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Chapter 19: The Midnight Canoe

"So um... why are we doing this right now?" Naruto paddled as he and Nia sat in the same canoe across from one another while Jiraiya was in another larger canoe next to them with two stunning woman under his arms while two men upfront was paddling the boat for the sannin.

"Ah, stop complaining Kid and start living in the moment," The older man replied as he held a bottle of saki in one hand. It was clear he was very drunk and hardly able to make sense of everything around him. "Be grateful we're not in some sort of crises. Besides, from what I saw a few days ago, you really look like you'd enjoy Nia's company right about now."

Hearing this, Nia averted her eyes and slightly reddened while Naruto just raised an eyebrow.

"Huh? What're you getting at, Pervy Sage?"

Jiraiya sighed heavily as the two women beside him giggled.

"GOLLY, how dense can you be, Naruto? Don't tell me you're trying to erase that moment you and Nia shared together the other day at that village? I swear from where I was standing, you two looked like you were just about ready to kiss or something. Quite frankly, I was surprised..."

"WHA?!" The blonde's face turned into a tomato-colored one as he then finally understood what the man was referring to.

Nia only covered her face in her hands.

"C'mon Pervy Sage, that was nothing! I was just making sure she was okay after that attack on that small village and we ended up getting a bit too close! There was nothing going on, ya know!"

"All right, I hear ya. No need to be so defensive, Naruto."

"Guh, whatever," The boy whipped his head the other way.

Meanwhile, the two women beside the sannin took note of the area surrounding them.

The moonlight was a diffuse lake above them, lessening the inky blackness of the night, but not so bright as to dull the stars that speckled and glittered in the heavens above. Being as it was that sort of time of day, they found another light source in the version of a dimming glow of the fireflies that surrounded them.

The boats glided smoothly across the crystal clear waters as it ruffled all around.

"It sure is beautiful, huh?" The brunette woman spoke as her blonde-haired friend agreed.

"It certainly is..."

"Would you beautiful ladies like to go more up stream and away from these two over there?" Jiraiya smirked while pointing his thumb at the teens.

"Why of course," The women giggled as they snuggled more up to the old man.

"Well, we're going further ahead, Naruto. You and Nia should take this chance to further along your growing friendship. And you two better not start arguing like crazy either."

"Yeah, yeah..." Naruto just kept paddling forward.

"I'll see you two later then," Jiraiya bid his farewell before instructing the paddlers for his boat to speed up. "Try not to get too caught up with this beautiful scenery either. Looks like the kind of setting where romance can ensue.."

"Goodbye, Pervy Saaaage..." The genin wanted the man to leave already as he was getting sick of his teasing.

With that, the sannin did eventual went on ahead as Naruto and Nia were now the only ones in the area. Being that she was socially awkward, Nia found it to be quite difficult to make eye contact with the blonde without looking away. She appeared to have been uncomfortable and unsure of how to start a conversation.

"You really are a real awkward weirdo, huh?" The boy sweatdropped when he noticed her behavior.

This only made the girl feel even more self-conscious. She never was alone on a canoe with a boy before. She wasn't used to being alone with one either. Why would she when all guys did was look at her in disgust? She didn't know what to talk about or how to act.

What was the norm? Should she even try to better her blossoming friendship with the boy? What would get him to be interested in hearing anything she had to say?

"Man..." She was caught off from her thoughts as Naruto viewed the area around him. "This place actually is really nice now that those women mentioned it..."

"Y-Yeah..." The girl could only spew a bit words from her mouth. "It is... rather... um... pleasant to look at."

The blonde seemed to have been daydreaming.

"I should bring Sakura out here one of these days... I'm sure she'll love it, don't you think?"

Nia couldn't help but feel disappointed that he brought up his crush once more.

"...Maybe," She gave her honest opinion.

Naruto glanced back at the girl and released the paddle sticks as he preferred to let the current guide the boat swiftly momentarily.

"You know... I'm not gonna lie, this feels kinda weird being in a canoe with a girl all alone, ya know? I don't remember this ever happening to me as embarrassing as that is to admit."

"Hm?" The kunoichi was a bit in awe. "R-Really?"

Naruto made a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah..."

"I'm uh... surprised. You don't seem like the type to be new to this sorta thing."

"Huh? You think?"

"I mean... well ya, you seem really confident and have good social skills... I'm... surprised you don't have a girlfriend... or at least that's what I'm assuming based on your talk about this Sakura chick."

Naruto replied, "Well she's always had a crush on Sasuke, so... ya. I try hard to get her to notice me, but I always end up short."

"Dang... poor girl. You don't seem like a bad guy."

"Thank you!" The ninja was pleased to have heard that. "Someone gets it! I'm awesome!"

Nia chuckled in response. "Oh my goodness."

"So what about you? Ever been on a date like this?"

"Of course not... guys hate me." The girl lowered her eyes.

"I don't hate you," Naruto told her.

"Hm?" This made her heart skip a beat as she locked eyes with him.

"I don't hate you," The genin repeated.

"Erm..." Nia just looked completely flabbergasted and suddenly felt like she was at a loss of words.

"Did I say something wrong? You look like I offended you or something..."

"Uh n-no," The kunoichi was able to make out words again. "I just... that's so freaking rare for me to hear... actually, I haven't heard those words in years."

"Wow... seriously? In years? That's insanae."

"Well yeah... where I'm from, I'm hated completely. I get reminded on a daily basis that I am and that I don't matter and stuff like that. I couldn't handle being in a village that toxic, that's part of the reason I left in search for a whole new life where I won't be hated."

"Even though I don't think it's right that you ditched your village... I can totally understand your need to have a place to belong. Everyone wants that sorta thing — it's a need."

"Yeah..." Nia nodded.

"Your village treats you horribly... no one seems to care for you at all according to what you've been telling me. That must be extremely painful for you, so... lately I've been speaking to Pervy Sage about this whole situation and we actually came to an agreement. Would you... like to come over... to the Leaf with us? We can talk to our kage over there for you."

"Wait... you're serious?!"

"Yeah," The blonde nodded. "Being at your village made you really depressed to an extreme... If you come with me, I can get you to meet more kind-hearted people, ya know?"

"I mean... I don't wanna be a nuisance on you guys..."

"Don't worry about all that. You're not a bad person or anything. Even if you don't look the best, your character should be able to get others to accept you despite your outward flaws."

Nia could feel a tingling sensation spreading throughout her body, creeping its way up to the tips of her fingers and rush down her spine.

This was it... her chance at having a new life, a new start. For so long she had wanted to escape her torment that was her village and stray from all the intense hatred and disgust all around her. For so long she had sought for somewhere to be proud to live in. She had sought for a place where she'd be said hello to or have others treat her kindly to her face and back.

"I... I would love to try my luck at your village. The Hidden Leaf, right?" Her answer was a no-brainer.

"Yeah!" Naruto confirmed. "Trust me, when we get you settled there... it's gonna be like this whole other world for you. I'm sure you'll love it. I'll make sure no one treats horribly like they did in your village — I'll protect you, ya know."

Nia's stomach was light and giddy, filled by a sense she had never encountered so much of at one time. The slightest smile played on her lips, and as she did so, she caught hold of those enticing ocean blue eyes that she suddenly couldn't look away from. Being the friendly person he was, Naruto gave her a closed mouth smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Heat rose to the girl's cheeks, causing her to blush before she finally looked away, afraid that if she kept on staring, the blonde would catch hold of what she had just been feeling in her heart. Something she just couldn't grasp ahold of.

'He just... He just smiled at me... and said he'd protect me again,' Her face was red as she rested a hand on her heart that wouldn't stop throbbing suddenly. 'I never... had anyone in my life actually want to... keep me safe from others. I've ever only had people who wanted to hurt me in whatever way possible... not... defend me. I don't even know what to think or feel. I'm so freaking flattered, it's ridiculous. I can't believe this guy! He's been acting like an angel to me! WHEN THE HELL EVEN WAS THE LAST TIME A GUY WOULD EVEN TREAT ME KINDLY?! Like... FREAKING NEVER!'

"Y-You know, Naruto... I really... even though we started out very shaky... I really appreciate the kindness you've shown me so far," Nia admitted as this caught the boy by surprise. "I haven't been able... to smile like this in years, so... I thank you for being able to put me in a better mood since our first meeting."

"Ah, don't mention it!" He grinned while trying to stay as humble as possible. "I'm glad you've been able to feel better hanging around with me and Pervy Sage. I mean, I gotta admit, I am surprise he hasn't given you a hard time in regards to your appearance cause he's way more shallow than I could ever be. Maybe the fact that you love that horrible book of his restrained him from making any comments about you? Or maybe, deep down, that perv is actually living up to his teachings and trying to make peace with everyone — even if they don't come in a pretty package."

Nia only listened.

"Well... enough of all that. Let's talk about your improvement with ninjutsu over these past couple months. I could tell you improved a lot. It seemed like you just needed proper teaching, but you got the hang of it. You must be so relieved, huh?"

"Well, it definitely makes me feel more strong and dependable, I guess."

"Now... if only I could learn genjutsu..." The blonde pouted.

"Aw, poor Naruto," Nia couldn't help but giggle. "Maybe you'll learn at least one move someday. Fingers crossed."

"Hah," He only sighed and dropped his head and shoulders.

And so, their canoe continued to drift down a path of small stones and trees with its leaves draped over the small boat. By this time, Naruto resumed paddling as he and the girl continued having a whole other conversation.

"Then BAM!" The genin startled Nia with his yell. "That guy never knew what hit him, ya know."

"Why'd you make that story so dramatic though?" The girl laughed. "There's no way that finished him off... he seemed tough from how you described him. What's his name again?"

Naruto reminisced on the moment.

"Kabuto... he definitely felt that rasengan to his stomach. That was when I finally mastered the technique."

"Oh, I see..." Nia was intrigued. "I remember the first time we fought and you tried to use that — scared the crap out of me. If it wasn't for gravity, I would've been done for."

"Oh right, you got lucky. I ended up winning though, of course, so hehe."

"Don't do that snicker again, please..." She joked.

"Hehe," The blonde only did it again.

"No really-"

"Hehe."

Naruto-"

"Hehe."

"Why you being so annoying right now?" Nia giggled and lightly pushed at his chest.

"Hehe."

"Oh my god, I'm done."

"..."

The kunoichi gasped. "You're not gonna-"

"Hehe."

"And thereeeee it is... why'd I think you stopped?" She started to giggle again.

"Sorry, I'm just messing with you," The genin laughed and ran his fingers through his hair before resting his hand atop of Nia's knee, sending electricity up her body as she was immensely flattered to feel his warm hand on her.

She responded by nervously hiding her hands in her sleeves.

"That's okay," She struggled not to tremble so much from having him in her bubble. "I don't mind you joking with me at all. You're funny."

"Aw, you think?" He gently caressed his finger on her cheek as Nia flushed in the face, covered her hand over a part of her face, glanced down and nodded.

"You shy or something?" The ninja joked as Nia quickly denied everything.

"O-Of course not! I just... I just erm... uhhh..."

"I am pretty handsome," Naruto then winked and pointed his thumb at himself. "If you're falling for me, I totally understand, ya know! Who can resist this sexiness right here?"

"Kyaaaa!" This completely embarrassed the girl as steam pushed out of her terribly tomato-colored face. "N-No! It's not like that! I... I'm not fa-fal-

"Relax, Curly Brow!" The boy placed his hand on her upper arm then laughed . "I'm teasing, ya know?"

However, as he said that, thanks to his negligence with guiding the boat, the canoe slammed against a rather large stone as it caused Nia to jerk forward out of her control and made her thud against the genin's chest as he quickly caught her and helped keep her upright.

"Oh man, you alright?" Naruto glanced down at her in concern as Nia quickly recovered and awkwardly looked up at him, the two locking eyes once more as everything became rather tense.

"KYA! I'm sorry!" The girl pulled away and turned away after having been held for just a bit of time.

"No, that was all my fault! I wasn't paddling the boat and keeping watch of where we were going. I put you in danger... I'm sorry, Curly Brow. I hope you can forgive me."

"Naruto..." This was just making her even more heated in the cheeks.

He was just being so kind, it was criminal to her.

"Here," The genin paddled again and directed the canoe to a safe ground spot. "It's about time we get off this thing. I need to stretch, ya know..."

"R-Right," Nia followed his lead and got off the boat, observing as the blonde was making circles with his arms, stretching his back, then stretching his legs as well.

"Ahhh," He finished by cracking his knuckles. "That's much better. I feel damn good again."

"Should... we look for Jiraiya-sensei, now?"

"Nah, he's probably off at some girly joint again."

"Girly joint? You mean a strip club?"

"Well... yeah. He's so obsessed with women. He used to bring them into the room he and I were sleeping in and have sex with them when he thought I was sleeping."

"What?!" Nia's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?!"

"Yeah," Naruto told the truth. "That was when I was like thirteen or fourteen though... thankfully, he stopped doing that and takes those girls somewhere else to do his business now. Ugh... I appreciate a woman's beauty and all, but man oh man, that perv is obsessed with sex."

"You're... not?" Nia took a step forward to view the blonde's facial expressions better.

"I think about it every now and then, but I don't obsess over it. I had other things to worry about and even now, I still gotta worry about the Akatsuki. Remember: the group I was telling you about the other day?"

Nia nodded.

"Besides... I haven't even been with a girl before or experienced that sort of pleasure or whatever," The genin admitted.

Guh, the only person I ever kissed was Sasuke — a guy for crying out loud!

"I'm really hoping that if I ever do it with a girl, it'll be with Sakura. I can't wait to grab that pretty face of her's and kiss it all over, ya know?"

"I see..." Nia lowered her eyes.

With that, Naruto strolled forward down a path as the girl followed by his side.

"Basically, I can't imagine getting obsessed with sex..." The blonde walked with his arms crossed behind his head. "I highly doubt any girl would feel that good for me to beg for it on a daily basis, ya know?"

"Yes, I hear you."

"So erm... what about you? Ever been intimate with anyone?"

"No... I'm really afraid to give my virginity to the wrong person. I feel like I'm the kind of person who'll get attached so I really don't wanna be so quick as to jump in bed with someone. I want it to be with someone special..."

"Yeah... I'm gonna lose my virginity to Sakura. I'm gonna wait for her," Naruto replied with a firm belief in his future.

Somehow, this didn't sound very pleasing to the girl's ears, but she didn't respond to anything.

"Anyway," The ninja wanted to change the subject. "You got any favorite foods you like?"

"Anything spicy to be honest. Other than that I like chicken, fish, and pizza, but I like a whole lotta food."

"No ramen in your list?"

"I like ramen... just not as much as you do," The girl replied honestly. "I've gotten to like cup noodles more thanks to you constantly trying to make me eat them aside from the packaged noodles."

"Ramen makes everyone happy." The boy claimed.

"Oh my goodness," Nia chuckled. "It tastes very good, but it's not heavenly."

"What? Ramen is the best thing to have ever been created! If you go to Ichiraku, you'd fall madly in love with the miso pork flavor, ya know!"

"Naruto, you needa stop eating all that ramen though... there's way too much sodium. Even I try to stay away from stuff like that when I can."

"No way! I don't care! I just ate ten cups of it today alone, ya know?"

"Wow... you have an addiction," Nia giggled a bit. "Oh well... at least you're able to still be all hyper and energetic."

"Yeah... I guess so," The genin then glanced at the girl as she had did the same, creating a rather awkward moment for her.

Nia turned her head for a brief second before finding the courage to once more gaze into the blonde's eyes, only to feel butterflies in her belly when she caught him actually SMILING at her.

Immediately, the girl hid her hands in her sleeves once more and glanced down, unsure of what to do. It was so awkward for her — so new. Lately, when the two would make eye contact, he would legitimately give a warm smile or even a wide grin. It would always take the girl by surprise.

She would always be used to others looking at her in disgust, in hatred, or try their hardest not to make eye contact with her.

She swallowed a lump in her throat and felt as her body grew warm. Though she was feeling anxious, she eventually returned the ninja's smile before quickly keeping her gaze to the ground as the two walked.

Suddenly, she felt the blonde bump his arm against her's as it forced her to scoot a little over. Not understanding what was happening, she only hid her face from him. Then... it happened again: He gently bumped himself against her.

"Naruto, w-what're you doing?" The kunoichi was hesitant to really respond to what he was doing physically.

"Oh uh... I was just messing with you," He told her as he straightened his posture more and again ran his fingers through his hair.

"O-Oh, I see..." Nia then playfully bumped against his arm as well. "I guess I should properly respond to that then, huh?"

In response, Naruto slightly pushed harder against the girl as she immediately rested her hands on his arm to keep him from making her go over to the side.

"Naruto..." She blushed as this was happening. "Stay where you should be."

"No..." He laughed. "You look like you enjoy the company, ya know?"

"Kya! You're wrong!" This embarrassed the girl.

Giving that a rest, the genin got in front of her, walking backwards as he didn't drop the upward curve of his lips just yet. When Nia tried to walk around him, he'd just get in her way.

"Naruto, c'mon, let me through please?"

"Uh uh," He side stepped her once more. "Try to get pass me on your own."

By this time, the kunoichi's neck had completely gone red as well. She had no idea what was going on.

"Narutooo," She attempted to get pass him again.

It was apparent she liked what was happening between the two of them.

"Try again, Curly Brow," Tge ninja challenged her.

Nia only retreated her face back into her hands as steam risen out of it — she was beyond shy at the moment

"Can... I... g-get pass, p-please?" Her voice was very soft.

"You know, Pervy Sage was telling me something earlier... He said you were talking about me and calling me cool and all these other stuff," Naruto spoke as Nia glanced at him again.

When she did, he wiggled his eyebrows a couple times before smirking and lightly pressed his fist against her arm as Nia tried to hide the way she was feeling at the moment.

"For all that attitude you gave me when we first met, you sure grew fond of me quick, huh?" He teased.

"He told you all that?"

"Of course he did!" Naruto answered as he then calmed down a little and appeared a bit fostered.

Seeing this came as a shock to the girl.

"So uh..." He scratched his cheek as it looked as if it became a bit rosy. "Is it true? You... really think that good of me? You think I'm cool an all?"

"Uhhh... Mhm," Nia nodded as the two, for what seemed like the millionth time, locked eyes as a soft breeze ruffled against their hair and clothing.

Though somewhat uncomfortable with the whole thing, Nia couldn't help but feel some sort of happy or joyous feeling that came with the whole ordeal. It was like time sorta slowed down for her and the world came to a complete standstill. She actually felt scared, but very excited from it as well.

She was being smiled at again. It wasn't even the kind of smile that was forced either — it seemed incredibly genuine.

At the same time, the butterflies made their way into her stomach and her palms felt as though they were getting sweaty. She was confused by what was happening, but still she felt so damn light-hearted and giddy.

'Is this what normal people feel?' She asked herself as she couldn't stop staring. 'Am I experiencing what every person on the planet should be able to experience? Is it finally my turn... or-'

"We should... get moving now," Naruto broke the ice between them as Nia was only left with a pounding heart.

"Y-Yeah..." She nodded as the two then resumed their stroll.

As they did, however, over and over the kunoichi would steal glimpses of the genin's face when she felt he wasn't looking. It was really strange to her, but she couldn't help it.

Maybe there was some attraction there? Maybe she was curious of his behavior toward her? Maybe she liked feeling closer to him? Maybe she found him to be strange?

Whatever it was, it sure did... catch her attention.

———

A/N - Thanks for reading! Please remember to comment and vote and have a great day ❤️

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