Author's Note: Things may get confusing here. Here is a reference.
Italics-Thoughts
(Italics)-Internal Conversation (Human)
(Bold Italics)-Internal Conversation (Demon)
Please bear in mind that this is my first attempt at romance so please bear with me.
Chapter 4 Happy Coincidence. Welcome Home, Naruto-Kun
Uzumaki Naruto walked through the the trees towards the Ichiraku Ramen Stand. He walked with his hands in his pockets, a strange expression on his face. The face betrayed a mixture of worry and excitement, creasing the whiskerlike marks on his face. The way became darker, as day gave way to evening, and Naruto found himself tripping.
Kakashi said that there could be strong ninja around the Dragon Exam. I wonder how strong. Naruto thought.
I guess it'll be all right. I'm much stronger than I used to be. Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head.
(Maybe so, Kit. But there's always someone stronger than you. I should know,) came a deep sardonic voice in the back of Naruto's mind.
Naruto smiled grimly. (Looks like someone's finally awake. About time. Where were you?)
Kyuubi snorted. (Tch! You didn't need me for something petty like that little training exercise. Now, that incident last summer was different.)
(I guess you're right,) Naruto shuddered. (That freak was strong. Do you think he was really from Akatsuki?)
(Hardly. He was nowhere near as strong as the young one from your village or the tall blue one. He was all talk, much like you.)
(Talk?) Naruto sputtered internally. (That hopping madman nearly killed me and Ero-Sennin!)
(Kit, no complaining. You won, didn't you?)
(Barely.)
(It may be likely that that fellow...oh, drat...)
(Tatsuyoshi. That's what he called himself.)
(Impressive, you can pay attention to some things. Anyway, he was probably connected to the group. However, it seems too sloppy of them to have a savage like that as a major member.)
Naruto laughed aloud. (This coming from the demon who attempted to eat me when we first met face-to-face? Meh. I say again, meh.) Naruto snapped his fingers dismissively.
(I WILL EAT YOU ALIVE!) raged the demon.(Errrr, I mean...We were young, youthful indiscretions, you know...) Kyuubi stammered, sounding embarrased.
(Well, I guess you have changed somewhat,) Naruto noted. (I seem to be rubbing off on you.But you're still a bit unbalanced...and arrogantly superior.)
(Damn right. Just be glad I only talk to you during emergencies or when you concentrate.)
(Thank god.)Finally, Naruto emerged into Konoha proper, and began winding his way towards Ichiraku.
(Now Kit, I did hear you say something about ramen, didn't I?) The Demon licked its nonexistant lips as mental contact faded.
"Hmm. Rubbing off on him in more ways than one..." mused Naruto, as he approached the ramen stand and pushed open the flap.
Hyuuga Hinata had been staking out the Ichiraku ramen bar for the better part of 2 1/2 years. She was waiting for a certain young man, one Uzumaki Naruto, who was known to frequent the establishment on a regular basis. Sometimes she would stand timidly in the shadows, pressing her fingertips together. Other times she would actually enter the establishment and order something. She was growing to like ramen quite a bit now. Hinata still looked much like she did years earlier, though she had filled out somewhat. Her sweatshirt helped disguise her feminine assets, and she still wore her Konoha headband around her neck. She wore her silky, navy-blue hair much as she had always done, though she had let it grow out, reaching down to the middle of her back. It was almost long as her cousin Neji's.
This evening was one of those evenings in which Hinata had decided to actually eat at Ichiraku rather than watch. She sat daydreaming off on the far-right stool, when a spiky figure pushed through the flap.
"Oy, Ojii-san! One bowl of pork ramen, please"
"Naruto-Kun"
"Eh"
GLOMP!
Naruto suddenly found himself on the floor, being hugged furiously by the Hyuuga heiress.
"Er...make that two bowls."
"Oh! Gomen, Naruto-kun" Hinata blushed, getting up quickly.
"Heh. Don't worry about it" Naruto gave a fox-like grin. "You miss me, Hinata-chan"
"H-hai."
"Yeah, it's good to be back." Naruto stood up and popped his neck.
"So um, how was your training"
"It was great" Naruto explained. "I learned loads. A few new techniques, but mostly chakra control and technique application. We travelled practically everywhere, from Grass country to the Isle of Water."
Hinata smiled. "Sounds like you've been working hard."
Naruto gave an almost pained groan. "Tell me about it. That Ero-sennin can be a brutal taskmaster when he puts his mind to it, especially if he's drunk. I can't count the times I've had to drag him away from women's baths so that I could actually get some training."
Hinata giggled.
"Speaking of which, how've you been? Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan tell me that you did pretty good at the Chuunin exam."
"Yes, I guess I have changed."
"Yeah, you have" said Naruto, looking Hinata up and down. "You look really nice...um, I..." Naruto stammered as both shinobi blushed. "Anyway, uh, you were saying"
Hinata continued haltingly. "I guess part of the reason I've gotten stronger is because Tsunade-sama has been teaching me some medical techniques."
"Baa-chan's teaching you too"
"Mm-hmm. She thought that my temperment left me best suited for training as a medic-nin. I find it hard to hurt people, I jus-I just don't like it."
"I know."
"Hmmm"
Naruto gave a big smile. "You've always been a gentle person Hinata-chan."
"You're right. Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata looked happier than ever. "After the exam, I suppose Father noticed something too, because something changed. I no longer see such disappointment in his eyes. He looks on me less as a failure and more as a daughter. He has also aided in my training, having me work with him and Neji-niisan on mastering Jyuuken."
Hinata sighed. "Father's going to be leaving Konoha in a few days. He's going to be representing Konoha's clans by observing at some big tournament. He's taking Neji, Hanabi, and I with him, so I guess"
Naruto interrupted her. "Exam? You don't mean the Dragon Exam, do you"
"Umm, I think so."
Naruto laughed. "I'm taking part in that tournament" He thumped his chest.
Hinata's white eyes widened noticably. "Really"
"Yup. Me, Sakura-chan, and Shikamaru."
Hinata's heart leaped. She would be able to stay near the boy she cared about. Maybe she would work up the courage to tell him how she really felt. As the the Ichiraku's proprietor approached with two bowls of pork ramen and set them down, Hinata tucked in with gusto, a smile obscuring most of her face.
"Hey, nice technique" observed Naruto between bites, referring to the speed with which Hinata was eating.
"I've been practicing."
(Practicing?) thought Naruto. (Why would she be practicing her ramen-eating technique?)
"Hinata-sama? Ah, here you are."
A tall androgynous figure had just entered the restaurant. Hyuuga Neji, of the Hyuuga branch family. Neji's once long hair was now even longer, reaching down nearly to his knees. His sweatshirt had been replaced by a jacket made from the same material, with a black mesh shirt underneath. Neji's face was just as smooth and feminine as it had always been, but for one detail. Neji now had a long scar running down his cheek, from below his right eye down to his jaw. A beaked Anbu mask rested on the side of his head, tilted rather like a strange-shaped hat.
"Oh? Neji-niisan." Hinata looked quizzically at her cousin. "What is it"
"Hiashi-sama wishes for you to return home. There are still many preparations to be made for our journey."
"All right Neji-niisan." Hinata smiled at Neji. Neji smiled back which surprised Naruto.
(Looks like a genuine smile. Looks like he's changed his outlook on her as well.) Naruto thought. (Guess I won't need to beat him up again.)
"Well" he said. "I guess I'll see you later, then, huh"
"All right..."
With that, Hinata gave Naruto another hug.
"Welcome home, Naruto-kun."
Neji at first looked surprised, then he snorted, a smirk playing around his thin lips. Hinata left the stand, glancing over her shoulder, blushing once again.
Neji glanced at Naruto. "So, you're back."
"Looks like it."
Neji smirked again. "It's about time. This place was just starting to quiet down."
"Heh. Anyway, what happened to you" Asked Naruto, tracing a jagged line down his own face.
"ANBU accident. Strictly need-to-know basis."
"You've gotten to be more of a smartass. That's my job"
"Smartass? Doesn't sound like something you'd be good at" Neji remarked. "Anyway, welcome back."
"Thanks."
Neji turned and left the stand. Naruto sat for a minute, then tossed a handfull of coins on the wooden counter.
"Thanks for the ramen Ojii-san"
"No problem, Naruto! See you soon" shouted back the old man, raising a hand in farewell. The old man was smiling far more than usual. His number one customer was finally back in town. He now expected his sales to increase by a very comfortable margin.
Naruto began walking the streets of Konoha, making his way to his old apartment. As he climbed the stairs to the second floor, Naruto felt his ribs, wincing slightly. Hinata had tackled him harder then he had thought. She had seemed awfully happy to see him. Happier than just about anyone else who had witnessed the 'Kitsune Kid's' return. Naruto wasn't sure how to feel. When Hinata had hugged him and said goodbye, he had felt a strange sensation. A kind of warmth in his chest that spread up to his face.
Naruto wondered. He opened and shut his apartment door behind him, took three steps and then, exhausted, collapsed into bed. He fell into a deep sleep, wondering.
Next Chapter: Familiar Faces
