Chapter 73

Iwagakure

After walking for another full day, they finally made it to Iwagakure. Both of them were tired, but ready to talk to the Tsuchikage.

When they entered the village the shinobi that greeted them treated Naruto and Hinata like they were celebrities. They started bowing to Naruto and Hinata and shaking their hands, and the more people that drew attention caused more people to watch with excitement. Before they knew it they were surrounded by a crowd of people.

"I didn't realize you guys would make such a big deal about us," Naruto said while shaking the hands of those around him. He wasn't used to so much attention.

Hinata just blushed and tried to nod at every person that bowed at them as a thank you.

"What event has brought this great honor upon our village?" One shinobi asked Naruto.

"Isn't it obvious," another shinobi said, "a marriage, of course," as he gestured at Hinata.

"No, you're mistaken," Hinata spoke for the first time. Technically they were right, but everyone was too excited to hear them out.

"Marriage," echoed through the crowd in whispers and words of congratulations circled back to them.

"No, we're not here because we're getting married," Naruto yelled above the crowd.

"You mean you don't plan to marry her?" The crowd started to sound disappointed. "But they make such a great team," another said as others in the crowd assented.

Naruto held his head in his hands, nothing he said was coming out right, speaking to any of these people started to feel like a lot of pressure.

Hinata put her hand on Naruto's shoulder as she spoke to the crowd. "We came to visit the Tsuchikage," Hinata announced, trying to get their attention for a second time.

"Oh look, she still stands by his side, they're so sweet together!" Someone shouted.

At this point, Hinata realized that no matter what they said the crowd would be unreasonable and they weren't going to get what they wanted from them, without a price.

She looked up at Naruto who instantly met her eyes. He couldn't believe these people.

"Naruto," she whispered "you're going to have to get their attention, they won't listen to me," she said in a disappointed tone. Shikamaru couldn't have known how the people in this village would have reacted.

"Everything I say is wrong, I'm not sure what I should do?" He thought for a moment. "Get their attention…"

"Hinata," he said while he pulled her chin up with his fingers so that they were looking each other in the eyes. She started blushing instantly.

"I'm sorry to put you on the spot, but I have a plan," he whispered.

"Ahh, look," the young women started to swoon.

Hinata wasn't used to being so close to him in public, and his actions were making her nervous. "N…Naruto…" she asked in an uncertain tone.

He moved closer to her and leaned in to kiss her forehead and the crowd gasped and gave their undivided attention to the couple as he grabbed her hand.

"We need to see the Tsuchikage," Naruto spoke loudly again.

"…of course…" one of the shinobi piped in with a dazed tone, "I'll take you to him…"

The crowd parted for them as Naruto and Hinata were lead to the area where the Tsuchikage was. Since it was mid evening the Tsuchikage was at his home and the Shinobi led them there.

After knocking on the door Kurotsuchi quickly answered. "Hey, what are you doing, my grandfather is sleeping. You know he'll be cranky if we wake him up!" She said in loud whispers. As she saw Naruto and Hinata her eyes got wide and she ran to hug them both.

"I'm so glad to see you guys! Naruto, after the war, we didn't know if you would make it, you were hurt pretty badly." She looked at his regenerated arm and squished it with both hands. "Is this real? Your Konoha medics are amazing." She marveled.

"Yeah, it's real," Naruto giggled at her reaction before stating the reason for his visit.

"Look, my grandfather is sleeping already, but why don't you guys stay a couple days in the village and come and see him tomorrow. I'm sure he'd like to hold a celebration because of your visit. Please."

Hinata piped in "yes Kurotsuchi, we'd love to," as she bowed her head.

"We would?" Naruto asked her. He didn't think they were making a mini vacation out of their visit.

Hinata elbowed him lightly in the ribs. "Thank you Kurotsuchi."

She looked toward the shinobi "Please show them to our guest quarters, Naruto, Hinata, I'm sure you're tired after your journey."

They nodded at her appreciatively as she closed the door and a village shinobi led them to the guest quarters. The guard announced their first stop, the room for Hinata.

"But I thought we were sharing a room?" Hinata sounded disappointed.

"What?" Naruto didn't think he heard her right.

She looked over at the guard. "I'm sorry, but I'm staying with Naruto."

The guard looked over at Naruto for his response. He looked at Hinata and thought how angry her dad might be if them sharing a room got back to him. He took a quick peek at Hinata and wondered what he should do but knew from the tone of her voice in her last statement that it didn't matter what he said. "Do you have a room for us with two beds?" he asked.

Hinata beamed, happy that Naruto decided not to fight her on this and that she wouldn't have to be separated from him for the night in a foreign place.

The guard nodded and took them to another room a few doors down. "This one is not as nice, but if you prefer it, it's yours." He bowed.

"Yes, it's perfect, thank you." Hinata bowed back.

"Thank you," Naruto uttered.

When they were finally left alone he thought about how tired he was, and how tired Hinata looked. As they got ready for bed he thought about what had happened since they entered the village.

"I know we're both tired, but the most tiring part of my day was talking with those towns people. They're just as stubborn as the old man!"

"It makes me wonder if Shikamaru could have known how they would react. If people have that strong of a reaction to seeing us together our words might carry a lot of weight…more than I originally thought." Hinata contemplated their approach after their interaction tonight.

"What are you thinking about?" Naruto asked her as he sat down on his bed.

Her bed was only two feet away and next to his. She walked around the room as she thought about her answer. "They were so disappointed when they found out they weren't celebrating a marriage between us. Maybe…maybe we could tell them that we are getting married and wanted to tell the Tsuchikage in person."

His heart sunk. He wanted to propose and marry her as it was, and she was going to be the biggest obstacle to getting married. But all of a sudden she wanted to pretend like she was going through with it. He had to admit it was a good plan, but it was going to be hard for him to hide how much he really wanted it. "Yeah, that's a great idea Hinata…" he said with little enthusiasm.

She could tell he didn't like the idea much. "It's only for a short time and we could always write a letter to say the date for the wedding is postponed." It sounded perfect to her.

"I don't know Hinata…"

"Naruto, I wouldn't ask if there was another way. You saw how they acted. Do you think they would listen to us if we didn't have something they wanted, a hook for them?"

"But how will we work in Shikamaru?"

She was silent as she paced a few more times around the room, thinking. Naruto was trying to think, but watching Hinata concentrate all he could think about was how cute she was, he couldn't focus on much else.

She noticed him staring at her. "What Naruto, have you thought of something?" she asked.

"I…I…um…no. You're distracting me, could you sit down or something?" He moved his hand up to his forehead and rubbed it, trying to think of a strategy.

Hinata went and sat down, but instead of sitting on her own bed she sat down right next to Naruto. His heart started to race. She wasn't helping things.

He looked over at her to see her elbows on her knees and she was holding her head in her hands, looking forward, and still thinking. After a few moments she dropped her hands and looked over at Naruto.

"Do you have something?"

"…I might…but…"

"Well, what is it? You gotta give me something because I can't think of anything!" He was getting more and more stressed out by the minute.

"…well you know when I left to the sand village?" She hesitated.

"Yeah?"

"What if we say…" she sped through the rest "that Gaara was my boyfriend?"

Naruto looked taken aback. "First saying that we planned to get married, then saying that? Hinata, I don't feel right about this…" He didn't ever want to hear the words "Gaara" and "boyfriend" in the same sentence coming out of Hinata's mouth ever again. He could literally feel the jealousy creeping over his heart.

Hinata saw the look on his face and reached her hand over to touch the side of his face. She held her hand there and looked him in the eyes while she explained. "I know this is confusing for you, but I think Shikamaru asked us to do this for a specific reason, reasons that weren't as clear when we accepted the mission as they are now. When you plan a mission, you may not always like what you have to do to achieve the result you want, but we made a promise to Shikamaru. I never go back on my word, Naruto."

Naruto sighed, "That's what I like about you Hinata," he reached up and cupped her hand against his face. "You know just what to say." He removed her hand and brought it down with his onto the bed. "Tell me your plan, I'm ready to listen."

She nodded seriously. "We need to tell tell the story of how we fell in love…with a few additions."