A/N: I don't actually know if Sakura's parents are dead or alive, so I'm going to make them alive for this story because it better suits my purposes. Sorry if I'm wrong, but it's not like I claim to follow the actual story line all that closely anyway.
Say Your Goodbyes
You'll never stop 'til you get what you want
You think you have the choice?
You try to take mine
But I won't leave 'til I get what I want
- "You Wear A Crown But You're No King", Blessthefall
"So we'll meet at the gate at six thirty?"
Naruto groaned loudly. "But that's so early!"
"The earlier we start the more progress we'll make," Sakura chided, as if he were a five-year-old. Well, he sure did act like it sometimes.
"Fine, fine. Six thirty. You're such a slave driver!"
Sakura grinned. That was a compliment to her. "Well, someone has to get the job done!"
"Yeah, yeah." Naruto yawned and put his hands behind his head in his trademark casual style. Some habits never changed. "I'm going to Ichiraku then going to sleep. Wanna come?" he paused. "Uh…to Ichiraku, I meant!"
Sakura laughed. She was in a strangely good mood. Usually she would have hit him for a comment like that. "I'm going to say goodbye to Ino-pig and some others. It is going to be three months, you know."
"Yeah, I should probably say goodbye to Kakashi-sensei and Lee. Neji will probably be fighting with Lee, so I'll say goodbye to him too. Oh, and maybe Hinata now that I'm thinking of the Hyuga's, if I'm not too tired that is," Naruto mused.
Sakura narrowed her eyes and turned to Naruto, who immediately cowered. "No, you will say goodbye to Hinata, whether I have to beat your ass into doing it or not!"
"Okay, okay! I will! I'll go there now!"
"Ha." Sakura wiped her hands together with a grin as she watched Naruto scramble off. That was the way to get things done! Now if only Naruto would stop being such a thick-headed, numb-skulled knuckle-head he might realize he really did like Hinata. Why else would he have gotten so unexplainably angry when he'd seen Kiba hugging her the other day?
Sakura made her way to the flower shop Ino worked in, taking note of the bustling village around her. She was used to going on long-term missions, but she hadn't been on one for a while. There had been no need as things had been relatively quiet lately. As Tsunade would say, that was never a good sign. She said you could always tell when Orochimaru was up to something because you didn't hear anything from him for a while, that he got bored if something bad wasn't happening.
Sick bastard.
Her hate for the vile reptile had intensified ten-fold after what he did to Sasuke. She almost hated him as much as she hated Itachi, who'd started the whole thing. Maybe Sasuke wouldn't be so messed up if Itachi hadn't been such a psycho.
Sure, she could get the desire to test your abilities, but one thing she'd never get is why someone would want to test them on their ownkinsmen. Couldn't he have just gone off and killed a bunch of missing S-Class shinobi instead? But no, that wasn't sick enough for that twisted S-O-B.
Sakura shook her head to rid herself of thoughts of Itachi. She was sure that when they found Sasuke, if they found Sasuke, she'd have to deal with those issues enough without having to think of them now. If she wanted Sasuke back in her life she'd have to take all his hatred with him. If that was the price, so be it. She was willing to pay.
Naruto gulped as he stood outside of the Hyuga residence. He had been seriously hoping that Hinata would be anywhere other than there, but of course she had to be home where Hiashi-sama, possibly the scariest man alive, lived.
And it wasn't just bad enough that Hiashi-sama lived there, he was herfather! Weren't fathers usually protective over daughters or whatever? He didn't really know all that much about family stuff, but that was kind of the vibe he'd gotten from Sakura. And that was just average fathers, like Sakura's. But this was Hiashi-sama, the scariest man alive! Orochimaru was nothing compared to him, more because Orochimaru was more sick-in-the-head than scary, but still!
But then if he didn't risk the possible wrath of Hiashi-sama, he'd get the definite wrath of Sakura, who was probably the scariest girl alive (she was the scariest girl, that granny Hokage was the scariest woman, but Sakura could hit just as hard). It was a difficult decision.
Naruto had been standing at the gate for a while, pondering his options, when a smooth, cold voice startled him out of his reverie.
"Are you just going to stand there staring at the gate, or are you actually planning to do something?"
Naruto looked up into the unblinking white eyes of Hyuga Neji (and hated the fact that, yes, he still had to look up at the Hyuga genius). He'd never really liked the guy. Sure, he was heaps better now that he'd gotten over that whole stupid fate nonsense in the chunin exams and Naruto knew Neji respected him now, but he still acted like he was all superior, like he was too cool for school. Well, at least he got some consolation from the fact that he'd beaten Neji's ass before. Yeah, that was enough to keep him civil.
"I was planning to visit Hinata." He'd decided that his best chances were with Hiashi. He could never trust Sakura and her volatile emotions. No doubt she'd later check up with Hinata to see if he'd kept his word. What was with that anyway? Women!
Neji raised a perfectly formed eyebrow. Seriously, the guy had eyebrows so well sculpted even he noticed them. "Well, in case you haven't noticed, she's not at the gate."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. Stupid Neji with his stupid Byakugan and his stupid superiority. "I know, I was just wondering how to get in."
Neji walked over to the gate and pushed it open. He didn't say a thing, just looked at Naruto with an amused, condescending gaze.
Naruto gritted his teeth and walked past Neji. "Thank you."
"Give credit where credit is due, but owe no man anything."Isn't that what Kakashi had once said? Or was that "Give credit where credit is due, and beat him into the ground so he won't remember it the next day."
Who cares!
Neji and Naruto walked up to the front door, but before Naruto could open it, Neji slammed his hand down on his, blocking Naruto's path.
"What are your intentions with Hinata?"
Naruto looked up at Neji to find his Byakugan activated. What the hell?He had to get the third degree from Neji too! Just to say goodbye? This was so not fair!
"I'm just calling in to say goodbye! I'm going on a mission for three months and Sakura said Hinata would appreciate it if I said goodbye." Naruto almost smiled at his cleverness. He'd affectively (and subtlety, he thought) passed the scrutiny onto Sakura. And people said he didn't have a brain (or didn't use it - same thing)!
Neji's intense gaze was unrelenting. "And that's all?"
"Yes! Geez! And I thought you hated her!" He was getting far too tired of this rubbish!
Neji clenched his hand on the door. "Do not presume to know my relationship with my cousin."
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry, already! Can I go in now?"
Neji smoothly opened the door. "Follow me."
Naruto thought that might be a good idea seeing as he didn't know where the hell to go. This house was seriously huge! They could probably fit, like, twenty of his apartments in here!
He followed Neji through a maze of corridors until they finally came upon a set of double doors.
Naruto frowned in confusion. Is Hinata in here?Double doors seemed a bit much.
Neji opened the heavy doors to reveal what looked like a dining room…a dining room full of people. Eating dinner.
Ah, damn it!Figures he had to show up during their dinner time, even though it was only five in the afternoon! People were always testy around dinner time. At least he was. He didn't like it when people distracted him from eating ramen. And the Hyugas were at least ten times more uptight that he was! They probably all had a ten foot pole up their ass! Well, except for Hinata, of course. She was different. But that Neji…well, Naruto had his suspicions.
"And who do we have here?" Hiashi's commanding voice cut across the silence.
"Uzumaki Naruto, sir!" He figured it'd be a good idea to add the 'sir' onto the end. Snobby people liked that. He didn't really give a damn about what they thought of him, though. One day he'd be Hokage and then they'd have to respect him!
But until then, he just wanted to remain alive…or at least have all of his body parts intact. He liked everything where it was.
"Uzumaki Naruto, hm? And what brings you here, Naruto?"
Naruto resisted the urge to argue against Hiashi's condescending tone. Sothat's where Neji got it from! Talk about a bad influence!
"He's here to see Hinata." Neji spoke up.
And of course Neji said it in a way that made it sound like he wanted to marry her or something.
Naruto looked to the girl in question. She was blushing. Furiously. He'd seen her blush too many times to count. She blushed if a guy freaking touched her hand for two seconds! But for some reason, it seemed really cute at that moment…
Hiashi raised an elegant eyebrow. What was with these Hyugas and their perfectly formed eyebrows? It was totally unnatural!
"Is that so?"
Naruto looked around at all the faces with pale eyes staring at him expectantly. Except for Hinata, who was looking down at her lap fiddling with her serviette. "Um…yes. I…uh…I'm leaving on a long mission and I just wanted to say goodbye to Hinata."
Hiashi glared at Naruto.
Now what?
"Well, say your goodbyes to Hinata-san and take your leave. We are in the middle of our dinner."
Yeah, because I seriously didn't notice that.
"Father!"
Everyone in attendance snapped their heads in the direction of the feminine but surprisingly strong voice.
"Hinata?" Her father queried sternly.
Naruto's eyebrows rose dramatically. Not even the stoic Hyuga Neji could hide his surprise. Sure, Naruto had noticed after his return from his training with the Pervy Sage that she'd become a little more outspoken and didn't stutter as much, but standing up to Hiashi? This was a side of her he never knew existed…and admired greatly.
"Father, please, let me talk to him privately. Naruto is my friend. I won't take long." Hinata's composure was perfect, her voice confident. She looked Hiashi in the eyes and didn't back down.
Naruto was shocked…and strangely turned on.
Where the hell didthatcome from?
But he still could not take his eyes off the delicate Hyuga heiress. Looking at her now, he realized she'd make a fine clan leader. But wait…was that good or bad?
Why should I care anyway?
After staring at Hinata for a few moments, Hiashi conceded with a small sigh. "Fine, but be quick." He looked back to Naruto. "And remember, Uzumaki, I can see through walls."
What, does he think I'm some kind of rapist?"Uh…yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
Hinata walked up to him and took his hand, leading him out of the room. She didn't say a word (or let go of his hand) until they were a few rooms away from the dining room. They were in some sort of wide spacious area. He didn't know what it was called; he wasn't used to such finery. Just another stark reminder of the differences in their lives.
She let go of his hand and smiled at him. He immediately missed the contact, however fragile it was, but supposed her bright smile made up for some of the loss.
What am I thinking?
"Thank you for coming, Naruto" she said in a small voice. The blush was back.
How was it that she could stand up to her father, but could barely look him in the eye? It didn't make sense. He wasn't nearly as scary as her father!
Naruto grinned and rubbed the back of his head. "Hey, no problem, Hinata! Though I must admit your father can be kind of scary. It was amazing how you stood up to him like that!"
Hinata looked up at him and then looked down again. "Oh, well, it was nothing." She paused and looked up at him, her gaze staying there this time. "You know you're the first person who has ever come here to see me. Not even Kiba and Shino have come to see me here."
"Really?" Well, no wonder. He was probably the only one stupid enough…or the only one who had someone like Sakura threatening bodily harm if he didn't.
"Yeah. It…it really means a lot to me, Naruto." She smiled brightly, the brightest Naruto had ever seen her smile, and he swore his heart almost burst out of his chest at the sight.
Suddenly his mind went blank. "Um…" Come on, think! You can think of something totally cool to say! This is Hinata after all! "No problem! Hey, I might even come back when I get back from this mission!"
She bit her lip. Naruto's attention was immediately drawn there. Why hadn't he ever noticed how soft and pink her lips were? Was it because he had always been distracted by her captivating eyes.
What the hell am I thinking?
"You'd really do that, Naruto?"
What were we talking about?All he could see were her lips moving…
"Uh…yeah! Sure!" What had he just said he'd do?
A sound escaped Hinata that suspiciously sounded like a squeal before she threw her arms around him.
Uh…
Now he couldn't think past the curves of her body that were pressed up against him. She sure was hiding something under that frumpy jacket of hers!
She jumped out of his arms just as he was about to circle them around her.
Damn, missed my opportunity.
She was blushed like he'd never seen her blush before. "I-I'm s-so sorry!" she squeaked.
"What for?" Now he was genuinely confused.
"For…for…uh…you know!" She made waving motions with her hands in an attempt to get him to understand.
Geez, she's cute when she's all animated like this.
He grinned. "Oh…" He dragged out the word and his grin grew bigger. "You don't have to be embarrassed about that, Hinata! You can hug me any time you want! Just feel free to throw your arms around me when I'm in the middle of training, when I'm walking down the street…hell, even when I'm eating ramen!"
She looked up at him, a small smile of amusement on her face. "Even when you're eating ramen?"
He grinned. "Even when I'm eating ramen." It'd be a small sacrifice if he could feel those arms around him again.
I should totally do this more often!
Even facing Hiashi's wrath seemed worth it now.
When she'd finished giggling he spoke seriously. "I'm glad I came, Hinata."
The blush didn't go away, but she managed to smile at him. "I'm glad you came too, Naruto."
Naruto laughed and put his hands behind his head. "Who knows? Maybe I'll even buy you something while I'm away!" He said with a wink.
She looked as if she was going to pass out. "You…you'd buy something for me?"
Naruto dropped his arms by his side and shrugged. "Sure, why not? Pretty girls deserve pretty things!"
"I…I…"
Hinata's faced immediately flamed up again. Naruto grinned wider. He wasflirting with Hinata…and he liked it. He liked it a lot. Figures he had to go away to find Sasuke now. That bastard always did have the best timing.
Naruto opened his mouth to say more, but the door opened revealing a not-so-happy-looking Neji.
Figureshehas to barge in just when it's getting good!
"Naruto, I think you've had plenty of time to say goodbye. Hinata must return to dinner." Neji glared at Naruto, implications clear in those freakishly white eyes of his (those eyes only looked good on Hinata).
"Cousin, I can think for myself," Hinata addressed Neji sternly.
Naruto gaped at her. Who knew that under her shy, blushing demeanor lay a spitfire like that! She was becoming more and more intriguing by the second, and he had the sudden urge to discover what hid beneath all her layers (in the cleanest possible sense, of course).
Neji clenched his jaw as Hinata turned to Naruto. "But he is right, Naruto. I must return to my family."
Naruto could only stare. Just two seconds ago she could barely speak because she was blushing too hard, but now she was forming perfectly flowing sentences with a sexy, feminine voice.
Wait, did I thinksexy?
Now it was his turn to blush. "Uh…okay."
Smooth, Naruto, smooth.
She smiled at him and his breath caught in his throat. "I'll see you when you get back!"
Naruto managed to smile back. "Yeah, I'll see you in three months."
He found himself wishing that the next three months would seem more like three seconds.
"And where are you going, Sa-ku-ra?"
Sakura rolled her eyes at Ino's dramatics. "I'm going on a mission,I-no-pig."
Ino flipped her long, blonde ponytail over her shoulder. "For how long?"
"Three months."
Ino looked up from her flower arrangement with wide eyes. "Three months? Well, aren't you the important one," she taunted. They had never really quite gotten over their rivalry, however friendly it may be now.
Sakura smirked triumphantly. "You could say that." She wished she could flip her hair over her shoulder too, but alas, her pink locks barely grazed her shoulders.
"Well, I'm going on a mission soon," Ino retorted as she put the last flowers in her arrangement.
"Oh yeah?" Sakura asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ino smiled deviously. "Yeah, they specifically asked for myexpertise!"
Sakura groaned. "Another skank mission!"
Ino fumed for a few seconds before regaining her stuck-up confidence. "One works with what they're given, Forehead. It's not my fault you're hopelessly flat-chested!"
Sakura gritted her teeth. "I am not flat-chested! Anyone but Tsunade looks flat-chested next to you!"
Ino shrugged with a smile. "Hey, the arts of seduction just weren't meant for some people, Sakura," she patronized, giving Sakura a pat on the head.
Sakura's eyes narrowed dangerously as her eyebrow twitched. "Well, I could still beat your head into the ground any day!"
Ino laughed. "Ha! Please! Let me think…" She looked at both of her hands. "Super-strength, boys? Super-strength, boys? Hm…I think I'm going to have to go with the boys, Forehead. I'm sorry," she said in a light voice.
Why, that little…
"Eh, your loss, Pig."
Ino rolled her eyes as she leaned on the counter in the flower shop. "Yeah, my loss. I so wanted to punch holes in the ground because that is a sure-fire way of attracting the opposite sex! They wouldn't be able to resist my masculine charm!"
Sakura gripped the counter to the point where it cracked.
"Geez, Forehead! Lay off the hardware! I was just joking…sort of." She cleared her throat and changed the subject. "So, when are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? When did you find out about it?"
Sakura shrugged. "Today."
"Wow, they sure do give you a lot of notice these days, don't they," Ino muttered sarcastically. "Who you going with?"
"Naruto."
Ino's stunning blue eyes shot open. "Just Naruto? Have fun with that."
Sakura flicked some stray strands of hair out of her face. "I will."
"Of course I'll have my own problems to deal with while you're gone."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"
Ino sighed. "A possible crush on Shikamaru."
Sakura thought she would choke. "A possible what on whom?"
Ino rolled her eyes. "You heard me. I don't think that insanely huge forehead of yours has impaired your hearing…that I know of."
"Wow, Pig, that's weird!"
Ino slammed her hands down on the counter. "Why's it so weird? You had a crush on your teammate for, like, ever! You were practically in love with him!"
Sakura smiled sadly. "I was in love with him."
Ino immediately looked repentant. "Oh, I'm sorry, Sakura…"
Sakura waved off her concern. She was sick of people thinking she was weak concerning the subject of Sasuke. She wasn't. They were going to get him back, after all. "Shut it, Pig. I didn't mean it was weird-weird…just weird that suddenly, after all this time…"
She trailed off at the look on Ino's face. She was blushing. Ino never blushed. "What?"
"It's been going on for a while. At first it was just…small. Barely there. Just a weird attraction thing. Then, I don't know…it just grew and now I can't stop thinking about him!"
Sakura just gaped. Ino sounded like a lost, little girl. Ino sounded like Sakura had when she'd been in love with Sasuke. "Ino…"
Ino half-smiled. "I know…"
"What about him?"
Ino shrugged. "You know Shikamaru. You can't determine anything with him. Hell, I don't even know if liking girls is worth the effort for him! It's probably too troublesome. Hopeless."
Sakura grinned evilly. "You know what you should do."
"What?"
"Well, like you said, guys like Shikamaru…he won't do anything. He's probably too lazy to even consider the possibility. So, you have to make him consider the possibility. Make him wantit…and then he'll go after it. You should be good at it."
A smile grew on Ino's face as she considered Sakura's plan. "You know, that is really evil."
"I know" Sakura replied happily.
"I'm proud of you, Forehead. That is a decent plan! I think I'll give it a try. I mean, since when did Yamanaka Ino pine over some ignorant guy? Never! And she sure as hell isn't going to start now! I am going to make him want it so bad, he won't even think of the word troublesome!"
Sakura smiled at Ino's epiphany moment. Her friend was so strong, exactly why Sakura admired her so much. Ino's strength came naturally. Sakura had to work and work and work for hers. She envied her that as well as her D-cup.
"Well, I better head off, Pig. I have other people to say goodbye to, because, you know, I'm such a popular person."
Ino smirked. "Well don't let that popularity get to your head. That forehead of yours is big enough already," Ino teased before she walked around the counter and hugged Sakura. "Come back alive."
"I will," Sakura replied before she pulled back. "And you better have the lazy ass on a leash by the time I get back, or you have to recognize me as the single most seductive kunoichi in all of Konoha!"
Ino blanched. "Please, like you could live up to that title! Not only will I have him on a leash, he will be wrapped around my little finger!"
Sakura laughed. "Bye, Pig."
"Bye, Forehead."
With one last smile Sakura walked to the front door. She paused and put a finger on her lip as if in deep thought. "And by the way, Pig, you might want to do something about those wrinkles. Not the way to attract Shikamaru."
She walked out of the shop to the sounds of Ino screeching about wrinkles and smirked.
Sakura: One.
Ino: ZERO!
