Chapter 11
It's hard to go to sleep when the sound of one's heartbeat echoes throughout the room. Two individuals, opposite in every way, find themselves connected as one.
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Out in the deep blue sea, the ocean glistened by the sun's rays. The fresh scent of saltwater lingered in the air that it left a sense of calmness with those on the dock. In the next few minutes, their ship will be here and soon a new adventure will begin.
Konohamaru, however, was not as excited as Hinata. The mere thought of going back on a boat made his stomach violently ill.
"I don't think I can go on another boat ride," Konohamaru said wrapping his arms around his stomach. "I think I'm going to throw up." His face was turning greener with each second, and he almost gagged when he heard the loud whistle come from the ship.
Hinata placed her hand on Konohamaru's shoulder and rubbed it, gently. "Maybe we can get some tea to help ease your stomach."
"Chamomile tea will help with that. There's a tea shop not too far from here. Let's get you some," Sasuke said, making his way past the crowd.
"What is a Chamomile?" Hinata asked, holding onto Konohamaru's hand as they followed behind him.
There was a blush noticeable on Konohamaru's face and he couldn't stop himself from watching their hands that connected. Just a simple touch from her was such a joyful feeling that he couldn't help but shiver.
"It's a flower that is used for a lot of health benefits such as motion sickness. I believed you've seen it in the Uzumaki garden. It has white petals and a yellow center," Sasuke replied.
Stopping in front of the vendor, he pulled out some coins and ordered a tea for Konohamaru to drink right away. He kept glancing at his pocket watch and wondered where Naruto had run off to earlier. The dobe said he had to do something, but that was almost thirty minutes ago.
"Thank you," Konohamaru bowed. "Thank you very much," he repeated taking the mug from Sasuke.
"Hn."
"You're very knowledgeable, S… Sasuke," Hinata said.
"I read in my spare time," Sasuke replied.
Hinata laughed nervously and then poked her index finger together. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable around Sasuke. The man was nice and polite, and he seemed to be Naruto's closest friend, but he was very stoic as Melody would put it, and short with his words.
Suddenly, a loud noise came from the dock area and a mass of people walked over to the ship that finally arrived. Hinata's eyes widened at the size of the ship and were surprised it was twice the size of the recent boat they had ridden earlier.
Konohamaru noticed the ship and he quickly turned to the vendor. "Give me ten sacks," he said, placing his money on the countertop.
"Let's see if Naruto has made it back. It'll be troublesome if we were to miss our stop," Sasuke mumbled.
"Take my hand, Konohamaru," Hinata said, stretching her arm to the younger boy. "This is new to us, and I don't want you to get lost." Shakily, he interlocked his fingers with Hinata's, and she smiled. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. We have Sasuke and Naruto here."
Protection was the last thing on Konohamaru's mind. He wanted so desperately never to let go of her soft hand. There was an unbelievable warmth that radiated from it and come to think of it, this would be his first time holding a lady's hand that was not his mother.
Slowly, they followed behind Sasuke until they reached a line that had formed. Patiently, they waited and Hinata grew weary. Where was Naruto? And why was he taking so long?
"Sasuke, did Naruto tell you where he would be?" Hinata asked.
"I'm here," Naruto said, making his way behind them. "I had some matters to attend to," he said, glimpsing a Sasuke briefly before turning his head away.
Sasuke raised his eyebrow slightly with a 'hmph'.
"I was worried because you left without a word," Hinata mumbled.
Smiling, Naruto ruffled her long silky hair and smiled brightly at Hinata. The woman's pale face turned scarlet red, and she quickly whipped herself around to Sasuke. Konohamaru glanced at Naruto, then looked away when he noticed his blue orbs stared at their hands that were still connected. For some reason, that made Naruto feel unpleasant. Was there even a time she held his hand like that?
The line was long as those looking to explore or start anew boarded the ship. Hinata felt her heart trembled, but she couldn't say if it was due to being nervous or being excited. Did Hanabi feel this same way too? Her eyes glowed as she stared at the massive ship. It was quite big, bigger than the one they were on. She couldn't wait to see what the inside looked like.
Sasuke glimpsed at Hinata's face and he almost smirked. It was laughable, yet adorable. He had seen so many ships in his lifetime, some bigger than this, so this was nothing to him. It was a privilege to be born rich, that he would not deny.
Their time was approaching, and Hinata looked over the edge at the turquoise water that seemed calm and tranquil below them. It was such a magnificent color and not to mention so perfectly flawless. The fresh scent of salt made her nose tickle that she ended up gripping Konohamaru's hand unintentionally.
"A-are you okay, Hinata?" asked Konohamaru.
"Ah, I'm fine. It's just… it looks so beautiful," she replied in a daze. It's much clearer than Konoha's own.
Konohamaru glanced down briefly, but he quickly pulled his head back and held onto his stomach. It wasn't the height or water that frightened him, but he felt so nervous when Hinata gripped his hand even tighter.
"Welcome abroad," a tall lanky man with a thin mustache said, smiling at them. Sasuke provided him four tickets and he nodded.
Hinata bowed timidly and followed Sasuke inside. Her body suddenly shuddered as her eyes roamed the inside of the ship. She did not expect something so grand, lavish, and tasteful once she entered. There were different people, like on the island, that walked past them and most of them were dressed adequately. Hinata knew these people were either important, rich, or both!
"Follow me," the tall man said to the group.
Slowly, they followed the lad and Hinata made sure to capture every scenery as they made their way through the different hallways. Looking down at the red rugs, she could tell it cost a fortune. The patterns had gold thread sewn into them to make a pretty image of lines twisting and turning throughout. The walls were decorated with the finest wallpapers and large mirrors with gold rims decorated the walls every seven steps.
Everything looked so rich and expensive that she couldn't help but look back to Naruto who walked slowly behind them. Before she could utter a word, he smiled and mouthed, "Don't worry about it."
How could she not worry about it? He already had to spend a ticket on himself, Konohamaru and her! Wouldn't that drain his funds? Then it'll be her fault for him being so poor. How could she live with herself knowing that?
Konohamaru felt a piece of him chip away when he felt Hinata's hand loosen then disappeared. "I'll be right back," she told him. He glanced over his shoulder and watched as she walked towards Naruto. Looking at them, they made such an adorable pair.
"What is it, Hinata?" Naruto inquired.
They both walked side by side, their eyes focused on Konohamaru who steadily walked behind Sasuke. "Sir –
"Naruto."
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "Naruto, I know you said not to worry, but I have to," she cried. "How much were the tickets? Please let me pay you back. I don't want to be responsible for putting you on the streets, sir. You've spent a lot of money on me and yet you haven't asked for a penny back. Aren't you afraid you're going to be broke? That would be a cruel fate."
Naruto felt his lips trembled and he almost snorted. She snapped her gaze at him when she heard him chuckle. "It's not funny, sir," Hinata said, gripping him by his forearm.
Smiling, Naruto held her hand and patted it. (AN: He saw the opportunity and took it.) "I can assure you that you have nothing to fret about."
Hinata was astounded. "B-but you've already done a lot," She said looking down to hide her burning face, "and—
"Hinata, you're worrying again. Why can't you relax and enjoy your time? Why must you stress yourself about something so light?"
"How can I not?" Hinata responded.
Naruto knew her reasoning for worrying about his funds. It was only understandable since Hinata was poor and most of her checks went to her sister. That annoyed him.
After the war, there were a lot of children sent out to different lands because of the damages it left Konoha in. The different lands decided to aid Konoha and offered some programs to help the kids. Some parents gladly sent their children away for a better life and to get away from Konoha in case another war would break out.
Naruto didn't blame Hinata for choosing to let her sister stay away from Konoha. If she stayed it probably would have been the same if not worse for her than Hinata. Still, he was wary about Suna and the negotiation they had with Konoha. Troubling news made them on tiptoes and many of them prayed against the one thing they've been trying to avoid war.
Although they won the first war many years ago, it left a lot of damages and deaths like any other war. The new generation didn't want to go through the same thing again, and you may even say some were still left traumatized by the whole ordeal. They were constantly looking over their shoulder for the horn to sound and the smell of blood to take over the city again. Tch.
"Well, as my maid I demand that you don't stress about my funds."
"I would do that sir, but as you stated Konohamaru, and I no longer serve you while on this trip." Hinata smiled faintly at him.
Naruto was surprised by her comeback that he ended up laughing which caught the attention of Sasuke and Konohamaru. "You are correct, Hinata."
Hinata stuck her nose in the air and crossed her arms. It wasn't a woman's place to worry about a man's assets, especially if she was not her husband, but she still wanted to make sure he was okay. That would be a scandal in Konoha and another slander to her name.
They all stood in front of a brown oak door and the lad turned the golden doorknob and pushed it opened. Both Konohamaru and Hinata's mouths dropped to the floor when they entered the room. It was so huge inside that they could fit all of the kids from the orphanage plus eight more in this room.
Both Sasuke and Naruto had decided that the three of them could share a room since it would only be a three-day trip. When traveling, they always did this as it helped them to save more money for their travels.
"You can pick any bed," Naruto said to Konohamaru.
Konohamaru walked over to the bed that was further away from the window and placed his bag on top. Suddenly he collapsed and his entire body felt it was on cloud 9. Filled with happiness, he grabbed the pillow and hugged it tightly before he excitedly rolled around on the bed.
Sasuke stared oddly at the boy and shook his head. He then glared at Naruto and frowned. He had a lot to teach Konohamaru.
Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke and smiled. "Come on Sasuke. He's never experienced something like this before. Can't you let him bask just for a little?"
Crossing his arms, Sasuke sighed. "I suppose, but it wasn't like I expected you to teach him. You need training yourself," he said, scoffing.
"Care to say that again," Naruto snarled.
"Eh, see. Training," he sighed. "I feel sorry for whoever decides to marry you," Sasuke mumbled under his breath."
"I'll escort the lady to her room," the man said, making his way out of the room.
"Let's go," Naruto said resting his hand on Hinata's shoulder. "I'll be back," he called out to Sasuke and Konohamaru.
The room that was assigned to Hinata was only two doors down, but it still left Naruto a little uneasy that she was far away. He would have preferred a joint room; however, it was last minute, and this was the best he was able to do.
Stopping in front of an identical door, the lad pushed it opened and Hinata stepped in. A fresh lavender fragrant swept past her, and her eyes widened by the beautiful scenery. It was almost magical and something similar she read in a storybook Sakura had provided.
"Do you need any further assistance?" the man asked, interrupting Hinata's thoughts.
"No, that'll be it," Naruto said. "Thank you."
The lad bowed before he took his leave, closing the door behind him.
"So—
Hinata swirled around and clasped her hands together. Her eyes sparkled like the time she tasted those cinnamon rolls for the first time. "Naruto! This is so beautiful!" she said, overjoyed. "I've read something similar in a book Sakura gave me about a princess and this room fits the description."
Naruto's clothes moved slightly which Hinata noticed, and she stared oddly at his chest area. Suddenly, a little blob of golden fur popped its way out from his shirt and Hinata giggled. "So, that's where you were hiding this entire time," Hinata said walking towards Naruto. She gently stroked his soft fur, and the small fox licked her finger.
"Have you decided what to call it?" she said, glancing at Naruto.
When she lifted her head, her heart skipped a beat when she saw those beautiful orbs stared gently at her. They were quite close to one another, so she quickly stepped back.
"I haven't decided on a name yet. It doesn't matter what I call it."
The fox glared at Naruto before he made a fuss to escape the cruel man's shirt. Sighing, Naruto pulled the fox from his shirt and dropped it to the floor. The fox sent a sharp glare at Naruto and shook his butt in front of his face.
Naruto's face turned red, and he raised his foot to step on the fox when he felt a piercing gaze directed towards him. "And what do you think you're about to do with that foot of yours, sir?"
Shooting a glare at the fox, he placed his foot down and smiled cheekily at Hinata. "So, you love your room?"
Her face lit up and she nodded eagerly. "I love it! Thank you so much!"
"I'm glad you enjoy it. If you need me, you know which room number we're in." Naruto reminded. "I'll leave you to settle in. The ship should leave shortly."
"U- I'm not tired," Hinata said approaching him. "W-would you like to stay and eat some cinnamon rolls with me? I can make some tea."
"You don't have to worry about making any tea, Hinata. I'll have someone bring some for us," Naruto said walking towards a strange object on the wall.
Hinata's eyes widened when she saw Naruto talked through this strange object. When he was done, he turned around to see Hinata staring worriedly at him.
"W-what's the matter, Hinata?"
"Are you feeling well, sir? Should I get Sasuke? I- I think I'll get him." Hinata stuttered.
"Wait. No! I'm fine."
She paused in her tracks and stared at the man from head to toe. "S-sir, why did you talk to yourself? Was it that strange object that made you want to talk to yourself? You shouldn't make this known to the public unless you'll be scrutinized."
She was concerned about her master's health, truly! Never before had she heard him talk to himself in such away.
Naruto held his stomach and laughed loudly that tears ran down his cheeks. Soon, he was rolling on the red carpet. Hinata was taken back, and she felt her face go hot. After a while, Naruto wiped his tears away and glanced at Hinata.
"I didn't find that funny, Naruto," she said, forming her lips into a small pout.
"I know. I know," he replied. "Konoha is so underdeveloped," he said, sighing.
Pushing himself from the floor, he rubbed his hands and pointed at the object. "Don't touch it! It'll make you crazy again," she said frantically.
Naruto chuckled as the memories of the camera incident that swept Konoha almost caused hysteria with its people. "Hinata, this is a telephone."
"A what?"
"A telephone. It's used to talk to other people from anywhere!"
Hinata tilted her head to the side which made Naruto smiled. "Instead of sending and waiting for letters, you use this," he pointed to the black old-fashioned phone, "and dial the number of the person you want to speak to."
Hinata did not understand, but the more Naruto explained what this object was, she was dumbfounded. "There's something like that in this world? S-sir! Why doesn't Konoha have something like this? It would make everything easier. Calling doctors would be much easier as well."
When she said that, it reminded him of Kiba when he first discovered this object when they traveled. He was just as shocked and bewildered Konoha didn't have any, but they did. Danzo had one in his office and certain officials did.
"It would be, but we only have our Hokage to blame," Naruto said, running his fingers through his hair.
A knock on the door caught their attention and Naruto opened it. There was a young woman who had a pushcart with some green tea and sweets.
"Hello, sir. My name is Yoko and I'll be serving you your tea today," she said, making her way in. "Good day madam." She bowed towards Hinata. "Let's have tea."
The two sat down at a circular table, opposite from another. Hinata kept looking down as Yoko poured them some fresh green tea. This felt very strange for Hinata as she was used to being the one who served those.
"I've also provided some fresh pastry. Please let me know if you have any complaints."
"Thank you," Naruto said, taking a sip of the tea.
"Um, excuse me, madam," Yoko said to Hinata.
"Y-yes?" She turned her body to face Yoko.
The girl looked no older than seventeen. She was short in size and was slightly plumped. Her hair reached to her mid-back, and she had deep brown eyes. In other words, Hinata found this young woman, Yoko, to be very cute. However, it seemed that Yoko also found her pretty. "Y-your hair is very pretty and long."
Turning red, Hinata smiled faintly. "T-thank you!"
Yoko quickly bowed before she left with the pushcart.
"Naruto, all of this is so strange," Hinata said once the door closed. "It's like a whole other world. It's weird, but exciting in a way."
Placing the teacup down, Naruto nodded. "It is a whole other world out there. If you could choose, would you rather stay in Konoha or move away?"
Hinata chewed on the sweet bread then hummed. "Well, this is only the beginning and I want to see what else is out there."
"There's a whole other world out there, Hinata. There are so many different things. Once you see, you'll be surprised."
"I am! I thought you lost your mind, Naruto. Do you think Hanabi knows what a phone is?" Hinata asked. The small fox climbed on Naruto's leg to make its way to the table.
"I don't believe so. Suna is similar to Konoha in a way," Naruto replied.
"Is it?"
"In a way, yes."
Hinata broke off a piece of bread and gave it to the fox. "N-Naruto,"
"Hmmm?"
"I've wanted to ask you, and I think we're a little bit closer than before, but is it alright to ask you a few questions I've been wondering about?" Hinata said, looking down.
"I'll try my best to answer."
"That afternoon when you arrived at the house. Y-your shirt was stained with blood." She mumbled the last part. "You were quite upset, and I was honestly shaken. Did you hurt someone? Or did someone try to hurt you?"
Silence engulfed the room. Naruto hadn't honestly thought about it, but now that she had posed the question all he could think about was, would Hinata look at him differently? How would she feel if she were to know?
After a while, he placed the teacup down and spoke. "Both. Someone did try to hurt me, Sakura and Sasuke. So, I had to hurt them first."
"You killed a man."
"I did. There was a group of bandits that tried to attack our buggy while we were trying to deliver supplies to the outskirts of Konoha to help those in need. They shot at us, so we had to do what was best to protect the supplies. Does that make you upset?"
She nodded, and that made Naruto's heart sunk to the pits of his stomach. "I understand why you did what you had to do, and I'm not upset about it. I'm just upset that Konoha has turned into some hostile and emotionless place. Was our country ever like this? There are so many bandits and heartless people here. I'm afraid for Marco and the children's future. Surely, there's something that can be done about this, right?"
The fox looked back and forth at the two as he stuffed his mouth with a piece of frosted cake.
That was a sigh of relief for Naruto since Hinata was not upset with his actions. "Something will be done, and the new generation won't have to fret for a thing."
"But what if the damages are permanent? I don't think Konoha will ever change." Hinata frowned. "I'm sorry for being a downer, but it seems we are lacking in everything."
Hinata glanced at Naruto when she felt his roughed hand hold her smaller and softer hand. "I know it's hard to say stop worrying about it, but everything will be okay. It may take some time, but Konoha will get better. I can assure you that."
The butterflies roamed freely in her stomach, but she couldn't help but tightened the grip on Naruto's hand. "When you say something like that, Sir, I have no choice but to believe you."
A soft smile graced his face and he continued to hold on to Hinata's hand. "What other questions do you have?"
"Ah, um- the soldiers referred to you as the Hokage's lapdog. Are you working for him?" Naruto let go of Hinata's hand and she was afraid she had said something out of line. "I'm sorry Sir! I didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't upset me, Hinata," Naruto replied. "It… I do work for him."
Hinata stared into his deep blue eyes and responded, "But it's something you can't tell me." He nodded. "If I know anything about you, I will say you're doing this because you have to, and it would be best not to tell me because you want to protect me." Another nod for confirmation. "And if I did know, it would cost me my life."
"I'll be damned if anyone thinks they can hurt you again," Naruto said angrily. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it out as he tried to relax his nerves.
"And I don't want you to get hurt because of me," Hinata said, stroking his hand. She poked the veins that were noticeable on his tan hand and then smiled at him. "I think you've answered all of my questions for now."
"Hinata, you mustn't let anyone hurt you again. Even me. I'm serious!" Naruto said gripping her hand. "You can be docile at times, but sometimes you have to stand your ground. I want you to get better. Stronger. I want you to be strong, so you don't have to depend on me, or Konohamaru, or whoever. I want them to know that they can't touch you."
She couldn't help but stare into his eyes as the words that left his mouth were so full of passion and raw underlying emotion. Become stronger. Become better. Become someone who doesn't need protection.
"I will." It was two simple words, but with those two words, they were filled with many promises. "I have a lot of people I want to protect now, including you. I'll get stronger and protect you one day, Naruto."
Saying those words put him in a small trance and that made his entire body go red. "Are you burning up, Naruto?" Hinata asked, placing her hand on his forehead.
"No, I'm fine," he mumbled.
The fox gave him a look which Naruto noticed.
There was a knock on the door and Naruto already knew who it was. Getting up, he walked towards the door and opened it up.
"The ship is leaving port now. I figured Hinata and Konohamaru wanted to see the view," Sasuke said.
"Oh, you're feeling better Konohamaru?"
"I am! The tea Sasuke suggested helped. I had a mug full," Konohamaru said, happily. "Um sir, why is your face red? Are you coming down with a fever?"
Clearing his throat, Naruto glanced over his shoulder. "Let's go Hinata."
A new adventure awaited them and Hinata was unsure of what was going to happen, but with Naruto by her side, she knew she had nothing to fear. She recalled the first day she met him by the Uzumaki manor and how cruel he was, but he showed to be quite a gentleman even if it was in his own way. From the bottom of her heart, she thanked Madam Saya for giving her an opportunity.
There were countless days she felt broken and that a piece of her was slowly chipping away, but looking at Naruto… she felt she had finally found the right glue to put her back together. The feeling was a strange one. One she had never experienced before, but if being around Naruto made her feel such a sense of protection and an overwhelming amount of joy, then she wanted to be by his side forever.
"I wonder if they have any cinnamon rolls here," Hinata said, her eyes glancing at the deep blue sea.
"What's a cinnamon roll, Hinata?" Konohamaru asked.
The young woman explained the delicate bread and that caught Konohamaru's attention. As Hinata was "educating" Konohamaru, Sasuke leaned forward over the railing and captured the scenery.
"It's best to enjoy days like these now because I'm afraid these may just be our last days enjoying it," Sasuke said, closing his eyes.
Naruto pressed his back against the rail and crossed his arms. The warm wind pushed against his back and his golden hair fluttered around. "That's why we're enjoying our days like these now so when that time comes, we won't die with regrets, right?"
Sasuke nodded. "Our soul may not be able to rest in peace if we had so many regrets."
"Do you think you can do it? The people we grew up with may just turn into our enemies."
Opening his eyes, Sasuke glanced at him then at the sea. "It's something I don't want to do, but if it is the only to achieve peace and take Konoha from the dark days then it's something we must do."
"It's just not us who's going to be affected."
"If he doesn't make things better and stop the corruption, that is a chance we have to take," Sasuke replied, narrowing his eyes.
"If I die, I pray I'm not reincarnated as one of Kiba's dogs or worse, your dog," Naruto said chuckling.
"Likewise."
.
.
.
Night came quickly, and the ship was livelier and louder than before. There were a lot of options and foods to try that Konohamaru didn't know what to try. He did his best to stay close to Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata but the little things caught his attention.
They were all dressed in their best attire, getting ready to eat the finest Japanese food prepared. It was a first for Hinata and Konohamaru and they felt a little out of place with the people around them who sounded so elegant and smart.
Both Sasuke and Naruto felt how uncomfortable they were and reassured them that half of the "upper class" couldn't tell a flower from a leaf. That made them less tense, and the night went on smoothly.
Afterward, they enjoyed a magnificent play presented in the theater room. Konohamaru's eyes lit up the entire time watching the play and he couldn't help but be filled with emotion. It was Kabuki, a form of Japanese dance drama.
"That was beautiful," Hinata piped up as they made their way to their rooms.
Konohamaru nodded eagerly. "It was! So amazing."
"Ne, Konohamaru. I have some leftover cinnamon rolls. Would you like to try them?"
"Sure!" he replied, skipping slightly.
"I'm going to write Kiba," Sasuke said, making his way to the bedroom.
"Ne, Naruto! Can you show Konohamaru that phone please?" Hinata begged.
Tilting his head to the side, Konohamaru stared oddly at Hinata. "Telephone?" he tried to pronounce. "What's a telephone?"
Konohamaru nearly fell backward when he saw the strange object and how Naruto spoke to it. Hinata couldn't help but giggle when she saw the reaction from his face. Maybe this was how she looked when Naruto first saw her.
"That's truly amazing!" Konohamaru exclaimed.
"I suppose it is," Naruto said. "Someone will bring you some tea and snacks. I'll go back to the room. Konohamaru you be careful coming back," he warned before he took his leave.
"This room reminds me of a story Moegi described to me," Konohamaru said, pulling his knees against his chest.
"Who's Moegi?" Hinata said, eyeing Konohamaru suspiciously. She pondered, was this someone Konohamaru was courting? Now that she thought about it, there were days he was absent or 'missing in action'.
Konohamaru noticed the look Hinata gave him, and he quickly raised his hands and shook his head. "No! It's not what you think. She's just a friend."
"You are at that age," Hinata said, placing her finger next to her mouth
Suddenly, Konohamaru's face turned red, and he quickly sputtered out, "What do you mean I'm at that age?"
"Well, you're a young man and I'm sure you've caught the attention of a lot of young ladies your age," Hinata said, sitting down.
"I haven't," Konohamaru mumbled. "I'm not handsome like Naruto nor am I rich."
"It isn't always about money, Konohamaru. When you do find her, don't forget to invite me to the wedding," Hinata said, smiling.
Konohamaru let out a breath, but it was soft enough not to draw Hinata's attention. Sometimes he wanted to scream to her and the entire world: "It's you who I love and no one else!"
Foolish? Brave?
Maybe foolish on his part.
"Hinata, may I ask a question?" Konohamaru asked, his eyes lowered.
"You may."
"What if Naruto wants to court you. Would you take his offer?" That pained him to ask a question as such, but it burdened his mind that maybe Hinata will never truly be his.
Unexpectedly, Hinata's face turned a scarlet red and her tongue became heavy. "I- A knock sounded on the door, and she quickly shot up. "I'll answer it."
Konohamaru pulled himself from the floor and walked over to the circular table that was placed in the center. As Hinata walked towards the door, her mind felt hazy. She couldn't give him an answer.
Opening the door, Hinata smiled at the young woman Yoko. "Good night, Yoko. It's a pleasure to meet you again."
"Good night, Ms. Hinata. I have the dessert you requested," Yoko replied timidly, making her way into the room. Spotting Konohamaru sitting in the corner, she turned to face Hinata. "Where is your handsome husband, Ms. Hinata?"
Bewildered, Hinata flustered and shook her head like a deranged animal. Before she could say anything, Konohamaru had already shouted, "Naruto isn't her husband!"
Yoko's full cheeks turned slightly red, and she apologized. "I am sorry! I thought he was."
"No, i-it's fine," Hinata mumbled.
That comment made her heart fluttered and it left such an odd feeling in her chest. Yoko made her way to the circular table and began to place the assorted desserts on it when Hinata noticed her white long skirt had a tear in it. Had she been walking with a hole-in skirt around the ship this entire time? How embarrassing!
Konohamaru stared at the scared girl oddly when she dropped the glass plate on the table. "I'm sorry!" Yoko said, twirling around. "I- I didn't mean to offend you."
"No, no. You did not offend me, Yoko and I'm sorry if I frightened you, but it's just that your— she said, leaning closer to the girl, "there's a hole in your skirt."
As expected, the young maiden's face turned a terrible red color and the tears swelled in the corner of her eyes. Soon, big chunks ran down her cheeks and she shook. Konohamaru pretended not to see the noticeable hole and he got up.
"I- I will see if Naruto wants me," he said, running towards the door. "I'll talk to you later, Hinata!"
"There's no need to cry," Hinata said, picking up the shards. "I've had countless holes in my skirts and dresses. All you need to do is sew it up, and you'll be good as new."
A while had passed, and Hinata noticed the young girl had not responded. Turning around, her eyes wavered when she saw the girl crying softly to herself. "Yo—
"I have no one to teach me," Yoko admitted, wiping the tears away. "This is the only skirt that didn't have a hole in it."
Another glance at the hole and Hinata could tell someone had intentionally cut a hole into Yoko's skirt. "Take off your skirt and I'll sew it for you," Hinata offered. Yoko was about to decline the offer when Hinata raised her hand. "It's okay, now come- come. Take it off and I'll show you."
The two ladies sat around the table, and Yoko watched intensely as Hinata showed her how to sew the hole with a piece of extra fabric. "Now you try."
Taking the needle from Hinata, Yoko tried her best to sew the fabric over the hole. It took some time, and it wasn't as neat as Hinata's own, but she managed to sew it on.
"See. Easy." Hinata said, looking over it.
"T-thank you," Yoko said, wiping her eyes.
Hinata couldn't help but smile and she handed Yoko the skirt to put on. "I remembered the first time someone told me there was a hole in my dress. During those three days, I cried and learned how to sew on my own."
"Why would you have to sew?" Yoko asked. "Don't you have maids to do it for you?"
"Well, I am a maid and sewing has no status. I believe every woman must know how to sew," Hinata replied.
Yoko was surprised to hear a confession. Looking at the young woman, there was no way to detect she was a maid! She looked kempt and clean, and not to mention well-fed. She even had one of the finest rooms on the ship! How could someone like this be a maid?
Hinata giggled when she noticed the look on Yoko's face. "My master is very kind."
"I-is that young man with the blue eyes your master?" Yoko asked.
Hinata nodded, but then looked down at the sponge cake. Would she too think her to be a whore?
Yoko clasped her hands together and stared in awe at Hinata. "Your master is so kind!" she said, her voice went into a loud squeak.
"I've only known a few masters to be kind to their servants. I'm glad you found one," she said, taking a seat on the floor in front of Hinata's feet.
Hinata wore a surprised look on her face, and she couldn't help but ask, "Do you not think I sleep with the master to get such treatment?"
"Who am I to think so and who am I to care?" Yoko said, crossing her arms. "Not every maid sleeps with her master, and if she did? I don't understand this world, Ms. Hinata. Why should the other be concerned about what goes on in their neighbor's house? I had a master before. He was kind!" Yoko said, playing with her long hair. "He was a very old man, and no one would care for him at his age. He eventually became bedridden, and his children did not come to see him. I did everything to make sure he was comfortable until his final days," she said, smiling warmly. "When I think about him, it makes me happy."
Hinata listened as Yoko told her about where she came from and the life she had to endure. All she could do was smile and nod her head. Yoko felt warm and fuzzy inside as this was her first time truly speaking to someone about her life and she had a fun time telling her story.
Yoko was just eight when her mother passed away due to a sickness that struck their poor village. She was taken in by a fisherman and his wife. They weren't the nicest people and she had to endure a life of hateful remarks and abuse. When she turned thirteen, an older man hired her, and she worked for him for three years before his death.
Once she was done, Hinata smiled. "I'm glad you had the experience of having a loving master, Yoko. There are very few, but they are out there. Why don't you sit next to me and have some cake?"
Yoko's brown eyes widened, and she plopped herself on the seat. There was a glow on her face which made Hinata giggle.
"I haven't had anyone as nice as you, Ms. Hinata. The blue eye man, he's quite handsome," Yoko nodded.
"He is," Hinata admitted. "He's handsome and kind."
"Does he not have a wife? I suspect if he did, you would not be on this ship."
"No, he does not," Hinata responded placing a slice of cake in front of her. "I don't think he'll ever get married."
"In my experience of being on this ship, a lot of young men say they aren't ready to get married," Yoko said, sliding the fork against the cake.
The two chattered, mostly Yoko, and Hinata would respond every so often. There was a relaxing feeling in the air amongst the two girls. They were the complete opposite, yet they shared almost a similar fate. It had been a long time, on –maybe two hours –but neither girl felt tired. A connection between the two grew strong and there was a pure and honest friendship blossoming between them.
If it had not been for a knock, then the two would have gone on for hours or probably days! Hinata opened the door, and she stared at Naruto who stared down at her. It felt as if her heartstrings were playing a soft melody when she gazed into his eyes.
"I see you still have company," Naruto said, glancing at Yoko who was bowing.
"Ah, yes. I'm going to leave now!" Yoko said, placing the empty plates and glasses onto the pushcart. "It was a pleasure speaking to you, Ms. Hinata," Yoko said, pushing the cart out of the room. "Thank you again!" she said, bowing. "G-Good night, sir!"
Naruto watched as the girl left then he turned to Hinata. "She's rather odd."
"Sir, you mustn't say such a thing about a woman," Hinata said, frowning. "That wasn't very nice."
He laughed. "I'm sorry. It seems you made a friend?" he questioned, raising his eyebrow.
"I would like to believe I did. She's very talkative, but I enjoy her presence nonetheless."
"Well, I'm glad you did," Naruto said, rubbing her head. "But remember to be observant, okay?"
"Y-yes, Naruto."
"I'll be off to bed and Hinata—
"Yes?"
"Try to sleep with the lights off, okay?" He smiled. "Good night."
.
.
.
It's foggy and the smell of gun powder permeates heavily in the air. Fire rages about and houses are burning. People are running and screaming. Soldiers rampage around the city and civilians are fighting back.
"Naruto! Where are you?" Hinata coughs out.
Turning around, she sees two figures riding a brown horse. One with blonde hair and the other with red hair. She can't see their faces, but she knows it's Naruto and she knows it may be her last time seeing him.
Throwing the blanket off, she gasped for air. The smell of fire still sits in her nose, and she looked around the room. Everything is fine and there's nothing out of the ordinary. Gripping the blanket, Hinata let a singular tear run down her cheek. That dream felt so real. Holding herself, she sobbed softly. This was the second dream she had of Naruto disappearing.
She tried to go to sleep after that, but she couldn't find it in her to do so. He didn't turn back.
He didn't know she was there.
He left her.
Hinata tightened the lace on her nightgown and jumped off the soft mattress. She almost tumbled when the ship rocked slightly. Shivering from the cold touch of the doorknob, she opened it and almost let out a ghastly scream when she met Naruto.
Naruto jumped when the door opened, and he quickly swallowed the "yelp" that almost slipped out.
"Naruto!" Hinata exclaimed.
"I saw the lights were on, and I just wanted to check on you," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "Why are you crying? Are you hurt?"
Hinata shook her head and then wrapped her arms around Naruto. "I had a nightmare."
"It's gone now," he said, caressing her back. "There's no need to fret anymore."
"You say not to, but how can I not? This is the second dream I've had with you and each dream you end up leaving me," Hinata sobbed. "Are you going to leave me?"
"I'm still here, aren't I?" Naruto hummed. "Why don't you go to bed? It's still late at night." Hinata tightened her grip on his shirt and he felt her shake her head. "Would you like me to join you?" She nodded.
Naruto closed the door behind him and guided her towards the bed. The lights flickered off and the room was consumed by the darkness. Hinata buried her head into his chest and he held her just as tightly.
"N, Naruto," Hinata said through a muffled voice.
"Hm?"
"I miss my father and mother. Do you miss yours?"
"Yes, yes I do."
"I would you miss you if you were to leave me."
Naruto licked his lips and rubbed her arm. "I'll miss you too, Hinata."
"Thank you for being kind to me," Hinata said, trying to hold her yawn back.
"I should be thanking you," Naruto replied, comfortably adjusting himself. "Try not to think about the dream, okay? It's only a nightmare."
"It felt so real," she said, squeezing her eyes shut. "Soldiers were attacking our people. It felt like I was at war again. I don't want war again, Sir."
"You mustn't worry about that, Hinata. Right now, is what matters?"
"Tell me a story."
Naruto smiled. "Aren't you too old for bedtime stories, Hinata?"
Hinata pouted which Naruto sense and that made him smile harder. "I don't know many stories, and I like to dream of which stories I will tell my children when they request one."
"With whom will you have children?" Naruto asked, playfully. "I'm not getting married, and neither will you. Did you somehow forget our promise?"
Hinata's cheeks burned, and she hit him against his chest with her forehead when he laughed. "Well, the kids at the orphanage are like children to me, so I shall consider them my children."
"Yes, yes. I know they are. Especially young Marco."
"How many children would you want of your own if you were to want them?" asked Naruto.
"A lot."
Chuckling, Naruto turned on his side to face her. Although the room was dark, he could make out her figure underneath the blankets that wrapped around them. Hinata's breathing became slower when Naruto rested his forehead on hers. (AN: All I can think of is the "now kiss" meme during this scene.)
"What is a lot, Hinata?"
"As many as I can have," she frowned. "Are you making fun of me, Naruto?"
"I am not," he said, honestly. "A lot can mean one, two, eight, twelve."
"Twelve is a lot!" Hinata almost gasped. "Who would help me raise twelve children?"
Naruto hummed. "Well, I will since you'll always be by my side."
The warmth from his breath made her tingle and she swallowed the lump in her throat. Talking about such things made her imagination run wild and she couldn't help but picture children that resembled Naruto and her running around the Namikaze manor.
"You've talked for some time. Let's go to sleep."
Hinata nodded slowly and she scooted closer to Naruto. "Good night, Naruto."
Wrapping his arms around her, he closed his eyes and embraced her warming scent. "Good night, Hinata."
.
.
.
Morning came, and Hinata found herself on an empty bed. The smell of her master still lingered on the spot he lay in, and she placed her head on the pillow. A miniature light was turned on, on the nightstand beside her, and she smiled.
The little fox ran in a circle in front of Hinata's door and Konohamaru picked it up. It was almost time for breakfast and Naruto asked him to wake up Hinata.
Hinata adjusted her lavender dress and she quickly opened the door in hopes it was Naruto. She would deny it, but she was a little disappointed when she saw Konohamaru, but she smiled.
"Good morning, Konohamaru."
"Good morning, Hinata. Naruto sent me to fetch you for breakfast."
The fox jumped on Hinata and she rubbed his head. "And good morning to you, little fellow. Are you hungry for breakfast?"
Konohamaru shook his head when he glanced at the fox who nodded its small head. "He eats every chance he gets. This fox is not normal."
"Don't say that about him," Hinata said, hugging the fox. "Come, let's get some breakfast," she said, poking his round stomach. The fox gladly raised his paws and Hinata turned around to shove it between her breasts. "Shall we go, Mr. Konohamaru?" Hinata said, playfully.
"You seem to be in an extra good mood this morning, Hinata. Did something happen between you and Yoko?"
Smiling, Hinata nodded. "Yes, I met a good friend."
For reason, she could not bring herself to tell Konohamaru of last night's events with Naruto. To her, it felt like a secret that only they shared and that made her happy.
Sasuke stared oddly at his friend who was adjusting his pants. "You seem to be in a good mood. Did something happen during your walk last night?"
The corner of Naruto's mouth tugged upwards, and he smiled. "No, nothing happened last night."
Eyeing him suspiciously, Sasuke shrugged as he had a clue where his dear friend disappeared last night. Sasuke wasn't one to judge a man's action, and he knew his beloved friend was clueless and probably wouldn't even know how to use his willy. He never believed any of the rumors of Naruto's wild night with any female because one, Naruto was too innocent, and two, he was an idiot.
Clueless.
Idiot.
The list went on of words used to describe his friend. And now that he knew Hinata a little better, he knew she would not spread her legs for any man unless she was forced to. That girl was from the Hyuga clan. They were traditional and held the utmost respect for anyone and themselves. War or not, getting rid of values and traditions was not the Hyuga way. Besides, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans were no different.
It saddened him to think what things she had to endure. Maybe saddened wasn't the right word, but anger? He was angry at his people, angry at the soldiers. How dare they lay a hand on a woman? A woman that couldn't protect herself. What man had the right to lay a hand on any woman, regardless of status?
His father never laid a hand on his mother. Neither did his grandfather to his wife. If they did, they probably hid it well.
Sasuke looked up when he felt someone touched his shoulder. It was Naruto. "Why does your face look so long? What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing you haven't already thought about before," Sasuke said, standing up. "Let's eat."
The fresh scent of seawater was evident in the air as the group sat out on the higher deck of the cafe. The sea glistened and everything looked tranquil and at ease as the ship sailed on the water. Hinata was too eager by the view that she barely ate what was on her plate. Konohamaru, although he drank some tea, he still felt uneasy, but it was better than before.
"Where are we going?" Konohamaru asked, resting the chopsticks down.
"We're heading to the Land hidden in the mist," Sasuke said, before taking a sip of tea.
"The land hidden in the mist?" Konohamaru asked.
As Sasuke was explaining the place there were heading, in the background, Naruto was watching Hinata who snuck a little bit of food and would turn around every so often from the group to avoid anyone from looking at her. He almost chuckled when their eyes met when she was about to grab another piece of bacon. The middle of her dress moved, and Naruto noticed a little piece of red fur sticking out.
Blushing, Hinata put down the bacon and ate a piece of toasted bread with raspberry jam.
"That sounds very interesting!" Konohamaru said. "I can't wait. What about you, Hinata?"
"Um, yes. I can't wait either," she laughed nervously.
The sun hung high in the sky and most of the clouds were absent. Konohamaru was floating on his back in the pool, while Sasuke chose to sit on the lounge chair and both Naruto and Hinata had their legs dipped into the pool.
"Life always seems to have something new," Hinata said to him. "I can't believe what we humans can invent when we just put our minds to it."
Naruto nodded. "As I said, there are so many worlds to explore out there and so many ideas to be brought to life."
"Have you thought of any inventions?" she asked.
Chuckling, he shook his head. "No. Academically, I'm not the smartest person."
"I think you're smart, Naruto," Hinata said, eyeing him. "I haven't been to school in a while and I'm smart at needlework."
"I suppose. I am good at thinking of a plan during action," Naruto said, crossing his arms.
"See." Hinata beamed with joy.
Sasuke listened to the two chatter away, and he smiled when Naruto snorted. "Oh, dobe. How long is it going to take you to understand your feelings?" he mumbled to himself.
Hinata covered her mouth to suppress her giggles when Naruto told her a funny story. The entire time they were together, they hadn't realized how close they had gotten. Not even a thread could slip past them.
Konohamaru also noticed the atmosphere between the two and that made him sulk. He may be young, but he knew what love was… or is.
Night painted the blue sky and soon enough the stars came out of hiding. Today was adventurous for the group, especially the newcomers Hinata and Konohamaru. For dinner tonight, they had a nice steak dinner with red wine. It was Konohamaru's first time and that was one of the reasons they had left early for the night. The poor boy was slightly intoxicated to the point he couldn't move his limbs.
Currently, Sasuke was carrying him on his back to their room. As they were walking, there was a sudden commotion not too far from them. A group of spectators formed near the front entrance of the ship. Hinata's eyes widened when she saw who everyone was spectating. It was Yoko! She was being bullied by a few of the ship workers.
"You dirty girl! Why can't you ever do your job correctly?" one of the workers belittled her. "You're young so you should know better, right?
"It was not I who provided him the wrong wine. I already told you that," Yoko said, balling her fist.
"How dare you talk back?" the older woman said slapping Yoko. "Because of you, she received no tip for the night."
Yoko hung her head lower and said again, "It was not I. Mariana said white wine, not red. I know what I heard."
The older woman did not seem to like the disrespect and she raised her hand to slap the girl once more until someone caught it. "I would like if you stopped hitting my help."
Naruto and Sasuke were dumbfounded when Hinata grabbed the woman's wrist. "You're rubbing off on her," Sasuke said.
"You act like it's a bad thing," Naruto said, crossing his arms and smiling cockily.
"Ms. Hinata," Yoko said in shock.
Hinata threw the woman's hand down and glared at her. "Don't you have anything better to do? All of you?" she said, glaring at the people surrounding them.
Naruto's smile widened and Sasuke shook his head. "I'll take him to the room. Don't rub off anymore on her," he scolded.
The crowd dispersed and Hinata placed her hand on Yoko's shoulder. "Yoko, are yo—
Yoko wrapped her arms around Hinata and cried. She didn't say a word, but Hinata already knew. She rubbed her back in a circular motion and rocked side by side. "There, there. There's no need to cry. You're fine now. Why don't you join me in my room for cake and tea?" Hinata said, walking with the call to the bedding entrance.
The smile faded off Naruto's face and he pouted. Hinata looked over her shoulder and smiled. "You will be joining me later, Sir?"
His heart skipped a beat and his face slowly turned red. "Yes."
Hinata handed Yoko a napkin and rubbed her head. "I am the youngest on the ship, so they get mad when I am requested the most. You must believe me, Ms. Hinata. Mariana told me red, not white. I know what I heard."
"I know. I know. I've had to deal with those types before, Yoko. You're not alone," Hinata said.
Yoko looked down and grip her skirt. "I just want them to like me and be nice to me like you," she whispered.
"And you'll find that one friend with whom you can share your secrets. Someone you'll spend all night talking to," Hinata said.
"Oh, Hinata!" Yoko whined, throwing herself on the startled girl. "I wish you were my friend. You're so brave and strong. Please don't leave me."
"I would like to think I am your friend, Yoko," Hinata said, eyeing her. "I don't have that many friends, so do you mind if I count you as one?"
Yoko's eyes watered and she nodded her head eagerly. "Yes! Yes!" she exclaimed, grabbing Hinata's hand. "Thank you."
Smiling, Hinata patted her hands. "Naruto has informed me we should reach our stop in a day or two. In the meantime, let's enjoy our company with one another, okay?"
Yoko's heart felt like it was about to explode, and she tightened her grip around Hinata. "I would like that more than anything, Ms. Hinata."
Hinata patted her back and said in a serious tone. "Yoko, once I am gone you will have to stand up for yourself. My master once told me that you shouldn't allow anyone to hit you, and right now you're allowing that. You must stand up for yourself and never let them lay a hand on you."
"But I am afraid," Yoko said.
"I know it can be scary Yoko, but one day it's just going to be you. Do you understand me?"
Rubbing her eyes, she nodded. "Yes."
"Here. Eat some cake."
.
.
.
Anyone would find it unorthodox for two unmarried people to be sleeping together, and one would even believe the two were courting. For Naruto and Hinata, they knew this and that's why it was a precious secret. They weren't doing anything married couples would do, but just having the other near was a relief.
In a way, it worked out for both of them. Naruto was able to sleep better, and Hinata felt at ease when she had her nightmares. It was a win-win situation.
Naruto lay on his back and closed his eyes as he listened to Hinata explain the situation about Yoko. She wasn't this talkative before, but he didn't mind. The sound of her voice was a calmness that made him feel at peace.
"I was quite surprised how you stuck up for Yoko," Naruto said, locking his hands together.
"Truthfully, I did not know what overcame me. I hated how they treated her, and nobody said a thing or did anything to stop her!"
"It's a good thing you were there for her."
Naruto felt the bed move and he stopped breathing when he felt Hinata hovering over him. "Naruto am I a hypocrite for telling Yoko not to let anyone hit her. I allowed people to hit me." Her hair tickled him slightly, and he opened his eyes. Right now, he wished it was not dark as he longed to see the beautiful girl stare at him with those precious eyes he had come to adore. "Are you sleeping?"
"No one has laid a hand on you ever since and you are not a hypocrite. I like to believe when we tell other people things to help them that we're speaking to ourselves as well. So, by you telling Yoko this, you were also reminding yourself the same thing."
"I've never thought about it that way," Hinata said, laying back beside him. "When you told me that day to not let anyone hit me, was that also a reminder for you?"
"Yes. Sometimes when I tell you stuff, it reminds me to stay true to myself too."
Hinata rubbed her toes together and poked her index fingers, repeatedly. The room was engulfed in silence and the two lied there in the comfort of each other's presence. Naruto had fallen asleep some time ago, but Hinata had a hard time falling asleep. It wasn't the nightmares, but a sudden question emerged from the very back of her mind. Something she had hidden yet did not know existed.
-Clouds cannot cover secret places, no denials conceal truth.
Review.
AN: This time period is the "coming of technology".
Also, thank you for the reviews and encouraging words. The positive reviews always outweigh the bad ones. Thank you again and thank you pawnzy for reviewing my work.
Stay safe everyone!