A/N: This is actually a deleted scene from Reluctant. I thought it was too OOC and mean spirited, but still it was slightly more fun than the scene from chapter 19, a lighter tone. Location: Kusagakure, alternate storyline of reluctant.

Fire

Naruto gave a slide glance to his taciturn companion. Her tiny mouth was pressed into a thin line, pale eyes staring straight ahead and impassive. She continued to stare out towards the street and up at the lanterns, pointedly avoiding a conversation.

She was still angry.

He sighed. Since Ino and Shino had intel duty and were currently stuck in the ancient records crypt, he and Hinata were left alone to "guard" the festivities. Besides as future Hokage and an ambassador, they could not appear to be anything but neutral and respectful. Even if they had conditional permission to look at those records, they would not go read them.

He tried to break the silence, not used to extended periods of not speaking, especially to his friends. He grinned cheekily. "Sooo…it's nice weather huh?"

A pause and Hinata shifted slightly, the red of the lanterns making the highlights in her hair appear violet. "Yes, it is Naruto-san."

"Are you hungry?"

"I am fine, thank you." She answered, distant and polite. Her tone was lilting, but there was something off. The cadence was wrong.

He knitted his brows in confusion. How could he notice the nuances of her voice? Was he really that aware of her? He had never seen her so angry as when they had argued, her veiled messages hitting him and dawning upon him seconds after she had already moved on to her next accusation. He then realized that was where Hinata's strength lay; in quiet, well thought out and creative belligerence.

It was also her weakness. He felt as if she had not said everything, she held back. And he wanted to see her let go. Completely and utterly shout and become red till she could fight no more. She never spoke up about how she felt, always resorting to facts and morality and silent threats.

She didn't even look like a normal angry person. Her eyes would flash a hint of silver, but it was subdued and beautifully controlled. He wanted to see fire in her gaze, not just cold steel.

That part of her had not changed.

He stood up from the stone steps in front of the temple and brushed off his pants. His eyes flared cobalt and his large shadow loomed over the startled ambassador. The light of the lanterns menacingly lit up the deep planes of his visage and his grin seemed all the more frightening.

He knew what would set her off. Her weak point had been the apparent immorality of his past conquests. (At least the idea that those damn rumors had given her.) She hated his games. Well then, let her be the victim of his next play.

He then quickly reached for her small hand, pulling her up. Carefully, he maneuvered himself so that he was encroaching upon her space. (Her most prized position.) She was too startled to do much but squeak lightly. He gazed appreciatively at her dark clad form, purposely allowing his gaze to linger. She turned red, and her eyes widened.

"Naruto-san…" She said breathlessly, a spark of indignation and embarrassment alighting.

'Just a little more.' He thought. He was really close. He gave her a flirtatious grin, one that many had been charmed by. He tilted his head in an ever so fetching manner and his blond strands fell into his bright eyes.

She began to squirm, tugging her wrist out of his grip. "Let go."

He obliged, staring at her with a mischievous glow. "Hinata…"

His husky tone had her stopping, all thoughts disappearing. "Y-yes, Naruto-san?"

There it was; the trepidation and hesitation. He went in for the kill.

"If I said you had a nice body, would you hold it against me?"

The tiny ambassador's previous anger returned at full force, the audacity of her comrade shocking her. This was so crass, so rude especially after today's incident. And now she was stuck with a pervert of a future Hokage for whom she had once held a deep love. (Right now, her emotions were clouded, confused.) But now, the only clarity was her immense anger.

She shoved him away, surprisingly strong. Her cheeks turned red in vexation and infuriation. Her fists balled up at her sides. Naruto cheered internally, this is what he had wanted to see. To see her angry, to see her fight.

"You…you…." She sputtered, incoherent.

He waited, amused and his smug look incensed her more. She reached breaking point.

"You jackass!" She shouted; the rude word at odds with her gentle voice. She did not shriek like other kunoichi were wont to do, but the raised pitch and slightly louder volume were enough to convey her displeasure. More than enough actually.

She looked up at her future jackass Hokage, her brows knitted and her mouth small. And Naruto once again found himself struggling to breathe. Her eyes were no longer cold steel. They were not fire either.

They were stars.

"How dare you, you pretentious, utterly lecherous meanie!"

He was struck dumb, he had not been expecting this level of retribution, but then again he did not know what to expect when it came to this girl. Then he began to laugh; a full, throaty laugh that rocked his entire being. Mirth brought tears into his eyes, stopping the girl mid-tirade.

She realized she had been duped. And slightly hurt and ashamed at how easily she had fallen for it, she said the only thing she could.

"Go screw yourself Naruto-san."

He stopped, still chuckling slightly and answered. He grinned his signature foxy smirk. "You read my mind."

She had calmed down enough to realize what she had said, and blushed prettily. If you can't beat them, join them was her reasoning and then buried herself in deeper with…

"It was a short read anyway."

And promptly left her future Hokage, her indigo strands teasing his senses as she passed a stunned Naruto.