Hey all! Sorry this is so short, but it's all I had time to write... There will be updates this summer, though, starting July 26th. Have a great summer holiday, the case being, and stay away from the heat ;)

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Hinata brushed her long, damp hair, wincing when her comb snagged on a tangle. When she was done, she patted the dark locks with her towel, looking at herself in the mirror while she did. She was looking better, she decided – less tired. And the long hours spent outside practicing in the sun were definitely giving her a rosy complexion.

Ever since Sakura had told her and Ino about her plans to pass the jonins exams, they had been exercising together. It was unusual, and unexpected, to say the least. She and Sakura got along well, but they hadn't had that many chances to grow closer as friends. Besides, Hinata had always been slightly intimidated, to say nothing of the burning envy she felt despite herself. Sakura was the girl Naruto had always loved, ever since they were children.

Hinata sighed. Not that there was any surprise there – Sakura had always been popular with boys, so effortlessly lovely and outgoing as she was. Now she was stronger than most of them as well. Tsunade's apprentice – how was Hinata supposed to compete with that?

She slipped on a tank top and shorts and left the bathroom, feeling limp and exhausted from exerting herself in the boiling heat. But they couldn't afford to miss one day of practice, and Sakura had begged her and Ino to help her make up for the time she'd lost.

And help her get her mind off Sasuke too, Hinata thought. Sakura hadn't explained to Hinata what had happened between them, but from what she could piece together with Ino's non-too-subtle hints, there was definitely something.

Hinata blushed. That fateful night three days past came back to her mind in a flash. She hadn't dared tell anyone about it, not even Kurenai, as if telling would somehow make it less real. And yet nothing had really happened, she reasoned, her heart giving a little lurch.

As she was exiting the bathroom, she heard the front door of Kurenai's apartment open. And there was Sumei's happy voice… but he wasn't alone.

"I hate it when the park is crowded like that. All those children shouting give me a headache."

It was Shikamaru, taking Sumei back from an afternoon out. He had readily accepted to take care of him while Kurenai spent the afternoon at the Academy. All of his friends knew Shikamaru was always complaining about something or other, but he was never reluctant to look after his godson.

"Aw, come on, it was fun. I really feel like a kid myself when I go there, expect I'm too big for the swings now."

Hinata froze. She had never mistaken Naruto's voice for anyone else's. What was he doing here?

"Well, thanks for offering to keep me company," Shikamaru said in a slightly suspicious tone. "And walking back with me."

"Yeah, I guess I just felt like… talking, you know?"

"About what?"

Hinata tried to calm the hammering of her heart inside her chest. She couldn't leave the hallway – she couldn't face Naruto. She was too ashamed of what had happened, and she was certain coming out to greet him would only make him embarrassed. He wouldn't know what to say to her after his baffling outburst, and good-natured as he was, he would probably try to offer an explanation, which would make things even worse.

"I've been feeling really bummed – I still can't believe Sakura didn't tell me about the exams! And that I had to learn from you. No offense, but that's just weird. I can't understand why she's acting so cold."

His mind was still preoccupied with Sakura, then. Hinata looked down at her feet. The sameness of her life, despite everything that was going on around her, was absolutely depressing. It almost angered her to feel so helpless. She'd left her father's home, and yet she was still as desperate as ever where Naruto was concerned.

"Don't try to make sense of it," Shikamaru said while Sumei knocked down some building blocks. "Ow! Watch my foot. Most of the time, there's no other reason for a woman's doing than driving a man completely insane. That's just the way they are. For example…" He gave a great sigh. "I trust you're not going to blab about this like a girl?"

"You can count on me, man."

"Okay. The other day, I dropped by Choji's house again, and Ino was there… again."

"So, what's the big deal? She's just helping him out."

"Yes, I guess you could call it that," Shikamaru said flatly. "When I walked in on them, she was busy teaching him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."

Naruto gave a little laugh. "Are you joking? Ino and Choji?"

"Look, no one is more surprised than me here, expect I'm not at all surprised. They've been dancing in circles around each other for months. But still, it's not something I'd care to see again."

Hinata could barely contain her amazement. Ino hadn't said anything about kissing Choji, and she was usually so expansive on her love life… This was definitely news.

"Tell me about it. If I walked in on Sakura and Sasuke, I think I'd gouge my eyes out."

"Better get used to the idea."

"But we're a team – and Sasuke's my best friend. What am I supposed to do if they start dating?"

"Don't worry. Uchihas don't date – they just command and obtain."

"Shut up…"

Shikamaru groaned as he stretched out on the couch. "Besides, you have your problems to worry about, if my calculations are correct. What exactly happened here the other night?"

"Nothing," Naruto replied gruffly, "that is any of your business."

"Go tell that sorry tale to someone else," Shikamaru said in a bored voice. "So… you and Hinata?"

"No!"

She had nearly stopped breathing. This was too much. She couldn't stand the idea of simply waiting there, listening to Naruto state flat out that he didn't care about her.

"I mean… To tell the truth, I acted like a complete moron that night. It was a big mistake."

That was more than too much. Hinata sank down to the ground, tears wetting her eyelashes and blurring the wall in front of her. She wanted to scream, to cover her ears, to make it stop, but she couldn't. She could never stop when it came to Naruto. In a sense, he was her worse enemy.

"We've been known to do some pretty stupid things when we're drunk," Shikamaru pointed out. "Or sober, for that matter."

"Yeah, but I feel like I blew it. I can't even remember what she said exactly, but I do remember that she wanted me to leave and… well, the thing is, I can't stop thinking about her."

The wall went from blurry to toppling. But very much there – it was like the moment was tangible to the extreme, with those words floating in the air. Hinata wished she could rewind and repeat.

"I wouldn't trouble myself if I were you," Shikamaru said. "If a woman really wants a man, she'll take charge eventually."

Naruto snorted. "Well, maybe Temari broke the door down to get into bed with you, but Hinata's not like that."

"So your problem has no solution. You're obviously never going to make the first move, not that I blame you. First of all, she's a Hyuuga with a dangerous father and an even more dangerous cousin, and second, you acted like a total ass the last time you two interacted."

"You're supposed to be helping me here."

Little feet padded on the carpet. "Hey, Sumei, where are you going?"

With a strange feeling of dread, Hinata turned to find Sumei in the hallway, looking straight at her.

"Hina-chan!"

She scrambled to her feet, her cheeks burning, and looked around to find a hiding place. But there were none – Naruto and Shikamaru had already heard him.

Hinata decided it might be best to feign surprise. She walked in the living room, hoping her legs didn't look as wobbly as they felt.

Naruto had the grace to look as flustered as she was.

"Hey," she said in a cheery voice. "I didn't know you were here, I just… I just got out of the shower. I mean, I dressed, obviously, but…"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. She took a shaky breath. This was not going well.

"Well, I have to go – um – meet… Kiba."

She had said the first name that had come to mind. Naruto frowned. "Kiba?"

"Yeah, he asked me to… um… train with him. You know, we thought it would be good to practice tracking at night, since it's… dark. Well, bye!"

Hinata rushed out of the front door, squeezing her eyes shut as soon as she was outside. Out of all the mortifying moments in her life, this had been the worse, in recent memory. And now she had to find a way to occupy herself until Kurenai returned and Shikamaru left, with his suspicions in tow.

But that had never really been the problem, she thought at she rushed down the outside stairs to the ground floor. Everything she had heard, she simply couldn't keep to herself. It was time to tell Sakura and Ino about it, ask for advice… and perhaps get a few answers.

The way Shikamaru talked about women was annoying, but she had to admit he wasn't completely wrong. And it was time for her to take charge... the best she knew how, at least.