As Naruto sat the restaurant and talked to Jiraiya about the Chunin exams and his feelings for Hinata, he felt a peace that always surrounded him when he was with Jiraiya. As Jiraiya gave him tips on how to make Hinata return his affection, Naruto thought that it was just too sexually deviant for him and he was just way too shy to act the way Jiraiya wanted him to behave. As they both laughed at each other antics and conversations they were approached by Kakashi who looked directly at Naruto and bowed and asked if he could join them at the table.

"Sakura told me that you helped them out considerably in the Forest of Death, did you by chance see that powerful Grass ninja that attack Sasuke?" As Kakashi looked at the Genin.

"No I didn't by the time Hinata came and got me Sasuke was already unconscious and feverish. She said he was defeated by some Kunoichi that turned into a man with extraordinary skills that bit him and left some kind of weird seal on his neck.

"I figured as much but I had to ask you just in case. So I see that you're very skilled Genin, everyone is still talking about that little match you had. It was deemed the best match in years, some already think that you will be a Chunin this year Mikado, I must agree on that. I see you trained with Jiraiya -sama so you must have some real talent if he took you under his wing. So was it very exciting meeting the famed Sannin and how did you two meet anyway? Asked Kakashi.

"I didn't know who he was at first, when I met him he was doing his so called "research" and some women came and beat me with sticks because of the misunderstanding he caused by his so called inspiration for his novel. I left that little village and traveled north when I saw something out of the ordinary an old man being robbed, so I went to save him from the bandits and it turns out to be Jiraiya. He watched me fight and didn't bother to give me a hand, then a bandit attacked me and Pervy Sage saved me and then he showed me a really cool jutsu and I spent the next two months training with him to learn it. I had to leave because I wanted to continue my journey of self-improvement so I came back to the southern Konoha and asked to be enlisted to take the Chunin exams and we're all caught up" as Naruto looked at Kakashi to give him the abridge version of events.

Kakashi smiled, "what about the Hinata part of your little adventure? I was more interested in how you two became interested in each other? All she could do was talk about you rather the exam she was taking" as Kakashi gave a smile.

"She did?" As Naruto jump up so excited and looked around, all eyes were on him from that outburst of affection he displayed for Hinata.

"Calm down Mikado just hold your horses and Kakashi you know better than to mentally mess with a young Genin in love. Are you trying to give Sasuke an edge over Mikado" as both the grownups laughed.

Naruto felt really embarrassed but thought about his actions and started to laugh along with Kakashi and Jiraiya. He thought he never laughed out this loud before but he was enjoying the company at the table and didn't care who heard him.

"Any ways I had to see whom Hinata was so excited about and she wanted me to give you a message. She wants you to meet her at training ground six…" Before he could finish the sentence Naruto was out the door running in the wrong direction.

"Wow, he is smitten like Sakura said, he didn't let me finish my sentence at all. She wanted to meet him at seven o' clock and it's just a little past noon. Does he even know where the training ground six is located?" As Kakashi looked at the teenager run faster than he ever seen anyone ever run.

"Nope but by the time he actually does find it, I wonder just how long will he wait for her?" Jiraiya rubbed his chin to ponder about the boy's actions before he burst out laughing.

"Maybe I should just tell Sasuke to tell him that Hinata thinks that he's hot, the boy would probably pass out from those words and Sasuke would win without landing a single blow." Kakashi now join in with the laughter.

After Jiraiya and Kakashi finished laughing so hard their ribs started to ache, they knew it was young love that make young men act so very foolish. As the conversation turned serious, Kakashi told Jiraiya all about what happened to Sasuke and that the village is now on high alert. Jiraiya said he was not looking for Orochimaru and that he was just passing by and seen Mikado and wanted to see if the kid got even better from his training. Kakashi knew that Jiraiya was serious and that he would eventually leave the village again. Kakashi asked Jiraiya what about Mikado? Wouldn't he like to see his protégé compete for the title of Chunin. Jiraiya had told Kakashi that the kid would make it with no problem, he was not worried about him not becoming a Chunin in fact he told Kakashi that he think that the kid was better than him than when he was that age. Kakashi just smiled and said one day that him and Mikado should have a little sparring match. Jiraiya told him that he would stay in the village to see that match. As they parted ways Kakashi said he would inform Mikado that it was seven o' clock to meet Hinata and that he had close to seven hours before she was ready.

As Naruto arrived at the right time feeling embarrassed that he ran out of the restaurant that way and having Kakashi come and find him to tell him that it was a night time get-together made him feel even dumber. As he saw a figure approaching he was so excited to see it was Hinata, he quickly tried to straighten his hair and brush himself off to make himself more presentable to her.

"Hey Mikado as she stuttered and blushed at his presence, I wasn't sure you would find this spot? I was wondering if you would like for me to help you train?" As she stared at her new friend.

Naruto heart slump down to his stomach, he was hoping to at least go out with her once or go somewhere and talk. Hinata looked at Naruto's face and she seen how hurt he was, she thought he would want to spend some time with her.

"If you don't want to I understand but if you want to practice alone…" As her face now worn a hurt look.

Naruto noticed her facial expression quick," no I just wanted to go somewhere and talk and maybe have dinner or see some attractions with you but training is fine if you like?" Said Naruto as he put on a fake smile.

"You mean like a date" as she looked at him

"No not like a date, I mean if you're not busy we can talk and eat at a ….yeah a date I guess. I'm not good at this sort of thing Hinata I wish I were it would be so easy on my nerves and stomach but I'm not, so I'm sorry if I seem foolish around you" as Naruto looked at her.

"You're doing great, how about we go out now to a restaurant sit down, talk and eat sort of like a date?" She smiled at the young man in front of her.

"Hell yeah" then Naruto knew he blurted out another embarrassing mistake and tried to correct it" I mean sure" as he turned beet red.

Hinata blushed heavily also, she was never this opened with her emotions and lately she started feeling flush around Mikado. She started to remember it felt the same as when she was around Naruto. As they headed into town many eyes were on Hinata and the mysterious stranger who taken the Chunin exams by surprise. As they came to Ichiraku Ramen stand, Naruto was shocked out of all the stands in Konoha that she would choose this one of all places.

As they walked in Teuchi looked and saw Hinata with someone whom he never saw.

"Hyuuga-san I'm so glad you came by and are you on a date by chance?" As Teuchi was being nosey as they sat down together.

"Well yes, this is my friend Mikado and he never been here before so I treating him to the best ramen in the village. You can give me the usual and what would you like Mikado? As she blushed profoundly at the tall Genin.

"I'll have a special order, pork and chicken ramen with hot peppers and heavy soy please" as he looked at Hinata and smiled.

"Wow, someone else use to order that same exact dish, he was my best customer his name was Naruto Uzumaki, now that kid could eat some ramen. You're the first to ever say that in over two year's kid, I never thought I would have to make that order again in my lifetime "as Teuchi turned around to start their orders.

Hinata looked at Mikado and she stared long and hard. "What made you order that type of combination? That's a strange combination that no one ever orders but you did it out of the blue, don't you think that's odd to you?"

Naruto knew he was making mistakes ever since he started having feelings for Hinata. "I like mixed meats and hot food but I like my soy added while its cook what's so strange about that?"

"That's Naruto's order didn't you hear him?" As she looked at Mikado long and hard.

"Can we please not talk about Naruto for tonight? It was just a coincidence that's all, I just want to get to know Hinata Hyuuga tonight. I am really nervous about being with you and I don't want to be compared to Naruto not tonight anyways" as he looked directly at the walls to avert his face from her.

Hinata decided it was just a fluke he ordered that combination and dropped it. As both teens started to talk, Hinata told her life story and Naruto listened to every word with enthusiasm. Naruto could not believe that she searched for him the entire time he was gone so passionately, she told him about the adventure in the Land of Waves when they encountered Zabuza and Haku. As Naruto began to talk he had told her that he had always been alone and that basically he only took up being a ninja to be strong so that he could stand alone. He told her his first sensei only looked at him as weapon and that Jiraiya looked at him as a human being of flesh and blood. Even though he only knew Jiraiya a short time he was glad he came into his life even if he was a pervert.

As they talked for about an hour her father passed by along with Kō and seen her talking to a young man.

"Who is that my daughter is talking to Kō?" Hiashi stopped in his tracks across the street as he saw them sitting at the stand.

"That's Mikado Tae Shin, he's the ninja everyone is talking about Hiashi-sama, they seemed to be very good friends the way they're talking to each other." Kō smiled at how Hinata was glowing next to the young man.

"So he's the one that personally challenged Neji for hurting my daughter, he doesn't look that tough to me but looks can be very deceiving. That look he has on his face, I once had that same look as well when I was his age." Hiashi looked at his daughter smile as she looked directly into the boy's eyes.

"What look is that Hiashi-sama?" Asked a very puzzled Kō.

"Never mind, I will see you back at the compound soon, I want to talk to my daughter and her newly acquired friend." Hiashi looked at Hinata's former bodyguard as he bowed and left.

"I thought that Kakashi and Sakura were just over-exaggerating but it looks like it is true." Thought Hiashi as he continue to look at the young love birds

As Hiashi walked over to them, he stood behind them for quite a while before he made his presence known to them.

"Hello Hinata, who is your friend you're sitting with?" Hiashi played like he didn't know who the boy was.

'This is Mikado Tae Shin, he advanced to the finals today and we were talking about everything under the sun" as she smiled at her father.

"Oh yes you're the one everyone can't stop talking about in the village? They say your skills are great and that you defeated a sound ninja with a single move, very impressive indeed. So what style do you use if you don't mind me asking?" Inquired Hiashi as he gave the teenager a glare that unnerved him slightly.

"I use a variety of Taijutsu styles to confuse my opponents; I borrow from here and there to make my own suitable style so that it can make me strong and unpredictable. If one style doesn't work I can quickly go to the next to throw off my enemy" Naruto looked at her father in the eyes and shivered.

"Interesting it must work very well for you because you're in the finals and my daughter is not" as he glared at her with disgust.

"I'm very proud of Hinata, she did excellent in the Forest of Death she saved my life from Sasuke, she showed me true strength when she stood up to Neji. Courage is something that must runs in your family Hiashi-sama because Hinata has it by the tons" Naruto smiled at her to let her know how truly strong she was.

Hinata could not believe that he stood up for her and telling her father that he was proud of her when her father was clearly not.

"You are very interesting young man to stand your ground for my daughter like that or is because you're in love with her?" Hiashi looked down at Naruto.

Both teens blushed hard and looked as though they both were going to pass out from her father saying that out loud.

"You can't believe rumors Hyuuga-sama, people are always going to say something about things they know nothing about, so they will just guess what is happening between me and your daughter" the blood finally left Naruto's face as he was paler than Hinata.

"Who said I heard some rumors? I know when young people are in love and trust me Mikado you are in love with my daughter bad. You don't see any flaws when you look at her, you also have look that says she is the only woman in the world you want to give your heart completely to. Neither one of you didn't notice I was behind you for two minutes until I made myself known and you're both ninjas which should never happen! So cut the act and say you like each other, time on this planet is so very precious so be happy that you two found each other in a world filled with billions of people " as he called for the cook he paid for the couples meal and headed out smiling from ear to ear.

Naruto was so scared and mortified to look at Hinata he thought that he would faint. As he turn around to tell her that her father was maybe a little bit too honest, he saw Hinata lying on the floor with Ayame trying to revive her from that bomb of a statement her father dropped on them.

"Are you sure you want to date her? You know if you get married he will be your father in law" said Ayame as she tried her best to revive a passed out Hinata.

As Naruto and Hinata stayed at Ramen stand for another hour, Naruto decided to walk her home. They were both quiet from her father statement he made, both were afraid to look at the other. Naruto always thought that he would die in battle, not from being embarrass to death by someone's father. As they arrived at the compound Hinata was still red and could not look at Naruto directly in his eyes.

"So will you still let me train with you Mikado?" Finally she broke the long silence between them.

"Of course I would love to train with you, if you think your father will be okay with it?" Said Naruto as his courage returned to look at her.

Hinata just smiled and nodded; as both just stood there for minutes waiting for someone to make the first move. Naruto moved forward, Hinata moved backed, and vice versa. Suddenly Hinata grabbed Naruto and kissed him so passionately that Naruto turned red and became very light headed as he returned the kiss. Hinata broke off the kiss and ran into the house, there she fainted safely behind the door. Naruto stood there at the gate compound, when suddenly he just dropped to the ground passed out with the biggest smile on his face he ever had.

Hiashi just stared at Naruto laying on the ground as he looked out the window smiling as he witnessed the whole thing between the two.

"Kid is one powerful ninja everyone talks about and he flattened by a single kiss from my daughter. Kakashi and Sakura were right, he has it bad for her and doesn't even know it" as he chuckled to himself as he looked at the still passed out ninja laying on the ground.

If any reader has time checkout Love and Sacrifice.

Thanks for reading my story and leave a review or PM to tell me how its going so far. And the ones that PM thank you so very much for your comments. Like I said in my profile not an author but I just want to write to keep my mind from being bored. For all the authors I enjoy all of your stories but there are to many to name. And if you guys know any good stories let me know. I love to read.

Thank you once again

Chris Uzumaki