A Lover's Revenge

Naruto awoke to a delicious sensation swelling in his loins, and an extremely arousing scent filling his nose, heating his blood. When he blinked his eyes open, they further widened with shock.

Hinata cast him a glance over her shoulder, her hand still clasping his morning erection, her face smooth and flushed.

"Hi-Hinata... what're you—"

"Na-Naruto-kun," she exclaimed, turning her torso to push him down onto the bed when he attempt to sit up, her eyes gleaming with intent. "D-Don't move — I will take care of this." She blushed at her words, but the princess had more than enough arousal bottled up inside to preserve her composure.

Naruto was more than willing to cooperate, and he relaxed his muscles, allowing himself to feel. His iron rod quaked in Hinata's delicate hand, and she veered her head around to look at it, readily prepared to answer to its silent demands. Her centre pulsated as she admired the warm pole gloating between her fingers. She couldn't believe it was really hers, or that she was actually doing this.

Naruto noted that her highness' nipples were hard and protruding through her silky, thigh-length chemise as she sat on top of him. She wasn't wearing a bra. Was she wearing one last night? He couldn't quite remember. But one thing was certain: it was unusual seeing Hinata Hyuga dressed in such skimpy and seductive clothing.

By way of introduction, she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his hard tip. Naruto's toes curled at her sexy and sincere formality. But he wanted more. It would take far more than a delicate kiss to quiet the tremors that rocked the steel in her hand.

Slowly, carefully, the nervous princess bent him this way and that, studying her hard, magnificent treasure, even as she rolled her hips, her wet underwear sliding up and down his bare chest. She had succeeded in unbuttoning his shirt, after all.

The musky, intoxicating perfume of Hinata's nectar pierced every cell and tissue of Naruto's body, ushering his desire to frustrating heights. Was this vengeance for the many times he touched and teased her body? But suddenly, the wait was over.

The princess turned around and knelt between his legs, glancing to his curious eyes before quickly reaching for what she craved. Like a warm, silky sheet, her tongue glided up the lean, rigid length of his shaft. The fantastic sensation nudged him further awake, and he watched her in awe, even as a moan forced through his lips.

Her tongue was flat upon her second ascent, tracing the vividly portrayed veins that lined his powerful muscle, coating them, worshiping them. She closed her mouth around his hard crown, nestling her wet tongue beneath him, and he gritted his teeth, his eyes sharp. Then her highness started sucking, her mouth hot and amazing. Naruto swore beneath his breath and reclined his head as she stimulated his crest with swift movements, driving him out onto a narrow, gusty ridge.

The warrior was charged and swollen. He could but see the electricity flickering over his boy. But he felt his blood seething in his veins by the fires that raged in his belly. And he knew his glorious moment was close. Slowly, he was losing control, needing desperately to finish inside of her.

Just when the amorous prince thought the fierce waves of pleasure couldn't grow any taller, Hinata started pumping him. She pumped with passion and purpose, knocking him from the ledge without mercy.

Naruto groaned and clasped a fistful of her hair, holding her still as his body erupted into chaotic quakes and his rich essence spewed into her mouth. Hinata closed her eyes and made an adorable whimper in her throat as she happily accepted every last precious drop of him. She could feel the warmth his satisfaction brought to her mouth.

As the tremors dwindled — which also echoed between her legs — Naruto watched in delight as his princess swallowed his sacred elixir. Her eyes were bright with triumph and his with appreciation and adore. This bond was breakable…

"Now Naruto-kun and I are even," Hinata smiled innocently, her cheeks flushed. The chibi of her subconscious was jumping up and down in a bed with pom-poms, celebrating.

Naruto climbed back up the jagged mountain face, back from the raging seas of ecstasy in which he was thrown. He wandered back to civility, grinning from ear to ear. He was madly in love with this girl — with this gleaming angel that was the embodiment of perfection and irresistibility — it was evident upon his face. Hinata gazed at him, his loving emotions pouring into her, like a river into the open sea.

"Oh. So that's how you wanna play, huh," Naruto said, his grin never fading.

Hinata's lips puckered up into another innocent smile. The chibi was still cheering, but her inner-goddess sat motionless in a couch adjacent to the protesting bed, cutting ten. Her hands folded across her chest. She was far from satisfied with the measly level of pleasure she had.

"Extracting vengeance while I sleep," Naruto added.

"It's because Naruto-kun was unfair," Hinata pointed out sweetly in her defense, but then she gasped as she felt something throbbing to life within her fingers. "A-Amazing... Na-Naruto-kun still needs treatment."

He chuckled a low, throaty laugh. "Is it my turn now?"

"No," she returned heartily, her face hot. Her eyes were troubled, like a toddler fearing to be deprived of her most favorite toy. "I know what to do. I'll take care of Naruto-kun." She was determined to please him — to please him independently, to prove her worth in their sexual adventures.

Naruto was astounded, but he allowed his effusive princess to slake his urges with her feminine charms, quelling hers in turn. He wanted her to. Any longer and he would be forced to lift a hand — pinning her down to the bed in his place and taking what he yearned.

"Show me what you can do," he encouraged with a tinge of challenge, his voice soothing.

"U... Hn," Hinata nodded her head cutely, averting her gaze from his, back to her rigid treasure.

As she stared at it, a mist of enchantment dawned over her eyes at its unusual and erotic beauty. Her arousal grew, shaking apart the foundations of her rationality. And she towered over him with newly found confidence, finding the grace to slowly pull down her wet underwear.

Naruto watched as she descends over him with purpose, focused as she held him still and slowly slide down with fever in her eyes. He groaned deeply as plump lips parted and welcomed him inside plush, wet paradise. And Hinata folded her tiny fingers into fists and trembled as broad steel delved ever farther.

"So tight…"

She gasped and bit down on her lip with a moan as Naruto's hot length filled her tight enclosure. She reclined her head and let out a cute mewl as he ascended past the threshold of her sweet spot, and then they were completely interlocked.

The princess remained motionless for a while, reveling in the sensation and the magic of this moment she had long yearned for. Then she started to move about him with slow, fluid motions, coating him with her feminine nectar. "I can feel Naruto-kun deep inside,"she muttered breathlessly. "It feels so good..."

Naruto watched in awe as the gorgeous angel rose and fell over him. Through her transparent, purple chemise, her breasts rose and fell, too. He wanted to crush them, to sample the taste of her nipples, but she pressed her forearms over his luscious prey as desire continued to coil her around its finger.

Next, his ardent gaze shifted to her centre. He watched with excitement and fascination as his hard length and width eased in and out of her in a manner that couldn't be translated into words.

Hinata's heart was pounding out of control. She could feel that pull, that delicious electricity between them charging, filling the space between them with static. Naruto's lips arched with a trace of a smile, and her eyes drew to his beautifully sculptured mouth.

As an orgasm struck her body — replacing strength with pleasure — and she leaned in to capture his lips, bending her legs on the bed astride him as she did. Naruto cupped her buttocks and began maneuvering her hips — pushing her up and down his swollen vessel as she caved in around him.

Hinata moaned in his mouth at the growing friction, and he took the opportunity to plunge his tongue into her mouth — a fiery flame that laid claim to hers. Her toes curled, her nipples went taut, and her centre continued to tighten around him. Everything felt so good, too good.

The princess felt like she was constantly dreaming; surely, all this couldn't be real. But she kept moving above him, relishing all that she could. Now her inner-goddess had joined Chibi-S on the bed. They cheered together as pleasure coursed like lightening, hot and fast, through their princess's veins.

The gratification, like rain, was becoming heavier with each mighty thrust of his iron blade. Small streams of her desire converged to become raging torrents once more. Hinata's heart seemed to slow, and then dove into an erratic pulse. The air was charged with ecstasy and passion, and her body bowed in submission to the avalanche that buried her in an overwhelming orgasm. Hinata sat upright with a jolt and scream, squeezing her breasts tightly as Naruto's release added to the intensity of her own.

They both shook violently as he poured himself into her with a deep groan, and Hinata went into a convulsing frenzy around him — devouring all that he had to give. As his powerful throbbing minimized, the princess fell onto his chest and he clung to her, holding her close as her climax continued to rage.

There were no words that Hinata or Naruto could conceive or articulate into words to express what they were feeling right now. So they held their posture and cuddled as their breathing slowed, sharing in this magnificent and magical moment — the aftermath following the physical embodiment of love.

---

Hinata awoke to the gentle stroking of her hair. It was soothing, but she was disoriented, hungry, and sore. Her cheeks brightened when she realized she was still lying on top of Naruto, half-naked. Had he been awake all this time, watching her sleep?

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he said softly. He hadn't a chance to greet her properly earlier this morning, due to the unexpected extracting of sweet vengeance.

"Na-Naruto-kun," she said with mild alarm, having propped herself up on her forearms to look at him. "I'm... I'm sorry, how long have I been sleeping for?"

"Don't apologize," he returned coolly, cupping the side of her face and brushing his thumb across scarlet cheek. "You've been sleeping for about two hours."

"Two hours!"

"Yeah, and I enjoyed every second of it. You're even more beautiful while you sleep," he said with a smile. "So, does my princess feel fully rested now?"

Hinata nodded once in her sober state, wide-eyed, her heart bouncing off her ribs, blood thundering around her body. The girl's head was swimming with his words, and the capacity to speak deserted her.

"Great! I took the liberty of running a bath for you. Why don't you take a soak and relax while I fetch breakfast."

Hinata nodded again. The power of speech remained elusive.

"Mmm," Naruto scrutinized her face, dissecting the prim glow that quivered in her eyes. "Shall I close my eyes while you make your way to the bathroom?"

Hinata felt shock spread across her face at his unnerving perception, and she averted her eyes in embarrassment. It was a telling gesture, and Naruto decided to go along with his suggestion. The princess took him up on the considerate offer and rushed off to the bathroom, gathering all her necessities along the way.

Naruto grinned in amusement when the girl was gone. He was happy that — despite the level of intimacy they could now share together — overall, Hinata was still as innately shy and modest as ever.

Ignoring his erection, which was a part of the reason why Hinata couldn't find her tongue, Naruto uncharacteristically made the bed and joined his flower in the bathroom. She hid in the bubbles of the open bath as he sauntered into the humid room, wrapped in a bath towel.

"How's the water," he asked as he held the door of the shower stall, another erection looming beneath his towel.

"Umm... It feels good." But not as good as when you hold me...

"Awesome!" He grinned. "Don't mind me. Continue relaxing."

Easier said than done, Hinata thought as her charming prince shuffled into the slightly transparent screen. It wasn't transparent enough.

All things considered, she knew it was ideal to be relaxing in this warm bath. But was Naruto actually just making sure that they didn't make love in the stall again, by taking the initiative to run her a bath? Although she was aching all over, Hinata wanted to be pleased by him again. But this was for the best; she couldn't keep up with Naruto, what with his superb recovering capabilities as a Jinchuuriki.

She listened wistfully to the flowing water in the stall as he proceeded with his shower... alone. She imagined him maneuvering the soapy washcloth over his hard, sexy body, especially along regions down south. Hinata wondered how he went about cleaning her flexible treasure — she was curious.

Surely all this tension wasn't good for her heart. It was driving her insane. She and Naruto were like a pair of magnets — the princess was constantly attracted to him, never wanting to be apart. She wondered if he needed her as much as she does right now.

Naruto was in agony. He was so hard that it was now painful. Every now and then — while scrubbing his skin — he would push down at his erection for a fleeing measure of pleasure. And each time he did, it wouldn't suffice. His rigid shaft would only bounce back up like a spring in retaliation and demand more.

The frustrated warrior wanted to march out of the stall, over to the open bath, grab Hinata, and pin her against the wall. He would have his dirty way with her while she watched their reflection in the bathroom mirrors. But he couldn't... he wouldn't. He would never have her against her will, or even while she was exhausted as she was.

Hinata could feel the static growing in the bathroom, and her nipples hardened to ruddy peaks in response. She wondered if it were just her imagination, or was it that their sexual energies were clashing again.

The princess wished that her golden knight would come forth and have her, despite the numbness. She needed him, needed him so badly.

She felt a pull in her tummy at the memory of his erection throbbing on her behind when she woke up on top of him. He was in that condition because he wanted to make love to her again, right then and there, and now she wanted him to, every fiber of her wanted him to.

Just then, Naruto made his way out of the steamy stall, coiled in his bath towel again. His hair was damp and spiky, his body glistening with rippling droplets. Hinata wanted to get all of those beads of water with her tongue. Even when he was completely dry, she would still serve and worship his body with her tongue.

"How are you doing? You okay," Naruto asked as he ambled over to the sink and picked up the toothpaste and his toothbrush in preparations for war.

"I… I'm okay." She lied.

"Cool. Take as long as you'd like. I'll have breakfast up by the time you get out. Relax," he muttered as he heaved the toothbrush back and forth into his mouth.

"I will. Thanks."

Hinata watched as Naruto did quick work in his personal war against the elements, and all too soon, he was gone.

---

The princess walked in the living room door — ridiculously eager — and there he was, her personal miracle, standing by the table. Her eyes traced over his russet features: the hard oval of his jaw, the softer curve of his tempting lips — twisting up into a friendly smile now, the straight line of his nose, the subtle angle of his cheekbones, the gleam of his forehead protector, his honey-like hair.

She saved his eyes for last, knowing with great certainty that once she looked into them, she was likely to lose her chain of thought. His turquoise eyes were wide and warm, framed by a thick fringe of black lashes. Staring into his eyes always made her feel embarrassed but extraordinary. She was getting a little lightheaded, probably because she had forgotten to keep breathing. Again.

"Good morning, and welcome to the breakfast table,"Naruto said playfully, walking over to his shy princess to guide her to her cushion.

She stood politely with a soft blush in her cheeks, dressed in a gorgeous sky blue dress under a grey cardigan. Her skin seemed to glow, as though she emanated a fluorescent light. And she smelt of strawberries from her long soak. Her ravishing beauty and gentle nature was like a refreshing breeze blowing gently across the lush meadow of a rolling plain.

"T-Thank you," she said softly as he released her hand and sat her down before their wonderful meal. Butterflies fluttered in her tummy, her body hot where his hands touched.

The food didn't seem as though it was prepared solely for display this time. Naruto must have expressed his disapproval to the head chef. Hinata hoped he wasn't rude in his request.

"You look lovely," he bent to whisper in her ear before making his way around to his comfortable cushion.

Hinata gasped and widened her eyes when his cool breath kissed her ear lobe, duplicating the butterflies that dominated her tummy. She watched him as he rounded the knee-length table with glee. He was presented in a white t-shirt with the word "power" printed in bold at the front. And on his legs he wore a white track pants with a black streak at either sides.

It was the first time that she'd ever seen him dressed in full white or a sweat pants. Hinata liked it. Now if only he would allow her to take everything off… slowly. "I think Naruto-kun looks nice, too," she replied when she had gotten her wind back. But she couldn't hold his gaze.

Naruto grinned, his eyes set on her creamy cleavage. And as he wondered about the taste of her nipples, he found his growing excitement slowly deteriorating his appetite for real food. "Let's dig in, shall we!"

"U... Hn!"

After saying their grace — Hinata always giggled at Naruto's comical way of saying it — they pulled apart their chopsticks and began accumulating their morning supply of nutrients.

The food was tasty.

Naruto continued coaxing Hinata from her shell until they began reminiscing about all the missions they had together in the past. The food tasted even better over stories about their past endeavors. She blushed fiercely when he told her of the angel he saw — dancing naked atop the water under the glow of the full moon — when they were all searching for that rare insect with which to track down Sasuke.

"We've really been through a lot over the years, huh," he said as they gorged on the fruits following the filling main course.

"Yes. I'm truly happy that everyone has come so far together. I hope that we'll all be here to watch Naruto-kun become Hokage."

"Hinata..." Naruto felt a blush creeping into his cheeks, and he grinned widely while scratching at the vibrant color. "So long's you're with me, at my side, I'll definitely become Hokage."

"Naruto-kun..." Her eyes widened, gleaming with unshed tears.

Reverie had whispered her own personal achievements to her ears, too. After many years of watching and admiring him from afar, she could now sit at this table and call him her own. They had cuddled and slept together in the same bed.

But the most wonderful of all is that they had shared in love's most intimate ceremony of sensuality. They had left a permanent mark on each other — a power that would never fade, even with the passing of time. With this great bond, there was no longer a mountain that they couldn't climb.

Naruto smiled his lopsided smile, and his long fingers reached down to collect an olive. He popped it into his mouth, and Hinata's eyes lingered on his mouth — that sexy mouth that's been on her… all parts of her, engulfing her in flames. She flushed.

"I think it's adorable when you blush like that," he blurted out, staring as the princess gasped and the color in her cheeks deepened. She tried to hide from his worshiping eyes, an arched forefinger resting cutely upon her bottom lip. "You really shouldn't have your finger on your lip like that — it's... distracting," he prompted vaguely, his eyes smoldering.

M-My finger is distracting him? How?

He noted her curiosity. "It makes me want to wipe this table clean, throw you down on it, and then get between your legs..."

Hinata's jaw hung open, and she found herself getting lost in his compelling eyes. She could see his desire. It murmured to her, conveying all the possibilities available with just his mouth and fingers. She could feel anticipation performing somersaults in her belly, and her centre clenched deliciously. The chibi of her subconscious stood dumbfounded, too, but her inner-goddess elbowed her out of the way and suggested that the princess tell him to do it.

"But I'd rather have our food properly digested first," he grinned with promise, amused as Hinata cautiously lowered her hand from her mouth. "Since we have the festival to look forward to tomorrow, I was thinking that we should hit the beach today. Whaddya think?"

Hinata gazed unseeingly into Naruto's chest for a brief moment. After reflecting on the hot sex they had in the hot spring last night, she nodded her head enthusiastically at his promising suggestion. Now anticipation was doing cartwheels in her tummy, eager to get to their alternative area of mating.

Naruto's face lit up. "Well then, what're we waiting for? Let's get going! TO THE BEACH," he bellowed as if he was a superhero warming up for a spectacular battle.

"To the beach!" Hinata couldn't help but reiterate with an open smile. Chibi-G (inner-goddess) and Chibi-S (subconscious) cheered as their prince and princess both dashed toward the bedroom to gather the basic necessities for their day in the sand.

Hinata brought her hamper into the dining room and packed all the fruits, sandwiches, rice balls, rice cakes, and other snacks that they hadn't eaten earlier. Surely, the salty water would have sapped their breakfast in no time, but not as much as her orgasms would. And Hinata was almost certain there was going to be lots of orgasms on their little journey to the beach.

She still remembered how well he fitted inside her, and her inner-goddess began drooling at the memory, her back arched, her arms dangling.

---

To the far west of Fuugetsu, Naruto and Hinata found themselves walking along a beautifully paved path, bordered by lush palm trees and other expertly groomed greens. Tall streetlights stood back-to-back in the center of the walkway, ready to illuminate upon the dawning of dusk.

Many tourists traveled alongside our happy couple, most only garbed in their swimsuit and shades since the hotels in which they reside were close to the beach. The exotic buildings towered all around, boasting their warm colors. If only their suite was this close to the ocean, too.

Astride them, Naruto overheard a family of four reminiscing about how amazing last night's festival was. They had planned on going back again this evening as it was their last day in town, and the two kids — a boy and girl — couldn't stop gushing about all the fun they had playing games and winning toys. They were determined to get that huge bear this time around.

Hinata tilted her head and smiled openly in the sun's wonderful radiance. It was a sunny day. There were traces of salt in the mild breeze. The sky was blue, and there were only a few harmless clouds shuffling overhead. It was a perfect day to have an outing, and obviously all these people knew the truth of it. Among the crowd were guys with their surfing boards, expecting ideal weather conditions with which to ride the rebellious waves.

The princess looked to Naruto who was focusing on her smile, and her cheeks stained red when he reached for her hand and cupped her tiny fingers in his. She looked away in her embarrassment, but still the electricity that ran from him to her never slacked. It boosted her already frantic pulse.

Soon the crowd approached the foot of one amongst the many mountains that enclosed the town. Naruto and Hinata sighed in amazement at the gigantic tunnel that ran through the colossal rock to the other side of the island. Many other first timers shared in our couple's awe and astonishment. It must have taken years to stave a hole of this magnitude through this type of rock. Was it even possible with conventional tools?

As they proceeded closer to the entrance's threshold, the crowd couldn't help but slow and gaze up at the two large statutes of a man and woman that stood firm at either side. They were carved from the same kind of rock that made up the mountains. The details were exquisite, and Naruto wondered whether they were the founders of Fuugetsu.

"They sorta remind me of the two statutes at the Valley of the End," Naruto said dryly, though Hinata could sense the undercurrent of his bittersweet reverie.

Stepping into the cave felt as if stepping into another dimension. The pocket of air that greeted them was cool, as though it held promises of an early winter. The tunnel was dark — the perfect background shade for what laid in the foreground.

Embedded in the walls of rock were shards of glowing limestone, similar to those in the hot spring. Blue and green resonated together and danced on the walls like mythical fairies. It was enchanting, and Naruto squeezed Hinata's fingers affectionately as they traversed this sublime realm in their own small bubble of love.

When the enchanted crowd broke free of the darkness, they shielded their eyes against the sun's welcoming brilliance. But the moment they heard the sound of kids playing, seagulls calling, and the sea's surf breaking against the shore, their faces lit up and they all rushed forward to greet fun.

Holding her hand still, Naruto and Hinata stood aside. They'd rather not be crushed by the stampede. It was ironic — they were the kids and yet they were the ones controlling their excitement. Shinobis always had to be wary.

Despite being the renowned "hot spring country"; the beach wasn't as crowded as they thought it would, which was great. But it wasn't scanty, either.

After spotting a nice, spacious spot on the beachfront that wasn't occupied by sandcastles, the couple fetched two umbrellas from a local distribution stand and made their way to sweet relaxation... and food. To think that it was the blistering sun and the long journey here that would have deprived them of their energy.

Females walked by in their colorful bikinis and males, in their shorts. There were mobile food stands all around, advertising their stocks and imploring famished kids to persuade their parents to buy. This was the beach.

When Naruto jabbed the massive umbrellas side-by-side into the dry sand, Hinata took the liberty of spreading out their blanket and securing the hamper at her spot. She loved feeding him.

The princess inhaled deep of the briny air that blew in from the open seas. The blue deity's call was too strong for her to resist, but a power more potent held her by the knight's side. The ocean extended out as far as the eyes could see, but on the horizon, they could see the misty coast of the lightening country.

"The water's beautiful," Hinata muttered unconsciously.

"But not as beautiful as you..." Naruto returned in that dangerously influential tone. The complexion in her face changed suddenly, and her hand rose to perilous regions. "Your finger is on your lip again," he said softly, gazing across the lapping waves with an enigmatic smile, the tail of his black headband fluttering in the wind.

The first few yards of the water was aqua, almost crystal clear, while the rest was of a darker blue. It was truly beautiful. Naruto was anxious to take a dip, but, unfortunately, he didn't have any sunscreen. Now going for a swim was more of a sacrifice than that of enjoyment.

Hinata sat innocently on her heels, looking up surreptitiously with desire in her eyes. She recalled with a blush what Naruto said about making love to her on the table.

On the table…

That would have been so inappropriate... but hot! She wondered if they could try it before they left. Oh, she felt like a naughty schoolgirl considering skulking school to hang out with her friends. But she was certain, in reality, that idea wouldn't have been a turn on in the least.

On the table…

The idea did not intend to settle anytime soon. Hinata pursed her lips and pressed her hands down upon her lap as a series of convulsions tackled her core. She had been aching for him since the table commentary, and her inner-goddess was getting more impatient by the minute.

To think that Naruto was so naughty, and Hinata had a feeling she hadn't seen anything yet. Her centre clenched again, and she pressed down harder with an inaudible whimper, her eyes tightly closed.

In her tantalization, the princess heard a group of young girls passing close by. They were gloating about their effect on a certain boy, which really made Hinata seriously consider the matter — to think that a female's body could have such a powerful effect on males. She knew how much Naruto affected her, but she wondered about the potency of her effect on him. It was obvious, though, that he really enjoyed probing her body.

The girls wore stylish and evidently expensive bikinis. The sight made Hinata wonder if she should strip down to her swimsuit for her one and only. The girl personally wanted to see what the sight of her body would do to him, while they were in public and unable to copulate.

Considering the lack of privacy and his inability to steal her rationality entirely, she would be able to assess him throughout the course of the day. But not for long — she did want him to dominate her on the table, after all.

Hinata blushed.

Naruto sprawled out on the blanket, his fingers just inches away from her majesty's legs. He sighed, a long sigh of nostalgia."It's really been a long time since I came to the beach." He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes with a smile. "It's great... especially since I'm here with you."

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata was almost at that point where being in public didn't matter.

She could smell him. The familiar aroma washed over her, like a physical caress, tilting her chin and teasing her perfect lips. She panted softly with her hunger, her bent legs melting beneath her from the heat detonating in her core. His chest was a temping surface on which to lie — a soft, warm pedestal reserved only for his single rose. Hinata wanted to completely mold into him, to be with her chivalrous white knight forever — intertwined in their combined gratification.

All of a sudden, the princess's emotions broke, shattered into bits on the face of a jagged rock. Shock and discomfort replaced her amorous desire, and she battled to gather her composure through the thick mist of her curiosity.

"Hey!" Another group of young girls stopped in front of our couple's crude love nest, the one in front surveying our hero's features intently. "Awesome blonde hair. Blue eyes. Konoha's forehead protector. Oh, my god — you wouldn't be Uzumaki Naruto, would you... Konoha's hero?"

Naruto sat upright; sharing Hinata's lost for words.

"You are, aren't you," another girl said with stars of hope twinkling in her eyes.

Naruto began scratching his head with his trademark grin. "Well, I don't know about the "hero" part, but I'm definitely Uzumaki Naruto."

The girls screamed, almost swooning before him as though he was some legendary rock star. They dragged him to his feet and imprisoned him within a tight circle, like a deadly mob. Then they begged him to join their team in a volleyball tournament scheduled to begin in a few minutes.

Hinata was surprised that word of his heroism had gotten so far and so fast. But more importantly, she began feeling a strange emotion boiling up inside her — spicy and unfamiliar. But one thing was certain, it wasn't a pleasant emotion, and that made her worry.

"So, will you help lead us to victory," another girl asked sweetly.

"Sure, I guess... but I won't stay long." Naruto felt uneasy.

"With you on our side of the net, you won't have to; the opposing team won't stand a chance," girl number one reassured.

"I know right," girl number two agreed.

"Oh. By the way, this is my girlfriend — Hinata," Naruto gestured to his guardian angel who sat with a fierce blush painting her adorable cheeks.

G-Girlfriend? Hinata felt as if she was a kettle that had long reached a boil, neglected on the stove to overheat, and then melt. She had never regarded them with such a title before. Does that mean he was her... boyfriend? "Hello." The princess was polite, her voice small.

The curly, blonde hair girl who was obviously the leader of both the volleyball team and the peer group looked her over in a single, sharp glance. She wasn't impressed, but her expression was carefully guarded. "It's nice to meet you, Hinata," she smiled. "You must really be something if you're dating Konoha's hero."

"You're lucky, that's for sure," girl number three giggled.

"Hinata, I hope you don't mind if we borrow him for a while," the blonde said with a fist on one hitched hip. Her eyes gleamed, as if with challenge, and her smile was sly. But Hinata had never played her game, so she was blind to all the coaxing signs.

"No, it's completely fine — I'm sure that Naruto-kun will enjoy the game." That's what she said, then why did she feel a looming sense of sadness?

"Thanks," the girl replied, grinning now, her girlfriends pushing a reluctant Naruto over to the court with gathering spectators. "I promise we won't keep him too long." She left to meet up with her team.

As Hinata watched the assertive sirens make off with her beloved into the beguiling gloom, she felt the dull blade of loneliness looming over her head, intent on cleaving her in twine. "Wait, Naruto-kun," she said, far too much of a whimper to be heard. She dashed off to meet closure, but toppled and fell on her face in the sand. Curse her two left feet.

"Hinata Hyuga," a voice rose before our saddened princess, one dripping with pity. It was girl number one — the blonde leader. Hinata reclined on her heels. "You should really give Naruto some space every now and then. You want him to spread his wings and have fun, right? Trust me, no guy likes when his girlfriend is too clingy. Take it from me," she grinned and then walked off, sparing no time to console the troubled girl.

Am I... clinging to Naruto-kun too much? Hinata's eyes popped open, quivering with a storm of emotions. But mostly, she was shocked and appalled by this bitter revelation.

Through a game of heads or tails, Naruto's team had won the privilege to serve the ball first. Either team had five players: four females and one male. Naruto had to wonder if the captain of the challenging team had the same idea about asking a favor from a slightly willing shinobi.

The spectators cheered and threw their hands up in excitement as the blonde, Matsuri, postured to make the first serve and get the final match of the championship tournament under way.

"Naruto! You remember the rules, right," she asked urgently, almost seeming to glow in her vibrant, shocking color green bikini.

The men howled flirtatiously, panting like dehydrated hounds.

"Yeah, I've got it. Now let's take home that championship trophy!" He really wanted to get back to Hinata. His guilt was swelling by the second.

"Great! Now try not to make a scene — we want this match to seem as clean as possible."

"I know right," girl number three added. "It would suck big time if we got disqualified after coming this far, especially when it might be possible for us to win, if we played legitimately."

"You can say that again," girl number four agreed, surprisingly. She rarely spoke.

"I won't jeopardize this match," Naruto grinned. "I'll make sure that you guys walk away with that trophy, even though you refused to play fair 'til the very end."

Matsuri chuckled, and then served, both the competition and the hungry spectators that enclosed the sandy court. The match started with a fiery explosion of passion. All the players were energetic and confident. They kept moving around in their cell, keeping themselves mobile to respond quickly and effectively to all incoming servings.

The rival team was doing an exceptionally well job thus far — they were obviously aiming for overkill. The girls would constantly claim and serve the ball in the air for their male teammate to administer a mean and powerful slam-dunk.

But Naruto was no amateur, nor was he slow or lazy on his feet. Each dunk was saved with a pizzazz that made the crowd go wild; even the perverts looked his way momentarily. However, he tried to refrain from having to strike the ball back over the net as much as possible. Staying nimble on his feet, he stayed in the background to save any death balls and set them up to be returned with a vengeance by the girls.

The ever vigilant sun showed no mercy to all those who were vulnerable. It had shifted in the sky over the span of these twenty-five minutes. Most of the spectators had retreated under their umbrellas, still fixated on the ongoing match. Evidently, one of the best they'd seen in a while.

Heat and exhaustion plagued both sides of the competition. Hot breaths escaped through parted lips. Salty sweat danced over smooth, creamy breasts as they bounced in motion. Sleek hair fluttered in the crisp breeze. Eyes burned with vehement determination. Flushed bodies endured under consistent pressure.

The philandering men couldn't get enough. And they were careful to secure fresh tissues into their nostrils after each bloody nose. They couldn't care less about the game. What really mattered to them was—

A female competitor's breasts pressed hard against the back of another as they both hit the ground trying to save an incoming ball. They moaned, almost amorously, and the males' head tiled back as blood sprayed from their nostrils.

After wave and wave of servings, there was only five minutes remaining on the clock. The score was twenty-two to thirty-two, with Naruto's team holding the high score. The match had taken its toll on the players — their responses had slowed, their confidence settled into dehydration.

After another successful dunk on the competitor's part — courtesy of Naruto's guilt — the alarm sounded, which signaled the conclusion of the match.

The spectators rose from the protection of their umbrellas to cheer. Some people were disappointed, perhaps those who placed bets on the defeated team. But in no time, the court was swarming with ecstatic spectators. They made way for the referee as he brought the four-foot tall trophy onto the scene. The girls held it up together, effortlessly brushing off their guilt, but their leader was nowhere to be seen.

"Naruto," she appeared beside him, almost as if she had materialized out of the thick crowd. She led him to a clearing that wasn't so noisy, her mannerisms seeming far more sweeter than usual. Could her gratitude have altered her personality this much? "That was a great match. On behalf of me and my team, I want to thank you." She smiled innocently.

Naruto grinned. "Oh, it was nothing. I promised you guys the trophy, didn't I?"

"That you did. We recently found out that the male player on our opponent's team was secretly using food pills, which is why we asked you to help us play against them. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

He frowned. "In that case, I guess they deserved to lose, then. Well —" he turned to leave — "enjoy the sweet taste of victory... I'm gonna head back to Hinata now."

"Wait! I have something to give you, as a token of my appreciation."

Before Naruto could fully turn around, Hinata suddenly swooped in and snatched something hidden behind Matsuri's back. In her shock, the girl retaliated by teleporting out at sea in a hasty retreat and Hinata pursued. Naruto followed suite, curious as to what was going on.

The blonde leader had found her cool again, floating up and down atop the blue waters. She stood with a dark smile and a hand on her hip, staring wickedly at Hinata. "You're not as much of the loser that I thought you were," she spat with obvious contempt, grinning now.

"Hey, don't talk to my girlfriend like that!" Naruto snapped. "Didn't I just help you to win that trophy?"

"Oh, please. I couldn't care less."

"Hinata, what's going on." Our hero was even more perplexed.

The princess's eyes were narrow, cautiously fixed on the enemy while she spoke. "Naruto-kun... this girl isn't who she claims to be. She's an impostor!"

"Huh," he raised a brow in question, far from enlightenment. "What're you talking about?"

"On the beach, she called me 'Hyuga' Hinata, when neither Naruto-kun nor I had ever mentioned my last name."

"Oh," the girl flashed her hair. "So that's what tipped you off."

Hinata nodded once. "It's not unusual for people to recognize that I'm from the Hyuga clan based on my eyes, but something about the way you said my name made me anxious. I watched as you played the match with my Byakugan and realized that you were exerting a lot of chakra..."

"Chakra…" Naruto cast his gaze to the mysterious woman in shock.

"Yes," the princess shed light on his suspicion. "This woman is not only a shinobi, but she's using the transformation technique to impersonate this girl. I took this from her just now," she revealed the vial in her hand. "It's the same sedative drug that those rouges used yesterday. She was planning to use it on you, Naruto-kun."

Naruto veered his attention to the woman again. He frowned deeply, swearing something nasty. He held the woman in a gaze so deadly furious it must have burned to hold it. "Why you..."

"Impressive," the impostor said, her smile brilliant despite the compromise. "You Hyuga are really something else." She dismissed the transformation, revealing her true form.

Long, ebony hair. Brown, bold eyes. A slender body wrapped in black ninja attire — she was gorgeous. Why do the evil characters have to be so beautiful?

"My name is Kitami, and I'm out to seek revenge!" The woman's once cool countenance became foul. "Uzumaki Naruto... you took my man away from me," she gripped the cloths above her heart. "I'll have you feel the same pain that I'm feeling right now."

Naruto's eyes were calm as he focused on keeping his anger in check. Just the reality that Hinata's life was in danger made his blood flow like lava through his veins. He wanted to release the instinctive beast inside of him; to erase all that threatened her life. But he knew he had to hold steady the reins of his control. "So you're connected to those two rouge ninjas, after all — Mitarashi and Hakkaku."

"I wasn't a part of their plan to kidnap your girlfriend, but Hakkaku was my everything and you took him away from me. On his final breath, he told me all that had happened, and now I'm here to make you pay!"

"If you were in Naruto-kun's shoes, you would have done the same thing," Hinata explained, but the flame in Kitami's eyes didn't falter.

"Without hesitation, I'd kill all those who came seeking revenge, too. But in this case, I'll be the only one heading back to that shore today."

Hinata frowned. "But—"

"That's enough, Hinata," Naruto interjected, his eyes closed as he silently drew power from the blistering ball of fire that grew in the pits of his gut. "No amount of words will change her resolve."His eyes slowly opened. "I'll take care of this."

The wind gusted over the waves, stirring the salty air in the process, and Naruto formed his trademark seal, determined to end the fight with a single Rasengan. No one would hurt Hinata or interfere with their vacation, even if she was a woman.

Kitami's eyes narrowed shrewdly. Kage Bunshin?

"Wait, Naruto-kun!" Hinata commanded, assuming her clan's customary offensive stance. "Please… allow me to take care of this."

"Hinata... I don't want you to get involved in this. Stand aside."

"I'm already involved, Naruto-kun; I was kidnapped yesterday and became a burden to you. I wish to make amends for that."

"You don't have anything to prove. I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I know that my welfare concerns you, Naruto-kun... but you must not forget that I'm also a shinobi. I'm no longer the helpless girl that you cheered on in the Chunin Exams three years ago."She heaved a confident smile, her eyes changing. "Let me show you how much I've grown."

"Hinata..."

Kitami gave an evil laugh, disgusted by her adversarys' loving dispute. "If I knew I'd get the privilege to fight you without interference, I would never have tried to sedate Naruto with that drug." She chuckled and vaulted backward a few yards, distancing herself from Hinata's attack range. Then the woman postured for an attack. "You'll find that I'm not as weak as Hakkaku."

"Hinata!" Naruto effortlessly won her attention, his eyes serious again. "Not one scratch... I don't want one scratch on your body, got that? If she gets one hit in, I'll be forced to step forward."

"...Hn!" Hinata nodded and faced her opponent once more, a flush kissing her cheeks. I won't let Naruto-kun down. Byakugan! She fully activated her eyes, and her mood suddenly changed.

"Tsk. I'll just have to kill her with a single attack, then," Kitami said to herself, constantly remembering what Hakkaku said regarding facing a Hyuga in close combat.

"Air Palm!" Hinata swiftly thrust her arm forward, palm up, launching a compressed shaft of air through the water. It cut through the dark surface of the salty blue, blasting Kitami with devastating force, shredding apart of her cloths. She screamed upon impact, rolling violently backward as though she had been hit by a train.

Naruto stood with his mouth opened, astounded, as the woman sliced through the water, like a rag doll.What was that?! I would've never seen it coming; it's almost invisible. Wow! My girlfriend's a badass!

Hinata glanced Naruto's impressed facial expression. It doused her with confidence and determination; driving her with a more potent form of fuel.

She dashed toward Kitami before the woman could gather her bearings. It was a good idea to end the battle before people on the beach began noticing tiny dots moving around like bullets, far out at sea.

Drenched, Kitami struggled to one knee, her head hung low. "What was that," she wondered in her muddled state. I thought Hakkaku said the Hyuga were only capable of hand-to-hand combat. That was a chakra-based range attack just now.She heard quick footsteps closing in. I'll just have to flood her with attacks until I can find a clear opening.

Gathering invisible but lethal chakra to her fingertips, Hinata rushed in to seal Kitami's power. But before our valiant princess could get in range, the woman quickly formed her seals and sent a massive ball of fire hurtling toward them: Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!

Expelling a bulk of chakra to the soles of her feet, Hinata gathered the momentum to leap to the side. Naruto had to dodge the attack, as well, which rocketed past him, leaving a salty vapor of steam in its weak. But this was just a diversion. Kitami had leaped into the air and created two shadow clones, each quickly forming their own individual hand seals.

Hinata pursed her lips and took a defensive stance in a heartbeat, watching carefully, analytically, as the three assailants prepared to attack. So... she's fire-natured. I need to be careful; I am already at a disadvantage by only specializing in taijutsu.

"Fire Style: Crimson Dragon Jutsu," clone one uttered, breathing forth a large, blistering dragon whose body formed a tall wall of flames around our alert couple.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Justu!" Clone two followed up in perfect sync, sending a volley of small fireballs flying toward them.

Naruto and Hinata had no choice but to allow themselves to be enclosed in the searing flames. It was imperative that they concentrate on the secondary attack, which could be concealing shurikens. But that was also careless — since the original body hadn't disclosed her attack yet.

Hinata had no intention to take any chances. She couldn't afford to lose everything... to lose Naruto. She darted before him, instructing her capable white knight to stay put as she postured to rotate into her Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms technique.

"Fire Style: Searing Whip," Kitami uttered wickedly, unfurling a long whip wrought of fire from her forefingers, which she combined with the Phoenix Fire technique to assault the much despised couple. The hungry flames collided into the rotating orb generated by Hinata, consuming it.

Then she stopped instantly, dispersing the glowing sphere.

Kitami was enraged. She narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits and gritted her teeth. "A barrier? So I used all that chakra for nothing?" She landed on her feet within the ring of flames, still on her guard. "At least I still have them trapped. I need to finish this!"

Hinata could practically hear the wheels in the woman's shrewd mind turning, calculating errors and how to smooth them over — how to dismiss her from this world. "Naruto-kun," she whispered, tugging his attention. "I'll draw her attention away from you..."

The warrior scanned her, intrigued by her commanding flair. Naruto had never seen her battle like this before... in a dress with its length distinctly in the seductive zone... for him. He was tempted to tap her on the butt, to give her a boost in spirit, but he was certain the gesture would've had the opposite effect. "Be careful. She's strong..."

"She is, but I can't afford to lose."

Hinata took off — like a torpedo out of water — toward a cautious Kitami. In response, the woman began forming the seals for another lethal fire attack: Horse. Snake. Tiger. Monkey. Boar... but Hinata thwarted her pending strike with her gentle fist.

Kitami gracefully maneuvered around the quick jabs and eased into a series of back flips. Then without pause, she lunged into a dash and Hinata kept up a few yards to the side of her. Panting breaths. Damp hair. Fiery gazes. They exchanged a few saucy lines, and then leaped backward to launch a coinciding attack. A powerful air palm and a gigantic fireball collided, which resulted in a humongous and catastrophic explosion.

The shockwave blasted the girls away. Naruto's shadow clone caught Hinata in midair and, in one fluid motion, clutched her arm and swung her around, slingshotting her forward toward Kitami who, had found her footing atop the raging waters.

While Hinata was still airborne, Kitami capitalized on her presumed vulnerability by executing the seals for a new attack. "Fire Style: Crimson Pistol!" The woman held her hands up — her thumbs and index fingers portrayed in the shape of a pistol — firing fire-based projectiles at high velocity at our confident princess.

Hinata's heart rate was wild — pumping loads of oxygen and adrenaline through her veins. Her senses were sharpened, her eyesight keen, and, in but a fraction of a second, she took a deep breath and generated powerful chakra around her hands.

Gentle Step, Twin Lion Fists!

The blue flames that took the form of a lion's head burned with fierce intensity. And Hinata effortlessly deflected the barrage of fireworks as she swooped down to where Kitami stood.

"Check it out, bro," a surfer on the beach pointed out to his friend. "I didn't know there was a volcano out there. Wicked awesome!"

The friend shielded his eyes from the sun's glare and tried to concentrate. "I don't think that's a volcano, man."

"Aren't those people out there," a woman said, clinging tightly to her child's hand in anxiety.

"Are we under attack," an older man asked, instilling a bitter grip of fear in all those who heard.

"It's Poseidon!" A teenager in massive, nerdy glasses exclaimed, his eyes beady. "He's finally here to destroy humanity for polluting His seas!"

"Can someone please give that kid a wedgie," a bully shouted from somewhere in the converging crowd.

Anxious chatter broke out on the beach. And more people began gathering at the edge of the shoreline, trying to ascertain what tragedy was transpiring out at sea. Were they to be worried? Was there really a threat?

The lions imbued of blue seemed to roar each time Hinata nullified Kitami's fire-based projectiles. It was the shockwave, and it echoed off the surface of the water, spelling the intensity of the girls' desperate battle.

Kitami was suddenly more furious, her eyes blazing. The final thread holding her rationality in check seemed to have snapped. She leaped far into the air and quickly went through her seals. "I'll burn you two alive until there's absolutely nothing left," she fumed, molding chakra in her belly, which seemed to have been enhanced by her rage.

Like a flamethrower, she breathed a wave of searing hot flames down upon Naruto and Hinata. The spectacle almost seemed like the prologue of the apocalypse. The fire swallowed up the entire ring that imprisoned our couple. Was this the end? Had our hero and princess been incinerated by this avenger's overwhelming rage?

Kitami guffawed, all traces of composure she had gone in her rippling excitement. But the joy of victory was short-lived, and she frowned maliciously at the reality of that. What would it take to kill these annoying pests?

Hinata had escaped the infernal flames by effortless slicing through the ring with a decisive strike. Aside from the fact that there was lots of humidity riding on the wind, the flames were partly made up of chakra, which were her forte.

Her inner-goddess had a sly grin on her face, but the Hyuga princess sported a cool countenance, secretly gathering her power into a finishing move. With her hands resting at her sides, her defenses down, she made a little distance between her and Naruto, her sinuous strides making Kitami steam.

"I've had just about enough of you," the woman snapped, holding a gun-finger forward, target: Hinata. She reinforced her wrist with her free hand as she infused a large quantity of her chakra into the small ball of fire generating at her fingertip.

But Hinata displayed no intention to dodge. She stood firmly with her lips pursed in ardent resolve. This made Kitami anxious, though she tried to conceal the truth of it.

"Hinata..." Naruto stared on, disconcerted with the seemingly reckless atmosphere that had formed between the two.

However, Hinata wasn't afraid. Her confidence was like a pillar of steel that towered into the heavens. She was ready to conclude this prolonged duel, ready to vanquish the evil that threatened her happiness.I won't lose before the eyes of the one I love…

Kitami was done talking. She blasted the fireball, which zinged toward Hinata, like a deadly flare. Despite its menacing velocity, the princess drove her hand down into the water — pumping all the chakra she had accumulated into a powerful air palm. It tore through the water like a laser, opening a momentary hole in the unruly depths.

At the same time, the projectile zipped through a few strands of Hinata's hair, singeing them. Naruto was flabbergasted, and even more so when Kitami popped into a cloud of smoke.

Hinata rose slowly to her feet, her eyes relived, seawater tricking down her face from the ocean's repercussion to her finishing blow.

"What happened," Naruto demanded as he approached the collected heroine, his eyes curious but still alert.

"It's over," she reassured when Kitami's lifeless body floated to the surface of the unmerciful tides.

"I figured as much, but I still don't get what just happened."

Hinata deactivated her ocular ability with a sigh, and then blinked rapidly a few times, her seriousness dissolving at the sound of Naruto's voice."I'll explain."

"Mmm." Naruto inclined his head.

"Back then, when she had created those two clones, the third one was also fake. The real one had already concealed herself under water, biding her time for the ideal opportunity to attack. I could sense her presence all the while, and it wasn't long before I saw her. Whenever I stood still for any extended periods of time, she would swim beneath my feet."

"But why did you leave yourself open to her attack like that? You could have been hurt!" Naruto almost sounded upset.

"I... I'm sorry that I made Naruto-kun worry," Hinata turned around, her head bowed in repentance."I also noted that she had depleted most of her chakra reserves with all the high-level ninjutsu she was using, so I was almost certain that her attack wouldn't work."

Naruto moved in close and brushed the fringes of hair at the front of her bang. Then he smoothed his hands over her face, touching every inch of her as if he feared she was broken. "I don't want to lose you based on a miscalculated gamble, Hinata," he whispered softly to her ear... too soft.

His aura seemed to wash over her, settling into sockets and joins where her expelled chakra once rested. It was cool, revitalizing... and arousing. Slowly, he coiled his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest. He was evidently aroused, too. The realization knocked the wind from Hinata's body. She was certain he could feel the sudden gallop of her heart, and that made her even more embarrassed.

"About my warning," he continued, his warm breath fanning her neck, providing wind in the sails of her arousal, turning the fan blades of her insatiable desire. "Well, technically, your hair is what got singed and not your body… so I guess it's okay. Nevertheless," his voice turned seductive."I'll have to punish you for damaging your hair and being so reckless." He grinned — she could feel it. "Don't worry; you'll enjoy the punishment that I have in stored."

Hinata felt herself clench down south at his words, and her hand shot up automatically to grip the back of his shirt. A flush rose in her cheeks, and she buried her face in the wall of his chest, hoping that it didn't burn through his clothes.

"Damn, I think your punishment may have to wait."

"Eh?" Hinata withdrew her head, her eyes wide. She couldn't conceal her utter disappointment.

"I think our little skirmish went public."

Hinata was shocked at the number of people that had gathered at the shore, their gazes fixed on whatever development was taking place after the chaotic series of explosions before. But the couple was much too far out to be distinguished by anyone, which is why a few surfers had started paddling out on their surfboards to make sense of the conflict.

To avoid recognition and interrogation, the couple bolted off toward a remote coral reef adjacent to the beach. They were certain no one would follow them there.

---

A quick Lesson

Naruto and Hinata jumped from the thrashing waves and onto the summit of a cliff. The sand was almost ivory here, and much harder than that found on the beach. Tiny trees scattered all around the wide area along with small turfs of grass. And it was quiet, except for the surf breaking on the jagged rocks down below.

Hinata looked out across the oceanic vista, captivated by the different color umbrellas that lined the distant beach. From here, the people looked like ants scurrying around in the golden sand. The skyline held her gaze, and she studied the contrast in colors.

"Hinata," Naruto summoned her from the ledge, her eyes endearing. The damp spots on her dress were almost dry now. "I've been thinking... and I've decided to teach you a technique: the Rasengan."

Hinata's eyes pop open.

"The Hyuga specializes in close range combat, right, and they excel at chakra manipulation. I think the Rasengan would make a fine addition to your arsenal." His eyebrows pull together. "While you were fighting Kitami, I noted that there were instances where your attacks barely missed her. If that were the Rasengan, she would have been blown away instantly. It's a great finishing move. It doesn't demand a lot of chakra, but it packs a powerful punch."

Hinata's hand rose to her mouth, and a flush crept into her cheeks as she looked down to his chest. "B-But that's Naruto-kun's special attack..."

He took that hand away from her tempting lips — dispelling the trance she had unconsciously placed him under — and rest it over his heart. "And you're my girlfriend — far more special than any technique."

"Naruto-kun..." she looked up into his smoldering eyes, hers half-lidded with unshed tears of joy. Was it possible to love him anymore than she already did? She beamed at him.

He lifted a hand to her rosy cheek, his eyes softening."With this technique... a part of me will always be with you — protecting you, always."

His whispering made her lightheaded, and her soul pleaded for a kiss. But Naruto knew well the effects a mere kiss had on them. The moment their lips touched, an insatiable lust would be unleashed upon them, consuming the pair of a single entity in a raging sea of uncontrollable desire.

Much too soon, he pulled away, leaving a storm of static electricity between them. "That air palm technique you used earlier... it was interfused with wind-natured chakra, wasn't it? ...Does that mean the Hyuga are wind-natured?"

"Hn."

Naruto grinned, obviously pleased about something. "That means you and I are both wind-natured. How ironic, right?"

Hinata smiled, happy about this other comparison, which she assumed proved even more that they were meant to be. "I think it's wonderful."

"You're wonderful."

She went silent, and Naruto chuckled. "Okay. So you're wind-natured, but I don't think you have enough chakra to use the Rasenshuriken right now. In that case, let's just stick with the basic form of Rasengan, shall we."

"Hn!" She nodded her head enthusiastically, like a puppy about to be fed some chow. She stood up straight, eager to wield the same power as her beloved knight.

"Alrightdy! So let's get started. I still have that punishment to administer, after all." He grinned and winked suggestively at her, effortlessly tearing down the walls of composure the princess had erected. "In the tree-climbing exercise, we learnt to accumulate and maintain a certain amount of chakra in a needed area, right... similar to that lion technique you had going on earlier."

Hinata nodded, concentration glinting in her eyes.

"Then with the water-walk exercise, we released a constant amount of chakra to keep us balanced and afloat atop the water's surface. For the Rasengan, however, you'll need to create a flow with chakra. Simply put, rotation."

Hinata's expression still portrayed "focus" and, with that, Naruto continued the tutorial. He created a shadow clone to demonstrate, holding his right palm up, upon which his counterpart gazed intently. "First, you accumulate and maintain chakra in your hand like the tree climbing exercise." Small, blue particles converge to form a sphere of condensed energy in his hand. "Next, you release a constant amount of chakra like in the water walk exercise." The sphere grew and deepened in hue. "And, finally, you push and rotate." The shadow clone used both hands to create a scratching gesture all around the glowing orb, ushering the chakra into a fierce rotation of many dimensions in which main body (Naruto) sustained.

Hinata couldn't tear her eyes away from the visible ball of energy. Chakra manipulation was the Hyuga's strong suite, but shape manipulation wasn't a popular practice. She wondered about the velocity of the chakra's rotation, and found it ironic that the destructive ball of force emitted a high-pitched, but soothing sound effect.

"Ero-sennin mentioned something about chakra rotation type. You know what yours is, right?"

"Yes! I'm a clockwise-type."

"So am I," his lips eased into a smile, and he dispersed the orb and his clone.

Soul mates, Hinata's lips stretched at the thought.

"Okay. Now it's your turn. I sucked at manipulating chakra three years ago. And if I took less than a month to perfect the Rasengan, then a Hyuga that's been training to achieve perfect chakra control since kindergarten should be able to do it in one go." Naruto's eyes narrowed with certitude. "I believe in you, Hinata... now show me what you've got! ...And don't forget that we learn through trial and error; it's no big deal if you don't get it the first time."

Gathering her bearings from the abundance of confidence and determination that emanated from Naruto, Hinata looked down at her palm, her eyes pensive.

"Both the forth Hokage and the Ero-sennin only used one hand to pull off the Rasengan; using the clone is just my method. What will yours be...?"

Hinata raised her right hand, palm up, and took a deep breath, her stance sturdy. Silence fell over them, and the wind gusted with a howl as the beautiful warrior centered herself. The tree swayed overhead, the shadow of its leaves dancing in the torrid sand.

Then Hinata clasped her wrist for support as she channeled energy into the palm of her hand. She had seen and, committed to memory, the Rasengan in action a few times in the past — after all, it was her hero's second trademark move — but the princess had never attempted to try it. She had, however, worked out all the schematics in her mind and performed a step-by-step simulation of herself practicing the technique. So, technically, she had mental experience... it was just to reenact what she did in reality.

"The first step is rotation," Naruto advised when Hinata's eyes flashed open with dedication. "Envision your chakra rotating in several directions at high speed within a tiny circle."

"Ahh!" Her voice rose as small, blue particles converge to form a sphere of condensed energy in the palm of her hand. It was rotating rapidly.

"The second step is power." Naruto's eyes popped open as the sphere of a much darker blue than usual, grew several times larger than the typical Rasengan. For a moment, it was terrifying.

Thin vortex of energy swirled around the massive sphere, like a cyclone, driving the immediate area into awry, stirring leaves and sand. Its screech echoed off the trees in an exotic melody. It sounded like a charged particle beaming preparing to be fired.

"Hinata! That's more like an Odama Rasengan," Naruto shouted a few octaves above the sound generated by the dense sphere. "It's awesome! ...Okay, so the third and final step is to retain the previous two steps — rotation and power!"

Hinata gritted her teeth and tightened the grip around her wrist as she struggled to maintain her newly bestowed power. It was more difficult than she imagined, and yet Naruto could dish out multiple clones wielding their own Rasengan. He was truly amazing!

"Hinata, calm down... you really don't need to be out-putting that much power. At that rate, you'll only be able to use the Rasengan once per battle." He created another Rasengan and raised his palm beside hers. "I want you to focus more on rotation rather than power — since that's the most important factor if you want to inflict maximum damage."

Taking another deep breath, Hinata released the tension in her arm, and the sphere shrunk to match the size of her reference. But the deep blue it radiated never changed. It was of the same hue as the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists she used earlier. It was pretty.

"Hinata, you did it!" Naruto said in a cheerful voice, cupping both her hands in his own, when they had dismissed the glowing spheres. "I knew you'd be able to do it in one go! How did it feel?"

"It felt really amazing," she returned, finding courage in her thrill and adrenaline rush. "But I think Naruto-kun is right: I won't be able to use the Rasenshuriken; just the regular Rasengan is so much."

"Don't worry about that," he reassured, pulling her into a warm embrace. She smelled deeply of his shirt. "Just focus on getting used to the Rasengan. How about some brief training regimens to wrap things up?"

"Okay," she muttered in his chest, and yet she refused to let him go.

Naruto could feel her reluctance. He whispered her name, and then kissed her atop the head, even as he combed his fingers through her dark blue hair. But like many others, the physical interaction was but a fleeting taste of paradise — bittersweet.

She followed behind him as he led her to a half-dead tree at the threshold of the dense forestry for their first training exercise. "Okay. Now that you can whip up a Rasengan, let's test its power and stability."

She observed as he created said technique with the help of his counterpart, but the moment the sphere connected with the tree, it exploded, engraving a rippling pattern into the defenseless trunk."Should your attempt have the same effect, it means that you have a bit of maintenance to work on. For optimum effectiveness, you have to retain shape, rotation, and power." He effortlessly demonstrated what the desired effect should look like — the Rasengan cuts through the tree trunk, like a mechanical grinder, shredding the dry bark into dust.

Hinata was evidently impressed, but she felt a pang of guilt and pity for the poor, defenseless tree.

"Give it a go," he urged, stepping aside.

Nodding obediently, Hinata assumed her stance and secured her wrist, her eyes focused on the center of her palm where she accumulated her chakra. The high-pitched screech of rotating energy soon rolled off the forestry again, and the glow of her Rasengan seemed to intensify when it collided into the tree trunk, easing in as if she were cutting into butter.

"That's some power and control," Naruto praised. "You're definitely a natural at shape-manipulation. There's no doubt about it."

Hinata couldn't help but blush, and she felt Naruto's eyes blaze when she rested a tentative hand to her lip. She removed it quickly.

"How are you feeling," he asked softly, and all of a sudden.

Like I would jump you, Hinata's inner-goddess said with a pout, and Chibi-S pounced on her, covering the girl's mouth with her hands. "I feel fine. And Naruto-kun...?"

"I'm good... just a bit hungry. How about some mobile practice to conclude your lesson before we head back to the beach and eat?"

"How about I send you both on a one-way ticket to hell, and then help myself to your lunch," a familiar voice muttered. Then there was a brief pause as hand seals were being executed. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Hinata held her arm forward in retaliation, like an impenetrable blade, slicing through the massive ball of fire as though it were merely a wall of harmless cheese. Her chakra protected them both from the flames.

"Hinata," Naruto called from behind, his eyes serious. "Finish her with the Rasengan — this is your final training exercise!"

"Right!" The princess leaned into a nimble dash toward an exhausted Kitami.

The woman poised to outmaneuver the daring Hyuga, but she was already stationary within the circle of her doom. Hinata stopped suddenly and struck a pose — both hands outstretched, her legs apart, her back arched. "Jyuukenhou, Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou!"

Kitami had to blink her eyes but once, and Hinata was inches away from her, like a deity of overwhelming power. She seemed to have hovered over the sand, defying gravity to close the distance between them.

The woman gasped as she felt a prick in her side — consecutive jabs that pierced her vulnerable body, like raindrops, plummeting down into an open pond. She could feel her joints getting limp, her consciousness dimming.

"Four points," Hinata uttered, pushing Kitami back, sealing her chakra."Eight points. Sixteen points. Thirty-two points!"

The princess followed up by executing a hearty somersault, knocking the woman upward with a blow from her foot to the chin. Simultaneously — upon landing on her feet — our lovely heroine eased into graceful spin, generating the sphere of destructive force in her palm as she did. "Rasengan!"

Kitami screamed with the last of her strength as Hinata drove the finishing blow into her stomach, destroying her, engulfing her in a wild twister of wind that catapulted her off the ridge and out into the sea, like a cannonball.

"HINATA!" Naruto shouted, ecstatic, rushing over to her.

He scooped her up and swung her around, like a child. But she felt like a princess at the end of a romantic fairy tale, her cheeks all red, her bones melting. "That was amazing! You're amazing! You looked awesome out there — you pulled off that Rasengan like you've been using it for years!"

"...And it's all thanks to Naruto-kun." her voice was melodic, her eyes shining.

Naruto's grin widened as he placed her down, coaxing her lips into a smile, their eyes burning into each other. And, finally, he kissed her — light and sweet. A kiss filled with solemn promises. It took her breath away, and Hinata trembled with desire. She felt a similar vibration coursing through Naruto as she clung to him. If only this moment could last forever.