CHAPTER RATING: T

…

Episode 5: Emissary, Part I: Fire & Water

The sun rose in the early morning, beams of light streamed through the blinds of Naruto's bedroom. In the faint light of the rising sun, Hinata still slept, her head resting on a pillow as Naruto sat on a chair in the kitchen.

His hands were gripping his head like a vice, refusing to let go.

What the hell did I just do last night? He panicked.

If anyone ever finds out about this…

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata shouted while sitting upright on his bed. He stood and walked back towards her.

"Hey, Hinata…" he said in a somber tone. He bent over and handed Hinata's jacket to her. She held his blanket against her body and took her jacket back. He sat down on the bed with his back turned to her.

"Hinata, what happened last night…I'm not sure about…"

She moved closer and wrapped her arms around him. He could feel her breath on his neck; he could feel the heat of her body on his back.

"You said that you loved me." She whispered.

"I meant what I said." He answered back "I just don't know how people would react if they knew what happened. What would Neji say? Sakura? Even your father, what would they say?"

She smiled, wrapped her arms around him tighter, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"If you don't want to tell anyone about us, then I won't tell anyone either. But one day, they will have to acknowledge the love that we have. And they will have to accept it." She smiled.

A knock came at the door, breaking their connection. His head jerked as he stood up. As he exited the doorway, he turned around and looked back at Hinata. He placed his finger over his nose and mouth, signaling her to stay quiet.

"Sakura-chan? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked. Sakura stepped into the house and closed the door.

"Naruto, do you know where Hinata is?" Sakura asked.

"Uhh…W-Well…" He stuttered. Sakura began to wander through his house without letting him finish. His heart was racing.

She stopped right next to the doorway of his room. She looked over into the kitchen, and saw a Styrofoam package sitting inside a plastic bag.

Then, Sakura turned around and looked into his room. Her eyes were popping out of their sockets at what she saw.

Oh…Shit. Naruto panicked.

All three of them froze in place.

Sakura swiftly turned around and delivered a crushing blow to his stomach.

"S-Sakura-san?!" Hinata shouted. Naruto fell to his knees from the pain that rocked his midsection. Sakura grabbed his collar with both hands and shook him vigorously.

"NARUTO! YOU ANIMAL! YOU DISGUSTING EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HINATA?!" She shouted. "I'LL…I'LL KILL YOU!" She raised her fist high in the air.

Hinata jumped at the sight, she rushed to Sakura and grabbed her arm.

"Sakura-san, wait!" Hinata shouted. "Nothing happened last night!" Sakura abruptly let go of Naruto's collar, and let him fall to the floor.

"What do you mean, nothing happened? Are you trying to cover up for him?!" she glared at him again

Naruto was on the floor, heavily exhaling as the pain that still resounded through his body.

"Sakura-san, please don't tell anyone." Hinata begged.

Sakura slightly flinched.

"Fine. I won't." she grabbed Naruto's and dragged him back to his feet. "I don't know how anyone else will feel about this. But…As long as nothing bad happened, I'm fine with this."

"T-Thanks." Naruto murmured while coming to his feet. "So…why are you here?"

"I was sent here because I was worried about Hinata." She answered back before adding "Naruto, we also have a new mission, Tsunade-sama asked that you go meet her for a mission briefing."

"I'll get on that as soon as I can." Naruto answered.

"While you do that, Hinata, come with me!" Sakura grabbed Hinata's hand and dragged her out of the door.

Naruto sighed as he watched them leave. "Will we really be able to keep this from everyone?"

…

"Naruto, you're here." Tsunade said when he entered the room.

"Yeah, Sakura-chan told me that there was a mission I needed to be briefed on, what is it?"

"Your new mission is to go to the Land of Water. You are being sent as an emissary to the Mizukage, deliver a trade agreement between the two villages, and make sure it gets signed."

"A trade agreement? What kind of lame mission is that?" he replied with his head resting in his arms.

"Listen, I don't have time for this. You know better than anyone that we're in desperate need of architects and supplies after the devastation that Pain inflicted on the village!"

"R-right. Sorry. Okay, I understand. Who's going with me?"

"Your team will be standing at the gates, ready to leave as soon as you meet with them. This is very important, Naruto. We really need this agreement to go through. For the good of the village"

"I understand." He nodded with sincerity in his eyes. "I will be sure to complete this mission. No matter what happens."

He turned and walked out the door.

…

"Nothing happened between you two?" Sakura said while suspiciously eying Hinata. "Are you SURE that he didn't take advantage of you?!" Sakura asked.

Both Kunoichi stood at the front gates of Konoha.

"S-Sakura-san." Hinata confidently stated. "Don't you remember how I asked you for advice on how to confess to Naruto-kun…?"

Sakura nodded.

"W-Well, what do you think I did last night?" Hinata said while hiding her face.

"…" Sakura was speechless as her mouth hung wide open.

Hinata nodded with blood rushing to her face.

"I was very bold. He didn't expect it. But I think he liked it." She stated with a smile. Sakura stood still with pure shock in her eyes.

"Yo, Hinata, Sakura. How are you two?" Kakashi's voice asked.

"Very well, Kakashi-sensei." Hinata answered. Sakura snapped out of her trance and replied with in a similar fashion.

"Good. Today we're going on a new mission. Naruto should be here any minute. But while we're waiting, let me explain the situation." Kakashi shut his book and stuffed it in his back pocket.

"We're heading towards the Land of Water. Hokage-sama wants to establish a trade agreement between the two countries. We really do need help with supplies. And as we learned." He motioned at Sakura. "The Land of Water has some great architects. We'll need them to help with rebuilding."

"Understood." Hinata and Sakura nodded. They were briefed just in time to see Naruto walking towards them from behind Kakashi.

"Hinata! Sakura-chan! Kakashi-sensei!" he shouted while rushing towards them. Hinata took off and met him half-way; she embraced him heartily, stopping him in his tracks. He looked at Kakashi and Sakura, offering a nervous smile, and wrapped his hands around Hinata, quickly returned her embrace.

"H-Hey, Hinata. How have you been?"

"Better, now that you're here."

Sakura and Kakashi walked up to the couple.

"Okay, are you all ready to head out? The sooner we finish this mission, the better."

Hinata let go of Naruto and turned around, she nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah, let's get going." Naruto added.

Hinata took hold of Naruto's arm as Kakashi and Sakura lead the way out of Konoha's main gate.