Part 15-Gomen

"I look forward to the competition…"

"So do I…"

***

They managed to make it safely across the sound country into lightning country, minus a few encounters with gangs and thieves hoping to attack anyone who crossed their paths. Thankfully for them they hadn't been spotted by any shinobi. They camped about a mile away from the hidden cloud village and agreed it would be best to move in when it became dark.

Hinata stood up wandered around; Kiba and Shino were setting up their tents and had left her with nothing to do. She walked a bit and found herself in front of, or rather behind, Naruto; she tapped him on the shoulder and, after repeatedly tripping over her own words, asked if she could talk to him privately. They both walked to an area out of earshot of everyone at the campsite and sat down.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about Hinata?"

"I-I wanted to apologise…"

"For what…?"

"O-on behalf of Shino-kun and Kiba-kun… They… they're very overprotective of me, a-and I think they got a little ahead of themselves…" she poked her index fingers together, as she was accustomed to doing when she was nervous

"I've been wondering, what exactly did I do that was so bad?"

"… I… heard… and…" Hinata blushed furiously and attempted to change the subject, "… ummm, Naruto-kun… when I was talking about my father before… why did you leave like that?"

"Your father… he treats you so badly and yet, you talk about him with such love…  It made me wonder what my life would have been like if I had had a family," Naruto turned his face away from hers and looked at the ground between his feet, depression engulfing his expression*, "I had guardians, but that was more to make sure I didn't die rather then look after me and I was left to fend for myself since I was 3…" He looked back at her, deep blue eyes, boring in to pearl whites; he quickly averted his gaze back to the ground. His eyes suddenly felt heavy with tears; he held them back, not wanting to seem weak in front of Hinata

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata stared at her blonde crush; she really wanted to hold him, almost to protect him, instead she stood up and walked away, she didn't want to but her body had acted on its own. Had she thought about what she was going to do she probably would have spilled everything out to him, How she liked him since they were in the academy. She stopped mid-step and thought carefully about what she was doing, she looked back at him, "umm, Naruto-kun…?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you like to… walk back to the campsite with me?" She smiled at him sheepishly as he stood up and walked over to her

"Can't say no, can I?" He stood next to her and returned the smile, he had to look up at her to do it properly, it really bothered him that the only people in the village that were shorter than him were younger than him by a few years or more. Hinata blushed furiously and walked next to Naruto, being careful to take each step carefully in order to avoid tripping over anything

***

"Take each step carefully, you never know what may happen when we enter the village," Shikamaru's voice rang strongly through each of the 7 genin, "Always be prepared, 'a true shinobi must read underneath the underneath,' they made us learn that quote to death at the academy, now it's time to prove that we really understand it."

"Wow, Shikamaru, that speech was so inspirational. It was so out of character for you,"

Shikamaru shot Ino 'the look' and carried on with his speech, "I've never been one who was really involved in anything, but the safety of this village depends on this mission. I've never been one who cares… although I seem to have a talent for inspirational speeches… But the safety of our village depends on this mission."

That was the last chance he had to say anything positive that day

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A/N-Cliff-hanger! Dun, dun, dunnnnnnnnnn

*hey, it rhymes!