Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and/or its characters. So please don't try to sue.
You Don't Know My Name: Chapter 4As he walked with Hinata (or rather Hinata helped him walk (as she nearly fainted from being so close to him)) to the Ichiraku Ramen Bar, Naruto thanked Kami that Hinata was good with medicine. Once he told her not to hold back, she didn't. And that became a problem for Naruto. She kicked his ass. She was a lot stronger than she was when she fought Neji. But then again it had been two years since that Chuunin Exam. He was almost tempted to summon the Frog Boss to save him, but that would require him to kill many trees and he may have actually hurt the girl. Both of them were exhausted by the time sunset came. Apparently Hinata had not used her Byakugan for that long of time or used that much chakra for her Jyuuken before, otherwise she wouldn't have promptly fainted after attending to Naruto's wounds. She revived a half hour later and that's when they started off towards Ichiraku.
"See Hinata, I told you ya had it in you. You kicked my ass and I'm the man destined to be Hokage. There's something you can tell you grandkids." Naruto told her, causing the girl to break into giggles. When she 'recovered,' she smiled at him again, but this time it was different. Instead of the small, sad, shy smile that she usual wore, she beamed at him, making her look prettier than anyone he had ever seen. He realized he was staring and turned away with a faint blush on his cheeks. This was no time for him to be thinking about Hinata like that. He was in love with Sakura-chan………right? He would think about it later, after he had his ramen.
Almost like magic, they were in front of the boy's favorite food place. He plopped down in a stool and ordered for the both of them while Hinata sat on the one next to him. The storeowner looked over at the girl and welcomed her as he had the day before and she bowed her head to him before he left to make the ramen. Silence fell between the two as their food was being made, but there was something that Hinata wanted to know.
"N-Naruto-kun?"
"Hmm?" He looked up from staring blankly at the counter.
She looked away shyly, "D-do you think we could train together again?"
"Why wouldn't we? I had a great workout today with you. Kakashi-sensei won't be back from his mission for a week so I'm free and your sensei's on a mission, right. So we could train together until they get back."
"B-but wouldn't you want to train with someone else… like maybe Sasuke-san or Sakura-san…?"
"Not really. I can't let Sasuke see all of my special attacks and Sakura-chan doesn't like to train with me. Besides it was fun with you as my partner." He turned to look Hinata in her eyes, "Do you want me to train with someone else?"
"N-no…"
"Then what's the problem?"
"I just don't want to hold you back…" she trailed off.
"Hinata… Please stop it." It really annoyed him when she would talk down about herself. That lack of confidence was rearing its ugly head again. He wanted to just shout at her sometimes, but even he, the densest being alive, knew how sensitive the Hyuuga girl was. His lack of tack could and would only fan the fires of her self-hatred.
She looked at him, confusion written on her face, but before she could ask him what he meant, their food arrived and Hinata learned that it was best not to talk to Naruto when he was eating. She took her chopsticks, broke them, said her grace, and began to eat as well. She was hungry too.
About a half hour and ten bowls of ramen later (1 being Hinata's, the rest Naruto's), Naruto pulled out Gama-chan and paid for the food after convincing a very red Hyuuga heiress that it was his treat.
"So Hinata, where do you live?" He asked as they exited Ichiraku.
"On the outskirts of town. Near the forest." She answered timidly. She was about to say her goodbyes and head home when…
"I guess I'll walk you home then."
Had Hinata not been raised by a refined and prestigious family, her mouth would have hit the ground. Her mind was on overload. 'D-d-d-dinner and walking m-me ho-home?!? It sounds like a-a-a date…' A fresh, bright, hot blush covered her face as she could only nod her head in acceptance.
"Alright. Let's get going then!" he said, his foxy grin once again on his face. He started walking and noticed that Hinata wasn't following. "Oi, Hinata! It's getting late. We've got to get you home before it gets too dark."
Her face burned even more with embarrassment as she scurried after him. Once she was at his side, they continued their trek to the Hyuuga estate. The walk was quiet, yet tense. Never being one for uncomfortable silences, Naruto started talking.
"Hinata, you are going to participate in the upcoming Chuunin Exams, right?"
The girl shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know, Naruto-kun."
"Why not? You did great in the last one." He praised. Unbeknownst to him, the girl next to him stopped walking.
"B-but I lost. And I lost miserably." She said softly, her head bowed shamefully and her eyes downcast.
Normally soft whispers like Hinata's were overlooked, but Naruto heard her words. And the pain behind them. It made him stop. It made him slightly cringe. The contempt the girl held for herself hurt him. And he didn't even know her that well.
Her attitude reminded him of his old self. Of a time before friends where there was no one to comfort him, only people to hate him. A time of only people that made him hate himself. Hatred that made him want to stop living sometimes. He didn't want anyone else to feel that way. Especially Hinata. She was a nice girl and she was one of the few people that actually understood him. He never realized it before he met her yesterday. He could be very slow at times, he admitted.
He took a deep breath then turned around, his hands behind his head and foxy grin plastered on his face. "Hinata, you did great. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You made fuzzy eyebrows get serious! He doesn't take off his weights for just anyone. You also used Kaiten… Trust me, that move hurts. You should be proud of yourself." He saw that there was no change in her attitude so he turned his back to her. "Because I was."
The wind picked up as silence reigned once again. Then footsteps were heard. Naruto looked back to see the Hyuuga girl walking towards him with her head still bowed. She stopped when she reached him and raised her head so he could see her. Her cheeks were tear stained, but she gave him a small closed-eyed smile. "T-thanks you, Naruto-kun. That meant a lot to me."
He smiled back at her. "No problem. I'm just telling the truth." He told her as they started walking again. "So are you going to participate?"
She gave him a shy look, "I-I guess I will."
He grinned at her, "Great." She smiled back, her eyes not meeting his. Then they came up to her house-erm a better word would be estate. They saw someone approaching them.
"Hinata-sama and Naruto?!?!?" The figure questioned, quirking an eyebrow.
"K-k-koban wa, Neji-niisan." Hinata stuttered, her face covered in a large blush.
"Yo, Neji." Naruto greeted, giving him a slight wave.
The older Hyuuga gave the two a once over and stated, "I'll wait for you inside, Hinata-sama." With that he left.
Watching her cousin leave, Hinata bowed low, "Thank you very much for today, Naruto-kun. I really enjoyed y-your company. And I am looking forward to s-seeing you again… t-t-tomorrow."
Naruto, not knowing much about proper etiquette, repeated the girl's action, but bumped his head against hers, causing both of them injury. After a few mumbled swear words, he laughed it off. "I guess I'm not cut out for formalities. I enjoyed today Hinata and I'll see ya tomorrow." He turned away to walk home, but then stopped and faced her again. "And remember Hinata, I acknowledge you so don't go feeling depressed about yourself. That just reflects badly on me." He gave her another foxy grin that she loved so much and left the poor Hyuuga heiress stunned.
She blinked a few times, her mind not comprehending what he just said. "H-he ack-acknowledges me?" she said slowly, not believing her own voice. As if in a trance, she made her way to the main house. Her cousin gave her a small smirk and bid her good night before he walked off to his quarters. He knew about her thing for the fox boy and he, for once, was glad for her. Naruto was someone he could trust. He would never do wrong by her.
Yay for another chapter!!! D A little longer than normal, but hey I was on a roll! Will Naruto actually remember to think about his feelings for Hinata??? oO;;; More NaruHina pillow-fluffing coming up later! So please stay tuned. Now on to the reviews:
Wormkaizer: I love NaruHina too. D I'm glad we agree on that! - Thanks for reviewing!
Anon E. Mous: That was so nice. I'm glad you like and I'm also glad you think I didn't go OOC with them.
Xoni Newcomer ): Thanks for reviewing. I know the beginning's a bit on the cliché side, but I'm going to try and add my own stuff in the rest of the story. My spelling sucks, so I can't do much about that. If it gets by spell check, then it just stays in the story. Sorry. ;;; I hope I did better and I thank you for your encouragement.
Rune-Rune: Wandering over to the Naruto section is fun! D I just hope I got better. Thanks for reviewing
chibified kitsunes: O-O It's you! From Kitsune no Hana!!! Dude.... I'm really glad you like. If I don't mention it this chapter (which I probably will), I'll mention it next.
nArUtOhInAtA fOrEvEr: dude... I'm awesome? You're awesome! You reviewed my story! D Thanks a lot!
hikariko: Glad you like. Yes, Naruto is dense. He gives the word "dumb blonde" new meaning... not cause he's dumb.... just cause he's absolutely dense. I'm hoping that when he gets older, he'll actually start to realize stuff...
joekool: You reviewed all 3 chapters!!! O-O Yay! Thanks. I'm glad you liked all the chapters!!!
Scorpio V1.2: Greatness??? ;; you really think my story is greatness?? I am honored by your review. Thank you.
nonengel: Don't worry, Naruto will make Chuunin soon enough. Thanks for the review
Darh Uranaku: My story kicks ass?? Really? ;; no one's ever told me that before. Thanks for reviewing! I'm happy you like it.
S-Wanderer999 : Whoa.... O-O such a long review.... I love long reviews! A lot of what you said is true. Naruto, IMO, isn't an intellectual. He thinks well on his feet though. He's come up with more strategies that Sakura has. He's more cunning than he is intelligent... if that makes any sense.
And the whole Sasuke thing. It's been 2 years since the Sasuke issue. With both Orochimaru and Itachi and the Akasuki out there, they need as many ninjas as they can get. Besides... - I'm convinced Naruto brought him back to his senses. I love Sasuke and all, but Rasengan owns Chidori. And now with what's going on in the manga, Sasuke stands no chance. But I also feel that Sasuke is regaining his 'old' self again... i.e. the forehead protector. At the beginning, he was like a madman, but now, he's mellowed out quiet a bit. I think the cursed seal is influencing him more than people think. Corrupting his mind and making him see things like he didn't before.
I can go on forever with this.... o-O but I think people would kill me then.... Thanks for the review! I'm glad it's struck some interest with you.
minimerc
