Chapter 9: Introductions
"So you don't think there's any other way to get out of this?" Hinata asked again.
She had already asked about their opinions on saying she was feeling sick or had an exam to study for? No, father and Neji weren't ever going to believe that…
Sakura shook her head while Ino only laughed aloud.
"Hinata, those are terrible excuses and you know it! Besides, doesn't Hiashi plan his parties after school is already out? You wouldn't be dealing with any tests at that point." Ino states.
"I have to agree with Ino here Hinata, though if you go with the sick excuse make it something full blown disgusting like vomiting or diarrhea so they don't pry you for questions!" Naruto supplies.
The whole table goes silent as the girls stare at Naruto.
Sakura sighed, rubbing at the center of her forehead slowly as she resisted the urge to deck him in a public setting let alone with company surrounding her. "Excuse me, but why are you even here?!"
Ino nodded her head in agreement, raising a brow at his silly grin. "Yeah, first of all that's gross to talk about while we're all eating here and second of all, these lunch meet ups are meant to be for only us three girls."
Naruto grinned, wrapping an arm around Hinata's shoulder causing her to redden. "Hinata invited me!"
Well, not really.
Since in reality she had simply told him she was going to meet up with Sakura and Ino for lunch as usual and he invited himself.
Because food always tastes better with more people! (As Naruto puts it.)
Naruto sips at his soda before speaking up again. "Anyways, why can't I be here? The topic you're discussing right now involves me."
He got them there.
They still hadn't figured out a way to get him and Hinata out of meeting Hiashi, Hinata in particular unsure of how her father will react to Naruto's other features.
If he managed to see them that is.
She can feel Naruto glancing at her again from the corner of his eye, cerulean eyes curious over why they were even having this conversation in the first place.
Why couldn't he meet her dad?
Was she afraid he would have a bad reaction like Neji did? Or worse, maybe she was ashamed of him…
'No, Hinata isn't like that.' Naruto immediately shook that thought away, relieved when Hinata leaned slightly into his touch.
Though he can't help the looming thoughts from staying in the back of his mind, dark thoughts nagging him that this isn't meant to last…
Ino glanced back and forth between the pair for a long moment before one of her typical smirks arose.
Naruto is so goofy and easygoing, where's the so called 'wild' features to his personality Hinata had brought up?
Was this a ruse of his?
Time to find out!
Hinata frowns at her grinning, it's one of those smiles she usually reserved for plotting to dish out some revenge or when she was about to ask her 'tough' questions.
And Hinata knew already she was gearing up for the latter.
"So…Naruto, this is my first time being properly acquainted with you. Are you still considered a 'client' of Hinata's or has it become something more? You know how much madam Tsunade adheres to the policies regarding dating clientele for so long." Ino hums curiously.
To her surprise, Naruto answers said question rather easily.
"Oh, don't worry about granny! I spoke to her already about it being okay for me to date Hinata and she just shrugged her shoulders! I won't do anything to hurt Hinata's work life if that's what you're concerned about." Naruto chirped out.
Hinata smiled beneath the palm of her hand, Ino's expression deflating quickly.
Clearly Naruto needed to be invited to their lunch outings more often!
But the rest of the meal goes by without any ideas to backing out of Hiashi meeting Naruto. The date for the party has been set for right after her birthday and it doesn't seem like there's anything she can do to get out of it without suspicion being cast on her in the process.
And as they walk back into Naruto's apartment this time, his anxiety gets the best of him and he ventures to ask her about everything that's been weighing on his chest.
"Are you afraid of how you're dad is going to react well…to me?" Naruto asked quietly.
Hinata paused midway in her sip of water he had offered her, meekly nodding. "I-I just don't want my family to react negatively if they happen to see your fox ears or tail! They're already very strict as it is and anything considered out of the ordinary they tend to shut out or push away."
Naruto chuckled, playing with the ends of her indigo hair. "You know I only get those features when something dirty is going on. Were you intending for something to happen to cause us to end up in such a situation?"
"N-No, of course not!" Hinata stammered back quickly.
Naruto isn't convinced, warm breathe fanning her lips teasingly and she catches the flicker of his sharpening teeth before he reluctantly moves to shift away from her.
Her face and body grow irritably hot from his behavior.
And her pearl eyes watch from over her shoulder as he mutters about how cold the room is despite the relatively cool day it's been, leaving to briefly check the thermostat to see if Sasuke's messed with it.
When he returns she's already buried her head into his orange covers again to hide herself, maybe she can sleep the next hours away until it's time to get up again for work.
Or at least pretend what occurred just minutes ago didn't happen.
"You're still blushing." Naruto notes once he tosses aside enough pillows and tugs his blanket off of her head.
Indeed, she can feel her face is still burning and it only feels like its spreading under Naruto's longing gaze until her toes eventually start to curl.
"You said you were worried about how your dad would react, but…you never stop me from touching you, holding you, or kissing you. It's going to be hard to resist it, especially when I know you want me too..." He croaks out, hovering above her.
He pursed his lips then, breathing in slowly so his voice wouldn't break apart any further.
"Do you want me to stop?"
The blueness in his eyes swirl with a velvet red, an inhuman glow to them as she watches him transform.
And he doesn't wait for her to respond aloud, searching her stare for his answer and leaning down to her when he gets it.
-X-
"Hinata, is that you? It's been too long!" Kurenai calls to her from across the shopping aisle.
'Mrs. Yuhi?!'
Mirai fidgets and whines from the yell and she rocks her again to her chest as she approaches her. It's been a while since she's last seen her former student. Especially knowing what Kiba has been telling her as of late…
But surely it can't be true, right?
"You look flustered, just coming from a jog or somewhere hot?" She asks.
She's used to seeing Hinata blush, but not like this. The faint tinge of red upon her cheeks instantly begins to darken as she nervously began to fidget with her pink scarf and shopping bag.
"Yeah, something like that." Hinata murmurs.
Kurenai arches a brow before shaking her head with a smile, guiding them to the quieter aisles towards the back.
"You need better concealer for those bruises and scratches or else Kiba really will think this guy of yours is harming you!"
So Narutohadn'tput more of his little love bites in less obvious spots after all…
Hinata nibbles lightly at her already swollen lips, sighing. "He's told you to? How many people is he going around spreading my business to?"
Kurenai frowned, adjusting Mirai on her shoulder. "Does he have a reason to be worried? Some of those cuts do look pretty deep…"
"No, he's making assumptions that he's dangerous!"
She quiets down her voice hurriedly at Mirai's sharp cry and the duo move to pay for their groceries and head outside to the café across the street.
Hinata shuffled at her feet under her stare. Kurenai, who always seemed to know what she was thinking without her saying a word. Her old literature teacher knew her much better than even her own family at times…
But Kurenai doesn't move to speak again, brushing a hand through her ebony locks as the wind flurried up her hair. Mirai coos and fists a chubby hand into her hair, tugging on it gently until Kurenai lightly breaks her hand away.
"She's gotten so big." Hinata realizes, staring at the toddler in fascination. Same crimson eyes as her mother…
And a face just like her father's.
Kurenai nodded, patting Mirai's cheek gently. "She's almost 2, but you probably wouldn't think it from how much she whines and fusses like this."
Memories of high school gently drift back to life then. Nostalgic days sitting under the many trees littered about the campus during lunch, roaming the halls in between class with Sakura or Ino beside her, and the fresh smell of pine after the custodians would have to clean up a food fight or worse, a thrown up meal…
Back when Asuma was alive.
"Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?" Ino whispers by her ear, making her glance up from the poem they're supposed to reading on a famous traveling writer.
She follows her line of sight to Kurenai's stomach. Even if this is Kurenai's first year teaching, she knows firsthand already how strict she can be if anyone is talking during quiet/independent study time from homeroom.
"She's pregnant?" Hinata finds herself whispering back, clearly puzzled by said question.
Ino nods her head giddily, making sure Kurenai isn't looking their way before leaning forward in her chair.
"I'm surprised you haven't heard about it yet! Now, I don't have 100% proof, but I'm sure it's this military guy named Mr. Asuma Sarutobi that's the father. He came by the flower shop the other day requesting these specific red flowers we always nearly run out of and wouldn't you know within the next day or two, the very same flowers were on Ms. Yuhi's desk!"
But Hinata doesn't believe her.
At least until she sees it for herself…by accident.
It's raining that afternoon and Neji promises he'll give them a ride home once he gets out of debate practice.
She's bored and cold sitting on the hard tile floor outside of the theater room where they normally hold the discussions, taking to wandering the hall when Neji says it will be another 'five minutes'.
'I wonder if Ms. Yuhi is still here.' Hinata pondered, shuffling with her backpack to head down to the English wing.
Maybe she can relax in there and finish up on the last bits of her homework.
There's the faint sound of smooth jazz in the air the closer she gets to the open door and she smiles, it's her favorite type of music to play while they read or study during class as of late.
Though a distinctly male voice rings out between shifts in the melody of the piano and she halts.
"Does this music really help you grade your papers better?" Asuma questions, messing with the volume on the computer until Kurenai lightly slaps his hand away.
"Stop it, sorry some of us don't listen to punk rock or metal!" She teases back, jabbing him with her pen.
"Besides…I heard soft music is good for a baby to listen to." She trailed off and Hinata peeks her head to look in to see her face has taken on a pinkish hue.
Asuma doesn't speak for a moment, walking around her desk and drifting his hands to catch hers and lie them on top of her stomach.
"I can't wait to meet my little king." He whispers so quietly Hinata almost has to strain herself to hear him.
Kurenai huffs, but doesn't swat his hands away like before. "How do you know it will be a boy? It could be a girl or even twins; it's still too early to tell. Either way, I hope I go through my trimesters smoothly and everything turns out well on your end. You'll be getting shipped off again to the battlefield next week after all and I get worried-"
"Don't worry about me! You'll stress yourself out and get too sick to work again. I'll be back, I always come back; don't I?" Asuma interrupts her with an impish grin.
Her stomach clenches when she glimpses in again to see them engaged in a deep lip-lock, feeling her face warm at watching such a private moment.
Ino's right, the rumors around town are right.
He promises when he comes back they'll celebrate with barbecue as usual.
Except this time he can't keep that promise…
And in the weeks ahead, Kurenai takes sick leave again and again until she finally returns the week before she graduates…
It pains her that she never properly asked if she was okay.
"Do you ever regret it?" Hinata suddenly asks, gazing up from her mint tea.
Kurenai blinked, stopping her rocking of Mirai briefly.
"Huh?"
Hinata gestures to the now sleeping Mirai in her lap, swallowing and clearing her throat. "I-I mean, do you regret that you kept your love affair with Asuma a secret?"
A well-known secret, but still.
Kurenai hums, returning Mirai carefully back to the stroller parked beside them. "If I'm being honest, yes at times I do."
An expression of melancholy drifts over her crimson eyes then as she gazed at the people walking by. "Asuma used to be so nervous when we went out on dates and someone we knew might see us; sort of like this right now just out in the open. I suppose it was a bit thrilling at first, being secret lovers without really any reason to be one. He said with his father being in such a high rank political position, he didn't want any scandals or limelight that could happen to trickle down into his own personal life."
Her voice softens as she goes on, clasping her hands together when a freezing wind rattles at their utensils. The sun truly isn't doing enough work to warm them up today as another cloud passes over and Kurenai moves with one hand to pull Mirai's blanket up more over her shoulders.
"Anyways, I think it was more so he just didn't want any people to say nasty or rude things about me behind my back; we weren't married yet and you know how the older generations can be about that. When…when I told him I was pregnant though, you should've seen how excited he got Hinata!" And Hinata beamed as her former teacher's eyes sparkled to life again with joy as the memories poured in.
Like all of this was only yesterday.
"He immediately went to work trying to get a baby room ready, quit smoking, and asking his friends with kids already discreetly how to raise one. I think Kakashi and even Shikaku asked if he was planning to adopt a child with how many questions he asked around!" She giggled, sucking in a breath when her laughter and voice began to crack.
She shook her head at the recollections, wiping at the stray tears that began to slide down her cheeks.
"I think if I could do one thing over, I would've been less afraid of showing our love openly. It didn't matter to me Asuma's background or history and it was same for him regarding me." Kurenai concluded.
Undeniably, Hinata found her thoughts drifting to Naruto and her heart pounded a bit faster.
And Kurenai smiles knowingly with a wink, stirring at her the remnants of her coffee leisurely.
"The same can be said for you and your lover, correct? Don't make the same mistakes we did now."
Hinata blushes, but nods.
"Yes, you're right."
-X-
"Ugh, you know I hate dressing up old man!" Naruto grunts, staring between the two suits he offered him.
Black or Blue?
They both were uncomfortable to wear, did it really matter which one he picked?
Jiraiya shakes his head, resisting the urge to smack him.
Naruto had no clue what he was getting into.
"Look, this is a formal event; you can't show up to Hinata's party wearing your usual sweatpants and jacket! The Hyuga's aren't that type of laidback family and you've had plenty of days to prepare for this!"
'Why not?' He wants to ask back, but knows better than to say aloud.
So he just simply nodded his head, half listening to him and half wondering what Hinata would show up in now that he brought the idea up.
Would it be like those tight skirts and low cut shirts he often saw so many of the call-girls wear when they were coming off their shift in the mornings?
Because if that was the case, he couldn't wait for the opportunity to whisk Hinata to a private closet away from all the noise so he could ravage her and maybe even-
"Damn it, stop daydreaming and listen to me!" Jiraiya snaps, whacking his head with the back of his hand causing his fox ears to recede back and his drooling to cease.
"Did you even hear anything I just said?" He grumbles on as he helped Naruto adjust out the wrinkles in the ties he was looking through to go with the black suit he was going with.
"Uh, something about avoiding ramen if I see it?!" He guesses.
Well, Naruto is doomed.
His mind is more on food and sex than anything he has to say.
He forces him to stare at him properly, shaking his shoulders a tad roughly.
"Alright, I need you to repeat this after me: I won't try to seduce Hinata while I'm in her family's company."
Naruto blinked, furrowing his brows.
Was Jiraiya feeling alright?
Jiraiya sighed at his clearly puzzled look. "Yes, I'm being serious here; now repeat it!"
Naruto snorted, but did as he was told. Though not without adding mentally he would wait until her family wasn't looking or around…
Jiraiya plopped down on his bed, helping him to organize the rest of the formal attire he would need for tonight. He earnestly hoped his advice would work, Naruto and fancy business events just didn't mix.
"Hinata or 'Lilac' as it's saved in your phone texted to say the event starts in an hour." Sasuke calls out to Naruto, and they both look up to see him hovering by his door before he tosses his phone at him. He's already ready to go, dressed in a simple white button down with a grey blazer and slacks.
He was only going to supposedly increase friendlier business relations between the Hyuga and Uchiha, and maybe because even he was finally tired of staying in every night.
Naruto nods, placing his phone on his desk.
Was Hinata having this much trouble getting ready as well?
-X-
"Hmm, up or down?" Ino asked Sakura beside her, finishing with the last of curl of Hinata's hair.
Sakura did a full circle walk around the pair, nodding her head every once in a while as if she were judging Ino's performance.
"Hinata has long hair, I think up would be a nice change of pace." She says finally.
"But if she leaves it down, I was thinking she could part it in different directions for all the pictures we'll be taking!" Ino hums, shaking her head in disagreement.
Hinata paid no mind to their lighthearted bickering, it was the first time they would be coming with her to one of these infamous 'who's who' parties after all. Of course they wanted every curl, clip, and accessory to be perfectly in place.
And the rest of their friends were probably thinking along the same thing.
Sakura whistles lowly as they all pose in front of the mirror, ready to break more than a few hearts tonight surely.
"Naruto's jaw is going to drop when he sees you." She purrs out quietly by her ear and she stiffens and casts her gaze back to the ground.
Ino pats her shoulder in agreement, grinning wickedly. "Understatement Sakura. Those 'beastly' features you were mentioning to us before Hinata are definitely going to come out before the night ends. We won't be surprised if you 'disappear' for an hour or two!"
She felt her blush deepen, words coming out in fumbles as the two snickered.
Didn't they know that's what she was afraid of?!
Oh, but all her friends can think about is the potential debauchery she and Naruto can get into once they break off into their own groups.
It's going to be a long night.
Turning 21 doesn't change anything from being 20, as if magic were supposed to have happened at midnight. Hanabi pushed her stay up late last night despite her sleepiness from all the Christmas events and family visiting, going through every ball gown Hiashi had suggested for her to wear until she decides on a royal blue evening dress that doesn't look too puffy or extravagant.
Perhaps it will help her blend in better with the crowds.
She very much still feels 20 after all; except that she can now drink officially. Something Sakura and Ino have already had a few months head start on.
And after the first shot of a fruity red and white cocktail Sakura suggests she try that burns at her throat as it slides down, she decides mentally she's done for the night trying anything else 'new'.
"You're friends are…enjoying themselves I see." Neji notes as he walks up beside her, observing as Sakura made her way through each group mingling with top executives of various hospitals with Ino in tow beside her, both inquiring about internships and volunteering.
'Did he think they were going to be wild?'
'Probably.' Answering her own question herself.
Hiashi has already weaved her through meeting with his newest business associates and representatives with names and faces that have all just mixed together in a blur as they present her with gifts and good lucks through medical school.
It's hard to see with what little lights there are as he guided her along different paths, the sliver of the crescent moon high up in the chilly night air. Her teeth are beginning to sting at keeping up with a forced grin, bright yellow/white streamers and decorations she had picked for the party days ago doing nothing to help with improving her mood now.
She knows as Hiashi looks through the mix of her friends that have gathered to celebrate with her that he's waiting in particular for him to show up.
Naruto.
'I'll call or text when I get there! ~
That message was almost 30 minutes ago, where was he?
Maybe Naruto had realized that deep down in his heart, he wouldn't be able to control himself around her and decided to stay home…
Granted, it wouldn't make too much sense. Mainly considering how much different he acted around her as of late. But Naruto was still learning and properly applying what she taught him in controlling his emotions day by day.
It's not the case though when as she finally breaks from Hiashi to check out the buffet line, she sees him.
'How long has he been here?'
Had her phone gone off without her noticing it? She quickly fished for it out of her purse and saw no new messages or calls.
When she peers up again though he's suddenly right by her side, a haziness in his stare that makes her heart flutter and beat harder as his eyes trail downward over her attire.
So close…
Most people huddled around them wouldn't look twice at them, just a private conversation between two people going on amongst the crowds.
"Looking for me?"
-X-
'Behave.'
That was Jiraiya's last warning to him before they locked up the apartment.
Even Sasuke can't help but toss him a weary stare as they show their invitations to the hotel's receptionist before being guided through to the back halls, wondering if he's going to need to bail him out…
Again.
Honestly, he and Jiraiya need to relax!
They're acting as if he's going to act irrationally as soon as he sees Hinata-
And then he sees her in the distance.
She hasn't noticed his arrival yet thankfully, laughing (probably just to be nice) at some joke a random guy has said.
'How low cut is that dress and how many guys have been attempting to get close to her?'
It doesn't matter now that he's here. That gown fits her figure perfectly as she walks, an older gentleman that Sasuke indicates is her father gesturing for her to go greet an elderly couple sitting at a table a few ways down.
Sasuke rolled his eyes at his behavior, shaking his head.
They haven't even been here 5 minutes yet!
"I'm going to stop associating myself with you now. Try to keep that growling you're doing to a minimum." He notes, walking away from him before he does anything worse.
Naruto scoffed, but nodded as he went in the opposite direction.
'Alright, just try to relax. I'm here to see my other friends too, not just Hinata.'
Because they do share a lot of the same friends, waving to Shikamaru and Chouji as he passes them at one of the many mini bars scattered about.
He distracts himself with entertainment shows for a good couple of minutes before his shoulder is roughly bumped into and he scowls.
Kiba scowls at him in return.
"What are you doing here? You know this in an invitation only party, right?" He hisses.
Naruto snorts, before holding up said black and gold invite to him. "You like it? Hinata personally delivered it to me."
His eyes narrow as he quickly reads over the fancy cursive, Hinata's telltale signature and Hyuga family emblem at the bottom.
He scoffs and pushes it back into his hands. "Doesn't matter, I'm on to you…monster, demon, or whatever the hell creature you secretly are! Hinata may trust you, but I don't!"
Okay, like his concerns somehow matter to him?
But he keeps himself in control and simply gives him a nod, looking around again.
'Moron made me lose track of where Hinata went.'
He catches her beginning to pick up a plate, her gaze turning to his as she shifts herself to the end of the line.
And he smiled as she looked between her phone and him in confusion, making his way over to her.
He lasted a good 20 minutes or so of avoiding her…
Time to put that to an end!
-X-
"Uncle, that's him." Neji gestures with a head tilt, frowning at how near Naruto has suddenly become to Hinata.
He hadn't even seen when he got here.
Hiashi followed his line of sight through the crowds, clenching his teeth as his gaze became deadlocked on the pair.
They had both found two empty chairs close by the gardens, too far away for them to hear anything they're saying though their body language says it all…
'When did this happen?' He wonders.
The atmosphere surrounding them is too romantic, candle lights casting a soft glow against their table as they scoot closer to each other.
Hinata giggles at whatever Naruto is saying, reddening when he leans back in his chair to pick a red rose from the garden to put in her hair and gives up his suit jacket to warm her.
She slides her fork against her plate in a sweeping motion, poking into a piece of her salad eventually and taking a bite before moving another piece towards Naruto.
He shakes his head and he can clearly see him mouthing he hates vegetables, but Hinata continues with her pushing until he reluctantly tries a piece.
If only because Hinata feeds it to him.
"I've seen enough." Hiashi murmurs, turning away from the sight briefly as he moved to stand.
Neji trails behind him as they approach to their table, Hinata the first to notice them as she sat up straight in alarm.
"Oh, father! Um, did…did you need something?" She asked quickly.
He chuckled bitterly, making her wince. "When were you planning to let me meet this gentleman beside you?"
Her stomach churned, hunger dissipating rapidly under his hardened stare. "S-Soon."
Naruto stood up properly though, squeezing Hinata's arm in the process as he put a hand out.
"Please don't be too hard on Hinata, she was nervous about me meeting you in person. I'm Naruto Uzumaki though!" He stated cheerfully.
Hiashi studied his hand for a painfully long second before shaking it in return. "My daughter hasn't told me much about you. I'm curious to know…"
Naruto shrugged, taking his seat again. "There isn't much to me!"
They exchange quick formalities over basic matters of school, jobs, and how they met before Hiashi excuses himself to welcome new guests just arriving.
Neji hasn't said a word yet, but he slips out of his calm façade once they're truly out of their sight.
"Uncle, I told you he had an energetic personality that's hard to get used to at first. Do you want me to 'finish' him myself so he stops interfering in Hinata's life?"
Hiashi shook his head, catching on to his second meaning. Neji always seemed to jump to most extreme option first. "No, we can't kill him Neji…besides if it comes down to it I would be the one to do it; not you."
"What do you plan to do then, let them continue their relationship?" He frowned as the words left his lips, as if he'd been stung or tasted something sour.
Hiashi pulled out his phone in response, nodding at Neji's interested look.
"Don't worry, the private investigator I'll hire will let us know anything else that boy was hiding from us."
-x-
So, Naruto and Hiashi didn't talk for very long though I kind of want to save the other conversations they'll have for future chapters. Any guesses on who this private investigator will be? I love hearing from you guys your thoughts!
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