Hyuga Hinata. Her wife in his past life. His only lover. The mother of his two kids. The one that had died from assassination orchestrated by Black Zetsu during the war.
Naruto felt like his heart was broken into million tiny pieces when he found her cold body. His heart felt empty and he started living his life like a walking zombie after her death.
Currently, she should only be 10 years old and studying in the academy just like him.
Naruto was somewhat lost for words, his emotions hovering somewhere between joy and nervousness.
"Perhaps not interfering with her life too early on is the right choice; she will follow her original footsteps, growing into that Hinata whom I love."
"However, will it be the same this time around? What if she started getting in a relationship with someone else? What should I do about that?"
All men were petty in this area. It was fine when Naruto doesn't realize Hinata's feelings for him in his previous life, but what about this time? Watch on as she gets lovey-dovey with someone else? That would be intolerable!
Naruto's fate was virtually destined to change in this life.
"What about the relationship between me and Hinata? Will she still fall in love with me as she did before? After all, even though she is still the same her, I might no longer be the me I once was?" Naruto started to panic.
"Her growth — to what extent should I be involved in it?" Naruto thought deeply.
In his previous life, after they got married, Hinata had once joked:
When you were still a brat and getting everyone mad with your antics, I had already fallen in love with you. But you at that time never even look at me.
When I was being bullied in the clan and huddling in a corner crying, you didn't come to protect me.
When I left home after a spat with my father, and instead discovering that there was nowhere I could go, why didn't you tell me where you were?
When I was sick and had a stomach-ache, you were having a good time hanging out with Sakura san.
You just know how to care about other girls. Hmph!
Most pairs of lovers would not have participated in each other's pasts. In the moments she had been the saddest, perhaps that's when you just happened to be in the prime of your life, when she had been the most helpless, you were not by her side. Yet today, her sorrow is your worry, her joy is your happiness, sorrow and joy shared as one.
"What about this time then? I have the chance to participate in all of this, help her grow and cherish her more than ever. Just that I don't know if I actually should." Naruto's heart ached a little as he thought about this.
....................
After a moment. Naruto took a deep breath and made up his mind.
"H-hey Hinata! What a coincidence? I don't know you also like to eat ramen here?" Naruto lied. His voice quivered a little from nervousness.
'Like hell if I don't know what Hinata like to eat after our years of marriage? She even managed to polish off 46 bowls of ramen without breaking a sweat, gaining herself the title of 'Ramen Queen'.'
Hinata turned facing Naruto. She was then shocked and started to fidget. Her face blushing and her ears started turning crimson.
"Wha-wa Naruto Kun? Sorry I-I didn't notice you were here. Um. Yes, I really like the ramen they sell here."
"So cute! Damn it! I must be blind for not noticing her cuteness in my previous life!" Naruto screamed internally.
Naruto doesn't realize how peculiar the situation was for Hinata with her byakugan to not have perceived his presence. Hinata is not to be blamed in this though.
After reincarnating, although his body is still of a ten-year-old kid, Naruto's mind started maturing rapidly. Now he is always surrounded by the aura of wisdom and confidence. None of his previous childish aura is present.
"Old man! Another tonkotsu ramen for me! And I'll pay for whatever Hinata is eating as well!" Naruto shouted.
He doesn't care anymore about his shrinking wallet. Let the future Naruto take care of those monetary problem. Right now, the most important thing is to spend this valuable time with his future wife.
"Huh? I-is it okay Naruto kun? I eat quite a lot you know." Hinata was blushing hard. White steam started to form from the top of her head.
"It's nothing. I've never treated you for a meal before. Let's eat together more often after this alright? It's quite rare to find a fellow ramen lover to eat with after all. " Naruto lied without blinking an eye.
Hinata almost passed out when she heard what Naruto says. "Did he just asked me out for a date?"
Hinata state of mind was in chaos. To prevent embarrassing herself further, she decided to eat quietly without daring to look at Naruto's eye.
Naruto doesn't mind Hinata's action and let out a little chuckle. Then he also started to dig in into his bowl of ramen. But his eyes didn't stop glancing at her from time to time.
Hinata is a cute and delicate girl. She had a typical hime-cut short hair that ended at her ears. Her featureless white eyes with a tinge of lavender is the most beautiful pair of eyes Naruto have seen coming from the Hyuga clan. Her brows, mouth, nose and smile-while they were still undeveloped as opposed to the freshness within his memories, they all still seemed just so familiar.
Ayame and old man Teuchi smiled knowingly when they saw Naruto's expression and how he keeps on staring at Hinata from the corner of his eyes.
Hinata raised her head, gulping down the ramen broth. Her slightly tremoring throat, her long, slim neck, as well as her cute, intricate ears and her smooth, clear earlobes…once, Naruto had told Hinata,
"Every time I see you drink something, I feel like I really might die of thirst."
In close to ten seconds, Hinata drank half the broth in a single go. Naruto only glanced once at her. He did not dare to watch on any further.
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After the meal. Both Naruto and Hinata walked out together from Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto decided to walk a little to ease the digestion. The thick-headed Naruto doesn't even realize the girl standing next to him is almost at the breaking point due to nervousness. He thought, as a gentleman, it was the obvious thing to accompany his future wife back to her home.
While Hinata was fidgeting besides him, Naruto is in a trouble of his own.
"What should I do next?" Naruto opened his mouth and exhaled a breath of cold air.
"Should I just go up and tell her: You are Hinata, and I am Naruto. 10 years from now, we will fall in love together, and we will get married, and have a beautiful family with two cute kids?"
"This is what I most want to say, but it is also the option that should be ruled out the earliest."
"I am an adult, and she is still too young. It perhaps might not be obtrusive for a 27-year-old guy to flirt with a 22-year-old girl, but for a 40 years old man and a 10 years old kid? This gap is really too great to the point of being a crime." Naruto didn't even consider his current body age in his calculation.
"The best choice right now should be…" Naruto worked hard to suppress the rashness within his heart.
Naruto stopped walking abruptly, startling Hinata. He then turned to face Hinata, staring directly into her eyes.
"Hinata, I have something really important to tell you…"
I really want Naruto to cherish Hinata and give her the love she deserved.