Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto is the work of Kishimoto.
Edited: May 04, 2016
AU. Takes place after 699. Three months after the war ended, Hinata was mourning Neji. Ino was selling flowers. Life moved forward and Hinata became closer to others (Mainly team 10). There's going to be a lot of holding hands, hugging, cuddling, sleeping, hanging out, training and awkward situations. HinaNaru. Hinatacentric.
This story contains friendship/Romance/Angst
Author's Note:
I started this story because I want to keep practicing my English writing. I support Kishimoto's decision of the canon pairs, and I love reading canon pair fanfictions. However, I do not like writing them. But I do want to write HinataxNaruto moments within this fanfiction. And also, English is not my native language but I will fix mistakes as I notice them.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
'Kurama talking to Naruto'
Flashback
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Chapter 1
The season was transitioning from fall to winter, and so Hinata grabbed her new purple coat and exited her home.
The orange rooftop of the Yamanaka Flower shop came into view, followed by the Pale yellow walls, red window stile, golden muntins, and turquoise window glasses. Hinata paused a few shops away and practiced a loop of phrases inside her head. She cast away her anxiety and wore her practiced smile as she walked inside the flower shop.
"This flower shop makes the neighborhood look so beautiful and lively." Hinata recited one of her practiced phrases. Two customers turned and smiled in agreement.
"You got it backwards, Imake this neighborhood look beautiful and lively. The flower shop is an added perk!" Everyone within hearing range seemed to agree with the gleam of cheerfulness in their eyes.
Hinata giggled before she spoke again.
"Ino, I want the usual bouquet of sunflowers." The blond friend quickly got to work on it. A bouquet of sunflowers was presented and Ino took the payment.
Ino leaned her arms on the counter and moved forward with a smile.
"Hey, can I come with you next time you visit him? I've been meaning to visit my dad." She whispered.
Hinata's brow pinched in surprise.
"Yes of course!"
"Bye Hinata!" Ino waved at Hinata as she walked away.
"Bye!" She waved back.
The walk to the cemetery was a struggle for the young woman. Villagers normally stopped her with an enthusiastic wave or a greeting. The conversations were short and consisted of mainly comments about the weather. But it was still very draining. She was relieved that her perfected smile warded off any pity and suspicion and gave nothing away of her psyche. But the truth was she still felt distraught.
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Hinata reached the crimson tori temple gate which stood tall. She descended a few concrete steps while holding onto the rail. The Oak trees kept her company for the rest of the walk, until she reached the wooded gates of the memorial cemetery.
It wasn't too long before she found herself facing Neji's resting place. Hinata recalled that Ino often handled the flowers with extra care when it came to putting the bouquet together. Thus, she used the same amount of gentleness to decorate Neji's memorial place.
From a bystander perspective it appeared like she was performing a secret ceremony to mourn a lost love.
She prayed.
Ko Hyuga joined her side and they welcomed each other's company with a compassionate smile. Ko was able to achieve such an expression maybe because he found love. It happened during the war, right under Hinata's nose. The said lover was a beautiful woman with short brown hair and Hyugan eyes.
Words were finally spoken right after Ko finished praying.
"Hello Lady Hinata."
"Hello Ko."
"Hiashi told me I could find you here, I'm glad I got to join you today."
"Anyone is always welcomed, and I'm pleased that you made it."
Ko stared ahead, and his lips twisted into a gentle smile.
"I'm honored to have had the chance to fight under Neji's command. I was against it at first, but only because I believed that it was your right to lead us during the war."
A sound escaped from her mouth even though she tried so hard to hold back the tears that was about to come.
"Ko…" Hinata always worried that Ko still hated Neji. Thus, she felt liberated from such worries, yet couldn't express it with words.
"Neji was truly a formidable clansman." She agreed with a silent nod, her heart swelling with pride over Neji's accomplishments.
"Up until now I never knew about your feelings. Thank you for your kind words." She wiped away the tears and smiled as silence settled once more.
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It was a little bit more than a week later, on a Wednesday that Hinata Hyuga was back again to visit Neji. But this time, she wasn't alone. She was with Ino. The two had finished visiting Ino's father and now they stood in front of Neji's memorial stone. Although the weather was a bit chilly, Ino still wore her iconic two-piece purple clothes that showed her bare stomach.
"I sometimes wonder what life would have been like if we hadn't lost anyone..." Ino pondered once they were both done praying. "I think I would have been searching for my soulmate, or something."
"Hmm…" Hinata closed her eyes and pictured her answer. She giggled and waved away the idea. "Perhaps I would have been more focused on pursuing Naruto."
"That's quite the bold statement Hinata!" A minute later she followed up with: "How are things with Naruto anyways?"
"I haven't had an actual conversation with him...since the funeral." Ino gasped, her thoughts racing while devising a plan to fix that. That was until the blond realized that Hinata's answer didn't make sense.
Ino held a finger up. "Back up a minute, Naruto always got a lot of clones running around the village. You should be able to see him plenty."
"You see…it's just that I've been staying inside a lot. There's a lot of clan related things going on in my life. I'm normally drained by the evening." Hinata's emotion had fluctuated all through her explanation until it settled to a sad expression.
"Don't worry, there's still time. It's not like Naruto is going anywhere." They both smiled.
"The sky looks empty today." Hinata noted.
Ino's blue eyes trailed to the heavens.
"Yeah it does. Probably because there's no clouds today." After a brief moment of silence, Ino added: "Thanks Hinata for coming along, otherwise I wouldn't have had the courage to visit my dad." Hinata swung her head and stared at Ino who looked like she was about to cry.
"Ino, come here" Hinata stretched her arms and pulled her friend into a hug. For a long time, they both didn't move. As Hinata waited for Ino jump back to her cheery self, she was reminded of how lonely everyone actually was inside their own pain.
Ino took a few steps back and gave her a smile of gratitude. But suddenly she appeared cheery again, but that's because she thought of a fun idea.
"Hinata, would you like to hang out this Saturday and have a sleep over at my house!?"
Her lavender eyes seemed deep in thought as she thought of an excuse. Hinata preferred to spend her time in solitude because at least then she didn't have to pretend to be okay.
"I can't…"
"Aw why not?"
"Because my father might say no."
"Then ask him and just let me know his answer, `kay?"
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Hinata hardly ever asked her father for anything these days, so she felt awkward and afraid. On a Thursday night, the family was having dinner when she asked permission to spend the night at the Yamanaka's house. He granted her permission against her expectations.
She tumbled lifelessly throughout Friday, like an empty cocoon. Hinata toyed with the idea of just staying inside the house during the weekend. But her thoughts contradicted her actions as she searched through her drawers. Hinata was trying to find a nightgown decent enough to wear.
Hanabi wondered in without knocking on the door, and silently lay on her sister's bed. She threw curious glance at Hinata.
"Sis, what are you doing?" Hinata stopped, and joined her sister's side.
"I was trying to decide what to take with me to Ino's sleepover." Hanabi giggled.
"I'm so glad that father is letting you go your friend's house, that way if I ever get asked to a sleepover I can bring this up."
Certain scenarios made Hinata nervous when it came to Hanabi.
"Hanabi, I just hope this sleepover you're talking about is at a girl's." Hanabi gasped in horror.
"Si-Sister!"
"Just kidding!" Hinata gave up on the thought of a nightgown and decided that she would buy pajamas tomorrow. She pecked her sister's forehead. "It's almost bedtime, at least for me anyways."
"Alright, goodnight sis."
"Goodnight."
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Orange rooftop, pale yellow walls, red window stile, golden muntins and turquoise window glass. Hinata entered the flower shop on a Saturday morning, and to her surprise a really angry Ino stood behind the counter. She froze, a bit confused because she didn't understand why Ino's anger was directed at her.
"I-Ino?"
"Hinata, I asked you on Wednesday, and you come to give me a reply on Saturday? You don't even know if I had already made other plans!" Ino retracted and crossed her arms.
"I-I'm sorry Ino! I only got around asking father on Thursday. But even then, I wasn't sure if I was feeling up for it…" Hinata walked towards the blond until she stood right by the counter.
"Ugh, I guess I understand, so apology accepted." Ino leaned over the counter and hugged Hinata.
Ino's words still hung in her head.
"So…did you make other plans?" Ino scowled.
"Of course I didn't! What? You think I don't have faith in you?" She grabbed Hinata by the shoulders and shook her.
"Huh? But you just said…" Hinata shook her head not daring to finish her thoughts. "Never mind." She muttered. "At what time are we meeting?"
"I'll be finished after four-thirty. Can you meet me here at the shop?"
"Sure." Hinata waved and left the shop.
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Hinata spent the next hours at Kurenai's apartment, they were both sipping chamomile tea with honey while scooped up on the couch. Kurenai's daughter, Mirai who was two months old, was sleeping at this time. Hinata stared at photos of Asuma hanging off the wall. She could never get tire of looking at those pictures. She looked away and turned her attention back at the conversation.
"I'm thinking of moving out." Hinata's smile seemed to have a calming effect on her teacher.
"Where to?" The shy girl watched her teacher play with the tea bag inside her cup.
"I'm still deciding if I should move to Asuma's old house." Hinata looked across the room once more, this time she focused on the picture with a younger Asuma standing close to a younger Kurenai. It was definitely a picture from their genin days. Did they always know they were going to end up together?
Hinata sighed.
"What? You think that's a bad idea?"
"N-No! It's not that I'm sorry." She glanced at her teacher. "I think it's a wonderful idea." Kurenai smiled.
"Like I said, I'm still deciding. After all, I don't know how Shikamaru and Konohamaru might feel about it." Hinata nodded slowly.
"H-How is Shikamaru?" She took interest in asking about the shadow user when she remembered he was one of Ino's closest friend.
This time it was Kurenai who sighed.
"The poor boy lost his father, as you're already aware. Just like you, he hides his sadness so well." Hinata choked while drinking tea, but not because she was surprised that Kurenai knew her sadness. Instead, because Kurenai had called her out on it. "You're both strong, you and him."
"Strong you say…but for me it's more like I don't want to burden anyone with my depression." Kurenai nodded in understanding.
"There's many different types of strength, I already told you that Hinata. But the most important thing is to surround yourself with friends and family to keep you grounded."
Hinata reached over and hugged Kurenai. They both stayed like that for some time.
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Hinata had fallen asleep at Kurenai's place, and barely woke up by four o'clock. She could only imagine an angry Ino ready to give her a mental beating. Normally, Hinata would have walked, but the situation called for her to use her chakra. She leaped from roof tops until she spotted the familiar orange roof. She landed gracefully only to witness Choji and Shikamaru gazing at the clouds.
And it was way past four-thirty.
"Hello Choji, Shikamaru." Hinata's smiled at the two boys. Shikamaru appeared to be annoyed about something.
"Hey Hinata, Ino is waiting for you downstairs." Choji teared open a bag of chips and started to eat.
"Good, you're finally here." Shikamaru walked past her and jumped off the building.
Hinata turned to Choji with a questioning look. Choji gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Don't mind Shika, it's just Ino has been taking her anger out on us, so we left her downstairs to wait by herself."
"I'm sorry that I'm late!"
"It's not me who you should be saying that to." Choji offered her potato chips.
"Um, if you do not mind me asking, why are you still here Choji?" They were both eating chips.
"Ino promised to buy me food if I help her with her shopping bags. But Shikamaru was keeping me company until a moment ago."
"I see."
Choji and Hinata entered the flower shop just as Ino was tending to her last customer who was none other than Shikamaru.
"Troublesome, you seriously have to do something about your annoying tendencies lash out on the innocent." Shikamaru stated as he handed the blond the payment for the bouquet of flowers.
"Innocent? Shikamaru you decided to pick today, out of all days, to visit them! It makes me think that you wanna use this as an excuse to ditch us!" Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched, he was clearly irritated at her friend's accusation.
"Tch, say whatever you want Ino." He turned around and walked past everyone while saying his goodbye over his shoulder.
"That Shikamaru, he infuriates me! He talks about me being annoying, but what about him!"
"Take it easy Ino, no one is to blame, maybe he truly did wanna visit them today." Choji defended Shikamaru in his absence.
Hinata wasn't sure who they were talking about. But she assumed that it was about Asuma and Shikamaru's father.
Choji and Hinata waited for Ino to close the shop. Afterwards, they headed to the shopping district.
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It would have all been a complete disaster if wasn't for Choji's kind nature. They had enter a store where Hinata purchased her pajamas. But after they left the place, Hinata witnessed Naruto walking hand in hand with Sakura.
Hinata stood there, stunned and confused. But just like herself, Choji thought that what they witnessed was some sort of misunderstanding. After all, Naruto and Sakura didn't appeared to be blissfully in love. Instead, they had looked worried as they hurried along through the crowd.
But Ino didn't seem to see this. While cracking her knuckles she left to catch up with the two, but Choji was quick to stop Ino's temper for exploding.
"It's not nice to go and start trouble. What if this is all a misunderstanding?" Choji blocked Ino's way, allowing for the couple to disappear off her vision.
"Move it Choji, Naruto has better have a good explanation for this!" Hinata noticed how Ino was quick to blame Naruto.
Hinata came from behind and stood next to Ino. "I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. Even Choji seems to think so." As she said this, her turmoil was put at ease.
Hinata really believed with all her heart that Sakura wouldn't betray her. Not that they were close friends or anything, but there was something about the way Sakura carried herself, that made Hinata believe in her.
Choji padded Ino's shoulder, where it should have been Hinata who should have gotten the comforting gesture.
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After dinner at the BBQ restaurant, Choji parted from the girls with a gentle smile and a wave. And an hour later, Hinata found herself in a tight hug given to her by Ino's mother. She was happy to have Hinata at her house spending time with her precious daughter, who had just lost her father. Ino rescued Hinata from her mother and dragged her upstairs to her bedroom.
It wasn't very often that Hinata got to step foot inside another girl's room. The first thing she noticed was the picture of Ino's team as a genin. Asuma sensei smiled proudly behind the three small genin.
The shopping bags lay forgotten on the bed as the two sat on a floor pillow, facing each other.
"What would you like to do now?" Ino asked. She noticed Hinata's eyes locked onto the bookshelf filled with medic books, romance novels, and board games. Ino decided to suggest something. "I got board games, cards games, music…" Ino paused when Hinata nodded vigorously.
"An adventure game sounds fun." Hinata took off her coat and set it to the side.
"Yeah, and we could listen to music while we play!" Ino said.
Two hours later, when their role playing adventure game was finally picking up, Ino's mother called letting the girls know that the bath was ready.
Ino lowered the radio and asked Hinata if she wanted to go in first. The shy friend replied with a "Yes."
Hinata made a motion to get off the floor, but her legs were numb from sitting for so long. Ino decided to aid her by lending her hand as support. She didn't let go until Hinata assured her that she was able to walk on her own.
There was something so therapeutic taking a hot bath. But the magic only lasted until she realized the water was getting cold. She dried herself and got dressed, wearing her new Naruto patterned pajamas; the actual Naruto that goes in the soup.
Hinata got the bath water ready for Ino and went to get her. However, Ino appeared to be sleeping already; she sprawled on the floor with her head resting on the floor cushion. Hinata sighed, and kneeled next to Ino and shook her awake.
"Ino, I prepared the bath for you." Ino mumbled something as she woke up from her short nap.
"Hinata, you're a goddess." She pulled Hinata into a hug. The shy girl lost her balance and fell forward. She giggled and pulled away from he friend.
"Come on Ino, go."
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Ino's bed was big enough to fit three people. Hinata took the side next to the wall, and pulled the bed-cover over her body. She was falling asleep until she heard Ino walk inside the room and closed the door.
"Hey Hinata, are you still awake?" Hinata turned around and gaped at the scene.
"I-Ino what are you doing!?" Ino had done a transformation technique, and her chosen image had been Naruto.
"I'm waking you up, that's what I'm doing!" When Ino spoke, her voice also sounded just like Naruto's. However, since Ino had just come out of the shower she decided to be naked in this Naruto transformation; except for the small pink towel wrapped around his mid-section. "So what do you think?" She started flexing and doing poses.
"S-stop it, this is embarrassing…"
'Huh? Even though you say that, you don't even look away!' Ino thought to herself.
Ino continued to do suggestive poses and the small pink towel slipped and fell on the floor.
"Oh my god!" She covered her eyes, but even so it had been too late because she actually saw 'it'.
"Okay, okay I'll stop teasing you. I think I might have taken it too far." Ino watched Hinata sulk and turn on her side to face the wall. Ino giggled. "I'm sorry Hinata."
"Yeah right…"
Ino released the technique, and she stood there in her purple pajamas. She jumped into bed and then poked Hinata's side making her twitch.
"Don't do it again." Hinata warned her.
It had gotten quiet and Hinata slowly turned to face Ino, only to see that her friend had transformed again. She sighed, but nevertheless, she stared intensely at Ino's transformation of Naruto in grey pajamas.
Despite her previous warning, Hinata reached out and touched Naruto's golden locks, and trailed her hands to the side of his temple, and finally his cheek. "I have to ask, because I am...aware that accidents happens." Hinata blushed as she said that. "…Have you ever seen Naruto naked?"
"No I haven't. But I had an unfortunate situations happen to me where this guy, which I will not name, decide to bathed in a river naked. And of course I walked in on him."
"So that wasn't Naruto's….um-"
"-No it wasn't." Hinata let out a sigh of relief.
Without any warming, Ino who was still transformed as Naruto, climb on top of her while taking her hands hostage.
The blond stared down at the shy girl who had cherry hued cheeks. Hinata stared back expectantly, and finally gather her thoughts and decided speak.
"I know this is your way of telling me not to give up on Naruto."
"What makes you say that, Hinata?"
"Because I know you didn't invite me here with some weird…perverted…motive." Ino looked away from Hinata's eyes. Her words made Ino's throat feel like it would collapse on itself. The blond slowly let go of Hinata's hand.
She dispelled the transformation technique.
"Of course I didn't invite you over to do weird shit! But still, don't you sometimes wonder…"
"Wonder what…?" Hinata asked, encouraging her to keep voicing her thoughts.
"What it's like to kiss another girl." For the third time, Hinata just didn't know how to react. Her thoughts ran around in a loop, wondering how the conversation even got to this subject. Then Hinata had a revelation, and so she giggled. "What is it Hinata? Why is this amusing to you?"
"Now you're just teasing me Ino, because I usually fall prey to your jokes."
"Oh my god I'm so glad you caught on! Otherwise things would have gotten pretty awkward." Ino commented.
They both laughed.
Ino later rolled off of her and went under the blankets.
"Why did you get so mad when we saw them holding hands…?" Hinata was referring to Sakura and Naruto. She turned on her side to face Ino.
Meanwhile, Ino was on her back staring at the ceiling, wondering if she should tell Hinata the truth.
She decided she should.
"Sai told me that Sakura told Naruto that she loved him." Hinata's eyes widened. "Naruto, being the idiot that he is, didn't believe it and thought Sakura had lied to get him to stop searching for Sasuke."
"So that's why…that's why you jumped into conclusion, when you saw them…Thank you for telling me."
"You don't have to thank me. I just needed you to know."
"Do you think Sakura was lying?"
"I don't know, but Sasuke's back. Well, sort of, since he will be leaving to go travel the world. But what I do know is that Sakura has to make a decision. And it'll be best if you help her make the right one." Ino turned on her side and held one of Hinata's hand and squeezed it.
"Ino…we should sleep now. It's almost midnight."
"Yeah."
Although they agreed on that, they actually ended up going to sleep at four in the morning. Ino's room was extremely cold, so they ended up having to cuddle for warmth.
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A/N: Thank you for taking the time to read!