Hi guys! Soooo, this is actually my first Naruhina fanfic. I mean, I've done Harry Potter and Soul Eater (which reminds me, need to upload) but I'd never done naruhina before (And I'm a bigger Naruto fan than a SE fan). It's weird, I've loved this pairing for so long. Wonder why I started now? BAAAHHH, whatever. Anyways, I'm pretty new here. Actually, this is my first upload (ahaaaa..ha..). I should've joined earlier. Ah whatever. Enjoy~ :]

Hinata stood at the corner of the training ground, the warm nostalgia filling the air around her. It had been so long since she had trained here, those long, grueling days. It saddened her a bit. As time passes, things change, and those peaceful and happy moments seem so far away, as if they had flashed by. Beneath her, the grass swiveled at the motion of her feet. She was seventeen now – and an elite jounin. The years she spent training, countless efforts backfiring, all seemed to pay off and now here she was, an elite kunoichi. Yet, some changes are faster than others. It seemed like only yesterday when Naruto returned to the village when in reality, it had been three years – to the date.

She sat down on a log and wrapped her jacket closer around her. It was getting chilly. The sun was starting to set and a faint pink-orange glow set across the sky. The wind blew lightly on her face, as if it were a saying hello. She watched as the small and funny-shaped clouds moved quietly and softly. From a distance, she heard the crunch of feet on grass. She didn't bother to look up.

It grew closer and louder, with the crunch echoing in her ears. At last, she looked behind her to see a calm Naruto, taking a stroll down memory lane as well. Embarrassed, she flung her head around. Her face started to turn a light pink, then a darker pink, then eventually turning into a deep red. She had loved him for so long and she always wondered why. A deep admiration lasting years, perhaps a decade now, perhaps longer. Yet she never lost this feeling. It grew stronger and stronger silently. She had thought those years he was gone that she had lost those rowdy feelings but they boomed instead. Now, even at seventeen, she still loved him- that boisterous, powerful, persevering ninja.

Nevertheless, she said her faint greetings.

"Hello, Naruto-kun." She spoke faintly. No stuttering. She had gained courage and confidence.

"Hey, Hinata," he replied in his husky voice. "Can I sit down?"

She fluttered.

"Yeah, um, sure. Why not?" Her head was still down, face away from view. Somehow, the tips of her fingers had found their way to each other again.

"I saw you walk here, you know. Not, that I'm a stalker or –you know, anything." He squabbled. He brushed his neck with his hands and continued awkwardly. "So…how's your team? I heard they were pretty good."

"Um, yeah. They're doing pretty well. One of them reminds me of you –erm, uh, sort. Of." She mumbled. It seemed that the members of year had been very excellent, perhaps genius. Most were now jounin and only eighteen with their own team of genin – just like her. "So…uh, um, not to, uh, bother, but uh –" she turned redder, "why did you, uh, follow…me?"

"Oh, uh that. Well, umm…Sasuke is still at large.."

"I'm doing my best to help. I'm s-sorry if I've done anythi-"

"No, no, no, it's not that. You're…incredible." He said with an exasperated breath.

Again, she fluttered. The ninth cloud passed through the horizon – she had been counting.

"You said that…"

"Years ago, eh? Ahhh, it's been so long!" He threw his arms into the air and stretched fondly. Although, his expression quickly became gentle again. "Remember that day with Pein? When I couldn't move and he was going to kill me, but you came down and covered me?"

"Ahh…" she was trembling. Aaahh…he – he remembers! I – the- confession! Oh no!

"And you said those things about how my – my smile and the other stuff, and how you would die protecting me… and how you said you were being selfish by going there on your own free will...and that, that…" he went on. By then, he was the same color as the sky, a darker orange-red-pink. Hinata mustered up the courage to look at him slowly with her trembling eyes. He was sweating oddly and his fingers were at constant motion. She closed her eyes and prayed, hoping he wouldn't remember that one phrase that she uttered..

"that, you loved me." he ended. As of she were a hot bath, Hinata was very warm, her feelings of fear, embarrassment, love, anticipation, and shyness exploding in different directions.

"I- I –I. Na- Naruto.."

"I only have one question. Why?"

"Be-because. I – I knew the- the pain. To –to be rejected mu –multiple times by people. To –to be seen as a – an outsider. Someone who – who didn't be –belong. I was so ne-negative but – but you weren't. You worked hard to –to prove yourself. To – to be better. And I watched you. I gained my ins –inspiration from you. I made a vow to be better like you. I admired you from a -afar. Even if I knew that my father would no -not approve. When I first saw you, I had faith in you. So I knew that I had to have faith in my - self, too" as she spoke, her voice lost its fear and she spoke in utter courage and nostalgia. "I saw your improvements and told myself, I must be like Naruto-kun. I musn't give up! But…but…I was always scared. When I saw your smile, it found strength. When I heard your voice, I found hope. When you spoke your words and ways, it gave me courage. I guess, I had always admired you. You had what I didn't and that always gave me hope. And I don't when or why or how, but my heart found out too. You fed it courage and hope and strength. I guess...I…I…"

The wind whispered amongst the trees lightly. There was a certain hush that fell over the distance. The sky had turned a dark blue and the stars had awoken. The two sat on the log, side by side, without an utter. Hinata, still trembling lightly from the words she spoke closed her eyes tightly. She thought to herself, What did I just do? The confession…then this...kill me now! Naruto…he must think I'm an idiot. A total idiot.

At last the once brimming ninja got up, calm and collected. His eyes were in a trance, a slow and unwavering state of thought. He began to walk against the wind, towards the lights of the village. He held his fists clenched and his footsteps heavy.

Hinata watched as her love, her desire, her strength walked away darkly. She felt broken and embarrassed by her brash speech. Her light colored eyes were full of regret and remorse, for she knew that she had shattered her greatest happiness. She knew that he felt confused, dazed and lost. This was Naruto. Despite everyone else saying he was the greatest unpredictable ninja, she always knew him. She felt it inside her heart. It was like her heart saw his, reading it, caring for it, loving it. It had always been so close, and now it drifted to the light. She got up, too and started on another way; out of the village. She needed to reflect on her actions. She needed to rethink on whether this love and admiration was for the better. She didn't want to burden Naruto. She wanted to be his support; if she were ever to be his support, she could not trouble him any longer.

Her feet felt heavy as she neared a river. It flowed so peacefully, as if it had no worries. It wasn't turbulent like others. Calm and dreamily, the waves moved forth with grace. She touched the perfection, the serenity. If only she had this serenity. She did, once. But it was never a sure serenity. It always scared her. Her love for Naruto had been her serenity. But what happens, now that he knows? Her serenity had been an admiration, and an unrequited love. She loved him silently and thoughtfully and her peace had been disrupted. She threw a rock in, and for a moment, the calm waters twisted in confusion. But somehow, it found its peace again. The rock had sunk down, unseen, and away. For a moment, the rock had broken the calmness, but the river had found peace again. But, how?

How could she face Naruto now? She would avoid him, hide herself, perhaps make a disguise. Anything to avoid facing him. Avoid. She had always avoided things. And now, in choosing not to avoid her feelings, it had backfired. Did avoiding have so much consequences? She looked up at the stars, closed her eyes and prayed. Tired, she got her feet, and realized that in her short time, there was a creek flowing already. She smiled thoughtfully.

As she walked back, the rain began to fell. It had been a horrible day. The clouds had gathered quickly since the sun set. It rained harder on her, but she didn't bother to raise her jacket hood. She felt downcast, and the rain amplified her feelings. When she was almost at the gates, she saw her fellow ninja looking worried. She waved her hand up in the air, head tilted to one side.

"Hinata – there you are!" Kiba exclaimed. "Oi! You said you were joining us for dinner today! We've been searching for you for an hour! Where've you been?"

"Yeah, c'mon! We're hungry! Let's go!" Sakura added.

In a flash, Hinata rushed over to the others and joined them. "Sorry, I was….reflecting."

"Reflecting?" Ino asked. "About what?"

"Uhm, nothing. It's uh nothing." Hinata noticed that they were all wet. So was she. "We should hurry, the rain is falling harder."

And so, Sakura, Kiba, Shino. Choji, Ino, Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee and herself rushed through the rain. Finally, they arrived outside a restaurant. None of them had been there, but no matter. They all entered in anyways.

"Surprise!" they all yelled out. "Happy Birthday!" She had forgotten it was her birthday today. The restaurant was decked out with party décor. Streamers hung from the ceiling, the tables where all decorated. In the midst she spotted Kurenai-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, Tsunade-sama, Shikamaru, her sister, Guy-sensei, but no Naruto. Inside, she felt a little broken. Nevertheless, she joined the party. Not seventeen, eighteen. They ate and talked, joked and laughed. But no Naruto. I guess he really hates me now. I shouldn't have said those things.

"Hinata, hey!" Kiba called out. "You okay?" She blushed and nodded.

"I'm fine. I think I need to step out for a bit." She spoke. "I'll be right back." She drifted towards the door and felt the rush of the cold air. It was still raining. She stayed under the overhang, next to the light. She needed to go away so often these days. She enjoyed the breath of fresh air. Just as she was about to enter, she heard the pounding of feet running. It had been the second time today with the footsteps. She paused for a moment, but swung the door open.

"WAIT, HINATA!" a voice yelled out. The voice was clear, precise, perfect. It was Naruto. Hinata gathered herself, and just as she was about to enter, Naruto took her by the hand and grabbed her outside again. Blushing furiously, Hinata looked into his eyes. They were no longer dazed, and confused. They were strong and intent. They had fire, as if they knew exactly what they wanted. Hinata tried to pull away from him, but she failed.

"Na-Naruto-kun.." she stammered, "I'm, I'm sorry!" She bowed swiftly. But Naruto didn't respond. Instead, his hand found her chin, and hoisted her up to a straight position. He was panting like mad, and wet, glistening against the light. His face seemed to inch closer to her. Closer and closer, it came. It came as a sudden dream. Maybe he's tired and falling! Or maybe I'm imagining! Maybe it's an illusion! Maybe – but at that moment she felt it. The rush, the staggering passion that came with a kiss. It engulfed her and she closed her eyes tightly. She felt his hands reach her sides and cuddle it with ease. Her body touched his, pressing against one another with force. Her hands found his neck, his lovely neck and, absentmindedly, ran her fingers through his blond, dripping hair.

It felt like heaven. His lips were soft and sweet, luscious to the touch. They yearned for hers, and hers yearned for his. Passionately, they brushed and pushed, as if all emotions were let out, released and finally understood. It was clear now.

He let her go slowly, as if not wanting to depart. She looked at him, no slightly confused.

Naruto blushed, "I…um. I thought about what you said and…it was the same for me. Me liking Sakura, I mean. I never really noticed how you felt. I told Sakura about what you said that day with Pein. She said that everybody had seen it. How you felt – and that I was so oblivious to it. I'm sorry about today. I'd found out that…that I was right all along. That you loved me truly. Not because I was a hero or anything. You loved me for me. For a long time. Sakura said you even loved me when everyone else in the village still rejected me. That got to me the most."

Hinata listened, eyes wide open.

"The time during the chuunin exams with the medicine and the time before my fight with Neji, the time when you fought those people when we searched for the Bikochu, the missions together, and the time you told me that you would die protecting me…it all came to me. How you always believed in me – even when no one else did. I didn't notice it, but you gave me strength too. All those missions together, you always spoke to me, 'Let's do our best.' And somehow, along the way, these little things, these little acts, they stuck to me. And I opened my eyes. I didn't know that, that what I needed was what I wanted too. But I had wanted the wrong thing. I was blind and selfish. I needed you, Hinata. When I realized I needed you, I knew that I wanted you too. Hinata, I want you. I want all of you."