No disclaimer, after all everything posted here is Fan Fiction so not much of a sense saying the caracters do NOT belong to me, right?

My first Fanfic, hope you enjoy it, is just the first chapter for now, I'm working hard on this I believe is not as bad as some I have read, I just tell you I'm a NaruHina fan but I don't like some weird out-of-the-blue relationship, things must have an order.

A Place to Call Home

The cold winter night reflected his entire life, the chilling wind, the lonely streets, a slow yet constant fall of snow that ended up covering every flower and killing the last ray of sunshine, those terribly cold nights were like his heart, but he never surrendered to those feelings, not after discovering the reason to all that hatred nor after finding some people who truly cared for him, he fought to show everyone his worth, he was not looking for fame to show off, he wanted everyone to recognize that he was not a waste of air and a constant threat, in this blond's head the only thing that he ever wished for was to look around in town and for once don't have those cold stares directed at him or maybe even a grateful smile around the corner… "protect those you love", he was guided by this, to protect bonds so hard to achieve was a natural reaction, he was not very talented… probably because he had a demon inside him, but even despise of this he was easily the most reliable shinobi in his town, not for his strength but for his undying wish to help others and for his ability to show them that there's more than one way, a person full of energy, of wonders, of good feelings… yet alone, he wanted to create a world were people could trust each other, were people support each other, were everyone could find in their neighbor a member of his family, this was called "the will of fire"… it filled every cell in his body, his only wish was to be strong enough to achieve this, to protect his village, his family, his home.

Chapter 1

"OI Naruto, stand up already, don't tell me such a weak attack leaved you out cold" said Kiba in a mocking way looking at the blond who was in the floor a few feet away from him, since the time he lost to him he could never thought of him as "weak" he was his rival in some way, always getting stronger, never giving up, but that didn't stop him from pulling some strings when he had the chance.

Naruto knew that he was just trying to piss him off, In these cases a verbal warfare was typical between the two "Oh shut up, is just that I had an epiphany just now, that's why I hadn't react yet, besides from what you're saying I would think that you're calling yourself weak" said the spiky haired kid sitting down.

"I wonder if Naruto really knows the meaning of the word epiphany" said a boy wearing a hood that was on a tree branch looking at the two, he never talked much but that was just his way, the kid in the floor heard this, he never quite liked that everyone thought of him as dumb, of course he was not brilliant but he sure was not stupid.

"Shino!, what's that supposed to mean?, of course I know the meaning otherwise I wouldn't be using the word in the first place, that's when you've got a revelation out of the blue", there was another person watching the fight, totally silent, as if something was seriously grappling her tongue, she was always like this around the blond.

"So mister sometimes-I-get-smart-too, tell us what was your epiphany, or better yet, stand up and let's continue before you start day dreaming again", Kiba said pointing a finger at him and added "I'll show you that I was holding back just a while ago"

"My epiphany?, I just realized that I'm starving and want to have some ramen for dinner, we did skip lunch after all" the girl giggle a little at this, it was really so typical of him.

"Well it happened because we all know that your taijutsu is really a shame, and you asked Kiba to give you a hand to train" Shino had a style of his own to say this kind of things, always to the point, his attitude was always harsh but he was a nice guy really.

"Ano… I-I don't think Naruto-kun is so bad, b-but also he could have asked for Lee-kun's help" the shy girl with the pearl white eyes opened her mouth for the very first time in the afternoon, her voice was soft, so soft that sometimes it was hard to hear, but it also had a soothing tone and sounded kind and caring.

"Well yeah of course I could have, if I had wanted to end up a week in the hospital Hinata, that green weirdo's training is not something I would like to live for myself" and then the boy added with a huge fox-like grin "but I guess you're right, that would really help me improve, after all I had already beaten mug-face once, not much of a training I can do with him"

Hinata was still thinking of his smile, she didn't put any attention to the discussion that the last comment lead a few seconds afterwards, and she just barely saw the last bit of the training, as she too was trailing on her own thoughts, her dream, she too wanted recognition, she wanted to change, she wanted to be like the person she admired the most…

"Ne… Hinata?, are you staying here?, 'cause we're leaving, gonna eat some ramen, wanna come?" few things Naruto cherished like his ramen, his friends were one, and nothing was better than a bowl of Ichiraku's in company of friends, well maybe a bowl of free ramen in company of his academy sensei Umino Iruka.

"So-sorry Naruto-kun, I was thinking of something else" the girl with the pearl white eyes blushed a little; she was rather sensitive to his voice and his deep blue eyes.

"Uhm… and that something can be a bowl of ramen?, I'm starving" he was just so clueless sometimes this blond.

"Ano… actually I don't think I can Naruto-kun, I have to go… home -was this the word?, maybe, but it sure wasn't home sweet home- it's getting late" the boy in orange pants and black T-shirt looked at her for a second, there was something in her eyes… he couldn't tell for sure, but it looked like loneliness especially before mentioning going home, what a terrible feeling it was, it burns and freezes your heart at the same time, he knew it just too well.

"Then you want us to walk you there?" he sure wanted his ramen badly, but someone who had lonely eyes was someone who needed company, how much he hated those eyes, they always looked at him right out of the mirror for years, no one deserved to be alone.

"B-b-but is completely out of the way to Ichiraku's, you shouldn't bother just for… just for me" the other two boys were finding this amusing, being in her team for a very long time now they knew her the best, her confidence was not precisely a strong point of her personality, and she usually thought less of herself than what other people could see in her.

"Hinata, Naruto is willing to walk you home, I'm sure he knows were Ichiraku's is better than anyone else, let's just go, if you are so worried about his meal then let's hurry, and we will afterwards head to Ichiraku's" once again Shino had hit the nail, his words absolute, there was no argument against them and so they all walked their way to the Hyuga's manor, the white eyed girl was walking a bit in the front with Shino, too ashamed of making everyone walk her home, Kiba being loud as he is was obviously walking with Naruto and he was a little surprised that his face was a bit serious, this being really a huge change, since the blond was most common found smiling.

"What are you thinking Naruto?, worried about your ramen I bet, try not to pass out out of hunger will ya?", the girl ahead turn her head a little feeling guilty for the boy's lack of energy, and saw that really there was no smirk on his face as usual, it was strange, even a bit perturbing to her heart, she speeded up a little to try and make him get to his dinner the fastest possible.

Little time passed before they arrived at their destination, Hinata avoided for a second Naruto's eyes, trying to manage a casual goodbye and prevent the stuttering that those blue eyes caused "Thank you guys for bringing me home".

Before the other two could say anything Naruto spoke and the air filled with his usual energy "See Hinata?, it was nothing really, now have a very good night and… uhm… sleep tight" the boy's smile was just enough to give her a good night, at the very least he smiled again, she was happy for that.

"H-Hai Naruto-kun" Kiba waved his hand as he smiled and Shino just nodded in agreement, after this the three of them walked away as Hinata entered through the huge wooden doors of the entrance.

Naruto and his two companions were walking their way to Ichiraku's, it was soon after they had parted with the Hyuga girl that Naruto got serious again, Shino was the one who read the worried expression in Naruto's face, they were friends after all, not the best but comrades nevertheless "Naruto, what's on your mind?"

"Oh… no I was just thinking of my ramen", Naruto lied poorly.

"Come on Naruto something has been bothering you since we leaved the training grounds, we both can tell, your serious face is not something usual" the blond realized that he had no choice but to answer.

"I was just thinking… how are they at the Hyugas'... with Hinata I mean" the other two exchanged glances, the situation was not good, it has never been, they both had talked about it a hundred times, neither of them seem willing to tell Naruto about it

Finally Kiba answered "Well you remember the way Neji was during the chuning exam right?" Naruto nodded, Neji's attitude was easily the worst, taking about an undeniable fate and how people can't change no matter what, he treated Hinata like dirt calling her a failure, scorning her efforts to change, it really made his blood boil at that time.

"There is not such a big difference with the rest of the family, even if they have begun to find her a little less useless they still think of her as a failure as an heir, besides; important aristocratic families like the Hyugas are bond to be very strict and little caring" that was it, Naruto knew now what he saw in her eyes, Shino's words had made it crystal clear it must be hard on her fighting so hard and still she lacked a person to compliment her on it, those Hyuga, he'll definitely have to do something about that family when he became Hokage, they were just giving hell to both the main and branch family.

By the time they reached Ichiraku's Naruto was almost glowing, his beloved ramen awaited him "Well I'll be on my way" Naruto turned around to look at Shino, his face couldn't hide his confusion.

"You're not eating?" to Naruto walking to Ichiraku's meant a meal for sure, no one walked from the training grounds to the Hyuga Manor and then to Ichiraku's just for the sake of it.

"Don't feel like ramen, good night", after this Shino left without another word, to Naruto's amazement Kiba was also saying his good byes.

"Come on I thought we were gonna eat together"

"Nah, I'm gonna eat at home Naruto"

"Then why did you guys walked all the way here with me if you were not gonna eat?" Kiba made a smirk at this, it was obvious, but anyway he would not let it slip, We wanted to know what bothered you, we are all friends that's what we do he thought, but he wouldn't say it out loud, it was kind of embarrassing.

"We felt like it kay?, here Naruto, take a coupon on a free bowl, see ya later"

"Sure Kiba, see ya later, thanks on the coupon" Kiba raised his hand and Akamaru barked and Kiba was gone, out in the night.

Well that was it, I wanted a different start than a dream or something, the thing is: this the final version of the chapter, I have made it far easier to read, and added a little more narration, minimal changes anyway, I beg of you please bear with me I'm a bit of a perfectionist, from now on only new chapters I took me a while to get the drift of this, I got chapter 2 done by the way I'll post it soon, is just that today I couldn't use the computer at all, only after 11:30 pm which blows.