A/N: Here's a light, fun one since the previous two chapters have been a little heavy on the angst. This is part two of three of the on-going story featuring Hinata (see Chapter FIVE for part one). Reviews are most appreciated. 296 visitors! Awesome! Thank you for reading. Enjoy!

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FIFTEEN: Don't judge people by their relatives.

The bed was covered with satin red sheets that felt cool to her warm skin. The four poster bed was quite impressive in size. It made Hinata feel small lying in the middle of it. The room itself was dark except for the numerous candles floating in space giving off a warm romantic light. She knew she was dreaming but it all felt so real.

Including the half naked Naruto currently straddling her hips.

He was wearing loose fitting pants that only served to emphasize his amazing physique. And if that wasn't enough, her subconscious had decided that the adorable kitten ears on top of his head and the bushy tail swishing playfully behind him was a must.

She herself was wearing ridiculously lacy lingerie that she would never buy let alone wear if she were awake. For one, they were hardly functional but given the way Dream Naruto was looking at her, functionality was not their purpose.

"Is this more to your liking?" Naruto asked as he leaned down to nuzzle her neck, purring (purring!) in contentment.

The bizarrely intimate situation completely robbed her of the powers of speech so instead she focused her efforts on extracting herself from underneath the boy-kitten hybrid without touching…ahem, parts.

Naruto did not resist her as she stood up from the bed but he did pout shamelessly, the kitten ears and tail not helping matters. "You're not making things easy."

She turned to face him, clearly affronted. "Excuse me that I am not making things easy for you. You must have mistaken me for someone else if you think I'm just going to throw myself at you because you're cute."

"You think I'm cute?" he asked happily and his tail wagged about eagerly.

"I've had enough of this," she muttered. It was going to take weeks to sort this one out. "I'm waking up!"

"No, wait!"

She was walking towards where she assumed she would find a door but stopped short. She turned and looked at the boy still lounging on the bed and suddenly had the distinct impression that it was not Dream Naruto looking back at her. "Who are you?"

"It would be difficult to explain," he said simply, suddenly acting very un-Naruto in his manner and speech. It was still Naruto in voice and body but there was an atypical calm and aristocracy about him now. "But I implore you to keep an open mind."

Hinata's eyes widened with dread. "This is a genjutsu!" she exclaimed already bringing her hands in position in an attempt to break the seal. How could she have not realized it?

"No, no. Settle down. That is not what I would call keeping an open mind." Impostor Naruto flexed his ears and swished his tail experimentally. "I assure you this is definitely your dream. I merely popped in moments ago; thank god apparently."

Hinata would not be swayed. "Then who are you?" she demanded still holding the hand seal position.

With solemn dignity, the impostor answered, "I am…your mother."

Hinata was very perplexed, expecting a variety of answers except for that one. She opened her mouth to speak but then stopped, furrowing her brow in confusion. "What?"

"I told you it was difficult to explain," the manifestation said simply but then looked down at its appearance. "Perhaps it would help if I wasn't in the form of your boyfriend, hmm? Just give me a moment."

"He's-not my-boyfriend," the beleaguered girl said absently as she watched Naruto change into a middle aged woman with dark blue hair and Hyuga white eyes. Hinata felt a flicker of familiarity as she looked at the woman but she wasn't sure. For one, she was still wearing the loose fitting pants and if it weren't for her long hair, her bare chest would have been exposed.

The woman didn't appear at all bothered and was looking at her hopefully. "Do you remember me now? You were so young when I passed. This wouldn't have worked at all with Hanabi because she was still just a baby but you…I had hoped that…maybe you would remember me. "

Hinata's eyes widened. She did remember. "Oh, my…M-Mother?"

The woman nodded eagerly, bouncing slightly on the bed. "Yes! Yes! Hiashi kept trying to tell me not to get my hopes up but I had to try and now look," she looked admiringly at the young woman staring back at her. "You're beautiful and you have your mother's figure too!" she added proudly.

Hinata was still trying to process what was going on and she fumbled helplessly for her words. "T-T-Trying…wha—" her mother's last comment finally sunk in and she became horrifyingly aware of her lack of dress. She crossed her arms self-consciously over her chest and angled herself to the side in a feeble attempt at modesty. "W-What are you t-t-talking about?"

"Oh, you stammer," the woman said pitifully. "I'm not surprised honestly. Your aunt stammered too whenever things became taxing for her and I know your father can be a little intense. He means well, sweetie. I hope you're not too cross with him."

"Intense is quite an understatement," Hinata replied as she took a moment to gather her thoughts, massaging her temples worrisomely, "How is this possible?"

Her mother smiled proudly. "When I became ill, I had my psyche imprinted onto your mind so that it would manifest when you turned twenty-one. I thought that was quite clever of me."

"I'm eighteen."

"Oh," her mother turned her gaze to the side as though running through some calculations. "Well, that is a little odd. I designed to seal to release under a heightened, intense level of emotional stress… " She stopped and took in the romantic scene along with her daughter's intimate attire. She cleared her throat delicately, "In hindsight, I suppose 'heightened, intense level of emotional stress' is a rather broad categorization. I myself was thinking along the lines of stress associated with becoming the next clan leader but…sexual…curiosity could work as well. Results are results."

"But," Hinata shook her head still not believing she was having this conversation, "Mother, I'm sorry, I cannot talk to you when you look like that!"

"What? It cannot be helped. I'm at the mercy of the dream. Believe me, this is as equally strange for me as it is for you. Who is this Naruto fellow anyway? And does he really have kitt-"

"Mother, please!"

"Alright, let me think here. Ah, I can do this! Just a moment." The woman pulled back the satin sheets on the bed and crawled underneath until she was covered up to her chin. "How is this?"

"Better," Hinata said weakly but it wasn't; not really. She had a feeling it wasn't going to be better for a long time. "Why did you do this?"

"Is it really so strange" her mother asked simply, "a mother wanting to be there for her child?"

"Yes, if it means you can pop into my dreams whenever you want!"

"I will do my best to remain discreet," her mother said casually, looking oddly snug burrowed under the intimate covers. Hinata suspected her mother couldn't be made to feel out of place no matter what situation you put her in. "But my time here is limited so I can't make any promises. Forgive me for being a little selfish but I want to help you while I can."

"Help me with what?" Hinata asked in exasperation.

Her mother smiled endearingly. "Help you achieve your destiny, silly girl. Now, tell me! How are we on the whole clan leader thing?"

Hinata frowned in frustration and looked away. "I'm a mediocre ninja who's an embarrassment to the Council and Father is seriously thinking about passing the leadership on to Hanabi."

Her mother blinked at her in surprise but then smiled knowingly. "I see we have our work cut out for us."

Hinata bolted upright in her bed. She was alone and the sun was near rising. Scanning the room quickly, nothing appeared to be out of place. It was just a dream.

A very strange, screwed up dream, but a dream nonetheless.

'That's it,' she thought with finality, 'the diet ends today.'

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She was walking towards the village gate to meet Naruto when Hanabi decided to walk with her on her way to the training fields.

"So have you given anymore thought to what I've said?"

"Of course not," Hinata deadpanned, staring straight ahead. She was still coming to terms with the implications of her bizarre dream. Her mind felt overwrought.

Hanabi pouted. "Oh come on! This is good advice."

"Hanabi, I am not going to take love advice from someone's whose only credentials are that she's reads more old woman porn than any girl her age should."

"I'm just trying to get you to appreciate the opportunity here," the younger sister persisted, eager to help. "I can't think of a better way to relieve some of your sexual tension than hooking up with the village hero."

"Nothing of the sort is going to happen," Hinata said patiently, pinching the bridge of her nose because that hit a little close to home. "For one, he hardly knows I'm alive and two, this is a serious mission not a teenager summer camp excursion. My focus will be on completing the mission successfully not…hooking up, as you say."

"That is your problem, big sister," Hanabi shook her head sadly, "You're all work and no play."

"Perhaps." She was more than willing to let the subject drop so she didn't say anything else to encourage further conversation. She turned her thoughts towards her responsibilities as captain on this mission. Either Tsunade had a little too much to drink that afternoon or she was merely picking the lesser of the two evils. Regardless, she saw the selection as acknowledgement of her recent mission success rate and took justifiable pride in being picked over Naruto.

Though she did feel sorry to see his crestfallen face.

As they approached the gate, Hinata could see a lone figure waiting up ahead that was clearly not Naruto and she tilted her head slightly in curiosity. Hanabi however beat her to the realization of who it was.

"Good god! What are you doing here?"

Hyuga Neji scowled unhappily at the younger Hyuga. "I'm here on a mission."

"You have a mission as well," Hinata asked innocently.

Neji looked pointedly at the young woman and crossed his arms. "My mission is to escort you on your mission, Lady Hinata."

Hinata's eyes widened in surprise while Hanabi threw her hands up in disgust.

"Seriously! Hinata's a big girl. She can take care of herself."

"You're kidding right," Neji asked impassively. "I would not be doing my job as Lady Hinata's protector if I allow her to go off to gods-know-where alone with Naruto of all people. The very idea is ludicrous. The fact that you're on board with it only justifies the notion."

"Hanabi frowned. "Hinata has been going on missions since she was fourteen without your supervision. Why the sudden change?"

Neji huffed in annoyance. "Surely, there is somewhere else you need to be right now. It is early yet I'm confident you can find some innocent bystander to harass with your buffoonery."

"Listen here, you—"

"That's enough, you two," Hinata cut in, seeing Naruto approach. Neji and Hanabi can goad each other for hours if no one outside their sphere of antagonism intervenes. There was no need for anyone outside the family to see that.

Naruto looked a little intimidated at seeing three Hyugas waiting for him. He smiled sheepishly. "Hi, Hinata, Neji…uh…"

"Hanabi."

"Hanabi, hi!"

"Naruto," Hinata greeted, "There has been a last minute change. Neji will be joining us on the mission.

"Oh."

"This works out fine," Hinata continued, rolling out the mission scroll. "We can use a second pair of eyes to watch out for old traps. The village we're heading to is located high in the mountains. During the last war, they set up traps throughout the forest. The village elder assures us that the remaining traps have been deactivated but it is best to remain cautious."

Neji and Naruto nodded in understanding as Hinata rolled up the scroll. "Naruto, your role is to personally deliver the message to the village elder since you have had previous dealings with him and he trusts you. I will ride you—"

Time seemed to come to a horrifying, screeching halt for Hinata. Naruto looked confused as though he was trying to decide if he heard her correctly. Hanabi, of course, was nodding her head appreciatively while Neji was glaring at her suspiciously. She felt her face flushing hot but decided to press on. "—guide you through the hidden trail while Neji provides support."

"Sounds simple enough," Naruto said and he smiled uneasily at Hinata. "I guess we should get going then."

"You go on ahead, Naruto," Neji said quietly and Hinata cringed because she knew what that meant, "we'll catch up with you momentarily."

"A-Ah, sure. No problem."

Hinata watched enviously while Naruto went on ahead at a fast pace. She couldn't blame him. Neji was clearly vexed about something.

"That was awesome!"

Hanabi's presence didn't help matters.

"Is there something I need to know about?" Neji demanded.

Hinata decided to move with feigned ignorance. "I'm not sure I understand your meaning."

Her cousin narrowed his eyes, studying every nuance and tic on her otherwise blank expression but couldn't find anything he could get a significant read on. That only served to make him even more vexed.

Hanabi stepped between them beaming happily. "I can tell this is going to be a marvelous trip for you guys," she said with enthusiasm. "Hinata, I want every last detail when you get back. Neji, do us all a favor and get laid."

"I'm going to start throwing knives if you don't get out of here!"

"Come on, let's go," Hinata said quickly, tugging on Neji's sleeve before he could follow through on his promise.

Hanabi waved happily to them from the gate as they set a pace that would catch up with Naruto.

Hinata sighed internally. She had a feeling it was going to be a long week.

TBC