MIRACLE DRUG

Thanks to Byuu128, itai (I think he's mature I his own way, so that's why I tried to not change anything from his younger character), Lokiador, Xoni Newcomer (feel free to correct any mistakes, ok? English is not my language, I'm brazilian, so that's why you'll find lots of errors in my writing), Batanga, Dragon Man 180 (Neji is my fave character, so I had to put him in an important context! And you know, I think he looks like a matchmaker!), Cyberwing, NecroButcher, Kei-kun and Masha for the reviews! I'm really glad!

Well, here's another chapter! I just hope you like that too! Cheers!

Chapter II

"You really grew up, Naruto". Iruka rubbed his hand on Naruto's head.

"Yep! And I'm stronger too! I wish you could have seen what I did with some robbers that tried to attack us! I made three of them fly in a second! They still must be thinking what hit them!" He smiled proudly.

They were at Ichiraku's place. Iruka, of course, was treating Naruto. He didn't change a thing. It was like that three years meant nothing to his appearance. He laughed. "Alright, Naruto! But weren't you using your headband? Robbers never attack a shinobi. They're not that crazy". He looked at him suspiciously.

"But it's true, Iruka-sensei! I think they thought that ero-sennin was alone cause…"

"Argh, Naruto! I can't believe you still call him like that! He's your sensei and you should be proud of it. He's one of the legen…"

"… dary sannins, yeah, I already know that". He filled his mouth with ramen.

"Ah! You grew up but you're still that undisciplined boy from before". He sighed.

"Seconds!" He showed his empty plate to him.

"What? But it will be the tenth?!"

"I'm still hungry". Naruto said seriously.

"You're still undisciplined but your stomach surely got bigger". Iruka smiled.

"Thanks for the meal, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto said passing a hand over his belly.

"Ok, but next time, you treat".

They entered the free market, which was in the center of the village.

"Hum… I'll think about it!"

"Fine. Anyway, I have to go, it's my turn now at the office. See you later, Naruto".

"You bet!"

Iruka just waved and left.

Now… What should I do now? I didn't see Kakashi-sensei yet and old Tsunade. Ero-sennin also disappeared. I bet he's after some young girls. That pervert! Maybe I should just wait Neji to… hum? His attention was caught by a girl, several feet from him. She was wearing a black and blue kimono, her shining long black hair was tied by a blue ribbon at her nape level and she was carrying two big bags which seemed to be heavy. The only problem was that Naruto couldn't see her face since he was staring at her back. But I doubt she's not pretty. He stepped in her direction and caught up with her in less than a minute. "May I help you, miss?" He made a little bow when he was by her side.

"Than-thanks, Naruto-kun…"

Huh? He straightened himself and looked at the girl. He couldn't control his jaw and it dropped.

"… but they're not heavy". She said softly.

"Hi…" he gulped "… Hinata?" His eyes were wide open.

"Yes. Didn't you… didn't you recognize me?" Her voice sounded a little disappointed.

"What? Err…" He laughed. "Of course I recognized you, Hinata! That's why I came to help!" I can't believe it's her!

She smiled. "Ah, now I understand. So you were joking".

"Yes! Yes! I was only joking!" He laughed again. How did she get so pretty?

"Thank you, but I can handle it. They're not so…" She couldn't finish because he took the bags from her hands. "Naruto-kun…"

"Leave it to me, Hinata! And you said they're not heavy? Let's go! You were going to your house, right?"

She nodded.

"And why didn't Neji come with you?" He started walking.

"Because he had to deliver the report". She followed him.

"Didn't he come back yet?" He asked surprised.

"I don't know. When I left home he was still writing". Her voice was leaving her mouth almost like a whisper.

"I see. I was wondering what was making you late. Nothing happened during the mission, right?" He looked at her.

She couldn't handle to face his eyes and turned her face to the side, blushing slightly. "No, nothing. It was quite easy. We just had to get some information from our spying group. It would only be Neji and I but Lee-kun insisted to go too".

"Lee? You mean Geji Mayu, right?"

Hinata smiled. "Yes, Naruto-kun".

"And how is he? Since you said he was with you I think he's still working as a ninja, right?"

"Yes. Lee-kun got well from all the injuries".

Naruto sighed. "I'm glad. When I left he was ok but I didn't know if he could still work as a shinobi".

"Lee-kun surprised everyone, even Neji nii-san. By the way, Naruto-kun, I didn't thank you yet for helping Neji".

He looked at her confused. "Helping Neji? But when was that? I don't remember…"

"When you fought him three years ago, at the Chunnin Shiken. Neji nii-san became a more cheerful person since then… and he no longer bears grudges at the main family… thanks to you". She looked at the ground, cheeks totally red.

Naruto blushed too. "Ah, that? I did nothing. Neji was… just confused at that time".

"If you say it…"

"But you know, Hinata?"

"What?"

"I didn't thank you also for helping me".

Finally she looked at him. "Help… help you?"

"Yeah. If we hadn't met at the training field that day maybe I wouldn't be able to fight Neji and win".

She smiled. "I'm glad that what I said helped you. And, Naruto-kun, I meant all the words… from the bottom of my heart. And I still think like that".

Suddenly his heart punched hard in his chest. What's that?

"Is there… any problem, Naruto-kun?" She looked at him worried.

"Huh?" He looked at her and smiled. "No, nothing".

"Err… Naruto-kun, my house is here". She was standing in front of a wooden gate, in the middle of a white wall.

He was already a few steps from her. "Of course!" He turned around. "I knew that! I just… I was just distracted!" Damn!

She took a bag of his hand. "Thank you for the help".

"Don't mention it! But I can take them into…"

"So it seems that I won't have to look for you since Hinata-sama found you for us". Neji went to them and took off the bag from Hinata. "Come in, Naruto".

He smiled. "Hi, Neji!" He was entering but stopped and looked at Hinata. "Ladies first".

Hinata blushed harder and started to face the ground again. "Than-thanks" and passed.

Naruto followed and Neji smiled at them.

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"I can't believe I lost it!" Naruto put a hand on his head.

They were drinking tea at the Hyuuga's main house veranda.

Neji smiled. "It was really a good fight. But I think I was lucky. Shino is good in long range, mid range and close range combat. And those bugs of his are really annoying. I couldn't use properly kaiten because they were always sucking my chackra. So the only thing I could use, besides taijutsu, was hakke".

"But Shino uses thousands of bugs at the same time. How could your hakke…"

"Neji nii-san hakke is 512 hits now". Hinata said proudly.

"WOW!" Naruto was really surprised.

"Thank you. But like I said I was lucky. I think Shino distracted himself with something, I don't know. The fact is that, while fighting his bugs, I managed to get closer him till he was in my hakke range. Maybe he thought I would keep hitting his bugs to defend myself, but, when I saw he was at my reach, I attacked him and closed his tenketsus, so he could no longer control the bugs".

"You were really smart!" His eyes were wide open.

"But then the fight got a little confused because Shino could no longer use his chackra and mine was at its lowest state because of his bugs. The only thing we could use was taijutsu. I just remember of hitting him at the face and I think he did the same, but, after that, what I saw was the hospital wing".

"What? You were knocked out?" He couldn't believe it.

"Yes, but Shino also fell to the ground unconscious. The judge assumed it as a draw". Hinata answered.

"It seems that the feudal lords enjoyed the fight and promoted him and me to chunnins".

"Damn! It seems that I lost a lot of nice things". Naruto said disappointed.

"But it was due to your training, Naruto-kun". Hinata said softly.

His heart punched again. What's that? Am I ill? "And… err… where is Shino now? I didn't see him around".

Neji frowned. "He's on a spying mission with his father and other two members of his clan".

"Spying mission?" Naruto looked confused.

"Yes. The name Orochimaru brings back memories to you, right?" He looked into his eyes.

Naruto's blood started boiling. "Yeah. I wished the old geezer could have finished him". He clenched his fists.

"Old geezer?" Hinata asked.

"I think he means sandaime, Hinata-sama".

"So, that mission you went, was to get the news from Shino?"

Neji nodded.

"And what did they find out? Something about Sasuke?" He asked impatiently.

"Sorry, Naruto, we can't tell you that, even if we knew it. The documents were sealed and only kodaime could read them".

"So I'll go ask her".

"Can I come in?"

They looked at the gate. "Of course, Lee!" Neji said.

He entered followed by Tenten… but they were holding hands. Naruto's jaw dropped. "Are you… truly… I mean… Geji Mayu and Tenten?!"

Tenten blushed slightly and frowned. "Who are you calling Geji Mayu?" She asked angrily.

Lee looked at her and laughed. "That's ok, Tenten". He turned to Naruto. "We're together for almost two years now. I forgot that, when you left, we were not together yet". He said.

"And you never imagined you would be, right, Lee?" Neji jogged.

They seated beside Neji. "I always knew Tenten had a thing for me". Lee sentenced.

"Hunf! Alright! If it wasn't me you would never had noticed". Tenten turned to Naruto. "I almost gave up on him. Even Gai-sensei, which is another dumb for those kinds of things, noticed".

Naruto laughed. "He's really stupid! How could you not see that she fancies you? Hey, Tenten, so what did you do?"

"I asked him if he would like to go to the movies with me. Of course he said 'yes' but then he did nothing and, as I was impatient, when we got at my house…" she blushed slightly "… I grabbed him".

Lee was red like a tomato. Neji, Hinata and Naruto burst out laughing.

"But you sure make a great couple". Hinata said with a smile.

"Well, Naruto, giving a break to Lee, you mocked him for not noticing that a girl fancied him". Neji drank more tea.

He laughed again. "Yeah! Totally baka!"

"But can you tell if there's a girl that is fond of you?" He provoked.

Hinata shivered and started gazing at her cup of tea.

"Of course I can! Sakura-chan is crazy for me!" Naruto said serious.

Neji glanced at Hinata. "Sakura-chan, you say. Are you sure? I heard that yesterday she almost broke your nose".

Naruto blushed. "Err… it's cause… it's cause… she's shy, yeah! She's shy and there were too many people". Phew!

Neji smiled. "Fine then".

"But I assure you that she's crazy for me!" He insisted.

Hinata got up. "I'll… I'll bring more tea. Excuse me". She turned and left.

Naruto stomach flopped. She seemed to be sad… and why the hell I'm feeling bad? I did nothing wrong… did I?

"You're gazing off too much now, Naruto".

Neji's voice woke him up. "Huh? I was not gazing off, I was… I was…"

"No doubts your eyes are only great when they're not looking at you". Neji sighed.

"And I still didn't get what you tried to say". He frowned.

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Naruto really like to spend the afternoon with Neji, Hinata, Lee and Tenten. He left the Hyuuga's house and went to the Hokage office to say hello to old lady Tsunade and show her that he still had the necklace, but he left her office really angry because she refused to give him information about Orochimaru and Sasuke saying that it was confidential. After that, he went straight home. The only thing that was bothering him was the image of Hinata when she left to get more tea passing on and on in his head. He leant on his bed and kept staring at the ceiling. I did nothing wrong. The sleep came slowly and the last thought he had in mind was about a girl dressing a black and blue kimono and she was smiling to him.