With You

Author's note:

Okay so if there is anyone who happens to know about this then I wish to apologize in advance because the Nyuugaku Shiken (University entrance exams) should've already taken place, but I forgot about them so let's say that they're happening this summer instead! In other words, the tests they take before summer break will be the ones that decide which university they get into. Yay, problem solved! Yayyyy.

Thank you so much for the reviews and kind words. I'll have you know I read all of them.

Also, sorry about the lack of Naruhina. This chapter might make up for some of it. Don't worry though, this fanfic isn't ending soon and I am dying to write some romance!

Without further ado, I don't own Naruto (don't want to anyway! Thanks for asking, Kishimoto) and let's get started!

Thank you Shyhinata144 as always, for everything.

The time was 7:52 a.m. History was the first lesson of the day.

Sakura dropped down into her seat and breathed an over dramatic sigh of relief.

"Finally, AC!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air, then seemingly losing all her energy and collapsing once again. "Ugh… It's too warm… My thighs are literally sticking to my chair…"

"Morning…" Ino mumbled from her seat, equally exhausted.

It was the warmest day yet, and still it was only mid-May. There hadn't been any rain for almost two weeks, and the grass on the school grounds that was once a healthy green had now shriveled up into a sandy mess, the soil underneath cracked and dry.

Hinata, having missed her train due to forgetting her lunch box, stepped into the locker area at 7:54. She quickly changed shoes, wiped some sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and headed straight to class. Truth be told, the fact that she'd forgotten her lunch box came more as a relief to her than anything else, as she'd been fretting about having history class with Shion since the last time they interacted. The cut was long gone now, after four days or so in fact, but the memories were still etched in her mind. A teacher with a knife. Directed at her.

She grew nervous as she walked.

"Mornin', Hinata!" Kiba called out from behind her, but she failed to hear him.

"Wow," Sai feigned surprise. "She ignored you." Kiba raised a brow in confusion.

"Wonder what's on her mind…" He thought aloud.

"Probably because it's history." Sai replied phlegmatically.

"Oh, yeah…"

"But didn't she-"

"Shh…" Kiba shushed, a knowing grin spreading out across his features. "Don't give too much away, Sai."

Hinata stopped in front of the door. I don't… Want to go inside. The memories of Shion appeared in her mind and she felt her body tense as she struggled to enter the classroom.

"You owe me a drink, by the way." Sai said.

"What- since when?" Kiba's eyes furrowed. "I don't remember owing you anything. Rather, I'd say you owe me considering all the times I bought you things when you forgot your stupid money!" While getting riled up about Sai's lie, the oblivious and very clumsy Kiba was walking straight towards the still-standing Hinata.

"Hey - watch out!" Sai called out, but it was too late. In fact, some would argue that Sai only made things worse, because Hinata had started to turn around in their direction, so when they crashed and fell, Kiba fell on top of her.

"Ah..!" Hinata cried out when she hit the floor.

"Huh?" Ino and Sakura, along with the rest of the class directed their undivided attention at them.

"Ooooh, Kiba's making his move!" Cheers at the back of the classroom from male classmates started.

"Get a room, you too!" Some girls laughed. Sakura, however, did not.

"Kiba, you…" Sai didn't know what to say, for once.

"Sorry…" Kiba placed his hands on the floor, lifting himself from her. Hinata groaned in pain, pressing her lips together in discomfort. Her eyes, defensively shut from the impact, began to open. Oh… Kiba-kun is… She instinctively raised her hands to her chest as if to cover herself.

Kiba felt the world as he knew it slipping out of his reach as he struggled to stay calm. Unfortunately, being an unkissed seventeen year-old boy with a ridiculously big crush on the girl beneath him did little to support him in his internal battle. Thoughts couldn't even form in his brain, let alone verbally as he stared down at her with his wide, brown eyes. Is this… When I confess?!

Silence.

Footsteps. Calm, collected - unknowing - footsteps.

The steps stopped outside of the door.

Kiba was lifted off the floor with what had to be inhuman strength. He snapped back into the realm of the real world just barely in time to register what was happening to had he before experienced being picked up and set aside like an insect eating at someone else's food before. It had to be some kind of super human, some kind of deity, god -

It was Naruto.

"You. Outside." Was all he said, and it would have honestly been threatening enough on it's own, but the look. Oh, the look. Kiba felt the intent to kill. He knew at that very moment that he was staring death in the face. So this is what it feels like to die.

"Sensei, I can explain-" But he cut himself off. The aura that Naruto was emitting told him he was practically committing suicide. He fled the classroom at the speed of light.

"Here." His tone turned significantly softer as he spoke to Hinata, reaching a hand out to her. "Take my hand." In shock and confusion, she took it, and was in the blink of an eye back on her feet.

"Wha…" Some girls in the classroom whispered. "Did she just take his hand?"

"T-thank you…" She blushed.

"It was my pleasure." Naruto replied, chuckling dryly and started walking towards the front of the class.

"Literally." He added, just loud enough for her to hear. Huh..? She turned around and watched him as he casually waved good morning. What did he mean by that? And… Why is he here?

"Sakura-chan…" Ino turned to her pink-haired friend with a forced smile. "What a stupid accident, right?" Sakura cast her glance to the floor, a look of defeat tainting her features.

"Yeah…" She murmured. I really need to stop being so jealous. He turned you down, Sakura, get over it. Come on. And besides, Hinata's not into him like that. He's not into you… Just… Understand that! "Hinata, come now!" She called out, trying to distract herself. But somehow, knowing that he likes Hinata makes it so much more painful.

Hinata snapped out of her trance.

"A-ah, right!" She hurried to her desk and sat down.

"You didn't hurt yourself, did you?" Sakura asked.

"No…" She replied, embarrassed.

"That Kiba, he's so clumsy!" Ino groaned. "Such a knucklehead!"

"Yeah…" Sakura laughed awkwardly. "He really is." But that's partly why I like him so much. Smart, charismatic and charming in so many ways, but clumsy, funny and boyish at the same time.

"And still you like him." Ino whispered between the three of them.

"Shut up you pig! What if someone hears, huh?!" Hinata giggled at their bickering, and the dread that she had felt before entering the classroom was now long forgotten. Things were finally going back to normal.

"Alright, so…" Naruto glanced at the glass wall between the classroom and corridor, made eye contact with Kiba, who was leaning against one of the windows while carefully peering at him. Naruto let out an exasperated sigh and waved him back in.

"You might be wondering why Shion isn't here. That's because she won't be working here anymore." He rubbed his temples as if a headache had begun to develop. "While the school looks into someone else who can take her place, I'll be your teacher. Don't worry, it should only take about a week or so."

A small commotion started.

"Why'd she just quit?" Someone asked.

"Personal reasons."

"No way… I really liked her." Ino groaned, clearly disappointed. "She was so chill."

Sakura raised her hand.

"Yes, Haruno?" Naruto said without looking at her.

"Sensei, this is our last year. Having teachers come and go like this isn't good in preparation for our Nyuugaku Shiken." (note: University entrance exams).

"I know." He lifted his head to look at her. "I know, and I agree, but there isn't much we can do now. Besides-" As they continued talking, Hinata couldn't let go of what he'd said about Shion.

Personal reasons? She didn't seem like she had any plans on quitting… I don't understand! Does it have to do with me? Is she going to come after me outside of school? What if she knows where I live?

"Anyway," Naruto's voice shifted as he took on a more serious tone. "Let's get started. We're already ten minutes into the lesson." Naruto-sensei looks tired… "You can open up your books to page 257. Sai, please read section 3."

"Yes!" Sai stood to his feet and cleared his throat. "Oda Nobunaga adopted the nanban culture as his own…" As Sai continued to read, Naruto started walking between the desks, looking at each students' books to make sure they were on the correct page.

"So, can anyone explain nanban culture?" Sakura quickly raised her hand. "Yes, Haruno?"

"Nanban originated in Portugal-" As Sakura spoke in her usual effortless manner, Hinata leaned her head against her hand and took notes. Suddenly though, she noticed someone else's hand on her desk and looked up.

"Good. Inuzuka, keep reading." Naruto-sensei… She felt an electric shock travel up her spine as she watched him. His features, even from this normally not so flattering angle, were flawless. If his wavy blond hair was the beach, then his brilliant azure eyes were the spring ocean. And his arm, so lean and elegant as it rested against her desk, each muscle satisfying beyond imagination to look at.

Her heart skipped a beat when she caught sight of some of the skin beneath his T-shirt. The blush she didn't know she had spread from her cheeks to her entire face and she was forced to tear herself away. And he kissed me..! She reminded herself while blinking several times, still not believing it to be true.

She couldn't stop herself and indulged in another glance at him. Their eyes met. Naruto cast her a smile, clearly aware that she'd been looking at him.

"See something you like?" He mouthed, and somehow she knew exactly what he was saying. Her face turned beet red and she immediately buried her face in her book.

"Come on Hinata, let's go home." Ino grabbed her bag and made a beeline towards the door. "If I stay in school for another second, I swear, I'm gonna LOSE IT!"

"God, calm down Ino." Sakura, who had just finished fixing her lip gloss, glanced over at Kiba in hopes that he would see her. "We're coming."

"I'm sorry, I have to do something." Hinata quickly made her way to leave."Go on without me, I'll be fine!" Naruto-sensei must know something about Shion-sensei… I need to ask him. .

Sakura and Ino made eye contact, both in equal bewilderment.

"She seems so busy these days…"

"Yeah, but today's the first day that she's been acting a bit more like herself."

"That's… True." Ino thought for a while. "She was laughing before, it's like the first time I've heard her laugh in… I can't remember the last time."

Sakura smiled, looking at the door Hinata had left through. "She's so cute."

Hinata strategically waited until most people were out of the building before heading for the teacher's office. It had been a while since she last went there, because of all the things that had happened with Shion. She felt her heartbeat quicken as she approached the door and stopped outside to knock. Can I really just… Ask him about it? Nevertheless, she knocked and then opened the door slowly to see if anyone was inside.

The office was empty apart from Naruto sitting in his usual spot, a literal pile of papers around him.

"I'm sorry for disturbing…" She whispered tentatively, causing Naruto to look up.

"Oh, it's you, Hinata." He looked back down in dismay while Hinata's heart skipped a beat at hearing him say her name. I love it when he says my name... "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm a little busy right now." He's so unintentionally attractive…

"Is that… Homework?" She asked, walking carefully towards him.

"Yeah, I have not one, but two big assignments due next week." He sighed, running a hand through his blonde strands. Hinata watched helplessly as he struggled to find where he'd left off.

"... Are you okay?" She suddenly asked, a worried expression on her face. Naruto froze, then looked straight up at her.

"... What do you mean?"

"I mean…" She fumbled with her words. "I.. I mean… Since you... You're studying so much, and now with the history class…" She shut her eyes tightly, embarrassed. "I can't help but feel responsible…" She whispered, hoping he wouldn't hear. I feel like… Shion quitting must have something to do with me… And now Naruto-sensei gets the workload…

"Thank you, Hinata." His words made Hinata look up in shock. "For worrying about me. It's funny, I can't remember the last time someone asked me that question." He sighed wistfully, then started to gather his papers. "So, what did you wanna talk to me about this late afternoon?"

The question brought all the nervousness back to her and she sank into herself. "U-umm… Well… About Shion-sensei…" He rested his head in his hand, waiting patiently for her to finish. "Well… It's just… D-do you know why she quit?" For a moment, his expression faltered, but he quickly replaced it with his usual, calm self and smiled slightly.

"What brings you to ask that?" He asked, buying himself some time as he placed all his papers in his bag. He started to walk towards her in a calm, collected manner, watching her in the corner of his eye.

"We-well… I mean… You… Umm, you know her… A little better than… I mean…" Before she knew it, he was towering over her, his arms crossed confidently. He smirked.

"If I tell you, what do I get?" He breathed, and Hinata felt a shiver travel through her entire body.

"I-I…" She took a step back and felt the cold sensation of the wall against her back. Naruto took another step forward, mirroring her movement, and placed a hand on the wall behind her, leaning down to her eye-level.

"Hm?" He raised an eyebrow, smiling devilishly. "Well?"

A thought seemed to strike him and he reached out, his expression suddenly turning apologetic. The change in tone didn't help Hinata grasp the situation any better, and she remained glued to the spot. He wasn't looking at her, but at her cheek. "You won't have to worry about her anymore."

Hinata blushed, but somehow maintained eye contact. What does he mean… By that?

It looked like he wanted to say more, to apologize for something. He opened his mouth, but closed it again, then moved away from her and drew a long breath.

"I don't have any contact with her, I don't… Know anything more than you do." He shut his eyes casually, threading a hand through his hair. "Should I walk you to the station?" Hinata took a look outside and noticed that the sun was setting, then looked back to him before nodding slowly.

"P… Please." Is it okay to ask that of him..? I don't want to say goodbye just yet.

The building was dark, just like the last time they went to the station together, but this time she wasn't intimidated by it. She felt safe with Naruto. Finally, she thought, things could go back to the way they once were. If Naruto said she wouldn't have to worry anymore, then perhaps it was worth trusting him. Something about the sincerity in his voice told her he wasn't lying.

"I'm surprised Inuzuka isn't waiting for you." He said when they got outside. Hinata cocked her head to the side.

"Wh-why would he do that?" She asked curiously. "We don't have tennis practice today."

"Oh, please." He chuckled somewhat bitterly. "Don't even give me that."

"What do you mean?" She once again inquired.

"Nevermind." He sounded like he didn't want to talk about it, so she let it go.

I have to cook when I get home… Hanabi will be so upset that I'm late.

Cars passed by as they followed the road to the station. People were walking in both directions on the sidewalk, but Naruto kept himself close to Hinata and moved little for the people walking in the opposite direction.

"You know," He suddenly said. "I'm not originally from Tokyo, I moved here from Kyoto." Hinata looked up at him with newfound interest, her eyes alight.

"Oh, I love Kyoto." She smiled. "I usually go there during summer break." Naruto smiled slightly before continuing.

"My grandma passed away when I was in my second year of high school, so I had to move to Tokyo with the money and apartment she left me with."

"Oh…" Hinata looked down at her feet as they walked. "I see…"

"I didn't really fit in-" He gave a short laugh. "Oh, who am I kidding, I was a misfit. I had a weird dialect and people would laugh at me for being short, talking weird and whatever else they could come up with." Oh, no…

"So one day, I decided I'd use some of my savings to get a haircut. I used to have hair down to like, my neck. Also - I stopped buttoning up my shirt all the way. And for some reason, it worked. First thing in the morning when I sat down for class and started taking out my books, the class' most popular girl approached me and asked me for my number." He sighed. "She was nice at first, but the more I hung out with her, the more bad things I'd end up doing. I'd do things I didn't actually want to do, like go to parties, study less and get in trouble. Not being alone was nice, but the company wasn't for me." He shuddered. "She tried to make me do things I didn't want to, then if I said no she'd say something like that… I wasn't a man, or whatever. Or some manipulative shit like that."

"Everyone just wants to be accepted…" Hinata mumbled. "There's nothing wrong with that…" And you're everything but unmanly, I hope you know that.

"Yeah, I guess so." He sighed again. "But when she tried to get me to bully people, I'd had enough. I told her I wasn't interested anymore and told her I wanted to break up. She didn't take it well, in fact she showed up at my apartment and had a mental breakdown so I had to call the cops so they could get her home. She kept showing up for a while until she suddenly stopped. I didn't hear from her until I started working here, at this high school."

Hinata's eyes widened. "She wrote to you again?"

Naruto smiled bitterly. "No, she started working here."

"...What?"

"I'm talking about Shion."

Hinata couldn't believe what she was hearing. So Naruto and Shion had met in high school? Dated, then they broke up? Suddenly, everything seemed to make more sense.

"Thank you…" She spoke in a quiet, careful voice.

"For what?" He asked.

"For taking your time to tell me this… I know it probably wasn't easy." Naruto looked surprised at first, but quickly recovered and let out a laugh.

"Hah! You say the strangest things." This time, it was Hinata's turn to be surprised.

"Ho-how was that weird?"

"You just don't point out things other people do, It's refreshing." Hinata thought about his words for a little while, then smiled.

"Hearing you say that… Makes me so happy." The blush on her cheeks, together with the little smile doomed Naruto to an eternity of being unable to look away from her. Even he developed a small blush from seeing her smile so sweetly.

Unfortunately, they arrived outside of the station and they had to say their goodbyes. Facing each other, no one had the confidence to make eye contact. Hinata fumbled with her skirt and stared holes in the ground while Naruto looked at the skyscrapers around them.

"So…" He eventually started. "Goodnight, I guess." Hinata nodded in response.

"Yeah… Goodnight… Naruto-kun…" I said it! The blush was inevitable, and Naruto couldn't hide his surprise. A warm smile spread across his face.

"I like the way you say my name." He peered meaningfully into her eyes. "I can't wait to hear you say it more."

Hinata gasped, then covered her mouth and turned a dark crimson. If she could self-implode she would have done it at least ten times by now.

"Well, bye then." He tried again.

But they just stood there, no one making the first move to leave. Naruto took a step closer to her, causing her to look up at him. Through his eyes, she could see the lights from the passing cars. She swallowed.

"Thank you for keeping me company." He smiled. "And for listening to my Ted Talks." Hinata tried to stifle a giggle from his joke, and he scratched the back of his head while suppressing a laugh himself.

"Anyway, see you." He gave her a light wave, then turned and entered the gate for his subway line. Hinata remained in her spot for a while, the glow from his presence slowly fading. After a few seconds, she reluctantly forced herself to head home.

Naruto got a seat on his train, and spent the ride home listening to lofi. Everyone around him was either reading a book, manga or something on their phones. Hinata… I hope I didn't bore her with my talking.

He got off at his stop and bought a small dinner at 7Eleven before entering his apartment. Cup ramen, a salad and a lemon tea. She said my name! She called me by my first name. I wonder if she thinks like this when I call her by her first name. He mentally smacked himself. That's stupid, of course she doesn't. Don't get ahead of yourself, dude.

"I'm home." He said when unlocking and opening the door.

Of course, no answer. He set his keys down, locked the door and went to turn the bath on. Grabbing his salad, he headed out onto his balcony and leaned over the railing, looking out over Tokyo's streets.

Hinata… I want to spend so much more time with her. I wanna get to know her better, to be with her. He smiled despite himself. If she knew all this, she'd think I was way too much. Maybe I'm not so different from Shion. I don't know what I'd do myself if she ended up with someone else.

He looked over at his bed. I wonder if she'll ever come here again.

I hope this chapter makes up for some of the lack of Naruhina!

Don't forget to review!