Hello readers;

This chapter is a bit short because people keep rushing me into updating and I was worried the smiling muse would cease to smile at me. I am kinda having difficulty with the direction I want to take. The characters are simply just giving me blanks which of course leads to DAMN WRITER'S BLOCK!

Arghhhhhh…

Anyways I figure get this damn chapter out of the way and inspiration will come once more.

If it doesn't sound as good as the other chapters my sincerest apologies. Honestly I don't think this is one of the better chapters but meh…what are you going to do.

Enjoy.

THE CRUMPLED WITH A STACK OF PAPER
CHAPTER 5- A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE PAST
The morning, a few days later, arrived with such freshness that as Hinata stood near her kitchen window with a cup of tea in hand she was drown to the glittering diamonds gathered upon the petals of the plants in her beloved garden. Pausing, she glanced briefly at the clock once more. Realizing that she had a few hours before her servant would wake up Hinata headed for her room where she put on an old navy blue shirt that had been a favorite of hers as a child. It hugged nicely at her waist but was still loose to enable movement. She complimented the shirt with a pair of beige khakis that barely past her mid-calf.

It was only after she placed some sun-screen onto her pale skin did she head out for the garden; shovel, gardening gloves ready in hand.

Hinata was pleased to see that the garden was greener than ever. Quickly her lavender eyes drifted to the very corner of the garden where her gaze met up with unusual lilies whose petal tips were an azure blue. Although they were still in their first stages of growth, Hinata was more than happy to see that one had at last bloomed.

Looking at the horizon once more where the sun had spilt out into the sky like a bucket of paint on a blank canvas Hinata couldn't help but smile.

"Good morning okaasan" she said to the sky.

A bird chirped somewhere and Hinata started her task.

Naruto woke up noticing one of the two things. The first was that it was unnervingly silent. The second was that he didn't have an enormous sensation of pain on his head, where Tenten sama usually hit him. Afraid that it was all too good to be true, Naruto sat apprehensive on the couch waiting for the bun bitch to come bursting in any moment, screeching like a banshee and tossing knives everywhere, mainly at him.

Naruto remained in that position for about five minutes before he finally recalled that it was his and his mistress day off. Apparently, their trainer had some business to attend to at home; business dealing with a certain husband if he recalled correctly. Not that Naruto really cared. Any day away from Tenten sama was a good day.

Kicking off his blankets Naruto lazily rubbed the sleep from his eye before heading for the kitchen for some grub. He was surprised not to find his mistress there. However the kettle on the stove was a dead give away that she was indeed awake.

Although Naruto's thoughts were occupied about her possible whereabouts, his protesting stomach was too much for him to bear. He finally decided that his mistress was probably somewhere in the house, nothing to get worked up over.

Azure eyes drifted to the top shelf where his stash resided within in. Even Naruto couldn't help but clap his hands together in anticipation. There was nothing like a good bowl of ramen in the morning.

It was the sound of lovely humming that later drew him out to the front courtyard just behind the gates to his mistress house. There he came upon a beautiful woman with pale skin attending to the garden.

I didn't think that Hyuuga sama had any pretty female gardeners Naruto couldn't help but think to himself

Licking his lips, he forced himself to moisten the back of his throat that had suddenly become the Sahara desert. He didn't know whether it was the light or something, but the way the figure was illuminated by the sunrise rays she just looked like…wow.

Before Naruto could so much as call out to the women, the light shifted eliminating the special glow around the figure, revealing no one other than his mistress. Surprised to no end, Naruto couldn't help but smile at the patch of dirt gathered on her right cheek. He also noticed how some strands of her blue black hair had slipped from her ponytail framing her soft delicate face.

She was the one humming, he realized.

And unknowingly his feet moved to where she was attending to her garden.

Although he was standing no further than a meter away from her, she didn't acknowledge his presence leaving Naruto to call out "Oy, morning Hyuuga sama!"

To Hinata's dismay her hard focused concentration erupted the moment her servant had called out to her. Jumping at least five feet in the air with fright, Hinata's pale complexion transformed into a bright red that could've easily rivaled a tomato. When she finally landed, she held a hand to her chest to ease her thumping heart; all the while her mouth was slightly gapped open.

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction as he squatted along side of her.

"What are you doing Hyuuga sama?"

Hinata noticed how he addressed her and as much as she preferred being called Hina-chan, she chose to ignore her disappointment. Naruto seemed to notice; as her facial expression revealed everything. For some reason he really didn't like to see her sad. After all, even though his mistress was quiet she gave him nothing but kindness since he first arrived.

Casually drifting his gaze to her flowers Naruto's eyes were immediately caught by the unusual lilies in the far back corner. They were different from any other flower he'd ever seen and he couldn't help but wonder if his mistress would ever allow him to give some to Sakura.

If he ever had the chance to visit the inn, that is.

Choosing to ignore his pain Naruto looked at Hinata who suddenly found the dirt on her hands fascinating.

"You like gardening Hina-chan?" Naruto decided that it wouldn't hurt to call his mistress Hina-chan, if it would make her feel better.

She looked up at him, so startled that Naruto began to wonder if he had done something wrong. However before he could apologize she replied "H..Hai."

Hinata didn't know what to do the moment Naruto had scared her. She was so embarrassed that she started visualizing herself banging her head against a wall of some sort. Not surprisingly she desired nothing more than to run into the house and lock herself in her room for the rest of the day, if it meant not facing Naruto.

However her servant didn't seem to have the same idea. He started asked her a question, this time addressing her as Hina-chan, not Hyuuga sama.

Hinata decided that to run away would only cause further humiliation on her behalf, so she forced herself to stay planted in her seat. However that didn't stop her from looking at her dirty hands instead of her servant's beautiful blue eyes.

Naruto soon realized that she wasn't going to say much unless he asked another question. As irritated and confused as he was with her silence, Naruto rationalized that getting to know his mistress a little better would come to his benefit later. Besides, he knew she must not be such a bad person considering that she had given him an entire box of ramen, feed and clothed him.

Attempting to find something that would stir up conversation Naruto decided to inquire about the lilies.

"How come the lilies look different?" he asked.

"Di…different?"

"Yea…look at their petal thingy's, they're blue."

Naruto couldn't help but blush at his mistress's sudden small smile, "Th..they're e…exotic flo..wers. They d..don't normal..ly grow in t..these parts."

Naruto chuckled "You must be one hell of a good gardener then."

It was Hinata's turn to blush. She furiously tore her gaze from Naruto while shaking her head "N..no, I'm n..not that g..good."

"Sure you are!" Naruto exclaimed "This is the best garden I've seen."

Hinata just bit her lip while clenching her fists in her lap. Naruto just laughed before starting a conversation tangent, mainly concerning his previous life at the inn.

It was like that for the rest of the morning, Naruto talking while Hinata listened to him speak. It wasn't long before Hinata gradually relaxed and started asking Naruto questions; questions that he was more than eager to answer.

She learned a lot about him that morning, especially his strong disliking towards the man who had sold him to her, Jiraiya san. Unfortunately she also learned his strong infatuation towards one of the residents in the inn named Sakura.

Hinata could only conclude from Naruto's description that Sakura must've been the gorgeous girl with pink hair and jade eyes. She felt her heart drop. Hinata could only wish that she would turn out half as beautiful as this Sakura girl. That thought only ignited her insecurities even more. And once more her gaze drifted away from his face to the floor. Her questions became less frequent, as she became more withdrawn.

He couldn't be enjoying this discussion?

Naruto didn't seem to notice her withdrawal and she was grateful that he continued speaking without hesitation. It was nice hearing someone fill the void of silence that had always seemed to be present ever since her mother died.

Naruto's voice filled her head, "Now the thing with ramen is that as great as it is, you know what I really hate…"

"Mmmmmm…."

"Waiting the three minute for it too cook."

Yes this was much better she concluded...

Naruto continued speaking until the sun was in the middle of the sky, beaming brightly one both of them. He didn't notice, but Hinata looked at the position of the sun with concern. Any longer here and her stomach was going to eat itself.

Naruto was surprised when he saw his mistress idly wipe her dirt-covered hands over on her khakis after she had finished adjusting the last plant. Rather than sit in silence, he watched as she got up and headed for the house.

"Neh," Hinata turned to look at him expectedly "Where are you going Hina-chan?"

"L..lunch." she managed to reply.

Naruto's eyebrows furrowed as he became suddenly aware of the time. "It can't be that late?"

Hinata could only stare as Naruto's stomach growled.

And before she could help herself, Hinata bursted into a giggling fit. Naruto didn't exactly know what to make out of Hinata's reaction, only that this was the first time he had seen her laugh. Amazed at how much her laughter changed her appearance, Naruto soon found himself laughing along with her.

"I guess it's really late." Naruto replied following Hinata inside where they spent the rest of the day.

Although it was still quiet, Naruto and Hinata both felt less tension between them as they went about the rest of their day, off doing their own business.

"Education!" Tenten replied with so much conviction that it would take the force of the world to ignore her.

Naruto gave her a blank look, while Hinata quietly sipped her tea on the new couch that Tenten had boughten for Hinata the other day.

"Huh!" Naruto replied dumbly.

Tenten just ignored him as she paced around the living room "Conversation, history, weather, ninja techniques…"

Naruto who was beginning to fall asleep as Tenten went through the list, shot up immediately at the mentioning of one word.

"Ninja!" He exclaimed loudly that even Hinata jumped up in surprise.

Tenten smirked knowingly as she figured out the blonde's weakness "That's right. The Hyuuga clan is notorious for their hand-to-hand combat and their 'gentle fists' technique many centuries ago." She waved her hand casual in the air "Of course the Hyuuga's don't go around beating people up; that's just like asking to get arrested for attempted man-slaughter, but they still do fight other clans." Noticing Naruto's gapped expression she quickly added in "It's just for show of course."

Naruto diverted his gaze from Tenten to his mistress "Neh, Hyuuga-sama."

Hinata didn't miss the sudden twinkle in Naruto's eyes as soon as he addressed her. Inwardly she sighed. No matter what the situation, Hinata had come to accept the fact that Naruto would go through all extremes to reach their trainer's limits in regards to her temper.

This can't be good for the baby

She thought to herself as Naruto continued "Do you know some ninja techniques."

Hinata blushed as she looked at the carpeted floor "A..a little."

In the background Hinata heard Tenten snort. She looked up at her expectantly "Come on Hinata a little. You may as well say that the moon is made out of cheese."

Naruto looked at Tenten "So she doesn't know any ninja techniques."

Tenten's eyes bogged out "You kidding me? This girl here…" Tenten pointed at Hinata causing Hinata to squirm uncomfortably in her seat. "Has been training ever since she was able to walk."

"Tenten san, y..you shouldn't e..exaggerate. I'm n..not that good." Hinata replied in a quiet voice.

Tenten couldn't help but roll her eyes "Please Hinata, you would've beaten Neji if it weren't for the fact that…"

Tenten's mind came to a screeching halt as she remembered that she was about to walk on dangerous territory. Hinata had always been very edgy concerning her skills as a marital artist. Tenten really couldn't blame her especially after the ordeal that the poor girl had gone through during the last ceremony.

The chuunin ceremony always marked a passageway for the sons' and daughters' of the wealthy lords. Most of the time, the chuunin exams were difficult. Composed of harsh drills and thinking tasks only those who were considered exceptional in the art were able to pass. Unfortunately for Hinata she was defeated by Neji, who Tenten was ashamed to admit, had come close to sending the girl to the hospital.

Looking at her cousin-in-law Tenten wondered if Hinata still took up the arts. It was doubtful though, Hinata wasn't one who enjoyed recalling painful events. And training or anything along those lines would surely bring up those bittersweet memories.

Oh Neji why did you have to be so hateful towards her then?

Tenten's sudden stop spurred Naruto's sudden curiosity. "If it weren't for the fact that what?"

Tenten quickly broke out of deep thought and stare down at her cousin-in-law. She looked at Naruto as though she had just noticed he was standing there the entire time.

"Excuse me?"

"You didn't finish your sentence." Naruto crossed his arms and pouted in child like manner, causing Tenten to look at Hinata with nervousness.

Naruto tore his gaze from Tenten to Hinata whose dark blue bangs obscured her facial expression from the world. However, he felt the sudden uneasiness come upon him like an ice blanket. He had to ease some of the tension somehow. As much as he desired to know what Tenten was going to say, he didn't want to make 'it's always the quiet ones,' more than a cliché.

"So could Hina-chan train me?" Both girls looked up at him as though he had grown another head.

Naturally Naruto rubbed the back of his head and laughed good naturally "I mean if I am going to fight one of the lords…"

Tenten's snort stopped Naruto in his tracks "Please, I only suggested that you should know about the fight ceremonies. Not participate in them, they're only intended for alleged members."

Hinata nervously bit her lip as she watched Naruto's expression fall from an eager one to a downtrodden one. She quickly forgot about her own pain as Tenten's statement had brought back some horrible memories. She desired nothing more than to ease some of Naruto's distress.

In a quiet voice Hinata spoke "I..I'll tr..train with N..Naruto-kun."

"What!" Tenten looked possibly flabbergast at Hinata's declaration.

Taking a deep breath Hinata gazed up at her cousin-in-law, where raw passionate determination resided within her lavender orbs. Tenten had seen that look somewhere. It wasn't a look common among Hyuuga's, least of all Hinata's father, it belonged to someone else.

Shrugging Tenten replied "Fine. Hyuuga Hiashi is full of surprises. But it would strange if he were to want to fight Naruto. I guess it's better that Naruto is prepared"

"Hyuuga Hiashi?" Naruto was completely lost in the conversation.

Hinata quickly enlightened him with one statement, so cold it could've sliced through paper.

"My father."

Tenten and Naruto blinked in astonishment. Hinata hadn't even stammered.