Chapter 3: The Invitation
Naruto & Iruka-Land of Fire Outskirts
Gold and crimson foliage decorate the trees the closer they get to Konoha.
The carriage trails along smoothly, crunch of pebble and dirt filling the silence between them.
It smells of oak and moss, scents he hasn't really been around in years with how much sea breeze they get back at home. They've kept to a leisurely pace since leaving in the early morning hours right before sunrise, set to arrive in Konoha by early evening.
Iruka taps his fingers along his knees, eyes roaming everywhere but at Naruto.
"You know you didn't have to tag along Iruka. I think I'm old enough now that I can get around Konoha just fine or use of my clones to ask for assistance if I truly get lost." Naruto mentions lightly, jolting him into straightening up.
Iruka shakes his head, studies patches of amber yellow sunlight crisscrossing against fallen branches and vines as they go underneath an arch of trees.
"That isn't why I'm feeling jittery Naruto. What are your true reasons for wanting to visit Konoha now of all times? We should be proceeding with reviewing ways to build up Uzushiogakure's defenses, studying the financial reports your Father kept in-"
Naruto holds up a hand. "We can take care of all of that in due time y'know! Besides, it's been too long since we both took a mini vacation from our assigned roles."
Iruka bites his tongue, holds back on pressuring him.
'He avoided answering my question.'
Normally he can read Naruto like an open book, but not now.
Really, he hasn't been able to fully guess what's running through his mind since the end of his coming-of-age celebration.
A yawn escapes him before he can hold it back, blinks away a sting of tears.
Naruto leans forward with a smirk. "You should get some rest Iruka. You've been up since probably 4:00 am getting all this transportation stuff set up, mapping out a route too. I would've been fine walking, there's no rush y'know."
"5:00 am. And I'm fine; I need to stay alert for any hiccups, figure out whatever it is you're planning." Iruka asserts, head lolling back against the cushions.
"Planning? Geez, you can't treat me like a child forever Iruka. I need to see how things run in the other villages if Uzushiogakure has any chance of gaining back its former glory and power. And there's no harm in trying some of the local delicacies too while we're in the area!" Naruto remarks.
Iruka snorts, he's come up with some cookie-cutter excuses too.
But he notes the flash of scarlet trickling into azure, gone before it can take root.
'He's serious about this. Why?'
His eyes feel far too heavy like they're carrying luggage to dwell on it, running on four hours of sleep and caffeine.
Caffeine that's already completely gone from his system.
"Rest Iruka! I'll wake you when Konoha's major landmarks come into view." Naruto assures him.
'I don't believe you Young Master.' But the retort dies on his tongue drifting into beckoning sleep, lull of the carriage carrying him into a swath of darkness.
When he opens his eyes again, Naruto is gone.
The Hokage monument is in view, forest trails having cleared into cobblestone. The sun dips low now in the sky, awash in reds and burnt orange that ignites every nerve within him.
'How long was I asleep?'
"What happened?! Where is the Young Master?" Iruka bellows out in alarm, jumps from his position to check on the few guards he managed to wrangle into joining them.
He checks the area for intruders, though none of their belongings appear to be missing, the forest is calm behind them.
Their coachman, Ryotachi withers as Iruka's glare twists to him for answers, shrugs his shoulders helplessly.
Obsidian tracks to the hefty pouch of ryo at his side, gritting his teeth to hold back a groan.
'Naruto resorted to bribery?!'
It truly raises alarm that Naruto would go to such lengths to come here, pay his own staff to keep quiet. Even if he had chosen to say no instead to this whole thing with just having finished his coming-of-age planning and subsequent party, he's sure now Naruto would've just gone ahead to Konoha without him.
"Master...Master Uzumaki said you needed your 'beauty sleep' as he put it and that he would go on ahead!"
Iruka gapes, schools his features back to one of calm despite the rising drum of his heartbeat in his ears.
"What about one of the bodyguards? Is one with him?"
Ryotachi shakes his head, fidgets from foot to foot.
"He, err specifically requested no additional protection. Said he didn't want us using up our chakra or stamina for no reason."
A chill comes over him in a wave. "Wait, so that means he's currently-"
He swallows down forming knots in his throat, can't bring himself to fully say it when he knew from the get-go this whole excursion was a bad idea.
'Now he's traveling alone.'
Naruto-Konoha Marketplace District
His stomach hisses and gurgles, grumbling again right as a gaggle of schoolgirls pass by.
"You have a monster in your tummy!" One girl teases and points before rushing to keep up with her classmates.
"Yup, gotta go feed it!" Naruto chimes back.
The last thing he needs is the Nine Tails goading him to use his power to stay alert if he perhaps gets too hungry.
And he's already going to be on Iruka's bad side once he finds him out of the series of clones he has scattered about the village.
'Ah, right. I haven't eaten anything since sunrise. I'll get dinner and then find where Hinata likes to hangout the most!' Naruto nods to himself.
And he knows just where to go, the best place in the village his Dad once told him of where he can get ramen.
Ichiraku's.
The restaurant is a cacophony of noises and smells, spices he guesses are blends of peppers and onions coat the air along with fresh batches of thin noodles tossed and stretched.
"Welcome! Just take a seat anywhere and we'll be with you shortly to get you started with a drink!" A man beckons him inside.
'He must be Teuchi.' Naruto guesses from his appearance with a nod, taking a seat at the bar section.
Even amid the rush of sounds, he still picks up on a soft voice behind him.
Her voice.
"You said I could pick any establishment of my choice and I'm in the mood for ramen." Hinata repeats gently.
"Yes, but I didn't mean some raggedy hole in the wall place like...this." Toneri grunts.
Hinata forces a smile seeing his silvery blue eyes narrow, locked on two jonin clearly just returning from a difficult mission, pants coated in dried blood now a coppery maroon.
She pats at his hand getting his attention back to her.
"Don't insult Teuchi's creations before you've even tried them! His skill is on par and even better than some of the fancier establishments around here from my prior trips here."
Toneri's lips flatten, meets darkening pearl before sighing.
He squeezes her hand in return, nodding. "You're right. Let's not argue on this, I want to see if you can truly back up your high praise for this restaurant."
Naruto peeks over his shoulder, pair situated at a booth in the far-right corner.
They won't notice or even see him unless they got to a standing position.
"Careful, coming around!" A waitress calls out, Naruto noting two large bowls of tonkotsu and beef ramen with a plate of gyoza and fried rice heading their way. Toneri wrinkles his nose as everything is set down and Naruto does a double take that the large bowls of ramen are Hinata's choice and not to be split between them.
'Can she actually eat all that?'
A woman clears her throat in front of him.
"Sorry about the wait! I'm Ayame, I'll be taking your order and assisting in making your meal! Any appetizers you want to start with or drinks?"
He pulls himself out of staring, focuses back to the meal options.
Really, he studies the menu only for a moment, already knows what he wants to try.
"I'll take two large bowls of miso ramen with a side of edamame. And uh, water is fine for a drink."
Ayame nods, twists in the opposite direction to greet a couple that's just walked in, guides them to an open table near a tower of stacked herbs.
Teuchi maneuvers to his side.
"It's always nice to see a new face! Has anyone ever told you that you look just like a fellow who used to come here with his wife? Minato was his name, went by the Yellow Flash in the shinobi community. I'm not sure though if he went by Uzumaki or Namikaze as a surname. Maybe not the former with the rumors that circulate with that name now in days..."
Naruto brightens some, points at himself.
"I'm his son, Naruto Uzumaki."
Teuchi snaps his fingers. "Ah, the one who just had that coming-of-age party in The Land of Whirlpools! Forgive me, I don't keep up much with noble clan gossip or news despite how often it circulates around here."
Naruto shakes his head, about to ask if he recalls what his Dad liked to order when a crash of glass and cutlery comes from his right.
Hinata is up from her seat, left hand wrapped around her right wrist.
Cobalt takes in the gash of ripped skin, wound blooming scarlet.
But Toneri isn't without injury either, specks of bruises dotting his arms he rapidly slips out of view into his jacket's sleeves.
"Are you alright Dear?! Perhaps you ordered too much of this ramen, it's hard to keep all these hot foods and drinks from spilling."
Pink burns at her cheeks, dozens of eyes on them, too many eyes on them.
"Isn't that the fallen Hyūga heiress?" One woman mutters.
"I think so? I heard her Father sold her off to that Otsutsuki boy to not have to worry as much about her." One of jonin murmurs back. Even after all this time, her lost title is still a source of gossip, still has people looking at her with looks of pity or as a cautionary tale of what happens to a kunoichi who doesn't meet the standards of her clan.
Hinata draws in a long breath.
'Ignore them. Don't lose your temper.'
"I'm okay. Both my ramen bowls are finished as you can see. I was merely startled by the beetle crawling up your back and actually hit my wrist and hand against the knife and glass."
'Shino's work.' She surmises at taking its now crushed body.
And she missed her chance to read his message.
Toneri sweeps the insect to the floor just as Ayame hesitantly approaches.
"Are you two okay?"
Toneri nods, casts her and the rest of the room a gracious smile.
"Yes, thank you. Apologies on this, my fiancée isn't the biggest fan of insects. Can you direct her to the nearest washroom to help clean her up? I'll pay to cover anything broken; in fact, I'll pay every customer's tab in here to make up for the commotion we caused!"
A series of whoops and cheers fill the air, Ayame bowing in thanks before guiding Hinata away.
Pearl eyes stay down all the while, only peer up to ensure she doesn't bump into any other objects on purpose or not.
Cerulean catches her gaze, Hinata blinking in surprise.
Naruto quickly scribbles a haphazard note onto a napkin while Toneri is greeting and chatting with other customers, manages to push it into her free hand as they walk by.
"Read it when you're alone!" He mouths, Hinata slowly nodding.
If he's lucky, she'll meet him at the Hokage monument around 11:00 pm tonight.
Hinata- Ichiraku Women's Restroom/Hyūga Manor
"It's unladylike to eat so much. Didn't Lady Natsu teach you any manners? Your gluttony is unbecoming of a Hyūga. What if one of your clan members saw you here eating so much? People will think you're not fed well enough at home." Toneri scowls.
Hinata matches his steely look despite feeling her cheeks flush. "I'm famished. I haven't eaten since right before noon and you forget I was doing some light sparring with my old team and rounding on the radiology units with the hospital's imaging team."
Toneri flicks up the knife from the table, tips her glass forward straight for her hand. "Come now sweetheart, ramen is so unhealthy if you truly need a hearty meal. If you actually don't feel full after eating two large bowls, I can give you a reminder message of when to stop."
Hinata's eyes widen as he tilts the glass further, too late to fully retract her hand away.
SMASH!
Shards pierce and dig into her wrist and hand, Hinata still getting to a standing position, strikes forward with her gentle fist.
Toneri leans back startled, knife clattering to the ground, arms paralyzed in place.
Hinata clicks her tongue pushing the rest of their utensils out of reach. "You forget I'm not going to back down from you just because Father and the Elders like you."
Tears mix with her blood, swiping them away only for a new set to take their place like an endless march down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry! I know the alcohol stings, but we don't want this to get infected!" Ayame mentions, assumes her crying is out of pain.
'It's pain and frustration.' Hinata forces on a smile for her to not worry.
A scarlet river forms in the sink as the bleeding thankfully slows to a trickle, picking out the last shards of glass. It isn't as deep as she first assumed, most likely to avoid Father having too many questions on how she could've gotten such an injury.
"I can handle bandaging myself up from here. I'm sure you need to get back out there helping your Father with orders." Hinata assures Ayame at her hovering, dark eyes roaming between her and the door.
She jolts as if shocked, nods slowly. "I...I truly don't feel right leaving an injured customer alone, though if you're sure you'll be okay?"
Hinata nods, smile becoming genuine. "Yes, if I need any further assistance, I'll find you or one of the other waitresses."
As soon as she's certain she's alone she smooths out Naruto's message, hopes it's still legible enough at ink having smeared, edges of the napkin torn from her moving about.
'Let's meet at the Hokage monument shortly before midnight?' Hinata reads.
Her heartbeat skitters in her ears. 'He came to the village to visit me? No, he must have other business to attend to within Konoha and is meeting up with guests he saw at the party.'
She bites her lip; considers a path she can forge in the dark without being seen by the night guards.
The west side of the compounds is the one that leads back into the village and is the one patrolled more often than not from past outings with Hanabi and Neji. She could ballpark leaving around 10:45 pm from the east sections and make it on time if she walks briskly.
"Am I actually considering this? If I get caught by Father or a guard..." Hinata whispers to herself, glances to her watch.
8:17 pm.
When she heads back into the restaurant Naruto is already gone, Toneri waiting for her back at their table.
"Everything alright? Your hand isn't burned or too deeply cut up?"
Hinata forces on a light grin, shaking her head holding up her bandaged hand. "Nothing a bit of medical ninjutsu, first aid, and time won't heal up."
There are still eyes upon them as Toneri moves to her side, the perfect gentleman as he opens the door for her, gently squeezes her good hand leading them around the other open stands throughout the marketplace.
"Next time, I'll treat you to Essence Hanaroku. I heard they have the best seafood and steaks within the village; you deserve fine dining meals sweetie." Toneri mentions, lips cold to her cheek before nodding in the direction of said establishment.
She fights back a shiver not to turn away from his touch, sour at tasting fish and sake on his tongue.
Opalescent follows his pointing as he breaks away, keeps her breathing steady.
Warm amber lights fall over redwood tables decorated with orchids various shades of pinks and yellows, watching as a couple claps in delight as their server slides across their table plates of sushi, steak, and dumplings.
Toneri chuckles at her brief look of awe, weaves them along. "Picture us there or at Signature Kizahashi; we could invite both our clans to partake."
Hinata feels her smile crack at the idea, instead briefly thinks of blond hair and deep azure eyes showing her around.
Her cheeks burn, stomach lurching instantly pushing the image away of Naruto away.
"It's...getting late. I would like to retire back to manor." Hinata mentions at seeing a near full moon's rise through the dark. Toneri hums with a glance to his watch, close to 9:00 pm now.
"Alright, I'll look into getting us reservations at Essence Hanaroku for next Friday so keep your calendar free of any events pertaining to the hospital or that old team of yours." Toneri advises.
The compound is blissfully quiet as they walk up, relieved to see the usual night guards already at the front entrance. She keeps her affection to a light hug and faint peck near his ear, more a puff of air, but at least a good enough showing that the guards can report back to Father that things are progressing well enough between her and Toneri.
"Goodnight Toneri." Hinata pushes on one last smile before heading inside, doesn't wait to hear him say it back.
Fireflies hover by the gardens and pond, flashes of greens and yellows guiding her along.
'2 hours. 2 hours to prepare.'
She peels off her dress and ventures deep into her closet for her old lavender top and black shinobi pants, shuffles over to her mirror to ensure everything still fits okay at not having gone on a real mission in over a year now. If she's really going to do this, then she needs to be in the lightest and most comfortable gear she has to move in the dark.
Her gaze turns towards her bead, holding up a hand.
"Clone jutsu!"
One Hinata settles into her pajamas while the other checks the window. "It's clear from the east!"
The original Hinata nods, disperses it to move on to her next phase.
She slips out into the garden just as Hiroshi and Kisuke move around to the right, draws in a breath while gathering electricity to her hands.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Lattice!"
A grid work of electricity crisscrosses against the grass in a streak of yellow white, knicks at the roots of the bushes far enough from the manor sparking the tiny beginnings of smoke and flames. The distraction is set now, stepping back hurriedly to head for the east quarters.
Kisuke is the first to look back, sniffing the air in alarm.
"Hold on Hiroshi, I smell smoke! Quick, grab Haneda and Takakura, get some water and extinguishers from the kitchen. We shouldn't need to wake Master Hiashi for this, though we have to recheck the west sections of the compound before a possible fire erupts!" He orders.
Nobody notes her presence by the walls as the men scatter to complete their duties, slipping back into the quiet dark of Konoha's roads that lead to the marketplace.
The red-light district is alive with neon lights and decorative lanterns, skirting the commotion for the monument.
The center square clock chimes out 11:30 pm just as she heads up.
Late. So much later than she wanted to be.
Her heart drums hard in her ears searching the dark, that perhaps Naruto has already left and this was all for naught. Abruptly, a warm hand wraps around her back, twisting her gaze up into azure.
Naruto.
He beams taking her in and her skin burns hot as his gaze wanders up and down over her.
"You're late! But I'll let it slide since I'm getting to see you again and outside that stuffy dress y'know!"
Naruto & Hinata-Hokage Monument
Hinata shuffles at her toes, takes in Naruto's casual orange and black attire compared to regal gear he was in when she last saw him. It's cooler tonight than she expected, dressed more for stealth than warmth she belatedly realizes seeing her breath fan out in white puffs around her.
'Ah, I've forgotten the time of year in my haste to get away from the manor without being seen or heard.'
The moon gets shrouded by a veil of clouds and it feels a degree colder without the silver light, weight suddenly falling onto her back.
Naruto nods for her to put his jacket on, sleeves swallowing her arms as he plops down beside her. "Not very good at hiding your shivering! Guess all that heat from the ramen is out of your system now!"
Hinata reddens, recalls then he saw her earlier at Ichiraku's.
'Hoe much did he see?'
"I, err like ramen more than I should. It's fast food really compared to the meals the chefs normally make at the compound." She mutters.
Naruto laughs heartily, shakes his head. "You're not going to get any complaints from me y'know! Part of my reason for coming here was to see if Ichiraku's is as good as all the stories Mom and Dad told me about the place!"
Hinata giggles then. "Emperor-"
"Naruto. I'd rather you just call me Naruto." He interrupts.
Hinata tests it on her tongue, swallows down anxiety that bubbles up at calling him by his name without his official title. They've only known each other only part of a night really, but this is what Naruto is known for.
Being friendly with everyone.
"I want you to not be so formal with me Hinata. I can call you Hinata, right? You can be Lady Hinata, Lady Hyūga, or whatever to everyone else!" Naruto decides.
She flusters at his casualness; the intensity of his warm stare before amending herself. "N-Naruto, what made you decide to invite me up here and at this time of day?"
She tries and fails not to fidget as her question drifts out into the air. The Emperor of Uzushiogakure wouldn't just come to Konoha to try ramen and banter over mundane topics of food and weather. He's surely here on business or more likely, financial concerns to see if any of the neighboring villages can provide support in growing and fixing fallen infrastructure in their most core buildings.
Naruto shrugs, absently runs a hand through his blond locks.
"As much as it pains me, I need to seek advice from the Uchiha clan. They've gone through waves of political strife and even risky civil skirmishes with their fellow Konoha shinobi. I want to get an idea of how they moved and grew past all that without collapsing on themselves."
He leans into her, breath tickling her ear.
"And...more importantly, I wanted to visit with the woman who's caught my interest in getting to know her better! I hope I've caught her interest too."
Her breath hitches, pearl twisting to cobalt.
It doesn't seem like Naruto's joking, focus on her alone.
Knots swarm her chest like moths to flame, flittering about ceaselessly without pattern. All at once her stomach churns, mind catching up with her heart at all that she's risked in coming here tonight.
Her clan. Her reputation.
Her engagement.
Hinata breaks away from their stare first, gaze drifting back over the village.
"I'm betrothed to Toneri." She rasps out, toes curling having to admit said fact aloud once more.
Naruto nods, gently squeezes at her bandaged hand before bringing it to his lips. The Hyūga clan, for all their prowess and skill with their eyes are blind to what's truly happening in Hinata's relationship with Toneri.
Or worse, they don't care.
Mischief shines through azure, Hinata sure she sees a flash of scarlet flit through them as Naruto speaks again through her fingertips.
"He is for now; guess that makes him my rival, huh?"
-x-
Most of this chapter was already written out, so figured I'd post it then let it sit and collect more dust on my laptop. The Sacrifice should be updated in the next 2-3 weeks. That story requires more thinking and details compared to my other ongoing writing projects!
As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters along with my other NaruHina goodies, MHA stuff, and my original writings! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!
Appreciate any thoughts on where/how you think things are headed!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!