Losing His First Kiss

Several months had passed since the Uchiha incident, and the villagers had gradually forgotten about it. After all, it was the business of a major clan and had nothing to do with their lives. With Konoha's higher-ups controlling the information, it had become little more than idle gossip after meals.

"Well then, Boss, I'm leaving. I'll come back when school is on break."

Naruto lit an incense stick before Yue Guanhai's photo. Yue Guanhai's death had been rumored to be the work of thieves, and Naruto had taken care of the general store in his place. But that arrangement ended today. The last sliver of sunlight in the room vanished as Naruto closed the door.

"Hinata, sorry to keep you waiting."

When he stepped out of the store, he saw Hinata standing prettily by the door, waiting for him. The feeling that someone was willing to wait for him, that someone needed him, brought a faint warmth to Naruto's heart, and the corners of his lips curled upward.

"It's all right, Naruto. Are you happy?"

Hinata shook her head and took Naruto's hand. Of course she had noticed his smile, but not knowing what had happened, she only knew that they had come today to pay respects to Naruto's boss.

"I remembered something."

"Naruto, won't you live at my house?"

Hinata tugged gently on Naruto's hand. Starting tomorrow, they would enter the Ninja Academy. The academy was in the center of Konoha, far from this remote corner. Naruto had returned today because he would not have time to come back in the future.

"No. Grandpa Third bought me a place near the school. If I keep showing up at the Hyuga Clan's home, I'll cause trouble for you."

Naruto did not accept Hinata's invitation. Although Hyuga Hiashi and the others did not mind Naruto's identity, there were more people in the Hyuga Clan than just them. Some of the servants were still afraid of Naruto, and several had already resigned because of him.

"That's not true. They just don't understand you, Naruto. You're so gentle and so strong. How could you possibly be a monster?"

Hinata tightened her grip on Naruto's hand. She understood what he meant, and that understanding made her heart ache. She shook her head desperately as she refuted him.

"I'm not that great."

"I still remember that night. Naruto, you fought so hard to protect Brother Neji and me. To me, you've always been a hero!"

"Um... yeah."

Naruto had apparently not expected Hinata to acknowledge him so completely. When he saw the unwavering determination in her eyes, he suddenly covered his face and stammered.

"Huh? Naruto, are you embarrassed?"

Hinata froze for a moment, then looked at Naruto in amazement as if she had discovered a new continent. Thinking back, Naruto's words and actions had always made her blush furiously and faint. Yet today, she had actually embarrassed Naruto. No matter what, that made her happy!

"No, no. How could I be?"

Naruto kept denying it, but Hinata still caught a hint of red on his face and smiled softly.

"Naruto, you've been treated like a monster since you were little, haven't you?"

"Yeah."

Though he did not know why Hinata was asking, Naruto nodded.

"Everyone only heard rumors. They didn't know what was strange about you, since you look no different from anyone else. But I'm different. These eyes can be seen from the outside, and unlike the Uchiha Clan's, they can't be turned off. Whenever I went out, people treated me like an oddity, so I gradually came to hate leaving home."

Hinata touched her eyes. The Hyuga Clan's innate Byakugan had also brought her plenty of trouble. If not for Naruto, she would probably still be hiding at home.

"But Naruto, you changed me. Even though everyone hated you like that, you still earned their recognition through your own efforts. The people on this street don't look at you as if you're a monster at all. Naruto, you shine brighter than anyone."

"Ah, I've talked so much. It must have been boring..."

Hinata suddenly realized she had said too much. Naruto might find her annoying, and she returned to her shy demeanor.

"Not boring at all. I'm happy to hear what's in your heart, Hinata. I'd like to keep listening, but we're here."

Naruto let go of Hinata's hand. Without realizing it, they had arrived at his new home: an ordinary apartment building, with Naruto's room being just one room on the second floor.

"We're here already? I really talked for that long."

"Want to come up and take a look?"

"Yeah!"

Hinata nodded and followed Naruto to the second floor. After he opened the door, she saw the room's furnishings. Small—very small. There was only a bed, a wardrobe, and a low table. Aside from that, there was just a bathroom. Several cardboard boxes sat on the floor, making the already cramped space even more crowded. Hinata's bathroom was probably bigger than this entire home.

"I've already moved everything over. There wasn't much to move anyway."

Those boxes were Naruto's luggage. A few changes of clothes, a few ninja tools, and a few scrolls were all he owned. Seeing that the room was too crowded for Hinata to enter comfortably, Naruto bent down to move the boxes aside.

"I'll help... ah!"

Hinata did not want to just stand there and watch Naruto clean up, so she volunteered and squeezed into the room to help. The already tiny room became even more cramped. In her hurry, Hinata accidentally bumped into a cardboard box and fell on top of Naruto.

"I-I'll get up right away."

Looking at Naruto beneath her, Hinata's face nearly caught fire. Embarrassed, she prepared to climb off him, but before she could, she suddenly felt something touch her lips. Still not having reacted, Hinata looked at Naruto in confusion.

Chu!

This time it was louder and more direct. Naruto's lips lightly touched Hinata's, then pulled away.

"N-Naruto, y-you... what are you doing?"

Hinata was so embarrassed that her eyes had turned into spirals. Steam practically rose from her head, and she no longer knew what she was doing.

"Kissing. I've seen men and women on the street do this sometimes, but I don't really feel anything."

Naruto rubbed his lips in confusion. Hinata's lips had only felt soft, like jelly. Other than that, he had no other thoughts.

Umino Iruka had imagined meeting Naruto countless times. This child had endured so many cold stares since he was little; his heart was probably a complete mess. All Iruka wanted was to care for him like a younger brother and warm his young heart. That sense of shared hardship made him quicken his pace as he arrived at Naruto's address.

But...

"What is this?!"

Iruka hid by Naruto's door, clutching his head in utter confusion. It was wrong of him to open Naruto's door without knocking. He had only wanted to see whether Naruto was home, but what had he seen? A little girl lying on top of Naruto, while Naruto happened to be kissing her with his mouth.

"Phew. I must have opened the door wrong. Naruto must be crying in some corner. That's right."

Iruka took a deep breath and opened the door again. What he saw was still Naruto lifting his head and kissing that little girl on the lips.

"Naruto! What are you doing?! (°д°)"

"Huh? Who are you?"

"W-Waaah!"

Hinata's embarrassment had reached its limit. The instant she saw a stranger, it erupted. She shoved Iruka away and ran out of Naruto's home.

"Naruto, I was so wrong about you! Even if you were bullied since childhood, you can't do something like this! How old are you? When you grow up, you'll become scum who specializes in deceiving girls!"

Hinata's reaction only deepened the misunderstanding. Iruka grabbed Naruto by the collar and lectured him in disappointment.

"What are you talking about?"

Naruto realized that although this man was speaking the language of the Land of Fire, he could not understand him at all. He looked at him blankly.

"Anyway, you need to apologize properly to that girl later!"

"Oh."

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Umino Iruka, and starting tomorrow, I'll be your teacher."

"Teacher? Iruka-sensei?"

Naruto looked curiously at the young man with a scar on his face. Though they were meeting for the first time, Iruka did not hate Naruto like everyone else did. He was angry, but it was more like the anger one would feel toward a younger brother.

"Yeah. I'm not only going to teach you your lessons at school, I'm also going to teach you how to behave. At the very least, you must never bully girls. Understand?"

Iruka sat heavily on the floor. Naruto had truly disappointed him, but on second thought, Naruto had no parents and no one to teach him right from wrong. Feeling sympathetic again, Iruka's expression softened slightly as he spoke sternly.

"Oh... What does it mean to bully girls?"

"It's what you just did... that, kissing..."

Iruka awkwardly tried to explain himself, then suddenly felt like a failure. Naruto was so young and could already kiss girls, while he was in his twenties and had not even held a girl's hand. What a failure.

"Huh? So those people on the street are all bullying girls?"

"Cough, cough. Not exactly. If that girl just now is your girlfriend, then it's okay."

"We're not boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Right."

"She's my fiancée... I think?"

Naruto thought for a moment before using one of the few words he knew.

"!?"

Single Iruka suffered a devastating blow.

PS: Please save and recommend.

PS: Hinata should get the first kiss. If it went to Uchiha Sasuke, this book would turn gay.