-Came out fast! I rushed through so many drafts of this and polished it up nice and shiny! Please enjoy! Again, I apologize for any typos I have NOOO spellcheck and have to sit there with the dictionary and pen and edit it with my friend-

The long walk back home after the mission was complicated with such tense emotions swirling in the atmosphere around them. However when she arrived at the village, she noticed a faded white t-shirt speeding up to her.

Naruto waved and instantly reached out to enfold her in a hug. Hinata flinched so he dropped his arms to his side, looking past her shoulder at Kiba. Hinata could hear Kiba's breath, judging by how loud and fast it was, Kiba was irritated. She turned her head to look at him, but when she turned he had already plastered on a smile, welcoming Naruto into conversation.

Naruto ignored Kiba and his attention was drawn to Hinata's face. Hinata now faced him, staring into his blue eyes, almost attempting to wince away, but she found escape impossible.

"Welcome back!" Naruto said enthusiastically.

Hinata dropped into a slight bow, "G-good to be back, Na-Naruto-Kun." She lifted her head to glance at him, but found his hand extended to her. She took his hand with hers and squeezed slightly as he eagerly shook hers.

Kiba shuffled out from behind Hinata, muttered a, 'C-ya later!' and then, followed by Akamaru, walked solemnly to his home, Shino followed his example and also departed off to his own home as well.

"Hinata-Chan!" Naruto said, his smile melting her heart. She couldn't make eye contact anymore so decided to stare at his forehand to at least feign strength.

"How'd you do?" Naruto asked, his face turning pink, "I-I mean on the mission!"

Hinata smiled, her face redder than Naruto's, "Ano, It went very well. We received a nice enough reward so that I could by groceries for my whole Clan for at least a week if needed be."

Naruto said, "No, you should buy yourself something nice Hinata-Chan, you work so hard!"

Hinata's face turned a even darker shade, "N-No no, Naruto you've got it all wrong. There isn't anything I want." But, that wasn't what she was thinking. Hinata had a whole list of things she wanted. She wanted Naruto's affection, and she wanted her first kiss to be Naruto's as well. She longed for him to achieve his dreams and be friends with Sasuke once again.

"Then, Hinata," Naruto said, "I-I think I'll bring you back a present or something from my next mission." Hinata's eyes widened, her heart's beating hastened, and her face was the color of a tomato!

"You shouldn't be so kind. I'm prac-practically useless." She confessed.

Naruto's eyes were serious, "I want to get you a gift, Hinata. I have to leave in two days." Naruto reached out, patting her head, messing up her hair. He turned and left her where she stood.

~0~

-With Sasuke-

Sasuke's eyes pierced her, welcoming her into his humbly concrete abode. She nodded and sat in the nearest chair off towards to exit, nodding in Sasuke's direction.

"Where were you?" Sasuke asked, sounding annoyed, perhaps he was.

Hinata winced. She hadn't been a very good friend. She shook her head to clear her mind.

"I-I," She paused, "I-I didn't mean to leave with-without telling you. Ano, I-I had a mission." She looked to the floor, ashamed.

Sasuke chuckled grimly, "Wasn't that rude of you?" She looked up at him pleadingly, wishing for every fiber of chakra in her body that she could make it up to him.

He spoke, "I want a favor," the cruelty in his voice scarred her, yet she nodded nonetheless.

"What's going on out there? I enjoy living in this comfortable claustrophobia, but I guess I'm curious."

Hinata fought her tears, but proceeded to speak, "Konoha is teeming with life and happiness. we haven't had too many problems and relations with other villages is prosper-" Sasuke cut her off,

"I see, and what of you?" His eyes pried open her mind and her mouth flooded with words she had yet to speak. she sort of gushed out all her emotions at once, throwing her hardships in his face for him to analyze and criticize.

"I-I'm... I'm sad! No, confused. I-I don't know what I am anymore." She shook her head, meeting his gaze, "Naruto-Kun and Kiba-Kun are acting funny! and Naruto... He... He is trying to buy me things! He k-ki-kissed me!" She paused to shake her head in distress, hugging her waist. she looked up at Sasuke who was ready for another helping of 'Hina-Chan madness'.

She inhaled and then continued rather shakily, "A-and th-then Negi-Kun scolded me saying that women a-are weak." she looked up at him once more for his opinion.

He spoke, "I disagree with Negi. You work very hard for Naruto. You held together when Naruto fell apart himself."

Hinata glared at him, feeling the tears slide down her cheeks, "No, I'm a cry-crybaby. I use Kiba-Kun to wipe awa-away my tears!"

"Someone must wipe away the tears." His voice was gentle, yet as firm as when she had first met him.

He stood up and started to make his way towards the edge of his cell, leaning his hands against the bars so she may see him better and he her as well.

She felt an urge to go to him so he may dry her tears, but she remembered he was a lethal man. He could even kill her with his eyes alone.

"Come here." He said, reaching out one of her hands, "... I won't hurt you, you can have faith in me." Hinata stood and had stepped forward like an innocent lamb ignorant to the butcher before her.

"I-I have to get stronger!" she shouted through her tears. Sasuke extended his other arm out to her and pulled her against the bars into a hug.

Confused, Hinata tried to push away, but Sasuke's grip got tighter.

Cry," He said, "You will never get stronger if you bottle it up. I had to cry at the begining. If I kept it inside I would never have become as strong as I am now."

Hinata whimpered, nodding. She could feel the strength radiating through the muscles in his arms that bound her against the bars of his cell. She could feel his breath and the beating of his heart which was slow and steady.

She surrendered and leaned against the bars, sobbing into his shoulder. When she felt her tears slow, she almost wanted to produce more so she could just inhale the scent off his skin, but then, her tears completely stopped.

Sasuke pushed her back, emotionlessly looking into her eyes, "See, you have become stronger already." He smiled faintly, "You have very admirable strength, Hinata. No wonder Naruto is so find of you." Hinata gave him a confused look as Sasuke released her.

She looked around, trying to see if her strength really had increased, she heard Sasuke mutter 'Baka' under his breath when she began to check her muscles. She smiled with an almost confidence.

As she began to leave, she asked him, "Sasuke, what do you like to eat?"

Sasuke replied with less venom in his voice than usual, "I hate Miso and sweets, anything besides that I'll eat."

"O-okay, I'll make you a Bento as 'Thanks'." She smiled, "I'll be stronger!"

She opened The door and walked out into what had seemed to be a brighter world, even in the darkest of the night.