Chapter 13 The Next Step

Naruto was still in deep thought about what he had just heard from his three mentors and wondered why the hell that had to happen to him. A sudden knock on his door brought him out of his memories as he walked over and opened the door. He was somewhat shocked that Hinata was standing in his doorway, dreanched from the thunderstyorm that had started a few minutes ago.

"Hina-chan! Get in here. Here, sit here why I get you a towel." He said as he pointed at his couch. After she sat down, he went to his bathroom and returned with a fluffy white towel.

"Thank you, Naru-kun." She said using the towel to dry her hair.

"Hang on, I'll go get a heater." He left the room and started digging in his closet for the portable heater he had for emergancies. He came back into the front room and plugged it in. He could feel the heat coming from the heater in waves. Perfect he thought. He glanced over at the clock, and jumped in shock. It was 12:30. Hinata was due home in a half hour. He cursed at himself.

"Hinata. Do you feel like walking home in this?" He asked, pointing out the window as a loud thunder clap caused Hinata to jump into his arms in fear. He chuckled as he stroked her hair.

"I didn't know you were afraid of thunderstorms." He said softly, calming the young heiress down.

She looked at him with a small smile.

"I've always been afraid of them since I was little. Naru-kun?"

"hmm?"

"Can I stay here tonight?" She asked sweetly.

"Would your father allow it?" he asked, grinning slyly.

"He knows that I am terrified of thunderstorms. He'd probably let me stay tonight. As long as we arn't in the same bed." She giggled as she remembered some of her 'talk' coming back to her.

"Alright. I'll send a clone with the message. You should write it and we'll both sign it." He said as he broke away from her. He grabbed some paper and a pen and handed it to Hinata. She sat down at the kitchen table as Naruto made some tea and began to write. It only took a few moments to write the small note. Bith of them signed it and Naruto conjoured a clone and sent him to deliver the message.

Hyuuga Compound

Hiashi was sitting up, waiting for Hinata to return when he heard the storm start. He knew that they always terrified her and he didn't want her to walk home in the storm. Just as he was about to go to bed, knowing that Hinata was safe were ever she was because she was probably with Naruto, a knock on his door caused him to stop in his foot steps. Curious he walked over to open the door, only to see Naruto standing there. No, scratch that, he saw a shadow clone soaked holding a folded up peice of paper.

"Hiashi-sama. The original sent me with this letter. Both Hinata and him have arrived at the apartment and are safe. Here." The clone handed him the note. Hiashi opened it up and began to read:

Dear Father,

I know you wanted me home by one, but I don't want to walk in the storm. With your permission, I would like to stay the night here with Naruto. We will be sleeping in different beds, so you don't need to worry. We both plan on following your third rule.

With love,

Hinata & Naruto

Hiashi smiled as he saw that both had signed the note. Hiashi looked up to the clone as he smiled.

"Let them know that as long as the rules are followed, I do not see a problem. Hinata must check in at least once tomarrow, though. And tell him, I said thank you for taking care of my daughter." Hiashi said as he turned and closed the door.

Naruto's Apartment

Naruto smiled as the knowladge his clone had gained came bad to him.

"Your father's cool with you crashing at my place tonight. But he wants you to check in tomarrow at least once." He relayed the message to her as she sat on the couch, still wet. Naruto frowned as he noticed a shiver run through her body.

"Hinata, why don't you put your jacket by the heater. If you keep that on, you'll just get sick." He said concerned.

While Hinata did agree with him, she didn't want to. So she sat there with her jacket on still shivering.

"Hinata please. I promise I wont laugh or anything. I just don't want to see you get sick. Please." He said as her took her hand in his, kissing her lightly on the forehead.

Hinata nodded and decided to take his advice. He leaned back on the couch and watched as she walked over to the heater, when a sudden voice sounded through his head.

She has a nice ass, kit.

Hey you pervert! That's my girlfriend your talking about!

I know. Hey, what was with that disturbing conversation about with those three guys?

They thought that I'd do something stupid like have sex with Hinata before either of us were ready. They thought we'd expiriment or something like that.

Hmm...Well, judgeing by your dreams I'd say that...Whoa! Kit, you gotta see this.

Naruto returned to the apartment in time to see Hinata take her jacket off, exposing her rather curvy body as she hung it neatly before the heater. She turned to Naruto and blushed as she saw that he was staring.

"Naru-kun. If you don't close your mouth, you'll make me nervous." She said, faking shyness. In truth, she loved how he looked at her witth longing. She knew she was attractive. She always wore a jacket so that people couldn't tell how much she'd grown. Naruto now saw. She was wearing a blask tack top with a mesh shirt. He couldn't help but notice that she had a really shaply body. Her waist was smaller than it looked and she'd become a well developed woman. Her hips looked smaller too. He then felt a pressure in his pants as he drunk in her sight. Hinata spotted his 'friend' and giggled.

"I didn't know you wanted to go camping Naruto." She said playfully, taking him by surprise.

"Wha-? Oh shit! Pervert!" He jumped up and turned away, silenty cursing himself. He understood her remark now. It looked like he'd pitched a tent over his groin. "Sorry about that Hinata." He said embarassed.

"It's okay." she said giggling. She let out a yawn as she finished giggling. Naruto noticed the yawn, even though she had tried to hide it.

"Bed." He said and ushured her into his bedroom. He had laid out a sleeping bag on the floor to the right of the bed.

"Your taking the bed." He said as she looked at him with a smile. "I'll take the floor, miss pervert." He said grinnig.

"Why would you say something like that? Your the pervert for staring at me." She said, faking the hurt in her voice. His face went from grinnig to apologetic faster than she had ever fainted.

"Wha-? No. I...I'm sorry. I didn't think..." he said until she pulled him down with her as she fell onto the bed.

"It's okay. Your my pervert." She said as she smiled at him.

"And your mine." He said happily.

"Naruto, lay with me. I trust that you wont do anything while I'm asleep." She yawned and curled up next to him, head on his shoulder, her eyes closed.

"I wont." He said as he fell asleep with her in his arms.