Poof! Naruto's clone disappeared.
"Good work, Bull." Kakashi told the dog as he patted its head. Then the dog disappeared.
Kakashi took out his favorite book, Make-Out Paradise, and started reading again.
"Hey, Kakashi!" someone called.
"Shizune?" Kakashi replied as he kept his book.
What is Shizune doing here? She should be in the Hokage's office right now.
"Uhm, I had a free ticket to Make-Out Paradise the Movie…" Shizune said, "It's a waste of time if I'll just throw it in the garbage bin…"
"M-Make-Out Paradise…the Movie?" Kakashi said with an awe, "Come on, give it to me."
"It comes with a certain condition, Kakashi." Shizune laughed.
"C-condition?" Kakashi was a little bit disappointed.
"Yeah! You see, I badly want to join the competition because the prize was so great!"
I hope he agrees…or else…I'll pay Tsunade-sama for betting with her! Shizune thought.
"Those tickets were already sold out…Well, fight in the battle fest, eh?" Kakashi thought aloud, "You have the deal, Shizune."
"Yeah! I know you would agree!" Shizune smiled, "You'll get the ticket when we win! See you on February 12!" Shizune disappeared.
Yeah! I'm gonna watch this after the fest! Kakashi happily thought as he started to read his book again.
Naruto is still running.
Now, who am I going to ask? *sigh*
Hmm…
He remembered Hinata. Hey, Hinata…why didn't I ask her?
Naruto turned around and started to run back to Hinata.
Naruto searched for Hinata for many hours, but he never saw her again. It's almost late in the afternoon.
Where are you, Hinata? Hmm…she's not here in the village…maybe she's in the training fields…
Hinata isn't here either! Naruto desperately thought.
He just sat down behind one of the three logs in the training fields.
I badly want to join the tournament!
"8 trigrams, 64 palms guard!"
Huh? Naruto stood up and he saw Hinata without a jacket, only with her black t-shirt and black pants. He was amazed with how Hinata performed her new jutsu -8 Trigrams, 64 Palms Guard.
He just stood there and watched her.
"N-Naruto-k-kun?"
"Oh, Hinata. That was great. Your 8 tri—what? Whatever…your new jutsu. It's great." Naruto smiled.
Hinata turned red, "T-thanks, N-Naruto-k-kun…"
"Are you okay, Hinata? You're very red, and you're shivering."
"T-this i-is n-nothing, N-Naruto-k-kun…"
"Uhm, let's just sit behind this log." Naruto suggested.
"O-ok-okay…"
They sat behind a log.
Hinata shoved her face between her knees.
Naruto just looked at the sky.
"Hinata, c-can you be my partner in the battle fest?"
Dead silence.
"H-Hinata?"
Still, dead silence. Why can't she answer all of a sudden?
Naruto shook her, "Hinata?" but she didn't answer.
He shook her harder.
"Hinata!" Then Hinata's head fell down on Naruto's lap.
She's like a sleeping doll. B-but…Why did she faint? *sigh*
I have no choice but to wait for her to wake up.
One hour has passed.
Hinata woke up and found her head lying on Naruto's lap.
"Good evening, Hinata!" Naruto greeted happily.
Hinata immediately stood up.
"W-what happened?" Hinata nervously asked.
"You sorta fainted, Hinata…"
"Oh…"
"Hmm…You sure you agree, Hinata?" Naruto cheerfully asked.
"M-me, a-agree? When?" Hinata asked.
"While you were sleeping, you were mumbling…"
FORTY-FIVE MINUTES AGO...
*sigh*
When will she wake up?
"N-Naruto-kun…" Hinata spoke while speaking, "I-I…"
"You what, Hinata?" Naruto asked the sleeping yet talking Hinata.
"I-I a-agree t-to be y-your partner…"
"Really, Hinata? Thanks!" Naruto hugged her but Hinata didn't know it because she was sleeping.
"I-I did?" Hinata asked.
"Yes, you did!" Naruto flashed a reassuring smile, "So, what do you say?"
"O-okay…"
"Yey!" Naruto hugged Hinata, "Thank you, Hinata!"
He released her from his embrace.
Hinata looked stunned.
"Hinata, are you okay?" Naruto asked, "Your hands are cold."
He held Hinata's hands.
She fainted.
"Not again!" Naruto caught Hinata.
I can't afford to wait for her to wake up again…It's already late in the evening.
"Naruto! What the heck did you do to my cousin?"
"Neji, she fainted!" Naruto explained as he carries Hinata in his hands. Damn this Neji…he looks at me as if I did something bad to Hinata!
"If his father sees you…" Damn this Naruto. I feel like he did something bad to my cousin…
"Promise, Neji, I didn't do anything to Hinata!" He said as if reading Neji's mind, "And be quick, I think Hinata's father will kill me if he see me!"
"Okay, okay, hand me Hinata." Neji said, irritated.
"Thanks Neji! I owe you one!"
"Shh! be quiet! We'll be heard. Now, get lost! Or else you'll get killed!"
"Okay, goodnight, Neji. Thank you!" Naruto disappeared.
I fell into a deep sleep.
Hinata woke up.
She felt the soft mattress of her bed. How did I get here? Oh, I don't want to think about it anymore… I-it's
already February 10!
She felt something in her pocket. A note?
Hey, Hinata! Let's train today!
10 am at the Training Fields!
Don't forget to eat your breakfast, okay?
See you later!
-Naruto
Hinata smiled.