I DO NOT OWN NARUTO AND/OR THE CHARACTERS

Guard Duty

The next morning, everyone meets Noriyuki in front of the estate so he can tell them the extensive details of the mission.

Noriyuki: As you've been told, the plant grows in a location that only the Morita clan can reach, the real reason that I needed to hire shinobi is for when I bring the plants here to have their oil extracted and refined in our processing plant in the back of the estate.

Shikamaru: So, that's when the bandits decide to strike?

Noriyuki: Right, so for the next few days, I need you to guard the plants at night, got it?

Naruto: You can count on us.

Lee salutes.

Lee: Roger.

Noriyuki: I'm about to leave to start harvesting with the other members of the clan, I will need someone to come with us. You can wait at the entrance as you'll not be able to enter.

Shikamaru: Lee and I'll go, you guys hang back just in case anything happens.

Shikamaru and Lee leaves with the clan leaving Naruto, Sakura, and Temari at the estate. A few hours go by and Sakura decides that it's time for Hinata to take the initiative.

Sakura: Hey, Hinata, here's your chance.

Temari: Yeah, go for it.

Hinata: A, are you sure? I, I mean w, we're on a mission.

Sakura and Temari both look at each other.

Sakura: What the fuck's wrong with you, Hinata?

Temari: Yeah, you'd better strike while the iron's hot, 'cuz truth be told, he isn't bad. It won't be long before someone else comes along and scoops him up.

Hinata: You're right, I've got to do it and do it now.

Hinata stands up with a fire in her eyes.

Sakura: You go, girl.

Temari: He's all yours.

Hinata marches toward Naruto, determined to capture the man she's been chasing since her days at the academy.

Hinata: (thinking) Oh, it's time. It is time, Naruto.

Naruto notices Hinata.

Naruto: Oh, hey, Hinata. What's up?

Hinata's resolve deserts her instantly and she faints.

Naruto: Hey, you guys, get over here. There's something wrong with Hinata.

Temari: I know what's wrong with her, no spine.

Hinata comes to as the Morita clan returned from the harvest. Naruto, who was checking on her, was the first to notice.

Naruto: Welcome back, Hinata. You got great timing, we wouldn't want our client to think we were sleeping on the job.

Hinata: How, how long was I out?

Naruto: A long time, boy, you must've been tired. Come on, let's go check out this mystery plant.

Naruto and Hinata run outside to join Sakura and Temari who were waiting on Shikamaru, Lee, and the Morita clan.

Naruto: Hey guys, how'd everything go?

Shikamaru: Everything went fine, how'd things go here?

Naruto: Great, Hinata passed out for a while but…

Sakura elbows Naruto on the shoulder to shut him up.

Lee: Is everything alright, Hinata?

An embarrassed Hinata could only muster a nod.

Shikamaru: Well, we've gotta get ready for tonight.

Sakura: What do you mean?

Shikamaru: I figure that we'll run a two-man rotation for the next few nights on who stands watch over the processing plant, any volunteers?

Naruto: Ooh, ooh, I'll go first!

Shikamaru: Calm down, Naruto.

Sakura and Temari look at each other.

Sakura: Hinata, go on.

Nervous, Hinata pushes her index fingers together.

Hinata: I, I…

Temari: Oh, what's that? You want to volunteer, Hinata? Wow, I heard you leaf shinobi were spirited but I had no idea.

Lee: Yes, now you see the youth of leaf shinobi in full bloom.

Temari just stares at Lee.

Temari: (thinking) What's with this guy and his master?

Shikamaru: Then it's settled, Naruto and Hinata will take the tonight. You be sure to alert us if anything happens.

Temari: Hopefully, something will happen.

Sakura: Right, Hinata?

Hinata blushed deeply at the two kunoichi's comments. A thick headed Naruto, on the other hand didn't understand.

Naruto: Boy, you guys sure like action, huh?

Hinata's blush intensified at the thought of action.

Shikamaru: You two, go rest up while you can, you begin guard duty when the clan finishes for the night.

Naruto and Hinata leave to their respective rooms to get ready for guard duty. Hours pass and Naruto and Hinata are now standing guard in front of the refinery. Naruto stands like he's doing his normal duty, Hinata, on the other hand is a nervous wreck. Flashback, Hinata is about to leave to stand watch.

Sakura: Hinata, look at me.

Hinata looks at Sakura.

Sakura: Naruto is my man, say it.

Hinata: N, N, Naruto i, i, is m, my…

Sakura: SAY IT!

Hinata: Naruto is my man.

Temari: There ya' go. Now, you just keep repeating that in your head.

End flashback.

Hinata: (thinking) Naruto is my man. Naruto is my man. Naruto is my man.

Naruto: These must be some pretty important plants for them to so much trouble. Did they tell you how the refine it?

Hinata: (thinking) Naruto is my man. Naruto is my…

Naruto: Yo, Hinata?

Hinata snaps out of it.

Hinata: Y, yes?

Naruto: I asked if they told you how they process this plant.

Hinata: Well, according to Sakura they make some kind of oil out of it.

Naruto: Oh, did you ever find out what it does?

Hinata: No. Did you?

Naruto: Nope.

Hinata: N, Naruto, there's something that I have to tell you.

Naruto: Hm, what is it?

Hinata: Well, for a long time, I've li…

Naruto heard glass breaking.

Naruto: Whoa, did you hear that?

Hinata: Yes, byakugan!

Using her byakugan, Hinata finds three men hiding amongst the bottles of the plant extract oil with one on the ground broken.

Head Bandit: You idiots, I told you to be quiet and the first thing you do is make noise.

Bandit #1: Sorry, boss.

Bandit #2: Yeah, sorry.

Head Bandit: Just be quiet.

An anxious Naruto can't wait to for the action to begin.

Naruto: What do you see, Hinata?

Hinata: There are three of them. Should we tell the others?

Naruto: And let them ruin our fun? Just stand back, I'm gonna show what I've been up to the past for years.

Naruto instantly attacks the three bandits and easily dispatches them.

Naruto: I've got 'em, Hina…

Before he could finish, Naruto slips in the oil on the floor. Naruto gets up with his pants soaked.

Naruto: You three didn't see that, here they are.

Naruto creates three shadow clones and brings the bandits out to Hinata.

Naruto: These guys weren't that tough, I'll take 'em to Shikamaru.

The three clones take the bandits to Shikamaru and the others. Hinata notices Naruto's clothes.

Hinata: Naruto, what happened to you?

Naruto: Oh, one of those guys broke a bottle of that plant stuff over my head but nothin' doin'.

Naruto rubs the oil spot with his hands and sniffs his finger.

Naruto: This stuff sure smells funny, though.

Naruto starts to feel different upon smelling the oil. He looks at Hinata and is overcome with a powerful feeling.

Naruto: Hey, didn't you have something you wanted to tell me?

Hinata starts blushing again, she turns around to avoid eye contact with Naruto.

Naruto: Well, what is it?

Hinata: I, it's just that I, I…

Naruto: You can tell me, you can tell me all of you secrets.

Naruto approaches her from behind and sniffs the back her neck and grabs her by the waist. The more Naruto breathes in the fumes from the oil the more intense his feeling become.

Hinata: I, I…

Naruto: Hinata, look at me.

Hinata looks at Naruto.

Naruto: Hinata, I want read your mind, know your deepest feelings. I wanna make it right for you, but you've gotta show me. Let me share the mystery.

Hinata: B, but…

Naruto places a finger on Hinata's lips.

Naruto: Shh, listen to your heart.

The oil from Naruto's finger sits on Hinata's lip pumping the fume into Hinata's nose. The oil loosens Hinata up and she does something that she wanted to do for the last three years, she kisses Naruto on the lips.