Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 8
The impact of dropping out of thin air and onto the solid earth of Mt. Myoboku wiped the smirk off Naruto's face real fast. His legs instantly gave out and he collapsed in an unbecoming heap, groaning into the warm blades of grass as all the abuse his body had taken throbbed painfully. With the abrupt departure of his stress (basically anything and anyone in Konoha), the sudden drop of adrenaline left him all too aware of how his galant act was not without its repercussions, and probably an actual concussion to top it all off.
The sound of soft shuffling shushed through the grass, and a sharp stick poked him in the side of his head. Growling, Naruto begrudgingly flopped over onto his back, squinting up through his only functional eye to see the bemused twitch of Fukasaku's wide mouth as he stabbed his cane back into the ground.
"Well, you're alive. Mostly."
Scowling as best he could at the snickering toad, Naruto released his transformation with a deep sigh, allowing his chakra to retreat and his whole mind to relax. The Kyūbi's chakra hummed dimly in its place, involuntarily easing his pounding headache and slowly working out the grotesque swelling of his face. The bigger injuries wouldn't disappear until after a full night of deathlike sleep, so he had no choice but to mentally resign himself to a few more hours of suffering.
"Ha, ha," he grunted flatly as he slowly sat up with a grimace. His fingers carefully explored his face, gingerly assessing all the parts of him that hurt, pouting when his tongue discovered that even a tooth was loose. Hopefully a good nights sleep could reset his body and make him look halfway decent again. And a bath. His nose wrinkled as he got a whiff of himself as he peeled out of his Sage Cloak, hissing through his teeth as his torso twisted.
The nearby pond started to froth and bubble, and Gamamoto emerged, a lily pad beached upon his warty head. Naruto would have laughed at the sight of the serious toad with the jaunty pink flower slipping over one buggy eye, except that in that very instant four heavy scrolls shot out of Gamamoto's mouth straight at Naruto's own head.
With a pathetic yelp Naruto caught the well aimed sealing scrolls square in the chest. The fourth, and largest, was the toad contract scroll, which sailed through the air and collided with him hard enough to throw him back onto the ground again, feet shooting up into the air. Fukasaku didn't so much as flinch to stop the projectiles, just nodded a polite acknowledgement at the transporting amphibian as he sank back into the murky water.
"Oh god, I think that broke my last rib," Naruto wheezed, his arms going limp and the scrolls tumbling across the grass. Fukasaku was studying the three smaller ones curiously, ignoring his fellow Sage's dramatic whining.
"Were you able to secure all the items you wanted, Naruto-chan?" he asked, reading the seals across the closed flap of the scrolls. Only one bore Naruto's mark, the other two were unfamiliar. "Are these from others in Konoha?"
Hugging his ribcage, Naruto used one arm to push himself up to his hand and knees, breathing through tightly pursed lips as he glanced over. "Yeah, Hinata's cousin and her teammates helped me gather some things. Hopefully the toads told one of them about my traps and had them collect the fish and anything else I was able to catch."
Fukasaku's eyes twinkled with mischief, his gaze slipping thoughtfully towards the direction of the trail leading to his home where he had left the busy women while he came to meet Naruto. One moist green finger tapped the knob of his cane, and he chuckled to himself before addressing the suffering teenager.
"Food huh? You needn't have bothered, Ma is making her specialty tonight."
Naruto's head whipped up, fixing Fukasaku with a death glare. "Don't tell me…not that…"
Fukasaku's eyes creased shut in exaggerated bliss and he hummed in affirmation. "Oh yes, larvae rolls with river weed salad topped with crunchy beetle—"
His menu recitation was cut off by the cloud of dust left behind as Naruto leaped to his feet, frantically gathering his precious inventory of food and supplies and making a beeline for the hut, desperate to beat Ma to the dinner table. Coughing as he waved a hand to clear the air, Fukasaku giggled evilly.
Pain be damned, Naruto sprinted with single minded determination down the trail. He was limping a bit, and each inhale felt like he was being stabbed, but it would be worth it. Anything to not eat those abominations again. The hut quickly came into view, and with salvation in sight, he dove through the small doorway with the recklessness of a runner careening toward the finish line.
Tumbling awkwardly due to the scrolls in his arms, which rolled to the far corners of the room, he collided with one of the small chairs. Something soft and purple floated over his head, sticking to his sweating face as he panted heavily from pain and exertion. Peeling away the fabric that smelled oddly familiar, the sight that filled his gaze made his whole body go cold.
Hinata was standing in the middle of the room while completely topless except for her bindings, frozen with her eyes glued to his, holding her long hair tangled up in her hands upon the top of her head. Shima stood on a stool by her side, in the middle of carefully wrapping Hinata's hourglass figure in fresh bandages after dressing her wound.
Naruto sucked in a choked breath, blinking rapidly. His brain could only register brief flashes of her gloriousness at a time or risk complete overload. Snapshots of her stunning image burned into his mind, each featuring a new and unique breathtaking detail.
Like the few strands of hair escaping her slender fingers to curve along her jaw.
Like the milky smoothness of her stomach.
Like the perfect little dip of her navel.
Like the wide flare of her hips which he hadn't even known existed.
Like the red blush traveling from the tips of her ears, down her face, dusting her long exposed neck and spreading across her naked collarbone to finally disappear over the rounded fullness of her cleavage and under the bandages.
The way she pinked under his keen scrutiny reminded him of the way the sunset bled across the sky at the end of the day, painting earth and heaven in rose colors. With her midnight hair and flushed skin, she was like a living embodiment of the consummation between night and day. Twilight perfection, when the blazing sunlight cooled to welcome warmth.
But Naruto was more than just warm. In the split second it took him to drink in her curves his body switched from cold to unbearably hot. They both were staring at one another in shock, each unable to look away with a mixture of horror and surprise. Naruto didn't even notice Shima descending from her stool with a glare of doom until her small but strong hands gripped him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him back toward the open door.
With the strength of a well trained Sage she drop kicked his stunned ass out of the hut and halfway down the path, slamming the door shut with enough force to make the roof shake. Naruto skidded on his backside, nearly colliding with Fukasaku where he stood laughing heartily at Naruto's shell shocked expression.
"Sorry Naruto-chan," he rasped between chortles while wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "I should have warned you that the women were busy, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up."
Naruto stared slack-jawed at the shut door, trying to reconcile the mind blowing figure he had just seen with the shapeless purple jacket he was so familiar with, and deciding that he might just have to burn it…accidentally, of course.
"N-no worries," he stuttered, grasping the hand Fukasaku extended to help him to his feet, though it was of little help considering the Toad's diminutive stature. He absently brushed dust from his clothes, completely spaced out. "I'm…that was…she's..."
Fukasaku snickered, tugging on Naruto's pant leg to get his attention off the occupants of the hut and guide him over to a particularly comfortable leaf where they could sit and wait to be granted permission to enter again.
"Come on boy, drool later. I want to hear about Konoha. What did you see? Who did you talk with? And what the hell happened to your face?"
Casting more than one dazed glance over his shoulder as he shuffled after the short toad, Naruto wiped his damp face on his shirt while attempting to clear his spinning head. Settling down, he accepted the water flask offered to him and drank deeply, the cool water helping to soothe the heat of his swollen lip but not the fire that burned deep in his belly. Dumping some of the water over his head and flaming face, he shook his wet hair like a dog, hoping to shake off the uncomfortable tension that had settled in his gut.
"Konoha, right, um, it was, g-good," Naruto began, his mind scrambling to rewind to the start of a day that had been one hell of a roller coaster ride. Fukasaku lifted a white eyebrow, barely suppressing a knowing grin, but remained patiently silent. Eventually Naruto was able to piece one coherent word after another together, and told his tale.
His eyes frequently drifted back to the doorway of the hut as he explained what Neji, Team Eight, and Shikamaru had explained. Fukasaku sat upon the low edge of the leaf, his chin resting thoughtfully on his folded hands as they gripped the knob of his stick. His wrinkled brow would furrow and crease with his changing expressions as he digested all of Naruto's information. When the flow of words stopped for a long moment he raised his yellow eyes questioningly.
Naruto was sitting on the high end of the leaf, one leg tucked under him and the other dangling, foot tapping the ground in a nervous rhythm that jiggled the whole plant. His gaze had again locked upon the doorway, where Shima's voice was drifting out the open window and across the yard in a lilting way that caused Hinata's soft laughter to ring through the humid air. He leaned forward, planting his elbows on his thighs and chewing the inside of his cheek. Fukasaku waited, understanding that the unpredictable young man was capable of any level of randomness, and braced himself for anything. He wasn't disappointed.
"Can I ask you something?" Naruto said, turning around to face Fukasaku with a hesitant hope lighting his eyes. The old toad grunted his assent, curiosity truly peaked.
"I want Hinata to sign the toad contract."
Took him long enough, Fukasaku thought, instantly knowing his answer and confident in Shima's consensus without even needing to ask. But easy answers weren't the way to train a Sage, so he forced his face into a look of concern and rubbed his small beard in faux contemplation.
"That was not a question," he remarked, but responded to it anyway. "Why do you think she would be a good fit?"
Naruto snorted, mumbling to himself as he rubbed his matted hair. But with a deep inhale he obediently straightened up and prepared to defend his request, wincing a bit from the stretch.
"She's a perfect fit, mind, body, and spirit," Naruto began, ticking off his fingers to illustrate all of his points. "She's smart, understands the meaning of hard work, never gives up, and she's a talented kunoichi with an affinity for water that has yet to reach her full potential. With the training and encouragement of the Toads and myself I believe she can become a more powerful kunoichi than the Hyuga could have dreamed." He looked over with a challenging gleam to his eye, proud of his little speech.
Fukasaku nodded, unable and unwilling to refute all those things, but wanting to push just a bit more. "And…?"
Naruto frowned, fat bottom lip jutting out even further as he contemplated what more he could possibly say. "Aaaand…she's amazing with her Byakugan, which would be a huge help for the Spy Network. She's super strong, you should've seen her go after Pein! But she's also the kindest person in the whole world. And her cooking is amaaaazing! One time she made these delicious little onigiri that looked just like my face and…"
Fukasaku continued to listen, nodded here and there with a growing smile as the rambling list of Hinata's many noteworthy qualities became more and more specific and random. Ranging from the "fact" that she smelled good all the time, to the perfection of her handwriting. Finally deciding that the oblivious boy's train of thought had derailed far enough to head into weird territory, he smoothly interrupted.
"…and you love her and want her to stay here with you forever, right?"
"And I love her forever and want her to st—ah! Fu-Fukasaku!" Naruto's voice cracked a bit as it rose in embarrassment, his whiskered cheeks flushing under his bruises. The sly amphibian cackled as he enjoyed Naruto's flustered expression. He missed having a young summoner to tease. Jiraiya and Minato were so fun to mock when they were in the throes of their amorous youth.
Because the world was so brutally harsh, and life could be so heartbreakingly short. Fukasaku had long ago learned to treasure any small spot of brightness in the dark. If he could point to one thing more than any other that had helped him endure the centuries of this life, it was his bond with Shima. And he was determined to help these two young shinobi learn to focus on the same. With that sentiment in mind he used his cane to poke Naruto teasingly in the leg.
"The answer is yes, absolutely. I'm sure the Great Toad Sage will agree, as well as Gamabunta. Feel free to invite her to sign the contract whenever you want. Perhaps later tonight, under the stars? Or from the top of the forest canopy while the sun sets? Ah! How about by the waterfall? It can be especially romantic at twilight!"
"I'm just asking her to become a Toad Summoner, not proposing!" Naruto yelped, frantically pinching the front of his filthy shirt and fanning it in an effort to circulate more air around his suddenly sweating body.
"Fine, fine," Fukasaku laughed and waved his hand, taking pity on the nervous young man at long last. "It's just a suggestion. Now, finish your report on Konoha. What happened after you met with the Nara heir?"
Huffing in exasperation, Naruto snatched up the water flask and took another large gulp, sighing harshly and wiping the dribbling liquid from his chin before continuing to explain about what he had learned of Sasuke from the Kumo shinobi. After a while he was so engrossed in the details that when Hinata and Shima did emerge from the hut, he was only briefly distracted, slightly stumbling over his facts before diving back into his story. The three member audience listened carefully. Fukasaku occasionally asked a question but for the most part they all frowned silently until Naruto was done.
Hinata's cheeks still glowed faintly with residual embarrassment, but she distracted herself by cataloging each one of Naruto-kun's bruises and cuts. She studied his face as he tersely explained what Sasuke had done and discussed with Fukasaku how to go about confirming the facts via the Spy Network.
The way he had offered himself up to be the outlet of the Kumo kunoichi's hurt and frustration made her heart swell with pride but also unease. Naruto-kun was always getting hurt, always throwing himself in the line of fire for others. A selfish part of her wanted him to have more self preservation, to be less reckless. But right now more than anything else she just wanted to take care of him. He had worked hard today for both of them, and her fingers itched to treat his wounds in repayment. Her hand fisted in her empty jacket pocket, wishing she had a tin of her healing ointment.
Her train of thought came to an abrupt halt when he locked his blue eyes onto hers, his forehead wrinkling up with concern as he hesitantly informed her that Kakashi had confirmed that she was officially a rogue nin, per her own father's request.
Her gaze fell to the ground, but no wave of shock or resentment washed over her. In all honesty she had expected something like this. For all that he was her father, Hyuga Hiashi was first and foremost the Clan Head. He lived and breathed for the responsibility he carried, and would strike at any threat, no matter who it came from. In his mind, one of his flock was missing, and he would do anything to retrieve the lost sheep before a predator could steal her secrets. If it meant declaring his own daughter a fugitive in order to rally more resources to the search, then so be it.
But the reality was that she was not kidnapped, she had escaped. Fled the smothering containment of the fold, where she had no future other than to just follow the herd at the whim of their leader. And what's more, she had run away with the very fox she was supposed to be afraid of. Ironically she had found more warmth in his arms than amongst all the numerous Hyuga who were also locked away. Having seen the greener grass on the other side of the fence, Hinata had no intentions of returning to the compound. But if they sent a hunting party after her, then she couldn't risk endangering her savior anymore.
"I understand," she spoke softly, bringing all eyes to her bowed head. "I appreciate everything you all have done for me. In the morning I will leave—"
"Over my dead body."
Her head snapped up at Naruto's harsh tone. He was glaring at her, but in a gentle way that was very confusing and still made warmth blossom in her chest. Pressing his mouth into a thin line, he glanced over at Fukasaku, who winked and nodded at him. Now thoroughly curious, Hinata opened her mouth to protest whatever unspoken agreement they had come to without her, but Naruto turned and grasped her hand firmly in his own.
"Come with me, there's something I want to show you," he said tersely, crossing the fingers on his free hand and leaving a blinking shadow clone behind in a puff of smoke.
The overwhelming pressure on her heart that had stolen her breath when he had burst into the hut, his eyes wide with wonder, suddenly slammed into her again as he pulled her away to the woods. Hinata threw a pleading look over her shoulder at Shima, once more hoping the motherly toad would come to her rescue in this awkward moment. But this time all she got was a giggle and a wave, and Hinata could only squeak in dismay as she tripped along behind Naruto-kun as he eagerly led her away into the waning daylight.
They ascended a twisting trail that zig-zagged up the steep slope of the mountain, the thickening forest of bizarre plants plunging them into an early twilight that made the journey feel more mysterious the further they climbed. Hinata's brain was going a mile a minute, but her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth, unable to summon enough spit to swallow the lump in her throat.
The muggy warmth that blanketed all of Mt. Myoboku thinned as they climbed higher. Tension hugged Hinata tighter than the fresh bandages around her torso, and after several switchbacks she was forced to tug down the zipper on her jacket in an attempt to get some relief from her simmering anxiousness in the cooling air. Eventually the mutually wounded pair managed to find a pace that was easy but expectant. After all, both were eager to reach the destination for their own reasons. With a small amount of relief, Hinata was able to steady her breaths to match her strides.
Despite their slightly slowed pace, Naruto-kun refused to release his hold on her hand. The way his fingers twitched occasionally had her trying to peek at his face, always searching for some answer to her unasked questions in his expression. His eyes were stubbornly focused on the trail but a soft grunt would escape his pursed lips whenever his footing shifted even a little. At one point as he reached out to push a long leaf out of the way it slipped through his grasp and whipped back to thump against his side. He hissed, flinching away as he barely bit off a curse, but didn't pause in his push onwards. Hinata forgot her own shyness as she fretted over the tense set of his shoulders and tight expression.
Unable to keep quiet any longer she tugged on his hand, almost cringing when his intense gaze swung around to settle on her face. He was like a man on a mission. She could see the muscles in his jaw flex, like he was barely restraining himself, barely holding back his pain and his excitement. Trepidation made her stutter as she started to speak.
"Y-you're hurt," she said meekly, and he blinked at her.
"If you're going to try and tell me to stop, please don't," Naruto-kun said firmly, coming back to her side. He released his grip on her hand to place a warm palm between her shoulder blades and gently pushed, coaxing her to continue. "I want—no—I need to do this, Hinata. It'll be worth it, I promise."
Hinata licked her lips, taking a slow breath through her nose. She knew enough about him to understand that once his mind was set on something, there was no deterring him. But what could possibly be so important that he had to drag them both up a mountain in such a hurry?And while in such a wounded condition, at this time of day?
"I'm not trying to stop you, I just…we can go slower if it helps."
Naruto looked up the trail, his feet shuffling restlessly as he contemplated her request. Hinata rolled her eyes, an extreme act of exasperation for her, and gave up trying to use her words. Reaching out she tapped her fingertips to his side, making him gasp and whirl around.
"I can help," she murmured soothingly, chakra dancing across her palms. "I'm not as good as Sakura-chan, but I can at least make it hurt less."
He inhaled sharply, whether from her statement or from her healing she wasn't sure, and she didn't want to dwell on it too much. He had briefly mentioned seeing his teammate today, and despite the way he had glossed over their interaction, Hinata had not missed the way his eyes had clouded over as he said Sakura's name. The observation had spiked her anxiety, and her imagination had triggered a hundred different scenarios and rationalities as to why he was being so tight-lipped about his teammate. Trying to deny the small stab of jealousy that she was ashamed to even feel, Hinata activated her Byakugan, focusing on what looked like a few fractured ribs on his left side.
Back in Konoha, before everything had happened, Hinata had been practicing with healing chakra as part of Tsunade-sama's basic medical training, newly instituted as part of all chunin requirements. Hinata's dōjutsu and well trained chakra control had been a huge advantage, and she had excelled at what she had learned so far. While massive wounds that required large amounts of chakra and speed were beyond her scope, Hinata had mastered the tricky and delicate art of knitting tissue and bone back together. Shortly before the invasion she had been able to heal a small fracture in Neji's arm, sustained during a spar with his overzealous teammates, much to his amazement. The achievement had given her immense satisfaction, much more than any violent victory.
Since arriving in Mt. Myoboku she had been practicing on her own injury once her chakra had recovered from her battle with Pein. It was harder than she thought it would be, since she couldn't see inside herself as easily as she could inside the fish they had practiced on back in the village. The extensive time and focus it took her to transition between each different layer of her body, as well as each different tissue type, was exhausting. But during their wound inspection earlier Shima had greatly approved of her progress, deeming the bandages only necessary as mere support for her newly healed muscles and ribs.
Mustering all of her experience into this moment, her vision tunneled down to the details of Naruto-kun's bones. As expected, he had fractured several ribs. Her eyes narrowed upon the fine cracks in the broad curve of his rib, biting her lips in concentration as she watched them shrink ever so slowly as her chakra swirled around the bone. Her focus was so intense that when he spoke she was startled.
"You're amazing Hinata," he whispered, making her blink up at him. His expression had softened drastically, and if she didn't know better, he seemed almost sad. She nearly lost her flow of chakra as she stared up at him, her hovering palms grazing his side as she nearly swayed. What was he remembering that made him seem so bittersweet? Were her efforts that pathetic compared to Sakura's?
She could feel her hands start to tremble, but before she could fret any further about the potential comparisons he might be making between herself and the Godaime's apprentice, his unswollen eye crinkled, his mouth quirking slightly with a lopsided smile.
"Sakura is Sakura. But you are you, and I wouldn't want you to be any other way," he pressed his hand over her own, and she could feel the warmth of his skin through his thin shirt as she molded her fingers over his ribs. He exhaled slowly, easily, painlessly. The hot breath fanned over her cheeks as she stared at his relaxing expression, and she swallowed hard. Mesmerized by his features, she had to mentally shake herself before refocusing on her work, relishing the way the tension in his shoulders loosened under her ministrations.
She chided herself internally. Comparison was the thief of joy. What Naruto-kun and Sakura had was special, just like the bond she shared with Kiba-kun, and Shino-kun. To trust someone with your life was a level of friendship that was hard to explain, and should never be belittled. It was unfair of her to continually seek a definition simply for her own possessive satisfaction. Humans were ever changing, their bonds flexing in response to every new event and emotion. Her heart fluttered as she contemplated the state of her own constantly blossoming and indefinable connection with Naruto-kun.
Yes, her soul sang in affirmation, all bonds are precious and unique. And the one between her and the man who was staring at her like she was the only star in the sky at the moment was enough to steal her breath.
The sunset was at its blazing peak, streaking his white shirt with orange stripes of light which leaked between the thick canopy of leaves. It made him glow warmly, and with her own chakra swirling in a contrasting blue over his torso, it was as if he had been painted in the colors of the sky. The firm grip of his hand across her own eased to a gentle hold, almost cradling her fingers as the world around them narrowed to just him and her.
Hinata forgot about her anxiety. Forgot about her embarrassment. The gently whooshing wind through the thick foliage filled her ears, punctuated by the distant croaks of frogs and toads calling their loved ones home for the evening echoed lowly up from the valley. The smell of Naruto-kun's body, a combination of earth and sweat and heat wafted up to her nose on the breeze. An aroma that was imprinting upon her day after day as uniquely Naruto-kun, deeply associated in her mind with the comfort and protection of his closeness.
Her heart rate slowed, and a smile spread across her lips as she watched the last bit of bone weld back together. Straightening up, she let her dōjutsu relax, relishing the satisfying tingle in her fingertips which always lingered after every use of the potent healing chakra.
With a final sigh of relief Naruto unleashed an unbridled grin upon her for the first time since his return, pulling her hand away from his chest and weaving his fingers between her own in a much more intimate way than the firm grip he had earlier.
"Thank you Hinata, you always take such good care of me."
She blushed and hummed her acceptance of his gratefulness, daring to give his hand a squeeze. The beaming quality of his grin intensified as a reward for her bravery, and she thought that his face actually looked better after the few moments of respite. They resumed their journey with renewed anticipation. The foliage along the trail looked as though it had been freshly trimmed back, low branches lopped off and tall grass cut down to create a virtual tunnel through the lush fauna. The odd sensation of being transported to another planet surrounded her imagination as Hinata trustingly followed Naruto-kun's long strides further and further up the steep hill.
Naruto was nearly skipping by the time the trail flattened out, and she giggled at his almost childlike excitement. The forest was thinning, and the brightening glimpses of light up ahead led her to think that they were approaching a clearing. Suddenly he stopped short and whirled around. She nearly collided into his chest before he grabbed her shoulders tightly.
"Close your eyes," he demanded.
Immediately she complied, her own anticipation and excitement feeding off of his. She could hear him shifting in place on the crunchy dead leaves. His fingers flexed on her shoulders, and she couldn't resist sneaking a peek. He was slightly turned, looking over his shoulder and craning his neck to see over and around the final bend, like he was checking on something before finally revealing it to her. Slamming her eyes shut just as he whipped back around she pressed her lips together tightly, suppressing her smile so it wouldn't give away her cheating.
"Okay, okay. Keep them closed! Just follow my lead."
As his hands slid from her shoulders down her sleeves to grasp her hands, goosebumps rippled down her arms. His palms were slightly sweaty, and one thumb was anxiously rubbing over her knuckles in a way she didn't think he even registered. Butterflies began to swarm in her stomach, her senses instinctively going on high alert. The wind was blowing more. The crunch of leaves under her feet changed to the swish of grass brushing across her toes.
We're in a meadow of some kind? The dampness in the air has changed, is there water nearby?
"It's just a bit further…" Naruto-kun whispered, but his voice sounded distant, like he was looking away from her, looking at something else.
So it's a 'thing' he wants me to see?
The temptation to simply open her eyes was becoming unbearable, but an instant before she risked another peek, he stopped pulling and let her go. Her freed hands reached out into the empty air, feeling for the unknown and bracing herself for the unexpected. The next second his warmth was hovering behind her, adjusting her shoulders a bit to the right so she was facing the setting sun. Then sliding her sideways to the left, and the light glowing through her eyelids disappeared when something blocked its rays.
"Okay? Okay, um, perfect, okay," his words were practically falling on the shell of her ear as he mumbled directions, and Hinata shivered even as anxious sweat prickled along her spine.
"Naruto-kun please, I'm going to use my Byakugan if you make me wait any longer!" she squeaked, the anticipation and his touches culminating into a unique torture.
Huffing a small laugh then taking a deep breath, his hands pulled away. She could practically feel the air around him vibrating even as he took a step back. "O-Okay, Hinata, you can open your eyes."
The first thought that flew through her mind as she squinted into the brightness, was that she must be in one of those fairy tale books from her childhood. The green meadow of long grass that rippled like waves with the evening breeze. The river off to the left, dotted with small boulders along its sandy banks, its dancing current tugging at a few drooping branches of nearby trees which reached out to dip delicate fingertips into its refreshing coolness. The lazy rays of the setting sun making the canopy of the treeline appear to have been painted with fire.
It felt…enchanted.
And the hut! Its tall beams were unweathered. Long stems of the absurdly large local sawtooth grass were neatly thatched over the roof, still glossy and fresh. A thin plume of purple smoke twisted out of a small cupola at its peak, which would let the overly hot air escape when a meal was cooking over a fire. The whole picture oozed with cozy homeyness, and Hinata found herself drawn into its welcoming hospitality, her feet unconsciously moving towards the solid doorway.
Two large flat stones were laid in front of the door, creating broad, low steps that led up to it. Climbing them, she inhaled with fondness. Up close the smell of freshly hewn wood and sawdust assaulted her nose, leaving her marveling at the material's likeness to the local trees in Konoha despite being in such a surreal place. Reaching out her fingers to trace the hiragana running vertically down the front panel, her eyes widened in awe at the minute detail.
Uzumaki.
"You built all this?" she whispered, unable to comprehend the time and effort that went into such a behemoth effort.
"Yeah well, me, myself, and I built it," Naruto-kun chuckled sheepishly. Turning around Hinata stared at him in wonder as he rocked back and forth on his feet and rubbed his hair.
"D-do you like it?" he asked nervously.
A breathy laugh of disbelief bubbled out before Hinata could find her words. "Who wouldn't? It's amazing Naruto-kun, you should be so proud."
"But what do you think?" he pressed, stepping closer to her and planting one foot on the bottom stair. She was nearly eye level with him now, and the sudden intensity in his gaze caught her off guard even through the haze of her amazement.
"I-I think it's wonderful," her eyes peeled away from his uncomfortably sharp blue stare, scanning the clearing from her higher perspective on the top step. "There's water, room for a garden, a gorgeous view of the valley, lots of fresh air, and the hut is much taller and bigger than the one the Toads live in."
She looked down again at his pensive expression, perplexed by his lack of delight despite the fact that she was praising his hard work. "You'll be very happy living here, Naruto-kun, I can tell already."
He scowled briefly, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. But what about you?"
Her head tilted sideways. "M-me?"
Naruto-kun sighed harshly, rubbing his forehead and mumbling. She blinked, watching him set his shoulders like he was preparing for a fight, not a clarification of his words. Why is he so nervous?
"Hinata," he croaked, then cleared his throat and tried again. "Hinata, will you…will you…"
Her mouth fell open slightly as he growled and licked his lips. What the heck is happening right now?
"Hinata, I want you…no, I need you to…I mean, if you don't mind…but you don't have to! I would never make you, I could never force you to do anything you didn't want to do. But, I just really, really…"
His voice trailed up and away, and her eyebrows rose with her increasing astonishment. He was practically stuttering. The ever-boasting, ear-ringing Uzumaki Naruto was positively rattled.
Knots of anxiety twisted in her gut, pity pulling them uncomfortably tighter as he continued to fumble over his words. Something was wrong. Very wrong. What awful thing had he brought her all the way up here to say, where no one could witness her dismay? She couldn't think of any reason why he would need to be ashamed of what he had done, of the hard work and care he had obviously poured into this oasis. Watching him struggle was nearly painful.
Unable to stand it any longer, for fear she would be nauseous, Hinata fisted her hands over her belly and blurted out, "Naruto-kun, whatever it is, I won't be mad!"
He froze, hands paused in the midst of their slightly frantic gesticulations while attempting to help him find the gumption to speak.
"Huh?"
Hinata inhaled slowly through her nose, carefully measuring out her syllables in the hope that her own sense of calm could reach through his babbling and help sooth his nerves.
"You can tell me anything, I won't yell at you. Even if I don't like it, I will never punish you for being honest with me, Naruto-kun." She smiled gently as his hands fell limply to his sides, daring to reach out and pat his shoulder comfortingly.
"Go ahead, just say it."
He gawked at her, lips parted in shock. Even the bruised side of his face registering his surprise. His eyes locked onto her open expression with a ferocity that made her melt a bit, gleaming brightly like he might burst.
"Hinata, I lov—" he started loudly, suddenly flushing bright red as he slapped a hand over his mouth to cut himself off. Her heart stopped. Something was definitely wrong.
Wiping both hands on his pants, he licked his lips and tried again, but the flush never left his cheeks. In a rush, his words spilled out.
"Will you sign the Toad Summoning Contract?"
That's it? She nearly swayed, she was so caught off guard. That is what he was so scared to ask? It almost sounded like he was going to say…she fisted her hands, digging her nails into her palms. Don't get ahead of yourself Hyuga, and don't be rude!
"I'm honored," she answered sincerely, truly surprised and equally glad as the idea sank in. "I would be proud to sign my name by yours." The acceptance came out much more somber than she intended, and it must have affected Naruto-kun because she could have sworn he twitched as she said it.
"Awesome," he smiled tightly, and Hinata was once again thoroughly confused. Had she not answered the way he wanted? Why was he still looking so…stressed?
As if on cue the shadow clone came jogging into the meadow, panting dramatically as he deposited his armload of scrolls upon the grass next to them, one of which she recognized as the Summoning Contract. Without waiting to be acknowledged he immediately rushed up to Naruto-kun and wrapped an arm around his neck.
"Well what did she say?! Huh? Huh? Did she say yes?!"
Hinata didn't see the panic that flashed in Naruto's eyes as she closed her own in a bright smile.
"Of course I said yes!" she confirmed happily.
"WOOHOO!" The clone whooped loudly, grabbing her by the waist and swinging her through the air. "You're gonna love living in the hut with me! I'll take good care of you forever! I made everything just the way I thought you'd like it. You can put your garden over there. There's plenty of great places along the river to practice your water jutsu. You see that branch over there? I'm gonna build a swing that faces the valley and we can watch the sunset everyday, and afterwards maybe even—"
"Wait WHAT?!" Hinata yelled, planting her hands on the clone's shoulders and pushing back harshly. "L-L-Live with N-N-Naruto-kun? Under the s-s-same roof? F-F-Forever?!"
The clone's face went blank as he stopped his spinning, his grip on her hips tightening as horror washed over his face.
"Oh shit."
"Baka!" Naruto bellowed, a split second later the clone burst as his fist collided with its face. Hinata yelped, suddenly weightless and falling on top of the real Naruto-kun, who was cradling his head and cursing a blue streak.
They landed in an inglorious heap on the ground. She was mostly able to avoid smashing him with a quick twist of her body that no one but a kunoichi could hope to accomplish. But still they were left panting heavily into each other's red faces.
"Fuck me," Naruto groaned, holding the injured side of his face, which was exactly where he had punched his own shadow clone.
Hinata wasn't sure how to answer that. She wasn't sure how to react to anything. Was she supposed to take the clone seriously? Was he just being dramatic? Or did Naruto-kun really want to…to…
He growled tiredly. It faded into a harsh sigh as he rolled onto his back, arms flopping upon the ground in the spread eagle pose of one who had simply given up. His face was scrunched, the muscle in his jaw ticking in frustration. Hinata slowly pushed herself up onto her elbows, studying his chest as it rose and fell in jerky breaths.
Swallowing her own flustered emotions, she tried to focus on the man lying next to her, and put herself in his shoes. He had been trying to say something. Something important. Something that hinged upon her answer. Hinata's eyes widened as the sequence of events suddenly lined up in her head. Timidly scooting across the smashed grass, she leaned forward to peer down at his face.
"Just…just start over," she said, drawing his attention outwards again. "When I've made a mess of something I'm trying to say or do, sometimes I just have to start over." Sitting up she brushed off the front of her purple jacket, settling herself as neatly as she could with her hair tossed and her clothes smudged, and gave him her undivided attention.
"Okay," she said encouragingly despite the way she had to fold her trembling fingers into her lap. "I'm listening."
Naruto-kun sat up as well, running his fingers through his hair to shake out the mess and crossing his legs. A chagrined smile ticked up one side of his mouth as his hand slid down the back of his neck, holding his shoulder and letting his arm hang for a moment in contemplation. With yet another sigh, he exhaled hard enough to buzz his lips before lifting his face to make steady eye contact.
In the heartbeats of time that they resolutely met one another's gaze, Hinata was dimly aware of the first fireflies of twilight flickering to life. Her breath hovered in her lungs like the twinkling sparks of light over the tall blades of grass surrounding them. At the same moment they each shifted nervously, then blushed and laughed at the mutually awkward atmosphere. Leaning forward Naruto grabbed each of her hands in his own, and Hinata bit her lip.
"It was Ero-sennin who first started to build the hut," he began, his voice low but clear. "When I was doing my Sage training I wanted nothing to do with this place. I wanted to put my grief behind me because it made me feel weak. I felt like crying every time I looked at it, and I thought that if I started I might not stop. I didn't want to risk losing control. All I could think about was being in control. In control of my chakra, my emotions, my jutsu."
His brow furrowed unevenly through the swelling of his injuries as he spoke, his gaze drifting down to their clasped hands. Hinata squeezed them, offering her wordless support and encouragement. His thumbs rubbed over her fingers in response as he swallowed and continued.
"During the battle with the Akatsuki, I lost control of everything. Afterwards, you were the only one who seemed to make sense. It was your words that helped me calm down when I got back to Konoha. When I'm with you, I feel like...it'll all be okay somehow. Even if shit goes crazy, I'll be alright."
Through his fringe of hair Naruto-kun glanced up at her, his eyes assessing her expression, reading her reactions. Hinata was speechless, her heart thrumming and her whole body going rigid. But she wasn't scared. She was excited, hanging on his every word and unconsciously leaning forward.
Bolstered by what he saw, Naruto straightened. "I can never repay you for what you've done for me, and I'll do anything to protect you. I want you to feel welcome here, and Fukasaku agrees. You'll be an amazing Toad Summoner, and I'll bet you could become a Sage in no time."
A breeze kicked up, whipping her hair across her face and automatically Naruto-kun reached out and tucked it behind her ear. His fingertips lingered on the curve of he jaw, sending lightning shooting through to her heart, piercing it like cupid's arrow. She inhaled sharply, and he pulled away, blushing even deeper. But the moment was too powerful, too important to run from, and without thinking Hinata reached out, catching his retreating hand and gripping it tightly.
"I promise I will work hard and never give up," she swore fervently. "I will not waste this gift. I won't disappoint you Naruto-kun."
He snorted, shaking his head but holding her hands tightly. "Hinata, you could never disappoint me. I'm not Hiashi. My feelings are not subject to how successful you are. I want you. Not the Byakugan Princess. Not the Hyuga heir. Just you."
Her head tilted in wonder as his words sank in. She was so used to having to justify any reward. To earn affection. Her whole world was built on the give and take of worth and potential. To be handed such an amazing thing, with no threat of having it taken away should she not perform well, was a mind-blowing scenario.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun," she whispered thickly, blinking back the tears that pressed behind her eyes. The effort was pointless, they spilled over anyways as she smiled, and he instantly released her to brush his thumbs across her damp cheeks. This time she leaned into his touch, letting herself open up under his gentle contact and release the wave of love which was perpetually, barely, dammed up inside of her.
"Of course," he murmured, cupping her face in his calloused fingers. "I don't want you to feel like you don't belong here for even an instant. I finished this hut because I want to share it with you. I want to come home at the end of every day and it be your face that greets me when I open the door. Your voice that says 'Okaeri'. I don't want to eat dinner alone ever again."
Pulling her closer he pressed his forehead onto hers, graciously ignoring her sniffle as her heart exploded and leaked down her face even more. All she could do was nod eagerly, wrapping her hands around his wrists and holding him for support. Oh, she wanted that too. So much that it hurt, but in such a wonderful way.
A sob crept out, and an instant later she was engulfed in his arms, nearly crushed against his chest as he clung to her tighter than any wounded person should.
"Are you okay? Is that too much? Too fast?" His voice rumbled against her body, resonating with her vibrating nerves. "Please don't cry! I'm sorry, I just get my mind set on something and I completely forget to think about anyone else's—"
"I'm w-wonderful," she whispered, and she was sure the only reason he heard her was because her lips were practically touching his ear. He pulled away, gripping her shoulders, his eyes skittering over her face, worriedly pressing his mouth into a thin line as he looked for any signs that she was lying.
But she couldn't lie to him. Never could. Never would. Especially not now, when she was so close to him. Breathing the same breath as him. Falling apart in front of him.
His hands loosened, sliding along her shoulders and up her neck, one thumb tracing the curve of her collarbone as his eyes followed its slow progress with immense fascination. The heat of a palm pressed into her pulse point, absorbing its bounding pace. She studied his eyes as they glazed over, the deep blue hues as shifting as the encroaching evening sky. They explored her along with his fingertips, which danced up her temple and into her hair, threading the silky strands between his fingers.
Reverence reflected in every aspect of his body, and she felt a small euphoric pride that she could entrance him in such a way. But when his gaze settled on her mouth it was she who was frozen in wonder.
"Can I…can I kiss you, Hinata?" he breathed. The corners of her vision started to darken, and she had to fist her hands into his shirt to keep upright. But this point in time was too important to miss, too pivotal to ruin by fainting away to oblivion.
Speechless, she licked her lips, humming her assent, hoping that she sounded eager but not desperate. Hoping that she never forgot this moment.
Never forgot the way his eyes closed, his lashes dusting his whiskered cheeks.
Never forgot the way his hot breath fanned over her face as he hesitated.
Never forgot the pressure of his hand on the nape of her neck, as he angled her head to match his own.
Never forgot the thrill of his lips brushing across her own, searching for the perfect fit.
Never forgot the burning heat that lit her up from top to bottom as his mouth found home, and pressed into her with a fervor that left no doubt as to his feelings.
She melted. Puddled into a boneless heap upon his lap as he gathered her up. Dripped desire all the way down to her belly, where it twisted like her hair in his hands.
Breathless, stunned, and elated, they parted for air with a gasp. Blinking at each other like two people who had just made the discovery of a lifetime. Somehow she had ended up in his lap, clinging to him with an unbecoming desperation that she couldn't quite muster the sense to regret.
"I love you Hinata," Naruto said huskily, dragging his nose back and forth across her own. "Whatever you do I will be there. I just want to follow you, anywhere."
Her face crumpled, the entirety of it all overwhelming her with a maelstrom of emotions. He didn't scold her for ruining the moment. Didn't beg her to stop. Didn't ask for more.
He held her. He let her just be. And he drank in her broken words as she choked them out in between stuttered sniffling.
"I love you too, N-Naruto-kun."
A/N: Words cannot express how much I appreciate everyone's patience, kind words, and encouragement. It was so hard to get going again. I'm still figuring it out. I read each and every comment and they mean so much to me, thank you thank you thank you.
It feels so good to post again! A fluffy chapter with the two most adorable and dense Shinobi ever was a treat for my soul. I was gonna delay Naruto's confession for a few more chapters, but, gah! Life is too short people! Too short for hesitation. And I think I understand that better than I ever wanted to.
This chapter brought me joy, and I hope you all enjoy it as well!