Hey, hey!
Nothing to say. Hope you enjoy the chapter!
"Hey. Wake up you two."
For the second time Naruto has been the one to wake up Hinata and Sasuke. He found them both in the same position they were in the night before. So far, it's been three nights the three have slept like this. He didn't understand why, but this brought warmth to his chest. He liked seeing Sasuke and Hinata like this. Vulnerable and innocent.
Hinata was easier to get up this morning. She probably slept light knowing the shortcomings she had right now. Sasuke was still not a morning person and while he was up, he still dragged. Naruto found this amusing. Not 'Mr. Perfect'. The 'Great Sasuke Uchiha' didn't like waking up at the crack of dawn to work? He was supposed to be so PERFECTTTT.
Naruto was first to start freshening up in the bathroom. Washing his face to wake himself up and brush his teeth. He turned his head at the doorway and saw Hinata feel her way through the house. He was about to call out to her, so she would be able to better find the bathroom, but Kakashi walked up to the door and stopped him.
"Let her do this on her own. I promise she's not made out of glass Naruto."
Naruto still had his toothbrush in his mouth as he frowned at Kakashi. He didn't say anything and just let Hinata use her hands to navigate to the bathroom. He stepped to the side when she made her way in and felt around for the sink. Naruto watched Hinata turn on the water and wait a moment to ensure it wouldn't turn hot. She fumbled a little, but she ended up getting the toothpaste on her toothbrush.
"You do not have to worry about me Naruto-kun." Hinata said this as she started to brush her teeth. Naruto looked at her basically impressed with her capabilities right now. One thing is for sure. Hinata had guts. Without sight it would take him a few days to get over the depression and move past it. "Sorry. Umm, it's just. It's just that you're handling all this so good. You're handling way too much, too good. We're not superhero's. So…I worry."
Hinata finished brushing her teeth and turned the water to hot so she could start to wash her face. In reality. She has had about 3 mental breakdowns before she even made it to the bathroom. She was uncomfortable and Hinata struggled to control her shaking. She was miserable, but she could only blame herself and help herself.
She smiled as she felt the water grow warm. Happy she got the right knob for hot water. "You are a superhero Naruto-kun. I wonder all the time if there is anything you can't do."
He blushed. Naruto sported his first blush from a compliment. This was a blush that said, someone he actually liked, complimented him. That was an uplifting feeling. Before, when he was still questioning his feelings about Hinata. When she complimented him, it was sweet because she was a decent friend.
Now. Well now they knew there was something. That they had something genuine and pure between one another. Now when Hinata complimented him it was something very special to Naruto and enduring.
He scratched the back of his head nervously and chuckled. "I mess up all the time Hinata. You saw me back in the academy. I struggle with life and ninja basics." Naruto laughed at this, but Hinata didn't. She softly hummed at him lightly insulting himself. "You always find a way Naruto-kun. You never give up and you never go back on your word. That's your ninja way. I…look up to that and hope you never change it."
His chest felt like it was going to explode with how nervous he became. Naruto wasn't used to such compliments and applause from someone. He looked at Hinata as she dried her face. She got her bangs and the locs in the front of her face wet a little. Naruto reached over and took a loc of her hair and continued to stare at Hinata's features.
He was so glad she wasn't covered in blood anymore. He had a nightmare about that last night before Sasuke woke him up. He was sure he'd have nightmares about that for a long time.
"Well. That has to be my ninja way to keep you around Hinata."
He watched her blush deeper than he was and smiled. It was odd having your feelings be reciprocated. To know there was someone out there that did like you and you just so happened to like them back. Naruto let out a watery laugh and so did Hinata as they separated and continued to get ready for the morning's training.
As the group went out to the forest, Kakashi walked behind them while Naruto, Sasuke and Hinata walked ahead. They kept Hinata in the middle so she could keep walking a straight path. Naruto just being someone that couldn't keep the silence to himself, had to strike up a conversation.
"Say Hinata?" Said person hummed as a reply as she focused on walking. Sasuke gave Naruto an annoyed look because why would he want Hinata to multitask in a situation like now.
"Have you ever checked out me and Sasuke's chakra system. I never really seen you check to see if we lie or anything, except that one time during the cat mission. Other than that. Have you ever really checked us out?"
Hinata grew silent and this caught Sasuke's attention. He turned and looked at her curious as well. Sasuke was curious, then at the same time he didn't want to know, because he might get upset.
So, what if she did check their chakra network and tell her family about them? In all retrospect, the Byakugan was perfect for spying. Collecting intel, fighting an opponent.
Sometimes Sasuke grew paranoid after Hinata called him out for lying. She literally knew him inside and out and she wouldn't let him even get beyond her 360 slight disability. Technically she still didn't tell them about it. They didn't know the exact location of her blind spot. "Did you tell your father about us after you saw our chakra network?"
Hinata sighed as she continued to focus on walking. Still, she answered Sasuke's question. "It is frowned upon and my family is not allowed to use our Byakugan in the village unless it is related to our ninja duties. So, honestly, no. I have not looked at your chakra network. I have seen it, but I have not broken it down and studied it like I would an opponent."
Her silent way of saying. I trust you too much to treat you like the enemy.
Naruto shrugged his shoulders and looked at Hinata. That was nice and noble of her, but Naruto was personally curious. Sometimes his failures concerned him. Like it wasn't normal. Like something internally was wrong with him. Hinata could surely help him with that.
This was something he'd ask her about after the mission.
"Are you curious?" There was a dark tone to Naruto's voice that caught Hinata and even Sasuke off guard. Both dark haired individuals turned towards Naruto. Sasuke looking rather thrown off and now interested. "What?"
"Naruto." Kakashi said this in a warning tone. "I am sure you'd rather keep your privacy. You and Sasuke. Don't make Hinata do something that could get her into trouble."
Naruto looked back at Hinata and Sasuke. His bright persona gone for a split second before he grinned at the two. "I don't care. We're all a team. Right?" Hinata blushed at the tone of his voice and turned her head to continue walking. "I-I-I wouldn't do that. To you or Sasuke. Unless to help you."
Naruto didn't say anything back and this would be something Sasuke and Hinata stored in their mind to ask him about later. When they were out of this mess and back at home. There were a lot of things to address back in Konoha.
Sasuke looked from Naruto back to Hinata. These two. They caught his attention more and more every day. It was too soon for Sasuke to pursue what he really wanted. There was so much that he had to perfect and finish. Killing his brother was number one on his list. Always would be. He'd never, ever change that. He wanted Itachi dead more than anything.
Then he wanted success. To continue excelling in the ninja ranks. To create his own name and legacy outside of being the lone Uchiha survivor. Then a wife. Someone to spend his life with and have his children. Twins run in Hinata's family. So that would be good. They could have multiple children faster hopefully.
Sasuke planned all of this in his head. How he would go about his life. Under the conditions that Hinata was interested in this life with him. Reason why he was so forceful a few days ago. So he knew what his chances were. Sasuke had grown to know Hinata fairly well. If he claimed her and asked her to wait for him to marry her, he knew she'd wait.
Picture perfect life and ending. Sasuke painted this picture in his head almost every single day for the past month or so. He couldn't get it out his mind. Hinata was unique. So different.
His picture went from artistic to a masterpiece when Naruto was included though.
Sasuke looked away from Hinata as they neared a clearing that was open, yet they were still surrounded by trees.
The masterpiece Naruto created still threw Sasuke off. He wasn't sure how to take it or if Naruto would even want to paint the picture with them. Sasuke thinks 'them', because Hinata was his regardless.
"Alright. Chakra control. That's what we'll be working on." Kakashi walked over to the nearest tree. While he could walk, it was slow and it showed that he was still recovering. "You all will be climbing up this tree. With your feet and no hands."
Naruto looked at Kakashi like he was mental. "That's impossible. How would that even happen?" Kakashi controlled the urge to roll his eyes and proceeded to show Naruto that it was in fact possible as he walked up the tree. "I walked up the tree Hinata." Kakashi called out to Hinata who blushed at the fact that she was the only one that couldn't see Kakashi administer the technique.
Hinata quickly nodded her head. Naruto took her hand and walked with her to Kakashi, who walked to the bottom of the tree, to give Hinata an opportunity to feel what Kakashi was talking about. "Can you feel the flow? How I am concentrating my chakra to my feet. It takes some good chakra control, and I know you can't exactly see what I'm doing, but feeling it out you can create a picture in your head."
Hinata felt Kakashi's foot as she concentrated on his alignment to the tree and how she could feel his chakra's focus point. The image in her head was him standing upright on the tree. Like he was working with the tree to form an 'L' shape. She took a step back and nodded her head to indicate she understood.
Naruto, Hinata and Sasuke stood in front of their own tree. Naruto was the first to try. Not putting enough chakra in his step he fell on the first attempt. Sasuke looked over at Naruto, but ironically didn't look smug and didn't say anything rude to Naruto. Sasuke looked back at his tree and started walking up.
He was doing pretty well. This wasn't so bad. He got halfway to his destination of going to the first tree branch, but never made it. He faltered and applied too much chakra to his feet and blew a chunk of the tree and fell down. Well, at least he did it before he was too high up.
Hinata proceeded to walk up the tree. Her arms were out to her sides at first. Uncomfortable doing this when she lacked eye sight. Once she was able to stabilize herself she stood up straight and proceeded to walk up the tree. Naruto watched as Hinata passed beyond the point Sasuke made it to, and walked up to the first branch.
She felt her way around and found a branch, where she walked over to and sat down at. Hinata didn't smile. She didn't even acknowledge what she did. Naruto looked at Hinata, expecting some type of excitement from her. "Hinata! You did it!"
Sasuke looked up at her and was just as confused as Naruto. Even Kakashi looked slightly confused at Hinata's overly quiet behavior. Sasuke walked up to the tree. "What's wrong?"
Hinata lips thinned out and she forced the words out. "I…am slightly scared of heights."
The three males on the ground grew deadly silent. All three sweat dropped at the random fear Hinata decided to share. "Great time to tell us that Hinata." Naruto grumbled this and stared up at her. His eyebrow twitching with annoyance. Sasuke sighed and placed his hand on his hip. "Well. Just come on down. No one told you to sit on the branch."
Hinata proceeded to come down, but Kakashi interrupted her. "Actually. You stay up there on the branch Hinata. You two go get her. Work on your response time. Hinata had to save herself out there because you two faltered."
Naruto gave Kakashi a sharp look. Sasuke matching him with a heated glare. Sasuke was the first to speak up. "He threatened to kill her if we moved. Once she gave us an opening we did respond."
Kakashi shook his head in disagreement. "Should have never reached the point that Zabuza was able to even reach her. Hinata had her faults. She could have communicated more leading up to the fight. However, as her teammates you two lacked at seeing she was burned out. That she needed help. You never asked her about her dōjutsu weaknesses since being on a team with her, and when you first saw Zabuza fixate on Hinata you should have started planning from then out. We're a team. When you see any one of us fail, you pick up our faults. Hinata failed you two, by minor communication error. You two failed her a lot worse though."
Kakashi watched the anger pass through Naruto and Sasuke's face. It was something that was going to be addressed. Hinata's situation was a lot worse, because Kakashi needed her to start opening up more. However, the imperfections of Naruto and Sasuke were going to be pointed out as well. He had to let them know they were no better than Hinata just because her faults were so obvious right now.
Looking at Sasuke. Kakashi concluded at some point in time Sasuke was going to fall if he didn't get a reality check. Darkness covered Sasuke's every being. He was stuck in the past and couldn't move beyond that horrific event in his life. Sasuke shouldn't have to move beyond it, but he needed to embrace it. To make peace and understand life wasn't always about vengeance.
Then there was Naruto. The host of the nine tailed fox. His secrets would soon come to light and it appeared Naruto was starting to figure himself out. It was too soon to share this secret though.
It's not that Kakashi didn't believe Sasuke or Hinata could handle such information, but they couldn't take the backlash of accepting Naruto right now. Maybe Sasuke, but not Hinata. She had a long way before she could stand on her own two feet let alone support Sasuke and Naruto effectively outside of being a ninja. Plus, Naruto wasn't ready to handle the information.
Naruto was the first to turn away from Kakashi and glare at the tree Hinata was up on. He didn't like being called out like that. Now it was eating him. The guilt. Hinata being in the situation she was in. Was it really his fault?
"Naruto…Sasuke?"
The two looked up the tree to Hinata sitting up above. She looked nervous to speak, but she managed. "I'm…sorry. I know you don't want to hear that. I know it won't change what I've done, b-but I was v-very serious last night. I am sorry. I will never put us in a situation like this again."
"Huh?"
"What?"
Both boys were confused. Sasuke walked up to the tree beside Naruto now completely annoyed. "Stop apologizing. It's annoying." Sasuke lifted his foot and proceeded to stand on the tree. He gave Naruto the same annoyed look he was giving Hinata. "Hurry. Up." Naruto snapped back to reality and frowned at Sasuke.
Who the hell was Sasuke to tell him what to do? Who was he to try and one up him?! Naruto grunted and made his way over to the tree. He was about to just foolishly step on the tree, but Sasuke reached out and grabbed his hand to stop him.
He knew Naruto was riled up now. Probably putting too much chakra in his feet to prove a point and would surely blast the tree and knock Hinata off. "Relax. You have to know by now you hold a large amount of chakra. Larger than Hinata and I. Just relax and concentrate a little. Not a lot, because you'll over think."
Sasuke held up his other hand and used his thumb as a measurement for his index finger. Pressing the tip of his thumb to the base of his index finger. "It doesn't take a lot of chakra I've noticed. More self-control than anything. You'll only need about this much per foot. For you that is nothing. For me, right now. Maybe 5%. For Hinata around 9% of chakra is being used to uphold this."
Sasuke let go of Naruto's hand and watched him. "Alright. Try. Take a deep breath and try."
Naruto took a deep breath and took Sasuke's advice. Not too much, but make sure it's not nothing at all either. One foot was secured on the tree and soon after another was secured. Naruto wobbled a little as he stood beside Sasuke, but mainly because he wasn't used to being unstable like this.
Kakashi watched the two. So Sasuke did know how to pull his head out of his ass and be a comrade and Naruto knew how to shut up for more than five seconds to listen.
Naruto and Sasuke started to walk slowly up the tree. "Keep your eyes up. Look at a target point and just keep making new targets after passing the last one. Until you feel comfortable."
Naruto didn't say anything back. Way too focused and nervous of being the one to mess up. He nodded his head and did as Sasuke instructed. "If you did this more often, you'd be less annoying Naruto."
Naruto smiled at Sasuke. He knew it was killing Sasuke to be nice for too long. "What? Stop talking and just listen to everything you say? Like your fan club." Naruto chuckled at this, but Sasuke turned to look at him with no sign that he was trying to be mean to Naruto. He was being authentic. "No. If you were genuine more often."
Naruto grunted and continued walking. His focus point was now Hinata and they were half way there. "I am genuine. If you don't like my personality then I don't know what to tell you. I am who I am you ass hole."
Sasuke turned from Naruto and continued walking. "You are loud. You are outlandish and sometimes you do jump to situations without thinking. It's not an everyday thing. You're whole personality changes when you're around people other than me and Hinata. You act dumb. Like a total idiot. You're louder and more obnoxious. Why?"
Naruto was silent for a moment. He searched for the right words and just couldn't find them. Not right now. Not at this moment. "Not now. When we get back to Konoha we can talk more."
Sasuke grunted. "And if we don't make it?" Naruto almost faltered from frustration. Sasuke was pushing way too many buttons today and he actually wasn't even trying to. "We'll make it teme! Jeez, shut up! Why are you so personal and deep all of a sudden now?!"
Sasuke shrugged his shoulders. "You caught my attention when you asked Hinata about our chakra networks. I never seen you like that. That's when I realized that was your real personality."
Naruto and Sasuke reached Hinata and Naruto turned to look at Sasuke. "Like I said. We'll talk about it when we get back." It was a final statement. Naruto had that cool demeanor to him that he had on the walk here and for some reason that was enough to get Sasuke to drop the subject.
Naruto turned to Hinata and smiled. "We're here Princess!" Hinata blushed at the name and puffed her cheeks out. She didn't like that name at all. Naruto took Hinata's hand and guided her to stand in the middle between him and Sasuke. The three started to walk down and Sasuke spoke up again after some time of thinking.
"You're not scared of heights are you." It was a statement, because they've been in plenty of situations where Hinata was high up and she never freaked out. Like the roof of the academy for example. Hinata was silent for a moment before she spoke. "Umm…a…little?"
Sasuke gave Hinata an exhausted look along with Naruto and both grew even more annoyed that she couldn't see them. Naruto let out a heavy sigh. "You knew how to tree walk all along. Didn't you?"
Hinata was again silent for a moment. "My family may…teach these things early." Naruto threw his hands up in the air in aspiration for a second and looked at Hinata. "What the hell Hinata!?" She blushed at the language and fidgeted with her fingers. "K-K-Kakashi-sensei. Umm…asked me to p-play along."
The trio made it down the tree and Naruto gave Kakashi one mean stare. "What the hell man! What's with all the lying! Don't turn Hinata into a liar!" Even Sasuke looked aggravated that he was played to play hero for no reason. He should have known better.
Kakashi smiled at them from under his mask. "Well. It got you two to figure things out faster. I had a feeling you'd struggle a little. So, to make sure we don't waste time with this, I pulled Hinata aside earlier and came up with this scenario in case you two couldn't grasps it immediately. We don't have time for winded teaching moments. In case you two forgot, there are two missing-nin out there waiting to attack us. I need things to be sped up. Hinata's temporarily blind, but not fully out of commission."
Kakashi looked at Hinata, "I don't need you using your Byakugan for the rest of this mission Hinata. Unless it is of dire need. I need you to rest them as much as possible. When we get back home, I'll get a medical staff to check you out, but I think you should be fine by then."
Hinata nodded her head slowly in understanding of what her sensei just said. "Umm…sensei?"
Kakashi looked interested because it was very rare Hinata actually asked a question. "Yes."
"Is…Is there something that you all know, that I don't?" Kakashi looked over at Sasuke and Naruto.
Naruto held his arms up in a manner that he was saying he didn't say anything and wasn't involved. Sasuke shook his head to show he didn't say anything either. Kakashi looked back at Hinata and let out a silent sigh. "Yes. There is."
Again Hinata nodded her head. "Can I know now?"
Kakashi placed both of his hands on her shoulders and turned Hinata to face him. He knew she couldn't see him, but he still wanted to give her the respect and face her. "Well yes you can. It is about you after all. However, I'm the type of person to relay information face to face. I want to look you in the eyes and you look back at me. So you know I am being truthful to you. So, when this mission is over and we are safe on our way back home. Yes, I will tell you."
Hinata lips thinned, but she didn't rebuttal. It wasn't in her nature. So she obediently nodded her head and said nothing else. Kakashi crouched down to her level. He looked at her and Hinata could feel his stare. "It's okay to be upset Hinata. Remember what I told you. I'm not them Hinata. You can tell me what you think."
You can be a normal person.
"When you were a genin. Did you voice your thoughts?" Hinata said this in a monotone voice, because she knew the answer to this. Kakashi was old school. Even though he was relaxed and nonchalant. In his younger years he respected the ranks and was a 'yes sir' individual. Never voicing his opinions and never showing his dismay for something. Even when he believed it to be wrong.
Kakashi lived a life where he felt stuck. Sometimes he still felt stuck. Like a walking zombie.
Kakashi picked up on the slight rebellion from Hinata. That she didn't want to voice out her thoughts. She didn't want to get angry. She didn't want to feel. He understood all too well how Hinata was feeling, but he didn't want her to be like him. "I'll respect that." Kakashi straightened himself up and stretched his sore limbs. "For now."
Naruto and Sasuke didn't pick up on the silent argument Kakashi and Hinata had. It was so passive and light. Years later they would understand that Hinata showed her first moment of being disobedient.
It's been over a week now. Team seven has been rotating between training and team building. They've been taking turns watching over their clients home and that meant the extra people in that home.
Kakashi let Naruto take first watch for tonight. He needed time to cool off anyways.
The bridge builders grandson just got under Naruto's skin all the time. He was so damn negative and was always telling them they couldn't stop those thugs and that they would all fail and die. Adding further stress to the situation. Plus, overall this kid was a quitter. It was annoying and it grinded Naruto gears.
So, he snapped on him. He put that kid in a kids place and told him to grow a pair basically. If you want to survive and you want your village back, then fight back or die trying. That simple.
Naruto sat outside on the side porch still steaming. "I-If you do not mind. I have made us tea along with two cups of ramen the nice lady was able to spare and assist me with making."
Naruto turned around and saw Hinata holding out a tray. She was looking forward, but she knew where Naruto was. He had no clue how Hinata was able to function and move around so smoothly now. In a house that wasn't hers. "Thanks Hinata. You shouldn't be skipping out on sleep though."
He took the tray from Hinata and guided her to sit down with him. Hinata just smiled. "My eyes are resting all the time." Naruto looked at Hinata shocked for a second. Was she actually telling a joke? He laughed at the light humor. It was actually pretty funny considering the somber situation they were in. "True!"
The two sat in silence and Naruto started to blow on his noodles. He had skipped dinner, he was so annoyed with that kid. His appetite came back not too long afterwards, so he was happy Hinata brought out something to eat. He was about to take a big bite, but stopped when he saw Hinata quietly eating. "Hn. I thought you didn't like ramen?"
Hinata paused and turned to his direction. Following the sound of his voice. She had a few string of noodles still hanging from her mouth and she looked at Naruto slightly confused. "Hmm?"
Naruto thanked the heavens that Hinata couldn't see him because boy was he blushing at the sight of her. Hinata corrected herself and giggled at how unladylike she was just now. "I-I'm sorry Naruto-kun. You caught me by surprise. I do like ramen. Just not the large crowds the ramen stand sometimes brings."
Naruto nodded his head at her answer. Hinata did say that before. So, he guessed she didn't eat a lot when they went out to eat because the large crowds made her anxious. Next time he'll take her out when it was little to no people. "The way your dad talked. You don't eat food like ramen."
Naruto was so annoyed listening to her father that night. Talking as if Hinata was too proper and good for freaking noodles. That man didn't have a clue who his daughter was.
Hinata gave a weak smile. "Well. I tend to sneak a lot of things around my father I suppose."
"You're just filled with jokes tonight." Naruto and Hinata both looked at the sound of the voice and saw Sasuke approaching them. He was coming from inside the home and sat on the porch beside Hinata. Taking her tea that she was leaving to get cold. "You good?" He said this to Naruto as he took a sip of the tea. It was good, Hinata could make a good pot of tea.
Sasuke had no clue how she was able to do this with no sight. How Hinata was able to adapt in a strangers home so quickly and easily with little to no help. Once again showing her skills and earning more of their respect.
Naruto knew Sasuke was talking to him. Asking if he was okay. "Yeah. I'm fine. I didn't mean to yell at that kid like that." Sasuke shrugged his shoulders. "He was annoying. Even Kakashi defended you after you left." He took another sip of tea after saying that.
After Kakashi pointed out that Naruto never cried given his rough upbringing. Sasuke started to think back and recalled he's never seen Naruto cry. Hinata never voiced the fact that during her stalker years, she has seen Naruto cry when they were very young.
"Sasuke-kun." Hinata frowned at Sasuke's rude behavior and he internally smirked at the way she addresses him and Naruto in private. Sasuke placed the tea down and looked at both Naruto and Hinata. "What? He was annoying. I didn't see you correcting Naruto for yelling at the kid, Princess. So, you thought he was annoying too."
Hinata snapped her mouth shut and puffed her cheeks out as she faced off into the distance. Naruto and Sasuke silently smiled at how easy Hinata could get riled up. It was hard to do in the beginning, but since Hinata's been sober the last couple of days. She's been pretty expressive.
Sasuke dared to say she was worth him being charming to. Giving her sly remarks that ended with him being playful and soft. Plus, Sasuke has never seen Naruto be so gentle and open around anyone in the village like he was with Hinata.
That's how this was supposed to work. If Hinata gave her true self to them, they would do the same in return.
"Umm. Sasuke-kun?" Hinata finally spoke up after they sat in silence for a while. He continued to look out into the night, but hummed at her as a reply for her to continue. "Can you help me untie my bandages?" Sasuke looked at her and frowned in confusion. She just cleaned and redressed it before the dinner blowout. "I just want some fresh air on my eyes and to see if there is any improvement."
Sasuke looked very skeptical. "Kakashi said not to bother your eyes until after this mission."
Naruto rolled his eyes and reached over to Hinata. "You're such a pussy Sasuke."
Naruto started to undo Hinata's bandages and noticed how lobster red Hinata looked. Clearly embarrassed to be around such language. Sasuke looked at Naruto with an amused look on his face. He wasn't expecting Naruto to be genuine tonight.
"Sorry Hinata. Didn't mean to talk like that around you." Naruto finished taking the bandages off and looked at Hinata. Waiting for her to open her eyes. Hinata slowly opened her eyes. Cringing a little to adjust to the air and the dim porch light. Sasuke placed his hand over her face where the light was mainly hitting her at.
She turned to look at Sasuke and squinted. He smiled at how silly she looked because it reminded him of when Itachi lost his sight temporarily. He would squint in frustration. "What's so funny?" Hinata stopped squinting and looked at Sasuke regularly.
Sasuke's eyes widened and he looked at Naruto, who was looking at Hinata shocked as well. "You can see me?"
Hinata nodded her head and smiled. "Yes. Very clearly now." Naruto smiled at this and Hinata turned to look at him. Now smiling at being able to see his bright blue beautiful eyes again. "So are you feeling better?" Naruto asked this and saw Hinata nod her head, but it was slow and very uncertain.
"I feel better, but I still have a numbing headache. My temples are still very sore. I could use my Byakugan, but I know it would set me back on my recovery and probably cause more damage that would take longer to heal. Sensei is right to advise me to wait."
Naruto didn't care about anything else Hinata was saying. She could see!
He was so scared and traumatized a week ago. When she was looking right at him, but couldn't see him. The fear on her face from that moment, when she woke up would forever be engraved in his mind. Naruto reached over and hugged her. He gave Hinata a tight hug and smiled when he felt her return the hug, equally as happy.
He was the first to separate. He pulled away from Hinata, but took his time. Taking in the moment to feel someone actually hug him in return. Smelling how sweet and sugary Hinata's natural scent was. She probably ate so many cinnamon rolls that she ended up permanently smelling like one.
His cheek grazed hers and when he pulled away he was still close to her face. Inches away to be specific. Hinata gazed at Naruto and blushed the deepest blush Naruto had ever seen. Hell, he himself even blushed because he just didn't know what to do in this situation.
"Kiss her you idiot."
End of chapter.
Hope you all enjoyed it. We're getting somewhere now! See you Wednesday!