As promised…I am going to keep the chapters coming.
-Paragraphs written in Italics are flashbacks.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
-o-o-o-
Chapter Three: The Confession
Sakura giggled as she observed Hinata's flustered face. Patting the Hyuuga's hand, she gave Hinata a reassuring smile. "Well…now that I think about it. I am happy that of all the girls Sasuke has to set his eyes upon…it was you."
"Sakura-chan…"
"It's true. You are very gentle Hinata…patient and understanding most of all. There is no better person to ease his past pains and inner demons than you."
Now Hinata could not stop blushing. "A-Arigatou."
The store owner appeared at the counter, giving the two lovely kunoichi a smile. He was a middle aged man with balding problem and a fatherly face. "Hyuuga-sama…" He motioned at the Hyuuga heiress politely."Your orders would not be ready for half an hour. Are you willing to wait or I can just send it to the Hyuuga household?"
Cutting their conversation, Hinata waved her hands no. "Ano…I'll just come back for it. I would just ask you to wrap it up for me Duno-san."
"Not a problem." The kind owner answered, bowing his head low. It was a positive thing for the store that the Hyuuga clan's princess was buying his food personally. He knew he cannot afford to offend her even with just the slightest of things.
"Arigatou…Duno-san." Hinata smiled as she and Sakura stepped out of the small house-like store.
Tracing back their way earlier, Hinata stiffened as she felt her Nii-san's familiar chakra along with Kiba and Shino's. Sakura too did the same, but with a jollier acknowledgement. Hinata was just horror-stricken.
"Oh…It seems like this won't be a four person lunch after all." Sakura pulled Hinata's hand on her own as the Hyuuga was trailing behind her. "Come Hina-chan…let's be fast and see our friends." Grinning, Sakura added. "And let's see if we can make Kiba pay up the bill!"
-o-o-o-
"That…Uhmm…did not go as expected." Tenten smiled wearily as she helped Hinata with her food bags. "I just actually dragged Neji with me to get some food, then we felt Naruto and Sasuke's chakra and there was no stopping him from going to Ichiraku's…and I thought he was just having a craving for ramen."
Sighing, Hinata dropped her head. "Th-that was exhausting."
Tenten did the same. "Yeah…I am drained."
Rubbing her forehead with her free hand—the one that was not holding the food bags—Hinata gave Tenten a weak smile. "And of all the lucky coincidences, Shino-kun and Kiba have to pass our way…not that I don't want to see them…It's just."
"They don't know about you and Sasuke yet?"
Hinata bit her lip.
"I admit…the revelation was…a little bit shocking." Tenten admitted. "Well…not that I don't agree….It was just…both of you are very opposite you know...though I am suddenly loving the fact that the stone cold Uchiha Sasuke has fallen for a gentle girl like you." Suddenly, Tenten's face registered into something of irritation. "And I can't believe Neji did not tell me if he already knew!"
Tenten stopped walking when she noticed that Hinata was not walking beside her, when she turned, the blue haired Anbu was sprawled on the dusty ground, head bowed low and elbows shaking. The weapon mistress gasped and ran back, kneeling in front of the girl who looks like she was on the verge of fainting.
"Hinata-chan…"
"I…I can't get Shino-kun's disappointed face out of my head." Hinata admitted, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. As its metallic taste starts to fill her mouth, tears were also starting to fall down her pale face.
"Now…now…" Tenten sighed, understanding the girl's dilemma. She was there when hell happened. She also understood how protective her two male teammates are of her. She was like their little princess after all…
"Urgh…My head aches." Hinata buried her face on her hands, oblivious to some people who passed their way. Rubbing her temples, the Hyuuga cleared her throat—an attempt to ease the pain that was starting to build there. "First Nii-san, and then Shino-kun."
Sighing, Tenten dropped her bottom to the ground and sat there crossed legged, gathering a few odd looks from the locals. "Well…you know they only care for you right? But sometimes...you also need to show them that you can manage your own life Hinata. You chose Sasuke…and the way he acts earlier just assured me that he really cares…hell, Sasuke won't even bother to get his face busted if he was not into you."
"Tenten…"
"So be proud that you are Sasuke's girlfriend…and don't go teary eyed on me…come on, You faced Pein before head on… you fought on the war and survived…you are the heiress of the most powerful clan in Konoha…surely you could handle a few misunderstanding with your teammates…and you know how Neji can never resist you for long."
Hinata managed a weak smile. "You made me feel better."
"Of course I do! That's what friends do." Helping the heiress up, Tenten then gathered the food bags. "So don't go teary eyed…alright? You don't want to let Kurenai-sensei see you looking like that."
"H-hai."
-o-o-o-
Shino saw Hinata enter Ichiraku's just as he noticed how tense Sasuke and Neji were. He and Kiba are going to the meat store to buy some for Akamaru, the dog was still recovering from the serious wounds he has suffered from the last mission.
But Kiba did an unexpected turn.
Sensing Naruto's chakra, Kiba dragged him to the Ramen shop.
"We're here!" Sakura exclaimed even though there was no need for it, for both of their unique chakra signatures are already announcing their arrival. Grinning, Sakura pushed the female Hyuuga to where Sasuke was—stoic faced and lips pressed together. Sasuke caught Hinata in both hands, steadying her.
"Neji-Niisan." Hinata looked at her cousin wearily, sensing his building chakra. Straightening herself up, she let her eyes fall to the ground as she took a steadying breath.
"Hinata-sama." Neji acknowledge her, teeth still gritted.
Tenten, Kiba, and Sakura all have puzzled expressions on their faces as the little awkward moment unfolds in front of them. Crossing his arms, Kiba eyed Sasuke as his hands lingered on Hinata's arm. "Hmm…your feeling touchy today Sasuke?" He asked the Uchiha.
"Hm." Sasuke was firm, he did not let his hands fall.
"Oh come on Kiba…" Sakura said good-naturedly, patting the Inouzuka's back. "Don't act like Hinata's father…and don't forget that Hinata-chan is no longer a little girl."
"Yes she is not a little girl." Neji butted in, eyes narrowed at the Uchiha. "And if anyone doesn't treat Hinata-sama like a lady of stature and dignity…I am going to have the delight of taking his head off."
Everyone fell silent.
Now what was happening with Neji? Why was he so hot headed all of a sudden?
"Nii-san." Hinata silently pleaded for her cousin's discretion.
"Now Neji…" Tenten, who was still puzzled, managed a smile on her face. "Now you are sounding like Hinata's body guard. Come on…we are already here…why don't we order a lot of ramen? The last one who finishes pays the bill!"
"Strong words from an Anbu captain…" Sakura too decided to take the matter lightly. "Heh…let's see if you can be strong in eating ramen against us!"
Kiba decided to let the matter go like the rest of his friends. "Alright! You are the one to speak Tenten…you really did not learn your lesson the last time you lost."
Sasuke rested his chin on the back of his hands, chakra still building up but his face was calm and expressionless. He saw Hinata gave him an apologetic look but he glared back—weirdly disappointed that she was not saying anything.
"Eh Teme!" Naruto raised his voice. "You wanna join us?"
"No."
"Come on…"
"I said no."
"Oh well…" Naruto shrugged and mumbled. "His girlfriend is here so he is acting cool and everything…"
"Sasuke's girlfriend? Who?" Tenten suddenly asked, eyes glinting with excitement.
"It's Hinata-chan!" Naruto exclaimed. "Gosh…really? No one knows about it?"
"I do." Neji said darkly.
Shino watched with a grim face as he observed Hinata's terror-stricken face. Hiding his scowl beneath his coat, the Aburame did not say anything—but his hand has somehow turned into fist without him knowing. Beside him, Kiba was starting to choke on his own saliva and Tenten's eyes just turned big two times its normal size.
Naruto and Sakura just smiled knowingly.
"Uhm…Minna…" Hinata started to shake. The burden of telling her friends about her and Sasuke's relationship was starting to takes its toll. Beside her, she heard Sasuke said something about breathing. "Sasuke and …me…Ano…" Her eyes trailed at Shino.
Shino stared back.
"We are in a—"Hinata's forefingers started to point themselves together, a trait that she hasn't done since she doesn't know when. For a moment, Shino did not see an Anbu, or a Kunoichi…but a girl who was just having a hard time letting everyone know that somebody already has her heart…her love.
For a split second, Shino doesn't know what he was about to do…or why was he suddenly building up his chakra. In the back of his mind, he could feel his chest feeling heavy like it was being pounded by unearthly hands.
He launched himself at Sasuke.
-o-
Aburame Shino rubbed the bruised area near his lips as he sat quietly on one of the trees near the Aburame district. It was his favorite spot, shared only with Kiba and Hinata.
Leaning his head back, Shino asked himself what possessed him earlier to engage in such a rash fight with Sasuke. It was not like as if he doesn't know what was going on between Hinata and the Uchiha…in fact, he suspected that he was one of the first to know…or noticed.
Hell, Even Neji – the one who was actually looking for a fight— was stunned at his sudden attack. The Anbu captain was the first one to hold him back while he was acting crazy.
What was matter with him anyway?
A soft thud on a nearby tree branch made him tilt his head to the side. It was a gentle sound, and he knew instantly who it was.
Hinata.
She was on Anbu uniform and her catlike mask was attached firmly on her head, long blue hair tied in a ponytail and was moving with the wind.
"This is not your watch post." He told her, head resting back on the tree.
"I know."
"Sasuke would get mad if he knows you're here."
He heard him clicked her tongue. "Shino-kun…you are not Kiba…so don't say things like that. You are my teammate…and you are important to me alright?"
Shino smiled sarcastically behind his collar. "But not as important as Sasuke…right Hinata?"
-o-o-o-
"Now what did you get yourself into?" Karin placed both of her hands on her hips, eyebrows raised. Sasuke looks like he has been fighting; his bottom lip was bleeding and there was a small wound on the side of his eye. Looking closely, Karin noted that it looks like an insect bite.
A very large insect bite.
Sasuke did not bother to answer. Marching up the stairs and into his room, he threw himself on the soft mattress with a tired groan. It looks like he has a lot of beating up to face every time his relationship with Hinata was brought up.
Lazily removing his shirt, he threw it on the floor.
"Crap." He muttered, covering his eyes with an arm.
"It's because of that Blue haired Hyuuga wasn't it Sasuke?" Karin leaned on the door, one hand playing with her red locks. "My…you're getting soft." Apparently, she followed the Uchiha up to his room—never understanding his silent request for privacy.
"Get out of my room Karin."
"Why do you like her that much Sasuke?"
"Why can't you just keep your trap shut?"
The Uzumaki did not heed his words. Instead, she took dainty steps to the side of the bed and seated herself beside the Uchiha. Sasuke did not mind her, he did not even took his arm off his eyes. Feeling the bed creaked, he grunted with annoyance.
Karin's eyes narrowed. Now he was ignoring her?
A sly smile hovering over her lips, Karin leaned and pressed her lips on Sasuke's bruised ones. Sighing as she was feeling his body heat, her naughty hands began to make trails on his chest and down to his hard abs. She felt Sasuke froze, and then his hand gripped her shoulder and pushed her back.
"What the hell Karin…"
"Come on Sasuke…" Karin pushed her hair back behind her ear with her right hand, the other still placed firmly on Sasuke's chest. "You are a man…you have needs right?"
"And you are not the one to fill them." Sasuke answered, removing her hand off him. Raising himself into a sitting position, the raven-haired Uchiha rubbed his aching temples. "I don't know what to do with you…"
Karin smirked. "You're blind…"
"Aren't we both?" Sasuke smirked back. Sighing because of his disturbed rest, he raised himself up from the bed and took a fresh shirt from one his drawers. Putting it on, he looked back at Karin. "Karin…you know that I would protect you by all means…and that is to honor our bloody run in the past. So do not do anything to mess with the care I feel for you."
Sasuke disappeared from her sight.
"Shit." The redhead mumbled as she removed her spectacles and placed it on the desk beside the bed. Burying her face on Sasuke's pillow, she gritted her teeth at another failed attempt to make the Uchiha like her.
Is she really that undesirable?
Groaning, she heard Suigetsu singing his heart out about crazy woman and cute girl with glasses. The soft splashing of water confirmed her suspicion that he was in the shower. Wondering where Jugo was—who suddenly developed a habit of disappearing like a bubble—Karin took her hidden treasure out of her pocket.
The vial.
She needs to study its contents and must not miss a single information.
But how could she do that?
-o-o-o-
Hinata frowned. "I don't understand…"
"Hn." Shino leaned his head back, letting the sounds of night insects fills his ears. Unfortunately, Hinata's soft breathing was louder, and he can't help but notice her tense.
"Shino-kun…" She started. "I care for both of you—"
"Don't you have a job?" He asked her. "Your mission waits… Anbu."
Hinata blinked. It was the first time that Shino was telling her to go away—Not once in her life did she thought she would live to hear him say that— and she got to admit that it was painful. Of all the people she knew, Shino was the one of those that would never drive her away.
"Y-you're telling me to go?" She can feel her breathing turn into ragged gasps. Shaking her head, Hinata realized that she was about to cry. With a clenched fist, Hinata bit her lip to stop her emotions from flooding out. It would be such a shame if she loses control now that she was wearing her Anbu uniform. "Alright Shino-kun…I…I would grant your request."
Straightening herself up, she turned to leave.
But before she could, Shino's hand caught her arm. Spinning her around to face him, the Aburame wrapped the Anbu in the circle of his arms, his hands clutching tightly on her vest. "Gomenasai Hinata…"
"Shino...kun."
"I don't know what's gotten into me."
Behind the mask, Hinata managed a teary smile. Breathing a sigh of relief, her own hands wrapped around the Aburame as she buried her masked face on his coat and bit her lips again to prevent from sobbing. "I don't want you to get angry at me."
"I'm not."
"You are…a while ago."
"I'm angry with myself."
"W-why?"
"For being…silent."
Hinata raised her head, her eyes puzzled behind the mask slits. "Silent...about what?"
"Nothing…" Behind the high collar and the dark glasses, Shino studied the Anbu in front of him—well, time really was fast. The shy and timid girl he was assigned with to be on team eight was now a grown up woman.
She was now an Anbu…not some weakling.
She was now one of the most beautiful faces in Konoha…not some girl that nobody gave attention to.
She now belongs to someone else—officially.
"Shino-kun? I know you are not really fond of Sasuke…and I can't blame you but please—"
"I know."
-o-o-o-
"Urgh!" Hanabi grunted as Konohamaro's kick landed on her gut, making her lose her breath and grit her teeth. "Shit!"
"Your elders would be offended f they hear your cursing Hanabi-chan." Konohamaro smiled, his scarf blowing with the early breeze. "Oh come on Hanabi-chan…you are not liked this when we spar." And what he was saying was true. The Hyuuga girl was very strong in terms in taijutsu , she has beaten him many times before even without using her kekkei genkei. Not far away from them, sitting crossed legged on the grass, were their teammates.
"Go Konohamaru-kun!" Moegi cheered, clasping her hands on her mouth when Hanabi's teammates glared at her.
"Yeah…I guess I am not on shape today." The Hyuuga admitted, whipping her hair back with a hand as she prepared herself for a fighting stance. Their sensei, Shikamaru Nara, was lazily supervising a few meters away—or at least he was pretending to.
Konohamaru grinned as his body tensed in anticipation for Hanabi's attacks. "Why?"
"My sister." She kicked.
"Oh…The heiress?" Naruto's disciple ducked and his scarf whipping back and forth as the two engaged in a closer combat. "Ow…" He yelped when one small but powerful Hyuuga fist landed on his rib. "The one that has been looking at Naruto-Niisan all the time?"
"Che." Hanabi almost spat. "My sister has a boyfriend now…and he is more handsome than Naruto, mind you."
Blocking Hanabi's punches, Konohamaru side-stepped to Hanabi's side and tried to land a blow—he succeeded. "Really? Whoever he is…he won't be as awesome as my Nii-san."
Hanabi let out a chuckle. "He is more deadly than your Nii-san."
"Who?"
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"What?" Konohamaru stopped just as Hanabi was aiming for his gut. The moment her little sturdy legs landed a kick on the Sarutobi, he was knocked into the ground with a dull thud. "Oww.." His hands shot into his midsection as he raise himself up again—a display of Naruto's influence of never giving up— and scowled. "Uchiha Sasuke is a rogue and my Nii-san was able to change and beat the crap out of him."
You can never talk ill of Naruto once Konohamaru was around.
"Well…he is more awesome."
"No he is not."
"Naruto-san sometimes acts like an idiot." Hanabi said indignantly. "My Sasuke-Niisan is cool enough to have a lot of fan girls all around the Shinobi villages."
"Alright…" Their sensei called out. "That's enough."
"Sensei…I want another round." Hanabi frowned at the Sarutobi, her white eyes narrowed as she let Konohamaru's insult about Sasuke ran around her mind. She was going to show this little Uzumaki fan who was the boss…
Konohamaru crossed his arms. "Me too Shikamaru-sensei."
Raising himself up, The Nara pocketed his hands as he lolled his head to the side, a smile on his lips. "Hmm…Are you sure?"
"Hai." Both answered in unison.
-o-o-o-
See you next chapter!
-crazygurl12
