Naruko leaned back, enjoying the hot bath. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to get the sticky broth. It was cooler where she sat - after her encounter with Hinata she didn't feel like getting jostled by the crowd of women. She lay back and her bright blonde hair glittered and floated on top of the water. Slowly she dozed off and shook herself awake when she almost slipped underwater. Hinata and her friends were getting up to leave. Hinata noticed her awaken and she glided over to her. "Naru-san!" She cried. Her hair fell decently around her. In the filtered light, her pale skin and gentle purple eyes seemed to dropped lower in the water to cover her blush. The girl truly looked beautiful...

"Naru-san, would you like to come with me and my friends? We're going out for some sake and it would be nice to have you there!" Hinata gave her an innocent smile; her eyes blazed with gave her a small smile which quickly broadened into a grin.

"Just help me up."

:::

The girls went out a to a small but busy sushi bar. It was crowded with teenagers all trying to get the most out of the Saturday night. Ino flipped her hair, applied some more lipstick and pulled her shirt's neckline farther down. Her friends raised their eyebrows, disapproving but silent. "I have to look older." She explained tiredly.

Sakura snorted. "'Older' doesn't mean you have to look like a -"

"One second - I think I dropped something." Naruko interrupted. "Can you guys wait in line while I look for it?" The group nodded and continued talking amongst themselves. Naruko jogged away. "Okay - older." Naruto whispered. Her pale hands formed the chakra gathering symbol. In a puff of smoke, he put on three years. Naruto ran her fingers through her hair. I hope they don't notice...

When Naruko returned, the girls were arguing with the owner.

"Hey!" Naruko called. The girls turned. The owner's eyes flitted to her. "They're with me." The girls gawked. Naruko sighed. They did notice... Naruto moaned. The owner threw his hands up and stepped aside and the girls poured into the bar.

"What did you drop?" Ino cried, readjusting her shirt and smoothing down her hair. "A decade?" Naruko swallowed.

"Just my...make-up kit." Naruko stammered. What? Naruto shouted at himself. "I just put on some...stuff. That's all." The girls complimented her on her attire and grabbed seats at the bar.

"Just some nagiri please. Eel." Sakura told the chef. Hinata grimaced.

"Sure." He said.

"And some salmon sushi." Naruko said quickly, noting Hinata's discomfort. Hinata gave her a quick smile.

"Sure." The chef replied, turning away.

The conversation turned from subject to subject and Naruto stayed out of it. He and Hinata smiled at each other occasionally. As the food came, the seating changed around. Before long sake cup replaced their chopsticks and Naruko opened up. She laughed and joked about her past and everyone alternatively giggled and sniffled as she told her story. Naruto was careful to not link himself to Naruko - Hinata would never talk to him again and her friends would beat the crap out of him. Hinata hooked her arm around Naruko, laughing and sipping sake. They all shared their stories, joking about everything - good and bad.

Naruto couldn't help it. She looked fantastic, her tank top strap slipping off her shoulder, her deep purple hair frizzy and tossed.

Hinata couldn't help it. She barely knew the girl but everything about her seemed familiar and wonderful.

In a moment it began and concluded. She leaned over to Naruko , sake heavy on her breath and she kissed her. The other girls cheered and whistled. The chef smirked and other customers raised their chopsticks or cups. With a mutual sigh they parted and grinned, pretending like it had just been a joke - nothing special. Hinata kept her arm around Naruko for the rest of their time their. When the chef started to give them sidelong glares, they gathered themselves up and dropped off their pay. The other girls helped each other home, leaving Naruto and Hinata together. Naruto blinked, trying to sober up enough to get Hinata to her house but eventually he gave up and brought her to his apartment. After setting her down on his bed, he attempted to clean up before passing out in a pile of dirty laundry.

In the morning Hinata woke up in a messy bed surrounded by piles of garbage. It certainly wasn't her house. She frantically checked to make sure she was dressed and then set to work trying to figure where she was. After cleaning up some of the garbage, she found a slip of paper with writing scribbled on it. Hinata, it read, Naruko dropped you off at my place. Sorry it's such a mess. Don't worry - nothing happened. I had to go out to meet with Kakashi-sensei. Keys to the door are under the note. Lock after you leave. I left you some water and pain relievers on the table next to my bed. - Naruto. Hinata smiled. "Thank you." She murmured. After emptying out her stomach of all remnants of food and having some pain reliever, Hinata set to work cleaning Naruto's apartment to calm herself down. At ten o'clock she picked up the keys, locked the door and slid them underneath the door.

Hinata bumped into her father as she was heading home. He and Hanabi were heading to a restaurant. "Where are you going?" He asked. "And why didn't you come home last night?"

"I-I..." Hinata stammered, fearing her father's wrath. "I was at a friend's house overnight. We ended up heading home pretty late and -"

"I smell sake." Her father said darkly. Hinata paled. She met her sister's eyes and begged for help but Hanabi merely shook her head ever so slightly.

"I-I g-got some sake spilled on me. There was nothing in my size for me to change into s-so -" Her father nodded.

"Then go on your way." Hanabi and Hiashi brushed past Hinata, leaving her feeling breathless with barely a word.

Author's Note: Hinata hates eel.