Chapter Text
DISCLAIMER
I do not own Naruto and its characters in anyway. They rightfully belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
I also do not earn from any of these! I only write for entertainment hehehehe!
The premise of the story will happen ten months after the Fourth Shinobi War! So they're about 17 years old when all of these happens.
This is my own rendition of how Hinata and Naruto's love story began!
Thank you for reading!
Enjoy! (╥﹏╥)
__________________________________________________________
After a grueling sparring match with her younger sister, Hinata plopped to the bench, catching her breath. She was grimacing while looking at her sweaty purple shirt and dusty ninja pants. She turned to her sister who sat beside her offering her some water.
"You have gotten really strong, Hanabi." Hinata noted as she gulped down the water that gave some relief to her dry throat.
Hanabi blushed at her sister's compliment, coughing to shake off the embarrassment. "I'm still nowhere near your abilities, Onee-sama!" She folded her arms in front of her and gave her sister a disapproving look, her light red kimono crumpling at her action.
Hanabi firmly believes that her elder sister deserves to be the heiress instead of her. But after the war, Hinata pretty much declared to the entire Hyuga clan that she was willing to give the title of heiress to the younger Hyuga. Not everyone was against the idea but after Hinata proved herself during the Fourth Shinobi War, the elders acknowledged her strength and saw her in a different light.
"Oh no! It's almost 4:00 P.M." The blue-haired almost dropped the cup as she stood up from the bench.
Hanabi glanced at her frantic sister and laughed. "Okay, okay. I won't keep you any longer.. You're going to meet with your friends, right?" Hinata smiled and nodded at the brown-haired teen. Hanabi noticed her sister's habit of fiddling her fingers, a sign that she was either nervous or excited.
"Yes, you're right. In fact, I'm going to tell them about the invitation I got from the Village of Hana." She announced as she clipped her hair behind her ears.
Hanabi felt the rush of disappointment run through her chest. Hinata instantly saw how her sister sighed at her remarks.
"I'll be gone for just two months, Hanabi. I'll be back right before you know it."
"I know, I know! It's just that, after the war and all.. I just.. I just don't want you to be so far away for that long." Hinata bit her lip in agreement. The longest she's been away because of a mission after the war was about two weeks. And she remembered how much Hanabi cried when she came home that time. The war and Neji's death really changed her and her younger sister.
The kunoichi then wrapped her arms around her pouting sister and gave her a peck on the forehead.
"You understand why I need to leave, right? This.. this is a great opportunity for us to know and learn more about where our mother came from. I was really happy when Father told us that the head of the Atsushi clan wanted me to come. I've always wanted to know more about Mother and how she became the woman she was.. So I'm really looking forward to this journey. And believe me Hanabi, I wanted you to come with me, but Father insisted that you still have a lot to study about our clan's history."
Upon hearing her sister's words, Hanabi hugged her. Unlike her, she doesn't have any memories with her late mother. The only image she has of her is from Hinata and Hiashi's stories and tales.
"And now that you're our clan's heiress, I'm going to do my best to help you. I know this journey will surely come in handy as we reach our dream to change the Hyuga clan." Hanabi tried her best to smile as she pulled away from the embrace. She clearly didn't want her sister to go but she knows it was the right thing to do. Their clan indeed has still a long way to go.
"I understand Nee-sama. I'm always going to support your decisions every step of the way! But.. aren't you headed somewhere?"
Hinata gasped and immediately ran inside the house earning a huge grin from Hanabi. She was proud of her sister's newly cultivated confidence. But deep down, the teen knew it was all thanks to Naruto's handiwork. I probably need to treat him the next time I see him!
As soon as she reached her room, Hinata quickly took a warm shower to alleviate the sore on her body after all the training she did with her sister. She wasn't kidding when she said that she had gotten really strong. The bruises on her arms were enough proof of that. After a few minutes, she dried her waist-long blue hair and decided to wear a lavender sweater and a long white skirt.
The Hyuga then went inside the dojo to bid goodbye to her father and Hanabi. She couldn't help but shake her head when she was greeted by the two of them who were still training. Her father just gave her a nod and Hanabi a wide grin. Like father, like daughter.
Hinata excitedly walked out of the compound to meet her friends. She was really looking forward to see all of them after so long. Especially, Naruto. I hope I'm not too late! The pale-eyed ninja whispered to herself as she walked briskly towards the barbecue restaurant they frequently ate.
It's been ten months since the war ended, but for Hinata and her comrades, life wasn't any better. They lost significant amount of lives and the nightmares that the war has brought to them was something that time could only mend. This heavily affected Hinata who lost her cousin Neji in front of her. Eventhough they started off on bad note, Neji became one of the few people who valued and believed in her strength when their entire clan shunned her.
Neji-niisan.. I wish you were still here with me.. With us.. These were the words that Hinata religiously tell herself eversince that day. Though she knew Neji wouldn't be too happy with that, she couldn't stop but think of how things would've turned out if he was still alive.
Hinata came back to reality when the restaurant was already in view. Before opening the door, she fixed herself and took deep breaths. She made it on time, somehow. She heard Kiba and Naruto bragging about their finishing moves from their respective missions. The young Hyuga couldn't help but smile as she heard Naruto's always so lively and cheerful voice.
As she slid the door open, everyone turned to see her, acknowledging her presence. Her cheeks started to feel warm when she promptly locked eyes with Naruto. Many things have occured but Hinata still wasn't used to the blonde. Despite her efforts during and after the war, she was still having troubles maintaining her cool around him. She then shifted her gaze to Sakura and then slowly walked towards their table.
"G-good afternoon everyone. I'm sorry for making all of you wait." Hinata greeted and clasped her hands to hide her anxiousness. Sakura and Ino softly shook their head telling her that it was okay.
"Don't worry Hinata-san! It's not too long since everyone arrived." The booming voice of Lee immediately took Hinata out of her reverie making Tenten roll her eyes at her thicked brow teammate who was showcasing his signature thumbs up and grin.
Hinata then noticed Ino waving at her wanting the Hyuga to sit beside her and Sakura. She then walked shortly to where the pink-haired and blonde was and sat between them. "Ugh... Your skin looks amazing as always Hinata! You know what, you should definitely tell us what makeup you're using!" Hinata cupped her face as Ino's words made her blush profusely. She really didn't think her skin was that amazing. In fact, the three other kunoichi's skin was better than hers.
"I-I really don't wear any kinds of makeup, Ino-chan but my sister makes me a-apply some moisturizer daily though I still forget s-sometimes." Hinata did not manage to stop her stuttering. She disliked this kind of attention especially when the topic came about physical appearances.
This conversation however caught the attention of everyone and eyed the blushing Hinata. The Hyuga jolted as she felt that she was being stared at. She started to feel conscious about her face knowing that Naruto was also staring at her. She remotely regretted not putting on something on her face, until the Uzumaki spoke.
"You should really follow Hinata, Sakura-chan! Look, she's pretty without even using it any of it! You always put on tons of makeup but I don't really see any big changes, ya know?" Naruto squinted his eyes and looked at Sakura and Hinata as if comparing the two.
Shikamaru smirked at Naruto's remarks which popped up some veins on Sakura, Ino and Tenten. Hinata however, reddened at his comment which made her heart began to thump loudly. M-me? P-pretty? Did Naruto-kun really mean that?
"I agree with Naruto. Why you ask? It's because -" Shino's comment was stopped when Kiba covered his mouth. The Inuzuka pointed at the three kunoichi who was about to explode. The last thing they want is for Sakura to cause a ruckus inside the restaurant.
"Come on guys! Let's not talk about makeup! I'm hungry!" Kiba and Shikamaru looked at Choji and mouthed 'thanks' for stopping the developing feud. Ino gave them a glare but just huffed her annoyance. No matter how insensitive the boys were, she didn't want to ruin this night.
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan, Ino-chan, Tenten-chan. They just don't understand girls that much. But I genuinely think that the three of you are beautiful with or without any makeup." Hinata uttered the words enough for the three of them to hear and gave them a soothing smile. The kunoichis nodded at her feeling more confident and pacified with her words. Hinata was their go-to person whenever they all needed some uplifting. Her sincere words would always reach their core enabling their moods to change in just a snap.
Fortunately, the food managed to show up just right on time changing the atmosphere awhile ago into an air full of laughter and banters. It was mostly Naruto, Lee, and Kiba that did all the talking but that didn't matter to them. It has been too long since they gathered together like this just to catch up and relax. Choji just kept on munching, Shikamaru and Sai talking in a language only the both of them knows, Shino in his own world, and the kunoichis talking about beauty products.
However, Hinata wasn't paying mind to their talk. She couldn't help but stare and smile at the blonde who kept on talking even though his mouth was still full. After the war, there were talks about how he's going to become the next Hokage. However, Tsunade and Kakashi believed that he still needs to learn a lot of things in order to become one. Since then, he was assigned to missions ranging from D-rank to S-rank in order to gain more experience as a shinobi. Aside from that, Naruto needed to face the harsh realities that the war has done to smaller villages in order to grasp the responsibilities that comes with becoming the Hokage. She knew he would be bound to be busy and she was truly happy that he made time to see them.
"Hinata, as far as I can remember, you're the one who wanted for all of us to come tonight. Did you have anything to say to us?" Shikamaru's voice caught the attention of everyone and made Hinata flinch. Slowly, each pair of eyes landed on her. They really thought Hinata just wanted to hang out with them. It never crossed the group's mind that she was going to announce something.
I totally forgot about that! She mentally slapped herself as she recalled the reason why she was here in the first place. Shikamaru gave her a reassuring nod. The Nara being one of the Hokage's assistant was already aware of what she's about to say since he was there when Hinata and her father talked to Kakashi.
Everyone around the table gave a confusing look towards Shikamaru and Hinata. Naruto raised her brows clearly uncomfortable with the shared looks between the two. But importantly, he felt like he was about to hear something bad. The Hyuga then took this time to inhale deeply before speaking. Everyone was quiet except Choji who still kept on gnawing the barbecued meat.
"U-um yes. Last week, I was invited by the Atsushi clan to go to the Village of Hana.. If you're not familiar of the clan and the place, um, it's where my late mother came from." Hinata gave them a warm smile. No one really knew about her mother except their clan and the higher ranking leaders in Konoha. She was glad to finally share a part of her life to her friends.
Everyone's silence turned into gasps of awe. Hinata's mother was a mystery to them. Even if they ask their parents, all they're going to give was her name.
"I have heard of the place. The reason is that, Aburame clan usually comes there to train our bugs since the area is vast and the flowers are rich in nutrients for the insects." Shino made his presence known which startled Naruto. Kiba was trying his best not to laugh at his glaring teammate. Hinata nodded at Shino's notion. She was always amazed with her teammate's awareness and knowledge to a lot of things despite his unnoticeable... semblance.
"When are you leaving? And for how long?" The Hyuga was surprised at Sai's sudden query. She wasn't particularly close with him but she knows he's been a good friend to Sakura and Naruto. The rest of her friends seemed to have the same question as they patiently waited for her to answer.
"Oh that.. Um, I'll be leaving next week and I'm going to stay at the village for a good two months." Hinata looked down as she spew the last words. She tried to look at her teammates but immediately looked down again when she saw Kiba jump at her answer clearly not happy.
Sakura, Ino, and Tenten had their brows furrowed. Shino was calm but Hinata could feel his aura starting to gloom. Sai, Shikamaru, Lee, and Choji just gave a nod.
Naruto was also standing beside Kiba with his mouth wide open, blue eyes seeking answers. He couldn't quite explain what he was feeling but he sure was surprised. I knew it! I knew something was off!
"Two months?! That's like, too long for a visit!" Ino broke the silence and put a hand on Hinata's shoulder. After the war, they haven't been away from the village for more than two weeks. Kakashi knew how traumatizing the war has been for anyone which made him decide to lessen their missions that took too long in order for them to spend more time with their families especially now that they've attained peace. But now, they just couldn't believe that Hinata was going to leave them for two months!
"Ino's right!! Did Kakashi-sensei approve of it already? If not we can talk to him about it and-" Naruto almost stepped on the table but was quickly stopped by Shikamaru who was now rolling his eyes at the two blondes.
"Ino, Naruto. At least listen to her reasons first. You're making a big deal out of this. How troublesome.." Hinata slightly blushed at Naruto's reaction but quickly snapped as she saw Shikamaru gave his full attention back to her. Kiba was about to speak but hesitated, agreeing with the Nara's point of view. Hinata cleared her throat to continue. She tightly gripped her hands to hide her nervousness. She briefly stole a glance at Naruto but immediately regretted when she saw his concerned face. She tried to give her attention at Kiba who gave her a smile showing his bright canines in return. Shino on the other hand just kept his stoic face, focused entirely on her.
"M-my father kept his connection with my mother's clan even after her death... But it wasn't until last year that my father opened up about the Atsushi clan. Otou-sama said that they have been asking for my presence in the village for so long, but since a lot of things happened, it was always held off. I have always wanted to learn about my mother's heritage.. That's why I'm really looking forward to this." Although two months is indeed long, she didn't want to pass this opportunity. She looked down and closed her eyes preparing for the lecturing and lashing out. She hoped that everyone was going to support her and not scold her for her decision to go. But the only thing she heard was Lee's loud wailing. She opened her eyes to see the rest of them giving her a soft smile, bobbing their heads with what she said. They couldn't utter a single word of protest after hearing Hinata explain the reason why she needed to go. Sure, they were concerned for her well-being and safety but she's also Hinata Hyuga. One of the strongest kunoichi in Konoha.
"T-that's nice Hinata, ya know?" The blonde's voice enveloped the silence and slowly sat down taking in every information. He was truly happy for Hinata but something inside his chest was restless.
The Hyuga looked at him and smiled shyly. Of course, she just imagined things! Naruto-kun was just being himself. He's always concerned for everyone. He's really kind... Though she won't be seeing her favorite Uzumaki for two months, Hinata believes that this was a chance for her to prove her growth to everyone, and to maybe, discover her own path.
It's been more than a year since Hinata confessed to the blonde and eventhough he still have to respond, Hinata didn't want to expect anything from him. She didn't want to force him. Even so, she was happy with where her relationship with him now. She shifted her gaze to the Nara who was sitting across her.
"It's also good to note that the Atsushi clan is known for their amazing leadership style. Their teachings and ways are believed to be fair and just no matter how sticky the situation gets. Hiashi-san also told us that kindness was the clan's main weapon and strength. That's why Hokage-sama allowed her to go into this journey. He believes that what Hinata will garner from there will be essential not only for the Hyuga but for Konoha as well." Hinata felt the comfort wash over her when Shikamaru spoke again and smiled at him. Being with the Hokage most of the time, he now understands that sometimes things should be done in diplomacy in order to preserve the peace they have just acquired. He also doesn't want to get into some troublesome war again.
"I feel the same way Shikamaru-kun.. I want to change our clan for the better. Some elders still desires to impose the Caged Bird Seal to the branch family but I don't want that anymore.. That's why.. that's why I'll do my best in this journey! What I'm going to learn.. I'm going to teach them to Hanabi.. And we'll stop imposing that seal to anyone, forever." Everyone's faces blanched upon hearing the Caged Bird Seal, as they remembered Neji. Hinata felt Sakura's warm hand on top of hers. She turned to see everyone trying to give her a smile. Although Shino's face was hidden, she knew that he was happy just like the Inuzuka who was beaming so brightly.
Hinata was one who enjoys solitude. And getting so used to being alone as a kid, she always believed she couldn't have friends. But here she was, surrounded by the warmth of people who accepted her and sharing nothing but pure happiness.
"Okay!!! Now that Hinata is going on a very special mission, I'm also going to train harder! I'm not going to lose to you Hinata! When you come back, you know damn well that Shino and I will definitely be stronger! So you definitely need to do your best, okay?!" Kiba raised his fist as if he was challenging someone into a fight. His voice was loud enough to catch the attention of other customers. Hinata giggled at him but quickly nodded in agreement. Kiba's way of supporting his teammates is somehow unconventional; it's simply pushing each other to their limits and always encouraging them to do their best no matter how unfavorable the condition gets. Nevertheless, it's rather effective in the case of Team 8. Shino slid his glasses up as way of agreeing to Kiba's statement.
"Since we're celebrating Hinata's journey, does this mean that we get to order meat again?" Each of one them looked at Choji before bursting into a raucous laughter. Hinata immediately thought about Neji and how blissful this moment would've been if he was still here.
Unbeknownst to all of them, Naruto was feeling dejected at Hinata's news. Eventhough he knows that it's just temporary and she'll be back, something inside him couldn't shake the foreign feeling off his chest. Was it worry? Concern? Yes, he was concerned. But he was still not sure. He couldn't determine this sensation. Something doesn't feel right. The orange ninja glanced at Hinata who was now talking with Lee and Sakura. His gaze however dropped at the slight bruises on her pale arms as she pulled her sweater up. She must be training so hard. Naruto then took a deep breath and smiled genuinely. Maybe it's the effects of the war making him overthink. This has been in fact the first time since then that someone in their circle was sent out for too long. NO! This isn't the time to feel depressed! That's right.. I need to support Hinata!
After catching a glimpse of her again, Naruto settled down and continued to eat, grinning like a child. After everything that happened to them, he was now able to come to terms with the fact that this was a time for them to grow up and start figuring out their lives. They're not the brats that still needed to be spoon fed anymore, they are their own person now. I'm not going to be the one who clips their wings, ya know! Because we never give up. Never.
The night continued with them cackling as they reminisced fond memories of the past. They certainly needed this. They have become so busy for the past months as they repaired the village and in addition to that, helping small neighboring villages that were affected by war.
When it was already 8:00 P.M. everyone decided to go home since most of them had missions the next day. Kiba and Shino offered to walk Hinata home, in which she gladly accepted. The Hyuga could practically feel the happiness oozing out of her body. She was really glad that the day ended on a high note. Although Hinata wanted to talk to Naruto more during that night, she didn't try push any of her luck. Seeing him and hearing his laugh was more than enough for her. Beggars can't be choosers, right?
As they bid each other goodbye, Naruto looked back at Team 8, specifically, the kunoichi in between the two guys.
Two months without Hinata huh? She can take care of herself! She's super strong anyways so there's no need for me to worry! Despite saying that to himself, something still doesn't sit right with him. But he still couldn't put that feeling into words.
Was it maybe because he ate too much meat? Or was his gut feeling warning him about something bad to happen? As he started pacing towards his apartment, an anxious smile limned on his face.
__________________________________________________________
On the village near the border of the Earth country, everyone was in a festive mood since word came that the daughter of Honoka will be coming in less than a week. They couldn't wait to finally meet her but most of all, they couldn't wait to show her around the village.
But, it wasn't just auspiciousness and smiles that was waiting for Hinata.
A looming threat was also expecting her.
I shall take your head, soon.. Hinata Hyuga..
__________________________________________________________
Hi! It's me! This is my first time writing a fanfiction and I really, really hoped you enjoyed the first chapter! I've been on a Naruto high for the past couple of months which led me to create this story! This is my version of how Naruto and Hinata fell in love with each other ♡
At first, I wanted this story to be purely romance but I also really wanted to create a story about Hinata's mother. I always believed that Hinata's kind nature and personality came from her mother which made me create the Atsushi clan. (｡T ω T｡)
Although I wanted to create a moment for Naruto and Hinata, I wanted to slow down the pace since I want Naruto's character to stay the same. It'd be weird if he realizes he likes Hinata just because she's leaving, right? And also, he's a blockhead kekekeke ( ◡‿◡ )
Please do comment if you have any suggestions or criticisms, I'd appreciate it, really!
Thank you so much!