Chp. 2 Setting the Goal

Hinata walked through the village confused, dazed, and had forgotten all sense of direction. Her personality was all out of place because of being so close to Naruto without fainting!! She was bumping and knocking into people, they all taunted and insulted, but she didn't notice. Nothing seemed to be the same to Hinata, but of course all she was thinking about was Naruto. Then all of a sudden a flashy sign caught her eye.

The sign read, "Ms. Shana's Fruit Basket!"

(A/N I got the store name from my friend daydreamer428, if you look at her story you'll find it!)

She stopped walking and swayed over closer to the stand. In front of the shop a woman with many shopping bags in her hands looked tuckered-out, the woman behind the counter must have been Shana.

"Please I insist! Uh… buy 1 get 2 free?" Shana suggested

"No…I really have to go…" She said and pointed away from the store. Shana looked around furiously, "Uh… I'll give you a FREE watermelon!!!"

"I'm sorr-"

"Banana?!?"

"No than-"

"Pear?!?"

"Pleas-"

"Strawberry?!?"

The woman sighed. Shana was out of breath because every fruit she suggested she would pick the giant basket that held them, "Pineapple?!?" Hinata's mouth was open trying to soak in the situation.

"Cherries... Blue berries... Black berries?" The woman gave up trying to argue she turned to leave but Shana practically jumped over the counter, "NO! Don't leave! Orange?! Apple?!" The woman faced Shana again.

"LOOK!!! A FRUIT BANDIT IS STEALING YOUR FRUIT!!!" She yelled, pointed, and as soon as Shana swirled around asking, "Where?! Where?!" she bolted down the street out of view. Shana snickered and circled back to face the woman.

"Don't worry no one is stealing the fruit that you are going to buy!" She uttered with a fake grin on.

"…" she noticed the woman was gone and then realized Hinata standing there waiting perhaps, "uh…… another satisfied customer!! Ehehehe… May I help you find a particular fruit?" Hinata smiled sweetly and er… bobbled her head.

"…I'll take that as a yes…"

Neji was walking down the street hoping to find hair bands for his ponytail (A/N I couldn't think of any reason for him to be there!! ) but instead he saw Hinata at the stand. For some strange unknown reason he decided to see what she was doing. Every time Shana would point to a fruit Hinata would nod. The basket was getting full… Neji spotted the humungous bag of fruit

"Hinata what are you doing?" She rotated to face him, "HEY! Neji!" she wrapped him in a hug, "I'm so so so overjoyed to see you!!!" He didn't know how to react, "Overjoyed? Hugging? Is this… family-love??" he pondered but quickly pulled out of her iron grip.

"That comes to a total of..." She punched some keys on the cash register, "¥1,000,000!!" (A/N that equals $8600!! I did the math so it would make more sense to you guys! ) Neji's jaw dropped to the floor. Hinata got energized and searched her pocket. Neji looked at her in disbelief. Shana beamed for real this time because this was the biggest sale of her life!!

Even though Hinata and himself haven't formed much of a bond, since he hated her for so long, he just HAD to get her out of this!!

He looked over his options and thought of a lie, "Hinata!! You're supposed to be at the hospital!" Hinata, having no sense at all, really thought she was needed at the hospital!

"Oh my! I forgot!" Shana's toothy grin faded, "Huh?" Neji pretended to look concerned for his relative, "Oh yes, we'll go," He turned his attention to Shana, "She's a little," He rolled his finger around his ear, "You know." Shana had a weird expression on her face

"……" He continued to roll his finger in a circle round his ear. Then it clicked, "Oooohhhh! You mean… oh ok!" She looked at her mentally challenged customer well what Shana thought she was and then drifted her gaze toward the biggest sale of her life, "Uh… So are you going to buy or what?" Neji carelessly rolled his eyes, she hadn't got it. But Hinata grinned sweetly and began reaching into her pocket.

"NNNOOO!!!" Neji yelled randomly. Hinata and Shana paused and stared at him. "Uh… She's……… allergic, Yeah! She's allergic to most- no, ALL of it!" She could see her biggest sale flying away, "Maybe you could buy some fruit!! Cause frankly, I think I deserve a sale going through all that for nothing! I mean I've wasted my time when I could be tending to other valuable customers!" They all looked around, no one was by the large stand, and an awkward silence followed.

"…"

"…"

"Uh…" Shana searched for any awaiting customers, none appeared, "……s…See! I wasted ALL my time for nothing they saw I was busy with a GIANT sale, and left!" Neji looked around and noticed everybody was avoiding the store unstead, "That's not all the reas-" He stopped himself, "If I say anything to anger this persistent salesperson I'm going to end up paying ¥1,000,000 just to get Hinata out of this tangle!!" His inner self scolded him.

"Uh, never mind… I'll pull out what she can't eat…" Neji reassured. Hinata tapped her foot, "The Hospital IS waiting for me!! Buy it and let's go!" Neji was really getting annoyed now. He threw apples and pineapples, black berries, bananas, watermelons and oranges, etc. Until he had narrowed it down to blue berries, a few strawberries, a pear, and a couple cherries.

"That comes to a total of…" she typed something on the cash register, "¥180." (A/N that's only $1.53!! Cool huh?) He reached into his wallet and pulled out ¥200

"Keep the freak'n change!" He almost yelled as he slammed the money on the counter. Shana smiled and waved, "Thanks, come again! Tell your friends! Remember, you'll never go home without anything!! Please, come again!! I'll still be here! Tell your friends!I like fruit lots of fruit!! Come again! FRUIT!! Hahaha!!" She kept going and going but her voice got blurry as they walked farther away.

"The hospital?!" Hinata said with glee.

Neji stared at her with shock, "What is WRONG with you?" She looked at him with the expression what-are-you-talking-about?

"She's quiet and never talks in complete sentences without stuttering…" His inner self informed. They passed the Ichiraku Ramen Bar, and Hinata remembered Naruto! She pulled out a blue berry, plopped it in her mouth and asked, "So…What do you think of Naruto and me?" Neji's glare turned into a confused puppy look, "You mean…… Maybe the hospital is an option…"

"No… I mean seriously… Would we look cute together?" Neji has no sense of love and simply answered (A/N I know this because he hasn't noticed all the signs that TenTen loves him!)

"Don't ask me, affection only slows a ninja down…" Hinata was slowly getting her sense back, "Why did I ask Neji, NEJI of all people!! He's the most love-less guy I know!!" her inner self yelled which rattled her head. She sighed, noticed Ino and Sakura arguing, and decided to go ask them.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!" Hinata looked back and forth from Sakura to Ino finally one of them noticed she was standing there.

"Get out of the way forehead girl!!," Ino pushed Sakura away, "Welcome to Yamanaka flower shop!" Ino greeted her but realized it was Hinata.

"Hinata, oh hi…" Sakura pushed Ino out of the way, "Hi Hinata!" Ino stepped in front of Sakura.

"Do you want to buy a flower?" Hinata smiled, "I'm sorry, I won't be buying anything today, I just wanted to ask you two a question."

"Ok, what is- WAIT A SECOND!!!! Both of them started backing away, "Did she just… talk without STUDDERING?!?!" Ino exclaimed. Sakura twitched, "IMPOSTER!!!" Hinata shook her head, "No…no… I'm not feeling like myself…" She grinned nicely, "It's terrible." Hinata said that nothing like the words would usually be said! The two girls still stayed on their toes.

"What's your q…question…??" Sakura said with fear in her voice.

"Well…do you think Naruto and I would be a good couple?" Hinata asked with ease. Sakura fell on her face. Ino stared at her in disbelief, "Your not feeling right for real are you?" Hinata beamed, "Nope!" Sakura regained balance, "Well now that you mention it, yea… you two would be really cute together!!" Ino put a finger to her chin and concluded, "Oh my God! You would!" Hinata started to blush. The real Hinata is coming back!

Later that night Hinata was laying in bed thinking about what Sakura and Ino had said.

"Was it true…would it be a good idea?" Hinata thought about this until she finally drifted to sleep.

Very early in the morning she had her mind set out, "I will ask Naruto today!!" her inner self kept telling her. At breakfast Neji kept eyeing her, "Are you… yourself again…?" Hinata nodded. He sighed in relief. Hinata ran off to go find Naruto. She was running to Ichiraku Ramen Bar, but Shino stopped her.

"We're meeting in the same spot today, you coming?" Hinata sighed, "…yes…" Of course Shino is just like Neji and wouldn't realize a love-longing person if it smacked him in the face! They were walking on the path when Kiba came up behind them, "Hey guys!" They turned and saw Akamaru running normally again and a giant evil grin across Kiba's face.

"So…Hinata, how is Naruto these days?" She turned bright red.

"Did you see him yesterday?" Hinata kept walking forward. "Maybe being carried…?" Shino saw a bee fly by and ran after it.

"I…I have… n…no idea, what you're talking… about" Kiba nudged her shoulder and laughed, "Sure you didn't" Hinata was getting really mad now.

"I saw him carry you out, I bet you LIKED it too!!" They were now in the training ground. "…lets f…fight…each other for p…practice today…" Hinata stuttered obviously like she meant to. Kiba chuckled, "Like she could hurt us!!" Akamaru barked in agreement. Shino was looking at his bee but agreed.

After a while the boys were slowing down. Hinata was fighting efficiently and was untouched by both of them! And Akamaru! Undoubtedly she laid a punch on Shino.

"WHAACCKKK!!!!" He went flying back, his bugs caught him, but the impact was still hard, "Why are you so mad?" Shino said simply. (A/N I told you he wouldn't see a love-longing person if it smacked him in the face!!) In no time Kiba and Akamaru were on the ground struggling to get up.

"Guess trainings over!!" Hinata said with a smile.

"uuhhhggg" the boys groaned and Akamaru whined, "rrugghhh" Hinata stomped off in a huff once she reached the villa she remembered her goal, Naruto! She looked around and saw him…cleaning out the 1st Hokage's nose… She jumped up in the air going from roof to roof to go talk to him. As she approached she noticed Tsuade. She was yelling from below the statues, "DON'T COME DOWN UNTIL YOU SCRUB ALL THE FACES!!!!" and Naruto was yelling back, "All I said was Granny!!" Tsuade infuriated.

"I'M BREAKING THE HABIT!!!!" Tsuade yelled wildly and dead marched inside. Hinata stopped on a nearby roof and sat down.

"Naruto-kun probably won't want me to ask him…while he's under punishment" she thought.

"I HAVE SOMETHING VERY VERY IMPORTANT TO DO TODAY!!!!" Naruto hollered even though Tsuade had gone inside…nevertheless she heard him, "I DON'T CARREEE!!!!" she shouted and the swing he was using to sit on while he cleaned, blew by the force of her voice.

Hinata sighed and waited…and waited and waited before she knew it she was asleep……-+-+-+-+-+…

-+-+-+-+-+-+--+-+-+-+-+-+--+-+-+-+-+-+--+-+-+-+-+-+-

"Noo!! Don't!!" Kiba yelled

"MUAHAHAHA!" Hinata laughed with doom in her voice.

"I'm sorry!! I'll never make fun of you and Naruto!!"

"Ever?" Hinata asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"Never, Ever, EVER!" Kiba whimpered on his knees, his hands together praying for forgiveness.

-+-+-+-+ …"Hinata…" -+-+-+-+… "Hinata…" -+-+-+-+

"Wha?? Huh?" She opened her eyes and saw Naruto above her, she gasped. Naruto sat beside her, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "It…was a…dream" she muttered under her breath. "What were you doing up here?" Hinata didn't know what to say, "Uh…well…" Naruto grinned.

"It's alright; you don't have to answer that." She sighed in relief. They both gazed at the setting sun, a beautiful mix of pink melting down into a peaceful lavender then it fused into a mighty red. If you looked closely you could see a streak of blue lining the bottom. Hinata was awed by the attractiveness of the sunset.

"I'm hungry, are you?" Hinata nearly jumped at the sudden comment, but nodded. "Alrighty then! Let's go to Ichiraku Ramen Bar!!" Hinata pondered this a moment, "it's not a date…but it'll do." Her inner self told her. They started making there way toward the bar; quickly they landed in front of it.

"Ladies first" Naruto had pulled back the curtain and gestured her to go in. Hinata blushed, "O..ok" They ordered their ramen and Naruto tried to strike up a conversation…

"I saw Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino today they seemed pretty beat up…" Hinata stared at the wall, "Uh… we just were practicing this morning." He smiled, "Overdoing it huh?" His grin grew larger remembering the night before, "Only a super-ninja like me can handle a lot of training huh? Right?" She giggled quietly. The ramen girl sat their bowls in front of them.

"Enjoy!" Naruto grabbed a pair of chopsticks, "We will! Oh boy!" Hinata smiled at the girl, "Thanks" she uttered. Naruto quickly pulled apart the chopsticks and started slurping down the steamy noodles. Hinata followed suit but not as fast.

"So how's your family?" Naruto asked trying to get her to talk. Hianta was amazed, she was sure Naruto never talked before his ramen was done. She looked at his bowl… NOPE, his bowl was empty!

"Huaah.." she sighed. Naruto frowned, "They're not ok?!?"

"N...no we're fine."

"That's good!" He stretched his hands behind his head with his elbows sticking outward. "Well… I guess I'll call it a day! Goodnight Hianta-chan!" He spoke as he stood up to leave. Hinata smiled, "Goodnight, Naruto-kun" she muttered softly under her breath, the blush ruse up her neck and across her face. She was flushed the whole way home, avoiding Ms. Shana's Fruit Basket, and eventually got into bed. Of course… she couldn't sleep because of the little nap she had…

(A/N OMG!! I finished! Finally! I hope you all enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Ok if you're a little confused, that's good! Because in the next chapter flashbacks from what Naruto was doing while Neji was taking Hinata home from the fruit stand…It's going to be awesome!!! It'll explain all-no most of it… also the little -+-+-+-+ thing was because i couldn't think of anyway to show it was dream! Lol Throughout typing this whole chapter I was listening to Go!! One of Naruto theme songs, over and over! I have it in my head!

We are fighting dreamers……

Oli Oli Olioo Just in way/Right here right now!

BAM!Lol! It might take the next chapter a while, I have school, BORING!! and I'll have to sneak on behind my mom's back!!)