-Flashback-
"Stupid girl!" A cold, hard hand made it's way across Hinata's face. "You're worthless! You can't even live up to your own expectations!" He struck her again and again. Every time leaving a mark and sometimes drawing blood. "You're weak!" She never cried out, but silent tears made their way down her face.
-The Present-
Hinata cringed at the memories, not wishing to think about it.
"Hey, Hinata! Wait up!" Naruto was running towards her, and so she stopped.
"I'm glad I caught you. Sensei said I had to take you home."
"Oh……"
"Don't take it the wrong way! I mean it's not like you need an escort or anything!"
"No it's not that. It's Just…. Never mind."
"Nani! Tell me."
"Ano, d-don't worry about it. I-It's not important." She sighed. Her home was just around the corner. "Ano, my house i-is just around the c-corner. Y-you don't have to come with me if you don't want to."
"Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll stick around. I've already got my stuff anyways." He smiled at her.
Hinata could feel herself blushing, as they made their way up to the front door. Gently she pushed it open and found herself looking straight up at the eyes of her father.
"What are you doing here? And who is that boy?" He snapped at them.
"Father…. I…."
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I'm here to escort Hinata!"
"Naruto….Kun…"
"I'll have nothing of the sort! Hinata isn't going anywhere with you!"
"Oh yeah? Let's see you try and stop us! Come on Hinata." Naruto took Hinata by the hand and pulled her into another room. "Alright. Now which way is your room, anyways?" Hinata blushed slightly and pointed in the direction of her room.
Naruto smiled and again took her by the hand. He pulled her though the hallways, sometimes stopping to ask her which way, until they finally arrived at her room.
"Is this it?"
"H-hai."
"Okay." He quickly opened the door and walked in with Hinata close on his heels.
Hinata couldn't believe it. Naruto was here in her room. Blushing Hinata began to pack up her things, while Naruto looked around.
"Hey, Hinata. Who's that?"
She turned around to see what he was talking about. "Ano, t-that's my mother…."
"Oh. I've never seen her before, did something happen to her?"
"S-she d-died along t-time ago."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"Ano, that's alright. W-why don't we leave? I'm ready to go." He nodded and followed her out the door. This time he let Hinata lead her through the twisting and turning hallways.
When they reached the front doors; Hinata's father was waiting for them.
"I will not allow you to leave this house." Something seemed to snap in Hinata after he said that.
"We're leaving no matter what you say!"
"What did you just say?"
"I said we're leaving. Weather you like it or not."
"You should learn to keep your mouth shut girl." His hand lashed out and struck her across the face, flinging her to the floor. Shaking she slowly got to her feet. Her father flung his hand out to hit her again, but it never made contact.
Naruto couldn't stand to see this happen to Hinata. No he wouldn't let it happen. He saw her father swing out to hit her again and he grabbed his arm in mid-swing.
"Stop."
"No, she's my daughter. I can do what I please with her. Now let go of me boy."
"No."
"Let go you monster."
"I said no." Hinata's father did a few quick hand seals and activated the byakugan. He started to tap charka holes on Naruto's arm and other body parts.
"That will teach you."
Naruto's eyes were in shadow as he began to laugh. "You're a fool." He looked up; his eyes had turned a deep crimson color, fangs showed, and the marking on his face had widened.
'What it's impossible, he can still move!' Exclaimed Hinata's father in his head.
Hinata gasped as Naruto easily pushed her father to his knees. Naruto moved to punch him, but Hinata softly touched his arm.
"Don't Naruto-kun; he's not worth it."
"Fine. Let's go."
"Come back here you coward! Come back and fight me like a man!" Naruto turned around.
"I am not a coward." His fist made contact before anyone could even blink.
'Will he ever come to like me as more then a friend?' Sakura sighed. She had been on a team with Sasuke for almost four years now and she still felt like she was only a friend; never to be anything more to him.
"Hey, forehead, how are you doing?"
"Hello Ino-pig. I'm fine, thank you. And you?"
"I'm bored half to death! My team hasn't been on a mission in almost a month! We're stuck training in the forest! Now I have to stand that Shiko everyday! He is so annoying!"
"Hehe… Ino it sounds like you like-like him." Sakura smirked slightly.
Ino blushed. "I do not." She stuck out her tongue. "Ne. Ne."
"You blushed Ino-Chan! You do like him!"
"Shut up forehead!"
"It's true! It's true! You do like him!"
"N-no I don't." Stuttered Ino.
"Yes you do and don't even try to deny it, I know you too well for that."
"Hmph." Ino spat out; nose in the air, and Sakura smiled in triumph.
"So have you kissed him yet?" Ino turned a bright red.
"Well… I…. aaa.. We…"
"You've kissed him!"
"It was an accident! We didn't mean for it to happen. I… We just couldn't help ourselves!"
"No fair Ino-pig! You got your first kiss before me!"
"You're late Naruto."
"Sorry Sensei we ran into some trouble, but it was nothing we couldn't handle."
"Okay, whatever."
"Geez. Sensei you are so carefree."
Kakashi smirked under his mask. "I know."
Hinata giggled slightly. Naruto and Kakashi-Sensei were hilarious to her.
"You two are pathetic. I'm going to go and get Sakura." Sasuke took off in a blur of color. 'Now where does Sakura live again? This is embarrassing; we've been on a team together for almost four years and I don't even know where she lives. Nice going Sasuke now she'll never go out with you. Did I just think that! Hey there she is!'
"Hey Sakura!"
"Sasuke-Kun?"
"A.. Well… Kakashi-Sensei send me to go get you so if you'd just." Sasuke gestured in the direction of where the others were waiting. 'What is wrong with you Sasuke? You can't stutter in front of a girl! You'd be losing your image! What do I care? I don't need an image. Yes you do. Shut up already.'
"Is something wrong with you Sasuke-kun? You're acting kind of strange."
"Ah.. No nothing's wrong." Sasuke started to walk off. "Well are you coming or not?"
Sakura blushed. "Yeah. I'm coming. If you want I'll race you."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because we don't need to waste our energy." Sasuke turned into a blur right before her eyes. She took off after him.
"I wonder what's taking them so long?" Naruto piped up.
"I-I d-don't know Naruto-kun." Hinata started to tap her fingers together. Kakashi rolled his eyes. Man this girl had it bad, and Naruto was too stupid to realize it. Maybe he should help them along a little bit. Whistling he walked pasted Hinata and pushed her into Naruto.
"Eh? Hinata-chan what did you do that for?"
Hinata blushed. "I-I'm sorry.. Naruto-kun.. I-I d-didn't mean to."
"It's alright Hinata-chan. I know you didn't mean to do it. I don't mind that you did it either." He smiled at her. For some reason he was looking forward to getting to know this girl.
Kakashi frowned under his mask; Naruto still didn't get it. Alright on to phase two then. But he was going to have to wait because Sakura and Sasuke just showed up.
"It's about time. I was actually getting impatient."
"Oh cut it out sensei." Sakura stuck her tongue out, but before she could retract it Kakashi caught hold of it.
"Alright from here on out I want a serious mindset from all of you. That includes you Naruto. Kanouke Koron should be arriving any minute so I want you guys to try to impress him. Oh yeah, do your best."
"Ey ensei et go of my ongue!"
"Okay. I'll see you guys when you get back. Cya." Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"You mean to say we're on our own?" Asked Naruto.
"Yeah. I think he does."