Manga/Anime: Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto/Studio Pierrot
Words: 1 967
Publish: 07/04/2020
Summary: Naruto and Hinata peacefully live with each other. Well, almost peacefully... 

Naruto hadn't had nightmares since the beginning of their relationship.

At this time, they had tried everything to calm their restless nights; drink herbal tea, do yoga, relaxing bath, pleasurable reading, pillow talks and even make love.

But nothing had worked out. Naruto was a ball of energy, regardless of the time.

It's not his fault, Hinata knew it. His teenage years weren't the best for a teenager to grow and trauma didn't disappear in a flash.

But, Hinata didn't need much to be disturb and to overthink. Her mind would keep her awake even though Naruto had fallen asleep before her. And when she'd succeed at fall asleep, she could sense everything around her.

When he was loudly moving next to her. When he was desperately holding onto her. When he was calling her with a broken voice. She knew his memories and his dreams became one and, only her caresses could bring him back to reality. But, what broke Hinata's heart was to see how wet his face was because of his tears.

Remorse was eating Naruto alive. He told her. She too could see it in his eyes.

He, who used to keep his emotions in check, had let his love for her change him. And for every bad action he did years ago, guilt was gradually poisoning his soul. As soon as his eyes were closed, his demons came back to dance around him until he cracks.

Fortunately, travelling seemed to calm him down. Acclimatise himself to the various environments and landscapes kept his senses stimulate and prevented him to take it easy.

He wasn't a sedentary person by nature.

That's why Hinata didn't approve this method. He was going back into his bad habits and wasn't allowing himself a good rest. Always on the lookout, he wasn't sleeping soundly.

But he promised her he will found another solution to his problem.

When? She didn't know.

How? She was afraid to have figured it out.

He had promised to never return to the way he used to live but, sometimes, you couldn't change the course of fate.

That night, Hinata felt nothingness behind her. Se opened her eyes and looked behind her back. Naruto left the bed, the door was slightly ajar and a ray of light broke through the darkness.

No need to panic, she said to herself. He maybe went to the bathroom. Or in the kitchen to drink a glass of water.

In any case, they just moved in so it shouldn't be nightmares.

It couldn't be nightmares...

Massing her forehead, she rolled on her back, smoothing the sheet with her hand, preventing her to bite her nails. She quietly looked at the ceiling, trying to hear the toilet flush or a noise coming from the kitchen.

Nothing.

But, she kept her cool. She knew Naruto was quiet.

He always had fun scaring her when she wasn't facing him. She then complained, but he would do it every time. But, as soon as she frowned at him, he'd wrapped his arms around her wrist and kissed her all over her face.

A cold gust of wind caressed her arms. Pulling the blanket up to her nose, Hinata realised that, she wasn't supposed to shiver right now. She frowned. Her hair on her nape rose. A presentiment crawelled on her skin.

Naruto was really taking his time.

It's at that moment she heard footsteps.

Something was off.

Biting her lip, she sat up, not knowing what she wanted. Should Naruto take her in his arms for comfort or should she ask him first to check if all windows were closed.

She turned her head when the door opened and met two blue eyes. Yet, they weren't Naruto's...

Her heart dropped.

It wasn't Naruto...

Before she had time to scream, move or breath, the man was already on her. His weight pinned her against the mattress. His hand on her shoulder forced her to lay down. Despite her protest, a pillow was pressed on her face.

The predator just caught his prey.

Now, darkness surrounded her. Heat blocked her senses. Oxygn went missing. Hinata panicked. She struggled but, what could she do against a man sitting on her? Her eyes became wet. Her lungs burned. Her screams were all deadened by the suffocating weapon.

Which was going to kill her.

She was going to die.

There was no doubts on that. She wasn't Naruto. Her body wasn't trained to free itself from an enemy's grip. She was only wriggling, hoping it made her attacker lose balance. She could only open her mouth to breath but instead of sucking air, it was the thick fabric blocking the way.

Her blood throbbed in her ears. Her thoughts were foggy. Her eyelids became heavier and heavier. Her heart was banging against her ribs. Her stomach was knotted by fear even though...

The baby!

Hinata opened her eyes.

Her baby!

She needed to breath.

Goosebumps ran across her skin while she was pushing harder with her arms. She needed to get rid of that crushing weight. She needed to break free. She needed to...

"You gonna be a great mom."

She needed to...

"I know it, I'm your husband."

She needed to protect her baby!

Her jaw clenched. Instead of letting her instinct wainly use all her energy, she let go of the man. Surprised, he made the mistake to move. This time, Hinata's hands caught the pillow and pushed it. Oxygen could made its way to her by the tiny entrance she created.

"Naruto!" she cried out in fear. "Naruto!"

She caught a new breath before the man suffocated her again. It wasn't the moment to drown in her tears.

She needed to stay awake, to keep believe in him.

She knew he will come, he won't ever let her down, he will come save her.

Meanwhile, it was up to her to keep going. For him. For her. For the baby.

Suddenly, the pillow she was pushing was thrown away from her face. Unthinkingly, she took a deep breath in of oxygen while her arms hold her belly.

Inhale...

Sorry, she implored. Sorry.

Exhale...

Still unconscious of her surrounding, Hinata continued to cry. She just had the fright of a lifetime for her baby. She rolled up into a ball a bit more to protect him. Shaking from head to toe, her chest was painful. Her throat was irritated.

But, there's more important matter...

With the little strength she had found, she turned on the bed. It's at that moment she saw Naruto's face. Bloody but above all, deformed by rage. Watching out for her, he tore the blanket and wrapped it around the man's head.

But, he was in the same league as Naruto. He didn't need his five senses to fight.

He caught Naruto by his arms and sent him fly against the wardrobe mirror. It cracked in pieces.

During a short respite, Naruto pushed on his feet and the other found his vision again then, the two men jumped on each other with precision. Feet kicked legs. Hands blocked punches. Breathing were short and quick.

Naruto could dodge attacks but Hinata couldn't help but worry every time he looked at her to make sure she was ok.

She should go. She was in his way. He was holding back his strength to not hurt her, she knew it...

She knew it yet, her body was paralysed on the bed. It almost felt like her breathing was blocked once again.

Strong punches were ringing in her ears. Her eyes couldn't look away from the blood. As two lions a cage, they roared, destroying furnitures, books, framed photos and other staff on their path. What she was witnessing was horrifying.

An annoyed grunt from Naruto pulled her out from her state. His right hook ripped through the air. The man in black tackled him to the ground but couldn't stood up. He was hold at his wrist and neck.

Naruto rolled on top of him, becoming the predator and the other the pray.

It was the opening Hinata had been waiting for.

A shot of adrenaline made her move. She jumped on the floor. Broken glass cut the sole of her feet. She didn't care. She still stumbled because of the pain but saved herself by catching the door frame.

She had to reach her target.

The hidden phone at the foot of the fireplace.

More than once, she had listened to Naruto telling her what must be done in those kind of situation. She knew what number to call. She knew what to do.

Send their position. Type number 9. Answer the questions asked.

"Code name."

The voice though the speakerphone spoke Japanese, confirming that Hinata was calling the right place.

"Kyubi." She spoke with a rasping but confident voice.

It's at that moment she again met the man's blue eyes, glowing in the dark. She tightened her grip on the phone. He was going to attack her but, she didn't look away.

She wasn't scared anymore. Naruto was here. Between his family and the danger.

Under the firelight, the flames' shadows danced on his face, darkening his gaze. Seeing his condition, Hinata understood that he had fought against other opponents before coming to her rescue. Anyone would've run out of energy by now but, he had been trained for it. For not feel tired as long as the mission wasn't accomplished.

She almost had difficulties recognise him.

Her loving husband had been replaced by an elite assassin. And he was magnificently terrifying.

The man in black took one of the candlestick. Naruto only had a book as a shield. But no trace of worry was on his face. He sent his makeshift weapon in his enemy's face, stepped on his feet, kicked him in the guts but was caught by the neck and turned in the opposite way of the door.

Hinata understood. The man aimed for the exit, he wanted to escape.

Faster.

Yanking on the arm blocking his moves, Naruto sent his elbow in the man's torso, stopping his breathing. His punches broke one or several bones, Hinata didn't know anymore.

All she could see was his desire to harm. To kill.

Faster.

Naruto was pushed back but he wrapped his arms around his opponent's neck and flexed his muscles, indifferent to the messy moves of the other one in distress.

Hinata felt sick.

Please answer.

"You're call had been transferred to Hatake Kakashi-sama."

Relief tears appeared at the corner of her pearly eyes.

"Naruto, what-?"

"An enemy is being arrested. Asking for permission to hold him hostage."

"Hinata?"

"Kyubi asks permission to hold the enemy hostage!" she repeated on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

She was sure about it, the man's head was about to blow up. Naruto saw red, he listened to nothing...

But his former best enemy's voice.

"Permission granted."

Immediately, Naruto's arms fell along his body. Unconscious, the man slammed into the floor, breaking the silence. Moving the phone aside her ear, Hinata cupped her mouth to not burst into tears.

On both side of this battlefield, their eyes met.

He then ran towards her. She opened her arms. He melt into her embrace, holding her with all his strength against him. His warmth already calming her down.

"You're ok, aren't you?"

Not trusting her voice, Hinata simply nodded while he was checking her body. His hands slid on her belly.

Their baby was ok.

"You did great, Hina. You did really great."

Her tears rolled down her cheeks anyway. She squeezed his bloody t-shirt with one hand, the other brushed against his wounds on his face.

"I'm sorry. Hey, it's gonna be ok." he kissed her. "I'm here."

Yes, he was always here.  

There we go! Don't forget to comment :)