Chapter Two: Lakeside Confession

-------------------------------------October 10th, Midnight --------------------------------------

Hinata stood hidden in the shadows of the tree line. She was excited, and a little nervous. It was nearly midnight. The familiar crystal waters of the lake rippled slightly in a light, refreshing breeze. She perked her head up. She had her family's bloodline trait, the Byakugan, active. She saw Naruto approaching from the southeast. She quickly shielded herself from sight, and smiled inwardly. The blonde ninja quickly reached the lake, and began to scour the area for her. She wanted to play a quick game with him first. She had left her jacket hanging from a branch. She was hiding. He found her with ease, and stood underneath a tree limb.

"Hinata-chan? Were you hiding from me?"

The beautiful Hyuga blushed a deep red, and nodded feverishly. His eyes were inches from hers. She could see the gentleness in his eyes, and her heart fluttered. She knew he wasn't just good looking, but he was a gentle and kind soul as well. She knew he would be nice to her. This is why she loved him. He was very gentle, but fierce to protect those he truly cared for. Naruto's calm voice snapped her from her trance, and he took off his shirt, hiding his stomach from view. He did not want her to see the seal on him. Tonight he would either be accepted, or he would lose a valuable friend.

"Hinata, let's get in the water. It's warmer in there."

The shy Hyuga watched him slide into the water, wishing he would turn around. How she wished to see that body. Hinata softly stood in the shadows.

"Naruto-kun. Could you please turn around while I get into my swimsuit? I'm… very shy about this."

The blonde nodded, and turned around, deep in thought, as Hinata took of her shirt, and her shorts. She stood there, her now curvaceous body gleaming softly in the moonlight. She reached into the bag she had brought, and put on her mother's swimsuit, the two-piece black and beige bikini. It showed off little but her curves. Hinata had grown from a girl into a beautiful young woman. She filled in the top nicely, and she let her hair fall to its full length. She spoke in her soft voice.

"You can look now."

Naruto turned around, and when his eyes met hers, his heart fluttered. Hinata's eyes were shining softly in the dim silver light of the full moon. Her long raven hair streamed down to her waist, and Naruto held out a hand to help her into the water, forcing himself to look into her eyes.

"Not a bad catch is she kid? Go ahead, look. You know you want to." A voice inside his head said. It was the Kyuubi.

'Stupid fox. Hinata is my friend. I couldn't do that, not to her. Now go back to sleep. Baka."

And yet Naruto knew that the Kyuubi was correct. He badly wished to look at nothing but that heavenly body, but that would be another time, maybe someday in the future. He was here to tell her about the monster inside him. He stood out of the water, and sat. Hinata traced a path down his body, starting from the legs up. She blushed more and more as her soft gentle eyes alighted on his muscular chest, and Naruto found his eyes attached to hers, although for different reasons. Their eyes met, and the both broke into a soft laughter. Naruto stood, keeping his eyes firmly attached to hers. She didn't even notice the seal. I better do this before I lose all control over myself.

"Hinata. When you were looking me over, did you notice anything on my stomach?"

The shy Hyuga had not noticed, but she traced her eyes back to his stomach, and there was the black marking. She nodded and knelt until she was eye level with the seal. She softly eyed it, and stood back to face him, her face about a foot from his.

"Does it hurt? It looks painful."

Naruto nodded.

"Have you ever wondered why your father and some of the village elders hate me?"

The truth was slowly dawning on the young woman, yet she shook her head. It took all her willpower to hold back her tears. She had learned to see emotions. She could tell he was in terrible pain over whatever that seal was holding in.

"Sixteen years ago today, there was a great battle. Between the Fourth Hokage, and the Kyuubi. Despite how powerful he was, the Fourth could not kill the Demon Fox. So he used a sealing ninjutsu to pull the Fox's soul from its body, and seal it away into a newborn baby boy. Hinata, do you know who that boy was?"

Hinata could no longer hold back her tears. She sobbed uncontrollably, and she unknowingly pressed her head into his chest. Naruto didn't like to see people he cared for cry. He put a tender arm around her, and drew her closer, whispering softly.

"I was that boy. But I'm not alone. I have friends. Great friends, like you Hinata."

The shy Hyuga looked up at his smiling face. Her eyes were filled with tears, which he wiped away softly. He's holding me. He's been through so much pain. All these years I watched you, loved you, had faith in you. I love you Uzumaki Naruto. I wish you would see that. I've never been happier than I am right now with you. I just wish this moment would never end.

"Like me? Naruto-kun… I have something to tell you. But not now. I should be getting home. Father will be angry that I left the house so late at night, but can I ask you for a promise?"

The blonde nodded silently, staring deep into her gentle white eyes.

"I'll promise you anything Hinata."

Hinata smiled and mustered her courage, and kissed his cheek, blushing fervently as she did so.

"Meet me back here, tomorrow night. Same time, same place. I'll tell you my secret tomorrow. Could you walk me home?"

They climbed out of the water, and she stood back in the shadows, as she changed back into her regular clothes, and Naruto stood far away, gazing upon the moon. Hinata stepped out of the shadows, and they started to descend the mountain trail together, side by side. She was shivering, so Naruto parted with his own jacket, and wrapped her in it. The Hyuga compound finally came into view, and Hinata used the secret entrance she had always known about. She kissed Naruto's cheek again in farewell, and the blonde ninja stood there, hidden in the shadows, pondering the night's events. Watching her disappear silently into the house, he turned to go, but when he heard the Hyuga leader, Hyuga Hiashi, yelling at his daughter, he stayed hidden.

"You were out until four in the morning with that… that… demon scum?! How dare you Hinata! I forbid you to leave this house for any reason! Do you understand me?"

"No Father. I don't understand! Naruto is a gentle and pure boy, not like you were at his age! I heard all about you from Mother before she passed away. You were never faithful to her. You always tried to seduce Namikaze Kushina! Even though she was happily married. You're the scum. I hate you. Maybe Neji-nii-san was right. The Hyuga would be better off without me."

Hiashi fumed at hearing the name of Kushina. He was about to strike his daughter, but Hinata was already packing her belongings.

"I want you out of this house Hinata. As of now, you are no longer a Hyuga, nor are you my daughter. But be warned, if I so much as hear about you with the demon brat, I'll have you sealed. Do you understand me?"

Hinata calmly walked to her father, and smacked him hard across the face, open palmed.

"That's for my poor mother. And since I am no longer a clan member, you have no right whatsoever to tell me what I can and cannot do. Now, if you excuse me, I'll be heading over to Kurenai-sensei."

Naruto saw her coming out of the house in tears, for the second time in one night. He stopped her at the gate. She looked shocked to see him.

"Naruto-kun! What are you still doing here?"

The blonde ninja's usual gentle blue eyes were a furious red. The Kyuubi inside had stirred upon hearing his mother's name. Hinata's gentle voice brought him to his senses, and he quickly regained his composure.

"I heard everything Hinata. Kushina… she was my mother. That's why your father hates me so. If he hates us both, I can't let you stay alone. I have enough room at my place for you to stay. Please Hinata. You're the first person to ever show me any real compassion. I really enjoy being with you."

Hinata blushed a deep crimson, but she smiled as well. Her crush had just invited him to stay with her. She didn't want to live with Kurenai. She always had Anko or Asuma over. If Anko was there, Kurenai was drinking. If Asuma was there, they were having sex everywhere. Hinata preferred to stay with someone she cared for.

"I'd like to Naruto-kun."

The blonde smiled and took her bags, and looked into her eyes.

"It's not too far. Walk with me."

Hinata knew she was making the right decision the moment he took her bags for her. Hinata was by no means weak, but he was such a gentleman to her. When the pair arrived at his apartment, he opened the door for her, and sat her bags on the couch.

"There's only one bed, so you can have it. I'll sleep on the couch."

Hinata wanted to have him in the bed cuddling with her, but she knew that might never happen. She nodded, and softly closed the door, to change into her nightgown, and Naruto fell asleep on the couch, waiting for morning to arrive.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's notes: I know this seems to be going a little fast, but they won't even kiss for at least three chapters, let alone a lemon in the next ten. When I do get to that point, you may be surprised. Well, I hope you enjoyed reading Love Among Shinobi. I guess I can give a little preview of the next chapter.

Next time: Hinata and Naruto return to the mountain lake, and Hinata reveals her true feelings. Will Naruto reject her? Or has everyone been wrong about the shinobi for almost ten years? Does he secretly love the young Hyuga? Next chapter: Clear Water and Clearer Skies.