Out side the grand gate to Konoha a young man sat perched on top of a tree.
He wore a black jacket with an orange stripe going down each side, and black
baggy pants. On his hands were a pair off fingerless plated gloves. Wrapped
around his face was a shinobi face guard. Laying on top of the nest of unkempt
hair was a hidden leaf head protector. Sighing he stood up and stretched, his
muscles pulling tight against the seems of his jacket. Then leaping quickly
from tree to tree he crossed into Konoha.
"Hey kit? what now? why are you hiding who you are?" Inquired the ever
inquisitive demon fox. Over the last couple of years Naruto had really gotten
to know the demon. They unfortunately still didn't like each other too
much.
I want to see how everyone else has changed before I let them they see how
much I have. Now shut up I need to concentrate." Naruto replied hotly to the
fox as he almost lost his balance on the tree he was standing.
"Oh fine then Kit, I guess you don't want to know that there's a women
in a baggy white coat over that way that's about to trip and fall in the
mud…" The Kyubi replied sarcastically.
Then laughing as it watched Naruto's reaction. Dashing forward Naruto
reached out and caught the falling young women before she had a chance to fall
in the mud. 'Geese that was a close one.' Naruto thought as he gently
eased her to the ground. Startled a very familiar voice spoke.
"Arigato" Hinata said, as she brushed herself off. 'I have never seen
anyone move so fast. Not even Rock-Lee has that kind of speed. I wonder who he
is??' She though as she stared at the man who had caught her.
Sighing Naruto smiled from under his face mask. "Happy to do it" he replied
as he rested both of his hands on the back of his head. As he was about to
leave, Naruto noticed that Hinata was carrying with her, a small exotic plant.
Startled Naruto thought to himself, 'I haven't seen one of those since my
travels in the land of grass.'
Coughing to get Hinata's attention Naruto asked politely. "May I see that
plant your holding for a second?"
"Sure" Hinata replied a little nervous. "But be careful. The plant is
supposedly very delicate." She cautioned as she placed the plant firmly in
Naruto's hand. Taking off one of his gloves, Naruto charged enough chakra
into his hand to make the chakra visible. Then he reached a single glowing
finger out and touched the plant. Startled Hinata gasped as the plant suddenly
began to open. Soon she saw that the man she had let hold her plant, had
turned it into one of the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. It had
sparkling golden petals, and a pink center that radiated every time the light
shone.
"How did you do that" Hinata breathed in wonder as she stared at the
beautiful plant.
"The only way to open this kind of plant is by forcing a little chakra into
it's petals" Naruto replied as he handed the plant back to her.
"Amazing "was all Hinata could say as she watched the stranger turn to leave.
Stopping mid sstride Naruto turned and spoke. "Before I go…may I ask your
name?"
Blushing slightly Hinata replied. "It's Hinata. Hinata Hyuuga."
Nodding Naruto turned to leave.
"Wait before you go…could you tell me your name??" Hinata almost
squealed.
Laughing a little Naruto gave her a smile. "Sorry but that will have to
wait." Naruto replied, glad that his face was hidden by his ninja face
guard…otherwise Hinata might have sawn the pinkish tinge that crossed
Naruto's face. Turning Naruto raced down the streets of Konoha in a blur.
Sighing Hinata turned and started to walk away a little crest fallen. 'He
could have at least told me his name.' She thought as she walked aimlessly.
Realizing she was moping Hinata shook her head and looked up. Somehow Hinata
had managed to make her way to one of the training grounds. Sighing she walked
briskly towards two familiar figures that were practicing up on the hill.
Arriving in a little under a minute Hinata came face to face with in Kiba and
Shino.
"Where did you get that amazing plant?" Kiba asked as she placed down the
beautiful flower near a sleeping Akamaeru. "All we saw you bu today was that
weird looking little bud." Shino added.
Blushing a little Hinata replied. "I was about to trip when a man caught me.
He put a little of his own chakra into it and it burst open. He said that this
was a kind of plant that you had to feed a little chakra to, in order for it
bloom."
"amazing" Shino replied in his usual monotone way.
"Shouldn't we be getting back to our training??" Hinata said anxious to get
off of the topic of the man. She felt something…something she knew that she
should only feel for Naruto,. But instead she found herself thinking more and
more about the mysterious man who had helped her. "Actually we just finished.
We were planning on heading back towards Konoha's main district." Kiba
replied as he gave Shino a knowing wink. Walking down the primary district,
Hinata and the others found themselves walking past the stone faces. Looking
over towards them. Hinata's breath caught in her lungs. There standing stone
faced was the man she had met earlier. Grabbing Kiba's arm she tugged him
close.
"That's the guy." She whispered, pointing.
"Hmm well he seems alright…I guess." Kiba replied shiftily.
Watching in silence Hinata saw him heading towards the hokage's office.
Turning she gave a bow to the others. "Guys I'm gonna go find out who that
man is…" Hinata started.
"Wait Hinata!" Kiba said as reached out and grabbed her hand as she
turned away. "Hinata….will you please go out with me? I know its sudden
and that your not really over Naruto…but will you give me a chance??"
Startled Hinata pulled away suddenly. Then looking down at her feet she
replied. "Kiba you know I like you…but I only like you as a friend. I'm
sorry but I can't forget about Naruto." Then turning Hinata dashed away.
From high up on top of the roof of the hokage's building Naruto sighed.
'Kiba must be crushed…' Naruto thought as he jumped down from the top
of the roof. Landing on his feet in front o a very startled Hinata Naruto
stood up. Then reaching out he caught the flower she had let go of in
surprise. "Sorry." Naruto replied casually as he turned to walk away.
"Wait!! Tell me your name. Its been bugging me that you know who I am, and
yet I have no idea who you are." Hinata said as she grabbed hold of
Naruto's arm.
Turning Naruto looked at Hinata. Then sighing Naruto asked. "So Hinata why
did you turn down that Kiba guys offer to become your boyfriend??"
Startled Hinata leapt back in surprise. "You heard that!" Hinata shouted
as she blushed madly.
"Yes I did…so why did you turn him down. He seemed like whe was a nice
guy." Naruto asked vuriously.
"That's none of your buissness!" Hinata snapped as she grabbed her
flower out of the mans hand. Then sighing she whispered. "I love Naruto-kun.
I can't give up on that."
"Something forced rots, where as something earned, lasts forever" Naruto
replied casually.
Puzzled Hinata looked at the man. "what do you mean?" She asked curiously.
"If you force someone to love you or go out with you then you feel hollow,
but if you earn their love it feels complete." Naruto replied Then turning
he rushed away again, leaving Hinata standing outside the hokage's office
looking dumbstruck.
3 days later Hinata was walking to Naruto's old training ground when she saw
a massive fist made of fire spiralling straight towards her. Leting out a
frightened scream Hinata covered her head with her hands and croutched low.
"." She heard a voice say, and then she felt a rush of wind. Looking up
she saw the man from the other day standing in the flaming fists path.
"Wait get down!!" Hinata cried out as she watched the fire get closer and
closer to the man. But to Hinata's astonishment the man did not move.
Instead he unclipped his face guard and let it fall to the ground. Then
opening his mouth he began to suck in the fire. As he inhaled the fire was
sucked into his mouth. Then closing his jaw with a snap the man swallowed the
fire. Opening his mouth a little Hinata thought she saw a thin line of smoke
rise out of his mouth. Reaching down the man went to retrieve his mask when
suddenly he fell over.
Letting out another startled scream Hinata crawled away a few paces. Then
standing shakily to her feat she approached the unconscious man. Bending down
Hinata reached into her backpack and retrieved a large canteen full of water.
Moving more steadily towards the man, Hinata reached over and rolled him over.
Startled felt her knees weaken as her breath started to come faster.
'Naruto!' Hinata thought as she noticed the whisker like scars on the
man's cheeks. As she stared her vision began to get blurry and her knees
gave out. Right before Hinata's head hit the ground she thought 'He's
back. He's finally back.' Then fainted.
Naruto awoke with a start as he heard a thump beside his head. Sitting up he
looked over and saw Hinata laying sprawled out beside himself. 'Great she
fainted again. You'd think that she'd stop doing that sooner or later but
I guess not.' Naruto thought as he got up and quickly checked himself over.
'Clothes…check. Head protector…check. Face mask…' Naruto thought as
he did a physical inventory of himself. But when he reached up to see if his
face mask was secure, Naruto remembered. ' she saw me!! She'll know who
I am.' Naruto thought desperately as he reached down and retrieved his mask.
Placing it back over his face Naruto sat down on the grass beside Hinata.
"Hinata. Hinata!" Naruto said gently trying to shake Hinata awake. "Are you
ok, Hinata?"
Waking with a start, Hinata looked up and saw the stranger's face looming
over hers. 'That's right the stranger….NARTUO!!' Hinata thought as she
sat bolt upright. Then reaching over she wrapped her arms around Naruto's
neck. ""Naruto!" Hinata cried happily as she squeezed Naruto's neck.
'.' Naruto thought as she held him close. Hinata are you feeling
alright.?" Naruto asked as he removed his face mask.
Stifling a laugh Hinata replied. "Yeah I'm fine" before taking in her
surroundings.
"Good. I don't need you fainting on me again…so don't …get to
…excited. Naruto wheezed. Then coughing Naruto coughed up some ashes.
Staring down Naruto felt his leads give way. ' shouldn't have eaten
it.' Naruto thought as his eyes closed and he passed out.
Startled Hinata held Naruto up and examined him. 'He looks like he's in
pretty bad shape.' She thought she stared at the burns that lined the edges
of Naruto's mouth. Thinking for a moment on what to do, she then decided to
take him back to her house on the edge of the woods a little way away. Getting
to her feet Hinata reached down and tried to haul Naruto up into a standing
position. But to her astonishment, she couldn't. It was harder than she
thought because the muscle added a lot to Naruto's weight. Giving up Hinata
grabbed both of Naruto's legs and half dragged him to her house. Opening the
door she pulled him into her spare room. Then using all of her strength,
Hinata managed to lift Naruto enough to get him safely into the bed. Totally
exhausted Hinata staggered out of the room. Opening the door to her own room,
Hinata fell into her own bed. Within seconds she was fast asleep.
16 hours later
"Ouch!" Naruto groaned as he shifted his body. This was the fifth time in
the past 2 minutes. Hinata knew, as she had been watching him for the past 6
hours.
"Hey Hinata!!" a voice shrieked from outside the house "Oh no.." Hinata said
quietly as the door to her house opened. It was Hanabi. "Hello sister."
Hanabi said happily as she entered into the spare bedroom where Hinata was.
Taking one look Hinabi burst out with a startled cry.
"Hinata! Why do you have a man in you house, laying in one of your beds?"
Hanabi shrieked as she darted into the room.Then turning after getting a good
look at him her sister said puzzled. "He looks familiar??"
"That's because he is. But I know that's not the reason you came to see
me." Hinata said quickly trying to draw her sisters attention away from
Naruto.
"Oh right." Stepping back outside the room Hanabi called. "Hey you can
come in the room now."
Turning Hinata was surprise to see that there was a moody little boy walk in
and stand beside her. The boy himself was very intriguing. Every visible body
part was bandaged so that no skin was exposed.
"Ok so who's the kid. He your new boy friend or something??" Hinata asked
curiously.
"What?? NO!" Hinabi replied quickly blushing a little.
"Well then what do you want??" Hinata asked annoyed.
"Tsunade-sama wants you to look after this boy but never touch his skin"
Hinabi replied loudly
"Why cant he tell me all this?" Hinata protested. Then above the boy's head,
words written in flames appeared. They read. 'i do not speak'''
"He can only communicate in small phrases made of fire" Hinabi replied
stiffly.
"Ok so what's his name?" Hinata questioned curiously. She had never heard
of any boy like this in Konoha and now her general curiosity had been spiked.
"No one knows…not even him. But everyone calls him the secret keeper."
Hanabi explained
"Why? " Hinata asked still curious.
Sighing Hanabi replied. "Because no matter what if you tell him a secret he
won't reveal it to anyone"
"Ok, so why is he all bandaged up?" Hinata asked. Something that looked like
a smile crossed the boys face but only for a brief moment. Motioning for
Hinata to come out side the boy left the room. Deciding that she wanted to
know. Hinata left Hinabi in charge of Naruto while she headed out of the room.
Walking outside the house Hinata found the boy had removed the bandages around
his hand.. the boy removed the bandages from one hand. Reaching out the boy
placed his hand on a tree. All at once the tree burst in to a crackling red
fire. Soon the tree was nothing more then a smouldering pile of ashes.
"Ok that was creepy." Hinata said as she stared shocked at the little boy.
Above his head in flaming letters another message appeared. '''I
know.'
Reaching down the boy began to re roll the the bandages around his hand once
again. Once he was finished. He reached over and gently gripped another
smaller tree. When he let go Hinata was surprised to see that there were
scorch marks in the shape of a hand. Looking up the boy smiled sadly and
returned to the house. Shocked, all Hinata could do was follow him back
inside.
i wont take credit for this this was based on my story but credit for this goes to Dragoon-tyjet who helped me by writing this rewrite