Note: I don't own Naruto.

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Naruto and Hinata were exiting the stadium.

" Hinata-chan, I'm really proud of you for making it this far." Naruto said.

Hinata blushed.

" Wouldn't it be awesome if one of us won?" Naruto said.

Hinata looked toward the ground. She felt Neji and Naruto were the ones that the people wanted to see. She felt she was just lucky to be here. Naruto looked at her puzzled as to why she was looking at the ground.

Suddenly they were greeted by Kiba w/ Akamaru and Shino as they jumped down from a tree.

" I can't believe you guys made it this far. Hinata-chan, that was really clever how you beat that Sound nin. Everybody in the stadium was goin' nuts over how cool it was." Kiba said.

Hinata seemed surprised and pushed her fingers together blushing.

" really?" She asked.

" Oh yea." Kiba said.

Naruto smiled at Hinata, he to thought it was impressive.

Kiba then noticed someone behind Naruto. As Naruto turned he saw Sakura standing before him.

" Sakura-" Naruto said. " Why'd you withdraw? You could've continued if you wanted to."

Sakura then looked over at the new arm Naruto had to sprout because of her.

" Naruto, if it wasn't for your healing factor, I would have ended your ninja career." Sakura said. " I thought I had my skill under control. I guess I still have a ways to go."

Sakura then bowed "I apologize…for everything."

Naruto rubbed his head. " It's cool Sakura-chan, so are we friends again?"

Sakura looked up at him. "….Hai" she said.

(Note: Naruhina fans worry not. Naruto and Sakura are just friends and will be nothing more than.)

Hinata smiled seeing that Sakura and Naruto no longer resented each other. It was then that she saw Ino-Shika-Cho standing around conversing. She decided to go greet them. As she passed through she was stopped by a bystander.

" Your match was quite impressive Hinata, I hope to see more soon." A villager said.

Hinata blushed and bowed. " Arigato."

As Hinata continued she was again stopped by another villager.

" Hinata, you were amazing out there, good luck in the upcoming matches." She said.

Hinata again blushed and bowed, she was not use to so many compliments from other people.

When she finally reached the trio Ino saw her coming.

" EEEE!" Ino squealed as she rushed Hinata and hugged her. " Hinata-chan you made it so far!"

Hinata was becoming a little overwhelmed by all the positive feedback she was getting from everyone, she was certainly not used to it.

" Oh My God…… Imagine if you won? Wouldn't that be incredible?" Ino said.

Hinata seemed to come back to reality. " Well, I don't know, Naruto-kun and Neji seem to be the favorites this tournament."

" Well for he first time you actually said something that seemed like a rational thought." Said a voice from behind the group.

They all turned around to once again see Motoko Hyuuga. This time however her daughter Hanabi was by her side.

" Geeze, this bitch again? What does she do follow Hinata-chan around waiting for an opportunity to cut her down?" Ino thought.

" Of course this is the first time I heard you actually speak without stuttering like a buffoon." Motoko continued.

Ino-Shika-Cho looked to Hinata to see how she was going to handle the situation. But Hinata simply drifted her eyes to the ground so to avoid eye contact.

" But you're right, Naruto and Neji-sama are the chosen favorites for the tournament. All you would really do is just waste everybody's time. It would be a smart decision for you to withdraw." Motoko said.

Hinata continued looking down at the ground until a blue-sleeved arm came over her shoulders. She looked to her side to see Naruto.

" Hey." Naruto said.

Naruto, Kiba, Shino and Sakura had come over to join the rest of the rookie 9. Luckily using his advanced hearing, Naruto heard everything Motoko had been saying to Hinata. Naruto looked over to Motoko.

" Oh, Hinata-chan is this your grandmother?" Naruto said smugly.

Motoko took offense obviously.

" You know who I am Demon Fox." Motoko said.

" Yea whatever, look any problems you got with Hinata-chan, you can take them up with me." Naruto said.

" You should really learn you place on……" Motoko started but stopped, everyone looked down to see that Akamaru was relieving himself at the skirt of Motoko's expensive kimono.

" Gah! Get this filthy beast away from me!" Motoko shouted ripping the lower end of her kimono away.

" Akamaru come here!" Kiba shouted.

Akamaru finished then came over to Kiba. Kiba knelt down acting like he was angry with Akamaru for what he did. However when he came close to Akamaru he whispered "good boy."

" Eww, that dog is ugly." Hanabi said.

Akamaru shrunk back whimpering from the insult.

" Little snot!" Kiba said to Hanabi.

" Motoko-chan." Hiashi said from a distance.

Motoko looked over at him then took her leave, but before she left…..

" Just remember Demon-brat, the crowd came to see the knight slay the dragon. Remember that." Motoko said as she left with Hanabi following by her side.

Hinata then felt a pang of anger. She did not like it when people spoke ill of Naruto, and she certainly did not like the word "Demon-brat" seeing how it was Naruto was neither.

" You ok?" Naruto asked Hinata.

Hinata nodded while smiling, she almost forgot the fact that Naruto had his arm around her. Hinata automatically picked up Akamaru.

" Hanabi's wrong Akamaru, you're the cutest sweetest puppy in the whole world." Hinata said, then kissed Akamaru on the head.

" Geeze, again with that bitch. Hinata-chan, next time if you don't pop her one, I will." Ino said.

Hinata laughed faintly thinking Ino was kidding, until she saw that she was dead serious.

" Oh, um I don't think that will be necessary Ino-chan." Hinata said.

" Don't listen to that old hag Hinata-chan, just focus on the tournament." Naruto said.

Hinata nodded.

With that out of the way the group began to converse. For some reason Naruto was not saying a word. After about 10 seconds, until finally…

"Knock it off!" Naruto said.

The entire group looked at Naruto baffled until they saw something behind him. A short figure using a special camouflage jutsu. When he dispersed it, it was none other than Konohamaru in a striking position against Naruto.

" Hee Hee I guess there's no foolin' you boss." Konohamaru said rubbing the back of his head.

" Yea, well you're getting better, and this time you didn't trip." Naruto said encouragingly.

Hinata smiled at cute little Konohamaru.

" Konnichiwa Konohamaru-sama."

(notice she says sama to show respect, considering he's the Hokage's grandson.)

Konohamaru looked up at Hinata and smiled.

" Hey boss who's this?….. She your girlfriend?" Konohamaru said slightly elbowing Naruto's side.

Everybody expected Naruto to smack the little nin upside the head. However they were surprised to see that Naruto, along with Hinata had turned a deep shade of red and remained completely silent.

" Ko-Konohamaru why you always gotta say stuff like that? That's why people think you're weird." Naruto said blushing and stuttering quite uncharacteristically.

The Konohakagure gang were quite surprised by Naruto's weird behavior. Konohamaru however was oblivious to the awkwardness.

" Well she's super pretty boss, and from what I saw, she can kick some serious butt, I figured you'd like a girl like that." Konohamaru continued.

Hinata's face now looked similar to a cherry with hair. Naruto's face was not too different.

" Konohamaru! Come on!" Naruto said.

Konohamaru shrugged. " Ok boss, well good luck to you guys in the finals!"

With that Konohamaru ran off to no doubt get into more trouble.

Naruto looked over to Hinata, both still blushing.

" He uh…. he says stuff without thinkin' sometimes." Naruto said.

Hinata looked at him a little confused. Naruto realized his statement came out wrong.

" N-Not that you're not pretty, cuz you are err I mean uh…." Naruto mumbled becoming more and more embarrassed.

This was strange to Sakura, Naruto had never been the type to fumble his words. Anything he wanted to say he just said it. As Sakura watched Naruto fumble his words like an idiot, she decided to save his butt.

" Hey guys, why don't we visit Gaara and see how he is." Sakura suggested.

They all agreed.

Later the gang were at the hospital waiting room.

Naruto was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed looking at Hinata leaning against the opposite wall.

" Hinata-chan." Naruto said. " Just think, now that you're no longer part of that damned clan, you no longer have to listen to that Motoko bitch and don't take offense, but Hanabi seems rude to, I bet you're happy to be rid of them right?" Naruto said expecting a yes.

Instead Hinata looked to the ground.

" Well….I…." Hinata started.

Naruto was stunned, it almost seemed like Hinata disagreed.

" Sakura-chan. Me and Hinata-chan will be right back.

Sakura nodded. Naruto asked Hinata to come with him to a separate room. When they reached it Naruto turned to Hinata.

" Hinata-chan, you are happy to be out of that clan aren't you?" Naruto asked.

Hinata looked at the ground. " Naruto-kun, I just…. all I want is to be accepted by them. My father was well within his rights to dismiss me from the clan because I was weak. I just want to prove myself enough to him that perhaps he will consider letting me rejoin the clan, even if it is not as heir."

Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing.

" Hinata-chan….. do you really think that's how a father is supposed to treat his own daughter? Do you really think how he treated you was justified?" Naruto asked.

Hinata brought her eyes to Naruto.

" Look, I may be out of line here, but I grew up with no family, and even I know that's not how a father acts. You did your best to make him happy, and he treated you like garbage. I mean…. would you treat your kids that way?" Naruto continued.

Hinata didn't know how to answer the question. It was something she never considered.

" Hinata-chan, you don't need them. They were just holding you back." Naruto said.

Hinata wasn't totally sure if that was true. She still thought she was a little unworthy of being in the Hyuuga clan.

" Man, how long we gotta wait here?" Shikamaru asked in a bored manner.

" Glad to see you give a rat's ass Shikamaru." Temari said entering the room.

" Temari-chan, how is Gaara?" Naruto asked coming back into the room with Hinata.

Temari gave a slight smile." He's showing a little recovery, his eyes are moving and can focus on something. But it's way too soon to celebrate."

The Konohakagure gang was happy to hear the news.

" Naruto." Temari said. " I want to know who did this to my brother. Then I want him to suffer in the most gruesome way."

Naruto understood Temari was upset.

" I promise Temari-chan. We're gonna find out who did this to Gaara an he will pay." Naruto said.

Temari looked on at the Leaf kids. She really seemed to have taken a liking to them since the last chunin exam. She had come to call them friends. A smile came across her face.

" Naruto, you and Hinata-chan better get back soon or you'll be disqualified." Temari said.

" Whadda'ya mean it's only….." Naruto checked the clock.

" Oh crap!" Naruto said.

Naruto and Hinata bolted off back to the stadium.

Later Naruto Hinata and Neji stood in the middle of the battlefield to view the names next to be announced on the board. Hinata stood in the middle as Neji and Naruto stood on each side eyeing eachother. Hiashi Hyuuga along with his clan looked on from above in the stands.

" Whether it be Hinata first or Uzumaki, the outcome is a given, Neji will succeed." Hiashi thought.

The names sped through the board until it stopped. Hinata looked up at the board and her eyes widened in horror

Uzumaki Naruto

Vs.

Hinata

Hinata turned to Naruto. She was so conflicted she didn't know what to say. Neji grunted and went up to the skybox. He crossed his arms and waited for the fight to be over. He was sure Naruto would win, then he and Neji would have their rematch since a year ago.

" Oh man, not good." Kiba said.

" They spent so much time training together, and it looks like they became real close and now they have to fight eachother?" Sakura said.

" There will be no real winner here." Lee said

"You two know the rules, obey my commands at all times." The Proctor said.

" This must be really tough on Hinata, I hope no one gets seriously hurt." Kurenai said to herself.

" Look, they're about to start." Hiashi said.

" Begin!" The Proctor said.

Everybody was expecting a blur of attacks. But nothing. The two stood there looking at eachother. Hinata showing clear reluctance to fight and Naruto just standing there looking at her.

" I said begin." The Proctor said.

Hinata looked on at Naruto. She recalled the times he said he wanted to become Hokage and many of the times they were training and sparring together during their year of training. Naruto recalled something Hinata said to Neji a year ago.

" I want to change into…something better."

Naruto also remembered how hard Hinata was pushing herself during their year of training. He was embarrassed to say but he had to admit, she pushed herself even harder than he did. Naruto wanted Hinata to realize just how strong she was.

" Naruto-kun, you deserve this match, not me." Hinata thought smiling.

Hinata was just then about to raise her hand to announce her forfeit. Suddenly Hinata's face turned to total shock. (scene cuts to everybody surprised.) There Naruto was standing straight up. His hand straight in the air. Everybody wanted to know just what the heck he was doing.

" Hey Proctor, my arm still hurts from the last fight." Naruto said rotating his arm as if trying to stretch it out. "So I forfeit."

Everybody's jaw dropped.

" You're not serious." The Proctor said.

" Yea I am, my arm hurts, I don't wanna fight." Naruto said.

The gang's eyes were wide and pupiless in disbelief. They knew Naruto well enough that even if his arm were still cut off from the last fight, he would still go on fighting any other opponent. Hinata was speechless.

" O…k, the winner of this match is Hinata." The Proctor said.

Hiashi, Motoko and Hanabi all looked on in shock and anger. They were expecting Naruto to win so he would move on to fight Neji. Neji was about to go ballistic. Naruto was his goal in this tournament, now it wasn't going to happen.

" Coward! You're just afraid to face me!" Neji shouted at Naruto as he was walking towards the bleachers to watch the last match. Naruto ignored him. Due to the bizarre nature of this move, Sarutobi decided to call a recess.

" Due to these recent circumstances, the final match shall be postponed for 20 minutes." The Hokage announced.

Hinata stood still as she watched Naruto walking away.

" He saw I was going to surrender. Naruto-kun…why let me win?" Hinata thought.

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Next Time

Hiashi: This is a joke. Does the Uzumaki boy want to see Hinata get killed?

Hinata: Naruto-kun, why let me win? The people came to see you and Neji.

Naruto: You need to prove something to yourself Hinata-chan.

Naruto: Next Time! Neji and Hinata's rematch! Hinata's spirit explodes!

Chap was a little rushed. More coming.

For every review I get, a Hinata hater gets turned into a pocky stick then gets eaten by Chouji.