have left Hinata in charge while I was gone. It probably took you that long just to figure out on your own, which end of a bucket the water goes in."
"OOOOOH!!!"
"Don't be embarrassed," Jiraiya laughed. "I won't tell Tsunade. She'd scratch your name off of the list of future successors faster than you could say 'ante up' or 'I'll raise you.' Rightfully so, I'm afraid."
Naruto just stewed.
"We'll work on that when we get back to camp. Then, I'll show you which way to hold the bucket, so the water doesn't fall out." Jiraiya began taking bigger steps, seeing the smoke trails just over the next rise. They were almost back.
Naruto, in contrast, began to walk slower and slower, until the two men were a hundred yards apart or so.
"Move it, you idiot!" Jiraiya shouted, stopping. "Unless you want me to shout." He did just that. "IT WILL BE YOUR TASK TO TELL HINATA ABOUT THE DANCE!!!"
That had Naruto flashing to his side in the blink of an eye.
"Don't DO that, Ero-Sennin!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU'RE REALLY HAPPY TO GO TO THE DANCE WITH HER?"
"I mean… PLEASE don't do that, Master Jiraiya…."
"That's better. But, the two of you will be going. And I am making it your responsibility to tell Hinata." Jiraiya sounded very stern. "What you two do there is up to the both of you. But make no mistake, I will ask her if you end up where you should, and stay as long as you ought to."
"You can't make me!" Naruto hated the way he sounded, but he was looking out for Hinata's feelings most of all.
"I don't have to teach you, either. This job hasn't exactly been a picnic, you know." The Sennin was not smiling.
"I…." Naruto just shook his head. He knew Jiraiya was even more determined that he grew stronger than he was, if that was possible.
But, he had sacrificed a lot to teach a hot-headed young man with a chip on his shoulder.
"Your concerns do you credit, Naruto." Jiraiya spoke in a paternal tone. "There may be some reason for you to be proud of yourself, after all. But, let me give you some more advice. There are times and ways you should protect people. But, there are also times and places where you have to let them protect themselves."
After that, Jiraiya strode ahead to check in on Hinata. Naruto milled around until he saw that Hinata was alone again.
Naruto stood watching Hinata stretch, trying to find the words and gather up some courage. He was telling her they were going to a dance, not asking her to a dance.
He would make that certain.
Yes.
That would be his approach.
"Naruto-kun…… you've been standing there a while…… did our teacher bring back some bad news…." Hinata continued with her post-jutsu routine.
"Well…… I guess…… it would depend on how you look at it!" That had come our rougher than need be. Naruto took a deep breath, trying to regain control. It wasn't as if he were faced with a life or death situation.
Right?
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata stood up, a serious look on her face. "Did he find out something more about Akatsuki?"
"No…." Naruto said, kicking at the dirt with his sandal.
"The prophecies?" Hinata walked over to join him.
"No…." Naruto looked over at her.
"What then?" Hinata checked her hair, shocked to see how sweaty she was.
"A Dance." Naruto spat those words out quickly. Whew, he didn't melt or anything. But, Hinata certainly underwent a great transformation.
Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened. Then she smiled.
"You're asking me to a dance…… oh…… I was so worried the past few days…… I thought you were angry at me or something…."
Naruto shook his head.
"I am not asking you to a dance." Naruto believed in being honest. He also felt compelled to make that known up front. Maybe it would keep her from getting her hopes up or something. "Ero-Sennin told me that we will both be attending the village dance tonight."
Hinata's face fell, but only a little.
"But, we're really going?" She bit her lip and blushed.
"You are going. I am also going. I guess that means that we are going." Naruto stuck out his lip. What was it with girls and dances?
"Oh! Thank you, Naruto-kun! I have to go bathe now! How can you look at me like this!" Hinata ran off, just as Naruto was about to repeat that it was not his doing.
He sighed, seeing Hinata turn around to look at him, then run off faster than he had seen her move outside of practice.
"Damn. Damn me. Damn that old shithead. Damn dancing!"
Naruto stood waiting, just out of view of the bathing area, for more than an hour. Each time he stepped out of cover, he caught sight of Hinata, and she caught sight of him.
Her voice could get pretty loud for someone her size.
When he finally finished with his quick rinse, and put on the robes he had worn the other night, he stood just inside his own door.
Just what was he doing?
This was insane. Crazy, and without any good or defensible purpose. That damn Sennin had gone of the deep end. He must have downed one Sake too many on his journey, drowning his last functioning brain cell.
There was also the matter of his heart.
Why was the damn thing beating so rapidly. And, why was it so loud in his ears? That didn't make any sense either. Same with the sweat on his palms, the tightness in his chest when he breathed, and the weakness in his legs.
None of that got any better when he saw Hinata again.
She had made a point of looking nice the other night. But, that was nothing compared to tonight. And she had that damn perfume on.
Naruto cursed under his breath. Jiraiya had never taught him a defense against perfume.
Seeing their sensei approaching, Naruto made an effort to pull Hinata off in a hurry. She wanted nothing to do with it. She was not about to rush anything.
"So-o-o-o-o-o-o-o…." Jiraiya's voice was loud and boomy. "Don't you two look nice." He smiled a smile of true affection for them both. Then he winked at Naruto. "Did you talk to Hinata about the Birds and the Bees like I instructed you before?"
Hinata didn't blush. She had expected some joke like that. Her happiness wouldn't let her fall for that one.
Naruto on the other hand began sputtering.
"ER…… ER…… ERO-SENNIN!"
Jiraiya laughed. Then, he waved them on their way with one final comment.
"Don't bring her home too late, Naruto. I don't want to have to come looking for you two!"
Naruto and Hinata made there way down to the village after that.
Hinata kept hoping Naruto would ask for her hand, but he didn't. She wasn't going to push the issue.
When they walked past the great wall, they caught sight of other nicely dressed couples and larger groups of laughing young adults. That would make it easier to find the Great Hall, situated somewhere in the old part of the village.
As they walked quietly along, people came up to Hinata, offering her congratulations.
She was taken back momentarily, never expecting to be a minor celebrity.
When some young men walked up, and asked her if she would save a dance for them, she blushed and shook her head, apologizing.
"Lucky guy!" One said, looking over at Naruto.
That had the young ninja struggling with mixed emotions again. He had actually been jealous when he thought Hinata might be dancing with someone else. Them he had felt a great deal of relief when she turned them down. Not only that, he had felt fortunate indeed when the one man said 'Lucky guy!'
His resolve was slipping. That was not a good thing.
Jiraiya just didn't want to look at the big picture.
There was a long line to get into the hall. Dancing was extraordinarily popular in that village. As they waited, Naruto noticed that an attractive older woman in a stately dress was selling something.
Corsages. Flowers to pin on a girl's dress. He guessed that must be a way to earn monies for charity or something.
But, would girls really go for that kind of thing?
Looking at Hinata's face, he had his answer. They did. When other men bought corsages for their partners, she blushed and bowed her head.
"May I have one, please?" Naruto was surprised to find that it was his voice he heard. The look Hinata turned up at him had him miss the woman's question.
"Huh? Excuse me?"
"I asked, would you like one to pin on, or might your young lady like one for her wrist?" The woman smiled, looking at Hinata's face.
"Well…… Hinata?"
Hinata asked for one to wear on her dress. She grinned as Naruto fumbled to put it on without sticking her or himself.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata's smile had a life of its own.
"Uhhh……yeh…."
Bit by bit the line moved. When they finally made their way into the building, the two of them were speechless, each seeing it for the first time.
While the newer parts of the village had mundane run-of-the-mill architecture. The older portions spoke of enduring elegance and sophistication.
No building did that better than the Great hall.
The floor was a parquet-pattern of numerous polished woods, worked to a mirror like sheen. The graceful windows were taller than three men standing on each other's shoulders, and the chandeliers hanging gracefully from the ceiling were larger than most delivery carts.
Candles were everywhere, as were huge wreaths and large bouquets of flowers. Banners hung down from the rafters, drawing attention a ceiling that seemed more like it was part of the sky than a component of any building.
Large tables lined the wall, their carved wood telling tales from long ago. Innumerable flasks, pitchers, and bowls contained countless types of punch and other refreshing drinks.
Hinata felt as if she had walked into the pages or a storybook. Naruto didn't know what to make of it all.
It had been worth the trip down to the village just to see this all.
One matronly woman hurried over to Hinata, wanting to add her own congratulations. After that, she asked if Hinata had been to one of their Dances before.
"No, never." Hinata answered. "I've never been dancing before."
"Really?" The woman looked amazed. "And you, young man?" She raised one eyebrow, looking at Naruto.
"No, mam." Naruto answered politely.
"Well…… well…… well……" The woman looked around the great room, then smiled. "You're in luck. Uzumi is here tonight. She'll be holding classes for beginners. If you like, I can introduce you."
Naruto looked over at Hinata, who nodded.
"We would appreciate that, mam." Naruto bowed.
"You chose well, Hinata." The woman said. "Your young man has wonderful manners."
Hinata giggled. Naruto tried to keep his face calm, hearing his companion.
"Y-Y-Yes…… he does…." Hinata smiled.
The two of them followed the woman over to one large corner of the massive room. A graceful gray-haired woman was helping one couple with their positions, while one of her helpers was helping another pair with their posture and hand placement.
When Uzumi was free, she came to speak with Naruto and Hinata.
"Well, another young couple come to enjoy the dance. How splendid! And you wish to learn the proper way of doing things? Ahhhh. Young love. I remember those days…."
Naruto caught himself. He almost swore. It had been a particularly vile oath he had selected.
Hinata elbowed him in the gut subtly. She had seen his face.
"Once a week, I teach traditional Nihon-buyo style dance, drawing inspiration from kabuki dances or the kamigata-mai style. Both dance forms favor elegant movements, with the body's center of gravity being kept fairly low. To accentuate movements and add more expression, I often have dancers use small objects like a folding fan, hand towel or parasol. A kimono sleeve also makes a good dance prop." Uzumi smiled. "It's a long course, as I know over one hundred individual styles."
Naruto frowned. They were going to do that?
Then why were the other couples….
"Pay attention, Naruto. Be polite….." Hinata's whisper was barely audible.
"On other nights, I give instruction on Street Dancing of the type favored by Takenoko-zoku, as well of the type of dance favored in the clubs located down town. Other styles are popular too, including folk dances from various countries. Salsa. Samba. Flamenco. So many different kind." Looking over at Naruto, she added "You would probably like belly dancing."
Naruto's mouth fell open, and that had Hinata laughing.
"B-B-B---" Naruto's eyes were wide.
"I meant watching," Uzumi said. "When your lady friend here danced."
It was Hinata's turn to freeze. She stepped on Naruto's foot when she saw him smile.
"The list almost seems endless sometimes." The instructor said, taking a moment to correct some of the dancing couples. "Allemande… beguine… bourree… canary… cinque-pace… czardas… fandango… habanera… kazatzka… merengue…polonaise… and many more."
"What type are you teaching this evening?" Hinata asked.
"Ball Room Dancing," Uzumi answered. "That's what kind of Dance they are holding tonight. You'll see, once things get going in full swing. Oh! No pun intended…."
Naruto knew nothing about Ballroom Dancing. Hinata had heard about it from some relatives, but had never seen it done.
"I suggest you focus on one style tonight," Uzumi said. "The five most popular Ballroom dances in the world are Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha, and Swing. The Waltz is expressed by movement around the room. The character is elegant, regal, and graceful. The style or technique used is rise and fall. The timing is: ONE - two - three, with the "one" being the downbeat." She laughed looking at Naruto. "Don't look so confused young man. I'm a teacher. I'll teach you."
Hinata looked over at Naruto. He certainly looked like a fish out of water. Maybe if he is too busy trying to figure things out, he might drop his worrying….
"The basic Waltz step is the box step, a sequence of six steps which, if you were to draw a line connecting all six, would form a box." Uzumi continued. "Rumba is a modified version of 'Son.' It is slow and rhythmical, sometimes called the 'Latin Waltz' or the 'Waltz with a wiggle.' It is a 'spot dance,' and is danced in one spot, expressed through body movement. The character is romantic and sexy."
Naruto jerked. Uzumi looked at Hinata, then smiled. Hinata managed a shy grin, even though she was blushing herself.
"The style or technique used is cuban motion of the hips. The timing is: Slow - quick - quick. Many of the steps danced in the Waltz can be danced in the Rumba with Rumba timing, cuban motion, and Latin arm styling."
Naruto wondered if there was any such thing as a dance jutsu, to help one learn all that. Hell, if it could be used like Ino's or Shikamaru's talents, making the enemy dance, battles wouldn't last as long!
The Foxtrot is one of the most versatile of all the ballroom dances, as it can be danced to a wide variety of music with varying tempos. It is a 'walking' dance. The dancers express the music by movement across the floor. The character is smooth and flowing. The style or technique used is brush and follow through with the feet. There are two timings: Slow - Quick - Quick and Slow - Slow - Quick -Quick Foxtrot shares many of the same steps with the Waltz." Uzumi never had a chance to describe any of the other dances.
"That's the one!" Hinata said, giving Naruto a mischievous look. "It sounds easier…… and I like the name…."
Naruto grimaced.
He swore he would get back at Hinata for that, somehow.
"OK, you two. Come stand over here. Foxtrot is danced using a normal ballroom-style closed position dance hold. This typically includes the use of body contact, although a more relaxed semi-closed hold is often used in social dance situations, or for learning purposes." Uzumi called over her helper to act as her demonstration partner.
"H-H-Hold?" Naruto asked, swallowing hard. "Contact?" He looked over at Hinata, then away. "Do you mean…… touching……" he began to sweat.
"Of course," Uzumi said looking over at Hinata. "Is he the excitable sort?"
Hinata nodded.
"Shy?"
Hinata smiled. Naruto opened his mouth but closed it.
The nerve of her calling him shy!
"I see. That just means that you'll have to work harder my dear. Maybe it would be best if you lead…."
"WHAT?" Naruto spoke up automatically. "Uzumaki Naruto will be doing the leading!"
Uzumi smiled, then winked at Hinata.
"It's nice when they're so enthusiastic!"
Naruto felt as if he had been hit by an opponent twice his size.
Uzumi went over to her helper, then explained things as they took up position. "In closed position, the man and lady stand in front of each other, slightly offset to the left. The lady's right hand and man's left hand are joined in an upper-hand clasp at approximately the lady's eye level. The man's right hand is placed on the lady's shoulder blade, with the lady's left arm resting easily on his right. The resulting dance 'frame' should be held sturdy, but relaxed and absent of tension or strain."
She smiled over at Naruto, not putting too much emphasis on tension and strain.
"Forward walking steps are normally taken with the heel first in contact with the floor, with the toe lowering as the body moves over it. Backwards walks are taken with the toe first, with the heel lowering as the body moves over it. At the same time, the toe of the forward foot should release from the floor as the body moves away. Side steps and chasses normally use the toe first."
The woman and her partner began dancing, in slow and exaggerated fashion at first, allowing Hinata to take note of every aspect of the dance. Naruto tried to learn as well, as best as his nervous tic allowed.
"The rise and fall action is present in Foxtrot, although it is more subtle than that of Waltz." Uzumi showed what she meant.
"Typical of the smooth and standard ballroom dances, contra-body movement is used to commence most rotational movements. Sway is defined as the inclination of the body to the left or right, usually accompanying movements to the side. Sway is present in Foxtrot, particularly in advanced levels, where movements tend to be fuller and more sweeping. Continuity is the continuous passing of the feet from step to step, without any closing or chasse actions. Typically, a series of three or more passing steps constitute a continuity action. But, that will be for later more advanced lessons, if you ever wish to partake of them."
Hinata smiled, wishing she could say 'Yes.'
"So, young lady, do you have all that?" Uzumi thanked her helper, then waited for Hinata's answer.
"Yes." Hinata nodded.
"And you, young man?" She looked at Naruto, wondering if he was about to collapse.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked rapidly.
"I thought so. Here. Step out with me. I will show you, then I will let the two of you work on it yourselves." Uzumi took the lead, ushering Naruto onto the dance floor, then showing him what to do.
Naruto was nervous at first, then resentful and recalcitrant. But, the dance took hold of him. Uzumi smelled very nice, and her voice was melodious. Her movements were graceful, reminding him of the passes in some forms of Taijutsu.
Before he knew it, he was viewing the dancing as a challenge.
He would conquer it. That was his Ninja Way.
But, his new found bravery vanished when Uzumi passed him off to Hinata.
His first mistake was to look into Hinata's eyes. He felt as if he was falling at first, those eyes looked so wide and deep. Then, he felt a sense of panic, feeling that he had lost all control of his life, as ridiculous as such a thought might seem. Finally, he realized what a rodent must feel like when it met the gaze of a swaying cobra.
He had no idea what to make of the look Hinata gave him.
"Naruto-kun?"
"H-H-Hinata?" Sweat fell inside of Naruto's robe. He felt incredibly edgy. If Akatsuki showed up now, they could simply tie a robe through his nose and lead him away.
"We…… we don't…… we don't have to dance." The tone of her voice was pitiful. "Our sensei only said that we had to come here. He…… he…… he didn't say that we actually had to dance."
Naruto looked up, hopeful at first. But, seeing the dread in Hinata's eyes, he shook his head.
He owed her, in any number of ways.
"That's…… uhhh…… true. But…… then …… we couldn't really call it a dance, right?" The logic was faulty, but it would help him save face in his eye.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata held her hand up, stepping close to her partner.
Naruto swallowed. When his hand touched Hinata's he twitched, pulling his hand a way for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath and tried again.
Hinata smiled, feeling his hand on hers. That smile deepened when he tentatively placed his hand on her shoulder blade. Hyperaware, she could feel the warmth of their contact like a hot afternoon sun.
She looked up into his face, as if it were the only thing to see in the entire world.
"I…… uhhh…… guess we ought to start…… or something…" Naruto stood still, waiting for Hinata's reply. Her perfume had its hooks in him, and he shivered when she pressed up against him, much closer than was necessary for more casual forms of the dance. "You…… well…."
"I'm yours, Naruto-kun." Hinata corrected herself immediately. "I await your lead." She closed her eyes for a moment, picturing the precise moves in her mind. She could dance with Naruto here…… in the middle of a sun-drenched filed…… or in the darkness of a starlit night. Place and time wouldn't matter.
Only he mattered.
The two began to dance, slowly and tentatively at first. Hinata didn't mind. She was in heaven. Naruto took his own clumsiness and inexperience as an affront, and began using his natural coordination to improve, seemingly step by step.
Before they knew it, the music stopped, and the dancers were graced with an intermission.
"You two looked wonderful out there. Are you sure you haven't taken dance classes before?" Uzumi grinned at Naruto.
"NO!" Naruto blushed when the woman laughed. "I mean, no…."
"Well, you should have!" Uzumi exchanged pleasantries with Hinata, complimenting on her grace and sense of flair.
Naruto felt embarrassed. He could only imagine what some of his friends might say, if they heard all that. Then again, if they were into dating and such, maybe they'd be jealous of him.
Hey, this wasn't so bad after all.
Wait.
Dating. Dancing. Dining. All that kind of stuff.
Just where did it have a place in his life?
"Is something wrong, Naruto-kun?" Hinata had been watching his face. "Were you…… were you thinking…… were you thinking about them again?" Her eyes looked worried.
Naruto nodded. He was about to tell Hinata that this was all so foolish. It could only get their hopes up.
But, he remembered walking up the path that morning with Jiraiya. He hated to admit it, but the old pervert usually knew what he was talking about.
"It's OK, Hinata. I can't let the thought of them rule my entire life. That would be giving power to them, I guess. And that's not my Ninja Way."
Naruto almost felt like a liar. The words made perfect sense, but they didn't ring true in his ears.
Hinata squeezed Naruto's hand, feeling brave enough now to initiate that kind of touch.
"There's nothing wrong with enjoying oneself now and again, right?" Naruto ran his hand through his hair. "Life can pass you by real quickly. There are plenty of things people do that they regret. But, there are more things that they let slip by, that they regret even more." Naruto spoke solemnly, with a serious look on his face.
Hinata's face opened up.
Tears came to her eyes, and her lips curved into a quivering smile.
When the music resumed, Naruto lead her back onto the dance floor, finding it hard to believe that neither of them had ever danced before.
As they moved across the floor, he forgot about Akatsuki… Jiraiya… Konoha… everything. Everything except Hinata. He didn't know if the time they shared tonight would prove unfair to her in the long run, but he was mentally exhausted from so much thinking and so many recrimination. He was certain he would find time for them later.
But, not now.
At one point, he made it a point to comment on Hinata's perfume, trying to sound knowledgeable. "Ahhhh. "Frankincense of Arabia…… Oriental Aloeswood…… and Indian Sandalwood."
Hinata's eyes twinkled. She smiled an evil little smile. "That's amazing, Naruto-kun…."
"Yes, well, you know…."
"Did the woman at the shop tell you that, or Master Jiraiya?" She cocked her head slightly.
"Never mind!" Naruto grumped. He stepped on her toe for only the second time that night.
"Naruto-kun! Did you do that on purpose?" Hinata's eyes flashed.
"I don't know. I'll ask the woman or Jiraiya when I see them." They both smiled.
At the second intermission, the two of them walked out onto one of the huge balconies that ran along the outside of the Great hall. Each was so large, that it hardly seemed occupied, despite the number of couples dancing private dances in the dark, or standing by the wall talking.
It was a cloudless night again, and all of the stars were clearly visible.
A large moon looked down on them all, too.
"Well, we didn't do too bad tonight, did we Hinata!" Naruto sounded loud and rambunctious as usual.
"No, we didn't." Hinata was much more subdued, even more than usual. "Thank you, Naruto-kun. I never expected a night like this in my life."
"Hinata?" Her words had him off balance. Especially since he could have said the same thing.
Naruto-kun? Will you be honest with me? Please?" Hinata spoke quickly, then took a deep breath.
"OK." Naruto felt uneasy. Alone in the dark with her, he didn't know what to expect. "I promise. No matter what you ask, I'll be truthful."
Damn.
Did he really promise that?!
"Was the evening……" Hinata looked up into Naruto's eyes. "Did you enjoy yourself tonight, Naruto-kun?"
"Yes," Naruto answered. "I didn't think I would. And, I didn't at first. But, it all kind of surprised me." he shuffled his feet slightly.
"If we were back in Konoha…… and I hadn't trained with you and our teacher…… you would have asked some other girl to a dance…." Hinata's hands gripped the railing. She already knew the answer to that question. Or, at least she thought she did.
Naruto paused before replying.
He hadn't expected that one.
"Well…." He rubbed his chin, then sighed. "I suppose so Hinata." He heard her small sad gasp, and felt sorrow well up inside his heart. His next words were honest, shocking him more than Hinata. "I'm still not the brightest person, even after spending time with you. I was even dumber before. I would have missed something special."
Hinata looked up at Naruto's face, bathed as it was in moonlight. She looked for any trace of falsehood, but could find none.
"But…… I'm not…… I'm just…."
Naruto looked up at the stars.
"You're more than I could have guessed, Hinata. More than I have any right to know." He sighed, long and deep. He looked down at her. "There's no one I'd rather be with at this dance."
Hinata stepped funny, falling against Naruto.
Neither made any effort to move.
"You OK, Hinata?" Naruto's voice was husky. He wasn't certain what he was feeling at that moment.
"Yes." Hinata was trembling, but not from the cold night air.
"Good…." Naruto found himself tilting his face down towards Hinata's.
"Naruto-kun…." Hinata held her breath and closed her eyes.
The two of them moved closer, then closer still.
Hinata stood up on her tip toes, her mouth opening by instinct.
But, that moment was to go no further.
Naruto sighed, then cursed himself. He couldn't help it. Finding himself wanting something, part of him had to burst the bubble.
'Release of he second seal calls a beast colored red, and its power will take peace from the earth its teeth and claws shall be like great swords.'
He stood up straight again.
Hinata opened her eyes, then looked up at him.
"Damn. It follows me, no matter where I go!" Naruto struck his hand hard against the railing. "I ruin everything! For everybody!"
Hinata touched his arm. She spoke in a very in a voice that was sad, but hopeful.
"You didn't ruin anything, Naruto-kun. Tonight was…… it was…… it was more than I could have ever hoped for." She leaned up against Naruto, glad to see that he didn't pull away.
"But…."
"Naruto-kun…… when we almost……ummm…… it was exciting…… and I wish it could have happened." Hinata sighed. "But, I never thought I would have come that close…….or feel that wonderful…."
"I…."
"Thank you, Naruto-kun. For taking me tonight. For looking at me, and seeing me. For wanting to…." She didn't finish the thought. "Even if you never want to again…."
Naruto put his finger under Hinata's eye.
He felt a tear he had no hope of seeing.
"I'm sorry, Hinata." Her heartfelt confession had him feeling worse and better at the same time.
"I'm not…." Hinata looked inside when the music started.
"Would Madame like to dance some more?" Naruto held out his hand.
"Yes," Hinata said.