Damn his luck!

Damn group of crazy women who had to follow him everywhere!

-You didn't think that when you jumped into their beds-

Naruto huffed in annoyance. Achieving the feat of breaking free from the four girls who ferociously imprisoned him took longer than he expected. It's true there was that time, even when he was just beginning his affair with Hinata, he had enjoyed the pleasures of the world through that fan club. Looking at his life from the new perspective Hinata had given him, he felt ashamed of himself, but at the same time he understood the reason for his actions: all those women, from Sakura to the last one who had passed through his bed, whose name he did not even remember, they had been an instrument to escape from their own loneliness.

A loneliness that increased with each woman, because none was her.

Now, it's not that he wanted to romanticize his behavior, nor justify it. He simply understood himself, and he had come to peace with himself, all thanks again to a new act of love from the Hyuga.

And he had been so short on his words, so vague and confused…

Damn luck!

So much was he recognized by his talk no jutsu... the famous "I'm like you" that he had even seen on one or another t-shirt printed on the youngest…

"Stay with me tonight" The phrase he reverberated in this memory provoking repulse. He wanted to tell her a thousand things, not a damn playbook phrase he had used in almost all of his conquests!

ARGGG how much he hated himself at that moment.

He hurried through the gardens trying to locate Hinata's chakra, hoping to find her. He activated sage mode again and in a second he knew exactly where she was and what she was feeling. Now that immediate connection he felt with her made perfect sense. For a long time he had deluded himself that when he entered this mode his instinct forced him to check the status of his comrades and it was a coincidence that he always noticed her first.

soooo deluded!

How had he not noticed that whenever he found her distressed, fearful or in some danger he always left what he was doing to run to her side? So many encounters at Neji's grave were not random, whenever he felt her alone there, he decided it was a good time to visit her parents.

If Kushina was alive she would have beaten him up for going to see her as a mere excuse to bump into a girl.

He smirked thinking about that imaginary reprimand when a change in Hinata's chakra caught his attention…he felt as if her determination was flaring up, she was making a decision…

XxxXxxXxxX

-Hinata-san are you alright? I notice you down since I found you-

Hinata mentally chided herself...how many times did she have to convince herself that she didn't stand a chance with Naruto, and that she should turn the page. She had already fulfilled her dream of at least tasting some of his affection. She had already been able to give him as much as she could: time, innocence, love, and guidance.

And despite everything she had given Naruto he confirmed his love for Sakura.

She was sure it was time to let him go. She had told him, loving also means letting go with a smile. Clinging to unrequited love forever couldn't be love, it was self-hatred, it was codependency. And she deserved more! She was ready to go for more.

-I'm sorry Ronin-san, I've been thinking endless thoughts, but I didn't mean to worry you-

Ronin's hand rested on hers giving a light caress -I cannot imagine the seriousness of such thoughts, as to erase the beautiful smile that I admire so much-

She smiled immediately, letting go of the boy's hand and bringing it to her neck, where she unfastened the necklace Naruto had given her. She looked at the object carefully. -It is common for seriousness to accompany our most important decisions, in my case, I would like to leave the past behind-

Again Ronin's hand took Hinata's, this time in a smooth movement that removed the necklace. Now it was the boy's turn to observe the jewel. Something about the object inspired him with deep respect. Was it his imagination or did the stone make him feel… safe?

-If this jewel represents the past, I offer you an exchange-he took out the box with the ring opening it to show its contents. It was a magnificent ring, Hinata was surprised by the opulence it displayed.

-Please Hinata-san accept my hand in marriage. Let me help you forget the past, and build a bright future together. I know my offer includes an enormous sacrifice to leave the leadership of your clan, but I assure you that I love you, and I will strive every day so that you never regret being by my side.

Hinata's head was spinning. She had already decided to leave her love for Naruto behind, and now she was faced with another difficult question: her clan or the promise of happiness? She wasn't sure.

She can choose duty, and maybe get lucky and find out Toneri was a respectable man who made her happy (or somewhat happy). On the other side of the coin, she might be able to help Ronin come up with a better offer to his clan, making Toneri's offer invalid.

Which of the two options was more likely to occur? With which one could she best get over the loss of her true love? Which one would she help in fulfilling her promises to Neji?

Still absorbed in her thoughts, her byakugan, despite not being active, allowed her to observe something at a considerable distance, a pair of blue eyes that looked at her intensely. For some reason, she felt sorry that Naruto had seen Ronin's proposal, despite the fact his expression showed no emotion, it was as if the blonde was lost inside the lilac eyes.

A second of contemplation, lilac on blue, the sun on the moon and vice versa.

Then Hinata knew which way to go, she stared at Ronin, ready to give his answer.

she sighed

And just as she parted her lips to utter the first word, there was a loud explosion.

They were under attack.