A/N- Before you guys read, I'd like to say something:

So I notice there are words in my chapters that are very out of place and doesn't make sense within a sentence. I type my chapters on my phone and even though I try my best to edit before I publish my chapters, autocorrect slips pass me sometimes and changes the words I meant to put in.

Basically, if while reading, you see a word in a sentence that you know doesn't make sense, please tell me immediately so I can fix it cause it gets really embarrassing for me when autocorrect messes up my sentences.

Thank you.

🌹🌹🌹

Chapter 3: The Lingering Question

"Mr. Gamariki, Gamaken, I'm gonna have to apologize for the abrupt summoning," Jiraiya apologized to the two large toads in front of him as he then rested a hand on Nia's shoulder, "Nia here has signed a contract with the toads for now. I want you two to be the main ones who sticks by her side. Sort of like how Gamakichi and Gamatatsu are by Naruto's."

Happy as he was able to see the kunoichi once more, Gamariki placed a hand to his cheek and fluttered his lashes, "Nia-Dear, it's been so long since I've seen you. A month, was it? I've been waiting to kiss your adorable cheeks, girl."

"That's okay," The girl sweatdropped as she had no interest in the toad's sloppy kisses, "It's really good to see you too, Mr. Gamariki. It's an honor to be partnering with you."

"Uh! Jiraiya-Honey, isn't she just a doll? She always flatters me. She's nothing like that disrespectful Naruto. Nia-Dear is someone I'm more than pleased to partner with."

"I'm happy you feel that way, Mr. Gamariki. Especially after that whole ordeal with Naruto. Nia is considerably a lot more respectful than he is so she shouldn't give you any problems." Jiraiya replied as he then looked up at the larger toad, "Mr. Gamaken, how've you been? Good, I hope?"

"You're gonna have to forgive me for my ungraceful introduction." The toad apologized, "It's great to see you, Master and it's a pleasure to meet you, Nia. I look forward to serving you as best as I can."

"And it's an honor to meet you, Mr. Gamaken, sir." Nia bowed, "You're a very cool-looking toad, I'm sure you and I will get along just fine."

Jiraiya smiled as he was satisfied with how things were going, "Well, that was the reasoning for her summoning you two—So that she could inform you of her allegiance and so she'd be able to meet you, Mr. Gamaken. Sorry for the trouble, but you may head back to your world. As for you, Mr. Gamariki, I'd like for you to stay here and give her some pointers on some of her water ninjutsu."

"All right then," Gamaken nodded, "Nia, it was nice meeting you. I shall take my leave now. Summon me when you need to."

"I will and it was nice meeting you too, Mr. Gamaken. Goodbye." The kunoichi replied as the large toad dispersed into smoke and headed back to his home world.

"Well Nia-Dear, let's see what you've learned since our last meeting, sweetheart. I'm sure you've-"

"PERVY SAGE! PERVY SAGE!" Naruto suddenly came jumping from branch to branch in a panic as he then leaped down from the trees, "Pervy Sage! I just saw one of your larger toads just a couple minutes ago! You usually summon the big ones when there's a huge threat! So-"

Nia softly placed a hand on the genin's shoulder as he turned to face her and immediately pulled her into a hug.

"Nia! Thank goodness you're okay! You're not hurt are you?"

"No, but uh... you're squeezing me too tight, Naruto. It hurts."

"Oh man, my bad." He lightened his hold as he still kept her head to his chest.

"Naruto, everything is fine," Jiraiya reassured the boy, "I was just helping Nia to utilize her chakra and summon forth a couple toads since I insisted she'd sign a contract with the toads until we can possibly find a different, more compatible species she could make a contract with instead."

"Woah seriously?" The blonde was seemingly impressed, "You summoned a big toad too, Nia?"

"She has more than enough chakra to summon Mr. Gamariki, but as for Mr. Gamaken, she barely had enough chakra for his level of caliber." The sannin answered for the kunoichi while Gamariki only stared at the blonde displeased.

"Why're you always around when I'm summoned, Naruto? It's beginning to be a huge problem for me." The toad complained as the genin quickly recognized his voice and became immediately disgusted.

"Gah, not you again! Please don't tell me you're one of her summoning toads?!"

"Naruto, don't be rude... of course Mr. Gamariki is my toad." Nia told the ninja, "We get along great and have perfect synchronicity. You know that..."

"It still doesn't make sense to me how you can be compatible with him! He's impossible to work with, ya know!"

Gamariki became annoyed, "You were the one with no rhythm so don't try and blame me for why we couldn't work out."

"I had no rhythm?! You're the one who kept stepping on my foot and even attacked me from behind like a coward! You are to blame!"

"Goodness, I only hit you cause you were trying to walk away from me like some little brat who gives up when something is too hard for him to understand!"

"EXCUSE ME?!" Naruto released Nia from himself and attempted to fight the toad, only for the kunoichi to hold him back from doing so, "YOU WANNA TRY SAYING THAT AGAIN?!"

"Hmph!" The toad crossed his arms and looked away with attitude, "I don't see what Nia-Dear sees in you. You're nothing but a little boy who can't take criticism. She should just kick you to the curb."

"Or maybe she should just kick you back in the pond where you belong!" The blonde thrashed around as he gritted his teeth while a vein throbbed at his temple, "And one other thing! Quit trying to always kiss her with those nasty lips of yours! Nobody likes being kissed by you, ya know!"

In the midst of his thrashing, however, he roughly yet incidentally rammed his elbow into Nia's right eye causing her to fall backwards, hit the back of her head on the ground hard—Forcing her to throw her hand over her injured eye as she screamed and writhed in pain.

Gasping in horror as he felt the impact of the hit, Naruto felt a stab in his heart as he quickly turned around, got onto his knees, and helped sit Nia up while his eyes quivered at the sight of her groaning and slightly pushing away at him.

"Oh man, Nia! I didn't... I didn't mean to-" His voice was shaky as a lump had formed in his throat, "A-Are you okay?!"

"Move aside, kid." Jiraiya made the teen back away as he softly moved Nia's hand away from her eye only for her to put it back on it.

By then, her other eye were shedding tears considering the impact was hard enough to make it do so.

"Oh, Nia-Dear!" Gamariki gasped also as this saddened him, "Ugh, anyone but my sweedoms! How dare you, Naruto!"

"Pervy Sage, is she okay?! Please tell me she's okay!" The blonde ignored the toad as he was more concerned over Nia.

Jiraiya dug into his clothing and grabbed some first aid kit necessities.

"She's going to have a bruised eye, but she should be fine." He told the genin as he began mending the girl's eye before taking the large white bandage and wrapping it over her injured area and also her forehead as to keep it secure.

"Nia..." The genin once more attempted to speak directly to the kunoichi, "Nia, I... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hit you in the eye like that. It was a complete accident, ya know? I feel horrible."

The girl only smiled softly as she heard the apology, "I know it was an accident so of course I forgive you, honey."

Relieved as tears brimmed his eyes, Naruto wore a squirmy smile while his face became mildly red, "Nia... thank you."

"Naruto..." Nia only reddened as she saw the sincere care he had for her well being.

Observing how the two were gazing and smiling at one another, Jiraiya stood to his feet as he rested his hand on Gamariki.

"Come now, Mr. Gamariki. Why don't we give these two some needed privacy and head somewhere else and chat for a bit?"

"But Jiraiya-Honey, I understand we're old friends and all, but I'm worried for Nia-Dear. Don't you think we should stay-"

"Nia will be fine. Let's get going..." He responded as he walked away while Gamariki hesitated before he eventually did the same.

Now alone with her, Naruto gently grabbed ahold of her face as he gazed at her, "I swear... you're one of the most forgiving people I've ever met. If not, the most forgiving."

"You... think so?" The girl was a bit confounded by his words.

The boy nodded, "Definitely... I mean the way you can forgive people... whether they do something on accident like I just did or even when they say all these horrible things about you, mock you, and make it seem as though your meaningless and have no value... even when your angry and extremely sad, you find the heart to forgive them even if they never said sorry to begin with. I find it incredible, but at the same time it makes me feel sad because you've been given such a bad hand in life when you don't deserve it. Especially when you do everything you can to make others happy."

"Thank you..." The kunoichi smiled before looking down, "But we don't need to get into any of that. I mean, I am a little mad at what you did, but it really was an accident, so I'm okay."

Moving his hands down her face and placing them over her wounded hands, Naruto sthen told Nia, "Your hands... your eye... their injuries are both related to having something to do with me. Your eye cause of my recklessness and your hands because you were changing my apartment for me as a gift."

"That's okay... I don't regret making your home better even if it meant my hands got messed up in the process. I want to make my hero happy because I love him and me doing what I did made you happier." The girl leaned in to give the boy a hug.

"Yeah... you sure did," Naruto only rested a hand on the small of Nia's back before using the other one to turn her head so he could kiss her.

However, when he did, Nia panicked and backed away; Standing up as she placed her finger on her lips while her face and neck had gone red as always—Even the tips of her ears and fingers had followed suit.

"Erm, that reminds me..." She spoke in a fidgety tone, "I should probably head back to Mr. Gamariki right now..."

"Wait!" The blonde rose to his feet as he blocked Nia from going anywhere, "What the heck was that about? Why'd you pull away? You get shy or something?"

"I got... nervous. You always make me nervous. Especially when... we're having moments like these. I can't help but get shy, Naruto. My hero means a lot to me."

"Then come over here and give your hero a hug!" Naruto spread his arms as he too began to blush, "I'll squeeze the shyness out of you, sweetheart!"

"Kyaaa, no!" Nia shrieked as the boy tried to embrace her, "Please, please! I'm too shy right now! I feel like my heart's gonna burst. I have too many butterflies in my stomach right now, Naruto! Have mercy on me!"

"But I wanna hold you! Get over here!" The boy refused to take no for an answer.

Feeling weak in the knees, Nia tipped over as the genin caught her and he proceeded to grin sheepishly as he realized she was in his clutches.

"Niaaaaaaa!" He embraced her tightly and nuzzled his cheek against hers, "You're a really amazing person, ya know! I love you!"

Now with steam pouring out of her overly heated face, Nia's mind was dangerously going blank as she warned the ninja, "Please... I think I'm gonna collapse if this keeps up. It's been forever since you held me like this. Three weeks to be exact... I think I'm gonna die, Naruto."

Hearing her words and slightly feeling his face go a little more warm, Naruto pulled Nia's headband down to her neck before doing the same with his and lightly pressed his forehead against hers, staring tenderly into her uninjured eye while his other hand gently rested at the back of her head.

"In all seriousness though..." His voice became solemn as was his expression, "Nia, I... you do so much for me. All the time, no matter what, you're always thinking of me before yourself. You're always so selfless and patient and loving and accepting of everything that I am and all I stand for. You never truly leave my side and... I can't imagine you ever leaving me forever without feeling the worst pain in my heart and the most horrible nauseous feeling in my gut, ya know? When I think about your feelings, I feel so warm, so happy. I never had anyone care about me as much as you do."

Nia had to gulp as her nerves were getting to her. It was rare for her to see the boy so serious over the way he expresses the way he feels towards her. All she could do was listen and look away as his gaze became too much for her. She was flattered.

"C'mon, Nia... don't get all shy again. Look at me... I'm trying to say something," Naruto spoke softly as Nia obeyed and made eye contact once more, but this time got lost in his blue endearing eyes, "I... really appreciate everything you feel for me. It's so touching to me and I'll never take your feelings for granted. I just want you to know that... I enjoy having you around and I admire how easily you can express yourself. I think you're a courageous and persevering soul. I've always heard from my senseis that a shinobi is one who endures."

Taking her hand with one hand while using his other hand to cup her face all while keeping his forehead against her's, Naruto smiled warmly before saying, "And from what I've seen... You're one hell of a enduring person, Nia."

"Naruto!" The girl's eye lit up and she grinned from ear to ear.

"It's true, Nia. Sure, you've wanted out of suffering before, but... that was a long time ago. You've changed so much from the day I first met you. You wanted to make yourself a better person and you did. You wanted to overcome your sorrow and you did. You wanted to be more confident, and you've made enormous progress. You wanted to accept yourself and you did. Most importantly, you wanted to love yourself despite your flaws and despite the treatment and harsh words of others and you now do. I'm so proud, ya know?"

Hearing this, tears slowly made their way in the girl's eyes as she softly muttered, "Thank you... Naruto."

"Hm?" The boy pulled his forehead away as he raised an eyebrow.

Nia wore a soft yet small smile on her face as she lowered her eyes to their connecting hands.

"Even though I've said this a thousand times, I'll say it again: It was all thanks to you that I was able to bring myself out of the darkness and into the light again. Thank you."

Naruto was baffled as to why she'd still keep thanking him.

"Thanks to me?  Who care about all that, Nia?"

"No, really..." She tried to make him understand, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I wouldn't have found a reason to keep living. I would've have given into the darkness, hatred, and sadness stacked up in me. You've changed who I am... and you saved my life. Thank you, my hero."

"Nia..." The blonde sighed and caressed her cheek gently, "Yeah, you've changed for the better, but... it wasn't because of me. It was because you yourself wanted to change and you worked hard to be a better and more happy person than you were before. It was your own courage and perseverance that got you to change, not me, ya know?"

Feeling her heart melt as the young man moved her with his words once more, Nia smiled to herself and clenched her hand near her racing heart.

"Anyway, to add more into what I was saying, this whole relationship we got going on now is because of your effort and courage too, sweetie. It's because of you we're so close. It's because of your perseverance, courage, and love that got you to eventually get me to understand your feelings then realize what I felt for you also. If you need someone to thank for all this improvement, thank yourself."

"My hero..." Nia wrapped her arms around the ninja's neck and pressed herself against him, "You're so nice."

Looking away with a pink tinge to his cheeks, Naruto rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, "A-Anyway Nia... there's been something I've wanted to ask of you..."

"?"

"I've talked it over with Iruka-sensei, and... he gave me permission for what I'm going to ask you."

Hearing this, Nia's heart started to race as her face burned and a lump grew in her throat. Nervously, Naruto gazed right in the girl's eye, unable to keep himself truly composed.

"Nia... I love you and... I never want you to leave me. I wanna keep watching over you and... I just want to know if..."

Naruto slowly got onto a knee.

"Oh my god..." Nia's eyes began to brim with tears as her trembling hands covered over her mouth.

"I want to know if you'll-"

"YES!" The girl immediately choked as tears rolled down her cheeks as she could barely breathe from her excitement, "Yes, Naruto! I will! I WILL, I WILL, I WILL!"

"Damn, even though I'm kneeling, I can't get this damn rock out of my shoe." The genin made a strange comment as he then was able to pull the rock out and stood up again, "Nia, I wanted to know if you'll live with me, ya know?"

"Wait what?" Nia's heart dropped as she realized the young man wasn't actually proposing and was just trying to take something out of his shoe.

Afraid that she was going to say no to his important question due to the sad look she gave him, Naruto quickly made something else up and asked:

"I heard you were bullied as a kid too at some point? What happened?"

Hurt yet knowing it was her fault for misinterpreting him, Nia answered:

"Oh... yeah. I was bullied, "As a child, I used to get bullied too except it wasn't due to my appearance. It was mostly because I was painfully shy, I believe. Even as a child, I had super intense anxiety to the point where I couldn't talk when I'd be in the academy as opposed to outside of it. So because of my extreme shyness, I got picked on, left out on things, and sometimes even beaten."

"EHHH?!" Naruto was surprised to hear this as his question was something he completely made up to hide his actual question, "You got beaten up as a kid, too?"

"Mhm," Nia told the truth, "I used to hide a lot during playtime cause some kids would always be trying to look for me so they could hurt me and when I'd get spotted, I'd get beaten. Sometimes, I'd get water splashed on me. Other times, kids would throw wood chips, sticks, balls, or even rocks at me. I  remember believing a few kids were my best friends, but... they were only pretending to be as to mock me. When it was time for the cool kids to hunt me down, they'd always join and insult and laugh at me for ever believing I was worthy of being their friend. I was always called a loser and was even called stupid because of my fear of talking to people I don't know..."

"You... never stood up for yourself?" The blonde made a sad face.

Nia replied, "I mean... I tried to, but I was just one person fighting a group of other children. I had no chance. I used to be so ashamed of myself too after getting mistreated, like somehow it was my fault for getting beaten. I was just a child and I was already coming home trying to hide cuts and bruises and making up ridiculous lies on how I got them. I was so embarrassed, I never spoke to anyone about it—not even my family. I've always kept this to myself."

Before she could say anything else, Naruto quickly wrapped his arms around her, hugging her firmly as to not let her go.

"Nia, I love you!" He told her as this immediately made Nia flustered as she once more began to light push away from him.

"Naruto, that was a long time ago though. It doesn't matter anymore!" Steam continuously poured out of the girl's face as the ninja only held her tighter.

"It matters me! You were getting bullied just like me! You were the loser and the outcast even then. I love you!"

"I guess, but- KYA!" The girl yelped when Naruto began pecking her cheeks then nibbling her ear before smacking his lips onto hers and proceeding to kiss her passionately all while rubbing her lower back and side.

"N-Naruto...!" Nia eventually broke out of the kiss, crouched, then threw her hands over her face as she was immensely embarrassed yet flattered over his unexpected actions.

"Come on, Nia..." Naruto crouched also as he attempted trying to kiss her again, keeping his hand up her side and the small of her back, "I wanna protect you and never allow anyone to hurt you. I really wanna make love to you, ya know? It's been three weeks now since we've last done it!"

"N-Naruto, we can't..." The kunoichi only lightly placed her hands on his chest and tried to gently push him away. Her face was still completely red, "You gotta wait a little longer, remember: Jiraiya-sensei still wants me to train with Mr. Gamariki right now."

"Haah... fine," He sighed and let Nia go. "I'll wait till tonight then..."

Meanwhile, back in the village, Ino along with Sakura and Tenten were speaking with Hinata in a small shop while sitting at a wooden table.

"So what the heck are we gonna do about all this, you guys?" Ino asked as the three other girls thought to themselves.

Tenten, who was sitting beside her, replied: "I'm not sure... if this is right... they seem to like each other a lot..."

"Yeah, I'm not sure if I wanna do this either..." Sakura sighed. She was sitting beside Hinata.

"You guys, Hinata needs to get her chance! I mean I respect Nia and all, but come on, Hinata and Naruto are the "It" couple!" Ino stated, "Hinata, you agree with me, don't you?"

"I... wanna be with Naruto." The Hyuuga admitted almost ashamedly, "I've tried to accept his feelings towards Nia, but... I just can't seem to get over him. I wanna be the one at his side..."

Sakura and Tenten made a sympathetic expression as they saw the hurt in the girl's eyes.

"See? It took a lot of talking, but Hinata has finally admitted to still liking Naruto. We can help Nia find someone else while we get Naruto and Hinata together." The Yamanaka revealed, "Her and Chouji would be a great fit for example or maybe even her and Lee."

"Ino, don't you think you're only matching her up with those two just because of only looks?" Tenten sweatdropped, "Cause let's face it, she'd be horrible for those two personality-wise. Chouji's a bit too soft and quiet for her liking while Lee is just too intense for her which I totally agree with although I do remember her saying that for the most part, he's an enjoyable guy to hang around and funny. Besides, he has the biggest crush on Sakura still."

"How about Shino then?"

Sakura shook her head, "Not him either. She thinks he's way too quiet and introverted. She likes guys who can talk a lot and has a lot of spunk and a bit of sassiness in them."

"That takes Shikamaru out of the picture completely of course..." Ino rested her cheek on her palm, "But then again, he already has Temari, so..."

"Umm..." Hinata mumbled as the girl's looked her way, "K-Kiba... likes her."

"AH!" The three others gasped as they remembered the Inuzuka, "That's right! How on earth did we forget about him?! He's practically just like Naruto!"

"That's who we should get her to be with you guys!" Ino slammed her hands on the table, "He's her type and he already likes her! What do you say guys?! You ready to have our girl Hinata get the guy she's always wanted before Nia ever came around?"

"Me... and Naruto?" The Hyuga blushed as she twirled her fingers at the thought of him leaving Nia peacefully and shifting his love and attention to her instead.

However, hiding behind a corner wall as he eavesdropped on their conversation, Shikamaru facepalmed and sighed in annoyance.

"It seems they're plotting to take Naruto from Nia." Sai stated the obvious as Lee and Chouji were there as well.

"It's a shame Tenten and even my Sakura seem to be in this as well," Lee was doing push-ups using the tips of his fingers while his feet were in the air, "It's sad that they're trying to rip Naruto and Nia apart because Hinata couldn't find the courage to speak with the guy in the first place. I feel for Nia... she proved her love in the strongest way possible by giving her life away so Naruto could live. I myself know there is no greater love than that. I think Nia is the one who should be with him. I cannot accept one who expects someone to be with them when they themselves doesn't put the dedication, hard work, and effort into getting whom they desire. Hinata has not done that while Nia has. I admire her tenacity and bravery when it comes to the one she loves."

"So then what should we do?" Chouji looked to his friends.

"I have an idea, but you guys will need to do your part, all right?" Shikamaru then proceeded to explain his idea to the other three boys.

———
A/N - That's the end of this chapter.

Anyway, in case any of you don't know..

This story will most likely be the very last fanfiction I'll ever write. I'm getting older and I'd like to focus more on the original stories I've made rather than on the stories on this account—my anime account lol that I had since I was 12-13 lol.

But I know how inspiring this story is to a lot of people so of course I'm gonna keep writing it for the 16-year-old me who wanted people to get the message I was trying to send from this book and from even my oc whom a lot of you look up to as a role model for whatever reason. I also write this for all of you so thanks for reading 😘

Please comment and vote and have a great day ❤️

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