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Turns out, living together brings out some new and exciting discoveries.
Some things surprising, some things embarrassing. It's quite natural for such things to be discovered between a couple.
In some cases, some things are rather cute; that's how Hinata would describe her new found discoveries about Naruto. Cute.
It's been a couple short (yet blissful) months since they moved into their own apartment together. For a starter home, it was humble in its size but perfect in every way for their needs and their new life together.
For one, they were now in the privacy of their own home, without the prying eyes of Hinata’s all-seeing family members and without Naruto’s thin-walled (and rather intrusive and noisy) neighbors around to disrupt them. That privacy granted them plenty of time to know each other even better than before. And in that same vein, that's where the new discoveries were made.
On a late rainy afternoon, Hinata arrived at their apartment soon after returning from an extensive mission with her team. Granted, she returned exhausted, her body begging for rest and sustenance.
Naruto was home, practically having been waiting by the door for her. He must have sensed her as soon as she was near the perimeters of the gates of Konoha. That's one cute discovery of hers. He loved to welcome her home and vice versa. It filled her with delight each and every time.
Barely an inch into their genkan, Naruto welcomed her with one of his comforting and warm hugs. She could instantly feel her depleted batteries beginning to charge, and his familiar scent instantly bringing comfort to her body.
Naruto pulled back from the hug after a while, accessing her up and down. "How was the mission? Did ya kick some ass?"
Hinata giggled. "The enemy put up a good fight, but we ended it on peaceful terms for the most part," she said, properly making her way inside their apartment. "It took longer than we originally anticipated, though."
Naruto grinned. "And I bet Kiba was losing his patience towards the end, yeah?"
Hinata couldn't deny that that wasn't the case.
She placed down her mission bag, heading over to the kitchen. “Are you hungry? I think there’s some ingredients to make some motsunabe if you're interes-“
"Actually," Naruto interrupted, slinking his arms around her from behind, "I was thinkin’ I’d take care of makin’ dinner tonight. I can get it started if you wanna go ahead and take a bath."
Hinata's heart swelled at his kindness, hugging his arms close to her. "That would be lovely, thank you," She turned herself around in his arms, giving him a peck on the lips, "What are you making?"
Naruto smiled at her rather mischievously. "Hehe, well that– you'll just have to wait and see! Now, go!" he ordered, gently guiding her forward towards the direction of the bathroom. "It'll be hot and ready when you're done."
Hinata obliged and began preparing the bath.
He's never been this excited about making dinner before. She can't help but wonder what he's making for them.
Hinata was well aware of Naruto's cooking skills, or rather, his lack of them. But she didn't mind them one bit. What he was able to make from his years living alone was plenty delicious and enjoyable to her.
As simple as his meals were, he would often ask for Hinata’s help. He wanted to learn "for her sake," he said, and would try his hand at a more complicated dish with her tips.
Maybe this is one of those times.
She's looking forward to whatever delicious meal she's sure he's making.
After washing off, Hinata sank herself into the warm bath, her muscles thanking her almost immediately at the relief. But not soon after, she heard footsteps approaching and a knock on the door a second later.
It was a bit muffled, but she could hear Naruto asking if he could come in for a moment. She gave the okay for him, and Naruto popped his head in from the door.
"Hey, sorry to barge in on ya,"
"No, it's no bother, but is everything alright?" she asked, noticing his troubled expression.
"Yeah, yeah, everything's good! I just, uh, have a question for ya, is all," he said, scratching his head.
"Yes? What is it?"
Naruto's lip pouted. "How do ya know when it's boiled?"
"Hm? When what's boiled?"
"The water..."
Hinata blinked, repeating after him. "The water?"
Naruto simply nodded.
"...No way, really?" Hinata asked, mouth agape.
"Yeah? How'd you check? I mean, I can tell it's heatin' up, y'know? It's kinda steamin' right now. But old man Teuchi's instructions say I gotta wait for the water to boil before I put in the ramen noodles and I don't know what he means by boil-" Naruto paused, narrowing his eyes. "Hey, hey, why're ya laughin', hm?"
Hinata covered her mouth. "No, no, it's just-" she struggled to say in between laughs, "You really don't know?"
"Well, I've only ever made cup ramen before, and that's not really making it, is it? I just add the hot water from my hot water dispenser, y'know? And then I wait and it's done," Naruto shrugged, sheepishly scratching at the back of his neck, "I'd never tried makin' like actual ramen before."
"Naruto, that's-" Another laugh slipped out of her and he pouted his lip at her again. He's always full of surprises that always remind her of her always growing love for him. "You never had a chance to learn about it?"
"I guess not... it's bad, huh?"
"Mm-mm," Hinata shook her head, smiling fondly at him. "No, it's understandable. You didn't have the same opportunities everyone else did to learn."
"Yeah, I guess..." Naruto mumbled.
"Well, how about this? I'll be done here in a second, and then I can show you? We can finish making it together.”
"Oh! Thanks, Hinata!" Naruto grinned, his earlier funk evaporating away. "But damn, I guess my little secret is ruined.”
Hinata giggled. “Homemade ramen sounds delightful.”
“Right? Old man Teuchi gave me the idea when I last went to Ichiraku, y'know! Told me to try it out and he even gave me a whole heap of ramen noodles he made! And then-”
He rambled on, not noticing as she got out and dried herself, slipping by him and getting dressed for the night. He continued on as she made her way into the kitchen, taking notice of everything he had prepared per Mr. Teuchi's instructions.
Hinata smiled, putting on her cooking apron. She then stilled his rambles with a kiss on the cheek and got him to pay attention.
The fact she'll have so many years ahead with him fills her heart with endless joy.
“Oh! So that's boiled water!”
She's looking forward to more discoveries with her beloved.