Upload Date: 10/03/2022

Obligatory statement that these characters are not and will not be mine.

Chapter 4 – Warmth

The sun was brightly shining against the blue sky. The clouds were puffy and gorgeous as they floated among the crowds of birds migrating. There was warmth all around her and Hinata lulled herself into a sense of security as she leaned against the railing of the ship, a soft smile crossing her face.

A man was walking towards her and she smiled politely at him, before she recognized him, instant fear crossing her body entirely as she saw the kunai buried deep in his chest. Blood was flowing from his wound. His mouth was open as if to scream and Hinata raised her hands against him, only to realize that they were covered in blood.

Blood.

More blood, dripping all over her arms and dress.

She looked up to see that the sky had darkened. The pitch black of everything around her contrasted with the still bright blood clinging to her skin and the smell of iron invaded her nostrils, the stench intolerable.

Blood. Oh, so much blood.

A frightened scream tore from her throat and she tried to run-

A loud slam woke Hinata up from her nightmare as a figure clad in a mask stood in front of her, staring at her for a few quiet seconds.

She barely had a moment of clarity at realizing that she was in someone's personal chambers, noted by the simple bed she was lying in and her mouth instantly filled with bile. Her hands were still shaking and her mind was reeling at her nightmarish dream.

Without thinking she launched herself at the man and pushed her fists into his chest in anger. "What did your men do with Sakura? Where is she?"

Strange, he thought. Instead of worrying about herself she had inquired about her friend…

The man grabbed her by her wrists almost painfully as he stopped her assault, almost seeming amused from his small chuckle.

"Sakura is perfectly fine. I suggest you keep your hands to yourself."

The response was peculiar. She was expecting anger and punishment. The Kiri pirates had been cruel and had tormented them relentlessly physically and verbally. His words almost seemed…honest.

"You vile man," she spat, struggling against his grip on her arms to the point that she was scratching his wrists with her longer nails. "Go ahead and kill me. I have no interest in becoming your woman."

The man tilted his head as if confused by her words and it dawned on him suddenly that she had a completely incorrect conclusion of their situation.

"You need not worry," he remarked, "The women I bed are willing participants. Neither I nor my men will harm you."

"You say that now, but later-"

"I say that now and I will say that forever." He spoke loudly, making her flinch in fear. She expected him to hit her or tie her up. He was a pirate after all. Their kind was used to cruelty.

He relaxed his grip on her arms and she noticed for the first time that they were bandaged. She felt wrappings around her throat as well as she peered up at him, distrust still evident in her eyes.

"This will be your chambers for the time being." He spoke evenly, releasing her and turning away. "If you need anything knock on the door and the guard will assist you."

This was no longer peculiar; it was downright bizarre. During the attack she'd been terrified and his voice had been mixed in with screams, explosions, and her own fear when he'd kidnapped her so she hadn't noticed before. His voice was always muffled behind the mask, but it had a familiar tone to it that she couldn't place.

The familiar way he'd spoken of Sakura was rude, even the pirates had called her "medical girl" or "pink-haired girl". They'd never referred to her by name, even when they'd heard Hinata call her Sakura.

In the quiet of the room, she could hear his voice more clearly. He had an accent from the Land of Fire.

This man was from Konoha. There was no doubt in her mind.

He had almost reached the door when Hinata spoke again, her voice quiet. "Would you consider letting me go?"

He turned back to her, those bright red eyes from his mask gleaming. "No. Not now at least."

"Will you allow me to see Sakura?"

"Perhaps. If you behave." He murmured nonchalantly as he exited the room and locked her in.

She was a prisoner once more.

It was too much. Being kidnapped, starved, and chakra-deprived had taken its toll and now here she was once again, kidnapped, wounded, and a prisoner.

She should have killed herself instead of letting herself be captured again, honor be damned. Part of her family was probably dead. Neji and her cousins had probably not survived the ocean. She didn't deserve to be the one left to survive.

Hinata collapsed on the floor and buried her head into her knees and began to weep as she felt her heart break again.

The captain of the ship strolled leisurely, as he walked towards another room, further down to the hall, closer to his own chambers.

It had only been a couple of hours since they'd attacked the Kiri pirates, but he knew she was definitely still awake despite it being the middle of the night.

He knocked once on the door to her room, remembering that she was a first-time guest as well and when he heard her voice quieter than usual, he frowned and walked in.

She was standing with her face hollow and despite not being extremely malnourished he felt she had lost some weight. The same as the Hyuuga princess.

Sakura peered at him curiously, her arms were crossed over her chest and she stared at up at him, still cautious despite the relatively warm treatment she'd been given.

Without a word he pried his mask off, leaving only his bandana in place as he gave her a soft smile. "I'm happy I was able to reach you in time."

At seeing his face Sakura burst into tears and launched herself into his arms, sobbing into his shoulder as he buried his nose into her lifeless hair and crushed her to him. She was shaking and she could hear the sobs from her throat as she was finally able to show her emotions that she had kept from everyone. Every strand of fear and desperation was finally being let out.

He crushed her towards him, bringing her even closer, desperate to show her that she had someone to rely on, someone to comfort her now. In his presence she would not undergo anymore harm or pain. He could at least offer that to his sister in all but blood.

Sakura could compose herself quickly, but the relief at seeing him was enormous and her breaking down was natural. Her emotional outburst didn't last long.

Sakura pulled herself away from her teammate with a small smile. "You saved our lives."

"Apparently from yourselves. Your brilliant plan was to destroy the ship, with you in it? That's dumber than anything I've ever done."

"You have to understand. We're women Naruto, they destroyed our spirits, our honor would be the last thing to go."

At this Naruto's eyes flared and darkened. "Did they hurt you? Or Hinata?"

"Starvation. And chakra depletion. I haven't felt this exhausted since training with Lady Tsunade. But they didn't harm us in any other matter." Sakura recalled, forcing her breathing to slow down.

He heaved a sigh of relief. "I was worried I would not be able to find you. The commotion you both caused was quite a sight. My men were impressed that two women caused that much trouble."

"Really? Imagine that. Lady Hinata and I showing off our kunoichi abilities aboard a pirate ship. It would sound like a tall tale if we had not lived through it."

"It was reckless." Naruto admonished, but squeezed her hand in comfort. "But it did allow us to find you both."

Sakura wiped the dried tears from her face with a handkerchief. "You needn't lie. Your real purpose was not to reach us, but to reach the bounty was it not?"

"Money is only worth so much. Your life is priceless."

Sakura shook her head and stared emptily into Naruto's bright eyes. "But you did steal from the Hyuuga did you not?"

Naruto was quiet for a moment, before reaching behind his head and undoing the black bandana covering his signature blonde hair. He ruffled it a bit, clearly uncomfortable and clenched his jaw. "I did."

There was a long moment of silence, before Sakura sighed.

"This way of life will not grant you happiness."

"It's granting me the opportunity to make peace. My men deserve the opportunity for a new beginning. They people I help deserve ways to move forward-"

"What about you?" Sakura asked, her voice getting louder as her anger rose to the surface. "You who would not stop proclaiming that you would one day be Hokage. Did you forget all about your dream?"

"No." There was a certain familiarity in the resonance of that word and Sakura was able to tell that it was not a lie. The young boy who had cried to all who would listen about becoming Hokage had not forgotten his childish dream, but it seemed he had forgotten or at least was ignoring his morals.

"Then why haven't you returned? You should be with Kakashi Sensei now, studying and getting stronger, preparing yourself for a role with the Hokage. Not stealing from your own people."

"Sakura," Naruto spoke, his voice getting low in warning. "You know I cannot be Hokage until I find a way to reintegrate my men into society. Forging bonds with other nations. One day we'll be able to stop all this slaughter and when that happens-"

"When that happens." Sakura repeated, mockingly as she rubbed at her temples. "You seem certain of the idea of peace."

"It's closer than it seems. I just have to keep trying."

It was useless to talk with him in this way. In all the years she'd known him she had not known of another man more stubborn than he. Ever since she'd discovered the true nature of his business, she had been unable to talk him into returning to Konoha. It was a lost cause.

He was after something that neither she nor their third teammate could give him. And that to him was worth more than his dream. At least for now.

Salvation.

She recalled the first time she'd seen him since Lord Jiraiya's death. His smile was still there, but it was shallower, as if he was struggling with keeping up his façade. He was in so much pain, still and try as she did there was no deterring him from his path. Naruto needed the world to be at peace even if he did not have justice for Lord Jiraiya. The men he held under his command, the poor people he helped, the casual acquaintance from his illicit businesses, it did not matter who they were. In his eyes they were equal of starting over, of leading a second chance at life.

She did not understand him, why he risked his life for people who had very likely done horrible things in the past. Nor did she understand why he would go so far to attempt to steal for people who had never asked for such things to start with.

He said the world was unfair to certain people. There were those who never stood a chance in this damned world. And he was a savior to them. That was the way that Sakura chose to view it at least.

And still she shuddered to think of the dangerous position he put himself in, the enormity of his actions if they were ever discovered, of the righteous anger and shame he would bring upon himself. Yet try as she might, she knew that nothing that she said would change his mind. He was stubborn after all.

"How did Hinata react when she saw you again? She must have been quite relieved." Sakura surmised, switching the subject as she noted no hesitation in Naruto's words.

There was a brief pause, before he sighed. "I did not actually tell her who I was."

The silence that followed was even more pronounced than the one before and Sakura stared at him intently as the realization kicked in.

"You're not serious?" Sakura inquired, clutching the handkerchief tightly between her fingers as she stared at him. "How do you suppose we hide it from her while we travel with you?"

"I have not thought quite that far ahead." He admitted, "To be honest, I was not planning on revealing my identity to her."

Sakura gasped; the indignation clear on her face. "Naruto, we were starved. Chakra deprived because every hour a man with that strange sword would come and devour our chakra. There's only so much I can hide, but I can assure you that Hinata was probably more terrified and more frightened than I was. Sheer ignorance is a blessing at times, but she's definitely scared even now. Seeing me will not bring her comfort. She will continue to worry about me, about our safety because she does not trust pirates. She does not trust you, because she does not know who you are. You are not the Naruto she knows."

Sakura took a deep, shaky breath. "You have to provide some comfort to her."

"By revealing my identity? You think that I'd give up my identity to the heir of the of the noble clans of our village?" Naruto spoke, his voice brimming with the slightest bitterness. The Hyuuga family had never particularly treated him well, save for Hinata and Neji. Surely the loyalty she had would remain to her family, certainly not with him.

"It's not giving up your identity, because I'm certain that she would not speak a word of this to anyone."

"That's your interpretation," Naruto mused, turning to look outside of the small window that peered into the hallway. "Loyalty will lie with family always."

"Naruto look at me. From what you remember of Hinata, I can assure you that she is exactly the same. Just as kind, caring, and empathetic as she was when we were younger. If you reveal yourself to her, she will bear you no ill will. She's been through enough. And if she doesn't accept the truth and she threatens to reveal you to her family I'll put her under genjutsu myself. I'll make her forget. I swear it."

"You're certain she won't say anything?"

"Naruto. I remember when you would trust everybody's words. Has this life made you that distrustful?"

"Perhaps," he muttered, that twinge of bitterness still heavy. "Sometimes people can change. Sometimes they stay exactly the same."

There was another lengthy pause between the two as he stared into her eyes and she stared into his. Neither one budging. For all the bickering Naruto had done with Sasuke she was the sole medium between the two. The only one who could manage to calm both down equally.

Here she was again, fulfilling that role and even if Naruto wanted, he could not deny his precious teammate her wish.

"Fine." He told her, curtly as she gave an appreciative smile. "I'll let her know, but if anything, anything bad happens you're the first one to handle it."

"Big idiot." Sakura murmured, punching his chest lightly as she embraced him again. "It'll bring you comfort too. One less person to hide this side of you from."

He could not bear to tell Hinata immediately however and he delayed himself for another hour, pacing restlessly into his office until he had sighed in defeat. He had promised Sakura after all.

Naruto walked cautiously back to Hinata's temporary room. He wasn't exactly sure of what he would say. He did not have the best record of dealing with women, not in these instances at least. He was far too brash and loud to be much comfort.

Here goes, he thought to himself.

Naruto barely remembered to knock and her voice was barely audible as she responded, causing him to frown.

He walked in, with his mask on to see her on the floor, hair disheveled, dried tears on her face and a stroke of pity washed over him. Despite everything he had told Sakura he could not help but feel for Hinata. She had been kind to him when very few had acknowledged him. He had never heard her utter an angry word to anyone and remained relatively optimistic.

At least, she had been, but it had been years since he had seen her.

Sakura was right. She did not deserve her suffering.

"I'm afraid I have been misleading you, Hinata." Naruto spoke, not missing the ways her eyes darkened at the mention of her name.

Hinata stood up slowly, clutching the bed for support and her eyes were transfixed on his mask, on the calm and soothing voice now reverberating through the room.

The familiar tone hung in the air, heavy and light at the same time. The intimacy behind it could only come from a familiar person.

"You-I know you." Hinata whispered, her mouth parting slightly as her chest began to tighten.

The Fox nodded, carefully removing his bandana slowly, as to not frighten her anymore and as he undid the fastenings of his mask, he could feel her expression change.

Warm, blonde hair tussled out and Hinata's breath caught as she saw whiskered cheeks and bright blue eyes, bluer than the sea she'd come to love, look at her.

It really was him. Naruto Uzumaki.

"It's been about six years," he murmured, somewhat uncomfortably as he clutched the items tightly in his hand, "So I wouldn't blame you if you couldn't remember. I'm-"

Without a word Hinata threw herself into his arms. If she had any room for tears, she would have shed them right then.

It had been six long years of wondering where he was, if he was safe, if he needed comfort. His voice was oh so different now and he was so tall. She had been slightly taller than him the last time she had seen him.

Naruto shut down as he felt her embrace him and his entire body felt cold as paralyzing fear overcame him. He did not like physical contact like this often and he certainly did not like someone he was not close to doing this, but…

He looked down at her and noticed that she had buried her face in his chest. This brought her comfort and even if it twisted his gut he had to endure.

She separated from him almost instantly, with her face bright red. "You saved us."

"By accident." The words had come out almost instantly and he regretted them as soon as he said them at seeing her expression change slightly into one of confusion.

"It's no matter." She responded, shocking him to the core. "You went looking for us when all hope was lost. You could've chosen to ignore our plight for better treasures and you didn't."

Hinata stared at him, with her face still red. "N-No matter your reason for doing it you saved our lives and for that I'm eternally grateful."

Naruto's face was frozen. "You acknowledge that my purpose was to obtain your jewels and still you're grateful? I got my hands dirty to achieve my prize and you-"

"I'm not saying I agree with your choice of…career." Hinata interrupted softly, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, "But I will not be hypocritical in acknowledging that your willingness to take life is what saved our own. Besides…" her voice began to break as she stared down at her hands, "I-I think…I think I had to take someone's life too."

The last word broke her and she began to cry again, trembling as she hugged her arms, trying to keep her composure and Naruto's protective instincts went into effect walking up to Hinata and embracing her, not too closely, but just enough so that she'd have something to lean into.

She's so breakable, he thought to himself. Nothing at all like Sakura. Sakura was emotional sure, but she was heady and strong. Stubborn and feisty.

Hinata was one step away from shattering into a dozen tiny pieces. And here he thought that her life must have been a fairy tale, what with living in a huge home with dozens of servants and family members.

It seemed he was wrong about many things, including her.

"I won't say a word of this to anyone." Hinata spoke, breaking apart from him to look into his eyes. Her face was still red, but she maintained her composure. "I owe you that much at least."

Naruto shook his head vehemently. "You owe me nothing. I'll return you to Kiri as soon as we are able."

Her eyes widened. "Neji and the rest of my cousins…are they alright?"

Naruto grinned at her then, his whiskers making him look every bit like the Fox he was.

"Your clan members are strong. They all made it. It's thanks to one of your cousins that Kiri and I were able to figure out where they were. They're all injured of course, but all are being treated at a Kiri hospital. That's where we're headed soon."

"Soon?" the phrasing was strange, and Hinata didn't miss the flicker in his eyes.

"I have to dispose of the jewels as quickly as I'm able to." He remarked, and his cold demeanor returned, almost daring her to protest as those were technically her family's jewels. She and Neji had earned them through a stern negotiation. They were her jewels to present to Konoha.

She was silent for a moment. "What will you do with them?"

"Well, my destination was the Land of Waves." he spoke quietly, glancing up to see her expression. He was unaccustomed to speaking of his piracy so candidly. "There are many people there who could use them."

The Land of Waves was quite a poor nation when compared to the regions of Earth, Lightning, and Fire. There was no clear method for their residents to travel as they were located in a singular island surrounded by water. The closest territory was the Land of Fire, which still encompassed a few days by sea.

Was it altruistic in nature then? Did he have no purpose for the precious jewels himself?

"That is an afflicted nation." She confirmed, and peered up at him.

He nodded. "Indeed, it is. I promise that I will handle that as quickly as I can."

Hinata wringed her hands together. "Please hurry. I want to see my family again."

A strange expression crossed his face and he nodded again, curtly. "You shall." Naruto turned and stepped back towards the door. "Consider this ship your home while we travel. Even though my men are rogues they obey my every command. You need not fear."

"Thank you."

Her voice was soft and he turned back in time to see her bow and the sight made his gut clench.

"Come with me. I'll have you stay with Sakura while you're on board."

Hinata nodded; her eyes still bright from all the crying she'd done. Her figure looking even smaller now that he knew that she had been starved and chakra deprived.

She had not contested the jewels, despite them very clearly being Hyuuga property for Konoha.

She had not asked any questions about his piracy and had not uttered a word in protest at having to take a detour into essentially a poor, rundown village.

She had not blamed him for kidnapping her and had not asked a timeline for when she would be set free.

Hinata Hyuuga was an enigma and he felt the hairs on his bare arms prickle as he felt her warmth as she walked beside him.

It was strange how she could make him so uneasy.

Author's Note: There we have it. The first official encounter of our dear Fox and Lady Hinata who have to embark on a detour before heading back towards Kiri. As always thanks so much for the reviews, faves, and follows! Your encouragement keeps me going.