December 27th
Naruto had been wandering the downtown shopping district of the Hidden Leaf for what seemed like hours. It was already mid-day, knowing he had little time to find Hinata the perfect gift. He knew he shouldn't have spent so much time looking at furniture but Sakura insisted.
"Now Naruto this couch is comfortable but this one is a better price; how many people do expect to come to the party tonight? You need to have enough seating and enough room for drinks…"
"Women" he sighed looking through a shop window.
Hinata would have been more fun…but then I would have had to tell her about the house, and then she would have seen the decorations that Ino and Tenten were working on. That would ruin the surprise and I told her I had morning training. He thought of the small birthday party he was planning on throwing her.
Naruto had spent the better part of his morning moving furniture both new and old from his apartment. Taking longer than he expected, arranging and rearranging the furniture in his new home all under Sakura's supervision.
"Naruto-nii chan!" a familiar voice sounds.
"Konohamaru, what are you doing down here?" Naruto greets the younger boy.
"Mom sent me to pick up a few things, but I'm glad I ran into you. Did you know the whole village is talking about you, well you and Hinata?" He smirks up to his former teacher.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asks, confused.
"You two mauling each other outside of the Hyuga compound." Konohamaru making kissing noises punctuating his sentence. "My mom was gossiping about it with one of her friends in the kitchen this morning."
"Then they're really going to flip when people find out I've been wandering around here for hours trying to find her a birthday present." Naruto looking down the street aimlessly at the shops.
"Well I do know of this little shop over here. I got mom a present there last year. I'll show you, if you don't mind something a little out of the ordinary" Konohamaru says cheerfully.
"I'll try anything right now at this rate I'll be late for her birthday dinner." Naruto begins to follow the younger boy down the streets, the shops are getting smaller and smaller, the light given off by the sun growing fainter.
"Konohamaru, what kind of gift did you get your mom?" Naruto expects to find a weapon shop at the end of the alley.
"Just wait." Konohamaru says as he opens the door.
Inside Naruto is greeted by counter tops covered in jewelry of all shapes and sizes. A small shockingly old woman perched on the high back chair behind the counter. If she stood she would maybe come to Naruto's elbow counting the grey hair that was neatly tied in a bun atop her head.
"Can I help you gentleman." A soft whisper that seemed to come from the woman.
"Yeah, he needs a gift for his girlfriend." Konohamaru says in a singsong voice.
"Her name?" the whisper comes again.
"Um Hyuga Hinata?" Naruto sates, not sure who he should speak to, as the woman in front of them mouth doesn't seem to move.
The old woman climbs off her chair, and begins stepping on unseen step stools moving surprisingly swift for her age between the cases.
"Hhhmmm." She hums running her hands over the different trinkets but not picking any up, pausing slightly over different pieces but shaking her head in a frustrated manner and moving on.
"Konohamaru what is she doing?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Shhh just wait." The younger boy shushed him.
Naruto stood in the middle of the shop watching the old woman back and forth, she seemed to float between the cases of jewels. Until she finally pulled two pieces out from separate cases moving them to a red velvet mat in front of her chair. The woman stood, eyes closed, both hands hovering inches above the two pieces of jewelry.
"Aaa-haa!" The woman exclaims frightening the pair who had been staring at her so intently they were not expecting her mouth to actually move when she made the explanation. "Take this boy, it will do." Holding up a pale iridescent stone, it was around the size of the end of Naruto's pinkie finger shaped like a teardrop. The stone hung from a delicate silver chain that was shining as bright as the stone itself.
Is it clear? Naruto thought to himself watching the gem move in the dim light of the shop, small rainbows coming off the gem as the woman slipped the necklace into a small velvet bag. Naruto caught a glimpse of lavender in the stones center as it moved. Her eyes, that stone, the same color of Hinata's eyes!
"How, how did you know?" Naruto asked in shock.
"That boy is for me to know, I do however insure that your lady friend will love it or your money is guaranteed. Thank you for your business." She accepts his money and resumes her seat behind the counter.
"Konohamaru, I'll have to thank you later, we'll meet up for some training! I'm almost late!" Naruto reaches out to ruffle the boy's hair and runs off to meet the group.
A soft laugh floating on the breeze greeted Naruto as he rounded the corner.
Hinata, he thought, smiling to himself.
She stood in front of the restaurant, long hair pulled up into a soft ponytail, small wisps escaping to fall around her face. She had exchanged her normal modest everyday clothes for a pair of tight black leggings that hugged her curvy thighs in just the perfect way. Her shirt was a blue that seemed to shimmer in the streetlights as they came to light.
Okay Naruto, tell her, remember to tell her how pretty she looks. It's her birthday and she might just be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Giving himself a pep talk before stepping into the light.
"Naruto?" Hinata's sensei Yuhi Kerenai is confused at the extra shinobi's presence, as he comes into view.
"Hinata got a little bit more than her sister back on that moon mission sensei." Kiba steps forward nudging Hinata in the shoulder pushing her towards Naruto. "Isn't that right, brought yourself back a little birthday present." A blush forming on her cheeks at the words.
"Oh, Kiba!" Hinata, once again using the loud tone Naruto did not know she was capable of, and nudging him back. Shino could be heard laughing softly from behind the group.
Naruto studies Kerenais face as she processes the information Kiba had just exposed. Looking at the way Hinata orientated herself around Naruto. Her hip gently resting against his as he instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist causing her to fall more into his body.
Dinner seemed to fly by, Naruto feeling slightly out of place as the team laughed over old jokes trying new and different foods.
"Naruto-kun is everything alright, you've been quiet all night." Hinata questions waving a salmon roll in front of his lips.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just enjoying hearing about your past, it's been fun." He smiles, leaning over to eat the roll she offered.
"As long as you're having fun." She squeezes his hand.
"I am, promise." Squeezing her hand back.
"Kiba, where you able to?" Naruto trails off, glancing over at Kiba.
"Yeah, he wasn't happy at first but once I explained that everyone was going to be there, and we wouldn't let her out of our sight." Motioning between himself and Shino. "He finally said it would be okay, and if she was home by midnight." Kiba replies in a hushed voice so Hinata isn't to overhear as she says goodbye to Kerenai.
"Hey Hinata, why don't we go for a walk? I bet we could all use it after that food." Naruto cheerfully grabs her hand.
"That would probably be good, I think I ate too much. I shouldn't have let you get me dessert." Swinging his hand lightly with the breeze trying to hide her shiver.
"Am I always going to have to tell you that more clothes are required for the winter?" Naruto asks, referencing her shivering on the moon in her battle gear. He shrugs off his jacket and drapes it over her shoulders.
"I wanted to look pretty." Hinata mumbles looking at the ground.
"Hey," Naruto places his finger under her chin looking into her wide lavender eyes. "You're beautiful okay, you'd look good wearing a rice sack." Brushing the hair out of her face. "I should tell you that more often." He said almost an afterthought.
"If this is how you guys are going to act after dating for a week, I'm not spending time with you when this goes on longer." Kiba making gagging noises at the couple.
"Get a girlfriend Kiba." Not even bothering to look at him leaning down to kiss Hinata. "Happy birthday, again by the way." He smiles broadly at her.
Shino starts walking off in the direction of Naruto's house.
"Shino the hell!" Kiba yells after him.
"I'm cold." Shino replies and continues to walk.
"Naruto, do you know someone who lives over here?" Hinata asks as they make their way up to the small front porch.
"Yeah, or something like that." Naruto grins, pulling his keys from his pocket and opening the door.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" a chorus of voices greeted her as Naruto pushed her through the doorway.
"What? What are you all doing here?" she turns around to look at him, confusion covering her face.
"You told me not to get you anything," he lies swiftly "So I did something for you instead." Naruto rubs the back of his neck. "Please don't be mad Hinata." Looking at her face, her eyes seem to glow.
Gods please don't let her use the byakugan on me. I didn't think she would be this upset over this…I'll have to return the gift if she's this angry about a party. Naruto thinks about stepping back from her.
Hinata throws her arms around Naruto dragging his face down to hers, kissing him with a demanding force.
The kiss caught Naruto off guard; he stuttered at first, then he wrapped his arms around her waist, dipping his girlfriend back. They broke apart cheers coming from their friends around them.
"Thank you, Naruto, thank you for everything." Hinata looks up into his ocean blue eyes hoping to convey that she is thankful for more than just the party. "Now who's house is this?"
"How bout a tour, and I'll explain everything." Naruto motions to the room around them. Hinata's eyes move around the room as Naruto explains how he had met with Lord Six earlier in the week and had been given a house.
Food was laid out on the island separating the living room from the kitchen. A soft grey couch and matching chair created a space for a low coffee table that was now occupied with various drinks. He had kept his old kitchen table from his apartment; they look oddly out of place with the new furniture surrounding it. The kitchen housed a stove, an upgrade from his hotplate Hinata had spied in the apartment, a refrigerator and various other small appliances she wondered if he knew how to use.
"Can you cook?" Hinata motions towards the kitchen and its shiny new appliances.
"A little ya know, living on my own since I was ten or so I learned a bit." Naruto takes her into the kitchen.
"Thanks for coming Ino, Shikamaru, Choji." Hinata greeted the group, the last busily building a plate of food.
"Well when Sakura filled us in on what happened on your mission." Motioning between the couple. "We had to come and see." Ino replies smiling broadly.
"What she means is, happy birthday Hinata we're glad you gave us an excuse to spend time with everyone." Shikamaru, always the polite one of the group pulling the gawking girl out of the room.
"So, I got a rice maker. The guy at the shop said it makes really fluffy rice" Naruto smiles motioning towards the contraption sitting on the counter. "And this makes instant hot water. It's so cool Hinata you can put the water right in the instant ramen and have almost no wait time! And then of course a microwave. I never had room for this stuff back at the apartment!" Naruto happily shows his girlfriend his new dishes.
"Would you cook for me sometime?" Hinata asks, fingering the knobs on the front of the stove. Glancing over her shoulder noticing the kitchen empty, minus herself and Naruto.
"Anything you want, I want to get a tv or something there." Naruto motions towards the living space. "Most of the rooms are upstairs, there's an empty bedroom I guess back there not sure what I'm doing with it just yet." Pulling her towards the stairs.
"You guys are gone for too long, I'll send the search party." Sakura's voice could be heard following them, laughter in her tone.
Oh wow. Naruto's eyes go wide, as Hinata climbs the stairs. Her shirt raises up towards her hips exposing her very round ass. Now that is a view I could get used to. The fabric of her leggings stretching with each steep, he let out a slight groan hoping she didn't hear.
"Did you say something Naruto?" She asks over her shoulder.
Damn it. Cursing himself silently.
"Oh, um no." He replies blushing slightly thankful for the darkness.
I wonder if she'd hit me if I touched it. Naruto thought to himself, only one way to find out. Shrugging, reaching out and poking Hinata.
"Naruto!" She squealed she had reached the landing and spun around to look at him.
"Yes?" he replies, his tone childish like when her mom caught her sneaking a snack before Hanabi was born. The happy go lucky smile that spread across his face furthered her belief that he could get away with anything when it came to her.
"Was that necessary?" she asked, trying to keep a stern tone.
"Are the tight leggings necessary?" he replies furrowing his brow, faking a sternness.
"Next time just asking alright?"
"So, in public I can ask to touch your ass? Do you think your father would object to that?" Naruto moves in close.
"No, I don't think he would like that." She reaches out, linking her fingers with his.
"Do I have to ask permission for this?" Naruto not giving her a chance to ask for what.
His lips reach hers not wasting much time thinking of Sakura walking up stairs to find them. Running his tongue across her bottom lip as they part, simultaneously breaking the link between their hands. His arms circled around her, placing his hands directly on her rear end giving it a slight squeeze. Hinata moans slightly into his mouth as he breaks the kiss.
"So, do I?" Naruto referencing his last question.
"No, y-you don't." she manages to stutter out flustered.
"Good to know, okay so let's continue the tour. There's three rooms up here, one I think I might put a desk in." Looking down at Hinata's shocked reaction.
"For?" She questions.
"To study, the Hokage has to be kinda smart, ya know." He smiles lightly in the moonlight coming through the window. "Not sure what Kakashi was thinking I would do with three but oh well. I picked this one." Walking into what Hinata assumed was the largest bedroom "I think I may need a new bed." Looking at his small single bed being swallowed by the size of the room.
"Maybe a dresser too." Hinata replies looking around, he had a small night stand but besides that the room was empty. "And a lamp perhaps."
"We could go shopping, I got the stuff downstairs with Sakura this afternoon but I'm sure it would be more fun with you." Naruto reaches out touching her arm.
"Thank you" She says softly turning towards him, "Are you going to kiss me again?"
"Yeah and then I'm going to give you your real present." Naruto reaches down placing a hand on the back of her neck, placing his lips on hers once again.
Her lips slightly open under his, expecting him to go further, like he had in the hallway but he doesn't. He simply brings both hands up to cradle her face, kissing her in the most romantic way.
"Happy birthday, Hinata. I love you more than you'll ever know." Kissing her on the forehead.
"And I you." She replies, running a hand across the whisker markings on his cheek.
"Now before Sakura sends the search team, I have one last thing for you." Pulling the velvet pouch from his pocket. "And I know you said not to but I'm sorry I couldn't not get you something." Waving the pouch in front of her face.
"Fine." She snatches it from his and undoing the knot holding it shut, pulling the necklace from the bag. "Oh." She says almost a whisper. "No one has ever gotten me jewelry."
"Do you like it?" He asks her, watching the stone sway slightly in the light of the room.
"It's so pretty thank you, will you put it on me?" She holds the necklace out to him.
"Of course."
"Come on, we can't leave your guest waiting." Making their way back down to the party.
"Tenten!" Hinata pulls the girl into a hug as soon as they reach the bottom of the stairs "I'm so glad you came!"
"Not a chance I wouldn't be here, Neji would have been so proud to see you growing and having fun." The other girl replies.
"Naruto, I feel as if I should walk around and thank the others." Dropping his hand.
"Have fun." He smiles at her walking over to where the other guys were seated holding an unlabeled bottle.
"Naruto! Tell me, how did that happen? I thought you were in love with Sakura!" Lee blurts out as soon as he sits down causing Kiba to spit into his drink.
"As usually bushy brows you waste no time, well…" Naruto launches into the explanation he gave Kiba and Shino the other day at the BBQ.
"Sounds like you need this." Kiba hands Naruto a glass full of whatever he had in the bottle.
"What is it?" He sniffs the cup. "Oh sake." Recognizing the smell from his time spent with Pervy Sage.
Looking across the room he catches Hinata's eye, she raises an eyebrow at the cup in his hand shifting her gaze to the blank white bottle in Kibas hand, eyes widening obviously recognizing it. Turning back to Naruto giving him a soft smile followed by a short nod of her head.
"How do people drink this!" Naruto exclaims after taking a large swig of his drink.
"Beginners sip Naruto." Shino mumbles from his spot in the corner.
The party was in full swing, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, once the bottle got passed around the stories started flying. Of the war, the gossip that had been floating around the village, rumors that Sasuke had been seen on the outskirts near the Hidden Leaf.
"Hey!" Hinata squeals as Naruto pulls her down into his lap as she tries to walk in front of him. "I was just going to sit on the arm." She tries to stand but his arms are wrapped around her waist.
"No, I think I like you bet-better here." He replies, his speech slurred from the drink, nuzzling his face into her neck.
"I think you've had enough." Taking the glass from his hand, she leans forward placing it on the table.
"Of you? I could nev-never get eno-enough." Naruto said, his voice low. He had intended his words to be only for, but in his current state his words reached the others in the room.
A roar of laughter coming from Kiba, Hinata's face turns bright red, as Naruto leans forward placing a sloppy kiss on the side of her mouth.
We're a couple now, couples can act like this in front of their friends. He's just being himself, having fun. You should have fun with him. Hinata thinks, talking herself out of sitting up from his lap.
"Naruto!" Faking shock, Hinata pretends to try and stand.
"Nop-nope." Naruto's grip tightens. "You're mine mine mine." A lazy smile covers his face as she settles back in his lap.
"I meant of the sake, Naruto." Hinata giggles at her boyfriend's care free actions, ignoring the heat she felt on her face.
"Did you think they'd be this cute?" Ino turns to Sakura and Tenten.
"Cute?" Sakura replies, "more like sickening." Laughter coating her voice as she makes eye contact with Naruto her happiness for them could be seen by everyone in the room.
"Naruto?" Kiba points to the clock on the wall.
"What?" Hinata asks, lifting her head from his chest as she had perched herself on his lap.
"You have to be home by mi-midnight. I'll walk you." He stands lifting her as he goes, stumbling.
"Oh no I think you should stay here." She pushes him gently back down to the couch.
"But then ho-how will I know you're home s-sa-safe?" Naruto tries to stand again.
"How about I walk with you guys" Shikamaru intervenes "I live just a few blocks from here so I could walk with you to the Hyuga compound then walk Naruto back here on my way home."
"That works for me." Hinata offers a hand to Naruto helping him off the couch as others make their way towards the entryway.
"Naruto?" Sakura's voice sounds from the doorway. "This was a really nice thing you did tonight, keep it up."
"Come on, time to get her home so I can get you home." Shikamaru begins to walk out of the room.
"Hinata? Did you have a good birthday?" Naruto questions wrapping his arm around her waist trying to guide her down the road.
"It was great, thank you so much." Wrapping her arm around him offering him much needed support.
"I love you, so so so very much my lit-little Hinata." Naruto looks over at her. "I never really noticed but you're small…..wait am I just tall?" He stops, turning to Shikamaru for an answer.
"Buddy, you're tall, she's average, let's keep walking." Shikamaru says in his same sullen tone.
The group reached the compound just on time, due to Naruto wanting to stop every five feet to look at something or talk to Hinata in broken sentences.
"Come see me in the morn-morning be-beautiful." He slurs. "I thought of some stuff I wanna talk to you about." Kissing her on the cheek. "Bye bye now pr-pretty girl, love you." Naruto waves and starts to walk away.
"I love you too." Hinata calls after him.
"Let's go Uzumaki." Shikamaru guides the drunk back to his home.
"How's Temari?" Naruto asked, looking over at Shikamaru.
"Why do you ask?" The sullen shinobi replies.
"Cause you like her and we're friends so it is my ob-ob-obligation to ask." Naruto smirks.
"She's fine, I'll be going to the Sand next week on an ambassador mission, I hope to see her." Shikamaru gives a rare smile.
"Good good good, love is good Shik-Shikaaamaru, I think everyone should experience it." Naruto looking aimlessly off into the distance.
"Okay Uzumaki, you're home. Go to bed and don't drink again, you're too much of a sentimental drunk." Shikamaru opens the door pushing him inside, tossing his house key in after him.