1Like I said, another story. Navy blossom.
Chapter 1: I care
"What a beautiful view!" said a diminutive kunoichi, sitting on tree branch. Although she's relaxing in the shady tree, she gets a little hyper at times. After the Chunin exams, she had been a little more confident. That beating she took from Neji, the way she fought, it was because of Naruto.
"Naruto, huh?" she hadn't seen him in a while. He was training all day to night with his sensei, Jiraiya. It's like he's never really there to start with.
"Naruto..."
"Yeah?"
Hinata jerked at the sound of his voice and was about to fall, but Naruto catch her in his arms. "Hinata, are you okay?"
Hinata opened her eyes and looked at Naruto. His handsome eyes were looking at her. She forced a breath out. "I-I'm fine, Naruto, just a little scratch that's all."
Naruto put her down and dig into his pocket. "Here. I think this will help as a bandage."
He held out a soft, lavender colored ribbon. He also put in his hand some ointment for the wound. Hinata was asked to hold the ribbon so he can smear it on. While Naruto was treating her wound, she was running her hands through the soft fabric. "Mmm..." the sweet scent of ramen radiating from the fabric is heavenly. If you're a girl who likes Naruto and like the scent of ramen almost every single day, then it's normal.
Naruto was done long ago with the wound. "Hinata, can I have the ribbon now?"
"Huh? Oh, oh yes. Here."
She handed him the ribbon and he took it. Without even noticing, he touched her hand. Naruto tied the ribbon on her leg, gently. "And... there! All finished!"
Hinata swung her leg side to side. "Thanks, Naruto."
Naruto crouched down in front of her. "Here. Let me carry you back to the village."
"O-okay, N-Naruto."
Hinata took her time getting up. At first, she fell down for the second time, then she manage to get on his back. "Ready, Naruto."
Naruto got up and started walking. For a while, Hinata was happy. It's a long walk from here to her house, but they can handle it. All was silent, nothing but bird's chirping and the giggling of little children.
"Hey, Hinata?"
She flinched because the silence was getting to her. "Huh?"
"I was thinking. What are you doing Saturday night?"
Hinata thought about that. "Nothing. Why?"
Naruto was grinning in front. "Well, I want to take you out for lunch."
Hinata was snuggling in his neck, blushing bright red. 'A date? With Naruto?' "Are you asking me out?"
"You're half right."
Her blush was more brighter than ever. "So..."
"So you'll go with me?"
She smiled. "Sure."
"Great! Meet me at the tree where you sat. four o' clock this afternoon okay?"
"Sure!"
While they were talking about tomorrow's lunch date, they already arrived at her house. Naruto put Hinata down and she hopped over to the door. She looked back at him and smiled. "Thank you, Naruto. I couldn't have gotten here without you."
Naruto looked down, kicking a little rock on the ground, bashfully. "Y-you're welcome."
Hinata took out her keys and unlock the door. She was about to go in until Naruto hugged her from behind. "Promise me you'll come?"
She was red as a tomato. Never in her life did she got a hug from Naruto. Ever!
Hinata put her hands around his waist. "I promise."
Naruto smiled at that and he disappeared in a poof. Hinata almost fell from the feeling. Luckly, Neji appeared behind her and put her straight up. Hinata went through the door and went straight into her room without saying hi or anything. Outside, Neji noticed, before she went in, the injury on her leg covered by the light purple hair band.
With Naruto...
Naruto was walking to his house without noticing Ino and Shikamaru holding hands. "Shikamaru... I love you."
"Hn, troublesome."
"Mmm..."
Naruto looked back and saw Nara and Yamanaka making out. He turned around quickly and walked a little faster, leaving the two alone. "Sheesh... don't do that in front of me." he muttered.
"Naruto?"
"Huh?"
He turned around again instead of Ino and Shikamaru, it was Sakura. "Hey, Sakura."
"Hi, Naruto. How long has it been since we met?"
"Four years."
"Wow, that long?"
"Yep."
Sakura scratched her head. "Hey, Naruto. Wanna spar with me? I've gotten stronger since the last time we met."
Naruto thought about that. "Sure, but I'm not going easy on you."
"Bring it on!"
Sakura was standing in her favorite position, arms in front, hands into fists, legs apart, and knees bent in a relaxing motion. Naruto was standing there, waiting for her to attack. Sakura waited for time, then she ran at him with fast speed. Although Naruto can see fading images of her gliding side to side to him. "What the-!"
Sakura hit him right in the chest. "You fell for it!"
"Augh! Arg!" he stumbled sightly. 'Sakura has gotten better, but she still has a weak spot somewhere.'
"I'm waiting."
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu!"
There was 15 Naruto surrounding her in the battle ground. Sakura looked around. "Shadow clones, eh? And there's quite a few of them."
"Ready or not!"
"Come and get it!"
Two hours later...
Sakura was still standing, out of breath and Naruto. He's a little burnt right now covered in soot. That last attack did a number on him. Sakura still had a little chakra left for one trick. She walked over to Naruto and summoned her last resort. "Kohoshi Kama no Jutsu!"
Naruto's body vanished and he was in his house, asleep in bed. Sakura almost collapsed by using that Jutsu. A person poof behind her and catch her with his knee. "I think you need a rest, Sakura. Naruto is a handful you know."
Sakura turned around and smiled. "Sasuke-kun!"
"Need a lift?"
"No thanks."
"You need it."
"I think I can- Auugh!"
Sasuke picked up Sakura on his back without letting her finish. "I don't want to hear it, Sakura. I'm taking you home right now. No complaints."
Sakura just relaxed on him. "Thanks, Sasuke." She had been training like Naruto as well, only today was her day off. She had gotten stronger, but not as strong as Sasuke. He manage to get away from Orochimaru and kill his brother, but he wasn't allow to have missions until Monday afternoon. Sakura nuzzled his neck. 'Strange. He's the same as before. I thought he would be more happy than quiet.'
Sasuke was more serious than ever. Maybe more excited for the missions? Sakura think so. She closed her eyes and went to sleep, tired from sparring with Naruto. "Zzz..."
"Sakura?"
"..."
Sasuke smirked. "Sleep all you want, Sakura, but it's not you're house we're going to."
He looked at Sakura's sleeping face. 'What a child at heart. There is no other person to ever care about me. Except her.'
He turn a direction towards Sakura's house and made it to his.
Hinata...
She was walking down the hall, carrying tea for her father and Neji. He wants to grow stronger to defeat Naruto. After the Chunin exams, he wants to overcome him. Right now he's training to death for the Jonin exams. They have more stronger opponents to give a good show for and Neji is going to enter it. Hinata sighed. Brothers. What can you do for them?
Hinata entered her room and lay down on her bed, looking at the ceiling. It was covered with glow in the dark stars. 'Maybe just once I'll get a kiss from him.' His image appeared on the ceiling, smiling and calling her out. "Hinata..."
She closed her eyes. "Oh, Naruto..."
"Hinata!"
"Huh?" she sat up.
"Dinner!" her mother said.
"Coming!" she ran down the stairs.
That night...
Hinata was asleep in her bed, dreaming. The glow in the dark stars gleamed brightly above her. Her window was open for cold winds to cool the room. Hinata unconsciously pulled the covers closer. "Naruto..." she murmured.
Outside in the night, Naruto was hopping to her house with a present tightly in his hand. He landed softly on the ground so it didn't wake her up. A strong tree branch was by Hinata's open window with the curtains fluttering out. Naruto crouched down and then jump to the branch. He sneaked in, quietly for the gift to slip in, and put it by the night lamp.
"There, all in place for her birthday. Huh?" Naruto notice Hinata' figure in the silk blankets. Slim and skinny. Nice and petite. Good qualities for a girl like her. Naruto climbed in. He notice her she's a little cold by the wind coming through her window. If he closes the window, how will he get out? On the other hand if he gives her his jacket, he would leave evidence that he was here. One or 2.
He sighed and took off his jacket. 'Choice two is my option then.' he placed it around her body. Her shivering stopped and she felt warm. Naruto was about to fall asleep, because he didn't get enough sleep, so he shook his head. "Got to get out of here."
Hinata was wiggling slightly just enough to wake up. Her vision was blurry. "Naruto...?"
Naruto flinched. 'Oh, darn it! She's waking up! I gotta hid!' Naruto transformed into a pillow before Hinata rubbed her eyes. "Naruto?"
She looked around the room, blindly. The dark was bleak. But her vision was just enough to see a pillow on the ground. Hinata reached for it and grabbed it. "Now how did you get on the ground? Huh?" something was covering her arm for a second. She turn on the lamp and saw it was Naruto's jacket and an orange pillow she was holding. Hinata blushed for a sec then cooled down. "Did he come here? And left this here?" Hinata gave the pillow a light hug, giving a hard time for Naruto not to transform in front of her. 'Give me a break, Hinata! You're making me lose my focus!' he was blushing from the hug he was receiving.
Hinata put down the pillow and went on to the jacket. She smelled the scent that Naruto left on. Ramen. Pork ramen. "Mmm..."
Hinata was in heaven. But the question was, was he here? Or did he-
Hinata shook her head. 'No, no, no! Naruto's not like that! Is he?' she looked at the pillow with fear. Naruto was sweating even though he is the pillow. Then she shrugged and went back to bed with Naruto at her chest. He was blushing even more than ever! He looked at her and she was asleep. Very deep. Naruto undid the transformation and tried to get free, but she had a good grip on him. Naruto had no choice but to stay here for tonight. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Hinata. He forgot that there is a way, but sleeping here is also nice. "Mmm..."