Chapter Text
“Y’know, maybe we should’ve sent a partner with her...or something.”
Kakashi looks up from his book with a questionable look on his face. It made sense for his sensei to look at him that way. He’s not even sure why he’s suggesting it now.
Just seconds after she left out the door.
“Are you implying that she needs assistance on delivering a scroll? That she can’t do this on her own?”
“What? No way!”
“Well then...are you implying that you should’ve gone with her?”
He looks at his sensei unhappily. Of course that’s not what he meant. That’s not what he meant at all. There were just some concerns...which totally had nothing to do with her strength! He knew what Hinata was capable of. He knew of her strength and abilities. Hinata will be just fine.
It’s just that-
“With everything going on and stuff...with the mystery thefts and everything, maybe we should’ve taken precautions, y’know.”
He watched his sensei put his book down in thought, but the action made him worry even more. It made something in his gut clench and his nerves unwire.
Did Kakahsi-sensei even think this through?
Isn’t this the main priority of a Hokage... to be extra alert about stuff? Shouldn’t he have suggested this sooner? Why didn’t he do so?
That wasn’t very Hokage of him. What would have Gaara done? Or the other Kages?
He deeply sighs. It's getting to his head now.
Because as soon as she stepped out...as soon as her retreating form was replaced with two wooden doors...his smile automatically dropped. He knew he was being unfair about this, but Hinata’s safety came first.
She’ll be fine. You’re overreacting. Everything’s gonna be fine.
Yeah, he shouldn’t stress over anything. Because she’s fine.
But then again...
Maybe he should’ve gone with her. Not because he doubted her skill. But only to scout more information.
Yeah. Only to gather more intel. Nothing else.
Then again, he could be thinking about this all wrong. Being all pessimistic and stuff. Which wasn’t like him at all. And it bothered Naruto to think like this.
Hinata can take care of herself.
She’ll be fine. It’s okay. Everything’s fine.
For fuck’s sake she literally just stepped out the door.
He feels like a loser for being this way.
“Well, considering that there hasn’t been any physical contact with the perpetrators, the council and I came up with many assumptions. One claim being that the suspects are dangerous, which is a given, considering that they were able to sneak the scrolls from under our noses. It’s truly nonsensical to think about. Konoha has some of the finest sensory ninja and it baffles me that this was able to happen…” Kakashi trails off, his black eyes looking distant.
“So I'm right then…” Naruto mutters, his gut feeling more uneasy than before. Immediately his mind trails back to pessimist thoughts. He just couldn’t help himself.
“Yes and no,” Kakashi sighs as he sits up on the loveseat straighter, closing his book. “You have to realize that not all solo missions are going to be safe, Naruto. You should know this. It could be as low as a D rank, and then-”
“Yeah I know. Something- anything could happen.”
Kakashi nods. “As of right now, there are no imminent threats. It’s a problem we’re dealing with inside of Konoha, nowhere else.”
“But what about the messengers that were shot down?”
“They were shot down not too far from us. They haven’t even reached the borders of Fire country. Hence the heightened security over there as well, because…ah” Kakashi sighs irritably, “the daimyō are on my ass about it.” He then looks at him through narrowed eyes. “Why are you so upset anyway?”
Naruto would've been affronted if he wasn’t so taken back by his question.
When he didn't answer, Kakashi continued, “You weren’t this cautious about Sasuke, who's been gone for over a year and a half. And when Sakura gets sent on solo missions, you were never this attentive either. What’s up, Naruto?” he spurs the last remark for whatever reason he couldn’t fathom.
Like he knows something.
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at here, but if you’re saying that I think Hinata is weak-”
“I wasn’t implying that at all,” Kakashi interjects smoothly while leaning back in his seat, his book now in his lap and his arms crossed.
Tch. “Then what ?” Naruto mutters, confused as to where the masked man was going with this.
He was never quick to comprehend things. And Kakashi’s long silence, along with seemingly knowing eyes, wasn't helping his case. In fact, it made matters all the more confusing.
After a long pause of aggravating silence, his sensei finally speaks up.
“...You ever stop running in that rambunctious mind of yours and think to yourself, ‘ why am I feeling this way towards a certain someone ?’ Does it ever cross your mind to, I don't know, let's say...evaluate your feelings more?”
Naruto gives him a flat look. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Kakashi heaves a sigh, staring up into the ceiling. “I guess I’m not really suited for these kinds of talks with you, huh?”
“Um, probably not? I guess? I dunno.”
“Perhaps I’m not. Okay then, I’ll be blunt with you this time. Since no other technique seems to work with you in a conversation.”
...Was that an insult?
Hmm. Sounds like it, kid. Unfortunately it speaks volume on your conversing skills.
Kurama-
“Naruto.”
“Huh- what? I’m listening.”
“Right. Is Hinata’s mission affecting you because you have feelings for her?”
Naruto pauses. He leans back, swiveling like a bored child in the Hokage’s seat.
....why would he ask me that?
It's like he pried into your head and saw those dreams you’ve been having recently. Game recognize game, I fear...considering that horrid book collection of his…
You’re not helping.
Hmm, maybe ‘perv recognize perv’ is more suitable.
I swear to-
“ Are you still not understanding, Naruto?”
He looks up to catch Kakashi’s concerned look.
Naruto shakes his head, cutting off his connection with Kurama. “...I care for her if that’s what you’re asking.”
“No, Naruto. Do you have feelings for her?”
He automatically frowns. He’s positive that this has nothing to do with the problem at large. So why was he asking? This is probably another one of Kakashi-sensei’s fantasies that he obsesses over. Maybe he should hide those books for a little while...they’re getting to the old man’s head. “Why does this matter to you?”
“Just curious,” Kakshi shrugs. “I like to know what’s going on with my student’s personal lives.”
Rolling his eyes, the blond sighs tiredly, “I don’t know...I...deeply care about her, y’know? Those are feelings , right?”
Of course those were feelings. But these were feelings he’d prefer to not voice aloud. It seems as if Kakshi had other ideas, though.
“Well, yes, those are feelings. But I think deep down you know what I’m talking about Naruto. You may be a little dense, but you’re not that dense. You’re capable of comprehending a simple topic such as feelings. You’ve done so before.”
Naruto huffs and flickers his glance towards the door. The door she left out in.
To him it’s not just a simple topic. It never was, especially when it came to her. He likes her. More than he would admit. But it’s not like that. At least he thinks it's not. She’s always so nice to him, and kind and gentle and patient. She doesn’t call him stupid or dense or some other shabby insult. She was just...Hinata. He likes to think that the word ‘comfort’ personified would be Hinata, because that’s what she was to him, or anyone for that matter. Soft, quiet, gentle and soothing, - everything that he wasn’t.
Just thinking about her in this way was warming his gut. And as scary as it was, he didn’t want to push the feeling away. She was starting to captivate him with...whatever it was she had. And this confused him so much. Why was she starting to affect him this way? Should he be feeling this way-
“You know what? Maybe I’m prying too much.” He watches Kakashi stand and make his way over to him. He places a hand on Naruto’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, “You look stressed. Care for some ramen?”
As if on cue, his stomach grumbles, and Naruto gives a sheepish grin. The mention of ramen makes all worries dissipate into thin air. “Yeah...yeah that sounds great…by the way, where did you get that love seat from?”
“It was a gift given to me off the set of the film adaptation for Icha Icha Paradise.” Kakashi muses as they head toward the door.
Huh.
Naruto could’ve sworn he’s seen that movie before…
Wait-
Oh no.
Naruto points an accusing finger at Kakashi, and he just knows that under that mask there's a smug look on his stupid face.
“Kakashi-sensei you…you perv!…There was a sex scene on that couch!”
“Is there any particular reason on why you remember there being a sex scene on that couch?”
In the realm of his mind, he can feel Kurama shaking his head.
What did I tell you? Perv recognizes perv…
=====
His eyes were still shut from sleep when his nostrils flared to a certain smell.
It instantly woke him up. One crusted eye peered open and the room’s ceiling slowly came into view.
Slowly, he tries to wake himself up as he lays there perplexed with the smell of something delicious filling his nose.
It smelled good. Really good. The kind of good that left his taste buds longing for a taste.
Since when did breakfast cook itself? Better yet, how was it cooking itself?
He scrunched his nose, taking in the smell some more.
A melange of seasonings and spices swirled perfectly in the air.
It then dawned on him that someone was probably in his apartment.
Oh.
Somebody’s in my apartment!
He instantly jolted out of his comforter, getting all tangled in his sheets until he crashed onto his floor like a clumsy goof.
Stumbling out of his room in a foggy sleepy state, he followed the mysterious smell into his kitchen. He stops at the entrance and his cerulean blue eyes awake at the scene before him.
There she stands with her front facing his stove. A pink apron tied around the curve of her waist as he carefully watches her movements.
He stares at her in awe and his feet move on their own.
I’m not in control here.
The closer he gets to her, the more sweaty his palms feel. Her movements were so elegant and graceful and all she did was flick a spatula. The soft hum of her voice is like smooth silk in his ears.
An angel, she was. Cooking him breakfast.
Rather confused, he walks until he’s standing behind her, peeking over her shoulder onto the stove. Her hands moved from left and right like magic; stirring the rice here, seasoning the eggs there. The miso soup on the back right burner was cooked to perfection and its warm smell made his stomach growl in hunger.
And was that… chocolate chip pancakes?
He hears a soft chuckle escape her lips.
“You slept in late, again.”
Yeah.
Yeah. He did sleep in late again. He does that pretty often.
She would know, right?
He feels a little creepy, standing behind her like this. But the feeling goes away as she tilts her head ever so slightly, her hair swaying with the movement in an elegant manner. Her hair is so pretty. It was like looking into space but without the stars. The color of her hair matching a perfect void. And yeah, it probably made no sense but he didn’t care. It made sense to him.
She doesn't turn around to meet him, but he wants her to. He hears her say something again but his mind is somewhere else. He’s too busy examining her midnight hair and how it cascaded down her back, hiding her delicate curves.
Curves that he shouldn’t be thinking about.
He can smell her wonderful vanilla scent and it melts his insides to butter. He suddenly has the urge to bring his lips to the skin of her neck, to let his tongue escape the confines of his mouth and see if she tastes as wonderful as she smells.
His hand moves on its own. He steps into her personal space, his bandaged fingers moving her hair until the bareness of her neck shows, and he lowers his lips until they graze the surface of her skin, her sweet smell intoxicating…the crevice of her neck inviting…
And each time a dream starts going there, he automatically wakes up. It's kind of similar to the dreams where he dies in, like falling from a high distance and meeting the ground with full force- readily accepting his deadly fate that he had zero control of. Only for him to wake up a second later.
This dream just so happened to be the case.
And of course it had to be about Hinata as soon as she left. About her and her good smelling food. About her and her soft skin. Her soothing voice and her midnight hair.
But it's whatever. Because it’s not real .
So what if he had dreams about Hinata in general? Sue him. She’s attractive and he’s a guy .
Of course he’s going to dream of the opposite sex, it’s not like it was his fault anyway. It’s the hormones and all that other stuff thats fucking with his body, filling his head with thoughts of her . So really, him dreaming about Hinata wasn’t a big deal.
Just like the perv that he was, this is how he excuses himself. It’s pathetic. He fucking knows.
And this wasn’t his first time dreaming about her either. He’s dreamt of her here and there, her randomly popping up in his dreams like the rest of his friends.
But strangely, only Hinata pops up in these types of dreams. No one else.
Which was… weird because… he couldn’t understand why it was only Hinata. So many girls to dream about and his mind decided to target the most innocent one. What he wants to do to her is horrific. He’s not even sure if he can look her in the eye when she returns.
(He’s exaggerating. He’s going to be all over her when she comes back.)
They weren’t all perverted dreams. Some of them were actually quite nice. They were just...odd. And weirdly realistic. Sometimes they would eat ramen together. Other times they’re in his apartment and she’s cooking some type of meal for him.
And if he’s being honest, there were no complaints coming from his mouth.
It then made him think of Kakashi’s words which still made zero fucking sense to him.
“...He told you to ‘evaluate your feelings?’” Sai looks at him, eyes narrowed in thought.
“Yeah, like that makes any sense!”
At Sai’s place, the living room was bright, with sunbeams shining through the curtains that gave the room a warm glow. It smelled of dried acrylic paint and old pages of timeless books. A fresh vase of flowers with a note sat on the coffee stand next to his couch. Used and fresh canvases were either piled up or scattered throughout the place, and indeed, Naruto thought, the place was unapologetically Sai.
He sat there on his teammate’s couch scanning through a book. The title of the book sounded like something he was looking for:
Understanding Emotional Intelligence .
Would books even help him understand these weird dreams? Oh man, what if it doesn't!? He’s about to find out.
“This is so dumb,” he mumbles, skipping through the pages, “I wasn’t an emotionally repressed kid at all!”
“Your anxiety and mild depression says otherwise.”
“Shut up Sai. And who said I was depressed? Matter of fact, gimme another book. This one’s stupid.”
“I bet you didn’t even read a full sentence,” Sai smiles knowingly, already handing him another book. He looks at the title.
What’s beneath the surface of your heart.
He rolls his eyes. Whatever the fuck that means. It sounded so cringe too…like something pervy-sage would title his works. He tosses the book to the side, crossing his arms. “Oh c’mon, there’s gotta be a book somewhere with a title that screams ‘evaluating my feelings.’ You basically own every book in the world about human emotions. So come on. Give me something good.”
Sai nods, looking through his shelf for the right book. “Why are you searching for a book about your emotions, anyway? Isn’t that how you operate already? You are an emotionally driven person.”
Naruto scoffs. “I get that. But I need something that’s gonna put my feelings in like, y’know” he tries to rake his brain for the right words, gesturing his thoughts with his hands “...depth?”
Sai nods, examining a book in his hands. “Again, why are you searching for a book on emotions?”
He sighs at his teammate, leaning back on the couch. “I told you already!” He rubs his eyes tiredly seeing black dots.
“Sure, but can you pinpoint the exact reason?”
He sinks into the softness of the couch, his headache was growing, and his blue eyes examined the tiniest of cracks in the beige ceiling above.
“Naruto?”
He really doesn’t want to say it. It would be too embarrassing. He continues to count the cracks.
“Naruto.”
“Hinata went on a mission. I was upset about it, and like, out of nowhere Kakashi-Sensei asked me if I had feelings for her.” He blurts out.
“Well, do you?”
Fire sparks in his chest at the question. He throws his head back, eyes closing in distress. “Gods, not you too.”
The pale shinobi shrugs. “It's a simple question. Yes or no?”
“Sai, can you get me another book?”
“What's wrong with the one beside you?”
“It sucks.”
“You know, you didn’t deny it- your feelings for her,” He can hear Sai saying in the background. “I’m happy for you and this new chapter in your life. Pun intended. And trying to understand these feelings that you have for her more in depth.”
Was that really...what this was? He feels himself heating up, warmth expanding through his veins.
He reels in about the possibilities, his chest tightening, but it all comes to a halt. These feelings were probably his hormones...attraction...the female body.. .and Hinata’s body -
His mind immediately strays down that lane- the ‘I didn’t mind the touching part, okay’- lane. And it’s not a good lane to take a trip through.
He shakes his head.
See? Attraction. Only attraction. And he doesn’t want to disrespect her like that. She’s a really nice friend. But…
Could it be anything more-
Could it ever be something more.
“No Sai...it’s different with her. Not in the way that you and Kakashi-sensei are thinking.”
“How is it any different from what Sensei and I are thinking? You’re not providing enough details.”
“I don’t wanna give you details.” Naruto mumbles.
“Ah, so you want to keep your crush a secret?”
“Wha- it’s not a crush! Hinata and I are friends- Okay? And- dude stop looking at me like that!”
Sai nods seemingly in thought as he heads over to the couch to hand him another book. He takes it, eyeing its properties. It was dark blue with a yellow, rustic look to its pages. An oldie, no doubt. There was no title on it either, which urged Naruto even more to scan through it. Flipping through the pages at random, he decides that maybe he can give this one a try. Maybe he can prove to Kakashi that he’s capable of understanding feelings, that he is a mature being with full comprehension skills and some other mature stuff.
He feels Sai sits next to him on the couch. He peeks up- he’s wearing that creepy smile again.
“...What?”
“So, is Hinata the girl you were thinking about that time in the woods? You know, when we were on that mission? You had this stupid look on your face-”
Heat flames his cheeks and chest all at once. “ No !”
Forgetting about the book, he bends forward and closes his eyes in embarrassment. Again, Sai never fails to surprise him with his blunt nature.
“Uh…well, what I meant to say was... I... y’know…”
“Did you pick up that stuttering habit from her as well?”
He darts a glare at Sai. What more can he even say?
Rolling his eyes, he stands up, stretching his arms and back. “ No, I didn't pick up her old stuttering habit. She doesn’t even stutter anymore, by the way. Only when she's nervous or something.”
“Of course you would know that.”
“Whatever.” He moves across the room towards the shelves, eyeing the massive book collection. “You heard about that meeting with the Hyuga clan elders that’s coming up?”
“I have. I think sensei mentioned that one of their documents from their clan library is missing. It contained old sealing techniques. That’s all the details that were spared.”
“That’s so weird,” Naruto ponders, “How the hell do you sneak into a compound full of people who can literally see through walls?”
“Apparently there was no chakra signature traced. It's almost as if some ghost was just prowling around and swept the scroll right under their noses.”
Pause -
“...ghosts?”
Sai ignores him, “More Hyuga jonin are put on night patrol. Kiba told me they sent out parts of his clan in hopes of picking up a foriegn scent.”
“They can’t keep getting away with this.” Just thinking about it is starting to piss him off.
“Looks like they already have. A new scroll turns up missing every few days now. Their patterns are inconsistent, so we’ll never know their next move.”
“What do you think they're planning on doing?”
“I’m not sure.”
Whatever’s going on means something bigger is gonna happen. It always started like this. Smaller events leading up to a catastrophe.
He needs to find a way in that meeting.
“I’m leaving.”
“You have everything you need?” Sai calls from behind.
“Yep,” he walks over and picks up the book. “See you soon.”
He can just picture that sneaky little smile on his stupid pale face. This probably looks even more pathetic than his dreams.
Just for that, he left the former root member’s front door wide open. Just to be petty.
=====
She was supposed to be here by now.
And yet, she wasn’t.
A week and three days have passed and there was still no sign of her.
And it was normal for things like this to happen. Some shinobi don’t complete their missions on time.
But this was a simple mission.
Surely she would’ve returned by now, and if not, then earlier.
Shinobi come back a day or two later all the time. It’s nothing to stress over. Whether it be due to climate or they stopped by a nearby village. It could be nothing.
And yet...
There’s a fidgeting sensation in his fingers, and he keeps the feeling at bay by keeping himself busy. Distracting himself from thoughts that are not worth the brain power.
Just why does he want her to come back to him so quickly?
Is this weird? No..it's not weird . His feelings for her are not weird.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a friend’s quick return.
He compliments himself for not mentally freaking out like the first time when she left. He came to his senses then, realizing that stressing wasn’t doing him any good. It never did, anyway.
“Naruto-Senpai! Come on already!”
“Are you ready now?”
“Quit sulking senpai. You’ll develop clinical depression. Trust me, you don’t want that.”
He sighs, running a hand through his freshly cut hair. The kids are right. He probably looks like a total loser sulking right in front of them on some lonely ass bench. It was a nice but chilly day today and the sound of autumn leaves crunching beneath the children's feet hit him right in the feels.
The academy has always been a nostalgic sight to him. That stupid swing too. It forever will be.
He takes a deep breath before clasping his hands together, making sure to put on a bright smile. “Okay, back to sparring lessons everyone!”
The children around him all cheer with high squeals as they step into their stances. All eyes are on him now.
Once he was finally done with the lessons, he ventures off on school grounds to look for Shino.
He finds him in a vacant classroom. For some reason, Kiba was here too.
He strides over to them with hands in his pockets.
Shino’s facial expressions look indifferent, so he couldn’t really tell what the bug user was thinking. He had a checklist in his hand that he was looking over.
But Kiba on the other hand...he looks alert. Slit irises deep in thought. He didn’t even think the mutt was capable of that nowadays.
“What's up with you?” He asks, but he doesn’t get a response.
His gaze shifts over back to Shino, and sure enough, there was something that he missed. His jaw was clenched. It's a small detail that would go unnoticed, but it was big enough for the bug user. Gods . He was always missing something with this guy.
He looks towards Kiba and tries again. “Why are you here?”
“Shino needed help with sorting classrooms. Not enough jonin around anyway and there's limited staff today. That’s why I’m here.”
Naruto was going to respond but the door bursts open, and in walks the last person he wanted to see. He had a few boxes in his grungy hands and Naruto inwardly shuddered at the sight of his golden eyes.
Eyes like amber , Hinata would say. This makes him all the more unsettled.
Why is he even here?
“Oi! Those boxes are yours, right Shino?” Kiba notions towards the guy.
Creepy eyes walk towards a desk, nodding his head in gesture. “Oh hey, I’m just dropping these off.”
Kiba goes back to brooding, cocking his head towards the desks. “Yeah. You can sit them down over there, and that should be it…”
Naruto watches creepy eyes set the boxes neatly on the desk, still confused on why he was here. The guy then shakes off his grimey hands, turning to make direct eye contact with him. His eyes shine bright with memory.
He seemed a little hesitant at first, which was weird to Naruto, until he asked the question.
“So ah, any word on Hinata-san?”
Tch.
Of course he would want to know when she was coming back.
From his periphery, Kiba’s head snapped in the guy’s direction.
He notes the way Kiba’s brow raises, how his slit eyes narrow in curiosity. “Nope. Why, you lookin’ for her or something?”
“Well- I mean..yes- but no at the same time,” He chuckles nervously.
Naruto scoffs.
He clearly was if he’s asking about her.
Yellow eyes inhales a deep breath, as if he was uncertain about something, “I’m just curious…and honestly? I’m worried.” He shrugs, looking back and forth between Kiba and Shino.
Naruto watches the way Kiba analyzes him with his arms crossed for a second before he shrugs it off, “Worried? Yeah no. Hinata can take care of herself. Plus it's the Sand. The Kazekage is a freaking teddy bear that adores blondie over here.” Kiba points a thumb at him. “I can guarantee you, she’s fine.”
Naruto rolls his eyes. If Kiba knew Gaara at all, then he would know that describing him as a teddy bear was that last thing to-
“Let me rephrase. I just find it weird… ”
All eyes turn to the stranger in the room
“...That I'm the only one who's concerned for her wellbeing.”
He could feel the hairs on his neck raising from the sudden shift in mood. The building frustration in his throat burns fire as he tries to keep his mouth shut. He doesn’t want to start anything. He’s better than that.
He’s mature now. A nineteen year old male.
But Gods he really feels like punching someone right now.
Because of course he cared for Hinata and her wellbeing. He went practically insane for sending her alone at a time like this. So who the hell was he to announce something like that?
The weirdo raises his hands in caution with an innocent look on his face. He’s looking Naruto straight in the eye again, and he tries his best to even his breathing. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. I’m just saying, any shinobi back in my old village gone for more than the time given means trouble…I just thought that her comrades would show more concern?”
“We do things a little differently around here,” Naruto says calmly in an attempt to stretch his patience. “We don’t doubt our comrades' strength. That’s just our ninja way.”
Yellow eyes smiles enigmatically. “Well then, reconsider your ninja way. Don’t take it the wrong way, I’m only speaking from experience. That type of wishful thinking only gives false hope.”
Both of his fists are clenched and he’s ready. He’s absolutely ready . It was probably a good thing that Kiba stepped beside him.
“We haven’t introduced ourselves yet.” Kiba leans an arm on Naruto’s shoulder, probably to keep him in place. “The name’s Kiba.”
Yellow eyes clenches his jaw before answering. “Kaito.”
Kaito. Kaito. Kaito.
This time he’s not forgetting any names.
It irked him that Kiba was being somewhat civil with this guy. As if Kaito didn’t just ridicule everyone here about Hinata.
The people that are closest to her.
“Look, I don’t know your history with Hinata and how close you guys are, but just know that whatever relationship you have with her doesn’t begin to compare with the one she has with us.” Kiba , and Naruto is only going to admit it once- the Inuzuka said it better than the angry mess Naruto was gonna say.
Naruto feels two pats on his shoulder. “Just know this. If anything bad did happen to Hinata, we would be the first ones out there to help her. So I suggest you worry about yourself and go worry about some more boxes that need moving, capeesh?”
He watches Kaito flicker his gaze between him and Kiba. “I see.” Is all the guy says as he drags a hand through his wavy dark hair. “I’ll see you fella’s around.”
When Kaito’s retreating form finally leaves the room, Kiba cocked his head in gesture. “Who the hell is that? And what does he know about Hinata?”
“Some guy she’s been hanging with,” Naruto shrugs as he makes his way towards the window sill and sits on it.
Both members of team eight turn to look at him.
The room goes quiet. But only for a second.
“What ?”
There it is. Naruto bites inside his cheek. This oughta be good.
Kiba grimaces, looking at the door he left out in.
“Yep,” he pops his p , casually leaning against the window. He fully intends on bringing her teammates along the hate train.
“Wha- She never even cared to tell us!” The Inuzuka sputters, throwing an incredulous look at Shino as if he were some madman.
Naruto smirks. He knew about it though.
Though now that he thought about it… would she have told me if I never saw them at Ichirakus?
The uppity feeling he had burnt out quickly like a dying light. She probably kept a lot of things from him that he didn’t know about.
And now, like the sensitive idiot he was, he sits there with a growing frown on his face the more he listens to Kiba’s rambling.
“How long has she been seeing this dude?”
“I dunno.”
“How long have you known!?”
“Not long.” Naruto sighs.
Kiba grumbles and turns away, busying himself by toying with the boxes on the desk. “When she gets back, we’re interrogating her. There’s no way I’m gonna let this slide. He seems like a dick,” he grumbles.
“Maybe she has her reasons.” Shino, like the reasonable guy he was, pitches in.
“ Tch . Yeah right. Hinata tells us everything,” Kiba stresses. “Her having a new guy to crush on is just-”
“Wait wait wait , hold on a sec- what do you mean a ‘new guy to crush on?’” Naruto quickly interjects.
“What's it to you?” Kiba just as quickly shoots back, slit eyes narrowing in what appears to be suspicion.
The blond mentally scolds himself for coming on too strongly. “Nothin,” he shrugs idly, eyeing the plotted plants that sat next to him on the sill with a newfound fascination, hoping to play it off. He’s too much of a loser to do it casually though.
Shino looks up from his clipboard. “It doesn’t matter, Naruto. Why? Because it’s none of your business.”
Naruto scoffs . Rude . “Aww c'mon’ guys...I just wanna know! Me and Hinata are friends! Close friends too. Did I ever tell you guys we both have a love for plants? We’re very much alike- Oi - Dont look at me like that! She just never told me she had crushes, is all.”
“Maybe because the two of you aren’t close enough.” Kiba says unhelpfully.
Naruto frowns. What’s with them? “We’re close!”
“Keep telling yourself that!”
“We are!”
“Are not!”
“Are too!”
“I’d like to cut in that-”
“Shut up Shino!”
He honestly couldn’t believe it. “Okay, okay- hold on a second. Hinata has a crush?”
Hinata? A crush?! Those two words didn’t even belong in the same sentence!
“Had , Naruto. Had. And hopefully it stays that way,” The beast tamer rolls his eyes, his tone picking up a distasteful manner. “It's been a long day. I’m gonna head out and get a drink.”
He walks towards the door before looking back at Shino. “You coming with? We can always finish unpacking tomorrow.”
“I might stay and unpack the first few boxes, but only for a little while.” Came Shino’s reply.
Kiba turns to Naruto, “And you?”
“I might stay back too. Just to help.”
He knows he’s getting weird looks between the two, because they both know that he never turns down a night out for a little fun, but he doesn’t care. He needed to get his mind off of her. Distract himself with boring shit that wasn’t her. Yellow ey- Kaito’s words got him thinking the type of thoughts that left his insides with an empty feeling. And he didn’t like that. Especially since it was about her.
Kiba shrugs before heading out. “Suit yourself.”
=====
When Naruto enters the gates of Konaha, he deeply inhales, happy to be home. Having returned from his mission, he was ready to get his debriefing over with. Consume ten bowls of ramen at Ichiraku's. Take a nice long shower. All that good stuff.
Walking in the Hokage tower, he silently hops towards the Hokage's office.
He's in a good mood, because Hinata had to return by now. There's no way that she wouldn't have.
At the doors, he decides to wait a bit. He can hear the talking on the other side. So he waits a bit, counting the seconds until the door suddenly opens besides him.
From the side, he watches 3 ANBU head out.
Now he can barge in.
“Hey Kakashi-sensei! I’m back from my...mission…”
All he took was one step. As soon as he fully entered the room, he could already feel the inexplicable tension. Silence desecrated the air around him as all eyes landed on him.
The stony look on their faces was enough to stop him in his tracks.
This… feeling that he felt. It was familiar. Unwelcoming in his book, but familiar . Their stares made him feel like an outsider trespassing onto foreign land. The stillness in the room is unnerving and reminded him of painful memories, like that time the passing of Pervy-sage was announced, when nothing but only a double orange popsicle could let the tears escape.
An abnormally quiet Kiba and tense Shino sat on the couch. The hard crease of their eyebrows and the dejected look on Kiba’s face was enough to irk his heightened senses.
An unusually tense Shikamaru kept his face forward. He appeared to be waiting for a word from the Hokage. But Kakashi doesn't say anything, his eyes are hard and locked on Naruto’s.
“I’m sorry for…barging in...again,” Naruto breaks the silence, walking closer until he is standing in front of the desk.
He wanted someone to say something. Anything. But only silence ensued.
It’s eerily quiet. A little too quiet for his liking. And the atmosphere before him… it told him that something was seriously wrong .
Something tells him that he’s not the cause of their distress. Kakashi didn’t scold him for barging in. A snide remark never came from Shikamaru. Team eight didn’t even react to his entrance, they just sat there silently, not even batting an eye…
Suddenly, everything clicks.
It was like suffering from memory loss, and then regaining all of your memories in one hit. And the impact of that hit, the pressure from that force…
Team eight.
The anbu walking out.
He wasn’t the brightest when it came to figuring things out, but it wasn’t hard to piece two and two together.
Hinata.
Everything feels heavier. The weight of it all, it pulls him down even further than before.
“We’ve just received word from the Sand,” Kakashi says, no doubt sensing the shift in Naruto. Black eyes take in his blue ones warily. “Hinata never made it to Suna.”
The warmth of his blood automatically turned cold.
“In two days will mark week two of her disappearance.”
Week two.
Two weeks-
She’s been missing for two weeks. Ever since she left Konoha.
He can already feel it. This… hollow feeling. The kind that drains whatever spark that was left inside of him. The kind that bleeds one dry.
Sick. He felt sick . Thickness clogs his throat. The shaking in his body had already started.
He called it. He fucking called it.
He was the one to let her walk out that door.
He was the one who let her get away.
He hung his head low. Low enough to drown out the unbearable silence that the atmosphere was holding. It felt so thick and heavy that it became the most prominent thing in the room.
They were waiting on him to say something. He can feel the eyes on him, stripping away his stupid attempt of a mask.
“We have anbu in place, you’ve just gotten back from a mission. Leave this to us, Naruto.” Shikamaru says calmly.
“No.” He responds automatically, feeling like a ticking time bomb. He’s going to explode at any second. “Kakashi sensei. I told you…”
“I know.” He responds readily, his gaze focused elsewhere. “You can join the search if you want.”
He didn’t waste anymore time.
=====
Naruto spent days looking for her.
But her chakra signature just wasn’t there. Kiba and Shino joined the endless search with him some days. Other times, they went out on their own.
It’s been three days, and there was still nothing.
Nothing.
Multiple times, that excruciating thought would come up. That maybe she wasn't among them anymore.
But he refuses to believe it. She was probably trapped somewhere, or maybe she was kidnapped and being held captive.
But he never gave up when it came to his friends. Especially his closest comrades.
=====
Frantic, urgent knocking woke him out of his peaceful, dreamless sleep.
He groans, burying himself further in his covers. Whoever the fuck it was can go away.
He feels himself drifting again, when the knocking repeats, and he can feel the anger already testing his nerves. Whatever it was, he was not in the mood. Day and night he’s been desperately searching for a chakra signature that couldn’t be found. His muscles feel worn, his will to continue searching for it, for her , fading.
He doesn’t want to give up. Hell, he wouldn’t be sleeping right now if Kakashi hadn’t told him to lay off.
So he did.
And now, after thirty-six hours of endless searching, he knocked out on his bed and for the first time in a
Begrudgingly, he gets out of bed. He’s mad as fuck, tired as fuck, and sore as fuck. That's not one, but three fucks that he will forever despise.
His mind foggy with sleep, he trudges his way towards his front door, silently cursing whoever it was that woke him up at three in the morning.
But the words die in his mouth at the sight of her.
And it all felt too sudden when it happened.
Like out of nowhere Sasuke’s chidori slapping the shit out of him. No warnings. But a powerful slap to the face. That type of sudden.
Yet he didn’t react. He just stood there, staring at the strange expression on her pale face as wide lavender eyes stared back into his own. Her wet bangs clung to her forehead like a second skin, and from his periphery, the falling raindrops sliding against her womanly form only invigorated his senses.
He holds his breath, eyes blinking away the mist of sleep. He was on full alert.
Hinata Hyuga. Declared missing and possibly a rogue ninja. Maybe even dead . Now standing in the rain at his doorstep with strange eyes. It’s three AM.
There was a brief, unspoken moment that settled between them. Just the distant sound of clattering rain accompanying the swallowing silence.
And perhaps maybe, the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It wasn't the typical, quiet silence that made him feel so painfully alone days on end.
No…
This type of silence…it was loud.
It screamed and yelled and shouted all of the things he wanted to say. They were on the tip of his tongue, on the edge of his taste buds. But nothing came out. So the silence spoke for him, and it was loud and stung his heart with venom. It polluted the air between them and intoxicated his already swollen heart. He thinks it could burst at any moment now.
Here she was, right in front of him after being gone for three weeks , in all of her majestic glory that is Hinata. And he doesn’t know what to do, not sure what to think.
She looks the same, just like how she left, and all he wants to do is just grab her and hold her close.
He wants to.
And without much thought, his hands were already grabbing her shoulders, shoving her body into his rather roughly, pulling her into the warmth of his home. She’s drenched and cold and smells solely of the rain, but he doesn't care because she’s here , safe in his arms. Safe in his warmth.
He’s nuzzling his head into her hair as he pulls her impossibly closer. He’s breathless. He can’t think straight. Coherency forgotten. And it’s strange because he always knew what to say. But apparently all it took was a wet Hygua to appear on his doorstep at three in the morning to shut him up.
He’s holding her tightly, his arms hugging her body with unforgiving strength.
“...I-I...you...”
See? Incoherent.
“...Hinata...w-where…” he chokes out, feeling his throat burn from overwhelming emotion. Tears begin to flow unwillingly from his eyes.
He can feel her hands find their way to his back, caressing his bare back. His muscles tense at the sensation. He doesn’t know whether to smile or cry even harder. She’s back. She’s finally back. The amount of relief overstimulated his nerves. Heat begins to expand in his chest.
He holds her for a little longer, briefly wondering if this is a dream or not. His dreams...they usually don't feel this real. They were never this vivid . He feels in control. So this...it was undeniably real.
It had to be.
He pulls back just enough to catch her face again, to remind himself that she was really here. That what he’s seeing is real .
He hates himself for crying in front of her. It makes him feel uncool. Pathetic even.
But when her head lifts up and they lock eyes, he doesn’t feel so pathetic anymore. He freezes, slightly unnerved. He’s still holding her when she reaches for his face, the pad of her thumb skidding across his wet cheeks, wiping away stray tears that escaped. He closes his eyes at the feeling.
She was always so gentle with him. So, incredibly gentle .
The way she is able to comfort him with the warmest eyes, the way her soft voice unknowingly caressed his senses without even trying. Sometimes he wonders about that, how she’s able to do that so effortlessly.
He sighs, pulling her closer to his body once again. He rests his chin on her head and closes his eyes.
The way her body perfectly fits into his, like two puzzle pieces connecting together, it made him want to hold her forever. He can feel the tears brimming his eyes once again.
Her soothing voice interrupts his thoughts. “I... I came to you first.”
He could feel his heart hammering in his chest, the heat in his veins expanding.
Hinata coming to him first instead of her family? Isn’t that taboo or something? Fuck , he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know how that family stuff works.
But that didn’t matter, because she came to him first. Him . She wanted to see him, out of everyone in the village…
He’s flattered that she came to him first. It was rather...strange, and he can feel the confusion seeping into the cracks of his happiness. Why would she do that?
He decides not to dwell on it. Because knowing that she came to him first was making him feel special...a little giddy even-
Pay attention.
Right.
Finally trusting himself enough to speak, he takes a deep breath, trying to put his thoughts into words. “...Hinata,” he looks into her eyes, “We’ve missed you. I missed you. What happened to you- are you hurt?” The questions came pouring out of his mouth. He draws back from her, checking over her form for any sign of injuries.
His hands are back on her shoulders as his eyes trails over her. Her uniform seemed to be in good shape...no tears or anything. He doesn’t see any blood either. In fact, nothing about her seemed out of place, which concerned him a little bit.
He’s grateful that she’s uninjured, really. But she’s been missing for three weeks, and any shinobi that came back from a mission almost always had some type of marks on them, big or small, that indicated they came back from a mission. So why did she look so...normal?
“I’m sorry.”
He pauses. “What? Why are you sorry? Why are you here instead of the Compound? Better yet, why aren't you at the hospital?!” He's looking at her like she was a patient who walked straight out of a mental asylum.
Why was she apologizing? If anything, he should be the one apologizing for letting her leave his sight.
Her hands leave his chest, sliding around until they meet behind his back, and she was the one to pull him into a tighter hug.
She’s never hugged him like this before. And he feels good. Really good.
He feels elevated. Practically floating and stuff. Because Hinata was safe in his arms, and that’s all that mattered to him.
“Naruto-kun, I wanted to see you…”
He’s so happy. So, so happy. Hinata was here in his arms and now he has the sudden urge to kick the Elder’s asses and yell a big fuck you into thier faces. He bites his cheeck from smiling too hard.
He’s holding her so tightly that he worries for a moment that he’s suffocating her, but he can feel her. All of her. She’s real, and she’s really here. And that means they can tell the village.
“...Only you.”
If anything they shouldn’t be doing this right now, embracing one another with apparent longing. They should be alerting Kakashi so he could fix everything! Maybe they can even get Hiashi on their side-
Wait.
Naruto blinks. “What?”
He draws back from her a little to catch a glimpse of her face. She peers up at him with those eyes of hers, and the look is unfamiliar to him. Once again, it was strange . Her creamy skin was aglow from the dimmed moon rays peeking through the curtains of his living room window. He’s just now realizing how close their faces are.
“Tonight...I came to see you, and only you.”
Oh.
He knows what she meant. He knows exactly what she meant. But the way she was looking at him told him something different. The soft lilt of her voice tantalizes his hormones in a way that scares him because he knows for a fact that he shouldn’t be thinking of Hinata in that way.
She’s too nice and innocent and pure and more importantly-
She’s only a friend .
Then again, it’s late. So he blames this weird feeling on the lack of sleep. Stress too.
He slowly removes his hands, retracting them from her body. He looks at her questioningly, patiently, wanting her to elaborate on her confession.
“...You told me that you missed me,” she looks at the ground. She looked…sad. Hesitant. Pulling away to hold herself as if she were trying to hide away from his gaze.
“I did say that,” he replies rather dumbly, looking at the ground in thought. But he counters thoughtfully, “I know Hinata, and I do! I'm so serious when I tell you that I missed you! I’ve been searching for you, me and your teammates, and-”
“Did you miss me the way that I missed you?”
He looks at her again, not understanding. “Hinata I told you already that I missed you…”
She cracks a smile at him, shaking her head with closed eyes. “That’s not what I meant.”
She took a step forward. He took a step back.
“You’re walking away from me…but why?” she looked at him with confused but seemingly knowing eyes.
“...I don’t..know.”
She started walking him backwards.
Her steps were slow and predatory. Yet her lavender eyes were entrancing. The subtle sway of her hips reminded him just how much of a woman Hinata was, and it formed sparks in chest. He could feel the heat rise to his cheeks as he continued to trek back.
“Hinata…w-wait a sec..” he staggers, trying to catch his breath. He’s confused. But somehow everything’s clear. Tired but awake. He stumbles, the back of his legs hitting the couch. And then he falls onto the soft cushions.
She stops right in front of him, staring down at him with that strange expression that makes his chest tighten. Looking up at her now towering form, he feels insignificantly small. Vulnerable .
“...what are you doing?” It was a question never answered.
But when her pale, dainty hands landed on his shoulders, the question was entirely forgotten. He gaped up at her, completely flushed. Said hands slowly made their way downwards, feeling over his arms, the pad of her fingers feathering lightly over his muscles. He stilled at her touch, his body not moving an inch. His nerves were frozen, yet he felt hot all over. His chest was ablaze. His cheeks were burning. He felt himself not breathing anymore.
He watches her now lidded eyes, the strange look only intensifying.
There’s this inkling in his gut that he knows. He knows what’s happening. And he should probably stop this. Stop her .
But he doesn’t. Because deep down in the caverns of his heart, he’s into it. He’s so deep into her . Her and her lovely scent. Her and her kindness. Her and that womanly physicality that sends his heart racing.
So yeah, he doesn’t stop her. Instead, he sits there, letting her feel up and down his arms. He watches her step even closer to him, watches the way her pretty lips part after she licks them.
And then she does the unthinkable.
Her eyes are still on his when she climbs on top of him, carefully positioning herself in his lap, and he forces his back into the backrest of the couch to create some type of space between them.
Her hands were on him again, now feeling up and down his bare chest. It felt so good that he struggled to hide the moan that escaped his lips.
With every caress he felt himself grow harder, the warmth of her touches flowing steadily to his dick.
He knew he couldn’t control the increasing arousal. She was hot, and this was hot. He was practically burning up.
He strictly kept his hands to his sides. He didn’t want to touch her. But it was getting harder and harder to restrain himself. Her touch was electrifying. The look in her eyes was maddening, and it was enough to push his senses off a cliff.
But this...this was wrong .
What he’s thinking about doing to her- he knows he shouldn’t do.
It was wrong. He needed to stop this.
But when she leaned closer into him, he could feel the warmth of her breath on his cheek making its way to the shell of his ear. By now he’s certain she picked up his heavy breaths.
He couldn’t help the whimper that escaped his mouth as she shifted in his lap. And he can feel her smirk in response, her hands circling around his neck. Her breath fanning his cheek was enticing. The final straw being her shift slightly forward, his manhood brushing against what felt like her core.
He couldn‘t take it anymore. And in a blink of an eye, everything disappeared.
When he woke up, the first thing he noticed was his hard on. And he wanted to punch himself until the last thing he saw was black.
Because why .
Why, why, why , did he even dream about that?
It was...it was wrong.
Very, very wrong.
He would never take advantage of Hinata in that way, even if she came on to him. She would never do... that . For sure he knows. And even if she did, he doubts it would be a guy like him. What he dreamed about...it was wrong. Sinful. It was inappropriate, especially at a time like this. He felt horrible. Incredibly guilty. Shameful.
He doesn’t deserve a friend like Hinata. All she was is innocence, and yet here he was, dreaming of her and his sinful desires.
Desire?
No.
no no no no-
That’s not what he meant. Shit- that’s not what this feeling was.
He sits up and deeply sighs, wiping away the sweat on his forehead.
She’s missing, and he dreamed of doing shameful things to her like the shitty friend that he was. He could never forgive himself for this- fuck, he thinks this an all time low.
Because Hinata, out of all the women in the world, had to be the victim of such...such….
Pervy needs .
He needs to forget about it. The dream meant nothing. Nothing .
He needs to focus on what's important. Like finding Hinata and settling shit with her annoying ass grandpas.
But his hormones were telling him otherwise.
Everything that he dreamed, all of the emotions that he felt with her- they weren’t real. And they never will be. He’s a fucking adult for crying out loud. He’s not like that anymore. He doesn't dream of girls and doing Gods know what to them. He’s new and improved.
It's okay , he comforts himself. The most important thing in the world right now is finding Hinata.
His stupid hormones can go die in a hole somewhere.
=====
Old people shouldn’t be running things.
Naruto knows this by a long shot.
For one, they’re old. Their brains are probably fried from decades worth of roaming this earth.
And so what if they’re “wise?”
Traditional and narrow minded people who are stuck in their generational realm are total assholes.
Also, they can just …really suck sometimes. This meeting alone proves it.
Somehow he didn’t need to harass Kakashi to let him in this meeting. His sensei knew what was coming if he didn’t.
The conference room consisted of non-old heads like Kakashi, Shikamaru and him. However, everyone else? They kissed their youth goodbye ages ago.
“The girl is missing and there is nothing we can do about it. No chakra signature has been identified within the last two weeks. From the information given, this leaves us with two possibilities.”
Naruto pointedly looked at his sensei, not wanting to hear any more of this. But Lord sixth paid him no mind. He looked tense, and mostly tired. The dark circles gave him a dead look.
Some of the Hyuga elders are here, bestowing upon possibilities as if they were satisfied. Part of the council are here as well. Hell, he’s surprised they’re (not dead) still here.
Hiashi Hygua stood out the most to him, straight and tall.
He’s an old head too, but he’s a weird one- Naruto just can’t put his tongue on it.
“The first possibility is obviously death.”
His knuckles immediately tightened at the words, his right leg beginning to tremble underneath the table.
“The second possibility is that she ran away.”
He’s biting his cheek now in an attempt to stay calm.
See? Old heads.
Specifically, old traditional heads. Never thinking outside that box of a brain.
He’s practically glaring daggers in the old man’s lavender eyes. Because she wouldn’t do that. She would've told him that she was gonna ditch him, and everyone else that loved her just the same.
She would’ve told me. She’d tell me. If not Kiba or Shino, if not her family, then at least me.
“...Perhaps even gone rogue.”
His fist smacks the table, and before he could stop himself his legs are already standing, his chest feeling unusually tight.
“She wouldn’t do that!”
“Naruto, sit down-”
“ No ! She didn’t- she wouldn’t run away from…from us! She wouldn't do that to Konoha”
The entire room was staring at him as if he lost his mind.
And he briefly feels like an outsider who didn’t belong here. Somehow it made him even angrier. Because deep down, Nartuo knew his outburst wasn’t protocol. It made him seem like a kid in a room full of adults.
He knew that this was gonna cost him a setback on his training because it’s inappropriate.
Unprofessional. Distasteful for the old heads.
The council shakes their heads in disapproval. Hiashi closes his eyes tightly. The elder remains the only one staring at him in silence, and Naruto knows that look.
Nobody else knew that look but him. It has been years since people looked at him in that way. Not since he defeated Pain. The look is so precise that Naruto can practically see the hatred through the elder’s eyes. It used to make his skin crawl- that look in his eyes. Though not anymore.
Now, it has a different effect on him. Pure anger replaces the sad feeling that was left.
He watches the frown on the old man’s face deepen amongst the waves of wrinkles on his forehead. The tension between them is palpable. He could sense the uneasiness in the room, and from his periphery, the side glances that were thrown left and right.
The Hyuga elder clears his throat. “Are you saying the first possibility is more likely?”
“I’m saying that it’s impossible for her to have gone rogue,” Naruto says sharply.
Was the elder trying to patronize him? Is this what this was?
Shikamaru speaks up for the first time this evening making eye contact with him. “Naruto, you need to calm down .”
From his voice alone Naruto could tell that the shadow user’s patience was thinning. But he doesn't care. His patience already dissipated into thin air.
He ignores him, turning to Hiahsi. “You don’t believe him right? We all know that Hinata, your daughter , would never think about betraying Konaha!” The heat in his chest rapidly expanded from trying to plead with the Hyuga leader.
Hiashi nodded, looking critically at the Hokage. “I assure you that my daughter is the least qualified shinobi to be involved in this situation.”
Kakashi nods agreeably.
“Are you sure about that?” The elder speaks up.
Everyone in the room went still.
Kakashi and Shikamaru stare at the elder in disbelief. Even Hiahsi, stone cold egocentric stupid Hiahshi, was staring at the elder with slightly raised brows. Nothing too visible, yet it was still a reaction.
The elder continued, “At the Hyuga clan library, an act of theft was committed not too long ago. The perpetrator left no trace of their presence; not even a chakra signature. The girl matches all of the traits of the thief. She was ordered to report the current situation of Konoha to the Sand, but she has not returned. The ANBU, as well as the sensors of the jonin, are unable to track her chakra and locate her whereabouts. It can be inferred that she is perhaps working with the perpetrators, using inside tactics to acquire the scrolls needed. Given her credibility as a Hyuga and firstborn to Hiashi, she would have never been a suspect-”
“That's bullshit!”
Kakshi sighs tiedly, pinching the bridge of his nose. The council looks at him with wide eyes. Shikamaru closes his own, shaking his head disapprovingly. “Naruto-”
“I’m rather interested in what the future Hokage has to say.” The elder cuts Shikamaru off, eyeing Naruto in disdain. Fuck he’s really starting to hate this guy. “Tell me this, jinjuriki , since you adamantly insist that the girl is not dead, what are your reasons for opposing my accusations? Why should my claim be invalid, and yours feasible?”
“Because you’re saying all this crap without any proof! On top of that, everyone here knows that Hinata would never betray Konoha! Think about it, this is Hinata we’re talking about, she’d never do such a thing to the people she cares so deeply about!”
“Which is exactly why she should be considered as a suspect.” The elder turns to Hiashi, “A couple of weeks prior during one of the clan meetings, her ridiculous outburst demonstrated her radical views as opposed to the Hygua order. Furthermore the girl is an ex-heiress of the clan. This would be a rational incentive for her to get back at the clan for her demotion.”
The elder looks at everyone in the room. He turns to Naruto, then shifts his gaze towards Hiashi, occasionally flickering his gaze towards Kakashi. Naruto eyes the interaction critically.
There has to be something going on here.
The elder speaks, “I trust that you, as her father, and Lord Sixth, as part of the collective team of Konoha eleven, are aware of what’s at stake here and that neither of you will cloud your judgment based on any relations that you have with her.”
“Indeed I will look into the matter,” Hiashi starts with an even tone. “However, she is still my daughter. The only priority I’m concerned about is finding her.”
Naruto couldn’t believe his own ears. This was stupid. Just plain dumb to him. He turns towards the elder. “I will find her. I won’t accuse her of theft because she’s not guilty of it! You’re a liar and probably have something against her! Hiashi, tell me you don’t believe a word that old man is saying!”
Surprisingly, Hiashi doesn’t say a word, nor does he spare him a glance. He looked tense and distant, his jaw clenched in a way that looked painful.
The elder looks at Naruto dead in the eye.
“I’m not saying we should lock the girl up. However, assuming she returns alive, it would only be reasonable to suspect her of treason.”