The hike had definitely been worth it.

Naruto had been a trifle worried, given Hinata's somewhat frail appearance. But, he once again learned an important lesson. It didn't pay to underestimate her. She was made of strong stuff, despite her tendency to be shy and retiring. He had smiled, remembering something Iruka-sensai had told him once: Good things come in small packages.

When they had first reached the crest of the hill, Hinata clapped her hands and stood enraptured, the view captivating her immediately. The sky was an amazing shade of blue, one which somehow spoke to both of their souls. Large birds rode the thermals overhead, while their smaller cousins hopped from bush to bush, feasting on an abundant crop of berries. Shy creatures occasionally peaked out from burrows in the ground, or from holes in the side of stately ancient trees. Butterflies flew together in large many-colored groups, a living tapestry.

The idyllic nature of the site eased Naruto's heart. He wasn't usually a big nature buff, but something just seemed right. Just the same, he couldn't help reliving his sensei's comments from earlier in the day. There were always storm clouds on his horizon, whether they were visible or not.

While Naruto had began arranging the food, Hinata surprised him yet again. Taking off her boots, she ran happily through the plush moss and ferns. Laughing, she gathered flowers, sticking one behind his ear. Smiling as if she had no cares in the world, she rolled down the hill like a young child. Somehow, Naruto felt as if he had finally done something right. Hinata wasn't too happy when he refused to join her in her tumbling. But, a future Hokage needed to practice being refined. He told her that. She ran off behind a thick group of bushes so he couldn't hear her subsequent laughter. When she saw him again, she didn't seem able to stop hiccupping.

As the two of them finally sat down to eat, Naruto thought back to how they had acquired their bountiful feast.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Limping along the path, fresh from his encounter with the fish vendor, Naruto was taken by the ever increasing number of chickens pecking at grass and other plants that had gone to seed.

They looked to be domesticated fowl, as best he could tell. Why were they loose? Feeling somewhat mischievous… and wanting to get Hinata back for her trickery…he told her that he had heard dark rumors about the countryside they were walking through. Supposedly, the glen up ahead was the home a powerful enchantress who could turn men into animals, or create unsubstantial images of beasts. Any number of people in the village swore that was true.

Hinata said that she didn't believe the tale, but moved closer to Naruto just the same. She jumped when Naruto stepped on a large stick. Her eyes kept looking this way and that, wondering if someone or something might be watching them.

"A lot of people were skeptical," Naruto said, rubbing his neck. "Some people made big boasts, saying they would seek out the witch and prove she didn't exist." He went on to say that some older townspeople embellished the stories, saying that the enchantress was able to darken the heavens by hiding the moon or the sun behind clouds… destroy her enemies with poisonous juices… and call all manner of spirits to her aid. "They say that in her presence, the woods can move, the ground rumble, and the trees around her turn white."

Hinata giggled. She was now absolutely certain that Naruto was just trying to scare her.

'Those stupid stories made the men overly brave. Who could believe anything like that?" Naruto stopped and leaned his head up against a tree. The look he turned on Hinata was so sorrowful, that she almost reached out to touch him. "I wanted to go and see for myself. I wasn't afraid. But Jiraiya wouldn't let me go." He struck his fists against the tree in mock anger. "He put me to sleep for seven days, the big hairy bastard! And when I woke up, he told me that the danger was gone." He sighed. " I believed him."

"Naruto-kun, how could there be anything such as a witch or enchantress?" Hinata turned a skeptical eye on her boyfriend. He was pulling her leg, right? There was no reason to doubt that, was there? He looks so sincere; but, she knew better than to take him at face value.

"There can't, if you mean the type in the stories and fairy tales." Naruto rubbed his chin, then tried to act very serious. "My teacher told me that the woman is an S-class criminal. She possesses powerful jutsus, ones that are strong enough and dramatic enough to be taken as magic by common people. I'm just telling the tale as I've been told it. If you want more details, I suggest you ask Tsunade when you get back to Konoha." Naruto nodded his head sagely. "I'm certain that she'll have at least one file on it all."

"Oh." Hinata's uncertainty grew.

Naruto continued with his tale. The first group of men had never found the evil woman, but did stumble on a strange hut. Though small and dilapidated on the outside, the structure was opulent and immense on the inside. Some of the walls and chambers of the great palace seemed to be bathing in blood, while others seemed to waver and rise as if they were made only of smoke. While they were certain the visions were nothing but illusion, nothing that anyone did or said could make them go out again.

"Y-Y-You're a good story teller, Naruto." Hinata tried to sound brave. The look in her eyes gave her away.

"Story?" Naruto asked. "I'm just repeating what happened. We need to be very careful out here. This is no joke." He reached over an squeezed her hand. "But, if I can stand up to Shukaku… Orochimaru… and stuff like that… you probably don't have anything to worry about." Naruto nodded. "It helps to be lucky, too."

The story continued. The next group of brave explorers to happen upon the shack arrived at a time when its mistress was home. She was said to have been surrounded by all kinds of beasts that defied description, having an appearance of things that the earth might have once produced out of primeval slime. Those men escaped unharmed, followed by the maniacal chuckling of the witch. Calling the returning men cowards and liars, another group of men went forth. They too saw many beasts, but those were of the regular kind, such as lions, bears, and wolves, all of which acted as domesticated animals, showing their kindness by wagging their tails.

"Some say that those were actually the drugged victims of the enchantress," Naruto whispered in Hinata's ear. He almost had to pick her up and carry her. At one point, hearing a large branch fall in the woods, Hinata jumped and wrapped her arms around Naruto. That made him feel strong and protective. That felt great. Well, it was OK. Kind of. For a little while. Shit, who was he fooling. He wished that she would do it again.

"Jiraiya told me something about the woman," Naruto said, embellishing his story more and more. "He said that she had stolen forbidden scrolls from a Kage in a foreign land, fleeing to this area to avoid punishment. She fell in love with a townsman, and decided to make this area her home. But he was merely trifling with her, seeing that he was in love with someone else."

Hinata did not like that part of the tale. The look she gave Naruto was intended as a warning, plain and simple. She blushed, unnerved by her own reaction.

It was Naruto's turn to feel a bit uneasy.

"Well, the heartbroken and jealous witch enticed the other woman to visit with her, making some promise or another. They appeared to become fast friends, often going down to the creek to bathe together. Out of jealousy, the witch poisoned the water with her magic. This is how the beautiful girl became a monster with the face and breast of a woman, but with six dog heads and twelve dog feet." He looked relieved. "It took a number of ANBU squads to bring down that poor beast."

SHE IS NOT DEAD. I HAVE MET HER

Kyuubi's comment brought Naruto up short. That damn Nine Tails was only jerking his chain, right? But, Naruto had reason enough to feel uneasy himself for a moment. He wasn't entirely making up the entire story on his own. Jiraiya had told him a very similar tale, first told by ancient people in a land far away.

"Uhhh... Hinata..." Naruto tried to keep a smile off of his face. Before continuing on with the story, he felt like saying something that would catch his gilrfriend off guard. "When we bathe together, you had better let me check the water first." He had never seen anyone turn that shade of pink before.

Naruto wasn't certain where that impulse had come from, but he found that he liked teasing Hinata. "I hope that she-devil never takes a liking to me!" Naruto's statement had Hinata nodding and grabbing his arm. "The man at the first ramen shop had a son who went to the witch for a love potion. He came across her while she was gathering herbs and she fell in love with him. She taught him how to make powerful drugs…practice clever incantations… and play devious tricks." Naruto stopped and rubbed his chin. "It might be nice to learn more tricks!'

"No!" Hinata yanked hard on Naruto's arm. Calming down some, she added "I'm certain that you know more than enough tricks already."

Naruto continued telling the tale, saying how that man also came to love another woman, scorning the witch in the end. She turned him into a woodpecker. At that point, the villagers had had enough. The next time they went out, it was with a squad of ninjas and townspeople carrying torches, pots of oil, and buckets of salt and lime.

"D-D-Did they g-g-get her?" Hinata turned a tad pale.

Naruto shook his head and said "No." Hinata swallowed awkwardly, trying to keep Naruto from realizing what she was growing more and more uncomfortable. "The townspeople stormed into that strange shack.. Only one man, suspecting a trap, stayed outside. Watching through the open door, he watched as the enchantress sweet talked all of her angry visitors, saying that they had been listening to a bunch of bald-faced lies. She served them all cheese, barley meal, and honey flavored with Pramnian wine. They should have known better than to accept anything from that bitch!"

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata didn't approve of that word.

"Huh? Well, she really was a bitch." Naruto stuck his chin out. "What else would you call some woman who drugged the food that she gave people?" He shrugged. They all forgot their purpose for being there. When they had eaten their meal, she worked a banned jutsu. The other man saw the woman lead them all into a large fenced area, because they all looked like chickens… clucked like chickens… and acted like chickens." Naruto turned to face Hinata. "They were chickens!"

YOU SHOULD BE SO FORTUNATE

Ignoring Nine Tails, Naruto walked over to as group of chickens. "Hello. It's me, Naruto Uzumaki. You may have seen me around town with my master. Can you understand me?"

Hinata looked at Naruto as if he had gone daft in the head. "I just I want to see if any of them seem to recognize me," he said. "Jiraiya said that he knew some of the people that vanished." The chickens ran from Naruto.

"Well?" Hinata wondered if Naruto was being serious. Looking at the chickens, she rubbed her eyes. It had to be a story. A make-believe story! "Did any of them act like they recognized you, Naruto-kun?"

"Could be," Naruto said, pursing his lips and tapping his finger on his chin. "You saw that they ran away and wanted nothing to do with me.'

The logic had Hinata blinking rapidly for a few moments. Naruto couldn't stretch the story any longer. The anticipation had grown too great. Combining some of his new powers with his best and oldest skill, he worked a combined jutsu. "Hinata…look!" A clone of Naruto pointed towards a clearing. There seemed to be a ramshackle shack there, surrounded by mixed herds of animals. Suddenly, an exotic looking woman, surrounded by a large number peacocks and a pair of tame wolves, stepped out from behind a large gnarled looking tree.

"Mmmmmm. What have we here?" Naruto sounded like a woman in his enchantress form. "Such a handsome young man. Would you like to sit and sip wine with me this evening?" She licked her lips and then turned to Hinata. "As for you young lady, you look tired and sweaty. Perhaps you would like to bathe in my beautiful creek?"

"Yes. That… would… be… nice…" The Naruto clone spoke in a jerky soulless voice, just as he had been instructed to.

"Naruto-kun!" At first, Hinata was frightened, looking as if she was ready to run. Naruto had to fight from laughing. Paybacks are the bitch! But, the young girl pushed the Naruto clone aside and worked a series of hand seals. "Kishibari No Jutsu."

To the enchantress Naruto, it looked as if he were surrounded by the grasping boughs and branches of a great angry tree. Before he knew it, Hinata emerged from the illusion, a kunai in hand. He managed to block her just in time. That was truly a shock. The Hyuuga clan usually didn't learn powerful jutsu outside the family secrets.

'Why didn't you tell me what was going on?' Naruto confronted the Nine Tails, furious. Both of their lives had been in serious danger. There was no response. He filed away an important fact. Despite the fact that the great demon's existence was hand-cuffed to his own, Kyuubi would not always warn his host of impending danger, despite his growing tendency to communicate. It was best to take nothing for granted. He resumed his normal form as the clone popped out of existence.

Hinata, naturally, was beside herself, concerned that she had come close to injuring Naruto. He did not felt so victorious at that point. When he bowed down his head in front of her, telling her to cuff him as hard as she could, she shook her head and said that she would remember to be less gullible in the future. She had trembled a bit for a moment, a dreamy look in her eye. A sudden urge to lean over and kiss the top of Naruto's head left her feeling awkward and confused. She covered her sudden anxiety by saying that being tricked, scared, and manipulated was no big deal.

"I spent the better half of the day chasing after ramen, without tasting a single noodle. Everything else will seem minor in comparison." Hinata tried to scowl but failed miserably.

The two of them continued on their way after that. Following a well-travelled path, they happened upon an old lady with a twisted cane, watching as she vainly chased after a number of chickens. Alarmed, they watched her fall and writhe in the dirt.

When they ran up to offer assistance, the woman explained her dilemma. A storm had dropped a large branch on her family's chicken coop, tearing out a large portion of the screening. Blessed with an unexpected boon, the birds had all made their escape.

There had been no one to help gather up the fleeing chickens, as her husband was in bed sick, her sons were away on business, and the yard hands had not shown up for work. She had done her best, afraid that foxes would make off with her prized poultry.

I SEE NO PROBLEM HERE.

Naruto suddenly had a tremendous urge to bite the head off of a chicken. He fought down the impulse, knowing it was not his own. He listened to the old woman's sad tale.

Things were worse than they seemed. Alone, with a sick husband and scattered chickens, the woman was still trying to put together a large number of dishes she had been paid for. She had agreed to cater to a rather sizeable affair in town. Her counters and shelves were filled with half peeled vegetables; meat needing to be de-boned; pies in various forms of development; soaking fruit; un-cleaned fish; and sundry similar items.

Pots were boiling over on cook tops. Various dishes were nearing completion in wood-burning stoves. Countless shellfish, fruits, and other foods sat in colanders under running water.

Naruto won Hinata's admiration at that point. "Don't worry old lady, I Uzumaki Naruto will assist you! Kage Bunshin No Jutsu.'" There were a lot of stray chickens. But, spread as far as the eye could see, there were even more Narutos. Before Hinata graciously volunteered to go inside and be of service, the two women watched the comical chaos that resulted from a screaming and laughing boy challenged by running, flapping, and flying birds. There were Narutos in the bushes... on roof tops... up trees... under porches... everywhere. Hoards of identical ninjas came running back with squawking chickens, leaving an early snowfall of feathers wherever they went.

While the round up continued, Hinata went to help out in the kitchen. She carried soup up a long flight of rickety stairs leading to the sick farmer's bedroom . She fluffed the grateful man's pillows; brought him fresh blankets; replaced his water glass; and offered him a soothing balm for his chest. When Naruto returned... covered with countless feathers and scratch marks... he found Hinata wearing an apron, humming happily while she cut up the vegetables for a huge cauldron of soup.

"She'll make a wonderful wife some day," the old woman said. Hinata turned impossibly wide eyes on Naruto. He in turn gave the two women reason to laugh. Caught entirely off guard, he instinctively took a big stride backward without looking. He put his foot in a large dog bowl and began sliding. Reaching out with his hand, he caused a tall thin cooling rack to start rocking precariously. His other elbow knocked over a large bowl of eggs, sending them wobbling along the counter top. The scroll he carried tipped over a large jar of dried peas, making his footing even more precarious. With a loud thump, he fell on his back. Eggs rolled off the counter and onto his head. A cherry rhubarb pie fell off the rack and landed upside down in his lap. A peach cobbler hit the last remaining clean spot on his shirt. Before the shocked ninja could get back on his feet, he was bowled over by a large number of dogs. He was nearly licked senseless.

"He'll be a handful, dear." The woman smiled when she saw Hinata blush prettily.

Sporting a rather large grin, Hinata walked over to towel Naruto off. He was speechless.

When he was as presentable as possible, the young shinobi went to draw some water out of a well, while Hinata went back to cooking. Having found a rack of ale bottles outside, Naruto made a new and happy friend when he carried them up to the elderly farmer. They were each on their second bottle when the two women came upstairs, carrying bowls of sweetened porridge and a basket of fresh strawberries.

The farmer's wife put the basket down more forcefully than she needed to, almost knocking an unlit pipe and pouch of tobacco off of a hand-made wooden table. "You're too sick to drink!" She swiped her man's bottle and shook her finger at him.

"You're too young to drink!" Hinata grabbed the upturned bottle from Naruto, leaving him sucking at air.

"Men!" The woman said, shaking her head.

"Boys!" Hinata said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Shit!" The farmer said, falling back in his bed.

"You said it!" Naruto grumped.

"Come with me young'en." The woman grabbed Naruto by the ear and dragged him down the stairs.

"You can't do this, I'm going to be Hokage some day!" Naruto complained.

"Well, that day ain't today!" The woman answered. Turning to Hinata, she said. "See. That's how you handle men." Hinata smiled.

Naruto, on the other hand, frowned. Scandalized, he shook a fist at Hinata. "If you ever tell anyone about this..."

"I would never do that, Naruto-kun," Hinata said meekly. Nartuto didn't believe her for a second.

Just as Naruto was about to say something more, the farmer's wife coughed loudly. Having his attention, she spoke. "Boy, when you put all them chickens back, did you think to fix the coop?" She had reason to ask. Looking out the window, Naruto saw that the yard was filled with chickens again.

"Uhhh.…" Naruto felt totally embarrassed.

"He'll be two handfuls, dearie." The woman patted Hinata on the back. Hinata giggled.

Finally, their good deeds all accomplished, the two shinobi had resumed their travels. Each carried a rather large basket, stuffed with an assortment of food and drinks. It was their reward for kindness and hard work.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A stray leaf blew against Naruto's face, bringing his thoughts back to the present time.

When Hinata sat down to join him, finished with her frolicking, he reached out and pulled a long weed out of her hair. She blushed and murmured her thanks.

"You did remember to fix the chicken coop, the second time, didn't you Naruto-kun?" Hinata scooped some stew into a bowl for her companion. Taking a small taste with a sampling spoon, she was happy to see it was still warm.

"Ummmmm..." Naruto let his jaw fall open. Seeing the shocked look on Hinata's face, he smiled and nodded his head. "You didn't think I'd make the same mistake twice, did you?" Hinata didn't answer, She began picking out the largest slices of fruit for Naruto. "Did you?" Naruto's pride spoke for him. Hinata stared at two wrapped pieces of pie, wondering if Naruto would prefer raisin or pecan. "Hinata!" Naruto was scowling now.

"Naruto-kun? Did you say something?" Hinata smiled.

"Never mind!" Naruto stuck out his lip and mumbled to himself.

After preparations were done, the two of them vowed to eat until they couldn't eat any more. The trials and tribulations of the day seemed long forgotten. During the first part of the meal, they spoke about the things that they had each done over the past year.

"And that crazy pervert! I can't remember how many times he dragged me to the woman's hot springs... the girlie clubs... wet T-shirt night... and the hideout behind the woman's clothing shop. Whew!"

"Nauto-kun!" Hinata dropped her spoon.

"What? Wait! I meant to say that I was always the look-out, you know... and..." Naruto waved his arms. Hinata just stared at him. "It's not as if I wanted to look at all of those naked big breasted women... I mean..." Naruto bit his tongue. Hinata took away his slice of pie. "I…you see... It was just..." Hinata removed his custard dish, too.

The two sat quietly for a while, each looking off in their own direction. Hinata looked for shapes in the clouds. Naruto wacxhed a troop of monkeys trying to open thick-rind fruit. Most struck their prizes against rocks. One banged the gourd-like fruit against its own head. 'That one would be me,' he thought.

Naruto hung his head and sighed. "I'm sorry, Hinata." When he looked up again, the pie plate and custard bowl were back. He cleared his throat. "What I meant to say was, I can't remember how many things that old hermit tried to teach me besides discipline, jutsus, and common sense. Boy could he talk! Tale after tale after tale."

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata wiped her mouth daintily on a napkin. "You had a lot of fun?"

"Oh, they weren't tales for entertainment, Hinata-chan. Everything had a lesson, a moral, or a point to make. Sheesh!" Naruto wrinkled up his nose.

"Can you tell me one of the tales, Naruto-kun?" Hinata liked hearing Naruto speak. Every so often, she still felt a need to pinch herself, finding it hard that she was actually spending time alone with him. She also felt a little jealous. Despite Naruto's protestations, it seemed that he truly liked his teacher. It also sounded like they did a great many things together. Kurenai and others had made it a point to pay more attention to her, but she still felt lonely much of the time.

Naruto scratched at his chin. He made a sour look, not wanting to be reminded of all of the lectures he had been forced to sit through. Looking at Hinata and seeing that she was truly interested, he nodded his head. "Sure. Let me see. OK, here's one of the first ones he told me:

"A pigeon, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders."

Hinata nodded her head. Naruto frowned. "Do you think that sounds like me, Hinata?" He shoveled some custard in his mouth, before his girlfriend had any reason to take it away again. "I mean… I'm not that reckless. That old geezer always says that my 'zeal is greater than my discretion.' What a crock!"

Hinata stopped in the middle of peeling an apple. When you're small and have little faith in yourself, you learn to be political. At least that was how things had been with her. "Not entirely, Naruto-kun, " she answered before resuming her task. "You always seem to get back up again." She took a moment to remember some of the times she had seen just that. She finished by saying "Your actions haven't gotten you or other people hurt, have they?"

"Well... not lately." Naruto watched Hinata slice the apple. She hadn't said a single word to criticize him, but her reaction had himself feeling more introspective than any of the Legendary Sannin's talks had. He tugged at one ear. What he personally viewed as enthusiasm might be rashness or something worse. He put his piece of pie down mid-bite. What if that final line had been 'Having broken his wings by the blow, he fell to the ground… and watched while the other pigeon was captured.'

"Naruto-kun? Are you OK?" Hinata offered him the larger slices of apple. "Do you have other stories?"

"Me? You know me, Hinata. I'm always fine! hah hah hah." Naruto perked up. "I have plenty of stories. Here's another:

"A fox one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape. 'If,' said he, 'you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards.'

The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, 'You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape.'

NEVER TRY TO OUTSMART A FOX

Hinata nodded her head again, and then began nibbling daintily on a sliver of apple.

"Ha! That damn Ero-sennin. He had me repeat that story for him every morning that he dragged me with him to see... uh, town." Naruto had almost mentioned the tea parlor with the scantily clad attendants. "Like I really needed to do that, right Hinata? hah hah hah."

Wiping her mouth, Hinata looked at Naruto's hands. The fingers on one hand were twitching. "You did used to leap before you looked, sometimes." She shivered for a moment. Part of her was worried that if she spoke the truth too harshly, Naruto might stop liking her. The other part was more practical. If she could lose his favor by telling the truth, then what was his favor really worth?

"Sometimes?" Naruto asked. He stared at Hinata a moment, pulling at a corner of his robe.

"But, it taught you important lessons. It helped you grow stronger by putting you in situations that you really weren't ready for." Hinata unwrapped a steamed tuber and offered it to Naruto.

"Yeh! That which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!" Naruto went on to tell Hinata a number of tales from his time with Team Seven. Somehow, sitting with her then, he saw them in a different light. Maybe desperation wasn't the best way to learn after all. At Hinata's request, he went back to the other tales:

'Oh Father,' said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool, 'I have seen such a terrible monster! It was as big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two.' 'Tush, child, tush,' said the old Frog, 'that was only Farmer White's Ox. It isn't so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see.' So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out. 'Was he as big as that?' asked he. 'Oh, much bigger than that,' said the young Frog. Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that. 'Bigger, father, bigger,' was the reply. So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he said 'I'm sure the Ox is not as big as…" At this moment he burst.

"So, how about that one, Hinata? Am I like that?" Naruto pulled one knee up to himself and rested his chin on it. His eyes were riveted to his date's face. He wondered why he felt a strong need for her approval.

"Ummm..." Hinata unwrapped another small dish. "I don't think that you are conceited enough to destroy yourself, Naruto-kun."

"Oh. I see. You think that I am a bit conceited?" Naruto frowned.

"K-K-Kumquat?" Hinata held out the bowl.

Naruto turned his head to one side and ignored the offering. "Conceited, huh."

Hinata twiddled her fingers. "You have many skills, Naruto-kun. And you are very good at what you do." She swallowed hard, preparing to share her feelings with him. "It is right for you to feel good about yourself. I wish that I could feel that good about myself." She had made strides over the past years, but it was a slow process. At least it was when Naruto wasn't around.

"Hinata?" Naruto turned around again. He took out a kunai and speared a kumquat.

"I have worked very hard, Naruto-kun. Thanks to you. But, I still do not know as many jutsus as many of the other shinobi. I'm not as strong as the others, either." Hinata's voice grew quieter. "The boys spend their time teaching the prettier girls the jutsus they learn from different jounin."

Naruto popped the kumquat into his mouth, chewing while he spoke. "Well…mmmppphhh… I… mmmmm have some… mrmrmrmrmll…stories for…mmmmm (gulp)… you too, Hinata. Good kumquat!" Naruto worked a knot out of his neck.

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata wondered what her boyfriend wa going to say.

"Let's see..." Naruto skewered another kumquat and took a small bite. "Mmmmppphhh… yeh. This one…mlmmlmm (gulp)… ought to do:

"A Jay venturing into a yard where Peacocks used to walk, found there a number of feathers which had fallen from the Peacocks when they were molting. He tied them all to his tail and strutted down towards the Peacocks. When he came near them they soon discovered the cheat, and striding up to him pecked at him and plucked away his borrowed plumes. So the Jay could do no better than go back to the other Jays, who had watched his behavior from a distance; but, they were equally annoyed with him, and told him 'It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.'

Hinata looked at Naruto, an odd look on her face. Did he think she was the Jay or the Peacock? She knew what she thought.

"Other girls may be prettier, Hinata. That's just the way it is. But that's all it is." Naruto couldn't help but look Hinata up and down. He tried to remember the tone of voice Jiraiya used when he wanted to get a point across. "You're still beautiful." Hinata blushed and ran her finger around a rim of one of the empty bowls. "If you ask some of the other girls, I bet they will probably admit they aren't as confident as they might seem. They are probably putting up a front, trying to make themselves look good." Naruto caught the last kumquat on his kunai, then held it up for Hianata. He had meant for her to take it off with her fingers.

Looking at the fruit, Hinata bent over and nibbled on it. Suddenly embarrassed, she pulled the remainder off with her fingers and placed it in a bowl in front of her. "Ummm…. Maybe you're right."

Naruto stared at his kunei for a moment. "Right. While those other girls chatter about things that don't matter, you are honest with yourself. While they chase after things that are silly or frivbilous, you work hard to make yourself better. I like that. I like that a lot."

Hinata blushed. She couldn't help by smile. Lost in her sudden happiness, she didn't have anything to say. Scratching his head, Naruto moved on to the next fable:

"A Vixen who was taking her babies out for an airing one balmy morning, came across a Lioness, with her cub in arms. 'Why such airs, haughty dame, over one solitary cub?' sneered the Vixen. 'Look at my healthy and numerous litter here, and imagine, if you are able, how a proud mother should feel.' The Lioness gave her a squelching look, and lifting up her nose, walked away, saying calmly, 'Yes, just look at that beautiful collection. What are they? Foxes! I've only one, but remember, that one is a Lion.'

LIONS ARE NOTHING SPECIAL

Naruto almost choked on his own tongue, trying to stifle a laugh. He had never expected to hear a petulant youma. That disclaimer sounder funny coming from a creature that was larger than a small village. He looked at Hinata. She smiled back at him, and nodded, correctly guessing that he had another story.

"A Fox was boasting to a Cat of its clever devices for escaping its enemies. 'I have a whole bag of tricks,' he said, '…which contains a hundred ways of escaping my enemies.' 'I have only one', said the Cat. 'But, I can generally manage with that.' Just at that moment they heard the cry of a pack of hounds coming towards them, and the Cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid herself in the boughs. 'This is my plan', said the Cat. 'What are you going to do?' The Fox thought first of one way, then of another, and while he was debating the hounds came nearer and nearer, and at last the Fox in his confusion was caught up by the hounds and soon killed by the huntsmen. The cat remarked 'Better one safe way than a hundred on which you cannot reckon.'

Kyuubi didn't make any remark after that, but Naruto sensed a vague sense of discontent just the same. Hah! He moved onto the next story, wondering if he should change one of the animals to a fox. No, that wouldn't work. He told it as it was supposed to be:

"A bull was bitten by a Mouse and, angered by the wound, tried to capture him. But the Mouse reached his hole in safety. Though the Bull dug into the walls with his horns, he tired before he could rout out the Mouse, and crouching down, went to sleep outside the hole. The Mouse peeped out, crept furtively up his flank, and again biting him, retreated to his hole. The Bull rising up, and not knowing what to do, was sadly perplexed. At which the Mouse said, 'The great do not always prevail. There are times when the small and lowly are the strongest to do mischief.'

"So, even though we're not the biggest shinobi around, we can still get the job done. Right, Hinata!" Naruto's natural effervescence had Hianata giggling. "It doesn't matter how many small tricks everyone else has, if we can still kick their ass!" He gave her a thumbs up. "Let's do every thing we can do to get stronger. It's our Ninja Way."

"You are very wise, Naruto-kun." Hinata spoke in a low voice, thinking that she was very fortunate to see something that other people probably overlooked.

"Hey. Well. You know. I'm not that smart, Hinata." Naruto put one hand behind his head. "I'm just repeating what I heard from that old toad hermit."

"If you say so, Naruto-kun." Hinata looked at Naruto with obvious adoration in her eyes.

Naruto froze. He had never seen a look like that before. He wasn't certain how it made him feel, or how he was supposed to feel. "Do you have any more stories, Naruto-kun?"

"Ahhhhh…" Naruto had to clear his throat. Sure. Dozens. I don't want to bore you. Remember what Sakura and the other girls said." Hr scrutinized Hintas' face and posture, trying to judge her true level of interest. If he actually had found someone willing to listen to him, he could talk until the stars fell down from the skies.

"Please." Hinata bowed from the waist.

"Oh. Fine. I was going to stop, you know. But if you want, I guess I can tell a few more. Hmmmm. Which one. Which...one..." Naruto flicked a pebble out of his boot with his kunai. "Well, there's another one that the damned pervert used to tell me every day:

"A gnat settled on the horn of a Bull, and sat there a long time. Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and inquired of the Bull if he would like him to go. The Bull replied, 'I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.'

"Can you see any reason he would tell me that one, Hinata?" Naruto squared his shoulders. Hinata began stacking bowls and dishes together "Hmmmmm?" Naruto grabbed one dish and licked it clean while he waited for a reply. Hinata looked as if she didn't want to pick that dish up. "Well?" Naruto began wiggling one foot, trying to get rid of a sudden cramp.

Hinata just looked at Naruto and smiled.

"Whatever!" Naruto made a sour look. He was seized by the urge to talk some more. "Here's one the horny idiot used to tell me whenever I mastered some great new move. I don't know why he always had to ruin the mood. Jerk!

"A lamp, soaked with too much oil and flaring brightly, boasted that it gave more light than the sun. Then a sudden puff of wind arose, and the Lamp was immediately extinguished. Its owner lit it again, and said 'Boast no more, but henceforth be content to give thy light in silence. Know that not even the stars need to be relit.'

Hinata pulled the sleeve of her robe over her hand, then picked up Naruto's moistened plate. Putting it on the stack, she folded her hands in her lap and looked up at Naruto, ready for the next tale. Naruto opened his mouth to ask Hinata if she thought he was boastful and arrogant. He closed his mouth. Compared to her, everyone was boastful and arrogant. He smiled, realizing just how special that made her. "OK. "Let's move on to another one. I'll admit that while I have worked very hard these past years, I haven't been the model student. But, if that old freak ever expected anything different, he's stupider than he looks. You can tell him that if you like!"

Hinata smiled. Naruto told the next fable:

"A peddler drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. His road home lay across a stream into which his Ass, making a false step, fell by accident and rose up again with his load considerably lighter, as the water melted the sack. The Peddler retraced his steps and refilled his panniers with a larger quantity of salt than before. When he came again to the stream, the Ass fell down on purpose in the same spot, and, regaining his feet with the weight of his load much diminished, brayed triumphantly as if he had obtained what he desired. The Peddler saw through his trick and drove him for the third time to the coast, where he bought a cargo of sponges instead of salt. The Ass, again playing the fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but the sponges became swollen with water, greatly increasing his load. And thus his trick recoiled on him, for he now carried on his back a double burden."

After he was finished with the fable, Naruto went on to describe a lot of the things that he had learned. He made it a point to mention all of the indignities that he had been forced to bear in the process. Scowling, he described each and every imposition, insult, impropriety, and insinuation that he could remember. He also glorified his own efforts, taking greater pride in his attempts to frustrate or circumvent his teacher than he did in his actual accomplishments. Of course, he was also forced to admit that Jiraiya had taken to giving him additional chores and lesson each an every time that he was caught.

Hinata couldn't help herself. She yawned. Naruto opened his mouth, but stopped. Enough was enough. He hoped that Hinata wasn't too bored. "Excuse me, Naruto-kun. It's been a busy day and I'm feeling a bit tired. It's not you. Please continue, if you wish." Hinata yawned again.

"No. That's all I have, Hinata." That wasn't exactly true. There were many more. One particular tale walked into his thoughts, uninvited. He certainly would not tell her that one. He hoped it wasn't a portent or something.

A mouse who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance formed an intimate acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part in the water. The Frog, one day intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he gradually led him towards the pool in which he lived, until reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the Mouse with him. The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog. A Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft. The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.

The two of them had shared some very pleasant moments. He would never regret a single second they had spent together. But, Naruto had to admit that they were isolated on the hill top. They could easily be seen, without necessarily catching any glimpse of anybody who might be watching.

If someone felt the time was right to move against him, Hinata would get snared in the same net. Maybe it was best to get her home now. He stood up and stretched, making a big show of it. "Well, I think it's time to hit the road! I can't believe how stiff I am. Here, I'll take both of the baskets, Hinata-chan."

"Thank you, Naruto-kun. If you can show me to the path, I will my way back to Konoha." Hinata straightened out her robes and brushed away a stray crumb or two. She then began folding the cloth they had been sitting on. It was indeed growing late, but she wished that the day didn't have to end.

Naruto spun his kunai around his finger... tossed it high and out of sight... and caught it when it came back down. "I'll walk you back to the village, Hinata. It would be nice to see it again." He was not about to let Hinata walk that distance alone, especially with darkness less than an hour away. "That old pervert might worry some; but, I figure he has plenty of things to keep himself occupied tonight." Naruto also had to admit to himself that he had other reasons in mind. For some reason, he didn't want to say good bye to Hinata yet.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata bowed. Without thinking, she ran and gave him a quick hug. That was so unlike her. But it felt good.

Later, a long way into their trek, Hinata began giggling.

"Huh? Hinata?" Naruto looked over at her.

"It's amazing, Naruto-kun." She shifted her basket from one hand to the other, feeling a slight twinge of regret that she hadn't returned it to the old woman. But, the farmer's wife had said it was a gift.

"What's amazing?" Naruto was chewing on a long piece of grass he had plucked from the roadside.

"I almost can't believe it," Hinata added. She looked over at Naruto and smiled.

"What?" Naruto grinned. He used the fuzzy end of the stalk to tickle Hinata's neck. Now, where had that impulse come from?

"N-N-Naruto-kun!" Hinata bunched up both of her shoulders and gave her companion a startled look.

"Yes? You were saying?" He began waving the grass like a small baton.

"Was I saying something, Naruto-kun?" Hinata was feeling somewhat impish. She'd show him!

"You were saying that something was amazing and beyond belief." Naruto tossed the grass away and looked expectantly at Hinata.

"Oh. That's right!" Looking ahead, Hinata saw the lights of Konoha.

"Well…" Naruto was beginning to feel grumpy.

IF YOU BITE THE TENDON BEHIND THE KNEE, YOU COULD DISABLE HER. SHE WOULD THEN BE AT YOUR MERCY

Naruto grimaced. He was not quite at that point yet. Yet.

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata had to struggle to keep the amusement out of her voice.

"What… is… so… amazing…" Frightened by the sudden noise, a number of small animals left concelment and scampered across the deeply rutted road, headed off into the darkness.

"It's been hours, Naruto-kun." Hinata began humming happily to herself.

"Hours... what?" Naruto clenched his hands tighly. The handle of his basket began to warp. Hinata remained quiet. Naruto's a reactions spurred on her playfulness. That was a small miracle in itself. "Hinata!"

"It's been hours since you said the word 'ramen.' I'm really quite impressed." Hinata smirked.

"Ramen..." Naruto said, somewhat sadly.

Hinata couldn't help but laugh. The sound was answered by the hooting of an owl. Other waking night animals joined in.

Naruto mumbled to himself. Why was everybody picking on him?

THE WEAK ARE AN EASY TARGET

'Shut up! Just shut up!'

When the two young ninjas passed through the great gate of Konoha, Hinata was singing a quiet happy song to herself.

Naruto was still grumbling.