How can I tell you? - Chapter 1

Running in the rain

It was a rainy day... Hinata was running in the Rain. Her clothes were so wet that her clothes below her jacket got soaked as well. She would have gotten to the Hyuuga mansion earlier if she wasnt observing naruto training again. Ive gotta find some shelter or something! Hinata thought to herself. She decieded to run towards any house she might see and ask for shelter until the rain stops. She kept running and then she Saw a Bungalow.. it was not much but It'll have to do... She ran towards the house but her body was giving up on her... she was VERY tired. She kept running but she cant see anything anymore, her sight went blurry and she felt herself falling to the ground.

"what the?" she heard someone say behind her before she fell asleep.

Hinata woke up a few hours later. She looked around and Looked under her sheets and saw that her clothes were missing, she was naked.

"So... you awake?" She heard the similar voice say, she was surprized and she pulled the sheets closer to her to cover her as she sat up. "N-naruto?"

Naruto had grown very handsome. He Just turned 18. His Spiky hair was no longer held by his forehead protector, so it was let down. He grew as tall as 5'6" and his Style of clothing was pretty much the same as before, the only thing that changed about him was that he turned into a Jonin lately and practically learned better manners.

"ya know, you shouldnt run in the rain, you'll get sick..." he told hinata as he sat down beside her.

"Umm... N-naruto... where's my-"

"clothes? they're still wet... like to borrow my robe?" Naruto smiled and passed his robe over to hinata

Hinata blushed a deep shade of red and slowly accepted his robe. She went out of bed and stood up, still covering her body in Naruto's blankets. She had really developed over the past 6 years. She was 17 now and her hair had grown until her shoulders, her bangs were still longer than the rest of her hair. Her body had developed wonderfully, She grew taller, almost a few inches as tall as naruto. Her body was well shaped, too. Many Suitors from Many countries already attepted to ask her hand in marrage, but her feelings for Naruto were much much more important to her than their money...

Naruto blushed a little and looked away as Hinata slowly walked towards the nearby bathroom that was connected to the room. As soon as Naruto heard the sound of the door closing, he was deep in thought. N-naruto, get a hold of yourself! damnit! this isnt the first time you had a girl in your house! he fought with himself in his head.

Then the Bathroom door came open and Hinata walked towards Naruto, Naruto felt really dizzy around hinata, he felt like he's gonna swoon!

"N-naruto, um... thanks for letting me use this robe..."

Hinata thanked naruto and bowed giving him quite a view of her chest.

"D-dont m-mention it, H-H-Hinata-chan..."

Hinata sat down next to naruto, her heart was beating very fast as she hid glances at naruto. Naruto was having short unoticed glances at hinata too...

Man! i feel lilke kissing her! what's happenning to me dammit!

that thought was really getting into Naruto's head as he leaned over... almost ready to kiss hinata when the bedroom door opened.

"Oi Naruto! we have a mission, wa- oh..." Shikamaru looked at the two, " heh... maybe youd like me to go fetch Kakashi-senpai so he could watch?".

"feh, shadup..." Naruto angryly snapped at Shikamaru as he stomped towards the door, "eh... Hinata-chan... your clothes are downstairs... i think theyre dry now..."

"Um.. Domo arigatou...N-Naruto-kun"

That was the last thing Naruto heard before he and shikamaru ran downstairs and headed for Hokage's house. On the way, Shikamaru decieded to play a joke on Naruto.

"oi naruto!"

"eh? what?" Said naruto as he ran, "what is it?"

"... you and hinata making out back there eh?..."

"wha? Making out?" naruto stopped to fight with Shikamaru,"whadahellareyatalkin'about?"

Naruto stoped and clenched both his fists, almost ready to punch Shikamaru in the face...

"you know... smooch smooch?" Shikamaru laughed as he speed up faster

"why i aoughta... I'll catch you, damnit!"

Meanwhile, Hinata Closed the door of Naruto's house and headed for the road since the clouds and rain had dissapeared and her clothes had completely dried.

Sigh... It was almost there... my first kiss... w-with naruto... but...

Her thoughts were stopped as she bumped into someone.

"oops! Gomengomengomengomen!"

Hinata got up as quickly as she could and bowed down to say sorry.

"Its okay hinata! its okay!"

Hinata looked up and she saw Ino, heading for the flowershop. They decieded to walk home together since the flowershop had moved nearer the Hyuuga mansion.

"Hinata... not to be rude or anything... but..."

Ino crossed her arms.

"what is it Ino?"

"why are you doing in Naruto's house?"

Hinata stopped and looked at the floor blushing.

"I-Its a l-long story...but...",

"hahaha," Ino laughed at the naive girl, "Typical of you hinata... dont worry, i'll know sooner or later..."

Hinata could not stop looking at how Ino had grown over the past 4 years... She had become really taller, Many could not tell that SHE is Ino... She decieded to regrow her hair but she didnt tie it anymore, She wore the same purple clothing. Hinata was surely jealous of the rest of the konoha girls...

Naruto... I hope you'll notice how deeply i love you...

Sometime later on, Naruto and Shikamaru had arrived at Hokage's House. Both were escorted by ANBUs towards his room.

"gah... what the hell is the damn mission this time?" Naruto grumpily said to shikamaru, "I hope this isnt one of his damned 'drills'..."

"nope... Hokage said that what he'll ask of US is very much important..."

Naruto Hung his arms on the back of his head.

"it'd better be..."

Shikamaru laughed at Naruto's mannerism.

"naruto..."

"what?"

"what is hinata doing in YOUR room wearing a robe, in YOUR bed?"

"gah... whatever..." Naruto answered as he opened the door of Hokage's room. The room itself was very big... big enough to house 5 people. The windows were open and the wind kept blowing the curtains.

"ah... Naruto! Shikamaru!, Sit down..."

Naruto and Shikamaru Sat down and made themselves comfortable.

Many blurry thoughts had been in Shikamaru's head,

"Hokage... what's this so-important-mission that youre gonna give us?"

"well..."

moments later, the hokage had explained the mission. Shikamaru and Naruto Sat quietly in surprise.

"What? you want us to go to Wind country just to escort someone? This is lame..." Naruto exclaimed, slamming his hand at the floor.

Hokage looked at Naruto sternly.

"yes... This is a class A mission that you HAVE to do... "

"bleah... Who's this Person we have to escort to the wind country?"

"Hyuuga Hinata..."

Naruto widened his eyes in shock.

"Eh? Hinata-chan's goin' there? what for?"

Hokage cleared his throat and continued...

"Hinata has developed great medical expertise and since the daughter of the wind country is dreadfully sick..."

"so what?"

"the Kazekage wants HER to Cure his daughter... and he wants hinata's safe arrival there"

Naruto stood up and Stomped two steps towards the door.

"Whatever... comon shikamaru... lets go get hinata..."

They both bowed to Hokage and dissapeared to work.

"good luck both of you..."

Hinata and Ino arrived at the Flowershop, all they talked about on the way was how they beacme after their loss at the chuunin exams 4 years ago.

"Hey Hinata... what rank are you in?" Ino said with great interest

"Umm... Tsunade said I had made the Medic team..."

Hinata began twiddling her fingers.

"that's good for you..."

"H-how about you Ino-chan?"

"I'm now a chuunin..." Ino smiled at Hinata,

"that's good"

They talked for a small while before the flowershop door opened,

"Ohayo Gozaimasu!" said a Pink haired Chuunin.

"Oi! Sakura-chan! Join us!" Ino offered Sakura a seat next to hinata and her, "Hows Sasuke?"

"He's Still as handsome as ever..."

"...Figures..."

Hinata looked at Sakura very carefully and observed how she had grown. Her Hair was also regrown, but she kept her hair in a braid because she finally learned that long hair CAN be a nuicanse to a mission. She Still wore her Chinese clothes though.

Sakura sat down on a chair next to hinata's.

"how are you Hinata?" Sakura asked to the navy haired girl next to her, "I havent heard of you for quite a while here..."

"um... Im o-okay... nothing new... I just have to go to Wind country for some medical work tommorrow..."

" Hinata is such a shy girl... Right ino...?"

"gah... this girl hasnt changed a bit..." Said inner sakura.

"Do you wanna know something really Cute Sakura?" Ino started as she brushed her hair with her fingers.

"eh? what's that ino...?"

Hinata stood up and Shook Ino's arm.

"No! Ino dont tell! Please...!" Hinata Pleaded with Ino, but it seems Ino has made up her mind to tease Hinata.

"psw...psw... psssw!...pssw...(Hinata came from Naruto's house this afternoon!)"

Oh no... im done for... Thought Hinata, She wasnt sure that it would be a good idea to just sit there waiting for a facial response from sakura.

Hinata gave up pleading and sat down on her chair.

"Ooh!..."

Sakura widened her eyes in great shock.

"Its true!"

"my gosh Hinata... what were you doing with that damned Kyubi bastard Naruto!" Sakura asked Hinata with some dirty thoughts wondering in her head...

"I...I... I Fainted in the rain and he just G-gave me some s-shelter... w- we did nothing else!"

Hinata was being really defensive and was obviously trying to keep her cool.

Ino and sakura smiled at each other and had the same idea...

I know what youre thinking Ino! YOU'RE ON! Inner sakura shouted to herself.

Sometimes its just plain weird how Ino and Sakura got so close to each other that they already know what the hell is the other thinking. They both looked at Hinata with an evil grin on their face, that almost seemed like they are going to plot something BIG.

"You know what Im thinking Sakura?"

Sakura just smiled in response and grabbed something from her shuriken holster,

"Here hinata, Take this..."

Hinata was really puzzled but she took the box anyway.

"what's this?"

"Its a pretty damned secret... open it when you get some privacy..."

Sakura looked at Ino and giggled a little.

"well... umm... ok... I... I really have to go now... see you... Sakura...um... Ino..." Hinata said as she slowly walked towards the door and left.

Sakura looked kinda worried.

"Ino, do you really think we're gonna get away with this?"

Ino Laughed at sakura,

"Well of course! that cocky bastard Naruto is gonna get a whack after this..." Ino said to sakura.

Suddenly the door slammed open, Naruto and shikamaru were panting... probrobly from running.

"Whatsup?" Naruto greeted them still panting,

"we need a Chuunin with us on our Mission, ino. Wanna come?" Shikamaru Said annoyingly to ino.

"I dont like that tone of your voice Shikamaru..."

Ino pinched Shilamaru's right ear.

"ow...ow...ow...ow... ok! ok! ok ino! s-stop tha- ouch!"

Shikamaru was trying to get Ino's hands off his ear...

"Sakura, wanna come too?" Naruto offered the pink haired girl in front of him.

Sakura slumped to the chair beside her.

"Nah... I have some other duties here in Konoha... and if ino's going, i have to take care of this flowershop..."

"Ok... Do you know Where the heck hinata is?"

"Hinata-chan?" Ino said to Naruto," She just left... She said she was going somewhere..."

"...Damn, Missed her..." Naruto Grubled to himself,"oh well... Ino, Shikamaru! I'll meet you at the town gate!"

Then he dashed off towards the direction hinata went.

"Well... That concludes our short convo..." Ino said to herself

"Ei, Shikamaru... do you know what hinata was doing in Naruto's house?" Sakura asked Shikamaru.

Shikamaru crossed his arms.

"... Most probrobly you know already..."

Sakura suddenly thought of something.

"... wanna play matchmaker?" Sakura suggested to the two,

Ino nodded her head.

"why not? at least this match may have a chance even without our help..."

"well... let's get to work then..."

How can I tell you? - Chapter 2 More than many thoughts.

Hinata went home and packed her things. She was sad but she had to go to wind country for work.

Someone knocked at the door.

"who is it?"

"It's Me... Hiashi..."

Hinata opened the door and went back to packing.

"Um... Otousan... I really need to go to Wind country..."

Hiashi walked up to hinata and crossed his arms.

"Hinata, I worry for you...so..."

"no need father, I have made up my mind..."

"I know... so Im entrusting you to the Jonin and the two chuunins that the hokage reccomended."

Hinata was furious.

"father! I CAN do this on my own!"

"Silence!" Snapped the angry Hiashi, "Follow my word or you'll have to go nowhere and stay at home!"

Hinata fell silent and slowly finished her packing.

"hinata, I understand youre already grown up, but still... youre my daughter and i want no harm to befall you..."

Hinata didnt answer.

"...Im going to take my leave now... take care Hinata..."

Hiashi went out of the room and closed the door.

Hinata was thinking... "I wonder who Hokage reccommended...", Hinata was surely nervous because this was supposed to be her first mission alone, but now she has to go with 3 people she doesnt even want to go with... she wants to do this Alone...

Naruto arrived at the gate first and waited for Hinata. He leaned his back on the gate and crossed his arms as he waited. "where is that hinata? I cant wait here forever..." naruto thought.

Naruto looked up and saw a shadow heading for the gate, it was hinata.

"Oi! Hinata!"

Naruto jumped and waved his arms so that hinata could notice him.

"N-naruto?"

Hinata ran as fast as she could with her knapsack.

"Naruto? what are you doing here?"

Naruto crossed his arms and smiled at hinata.

"ha... Im the jonin assigned to this mission Hinata-chan..."

Hinata Blushed a little and looked at naruto. Naruto was beginning to think that she's being her 'weird' self again. "geez, I dont know why the hell she's looking at me like that but..." Naruto's thoughts were stopped as he found himself leaning at hinata, seems HE was posing for a kiss...

"Wha? what am I DOING? what's this Im feeling anyway!"

thoughts were also wondering at hinata's head.

"this is it! Im gonna kiss naruto!"

it almost turned into a kiss, but-

"Yo Naruto!, Hinata...!" said a voice from a distance.

Naruto and hinata jumped away from each other and acted like nothing had happened.

"Oh! Shikamaru... ino... You with us?" Hinata said in her usual 'shy' tone of speaking.

"yea... were here to make sure you and naruto dont make out again..."

"We were not making out!" Hinata and Naruto said together, then they looked at each other and looked at the ground blushing a deep red.

Ino laughed at Naruto and hinata for being so naive.

"hahaha, well... shikamaru... theses two get more interesting as time goes by... dont you think so?"

Shikamaru laughed with Ino.

"hahaha... Im not surprised... Seems Sakura's plan'll work perfectly..."

Naruto gave Ino and Shikamaru a scary stare.

"What the damn are you two planning?" Naruto Shouted at them.

"Nothing interesting to you Naruto..." Ino simpered at Naruto.

Naruto angryly sunk his hands at his pockets and started to walk away.

"what are these two thinking...?" Naruto thought.

Ino and shikamaru laughed as they walked with hinata, following naruto's way.

Later on, Shikamaru, Ino, Hinata and Naruto are walking on the Kanbeki road, the fastest road to the wind country, but to reach there, they have to make a short stopover to Iwai, the festival town that is claimed by the wind country and is known for it's famous fesivals and magical charms.

"a-are we there N-naruto?" Hinata asked,

Naruto looked at Hinata,

"not yet, but we have to get to Iwai before dark. we'll make a stopover there and stay until dawn..."

Ino ran to hinata and paced herself.

"well... hinata, they said Iwai is a really nice town and there'll be a festival there in a couple of days." Ino suggessted to the navy haired girl next to her, "maybe after your mission we could go there with naruto and shikamaru?"

"umm... th-that's not a bad idea, what do you think naruto?"

Naruto hung his arms behind his head,

"whatever... but as long as their festival has free ramen and sake, im in for it..." Naruto joked at the two.

Shikamaru shook his head,

"this guy's gotta have some hole in his stomach to think of ramen all the time..."

"Shaddup! i dont need your stupid side comments" Naruto shouted at Shikamaru,

Shikamaru crossed his arms.

"well... Damn You!"

Naruto clenched his fists and veins began growing on both naruto and shikamaru's head.

"wha? then [censored]!"

"why i aougta!"

Hinata and Ino giggled at their friend's 'friendly' quarrel. This wasnt a surprize to both of them. since naruto and shikamaru became teammates, they started fighting every now and then.

"okay, enough with the fight!"

Ino punched both naruto and shikamaru in the head, giving them two big lumps on their head. Hinata was busy behind her sweatdropping

"ow... ow... ow..." Naruto compained, "gah... Shikamaru you suck..."

Naruto turned his back on shikamaru

"bleah... You suck too!"

Shikamaru did the same.

"stop it! Hinata and I are getting uncomfortable with you two!"

"whatever..." Naruto murmured as he hung his arms on the back of his head and continued his walking.

Hinata ran towards Naruto and poked him a few times in the back.

"umm... na-naruto...? are you hungry? I... I have some cup ramen you could eat..." Hinata shyly offered.

Naruto jumped up and down in happiness.

"yahoo! Ramen! ramen! ramen! gimmegimmegimme!"

Hinata sweatdropped but she gave the cup ramen anyway, then she turned to Ino and Shikamaru.

"well... Do you guys want some ramen too?"

Ino Smiled at the naive girl.

"well... do you have a seafood flavored ramen?" ino asked,

Hinata checked her knapsack.

"no... but there's some chicken flavored ramen... you want it?"

Ino took the cup ramen from hinata's hand.

"okay! thanks Hinata! anyway, do you have some hot water there?"

Hinata took a jug out of her knapsack.

"well... I guess this jug has enough hot water for all of us... How about you shikamaru?"

Shikamaru smirked at hinata.

"I'll take chicken..."

Hinata gave Shikamaru his ramen and started rationing the hot water to the hungry group, she gave ino and shikamaru the water they need, the only one left to give was naruto.

"N-naruto... you need some hot water?"

"sure... No one wants a dry ramen soup, Am i right?"

Hinata blushed and slowly poured the hot water into Naruto's cup.

"Banzai! RamenRamenRamen! all thanks to hinata-chan!" Naruto Said to hinata.

Hinata stopped pouring water and closed the lid. Naruto had already started to eat.

"Hinata-chan," Naruto said with his mouth full, "How about you? arnt you gonna eat?"

"well... there's no more ramen left anymore..."

Naruto gulped his food.

"oh, ok..."

Hinata's Stomach started to growl.

"oh... guess im hungry..."

Naruto looked at hinata blankly in her silver eyes.

"er... Wanna share my ramen?"

Hinata was surprised at Naruto's offer. Why is he offering me his ramen? I thought that was his favorite food? Hinata thought.

"I... I..."

"No need for your "I"'s... here, have some!"

Naruto gave hinata his ramen. He was looking blackly at hinata most of the time, but all he thought was that... If it was for hinata... oh well... there goes my ramen..., Hinata slowly reached for the ramen on naruto's right hand.

"D-Domo... Naruto-kun..."

When Hinata finally reached for naruto's ramen cup, she noticed her hand was touching naruto's, so she took the cup as fast as she could.

"umm... sorry..." Hinata looked at the ground.

Ino noticed that the two are finally getting along just like Sakura had planned.

"sorry to interupt but Me and shikamaru will be eating there if you need us"

Ino pointed to a nearby patch of bamboo. It was obviously far enough to stop any sound from where Hinata stood to be heard.

"ok... see ya Shikamaru!"

"yah... whatever..."

Ino and Shikamaru walked away.

"well... so... I guess it's j-just us..." Hinata said.

Naruto looked up at the sky, making sure that the blush that was covering his face was not visible to hinata.

"Y-Yeah..."

Hinata got her chopsticks and started eating. Naruto looked like he was just looking at her eating, but his eyes were looking at hinata's lips, who were sucking the noodles into her mouth. Naruto found himself staring at them, Hinata's lips... I wanna taste them... I wonder if they taste better than ramen...whoa? what the hell am i thinking? he thought, staring into Hinata's red lips as she continued eating. All his staring Made hinata look at him, noticing that he was looking deep on her face.

"Naruto...? Naruto...?"

Hinata's voice snapped naruto out of the trance he was in.

"wha! oh... Hi-Hinata... Gomen..."

Naruto blushed and tried to look away, but it was her eyes that draw his into a deep trance. but he managed to snap himself out of it.

"Naruto... are you ok?"

Hinata was getting worried.

"are you sure?"

Naruto gulped.

"I-I'm sure hinata... dont worry! just continue eating... so if you'll excuse me... i'll go away for a while to watch you- i mean I'll go away to keep a lookout... yea! that's it! so... er... see ya..."

"umm... okay..."

Naruto Jumped to the Nearest tree.

Naruto... I pray that one day you'll notice me... Hinata thought as she finished her ramen.

Naruto was up at the tree, trying to think what did happen to him when he looked at her face... He was deep in thought.

What happened to me back there? why was i looking at hinata's lips? why did i try to kiss her earlier...? what's this feeling i feel? damnit... No one could tell me what the hell im feeling... Do i love hinata? I dunno... but if I do... how will i tell her? what if... she loves someone else? what if...

Naruto's "what if"s were interupted by Shikamaru who was poking him in the shoulder for half a minute.

"Oi! Naruto! Earth to naruto!" Shikamaru shouted in Naruto's ear.

"WHATTHE! shikamaru! grr...," Naruto grumbled, "whatdoyouwant?"

Shikamaru sat beside naruto.

"nothing in particular... I just wanna know how things are with hinata..."

"She's fine... and if she isnt... its none of youre business..."

Naruto jumped down.

"anyway, we gotta walk to Iwai right now if we wanna reach there by sunset..."

Shikamaru nodded and jumped down. They found Ino and hinata cleaning up the mess they made and they placed the ramen cups on a bag and left it on the road.

Ino brushed a sweat from her brow.

"well... we're done here... shall we go now?"

Naruto started walking.

"whatever... just walk ino..."

Hinata and naruto were quite ahead of ino and shikamaru, so Ino used this chance to Plot some more.

"things are going well... eh Shikamaru...?"

Ino smiled.

"haha... yeah... the two are finally gettin' closer..."

Shikamaru laughed.

"well... when we reach iwai... we should perk things up a little."

Unknowingly, no one noticed a presence of a man standing behind a tree. The man's eyes were filled with greed and evil and would surely kill those who see them.

"Hyuuga Hinata..." said the man, "this woman will serve well as my wife... too bad Uzumaki naruto... because this woman WILL be Mine!"

How can I tell you? - Chapter 4 Where Hate and Sleep falls together.

Naruto Slammed his hand on the floor.

"What? You mean...!"

Tenma Nodded.

"Yes... Hinata must heal the princess of the wind village, and my half-sister Hana..."

Shikamaru didn't understand much so he asked again.

"wait a sec... lemme get this straight..You want Hinata to Give her life to a damned ceremony to heal this 'dying' girl? What about the people who care for her?"

Tenma looked at the window and sighed.

"we have no choice... Its fate... Hana is too important to us..."

Naruto was obviously furious.

"Dammit... but NO WAY! Shikamaru... pack our bags... I don't care if I never become Hokage mister... but I swear... I'LL NEVER LET HINATA DIE LIKE THAT!"

Someone opened the door, It was Hinata.

"naruto... no need to worry, "Hinata said and looked at tenma, "I'm going to heal his sister..."

Naruto stood up and protested,

"no youre not! Were going back to Konoha! And that's final you hear?"

"but the girl's life is at stake... I couldnt-"

"No, no, and no! That's Final! were going back to Konoha!"

Hinata stopped and looked at the ground.

"be honest with me... do you think im weak? Just because the blow that my brother gave me during the chuunin exam 4 years ago made my body frail?"

"no I didnt...!"

"you seemed so!"

"but-"

"... I hate you..."

Everyone was surprised at what hinata said, no one, not even naruto could believe that Hinata could hate anyone... Especially naruto...surely, Hinata was upset...

"hi-Hinata...but..."

Hinata didn't wait for naruto to finish, she ran out and slammed the door. Shikamaru looked at naruto.

"hmm... Naruto... maybe you shouldn't be too hard on hinata..."

Naruto fell to the floor silent. Then someone opened the door, It was ino.

"geez, what did you people do? All i know hinata came here to hear what's going on and then now i see her crying on our room... what happened Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru didnt seem happy with what happened.

"Naruto shouted at Hinata and she shouted back."

Ino was surprised.

"naruto... how could you do that? to hinata of all people...?"

Naruto didnt answer, he himself was in shock for shouting to hinata... he never hurt her... ever... now he did... he feels miserable...

Tenma looked at Naruto.

"Naruto... Maybe you should settle this with Hinata..." Tenma said as he stood up,

He headed for the door, he stopped when he reached it.,

"I'll see you all in 5:00 in the morning... go to the north-east Iwai exit and two open carrages will be waiting for you..."

Tenma Closed the door and walked away.

"so... Naruto... what now?" Shikamaru asked the quiet jonin.

Naruto sat up.

"...Im going to have a talk with Hinata... please excuse me..."

Naruto stood up, walked towards the door and left. This left shikamaru and Ino dead worried.

"Shikamaru... This isnt according to plan..." Ino said,

Shikamaru nodded and sat on his bed.

"well... I guess we should try to lay low on this 'matchmaker' thing until the dust settles with them..." Shikamaru sadly suggessted.

Ino agreed, yawned and sat down next to shikamaru.

"this... stinks..." Ino said all sleepy eyed, she drooped a little and fell asleep, placing her head on Shikamaru's shoulder, and placing her hand on his chest.

Shikamaru was surprized but he knew that Ino was sleepy.

"I-I-Ino...!"Shikamaru said blushing as he felt the warmth of Ino's hands to seep through his thin clothing.

Ino mumbled some words.

"Just... Let... me... sleep... Im so tired..."

Shikamaru was nervous, he didnt know what to do... he laid ino next to Him on his bed and Covered her with his blanket... and looked blankly looked at her sleepy face. For the first time... he looked at Ino with love in his eyes.

I-I-ino... y-youre beautiful... Is there a chance for me? But... you love sasuke... I love temari... but... w-wait a sec... do I really love you...? God please help me...

Shikamaru placed an arm over Ino and held her tight as they both fell asleep.

Naruto was looking for Hinata everywhere! he looked at her room, then at the Inn kitchens but he never checked the gardens. He reminded himself that and headed towards the gardens. There he saw Hinata training...

Hinata was thinking... "god... please help me..." She thought to herself as she punched the millenium old tree, "god... how will i tell Him now?".

Naruto hid behind a nearby tree and watched as Hinata used her byakugan.

"BYAKUGAN!" Hinata shouted to activate the byakugan.

Hinata used her gentle fists against the tree. Naruto Noticed how hard hinata trains, and realized how wrong he was to underestimate her like that... He worried about her, when he heard that Hinata may die during the ceremony, he didnt want hinata to die... did he love her? he doesnt know... but as of now, he watched her quietly in the shadows.

"Naruto! Im stronger than you think!" Hinata said between attacks on the tree.

Naruto's eyes widened, "she was thinking of me?" Naruto thought. He decieded to show up and see how well hinata goes in battle.

"oi! Hinata!"

Hinata looked towards the voice, "oh, It's you..."

"You cant train with that tree alone... wanna be my training buddy today...?" Naruto smiled at the navy haired girl.

Hinata stopped punching the tree and started to twiddle her fingers.

"umm... well... If you say so..."

Hinata bowed to naruto, Naruto did so too. Hinata reactivated her Byakugan and threw a few quick gentle fists at naruto.

"Hey! that's not bad! youre getting better than Neji!" Naruto complemented as he evaded her attacks.

Hinata smiled.

"Well... do you want me to perk it up a bit so it may be more of a challange for you?" Hinata offered.

Naruto laughed.

"heh... sure... why not?"

Hinata suddenly appeared in front of naruto and used a gentle fist on naruto. Naruto barely escaped, and he was surprised.

"heh... I was right... You are better than neji..." Naruto Smiled, "my turn...!"

Naruto Got his scroll and used his Kage bunshin technique... He made 20 clones of himself and rushed against hinata... Hinata gasped at the strength he has and looked for the real one. Suddenly, Hinata felt someone hugging her from behind... It was the real naruto. She blushed madly as Naruto kissed her cheek and said... "were friends again... right?" as he said this, the clones dissappeared

Hinata couldnt stop looking at naruto's blue eyes. (so can he with her's ;;; ).

"y-yeah... we're friends again..."

Naruto jumped up in joy.

"whoo hooo! Hinata and me are friends again! yahoooooo!"

hinata sweatdropped.

"shhh! You'll wake up the people sleeping...!"

Naruto looked at Hinata smiling.

"I dont care... what matters! Yahooo! Hinata forgives me! HEYYYYYY! Everyone! Hinata Forgives me!

Hinata sat on the floor, she was really tired.

"phew... I'm so sleepy right now..."

Naruto grimaced.

"hahaha... want me to carry you?"

Hinata Shook her head and tried to get up.

"hehe... here... lemme give you a hand... " Naruto offered, He picked her up, carried her to her room and laid her in one of the beds. He took a blanket from the other bed and placed it over hinata.

"Thank you... Naruto..." Hinata seemed to murmur in her sleep.

Naruto smiled and then he sat on the floor next to the bed and moved her hair that covers her face.

"I... think I love you..." he said before his head fell to the bed's side, giving up to his sleepy self.