19: Hinata's Chocolate Factory

The great glass elevator was now hovering high over Konoha village. Inside the elevator stood Wonka-san, Naruto, and Hinata.

"How I love my chocolate factory," said Wonka-san, gazing down at the enormous factory. Then he paused, and he turned around and looked at Hinata with a most serious expression on his face. "Do you love it, too, Hinata?" he asked.

Hinata smiled warmly and her eyes lit up. "Oh, yes," she cried, "I-I think it's the most wonderful place in the whole world!"

"I am very pleased to hear you say that," said Wonka-san, looking more serious than ever. He went on staring at Hinata. "Yes," he said, "I am very pleased indeed to hear you say that. And now I shall tell you why." Wonka-san cocked his head to one side and all at once the tiny twinkling wrinkles of a smile appeared around the corners of his eyes, and he said, "You see, my dear child, you've won something today. Not just any something mind you, the most something something that ever…somethinged!"

He took a deep breath, "I've decided to give you my entire factory!"

Hinata stared at Wonka-san, and Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. "Y-you must be joking." Hinata gave a bit of a chuckle.

"Oh, I'm not joking, I'm deadly serious." Wonka-san said.

"B-but…but…why do you want to give your factory to Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked.

"Well," Wonka-san said, "A short while ago, I had a revelation. I realized one day that I'm actually an old man. I'm much older than I look. I can't go on forever. I have no children of my own. So who is going to run the factory when I'm gone? Someone's got to keep it going, if only for the sake of my beloved Oompa-Loompas. Mind you, there are thousands of clever men who would give anything for the chance to come and take over for me, but I don't want that sort of person at all. A grownup won't listen to me; he won't learn. He will try to do things his own way and not mine. So I have to have a child. I want a good, sensible, loving child, one whom I can tell my most precious candy-making secrets…while I'm still alive."

"So that's why you sent out the golden tickets!" cried Naruto.

"Exactly!" said Wonka-san. "I decided to invite five children to the factory, and the one that was the least rotten at the end of the day would be the winner…that's you, Hinata." He finished, smiling at the girl.

"So," he started again, looking warmly at Hinata, "are you ready to throw everything away and come with me and run the factory?" he said.

Hinata stared back at him. Her eyes had lost their excitement. They were now filled with the look of hesitation and sadness. "I-I'm sorry, Wonka-san…but I c-can't…" she whispered.

"I'm sorry, perhaps I didn't hear you right, what did you say?" he asked.

"I…I can't come with you…I can't run your factory." She said more clearly this time.

Wonka-san's delighted expression began to change. His eyebrows drooped and his smile fell slack. His lip quivered ever so slightly, as if he was trying to work out what to say next.

"A-are you sure?" he asked. "I mean, w-why won't you?"

"I can't…" Hinata said sadly. "M-my father expects me to become a s-shinobi worthy of the Hyuuga clan. I-I can't just drop everything…I have to carry out that wish. I…I have to work hard and become a good ninja."

Naruto, who apparently couldn't take anymore of this, spoke up, "H-Hinata-chan! What're you saying! You're going to give up something this wonderful so you can impress your father who couldn't care less about you!"

Hinata looked towards the ground, not answering.

"Hinata," Wonka-san said, he brought his hands upon the girl's shoulders, "Is that what you really want? Or do you just want to impress your father?"

Hinata stuttered slightly. "I…p-please don't misunderstand me…I'd love to take the factory…b-but I have to obey my father…" she trailed off, "…I want him to be satisfied with me…I just want to be good enough."

"Oh Hinata, you silly, silly girl." Wonka-san said. "I know how you feel. I've been through everything you're feeling right now. I had a father who was never satisfied with what I could do…he never truly accepted me for who I was…but I've gotten over that. I realized that as long as I thought I was a good person, a good shinobi, then I was."

Hinata looked up into Wonka-san's caring eyes, tears beginning to well up in hers.

"I think," he began, "that you've done many brave and noble things today. Not only have you proved that you're the most pure of heart and mind out of all of the other children, but you stopped two people from killing each other in order to bring them peace." Wonka-san chuckled. "I distinctly remember doing something of the like a long time ago…bringing people together in the name of peace, stopping conflict. That's a sign of true greatness."

Hinata remembered Naruto telling her the story at the ramen stand. She looked across to him. He was smiling at her. It was that great big grin she had always admired.

"He's right," Naruto said to her, "I think you're a great ninja, and an even better person. I just wish you could see yourself the way I do…"

Hinata couldn't believe what she was hearing. Naruto… she thought, is praising me? He thinks I'm great? N-No way…

Hinata couldn't hold herself back as she began to blush furiously.

"Hinata, what really matters is what you want," Wonka-san said, "Not what your father wants. Do you think you're a good shinobi? Do you really want to spend your life trying to impress him?"

Hinata struggled to answer. She felt so conflicted and confused. Her brow furrowed and she squinted her eyes.

"Um, just wondering…" Wonka-san interrupted, "…If I went to talk to your father with you, and convinced him that you're truly strong, would you change your mind?"

Hinata's eyes widened. "Y-you'd do that for me?" she gasped.

"Sure," he smiled, "why not? After all, you are my number one choice for the job. I'd like to meet your family as well. I'm sure they're all such delightful people!"

Hinata didn't think to correct Wonka-san. She nodded to him and watched him push a few more buttons. Soon, the great glass elevator was descending towards Konoha, right outside of Hiashi Hyuuga's mansion.