Hi! this is my first story so please give me plenty of reviews of HOW I CAN IMPROVE. Not how sucky this is. OK? There's not a lot of stuff in the first few chapters but it'll get better if u keep reading.

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Life as it is

"Um, Hinata? I- I need to tell you something, and I don't know how to say it, but I think I – I think I love you!" Naruto blurted.

"R – really? I – I - I l - love you t- too."

Hinata widened her eyes when Naruto started to come closer. She felt herself blushing like a fire and started to feel woozy. 'No! I can't faint now - !' …Thump.

Hinata opened her eyes. 'It was just a dream.' She felt like crying again; she had so many dreams about Naruto that she even started to stutter less in her mental self.

She stared up at the ceiling momentarily then got up to start getting dressed. Today, she would eat breakfast, then train until lunch, and maybe at Ichiraku's, she would be able to see Naruto. She halted, and then sighed. 'Naruto…'

For years, too many to count, he continued to only see her as just a friend. Perhaps today… no, it would just be the same routine over again. If she happened to see him, he would greet her with a breathtaking smile, and she would have to make a stuttered excuse to turn away before she fainted. Sometimes she was too late and found herself falling into his clear blue eyes. Literally.

Hinata finished brushing her hair, and ran downstairs to greet her father and cousin. After having a rushed breakfast, she hurriedly bid her family goodbye and flew out the door.

She glanced at her watch and increased her pace. She was late.

"Oy!"

Her head jerked up. She could see Kiba's silhouette waving, his back towards the rising sun.

"I'm here! Good morning!" Hinata replied in her feather soft voice, the wind carrying it away so that only she and Kiba's intense hearing could hear it. Shino was, of course, silent as usual, standing like a solid rock against the wind that battered helplessly against him. Already the sun was rising up in a clear blue sky, and Hinata could feel the heat on her neck.

"Ok! Everyone here?" Kurenai struggled to make her heard against the wind, her voice elevated so high that everyone was slightly taken aback.

"No need to shout," Kiba muttered, wincing.

Hinata smiled softly.

"15 laps warm up! Then a short spar before the next set!"

The three started running together, Akamaru by their side. It was the same thing every day. This part of the day allowed them to talk to each other without the fear of being stabbed with a kunai.

"So, Hinata how was your sleep last night?" Kiba's grin gave the under meaning away. Hinata started turning red again. Only her teammates and close friends knew about her sleeping obsession with Naruto. She had been unable to keep her embarrassing secret from her very inquisitive, not to mention, nagging friends.

"I- it was f-fine, thank you, K-Kiba." Even though she was extremely shy, her serious tone suggested that Kiba not pursue the topic or else she would get upset.

"Judging by your lateness this morning, I'd say it was a gooood dream."

Hinata closed her eyes for a few seconds and opened them again. 'I will not lose my temper today. He does not mean it.'

The threesome finished fast and started on the spars. Hinata and Kiba began first with a simple close combat with kunai. They both knew exactly how each other reacted and moved, so it was just a matter of perfecting their moves in fights.

Hinata had started thinking about Naruto again. 'I wonder what he's doing. Probably training hard, like always. He has so much confidence and strength; I wish I could be like him. Maybe he might for some reason train with me if an opportunity presented itself. No, I can dream, but that would never happen in reali- .'

"Hinata!"

She refocused just in time to see Kiba's shoe heading straight towards her before… WHAM!

*

Hinata slowly felt herself coming to. She couldn't move her legs yet, but her fingers were faintly moving. She was well accustomed to the feeling, and chided herself for being so easily distracted. However, she was not used to the feeling of someone picking her up halfway.

"Kiba," she muttered unconsciously, "put me down."

She heard a low chuckle and frowned. That didn't sound like Kiba. This one was more… foxy. Eeh? FOXY!

Hinata snapped open her eyes and would have shrieked, but what came out of her mouth was a tiny "Eeeeeek!"

Leaning over her, his nose nearly touching hers, was the beautiful blond haired boy she had been thinking about.

"Aaaaah…"

"Hinata-chan! You're awake! You shouldn't move that much, Kiba told me what happened. Are you okay now?"

Hinata, who was still recovering from the shock of seeing him, was saved by Shino.

"Naruto. Give her some space."

As Naruto moved back, Hinata was able to fight the blush threatening to spread from her neck and had a chance to look at the rest of the training field.

Kiba, Shino and Kurenai-sensai were obviously there, but accompanying Naruto were the rest of the Konoha 11 and their sensais.

Sakura was observing Hinata and Naruto from the edge. She was torn between sighing romantically and snorting.

Kakashi stood behind Sakura, leaning on a tree reading his trademark orange book.

Sasuke was also there, standing stoically and looking bored. As usual.

Hinata's attention was caught by Ino's voice, on the other side of the field.

"God! Get up! The minute we get here you start with your cloud watching and 'troublesome' again. Can't you ever make time for your team!? I have to deal with you! You should feel sorry for me!"

Shikamaru said something that made her scream with rage, then smack him on the back of the head. Chouji was busy eating crisps and trying hard not to attract any attention from Ino that might turn her on him.

Just a little further from them was Team Gai. Or, what was left of team Gai. Tenten was resting peacefully on her back while Neji stood beside her. Lee and Gai were no-where to be seen.

"Hey, Hinata."

Hinata looked up and fought the urge to smile stupidly. Naruto was offering his hand to her. It took her a full five seconds before she realized he was helping her up. Her! He was helping her!

She grasped his calloused hand and a thousand thoughts ran through her head. She didn't want to let go and clutched even tighter when he pulled her up. Her eyes never left his face.

*

Naruto felt surprised at how delicate her hand was. There were some rough patches from harsh training, but underneath her skin was incredibly soft. It felt like they belonged.

He jerked his hand away from hers, ignoring the hurt look on Hinata's face. He shouldn't be thinking these thoughts, what was wrong with him!

He didn't have time to linger on it as Gai and Lee had returned from their "youthful run of 5000 laps."

"Kakashi! My youthful eternal rival! Can you beat me now!?" Gai announced.

"No, Gai. I cannot beat you." Kakashi replied.

Gai stood struck for a couple of seconds, his hand stuck out in the good guy pose. Everyone burst out laughing.

Asuma cleared his throat loudly and everyone sobered up.

"Today, we've decided to see where you all are up to on your skills."

A sigh of understanding ran through the field.

" You'll be fighting in three-man teams- …"

"Yes!" Kiba interrupted, "we're gonna kick your asses! "

"Not if we kick yours first!" Naruto crowed.

"Give us a break! You won't even last a minute," Ino rebutted, "Everyone knows the 'Ino-Shika-Cho' team works the best together-."

"Which is why we're going to put you into new three-man teams." Asuma finished.

"What!" exclaimed Tenten. "No way!"

"Exactly!"

"This is so unfair!"

"If you put me with Ino-pig-"

"Who're you calling 'pig' , forehead!"

"The last time I checked, you were the pig-"

"SHUT UP!"

*cricket* *cricket*

Everyone stared at Kakashi.

"What?" He stated innocently. "I'm reading."

Everyone groaned.

Asuma pulled out a bag. "Now, if one person from every team can come forward and pick out two names. If you get a name of someone who's choosing, throw it back in the bag."

"What if you get yourself?"

Everyone: sweatdrop

"N- Naruto-kun, y-you yourself a-are choosing."

"Aaaaah. Thanks Hinata."

"Y-your welcome."

Lee bounded forward, shouting out, "Here I come, my new youthful team. Tenten! Neji!"

"Yeees, Lee?" Tenten timidly asked.

"I will not forget you!"

Tenten merely rolled her eyes. Neji just stood there.

Ino walked out confidently, occasionally glaring at Sakura, who was fighting with Naruto.

"Pleeeaase, Naruto? I can't just let Ino-pig stroll out there and choose her team. I have to take fate into my own hands too."

"Yeah, but… but," Naruto, spotting Hinata heading towards Asuma in the corner of his eye, saw her as a reason. "Hinata-chan's going so I wanna go too!" (I know… lame)

Sakura stared strangely at him for a few seconds.

"Ok, then, you can go." She said quietly.

As soon as Naruto turned his back on her, Sakura smiled broadly. She had to tell Hinata about this!

"Why did you let him go?"

"Eh?" Sakura turned around to see Sasuke frowning at her. She turned back round to see Naruto talking avidly to Hinata.

"You don't need to know that, Sasuke. It's a girl thing."

* at point Asuma

"Okay, who wants to go first."

"Me! Me please! Asuma sensai!" Lee was jumping about in front of him. Impossible to not notice.

When Lee stuck his hand in the bag, it was like a mini tornado had been created. Lee's face was furrowed in concentration and, after what seemed eternity, finally pulled out two extremely withered pieces of paper.

"Shino-kun and Sasuke- kun!"

It was like the worst combination ever. A hyper kid, a rock, and a stoic smirker.

Shino showed no sign of fear. But inside, he was silently laying out his will.

Sasuke was a little more adventurous. He groaned in defeat. Only Sakura heard him and she giggled quietly.

"I shall now youthfully embrace my new comrades!" Lee shouted.

You could practically feel the fear.

The inner group had turned its attention back to the back and before Naruto could open his mouth, Ino had already stuck her hand in there.

*

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

At Asuma's point, everyone cowered. Over the training ground, heads turned and everyone prepared to fight. The other sensais, who had been talking quietly, immediately leaped to Asuma's side.

All this happened in a matter of seconds.

After everyone recovered and realized no impending attack was coming, they discovered the source of the scream was from Ino.

She was staring horrified at the two names she had grasped in her limp hand.

Asuma took a look and chuckled deeply. "Shikamaru and Sakura."

They were wrong. THIS was the worst combination ever. Ino and the two people she hated the most. And her voice.

Sakura took on the same reaction as Ino, minus the scream. Shikamaru only opened one eye and sighed in defeat. It was a good thing he was smart, because his head would've lost half his brain cells the way Ino was hitting him.

Naruto, oblivious to the horror, had already stuck his hand in the bag before realizing Hinata was still standing beside him. He pulled his hand out and turned to Hinata.

"You go first."

Hinata stared wide-eyed at him, and nodded absentmindedly. She was still dumbstruck that Naruto was paying attention to her, and for the second time that day, resisted the urge to smile and gaze dreamily at him.

Hinata looked at her two names. The first one she smiled at. Chouji was a kind person who understood her. There were no catastrophes yet.

She glanced over to her second name and paled only slightly. Cousin Neji and her were on better terms since the chunnin exam, but cooperating with each other and her as the captain was a new experience. One that would hopefully not end in tears.

Naruto peeked over her shoulder and widened his eyes.

"Eh? Chouji and Neji?"

Chouji frowned and Neji jerked his head up. Actually, practically everyone frowned at the thought of Neji and Hinata.

Tenten and Hinata made eye contact; they were the ones who probably knew Neji the best. Tenten stepped forward and put a hand on Neji's shoulder and whispered something in his ear. With a small smile she skipped away towards Kiba, who was one of the ones left.

Hinata swore she could have seen a smirk pass Neji's lips.

*

The last team left was Naruto's. It consisted of Naruto, Kiba and Tenten. It was a most unusual threesome as the only ties between them were Naruto and Kiba. Naruto only knew Tenten briefly, so the team was just like a newly reformed genin team.

"Now, we're going to give you a few minutes to get together and choose a team leader. No fights, please. Also try and use the time to work out your techniques and battle formations. Go!" Asuma shouted.

In the next few seconds, there was confusion when people darted across the field to meet the rest of their team only to find them gone to find the third member of the team.

In half a minute, everyone had sorted out where they were going and disappeared off into the trees. Only the sensais were left in the field.

*

Lee, Shino and Sasuke were probably the most formidable team. That is, if they cooperated well enough.

Settled in the huge tree, Sasuke looked down onto Lee who was looking down at Shino who was resting against the tree trunk.

No one was talking.

*

"I deserve to be captain. I chose this team!"

"You didn't choose it, it was on pure chance!"

"Well you didn't even get to pick, so technically I'm the superior, forehead!"

"How does that even make sense? You're not my superior because I'm nicer than you and let Naruto choose!"

"You let Naruto choose? Oh no, don't tell me you LIKE him now. That's disgusting!"

"Eeeew! No! He said he wanted to go because HINATA was going. They're actually making progress in their relationship, and Naruto is actually talking to her more now. That's more than what I can say for your love life!"

"MY love life is just fine!"

"Sure it is, when you're stuck here watching me with Sasuke-kun."

There was a silence where Sakura watched Ino with a measured stare and she stared back. Ino suddenly turned to Shikamaru, who had been watching them all this time.

"I vote Shika as captain."

Shikamaru just barely managed to hang on to his mouth. This was NOT like the girl he had known for the past years. What was wrong with her? He stared at the blonde who was now looking down and fiddling with her fringe.

Sakura smiled. She had only been provoking Ino, and Ino knew that. They were sworn enemies but still knew practically how the other thought. Sakura had questioned where Ino's loyalty lay. Ino didn't want to lie, so she chose not to answer Sakura's statement.

Therefore: Ino did not like Sasuke anymore.

"Ok." Sakura said. "Let's discuss the plan."

Shikamaru could only stare.

*

Hinata, Neji and Chouji turned their heads simultaneously to where Ino's team was. They could hear the whole argument and waited until it had ended before turning to each other.

There was an awkward silence where no one wanted to talk and lingered uncomfortably.

"I-I vote N-Neji nii-s-san as c-captain."

It was Hinata who made the first move. It was probably one of the hardest things she had done in her life.

Neji and Chouji both looked at her in surprise. Chouji nodded his head.

"I agree. Neji knows the best ways we can defeat our opponents."

There was sigh of relief within the triangle. It seemed nothing was going to erupt.

Neji nodded stiffly and the threesome began to talk.

*

In the little clearing the last team had found, there were no silences, no arguments and no awkward tension.

Which was good.

What was bad, however, was the fact that the team wasn't getting anywhere at all.

Tenten, Naruto and Kiba were sitting in tight circle and conversing with each other=good

Tenten, Naruto and Kiba were talking about everything… but their game plan= bad

"I would say Lee's group would win, except that they might start killing each other off, so it's a fifty-fifty chance." Tenten said.

"Yeah, so I think next in line would be Neji's group. He and Hinata aren't on great terms, but they have Chouji, and Neji knows not to do anything at such a time." Kiba said.

"Guys," whined Naruto, "we have to come with something so we can have a chance at this! There's no point saying who you think will win if we don't try, come on!"

Tenten looked down, embarrassed. She was angry at herself; she was such a coward! Just because she didn't know these people didn't mean that she couldn't speak up!

Tenten looked up, determined.

"Okay, first we have to elect a leader."

"Alright! Now we're getting somewhere!" shouted Naruto.

"Yeah, but none of us are leader quality. The other teams have team leaders. Our team is made up with just team members." Kiba said.

Tenten frowned at Kiba's negativity and was just a little hurt at not being good for leader quality. But she understood the logic.

"Man, why did I get a team like you!" Naruto said. "We can't give up! I've got to beat Sasuke-teme and prove Sakura-chan that I can work with people!"

Tenten closed her eyes and thought about what Naruto had just said. Then she opened them.

She stared at the two boys with a determined expression.

"I also have someone I need to beat. We need to get on to discussing so I'm going to elect myself as leader of this team." Tenten held her breath, her face giving no sign of nervousness that she felt.

"I second that motion." Kiba replied.

"Me too! Alright! Tell us how to beat those scumbags!" Naruto yelled.

Tenten let out her breath and grinned. The boys grinned back.

*

Kurenai nodded to Asuma.

He nodded back.

"Time's up! Everyone come back on the field!"