Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Protector	By : djserani Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 1759 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
“Nee-chan!!” Hanabi jumped up from her spot between Kiba and Shino and ran over to where Hinata and Neji were entering the training grounds. She stopped dead and looked between their faces and where they were holding hands. “Nee-chan?”
Hinata grinned and let go of Neji long enough to hug Hanabi. “Hi imouto-chan.” She looked over Hanabi’s shoulder at Kiba and Shino and waved. “We are engaged,” she whispered in Hanabi’s ear. “You are the first to know.”
Hanabi’s eyes widened as she looked from Neji to Hinata. She grabbed Hinata’s left hand and squeaked when she saw the ring there. “Shhh, Hanabi! We haven’t even told Otousan yet that we are!”
Kiba and Shino had gotten up and were walking over to the group. “Hi, Hinata-chan!” Kiba greeted her. “What’s going on?”
Neji stepped forward and put his hands on Hinata’s shoulders. “Hinata has agreed to be my wife.” There was unmistakable pride in his voice. Hinata looked over her shoulder up into Neji’s eyes and smiled warmly.
“Really? Hinata-chan?!” Kiba looked almost comical in surprise.
“Congratulations, Hinata-chan.” Shino said quietly.
“Hai, Kiba-kun. Thank you, Shino-kun.” Hinata thought she must look the fool, she couldn’t stop smiling. She was so happy. She hugged her sister again. “Are you ready to train, imouto-chan? Neji has offered to help us.”
“Yes, and thank you, Neji-san,” She smiled.
“You should call me niisan now.” He grinned down at her.
Kiba looked struck dumb. “Why are you guys training her? She’s on my team.”
Hinata looked at Neji and he nodded. “Let’s sit down a minute and we’ll explain.” The four of them sat in the shadows of the trees as Hinata and Neji took turns explaining the situation. Hinata didn’t miss the looks that passed between her sister and Kiba and it warmed her.
She cared a lot about Kiba. He’d always been like a brother to her, even trying to protect her when they were out on missions. She wondered if this was the “chunnin” that her father had mentioned.
“Wow. That’s crazy. How are you guys going to pull that off?” Kiba seemed to inch closer to Hanabi as they talked.
“That is what Neji and I have been working on. We’ll have to be very careful. Perhaps you could help us?” She looked up at Neji. “They might be able to give us pointers to help make sure it looks real.”
Neji nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Shino spoke for the first time since they sat. “Hinata, may I have a word with you?”
Hinata squeezed Neji’s hand and followed Shino out of earshot of the rest. “Yes?”
“It is probably none of my business, but as Hanabi doesn’t really have a mother, I thought you should know. I believe she and Kiba are…getting close.” He paused and looked uncomfortable.
Hinata smiled. “I had a feeling he was the one she had been thinking about. I am, of course, worried that she not rush into anything. But I, myself, have recently realized the importance of taking life by both hands and cherishing it.” She looked over at Neji.
“I can understand that. I just wanted you to know. And…you, Hinata. Are you… well?” Shino’s discomfort sounded even more pronounced.
She smiled up at the bug master. “Hai. He makes me very very happy. We have…” she cleared her throat. “Gotten very close lately.”
Shino nodded. “I know I’m very quiet, but I do care and worry about you, Hinata-chan.”
On impulse, she hugged him, taking him by surprise. “Thank you, Shino-kun. All will be well, you’ll see.”
He had apparently reached his limit. “Let’s go back to the others, then.”
Hinata giggled and quickly walked back to Neji. She sat close and he put his arm around her, pulling her into his side.
They spent a good amount of time that morning discussing strategies and deciding on and rejecting different moves and tactics. After their lunch of rice balls, they started the more active training, Hinata working on her attacks and Hanabi her defenses. The three men sat together, watching them.
“Is it hard for you, watching her fight?” Kiba asked Neji quietly.
“Yes, very. I wish I could take these difficulties from her and just take care of her myself. But I cannot. And yet, I don’t know if I really would in the end. These are accomplishments that Hinata should have. These things will show the clan and the elders just how strong she’s become. That’s not to say I’m going to relish watching the danger she puts herself in.” Neji sighed.
Kiba glanced at Neji. “I understand.”
Neji looked up at him in surprise. “You do? I had no idea you felt that way about her.” He was a bit disturbed.
“Not her.” When Neji turned a puzzled look at him, he squirmed. “Hanabi.” His cheeks turned red around his markings and he concentrated on the leaf in his hand.
Neji smiled. “So that is the way the leaves fall.” He nodded. “Then yes, I imagine you do.” He turned to him with a piercing look. “Do not hurt her.”
Kiba swallowed. “I do not intend to. No. I won’t.” He turned to look back at Hanabi. “I…” he mumbled something quiet.
“Excuse me?” Neji leaned a bit closer.
“I love her.” Kiba whispered.
Neji stared at him a minute, letting him sweat. Then he smiled at him. “She’s a lucky woman, then.” He turned his attention back to the fight. And she was a woman, he realized. His youngest cousin had bloomed in the last couple of years. She was nothing compared to his Hinata, but she was pretty in her own right.
* * *
Kiba didn’t seem to know what to make of the changes in Neji, but he was sure glad he wasn’t dead right then. Perhaps it was the way things had gone with Hinata. Perhaps loving her had made him this way. Whatever the case, he would take it. He turned back to watch his love, his nerves frayed at what she had facing her.
* * *
Shino sat back quietly, watching all of it. He was glad to see Hinata happy and in love. She deserved it, for all that she’d gone through over the years. Even Neji, who he was inclined to be angry with, after his performance in their first Chunnin exams, he was happy for.
Then, there was Kiba and Hanabi. That had been something of a surprise. He’d always thought Hinata was the one that Kiba had been interested in. When Hanabi had been assigned to their squad to replace Hinata, Kiba had worked very hard to act like he wasn’t interested in her. Hanabi didn’t understand it, of course, but Shino knew what it meant. It had been painful to watch for the longest time.
Right after the Uzumaki wedding, though, things seemed to change. Shino suspected that the pup had finally told her how he’d felt. He was a little sad, though. He was still alone and at moments like this, it really began to bother him.
He stared thoughtfully at the two women fighting on the field. He made a decision and released two of his tiny beetles. Neither of the women seemed to notice when they landed on them. They continued their feints and jabs. A moment later, the insects came back to him.
One is with child. The older one.
Are you sure? Shino asked the hive.
Of course. It is early – very early, but it is there. She is healthy, otherwise.
Thank you. Shino said. He sighed. This was going to be interesting.
* * *
The girls took a break mid-afternoon to go over places they could improve. They were going to have to actually strike each other to make it realistic and that was the tricky part.
Shino motioned once more for Hinata to talk to him. She walked with him a bit away from the group. He cleared his throat. “Hinata…I hope you don’t get upset with me. I am concerned.”
She looked up at him with a puzzled expression. “What’s wrong, Shino-kun?”
He looked very uncomfortable and even fidgeted a bit as he tried to talk. “You are with child, Hinata.”
Her mouth formed an O and her hands flew to her abdomen. “How…?”
“As I said, I hope you aren’t angry with me. I was worried about you, so I had two of my beetles check on you.”
She gathered her wits as best she could. “Oh, I’m not angry. How--” she gulped, “how far…?” Her eyes flew to her sister. “Hanabi?”
“They do not know, but they said ‘very early.’ As for Hanabi, she is fine. I don’t know if she and Kiba have been…intimate, but I suspect they have not. Hinata, you must be very careful during your fight with Hanabi or you will lose the baby. I’ll give you a minute.” He started to walk away.
She caught his sleeve. “Could you…” she cleared her throat. “Could you send Neji over?” Her other hand never left her stomach.
He nodded and walked over to where Kiba and Neji were sitting. He tapped Neji and said something quiet to him. Neji practically jumped up and came over to her, concern etched in every line of his being.
“Koishii? Are you okay?” He sat and pulled her down into his lap.
She looked up at him, not sure how to start. The she giggled nervously and looked at her left hand. “I guess we didn’t get the cart before the horse, afterall.”
He looked confused for a few seconds, then his face lit up. “You are…” he looked down at her belly then back to her face. He placed one hand over hers and cuddled her close. “H-how do you know?”
“Shino’s bugs.” She looked frightened.
“Are you upset? Do you not want…” he trailed off. What if this changed everything? What if this was too much for her. Only five days ago, they were just cousins, just friends… or, at least, that’s what they’d told themselves.
She saw the worry on his face. “No! No. I can’t wait to hold a miniature you.” She smiled at the image that had sprung to mind only that morning. “I’m worried about the fight. What if I take a wrong hit… the baby…” she almost doubled over.
He held her close, unsure of what to say. “We will make sure that we stay clear of the areas that could affect it. We’ll make this work. Hinata…” he paused, “there’s something else we must consider.”
She looked up at him, confused.
“If we are already pregnant, we should consider marrying soon. As it is, there will be talk when the baby is born so close to our wedding...” He saw when her face cleared in understanding.
“We will need to speak with Otousan. I do not want to marry without him at least knowing.”
“I’ve already told him my intentions. I’m sure he’ll be fine with things, considering the situation.” Hinata breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “We’ll go see him after we finish with Hanabi.”
Hinata nodded and they joined the others. She looked up at Neji and he nodded. She took a deep breath. “We…have an announcement. We are going to have a baby.”
Hanabi’s eyes grew to the size of saucers and Kiba looked in confusion between them. “Already? How long have you been…erm…together?” Kiba asked bluntly. Hanabi punched him in the shoulder.
Hinata just smiled and leaned back into Neji’s arms. “Exactly how long Hinata and I have been… together…is between us. Shino’s bugs just told us. I wouldn’t be telling you guys yet, if we didn’t need to change our tactics for the fight.” He looked at Hanabi. “We will have to be very careful of where your attacks hit.”
Hanabi hugged Hinata. “Oh, nee-chan shouldn’t we maybe give this up? I can still refuse…”
Hinata shook her head. “I won’t do that. I will not sacrifice your honor for those…those” she stopped and took a breath. “We can do this if we’re careful.”
“Your honor?!” Kiba looked upset. “They would do that to you?”
“No,” Hanabi answered. “They don’t want me to sacrifice my honor. In fact, they’re counting on me wanting to preserve it and so would force me to fight Hinata. What they don’t realize, however is how much we care for each other. And it’s all so that they could get someone they think would be easier to control. Ironic, no? They use the excuse that Hinata isn’t strong enough to lead yet they don’t want her to lead because they fear the very strength they claim she doesn’t have.” Hanabi didn’t look happy about any of it.
Kiba surprised them all. “I don’t care about your honor. I would be happy with you no matter what.”
Hanabi looked up at him, surprised and Neji and Hinata hid their smiles. “Kiba-kun?” She looked like she couldn’t draw breath.
“I want to talk with your father, but…Hanabi, I would be happy for you to be…” he swallowed.
She looked at him thoughtfully. “Kiba, you know I love you.” At this she blushed over the audience they had. “But I will not have this happen because of them.”
He looked a little confused. “But, Hanabi…it wouldn’t be. If I ask, it’s because I want to be with you. No one would force my hand.” He blanched visibly under Neji’s stare, then sat up straighter. “They wouldn’t need to.” He glanced at Neji at this and whatever unspoken thing passed between them, Neji seemed to agree with, as he nodded.
Kiba grumbled to himself a minute and looked to Akamaru for support. Akamaru barked and wagged his tail. Kiba took a deep breath. “Hanabi, if you marry me, they can’t force anything. Do…” he swallowed again. “Do you love me?”
“Of course I do, Kiba!” She smiled at him.
“Would you want to…be my wife?” Hinata almost felt sorry for him, he seemed to be sweating bullets.
Hanabi smiled at him. “Yes, Kiba. I do want to be your wife” She leaned over and kissed him and Hinata grabbed Neji’s hand and squeezed it. She could feel the tension radiating out of Neji.
“Calm down,” she whispered in his ear.
Shino cleared his throat. “Does this mean the training is over for today?”
Everyone laughed. “Yes,” Neji stood up. “I think we must go see Hiashi.”
- 14
- 15
- 16
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