Hinata's Sensual Adventure: Morning Dew [Part A]

Disclaimer: Naruto is a Japanese Manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto with an Anime adaptation. I do not claim ownership for this series nor the illustrations used as my profile photo.

Prompt: Like a ripple in a pond, growing as it undulates outwards, I promise my writing will get better as you go. Give it a chance and continue reading...

Introduction

Another violent chapter was through — one filled with many sacrifices and grief. The senseless destruction had ceased for a while, and although Naruto hadn't attained the revenge he sought, found something better, instead.

He was told of events that took place decades ago — events that Jiraiya hadn't the chance to share. He met and fought his senior student, Nagato, whom had masked his identity behind the alias, Pain, and presumed the mastermind behind Akatsuki.

During their fierce duel, a most difficult question was posed — one that weighed more than Naruto figured he could shoulder. It was the demand for an answer, a resolve — the same that was entrusted to him by his sensei.

Jiraiya also searched valiantly for the right answer throughout his life, but failed to discover it, even upon his dying breath. However, the welfare of Naruto's village, his people— no, the entire world was dependent upon the merit of his answer. The answer of a mere child, a sixteen-year-old.

Time bore regard for no one. At the epilogue of their epic battle, the moment of truth eventually came. But Naruto still hadn't found a suitable answer. He did, however, discover the key to attain it, which was the will to believe and never give up. To push on despite the pain and change he may encounter.

— "One day, I'll end this curse! If there is a thing such as peace, then I shall grasp it! There's something even more important than a way to achieve it, and that's the power to believe in it!"

With these profound and motivational words, Jiraiya was inspired to write his first book, which he hoped would induce a revolution that would forever change the world. These were the exact words once spoken but forgotten by Nagato as a child. And, upon reminder, Naruto succeeded in changing the shinobi's cold heart. The man eventually came to realize that he had betrayed himself — betrayed his past ideals. He had cast aside and forgotten his believes and morals, those of which Naruto had desperately clung to despite the same adversities he faced.

In the end, Nagato decided to confide in Naruto. His sensei, Jiraiya, had entrusted the boy with his Will of Fire, and so he would do the same.

With one final act to justify his change of heart — one wrought of charity — which he hoped would help him to atone for his many sins, even if just a tad, Nagato sacrificed himself to revive all the lives he had laid claim to in Konoha.

But Jiraiya was still gone.

Peace was restored to the village and everyone was thankful and happy. But Naruto was still scarred. A piece of him was still missing — a large fragment that perhaps, even with the help of time, could not be restored.

Prologue: Weeks Earlier

It was approximately 12:01 in the early morning, one minute after the day of that great cataclysm — the day when Pain reigned and his wrath and godlike powers were known by the people of the hidden leaf. But, even more so, Naruto Uzumaki.

The night culminated with Naruto sitting upright in bed, just as it did when he learnt of Jiraiya's death. In this moment, he knew nothing but blissful memories of the past, as in the present reality was far too painful to dwell. But these wonderful memories could only last for so long — and, even within them, he still ached.

His heart felt like lead in his chest. Each pulse pulled him deeper into a dark abyss that was the embodiment of pain and suffering. His body was weak and numb. He couldn't help but get sucked in, and a part of him welcomed it.

Just why did Granny Tsunade have to send Ero-Sennin on such a dangerous mission? It was reckless! He may have been one of the three legendary Sennin, but even they made mistakes — Orochimaru, for instance.

Naruto's eyes hooded morosely as he fell prone to reminiscence, and a fiercer heat dawned his stomach as the images began skipping by, like the pages of a thick journal.

The Night of Jiraiya's Death:

A grief-stricken Naruto sat up in bed — silent, pensive, his head hung as he mourned his sensei's untimely passing.

On a table in the center of his room was a well-prepared cup of noodles, a cold bottle of water, and a soda that all sat sulking in neglect. It felt as if a dark, cloud-like shroud made of torment was lingering over his head. It was invisible but potent, and the intensity of his constricting chest justified that fact.

If that old ass toad was really the Ero-Sennin's master then, why didn't he save him? Why did everything have to turn out this way? If Ero-Sennin were Hokage, he would never have sent Granny Tsunade on that mission... never!

Hoping to cleanse his heart of this ever-growing grudge and to flee the ravenous beast that obviously fed upon the light of his soul — replacing it with that of darkness — Naruto left his room.

Upon downing the stairs of the apartment complex, he looked up at the neon sign of a convenience store that depicted "Open 24/7."

Dazed, he would have stridden right past it. But, for some reason, the thought of something sweet nudged his awareness. It made him remember the time when Jiraiya shared an icile with him during his Rasengan training.

Now he sat on a bench beneath a streetlight, his back arched, his forearms resting on his legs. It was quiet except for the slightly distinct sound of moths tacking the light bulb overhead, and the screech of crickets thoroughly hidden in the neighboring brush. But Naruto heard nothing, nor did he care for the beautiful spectacle of the many flickering lights in village from where he sat. He only saw the memories he shared with his sensei up to this point, skipping through his mind like a flip-book... distant, and in a somber shade of gray.

His icicle had started to melt. A single droplet of its sweet flavor fell to the ground, which was soon accompanied by a stream of his tears. They rippled down his face, like a broken dam in dire need of repair. He wept soundlessly, his face an unreadable mask. He still couldn't accept the fact that Jiraiya was gone, that his sensei was no longer apart this world.

All of a sudden — out of the pitch-black darkness — he heard a subtle voice. It was Iruka, and our hero did quick work to dry his tears upon realization. But it wasn't long before more tricked down his cheeks.

The man took a seat at the opposing end of the bench. "I heard about Jiraiya-sama," he said with apparent condolence. His eyes then swayed emotionally — a gesture that won Naruto's utmost attention.

"I wanted him to keep watching over me. I wanted to have him watch me become Hokage." Naruto smiled a wanly smile. "I only let Ero-Sennin see my bad sides. I—"

"Jiraiya-sama was always praising you," Iruka interjected. "He always spoke proudly of you — saying that you were like his own grandchild."

Naruto's eyes widened in suprise.

"He believed that you were the only one who was going to inherit his will. In his mind, he had no doubt about your becoming a great Hokage." the man's eyes softened sympathetically. "Jiraiya-sama will keep watching you. Even now, from somewhere..."

Slowly, the empathetic teacher stood and gazed up at a luminous full moon. "He wouldn't praise you, if he saw you being depressed. So just continue being the person we've all come to know. The person he always praised." He turned and knelt before the dejected teen, reaching for the melting icicle and broke it into two halves. "You can't be depressed forever. Jiraiya-sama — one of the Legendary Sennin — acknowledged you, his excellent student."

Naruto was moved. And a smile stretched his lips as he reached for the stick of icicle offered back to him. "Thank you... Iruka-sensei."

It was the crack of dawn now.

The emerging sun tinted the neighboring clouds that cradled it — like a mother would while nursing her child — a thick sheet of gold. It slowly rose up from beyond the distant horizon, as if stirred from a deep slumber. With the deity's glorious rebirth, the darkness dwindled. But Naruto couldn't say the same for the darkness manifested by his sorrow. It clung to him, like planet orbiting a star.

The morning's dew still hung on the greenery, glistening, and it wasn't long before the birds commenced their soothing melody. Perhaps it was a notification for the nocturnal spices to withdraw into their homes, while for others — such as a beautiful young maiden of a certain clan — a sign to wake up and play her role. Today, she had big plans — a harmless idea born of solicitude to cheer up a certain someone. And although she had absolutely no clue as to where she would've attained the courage to do as such, was adamant about going through with it, nonetheless.

8:03AM.

It was nothing short of a miracle that Naruto was able to fall asleep. And it wasn't a restless five-and-a-half hours of twisting and turning, either. The moment his eyes closed, reality fell still and silent. Fortunately, he was also spared from having any tiresome dreams or awful nightmares. He laid on his stomach, like a piece of log, quiet and motionless for these few fleeting hours. Perhaps that repulsive creature had finally devoured to its fill and left. It was soon apparent, however, that such a conclusion was merely wishful thinking for as soon as Naruto grew more self-conscious, the demon was back — hungry and ready for more.

Oh, joy!

All of a sudden — to help shake off the thought — there was a low, tentative knock at the door, which characteristically spoke to the likeness that it was a female. And the fact that the intervals were far apart definitely meant this person wasn't Sakura.

Roused from his stupor, Naruto lazily sat up in bed, his eyes weary and his face pale. He yawned and scratched his stomach before shuffling off the bed. When the door squaked open, he scrunched up his face at the intensity of the vibrant morning's light and saturated colors. Then his eyes widened when he noted it was Hinata standing at his doorstep. And she blushed and averted her eyes shyly, when his gaze roamed from her face to her torso and back up again.

The princess was garbed in an ivory, spaghetti-strap dress with black, silky frills at the hem. The material clung to every voluptuous curve of her burnish, petite figure. She looked like an angel that had wandered to earth from heaven and lost her way. And somewhere, in the corner of his mind, Naruto knew the girl was his sole partner, his symmetrical half, his beautiful maiden — unseen, untouched, and her flavors, still a mystery.

"Hi-Hinata... what're you doing here?" he demanded in his surprise, his voice childish but coated in a layer of charm that made the girl's face heat.

The mild scent of him from where she stood made her heart crash against her chest. The princess's lips parted, but she had lost the air in her lungs to speak. She wondered then if he had any idea how breathtaking his voice was, and the force of his eyes, however tired they may seem.

"Na-Na-Naruto-kun! Um"— she shook her head, blinking up at him — "gu-good morning!" she greeted with a slight curtsy once it was possible to breathe again. She had never seen him in his pajamas before — well, not since he got older. And just the sight of that made her lose the measure of composure she took over an hour to gather this morning.

"...Hinata. Umm, g'morning, " he murmured her name while tousling the back of his head, staring at the girl with that clueless expression he wore so well.

Hinata could clearly hear the erratic throbbing of her heart. And she couldn't help but wonder if that was normal or life-threatening. Soon she was unconsciously meddling with her thumbs, while the other fingers clasped the picnic basket she had in her possession.

"I... I made some breakfast," she struggled. "And hoped we could have it together." she bowed her head sincerely and lifted the hamper in her hands. The fabulous material of her thigh-length dress cascaded over her buttocks in a fashion that could steal the wind from any man.

— "Nothing's gonna happen if you keep moping around. "You're not in a position to act in such a way anymore. It's the time to become the one that entrusts rather than being entrusted to."

The moment Naruto frowned with little interest to the girl's humble request, he heard Shikamaru's tedious voice resound in his mind. The distressed shinobi tried to seem wholehearted now as he cast Hinata a grateful smile. Then his eyes softened somewhere between enthusiasm and grief. "I would love that," he accepted. "Thank you, Hinata. Please... come in."

"R-Really?" the girl seemed astound as she straightened her bend. "D-Does that mean... Na...Naruto-kun and I... are on a—" her voice thinned and trailed off the moment she realized the notion upon her lips.

"Huh?"

She fastened her eyes shut before her crush could identify that telling gleam dwelling within them. Then she heaved a rueful smile and fanned her hand in a dismissive gesture. "It... It's nothing!"

"Uh-Hn." Naruto closed the door behind her. "Ah, sorry about the mess," he cupped the back of his head in embarrassment when Hinata stilled against the scowl of untidiness. "I haven't really gotten around to cleaning... and—" his mood suddenly shifted to that of grief as he recalled the training he had undergone at Mount Myouboku after learning of Jiraiya's death.

"Th-That's okay, Naruto-kun!" Hinata swayed her hand to win his attention before he could drown in an irreversible state of depression. "I don't mind at all... really!"

"Err... are you sure?" his gaze was sharp and inquiring. But he seemed more relieved and reassured when Hinata nodded her head without hesitation. "Okay, well... I'm going to take a shower. We can eat, afterwards. Make yourself comfortable. I won't be long."

Hinata's heart skipped a beat and her eyes widened. Fortunately, Naruto had already turned around before her expression could catch his eye and arouse his curiosity.

No matter how much she suppressed, the princess couldn't resist picturing him standing in that bathroom — clad in nothing but soapsuds, with water undulating down his arms and chest and regions farther down south. Her cheeks brightened with color as she thought about sacred areas below his waist. She barely knew about the state of her sex much less to think about his — the audacity!

The Hyūga princess swallowed passed the hot lump lodged in her throat. Under any circumstances, was it normal for a young virgin girl to have these thoughts, whenever she looked at a boy she liked... a lot? She hadn't a clue. Her boy-liking history (none) gave her few reference points to work with.

When she realized he was standing in the door leading to the other room, watching her, she stood sincerely — like an obedient schoolgirl awaiting further instructions from her esteemed lecturer. "Umm, okay... In the meantime, I will prepare the table."

He gazed unswervingly before he left. His eyes were gentle but intense, and it seemed to make her bones turn soft. A second longer and she would be seeping through the cracks in the floorboard right now, like spilled milk.

Naruto-kun's room, a curious Hinata sighed shakily as she studied the small space with evident admiration, taking in every bit of detail she could. I've never been inside his apartment before, unlike Sakura-san and some of the others.

She took in a deep breath, filling her nose with the scent of him and, upon exhaling, made up her mind to do quick work cleaning his room. Naruto saved the village; this deed could not repay the debt. It paled in comparison. But she wanted to prove that she was extremely grateful in any way that she could. In any case, was that really the reason why she was so willing to do his chores? Did she really decide to come here today purely because she wanted to offer her condolences and gratitude? If nothing else, it was a good excuse.

Hinata blew out a sigh of relief, and then rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. "Well, that ought to do it... and just in time, too."

She looked around the room with evident satisfaction, smiling at her grand accomplishment. The space seemed to sparkle now as opposed to brooding earlier, as if it were thanking the princess for her effort and a job well done. The bed was perfectly spread without a crease, and the laundry neatly folded and stacked within a basket. The furniture was thoroughly polished and the carpets vacuumed. She diligently emptied the fridge of expired foods and disposed off all the garbage lying around. Finally, she opened up all the windows to let some fresh air in, and then prepared the table with the food she had made at home.

A lazy squeal of an opening door signaled Naruto's arrival. And his sudden presence sent Hinata's heart crashing violently against her rib cage.

"Something smells amazing!" he said sauntering casually into the room. He was wrapped in nothing but an aqua bathrobe and a cream towel around his neck. The visual was disarming, and Hinata's entire face began turning pink... rapidly!

Pursing her lips coyly, the princess noted that he smelled more of soap now than his original intoxicating fragrance. Perhaps that was for the best — though, she could recognize a tinge of disappointment. The chibi that was her inner goddess, on the other hand, was openly pouting.

The sweet scent of soap upon his skin made her remember the image of him in the bath, garbed in nothing but suds. The thought made her eyes automatically begin to drift downward but by god, she had to restrain herself by the time she got to his stomach. She knew danger. Her blood was electric in her veins, and her heart was galloping, like an untamed black stallion in her chest.

Still, she gawked at him while sitting on her heels around the knee-length table, admiring his irresistible flair. His hair was still damp and curly from the shower — a beautiful, sleek plain the hue of honey that lay seductively over his forehead. Tendrils were everywhere, but her gaze soon drifted to his perfect lips, and then to his eyes. They were the colour of the ocean — deep and filled with untold mysteries, just like the calm misty blue. The princess hunted for the answer to a particular question in them, but the sea was too vast for her to discover what she sought.

Naruto-kun... she studied the broad cut of his shoulders now, and the long, strong length of his arms. He was so handsome...

"Uwaah!" he suddenly exclaimed, disrupting Hinata's sexual scrutiny and practically drooling at the appetizing appearance and smell of the various dishes.

The combination of aromas filled the room, some seeming to take on a physical form so as to caress beneath his chin, coaxing him to sample, to dominate what he craved — and he craved everything!

"Breakfast", he recalled her saying. This was more like a feast for at least five or more people! It was unbelievable that so much food could fit in that small picnic basket. Was there an alternate dimension in that thing?

Everything looked so delicious, from the sushi, steamed rice and bread, to the miso soup, omelet, and grilled fish. And, of course, Naruto neglected everything that had his face adorned all over it — literally. The sight of that always gave him the heebie-jeebies — heck, eating himself didn't exactly seem normal. It was downright creepy, but Hinata apparently didn't feel that way one bit.

"Everything looks so amazing, Hinata!" a salivating Naruto complimented candidly, his eyes never leaving the food. "Did you make all this yourself?"

"Uh-Hn," she nodded sheepishly, tapping the tip of her forefingers together. "...I wanted to do something special for Naruto-kun."

Touched, the warrior's eyes softened. She could see his appreciation. She could almost feel it. "Hinata...," his lips curved beautifully. "Thank you... really. I needed this."

The princess beamed at him and nodded her head, like a child who had just satisfied her taste buds on a double-serving of her favorite ice cream Sunday. "You're welcome."

All of a sudden, Naruto looked around, flabbergasted, and then blurted out a long, high-pitched "EHHH? M-My room," he stuttered as the towel fell to the ground from around his nape. And he pointed a trembling index finger in an open space that was perhaps the filthiest. "It's—"

"Clean!" a proud Hinata took the liberty of finishing the rickety sentence, somehow pleased by his flustered state. "I tidied the place up a bit while Naruto-kun was taking a bath."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, shamefaced, and yet a half-wide grin stretched his lips. "I-I don't know what to say." I thought you said you didn't have a problem with it, he pondered, pouting inwardly.

"Na-Naruto-kun doesn't need to thank me," Hinata said meekly, looking down at her hands as she tried to gather and retain her decorum. "I-I wanted to do this." Almost automatically, she pressed a curved index finger to her lips, and then glanced up at him from beneath her eyelashes. "I hope you like it."

She swore she saw him blush then, but he color vanished from his cheeks so fast that she wondered if she might have imagined it.

"Hinata..." Naruto pronounced her name in a way he had never done before — a manner that made her skin sprung goose bumps. Was he extracting sweet vengeance? "It's amazing." his voice was low, complimentary, and almost seductive, if she didn't know any better. "You're amazing."

His unexpected, velvet-like words and that captivating gleam that flashed in his eyes made her gasp — and she dropped her head before she could lose anymore of her valuable composure.

His gorgeous face: eyes, nose, cheeks, lips and all was such a distraction and a hazard to her poise that Hinata decided to try and not look at it anymore than courtesy absolutely demanded. His sweet words were obviously more of a threat than she bargained for. Watching him secretly was a more prudent approach, if she really valued her consciousness.

"Let's dig in!" Naruto said when he was certain she would not reply. Heck, even Sai could have easily pointed out that the girl was highly sensitive to his words. She was excessively shy, especially when the one she admired was in close proximity.

"Uh-Hn, let's..."

"Itadakimasu!" Naruto said melodiously when he had plopped himself down on a cushion, crossed-legged. He quickly reached for his chopsticks, and then detached the pair while making some blissful sound with a watery mouth.

Our hero made haste to sample everything from each dish, evidently chewing less than the appropriate number of times the doctor ordered. He indulged his taste buds with everything except, of course, the menus that had an overly cute art of his face depicted on it. But, alas, it soon became apparent that he might succumb to temptation. He couldn't help it — there was a shortage of pastries and Hinata just had an innate talent for making them. They were absolutely delectable! It was a recipe with an obsessive flavor, which guaranteed the young maiden absolute possession of his very soul.

Her inner goddess smirked, rubbing her hands together ominously at the truth of that.

Naruto's belly twitched in contentment as he sucked everything down like a vacuum cleaner. The food was scrumptious, and God knows he would've French kissed his ten fingers, if Hinata wasn't here, despite the fact that no form of food was smeared on them. He may as well do it — since he might have already showed the girl that gluttonous persona he wanted to conceal.

"Have as much as you'd like," Hinata informed in veneration, having already ate to her fill. Now, she watched him — watched in love and affection as he enjoyed her personal home cooking— wait, what? Love and affection?

She blushed fiercely and averted her face upon realization of her open emotions.

"Thanks, I will. Everything tastes so good! You'll make a great wife one day, Hinata."

Naruto didn't look up when he said those words, and maybe it was a good thing that he hadn't. But the open remark still made Hinata's face heat. And she almost said his name in response on a tone that was everything but decent. She may have stifled the amorous moaning of his name, but a breath still escaped her lips — one that had enough wind to capture our warrior's undivided attention.

"Hmm...?" Naruto stopped and arched one brow in question. His soft, sky-like eyes were appraising even as noodles extend from his mouth to the bowel. "Seriously, I really love your cooking," he mumbled with his mouth full, and then like a noisy vacuum cleaner — sucked the rest of the noodles into his mouth and started chomping away.

The sheer sound and sight had Hinata's lips parting in a sultry fashion. But the noodles were not what interested her. That certainly was not what she craved, not in the least.

Her heart throbbed as further thoughts invaded her mind, but not just her heart... never just her heart when he was so close to her. This wasn't the first or second time that Hinata felt this strange sensation — this strong and consistent convulsion below her waist. And it always seemed to occur while she was in Naruto's company for an extended period... alone.

For some inexplicable reason, she wanted him to put his hands on her. She wanted to be touched... everywhere. Hinata once thought that a simple hug may have sufficed, but it was becoming increasingly clearer that it would not. Was it appropriate to think or feel this way?

The princess soon got a hold of herself and addressed his latest commentary with a remark that was hardly auditable. She wondered what her face looked like, and tried unsuccessfully to relax. But the electric current that seemed to be originating from somewhere in his body never slacked. Occasionally, the princess would permit herself a quick glance in his direction. But he was too caught up in eating to realize. It was a wonderful treat.

As if caught in a food-borne trance, Naruto reached out to retrieve a saucer with jelly-stuffed rice balls. The sudden proximity of his long fingers to her hand sent her heart into frenzied palpitations. Hinata struggled to keep her face composed, though her cheeks brightened with color.

The corners of Naruto's lips pulled up into a crooked smile, stopping her breath and her heart now before he bit down into a rice ball in hand. Delight spread over his face as the cloud-like filling melted in his mouth. And his facial expression almost seemed like an invitation to lean forward — despite the nerve-racking shyness — and pinch away the grains of sticky rice that smeared the corner of his mouth, one-by-one.

Hinata battled valiantly to fight off the urge, for she knew any level of contact she had with him could possibly have her bursting into flames — lustful, all-consuming flames that would be nigh impossible to extinguish once they had ignited. The princess felt a profusion of emotions: excitement, confusion, sadness, frustration, and even a tinge of anger — because to this day, she was certain she completely knew herself and had achieved almost full control over her body through intense training and meditation. Yet, at this very moment, she was struggling to steady the reins of her control, to subdue her rising desire. It was consuming her rationality.

"I'm sorry about Jiraiya-sama!" Hinata suddenly blurted out, showing no hesitation in wanting to offer her deepest condolences or rather, to change her chain of thought.

Initially, she did not intend to speak of the man. Yet, it was either she changed the energy in the room or do something very stupid and nigh unforgivable.

Like she figured — a unsavory sacrifice — the spark in the atmosphere shifted. A knife pierced her lust, but her heart was run through, as well. She could only imagine what Naruto felt, and her chest tightened in guilt at the thought. Now it was a battle to hold back her tears.

There was an awkward, prolonged moment of silence. The princess could feel the thick waves of depression rolling off him, and she could think of nothing to say.

"Hinata... it's fine," he finally said after a while, failing miserably at sounding wholehearted and unscathed, assuming that was his intention.

She glanced up at him with evident contrite, but he was staring into his bowl of soup, his eyebrows pulling together.

"It's no big deal. I'm alright now. Someone told me that Ero-Sennin believed I was the only one who was going to inherit his Will of Fire... that in his mind, he had no doubt about my becoming a great Hokage. I don't think he'll continue to praise me, if I go on swallowing in depression."

As he spoke, the dejected edge left his voice and color returned to his pale face. "I have a mission left behind by Ero-Sennin, so I don't have any time to be moping around. I need to get stronger if I hope to bring to fruition — not only my sensei's dream — but mine, as well. Also," his eyes narrowed in determination, "I haven't given up on, Sasuke."

Hinata's mood seemed to change in that instant, particularly at the key words moping around. It shifted to something around the lines of indignation — a level of indignation that obviously outweighed the fact that she was probably being a tad selfish and insensitive. Of course, she was impressed. Of course, she was proud. But she felt neglected and upset for the most part. She wanted him to share his burdens and the pleasures of his achievements. She wanted to be recognized. She wanted to know what he thought of her existence. She wanted to be his... through everything.

In the spur of the moment, Hinata was suddenly headstrong — adamant to learn of Naruto's feelings toward her, whether or not they would bring her absolute disappointment and grief or immeasurable happiness and satisfaction. It occurred to her then that, perhaps that point in time, when she had confessed her love to him on the battlefield, should remain lost in the flow of time, if he did not feel the same level of affection she did for him.

"Na-Naruto-kun?" his name was hot upon her lips, and she averted her eyes, just her eyes, as a precaution to preserve the little confidence she had mustered. "What—" she hesitated, dropping her eyes — "what do you think of me? D-Do you think I'm pretty?"

Her words were hardly above a whisper as she tried to mask the note of petulance in her voice. They were so low that she had a hard time hearing them over the loud thrashing of her own heart — and that made her wonder if he could, either. A sudden flash of surprise over his face answered her question.

Their gaze met and lingered, and the silence deepened — and changed. Flickers of the electricity she had felt moments past began to charge the atmosphere once more as he gazed unrelentingly in her eyes. It wasn't until her head started to swim did Hinata realize she wasn't breathing. When she drew in a jagged breath — breaking the stillness — she averted her eyes again, a fierce flush staining plump cheeks.

But was embarrassment really the emotion she was supposed to be feeling? Was it not despair and sorrow? Naruto's hesitation gave root to speculation — and Hinata held fast to the notion that the fleeing gleam she spied in his eyes were supposedly of uncertainty, pity, and disgust. In other words, her love was unrequited, and the chibi of her subconscious stood dumbfounded by the horrid revelation.

Abruptly, Naruto averted his gaze, his eyes guarded. And Hinata bit her lip and was glad he couldn't know just how much that hurt. It was better that way; he had enough anguish to deal with as is. His ordeals over these few months have been harsh and unrelenting.

The princess hadn't realized the moisture in her eyes had spilled over. She quickly rubbed the back of her hand across her flushed cheek, and sure enough, traitor tears were there... betraying her.

Naruto frowned, heartbroken when he spied her tears. His facial expression was of agony, as though he had been impaled by a samurai's sword. "Hi-Hinata—" he called, but was almost immediately cut off.

"Do you remember what I said before I fought Pain?"

The question made her heart clench despite her solemn visage. And Naruto gasped in response, the inquiry evoking that not so distant memory.

Pain held his hand forward, intent visible in those calm yet sinister eyes. They were deep, cold, and sad — a void filled with malicious ambitions and chaotic ideologies. "It's time for you to come with me," the demigod said, towering over the sage like a bad omen in his black robes.

Naruto gasped, prostrate and bounded there on the barren ground by the man's black iron rods.

The demon's pupils enlarged in preparations for his next heinous move but, just then, quick footsteps pierced the tension that had formed between the two. Time seemed to slow to the moment when Hinata leaped into a high arch, capturing the titan's inquisitive gaze. She attacked the villain upon her descent, missing her mark, her assault creating a large crater beneath her.

How horrible, she thought mentally once the dust had cleared. She looked to her comrade in distress, and then back to her adversary. Naruto-kun's movements are sealed away due to those rods. "I won't let you lay a finger on Naruto-kun!"

"Reinforcements," Pain assumed, sporting that ever-composed countenance.

"Why did you come here?" Naruto demanded urgently, obviously not enthused in the least."Hurry up — run! You don't stand a chance against him!"

The beautiful maiden made some sound — something matching a breath of protest. "I know that I'm being selfish," she admitted in a subtle tone.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto was frantic. "You don't need to be here! It's too dangerous!"

"I stand here on my will alone." she remembered a scene from the past, when an adult of her clan was carrying her off, after Naruto had saved her from a group of bullies. "This time, I will save 'you'. I've always been a cry-baby and always just gave up before trying. I kept thinking everything I did was wrong, but you showed me the right path to take, Naruto-kun! I've always been chasing you. I always wanted to catch up to you, to walk with you, to be with you. You changed me, Naruto-kun — your smile saved me. That's why I'm not afraid... to die protecting you... because... I love you, Naruto-kun."

Slowly, his eyes glum, Naruto lowered his head which, in Hinata's opinion, seemed like a gesture stating the fact that he could not bear the weight of the world and her feelings for him at the same time. The child of prophecy of which The Great Toad Sage spoke, could not have a family while the world was hinged on the brink of destruction.

But needless to say, Hinata was willing to wait.

"Hinata..." Naruto's eyes darkened with many emotions — but of those, she could not perceive. His oceanic gaze was filled with mystery, a bottomless sea of enigma that she could not decipher, even with the power of her eyes.

"It-It's nothing...," she gushed while shaking risen hands in dismissal. "You don't have to think about that. Forget what I said. Oh, that's right," she looked to the corner of the room and got up to fetch whatever it is she had placed there.

Hinata stood with care, worried her balance might have been affected by the tinge of electricity that still ran throughout her body. She walked across the room, lightheaded and wobbly. By this point, she was obstinate that her endeavor to change the subject had prevailed. Though, hadn't she resolved to abstain from reminding him of her confession on the battlefield? Well, so much for that resolve.

"I-I baked you a cake... as a means of officially thanking you for protecting me." she smiled, as high-spirited as possible. "Pain might have realized I was still alive, if you hadn't started fighting with him again."

Nervousness continued to play over Hinata's body, like the wind through a rolling meadow of beautiful but delicate flowers. It almost crippled her, making it harder to breathe, harder to think, and even harder to maintain her sincere facial expression. Her indignation and sadness were gone — like large volumes of liquid being exposed to temperatures far below zero degrees, replacing it with massive glaciers of embarrassment.

While making her way across the room — back toward the table — Hinata toppled in her clumsy state and Naruto stood, hoping to save her, only to have a flying cake plaster all over his unsuspecting crotch.

SUPER~ CAKIE-CAKE!

"Oh crap!" Naruto exclaimed, dumbfounded.

Na-Naruto-kun! Hinata's eyes went wide with horror, her forehead red from its impact to the floor. "F-Forgive me!" she apologized immediately, and then made haste to fetch a dishcloth, after scraping herself up off the floor.

Kneeling before him, the young maiden did her best to wipe the chunk of calorie away. But, unfortunately, that's not all she was wiping away. She was erasing the thick beams that supported his composure, his rationality, and his will to resist falling prone to temptation and having his way with her as Desire specifically commanded.

All the while thinking a girl had never before touched him in this way, Naruto's body went taut, his fingers stiffened, and his toes curled. There was not a word upon his lips. He couldn't find his tongue, and it wasn't long before he got a rather demanding erection — hard-forged steel.

Before Hinata could reach down to fetch another clean cloth, her eyes repentant and cute, his vessel began tapping her forehead each time he throbbed. For a second that seemed to stretch through to infinity, the princess's heart and breathing stopped. It was as if she was caught in a momentary state of suspended animation — and it wasn't long before a bright layer of pink rose from her collarbones all the way up to the crown of her head, like a tide that was embarrassment.

Wh-What is this? What's this hard, warm thing from Naruto-kun on my forehead? she thought absently. Then she gasped, her eyes widening when she finally understood just what exactly she had done to him. She had broken something! She had unintentionally mutilated h is body somehow, and, she would never be forgiven for it!

With an incoherent flurry of words, Hinata stood awkwardly, trips over her own feet again, and falls against him. They both tumbled to the floor, her on top — and she could distinctly feel what she had done to him on her thigh, throbbing like an erratic heartbeat.

Naruto's once passive and morose aura was flaring by a rush of adrenaline now. Words couldn't possibly explain what had become of Hinata's — but the fact that she had broken into a sweat meant that it was nothing less than overwhelming. Her sensitive chest was fast against the hardness of his, and she was already pulsing between her legs, almost violently — a level of sexual awareness that was completely new to her. She didn't know what to think of it, but her body knew well what it yearned. Though, did she possess the mental fortitude to dispose herself to its needs?

Naruto's eyes were as wide as Hinata's, filled with shock — but hers soon half-lidded with something else as desire rooted even deeper into her core. Desire was not all she felt; however, there was a tight grip of guilt in the pit of her stomach. She had done something very awful to her darling prince and yet, he did not whimper nor writhe in pain. There wasn't even as much as a pained look on his face. Instead, behind the evident spell of shock in his eyes, it would seem he was as lustful as she was. Now, the maiden was as confused as she was sexually aroused, and she propped herself up on her arms.

Time seemed to slow to this moment. Naruto could hear the dangerous pace of Hinata's heartbeat, and her breaths came quicker through parted lips — a sweet, warm breeze against his face. He could smell the fragrance of the shampoo in her hair, the soap upon her skin, and the freshness of her clothes. Tresses of hair branched off along either side of her face, her beautiful eyes obscured by the shadow cast by her bang. Naruto then noted her rosy cheeks and, at the same time, examined and relished in the feel of her soft, warm body against his.

Below the tempting curve of her lips, he allowed his eyes to journey from the hollow of her chin, along the slender length of her throat, to the threshold of your enticing cleavage. Her breasts were soft, smooth, and creamy, he assumed, merely by a brief glace. And it proved most difficult to tear is eyes away. Every fiber of his being wanted to feel and taste them — and he knew it would only become harder to resist with time.

Every passing second, however embarrassing, was a gift — a new experience and feeling for them both to savor. And they delighted in its taste, grace, and glory, never wanting to move, loathing the idea of this moment's inevitable end. Finally, Naruto's gaze shifted and settled on Hinata's unpainted lips. They were enticing, and he couldn't help but note that they were thinner in comparison to his. They were thin but attracted, making him wonder about their unique taste.

Unable to help himself, Naruto flashed a glace at her breasts again. Hinata's were by far larger than Sakura's, and he proceeded to think how they would feel and fit in his hands.

A passionate light lit in her eyes, the princess slowly lowered her head — locks of her hair caressing her prince's cheeks — and licked the icing from the tip of his nose. It tickled, but the sensation made Naruto throb rigidly in response, nonetheless. And not only a few times, either.

Motivated by her decision in this — automatically, intuitively, the young sage lifted his head. He watched as her eyes drifted close before he could lightly touch her chin with his lips. Her eyelids twitched, but her eyes remained close, as if there was something more, something special and in particular, that she was expecting him to do. He knew just what she was silently requesting. The truth of it rippled through her to him, like a warm tide — and the idea lingered at the tip of his mind, coaxing him to proceed with much passion.

Without a moment's more thought, he closed his eyes and gently brushed his mouth against her trembling lower lip. It felt like a soft, warm cloud beneath his, and as brief as it was — spectacular couldn't even begin to describe the level of pleasure he derived in that fleeing instant. As for Hinata, her entire body trembled in response, and her nipples ripened against the wall of his chest. If her mind told her this was wrong, then why did her body say otherwise — and which one was she to heed?

Gradually, she reopened her eyes when his head met the floor once more. And, after muttering a word of apology, she neared her face to his so that she could brush his lips in an echo of his feat, sampling his flavor again.

Their hearts drummed together.

Naruto-kun's lips are on mine, she beamed inwardly. My... my first kiss...

When the maiden's eyes reopened — once she had raised her head — Naruto studied her face carefully. It was strange that he had never looked at Hinata in a different light until today. The girl was beautiful. She had a slightly round, childish face, plump cheeks, and her silky hair was like a moonless night sky. Her eyes were innocent, deep and gorgeous... but troubled. He could note the twinkle of sadness that dwelled within those mesmerizing depths.

Displeased with the blemish that tainted what he thought was the epitome of beauty and grace, Naruto decided to relinquish this measure of unhappiness. And with that, his warm, velvet-like lips were pressing very softly against hers — a promise, a wish, and a resolution.

But, what neither one of them was prepared for was her response.

Blood sizzled under Hinata's pale skin, gushed throughout her veins, and burned in her lips as they crushed his. Her breath came in a wild, telling gasp, and her tiny fingers clasped the collars of his bathrobe, clutching him to her. Her lips parted and her throat went dry, as she breathed in his intoxicating scent.

"Hi-Hinata," Naruto muttered breathlessly when their lips were separated, and she was finally able to yank back on the reins of her control. "Is this alright?" he asked slowly, weighing her reaction.

"Yes...," she nodded her head, like a toddler that had secretly done a bad deed. She took her time to steady her shaky breaths, even though she had began — almost instinctively — rubbing her center along the surface of his bent leg. "I-I love you... so long as it's you, Naruto-kun... it will be OK."

"Hinata..." he kept his face perfectly composed, though, a peculiar gleam lit in his eyes — a soft light that Hinata apparently deemed less a threat in her state of arousal.

Naruto could distinctly feel the smoothness of her hindquarters, moving up and down his bare thigh. Her slow and sinuous movements, not to mention the heat between her legs, proved unbelievably arousing. It made his erection greater. And, all the while, he could sense that she was getting wetter. Between secretly binge-reading adult magazines and being forced to proof read Jiraiya's novels, Naruto knew exactly what the moisture between her legs meant.

"Why did you apologize before?" his voice was low and repentant.

Hinata wondered what he could possibly be sorry for. Her curiosity rooted deep, despite her sexual craving. But, more importantly, it was better to focus on gathering her bearings to answer his question — his embarrassing question, his heart-racking inquiry... god give her strength.

"I—" she hesitated, averting her gaze — "I did something to hurt Naruto-kun." her words, no more than a whisper, coincided with a strong pulsation of his masculine package. Her cheeks were scarlet when she glanced down in a telling gesture to where the bulge poked her thigh. Then she met his curious gaze anew.

It didn't take long for Naruto to understand what she meant. And he looked down as if the girl was transparent, as if he could see past her creamy cleavage to his pulsing pride.

He reclaimed her eyes. "Hinata... it's really not what you think." he tried to stifle a smile of amusement, though his lips still twitched.

"What... do you mean?"

Was she really going to make him spell it out for her?

"What you did... what you feel...," he looked down again, "is actually well... umm... my dick."

"Na-Naruto-kun's... dick..." Hinata repeated casually, evidently confused and unaware of what she just blatantly repeated.

Naruto smiled, finding the girl's ignorance in this to be quite adorable. And amusing. He liked the fact that, in a sense, she was as naïve as he was. And her shyness made him more relaxed and, well... creative.

"It means... it means that I'm aroused."

Her brows still slightly creased in uncertainty.

"It means that I find you incredibly attractive... that I like you a whole lot and I want you to be mine. Hinata... I want to make love to you."

CRASH!

Hinata's composure crumbled, shattered, like a sheet of glass against hard, jagged rocks. She could but hear the strident sound as the pane of glass scattered into a thousand glittering fragments beneath the weight of his words — and she was certain he wouldn't have given her the time to recover the pieces.

Naruto smiled his breathtaking smile again, stretching those perfect lips. And Hinata's eyes propped wide open as she continued to process his confession. Like an old engine, far passed its prime, her heart slowed to a stall before pulsating — roaring back to life with newly found vigor. Her pulse was erratic, and she could feel her blood heating to a dangerous boil. Her temperature rose, her body overheating...

Just before her fever rose above the critical point, to seize — like a cold-hearted pirate — her consciousness, Naruto started to fondle her breasts with curious but gentle hands. Hinata responded, almost instantaneously, her eyes tightly closed, her forehead creased with lines of delight. And her lips pursed, and then parted on a sweet breath.

Naruto had only dreamt of moments like this — another craving listed in his super-duper long list of Uzumaki's Boyish Desires.

He had always thought Sakura's breasts would be his first. But, then again, he wouldn't want what happened to Jiraiya many years ago — courtesy of Tsunade — to happen to him. Beaten to a bloody pulp because of peeping or groping seemed a bit too harsh a punishment, if you ask me. Just the thought gave him the shivers.

Hinata didn't seem to have a problem being fondled. She squirmed in satisfaction on top of him. If anything, she wanted more. Her breasts were warm and plush beneath her dress. They filled his hands completely, and she made some low, provocative sound beneath her breath as he further indulged himself in this childish fantasy.

His sensual caress soon made her begin to feel a more consistent series of pulsations deep within her core, more potent than before. And she was getting wetter, if that was even possibe. She could feel it. For some reason, it made her more self-conscious and embarrassed.

Abruptly, the princess sprang to her feet from the temptingly soft yet firm, warm, and masculine surface that was his chest. She gazed at his attractive figure through apprehensive eyes. He was the embodiment of ecstasy and irresistibility, sent by Cupid with a dark, delicious goal. He was a creature no girl could possibly resist — a threat.

He was no threat to her, however. She wanted him to make love to her — after all, it was she who, well... made him erect. Even if it was just a mere coincidence. And she didn't regret any of it.

Naruto's white teeth flashed brilliantly as he endeavored to subdue another smile of amusement. He gradually sat upright, his eyes calm yet seductive. "Oh, that's right," he said, stealing her breath for the one-hundredth time. "I never told you what I think."

"Wh-What Naruto-kun thinks?," she asked slowly, her arms hugging her breasts, as if protecting them from his hungry eyes.

"Mm-hmm," he nodded his head, his eyes smoldering. "You're very beautiful, Hinata. And I think your dress looks great on you."

Her eyes went wide with surprise. And she lowered her head when she noted he was studying her face, seemingly pleased with himself.

"Na... Na... Naruto-kun... I'm not beautiful," she disagreed. "And my dress is just, well... decent, not great."

That's what she said, and yet she blushed with pleasure at his compliment.

Fluently, like the graceful flow of water, Naruto rose to his feet and hovered toward her. She flinched, but she did not move away. He reached out to touch his fingertips to her cheek, and shivers slithered up her spine. His expression was unfathomable, but soon, she realized a tinge of sadness lining his handsome face.

"Hinata... I admit that sometimes I tend to sugar coat what I say, but I would never lie to you. Your dress suits you perfectly, and you're unbelievably beautiful."

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as his knuckles gently stroked her cheek.

"And you're wrong," he whispered in her ear, after skimming his lip over her ear lobe. "You're totally indecent — no one should look so divine, so tempting. It's not fair."

Hinata's eyes were wide — again, her chest tightening, but she couldn't look away; his eyes imprisoned hers. She could feel the heat of his body intermingling with hers, the convergence making her feel the truth of his words. And her legs got weak, her panting breaths, louder.

Temping... how? she thought to herself mentally, looking to her subconscious for answers. Clueless, the chibi started whistling with hands behind her back and looked anywhere but at Hinata. Her inner goddess, on the other hand, was busy massaging her breasts, trying to replicate the same level of gratification derived from Naruto's godlike hands.

Without a word, our golden knight pressed his warm lips delicately to her forehead, and the room spun. Her body was highly aware of his presence and his need, and that made it impossible to think.

"Shall I explain how you're tempting me?" he offered sweetly, his eyes still amused. It was clearly a rhetorical question, she surmised, spying his fairly pronounced collarbones through the loose-fitting garment.

His fingers traced slowly down the slender column that was her spine. Her hands were limp on his chest, and she felt lightheaded again, fierce pulsations up north and down south. She knew she had fallen into dangerous borders, but she couldn't tell him to stop. However irrational it was, she wanted to tell him more — and even more after that.

The princess began hyperventilating by the time Naruto tilted her head slowly and touched his warm lips to hers for the second time, sucking, savoring them lightly. Heat and delight filled her, permeating throughout her body in a fierce and unrelenting storm. Her loins quaked under the force of her growing frustration, her muscles taut.

And then she collapsed.