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Chapter 3: Naruto

He couldn't believe she had been following him! "I checked before I left the village, how could I have not noticed that Hinata was trailing me?" Naruto thought to himself. "I can't see why Baa-chan hasn't placed her in the Anbu yet, or am I just getting that sloppy nowadays?

"Go away Hinata, I want to be alone," breathed Naruto "That's why I came here."

Assuming that Hinata would respect his wishes, Naruto went back to brooding over the events during the war that had changed his life forever. Already putting aside that Hinata had followed him to his secluded spot in the woods.

Much to his surprise, Hinata wasn't moving away, but rather was walking towards him. Why couldn't she just leave, his whole reason for coming out here was so that he would be able to express his grief without the prying eyes of his friends. The absolute last person he wanted to see him like this was shy and sensitive Hinata.

Hinata settled in the grass beside him, Naruto couldn't believe his ears, as Hinata was actually refusing to listen to him, making him think more angrily. "What the hell is she thinking? Didn't he just tell her to leave him alone?" Naruto sighed inwardly, "Doesn't she understand that I lost not only some friends but my sensei too?"

Shortly after sitting Hinata spoke up quietly, in a whisper. "N-N-Naruto-kun, it's not your fault. Y-y-you didn't seal the Kyuubi inside you, and neither did you tell Obito-sama to start the war." Naruto ground his teeth, as he disagreed with Hinata completely. No excuses could make up for his broken promises that he miserably failed to accomplish for his comrades.

"Go away, please! They're all gone and not just leaf shinobi, but thousands from all the nations, gone because of this damned fox inside me" Naruto wiped the tears from his eyes and got up. "The fox inside ME Hinata." If she wasn't going to leave then he was, he would find a new place to reflect on the people lost to him forever.

"Now, please just leave me alone." Naruto said lastly before walking away.

He had made it as far as the stream before Hinata told him something shocking "I-I-If you leave I will follow you again, I followed you here today and I will keep following you"

"I won't let you be alone, n-n-not this time" He knew that the second she finished, Hinata was telling the truth, Naruto also acknowledged that with the Byakugan as her advantage, it would be easy for her to do so.

With that in mind, he dropped his foot inches from the water's edge and walked back to the grassy indent that he had just left, flopping down into a sitting position his arms hanging limply from his shoulders.

Naruto decided that he would try to wait Hinata out; he figured that she couldn't stay beside him all day. She had a family that would worry about her as well as a cousin to mourn; Neji was a big part of her life. She surely would be needed at the Hyuuga family estate, right?

Naruto sat there for a while, with those specific words "Not this time" sticking to him, which Hinata spoken from her own lips. What did she mean? Did Hinata already know about this place? "What is with this girl?" he thought. After what seemed like hours to Naruto, he finally asked. "Hinata-chan what do you mean by 'Not this time'?"

After hearing Hinata explain about how she has always followed him when he left the village to come here and how she was always there watching over him but keeping her distance Naruto realized that he wasn't even all that angry, but he was still annoyed at the fact she was still refusing to leave. He did have a lot to think about and was still in an ongoing struggle with the emotions he had to put aside for so long.

He sat there in silence, no longer thinking about giving Hinata the silent treatment; he knew that it was a useless tactic. Apparently Naruto had misjudged this girl … no, woman. Naruto had to remind himself, they weren't children anymore. Hinata had been witness to Neji's death too, and even she had seen the horror of war just as much as Naruto.

At the thought of the crushing weight of his comrade's death, Naruto shoulders slumped even further, his back hunched over and his head hung low on his chest. He couldn't help but feel responsible. He had sworn that he wouldn't let Obito kill any more of his comrades. He had given his word! Yet like the other promises, it was deemed unsuccessful.

Naruto's eyes started to line with unshed tears without him realizing it right away. He tried to blink them away but new ones replaced them just as quickly, never failing. The second he closed his eyes he vision of Neji's broken and lifeless body appeared before him.

Also accompanying the pictures of Negi were what seemed like limitless beaten and bloodied faces of fallen comrades. Even the grief stricken families flashed across his mind as his brain wouldn't let him forget. Naruto had been sleepless day and night as it persistently haunted him.

"Most powerful ninja of the shinobi world, Hero of the Leaf, Savior of the Great Nations!" thought Naruto. He didn't feel like any one of those things. "Ha! What a load of crap! Neji died in my arms and I couldn't do anything to save him, I watched as the light left his eyes."

[At least you were able to save that Nara boy - what was his name?] Kurama said; finally ready to help the boy with his sorrow.

"Shikamaru, that's his name." Naruto responded.

[Right Shikamaru, he was about near to death until we assisted that pink haired girl with our combined chakra to help speed up his healing. ] Kurama continued.

"I know, but what about Kakashi-sensei? After he came out of that bastard Obito's Genjutsu, our chakra didn't do a damn thing." Naruto thought not quite ready to let go of the burden he chose to carry. "Or the ability to save Bushy-Brow sensei after Madara used his Susano to crush him into the ground like a bug."

Kurama growled as he replied [Remember what Obito said to you just before the tailed beasts were pulled from him].

"I know," Naruto sighed "It's so hard though! How am I supposed to let go of my pain and sorrow? I gave my word, I promised that I would protect them all and I never go back on my promises."

[Snap out of it kid, don't you remember your own speech to Obito? You aren't alone anymore and the memories of the comrades you lost live on within you. Remember it's not just your life anymore, you have people who depend and love you.] Kurama preached to Naruto.

That was when Naruto finally came out of his own head. Kurama was right as long as he never forgot about the ones that were killed they would never truly be gone, they would always live on in his heart.

The sun turned into shades of pink and orange melting together perfectly, signaling to Naruto that it was already sundown "Tch, how long was I spaced out for?" He thought, realizing how late it had gotten. Naruto jumped when Hinata started to rise from the ground, she had been so quiet all day that he almost forgot that she was there and the movement startled him. He watched as she stood and brushed the grass and dirt from her clothes.

While watching her raven hair dance in the wind he could feel yet again the sting from her hand as she literally slapped some sense into him, reminding him why Neji and the others sacrificed themselves in the first place. The depth of her lavender, yet calming eyes remained most clear in his mind, he couldn't deny that something stirred in his heart.

Kurama was right, he wasn't alone in this anymore and this woman right here was the one who has always been there for him and, as he just found out, was there for him even at his lowest. It struck him how much he wanted all along for her to be near him. He didn't want her to leave and with that realization Naruto reached up and grabbed Hinata's hand as she was about to take a step.

Saying softly but meaningfully "No Hinata, stay"

I want to thank NaruHina108 for helping me by being a beta reader, and I want to let everyone know that chapter 4 should be out soon.