26 Chapter 26:- Training Hinata [II]

Naruto continued his explanation, making sure Hinata understood every aspect. "And it's not just about focusing chakra on your feet. You can use any part of your body that touches the water's surface, like your hands. If you were under the water, you could use your chakra to climb up to the surface, similar to how you would climb out of a pool."

After explaining, Naruto encouraged Hinata to give it a try. Gently holding one of her arms with his, he guided her through the process. "Give it a try, Hina-chan. You can do it," he said supportively.

Hinata, along with her shadow clone, attempted to step onto the water's surface. But, on their first try, both of them failed, their feet sinking into the water as soon as they stepped in.

"It's okay, don't worry," Naruto reassured her with an encouraging smile. "It's normal to not get it right away. Just keep trying, and you'll get the hang of it."

Despite the initial setback, Hinata looked determined to keep practicing. Naruto continued to offer support and guidance, standing by her side, ready to help her master this new skill.

After numerous attempts, Hinata finally managed to step onto the water's surface. However, as soon as she did, her body began to tremble with nervousness. The fear of falling made her shaky, and soon enough, her foot plunged back into the water.

Ah.....!!!

"It's alright, Hina-chan. You're doing really well," Naruto said, his voice full of encouragement. "Just keep trying. You're making great progress!"

Spurred on by Naruto's supportive words, Hinata, along with her shadow clone, persisted in their attempts. After about 20 more tries, both Hinata and her clone were finally able to stand on the water, although they were still a bit unsteady.

Throughout the whole process, Hinata's hand remained clasped in Naruto's, his presence providing her with the reassurance and support she needed. 

With Naruto's constant encouragement and support, Hinata gradually improved her water-surface walking skills. After about 29 more attempts, she was able to maintain her balance on the water for a whole 10 minutes, a significant improvement from her earlier tries.

"Now, let's see if you can do it without holding my hand," Naruto suggested, gently releasing her hand.

As soon as he let go, Hinata's confidence wavered, and she started to lose her balance. Just as she was about to fall face-first into the water, Naruto swiftly wrapped his arm around her waist from behind, pulling her back against his chest to prevent her fall.

The suddenness of the action, coupled with the close contact, made Hinata's cheeks turn a bright shade of red. She was caught off guard and felt a rush of embarrassment.

Naruto, keeping his hand on her waist to steady her, said encouragingly, "You're doing great, Hina-chan. Try again. I know you can do it."

Hinata, despite her embarrassment, felt a renewed sense of determination. Naruto's support and belief in her abilities gave her the courage to keep trying. She nodded, ready to give it another shot, motivated by his words and the reassuring presence of his hand on her waist. She has never felt this motivated to train in her life before. 

Naruto suggested to Hinata, "Why don't you let go of your shadow clone? That way, all the practice and experience it's gained will come back to you."

"Release!"

Hinata said, and in an instant, her clone vanished into a puff of white smoke. At the same time, Naruto gently released his hold on her.

Opening her eyes, Hinata felt a surge of confidence. She felt ready to take on the challenge of standing on the water without Naruto's help. Naruto looked at her and asked, "Do you think you can stand on the water now, without my help?"

Hinata nodded firmly, her eyes shining with determination. This time, when she stepped onto the water, she managed to stay upright, perfectly balancing herself. She had done it successfully.

Naruto's face lit up with happiness at her achievement. "You did it, Hina-chan!" he exclaimed. He reached out and affectionately patted her head, his words full of encouragement and pride. "I knew you could do it. Great job!" His praise made Hinata feel even more accomplished, knowing she had overcome the challenge with his support.

"Next, Hinata, I want you to try different exercises while standing on the water. It'll help you become more comfortable with this technique," Naruto instructed.

Hinata quietly acknowledged with a nod, "Um, okay."

For the following two hours, both Hinata and Naruto immersed themselves in training. Naruto didn't just watch; he actively participated in the exercises alongside her, helping her improve her skills.

As time passed, Naruto noticed the sun beginning to set, signaling the end of their training for the day.

"Hina-chan, I think it's a good time to stop our training for today," Naruto suggested, noting the fading light.

"Tomorrow, we can pick up where we left off," he added. Hinata agreed with a nod, appreciating the progress she had made.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude for his guidance and support throughout the training session. Her progress and confidence had grown significantly, thanks to his help.

Naruto's words, spoken in a playful tone, caught Hinata off guard. "I don't just want thanks, Hina-chan," he said, gently lifting her chin with his fingers so she would look directly at him.

"I'm hoping for something more as a thank you," he continued, his gaze meeting hers. This sent Hinata's heart racing, her face flushing a deep shade of red as she felt a rush of blood warming her cheeks. Her heart pounded so loudly in her ears that she thought Naruto might hear it.

Slowly, Naruto leaned in closer, his face inching towards Hinata's. Overwhelmed by nervousness and embarrassment, Hinata instinctively closed her eyes, bracing herself for what she thought would be a kiss.

But the anticipated kiss never came. When Hinata cautiously opened her eyes, she saw Naruto's face just inches from hers, his eyes playfully scanning her features. 

Hinata mentally berated herself for falling for Naruto's playful trick. She was so embarrassed that she wished she could just disappear into the ground, away from Naruto's gaze. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and it felt like steam was about to start billowing from her cheeks.

Naruto watched Hinata with a look of affection, finding her reactions endearing. He could read the embarrassment and surprise on her face, telling him exactly what she was feeling without her having to say a word.

Instead of teasing her further, Naruto reached out and gently tapped her forehead with his index and middle finger. "Silly girl, you can thank me some other time. For now, this is enough," he said softly. He then delicately gathered a few strands of Hinata's long, dark blue hair, bringing them close to his nose to take in her scent. The light floral aroma mixed with sweet notes of pomegranate and peach was delightful to him. He savored her natural fragrance, finding it very pleasant.

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata whispered, still blushing fiercely. She gazed at him, her embarrassment mixed with a sense of sweetness and closeness that she had never experienced. 

"Goodbye, Hinata," Naruto said softly. Within a few seconds, he was out of her sight, leaving Hinata alone with her thoughts.

Once he was gone, Hinata touched her cheeks with her palms, feeling the heat from her intense blushing. The memory of their close moment made her cheeks burn even more.

As she gradually regained her composure, a silly, happy smile spread across her face. She couldn't help but replay the moment over and over in her mind. "Naruto-kun..." she whispered to herself, her heart full of affection for the blond ninja. At that moment, she knew without a doubt that her feelings for Naruto were deep and true. He had a special place in her heart that no one else could fill.

Lost in her thoughts about Naruto, Hinata looked forward to the next day with anticipation, eager for another chance to be with him. The thought of spending more time with Naruto brought a sense of joy and excitement, making her heart flutter with the promise of new memories to be made together.

Upon arriving home, Naruto was greeted by a usual sight: thirty of his shadow clones were deeply engaged in Fuinjutsu training, all under the watchful eyes of several shadow clones of Kushina. 

Kushina, noticing Naruto's return, greeted him with a playful smirk. "Back already? How did your training go?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of teasing.

"It went well," Naruto replied, his voice soft and his smile gentle as he thought back on his time spent training with Hinata.

Kushina, sensing the fondness in his voice, advised. "Why don't you go take a bath and freshen up? Dinner will be ready soon." Kushina did feel slightly bit jealous but that jealousy very quickly disappeared. 

"Alright, I'll do that," Naruto agreed, feeling the need to relax and unwind after the day's activities. 

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