#nhweek2021

Hinata, though, completely unbothered, continued eating at her normal pace. Clearly, she was savoring every bite, whereas her husband was simply trying to catch up to the amount she had already eaten.

“You know, Naruto, they say slow and steady wins the race,” Teuchi said, nodding towards Hinata.

“Oh, dad. Let him be,” Ayame said as she prepared another bowl for Naruto, “If he hasn’t learned his lesson by now, I don’t think he ever will.”

Naruto furrowed his brow, “Can I just please get my food without the lecture?”

Hinata giggled, “Naruto-Kun, can’t we just have a nice dinner? It doesn’t have to be a competition every time.”

He bashfully smiled at her and nodded, “Yeah, I know...you’re right.”

Nonetheless, four bowls later, Naruto knew he had gone over his limit once again trying to match Hinata.

She simply shook her head as she wrapped an arm around his waist and led the way back to their cozy apartment. He watched her as she got ready for bed, unfazed by what she had eaten, and sighed. Somehow, he loved her even more for her healthy appetite.

He smiled as she kissed him and said her goodnights, but started tossing and turning the moment his stomach began bothering him. He couldn’t believe she was sleeping so soundly beside him, almost as if she hadn’t eaten her weight in pork miso ramen just hours earlier.

He had spent the better part of a year attempting to figure out where she was putting it all but thought it was better not to ask. Sakura would surely scold him if she ever heard of him asking such a thing.

He knew he was never known for his tact, but since he married Hinata, he’d truly been trying to be more aware of what he said and did. Still, though, it was in moments like this that he wished he still had no filter. He truly wanted to know how his petite wife was able to eat even more than Choji at the drop of a hat.

“Naruto?”

He turned his head slightly to find Hinata, awake, peering at him through heavy-lidded eyes.

“Go back to sleep, Hina. I’m okay.”

She shook her head, “You ate too much again, didn’t you?”

“I said I’m okay.”

Hinata reached over to the nightstand and pulled out a bottle of antacid. At this point, she knew her husband well enough that she kept it at their bedside for these inevitable moments.

Naruto chuckled as she handed him two and rubbed his back as he roughly chewed and swallowed the tablets.

“How could you beat me again?” He managed to mutter.

She stifled a laughed, “It’s not a competition”

“I didn’t even know you liked ramen that much until we started dating.”

“You never asked,” Hinata smiled, still gently caressing him.

His eyes fluttered closed, finally sleep appeared to be in reach. Of course, it was only once Hinata took care of him yet again. She was his comfort.

He curled into her touch, “I love the feeling of your hand on my back.”

“I know,” she murmured, pressing her lips to the back of his neck.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, Naruto praying the antacid would kick in quickly so he could finally go to sleep.

Still, though, the question lingered in his mind. He didn’t care if Sakura would yell at him later on for asking it, but he just had to know, “Hinata?”

“Yes?”

He took a breath before asking, “How are you able to eat that many bowls without getting sick? It’s just not fair. Look at me, I ate two fewer bowls than you did and I feel like I’m dying.”

She looked at him blankly before she smiled serenely and responded, ”It’s a little easier when you’re eating for two.”

He turned on his side to meet her gaze and asked, “Y-you’re what?”

“I’m...I’m pregnant.”

It took him a second, but when he understood what she was telling him his stomach ache disappeared and the sleepiness subsided. He took her into his arms and couldn’t help but kiss her all over.

There was a rush of emotions that flooded him, utterly floored him. He lifted her pajama shirt and kissed her still flat stomach, placing a hand protectively over it.

“I can’t believe it,” He whispered as he felt tears gathering at the corner of his eyes.

“I have a feeling this baby is really going to like ramen, it’s all I’ve really been wanting to eat,” She said, brushing her husband's hair back as he laid his cheek on her abdomen.

He wanted to stay like this for as long as he could.

“You two eat all the ramen you want, okay, Hina? Just say the word and I’ll take you to Ichiraku any day of the week.”

Hinata laughed, “Okay, Naruto-Kun.”

“When did you find out?”

“This morning, I just...didn’t know how to tell you.”

He tightened his grasp around her and nodded, “I’m glad I asked.”

“What?”

Naruto smiled to himself and shook his head, “Nothing, Hina. Let’s go to sleep, you need your rest.”

Hinata let out a sigh, “Are you planning on falling asleep like this?” She asked, clearly referring to the fact that he was laying over her bottom half, embracing her stomach.

“Yes.”

“Naruto...” She pleaded.

“Nope, can’t move me. Not tonight, at least.”

Hinata sighed. “Oh, hi. I thought I heard you can’t go since you have a part-time job.”

“Exactly! This is my part-time job!” He announced with a full grin. She scanned his attire and noticed that he’s one of the hotel servers for their evening event. 

“Oh,” Hinata paused and continued, “I don’t think it’s alright for you to be talking to me during your job though.”

“I don’t think it’s alright for you to just be standing here all by yourself too.” Naruto insisted with a teasing tone.

She seemed to be taken aback by his persistence. Come to think of it, Naruto had always been like this—always so fearless, bold and dauntless, something she’s totally not. She would always stumble upon him getting into arguments with professors since he would always miss his classes. 

Sighing in defeat, she tucked few strands of her hair and asked, “Okay, what is it?”

“Hmmm...” Naruto tapped his chin with his index finger as if he was thinking. “Since it was you who saved my butt from Professor Tsunade how about I show you a good time tonight?”

“How’s that going to happen? You’re working.”

“But I owe you! Come on!” He insisted.

“You can just do it some other time, I guess.” She averted her gaze on the floor. What was this she’s feeling? Why was she being tempted to accept his foolish offer?

“Hinata,” Naruto called out her name. This time it was no longer playful. “Just this one night.”

Her eyes signaled that she’s actually about to agree, when he sensed her worry that he might get caught by his attire. 

Naruto smiled and secretly snatched a suit jacket that was slinging at a chair. Hinata was about to call out on him but he winked at her instead and she chose to let it slide this time. After all, this is just for tonight. Just this one night. 

He reached his hand out to her. She looked at it at first then decidedly took and then he brought her to the middle of the dance floor.

"Do you- uh,” Hinata hesitated to ask since she didn’t want him to take it as offense, so she stood in front of him just nibbling her lower lip. 

Naruto chuckled and inched close to her.

“Do you know how to dance?” He whispered against her ear, while he slid his hand until it reached the small of her back. 

She gulped wondering why her heart was beating wildly inside her chest and why was this feeling occurring to her. Michael Buble’s Feeling Good starting to play wasn’t helping either. 

With that, all Hinata could give him was a nod. And heck! Naruto felt triumphant.

His hand gripped on her waist firmly and it made her gasp. He never thought she’d be so adorable like this and she never expected him to be this manly as well. 

They both began moving to the tempo of the song. Their bodies having the same rhythm despite just having to dance for the very first time. It’s funny how she felt so light and fits so perfectly in his arms, while she felt so protected and held.

The beat of the song began to elevate and her back was now pressed against him, while his face was against her neck. 

“H-Hey...” Hinata murmured almost breathlessly and the way she sounded was an even sexier sound than the saxophone.

How can you manage to switch from cute to sexy in under a second? Naruto bit the inside of his cheek and grinned to himself. 

He rapidly turned her around, so they’re now away and she’s facing him. 

The song now reaching its climax, when he rushed through her direction. She was caught by surprise when he lifted her up and lightly spun her around. He placed her feet back to the ground, but surely her head won’t come back down any moment. The time her feet landed and before the song ended—with his hand strong and firm at the small of her back—he dipped her backwards while slowly grazing his lips against her neck. 

All eyes were on them yet their eyes were on each other. They were breathless while staring at one another. The song’s last lines echoing in them.

Truly, they both were feeling good.

And as if the song’s still playing in their ears, Naruto grabbed Hinata and they made a run from the scene. He was unbuttoning the suit jacket he unceremoniously borrowed from who-knows-who, and Hinata was practically throwing whatever rationality she had and was replacing it with giggles and her new found sense of freedom.  

It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new life.

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He manages a grin, not a grimace.  “Before you finish the job, would you do me the honor of your name?”

Gentle brows furrow ever closer, and for a second, that cold animosity is replaced by surprised confusion.

For one second.

And she’s twisting his arm even harder than before.  “Who’s your master?  Answer me.”

There’s no way he’ll betray Tsunade, even when he’s more than just a little sore about her not mentioning his target, the head of the rival Hyuuga faction, would be a gorgeous, young--

The sting of her sword pricks into his throat, and his eyes dart back up from the bindings around her chest.  It seems like even the very threat of decapitation doesn’t stop the ingrained habits of his teachers…

No, he didn’t underestimate her, right?

“Does it matter?  I’m dead as of now, anyway.  Either you’re slicing my head off--” He makes a schliiick sound for added drama, “--and my blood gets to spurt all over you, or I stab myself in the guts, rearrange my innards, and spill my stomach on your tatami.”  He visibly muses his options, somehow finding humor in his last minutes alive, and he takes it as a personal win when her nose scrunches up in distaste.

“You can’t do that, this is my bedroom,” she argues, as if he was unaware.

“Then I guess we’ll have to take this outside.”

She frowns deeper.  “Not in my garden!”

“Then where?”  And he can’t help a more genuine smile sneaking up on his lips even as new ideas to complete his mission float about his mind.

It’s all halfhearted plans, though.  He was doomed from the start.  Before any of them could have known.

He can’t kill someone like her.

It was that one second of hesitation that sealed his fate.  He could’ve murdered her.  It would’ve been too easy.  Too simple.

And therefore too wrong.

It’s not farfetched to think he was never cut out for this lifestyle.  He never really handled these kinds of missions well, and killing in cold blood was always difficult.  To separate his mind from his body.  To cut off his heart from his actions.  He could always manage.

On old men.  (Who were fathers).

On young men.  (Who were sons and brothers).

Intel said the Hyuuga head was a man.  Intel told him he’d find an old, cruel man in the main bedroom.

“When I say so, you’re going to get up and walk with me.  One wrong move and I’ll--schliiick--slice your legs off.”  She sounds way too collected for such a serious joke, and it’s...

Just not funny anymore.

Reality is starting to settle in.  The moon lighting up her delicate features instead casts the shadow of death across the room.

At least it seems she’ll grant him an honorable death.

In less than two seconds, she’s got him rolled over, hands locked in one of her arms, and she’s urging him to stand.  “Get up.”

He staggers to his feet, and he doesn’t fail to notice that she makes good on her promises.  His sword is now angled at his legs, ready to hack him off at the knees.

Internally, he’s readying himself for his death, trying to find some kind of empty, zen-like peace.

Outwardly, he’s majorly aware of the skin of her stomach at his forearms, her chest bandages pressing into his back.

What a way to go.  His one and only opportunity in life to feel a woman, and it’s on his death march.

“Walk,” she murmurs, and he’s suddenly way too aware of the fact that her voice is...soft.

Obediently, as he has no other real options anyway, he steps forward.

Blunt pain lances into his neck, the world shifts in a split-second realization, and all fades to nothing.

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