"Ready to go, sir?" Kiba, one of Naruto's bodyguards for the past two years, asked. Over the last decade, Kiba had built a solid reputation within the organization as someone trustworthy, working tirelessly to earn recognition. His efforts were eventually rewarded when he was appointed to the prestigious role of Naruto's personal guard. Spending so much time in close proximity often led to personal matters surfacing, secrets being revealed—willingly or not—so Naruto had developed a somewhat agreeable relationship with him.
"Yeah", Naruto responded, sounding uninterested.
"Hey, I heard that Shion is going to be there too", Kiba tried to cheer his boss up- nudging him by the shoulder.
"Haha, yeah that girl used to be fun."
"Only fun? I thought you guys were more than that? Like a thing, you know?"
"Nah, I was never interested in her like that, she was just a fling. Besides, we haven't even seen each other for months."
"Well, I'm not so sure she saw it that way, that girl was madly into you…"
"Jesus…You make sure she stays away from away, ok?"
As they neared the venue, Kiba immediately felt the need to explain the aesthetics of the event before allowing Naruto to enter. "Simple, ey? But this was Shikamaru's fiancé's place of choice- and no matter what Shikamaru says, that woman owns him…" Kiba laughed as they began entering the beautiful, but simple venue. Their friend, and his advisor, Shikamaru, had finally decided to marry his longtime girlfriend, and that this would be how they'd celebrate it with their friends, as they'd already had tied the knot in a private ceremony with only family present.
At his event, no ceremonies were planned so the guests were free to roam and mingle and eat and drink as they pleased, much to everyone's delight. All sort of mouth-watering appetizers were served and alcoholic beverages were freely distributed which made the event a beautiful, entertaining mess.
It's been a month in which Naruto had tried to endure the deep sense of loneliness, and an agonizing pain in his heart—pain he knew the reason to- but found himself unable to rectify. As time went on, he began missing Hinata greatly and found it increasingly difficult to come to terms with the state of his broken spirit- without her. Although the celebration turned out to be a lovely event and Naruto had somewhat enjoyed it, he still found himself exhausted by the shallow conversations he had been engaging in, since none of it filled the hole in his soul. He suddenly felt himself in dire need of some fresh air, so he began to make his way to the balcony.
Noticing this, Kiba decided to follow his boss- to keep guard, "I spotted Shion earlier; she was looking for you".
"Oh yeah, what did you tell her?", Naruto responded, trying to uphold a certain level of courtesy.
"That you were around here somewhere", Kiba chuckled, "She looked so annoyed…Man, who are these beautiful women?" Kiba suddenly changed the subject, ogling two women who were standing outside, near the balcony bar, "Wait, I know them…That's Sakura…And the other one…Jeeeeee…That's Hinata!"
The name instantly caught Naruto's attention, and his gaze shot to the direction where Kiba was pointing, much to Kiba's amazement, "Whoa, Boss; what's going on? Ah, I see; you recognise the pink haired one from the magazines? Come on, I'll introduce you". Kiba continued chatting as they approached the women outside. "We went to the same school and high school; they were both such good girls. Hinata—she was a close friend of mine once upon a time. We lost touch when she went to college though, and I… well, I got involved with you, hehe."
Naruto did his best to listen, picking up the key points, but his focus was locked on Hinata's form. Once he got a clear view of her profile, he became certain that it was indeed THE- Hinata, the one that had haunted his thoughts and dreams for the past months of his life. Without even realizing it, he quickened his pace and a slight smile formed on his lips as his heart raced. Every fibre of his being was charged with excitement at the realization of her nearing presence.
As if on cue, Hinata sensed his overwhelming presence- one that seemed larger than life itself, and she stiffened. She tried to convince herself that she was simply imagining things, but to confirm her suspicion, she slowly turned toward the direction of where she was sensing his presence, only to be met by his gaze as he approached her. To her horror and simultaneous, inexplicable joy, she realized that he was, truly there. So she took a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself.
"Omg! Kiba, is that you?" her friend, Sakura, first reacted upon recognising Kiba- and yelled in joy.
"Hey you two! Man, you've bloomed to fine women, both of you!" Kiba responded, and proceeded to hug Sakura and then Hinata, the later not so appreciated by Naruto.
"This is my friend, and boss, Menma".
"Hello, I'm Sakura, and this is Hinata", Sakura offered her hand to shake.
Naruto shook Sakura's hand, greeting her politely and introducing himself as Menma, and then extended his hand to Hinata. Despite her hesitation, Hinata felt compelled to offer her hand in return. "Hinata, I can't begin to explain how lovely it is to see you again," he said, surprising her by speaking directly to her in front of her friend, and offering a warm, longing- yet, sad smile.
"You two know each other?", Sakura asked.
"We've met before.", Hinata replied hurriedly.
"Really, where?", Sakura pressed.
"At a bar in town", Naruto responded.
Kiba could tell that Naruto's response was insincere, but he suspected it was for a good reason. Kiba also noticed how Hinata had become flustered, something he recognised from before as a sign of her being embarrassed. Then he observed Naruto—the usually verbose man—falling silent and staring intently at his former friend. He had never seen Naruto so serious around a woman before. The look in Naruto's eyes had turned primitive and dangerous—it was unnerving to witness. In those moments, you caught a glimpse of the inner demon he usually kept locked away, and only let out for when evil powers were needed…
It was now clear for Kiba- that Hinata had captured Naruto's attention, not Sakura, as he initially had thought and then it clicked for him as he realised that Naruto had not so long ago- been dating and then broken up a woman that the crew were talking about- a woman whose name was Hinata. Kiba had never actually seen them together, as he hadn't been assigned to those specific shifts where they had seen each other, at least, not in close proximity. However, he'd heard whispers from the other guards about how Naruto's behaviour had shifted after the recent breakup.
It struck Kiba as strange. Naruto had always been quick to move on from women; in the past, he would have shrugged off any other relationship without a second thought. Shion, the only woman Naruto had dated sporadically before Hinata, hadn't stirred much of a reaction when she had pretended to move on when she'd realised that he was never going to commit to her. But this—this breakup with Hinata—had shaken something within him, and that was new. Surprising, even.
Sensing it was a sensitive topic, Kiba made sure never to mention her name, or that relationship in front of his boss. But over the past month, he'd noticed what everyone else had—the breakup had changed Naruto, and not for the better.
To ease the tension caused by Naruto's intense focus on the poor girl, Kiba decided to lighten the mood. He asked his boss to come along to fetch some drinks, promising the women he would return in a few minutes.
"Hinata, you never told me you met a gorgeous blond at a bar in town? When was that? By the way, he has been ogling you- you better get him, because if you don't, I will, hahaha", Sakura joked and continued bashing about how handsome the men at the event were.
"Sakura, I did tell you—this is the man I've…" Hinata started, but before she could remind Sakura that Menma had been the man she had been dating who had disappointed her, the men reappeared. Hinata had not fully revealed every detail behind their breakup, opting to only share with her friend that she didn't like the way he had ultimately spoken to her. When the men came back, they were accompanied by a raven-haired man, one that Sakura recognized and whose presence made her breath hitch in her throat.
"Ladies, let me introduce you to another friend of ours, Itachi," Kiba said, using the alias Sasuke had instructed him to use. Unlike Naruto, Sasuke had known that both Hinata and Sakura would be attending, as they were close friends of Temari. Although Sasuke initially objected to Hinata's presence, he understood that excluding one of Temari's friends would raise objections from Shikamaru's wife, so he gave in. Instead, he made Shikamaru and Temari promise that this would be the only time a Hyuuga would be invited in their presence, for their- and her own safety. After some hesitation, they finally agreed to Sasuke's request, understanding the gravity of the situation. Finally, Sasuke asked Shikamaru not to inform Naruto about it either, hoping to be able to control and minimize any interactions between Naruto and Hinata.
As soon as Sasuke spotted Naruto and Hinata talking, he quickly decided to join them, intending to keep a close eye on his friend and assess the Hyuuga woman for himself. Sasuke was always the better judge of people, after all. But that wasn't his only reason for joining the group; his true interest lay in meeting the supermodel, Sakura—a woman he had seen as a potential future partner.
To Sasuke's surprise, Hinata seemed nothing like the typical Hyuuga he'd heard about—she seemed... nice, innocent even. However, Sasuke trusted no one, not even his own instincts. He let people's actions speak louder than their appearances, so he kept her at arm's length from both himself and Naruto, at least- as much as he could. But then, Sakura distracted him. She recognized him from their previous, brief encounter and engaged him in an interesting conversation. It piqued his curiosity and deepened his attraction to her, making it difficult for him to stay focused on his original mission.
The conversation flowed naturally among the group, with the exception of Hinata and Naruto, who barely exchanged a few words. Hinata, lost in her own thoughts, began to wonder about their friend Temari's relationship with Shikamaru, and who Temari had actually married? Did they know enough about him? How did Shikamaru know Menma? Who was Menma? What kind of work did Kiba do with Menma? What had happened to Toneri? Was he also here? And why was her heart still breaking at the sight of the man she had dated for such a short period of time? Feeling a headache coming on, she started rubbing her temples and discreetly excused herself, heading to the ladies' room, which she was happy to learn was located far from the balcony.
Fortunately, she hadn't been drinking that night, so she took a pain relief pill and refreshed her makeup and perfume before deciding to stay at the event a bit longer. She needed to be there for her friend's important day and convinced herself that she only had to endure one more hour before she could leave. Gathering her belongings, she exited the ladies' room, only to find Naruto leaning against a nearby wall as if he had been waiting for her.
Realizing they were alone, she attempted to walk past him. "Excuse me," she said, but he suddenly grabbed her by her wrist, and guided her to lean against the wall, facing him. He moved to stand in front of her, and got so close that she could feel his breath on her face. She shifted her gaze from his shoulders to meet his mesmerizing, captivating blue eyes, which seemed to pin her in place. "What are you doing?", she faintly asked.
"Imagine my surprise seeing you here, after yearning to see you for so long"" Menma murmured, softly caressing her lips with his thumb while his other hand rested gently on her waist, pinning her to the wall. When he realised that she hasn't pushed him away, and instead closed her eyes, he decided to continue, "I've missed this—your scent, your lips…", he professed as he leaned closer and lightly pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was tender and careful at first, but soon enough- it became more hurried and desperate, and before she knew it, she was lost in his touch once again- eagerly reciprocating each of his advances.
He slowly introduced his tongue, and proceeded to grope her thighs, and finally her behind. He was thrilled that she had let him continue and displayed signs of lust and submission to him again. The way she had walked out of his life had left him disappointed and made him question her feelings for him. But now, he felt reassured that she still desired him- just as much as he did her. He understood her reasons for not wanting to see him again, just as he had his, for he wasn't sure what- and if, he was ready or willing to risk things for her, yet he couldn't deny the overwhelming desire he had felt the moment he'd seen her tonight again. His mind pleaded of him to stop touching her; to not seek her out- but his heart and his desire were fighting against that rational voice that had decided not to pursue her anymore and they were winning. Her presence and the sensation of touching her again felt like the remedy for the pain in his heart- a pain he was now desperately trying to ease.
"Let me have you," Naruto demanded, his tone more forceful than before.
"Let you? After all this time? When you haven't even once tried to contact me," Hinata protested, trying in vain to push him away but his iron grip on her waist made it impossible to escape.
"Hinata, don't deny me, don't deny yourself—you know you want this.", Menma begged in a husky voice as he slowly began pulling away, making her question his sudden withdrawal. "Someone's coming," he explained, moving to stand next to her instead, while keeping a hand on the lower part of her back, to ensure she was kept on edge.
"Hinata! I was just looking for you. Are you okay? They're cutting the cake now. By the way, Itachi has offered me a ride home. We can drop you off on the way too," Sakura said, her eyes widening and a smirk appearing on her face as she noticed the awkward position Hinata and Menma were in all of a sudden.
"Actually, I already offered Hinata a ride, and she agreed," Menma interjected, making Hinata stiffen.
"Oh, really?" Sakura's smirk widened, clearly amused.
The three returned and rejoined Kiba and Sasuke, who were heading toward the main hall where the cake was being brought out for the couple to cut. Naruto kept a gentle hand on Hinata's lower back—a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by his closest friend, Sasuke- who watched with a hint of concern.
Sasuke, like everyone else in Konoha, was well aware of Sakura's background as part-time model, director- and skilled surgeon at the Konoha Senju Hospital. He had already taken steps to check her background for any detrimental affiliations, and he found none. They had been introduced once before, and Sasuke had been interested in asking her out ever since. Her qualities made him see her as a potential future partner, and his resolve further intensified by the fact that there was a clear chemistry between them.
But Sasuke understood that the situation with the Hyuuga was a different one. Hinata came from a family that was a known enemy; and Sasuke found Naruto's interest in her to be extremely reckless, especially after being firmly warned against it. His friend has been diligent about staying away from her for a month, and tonight he noticed how Naruto's resolve was beginning to slightly break as he had seen her again.
However, Sasuke couldn't tell if Naruto's attraction was genuine or if he was pursuing her as a means to get to Neji. Ultimately, the reason didn't matter to Sasuke—Naruto was playing a dangerous game, one that Sasuke was not interested to see play out in neither direction.
As the cake was served and guests began to depart, Sakura and Sasuke prepared to leave. Hinata rose from her chair as well, "Wait, I'll go with you."
Panicking, Naruto stood up quickly. "I'll take you home, Hinata. I promised, didn't I?" he said with a smile.
"No, please, stay and enjoy your friend's party," Hinata replied, dismissing him with a calm but firm tone. She couldn't believe the audacity in his request to take her home, to be with her after how things had ended the last time they met. It infuriated her that he hadn't even once tried to reach out, to apologize, or offer any explanation for his behaviour. His lack of effort told her everything she needed to know—he wasn't worth her time, and she wasn't about to let herself fall into the same trap again.
"Hinata, I've been longing to go to bed for the past hour. And your apartment is on my way so- come on…", what sounded like an innocent statement to others came across as something much more suggestive and to Hinata, as the way he looked into her eyes were filled with longing and lust.
"Yes, Hinata- Go with Menma", Sakura suggested teasingly.
At Sakura's encouragement, Naruto placed his hand on her upper back and led her toward his car, where his driver was waiting, and found to his delight, that Hinata had stopped objecting to their suggestion. He discreetly signalled to Kiba to take another car and follow them, as two guards always accompanied him and Sasuke each. However, before he could exit the venue, a woman blocked his path.
"Menma, baby, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!" the woman shouted. The sight of Naruto's arms around the brunette enraged the new woman, who glared at Hinata threateningly, "Who the hell are you?", the woman asked in anger- which made Hinata take a step away from his grasp, distancing herself from Naruto.
"Shion, back off," Kiba interjected.
"Who is she, Menma?" Shion demanded, pushing further as Naruto had refused to address her. Naruto looked at his guards, frustrated that neither Sai nor Kiba had intervened in time to prevent Shion from approaching him. He was further enraged by the fact that Hinata had slipped away again.
"Shion, you seem drunk. Let me take you home," Sai offered, attempting to guide her toward the exit.
"Let go of me, Menma! Answer me—who is she? I thought you loved me!"
Hinata and Sakura gasped as Naruto huffed in annoyance.
"Gentlemen, if one can call you that, we won't be needing that ride home after all." Sakura declared, grabbing a distraught Hinata by the hand and leading her out, ignoring Sasuke's and Naruto's protests, as well as Shion's crying.
"Hinata, wait!" Naruto called out.
Hinata turned her head slightly, "Don't." The resolve in her eyes froze him in place once again, and prevented him from approaching her further. He could see that she was dead serious and feared upsetting her more.
So, he let her go once again while trying to calm his racing heart and reassuring himself that he would somehow see her again.
The following week, Sasuke informed Naruto that he had succeeded in convincing Sakura to go on a date with him, where he had taken the opportunity to clarify who Shion really was to Naruto. He did this only to restore his and Naruto's reputation, as he would not let Naruto's poor handling of that event prevent him from persuading a future with the pink haired model. Sasuke had explained that Shion was an old fling of Naruto's and nothing more, and provided ample evidence to support his claim. Sasuke knew that Sakura would relay the information forward to Hinata, and that would somehow ease Naruto's heart, he didn't know why he cared about that part- but he knew that this was the extent at which he was ready to go for Naruto- regarding the Hyuuga.
It had been a few days since Sasuke and Sakura's date, and Naruto found himself growing increasingly restless due to not hearing anything from Hinata- nor Sakura regarding their opinion about the event that had transpired.
"I can't stop thinking about her", Naruto suddenly confessed.
"You will, just give it some more time. ", Sasuke assured him, sounding annoyed. The black-haired male had not backed off on his resolve, he insisted that Naruto needed to stay away from the Hyuuga girl despite his previous attempts to assist clearing Naruto's name. He remained firm in his belief that pursuing Hinata was too risky, given her connections- and the potential fallout it could bring.
"Can't stop thinking about who?" Madara, who had let himself into Sasuke's house without warning, decided to intrude as he'd overheard that part of their conversation.
"Uncle, when did you arrive?" Sasuke asked, his voice calm.
"Just a moment ago. Your rude guard tried to prevent me from entering, so I had to threaten him to get him to move aside to let me in," Madara said with a laugh.
"Uncle..."
"Calm down- I'm just teasing", Madara held up his hand to stop his 'nephew' from lecturing him, "Now, Uzumaki, a little bird told me you've had a run-in with a certain Hyuuga. How did you get to her?"
Naruto had never liked Sasuke's 'uncle,' who was actually his father's cousin. Madara was infamous among the gangster world- yet he was no ordinary gangster; for he was knowns to be absolute ruthless and wicked. Madara power ascended in an era where gangsters operated without codes of honour, which was an era that ended about 16 years ago with a treaty that aimed to break cycles of violence from affecting innocent people. Naruto and Sasuke, both 16 at the time, witnessed the outrage on Madara's face during the historic event when it was decided that the old guard would be replaced by new leadership. Madara had been forced to relinquish his position and power, which led Sasuke's father to take over the Uchiha organization.
Although the new treaty was signed; violence didn't cease overnight as old feuds could not die out that easily and conflicts and vengeance continued to fuel the underworld. Sasuke had witnessed his own father's assassination the following year, leading to Itachi having to takeover, and eventually- Sasuke's own rise to leadership after Itachi's sudden death.
Tragically, Naruto's father was also killed in a gang retaliation, and his mother died during childbirth so his grandfather, Jiraya, became Naruto's guardian until he was ready to lead the Uzumaki organization himself, something he began at the age of 23.
"Toneri," Naruto replied, "He brought over a guest to my restaurant, without consulting me— She was obviously someone who I wouldn't have approved of to be there."
"Ah, Toneri... I've always known he was trouble. But I have to admit, he might be onto something this time."
"What do you mean by that, uncle? And apologies for my rudeness, but why are you here?", Sasuke spoke.
"What, can't I visit my nephew?" Madara chuckled. "Actually, I'm here because I have been receiving reports that our Casanova here had been seen with a Hyuuga woman- at his restaurant, so I came by to verify if this was in fact true- and what do you know!", Madara said as he pointed at the blonde.
"Like I said, she was an unwanted guest. I only made sure she left unharmed, without the possibility to track the location- to avoid getting into trouble with the Hyuuga's. I assure you- she has no idea who I truly am."
"You can calm down, Casanova- I wasn't accusing you of anything…As a matter of fact, I think we should use this."
"Uncle?"
"She could be the key for the perfect infiltration mission; our way into the Hyuuga's. Perhaps we should let Toneri continue to court her. This might provide an opportunity to finally eliminate our enemies."
"Uncle, the Code clearly prohibits getting any innocent family members involved and this one is clean; we can't do that."
"The Code applies to us, within this world- not those who wish to hunt us- not to the Hyuuga's," Madara responded chillingly.
"That's not entirely true. You're treading dangerous waters here, uncle, and—" Before Sasuke could continue, Naruto interrupted, standing to stare defiantly at Madara.
"She is off-limits, you hear me?".
Madara responded with an eerie laugh that seemed to linger unnaturally. "This generation- you guys- are too soft and cowardly, and that's why you will never get things done sufficiently."
"That deranged mentality of yours led to endless cycles of murder: my father, your cousin, and nephew- all of them dead for what? Don't you dare call us soft when your generation was the barbaric one who caused destruction and havoc that was completely uncalled for," Naruto spat back.
"This is a war zone Naruto, and in war, people die. Get over it.", Madara reprimanded.
"That's enough!" Sasuke intervened, stepping between them to defuse the situation.
"I'm a reasonable man, boy. Even if I don't agree with you, I'll listen to your opinion and won't push this any further. But mark my words—at some point, we will have to deal with the Hyuuga's before they destroy us, all of us. When that day comes, you'll look back at this moment and regret not heeding my advice. Get rid of them, today before tomorrow," Madara warned, his voice carrying a weight that left no room for argument.
"Sasuke, I'll see you at the family dinner tomorrow," he added coldly, before turning to make his exit, leaving the two to wrestle with the ominous words hanging in the air.
Madara settled into his car, signalling for his driver to take off.
"Izuna," Madara began, his tone almost gleeful, "our informant was correct. Naruto has indeed developed an interest in a particular woman and what makes this especially advantageous is that she's actually a Hyuuga."
"So, Toneri's information was accurate after all," Izuna replied.
"Indeed.", Madara agreed.
"And what do you intend to do with this information?"
"Being the benevolent soul that I am, I intend to bring these star-crossed lovers back together again."
"You genuinely believe she will lead us to the root of our problems?"
"I'd stake my life on it, Izuna."
"Leave it to me to arrange their reunion then, brother."
"I don't understand why you're being so weird about this? Why can't we arrange for a date between Hinata and Menma? They obviously liked each other…Or were you lying to me? Is he actually married?".
"No, Sakura, please I've already explained that part."
"That part yes, but not why you're so adamant to keep those two away from each other. For three months, I've been asking you to go on a double date with them, and every time- you either change the subject or ignore me completely."
"That's not true…I only ask you pick another couple to pair. I love Menma like a brother, but please, just believe what I'm saying: those two won't be a good match."
"Itachi…."
"Sakura, just drop it.", Sasuke said, his voice tense as a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. "Are you expecting someone this late?" Sasuke asked, his eyes narrowing.
"No, not at all."
"Ask who it is, but don't open the door."
"I can just look through the peephole, can't I?"
"NO, Sakura, don't.", he demanded in panic.
Another loud knock was heard in an odd rhythm.
"Why are you acting like this? It could just be a neighbour or something," Sakura reasoned with her boyfriend of three months. She saw him reach for his phone, dialling a number.
"Why aren't they answering?" he muttered, his frustration palpable.
"Who? Itachi- what's going on?".
Itachi approached Sakura and pressed a quick but intense kiss to her lips. "Sakura, listen to me carefully. Go to your room, hide in your closet, and don't make a peep. Stay there until you hear me say the name 'Sasuke'. That's our safe word, okay?"
"Itachi, you're scaring me," Sakura said, her voice trembling.
"Sakura, just focus and everything will be alright. Now tell me, what's our safe word again?"
"It's Sas…uke," she stammered, her eyes widening as she watched Itachi pull a gun from his jacket's pocket.
"Go!" Sasuke commanded as he moved toward the door, dialling his men's number on the phone once again.
Everything happened in a blur. What actually occurred in ten minutes, seemed like hours for Sakura. She heard a scream, fighting, and gunshots, and was unable to make sense of it all. Her apartment complex was supposed to be secure—how had this happened? And what had happened? And why did Itachi have a gun?
"Sakura!"
Silence.
"Sakura, baby, you can come out now… 'Sasuke'."
Upon hearing the safe word Sakura felt a wave of relief wash over her. She scrambled out of the closet and into Sasuke's arms, clutching him tightly. "What happened?" she asked- frantically, noticing his right arm was grazed by bullets. "You're shot! We need to get you to the hospital, I'll call 911!"
As Sakura tried to reach for her phone, Sasuke's iron grip on her arm stopped her. "If you do that, I'll be sent to prison for the rest of my life. This is the moment for you to decide if you want me to leave and never see me again- or stay, and be my side; no matter what happens hereafter," he explained. He had no intention of revealing the full truth—about the two men he'd just shot or his team's role in covering up the evidence, but he needed for her to decide if she would stand by him, or not, at that moment as he knew that the time had come for some truths about him to be revealed to her.
Sakura wasn't naïve; she knew what he was hinting at. Despite the shock and anger, she couldn't imagine leaving him after everything they'd shared. "I guess that's why you never wanted Menma near a Hyuuga," she said, wiping away her tears. "If I'm to stay- then you're going to have to tell me everything."
"I will," Sasuke promised. "But first, we have to leave. This place isn't safe for you anymore."
During the drive to his heavily guarded mansion, he revealed some of the dark history of his family and their criminal activities. Sakura was furious at first, feeling betrayed by the life he had drawn her into. But despite her anger, her love for him remained. At this point of her life- she knew she couldn't imagine her life without him anymore. When they arrived at the mansion, Sakura was left speechless by the sheer scale and security measures available in his home. And it suddenly struck her, "Itachi."
"Hn?"
"Why Sasuke?"
"That is my real name," he revealed, causing Sakura's eyes to widen and her mouth to fall open in shock.
"You're engaged?", Kiba asked as Sasuke had announced the news to the group.
"Yes, I proposed last night."
"He just told me this morning, I'm very happy for you, brother.", Naruto offered his congratulations once again and embraced his friend.
"Thank you", Sasuke responded, hugging him back.
"Who would've thought that Sasuke would get married before all of us?", Kiba joked, addressing the rest of the group who had gathered at one of Shikamaru's bars, unknowing they'd be celebrating such an event.
"Hey, I just got married like four months ago", Shikamaru countered.
"Oh yeah…forgot that," Kiba laughed.
Sai, with his usual nonchalance, quipped, "For the life of me I do not understand how Boss entrusts you with his life with this lame memory of yours."
Kiba shot him a playful glare. "Hey!"
Sai grinned and suggested, "Come on, let's order more drinks." The group settled back into their conversation, the atmosphere lightening as they moved past the jesting.
Sasuke, however, noticed that Naruto seemed distant, his mind evidently preoccupied. "What about you?" Sasuke asked, pulling Naruto back from his reverie.
"What?" Naruto replied, snapping out of his daze.
"Have you met anyone interesting lately?"
Naruto hesitated before responding, "I've been on a few dates…"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "You're still thinking about the Hyuuga, aren't you?"
Naruto tried to brush it off with a joke. "Ah, well, sometimes. She was a hottie, right?"
The attempt at humour fell flat, and a pang of guilt gnawed at Sasuke. Despite his firm stance on keeping Naruto and Hinata apart, he couldn't shake the occasional pang of remorse for denying his friend the chance to pursue someone he clearly cared about. Naruto had been dutifully following Sasuke's advice, maintaining physical distance and only occasionally inquiring about Hinata's well-being for the past three months. His efforts to move on, including dating others, however, had been half-hearted at best. It was evident to Sasuke that Naruto had not truly moved on, and the sadness in his friend's eyes was a constant reminder of the internal struggle he faced.
Sasuke's guilt grew whenever he saw Naruto's longing, a longing for a romance that seemed out of reach. While Sasuke knew he had to uphold his stance for the sake of everyone's safety and interest, the burden of knowing his friend's heart was entangled in an affection that he could not embrace- weighed heavily on him. The complexities of their world and the necessity of maintaining certain boundaries made it difficult for Sasuke to offer Naruto any relief. His duty was to protect their interests, but he couldn't ignore the emotional toll it was taking on his friend.
Madara's fury was intense as he slammed his fist into the man's cheek, sending him sprawling to the floor. "One failed attempt after another," he roared, his voice echoing with a mixture of anger and frustration. "What use do I have for someone like you now? I gave you the simplest task of all, and you still couldn't manage it?"
The man, barely conscious tried to nurse his bruised cheek and struggled to find words.
"Brother, calm down… It's not his fault. We've been assuming he'd show up where we know Hinata will be, but despite his knowledge of her whereabouts, he never did. It's as though he's deliberately avoiding her. What if we've overestimated his infatuation?"
Madara, still seething, turned his back to the room, and walked over to a window. He wiped the blood from his hands with a handkerchief while taking deep breaths to steady himself. "You didn't see him, Izuna…his eyes burned at the mention of her name. And he purposely left out mentioning their relationship, thinking he could fool me into believing they'd only met once. She means something to him…so, this means that we simply need to change our tactic; back to ones I've always preferred. Izuna, summon Toneri."
Izuna, ever the loyal subordinate, nodded and promptly made the arrangements. Toneri's role in their plans was crucial, and Madara's decision to involve him signalled a shift in their strategy. Izuna knew that Madara's preferred tactics were often ruthless but effective.
Madara's mind raced as he considered their next steps. If Naruto's avoidance was indeed intentional, it would be necessary to adapt their approach. The old methods had failed, but perhaps Toneri could provide the leverage they needed. Madara's eyes narrowed as he contemplated the possibilities. The Hyuuga's influence and Naruto's infatuation were pieces of a puzzle that needed to be put together, and he was determined to see this through—no matter the cost. If reuniting them at a happy event had failed, then perhaps it was time to try bringing them together at a sad one.
"Though I may never understand why you chose to elope without informing anyone, I still want to raise my glass to both of you and wish you many years of happiness. Cheers!" Naruto declared cheerfully, lifting his glass towards the newlyweds.
Naruto, Shikamaru, Temari, and Gaara—an old friend from the Sand organization and Temari's brother—had been invited to an intimate dinner where Sasuke revealed his and Sakura's decision to elope in a private ceremony, attended only by Sasuke's mother, who was also caught off guard.
"Thank you, Naruto, and thank you all. I'm sorry for not including you, but as you know, I've always preferred to keep things low-key, unlike you- Naruto," Sasuke teased, while showcasing the extravagant diamond ring on Sakura's hand, prompting laughter from the group at Naruto's apt description.
As the group chatted animatedly, Naruto and Sakura stepped out onto the balcony. Over the past few months, their bond had grown close, almost like siblings. "Congratulations, and my condolences as well. That guy is tough to deal with, so you'll need all the luck you can get," he joked.
"Haha, don't worry. I'm no weakling so I can deal with him, but I might just be crazy for marrying a gangster… I'm such a hypocrite, aren't I?"
"We're all hypocrites in some way."
"You know…sometimes I wonder if Hinata would've had a better life if she hadn't been born a Hyuuga," Sakura reflected.
Naruto's interest was piqued by Hinata's name. "Why do you say that?"
"It's just that being a Hyuuga has often restricted her. Don't get me wrong, they love and care for each other, and Hinata is doing well, but it might have spared her from some difficulties, like her past relationship, and even opened up opportunities for something new—like with you," Sakura said, unaware of how Naruto's smile had dimmed or the sadness in his eyes had emerged.
"I know this sounds irrational, and maybe the alcohol is talking—I'm quite drunk right now," she laughed. "But even though you're this big bad- gangster, you're still one of the kindest people I know, after Hinata, of course. I feel like you two would've been perfect for each other… I miss her sometimes, but because of my relationship with Sasuke and the associated risks, I've distanced myself from her and I…I hate myself for it, but…"
"It's for her own safety, I understand," Naruto said, cutting her off.
"Yeah," Sakura agreed, looking disheartened.
"Hello?"
"Miss Hyuuga, there's someone here named Menma who is asking to speak with you," the security officer at Hinata's apartment complex, Hohete, informed her over the phone.
"Are you certain?" Hinata inquired, puzzled. Not only was this unexpected at such a late hour, but she also hadn't had any contact with Menma for months, making his visit quite surprising.
"Yes, ma'am. He's also accompanied by someone named Sakura."
"Oh, yes, of course. Let them in," Hinata replied with enthusiasm upon hearing Sakura's name. Her eagerness to see her friend after so long, especially since Sakura had recently married, dispelled any doubts. She was looking forward to hugging and congratulating her despite the fact that Sakura had recently distanced herself from her.
"You may go up to the fourth floor, second door to the right," Hohete instructed with a smile. Before he could react, the pink-haired woman swiftly pulled out a syringe and injected it into his neck, sending him into an immediate, deep sleep.
"Call Toneri and let him know we're in," the pink-haired woman commanded her blonde companion, Deidara. He made the call, where he was instructed to allow his partner Guren, who'd worn a pink wig- to enter first, under the pretence that he would join her for support thereafter. Deidara was ordered to leave the scene once he confirmed that a certain individual had arrived.
To Toneri's satisfaction, everything was proceeding as planned. His part would be complete once he had anonymously 'warned' Naruto's men about the situation, with Guren as the sacrificed pawn.
"Who is this?" Kiba demanded as he answered a call from an unknown number, suspicion evident in his voice.
"Hinata Hyuuga is in danger. They're moving in to kidnap her right now," the caller warned urgently.
"Who are you? How did you get this number- and who are 'they'?" Kiba questioned, panic rising in his voice as he quickly discarded the cigarette he had been smoking, and headed inside to find Naruto.
"She's at home. If I were you, I'd hurry up to get there quickly," the caller said before abruptly hanging up. With no number to trace and Hinata's safety potentially at risk, Kiba wasted no time. If there was even the slightest chance that his childhood friend was in danger, he had to act swiftly. But first, he needed to inform his boss.
"Boss! I need to speak with you, right away!" Kiba called out urgently.
Temari immediately grasped the severity of the situation and tried to escort Sakura out of the room. She reassured Sakura that this was a matter for "gangster business" and that it was safer for her to be kept in the dark about these issues. Despite her concern, Sakura agreed and left with Temari.
"What's going on, Kiba?" Naruto asked, his tone sharp with concern.
"It's Hinata. She might be in danger."
Without hesitation, Naruto raced to his car, followed closely by Sai and Kiba. He ordered everyone else to stay behind, particularly Sasuke. Though frustrated by the situation, Sasuke knew there was no stopping Naruto now. He knew nothing would stop Naruto from saving someone innocent, let alone stop him from saving an innocent woman he cared for. Despite his efforts to keep Naruto and Hinata apart, he understood it was best for him to allow Naruto to do this, and for himself to remain behind. He decided to send a few more of his men to follow and protect Naruto.
Naruto and his men agreed that the situation sounded extremely suspicious and couldn't rule out the possibility of it being an ambush, possibly orchestrated by the Hyuuga themselves. Despite the uncertainties, Naruto's concern for Hinata spurred him on. His thoughts were consumed with a mix of fury and worry. The possibility of her being in danger was unbearable. He had stayed away from her to keep her safe, but now she was at risk anyway. Despite all the hindrances, he'd somehow always hoped for a future where he could see her again, touch her, and be with her- even. But if anything would happen to her now, he'd lose any possibility of that ever, ever happening.
Her safety was threatened, not because of his presence, but because of the lack of it.
"They'll be here soon, Guren. So go get her, but remember, you're only to retrieve her, you may not kill her. Go!", Once they separated, Deidara made sure Guren reached Hinata's floor before escaping via the backdoor entrance.
As soon as Naruto and his men arrived, they entered the building. To their surprise, they found the security officer lying on the floor. "He's alive but seems to be sedated, sir," Sai explained after checking for a pulse.
"Shit!" Naruto cursed, sounding erratic.
"Sir, we're six men here, let's split in groups of two, some take the elevator, other the stairs- the last two stay behind. Kiba, go with the Boss, take the stair" Sai suggested, and Naruto accepted, making the men depart to their destinations.
Naruto remembered exactly where her apartment had been so he needed no guidance as he ran up the stairs to make his way to her. Just as he reached the designated floor, three gunshots were heard from Hinata's apartment which led him and Kiba to run towards the direction of the sound. At the entrance of Hinata's apartment, Naruto and Kiba were met by a horrific scene. Two of Naruto's men, who had reached the destination earlier by taking the elevator- lay on the floor, one dead while the other one was still alive- with gunshots in his arm and stomach. The apartment's door was wide-open, and drops of blood could be traced into the bathroom of the said apartment. Naruto cautiously approached the door, guns at the ready, but the vision of more blood made his heart sink. Kiba caught Naruto before he had a chance to proceed and insisted, he remained behind him, while calling for more reinforcement. Kiba could hear a whimpering sound, and someone faintly crying from inside of the bathroom.
"You're completely surrounded, if I were you, I'd drop my weapons and surrender. Unless, you'd like to leave this place in a body bag- you better come out, NOW!" Kiba yelled.
"Hahaha," they heard a nasty- but weary laugh echo.
"Hinata! Are you okay?" Naruto called out; his voice raised but steady—loud enough for her to hear him clearly.
"Answer him, sweetie, tell him that you're alive and fairly unharmed," Guren whispered into Hinata's ears.
"I'm… I'm okay," Hinata whimpered, loud enough for Naruto to hear.
The sound of a broken Hinata shattered Naruto's heart and fuelled his determination to save her. He vowed to comfort her once he'd gotten her out of this nightmare, to take her into his arms and place her in safety, cursing himself for not even thinking about placing some form of protection around her that could've prevented all of this. He then decided to reveal himself, guns pointed in Hinata's and the culprit's direction. He was a skilled shooter and he fully trusted his abilities, after all he hadn't survived the life of gangster by relying on his men alone.
When he finally saw them, he realized that both Hinata and Guren were sitting on the bathroom floor, with Guren eerily enveloping Hinata in a tight, unsettling hug. Hinata was covered in blood, likely from the wounded woman next to her. To his delight, Guren had been shot in the arm by one his men, but that same arm was now holding Hinata's neck, while the other was holding a gun which was pointed at Hinata's temple, "One more step and I'll kill her", she warned.
To both women's surprise, Naruto suddenly displayed an ominous, almost evil-like laugh and expression. When he suddenly stopped laughing, he only focused on Hinata, "Hey gorgeous, it's been a while," he winked at Hinata. Under normal circumstances, Hinata would blush and stutter, but now? There was no amusement to be found in her current situation, even if she was slightly relieved to see him. Instead, she was confused and alarmed by his reaction…
Despite the state that she was in, Naruto found her to be better composed than expected. She looked scared, yes, but she hadn't screamed or begged for mercy, which was the most human reaction in such a scenario. Her current 'calmness' was disturbing to him and he became even more enraged with himself for allowing this to happen to her.
"Boss, this is Guren. She's from the Mist organization. I've got no idea what she's doing here," Kiba informed Naruto once he got a good look at the perpetrator.
"Guren, care to tell me what you're doing in our town?", Kiba asked mockingly.
"Go to hell!" Guren spat back.
"This is your first and last warning, Guren. Let Hinata go right now, or I will shoot to kill, and If I do that- I never miss.", Naruto spoke directly to her, giving her a dangerous warning in a tone Hinata had never heard before, one that made her skin crawl.
Gruen's fury bubbled when she witnessed that Naruto and his men had arrived near the apartment, as she thought that Deidara had been killed for them to get this far. She wasn't one to disobey orders or allow herself to be captured alive, so her pride spoke instead, "Like I said, go to hell."
Before Guren could pull the trigger, Naruto fired, putting a bullet into her head. The impact sent blood and fragments of her brain splattering onto Hinata as she fell to her death. Horrified, Hinata immediately made sure to remove herself from Guren's grip and rushed to the sink, shakingly and desperately trying to wash away the stains as a gush of tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Naruto quickly holstered his gun back and ran to Hinata, wrapping his arms around her from behind and gently kissing her untainted temple. Hinata turned into his embrace, clinging to him as she continued to tremble in fear.
"I'm here. You're all right. I'm here," was all a distraught Naruto could say to comfort her.
Naruto ensured that the bodies were removed, the blood cleaned, and that Hinata, despite her state, had packed her most essential items before leaving the apartment. He promised her that anything missed would be retrieved later or that he would personally compensate for it. He took her to his home, and allowed her take a shower, offering her something to eat and drink, which she refused. She had stopped crying as soon as they left the apartment, falling into a heavy, unnerving silence. She refused to look at him or acknowledge anything happening around her, her expression distant and unreadable. When the clock struck 2 AM, he realized she needed sleep to avoid going through a complete mental breakdown, so he guided her to his master bedroom, and offered her to sleep in the bed alone. Luckily, she accepted without objection and fallen asleep immediately after laying her head on the pillow.
Every bone in his body begged him to sleep beside her, to hold her close throughout the night and feel her warmth while providing his. But he decided not to impose his desires on her. Instead, he opted to sleep on a nearby futon, one that was large enough to accommodate him, reasoning that at least he'd be in the same room in case she needed him.
After a few hours, Hinata woke up whimpering, and the sound immediately jolted Naruto awake. Hearing her distress, he instinctively went to the bed and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her. He whispered soothing words, trying to calm her, but nothing seemed to reach her, which pained him deeply. Despite the tragic circumstances they found themselves in, Naruto felt an overwhelming sense of peace having her there with him—in his home, in his bed, in his embrace. He had longed for the feeling of her body next to his, finding it endlessly comforting.
As he continued to hold her, trying to calm her down, he found it increasingly difficult to ignore his own desires. The simple act of touching her began to stir something deeper within him, a longing he had tried to suppress but found himself failing to do. He was once again becoming aroused, a feeling that was constantly ignited in her presence so he gently began to kiss her cheeks, forehead and neck, which to his delight seemed to dampen her agitated state. Her calming reaction led him to touch her with more fervour and desperation. Although she did not reciprocate his advances at first, she eventually did and began to hold him back tightly- an act which encouraged Naruto and he proceeded to trail kisses to her lips in a slow motion, then with hurriedly, and his hands began to wander around her arms, waist and back. He carefully guided her to lay back down on the bed as he continued to kiss her. To his delight, he found that Hinata had begun to softly kiss him back as well.
"You're safe here, Hime…Stay with me, and I'll make sure no one lays a finger on you ever again…No one- but me", Naruto promised as he continued trying to sooth her, hoping that it would encourage her to allow him to touch her further.
"Menma…", she moaned, when Naruto surprised her by patting her womanhood.
He suddenly stopped kissing her, opting to look into her eyes, "From now on, it's Naruto for you.", he harshly demanded, gripping her chin firmly in his hand.
His change in demeanour scared her, and she made an attempt to retract her hands from him, but he stopped her by kissing her with force again, and continued to massage her vagina- stroking it with more vigour. He was surprised to see her body react so quickly, and so positively to his touches in her state, but that only served to excite him even further. It excited him to know that he still had that effect on her, that he still could make her so aroused, and that her body still was so obedient to his touched. He loved the fact that he could bend her will to his own.
The hunger he felt for her was beyond anything he'd previously felt, especially now that he knew what having her would feel like. He'd been privileged enough to experience it before, and now he was dying to quench that thirst again- to be engulfed in her warmth, and to be inside her again. He was fully aware of how painfully hard he was, and did not wish to prolong a foreplay- so he opted to increase his pace, caressing her womanhood further, ensuring she was ready for him. He knew he was being selfish, but right now he needed to be inside of her, and he convinced himself that it somehow would provide a sense of comfort for her as well.
"Wait…", Hinata tried to plead with him. She knew she had no control over her body when it came to him; as it yearned to be with him, to feel him, to submit to him- just like it had done before. Despite, all that had transpired- her body's longing for him never changed. Her mind tried to talk some sense into her, but being in his embrace, in his bed, and feeling so aroused made it impossible to resist him. She was too immersed with the feel of his kisses and his body next to hers, too consumed with the scent of his aroma- that her body had begun acting on its own accord as well, and completely submitted to pleasure that she was experiencing. The way he was pleasuring her- to the point of exploding, completely dominating and subduing any will she ever had over herself was welcomed and all too powerful for her to resist at this moment. She knew she was, once again- being stupid for allowing this man- this dangerous man to have her again, but her heart and body seemed to allow it nevertheless. She found endless comfort in his embrace, and it was for that reason the she let him have her- she convinced herself that it would only be for tonight, only for tonight.
"Shhh, this will make you feel so good, Hime…Don't resist", Naruto hushed her, and pulled down his pants, moving her own underwear to the side in a quick motion and inserting himself inside of her.
"Ahhh", Hinata moaned. Despite her arousal, she still found it difficult to absorb all of his length at once, forgetting just how big it had been- and how pleasurable it had felt.
Naruto continued to push inside of her in an erratic pace, smiling and huffing as he went along, eager to enjoy every moment of this wonderful dream again. She felt heavenly beneath him, just like he remembered- if not thousands of times better. He heard her moaning, and panting his name- but ignored it as he became lost in the feeling of his own high and pleasure. He loved being inside of her, and decided to allow himself to come as quickly as possible, so that she wouldn't have a chance to object to it. Her moans seemed to intensify by the second, which made him feel a sense of content as it meant that she was reaching her end as well. As he continued to thrust inside of her, he once again placed his hand on her clit, caressing it with a rapid motion- enabling her to reach her orgasm.
She moaned out her high, and went limp- and that's when he finally allowed himself to cum- inside of her as well, grunting out his own orgasm with pleasure.
When he calmed down- he found her eyes searching for his, her gaze tearing at his heartstrings. She looked so fragile, so beautiful, and innocent- with old tears that had shed dried up at the corners of her eyes. He gave her one final gentle kiss, and engulfed her in tight hug again- knowing that he should let her fall asleep again, which she had immediately done- to his relief.
Tomorrow, he would worry about dealing with the rest of the Hyuuga and the real culprits. Tonight, he would sleep in the solace of his Goddess's arms again.
At 11 AM, Naruto awakened to an empty bed, with the covers pulled up around him. Panicking, he quickly exited the bedroom to search for Hinata, only to be met by Chouji- one of his home guards.
"Boss, Ms. Hyuuga is safe, she is receiving some treatment from one of our medical staff."
"Why didn't anyone wake me up?"
"Sir, you've had a long night, we simply wanted you to rest a bit longer. As for the Hyuuga business, rest assured, we've been in contact with Mr. Uchiha and Mr. Gaara. You are set to meet them in the afternoon. Please take your time, freshen up- and I'll make sure breakfast is prepared for you by the time you come down."
"Has Hinata eaten anything?"
"No, and I doubt she'll have any appetite nevertheless. At her request, we allowed her to take another shower and change into something more comfortable."
"Good, I'll be right down."
Naruto knew he was being silly, but he couldn't contain the excitement he felt knowing that Hinata was still there...
He found her seated inside the glassed-in balcony, gazing out at the serene view of the beach, a cup of coffee with milk cradled in her hand. On the table beside her sat an empty glass of water, and he felt a small sense of relief knowing she had at least been drinking something.
"Good morning, Hinata," he greeted hesitantly as he approached her from behind, making her straighten up.
"Good morning, Menma," she replied in a hushed tone.
She looked mentally exhausted and traumatized— but by God, she was still gorgeous. Although he wanted nothing more than to embrace and comfort her again, something told him to give her some space. He was, however, glad to see that she had made an effort to change into other clothes than the ones she had fallen asleep in. Not that the cared about that at the moment, it only made him happy because hopefully, this was a sign that she wouldn't let yesterday's events take over her life completely.
"Naruto…", Naruto corrected her again.
"Naruto..."
"Yes?"
"I'm from a family that has history and ties with law enforcement. You must understand that- after yesterday's events, I now have an inclination about who you really are... And this was something that I had suspected early on, which you adamantly denied- trying to fool me about…and now I'm dragged into this mess whether I wanted to, or not. So, please, enough with the games- and tell me the truth, tell me why? Why was I dragged into this, and don't you insult me with some kind of made-up story.", Hinata asked, her voice tainted with sadness and anger.
"Knowing things in my world doesn't come without consequences, Hinata- nor without sacrifices."
"Sacrifices? Of what?"
"Such knowledge might lead you to sacrifice the life and relationship you have, relationships with your friends- or even family."
"I could never do that."
"If you don't, you'll be endangering me, yourself- and even them."
The response made Hinata's objection die in her throat. She understood exactly what he was talking about, but still did not find the fairness in it. "Why me?", she asked defeatedly.
"I don't know for sure, I suspect some of my enemies saw you with me- and that must've made you a target, to get to me."
"We've been broken up for months, it does not make any sense…Why?"
"Because."
Hinata understood that he was unwilling to share any further information, despite having an inclination on what he meant, but she still did not want to delude herself into believing that he still harboured some feeling for her, not after such long time. Perhaps, he simply could not live with the fact that someone innocent would've been harmed because of him.
"If I'm to sacrifice anything, the very least you can do is tell me the truth; like your name, full name?".
"Naruto... Uzumaki, Naruto.", he responded after a moment of hesitation as he defiantly stared into her eyes.
The mention of the name made Hinata rise from her seat, horror presented on her face, as she backed away to a nearby wall.
"Uzu... ma... ki?" she repeated the surname in horror, "as in; Uzumaki, Jiraiya?"
"Yes."
"Oh my god, oh my god..." Hinata's mind raced, and she found herself struggling to breathe. She knew about what had happened to Jiraiya, at least what the public knew. She also knew about the sworn enemy of her cousin Neji—and it was specifically the man that she was now facing—Uzumaki Naruto of the Uzumaki criminal organisation. Neji had spent years of his life trying to allocate and persecute this dangerous criminal.
"Hey," Naruto found himself filled with worry, not understanding her reaction, until it finally clicked. "Hinata, calm down. I would never harm you, if that was what I wanted, don't you think I would've done it already?"
He was trying his utmost to talk some sense into her, to calm her down, but the look of despair in her eyes made him hate his very own existence. He couldn't believe he was the reason behind the sadness- and the tears running down his precious angel's face. He began nearing her even further, locking her between him and the wall she was backing towards. "Hinata, look at me." He placed his hand under her chin, making her look up to meet his eyes as he gently embraced her. "I'm not going to hurt you, nor will I use you to get to your family. I promise."
But how could she believe him? How could she possibly know that he hadn't orchestrated this entire event—the attempted kidnapping, the bloodshed—just to manipulate her into trusting him, only to use her as a pawn to get closer to her family? The thought gnawed at her, casting doubt over everything as she trembled in his arms, uncertain of whether she could truly trust him or if she was just another insignificant pawn in his dangerous game. Her feelings resembled the ones she felt the first night she met him, he was playing this evil, tormenting game with her again- and she did not understand why. Why not just end it, end her already?
All the emotions—the ones that had consumed him the first time he met her, the ones he had been trying to suppress ever since—came crashing over him once again as he hugged her. He was once again hit with the sense of lust, longing, and attraction to her that made him want to get to know her and be near her even more. But as he sensed her doubts, he backed away from the embrace to give her some space. "Hinata, I want to do so many things to you—but hurting you isn't one of them," he said softly. He gently caressed her lips with his fingers before placing a tender and quick kiss on them, despite her whimpering, not giving her a chance to respond as he pulled her closer into a tight embrace once again and inhaled her scent.
Hinata's only response was to grab the front of his shirt tightly with both hands, clinging to him as if her life depended on it. The intensity of his touch and the sense of relief from his words overwhelmed her, despite the lingering doubts. His touch was undeniably comforting, and she found herself letting her guard down. She melted into his embrace, feeling the warmth and possessiveness in his hold, which only deepened her sense of security.
Encouraged by her reaction, Naruto decided to seize the opportunity and kiss her cheek and then her lips passionately, to his heart's content, thrilled that she had let him. And they continued to kiss, prolonging the addicting sense of euphoria that they were experiencing.
"Stay with me, and I'll protect you. I'll make sure your family is safe too," Naruto promised, his voice firm with determination.
Hinata looked him in the eyes, and her demeanour changed, proceeding to push him away- her voice barely above a whisper, "Did you plan this?" she suddenly accused him.
"I have not".
"How do you expect me to stay when I don't even know everything that I'm actually agreeing to? When I don't even know you?"
Naruto sighed deeply, realizing there was no way around it. "Hinata, I assure you; there are some things that you'd rather not know, you wouldn't be able to bare it."
"That's because you don't know me," she replied defiantly, her eyes searching his for answers. "If you're not truthful henceforth, then there is no way I'm even going to consider this. Besides, why should I even believe you? I haven't seen you for months, you never called, never apologized- so surely, you're not offering me protection out of care for me. You didn't care enough then, so why now?"
"I can't explain why they decided to strike now," Naruto responded, evading her true question.
"That's not what I'm asking- I asked why? After so long, after everything—"
"Because I have not once, not for a moment, stopped thinking about you," he finally confessed in frustration at being pushed. "I didn't reach out because I thought I was protecting you by staying away. And I was also protecting my people, being connected to you would be endangering them as well…But that obviously wasn't enough, my enemies had already realized how much you mean to me- and it was too late."
"…"
"Even though I never came to you, I've always kept an eye on you. Hinata, I've never had to ask or beg anyone for anything... But for you, I will."
"Excuse me?" she asked, clearly taken aback.
Naruto gently took her hands in his and kissed them tenderly. "I meant what I said last night, I'm not going to let anyone harm you. Stay with me".
"….."
Being met with silence yet again frustrated Naruto, so he continued pressing, "Letting you go was a mistake; one I do not intend on remaking."
Hinata hesitated, feeling uneasy. His words sounded possessive and unsettling. "Naruto, I'm not a thing. You can't just have someone unless they want you back too."
"Then tell me that you did not enjoy last night- that you don't want me."
"It's not that simple. We come from two completely different worlds, and you know who I am. You must know who Neji is to me... It's not about what I want, Naruto. It's about what makes sense—and this, this is a recipe for disaster."
"You have no idea what I can do for you."
"You're not listening to me—this won't work! Our families are sworn enemies. My cousin wants you imprisoned, and I'm sure you want him dead."
"If you ask me not to harm him, I won't—and I don't go back on my word. But I won't have him hurt my men either"
"I will never forgive you if you do, Naruto…I don't understand why you're dragging yourself into this mess, Naruto."
"I already told you: I want you, Hinata. And I'm not letting you go this time."
"Please, just listen to what I'm saying," Hinata pleaded, her voice trembling. "Do you really think my family would just let this go? They'll bring in the police, they'll look for me, and they'll hunt you down even more now."
"Hinata, I can take care of myself. I've been doing it successfully for years. The FBI will never catch me. Please, just leave that to me. Just tell me that you want me, and I'll do anything for you."
"I don't know about the FBI but I know my cousin, Neji, he will persecute you."
Naruto froze for a moment, realizing something crucial. Hinata wasn't just uninvolved in her family's business; she was completely in the dark about what her family really did. The fact that they hadn't told her who they truly were only deepened his suspicions. Why would they hide the truth about their connection to the FBI from one of their own? Was it really to protect her, or was there something more to this façade?
"It seems you don't really know who your family truly is…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hinata demanded, anger and confusion lacing her voice.
Naruto proceeded to tell her who Neji, and her father had really been- the FBI, themselves- with whatever proof he had of it, and how her relatives had handled the story of his grandfather's murder. He then proceeded to tell her anything he possibly could about himself, naturally leaving out depictions of violence, and any admission of acts of committed murder from his organisations side. He knew that she would, after all, understand that that came with the business anyway.
Hinata absorbed Naruto's story, and a torrent of emotions—horror, anger, and disappointment—washed over her. It felt as though her world was collapsing around her. It felt like everything that she had ever known was being torn apart. The evidence he provided only made things worse, leaving her feeling more disconnected from her family than ever before. She didn't hate them for lying, but she struggled to recognize the people she had trusted all her life. She felt betrayed by everyone around her at the moment.
She cursed her illogical, passionate feelings for the man before her. Being present in Naruto's world meant living a whirlwind of confusion, love, hurt and comfort. She longed to stay in his embrace, yet she also wanted to distance herself from him. She needed time to think, to find a solution that would benefit everyone involved. She wished she had never spoken to- or met Toneri, for if she hadn't, she would've never encountered Naruto, and none of this would've happened. She needed to talk to someone else—someone who wasn't Naruto- or her family.
"Does Sakura know about this? Is Itachi involved as well?" she asked, her voice laced with pain.
"Yes." Naruto confirmed.
Hinata closed her eyes tightly, the pain intensifying. "Please, let me see my friend Sakura."
"I'll have Sakura come over here," Naruto assured her, stepping closer to offer a comforting embrace.
But she stopped him, her voice firm. "I want to be alone…"
Naruto felt a sharp pang in his heart at her rejection. He had known the risks of revealing the truth about himself and her family, knowing it could drive her away, and make her resent him for putting her in a situation where she had no choice but to accept her fate. He feared she would hate him forever. Yet, he couldn't help but cling to the hope that one day she'd appreciate his honesty and devotion. He wanted to show her that, despite the sacrifices she'd make by being with him, she would gain far more in return—his unwavering care, protection, and eternal support. He'd be by her side until his last breath, if only she could prove herself loyal to him as well.
He had tried to stay away, believing it would keep her and his men safe, but after yesterday's events, it was clear that fate had chosen a different path for them. He knew this wouldn't be easy, that this would lead to more conflicts and even more violence. But he also knew that he would've rather have her by his side when this would erupt, than not. With that realization, he made up his mind—he would never let her out of his sight again. The need to be near her, to touch her, seemed to be the very thing that would keep him going- making him feel alive and powerful again.
But, for now, he accepted her need for solitude, even if it weighed heavily on his heart.
I'm sorry for keeping you waiting this long for chapter 3, I really hope you enjoy it!
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