Let the drabbles continue! Thanks for the review, Rose Tiger. I will definitely keep going.

I don't own Naruto.

#12. Compression

"I just don't understand it! No matter what I do it's not getting any better!"

Ino sighed. She really didn't feel like dealing with Konoha's number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja right now.

Emphasis on 'knucklehead.'

"Look, Naruto, I told you that I don't grow any flowers or plants, we just get them in shipments. I can arrange them for you, but that's it!"

"Then what am I supposed to do with this plant?" Naruto asked.

"I don't know, but it's not my problem!"

"But-"

Naruto's response was cut off by the jangling of bells, signifying a new customer.

"Welcome to our establishment," Ino said brightly, welcoming the interruption. "Oh, hi Hinata, how are you?"

"Hello Ino. H-hello N-naruto-kun," Hinata said shyly.

"Hey Hinata," Naruto said, distracted as he poked at his dying plant. He quickly turned his attention back to Ino.

"So what should I do with this plant, then?"

"Gah! I don't know, you idiot! Figure it out yourself!"

Her tone quickly transformed from angry to sweet as Ino addressed Hinata.

"Can I help you find something, Hinata-chan?"

"It's okay. N-naruto-kun w-was here f-first," Hinata responded, uneasy with how Ino had dismissed Naruto.

"Nah, it's okay! I was just leaving, I guess. Thanks though."

Naruto grinned at Hinata as he said this, scooping up his plant from the counter.

"Those flowers are really cool, Hinata," Naruto continued, pointing at the small bluebell flowers in Hinata's right hand. "Did you grow them yourself?"

Hinata blushed.

"Y-yes. I c-came in f-f-for s-some other ones to p-press."

Shaking, she held out a small paper with pressed flowers arranged neatly on it.

"Wow! That's so cool," Naruto said, grinning broadly. "Well, see you two later."

"Bye, Naruto!" Ino called out in a singsong voice.

"W-wait, N-naruto-k-kun," Hinata stammered, shocked at her own boldness. "M-maybe I c-can help you w-with your p-p-plant."

"Really? That would be great Hinata! Stop by any time!" Naruto said, waving at the two women as he walked out the door.

"You're still in love with him, Hinata-chan?" Ino said incredulously. "I would have thought three years would be long enough without him to have come to your senses."

"N-naruto-kun is k-kind and n-never g-gives up," she said stubbornly. "Y-you shouldn't have been so m-mean to him."

Ino flicked her ponytail with her hand.

"Maybe Naruto isn't the only one who's grown up a bit," she said, looking at Hinata.

"Good luck."

A/N: Thank you so much to HikariZaichuYami for the TWO reviews! I'm so happy you liked the stories that much!