Chapter 1: Could This Be Real?

Ivory eyes stared up at a familiar ceiling, disbelief and happiness swirling in their milky depts. A small smile was graced on soft pink lips, a smile that had been there all night. Hinata could hardly believe that tonight had actually happened, that her dream had actually come true. She turned onto her side, feeling her heart beat quickly, unable to sleep. How could she after what had happened tonight? She had revealed herself to Naruto, she had admitted her love to him, and he had kissed her. He kissed her! She told him she loved him and he didn't reject her! Her mind was giddy and her soul was light, there was no way she was going to be able to sleep whatever was left of tonight. She still couldn't believe he kissed her, and more than once. She could still remember what his lips felt like against her own, she could still remember how good he tasted when he had slipped his tongue between her lips kissing her deeply, she could still remember feeling his heart beating fast and in time with her own.

Closing her eyes, Hinata turned her face into her pillow, wishing it could be him that she was holding onto right now. Oh how she wished she could be with him right now, to be in his warm embrace, to…be kissing him again. Hinata could feel her cheeks warming up and coloring their usual pink, she was turning into a pervert! All she could think about was his kisses; she couldn't get them out of her head. The feelings, the sensations, the love she felt for him all overflowed within her heart, threatening to drown her. Unable to staying lying down and trying to go to sleep, Hinata suddenly sprung up from her bed. Quickly dressing, she eyed the clock on her way of her room, 4:30 AM. Walking quietly down the hallway, she entered the kitchen to grab a little snack before slipping out of the compound.

She had to do something, anything, and so it might as well be training. She wanted to ensure her position in the clan. It took many long hard years to finally convince her clan that she was strong enough to be considered a suitable heir. She had taken all their criticism and their disbelief and, with the help of Naruto to inspire her, channeled it to motivate her to work harder to change more while still being herself. She could remember countless times when she wanted to give up, to give in and admit defeat. To admit that she would never be strong enough or good enough to become the leader to her clan, but then she would see him, hesitantly talk with him, and just his presence alone gave her strength once again.

Hinata paused in her training for a moment, looking up at the predawn sky. A gentle smile spread upon her lips. I wonder what Naruto is doing right now. He's probably asleep…I wonder if he's dreaming…I wonder if he's dreaming of…Blushing prettily, Hinata shifted her eyes back down to the post in front of her. I wonder if it meant anything to him.

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Iruka sat down with the rest of the papers he didn't finish grading last night as he ate his breakfast at a leisurely pace. He still had a few hours before he had to make his way to the Academy, he could take his time. Yawning, a smile started to spread upon his face as he remember why he felt more tired this morning as opposed to any other morning.

Iruka was suddenly woken up by the annoying pounding at his door. Dragging himself out of bed he tiredly opened it only to see an excited pair of blue eyes staring back at him.

"Naruto? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Iruka asked slightly annoyed.

"I finally found someone!" Naruto cried excitedly, ignoring Iruka's question.

"What?" Iruka asked, totally lost at what he was talking about. "Wait, come on in." he said, urging Naruto into his apartment. No point in waking everyone up at this hour.

"Now what are you talking about Naruto?" Iruka asked, sitting across Naruto on his small table.

"I found someone who loves me." Naruto explained excitedly. He knew that it was a horrible time to wake someone up, but he just couldn't keep such a fact to himself when he never believed it could actually happen. The slight annoyance that Iruka was feeling suddenly vanished. Smiling happily for him, he placed his hand upon Naruto's shoulder.

"Congratulations Naruto, I'm really happy for you." Iruka said sincerely. He knew how lonely Naruto had always felt, and how worried he was about never finding love, especially since Sasuke came back and showed an interest in Sakura. He knew how close Naruto was on giving up on love…he was happy that someone was able to prove Naruto wrong.

"Who is she?" Iruka asked curiously. Naruto's smile widened, he could hardly remain still.

"Hinata." Naruto revealed, his mind going back to what had transpired only hours before.

"Really?" Iruka asked, his eyes widening slightly with shock. He, like everyone else, knew of Hinata's feelings for Naruto. Indeed, he was probably the first one to know about it, but after so many years, he was started to give up hope on her ever telling Naruto how she felt. Remembering the shy quiet girl in his class and then envisioning the woman she had grown into today, he was immensely proud of her. Next to Naruto, she was the one who had changed the most over the years. Looking back at Naruto, Iruka's smile widened as well.

"Well it's about time you noticed her." Iruka said with a chuckle. Naruto's cheeks pinkened slightly.

"Did everyone notice except me?" Naruto asked, embarrassed that he seemed to be the last to know.

"Hahahaha of course!" Iruka laughed, "She's had her eye on you for a long time." Naruto looked at him curiously.

"How long?" he asked, wondering just how long he was an ignorant fool.

"Well…at least since your Academy days. I remember when she first entered our class. When she spotted you, her eyes lit up. Then you had to go and make her faint by saying 'hello' to her." Iruka chuckled, the memory filling his mind. Naruto chuckled as well, the memory that was long forgotten now resurfacing in his mind.

"I'm just glad she doesn't faint every time I talk to her now." Naruto laughed as he remembered all the times she had fainted on him throughout the years.

"She's come a long way and has waited a long time for you to notice her in the way she wanted you to." Iruka agreed, remembering when Kurenai would tell him how hard Hinata was working. At first she knew that part of her motivation was to get recognition from her clan and her father, but she also knew there was something else driving Hinata. Iruka smiled, remembering that he had told her that Hinata's inspiration and crush were one and the same.

"Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that…I'm not lonely anymore." Naruto said softly, a small smile still playing about his lips as he slowly stood. Iruka rose as well and followed his former student to the door.

"I'm glad. Good luck, and take good care of her Naruto. She's special." Iruka told him.

"I know…and I will." Naruto smiled as he walked away. Iruka watched his retreating figure for a while before going back inside to try and get the sleep he knew he wouldn't get.

Smiling at the recent memory, Iruka's eyes slowly trailed to look at the clock on his wall. Grimacing, he cursed himself for getting side tracked. Turning his attention to the few papers left that were still not graded, Iruka gave the new couple one last thought. I pray, Hinata, that you continue to love him…even the Kyuubi.

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Panting for breath, Hinata collapsed onto the ground, her eyes closed. Exhaustion filtered through her body leaving her weak on the damp earth. She could feel pain travel through her body, especially in her arms and legs, but she smiled. It was the good pain, the pain you feel after exercising too much, but leaving you with a sense of accomplishment and contentment. Resting against the post she was fighting against, she enjoyed the sun warming her sweat-dotted skin and the gentle sounds of the forest that surrounded her. As she continued to listen she vaguely started to notice that her limbs felt heavy with sleep. She tried fighting off the tiredness of her body, but that lasted only for a moment as her mind eventually succumbed to the wonderful land of sleep.

Waking up with his heart feeling so light and happy, something he can never remember feeling, Naruto was eager to get to the training grounds. He felt as if he had just taken one of those food pills that gave you instant energy and strength…except this was way better. Naruto chuckled as it was still difficult to believe that Hinata, of all people, liked him…loved him even! At least, that what she said, and Naruto did not know her to be a liar. He would have never guessed it. It was as if she was transformed in his eyes, in his mind, and in his heart. He had always treasured her friendship, she was always supporting him, but he had never thought of her in a romantic sense. And now he can't stop thinking about how soft her lips felt against his, how them trembled under his touch, how they clung to his, wanting more. He couldn't get the picture of her dancing in the moonlight for him, he couldn't believe it was Hinata!

Feeling heat rise into his cheeks at the mental image of Hinata dancing for him, Naruto quickly tried to think of different avenues his mind could go down. However, once arriving at the training grounds, all Jiraiya-like thoughts vanished from his mind as he gazed down upon the recent object of his desires. Smiling gently, he walked over to her quietly as to not wake her. Lowering himself to sit next to her, he wondered why she would be here asleep. He could tell she was training, but was that all? Is that what she did after they parted last night? Go train? A glimmer of doubt rose in his mind as he stared down at her sleeping form. Did last night not really mean that much to her?

"Hmm…Naruto-kun…" Hinata murmured in her sleep, her head tilting slightly towards him. Naruto smiled once again as he leaned closer to her, teasing himself with the closeness of her lips yet not touching them. Closing his eyes he could feel the warmness of her breath brushing gently on his whiskered face.

"Do you dream of me Hinata?" he whispered to her as he lightly brushed his lips against hers in a bare whisper of a kiss. He pulled back to see her lips spread into a small smile.

"Naruto." She murmured again, a pink tinge coloring her cheeks. Naruto chuckled to himself; she even blushes in her sleep. Looking down, he spotted her small hands resting on her lap. His hand slowly reached out, his fingertips lightly brushing along the back of her hand. He studied the color contrast between them; his tanned by the sun, hers pearly, untouched by the large star. Hers was a hand of an Heiress, a hand of wealth and prestige while his was a hand of someone far less common than hers. But as his fingertips moved to softly caress her palm, he could feel its callousness, and it made him smile. Heiress or not, she was always one who worked hard and never gave up. It was a quality in her that he admired.

Lacing his fingers with hers, he made himself comfortable next to her. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the world around him, but his mind was always being pulled back to the tiny hand that was engulfed in his. It felt so delicate, he was a little scared to hold it too tightly, yet he knew this same hand could easily kill him, shooting powerful chakra into his body and rendering him helpless. Tracing small circles into the palm of her hand with the pad of his thumb, Naruto could still feel an awkwardness in him. He was still trying to get over this transition of friend to potential lover. He was happy to find someone who did love him, or say they did. And he was glad that it was someone he knew as opposed to someone he didn't…though he couldn't remember ever having any fangirls. But it still felt a little weird to be thinking of Hinata in a romantic sense than just as a friend. Yet, thinking of her beauty, inside and out, he could feel his heart grow warm. Tightening his fingers around hers, he smiled slightly as he allowed sleep to overcome his tired mind.

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AN: Welcome to the sequel to Discover Me. I told you guys that I was thinking of turning that into a multichapter ficcie. Well since I agreed with the many of you to keep it a one-shot, I did, but since I still wanted to write more through that story, I wrote this. This will be the multichapter ficcie for Discover Me. I hope you guys like it so far. I'm pretty excited writing this so I hope you guys are excited as well. So how about leavin' me a little love note to let me know what you guys think of it so far? Hmmm? Hehehe well until next chapter, ja!