Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 10
Naruto stepped out of the stuffy hut and took a deep breath of the fresh air, the paper list in his hand wrinkling as he stretched his arms high above his head. His face twisted as his muscles burned and trembled, holding his contorted reach for several luxurious seconds before letting his whole body relax with a ragged exhale.
Damn he was tired. After the weird moment with the signing of the Toad Scroll this morning, Fukasaku had run off with it to go talk to the Great Toad Sage, and Shima had run off with his girlfriend, leaving him and his clones to slave away on the finishing touches the hut needed and unpack the items from the remaining scrolls. Hours later, there was now a nice, thick layer of sticky mud drying over the thatched roof to show for his efforts. Once it had sealed into a solid surface their home would be just as waterproof as all the other Toads' huts.
The sunlight of the late afternoon was warm on his skin, but already the cooler air of the encroaching evening was blowing the heat of the day off the hilltop and sweeping it away into the valley below. The shutters gently bumped against the wall of the hut behind him as he walked through the grass toward the edge of the clearing, wanting to gaze out at the sunset instead of squinting at his own messily scribbled notes like he had been all afternoon.
The wind was even gustier on the edge of the hill, bouncing off the mountainside and rushing down over the steep, naked cliff with a swift speed unhindered by vegetation. Naruto crammed the paper list into his pocket and collapsed onto the ground with a contented sigh, leaning back onto his palms to fully appreciate the calming effect of nature's shifting colors on the landscape below. This was the spot where he wanted to build Hinata a swing. Hang it from the branch right over his head. They could rock back and forth, pretending they were carelessly floating on the breeze like a leaf. Side by side, her head on his shoulder, and forget all the stupidness of life.
He loved being up high, something about the heavenly perspective made all the little things seem small, insignificant. Even back in Konoha the best places were always the ones that lifted him above the chaotic village, closer to the clouds. The corner of his mouth ticked up as he realized the irony that his favorite spot, the perfect little niche between the spikes of the Yondaime's stone-carved hair, was actually his own father's visage. From up there all the awfulness, the loneliness, and the stress of the village seemed far away. He could watch with unhindered appreciation as the little puzzle piece shaped buildings, all lined up and fitted into rows and zig-zags, dotted with lush green trees bursting with Konoha's namesake adornment, would all transition into sparkling orange and yellow lights as night stole across the sky. Even a child as clueless as himself could appreciate the beauty of such a perspective. Perhaps part of the calming contentment and sense of safety he had always felt up there, nestled between the strong, protective pillars of Minato's hair, was embedded in the connection between father and son. A place where the distance between The Here and The Beyond thinned, letting the power of his love stretch out to graze his son's soul.
As he reminisced upon those moments from his childhood, the rare times when a brief and inexplicable sensation of peaceful contentment would erase his aching loneliness, Naruto was washed in a sense of déjà vu. His eyes slipped shut as his head tilted back, basking in the warmth of the daylight just like he used to when he would lean up against the sun heated rock of the Hokage Mountain. And just like back then, an internal elation that had nothing to do with anything he had accomplished in life filled his chest.
A feeling that was becoming more and more familiar even though the world around him was fracturing bit by bit. A feeling that did not require any perfect situations or outcomes in order to occur. A feeling of being connected, not alone. This must be what it feels like to know you are loved.
"Naruto-kun."
His head whipped around, the growing bubble of joy he had coaxed into fruition with his memories immediately bursting into a flurry of butterflies that spread through his whole body at the sound of her voice.
"Hinata!"
She blushed at his exuberant greeting, neatly settling down next to him in that graceful way he admired so much. "Sorry to disturb you," she said softly, always softly with her. A slight grimace crossed her face though, and she kneaded the palm of her hand with her thumb.
He snorted, pulling her closer with a single tug of her hip before resituating his arms so that she could brace herself against his chest. "You're not capable of being disturbing, I think that gene got lost from your DNA. Besides, I was just thinking about you. How was Day 1 of training?"
"Good," she answered, tilting her cheek up to accept the peck he gave her in greeting. It was so natural and easy she didn't even stutter. "Shima-sama is strict but not punishing. Her knowledge of chakra is better than the most skilled Hyuga. I learned a lot about manipulating my water element, and the others were very helpful as well."
Naruto hummed in interest, encouraging her to continue as she leaned back against him and massaged her tired hands. She told him about training with Gamariki and how weird it had felt to dance with a frog, but that they had been able to synchronize easily and move on to practicing different combination jutsu. Naruto rolled his eyes.
"I bet he loved you. You have so much more natural rhythm than me. Training with him was one of the most ridiculous moments of my shinobi career. And I have had some doozies."
Hinata giggled as the wind snatched up a few strands of her hair, tickling Naruto's face with them. "He did mention something about that. We both were grateful that I did not have to climb into his mouth."
She grabbed the wayward strands and pulled the rest of the midnight tresses over her shoulder, combing through them with her fingers as they laughed together. "Tomorrow Shima-sama wants me to meet Gamaken-san. She thinks our personalities are similar and we would have good cooperation."
"Definitely," Naruto agreed, thinking about the overly humble but extremely powerful amphibian. His eyes watched her fingers nimbly separate and braid her silky locks, securing them from anymore grabby breezes. But by the time she reached the end of the long, thick plait and tied it off, her lips were pursed in discomfort and she had to shake out the tension in her hands.
"Don't overdo it tomorrow," Naruto scolded gently, giving her a little nudge to emphasize his words. "You're still not 100% recovered yet." He knew Hinata would never say 'enough' no matter how much she was hurting. Not that he was any different, he understood the drive to keep going until one finally succeeded. But he worried that her conviction was still rooted in her fear of what punishment might result from a failure to achieve perfection.
Hinata's cheeks puffed out as she frowned, studying her hands. "Everyone has been so amazing, I just want to show them that I'm not taking it all for granted by giving my best."
His sigh bordered on the edge of exasperation as he wrapped her up in a tight bear hug. "No one is questioning you Hinata. You were half dead the day we got here because you had fought so hard. We all want to get stronger, but you have to take care of yourself too."
Feeling her nod tightly and squeeze his arms in response, Naruto loosened his hold and leaned back again, enjoying his role as her personal recliner. The air between them was relaxed yet brimming with unsaid words. Hinata's head thumped onto his chest as she silently stared up at the morphing colors of the sky. Even though her mouth wasn't moving he could almost hear her thoughts racing a hundred miles per hour.
He waited, letting her introspection run its course without interference. Hoping his closeness would counter any remnants of self doubt still hidden in her heart. She wasn't the kind of person to easily reveal her feelings, but he could be patient. For her, he could be just about anything.
Eventually his perseverance was rewarded when her soft whisper reached his eagerly awaiting ear. "I just can't waste this opportunity. Mt. Myoboku feels like another world sometimes, but I know that someday I'm going to have to go back and face reality. I need to learn everything I can before then."
His eyes drifted away from the brilliant hues of the ebbing day as he plunked his chin upon the crown of her head, face scrunching up in distaste at the very relevant reminder of their situation. But he tried to look on the bright side.
"You're right, but still, don't push it too much, nothing is happening immediately. The toads hiding in Konoha reported that the village is in complete rebuild mode, no other missions are being accepted. Other than the rumors about a few Root search parties potentially being sent out, nothing is happening anytime soon."
Hinata inhaled slowly, studying her tender fingertips thoughtfully as she absorbed the information. After spending hours constantly channeling her chakra out of waterlogged skin the size of a pinhead, the pads of her fingers were nearly raw. A small price to pay in her opinion, considering the amazing amount she had learned that day.
"Did the spies tell you anything else?" she asked, tapping her fingertips lightly together with a small amount of healing chakra.
Naruto chewed on his bottom lip with displeasure, thinking about how much he was not looking forward to what he needed to say. "Nothing else about Konoha," he started hesitantly. "But the rest of the Spy Network needs more attention. I spent some time with Gamabunta today, after Fukasaku left to ask Great Gramps Toad about the Summoning Scroll stuff. The Network has been relatively stable ever since Ero-senin, um, left it to me."
He only paused for a second to swallow the lump that suddenly appeared in his throat, before charging forward with his point. "But I need to touch base with a few people. There's some more info about the Eight Tails and Sasuke I want to clarify. And one of our most trustworthy contacts specifically reached out with a request for a meeting. I…I will need to leave Mt. Myoboku for a day or two."
The last sentence grated out between his clenched teeth. Initially, he had flat out refused to leave the mountain for anything other than an emergency. Gamabunta had not held back his immediate displeasure, swinging at Naruto with his massive dosu blade. Sage or not, grieving or glad, a shinobi had to uphold his responsibilities. Jiraiya had sacrificed a lot to establish The Network, and it was a matter of life and death to keep it operating. If that meant Naruto had to suffer a night or two without his girlfriend, then he had to suck it up.
"Would you mind if I went with you?" Hinata asked tentatively, her small voice nearly carried off by the evening wind. Naruto blinked, tilting his head sideways to see her profile more clearly. She was picking at the ends of her hair and gnawing on her bottom lip. He raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You really want to?" he asked, unable to disguise the hope in his question. "You sounded so anxious about the idea of leaving Mt. Myoboku. How is this different?"
Her hand reached out to pick a fluffy white sphere of dandelion seeds near her leg. "It's just Konoha that worries me. Traveling far outside the Land of Fire's borders has always been a dream of mine." Twirling the dainty ball of fuzz in her hand she blew gently, following the trail of floating seeds as they rode the air currents to the distant reaches of the valley below. A wistful expression settled upon her features, her silver eyes seeing miles and yet seeing nothing at all.
"When I was younger, Father used to take me on some of his diplomatic travels within the borders of the Land of Fire. I loved seeing all the new places, but we never actually did anything. I only ever caught small glimpses of the cities or villages as we passed through to visit one mansion or another. I always wanted to stop and explore the shops, eat the food, or just wander through the districts and absorb the atmosphere of each unique place. But Clan Business took priority. As the years went by, he started taking Hanabi more often instead of me. That's why they were gone when the Akatsuki invaded."
The far away tone of her voice was as delicate as the wisps of clouds that chased the setting sun over the horizon. Naruto smiled at learning this new aspect of his lover's personality.
"I had no idea you possessed such wanderlust Hinata," Naruto teased, but internally he sagged with relief. He wouldn't have to suffer without her on his journey. "You can absolutely come along, we can visit the market and get some things for the hut. I've been working on a list, tell me what you think about what I have written so far."
With the remainder of the daylight they poured over his scribbled handwriting and brainstormed about everything from meals, to toiletries, to weapons. Happily lost in the process of building a home together. The finality of it all was like a cherry on top of the whirlwind day that still felt rather surreal to Hinata. Life with Naruto was a fact. This was happening. This was real. Another day was drawing to an end and she was still here by his side.
If Hinata thought about it too long her brain would get fuzzy and her hands would start to sweat. There were tiny bruises upon the back of her arm where she had repeatedly stopped to pinch herself. To make sure this wasn't a dream. It was hard to believe that so much had happened. From the moment she had opened her eyes that morning to find his warm body by her side, to signing the Toad Contract, to training with creatures the likes of which she had never imagined meeting in a million years. It was all so wonderful she thought she might overflow.
A low gurgle ruined the comfortable moment, and Hinata blushed deeply, pressing a palm into her rude stomach. Not every part of her was overflowing, as her empty gut reminded her. Naruto laughed and quickly tucked the paper back into his pants, drawing up his legs and grabbing her under the arms like a big toddler.
"Alright, up with you," he chided, easily picking her up and planting her on her feet as she squeaked in embarrassment. "You should have said you were starving! All that training needs sustenance, y'know."
Just the thought of food was enough to make Hinata's mouth water. She was very hungry. Lunch felt like a lifetime ago. She was just opening her mouth to ask him what he wanted her to make when Naruto grabbed her hand and pulled her back towards the hut.
"Good thing I told my kage bunshin to take care of dinner when they were done with the roof. It should be ready by now."
"You didn't need to do that. I like to cook," Hinata fretted, her hand tightening in his grasp. Once again the feeling that all she was doing was taking and taking weighed on her shoulders. She wanted to be useful too. Besides, there was a small part of her brain that was alarmed at the idea of Naruto-kun cooking dinner on his own, completely unsupervised while having free access to her precious few herbs and spices.
"No worries Hinata! The house was too stuffy so I thought we could eat outside instead of using the irori," he blew off her concern with a flippant wave of his hand, never slowing his pace as he marched them through the tall grass. "I know how hard this training can be. When I was doing my Sage training all I could do was eat, sleep, and practice. Besides, I may suck in the kitchen, but I can cook anything over a campfire, dattebayo!"
The evening breeze picked up the aroma of cooked meat and carried it her way, and Hinata's mouth began to water. Rounding the corner of the hut they were greeted by two kage bunshin and Fukasaku, who were chatting away around a bright fire while holding several sticks loaded with food over the dancing flames. The clones had apparently dug out a fire pit on the far side of the hut, closer to the river, and placed a log and a few stumps around it. Hinata practically skipped the remaining distance, her voracious appetite rearing its head as she nearly charged toward the source of the delicious smell.
She could barely utter an 'itadakimasu' before ripping a roasting stick out of a clone's hands and diving in, unaware of how he had frozen in shock with his mouth hanging open. The entire kabob was gone before she could even register the taste, and Hinata greedily reached out to snatch a second one. Goodness, she hadn't realized how utterly starved she was. She had virtually worked her body to the bone training with Shima-sama in the blazing sun and stifling humidity, and now it was demanding recompense.
It was as she was sucking the flavor off of her third finger that her hypoglycemia induced tunnel vision finally began to broaden and Hinata realized that she was the undivided center of attention. Fukasaku, Naruto-kun, and both of his clones were all gaping at her with varied expressions of surprise and admiration.
"My god, that was so hot," one clone breathed. His stare was so intense that his pupils were narrowing into feral slits.
"I bet she could destroy a bowl of ramen in glorious fashion," the other sighed, chin resting in his palm as he batted his eyes at her dreamily.
"Yeah, that would be amaz—oi!"
The real Naruto suddenly snapped out of his own stupor and glared at both kage bunshin. In a flash they each were smacked upside the head, dispelling them viciously. Hinata's face was burning with a red blush so vibrant even the orange hues of the firelight couldn't hide its glow. Mumbling angrily to himself about clones having big, stupid mouths and way too much personality Naruto-kun took over their roasting duties and sat by her side with a loud 'harumph'. Fukasaku's chuckling filled the awkward silence that followed. The fire cheerfully crackled and popped like it too was enjoying Hinata's mortification.
She couldn't help it! Burning through chakra meant burning calories. The first time Kiba-kun had seen his timid little genin teammate demolish her lunch after training, he had asked her in all seriousness if her mom had been an Akamichi. Kurenai had lined him up, encouraging Hinata to eat as much as she wanted. 'Growing girls need food just as much as growing boys' she would always say.
But still, ever since that day Hinata had carefully hidden her eating habits. Especially from her crush. And now it was all a waste of effort. Drawing her knees to her chest and burying her face in her arms she wished she could melt into the log like a knot in the bark.
A somewhat sharp poke in her arm made her peek up over the edge of her elbow, Naruto-kun was smirking while jabbing her with another stick of food.
"Hi-na-ta," he sang cajolingly, waving the steaming deliciousness close to her face. "Don't feel ashamed! Being really hungry just means you worked really hard. I was so hungry during my Sage training that I even ate Shima's insect riddled food. Everyday!"
"And you grew two centimeters during those weeks!" Fukasaku retorted, always coming to his wife's defense when it came to her cooking. "When food is made with love it is always good!"
Naruto and Hinata giggled as she shot him a grateful look and accepted the third stick of food. But this time instead of mindlessly devouring the sustenance, she took the time to enjoy each bite of what Naruto-kun had prepared. He didn't get fancy with the seasonings, but the meat was cut with a surgical precision, only the juiciest morsels included, and the roasting was done to perfection. The shy warmth in her face spread into a contented glow in her belly as appreciation filled her with as much satisfaction as the meat.
Fukasaku watched her chew, a half smile curving his bulbous face. "Love makes everything better, does it not? A home cooked meal tastes richer. A hand-made hut feels cozier. A quiet evening feels fuller. A bed feels softer…" Hinata choked and coughed, making the old toad grin as he reached into the folds of his cloak for his pipe.
Tapping out any old ashes from its small bowl, he hummed thoughtfully while Naruto thumped on Hinata's back. "Love is powerful too. Especially the love shared between soulmates blessed by Kami."
The teens' eyes snapped up at the mention of the word 'soulmates', drilling him with laser focused attention. Fukasaku continued with his dawdling, unperturbed by their intense glares, methodically checking his pipe for cracks and rooting around in his cloak for the sweet tobacco he so enjoyed. Contemplating his words as he let the silence mature like a fine wine, dark and rich, steeped in allegorical undertones.
"Shima and I, like all amphibians in Mt. Myoboku, are bonded by the Red Thread of Fate," he began, gently digging a pinch of tobacco out of a worn looking leather pouch. "Marriage is a human concept. A contract fabricated for political, economical, or genetic gain. If love happens to exist within its institution, it is a bonus, not a requirement."
Naruto and Hinata glanced at one another, then settled in close side by side on the log, sensing a tale laced with legend and spiked with history. Fukasaku's eyes were already starting to glaze over, a nostalgic smile making his goatee twitch. "The bond between soulmates is ancient and timeless. Ultimate over all other claims and unbreakable by any other curse. Once united, not even the scissors of the Fates can cut its cord. The power that flows across such a connection enhances everything. Emotions, sensations, thoughts, and even jutsu."
Naruto straightened at the mention of jutsu, but it was the ambiguous description of 'sensations' that was making Hinata's brain start to smoke. She swallowed her bite of food thickly, flipping the tail of her braid over her shoulder to get it off her heated neck. The broad wink Fukasaku gave them seemed to be far too leery in her opinion. His shoulders shook with stifled laughter as he stuffed his pipe, careful not to waste a single bit of tobacco.
"The sound based genjutsu that Shima and I sing together, the Magen: Gama Rinshō, took us years to perfect. But even then, it would have taken lifetimes for any others to accomplish. Our communication is so synchronized we almost don't need words."
"Then how are you late for dinner all the time?" Naruto sassed, unable to hold back. His eyes were twinkling as he ducked from the jet stream of water that immediately shot his direction. Fukasaku grunted when he missed, but quickly refocused on snapping his fingers with the perfect amount of chakra and friction to ignite a gentle flame.
"All creatures have a soulmate, humans included," he continued, choosing to ignore the cheeky comment. "But over the many eras of society's evolving complexity, the search for one's perfect match was foregone for the sake of survival, convenience, or ethnic priorities."
Hinata silently chewed as she contemplated the truth of his words. As Clan Head her father would never consider allowing his daughter to marry outside of the Hyuga, let alone entertain the idea of allowing her to follow her heart across international borders. She pondered the marriage of her own parents. An arranged union based on Hitomi's genetic legacy and what she could contribute to the Main House lineage. Hinata wanted to believe that love had blossomed between them eventually. Especially considering that it was after her mother's death when Hiashi's somewhat stern demeanor escalated into borderline coldness. Compounded by the death of his brother, the man had never been the same again.
She twirled the stick in her hand, assessing her next potential bite as she scrutinized her own situation. She had given up all the worldly values that Hiashi had prioritized over love. Her Clan politics. Her 'purebred' dojūtsu. Her Main House rank. Her potential political aspirations. But glancing sideways at Naruto-kun's profile Hinata felt no regrets. What did all the wealth and class matter if she didn't have him? If she didn't have the freedom to love him openly? Could true, honest love ever flourish in a cage of conditions and stipulations?
Sensing her stare, he turned to look at her and immediately reached up to swipe a finger over her lip, wiping away some bit of evidence of her gluttony. At the compound such sloppiness would have garnered glares and scoldings for her poor manners. But Naruto-kun just chuckled and planted a quick peck on her greasy lips before turning back to hear the rest of the story. Completely uncaring about her state of disarray, just pleased with how much she was enjoying her meal, Hesitantly licking her lips she marveled at her new existence, at the sense of warmth that left her feeling floaty and content.
Having succeeded in his simple katon, Fukasaku's wrinkled face was furrowed in concentration as he held the small flame on his thumb up to the bowl of his pipe, puffing with slow control as the tobacco caught. With a deep sigh he shook the fire off his hand and straightened up, exhaling three perfectly concentric rings of smoke into the air. Satisfied with his smokey luxury, he carried on.
"With all that being said, knowing you are soulmates and actually formalizing the bond are two different matters," he said solemnly, crossing an arm over his abdomen and propping an elbow upon it as he cradled the pipe between his webbed fingers. "It has been so long since I have come across a pair of human soulmates who are in the position to see the bond through to its fruition, that I am unsure of exactly how to go about doing so, or what exactly will manifest from it."
Naruto leaned forward, using his empty stick to stir some of the coals in the fire. Sparks drifted upwards in the rising heat, and he squinted as he considered the possibilities. "That's why you wanted to talk to Great Gramps Toad Sage? To see if it would work on us?"
"It will work, of that I have no doubt," Fukasaku said firmly. "Nothing ordained by Kami is impossible. The issue is the fuinjutsu." His eyes slipped shut and he indulged in a long pull from his pipe. "It is an intricate seal that would require some slight modification for non-amphibian usage. The Great Toad Sage is the only one who would know how to do it. Once it is placed and ratified with each of the couple's chakras, it will offer protection as well as the ability to sense one another to a high degree. At least in the beginning. Over time it will grow along with you. The effort put into strengthening the bond is directly reflected in the capabilities it gives in return."
He opened one eye, fixing Naruto with a sharp look. "But it is not all about jutsu and fighting boosts. Communication is the foundation of all climactic combinations. Be it on the battlefield or in the bedroom."
Now it was Naruto's turn to choke, but Hinata was hardly capable of consoling him as she squeaked and nearly dropped her food. Fukasaku smugly enjoyed their discomfort, continuing to puff away on his pipe as they tried to compose themselves. With a final barking cough, Naruto stood up abruptly and stomped over to grab another piece of firewood, tossing it none too gently upon the fire. Plunking back down next to his girlfriend, he cleared his throat harshly.
"So what's next?"
Fukasaku sighed. "Well, when I tried to talk to the Geezer Sage today he was asleep. You know how he makes almost no sense when he's not completely awake. I will try again tomorrow, but in the meantime you should continue with your training and running of the Spy Network. I believe you are planning on going to see Hisa-san in Kitakawa?"
Naruto nodded, rubbing his hands together anxiously. "Hai, I'm sure they've heard about Ero-senin. I hope seeing my face will be enough to assure them the Network is not falling apart."
"They may test you," Fukasaku agreed. "Jiraiya-boy was a big personality, but I have faith in you. However, I think you are overestimating the reach of the news about his death. The shinobi world does not always share their information with the civilians. If I were you I would not assume anything."
Hinata frowned, setting down her third completely clean stick. "Should I not go? My presence may make them hesitate since they don't know me."
Winking at her, Fukasaku crossed his arm. "Astute as always my dear. I have considered that possibility, and I have a suggestion."
The door of the bar creaked loudly, but no one heard it over the sultry tune of the shamisen being played by the beautiful woman on the small stage. The two figures barely paused in the entry before making their way into the evening crowd of men looking for some relaxation and satisfaction after a long day. One breathtaking lady after another meandered amongst them, appearing out of the fog of smoke created by many a cigarette. The clink of drinks and loud laughter sporadically punctuated the heavily perfumed air.
A few patrons glanced at the newcomers, but seeing nothing unusual about them quickly turned back to their card games or paid companions. The larger man strode boldly past them, winking at a few of the girls as he passed. They rolled their eyes at him, but giggled while offering a friendly wave, more than familiar with his flirtatious ways. The younger man following closely behind was gawking at his surroundings, nearly tripping on his sensei's heels when he stopped in front of the bar.
"Well, well, long time no see!"
The bartender, an older man with a bald head who was carefully counting out the sake jars of another customer's tab, looked up sharply and did a double take. "Jiraiya-sama! I thought you had forgotten about us."
The men laughed as they shook hands. "Never old friend! How could I stay away from such a wonderful establishment? Did the girls miss me?"
"Not even a little," a warm voice cooed from over his shoulder.
Turning around he pouted dramatically. "Oh c'mon Akiko-chan! We both know I'm your favorite customer!"
She flipped her hair, jutting out a hip as she crossed her arms under her bosom. Peeking around his sensei's voluminous white hair, the younger man's eyes widened at how her cleavage was nearly ready to burst from her gaping top.
"Don't lie to yourself, you old perv," she smirked, her dark eyes dancing with good humor. "It was that cute kid we all enjoyed the most. Where is the little devil?"
Barking out a laugh the big man stepped sideways, revealing the blond haired man cowering behind him. Slapping him on the back so hard he flinched, Jiraiya pushed the blushing teen forward. "Naruto! Fox got your tongue? Say hello to Akiko-chan!"
"K-Konbawa Akiko-san," his tremulous voice cracked. The woman's painted eyes widened as she straightened up, blinking in surprise before rushing forward.
"Naruto-chan is that you? Look how tall you are! Ay, you make me feel so old! Mai! Come here and look how handsome Naruto-chan has become!"
Within an instant a small group of scantily clad women were hovering around the flustered young man, pinching his cheeks and groping his biceps as they clucked over him like mother hens. Jiraiya snorted, trying to look offended at being ignored but failing badly, his student's obvious discomfort was way too entertaining. Deciding that the harmless group had completely forgotten about his old ass, he returned his attention to the bartender.
"Hey Kenji-san," he called out, his tone light but his eyes glinting with seriousness. "Do you have any sake from Konishi Shuzo?"
Kenji looked up and offered him a somewhat too perfect smile. "Of course, which would you like?"
"The Shirayuki."
The man's hospitable grin tightened, and he nodded once. "Hai, in the back. Follow me."
Jiraiya glanced back at his student, who had been whisked away to a cozy booth in the corner and was being plied with all kinds of rich food, his eyes shining with curiosity and awe as he tried to absorb everything all at once. With a twist of his lips, the Toad Sage slipped behind the bar and through the back curtain into a dark corridor. His heavy footsteps were completely muted on the thick carpet. The music quickly died away the further he continued into the dimness. Ducking slightly through a door at the end of the hall, he quietly slid the door shut behind himself.
"I thought you were dead, Frog."
He paused, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the candlelight. He saw the silhouette of an older woman with neatly coiffed snow-white hair, hunched over her desk and carefully recording numbers in a thick ledger. She didn't glance up, focused on her column of figures but her head was tilted slightly, and he knew she was listening carefully.
"I am."
With a gentle pop Naruto released his transformation. Red streaks shifted to whiskermarks. White became blond. The only similarity was the long red cloak and heavy scroll he wore. The woman's hand paused, her eyes closing slowly and she exhaled a long breath.
"I see," she answered softly, mouth pressing into a thin line. Carefully placing her brush down next to the stick of ink, she straightened and met his sad expression. Her keen eyes were the most vibrant thing about her, nearly purple and not missing a single detail as she scrutinized him through tiny glasses perched on her nose. Naruto didn't blink when she pierced him with those sharp eyes. His own blue gaze steady and open.
"I'm sorry," she finally offered, and he was slightly surprised, having braced himself for interrogations, not condolences. But her tone was genuine. "May he rest in peace."
Naruto swallowed thickly, shifting a bit before reminding himself to portray a strong demeanor. "Thank you. I mean to ensure that he does by carrying on his legacy. I think it's what he would have wanted."
Her mouth twitched, and it might have been the poor lighting, but he could have sworn her eyes were shinier than before. "He would."
Looking down she quickly closed her ledger and placed it aside, gesturing for Naruto to sit down in a chair. "In that case," she said, the steel returning to her tone, "what do you know about a kunoichi with purple hair and paper jutsu?"
Carefully maintaining his straight posture, Naruto tried not to reveal the spike in his heart rate. "I know her. She's…a sister student to myself, so to speak."
Hisa-san hummed thoughtfully as she plucked a small square bookmark out from between the pages of her ledger and passed it to him, watching his face closely over the rim of her glasses. "She sent this to me. Flew into my coat sleeve one day in the market. A very unique way to send a message. All it says is your name, but I assume you know what to do with it."
His tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth as he accepted the paper, instantly sensing the chakra that buzzed across the one of a kind kekkei genkai. Part of him wanted to head back to Mt. Myoboku immediately and lose himself in deciphering its information, but the other was scared. The ways their paths had crossed throughout their lives, as sibling-students of the same sensei, enemies, and finally tentative comrades in the war against hate, was a tumultuous journey his heart had yet to completely come to terms with.
Tucking it into the sleeve of his Sage Cloak, Naruto returned his full attention to Hisa. "Thank you, Baa-chan. Any other news?"
Hinata had no idea whores could be so fun.
Once, on a mission with Team 8 where they were tracking some leaders of an illegal sex-trafficking ring she had glimpsed an Oiran. She was aloof and pristine, looking down on the scruffy Shinobi like they were nothing more than ignorant ruffians. But these boisterous and gregarious girls were more like an older version of her own group of friends. Just with a lot less clothing, and a lot more alcohol. After showering her with compliments and food, several settled around her in the swanky booth, bantering, laughing, and swapping gossip about the patrons.
When Fukasaku had told her to pretend to be Naruto-kun, she had wondered if he had misspoke. But when he had explained that Naruto-kun needed to be Jiraiya, and that the only companion he had ever been seen with was his young disciple, the role assignment was obvious. She was familiar enough with Naruto's appearance and mannerisms to pull off a perfect transformation. On the other hand, his outgoing and loud personality was proving to be more difficult to replicate. Although at the moment it seemed to be working to her advantage, making his older self seem so much more endearing to the hovering group of working women who were acting more like overly affectionate aunties.
"Ne, Naruto-chan, have some more to eat, growing boys need all the nutrition they can get!" The bouncy redhead on her right leaned in so close her breasts pressed heavily onto Hinata's arm as she tried to ply her with another bite of food.
"Mai, leave him be!" the woman on her left who was called Akiko scolded, waving away the chopsticks hovering near Hinata's mouth. "You've been hanging all over him ever since he got here. Look at his face, the boy can hardly breathe."
Hinata was still appreciatively chewing the last bite of food that had been shoved into her mouth, since her early morning training session had left her starving. Mai pouted cutely, her perfect rosebud lips glistening with recently applied gloss. As Hinata munched she wondered what shade of cosmetic that was, it was very becoming. The woman noticed the way her lips were being studied and a mischievous gleam lit her eyes.
"Oh! Perhaps the growing boy is hungry for another kind of treat?" she teased. Hinata instantly stiffened, her whole face erupting into a fierce blush as she fought to swallow before she choked on her embarrassment and her bite. A large glass of water was thrust under her mouth by a perfectly manicured hand.
"Mai you are pure evil! You're going to scar his virgin ears with your foul mouth," Akiko scolded her coworker, who was giggling remorselessly. Akiko rubbed Hinata's back soothingly as she grabbed the drink and chugged it, wishing Naruto's hair was longer so that she could hide behind the blond locks like she did her own dark tresses. Suddenly the gentle back pats transitioned into a much more sensual massage of her neck and shoulders.
"Damn Naruto-chan, have you been training too hard again? Your back is nothing but knots! Take off that hideous orange jacket and let me help you relax!"
Unable to refuse the woman's demanding hands with her mouth full of water, Hinata was barely able to thump the glass onto the table as the garment was stripped from her shoulders. With a gulp, she tried to find her deepest voice and piece together some sort of polite denial, until Akiko's fingers dug into her tired muscles.
"Oh-ooohhhhh," she groaned deeply, Naruto-kun's husky voice making it sound much more sensual than she intended.
Akiko smirked as she continued to perform some kind of magic upon Hinata's torso. "I know, I'm very good. The Daimyo always requests my services."
Mai nodded in agreement. "Ever since you taught me some techniques my tips have nearly doubled." She perked up, poking Hinata's whiskered cheek. "After Akiko is done do you mind if I try something else I've been working on?" Drifting closer to Hinata's bright red ear, Mai whispered conspiratorially. "Practicing on girls isn't the same."
With steam nearly shooting out of her ears Hinata buried her face into her hands, mumbling mortified gibberish that she hoped sounded like a "no".
"Awesome! You're such a good sport Naruto-chan!" Mai exclaimed, hugging Hinata's bicep tightly.
Dear Kami, what have I gotten into?!
There was a chorus of laughter around the table and Akiko's fingers threaded up into her spiky blond locks, kneading her scalp.
"It's so refreshing to see such a blusher!" Akiko exclaimed, tilting her head to try and make eye contact through Hinata's fingers. "I take it our young man hasn't had much experience with the ladies yet? Hmm?"
Hinata shuddered when the woman's warm breath danced across her neck. "I-I-I have a g-girlfriend," she squeaked out.
This statement caused a small frenzy of activity as all the women gathered around the table huddled closer and eagerly demanded details. Out of nowhere another one appeared with a tray of drinks and something warm was shoved into Hinata's hands.
"What's her name?"
"How long have you been together?"
"Have you guys kissed yet?"
"Do you love her?"
"How big are her boobs?"
Their questions overlapped in a cacophony of noise, making Hinata's head spin from the intense attention as well as the very personal nature of their interests. The last inquiry in particular made her hands sweat and mouth go dry. Stalling for time, she desperately grabbed for the warm cup of what she thought was tea, only to guzzle what felt like a mouthful of fire.
Blue eyes nearly bugged out of her head as she panicked and gulped. The heat traveled all the way down her throat and blazed through her chest before settling in her belly like a burning ember. She tried to cough, but all that came out was a long, raspy wheeze.
"Wow," one of the girls deadpanned. "They're that small huh?"
Pulling up the neck of Naruto's white t-shirt, Hinata mopped the sweat dripping down her temples. "N-no, she has a n-nice figure."
Dubious looks were exchanged amongst her companions and Mai snorted. "How civil of you. Now tell us the truth, is she like a perky little lady-lumps size, or can you at least get a handful?"
Licking what tasted like kerosene off her lips, Hinata sniffled back the tears that had sprouted in response to the fumes wafting out of her mouth. Feeling somewhat offended at the patronizing smirks she was seeing, she hesitated for only a second before holding up her hands to approximate her own generous bust. No exaggeration needed.
Eyebrows rose all around. There were even a few 'oohs and 'aahs'.
"Damn. How old is this broad?" A woman with a crooked smile asked as she swirled her own drink.
"She's n-not a 'broad'!" Hinata snapped, pressing a hand to her stomach. She felt weird, but at least her tongue was starting to loosen up enough to defend herself.
"Her name is Hinata. We went to academy together. We've…k-kissed, and some other s-stuff. And of course I love her!" Hinata was proud of all the words she had strung together, and reached for the liquid strength again. This time prepared for the burn and welcoming it.
Tittering reverberated in her ears. "Oh-ho! What a man you are! Tell me Naruto-kun, where have you kissed her?" Akiko hissed with a leering grin. The others giggled, smacking her shoulders in faux disapproval, but then refocused on Hinata's face with bright-eyed anticipation.
Hinata blinked, the fire in her belly had somehow created bubbles in her head. But she liked it. She felt lighter. Like the burden of her own social anxiety had been taken from her shoulders. She hoped that her transformation held, and pulsed a little extra chakra to ensure her eyes were just as piercingly blue as she remembered Naruto-kun's being.
"On her lips, duh," she retorted. Her mouth twitched mischievously, "and maybe her neck too." Hinata smugly crossed her arms, her eyes creasing shut with a wide grin that she internally congratulated herself on. Very Naruto-kun of her.
"Sweetheart that's…adorable," one woman—what was her name again?—chuckled. Hinata's eyes opened at the condescending tone, and she was surprised by the looks of pity that greeted her fading grin. Frowning in confusion, her arms wilted into her lap.
"What? What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing Naruto-chan," Mai patted her arm like one would congratulate a proud child on their ugly drawing. "What did you two do afterwards? Braid friendship bracelets and exchange promise rings?"
Snorts of derisive laughter erupted around her as Hinata slouched in the booth, sulkily reaching for another drink. "Ok, so what am I supposed to do then?"
Significant glances were shared over her bowed head. Some whispering and hand gestures of a dubious nature were exchanged. Finally Akiko shrugged and fixed Hinata with a sharp eye.
"You love her? I mean, love-her love her?"
She nodded fiercely, even if it was herself they were referring to, Hinata knew without a doubt it was true, and she felt the same for her Naruto-kun. "With all my heart!"
"And you want her to be happy? Want to make her happy?" Mai prodded. Hinata pictured Naruto-kun's smile, the way it sent butterflies soaring through her gut. She would do anything to make him smile like that everyday for the rest of her life.
"Yesh!" she cried, then twisted her lips and tried again. "YESss."
The glass in front of her was refilled and slid across the table until it was practically under her nose. Hinata hummed happily and seized the cup, lifting it to her lips.
"Alright, then brace yourself for an education."
Eh?
Not wanting to be gone too long and draw suspicion, "Jiraiya" emerged from the dark corridor where he had been holed up. Under his arm was a small box that felt much heavier than its actual weight, burdening him with anxiety over what it may contain. The paper from Konan was tucked safely into the deepest pocket of his haori, and he had to fight the urge to pat it as his hungry eyes bounced around the dimly lit room, searching for blond hair and food. The crowd had gotten even more rowdy as the night progressed, the tone turning more salacious as the patrons became more and more sloshed. One waitress flitted by, her tiny steps giving the impression that she was floating across the floor with the tray of drinks carefully balanced on her hand.
"Excuse me honey!" he called out, flashing her a devilish smile as he gave her sleeve a small tug. "Have you seen my partner? A young man with blond hair?"
She barely spared him a look, jerking her chin in the direction of a booth on the far side of the room where all he could see was a huddle of brightly colored clothing. His mouth quirked in confusion, having assumed Hinata would either be waiting at the bar where he had left her or perhaps gone upstairs already. But if she had gotten a table somehow, hopefully she had also saved him some food. Curiosity and appetite peaked, he started weaving his way toward the group.
Even over the din of the music and laughter, his well trained ears could pick up the higher pitched voices of the women as they seemed to be having an extremely good time.
"I am NOT exaggerating, Naruto-chan! A girl can climax at least two times, three if you do it right."
What the fuck? Hoping they weren't talking to who he thought they were talking to, Naruto started elbowing past others a bit more aggressively, his gaze zeroing in on his partially obstructed view of the private booth.
"It's all about the foreplay. The first one goes pretty quick, especially if she's not used to it all, but after that is when you gotta work a bit."
"F-foreplay? W-Work?" Naruto heard his own incredulous voice ask the same question as the one in his head. Well at least that meant she was still conscious. Now the question was whether to swoop in and carry her off to safety or try to portray a more believable characterization of Ero-senin and butt in with some lame come-on. Ducking behind the tall plant next to the booth, he used all of his shinobi skills to blend into the woodwork and listen, waiting for a good opportunity to make a reappearance.
"Ugh, typical man," one woman groaned at Hinata's cluelessness. "I swear they all think foreplay is a waste of time. Nothing is further from the truth! In fact, foreplay can begin hours before the main event. It is a long look, a favor around the house, her favorite dinner, some suggestive jokes, playing with her hair. All that happens before you even hit the sheets."
Ero-senin never told him that. Suddenly staying hidden was sounding like a better idea.
"That makes sense," he heard his own voice muse. "I hadn't thought about that."
"Most guys don't," Akiko snorted. "For a man, all you gotta do is flash some titty and he's ready to go. I've seen them wake up outta a dead sleep, bang one out, and completely pass out again. Five minutes, beginning to end."
Naruto scowled as they all laughed, rather maliciously in his opinion. No need to disparage the whole gender, now.
"I wouldn't do that!" a transformed Hinata exclaimed, but her conviction was questionable. "At least, I don't think I'd do that."
Naruto face palmed.
"Of course not, honey," Mai patted Hinata's hand. "Just follow our instructions. Now, when it comes time to actually do some fondling, don't just immediately jump to torturing her clit like its a magic button you gotta smash to bits. Start at the top and slowly work your way down. Lips, neck, chest, belly, hips, and then the lower lips. If she likes it, you'll know."
"Don't be afraid to try stuff though!" Another woman interjected. "Exploration is half the fun. There's no one road to orgasm. Think of stamina being your greatest weapon and try everything!"
"And pay attention to the not-so-obvious erogenous zones too," a woman with red hair added. "The earlobes, the inside of her elbows, anything between her thighs." She sighed dreamily. "And for the love of god, rub her feet."
Frantically patting his pockets, Naruto was suddenly overcome with the urge to take notes. Would it be sacrilegious to scribble on the outside of the Toad Scroll? Ero-senin would probably understand. If anyone knew the importance of recording research material it was that pervert.
"Elbows are er-erogi-nusss," Hinata struggled to spit the word out. Naruto paused at the way her words slurred heavily and peeked over a large leaf. His eyebrows shot up into his hitae-ate. Was she drunk? Shit, I forgot to warn her about the alcohol! It ain't your normal ceremonial sake.
"Exactly Naruto-chan, " Akiko nodded in confirmation. "Just paying attention to those places alone should get her nice and wet. Then you can move on to the more sensitive spots. But always watch her face. Encourage her to be vocal, no one expects you to be a mind reader. If you can follow the clues, you'll have her cumming in no time."
"But you need to use your words too," advised a particularly curvy consort. "Tell her how good she feels, how much she turns you on, how sexy she is. Be specific if you can. 'When you bent over to pick up that basket, your ass looked so amazing.' Or 'the way you were biting your thumb earlier, reading that book, made me think about the way you wrap those lips around my thick cock.' Let her know she was on your mind all damn day."
"Easy there Tsumugi! You're gonna make his head explode," course laughter erupted at the double entendre and the girls clinked their cups in congratulatory cheers.
From there the conversation got progressively more graphic. Everything from fingering techniques, positions, pace, and even after care were discussed with the same level of detail and matter-of-fact tone as a mission debrief. At some point Naruto had grabbed a stack of napkins from a nearby table and started writing furiously. He honestly thought only men got this crude with their dinner conversations. His mouth hung open so long, that when he felt something warm on his face he assumed it was drool. Wiping his chin on the corner of his red haori he was ashamed to see that it was actually just a wicked nose bleed.
Not surprising.
Sniffling as discreetly as possible he risked another peek at Hinata. She was holding up her transformation amazingly well considering how inebriated she appeared to be. Although who knew if her raging blush was from the intense sexual nature of the discussion or the potent alcohol. His brows furrowed as he counted the empty bottles on the table. Jeez, those girls were fish. Ten, eleven, twelve…
"Wh-what about the b-boy," Hinata asked timidly, twirling the cup of sake between calloused fingers.
"You mean yourself?" Akiko asked in confusion. Naruto grimaced, maybe it was time to intervene.
"Oh-oh, yeah. M-me. I's just thinkin', she's never done any-anything. Ssso, what can I ask her to…do? Or not do, I guess?"
Silence blanketed the table. Naruto was shoving the napkins into his haori, careful not to smear too much ink. Hopefully Hisa-baa-chan still kept that one room on reserve for whenever Jiraiya appeared out of nowhere. His girlfriend needed to go night-night pronto before she outed them.
"That is so amazing Naruto-chan," Mai breathed in awe.
He froze halfway out of his leafy hiding place, his head cocking in surprise. What now?
"The fact that you are so concerned about her feelings that you are asking us what would be ok and what would not, instead of just prioritizing your own satisfaction over her comfort level, that is just…" she waved her hands over her eyes, fanning away tears that would smear her perfect make-up. "Wow, you really do love her."
Hinata's brow furrowed. "That'sh not what I was ask—"
"Our little tadpole is all grown up," Akiko gushed, grabbing Hinata's transformed face and smashing it into her breasts in a neck cracking hug. "I'm so glad you didn't end up like that old lecher of a sensei!"
Naruto's pensive expression fell into a flat scowl. Just rude. So, so, rude.
From the other side of the booth Hisa appeared seemingly out of nowhere, clicking her teeth and flicking her wrists to shoo the tittering group of bawdy women away. "Girls! Girls! There are paying customers waiting for your attention. Naruto-chan isn't going to remember his name if you keep filling him with all this sake."
They spilled out of the booth, whining half-heartedly and ducking from her harmless swats, but not before molesting Hinata with an assembly line of kisses, head pats, and hugs. As soon as the coast was clear Hisa signaled for Naruto to come collect his companion, where she was slumped in the booth like a pile of rumpled orange laundry, eyes spinning. He gathered her up, her long, transformed arms and legs limp as wet noodles. Unable to get a decent hold on his own lanky form, Naruto had to settle for slinging Hinata over his shoulder like a sack of rice.
Hisa pressed the usual room key into his large hand, looking up at his towering stature. "I'll let the girls know to leave you alone tonight," she said. "Tomorrow I can tell them about Jiraiya."
Naruto sighed, shifting Hinata on his shoulder as she moaned groggily. "Thanks Baa-chan. We should be gone by then. I can't stay in one place too long."
Her purple eyes drifted over to the orange rump that was perched next to his head, glittering with interest and a hint of teasing. "And who would 'we' be, exactly?"
Smiling in a bashful way that was quite uncharacteristic of the perverted author he was pretending to be, Naruto patted Hinata's behind tenderly.
"My most precious person."
"NNNNgggguuuhhhhhrrrrrr."
Who was sticking needles in her eyes? Why was there cotton in her mouth? And what in the hell was crushing her head?
Hinata tried to rollover, the first attempt being supremely unsuccessful, although her stomach rolled quite hard. Trying to lick her dry lips, she instead got a mouthful of her own greasy hair. Her fingers felt fat and stiff when she reached up to brush it away, the long strands tangling in her eyelashes. The light from the window fell across her face as she shifted, revealing the source of the stabbing pain in her eyes. It felt like everything in the room was out to torture her, and in a desperate attempt to find some reprieve she burrowed her head back under the feather pillow.
"Morning Sunshine."
Muffled clinking sounds reached her ears, coming from close by her head. Carefully lifting a corner of the pillow, Hinata exposed one bloodshot eye. Blurry white images that vaguely resembled cups appeared. The eye disappeared again, a nose peeking out in its place, sniffing delicately.
"Yes, it is tea. Good tea. Hisa only buys the best." The humor in Naruto-kun's voice was unmistakable, but she didn't have the energy to feel annoyed. She was too busy feeling like death.
His low humming rose from near her shoulder and seemed to wander around the room. There was a scraping sound of what must have been a bathroom door sliding open and the humming changed to an echoey tone. Slowly pulling herself up to her knees, the pillow still perched upon her head so as to conveniently block out the light, Hinata squinted at her surroundings. What time was it?
Embracing the warm cup of dark tea and cradling it below her nose Hinata inhaled deeply as she tried to organize her thoughts. Last night was an absolute blur. She remembered coming to the "establishment" with Naruto-kun, and sitting with some interesting ladies. But other than a jumbled vertigo of food, laughter, and warmth…she had nothing.
The tea was still steaming hot as she carefully sipped, allowing the strong aroma and aftertaste to chase the pounding in her head away. Halfway through the cup she felt slightly more lucid and glanced around, taking in the fine wooden panels and shoji doors adorned with rich paintings of fog covered mountains. The room was obviously expensive, the kind a respected Clan Head would occupy.
Pulling the pillow off her head, Hinata stroked the satiny fabric, poking its downy softness with her fingers. Even the edging on the sheet was embroidered with tidy rows of geometric shapes. It matched the stitching on her pristine pink robe as well.
Wait.
Nearly spilling her tea Hinata whipped the blanket off her body. Someone had tightly encased and tied her in one of the inn's yukata. Gulping hard, she lifted a trembling finger to pull at the opening, peeking inside with a fear roiling in her already churning stomach.
The same clothes she had worn when they left Mt. Myoboku covered her body. The simple shirt and sweatpants were rumpled and smelled suspicious, but they were undeniably on her body. Slumping back against the wall she sighed in relief. That was one less thing to be humiliated about. The first time Naruto-kun would see her naked would apparently not be while stripping her comatose ass out of her grimy sweats.
"What would you think about me growing a beard?" his voice called from the bathroom.
Her eyebrows rose at the completely random question. "What?"
"Do you not think I can?" His head popped out of the doorway, rubbing his jaw in contemplation. "It would be a sick disguise. I'd look super old."
Hinata giggled, then immediately grimaced as it reverberated in her head like a drum. "All it would do is cover up your whiskermarks."
He shrugged and disappeared again, the sound of the water splashing in the sink and his humming resuming. Her lips twitched with humor as she lifted the cup again and blew on the strong tea, and the smell of her own rancid morning breath made her nose wrinkle. Rubbing her face tiredly she wondered again what exactly had happened the previous evening, and blinked in bewilderment as her hand came away tinged with deep red lipstick.
Who had kissed her? Viciously scrubbing her palm across her cheek until her hair swished over her face, Hinata froze again. Lifting a strand of her hair she sniffed it cautiously. Stale perfume and tobacco smoke filled her nostrils, making her stomach roll again. Why did everything about her just seem so…gross?
"Don't forget the painkillers," Naruto said, emerging shirtless from the bathroom with a towel draped around his broad shoulders. Water dripped from his freshly shaved chin, trickling down a tanned chest and over toned abs before absorbing into the waistband of his pants.
This time when her stomach flipped, Hinata did not mind the sensation as much. Her lascivious thoughts were refocused when he pointed at the white tablets on the tray. "Two pills now, then a shower and some breakfast. After that if you need more you can have more. That's what Ero-senin always did."
Unable to argue and eager for relief, she popped the pills and gulped the last of the tea, relishing the bitterness of the caffeine as it washed over her tongue.
"I feel awful, was it something I ate?" she asked, carefully setting down the fine china cup.
Naruto tilted his head to the side. "You don't remember?"
She started to shake her head, then stopped, bracing her temples with her fingertips and kneading them as she whispered, "Not really."
"Nothing?" he prodded. "Not the drinks, or the food, or the…conversation?"
Hinata squinted, trying to sort through the maelstrom of her memories, but only echoes of recollections faded in and out of her foggy brain.
"Nothing specific." Opening her eyes she saw that the tips of his ears were pink.
"Why?" she asked suspiciously. "What did we talk about?"
His hand was instantly rubbing the back of his neck, an overly bright grin spreading so far across his face that molars were nearly visible.
"Oh nothing. Nothing at all."
A/N: Not a ton of plot progress here, but I have no regrets. So much fun writing this chapter!
There's some hinting at power boosts from the Red Thread, but in my story its mostly going to be a status thing. Instead of being some mega ultimate jutsu key, it's more something that makes what already exists more vivid. Communication, bonds, sensations... hehehe. They'll figure it out.
The hint at Konan, pay attention to that ;) It won't come to fruition for a bit, but its one of those butterfly effect things I imagined. With Naruto taking a more active role as the head of the spy network, he has the ability to keep tabs on her, and any plans she is working on...
That being said don't get too hyped up for an entire canon re-write (I already did that once, thats good enough *whew*) This is a NaruHina story from start to finish. Time skips will revolve around them.
Next chap will address some more plot issues, just to keep things moving. Thank you so much for reading, and for your patience with my random postings. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!