Manga/Anime: Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto/Studio Pierrot
Words: 1 972
Publish: 06/28/2020
Summary: Under duress, Naruto and Hinata are married for better, for worse...
Author's Note: Thanks to Hippyredfox who really helped me on this short story.

"Why did you hate me like that?" they were at the table, face to face.

"It's not you Naruto. I swear, it's... It's this marriage which..." her voice broke.

"Why?" he asked to help her.

"We were raised with two different kind of love. You and Konohamaru only know the beautiful aspects of love. Your parents fell in love with each other when they got married. They raised you both together. Mine, it's more... more complicated. My parents weren't in love when I was born... They never understood each other. Silence is the only way to talk..."

Her lavender eyes were full with sadness, pain that she and Hanabi had felt during their life. Pretend, hide their feelings, they were used to all of that. With their shell, they were protecting themselves from their life's troubles. It was their second nature.

Since that conversation, he wasn't the innocent boy, the young man lacking in confidence who believed in live on love alone anymore. Reality caught him. Less beautiful. More hurtful.

It was hard to stomach.

That night... That beautiful night he shared with Hinata... It had meaning. But deep down, it was all about comforting each other. He completely lost himself in her arms. She tried to trust a man, to ignore her judgement. But, the picture of her brutal father kept banging her mind... Even if she closed her eyes.

It's there. Always there.

How could he be mad at her?

Maybe others would've bore a grudge against her.

Naruto? He couldn't do that.

Because nothing was black or white.

It was just gray, with a mixte of several nuances, depending on the day.

Destiny was inevitable. They couldn't be together. Because of their differences, their vision of the world, their characters, it was impossible.

Yet, it wasn't the end of the world. On the contrary, his marriage made him grow. This situation made understand that nothing was lost. He could always hold on to someone, on to something. Maybe Hinata wasn't his one and only love, and for that, he couldn't give up.

He won't give up!

"Can I speak to you for a moment." She opened the door like a hurricane.

"I'm sorry Mr.Namikaze. I told her you were busy but she insisted.

"It's ok Temari. My wife is my priority. Please leave us alone." He stood up, putting his glasses down.

"Of course."

"Take a sit Hinata." Now the door was closed, he looked at her.

"I... I...

"What is it?"

"Naruto. I'm pregnant."

Ah, that news... It was unexpected. Radiant. Mind blowing.

Really, Hinata was like a light gust of wind which would come caress his skin and mess with his untamed hair. She would come and go but never telling him when she'll be back. Evasive, despite all the years they had spent together.

"Is it... It's mine?" he asked with trembling fingers around the pregnancy test.

"Yes." she softly smile.

"Oh... Hinata... I..."

"Do you want to come with me annonce it to the others?" she proposed. She still had her soft voice while he was wiping his tears away.

The news had shocked more than one.

His eyes fell on that picture on his desk. Their whiskered cheeks like his, two pairs of big blue eyes, shining and vivid, were encouraged him at work everyday. And nothing... Yes, really nothing, could've brought so much joy to him than those two sweet little faces.

His innocence was gone. He wasn't a child anymore. He was a father. A loving father of twins. His treasure, Himawari and Boruto. His blood and Hinata's combined in those two tiny human being. They were shining like his love for them. Long before their birth, as soon as he knew it was twins, a girl and a boy, he swore to protect them.

At the risk of his life and his heart, crushed now in pieces.

"Himawari is so amazing. As sweet as her mother."

"She will be a great wife.

"But have you seen Boruto?"

"A really smart boy, indeed."

"They have a bright future before them."

"To whom should we speak to and make business with? They're so perfect."

"I heard that the Uchiha company had a heiress."

"As well as the Kakei."

"Let's make a deal."

That board had been the worse obstacle to his naive youth. Those words were only the sentence he had suffered long ago, he and Hinata. The last straw that broke the camel's back. It made his blood boiled like a volcano ready to exploded. And to top it all, his father was king to not make his life easier.

"Let's make a deal with both families. We will agree to the one who is the most advantageous for us and the company."

Strange was the sensation for a son to not see his father like a hero anymore. Like a role model. Like and inspiration. Like a support in life.

It was strange and terrifying to fly by yourself.

"None of my children will be used as it pleases you." His voice bombed in the room. "I won't let all of you manipulate them, especially you." He pointed at his father.

"They are my grandchildren..."

"Yes, they are. And I don't forbid you to see them. But if you ever. I insiste. If you ever talk to them about this company, our family, our legacy or your stupid desire to have a new heir, I swear I won't let you come near them. And it's the same for the Hyuuga." He glared at Hiashi.

Just recalling his father-in-law's wide and surprised eyes after that warning made him happy. No one will touch his children's future. They weren't some merchandise.

No way! They were free!

His familiale situation was already hard enough. He won't let those old codgers blind him with their diktats and chose who his children will be married to.

And Hinata supported him!

Duo brought together since she knew she was expecting, they went up against their parents. Their conflict between them aside, they had to fight to prevail to make the same mistakes. To protect their children.

Unfortunately, her support fed his hopes. The twenty-year-old man he was came back, hoping their could try again.

And to his defense, there were proofs. She never talked about abortion. Her pregnancy brought them closer. While he was helping her, he tried several time to crack her walls.

Their friendship was becoming strong so, why not expecting love?

But that was old Naruto thinking like that. Reluctantly, he had to realised that it was over.

Hinata will never love him like he loved her. However, at that time, everything was going great that he tried to talk to her, again...

"You know I was alway honest with you?"

"I know... It took me a while but... I know now..."

"Do you... Is there any chance that... That one day you will fall in love with me?"

"Naruto, I don't think-"

"I don't want to put pressure on you or anything. I just want you to know-"

"Wait Naruto", she cut him off like he did to her. "Please, don't wait for me."

That was her answer. Like he had be kick in the guts, he understood what she had said. So, it wasn't him. And it will never be. Despite that, he couldn't help but asked. He wanted to understand. But maybe not knowing would've been better.

"What... What does he have that I don't?" he stuttered as he hold his tears.

"Who?"

Oh, I don't know... You're lover?

"Deidara, why him? What did he give you that I didn't?"

"Deidara? Why are you talking about him?"

"You can tell me Hinata. I understood."

"Understood what?"

"He's... He's your lover, right? I doubted a lot when you told me I was the father-"

"Naruto! Stop. I think you got everything wrong."

He remembered he took every words, every syllables like a punch in the face at that unexpected revelation. How did she managed to hide her pain during all these years? How did he managed to not notice anything about that?

"I can't love you Naruto... not like you want because... because I don't... Well, I can't..."

Never had he heard her speak like that.

Yes, she cried. For a long while. Apologising, as if the whole situation was her fault. As if she had controlled nothing. But, you don't choose who you are. You don't chose to be someone with a heart able to love you significant other so much.

"It's Ino... Since the beginning... and no one else."

Her coming-out had been so emotional that he too cried. The knot in his chest he was trying to keep hidden exploded.

One last time, their held each other for an embrace strong, tight and nostalgic. After years, he knew the truth.

For a long time, he wondered if he will be able to go back on his feet. He wasn't sure he will smile again. How to feel good again when during years, he wasn't alone? How to forget the good moments? And her? How to forget her?

"You have to know Naruto, I never, ever, cheated on you. I couldn't have done it because you gave me some much... You have been a wonderful husband... And you're amazing and so selfless! In another life... maybe I could've fell in love with you... But, I can't."

So, she really didn't hate him?

He remembered. His heart had tightened. But not with pain. On the opposite, a feeling of joy struck him. He started to feel confident about himself again. Despite his painful mind.

Even his parents never show him that kind of affection. And Naruto? His low self-esteem was lower that all the qualities he had.

Because, everything was about business, business and business. Some 'well done son, the company can count on you now.', 'I'm so proud of you because now you honor the Namikaze family.' and 'soon, it'll be your turn to run everything.'

Fancy, fake and superficial words, reminding him that he was the eldest Namikaze son.

When Konohamaru became a father, no one supported Naruto. Despite pushing him further down in the unhealthy situation he had with Hinata, no one asked him if he really wanted that or how he was doing emotionally speaking.

He recalled his youth age. He had been so stupid to pretend he was someone that he wasn't. He wished everything with Hinata was different. He shouldn't have been so insistent, so intrusive. And he should've said 'no' to his parents. Show that he wasn't his father.

All of his life might have been different.

For a while, he was there for Hinata and she was there for him. Why ask for more? That relationship showed him life could offer other things than just love. More tears, more sleepless nights, more familial tensions.

But all of that was behind him.

It was before his children, before knowing the truth.

That harsh reality.

Maybe it was the jealousy speaking. Because for a while, his relationship with Ino was awkward. Perhaps because of his ego. But soon, he saw it. How the beautiful blonde could make Hinata happy, could make Hinata comfortable enough to crack her shell like he couldn't do.

Like anymore else.

Despite his will, Naruto wasn't capable to offer that.

So, he accepted his defeat. And after all, Ino wasn't a bad person. She too didn't choose that situation.

How could he be mad at her? There was nothing more to do.

No.

The only thing left he could do was to break the vicious circle which was keeping Hinata trapped by her wife duties.

If to make her happy he had to give her her freedom back, well... Naruto will do it.

He will give her the power to fly.

Last update is on Tuesday