"The Courting of Uzumaki Naruto"

by The Carpet Shampoo

Disclaimer: Naruto's not mine…however after I marry Shikamaru…*insert evil laughter* 

Author's Commentary: You guy's reviews crack me up seriously. Everyone either loves this fic or is completely weirded out by it. I'm actually looking forward to updates! Which is why I update like…every day. Or almost. Ah lets see here…what else? GWFascination I'm sure everyone has at least one story about their parents catching them laughing at the computer. And giving them weird looks. Me, my parents ran in when I screamed. I'd been reading a horror fic and the door behind me shut suddenly because of the breeze. Cookie6, I'm not sure, but I'm betting Neji stole Hinata's books. He's just mean like that. Assassin of Shadows, I'm glad you think my summery is stupid. ^^;; I hate writing summaries. But what I hate even more is when people say "I hate writing summaries" in their summery! Just tell us what the story is about! Sheesh…

Chapter 5: The Shy Violet Hinata.

            "N-N-Naruto-kun, I-I…um…" Hinata shook her head, her black hair whipping around her face.

            "N-Naruto, I j-just wanted to…um…" Hinata sighed and hung her head defeated. She'd been at this for hours now. She couldn't even speak normally to a picture of Naruto! How was she ever supposed to talk to him face to face…?

            "This is hopeless…" Hinata mumbled and covered her red face with her tiny white hands. Of all things, she'd had to have her little sister go tell Naruto to meet her in the park for their date. She couldn't tell him herself. Hinata sighed and sat down in her chair. She flipped through one of her oldest romance mangas, and smiled as a few pages fluttered out on her lap. She tucked them back into place, pausing to glance at one of the fallen pages.

            The heroine of the story was shy around boys too, she always blushed when they spoke to her. But then, when she met the handsome dark haired stranger who saved her life, she had fallen in love with him and he with her. Hinata gently touched the heroine's picture, watching as she tearfully told the boy she loved that she cared for him, all the while blushing like crazy.

            Why can't it be that way for me…? Hinata thought. Naruto-kun's so nice, but I can't even say hi to him! I wish I could be like her…She's so pretty… Hinata looked at her reflection in the mirror and sighed.

            "…I thought you were a plain, dark-looking weirdo…" Hinata sighed, remembering Naruto's words. It was one of the few times she'd actually had the courage to talk to Naruto, and that's how he had responded. Of course, he went on to say that he could like a person like Hinata, but what was that supposed to mean? Did it mean that he liked Hinata? But as what? A friend? A girlfriend? Hinata wished sometimes, that she could look more like Sakura or Ino. Both of them were so pretty. Hinata really did look like a plain, dark weirdo next to them.

            But maybe…Just maybe Naruto would think she looked pretty…Hinata smiled at the thought and gathered up all her courage. It was time for her date with Naruto.

            Naruto looked around one last time and finally saw Hinata coming towards him.

            "Hey! Hinata! Over here!" Naruto stood up on a bench and waved to Hinata. She gave him a little wave back and then trotted over.

            Hinata looked up shyly through her bangs and blushed at the site of seeing Naruto grinning at her like that. She looked back down at the ground quickly, avoiding Naruto's gaze.

            "Um…" Hinata felt her face grow even hotter and she began nervously twiddling her fingers together, "Um…hello, N-Naruto…"

            "Hey Hinata! Were you late or did I just get the time wrong?"

            "I…um…"

            "Well never mind then! I suppose what's done is done." Hinata glanced up again and saw Naruto with that same boyish smile grinning down at her.

            "You know Hinata, I'm glad you entered this whole thing." The shy girl blinked as she felt her heart rate quicken within her chest, thumping against it almost impossibly loud.

            "Y-You are?" Her voice came out in the form of a little squeak.

            "Yeah! Otherwise, there'd be no normal people in this competition!"

            "O-oh…" Hinata sighed inwardly. What was that supposed to have meant? Did that mean he liked her, or not?

            "Hey Hinata…"

            "Yeah N-Naruto?"

            "What do you think those purple flowers are over there…?" Naruto

pointed off to a small bunch of purple flowers, huddled together in the shade, "And how can they grow there? Iruka-sensei says flowers need sun."

            Hinata looked at the flowers closely. "Those are v-violets. They don't need sun to grow…as a matter of fact, they don't even need the sun to grow. Violets like the shade Naruto…" Hinata stared at the little flowers, twisting her fingers together and ringing her hands as she looked at the tiny purple flowers.

            "You're kinda like a flower Hinata. You're like those flowers." Naruto pointed back at the violets. "Cause they're kinda dark and almost hidden. Its almost like you can't see them. Its not like the other girls. See, Sakura, she's more like a cherry blossom, and not just cause of her name. See, cherry blossoms are pretty when they last, and that's not long…Just like Sakura can't stay nice to me for long! And Ino's more like a daisy…pretty, but common, there's too many of them and if I sniff too close, my nose itches."

            Hinata smiled at the small path of violets. Violets are very pretty too…she thought to herself.

            "And Neji? What kind of flower is Neji?" Hinata asked looking up at Naruto seriously. He blinked at her for a moment, and then started laughing.

            "Neji is like…a snapdragon! You hear the name and imagine some vicious thing, but all you get is a weird looking flower!" Hinata giggled and Naruto laughed.

            "What about Gaara?" She asked innocently.

            "Gaara is…a dandelion! Not only do they look weird, but no matter how many times people pick them, they always seem to be there!"

            "And Kiba?" Hinata asked between giggles.

            "Kiba is…sweet pea flowers."

            "Why is he sweet pea flowers?" Hinata asked. If that was funny, she really didn't get it.

            "Cause I don't know too many more flowers." Naruto explained. Hinata shook her head and giggled.

            "Do you have a flower for Shino?"

            "Hm…a sunflower? Cause they move slowly and you always suspect they've been staring in the sun too long."

            "And what about Shikamaru…?"

            "A toadstool. Definitely a toadstool." Hinata giggled again and Naruto grinned at her.

            "Naruto-kun, would you like something to eat?" Hinata felt her face turn a little hot, but really, talking to Naruto wasn't all that hard. She wasn't sure why she'd always had such a hard time with hit. He was so funny, he made her forget to be nervous around him.

            "Yeah! Sounds good! Lead me to the food!" Naruto stuck out his hand to her, and Hinata turned bright red again.

            "Um…O-Ok…" She felt her face grow more and more hot as she reached out and took Naruto's hand, leading him off to where she set down the food.

            So much for this being easy…Hinata thought, trying to fight off her blush…

            Hinata walked Naruto back to his apartment, though they didn't talk much on the way back. To the both of their surprise, Uchiha Sasuke was waiting outside Naruto's apartment for him.

            "Kakashi sent me. I'm to tell you your next date is with Gaara of the Sand." Naruto blinked. Hadn't Sasuke called this whole thing stupid? Why was he now acting as Kakashi's messenger boy?
            "And after that, you have a mission. With me." Sasuke turned to walk off, but Naruto ran to catch up.

            "Wait a sec, Sasuke, you're a chuunin now. You have different missions than me. I'm still a genin, remember?"

            "Its not that hard of a mission. I asked specifically for you to come along, and Hokage-sama said it was all right."

            Naruto glared at Sasuke, who remained emotionless in response. That stupid irritable Uchiha boy was still jealous Naruto was getting all the attention it seemed. Naruto turned around and saw Hinata there, looking a little nervous. He stepped in and grabbed her in a big hug, pulling her in close.

            "Thanks a bunch Hinata! It was lots of fun being with you…"

            Sasuke turned and left, Hinata blushed severely, Naruto sighed, and somewhere off in the distance, Gaara was trying to pick out flowers from Ino's shop.

Author's Commentary: This chapter's a little bit late. I've just been recruited to run follow spot for our school musical, Grease, and rehearsals are long! Seriously. That, plus homework, equals less frequent updates! Though I will try…I'm even skipping beta-ing this chapter, just to get it out sooner. Oh well…