Chapter 17: Ideally
At nearly 4 months, she begins to truly start noticing a baby bump.
It's early in the morning around 7 am, way before Naruto is normally set to rise as she casts long gazes over her reflection in peeks of purplish and red morning light.
'Pregnant. Expecting.' Those were now words synonymous with her.
And yet, the only people who knew at the moment besides Naruto were Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Kurenai.
Morning nausea has finally started giving way to new symptoms, particularly cravings at hours of the day she knew should be sleeping, studying, or working.
She feels her stomach starting to rumble again, mind drifting to make an elaborate breakfast display of eggs, pancakes, and toast or eat another apple she had snacked on hours before in order to avoid overeating.
"Hinata, can't sleep?" Naruto slurs out from behind her, arms reaching to wrap around her lower frame and a blush pours into her cheeks making him smile.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." She whispers.
He presses into her, shaking his head and the faint smell of his favorite earthy rainwater shampoos and lotions he used from the night before wash over her.
"You're not hurting, are you?" He abruptly asks, running his hands slowly over growing bruises along the contours of her hips, scratches deep enough to have broken skin…
She turns into him, flustering more at memories of the night, of sweat intermingling and whispered sighs and moans as he thrusts into her burning his scent, touch, and very essence into her.
"I need to be more careful, not just for you, but for the baby as well." Naruto speaks again, seemingly talking more to himself than her now.
"But you are being safe." Hinata replies, reaching to curl her hand around his callous fingers. Naruto has been so on edge lately, even more than her.
"Is this about father and Neji?" She asks, he stiffens in alarm and she immediately knows.
They've been asking him questions, snooping for answers…
A knot settles in her chest, it wasn't enough to know Naruto was safe and treating her well?
No, of course not!
"They're so annoying." She huffs, puffing her cheeks out slightly.
Naruto smirks, amused with her sudden temper. "Harsh, but do go on."
"I don't want them to continue to jump to conclusions about you, it's bad enough they still seem to believe that your fox features just pop out at a moment's notice like you haven't gotten better at controlling it."
Naruto wrinkled his nose, grinning in spite of her clear upset. "But Hinata, my fox features do come out when I'm excited or thinking about you!"
A pretty blush crawled up her cheeks then, making her look away from his knowing grin.
"W-Well, that's not the point!"
"They should trust in you more…they have to trust in you more knowing this baby is coming." She reasoned, rubbing a hand slowly over the tiny bulge of her stomach.
Naruto fingered his hands through her hair, rubbing at her lower back until her heartbeat no longer rang so loudly in his ears.
The weekly sauna visits helped to a degree yes, but it wasn't a complete fix to his transformations.
They were still going to happen, especially more so now.
"Want to come with me to the clinic once your afternoon class is over? I think Tsunade hinted that we might be able to find out the baby's gender this visit." Hinata suggested, lavender eyes staring up at him eagerly.
His fox ears came out instantly.
'Wait, did I hear that right?'
"Of course! So we might now by the end of today if it's a boy or a girl?!" He asked giddily, practically hopping up and down at Hinata's nod.
Today was Thursday though…
Sauna day.
He would need to create an excuse to tell Hiashi and Neji he wouldn't be able to meet for training.
An uneasiness twisted at his gut and having to think up a creative lie, the two men were finally beginning to trust him and if they caught on to his deceit it would take him back to square one with them.
"We can meet up for lunch then head right over there." Naruto figured after a moment of thinking.
'I'll tell them I need to stay home with Hinata to make sure she's getting enough rest.'
Not a complete lie!
His eyes roamed over to Hinata's stomach, watching as she covered it up once more with her grey button down cardigan.
The weather was growing warmer now, it was going to start looking strange if she continued to wear her favorite baggy jackets and hoodies out.
He sighed, ignoring the coiling in his stomach compressing against his chest he headed for the bathroom.
'This won't be a secret for much longer.'
-X-
"Well, it just isn't fair in my opinion. Why should they get such special treatment? You and I have been here for over a year now and they've only been here a few months!" 'Wisteria' hisses under her breathe, dark hazel eyes studying the trio from across the way.
'Freesia' aka Tenten is silent in responding, but can't help but agree.
Daisy, Blossom, and Lilac indeed have Madam Tsunade's favor.
A phone rings next to her that she dutifully picks up, gruff voice of a man commanding for 'Blossom' to come to the line.
Of course, all the men lately seem drawn to one of the girls.
She directs the call with a fake chirp of delight and grin, staring across the way as Sakura's phone buzzes to life once more.
But it doesn't bother her that so many callers request them, no she earned enough off the newbies and the men who just wanted some quick dirty talk to reach an orgasm.
Her eyes followed as Tsunade weaved a path around the office to make sure everybody was occupied and not just using their work phones to explore the internet or take a personal call, her amber eyes softening when it settled upon the trio.
And the ball of envy in her chest roared to life again.
Rumors had circulated that Sakura was one of Tsunade's top assistants, with Ino a close second in command for learning all of her knowledge of medicine and physical combat.
Hinata too had suddenly caught her eye, most likely due to the surprise ruckus caused by the blonde haired man who had shown up months ago who knew Tsunade well enough to affectionately call her 'Granny.'
'I've always wanted to be a pupil under Madam Tsunade's tutelage, I'm a year ahead of them and yet I've never been able to catch her eye the way they have. They don't even know who I am even after all the times I've seen them around campus…'
Neji would tell her to suck it up, that having these pitiful feelings of self-worth weren't going to help her improve.
Though even he didn't know that this was the late night job she went to that paid her bills once their sparring sessions were over.
"I'm sure he doesn't know his cousin is a prime attraction here as well." She mumbled under her breathe with a snort, leaning her head back against the sofa.
'No, I won't tell him.' She reminded herself.
It wasn't her secret to divulge, no matter how much a part of herself felt ready to crush a part of the power triad to bring them down a notch.
Wisteria continued to rant and growl from beside her and she decided she had enough toxicity for one night, standing up to stretch out her legs and head for the bathroom.
The stalls are quiet, save for the drips of leaky faucets and the air of perfume and hairspray. The glow of moonlight comes through a cracked window in the upper corner, highlighting dried murky stains against the tiles Tsunade hasn't gotten the cleaning crew to attend to.
She's only been in the stall maybe 5 minutes before the sound of the door bursting open rings out.
'Great, not even some alone time to think in the bathroom.' Tenten squirmed, rising her feet up to hide them out of sight.
"Come on Hinata, you've been such a party pooper all night not even having one drink to celebrate! It's your first night back and all you've had to drink is soda or water!" Ino whines.
No, not the power trio…oh, how much more crappy could this night get?!
'You've trapped yourself sitting on a toilet.' Her thoughts answer back.
Right, she was cursed with bad luck tonight.
"Oh, lay off of her Ino! You know Hinata was never big on alcohol." Sakura's voice reigns in coolly and Tenten clenches her teeth at how calm she always is no matter the situation.
They grow quiet for a moment, shuffling of feet and bouncing of spray the only noise she hears.
Sakura is the first to speak again, voice oddly quiet. "Hinata, are you really over the flu? I mean, this is the third time you've gone to the bathroom within the hour. You didn't have to push yourself to come back to work for our sakes."
"I-I never had the flu." Hinata murmurs back.
"You didn't? Then what about all the vomiting, nausea, peeing all the time, baggy clothes, sudden glow to your skin and wait...wait!" Ino gasped, snapping her fingers in realization.
"Are you…are you pregnant; by that loudmouth guy we thought was like a fox-human hybrid?!" Ino nearly screeched, voice muffled by Sakura's hushing.
Tenten backed herself as far as she could against the toilet, cold frame of the wall scratching against her head.
'I shouldn't be hearing this…'
And whatever she was hearing certainly didn't make a hell of a lot sense to her.
"Naruto isn't some freaky cross between animal and human! Geez, I told you guys already he's not some beast, though I don't know how to prove it." Hinata retorted.
"We never saw the fox tails or ears…" Sakura trailed off, neither of the two seeming to hear her or see the skepticism crossing her face.
"Doesn't matter! You know what this means, right?! We have to throw you a baby shower!" Ino clapped her hands, already listing out games, themes, and decorations.
Hinata rapidly shook her head, holding up her hands to stop her listing. "No! This needs to be kept quiet! Naruto and I don't even know the baby's gender yet!"
'Lilac or Hinata is pregnant.' Tenten wonders.
Did Neji know?
He was so protective of her, often saying her current boyfriend made him wary at times but was friendly enough.
Their voices carry and fade as Sakura gets Ino to calm down once Hinata agrees to a small get-together with friends next Saturday.
Her legs feel numb from having curled them so tight in her balled up position, shaking like jelly as she opens back up the stall.
'It's your secret now too, unless you give it away…' Her thoughts hiss.
Neji came to mind and her stomach lurched.
No, Hinata was too nice, she had never done anything to hurt her and even sent some of her callers/clientele her way to give her a boost in money/popularity when she grew sick of the perverseness of being taunted with gross situations.
She swallowed the gravely feeling in her throat, walking hastily back out into the main foyer as the sounds of phones ringing filled her ears once more.
For the rest of the night she avoids looking anywhere near at Hinata's stomach.
-X-
'Boy.'
Naruto breathed in slowly, unable to keep the smile from spreading across his face.
It all still feels very surreal.
But it isn't, the heartbeat he's been hearing against Hinata's stomach every night is forming into a real person.
His son.
"Hey, are you listening?" Tsunade snaps, gesturing for Naruto to stop his intent starting at the monitors with a wave of her hand.
"…Huh? Oh, yes Granny; I am!" Naruto hums out brightly, blue eyes lingering back and forth between her and the screen as he rocked in his chair.
Tsunade rolled her eyes, turning off the screen to force him to pay attention.
"Naruto, you need to hear this as well. Hinata's pregnancy may be different from normal pregnancies I've dealt with. The fox qualities and behaviors you have could be passed on to your child and even Hinata might experience some of the effects too." She explained.
Hinata blinked, straightening up from the table. "Ah, you mean I might start to get fox ears and tail too?"
How on earth would she explain that to father and Neji?!
Tsunade shook her head, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "I don't know if it will be that extreme, but you may start to get smaller changes like a keener sense of smell or improved vision. I can't honestly say I know with such little research to go by, though I will say you both need to be careful moving forward. There's a reason so few Uzumaki members exist in this world, the animalistic features that so many people feared is what led to their extermination."
A silence fell over the room then as they both nodded.
Images of the dead flicker through Naruto's thoughts, blood coating his hands and permeating his nostrils before he shakes them away, biting his lip.
'Mom, Dad...'
"Well, that's all I have to say. Hinata, continue your same course of prenatal vitamins, plenty of water, and exercise. Naruto, try to keep your excitement under control and your urges in your pants." Tsunade advised, typing a few things into her computer as she shuts Hinata's file.
"Why is my advice only about sex?" He scoffs while Hinata reddens as she adjusts her shirt back down.
Tsunade gives him a blank stare. "Because I know how you are."
She lightens the mood by giving them sonographic images of the baby, a clear view of their son resting on his side.
A warmth spreads through his chest, soon they'll be able to hold him in their arms.
"Can we get some food on the way home please? I'm feeling kind of hungry again." Hinata asks, sweeping her violet hair back as a light breeze drifts by.
They had stayed far later than expected at the clinic, sunlight beginning to wane into black as streetlights began to flicker on.
The food district would be opening for the dinner rush if they hadn't already.
Naruto followed her line of sight to where she pointed, frowning.
'Hamburgers again?'
Hinata pouted at his expression, tugging him closer to the new fast-food establishment. It was fancier than the wooden stand he was used to at Ichiraku, bright neon signs plastered along the windows outside gesturing to try their free samples.
"Come on, we had Ichiraku's earlier; it's my turn to pick a place!"
The area smells of grease and salt as they walk in, red and white tiles leading up to the register. Hinata giddily peered up at the overhead menu, ordering a jalapeno burger before nudging Naruto to pick something.
He just goes for a plain cheeseburger.
"I don't see how you could find hamburgers so odd, this is coming from a guy who once said ramen and ice cream could go together." Hinata giggles before biting into her burger happily as they sit by a window booth.
Naruto shrugged, going through his burger at a much slower pace. "Well, maybe if they made a ramen burger or something…"
Hinata scrunched up her face, shaking her head. "Gross."
'Suppose I'll have to accept hamburgers as one of Hinata's new favorite foods.' He mused, smirking at the bit of mustard clinging on to her pink lips.
"What?" She questioned, about to move to wipe her face until Naruto reached out to do it himself.
He glanced outside to watch people go by, arching a brow at familiar dark hair weaving through the crowds.
'Sasuke?'
And he was surprisingly heading in their direction.
"I didn't know Sasuke liked fast food." Hinata notes, observing as he made his way to the entrance.
"He doesn't!" Naruto replies, standing to greet him.
"Getting some take-out?" He asks as he strides up to him, Sasuke blinked at his sudden appearance before letting out a disgruntled yes in return. It's then that he notices the lines of fatigue under his eyes, he must just now be getting out of that snooty senior-level business information and analysis class he used to tell him about when they were roommates.
Naruto unfortunately doesn't move, watching as he orders two medium fries and chicken strips with drinks to go.
That's an unusual amount for one person to eat.
"Stocking up on food or something?"
Sasuke nudges him none too politely to move so he can get to the register, only giving a short nod to answer his question.
Naruto bumps him back, devilish grin lighting his face. "No need to be so mean Sasuke! I guess this proves you aren't asexual if you're buying all this for you and someone else."
"Why are you here anyways? I didn't think you could ever get sick of ramen." He scowls.
Naruto gestures to behind them, Hinata idly watching them until she waves meekly at having them both suddenly staring at her.
"Hinata wanted to try something different."
Sasuke looked between her and Naruto for a long minute before smirking.
"So, I guess the rumors are true."
As he expected, Naruto's eyes narrowed into slits as crimson poured into blue. His lips quirked downward, keeping his tone strangely calm.
"What are you talking about?"
Sasuke shook his head, hearing his number order ring out as he went to accept the two white plastic bags from the cashier.
'I don't know how Sakura could be in the mood for this after her shift at work. Wouldn't it be a turn off to eat greasy food after seeing all those diabetic and congestive heart failure patients?'
However, he wasn't willing to take the risk and not come back with what she ordered.
"Answer me." Naruto growls, moving with eerily fast speed to block him from exiting.
He shouldn't have baited him like that.
"I'm surprised you haven't heard it is all, a lot of people on campus have been whispering about it since Monday or so." He replies vaguely.
Well, he got whispered about nearly all the time, gossip isn't exactly shocking to him after a freshman girl had seen his fox ears as he was coming out of class late one night and ran off screaming before he could explain.
Sasuke gave him a look, silently telling him he wouldn't like the news he had to share and his gut sinks in realization.
It involves Hinata as well.
"People are saying you knocked up Hinata."
-X-
Hiashi always drinks his green tea plain, jade leaves simmering to the bottom of his cup as he waits for it to cool.
But Hinata doesn't wait, breathing in the spicy aroma and downing the drink despite the sting that immediately hits the back of her throat.
Naruto pats her back to prevent a coughing fit from erupting, quietly thanking him with a smile.
The heat dancing on her tongue distracts her from father's odd staring.
"Ah Hinata, are you going to tell me what you need considering you're stopping by here out of the blue on a weekday?" He asks, scooting a cool glass of water towards her.
They had all sat together in silence by the garden for close to an hour now, watching as afternoon spring rains came off and on. Thunder rumbles across the sky, stormy gray clouds bunching together in clumps.
Fuschia petals of nearby trees were beginning to blossom by the koi pond now, falling in delicate fashion into the water.
'Naruto.'
Her thoughts rushed together in wondering what would happen once father knew.
'We're in this together. It takes two to make a baby…'
He wasn't going to let her be alone in spilling this news.
"Um, well Naruto told me you've been trying to help him control his fox features and I just err wanted to thank you in person for that!" She beamed.
"Okay?" His eyes narrowed, clearly puzzled by her lie.
"What Hinata means to say is, what do you think about grandchildren?" Naruto brought up.
Hiashi nearly spit out his tea.
"What?!"
Hinata balled up her fists so tightly until they became a ghostly white.
'Don't say it like that Naruto!' She squirmed, wishing Naruto could pick his words better as she sent him a look from the side.
Where was the nearest sinkhole she could jump into?
"I would say having grandchildren in your twos' situation would be irresponsible and immature." He replied after a long moment.
And steely pearl eyes became suddenly transfixed on Hinata's stomach.
Naruto paused, gulping as his harsh glare moved towards him.
"…Uh, err right! Exactly, I'm glad we're on the same page about that issue!" He laughed weakly.
He quickly sent a 'please help me!' look towards Hinata who cleared her throat.
"We only bring it up father since we were thinking of having children in the future." Hinata explained quietly.
Hiashi arched a brow. "And how soon is the future?"
Hinata swallowed, restraining the urge to bite into her lip until the metallic taste of blood took away the pain and fear draining into her skin under his stare.
"A-Around fall or late summer." She breathes out softly.
And everything goes quiet, only the patter of rain hitting the grass and stones clanging around them.
Hiashi studies them both, shutting his eyes as he massages the center of his head.
"You two make everything so complicated for me. It is one thing to explain away Naruto's condition, but how will this look to the other managers and people if the baby has those fox features as well? Especially knowing this is out of wedlock too? Neji said it was concerning how close you two were getting, but I didn't want to worry about it…you're an adult so you can make decisions on your own." He sighs.
When he opens his eyes again though, he doesn't expect to see the tears brimming in Hinata's eyes.
"That's all you've been worried about this whole time; how Naruto will look to the company?! That's why you've been doing all that secretive training with him?" She sputters, bombarding him with questions.
A sob wracks through her body making her shake when he can't immediately answer her and he double-backs on his words hastily.
"Hinata, I'm not angry about you having a baby. While I would've like that you two waited, a grandchild is exciting, joyous news even and you two will be wonderful parents-"
"But you're worried about how other people will see this; aren't you? It's always been about protecting your image and the family's image first over helping Naruto or even me since as head executive once all the rumor mills and tabloids get a hold of this it will look bad on you." Hinata interrupts him.
And Hiashi can't bring himself to respond.
"We should go. Tell Neji and Hanabi the news for me." Hinata whispers, gathering her belongings and standing to go.
Naruto hesitates, glancing between father and daughter before reluctantly following after her out the door.
Neji and Hanabi arrive hours later from a board meeting and school respectively, both wondering why Hiashi has locked himself in his office.
-X-
'This is perhaps the strangest gift I've ever received! The duo thought in unison.
"And this will help the baby to stretch out his or her muscles as they develop crawling and eventually walking! Master Gai explained it all to me when I had so much trouble picking out a gift!" Lee went on with his explanation, avid excitement seeming to make his onyx eyes sparkle.
Among a sea of pink and blue balloons, this baby shower has gone into full swing.
Naruto restrained back a laugh and bless Hinata, she had no idea what the hell this bizarre infant sized green one piece was, but smiled and thanked him nonetheless.
"I didn't know you knew such a variety of people." Hinata muses, packaging the gift back up and setting it down on the table with the others.
Naruto shrugged, smiling as Lee practically cried tears of joy at his success of a present while Sakura flatly told him to calm down.
"Well, I've known Lee or Bushy Brows since high school. He still hasn't changed from being the sports enthusiast he was back then." Naruto laughs.
"I'm glad he could make it; well really glad everyone here could make it." Hinata smiles, the first genuine one she's had since the fiasco of revealing the pregnancy to Hiashi.
He called later on in the evening to apologize, to explain and she lets all his messages go straight to her voicemail, sitting in limbo waiting for her to respond to his somber voice.
'Hinata, I'm sorry; pick up when you're ready to. Hinata, I'm sorry; pick up when you're ready to…'
She shouldn't have listened to it before the festivities had started.
"Hey, why are the two main events just sitting down?! Hinata, we need you for the next party game!" Ino declared, grabbing Hinata by the hand and leading her away.
Naruto blinked, trailing after them to see Ino sitting Hinata down in the center of the living room, blindfolding her with a purple bandana.
"Alright Hinata, you can't see anything; right?" She cooed deviously.
"Ino, what are you planning?" Hinata questioned, about to lift up her blindfold only to be lightly swatted back.
"No, you have to be blindfolded for this! Let's see how well you know Naruto's touch from memory!"
'Huh?'
Ino whistled for all the guys in the room to line up. "Alright, so this game is called Name That Hand! Hinata here will try to pick out Naruto's hand from all the guys, she has ten seconds to assess your hand before she has to either say yes it's Naruto, no it's not him, or pass; understand?" She instructed.
"Won't that be hard? I mean all the men here have the same bone structure pretty much." Sakura pointed out.
Ino smirked. "That's the point forehead and I'm pretty sure Hinata can figure out his or at least narrow it down."
Naruto meanwhile snickers as it only takes Hinata a second to say no to Chouji's hand, sheen of oily potato grease on his hands having giving him away.
"So…how far along is Hinata?" A guy asks behind him.
Kiba.
He blinks, unsure what to say for a second. He knew Hinata had told him and Shino the news over lunch the other day, but he had been in class at the time.
"4 months now." He answers when he finds his voice return.
Kiba doesn't scowl, narrow his eyes, or even spit out a smartass remark like he expects; instead he simply nods in understanding.
"She has a more radiant glow to her skin, I mean she always gets easily embarrassed, but it's different this time. Congrats by the way."
A part of him hears the veiled clipped tone to his voice and he forces himself to nod and whisper his thanks before turning back around.
'Ugh, it's still awkward.'
The doorbell rings amid laughter as Hinata gives a no to Lee, he looks back towards the door curiously.
'Am I hearing things?'
Isn't everybody here already?
The ringing comes again, this time with pounding against the door and he moves himself out of line to check.
An icy sensation crawls up his spine as Neji stares back at him from the peephole while Hanabi gleefully bounces up and down beside him.
'Well then…guess the fun truly starts now!'
-x-
Shout-outs to Zafnak, first person to guess correctly on my question last chapter along with nightwind83, Murky, lovebishies, riyensong, and Crimson Hawk Wolf! (They'll be more fun games like that in future!)
I do have a question though: Should Boruto have fox features as an infant/toddler or not until he's like a preteen? It will only cause some minor changes story-wise either direction, but I'm curious to hear my readers out.
I appreciate all your thoughts/suggestions and as usual, thanks for reading! (If the reviews still aren't showing I'll just use my email to check any questions or responses for now)
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!