Burning Star

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Summary: Hinata is tired of being the disgrace of the clan so she sets out to change herself, to get stronger and become the top ANBU member in Konoha, losing her love for Naruto, who when he comes back realizes it's going to take some work to win her back.

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o-o-o-o-o

Chapter Two:

Hinata looked out the window, as she had done countless times before since that night, that night exactly 3 years ago. She let out a long breath; so much had changed since then, she had changed so much since then.

She looked at the sky, counting the stars that were scattered in a seemingly organized chaos. The moon was just a slit in the sky, and a warm breeze blew gently into her room. The leaves seemed to whisper as she gave a soft smile and lay down on her bed, hair cascading everywhere.

She was no longer a shy, weak little girl that was too afraid to do anything, or even speak. She could hold her own now, didn't have that stutter either. It was nice being strong and confident, to know that you were valuable to your team, that you helped make it stronger.

She wasn't obsessed with Naruto either now, she thought with a wry smile. She didn't want to do everything just for that guy and not live for herself. Instead of thinking continuously things like "I hope Naruto-kun" or "If Naruto-kun" she did things for herself and in the process of realizing who she was she had lost her crush and obsession over him.

In fact, Hinata wasn't looking for love at present. Not that she hated love or anything, she just had so many things to achieve right now that she didn't think that she'd have time for love. Even if she wasn't looking for love Hinata loved seeing love; seeing love between teens and kids on the street, the innocence of it and the beauty. It made her feel so warm inside when she thought about it.

Hinata closed her eyes and turned to her side with a sweet smile. She was Chunin now, one step closer to ANBU, and she was getting stronger everyday. She had been officially renamed Heir, much to the delight of her friends and the surprise of her family, and she was excited for the changes she would make.

To be the top member of ANBU and be the Hyuga clan leader seemed a feat close to impossible, but Hinata felt that she could accomplish it. Whenever she thought about it, she got a warm, fuzzy feeling in the pit of her stomach that made her believe that she could do this, and she would. That she was going to achieve her dreams, and do things that she had once never even dared to dream about.

Life had seemed to make a turn around, she was stronger, had been named Heir (though honestly she had stopped caring about that), and she was getting better relations with her family.

But she knew these times wouldn't last forever, which was why she was treasuring them now. No, she wasn't a pessimist, she just knew that good times wouldn't last forever and she needed to treasure so when the bad times came she would be strong and face it.

There were so many things that she wanted to do, to change, and to see; she feared that she wouldn't have enough time to do them all. Life as a ninja was no picnic, there were surprises in every mission, and you always left with the feeling that you might never come back. The world was a dangerous place, especially for girls, and being a ninja only made you closer to them.

Yet none of this made Hinata stop wanting to be a ninja, it was something she loved. To be able to go on missions, capture bad guys, and help people, it made her feel like a hero as cheesy as it does sound. Hinata liked feeling like a hero, she liked knowing that helped someone and they appreciated what she had done, that they appreciated her.

As well as being a ninja had taught her to value everything, all the small, kind things that happened everyday. It taught her not to take anything for granted, and cherish every little thing that made her smile.

She yawned and blinked, one final thought registering in her head from a previous conversation with Ino, before she finally succumbed to sleep.

Naruto's coming tomorrow, isn't he?


"Hinata!"

She turned around to see Ino waving frantically to her from outside her family's flower shop. Her long blonde hair, still in Ino's signature pony tail, danced in the wind.

"What's the matter Ino?" Hinata walked towards her semi-worried. Ino was often frantic for casual things so she wasn't sure if this was an emergency or not.

"Naruto's coming back today so we're all going to greet him at the gates." Ino's eyes were twinkling and her fists were pumped in the air.

"Oh, I can't believe I forgot," Hinata frowned. With training both with her team and the Hyuga, Hinata had had a busy day, but she was still surprised that she had forgotten about the homecoming of one of her friends.

Ino grinned, "Well you know now," she grabbed Hinata's hand, "Now let's go! Foreheads already there!"

And so Hinata was pulled at a speed only Ino could manage, and then some.

When they got there everybody else had arrived, standing in a line in front of the gates. Sakura was closest to the front, expression one of sisterly love.

Ino moved away to join Shikamaru and Chouji, while Hinata moved beside Kiba and Shino.

Kiba gave a wolfish grin, "So the idiot's coming back, huh? Wait until he see's how strong I've gotten." From his grin, you could see all his canines, gleaming in the sun.

Shino readjusted his glasses, "I hope he will recognize me this time." His facial expression remained the same, though a dark aura seemed to be seeping out.

Hinata stifled a giggle, sometimes it seemed like her teammates hadn't changed at all since their genin days.


They had only been waiting for about half an hour when they saw it, a large cloud of dust that was growing larger by the second.

Then they heard it, a loud, excited, distinctly familiar voice shouting, "NARUTO UZUMAKI IS BACK!"

The group let out a collective sigh, and Sakura let out a wry grin, "That's the Naruto I remember."

She would have said more but she was tackled by a blur of orange.

"SAKURA-CHAN! I MISSED YOU!"

"GET OFF ME, YOU IDIOT!" Following that was a strong punch, that knocked him away quite a few feet away.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto said, dazed, "You haven't changed a bit." Even though Sakura growled and started yelling at him to learn some manners, Hinata could see the fond smile that was hidden underneath.

Hinata laughed along with everybody else as they all crowded around Naruto, eager to see their friend after so many years.

As Naruto reconnected with his senses and looked around, his grin widened, observing all the friendly faces that looked upon him.

"Woah, you guys have all grown so much!" To say that was the most obvious thing Naruto could have said is correct.

"3 years is a long time," Shikamaru told Naruto, helping him get up.

As Naruto laughed and greeted everyone, Hinata gave a smile, giggling when Shino assaulted him with his bugs as Naruto had failed to recognize him, again. He hadn't changed a bit, he was still the same guy that she admired, and had once loved.

He had grown in 3 years, no longer the short boy he used to be but taller than almost all the guys, and his features were more sharp and defined, giving him an older, more masculine look. But despite all his changes, he was still the same Naruto he had always been, and , probably, forever would be.

As Hinata was thinking about all of this Naruto had turned around and noticed her, giving a wide smile. The same smile that he had given her countless times before, but each of them wider than the next.

"Hey Hinata! Long time no see, huh!"

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed! ^_^

...Thoughts?