Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Clones	By : Perpetual159 Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female > Naruto/Hinata Views: 11145 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Disclaimer: Naruto is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto with an anime adaptation. The manga is published by Shueisha in Japan, and Viz Media in the United States, Canada, and UK, and it is serialized by Shonen Jump. The TV anime is directed by Hayato Date, and licensed by Aniplex in Japan, Viz Media in the United States, and Manga Entertainment in the UK. I make no profit out of this piece of literature, for it is only a simple labor of love.
Chapter II
Hinata sighed in relief as she approached the Hokage's Tower. The day had been its usual at the Hyuuga Estate: long, drawn out meetings with squabbling elders, topped off with her flawless ability to complete all the required tasks a clan leader must attend to by the end of the day. A small secretive smile caressed her lips. She was eager to finally see Naruto after a long, uneventful day.
As she neared the lofty building, she could easily envision him still cooped up in the office, worrying over the tiniest detail of every document that crossed his desktop. She knew this because he would've otherwise gone by the Hyuuga estate and dragged her to have dinner with him at Ichiraku's.
Reaching the main entrance, Hinata was greeted cordially by incoming and outgoing shinobi. She was a little puzzled by their slight blushes when she returned their greetings, completely unaware that her dazzling smile was responsible for rendering them speechless. However, contrary to her bewilderment, it didn't take long for her to know what the devious looks and mischievous grins meant; especially from those who worked the closest to Naruto. After all, it was no secret that the Rokudaime was unreasonable�a borderline tyrant, if she dared say�when it came to returning to Konoha and making up for lost time with his wife.
The mere thought threatened her composure and challenged every attempt she made at keeping her blush under control. However, her efforts became futile the second a Jounin walked past her and smirked, murmuring, "I hope you got some sleep last night�"
Her face turned beet red, and she shot the man a look that made him gulp and increase his pace. For a second, the way he looked at her made it seem as if he was under the impression that she wouldn't hear him.
Sighing, Hinata had to wonder if it was really that obvious, because even Neji�of all people�had also smirked at her in a way not much different than the Jounin had. Unlike the Jounin, her cousin had thankfully refrained from making any comments that were beneath his stature, but that did not make him any less perverted or mean!
Her shoulders drooped and she groaned in defeat. Was she really at fault for not being able to dissimulate her happiness for Naruto's return? After all, Konoha was apparently swarming with closet perverts, and from what she recently discovered with Neji, the Hyuuga clan was no exception. Thinking about it in retrospect, she was relieved that she no longer lived at the Hyuuga compound; she couldn't imagine making love with Naruto in a house full of people who could see through walls. Her beloved Naruto-kun was virtually insatiable and his appetite for her could never be quenched.
As she began climbing the stairs, Hinata tried not to make too much eye contact and nonetheless secretly blamed her husband, cursing his shameless lack of tact for putting her in such embarrassing situations. She had to wonder if he actually paid her any mind when she reminded him to be a bit more discreet.
Shaking her head and still fighting the bright blush adorning her cheeks, she decided it was best to forget about the troublesome "aftershock" of Naruto's arrival and focus solely on making her way to the top floor. Once in front of the door that lead to his office, she knocked quietly and heard his muffled response to come in. As soon as she opened the door, she smiled at the sight. Surrounding the large desk were six Narutos, some reading what she assumed were official documents and others scribbling away.
"Hinata-chan?" The Naruto sitting in the large executive chair�which she assumed was the real Naruto�grinned happily when he saw her.
The rest of his clones looked up from their work, their faces lighting up at the mention of her name. "Hinata!"
She smiled. "Hi, Naruto."
One of the clones stood to greet the flushed clan leader, and not wanting to be left behind, the rest soon followed.
"Heeeeey�!" Indeed, the whining blond who remained behind the desk was the true Naruto.
Hinata leaned on the now closed door, tucking her hands behind her and smiling at the approaching copies.
"Take one more step, and I'll Hiraishin no Jutsu all your butts to the Land of Snow!"
The kage bunshins froze mid-step, except for one who turned to Naruto with a pitiful gaze. Naruto recognized him immediately to be the one who had stood first and thus enticed the rest. "But why�?" he whined. "We just wanna say 'hi' to our Hinata-chan."
"Tough luck," Naruto replied as he stood and walked around the desk towards Hinata. "Get back to work, all of you."
"Maaan�"
"Boss is so mean�"
"Hogging Hinata-chan all to himself�"
"Tche�"
Hinata bit her bottom lip, failing to suppress her giggles. She watched the grumbling clones shuffle their way back to the desk, sparing bitter glares to their summoner as he walked past them towards the object of their combined affections.
Hinata's giggles quickly dissolved, her forgotten blush rapidly darkening despite her best efforts as he drew near.
"I don't know what's come over these clones! They're totally outta control, I tell ya," he commented off-handedly. He had a small blush of his own, but he also wore a devilish little smirk that betrayed his supposed bewilderment.
"Uh-huh�" Hinata muttered unimpressed. "I'm sure last night has nothing to do with it�"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he swore in a murmur, reaching up to toy with a thick lock of silky hair, but Hinata knew better. The way she narrowed her eyes at him told him he was a lousy liar. Lucky for him, Hinata still became kind of fidgety when he invaded her personal space; the way she prettily bit her bottom lip and fiddled with her fingers was a dead giveaway.
In fact, he was pretty certain that her heart had stirred into a frenzy. His smirk widened into a grin as he placed his hands on her waist and pulled her against him softly, feeling her tremble when he trapped her in his arms.
"Hey�" he greeted in a low, raspy whisper.
His greeting was intimate; only meant for her to hear, and not the slew of blonds in the background. This realization made Hinata's knees want to buckle, and Naruto couldn't help chuckling as soon as he noticed. He felt it in the way her arms went around him, clutching onto the fabric of his robes, and the way she looked away bashfully.
"H-Hey�" she whispered back.
"Did you miss me�?" he inquired, still quietly.
Hinata smiled and burrowed her face against his chest. "How could I not?"
"I dunno," Naruto mumbled sheepishly, running his hands down her back soothingly. "Just checking� I guess�"
Hinata inhaled deeply, taking in his masculine and ramen scent and enjoying the warmth of his embrace.
"Silly Naruto-kun�"
He chuckled, now playing with the silky ends of her hair that rested on her back. "Heh� maybe just a lil' bit."
She hummed. After a moment of silence, she gave him a fleeting, furtive glance. "Did� did you miss me�?"
Naruto's grin widened. "Like you wouldn't believe! I was itching to hold you in my arms the second I dropped you off at your family's."
When they had married, Hinata was pleasantly surprised to discover that their strolls around Konoha would no longer be limited to the evenings as they had been when they were only dating. Naruto was quick to develop the habit of walking her to the Hyuuga estate every morning. He explained that, although his main reason for doing this was because he enjoyed spending time with her, he also figured that her father, and the rest of her family for that matter, would appreciate the gesture since their clan leader would no longer reside within the Hyuuga compound.
Taking a deep breath, the shy woman tightened her embrace around her husband and nuzzled his throat. Naruto looked down and cupped one of her cheeks in his hand, urging her to look at him despite the loving sensation of her simple gesture. When she did, his hand moved to trace her jaw line tenderly. Hinata brought one of her hands as well to trace his whisker marks with her thumb, smiling when she felt the shiver that raced down his spine with her other hand. She loved how sensitive they were.
No longer able to contain himself, he brought his face lower and claimed her lips softly� lovingly. He felt his whole body shudder and his skin grow goose bumps when he heard her moan helplessly into their kiss. His embrace tightened around her and he soaked in the feeling of her warmth. He always found her so incredibly soft and cozy; he could happily spend the rest of his life in her arms.
Moments later, he pulled away gently. He gave her a goofy smile and Hinata returned the favor with a shy smile of her own.
"So unfair�"
Frowning curiously, both Naruto and Hinata looked to the group of blonds at the desk.
"Totally unfair�" another agreed, tossing the scroll he finished looking over and brusquely plucking another from a stack nearby. The rest of the clones nodded bitterly.
"Why does he get to kiss her and not us�?"
"We never get to kiss her�"
Hinata smirked gently and Naruto released an exasperated breath.
"Boss is just bein' selfish�" another clone explained, scribbling into a scroll a lot more forcefully than normal.
Naruto groaned and rubbed his temple with one hand.
"Definitely hogging Hinata-chan all to himself� tche!" another piped up tartly, crossing his arms.
Hinata giggled. "That's quite the harem I have."
Naruto grunted sourly. "I believe you mean fan club�"
In a very uncharacteristic move from her, Hinata slipped out of his grasp with a playful smile and walked towards the congregation of kage bunshins. "Harem. I like the term harem a whole lot better. It's more fitting."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "It's only a harem if you�" he trailed off, watching his Hinata-chan do something completely unusual�and the clones weren't much better, if the wide-eyed looks they gave her were anything to go by!
Their blue eyes stalked her quiet but confident steps as she neared them. The first clone she reached didn't even get the opportunity to smile at her before she cupped his cheeks and placed a brief but teasing kiss on his stunned lips. He certainly didn't see that coming! The kiss had been so brief that by the time the he decided to return it, Hinata had already pulled away, leaving him to trail after her lips desperately; much the same way the real Naruto had tormented her the night before.
"Heeeeeey�!" Her husband scowled and crossed his arms. For some reason, the way she kissed his clone seemed painfully familiar, reminding him of how he had trapped her in his arms, cherishing the feel of her hot, naked flesh against his, the way she trembled when he caressed and kissed her in that particular way that drove her near madness.
"Ah-ah-ah," she said, ignoring her husband and giving the clone a kind smile while straightening. "You must share, Naruto-kun," she reminded, gliding a dainty finger down his jaw line before moving to the next clone.
From the outside, Hinata was the epitome of nonchalance. On the inside, however, her heart was at the verge of bursting through her chest. She didn't particularly know what had come over her, or what exactly had given her the idea of tormenting Naruto with his own clones�maybe it was the way he had a clone manhandle her last night, and then watch her with Naruto in such a intimate situation. She'd always known that his clones were simply copies of her husband, but that didn't make it any less weird. But she was going for the visual� stimulation, she supposed, and now that she found herself in such an interesting position, using his own clones against him, she wasn't about to stop. As nerve-wracking as it was, it was also oddly exhilarating to do what she considered to be absolutely scandalous by her standards, but as Naruto always said, every once in a while she needed to live a little, and that was exactly what she was going to do. She would enjoy it while it lasted.
She just hoped Naruto wouldn't start getting any ideas.
As for Naruto�
Hot� really hot� but� shouldn't this be a little bit upsetting? My wife IS making out with another� me� but� Wait, wait, wait! His brows scrounged up tightly. Since the clones are essentially me, is this really such a bad thing?
No� not really. Slowly, a wicked, scheming grin began forming on the Hokage's lips.
As a matter of fact, Hinata seemed more receptive to his clones than he would've ever imagined�maybe she didn't mind his clone watching as much as she had denied it last night. And so, realizing he could use this knowledge to his advantage, an inkling of an idea formed. It would need to be nursed, of course, plotted�even perfected�but she would never see it coming.
He watched Hinata kiss the second clone�if he didn't know her any better, he would've missed the tiniest of trembles in her fingertips as they caressed the clone's cheek. The kage bunshin gave her an idiotic grin as soon as she pulled away, and Naruto had to suppress the urge to laugh, deciding instead to feign jealousy and play along with her little game.
"Why are you kissing them?" he whined, layering the thick sound of a jealous husband and immediately noticing the way she totally bought it.
As she made her way to the third clone, Hinata stopped and gave him an impish grin�as impish as she could muster, anyway�and the rest of the clones sassily smirked at their maker.
"Because I can," she easily replied and proceeded to place a brief kiss on the eager clone.
Once she pulled away, she had to giggle at the way Naruto's crossed arms tightened around him while he gave her that grumpy, closed-eyed combination of a pout and a scowl that only he could pull off.
"I'm the only one who's supposed to get your kisses�" he grumbled defiantly.
By this time, Hinata was just ending the kiss with the fourth clone. She walked to the last clone�pausing to briefly graze his cheek�and innocently smiled at the real Naruto. "But I am kissing you."
And with that, she bent over and claimed the last clone's lips. Naruto's eyes widened and his arms drooped when the clone shuddered and the slightest of grunts escaped him�a definite sound of approval�, and before Naruto could do anything about it, the clone's hands cupped Hinata's cheeks and deepened the kiss. Hinata in turn sighed dreamily, forgetting that the kiss had extended a lot longer than she had planned.
"Wha�" Naruto scratched the back of his head, somewhat disconcerted. Okay, so she was really receptive to his clones and� wait a minute� was that a tongue he just saw?
"Naruto-kun�" she moaned to the clone, making the real Naruto blush when he suddenly felt a very familiar warmth stir in his stomach. It was that one feeling he got every time he tried to seduce her and succeeded. Feeling her melt in his arms was one thing; watching her melt in... well, his arms was just...
Wow...
Still frozen in place, Naruto observed as Hinata tried pulling away and the clone held her in place, much like he himself would've done, nipping her bottom lip teasingly until she opened her mouth, welcoming the clone's tongue with her own and beginning the kissing anew.
But this wasn't just a simple kiss.
They were French kissing, and very deeply, too!
Hinata mewled within the clone's embrace, who expertly pulled her to sit on his lap. Astonished, Naruto felt something stir inside him once more�only this time much lower.
Damn� do we really look that sexy when we make out? This definitely beats watching porn... He then shook his head sharply. That was not a possibility he was certain Hinata would ever entertain for his perverted sake, and so, he quickly decided he really needed a distraction and fast.
"Okay, okay! That's enough!" he ordered, mentally kicking himself because he knew his demand also applied to his lewd train of thought.
Still cupping her cheeks, the clone pulled away slowly, nibbling her lips a few more times before looking at Naruto with an wicked, daring smirk.
Hinata's breathless giggles momentarily distracted Naruto from his feigned glare at the clone. He then watched Hinata take the clone's wrist, disengaging herself from the seated hug and standing up. She gave the blond copy a cute smile and ruffled his hair casually.
"You must be the same clone from last night," she commented, looking at him with a suspicious smile.
The clone chuckled and shrugged. "We're all the same, as far as I know. The other clones are just too slow. Chances are Boss probably didn't divide the chakra evenly."
"Hey�!"
"Pfft!"
Hinata shook her head. "Bet you really wanted to do that, though," she teased.
"Keep that up, and you're going to spoil them," Naruto huffed, still standing on the opposite end of the office.
"It'll be like spoiling you, then," Hinata replied as she walked towards him. "Times five."
He couldn't argue with that logic, but still, he was supposed to be jealous! "Whatever�" he muttered, pouting and crossing his arms again.
"Does that mean we can kiss Hinata-chan again?" the clone piped up, hopeful.
As soon as Hinata was within reaching distance, Naruto pulled her against him protectively, tucking her head under his chin where she couldn't see his gleaming, calculating eyes. He gave the clone a guileful grin, knowing he would understand his unspoken message. "You wish. Let's go to Ichiraku's, Hinata-chan."
"Ichiraku's!" the kage bunshins chorused excitedly.
"That's right! Ichiraku's," Naruto said. Now it was his turn to smirk wickedly. "And guess what? You're all staying here to finish my work!"
"Whaaaaat!"
"But we're hungry, too!"
"Don't care. Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" Naruto taunted, his hands reaching down to squeeze Hinata's rump, further baiting the clones.
"Stop it, Naruto-kun!" Hinata admonished, blushing brightly and moving his hands to more decent areas. Her little plan worked like a charm, but it was just her luck that she'd get caught up in the middle of a pissing contest between her husband and his own clones.
"Bottom line, I get the girl, and ramen! So, who's laughing now?"
Hinata closed her eyes and sighed.
"Now get back to work! I wanna see that stack of paper done by tomorrow morning. Let's go, Hinata."
"Um� Naruto-kun�"
"Yeah?" He opened the door and waited for her to walk through.
"You realize you're virtually arguing with yourself, right?"
Naruto shrugged as he closed the door, dismissing the evil glares the copies darted his way. "I don't care. That's what they get for getting fresh with my Hinata-chan!"
"Are you sure you know what you're doing� taunting them like that and leaving them with all those important documents?"
"Yes. They need to be punished."
Smiling, Hinata shook her head. "I don't know� I wouldn't be surprised if you find a pile of origami in your desk tomorrow morning."
"As if they would dare!" he said as they began descending the stairs. "Besides, I suck at making origami."
"All the more reason to worry, then."
Naruto shrugged carelessly.
Hinata gave him a can't say I didn't warn you look and shook her head again. "I wouldn't put anything past your prankster nature, but� if you say so, Naruto-kun� if you say so."
"I do say so. Now c'mon," he said, snatching her hand and speeding their pace. "I'm starving!"
"Now what do we do?" a clone asked, bored.
"We finish the stupid paperwork like the Boss said," another kage bunshin replied.
"Well, if ya ask me, that kinda blows�" the third one remarked.
"Tell me about it�" said the fourth.
"Do we really have to do his paperwork?" the fifth clone�and hereafter the troublemaker�asked.
"That's what the Boss said," the second kage bunshin reminded, grumbling.
"I know he did, but do we have to?" the troublemaker clarified with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Even if he did understand that the Boss was definitely up to something and that the clones would play a major role in executing whatever he had in mind, the troublemaking clone was still irked that he flaunted eating at Ichiraku's with Hinata while making him and the rest of his fellow copies stay behind and do all the grunt work. For that, the Boss would pay dearly. After all, whoever said a shadow clone couldn't prank his summoner?
The kage bunshins nevertheless looked at the troublemaker cluelessly, one even scratching his forehead in bewilderment.
Exasperated, the troublemaker sighed and shook his head. "You guys are so dumb, I swear!"
"Hey!"
"You're the dumb one!"
"Yeah!"
"Pfft! Bunch of mindless idiots. The one you should be mad at is the Boss, not me!"
"Whatever! It's 'cuz of you that we're not gonna get to kiss Hinata-chan anymore!" the second clone responded accusingly.
The troublemaker rolled his eyes. "It's not like we've ever kissed her before! It's always been Boss!"
"So? It was certainly a start until you decided to go Icha-Icha on her!"
"Is that what this is about?"
"What else could it be?" another grumbled disdainfully.
The troublemaker shook his head. "C'mon, guys! Stop being a bunch of pussies! What's Boss gonna do? Pop us?"
"Basically�" the third clone mumbled.
"Exactly!" the troublemaker replied. "Big deal if he does! Eventually he's gonna have to summon us again to help him do his paperwork, so what have we got to lose?"
"Well�"
"I don't know�" the third clone said, "this don't seem right�"
"Oh, c'mon!" the troublemaker exclaimed. "All Boss ever does is summon us to do his chores! Ever since he became Hokage, we turned into a bunch of gofers! We don't get summoned on missions to fight or anything cool like in the old days. Now he's always, 'get the groceries', 'clean the house', 'go pick up the dry clean', 'do my paperwork', 'draw me a hot bath', 'wash the dishes', 'go to the forest and get some wood for the fireplace', blah blah blah, and on top of that, he has the balls to get mad 'cause Hinata-chan's being nice to us? What the hell! Is that the kind of thanks we deserve?"
"No�" the first clone mumbled and the rest shook their heads hesitantly, as if they weren't entirely sure they wanted to go down the road the troublemaker was taking them.
"So what are y'all gonna do 'bout it?" the troublemaker enticed. "Are you going to let Boss keep walking all over you like a bunch of pansies?"
"Hell no�"
"Screw that!"
"Good! Now� how about we leave Boss a little surprise? Tomorrow he's going to come back, rub it in our faces that he had ramen and that maybe he even made love to Hinata-chan, while we're here doing his work like a bunch of suckers!"
Smiling, the troublemaker watched as the rest of the copies frowned and grumbled. He had them right where he wanted them.
"That's right� he's out having a blast and we're just here� doing his boring paperwork, so c'mon! Let's do something for Boss he'll never forget. I'm sure he'll be pleasantly surprised."
"What kind of surprise are we talking about here�?" the first kage bunshin asked, still unsure, but secretly intrigued.
The smile on the troublemaker's face darkened as he grabbed a random piece of paper. "Oh, I don't know�" he murmured as he folded the paper and made a sloppy paper plane. "I'm sure we can get creative." He tossed the plane in the air and it floated along until it landed on the first clone's lap.
The kage bunshin picked up the paper plane and stared at it blankly before an evil smile�much like the troublemaker's�spread on his whiskered face.
"Hehehe�" the second blond replica snickered.
"This is gonna be fun!" another said, haphazardly grabbing a document titled First Quarter: S-Ranked Mission Reports.
"I'm so glad the day is over!" Naruto exhaled relieved.
"Me, too," Hinata agreed.
"So� how was your day?" Naruto thought to ask.
"Tedious and long." Hinata sighed. "I can see why Father always wore such a grave expression�"
"Maybe all those old farts need to get laid�"
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata admonished.
"Hehehe� I'm just kidding, Hinata-chan�"
Hinata looked at him with a frown, and then shook her head, a small smile forming on her lips. "Maybe they do�" she mumbled.
Naruto grinned. "What was that?"
"Nothing," she replied with a grin. She knew he heard her.
"Uh-huh," Naruto laughed. "Though they really should get laid. They don't know what they're missing!"
"Oh, stop it," she said, reddening slightly as his words instantly inspired random images of their vigorous lovemaking last night.
"I'm serious," Naruto said vehemently. He then glanced at her from the corner of his eye, a devilish gleam flickering across his bright blue eyes when he noticed the blush. "Hehe� imagine that. Who would've thought I'd corrupt sweet, innocent Hinata-chan�?"
Hinata smiled and linked her hands behind her. "Well, I suppose some things are bound to rub off eventually�"
His smile turned naughty as he nuzzled her ear playfully, throwing his arms around her shoulders. "Tell me about it. Of all things, perversion was the last thing I thought you'd pick up from me. Now look at you, making out with my clones and all. Pretty soon you'll be asking me to sex you up in public places," he murmured, this time nibbling her ear teasingly, and for good measure, he quietly whispered, "Hentai�"
Hinata's face turned a bright scarlet.
"Na-Naruto-kun!" she squeaked.
"What?" he asked innocently.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"I'm just messing, Hinata-chan," he said snickering.
"Right�"
"I am!"
"Sure," she said, not believing him for a second. She then took a deep breath. "Though I suppose part of what you say is true� I've picked up some of your habits, and I can't always say they're good habits. Today I pretty much told one of the elders off, and it wasn't until much later that I realized I had."
Naruto laughed. "Ha! Old geezer probably had it coming."
"Don't say that, Naruto-kun� I felt terrible afterward."
"You shouldn't. It really takes a lot to tick you off, so whoever that old fart was, he must've really said something bad."
"I guess�" she murmured. "But that still doesn't mean it's a good thing."
Naruto chuckled. "Look at it this way: only smart people realize how cool Konoha's Hokage is. So much so that they end up picking up some of his habits, and not letting people walk all over you is a great habit to have!"
Hinata frowned with a smirk. "Is that supposed to be a compliment to me or to you?"
Naruto looked at her with that grin of his before looking forward again, nonchalantly saying: "Could go either way, really. It's no secret I'm the coolest ninja around."
"Uh-huh," she deadpanned.
He then turned his head to look at Hinata. "Well, don't you think I'm cool?"
Hinata mimicked his actions, also looking ahead with a serious frown, as if deep in thought. When she turned her gaze to him again, she did so with a playful smile. "Hmm� you're alright, I guess�"
"You're so mean, Hinata-chan! See if I ever take you to Ichiraku's again!"
"It's not like Ichiraku's is fine cuisine, Naruto-kun," she reminded giggling.
"Oh! How dare you! Wait till I tell ojii-san and Ayame-nee-chan�"
"My cooking is better," she countered, feigning indifference.
Pointing to her and with a smart-alecky comeback at the tip of his tongue, Naruto's steps screeched to a halt, suddenly rubbing his chin with a very pensive expression. "Hmm�"
Hinata continued walking, a triumphant smile forming on her lips.
When he noticed that she didn't stop with him, he quickly made his way to her side again. "Well� I suppose I can't argue with that�" Then he shrugged, smirking slightly. "I'm still telling ojii-san and Ayame-nee-chan, though."
"Please do," Hinata said with an I dare you smile. "To be honest, it was kind of nice not having to constantly worry about what to make for dinner while you were in Suna. I can certainly use the break."
Naruto looked at his wife utterly devastated; the mere thought of not eating Hinata-chan's precious meals, made especially for him with all the love in the world, truly horrified him. Luckily, he noticed the twinkle in her eyes and, taking a deep breath, he shook his head slightly. He looked ahead to the road before them again. "You're a lousier liar than me, Hinata-chan, you know that?"
"I'm serious," she assured.
"Right," he smirked. "I ain't buying it. I'm so awesome you just love cooking for me. You can't help yourself, and it's okay. I completely understand."
"Being a little presumptuous, aren't we?"
"Nope. I just know you too well."
Hinata smirked, shaking her head slightly. "Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better."
"I will!" he assured cockily, but then his enthusiasm crumbled. "Though it sucks that you don't think I'm cool anymore� I guess that's what marriage does to people. And to think you were my most faithful and longest-standing fangirl," he whined.
"You're right," Hinata replied, looking away to hide her smile. "Once you get married, fangirling gets old real quick. The thrill is gone."
Naruto whimpered brokenheartedly.
Hinata shook her head, chuckling slightly at his melodramatics. "Don't be silly, Sweetie. Of course you're cool. I wouldn't have married you if you weren't." She gently pulled on his sleeve and Naruto stopped, gazing at her curiously when he noticed her sparing furtive glances about her, making sure there weren't too many villagers watching them�she still had her reservations about public displays of affection�before standing on her tip-toes and threading her fingers through his hair, pulling him close enough to place a moist, lingering kiss on his cheek.
"I'm still your number one fangirl� Naruto-kun."
Naruto blushed slightly, and caressed the spot she had kissed him on. "Hehe� like I said, only smart people know how awesome the Hokage is."
Hinata snorted and shook her head.
"And you know what?"
"What?"
"You're the smartest of them all for marrying him!"
"Indeed. I couldn't be luckier to marry the man of my dreams," she replied with a smile.
Naruto chuckled sheepishly, blushing at her statement.
Looking ahead and enjoying the sight of the setting sun, Naruto couldn't help but to grin. Who would've ever thought that he'd find himself bantering with Hinata? More importantly, who would've imagined he'd marry her!
He recalled how, when they started hanging out, Hinata would walk next to him as if her toes and the dirt beneath her sandals were the most fascinating things in the world. Not to mention the fact that it always perplexed him how she always fiddled with her fingers. And why in heaven's name did she always walk with her shoulders slouched?
He secretly glanced at her as they walked, noticing that the days of a slouching Hinata were long gone.
Now, the woman next to him was the Hyuuga leader and the Hokage's wife; proud, and always with her head held high. She was still humble�there was no doubt about that, even if she enjoyed bantering with him�but that pitiful look on her face had dissipated the more she spent time with him. The more she was with him, the happier she became, and the more Naruto was intrigued. He didn't do anything different. Any time he was with her, he was simply himself.
Well� okay, so he might've approached a few things a little differently�!
While in the past he was too busy or simply not interested in Hinata, being Hokage had taught him a thing or two about the wellbeing of every ninja in his care. Now that he was more observant and appreciative of his surroundings, and especially his subordinates, he had learned to consider every aspect of all matters he was involved in. This included ensuring that his people were happy, or at least reasonably content�there was only so much a leader could do for his people, after all�but most of all, he always made sure they were well taken care of.
Those weren't his only reasons, however. While it was true that being a ninja who made mistakes proved to be oftentimes fatal, making mistakes as Hokage had the potential to destroy his village. It was the very first lesson Tsunade had taught him when she began tutoring him, and despite his happy-go-lucky attitude, Naruto had taken that lesson to heart.
As for Hinata, when Naruto really thought about it, from the moment he held her in his arms after she had passed out at Ichiraku's a few years ago when he asked that one question that had been nagging at him forever, Naruto quickly decided that Hinata had become a special case to him. Not in a belittling way or anything of the sort, but in a way that he knew he would need to invest his personal time and effort to figure out why she was the way she was around him.
Not surprising, his inquiries were a little blunt and maybe a little bit too "straight to the point", and unfortunately for Hinata, it created some interesting situations that amused the Hokage as much as it bewildered him.
Ichiraku's Ramen Bar
Three Years ago
As Hinata finally began regaining consciousness, she distantly heard the voice of her beloved crush, worriedly calling her name and asking if she was okay. Once she opened her eyes, Hinata nodded, mortified and angry with herself for making a spectacle. But that had been the least of her problems.
She blushed brightly, realizing the predicament she was in.
There she was, Hyuuga Hinata, clan leader and a hell of a ninja in her own right, wrapped in the arms of the Rokudaime Hokage and sitting on his lap� in public!
She'd swear nothing could be more mortifying, but she was quickly proven wrong the second Ayame busted a camera out of the blue and took several pictures of the two shinobi. She could literally feel the camera's flash repeatedly stun over her like a cold shower of dread.
"I'm� I'm okay now� you can put me d-down," she begged. At the rate Ayame was going, she could put a whole scrapbook together.
Naruto had obediently complied, briefly wondering why on earth Ayame had decided to take pictures. At the time, of course, Naruto hadn't known any better, nor had he known that he would eventually be begging for a copy of the first picture Ayame took� the same picture that hung proudly on the most looked-upon wall of the ramen establishment present-day.
"So�" he said, never in a million years foreseeing the outcome of his future. "You didn't answer my question�"
Hinata, who had been in the midst of settling back on her barstool, slipped after hearing his comment, barely avoiding falling on her ass. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, as if counting. This was ridiculous; she really needed to get it together.
Their spectators�Teuchi and Ayame�couldn't have agreed more.
"It� it must be the hot weather," she had lied quietly, wondering what God-forsaken question the blond was talking about.
She had briefly noted Ayame rolling her eyes.
"Oh�" Naruto voiced, not entirely convinced. He then scrutinized her� a bit more openly than Hinata would've liked.
"Well� you can take that big jacket off, you know�" he suggested. "I don't know what is it with you Hyuugas always dressing as if you lived in the Village Hidden in the Snow�"
"You're one to talk�!"
Both Naruto and Hinata turned to Ayame.
"Two words: orange outfit."
Hinata grinned and bit her lower lip, fighting the urge to giggle.
"Hey! That was an awesome outfit!" Naruto countered.
It also made you look like a jailbird, Hinata thought.
"Well, at least you've toned it down with the hideous�"
"Hey! I'll have you know that orange is a great color!"
"For a prisoner�!" Ayame snorted, reading Hinata's thoughts on the subject as well.
"A what! Tche! Whatever." He huffed before looking over to Hinata for some support in Ayame's complete irrational argument. "Don't you think it's a nice color, Hinata?"
Hinata jolted. For a second, she was glad that she hadn't been dragged into the argument, even if it was her beloved Naruto-kun's sense of style Ayame was slandering.
"W-well� orange is a pretty color�" as long as it's not worn!
"Ha! See, even Hinata thinks it's great! And by the way, orange it's not just 'pretty'. It's cool. It's manly," he made sure to remind. He didn't need Ayame to start getting any ideas.
Ayame only rolled her eyes again, but then smiled. At least the girl was trying to score some points with the clueless Hokage. "Whatever. Don't you have a village to run?"
"Hey, even the most awesome Hokage needs a lunch break."
Hinata forced herself to smile, even if guiltily. Of course, Naruto was still too busy celebrating his victory to notice.
Finally settling down, Naruto turned to Hinata and looked at her appreciatively. The shy clan leader, fully aware of her audience, did her best to prevent her heart from bursting through her chest.
"Say�?" Naruto voiced.
"Y-yes, Naruto-sama?"
"Take off your jacket."
The sudden shattering of at least a dozen bowls could be heard from across the street. Ayame, who had been carrying some of the empty bowls Naruto had just consumed, had stumbled dramatically when she heard Naruto's request. Teuchi looked at Ayame with a frown, and Ayame looked at Naruto with shock. Finally, when she realized what she had done, she had looked away sheepishly, biting her nails unconsciously.
Hinata, on the other hand, held on to the counter for dear life. She did not need two head bumps. The one she already had was still throbbing.
"W-w-w-w-w-w-w why!"
Naruto grinned and jumped off his barstool to stand behind her expectantly. "Trust me." He suddenly placed his hands on her shoulders. "Here, I'll help you!"
Naruto-kun is touching me!
Before she dared to consider the idea of passing out, she grabbed her zipper and pulled down. She figured she'd black out pretty soon anyway, if the way she felt herself hyperventilating was any indication. When she finished, Naruto took the liberty of taking her jacket by the collar and pulling it off her. Thankfully Hinata wore a skintight shirt underneath. He looked at her with a happy smile.
"There! Isn't that better?" he inquired as if his feat had saved the lives of starving children. "Now, take a deep breath. Stretch out and stuff! Trust me, it's great to actually feel the fresh air."
For her part, Hinata sat frozen, blushing fiercely; in fact, she was sort of beginning to turn purple. She felt so exposed!
Naruto, taking immediate note of this, frowned with bewilderment.
"Hmm� well� after taking your jacket off, I figured the redness would go down or something, but now you look as if you're heat-stroked. Maybe you shouldn't eat any more of that ramen�"
Teuchi deadpanned at the ninja and sighed. If he didn't think it was possible before, he was now convinced that Naruto's blockheadedness had no bounds.
"I'm okay!" Hinata squeaked.
"Hmm� if you say so," he said and sat back on his barstool, placing her jacket on his lap. When he was about to continue eating, he turned and faced her. Hinata was still frozen on her barstool, holding on to the edge of the counter as if her life depended on it.
"Ne, Hinata� are you sure you're okay?"
Hinata finally took a deep breath and loosened her death grip. When she was positive that she wasn't going to black out, she released the counter and nodded.
"So�?"
"Y-yes, Naruto-sama?"
Naruto sighed. "My question, you silly girl!" he explained patiently. "You never answered why you're always a nervous wreck around me, always fainting and stuff!"
Hinata tensed. Then she grabbed her chopsticks and started fiddling. "W-well, Naruto-sama� you've always b-been so-someone I've greatly admired. You're� p-precious to me, and I� I� I� respect you a lot� and�"
Naruto's eyes widened at her words. "R-really?"
He frowned slightly. Stuttering couldn't possibly be contagious, could it?
"Y-yes!" she squeaked.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and watched her closely. "How long have you felt this way?"
The chopsticks snapped under her grip.
Hinata looked at the broken utensils and glanced away sheepishly. "S-since the academy when I first saw you�" she whispered. Taking a resolute breath she continued, "You were� you were always so strong, a-and confident� watching you gave me the strength and� the determination to become a buh- a better shinobi�"
Naruto's eyes grew as wide as saucers at the girl's admission. Someone respected and admired him before he had become a ninja! When he was still a loser? And he didn't even know about it? How could he never have noticed? But more importantly, why didn't she ever say anything?
All that time�
When he really considered it, he had already lost track of all the times he wanted to mean something to someone. Yes, there was Tsunade-baa-chan, and Ero-sennin, and even Iruka-sensei, and he really did value their affections, but he would've given anything to know that there was someone among his peers who had loved him, or simply admired him.
After enduring what seemed like an eternity of silence, Hinata turned to look at her crush, who sighed and wore a deep frown, unaware that the thought of his departed sensei�and not her sheepish declaration�was what saddened him. She closed her eyes momentarily, already regretting what she had done.
I knew it, she thought ruefully. Me and my big mouth� of course Naruto-kun wouldn't want to be the inspiration of a failure like me.
"I'm sorry�" she whispered, breaking the silence. "I d-didn't mean to upset you, Hokage-sama� please excuse me�"
Hearing the sad and broken tone in her words, Naruto came out of his reverie and instantly looked up. He turned to look at Hinata, who had dropped a few coins on the counter next to her ramen bowl and already abandoned her barstool. She walked away briskly, trying very hard to hold in her tears.
"Hinata, wait!"
Naruto immediately jumped off his barstool and followed after her, dropping her jacket on the barstool she had been sitting on.
He finally reached her and placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to slow her down.
"Stop!" he demanded.
Hinata halted, but turned her face away from his line of sight. She did not want to humiliate herself in front of him.
"Look at me, Hinata�" he requested quietly.
Hinata closed her eyes tightly and wiped away her tears, angry at her weakness. Taking a deep breath, she finally turned with her head bowed.
"I said to look at me, Hinata," Naruto reminded softly, but with a hint of firmness. He knew she wouldn't disobey him then.
She looked up, her waterworks still in full effect. She sniffed and did her best to put up a strong front before her hero and leader. This so-called strong front melted the second he reached up and gently wiped away her tears with his calloused fingers.
"Why are you crying, Hinata�?" he inquired quietly.
Hinata just shook her head.
Naruto frowned. "You don't wanna tell me�?"
She shook her head again and looked down shyly.
Naruto suddenly smiled. She reminded him of a little child.
"That's okay. You don't have to�"
Hinata looked at him with surprise.
His smile turned into a grin. "At least not now. But you will have to tell me eventually, though. And just so you know, I won't forget to ask!"
For the first time ever, Hinata looked straight into his eyes, even if quizzically.
"In the meantime," he added, breathing in deeply. "Thank you very much. I'm really flattered�"
She frowned. "W-wha� w-why�?"
If it was possible, his grin widened. "I would have never imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would be an inspiration to one of Konoha's most amazing and valuable ninjas�"
Now it was her turn to look at him with eyes as wide as saucers.
Naruto chuckled. "That's right! I'm talking about you, Hyuuga Hinata," he said, gently poking her in the chest. "The Hinata I know is a fair, strong, innovating, and kick-ass clan leader, a former elite ANBU, and one of the nicest, prettiest, and coolest girls in the village� if not the world." He added the last part with a goofy grin. "I'm truly honored, Hinata." He then took a deep breath. "Now, what do you say we go back in there and finish lunch�"
He looked into her eyes, waiting for some form of reaction. There she stood, however� like one of those mannequins he always saw at the Konoha shopping center, as if frozen in time.
He frowned. "Hinata�?"
He waved his hand in her line of sight, and then cluelessly moved his face closer to hers, scrutinizing her with a worried frown.
Well, she's not breathing�
The closer his face got to hers and inspected her for any sign of illness�or whatever it was that had her standing like a statue�the redder her face got.
Well, at least that's a sign that she's still alive�
What he didn't see coming was the way she suddenly began swaying like a drunken sailor, or the way her eyes began rolling up.
"Hinata, are you��!"
Dumbfounded, Naruto caught the seemingly lifeless body of the Hyuuga leader in his arms before she hit the ground.
"Oh, man� again�!" he complained in bewilderment.
Not really sure what to do next, he carried her bridal style back to the ramen stand.
When Ayame saw him walk in, she couldn't help but to smirk. Naruto simply shrugged and settled on the barstool much the same way he had done when she had passed out the first time.
Present Day Konoha
Near Ichiraku's Ramen Bar
Naruto shook his head and chuckled at the memory.
"What's so funny, Naruto-kun?" his wife inquired quietly.
This time, Naruto laughed openly. "Nothing, Hina-chan� I was just thinking of how you always used to pass out back in the day�"
Hinata pouted. "There's nothing funny about that�" she mumbled.
"It's okay. I know you just couldn't resist my charms, that's all."
What Hinata actually had a hard time resisting was rolling her eyes.
He chuckled. "It was kind of adorable, now that I think about it."
"Sure�" she muttered sarcastically, clearly unconvinced.
"Oh, look! We're here!" Naruto pointed out happily.
In the Hokage's office, a group of blonds could be heard snickering conspiratorially.
"Oooh, man� Boss is gonna be pissed tomorrow�"
"I don't give a shit. That's what he gets for being a prick!"
"No, no, no! You're folding it wrong!"
"Shut up! I know what I'm doing!"
"That's the sorriest excuse of an origami crane I've ever seen in my life."
"Whatever! If you know how to make one, then make your own!"
"I will!"
"Good! Now buzz off!"
Another clone rolled his eyes and looked at the dreaded stack of papers. He wasn't entirely thrilled about this whole get back at the Boss thing, but the more he thought about it, the more that troublemaker had a point. Boss was pretty ungrateful. Boss knew he was since the clones obviously thought so, too, but he never gave it much thought because, quite frankly, his ungratefulness was really directed at himself. Therefore, he figured it didn't really count in the end.
The clone grunted in displeasure. As far as he was concerned, at that very moment, he existed, and therefore it counted, so the Boss needed to be taught a lesson in gratitude. Looking at the pen he had in-hand, the kage bunshin smirked. He was pretty sure the boss would appreciate his very artistic skills. In fact, he was certain even Sai would be impressed.
Perpetual's Corner:
I come in peace, I promise! -.-
I know� I know� I know I promised faster updates, but, hey, life happens, and I really have no valid excuse other than� well, work, a website I need to maintain, harassing eternalshiva, moving to my new place, that evil thing called Writer's Block� yeah� that can eat up a chunk of anyone's time.
Anyway, my deepest thanks go to eternalshiva, Jolly Green, and TimeShifter, all who contributed greatly by keeping my retardism in check, and making sense of each chapter I write. They are absolutely awesome editors! Oh, oh! Do NOT forget to read eternalshiva's newest story, The Messenger: A Clones Side Story. The title says it all, but I must warn you: BEWARE OF THE EPIC STEAMINESS. The story is not for the faint-hearted. That story was written months ago and was meant to be posted after I completed Clones, but since I keep taking so unbearably long with updates, I told her to just go ahead and post it.
Am I not merciful? ~_~
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