I DO NOT OWN NARUTO AND/OR THE CHARACTERS

Getting It Off Their Chests

Naruto: I'll be back, Sakura. I'm just gonna help these guys find their sensei, it's the least I can do for what Sasuke did.

Sakura: Okay, but I don't think that it's a good idea.

Sakura watches as Naruto leaves the village Kakashi and Yamato in hopes of making amends with the Hidden Cloud Village. A week goes by and the repairs to the Leaf Village have been going smoothly. Over at the partially destroyed Hyuuga compound, a raven-haired heiress sits in her room contemplating.

Hinata: I told him I love him but does he love me back? He hasn't said anything to me, maybe that's because he was busy saving everyone and having the whole village rejoice in his presence. He just didn't have a chance before he left.

Her deep thought was interrupted by a knock on her door.

Hinata: Come in.

In walks her father, Hiashi Hyuuga, who just got back to the village and Neji.

Hiashi: Hinata, Neji told me what you did. I'm glad to see you show courage but that wasn't the wisest thing to do. Everyone else was ordered to stay out of the way, what possessed you to do such a thing?

She seems hesitant to answer which prompts Neji to chime in.

Neji: You might as well tell him, Hinata. You've already told Naruto, this can't be any more difficult than that.

He gives her a barely noticeable smile as a confused Hiashi struggles to understand.

Hiashi: Tell me? Tell me what, Hinata?

Taking a breath and drawing as much courage as she could find, she decides to tell him.

Hinata: Father, I love Naruto Uzumaki.

Hiashi: What?

He sees the resolve in her face and knows that she's telling the truth.

Hiashi: And when did this happen, exactly?

Hinata: Ever since we were at the academy. People despised him and he had the strength to forge on despite it all, he's been a positive motivating force within my life since the day I saw him fight through his tears at the training ground as he strived to improve himself. He just wanted people to accept him, which is something I can relate to.

Hiashi: Really?

Hinata: Yes, father, I've been trying to gain your acceptance ever since I was younger.

Hiashi sits down next to his daughter and puts his arm around her shoulder.

Hiashi: I know that I can be cold and that I'm hard on you. Maybe I did it more for me, but, believe it or not, I did it for you too. I'm sorry.

He gives her a kiss on the head.

Hinata: Thank you, father.

Hiashi: So, what was his response?

Hinata: Going berserk and releasing eight of the nine tails of the Nine-tailed fox when he thought the leader of Akatsuki had killed me.

Hiashi: Released eight tails?

Hiashi looks to Neji for an explanation.

Neji: Well, it seems that when pushed far enough, the Nine-tailed fox takes over Naruto to various degrees. Each degree is signified by a tail which raises his power.

Hiashi: What about after that?

Hinata: He never had a chance to, the whole village swarmed him in appreciation then he left to help the Cloud Ninja.

Hiashi & Neji: Cloud Ninja?!

Hinata: Yes, to help them find there master.

Hiashi: And they let him leave with those treacherous dogs?

Neji: They should've sent someone with him.

Hinata: Kakashi and Yamato are with him but I don't think he needs it, not at his current level.

Hiashi: He's that powerful?

She nods.

Hiashi: Well, I hope it works out for the best. Oh, wait, it's time we had the "talk," right?

She looks at him confused.

Hinata: Father?

Hiashi: Well, you're at that age now and you're hormones are probably heightened, especially if he ever comes back. So if you're ever around him, no. I don't care what he says or how you feel, no. Not until you're married.

She smiles as he gets up to leave.

Hinata: Yes, father. To think that Naruto would have those thoughts about me.

Before leaving he turns to his daughter and catches a blush on her face.

Hiashi: Hinata?

Hinata: Yes, father?

Hiashi: At least, don't give it all away up front, make him work for it?

After her talk with her father, Hinata decides to take a walk around the village to clear her head.

Hinata: At least I was able to tell him how I feel but what if he doesn't like me? Well, he did tell me that people like me are the ones that he likes the most that day. I wish I could get an answer somehow.

At that moment, Hinata spotted Sakura walking towards her. Flashback, Ino was at the Yamanaka Flower Shop when she saw Sakura walking sadly by.

Ino: What's her deal? Hey, Sakura?

She stops as Ino catches up to her.

Ino: What's wrong, did Sasuke leave again?

Sakura: No, it's not that, well…

Ino: Well? Well, what?

Sakura: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

Ino: Try me.

Sakura: Well, it's Naruto.

Ino: What about him?

Sakura: Well, remember when he fought Pain and Hinata jumped in?

Ino: Yeah, that was wild. I wonder what made her do that when we were all ordered back.

Sakura: Well, it's because she loves him. She said that she loved him ever since the academy.

Ino: Really? Who'd have thunk it? So, why are you so sad? I thought you'd be happy for him.

She notices the look of despair on Sakura's face.

Ino: Unless, of course, you realize that you like him too and now have competition.

Sakura: Does that make me a bad friend, Ino?

Ino: Very. So, what are you planning to do about it?

Sakura: I don't know, part of me says to let them be happy, they deserve it.

Ino: And the other?

Sakura: Tells me to stake my claim to him, he hasn't responded to her so who knows what he's feeling right now?

Ino: Where is he? I haven't seen him around.

Sakura: He's helping the Cloud Ninja find there master.

Ino: Oh. So, what happened with Sasuke? Don't you still like him?

Sakura: I don't know, maybe. Aaaah, I'm so confused.

Ino: You know what our problem is?

Sakura: No?

Ino: We seek unattainable men.

Sakura: What?

Ino: We go after men that we can't have or, at least, have great difficulty with.

Sakura: What do you mean?

Ino: Boy, to be the smartest of our class, you sure don't know a whole lot. Take me, I was after Sasuke too but he never really paid me any attention except to say "Hmph." Then take Sai, I'm not entirely sure that he likes women. I mean there was this one time he accidentally touched my ass, I think it really was just an accident.

Sakura: Nah, I think he's just weird. What about me?

Ino: My situation with Sasuke was basically the same as yours so we can skip that and move on to you and Naruto. When we were younger, Naruto would've done anything for you and you treated him like crap for no real reason, to be fair, the whole village did but they hated him because of the fox inside him. Now that he's the man, your feelings are changing for him.

Sakura: Wow, am I really that shallow?

Ino: Very. But you need to figure out for yourself if you really like Naruto or what he's become.

Sakura: Hm. You know you give great advice, Ino.

Ino: It comes from probing around in so many minds.

Sakura: Thanks.

Ino: No problem.

Sakura leaves Ino and continues her walk around the village to sort out her thoughts.

Sakura: Do I really like Naruto? I mean, come to think of it, he's treated me better than anyone I've ever met outside of my parents and he's always there for me. He's certainly better boyfriend material than Sasuke ever was, at least Naruto didn't knock me out and leave me on a park bench after I confessed my love for him. What a douche.

End flashback. She continues walking through the village until she spots Hinata walking towards her. The two kunoichi stop to greet each other.

Sakura: Hello, Hinata.

Hinata: Hi, Sakura.

Sakura: Just going out for a stroll?

Hinata: Yes.

Sakura: Oh, well, same here.

Hinata: Do you want walk together?

Sakura: We might as well.

They walk together feigning friendliness but the tension could be cut with a knife.

Hinata: I forgot all about her after everything.

Sakura: That little stunt she pulled doesn't mean anything, he still hasn't told her how he feels about her.

Hinata: Maybe she still likes Sasuke.

Sakura: I have to make sure that she doesn't make any other attempts on Naruto.

Hinata: I've got to see if she likes Naruto as well but how?

As they continued to travel through the village, an idea comes to Hinata.

Hinata: Perfect. Uh, Sakura?

Sakura: Yeah, Hinata?

Hinata: Was Tsunade a good teacher?

Sakura: Yeah.

Hinata: Were you scared in the Forest of Death when we first took the Chunin exam?

Sakura: Well, yeah.

Hinata: (quickly) Do you like Naruto?

Sakura: Yeah.

Hinata: I knew it!

Sakura stops and thinks about what she just said.

Sakura: I guess I do like him.

Hinata: What the hell are you selfish or something? It's like no one here wants to see us happy?

Sakura: Us?

Hinata: That's right, Naruto and I will be together.

Sakura: Not if I have anything to say about it.

Hinata: Oh, get bent, fangirl. Naruto and I were made for each other.

Sakura: No, you weren't. You're too shy, Naruto needs someone who isn't timid.

Hinata: If by not timid you mean super bitchy then yeah, that'd be you.

Sakura: Face it, Naruto is too much man for you.

Hinata: Well, he'll never be half the man you are.

Sakura: That's all you have is jokes but you don't understand what I mean. Eventually, the two of you would have to consummate the relationship.

Hinata: So?

Sakura: Well, you know how hyper he is in public, imagine him in bed.

Hinata: Soon, I won't have to.

Sakura: Well, with all that energy, he'd probably use you up that first night. And besides medicine isn't the only the Lady Tsunade taught me, I know countless ways to please a man.

Hinata: Speaking of Tsunade, I've seen the way Naruto looks at her when he thinks no one else is looking.

Sakura: So?

Hinata unzips her jacket to show off her surprisingly well endowed breasts.

Hinata: Let's just say your milk doesn't have enough shake.