Since The Beginning (Naruhina)

(31)

3rd person pov;

Naruto had told Kakashi about everything that had he had in his mind. Well, after leaving the Hokage mountain his mind has been very anxious and that's why he was quiet during the journey.

His mind has been anxious about the fact of what happened with her back then in the pain attack. A continuous fear was eating away his heart, a thought of what if something similar happens with her in the war.

Even for the Pain attack, he hasn't forgiven himself. And add to that if something happens in the war then give up the forgiveness, he would die from an heart attack.

He loved her way too much for his own sake and he couldn't even muster up the courage to confess. He had planned to confess earlier in the mountain but the saliva that was stuck on his throat made it impossible.

The thought of the upcoming war, the thought of bloodshed and the thought of her getting attacked again had kept him nauseous till the midday that he couldn't even eat his lunch.

The promise that he had made to her was something very easy to keep. He was strong and he knew that. He was strong enough to keep himself safe but he wasn't strong enough for her.

After the Pain attack, he could count the hours of sleep that he had in a whole month. He had trained himself to the extreme point to protect her, that now he could hear a cricket's movements.

Even though his skills were enough, he still felt very anxious. Even when he was talking with Kakashi about this he saw the flashback of the attack which almost caused him a panic attack and a mental breakdown.

"Sensei, I am sorry for overreacting."

"Naruto,"

He felt his Sensei's heavy hand over his head and the surprised look of his face was enough for Kakashi to smile inside his mask.

"There is no need to feel sorry for. You love her and it's natural that you want to protect her. You shouldn't feel bad about this.

But you should know this too, you're not the only one who's desperate to protect someone."

The last line made Naruto frown and he couldn't understand what Kakashi meant by that. What does it means that he's not the only who's desperate to protect one?

"Sensei, what do-"

Before he could complete his sentence, a sudden thought came into his mind and he stopped himself. This morning when he was with Hinata, he had noticed the bandage in her left hand.

When he asked her, then she answered that she accidentally cut herself in the kitchen. Also, this morning when he placed his hand over her hand, then she immediately took it away.

Also, there were a few bruises here and there in her face and in the whole body. When he asked her, she somehow avoided it, so to give her privacy he didn't question further.

"Sensei, don't tell me that Hinata-"

"You're not the only one who's skipping his sleep since last month."

Instead of feeling worried or scared an unwanted warm feeling slowly started to feel his heart. Is this how someone feels when they are protected? The uneasy yet warm feeling made him smile without even noticing.

His whole life he has sweared to protect, not ever he had felt that someone would protect him, until he met Iruka. Well, after that there were a few people who might want to protect him, being protected isn't bad.

"Sensei, you know it is not bad having someone who wants to protect you."

Naruto offered Kakashi a smile and Kakashi understood that his student might be okay now.