To soothe a savage heart

Chapter 6

Ok folks...I know it's been forever and a day but I'm back...sort of.

Part of the problem happened to be the collective jackasses that run this site, and partially due to increasing health issues.

The health issues are self explanatory...the other is a bit more complicated.

Which I will voice at this time. You want info, write me.

This has been a public service announcement from Nara enterprises. I'd tell you what we do for a living, but that would be too troublesome.

OOO

Hinata was so mad it was like steam was coming from off of her head.

Naruto was only slightly oblivious to her anger until she pointed a finger at him and despite pulling Hanabi's panties down to her upper thighs, he shrank back from Hinata and his ears and tails drooped. "NARUTO! What are you doing to my sister?"

Naruto didn't understand a word she said other than his name, but her intent was strong enough that he knew now she was somehow madder then she was earlier that day.

But why was she mad? Didn't she understand he was just checking the other girls scent? Didn't she know that he wanted to know WHY they smelt so similar?

Usually a person's scent is completely different from individual to individual...but for some odd reason, (cough, author's plot device, cough) the other girl smelled almost the same as Hinata and this confused him greatly. Even though his eyes could see the obvious differences in them, his nose told a different story, and it never fooled him before, so why stop trusting it now.

Now if Naruto had been more...human, for lack of a better word, he would have never done something like this because the human world has rules and exceptions and so many other confusing things that we drive ourselves insane over the simplest things...but Naruto was no longer bound by human rules...mostly.

Unfortunately for him he still understood animal as well as human anger and he knew at this moment Hinata, the one he cared about, was about to explode.

With a deepening frown, Naruto slowly stepped off of the girls back, letting her panty waist band rebound with a loud SMACK against her thighs, causing the girl that smelt so similar to the one with soft thighs shriek slightly and she immediately gasped in air, reached down and pulled her panties back into place and stood to her feet, but as Hinata fixed her glare on her she immediately tried to stammer out an excuse. "Sister, wait! I know how this must look and I know you are angry but..."

Hinata's voice was vicious and if it was a knife it would have cut both Naruto and Hanabi down as Naruto whined and cowered slightly behind Hanabi, hands on her hips which didn't go unnoticed by Hinata. "Angry? Oh I'm not angry...I AM PISSED!" she spat out so loud people in the main house blinked as they were sure they heard something but wasn't sure what.

"I told you not to come in the cottage! I told you to stay out and what do I find? Not only you inside the place that I told you not to be, but ALMOST NAKED WITH THE SOMETHING I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO FIND OUT ABOUT!"

Hinata's voice had hit a level that Hanabi had never heard before and it made her eyes widen in shock.

Naruto cowered further behind Hanabi whimpering quietly, hands tightly gripping her hips and surprisingly Hanabi reached back and pat his head as it rested against her backside. Hanabi while sneaky was also very calculating and when she saw an opportunity she grabbed it. "Look...you are scaring him! Please calm down so we can talk about this civilly?"

Hinata growled very animal like and took a step towards Hanabi, but when she looked at Naruto and saw the way he was cowering in fear from her, she realized that maybe she was venting her anger in the wrong way.

With a few deep calming breaths and closing her eyes and counting to ten...thousand...she opened her eyes and smiled at her wayward sister. "Fine...we will talk calmly and rationally." but as she said this she turned and slowly walked to the door and locked it, throwing the bolt in place and locking the deadbolt securely. When she turned around again both Hanabi and Naruto gulped at the maniacal look in Hinata's eyes and the grin on her face. "But no one is leaving this house until I get satisfactory answers and if I do not like the ones I am given...well...father is not the only one with a bad temper."

Hanabi knew exactly what her sister meant...she had seen her father discipline in training someone who had disobeyed him or caused a problem. Hanabi was very skilled in the gentle fist, but she was not about to take on her father while he was angry. At the same time, while Hanabi had beaten her sister in spars in the past...she was skilled enough and intelligent enough to know when someone was giving their all or holding back. She knew for a fact she didn't want Hinata completely angry with her.

Hinata gestured to the dining room table and Hanabi tried to move but Naruto still held her in place. Hanabi tried again, giving him a tug as well...but he would not budge as his eyes were locked on Hinata.

Seeing this Hinata took a deep breath then sighed before she put on a smile and nodded at Naruto. "Come Naruto-kun...it is ok...we are going to talk about this."

The boy in question looked at her for a moment and cocked his head sideways before he whined quietly at her.

Hinata nodded encouragingly at him and took a few steps closer. "It's ok...come on Naruto-kun."

After a few indecisive seconds Naruto finally came completely from Hanabi's shadow and padded over to Hinata, a curious look on his face before he sat in front of her. Hinata still smiling reached out and rubbed his head which of course made him lean into it more with a quiet purr emitting from him.

With that out of the way Hinata walked over to the table and took a seat before she noticed the look on Hanabi's face. "What?" Hinata asked with a slight frown.

Hanabi's voice rose in volume as her incredulous look became more comical. "Naruto? Uzumaki Naruto?"

Hinata simply nodded as Naruto padded over and sat next to her, his hands now on her leg, and Hinata pat his head gently.

Hanabi still not believing pointed at the boy and now shouted, "Uzumaki Naruto...the dobe of your class?"
Hinata frowned and Naruto cocked his head at Hanabi before Hinata spoke in a clear but obviously forced voice. "Hanabi I am already more than cross with you about your state of undress and the fact that you cannot seem to follow a simple directive...don't make this worse by insulting Naruto-kun."

The tone was clipped and icy, much like her father's and it made her shiver but she put her hands up defensively before she stammered out an explanation. "I m..meant no insult sister...I am only saying as I have heard some of the elders and others have called him…that and it is that I cannot believe he is the dobe after what I have seen and experienced today."

Hinata looked at Naruto and he surprisingly looked at her before they both looked at Hanabi again and with a deepening frown on both faces before Hinata barked out one word. "Explain."

Hanabi opened her mouth but then closed it again in thought before opening it again and realized she really couldn't put into words what had put her in her current state. Hanabi looked around and grabbed her discarded pants and started to step into them. "I think it best if I actually showed you."

Hinata still frowning shrugged slightly as since she had already given Hanabi this much leeway she would grant a little more...but her little sneak of a sister better not be trying to trick her!

Hanabi then looked around further and found her top and walked over and picked it up and tied it around her after securing the ties on the inside to her pants. Making sure her clothes were as intact now as they were when she first entered the cottage, Hanabi took a deep breath then looked at her sister. "Now...no matter what he does, please do not interfere until you see what I am talking about? I promise you it will be startling and you will understand better."

Hinata began to protest but something about the way her sister asked and the almost pleading look on her face made her concede. "Alright Hanabi...but no tricks."

Hanabi nodded then after a few deep breaths called out to Naruto in a surprisingly gentle voice. "Come here...it's ok. I want to pet you again."

Naruto looked at Hinata for a second but when she made no move to contradict the invitation he quietly padded over to Hanabi and smiled at her, his lopsided grin making her almost giggle. "That's it...come on." she encouraged as he got closer before she reached out and rubbed his head fur and he began to purr happily.

After a few moments of her just petting him, and Hinata gripping the table tightly because of a surge of jealousy, Naruto began to move around Hanabi again and rub his head against her hips and backside, making her blush but not stopping her from petting him. Everything seemed to be quite normal, (as normal as a boy with fox ears and three tails can be) as he bumped his head against her sister, and quietly sniffed her until his hands suddenly grasped her pants, and began to pull insistently at them.

Hinata blinked in surprise and jumped slightly, but stopped herself from yelling at Naruto as Hanabi lashed out with the gentle fist to stop his questing hands. Again Hinata was about to yell out in protest, this time at Hanabi but what happened next froze the words in her throat.

What was the most startling was Naruto wasn't hit by the strike, in fact his grin got wider and his hand seemed to curl around Hanabi's and slap hers away almost playfully before the chakra even reached him.

Hinata's mouth almost dropped open, but she caught herself as she figured it was just a fluke, until her sister struck at him again and he obviously sidestepped the attack, and reached out and undid her tops sash and pulled it away, leaving Hanabi with her top partially open and her embarrassed look increasing with a hint of frustration.

Now Hinata's interest was piqued as she continued to watch as Naruto almost playfully dodged Hanabi's continued failed strikes, and at the same time undid her top from her pants even though she had double knotted the ties. Blinking still in surprise Hinata activated her byakugan and her brow furrowed slightly as she watched none of Hanabi's chakra strikes came anywhere near Naruto's tenketsu.

Hinata was astounded and could not decide whether to be outraged that he was doing this or amazed that he could do it!

Naruto was never the most skilled or the brightest she was sorry to think but the truth was obvious, and yet he was being both intelligent about what he was doing and efficient.

Hinata's mind began to wander back to when they were in school and the grinning boy who hid his pain so well and yet now was almost completely broken from who he was and tried to understand where this skill could be coming from. So lost in thought she was she didn't notice as Naruto had divested Hanabi of her top, leaving her in just a slight tee shirt, her budding breasts showing clearly through the thin material of the top again. While her face was enflamed in embarrassment, it also had a hint of frustration at the ineffectiveness of her attacks. While Hinata was stunned by the development, Hanabi was soon struggling with Naruto as he had her pants around her knees, much to Hanabi's frustration and again deeper embarrassment.

How is this possible? Hinata thought to herself. Naruto-kun never had the ability to move like this before. Hinata remained deep in thought as these and other questions continued to flit through her mind.

In fact after a few moments Hinata became so lost in thought she failed to notice once Naruto had Hanabi on her stomach again, pants somewhere across the room, and now her panties down around her knees. "Sister! Sister help!"

Hinata finally looked up and completely against her character, with a bit of a mean grin decided this was punishment enough for Hanabi sneaking into the cottage and waited until Naruto had pulled her panties off, and trotted into another room before she sat back from the table, partially in thought partially in satisfaction at her sneaky sisters embarrassment. "Interesting."

Hanabi growled in anger as she stood up, hands and one arm covering her now exposed crotch and breasts as best she could. "That's all you can say? Why didn't you help me?"
Hinata blinked as if in surprise before she cocked her head in a similar way to Naruto at her younger sister. "Help you from what Hanabi-chan? It is obvious Naruto just wanted to help prepare you for your nightly bath. I saw no reason to interfere."

Hanabi almost screamed in frustration, but what surprised them both was when Naruto came trotting back into the room up to Hanabi, and while the damning evidence was once again in his mouth, he dropped her panty at her feet, before he trotted over next to Hinata, lay down and seemed to close his eyes to sleep.

Hinata was now surprised, and Hanabi was caught between surprise and outrage as she thought, Did he take them to prove he could? Is he some kind of weird hentai with a panty fetish?

While these thoughts circled her mind, Hinata was having similar thoughts. Wait why did he give Hanabi's panty back? I had to practically fight him to get mine back from him and then he keeps taking them when he can. Does it mean he only likes mine?

While that last thought gave her a bit of happiness it also posed more questions she didn't have a way to answer.

Hanabi unfortunately didn't know what to do as she now held her panties away from her body in one dainty finger and thumb, her nose wrinkled in disgust. "I can't wear these now...they were in his mouth!"

Hinata had the good grace to blush at this but chuckled. "You might not care so much once you are older."

Hanabi blinked at her sister but Hinata realizing what she just said blushed deeper then shook her head. "Never mind. Now that the demonstration is over, please get dressed and explain to me why you were in the cottage again?"
Hanabi looked indignantly at Hinata and her; what she believed to be "contaminated" panties and Hinata waved her off. "Oh please...you should have spare clothes in one of the other rooms still. Go put those on and THEN we need you to be a bit more forthcoming about your intrusion."

While Hanabi tried to look put out, she recognized the return of the tone of voice her father uses and decided while she changed she would have to think of another way to explain what made her do this.

With a nod she walked into one of the bedrooms she used to stay in and began to look through one of the dressers until she came upon one that held spare clothes for her. After a few minutes she took a pair of panties that she thought would fit her and was in the process of putting them on when she realized she still hadn't thought of a story to tell Hinata to deter her anger.

While Hanabi knew she shouldn't have entered, she also knew that if Hinata wanted, she could cause her no end of grief. After getting dressed she huffed quietly in frustration.

Usually her mind was quick and could find a way out of this problem with little or no problem. Now however, Hanabi's mind seemed to have lost its creativity…in other words she didn't have a clue what to say that could prevent her from being punished.

After what seemed like a small eternity, Hanabi blinked in surprise and a small smile made its way onto her face. Wait…I don't need to create a story…I could just tell the truth! But…would that even work?

While it may seem logical to do that immediately to most, Hanabi had grown so accustomed to fabricating a story that doing something so simple as telling the truth had never occurred to her before other than when she was much younger. While the truth in this situation might seem a bit on the dishonest side because she still did wrong, it was now obvious to her that it might also be the one thing that could save her from her sister's wrath.

As Hanabi was getting dressed, Hinata looked at the fox boy in question and wondered at his thought process. He seemed to like Hanabi well enough and seemed to do all of the things to her that he had done to Hinata so far but he didn't try to keep her panty, or snort them like he did hers she pondered with her face turning red briefly. What was so different?

Hanabi's body was still developing, Hinata supposed, but it was obvious she would be built very similar to Hinata in a few years. Was Naruto sensing that about her? But then what was the reason for him to sniff and like Hinata's panty, but not Hanabi's?

While the thoughts made her face burn in embarrassment, the reasoning to it all baffled her and made her wonder what was truly going on.

As Hinata contemplated this, a knock at the door made her blink and look at it wondering who was here at this hour.

While it was not unheard of for someone to go to a person's house unannounced, she had not expected anyone to be coming here…except maybe her father. With a slight shrug she walked to the door after checking to make sure Naruto was still laying under the table unseen, she opened it slightly and peaked outside.

Outside a woman stood wearing a chunnin vest. The most noticeable thing about her was the standard face markings of the Inuzuka clan. "Hello…Hinata?" She asked in a relaxed voice. Hinata nodded slightly and the woman smiled as she continued. "I am Hana Inuzuka, I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

Hinata's eyes opened slightly wider at the recognition of the woman in front of her and nodded. "It is nice to meet you Inuzuka-san Yes I am Hinata Hyuuga and while I knew you might be coming eventually, I had no idea you would be here so soon."

Hana nodded once as she shifted her weight to the other leg as she made a slight noncommital shrug. "Well your father made it obvious it was important so I came when I had a chance. It so happened that my duties at the vet ended early today so…here I am!"

Hinata nodded with a smile before she opened the door and stood back. "Won't you come in?"

Hana nodded as she walked in and Hinata closed and locked the door behind her and walked over to the table gesturing for the woman to sit. "Would you like some tea?"

Hana smiled but shook her head in the negative. "No thank you…actually I would like to see…" was as far as she got as Hanabi came in and stopped as she looked at the Inuzuka now seated at the table.

Hana made to stand up but Hinata waved her back into her seat. "Please stay…you aren't interrupting anything…In fact I think it preferable that my sister sit and listen to our conversation."

Hana looked from one to the other before she shrugged and settled back in her chair again. "It's your house…and I'm just a visitor here."

Hinata smiled in a friendly fashion at her before her face became more stoic and she looked at her younger sister again. "Now Hanabi…you were going to explain why you were in here?"

Hanabi took in a breath and let it out with a sigh but before she could speak Hinata froze and let out a loud eep and her face turned crimson as a loud "SNORT" came from beneath the table.

No one had noticed that Naruto had taken up lazy residence with his head on the seated Hinata's lap as she sat again at the table nor that he had just now buried his face in the center of Hinata's crotch and…well the rest is obvious.

Hanabi's eyes got wide, and Hana jumped to her feet with a look of shock and a shout of "What the hell?" as she saw Hinata now trying to hold Naruto's head away from her delicate region. Naruto however was oblivious to everything except his target and Hinata trying to hold him at bay. His tails waved excitedly, and his tongue hung out of his mouth as his hands and feet scrabbled at the floor, trying desperately to get to her.

Hanabi was caught between wanting to help her sister, but at the same time not be stripped naked again by the deft fingered fox boy, and wanting a little revenge for what Hinata let happen to her earlier.

Hana however had seen enough and approached Naruto and Hinata decisively and swatted Naruto on the butt with her sandal with a shout of "SIT!" which caused Naruto to yelp in surprise and immediately sat down with a whimper as Hana glared at him.

Seeing the look on Naruto's face made Hinata turn and glare at Hana. "You HURT him!"

Even Hanabi was shocked and for some reason she couldn't understand why it upset her that the Inuzuka had made Naruto cry out like that, but Hana casually put her sandal back on before she glared right back at Hinata. "Of course I hurt him, it's called discipline for a reason! Obviously the problem here is worse than what your father led me to believe."

Hinata not to be deterred put her arms around Naruto's head and hugged him to her bosom as he whined softly. "I'm sure my father also told you I don't want him to be hurt. It isn't his fault he is like this…I want to help him, not punish him."

Hana grumbled slightly then took a deep breath and calmed down before she spoke again. "Look, there are only a few ways to train an animal to obey. One of the most popular and effective is referred to as the "carrot and the stick."

At Hinata AND Hanabi's confused looks Hana tried to find the simplest way to explain. "Look, when you train an animal," and at Hinata's glare she took a deep breath and amended her statement, "I mean an animal like intelligence, you have to teach it a punishment and reward system. Otherwise it won't obey and it won't listen. You show the subject if you will that you mean business and disobedience will be punished, but good behavior and listening will be rewarded."

Hinata and Hanabi both seemed to nod at this as understanding filtered in, but Naruto still looked at Hana warily as she leaned towards him. "It also depends on how you talk too...if your tone of voice suggests seriousness, then the subject will listen. If your voice suggests fear or uncertainty then the subject is likely to disobey you."

Hinata frowned slightly as she considered. "Ok I understand all of that, though I am not too keen on the hitting. But what do I do to reward him?"

Hana smirked before she shrugged slightly. "That depends on the subject actually. Usually a snack of some sort like a piece of jerky or a treat at the table is appropriate, but sometimes it can be other things."

Hanabi chimed in now as she was actually more curious about this now than before. "Like what?"

Hana stood up straight and placed her hands on her hips as she looked at Hanabi. "Well if the subject has a favorite thing like a blanket or toy or something. I remember when the ash triplets were younger they hated to be separated from me, so when I had to do something without them I would leave one of my sweat shirts or some article of clothing and they would settle down and wait patiently for me to return."

Hinata's eyes got wide and Hanabi smirked as she thought about it. I think I understand now...he likes panties because of comfort? No...I don't understand.

Hinata however had begun to blush and Hana caught on to the look on her face. "Wait...you have an article of clothing he likes?" Before Hinata could voice her thought as her face got redder Hana broke in. "Well you should use that! If he behaves properly then you should let him have whatever it is...but if he misbehaves then take it away."

Hinata finally got her mouth to work again after it opened and closed a few minutes with no conscious effort. "W...what if I'm w..wearing it at the time?"

Hana blinked then just shrugged. "Well then use something that you had wore recently. It doesn't have to be the one you are wearing at the time, but if it was worn recently the better."
Hinata looked skeptical as her blush faded so Hana decided to elaborate. "Look...it is apparent that he has gone backwards mentally, almost to where he functions as much as an animal does. So if I am correct he associates you by scent."

Hinata blinked at the same time that Hanabi did Hana grinned as she looked between the two of them. "A dog associates everything by scent. While a dogs eyes do work, it's nose identifies far more then it's eyes do." Hinata blinked again but realization came to her and she smiled. "So when he smells me, he is identifying me?"

Hana nodded before she shrugged. "Well there is more to it than that but that is the gist of it."

Hinata's face fell as she glanced at her sister then looked at Naruto. "Then why does he react similarly to Hanabi?"

Hana frowned as she looked over and saw Naruto butting his head against Hanabi's thighs so she would pet him.

With a slight blush, Hanabi reached down and was about to pet him when her eyes caught Hinata's and she hesitated, not wanting her to go off the deep end again.

Hana seeing the glare Hinata was about to level at her sister put her hand on Hinata's shoulder. "No...let them. The more he is able to interact especially with family members, the quicker his adjustment will be."

Hinata looked at her with a frown as she glanced back at Hanabi and nodded once curtly to her before looking at Hana again.

Hana smiled softly and gestured to Naruto. "Think of it this way...ever see a puppy...you know full of energy, bouncing from one spot to the next? Well what happens after the puppy is associated with a few people? In time it only recognizes them as being part of their family...but they usually calm down and listen only to those select few. I believe Naruto will be the same way, and once we have boundaries set he will respect those boundaries and it will be easier to teach him a lot of what he has lost."

Hinata still looked a bit skeptical, but Hana smirked at her before patting her shoulder. "Don't worry...we'll fix everything."

Hinata looked back at Hanabi who was now rubbing Naruto's head as he purred loudly and wondered what this all would mean.

After some thought Hinata frowned again before she looked at Hana. "Um…" she said hesitantly as her blush returned. "Na..Naruto-kun likes something of mine th..that isn't appropriate for him to be playing with."

Hana frowned as she considered the almost purple girl in front of her then looked to Hanabi who was also blushing and nodding her head as his face rubbed against her backside as he was walking around her. "Yeah…if it is what I think it is h..he likes mine t..too."

Hinata again glared at her sister despite the embarrassment. "No HE doesn't like yours!"

Hanabi frowned at her older sister which caused Hana to look from one to the other as they began to glare lightning at each other and she began to get a glimmer of what she thought they meant. "Wait…wait a minute. Explain to me what the two of you are talking about?"

Hinata looked at her sister still and Hanabi looked at Hinata but neither said a word as they glared at each other and still blushed.

Hana having enough looked around the room but saw nothing obvious to cause the both of them to be embarrassed but knew if it involved both of them then it had to be something intimate, and then the word intimate hit her and she grinned as she looked at Hinata. "He likes your panties!" The blunt dog user shouted triumphantly only for Hinata and Hanabi to swoon and it seemed like both would faint until they were able to bring themselves under control. Hana frowned though as she looked from Hinata to Hanabi's reaction and realization struck her before she performed a few hand signs, quietly cast a jutsu, then walked over and sniffed near Hinata.

Hinata blinked as she watched Hana sniff at her then frowned as the Inuzuka frowned then walked over and sniffed at Hanabi, causing her to blink in confusion and sniff again. Mumbling to herself, Hana walked over and sat on the couch in thought. Hinata frowning more now walked over and sat across from her. "What is it? Tell me what is wrong?"

Hana lost in thought for a moment seemed to begin talking to herself. "It's almost the same…so strange but almost exactly the same."

Hanabi now came over, Naruto quietly padding behind her until she sat down also and he sat between the two of them on the floor.

"What do you mean Hana-san? What is the same?" Hanabi asked finally breaking Hana out of her thoughts. "Oh…" she replied. "I think I know what the problem is…but I'm not sure of a solution."

Hinata blinked as her hand absently reached over and stroked Naruto's head and unbeknownst to her Hanabi's did the same and Naruto purred happily.

"Hana looked at both girls and frowned slightly. "Well…animals associate through smell as I said, and Naruto is no different at this time…but I believe he is confused between the two of you."
Both Hinata and Hanabi looked at each other before they looked at Hana again. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Hana took a deep breath and let it out before she shrugged and bulled ahead. "Well as I notice, you and your sister's scents are almost exactly the same, and I believe that is what is causing some of the chaos. He associates with you Hinata…but since you and your sister smell so similar, he has latched onto both of you…so to speak.

Hinata…did not look happy at this, while Hanabi had a slight smile on her face. "So that means he likes me?"

Hinata immediately glared at her younger sister and growled. "No he DOESN'T!"

Hana seeing the fur about to fly between the two of them immediately stepped in. "Um…actually he might. Since you both are soft with him, and you both smell alike, he may decide to bond with both of you."

Hinata lurched to her feet with a shout of indignation. "He can't!" Naruto to Hanabi's surprise bolted away and around the back of the loveseat while Hana watched the reaction before she looked at Hinata again. "And…why can't he?"

Hinata blinked for a second before she shouted, "He…he likes me!"

Hana frowned at this, "He can like more than one person."

Hinata tried again, "He…He only relates to me!"

Hana shook her head as she arched an eyebrow at Hanabi who was petting the now returned Naruto who was sitting to her side farthest away from the angry Hinata. "I don't think that's true."

Hinata pouted before she pointed at Hanabi. "She doesn't really care about him!"

Hana looked at Hanabi who shrugged. "Oh I don't know. He is friendly and kind of cuddly when he isn't trying to rub his face in my cr..crotch." she stuttered at the end, her cheeks turning pink making Hana smirk in vindication. "That's what I thought." She said as she looked at both sisters. "So be honest, Hinata it is obvious in you but not so much in Hanabi. You've been having…feelings for Naruto haven't you? Or more importantly he is having reactions to you?"

Hinata blushed again before she sat down again. She looked at Hanabi then after a few seconds seemed to nod in shame at the older Kunoichi.

Hanabi not sure blinked as she looked at her sister then Hana. "Feelings? What are you talking about?"

Hana frowned at the younger girl before looking at Hinata who sighed in frustration because of this conversation. "Remember when we talked and I told you how your body would blossom eventually and you would start liking boys?"

Hanabi's eyes widened as she looked from the oblivious Naruto to the blushing Hinata. "Wait…you…you mean he gets you," and here Hanabi leaned closer as if sharing a world shaking secret, "Hot and bothered?" she mumbled quietly.

At Hinata's squeak of embarrassment Hana guffawed loudly and almost fell onto the floor. Hanabi just stared incredulously at Hinata and she grumbled under her breath as the Inuzuka chunnin laughed until her stomach hurt.

After a few moments Hana finally collected herself then nodded at Hanabi. "I think that is the deciding factor between the two of you in his eyes. Hinata is a woman, and you Hanabi are close, but are not."

If Hana only knew just how much her statement hurt Hanabi's pride she might have chosen her words more carefully. I..I am a woman!" The younger Hyuuga almost shouted.

Hinata seemed to smirk in triumph now as she crossed her arms at her over bearing sister. "Hmmm. And yet he tries to keep my panties all the time and returned yours to you."

In fact now that she thought about it, Naruto's always rising problem had not made an appearance while he wrestled with Hanabi…even after he had her stripped and his prize in hand, (in mouth actually) his usually obvious libido seemed to be in neutral.

Hanabi flushed scarlet, whether in rage or embarrassment is unknown but Hana butted in again preventing any further painful words to be spoken. "Listen…the two of you are going to have to work together on this."

Hinata immediately jumped to her feet again as her butt hadn't even touched the couch as she glared at Hana. "But why?"

Hana shrugged as she sat back on the couch and crossed her legs. "Because since the two of you are so similar it will make it easier for you to help him."

Hinata blinked in response before she shouted. "She can't!"

Hana frowned again as she looked at Hinata a little exasperated. "Why not if I'm allowed to ask?"

Hinata thought hard for a second before she blurted out, "Hanabi is too young!"

Hana blinked but Hanabi butted in, "I am only a year and two months younger than you."

Hinata stamped her foot and pouted at her sister. "But I saw him first, and you haven't even had your period yet!"

Hana chuckled as she shook her head and Hanabi squawked almost similar to a angry chicken. "SISTER!"

Hana laid a somewhat gentle hand on Hanabi's shoulder to calm her "Look…it isn't like you are going to lose him to your sister…besides I would say your sister is a late bloomer, so it will probably be six months to a year before she has the hormone change that will make him really notice her."

Hinata didn't look convinced but Hana continued talking. "Besides…what's going to happen if you have to go on a mission?"

Hinata opened then quietly closed her mouth with a click as she considered the words. She would need someone to watch after him…and she knew she couldn't take him with her. She would have to speak to the hokage about the parameters of her mission to Naruto…but in the meantime she would have to find a way to broker a deal with Hanabi to continue to watch over the fox boy if she couldn't.

Hana seeing the torn decision on Hinata's face pat her on her shoulder. "Don't worry. When he is able to discern and make judgment calls again I'm sure you won't have to worry about this anymore…the sooner the better."

Hinata nodded slowly and led Hana to the front door. "I'm going on a mission for a week, but I will stop back in when I get back to see how you are doing."

Hinata nodded and absently shut the door and turned around when she realized someone was missing. A quick head count and she turned and flung open the door and watched as Hanabi retreated down the walkway talking to Hana.

"The little sneak…" Hinata ground out as she closed the door and threw the bolts in place, but anyone who would have walked by there that night would swear they heard two cries of protest.

"Naruto-kun…let go of my pants! Soon followed by, "No get your nose out of there!" in a much higher pitch.

O

Hana walked side by side with the younger Hyuuga and as they approached the gate she stopped and turned to her. "Go ahead…ask."

Hanabi frowned a second before she turned completely towards the dog nin and struggled for a second before she asked. "So…it's the hormone he likes?"

Hana rolled her eyes before she shook her head. "No. What he likes is the sweet smell that comes from a woman's body when she is ready to mate."

Hanabi's mouth opened and closed for a second before Hana tried to break it gently to her. "Look, it's obvious he likes you…but you don't possess what he wants." Which again was the wrong thing for Hana to say to Hanabi that night. Hana patted the girls shoulder, thinking she was being gentle with her, but it didn't matter anymore as Hanabi stopped listening and Hana shrugged and walked away.

In Hanabi's mind, she was once again the loser in her private war with Hinata. Hinata got to know there mother, she didn't. Hinata got to be a ninja, she was on the verge of graduating, but was already told she couldn't be a ninja as it would risk both heirs. She had friends and people who liked her, Hanabi sat alone most of the time. And the worst part was when her father started paying more and more attention to Hinata, and what seemed to be less with her all because he felt he was not being fair to his eldest daughter..

She growled impressively as she ground her teeth together in frustration.

Hinata was beating her at everything…EVERYTHING!

Hanabi even had no suitors. Usually by this age there would be marriage proposals and men calling to know her and if they could see her. None had inquired about Hanabi except one old fat merchant who Neji immediately escorted out and asked to never return.

It was said the man was still in a body cast.

But that was neither here nor there…Hanabi looked down at herself and frowned. True Hinata had an impressive rack for her age. Bordering on a C cup her sister had a lot of what men wanted Hanabi had to admit to herself. Looking around she quickly reached down and squeezed her chest and sighed. While they were there…Hanabi had not grown enough to qualify as an A cup and in her pride she refused to wear training bras. With a sigh she let her hands drop to her sides before she growled again in frustration. All Hanabi could think of was how far ahead Hinata was compared to her and in her mind was she now had the opportunity to be even with Hinata…so she thought. She would not keep her from Naruto…She would not beat her again! Hanabi at that moment decided that she would do whatever it took to make sure she didn't lose again.

O

The next morning Hanabi grinned as she looked at the bottle of pills she pilfered from one of the ladies in the branch house. The woman was on a hormone therapy that would help her with fertility as she had been having a difficult time getting pregnant. While Hanabi knew a bit of what the branch members lives were like because of their gossiping, she was only worried about the results. This particular woman was small breasted and small hipped a half a year ago, after she started taking the hormone pills she had swollen to a D cup and her hips were at least 36 inches if Hanabi's ears and eyes were correct. With a grin and a decisive nod, Hanabi being ever present in the house had waited until her chambers were empty, snuck in, and stole one of the bottles from the woman's supply.

She figured by the time she missed it, the evidence would be long gone as Hanabi had no intention of keeping it around for long.

The instructions said to take one pill a day until gone…but Hanabi figured two pills a day wouldn't hurt, in fact it would make her irresistible to Naruto in no time and THEN she could rub it in her smug sisters face who Naruto wanted more!

She popped the first two pills and chased it with a glass of water, grimacing at the taste. "It's a good thing I don't plan on taking more of these when they are gone…yuck!"

Hanabi looked around the room but after a few minutes decided she would hide it with her stash.

Going under the bed Hanabi pulled a slat loose from under the bed frame where she kept a half empty bottle of sake, a picture of her mother and father she had swiped some time ago from her father's desk drawer, and her final guilty pleasure. Hanabi pulled out with some difficulty a five pound chocolate bar she had won at the kyuubi festival. Carefully she broke a small piece off and popped it in her mouth and sighed in bliss.

While such things were not forbidden by the Hyuuga clan, it was mostly forbidden by Hiashi who didn't want his children losing their teeth to excessive indulgence in sweets.

Hinata loved her cinnamon buns…but Hanabi's obsession was something that would have had her father staring at her sternly and while she was a stern Hyuuga woman when she needed to be, she still had not learned how to stand up to Hiashi without becoming the vulnerable little girl to protect herself.

With a sad sigh she maneuvered her prizes into the hidey hole and put the slat back in place before she waited patiently on her bed.

After a few minutes, the knock she was waiting for came and she smirked before composing herself again. "Come in?"

The door slid open and in the entrance stood one Hinata Hyuuga who did not look happy to be here but was resigned to what she needed to do. "Hanabi…I need you to watch Naruto-kun when I am not around…what will you want to do this?"

Hanabi stared at her sister thoughtfully and smirked inside before she answered. "I only want equal time with him. I can help him too you know. All I want is to be able to be friends with him like you."

Hinata bit back the retort about her sister not being able to be equal until she "blossomed" and used a different sentence. "Hanabi if you use this opportunity to hurt Naruto-kun…"

Hanabi glared at her sister before she shot back. "I didn't hurt him yesterday and I don't want to hurt him now! I only…" and at this point Hanabi had an actual surge of emotion that caught Hinata off guard. "I just want him to like me." She said in a much quieter voice.

Hinata stood flabbergasted for a moment as she saw something she thought she would never see in her sister.

Vulnerability.

Hanabi was truly sincere about wanting Naruto to like her, but her motivation wasn't what Hinata believed it to be.

After a few seconds of careful thought Hinata nodded to Hanabi. "Alright…but if he starts acting more…affectionate towards you; you have to tell me…and you can't let anyone know what is going on or WHO is in the Sakura cottage. Do you understand?"

Hanabi nodded quickly but Hinata came more into the room and shut the door and glared at Hanabi so hard it made her freeze. "NO. You can't do this half assed! Naruto-kun's life could be threatened if people knew he was here! Swear it!"

Hanabi blinked in surprise then nodded quickly with her right palm placed over her heart. "I..I swear!"

Hinata searched her eyes before she growled realistically before she narrowed her eyes at her. "Swear it on mother's soul!"

Hanabi gasped in surprise, eyes wide before she nodded slowly and crossed both of her hands over her heart. "On mother's soul, I swear it."

Hinata searched her eyes for a hint of falsehood then nodded slowly. "I will trust you Hanabi…do not make me regret that decision." Hinata said before she turned and left her sister to mull over the conversation. No one can know he is here? His life could be threatened? Just what have I gotten myself into?

Next Episode: Growing pains…