Chapter 28: The Art of Heart-to-Heart Communication
Crossing through the lush, green forest of Konoha, the shrubs receded behind them as the breeze brushed softly against their faces. Hinata felt light as a feather, right up until the dappled sunlight vanished.
After they turned a corner in the woods, the view ahead suddenly opened up. The sound of rushing water filled the air, white noise enveloping everything around them.
A massive waterfall appeared before them, a torrent of water crashing down into the stream below.
"Where is this?" Hinata asked, dazed.
"By the river," Naruto replied, releasing Hinata's hand. Carrying a large bundle, he headed toward a shaded spot near the water.
The afternoon sun in the forest was harsh, cicadas' cries mixing with the sound of the waterfall to create a deafening din. Yet Hinata's heart pounded in time with the rushing falls—youthful, powerful, and unrestrained.
She stood beneath the shade of a tree, blinking as she watched Naruto busily unpacking. He laid out a long cloth on the grass, set up a small fire pit, a grill, some seasonings, and even a pot.
Hinata's eyes went wide; she covered her mouth in astonishment.
Dora-A-Naru?
"Hinata!" Naruto called, waving her over.
She responded quickly, walking toward him in a daze. Gazing curiously at the picnic setup, she felt as though she had been born on easy mode.
As the eldest daughter of the Hyūga clan, the greatest hardship Hinata had ever faced was her inability to surpass her father—a mountain she could never climb.
Saying she'd never lifted a finger might be an exaggeration, but Hinata truly was a sheltered young lady. Unlike Naruto, who had grown up toughened by hardship, her clothes were always spotless.
Standing there quietly, untouched by wind or snow.
"Naruto-kun, what is all this for?" Hinata asked.
"Outdoor grilling," Naruto replied with a grin. "The stream below this waterfall is fast-flowing, so the fish here are really fresh."
Hinata nodded, a bit nervous as she said,
"My father and the others love sashimi, but I don't, so I rarely eat fish."
"Sashimi?" Naruto squinted, momentarily taken aback. "I only know how to grill fish and make fresh fish soup."
"That's more than enough. I… I've never had grilled fish made by you before," Hinata stammered, face flushing crimson as she waved her hands frantically, worried he might misunderstand.
"No, I mean—what I meant was—"
"It's fine," Naruto said, stepping closer to her. "You don't need to explain so much. Come on, I'll take you to the river to fish."
"Hinata, have you ever gone fishing before?"
"No," Hinata admitted, lowering her head shyly, cheeks tinged pink. "Whenever I got close to the river, I'd be taken away. I've only ever watched people fishing from a distance on bridges."
Makes sense. The Hyūga clan had always prided themselves as Konoha's nobility. There was no way they would allow Hinata to engage in what they considered a lowly pastime like fishing.
"No problem. I'll teach you," Naruto said, grabbing her hand again and leading her into a small grove nearby.
In the distance, an Anbu operative and a Hyūga clansman stood atop separate treetops, eyeing each other warily.
Hyūga ninja: "What's that brat doing taking the young lady there?"
Anbu ninja: "Heading into the woods, looks like."
"…"
"Why don't you use your Byakugan to check?" the Anbu suggested.
"It would disturb the young lady," the Hyūga replied coldly. "Why don't you go take a look?"
"If I get caught, it'll be trouble," the Anbu chuckled. "My monthly pay isn't worth that kind of risk."
"What if the young lady's in danger? What if that brat—" The Hyūga trailed off.
"That's your problem," the Anbu said lazily. "Worst case, I lose my job. If I get caught snooping, I'm even more likely to lose it. Better to just stay here and watch."
"You—!" The Hyūga's face darkened. "Restraining the jinchūriki is your job, isn't it?"
"Not really," the Anbu replied, utterly indifferent. "As long as the jinchūriki doesn't leave the village, the rest isn't my concern."
"Thanks to the jinchūriki, I've got an easy gig. Beats killing and dying out there. Why should I do something stupid?"
"Unbelievable!"
"Well, you clan-types retire at thirty anyway. What would you know about real hardship?" the Anbu said with a grin.
"Whatever. If I make it to thirty without dying on a mission, I'll consider myself lucky to retire in one piece."
"Oh, right. Time for me to clock out."
With that, the Anbu vanished in a blur.
The Hyūga was left speechless. Clocking out? In broad daylight?
About fifteen minutes later, Naruto emerged from the grove with Hinata in tow, holding a long wooden pole in his hand.
After much searching, he had whittled down a sturdy branch with a kunai to make a fishing rod. Bamboo rods were too brittle, and the black fish in this stream tended to be on the larger side.
At the riverbank, Hinata watched as Naruto deftly pulled out fishing line and hooks from his pouch, assembled them, and handed the rod to her.
"Me? I… I can't," Hinata said nervously, taking a small step back.
"It's fine. I'll fish with you," Naruto said, pushing the rod into her hands before stepping behind her.
He all but enclosed her from behind. Hinata realized this instantly, her face turning as red as a ripe apple.
Her cheeks burned so hot she nearly fainted, her mind spinning out of control. Thankfully, Naruto had recently bought a new washing machine, so he didn't smell of sweat like before.
Not that she could think about that—her mind was completely blank.
"Naruto-kun, there's no bait on the hook," she murmured.
"No need," Naruto said, waving it off. "Just cast it like this. The fish here bite even without bait."
With that, he guided Hinata's hands, skillfully casting the line into the water.
From afar, the Hyūga's teeth ground audibly as he read Naruto's lips:
"Yeah right. Fish without bait? If he catches one, I'll gouge my own eyes out!"
[Nine-Tails' Approval: 4.5%]
[Nine-Tails' Approval: 6.7%]
Suddenly, with a chime, the panel popped up again.
Naruto blinked. Another choice?
[Option One: Tell Hinata that you've always disliked gentle girls, because they're gentle to everyone. She only likes heroes, just like every princess loves a pure, flawless hero—and you're no hero. Reward: Flying Thunder God (Max Level)]
[Option Two: Tell Hinata she's already wonderful and will definitely make a good wife someday. Reward: Substitute Loudspeaker (Creates a completely nonexistent shadow double. Anything it says is believed as truth by those within a certain range.)]
Naruto's brow arched at the first option, but when he saw the reward for the second, he froze.
Damn. Isn't this like an anonymous group broadcast?
Not super useful… but ridiculously overpowered.
Alright then! Option Two it is!
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