A/N: Happy New Year to you all.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but I keep playing the lottery, so who knows one day I might.
After spending hours sitting in the cemetery talking to the spirits of his deceased parents Naruto goes back to his apartment and changes out of his now grass stained clothes and grabs a quick shower. It had felt good talking about his concerns and aspirations to someone other than Kurama, who has grown tired of hearing the same conversations, while taking his mind off other, less pleasant topics.
Naruto has to laugh at himself as he once again comes to a stop outside the Hyuga compound and regards the entrance with its solitary guard. 'Maybe I should just ask old man Hiashi to rent me one of the guest rooms and save the guards all of the trouble of having to do all of the formalities their duty requires when a guest comes, even one who has become nearly a daily visitor now. If I was to move in here I bet the buzz of the gossip would sound like a swarm of bees. People couldn't help but speculate what I was doing locked away behind the secretive wall of the Hyuga clan.'
Thinking about dinner with the Hyuga clan causes Naruto to chuckle as he thinks about the last person he would have ever expected of tricking him into letting his big mouth get him into a promise that he would not break. 'I think that I might have to be more careful around Hinata, who knows what she might be trying to get me to promise next. I still can't believe she got me to say that if I could get ramen to eat at her house I would probably eat dinner with her family all of the time.'
A thought suddenly crosses his mind that would be completely absurd if it didn't seem so devious. 'What if all of this uncharacteristic generosity and kindness from the old man is nothing but a trap? What if Hiashi is trying to ensure his clans future by making sure that me and Hinata… you know…' He has to pause and try to moisten his suddenly dry throat. 'From all of the things I have been learning lately about political stuff it's not like that sort of thing isn't done, even today. So, could his goal be to have influence with the future Hokage.' Naruto shakes his head to try and clear such thoughts from his mind. 'Man this diplomatic stuff makes my head hurt. Besides it doesn't matter, because Hinata would never be part of something so dishonest.'
Naruto turns and waves as the familiar form of Konohamaru approaches from down one of the adjacent streets. "I was beginning to think that you might have decided to sleep in this morning." Naruto smiles as the boy, who has become like a brother to him, reaches out to bump fists.
"I almost did not recognize you in those robes, Naruto." He points to the Hyuga clan robes that Hinata had let him keep after his dinner with her family the other night.
Naruto reaches down with a hand to smooth out any wrinkles in his outfit. "Yeah, they were a gift from Hinata. I had dinner with her family after Hanabi and I got back from a mission. She let me borrow them since my clothes were pretty dirty and then later told me that I could just keep the robes as a gift." He looks down at what he is wearing proudly. "I thought that I would wear them this morning as a gesture of respect for the family, since we are guests to their first sunrise ceremony." He looks up at the sky and sees the first signs of the dawn and gestures towards the gate. "Come on, we don't want to be late."
As they approach, the guard holds out a hand to block their entry. "I am sorry Uzumaki-san, you may enter but Sarutobi-san is not on the guest list for this morning so I cannot let him enter."
Naruto, in no mood to deal with the guard's attitude after the sleepless night he had, feels his face go red as he starts shaking a finger at the almost sneering guard. "Now wait just a second Kira, this is Sarutobi Konohamaru, the grandson of the Third Hokage, and my friend. I will vouch for his conduct while he is here, heck he is probably better mannered now than I will ever be, okay."
The guard, undeterred by who is breathing down his neck, does not move a muscle from blocking Konohamaru from entering the compound. It almost seems as if he is enjoying being difficult.
Konohamaru grabs Naruto's arm to pull him away from the guard and get his attention. "Hey boss, it is okay. I don't want to cause any trouble." He looks over at the guard to try and determine if the guy really is that dedicated, or just completely suicidal. 'Anyways, I don't think Hanabi is going to be happy to see me, so this stuck-up guard might be saving my life.'
Naruto pulls up the sleeve of his right arm and glares at the guard. "There won't be any trouble once I knock that smug look off of Kira's face." The fact that the guard glares back at him, as if daring him to try something, only increases Naruto's irritation and the area around Naruto nearly shimmers with energy.
Konohamaru is about to throw himself between Naruto and the guard when the main gate opens and draws everyone's attention. He watches with no small amount of satisfaction as the guard deeply bows and Naruto goes from near rage to just standing there with a goofy looking smile on his face as Hinata steps through the gate. She is wearing a dark lavender kimono decorated with small Hyuga clan symbols, her dark hair is worn long and combed forward to frame her delicate face.
"I'm sorry, is everything okay?" Hinata had been worried that Naruto was still asleep and would not make it to the ceremony in time, so she had come to the gate to check with the guard to see if there had been any sign of Naruto. As she looks about she becomes concerned when she sees Naruto's face red with frustration and the smug sneer on Kira's face. Her concern quickly fades to a gentle smile as she and Naruto lock eyes and his anger fades quickly away as if nothing at all had occurred. Her smile quickly grows as she sees that Naruto is wearing the robes she gave him recently. 'He looks so handsome in my family colors, but that wouldn't change no matter what clan colors he might be wearing. He will always be handsome in my eyes.' Her happy moment is broken as the guard begins to speak.
"I am sorry Hyuga-sama, but Uzumaki-san brought a guest that was not on the approved list, and..." He left the next words hanging so as to not come right out and accuse Naruto of rude behavior, but the insinuation is clear.
Hinata turns back to Naruto and notices the familiar young man standing behind him, looking a little nervous. She cocks her head to the side and gives Naruto a curious look, who just raises his eyebrows and smirks. 'So last night was not just a way to keep Hanabi-chan preoccupied, but something potentially more... long term.' She gives Naruto a slight smile and a nod. 'I approve, Naruto-kun.' She is rewarded with one of his big signature smiles.
She turns to the guard and bows. "I am sorry, this whole thing is my fault. I asked Uzumaki-san to pass on my invitation to Sarutobi-san to be our guest for this morning's first sunrise ceremony. Please accept my apology for forgetting to inform you of the change and thank you for performing your duties admirably." The guard, obviously flustered, returns her bow before she turns to Konohamaru and bows. "Sarutobi-san, thank you for accepting the invitation on such short notice. We are honored to have you as our guest this morning."
Konohamaru grins and scratches the back of his head. "No, thank you for asking me to be a guest. It is not often anyone is offered such an honor, Hyuga-sama." As if suddenly remembering his manners, and who he is talking with, Konohamaru quickly adds a bow.
After they pass through the main gate Hinata takes up a position between the two young men and points out defining features about the family estate as they make their way to her clan's private temple near the back of the property. Her job of giving a guided tour is made difficult by the fact that Naruto keeps brushing his fingers up against her own in a teasing manner. Each brush feels like they generate little sparks that run up her arm, and after one seemingly intense jolt she looks over to see in his eyes that he is enjoying her reaction to his touch.
The moment is interrupted as they reach the shrine and she can feel the gazes of many of the gathered Hyuga clan members upon her and the two young men she has by her side. As she lets her gaze drift across the gathered crowd she can see many surprised looks amongst those faces and even some who seem to dislike having outsiders at their private clan service, especially from the elders. She resists the old urge to wither under their disapproving looks, and instead focuses her attention to where her father stands, his face an impassive mask, waiting for her on the dais along with her sister. Hanabi's face initially lights up when she sees that Naruto has come, but the smile quickly fades to shock as Konohamaru steps into view. Hinata gives her sister and innocent shrug when their eyes finally meet. 'This could be a long morning for poor Konohamaru, but the look on her face is worth it after what she tried to do to me last night.'
FLASHBACK
Hinata can only stand there touching the side of her neck as she stares at the now closed door to her home. 'He left a mark on my neck when he…' Hinata's stomach begins quivering as she remembers the sensation of Naruto's lips on her neck. She reaches up and steadies herself on the doorframe with her free hand as her legs begin to tremble. 'I didn't think he kissed me that intensely, or did he do more after I fainted.' The thought of Naruto taking advantage of her while she was unconscious should have disturbed her greatly. Instead, she is surprised that the idea of him exploring her body while she is defenseless actually makes her feel… excited. 'Maybe I should pretend to faint one time when he is really… excited, and see if he will control himself and be sweet, or will he give in to his…' Her face blushes intensely as the word comes to her mind. 'Lust, and he…' She shakes her head to try and clear her mind of thoughts that are more suited to dream about in the privacy of her own room. 'I need to calm myself, or anyone who sees me might come closer to check and see why my face is so red.' She sighs at how being the heir to the family can be such a pain at times, when being anonymous would make things so much easier.
Hinata enters her home and quickly walks towards her room while trying to not look like she is rushing through the home in an attempt to avoid meeting anyone. Which can be a truly daunting task in a home with servants who are trained to be at your every beck and call. She is within sight of her room when she hears the last voice she wanted to hear tonight.
"Hinata, I see that you have made it home." Hiashi's voice is calm, but with only a slight hint of curiosity. "You usually come by and wish me a goodnight before you retire. When Hanabi came to visit me without you I became concerned, is everything alright?"
Hinata turns only partially, not knowing exactly where the mark on her neck is located, and hopes that this is sufficient to hide the evidence of Naruto's 'excitement' he left on her body. "It was an amazing night otou-sama. I was just going to change my clothes, and properly put my kimono away, before coming to bid you a goodnight." She bows to her father, again hoping this required gesture does not expose something she would rather her father not see. "My apologies, I did not mean to cause you any concern."
Hanabi, a mischievous smile spread across her face, steps out from behind their father. "I was just telling otuo-sama that the WHOLE fireworks show was amazing. Wouldn't you agree onee-san?"
Hinata does not flinch at her sister's attempt to make light of her passing out in Naruto's arms in the middle of the fireworks show. "Absolutely, I cannot begin to express how much I have enjoyed this year's festival." Hinata smiles as she decides to turn the kunai back towards Hanabi. "Wasn't it nice of Konohamaru to come over and join us tonight? His company tonight was so delightful. The two of you made the cutest couple walking beside each other and eating dinner together, everyone said so."
Hiashi listens carefully as his daughters verbally spar with each other until the word 'couple' was used in the same sentence as his youngest daughter. He looks down at Hanabi and she looks as if she is nailed to the spot under her father's questioning gaze. "You did not mention that you had the Sarutobi boy as a personal escort tonight.'
Hinata, seeing her chance to escape, bows and quietly bids them a quick goodnight while Hanabi tries to explain to her father about Konohamaru's presence and why people were calling them a couple. Hinata quickly locks her door behind her; just in case Hanabi tries to come into her room as a pretense to get away from their father's interrogation.
Hinata steps in front of her mirror and slowly inspects her neck for the mark Hanabi had mentioned. At first she can see no sign of a spot, and she starts to worry that Hanabi had been playing a trick on her, but when Hinata pulls her kimono aside she sees the telltale mark upon her collarbone. Thankfully it was low enough to be hidden when she had shrunk protectively inside her kimono and could only have been seen by a critical eye when she had been walking proudly by Naruto's side on her way home. It is a bright red oval about the size of her thumb. She gazes at the marked flesh reverently as if it was a seal placed upon her body by Naruto, marking her flesh for him alone to possess.
Hinata, not trusting her legs to be able to hold her up for much longer, removes her kimono and grabs her hand mirror before lying down on her bed. She looks at her neck closely while she slowly caresses the bruise, tracing an imaginary Uzumaki symbol inside the mark, while envisioning Naruto leisurely marking more of her body until every part of her has been sealed away for him alone. Her body undulates slowly at first as she closes her eyes and imagines his lips finding new places to mark as his own. The whole time she continues tracing his clan symbol inside the mark his lips left on her neck. The rhythm of her body gradually increases, as does her breathing until…
END FLASHBACK
Hinata grabs ahold of Naruto's hand with a desperate intensity as they walk together up the steps to the dais where her father awaits. The memory of last night laying curled up and trembling in her bed, trying not to call out his name, flashes through her mind. When she looks over at Naruto she bites her lip nervously hoping that nobody can hear how loudly her heart is suddenly pounding, or notices how rapid her breathing has become. She knows that there is no way that she can hide from all those nearby Hyuga eyes, the warm blush spreading across her face.
Hiashi, a veteran of diplomacy, does not miss the desperate way his daughter grabs onto Naruto's hand, or the way her face flushes from the contact. Nor does he miss the fact that seeing his daughter like this gives him the sudden fatherly urge to step up and knock the blonde-haired shinobi off of the dais. Thankfully, he has enough control and decorum to not give into that unseemly impulse and instead greets Naruto as the hero he has become. Once formalities are exchanged, Hiashi turns his gaze upon Naruto's attire. "Interesting choice of clothing you are wearing today Uzumaki-san."
Naruto chuckles nervously and rubs the back of his head. "Oh yeah, these are the robes you let me borrow when I had dinner with you recently and since I still had them I thought I would wear them as a sign of respect towards your clan for all of the kindness that you have shown me recently." He bows deeply to Hiashi and clears the lump threatening to steal his voice. "Your clan has allowed me to be part of holiday traditions in a way that I have only dreamed of before, and for that you have my deepest respect and thanks, Hyuga-sama."
Hiashi is taken slightly aback by the unexpected response from the boy in front of him, so much so that he loses his stoic composure for just a moment and just stares curiously at the young man bowing in front of him.
Konohamaru turns and looks down at his feet in shame. In all the years that he has known Naruto, and thought of him as a rival and someone to be emulated, he had never really thought about how just a simple gesture of kindness would have meant so much to Naruto. He could have done the same for him, especially when grandfather had been alive, and invited Naruto to birthday parties, or even a simple dinner, but he hadn't. Now he stands here feeling completely unworthy of all of the kindness and brotherly advice Naruto has shown him for all these years. 'I'll make it up to you one day boss, somehow.'
Hanabi herself is at a complete loss for words. She had known as a child that Naruto was someone only to be avoided, almost hated. Later, when Neji had changed and had mentioned Naruto more as a friend than someone to be avoided, her fear had begun to fade. It wasn't till she had really spent time with him that she started to understand why her sister seems to care so much for Naruto, and her cousin had spoken of him with something close to respect. Hearing such heartfelt gratitude makes her realize what all of that undeserved fear had really cost him as a child.
Hinata was not surprised or shocked at hearing Naruto's words. She had seen in his eyes the wonder and joy he had felt when doing something so simple as having a family meal around a dinner table. Something that fate had so cruelly denied him for so many years and that she was just now able to overcome her shyness to reach out and offer him the opportunity. Seeing her father momentarily at a loss for words, Hinata steps in and places her hand once again inside of Naruto's. "It is our pleasure Naruto-kun. We are very happy to demonstrate our... gratitude and respect not only to the son of the Fourth Hokage, but to someone who is a hero in his own right."
Naruto turns and gives Hinata a grateful smile and squeezes her hand gently with his own. He looks towards Hiashi, who has regained his composure and receives an acknowledging nod.
Most of the gathered crowd could not hear what was being said upon the dais, but the air begins to be filled with their soft whispers wondering what had just occurred upon the dais right in front of the entire clan. Why had the clan leader nodded in agreement to Uzumaki Naruto after the clan's heir had placed her hand inside the hand of Uzumaki Naruto? Upon hearing the hushed voices coming from the crowd, Hiashi looks up and his eyes narrow, but before he could say something to the gathered clan the priest begins to toll the bell as the first rays of the morning sun began to break over the horizon.
Everyone's attention is then drawn towards the horizon as the priest offers up a prayer for the new year. After the prayer the bell is tolled again and then one-by-one each person gathered who has reached adulthood, starting with Hiashi, says a short prayer and then rings the large shrine bell. Once complete, the priest rings the bell one last time and bestows a blessing on all those gathered for the ceremony.
Once the final blessing is over, all of the gathered clan members turn to the dais and bow to Hiashi, along with his children and his guests, which he returns and everyone begins to depart to do their various duties. Hiashi takes his leave as well and leaves the four of them alone upon the dais.
"Wow, that was really neat to watch and to finally be a participant. I have been awakened by the sunrise ceremony before as a kid, and then when I was older I heard them toll in the distance when I would stay up to see the sunrise from my rooftop." He puts his hands behind his head. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I am starting to get hungry."
Hinata frowns for a moment because she had a private breakfast planned for the two of them to share, but since Konohamaru was unexpectedly invited she cannot just usher him away or leave him to an unknown fate with Hanabi. Her sister had been making it a point to give the young boy the cold shoulder ever since he appeared and to his credit Konohamaru had not let Hanabi's unhappy mood upset him at all, but some cracks were beginning to show in his composure. Suddenly an idea comes to mind and she looks over at Naruto nervously. "Would you like to stay and have breakfast with me… I mean would the two you like to stay and have breakfast with us this morning?"
The two boys look at each other, nod and then turn back to Hinata and speak simultaneously. "Sure, that would be great." The two boys then look back at each other and laugh.
Hinata's hands cover her heart in joy as she leans over and whispers in her sister's ear.
Hanabi listens and then with wide eyes she asks. "Really, you would like me to do that this morning?" After her sister nods in reply she smiles again, lifts the hem of her kimono up a little and runs off quickly.
Hinata turns back to look at Naruto with a shy smile and then over to Konohamaru. "Would the two of you please follow me while Hanabi makes sure everything is ready for our meal?"
The two boys look at each other and shrug before they follow Hinata towards another part of the Hyuga compound. They reach a section of the Hyuga compound that Naruto is unfamiliar with and stares at the small building set aside in a peaceful little area. "So why are we hear Hinata? Is this another guest house?"
"That's a tea house right?" Konohamaru asks.
Hinata gives Konohamaru a smile as she nods. "Yes, we use this on special occasions or to entertain important guests. Since this is the first day of the new year I thought that this would be a nice quiet place to sit and talk while having something to eat." She turns away with a blush on her cheeks as she says the word 'talk' and nervously touches her fingers together. She had planned on it being just her and Naruto this morning so they could... talk and stuff.
Naruto stares at the small building with an open mouth. "Wow, I've seen these places in the village but I have never gone to one of them before to drink tea."
Konohamaru looks over at him in surprise. "Really, I figured that you would have done this at least once."
Naruto shakes his head. "Nah, growing up if I got near one of those places I would start getting nasty looks from the owner. I did try to sneak into one once to see what the big deal was about. All I saw before I got caught and literally thrown out on my face was a bunch of people sitting quietly while watching some girl wash her dishes. I guess she forgot to bring clean cups and stuff."
Hinata can't help but cover her mouth and giggle at Naruto's description of what he saw. She places her free hand on his arm and gives him a warm smile. "I hope that you will find having tea with us to be more enjoyable and educational."
Before Naruto can reply Hinata opens the door and gestures for the two boys to enter. Inside, the room has been set for three guests plus the Teishu around a sunken hearth where glowing coals can be seen. Hinata looks at Konohamaru and gestures to one of the tatami mats. "Since this is Naruto-kun's first time I thought that you might take the principal guest position, so that he can observe before it is his turn and I will go last."
Once they have each taken their seat a panel slides open to reveal Hanabi kneeling on the other side. As she enters they notice that she is holding a platter in both hands. As she is walking closer it is easy to notice a momentary break in her calm demeanor as she sees Konohamaru in the primary guest position. She quickly regains her composure and kneels in front of Konohamaru, bows and lays down the platter saying, "Please have these sweets."
Konohamaru silently bows and moves the platter to his right side.
Naruto glances down to see what she has brought and immediately looks over to Hinata with a surprised look on his face. Hinata blushes a little and can't help but look down at the floor. On the platter are two kinds of sweets: one of them is higashi with three different patterns stamped into their surfaces; the Leaf Village symbol, the Hyuga clan symbol and finally the whirlpool pattern of the Uzumaki clan. The other sweet, and the one that brought a smile to Naruto's face, is a pan-fried rice cake called hwajeon that has edible flower petals pressed into its surface. The blue and lavender petals are arranged in an alternating pattern with several white petals delicately arranged in the center. The hwajeon were made to resemble the earrings that Naruto had given Hinata for her birthday and seeing them there on the plate brings the memories of that wonderful night back to Naruto's mind.
As the tea ceremony gets underway Naruto cannot help but lean over closer to Hinata. "Those things are beautiful, did you make them Hinata?" He slides his hand over and gently brushes the little finger of her left hand with his own.
Hinata struggles to not make a sound as the electric jolt of his touch causes her to gasp a little. She raises her little finger and loops it over his, but keeps her eyes focused straight ahead as her sister is performing the tea ceremony. As Hanabi reaches over to precede to the next step Hinata leans over and whispers in Naruto's ear. "I am so glad you like them. When I saw the flowers in Ino's shop yesterday I knew immediately that I wanted to make these for you this morning."
Naruto looks down at the hwajeon and absently rubs his growling stomach. "Man, if they taste half as good as they look you will have to make them for me every year."
Hinata feels happy tears cloud her vision. 'Every year… he said every year. Did he just say that absently, or does he really mean that he sees a future for us… together? Do I dare ask him to clarify what he just said?' She shakes her head to dispel her fears and focus on what her heart desires.
Naruto feels something wet land on his hand and is startled to see a tear on Hinata's cheek. He reaches up his hand and brushes his thumb across her cheek while turning her face to look at his own. "Are you okay, did I say something stupid to upset you, tenshi?"
Hinata doesn't say a word, but closes her eyes tightly forcing fresh tears down her cheeks as she put her head on his shoulder. She feels him turn and wrap both arms around her pulling her into a tight embrace.
Naruto reaches up and instinctively strokes her hair and apologizes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry Hinata. I don't ever want to see you unhappy, believe it."
Hinata, soothed by the gentle sound of his voice, can feel herself falling into the warmth of his embrace, she forces herself to lean back and look shyly into his big blues eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong Naruto-kun. I was just so happy that you liked them and would like to me to fix them again for us, in the future." There she said it, she said 'us' and 'future' to him meaning that she wants 'us' to be together next year and all the years beyond that one.
'Wow, she is really serious about her cooking. I have to remember that whatever she makes that I will just have to say it's great, but who am I kidding Hinata's perfect, anything she makes will probably taste great.' He gives her a big smile and a gentle squeeze. "Of course, I want that Hinata. They really look almost too pretty to eat, but I am so hungry that I really don't think that I could stop myself."
Hinata giggles a little at the thought of him attacking the sweets like a bowl of ramen. "If they are not enough I can easily make you some more. I can't have you fainting when you go to work with the Hokage later today, can I?"
"I am going to need some help staying awake doing all that boring paperwork, so I hope that tea is strong." At the mention of tea they both remember why they are there and look over to see a very perturbed Hanabi glaring at both of them, while Konohamaru is busying himself by looking at a nearby floral display. They both turn back to their proper sitting position and bow apologetically to Hanabi.
The rest of the tea ceremony goes mostly without incident, except for when it is Naruto's turn and everyone there cannot help but giggle a little as he stumbles through the steps that he had just watched Konohamaru perform.
Once the ceremony is complete everyone relaxes and finishes the last of the sweets made by Hinata with a lighter tea. Hanabi, now that her job is complete and everything has been properly cleaned and put away sits down between Naruto and Konohamaru to enjoy some of the sweets as well.
"So what did you think of the tea ceremony?" She asks Naruto with a happy smile as she nibbles on an Uzumaki clan higashi.
Naruto gives her a crooked smile and gestures with a hwajeon. "It was very pretty to watch Hanabi, but I never imagined that making tea could be made to be so complicated. I just usually boil some water and throw in a tea bag or two, but making it that way must have taken a long time to learn." He takes a bite of the hwajeon looks over at Hinata with a smile. "Man these things are addictive. I know you explained that the ceremony is more about art and style, which is something that I was really never exposed to growing up, but…" He notices that Hinata is watching him with a barely contained giggle. "What, do I have crumbs on my face or something?" Naruto rubs his face to dislodge any crumbs that might be stuck there from his hasty munching of the sweets.
Hinata cannot contain her giggles and has cover her mouth. "I guess I found a new way to get you to eat vegetables."
"What?" He then looks down at the half eaten treat in his hand with its decorative flower petals and laughs. Naruto falls back and just keeps laughing and before long his laughter infects the others and the whole room is filled with the sound of their mirth.
After a few more minutes of giggles and snickers, Naruto sits up and wipes tears from his eyes. "Hinata-tenshi, only you could come up with a way to make vegetables so tasty." He emphasizes his point by stuffing the rest of the sticky treat in his mouth and licking his fingers clean.
With a heavy sigh Naruto stands and stretches before holding out a hand to help Hinata stand up and then to Hanabi as she gives him a hopeful look. "I guess I had better leave soon. I need to go home and change before I go and meet with Baa-chan. The last time I showed up wearing these robes she joked about me being adopted and nearly laughed herself silly." He just shakes his head and sighs heavily at the memory. "She wants to discuss some of her plans for this year and how she wants me to assist."
Hinata, sad that their time together is at its end, gives Naruto a smile anyways. "That is a good thing. She is giving you more responsibilities so that you can be better prepared to be the Hokage one day."
Naruto nods in agreement as he opens the door for Hinata, and the four of them chat idly as they make their way towards the main gate. Along the way Naruto snaps his fingers and turns to face the others. "Hey, I got an idea. I promised Konohamaru that I would show him my Rasenbomb jutsu. Would the two of you like to see the demo too?"
Hinata places both hands over her heart in shock, surprised that he would ever attempt that jutsu again. "I thought that you said it was too dangerous to use Naruto-kun."
He gives her a smirk and winks roguishly. "It really is a dangerous jutsu, but I finally came up with a way to use it safely." He steps closer and gently rubs her arm. "So what do you say? I'll use a low powered version of the jutsu so that the collateral damage will be minor and the ANBU won't come to investigate the sudden appearance of a giant crater." He leans closer to her frightened face and kisses her forehead. "I promise that I would not be trying this if I was not positive that nobody, including me, will get hurt. I finally got it figured out, believe it."
Hinata hugs him and weakly speaks in a frightened voice. "Okay, you are going to do it whether I am there or not, so I want to be there to see you successfully demonstrate your improved rasenbomb."
"That's why you are the best Hinata, you always believe in me no matter what I do." He looks over to the others and is happy to see them nod in agreement to the demonstration. He then gestures with his chin for them to look away.
Konohamaru at first does not understand what Naruto wants, but when Hanabi grabs his arm and spins him around he finally understands that Naruto wants some private time with Hinata. A little uncomfortable about what might be going on behind his back, Konohamaru tries to engage Hanabi in idle chit-chat as they continue walking. "Hey, it probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but I really thought that you did a good job with the ceremony earlier. Mom has made me sit through a bunch of them, being the third's grandson and all, she feels that I should know more than just how to be shinobi since I will probably be the head of the clan one day. Till I become Hokage, that is."
Hanabi, trying not to think about what is happening behind them, looks over at Konohamaru and gives him a nod of thanks. "Thank you very much. My father feels that it is important for both of his daughters to know not only how to act during ceremonies like that one, but also be able to perform them perfectly. The one of us who does not become the next leader will be required to entertain guests, like a wife would have to do if father had a male heir instead of two daughters. It is probable even after the other one is married off and becomes a branch member, that they may still be required to perform these duties. Unless another branch member is assigned that duty instead for some reason." Hanabi cannot hide the bitterness in her voice at the thoughts that as the second in line for the leadership position that she really has lost all control over her destiny.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I have overheard mom talk about how certain clans and other people have expressed interest in having me meet their daughter." He shakes his head unhappily at the memory of a few of the meetings his mother has made him attend and how he had made a shadow clone and snuck away while she was not looking. "I don't have time for that kind of stuff. I am going to be Hokage one day and I need to focus my time on training harder, not sitting around talking to a girl who is only there because of her parents. Some of them are so totally boring too, they just sit there afraid to say anything because they are not even a kunoichi and have no clue what I am talking about. The worst one was the girl who sat there and cried the whole time because she is in love with some boy and is afraid her parents are going to force her to marry somebody she doesn't care about." He kicks at a loose rock in the path. "People should have the right to marry who they love, and not who people tell them they should marry. When I become Hokage I am going to make that a law, no more arranged marriages." When he looks over at Hanabi he is surprised to see her give a smiling nod of approval. Well, he was surprised to see Hanabi direct a smile in his direction for the first time he can ever remember.
Behind the two young shinobi, Naruto and Hinata share a smile as they see the two young shinobi talking to each other. "They do look cute together don't they Naruto-kun?" As he turns to look at her she reaches up a hand and rubs her thumb across the whisker marks on his cheeks. "I am so glad you came today."
"Me too, tenshi. I really cannot express in words how excited I am to just be a part of something like today's ceremony, it's like being part of a real family." He leans down and gives her a kiss, not a kiss filled with passion and borderline lust like the night before. This is a warm, gentle, happy kiss that tries to translate all of the joy filling his heart into something simple and warm.
Hinata, her heart already filled with the delight of just having him with her sharing the start of a new year, returns the warmth she is receiving from his kiss. While the one hand continues to caress his face, her other hand slides up behind his neck to play with his golden hair. As they continue kissing she is surprised when she feels something contact her lips and realizes that it is his tongue tentatively trying to gain entrance. She only hesitates for a moment before parting her lips with a smile and hesitantly extends her own tongue to meet Naruto's.
Naruto had actually crossed his fingers behind Hinata's back as he took a chance and brushed her lips with his tongue. As their tongues continue to hesitantly brush against each other Naruto begins to wonder. 'Is the sweetness I taste on her lips from the cookies we just ate, or is this just how she tastes all of the time? She is such a sweet and kind person it could be both. I guess I will just have to do this again to find out.'
With each passing moment the intensity of their kissing increases as their confidence grows. The movement of their tongues quickly goes from cautious to enthusiastic as they become more proficient. Naruto cups one of his hands on the small of her back while his other reaches up and caresses her slender neck. Feeling his hand brush near the mark he gave her last night causes Hinata to break free from their embrace and take a step back. She looks at Naruto intensely with half closed eyes.
Naruto is a little surprised when Hinata steps abruptly away from him, his surprise turns to unease when he sees the strange almost calculating look in her eyes. 'I guess I went too far. Crap, I bet she is thinking that I am some sort of pushy pervert for sticking my tongue in her mouth without asking first. I should have known better than read one of Pervy Sage's books for advice.' He quickly tries to come up with an excuse to salvage what had been an unforgettable experience. "Hinata, I…"
Hinata grabs Naruto by the collar and pulls him into a rough kiss before pushing him away again. She had gone over what she wanted to say to him this morning while making the cookies, but hadn't actually thought she was going to find the courage. As it has been so many times before, his very presence is all she needs to give her the confidence to step out of her timid shell. The unexpected rough kiss was final piece of her plan to make sure her words would catch him completely off guard. "You have some explaining to do, Naruto."
The fact that Hinata did not add 'kun' to the end of his name sends a chill up Naruto's spine. All he can do is stand there frozen to the spot staring at Hinata, while his inner self grabs the sides of his face and runs about in a circle screaming. 'Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. What do I do? It usually worked in those books, except that time when the girl wasn't ready and beat the crap out of the boy.'
Seeing that she has his full attention Hinata steps closer and pulls her hair to the side so that he can see the bright red mark on her flesh.
Naruto stares for a moment before pointing. "Hey, there is something on your neck."
"Oh really?" Hinata can't help but smile at his confusion. 'He is so cute when he is clueless.'
He nods in affirmation to her question. "Yeah, it kind of looks like a…"
"Bite mark?" It takes all of her self-control to not giggle when his eyes go wide with shock.
"Oh Kami." Naruto holds up his hands and closes his eyes waiting for the retribution that is to come. "Hinata, I am sorry. I guess I got a little carried away last night. Please don't be mad, I…. mff." His apology is interrupted by a pair of soft lips closing over his own.
Seeing Naruto so nervous that he might have upset her, warms Hinata's heart and she cannot continue the game any longer. She rewards his show of real concern with a gentle kiss that makes her heart flutter with excitement when he quivers at her touch. "Shh, it is alright, I like it." Hinata places a hand on his cheek affectionately when he opens his eyes to see if she meant what she said, or was just trying to be nice,. "I really do Naruto-kun, but it might be best if my father doesn't know." With her other hand she pulls her hair back into place to hide the mark.
Naruto laughs nervously at the thought of her father seeing a blemish on his daughter's perfect skin. "Yeah, that might be a good idea, tenshi." He takes her left hand in his own and pulls her close so that he can walk with his right hand wrapped around Hinata's waist. They walk slowly together towards the main gate, Hinata's head resting comfortably on Naruto's shoulder, where Konohamaru and Hanabi are waiting patiently.
As they are about to reach the gate Hinata places her right hand on Naruto's chest. "Do you want to have lunch together later? There are still a few of the special ramen we have not tried at Ichiraku's yet."
"That sounds perfect Hinata." Naruto kisses her lovingly on the forehead and is rewarded with a happy blush coloring her cheeks. 'Man, she has come a long way in such a short time. If we had kissed, like we did earlier, on her birthday I would have had to carry her home.' He gives Hinata's waist a little squeeze and then looks over at the backs of the two young shinobi. "Hey you two, I have an idea. If you are not busy why don't we have lunch together and then afterwards we can head to the training grounds. I can show you my updated rasenbomb and then we can do a little sparing together."
Hinata raises her head and whispers into Naruto's ear. "Are you just going to keep coming up with excuses for them to be around each other?"
Naruto looks at Hinata with one corner of his mouth curled up in a sneaky grin. "Just until they figure things out on their own, by then they won't want witnesses around anymore than we do." He increases the pressure on her hip with his right hand to emphasize his point. He knows her blush has gone a brighter shade of red when she buries her face in his shoulder and he just gives out a mischievous chuckle.
Konohamaru and Hanabi enthusiastically agree to the suggestion, each for their own reasons.
Just before signaling the guard to open the gate Naruto gives Hinata a kiss and touches his tongue ever so gently to her lips as they part. He grins as she bites her lip and gives him a look that promises that sometime soon there will be retaliation for his sneaky actions.
A few moments later as they are walking down the street away from the Hyuga clan's main gate, Konohamaru looks over at Naruto curiously. "So, you are just using me to keep Hanabi busy so that you can spend uninterrupted time with Hinata?"
Naruto puts his hands behind his head and smiles. "Pretty much, I think of it more like additional Hokage training. Assigning a difficult and potentially dangerous mission to somebody that I care about. I'll have to do that one day, so why not start with something a little easy." Naruto doesn't like leaving out his other motive for inviting Konohamaru to outings that include Hanabi, because it feels a little like lying. 'With his mom trying to set him up I think he might freak out if he thinks that I am just trying to do the same thing. I probably should butt out since I have no real clue what I am doing in the relationship arena, but Hinata seems to approve so I must be doing something right.'
Konohamaru gives his friend a sideways look. "Well you definitely got the difficult and dangerous part right. To be honest that girl scares me a little. I saw her staring at me sometimes back when we were in the academy and at events where all the genin are gathered." He gives a little shiver. "She is so intense about everything she does, so I can only imagine what she is going to be like at the chunin exams."
Naruto pats the boy on the shoulder and gives him a big smile. "Think of this afternoon's sparing match as a way of checking out the potential competition. Both of you are really skilled shinobi so there is a good chance that the two of you might end up facing off against each other in the finals. It might not hurt to know what you are up against. I faced her cousin Neji during my chunin exams and have spent a lot of hours lately sparing with her sister. Plus I was on a mission recently with Hanabi and let me say that the Hyugas have earned their reputation as a top ranked clan."
Naruto continues talking after Konohamaru nods in understanding. "Besides Hanabi is not so bad once you get to know her, yeah she can be intense like most of her clan, but underneath that cold, intense exterior she is still a girl just like Moegi and the two of you get along really well." Naruto becomes concerned that something is wrong when he sees his friend's brows furrow after he mentions the young kuoichi's name. "Is everything okay between you and Moegi? I could not help but notice that you were not hanging out with her and Udon at the festival last night."
Konohamaru looks up hesitantly at Naruto. "Everything is great between me and Moegi, really."
"But..." Naruto asks knowing that his friend was hiding something.
Konohamaru's shoulders sag a little and he lets out a small sigh. "Well, Udon really cares for her, I mean a lot, and asked me the other day if I would maybe disappear for a little while during the festival so that he could be alone with Moegi. I guess he was hoping to impress her or something."
"That sounds like an okay request." Naruto leans down to get a closer look at his friend's face. "Unless… you have feelings for Moegi too?" Naruto was starting to kick himself for not thinking about this possibility and how he might really be causing issues for not only his friend, but for Hanabi too.
Konohamaru shakes his head. "No, not like that anyways. Moegi is my friend, my oldest friend really, and I know she feels the same way. I never want to do anything that would hurt my team or our friendship. So if Udon has feelings for her, then I am going to stay out of his way and just let the two of them sort things out." He looks over at Naruto, a little scared to say the next part. "I saw what happened with you and your old team and how mixing romantic feelings into a team can cause problems. I would be happier if Udon did not have such feelings for Moegi, but that can't be helped. So even if I did have those kinds of feelings for her I wouldn't say anything and just hope she only sees me as a friend. Udon is a good guy, but he can be a little sensitive at times and I need him fully focused when we are on missions."
Naruto looks away and thinks about what Konohamaru has said and how his own mistakes have shaped the boy's own outlook. "You know what Konohamaru, you are a lot more mature than I was at your age. If I had been more like you then maybe things would have turned out differently." He looks back in the direction of the Hyuga compound and smiles for a moment. "Yeah, I was stupid about a lot of things when I was your age, but at least I am finally starting to get my life going in the right direction." He claps Konohamaru on the back and gives the boy's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I think things will work out for the best, believe it. I've got to go to work for a while, but I hope to see you at Ichiraku's for lunch later."
"You got it boss." The two friends share a fist bump before going their separate ways.
As the two girls are walking back to the main house Hanabi glances over at her sister. "What were you two trying to pull by inviting Konohamaru this morning? Are you trying to just push me off onto him without giving me any sort of choice?" Hanabi does not even try to hide how upset she is feeling about what they are doing.
Hinata calmly looks at her little sister. "No, I am not pushing anything, but you seem to be insistent on intruding into my time with Naruto-kun." Hinata holds out her hand to forestall Hanabi's reply. "Yes, Konohamaru was invited to even out the numbers and give you someone your own age to talk with while we spent time together. I will not deny that fact." Hinata straightens up and gives her sister a stern glare. "Just be glad that I even allowed you to come along this morning."
"Why would you do that to me Hinata? I came along so that I could spend some time with Naruto too." Hanabi's fists are balled up and tears of frustration glisten in her eyes. "You spend almost every day with him now and I only see him when joins us for dinner or if he is assigned to join my team for a mission."
Hinata grabs her sister and pulls her into a hug and is barely able to hold her struggling sister in the embrace. "Please don't forget that I am the one dating Naruto-kun. I have been in love with him since before I knew what that word truly meant." Hinata moves her head beside her sisters as happy tears begin to fall. "I have waited so long to be able to walk beside him instead of watching him from afar. I have lost count of the nights that I have fallen asleep crying because I failed to find the courage to express my feelings to him once again. I have waited so long to finally be able to say that we are a couple, that I was starting to fear that the day would never come. Especially after…" Hinata cannot help but break down as she thinks about how close she has come to losing Naruto.
"He has nearly died so many times that my heart would break before I could count them all, and never once did he risk his life for selfish reasons. He is a good person and I love him with all my heart." She pushes her sister back a little so that they can look into each other's tear stained faces. "I am finally in his life, walking beside him, Hanabi-chan. Now that I am so close to having everything that I have dreamed about my entire life, I will not let anyone or anything come between us again. Nothing will keep me from having my dream." Hinata closes her eyes and cries, wishing that she felt as confident about that statement as she sounded.
Hanabi's struggles cease as Hinata's embrace tightens and her body shakes with sobs. Hanabi cannot help but listen and wrap her arms around Hinata to try and soothe her sister's outburst of emotion. "I…I didn't know. I mean I knew that you cared for him, but I had no idea that you were… crying for him." Hanabi turns her head in shame. "I'm sorry, I guess that I got jealous. I mean you have gotten everything. You will be the head of the clan one day. Naruto is like totally in love with you, and that alone makes you the luckiest girl in the village. It is disheartening to think that I am just going to be pushed aside, married and become a branch member just because I was born second. I just wanted something special too... you know, and he make me feel special when he is around." Hanabi looks away in shame realizing for the first time that is probably how her sister felt before the war, when it seemed that her fate was to be the one unhappy and Naruto was not in her life.
Hinata steps back and wipes her eyes. "Neji and I made a promise during the war that when we got home that we would change the clan for the better. Even if that meant that I would have to challenge you for the leadership, if father hadn't changed his mind and reinstated me as his heir, or we couldn't convince you to join our plan." Hinata takes a deep breath and stands up straight. "I make you the same promise I did Neji. When I become the leader of our clan the old system will be abolished and no longer will our family members be given that terrible mark which makes them nothing but slaves. All Hyuga's will be allowed to choose their own fate and follow their own heart. Other clans survive and thrive through family loyalty, and not because of forced allegiance and we can do the same." She gives her sister a hopeful smile. "Yes, I am being selfish, because this change means that even I have a chance to be happy."
Hanabi gently grabs her sister's arm and leads her towards the main house. "My problem is why did you have to pick Konohamaru?" She rolls her eyes as her sister looks over at her curiously. "I mean he is sooooo annoying. All he ever talks about is being Hokage one day and the awesome new jutsu he has just learned." She leans in and whispers into Hinata's ear. "He does this thing he calls his sexy jutsu that is totally perverted. I have also heard Moegi talk about how irresponsible he can be on missions sometimes. He will run and attack an enemy without waiting for backup like some idiot. Can you imagine being on a mission with someone who acts that way?"
Hinata just stops and stares at her sister dumbfounded at what she has just heard.
Hanabi nods after seeing the shocked look on her sister's face. "I know, annoying, right? If he would just grow up and act more like Naruto I am sure that he would already have a girlfriend by now. Several of the girls think that he is soooo cute, especially Ookami, but that big loud mouth of his is just too annoying to ignore. She is kind of a big loudmouth herself, so she would probably go out with him if he would ever stop talking long enough to notice that she is around. That's another problem with him, if he would just shut up sometimes he might notice that there are other people around besides himself."
As she listens to her sister's description of Konohamaru, Hinata covers her mouth to hide her smile and tries to look shocked, but by the end she is biting one of her fingers to suppress her giggles. "I had no idea that Konohamaru was like that, Hanabi-chan, or that you found such behavior in a boy to be so unpleasant." It takes nearly all of her self-control to not break down as her sister nods enthusiastically. Hinata leads her sister into the family garden, her favorite place in her family's estate, and points to a small bench. "I have never told you much about my days in the academy. Why don't you let me tell you a little about the boy I fell in love with and why."
Hanabi, excited to learn something new about Naruto, sits and listens in rapt attention as her sister starts with a story about the time a young Naruto had stopped some boys from bullying her and had gotten himself badly beaten instead. She also tells of how Ko had found her and drug her away leaving her beaten rescuer to an unknown fate. Hanabi would go on and sit in amazement that the great hero had failed almost every test in the academy during his first attempt, but had never given up no matter how badly the other kids made fun of him. That Hinata had watched him train hard to succeed at nearly everything that he had earned during his life and how that had inspired her, the girl born with nearly everything a person could want, to work just as hard as he did every day. To Hinata, giving up and taking the easy road would have been like insulting all the dedication Naruto was showing to reach his goals.
Hinata could not say exactly when she fell in love with Naruto, she just knew that one day that the feeling in her heart when she saw him, finally had a name. She only knows that from the very moment she saw him that she was drawn to him as if they were fated to be together. She knew in her heart that all she had to do was keep following that red thread of fate and one day it would forever become intertwined with Naruto's destiny.
The two sisters spent the rest of the morning talking and sharing with each other, like they had when they were children. When they at last leave the garden they walk happily beside each other as if all the years of tension and animosity between them has been left buried somewhere in that garden.