So many stars,
I wonder what they're thinking.
All these scars
dissolve when I hold you.
I feel so safe,
and you do too.

On the way back to the Hyūga estate, Hinata glanced several times at her savior, said savior having no idea of his new peeper.

For the 'future hokage,' Naruto sure wasn't very observant for certain things.

He did notice that Hinata was stumbling slightly and drifting off. He transformed into a large fox before hoisting her up onto his back. Initially shocked, Hinata yelped, looking around nervously. A voice coming from the fox soothingly stated, "Hey, it's just me, Hinata."

"Naruto-k-kun?" She asked, getting a nod from the fox. First she smiled, until realizing that she was riding Naruto, and flushed a dark red, "Th-thank you N-Naruto-kun," she breathed out before promptly fainting.

She just couldn't stop thinking about how nice Naruto was to her. And he wasn't just nice because she was the heir of the Hyūga, he was nice just because.

And those eyes...

The blue ones.

They were so comforting and cheerful. While she was staring at him, she practically forgot all about how she was kidnapped.

She basically forget about most of her life to be fair.

The group arrived at the Hyūga compound and were greeted outside by a woman holding a small child.

"Oh my goodness! Hinata, my sunny place, thank you all so much." She made the rounds hugging and thanking everyone, until she reached naruto.

Her face went through several different emotions very quickly. She looked anxious, then confused, then relieved, then confused again. Naruto had something to do with the confusion part. He couldn't quite put a paw on it.

"Doggy!" The little girl shouted.

"Sure," Naruto replied with slight disdain.

'You outta give this tiny thing a piece of my mind,' Kurama retorted, 'Does she even know who I am?!' Naruto chuckled in his head, 'So the great kyuubi does have a weakness then?' Kurama replied by mumbling something about Naruto's weakness before lowering his head and closing his eyes.

"Yes, it appears so," the woman continued looking at Hinata, "I'm sorry, but what is this fox doing here?"

"Naruto Uzumaki," The woman jumped. Hinata got off and the fox turned into a boy. He held out a hand, "Nice to meet you."

'Hm. He's much more forthcoming towards my wife. Typical.' Hiashi thought bitterly.

"Wha... what are you doing here, young Naruto?" She asked with obvious concern. She was still quite confused. Hiashi held up a hand and she eased up.

"I stopped the people who took Hinata, Dattebayo!"

Hitome bent down and pinched his cheek, "Well isn't that adorable."

"Hey! What's the big idea?! I did, I swear."

"Okaaay, suuure," Naruto grumbled, "Come on, you look hungry."

"Wait a minute. How can I trust you?"

"I live here."

"How am I supposed to know?"

"My name is Hitome Hyūga. Hyūga," she flicked the boy's forehead, causing him to groan, "Can you trust me now?"

"Hmph. Could be a fake name..." Naruto grumbled as Hitome left to deal out another round of thanks.

'Yeesh, talk about overbearing. Who knew somebody could hug so much.'

'Yeah, but she still wouldn't hug you,' Kurama stuck his tongue out, 'lewww-suhr.'

'Psh, who cares? I certainly don't. Nope! Not at all.'

'Talk about insecure...'

'Yeah you are!' Kurama grunted and laid his head back down. Naruto was interrupted by a tight squeeze.

"Oh, you are adorable," Hitome muttered as she swung the boy around.

Hinata started to panic. Was her mom making a move on Naruto? This was a nightmare, "Ano... anoooo..."

"Now," Hitome declares as she set Naruto down, "One more round!" The group standing around her inwardly groaned.

After Hitome doubled up on the hugs and thanks, she led everyone inside.

On the way to the kitchen, Hitome assured Naruto that Danzō was okay with the sleepover. She didn't know why the boy would need that sort of attention, but Hiashi had asked her to tell the boy so she did.

Naruto felt a little uncomfortable being the only one to be eating. Especially so after noticing Hinata walk to the doorway before walking back out several times.

When Naruto saw her walk back in again and asked, "Are you hungry Hinata-Chan? I would be after something like that."

She stopped at that and began to blush bright red before squealing, "Nothankyougoodnight!" And bursting off. Naruto had a concerned look as he turned to an obviously amused Hitome. Naruto just shrugged and continued to eat.

Hitome kept forcing bowls on the table, and even with the slightest notion of rejection, he could see Hitome tilt her head and grow a tick mark on her forehead. He decided it'd be best to just eat until she was satisfied.

'These Hyūgas are... pretty interesting.'

Naruto and Hitome both looked proudly at the stack of bowls that went all the way to the ceiling.

Hiashi walked by, glaring at the stack with envy in his eyes. 'No no, Hitome don't even ask me if I want any,' he angrily muttered in his mind as he shuffled to his room.

"Excuse me," the now humongous balloon Naruto spoke, getting the attention of Hitome, "where is the bathroom?"

In her marveling at the boys ability to eat, she almost forgot that he was staying the night.

"Oh of course, right, it's to the left then the second right, then left again, and..." Naruto zoned out while Hitome continued to ramble off her directions. She noticed the boy nodding along as his head slowly fell back, "I'll just walk you to it."

Across the hall, Hinata could hear the shower running and her mind began to wander. 'I wonder if that's Naruto-kun. Maybe I could... NO! What if it isn't him? NO it's just wrong either way. Well if it was Naruto it wouldn't be that wrong. Just NO! Well... maybe just- ENOUGH. Stop it Hinata, KYAA!'

After "debating" with herself for a few seconds, she finally "decided" that she would take just one peek. That wouldn't hurt right? Maybe two then.

The walls of the Hyūga home were designed with the byakugan in mind. After some of the pervier Hyūga attempted to do what Hinata was considering, the need for proper measures of privacy were created. Hinata tiptoed to the bathroom door, and lowered herself to the crack in the door.

As she activated her Byakugan, she first looked at the ground in order to give herself the "option" to go back. She quickly jerked her head up and squinted.

She immediately blushed as she analyzed.

Everything seemed normal, besides a weird amount of chakra being sent to his eyes, surprisingly built physique, and, 'is that his forearm? What's it doing dow... oh.' Hinata thought as she immediately passed out on the floor.

Hitome watched from the end of the hallway. 'What a sicko,' she thought as she shook her head. She walked back towards her room, 'Whi knew Hinata would be such a perv,' she sighed as she lie down next to Hiashi, "She gets it from you."

"Eh?"

"Nah- forget it."

Naruto saw, hanging on the bathroom door, a change of clothes and a note telling him his room was right across the hall.

The clothes looked like some sort of gi. Not really the best sleepwear. His boxers would have to suffice for the night. He had been sleeping on the ground for the past few days, but even he had to draw the line somewhere.

He opened the door to the room he thought was his.

"Man, some noble family giving me a karate gi to sleep in." He paused before he noticed Hinata lying face down, completely flat on her bed, "Oops wrong room," Naruto let out with a chuckle. Hinata slowly turned her head to barely see Naruto wearing a very undersized towel. "You guys have really small towels," he chuckled.

"Anooouhh..." She couldn't even manage a sentence before her vision slowly faded as she tumbled toward the ground, only hearing Naruto softly shouting her name. How could anyone expect her to keep consciousness when her virgin eyes were graced with the sculpture of a person that was standing in front of her?

Somebody was up to something. Replacing all of the towels in the bathroom with hand towels, telling Naruto his room was actually Hinata's, giving him uncomfortable sleepwear.

It couldn't be a coincidence.

Hitome found herself at the same end of the hallway again. She could be heard giggling as she watched the fruits of her matchmaking efforts grow. She began to walk off as she thought to herself, 'My my that boy is...' she stopped, 'A child! Get it together Hitome!'

Hinata came to on her bed. Her memories came back to her and she became even more red out of embarrassment. She needed to sleep it off, but every time she closed her eyes, images of that man, grabbing her, taunting her, and his lifeless body all plagued her mind.

She didn't feel safe.

Hinata got up to get her old night light- these desperate times called for desperate measures- and noticed a note on the ground:

"Naruto, your room is right across the hall."

Hinata remembered how calm she felt when she was with Naruto. She remembered diving into the blue oceans in his eyes and losing track of everything else. She wanted to feel that again.

In a burst of uncharacteristic boldness, Hinata nodded to herself and marched to the hallway. She didn't know which room Naruto was in, but she completely forgot about that.

In her brain, a mini Hinata flipped a switch from, "Shy, but with a working brain," to, "Brave".

Naruto was sitting at his desk practicing the Kamui. He obviously doesn't have a Sharingan, so how does he have access to the mangekyō specific ability?

Although he didn't technically have a Sharingan, he did have one in some way. In fact, he had something better. He named it the fūinnome, or the eye of sealing.

His eyes, when activated, could seal away any and all information a person says or shows to him perfectly into his memory. Information such as unique dōjutsu and kekkei genkai.

Much like opening any of the eight gates, Naruto's eyes allow him to exceed the limits of his body and unlock traits that were previously locked behind a genetic barrier. Through these mean, Naruto could essentially copy and paste any abilities he absorbed with his eyes.

Every elemental affinity, all of the known mangekyō, wood release, and even macabre bone pulse of the kaguya clan were all at his fingertips. In the case of the bone pulse, it was quite literally at his fingertips.

He first learned of his abilities when his eyes first activated after a near death experience and he unknowingly gained wood release.

Correction: he was killed... so it was more of a death experience.

~~flashback~~

March 3rd, 7:30 PM. Naruto is two years old and already fearing for his life.

Orochimaru just led a shadow raid on the orphanage Naruto was living at, kidnapping all but Naruto.

This was the first piece of fuel in the flame of Naruto's only hatred for someone. A hatred that burned so bright and so deep, that even the nine-tailed fox, said to be the embodiment of hate, shutters at the thought.

For this boy to hate you, you have to jump through a lot of hoops. A lot of flaming, razor-sharp, moving hoops.

Just leave that task to Orochimaru.

"I'll let these nasssty villagers handle you," the pale man stated with venom coated words, "lesssss work for me in the long run, ne?" He said, cackling as he disappeared.

Naruto lie on the ground, crunched up and horrified. He sat there for a while, left to his own thoughts.

'Where's old man Hokage? I thought he said he cared about me. I wonder when they'll be here. They wouldn't blame me for this... Right?"

A man swung the door open. Naruto's head shot up. He saw a man standing in the doorway. He looked rather upset, "URGH. You just keep messing with this village, don't you, demon?"

"Wha- I- I-"

"You just sit right here... I'll be right back."

Naruto's first thought was to run. He didn't want to find out what would happen if he stayed. The man's words were laced with such venom that they themself made him fear for his life.

But Naruto started to think more deeply on it. He thought back to what the old man told him when he asked him what being a ninja meant:

"Someone with no name who protects peace from within its shadow. Someone willing to give their life to protect their home and the people of that home. That is a ninja, Naruto."

He thought about that. A lot.

He heard the pounding footsteps of the villagers coming towards him.

Naruto repressed the memories deep inside the recesses of the library in his head. If you asked him, all he could muster about the incident was feeling his heart speed up before stopping, and his vision cutting out in an instant.

He did, however, remember the conversation he had with Kurama. His first, in fact.

"Me and you are quite alike, kit," his voice echoed around the sewer-like area, "you may not recognise me, but you know me. I am the nine-tails, kyuubi, the reason you are hated in the village."

"You-You-You're inside... Me?" The fox nodded, "That's why they..."

"Is that why they what?" Kurama asked, a twisted grin forming on his face.

Naruto looked down, "Why they look at me like that."

The fox nodded again, "Yeeesss. I am the sole reason you are hated, you worthless runt."

Naruto sighed, "I wish I could stop causing them all this pain. Maybe it would be better to sacrifice myself. Like the old man said."

Kurama was confused. Naruto was made the scapegoat for all of the villages problems and was constantly abused and mistreated. He knew that he didn't see it, but the villagers had just gouged his eyes out.

"What old man? Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to die. It would be much easier to eat you."

Kurama noticed the boy was unphased by the taunting.

"The Hokage. He said, 'A ninja'... uhh..something about sacrifice and-"

"I don't think this is what he meant. Do you?"

Naruto shrugged, "Well maybe he would have showed up if he didn't think so."

Kurama tilted his head at the boy, "You..." he gave his head a shake as he grunted, "erghh... nevermind."

Naruto looked up in confusion. The fox was looking away from him, "Even you're scared of me, huh?" Naruto frowned and looked away.

"Yeah right like I'm scared of some puny trash," the boy was still unphased by his insults, "How... ahem... How are you causing them pain?" Kurama asked, the anger in his words fading slightly.

The fox didn't really know what he was feeling. He was angry for sure. But his anger wasn't so much directed at one specific thing.

Naruto shrugged, "I don't know really. Just seems like bad stuff happens when I'm there," Naruto shoved his hands in his pockets, "I'm not you. But they need to have something to be mad at."

There was a long pause as Kurama struggled to open his mouth. 'This kid is 2?'

"I wanted to be a great ninja one day. To do that, I have to sacrifice myself,"

'Wanted?' Kurama worried over what the boy was saying. Is he saying that he accepted death? Why is he feeling bad about him accepting death? What the fuck is happening?

"But... I don't think I have to yet. I have a plan and I'll stick to it," Naruto exclaimed as he raised a fist.

Kurama eased up a little. The hate might be consuming him. He liked where this was going: revenge! Revenge for being controlled by that damn Uchiha! Revenge for being treated like a monster by all humans!

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I swear on my life that I will show everyone in the world that even those who have been hated for eternity can show love and be loved by others!" Kurama's jaw dropped past the floor, far enough to reach Madara in the deepest parts of hell. "And I will start my mission with you, the most hated thing of all." He pointed his stubby, two year old finger at Kurama.

Before the fox knew it the boy had jumped onto his tail and was latched on. It tickled. He felt odd. Confused for sure, but it was more than that. He thought back to his birth.

"Kurama, my boy, know that I love you with all my heart. I can only hope that the future generations will care for you as I do. Alas, I know that that will not be the case. There will be someone one day, someone who will show nothing but pure compassion for those around him. He will be the savior of this world. Trust in him, Kurama. I believe in you. And I believe in him."

'Could- could he be? The one father spoke of?"

When he looked into the boys eyes, he saw nothing but sincerity when he was talking about his goal. He would help this boy. Help. That's what Kurama felt like he should do. He began to pump chakra into the boy's body.

'Even if he isn't the one, it at least beats being stuck in a cave somewhere. At least here I can be consistently alone.'He rationalized.

As he directed his chakra to the boys impaled eyes, the light from the full moon shone down directly into them. Somehow it interlaced itself with the Naruto's and Kurama's chakra. A certain energy from the moon caused the boys eyes to spin around at the speed of light (literally) and were stopped to reveal two cloudy maroon eyes. Almost as if instead of regular pupils, there was a bloody mist.

Two anbu hovered over the boy, and one created some sort of structure out of wood and placed the boy on top of it. Although he was unconscious, his eyes were still open. The makeshift stretcher was carried to a nearby root base.

Naruto's body writhed around for days until it finally came to a stop. Lord Danzō strolled in and noticed the boys eyes. As soon as he woke up, he held up his hands, causing two thorny whips to spring out, "My name..." he started panting in between words, "is... Naruto... Uzumaki... I will... give love... to every...one!" And he promptly passed out. Danzō let out a chuckle, 'Child. I will beat that naivety out of you.'

Danzō was unsuccessful in this particular pursuit.

~~~Present Day~~~

Naruto was close with many of the Uchiha, much to the chagrin of Kurama. He had every mangekyō of the village (that he knew of). That being Shisui, Itachi, and Kakashi.

Because Kakashi only had the left Sharingan, when Naruto molded his eye to Kakashi's, only the left appeared.

He was practicing Kamui by starting an Amaterasu on a piece of paper and immediately transporting the paper using Kamui. It was dangerous, but that's what made it fun.

After a couple Kamuis, Naruto was drained, and decided it was time to hit the sack. He wiped the blood from his right eye, from the Amaterasu, and crawled into bed.

He closed his eyes.

Unfortunately, his more haunting memories began to break through the repressive barrier in his mind: Fire pokers, pitchforks, knifes, kunai, and the like. Deep wounds all over his body, his eyes forced open to watch, before they were thrust into with some sort of sharp point.

He shot up and immediately rushed to the door. He couldn't sleep here tonight. He needed to go home. He needed to see Danzō and his friends at the base. He threw the door open and immediately forgot about that.

He almost ran into the pair of lavender-white eyes right in front of him. He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't, those eyes were so comforting, so kind and thoughtful. Everything surrounding it wasn't too bad either.

'Someone's got a crush,' Kurama dragged out the last word a little too long, but Naruto decided to ignore the oversized, fluffy, asshole and continued to stare. 'Hey I can hear your thoughts, baka.'

It was silent for a while until Hinata, blushing redder than ever, barely holding onto consciousness, turned away and spoke up,"I was j-just-"

Naruto latched onto her hand and dragged her into his room without a word. He wrapped her in a blanket and sat her on the bed across from her.

'I could stare into those eyes all of my life,' they both thought simultaneously.

That wasn't an exaggeration.

Naruto pulled her in close and embraced her, letting every tear he had ever held go.

He was always surrounded by people- besides Shisui and some others- who he couldn't show weakness to. Root now allowed more emotion, but not this type of emotion.

Hinata felt warm all over, and it wasn't because of her blushing. She had just met this boy today, but she was in love. She had never felt this way before. She hadn't even noticed that he was only wearing underwear, or that something was poking her leg.

She wasn't in a genjutsu, but a trance nonetheless.

Hinata felt warm all over, and it wasn't because of her blushing. She had just met this boy today, had already saved her from god only knows what kind of fate, and was now showing her more intimacy than she had ever felt been shown. She had never felt this way before. She hadn't even noticed that he was only wearing underwear, or that something was poking her leg.

She wasn't in a genjutsu, but a trance nonetheless.

After releasing the embrace she saw the boys tear streaked face. She could also see through the boy's body. It felt... odd. She had never really seen someone like this before. He was probably around her age, but he sat like an old man. She had seen children with horrible posture, but she was guessing this wasn't an issue of back problems. The way he carried himself was so familiar to her, because it was so similar to the way she carried herself.

It stank of pure defeat.

She pulled him in for another hug. If her observations were to be trusted, he needed this. Because she needed it.

When she let go, she caught a glimpse of pure shock stretched across the boy's face. That was followed by a tired smile, which she mimicked subconsciously. Tired was a good way to describe the both of them, she thought on first glance. But when Hinata smiled, she noticed, his expression changed. It didn't change from happiness to something else, just that he looked so much more happier. Almost relieved.

But she did also see the boys mostly naked body.

He was something out of museum.

She didn't see all of the scars. All she saw were a set of abs that could have punched her in the eye. She attempted to divert her gaze, but her efforts proved futile. Instead, she occupied herself by pulling Naruto into another hug.

"So why was that boy actually here, Hiashi?" Hitome asked as she laid on her stomach next to the man.

He placed his book down, "What he said was true," Hitome squinted at her husband, "Perhaps it was blind luck, or destiny. But he saved our daughter."

"Yeah right. Quit messing with me already. You're telling me that out of all of the Hyūga, that random ass kid saved Hinata," Hiashi nodded. Hitome blew a raspberry, "No way."

"You know I'm not one to joke," Hiashi picked up his book, "The kid is anbu. That's why we had to tell Danzō-sama."

Hitome rolled over onto her back, "Whatever you say," she grumbled. She turned back onto her side and placed her cheek on her hand, "You know, you don't have to read those icha icha books when you have a wife laying right next to you."Hiashi stiffened and threw the book.

He wipes his nose and blushed, "H-h-how," he cleared his throat and lost his blush "How did you know?"

"Did you think that a lousy fake book cover would hold out a byakugan?"

Hiashi straightened and closed his eyes, "I don't k-know-" he clapped his hand over his mouth. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Hitome covered her mouth as she laughed, "I think I know where Hinata gets her stutter," she said as she gave him a boop on the nose.

—

Zoo wee mama that was a long(er) chapter! Lots of backstory (that being that Naruto has an absolute hog) and exposition in this chapter. Despite that, I'm really proud on the whole(ha) :)
Have a nice day!
Finished at 3:03 AM