Wow, an update? No way! I still don't own Naruto? No way!

#38. Listen

(A sequel to #27. The Straightforward Approach, and #30. Leaf)

"Hinata!"

Naruto's yell was loud enough not only to stop Hinata in her tracks, but turn the heads of anyone in their vicinity towards her. Hinata blushed under the weight of their stares.

"I have to talk to you!" he continued, stomping towards her determinedly. Hinata could hear the whispers of a nearby shop owner, wondering if he should interfere on behalf of her safety. Hinata nodded, and began walking away, hoping to lead Naruto in her direction. It worked, but it came at the price of his yelling,

"It's really important!" while pointing at her as he followed. A few minutes later, Hinata had led them down an unassuming side street, shaded from the afternoon sun and prying eyes.

"N-naruto-kun. I-I have s-something I n-need to talk ab-bout as w-well," she said. She closed her mouth and gritted her teeth, leaning visibly away from him, her back against the cool wall of a nearby building.

An alarm bell rang in Naruto's head as he opened his mouth to tell her that he liked her, and something Sakura had said floated to the forefront of his brain.

'Girls like to be listened to, and all you do is talk, Naruto,' Sakura's voice sounded in his mind.

"You go first," Naruto said quickly. He accompanied this by sitting down under an awning, and patting the ground next to him. She nodded and slowly sat, pushing her index fingers together absentmindedly.

"Do you feel okay?" he blurted out. "You look sick."

"N-no, I m-mean, I'm n-not sick."

"Are you sure? I can take you to the hospital if you want…"

"N-no!"

Hinata's response was firm and Naruto grinned in reply.

"Okay! But if you feel sick later, let me know, 'k?" He puffed out his chest and gave her a thumbs-up.

"I'll take care of you!"

Hinata bowed slightly.

"Th-thank you."

Naruto nodded and leaned forward towards her in what he hoped was a thoughtful listening pose.

"So what did you want to talk about?" he asked. "I'm ready to help you out with any problem!"

Naruto punctuated this sentence with another thumbs-up, inwardly congratulating himself on his patience. After all, if he could prove that he was a good listener, maybe Hinata would be more likely to go out with him.

"Unnn….okay."

Hinata crossed her legs and nervously wound her fingers around one another as she wrung her hands.

"I-I…" She paused and took a deep breath. She had read that letter, and Shino had confirmed Naruto's feelings…sort of. Hinata took a deep breath and silently cheered herself on.

"Th-that is…I mean…I-I…towards y-you…"

Naruto leaned closer because Hinata had become increasingly inaudible. He squinted his eyes as if that would make him see the words form in the air above her head.

"N-never mind," she whispered, tears welling up a bit in her eyes.

"Y-You go f-first." Hinata stared desolately down at the ground.

"Okay! But you have to look at me!" Naruto said, standing up happily. Hinata followed his lead, although her eyes remained glued to the ground.

"I really like you! Wanna go out sometime?!" Naruto blurted out.

Hinata's face turned purple, and as she felt her body sway she pinched the inside of her wrist, hard. If this was real, she refused to faint and ruin the moment.

Without waiting for a response, as was customary with these types of moments, Naruto stretched and pumped his fist in the air.

"That was so much easier than writing a letter!"

A/N: Thank yous to: CrystalDragon791, Mika, sunbaby, kally-kal, infinateternity, kibafangirl11, Setabominae88, GONaruHina, michaelg.2006, shkamaru15, and crimson clouded butterfly. Thank you all for your awesome reviews, and for reading this story!