After Naruto left, Hinata took a moment to explore her surroundings, truly seeing for the first time where she was staying. She glanced at the night sky, already noticing the faintest light on the horizon—it was nearly six.
She moved quickly, undressing to step into the shower. Nearby, a neatly folded towel and some older clothes had been laid out for her, and she felt an unexpected warmth at the thought that he'd folded them for her. Stepping onto the ceramic shower floor, she closed the curtain and sighed as the warm drops touched her skin, soothing away the day's grime and aches. The bruises from her recent ordeals flared painfully under the heat, but soon the warmth overtook the discomfort. After several minutes under the water, she emerged, wrapped herself in the old clothes Naruto had left, and headed to the living room.
Outside the window, Thieves' Landing was dark, though the streets were alive with flickers of firelight. The shouts and laughter of drunken men echoed through the alleys, and the smell of burning wood drifted up from the fires they'd built for warmth. She bit her lip, wondering where Naruto had gone at this hour. Despite his clear skill, she couldn't help but worry about his safety.
He'll be back, she told herself, turning from the window, her shadow cast long against the wall. Exhaling slowly, she let herself relax.
After her nerves settled, she entered Naruto's bedroom once again, taking in its simplicity. The room held only a bed and a battered nightstand. On the wall, she noticed an old scimitar in a worn sheath—a relic, she guessed, from years before. She could tell it had seen more days than she had.
After a while, Hinata decided it was time to get some sleep; dawn was approaching, and she didn't want to be a burden. She lay down on the surprisingly comfortable bed, reaching over to blow out the candle lighting the room. As she leaned closer to the flame, something caught her eye—a small frame sticking out from under the bed.
I should leave it alone...
But curiosity got the better of her, and she reached for it. The frame was old and dusty, its edges worn. Inside was a half-torn photograph of a red-haired little girl smiling with her eyes closed, a lush green forest stretching out behind her.
Almost like home.
A pang of homesickness welled up in her chest, the memory of home tugging at her heart. She bit her lip, fighting back the wave of emotion that rose within her. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, silent sobs slipping through her defenses.
"Hinata, I promise to take you back."
Naruto's promise echoed in her mind, giving her strength. She managed a small smile, returned the frame to its hiding place, and finally surrendered to sleep, curling under the covers.
"Hey, Jiraiya!" Naruto called out, his voice laced with annoyance as he banged on the door again. He could hear muffled laughter—a girl's giggles—from somewhere inside. "Sensei!"
The door finally creaked open, and Naruto was greeted by his master, Jiraiya—a formidable man, though currently looking far worse for wear. His white hair stuck out in every direction, his bleary eyes struggling to focus. He looked like he'd had too much to drink, which was hardly unusual.
"Oh, it's you, brat!" Jiraiya grinned, pulling Naruto into the room with surprising enthusiasm. "Come in, have a drink!" He shoved a bottle of rum into Naruto's hand, flashing a smug smile as his eyebrows wiggled suggestively.
"Sensei, I didn't come here for that," Naruto replied, setting the bottle back on the table as he took a seat on the couch. "There's some—"
"Ah! You want women, don't you?" Jiraiya exclaimed, throwing up a double thumbs-up. "I've got a couple upstairs!"
"No, I came to—"
"Oh, I know!" Jiraiya interrupted again, rummaging around until he produced a job scroll—one of the many "requests" they received from shady contacts for unsavory tasks. "Looking to make some cash?"
"I'm leaving Thieves' Landing," Naruto cut him off, his voice steady, his expression serious. The mirth left Jiraiya's face instantly, replaced by the sober gaze of a man who understood the gravity of his student's words.
"So, it's time, then?" he replied quietly, a note of sadness in his voice.
Naruto barely had time to respond before he was pulled into a tight hug. The strong, familiar scent of alcohol clung to Jiraiya, as it always did, but despite that, Naruto felt an odd comfort.
"You've grown, kid," Jiraiya murmured, his voice thick with emotion as he fought back tears.
Naruto pulled back, placing his forehead against Jiraiya's in a familiar gesture of respect. "Sensei," he said, gripping the older man's hands firmly, "I'll come back to see you. But now, it's time for me to go."
"You know they'll come after you, don't you?"
"I know the risks. I'll kill anyone who tries to stop me."
As the sky began to shift into a warm orange, the streets of Thieves' Landing fell silent, preparing for dawn. Hinata thought back to Naruto's instructions, her hands moving automatically as she packed her few belongings. She looked over her things, making sure she had everything for the journey. Though still sore from her recent struggles, she felt refreshed; it was the best sleep she'd had in weeks.
Where is Naruto? Just as the thought crossed her mind, she heard the door open and close. She turned to see him standing there, his posture weary and his gaze heavy with fatigue. He didn't even knock, simply entering the room and glancing around to make sure she'd packed as he'd instructed.
Satisfied, he nodded. "Good, you're ready."
He turned and walked back into the living room, taking a seat at the table and pulling up another chair for her. Hinata joined him, the silence between them growing tense. He closed his eyes, his brows knitted together as though trying to gather his thoughts.
After a long moment, he looked at her, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "This journey isn't going to be easy," he began, "and it'll take a while to get to the capital."
"H-How long do you think it will take?" she asked, cursing the familiar stammer that crept into her voice.
"On horseback, about two weeks. But since we don't have one… we're on foot." His voice trailed off, a note of discouragement sneaking in.
"It's o-okay," she replied, managing a smile to reassure him. Her expression seemed to surprise him, his gaze softening for a moment.
"Next thing," he continued, regaining his serious tone. "You'll need to listen to my instructions without question. Understood?"
"Yes!" she answered, her tone filled with respect despite her stammer.
"There'll be more rules along the way. For now, let's get moving." He rose from his seat and went to double-check the apartment, ensuring nothing important was left behind. But when he returned, his gaze was hard, his jaw clenched in anger.
"Why were you looking through my things?" he asked, his voice quiet but intense as he held up the frame containing the picture of the red-haired girl. Hinata flinched, her heart pounding as she realized she'd been caught.
"I-I'm so s-sorry," she stammered, bowing her head as she shrank back. She fully expected him to lash out, but instead, he let out a heavy sigh and placed the frame down.
"Just don't go through my things again," he said quietly. Then, he extended a hand to her. "Let's go."
Their disguises consisted of old clothes for Hinata, with a large black cloak to conceal her face. Naruto explained that her eyes would be a dead giveaway to anyone paying attention. His own attire was darker and more intimidating: black pants and a fitted jacket with straps across his chest, his dual scimitars strapped at his sides. As they made their way through the streets, it became clear just how well-known he was. People greeted him with cautious nods, while women whispered things that made Hinata's cheeks flush. Those who didn't greet him moved aside quickly.
Who are you, to command such attention here?
"Hey, don't stop in the middle of the street," he chided, pulling her from her thoughts. "It's freezing, so keep moving."
She nodded, following him closely, as they began their journey. It was a journey she would never forget.
The evening was calm as the sun cast its last light, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. Hinata watched the sun dip below the horizon in silence, the only sound the light snores of a certain blond beside her.
Their first checkpoint was a secluded inn hidden within the woods. They had checked in for the night without question, and as soon as they received their room key, Naruto had bolted to the room. Hinata followed close behind, a quiet giggle escaping her lips at his eagerness. The blond man had fallen asleep almost immediately, exhaustion finally overtaking him. Not knowing what else to do, Hinata sat next to him and unpacked her belongings, glancing over at his bag that had been hastily thrown aside. She reached for it, but a memory of his earlier warning stopped her. She retracted her hand, biting her lip thoughtfully.
After a quick shower, she tiptoed back into the room, her cheeks warming as she caught sight of Naruto's peaceful, sleeping face. His expression was calm, and a faint twitch in his jaw softened his usual hard lines.
How can he be so menacing awake, yet so peaceful asleep?
"M...Mom..." he murmured in his sleep. His blue eyes slowly blinked open, meeting hers. Heat flushed her face, and she looked away, flustered.
I wonder what kind of woman his mother was.
Naruto's eyes suddenly widened as he realized what he'd just said, and he shot up, fully awake.
Hinata yelped, falling back in surprise at his sudden movement.
"What time is it?" he asked, his voice tight with urgency.
"Um… I think it's almost nightfall," she replied, glancing out the window to confirm. The last hints of sunlight were being swallowed by the deepening night sky.
"Is that so?" He glanced at the window, his shoulders visibly relaxing. "Did you stay in here the whole time?"
"Yes. I was worried if I left, you might—"
"Have you eaten anything?" he cut in, a note of concern in his voice.
"N-No," she answered, shaking her head, flustered by the intensity of his gaze.
"Figures," he muttered the word biting.
'Why do his words affect me so much?' she thought.
Before she knew it, he was only inches away, his intense blue eyes searching hers as she stared back, captivated. She felt a strange pull, a feeling she couldn't quite name.
"Let's go downstairs and get something to eat, alright?" he said, giving her a gentle smile that broke the tension. Turning, he walked toward the door, leaving her rooted to the spot, stunned.
Lost in thought, she almost didn't notice him calling her name from the doorway, a questioning look on his face. He waved a hand impatiently.
"Well, I'm going without you then."
"W-Wait!" Hinata called out, hurrying after him, her steps light as she caught up.
Hearing her footsteps behind him, he turned. She was dressed in one of his hoodies and a pair of old trousers, which hung loose on her small frame. Her hair was still damp and her clothes disheveled, but she looked up at him with wide, curious eyes, tilting her head slightly. A warmth spread across his face, and he quickly looked away.
"A-Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle.
"I'm fine," he replied, hurrying down the stairs.
They reached the inn's main floor, where a bustling dining area greeted them. The tables were packed with travelers and merchants, most eating or sharing stories over mugs of ale.
"Here, take this." Naruto handed her a small wooden vial.
"What's this?" she asked, turning the vial in her hands.
"Close your eyes and rub a bit on your eyelids," he explained. "It'll change your eye color. They use this stuff in Thieves' Landing to help people hide their identities." He caught the skeptical look she gave him and cleared his throat.
"Why do you have this?"
Uh-oh. He could feel her scrutinizing him with newfound suspicion. "Just… use it, okay?" he said, his tone a bit sharper than he intended. "I'm hungry, and I don't want to deal with questions."
"Alright…" she complied, rubbing a little of the powder onto her eyelids. When she opened her eyes again, her gaze was a startling shade of blue, much like his.
"Perfect," he muttered, grabbing the vial back from her hands.
"How long does this last?" she asked as they walked.
"A couple of days. If you want to remove it sooner, just rub the wooden cap against your face."
"Oh."
"Now stay close to me, and don't talk to anyone," he instructed, pushing open the door to the dining area. As they stepped in, all eyes turned toward them, the whispers beginning almost immediately.
I didn't put any on myself, did I?
Mentally sighing at the oversight, Naruto ignored the stares and led her to the counter, slapping a handful of coins down. "Two bowls of ramen," he ordered, nodding to the waitress. She quickly collected the coins and hurried to place the order.
"Hey, Hin—" He paused, realizing she was no longer by his side. Looking around, he spotted her in the back corner, a man leaning over her.
"So, sweetheart," the man slurred, his breath thick with alcohol. "Why don't you join me upstairs? My room's just two floors up." He crowded her, blocking her escape.
"N-No, I… I—"
"Come on, don't be shy." He slammed his hand against the wall beside her, making her jump.
Where is Naruto?! Hinata's heart raced as she silently prayed for him to come, tears welling in her eyes as fear began to creep in.
A shadow fell over her, and she looked up to see Naruto, his expression hard and unyielding. Without raising his voice or touching the man, Naruto stepped closer, his intense blue eyes narrowing as he spoke.
"The lady said no." His voice was low and firm, carrying an authority that made the man hesitate.
The man's face twisted with anger but looking into the blonde man's eyes made him reconsider, he could feel the animosity behind those eyes, so he stepped back, grumbling something under his breath before retreating back into the crowd.
Hinata exhaled, relief flooding her as she looked up at Naruto gratefully. He offered her a reassuring nod and gently guided her back to their table, not sparing another glance for the man.
They resumed their seats as two steaming bowls of ramen were placed before them. Naruto gave a small nod of thanks to the waitress, who quickly scurried away. Hinata picked up her chopsticks, but she couldn't ignore the murmurs that rippled through the room, voices buzzing with gossip and suspicion.
Who is that man? she heard one person whisper.
Did you see how he looked at that guy? muttered another.
The weight of their stares grew heavier, but Naruto paid them no mind, calmly focusing on his meal. Hinata took a deep breath, doing her best to ignore the eyes around her as she followed his example.
After they finished eating, Naruto placed a few extra coins on the counter and motioned for her to follow. They walked in silence through the crowded room, the lingering tension a reminder of the scene that had just unfolded. Once back in the room, he shut the door and turned to her with a sigh.
"Are you alright?" he asked, a trace of worry slipping through his calm exterior.
"Yes, thank you," she replied, managing a small smile. "I… I appreciate what you did back there."
Naruto nodded, his expression softening briefly. "Stay alert around people like that," he advised. "Not everyone is going to respect your boundaries."
She looked down, her cheeks warming slightly. "I'll remember that."
He pulled out a spare blanket and tossed it on the chair. "Get some rest. We'll be up at dawn to continue the journey."
Hinata hesitated. "Will you be staying in here?"
He nodded, moving to the window to secure it. "I'll be right here."
"Goodnight, Naruto," she whispered, climbing into bed.
"Goodnight, Hinata."
As she settled into bed, Naruto took his position by the door, his gaze distant as he thought over the events of the evening. He had wanted to handle the situation calmly for her sake—and maybe, he thought, because of the way she had looked at him with trust in her eyes.
It was a long time before he fell asleep, his mind caught between his memories and the unfamiliar warmth of companionship.