HSA: Hotel Resort [Part D]

To the far west of Fuugetsu, Naruto and Hinata found themselves walking along a beautifully paved path, bordered by lush palm trees and other expertly groomed greens. Tall streetlights stood back-to-back in the center of the walkway, ready to illuminate upon the dawning of dusk.

Many tourists traveled alongside our happy couple, most only garbed in their swimsuit and shades since the hotels in which they reside were close to the beach. The exotic buildings towered all around, boasting their warm colors. If only their suite was this close to the ocean, too.

Astride them, Naruto overheard a family of four reminiscing about how amazing last night's festival was. They had planned on going back again this evening as it was their last day in town, and the two kids — a boy and girl — couldn't stop gushing about all the fun they had playing games and winning toys. They were determined to get that huge bear this time around.

Hinata tilted her head and smiled openly in the sun's wonderful radiance. It was a sunny day. There were traces of salt in the mild breeze. The sky was blue, and there were only a few harmless clouds shuffling overhead. It was a perfect day to have an outing, and obviously all these people knew the truth of it. Among the crowd were guys with their surfing boards, expecting ideal weather conditions with which to ride the rebellious waves.

The princess looked to Naruto who was focusing on her smile, and her cheeks stained red when he reached for her hand and cupped her tiny fingers in his. She looked away in her embarrassment, but still the electricity that ran from him to her never slacked. It boosted her already frantic pulse.

Soon the crowd approached the foot of one amongst the many mountains that enclosed the town. Naruto and Hinata sighed in amazement at the gigantic tunnel that ran through the colossal rock to the other side of the island. Many other first timers shared in our couple's awe and astonishment. It must have taken years to stave a hole of this magnitude through this type of rock. Was it even possible with conventional tools?

As they proceeded closer to the entrance's threshold, the crowd couldn't help but slow and gaze up at the two large statutes of a man and woman that stood firm at either side. They were carved from the same kind of rock that made up the mountains. The details were exquisite, and Naruto wondered whether they were the founders of Fuugetsu.

"They sorta remind me of the two statutes at the Valley of the End," Naruto said dryly, though Hinata could sense the undercurrent of his bittersweet reverie.

Stepping into the cave felt as if stepping into another dimension. The pocket of air that greeted them was cool, as though it held promises of an early winter. The tunnel was dark — the perfect background shade for what laid in the foreground.

Embedded in the walls of rock were shards of glowing limestone, similar to those in the hot spring. Blue and green resonated together and danced on the walls like mythical fairies. It was enchanting, and Naruto squeezed Hinata's fingers affectionately as they traversed this sublime realm in their own small bubble of love.

When the enchanted crowd broke free of the darkness, they shielded their eyes against the sun's welcoming brilliance. But the moment they heard the sound of kids playing, seagulls calling, and the sea's surf breaking against the shore, their faces lit up and they all rushed forward to greet fun.

Holding her hand still, Naruto and Hinata stood aside. They'd rather not be crushed by the stampede. It was ironic — they were the kids and yet they were the ones controlling their excitement. Shinobis always had to be wary.

Despite being the renowned "hot spring country"; the beach wasn't as crowded as they thought it would, which was great. But it wasn't scanty, either.

After spotting a nice, spacious spot on the beachfront that wasn't occupied by sandcastles, the couple fetched two umbrellas from a local distribution stand and made their way to sweet relaxation... and food. To think that it was the blistering sun and the long journey here that would have deprived them of their energy.

Females walked by in their colorful bikinis and males, in their shorts. There were mobile food stands all around, advertising their stocks and imploring famished kids to persuade their parents to buy. This was the beach.

When Naruto jabbed the massive umbrellas side-by-side into the dry sand, Hinata took the liberty of spreading out their blanket and securing the hamper at her spot. She loved feeding him.

The princess inhaled deep of the briny air that blew in from the open seas. The blue deity's call was too strong for her to resist, but a power more potent held her by the knight's side. The ocean extended out as far as the eyes could see, but on the horizon, they could see the misty coast of the lightening country.

"The water's beautiful," Hinata muttered unconsciously.

"But not as beautiful as you..." Naruto returned in that dangerously influential tone. The complexion in her face changed suddenly, and her hand rose to perilous regions. "Your finger is on your lip again," he said softly, gazing across the lapping waves with an enigmatic smile, the tail of his black headband fluttering in the wind.

The first few yards of the water were aqua, almost crystal clear, while the rest was of a darker blue. It was truly beautiful. Naruto was anxious to take a dip, but, unfortunately, he didn't have any sunscreen. Now going for a swim was more of a sacrifice than that of enjoyment.

Hinata sat innocently on her heels, looking up surreptitiously with desire in her eyes. She recalled with a blush what Naruto said about making love to her on the table.

On the table…

That would have been so inappropriate... but hot! She wondered if they could try it before they left. Oh, she felt like a naughty schoolgirl considering skulking school to hang out with her friends. But she was certain, in reality, that idea wouldn't have been a turn on in the least.

On the table…

The idea did not intend to settle anytime soon. Hinata pursed her lips and pressed her hands down upon her lap as a series of convulsions tackled her core. She had been aching for him since the table commentary, and her inner-goddess was getting more impatient by the minute.

To think that Naruto was so naughty, and Hinata had a feeling she hadn't seen anything yet. Her center clenched again, and she pressed down harder with an inaudible whimper, her eyes tightly closed.

In her tantalization, the princess heard a group of young girls passing close by. They were gloating about their effect on a certain boy, which really made Hinata seriously consider the matter — to think that a female's body could have such a powerful effect on males. She knew how much Naruto affected her, but she wondered about the potency of her effect on him. It was obvious, though, that he really enjoyed probing her body.

The girls wore stylish and evidently expensive bikinis. The sight made Hinata wonder if she should strip down to her swimsuit for her one and only. The girl personally wanted to see what the sight of her body would do to him, while they were in public and unable to copulate.

Considering the lack of privacy and his inability to steal her rationality entirely, she would be able to assess him throughout the course of the day. But not for long — she did want him to dominate her on the table, after all.

Hinata blushed.

Naruto sprawled out on the blanket, his fingers just inches away from her majesty's legs. He sighed, a long sigh of nostalgia. "It's really been a long time since I came to the beach." He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes with a smile. "It's great... especially since I'm here with you."

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata was almost at that point where being in public didn't matter.

She could smell him. The familiar aroma washed over her, like a physical caress, tilting her chin and teasing her perfect lips. She panted softly with her hunger, her bent legs melting beneath her from the heat detonating in her core. His chest was a temping surface on which to lie — a soft, warm pedestal reserved only for his single rose. Hinata wanted to completely mold into him, to be with her chivalrous white knight forever — intertwined in their combined gratification.

All of a sudden, the princess's emotions broke, shattered into bits on the face of a jagged rock. Shock and discomfort replaced her amorous desire, and she battled to gather her composure through the thick mist of her curiosity.

"Hey!" Another group of young girls stopped in front of our couple's crude love nest, the one in front surveying our hero's features intently. "Awesome blonde hair. Blue eyes. Konoha's forehead protector. Oh, my god — you wouldn't be Uzumaki Naruto, would you... Konoha's hero?"

Naruto sat upright; sharing Hinata's lost for words.

"You are, aren't you," another girl said with stars of hope twinkling in her eyes.

Naruto began scratching his head with his trademark grin. "Well, I don't know about the "hero" part, but I'm definitely Uzumaki Naruto."

The girls screamed, almost swooning before him as though he was some legendary rock star. They dragged him to his feet and imprisoned him within a tight circle, like a deadly mob. Then they begged him to join their team in a volleyball tournament scheduled to begin in a few minutes.

Hinata was surprised that word of his heroism had gotten so far and so fast. But more importantly, she began feeling a strange emotion boiling up inside her — spicy and unfamiliar. But one thing was certain, it wasn't a pleasant emotion, and that made her worry.

"So, will you help lead us to victory," another girl asked sweetly.

"Sure, I guess... but I won't stay long." Naruto felt uneasy.

"With you on our side of the net, you won't have to; the opposing team won't stand a chance," girl number one reassured.

"I know right," girl number two agreed.

"Oh. By the way, this is my girlfriend — Hinata," Naruto gestured to his guardian angel who sat with a fierce blush painting her adorable cheeks.

G-Girlfriend? Hinata felt as if she was a kettle that had long reached a boil, neglected on the stove to overheat, and then melt. She had never regarded them with such a title before. Does that mean he was her... boyfriend? "Hello." The princess was polite, her voice small.

The curly, blonde hair girl who was obviously the leader of both the volleyball team and the peer group looked her over in a single, sharp glance. She wasn't impressed, but her expression was carefully guarded. "It's nice to meet you, Hinata," she smiled. "You must really be something if you're dating Konoha's hero."

"You're lucky, that's for sure," girl number three giggled.

"Hinata, I hope you don't mind if we borrow him for a while," the blonde said with a fist on one hitched hip. Her eyes gleamed, as if with challenge, and her smile was sly. But Hinata had never played her game, so she was blind to all the coaxing signs.

"No, it's completely fine — I'm sure that Naruto-kun will enjoy the game." That's what she said, then why did she feel a looming sense of sadness?

"Thanks," the girl replied, grinning now, her girlfriends pushing a reluctant Naruto over to the court with gathering spectators. "I promise we won't keep him too long." She left to meet up with her team.

As Hinata watched the assertive sirens make off with her beloved into the beguiling gloom, she felt the dull blade of loneliness looming over her head, intent on cleaving her in twine. "Wait, Naruto-kun," she said, far too much of a whimper to be heard. She dashed off to meet closure, but toppled and fell on her face in the sand. Curse her two left feet.

"Hinata Hyuga," a voice rose before our saddened princess, one dripping with pity. It was girl number one — the blonde leader. Hinata reclined on her heels. "You should really give Naruto some space every now and then. You want him to spread his wings and have fun, right? Trust me, no guy likes when his girlfriend is too clingy. Take it from me," she grinned and then walked off, sparing no time to console the troubled girl.

Am I... clinging to Naruto-kun too much? Hinata's eyes popped open, quivering with a storm of emotions. But mostly, she was shocked and appalled by this bitter revelation.

Through a game of heads or tails, Naruto's team had won the privilege to serve the ball first. Each team had five players: four females and one male. Naruto had to wonder if the captain of the challenging team had the same idea about asking a favor from a slightly willing shinobi.

The spectators cheered and threw their hands up in excitement as the blonde, Matsuri, postured to make the first serve and get the final match of the championship tournament under way.

"Naruto! You remember the rules, right," she asked urgently, almost seeming to glow in her vibrant, shocking color green bikini.

The men howled flirtatiously, panting like dehydrated hounds.

"Yeah, I've got it. Now let's take home that championship trophy!" He really wanted to get back to Hinata. His guilt was swelling by the second.

"Great! Now try not to make a scene — we want this match to seem as clean as possible."

"I know right," girl number three added. "It would suck big time if we got disqualified after coming this far, especially when it might be possible for us to win, if we played legitimately."

"You can say that again," girl number four agreed, surprisingly. She rarely spoke.

"I won't jeopardize this match," Naruto grinned. "I'll make sure that you guys walk away with that trophy, even though you refused to play fair 'til the very end."

Matsuri chuckled, and then served, both the competition and the hungry spectators that enclosed the sandy court. The match started with a fiery explosion of passion. All the players were energetic and confident. They kept moving around in their cell, keeping themselves mobile to respond quickly and effectively to all incoming servings.

The rival team was doing an exceptionally well job thus far — they were obviously aiming for overkill. The girls would constantly claim and serve the ball in the air for their male teammate to administer a mean and powerful slam-dunk.

But Naruto was no amateur, nor was he slow or lazy on his feet. Each dunk was saved with a pizzazz that made the crowd go wild; even the perverts looked his way momentarily. However, he tried to refrain from having to strike the ball back over the net as much as possible. Staying nimble on his feet, he stayed in the background to save any death balls and set them up to be returned with a vengeance by the girls.

The ever-vigilant sun showed no mercy to all those who were vulnerable. It had shifted in the sky over the span of these twenty-five minutes. Most of the spectators had retreated under their umbrellas, still fixated on the ongoing match. Evidently, one of the best they'd seen in a while.

Heat and exhaustion plagued both sides of the competition. Hot breaths escaped through parted lips. Salty sweat danced over smooth, creamy breasts as they bounced in motion. Sleek hair fluttered in the crisp breeze. Eyes burned with vehement determination. Flushed bodies endured under consistent pressure.

The philandering men couldn't get enough. And they were careful to secure fresh tissues into their nostrils after each bloody nose. They couldn't care less about the game. What really mattered to them was—

A female competitor's breasts pressed hard against the back of another as they both hit the ground trying to save an incoming ball. They moaned, almost amorously, and the men's head tiled back as blood sprayed from their nostrils.

After wave and wave of servings, there was only five minutes remaining on the clock. The score was twenty-two to thirty-two, with Naruto's team holding the high score. The match had taken its toll on the players — their responses had slowed, their confidence settled into dehydration.

After another successful dunk on the competitor's part — courtesy of Naruto's guilt — the alarm sounded, which signaled the conclusion of the match.

The spectators rose from the protection of their umbrellas to cheer. Some people were disappointed, perhaps those who placed bets on the defeated team. But in no time, the court was swarming with ecstatic spectators. They made way for the referee as he brought the four-foot-tall trophy onto the scene. The girls held it up together, effortlessly brushing off their guilt, but their leader was nowhere to be seen.

"Naruto," she appeared beside him, almost as if she had materialized out of the thick crowd. She led him to a clearing that wasn't so noisy, her mannerisms seeming far sweeter than usual. Could her gratitude have altered her personality this much? "That was a great match. On behalf of me and my team, I want to thank you." She smiled innocently.

Naruto grinned. "Oh, it was nothing. I promised you guys the trophy, didn't I?"

"That you did. We recently found out that the male player on our opponent's team was secretly using food pills, which is why we asked you to help us play against them. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

He frowned. "In that case, I guess they deserved to lose, then. Well —" he turned to leave — "enjoy the sweet taste of victory... I'm gonna to head back to Hinata now."

"Wait! I have something to give you, as a token of my appreciation."

Before Naruto could fully turn around, Hinata suddenly swooped in and snatched something hidden behind Matsuri's back. In her shock, the girl retaliated by teleporting out at sea in a hasty retreat and Hinata pursued. Naruto followed suite, curious as to what was going on.

The blonde leader had found her cool again, floating up and down atop the blue waters. She stood with a dark smile and a hand on her hip, staring wickedly at Hinata. "You're not as much of the loser that I thought you were," she spat with obvious contempt, grinning now.

"Hey, don't talk to my girlfriend like that!" Naruto snapped. "Didn't I just help you to win that trophy?"

"Oh, please. I couldn't care less."

"Hinata, what's going on." Our hero was even more perplexed.

The princess's eyes were narrow, cautiously fixed on the enemy while she spoke. "Naruto-kun... this girl isn't who she claims to be. She's an impostor!"

"Huh," he raised a brow in question, far from enlightenment. "What're you talking about?"

"On the beach, she called me 'Hyuga' Hinata, when neither Naruto-kun nor I had ever mentioned my last name."

"Oh," the girl flashed her hair. "So that's what tipped you off."

Hinata nodded once. "It's not unusual for people to recognize that I'm from the Hyuga clan based on my eyes, but something about the way you said my name made me anxious. I watched as you played the match with my Byakugan and realized that you were exerting a lot of chakra..."

"Chakra…" Naruto cast his gaze to the mysterious woman in shock.

"Yes," the princess shed light on his suspicion. "This woman is not only a shinobi, but she's using the transformation technique to impersonate this girl. I took this from her just now," she revealed the vial in her hand. "It's the same sedative drug that those rouges used yesterday. She was planning to use it on you, Naruto-kun."

Naruto veered his attention to the woman again. He frowned deeply, swearing something nasty. He held the woman in a gaze so deadly furious it must have burned to hold it. "Why you..."

"Impressive," the impostor said, her smile brilliant despite the compromise. "You Hyuga are really something else." She dismissed the transformation, revealing her true form.

Long, ebony hair. Brown, bold eyes. A slender body wrapped in black ninja attire — she was gorgeous. Why do the evil characters have to be so beautiful?

"My name is Kitami, and I'm out to seek revenge!" The woman's once cool countenance became foul. "Uzumaki Naruto... you took my man away from me," she gripped the cloths above her heart. "I'll have you feel the same pain that I'm feeling right now."

Naruto's eyes were calm as he focused on keeping his anger in check. Just the reality that Hinata's life was in danger made his blood flow like lava through his veins. He wanted to release the instinctive beast inside of him; to erase all that threatened her life. But he knew he had to hold steady the reins of his control. "So you're connected to those two rouge ninjas, after all — Mitarashi and Hakkaku."

"I wasn't a part of their plan to kidnap your girlfriend, but Hakkaku was my everything and you took him away from me. On his final breath, he told me all that had happened, and now I'm here to make you pay!"

"If you were in Naruto-kun's shoes, you would have done the same thing," Hinata explained, but the flame in Kitami's eyes didn't falter.

"Without hesitation, I'd kill all those who came seeking revenge, too. But in this case, I'll be the only one heading back to that shore today."

Hinata frowned. "But—"

"That's enough, Hinata," Naruto interjected, his eyes closed as he silently drew power from the blistering ball of fire that grew in the pits of his gut. "No number of words will change her resolve." His eyes slowly opened. "I'll take care of this."

The wind gusted over the waves, stirring the salty air in the process, and Naruto formed his trademark seal, determined to end the fight with a single Rasengan. No one would hurt Hinata or interfere with their vacation, even if she was a woman.

Kitami's eyes narrowed shrewdly. Kage Bunshin?

"Wait, Naruto-kun!" Hinata commanded, assuming her clan's customary offensive stance. "Please… allow me to take care of this."

"Hinata... I don't want you to get involved in this. Stand aside."

"I'm already involved, Naruto-kun; I was kidnapped yesterday and became a burden to you. I wish to make amends for that."

"You don't have anything to prove. I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I know that my welfare concerns you, Naruto-kun... but you must not forget that I'm also a shinobi. I'm no longer the helpless girl that you cheered on in the Chunin Exams three years ago." She heaved a confident smile, her eyes changing. "Let me show you how much I've grown."

"Hinata..."

Kitami gave an evil laugh, disgusted by her adversary's' loving dispute. "If I knew I'd get the privilege to fight you without interference, I would never have tried to sedate Naruto with that drug." She chuckled and vaulted backward a few yards, distancing herself from Hinata's attack range. Then the woman postured for an attack. "You'll find that I'm not as weak as Hakkaku."

"Hinata!" Naruto effortlessly won her attention, his eyes serious again. "Not one scratch... I don't want one scratch on your body, got that? If she gets one hit in, I'll be forced to step forward."

"...Hh!" Hinata nodded and faced her opponent once more, a flush kissing her cheeks. I won't let Naruto-kun down. Byakugan! She fully activated her eyes, and her mood suddenly changed.

"Tsk. I'll just have to kill her with a single attack, then," Kitami said to herself, constantly remembering what Hakkaku said regarding facing a Hyuga in close combat.

"Air Palm!" Hinata swiftly thrust her arm forward, palm up, launching a compressed shaft of air through the water. It cut through the dark surface of the salty blue, blasting Kitami with devastating force, shredding apart of her cloths. She screamed upon impact, rolling violently backward as though she had been hit by a train.

Naruto stood with his mouth opened, astounded, as the woman sliced through the water, like a rag doll. What was that?! I would've never seen it coming; it's almost invisible. Wow! My girlfriend's a badass!

Hinata glanced Naruto's impressed facial expression. It doused her with confidence and determination; driving her with a more potent form of fuel.

She dashed toward Kitami before the woman could gather her bearings. It was a good idea to end the battle before people on the beach began noticing tiny dots moving around like bullets, far out at sea.

Drenched, Kitami struggled to one knee, her head hung low. "What was that," she wondered in her muddled state. I thought Hakkaku said the Hyuga were only capable of hand-to-hand combat. That was a chakra-based range attack just now. She heard quick footsteps closing in. I'll just have to flood her with attacks until I can find a clear opening.

Gathering invisible but lethal chakra to her fingertips, Hinata rushed in to seal Kitami's power. But before our valiant princess could get in range, the woman quickly formed her seals and sent a massive ball of fire hurtling toward them: Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!

Expelling a bulk of chakra to the soles of her feet, Hinata gathered the momentum to leap to the side. Naruto had to dodge the attack, as well, which rocketed past him, leaving a salty vapor of steam in its weak. But this was just a diversion. Kitami had leaped into the air and created two shadow clones, each quickly forming their own individual hand seals.

Hinata pursed her lips and took a defensive stance in a heartbeat, watching carefully, analytically, as the three assailants prepared to attack. So... she's fire-natured. I need to be careful; I am already at a disadvantage by only specializing in taijutsu.

"Fire Style: Crimson Dragon Jutsu," clone one uttered, breathing forth a large, blistering dragon whose body formed a tall wall of flames around our alert couple.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Justu!" Clone two followed up in perfect sync, sending a volley of small fireballs flying toward them.

Naruto and Hinata had no choice but to allow themselves to be enclosed in the searing flames. It was imperative that they concentrate on the secondary attack, which could be concealing shurikens. But that was also careless — since the original body hadn't disclosed her attack yet.

Hinata had no intention to take any chances. She couldn't afford to lose everything... to lose Naruto. She darted before him, instructing her capable white knight to stay put as she postured to rotate into her Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms technique.

"Fire Style: Searing Whip," Kitami uttered wickedly, unfurling a long whip wrought of fire from her forefingers, which she combined with the Phoenix Fire technique to assault the much despised couple. The hungry flames collided into the rotating orb generated by Hinata, consuming it.

Then she stopped instantly, dispersing the glowing sphere.

Kitami was enraged. She narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits and gritted her teeth. "A barrier? So I used all that chakra for nothing?" She landed on her feet within the ring of flames, still on her guard. "At least I still have them trapped. I need to finish this!"

Hinata could practically hear the wheels in the woman's shrewd mind turning, calculating errors and how to smooth them over — how to dismiss her from this world. "Naruto-kun," she whispered, tugging his attention. "I'll draw her attention away from you..."

The warrior scanned her, intrigued by her commanding flair. Naruto had never seen her battle like this before... in a dress with its length distinctly in the seductive zone... for him. He was tempted to tap her on the butt, to give her a boost in spirit, but he was certain the gesture would've had the opposite effect. "Be careful. She's strong..."

"She is, but I can't afford to lose."

Hinata took off — like a torpedo out of water — toward a cautious Kitami. In response, the woman began forming the seals for another lethal fire attack: Horse. Snake. Tiger. Monkey. Boar... but Hinata thwarted her pending strike with her gentle fist.

Kitami gracefully maneuvered around the quick jabs and eased into a series of back flips. Then without pause, she lunged into a dash and Hinata kept up a few yards to the side of her. Panting breaths. Damp hair. Fiery gazes. They exchanged a few saucy lines, and then leaped backward to launch a coinciding attack. A powerful air palm and a gigantic fireball collided, which resulted in a humongous and catastrophic explosion.

The shockwave blasted the girls away. Naruto's shadow clone caught Hinata in midair and, in one fluid motion, he clutched her arm and swung her around, slingshotting her forward toward Kitami who, had found her footing atop the raging waters.

While Hinata was still airborne, Kitami capitalized on her presumed vulnerability by executing the seals for a new attack. "Fire Style: Crimson Pistol!" The woman held her hands up — her thumbs and index fingers portrayed in the shape of a pistol — firing fire-based projectiles at high velocity at our confident princess.

Hinata's heart rate was wild — pumping loads of oxygen and adrenaline through her veins. Her senses were sharpened, her eyesight keen, and, in but a fraction of a second, she took a deep breath and generated powerful chakra around her hands.

Gentle Step, Twin Lion Fists!

The blue flames that took the form of a lion's head burned with fierce intensity. And Hinata effortlessly deflected the barrage of fireworks as she swooped down to where Kitami stood.

"Check it out, bro," a surfer on the beach pointed out to his friend. "I didn't know there was a volcano out there. Wicked awesome!"

The friend shielded his eyes from the sun's glare and tried to concentrate. "I don't think that's a volcano, man."

"Aren't those people out there," a woman said, clinging tightly to her child's hand in anxiety.

"Are we under attack," an older man asked, instilling a bitter grip of fear in all those who heard.

"It's Poseidon!" A teenager in massive, nerdy glasses exclaimed, his eyes beady. "He's finally here to destroy humanity for polluting His seas!"

"Can someone please give that kid a wedgie," a bully shouted from somewhere in the converging crowd.

Anxious chatter broke out on the beach. And more people began gathering at the edge of the shoreline, trying to ascertain what tragedy was transpiring out at sea. Were they to be worried? Was there really a threat?

The lions imbued of blue seemed to roar each time Hinata nullified Kitami's fire-based projectiles. It was the shockwave, and it echoed off the surface of the water, spelling the intensity of the girls' desperate battle.

Kitami was suddenly more furious, her eyes blazing. The final thread holding her rationality in check seemed to have snapped. She leaped far into the air and quickly went through her seals. "I'll burn you two alive until there's absolutely nothing left," she fumed, molding chakra in her belly, which seemed to have been enhanced by her rage.

Like a flamethrower, she breathed a wave of searing hot flames down upon Naruto and Hinata. The spectacle almost seemed like the prologue of the apocalypse. The fire swallowed up the entire ring that imprisoned our couple. Was this the end? Had our hero and princess been incinerated by this avenger's overwhelming rage?

Kitami guffawed, all traces of composure she had gone in her rippling excitement. But the joy of victory was short-lived, and she frowned maliciously at the reality of that. What would it take to kill these annoying pests?

Hinata had escaped the infernal flames by effortless slicing through the ring with a decisive strike. Aside from the fact that there was lots of humidity riding on the wind, the flames were partly made up of chakra, which were her forte.

Her inner-goddess had a sly grin on her face, but the Hyuga princess sported a cool countenance, secretly gathering her power into a finishing move. With her hands resting at her sides, her defenses down, she made a little distance between her and Naruto, her sinuous strides making Kitami steam.

"I've had just about enough of you," the woman snapped, holding a gun-finger forward, target: Hinata. She reinforced her wrist with her free hand as she infused a large quantity of her chakra into the small ball of fire generating at her fingertip.

But Hinata displayed no intention to dodge. She stood firmly with her lips pursed in ardent resolve. This made Kitami anxious, though she tried to conceal the truth of it.

"Hinata..." Naruto stared on, disconcerted with the seemingly reckless atmosphere that had formed between the two.

However, Hinata wasn't afraid. Her confidence was like a pillar of steel that towered into the heavens. She was ready to conclude this prolonged duel, ready to vanquish the evil that threatened her happiness. I won't lose before the eyes of the one I love…

Kitami was done talking. She blasted the fireball, which zinged toward Hinata, like a deadly flare. Despite its menacing velocity, the princess drove her hand down into the water — pumping all the chakra she had accumulated into a powerful air palm. It tore through the water like a laser, opening a momentary hole in the unruly depths.

At the same time, the projectile zipped through a few strands of Hinata's hair, singeing them. Naruto was flabbergasted, and even more so when Kitami popped into a cloud of smoke.

Hinata rose slowly to her feet, her eyes relived, seawater tricking down her face from the ocean's repercussion to her finishing blow.

"What happened," Naruto demanded as he approached the collected heroine, his eyes curious but still alert.

"It's over," she reassured when Kitami's lifeless body floated to the surface of the unmerciful tides.

"I figured as much, but I still don't get what just happened."

Hinata deactivated her ocular ability with a sigh, and then blinked rapidly a few times, her seriousness dissolving at the sound of Naruto's voice. "I'll explain."

"Mmm." Naruto inclined his head.

"Back then, when she had created those two clones, the third one was also fake. The real one had already concealed herself under water, biding her time for the ideal opportunity to attack. I could sense her presence all the while, and it wasn't long before I saw her. Whenever I stood still for any extended periods of time, she would swim beneath my feet."

"But why did you leave yourself open to her attack like that? You could have been hurt!" Naruto almost sounded upset.

"I... I'm sorry that I made Naruto-kun worry," Hinata turned around, her head bowed in repentance. "I also noted that she had depleted most of her chakra reserves with all the high-level ninjutsu she was using, so I was almost certain that her attack wouldn't work."

Naruto moved in close and brushed the fringes of hair at the front of her bang. Then he smoothed his hands over her face, touching every inch of her as if he feared she was broken. "I don't want to lose you based on a miscalculated gamble, Hinata," he whispered softly to her ear... too soft.

His aura seemed to wash over her, settling into sockets and joins where her expelled chakra once rested. It was cool, revitalizing... and arousing. Slowly, he coiled his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest. He was evidently aroused, too. The realization knocked the wind from Hinata's body. She was certain he could feel the sudden gallop of her heart, and that made her even more embarrassed.

"About my warning," he continued, his warm breath fanning her neck, providing wind in the sails of her arousal, turning the fan blades of her insatiable desire. "Well, technically, your hair is what got singed and not your body… so I guess it's okay. Nevertheless," his voice turned seductive. "I'll have to punish you for damaging your hair and being so reckless." He grinned — she could feel it. "Don't worry; you'll enjoy the punishment that I have in stored."

Hinata felt herself clench down south at his words, and her hand shot up automatically to grip the back of his shirt. A flush rose in her cheeks, and she buried her face in the wall of his chest, hoping that it didn't burn through his clothes.

"Damn, I think your punishment may have to wait."

"Eh?" Hinata withdrew her head, her eyes wide. She couldn't conceal her utter disappointment.

"I think our little skirmish went public."

Hinata was shocked at the number of people that had gathered at the shore, their gazes fixed on whatever development was taking place after the chaotic series of explosions before. But the couple was much too far out to be distinguished by anyone, which is why a few surfers had started paddling out on their surfboards to make sense of the conflict.

To avoid recognition and interrogation, the couple bolted off toward a remote coral reef adjacent to the beach. They were certain no one would follow them there.

A quick Lesson

Naruto and Hinata jumped from the thrashing waves and onto the summit of a cliff. The sand was almost ivory here, and much harder than that found on the beach. Tiny trees scattered all around the wide area along with small turfs of grass. And it was quiet, except for the surf breaking on the jagged rocks down below.

Hinata looked out across the oceanic vista, captivated by the different color umbrellas that lined the distant beach. From here, the people looked like ants scurrying around in the golden sand. The skyline held her gaze, and she studied the contrast in colors.

"Hinata," Naruto summoned her from the ledge, her eyes endearing. The damp spots on her dress were almost dry now. "I've been thinking... and I've decided to teach you a technique: the Rasengan."

Hinata's eyes pop open.

"The Hyuga specializes in close range combat, right, and they excel at chakra manipulation. I think the Rasengan would make a fine addition to your arsenal." His eyebrows pull together. "While you were fighting Kitami, I noted that there were instances where your attacks barely missed her. If that were the Rasengan, she would have been blown away instantly. It's a great finishing move. It doesn't demand a lot of chakra, but it packs a powerful punch."

Hinata's hand rose to her mouth, and a flush crept into her cheeks as she looked down to his chest. "B-But that's Naruto-kun's special attack..."

He took that hand away from her tempting lips — dispelling the trance she had unconsciously placed him under — and rest it over his heart. "And you're my girlfriend — far more special than any technique."

"Naruto-kun..." she looked up into his smoldering eyes, hers half-lidded with unshed tears of joy. Was it possible to love him anymore than she already did? She beamed at him.

He lifted a hand to her rosy cheek, his eyes softening. "With this technique... a part of me will always be with you — protecting you, always."

His whispering made her lightheaded, and her soul pleaded for a kiss. But Naruto knew well the effects a mere kiss had on them. The moment their lips touched, an insatiable lust would be unleashed upon them, consuming the pair of a single entity in a raging sea of uncontrollable desire.

Much too soon, he pulled away, leaving a storm of static electricity between them. "That air palm technique you used earlier... it was interfused with wind-natured chakra, wasn't it? ...Does that mean the Hyuga are wind-natured?"

"Hn."

Naruto grinned, obviously pleased about something. "That means you and I are both wind-natured. How ironic, right?"

Hinata smiled, happy about this other comparison, which she assumed proved even more that they were meant to be. "I think it's wonderful."

"You're wonderful."

She went silent, and Naruto chuckled. "Okay. So you're wind-natured, but I don't think you have enough chakra to use the Rasenshuriken right now. In that case, let's just stick with the basic form of Rasengan, shall we."

"Hn!" She nodded her head enthusiastically, like a puppy about to be fed some chow. She stood up straight, eager to wield the same power as her beloved knight.

"Alrightdy! So let's get started. I still have that punishment to administer, after all." He grinned and winked suggestively at her, effortlessly tearing down the walls of composure the princess had erected. "In the tree-climbing exercise, we learnt to accumulate and maintain a certain amount of chakra in a needed area, right... similar to that lion technique you had going on earlier."

Hinata nodded, concentration glinting in her eyes.

"Then with the water-walk exercise, we released a constant amount of chakra to keep us balanced and afloat atop the water's surface. For the Rasengan, however, you'll need to create a flow with chakra. Simply put, rotation."

Hinata's expression still portrayed "focus" and, with that, Naruto continued the tutorial. He created a shadow clone to demonstrate, holding his right palm up, upon which his counterpart gazed intently. "First, you accumulate and maintain chakra in your hand like the tree climbing exercise." Small, blue particles converge to form a sphere of condensed energy in his hand. "Next, you release a constant amount of chakra like in the water walk exercise." The sphere grew and deepened in hue. "And, finally, you push and rotate." The shadow clone used both hands to create a scratching gesture all around the glowing orb, ushering the chakra into a fierce rotation of many dimensions in which main body (Naruto) sustained.

Hinata couldn't tear her eyes away from the visible ball of energy. Chakra manipulation was the Hyuga's strong suite, but shape manipulation wasn't a popular practice. She wondered about the velocity of the chakra's rotation, and found it ironic that the destructive ball of force emitted a high-pitched, but soothing sound effect.

"Ero-sennin mentioned something about chakra rotation type. You know what yours is, right?"

"Yes! I'm a clockwise-type."

"So am I," his lips eased into a smile, and he dispersed the orb and his clone.

Soul mates, Hinata's lips stretched at the thought.

"Okay. Now it's your turn. I sucked at manipulating chakra three years ago. And if I took less than a month to perfect the Rasengan, then a Hyuga that's been training to achieve perfect chakra control since kindergarten should be able to do it in one go." Naruto's eyes narrowed with certitude. "I believe in you, Hinata... now show me what you've got! ...And don't forget that we learn through trial and error; it's no big deal if you don't get it the first time."

Gathering her bearings from the abundance of confidence and determination that emanated from Naruto, Hinata looked down at her palm, her eyes pensive.

"Both the Fourth Hokage and the Ero-sennin only used one hand to pull off the Rasengan; using the clone is just my method. What will yours be...?"

Hinata raised her right hand, palm up, and took a deep breath, her stance sturdy. Silence fell over them, and the wind gusted with a howl as the beautiful warrior centered herself. The tree swayed overhead, the shadow of its leaves dancing in the torrid sand.

Then Hinata clasped her wrist for support as she channeled energy into the palm of her hand. She had seen and, committed to memory, the Rasengan in action a few times in the past — after all, it was her hero's second trademark move — but the princess had never attempted to try it. She had, however, worked out all the schematics in her mind and performed a step-by-step simulation of herself practicing the technique. So, technically, she had mental experience... it was just to reenact what she did in reality.

"The first step is rotation," Naruto advised when Hinata's eyes flashed open with dedication. "Envision your chakra rotating in several directions at high speed within a tiny circle."

"Ahh!" Her voice rose as small, blue particles converge to form a sphere of condensed energy in the palm of her hand. It was rotating rapidly.

"The second step is power." Naruto's eyes popped open as the sphere of a much darker blue than usual, grew several times larger than the typical Rasengan. For a moment, it was terrifying.

Thin vortex of energy swirled around the massive sphere, like a cyclone, driving the immediate area into awry, stirring leaves and sand. Its screech echoed off the trees in an exotic melody. It sounded like a charged particle beaming preparing to be fired.

"Hinata! That's more like an Odama Rasengan," Naruto shouted a few octaves above the sound generated by the dense sphere. "It's awesome! ...Okay, so the third and final step is to retain the previous two steps — rotation and power!"

Hinata gritted her teeth and tightened the grip around her wrist as she struggled to maintain her newly bestowed power. It was more difficult than she imagined, and yet Naruto could dish out multiple clones wielding their own Rasengan. He was truly amazing!

"Hinata, calm down... you really don't need to be out-putting that much power. At that rate, you'll only be able to use the Rasengan once per battle." He created another Rasengan and raised his palm beside hers. "I want you to focus more on rotation rather than power — since that's the most important factor if you want to inflict maximum damage."

Taking another deep breath, Hinata released the tension in her arm, and the sphere shrunk to match the size of her reference. But the deep blue it radiated never changed. It was of the same hue as the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists she used earlier. It was pretty.

"Hinata, you did it!" Naruto said in a cheerful voice, cupping both her hands in his own, when they had dismissed the glowing spheres. "I knew you'd be able to do it in one go! How did it feel?"

"It felt really amazing," she returned, finding courage in her thrill and adrenaline rush. "But I think Naruto-kun is right: I won't be able to use the Rasenshuriken; just the regular Rasengan is so much."

"Don't worry about that," he reassured, pulling her into a warm embrace. She smelled deeply of his shirt. "Just focus on getting used to the Rasengan. How about some brief training regimens to wrap things up?"

"Okay," she muttered in his chest, and yet she refused to let him go.

Naruto could feel her reluctance. He whispered her name, and then kissed her atop the head, even as he combed his fingers through her dark blue hair. But like many others, the physical interaction was but a fleeting taste of paradise — bittersweet.

She followed behind him as he led her to a half-dead tree at the threshold of the dense forestry for their first training exercise. "Okay. Now that you can whip up a Rasengan, let's test its power and stability."

She observed as he created said technique with the help of his counterpart, but the moment the sphere connected with the tree, it exploded, engraving a rippling pattern into the defenseless trunk. "Should your attempt have the same effect, it means that you have a bit of maintenance to work on. For optimum effectiveness, you have to retain shape, rotation, and power." He effortlessly demonstrated what the desired effect should look like — the Rasengan cuts through the tree trunk, like a mechanical grinder, shredding the dry bark into dust.

Hinata was evidently impressed, but she felt a pang of guilt and pity for the poor, defenseless tree.

"Give it a go," he urged, stepping aside.

Nodding obediently, Hinata assumed her stance and secured her wrist, her eyes focused on the center of her palm where she accumulated her chakra. The high-pitched screech of rotating energy soon rolled of the forestry again, and the glow of her Rasengan seemed to intensify when it collided into the tree trunk, easing in as if she were cutting into butter.

"That's some power and control," Naruto praised. "You're definitely a natural at shape-manipulation. There's no doubt about it."

Hinata couldn't help but blush, and she felt Naruto's eyes blaze when she rested a tentative hand to her lip. She removed it quickly.

"How are you feeling," he asked softly, and all of a sudden.

Like I would jump you, Hinata's inner-goddess said with a pout, and Chibi-C pounced on her, covering the girl's mouth with her hands. "I feel fine. And Naruto-kun...?"

"I'm good... just a bit hungry. How about some mobile practice to conclude your lesson before we head back to the beach and eat?"

"How about I send you both on a one-way ticket to hell, and then help myself to your lunch," a familiar voice muttered. Then there was a brief pause as hand seals were being executed. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Hinata held her arm forward in retaliation, like an impenetrable blade, slicing through the massive ball of fire as though it were merely a wall of harmless cheese. Her chakra protected them both from the flames.

"Hinata," Naruto called from behind, his eyes serious. "Finish her with the Rasengan — this is your final training exercise!"

"Right!" The princess leaned into a nimble dash toward an exhausted Kitami.

The woman poised to outmaneuver the daring Hyuga, but she was already stationary within the circle of her doom. Hinata stopped suddenly and struck a pose — both hands outstretched, her legs apart, her back arched. "Jyuukenhou, Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou!"

Kitami had to blink her eyes but once, and Hinata was inches away from her, like a deity of overwhelming power. She seemed to have hovered over the sand, defying gravity to close the distance between them.

The woman gasped as she felt a prick in her side — consecutive jabs that pierced her vulnerable body, like raindrops, plummeting down into an open pond. She could feel her joints getting limp, her consciousness dimming.

"Four points," Hinata uttered, pushing Kitami back, sealing her chakra. "Eight points. Sixteen points. Thirty-two points. Sixty-four points!"

The princess followed up by executing a hearty summersault, knocking the woman upward with a blow from her foot to the chin. Simultaneously — upon landing on her feet — our lovely heroine eased into graceful spin, generating the sphere of destructive force in her palm as she did. "Rasengan!"

Kitami screamed with the last of her strength as Hinata drove the finishing blow into her stomach, destroying her, engulfing her in a wild twister of wind that catapulted her off the ridge and out into the sea, like a cannonball.

"HINATA!" Naruto shouted, ecstatic, rushing over to her.

He scooped her up and swung her around, like a child. But she felt like a princess at the end of a romantic fairy tale, her cheeks all red, her bones melting. "That was amazing! You're amazing! You looked awesome out there — you pulled off that Rasengan like you've been using it for years!"

"...And it's all thanks to Naruto-kun." her voice was melodic, her eyes shining.

Naruto's grin widened as he placed her down, coaxing her lips into a smile, their eyes burning into each other. And, finally, he kissed her — light and sweet. A kiss filled with solemn promises. It took her breath away, and Hinata trembled with desire. She felt a similar vibration coursing through Naruto as she clung to him. If only this moment could last forever…

Kurama's Sacrilege

By the time Naruto and Hinata sneaked back onto the main shores of the beach, the inquisitive crowd had already dispersed and all seemed calm again. Poseidon hadn't destroyed the human race, and the nerd had supposedly received his mega-wedgie. Yes, all was well.

But the warrior was perturbed when the first out of many individuals approached him, gushing about his superb performance in the volleyball tournament. Most were quite curious about his and Kitami's whereabouts when the team had received the trophy and were taking photos. Naruto couldn't make any excuses for Kitami, but he claimed he had to use the restroom urgently. As embarrassing as it was, it made quite a believable story; everyone swallowed it.

"Umm. Excuse me..." a feminine voice rose in front of the couple when they had taken refuge under their umbrella again.

It was that girl from the lobby, whose friend was ogling at him as he made his way to the front desk. Hinata was beginning to miss the privacy of their suite, where she had Naruto all for herself and was the only one staring at his butt. Was that being selfish?

"You're Uzumaki Naruto, aren't you?"

"That's me."

"Oh." The girl seemed surprised, even as she studied Hinata through her peripheral vision. "I didn't think I'd see you here. I thought you'd be in the gazebo on a private segment of the beach. It's only entitled for guests residing in room sixteen."

Naruto felt a prick of astonishment and resolve. In a heartbeat, he was on his feet, standing before the young lady with enthusiastic eyes. She blushed at his friendly nature. "I had no clue there was also a private gazebo," Naruto declared openly. "Where exactly is it?"

Despite the flailing of her unruly hormones, the girl pointed out that the gazebo could be found if he walked along the shore of the beach to the west. Naruto thanked her with a wide grin, and then the girl humbly went on her way. She would regret breaking it to her friend, Suuki, that the sexy blonde with blue eyes that she admired already had a girlfriend. The girl would get over it, but the young maiden seemed a tad disappointed, as well.

Hinata rose from the blanket and went to stand behind her tall pillar of awesomeness. "Naruto-kun..." her voice was soft, meek, and inquiring.

"Y'know, Hinata, I'm going to enjoy tasting those lips you insist on teasing me with," he uttered coolly, his words dripping with desire — thick and intoxicating. "From there, I'll run my tongue along your neck... over your nipples... between your legs, and back up again."

....

Surely, Naruto was out to give her a heart attack. Hinata's eyes were dilated with abject shock, her lips parted, but she couldn't utter a single word. For a moment, carnal energy exploded inside her, burning in her belly with overwhelming intensity, rendering to ashes the wooden arch of her composure.

"When you're all wet and ready for me, I'm going to spread your legs and slowly ease myself into you... in and out, in and out." Naruto's velvet voice painted the image in Hinata's head before she could strengthen her legs for impact.

The princess fell to her knees, her bottom grounded. She looked like a remorseful maid, gazing up at her master with subservience, willing to accept any punishment he would administer as retribution. "Na-Naruto-kun," she breathed amorously. Her eyes were like crystalline, deep and needy.

Naruto was enchanted. The girl had sealed her fate, and now it was only a matter of time before he pounced on her, like a beast lying patiently in wait for prey. But unlike the ravenous beast, he had little patience.

Slowly, he inched toward her — confident, sexy, his eyes blazing. And Hinata's heart began to pound, kicking into overdrive. Her blood pumped around her body. Desire, thick and hot, pooled in her belly.

He stood in front of her, staring down into her telling eyes. "This is just the introduction to your punishment," he informed smoothly, his eyes capturing the sight of her creamy cleavage.

Hinata's eyes glazed with all forms of desire, constantly changing and growing before his steady gaze. Her body flushed, her chest heaving under the pressure of her arousal, and she pursed her lips.

He was wrong — his punishment began since this morning and, somehow, she managed to endure, but no longer. Her frustration had inflated far beyond the critical point. Now, her system needed to cooled.

Naruto offered her his hand.

"Eh?"

"Let's head over to that private gazebo."

"U-Un." She tentatively placed her hand in his.

In one fluid motion, he pulled her up against his hard body, and Hinata's heart squeezed into her throat, depriving her of much needed air. He was ready for her — she could feel it, and her nerves hummed a special tune.

Despite the storm that raged inside her, the princess stood quietly and watched as he folded the blanket and rested it atop the hamper. With their provisions in hand, he seized her wrist gently and led her behind him, like a child about to be disciplined for a bad deed.

She studied his footprints in the sand. Figuratively, his footsteps were etched in her heart and mind, engraved with beautiful memories that would forever change her. She followed him willingly as they strolled along the shoreline. People stared, but she didn't care. All that mattered was the small circle in which only they two reside.

As the minutes ticked by — disjointed and without regards for anyone — civilization seemed to grow distant. There was no one in sight, and the vegetation in the background only got thicker — wild and unkept. But Hinata didn't mind. There were no longer any vigilant souls to intimidate her desire. Now, she was certain they would make love. At least, she was more hopeful.

Finally, just out of their range of sight, was room sixteen's private gazebo on the beach. The wooden, sandy brown haven mounted atop four large, granite boulders that sat at right angles. The gazebo was small, but beautiful in its simplicity. There was a table accompanied by two chairs on the decking. The tablecloth was white, along with the tableware that sat in the center, waiting patiently to be used.

In the back, behind drawn paper doors, was a queen size bed, wrapped in gorgeous white sheets. It felt like their honeymoon, and Hinata wondered if Naruto felt the same. Her cheeks brightened when his gaze shifted from the bed to her eyes. Was that a suggestive twinkle she saw just now?

"Wow! This is awesome, isn't it," Naruto said as he rested the luggage aside so that he could pull out a chair for Hinata. She shared his sentiment.

His stomach protested when he sat down across from her, and the considerate princess went straight ahead to unpack the food and set the table. The aroma from their leftovers seemed to make his belly clench in anticipation. It hurt like hell. But he knew the waiting was over.

In mere moments, sitting comfortably before him were takoyaki, potatoes coated in butter, onigiri, rice cakes, chocolate-coated bananas, grapes, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and grilled squids.

"Itadakimasu!" Naruto didn't wait.

He freed his chopsticks, aiming to silence his tummy. And Hinata watched in amazement, thoroughly taking her time to chew every morsel of food. But watching him gorge like this was strangely making the girl lose her appetite — her appetite for food, that is.

When Naruto was almost content, his stomach granted him the liberty to speak. He struck up a conversation by reiterating how super amazing Hinata was with the Rasengan.

The aim of the mobile exercise was to test her ability to concentrate and forge the Rasengan while she was in motion. But it took even more concentration to strike a real enemy, whether or not he/she was mobile. Hinata nailed it, and she nailed it with style.

"I don't think Kitami will be coming back this time, not after the final beating she took." Naruto's facial expression was that of relief, but then his features sunk into grief as Nagato's words resounded in his mind.

As long as love existed in this world, there would exist hate in turn. Indeed. Having a bond left the heart prone to the birth of malice. No one wanted to lose something held precious, but everything with a form must one day perish. How would Naruto induce the great revolution of which his sensei spoke? Was it really possible to alter the shinobi system — to change the world?

"Naruto-kun," Hinata murmured, worried by the pain settled into his face. "Is there something a matter?"

"Hinata." He glanced down, stretching his hand across the table, resting it over hers. "There's something I need to tell you..."

The princess felt her chest tighten, but it wasn't the work of desire this time.

Naruto took a deep breath, exhaling a small gust of morose air. "Last night, while you were asleep, I found myself doing a lot of thinking. At age sixteen, are we really ready to start a family of our own, especially with people after what's inside of me? Am suitable to be a father when there's so much left to learn? When I couldn't save a single friend or protect my village? I even made you get hurt, Hinata..."

The saddened princess couldn't find the right words to say, nor could she swallow the heat that filled her throat. She couldn't get past her own sorrow to mend that of his, and she sat frozen as he brought her off into a memory.

"Brat!" A hoarse, scornful voice rose in Naruto's mind. "Whether or not you're ready to become a parent, you're no longer able to conceive a child."

"W-What do you mean?" He suddenly stopped stroking Hinata's hair, breaking out into a fierce sweat.

The beast snickered, amused by the boy's confusion and impending shock. "Fool! Do you honestly believe I'd allow the same thing that happened sixteen years ago to runs its course again?"

"Just what the hell are you talking about, you stupid fox?"

"Ha-ha! I used my chakra to alter the composition of your semen, making it infertile. Surely, like the Forth Hokage, you would eventually contemplate sealing me inside your scrawny child. And I can't have that!"

"T-That's not possible," Naruto panicked. "You're lying!"

"I couldn't care less if you believed me or not. But I'm sure in a few months your doubts will be cleared."

All the while, Hinata's eyes were wide, grief settling into once inaccessible places. She swallowed the lump of dread that crawled into her throat, and then rested a hand over her tummy. "Does that mean..."

Slowly, regrettably, Naruto nodded.

Hinata's tender lavender eyes swam with a sudden rise of tears and a hue the color of cheery kissed her silky cheeks. But before she could tumble and lose herself in the bitter grip of despair, Naruto pulled out her chair and got on his knees before her.

"Hey." He gently cupped the side of her face, carefully wiping away her salty tears. "Are you crying because you don't trust me anymore?"

Hinata sniffled.

"Do you trust me?"

She nodded.

"Say it!" His voice was demanding and yet, soothing.

Hinata blinked rapidly, pursing her lips at the caress of his compelling force. "I… I trust you..."

Naruto grinned, his expression controlled. "Everything happens for a reason, Hinata; most disappointments are just blessings in disguise."

"But we'll never be able to have a baby," she sobbed, her voice but a whisper.

"We will!" he corrected vibrantly, clearing her tears again. "I'll learn how to control the Kyuubi, and, as soon as I do, I'll take care of Akatsuki. I thought Sage Mood was enough, but I was wrong. I learnt that the hard way, and almost ended up losing you..."

"Naruto-kun." Hinata's eyes were bright, lit by his confidence and the certitude of his words. She rested a hand to his cheek, and he placed his over her own.

The princess couldn't dislodge the sharp pebble of doubt that had embedded itself under her skin. But she smiled with a perfectly schooled, perfectly unreadable expression.

"Hinata... when we have our child, I always want to be there. And I want to be strong so that I can protect you both. The entire village is a part of our family, too; I want to protect everyone."

"Naruto-kun... you're such a wonderful person." she couldn't control her smile. It spread across her face, and she used the heel of her hand to clear her eyes.

"I want you to get stronger, too. Get stronger for our friends, our future family, and for me. Never leave us, Hinata. Use your power to keep yourself safe."

"Naruto-kun... I'll always be here for you, by your side."

With a smile of relief, the young warrior coiled his arms around her waist and buried his face in her tummy. Hinata leaned forward to press a kiss atop this head, and then she began stroking his hair.

Holding him like this in her arms — she found it hard to believe that he was truly hers. But when he whispered "I love you", her swelling heart spoke the truth of it. And she whispered in return what she felt — the same potent words that swirled around in the depths of her soul. Then the princess gently clutched his head to her bosom.

She was no longer worried. Naruto's way of the ninja was never to go back on his words, to have the guts never to give up! And after three years of promising Sakura that he would bring Sasuke back to the village, he was still trying to make good on his word. He was constantly on the path to power, to clasp all that he held dear, never being blinded by what he'd already achieved.

Hinata was certain they would eventually start a family of their own. But until then, she indeed needed to become stronger. On his great endeavor to become the people's shield and sword, she needed to work toward being the sheath for that blade and the plush cloth for which to polish that shield. It was her feminine duty to keep her prince on his feet. To be the pillar of stone that secured the foundations of his resolve.

Perhaps she would ask Sakura to supervise her training in becoming a more proficient medical-nin. Having the ability to heal would be a valuable contribution to Naruto's aid. She would do anything for him.

"Hey. Let's make an oath," Naruto said suddenly, subsequent to withdrawing his face from the comfort of Hinata's chest.

The princess blinked in surprise, her eyes radiant from the rolling field of closure he had placed her in. "An oath...?"

He scrambled to his feet and sat around the table again. "That's right," his voice was eager, his hands busy.

To the left, against the handrail, was a silver container propped up on a mahogany pedestal. Sealed inside was a bottle of champagne on ice, flanked by two flutes.

How inappropriate and convenient.

"Let's make an oath by means of a toast."

Before Hinata could articulate her input on the idea, Naruto popped the champagne bottle open and placed a glass before her, carefully filling it with the alcoholic beverage.

"Umm... Naruto-kun," Hinata began meddling with her fingers. "We're too young to drink. We shouldn't."

"It's cool — breaking the rules will only make this toast even more memorable." He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "From this day forth, we hereby swear to remain true to each other in sickness and in health. We solemnly swear upon our title as Konoha shinobis to achieve great courage and power to protect all that we hold dear. We swear, together as one, to overcome all obstacles that may obstruct our path throughout our life's journey. And to concrete the foundation on which to build our home to start our family. Hinata... let's pave the path to peace and happiness together."

Naruto was obviously adamant about having a glass. The champagne was only slightly alcoholic. Still, Hinata hesitated — since she knew she was easily intoxicated. But as her prince held forth his glass for a toast, she found herself coiling her tiny fingers around the transparent leg and bumping her flute against his. Ping!

"Hn! Here's to our unbreakable bond and our future aspirations."

Naruto moistened his lips, after they had downed their slug of drink, his aquamarine eyes alive with some unreadable emotion. And there it was… that familiar pull and charge from him. It connected somewhere deep inside her, coaxing her desire, changing her eyes.

Combing locks of hair behind her hair, Hinata pressed her tongue to and from the roof of her mouth, tasting the unusual tang of champagne again. Surprisingly enough, it was delicious! She wouldn't have refused if he offered her another serving.

Somehow, it didn't feel as though all the fluid had slid down her throat as it was suppose to. It felt as though a large volume had made its way in her head, drowning her brain, intoxicating her.

As the princess listened to the waves lapping at the shore's edge, lulling her with its rhythm, she found herself getting lightheaded. The electrical signals in her brain went in disarray. A scarlet hue kissed her cheeks. Her lips drooped. Her eyes half-lidded and she gradually felt as though she were drifting weightlessly on a fluffy cloud.

Why did everything seem so much more amazing now — sensationalized? Light seemed brighter, colors more vibrant, sound more melodic, and her desire more intense.

While Chibi-C was unconscious on the ground, her face planted, Hinata's inner-goddess quickly took a hold of the reins and assumed control. This day was about to get a hell of a lot more interesting...

"Mmm... that was tasty, wasn't it? I wonder what sake is like..."

"I've got an even better question," Hinata muttered, her voice somewhat strained and seductive. She lifted her breasts, inspecting them. "Do you think my breasts are too small?"

"Huh?" Naruto was caught off guard by her question. "Hinata... "

"Are they?" Her eyes were worried.

"Hinata, I think you've had a bit too much to drink... even though I barely poured much in your glass," he murmured to himself.

The frustrated princess folded her fingers and placed the back of her hands over her eyes, sniffling. "Naruto-kun doesn't like my breasts."

"Your breasts are perfect!" he assured quickly, alarmed by her sudden shift in mood.

She lowered her hands a tad, peeping at him, like a spoil child. "D-Does Naruto-kun really think so?" Her tone was adorable, distracting...

"Definitely. I love your breasts, Hinata... only yours."

Her face heated, cheeks glowing as if they were smeared with lip-gloss. With ardent desire burning in her eyes, the princess rose to her feet and walked around the table to him. "I think we should make this oath more memorable." her voice was low and flat.

Without a word, she pinched the center of his shirt and led him toward the bed. The instant Naruto's shadow clone closed all the paper doors and dismissed himself — leaving them in the dim lighting — Hinata pushed the enthusiastic sage onto the bed. He sat upright at the edge, watching her.

In her trance, the impatient flower made haste to pull down his sweat pants and boxer in one fell motion, eagerly taking a hold of his vessel, stroking it awake. Naruto's toes curled at the girl's finesse, and he took his shirt off and chucked it behind him as sensual energy pooled in his loins.

Hinata couldn't get enough. Hours of anticipation, frustration, and sexual tension exploded inside her. The room suddenly charged with electricity, and muscles between her legs clenched for attention.

She popped him into her mouth, like a piece of candy, taking everything inside, marveling at the pace in which he grew with excitement. Naruto clutched her head and exclaimed beneath his breath as she lingered at his tip with wet tongue and lips.

Within mere seconds, he was full, throbbing vigorously in her hand. Hinata loved the combination of him and champagne in her mouth. She licked and sucked him thoroughly, putting to memory the unique taste — a recipe she would definitely try again soon.

Naruto watched her closely, his mouth hanging open, groaning as she knelt before him, having her way like a puppy that hadn't been weaned for far too long. He frowned in delight, clasping a fistful of her hair still, as if clinging on desperately to his own control.

As his excitement grew and overflowed, Naruto could feel a premature surrender looming behind the seconds. But before his celestial goddess could throw him over the razor's edge — she had gotten very good at that — he stood, his lean, veiny length flicking from her hand.

Hinata followed the irresistible treat with her eyes, obviously far from having enough. She pouted cutely when he pulled up his boxer, concealing himself. But before she could whimper — revealing the petulance in her tone — Naruto stepped out of his sweat pants, took her into his hands, and looked down into her needy eyes.

With an amorous moan he could not contain, he captured her mouth in a possessive kiss. When they were both panting with desire, he dipped his tongue inside her mouth, tasting the silent demand of her body. Hinata relished the soft cushion that was his lips against hers, and savored the taste of champagne on his tongue as it explored her mouth.

She shivered when he allowed his fingers to slide slowly down her forearms, and then gasped, as they ducked under her dress to squeeze her buttocks over thin undies. His hands were large and warm. Each time he squeezed her fanny, Hinata felt a coinciding contraction between her legs. Each convulsion had her losing a bit more control. Her body was hot! She couldn't subdue the flames! She suckled his lips, hard, moaning his name whenever she paused for a breath.

The princess fumbled about with her hands until she found him through his underwear. She couldn't help but dip her hand inside to hold the bear length of him. But Naruto didn't give her enough time to ruin him. He cupped the hem of her blouse and pulled it over her head, stunning her for a moment. The sudden upheaval stirred the scent of her arousal, and he inhaled deeply, his body quaking violently as he exhaled her intoxicating perfume.

Somewhere, along her blazing desire, the chibi of her consciousness had seized back control from Chibi-G.

"You've been wanting me for a while now, haven't you?"

Hinata couldn't find her tongue, but she bit her lip, her eyes gleaming with a telling glow. She knew how much anything having to do with her lips affected him, and she watched the flickers of emotions play over his face.

Naruto's gaze was intense all of a sudden, all humor gone, and muscles deep inside her belly clenched abruptly. She tore her eyes away from his scrutiny and stared blindly down at her knotted fingers. She knew what his eyes foretold, and she would willingly submit to him. It's what she wanted.

Without a word, the amorous sage eased her onto the bed and got between her legs. Hinata couldn't find her breath. She reclined her head and closed her eyes tightly, her cheeks red from embarrassment. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears, but still she wanted to take him inside her mouth again. She trembled.

"Relax," Naruto whispered against her sensitive skin, initiating a chain of hot kisses down her tummy. "It's just you and me..."

"Na-Naruto-kun," she pronounced breathlessly. "Please don't tease me."

She squirmed beneath him, but still he proceeded with much deliberation, pressing lazy kisses around her navel. "I can't help it," he muttered, dipping his tongue inside the small crevice.

Giggling, Hinata sat upright with a jolt to hold his head. "That's ticklish," she protested innocently, her eyes settling back into fiery need. She could just bite him for this bittersweet torture.

Naruto grinned and slowly began to peel back her fancy underwear. He inhaled deeply as his fingers worked, and the princess slapped her hands over her eyes the moment the first strand of downy hair was revealed.

As Naruto's nose moved through the soft, slender field of pubic hair, Hinata was aware of that delicious current running right through her, lighting her up, making her blush. She was certain her erratic breathing was audible, and that made her blush deeper.

"Agh!" she heaved a shuttering gasp, her back arching off the bed as Naruto's finger slipped inside her steamy, slick passage.

He withdrew to test her thickness on his fingers, his throbbing length eager to penetrate, stretch, and fill. The enchanted prince was even more captivated when Hinata leaned forward and closed her mouth over his wet fingers. Her eyes were amorous, and he could feel his patience melting away before their intensity.

Naruto donned her underwear, his eyes resolute. "I don't feel like having you in a bed right this moment," he said vaguely, smiling.

He held her hand and led her through the doors and onto the beach. The day was just about over; Hinata noted on a whim, her eyes focused on his broad back. The sand was cool beneath her feet, and she could feel the slippery moisture between her legs as she strode behind him for the open water. Soon his steely length would be coated with her nectar — that hard, lean muscle pushing deep pass sensitive boundaries.

The princess bit her lip, fighting the urge to pull him down on top of her within the sand, demanding that he had her there and then.

She shivered when the warm tides enveloped her overheating body, eventually from her tummy down. But nothing else mattered when she saw Naruto's arms fumbling below the waves, freeing what she had been aching to have — his knightly blade, which he would use to administer discipline, otherworldly pleasure and relief. For another time, he would make her fully aware to whom she belonged, every fiber and cell of her divine entity.

"I can't wait any longer," he muttered, his eyes smoldering.

Hinata's lips raced over his face and neck, when she felt his warm fingers shifting the fabric of her panties aside, removing the barrier that blocked the entrance to her marvelous realm. She heaved a broken gasp, clinging to him tightly as his hard tip pierced her tightness.

"Relax," he urged softly, lovingly, even as his large hands moved over smooth skin to cup her hindquarters. Then — before she could form a cohesive thought — he pulled her in, hard and sudden.

Hinata screamed in explosive delight as he plunged inside her private chambers, past her double-doors — penetrating, stretching, filling what he craved. She panted loudly in his ear, her lungs parched by their rising heat. Still she managed to breathe his name, praise him, demand more, and wish that this moment would never end.

The sky was of a warm hue — purple, pink, saffron, and gold — blending together and extending down to the infinite sea. Over the horizon, the retiring sun sat comfortably between two mountains of fluffy clouds. Colors glittered along the surface of the ripping water, wrapping Naruto and Hinata in a picturesque portrait.

He held her close against him — his treasure, his goddess, his better half — delving deep within her world. Gracefully, Hinata rose and fell in his strong arms, poetry in motion, and he watched as the twilight played in her eyes and upon her flushed cheeks.

Her breath was hot in his ear, short, neat nails digging into his defenseless back, and her free hand raked through his golden hair in a rush. In her eyes, it was obvious that she had fallen prisoner to her desire; she didn't resist. Nothing else mattered but the magic they evoked.

She screamed aloud and bit down into his neck as a fierce orgasm detonated in her loins, like a land mine. The sensation surfed on the waves of her nervous system, sending her body into a violent spasm of quakes.

Naruto groaned as her teeth sank deeper into his skin. And he held her fast against his chest as her body shuttered and shook out of control.

The couple felt like they were on the ocean floor — thousands of feet below the surface — gradually being crushed by the pressure of the sea that was desire. Each time Hinata sighed, it was like taking a long-deprived breath in a pocket of air. The sound was a gentle, slow, sweet, and sure assault on Naruto's aural senses. It empowered him, and his pace never slacked.

He guided her legs around his waist, cupping her buttocks still, and she flung her head back with a whimper as the remainder of his length and width eased within her constricting passage.

Naruto's breaths came fast and heavy as he stormed in and out of her, his eyes blazing, muscles rigid. Hinata's body still quaked. She couldn't catch her breath and still he held her hand, dragging her along the road of ecstasy to meet fulfillment.

 The princess loved him — sky high, ocean deep, and she sought and found his tender lips in a salty kiss, moaning in her throat as his tongue skimmed moistly over hers. She began moving her hips in his hands, stimulating her breasts and nipples against his hard, damp chest. But it was exhausting. She allowed him to thrust again, reigniting the searing flames that flickered along the highly sensitive walls of her uterus.

"Naruto-kun!" she shouted when his thrusts accelerated to a telling pace.

He was almost there. His mouth hung open, his eyes glazed with sweet anticipation, and his shaft felt like heated steel on a smithy's forge, pulling deliciously against her soft, wet barriers.

Hinata reclined her head in a fury of swirling emotions, her hair swimming atop the water as Naruto's excitement ushered in another impending orgasm. The atmosphere intensified around them, and her body charged for another explosive meltdown.

"Hinata," he uttered, his voice strained. "I'm about to—"

"Let's end together," she breathed happily.

Then her body exploded in a phenomenal eruption, triggering that of her prince. She lost her voice in the overwhelming shockwaves. Her body stiffened and jerked repeatedly in shock and delight, throwing her senses in disarray.

Naruto strapped his arms around her, and she clung to him in turn as their bodies fell prone to wave after wave of pleasure — a carnal rampage.

For a brief moment, they stood together, hand-in-hand atop the pinnacle of ecstasy. As a cool wind gusted through their hair, they exchanged a smile wrought of more words than they could form on their tongue. They knew the depths to which their love stemmed and their bond rooted. This was the physical embodiment of love...

The effects of his orgasm having ceased, Naruto held an unconscious Hinata in his arms, her sleek, jet-back hair hanging into the dark blue. He watched as the final ray of light from the setting sun lifted from her forehead. With a warm smile, he looked down onto her face for the longest while, wondering if they were together in her dreams.