**********
"I need to talk."
A voice hung over Sakura who was walking through the streets, she looked up to the tree above her, but in the haze she couldn't tell who it was, she nodded slowly and sighed,
"Sorry. not interested." Sakura snapped lightly, she had become quite the introvert lately, mixed in confusion and hate, sick and tired of waiting, but what had she accomplished? She wasted so much time on Sasuke that she had nothing, no other accomplishments. She had wonderful control of her Chakra, Kakashi said, but compared to the guys she was weak. Against Ino wasn't real competition because if she were to fight any other opponent, she would've lost severely. It pained her so, that she called herself a Ninja, but she only graduated because she was "book smart".
"Com'on. I'm not going to ask you on a date Sakura-chan." Sakura realized who it was, Naruto. She bit her lower lip and looked at the ground slightly, she owed him, she was always too cruel to him. Sasuke lost a lot of respect for her in that way, that she was so nasty to Naruto, and to others, judging them; she really had to stop doing that. She remembered the time when she was so sure that it was Sasuke who saved her from the sand Genin, but it was Naruto all along, she doubted him all the time. She decided to be a little more open minded, and not to make Sasuke happy, no, it was not for him anymore. It was for her.
"Okay. I guess."
Unsmirking, Naruto jumped from the branches. With his fox-like ways gone, he now looked more like a lost puppy than anything menacing. It astonished Sakura so much that she lost her cold exterior momentarily and just blinked to make sure she was looking at the same Naruto. She sat down at the ledge of the tree and he sat next to her. His eyes wandered through the ruby and purple sky, the large glowing ball of light sitting at the edge of the landscape. "I'm confused." Naruto finally sighed; he stretched his arms out behind his head and took a deep breath. "About what?" The whole entire conversation seemed to drag on like this, it was uncomfortable for both of them, Naruto wanted to talk but didn't know how to word it, and Sakura wanted to help, but she didn't want to listen. "Um. Sakura. I am very confused.about what you said two years ago at the prelims. I didn't take much note of it but.she actually said it to me.also." Naruto fumbled with his worlds as he paused and then realized that he should add a name that would explain the 'she', "She being Hinata."
"Huh?"
"Her always watching me. at first when she said it, I didn't get it and didn't think much of it, but the more I think of it I can't help but think of why she was watching me, she said I made her stronger." Naruto looked up at Sakura, wondering if she would have an answer.
'He still doesn't get it? Is he that slow?' Sakura looked at Naruto with wide eyes, surprised that he had come to talk to her about this, that he couldn't figure it out himself, "Naruto. do you still like me?" Sakura began slowly. "Huh? It was that obvious, eh?" He added with a slightly blush complimented with a sheepish grin. When the grin began to fade he softly added, "No. I just think of you as a friend. I just. don't like you in that way anymore... I guess it just faded as I slowly got into more training." He ruffled his spiky blonde hair, peering at the ground. ".and what about Hinata? You used to think she was weird before." "She turned out pretty cool after all. I guess she's just quiet. but she's only really quiet and extra nervous around me."
"Naruto." Sakura stood up with a caring smile. She pushed her chalky- pink hair behind her ears. Ever since that day she had kept it short, she didn't like long hair anyway, "You have nothing to worry about. it'll take time, but it will all work out in your mind in the end. Although it's not guaranteed it will be easy once you figure out." Sakura turned away as started to walk away, without hesitation. Naruto sat underneath the tree, perplexed but what Sakura just said, 'Why do I feel like there's something important that I'm missing.'
**********
Byakugan. Hinata had her arms out in front of her. She was inside a Doujo, or some kind of training room, the windows covered in a strong yet thin covering. She practiced the technique diligently, her movements were gentle and slow but they could damage anyone from the inside greatly. The white chakra flowing through her eyes, rapidly, the walls slightly shaking. Until a sudden swing of the doujo door she was so startled as she jump, making the Byakugan stop. She blinked her eyes and let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh brother Neji... you startled me." Hinata sighed, looking softly at the newcomer. Neji smirked slightly, his back against the door of the doujo,
"You're getting pretty good." Neji replied leisurely. Ever since his defeat he had been a lot nicer to Hinata, but for a while he disappeared, probably improving, physically and mentally. Hyuga were not supposed to take defeats lightly, and cultivating one's abilities was key. Hinata was also trying to improve herself; she wanted to show everyone that she was strong, although she didn't really like to admit it.
"Not as good as you.you're far better than me."
"You just need more confidence.Hinata. how.about I." Neji started as he thought to himself, 'My father sacrificed his time for the main house. I should except my responsibility as her cousin.' He reassured himself that he was doing the right thing, "How would you like it if I train you."
"Huh?" Hinata stared at him for a second with an amazed expression, "That would be really great. are you sure?" Hinata softly replied then she brought her hand up to her face and looked off to the side, a blush crept onto her cheeks, 'Naruto-kun. you're so wonderful.you change everyone into a better person and you made the Hyuga clan have a stronger bond.'
"Hinata. you're thinking about Naruto aren't you?" Neji smiled slightly. Hinata gasped and then nodded slightly, knowing lying would be pointless,
".but how.did you-"
"Remember I can read people's emotions and Hinata. you always get that look on your face when you're around him, or thinking of him. you have a lot of respect for him don't you?"
Hinata nodded again, unsure of what Neji was getting at.
"Humph. the only times I've ever seen you confident in yourself is when he's there. Hinata. I'm warning you though. you may be shy, but you'll never get Naruto that way.he's quite a moron." Neji looked up with a sneer and then noticed a glare from Hinata and added quickly, "at times."
Hinata entangled her fingers and held them over her chest. 'get him?. Neji can figure things out so easily.'
"No. Hinata. it's just that you're very easy to read." Neji gave her a pat on the back, "Okay. so let the training commence." Neji laughed.
********
"Hehe. so. we've got everything set up, plans will initiate as planned. it's been two days. since the conversation with the Hokage. at Dawn we attack Tsunade.hmmm. the leaf we will soon claim as our own." A voice snickered in a darkened alleyway, a black cloak covered the figure, it was the ruby eyed one. A golden coin flipped from her two snapping fingers, long and lankily fingers, but soft and tender, yet they had a seal running up from the back of the hand continuing through the sleeves. The coin landed onto the ground, shaking slightly at first, as the light glinting off the top, it had a blade on the side.
"Luck will be on our side." another one grinned maliciously.
******** Chapter 4 End To be continued..
"I need to talk."
A voice hung over Sakura who was walking through the streets, she looked up to the tree above her, but in the haze she couldn't tell who it was, she nodded slowly and sighed,
"Sorry. not interested." Sakura snapped lightly, she had become quite the introvert lately, mixed in confusion and hate, sick and tired of waiting, but what had she accomplished? She wasted so much time on Sasuke that she had nothing, no other accomplishments. She had wonderful control of her Chakra, Kakashi said, but compared to the guys she was weak. Against Ino wasn't real competition because if she were to fight any other opponent, she would've lost severely. It pained her so, that she called herself a Ninja, but she only graduated because she was "book smart".
"Com'on. I'm not going to ask you on a date Sakura-chan." Sakura realized who it was, Naruto. She bit her lower lip and looked at the ground slightly, she owed him, she was always too cruel to him. Sasuke lost a lot of respect for her in that way, that she was so nasty to Naruto, and to others, judging them; she really had to stop doing that. She remembered the time when she was so sure that it was Sasuke who saved her from the sand Genin, but it was Naruto all along, she doubted him all the time. She decided to be a little more open minded, and not to make Sasuke happy, no, it was not for him anymore. It was for her.
"Okay. I guess."
Unsmirking, Naruto jumped from the branches. With his fox-like ways gone, he now looked more like a lost puppy than anything menacing. It astonished Sakura so much that she lost her cold exterior momentarily and just blinked to make sure she was looking at the same Naruto. She sat down at the ledge of the tree and he sat next to her. His eyes wandered through the ruby and purple sky, the large glowing ball of light sitting at the edge of the landscape. "I'm confused." Naruto finally sighed; he stretched his arms out behind his head and took a deep breath. "About what?" The whole entire conversation seemed to drag on like this, it was uncomfortable for both of them, Naruto wanted to talk but didn't know how to word it, and Sakura wanted to help, but she didn't want to listen. "Um. Sakura. I am very confused.about what you said two years ago at the prelims. I didn't take much note of it but.she actually said it to me.also." Naruto fumbled with his worlds as he paused and then realized that he should add a name that would explain the 'she', "She being Hinata."
"Huh?"
"Her always watching me. at first when she said it, I didn't get it and didn't think much of it, but the more I think of it I can't help but think of why she was watching me, she said I made her stronger." Naruto looked up at Sakura, wondering if she would have an answer.
'He still doesn't get it? Is he that slow?' Sakura looked at Naruto with wide eyes, surprised that he had come to talk to her about this, that he couldn't figure it out himself, "Naruto. do you still like me?" Sakura began slowly. "Huh? It was that obvious, eh?" He added with a slightly blush complimented with a sheepish grin. When the grin began to fade he softly added, "No. I just think of you as a friend. I just. don't like you in that way anymore... I guess it just faded as I slowly got into more training." He ruffled his spiky blonde hair, peering at the ground. ".and what about Hinata? You used to think she was weird before." "She turned out pretty cool after all. I guess she's just quiet. but she's only really quiet and extra nervous around me."
"Naruto." Sakura stood up with a caring smile. She pushed her chalky- pink hair behind her ears. Ever since that day she had kept it short, she didn't like long hair anyway, "You have nothing to worry about. it'll take time, but it will all work out in your mind in the end. Although it's not guaranteed it will be easy once you figure out." Sakura turned away as started to walk away, without hesitation. Naruto sat underneath the tree, perplexed but what Sakura just said, 'Why do I feel like there's something important that I'm missing.'
**********
Byakugan. Hinata had her arms out in front of her. She was inside a Doujo, or some kind of training room, the windows covered in a strong yet thin covering. She practiced the technique diligently, her movements were gentle and slow but they could damage anyone from the inside greatly. The white chakra flowing through her eyes, rapidly, the walls slightly shaking. Until a sudden swing of the doujo door she was so startled as she jump, making the Byakugan stop. She blinked her eyes and let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh brother Neji... you startled me." Hinata sighed, looking softly at the newcomer. Neji smirked slightly, his back against the door of the doujo,
"You're getting pretty good." Neji replied leisurely. Ever since his defeat he had been a lot nicer to Hinata, but for a while he disappeared, probably improving, physically and mentally. Hyuga were not supposed to take defeats lightly, and cultivating one's abilities was key. Hinata was also trying to improve herself; she wanted to show everyone that she was strong, although she didn't really like to admit it.
"Not as good as you.you're far better than me."
"You just need more confidence.Hinata. how.about I." Neji started as he thought to himself, 'My father sacrificed his time for the main house. I should except my responsibility as her cousin.' He reassured himself that he was doing the right thing, "How would you like it if I train you."
"Huh?" Hinata stared at him for a second with an amazed expression, "That would be really great. are you sure?" Hinata softly replied then she brought her hand up to her face and looked off to the side, a blush crept onto her cheeks, 'Naruto-kun. you're so wonderful.you change everyone into a better person and you made the Hyuga clan have a stronger bond.'
"Hinata. you're thinking about Naruto aren't you?" Neji smiled slightly. Hinata gasped and then nodded slightly, knowing lying would be pointless,
".but how.did you-"
"Remember I can read people's emotions and Hinata. you always get that look on your face when you're around him, or thinking of him. you have a lot of respect for him don't you?"
Hinata nodded again, unsure of what Neji was getting at.
"Humph. the only times I've ever seen you confident in yourself is when he's there. Hinata. I'm warning you though. you may be shy, but you'll never get Naruto that way.he's quite a moron." Neji looked up with a sneer and then noticed a glare from Hinata and added quickly, "at times."
Hinata entangled her fingers and held them over her chest. 'get him?. Neji can figure things out so easily.'
"No. Hinata. it's just that you're very easy to read." Neji gave her a pat on the back, "Okay. so let the training commence." Neji laughed.
********
"Hehe. so. we've got everything set up, plans will initiate as planned. it's been two days. since the conversation with the Hokage. at Dawn we attack Tsunade.hmmm. the leaf we will soon claim as our own." A voice snickered in a darkened alleyway, a black cloak covered the figure, it was the ruby eyed one. A golden coin flipped from her two snapping fingers, long and lankily fingers, but soft and tender, yet they had a seal running up from the back of the hand continuing through the sleeves. The coin landed onto the ground, shaking slightly at first, as the light glinting off the top, it had a blade on the side.
"Luck will be on our side." another one grinned maliciously.
******** Chapter 4 End To be continued..
