Years had passed since then, Naruto never knew that he could have come this far in his training in order to protect Hinata. He had tried all he could to go through any kind of training that he could go through in order to increase his chances of protecting the one he cared for. His body had to go through hell and back just to handle the pain, to go through everything just so he couldn't have the same problem he had all those years ago.
Now, at twenty-five, Naruto was boarder, his body covered in small cuts from his training, having healed and turned into scars over time as it healed. Yet, the only scar that meant anything was the one just under his ribcage. The same one that he got from the first time he ever fought a demon, and ever lost control over his anger. His hate, and his rage over a demon wanting to hurt and kill the one he loved.
He wouldn't allow that to happen again. There was no way that he would ever allow himself to succumb to that terrible anger again. Seeing Hinata's crying face, the way she stared at him like that all those years ago. It still hurt his heart at the image that would appear in his mind again once in a while.
Even now, he still didn't know what had fully caused it. Or what that was, even now the voice hadn't appeared again. Or at the very least, he didn't hear it anymore. The only clue he had to it, was that it had been brought up by Hinata being in danger, and he never dared to try that again. Losing control like that had frightened him, and he never wanted to put Hinata's life at stake just to see if that was the cause.
No, right now he had to focus on the here and now. Now, he was a guard, Hinata's friend, and her confidant when she needed someone to talk too. That was the only thing to her, and that was how it was meant to be. No matter how much it hurt him to call her only his 'friend' when he wanted more, so much more.
Opening his blue eyes, the young man knew that he had to get ready for the day. Hinata would wake up at any time now. She was always early to rise, but he had learned to wake up just a little before her. Pushing himself up from his bed he made his way to the trunk in his room and pulled out his outfit. It had taken Izumi a couple years to find the perfect fabric for it but he liked it. It suited him and it wasn't restrictive in his movements.
Pulling out an orange undershirt, he threw that on after discarding his sleeping attire. The shirt itself didn't cover much, his chest was still revealed from the orange fabric before throwing on his long black pants that tied around his ankles. After that, he threw on his white sash to tie the pants up around his waist. Making sure the knot was on properly, the young man grabbed his long black jacket that had long sleeves that seem to cling to his muscular arms yet without any restriction. The ends of the jacket though were ragged as if it had been through many fights over the years, in a way they have but he never bothered to have it fixed. The jacket though, long as it was as it almost touched the ground, was lined in orange around the ends that opened up around his abdomen as it flared out, and neckline. Finally, the young man grabbed his black fingerless gloves, once more trying to hide his odd birthmark on his hand.
Once more, he couldn't figure out what it meant and he had no idea what it meant. Letting out a soft sigh, Naruto started to walk out as he tied his slightly long hair at the nape of his neck before grabbing his sword and started to make his way out of his room and went to meet Hinata by her room. At least, until he was surprised for as he slid the door open there stood Hinata, her radiant smile was on her face as she looked up at him.
Naruto almost jumped back from the shock, but he was thankful for his training that kept him from jumping easily. Hinata was still just as beautiful as ever. Her long blue hair was pulled back with two locks framing her face. She wore a simple kimono that was a midnight blue that had dark branches on it for the design. Smiling, she said "Morning Naruto! I was wondering if we could go to the village. I have some things to pick up." Her eyes, still a wonderful pale lavender in colour, it made his heart beat quickly in his chest.
Nodding his head, Naruto calmly said "I think that will work for today Princess Hinata." Hinata pouted at him when he called her 'princess' it made him almost want to chuckle at that. Yes, he was her friend, her best friend but while he was within the manor he would always call her by her title.
"Naru-kun, you know I hate it when you call me that." Hinata wanted to whine out but refrained herself from doing so.
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle a little. Hinata was so cute, it made him happy to have her in his life. Just being around her was enough for him to be happy. Yet, why did it hurt his heart? Shaking his head slowly, Naruto calmly said "Let's get going Princess Hinata, the further away we are from here the more of a chance I stop using your title." Hinata let out a soft sigh before making her way down the hall with Naruto close behind her.
Hinata, over the years he had watched as she trained to take over for her father yet, she still wasn't ready to take over as of yet. He knew that there was still much for her to learn. Though there was a part of him that felt like there was more that she had to do. As for what it is, he had no idea.
Why did all of this have to be so complicated in the first place? Why was it that the only thing that he knew was how to fight? Okay, he knew how to read and write but that was all he knew. He didn't know much else otherwise. Maybe one of these days he'd have to ask Iruka or Jiraiya. There had to be something that he could do. Hm, maybe he could also ask Izumi if she has any idea as to what it was that would ensure her place as Lady of the lands instead of princess.
Closing his eyes, Naruto allowed himself to relax. He knew that if he allowed himself to be tense that he would only cause himself more problems. More so in the heat of battle. "Naruto?" Lifting his head a little more he stared at Hinata and saw as she stopped and turned to face him. "Promise me that… if you fight again that you won't get hurt again."
Frowning at her, Naruto saw that her eyes were starting to shine a bit, as if she was trying her hardest not to shed any tears. Giving her a soft smile, Naruto walked a few more steps as he stood in front of the young woman that he had long since given his heart too. "Hinata," He began, taking a deep breath as he continued. "No matter what, I will fight to protect you. Pain is something that I don't feel anymore." Seeing her concern, he carefully lifted her hands and held them in his. "Hinata, out of everything that I can't feel, it is only physical pain."
Looking up at Naruto, Hinata's eyes seemed to search his blue orbs as if trying to find any kind of lie in his words. But, no matter what she just couldn't find any kind of lie from him. Giving him a soft smile, she whispered "Okay. I believe you Naruto." He smirked at her before letting go of her hands. "Let's go Naruto, we need to get those robes."
"Why get them now though? The event isn't for a while yet." Naruto said with a frown on his face.
"True, but it wouldn't hurt to get fitted for it again."
Okay, she did have a point there. Nodding his head to her about that Naruto calmly said "Alright, gives me a chance to do a quick scan of the village while you are getting fitted." Hinata just laughed softly, though it wasn't one of mocking. Far from it, her laugh it was so endearing.
Naruto sat in the front of Izumi's store with a sigh escaping his lips. If there was one thing that he hated, it was waiting for Hinata to hurry up with her fittings. He hated doing nothing, at least when she was around he had someone to talk too. Even Izumi was in the back to double check the work that was being done in the back.
Looking around, he couldn't help but wonder what it was that was happening in the village. On the way here, he hadn't heard of anything going on, only that there seems to be some sightings of demons but nothing serious as of yet. It seemed as if the demon would just come and go but, there was one demon that people have seen around here but, over the years it seems that he or she, only comes around once a year. What was with that?
Shaking his head, Naruto leaned back against the counter as he wondered if Iruka knew what was going on. He knew there was an event going on or, at least it will in a few months. Lord Hiashi had something planned and he wanted to know what it was but at the same time, there was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that told him that he didn't want to know. That this information would destroy him in the long run.
Letting out a soft sigh, the young man turned his head when he heard the sound of curtains moving aside thinking it was Hinata, only to groan when it was only Izumi.
"Oh thanks. I'm not great company for you Naruto?" deadpanned Izumi.
"It isn't that. I just don't like waiting." Naruto said with a pout.
"You wait pretty much all the time at the mansion." Izumi pointed out.
"Yeah but at least I have someone to talk too while keeping a look out for danger." Naruto countered.
"Good point."
Naruto turned away as he wondered what he could do while he waited for Hinata to come out of the change room. Wait, did it count as a change room or a fitting room? He had no idea.
"Have you told her?" Izumi said, snapping the young man out of his thoughts, causing him to turn to stare at the older woman. "Have you?"
"Told her what?" Naruto asked, trying to pretend not to know what Izumi was talking about. There was no way that he wanted to know what it was that she was speaking to him about. Just thinking about it broke his heart more and it caused something deep inside of him to stir for a brief moment before disappearing.
"About your feelings?"
"No."
"Why not? You love her, so why not tell her?" Izumi said with a frown.
Turning away, Naruto knew why that was. Why he couldn't tell the one person that he loved above everything and everyone else. Closing his eyes, he whispered "Because I don't deserve her Izumi. Hinata is a princess, I… I'm nothing." Before Izumi could tell him otherwise, he held up his hand to silence her. "No, I know that better than anyone. All of the lords and lady's that come to the manor, they speak about her needing to marry a prince and take the lead. They are rather surprised that she hadn't married yet but with the war, Hinata is worried about it more than finding her future husband."
Staring at the older woman, he looked like he was about to cry for a moment before shoving the tears back and turned away from her. "I'm no prince Izumi. I have come to accept that long ago. I know, better than anyone that Hinata will never love me, nor will she ever be able to be even allowed to marry me in the first place. I am content enough to have her in my life as a friend."
"Are you sure you can be content with only being her friend Naruto?" asked Izumi, placing a hand on his shoulder, him never knowing that he had been shaking the whole time. Damn it, why was it that when he was with Hinata that he could easily hide his emotions but with Izumi, he couldn't hide them? "Can you live with yourself that you can never be with her or even tell her how you feel?"
"And make it awkward between us forever? No. I can never tell her the truth of my feelings. No matter how much it hurts me to say otherwise, no matter how much emotional pain I go through I can never tell her how I feel. My feelings, aren't important." Naruto whispered softly, not wanting to speak of the matter anymore. All he wanted, was to compose himself before Hinata came out from the back to greet him before they would leave. Damn it, he hated this. Hated having emotions, demons had it easy. They could hide their emotions, but then again they would give into their anger so much easier than any other being on this planet. He, himself knew how that felt first hand. To give into that rage, to give into that hate it scared him more than anything. More so, when Hinata saw it.
"But what if she felt the same about you?" Izumi suddenly asked.
"If she did, there was no way that it could be Izumi. Like I said before, Hinata is a princess, I am her guard. Better yet, I have no status otherwise. I was found on the side of the road remember? No memory of where I came from and the only signs of who I once was are a birthmark that no one had ever seen before and some weird mark on my stomach which they can't tell is another birthmark or something else." Naruto pointed out with a sigh as he leaned back against the counter once more. Why couldn't his life be easy? Why did it have to be so damn complicated in the first place?
"Naruto, just because you have no status, doesn't mean you aren't worthy of her feelings. You never know, she could return your love." Izumi said softly.
"Yeah right. The day she returns my feelings is the day I somehow become a demon." He said with a smirk on his face.
Just as those words escaped his lips, Hinata came out from the back with a smile on her face. "I'm done, thanks again Izumi." Hinata said with a smile on her face. Izumi bowed with a smile on her face. Hinata turned to Naruto as she said "Let's head home. Father wanted to speak to me about a few things about the demon sightings." With that, Hinata started to walk out of the store, Naruto about to follow her until he felt Izumi's hand on his shoulder.
"Be careful Naruto. Remember, you are not nothing. Don't ever think of yourself like that otherwise."
Letting out a soft sigh, the young man nodded his head before he started to make his way out of Izumi's shop and back to the manor with Hinata. What could he do in the first place? Nothing that's what.
Naruto found himself, and Hinata standing outside of Lord Hiashi's study. It seemed that after he and Hinata returned from Hinata's fitting the Lord wanted them to go and see him. Why that was, he had no idea, though he wondered if it had anything to do with the demon attacks. Naruto knew that something was going to happen about it, the guards themselves hadn't been able to defeat the demon. It seemed that the demon itself had managed to outsmart the men.
Well, from what he had been told anyway.
Letting out a soft sigh, the young man opened the door and took once glance in the study as he saw Hiashi sitting at his desk writing on some scrolls. "Naruto, Hinata… please take a seat." Said Hiashi, never once looking up at the two as they entered his study.
Naruto sighed before taking a seat in one seat, as had Hinata. After they had returned, Hinata had changed into a simple kimono dress with side splits that ended at her hips. Under that, she wore a simple pair of pants that clung to her ankles and she wore sandals. Maybe she was prepared for what it was that they were going to do.
"Hinata, Naruto, I want you both to see to the demon attacks that has been going on. Now, normally I wouldn't allow you both to go search for a demon like this but I trust your skills. Especially yours Naruto with everything you had to put yourself through in order to get to where you are today." Hiashi calmly said with a soft sigh. Lifting his gaze for a moment, staring at both a man that he had in a way, raised from childhood, to his daughter whom he seen grow up from an adorable girl to a beautiful young woman. "I want you both to search for this demon, and get rid of it."
"Yes Lord Hiashi." Naruto said with a nod of his head.
"Father," Hinata began, causing her to let out a soft sigh. "What is this demon?" she asked, wanting to know what the demon was though that had also was a good question.
"To be honest Hinata, I'm not sure. The men that did come back couldn't seem to recall. The only thing that they could say was that it was a giant demon, possibly and Oni." Naruto flinched at the word 'Oni' for it still brought bad memories from the time he lost control of himself. He'd have to be careful not to allow himself to lose himself but he also believed in his abilities not to lose himself again.
"I want you both to discover what this demon is, then kill it. It has been kidnapping women lately as well." Hinata flinched. Wait, did that mean Hiashi was hoping to have Hinata lure the demon to them? He'll have to remain on guard if that happened. After all, he couldn't allow Hinata to get hurt, or kidnapped if that demon was also after young women. "Now, go on your mission and come back with the details."
"Yes Lord Hiashi."
"Yes father."
With that, both Naruto and Hinata rose from their seats and made their way out of the study. Hinata turned to look up at Naruto for a brief moment, before she herself had turned away. Naruto could sense that she was nervous, more so about the demons ideal of kidnapping women. Naruto knew that he had to do something, not just for Hinata's sake but for everyone. He knew that if Hinata worried over everyone, it would cause her great deal of stress which is something that she didn't need. "Hinata, just relax. Trust in your training and me and we'll be alright." He chuckled a little, hoping to put a little bit of ease to the young princess.
"Thank you Naruto." Hinata said with a smile on her face. Her smile, it was enough to make his heart skip a beat. Damn it, if only he could tell her of his feelings but damn it all he couldn't do it. As they walked, Naruto couldn't help but wonder what kind of demon it was that they had to fight, there had to be something that he could recall of about demons from all of his lessons with both Iruka and Jiraiya. But, he just couldn't think of anything. It was puzzling.
Suddenly, Naruto jolted. It felt as if something had snapped within him, causing him to stumble a bit as he walked. "Naruto are you okay?" asked Hinata with concern.
"I'm alright, I don't even know what that was." Naruto answered her honestly. That was rather weird, even though it was only a fleeting moment, it had felt as if something deep within him had… broken? Cracked? He had no idea, but it was a rather odd feeling. Maybe it was nothing, but he knew that he couldn't focus on that right now. He would have to think of something else to keep his mind off of it for now.
Taking a deep breath, hoping to calm his nerves, Naruto straightened himself as he went back to walking. Whatever happened, it had disappeared but he felt something off still. Maybe it was the anticipation of the battle that was coming. That had to be the only thing about him.
As they walked out of the manor, Naruto and Hinata made their way toward the forest. Naruto wondered what it was that they would find. What it was that it would end up being that would attack them. Ugh, so many things yet it felt like it was close to him. Naruto wondered what it was that he was sensing in the first place. Was it the demon?
Tilting his head, the young man closed his eyes, he could faintly hear the sounds of footsteps, and it echoed through the trees. "Hinata, I want you to be careful as we fight okay? It may try to trick us in order to get to you okay?"
"Okay Naruto. I'll be careful." Hinata said with a smile on her face.
Giving her a small smile, Naruto looked on ahead. He felt something and it was coming closer. Had it already smelled Hinata? Maybe, that was the only way for it to already be heading toward them. Taking a deep breath, the young man quickly grabbed his sword, getting ready for the fight that was on hand. Just as he had grabbed the hilt of his sword the trees parted as a giant… monkey appeared? "Damn it's as big as the Oni Demon was." Naruto said, he knew Oni Demons were huge but damn this monkey was just as big as an Oni.
Just seeing something this big, almost made his anger rise. Yet he smashed it down, not wanting to risk it controlling him again. No, Naruto wouldn't allow himself to be controlled by that again. But he knew that he would have to keep Hinata safe at all costs. "Okay Hinata, let's fight this thing!" Naruto declared as they prepared to fight.
