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───── Tԋҽ Gιɾʅ Iɳ Rҽԃ─────
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︶꒷꒦︶ ๋࣭ ⭑︶꒷꒦︶ ๋࣭ ⭑

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❦Pɾσɱρƚ Tσριƈ❦

December 24th: Red Riding Hood + Urban Legends

❦Sυɱɱαɾყ❦

Naive and innocent, Hinata sets out on a selfless journey to aid her ailing father. However, she makes the mistake of crossing paths with Naruto, the big bad wolf.

Now, in his presence, she faces a daunting proposition: win his harrowing game of survival to return to her father, or lose, forfeiting something uniquely her own—her innocence.

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❦Tαɠʂ❦

Regular Tags: Adventure • Alternate Universe - Fairytale • Angst • Chilling • Dark • Dark Fairytale • Dark Romance • Dark Secrets • December 24 • December 25 • Forests • Heavy Angst • Horror • Human/Monster • Human/Werewolf • Hurt & Comfort • Monster • Nhmonth • Nhmonth23 • Non-human AU • OOC • Psychological Thriller • Red Riding Hood • Supernatural • Thriller • Urban Legends • Werewolf • 2023

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NSFW Tags: Biting • Claiming • Coming Untouched • Coercion • Dirty Talk • DubCon • Fantasies & Fantasizing • First Time • Fuck-Or-Die • Forest Sex • Innocence • Loss of Virginity • Marking • Mating • Monster Sex • Multiple Orgasms • Oral Sex • Orgasm Denial • Outdoors Sex • Ownership • Power Play • Scent Kink • Scratching • Size Difference • Tail(s) • Vaginal Sex • Virgin • Werewolf Bites • Werewolf Mark • 2023

((For My Dark Readers Only))

❦Wσɾԃ Cσυɳƚ❦

Part 1: 12.8K

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The Girl In Red

The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky with a rich palette of amber, gold, and crimson hues. Its waning light stretched long shadows across the dense foliage surrounding a quaint little village.

Accompanying the gentle sway of the trees was the soft caress of the breeze, carrying with it the earthy aroma of pine needles mingled with the damp, fertile scent of soil.

A young woman strode briskly along a meandering trail branching off from the village behind her, her midnight blue hair trailing like ribbons in the steady wind as she walked.

The woman?

Hinata Hyūga, the girl in red.

The young woman, sweet as can be, wore a vibrant red cloak that flowed behind her, a gift from her dear late mother. Underneath, a white blouse with ruffles peeked out, paired with a swaying red skirt. Black fishnet stockings hugged her legs as she walked with grace in her Mary Jane pumps.

Very picturesque.

Hinata's steps were determined, moving steadily onward and upward, unfaltering even in the face of the whispered fears that hung in the air. She's been walking for quite some time, long enough for a dull ache to settle in her ankles and a persistent soreness to nag at her lower back.

Still, she pressed forward.

She must.

She had only one thing on her mind, and nothing else, propelling her to keep moving forward...

Her dear father: Hiashi Hyūga.

He's fallen ill.

An unfortunate turn of events.

In the early stages, his illness seemed rather mild, to say the least. Just an occasional cough here and there, nothing too alarming for Hinata. She brushed it off as a common seasonal nuisance, just his sensitive sinuses acting up again.

So, she would make it a routine to brew her father a steaming cup of chamomile tea three times a day, meticulously steeping it to perfection. By his bedside, she would softly hum melodies she learned from her mother as she helped him drink the tea, all in hopes of soothing his cough and ushering him into a peaceful slumber.

At first, the tea seemed to do the trick.

However, as time passed, the soothing properties of the tea sadly began to lose their effectiveness. Before long, his symptoms began to worsen, escalating into something far more serious.

Pneumonia.

His ailment turned into pneumonia.

Hinata found that out on her own, having managed to piece it together from her father's symptoms—persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, and a stubborn fever that just wouldn't go down, no matter what she did.

She tried everything to bring his many fevers down—cool compresses, damp cloths on his forehead, and even making him sip on ice-cold water or mint tea from time to time—but nothing seemed to work.

Her father was an old man, brittle and fragile. There was only so much that he could endure.

As the days went by, her father's appearance grew more haggard and feeble, like a shell of who he once was. It pained Hinata to see him fading away, inching farther from his usual vibrant self.

He hardly spoke, hardly laughed, and hardly smiled...

Each day, each hour, each minute, he battled with all of his might against the cruel pneumonia. But it seemed like it was gaining the upper hand more and more each day.

Hinata truly feared that he just might...

She shook her head, suppressing tears. She shouldn't think that way.

It was this sense of urgency that drove Hinata forward, motivating her to hasten her return home with the supplies she had collected for him.

In her delicate hands, Hinata carried a woven basket brimming with vibrant vegetables, fruits, and an assortment of herbs and medicines—collected from the settlement a few miles away.

Konoha Village.

Hinata's father, Hiashi, resided in a charming cottage on the outskirts of Konoha village, nestled by a tranquil lake. His cottage, though old and weathered, had a cozy charm that was rather inviting.

The quaint home was surrounded by blooming gardens and a cobblestone pathway, providing a peaceful sanctuary for him to live in peace.

But his cottage wasn't just any place; it was Hinata's home as well.

There, the two lived, accompanied only by one another.

After the mysterious death of Hinata's mother, her father made the decision to leave Konoha. The memories of her and the village itself became too painful, a constant reminder that Hiashi simply couldn't bear.

So, they moved.

That was many years ago, back when Hinata was just a child.

But since then, Hinata has taken on the responsibility of looking after her father, especially now, as he lies sick in bed.

She's grown pretty good at it, which just goes to show how much she learned from her mother. Her mother made sure Hinata could handle looking after both herself and her father on her own, and it's definitely paying off now.

Those teachings were priceless, worth more than gold itself.

And though her dear mother had passed away, Hinata found comfort in knowing that she was still with her; guiding her hands, and blessing her with patience and strength. The wisdom and love she instilled in Hinata were like permanent marks on her soul, destined to remain for as long as she lived.

And so, no matter the challenges she faced, no matter how heavy the burden of her father's illness, Hinata managed to maintain her positivity.

Her inner light remained undimmed.

Her radiance was so powerful that it seemed to push back against the encroaching darkness, even now, as she walked the trail all by her lonesome.

But as she walked, the hushed voices of the Konoha townsfolk echoed in her ears, refusing to fade away.

She couldn't shake them off.

The midnight blue-haired woman noticed, as she inhabited their lands, that they constantly spoke of a beast lurking in the nearby forest.

Their fearful gossip painted a picture of a fearsome predator, a freak of nature that had made the once-tranquil forest a place of dread.

And as soon as word spread that Hinata planned to return home through this forest, the villagers became...

agitated.

They pleaded with her to wait until morning, to stay safe in the village for the night before venturing near those dangerous woods or traveling at all, for that matter.

But, Hinata stood firm, adamant.

"I've been away long enough," She had told them, sweetly and earnestly.

"I can't bear the thought of anything happening to my father while I'm away. He needs these herbs, and I won't let fear keep me from him." She also told them.

"Thank you for all of your concerns, but I must go. Please, wish me luck!"

However, thinking back on her own words now, Hinata couldn't seem to forget the image of the wide-eyed stares brimming with intense fear and concern etched on the faces of the villagers as she finished speaking. It lingered with her even as she turned away from them and left their gracious company and then village behind.

Little did she know, a touch of naivety tinted her determination.

The village of Konoha had long battled with the mysterious beast, for several generations, in fact. Its existence was deeply embedded in the memories of its residents, intertwining with the essence of the village itself.

Its claws dug deep.

Whenever someone mentions Konoha, the stories of the forest-dwelling beast immediately come to mind soon after. Some dismiss it as an urban legend, while others see it as a cautionary tale passed from adults to children, who eagerly swap it like campfire stories whenever they get the chance.

People simply referred to the creature as "the beast" or even "the big bad wolf," depending on who you asked.

Nobody knew the beast's real name, where it came from, or what it looked like—just where it lived and what it did at night, specifically on nights of a full moon.

According to the local lore, it was said that on full moon nights, a chilling wolf-like howl could be heard echoing through the forest and into the village. Farmers reported instances of discovering their chickens mauled and their crops raided. Some villagers even claimed to have seen claw marks on their doors, and others reported the disappearances of loved ones, or so the tale goes.

But none of that mattered to Hinata.

Sure, Hinata had caught wind of rumors about this beast when she was younger but her parents always shielded her from such tales.

"It's all nonsense," Her mother would always brush off when a teary Hinata sought comfort in her after being scared by the other children's tales of the beast.

Children could be quite scary, Hinata recalls how they would often use the tale to frighten other kids for a good laugh, presumably targeting her as well. They'd swap and switch details so often that Hinata couldn't distinguish fact from fiction anymore.

That's why she felt it best to heed her mother's advice and ignore the tale altogether.

Though, she still made sure to stay as far away from that forest as humanly possible.

As time passed and Hinata eventually moved away from Konoha, the legend faded from her thoughts, becoming a distant memory. So hearing it again after so many years, Hinata couldn't help but take it with a grain of salt. To her now, the legend seemed more like a tactic to keep youngsters in check—a cautionary tale spun to prevent them from wandering too far and stumbling into trouble.

It was absurd.

Hinata has no time for legends and myths. Her father's illness is her reality now, not some spooky ole beast, and she must reach him as quickly as possible.

And so, venturing through the forest will fulfill her wish.

With one hand, Hinata clutched a lantern, its flickering flames casting dancing shadows along the trail, guiding the way with its light. In the other hand, she tightly gripped her basket, finding comfort in its presence—a constant reminder of the purpose driving her to continue her journey.

With each squeeze of the basket's handle, her father's image appeared in her mind: sick, bedridden, and sound asleep for days on end, his hand limp in hers.

She whimpered.

'I'm on my way, father. I'm on my way.' She thought to herself, finding another surge of motivation. She trotted onward, each step she took resonating with a thud on the stoned pathway.

The chilly night breeze constantly whispered through the rustling trees, sending shivers of its cool touch through any openings in her clothing, such as her arms and legs, causing goosebumps to rise on her porcelain skin.

Hinata shuddered, her red hood steadily flying in the wind.

While she traveled, the fading sunlight caught the glimmer in her lavender eyes—eyes that reflected only innocence and purity, unaffected by the darkness surrounding the tales of the lurking beast or, perhaps more notably, the harsh realities of the unforgiving world she lived in.

Her kindness and determination were guiding lights for her, yet they also rendered her vulnerable to the ominous unknown that awaited her.

Eventually, the trail led her to the entrance of the forest, where the ancient trees stood like silent sentinels. Their gnarled branches seemed to reach out at her like spectral fingers, casting eerie shadows on the ground by her feet.

Immediately, Hinata's steps came to a sudden halt as she locked eyes with the looming forest. Her lantern and basket swayed due to her abrupt stop, her gaze transfixed on the eerie expanse ahead.

Shallow breaths escaped her lips in quick succession, and her hands began to tremble.

This is it.

The forest the villagers warned her about.

The urban legend, the tale of the beast—she never paid it any mind before. She outgrew that silly old tale, and it never made her shed another tear again. She wasn't scared of it anymore.

So, why was she feeling scared now?

Hinata couldn't tell if it was her instincts kicking in or the return of her childhood fears, but her body's peculiar reaction was unmistakable. She was trembling, shaken by the sight of the spooky forest that all of Konoha spoke about with such fear, now standing before her very eyes.

Tangible and real.

Shakily, through the strands of her midnight-blue hair, Hinata raised her head and surveyed the eerie forest.

Instantly, she realized the gravity of her situation.

There were no other trails to consider, no detours, no shortcuts, and no hidden pathways to divert her from the ominous woods. The trail she had followed led her directly to the heart of the very forest that was said to dwell a beast.

The forest stretched wide before her, its dense canopy casting shadows over the trail, which seemed to vanish into the darkness ahead.

Her heart began to race.

Once again, the villagers' warnings echoed in her mind, a constant murmur urging her to retreat, turn away, and think twice about going any farther. The echoes just wouldn't quit, persistently nagging at her consciousness, like a chorus of annoying voices that just wouldn't go away.

But, her father....

Hinata's mind drifted back to her beloved father, who she knew was eagerly awaiting her return home. She knew he longed more than anything to see her walk through the door with a smile, bringing the supplies she had traveled far and wide to acquire.

It was at that moment, the fearful echoes of the villagers' pleas faded away.

Hinata exhaled a long breath in an attempt to calm the rising tide of anxiety within her. She even bit her lip nervously, gripping the handle of her basket tighter.

'You can do this, Hinata. You can do this!' She thought, once more trying to motivate herself.

Hinata knew she had to be brave, to summon strength from within the depths of her being to go on—for her father's sake.

She must.

So, with newfound determination, she steadied herself, taking a few more deep breaths before she planted her eyes back onto the spooky forest before her.

She was ready.

And with that, she summoned the courage needed to finally step into the darkness that lay ahead.

To enter the forest.

The moment Hinata walked inside, a profound stillness descended around her like a heavy blanket, muffling even the slightest sound. The light that lingered behind her at the forest's entrance seemed to be instantly swallowed by the darkness within as she took a few more steps.

One step. Two steps.

The air seemed to shift, the pressure weighing her down and prickling at her skin like tangible dread.

Three steps. Four.

Above her, towering trees with branches covered in ancient moss loomed from all directions, their shadows stretching and swaying in the flickering light of her lantern.

The scent of damp pine grew stronger now, filling her nostrils with its earthy aroma, saturating the air all around her.

Hinata's footsteps slowed, becoming cautious, as if the ground itself conspired with the looming shadows to keep her alert. With each step, she felt as if the ground might open up beneath her feet and drag her under, never to be seen or heard from again.

The path stretched ahead beneath her, shrouded in darkness so deep that even her lantern struggled to penetrate it, casting only a faint halo around her that the darkness seemed eager to swallow up. It called her onward into its endless black depths, demanding a courage she hadn't known she had.

Her heart pounded fiercely against her ribcage, aching with each beat, a sensation that felt suffocating and very unfamiliar to her.

After all, panic, dread, and fear were never her friends, more like acquaintances she encountered every once in a blue moon in her otherwise normal life.

But now, she felt it all tenfold.

Hinata had always prided herself on her composure, but here, surrounded by looming trees and engulfed in an oppressive silence broken only by the occasional rustle, she was beginning to crack.

The longer Hinata lingered within the forest, the tales of the lurking beast seemed to materialize all around her, like a ghost slowly encroaching upon her senses. They echoed in her mind and in every rustle and shadow.

'Is it there?' She questioned in her mind as she heard a rustle of bushes to her left.

'Was that it?' She questioned once more, as she heard another rustle behind her.

Hinata shook her head, letting out a sigh.

She was being ridiculous.

Glancing up hesitantly, her lavender eyes fixed on the twisted, moss-covered branches overhead. They snaked together like thick vines, blocking out the moonlight.

She caught only glimpses of the sky, but even those revealed the truth: it was already night, which explains the darkness befalling the forest, swallowing it up whole.

She squinted, barely catching sight of the full moon above. Its ethereal glow attempted to pierce through the dense foliage but only succeeded in casting eerie shadows in the forest that only freaked her out even more.

Hinata tore her gaze from the sky, fixing her eyes solely on the path ahead. Remaining alert in her surroundings was wise; after all, it wasn't just a scary ole beast that might roam these woods—other ordinary animals could be lurking as well.

Predators.

She raised her lantern higher.

But that's when she began to notice something.

As she moved forward, the trail ahead became increasingly narrow, almost disappearing under the tangle of roots, dead leaves, and thick undergrowth. Hinata made sure to tread carefully, even stepping over the tangled obstacles, mindful to avoid tripping and risking a nasty fall.

That would be terrible.

She tightened her grip on her lantern and basket, drawing comfort from their warmth. But she struggled to steady her trembling breaths against the creeping unease that seemed to seep from the darkness itself.

Genuinely, Hinata was spooked.

Goosebumps prickled her skin, making it feel like a million bugs were crawling across her flesh, all stirred up by the soft murmurings of the night wind.

It just made her feel even more isolated, like an eerie reminder that she was completely alone here.

Hoot! Hoot!

Hinata shuddered, her senses rattled.

Maybe not completely alone.

She couldn't help but notice the distant hoot of an owl and the rustling of creatures in the bushes. She felt so silly thinking what she just did.

The silence felt thick, disrupted only by the eerie sounds of the night: crickets chirping, frogs ribbiting, and owls hooting in the distance.

Hinata strained her ears, half-expecting another unsettling noise to break the stillness. Her mind was buzzing, not at all helping her situation, with the villagers' warnings echoing louder in her mind, now than ever before.

Doubt flickered, like a wavering flame, her heart thudding like a drum.

But amidst it all, Hinata clung to the image of her father, frail and ill, relying on the supplies she carried.

So, she continued on.

She proceeded on the path forward, taking one step at a time.

'Just stay on the path, Hinata. That's all you have to do.' She reassured herself, glancing at the familiar stoned trail beneath her feet, or at least the bits of trail that her light graciously illuminated.

But no matter how close she huddled to her light, Hinata could not shake free from the unseen eyes watching her every move.

Her eyes darted between the trees, catching glimpses of elusive shadows that seemed to retreat as soon as they caught her gaze.

She clutched her lantern tighter.

Awooooo!

Abruptly, a distant howl of a wolf shattered the silence, disrupting Hinata's fragile calm. Startled, she leaped in fright, struggling to stifle her whimpers, but a few hushed squeaks escaped nonetheless.

The eerie cry echoed unnervingly close, as though it were just a few steps behind her, prompting her to instinctively whip her head in that direction.

Yet, all she saw was darkness, a vast expanse of black.

She aimed her lantern in that direction, only to see nothing, just more... trees.

Shivers ran down her spine, her sense of imminent danger heightening.

But she kept on.

'Just a few more steps, I'm sure. The forest can't be that big, right?' Hinata attempted to reassure herself as she pressed forward on the path again, cutting through the forest with the vision that the clear path home lay just a few steps away.

She wasn't sure how long or how far she had walked into the forest. Every tree looked identical, and the forest seemed to stretch on endlessly, making it impossible for her to identify the distance she had covered.

Branches creaked...

Leaves rustled...

But that's all there was—rustling.

No beast.

No monstrous entity lurking in the shadows.

Nothing.

'See, Hinata? The villagers were just overreacting. There's nothing to worry about.' She reassured herself yet again.

But just as she convinced herself that the villagers were simply letting their fears get the best of them and that there was no beast, she was startled by a chilling surprise that shook her to her very core.

A surprise that made her doubt everything.

All of a sudden, she caught a sound—a haunting, guttural noise.

And it spoke to her.

"I see you there, little one."

It was a voice, other than her own.

It was a deep, booming voice that shattered the silence, its words lingering like a sinister whisper long after spoken, chilling her to the bone.

In an instant, Hinata found herself completely still, every part of her body, from her nerves to her bones, locked in place. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. She couldn't even—

"I can smell you too."

The voice spoke again, slicing through her panicked and scattered thoughts. Any notion that what she just heard was merely her imagination or a trick of her mind vanished completely, leaving her with the chilling reality of her fear.

"You don't belong here."

The voice spoke once more.

"Tell me, what's a frail little thing like you doing here in my woods, huh?"

The voice exuded a creepy mix of menace and curiosity, and it spoke like it was coming from all around her, as if the very trees themselves whispered such ominous words.

Hinata's heart began to hammer faster, thudding against her chest as if trying to escape.

Every instinct screamed at her to run, to sprint back to the safety of Konoha village or if not that, find cover to escape the unseen menace that lurked in the shadows. But, her legs refused to respond, rooted to her spot, bound by an invisible force that held her captive.

She tightened her grip on her lantern and basket, seeking solace in their familiarity, but the chilling reality of her fear seemed to seep into her bones, draining her determination with each passing second.

It's the beast.

It's real and it can talk!

It's alive, and out there—Lurking.

Somewhere among the trees, it was hiding, waiting, and watching.

Probably done so all along.

It was the very beast that the people of Konoha feared, the one they had warned her about. It has finally revealed its presence. But it has done so in a way that brought upon a mass of terror upon her poor soul.

"Aw, what's the matter? Cat's got your tongue, little one?"

This time, amusement tinged the beast's voice, and Hinata caught it instantly. But her mouth remained clamped shut, her voice stolen by the fear that gripped her.

The creature seemed to take pleasure in her silence, its tone becoming increasingly mocking.

"You're a surprising one, coming here. I'm not sure if you're brave or just..."

A menacing chuckle was made.

"stupid." The beast finished, a taunting challenge that further tightened the knot of dread in Hinata's stomach.

The beast's words seemed to linger in the air, and Hinata found herself grappling with the urgency to respond, to defend her purpose for being there—right in the middle of the very domain it inhabited.

A whimper escaped Hinata's lips as she glanced anxiously around.

"I-I apologize for d-disturbing you." Her voice cracked hard. It was like all the saliva in her mouth dried up, leaving her throat scratchy and parched. But she continued, kami, she didn't know how she did.

"I-I'm merely delivering f-food and m-medicine to my f-father." She stammered, managing to maintain a fragile steadiness in her voice despite the trembling in her limbs.

"H-He's sick, and I m-must get to him as q-quickly as p-possible, please."

The forest seemed to hold its breath as she spoke, the ancient trees and whispering leaves hanging on to every word and gentle breath she uttered with eager attentiveness.

Her purpose for venturing into the forest had been announced.

Her soft voice had been revealed.

It was like a melodic lullaby—her voice. It echoed timidly, carrying a soft cadence that seemed to harmonize with the natural rhythms of the forest, soothing the very leaves around her.

Her ears caught a low chuckle, almost a growl, rumbling through the air, echoing ominously among the shadows.

The unseen beast truly found the sound of Hinata's voice rather... captivating.

It responded in turn.

"Your father, eh?"

Another menacing chuckle.

"Let me get this straight."

The beast paused, as if it was thinking, before its voice arose again.

"You've traveled all this way, wading through my territory, doing what many wouldn't dare, just to deliver supplies to your sick father?"

The beast's deep voice rumbled through the air like distant thunder, its tone laced with a genuine sense of confusion as it questioned her.

Hinata nodded shakily, as if the beast could see her response.

Her lavender eyes scanned her surroundings once more, her head whipping about, unable to pinpoint where the voice was. Sometimes it boomed from behind her, startlingly close; other times, it seemed to fade into the distance, only to return with an unsettling proximity. And it even seemed to whisper with an eerie clarity right beside her ear at times, sending shivers down her spine.

Hinata didn't know where the beast was; quite frankly, she didn't want to know. She didn't want to see it.

Once more, the trees rustled in a mysterious dance of leaves, stirred by an unseen breeze, prompting her eyes to shift rapidly, whimpering.

Soon after, the voice echoed through the silent forest once more.

"Mmm, what a devoted little thing you are. I must take a closer look."

Instantly, panic surged through Hinata the very moment those words left the beast's mouth.

It felt like a threat, triggering a primal urge in her to flee. Her mind raced with the urge to run, hide, do something, but her body couldn't keep pace with what her mind was screaming at it.

Panic.

That's all she felt.

She was overwhelmed by panic—relentless, heedless of reason or necessity—just raw, clawing panic, gnawing at her insides.

Panic gripped her fiercely, its tendrils wrapping around her mind and squeezing tight. Her heart raced like a drumbeat, each thud echoing in her ears. Every breath came in short, shallow gasps, her chest tightening with each inhale.

Hinata felt trapped in a suffocating embrace of fear, unable to think clearly as adrenaline rushed through her veins.

'Oh no. Oh no!' She repeated over and over in her head as she whipped her body around, trying to anticipate where the beast might reveal itself.

A hushed silence fell upon the forest, as though nature itself had fallen completely still.

Frozen in time.

No shuffles, no rustles, and no sign of life resonated through the entirety of the still forest, leaving Hinata wrapped in an eerie quiet that heightened her anxiety to the extremes.

She began to hyperventilate.

Hinata glanced around anxiously, scanning every direction—left, right, front, back, up, and down—hoping to catch a glimpse of the lurking creature before it leaped out at her, a preemptive move to spare herself a heart attack.

But the forest remained eerily quiet.

And there was no sign or sound of the beast anywhere.

Suddenly, a sensation washed over her, as if the very air had shifted—and in an instant, Hinata sensed a presence behind her, looming over her petite frame.

A warm breath gently brushed against her neck, causing every hair on her body to stand on end.

"Behind you."

The booming voice reverberated behind her once more, but this time, it was unmistakable.

It echoed directly into her left ear.

The realization struck her like a lightning bolt, causing Hinata's heart to race even faster, its beats resembling the fluttering wings of a hummingbird against her chest.

Ba Boom!

Ba Boom!

Ba Boom!

Hinata's body froze in place.

She couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't see or hear. Was she still alive? Was she still here?

She wasn't sure.

In moments of fear, they say the body responds with fight or flight, but Hinata was currently experiencing the lesser-acknowledged third option.

Freeze.

It was a primal reaction her body had never felt before, muscles locking rigidly, breath held tight, senses hyper-alert.

Hinata hesitated hard, finding it difficult to accept that the real beast—the one feared by the villagers, the one that had spoken to her moments ago in the night's shadows, the same one even she was afraid of as a child—was now standing right behind her.

No one had ever seen it.

No one even knows what it looks like.

Yet, now it stood behind her.

Hinata couldn't even begin to imagine what the beast looked like.

Her innocent mind couldn't conjure a clear image, only a chilling certainty that whatever stood behind her at this very moment would surely petrify her, plunging her into a pit of regret for even venturing into this forest.

But, she gotta.

She gotta turn around.

Slowly, with trepidation, and a shaky, desperate "I-don't-want-to-die" whimper, she turned, shedding the cold chains of fear that gripped her. It took all of Hinata's strength to turn her body completely around, stretching her neck to face the beast head-on.

But when she did...

What she saw instantly spurred her to fight against the darkness that threatened to cloud her vision and plunge her completely unconscious to the ground behind her.

She fought everything not to faint.

Instead, Hinata jolted back, away from the hulking figure of darkness, stumbling over her pump heels.

"O-Oh my kami. Oh k-k-kami!" She panicked with a scream, lips trembling, teeth chattering against one another. Her abrupt movement caused her lantern and basket to rattle in her clammy hands, nearly slipping from her grasp.

But that was the least of her worries.

There it stood, in the flesh.

The beast.

The big bad wolf.

It stood patiently and proudly, almost as if it beckoned her to behold its presence.

Silhouetted against the full moon's light, its form was tall and imposing, easily dwarfing her puny height. Its presence alone seemed to stretch long shadows that loomed ominously over the forest floor, over her.

Hinata's tear-filled eyes immediately snapped to the beast's eyes. They were terrifying, unlike anything she had ever seen before.

Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly red glow that pierced through the darkness, holding a mixture of curiosity and something far more sinister.

The beast's pupils, sharp as slits, sliced through its swirling crimson orbs, casting an eerie illumination that seemed to light up its surroundings like a flashlight, sending more shivers down Hinata's spine.

Her lavender eyes were quick to shoot down to its teeth next, the creature's lips pulled back in a Cheshire grin. Each tooth was sharpened to a razor-sharp point, she realized, capable of piercing straight through her flesh if it chose to—or worse, devouring her whole.

Its menacing teeth jutted out from its mouth, its grin both bloodcurdling and filled with hunger, yet tinged with a twisted sense of amusement.

The creature stood tall, draped in sleek, ash-gray fur, its sinuous, silver-gray tail twitching behind itself with an almost sentient awareness. Its alert ears, topped with the same shade, framed a head crowned with wild blonde hair.

Long, frightening claws extended from its massive fingers, catching the dim light of her lantern with an ominous glint, sharp just as its teeth.

The beast wore tattered remnants of an orange shirt that draped loosely over its muscular frame, unbuttoned and left open, revealing sinewy muscles beneath coarse fur. Below, black knee-high shorts clung to its lower body.

Hinata grimaced. She found it extremely unsettling to see the beast clothed.

She certainly wasn't expecting that.

But down below, Hinata saw that the beast was completely barefooted, its feet seemingly melding with the earth, as if becoming one with the land itself.

The forest, once lively and boisterous, now stood silent and submissive in the presence of this enigmatic creature. The spotlight was firmly on the beast, confirming its dominance over the entire forest.

The beast's appearance was now revealed, no longer a mystery, well, at least not to her.

Its big ears, big eyes, large hands, and terrifyingly large mouth were all utterly horrendous.

The beast seemed to bear a resemblance to a wolf, yet stood up on its hind legs and, strangely enough...

appeared human too.

A true nightmare.

A monstrous hybrid atrocity Hinata knew was capable of tearing her to shreds without hesitation.

She could see it in its fiery, feral eyes.

It was too much for Hinata's brain to process—too much for her heart to handle.

Hinata could do nothing but quiver in the face of the Legendary beast of Konoha, nearly on the brink of fainting.

She was now faced with something completely unfamiliar—something she had never witnessed in her entire life and surely hadn't known existed.

She was now beginning to regret not heeding the villagers' advice, wishing she had just stayed away.

She was in trouble. Deep, deep trouble.

Hinata watched the creature intently, its head snapping side to side in quick movements as it sniffed the air, curious like a wolf detecting her scent.

Its red eyes glinted as it began to move closer to her quivering form, in an effort to fulfill its earlier promise—to take a closer look at her.

The beast began to circle Hinata, around and around, like the predator it was, assessing its prey.

Petrified in place, her body felt like a statue as the beast's crimson, slitted eyes trailed her, its mouth salivating as if she were nothing more than a piece of meat dangling before it.

She closed her eyes, shuddering.

It was right there. So close. So—

"Hello there." The beast rumbled close to her left ear, making her jump, her eyes snapping back open. It tilted its head, a curious gesture as it studied Hinata's reaction—studied her.

Its crimson eyes followed each strand of midnight blue hair that cascaded over her head and down her back. Around, the beast walked, its gaze raised, scrutinizing every detail of her.

It snapped up to her pupil-less lavender eyes.

It smirked at what it saw there.

So much fear.

So much innocence.

Her delicate hands, which the beast saw was gripping a basket of supplies and a lantern that cast flickering light, managed to reveal the whisker marks on its cheeks.

The beast noted the contours of her petite body beneath her cute attire—the rise and fall of her chest, the trembling legs that bore the weight of her anxiety.

Every subtlety, every tremor, every part of her, did not escape the beast's attentive gaze.

No, it craved it all, eager to know more about the very human who had ventured willingly into its territory.

Taking a wide stride behind her, its eyes fixed on her adorable red hood, and it even boldly reached out to tug at it, the fabric crinkling within its massive clawed fingers.

Hinata's heart raced as she whimpered, her body trembling with fear.

"Pl-Please—" She pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Why, aren't you a cute little thing." It rumbled, its deep voice resonating through the still night air. It leaned in, taking a deep sniff as it circled her once more, its hot breath brushing against her neck.

"Mmm, smells nice too. Real nice," It hissed, the sound strangely mixing with a low growl. Hinata couldn't decipher if the emotion in its voice stemmed from anger or... something else.

But that noise the beast just made sounded so weird and it certainly made her feel weird.

Hinata squirmed.

Now that it spoke so close, the beast's voice sounded undeniably masculine, but just with a tone much deeper.

Was it male? Did it even identify with such distinctions? Would it make the creature angry if she referred to it as such?

Hinata's mind raced with questions, her senses completely overwhelmed. But one thing was certain: identifying the beast as a male, something a bit more human, made the creature less frightening for her.

Only a tiny bit, though.

Because each time the male creature circled her, he seemed to only heighten her anxiety, intensifying her fear of the unknown—what he might do, what he was thinking.

Whenever he circled back in front of her, she relaxed slightly, only to tense up again when he disappeared behind her.

Hinata attempted to lift her head to sneak peeks at him, trying to keep an eye on his position, but being the klutz she was, she always seemed to do so at the wrong moments. Each time she stole a glance, her teary eyes would just unintentionally meet the beast's monstrous gaze head-on, startling her into a yelp before quickly snapping her eyes away.

The male creature took a step in front of her, his crimson eyes locking onto Hinata's delicate face and teary eyes. His lips curled into a dark smirk, revealing his razor-sharp canines once again.

Being up close to his prey now provided a satisfaction far beyond what he had felt observing her from a distance.

He purred, deeply pleased by what he saw.

"Tell me, what's your name?" The beast's voice was both demanding and curious, "Isn't that what humans go by to identify one from the other?"

The blonde beast tilted his head, "Names?" He emphasized.

Hinata nodded shakily, struggling to muster the courage to speak.

"H-H-Hinata," She stuttered.

"My name is H-Hinata Hyūga." She repeated, in a clearer tone but the croak in her voice was undeniable. She was scared, utterly terrified, and the beast knew.

His dark smirk returned once more.

The beast walked behind her once again, but this time, Hinata felt something bushy, and soft rub along her left leg, brushing up against the fabric of her stockings. His tail.

She shuddered, the shake of her legs intensifying.

"Mmm, Hinata." He purred, savoring her name with a richness that rolled off his tongue like the aftertaste of a satisfying meal.

"I absolutely adore it."

The beast let out another purr, circling her body one last time before settling in front of her.

But that's not all he did.

He bent his massive frame down, stooping to her level as if she were a mere child. Now, Hinata found herself in a staring contest with the creature, her teary lavender eyes meeting his gaze head-on. His eyes, like pools of lava, now bore into her soul, illuminated by her dim lantern light that steadily reflected off his whiskered face.

"I can sense from your trembling that you know who I am, Hinata," The creature's voice emerged again, masculine as can be. Close as he was, his breath brushed over her face, a mixture of damp earth and a metallic tang like blood. It was more than Hinata could bear, her eyes fluttering closed, soft whimpers escaping her trembling lips.

"The b-beast," Hinata whispered, barely audible.

"Not my name."

"B-But no one knows y-y-your name. I didn't even know you had a name. And now I... I mean—" Her frantic words faltered as the beast interrupted her.

He reached out and grabbed her by the chin in a sudden, firm grip, his claws digging into her flesh. Hinata whimpered at the roughness of his touch, her entire body tensing in response to the creature's grasp.

"Curious about my name, are we, little one?" The beast purred, tilting his head slightly.

Hinata gasped, her breath catching in her throat. She shook her head, but her lips betrayed her.

"Y-Yes, I-I meant no-"

"I may consider it." He hummed, his voice resonating through the trees, carried by the night wind.

"C-C-Consider what-?"

"Why, telling you my name, of course." The beast appeared amused by her stuttering, oddly finding it cute. He went out and surprised her yet again by brushing his thumb across her chin, a gesture that felt uncomfortably intimate, causing Hinata to flinch away. But she couldn't escape the beast's hold; he simply tightened his grip.

"And you're right. No soul in Konoha knows this secret—my name." The beast acknowledged with a dark chuckle.

"So you should feel special, Hinata."

She didn't.

The rapid pace of her heart, the overwhelming dread she felt, and the surreal encounter with a creature she never knew existed prevented any sense of specialness from sinking in.

Hinata found it all rather strange, in fact.

Why would the beast even consider revealing such a secret—his name? It's what made him mysterious because no one knew it. It's what made the tales so scary because they always emphasized how little anyone knew about the creature lurking in Konoha forest.

So, why spill such a secret now, and to her of all people? It just didn't make sense.

None of this made sense at all.

The beast purred with satisfaction at the terror etched on Hinata's face, a dark amusement flickering in his eyes before he released a low chuckle.

Hinata winced slightly as he suddenly released her chin. She wanted to rub her jaw to help relax it, but seeing that her hands were occupied she merely settled with moving her jaw about to ease the ache his tight grip caused.

She watched as the beast took a step back, stretching his massive arms far from his body. His tattered orange shirt fluttered in the cool night breeze, his sinewy muscles flexing beneath his coarse fur. The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting an eerie spotlight directly on him.

He smirked darkly, "I am Naruto—Naruto Uzumaki." He announced proudly, his red-slitted eyes gleaming brighter as he revealed his secret, his true name.

"I am the guardian of these woods, the one they call the Big Bad Wolf."

He dropped his arms to tilt his head, his blonde bangs casting a shadow across his animalistic features, "I am the embodiment of darkness, the essence of the night. I am everything you fear, the force that sets that frail little heart of yours a fright," He added with a growl, his words carrying a chilling undertone that Hinata had only heard in nursery rhymes and scary bedtime stories.

But she knew...

This was no fairy tale.

"N-N-Naruto," Hinata shakily whispered the beast's name, finally obtaining the secret that had eluded all of Konoha for so long. Now, she had the secret. She knew the legendary beast of Konoha's name.

She knew it.

But for some reason, she didn't feel happy about it. The dread only grew as if her body knew something that she didn't.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Naruto sucked in a breath, tilting his head back and emitting a strange, almost intimate sound in response to her uttering his name. It was unsettling how much he seemed to relish it.

Before she could fully grasp his reaction, Naruto was back in her personal space, shattering the fragile distance between them once more.

"Yes." He hissed, "Now you know my true name, and now, you shall say it."

"Why... why are you telling me this, N-Naruto?" Hinata managed to whisper, desperate to understand the motive behind his revelation.

Naruto's smirk widened, giving her a good but unwanted view of his sharp canines.

"Why?" He repeated, his tone low and almost playful despite the menace in his eyes, "Because you've intrigued me, that's why." He simply responded, but that just did not sit well with Hinata. She sensed there had to be something more, a hidden agenda or a catch.

Hinata swallowed hard, dread tightening yet another knot within her, "What... what do you want from me?"

"I want you to begin by explaining a few things to me, my dear," Naruto continued, humming softly, "Such as why have you come? What truly brought you here, hm?" He questioned her yet again, almost as if he didn't believe the response she gave him the first time.

He even leaned in closer, as if suspicious, his breath lingering uncomfortably close to her face.

Hinata gulped, "My f-father, he's—"

"Sick, yes, I know," He interrupted, almost impatiently, even giving a nonchalant shrug.

"I mean what brought you here, to my forest? There were other ways to get to him, yes?" Naruto hummed with a tilt of his head.

"Why risk your life, huh?"

"My f-father.." Hinata swallowed the lump in her throat, fighting back tears that threatened to spill over, "h-he's dying, and I w-went off to fetch supplies to s-save him." She sucked in a breath.

"Taking this f-forest would ensure that I get to him by n-nightfall, instead of the next day. It was quicker, so please, I really n-need to get to him. If something were to happen, I-I'll..." Hinata sniffed, "never forgive myself."

"Hmm." Naruto leaned back slightly, his crimson eyes narrowing as he considered Hinata's words, studying her face. His large, clawed hands tapped thoughtfully against his thighs before he spoke again, his voice now a bit condescending—soft, yet mocking.

"Oh, my dear, what a tragic tale you weave. A noble endeavor, aiding your ill father, is it not? But," The blonde beast hummed, "I must warn you, this forest does not take kindly to trespassers."

He clicked his tongue, a sound that echoed through the stillness. It was a sharp, rhythmic sound that mimicked Hinata's own stammering.

"I do not take kindly to trespassers," Naruto emphasized.

It was those words that managed to escalate the beat of Hinata's heart, if that was even possible at this point. She found her eyes darting around the forest, searching for any sign of escape, but the beast's gaze held her in place.

Hinata pouted, shaking her head, "Please," She pleaded, "I promise, I-I won't return. Just let me go back to my father."

"No." Naruto growled, with a shake of his own head, "You've made a grave mistake venturing into my woods," He remarked, standing up tall again, a predatory glint in his eyes.

"Now, I find myself wishing for more of your company; to stay and keep me entertained."

Hinata's eyes widened in shock, fear etching her small features.

She took an instinctive step back, only to witness the beast leaning in, sniffing the air around her yet again.

"Oh Hinata darling, I can't get over how delightful you smell. Your scent-" Naruto cut himself off, licking his lips with a long, slimy tongue.

Hinata gasped.

"Usually, it's the villagers in Konoha who offer me entertainment—a human offering every now and again to satisfy my desires," He disclosed almost nonchalantly, with a malevolent grin, "but there's something about you, my dear, that captivates me so much more."

Hinata hesitated, her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach.

'Wait, did he just say...' Her thoughts began to race once more.

Her eyes shot wide in an instant, unable to believe her ears, "A-A human offering? K-Konoha? Wh-What are you talking about?"

Naruto chuckled, a low and menacing sound, "Oh, you don't know? How naive." The blonde creature scoffed, stepping closer, causing Hinata to subconsciously take a step back.

"I suppose it's understandable, considering you no longer dwell in the village." The creature commented, nodding in the direction of the darkened night behind her, his tousled blonde bangs swaying gently.

"Just a stone's throw away from Konoha."

Hinata felt her entire world freeze, her heart pounding so intensely that each beat seemed to echo in the silence around her, and into the beast's ears. The realization of the words he just said struck her with a weight that made her limbs feel heavy, the veil of darkness creeping over her senses yet again.

Her poor heart couldn't handle this.

"H-How do you know that?" Hinata screeched, "How do you know where I live-?"

"You ask a lot of questions, little one." Naruto chortled, "Such a curious little thing." He purred.

"You know what is said about curiosity, don't you?"

Hinata whimpered, pouting.

The beast's breath hitched, clearly taken by her pout.

She watched as his lips suddenly curled into a darker, more sinister smile, creeping her out even further. The sight of her vulnerability seemed to delight him even more.

"Tsk. Fine, if you're so eager to know," He tsked, his tone shifting to one of mocking indulgence yet again. He seemed to relish mocking her, which made him even scarier to Hinata.

Hinata felt like a little mouse cornered by the cat. She was completely at the beast's mercy, unable to do anything but bow her head and just take his relentless mocking.

Naruto moved his massive, hairy arms, crossing them over his chest, "I possess knowledge beyond your wildest imagination, little one," He said, emphasizing "little one" more this time, "I see everything, I hear everything, and I know everything." He declared, watching with satisfaction as his prey froze in place, stunned beyond belief.

"There's nothing you can hide from me," He continued, his voice dripping with confidence, "I am always watching, always listening. Your secrets, your fears—I know them all." He purred like a true monster, speaking words that she imagined a creature living under one's bed would say.

Poor Hinata shuddered, goosebumps crawling up her skin.

The beast grinned, "I have borne witness to the cycle of these very trees, their birth, growth, and eventual demise, repeated countless times. I have witnessed an abundance of full moons beyond reckoning, and I have listened closely to the murmurs of secrets hidden deep within the earth." The beast continued, his voice deep and ominous, his words sounding more like a riddle than anything else.

Hinata could barely keep up. It was all so overwhelming.

"And Konoha?" Naruto seemed to laugh at the mere mention of the village, "I know everyone who resides in that sad, pathetic place, and even, those who have moved away." He acknowledged with a glint in his red eyes. His narrowed gaze bore into her, lingering uncomfortably, making her heart skip a beat.

Hinata understood what he was hinting at, what that look meant.

He was talking about her.

She whimpered, a part of her wanting to burst into tears from the sheer terror she felt.

"Of course," The blonde beast continued again, "I am well acquainted with Konoha's secrets as well, the darkness that lurks not only within this forest but also deep within the village's roots."

There was a moment of silence as he locked eyes with Hinata. And what he saw sparkled there, amused him further.

Apprehension but intrigue too.

A sly grin spread across Naruto's face, "You hunger for these secrets, don't you, little one? The deep, dark secrets of Konoha? The truths that the villagers have kept from you for so long, hmm?"

He snickered, "Ah, ah ahh. Be careful what you wish for, Hinata." The creature's voice adopted a seductive, mischievous lilt, enticing Hinata's curiosity with his tantalizing words.

Hinata stood gaping, her mouth opening and closing in contemplation, her mind struggling to process what she had just heard.

For so long, she had believed Konoha was a haven of goodness, a sanctuary where kind-hearted people lived, their lives dedicated to spreading benevolence and compassion to the world.

Just like her.

But now, the thought that her idealized perception of the village she once called home might be flawed, that darkness actually lurks beneath Konoha's bright and jolly façade, left her feeling deeply unsettled.

'Offerings.' The word echoed over and over in her mind.

Hinata hesitated, torn between the desire for the truth and the fear of confronting something truly evil.

The decision weighed heavily on her.

Hinata knew she had to think this through carefully.

Because she knew that once she heard the truth, there would be no going back. She'd be stuck with that knowledge forever, and everything she thought she knew could potentially be revealed as a complete and utter lie.

'What should I do? What should I do?' Hinata thought repeatedly, panic surging through her mind yet again.

The level of panic she had experienced in these past few minutes must have been the most intense she had ever experienced in her entire life. Her hands began to tremble, and a cold sweat formed on her brow as uncertainty and fear nearly paralyzed her.

She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what was best to do. She didn't know—

But before she could make a decision, a dark chuckle broke her concentration.

Naruto, sensing her indecision, interrupted her thoughts, "Can't decide, can you?" He teased, his voice carrying a sly undertone.

"Don't fret, little one. For I will make the decision for you. After all, I believe in full transparency, Hinata," The creature said, pouting slightly as he nodded, "You deserve to know the truth about Konoha, and I want to ensure you're not kept in the dark any longer."

Hinata's delicate features creased at the beast's words. It was weird, what he just said. She couldn't hide the conflicted emotions that played across her face, uncertainty clouding her lavender eyes.

He was a strange one—the big bad wolf.

Hinata couldn't help but wonder why the beast cared so much about telling her the truth, why he seemed so invested in her knowing the dark secrets about Konoha.

It struck her as odd, creepy even, the way he stared at her, the way he said her name, and spoke to her with such conviction. Hinata wanted to know the truth, but at the same time, she didn't.

But, it seemed like the beast wasn't giving her much of a choice now.

The midnight blue-haired woman gripped her basket tighter, trying to be brave, "Why do you care so much about me kn-knowing the truth? Why d-does it matter so much to you?" She sharply remarked.

Hinata whimpered again as she witnessed the creature's eyes gleam with a mix of amusement and something almost sinister in response to her defiance, more of her voice revealed.

Naurot purred, his presence looming over her like a shadow, "Because by knowing the truth, you become a part of it, and in turn, a part of me."

Hinata's skin prickled with unease as he spoke, his words wrapping around her like a chilling breeze. She tried to steady her breathing, but the intensity of his gaze made it difficult.

"But why me? Why do you want me to know?"

Once again, that same sinister glint appeared in his eyes, hinting at something she couldn't quite understand.

The blonde beast tilted his head, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, "Because I sense that you are different, Hinata. You have a strength within you that most don't see. I want to see how that strength holds up when faced with the truth about the home you once lived. Will it break you, or will it make you stronger?"

Hinata trembled, her thoughts spinning. His words echoed in her mind, blending with her own fears and doubts. She couldn't understand the creature's obsession with her, his insistence on toying with her.

He spoke so weirdly, she couldn't wrap her head around any of it. She couldn't quite figure him out.

She didn't ask for any of this. She just wanted to go home.

The midnight blue-haired woman took a deep breath, trying to find her voice, "I don't want to be a part of your games. I just want to understand." She snapped back, defiant.

The beast chuckled softly.

"Very well then." He announced, before raising his hands wide.

"I will reveal the truth about Konoha, the one concealed behind all those pretty lies and jolly facades."

His eyes darkened, "I will tell you everything."

The dark smirk that spread across the beast's face at that moment was the scariest thing she had ever witnessed, making her wish she could back out.

But it was too late. Far too late.

"Indeed, the inhabitants of Konoha bear a dark secret, my dear." Naruto began, his smirk growing creepier by the second. He started to circle her again, a tactic she knew was meant to toy with her further, his tail swishing wildly behind him the whole while.

"They present themselves as good people, but beneath the surface, they are monsters, no different than me." He growled deep in her ears, pressing one hand against his chest.

Hinata flinched, her head turning to keep track of him.

"You see, Konoha and I have existed alongside each other for countless ages. But truth be told, we've never truly lived in 'harmony' together." He shook his head, his blonde bangs swaying.

"For many centuries, I have harbored a deep hatred for Konoha, and even now, that hatred still burns within me. Konoha has despised me in return, with a loathing that matches my own." Naruto explained further, but what he said already had Hinata's eyes widening.

'Ages? Centuries?' She practically screamed in her head, horrified by the age of the beast. Just how old was he? Where did he come from? Why coexist with a village he clearly despises? Why not go elsewhere?

It was far too much to try to understand at once.

Many questions began to pop up in her head already, but Hinata knew better than to interrupt and ask them now. She settled on listening, clutching her lantern and basket for support.

"Those annoying little pests were terrified of my existence and tried everything to please me, to control me," The blonde beast sneered, his deep voice dripping with contempt.

"At first, they tried all sorts of pointless things—offerings, rituals, prayers—none of which ever pleased me." He shrugged, kicking up dirt as he circled her, "They tried to bribe me, negotiate with me, trap me, and even kill me, but it was all in vain. My anger only grew, and the more it grew, the more frightened Konoha became. Eventually, their fear grew so great that it drove them to far darker measures."

"Wh-What measures?" Hinata whimpered, her words faltering.

She watched as the beast stepped in front of her. He grinned, baring his sharp, menacing teeth.

"Human sacrifices," Naruto said with a dark chuckle, relishing in the way Hinata's breath hitched and her heartbeat escalated faster, louder.

He snickered, "In their desperation to protect their precious village and keep me at bay, the people of Konoha chose to buy my mercy with blood. It was an irresistible deal, one I simply couldn't refuse." His eyes glowed with sinister satisfaction, relishing in her horror.

"It soon evolved into a tradition." He declared, resuming his pace around her again.

"On every full moon night, Konoha's inhabitants partake in a ceremony, a gathering where they select one unfortunate human to be sacrificed," Naruto explained with a wide grin, seemingly deriving pleasure from his words.

Hinata, on the other hand, became increasingly horrified with every word the beast uttered.

She shook her head frantically, her mouth hanging open in utter disbelief, "N-No, it can't be-"

"Oh, indeed it can," The beast replied with a snicker, "The villagers choose one of their own to sentence to death. Family, friend, foe, it matters not. They force the chosen offering to venture into this very forest, and they become mine. My meal, my plaything—whatever I desire them to be."

"No! You have to be lying! You have to!" Hinata cried out, each word he uttered seemingly piercing her like a dagger. She couldn't bring herself to believe it.

Naruto cocked his head as he circled in front of her, his crimson eyes brightening, "You wish that were the case—that I was lying, don't you? But I speak the truth, unlike the people of the precious village you seem to hold so dear," He spat, emphasizing "precious" with a tone of deep disgust.

Hinata gulped nervously, her lavender eyes darting back and forth, following the beast's prowling movements as he steadily circled her.

Each time Naruto spoke, his voice seemed to echo directly in her ear, enveloping her like a haunting whisper that toyed with her senses, tormenting her psyche. It was as if he aimed to get under her skin, slowly but surely driving her to the brink of madness.

"You know, I hear the rumors they spread about me, the lies they tell, the stories they make up. And I know you're aware of them too." Naruto growled in frustration, clearly bothered.

"But now, you see, I'm not the only monster in this twisted tale that Konoha wants you to believe. They, too, are monsters, all in the name of protecting their home and preserving their precious livelihood."

"No, oh kami!" Hinata shakily exclaimed, her voice trembling as the waterworks began to surface.

Tears started to stream down her face uncontrollably, each drop a mirror of the shock and sorrow swelling within her, reflecting the words she struggled to voice in order to express what she felt. Her body shook and her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.

The truth was out.

The truth had now been unveiled, and it hit her like a physical blow to the chest. It felt as though her entire world was collapsing around her, as if the ground had been ripped out from under her.

The place Hinata once called home, Konoha—the village where she had grown up, raised by her beloved parents, a place she had always thought was full of peace and happiness—was far darker than she had ever imagined.

She had never known, never even...

Hinata was left speechless, her mouth agape, her heart torn.

'All those innocent people, they're—' Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt as more tears flowed down her cheeks, the beast's words echoing like a relentless mantra in her mind.

It was all part of the tale—the bit about the disappearance of loved ones. It was true after all, but not in the way the tale had portrayed.

Those people didn't just disappear. They were sacrificed.

Konoha gave them up. And the beast ate them.

Hinata felt like vomiting. She felt like fainting.

This was just too much.

Naruto stood back, watching intently as Hinata tried to grapple with what he had just revealed to her. Each tear she shed reflected the collapse of everything she held dear, and the sight invigorated him.

Her fear, her sorrow—delicious.

He let out a menacing chuckle, stopping his pacing to step back in front of her, "Mmm, yes, little one. It's unfortunate you must hear it this way, but it's the truth. And now, you've stumbled right into the heart of it all."

Hinata's world froze once more, her heart sinking to the pit of her stomach. She felt a wave of nausea as the weight of his words settled in.

Instinctively, she began to move away from the beast, stumbling backward, "N-No. Stay away!" She stammered, her voice trembling with fear.

But she couldn't get far.

Naruto, quicker than her eyes could track, suddenly vanished, a whoosh accompanying his fast movement.

Hinata only realized where he went when she felt his clawed hands shoot out and firmly grab hold of her shoulders, causing her to jump in fright.

He was behind her again.

His hold was vice-like, his claws digging through her clothing to prick the skin underneath.

The beast's touch sent a ghastly chill through Hinata's body, each clawed finger leaving a cold, spectral sensation in its wake, like icy tendrils creeping across her skin, raising even more goosebumps.

She was now trapped in his hold, so close to him now. And now here, she could feel the raw power emanating from him, making her feel small and helpless in his grasp.

Hinata began to hyperventilate. Again.

The beast loomed over her, his tall frame casting a dark shadow over the trembling midnight-blue-haired woman, "You see, little one," He whispered in her ear, his hot breath tickling her skin, "Those offerings, they do naught but disappoint me now." His voice echoed with a deep-seated resentment that she could actually feel now, rumbling from his chest and seeping into her body.

Hinata whimpered when the beast tightened his grasp on her.

"Such offerings are tainted. No, Konoha is tainted. What I desire now is something far more pure."

Suddenly, the beast moved his head down to bury his nose deep within her hair, startling her.

"D-Don't!" Hinata screeched.

The beast shushed her.

He took a deep sniff of her hair, catching the scent of vanilla, a fragrance that reminded him of gingerbread cookies, milk, and sugar—all things nice.

He growled in delight.

The delectable aroma enticed the wolf, prompting him to trail his nose down to her neck, eager to indulge in more of her enticing scent.

Hinata's lips trembled, her body recoiling, "Please, pl-please."

"You, with your purity and innocence, will be the perfect offering," Naruto whispered against her neck.

"I've decided that you, with your delicious scent and your..." He paused as he released her right shoulder briefly, lowering his clawed hand to grab hold of her red hood. He gave it another playful yank, "little red hood, will become my new plaything," The blonde beast growled low, his voice seeping deep into her ear.

"Don't worry, I'll play nice with you. Real nice."

Despite Naruto's supposed reassurance, Hinata found no comfort in his words; she sensed the beast's deceit. Her mind raced, heart pounding, as she realized she was unwittingly caught in the village's desperate bargain with the creature.

She has fallen right into the beast's hands.

She has become the next sacrifice.

More tears began to fall down her cheeks, "N-No, please. This can't be h-happening." She sobbed, shaking her head wildly.

The big bad wolf moved closer to her ear behind her, a pout forming on his lips, "Aww don't cry. How about we play a little game, hm, little one?" Naruto proposed, his words laced with menacing playfulness.

"Wh-What? A g-game?" Hinata blurted out, confused.

A sudden whoosh of wind cut through the air, causing Hinata to whip her head around, scanning behind her.

"Yoohoo, over here."

Hinata snapped her head forward to find the blonde wolf once again in front of her.

Naruto smirked darkly, his whiskered cheeks rising, "Yes, a game of hide and seek." He emphasized with a laugh.

"The rules are simple: You hide, I seek." He began excitedly, "If you manage to evade my grasp long enough, I'll grant you personal passage to your father. However, if I catch you..." He clicked his tongue, "well, there will be a different kind of price to pay."

"What kind of price?" Hinata took a risk, daring to ask the beast the question she dreaded the most. But she needed to know. If she was going to play his twisted game and have even the slightest chance of victory, of escaping this hellish nightmare, she needed to understand what awaited her if she failed.

She just had to know.

Hinata watched as the beast's red eyes grew even darker at her question, clearly not a good sign. It made her stomach twist into knots.

Pulling up one clawed hand, the beast gripped the air tightly, his voice growling out, "Your innocence." Naruto declared with a chilling certainty.

"Your virginity will be the price you'll pay."

As soon as those dreadful words spilled from his lips, Hinata's mouth fell wide open, her entire body freezing in shock.

'What!' Her mind raced in panic. The brutal consequence of his twisted 'game' struck her with utter horror. The realization sunk in like a heavy stone.

'Did he actually just... say that?' Hinata thought it was just another one of the beast's tricks, that he was simply toying with her and nothing more. But when she looked up and saw the menacing look still etched on his face, she realized just how serious he was.

It nearly gave her a heart attack.

He was becoming more monstrous by the moment.

Every time she thought he couldn't get any worse, it seemed he would just go and prove her wrong, every single time. It was one thing the villagers had been right about—Naruto was indeed a monster, one devoid of any humanity or remorse whatsoever.

Tears welled up in her eyes again, threatening to spill over.

'Out of everything, why would he want that? Why her virginity?' Hinata couldn't wrap her head around it.

Indeed, Hinata was a virgin, specifically for nineteen years. She had managed to maintain her purity all this time, avoiding any 'romantic entanglements.' She had preserved herself, hoping to find her soulmate someday. And only then would she give herself completely after marriage—the traditional way, as her parents had always taught her.

But now, faced with the threat to her virginity, Hinata worried that she might not get what she wanted. She feared she could lose the cherished purity she had held dear all this time, taken by a beast no less—an inhuman, grotesque, monstrous creature, rather than by a human, a lover, like she had imagined.

All because of her disobedience.

She couldn't believe this was happening.

Hinata desperately hoped this was all a dream. She wished so badly that she would just wake up any moment now in her bed at home, safe and warm under her blankets.

But her wish went unanswered.

She remained here, before the beast.

A moan escaped Naruto as he stretched his arms wide, taking a big whiff of the air around him.

"Ah, yes. I knew right away you were a virgin; your innocence enriches your scent, after all. Not hard to notice." He said, dropping his hands.

He tilted his head ominously, "I want it." He growled.

Hinata's eyes widened in terror at his persistence. She shook her head, pleading, "N-No, I-I beg of you, please. You can't have that, anything but that." Her lips trembled, as she pleaded.

"I-I-I just want to go back to my father. Let me go, and I won't tell anyone about this. I-I won't trouble you any longer, I-I swear," She pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation. Her words tumbled out in a rush, hoping against hope for some sign of mercy from the beast before her.

But only cold, dead eyes stared back at her.

It was no use.

But she still tried.

Hinata sobbed, her shoulders shaking with each painful breath, "I-I no longer live in Konoha. I have nothing to do with that village anymore so you mustn't punish me—"

"Oh, my dear, you are more connected to that village far more than you know," Naruto interrupted, his deep-seated animosity toward the village and its inhabitants manifesting once more, "It's part of who you are, and you can't escape it. Konoha runs through your veins, just as it does mine."

"N-No-" Hinata whispered, her voice trembling.

"And you won't escape from here either." The beast snarled, his presence looming closer, "You're in my territory now, and if you wish to pass through it, to see your father again, you will abide by my rules."

"I don't want to play this game. I-I don't-!"

A chilling smirk spread across Naruto's face.

He clicked his tongue, "You really should've listened to the villagers' warnings, Hinata." He taunted once more, making it clear that he had heard that too.

Yes, she should have listened.

Hinata whimpered at that realization, tears flowing once more, tracing down her cheeks and chin, dripping onto her basket and lantern.

"Now, if you're so eager to see your father, you'll play."

It was at that moment, Hinata felt the weight of a one-sided decision pressing upon her. It was then, standing there, that the reality of the situation sunk in—she was forced into a game she had no chance of winning.

The game was rigged.

Naruto was not only faster and stronger than her but also possessed heightened senses and an intimate knowledge of the forest, giving him a clear advantage.

And he knew that.

There was no way she could outsmart him or find a hiding spot good enough to escape his grasp, not even for a moment.

It was a lose-lose situation.

A cruel game.

But Hinata knew she had no choice but to play. Not only so, she was keenly aware that losing would come at a great cost, as the wolf would take something precious, something uniquely hers—her virginity.

She can't let that happen.

She had no choice.

She must play. She must win.

Hinata drew a trembling breath, her determination bolstered as thoughts of her ailing father flooded her mind once again, providing her with the strength and motivation she needed.

'I will do this for you, father,' She silently vowed. For him, she would face the daunting challenge set by the big bad wolf, even if the odds were stacked against her.

She would defy the odds, she would survive, to return to her father, to save him.

With reluctance, Hinata nodded, accepting the terms of Naruto's twisted game, "F-Fine." She whispered, her eyes revealing a newfound courage.

"I'll play your game."

Instantly, Naruto responded with a low, satisfied moan to her answer, his crimson eyes gleaming with satisfaction, his lips stretched into an unsettlingly wide grin. It was the happiest she had seen the beast thus far, and that alone unsettled her deeply.

He moved closer, his large hand suddenly capturing a loose strand of her hair that had fallen across her face. Hinata jumped in surprise at his sudden touch again. It seemed he couldn't keep her hands off of her.

His smirk widened as he tucked the strand behind her ear, his touch surprisingly gentle yet unsettlingly possessive.

"Good girl," He purred, his hand gliding down her cheek to trace her chin and jawline, his gaze never leaving hers.

Hinata shuddered at his touch and the strange pet name he called her.

"Due to your compliance, I'll give you a head start," Naruto declared, removing his hand from her and stepping back. In an instant, he disappeared, only to reappear behind her again, cutting off the rest of the path.

Hinata quickly whipped her body around, her red hood fluttering in the wind as she met his gaze, which burned with a hunger that mirrored a predator mere moments from pouncing on its prey.

"The game ends at sunrise," Naruto growled, emphasizing the time limit, the intensity of his gaze making it clear that there was no room for negotiation.

"I would wish you the best of luck but..." Naruto shrugged, "I'm not even sure luck can save you now."

Hinata's eyes widened as she witnessed, right then and there, the sudden transformation of Naruto's expression, unveiling the true nature of the beast he was.

His features contorted, eyes widened, body stiffened, and his clawed fingers twitched by his side—a frightening transformation that was undeniably otherworldly, a sight that threatened to petrify her.

It terrified Hinata to the extremes.

Naruto's eyes locked on her with a predatory intensity, his voice dropping an octave.

"Run, run, little girl. Run as fast as you can."

And she did.

Hinata wasted no time.

With her heart pounding in her chest, she spun on her heels and bolted deeper into the forest, her feet kicking up leaves and twigs in her wake. The chilling command from Naruto echoed in her ears, urging her to run faster, to get away.

But in her frantic haste, the lantern she had clutched all this time slipped from her grasp and tumbled to the forest floor. Its light flickered once, then died, casting the path behind her into complete and utter darkness.

But, she didn't care.

Hinata clutched the basket of supplies for her father with all her might, running further and further into the forest, guided only by the dim glow of the full moon filtering through the canopy.

She dared not look back, consumed only by the pressing need to get as far away from Naruto as humanly possible, to play his game and find a place to hide.

But suddenly, from a distance, she heard the eerie howl of a wolf echoing through the trees around her—a chilling sound that meant one thing and one thing only...

The game has begun.

●・○・●・○・●

End Of Part 1