Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in anyway.
Finally! I am back with another chapter. It sure has been a long while since I released a chapter.
I was busy with other stuff. And kinda lost interest a bit when NaruHina became canon.
It kinda felt redundant to continue.
But at the same time, I still missed it and still wanted to finish the story.
I don't know how often I will release a new chapter. But I will definitely finish this.
Expect a new chapter in a few weeks or so.
Please, if you liked this leave a review and/or favorite/follow the story!
====Chapter Six====
Hiashi stood in silence for a minute. Staring out the window from where Hinata had just flung herself out through.
He could not believe it. She dared disobey him?! TWICE in one day?!
Hiashi clenched his fists.
"Hinata.. What has become of you."
A thick vein expanded on his forehead as he rushed out of her room.
"Neji! Hanabi!"
The moon slowly exposed itself from behind the thick evening clouds as Hinata made her way throughout the village.
With a lump in her throat and eyes watering, she found herself in front of Kurenai's door.
Hesitating, she stood there for a moment, replaying the recent events in her head.
With legs shaking, she pictured her fathers face. Never had she disobeyed him like this before. He would not let go of this easily.
Hinata gently knocked on the door. She could hear voices coming from inside. It sounded like Kurenai and, Asuma?
A few seconds passed. And then Kurenai opened the door.
"Yes?.. Oh, Hinata? What are you doing here at this hou-..."
Kurenai stopped herself as she looked at Hinata's distraught expression.
Hinata looked scared, sad and confused.
"H-hang on Hinata, just a second.."
Kurenai quickly walked into her apartment.
Hinata stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do.
-Have I interrupted something?... S-should I just leave?-
Suddenly, Kurenai and Asuma emerged from the hallway.
"Alright see'ya tomorrow then"
Said Asuma to Kurenai.
"Yeah.."
As Asuma walked out the door and past Hinata they nodded at each other in a friendly way.
Kurenai gently grabbed Hinata's hand and led her into the apartment. She sat her down on her sofa in the living room and pulled out a chair in front of her.
"I-i-i-i-m s-s-sorry I d-disturbed y-y-you-"
Hinata desperately tried to apologize for barging in so suddenly as her lips trembled and tears began to form in her eyes.
"Don't worry Hinata. It is not a disturbance. You are welcome here anytime you want."
Kurenai gave out a heartfelt smile towards her.
"Now... Do you want to talk about what has happened?.."
Hinata firmly clenched her fingers around the fabric of her pants as she trembled and the bittersweet tears finally broke free, rushing down her cheeks as she sobbed loudly.
Kurenai watched from her balcony as the moon slowly hid away behind the dark clouds in the sky.
She let out a sigh and turned her head to watch the sleeping kunoichi in her sofa.
"Hiashi you stubborn old fool..."
Then she let out a small smile as she looked at Hinata.
"Youth..."
Kurenai walked into the apartment and closed the balcony door. She took out a warm blanket and covered Hinata.
She gently put her hand on Hinata's head and smiled.
"Don't give up sweetheart"
"Nnn...Na...Naru..."
Hinata mumbled in her sleep with a bittersweet smile on her lips.
Kurenai giggled and smiled even larger this time.
"Yeah.. definitely don't give up"
Naruto yawned and stumbled out of bed. It was morning.
In only his boxers he walked over and opened the fridge. With tired eyes, one hand on the fridge handle and the other slowly itching his stomach he looked inside his fridge. Empty.
"Oh yeah, that's right... I haven't bought anything since I came home..."
He let out a sigh as his stomach growled.
"I guess that means its Ichiraku ramen for breakfast!"
He said with a grin.
Naruto got dressed, and just as he put his hands on the door handle his tired brain finally reminded him of yesterdays events. He let go of the handle and quickly crouched down in front of the door with his hands on his head.
"T-that wasn't a d-dream... was it?..."
His face turned crimson red.
"What d-do I do now?!"
"Hina..ta.."
He sat there quietly for a minute before standing up and walked out of his apartment.
The morning sun shined brightly this morning, and the chirping of songbirds could be heard from all over town as Naruto walked down the road towards Ichiraku.
He walked slowly with his hands behind his head while fixating on the clouds.
Lost in his thoughts he noticed he had already walked past the shop.
Just as he turned and was about to walk back, he heard a voice.
"Narutooo!"
He turned towards the voice.
"Iruka-Sensei!"
Naruto let out a huge smile as he dashed towards him.
"Haha good to see you my friend! My, you have grown!"
Iruka exclaimed.
"Hehe! It is great to see you too!"
"I would have come to greet you sooner, but when I heard you where back you had already gone on that mission. Well done on that by the way."
"Yeah.."
Naruto's expression turned gloomy for a while.
"Those guys... Unforgivable.."
"Ah... yeah... Sorry to bring that up. That must have been tough on you."
Iruka scratched his head and frowned.
"Eh, no problem Iruka-Sensei"
He forced a smile.
"Anyway, where were you headed now?"
"Oh"
Naruto grinned.
"I was heading for Ichiraku! Hehe!"
"How about you treat me to a bowl or two Sensei?"
He grinned even larger.
"For old time's sake?"
"Hahaha, Still the same old Naruto I see, good"
Iruka laughed.
"Alright, for old time's sake."
"Yatta!"
Hinata awoke to the smell of freshly brewed green tea, fried rice, fish and natto.
As she sat up in the sofa, she had to take a minute to retrace yesterdays events so she could figure out where she was. When she finally did recall her heart jumped a few times.
She let out a melancholy sigh and stood up.
"Oh, good morning Hinata. Did you sleep alright? I'm sorry, I would have offered you the bed, but you fell asleep so quickly and I didn't want to wake you. You seemed exhausted."
Kurenai let out a soft smile.
"Mmmn.. It is alright.. Thank you Sensei.."
Hinata forced a smile towards her.
"Do you feel any better today? Calmer at least?"
"Yeah.. a-a bit.. I guess"
Hinata sat down at the kitchen table.
"Good I'm glad"
Kurenai smiled softly as she placed some breakfast in front of Hinata.
"Here you go"
"T-Thank you"
"No problem"
She smiled.
They sat quietly and ate for a while before Hinata spoke up.
"S-sensei.. I am so sorry for showing up here so suddenly. I-"
Kurenai interrupted her.
"I told you last night sweetheart. Don't worry about it. I will always be here for you"
"B-but s-still.."
Hinata looked down, embarrassed.
Kurenai smiled as she looked at the young woman in front of her.
"So. About your father"
Hinata sighed and shook her head.
"I-i don't know how to face him after last night.."
"I have n-never done anything like this before..."
Kurenai stood up and started clearing the table from the dishes.
"If you want, I could come with you to talk to him"
Hinata's eyes shot up from the table, she looked relieved, but confused.
"R-really?!.. Y-you w-would?"
"Of course!"
Kurenai smiled.
"Don't worry, I've tousled with him before."
She laughed.
"Y-you have?.."
Hinata looked surprised.
"Yeah, he can be really stubborn and stern. But I know how to handle him"
Kurenai gave a reassuring smile.
With a huge grin on his face Naruto patted his stomach.
"Aaahhh! Now that is what I call a breakfast! Hehe!"
"...12 bowls... You ate 12 bowls"
Iruka shockingly looked inside his near empty wallet.
"How can a person eat so much..."
"Hehe!"
Grinned Naruto.
"I'm still a growing boy!"
Iruka shook his head and sighed
"Same old Naruto... Same old"
He let out another sigh as he closed his wallet.
"Oh well.. What can you do"
Iruka laughed
"So Naruto. Have you met up with all of your friends yet since returning?"
"Ah! Yeah, I sure have!"
He grinned.
"It was great to finally meet everyone again. I was rather shocked how some of them had changed! Some I hardly recognized. Hehe"
Naruto stretched his arms.
"Ah but it was fun"
He froze suddenly as he pictured Hinata in his mind. His face turned bright red.
Iruka raised his eyebrows.
"Naruto?"
He laughed.
"See! I told you that much Ramen would have negative effects on you!"
Suddenly they heard a voice from the other side of Naruto.
"Ho ho ho. No, no, I recognize that look anywhere. That is the exact same look a man gets when he sees a woman naked for the first time. Trust me, I would know"
Iruka and Naruto both turned towards the voice.
"Jiraiya-Sama!"
"Ero-Sennin!"
They both exclaimed in unison.
"Am I not right boy?"
Jiraiya chuckled at Naruto.
Naruto's face turned even redder.
"Jiraiya-Sama! Welcome back"
Iruka stood up and walked over to him.
"Thank you for taking care of Naruto all this time"
"Aah, Iruka. Good to see you. Thank you for watching out for the village while I was gone"
Jiraiya nodded to Iruka and then glanced over at Naruto.
He gave him a hard pat on the back.
"So who is the lady? Have you made the move on her yet?"
Naruto flew up from his seat. Iruka and Jiraiya both raised their eyebrows at him.
"I g-gotta go!"
Naruto dashed away from them
"Thank you for the meal Iruka-Sensei! Bye!"
Jiraiya's laugh could be heard from five blocks away.
"Ho ho ho ho!"
Naruto walked along a river running trough the village with his hands in his pockets as he kicked some rocks around.
-Tshk, that Ero-Sennin... Splurting out something like that-
He stopped in his track.
-...Naked...-
His face blushed hot as the sun.
-Hina-.. No no no! I cant think about her like that.. Geez..-
He kicked a rock into the river.
-Damn that Ero-Sennin...-
"Oi! Naruto!"
Naruto turned around.
"Ooh, Shikamaru! What is up?"
"Yo."
Shikamaru lazily walked towards him.
"Eh. Just got back from some troublesome mission briefing"
He scratched his neck.
"Oh. By the way, I heard Neji was looking for you, have you met up with him?
"Neji?"
Naruto raised his brows.
"Oh, no I haven't. I wonder what he wants."
Naruto put his hands behind his head.
"Oh! I haven't met up with him since I got back! He must be looking for me to greet me"
"Ah I see. Make sense"
Shikamaru nodded.
"Well I need to get going. Stuff do to. How troublesome.."
"Alright See ya later"
The sun stood high as Naruto slouched around a park. His mind focused on Hinata.
-How do I move forward from here?...-
-I've never been in a relation before...-
-What if I mess up?..-
He dropped down on a bench in the park.
-Hinata...-
As he pictured her long flowing hair, lavender eyes and curvaceous body. He could feel his heart beating faster and faster.
He let out a massive sigh as he leaned back on the bench.
A few minutes passed when suddenly he heard someone call his name.
"Naruto"
He turned his neck to look behind the bench.
"Oh, Neji"
Naruto stood up.
"Long time no see!"
He grinned.
"It is good to see you again"
"Ah. Yeah. Mmm"
Neji looked a bit perplexed. Him and Naruto hadn't always gotten along. They have had some heated arguments, and mean attitudes against each other. But things where different now.
Naruto had as good as forgotten their past quarrels. And they were older now, and more mature.
Neji as well, had during the resent years become much more calmer, and, well, straight out friendlier. And he harbored no foul feelings towards Naruto.
Naruto stretched his arms.
"I heard you were looking for me? Did you wanna welcome me back? Hehe. Or did you wanna challenge me to see how strong I've become? Hehehe!"
Naruto laughed.
"..."
Neji had a serious look on his face.
"Naruto. While it is good to see you again. I am afraid that is not why I am here"
Naruto looked confused
"Oh? Then what is it?"
Neji sighed.
"Know that I have nothing against you.. And I care for Hinata a great deal."
He looked Naruto straight in the eyes.
"I come with words from Hiashi"
He paused for a few seconds.
"He has ordered Hinata to stay away from you. And he is imploring you to keep your distance from her as well... And he wanted me to tell you that, if you do not heed his words. Then he will personally see to it that you two remain separated.."
After saying those words Neji couldn't even look him in the eyes anymore.
-Wh...What the fuck?..-
Naruto looked shocked. And pissed.
"I-is this for real?! Seriously?"
Neji bowed infront of Naruto.
"Please... Don't make it more difficult on Hinata"
He held his head low for many seconds.
"I am sorry. Naruto"
At that he began walking away.
"Neji! Oi!"
Naruto exclaimed at the top of his lungs.
The sun was not far from setting over the horizon as Hinata and Kurenai arrived in front of the Hyuuga Clan Main house. Kurenai looked at Hinata. She was shaking a bit. Kurenai put her hand on Hinata's shoulder.
"It'll be alright sweetheart"
Hinata gave her a meek nod. Almost unnoticeable.
They hadn't been standing there long until Hiashi came walking out the front door with stern steps.
He must have been waiting for her all day.
Hiashi looked at Hinata.
"Hinata. Inside. Now"
Hinata fixated her eyes on the ground and was just about to start walking inside. She was stopped suddenly as Kurenai reached her arm out infront of Hinata.
Hinata looked at Kurenai. She had a serious look in her eye.
"Thank you Kurenai for getting her home for me"
Hiashi said. He narrowed his eyes when he noticed Kurenai's arms infront of Hinata.
He looked at Hinata. And then stared at Kurenai.
"You can go home now.. I'll take it from here"
Kurenai shook her head.
"Hiashi. You aren't being fair towards Hinata. You may be her father. But you cant tell her who or who she cant be friends with. Or even like. The world does not work like that. It is her own life to live"
Hiashi looked surprised.
"Who are you to stand here and tell me how I shou-"
"Who am I?"
Kurenai interrupted him.
"I am her teacher. I am her friend. I am a concerned citizen. And I am a woman who cannot stand idly by as the precious youth of another young woman is being held captive by her overprotective father!"
Hinata flinched. Her heart grew faster.
-K-kurenai-Sensei!-
She was shocked to hear her speak to him like that. Because she knew, she knew that if there is one thing Hiashi hates more than being interrupted. And he does. HATE that. It is being lectured by someone else. Hinata could feel the sweat drops running down her head.
Hiashi stood dumbfounded. Shocked. He looked pale.
"Y-you DARE talk to me like that, on my property, infront of my own daughter?!"
Visible veins could be seen expanding on his forehead.
Hinata widened her eyes.
-H-he stuttered!...-
-I've never in my life heard him stutter...-
Kurenai lowered her hand and looked at Hinata.
"Hinata. Go gather your stuff. Anything you will need for a few days. No, make it a week, away from home"
Hinata looked at her with wide eyes. Then at her father, who just stood there. Quiet.
She held her head down low as she slowly walked past him. Expecting him to grab her at any moment.
But he didn't. He just stood there, eyes locked with Kurenai. As she was nearing the front door she heard Kurenai speak.
"Hinata will be staying with me for a while. I think that is the best thing for both of you. You both need to cool down. And you need to reconsider you approach on this"
Kurenai stood calm. Hiashi didn't say a word.
Hinata hurried to her room and quickly began packing a few bags. She had no idea what to pack. She just packed anything that came to her mind.
-Toothbrush. Underwear. Shirts. Pants. Socks. Vitamins. Lip balm-
She stopped. She was shaking. What was going on right now? What just happened?
-I-Ive never seen father like that. I never thought he could get.. Disarmed like that.. And by K-Kurenai-
She hurried to pack anything else she could think of.
As Hinata left her room she found Hanabi outside, waiting for her.
"Hanabi.."
They looked at each other.
"Hinata onee-san..."
Hanabi sighed
"I-I have something to tell you"
Hinata looked at her.
"W-what H-Hanabi?.."
"F-father told Neji to find N-Naruto and to tell him to s-stay away from you..."
Hinata widened her eyes.
"..."
"A-and.. N-naruto a-a-agreed... H-he said he wouldn't want to make things more d-difficult for you, and he don't want to o-overstep his boundaries with f-father..."
Hanabi averted her eyes from Hinata. She was trembling.
Hinata dropped her bags. And just stared at her with a blank expression.
Outside, neither Kurenai or Hiashi had said a word since Hinata left. They just stared at each other. Suddenly the door opened. Hinata walked out, past Hiashi. Just as she walked past him Hiashi spoke.
"Hinat-"
He widened his eyes.
Hinata blatantly ignored him and just kept on walking. Past Hiashi, Past Kurenai and past the gate without stopping.
Never had she ignored him like that. And as she passed him, he could clearly see the blank expression on her face. Even with eyes like theirs.
Kurenai took one last look at Hiashi as she walked away.
"Hiashi. I'll take care of her. Meanwhile... You should think hard about how you want your children to look at you.."
At that she took her leave.
It was a quiet walk from there to Kurenai's apartment.
Kurenai glanced over at Hinata beside her.
-...-
-What could have happen during those ten minutes she was inside?...-