Chapter 10:

She nestled her face where his neck met his shoulders so that he wouldn't be able to see her blushing face; causing Naruto's face to redden even further.

"T-there is someone… b-but…" Hinata stammered, trailing off without ever finishing.

"I see…" Naruto replied unhappily.

"Wait a minute!" He thought, perking up.

His mind slowly drifted back to everything that had happened in the past. The offer to cheat during the chuunin exam, the medicine she gave him after his fight with Kiba, his kiss with Sasuke…

"Damn it! Why does that always have to come up in a flashback?" He wondered, shaking his head to clear away the memory. "It wasn't even relevant!"

… And then the key element to get the puzzle assembled, she had been learning to make ramen.

"Hinata-chan, is it me?"

"Arigato, Asagin-san…" She thought, nodding.

A foxy grin spread across Naruto's face and his step gained a slight skip. "Sugoi! I'd better take you home now before your dad gets paranoid." He laughed.


Aiyoru pulled on the strings of chakra bound to his fingers a few more times before releasing them. "That thief served his purpose."

Getting to his feet, he began packing his things. With the last of his favors having been completed and no more offers for work, there was no reason for him to stay.

"Good to see there's some joy in the lives of the two most miserable people of Konoha." He thought to himself, feeling rather smug that he had gotten the village idiot to get the hint. "Well…one more day wouldn't kill me…"


By the light of dawn, the chirping of the birds, and snoring of the Hokage, Kakashi had been found.

The two ANBU stared as the door to Kakashi's place swung open and they found Ebisu.

"What are you doing here?" The first guard asked. "Or rather, is Hatake Kakashi present?"

"Yeah… why?"

"Who's there?" Genma shouted from inside.

The second guard perked up. "He's in there too? Who else has been hiding here?"

"Give me a minute…" Ebisu replied wearily, stepping back inside for a minute. "There's also Raiden, Jiraiya, Shikato, Akimitchi-san, Yamanaka-san, and Anko… oh there was also some guy in a black cloak with red clouds on it, but he left after hearing about there being ANBU here."

"Alright, and what is everyone doing here?"

"You guys haven't heard? Kakashi got his hands on a special edition DVD for Come-Come Paradise."

"Really?" The first one shouted. "Can I come in?"

"Wait…" the second muttered, scratching the back of his head. "You've been watching it for all this time?"

"Well, we've been watching once for each setting. You should have seen the frame-by-frame showing of last night… wow…"

"Uh-huh… can you explain why Anko is there too?"

"There are guys in the movie, too."

"Man, stop harassing him and let's get to the movie!" The first one shouted, hoping around like a small dog without a bladder.

"First we need to ask Kakashi about the outsider, Asagin Aiyoru."

"He's a close friend and living saint!" Kakashi yelled. "Now let's get back to the movie!"

The first guard let out a whimper.

"Alright, go. I've got to deliver the message to Hokage-sama." The second sighed, disappearing in a flicker.

He didn't stop moving until he was before Tsunade and he had explained to her the situation.

"Well, if he says so… wait… Come-Come Paradise was right in front of you and you came here? What kind of a man are you?"

"Damn it, this again…" The ANBU thought unhappily.


Naruto sat happily in the park, waiting for Hinata who, after he had brought her home last night, had agreed on a date with him. He had arrived early, not wanting the already brittle Hinata to worry about being stood up.

"Ano… Naruto-kun?" A gentle voice whispered from behind.

"Eh?" He looked over his shoulder to find Hinata.

Instead of her normal heavy jacket and pants, she was wearing a sleeveless yellow top and matching shorts.

"K-kawaii!" He thought, jumping to his feet.

"Am I l-late?"

"N-no! Early, actually! Shall we get-"

A loud scream came from nearby and he couldn't help but jump.

"Sakura, this is a joke, right? He couldn't have figured it out, right?" Ino asked in disbelief.

"He's standing right there; just ask." Shikamaru sighed. "Oi Naruto, what are you two doing?" Naruto's reply came in a foxy grin and a raised pinky. "There, you see?"

An unknown, though familiar face ran up to Naruto and began giving a thorough noogie. "It's a miracle, how'd you get the clue? Did you finally tell him, Hinata-san?"

She smiled politely but didn't give a vocal response.

"Itai! Cut that out… thick-brows?" He asked, looking up at the shaggy-haired guy with dark glasses.

He pulled of the glasses, revealing the trademark eyes.

As soon as they were off, Sakura came running over and put them back on for him. "Remember the agreement: only if you keep those on."

"What happened to you?" Naruto asked.

"Asagin-san said that because my 'unique style' was why Sakura-san didn't like me, so I just put my hair like this and it hides my eyebrows as well."


Aiyoru couldn't help but smile as he saw the fruit of his labour. Even if things didn't last in the end, at least they'd have these joyous moments before then. Of course, he wouldn't be around to see that; business had died, except for that from a blond kunoichi, and so there was nothing left to do but move on to the next town.

"So you're the one that allowed that idiot to notice my daughter." A stern voice commented from behind him.

The voice nearly caused Aiyoru to fall from his perch on the edge of the roof.

"You'll do anything for money, I've been told."

"That is true. You're interested?"

Hiashi grinned. "Once I hire you, there's no turning back."

"I could care less." Aiyoru sighed, falling back so that he was lying down with his legs over the edge of the roof. "As long as I get paid a proper amount, I'll kill any morals I've got."

"Keep that boy away from my daughter. As strong as he is, it is only because of the demon; I cannot allow such a taint to occur in my family. Money is no object; do you accept? Will you ruin that which you have accomplished?"

Aiyoru stared blankly at him for a minute before shrugging. "Consider it done; though I've one request."

The stern Hyuuga gave a slight nod for him to continue.

"Let them have this one day. After that, I can guarantee they won't so must as say hello for thirty months."


At the end of the day, Naruto fell happily onto his bed; everything was right with the world. Before he could fall asleep, however, he heard the perverted laughter that he knew so well.

"What is it, Ero-sennin?"

"How soon you forget, brat. The Akatsuki, remember? They want Kyuubi? Is any of this getting through to you?"

"Yeah, I remember them; I've got everything packed. Just wait until… kuso! I won't be able to see Hinata while I'm gone!"

"Don't worry, I'm sure that pink-haired girl or Tsunade will tell her. Now let's get going."


"You must be tired from your journey, Sasuke-kun." Orochimaru purred. "I'm so glad that you decided to come."

Sasuke glared at him. "I just need to tolerate this, and then I can force Naruto to do anything I want. Just don't appear like someone who can become his boy toy."

"Show Orochimaru-sama some respect!" Kabuto snapped. He then leaned over so that his mouth was next to Sasuke's ear and hiss: "If you weren't around, I'd have him inside me right now."

"Kabuto, stop harassing my precious body… I need my drugs."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "That explains the nurse's outfit, but why the… on second thought, I'm not even going to ask…"


Akamaru let out a whimper as he curled up in his master's arms.

"Don't worry boy, we'll head back soon… in a year or three…" Kiba muttered.


Ah, I was afraid this one was going to take a lot longer. Well, here it is, I've reachd the 3 year gap that has occured in the manga.

Still trying to get an account on of course he's not going to die, what would have been the point of deciding a creature for him if I never use it. Fufufu, a reader who boasts the strength of one of my characters... I like. And yes... 'neglectful'... where is it demons come from anyways? Does the whole 'mother' and 'father' demon, etc...

KunochiDreamer: glad you're enjoying the chapters, there'll be more in the future.