Chapter 545 Hinata's Decision

Hinata may be blind in the face of love, but Hiashi is not. He has lived for most of his life and has seen everything, so he can naturally see the relationship between Naruto and Ino.

The Hyuga Clan has always been proud, just as proud as the Uchiha Clan. The difference is that while the Uchiha Clan wear their pride openly, the Hyuga Clan's pride is more reserved.

From the beginning, Naruto understood the stubbornness of the Hyuga Clan and never imagined that Hiashi would approve of him. He also didn't expect the Hyuga Clan to see him in a positive light… such a notion was pure fantasy.

The Hyuga Clan might fear Naruto, but they would surely try to win him over. After all, Naruto hadn't exactly been easy to deal with in recent years, and Tsunade has already left.

Glancing at the silent and worried Hinata beside him, with her brows tightly furrowed, Naruto already had a good idea of what she was about to say.

"N-Naruto-kun, I..." Hinata hesitated and stopped walking. They had arrived at a secluded spot, with half-finished buildings surrounding them. Behind them was the platform where Kakashi's inauguration was still ongoing. The lively crowd and the distant sounds of celebration felt miles away.

"Yeah." Naruto responded. Without waiting for Hinata to speak, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her deeply.

Words weren't important, actions were. If you love someone, you should act on it. No matter how tough the challenges ahead, there would always be a solution.

In that intense kiss, the world around them disappeared. The wind, the surroundings… all that remained was the feeling of the moment. The rustling of leaves in the distance was the only sound, as the wind passed through the dense forest.

"Hey, don't bite me," Naruto winced, feeling Hinata accidentally bit his lower lip in the heat of the moment.

"Ah! I-I'm so sorry." Hinata stammered in a panic.

"It's fine," Naruto said, wiping his mouth and thinking that Hinata might be a bit too sensitive. 'If this was how she reacted to a kiss, what would happen if we do something more… she might bit my thing.'

"So, what were you about to say?" Naruto asked.

"I... I talked to my father." Hinata started, but stopped midway. Her body froze, and she remained silent for a moment before continuing, "He... Father, he…"

Halfway through her sentence, she couldn't go on, and tears began streaming down her face. Large droplets rolled down her cheeks, slipping down her pale neck and disappearing into the depths of her clothes.

Seeing this, Naruto felt equally heartbroken, and tears welled up in his own eyes.

The inauguration ceremony for Kakashi was still in full swing, far from over. The bustling noise from the crowd reached them, faintly audible even behind the stage.

Naruto gently wiped away Hinata's tears and held her close, speaking softly to comfort her, "It's okay. This is just your father's opinion. But what about your opinion? Are you never going to see me again? Never talk to me? Are you going to marry someone else?"

"No! No, I won't!" Hinata shook her head vigorously, her tearful eyes filled with determination as she looked up at him, like a bewitched rich girl.

"I want to... to marry you."

Upon hearing this, Naruto smiled and gently pinched her cheek, "Then why are you crying? Anyway, we will keep seeing each other like we always do, and you won't marry anyone else. I like you too, and we'll be together in the future."

"But... but my father... he..." Hinata hesitated.

"It's okay, we'll find a way," Naruto reassured her, holding her close, "We won't stay in the village forever. We'll go see the bigger world together."

Hinata wiped away her tears and nodded firmly.

"Um!"

"Are you still crying?" Naruto teased, nudging closer to her lips, "Hmm? Still crying?"

"No... no more crying..." Hinata, a bit embarrassed, was suddenly caught off guard as her lips were gently captured. Her pupils widened briefly before she slowly closed her eyes.

After a lingering kiss, Naruto looked at Hinata, whose eyes now held a dazed look, and asked, "Wanna come over to my place for a bit?"

Their relationship, which had been quietly developing for seven years, had finally reached this point after countless obstacles. Throughout, they had been kept apart, unable to approach each other freely.

Even after Hinata had gathered her courage to confess her feelings, Hiashi had rejected her. All because of the tradition of the Hyuga Clan and for the family's honor.

At that moment, the rational string in Hinata's heart had snapped. Her fear and guilt towards her father shifted, transforming into something new.

A surge of determination rose within her, fueled by long-suppressed emotions. Naruto's continuous kisses and gentle testing finally brought everything to the surface, and she let go of all restraint.

"Okay." She replied, tilting her head up with a smile that was different from her usual shy and cautious one.

It was a relaxed smile, as if a long-held wish had finally been granted. She had cast off her inner chains and stepped on her past reservations.

Her brows, usually knitted in tension, now unfolded like willow branches, her eyes carrying a hint of warmth, as if gazing at an endless meadow. Her figure seemed light, glowing with the energy of spring, radiating beauty beyond words.

"We're here. Let me unlock the door first." Naruto reached for his keys, fumbling with them for a moment before sliding one into the lock without looking.

With a soft click, the sound of metal gears turning filled the silence. A second later, the lock popped open, and Naruto pushed the door in, stepping inside first.

"Come in."

"Okay." Hinata's face was flushed as she followed. She made this decision on impulse, and now, as they walked, her nerves returned, making her feel uncertain again. But how could she back out now?

'Could I really just turn around and leave at this point?' She pursed her lips, stepping inside to change into slippers. Her heart pounded, and her throat tightened.

Suddenly, she felt a pair of eyes staring at her intently, and when she looked up, she found Naruto standing beside her, silently staring at her feet.

Her feet, pale as white jade, lightly touched the floor before sliding into a pair of pink slippers. Naruto, for some reason, felt those feet didn't belong in slippers… they should be in a bowl.

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata, flustered by his stare, tugged at the hem of her skirt and walked toward the living room with her head down.

"Oh! Sorry, I spaced out." Naruto snapped back to reality and quickly headed to the kitchen, "What do you want to drink? I'll get it for you. It seems that there is only water besides sake."

"… I'll just have some water." Hinata replied hesitantly. She was tempted to make an excuse to leave, but the words just wouldn't come out.

If it was in the past, she might have said goodbye in a hurry. But now, her father obviously rejected her feelings and even scolded her.

Hinata, who was devastated, also realized that today might be her last chance. If she left like this, she didn't know how long this relationship would last.

'If I hesitated now, I might have to watch Naruto-kun choose Ino, see them get married, and be left with no choice but to watch helplessly. Then, on the wedding day, I might not even have the courage to attend.'

"Alright, just a moment." Naruto soon came back from the kitchen with two glasses of water, "Hinata…"