I'm taking advantage of my computer time and updating as much as possible. Usually I try to sway back and forth making chapters more Hinata-centric, or more Naruto-centric, but, as I mentioned in the previous chapter, 13 and 14 break at a necessary, but awkward point. At the suggestion of Wash, I kept this chapter more Hinata-centric, (it's actually more Sakura-centric than anything) which breaks the previous cycle. I don't own anything but the plot. Enjoy!

I forgot to do shout-outs last time so this is for uzukun7 and Chrikaru. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

Konohagakure Holiday

Halfway through their trek up to the summit of the Hokage Monument, Hinata realized that she had not yet passed Sakura's test. Sakura had momentarily accepted her as an ally in embarrassing Naruto, but she obviously still had a lot to prove in Sakura's eyes. The pink-haired woman fired question after question at her as they climbed, and to make matters worse, Hinata had her hands full feigning fatigue, deciding that it would be odd if a supposed journalist somehow had the stamina of a trained ninja.

"So what do you think of Naruto so far?"

This was Sakura's next question, and Hinata paused a moment, leaning against a nearby tree and pretending to catch her breath. It was a very tricky question.

"He's a very admirable person," she finally said, stumbling a bit as she continued to walk.

"Yeah, and a very annoying and inconsiderate person."

Sakura grumbled a bit as she said this, leaning forward at just the right time to grab Hinata's upper arm and keep her from falling.

"See!? He doesn't even care about your well-being! You're a journalist, not a ninja! Why should he expect you to make this climb?"

Her voice became louder and louder in punchy yells that echoed by the end of her sentence.

Hinata bit back a giggle. She hadn't meant to appear quite so inadequate and helpless, knowing that she could have easily run up the rocky trail or even flash-stepped through the trees. Hinata stifled another giggle as it occurred to her that she had probably done exactly that the night before, acting on autopilot as the sleeping pills had begun to kick in. Unfortunately she only remembered vague flashes of moonlight and leaves.

Adopting a peaceful and serene mask, Hinata feigned breathlessness once more and looked up the trail towards the oblivious Naruto.

"You think so?" She finally said, pausing to study him.

"That's not what I see at all."

Hinata, caught up in gazing at Naruto, missed Sakura's piercing look.

"Look. He looks straight ahead. His eyes are always up, his head is always high. You say he's inconsiderate, but I don't think so. Right now he's excited to show us someplace he loves. He's not thinking about how to get there, only of the joy at the end. Some would say that it's an admirable and enviable quality."

Her voice became dreamy and her throat closed, jealous of his straightforwardness. If only she could adopt the same method of dealing with people. Of dealing with her family. She paused a minute more before turning wordlessly and starting up the path again.

Sakura, stunned into silence, remained frozen as she watched 'Hina's' retreating back continue to stumble on the uneven ground. She couldn't remember a time when she had been so soundly, and politely, put in her place.

"How dare she," Sakura whispered under her breath. Her eyes narrowed, as her body burned with hatred towards the princess.

"She doesn't know anything about me. Or about Naruto! What would she know, leading her perfect life as a perfect princess," Sakura continued to whisper, stomping up the mountain after 'Hina.'

"Hey, Sakura! You okay back there?"

Naruto's voiced echoed from the path ahead and his head peeked out from around a corner.

"You're smashing as much stuff as Chouji does when he uses an expansion jutsu!"

Laughing heartily at his own joke, Naruto grinned until he saw the expression on Sakura's face. His own expression quickly fell, replaced by a look of fear as he nervously backed up the path and disappeared around the corner.

"I'll…uh…just keep walking then…," his voice drifted back to her.

"Yeah, you do that, idiot," Sakura mumbled, not really sure who she was angry at anymore.

A/N: If the last chapter was short, this one was REALLY short, but I wanted to break up the two chapters like this because it keeps them as separate scenes.

I don't mean to make Sakura only the 'bitch' and foil to Hinata's perfectness (as some NaruHina stories tend to do). She's a complex character with her own issues and I tried to write how she would feel if someone, who has only known her best friend for a few hours, suddenly reveals to her a side that she never picked up on or noticed. She feels angry, but also embarrassed that she didn't pick up on that side of Naruto first. Hopefully this comes across, but if it doesn't, I'm very sorry.