Letting Go

Chapter 4

Contrary to what Tsunade had thought, there was no hitch in concluding the simple mission. This left Naruto restless and frustrated, and as a result Hinata was unsure how she could help. Sakura spent the whole time in stormy silence. When they arrived back at the gates, Sakura took off immediately. Naruto didn't appear to notice or care.

Hinata was the one to break the silence. "Do you think Sakura went to report to Tsunade, or do you think she went home...?" Her mental balance had been regained since that night when they apologized, so she could keep her calm when speaking again.

"Ah... I dunno." Naruto shrugged, and started to walk towards the Hokage mansion. "We might as well go to be sure, I guess." Yawning, he added, "That mission was so... uneventful."

Hinata looked at him pointedly, and he thought for a second. "...What? Uh... what did I do?"

"It was pretty eventful for me. I know what you mean, though, Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled. Naruto blinked, surprised she wasn't mad, then smiled back. He thought to himself how strangely good it was to be around Hinata rather than Sakura all the time. If anything, he felt safer.

They walked the rest of the way to the mansion in comfortable silence side-by-side. Hanabi saw them walking as she was out for a walk, and grinned at her sister (though unnoticed.)

When the couple arrived at Tsunade's office, she was actually working. The Hokage was glad to have a reason to take a break from signing papers, however. "Oh, welcome back."

"Did Sakura come by yet?" Hinata asked quietly but with confidence.

"No... did something happen with her?" Tsunade observed that Hinata and Naruto seemed to be doing better meanwhile.

"Uh, I guess? She kind of ran off once we got back." Naruto shrugged, not really wanting to go look for her.

Tsunade closed her eyes and leaned forward on her elbows. "Interesting. I'll send Shizune to check her home this evening, then. To make sure she's alright." She sat upright and opened her eyes again. "How did the mission go?"

"It was simple with no complications, Tsunade-sama."

"I see. You're dismissed." She shooed them away with her hand and smiled.

Once the young shinobi were gone, she sighed. "There is something wrong with Sakura, huh. I had noticed she didn't seem herself lately at the hospital, but..." She frowned to herself. "I need to get back to work."

"Hinata-chan..." Naruto said suddenly just outside of the mansion. She had started to take a step towards her home, but stopped abruptly at his voice.

"Yes, Naruto-kun?"

"Would you be opposed to trying again?" He looked away, his face red. He kept getting embarrassed around Hinata, a very new emotion for him.

"What do you mean?" Hinata stared at him, trying to decipher what he meant.

"I mean... Hinata-chan..." Naruto took a deep breath and nearly screamed, "WILL YOU GO ON A DATE WITH ME?"

"A-ahh! Wh-when?" Hinata turned beet red as she lost her hold on her emotions.

"Uhh. Tomorrow night? If you want?" He looked at her through the corner of his eye, still unreasonably too nervous to look at her directly.

"Yes, of course!" Hinata bowed to him, and a passing woman giggled quietly in appreciation of their youth.

"I'll walk you home, then." Naruto faced her again and grinned widely. He held out his hand to her. Hinata looked at the hand blankly for a second, then realized what he meant and gently put her hand in his. They walked together to her house quietly chatting, all the while blushing.

That Night

Shizune knocked politely on the door to Sakura's family's apartment. Her mother quickly opened the door, with a look of worry on her face.

"Yes, can I help you?"

"Hello, Mrs. Haruno. Have you seen Sakura today? She arrived back from her mission today, but her teammates said she ran off directly after that."

"No, I haven't! I was about to go look for her! I saw her friend Naruto walking around earlier, so I knew she must be back!" The mother was in a state of near panic and kept thinking of all the worst scenarios that could have happened to her only child.

Shizune inhaled sharply, surprised at Sakura's behavior. "Don't worry, we'll find her. Do you want to come with me?"

"Yes, of course!" The woman slipped on her shoes muttering that her daughter was going to get an earful once they find her.

Shizune and Mrs. Haruno were running down the street when Shizune spotted Hinata practicing in her front courtyard. Shizune realized that she could be a big help, and called out to her from the gate. Hinata turned and ran over to the concerned women.

"Yes?"

"Hinata-san, Sakura is missing. Can you help us look?" Shizune begged, with the missing girl's distraught mother watching Hinata from behind her. Hinata did not want harm to come to Sakura, despite her dislike of the girl.

"I will help you. I'll do my best." Hinata jumped over the gate (much to the distress of a nearby servant) and activated Byakugan.

Sorry about the long wait, guys! *bows* And then to give a sort of cliffhanger is mean, I suppose. But I DON'T CAAAARE~

Well, I do, but I'm going to update more quickly maybe.

Virtual hugs to all who review. Unless you flame. Then virtual cold shoulders.