Okay… I'm bored so I'm going to continue with this story! I realized it had good potential!

Disclaimer: Dunt own Naruto

Yes… Hence, It Is Deep…

Chapter Two!

"No really… I wasn't paying attention…" Hinata muttered.

At first, the person didn't recognize her because one, he hadn't seen her in three years. Two, her hair style was totally different! It was up to her shoulder blades, and her bangs weren't styled the same as before. They were layered and it was all tied up in a loose bun, leaving some strands of hair out. And three, she had her head down and he couldn't see her face. Though something clicked in his mind a minute later and he realized he knew this person.

"Hinata?"

Instantly Hinata jerked her head up and the next thing she knew it; she was staring into two breath taking sapphire eyes. She shook her head gently, was her mind playing tricks on her again? "Naruto-kun!" she exclaimed, surprised that it was him! Of all people. "Oye… What are you doing in this village? Shouldn't you be at Konoha? Or is Kiba and Shino around and you're doing a mission?" he asked, clueless, and began to look around in search for her two teammates.

"No…You…see…" Hinata started off and started twiddling her fingers. "Well you can explain later… I bet you're thirsty, let's go get a drink!" he said cheerfully and led Hinata to a bar.

… (Later on?)

"Arigatou…Naruto-kun…" Hinata thanked quietly. "What for? The drink? Don't worry about it, unlike three years ago now I have a lot of money!" he boasted proudly.

Hinata smiled and took a good look at Naruto, he sure had grown. His blond hair and blue eyes was the same but something was pulling on her heart that he changed dramatically. He matured. He was now taller; as expected. Probably a lot smarter and stronger too. And while Hinata was goggling about how Naruto 'matured', he was looking at her. He noticed the really obvious things. She had grown taller; well of course, her hair was longer… and she was wearing a kimono but even to the some what dense Naruto she looked like a disaster.

"No… You s-see… W-well … Something happened-d y-yester-rday and ano… so… t-this m-morning… I-I…" her voice seemed to get quieter and quieter as each word she spoke came out from her mouth. "You what? What happened? You know I'm a lot stronger and I will beat whoever is the one who hurt you!" Naruto beamed, "I… was c-crying all n-night and in the m-morning I took a w-walk…"

"Uh huh… something happened, cried all night, took a walk…" he grinned at her, which made her cheeks burst into flames. She dreamily smiled back. Naruto was actually listening to her… Uzumaki Naruto was actually listening to her! Hyuuga Hinata! Wow he did ever change! Her confidence went a bit higher since he was listening. "I k-kept on walking… I-I never noticed I walked out of K-Konoha… By that time I looked I-I was already in the c-country side… I didn't want to g-go back so… I k-kept walking… It was g-getting dark and I noticed I didn't have any m-money or not even my n-ninja pouch… so if I got a-attacked… but then I ran into this village! But then I remembered I didn't have anything… but ano… I bumped into you!" her eyes lit up remembering how she bumped into him.

"Oh really… that's the situation you got yourself in…" he mumbled. "Gomen… I know I'm an n-nuisance…" she murmured softly, her eyes losing that sense of enthusiasm."No! That's not what I meant! Wait… So you didn't sleep and you probably didn't eat! Ahh we have to get you some food! And then sleep!" Naruto exclaimed.

No… maybe Naruto didn't change that much… but it was the thought that counted right?

… So Naruto took her out for food and then took her to the inn he was staying at.

"You must be sleepy! Neh, Hinata?"

"Hmm?" Hinata was too sleepy to reply. "I said; you must be sleepy." He repeated, "Well… I guess…" she yawned then blushed. "Go to sleep…" Naruto advised, "Oh… wait… do you need… do…do you want to borrow some of… well… you know my… clothes? You know… to like sleep more comfortably?" he asked, a tad embarrassed.

"I mean like…" he sputtered, "Umm… that would be nice…" she smiled. He grinned and pulled out a plain black t-shirt and black pants. "They're probably a bit too big…" he laughed, "But they're the smallest things I have."

She nodded, "Thank you, Naruto-kun,"

"T-The bathroom's over there," Naruto pointed to a door. She blushed and nodded while walking into the washroom. Naruto sighed and sat down a one of the beds, all of the sudden he started sputtering and feeling all light headed. There were two things he could compare the feeling to. One was when he was much younger and he was totally obsessed with Haruno Sakura. Whenever he was around her he felt like he could die right there because she was so pretty. The other time well… he was drunk.

Naruto emerged from his thoughts when he heard the washroom door creak open and the smell of vanilla and an indescribable scent fill the air. "N-Naruto-kun?"

Naruto was surprised when his eyes refused to move from her. She was in his clothing but she… she couldn't look more peaceful and calm. He didn't have this feeling that she just made him feel in ages. With all the Akatsuki, but even that didn't matter… all what mattered was this moment. His eyes traveled down from her head to her legs. Maybe it was that cute little expression she had on her face that made him want to go crazy. Or maybe it was the fact she looked so… innocent in his clothes. He didn't know what made him freeze but all he could say was that he liked the feeling. It was like she was radiating some light that nobody had ever shone before. It… it… was like she was an angel.

Hinata felt awkward. Naruto was staring directly at her and hasn't said or budged or anything. It was close but he was still breathing. For Naruto it was like time was still. She was standing there a confused expression on her face as a blush reappeared on her cheeks. Her hair was out and she had her clothes wrapped up in a ball in her hand. "N-…Naruto-kun?" she repeated.

Naruto snapped out from his gaze, "Oh, sorry." He apologized. "Umm… I'm done with the washroom if… you want to use it…" she trailed off. "Uhh… thanks but…" he smiled, "Okay sure," he got up and walked past Hinata and went into the washroom.

As he got closer to her the scent got stronger. He didn't really understand what his nose and mind was trying to get at. But for the moment he just had to get away. He had never looked at Hinata that way, but when she just stood there. So… pure... He had to clear his head and turned on the tap. He started to slap on some cold water on his face. This was Hyuuga Hinata! He screamed mentally to himself. Then that image of her flashed back into his head. "Hyuuga Hinata… eh? Has she ever grown up… from a little bud that nobody would take a second's time to look at to a beautiful flower. She looked so pure and grown up. Eh… she's lucky. Only a few special ladies can make the great Uzumaki Naruto freeze at one sight…" He shook his head thoroughly. He had to get a hold of himself. She was waiting for him.

Meanwhile… Hinata sat on the bed Naruto was sitting on and smiled. Naruto was here; for real. And she had run away from her home... this was real. She wasn't just dreaming this all up.

When Naruto came out of the bathroom; all refreshed, he smiled at the sight. Hinata was curled up on her side and sleeping peacefully on the bed. Her breath silently going in and out as her chest rose and fell. Her hair was fanned out behind her and there was a curious little smile on her face. Without even realizing he walked up closer to her and brushed a bang that fell and covered her face. He winced when her eyes fluttered open and smiled at his touch, "Naruto-kun,"

"Uhh," he jerked back slightly, "Sorry… Hinata…"

She pushed herself up and sat up, "Didn't mean to wake you up," he bit his lip, wishing she'd go back to sleep so he could continue to admire her. "No… it's okay… really… I wasn't really…ano… sleeping…" she smiled at him. A funny feeling ran down Naruto's spine as Hinata smiled at him. 'Don't let yourself get too excited.' He said to himself.

"Oh… well…" Naruto continued to stare at her and she blushed. "W-What's wrong?" she asked. He chuckled and shook his head, "Nothing," and started to walk away when she hesitantly grabbed his arm.

"S-Sit down…"

He looked into her eyes and did exactly what he was told. He sat down right beside her as she released her grip from his arm. Hinata glanced at him and blushed when she saw his eyes staring back at her. She started pushing her fingers together, "W-Where's Jiraiya-sama?" she asked, trying to start up a conversation.

Naruto burst out laughing, "Trust me, you don't want to know,"

There was another awkward silence and after a while Naruto was just about to say something when, "Say something!" she accidentally blurted out, "I mean…" she started to sputter and her voice grew quieter and quieter.

He looked at her awkwardly, "Hinata…"

She looked up and stopped her blubbering, "Hm?"

He sighed and lied down horizontally with her eyes following his action. "Your family… isn't really pleasant is it?" She shook her head and bit her lip. "I mean I thought it would be so cool to have a family and such a big house and maids and whatever. But…"

Hinata just remembered… and her smile faded. Naruto didn't know his family…

"The way you and Neji described it long ago… I rather have not met them at all… it just seems so cru…" he noticed how she quieted and how she tore her eyes in the opposite direction of him. "Hinata! I didn't mean to offend you or anything!" he said quickly."No… it's nothing…" she murmured as she ran her hand through her hair.

"So what's been happening around the village?" he changed the subject. "Um… nothing really…" she responded. "Come on, there must be something." He pleaded.

"Um… well a lot of things can happen in three years. People change and grow without them even knowing it. In time things… well, nothing really that you missed." She replied. "I see. What's new with you? I haven't talked to you… well in three years but like… ahh… you know what I mean." He grinned.

"N-Nothing." She answered, "Hinata, you just said people change and grow without them knowing. Tell me something new about you." He said.

"I'm a chuunin…" she asked as if that qualified as an answer. "Really? That's nice…" It took a while to comprehend what she just said, "WHAT? Who else is a chuunin?" He bolted up and looked her straight in the eye, "But it's awesome you passed the exam."

"Yeah… it's amazing I passed the exam… such a w-weak heir…" She looked down and sighed softly, "No! That's not what I meant! I meant I didn't pass the exam yet! It's cool you did." He shot a 'nice guy' pose at her. Which made her giggle and to Naruto's relief he felt better when she had a smile than a frown on her face. "Well, um, let's see. Everybody from our little group is chuunin except Neji-nii-san, Kankurou-san, and Temari-san. They are already Jounin." She explained with a small smile.

"Ehhhhhh! Wha… what! Then what about Garaa?" he asked surprised beyond belief. Hinata giggled, "Oh you mean Kazekage-sama?"

Naruto stared at Hinata like she was crazy. She giggled even more at the stunned expression on his face, "What's new with you Naruto-kun?" she questioned, trying to break Naruto from that face. She was close to waving her hands in front of him to get back his attention. Though she didn't want to ruin the moment. He looked adorable.

Naruto continued to stare at her, trying to comprehend what she just said. "N-Naruto-kun?" she tested if his mind and body were still intact.

"Naruto-kun?" she repeated a little louder. After a while Naruto snapped out of his thoughts and grinned. "Sorry Hinata. I just never thought… never mind. Me… hm…" he looked like he was thinking really hard. "Well…" he grinned wider, "There's nothing much to say," he concluded. Hinata frowned. "I just told you a b-bunch of things. Can't y-you at least t-tell me w-what's been h-happening in your life?"

"Well I can't talk to a person who isn't sure of herself… You're doing all that sputtering and stuttering… it isn't good for a person you know?" He advised feeling so bad that there was a little frown on her lips, "Sorry… I-" "Just try… it's not that hard… I… won't bite you." He wanted to add a 'yet' but he didn't want Hinata to think he was perverted or anything.

She nodded, "What's been happening in your life?"

"Ahhh… nothing much… Jiraiya has always been a pain in the ass… nothing isn't that new…" He said which earned him a giggle from the girl. "You know… I'm not trying to imply anything or nothing. But you're much better when you're more confident… I mean… you're laugh is pretty and… yeah…"

She blushed, "I think I like myself better like that too Naruto-kun."

"A lot more people will like you too; I'm sure." He agreed, "I know I like you even more than I did before!"

"Naruto-kun…"

He smiled, "Glad I made you happy. Now you can go to sleep without crying the whole night neh? Now you know somebody likes you better and there's no need to cry." It was time for Hinata to feel smug and dumbstruck.

He got up and walked to the other bed, "I'm sure Ero-Sensei won't mind…"

After a while Hinata broke in a smile, "Arigatou, Naruto-kun," He looked at her, "Nehh, don't worry about it. Your smile is good enough."

How'd you like it? Good? Bad?

After HOW long and I update…

Until Next Time….

Ja ne!

Fixed some grammar errors… August 28th 2005