I do not own Naruto, Hinata, or the last line in this little story.
Sometimes she loved him so much it hurt. Every time he smiled she was happy and every time he cried she was sad. She wanted so badly to be near him, to hold him, to touch him, but she couldn't; and it killed her. She was just too shy, too reserved; she kept telling herself there was no way he could ever like her.
Through the years she watched him from afar, lavender eyes drinking in every moment. She watched him overcome every obstacle put in front of him, while she struggled with her growing feelings. She watched him leave to become stronger, saw the determination and passion burning hot as fire in his cerulean eyes, and though she said no goodbye, no parting words of encouragement, she too vowed to become stronger, someone he could look to and rely on.
Time passed and she grew stronger. Along with her hard won strength she gained confidence and courage; her inner fire burned with new found determination. But her victory was short lived.
The akatsuki leader came while he was away. He destroyed Konoha, leveled it with a single jutsu and all she could do was watch. But then he came back, he fought all alone, winning battle after battle until only one enemy was left standing. He charged the final adversary, intent on ending and winning the battle, but he was taken down, and she felt weak and useless all over again.
But while she watched him, lying on the ground with black rods stuck in his body, helpless in the face of danger, she felt those feelings slowly fade away. This was what she'd been training for; this was the moment to prove she wasn't the scared, little girl she used to be.
She ran towards the battlefield and stood protectively in front of her fallen love. She readied herself and faced the enemy, prepared to die if it could save him. He was screaming at her, telling her to run, run and save herself, but she couldn't, no, she wouldn't. She was done running. And despite the dire situation and the effort it took to pump the chakra into her hands, she found that she could finally smile.
"I used to always cry and give up... I nearly went the wrong way... but you... you showed me the right way... I was always chasing you... wanting to overtake you... I just wanted to walk with you... I wanted to be with you... you changed me! Your smile saved me! So I'm not afraid to die protecting you! Because I - love you..."
Owari