Chapter 1: One Day Changes You
Naruto Uzumaki was alone. It had been that way for as long as he had been brought into this world, living with no family to his own. He had inquired once to the Hokage about who his parents were, but the man had no answers for him, at least none that were specific. If that wasn't bad enough, every adult in the village had this look they'd give him, like he was the worse thing to ever come into the village. Did't matter where he went, how polite he was, he got scolded or shoved by the adults. Teuchi and Ayame of the Ichiraku Ramen stand were nice to him, and Iruka, his sensei at the academy, was somewhat nice to him when he wasn't yelling at him about goofing off in class. As far as having any friends, he goofed around with Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji, but eventually they all left with their parents. Now he sat on a swing set, one that might as well have been his with how much time he spent on it by himself. He sat and swung as he watched kids get picked up by their parents, one by one until he was left. He hung his head, feeling more sadness rising up in him, gripping the rope of the swing with one hand while wiping the forming tears in his eyes with the other.
"U-Um, He-hello," came a voice from in front of him.
Naruto looked up and saw a girl. She wore a dark blue outfit, with fish net in the opening of the top. Her face was pale skinned and her eyes were white and nearly pupil less. Her hair was a lavender color, cut into short style with her bangs framing her face. He stared at her while she gave a shy, nervous smile as she fidgeted with her hands.
'Is...is she talking to me?' Naruto thought as he continued to stare at her.
"M-my name is Hinata Hyuga. We're... we're in the same class," said Hinata, trying to make small talk.
"We are?" Asked Naruto, tilting his head while Hinata somewhat face fell.
"I-I sit mostly in the b-back," Hinata stammered out.
"Oh yeah! You're that really weird quiet girl!" Said Naruto, causing Hinata feel even more thrown off.
'Weird...' thought Hinata feeling upset from Naruto's comment.
"So," said Naruto, regaining Hinata's attention, "why aren't you going home?"
Hinata began twiddling her fingers again. Truth was she had seen Naruto from afar, she had seen how everyone treated him, but also how he tried not to let it get to him. He had a sense of right, he wanted to be strong and wanted everyone to acknowledge him. She related to that, and saw it first hand when he stoped some bullies. Granted they then beat him up, but he wasn't afraid of them. And all of that is what she admired about him.
"I... I saw you sitting here... and wondered if... maybe you... wanted to walk with me?" Asked Hinata, holding out her hand.
Naruto was baffled. So much was happening in the last few minutes: This girl came up to him, talked to him, and was now asking him to take a walk with her. To most people this would seem usual, but it was all a first for Naruto. He looked down at her hand, then reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Sure," said Naruto sporting his big grin.
Hinata was trying to hold herself together as she fell his hand grasp hers. She could already feel the heat rushing to her face as she helped him out of the seat of the swing.
"You okay? You're face is all red like you have a fever," said Naruto, looking in closely to her face.
"I-It's nothing!" Hinata said/yelled, earning Naruto a confused look.
"If you say so," said Naruto before smiling at the girl, "lets get going!"
Naruto and Hinata were walking around Konoha, exchanging only a few words due to Hinata's shyness. As they continued to walk, taking a route next to a lake, Naruto took the time to notice someone sitting on the dock. Sitting at the edge looking out at the water was Sasuke Uchiha. Known by the duo as the Top of the Class, Sasuke for all his popularity was a loner and preferred to ignore all the praise given to him. It rubbed Naruto the wrong way, and it made him want to put him in his place. There was also something else about Sasuke that Naruto understood: being alone. Naruto had thought about asking Sasuke to play or just to be friends, but he always got annoyed at the look of his "cool loner" act. But now, he thought about what Hinata had done just moments ago. She reached out to him and wanted to be friends, so maybe the same could be done with Sasuke. Naruto made is way down the dock, Hinata following right behind him. Naruto then proceeded to sit on Sasuke's right while Hinata sat next to Naruto. Sasuke glared at the both of them before looking back out onto the water.
"Go away, dobe, and take your girlfriend with you," said Sasuke, not seeing the duo blush at his comment.
"She's not my girlfriend, teme!" Yelled Naruto, not seeing Hinata look away with her blush.
"Hm, whatever," said Sasuke.
"Look, we were just walking and we saw you sitting here and..." Paused Naruto, as he calmed a bit before continuing, "and we just thought maybe you could come with us, instead of just sitting here alone."
Sasuke snorted, "Why in the world would I want to do that?"
Naruto growled and stood up, "Look, I was just trying to be nice! But if you'd rather just sit here then fine!" Naruto began to walk away, but stopped and turned back around "You can be cool all you want, but I know how miserable it is to be alone all the time."
Sasuke slightly gasped at Naruto's words, and continued to stare out as Hinata got up to follow Naruto. Sasuke kept looking forward until he couldn't hear their footsteps, and then turned to look at their retreating forms. He grimaced at Naruto's comment, hating to admit to himself that he had a point. He didn't want this, he wanted his family back, his clan back. That wasn't going to happen, and that's why he now once again let his anger seep in. What did Naruto know? He never had a family, never had anyone he could lose. What made him think that he needed either his or Hinata's company. He had no need for them, he had no need for anyone. Right?
Naruto and Hinata continued to walk until they made it to they Hyuga compound.
"I-I hope you had fun, Naruto-kun," said Hinata turning to face the boy.
"Are you kidding? This was my best day ever!" Said Naruto excitedly.
Hinata smiled, blushing at the blonde's smiling face. They said their goodbyes and Hinata went into her home. As she walked through the compound, she came across her father, Hiashi, who looked as though he had been waiting for his daughter.
"Where have you been, Hinata?" Hiashi asked in his usual stern tone.
"I-I wanted to take a walk around the village. It was a n-nice day," said Hinata, deciding to leave Naruto out of her explanation.
"Hmm, very well. Be sure not to take so long next time, you still require a lot training to be a proper heiress's of the Hyuga clan," said Hiashi, making his daughter flinch under his gaze.
"Y-Yes Father," said Hinata, following her father.
Meanwhile, Naruto went back to his apartment, a huge smile on his face. He ate a quick ramen supper, and went to bed with he same smile. He uttered one thing before falling asleep.
"I've got a friend,"
The next day was a day off from the academy, so Naruto decided to walk around and see if he could find Hinata. He walked around the village, but hadn't been able to find the girl. He decided to head toward the Hyuga clan compound, but upon arriving he noticed a member of the clan standing guard at the entrance. He snuck around the outside of the compound, managing to look into different portions of the compound. Eventually, he located Hinata watering some plants in a garden.
"Hinata," Naruto whispered, not wanting to alert anyone else he was here, "Hinata."
Seeing that Hinata could not hear her, he grabbed a rock doing his best to climb to the top of the wall while remaining hidden. He then threw the rock Hinata's feet, earning a yelp from the Hyuga girl. Hinata looked around where it had come from, and found Naruto poking his head over the wall, smiling while waving.
"Hinata-sama, is everything alright?" Asked a Hyuga branch member, hearing Hinata's shriek.
"Y-Yes! Everything is fine!" Said Hinata, as the Hyuga branch member nodded and left.
Hinata put down her watering pail and rushed over to the compound wall.
"W-What are you doing here, N-Naruto-kun?" Asked Hinata quietly.
"I was trying to find you, dattebayo," Naruto whispered back, "Do you think you could play?"
"I'll try," said Hinata, "meet me b-back at the academy."
"See you there!" Said Naruto before running from the compound.
Sasuke was currently using the academy training grounds to practice his shuriken jutsu. It was good, but he's had to better if he was going to get stronger. Upon finishing a set, he went to retrieve his shuriken. As he walked back to his throwing position, he noticed Naruto waiting by the tree swing. He raised his eyebrow at this, since the blonde seemed to have no reason for being at the academy on his off day.
'Usually he'd just sit on the swing, but he's just standing there,' thought Sasuke, before he scowled, 'that dobe better not be here to pick a fight with me again.'
His curiousity was solved when Hinata showed up, exchanging pleasantries before they left together. Sasuke rolled his eyes before focusing back on his shuriken training. He threw a few before he stopped, looking back at the direction the duo left on.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata continued to walk around the village before stopping in one of the parks of Konoha.
"I saw you were watering some plants in your garden," said Naruto, sitting down at a bench.
"Y-Yes, I used to help my mother with the plants, but..." said Hinata, before looking down, "now I'm the only one to do it."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to," said Naruto solemnly.
"I-It's okay, I'm sad she's gone, b-but it helps me not to forget her," said Hinata smiling.
"That's really cool!" Said Naruto, before now looking slightly down, "I wish I knew something about my mom."
Hinata twirled her fingers, not sure what she could say to help him. Unfortunately, a group of kids their age arrived, taking notice of the duo.
"Hey look, its the dead last hanging with one of those 'High and Mighty' Hyuga," said the first boy.
"Maybe he's hoping being around her will make him less of loser," said another boy.
"What'd you say?" Said Naruto, jumping up off the park bench.
"Heh, guess he's hard of hearing after the last beating we gave him," said the third boy, recalling what happened last time they encountered the blonde.
"Why don't you try it again and see what happened this time, temes!" Yelled Naruto rolling up his right sleeve.
"Hahaha, sure, we could use the laugh," said the leader of the group.
Hinata then leapt to stand beside Naruto.
"I-I won't let you do this alone," said Hinata.
"Hinata," said Naruto.
"I.. I stood by while you were hurt b-because of me. I'm not going to let that happen again," said Hinata, blushing a little at her boldness.
Naruto grinned at her words, "Alright! C'mon then jerks!"
The bullies started to approach to two, until a rock soared between Naruto and Hinata, hitting the center bully in the middle of his head. He then fell flat on his butt, rubbing his head while Naruto and Hinata looked behind them to see Sasuke, tossing some rocks up and down in his hand.
"Seriously? Three-on-two against these two? You guys sure are brave for that," said Sasuke, walking towards the two.
"What's to you Uchiha?" Asked the bully, getting to his feet and rubbing his head.
"I just don't like you guys thinking your tough because you've got them outnumbered," said Sasuke, standing next to the slightly confused duo, "So, still want to take your chances?"
The trio of bullies looked at eachother, and realizing that they no longer had an advantage they turned and left.
"Yeah, you guys better get out of here," said Naruto, before turning to Sasuke, "Thanks for showing up those jerks."
"Y-yes, thank you so much," said Hinata.
"Hmm," said Sasuke, before turning around to leave.
"Wait a second!" Said Naruto, causing Sasuke to stop, "Why'd you even come by here? You made it sound like you didn't want anything to do with us."
"Hmm, I can't help it that you couldn't stand up to those three without my help," said Sasuke, getting a rise out of Naruto, "I guess you'll have to keep me around since I've proven to be stronger than you."
"What'd you say?!" Yelled Naruto, seizing Sasuke by the shirt, "what makes you say that, teme?!"
"Ignoring what just happened, I've also beaten you in sparing at the academy," said Sasuke calmly.
"That was just a lucky shot!" Yelled Naruto.
"Naruto-kun, p-please stop. Sasuke-San did just h-help us," said Hinata.
"It doesn't mean it gets to brag!" Said Naruto.
"So you're admitting that I'm right," said Sasuke, seeing Naruto whip back around to him.
"What'd you say?!" Yelled Naruto.
The trio continued to have this discussion, unaware of the friendship that had just formed amongst them.
Hello! So this is my first story, and an idea I've had for awhile with Hinata instead of Sakura in Team 7. Wish me luck!