Chapter Twenty-Three

"Aw he usually waits for me." Hinata said to Kiba as she heard the announcer introduce her boyfriend. The pair walked toward the ring, and they got there right as the match officially started. Grabbing her friends hand, she looked over her shoulder, "Hurry up, Kiba." She said while dragging him over to the ring through the crowd of people.

He laughed a little, "It just started, Hinata." "You guys took forever." TenTen said while taking the popcorn from Hinata's hand, and while Kiba talked to her, Hinata watched the gruesome scene unfold. All of his fights usually involved blood, but tonight Naruto seemed to be a lot more tense than usual.

"He's gonna kill the guy." TenTen said while they watched Naruto practically plummet his opponent. It was only the first round, and Hinata knew that the longer the match went on the more money he got, but as he repetitively seemed to use all of his strength to make his opponent bleed, he obviously didn't care about the money.

"What's going on with him?" Ino asked her friend, and she shrugged her shoulders in confusion, while putting her hand over her mouth as she watched his opponent bleed profusely. "I don't know. I didn't get a chance to talk to him before the match. Maybe he's upset? Why haven't they pulled them apart yet?"

The crowds reaction to the violence contradicted Hinata's as they cheered him on. They had been back together for almost two weeks, and she knew how excited he was to fight his opponent tonight. She also knew how her father had a lot of money on the line, and that if Naruto didn't go more than one round, he could kiss half of it goodbye.

"My goodness." She said quietly once the bell finally rang, and he delivered a final blow to his opponent that made him fall to the ground unconscious. "Oh my God." Hinata repeated, while Sasuke looked over his shoulder at Sakura. He was just as confused as them, so he shrugged, before talking to his friend that was practically unblemished.

"What was that about, Naruto? You hardly made anything. Hiashi is gonna be pissed." His response was a slight shrug of his shoulders, while he grabbed his towel and walked toward his locker room, completely ignoring his girlfriend as she tried to talk to him. Their friends glanced at her, "What's his problem?" She shrugged her shoulders, "I guess I'll go find out."

With a smile on her face, she walked toward his room, and on the way she saw her father and his colleagues walking down the flight of stairs. Though she tried to discreetly walk past them, to avoid having a conversation with them, one man smiled and said, "Miss Hinata." She wanted to grimace, but she smiled brightly, "Hello, how are you all?"

She knew that they wouldn't behave inappropriately in the presence of her father, but it till didn't change the fact that she hated them, and their gazes alone made her uncomfortable. "Wish we could've made a little more money, but hey, I can't complain."

One man answered, making her nod, "I'm gonna go talk to Naruto, stay and chat for a moment, would you?" Hiashi said to his daughter, not giving her a chance to respond before he patted her shoulder, and went into the room a few feet away. "Yeah, did you guys get into a fight or something?" Another man joked as they all seemed to get closer to her in unison.

She giggled nervously while taking a step back, "I-I don't think so, I just think that he got into the zone, you know?" They nodded, "Well how long have you both been dating anyways? You seem a lot more...mature." Her beautiful eyes watched as his looked at her slightly exposed cleavage, with absolutely no remorse.

With her hands in her pockets, she pulled the big jacket closer around her body. "It's been about four months, and I wouldn't say I have matured too much really, I'm still seventeen so." "Just seventeen, huh?" She nodded with a tight lipped smile, having a hard time being polite to the men who creeped her out.

   "Well when do you turn eighteen? If you don't mind me asking. " She laughed a little, "Why? If you don't mind me asking." A smirk came to his face, "I just have a knack for recognizing young women with talent, and I think you'd be a great fit at one my clubs."

Her eyes widened, as she realized what he was talking about. "I don't think my father would be too fond of his colleague asking his teenage daughter to become a stripper. I have let your comments in the past slide, but frankly you all disgust me, and my father hardly has any actual use for any of you."

As she spoke, she watched as their demeanors changed, and though it used to make her nervous, now she didn't care. "If we can't coexist in the same space without you all objectifying my underaged body, then okay, but remember, you need my father, he doesn't need you."

With that, she smiled at them brightly, while her father emerged from her boyfriends room. "Have a goodnight, You all. I'll see you later tonight, Papa." Hiashi smiled at his daughter as she walked away, "Isn't she just an angel?"

"Hey, are you okay?" Hinata asked her boyfriend as she walked into his locker room, to see him stretching his limbs. "I saw you." Naruto answered while looking at her through the mirror he stared at. "In the crowd? Yeah, I wore your jacket. It's kind of hard to miss."

She said with a smile, before walking toward her boyfriend, and extending her arms, ready to give him a hug. Naruto stepped away from her, while shaking his head, "Hinata." She smiled, though she was obviously confused. "What?" He just sighed while shaking his head.

"You gave me that long speech about how much you hate lying, and you lied to me." "Tell me what you're talking about." She said, although she could've guessed what he was so upset about. Considering she didn't know exactly what he was talking about, she didn't want to give him too much information. "I saw you flirting with Kiba."

"Flirting? When?" She asked while titling her head cutely, "In the hallway. He was all over you, and all you did was laugh, Hinata." "So it's flirting when I do it, but when you do it, it's just you being, "A nice guy?" Whatever, Naruto." She deflected while rolling her eyes.

"No, it's flirting when you're holding someone in your arms the way he was. If I had done that, you would be just as upset." She just shook her head, "We're just friends, Naruto." "I see the way you two look at each other."Hinata bit her bottom lip, as she saw the look in his eyes. It obviously hurt him, and she realized that she was being very dismissive.

A sigh left her lips, "Okay, I see how much this has hurt you, and I'm sorry. Really all I can say is that we're just friends, because regardless of how he feels about me, I love you, Naruto." He nodded, "No, I know, it's just that when we broke up, you guys seemed to get really close, and I know you said that nothing happened, but I don't know I just have a feeling that there's more to it, you know? He obviously has feelings for you, Hinata, and it's like you don't even know it."

Hinata nodded, dreading the fact that she had to tell him the truth. If she didn't then she would be a bigger hypocrite than she already was, and he deserved better. "I have to tell you something, Naruto." As she stood in front of him, she avoided his loving gaze, out of fear that it would change once she told him the truth. "I wasn't honest with you before." As she played with her fingers, Naruto sighed deeply before leaning against the wall that was next to her. "Okay. Well it can't be too bad." He said, trying to brace himself for what she was about to say. "Kiba and I hooked up." She said, while still avoiding his gaze. "What do you mean?" "We like.....had sex."

Naruto's blue eyes widened, though he just nodded, "But it was after we broke up, and we agreed that it was better if we were just friends." She purposefully left out the part of Kiba professing his love for her, for the sake of their relationship, but she still wasn't sure how he would react. After a moment of silence, she finally looked up at him, as he stared at her. "Say something."

"What can I say? I can't be mad, we were broken up, and I'm not mad. I'm just really surprised." He said with a light chuckle while scratching his head, "I-it actually kinda hurts, you know? When I had a date with Sumi, I couldn't even kiss her without thinking of you."

She shook her head while saying, "No, it was the same for me. I couldn't stop thinking about you the entire time, and I felt so bad for Kiba-" He cut her off with a confused look on his face, "Why? He's the one that got to sleep with you."

"Because it shouldn't of happened. He actually liked me, and I just took advantage of that because I missed you." She said with tears in her eyes, as she started to feel horrible about it all. "I know I lied, but I just didn't know how you'd react. I didn't want to lose you, and I didn't want Kiba to lose you as a friend , or vice-versa because you guys are both so great. It was really just a dumb mistake. You know?"

"There's nothing to worry about, Hinata. We weren't dating, and I mean if I were in his position, I wouldn't turn you down either. Believe it or not, most guys don't have a problem with being used by a hot girl." What he said surprised her, "You're not mad?" He shrugged his shoulders, "It'll be hard not to punch him in his face the next time I see him, but no I'm not mad. I trust you, and regardless of what you two had, you're my girlfriend now."

Naruto said truthfully, making her pout her bottom lip before feeling the huge weight lifted off of her shoulders. "I love you so much." He smiled a little while shaking his head, "I love you too. We both need to promise to each other, that we won't lie anymore, okay?" He said, making her nod while looking into his eyes, "Okay."

Extending his arms out toward her, he smiled at her, "Now give me a hug." A cute laugh left her lips as she nodded, and hugged him tightly. "I'm going to kill that guy." He mumbled making her laugh, "Don't say that."

"I could." He said before asking, "Who'd win in a fight?" A blush came to her face, and she shook her head while pulling away from him slightly, "Green isn't your color." "I'm just curious. I know you're thinking that I'd win, just say it." He said while his hands sat on her hips, and her's were on his shoulders. "Do you really want me to say it?" She asked, and he nodded with a bright smile on his lips. "Yes, be honest."

Feigning a pensive look, Hinata caressed his handsome face with her thumb and said, "Kiba." The look on his face made her laugh wholeheartedly, "I wish you could see the look on your face right now." She said, making him pout his bottom lip cutely, "Take it back, my ego can't handle this." Her laughing only increased, and though he would've laughed too, he wasn't sure if she was actually joking or not.

"I swear I'll go fight him right no-" "I'm just kidding, Babe. You'd totally win." His eyes playfully narrowed, "That's so not funny." Shrugging with a smile on her face she said, "I'd beg to differ." - Knocking on Hiashi's door, Naruto waited for him to call out to him before walking in. "Hey, you said you had a lead for me?" He asked the man while sitting down in the leather seat in front of his desk. "I do, right in this envelop." Hiashi said, while giving the yellow colored envelope to Naruto.

"Thank you so much." Naruto said with a smile, before opening the envelop with anticipation. Like he expected, Naruto paused for a moment and his face held a confused expression. "I don't understand. Why would he hide something so important from us?" Naruto asked Hiashi, while looking at the pictures in his hands.

They showed images of one of Danzo's bodyguards giving Itachi a duffle bag, as he sat a table right behind them, just two nights ago. Naruto didn't recognize the place, or anyone around them, and it confused him even more.

"Based on everything the PI was able to investigate, Danzo has been paying Itachi off for the last few years, but this was the first time they met in person." Naruto nodded, though he was still confused. "I just can't believe it. He's been lying for years." Hiashi watched the boy shake his head before standing up.

"Don't be stupid enough to confront him alone. That's a death wish, Naruto." He said to him, knowing that's what he would plan on doing just by the look in his eyes. "Why not? He has to explain himself."

Naruto said while clearly getting angry. "Like I told you before, Danzo is not the man you think he is. I know he's practically raised you both, but don't think that'll make him think twice about killing either one of you. This family needs you alive, Son."

"Then what do I do? I have to tell Sasuke." Naruto said with an exasperated sigh leaving his lips as he sat back down in the leather seat, "Then make that call, but don't act rash. I know you're upset and confused, and I know that Sasuke will be too, but you both have to really think about your next move, rather than just making one."

The young man nodded in understanding, though he was still annoyed. "Thank you so much, Mr. Hyuga." "Of course. Call me if you need anything." Naruto nodded, and left the man's home office.

"Hey, Princess? I'm heading home." He said to Hinata while walking into her room, as she changed into her pajamas. A blush came to his face, as he got a glimpse of her nude body, before his long shirt covered her up. She giggled cutely, and walked toward him. "Like the shirt?" He nodded, trying not to focus on her hardened nipples that pressed against the cotton material.

"You make it look better than I ever could." Her hands caressed his face as she stood in front of him, "I'm glad you feel that way, because I have a lot of them. I'm kind of starting a collection." A laugh left his lips, "Oh I know, but it's not a problem, because you tend to love the old t-shirts." Hinata smiled,"They're just so cozy." She said while hugging him, his arms wrapped around her waist, and he sighed deeply while smelling her hair.

As he held her, Hinata could feel his erratic heartbeat. "Are you nervous about something?" With her caring eyes gazing into his, he just sighed again before leaning down to kiss her lips. "I love you, Princess." He said bringing a smile to her lips, "And I love you, Naruto."

Placing her hands on either side of his face, she said, "I can tell that you're not okay. What's wrong?" When she asked that, Naruto initially didn't want to say anything, but as he looked into her eyes, the truth started spilling out.

By the time he was finished, Hinata didn't seem fazed at all, but Naruto could tell that she was listening by the way she nodded. "Okay. Do you want my advice?" "Please?" He asked in an exasperated tone. "Well I think you're making the right choice in telling him. I also agree with my father though, you guys have to think it all through, you know?" Hinata said to him, and Naruto nodded. "What are you guys even going to do? If you guys confront him, that'll be dangerous."

  "Yeah, that's what Hiashi said, but he can't get away with this. He's been lying to us for so long, you don't understand how much time and money we've wasted trying to find him. I-I just can't believe it. He literally raised us."

Her hand caressed his cheek while she shook her head, "I'm sorry, Naruto. I can't imagine what you're going through. Just promise me you won't do anything regrettable, okay?"

"There's nothing I can do, Hinata. W-we can't just leave, because that's not how it works, you don't just leave a gang." She nodded though she was confused, "Okay, so what can we do?" His hand ran through his hair, "It's not we, Hinata. I can't do anything. I joined a gang, I got the tattoo, I got my hands dirty, I did all of it. The only way I can leave is if I die, a-and that's just not an option, I haven't even gotten the chance to marry you yet."

Her eyes widened at the mention of death, "What? N-no we can help you, let's talk to my dad? Let's try and think of ways we can fix this, okay? Everything will be okay." She said trying to calm Naruto down, though her anxiety was trying to eat her alive as well.

"I just can't believe it. I can't imagine what Sasuke's gonna say. What he'll do." He was spiraling by the second, and as Hinata watched him, she wasn't sure what to do. As he continued to express his fears to her, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"My love, let's take this one step at a time." She spoke to him calmly, while he paused for a moment. "Let's take some breaths okay? On one and two we breath in, then for three and four we breathe out. Now let's try it."

As she spoke to him, he seemed to calm down, and when she pulled away slightly, his hands held her's while they breathed in sync with one another. After a few times, Hinata smiled, "Okay. That was good. Now let's sit down, and just have a conversation about what's happening right now, okay?"

Once he nodded, she continued to smile at him lovingly, while they sat down on her bed, facing each other. "We're taking this one day at a time. So all you have to do right now is tell Sasuke, and I know the thought makes you anxious right now, but it will get better once you tell him."

Naruto shook his head, "No it won't." He started while his face started to turn red like it had before. "Before Itachi was the enemy, and that made sense considering everything, but now I know that Danzo has been lying. What else could he have been lying about? I've heard things over the years, and I always brushed it off because I genuinely thought that he was a good man, but now I don't know what to believe."

As he spoke his feelings to her, it broke her heart to hear him sound so defeated. "All you can believe is the proof that's right in front of you. You have the photos, and they show him paying off Itachi. You don't know what he's doing it for, so you shouldn't make assumptions, because it'll keep you up at night."

He nodded in agreement while saying, "You're right. I shouldn't overthink anything." "All I know is that he's paying him off, and has been for a while now. That's all I know, and nothing else." Naruto spoke to himself, almost trying to talk himself into being rational.

She looked into his eyes and smiled, while tilting her head to the right. "Exactly." Her smile brought one to his face, and he leaned forward to kiss her lips softly. "Thank you." She nodded, "You don't have to thank me. Are you going to tell him tonight?" "Yeah, so it won't keep me up all night." "Okay, well could you stay with me until I fall asleep?" When she asked him that, a blush was apparent to her cheeks. "Of course, Princess."

She smiled before getting up from her bed, "Okay, I'm excited I got a heated blanket." Naruto laughed at how excited she was as she went to the ottoman that sat at the end of her bed. "It's so cool, I can control it from this remote." Laying it across her bed as Naruto laid underneath her already soft blankets, she smiled while clasping her hands together. "Does it feel any different?"

Since he didn't want to see her excitement fade, he nodded while snuggling under her blankets. "It's very toasty, Princess." Clapping she pulled the covers back while saying, "Yay! Okay, I'm coming in."His warm embrace immediately held her, and she smiled while snuggling into him. "This is wonderful." She said with a yawn leaving her lips, "Do you actually dream about marrying me?" A blush instantly came to his face when she asked that.

"O-oh I guess I did say that, huh? Yes I do." A smile came to her face, and she turned around in his grasp to face him. "Why?" With her beautiful eyes gazing into his, he smiled while being truthful.

"I've known you were the one since our first date, and I knew I loved you when I saw you smiling in the hallway one day, and realized that I couldn't live a day without seeing it. Even when we're upset and mad with each other, I still want you to be okay, and healthy even if I'm not. I remember the days we went without speaking to each other, and I remember how empty I felt; I won't do that again. You are the love of my life."

Their loving gazes and his sweet words gave her goosebumps, and she smiled with a blush to her face. "I'm gonna say something crazy." She nodded with a smile, making him continue. "Let's do it." "Get married?" She clarified with her eyebrows raised in surprise. He nodded with a smile, "Hear me out, you'll be eighteen in like a month, and we can do it."

"My dad will kill us." He shrugged his shoulders, "We both know what we want, and it's not like it'll be that different, you know? We are already with each other every day."Hinata was still surprised, "Let's take a little while to think about it, okay? I want to marry you, and I will, but if we're not both on the same page then it'll fall apart. So let's take sometime, and come back to this conversation." Naruto nodded in agreement, though he was set on the idea of marrying his girlfriend in a month.