Into the Woods

The landscape changed before them as they made their way to the rendezvous point. It started as a misty haze hanging between the trees, until soon there was more fog then trees. As they finally left the tree line and gazed down the slope to the calm shoreline, the pair paused to put on their protective gear. Because this illness was typically so rare, it wasn’t completely known how it was initially contracted. Of course close contact with those infected always did the trick, but so many in this village were affected so suddenly it was believed that possibly someone somewhere had orchestrated the outbreak, possibly tainting the food or water supply. As such, the duo were instructed that once they leave the forest they must use extreme caution at all times. They couldn’t replenish supplies or gather water, and they were to make no contact with anyone other then the exchange team. The only thing they were allowed to accept was the payment

Get in, Drop off, Get out.

After following the shoreline for another two hours, the shape of the large bridge finally started to appear. “ALRIGHT! YEAH! WE’RE HERE!” Naruto cried out, bouncing around exuberantly. As he did his victory dance, Hinata froze in terror.

“Na...Naruto-kun...wait...please....the vials!!!” He fell over face first at this, having completely forgotten about the fragile contents of his bag. “If you break those, we’ll have ruined the whole mission...it...it’ll be a total failure,” she said softly, almost afraid to check the pack. She crept over slowly, unzipping the bag while Naruto prayed he hadn’t blown the whole thing. The cases looked intact, and none of them appeared to be leaking. “It looks ok...we’ll just have to wait till they inspect them to see.”

He let out a sigh of relief. “Then lets get over there and get rid of this stuff already.”

To their surprise, there was no one waiting for them at the bridge. Posters declaring “Quarantined” and “Do not enter” in blood red ink were posted all over it.

“Oi, I wonder where they are?” Naruto pondered aloud, trying to peer through the heavy fog. Hinata engaged her Byakagun and scanned their surroundings.

“There’s a team of 5 at the other end of the bridge, they’ve barricaded the entrance to the village....it must be worse then we thought.” He looked puzzled.

“But we were ordered not to cross the bridge for any reason.....and I doubt they can see us in this mist...how are we supposed to make the exchange?” he asked. She released her jutsu and looked around the bridge.

“There’s a flare gun by that post. Maybe they want us to signal with that?”

“It’s worth a shot,” he said with a grin. She groaned at the pun as he picked it up and fired a bright blue flare into the sky. Within seconds the 5 shinobi had crossed the bridge. They wore medical uniforms and also donned masks and gloves.

“Are you the team with the medicine?” asked the tallest one, a kunai in his hand. “If not I will have to ask that you leave, or force you if you refuse.” His eyes almost pleaded with them above the mask, hoping he wouldn’t have to get rough.

“Hai, it’s us. We’ve come from the Hokage with the medicine you need.” Naruto replied, slipping the heavy bundle off his back for the last time. He set it carefully on the ground and stepped back a ways. The tall medic stepped forward, opening the bag and drawing out the cases, setting them in a line in front of him. He then opened each one, running his hand over every vial tucked inside and checking the instructions attached to the lids. After he was sure they were intact, he started handing them to the others behind him, instructing them on what part of town to take them and to start dispensing it immediately. As he rose, he kept the last two cases with him and sighed to our heros.

“We’ve lost 27 people to this disease...our hospital is overflowing...and the streets are full of women wailing over children they fear will never get to grow up. We will probably lose more before this is over,” he looked back at them, a glimmer of hope in his eyes “but now that you’ve come we have a chance. I hope someday we can truly repay you for saving this village.” He tossed a heavy purse to naruto, who was surprised at how full it was. The shinobi then bowed deeply in gratitude before taking off to help his people.

They looked at each other somberly for a moment, thinking about what he had said. Hinata then slowly reached over, taking the purse and counting the money inside.

“This can’t be right...” she said, looking at him confused. “This is more then twice what Tsunade-sama asked for....we...we can’t accept this.” Naruto was staring at the bridge again, thinking of the old bridge builder, Inari, and the people he met, how before they learned to stand up for themselves they lived in fear and poverty. He had to trick them into taking a dangerous mission because they couldn’t afford to pay for real protection. Then he and his team had arrived and gave them hope again. His first mission, only a few years back. How this place had changed. He said a silent prayer for these people.

“Maybe,” he said...his voice wavering for a moment, “maybe they felt they needed to repay an old debt.” He took her hand and smiled at her with his eyes. “Come on, lets go home.”

~*~


For the most part the trip home was pleasant. Naruto told long, exaggerated stories about the missions he’s been on, while Hinata happily listened. He’d question her about things she’s done, techniques she was working on, or what she wanted to do with her life. But she was never quiet so good at sharing. So she kept finding ways to get the subject back on him and being content to let him ramble on. She was just glad he was acting more like the loud and hyper Naruto, instead of worrying about what had happened that night. In the dark he would hold her protectively, keeping her warm and safe till the dawn. They would stop to play every now and again, the need to touch and taste each other getting the best of them. But he didn’t take her again that trip, and she didn’t push the issue. He said he wanted to make sure she was better, that next time he would do it right. She’d started to protest but he’d quiet her with his lips, making her forget what she was going to say.

On last day he was quiet again, and she could tell something was bothering him. Finally, with only an hour or two left before they reached the village walls he stopped. Naruto stood there with his head down, his right hand clenched in a fist. She called to him quietly, but he wouldn’t answer.

“Naruto-kun? Pl..please...you’re scaring me.” she said softly...placing a hand on his cheek and trying to get him to look at her. As he lifted his head to look at her, she was startled to see his eyes red and bloodshot, tears sliding down his chin.

“I’m sorry,” he whimpered back, angrily wiping at his face. He collapsed to his knees, burying his face against her soft belly and crying, his arms wrapped tightly around her. She hugged his head, confused, her own tears welling up even though she didn’t know what was wrong.

“N...Naruto....please...tell me what’s wrong...please.” Again she grabbed his chin, trying to get him to look at her. It was terrifying to watch him fall apart like this....he who had always been so strong and confident..the one she’d admired for so long. “Please!” she cried, her voice desperate and shaking, “Please stop...you..you’re scaring me Naruto!”

“I’m sorry,” he said again, squeezing her. “I just wish I could be the man you deserve.”

This jolted her, and she looked down at him in disbelief. “Wh...what are you talking about? What’s going on?” He was wiping his face again, so she took the moment to kneel down in front him, grabbing his head in her hands and making him look at her. “I don’t understand,” she cried, tears running down her own cheeks. “Naruto....please what is wrong” He touched his forehead to hers, taking her wrist in his right hand and placing his left arm around her waist.

“You’re family,” he sighed, and the realization hit her like a ton of bricks before he even finished his sentence. “You’re family would never except me, cause I’m just a loud, obnoxious fuck-up who gets lucky every once in a while.”

He moved his hand gingerly to her neck, to the mark he had made to claim her. It was still dark and purple, the teeth marks making a dotted border around the bruise. ‘Why did you do that?’ he asked himself angrily. ‘Why did you have to make sure it would last for all to see, in a spot that wasn’t easy to cover? Her father will be furious with her, and I’m was pretty sure the men of both the main and the lower house will hunt you down for ruining her.’

Hinata swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She knew he was probably right. She hadn’t even thought of any of this. Her mind raced as she tried to think, tried to breath. And then it just slipped out of her mouth. When she opened her eyes he was looking at her, startled at what he’d heard.

“What did you say?” he asked, incredulous that he could think she would say such a think. She blinked for a moment before looking him in the eye and saying it again.

“I don’t care”

“Hina...” he started to reply when she interrupted, the words just bursting out of her

“I don’t care anymore, Naruto. I’ve spent my whole life trying to live up to their expectations....failing miserably,” she said, looking away in shame. “I’ve finally done something for myself, to make me happy. I love you dammit....and....and if they have a problem with it well...” her nerve starting to run out on her, “well...then I’ll run away and leave them behind.” She brushed her own tears away angrily. “It’s not like they ever really cared about me anyways.”

He was shocked. He knew that things in her family weren’t perfect. Neji had hated her so much that he tried to kill her during the chuunin exams. But things were better now, right? And her father....her father may be strict, but surely he loved her. They must love her....right?

They clung to each other, each sniffling and trying to stop. His head still swimming from her declaration. Finally he whispered, “Is this really what you want?”

She nodded slowly into his chest. “For a long time...yes.”

“Alright then.” he said with a small smile.

She looked up at him questioningly. He kissed her tenderly. “This is our secret then. We’ll only tell our closest friends, and swear them to keep it quiet as well. At least...” he looked down into those soft opaline orbs again, “at least until I’m good enough to stand up to your father.”

She blushed at him, the claret rising in her cheeks fast. “Our secret,” she agreed as he pulled her soft lips to his, sealing their pact with a kiss. They lingered for a moment, fighting the urge to sneak into the bushes to consummate the agreement with something more before reluctantly separating themselves. He picked her up off the ground, and taking her hand, headed for home.