The following morning, the group headed out to the beach which was on a nearby island. Somehow, the movie marathon the night before was less awkward than anticipated (of course with Naruto and Ten-ten sneaking glances at each other). But with the brand new day, all that happened the day before was some-what forgotten.
"This is going to bean awesome day. Believe it!" Naruto shouted.
"Does everything you say have to end with 'believe it'?" Sasuke asks rhetorically.
"A wise man said a lot of good things happen when you believe they will, Sasuke," Naruto said.
"Let me guess, you're that wise-man?" Sasuke dead-panned.
"This time it wasn't me. It was a pervy man I met here called Jiraiya," Naruto announced.
"You know Master Jiraiya?" Hinata spoke out from the back seat.
"Yeah. You know him Hinata?" Naruto asked.
"He's the one that adopted me. He's Sakura's grand-father"
"Well what do you know," Ten-ten commented, "this is a small world"
The conversation ended there as it there wasn't much to say. On Naruto's side of the car (since he's the driver), the river stretched so wide one would have mistaken it for the sea. But on the horizon, one could make out the island. The ford took a left and entered a bridge. Ten-ten asked Naruto to stop the car so they could take pictures.
"Come on Hinata," Ten-ten squealed, "we have to get some memories of this experience"
Ten-ten and Hinata took pictures of each other with the view of the river. At some point, Naruto photo-bombed their selfies and dragged the scowling prince into the picture.
"Sasuke, it would help if you smiled a bit," Hinata said, as they were looking through the photos.
"I did smile," he replied, pointing to one of the pictures.
"That's not a smile. It's a smirk," Hinata giggled.
"Hn. That's the closest to a smile you'll ever get from me"
The group continued on their little drive, with Naruto telling them of the beach they were headed to. On arrival to the beach, they split up to change into their swimwear. Sasuke wore a white unbuttoned shirt with navy blue swimming trunks while Naruto wore a black T-shirt with an 'I love Ramen' inscription it and an orange pair of swimming trunks (the length of the swimming trunks is up to above the knees for both of them). They set up the umbrellas, beach chairs, a blanket and the cooler box on a spot they found desirable.
"Are you sure this place is private?" Sasuke spoke out.
"Of course I did. But if you're that paranoid, I had made some arrangements to have body guards secure the perimeter around the beach. They'll make sure no one disturbs us. We may not see them but they're there"
"And who are they?" Sasuke asked sarcastically, "The anbu?"
"Yes the anbu. I had to ask for permission from Kakashi"
"You told Kakashi?!"
"Well yeah. We needed someone to cover for us and no one is better than Kakashi at doing that"
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. For once the idiot was right. Since he organised the whole trip, it was only right that Naruto took the necessary precautions.
"Naruto," Sasuke called out, "we haven't concluded that conversation"
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.
"You do know that even your actions may have unintentionally given her the wrong impression," Sasuke stated.
"I know. I guess I shouldn't start, huh?"
"Unless you're ready for the troublesome road ahead, you shouldn't"
"You realise that it applies to you as well, right?"
"How so?"
"With Hinata. I see the way you look at her. You've never looked at a girl that way before. So take your own advice"
"Who are you and what have you done with Naruto?"
Before Naruto could reply, he looked behind Sasuke and his jaw dropped. Sasuke turned back and surprise flashed across his usually stoic face. Ten-ten was wearing a red bikini and jean shorts to cover the other half of her bikini. A blushing Hinata was wearing a black bikini, but had on a large navy blue sheer shirt that stopped mid thigh.
"On second thought," Sasuke said as Naruto drooled, "it doesn't hurt to admire the view"
"Wow you guys chose a nice spot," Ten-ten commented.
That snapped the guys back into reality. Luckily for them, they were not caught. As Sasuke and Naruto went to surf, Hinata and Ten-ten remained to take a few pictures and apply sun-screen. While watching the guys surf, Ten-ten got up, removed her jean shorts and cannon-balled (if that makes) into the water. A giggling Hinata removed her shirt and joined Ten-ten in the water, wading into the warm water instead.
"This is amazing," Hinata said.
"I know right. We're spending a day at the beach. There are two hot boys surfing..."
"Ten-ten!"
"Really Hinata? Stop with the shy persona and just oogle. You have to admit, it's a great view"
Hinata dared herself to look, and when she did, well you could say she wasn't disappointed. However, her focus was more on the dark haired beauty, whose wet hair and skin glistened in the sun. She quickly turned away and came face-to-face with smirking Ten-ten.
"What?" Hinata asked. Ten-ten shook her head and splashed water towards Hinata's face, which was the start of an all out splash war. At some point, Naruto and Sasuke stopped surfing and sat on their boards, watching the girls play and swim around the deeper waters.
Not mindful of her steps, Hinata slipped on a rock and slipped underneath the water, hurting her leg in the process. Nearing the surface, an image flicked across her mind.
A little girl, her little hand stretched in front of her, trying her hardest to reach the surface. Her legs were kicking furiously. Someone please help me, her mind screamed. Momma, Father; I'm scared.
Hinata stopped swimming, thinking about that memory, unaware that her airways were filling with water. Momma, Hinata thought as she passed out. Two arms encircled around Hinata's waist and dragged Hinata's body to the shore.
Sasuke, after pulling Hinata onto the sandy shore, shook her and said, "Hinata. Wake up"
A panicked and crying Ten-ten brought a towel, Naruto not far behind.
"Is she responding?" Ten-ten asked. Sasuke shook his head as he tried to get Hinata to wake up. Ten-ten wiped away her tears, but more came. Naruto laid one hand on her shoulder said,
"You have to do mouth-to-mouth, Sasuke. She might have water in her lungs or something"
"Now's not the time for such games, Naruto," Sasuke growled.
"Just do it. I know you know how to. Hurry up!"
Sasuke hesitated but began the process. A breath of life later, Hinata sat up, coughing out water. Sasuke wrapped his arms around her as Hinata clung onto him and whispered that it would be alright.
"What happened?" Hinata mumbled as Ten-ten attended to her leg.
"You were about to drown," Naruto replied. Hinata nodded and asked for her bag. Sasuke put a towel around Hinata's body as Ten-ten handed her the bag. With slightly shaky hands, Hinata opened the bag, pulled out her necklace, and placed it around her neck. Sasuke took notice of the trinket and studied the heart shaped necklace. He grabbed on it and looked a it closer.
"Sasuke?" Hinata asked.
"Where did you get this?" Sasuke demanded.
"What do you mean, I've always had this," Hinata replied, a bit shaken by Sasuke's sudden interrogation.
"That's impossible," Sasuke whispered
"Hey bastard," Naruto chided, "she nearly died. What's the big deal?"
Sasuke sighed and let go of the necklace, saying
"That necklace was designed and made by Itachi"