Thank you for reading this far! It makes me happy that you have decided to give my story a chance!

Two characters I also wanted to focus on were Ino and Hinata, two characters who I absolutely adore. Especially with Hinata in this story, I wanted to give her an avenue to become the character I thought she never became in the actual series: A strong, independent female who didn't need to pine after a man in every panel. This chapter is the first step in that direction for her.

I also felt that Hinata's friendships were never really touched on in the series, so I kind of just wanted to do something with that. :P

Please enjoy!


Chapter 4

There was no way other way to say it. Ino was pissed.

Her hair hit someone in the face as she determinedly pushed through the crowd. She stepped on a guy's foot, and he winced. She didn't notice nor care.

What in the hell? she thought.

She shoved aside a man who was walking too slow.

"Move, why don't you?" she hissed.

"Bitch," he said back.

"What did you call me!?"

But the man had become lost in the bustling crowd. Ino scowled in frustration. This could not, she thought, be any more annoying.

It took her a minute, but she eventually navigated her way out of the crowd. Despite how much she loved the Fireworks, the crowds in town the days before were intoxicatingly large. She inhaled a lungful of air and exhaled. She needed to find Sakura. Now.

Down the street, she could see the light of Ichiraku's as it shined like a beacon against the dark sky. Other areas were strung up with pink, green, and orange lights in preparation for the big day. But Ichiraku's didn't have those. It lit up the night all by itself.

Looking at the ramen bar made Ino hungry. She didn't normally like to eat ramen because it was extremely unhealthy. Yet, it wouldn't kill her to indulge herself once and a while, especially in this situation.

Ino sighed and stalked toward the ramen bar. This. Freaking. Situation.

She slumped into the far left seat of the bar and slapped a few bills on the table. "Gimme the best ya got, Ichi."

The old man smiled underneath his white and red hat. "No problem, Yamanaka-san."

Ino glanced about the ramen bar. There was no one but her there tonight. She blinked. No, wait. There was someone.

"Hinata?"

Without a second glance, Ino would have hardly noticed she was there. The girl lifted her pale face and revealed her startling lavender eyes.

"Ah, Ino-san!"

Hinata immediately stood up and rushed over to hug her. Then she gasped. "Ino-san, did you know that you have a vein sticking out of your forehead? Also, your heart is racing and your hands are shaking."

Ino frowned. "Ya. I know."

She turned away and pouted, causing the vein to stick out farther. Hinata slid over into the seat next to Ino, who noticed that the girl hadn't ordered anything. "Is something wrong?" Hinata asked.

Ino winced at the question. Of course something is wrong, you idiot, she thought. But, given that it was Hinata, there's no way Ino could say that out loud. Instead she forced a small chuckle. "Eh."

Hinata's big eyes looked at her intently. "What is it?"

Ino huffed again. She had forgotten that this was what Hinata was like now. Ever since the end of the war a few years ago, Hinata had been acting more and more confident. She'd changed her whole wardrobe, suddenly seeming to realize that she, in fact, had a stupendous bust and wide hips. She wasn't slutty, but she ditched the hoodies and bulky pants for clothes that better accentuated her figure. She also was wearing her hair up more. This wasn't a bad thing. In fact, it was good for her. She'd needed it for years. But, with Hinata being more confident in herself, she also talked a lot more. And right now, Ino did not want to talk.

"It's not really a big deal," she said. "I'm fine."

But, Hinata didn't listen. She widened her gaze and veins popped out on the outsides of each of her eyes. For a minute, she seemed to see into Ino's soul. Then, the veins receded and her eyes returned to normal. Hinata cocked her head. "You're having...man troubles?"

This was another annoying thing came with Hinata's confidence boost. Not only was she changing her wardrobe and her daily word utterance, but she also was using her Byakugan a lot more.

Ino turned her head. "Um.."

Hinata smiled sadly. "I know that's what this is," she said. "With my eyes, I can see your heart beating and your lungs expanding and contracting. Your heart rate and breathing patterns only get like this when it's about a man. I've noticed this over time."

"That's creepy as hell, Hinata."

The dark haired girl raised her eyebrows. "Really? Well, I just figured that, in this case, you needed someone to talk to." She shook her head, genuinely ashamed. "Sorry for intruding."

Ino chuckled. She felt herself cool down a little. It's not a big deal, she thought, I guess I can tell Hinata. But then, I've gotta get out of here and kick Sakura's ass for not being around. Where the hell is she?

She sighed and rested her elbow on the table, gently running her fingers through her long, blond bangs. "Hinata, I always thought I would've grown out of this kind of thing. But, I don't think I have. Please don't judge me, okay?"

Hinata nodded silently.

Ino then reached into the back pocket of her shorts, and pulled out a white slip of paper. She slid it over. "Read this."

Hinata took the paper. Ino put her hands over her eyes in exasperation.

"210,577 yen!?"

The blonde nodded sheepishly. Then, she groaned. "This is how much I've spent on shopping in the last two weeks. The last two weeks. I could've bought Shikamaru a new office with this."

"He could use that," Hinata noted, looking thoroughly perplexed. "Why would you ever need to spend that much?"

Ino wanted to whack some sense into her for not understanding, but she also was too humiliated by the number on the bank slip that ,she didn't think she had any right. Instead, she sighed. "There was this kimono I saw in one of the shop windows. It was aqua with silver flowers and coral accents and it looked so gorgeous...I just had to buy it. This was in June."

Hinata's eyes widened. "This June...like eleven months ago?"

"No, the other June... of course, the June eleven months ago."

"Sorry, Ino-san, I'm just trying to keep track."

"It's alright."

"Continue. Sorry."

"It's okay, quit apologizing! Anyway, I bought the kimono. I stored it in my closet for, like, eleven months. I went to try it on today and, wouldn't you know it? It was freaking ripped!"

She slammed her hand onto the table in a rage. Hinata looked horrified. "Ripped? Ripped how?"

"How should I know?" Ino hissed. "I left it there for eleven months. For all I know, demon moths could've eaten at it. Point is, it's ruined. Torn right down the middle."

Hinata put her hand to her mouth, taking up a thinking pose. "Maybe we could fix it. Do you know how to sew?"

Ino shook her head. "I've been trying to find Sakura, but she wasn't at her house. She knows how."

The raven haired girl nodded. Then, she stopped. "Wait...if you only bought that kimono, then why was that receipt so...ungodly high?" she asked.

"I kept...buying stuff," Ino said. "Not in June, but in the more recent months. Like this outfit?" She gestured to her current outfit. It was a purple top and purple short shorts, laced tights, and tall black boots. "This outfit was...well...way too expensive."

"It looks pretty though."

"Yeah well, it hasn't really...had it's intended effect yet."

Hinata nodded, but didn't seem to be following.

Ino continued. "I bought all this for a reason. Yeah, it's fun to wear, but there's another reason."

No response. Ino went on, slowly.

"Because, you know, I wanted to get asked to the Fireworks. By someone."

Hinata's eyebrows shot up and her face began to pale. "Who-"

"Not Naruto, don't worry," Ino interrupted, waving her hand.

The girl exhaled and attempted to regain her composure, even though her face had a lingering crimson. "T-then who?" she asked quickly.

Ino slapped her hand over her eyes again, except she covered her whole face this time. You could still see the redness creeping down her neck. She paused. Then, quietly,

"Chouji."

Hinata gasped, and Ichiraku chose this moment to bring Ino's order of ramen to her. He set it down, looking at Ino with a concerned glance. She still had her hand covering her whole face. He looked to Hinata. "Is she.."

"Sh-she's fine. Thank you, Ichiraku-san."

The cook made his way back to the kitchen. Hinata grabbed Ino's forearm, the one not holding her hand over her face.

"Ino-san! This is great!" Hinata whispered excitedly. "I'm so happy for you!"

The blonde shook her arm out of Hinata's grip and pried her hand from her face. "How!?" she said, her voice a little too high pitched. "Did you not see my receipt?"

Hinata started laughing. "Ino-san," she said between giggles, "You like him, and he's a great person. I really hope for the best for you, truly."

Ino looked down. Then, her face pinked. Then, reddened.

"I...I don't even know how to deal with it," she said. "I never thought it'd be him. He's not a hunk. He's not the most skilled ninja. But he's so genuinely sweet and caring. Enough to make me..do this."

She pointed to her tomato-red face.

Hinata glanced into Ino's ramen, thinking. Then she looked up. "Trust me, Ino-san, I know how you feel."

Ino felt the redness in her face dissipate. Hinata's eyes looked to the ramen, but Ino didn't think she was really seeing it. She decided to capitalize on the opportunity to change the subject.

"You still really like Naruto, huh." she said.

The dark haired girl's eyes didn't move from the ramen.

Ino turned in her seat. "Have you ever thought about moving on?"

Hinata moved her eyes to the wood of the table.

Ino paused. Then, she picked up her chopsticks and positioned them in her fingers. "I mean, Naruto's great. He's funny. Brave. Hot, even. But, like-" she paused to slurp some of her ramen into her mouth. "-what's keeping you around? You've liked him for years and he's only ever really liked one girl. And...well, I don't think that's going away soon."

Hinata leaned on her hand. "It's not."

Ino continued to eat. "I just..I think you're not yourself around him. I mean, whenever someone talks about him, you turn into a shrink. That's not who you are anymore. You're confident, smart, kind, and indepe-oh shit!" she exclaimed, "I forgot to give thanks!"

"Itadakimasu," Hinata said glumly.

"Thanks."

"Yup."

Ino slurped up more noodles. "Point is," she said, "you don't deserve the heartache that comes with pining for a guy who won't feel the same way. And trust me, I know how that feels. Twelve year old Ino's obsession with Sasuke-kun, anyone? Talk about shallow."

For a second, Hinata perked up. "Does Sakura-san still like him?"

"That asshole? Hell no. Not anymore, Thank Kami-sama."

Hinata looked down again. Ino scraped the bowl and looked up, mouth full. Hinata wasn't Ino's best friend by any means, but she didn't like seeing her so sad. Especially since she'd just helped her with her problem. She wanted to put her hands on Hinata's shoulders and tell her that everything would be all right. She wanted to tell her that Naruto was smitten with someone else, and that Hinata deserved someone who felt that way about her and her only. She wanted to make the girl smile.

There was the awkward sound of a bowl sliding across wood as the bowl was put in front of Hinata. Then, Ino tossed her chopsticks over. Hinata looked up, startled. "Wha-"

Ino smirked. "Eat up, kiddo. What are you thinking, coming to Ichiraku's and expecting not to eat some ramen? Gimme a break."

Hinata's face softened as she picked up the chopsticks. She twirled them in the broth and then took a bite, smiling softly. "It's good."

"Heck yeah, it is. It's Ichiraku's."

Ino stood up and saluted to the chef. Then, she stretched. "Well, I'd better get going. I gotta go find Sakura and kick her ass. Seriously, who goes missing when they're needed for something?"

Hinata smiled into the ramen. "Bye, Ino-san. Thanks for everything."

Ino turned to leave, and then, looking over her shoulder, said, "Same to you."

Then, she walked away, ponytail swinging, leaving Hinata with a bowl of ramen and a head full of thoughts.