It was beautiful night in Konoha, lights shone bright and above them stars covered every inch of black sky. Moon was nearly invisible due to its leanness. Streets were crowded with people dressed in their finest clothings. This was one very important day for all of them. New Hokage has been elected and this meant that the night would be a long one. Long and full of happiness.
Only one man wasn't quite happy. And that person was no one else than Naruto Uzumaki the war hero. He was sitting at Ichirakus with bored Shikamaru Nara. Shikamaru wasn't only bored with the party which was taking place all around them but mainly with loud friend of his.
'Don't you think that it could and should be me?' Naruto asked while eating another bowl of ramen. 'I mean I am the hero, am I not, dattebayo'
'Naruto it's only a matter of time when you get to get your own face carved on this mountain so be patient for once in your life' Nara looked to the stars. He was liked the sky in the day more because of clouds on which he could stare for hours, but even he couldn't not appreciate the view. 'And aren't you happy for your sensei?'
'Of course I am!' Came the answer, too quick and too loud again. 'But I just wish it was time for me, you know. I've been waiting for this my entire life for gods sake' and the bowl was empty. This was his fourth and at least he felt full. 'Now lets go to our friends. I can tell that you don't want to sit there alone with me for any longer' Naruto laughed. They were planning to meet others at barbecue place but Naruto needed to eat ramen earlier. When two shinobis got to their destination all of the others were there talking and laughing. Everybody but two. First one was Sasuke Uchicha who all knew was somewhere far away from the village, and the other one was Hinata Hyƫga.
'Where is Hinata?' Immediately asked Naruto. He became more protective of her after the war.
'She said she'll be late' Kiba said while playing with Akamaru.
'But you didn't, you little brat' Sakura pointed a finger at the blonde with accusations. 'What stopped you two?'
'Ahhh... Sakura-chan...' Naruto hesitated with the answer because he already knew how she would react. 'We went to Ichirakus' he let the breath out. Sakura looked at him disapprovingly but said nothing to Narutos surprise.
Hinata was standing by one of the newest tombstones in the cemetery. She has already put flowers on it and cleaned the area around it.
'Today's the day that Kakashi-sensei became our new Hokage, you know' she whispered. Her old habit of stuttering was gone, has been since the war ended. 'Everybody's meeting tonight too. And everything looks pretty good' she stopped talking for a while and then added 'But we all miss you Neji. Hana is still crying at nights and she thinks I don't hear her. And I pretend not to, although as you know we have very thin walls at the compound. I wish she would come to me, but she tries to be more and more like father and showing tears to anybody is not what father would do' she smiled sadly. 'I must be going for now but I'll be here the day after tomorrow to add some new flowers. Maybe there will be sunflowers this time' Hinata looked for the last time at the name on the grave and left.
Unlike Shikamaru Hinata liked nights better than days. She fell in love with that nights view. Everything was so warm and welcoming. That's what she loved most about Hidden Leaf Village. She cared for every person in it. There was no other place on earth where she felt this way - this was her home, her safe place. Well maybe not so safe remembering the invasion of Pain but still - home. That might be strange because in her clans compound she didn't feel that way. It's like behind these walls was an iceberg. Even more so after Neji died. Even her father felt it but no one could do anything about it so they just let it be.
Hinata walked slowly, enjoying the atmosphere, when someone nearly turned her over. It was someone she did not expect to see. Sasuke Uchicha came back. She smiled at him.
'Hello' he looked at her suprised. 'I bet you don't remember me. Hinata' she introduced herself.
'I do remember you. I'm just surprised you said anything to me' he said bluntly.
'Oh' she was surprised. Sasuke was well known person in all shinobis world because his past and the war but she wasn't. She didn't remember talking to him even once in her life. 'While you're in town maybe you would like to come meet with Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan and the others at the barbecue restaurant. I'm actually going there now' lack of stuttering wasn't the only one thing that has changed in her. Over past few months she grew more confident with herself. Sasuke eyed her for few seconds.
'Thanks I might meet you there but I need to do something first' with that he was gone and Hinata walked him away with her eyes. Then she walked the other way to the restaurant.
Sake has already been working its 'miracles' on the friends sitting at the table. Rock Lee was the only one not drinking because he knew what effects alcohol has on him. And because he was the only sober person at the table he saw Hinata first. When he told everybody she was there the crowd became even more loud with happy greetings. Naruto hugged her in welcome (he didn't know the boundaries sober so drunk he was even worse). Hinatas cheeks blushed a little. What didn't change was her feelings towards the boy. Or maybe they have changed but didn't disappear completely.
'Hina what took you so long?' He asked her while sitting back on.
'I needed to do something first' talking about visiting graves wasn't what kept the party going so she decided not to. 'I've met someone on the way here and invited him so we might have another person at the table' she didn't want to get Sasukes former team members hopes up so she also didn't tell who was that someone. And as expected nobody asked any questions. Only Shikamaru had questioning face but not five seconds after he decided that he didn't really care.
And so the meeting was going. Hinata drank a little but wasn't drunk when after nearly two hours black figure came to their table.
'Oh so you made it' she said smiling kindly
'Hn' was his answer. Now everybody at the table was looking at the newcomer with surprise. Even Naruto was speechless for a second. That made Hinata giggle a bit.
'Sa-Sasuke?' He said at last 'You're back at the village? Come sit with us' he turned his drunk head to sill amused Sakura 'what a surprise huh?!' Hinata could tell he was happy, Sakura was too even more than Naruto to be honest.
'How did you know we were here?' She asked finally
'Hinata invited me when I bumped into her on my way to Kakashi' he answered simply taking a sip of sake. I'll need it. He fought. Maybe coming here wasn't such a great idea after all. Everybody but Naruto, Sakura, Hinata and this guy Sai were so amused to see him that theirs jaws might as well be on the flor. 'Than you by the way' he said to the girl sitting next to Aburame and Inuzuka guys. In reply she only smiled politely.
'How long are you staying in Konoha hm?' Naruto asked.
'I don't know. Till I get bored I think'
'Bored?!' Naruto laughed 'If everybody left as soon as they get bored then Shikamaru wuolud leave when he was four' Nara only shook his had not wanting to argue with drunk Naruto. 'So maybe you could help rebuilding village. We've been doing it since the war but there is still plenty to do' and so everybody talked first about things to be done with the village and after that even Sasuke was drunk and fun was back.
That night was really long for everybody. Long and mostly happy.
Okay so this is my very first story ever to be published in English.
I'd really love to hear what you think about it and if I should write another chapters.
Constructive criticism is always helpful and I'm only starting so I could use some tips.
I hope you enjoyed reading it
xo
