Disclaimer : I don't own characters from NARUTO, the characters are the property of Kishimoto Masashi, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Warnings : wannabe Hinata x Naruto and A little bit of Sasuke x Sakura - all hetero pairings

Chapter 4

Hiashi came home to a silent house. His daughters were not home, it was only 6.00 pm on a Saturday. Ever since his wife died, he rarely spent all day during weekends at home when his daughter weren't around, always out for golf or lunch dates. He picked a picture frame from a row of frames placed on top of a piano his late wife used to play.

He looked at the white frame, inside was a candid photo of Hinata and Hanabi at Disneyland, Japan. Those were fun times he admitted. The last time they had so much fun seems like so long ago.

Today, Hanabi was away on a field trip while Hinata was in Konoha for her year away. He sighed at the thought of another empty weekend. Maybe he could fly to Konoha and surprise Hinata, but she was only away less than a week he reasoned.

He couldn't put a finger to it, but he felt his heart aching. Maybe he could avoid the longing feeling by going to sleep early. He had felt weak at the thought of an empty weekend sans the daughters. As his friends started retiring, some early than the mandatory sixty to spend time with their families, life for him seemed worthless without his daughters.

Long time ago when his elderly parents were still alive, weekends were spent with them. Hiashi realised that he was not acting like the the best son since he usually stayed less than an hour before leaving for some urgent errands, but his daughters always stayed with their gramps for the night. They were the apple of their grandparents eyes.

After the death of his parents a few years back, weekends were spent with his daughters for lunch, or dinner at some fancy restaurants. Over the years the dinners and lunches became less frequent, still they tried having at least a dinner or lunch during those two days. Sometimes it was only him and Hanabi, or him and Hinata. So when the three of them managed to find time together, he would listen to his daughters chats and smiled all the while.

Up until he was 33, he had a twin brother who was born minutes after him. But his brother, named Hizashi had less interest in the clan business, and was not as talented as Hiashi in making business decisions. But he was demanded by the Hyuga elders to assist Hiashi.

Eventually Hizashi, Neji's late father gave up his career as a businessman after many failures and became a school teacher. However he died during his first year of service. His wife remarried a year later and left a ten year old Neji with the clan as he was close to his cousins. Now, she resided in Singapore with her new husband and her step children. Neji often fly there during school holidays..

Hiashi noticing Neji's business acumen when he was fifteen, tried getting his nephew involved into the family business. But by that time the Hyuga elders had adopted the year away idea. Neji too opt to leave for a chance to spread his wings at 18. He helped with business whenever he had no commitment.

Hiashi sighed, he wished the year away practice was adopted when his late twin, Hizashi was still alive. That would allow his brother to live in a much happier environment as he would be able to explore his other talents the minute he failed at business. It would mean a lot even if Hizashi had still died young.

Hiashi placed the frame back onto the piano top. He couldn't remember the last time someone played it. Hanabi had favoured violin while Hinata preferred singing and the guitar. Only Neji chose the piano, but he rarely came by since he had his own baby grand at his apartment.

His phone rang and Hiashi picked it up seeing that it was his restaurant's number flashing on the display.

"Mr Hyuga, sorry to disrupt your weekend but you did tell me to call you anytime regarding the digital music business. There's a three year old digital music store based in Konoha for sale. The owner died in an accident and the heirs are looking to sell it."

"Great, set a meeting with their lawyers Monday."

"Ok. I'll text the details asap."

"Thank you Rin, you can have next week's Thursday and Friday off."

"Well, thank you too boss," the assistant grinning happily at the uncalled off days.

Hiashi picked up another frame holding a sole picture of Hinata. It was a picture when she was sixteen. She had let hair grew long for the first time in years during that time.

The Hyuga clan head had long realised that his eldest daughter wasn't cut out for the corporate world and had been thinking of letting her lead a new side business for Hyuga Corps. As a father he was at first worried for Hinata, she was too nice to face the business sharks, while Hanabi on the other hand was as fierce as a mother tiger. Times were changing, no one leads business like the old styles anymore and a clan head does not need to be the first born anymore.

When his uncle, one of the elders had asked whether he would replace Hanabi as future clan head, he had mulled the idea and even tested it for three days. But his fatherly instincts told him that while Hanabi looked the part, Hinata would be distraught at his decision. In the end he decided that only his daughters could make that decision when the day for him to step down comes.

For now he wants to find a startup business for Hinata. The acquisition would take awhile, in time for Hinata to return after her year away.

He picked another picture frame of Hanabi and together with the first frame, took them both to his study to put as decoration.


From the previous chapter

"Hey new girl, we haven't been introduced yet."

Itachi and Hinata, along with the rest, Deidara, Sasori, Hidan and Obito all spun around to see the person who called Hinata's name.

"Oh, Naruto Uzumaki right?" Hinata said.

"Hey, you know my name? Most people fail to remember my name. I'mma so happy I'm hugging you!"

And Naruto hugged Hinata and she blushed.

"Oh my!" She screamed inwardly.

Hinata pressed her eyes shut when she saw Naruto enveloping his hands around her shoulders. She closed her eyes and held her breath in anticipation of his hug. But the hug came a little later than she anticipated but when it finally came she blushed a deep red. Her breaths turned to short gasps.

Hinata realizing her panic attack striking, tried to gain control of herself. The last time a guy tried to hug her, he went flying into the wall after being kicked by Hanabi. But here in Konoha she had no one to shield her, no one to save her from an extra touchy feely person.

Whattodo? WhatdoIdo?

Concentrate!

Dontpanic, dontfaint, donnnnnt…..!

Breatheinbreatheout. Breatheinbreatheout. Breatheinbreatheout.

Hinata felt her mind blacking out.

Ohnoooo black everywhere, wha….


"Relaaaaaax, relaaaaaaaaax, Hinata! Can you hear me?"

That's a female voice! Who?

Hinata opened her eyes and jerked her head up and felt a hand restricting her from sitting up.

"You just fainted, lay still. Are you dizzy?"

"A… a little." Hinata squinted to look at the person talking to her. She could make out reddish hair. She closed her eyes and lay back, she could feel a pillow supporting her back, apparently she was not completely laying down flat.

"Lay for a moment. You fainted when Naruto hugged you."

Hinata closed her eyes with the palm of her hands, trying to think about what just happened. Before Hinata could reply to that a male's voice asked.

"Err how are you feeling?"

She opened her eyes after realizing she was not alone with the mystery female. She blinked a few times and saw Naruto looking sheepishly at her. She realized that she had fainted when Naruto hugged her. Her cheeks blushed a deeper red as she scolded herself for failing to maintain her composure and fainting, of all things, from a hug. Hanabi would be pissed after all the self control training they had done.

"Just what the heck were you thinking of doing Naruto?" The female voice caught her attention. She looked at the girl, pink hair, jade green eyes, white two piece sundress, pale pink sweater.

"I'm sorry Hinata. Really I am. Is she gonna be ok Sakura?" Naruto asked. He stood there looking like a kicked puppy.

Sakura's frowned at the boy, "I think Hinata would appreciate a glass of lemonade for her. She must be dehydrated. Please Naruto."

Naruto nodded at Sakura and dashed out.

"By the way Hinata, if you remember me, I'm Sakura. I am a second year medic student, and I checked up on you a bit. Nothing intrusive just checking for any injuries. I think you are ok, but do you want to go to a clinic? "

"I… I'm ff...fine," Hinata stumbled on her words. She quickly rephrased it noticing her stuttering.

"Sakura, thank you. I think I am ok now."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

Sakura nodded and stood up from the chair which was placed beside the couch Hinata lay on.

"By the way, I carried you here," Sakura said.

"Owh." Hinata replied not knowing what to say.

"I'm a weightlifter, in the featherweight category." Sakura proudly lifted her top to display a nice muscled stomach.

"Awwww" Hinata became awed at the awesome had never met someone involved in weightlifting.

Sasuke popped in and casually slinked an arm around Sakura's waist.

"Baby, are you done? How's Hinata? I don't see anything wrong with her since she's awake already."

"She's ok, but the next time a new girl pops up around Naruto. You better keep control of him." Sakura said while smiling. "Some people can't keep up with… his abnormal natural energy."

Sasuke chuckled and used his other hand to brush a strand of hair over Sakura's ear, "Join me for a stroll around the lake?"

"Wait for Naruto first, I want him to accompany her before we go."

"Ok, I'll go wait for you at the front. I need to fetch my jacket." Sasuke gave a wave to Hinata and went out.

Hinata suddenly remembered Itachi, "Where's Itachi?"

"Oh, they are outside respecting your privacy. You want me to call him? He stayed for awhile when you were unconscious but someone just came by and called him out, I think it was Shisui his cousin. By the way, Itachi told me that a fainting you is normal, but I checked you up anyway to be safe."

Sakura smiled and continued waiting for Naruto.

"Thanks again Sakura."

"I just wanted to say that Naruto is boisterous. You're lucky you are a girl and all you get is a hug." Sakura laughed thinking about her silly best friend.

"We have been friends since kindergartens, me, Sasuke and Naruto. Me and Naruto used to scuffle when we were younger but then we turned into teenagers and discovered self control. FYi, Sasuke told me about you before, saying you were friends."

"Yes, he is closer to my sister Hanabi. Our fathers are business associates."

Naruto came in and Hinata sat up properly. Sakura waved at Hinata, pinched Naruto on the shoulder and spun around to leave the room.

"Well, talk to you later Hinata," Sakura said while she winked at Naruto. Hinata did not catch that last gesture as she was busy looking somewhere else.

"Here's your drink. I hope I didn't break anything, Itachi said I owe you for making you faint."

Hinata blushed, "D.. d… don't heed Itachi, he's just joking. This is normal for me. I seem to hate surprises."

"I'll be sure to give you a warning next time."

They both chuckled. The awkward air dissipating as Hinata sipped on her drink.

The conversation paused for a good twenty seconds before Hinata resumed.

"Is Kiba still here?" lavender eyes looked at blue orbs.

"Well, he was here five minutes ago but I think he went boating with Deidara and Obita-senpai. Don't worry I'd send you home myself, already swore that to that worried dogboy. Well, luckily I drove here today."

Naruto grinned. Hinata had never had someone so boisterous as a friend before. This could be good for her.

"Lemme reintroduce myself, I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I believe we are of the same age, though I was born and bred in Konoha. My parents, well they now live in Japan while I continue to live here alone. They emigrated there after I finish school so I am exclusively educated in K school. The Uchiha took me in for a year, but soon afterwards I moved back into my family home and then moved in with Sasuke at his apartment because the teme couldn't live without me. Since two years ago I work with my Godfather at his restaurant, the Dancing Fish."

Hinata nodded while Naruto stopped to take a breath.

"You ever eat there?"

"No, I've only been here less than a week. There are many places I have yet to explore."

"So you want to have dinner there on me?"

"Can I bring Kiba and his family, since I stay there. I'll pay." Hinata had possibly forgotten her fainting episode earlier with Naruto's energetic chat.

"No problemo, it's on my salary since my Godfather likes to cut my salary every time I did wrong on my apprenticeship."

A smile and a chuckle. "But don't worry my parents give me an adequate allowance to last until I pass my apprenticeship."

"I'm sorry I fainted."

"Me too, I'm sorry I overwhelm you."

Hinata's lips curved into a smile. "No worries Sakura treated me well."

"Well, about the dinner plan how about next week. I have my day off on Wednesdays."

"Hmmm," Hinata started. "Can I have your number?"

Naruto took out his phone and started dialing. "What's your number? Let me give you a missed call."

Hinata smiled, she was already smittened by the fast talking blond. She wondered if he was single. Hanabi would sure facepalm at the sight of her sister going after a boy.


Author's note : I incorporate the fainting Hinata thing because it seems like such a Hinata thing to write about. But a few days ago, a video on Utube did a survey and found out that Sakura fainted as much as Hinata did. Search for 'Naruto Fainting Contest'.