"How can i tell you?"

A HinaNaru (also a SasuSaku, ShikaIno) pairing!

Authors notes: Hello! how are you all doing after chapter 18? hehehe... Im listening to Harumonia right now... Makes you wanna dance... this song is so kawaii and relaxing... so thanks to everyone for the wonderful reviews... im sorry for the looooong delay... school just made me too busy to even touch the computer... you know... my science teacher gives a workload... hehehe now... to get on with it!

Disclaimer : Of course, the naruto series is not mine... if it was... hinata would appear more frequently and theyed get engaged in the series (you gotta love both of em) well... Naruto, Hinata-san, Ino, Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Kakashi and some other minor/major characters are NOT mine i tell you!!! (but i wish they were... TT)

How can I tell you? - Chapter 19
Getting ready.
------------------

"Maybeyouwannagowithmetothefestivaltommorrow?"

Hinata smiled and nodded,

"really? You'll be... er..." Naruto said, as he flushed beet red and began scratching his head, "..m-my....date?"

"okay...." she said twiddling her thumbs together


----

"hello! earth to Hinata...?"

Hinata snapped back into herself.

"Hinata... which one? the sivler kimono? or the green one?" Ino asked the navy haired girl beside her.

"uh..."

Hana pouted and looked at izumi, hoping for her to help with the situation...

"Izumi... please help out here.... I know ya picked the silver one but it's too expensive!"

Hana had already picked one and bought it... She wasnt that picky and she got the least expensive of the lot. Izumi had gotten the most expensive Kimono of them... She was a shopping fanatic per say.

"The silver kimono'll only cost ya about 1000 so its cheap... comeon... the green one costs lower but how it was sewn is weak... you'll just embarrass yourself in front of your date..." Izumi pointed out.

Well... the green one did have a cute design... having red peony designs as it's motif on the sleeves... but as Izumi said... how it was stiched together was weak indeed, but only a frequent shopper would notice... The silver one was a cute one too... It was a silkish white kimono that Izumi had picked out for her. It had white, red and pink cherry blossom designs on the sleevepockets... and the silk was of the highest quality.

"um... what do you think Hana-chan?" Hinata asked ino.

Hana thought for a moment...

"well.... maybe you should try it on..?"

Temari and izumi seemed to agree with Hana... the only one thing that'd settle this was a fitting.... So Hinata tried the green one first...

"uh uh... no way... It doesnt match Hinata at all..." Izumi said, "look... A kimono should say something about the wearer... and of course we all know the color silver would say purity next to white...."

"maybe she's right..." Ino said... Well... at least her pick for hinata was still cute... Her pick for her own was a purple silk Kimono that had some flowers printed on it... namely red and blue orchids with a few irises as well on the sides...

"oh well... youre the boss..." Hana said... knowing she was defeated in terms of feminine things... like shopping for stuff... Hinata had already gone into the dressing room when Ino had remembered... Temari hadnt picked one out yet...

"Temari...?"

Temari looked at Ino...

"eh?"

"arent you going to buy something?"

Temari shook her head.

"nah... I intend to just play some lotteries at the fair tommorrow... besides, I dont have a date..."

"oh... er... why not shika? he's available...but I guess...he's too lazy to even ask anyone simple questions..."

Temari gave out a laugh. She planned Shika and Ino to be dates for the festival tommorrow... and by the looks on Ino's face... she would want to go out with shika... hmm... but if she wants to... how the hell is she going to get that lazyass to ask her out? well....

"heh... nah.... Kankuro and I have plans... "

Hana gave temari a bitter look.

"dont tell me youre... going on a date with your own brother? that's weird... "

Temari whacked the girl on her head... such a dirty minded girl for her age...

"hell no! Kankuro and I have to earn money! its just some lotteries so just keep your mouth shut.... were not that rich as you are and we also have to eat! crap... kids these days...."

"okay okay... Im sorry... geez.... she's to sensitive... i was just joking..."

After some moments of silence, Hinata came out of the dressing room... well... the green one didnt actually look well on her... it was too loose on the shoulders... She came back in after some comments from Ino, hana and izumi... She came out of the dressing room again... but this time... smiles were illuminating from the 3 girls faces as Hinata walked towards them again, this time... wearing the Silver kimono...

"It fits you..." Izumi commented.

Hana sighed in total defeat...

"oooookaaay... Izumi gets the score... crap.... the one i picked out for you sucked didnt it?"

Ino gave a short pat on the back to hana

"its okay... youre just 14... you'll get the hang of shopping pretty soon.

"so... this is alright?" Hinata asked her comrades.

They all nodded and paid for the kimono after Hinata had undressed it. They went out of the store with hinata practically skipping her way to the cottage. ------

"so you asked Hinata out?" Sasuke asked the blonde ninja next to him.

Naruto looked at Sasuke.

"yeah... and so? like you have asked anyone out..."

"its because there's no one I'm interested in..."

"but youre interested in Sakura... hmm?" Shikamaru who was in the other side of him.

Sasuke looked away with a blush... well.. he does have feelings for sakura... and he gets super soft when he's with her.

"y-yeah... so what?"

"hey... nothing's wrong with that..."

"too bad she's already gone..." Naruto said sadly remembering the news...

Sasuke looked sadder as he remembered the 'last' moments of her life...

------(flashback)------

"....Sasu...ke..."

------(end of flashback)------

"I dont believe she's dead...yet..." Neji said, breaking Sasuke's sad memory.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow...

"how can you say that when I saw her die in front of me...? and the last time I saw her she wasnt the warm sakura I knew... she was pale and cold..."

"...but you mustnt lose hope... maybe she's just dormant... you keep on refferig to her as 'dead'..."

Sasuke remembered Tsunade's words...

"yes, she is still alive... She's under the state of being dormant at this time... If hinata were here, she'd know the medicine to relive this."

Sasuke nodded, he remembered... Sakura wasnt dead at all... she was just sleeping.

"I remember Tsunade-sama say so... but-"

Naruto couldnt take Sasuke's negative attitude anymore... so he stood up and pointed a kunai on him.

"you know... Im sick and tired of you saying things that are negative... it sickens me... first revenge for your clan by killing itachi... now youre so negative beacause you dont believe that Sakura-chan's still alive... Youre a bigger idiot than me!!"

Normally Sasuke would answer back... but Naruto was right... Sasuke wasnt himself and kept thinking negative... Naruto threw the kunai away, and grabbed sasuke by the collar of his shirt.

"you moron... you have the guts to call me 'dobe' everyday... but you dont have the guts to even have a little drop of faith!!!! What kind of moron are you?! You cant be called a ninja!!!"

Sasuke jumped away from Naruto's grip.

"pft..."

"...If you really love someone... you'd have faith that she's still there, waiting for you! you cant just stand there and mourn!"

"...youre the moron... you havent even told hinata what you feel!" Sasuke attempted to answer back... but luckily naruto found the right excuse...

"hell.. like I had the chance or the opportunity to? but I will that's for sure..."

Shikamaru, and Neji were surprised at Naruto's wise words...

"heh... youre acting like youre even smart..." Shikamaru joked

Naruto gave Shikamaru an annoyed look.

"like you are?"

Shikamaru laughed.

"dont forget... I have an IQ of 200... you foolish jonin...."

Someone came out of the gates, (they were in the gardens... in front of the gate) It was Chouji, gaara, and Kankuro.

"any luck on the girls yet?" Neji asked

Chouji Shook his chubby head after munching a handful of chips.

"nah... munch...munch..."

"no sign of them on the malls...or the marketplace..." Kankuro noted,

Gaara looked annoyed. Why did all of them want him to go and find those girls...? especially that aqua haired water-girl... crap... seeing her was as bad as hell for Gaara.

"damned women..."

Neji Laughed

"heh... gaara's sounding more like shikamaru..."

"that's not a joke..."Shikamaru annoyingly commented...

"it isnt?"

"yeah... and that one doesnt make me laugh either..."

The gates suddenly opened again... It was the girls! Everyone of them was carring a bag, Except for Temari and Izumi.

"Hi!" Temari greeted.

"Hello... and where did you four go to? kimono shopping I suppose?" Shikamaru asked

Temari laughed

"Yeah... after that we decieded to go for some sandals..."

"no wonder we didnt find you..."

Naruto walked up to Hinata who was carring a bag.

"er... want me to help you with that?"

Hinata blushed a little and smiled.

"um... no thatnks Naruto-kun... Im okay carring this..."

"you sure?"

"y-yeah..."

Ino looked at the two so cute.

'hmph... shikamaru wont be that generous... lucky hinata...'

"Want me to carry that?"

Ino looked at shikamaru confused.

"well well... this's the first time you even thought of offering me to carry my stuff..."

Shikamaru blushed a pale red as he mentally smacked himself because this was so unlike him. as of now he was thinking of some miracle excuse.

"that was because your bags were heavier than that..."

"huh? was it really heavy?"

Shikamaru thought again. He had to think of something to say, even if it's stupid...

"about 3 pounds I suppose..."

Ino whacked Shikamaru on the head.

"3 pounds isnt worth much to complain about...Shikamaru..." Ino said angryly.

"hmph..."

Meanwhile... Izumi was looking for Gaara...

"Gaara-kuuuun? where are you?"

No one answered, Kankuro knew, but of course he knew where gaara was.

"Gaara isnt here..."

"oh... then I suppose..." Izumi said as she looked behind Kankuro... it was sand... coming from where Kankuro's Karasu was supposed to be.

Izumi took the Karasu and jumped to it.

"Gaara... you cant hide from me..."

Suddenly the bandages cames out.. well... it wasnt the Karasu, Kankuro left it at his room. But of course... It was gaara.

"get off of me..."

"no I wont... I have to leave early...so I have to spend some time with you!"

"and why is that?"

" I have an appointment with a... er... a guy..."

"who...?"

That word struck Kankuro like lightning, could It be that... Gaara's starting to have emotions?! (like jealousy! XD)

'this girl is a miracle worker... she's doing the impossible...'

Izumi jumped away from Gaara smiled.

"Its a seecreeet!"

"damn you..."

After gaara said that Izumi gave him a peck on the cheek and started skipping away.

"Bye my beloved gaara!"

"hmph...."

-----------

Some hours had passed...the others were having some time doing things... Hinata and Shikamaru were busy teaching Naruto the basics of Shougi...

"okay...now that piece can go there...yes that's an alright move naruto- kun...."

Shikamaru laughed... A jonin like Naruto took a bad move...

"heh... naruto.. you have to put some brains into that move naruto... you'll lose to hinata..."

"I dont need your side coments... "

"okay.. " Shikamaru said as he saw hinata make her move... a good one too... It was only 6 moves since the game started and naruto had already lost to Hinata...

"noooooooooooo..... I lost again... crap..."

"dont worry Naruto-kun..." Hinata assured the Blonde jonin. "you'll win soon... it just takes practice and patience... youre good at that right?"

Naruto's loss seemed to have dissappeared... and yes... naruto was good at patience... It he wasnt that patient and willing to become hokage... he wouldnt even reach the jonin position... while for Shikamaru... well... he was still a Chuunin for 4 years... he thought that of course the point of the hassle of effort was still too troublesome... the lazy bum.

"Yeah! I'll get this right! Thanks Hinata!"

Hinata blushed a beet red as Naruto continued on thanking her. They continued on playing while Shikamaru walked away to give them some privacy and at the same time tell Ino the good news... that Naruto and Hinata are starting to become closer and closer... and It was only a matter of time before naruto would have enough confidence to tell hinata the truth.

"Hey Ino..." he said to attract the attention of the blonde chuunin.

Ino looked at shikamaru, with a bored face... she was dead bored. There wasnt anything to do yet.

"eh? what is it shika?"

Shikamaru pointed at Hinata and Naruto... he was too lazy to explain the things that were happening...

"ooooh!" Ino giggled, seeing the couple playing shouji together "how cute! this is a good development shika!"

Shikamaru counldt hide but to turn red as Ino looked at him straight into his eye... and found it more harder for him to stay focused when he noticed Ino walk up towards him.

"uh... "

"uh... " Shika repeated,

"do you want to go with me to the festival tommorrow?"

Shikamaru laughed... he was about to say the same thing too... now it was time for him to say his answer.

"sure... whatever... the weather forecast tommorow will be too cloudy.. I cant watch the clouds... maybe the festival would be worth a shot..."

Ino happily threw herself into Shikamaru for a hug.

"Shikamaru! Youre the best! I'll meet you with Naruto and Hinata on the town square! Hana! come with me! I'll show you something!" she said as she skipped upstairs...

"okay.. Im coming Ino-san!" Hana shouted as she climbed te stairs after Ino.

Shikamaru found himself having no regrets on putting some effort into something... maybe effort was worth the effort.

"heh..."

"you seem happy...munch...munch... on a date with ino tommorrow?" someone asked from behind.

Shika looked behind him...

"oh chouji...no we're not on a date... im just 'accompanying' her... "

Chouji raised a fat eyebrow while continuing eating his usual bag of potato chips.

"oh? I thoughed youd answer with something like... munch..munch... troublesome?"

"eh?"

"I thought women were troublesome? why go with a girl now?"

"...er... Ino's different..."

"she's a boy? how'd did... munch... that happen?"

"NO! er... she's not as troublesome as others okay.. because...."

"you like her...?"

"EHHHHH?! You know?"

"for the past 3 years... yes..."

"how the-"

"its obvious... munch... you two fight like youre both engaged or something... that had to come sooner or later..."

"oh... so Im that obvious huh?"

Suddenly someone opened the door. It was tenma... most probrobly checking up on them...

"oh you shinobi are still here?"

Neji gave a slight smirk and looked at the guy.

"we have plans to stay until the may 14th... some of us want to enjoy the festival now that we're free of duties because hana is all cured..."

"yes... I was expecting that..."

Tenma walked up to Hinata...

"Hi hinata-san!"

Hinata made her move and looked behind her...

"oh.. tenma-kun..."

"hehehe... nice to see you again... playing shougi with... Naruto-san? I didnt notice you there...hi!"

"hi..." Naruto said.

'you didnt notice me baka? well... im gonna make ya notice me soon enough... '

"Hey hinata.. would you go out with me to the festival tommorow?"

Naruto looked at hinata with hope in his eyes that remember that she's already promised the day to Naruto... so...

"no thanks Tenma kun... Na-naruto already asked me out earlier this morning... sorry..."

Tenma looked dismayed...

"oh well... seems like i'll go with someone else then... hehehe..." He said as he patted her on the back.... but... bad move... It triggered hinata to faint! (her body is weak remember?)

Naruto stood up. knocking an original ming vase behind him to fall to the floor and break into many pieces...

"oh no! Hinata! What did you do?!"

"nothing!! youre the one who did something!"

"what did I do!?"

"You broke my father's ming vase!!!"

"and so?!"

"pay for it!"

"eh?"

"you heard me! pay me back 3 million!"

"WHHHAAATTTT?! IT COSTS THAT MUCH!?"

"ming vases are expensive... and that one has sentimental value..."

Neji butted in.

"and when do you want us to pay for that?!"

"by tommorrow at 12am..."

"fine... we'll find a way..."

"but how the hell are we going to get that much cash?" Shikamaru stated.

Tenma frowned...

"tommorrow there are lotteries and contests... try your luck in them... youre more than skilled enough to win all of the fair games in succession if you wanted to anyway..."

"mou... more troublesome things to worry about... crap..."

Tenma headded for the door...

"Im sorry if im acting a little cold..."

Neji gave Tenma a look that most probrobly said... 'get out you moron... or i'll kill you myself with my gentle fist...'. Tenma just gave a smile and closed the door behind him.

"Hinata! Hinata!!!" Naruto said, shaking hinata until she came back to her senses...

Hinata opened her eyes... to see herself in Naruto's arms. She cant hold back the blush she was showing after realizing.

"na-naruto...? what happened?"

"It was nothing hinata... tenma just gave your body a shock..."

Neji walked up to his cousin.

"you alright?"

"yes neji-niisan... im okay... I guess I just fainted because I was just too stressed out today...hehehe..."

"that's good... and naruto...."

Naruto looked at Neji...

"eh?"

"you can let go of My cousin now..."

Upon realizing that hinata was still in his arms, he flushed red and helped hinata up.

"eh...hehehehe..." Naruto laughed

"hehe...."

"so tommorrow's plans are still okay hinata?"

"yeah.."

------------

Tenma was still outside... he was overhearing their conversations... and he had someone with him...

"so you did as planned?" said a familliar voice.

"yes... the negative ki I gave to hinata was enough to weaken her... "

"so she really is that frail... "

The girl hugged Tenma's arm.

"I guess so..."

Someone appeared from the bushes. It was a girl with aquamarine eyes.

"So... hello..." Tenma said to the girl

"hey... What are you doing here?!"

"you know youre a jerk.. making me wait for hours on that damned house of yours..."

"heh... patience..."

"okay... and dont worry... I did my part already... i had erased hana's memory of the incident days ago.."

"that's good..."

"hehehe..."

The girl hugging Tenma Smiled.

"Heh... yes... little girl.. respect him and acknowledge him... after all... you owe him your family's life..."

The aquamarine eyed girl frowned.

"'i know...if it wasnt for you, my mother would have died and my father would have been killed... so I owe you my life...' nice try kin... but that isnt enough to make me lose my loyalty..."

Tenma looked at the girl.

"heh.... What if I break the news..."

"huh?"

"..that you cant keep the sand boy alive with them... you have to kill him with the rest of them..."

"but... but!"

"where do your loyalties lie?"

"...on...on...on you Tenma..."

'as long as I use the Genjutsu on her, she'll believe her parents are still alive and i can use her powers... heh... foolish girl... I had killed them the same day you gave yourself up...' Tenma thought

"good... Izumi..."

Tears came flowing from the girl as Tenma and kin came walking past her to the gate...

"why....?" she sobbed as she fell crying on the floor.

----

"tenma... dont you think we're to hard on the poor girl? She's just a 15 year old that became an assasin because-"

"I used an everlasting Genjutsu on her... she'll never realize that I have killed her family... she'll keep on seeing them... hearing them... and even feeling their touches... She'll never see the truth... "

"but still... you killed her family... obviously you still have a heart dont you?"

"of course... I have a heart because I resurected you because you were beautiful... Orochimaru was a fool to use you only as a tool..." Tenma said as he licked Kin's neck slowly... making kin giggle evilly.

"heh.. you are so evil tenma..."

"that's why im Orochimaru's heir..."

--------------------------------------

hehehe... please tell me if the story's going haywire... hehehe... I hope this one clears up the kin mystery... and tells something more about Izumi too... hehehe.. thanks to all who have given me their sweet reviews! more than a hundred!!! Horray!!!!

Keep em going! gomen again for the long delay...

hehehe... owari always!