With You, Forever | Naruhina

Chapter 8: Friends Only

All the warmth Naruto was feeling was gone and he cursed himself for having lowered his guard. Damm it!! I was too distracted; I didn't even notice them!! Not unless he saw the birds fly off in that direction.

"Oh, it is Sakura-chan and Sai," Hinata said deactivating her byakugan.

Sai and Sakura? Why are they sneaking on us? Naruto thought. Just then they both came into view.

"Are, Naruto!! Hinata!! Weren't you two supposed to be at the Land of Silence by now?" Sakura asked suspiciously, "didn't you leave yesterday?"

"No, we just left this morning," feeling embarrassed Naruto replied, "I was still hungover yesterday." Hinata giggled, and Naruto gave her a wide smile. 

"Ah yes, Lord Hokage told me that," said Sai in a plain voice, "anyway I'm glad you two are going so slowly. It's almost evening we should make camp here; I have something very much important to tell you both."

It's as if he planned on bumping on us here?  Naruto thought. For the first time in his life, he was annoyed by the presence of team seven around him. He just couldn't explain this feeling, it was very new to him just like so many other feelings he has been through during this mission. 

"We were planning on camp here anyway, " he said annoyed, "but what the hell are you two doing here?" 

"Oh, I was called by the Kazekage for some training in medical Jutsu" Sakura replied almost amused by Naruto's annoyed tone. This fueled his resolve more in getting rid of both of them quickly. 

What is happening to me?

"I just wanted to talk to you both" Sai said smiling, oblivious to the situation. 

Go away!  

Sakura and Hinata went to collect firewoods, while Sai and Naruto build the tents. With Hinata's byakugan and Sakura's strength collecting firewoods took mere minutes. Setting up the tent took longer as Naruto and Sai kept on getting in fights, and Sakura kept on putting an end to their fight, injuring one of them in the process. Hinata kept quiet the whole time, her disappointment was clear. She too was loving her "alone" time with Naruto and almost felt connected to him. I am really dumb, ugh. Hinata thought. I don't fit in...I don't fit in his world. 

Quietly, she everyone a meal from whatever she could find in the woods. Naruto was getting distracted and agitated as he saw Hinata sitting in the corner. For some reason, he felt like a huge jerk. 

"Naruto," Sakura suddenly said, softly "go have some food. I'm sure you must be very hungry. You cannot stop looking over there," she added unnecessarily. Naruto's face went red. He quickly turned to object and save his dignity, but he was pushed by Sakura towards Hinata. 

Hinata looked up in surprise and Naruto struggled for words. Hinata's face was lit by the setting sun and Naruto knew he has never seen something so pretty in his whole life. But it wasn't only the way her hair was shinning or the way her eyes shined and reflected the setting sun, something about Hinata made his legs go weak and heart race fast. He just didn't know what it was, and then Hinata dropped a huge bomb on him. She smiled. 

Naruto felt dazed. He didn't know anyone could be this perfect.

"Um, Naruto-kun?" Hinata said, her face beetroot red, "do you need food? It'll take some time to make." Naruto could feel her breathing close to his face. 

That's warm...

WAIT. WHAT THE FU--

Naruto realized what he has just done. Or what he was about to do. His face was inches close to Hinata's, almost as if...

I went in to kiss her! 

He quickly stood up. "Sorry," he said and went to sit on the floor opposite Hinata. He buried his head in his hands and tried to understand what the hell he was doing. All he remembers was seeing her smile and has absolutely no idea of what happened next. 

You leaned in to kiss, Kurama chuckled. Naruto ignored him, he couldn't believe it. He was confused. But he had no time to ponder on these feelings, as the tent was set up and the meal was serving. Hinata didn't think much of this event. 

Yes, maybe I'm just hungry... I'll feel better after I eat! he thought. 

What a dumb kid. 

After having the awesome meal made by Hinata, Naruto still left dazed by the smile and the events of the evening. Just as he was spiraling down his feelings, Sai turned to both of them and started speaking seriously. Sakura went was mildly asleep but still listening to bits and pieces of the conversation.

"There was a development in this mission, the land of silence is now much, much dangerous than we thought," Sai said.

"Much dangerous?" Hinata asked.

"Yes, it turns out that their leader, whoever he is, is able to put anyone in deep genjutsu or more. He will make you relive your worse life memories again and again until you are consumed by them, it's like trapping you in a world of nightmares," Sai said.

"Oh okay, so he's a powerful enemy, nothing the both of us can't handle," Naruto said pointing at Hinata, making her face go red. 

"Let me finish, he can put you into let's say "deep sleep" only by his words alone, and then he can control your actions," Sai said as a matter-of-factly.

"With just his words? How is that even possible?" asked Hinata her shocked.

"We do not know how, but Naruto" Sai suddenly turned towards him, "you can be his next target. See he can make you his own subject, or worse an ally."

Naruto was confused. 

"And if my intel is correct none of the genjutsu realizes works, plus Naruto you already suck at counter-attacking a genjutsu."

"What's your point?" Naruto asked confused and annoyed at the last comment.

"I think what he is trying to say is" Sakura chimed in, "is that you are emotionally vulnerable Naruto and might be too easy to manipulate."

"What? Why would you say that? You all are not better than me!!" Naruto said, feeling a little dejected. 

"Naruto okay tell me this then - do you still have nightmares about the war?" Sakura asked. 

"Y-yes, I do but..." Naruto suddenly turned towards Hinata, he remembered that he did not only dreamt of war but over and over again his fight with Pain comes to haunt him.

What do you fear the most, Uzumaki Naruto? Can you face those who died for you? Show me your fears, your desires. Fear. Pain. Love. Sacrifice. Let's see if you are truly as strong as people say, Naruto.

Who said that, Naruto panicked, I can't move my body... what the fu--

Suddenly everything blurred, Naruto could no longer his friend's face but he could hear their screams. 

"Naruto" Sakura was saying something, but he couldn't make out what. "Answer me!"  He knew he feel to the ground, but he couldn't care less. His head lighter than it has ever, he felt a warm feeling engulfing him.

"Naruto-kun"  was the last thing he heard. 

The warmth he felt went away as quickly as it has came, he was blinded by a light and started falling to his death or so he thought. Two hands reached out and pulled him back up and he landed on the ground hard. The moon was blinding his vision but he somehow managed to get up to his feet and brushed off the dust from his clothes. He went towards the direction of his saviors, he couldn't see their faces but one was taller than him with really long spiky hairs and another one was about as tall as Naruto but his hairs were long and straight and tied in a loose ponytail. They turned towards him, smiling.

"Ero sennin.... Neji..." Naruto rubbed his eyes to see if they were really there.

"Naruto!! You've grown" Jiraiya said with a proud smile.

"Eh, I saved your life again, Naruto," said Neji, smiling.

Tears came streaming down Naruto's face.