Hinata seemed lost in the dusty Leaf Village road. She looked uncomfortable, enduring the heat trapped in an oversize hoodie. But the true reason for her uneasiness stemmed from the possibility she could run into Naruto at any time. Seeing him meant she had to decide how to act, and no matter how she ended up reacting, she knew she would berate herself later. In the end, seeing him amounted to too much stress. How could she possibly be expected to decide what to do almost instantaneously? Sure, he made her feel a happiness she could feel all over, but –

Consumed in thought and worry, she collided with another.

"HEY, watch it!" Cried an irritated voice. "Oh, sorry Hinata." Sakura brushed off her knees and stood up. "I was in a rush to get to today's training, and-"

While her peer babbled on, an idea formed in Hinata's mind. It was an abnormal thought for her, but something urged her to pursue it. She just needed to get rid of Saukra. It was risky, but worth a shot.

"Umm…S-Sakura? K-Kakashi-sensei told me to tell you to meet him at the village gate instead for today's training."

"Oh, no! That's all the way on the other side of town! Thanks for telling me, Hinata!"

She sprinted down the street and out of sight. Hinata watched her until she was gone. She buzzed with an unfamiliar energy. Confidently, she turned back the way Sakura had originally been going.

At the training grounds a short while later, Hinata peered through the bushes. She could see the dark outline of Sasuke. But where was Naruto? How could she –

"Hinata?"

"Eep!" she squeaked, in response to the voice from beside her. Blushing, she turned.

"K-K-Kakashi-Sensei."

"Why aren't you training with Kurenai? And why are you hiding?" he whispered, amused. He crouched down beside her, looking comically out of place.

"Uhhh...I'm waiting for Naruto!" Not a lie. "I have...something to give him." Also not a lie.

"Hmmm, it is not unlike Naruto to be late. But not Sakura. Maybe I should go look for her?" He posed his last sentence as a question, taking part in her little game that he didn't understand.

"I saw her by the village gates!" she blurted out.

"Thank you," he smiled. "I'll check there first."

He vanished almost instantly, and, considering this normal, she returned her attention to her plan. Still no sign of Naruto. She sighed. This plan would never work. It was hopeless. She would never be able to kiss Naruto, even if she posed as someone else.

Then, she heard the thump of throwing knives hitting wood and remembered the ninja who was there.

Maybe Sasuke knows where he is, she wondered. Quietly she whispered a phrase and emerged from the foliage as Sakura.

"Um….Sasuke-k-kun?" She asked tentatively. It was a little out of character, she realized, but it was all the self-assurance she could muster.

"Sakura." His back was to her. "...I have something I've been meaning to tell you. For a while. "

"Actually, Sasuke-kun…" She started. The last thing she needed was to hear something meant for Sakura's ears. The last thing she wanted was to be caught.

He turned to face her. "I love you."

"S-Sasuke-kun." The words felt warm, even though they weren't directed at her. "but-"

Before she knew it, they were inches apart. He tilted her head up and kissed her on the lips.

Passion struck Hinata like a tidal wave. She closed her eyes and it enveloped her thoughts. She forgot about her plan. She even forgot about maintaining her jutsu. She transformed back into herself, but it barely registered in her overwhelmed mind.

She wrapped her arms around him and enjoyed his closeness. So this is what it feels like, she thought, when someone is in love with you. She moved one of her hands to the back of his head, felt his long, soft hair, and then remembered who she was kissing.

Shock, terror, horror, disgust. All of the sudden she couldn't bear to be kissing this boy who was not Naruto for another second. She began to break away, then felt the familiar weight of bangs on her forehead. She was Hinata again, thought she didn't even remember changing back. But there was no way she could change back without Sasuke noticing. It was amazing that he didn't detect her change the first time; there was no way she would risk that again.

Carefully, she opened her eyes. His were still closed, overcome by this abnormally long kiss. There was no telling when he could look. She had to think fast.

Suddenly, she heard voices, and acted instinctively.

BAM! Gracefully she smacked him in the head with the heel of her palm. She was gone before he landed on the ground.

"So you're saying we don't know where Sasuke is?" Sakura whined. She and Kakashi were walking down the path toward the training grounds.

"I can't find Naruto either," he reminded her.

"Yeah yeah, but where could Sasuke be? It isn't like him to be late! What if he's sick? What if he got tied up in the middle of the -"

A loud noise interrupted her rambling. It sounded like a slap, only more painful and coma inducing.

"OH MY GOD, SASUKE!" she screamed, running like a maniac toward the source of the noise. Only Kakashi, walking at a leisurely stroll, noticed the blue streak sprinting in the opposite direction.

When he reached the clearing, Sakura was pacing anxiously. He gestured to the boy unconscious on the ground, a welt growing on his forehead.

She sighed, "Oh, it's just Naruto. He probably ran into a tree or something."

He groaned and sat up as if he woke from a particularly painful sleep.

"Aaaagh," He moaned, rubbing the bump he just discovered. "What happened?" But when he saw Sakura, he seemed to regain his memory and forget his pain, for he started grinning uncontrollably.

"What are you smiling about?" She snapped. He just chuckled.

"Cut that out!" she hollered, and when he started laughing, she took it personally.

"I'll clobber you!" she vowed, and punched him in the gut. He hardly seemed to care, which only increased her frustration.

Kakashi stood there, arms crossed, eyebrow raised, and watched the scene unfold. Very interesting, he mused.

Will Hinata ever find out the shocking truth? Will Naruto ever stop smiling? Where IS Sasuke? And why is Kakashi playing along with Hinata's scheme? Is there something we don't know?

...

Yes.