NARUTO IS PROPERTY OF MASASHI KISHIMOTO

"Kyuubi talking"

'Kyuubi thinking'

"Normal speech"

'Characters thinking'

Author's note:

This is a chapter about love. 3

Leave a review if you have something to say!

Generation Lost

Chapter 16: Fantasy

"Baby, there's just one thing I need from you
Baby, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
Lately I think I need you on my team
'Cause lately You're my fucking fantasy"

"Naruto-kun, wake up." Hinata called softly. She touched the blond's arm lightly and shook him.

"Huh?" The whiskered hero asked disoriented, lifting one of his eyelids. He had already grown used to the swaying of the chariot, but still felt he needed at least ten hours more of rest.

"We're here." Announced Neji, the lights of the city reflecting on his pupil-less eyes.

Naruto straightened his back. He looked outside from his window and noticed how it was already nightfall, and tons of neon lights hit his face, making him wince a little.

He let out a low whistle. This was definitively a lively part of town. There was people everywhere and flashes assaulted his face every two seconds. The noise was slowly getting to his ears.

"Looks like we're in a parade or something." Naruto mentioned as he rubbed the sleep off his eyes. He found the etiquette book discarded on the floor near his feet.

Neji clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Something like that. I hate those petty reporters."

His words and behavior confused Naruto beyond measure. He turned his head to look at Hinata, who was sitting beside him. She anticipated his questions. "They're here for us, Naruto-kun."

"What?" He felt the signs of a new headache start to from in the back of his head.

"The paparazzi. They are covering the gala."

The clogs in Naruto's mind slowly started working. The jinchuriki sharply turned his head to the side, and looked out the window, this time with renewed curiosity. The flashes blinded him momentarily, and he now noticed that people were pointing out at him and redirecting their expensive cameras to his direction.

"Oh, fuck." Naruto felt how the sleepiness had left him at once.

Neji smirked at his paling face. "Now you get it."

Their ride stopped suddenly, and they heard the creaks of the car as the chauffer stepped down from his place at the front and prepared to open the door.

"Wait a second, please." Ordered Hinata, the mission leader, from her side of the ride. She turned to look at her boyfriend. "Naruto-kun, the mission starts here. Please remember everything I told you."

She felt a tad worried at the look Naruto was throwing at her. He looked terrified and uncomfortable beyond words. The blond tried to remember if there was any protocol against the paparazzi. There was only one rule. The less photos of him, the better. He pushed his hood up against his head and nodded, feeling squeamish all over.

Neji opened the door from within and the low murmurs from outside became waves of noises coming up from every angle. The flashes didn't stop coming.

Neji climbed down first, face stoic as ever. He then disappeared from Naruto's view.

"Go on, Naruto-kun." Hinata's voice caught him by surprise. He glanced at her and realized she was looking at him with concern. 'Do I really look that scared?' Apparently, since Hinata thought it was fitting to kiss him in the cheek and say some encouraging words to him. "I know you will do great." Her kiss served to ease him some. God, he wished it was only the two of them. With a final look at his brand new girlfriend and a shaky breath, the blond climbed down as his fists turned to balls. His eyes were momentarily blinded by the wave of white light that crept up to his face, and the sounds around him started to overwhelm him.

"Naruto-san! Welcome!"

"A smile over here, Naruto-san!"

"Will you answer some of our questions, Naruto-san?!"

He stood rooted in place, but Hinata was standing next to him a second later. He looked back at her, and his feet started to move on their own, walking along with her to the entrance of their hotel.

"Over here, Naruto-san!"

"Take off the hood!"

"Are the two of you together?"

Naruto felt his hate intensify at the breach of his privacy. Two men dressed in matching blue suits beckoned them towards the entrance of the building, and closed the doors as soon as they crossed. The noise drowned at once.

"Hyuuga-sama." Another man, older looking than the two who led them in, walked up to them. Neji approached them too. "Uzumaki-sama. It is an honor to welcome you to the Ryuuji Palace."

Hinata returned the light bow the man was offering them, but Naruto was still disgusted at the people outside to show any kind of warmth. "Thank you for the warm welcome. We look forward to get to our rooms and prepare for the charity event."

"Of course, milady." He turned around and led them to the main elevator. "Your rooms are ready to use, and your luggage is being taken to the eight floor right this moment."

"Thank you." Neji piped up, stepping into the golden elevator. Naruto followed him in, and then Hinata.

'This is gonna be bad.' Naruto was telling himself, unsure of sharing his feelings to his friends.

"We have one hour to change. Most of the attendants are already in the reception room."

Naruto was afraid to ask how many people would be attending tonight's gala. But he still did.

"What's the capacity for tonight's event?"

"Do you really want to know the answer to that question?" Neji said, looking gravely at him.

"You're right. Forget it."

Neji nodded in approval.

"What is taking him so long?" Neji asked with a frown, looking down at the end of the hall, where Naruto's room was supposed to be.

Hinata shifted on her toes nervously, also asking herself that same question. "Get going, Neji-ni. I'm going to get him."

"Don't take long." The jounin called after his cousin, admiring the gorgeous dress she was wearing tonight.

The girl knocked three times under the 809 golden sign and waited.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Naruto-kun."

After waiting three seconds, Naruto opened the door. "Hi Hin, come on i- Wow!"

His outburst made her jump in surprise.

"Oh my God, Hin, you look amazing!" He said dramatically, taking a hand to his combed hair in astonishment.

The girl licked her lips and blushed. "Thank you. You look amazing too."

Her words reached deaf ears, as Naruto was too entranced admiring her as she entered the room.

Her dress was golden and very tight around her body. Naruto's eyes grew even more when he saw her naked back staring back at him. She had an opening that reached the end of her back. The view was perfect, since Hinata had her hair arranged in an elegant bun that just made her look even more radiant than ever. 'Holy fuck.'

"Naruto-kun, please stop staring." The girl said firmly, although her blush had intensified the slightest bit. Naruto snapped out of his trance and lifted his eyes to her face, ready to say an excuse. "And don't try denying it this time, you can't fool me."

Taken aback, but unable to go down without a fight, the blond replied, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

If they had time to flirt back at each other, Hinata would gladly start their banter, but they were behind schedule.

"Do you need help with your tie?" She asked out of politeness, as she was already moving towards him and taking the disheveled tie hanging loosely from Naruto's neck.

"Yeah, I need more practice…" The blond scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He felt the tie loosen up as the woman in front of him unraveled it to start from zero. He was forced to straighten his neck as much as he could to give her full access. He felt his shoulders relax incredibly as he took in her sweet aroma, heightened by the delicious perfume she was wearing tonight.

'If doing a couple of galas is what it takes to see her like this…' Naruto wasn't about to tell her that she was standing right in front of the mirror in his room, and he had a clear view of her perfect skin. The golden fabric hugged her waist so tightly it was almost as he if he was looking through it. 'Maybe I could arrange for an extra event.'

"Naruto-kun."

The Uzumaki swallowed hard as he realized she had finished a good while ago and she had caught him staring with his mouth hanging open in an infinite sigh.

"I-"

"You need to concentrate, please." Her tone was thoroughly annoyed, and she showed it by crossing her arms in front of her.

"I know…" He was about to apologize but the gorgeous woman spoke sooner.

"Let's go."

The hall that led to the meeting room was lavishly decorated with red and golden tapestries hanging down the walls.

There were two parallel tables with two clerks on each table and a notebook opened in front of them. Naruto felt the need to grab Hinata's hand but resisted the urge.

"Good evening." One of the crew members greeted with a polite smile. "Name please?"

The man sitting beside him was asking the same thing to Hinata. Naruto felt a sigh escape him knowing that no one knew how he looked yet. He wet his lips before identifying himself. "Uzumaki Naruto."

The clerk had already his head down ready to search for his name on the list, but upon processing the name given he snapped his head back up. His fellow coworkers looked at their direction.

"Uzumaki-sama, of course." His calm demeanor turned ecstatic and nervous. "Right this way."

Naruto felt uncomfortable at once at such polite suffix. The other clerks resisted the urge to talk to him, as they were very well trained on maintaining their calm even with the most important guests.

"Enjoy your night, Hyuuga-sama."

"Thank you." Hinata replied politely.

As they walked towards the source of noises and light music coming from the end of the hall, the girl turned her head left to see Naruto walk with stiff shoulders and pursed lips. Even if he looked positively uncomfortable, Naruto carried himself with more confidence than before. She wondered what might have caused that change in behavior.

"Here we go." Naruto muttered under his breath to the brightly lit room. There was a huge chandelier handing ominously on top of almost the whole diameter of the gigantic room. "Wow."

There were numerous round tables scattered all through the room, and a big platform on the corner of the room. The tables were strategically placed so each person could have a clear view to the podium standing on top of the stage. On the wall behind it, printed in big cursive words, read:

Konohagakure No Sato's Fundraiser

Uzumaki Naruto – Guest of Honor

The blond felt the need for a drink.

"That's Hyuuga Hinata." Naruto's ears perked up at the name of his girlfriend being mentioned. He first looked down at her, then to the two cameramen that were standing next to a pillar a few feet away from them. As their eyes met, the bearded man's face lit up. "Look! He's got whiskers!"

His companion immediately stood up straight, and started walking towards them purposefully. Naruto felt his nerves hitting max.

"Uzumaki-san, is that you?" The auburn-haired man was taking a notepad from his pocket and a pen from his resting place on his ear.

"Uhm, yeah." The blond said timidly. He was painfully aware of the red light coming off from the camera that was poised right next to the man's ear.

"Tobirake Hanago, from the Fiery Talk. Would you mind answering some questions?" His pen was poised on top of the white paper threateningly, and his eyes looked hungry for answers. Naruto couldn't explain how a shorter, non-shinobi person made him feel intimidated.

"Hanago-san, I'm afraid we are running on a tight schedule. Maybe we could grant you a brief interview after Uzumaki-san's speech." Hinata interceded rapidly.

"I'll hold you to that promise, Hyuuga-san. How about a quick photo before the big event?" His medium-sized camera was at the ready.

"Of course."

Naruto didn't move a muscle as the flash came and went.

"One more." Hanago's partner said as he adjusted the settings on his camera before going for various other shots. The flash immediately attracted other cameramen, and as soon as they saw the Hyuuga heiress standing next to the man described as Uzumaki Naruto, they took photos of their own.

"That's enough." Naruto said in an annoyed tone, feeling overwhelmed by the never-ending flashes. He immediately changed his tone, after a light touch from the Hyuuga. He eased his voice. "The night's still young. I'll see you later."

He started to walk forward, and the reporters made way for him and the woman walking behind him. The flashes started again.

"It's Ok, Naruto-kun. They have to photograph every instance of the gala."

Before he could turn to her, an older couple approached them with pleasant smiles.

"Hyuuga-san. It's nice to see you again." The older man said. He, like all the other men in the room, was wearing a tuxedo.

"Likewise, Yamamoto-san." She smiled and lent her hand to be gracefully kissed by the man. Naruto's left eye twitched the slightest bit.

"And you must be Uzumaki Naruto." The woman he supposed to be his wife said, extending her hand much like Hinata did a second ago. The Jinchuriki hesitated for a second, but he quickly remembered Hinata's etiquette training, and grabbed her gloved hand delicately, placing his lips on top of her knuckles. 'I don't like this already.'

"Nice to meet you, Missis Yamamoto."

He shook the man's hand firmly. "Thank you for coming."

"So, you do have whiskers!" The woman said with a faint laugh. Naruto didn't know what to think of it.

"Most unusual."

"Otto-san, is that who I think it is?" Another man, maybe in his 30's, walked up from behind them. Naruto saw with a heavy heart, how maybe 25 people turned to look at them and started coming over.

Hinata told him this would happen. They were supposed to greet people as they approached the podium. Neji was already fulfilling his duty, talking with as many people as he encountered.

"Uzumaki-san, may I present to you the head of the local police. Yuma-san." Naruto shook the older man's hand and forced a smile to his lips.

"It's an honor to meet such a personality." Said the bearded man. Naruto, instead to try and start a conversation of his own with the guest, turned to Hinata.

"Uhm, this is Hyuuga Hinata, heiress of the Hyuuga clan." Hinata, at hearing her name, turned her face to the newcomer with a practiced smile.

"Yuma-san, nice to see you again."

"You're radiant as ever, Hyuuga-san." For the second time, he watched as Hinata's hand got kissed. Feeling this was going to be a long night, the blond decided he needed a glass of wine.

"Will you grace us with the story of how you defeated Akatsuki and revived all the villagers, Naruto-san?" Yuma's question sparked interest all around. There were at least fifteen souls gathered around them.

"Perhaps." The blond said, feeling his energy drained by the second.

"Oh, but you must, Naruto-san!" A woman, this time one on her 20's approached him with a glass of champagne on her left hand. "I've only heard rumors."

"And you are?" The blond tried to be as charming as he could. The woman, wearing a generous cleavage with her red dress extended her arm excitedly. Naruto took it gently.

"Karanawa Mite, from the Karanawa family." The woman blushed at his penetrating blue eyes. Hinata rolled her eyes, but was then called by another man greeting her.

Naruto had no idea who the Karanawa family was, and he saw Hinata from the corner of his eye talking with a small group of people. He was on his own now. "Mite-san, I'll try to tell the events of the attack without dwelling too much on the gory parts."

"But those are the best parts!" Another young man said from within the crowd. This earned a few chuckles from the people gathered around Naruto. A few waiters holding various glasses of champagne began to surround the crowd, and Naruto managed to catch the gaze from one of them.

"How old are you, Naruto-san?" Yamamoto's wife piped in, wanting to talk to him more than to Hinata.

"Seventeen, ma'am." The blond answered, grabbing two glasses from the tray offered to him.

"You're not even of age yet!" The old woman said with honest surprise. This time, the crowd laughed more candidly.

"As a ninja, I am." Naruto replied with a smile. He stepped closer to Hinata.

"Hin, care for a drink?" The girl excused herself from the man she was entertaining as she received Naruto's offering.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun." The girl said with a warm smile.

"Kun?" A younger man repeated. "Say, is she your girlfriend Naruto-san?"

Before the blond could even react to that question, Neji approached them with his own glass of wine.

"What are you saying Igute-san? Naruto here is too young to have a girlfriend." The tall Hyuuga placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder that, to the guest looked like a friendly act, but from the grip being applied to his shoulder, Naruto knew it had a meaning of its own.

"We've just been friends ever since we were little." Hinata answered. She then turned to look at Naruto. "Right, Naruto-kun?"

"Right…" The whiskered man said, catching on. According to Neji's theory, which he had explained early on their ride to the city, Konoha would receive more donations if Naruto could attract the attention of the young, rich ladies. He wouldn't be as effective if he said he was already taken.

"Well, we can continue the meet and greet after the speech. For now, how about we all take a seat?" Hinata addressed the crowd that was between them and the podium.

Even if the crowd wanted to have a longer taste of the interesting young hero, they also wanted to hear what he had to say.

After a few minutes of elderly people finding their respective seats in front of the lavishly decorated tables, Naruto, Hinata and Neji walked towards the podium. With every step, Naruto felt his hands warmer and warmer, and his heart speeding up.

First up was Neji. The older of them climbed the short stairs with his back straight and a calm demeanor. The murmur that roamed all throughout the tables died down as he cleared his throat and called for attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to welcome you formally to Konohagakure No Sato's Fundraiser. The first one in a long time."

Naruto started shifting on his feet. He was dully aware of his right hand on top of his tie. It felt tighter by the second.

"Naruto-kun." He heard Hinata's soft call from his side. He turned his head towards her. "You need to calm down."

Did it show that much? He stopped tugging at his tie and placed both hands on his pockets. "I'm trying." He confessed to her, lowering his head he kicked himself internally. It was really annoying when he couldn't control himself like he could in battle.

"I'm going to help you out for a bit, but you need to loosen up, okay?" Naruto wondered what her words meant, and he even thought of asking her, but Neji cued Hinata on the spot. A round of soft applause was heard in the big room while Hinata climbed the stairs on her right towards the now empty podium.

Naruto was at a loss. Neji was supposed to introduce him, not her. The long-haired Hyuuga prodigy walked up to him with a stoic face. "Get it together. We're doing everything we can so you don't have to speak that much."

Naruto's blue eyes went from Neji to Hinata. It had been a long time since people assumed he couldn't do something. It made him feel conflicted.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. As my dear cousin has already said, we are gathered here today to celebrate the strength and victory of Konoha against the terrible attack from Amegakure's leader." Hinata ran her eyes over the 150 people seated in front of her. She tried to remember the first time she'd to talk to a crowd this big for the very first time, and she must admit that her progress was tangible. She barely felt any doubt when she spoke. Her goal was clear, and her target known.

"But as you know, even a great victory comes with a great price. The vile attack was launched without previous declaration of war. Konoha didn't have a notice or a day's preparation. It all happened within the heart of the city, without consideration to race, gender or age." She said with a somber tone, and it spread throughout the crowd. Their faces had changed from expectation to aggravation. She was being successful on her quest to stimulate sympathy for her village and its goals.

"If it weren't for the braveness of Konoha's shinobi and the spectacular involvement of our guest of honor, none of us would be here asking for your support to rebuild our village." Hinata fell silent, so her words could sink in. Naruto couldn't help to think that she'd make a better Hokage than himself. She was so professional.

He felt the nudge of Neji's elbow.

It was his turn now.

"So, I would like to invite Uzumaki Naruto here so he can share with all of you the titanic hardships he had to go through while he battled Pain on his own." Hinata turned slightly to the left so she could face Naruto. Her eyes beckoned him to move forward, while the applause erupted in front of him. Flashes of camera started to snap sporadically.

Naruto took one deep breath, swallowed soundly, and climbed up the stairs towards Hinata. As soon as the crowd saw him move, the applause became almost too hard to stand. Naruto diverted his eyes to the front and saw how everyone was starting to stand up. When he was younger, he dreamed of having people cheer on him as he walked by, but young Naruto didn't think he'd have to make a speech to honor the people honoring him.

His eyes turned back to Hinata as she waited for him patiently. She motioned for the podium and the microphone on top of it.

A quick thought came to him. If he could, he would run out of there with Hinata in tow and take her to the nearest cinema so it was just the two of them doing something they enjoyed.

But he was already facing the crowd and they wanted to hear him talk. He'd try to do his best for Konoha. And Hinata.

"Thank you, Hinata-san." The applause was still going, and he had to wait for them to stop. "And thank you all for coming tonight to show your support."

Hinata nodded charmingly and headed down with her cousin. She resisted the urge to look back at Naruto.

Finally, the applause and murmurs died. It was only Naruto and the mic now.

"I would like to start saying this: Hinata is too generous." The blond said, licking his lips. God, they were dry. "It wasn't Pain against me. It was Pain against all of Konoha." A few heads in the crowd started nodding.

"But one thing is true. We didn't have any warning, nor any reason to believe that a single person could barge into our village and wreak havoc. And we were right. It wasn't a single person. In fact, we didn't face Pain at all, we faced Pain's puppets. Six to be exact." Naruto tried to formulate his words into his head to try and say them as interestingly as Hinata or Neji did. He saw how the chief of police accommodated on his chair.

"And each puppet was incredibly powerful like you wouldn't believe. Each one of the Six Paths of Pain had a unique technique that made it invaluable for Pain, and immensely dangerous for everyone else." Naruto could see he had their attention. A few more photos were taken.

Hinata watched, entranced, as Naruto listed each of Pain's abilities to the crowd. Neji was analyzing him with a stern gaze, his hand covering his mouth as he listened on.

"Let me tell you, they were relentless on their path of destruction. As if obliterating half of our village wasn't enough, the puppets ran around questioning defenseless villagers for information they knew they didn't know, executing them without any semblance of regret be it women, children or elderly."

A few gasps came from the audience. Old ladies took out their handkerchiefs and took them to their eyes.

"Many of Konoha's best gave their life protecting the weak; my sensei included. When they finally pinpointed the Hokage, they ceased on their destruction and rallied over on her position. Fortunately for them, the Hokage was focusing all her chakra on aiding and healing the wounded rather than facing them at her full strength, like a true medic-nin would."

Recalling the last time he saw Tsunade alive and well made Naruto pause and lower his head for a moment. Hinata swallowed nervously.

"Not even the ANBU corps defending the Hokage could pose a threat to all the Six Paths. They were nearly overpowered but thankfully I could use the jutsus imparted unto me by the great Jiraiya."

Hinata listened to the endearing tone Naruto was using when referring to both sanins. She didn't think about how hard it would be for Naruto to recount the story of his battle with Pain, given that he'd lost too much because of him.

"If it weren't for Jiraiya's vital information on his last battle with Pain's puppets, we would surely have lost, and Fire Country would be another extension of Ame. Once the first five puppets were disposed of, I was finally up front with the strongest of them all. The one who with a single jutsu pulverized half the city."

His eyes swept the crowd while he paused for dramatic effect. Not a single sound could be heard except for Naruto's words.

"This jutsu, ladies and gentlemen, was way too dangerous to exist. He could attract or deflect any and all objects near him. That's how he got his victims, by attracting them with an invisible force at an incredible speed and finishing them off once they were on range."

"I myself was victim to his attack in our long encounter. Given my tiredness after killing the other 5 paths, I was careless and stepped into his technique's influence zone. That's when he managed to plunge four long, dull rods onto my joints. Here, and here." Naruto pointed with his hands at his shoulders and hips. The crowd gasped in horrification.

Hinata swallowed in discomfort as Naruto entered the worst part of his tale. She could see him quite clearly, laying on the floor half unconscious. Spit falling from his mouth at the sheer shock of getting stabbed so many times. She could see Pain clearly, or what she thought was Pain, but in reality was only a manifestation of the actual villain.

A hand fell on her shoulder. She knew it was Neji offering comfort. Neji had witnessed most of the fight and her intervention of it, but he was too far to help on time.

"If it weren't for the help of Konoha's finest, I wouldn't be here telling the story of how I survived." Naruto had a very serious frown on his face as he recalled the dreadful encounter. "One of them is with us tonight. And I still can't convey how brave she was that day, knowing fully well death was certain when facing Pain alone."

"So, if I may, I'd like to ask for a round of applause for Hyuuga Hinata and my friends who couldn't be here tonight as they still have duties back on our village."

The audience turned to the standing Hyuugas and the sound of chairs skidding on the ground reached her ears. An eruption of applause and cheers and her name being called with pride resounded on the big room. Even the waiters were clapping heartily. For the first time that night, Hinata felt her cheeks flush red. This only served for the men to cheer louder.

Naruto resumed his tale, but Hinata had been shaken enough so that the rest of his speech reached an end rapidly. She didn't imagine Naruto was going to put her on the spot like that. But Neji and her had to admit that Naruto had completely gained the attention of the audience.

"We survived this attack, but there's also a chance that another enemy comes looking to destroy the peace and quiet of our society. Us Konoha shinobi will wake up every day and train very hard so that we can be ready for the next time the Country needs us. Giving our life for our country is our duty and our biggest pleasure."

"Damn right." Naruto thought he heard the captain of the Police say while he touched his moustache. Whoops of encouragement started to appear in the audience, and Naruto felt that it was going to get rowdy before he could fully deliver his message after the long speech. He spoke up, louder than he had so he could drown the others.

"As you count on us to protect and guarantee the peace of every living person on the Fire Country, Konoha is counting on you so that we can replenish our resources, tend for the wounded, build stronger defenses and acquire more weapons."

He took a big breath so he could deliver his final statement. His throat and tongue were already very dry, and he didn't want to speak anymore.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there is something you can do for Konoha. Please, let your support be known by funding our eternal campaign of being the strongest Village in the continent. With your support we will thrive like we've done for so long… I'm counting on you."

Not even if he shouted into the mic now would the crowd shut up. The crowd started chanting his and Konoha's name wildly, without a set rhythm, but Naruto took it as a good sign.

Neji and Hinata approached him swiftly, with champagne glasses on hand. Hinata handed him a glass while Neji took onto the microphone and stated formally, "For Konoha!" while raising his glass.

The assistants followed suit, with a unanimous chant while numerous glasses were raised above. Some guests, mostly girls, also added a, "And for Naruto!" to their toasts.

Naruto downed the contents of his glass greedily. He had a taste for champagne, but he would immediately go and look for a glass of water to replenish his saliva.

"Please approach one of our many clerks sitting on the west part of the room if you want to make your donation valid." Continued the older Hyuuga, while he extended his hand to the twenty clerks seated on individual chairs.

"Afterwards, please go back to your tables so that the feast can start."

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the microphone was turned off and Naruto could finally breathe easy.

They started walking downwards towards the little stairs, paparazzi already waiting for them.

"Naruto-kun." Hinata said, looking forward but stealing a glance at him. Naruto looked down at her. "You did amazing." She beamed at him, and Naruto had to stop walking for a second. "C'mon, we have to answer some questions."

After too many rounds of questions with the reporters, endless pictures taken of the three of them and what Naruto might say would've been like 50 different pictures with guests wanting desperately to take a one with him, the blond was finally able to sit down at his table. He ate the fish crepes greedily, watching his manners of course, and drank water like crazy.

He could not completely eat in peace, since many other guests approached him to salute him in person, ask him a few questions, or take personal photos with him.

Many girls also went to take photos with Neji. He obliged without a sound.

"Naruto-san, remember me?" The blond turned from his chair to find himself staring at the red-clad woman who he was sure he'd seen not so long before, but he had already completely forgotten who she was. But another rule, this time imparted by Neji, told him he should never forget a person's name, or he/she would feel insulted. His hand went directly towards Hinata's arm beneath the clothed table.

"Of course I do…" Hinata, hiding from the line of sight of the woman softly murmured her name on Naruto's ear without her noticing. Naruto would never admit it but each time the Hyuuga whispered in his ear he felt his insides twist with excitement. "Karanawa-san." He had practiced the next words already. "Would you like to take a seat next to me?"

It was part of another of Neji's strategies. They'd left an empty chair next to Naruto's so that he could chat privately with the visitor, whoever it may be. So far, he'd chat with a lot of policemen, many old ladies, some reporters and even some clerks that had finished working on the donation forms.

The pretty brunette blushed. She had green-eyes, like Sakura, but hers were duller. Hinata already felt her stomach filling with static as she had to bear Naruto acting charming to a young, pretty woman yet again. The Hyuuga munched on her salad dutifully.

"I can't wait to hear more details of your story tomorrow at my family's state." The brunette started excitedly. Her makeup had been renewed, Hinata could tell.

Naruto looked at her at a loss. "Excuse me?" The indigo-haired heiress decided to intervene.

"Her father, the head of the Karanawa family, is hosting the next fundraiser round." The young woman explained graciously. Naruto looked from Hinata to Mite, understanding downing on him.

"Oh right, I must've forgotten. I'll try to think on some other details so that you don't get bored with the same speech, Mite-san."

"I'll never get bored of that epic story, Naruto-san. I must say I'm really impressed that a person so young could save an entire village." The girl's eyes were shining with excitement. Naruto couldn't think of anything to say to her comment, so he just graced her with a smile.

"Say, Naruto-san…" Naruto immediately identified her tone and body language with nervousness. He'd seen it on a bigger extent on Hinata when she would try to talk to him. Her tone also peaked Hinata's curiosity.

'Oh, please. Not another date offering.' Naruto tried to hold his smile in place while the woman fidgeted on her chair.

"Would you make me the honor of dancing with me once the music starts playing?" She lifted her eyelashes towards him. One thing Naruto did notice is that her cleavage was more prominent than before.

"I'd be delighted." Naruto lied. He didn't know how to dance and to add to his distress, he didn't know what kind of music they were going to play. But Hinata assured him that he could learn on the go while they danced first.

"Oh!" Her glee was uncontainable. "Thank you so much!" she even dared to place a hand on top of his while it was holding a fork. Both Naruto and Hinata looked at the offending hand.

But the guest of honor had to keep his façade. "I'd be my pleasure, Karanawa-san." The girl bowed after standing up from her chair. Her elegant ponytail danced as she walked away from them.

"Well, fuck." The blond sighed, throwing his knife and fork next to his plate. He had already downed two full plates of chicken pasta. This night was getting harder to survive. "First the speech, now the dance… At least I know how to talk my way out of something." He turned to Hinata. "Are you sure I can do this?"

"Of course." Hinata answered without any delay. She was finishing with her dessert. After cleaning her mouth with her napkin, she added. "But let's practice in the bathroom just in case."

Naruto was all for some private time with Hinata alone, even if it was for a boring dancing lesson. They stood up hastily, but Neji called their attention.

"Not at the same time." He warned and gave Hinata a meaningful look. "And not in the same bathroom the guests use."

"Meet me in my room, then." She said to her boyfriend before excusing herself from the table and walking away from them.

Unfortunately for Naruto, he didn't enjoy his time with Hinata since he had a lot of rules and moves to learn and perfect. And doing it without music didn't make it easier. Even so, he was sure he could match the music's pace with his dance steps. It's not as if he'd never dance in his life, only he'd never had to dance alongside strict guidelines and with a partner close to him.

It was as boring as he'd imagined.

As soon as the orchestra started to play its violins and percussion, Naruto pinpointed the most honorable woman out of the crowd. Hiriko-san, the widow of the late Fire Bank owner, was ecstatic as she pressed herself dreamily against Naruto's frame. The blond tried to balance her weight while they spun around in the dance floor. Only a few other guests partook on the dance invitation.

Once the first song was over, Naruto felt comfortable enough to take dancing the whole female crowd.

"If the ladies could kindly give me their attention." The blond announced over the chatter and instruments preparing for the next song. Hinata raised her head away from the young man that had just invited her to dance with him and looked at Neji. He looked anxious at what Naruto might say. "My clones would like to dance with all of you."

He demonstrated his characteristic hand sign and about a hundred of Naruto's clones were littering the dancefloor. It was still big just enough for the rest of the crowd.

Multiple gasps of wonder and surprise filled the room. Identical Narutos eyed their preys and charmingly guided them towards the center of the room. Women were delighted to have a personal Naruto they could dance with and talk to.

"Show off." Neji deadpanned, watching as the lady he was going to dance with, decided to dump him for one of his smiling clones.

Hinata shook her head goodhumoredly. She had forgotten that Naruto could give very big, nice surprises if he really wanted to. He was surely giving this event his all.

The dance floor became flooded with gentlewomen and Narutos waltzing along the center. The men, although disgruntled that there was a partner shortage, still found themselves amazed by the realism of Naruto's bunshins.

"Those are his famous clones."

"I heard that there's no one else who can create so many."

" – And make them last so long."

Cameras were flashing wildly at every direction. The reporters and photographers were delighted at the opportunity to capture more than one Naruto per shot. They even harassed unsuspecting clones into impromptu interviews about his technique.

"Your colleague is very talented, Hyuuga-san." A bearded man in his mid-twenties announced in Hinata's ear. He was guiding her rather sluggishly on their dance, as if he couldn't balance a conversation and dance at the same time.

"He is indeed." She replied although with a sullen voice. She had been prepared for anything the crowd might demand from her boyfriend, but apparently seeing countless Narutos cracking grins and showering compliments at strangers wasn't so easy to handle. She tried to rip her eyes away from the clones, but they were everywhere. She decided to just look down to the ground, but his voice still filled the room.

The flutes died down. Another song had ended.

"Excuse me, Hyuuga-san." Hinata recognized the voice as Naruto's. She turned to look at the voice, expecting to see a Naruto clone, but she froze for a second after seeing the newcomer. "Would you dance with me next?"

Her actual partner looked from Hinata to the black-haired young man extending his hand for Hinata to take.

After a few moments, the girl finally got out of her shock and slowly placed her hand on his. "Nagari-san." She graced him with a smile, her eyes glinting approval at him. "It's been a long time."

Naruto, under his undercover persona, finally took Hinata just for him and placed a grinning kiss on her delicate hand. "Too long." Naruto agreed, placing his left hand on her waist and taking her hand on his.

"This must be much more entertaining with music." He commented with a sly smile that Hinata couldn't help to share. Her cheeks were colored by the unexpectedness of Naruto's idea.

"I assure you it is." The Hyuuga said softly on his ear. Naruto inhaled sharply to maintain his composure. They were in front of many eyes and if Neji figured out what was happening he'd throw a fit. "Am I talking to a clone?"

The black-haired, whisker-lacking young man snorted. "You are way too important for a clone." He leaned forward slightly so his lips were inches away from her ear. "Hinata only gets the real deal."

The surprising situation, along with the straightforwardness of Naruto's advances made her forget the important occasion and let her walls come down. Her face became a deep shade of red, and Hinata had a goofy smile plastered on her face.

"I missed you." She confessed, and Naruto felt the butterflies hitting painfully against the walls of his stomach.

"I'll make up for the time we lost entertaining these clowns." He assured, wanting to hold her even tighter as they moved, but there were too many eyes and cameras around. "If you're not too tired we could rent a movie from the TV catalog."

Hinata seemed to think about it, and with a heavy heart answered, "I might be too tired, Naruto-kun."

The Uzumaki in disguise blinked once. "It's okay. We partied very hard last night."

The girl still wouldn't miss the chance to have a date in a different city. "But maybe we could take a wal-"

"Excuse me."

Naruto felt an arm pressing firmly against him and making him step back from Hinata. He turned around with his face already scowling to see who would dared interrupt the two of them in mid-song.

Then he noticed it was Neji.

"Hinata, I need to borrow you for a moment." The tall Hyuuga said with an icy tone, placing a hand on her forearm and taking her away rather forcefully.

Naruto remembered to keep his mouth shut so Neji wouldn't recognize him. He looked longingly at Hinata walking briskly away from him. She spared a glance back at him.

Why would Neji want to speak to her so badly?

"What is it Neji-ni-san?" Hinata repeated for a second time. She had been asking him where he was taking her and what the rush was, but Neji didn't speak until they were out of the room and into the lobby.

His lips were pursed tightly, and Hinata knew it wasn't a good sign.

"Did something happen?" She asked once more, every second more on edge at his nervous behavior.

"Bad news." Neji finally replied with a grave sigh. His eyes travelled across the room a couple of times to make sure no one was listening. "Very bad news, Hinata-sama."

"Tell me." His seriousness was contagious. Hinata stood up straight and faced him fully.

"One of Kakashi's dogs was wandering outside. He was waiting for either one of us to notice him." Neji started. Hinata's eyebrows immediately furrowed. Neji paused for what he was about to say next. Hinata gulped involuntarily. "The AMBU garrison at Sound spotted an army of 5.000 Sound-nins making its way East… towards the Land of Fire."

Hinata's hands started to feel very cold. Her shoulders fell with a new, strange weight. "No…" She breathed.

"We are going to war with Uchiha Sasuke." Her cousin finished gloomily, a hand pressing on her shoulder.

She could clearly hear her high heels hitting the cold, hard wood underneath.

It was the only thing she could hear. Even with the room filled with music and chatter, and glasses clinking together in some cheerful toast, Hinata could only hear the reverberation of her heels making her way back to the dancefloor.

"We are going to war with Uchiha Sasuke." Her stomach ached with a unique kind of pain. She knew there was nothing physically wrong with her insides, but the cold dread was making its way up to her throat. "I need to go back to the Village and join the jounins. But the Hokage ordered for Naruto to complete tonight's fundraiser. You are to stay here and complete that mission."

'War.' Her mind kept circling that word. They just got out from one against Pain, and now Sasuke is bringing another. She shook her head. Pain's attack was nothing compared to what a war actually was. He was only one six-man team. Assume he was bringing with him 5.000 enemies.

5.000! Her hands wanted to shake. She couldn't fathom that many ninjas all banding together trying to kill her at every chance they got.

Almost everyone she knew had lost family in the Third Ninja War. War took countless people away from family and friends, but specially shinobi since they were the ones at the front lines. And there was also a loser in every war.

Unlike with Pain's attack. She doubted completely there would be a final, miraculous revival of every fallen shinobi.

And she couldn't tell Naruto until tomorrow morning.

Oh, he would be devastated. And angry. So angry she doubted even she could calm him down. So angry he might hate her for not telling him.

Her steps slowed to a stop. She was feeling very insecure about her new mission. How could she focus on making money and entertaining guests while her comrades were saying goodbyes to their families and answering the call to arms?

Yet she had to. As a kunoichi, she didn't get to choose her missions. She knew the village needed every penny it could get. Kakashi gave them that mission for a reason.

She tried to find Naruto's black-hair persona among the dancing couples with bright yellow manes swinging around at the sound of music. 'But you need to calm down.' She reminded herself. At that thought, she turned to look down to her right hand, and found it had been squeezing the hem of her dress without her noticing. 'Calm down and act like nothing is wrong.'

She took three deep breaths, stopped and then took five more.

Boy was she afraid. They would be fighting for their lives and their villages in just a few days! This lavish Gala will seem so long ago to them they would be bleeding in the battlefield. For God knows how long.

"Hinata." Her body reacted immediately at the sound of his voice. She jerked her body nervously towards the source. "Whoa! Are you OK?"

"Hm?" Hinata didn't want to say anything, fearing her voice might betray her. But she needed to act normally. Or at least try to. "Y-Yes, Naruto-kun."

"Really?" He seemed puzzled. The clones in the center of the room cheered at unison at the end of another song. The crowd applauded them. "You look weird. What was that about with Neji?"

"He…" Hinata watched behind him the clones smile and take photographs with the guests. Hinata took one last breath. She would not make Naruto worry tonight. He didn't deserve it. He was doing an amazing job at something he really hates. "He got called back to the Hyuuga state in a hurry."

Naruto opened his eyes, showing surprise. "Like, right now? Is he gone?"

"He just left." The young Hyuuga called for a waiter to give her some water. "The elders need him somewhere else."

"He didn't even say goodbye." The blond ran a disappointed hand across his hair. "Is he still mad at me?"

Hinata hurried to calm him down. "Not at all, Naruto-kun. It is an important matter, and you know how strict Neji is with his duties for the clan."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "It still sucks that he has to go back so fast. We've only been here for like 5 hours."

Hinata smiled empathically at him. "Do you want to keep dancing?" She offered, turning to the dance floor.

"Actually I'm kind of done with this thing. It's very exhausting to keep that many people happy." Naruto sent a scornful look at the crowd. "And we've collected like half of what Kakashi wanted us to for the three events. In just one night!"

Hinata seemed genuinely happy with that fact. "That's amazing! You are a natural doing this."

The jinchuuriki openly laughed at her. "Fuck that! I'm a natural fighter, not a high-class buffoon." He immediately blinked and started to apologize. "Sorry, Hin. Didn't mean to curse in front of you."

Hinata felt flattered that he would try to always be so respectful when he was with her, even if he failed half the time. "We are almost done anyways. I think maybe an hour more entertaining the guests and collecting the last donations."

"Sorry, but I really am sick of this. I'm very tired and I just want to go upstairs and watch a dumb movie." Before Hinata could scold him. He leaned in conspiratorially, but not that much so that they would draw attention. She could smell his cologne faintly. "How about you let one of my clones take the lead for the rest of the night and you join me?"

"Naruto…" Her first impulse was to turn him down. But the coming war was still fresh on her mind. They have already collected more than was expected for tonight, Naruto had done a great job and it seemed that any of his clones could easily entertain the guests. "Okay."

Naruto's mouth morphed into an 'o' of surprise, then into a swelled grin. "Nice!" He honestly was expecting her to deny his request.

"But you have to make sure to collect all the cheques and leave them in the casino vault so the bank crew can come for them tomorrow."

The blond-haired ninja in disguise snorted at the simple task. "I promise I'll do it. Well, not me, but my clone."

"I'm serious, Naruto-kun. I don't want to risk another suspension." She looked at him intently, feeling a little nervous to leave him wrap the gala up.

"Hey, no, I give you my word I won't fuck up." He placed an arm on her back and started leading her to the exit. He made his dispelling hand-sign discreetly and the whole room was filled with sounds of exploding clones puffing out of existence. The dance room was lit by the photographers' camera flashes.

Before reaching the exit, the blond deviated towards a cart standing in the border of the room and took two handfuls of beers and a bottle of champagne.

He then ran up to Hinata and urged her to run, amidst a fit of laughter.

"I wanted to use this bed ever since I stepped in this room." The blond said after donning a grey shirt and hanging his tuxedo in the closet. He had just called reception so they could get him the biggest bowl of popcorn the hotel could procure.

"Naruto-kun, could you also get me a pineapple tea please?" Hinata had just emerged from her room next door and entered Naruto's. She was wearing a plain white shirt and pajama pants that reached her knees. Her makeup had also been removed.

The blond looked down at her pants and smiled mockingly. "Bunnies?" He then turned his eyes upwards to look at her face. "My swimsuit is less embarrassing than this." He pointed to the offensive little bunnies and floating hearts all over her wool pajama pants.

"I used to like them a lot when I was a kid." The young kunoichi answered honestly, a small smile on her face. "They were a birthday gift from Hanabi."

"It's no fun when you don't get embarrassed, you know?" The blond said, placing the telephone on the table and getting out of bed. He walked up to Hinata. "You look stunning, actually."

Hinata did a double take. She almost dropped the two extra pillows she brought from her bedroom. Ever since they became a couple, he was starting to compliment her more and more. "Thank you."

He took her pillows from her and threw them on his bed. He then hugged Hinata by the waist and hoisted her up in the air.

"You know, not being able to hug you when I want is unbearable." He sat down heavily on this soft mattress and placed Hinata on his lap. The girl placed a hand on his cheek and her arm around his shoulders. "I missed being this close to you."

Hinata found it easier to forget about her troubling thoughts when she was immersed in Naruto's eyes. She brought his face closer to his and kissed him longingly, trying to forget that this might be one of their last kisses. She sighed into their kiss. "I love you, Naruto-kun." The girl confessed yet again, looking at his half-lidded eyes. The Uzumaki could feel that something, somehow, was not right. But he couldn't place what it was. It was very distracting feeling her so close to him.

Naruto stared at her for a long moment.

Her eyes were looking intently into his. He could almost see himself reflected in her lavender irises. Her lips were slightly parted, and oh so rosy.

He then took a deep breath and locked eyes with her.

"I love you too."

Her endearing expression became one of pure shock.

Naruto waited for it to dawn on her. He felt his heart constrict when he witnessed how her emotions were clearly stamped on her face. Tears welled on her eyes. He got to them with his thumb before they fell. The girl was looking at him fixedly.

"D-Do you really?" Her excitement could barely be contained. She tried her best to keep the waterworks from getting out of control.

The whiskered young man looked at her calmly, never looking away from her. He leaned forward.

"Yes." He whispered before going in for an endearing kiss. Hinata pushed him away slightly, but Naruto didn't stray too far from her face. He wanted to keep going until the room service arrived.

"Hmm?" He asked in a very soft tone. She wasn't moving at all.

Finally, she took his face on both her delicate hands and made him look up at her. Her eyes were still glistening with all the emotions she'd ever held for him.

"Say it again." She requested in a shy but meaningful tone. "Please." Naruto noticed with glee how her cheeks were warm to the touch. He grinned as far as Hinata's hands on his cheeks would let him, and wet his lips.

"Hinata." He placed his own hand on the side of her face, making sure they wouldn't lose their closeness. "I love you."

This time, the Hyuuga responded by emitting a low, shaking breath, her flush deepening dangerously.

Naruto had meant for their night date to be very casual, so as to not make her uncomfortable while they both lied on his bed while watching the medieval movie he had chosen. But the look she was giving him was very inviting. "I love you." He repeated, but this time with a very hungry tone. He felt his heartbeat pounding in his chest.

He lunged for her lips after speaking, and Hinata received him with a passionate kiss of her own. Neither one wanted to lose an inch of space between them, so it felt like their lips were battling amongst themselves to see who would give in first.

Hinata let her hands travel to Naruto's hair, ruffling it up and down as her boyfriend pushed his hand harder against her back, transforming the loose embrace they had been sharing into a frantic hug.

She opened her mouth first, and Naruto felt himself going crazy as her tongue explored his mouth until she finally met his own tongue. It always was a strange and fulfilling sensation, and Naruto was growing more restless to find other ways to feel her closer to him.

He noticed all too well how her breasts were clashing against his chest, and the softness of their touch was riling him up.

A concerning thought flashed through his mind. He knew where this was going if they kept at it for too long. Maybe he should break it up before he showed her a side of him that she might not be ready to see.

He was seriously considering speaking up at any moment, but Hinata spoke up first.

An exquisite moan rang into his mouth. A perfect, breathless, womanly moan that shut Naruto's mind for a millisecond. Naruto's penis couldn't stay down after that.

As if in a daze, the whiskered chuunin turned her around in an instant, and pinned her under him without ever breaking their kiss. Hinata did emit a high-pitched noise of surprise, but she didn't protest. In fact, she pulled his neck even harder towards her, reciprocating his need to feel him against her.

'If we don't stop this…' Hinata heard herself thinking, but the blond's heavy breathing was very filling her ears and mind. She was very aware of the erection he was pressing against her leg. And she had half a mind to press into it, even if it meant unraveling a series of unknown events they might not be ready to confront. They needed an interruption, but neither was willing to provide one.

Hinata felt herself getting warmer and warmer down there.

Naruto was tired of just using his hands as support. He could feel the light warmth emanating from her privates, and he could feel himself losing touch with what was happening. His most primal thoughts had taken control.

For the first time in his life he fulfilled a life-long dream he had been repressing ever since he realized just how attracted he was to her.

He placed his left hand carefully on top of Hinata's shirt and pressed firmly.

She gasped, obviously. She broke the kiss, but Naruto wasn't going to concede an inch of space between their faces. As soon as he noticed the lack of warmth against his lips, he descended into her neck and started sucking gingerly on her perfect skin, digging his nose on the abundance of hair that expelled her sweet aroma. His nose was poking into her ear, and the feeling and noise of his hot breathing was leaving Hinata out of air.

She was gasping gently to the ceiling, pressing her neck into Naruto's face, occasionally letting out pleasant sounds that were music to Naruto's ears.

He kept massaging her breast, as she hadn't said anything against his actions. 'If she tells me to, I'll stop… I have to stop… but until then…' The longer he caressed her breasts over the fabric of her pajama, the more Hinata was pushing herself against his navel. His giddiness was almost uncontrollable. It's as if he wanted more every passing minute, but Hinata proved that she shared his lust.

He bit on her lower neck, just hard enough so that Hinata gave him one of those long, breathless moans he'd just learned to love. For the first time since they began, Naruto felt more interested in feeling her squirm under his touch than in stroking his tongue against her skin.

Defying even his own self-control, Naruto's hand went swiftly under Hinata's sleeping shirt and slid his warm hand under her bra.

It was as if entering a different planet. All he could feel was the soft touch of her skin and the protruding nipple standing on end. He was so overwhelmed by this new feeling that he had to lower his head and breathe deeply to himself. He started squeezing repeatedly along her form, feeling every inch of her naked breasts and watching, mesmerized, how Hinata could only launch her hips forward looking for something of his. Her eyes were firmly shut, but her face was the image of pleasure.

He lowered his head again and placed his forehead on top of Hinata's.

"Let me see you." He pleaded into her ear, all the while cupping her generous breast on his large hand.

His voice made her eyes snap open. She was suddenly aware of all the sounds that she was making. When she looked at him, she knew he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Naruto had started to drag her shirt on top of her, but a loud knock on the door startled them both.

"Room service." A male voice called from behind the door.

Naruto looked around, as if he didn't recognize where he was. They were still knocking. He then ran his eyes towards Hinata again. She hadn't moved an inch from their compromising position.

"Do you want to keep going?" He asked against his will, feeling how wonderfully erect he was. He looked down at her middle, where her shirt was already halfway up, revealing a black bra underneath.

He felt Hinata push up against him, so he gave her way to sit up straight in the edge of the bed.

He watched, entranced, how the girl pulled her shirt over her face, revealing all her delicious chest to him.

'Oh my god.' He thought, almost losing touch with reality. He felt immediately drawn to them, but the continuous knocking woke him from his trance.

"Hello? Room service!"

"Just leave it outside!" The blond screamed back at the door, eyes never leaving Hinata's chest. The girl felt more attracted to him by the second, flattered by his reaction.

"Excuse me?"

"Leave it outside and leave me the fuck alone!" The blond roared back, feeling murderous towards anyone that dared interrupt this long-awaited moment.

The silence that followed was a sign that the crew member had complied. Good.

"Hinata…" He turned his full attention back to his girlfriend. "You are so beautiful." She was blushing so much already she was in danger of bursting all her capillaries.

Before the Uzumaki could make a move, the young heiress tugged at his shirt, signalizing her intentions. The blond complied in an instant. He slid off his shirt. Hinata's heightened sight registered his tanned skin and chiseled torso.

She ran her fingers upwards from his lower abs towards his chest. Naruto felt his arm hairs stand on end at her touch. Hinata finally rested the tip of her fingers on his abnormal scar just on top of his heart.

Naruto gulped nervously as he saw her lean downwards towards his chest. He felt her soft lips kissing his scar tenderly. As horny as he was, he couldn't help the feelings catch into his throat as he experienced first hand the devotion the Hyuuga had always directed at him. Taking her face in his hand, he helped himself to another deep, romantic kiss. 'She really does love me.'

From his angle he could see her blushing face and puffy lips staring right up at him, but if he focused better, he could see her ample chest almost too big for her bra. It was time.

He unlocked it with his two hands. Hinata felt a new wave of embarrassment mixed with a familiar trembling of her thighs.

It might've been too much. Her hands went to cover her breasts instinctively, just as her bra was discarded in the floor next to them. She looked down at his erection under his pants. It looked bigger than she thought it would be from the contact she's had with it.

'It's happening.' Hinata tried to contain the scary excitement roaming within her navel.

"Let me see you." He repeated. This time with lust all over his voice and face.

Hinata wondered what would his reaction be if she said no. She lifted her gaze and found his eyes looking down at her hungrily.

"Don't make me beg." He breathed out. She squirmed her toes against each other.

Biting her lower lip, she let her arms fall to her sides. Revealing himself to him. He gulped audibly, Hinata heard him. She relished at the sight of his jaw dropping. Hinata wondered how long had he been wanting to see her like this. She mustered the audacity to ask him.

Naruto managed to shift his gaze to her eyes. It proved hard. He had found a new favorite thing to gaze at. "Since the first time we went swimming."

He didn't let her gloat on the confession. He was done watching. He cupped her right breast, this time watching intently as her perfect skin overflowed between his fingers. He heard her moan yet again, but he was busy watching her pink nipples dance between his fingers. Naruto found himself massaging her other breast now, but Hinata's firm hands clasped his cheeks and brought him back towards her lips. Her hands were ruffling his hair aggressively.

Naruto laid her back again in the mattress, working on her mouth and her breasts at the same time. He curiously pinched her nipple which in turn prompted Hinata to groan into his mouth while trapping his lower lips into her teeth.

The sweet pain caused Naruto to press himself directly into her groin. His suspicions were solved. He could feel her wet even through both their pants.

Naruto hastily broke the kiss and retrieved his hands, leaving Hinata panting openly to the ceiling, her eyes trailing his every move.

Naruto rummaged through his wallet on the night stand. Hinata's mind was very groggy, so she only discovered what was happing when the blond returned with a blue condom package in his fingers. "Don't move." He commanded. His hands tugged firmly at her pants and, in a swift motion, Hinata was left naked shivering in anticipation.

The whiskered chuunin wanted to take his pants off was fast as he could, but he had to stop in his tracks at the magnificent sight of her lips staring right back at him. They were glistening in the light of the table lamp.

The new development seemed to have struck him deeply. His once frantic movements became slow as he pulled his pants down as well.

Hinata laid petrified in her spot on the bed. She wondered if he could fit it all in there. She saw how he pulled the condom from the tip of the penis's almost all the way down to the base. It wasn't long enough, but Naruto seemed to think it would be just fine.

He placed both hands on either side of her head. His eyes were shinning in excitement, but she could see his lower lip was trembling.

"Are you sure, Hinata?"

For all she knew, she could be dead in the middle of the battlefield hours from now. Besides, it felt weird yet special to feel him naked on top of her. Her answer came in her lifting and opening her legs to grant him access.

Naruto took a calming breath. He then proceeded to kiss her in the lips one last time, before guiding his dick until he felt it dig into her vagina. "This might hurt, I'll do it gently."

Hinata nodded her head while wrapping her arms on top of his shoulders. She shuddered at the delicious feeling of him sliding into her. At first it was easy, but after his head had gone through, they both started to feel the pressure as he struggled to keep advancing. Intelligently, Naruto took it out and rubbed it against her outer lips to get more lubrication. He started again, this time managing to get even deeper and getting a fantastic view of Hinata slowly opening her mouth and inhaling sharply as he explored her deeper than he'd ever have.

Then a strange pressure engulfed him. He noticed how her expression changed in an instant. The blond stopped going further, but he relished the feeling of being so tightly packed inside her. He was shuddering noticeably, eager to go for more but preventing himself for her sake.

"Are you okay?" He managed to ask through his low panting. "Does it hurt?"

It didn't hurt actually, but it did feel harder to go through. She recalled at least three different times when she had been hurt badly on her hip or fallen onto her groin in her ninja career. "G-Go on."

Naruto pressed further, his dick already halfway past her entrance. The growing pressure was almost causing him to hallucinate. Hinata, through her half-lidded eyes, was trying to decide what she was feeling. They were too many new sensations going on down there. Plus, he saw how Naruto seemed to be looking through her, eyes far away.

He retreated the slightest bit, again gathering more moisture, this time going all the way into her slowly but surely. Hinata's breasts reacted at every little thrust he made.

He was too enticed to talk to see if she was doing fine. He could only hear how breathless she was.

Thrusting this time at a faster rate, Hinata's moans became loud pants against his ear. The blond felt himself grow restless as he tried with every new thrust to get as far inside her as he could. He felt a knot growing in size in his navel.

Hinata had her eyes closed as the strange, tight feeling inside her slowly turned into a source of pleasure. It was surfacing. Her eyes snapped open when she heard him groan with every new shove. His breathing became more elaborate, and he was going faster every minute.

He could finish at every second now. Opening his eyes, he saw how Hinata was just immersed in his chest, grabbing invisible strings with her hands behind his back, so she just started running and digging her hands against his skin. The sounds she made were exquisite, and he could see she still wasn't having enough of him.

Hardening his heart and digging his fingernails into his closed hands, Naruto made the impossible to last as long as he could. He tried to think of anything different than Hinata's loud 'Ah's that match his rhythm. He was mouthing his name, gasping in between every movement.

He never imagined they would be able to be this close to each other. It felt amazing, he wanted to keep exploring her each and every day.

Naruto suddenly let out a strangled yelp. Hinata was contracting her insides around him. It felt much too good but he felt startled. It broke his concentration. Collecting the last strings of restraint he had left, he lowered his left arm and placed it against her back to bring her closer to him. A gurgled cry wanted to leave his throat. It was so moist down there that Naruto picked up his pace, pressing harder against her. Hinata reacted with her legs closing over his waist.

They moved as one.

"Hin…" Was all that Naruto could say before he finally released what he was holding back. His thrusts slowed to a halt. The Uzumaki was mildly aware of the small particles of sweat adorning his neck.

His weak arms were the only thing stopping him from falling right on top of her. They took their time to regain their breath. Naruto just wanted to lay beside her and slow his dangerously beating heart. But he had to take care of the condom first.

While the blond staggered to the bathroom, Hinata watched him go. At last she finally saw his naked ass. Her breaths became steadier as the seconds passed. Naruto returned with a glass of water, placed it on the night stand next to her, and proceeded to throw himself weakly on top of the remaining bed space once he regained his boxers.

He dully noticed how the bedsheets had creeped off the mattress on the right corner.

"Come here." He heard himself say, fighting off sleepiness. While she adjusted herself, Naruto lifted his legs and pulled the covers from under him and unto themselves.

He turned sideways while he embraced the girl of his dreams and looked directly into her loving eyes.

"Are you okay?" he cleared her face from a falling hair strand. Hinata blushed slightly and replied with a bashful grin.

"More than okay." She replied boldly. Her palm was on top of his chest. He could feel his heart still pounding dangerously. He couldn't blame him, hers was doing the same. Naruto felt himself unlocking a new achievement. He sighed with a peaceful expression on his face.

"Did you…" He peered at her flushed face, almost shyly.

"I-I did." She managed to keep facing him without looking down as she replied truthfully. Naruto washed her with a glorious grin of his own. Hinata felt her heart swell.

He was now talking with his eyes closed: "You have no idea how much I've wanted to sleep next to you."

"I think I do now." Her fingers were caressing his cheek and neck. It was almost as if she was placing a sleeping spell on him. Naruto sighed contently.

"I love you." He repeated for the nth time that night.

"I know you do." Hinata whispered, taking in his calm features like she'd never seen them before. She wouldn't let her troubling thoughts ruin this moment. He was finally hers.

Naruto fell asleep with his arm hanging loosely around her frame.

He wanted to fall sleep like this every night for the rest of his life.

Author's section

(Fantasy – Mystery Skulls)

And let the war BEGIN!

Thanks for reading!

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- Paty