The Beginning of the End

A/N: This is my first Naruto Fanfic – Reviews are most welcome. I hope that I am able to keep in character. This story starts after Manga Chapter 405. Thanks!

Chapter One

It was early afternoon, just after Master Jiraiya'a funeral, Hinanta found herself watching Naruto walk slowly toward the direction of his apartment with his head down. Hinanta felt such pain at the sight of the one she loved that she could not stand it any longer. She always hated when she saw how lonely and hurt Naruto was. Growing up she wanted to be with him and show him that she cared but she was too damn shy. She understood what it was like to grow up without parents but she had always had her sister until her father kicked out. She knows that it was different for Naruto because he never had any parents but to her Hiashi did not count as a father. She has lived alone since she started training under Kurenai Sensei. She wanted to do something to make Naruto not as lonely so she made a decision and quickly left to fulfill her plan.

--

Naruto had just sat down at his table; it and two chairs were the only furniture he had except for his bed. He still could not believe that the pervert senin was gone. Over the last two years Jiraiya had become a father that he had never known. There was a knock at the door and Naruto got up to answer it grumbling.

"Oh, hi Hinata." Naruto said after he opened the door.



"H..hi N..n..naruto" Hinanta stuttered and held up a paper bag, "I thought t..t..that you might w..want some l..lunch."

"That would be great!" Naruto replied trying to be his upbeat self. He grabbed her free hand and pulled her in while closing the door with his foot. He then led her to the table and went to grab bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen. "Hinata, I hope you were planning to and I would love it if you stayed and ate with me." He said with a grin.

Hinata blushed at that and all she could do was nod her head yes. She looked around Naruto's place and could see how messy it was. She could understand though since he has not been home very much since he came back with Master Jiraiya. Naruto came back to the table and she dished out the Ramen she brought from his favorite place, Ichiraku Ramen Shop. Naruto grinned and said, "You are great, Hinata!"

Blushing extremely red she thought, Don't pass out! Don't pass out! and then just managed a small smile. They talked while they ate which was hard for her since this was the first time that Hinata had ever been able to carry on a conversation with Naruto.

"Hinata, can I ask you a question?"

"S..s..sure Naruto." She replied.

"I am surprised that you came over but I am grateful. I was just wondering why you have always been so nice to me. If I think about it, you have been the only one that was nice to me besides Iruka. Don't take me wrong, I was just wondering."

Hinata was speechless; she did not know what to say. She just looked down into her bowl blushing again. Naruto knew that she would not give an answer easy because how shy she was with him so he just answered for her.

"I think I know why and I am glad for it. While I was with the pervert senin I missed Konoha a lot. I missed Iruka, Kakashi, Sakura and all of my other friends but I can tell you that I actually 

missed you the most. I had time to think and I realized that you cared for me more than I knew before I left. Tonight just shows me more how much more you care. Thank you, this means more to me than you could ever know."

Hinata did not know what to say, she was so shocked about what he said that her mind was completely blank. Should she say what she wanted to; that she loved him and did not want to live without him? "Naruto, I…" She froze; she could not get it out.

Naruto only grinned at her cute shyness and could not believe what he has been missing in his life. He once had thought that he loved Sakura but realized that she loves Sasuke and never showed any interest toward him. Through his travels and training his feelings toward Sakura turned more into sisterly love and he began to think about Hinata. He did not know her very well because of how shy she is but he knew that he loved her strength and that she had told him that she had faith in him right before the Chunin Finals. With the death of his friend and mentor plus the knowledge of how precious time was he knew he had to tell Hinata how he felt. He had an inkling of what she felt for him so he was not too worried.

"I love you Hinata." He said nervously because it has always been hard for him to admit his feelings to anyone.

That was the last straw; with that she fainted.

--

Hinata woke up about 30 minutes later in Naruto's bed. What happened, she thought.

"Good, you are awake!" Exclaimed Naruto as he came into the room. She was on her back when Naruto came over and sat down next to her. She turned to face him blushing. "Do you remember what happened when you fainted, Hinata?" He asked.

She could only nod yes to his question. She did not know what to say. She loved him too but this was shocking that he felt the same way. Naruto put a hand to her check and just smiled at her. He knew that she needed to collect her thoughts but his touch was not helping. She pressed into his hand to show that it felt nice. He took this as a good sign and stretched out next to her. They were inches from each other looking into each other's eyes. Naruto could stay like that forever just staring at her beautiful face. After a few seconds he noticed a change in her eyes that he had never seen and before he knew it Hinata had kissed him. Shocked at first he then started to respond and deepened the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and it felt so good to hold her. He liked the feel of her a lot. He started to understand why Jiraiya would leave him alone in their room while he went and did his "research".

She pulled away after what seemed like heaven because she could not catch her breath. It was better than she had dreamed about. She sat there staring at him, blushing.

"I l..love you too." She said very softly but it was loud enough for Naruto to hear it and he just grinned.

"How are you feeling, Hinata? Would you like to go for a walk?" He asked.

"I feel fine. Sure, I would l..love to."

Together they left his place and took a walk around the village holding hands. They talked for hours just wondering around and when the sun started to set they made their way back to eat dinner. Of course at Naruto's place there was only instant ramen but Hinata did not mind, she would not be anywhere else right now. After they finished eating Naruto asked, "I hope you don't have to leave. I want to talk to you more."

"I don't have anywhere I need to be." She answered. Throughout the afternoon she had stopped stuttering because she becoming comfortable with Naruto and knew now that he loved her so her shyness was under control, mostly.



"I want to tell you a few things that you should know if we are going to be together."

At this he looked really serious so Hinata knew that this had to be important. "Ok, only if you want to."

"The reason the village has always hated me is because the nine-tailed demon was sealed inside of me when I was born by the Forth Hokage. That was the way to stop it and save the village and that is why the Akatsuki are after me. They want the fox to take its power." Naruto finished concerned that she might hate him now because of what he was.

Hinata looked deeply into his eyes tearing up. This was it, he knew, she was going to leave and not speak to him again.

"I had no idea that was why. It is not fair though, it is not your fault that the demon fox is in you."

"So, you, um, don't hate me now?" He said in a weary voice.

"Never." With that she got up and being bold sat down in his lap and put her arms around his neck. "I will always l..love you, Naruto."

Naruto kissed her long and hard but it was him this time that broke away. He was tired and everything of the whole day was still hard to comprehend. He was said but very happy too. He just wanted to lie down and get some sleep. "I am sorry Hinata but I am kind of tired and want to get some sleep but I don't want to say goodnight."

"Me neither. I c..could s..stay." She said quietly.



With this they crawled onto the bed and held each other kissing. They both knew that it was too soon for anything to happen so stopped after awhile and fell asleep in each other's arms.

A/N: Please review. More to come soon!