"Go on," He slouched back into his chair. The change of light shadowed his eyes from view.
"Haruno did not do her duties tonight. I checked on Hanabi before dinner and he was not bathed, dressed, or ready for dinner tonight so I came to his aide. When I asked Hanabi where Haruno was, he just said that she wanted to get a good look a Naruto and a chance to hang his robes." Hinata spoke strongly. "I will take care of her Hinata. Carry on to bed now."
Hinata climbed the staircase once more to her bedroom. Temari was perched upon Hinata's bed and stood up quickly when Hinata opened the door. Hinata closed the door quickly and pushed the lock on the knob. "Are you ready Miss?" Temari whispered. Hinata nodded her head. She tore out of her dress and kicked the heels off. Temari threw Hinata her night gown and Hinata pulled it over her head. Hinata walked over to the window and snapped back the lock. She opened the window and climbed down the lattice work. Her feet hit the cold grass and she looked up past Temari in the open window to the bright moon and the stars. Hinata worked her way to the gate that hid the garden. She eased the rusty frame open and slipped inside. Her stomach fluttered when she saw the beautiful blooms. She walked up to the lilac bush and smelled the ripe flowers. She walked over to her favorite rose bush and plucked a white rose. She slid the stem back behind her ear and spun around in a circle. Her nightgown rose a little in the air as she spun.
Hinata made her way over to the little pond in the middle of the garden. She watched as the little koi fish swam circles around each other. She giggled and left the pond. She went to the grape vine and chose a hand full of grapes. She popped each one into her mouth savoring the juices.
She didn't want to go back to her room, but Temari was waiting on her. Hinata tiptoed back to the house and climbed up the lattice. She flinched as she heard her father's yells and Haruno's screams. She hadn't wanted to tell on Haruno, but it wasn't the first time Haruno had neglected her duties. Hinata had had no other choice...
Naruto started to visit regularly, much to Hinata's dismay. He proposed to her down in the tea room, where Hiashi and Naruto's parents watched expectantly. Hinata didn't see the point in Naruto proposing. It was arranged. Hinata tried not to cringe as the blond dobe placed the bulky ring on her left hand. Hinata heard Naruto's mother squeal silently. How could this woman be so happy about something that was so unhuman?
Naruto became more friendlier, more nicer as they spent time together. They talked in the garden, near the quad or up on the hill under the willow tree. The started to respect each other, but that was as far as it went. Naruto confided in Hinata about the nine tails. He felt almost over whelmed with all the duty that his father wanted him to fulfill. Naruto's father wanted Naruto to be Hokage. His father wanted Naruto to overcome his uncle, the current Hokage, and claim his honor. He wanted Naruto to use his power to bring him honor and power; he didn't care how Naruto felt about any of it. Naruto's father wanted Naruto to be everything his father wasn't. Hinata felt the same way with her father at times. She was to marry a prince of some sort. Naruto was high in the brahmin and was on the path to become Hokage. Of course Hiashi wanted Hinata to marry him. Hinata also felt like she lived in her drunk brother's shadow. Who cares if he was always hungover and irresponsible? He was always better in Hiashi's mind because Hanabi was the elder male. The rightful heir. They both claimed to having no feelings for the other. It was a marriage doomed to hell. Naruto usually came over during the afternoon, but one time he came very late into the night. Hinata had been sneaking out to her usual night time stroll through the garden when Naruto called upon her. Hinata had been heading back to her window when she heard Hiashi's yells. Fright overcame every feeling in her body as she heard Temari's screams. Hinata didn't think twice. She ran to the wall that enclosed their estate. She climbed up the tree beside the stone wall and jumped down on the other side. She felt her night gown tear a little on one of the branches on the tree, but she didn't care. Her feet smacked down on the dirt road and she ran towards the town. She had never been in the town; she had only heard stories from her brother. She found a bench and sat down to think. She had no where to go. She couldn't go back to her house; Hiashi would kill her. He most likely had sent out guards so she had to find somewhere to hid fast or face going back to Hiashi's wrath. It wouldn't be the first time she had felt it. But she really would rather starve than face it again. She had spoke back to her father one night at dinner. She barely remembered what happened but Hiashi had punished her like he punished Haruno, Temari or any of the other maids. Hinata shook herself out of the memory and stood up and started to walk around town again. She went down a side street and kept going down side streets till she was in a secluded dark alley. She hid behind a bunch of barrels that were sitting there. She pulled her knees up to her face and rubbed her scared feet. She wished that she would've put socks on at least but it was too late. The concrete had shredded the bottom on her feet. She let a few tears fall as she sat in the silence. It was so dark she couldn't even see her hand in front of her face. She heard dogs howl in the distance and she hoped they hadn't sent dogs out after her. She felt a hand wrap around her mouth from behind her and she let out a muffled scream.
"Don't resist." A deep voice whispered in her ear. "Stand up and walked in the direction I point you in."