A/N: While I have said that I want to have the chapters around 3-5k words, putting this one with what was originally chapter 9 (soon to be chapter 6) to meet those guidelines simply doesn't make any sense. And adding stuff outside of what goes on here just messes stuff up
I have to apologize for this taking so long to get done. This is one chapter I feel I HAVE to get right. And I've had loads of other distractions that have been sapping my focus. Thank you to those new to the party with reviews. I'm likely going to be going back and forth between Two Hearts and Breaking the Curse for a little bit. As I promised myself I was going to fill in the rest of the gaps through the team announcements and teamwork tests in prologue 3. Even with a few time skips, prologue 3 is going to be a monster of a chapter word wise (by my standards at least). I have a few more twists to add before I'm done though.
That said, you're here for something else, aren't you? Onward into Naruto's mindscape for our next chapter..
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters created by Kishimoto-san. Titokhan is mine of course. The owners of any OC's/jutsu I use that aren't mine will get credit if/when I use them
Two Hearts, One Soul – Chapter 5, True Love
"Before I forget, heh.." Naruto says, scratching the hair on the back of his head with a sly grin "Everyone, the fox has asked that you call him by his given name. Kurama."
"Kurama-dono, I haven't heard that term before, but is it something like 'love at first sight'?" Hinata replies to the earlier question.
"Kit, I really like her. Seems fate has chosen well after all." Naruto bristles at mention of fate, remembering how Neji was always going on about fate and destiny "Sometimes, fate is a good thing boy. And you're correct in a way little vixen, but it goes much deeper than just love at first sight. Two hearts, one soul is a bond between 2 kindred spirits who are alike, yet different at the same time."
Naruto looks Hinata in the eyes, deep blue meeting lavender tinged white, and they almost instantly understand. They say, at the same time "Like flip sides of the same coin?"
"Closer analogy. The more time you two spend together, the clearer the picture will get. You've both had lives filled with pain and suffering." The assembled people all understand, Hiashi hanging his head slightly in shame for the pain he put his eldest through, all in an effort to bury the grief of his wife's death giving birth to Hanabi.
Even though his earlier statement to Naruto was indeed correct about Hinata being his late wife's mirror image. Hitomi Hyuuga never fit the 'traditional' mold of either the wife of the clan head, or most of the clan in general. Her kindness was as much a beacon of hope as Naruto's unwavering determination is. After her passing, he buried his feelings and allowed the elders free reign in both of his daughters' training. Only just recently had he realized the error of his ways, and was starting to atone for them. "Hanabi is still young, I can fix what I have wrought with her. Hinata is in good hands, Hitomi,"
"Yet it never consumed you, partially because the times you did encounter each other over the years, you both manage to pick the other up." Kurama states plainly, which makes the two of them think of what they've done for each other over the years.
"Like when I saved her from those bullies when we were four?" Naruto started.
"Or leaving Naruto those birthday presents when no one else bothered?" Hinata continued
"That was you Hina-chan?" "Scour your memories Kit. Can you remember what those gifts smelled like?" Kurama prodded gently
Naruto thinks back to the anonymous gifts left at the door to his apartment on his birthday, seemingly placed there just before he has gotten to his door. Because if they had just been left there any longer, they would likely have been destroyed by anyone thinking the 'demon brat' had anyone who actually cared for him.
"Gama-chan (his frog wallet) one year, the goggles the year after that. The envelope with the coupons to free ramen at Ichiraku's the next year. Then, the year we started the academy, the 'kill me' orange jumpsuit. (A/N: Thought I didn't realize it at the time, making some of Naruto's early life signature gear gifts was actually done in another of my favorite stories. The Uzumaki Tales: Return of the Whirlpool by Jbriz. Giving credit where its due) Even though orange really is my color, no one ever really understood why I always wore it." and he remembers the one thing all of the gifts had in common, the mixed scent of lavender and cinnamon that permeated the packages. Which matches how his princess smells at this very moment "I never knew. I'm such a baka. Can you ever forgive me?" Naruto squeezed her hand gently.
"Nothing TO forgive my love." Hinata replied as she squeezed his hand back, leaned over and kissed his cheek. "No one ever showed you the slightest kindness save for that one member of ANBU, the one with the dog mask." At the edge of her vision, she sees Kakashi shuffle around, and remembers the shock of gravity defying silver hair that the ANBU mask simply couldn't contain "Kakashi-sensei, that was you, wasn't it?" stating it as more of a fact than posing a question
"Hai, it was." Kakashi replied. "Minato was more than just my sensei, he was like a father to me after my own father died. I couldn't tell the villagers just how wrong they were without breaking Lord Third's law. I was supposed to enforce it after all. The least I could do was protect his son whenever I was available."
"OK, we can talk about that later, where were we? Yes, how you two have found ways to support each other. If I remember correctly, you didn't see much of each other until the Chuunin exams."
"Hai, I was going to let Naru-kun cheat off me during the written test." Hinata remembers
"Then when Neji was belittling you when your fight started. I wanted to kill him for that. But I told you that you were stronger than that." Squeezing her hand gently again, Naruto makes a very important discovery, for him at least. "You know, I'm positive that was when I started really noticed you for the first time Hina-chan" Naruto continued.
Hinata, for her part, could only blush (though it was nowhere near as red as she would have gone even a week ago if he had said the exact same thing).
"That's the day when the mutual flame really was lit, I can confirm that much. Even though you may have been oblivious to it at the time Kit. If the initial outburst to boost your vixen's confidence didn't do it, that blood vow you made to beat Neji afterwards, after they carried your vixen away most certainly did. Your parents, were they alive, would have been incredibly proud of you for that."
"You are another person who has to have stories, at least about my mother. Perhaps instead of running around getting stories form everyone, perhaps I should bring everyone here and you can all tell me about them. Especially as time seems to work differently in here." Naruto said in his mind, for Kurama's ears only
"You catch on fast kit"was Kurama's reply.
"After we didn't bring the teme back," Naruto went on with a little smirk on his face after the 'playful' reference to his best friend "Ero-sennin came back and we left on the long 3 year training mission, and we didn't really see each other for the longest time. But these latent feelings were still there, simmering in the back of my mind. Waiting for the right moment to appear"
"And then Pain attacked the village, and you know the rest."
"Ok, I want the two of you to take the other's hands and think about each other"
Naruto and Hinata turn towards each other, and seeing they were already holding hands with one hand each, completed the link. They then close their eyes, and start smiling at the same time as they start to think of each other. Suddenly, they start glowing. Naruto was orange, Hinata lavender. Those colors started swirling together, in what looked like a classic yin/yang pattern, then the entire design turned white before fading into the two of them. Opening their eyes, there's a feeling of peace coming from them that seems to overwhelm the room.
"No doubt about it now. You two were destined to be together." Kurama matter of factly states before continuing "You really are a piece of work Kit. Every time I think I've figured you out, you figure out a way to impress me even more."
"Kurama, coming from you, that's an honor without equal." Naruto says, foxy grin plastered on his face "My father didn't seal you in me on a whim. Whatever this person posing as Madara Uchiha has planned. We have to work together, ALL of us, to stop it. And he thought the two of us, working together, could find a way to beat him. But you know, I don't really think of you as my 'tenant' anymore. You're my friend, my partner, and an asset to Konoha and all the elemental nations. I do need to have more access to what you bring to the table, and under better control if we are to stand a chance against him."
"I think I know what Drumheller has planned. There is only one location I can think of that would be able to safely contain us if I were of a mind to be more, destructive. And that's probably where he went, to make preparations. And you're right, my power is not freely given. It, like my respect, has to be earned. But I know you, you wouldn't want it any other way, would you?" Naruto's grin widened and became a bit more feral as he nods
"You have already earned my respect, so I promise to not attempt to take over your body should you fail. But I will not make it easy either." Kurama switches to mind speech so the next comments remains between the two of them "and should you do win, you, me and your chosen mate need to talk. I don't think I need to remind you that a lifetime for you is two, three or more lifetimes for just about anyone else. I have a few possible solutions to that, but it will be a decision the two of you need to make together."
"I understand, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it" Naruto thought back before saying "Ok, time to get back to reality. Hiashi-sama, could you stay for a moment? I have to ask you something real quick. Everyone else, can just place a hand on me and concentrate. That should send you back."
In short order, it's just Kurama, Naruto and Hiashi left in Naruto's mindscape.
"I know I had said when we talked earlier that I really wanted to wait to propose to Hinata Hiashi-sama, but in light of what we just learned…." Naruto managed to get out before Hiashi put his hand on Naruto's shoulder
"Naruto, I understand. You already have my blessing. Being ninja, we have to adapt to changing circumstances all the time. Though this is a change in circumstance I think I'd prefer to see more often."
"Thank you sir, I love Hinata-chan with every fiber of my being. She is.. my life. And this whole two hearts, one soul thing Kurama mentioned kinda makes sense now. She completes me in ways I don't even think I'll ever understand. I think we should give her the gifts her mother intended to now as well."
"Kit, you truly are one of a kind." Kurama mumbles from inside his cage
"Takes one to know one Kurama-sama, heh. We're a matched set as well you know" was Naruto's reply, foxy grin locked in place
Cut..
I know it's not the biggest chapter, but this scene deserved a chapter all to itself. I hope I got it right. I've been thinking and re-writing a lot of it over the last few weeks (and even more so over the course of the weekend).
Anyways, I suspect you all know what's coming next (other than Hinata fainting again. I've been trying to keep that to special occasions. And make no mistake about it, next chapter is very much one of those. And I did have her stop stuttering because quite frankly, now that Naruto accepts and returns her love she trusts the confidence she's gained during the time he was training with Jiraiya, there's no need for her to)
