Hey guys, I hope you all read the previous chapter which was a little bit of a rant from me. I had some serious thoughts and concerns that I just had to get out there. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter and please dont forget to check out our new discord! Feel free to come harrass me into writing more! My wife also uses it to post her Love Hinata drawings! Come check it out! The link will be at the bottom of this chapter and the last one as well!

Naruto sighed deeply, part from relief and part from mental exhaustion. The sounds of the girls arguing was being drowned out by the loud gurgling of his urine hitting the water in the toilet. Beki had come down moments after them and had immediately started arguing with Hinata about how her outfit was any worse than what she had been wearing. The conversation quickly devolved from there.

"You can't walk around like that anymore!" Hinata's voice broke the brief peace Naruto had as he finished washing his hands.

Hinata, embarrassed to have been caught in her night-wear, had already gotten fully dressed and was now standing with Beki in her room as the latter went through her closet trying to find acceptable clothes.

"How is a crop top not okay?" Beki barked back. She had already strewn out a pile of outfits that Hinata had rejected. It was getting to be quite irritating. Her boyfriend was back in town for 1 day and now they couldn't be comfortable around the house anymore?

"That top is way too revealing." Hinata replied with crossed arms. Naruto was aghast to see her speak with such finality. She really had changed a lot during these two years.

Beki threw the garment at Hinata, catching her square in the face. "Maybe for you!" Beki shouted pointing at Hinata's breasts. "Some of us don't have giant revealing knockers!"

Hinata almost glared at Beki who was returning the look with ferocity. "Fine. Crop tops are okay. But you have to wear pants!"

Beki gasped. "That's not fair! You know I HATE pants!" Beki genuinely looked like someone had told her that she had lung cancer. "Even on cleaning day?" There was a silent plea in her eyes as she looked at Hinata.

Hinata shook her head.

"But cleaning naked is the smartest thing you can do!" Beki waved her hands flippantly. "You just have to shower when you're done, it's like magic!"

Again, Hinata shook her head.

"Fine! But then you have to wear something under your sweaters! No more free-balling it!"

Hinata dropped her composure and inhaled sharply. "B-B-But!"

Hinata would never openly admit it, but she often skipped wearing a bra around the house. It was far more comfortable to wear a loose shirt or sweater than to strap her chest down all day. She wouldn't be caught dead without one on in public, however. And a small part of her couldn't help admitting that it was easier to clean the house in underwear. She had gotten bleach on several of her favorite sweaters before Beki had finally talked her into it.

"W-Well, maybe on cleaning day…"

Hinata's argument was weakening and Beki could sense it. She pressed forward with a pair of boyish underwear in hand.

"Exactly! We should still be able to wear what we want. These boxers are almost as long as short shorts! And you gotta wear a crop top when it's summer! Have you learned nothing from me?"

Hinata nodded, quietly mulling over Beki's statement. "I guess so… But no more nudity!"

Beki grumbled slightly, but she knew she had to take a hit somewhere. "Ok, fine. I will just take my underwear with me when I shower. Even though it just makes them warm and damp."

Hinata glared slightly and extended her hand. Beki rolled her eyes and grabbed it. The two shook hands for a moment before embracing each other in tight hug.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. They had been bickering for a bit, but now they were hugging? Girls were strange.

"H-Hey, Naruto!" Hinata called out while still in Beki's embrace. The girls quickly broke up and turned to face him. They were quiet for a moment before Hinata suddenly elbowed Beki in the side.

"I'm sorry!" Beki blurted out suddenly. She sent Hinata a hot glare and rubbed her side.

She's sorry? Naruto racked his brain. He had expected them to be mad at him. He was the one who walked in on Beki in the shower after all.

Naruto waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it."

Beki smiled and clapped her hands. "Good. Now that that is over, breakfast time?" She looked over at Hinata who was hardly pleased.

After a moment of silence and Beki's pleading face, Hinata gave in. "Oh, alright." She said with a heavy sigh.

Hinata headed towards the kitchen while pulling up her sleeves. Naruto turned to follow her in, but Beki grabbed his wrist.

"Hey…" Beki's voice was barely above a whisper. It was clear that she didn't want Hinata to overhear her.

Naruto gulped. Her body was very close to his, close enough that he could feel her warm breath on his skin.

"I was thinking about this all last night…" Beki cast her gaze away from him. "I wasn't sure if I should tell you this but… I think it's the right thing to do."

Beki was quiet for a long moment. Naruto could his heartbeat hammering in his ears. Was she confessing?

Beki took a deep breath and steeled her eyes on Naruto's. Her grip on his arm tightened.

"Hinata was attacked while you were gone."

Naruto scoffed softly automatically. He didn't mean to do it. His body just made the noise as his inner mind started to crumble. His vision got dark and cloudy and a cold shiver ran down his body.

"What...do you mean. Attacked? How?" Naruto rambled each word as if he couldn't understand the implication behind them. His knees felt weak and his stomach was tight.

Beki was silent again. Maybe this was a bad choice… She shook her head and grabbed Naruto with her other hand as well. No. Hold the line, Beki.

"It was Hideki. I found out that he had attacked her before and you fought him." Beki's voice trailed off as she tried to find a more delicate way to put it. "Well… he came back. And he took her."

Naruto's face contorted in horror first, but quickly after, it was filled with anger. "What did he do." Naruto responded, each syllable uttered between clenched teeth. It wasn't much of a question; it was more like he was demanding an answer.

Beki flinched visibly. Naruto had grabbed her arms with his hands and his vice-like grip was certainly going to leave a bruise.

"He kidnapped her. He was going to…" Beki stopped. She wasn't sure if he needed to know the full truth. "He tried to force her to… marry him. He wanted to undo the bond she had with you…"

Naruto was silent. So deathly silent that Beki felt a slight wave of fear pass through her. Was it her imagination or did his teeth seem sharper?

"Where is he?" Naruto asked, his voice barely more than a strained whisper. Beki pulled her arms out of his tightening grip, but he didn't seem to notice.

Beki glanced past him to check for Hinata. The sounds of pots and pans clanging gave her relief. "Hideki is…" Beki choked on the last word. She hadn't expected it, but as she formed the word in her mind images of Hideki flashed into her brain. She could still hear his frantic gasps for air.

Beki grimaced and started again. "Hideki is… dead. I killed him."

Naruto went slack. "He's...dead?"

Beki's face was like stone. "Yes, Naruto. I killed him. He had paralyzed Hinata and was about to do… he was about to hurt her. I tried to help her, but then he turned on me. I… I had no choice." Beki's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, but she kept her face stern.

Naruto's world had frozen. His mind was filled with images of Hinata laying beneath Hideki. His voice and eyes flooded his brain and it made his blood boil. He wanted to feel the bastard's blood on his hands. His fists shook with suppressed rage.

But he was dead. He had been killed. Was that really the right way for things to end? Naruto felt sick to his stomach. He could have killed Hideki himself. He could have prevented this whole thing from happening.

No. He thought to himself. It isn't right to kill people. He could have changed. He could have been different.

Naruto went back and forth in his head until something else clicked. The realization hit him like a rock. He could feel the bile rising in his throat. The whole time, he had been running from it, trying not to think of it.

I wasn't here.

Naruto's body went numb and he crumpled to his knees. I wasn't here to protect her. I wasn't here when she needed me.

Time slowed down to a standstill as a shrill whine rang throughout Naruto's mind deafening his ears to Beki's desperate pleas. Guilt washed over him like a crushing wave over a small fishing boat. He could have lost Hinata and it would have been entirely his fault. The image of Hideki on top of a lifeless Hinata replayed in his mind over and over again.

"Naruto!"

A familiar voice rang out and a soft touch lit up his back with warmth.

"Naruto!" The voice called to him again and he looked up. His vision was blurry. A second pair of hands was on his shoulders, but how long had they been there? Naruto blinked back the hot tears that had formed without his knowledge and fell backwards from his knees onto his rear.

The person behind him pulled him closer and Naruto felt their arms wrap around him. It was Hinata. He could hear her soft voice whispering into his ear.

"Naruto, please. Talk to me."

"Hinata…?" Naruto croaked out, his voice choking on soft sobs. Hinata buried her face into his shoulder, her tear stained cheeks matching his own.

Beki had taken a few steps back and was scratching her head with an obvious look of guilt written across her face. Naruto took little notice, however, as Hinata practically smothered him with her concern.

"I didn't protect y-" Naruto started to speak but was hushed by Hinata's finger.

"You can't be at my side every second of every day." Her voice was surprisingly strong considering the tears streaming down her face. "It's not your fault. Nothing bad happened."

Naruto shook his head and tried to protest, but Hinata kept her finger over his mouth.

"Naruto Uzumaki! There was nothing you could have done about it! Everything is just fine and I won't hear another word about it!"

Both Naruto and Beki's eyes widened. That was the firmest Naruto had ever seen her be. Part of him really like hearing his full name used though. He had sometimes imagined what it would be like to be scolded by a mother.

An earnest smile broke out on his face. He kind of wanted her to say it again.

Relief washed over Hinata as Naruto smiled up at her. Without thinking, she leaned down and happily pressed her lips against his. Naruto was taken aback for a moment but eventually recovered and pulled Hinata deeper into the kiss. The two remained like that for a time, not wanting to ever let the other go.

"a-HEM!" Beki cleared her throat suddenly. "I'm still in the room, guys!"

Hinata pulled away from Naruto with a slight blush on her face. It wasn't a blush of embarrassment, however. It was more from the passionate heat building inside her body.

Beki was about to give them another dose of attitude, but a sudden smell caught her attention.

"Is something burning?"

Hinata bolted up. "My soufflé!" She dashed into the kitchen leaving Naruto and Beki to share a look of confusion before bursting into laughter.

"Only Hinata could make a soufflé for breakfast." Beki teased while offering her hand to Naruto.

Naruto grabbed it and hoisted himself up. He grinned widely with a small amount of pride. "Yeah, but you know it would have been delicious."

The two of them walked into the kitchen just as Hinata pulled the blackened mess out of the oven. She less than gently tossed the pan onto the counter. "Darnit!"

"Whoa, Hinata. Language!" Beki mocked.

Hinata turned towards her with a finger raised. "You! This is your fault!"

Beki raised her hands in pseudo surrender. "Me? What did I do?"

Hinata glanced at Naruto and then back at Beki. "You know exactly what you did."

Beki sighed. "Yes, mother. I am sorry, Naruto."

Naruto frowned. She was apologizing to him for the second time today. This one seemed a little more genuine though. She was actually bowing her head slightly.

"I figured you should know what happened, but I should have waited."

"I'm sorta glad you told me." Naruto said after a moment of silence. "I'm not happy to hear it, but I am thankful you told me. I needed to hear it. It should have been my responsibly."

Hinata sighed. "Do you see what you've done, Beki? Now you have to go with me to get more eggs."

Beki gasped with real shock. "Wait, what?! I don't want to go to the store!"

Hinata silenced her complaints with a stare.

"Fine, fine. I'll go." Beki whined with a hint of genuine despair.

The girls took a few minutes to change into more appropriate clothing and when they eventually walked out the door, Naruto let out a sigh of relief. It was weird living with two people, especially two girls. There were all sorts of written codes and rules he was completely unaware of. The girls' footsteps died down the path and he was left puttering around the kitchen. His thoughts drifted back to Hideki and suddenly the room seemed closed in and claustrophobic. With a frustrated grunt, Naruto threw on his shoes and walked out the door.

….

The girls were quiet for quite some time after leaving the house. With Naruto being absent, the joking and upbeat atmosphere was gone and the only thing on the girls' minds was his mental shutdown. The air was next to suffocating and neither girl felt strong enough to break the tension with words.

Beki, feeling the guiltiest for having caused the issue, was the first one to gather the will to speak. "So, Hinata?"

Hinata turned towards with a meek smile. "Yes?"

Beki puckered up slightly as she wringed the hem of her shirt with her hands. "Did that go as bad as I think it did?"

Hinata turned her gaze back towards the ground. "I'm not sure." Her voice was quiet and Beki could feel her heart jump into her throat.

"I'm really sorry, Hinata. I just felt like he should know. Given that he might be the one they target next time."

"I was thinking that I wouldn't tell him. I didn't want him to worry about me." Hinata offered Beki a warm smile. "But now I think you made the right call. If he had found out from someone else, it could have been so much worse."

Beki nodded slowly. That was a better response than she had been hoping for.

"Plus, now that he knows, we can move past it together. That's the ultimate goal, right? Keep moving forward?" Hinata chuckled slightly. Naruto was finally home, after all. They could finally move forward together.

Beki smirked coyly. "Oh, I see what you mean. You two hooked up last night!"

Hinata instantly flushed red. "No!" Several people turned to look towards the sudden outburst and Beki covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her giggles.

"We fell right asleep!" Hinata whispered pointedly. "We didn't do… that."

Beki stared at Hinata's pleading face for a moment before she realized Hinata was being truthful. "Oh wow. I thought you guys were in the swing of things already."

"No, Beki." Hinata bent down to pick up a small basket outside the store front. "We have… gotten close…"

Beki followed Hinata into the grocery store, waiting her to continue. "Well!? Why did you stop?"

Hinata's blush burned and she focused her gaze on her shoes. There wasn't anybody else in the small store around her, but she still didn't like talking about this in public.

"W-We get going, but I… don't know how to… you know…" Hinata stammered as she tapped her fingertips together.

"Oh," Beki scratched the back of her neck. "Well, I mean, stuff is always awkward at first. You guys will figure things out-"

Hinata let out a gasp and Beki jumped in surprise. "You! You could help me!"

"I...I thought that's what I was doing," Beki chuckled.

"No, I mean, you have so much more experience than I do. You can tell me what to do!" Hinata's eyes were wide with the realization.

"Experience? What are you talking about?" Beki put her hands on her hips. "If you mean what I think you do-"

"You just spent the weekend with Gaara," Hinata lowered her voice so the other shoppers wouldn't hear them.

"Nothing happened!" Beki threw up her hands. "He turned into the One Tail and almost killed me, Hinata. It's not like it was sexy fun time out on that beach. Not to mention the fact that Akatsuki attacked while we were gone and he kinda...briefly dumped me." Beki folded her arms and shuffled self-consciously. "Probably the most risqué thing we've done is I showered with him."

Hinata sighed. "I guess we're in the same boat, then."

"Well, what option do we have? Is Kurenai cool enough that we could go talk to her about all this?" Beki rocked from one foot to the other as she brainstormed.

"No, absolutely not," Hinata shook her head. "I could never! That would be so humiliating," Hinata hugged herself. "It would have to be some way that no one could ever really know what we were doing."

"So like, renting porn or asking around with the other girls is out," At Beki saying "porn", Hinata literally shuddered. "It's a word, Hinata, and it's out there. Doesn't Naruto's teacher write that crap?"

"We could...we could try reading Icha Icha, I guess," Hinata cringed.

Beki snapped her fingers. "I've got it! Those trashy girl magazines at the checkout line! The ones where they make fun of celebrity fashion choices? They always have a section on bedroom stuff."

"But Beki, how are we going to not make it obvious that we're doing a research project here?" Hinata puffed up her cheeks.

"Make it look like we're doing a spa day. Along with the groceries, we need to grab a bunch of different magazines, a couple of nail polish bottles, some cotton balls," Beki grinned at her own brilliance. "They won't even question the cucumbers that way."

"Cu...cucumbers?" Hinata furrowed her brow. "What are we going to need those for?"

Beki looked around, "You know. Practice." Beki pushed the inner skin of cheek out with her tongue simulating an image that made Hinata's head nearly explode.

Beki laughed quietly as she pushed her friend inside and made a bee line to the produce section. Hinata's mind was practically steaming so she missed the nervous undertones in her friend's laugh.

Moments later, the girls stood, backs straight and eyes dead ahead as the cashier rang up their six magazines, each with a different bedroom focus. After the magazines, the cashier started to ring the assortment of cucumbers. With each ding of the cash register, Hinata visibly winced. Beki elbowed her subtly. Hinata let out a pent-up breath and relaxed slightly once he moved on to the cotton balls and sparkly ruby nail polishes.

"Girl's night in?" The older gentleman offered a friendly smile.

"Yup," Beki beamed as she took out her money. "They raised the prices at the hot springs again."

"Aw man," The cashier shook his head. "They always do this when the weather starts to get cooler."

"They really know what they're doing, don't they?" Beki chuckled as he bagged their goods.

Hinata was amazed at how casually Beki could direct conversation. She had a laid back and easy-going attitude that people instantly gravitated to, following wherever she pointed so their attention was diverted from whatever hijinks she was up to. It worked so well that Hinata couldn't help but walk with a little more bounce in her step than usual as they headed home. They might just get away with this.

Hinata had never done something that she thought would be shameful, and although this activity fell in the "questionable" category, it was for Naruto. If Hinata was going to do something naughty, she could gladly do it for him.

As they walked up towards Hinata's house, smaller footsteps fell in line behind them.

Beki glanced over her shoulder. "Yes, Hanabi?"

"What are you two weirdos doing?" Hanabi cocked her head, her Byakugan activated as she stared into the grocery bags. Hinata's heart pounded in her chest. No. They weren't going to get away with this. Hanabi was wicked sharp and always suspicious. They were doomed.

"Girl's night in," Beki held up her bag, which had the nail polish and cotton balls. "We would have invited you, but you still haven't given me back my scalloped shorts."

"They're too small for you, anyway," Hanabi grumbled. "But fine, I'll go get them."

Her plan falling to shambles, Beki scrambled to think up another tactic. "I'm giving you a hard time, you can have the shorts," Beki then cocked her head. "But we thought you were going to be training with your squad. If you want, you can come along next time and pick out a color and we'll doll you up, too."

"What do you have right now?" Hanabi turned off her Byakugan as Beki fished out the two colors. "Yeah, no, I wouldn't wear either of these."

"You're more of a pink girl, I know." Beki tossed them back in the bag.

"And could we do face masks?" Hanabi asked. "You have that one with the charcoal in it I like."

"I will pick up more so we can do a full on spa day next time." Beki offered.

Hanabi sighed. "Okay. I'll let you two hang out. You probably haven't talked since Naruto got home."

"Barely," Hinata let out a laugh that was far from casual, but Hanabi didn't seem to pick up on it. She trudged off down the trail towards the main house and Hinata let out a sigh of relief. "That was close."

Beki shook her head. "We'll just have to take the hit later and she won't be suspicious. It actually wouldn't hurt to put some time in with Hanabi. She's just going through that awkward angsty teen phase."

"I don't know why," Hinata shook her head.

"Because she's living in your shadow," Beki chuckled as she opened the front door. "That's a tall order for anyone."

Hinata blinked. "What are you talking about? I was the shame of my family-"

"Look at you!" Beki threw up her hands after she set the bags on the table. "You're a knockout with perfect hair! Hanabi's got a big bra to fill if she wants to be like her sister."

Hinata hugged herself self-consciously. "Don't you mean 'shoes'?"

"No, because someone has to have size 7 feet to go with her F cups." Beki rolled her eyes.

Hinata's eyes bugged out. "How do you know what size bras I wear?"

"Because one of yours ended up in my laundry pile," Beki grumbled. "I might have tried it on and then cried for thirty minutes."

Hinata opened her mouth to defend herself but stopped. She had to admit there was always a quiet curiosity and need to compare between girls. The girls clambered into the house and set out their spoils onto the living room table. They sat on the floor across from one another. Beki had taken the cucumbers out and was arranging them by size.

"Okay, step one is we have to pick one that's about the right size to practice on." Beki grabbed one from the middle. "I guess this about right for me." She grabbed another one from the middle and held it out to Hinata, who shook her head and flushed. "What?"

"It's… not the right size."

Beki moved her hand up the line to a bigger cucumber. Hinata shook her head again. Eventually Beki was at the end of the line of cucumbers when Hinata finally nodded. "Okay, you must be joking around."

Hinata shook her head and Beki threw the cucumber at her. They both eyed it for a second that stretched into minutes.

"I can… uh… see why you're nervous…" Beki whispered. She tried to imagine that thing taking up space inside her and she reflexively held her hand to her abdomen. Beki shook her head to clear her thoughts and handed Hinata a magazine. She then set to work flipping through one of her own.

Hinata stared down at the cucumber in her hands, apprehension clutching at her guts. "So are we going to have to," her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "Put these inside us?"

"N-No!" Beki nearly choked on her own spit. She was instantly worried that Hinata had somehow seen her earlier thoughts. "What, do you want some kind of infection?! This is for," Beki held up her magazine article, which went into graphic detail about oral sex. "This stuff."

"Okay," Hinata looked down at her own article, the words a swirl of fear inducing and swoon-worthy language. "Can we...not face each other while we do this?"

"No, Hintata," Beki pointed at the article with her cucumber. "It says here eye contact is really important!"

"W-What?" Hinata's head spun.

Beki flipped her magazine back around towards her. "That's what it says, but I'm not exactly sure what it means. The angle seems strange."

Beki held up her cucumber at a 45-degree angle and put the tip at her lips. "How am I supposed to look up at the same time?"

Hinata blushed a deep crimson. "Maybe you're supposed to lay down?

Beki frowned. "Me or him?"

Hinata covered her face with her hands. "Him!"

Beki place the cucumber vertically on the table and leaned forward until her mouth was again at the tip. "Ahhhh, this makes sense." Beki eyed Hinata suspiciously. "You sure you haven't done this before?"

Hinata shook her head frantically. Her cucumber was sitting on her lap, but she couldn't even think about picking it up. She grabbed a magazine instead and buried her nose in it.

A lot of the advice she was reading in the magazine seemed counter intuitive. They were making suggestions like sucking on an ice cube beforehand or moving things around in a way that Hinata thought might be painful.

There were several numbered tips that Hinata read through, but everything just made her face feel hotter and hotter. Would Naruto really like this stuff? Would she be able to satisfy him? What if she couldn't?

Hinata's mind was swirling with more thoughts than she could process. The bits and pieces of coherent ideas jumbled together until they were one deafening noise. All she had wanted for the last two years was to have Naruto back. He was her everything, her anything. All the loneliness and suffering Hinata had gone through in his absence had been tolerable knowing he would be there for her at the end.

Her heart ached every time she thought of how he had no one his whole life, that small span of sadness she felt had been a demon trying to drown him every day. That's why as soon as they were pledged to one another Hinata made herself a promise: she would be Naruto's support system. Whatever role he needed, whatever part she had to play, Hinata would fill it gladly. If he needed to be spoiled and mothered, Hinata would do it.

If he had need of satisfying a physical desire, she would take care of him. As she sat there, knee deep in magazines and produce, however, it almost seemed a mountain too high to climb.

At first, Hinata had thought it only an aspect of her upbringing. The Hyuga were an incredibly prudish, tight-lipped bunch. Hinata had been vaguely aware that something had to happen between women and men for children to happen, but details and particulars were never aired out loud. The first few times her and Naruto had been physically intimate, however, Hinata immediately knew there was more to it. The act of coming together, two people becoming one, ignited a fire of yearning in places in her body she had previously been unaware of. That desire had brought only questions and the questions had led her to the most worldly person she knew: Beki. Yet despite her extensive travels and less structured upbringing, Beki was just as clueless as Hinata. The two were babes in the woods and Hinata was left to figure out all this on her own.

The idea of trying and failing to please Naruto terrified Hinata. The entire future she planned with him, her mission as his wife, would be ruined. If she couldn't satisfy his physical needs, what would that make them? Would Naruto shut out that side of himself to keep Hinata from feeling guilty, becoming miserable and repressed in the process? Would they merely be affectionate roommates, or worse, would Naruto seek out someone more competent to take care of his desires?

Her mind spiraling, Hinata put her head down on the table. A lump was forming in her throat and her chest had tightened so much from the fear it was getting hard to breathe. These thoughts had become a waterfall, pouring over Hinata's psyche. She desperately struggled against the coming tide, flailing, sputtering, and fighting just to keep her nose above the waterline.

Then she heard a crunch.

Hinata's head shot up, her eyes wide in horror. "Beki?!"

Beki was leaning back, supporting herself on the carpet with one hand. She had folded back the magazine so Hinata could see she was reading the second half of an article about summer hair trend ideas. As she read, Beki had bitten off a good hunk of her cucumber and was munching on it contentedly. At Hinata's outburst, Beki looked up. Her eyebrows raised and her lips twisted into a guilty pout. "Oh. Oops. I was hungry."

Hinata let out an exasperated sigh and pushed her own stack of magazines away. "I give up."

Beki shrugged. "You know, the more I read the more it just seems like it's different for everybody. One article would say 'definitely do this' and another would say the same idea was totally off limits."

Hinata's mind felt like a fog had rolled through. She was hearing Beki, but the words weren't making any sense. "So… this is pointless?"

Beki grimaced and shuffled a little from side to side. "Yeah. I'm starting to think so."

The moment she finished speaking, an oppressive silence fell over the table. It was a dense, puffy thing, stifling like thick cotton. After a moment, Beki's unease grew to the point where she was desperate to fill it. "Hey," She said as she slid the magazine across the table. "I think you'd look cute with this curly braid combo."

Hinata shook her head with a sigh. "My hair can't hold a curl."

Beki nodded. "Just braids then."

The small, friendly act had been enough to blow away the ominous silence. Hinata sighed and began to look through the less threatening parts of the magazines as Beki got up to fix them tea and a snack.

…

Naruto, meanwhile, had been walking around the compound for most of the morning while he waited for the girls to get back.

He was nearly at the gate of the Hyuga compound when he bumped into Neji.

"Hello, Naruto," Neji glanced behind him towards the house. "Off to train?"

Naruto shook his head. "No, the girls just went grocery shopping and I felt like a walk."

"Oh," Neji blinked. "I usually go along for errands." Naruto almost missed the slightly crestfallen look on Neji's face that he'd been left out.

"You wanna come along?" Naruto offered.

"Sure." Neji nodded and followed Naruto out the gate. "So how are things with you and Lady Hinata?"

"Things are good," Naruto nodded. "It's good to be home. I missed her a lot."

It was bright and sunny that day. Birds sang cheerfully in the trees and the air was full of the smell of grass and moist earth. The fresh air was helping. A lot of the subconscious tension Naruto had been carrying around was starting to relax. Being back in Konoha had a healing effect on Naruto. As much as he traveled with Jiraiya, Naruto knew this was where he belonged. He could be in the coolest place in the world and after a while, he would just want to come back and see the familiar sights and smell the plants he had grown up around.

"Naruto, can I ask you a personal question?" Neji's voice cut through the blissful numbness Naruto had been enjoying.

"Go ahead," Naruto replied.

"When...when did you realize you loved Hinata?" Neji asked. "How did you know for sure that what you were feeling was love?"

Naruto blinked. "What...what do you mean?"

Neji sighed in frustration. "We're both orphans, Naruto. I don't know about you but there was never much love or affection thrown my way. You seem so confident about your feelings for Hinata, though. What about her makes you so sure?"

That was a bit of a curveball. The entire time Naruto had known Neji, the guy never talked about feelings. Part of him was honored someone as mature as Neji was coming to him for advice but in a lot of ways Naruto wasn't sure he had the answers his friend was looking for.

"It wasn't a single moment or anything," Naruto scratched the back of his head. "It's just the way she makes me feel. I can be myself with her. Be an absolute, unforgivable idiot and she still likes me just the same."

Neji nodded quietly. "But wouldn't that just make her a good friend?"

Naruto shook his head. "No. There's something else. When we're close everything gets better. I could have the worst day in the world and just seeing her or holding her hand makes it okay."

"And you're physically attracted to her?" Neji asked.

"Well, I mean, of course but it's not just the obvious stuff," Naruto laughed. "Her smile is cute. The way she blushes, when she laughs, how tiny her hands are next to mine. I can't think of any other words to describe it than just everything about her, from her body to her behavior is adorable to me."

Neji sighed. "I was afraid so."

"What's that mean?!" Naruto raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Was this some test?"

"No, Naruto, I…" Neji shook his head. "I'm just trying to sort out some of my own feelings. You've been a big help but I have a problem on my hands, that's all."

"Oh," Naruto relaxed. "What's the problem? Can I help?"

Neji shook his head. "No. I just have to get over it. I was hoping what I was feeling was just some intense sort of best friend thing but it sounds like I'm in love with her and she's in love with someone else."

"Ouch," Naruto winced. "That's rough, buddy."

Neji exhaled slightly in a humorless laugh. "Well, the first step is admitting you have a problem, right?"

Naruto nodded sympathetically. He felt sorry for Neji and his plight, but at the same time he couldn't help but let his mind wander elsewhere. It had been a strange but interesting exercise to have to articulate exactly how he felt about Hinata. As he had talked, more and more of the reasons why and how he loved her had settled themselves into concrete terms. As Neji mumbled ideas mostly to himself beside him, Naruto was left wondering what Hinata would say about him.

…

Naruto exhaled a long breath as he trekked back up the path to his house. His walk had helped clear some of his thoughts, but the conversation had brought up so many others. Who had Neji been talking about? And the bigger question, what was Hinata to him?

She was his fiancée after all, but that wasn't really his choice. He was happy where he was, that much was for certain. Spending over a year away from Hinata had made that very clear to him. Part of him wanted their relationship to have a title. One that they had chosen, not one that had been assigned to them. But it would probably seem weird to ask her to marry him.

But did he really want her to marry him? It wasn't a thought he had really entertained before. Marriage was just something adults did that had little to do with him. But it was too late for those kinds of thoughts. He was already engaged to Hinata. They were going to be married. What was the point in asking her anyway?

Naruto opened the door to his house and stumbled inside. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the lack of sunlight, but they managed to pick out Hinata and Beki sitting in the living room. It looked like they had just finished scooping some trash into a bag. They both turned to him with their hands behind their backs.

"H-Hey, Naruto!" Hinata said with an enthusiasm that was a bit off for her. Naruto was going to ask her about it, but Beki suddenly stepped towards him offering her hand. There was a half-eaten cucumber resting on her palm.

"You hungry?" Beki asked with a forced grin.

Naruto shook his head. "Yuck. No, thank you."

Beki scooped up her remaining cucumbers and the bag. "Then, I think I'm going to go give these to the local kappa community."

Hinata blinked, then nodded as she realized what Beki was doing. Disposing of the evidence. Nice, Beki!

"I thought you weren't superstitious?" Naruto frowned.

Beki held out her hand and wiggled it in a 'so-so' gesture. "I mean, I ask myself, what am I risking? Toss a couple cucumbers in the river before I get in and look like a moron to the locals, or be dragged to a violent drowning death and being eaten by anthropomorphic frog people?"

"You got a point there," Naruto scratched the back of his head. Kappa were something he had only heard of as a child. River dwelling frog like things that devoured rude children. It was something he had overheard from a mother scolding a boy younger than him. He had been afraid at first, seeing how he never had a mom to warn him of such things. Naruto winced slightly at the memory of his childhood.

Hinata scratched her head. "But can you even drown?"

Beki scoffed as if her integrity had been called into question. "No! But… then I would just be eaten alive!"

Hinata shook her head. She should have known better than to follow Beki down her trail of thought. "Oh, of course."

Beki nodded and with a final wave, she headed out the door. The door sucked all the sound out with it, leaving Hinata and Naruto alone with nothing but the ice maker whirring in the background.

Despite the positive turn the day was taking, Naruto was feeling a little emotionally raw. Having Hinata close was nice. In moments like this, though, somehow the pair standing in their kitchen could still feel so formal. They were both fully dressed and Hinata was keeping a respectful distance from him physically. She looked so soft. From her silky hair to her milky skin, just looking at Hinata made Naruto want to touch her. He knew the instant he did it would ease the stress clinging to him like a ball in his gut.

"Hey," Naruto reached out and brushed his hand against her elbow.

Hinata nearly jumped at the sudden contact. "Yes?!"

"You wanna go upstairs and snuggle?" Naruto tried to hide the vulnerability in his voice. The anxiety constricted his throat, increasing the pitch at the end of his statement so it ended in a squeak.

Hinata's eyes grew wide and she nodded so suddenly it almost gave her whiplash. "Yes! I would love to!"

From there, things became awkward again. Hinata led the way, but she kept pausing and glancing at him on the stairs as if unsure she were leading him correctly. Naruto would reach up and put a hand on the middle of her back reassuringly. After what felt like an eternity of their slow stop-start ascent, the pair found themselves in their bedroom. Naruto closed the door after they crossed the threshold and immediately began to peel off his shirt. Hinata stared at his rippling muscles, completely transfixed by the sight of his body. Naruto plopped on the bed and curled up under the sheets. As Hinata stood there looking lost, he patted the pillow beside him. Timidly, Hinata approached the bed and began to peel back the covers.

"Clothes off," Naruto grinned at the flush that immediately washed over her face. "It's not like that. I just...I wanna feel your skin against me. It helps me relax."

I can do that, Hinata thought. Naruto had a physical need for comfort and she was more than willing to provide it. She kept her eyes on the floor as she kicked off her pants and peeled off her shirt. Down to just her white bra and panties, Hinata began to climb in again.

"Hinata…" Naruto looked up at her pleadingly. "Can...can the bra go too?"

Hinata began screaming internally. They would be almost naked together again. For a moment, she battled with herself. She could protest. Being that close to naked could easily lead to something sexual and Hinata was still terrified of screwing that up. All that fear mixed together with her self-consciousness about her body into a storm of mixed emotions. On the one hand, all Hinata wanted to do was make Naruto feel safe and loved. On the other hand, the girl was petrified to make a mistake and turn the man off forever. After what had only been seconds, but to Hinata had felt like nearly forever, she unhooked her bra and let it fall to the ground.

Naruto's audible gasp made Hinata's skin shiver with anticipation. She felt an immediate desire to cover her breasts with her arms, but she ignored it. She took a deep breath and crawled into the bed. She pulled the covers up to her neck and was still for only a moment before Naruto rolled over to her and scooped her up in his arms, pulling her close. She let out a small squeal at the sudden motion but immediately calmed into his embrace.

Naruto snuggled into her neck, taking in the warm comfort of her scent. He ran his hand along the length of her torso, savoring the intense dip of her waist and the hill of her hip. Instantly he could feel his anxiety melting away. At the soft, gentle warmth of her back against his belly, Naruto felt the knot of guilt that had formed there disappear. "Oh, Hinata," He said softly into her ear. "You're the only thing that makes me feel this way."

Hinata blinked in surprise. "What...what do you mean?"

"I just...this is what home must feel like." Naruto pressed his face into the crook of her neck. "I feel safe. Like everything is going to be okay."

"That's exactly how I feel about you," Hinata turned onto her back so she could look at him. His hand wandered up from her leg, across the sensitive flesh of her belly, up to the mounds of her breasts. The contact was gentle. At first Hinata hesitated at his touch, but it was so comforting she couldn't stay up in arms about it. Naruto was simply cupping her breast in a casual, yet affectionate way.

Hinata closed her eyes and pressed her body back against Naruto's. His flesh was so warm, so hard. His arm wrapped around her made her forget about everything beyond their bed. All her troubles, all her worries, they just vanished like they had never even been there. His hand on her breast seemed to send heat directly to her heart and her breathing started to grow heavy.

Hinata summoned her courage and slipped a hand behind her. She felt down Naruto's exposed chest until her fingertips were at the hem of his pants. Desire took the place of courage and she pushed her hand down further. At first, all she felt was heat. A heat more fierce than the rest of his body. Then, she found it. The smooth, yet hard flesh that was Naruto's shaft. I don't remember him being this…big… Hinata thought to herself as she explored. The idea sent tremors down her spine. That… thing is going to be inside me? She wrapped her thin fingers around its length and it trembled in her hand, almost as if it were consciously responding to her greeting.

Naruto's hands froze on Hinata's breast. He was slightly more rigid than he had been before, but after a moment, he leaned back slightly allowing Hinata a better angle. Inspired by his silent approval, Hinata relaxed her grip and continued to explore with her fingers. She traced a continuous line down his member and along his quivering thighs.

"Y-Your… nails…" Naruto whimpered softly, his eyes squeezed shut.

Hinata opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a steamy breath that was hot enough to warm the pillow beneath her mouth. She had been holding her breath without even realizing it. Her mind was foggy with doubt, but something made her continue on. She dragged her fingernails softly across Naruto's upper thighs towards the tender areas between his legs. Naruto's head rolled back onto the pillow and the sounds coming out of his mouth were more than enough to convey his approval.

Hinata continued to trace around his privates with her nails. It was somewhat difficult with Naruto's pants still on, however. Naruto was quick to realize this too and shuck off the remainders of his clothing. Hinata's cheeks burned a bright red as he turned towards her expectantly. It was her turn.

Hinata stood up and slowly stepped out of her undies. She tried to ignore it, but the small damp spot on the inside fabric almost made her want to run into another room. She shook her head and turned to face Naruto. He had already laid back down on the bed, his member standing awkwardly at full attention. He was definitely bigger than she remembered.

This is what I practiced for! Hinata yelled in her head. She eyed his manhood as she climbed onto the bed space next to his legs. Naruto watched with wide eyes as she bent over his lap and took ahold of his member with a shaky hand.

"H-Hina-" Naruto was cut short as Hinata plunged down suddenly taking the head into her mouth. The feeling overwhelmed Naruto and his mind went white briefly. Her mouth was hot and wet. He could feel the small pressure of her tongue and the hard tips of her teeth. It was almost too much for him to bear. Hinata hadn't even moved yet, and he was about to explode.

A moment passed and still Hinata hadn't moved. Her mind was racing. Should I take it deeper or use my hand? Didn't the magazine say to twist something? Wait, wasn't I supposed to do something with my teeth? Or no teeth? All the articles she had read spun around in her head until she felt like she was going to gag. She wasn't in the habit of breathing through her nose and the pressure on the back on her tongue had started to trigger her choking reflex. No! Make eye contact!

Hinata turned her gaze towards Naruto. He had one arm drafted over his forehead and his face was contorted in pleasure. His thighs were trembling slightly. Does he like this? Hinata thought to herself. She slide up towards the head slowly and then went back down. Naruto nearly bucked like a horse.

Hianta felt a small ray of confidence. He seemed to be enjoying this. Maybe she was doing a good job? She wrapped her hand around the base and twirled her tongue around the tip. An unfamiliar taste hit her tongue, causing her to freeze. She had read about this in the magazine. The article had said it was a normal process for boys to 'leak' a little at the start. It meant she was doing well. The taste was a little unpleasant, but it was Naruto's so Hinata embraced it with all her might.

Waves of pleasure washed over Naruto. He stole quick glances at the girl in front of him. Her long hair was pulled to one side so her pale skin was completely exposed. The curves to her body were like magnets for Naruto's eyes. Her breasts hung beneath her, swaying slightly as she moved. Her rear was also slightly in view and the visual was almost too much for Naruto. He was climbing a mountain and the peak was coming closer faster and faster.

Not wanting to spoil things too early, Naruto reached out and put a hand on Hinata' shoulder. She froze in place and turned to look at him. The look of fear on her face tugged at Naruto's chest. She had really been trying. It shook Naruto to his core and he gestured for her to come up to him. Hinata removed him from her mouth with a small 'pop'. She nervously wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Was it bad?" Hinata asked quietly, afraid of his reply.

Naruto scoffed gently. "Nothing about this is 'bad'. I just didn't want it to end yet. I wanted to make you feel good too."

Hinata nodded, slightly relieved at her progress. She rolled onto her back and Naruto scooted over to her on his side. He leaned in to kiss her while his hands cupped her cheek. The kiss melted Hinata's fear away. The soft, repetitive movements of their lips as they kissed sent heat down her body. The gentle grip of his hand sent chills down her spine. In contrast, the kiss was anything but gentle. It was intense and filled with longing, almost as if Naruto thought it was the last kiss they would have. Hinata was swept away by his simultaneous tenderness and passion.

Naruto pulled away for a moment to catch his breath. Hinata was also gasping for air, but her gaze was locked on him. Naruto took a moment to gaze at her body. Her breasts had sunk slightly into her chest due to gravity, but the shape to them was perfect. They were like two soft mounds of skin jello. Naruto traced one with his finger, much like Hinata had done to him. Her eyes closed, but no sounds escaped her pursed lips. Naruto continued to trace down her flat stomach towards her lower lips. His hands rested at her entrance for a moment. The outer folds were pulsing with heat and were slightly wet.

Hinata stiffened slightly at the sensation of Naruto's hand at her womanhood. She was trying to mentally prepare herself for what was next when suddenly there was a pull on her breast. Naruto had leaned in and taken one of her nipples into his mouth. He suckled softly on it while flicking it with his tongue.

Hinata was not prepared for this new pleasure and a soft moan slipped from her mouth. The feeling was unlike anything before. It felt good. Really good. It was like Naruto was tugging on a string that was directly attached to her womanhood. The harder he sucked, the more she wanted him inside her.

His hand cupped her fold and Hinata arched her back into it. She felt a finger press against the entrance and she widened her legs in silent approval. Her fists clenched the bed sheet as Naruto pushed a single finger inside her. Electricity shot across her body as Naruto continued to push deeper in while teasing her nipple. All kinds of emotions exploded inside her as she explored the pleasures of a women. Where had Naruto learned this!? It made her slightly mad that he was having such an effect on her. It was almost like being tickled. She had no control over her own body. It was his body now.

Naruto pulled off her breast and Hinata almost wanted to complain. It was like someone had turned off the amp to her pleasure. It didn't go away entirely, but it was dampened slightly. Before she could open her eyes to investigate, Naruto's lips were pressed hard against hers. His tongue slide across her lips and she moaned a hot breath into his mouth. His finger continued to work up her insides until she was wet enough for him to slip another inside.

Hinata wasn't sure if she could handle more sensation. Her entire body was overheating. It was almost as if it were fighting against her. Like she was trying to hold back a sneeze from her whole body. His fingers curled inside her and pressed against her inner wall. Hinata's head shot back like a rocket.

This wasn't fair. Her mind screamed out to her. How could he do this to her? She felt like an animal in heat. Her mind was filled with burning images of him pushing himself inside her, taking her again and again. Her insides burned hotter and hotter at the idea of having his length push into her walls. This wasn't like her. She couldn't help feeling anger at Naruto. A hot anger that was heavily swirled with desire. She wanted to knock him over and then vault herself on top of him. She wanted to take control again.

Hinata grabbed the nape of his neck and pulled him deeper into the kiss. Naruto could barely respond before Hinata's tongue was pushing back at his. It wasn't enough. She wanted more. More control, more flesh, more of him. She bit down on his lip and pulled. It wasn't hard enough to break the skin, but Naruto did seem to stop for a split second. Then the kiss continued with the same intensity. The two were panting heavily, but the kissing for dominance continued.

Hinata felt herself starting to build. Naruto's fingers had found a good spot. The constant stroking was starting to pull at Hinata. Something deep inside her was about to erupt. She pushed Naruto's head back down to her breast. "Suck it." She ordered with little equivocation. Naruto did as he was told and placed her other nipple into his mouth.

The string was once again being pulled and Hinata felt her body start to convulse. She leaned forward tightly as the muscles in her abdomen contracted suddenly. Then, just as her mind started to get fuzzy, everything stopped.

"Hinata!"

Naruto's voice sent chills down her spine. It was not a good tone. There was true panic in the way he shouted at her. Hinata opened her eyes and her stomach dropped like a stone.

Naruto was holding his right hand in the air while holding his wrist with the other hand. His fingers were bright red. Hinata didn't have to think about what it was.

Blood.

For the eleven hundredth time in her life, Hinata cursed herself for being a girl. The heat from earlier had completely died off. Her body was getting colder by the second and a soft aching had started to build between her legs.

"Oh my god, Hinata. Are you okay? I'm so sorry! I though I-" Naruto was quickly starting to lose it.

"Naruto!" Hinata shouted with a gusto she didn't normally have.

Naruto shut up immediately and stared at her, wide eyed.

"I'm okay. You didn't hurt me."

Naruto visibly relaxed, but his eyes were still worried.

Hinata looked away sheepishly. "Girls bleed when it's… when it's their first time."

Naruto looked back towards the fresh blood covering his hands. "But… isn't that supposed to be from… penetration?"

Hinata blushed again. She had been naked this whole time, but now she was starting to feel vulnerable. She wanted to put her clothes back on. "Your fingers are pretty big…"

Naruto and Hinata were quiet for a long moment before Naruto suddenly started laughing. Hinata was on the brink of tears, but hearing Naruto's bright giggle made her start to laugh as well. It was the most embarrassing moment of her life, but for some reason, she couldn't stop laughing. It was lifting the massive weight hanging on her stomach. Naruto fell back next to her clutching his gut. Hinata rolled next to him, matching his fit of giggles. It was a horrible awkward mess, but it was so terrible, it was funny.

The passion from earlier completely dissipated as Naruto and Hinata's laughter had died down. Naruto was quiet for a moment before hopping out of the bed. "Probably should wash my hands now…"

Hinata nodded and started to collect their discard clothes. She tossed them into the dirty clothes hamper before turning to the bedsheet. It had a few red stains on it. Enough to be embarrassing, but not so much that it was ruined. Hinata pulled the spreading off the bed and folded it into a ball so that the stains were inside the fold. She heard the sounds of running water. It sounded like Naruto had decided to start the shower. Her womanhood was still throbbing painfully so the soothing, hot water sounded like a nice reprieve. Hinata followed after Naruto, leaving most of her modesty tucked into the dirty hamper.

…

"So tell me why you suddenly decided to have a sleep over?" Neji barked at Beki as she climbed into his bed.

"Because, Neji." Beki snapped back at Neji. "Naruto just got back and it's their first week together after his trip. Why do you think they're doing!"

The color drained from Neji's face. "You don't mean…"

Beki smirked. "Oh yeah. Probably like 5 times by now. They keep me up alllllll night."

Neji covered his ears and shook her head furousily. "Lady Hinata!"

Beki laughed and pulled back the covers. "Good night, Neji." She clicked off the light and room fell into darkness.

A long while passed before Neji's voice broke the silence.

"Beki?"

Beki frowned in the dark. "Yes, Neji?" Her patience was clearly not abundant.

"Why do you get the bed again?"

Beki clicked on the light and glared at Neji who was sprawled on the floor with a single blanket that only went to his knees.

"Because you are an upstanding gentleman who couldn't stand the thought of a lady having to sleep on the floor."

Neji nodded. "Oh, that's right. Silly me."

Beki clicked off the light once again. "Goodnight, Neji!"

"Goodnight…Beki." Neji whispered into the darkness.

As you might have noticed, things are heating up a bit. I don't fancy myself a lemon writer, but I really tried my best to keep things pleasant and realistic. It's kind of tough to get into the mindset of two newbie teenagers, but I hope it was an engaging read. I hope you all had some time to read my previous note, but Beki is going to be a permanent addition to the story. I don't much care for how much flak its been getting, but I write to have fun and writing things that are already canon is seriously boring. Anyway, I hope you all please consider joining our discord! It's a free, extremely simple chat room. It can be viewed in browser or you can download the free app for phones or computers! We have a small group already that just take time to get to know each other and talk about Naruto/boruto stuff and well as harass me into writing more! If you are interested, please check it out at discord . gg / PsMqatu (take out the spaces).