Chapter 10
The Namikaze household was extremely quiet for the afternoon time. No one was outside, nor were they in the kitchen eating their 2'o clock snack. The parlor, which was usually occupied, was completely empty.
In the maids' quarter, there lied three figures lumped together and one small animal spread out across the master. The figure that lied in the middle, shifted slightly before it stirred around.
Naruto's eyes opened quickly, and he sat up in a state of panic. He rubbed the sand that formed in the corner of his eyes and he glanced around the room, anxiously. It had been quite a while since he had a long night's rest, but this one was a little too long. The clock hanging over the door of Hinata's room read 2:05 PM.
He was bewildered at how long the three of them had been asleep. His eyes shifted over to Konohamaru who turned away from him and continued to sleep, and then his eyes traveled to his left side and he saw Hinata had her arm still wrapped around him as if she was trying to hold him down from leaving. Then he stared at the middle of his lap and saw the fox who had accidentally flipped over, two hinds stuck in the air. He reached for it and placed it on his bottom.
The fox glared at him and made a funny noise like he was scolding him for being inconsiderate. Naruto smiled softly before he rested his hand on the top of its head and rubbed it. The fox found no complaint in it, and he purred softly.
Then he remembered the incident that took place last night and he couldn't help but feel sad and heartbroken. When Hinata woke up, he knew he had to speak to her about the situation. There was no telling how she would take the news, but he had kept too many secrets from her.
He felt so sad for the poor girl. No amount of imagination could compare the pain she went through and what she saw that day.
And Konohamaru. He was a part of the household and suffered greatly too. He was the grandson of the Hokage and now he too was nothing more than a street urchin.
Suddenly, his stomach growled, and he held it tightly. Now that he remembered, the last thing he ate was breakfast yesterday. He removed Hinata's hand carefully, and he commanded the fox to stay. There was no way he would let Hinata cook today.
The sun still soared greatly in the sky, and Naruto shielded himself from it. As he closed the gates behind him, he saw Sasuke walking coolly towards him.
"You're finally up," He heard him say.
"It's been a long time since I've had a nap like that," Naruto responded. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to check on you and the kids," Sasuke said, shoving his hands in his pocket.
Naruto nodded. "They are still sleeping, so I'm just going to get something to eat."
"Mind if I tag along?"
The two walked slowly next to one another and neither said a word until they were close to the Market Place and surprisingly, it was Sasuke who spoke.
"How are you holding up? Hinata? The little guy?"
The humid wind brushed against them and that made Naruto rolled up his sleeves. "I'm okay. I haven't spoken to Hinata yet, but I know it's going to be something when I do get to speak to her. Konohamaru means well and he hates to see Hinata this way. Honestly, he hates the entire situation right now, but it's the world we live in," He shrugged.
"But are you really feeling fine?" Sasuke mumbled.
"People have it much worse than me. I think I'm feeling better than anyone else right now."
Sasuke hummed and he sunk his hands deeper into his trouser pockets.
"I think I'm going to request a visa and leave Konoha for some time." Naruto spoke up. Sasuke's eyes widened, and Naruto looked behind him. "It's not what you think." He laughed. "It'll be best since this ordeal has taken place. I'm going to bring Hinata and Konohamaru along, then I'll come back. I know there are some businesses we need to take care of."
"Where are you going?"
Naruto placed his hand on his chin and gazed up at the sky. "I think I'm going to travel to the Land Hidden in the mist and make my way up the map."
"When do you plan on leaving?"
"Saturday or Sunday at the latest. It'll give me some time to get permission."
The two stopped in front of Ichiraku and glanced at one another. They didn't say a word and Naruto was the first to enter.
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Naruto entered the household a little at 4 PM. It wasn't his intention of staying out so late, especially with a household full of possible hungry people and a fox. It was still quiet, and he figured they were still asleep.
Placing the food on the counter, he made his way to the maids' headquarter. Then he heard sniffling, and Konohamaru's voice trying to cheer up Hinata.
He pushed the door opened slowly and peeked his head inside. Hinata was still sitting on the futon, her eyes noticeably red and Konohamaru had his distance, but he was still trying to make her laugh and the fox was trying to cuddle against her.
Konohamaru stopped when he saw Naruto peeking in, and Hinata's eyes went big.
"Sir, where did you go?" Konohamaru questioned. "I've been looking all over for you for Hinata's sake."
"To get something to eat. I do apologize if it took me a little longer than expected." He opened the door until his entire body was visible. "Let's eat."
Naruto stared strangely at the fox who sat on the top of the table. He was happily munching on a cup of ramen Naruto had given it. His eyes widened when he heard the fox slurping. That was not normal.
Then he gazed at Hinata and Konohamaru who had barely eaten anything.
"You two should probably eat something. It's been quite a while since you two ate anything." Naruto said, sternly.
Konohamaru sighed before he reluctantly ate the food, but Hinata still had a hard time digesting anything. Her stomach was twisting and turning and although the ramen smelt fresh, she couldn't stomach it.
Naruto sighed as he watched her. "Hinata," He called out, then he suddenly glanced at Konohamaru who had a mouthful of ramen shoved into his mouth.
"Whatever you have to say, sir, Konohamaru can hear it too." Hinata said, timidly. Her head was lowered, and she had her hands seated on her lap. The little fox made its way to her to be a comfort, and he went on his two legs trying to seek her attention.
Naruto cleared his throat and Konohamaru gazed down at the half-eaten ramen. He didn't know whether to be anxious or afraid. There were many things that rushed through his mind like, Naruto leaving them to fend for themselves, or Naruto abandoning them, or him leaving them for good. He didn't know why his mind was racing in such a way, but all he could feel deep down into his core that Naruto was going to abandon them for good. Maybe it would have been better anyway as they had cost a lot of problems for him apparently.
He felt his eyes watered and he wanted so desperately for the thoughts to go away. Ever since his parents passed away and his grandfather, Hinata, and Naruto had been the closes thing to being a family towards him. After so many losses, he didn't want to go through another one. Not now. Not ever.
"Why," Konohamaru's head shot up and he stared at the girl worriedly as she was noticeably trembling. "Why- She was stuck on the why and she tried to force the rest of the words out, but they wouldn't come out. Her stomach felt queasy, and she held it tightly. "Did we do something wrong?"
Konohamaru's heart sunk to the pits of his stomach and he squeezed his fists, unintentionally.
There was a moment of silence and Naruto's eyebrows deepened as he tried to find the right words to say. He wouldn't necessarily say they did something wrong, but in a sense they did. The Hyugas were too powerful and influential.
The Hyugas were a notable clan that practically helped build Konoha alongside the first, second, and even third Hokage. They were here to see Konoha when it was just a baby to a prosperous village. They were even here before the Uchihas. After all, they were the offspring of the mighty princess, Kaguya.
They were knowledgeable in many fields, including science, health, state of mind and had even created and mastered a technique known as the Gentle Fist. Not only did this technique damaged the insides of their opponents, but it also paralyzed them.
The Hokages adored them, and entrusted them in basically just about everything, however, there were always people who were suspicious of the Hyugas and were afraid they would one day revolt and take Konoha away.
Naruto had gathered this information when Tsunade had schooled him during the night of his aunt's party. He hated studying, and sometimes it was even hard to concentrate, but during those nights at the Hyuga mansion, he read countless scrolls, articles and textbooks.
He understood two sides of the coin. One, they were powerful and in number. Ceasing Konoha would be no problem for them, especially with a group of people who praised the ground they walked on. As a Hokage, he too would be skepital on who was actually for the Hokage and who was against him. Then he understood the other side. A set of peaceful people who just wanted to see Konoha rise and be the number one society. No ill intentions, no animosity. Just peace.
"No, the Hyugas did not," He finally said. "Hinata, things are, well- He sighed. "I'm sorry you had to witness that. I wanted to tell you-
"You knew?" She raised her head and stared deadly at him.
Keeping a calm composure, he nodded. "I did."
"You knew and you didn't tell me?"
"Hinata," Konohamaru pipped up. "Please don't believe the master didn't have any intentions of telling you. I believe with all my heart he was going to tell you when the time was right. Now, now was not the right time and it should have never happened. Please do not be upset with him."
She still had her eyes focused on him, then she lowered her head.
"Konoha doesn't like the Hyugas. They don't like me." She whispered, sadly.
"Not everyone is like that, Hinata," Naruto said. "I know how you feel, and I don't blame you for feeling this way-
"What do you know!" She snapped at him. Her eyes were laced with animosity and she wiped the tears away. "What do you know, huh? Big deal, your aunt doesn't care about you, but do you know how it feels for the entire village to treat you like trash! Huh? No, you don't!" She held her hands as they were trembling uncontrollably. "Ever since the war, I've been treated like trash, like I'm nothing. So," Her voice lowered, "What can you possibly understand? I've been beaten, talked down to, touched, and spat on. I've been blamed for countless things and I've been the town gossip for years." She scoffed. "Oh, she has sex with her master, the master fucker, the bed wench, the master's whore," The more she said it, the more her eyes watered. "And, I always tried to prove that I wasn't any of those things, but no matter what I did they said those hurtful things to me."
Konohamaru chewed down on his bottom lip and turned away.
"Would my sister go through the same things if she was in my position?" She shook her head. "Father and mother did a lot for Konoha. I've seen it with my own eyes. They helped those in need, and they even brought strangers into our home, so why must I be treated this way? Maybe it would do us all good if I died right now!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. "I'll kill myself, then- then I wouldn't have to deal with this anymore."
"You mustn't say something so rash!" Konohamaru shot up and glared at her. The chair fell backward and Hinata watched Konohamaru who had tears running down his eyes and snot hanging from his nose. "Not everyone believes you are one, Hinata. You've changed so many lives for the better and you've saved so many! You have a good heart, despite what you've been through. If- if it wasn't for you, I would be dead and thrown away in an unmarked grave. Yumi and the children would starve to death by the time winter has ended and if you were to die, think about how many people couldn't be saved because of you!" Konohamaru yelled at her. "So, He lowered his head. "Please don't talk about harming yourself, for your sake, my sake, and the master's sake," His eyes lingered to Naruto who remained silent in all of this. "You need to tell her," He choked out. "N-no more secrets from her or me! You're suffering too, so you better tell her before I do," He threatened.
Hinata was taken back by the hostility in Konohamaru's voice towards Naruto and she glanced at him who didn't seem to be affected. His posture never slouched, his eyes didn't water, and his face was neutral.
That made her furious and her lips twitched violently. "I don't care for what the master has to say," She sneered. "He doesn't care. Just look at him. He's nonchalant about the entire situation."
The little fox peeped his head at Naruto then it hit Hinata on her chest like he was trying to smack some sense into her.
Her eyes watered again, and she knew it was a lie. Naruto had been there for her every step of the way, even if he went about doing things differently. He was kind, caring and much better than her other masters. He was the first one there and actually gave her a chance.
"I do apologize if I look uncaring about the situation, but that is not the case." He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, but I'm not really sure how to go about this situation nor can I find the right words to say." He pushed his hair back and that's when Hinata noticed how tired his face looked. It looked like he had aged tremendously.
"Master do not talk in circles. Tell her now!"
Naruto sighed and he hesitated at first. "Hinata, Nagato passed away yesterday." His eyes drifted to Konohamaru who urged him to tell the entire story. "By suicide, and…
Hinata's eyes widened by the information and it was as if her heart stopped. Nagato passed away, yesterday, during the time she was at the Hyuga manor. "W-why did you do that?" She shot up. "I am nothing more than a maid! Your priority should have been to your family! Not me!" Her face was completely red, and the tears ran down in big chunks. She knew what all of it meant. The scandal, the indecency. She was nobody compared to the Uzumakis so why would he do such a thing? His reputation would surely be damaged. For her, it already was.
Naruto's mind was hazy, and he knew what she thought, and he clicked his tongue. "He's dead. What am I supposed to do?"
"He's your family." Hinata's arms fell loosely by her side. "You should have been there for your aunt, and Karin! I'm sure she needed you the most!"
He could feel himself getting slightly irritated by her words. "He's dead!" He finally blew up and that startled everyone in the house. "What am I supposed to do with a dead man? They will cry when I'm there and they will cry when I'm not. What sense does it make? I made my decision to come to you, the person that's alive! What would you have done if I was not there?" He was enraged.
It wasn't that he didn't care when they spoke and express their woes, but there was an abundance of mixed emotions filling his stomach and the more they kept talking, the more they kept saying, he started thinking and thinking, and with everything going on, how else could he keep anything inside? "I'm trying my fucking best, okay? I lost Nagato. I didn't want to lose you too! If, if you had just listened to me," His voice softened, and he turned his head slightly. "I was going to tell you. Tell you everything, but you looked happy, and I didn't want to spoil those feelings."
The group was silent, and they dare not say a word. Minutes had passed by and finally Konohamaru spoke. "I hate Konoha."
They didn't say anything, and it was a confirmation that they agreed with him. Konohamaru had always believed that Konoha was this terrific place under his grandfather's rule. He loved the atmosphere, the people, and their culture, but that was a lie. He had seen what he wanted to see, and now that he was on the other side this place was not as amazing as he thought it to be.
With Danzo as a Hokage, it brought out everyone's true intentions.
"I'm sorry," Naruto mumbled. "I should have just told you everything instead of leaving you in the dark. I just didn't want to add to your worries."
Hinata felt her eyes watered once more and she quickly wiped them away. "I'm sorry for disobeying your orders. I- I should have stood my ground and remain home."
"You're a human," He grumbled. "You have your right to go and explore. This world is truly mad," He continued to grumble to himself.
Konohamaru glanced at Naruto who was in deep thought and it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
"I originally wanted for you and Konohamaru to stay away from the marketplace until everything calmed down, but I won't do that," Hearing him say that made Konohamaru paranoid. Was he going to say he would relieve them of their duties? "I told Konohamaru last night that it'll be best if we leave Konoha for some time."
"Leave? To where?" Hinata inquired.
"There are many other places besides Konoha to visit. We'll take some time to explore and see what's out there." Naruto shrugged. "I'll send for some clothes for our trip. We'll leave Sunday morning."
Both Hinata and Konohamaru heart's race as this would be the first time they stepped foot out of Konoha. There was a little bit of anxiousness and excitement just thinking about it.
Naruto placed his hand on the table before he pushed himself up; the fox quickly jumped on his shoulder. Without a word, he left the two alone.
Konohamaru glanced over his shoulder and when he knew Naruto was gone, he turned to Hinata. "You know Naruto cares deeply for you, right? You know he wouldn't purposely hide anything from you, right?"
Her shoulders lowered and she nodded. "I know."
"It's okay, Hinata. I know you are hurting right now, but it will get better. Trust me! You can only go through the storm before you see the sunshine, right?" Konohamaru said, smiling gently. "You have me, Sakura, and Ino. Hell, even Sasuke cares about you. You should have seen how he scolded them. Oh, and don't forget you have Naruto, Hinata! He really cares about you and I'm not saying this just to say it," He looked down suddenly and played with his index finger.
The abrupt chatter made Hinata look down at Konohamaru and she asked, "Are you okay, Konohamaru?"
He chewed down on his bottom lip, then he looked at her with a forced smile. "Mhm. D… don't ever feel like you're alone. You have so many people who care about you. It would be sad if you left us all alone."
"A lot of things have happened to me ever since the war, and this is another thing I can add to the list." She smiled faintly. "I'll get over it like many other things." Hinata stood up and then ruffled his messy bed hair. "I'm going to tend to the garden. Thank you Konohamaru." She said, leaving him behind.
Once she was gone, Konohamaru lowered his head once more. Maybe it was selfish to keep this away from Hinata, but he couldn't force himself to say it. Deep down inside, Naruto was in love with Hinata. He didn't know not one master who would treat his servant the way Naruto did, and he always got this look in his eyes every time he gazed at Hinata. He was in love, and maybe he didn't know it or understand what those feelings were.
Konohamaru always teared up thinking about it, because deep down within was a love for Hinata. A love to hold her, cherish her, and give her what was rightfully hers. That day when Sakura asked the question, "Do you love Hinata?", he couldn't give her an answer, but if he can go back in time, the answer would be, "Yes, I love Hinata."
Naruto had everything a man needed to provide a woman and he didn't. There was no title to his name, nothing! How could Hinata possibly fall in love with somebody like him?
"She wouldn't even look my way," He said aloud.
Sighing, he picked up the containers and cleared up the table.
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During that same day, Sakura dragged Ino by her heal as she made her way towards the Namikaze manor. The girl was stronger than she let on, and her new shoes were dirty.
"Sakura! Stop!" Ino cried. "Let them heal." She said, trying to talk some sense into the girl. "I know how difficult this is for you and you just want to apologize, but now isn't the time."
"I have to Ino!" Sakura also cried. "I can't sleep and all I could think about is Hinata." The tears fell loosely from her eyes. "People are talking about her and Naruto because of what I did! Let me apologize!" She shouted to the heavens as she made her way through the gates.
"You know Hinata can never hate you. She adores you, but please let it go." Ino begged.
Sakura stopped in her tracks and Ino sighed in relief. "B-but it's my fault." Sakura said, her fist trembling. "I'm the reason this happened a-and Naruto is mad at me too!"
"It's only human nature, but you must give him some time. You must let him rest, after all, he's been through a lot, okay?" Ino said, placing her hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Let's get out of here before Naru-
"What are you two doing here?"
Both Ino and Sakura trembled, and they turned around. "Naruto!" Sakura said. "I-uh, we-
Naruto shook his head and Ino stared worriedly at the boy. He didn't look like himself and his once-vibrant hair was pale, and his skin was a sickly pale color. His once blue eyes were lifeless.
"Naruto," Ino said, approaching him. "Y- Are you okay? You look…
He raised his eyebrow slightly and then he looked to the ground. "I am fine. If you're looking for Hinata, she's tending to the garden." He said, before walking up the path to the entrance of his house.
"Naruto!" Ino called out.
Turning around, he sighed. "What?"
"We're here if you need somebody to talk with." Ino replied.
Sakura also nodded. "Yes, we are here to help you."
"I think you've helped enough, ne?" He scoffed.
Sakura felt her heart dropped to the pits of her stomach and her eyes watered once more. "Sakura," Ino said. "Let's leave before Hinata sees us. I told you it will be best to let them rest and heal." She pouted. "You're so stubborn and you never listen to me. Maybe now you'll listen and heed my warnings."
"But I didn't mean to do it." Sakura cried out.
"I know. I know, let's go." Ino said, carrying her hysterical friend through the gates.
Night quickly approached, and the trio and the fox all sat in the family room in front of the fireplace. The fire crackled and not one word was uttered. The baby fox played with a piece of rolled-up paper Naruto had balled for it. Their eyes focused on the fox go left and right and somehow it was a little amusing to see such a little creature be itself during this tragic time.
As the day went on, the temperature dropped tremendously and it was extremely cold outside. This was the first time Konohamaru and Hinata had sat in the living room and it felt a little weird at first.
Konohamaru was on the floor, his knees pressed against his chest, and both Hinata and Naruto sat on opposite sides of the green cushioned sofa.
Hinata kept peeking at Naruto from time to time and was a little concerned about his appearance. Earlier he looked tired, and now he looked sickly and pale. His eyes were dull and lifeless. She squeezed her eyes shut as he tried to wipe away the memory of Nagato. Their eyes were so similar; dead.
Was this because of her? Nagato's death? The situation? It should have been her like this, but somehow, she couldn't stand to see Naruto like this. He just sat there, staring at the flickering fire and fox. Was he even breathing?
The suspense was killing her, and she wanted him to say something! Demand something! Anything!
"S-sir, perhaps you would like something sweet?" Hinata spoke up.
Konohamaru glanced over her shoulder at her, then he eyed the fox once more.
"No thank you." His voice was nothing but a faint whisper and Hinata's hands trembled.
"Would you like something to drink then? Some green tea? Would you like me to fetch you a blanket?"
Konohamaru stared at her once more and tilted his head to the side. Why was she asking these questions?
"No thank you."
Then he turned to face Naruto who was watching the fire, the life in his eyes completely drained. That sent a shiver down Konohamaru's spine and he realized Hinata had noticed it.
"N-Naruto, I can't wait for our little adventure." Konohamaru grinned. "I've never been out of Konoha. I've been saving my money too, so I might just buy ya something." He said wiping his nose with confidence. "Hehe."
That made Naruto smiled, and Konohamaru was excited to see he had done something right.
"Hmm, that would be nice. There's a lot to see outside Konoha. I've been out a few times and even traveled as far as the Village Hidden in the clouds."
"Ah! Really?" Konohamaru said in disbelief. "Ne, ne, is it true that their building reaches through the clouds?"
Naruto nodded. "They have tall buildings that pass through the clouds. It's really beautiful."
The fire lit up in Konohamaru's eyes and he couldn't contain his excitement and he ended up babbling about the different places he's heard of. Hinata listened intensely and her mouth even opened slightly when Konohamaru explained some places and sceneries. She was also a little happy that Naruto was smiling and listening to what Konohamaru had to say.
As the night went on, the fire started to fade away, and Konohamaru and the little fox had fallen asleep.
"He talked himself until he ended up falling asleep." Hinata said, hovering over the sleeping boy.
"He was excited. Let's get him to bed." He said, picking the boy up carefully. Hinata also picked up the fox and the two of them headed to the maid's quarter.
Once Konohamaru and the fox was tuck soundly on their futon, Hinata closed the door behind them.
"Hinata, are you sleepy?" Naruto spoke, softer than usual.
She shook her head.
"Let's drink some tea, together." He said, leading her towards the kitchen. "I'll make some for you."
The two sat in silence as they sipped on the lukewarm green tea Naruto had made. They were in the parlor room sitting on the red cushioned sofa, side by side.
"Hinata," Naruto started.
"Yes?"
"You know I care about you. I know I can be a real pain in the ass," He mumbled, "but I wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt you… anymore." Hinata remained quiet as she had a feeling Naruto wanted to say more. "I'm sorry for how I treated you earlier when you first entered my manor. That was such a cowardly thing to do to you. Mother would be livid if she were alive. The night of my aunt's party, I said something distasteful when Tsunade told me you were from the Hyuga clan. Well, I decided to read up about your clan and I ended up in the Hyuga manor. I was shocked and sick when I… saw them." Naruto took another sip of his tea. "So, every night I would go by your household and spend an hour or two burying the remains."
Hinata couldn't believe it and she stared at Naruto shockingly. "It was a lot, and even Sasuke helped me out at times. Danzo… Lord Hokage is wrong. He should have had a proper burial for your people, and I wanted to confront him… but it's best not to do such a thing now. He's very powerful and you wouldn't want to cross paths with him." Naruto said, shaking his head. "I, I just didn't want you to go home and see that. I wanted you to see a proper burial and that your people were in good hands in their afterlife. I guess I did try to keep a secret from you, but I didn't want you to hurt. You're a really good person and you deserve so-
"Why do I feel like you're going to disappear?" Hinata whispered out. She held the mug tightly and stared at the floor. She teared up when he didn't answer her. "You're not going to disappear like Nagato right?"
Naruto laughed nervously. "No, no I'll be fine, besides Sasuke-teme wouldn't let me. He'll probably conjure me from the dead and make me be his dog."
Hinata couldn't help but crack a smile, then it quickly faded. "I thought my life would always be hell and I would be nothing more than a disgraceful maid. At one point, I thought you would be like my other masters, but I was wrong. You can be an ass at times," Naruto glanced at her and she saw how he puffed out his cheeks and crossed his arms. This made her giggle. "Ah, you said it not me," She said, smiling. "But you've been lenient and kind to me than anyone else I've encountered. You have your own ways of how you go about things, but I really admire that about you. I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I know you wouldn't do something like that. You mean a whole lot to me, and I want to say thank you. I'm really glad I met you."
Naruto felt his heart skipped a beat and he lowered his head slightly to hide his burning face. He held his stomach as he felt something squirming about and around.
"I'm glad I met you too, H-Hinata,"
"I want to visit Yumi and the children before we go on our trip. Will that be okay with you?"
"We can do it tomorrow, but-
"I know. I know." She said, gazing at the ceiling. "I'm used to it, but will you be, okay?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, you're going to be around me and the rumors…"
Naruto chuckled slightly. "Let's see if your rumors can beat mine. Hmmm… there's a rumor out there that I had my parents killed so I can take my inheritance."
Hinata's face paled. "But your father, didn't he die in the war?"
"Exactly. Another one was I sacrifice my soul to the devil to be prosperous in life." He laughed once more. "There's so many out there, but…" He looked at Hinata. "When you have money, all of that doesn't matter. I can do any ruthless thing I desire, but my money says so otherwise. Money talks." He said, leaning back on the sofa. "So, despite the rumors, I'm always going to have a marriage proposal."
Hinata thought about Antoinette and she couldn't help but ask. "Naruto, do you like Antionette? She mentioned how you visit her household and even her. She seems smitten by you."
"No," Naruto said, placing his arms to form an X. "Never, never."
Hinata wasn't expecting that from Naruto. "But-
"Nope. She's very clingy and her hair reminds me of a dog. She's annoying and a crybaby. I do not like being around her. Nope. No." He said, shaking his head. "She's so persistent."
"Ah, I thought-
"Nope." Naruto said, crossing his arms.
"So, why do you-
"I have to." Naruto said, reading her mind. "I know Konohamaru said not to keep secrets from you, but I cannot speak about this matter. Not yet that is." He muttered.
"I understand," She said, playing with her index fingers. For some reason, that made her happy to know that Naruto was not interested in the Lady Antionette.
"Did you get to see Sakura and Ino? They stopped by earlier."
"They did? I didn't see them." Hinata mumbled.
The flame from the candle was slowly fading and the room darkened slightly.
"I guess I scared them away." He said, sighing under his breath. "Sakura can be annoying, but she didn't mean you any harm."
"I know, but I don't want to see them right now." Her eyes lowered as a dark shadow cast over her face. "I'm embarrassed."
Naruto hummed. "Why are you embarrassed? It isn't the first time they've heard you cry." He said, grinning slightly.
"It's still embarrassing," She mumbled.
"Sakura and Ino will understand. Let's go to bed," He said, before he blew out the lights to the candle.
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.
.
The morning was fresh, and the sun shined brighter than ever. Last night, you would have never thought it was below 60 degrees. The clouds above floated endlessly in the sky and Hinata awed when she saw a cloud formed in a shape of a butterfly.
"Was it necessary to bake them so many sweets, Hinata?" Konohamaru asked, securing the boxes of goodies.
"Yes, we're going to be gone for some time, and I'm sure they'll enjoy it." Hinata replied.
"Marco is sure going to miss you." Naruto said, crossing his arms. "He's always on you."
Konohamaru couldn't help but laugh as he sensed Naruto's jealousy.
"He's just a small child. I probably remind him of his mother," She hummed. "I'm going to miss him though. He's just so cute and small. I can hold him forever."
"Right," Both Naruto and Konohamaru mumbled.
The stares of the townspeople were quite noticeable, but Hinata did her best to ignore them. They were entering the Market place when they spotted a commotion not too far. People gathered around the quarrel.
"Don't talk about her like that!"
"What are you going to do about it, brat?"
"Hey!"
It seems that some soldiers had gotten into an argument with some orphaned children.
"Don't talk about Miss Hinata like that!"
"Huh?" Hinata said, pushing her way towards the crowd. That voice sounded familiar. Her eyes widened when she saw one of the boys from the orphanage, Yuki, fell backward.
"A whore is a whore." The soldier mocked.
Little Marco, who didn't know many words, attacked one of the men's legs as he knew they were talking bad about his favorite person. In fact, if anyone spoke ill about a person named Hinata, he would've automatically assumed it was her, the princess.
The boy was punched to the floor, and Hinata ran up to him. "Marco, are you hurt?" She asked, tending to the boy who was trying to hold in his tears.
Konohamaru also joined and glared at the men dressed in a green uniform. "Isn't it your duty to protect? Why are you hurting innocent children?"
Some of the lower class agreed. "Yeah, why don't you pick on someone your own size? Huh?"
"I hate these soldiers. They pick on those weaker than them."
"Maybe if you didn't act like such barbarians then you wouldn't be treated this way." One rich class individual said.
There was a commotion going about, rich vs poor.
"Oh, it's the slut herself, Hinata Hyuga." The brown hair man smiled, menacingly.
"Don't speak about Hinata like that!" Yuki said, charging at the man only to fall back on his bottom.
"Once a whore is always a whore. I know Naruto has a fun time with you." The green hair man grinned.
Konohamaru balled his fist and was about to dart at them when Naruto stepped in front of them.
"Isn't it your duty to serve and protect Konoha's people? So, tell me, why are you abusing your powers?" Naruto asked, glaring at the men daringly. "There's much to do in Konoha, but it seems that you're wasting tax payer's dollars on unnecessary rumors and foolery."
"It seems that the Hokage's lapdog has finally come out of hiding." Ryu, a brown hair man, taunt. "I see you've come to protect your whore. You shouldn't let your dirty laundry out,"
"You mean like how your father fucked your mother's sister, now the two are nowhere to be seen?" Naruto said, raising his eyebrow.
The green hair man, Sal, almost snickered, but Ryu turned around to glare at him.
"What did you just say?" Ryu growled.
Naruto stared at the man with a smug look. "Are you a fucking dog with all that growling? Should I give you a treat if you promise to be good?"
Hinata stared at Naruto in admiration. The man looked so relaxed with his hands in his pocket as he stared at the three men without so much as backing down. Konohamaru was also astonished along with the other kids. Marco's eyes sparkled and he forgot about the pain he felt earlier.
The lower class laughed at the soldiers, while the well off started talking to one another about the Namikaze heir. Of course, they wouldn't say such a thing to his face as they still had daughters who would be of benefit if they can court the young blonde man.
"Just because you're the Hokage's lapdog, it doesn't mean you can talk to us any way you want to." Sal spoke.
The red hair, Aka, crossed his arms. "If anyone's the dog, then it's you." Then he smirked. "I don't see what Lord Hokage sees in you, but all I see is a dirty man who'll fuck anything to suppress his needs. How shameful. Why don't you take your bitch and go home?"
Konohamaru's eyes widened when Naruto punched the man in his face, causing him to fly backward into a vendor who was selling somewhat rotten fruits. Naruto flicked his wrist and glared at the two men. "You will address her as Hinata, Hyuga Hinata. If I ever hear someone call her any other name that's not hers then you'll see my fist. So, apologize to the children and Hinata."
Sal and Ryu's shoulders trembled as they couldn't believe it. Apologize to a maid and orphans? How humiliating!
"N-Naruto, there's no need. It's okay." Hinata said. "I'm fine."
"If you were fine, then your eyes wouldn't be red." Naruto said, not bothering to look at her.
He was right. She was on the urge of crying.
"You've loss your goddamn mind if you think I'm going to apologize." Ryu said, throwing his arm to the side.
Naruto smiled. "I have all day."
Aka, Sal, and Ryu fell to their knees in front of the kids and Hinata. They were all bruised up from head to toe. Naruto, on the other hand, didn't have a hair out of place.
"We're sorry, and we'll never say such a thing again. Forgive us." They said in unison.
Yuki smirked and Konohamaru stared in complete shock. Naruto actually got three grown men to apologize and also gave them a beating of a lifetime. He gazed at the blonde once more, and his eyes shimmered. He had a long way to go before he could possibly get on Naruto's level.
The townspeople were in complete shock, and the lower class was cheering the blonde man and making fun of the soldiers who quickly left. Naruto had given the low-class vendor money, plus more, for the damages and he helped the kids up and took them to the orphanage.
"That was so cool!" Yuki exclaimed to the other kid, Will. "Did you see how he punched and-
Hinata held Marco carefully in her arms and she kept glancing at Naruto. "You're really strong, Naruto."
"I know," He said, smiling down at her.
Marco nodded, then everyone's face turned red when he said, "F… fucking dog."
"Naruto!" Hinata shouted at the man. "Look at what you did!" She said, hitting him on his back.
Naruto laughed nervously. "Hinata! It's not my fault. I said so many other things, why did he choose that to say?"
"Fuck. Fuck. Fucking dog!" Marco cheered happily.
Naruto felt a cold chill shot throughout his spine and he looked back at Hinata who was trembling uncontrollably. "H… Hinata, I-
It had been a long time since Naruto knew what soap tasted like, and Marco knew that this was a punishment he did not want to endure again.
.
.
.
Sunday arrived rather quickly, and Hinata had just packed a cute duffle bag Naruto had purchased for her. Naruto had informed them not to carry many items to make things easier for them and anything they needed they can purchase at the villages they stopped by.
Konohamaru was sitting on the bottom of the stairs, a huge smile noticeable on his face. This was such an exciting adventure for him that he couldn't wait to see what was out there.
Hinata was nervous since she didn't know what to expect. Would things be different out there than it was in Konoha? Would the people be different?
They were waiting for Kiba who had agreed to take them to the ferry so their adventures could begin. Naruto walked downstairs past Konohamaru, and the little fox followed after him.
"Be careful!" He yelled at the fox he almost squished. "Make yourself useful and stay with Hinata or Konohamaru."
The little fox sat on its bottom and lowered his head. Hinata quickly picked it up and cuddled it. "Have you decided to name him?" She asked Naruto.
"Does it really matter?" He replied, crossing his arms. "I already took it in, fed it now I must name it?"
"He has taken a liking to you, Naruto and he's very fond of you. Don't be so harsh on him. He's still a baby." Hinata said, playing with the fox's paws.
"I'll think of something." Naruto mumbled. "Now that we'll be out of Konoha, I'm relieving you of your duties," Both Hinata and Konohamaru went pale when Naruto said that, but the man was unaware of the panic he created. "Nobody needs to know that you're my maid and butler. So, go about life, and refrain from calling me, sir or master, in public."
They swallowed the lumps in their throat once he was done and sighed in relief. "Hai…" They mumbled.
There was a knock on the door, and Naruto went to open it. He was surprised to see Sasuke standing there, with a small bag on his back. "Wha-
"Do you really think I was going to let you leave Konoha without me?" Sasuke questioned, raising his eyebrow. "I trust Hinata, but you I don't. You can be careless at times and I don't need you coming back to Konoha in a body bag."
Naruto's right eye twitched, but he nodded. He had a feeling Sasuke would do something like this. After all, they've traveled to places together outside of Konoha many times before, so it would be taboo if Sasuke didn't join, probably even a bad omen.
"Kiba is coming now. Let's go." Sasuke said, adjusting the bag around his chest.
"Is Sasuke joining us?" Hinata asked.
"The more the merrier." Naruto mumbled while picking up her duffle bag.
While Konohamaru was putting everything in the buggy, Naruto was securing the house and locking the doors. After the incident with the first robbery, nobody would dare to set foot in here, but he was still wary especially with his Aunt.
That's why he gave Iruka and Kakashi a set of keys to the house so they can come in whenever they please to make sure everything was secure. They were his former teachers and he trusted them with his life. Kakashi was nonchalant about certain things and laid back, but the man was trustworthy. He was also a former student of his father so he and Kakashi had history.
Then Iruka was sweet and kind, especially after the passing of his parents. He would never forget the man.
"I'm upset I wasn't invited on this trip." Kiba frowned.
"There's work here that needs to be done, and besides, you already did your traveling." Sasuke said to the man.
"Work. Work. Work." Kiba groaned loudly. "I'm tired of working."
"It's not like you do anything," Naruto scoffed.
Kiba turned back and shot him a few glares before he continued straight. "I do as a matter of fact. Did you forget I'm a dog breeder? I've been training this new batch, but they have such a long way to go."
"I suppose."
The main entrance to Konoha was slightly safer than the back entrance and Naruto was particularly glad he didn't run into any bandits. That would be the last thing he wanted, especially with everything that has transpired.
Dark green trees aligned on both sides in a consistent length and shape and that left Hinata in awe. Never before had she stepped foot out of Konoha, and it almost looked like there was a whole new world out there. Even the air smelt different.
The fox raised his head when Naruto rubbed his nose, and he looked up at the boy. "Do you think this fox has a human spirit in it?" He asked Sasuke. "It does a lot of human things. It even sipped on a small bowl of ramen a few days ago."
Sasuke eyed the fox that stared at him and he shrugged. "Probably. Maybe it was reincarnated or something."
The fox seemed to take offense by what Sasuke said, and he sent daggers at him.
"I don't think he likes that." Kiba said, once noticing the small creature.
"Don't you think he and Naruto can pass for twins," Sasuke smirked once he received a glare from the fox and Naruto.
Konohamaru snickered, but he quickly zipped his mouth when he saw Naruto shoot him an angry glare.
"The resemblance is quite uncanny," Kiba replied.
Naruto crossed his arm and leaned back. "Oh, shut up."
The ride was quite long, and Konohamaru felt himself getting slightly queasy by the movement of the buggy. Hinata was soaking in every detail even if they were just trees as this was unimaginable and unbelievable. If the outside of Konoha looked like this, how did the entire world look?
Gazing above, she could see the sky turn into a mixture of red-orange swirls and even the clouds were tainted in it. The sun was slowly sinking, and the trees rustle back and forth. She could tell they were far away from Konoha now.
For some reason, the thought made her felt at ease and she couldn't help but wonder what other life would be out there for her if she was not a part of Konoha. As she was fantasizing about a life she could ever hope for, she failed to notice Naruto glancing at her every so often.
"How long do you think you'll be gone?" Kiba asked, which caught Naruto's attention.
"Hmmm, not sure, but we'll write to you." Naruto replied.
Suddenly, Kiba's facial expression got serious. "You be careful out there and be careful what you write. It's best that you don't inquire about anything dealing with Konoha."
Both Sasuke and Naruto nodded. "We take it that everything will be fine in our absences, if not, you know what to do," Sasuke said, lowering his voice.
Konohamaru pretended to play with the fox, but he was invested in what the men were saying. It almost seemed they were talking in codes only they would understand.
"Yes. Just write me when you're going to move locations," Kiba said, halting his horse. "We're here."
A large turquoise ocean came into view. Above it, the water glistened as the sinking sun shined on it and its entire presence felt warm and inviting. Hinata took a hold of Konohamaru's hand and safely left the back of the buggy.
Kiba's chocolate eyes wavered slightly at the view and he took a deep breath. Life abroad was fascinating and there were so many things that Konoha's people had never heard of unless you were rich, super-rich. And if you were, then you would never want to come back to Konoha if you were to leave. That's why Danzo made it extremely hard for those to leave.
Although Konoha was known, their people were cut off from the outside world unless other cultures moved there and that was also very hard to do. It was important to be in Danzo's good grace as it was the only way to experience true freedom. Even some of their soldiers didn't get a chance to step foot from Konoha.
"Be careful now. You may just not want to come back," Kiba smirked at them. "I'll be heading back. Safe travels."
"Thank you, Kiba," Naruto said, nodding at him. "We will let you know when we've arrived at our first destination."
Kiba also nodded and as he was about to leave, Hinata walked to where he sat and bowed. "T-thank you, sir. P-please get back safely."
Wiping his nose in a haughty manner, Kiba grinned. "Call me Kiba and don't worry about me. Nobody will mess with Kiba the great."
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to mess with somebody who smelled like a wet dog neither," Naruto said, shrugging.
"You! You!" Kiba shook his fist at Naruto and growled. "When you get back, I'm going to kick your ass fox boy!"
Before Naruto could respond, Kiba had already escaped with the buggy. The group watched as a trail of dust followed him and once it vanished, they picked up their things. There was a deck that floated on the water, and near it was a vendor.
Some people waited in line or around the water edge.
"What are they waiting for, S-Naruto?" Hinata asked.
"We're waiting for the boat to come." He replied. "We've made it with fifteen minutes to spare," He said, pulling out a pocket watch.
"A boat?" Hinata questioned, tilting her head to the side.
"Ah, you've never seen one, huh Hinata?" Konohamaru spoke. "They are really huge and I heard they can carry up to a thousand people depending on their size. It floats on the water and it takes you from point A to B."
"Float on the water? Is that really possible?"
"It is! Don't worry it's safe, so you'll be fine!" Konohamaru explained.
"I got the tickets," Sasuke said, walking towards the group.
Both Konohamaru and Hinata watched the ripples in the water every time Konohamaru dropped a pebble in it. It was strange yet calming to Hinata that she joined in the fun.
Naruto and Sasuke watched from a distance, then Naruto turned to Sasuke.
"Sasuke,"
"What?"
Sasuke almost pulled his arm back when Naruto grabbed it. "W-wha-
Then he cocked his head to the side when Naruto placed his hand on his heart. "Do you feel that?" The man's heartbeat was a little fast, but Sasuke was still confused. "What does this mean? My heart beats so fast at times and then it skips a beat, and then my stomach gets queasy. I spoke to Tsunade about it, but she wasn't concern." He took a deep breath. "I'm not afraid to die, but I want to accomplish something first before I do."
Sasuke wasn't a doctor, but that was a little concerning. Shouldn't Doctor Tsunade take something like this seriously?
"Why did you leave Konoha with such a condition?" He was visibly upset.
"I trusted Tsunade, but it hasn't stopped." Naruto mumbled, letting go of Sasuke's hand. When Sasuke's arm fell to his side, he noticed Naruto's eyes lingered on Hinata who was talking to Konohamaru.
Then it clicked. "Do you feel like that now?"
Nodding slowly, he stared at Sasuke. "Yes."
"What did Doctor Tsunade tell you exactly when you went to see her?"
"Ah, something about me taking a blood and urine test a month ago and how there was nothing wrong," Then he frowned, "and she said I was too dense or something to notice."
Sasuke clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. "She's right, dobe. You are too dense," He replied, sighing under his breath. "There's nothing wrong with you. Just give it some time and you'll see, okay?"
"But what do you think it is?" Naruto's shoulders lowered.
He looked so sad and confused about his ordeal which made Sasuke groaned mentally. How could someone be so dense about their love? Wasn't it obvious when you yearn for somebody? He had never been in love, but if he was, he was sure he would notice, right?
Well, his friend wasn't the smartest person in the box, and he was naive to his feelings. He wouldn't spoil it for the boy and decided it would be best for him to figure it out on his own.
"Naruto, you're fine. One day you'll understand what's going on, okay? Trust me." Sasuke said, giving him a stoic smile.
Feeling satisfied with the answer, Naruto smiled softly. "Thanks, teme,"
Sasuke scoffed as a response. "I heard about the incident that happened in the market place the other day. Did you really have to embarrass them like that?" He chuckled.
"They deserve it. They disrespected Hinata and I wasn't about to let that slide," Naruto frowned.
"Hmm, did Danzo say anything when you asked for a visa for you all?"
"He just wanted to know how long we would be gone. He didn't look too concerned, but it's hard to tell what that man is thinking at times."
"He's a crazy bastard," Sasuke mumbled.
"Mhm. Once we meet with Shikamaru, maybe we can get an idea about what's going on."
"Did you plan on traveling that far? To Suna?" Sasuke inquired.
"Yeah," He said, glancing at Hinata. "It'll be best to do that."
A loud horn echoed; a small ferry glided across the water until it stopped near the dock. People who were sitting under the trees or standing around gathered in a line.
Hinata stared in awe at the ship, and she couldn't believe Konohamaru was right. It glided on the water. That was something astonishing.
First Stop- A Small Rich Island
Hinata kept looking down at the water that was slowly turning black the more the sun went down. It was so amazing that she kept leaning over the rail to get a better view at it. Naruto stood by her side and would reach out to her from time to time to stop her from leaning any further.
"Hinata, you must be careful. You don't want to go overboard, right?" He would ask her.
"No, but it's so beautiful!"
Naruto smiled. "It is."
Konohamaru on the other hand was leaning over the rail, puking his stomach out. He thought it would be amazing, but the minute the ferry left he felt sick and queasy. Sasuke shook his head from time to time, and he almost chuckled at Konohamaru.
The fox jumped on Naruto's head and made itself comfortable. His blue eyes gazed at the sinking sun, and soon the moon rose, and the sky darkened.
Hinata was having so much fun that she failed to realize that it was dark, but regardless, with Naruto being by her side there was no reason to fear.
It had been a long day for the group and exhaustion was finally paying Hinata a visit. She sat next to Naruto who had his hands crossed; his eyes stared at the moon that was finally rising.
"S-Naruto, so where are we going?" She then covered her mouth to hold the yawn that was escaping.
"We're going to the land hidden in the mist, but it'll be best to travel by boat instead of a buggy. It'll be safer this way." Naruto said, crossing his arms.
Hinata swung her legs back and forth and she nodded.
Lights flashed everywhere and the small island was practically golden-like. Many people, all exotic looking, roam the streets freely that it was such a mind shocker for the two; Hinata and Konohamaru. Some were dancing on the sidewalks and others were either sitting down conversating with one another.
"Hn. It still looks the same," Sasuke said, scanning the area.
Naruto nodded and then he looked down at Hinata who had wrapped her arms around his own, unintentionally. Her eyes were huge as she watched a woman who only wore a piece of cloth to cover her breast and long silk pants that were transparent.
"Maybe we shouldn't have made this our first stop." He mumbled.
"Let's find us a room tonight so we can rest before we head out tomorrow," Sasuke said, walking away.
"Ah, is this not the land hidden in the mist?" Hinata asked, staring at her master.
"Oh no." Naruto replied. "We're just stopping here for tonight before we leave to the Land Hidden in the Mist,"
"C-can we explore?" Hinata blushed profusely.
Naruto was a little wary as he didn't want Hinata or Konohamaru wandering off from him. Although they were not in Konoha, danger still lurked about.
"I'm sorry Hinata, but I'm going to go with Sasuke and rest up," Konohamaru said, his skin looked slightly green.
"Konohamaru, why do you look sick?"
"That boat ride," He mumbled. "I just need to rest," He said, walking in the direction Sasuke went.
"We should check on him," Hinata said, wearing a worried expression. "He didn't look so good."
"He'll be fine," Naruto said. "Let's explore, okay?"
He took the fox from his head and glared at it. "You go with Konohamaru. Do you understand?" The small fox glared at Naruto which made him sigh. "Please."
It showed its teeth before it jumped from Naruto's hand and followed Konohamaru.
Hinata was hesitant until Naruto began to walk away. She quickly followed after him until she reached his side. "Are you sure he'll be fine? Is it the air? Or atmosphere that we're in?"
Naruto sighed, slightly irritated. "Why don't you stop worrying about him and try to enjoy yourself?"
When noticing how quiet she had gotten, he glanced down at her and sighed softly. "Hinata, don't be like that," He said, stopping in his tracks. "I planned this entire thing for you."
Hinata's head quickly shot up when she heard him say that. A noticeable blush appeared on her face and she poked her index finger together suddenly and then she pouted. "Fine,"
The corner of his upper lips tugged upwards, and he nodded. "It's been a long day. Let's see what they have here to eat,"
Walking, the two kept looking around and saw that there were many places to eat. Some had exotic foods they had never seen before, and some of the vendors barely spoke Japanese. Hinata wrapped her arms around Naruto for safety, and his heart fluttered.
"Do you see anything you'll like to eat?" He sounded soft.
Hinata observed each stand before she settled towards a white woman with long blonde hair. Her smile was inviting and Hinata felt herself being drawn in by the pastries that stood on display. Once they were at the stand, the woman began to speak in a funny Japanese accent, but Hinata stared in awe. It reminded her of Antionette, however, her accent was quite unusual.
"What would you like to try?" The vendor asked.
Glancing at the soft pieces of bread and pastry on display, Hinata decided on a slightly brown bread that swirled around and was covered in white frosting and garnished with sprinkles. She had never seen something as such before, although Saya was known to have a bunch of exotic sweets, this was her first time.
"It's called a cinnamon roll," She said, placing the roll on a white parchment paper and handing it to her. "Eat. Eat," She encouraged Hinata.
Hinata glanced at Naruto as if she was almost asking if she should trust this woman and Naruto cracked a smile. "Let's see," He leaned over and took a bite out of the roll from Hinata's hand. She gasped suddenly when she saw Naruto leaned back and chewed the roll. He grinned once he swallowed the sweet roll.
"Hmm, I'm still alive," He joked.
She eyed him for another second, then she nodded slowly before she took her bite.
A sweet savory taste conquered her tastebuds, and she chewed and chewed until there was no more. Her eyes widened and she gazed at Naruto, her cheeks still pink from his action and the scrumptious delicacy she had just eaten.
"N-Naruto! That was so yummy!" She couldn't contain her excitement and she clasped her hands together and stared fondly at the woman. "It was so good and beautiful. I've never had anything like it before."
The blonde woman nodded her head and smiled. "Yes, yes! Eat some more," She said, handing Hinata a bag full of cinnamon rolls. There were probably eight or more in there and Hinata took it without hesitation.
Naruto chuckled at her enthusiasm and he paid the blonde woman.
"Ah, I should have used my own money," She said, feeling selfish.
"I'll buy you anything you want. Just tell me what you want. There's no need to spend your money."
"I- I couldn't do that sir. You already did so much for me and-and I have my funds, so let me-
"Well, you've done a lot for me too so it's only fair that I repay your kindness, right?" Naruto said, giving her a half smile.
She still felt a little uncomfortable about it because who was she to get all of the master's attention. If anyone were to hear this, they would assume that he was trying to court her. That was almost laughable, a maid and master together.
Then, just thinking about that really put a damper on her mood. This was everything she hoped for. Someone who would treat her right and looked to her like she was an equal and not the worse of the worse… but Naruto. It was impossible.
Thinking about it, made her face turn red. He was very handsome and cared enough for her to go to such lengths, but there was no way he could ever love her. That made her heart hurt for some reason. Why was she thinking about such a thing anyway? It's not like she had feelings for him, even if she wished to stay by his side, make him home cook meals, make sure he was taken care of and that he didn't hurt himself. That was everything a maid was trained to do, but why did it feel so different? Everything about their "relationship" felt different.
When she slept at night, he was the first person to come to mind. When she felt horrible or down, his face would pop into her mind. When she longed for someone to hold, he was there with open arms.
That was normal, right?!
"Hinata, are you okay?"
"N… Naruto, how do you feel about a master courting his maid?" She mumbled; her eyes lingered to the ground. "Wouldn't that disgust you?" She swallowed the lump in her throat when she said that and for some reason, her eyes began to water.
"There's nothing wrong with that."
Hearing that, she quickly looked at him and had a questionable look on her face.
"Love is love, regardless of who it is. Whether it be a maid, master, or a person without a home, love is love. There's nothing disgusting about that."
Everything he said was from the heart and he didn't care about title or occupation. Wasn't love supposed to conquer all of that?
Hinata squeezed her chest when she heard him say that and she took a deep breath before she released it. "B-but what if the people around that master were very cruel to that maid and said some horrible things about her… can he still love her?"
Naruto furrowed his eyebrows at the weird question, but he answered. "Relationships don't involve the whole world, right? Shouldn't it be between the two people? As long as they have an understanding with one another, should he really care about what others think?" Then he hummed. "If I was that master, I would have to fight anybody who dares speak ill about her."
As he continued to walk, Hinata stopped and stared at the back of his head. Shaking her head, she quickly ran next to him before he could realize that she wasn't there. Maybe she was fatigue and not in her right mind. There was no way she could have feelings for Naruto. All of it was just a misunderstanding.
Hinata tightened her grip on the white paper bag and swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. They continued to walk the busy streets that had no intentions of dying down until they were stopped by a brunette who held a camera in hand.
"Picture?"
The boy spoke little Japanese, but they understood when he said picture. He approached the two, and he smiled cutely. "Beautiful!" He said, staring at Hinata. His gaze switched to Naruto and he grinned. "Lucky! Lucky!" Naruto cocked his head to the side as he was tried to understand the boy and what he meant by "lucky". "Picture?" He said, snapping a quick picture of Hinata and another one.
"Do you want to take a picture?" Naruto asked her.
She poked her index finger and stared at the ground, then she shook her head. There had been a time when she wanted to take a picture to send to Hanabi, but Saya deter her away from doing so by letting her know she was an ugly girl, and nobody would want to see her.
Naruto was slightly disappointed, and he watched as Hinata walked away. As he was about to follow her, the boy tugged at his sleeve, and Naruto looked down at him.
"Come. Tomorrow. Before ship," He said in broken Japanese. "Tomorrow."
Eyeing him slightly, Naruto left and took his place by Hinata's left side. The two didn't say a word as they roam the streets. It was beautiful and exciting that Hinata's mind was trying to wrap all the unique and exotic cultures. Naruto was already familiar with the scenery but being there with Hinata made him appreciate the beauty of the earth.
"So, Hinata… was today your first time seeing and being on a boat?" Naruto asked.
They were currently at a small Japanese establishment. Both ordered chilled soba and were enjoying the food.
Hinata swallowed the thin noddle and nodded. "Sebastian did not allow me to visit the docks and I've never really heard of a boat until now,"
"Were you pleased with the boat ride?" Naruto asked.
She couldn't help but nod her head eagerly. "It was my first time and it's so fun! I can't believe we were able to make such a thing,"
A small smile made its way on Naruto's face. "I bet you would like to see some more, huh?"
"Very much, Naruto," She replied, clasping her hands together.
"If you had a chance, would you like to explore the world?"
Placing her finger near her mouth, she looked towards the ceiling. "The world is so big and there's a lot of different people. It's a little scary, but with you, by my side, I feel safe," She said, mumbling the last part.
Naruto turned pink and he lowered his head. The two hearts beat in sync and the palm of their hands became sweaty for such a cool night. If anyone were to see their faces, then they would have wondered if they had a fever.
"And I feel strong when I'm by your side," Naruto whispered out.
Hinata jumped when Naruto quickly ate the soba noodles. The boy's face was unbelievably red, not that hers was any better. "Naruto, please slow down before you choke on your food," Hinata scolded.
Naruto couldn't help it, but he felt extremely embarrassed by saying such a thing and it didn't help that Hinata had scolded him.
Once they were done, they walked towards the inn Sasuke had selected. "Are you feeling a little better?" Naruto asked her. "I know it hasn't been long but…
"It still hurts, and I try not to think about it," She mumbled under her breath. "I will be fine. I am fine," She said with more confidence. "T-thank you."
His tongue felt heavy, and he mumbled, "Whoever gets to marry you will surely be a lucky man,"
Hinata fell silent. Every girls' dream was to find their prince charming and get married and have a lot of children. That was something Hinata dreamt, but that disappeared after the war and she became a lowly maid. After reading the book Sakura had provided, she recalled fantasizing about her prince charming and it was Naruto who came to mind. He wasn't something out of the books, but deep down she felt that he was made especially for her. She wouldn't want to get married if that meant he would be alone in that house? How could she possibly live a happy life like that?
Suddenly, she grabbed his sleeve and tugged at it which made him stop. He turned to face her, and he was surprised to see the look in her eyes. They were filled with honesty. "I-if you don't get married, then I won't. Y-you're going to starve if I leave you by yourself."
She closed her eyes when Naruto placed his hand on her cheek. The tip of his fingers made her shiver, and she opened her eyes to see him staring at her. He was removing some of her hair from her face.
"Is that a pinky promise?" He asked, sticking out his pinky.
Hinata glanced at his pinky then him. His cheeks were pink, and his eyes glistened. She had never seen that look in his eyes and that brought warmth to her. "I promise," She said, wrapping her smaller pinky around his.
'Then I won't ever get married if it means I get to keep you to myself.'
Thank you for the reviews! This is one of my favorite Naruto stories I've written.
This is a slow-burn fanfiction.
AN: Naruto chose to go the boat route for Konohamaru and Hinata as these times are dangerous and travelling by land can be risky travelling to the Land Hidden in the mist.