Colors of Life and Death series
Truth in Dreams
by Songbird21

Chapter 28

Naruto sighed happily as the white rope hammock he and Hinata currently occupied swung lazily back and forth. There was a Hyuuga chaperone watching them from roughly twenty feet away. Hiashi had insisted on it, saying he would not allow the couple to lie down in a hammock unsupervised, even if it was outside.

Every once in a while a cool breeze would drift through the Hyuuga compound, caressing their faces and adding to the romantic atmosphere. Naruto was in absolute bliss. If someone had come to him only four years ago and told him that his life would turn out to be so good he would have laughed in their face and then told them angrily to stop screwing with his head. He reverently kissed her right temple. "I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Hinata smiled, made a tiny, happy squeak, and snuggled closer to her boyfriend. "I love you too."

The chaperone glanced at the face of the large sundial that decorated the center of the large rock garden to one side of the enormous yard. "Excuse me, Hinata-sama, but it's time for lunch," he said pleasantly.

Hinata frowned. "Okay." And the couple got up from their resting position.

Sasuke had been walking around the perimeter of Tenten's home for nearly an hour. Several times he had nearly gone up to the door but the cement in the pit of his stomach seemed to prevent such an event.

This is stupid, he thought on his tenth trip around the seemingly endless circle. It's not like I'm going to ask her out or something. Why can't I just do this?

It was then that Sakura happened to wander by. "It's about time you apologized to her," she commented with her hands on her hips.

Sasuke glared at her. "Back off, Sakura," he said in a low, steady voice.

"She'll forgive you, you know," Sakura said with a bit of sympathy entering her voice.

Sasuke stopped his glaring and stared at her for a moment. "What?"

"That's why you haven't gone in yet, isn't it? You're afraid she'll tell you to get lost?" Sakura replied gently.

Sasuke's gaze flew downward. "I don't know." Silence. "Maybe."

Sakura sighed and laid a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Sasuke-kun, it's okay. Just explain to her why you were avoiding her."

Sasuke gritted his teeth. "I can't!" he snapped. He sighed in frustration and looked down again. "Not the whole reason, anyway," he finished quietly.

"You like her...don't you," Sakura said carefully.

Sasuke made an odd sound that almost resembled choking. "I don't know about liking her but I did realize at Kakashi's wedding that I was attracted to her. After I knew that I had to stay away..."

"Because you were afraid that if you two fell in love you'd wind up hurting her because you were most likely going to be killed by Itachi," Sakura finished for him.

Sasuke raised his head and gave her a quizzical look. "How the hell do girls do that?"

Sakura just shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "I gotta go. Good luck."

"Thanks," Sasuke said with a slight tone of bitterness. He didn't like being found out when it came to his emotions.

As Sakura walked away he took a deep breath and finally told his feet to walk down the path to Tenten's door. Shortly after he knocked a strong looking woman with short, black hair and athletic build greeted him.

She frowned instantly when she saw who the visitor was. "Oh, it's you," she said with obvious disdain.

Sasuke cleared his throat nervously. "Konnichiwa. May I see Tenten please?" he said with a short bow.

Tenten's mother cocked an eyebrow and folded her arms. "That depends. Are you going to upset her again?"

"No mam. At least, I hope not. I came to apologize to her," Sasuke replied respectfully.

Tenten's mother eyed him warily for a moment. "Alright. But if you don't behave you'll find out she's not the only girl in this house with a collection of deadly weapons," she said as she stepped aside to allow him entrance.

Sasuke cast the woman a nervous smile and walked inside.

"Tenten-chan?"

Tenten looked up from the weapons catalogue she was reading. "Yeah, mom?"

"Uchiha Sasuke is here to see you," Tenten's mother announced through the closed bedroom door.

"He is?" Tenten asked in surprise.

"Mm-hmm."

Silence.

"You can let him in," came Tenten's reply.

Tenten's mother gave Sasuke one last warning glance before heading back downstairs.

Sasuke sighed and opened the door. "Yo, Tenten."

Tenten's expression was guarded. "Yo. (a.n- 'Yo' roughly means 'hey' in Japanese) " She waved a hand towards a chair near her bed. "Have a seat."

The two were silent for a while before either of them spoke. Tenten accepted the silence as Sasuke working up the nerve to speak, although waiting was driving her nuts.

"It wasn't you," Sasuke said finally.

"Huh?"

"I wasn't avoiding you because of anything you did. I had something I needed to work out," Sasuke continued.

Tenten folded her arms, making her bare a striking resemblance to her mother, and making Sasuke all the more nervous. "What was it then?"

"I...I can't tell you. It's complicated," Sasuke said as he studied the back of his hand.

Tenten frowned and sighed. "Well then I guess you really didn't want to apologize then," she said angrily.

Dammit! Why do women have to be so complicated? Sasuke thought in frustration. "Please," he pleaded. "Telling you would make things more complicated than they need to be."

Tenten's frown deepened and her body slumped a bit as she thought. She was still upset at him, but if she didn't forgive him then she would be losing one of her best friends. Her need for his friendship won the emotional battle. "Will this ever happen again?"

"No. I promise," Sasuke replied quickly. His eyes were filled with regret for the trouble he had caused.

"Will you tell me someday?"

Sasuke looked away for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "Maybe. It depends on what happens in the future."

"Okay. I forgive you then," Tenten said as her expression relaxed a bit.

Relief flooded Sasuke's features and he bowed to her. "Arigato."

"But you gotta go now. It's almost lunch time."

Sasuke smiled a little. "Okay." He got up to leave and paused at the door. "I'll see you later then?" he asked hopefully.

Tenten nodded and a smile began to tug at the corners of her lips. "You got it."

"I'll see you later, Hina-chan," Naruto said before giving her a goodbye kiss.

Neji walked up to the couple before Hinata could respond. "Naruto. Hiashi-sama would like you to join him for lunch."

Naruto immediately looked like a rabbit caught in a trap. "Are you sure? Cause last I checked I wasn't the type to be invited to fancy dinners."

"It's not dinner, Naruto, it's lunch. All you have to do is practice a little decorum and you'll be fine."

And just then the rabbit died of fright. "Have you seen me eat?" Naruto said in an effort to make Neji see reason.

Hinata quickly intervened. "You should be happy. Inviting you to lunch means father has accepted you," she said happily.

Naruto's expression didn't improve much. "Yeah. That—or he wants an opportunity to see me screw up."

Hinata gave his arm a comforting squeeze. "It'll be alright," she said with a bright smile.

Naruto sighed. "Okay, but just remember, you're the one that talked me into this."

Hinata smiled, but underneath it her stomach was a bundle of nerves.

Tsunade looked over the team data for those that would be attending the chuunin exam. She was looking for a replacement to complete Shikamaru's old team since he could not enter the exam with them. "Ugh. Why did their graduating class have to be so even in number?" Just then Nabiki came in with a sheet of paper in her hand.

"Good news, Hokage-sama. The Kazekage has agreed to let her on the team!" she announced cheerfully.

Tsunade slumped in relief. "Oh thank Kami-sama. At least that's one less headache I have to deal with," she said as she closed the roster, then looked at the clock and frowned. "Do you know where my son is?"

Nabiki gave the Godaime a knowing smile. "Last I heard he was at Hinata's house."

Hinata released Naruto's hand just before they entered the room. Guests were meant to enter single file. "You'll be fine. Just do what I told you," she whispered.

Naruto nodded and walked in, praying to God he wouldn't screw up.

Hiashi was seated at the head of the low table and places had been set for four others. "Greetings, Naruto,"

Naruto gulped and bowed low. "Konnichiwa, Hiashi-sama. It is a great honor to be invited to your table."

Hiashi raised an eyebrow but smiled. "You are welcome. Please, be seated," he said as he waved a hand at the cushion closest to him on the right.

Naruto inclined his head in a polite nod and took his seat.

Hinata, Neji and Hanabi all walked into the room one at a time and sat down. Hinata sat across from Naruto, Neji sat next to him and Hanabi sat next to her sister.

The group sat in polite silence for a short while until a woman arrived with their food. As she put down the plate in front of Naruto he almost told the woman he wasn't fond of squid but Hinata's voice in his mind stopped him. ((No matter what they put in front of you, accept it graciously.)) He nearly jumped for joy when onegiri (a/n- riceballs) were also given to him.

"Hinata tells me your class will be attending the chuunin exam this year," Hiashi said as he picked up a piece of squid with his chopsticks.

Naruto looked up, his heart racing with panic. He hadn't thought to wait and see if anyone was going to speak to him and already had his mouth full of onegiri.

Hinata winced and glanced nervously back and forth between her father and her boyfriend.

Hiashi tapped his fingers as he waited for Naruto to finish chewing.

Naruto finally swallowed. "Gomen."

Hiashi cleared his throat. "Naruto-san. In the future you would do well to remember that the head of the table takes the first bite."

"Gomen. I didn't mean to be rude," Naruto said nervously.

Hiashi sighed. "At any rate. I would like you to answer my question now."

Naruto tried his best to look confident. "Yeah. I plan to make chuunin this time. I've been training hard."

"I should hope so. Seeing as how I hear your mother has been training you in the duties of a Hokage."

"Yes, Sir."

Hiashi looked at Naruto's food with raised eyebrows. "Is something wrong with your meal?" he asked in regards to the fact that Naruto hadn't touched his food since his first bite.

"No, Sir. I just wasn't sure when I could eat," Naruto answered with an apologetic wince.

"You can eat any time now, Naruto-kun," Hinata answered with a gentle smile.

"I invited you to lunch for two reasons. One—I need to speak to you about a few things, and two—your mother wants me to teach you proper manners." He noticed Naruto's eyes go wide but continued. "Now, since I only have time for the first item, I have decided Hinata will assist you on the second."

Although the fact that Hinata would be his manners teacher made him feel volumes better than he had a moment ago, he was still worried. "So...what do you need to know?"

"That will be left for when we can speak in private. For now, let us enjoy our meal," Hiashi said with a polite smile.

Naruto went back to eating and was done with his onegiri in relatively short order. The last thing on his plate...was the squid. He desperately looked over the table, trying to find something to add to the squid to make it more edible. He spotted a plate of butter in front of Hinata...and reached across the table to get it.

Hanabi's hand immediately made contact with her forehead and Hiashi's eye twitched. Neji elbowed Naruto.

"You don't reach across the table. You ask someone to pass the butter to you," he whispered harshly.

Naruto's hand stopped just before reaching the butter and he settled back down into a sitting position, his cheeks pink with embarrassment. "Gomen. Um, H-Hina-chan, can you pass me the butter please?"

"Hai, Naruto-kun," Hinata answered. She picked up the butter and handed it to him.

Hiashi sighed heavily. "I see why your manners are such a priority to your mother," he said with a slight glare.

Naruto's stomach was doing back flips as he waited for the others to finish leaving the room. Hinata gave him an encouraging smile as she left but it did little to calm his nerves.

"I have noticed your relationship with Hinata intensifying in the last few months," Hiashi said with an even tone.

Naruto swallowed and nodded. He managed to retain his composure, but truthfully he was terrified that he might have done something wrong and he would no longer be able to date Hinata.

"You know she will be of legal age in just a little over a year."

Naruto's heart pounded louder. "Er...Yes, Sir," he replied nervously.

"I would like to know what your plans are for your relationship should it continue after that point," Hiashi asked bluntly.

Naruto's eyes widened to full capacity. "I...I, um...th—that is I..."

"Well, it would seem that I need to be more direct. Do you intend to marry my daughter?"

Naruto couldn't believe Hiashi was asking that kind of a question to a boy who was just under fifteen-years old. Both his surprise and fear of rejection kept him silent. He felt like his lungs were being crushed to death by his own ribcage.

Hiashi frowned when he did not receive an answer. "Young man—I will not have Hinata devote her time to a relationship that will not end with marriage. Now, I ask you again—Do you plan to marry her?"

Naruto finally managed to will his mouth to work. "Yes, Sir. I do," he said firmly, although the fear in his eyes was evident.

Hiashi nodded in approval. "Very well." He took up a kanji brush, dipped it in the ink bottle on the table in front of him and hovered it over a piece of parchment. "Please choose a date after her sixteenth birthday and I will have the betrothal papers drawn up."

Naruto's eyes bulged. "B-but..."

Hiashi looked annoyed that he was being made to wait. "Well?"

Naruto's mind was racing. What if I say no? Will he make me break up with her? Even though he knew the whole thing was insane he answered the only way Hiashi wanted him to. "M-May eighteenth."

Hiashi looked at Naruto for a moment, seemingly stunned. "You're serious, aren't you?"

Naruto gave him a shaky nod.

Hiashi smiled and put down the brush. "You can relax. I was only testing you."

Naruto's jaw dropped. Was he serious? "What?"

"You had better be a good husband to her."

Now Naruto's voice changed to hope. "What?"

"When you are old enough to ask her...you have my blessing," Hiashi replied.

Naruto face broke out into a large smile and he bowed low. "Arigato gozaimasu!"

"You are a fine young man, Naruto. I'm sorry I ever doubted the fact of it." Hiashi's face changed to a smirk. "Now we just have to shape your manners a bit so that you can fit into polite society."

"I'll try, but I can't make any promises," Naruto replied with a wince.

Hiashi chuckled. "At least you are willing to try. You may rejoin Hinata now."

"Arigato, Sir." Naruto stood, bowed once more, and left.

Once Naruto was gone Hiashi shook his head and sighed. "That boy is lucky the documents office is closed on Sundays or I might have made him go through with it," he said with a light chuckle. And with that, he also left the room, secure in the knowledge that his daughter would be happy.

...TO BE CONTINUED

Good grief. I can't believe something this easy took me so bloody long. It was a combination of not being able to find time to write and my beta readers not being on AIM at the same time I was. It's only 100 words shy of 3000 so I hope everyone is okay with the length.

COLAD now has a deviant art page! Just head on over to COLAD-art-gallery DOT deviantart DOT com. You can view official COLAD art, fanart and any doujinshis that have been made. If you subscribe to the channel you'll get any updates for the gallery and the fic via the journal feature. Speaking of which, there are a couple of new doujin pages and a few new fanarts. :)

If anyone is interested, once Sims 3 comes out I will be making Sims versions of my original characters (Including Kikyo, so you can torment her however you like.—Evil grin—). I'll be announcing the release of these Sims on the deviant art gallery and on my forums. :)

I know some of you were hoping for SasuTen romance but I think it's still too soon. Remember, this is Sasuke we're talking about. It has to be done slowly to be believable.

Hopefully I'll see you guys soon. :) Enjoy all the new stuff! :)

Ja na,

Song