Blue eyes knitted in confusion as he glanced at the fabric that was neatly arranged on the Hyuga's bed, "I'm not so sure I like this, Hinata."
Pale cheeks flushed, "I-it's not that you'll be wearing it often. Hokage's can wear w-what they want. B-but, there are customs."
"I can count on one hand how many times I've actually worn something like this though. I mean, don't I get pants or something to go under it?"
Hinata nodded, "I-I'm sure you've visited ceremonies before and had to dress up, Naruto-kun."
He laughed and scratched the back of his blond head, "Once or twice and Iruka-sensei got mad at me for running away after a few minutes."
She giggled softly, "W-well, you can't run away a-as Hokage."
"Yeah I guess not." He laughed again.
"Th-think of it as a robe." She smiled, blush covering her entire face. "Naruto-kun," Her blush deepened as she toyed with a sleeve hanging in the closet, her back to the Jounin, "F-father - um - you see - well, I-I've been teaching you m-manners for a month or so….."
"Yeah."
"A-and well, f-father wants to know h-how I'm doing."
"I can tell him for you."
She smiled, "Y-yes but he w-wants to s-see it for himself." There was a silence and she continued quietly, the blush on her face turning an almost purple, "H-he w-wants me to, um, um, he wants y-you … th-there's a … um…." She sighed, shoulders drooped and she closed her eyes, "N-nothing, Naruto-kun."
"Formal Dinner?"
The Kunoichi whirled around to face a smirking Naruto, "H-how did you -?"
He laughed quietly, "I heard Neji talking about it last week when I came in. But don't worry, I'll be on my best behavior so I won't embarrass you." Blue eyes sparkled, "But - were you going to tell me? I mean, I've heard about going out of your way to avoid embarrassment but that's taking it a little far."
"Naruto-kun, that's not -!"
She squeaked and he laughed, turning his back to her as he picked up one of the long pieces of fabric, "So, how do I wear one of these anyway?"
After hours of trying to explain the robe-like outfit Naruto finally yawned an invitation to Ramen and Hinata nodded, "I-I should put these where they belong first." She smiled as she sniffed the folded fabric, happy about how accustomed she had grown to having Naruto ask her to Ramen after their lessons. The first time he asked she fainted, the second time she nearly fainted, and it took the entire month to adjust to him asking her almost every day. It wasn't a date, they always invited Neji, Iruka-sensei, or someone else along the way; but it was still a giant leap for her personally. The soft footsteps behind her proved that the Jounin was following her; he was whistling softly to himself, eyes closed, hands locked behind his head in typical Naruto posture. Suddenly, the whistling stopped, and so did the foot steps, "Hey, Hinata, you and Neji don't talk about your Uncle a lot - why?"
Hinata visibly stiffened and whispered without turning around, "He meant a lot to everyone."
"But you can't just forget him. Not ever bringing him up kind of seems like a dishonor, ya know?"
"We haven't forgotten." She shook, the clothes in her hands being rumpled from her clutched fists, "It's just a really sad reminder. Neither branch is free; they both bare the burdens of the other branch, both want to preserve the lives of the other. The main branch is as much a prisoner to the cadet branch as the cadet is to it. We didn't ask to be the main branch; they didn't ask to be the cadet branch - neither of us wanted it this way. Uncle is our hero because he was finally free."
"Hinata…."
"I didn't ask to be the heir." Her voice was stronger and she shook harder, "Neji deserves it more than I do. He would be better at it. I don't like the way it's set up. I don't like the separation of the family . I-I want to be able to choose!"
Without warning, strong arms wrapped around her shaking form, warm breath blew over her ear as she clamped her eyes shut so tight it hurt. Naruto's deep voice whispered, "You will choose. I promised Neji I would fix it for him when I became Hokage; I'm making the same promise to you Hinata. I'll free you both."
Had she not been so distracted with the inner turmoil of the clan's situation, Hinata probably would have passed out from the strong chest at her back and the comforting arms wrapped tightly around her shaking shoulders. But, for the time, she kept her eyes closed and leaned back into Naruto, accepting the silent strength he always oozed from every fiber of his being. It was something he seemed to have a never-ending supply of, and she always welcomed the courageous feeling he invoked in her when he was around. After a few long moments, she stiffened, lavender eyes shot open and she blushed hotly realizing they were still in the middle of the hallway and too close for her fathers comfort. "Naruto-kun," She whispered, her knees starting to weaken and bend slightly, "P-please let me go." She hated passing out in front of him, it made her feel so weak and childish; it was one of the reasons she avoided him most of the time. But thanks to the Hokage's orders, she couldn't do that now and had more interaction with him than she had in all the years she had known him.
"Oh! Sorry Hinata!" He laughed and immediately loosened his hold, scratched the back of his head, and gave his infamous grin that made the girls swoon. Quickly, before she had a chance to think of what had just transpired between them; Hinata bustled into one of the rooms to store the clothes and calm her racing heartbeat before her legs refused to support her.
When she immerged, the blond Jounin was leaning against the far wall, uncharacteristically quiet; a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips, arms crossed over his chest, and head tilted to the left. Hinata blushed, "R-ramen?"
Naruto nodded but didn't make any advance to move, nor did he speak or remove those crystal clear blue eyes from her. She shivered and took a step to the right, shuffling down the hallway and wishing she knew what was going on in the head of the man who followed quietly behind her.
"Hinata, I'm going to have to skip Ramen today." His voice was soft and she whirled around, curious as to what exactly made him give up his favorite food. The Hyuga heiress had not been prepared for him to be following so closely behind her and nearly fell into him when she turned on her heels. A blush covered her entire face and neck as she glanced up at him, "Ah, sorry."
He nodded, that strange smile still on his lips and that glistening in his eyes that sent shivers down her spine, "Something just came up." He waved a small note in his hand off to the side, "I should be back tomorrow some time." He then leaned toward her and whispered, "Wait for me." In a poof of smoke he was gone and Hinata collapsed on the floor trying desperately to catch her breath. With those eyes and that voice so close to her, how could she not wait?