Chapter 4: Hinata's first and last love.
A/N: Hiya guys! Thanks for all the suggestions and comments you gave me on your reviews. I really appreciate them! Sorry if I am not a very responsive author in a way, well that's because I find it too troublesome to answer your messages individually so instead I answer them here. Brilliant ne?
Disclaimer: Whatever!
The beams of the blazing sun continued penetrate through the thick branches of the forest trees as the four chuunins sweat heavily from head to toe not to mention the flushed faces.
Though they might deny the rather obvious reason of their behavior, the fact that their eyes were glued to certain someone gave it away.
The girls were playing and splashing in the water again after the unexpected confession of Ino who has stopped ranting now, of course.
"Man, the girls really have GREAT body!" Naruto exclaimed.
The other three snorted.
"No wonder that the perverted sennin watched them when they were in the hot spring." Naruto said.
His companions focused their attention on him as dangerous dark aura started to emit from them. Of course, the ever so clueless fox boy didn't notice yet as he continued his little story at them.
A certain perverted white-haired sannin days' are about to be over.
"But of course, he got busted and he was sent to the hospital afterwards. And that's because of ME! I warned the girls earlier so they were able to prepare." Naruto stated proudly at them.
The all raised their eyebrows at him.
"What?" he asked quite irritated at the weird staring he was getting from his male friends.
"Are you all gay?" he asked again, this time gasping.
They merely snorted and glared at him at the same time. How ironic.
"You're starting to scare us Naruto. You learned too much from that perverted dirt bag." Shikamaru said disgustingly.
"Dobe." Sasuke said disgustingly.
"Shut up teme! Of course I'm not a perverted like that old man." Naruto said.
They all grew silent as they watched the girls came out of the water again.
"Let's play truth or dare guys!" stated Ino happily as she searched for a decent empty bottle they can use. After several minutes of searching through the things they brought with them, she finally pulled an empty mineral water bottle.
Meanwhile Naruto can't just stop the waterfalls coming from his mouth. Neji however wasn't amused by this and so with the two boys, who shifted away from Naruto, disgusted.
"Stop drooling over my cousin Naruto!" Neji hissed angrily careful not to be heard by the girls who were getting ready to play.
"Yeah, that's cool Neji, as if I didn't saw you drooling over Tenten a wile ago." Naruto said in which Neji countered with a glare.
"Shut up you freaking moron." He said while blushing profusely.
"Shh. They're starting!" Shikamaru said.
"Okay! Who's going to be first? Any volunteer?" Ino asked cheerfully as she looked around for any willing girl to be first. Hinata had her head bowed down; Tenten was determinedly looking past her while Sakura just looked away.
"You guys are a bunch of party poopers!" exclaimed Ino.
"Well if you're so excited about this why don't you go first huh?" Sakura challenged her with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah. It was your idea anyway." Tenten agreed.
"So, what do you think Hinata-chan?" Ino asked the timid girl as she turned to her.
Hinata looked up as she said softly "I agree with them Ino-chan."
"Hmp. Whatever." She replied as she spun the bottle.
The bottle spun rapidly as the girls watched it anxiously as it gradually became slower and slower until it stopped in front of …….
Kakashi shut his book as he looked at his surroundings.
It was late afternoon now, around three o'clock as the sun continued to hover above Konoha with its graceful rays shining ever so brightly in the blue sky.
And still…no sign of the four chuunins he was suppose to meet.
He decided that adding some spice in their training later wouldn't suffice (that is, if they come) and he thought five hundred laps around Konoha along with one hundred thousand push ups would do the trick.
He wondered momentarily again, if they have been getting back on him for being late, countless times before.
'Nah. What am I thinking? Only Naruto would get that stupid idea and besides, there is no way he'll be able to convince the other three to join him.'
Dismissing the idea, he then opened his book again and began to read.
…….Sakura! Ino looked triumphant.
"Ha! Fore-head girl!" she said as her eyes gleamed with mischief
"Okay. Truth or dare!" Ino asked the pink-haired girl; as her mind started thinking of ideas for dare.
"I choose …. Truth." Sakura replied calmly as Ino fell, anime-style.
"Fine be that way." Ino said as she pouted. She really would love it if Sakura has chosen dare.
Sakura just raised her pink eye brow at her.
"Okay. What should we ask her?" Tenten whispered as they hunched far from Sakura who was just staring ahead.
"I don't have an idea." Hinata replied.
"How about if we ask her if she got over Sasuke? Huh? What do you think?" Ino suggested.
"I don't think that's such a good idea! I bet she'll just lie to us." Tenten whispered back.
"You're probably right." Hinata said.
"Well, what then?" Ino asked, getting impatient.
"I have an idea trust me!" Tenten suddenly spoke eagerly as her brown eyes began to glow with mischief
Meanwhile Sakura just stared ahead, not really caring what they're question would be.
Suddenly, she felt as if someone's watching her, so she had a look around as her gaze finally landed on a certain bush.
The boys' back stiffened as they thought they have been caught but sighed in relief again as Sakura turned her head away from them as the three girls sat beside her again.
"Well, we decided to ask you about the rumors about you going out with Lee. Is it really true?" Tenten asked the girl with curios eyes.
Sakura just shrugged.
"Well ---"Ino prompted her as Hinata and Tenten continued to stare at her with smoldering gaze.
"What is it with you guys?" Sakura asked warily, getting tired of the entire gaze she's been receiving.
At the boy's place, Sasuke looked deeply surprised by her reaction.
'Does a shrug means yes?' he thought jealousy firing up his usually emotionless, coal black eyes as his inner emerged once more.
'What! How could she go out with fuzzy brows! We're definitely more handsome than him and a lot stronger too! I'm going to rip him out and tear him into pieces so fast he wouldn't be able to say sorry. Sakura is ours!' His inner said while laughing absurdly thinking of ways to torture a certain bowl-headed-thick-brows-who's-infatuated-with-HIS-Sakura boy.
He was too caught up with his jealousy that he didn't notice the odd looks his companions are giving him while shifting a little bit farther from him. They certainly did not want to face the wrath of an overly jealous Uchiha. Who knows what can he do?
They just silently prayed for the soul of Lee.
After a few moments of silence Ino spoke up.
"Well, a shrug isn't an answer, or was it?" Ino asked impatiently.
Sakura just raised an eye brow at her. "I thought you know me Ino? Lee-san and I are just friends. Yes, we train together sometimes, because I want to improve my taijutsu skills but that's just about it." She said at Ino.
"Well, do you have a special someone now?" Tenten asked trying and failing for her voice to be as innocent as possible.
'Ha! Plan make-Sakura-tell-the-truth-about-her-feelings-for-Sasuke in motion.' Ino thought wickedly as a smug smirk began curling up in her lips, which didn't go unnoticed by Sakura.
'Weird..' Sakura thought seeing the wicked smirk in Ino's smug face. 'Oops, wrong word, what I meant was scary.'
"No." Sakura said, looking away.
"No? Are you sure about that?" Tenten asked slyly.
"What I meant was 'No, I am not going to answer your question.'" Sakura said with made Ino fume.
"Well, sad to say but that's cheating! Haven't you played Truth or Dare before or you just forgot the rules in game, Sakura-chan." Ino said sickeningly sweet.
"Well, according to the rules, Ino-pig-chan, "much to Ino's dislike" that you can only as me one question. Am I right?" Sakura said calmly.
In the bushes, the boys, are stunned.
"Man, that's just Truth and Dare and look at them go! They're ready to kill each other!" Naruto said.
"That's why I never join that game. I knew it was a troublesome one." Shikamaru replied as he stifled a yawn.
"Screw the rules! Just answer our question!" Ino said getting REALLY impatient as her face grew hotter by the second.
"Jeez, know that look. How troublesome!" Shikamaru muttered, silently praying that he won't be seeing blood today.
"Well I'm afraid I can't Ino-chan!" Sakura said quite innocently which added to the irritation of Ino. Tenten and Hinata just watched in the corner, silently rooting for Ino but secretly applauding Sakura's intelligence.
They also wondered who's going to win. The match was getting quite exciting, really.
"Well, as far as I can remember, you said earlier that not following the rules is cheating and I definitely don't want to cheat. Then now you're saying that I should screw the rules? Why Ino, I guess Shika was right after all, you are an indecisive, troublesome woman!" Sakura said to the furious Ino who had moved past to hatred but now in a loathing, murderous state.
"Well, sad to say but that's cheating! Haven't you played Truth or Dare before or you just forgot the rules in game, Sakura-chan." Ino said sickeningly sweet.
Tenten and Hinata knew what was coming next as they jumped, just in time to prevent Ino from pulling Sakura's unique colored tresses.
"Why you big-foreheaded-girl! Come here and let me teach you a thing or two!" Ino screeched at the top of her lungs as the birds passing by flew away almost instantly, hearing the harsh sound.
Sakura just rolled her eyes at her which angered Ino more as she struggled harder against Tenten's and Hinata's grips which forced Hinata to use her byakugan and disable her arms as well as her legs for a few minutes to calm her down.
"I'm so sorry Ino-chan that I have to do that, but we have no choice!" Hinata apologized repeatedly.
Meanwhile, Shikamaru was impressed at what Hinata did wishing he could do that sometimes so that he wouldn't get beat up.
After a while, Ino was finally calmed down though she was still throwing murderous glances toward the pink-haired girl which she purposely avoided.
"Okay, since I already confessed about, umm you- know-who," Tenten said while blushing in which Neji smirked.
"Yeah, and I already did with Shika-kun!" Ino continued for Tenten who was fumbling with her fingers, apparently still a bit embarrassed of her revelation.
In the meantime, Shikamaru said lazily, "Since when did I became Shika-kun?" in which Naruto snickered at while Neji smirked.
"Gosh, Shika-kun! What a nice name. ! How swwwweeeeettttttt" Naruto said in a high pitched girlish voice.
"Yamero, Naruto! It's too troublesome." Shikamaru said to the laughing blonde boy.
"So, Hinata-chan, care to share?" Tenten said, finally composing herself.
"Yeah, since others don't want to!" at this, Ino sent a death glare towards Sakura who just stared back innocently, her green orbs wide as if asking, 'What?'". She hates it when she can do that!
"M-me? I-I d-don't t-think y-y-ou g-guys w-would l-like t-t-to k-know." Hinata stuttered as the ground suddenly becomes interesting to her as she was staring at it.
Hinata is nervously fumbling with her finger, a habit she had since she was a kid whenever she's nervous.
Hinata was a shy girl even in her childhood days up to now. She just stutters badly whenever Naruto was around so she never got around in confessing her love for him which was way back in the academy days. Especially when she learned his crush on Sakura but the pink-haired girl assured her that it has now evaporated and he treats her as a sister now.
"Oh, Hinata-chan! Come on, there's nobody who can hear us here! We promise we'll bring your secret along with our grave when we die!" Ino said sincerely as she put her hand on her chest for support on her statement a while ago.
"Yeah, he probably likes you too you know." Sakura said meaningfully.
"She's right. He's just too naïve for his own good." Tenten consoled the Hyuuga heiress.
"Umm---well---I-I," Hinata stuttered as all their eyes focused solely at her. She was completely caught off guard by the question.
Meanwhile at the bushes, Naruto couldn't believe his ears.
"Hinata-chan has a crush?" he muttered softly, almost to himself though the boy's still heard it which made them sigh heavily.
"Haven't you notice?" Neji asked, irritated at the blonde boy's reaction.
"No." he replied his wide blue eyes turning on him.
"Do you know who is it?" Naruto asked, genuinely curious. All of them sweat dropped.
"Dobe. You're a hopeless case." Sasuke stated at the now furious blonde boy.
"Why you TEME! Do you know who it is then?" he spat angrily at him ready to wipe the smug smirk he had in his face.
"Stop shouting Naruto! It too troublesome, especially for my ear!" Shikamaru protested.
"Besides your saliva's all over us." He continued disgustingly.
"How disgusting can you STILL be Naruto!" Neji said, revolted though the blonde boy's attention was a hundred percent on his best friend slash rival.
"Dobe. The whole freaking village knows! You're just the sole one, who happens to be the town's dumbest, loudest idiotic moron, who never has a clue in everything that doesn't know!" Sasuke said calmly.
"HMP! As if you know who it is! You don't know wh—"he was cut off his little speech as he heard what the weapon mistress had said.
"Is it Naruto?" Tenten asked as Ino's jaw dropped to the ground.
…So as Naruto's.
Hinata's eye's widened as her face grew red as a tomato.
"Well ---"Tenten asked trying to pry the answer from her.
The shy Hyuuga heiress just bowed her head down again to hide her full blown blushed face as she asked the girl with two buns up on each side of her head.
"How did you know?" she asked quietly. Was she that obvious?
During her childhood years, her father had been hard on her especially on training since she was supposed to uphold the family honor as the faithful day would come when she will be the leader of their powerful clan.
Her sister, Hanabi would always be praised by Hiashi for she always beat her in their sparring and will turn to her only to lecture her for not being strong enough to beat her little sister.
During those times she felt a tad lonely, all alone in the world she saw Naruto, training hard all by himself so as he can prove his worth to other people. She realized then that they had the same case, often judged by the people around them. The only difference that she spotted was the strong surge of determination, seen easily on his cerulean eyes.
From then on, she had always watched him from afar, too shy to speak to him or be even near to him. She just watched as the villagers mocked him and avoided him like he was some sort of a contagious disease. She pitied him yet respected him at the same time as she saw how these happenings only strengthen his resolve to become stronger.
He always said he would be the greatest hokage someday though most of the people he meets refused to believe him; she was always there, hiding beneath the shadows silently believing for him for those who can't.
"Eh?" Tenten said.
"Hinata-chan has a crush on me!" Naruto said as he almost jumped for joy though Shikamaru prevented him from doing so.
"Stand still Naruto! Or else they'll see us!" Shikamaru said, holding him down.
"Oh, Hinata-chan, it's okay! I think he likes you." Sakura said as she got up from her position and sat beside Hinata.
"You think so?" she regarded the pink-haired girl slightly.
"Oh, what am I saying? I don't think so! I know so!" Sakura said smiling at her friend as she gave her a friendly hug.
"I'm sure."
At this Hinata smiled, truthfully happy in years.
Meanwhile, at the other side of the forest, Kakashi was getting a little too impatient of waiting since he already finished reading his Icha Icha Paradise latest issue, cover to cover.
'Those brats! I don't have time to wait for hem all day!' he thought furiously as he suddenly got an idea.
He did some hand seals and a soft poof was heard with a small dog with a slightly scrunched up face emerged looking slightly annoyed.
"Are you going to feed me now, Kakashi?" Pakkun asked with an interested tone mixed in his voice.
"No. Find Sasuke, Naruto, Shikamaru and Neji. Once you have found them, tell them to meet me at Ichiraku ramen Bar." He said as he disappeared in a poof.
"Great! Just great! Now I have to find those brats!" Pakkun said as he too disappeared in a flash.
"Hinata, tell you what, we'll help Naruto realize you like him okay?" Ino said as she went over to where they sat and hugged her too.
"Thanks." She said softly.
"Hey, what are friends for." Tenten said as they had a group hug again.
Just then, a sudden movement was heard to the left of the girls which made their ninja senses alert as they reached for their kunai, already in a fighting stance.
A certain part of bush continued to shake as the four girls waited anxiously and momentarily wondering what was the thing inside the bush.
Then, as if reading each other's thoughts, they all muttered softly under their breaths.
"Perverts…."
Meanwhile, at the boy's hiding place where four of the best chuunins in Konoha, trained by different sensei's with outstanding skills are currently hiding ….
…..Uchiha, Sasuke, Sharingan wielder, sole survivor and heir to the prestigious Uchiha clan, trained all his life to defeat his bastard of a brother, a born genius, known for his chidori learned from Kakashi and famous death glare TM
…..Uzumaki, Naruto, Kyuubi vessel, a loud mouthed moron though determination is quite high, rival slash best friend of Sasuke known for his rasengan learned from Jiraiya and his obsession in Ichiraku ramen
…..Nara, Shikamaru, and more than 200 IQ, strategic and plans are his domains in missions, notorious for slacking of and trying to watch the clouds all day, known for his 'toublesome' views in life
…..Hyuuga, Neji, Hyuuga prodigy, born genius, can see past through anything with his byakugan, practically excels in everything, known for his smoldering gaze of his silvery white eyes.
………..all are shaking all over, sweating badly as the four kunoichi's walked closer to them.
"What are we going to do?" Neji said as he wiped a sweat from trickling down his smooth face.
"I-I don't know!" Naruto replied.
"Idiot! Why did you have to get all so excited anyway! You always get us into trouble!" Sasuke spat angrily at him.
"Shut up teme! You're just jealous because you know you already lost your chance in Sakura-chan!" He said as he stuck out his tongue.
"You –you shut up you freaking moron! What would you know anyway?" Sasuke said murderously his eyes turning blood red again.
"You guys, stop it already! The troublesome girls are closing in on us." He said as he was met by glaring faces.
"Don't call them troublesome you idiot!" they all said angrily as they started bickering again.
Shikamaru don't know, what's worse, Ino or them.
'How troublesome…' he thought sourly as he heard the girls talking quietly, as if devising a plan on how to know what was ion the bush.
And what else were there, three of the best chuunins, all acting like idiots bickering with each other.
He just started to pray to Kami-sama for forgiveness of his sins. He knows they're in for a brutal death, they just do not realize it now.
He cringed at the thought. He always wanted a peaceful death but now he knows he can't have it.
'What a troublesome life I have….'
Everything was a blur as a small, almost unnoticeable object swept past from trees leaving a trail of dust behind.
Pakkun was currently hopping from tree to tree as he suddenly halted, picking up the four brats' smell and amazingly he picked up different smells too.
"Mmm….smells like somebody's having a picnic, and I bet my life, they're girls." He thought as he ran towards the direction of the smell.
'I finally found those brats! Kakashi, you owe me one!'
As the girls stepped in closer to the moving bush, they heard faint noises which they couldn't quite recognize so they halted in their careful steps and backed out to plan for awhile.
You never know what's out there.
Shikamaru didn't know if he was to be afraid or relieved to see them backing away from them.
He was answered instantly.
'They were planning. This is just troublesome! Who knows what they will do!' he thought as his eyes widen considerably.
'This is the most troublesome moment in my life, or maybe the last.' He thought with a nervous gulp, waiting for their end.
A/N: Sigh, finally it's done. I made this chapter in a rush so sorry for the grammatical errors and everything! Promise I'll do better in the next chapter, after all save the best for the last ne! GOMEN again for not updating soon, we had tests coming up so I wasn't able to go near a computer last week! Wish me luck in my exams, especially in MATH! Also I am doing another fanfic simultaneously so watch out for it though; I think I may not be able to post it until next week but I'll try my best!
Thanks for the reviews; they're my source of hope so keep 'em coming!