A/N: Alright, we are back. Welcome to the latest chapter of One Year Early. Well, what to do here, we missed the schedule in March. I sincerely apologize for these continuous irregularities, IRL stuff keeps coming up and messing the publishing schedules. I am sorry, I can only say that I will keep trying to keep up with the monthly schedule of my fics.
Now, back to the story we are going some more fluff as everyone's favourite couple starts living together, as they were permitted to in the last chapter. Today, they finalize their living arrangement? How does it go? Read on to find out. I really like NaruHina fluff, I can never have enough of it to be honest.
CHAPTER 19: LIVING TOGETHER…
Nara household, Konoha
"What was that!?" The matriarch of the Nara clan snapped. "Are you honestly saying say that Naruto and Hinata are going to live in his apartment!?"
Shikaku sighed. "Well, yeah…"
"Have you seen that apartment!? Either the landlord is embezzling or can't be bothered to actually fix that entire complex! Either way, criminally incompetent but no one deals with it because its inconvenient and not a pain enough to justify trying to fix. That's before you get to the apartment itself. It's basically a bachelor pad, barely big enough for one person, nothing else needs to be said. So…Why didn't you suggest bringing them here?!" Yoshino asked again. She managed to calm down for a few moments before rage exploded back out
"Because I am afraid that there are people in this clan who are still apprehensive towards Naruto. I don't want the boy to feel any discomfort. He's been through a lot already." The Nara clan head argued.
"Well, it's a good thing that they are free to think what they want and keep it to themselves unless they want me to come and beat the living crap out of them. I am cleaning up the house attached to ours. They are moving in!" The Nara matriarch declared.
"Are you sure?" Shikaku asked.
"Do I look like I am uncertain? Get up and help if you don't want to sleep on the couch well into next week…" Yoshino warned.
*Honestly, this relationship might even cross into domestic abuse if Nara men hadn't obtained a well-earned reputation for laziness to such a degree that they might forget to eat or even die of apathy if someone didn't stay on them*
"Troublesome…" Shikaku sighed. No husband ever wanted to be sent to the couch, neither did he. "I am actually afraid that they themselves might not accept. To be honest, I have been contemplating moving the two into the Nara compound ever since I had the team." Shikaku stated in a low voice.
"Do I even need to state the reasons to bring them here? You know them just as well as I do. And those two are still not mature enough to live all by themselves, especially with adults here who can look after them. Kids their age live with their parents, and even if we can't take the place of their parents, this is the least we can do for them." Yoshino stated…with eerie calm.
"You are right. But are you aware that the two have entered a relationship and might actually want some privacy. Though, I am certain that Hinata will ensure that they don't cross any limits before they are of age, but still two young lovers…they might prefer the apartment…"
Yoshino's face adopted an expression that Shikaku knew as 'how (x) do you think I am?' with 'x' being up to five different things. Shikaku wisely pushed that thought from his mind as he didn't want to trigger an extended argument. "Shikaku, you're their sensei, you can order them to move here. Why do you think I would invade their privacy? You don't have to worry about that from my side. Don't you dare mention me not letting you and our son sleep in, you two have jobs that are important and all you can think about is sleeping all day! Back to your genin, these two will need guidance about this new life of theirs."
"And now that we have the chance, you are not going to miss it, are you?" Shikaku asked with a small smile.
"Of course!" Yoshino exclaimed.
"Alright, I'll meet them, I did ask for a team meeting not long from now."
"Fine, go freshen yourself. The breakfast is ready." Yoshino replied.
"Hai hai." Shikaku went towards the bathroom to freshen himself up.
*Sometime later at a training ground, not far from the Nara clan compound*
"Morning sensei." Hinata greeted humbly.
"Morning sensei." Naruto grinned and waved.
"Morning kids… how are you doing Hinata?"
"I am fine… the leg still aches a bit but apart from that, I am alright. I can walk without issue." The Hyuuga girl responded.
"Alright. So, all set to move in with your little boyfriend?" Shikaku asked with a smirk and made the two genin start blushing.
"…Yes…" Hinata replied pressing her index fingers.
"I can't wait, 'ttebayo!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Well, the reason I convened this meeting was originally just a lecture regarding limits but I think you will be fine, but it is my duty to remind you."
"I-I understand sensei…" Hinata said with little bit of embarrassment.
"What are you guys talking about? Hinata's old man also talked about some limits and made me promise that I will respect them and now you?" Naruto questioned with a clueless expression.
Shikaku sighed. 'I might need to give him the 'talk''
"…I will tell you, don't worry, Naruto-kun." Hinata said with a soft smile and bright red cheeks.
'That's new…this ought to be amusing.' The head jonin thought to himself.
"Well, apart from that I was going to say that I was going to help with the move, but well, I have another proposition for the two of you."
"What sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Well, we have a one-story house, right by our own home, it has a bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. Large and equipped enough for two. Should you choose to accept, me and my family will be delighted to host you there." Shikaku proposed.
Naruto and Hinata looked at each other. Well, like Shikaku had earlier postulated, the young lovers were very much looking forward to live at the apartment, just the two of them. But to live in a family, while it would impose some limits, it would also give an environment that they would appreciate.
"Don't worry, you can live as you want. But we will just check upon you from time to time and we would very much like to have your meals with us. Shikamaru will definitely appreciate some new company, though he is all about Shogi and cloud gazing." Shikaku explained.
"It will be an honour sensei." Hinata stated humbly.
"Good, and you Naruto?"
"You know I won't oppose Hina-chan, sensei." The boy stated.
"Of course. Well, then. Let's head over to the Hyuuga compound and have you moved." Shikaku stated.
"Let's go, 'ttebayo!" Naruto said raising his fist in the air.
And everyone left for the Hyuuga compound. Shikaku had also arranged for a horse driven cart to carry the things, which was already waiting at the gates of the Hyuuga compound.
*A little later, Hyuuga compound, Konoha*
Hiashi stood stoically with each hand in the other sleeve of his kimono as he watched his daughter's things being taken out of her room by a number of Narutos.
The Hyuuga clan head was amused seeing the shadow clone jutsu in action in such massive numbers. Hinata only had to direct and the clones carefully collected the things and placed them in the carriage.
Shikaku stood by Hiashi and watched the kids at work.
"I am grateful that you decided to place them in your clan compound." The stoic Hyuuga commented.
"You're welcome. But they will still be living and sleeping together, they insisted on it." Shikaku replied.
Hiashi raised an eyebrow. "You knew exactly how that sounded and said it anyways. Too troublesome to reword it, I presume?"
Shikaku ignored the supposition involving his clan's signature verbal tic and continued. "I repeated your words to Hinata and asked her to make sure of the limits not being crossed at an inappropriate age."
"Hmmm…"
"Naruto shouldn't be a concern. No one stopped to give him the talk."
"Certain factors lead me to believe that is false…considering the rumours of a transformation technique of his." Hiashi commented.
"Well, that's more of a defensive mechanism he developed to save himself from adults that chased him or chastised him. Konoha has its fair share of perverts and he seems to have seen a few trying to emulate what Jiraiya-sama is famous for and has understood that a naked woman is a weakness to most adult males. That's why we have the 'sexy jutsu'. Have to admit though, it can definitely throw quite a number of male enemies off guard."
"I see. Interesting. Well, then my daughter is in your care now, as well as Uzumaki's. I sincerely hope that it is the right decision."
"Well, for what it is worth, I think this is the correct thing to do. You have my word we will look after them." Shikaku affirmed
Hiashi nodded.
Due to the heavy clone labour, the packing and collection of Hinata's things on the cart was done within twenty minutes.
Dispelling the clones, the young lovers came to Hiashi.
"I will be taking my leave then, father." Hinata said bowing down.
Hiashi patted his daughter's head and sighed.
"I sincerely wished that your leaving of this place was under better and happier circumstances rather than for your security. I am sorry. I promise I will mend this clan's ways, no matter how long it takes. I request that you come visit your father and sister once I have fixed our clan."
"I promise father." Hinata said in reassurance.
"Take good care of my daughter, Naruto." He told the whiskered blonde.
"That goes without saying, Hyuuga-sama." Naruto responded with a determined expression.
And the couple began leaving.
To their utter misfortune, they had to pass by Neji who was standing by the gate. Hinata almost winced when she saw her cousin.
"Leaving the clan, Hinata-sama?" Neji asked in an emotionless tone.
'This guy hasn't changed one bit!' Naruto thought in anger and irritation.
"Hai, I hope that with me gone, you will feel more at ease here." Hinata responded looking straight into Neji's eyes.
"Hmph, losers like you don't belong here." Neji said with a scowl on his face.
"Oi, don't you think you're crossing the line here, asshole?" Naruto said with a low growl.
"As if words of utter failures like you have any meaning or weight…" Neji shot back with a smirk.
Naruto clenched his fists but felt Hinata clasping his hand.
"Neji nii-san. I will tolerate any insult you throw at me but not a single derogatory remark towards my Naruto-kun." She then pointed a closed fist at her cousin. "I will get better; I will surpass you and all the Hyuuga and I will best you in combat. This is a promise." She said with total determination.
Neji smirked. "Then I will make sure to shatter that pipe dream of yours and put you in your right place." He said with arrogance and hatred oozing off his face.
"You claim that you hate the old bastards of this clan, but act exactly like them, or even worse. You have become the very thing you claim to despise and oppose. Who's the loser here, asshole? Remove that stick shoved in your ass and see the world for real. You Hyuuga claim to have an all-seeing eye but are the blindest of any people I have seen. Take a promise from me as well. I will beat your ass to a pulp as well for all the mental anguish you have caused to my Hime."
Naruto's words were stressed further when his cerulean eyes changed colour to red with narrow vertical slits.
His rage refused to calm. His mouth moved before anyone could stop: "I heard about your clan situation, asshole. Sounds like you were a loser before you were even born thanks to your father. Maybe you should practice what you preach, and shut the fuck up and quit trying to do anything."
Neji's mouth fell open in a silent scream, a usage of his own words applied to his history that he couldn't refute without being a hypocrite, while staying silent just proved he was a hypocrite anyways.
Hinata made no effort to smooth things over. Just get Naruto away before he started something worse.
The rage finally subsided with Hinata's touch and urging.
At the Nara compound, Naruto and Hinata observed their new home with satisfaction.
And it was when Naruto remembered important.
"Shit! I totally forgot to bring my stuff!" He said in panic. "Shadow clone jutsu!"
10 clones appeared and Naruto ordered them to dash to his apartment and get his belongings. Shikaku also lent the cart used for shifting Hinata's stuff.
And the couple began arranging Hinata's things and the house in general.
Yoshino came to help with arranging things. And the bear hug she gave the two was certainly something refreshing for the two, considering their stressful exit from the Hyuuga compound after their brief encounter with Neji.
"I know that you two want to live together, but promise me that you'll have your meals with us." The Nara matriarch ordered.
"Of course, aunty/Yoshino-sama." Naruto and Hinata immediately responded.
"Good. And Hinata-chan, no need for that 'Yoshino-sama' stuff, too formal and uptight, call me aunty like Naruto-kun does, okay?"
Shikaku secretly suspected that Yoshino was more concerned about being seen as older by sticking to the '-sama' honorific.
He had no proof, and he didn't have the masochism to try to interrogate and push for a confession.
"Hai…"
"And I am really impressed with how skilled you are with homemaking despite being so young." Yoshino praised.
"That's not all, aunty! You should taste her cooking sometime. I guarantee that you'll be licking your fingers!" Naruto exclaimed with a grin.
"Really! In that case, cook for us sometime, Hinata-chan. I really look forward to taste your cooking." Yoshino said smiling with affection.
"T-Thank you. I will try my best not to disappoint…" Hinata said humbly with a slight bow and a pink tint on her cheeks.
It took a while for everything to be set up, under Yoshino's careful supervision, including Naruto's things that his clones rushed in.
Well, Yoshino and Hinata threw off most of Naruto's instant ramen cups as soon as they saw them, for good reasons related to health, as well as his milk packets.
"…Why do you even have these? These are way out of date." Yoshino asked in concern.
"You can't use them past expiration date?" Naruto questioned.
"Naru-kun… No, you can't." Hinata cautioned. "Who told you that you can?" She asked again.
"Well, whatever milk packets or ramen cups the grocery store had for cheap were the ones closest to or almost at that date. I actually asked once asked if it was okay to use it after that. The shopkeeper said that it was." Naruto said pressing his thumb against his chin.
Hinata and Yoshino turned, looked each other in the eye, and sighed.
They had been prepared for active mistreatment of Naruto, but were instead met with what amounted to corporate negligence.
It was disappointing and frustrating. Because the shop keepers were right to a limited extent that it was safe to eat or drink some products after they officially expired…unless it was deli meats, check the date and throw it out if past that.
Milk was harder to excuse because it usually started tasting strange around the expiration date.
"H-Hinata-chan…are you okay…" Naruto asked in concern as he saw his girlfriend with a blank, unimpressed look on her face.
'These people' Hinata was calm on the surface but anybody could say that the sweet lavender eyed girl was…processing.
It would have been easier to deal with active malice towards Naruto in this case, but this was just blatant uncaring towards everyone in the name of making money on product that was about to go bad. There might have been some malice in that the shopkeeper neglected to share with Naruto that it was bad to consume expired product x amount of time past the expiration date, but she couldn't prove it.
She was already frustrated that a particularly radical sect of Konoha were trying to kill her boyfriend, some subtly and others not so subtly, and for no fault of his. And she felt like this was only the tip of the iceberg.
A weaker person might simply give up all hope in the face of these circumstances. Perhaps even internalize that hate.
Some might even just decide its easier to become a cog, a pawn, in the system. To fall prey to that same caustically bitter, all-consuming, and world-weary cynicism that Tsunade herself had before being given something to believe in.
Others might decide to leave over the actions a few small individuals…or even return just to burn it all down.
And the truly misguided might even believe that these are the correct options. That following a revenge craving lunatic who suffers blatant and homicidal instability who wants to burn down the entire system and reset everything to unrestrained anarchy is a better option than trying to reform a somewhat flawed system that suffers most through the bad actors in power.
Naruto wasn't like those people, and those misguided drowned in cynicism might call him a fool or naïve, but its is because they crave him to fall to their level so they don't have to see someone stand up against the odds and prove their worldview incorrect…to see someone that could have been them answer the call and succeed when they themselves had snapped, gave up, or ran away.
"Unbelievable…" Yoshino mumbled in frustration.
"You'll eat what I tell you, okay?" Hinata said as she composed herself.
"Alright, sure." Naruto said rubbing the back of his head. "But why are you so worked up like you want to kill someone?" He asked in concern holding her by her shoulders.
Hinata shook her head. "Idiots being idiots. Either they will learn or keep on being foolish until the consequences come for them. They will prefer what the Hokge would do far more than anything I could think of for hurting what is mine." She said with a serious tone.
Naruto blushed a bit at how Hinata proclaimed him to be hers. "Y-yeah, o-of course, Hime…"
Sometime later, Yoshino left the two to cook lunch with all their stuff set up.
The bed was the last thing the couple were setting up. That was when, Hinata glanced at the two pillows, grabbed one and put it back in the closet.
"H-Hina-chan?" Naruto asked in confusion.
The Hyuuga girl smiled with a little bit of pink cheeks.
"We don't need two pillows." She glanced downwards, towards her chest. "You don't need a pillow, my dear…you have one already." She said with a blush.
Naruto blushed heavily as well, but he grinned through it.
And with that their new home was set and ready for their new life.
The couple went to have lunch with the Naras. Shikamaru by that time had gotten back from the academy as well as the school had a half-day that day.
"How've you been, Shikamaru?" Naruto asked as the three kids had lunch together.
"As usual, nothing too troublesome." Shikamaru replied. "I heard about the mission and Hinata. Sorry it went down like that."
"It's no problem, Shikamaru-kun." Hinata replied humbly.
"Yeah, that's kinda in the past now." Naruto stated. "So, how's everyone in the academy, how are things?"
"Well, you two raised quite a storm passing the way you did and graduating one year early. That's for sure. For me personally, I enjoyed the shocked reactions they had. Have to admit it was quite the surprise." The Nara heir responded.
"Well…dunno what to say to that…" Naruto said as he chewed a meatball.
"Don't worry about it. Though, you shoved it in everyone's faces that you're not the failure that they thought you to be. The day Iruka-sensei announced your passing, everyone had quite the reactions. Especially Sakura and Kiba." Shikamaru stated.
Hinata felt a pang of unease hearing the name of Naruto's old crush.
"Yeah, what did they say?" Naruto asked.
"Couldn't believe that you could pass. And Sakura went on to call Naruto useless, and called my dad 'an apparently lazy and useless sensei.'" Shikamaru replied.
*crack* The boys got startled by the sound of chopsticks breaking and turned to saw that Hinata had snapped the pair of chopsticks she had in her hands.
'Sakura better be careful Better hope she has a better attitude next time or we might get something troublesomely exciting.' Shikamaru thought to himself. "Mom, another pair of chopsticks please." He asked immediately.
"I-I am sorry, I got a little distracted." The Hyuuga apologized.
"It's okay." Shikamaru stated. "Kiba was shocked too as to how you could pass. They calmed down when Iruka-sensei mentioned how you two got to pass by helping with capturing a traitor. Apart from that, we have got two new students in class."
Naruto and Hinata perked up and looked at Shikamaru, who just nodded, "Yeah, a girl named Tamaki. Well, she is a cat trainer and tamer, like the Inuzuka are dog trainers. She even has a feline partner like Kiba's Akamaru. Weird looking cat that's lavender and purple, got tusks and long foreclaws, and those extra stuff seem to drip venom."
"Interesting. How're Kiba and her getting along?" Naruto pried.
"Like cats and dogs of course." Shikamaru said with a small smirk. "But for all intents and purposes, they get along well enough to not be a problem. They bicker like my parents do, but sometimes I get the feeling that Kiba and Tamaki enjoy arguing with each other."
"Cats are really cool, though so are dogs. We have been thinking about having a pet sometime. Maybe we'll meet Tamaki and get tips about training a cat."
"Feel free to. She is quite easy to talk to." Shikamaru replied. "The other one is a pale boy named Sai. He likes to paint, mostly sketch but sometimes he does colour in the sketches, and always has a smile pasted on his face. He makes me feel uneasy…"
"Why?"
"Well, his smile is fake and shallow. And I am pretty sure he has certain hidden agendas. He's downplaying himself and he is far more capable than he lets on. For starters, he was able to beat Sasuke in a recent taijutsu bout. And it was clear to me that he was holding back. Sasuke realized that too and was really pissed off. Besides, Sai is also handsome and garnering his own gang of fangirls. Ino seems like she is turning towards Sai more than Sasuke with time. Gotta be with that one time he called her 'beautiful'."
"Whoa. This Sai guy… beat Sasuke. Gotta makes sure to check my strength with him. Though, I have another asshole I wanna train to beat up, we both actually, so I will think about this Sai after that." Naruto muttered
"Yeah, mom told me about Neji. Anyways, I am keeping an eye on Sai, though he is so subtle that it is impossible to follow him and I am afraid that he knows I am already suspicious of him. And whatever his agenda is, I am sure it's not good."
Naruto and Hinata listened to the explanation attentively. "In that case, while we are in the village, lets try keeping an eye on this Sai, what say Hina-chan?" Naruto asked without letting a hint of it (his regret and self-examination for his verbal reaming of Neji only a few hours earlier) slip out
"Hai."
"But only after you are cleared to run and use chakra." Naruto added.
"Alright, as you wish dear."
"Anyways, do you two know about Shogi?" Shikamaru asked as the meal was almost finished.
"Heard of it, sensei said that he loves this game." Naruto stated.
"Yeah, me too. Well, how about I teach it to you and we play some matches, after lunch?" The Nara boy suggested.
"Sounds like a plan. Let's do that." Naruto said happily and Hinata nodded.
*Meanwhile, a long distance away, in Kusagakure, the village Hidden in the Grass*
Two travellers approached the edges of the small ninja village.
"So, this is Kusagakure…" The taller one, a man stated as he straightened his glasses. "It was a really long trek." He mumbled as he lighted a cigarette. "Do you want to rest for a while or you can continue, Akebi?" He turned and asked the little girl with blonde hair.
"Well, I am hungrier than I am tired, can we look for a place to eat, Dad?" The girl replied.
"Yeah, sure."
And the father and daughter went in search of an eatery.
The daughter smiled as she followed her father and focused in on the symbol of the man who gave her father the resources he needed, in exchange for looking for information through his travels.
A silly image of a toad with the Kanji for 'OIL' engraved on the head, back, and belly.
EN: Yeah, uh, Hinata and Yoshino did a HUGE favor for Naruto by throwing out his instant ramen cups. I actually looked into the nutrition facts about it and that led down a horrifying rabbit hole. Serious health problems and I'm leaving at that. Also expired deli meats…I (GBAboy) have quite a few regrets because of that happening multiple times. The gas, the stomach ache and cramps, and the explosive movements when it starts coming to an end…it is awful. Thankfully I eventually learned to never trust sliced deli meats and always check the date.
I'm sure the pair in the epilogue are of no consequence…(Snigger)…no hint at what is to come.
A/N: Alright, thats a wrap for today. So our favourite lovebirds are now living together as Hinata recovers. The verbal beatdown on Neji, well it might sound a bit un-Naruto, but o well, it is needless to say that he was enraged beyond his wits so yeah...and yeah, gotta say that Neji kinda had those words coming. To take down stubborn ones like him you have to use kick-your-ass no jutsu as well as talk-no-jutsu in conjunction, so that's that.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. And with that, thank you very much for your continued love and support. See ya all in the next chapter.
Cheers and peace. RaNK001 out.