Author'sNote

Oh, is it here? Is it finally happening?

I dunno, I'm not telling you.

Also, side note. This story has somehow reached 400 followers and 300 hundred favorites?! That's insane to me! Also, with posting this chapter, we will nearly touch 100,000 words, at 47,000 total views at the time of posting.

I'm amazed by the support this idea of mine has received, and I'm happy it's come so far. For many worried about the wait time, I've already got the premiss and setup for the next chapter started, so worry not.

I'll admit, I'd taken a short break from this story due to some harsh negative pm's I'd received, but eventually came to the conclusion that those people were merely trolls that hadn't even read past chapter one and had judged this story harshly. It had saddened me a bit, and had me questioning things. But that's over now.

Uploaded

08/02/2022

LEGEND BELOW

"Oh, she loves these!" = Normal speech.

''O-Oh gosh, this is too embarrassing!'' = Normal thoughts.

"No... Go away..." = Bujuu/beast Naruto talking.

''So noisy...'' = Bujuu/beast Naruto's thoughts.

Chapter 17

A risqué midnight encounter/the truth finally revealed?

Rated-M

After introducing himself to the sand siblings, Naruto had followed up with his promise and acted as their guide around the village. He could sense that the older of the trio were scared to death of his presence, and were sweating the entire time he accompanied them. Yet Garra was a different story.

For the mad redhead, she'd been quiet and strangely meek the entire time he was around her. This served to freak her brother and sister out more then his presence did. But he played along the entire time as if nothing was wrong.

By the end of the day he left them with Baki in their temporary stay at a hotel that had been rented out for the guest ninja that planned on attending the Chunin exams. He wasted little time in tracking down Hinata, intent on explaining to her Hiruzen's plan, and furthermore, how he had no such intention of personally accomplishing said plan. He already knew what her answer was going to be, but he assumed she'd come up with a much better idea then an arranged marriage between him and the Jinchuriki.

He wasn't going to go through with that even if she didn't think it was a terrible idea. But he was interested in her opinion and thoughts on the matter. Perhaps she had a better way to use the Hokage's plan then he himself did.

No matter how he looked at it, a Jinchuriki with a beast that practically controlled her from her mind was not something to be taken lightly. This could very easily spiral out of control, and the war Suna planned to launch could very well happen, with Garra leading the charge.

If it came to that, then he'd be forced to take her down permanently. He didn't wish to do so, but he wouldn't shy away from it if he had to do it to protect Hinata and his other precious ones…

This was the precautionary measure to prevent such an outcome from happening in the first place. A precautionary measure that he was only going to go along with as long as the future seemed secure and in his control. If things spiraled out of hand, then he'd be forced to clean up…

He shook his head as he leapt across the rooftops of Konoha's main street, heading for the Hyuuga clan compound. He hadn't seen Hinata since early in the morning, so he was hoping she was at home by now.

A short time later found the Kitsune landing before the clan's main gates, gaining easy access from the guards stationed there. His footsteps made nary a sound as he passed into the land owned by the Hyuuga. He smiled and waved at the many clansmen that all greeted him as he passed, putting a smile on his face.

It was relieving to be here then anywhere else in the village. He might as well be a god if he compared the treatment he received here to the village as a whole.

And people wondered why he usually never set foot outside the clan walls without Hinata beside him…

He slipped into the floored halls of the main building, and as he approached Hinata's room he found himself contemplating what he would say.

He slowed as he approached her door, suddenly hit with a bout of hesitation. It wasn't about the mission he'd agreed to help Hiruzen with, no, he wasn't worried too heavily about that…

But the conversation he'd had with the beautiful Anko Mitarashi, and Yugao Uzuki, specifically pertaining to his relationship with the wonderful Hyuuga princess he called his special one.

Or, more specifically, his lack of a more…

Personal relationship…

So caught up in the dealings of the day, what with the lunch he attended, the meeting at the Hokage's office, and the time he'd spent afterwards with the sand siblings, that he'd practically forgotten the morning that he'd spent with the two ninja.

They'd talked him up into searching his heart for his feelings for her, and what he'd found was that he…

Well…

He loved her. They said it was plain as day, even though he couldn't see it. But something held him back, keeping his hands to himself, his heart locked away forced to watch her from a distance. It killed him to act as a friend to her more then what he wanted, and before this morning he wasn't even sure what he wanted.

In the end, he had been forced to realize that he'd prevented himself from chasing a romantic relationship with her because he was scared of rejection. He was petrified of what she'd say, good or bad.

What if she decided she didn't want to chase a romantic relationship with him? What if by him doing so he pushed her away?

He decided that he'd rather die then ruin what he had here with her, and he'd rather live an unsatisfied life shoulder to shoulder with the woman he loved above everything in this cruel world rather then alienate her by seeking more from her.

It probably would've stayed that way forever, but then she herself instigated something this morning when she kissed him.

He'd frozen, unable to respond to her. She too didn't say anything, shutting the door in his face. Was it supposed to be a goodbye kiss and he was just merely looking too deep into it?

Or…

"Naruto-Sama?" He was broken from his train of thought by a Hyuuga servant girl, the woman having noticed that he'd been standing before Hinata's bedroom door for quite a while without saying anything.

Apparently, she could read the great Kyuubi-Sama's mind quite well, so it would seem. "If you are seeking Hinata-Sama's presence, then might I suggest you attend her at the waterfall?" She stated, offering a light bow of respect. "She seemed very flustered upon her return with her ninja team, and I believe that is where she has gone. A-Although it is not my place to i-inquire, she's seemed rather flustered about you, Kyuubi-Sama…" She muttered, cheeks burning as she lowered her head as he stared at her.

His eyes widened at her words, surprise written over his dashing, elegant foxlike features.

"O-Oh, please forget you ever heard me say that! G-Good day, Kyuubi-Sama!" She rushed out, quickly walking down the hall, leaving him to stew on the information she'd given him.

He paused, perplexed.

Hinata was flustered about him? Perhaps she too was…

Bent over the situation this morning? Was she upset at him? Or perhaps, did she potentially seek the same thing he sought? The only way he'd come to learn was if he asked her, which was why he'd returned home in the first place.

However, it seemed like she wasn't here.

He turned away from the door, letting his feet carry him as he became lost in thought once more. He wasn't aware of his body dragging him to her until he found himself just outside Hinata's private grounds, further from her garden.

It was dark out now, clear skies lit up with sparkling stars in the heavens above, casting a wonderful light upon the pond he'd found himself attending.

However, it was neither the stars nor the lights that drew his heartfelt attention, but it was the young woman basking in the clear water showering her that did. He found his feet stopped, eyes wide and shaking as they bore witness to the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

He couldn't look away, unable to tear his burning golden eyes off of her perfect body. He knew that he shouldn't, that he should've looked away, that he shouldn't have continued gazing at her uncovered form.

But he couldn't. He watched in amazed silence as the water droplets slowly traveled down her body, disappearing into the valley of her breasts, before returning to continue down her firm and strong abs. His treacherous mind didn't allow him to look away, eyes glued to the water that continued down from her belly and into the crevice between her thighs he loved so much.

"!" He couldn't help it, the sound of surprise escaping from him. His face burned in embarrassment as his kimono tented below, displaying his throbbing shame to any who'd dare to look. He looked away, hiding his face with his hands, hoping right then that the world would simply swallow him up to save him from this embarrassment.

He couldn't believe himself.

He'd allowed himself to become so worked up over his beloved Hinata that he couldn't face her at all, lest she see his shame and become sickened by him. Even surrounded by many naked women the world would call beautiful, he'd never had this reaction. Only the body of the one he loved above all could do this to him, and he'd no way of hiding it from her. His kimono failed miserably in keeping his shame hidden.

He felt ashamed of himself.

"N-Naruto-Kun?" The legendary nine tailed fox, the most dangerous creature known to man at the time, squeaked, as the source of his heavy arousal called out to him from merely a few feet away. "What are y-you doing out here?" Hinata asked quietly, covering her body with a lavish white towel she'd kept beside her.

The fox felt his heart beat hard in his chest, face warming even more as she spoke to him wearing nothing but a single towel that struggled in a failing battle to hide her body from his traitorous prying eyes that rapidly roamed her every square inch, imprinting every crook and crevice to memory perfectly.

"I-I'm sorry, Princess. I-I just needed to speak with you, b-but I see that you're busy, i-in fact…" He managed to choke out, wide eyes hidden behind his hands, staring at her between his fingers.

The situation was a complete reverse of how conversations between them would usually happen, wherein he'd now become a stuttering mess and she was here checking up on him.

She should've been embarrassed, yet she'd pushed that aside because he looked like he was suffering from something. So, despite herself she stepped forward, gently grasping the hands he hid behind. Her rubbing his hands usually helped him calm down when he seemed worked up over something, however, this time it seemed to only make whatever was wrong worse.

"Naruto-Kun, please? A-Are you okay? You're all red." Hinata asked again, her eyes staring into his own.

"…" His mouth opened and closed, but he was at a loss for words. He'd been so caught off guard by his body's reaction that he didn't know what to do.

And Hinata's close unclothed proximity to him certainly wasn't helping him at all.

"If nothing's wrong, t-then what did you want to talk about?" She asked, averting her eyes bashfully. She was aware of her current state of undress, but this close to him, he wouldn't see anything. She was getting cold out as it was, so she chose to press herself onto him for warmth.

She seemed to miss how he froze, eyes wide in horror. She was too caught up with how overwhelmingly hot his body was at the moment, compared to the cold water and cool night air, to see his reaction.

"I-If you aren't g-going to talk, then at least let me get something o-off my chest." She started nervously. "I-I-It's about this morning. I-I know it was s-sudden, a-and I just… I just couldn't help myself…" She started ranting on, unable to look him in the eyes. "I-I've been too afraid to say anything about it, b-because I'm afraid of what you'd think, w-what you'd say to me. I was afraid that you'd reject m-me, o-or that you didn't even think of me this way…"

"N-Naruto-Kun…" She started after a long moment. "I-I'm not sure if you feel the same way about m-me as I do about you, a-and I've spent nights sleeplessly thinking about it and I'm at my wits end. I can't keep it in anymore, Naruto-Kun, okay?" She'd become heated with emotion, a large tear stained smile on her face. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him as tightly as she could. "I'm in love with you, Naruto-Kun! A-And I know you might not even feel the same way as I do, and you might not even find me attractive in that way, but I don't care anymore! I love you! I love you! I love you!" She cried out, her face beaming where it was hidden pressed against his chest.

She felt a hundred times lighter, having finally gotten that off of her chest. After holding it in for so long, she finally felt like she could breath again.

But, after a moment she realized that he'd not said anything back. Did he truly not find her attractive? Or did he not feel the same way about her as she did he?

She looked up. "Naruto-Kun…?" Her eyes widened. His face was burning red, cheeks hot lit ablaze that fire was leaking out his nose, and his face was a mix of horror and embarrassment. "N-Naruto-Kun? What's wrong?" She asked. Her eyes widened slowly as she felt a large pressure press against her stomach, hidden beneath his kimono. It was hot, large, and pulsing.

Her eyes shifted from concern, to confusion, and then, very quickly, to bright faced burning hot red embarrassment.

Now she understood why he was so flustered at their close proximity…

"O-Oh-?! I-I'm sorry?!" She stepped back quickly with a squeak, holding her face in her hands as if to hide her embarrassment. ''O-Oh my kami! I-I was… I was… N-Naruto-Kun's…??!'' Her mind ranted wildly, her face catching fire. Her eyes drifted down, words sputtering as she finally saw it. The large tent in his kimono.

Naruto wanted to die in shame, embarrassment killing him as she eyed his shame from a few feet away. It was only made worse when she didn't look away.

For Hinata, however. It was clear to her now, what she was looking at, that much was terribly clear to her.

She wasn't blind.

However, it was the reason behind why it was there that interested her. "N-Naruto-Kun… I-I-Is that because of… me?" She asked quietly, pushing aside her shame and questioning him. He debated lying to her, but there was no chance of that working, so he nodded. He was too horrified and, at the same time, because of her confession to him, overjoyed, to respond to her verbally.

He'd closed his eyes, hands pressed against his face as if to escape from the world. He jumped when he felt her hug him again, not having noticed that she'd closed the gap between them. "I-Is that what you wanted to speak about? Do you… Do you f-feel the same way about me?" She asked quietly, pressed firmly against him. He saw her face, and he paused, knowing that this was the crucial moment he'd been so patiently awaiting.

He only wished it wasn't ruined because of his body's lustful reaction to her.

He couldn't bring himself to speak, too afraid that it's only reveal how aroused he was, so he nodded to her. He saw her face shift, tears quickly beginning to pour down her cheeks.

And yet, she was smiling. It was the happiest he'd ever seen her.

"Oh Naruto-Kun!" She cried out, pulling him down to her level as she smashed her lips to his. His eyes widened in stunned shock, too many hormones rushing through him all at once.

And yet. She pulled back, staring him happily in the eyes. He gathered himself, and pressed forward, smashing his lips to hers. Hinata felt her eyes roll up into her head at the passion of his kiss, as if he'd stollen her breath away. His lips were warm like a fire, only fueling her passion and love for him. After a long, heavenly moment between them, he pulled away.

She was breathing heavily, her cool body mixing well with his fire born one. A trail of saliva connected the two's lips, Hinata short for breath after the toe tingling lip-lock he'd placed her in. "Hinata…" He breathed hotly, his flaming breath tickling her nose. "I love you." He finally said it.

He wasn't expecting her to suddenly tackle him, falling to the ground where he landed softly upon his tails. His surprise was quickly answered when she smashed her lips against his again, this time much more passionately.

This time he wanted to be a part of it too, and she moaned as he gently grasped the back of her head, pulling her deeper into the passionate lip lock. He moaned as she tried dominating him with her tongue. Not one to be outdone, he fought back, easily overpowering her with his own. She moaned into his mouth as he quickly proved who was stronger. She felt faint, eyes fluttering as he sent her to the skies with his tongue.

Finally he pulled away, letting her catch her breath. He collapsed to the ground, head resting against the smooth cold grass. He was breathing heavily, with every exhale sending puffs of fire into the cold night air.

He couldn't believe it.

It just felt too much like a dream, for this to actually be happening.

Not in a million years did he expect that this was now his night was going to end up, having been kissed to exhaustion by his one and only. More then that, he'd come here tonight to confess to her, and yet, she was the one that confessed to him before he'd the chance to say anything at all.

But besides that, right now, he couldn't be anything but happy.

And from Hinata's pleased happy sighs, he could safely assume that she was just as pleased with the way the night went.

She leaned down, pressed pleasingly up against his chest, her head laying on his shoulder as she faced him.

He wished he could stay like this forever…

"Naruto-Kun… Why didn't you say anything?" Hinata asked after a brief pause. "If you've felt this way about me, w-why hadn't you said so before?"

She was sure she knew most of the reason why, from her discussion with her team earlier today. But she wanted to hear the truth, from his own lips, with his own words.

She wanted to stare him in his beautiful, shining golden eyes that she'd dreamed of, and have him tell her why he was so hesitant.

He sighed, cheeks still burning brightly. And yet, in that moment he didn't look like the unstoppable nine tailed fox, the creature capable of destroying an entire ninja village by himself. But instead, he looked mortal, vulnerable, weak.

"I…" He started, staring to the skies above. "I was afraid that if I pursued a relationship with you, that it would ruin what we had, I suppose…" He explained quietly. "I'd been terrified that if you said no, that it'd push you away from me… And I'd decided that I'd rather forfeit my life then lose you to something I could have avoided, in fact…"

Her expression softened at his words, taken aback by how serious he had been over this. But one question still burned in her mind. She shifted atop his chest, laying stomach down on him like she used to when they were younger and all he knew was his full body fox form.

This time it was many times more risqué, and placed the fox in quite the predicament. She held her head up with her elbows, face hovering inches above his own, while her legs kicked in the air above her.

"So, w-what made you change your mind?" She asked, very genuinely curious. He looked away.

"I had a conversation or two with these women I'd met during my visit to the hot springs. I-I'm not sure how we ended up on the topic, but they had known that I was in love. I had tried to change the conversation, but they read me quite easily, in fact…" He said. She tired to not let the point of him meeting women upset her.

She wasn't petty, she swore…

"They found out that I hadn't told you, and had, after a few hours together, convinced me to do so early this morning. I would've told you right away, but I couldn't find you. Then I got invited to lunch, and then I was forced to attend a meeting with the Hokage, in fact…" He sighed, cheeks warming the longer he went on. "A-Also, P-Princess?" He asked suddenly, face flushed.

"Hmm?" She hummed in question.

"C-Can you move your legs, I wonder?" He asked, eyes closed as he strained to stay still. She blinked, perplexed. To sate her own curiosity, she looked over her shoulder, only to squeak in surprise. Apparently with the way she'd been laying, she'd placed upper thighs around his clothed arousal by accident, and her continued kicking was doing absolutely nothing in keeping him calm.

"O-Oh?! S-Sorry!" She squeaked, sliding off his chest, instead laying by his side. That way she'd have no chance of accident…

Again…

He sighed in relief, finally calming down a little bit.

Hinata didn't say anything, laying there on his side. He was a bit at a loss for words as well, the situation having become awkward all of a sudden…

But…

Even then…

"Naruto-Kun…?" Hinata asked suddenly, her soft voice breaking the long silence that had followed after she'd dismounted from him.

"Hmm?" He hummed in question, eyes half glazed as he stared off into the heavens above. After the whole ordeal, and the tiring events of the day, he was worn out.

"When I make Chunin… Will... W-Will you..." She went quiet, mustering up all the courage she had to say what she was going to say. She swallowed heavily, looking up to him. "Will you marry me?" She asked quietly, yet with a brave smile on her face. He almost scoffed, as if she had to ask.

There was only one correct answer here.

"Yes, in fact…"

She beamed, smiling so hard that it hurt. Eventually she'd grown tired, as did he, and yet neither wanted to brake up the cuddle session that had begun. So, as the night got colder, and with her lack of clothing, he opened his large kimono, and let her sneak in.

As warm as his body was, she wouldn't have to worry about getting cold. They'd fallen asleep just like this at least a hundred times now, however, now there was a bit more then just him being her fluffy pillow.

"Goodnight, Naruto-Kun…" Hinata muttered into his neck, sleep quickly taking her.

"Goodnight, Princess…" He muttered, eyes drifting closed as he wrapped his arms firmly around her.

And, more then that...

"Naruto-Kun?"

"Hmm?"

"You're poking me…"

"… Sorry…"

...

...

...

"It'll go away eventually..."

"Mmhmm..."

Chapter

17

End

Bet you were expecting something more adult like to happen. Sorry to disappoint, but I don't write lemons. I feel as if it would ruin the entire story if I did.

Take that as you will...