Chapter Eleven

Note: I'm finally updating, it's a bad habit that I always go off for about a month at the beginning of summer, but I can't really help it. So I'm finally updating.O-o;

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Naruto stopped and leaned against a tree as he came closer to the village. He slowly placed his hand over his heart and sighed slowly, a small smile gracing his face as a single tear trailed down his shadowed face the shatter on the ground.

"Who needs Sasuke bastard?…I have people that love me…"-Thankyou Shikamaru…-The blonde swiped the thin trace of tears from his cheek before straightening and pushing his sleeves up over his elbows, bandages standing stark white against the dark material.

-I'm not going to hide it like a scared rabbit…it was a training accident. Just slowly repair and piece together everything Naruto…life will go back to the way it was.-

Following the stone walkway back to the village, it was easier to bear the piercing glares and hateful whispers that plagued him from all directions. Turning to follow the path towards the academy, he spotted Hinata in the fenced corner, repeatedly hitting and kicking the dummy.

Her sweatshirt was removed so she wouldn't overheat in the hot weather, and underneath she wore a oversized navy blue tank top with her normal capris.

"Yo, Hinata!"

The shy girl's head snapped around and pupilless eyes widened before a blush flooded her face.

Naruto frowned as the girl stuttered uncertainly, tripping as she looked for her jacket.

"Oi, what are you doing training here all alone?"

"I-I wanted to get in some training f-for the chunin exams…"She murmured, finally stopping and straitening from her frantic search. Her small pale hands twisted the hem of her tanktop as she shyly met his eyes. "H-how are you, Narutokun?"

Naruto smiled and bent to retrieve her jacket, walking over to join her. She shyly took the jacket from his hands and held it to her chest, eyeing it fondly in a way that made Naruto blink.

"Uh…sorry, I don't think my hands are too dirty.."

"N-n-no! I.."Embaressed by her own outburst, the small girl swallowed and pushed her fingers together, biting her bottom lip, " I just…thankyou for picking it up for me."

Slinging an arm about the girl's shoulders, Naruto smiled easily, ignoring her growing blush, "Ah, Hinata chan. You need to loosen up and stop being so shy! You hide beneath that coat all the time like that baka Kiba! Seriously, go to Sakura and her and Ino will go crazy and give you an entire makeover. You need more friends!"

Hinata smiled and ducked her head, lips trembling, "y-you really think so, Nautokun?"

"Of course!"

The girl's eyes darted over his shirt and pants, a small frown replacing her shy smile. "W-why are you wearing a jounin uniform?"

Naruto tensed before relaxing, arm sliding from her shoulders so he could pick at the uniform with a sheepish smile.

"I stayed over at Irukasensei's house last night and Kakashi came over. I didn't have any clothes to sleep in so I just wore these to bed and I just got up a while ago so I said 'what the hell!' haha.."

Hinata smiled, "I t-think its cool t-that you don't care about what other people t-think Naruto.."

The blonde blushed and rubbed the back of his head, "really, Hinatachan?"

She blushed at the endearment and nodded. Eyeing the bandage, she hesitantly opened her mouth.

"I got this training with that Sasuke-bastard. Psht, it didn't even hurt but Irukasensei insisted that he bandage it."Naruto smiled. "Speaking of Iruka, I have to go see him right now, but maybe I could drag you with me to go get some ramen later today?"

"I would like that very much, Narutokun."Hinata smiled brilliantly, not stuttering once as she flushed happily.

"Great! I'll find you when I'm done!Ja!"The blonde waved, running around the front and through the wooden doors.

Smiling happily, he yipped when he ran into something soft. "oowww…"

"Dobe?"

Naruto froze, looking up at Sasuke. "O-oh..its you."

The other boy raised a brow, dark eyes assessing the boy in front of him, eyes snapping to the bandage.

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Dun dun DUNNNNNNN. I know, I suck. But it's the fourth of july and this is all I could really write.O-o; So be glad! cough But I had to put my beloved hinata in this…so..yeah…reviews please!