Chapter 1: pearly eyes

It was already sunset, Hinata has been sitting there for a while now. She always spent her free time here, the training area. This place is very special to her.

I like people... like you....

It still echoed in her mind after all this years. That word made this place special, those words from him made this palace very special for her. She still blushed as that scene played back again and again in her mind. She then recalled what happened to her for the past years. She ran away from her father when she became fifteen. She ran away because she didn't want the fate that her father made for her, she wants it to be made by her on herself. She improved a lot after gaining independence from her father and the clan. Neji didn't bother and actually supported her because he wanted to run away from his fate as a bird in the cage too, a fate that was made by someone rather than him. But that's all over now, Naruto just cleared the Hyuuga clan problem days ago, he even made up a new technique to remove that cursed seal in Neji's forehead. Neji became betrothed to her sister Hanabi. It didn't really bother anyone because everyone knew it is tradition. Her father then gave the title as Hyuuga head to Neji.

"Hinata?" a very familiar voice broke off her thoughts. She looked at the one who said that and saw Naruto smiling at her. "N-Naruto-kun..." this time she didn't run behind the tree, she has more confidence now, but not much around her Naruto. Naruto then sat beside Hinata. The Genins were staring at them; their jounin teacher was staring at them too.

The two just sat there in silence thinking of what to talk about. Naruto then stared at her. He felt something he hadn't felt before. Hinata noticed his sticky stare and looked at him with confusion. She then noticed that Naruto's face is slowly getting closer at her face.

"Ahh! Naruto-sama is gonna kiss her!" the Genin said

"That can't be... I'm Naruto-sama's girlfriend..." the girl said

"Shut up Saya... we know you're just making these things up..." the other Genin boy. Hinata blushed more as Naruto's face neared her face.

"W-hat are you doing, Naruto-kun?" Hinata barely said it because her heart is beating very fast.

Naruto then stared at her. He wanted to kiss her but he can't do it in public, he thought. Instead he just whispered something at Hinata, something that made her blush too much. He then stood up with a shade of pink in his face.

"Maybe we'll see each other again sometime in the future, and I'll make sure it's not here." Naruto then walked away, still blushing. Moments after, Hinata still stared at the path that Naruto took as he left. She couldn't believe what he had just whispered at her. The three Genins stared at her wondering what the Hokage whispered. Their sensei then called their attention and they went back to training.

I can't believe that I've never noticed before, but you have beautiful eyes Hinata-chan...