Hey! I'm finally taking some time to post a new chapter to Sunflowers! I was reading the story to catch myself up with my earlier ideas and I was soooo surprised to find that my first few chapters totally SUCKED! So I decided to edit and revise Sunflowers a bit and so far I have only fixed one chapter. I then combined chapter one with chapter two to make it a bit longer. I was then quite dismayed to find out that when I had deleted that chapter I had also deleted all the reviews and hits that were on that chapter. Total bummer. I will continue to edit my story, however, short chapters will have to remain rather short. Anyways… I would appreciate it if you guys would take some time to intermittently check up on Sunflowers and read my revised chapters as I post them! Thank you and if the sudden change in chapter numbers is not allowing you to review then please send me a private message instead.
I realize that I ended the last chapter with quite a risqué thought. I then went on to write Love Hinata so you can see how those thoughts progressed. But I do not intend to include much adult humor in this story. So I will be getting all that stuff out of the way with this chapter. Unless you guys want me to include a lemon scene later on. Please let me know your thoughts in a review! I'm at 605 reviews but I'm not going to quit until I'm at 1000! Here is the new chapter!
"Show some s-skin?" Hinata asked hesitantly.
Tsubame smiled. "The key to attracting men is to use what you have. Even a flat chested girl can be sexy if she plays to her advantages. Sex appeal is all in the mind."
Hinata blushed. This girl was too forward and yet… something about her just seemed to say that she knew what she was talking about. "I don't understand… what do you mean playing to her advantages?"
Tsubame's brow crinkled in thought. "Okay… I'm going to use a base example. A 'well endowed' girl like yourself has incredible cleavage. It would be to your benefit to wear a low cut shirt to show off your cleavage. Me, on the other hand…" Tsubame held her hands up to her small chest. "I don't have any cleavage. If I were to wear the same exposing shirt, it would only accentuate my apparent lack of chest. Instead a tight, curve-hugging shirt would be much better. In this case, sexy is not about what you can see, it's about what you can't see."
Hinata was beginning to understand. "So… by showing skin, you actually mean…"
Tsubame smiled. "Right. Don't actually expose yourself. By just showing only a small amount of skin you are reminding him of all the skin you aren't showing. His curiosity to see more is what 'sexy' comes from."
Hinata's brain felt fried. All this talk of sex appeal was almost too much for her to handle. "B-But what about when he actually does…"
Tsubame giggled. "You're still too shy with your body, Hinata. Tell me this, what is the difference between your hand and your foot?"
Hinata frowned. What kind of question was that? "Well… uh…"
"There isn't that much of a difference." Tsubame interrupted. "They are both made of skin and muscle and cells. They have a different purpose for the body, I suppose, but that's hardly relevant. Now what about this, what is the difference between your hands and your breasts?"
Hinata gasped as a blush creep across her face.
"Exactly. They are made up of the exact same material and, aside from their purpose, there is virtually no difference. So why should they be treated different in your mind. Are you as likely to walk around shirtless are you are gloveless? Is showing a bare hand the same as showing a bare breast? Physically it is, but mentally it is not. Do you know why, Hinata?"
Hinata shook her head.
"Because someone, sometime in your childhood, told you so. Because society taught you that it was inappropriate. But what if you were born alone? Out here in the forest? If you had no idea what clothes were, would you still feel naked?"
"I guess not…" Hinata said with a growing confidence.
"So why should your breasts or that thing between his legs," Tsubame pointed a thumb over her shoulder towards Naruto. "be treated any differently than your hands?"
"Wow… You're right…" Hinata said staring at her hands. Everything she was saying made perfect sense, but still…
"How do you know all this?" Hinata asked turning to look at Tsubame.
Tsubame smiled. "I wasn't always a princess, Hinata. But I grew up being treated like one. I grew up around several other girls who never stopped worrying about their figure. And let me tell you, a confident girl is an attractive girl. You have to use what you have. There is no point in trying to be like someone you're not."
Hinata was amazed by Tsubame. Hinata had spent her whole life being groomed to be the perfect heiress. She had always been so shy and unwilling to express herself. But Tsubame made it seem like expressing herself was as easy as breathing. She was almost identical to Naruto….
Meanwhile, Naruto was grudgingly walking beside Hento. Frankly, Hento's ridiculous red striped outfit was creeping Naruto out. He felt like a beacon just by walking next to it. Also, Hento keep looking around and shifting his walking speed. It was like he was anticipating an ambush. And that was making Naruto nervous as well.
"Hey…" Naruto said, breaking the silence. "Are you paranoid or something?"
"Brat. Why do you think you were hired? If this was some casual stroll through the forest why would we need bodyguards? A enemy attack could come from any direction at any time…"
Naruto looked up ahead towards Hinata and Tsubame. "Is your girlfriend that important?"
"She is not my girlfriend. She merely referred to us as a couple as a joke. She is a princess and I am her personal guard." However, the emotions running across his face were a clear contradiction to his words.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say." Naruto said, not interested in hearing about the jerk's love life. "Anyways… What makes her so important? I mean, why is she important enough that someone would want her dead?"
Hento sighed. "Tsubame was one of many candidates to succeed the previous princess. She was raised among the other candidates, but it was very unlikely that she would ever become the next princess. The other candidates came from much more prestigious families and were highly recommended. However, the previous princess chose Tsubame to succeed her. This broke many traditions, but the princess held her ground and no one challenged her. Tsubame eventually became the new princess, but not everyone was happy about it. I wouldn't put it past some of the other families to hire a ninja squad to take out Tsubame so their child could rule instead."
"So if it was going to cause all this trouble why did the princess choose Tsubame?"
"Who knows? Some say it was bribery or extortion. Some say Tsubame reminded the princess of a long lost friend. But I believe it is because the princess saw something in Tsubame that she didn't see in any of the other candidates."
"And what's that?" Naruto asked after a moment of silence.
"The ability to lead." Hento said proudly.
"Hey! Get up here, you two! We're almost to the village!" Tsubame shouted behind her.
Hento kept speaking as he and Naruto raced to catch up with Tsubame and Hinata. "This village is still part of the Land of Tea Leaves. It is the hometown of the previous princess which would explain their loyalty to the last princess and her chosen protégé, Tsubame. We shouldn't run into any trouble here."
Naruto allowed himself to relax a little. Being around Hento was making him tense. This guy never let his guard down.
As Naruto got closer, Hinata turned her head and gave him a brief smile. Naruto's heart flooded with warmth and his skin prickled with goosebumps. He loved the way her eyes would crinkle when she smiled. He wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in his arms and hold her tight to his chest. But he reigned back his desire and settled for just walking next to her. They both reached for each other's hands at the exact same time. Their fingers interlocked and Naruto returned Hinata's smile. Now it was Hinata's turn to break out in goosebumps.
"Well, well! You two sure made up fast!" Tsubame said with a huge grin.
Naruto and Hinata blushed, but their hands stayed interlocked. And they stayed like that all the way to the village's front gates.
"We have arrived." Hento stated with a polite nod to the gate's guards.
The guard nodded and waved his hand to another guard. "All clear! Open the gates!"
There was a loud clicking sound and the large front gates began to slowly open. Naruto inhaled sharply as he recognized the small village.
"Wait a minute! This is that village?" Naruto exclaimed incredulously
Hinata frowned and studied the village. Besides the large front gates and a small amount of buildings, there was nothing outstanding about this village. What did Naruto mean?
"That village?" Hinata asked. Tsubame and Hento also seemed to be confused.
Naruto grinned. "It's a surprise! I want to show you something!"
Tsubame's eye twinkled with mischief as she misunderstood Naruto's excitement. "Yes… The hot springs here are quite incredible. And since it's such a small village there are hardly ever any people in them. Why don't you two take some time to yourself to check the village out? I have to check in with the Village Elder anyways."
"Sure thing!" Naruto said as he grabbed Hinata's hand and ran off. Hinata blushed deeply and allowed herself to be dragged along by Naruto. Tsubame's words about her body bounced around in her head as she imagined herself at the hot springs…
Tsubame giggled. "Look at those two, Hento. Were we ever like that?" She gripped Hento's hand and squeezed tightly.
"I don't think we were ever that clueless." Hento said as he gazed into Tsubame's eyes.
"I guess you're right… Those two still don't fully understand their feelings. But I'm sure they will someday. They might just need a little push in the right direction." Tsubame grabbed Hento and pulled him close. "We are finally alone…"
Hento frowned. "What about checking in with the Village Elder?"
Tsubame smiled coyly. "Who?"
"The Village Eld-…. Oh." Hento smiled as he figured it out. "You little vixen."
"Why, thank you! Now, come here!" Tsubame said pulling Hento closer.
Meanwhile, Naruto was dragging Hinata past several little kiosk style shops. He finally stopped in front of a tiny shop that was managed by a very elderly woman. There were all kinds of junk on her shelves. There were assorted seashells and rocks as well as many different kinds of strange flowers.
"Hello, Grandma Giselle!" Naruto beamed
The elderly woman looked up and gasped. "N-Naruto? Is that really you?"
"Sure is!" Naruto said scooping the tiny woman into a big huge.
"It's so great to see you, Naruto! Hm?" Giselle perked up as she noticed Hinata standing behind Naruto. "Now who is this, Naruto? I didn't know you had a girlfriend…"
Hinata blushed deeply. "I'm n-not-"
"This is Hinata Hyuuga!" Naruto interrupted slinging an arm around Hinata.
Giselle smirked as she suddenly grabbed Hinata's hand. "Oh… I get it now."
Hinata was confused. She was happy to be mistaken for Naruto's girlfriend, but there was something she was missing.
Naruto turned to Hinata. "This is where I bought that ring." Naruto pointed to the lavender ring on Hinata's hand.
Hinata gasped and looked down at the elderly woman. The woman nodded with a bright smile. Hinata immediately bent down in a deep bow. "Thank you so much, ma'am! This ring is my most precious possession!"
Giselle chuckled. "It's my pleasure, my dear. But I don't think I'm the one you should be thanking."
"Oh, she has thanked me more than enough. Believe me!" Naruto laughed.
"One more time wouldn't hurt." Giselle said turning to Hinata.
Hinata smiled and turned towards Naruto. "Thank you so much, Naruto." She leaned forward and softly kissed him on the cheek.
Naruto blushed and mumbled, "You're welcome."
Giselle smiled warmly. My, my… she is in love with him… I don't think I have seen anyone with eyes as pure as hers.
"Naruto, you are one lucky man." Giselle said softly.
"Hm? Did you say something, Granny?" Naruto said as he tore his gaze from Hinata's smiling face.
"I was wondering what brought you two down here to this tiny village?"
"We are on a mission! We are escorts for the princess!" Naruto said proudly.
Giselle froze. "The princess, you say? That is indeed interesting…" Giselle turned around and began organizing the junk on her selves.
"Granny?"
"Oh? You two are still here? Surely you must be bored of this old women and her meager stall. You two should go find something more interesting to do!"
"You're not that old, Granny!" Naruto said with a chuckle.
Giselle laughed and gave Naruto a half-hearted glare. "I'm still young enough to show a brat like you a thing or two! Now shoo before I get cranky!"
Naruto laughed and stuck his tongue out. "It was nice to see you again, Granny!" Naruto turned and walked away from the stall.
"Thank you again for the ring." Hinata said with a bow.
"Take care of him." Giselle said staring after Naruto.
Hinata nodded and followed after Naruto.
Those two are so innocent… They really don't belong in a village like this… Giselle shook her head and stepped back into her stall.
Moments later, Naruto and Hinata were wondering around the village looking for something to eat.
"Hey, Hinata. Do you want to go get something to eat with me?" Naruto asked as he rubbed his growling stomach.
"Y-You mean… like a d-date?" Hinata cheeks burned crimson and she began nervously tapping her fingers together.
"Sure!" Naruto smiled and offered Hinata his arm. Hinata looped her arm through his and gulped. Could this be their first real date?
"There is this ramen stand just around the block. It's not Ichiraku's but it is still pretty tasty."
Hinata felt herself deflate a little bit, but she still allowed herself to be dragged off by Naruto. A ramen stand? That's' too casual to be a real date! Hinata looked up at Naruto's face as he ran. There was a bright smile on his face and Hinata felt heat return to her face.
….Close enough, I guess.
"Hey, Mikka! Naruto said cheerfully as he seated himself in the ramen stand. Hinata followed and sat right next to Naruto.
Mikka, the ramen stand owner, was a young beautiful woman. She had long blonde hair and a slim, athletic frame.
Mikka gulped audibly. "Uh… H-Hi, Naruto…." She turned around to face him and immediately sighed with relief. "Oh! That old man isn't with you this time!"
Naruto laughed. "Nope. I was training with Pervy Sage the last time I was here, but I'm here on a mission this time!"
"Well, that's nice. What can I get you two today?" Mikka asked with a polite smile.
"Two pork and one miso!" Naruto turned towards Hinata. "Do you want anything, Hinata?"
"Just one miso for me, please."
"You got it. Two pork and two miso coming right up!" Mikka said as she went into the back to fetch the ingredients.
"Um…Naruto? Why was she so afraid of seeing Master Jiraiya?" Hinata asked although she feared she already knew the answer.
Naruto laughed awkwardly. "Uh… He was flirting with her a lot and… he might have… you know…. felt her up a little…" Naruto's voice trailed off.
"Just a little?" Hinata pried.
"Well, in Pervy Sage's defense, she did say yes to the date." Naruto said sheepishly.
"Wait. So he asked her out and then he…. you know…" Hinata blushed heavily. She could hardly even think the words.
Naruto coughed nervously. "She really shouldn't have been wearing a skirt that short…"
"What? Just what were you two up to on that trip?"
"I didn't do anything! It was all Pervy Sage!"
"Uh huh." Hinata teased.
"Really! I never did anything like that!"
Hinata laughed and stuck her tongue out. "I know."
Naruto was stunned. She was…. teasing him? He had no idea she could be this cute. He had never felt a stronger urge to kiss her. He probably would have too, but Mikka walked in at that exact second.
"Ramen's ready!" Mikka set the ramen bowls in front of Naruto and Hinata and smiled. "Eat up!"
"Thanks, Mikka." Naruto mumbled. She had totally killed the moment. Oh well… If Hinata wanted to play prankster, that was just fine. Two could play at that game.
Naruto slurped up a long noodle and cleared his throat. "Hey, Hinata. How about we go to the hot springs after this?"
Hinata gasped and ended up choking on her ramen. Naruto patted her back as she regained her composure.
"The h-hot springs?"
Naruto smirked. "Yeah. I didn't try them the last time I was here so I figured we could go check them out together."
Hinata gulped. "S-Sure…"
"Great!" Naruto beamed and went back to devouring his ramen.
Hinata tried to finish the rest of her ramen, but her stomach was doing backflips. Her and Naruto… in a hot spring…together? Tsubame's words echoed through her head and Hinata took a deep breath. She could do this.
Naruto slurped loudly as he polished off the last bit of his ramen. He sighed happily and got out his cash to pay for the meal
"Thanks for your time." Mikka said accepting Naruto's money. "Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
"Uh… Actually, there is. Could you give us directions to the hot springs?" Naruto asked with a sheepish grin.
"Sure. Once you walk out of this stand, take a left and then follow that road until…"
Hinata gulped as her world grew quiet. Mikka's voice softly faded away and she was left alone with her thoughts. Can I really do this? As long as the springs are separated there shouldn't be a problem…. But what if they are co-ed? I'm not sure if I'm ready to see his…. h-his…
Hinata's face filled with blood as her mind wandered. However, as Naruto thanked Mikka and left the stand, Hinata snapped out of her trance and followed after him.
Moments later, the two were standing outside a small bamboo shack that lead to the steaming hot springs. Hinata sighed with relief as she saw the banner that read, "Girls Only". Strangely, a small part of her couldn't help feeling a tad disappointed.
Naruto turned to Hinata with a mischievous smile on his face. "I guess I'll see you in about an hour?" Hinata nodded and Naruto headed towards the Boys side.
As Hinata got into the changing rooms, she began to notice that she was the only one there. This really is a small village… Hinata thought to herself as she stripped down. She placed her clothes in a basket and headed for the showers to wash off.
Meanwhile, Naruto had also stripped and wrapped a tiny towel around his waist. Time for payback… Naruto grinned evilly. He took a quick peek outside to make sure no one was watching as he dashed into the Girls Only room. He made sure Hinata was in the shower room before running into the changing room. He opened his fist and inside it he was holding a rather large worm. He picked up Hinata's jacket, but before he could do anything, the shower turned off and Naruto could hear footsteps coming his way.
Naruto panicked and quickly darted into the bathing area. He took a deep breath and dived into the hot spring. He slowly let himself rise to the surface and he stuck his ear out of the water. The footsteps were gone so he figured it was safe to climb out of the water. He still had enough time to get back to the Boys side before Hinata saw him.
However, as Naruto started to get out of the spring, he started to hear humming. It was a beautiful sound, but it was a very bad sign. Hinata was coming.
Naruto thought quickly and gathered his chakra. He mumbled "Sexy Jutsu" and he suddenly transformed into a naked blonde girl. This is bad… Naruto thought as he looked towards the entrance to the bathing area. There was no way he could sneak out now without Hinata seeing him. His only hope was to act natural and hope that Hinata didn't recognize him in his girl form.
The humming got louder as Hinata walked into the bathing area. She was completely naked with only a tiny towel held to her chest. Hinata dipped her big toe into the water and squealed softly. Naruto could feel his face get hot and it wasn't because of the hot spring.
She was beautiful. Her skin looked soft and it shone from the moisture in the area. Her hair flowed halfway done her back and it stuck to her skin. Her waist was sleek and had a very feminine curve to it. She also had a very slim stomach so it complimented her hourglass figure perfectly. However, Naruto found himself staring at her chest. They were even better than the ones he had while in Sexy Jutsu form! And he had worked for weeks on perfecting that Jutsu!
He couldn't stop himself from staring as Hinata slowly entered the water. Hinata sat down on a flat rock and sighed heavily as she sank down till the water reached her neck. Naruto gulped and wiped the blood from his nose.
"H-Hello!" Naruto said, his voice sounding exactly like a teenage girl.
Hinata gasped and let her towel slip a little. Naruto nearly passed out, but he pinched his thigh hard and managed to keep his gaze above the water.
Hinata blushed. "I'm sorry! I didn't think there was anyone else here…"
Oh, thank God! She doesn't recognize me! I just need to excuse myself and get the hell out of here! "Don't mind me. I was just about to get out!" Naruto said throwing on a fake smile.
Hinata frowned as familiarity rang though her head. "Have we met before?" Hinata stood up and began to walk closer to Naruto to inspect his face.
Naruto choked and spluttered as he tried to hide his face behind his long blonde hair. "N-No! I don't think we have…" Naruto trailed off as he was once again confronted with Hinata's naked body. Except this time, it was much closer. His heart raced as he tried to tear his gaze from her voluptuous body. He could feel his jutsu start to waver and he gulped. She is going to kill me…
"Hey there, Hinata!" Tsubame shouted out from the entrance of the bathing area.
Hinata turned to greet Tsubame and Naruto sighed with relief. He sank lower in the spring until the water was up to his nose.
"I saw your clothes in the changing room so I decided to come join you!" Tsubame said as she walked into the waters. She raised her arms up and tied her long hair into a pony tail. Naruto nearly drowned when he realized Tsubame was also naked except she wasn't covering her front with a towel! Naruto jumped up and coughed out the water he had just swallowed.
"Hm?" Tsubame turned her head towards Naruto. "Oh! I didn't see you there, miss. Sorry for interrupting!"
Naruto shook his head and tried to regain his composure. He didn't realize it then, but many men would have killed to be in his position. Hinata may have been well endowed, but Tsubame was very attractive with her small tight figure. And shewasa princess after all.
Naruto sat back down in an empty corner of the hot spring. He tried to ignore the two naked girls, but their words carried across the water.
"Hinata? Where is Naruto?" Tsubame asked as she looked around the hot spring. "Don't tell me you made him go to the Boys side all alone?"
"I-I didn't make him! He… sorta just went on his own." Hinata mumbled.
"Did you invite him?"
"No…" Hinata cast her eyes downwards. What would he have said if I had asked him?
Tsubame smirked. "Come on, Hinata! I thought you liked the guy!"
Naruto coughed and slowly twisted his head towards Hinata.
"I do!" Hinata replied fiercely. "It's just that…"
"You're never going to get anywhere with that attitude! I'm call him for you! NARUTO!" Tsubame shouted towards the other side of the hot spring.
Naruto cursed mentally. How was he supposed to reply if he was sitting a mere ten feet from them? This was not going to end well.
Thankfully, Hinata came to his rescue, clamping her hand over Tsubame's mouth before she could yell his name again.
"Don't! I'll tell him someday… but right now… just isn't the right time. I'm not sure if he likes me back…" Hinata said softly staring at the ring on her hand.
Tsubame smiled and shook her head. This girl need a little more self-confidence. That brat is actually a perfect match for her… Tsubame playfully splashed some water at Hinata. "He would like you a lot more if you showed him that incredibly body of yours!"
Hinata blushed and opened her mouth to speak. However, before she could say anything, a terrible scream pierced the air followed by a loud explosion.
After the explosion there were several more screams, but they were all suddenly and violently cut short.
And I'm back! What a cliffhanger! It was really nice to come back to this story, but now I don't know which story to post to next! Maybe a generous review or two would be enough to convince me! I hoped you all enjoyed the new chapter! The adult content will end here though. If you liked that scene you really need to check out my other story, Love Hinata. However, this story will be romantic and filled with fluff! I just wanted to demo a little more adult romance and maybe give Hinata a little push out of her shell. I'm sure you are all excited to see what happens next! I'm thinking another kiss scene shouldn't be too far away…. Please remember to review!