I look around,
I'm surrounded by wonderful people.
I've changed a lot.
I'll make sure to thank you.
One day.
-
Sasuke plopped the boy down on Hinata's bed and quickly rushed out of the room, much to Hinata's confusion.
"OkayseeyoubyeHinata," he shouted over his shoulder. Even though he was the classic brooding, stoic Uchiha type, it was still weird to be in a girl's room.
Hinata grabbed Naruto's shirt, reasoning that it was dirty. She would take it and wash it so he didn't have to sleep in that. That's why she took his shirt off, yeah.
After stealing a quick glance, she threw a blanket over him. She blushed like mad. Yeah she had seen him shirtless before, but it had been a while, and the training he had been doing everyday sure didn't make it easier to retain consciousness.
She dashed off to the washing machine where she found Naruto's clothes from the first night he stayed overnight. She had completely forget about them and never gave them back. She threw his jersey in and grabbed his change of clothes. She walked out blaming herself for being so absent-minded and not returning the clothes to him.
She was interrupted by her parents who were both sitting in the kitchen. She talked to them for a while, telling them about the field trip and Naruto's seemingly random exhaustion. She told them he was taking him a change of clothes before embarking to her room.
-
Naruto was sitting in an empty space. He stopped walking a while ago, as in several years ago, realizing that the space was endless.
He had been there for almost 70 hours! Like all things in the ninja world, there was a drawback to the fūinnome's "interrogation" ability. The first time Naruto goes to sleep after using it, a lot like the Tsukuyomi, he "dreams" for up to a week, although it takes place in the span of a normal nap.
There were advantages to this dream state. Any physical training done in the dreamscape would translate to real life. It seems like a great deal: being able to do 3 days of training within the span of 5 hours could make a huge difference.
It turns out, however, being completely alone in a completely white space doesn't exactly do wonders for the mind. Even for the most mentally conditioned people in the village.
Kurama wasn't even there! For some reason, Nuibari was. The two had concluded that it was most likely because Kurama and his chakra were a part of Naruto, where Nuibari was a just a consciousness trapped inside a blade.
'That exercise is rather inelegant, don't you agree,' Nuibari remarked on Naruto's handstand push-ups
'I agree, but I know Lee's definitely doing something to train right now, so I have to keep up,' Naruto paused for a second, 'say, you haven't been keeping count have you?'
'762,' Nuibari mumbled.
'So you do care!' Nuibari hmphed and turned away, although it was pretty hard to tell, due to her being a sewing needle. She retained her actual appearance in the dream state. The brain is weird.
Naruto finished his set and sat on his knees, 'Hey, pointy, I could still use some practice with you-ttebayo!' The needle thumped him on the head with her hilt, 'Ow! What'd you hit me with your butt for?!'
'It's. A. Hilt.' She sounded scarier than Kurama, 'Careful or next time it'll be the the point, or I guess the head, you numbskull!' The boy hushed at this. Maybe she had been too harsh with that. No what was she thinking he totally deserved it.
'So you do care!' Oh right, he could read her thoughts.
'Whatever. You're obviously wrong, but I'm too above arguing with you to do so.'
'Sure hasn't stopped you from arguing with me in the past.'
'You lie!'
'I've never lied in my entire life.'
'Hmph. What would we even practice on? It's not like there's any targets around.'
A far away voice, a new voice- no, two voices- responded to this, 'You can use us-ttebane!'
-
Hinata walked into the room, setting the clothes down on the bed. 'Naruto never really kicks around that much when he sleeps, so it should be okay there. He's cute when he's asleep too. His muscles are... pulsating,' she shook her head and blushed. She smacked both of her (face) cheeks, 'STOP IT HINATA! KYAAA!' She shook herself from the wonderful, shameful thought.
At some point during her daydreaming, she had sat down on the bed and was tracing the muscles on the boys body. She realized what she was doing, shot up and shivered.
'I think I'll go for a walk,' she thought to herself. Even her inner consciousness was blushing. She placed a hand on her forehead, 'Why must I be so lewd?'
-
Hinata was now walking through the village, cinnamon bun in hand.
She decided that she would stop in at Yamanaka flowers. She knew Ino probably wasn't working, since they had just got back from the field trip. She and Ino were pretty good friends, and whenever Hinata would walk through the village, she would always pay Ino a visit in the flower shop.
On the way to Yamanaka Flowers, a familiar voice shouted out behind her, "Hinata-chan! Wait up!" It was Sakura.
Much like Ino, Hinata was close with Sakura as well. Being around Naruto made her more social. Being around Naruto made her happier. She had almost completely changed in the last year. She was more assertive and confident in almost every situation, except, ironically, around Naruto himself.
"Sakura-chan!" She shouted and waved, "Cinnamon bun?"
-
The two girls walked side-by-side, nibbling on their delicious treats as they talked about the field trip. Sakura was surprised at how much she enjoyed the game. Originally she had just gone because Sasuke was going, but quickly became invested in the action.
Hinata just enjoyed it because Naruto, when he wasn't passed out, was really happy. She was more of an MMA fan.
The two arrived at Yamanaka flowers, to find Ino sitting to the side of the register, fanning herself. Her father, Inoichi, was standing behind the counter, wearing a flowery apron over his usual black, trench-coat-like attire.
Hinata couldn't help but let out a giggle, getting a fake scowl from Inoichi. It just made him look even funnier. He wasn't the type you would usually catch wearing floral anything.
"Sakura-chan! Hina-chan!" Ino shot up and ran towards the girls. Inoichi mumbled something about her being tired under his breath, getting a glare from Ino.
-
Hinata exchanged a cinnamon bun for two white lilies, her favorite. Ino put one of the flowers in Hinata's hair.
"Hinata you look so cute!" Ino squealed.
"Yeaaah... the lily matches your eyes!"
Hinata giggled, blushed, and looked away, covering her mouth with her hand. Just because she was more confident didn't mean she wasn't shy anymore.
•
The three began walking through the village with nary a destination in mind. That didn't really matter much, as they were enjoying each others company. Ino and Sakura were gossiping quite a bit. There wasn't much to talk about besides boys and what those boys had done recently. It wasn't exactly Hinata's style, but she would giggle and add something every once in a while.
The girls, taking a break from their gossip, were arguing about which flavor of dango was the best, when they bumped into Choji and Shikamaru.
"I like all of them, who's buying?" Choji replied, far too eagerly at that.
"Sorry about that," Shikamaru interjected, "he's 'barely eaten'."
"Hi Choji-kun, Shikamaru-kun! Cinnamon bun?" Hinata held out her bag. As to be expected, Choji practically jumped at the offer. Shikamaru refused, saying that Choji had eaten enough for the both of them, "But I thought you said he's barely eaten," Hinata recounted.
"Yeah he's barely eaten compared to what he usually eats. He's practically keeping that barbecue place in business," The girls giggled and nodded in understanding before Shika continued, "Anyway, we were going to go cloud watching. You'll probably think it's a drag, but do you guys want to tag along?" They weren't doing anything else, so the girls nodded in agreement before following Choji and Shikamaru.
-
"Ka-kaa-chan?" Naruto shouted, his voice shaky.
The redhead stretched her arm out like rubber (Gum-Gum Pistol!) and knocked him on the head, "THAT'S KAA-SAN TO YOU," Nuibari yelped
"Hey don't forget about me, kiddo," Minato shouted to his son, "Why do you have a sewing needle? Are they that big now?" He asked with a chuckle.
There was a silence as Naruto tried to comprehend his surroundings.
"WHY'RE YOU JUST STANDING THERE? DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE DEAF. THAT WOULD SUCK-TTEBANE!"
"Kushina, if he's deaf, how would he answer the question?" Kushina's face went blank at Minato's question, "Besides, if he's deaf he already knows being deaf sucks."
Kushina wound back after the snarky comment, only to be toppled to the ground. She looked down and saw Naruto firmly wrapped around her and her husband's waists.
Minato was a little startled, but returned the hug and gave a sigh of relief.
Kushina smiled as she thought to Minato, 'Don't think you're off the hook, pal.'
'Never. Not for a second.'
'To be honest, That was rather inelegant,' Nuibari stated, 'But you get a pass this time.'
"When did you get one of the seven mist blades, Naruto?" Minato was very curious to say the least.
"That's a long story... Otou-san." Naruto grinned.
"Why'd you call him -san and me -chan?!?!" Minato chuckled, and Naruto tried to escape his fuming mother's wrath.
•
He debriefed them about where they were, although it was hard because he couldn't just say, 'it's like the Tsukuyomi but you don't get tortured.' He explained that they might not have a lot of time and began to explain most of the details of his life. He left out most of the torture and stuff. Now was not the time for that.
He explained the fūinnome, his anbu status, and lots of key events, including the baseball game. He explained how him and the Uchiha were mostly blamed for the kyuubi attack, and how they had grown close because of it.
Initially, Minato and Kushina were rather disappointed to learn that their child wasn't considered a hero. But when they heard about Inari-sama, they eased up a little, "So you're like a superhero then?" Kushina asked, receiving a nod from her son. Her son.
"Like kagemasa."
Minato's eyes turned to stars, "DID YOU READ THAT MANGA!" Naruto nodded, "I LOVE KAGEMASA! HE'S ALWAYS LIKE 'BOOM!' AND 'KABLOW!' AND- AND-"
"Settle down-ttebane," Kushina scolded as she placed a hand on Minato's shoulder, "I can't believe they let you be the Hokage. You act like you're 7!" Minato beamed in response.
Naruto explained how he met Hinata and how she made him feel safe and warm.
His parents looked at each other as Naruto was in his own world, talking about Hinata. They knew he was in love. They would let him figure that out by himself.
Kushina gave him the same speech she gave on the day the kyuubi was sealed inside of him. She teared up as she looked at Naruto's beaming smile.
"Can you tell me the story of when dad saved you?" He asked Kushina, his mother. He still couldn't believe it, "Pervy Sage- er Jiraiya-sensei- told it to me before."
Minato's smile widened even further. Who knew that could happen? "Are you and Jiraiya-Sensei close?"
"Yeah, so-so. I only just met him this year,"
Naruto looked down. He wished that Jiraiya had been there for him from the start. Maybe he would have lived a normal childhood up until then.
"I still can't believe you're only seven. You've done so much, and you're sooo young!" Kushina held her hands close to her chest as looked upwards as she spoke.
•
Naruto didn't use his parents to practice with Nuibari, much to her faux dissatisfaction.
As he was beginning to fade back to real life, he hugged his parents one last time. He looked at them and began to tear up, "I love you both! I knew you loved me too! Even though you weren't there, I knew you did!" He saw his parents look at each other, smile, and look back at him as they leaned into each other, "I love you! I don't know what else to say! I love you!"
"We love you too, son."
-
Naruto shot up, tears soaking his reddened face. Sprawled out on the ground was a change of clothes. He threw them on, grabbed his sandals and went out for a walk.
As he was about to leave, Neji came up to him, "Naruto-san, Hinata is no longer in the compound, would you happen to know where she is?"
"Uhh what's with the san? Just call me Naruto-ttebayo," Naruto stated calmly. He rubbed the back of his neck, "I haven't seen her but I'm sure she's okay. I'll help you look."
Neji had been different in general for a while. After Naruto humbled him in a spar. It wasn't so much that he beat Neji, or showed him how his ways were wrong, he gave the clan elders a real earful. Neji gained a newfound respect for Naruto after seeing the blonde come to his defense.
-
Hinata and co. sat down in the shade of a tree by the river. They were enjoying the clouds, arguing about which hokage was the strongest.
Tobirama began rumbling in his grave when not a single one of them mentioned his name, 'Edo tensei? Hiraishin? And not even one of them knows my name! They wouldn't even have Saru or the academy without me!'
Itachi was walking by, Sasuke riding on his back, when they were invited over by Ino and Sakura. Sasuke hn-ed and continued looking straight ahead.
Much to his brother's "dismay" Itachi smiled his signature smile and made his way over to the children. The group greeted them and Hinata spoke, "Hey Sasuke-kun, Itachi-kun! Itachi, you probably don't like sweets, but do you want a cinn-?"
Itachi somehow had the cinnamon bun in his hand. Hinata had never opened the bag, but Itachi was now munching on the snack, side-eyeing the awestruck kids.
"Itachi style: Cinnamon roll magnetism technique."
Sasuke just looked away sullenly. 'Why didn't she offer me one?'
"Why didn't I get a cinnamon bun?" The group turned to see Shino standing there. When did he... Nevermind.
"Sorry Shino! I didn't even know you were there. Would you like one?"
Shino stared for a second before turning his head away, "Thank you but I don't like sweets." Everyone besides Sasuke and Itachi, who had already finished his cinnamon bun, sweatdropped.
A new person appeared. He looked roughly Itachi's age, but Hinata had never seen him before, "I'll take his!" The man announced.
Itachi quickly butted in, "Don't give it to him! You can give Shino's to me!" Itachi and the other man glared at each other.
A loud noise coming from their direction startled the group. The schoolchildren didn't know what was happening, but Itachi and Shisui has just activated their Sharingan, entering a stare down to the death.
Hinata chuckled, breaking the tension, "I have extras. Shikamaru as well as Shino didn't want one," she pointed to the pineapple head, "I don't think we've met before. My name's Hinata!" She handed two cinnamon rolls, one to Itachi and one to the other man.
"I'm Shisui Uchiha."
Ino and Sakura had fainted twice now. 'Three Uchihas?! What is going on today?'
Hinata recognized that name, "Oh Shisui! Naruto talks about you all the time!" Hinata said with a smile. This was one of Naruto's best friends. He was kind of old though. That was kinda fishy. Then again, nobody else seemed to care. Hinata just summed it up to her overthinking, as she usually did.
"Wow really! I'm so flattered," Shisui faked a blush, "Naruto talks about you all the time, Hinata was it?" Hinata blushed as she felt the eyes focus on her and heard Sakura and Ino gasp. The moment was broken up by counting and grunting above them.
"1497! 1498! 1499! 1500!" Lee had been doing pull-ups on a branch directly above them. Had he been counting this whole time? They all felt ashamed to call themselves ninja for a moment when Lee spoke up, "HAHA! I was only kidding." They all laughed with the boy.
"Lee-kun! How's your and Naruto's training going?" She was glad to change the subject.
"It has been amazing, Hinata-sama! We have improved so much and it's all thanks to Naruto!" Lee explained, holding a thumb up. Hinata smiled and held out a cinnamon roll, to which Lee bowed and took the sweet morsel before sitting down, criss-cross.
Kiba and Akamaru were walking by at the time and Kiba shouted to the group, inviting himself to the cloud watching. Hinata greeted the two, and gave Akamaru a pat before offering two cinnamon rolls to the duo.
The group began to talk and laugh and joke, all while admiring sky as the sun ran off back to space. This was the group that would be later known as the Konoha 16: the elite protectors of the village. Something was missing. To be more specific, four teammates and Tenten were missing.
-
"Achoo!" Tenten sat at the dinner table with her parents.
"You know they say if you sneeze that means someone's thinking about you," her mom replied.
'That would be a first,' Tenten thought.
-
Naruto and Neji were getting along quite well. They were talking about their favorite foods, and Naruto learned that Neji had never tried ramen. He promised the boy that he would take him one day to spread the joy.
They began to discuss their favorite ninja tools, Neji said his favorite were his fists, before they saw the group sitting by the tree.
"Hey Shisui! Aren't you not allowed to be within 500 feet of children?" Naruto taunted.
"Oh hey! Hinata her told me that you have a crush on me!" Shisui blushed, "Why didn't you just say so, Naruto-Chan?" Before he knew it, there was a fox, jaw tightly clenched on his buttcheek. He yelled in pain and began to frantically shake the fox from his buttocks, getting stifled snickers from the group, even Sasuke.
After the smoke had cleared, Naruto and Neji had received their cinnamon buns and began to chomp. Naruto sat down next to Hinata. She twiddled with the extra lily in her hand. She was about to open her mouth, when Naruto spoke up, "Hey, Choji. I know you like eating, did you get a cinnamon roll?" The boy nodded sorrowfully.
Hinata bought a bakers dozen of the delicious ambrosia, so she had one left. She asked Shino and Shikamaru if they had changed their mind, both of whom replied no.
'She didn't ask me again!! Did I do something?!' Sasuke thought to himself.
Itachi and Choji both replied at the same time, "Is there an extra?!" Before looking at Hinata with puppy eyes.
Little did she know, Itachi had placed her under a genjutsu, where Choji added, "It's okay Hinata, you should give the last cinnamon bun to Itachi. He's really hungry and he deserves it and needs and wants it more than I do," and finished with a nod.
Hinata obliged and handed Itachi the bun. The Uchiha released the genjutsu, and Hinata heard Choji sigh and turned to him, confused.
"Choji you told me I should give it to him," Hinata looked at Choji who immediately looked up with realization in his eyes.
"He put you under genjutsu!" And pointed to the sweet-toothed Uchiha. Everyone directed their attention to said Uchiha, who had shoved the bun, in one piece, into his mouth. He simply closed his eyes and shook his head.
The group all shared a laugh as they watched the sun set in a blazing ball of glory.
•
After a little while, several of the group began to set out for their homes. Hinata still clutched the bag as she and Neji walked together.
"Hinata-sama, we were rather worried when you disappeared."
Hinata hung her head, "I'm very sorry... ano, I didn't plan on taking so long."
"Hinata," another voice spoke from behind them. They turned to see Sasuke walking up to them.
"Hello, Sasuke-kun."
"Why didn't you offer me a cinnamon roll?"
Hinata was immediately swamped with guilt, "Ano... I thought... y-you don't like sweets."
Sasuke thought back to their conversation after the field trip, "Oh yeah. That's right. Sorry to bother you," he turned to leave.
"Wait, Sasuke-kun," he turned back around, "Ano... I did get you something," she reached in the bag, and pulled out a plastic container, "Here. Ano... I'm very sorry to have forgotten," she bowed as she held the container out.
Sasuke walked over to retrieve the container. He looked through the clear plastic and saw a singular rice ball. He grabbed the container, "Thanks."
After he turned around, a smile stretched across his face.
"You're far to apologetic, don't you think, Hinata-sama?" Neji spoke.
"Hmph. I don't see why that's an issue," she stuck her nose up at her cousin.
"It's annoying when you're like," he imitated her voice as best he could, "'Ano, I'm so sorry.'"
"I disagree."
"That's your rebuttal?" Hinata just closed her eyes and nodded, "Tch, whatever."
-
YAAAY! This chapter took me the longest time to come up with ideas for/write but I'm really proud with how it turned out. I still fell like I need to flesh Nuibari out more but that will all come in due time probably.
Anyway~
I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I've enjoyed writing it. If you've come this far then I am incredibly grateful for you sticking around. I know sometimes the chapters run pretty long but I really do enjoy making them. Thank you for your patronage! Have a good day/night (or else!)
Jerry out!