"Hinata!' Naruto pushed her away in shock. "You…"
Hinata looked stunned too.
"I… I can't believe you did that!" Naruto yelped, getting away from her.
"But… N-Naruto… I... I'm sorry… I-But- I really…"
"Stay away. Stay far away!" Naruto snapped.
"N-Naruto…" Hinata stood rooted to the spot, watching him run off.
Oh no… N-Naruto- h-hates me now!
-----------------------
"Sasuke." Sakura said. They were still at the hot spring.
"Huh?"
"I'm… Going out for a moment."
"Alright. I'll follow you."
"No! I mean, you don't have to."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"Fine."
Sakura nodded quickly and went off.
-----------------------
Huh?
Neji was coming out from the woods with Tenten when he spotted Hinata by the tree, crying.
"Hinata! Hinata, what's wrong?" He asked, concerned.
"N-Naruto-ha-hates-m-me b-because of-w-what I d-did… I-It wasn't on p-purpose, I-I…"
"Calm down, Hinata!" Tenten said in a motherly tone and patted her shoulders.
Hinata looked up, her eyes overflowing with tears.
"N-Naruto hates me…A-and its all m-my fault…"
Neji and Tenten looked at one another. And they both knew.
Naruto rejected her!
------------------------
Sakura went out from the back door and leapt on a nearby tree, looking.
Naruto… I'm sorry…
She jumped and landed on another tree.
Where did he go?
She leapt down from the tree and ran north.
Hey! I hear noises…
She turned and ran hopefully.
Bingo. Naruto was sitting on a rock, looking gloomy.
Sakura tiptoed softly to Naruto.
"Hi, Sakura." Naruto muttered.
"Uh… Hi."
"Come sit, okay?" Naruto muttered, patting at another rock beside him.
Sakura sat beside him without hesitation.
"Naruto, I… I understand you're upset, but…"
"No, you don't." Naruto said flatly.
"Uh…"
"Don't you understand WHY I'm feeling so upset?" Naruto continued in the same flat tone.
Sakura looked at Naruto. She was feeling really bad inside.
He's always so full of life… And now he's…Is he being affected really that badly?
"I…I'm…I'm…" Sakura started.
"I know you've noticed. You should have." Naruto said flatly.
"Huh?"
"DIDN'T YOU NOTICE THAT I'VE LIKED YOU FOR YEARS?" Naruto burst out.
"Ah… I mean… I…" Sakura was taken aback by his tone. It was bursting with emotion, ringing in her ears…
"NO, YOU DIDN'T CARE, DID YOU, YOU ONLY DO FOR THAT SASUKE! IT'S ALWAYS SASUKE, SASUKE, SASUKE, ISN'T IT?"
"No… NO!" Sakura found herself jumping up. "NO, YOU'VE GOT IT ALL WRONG!"
You've got it all wrong, Naruto! I don't only care for Sasuke… I…
"…I CARE ABOUT YOU TOO, IDIOT!"
Naruto halted. He blinked.
"…What did you…"
"I CARE, OKAY! SO STOP BEING SO GLOOMY AND ALL! I HATE TO SEE YOU LIKE THIS, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAN- AH!" Sakura covered her mouth. W-What did I just-?
Naruto's eyes widened. Then he blushed.
"I'm… sorry for yelling at you, Sakura." He said, his hair covering his face.
"I… No… It's okay… I-!"
Naruto had leaned forward and kissed Sakura's forehead.
"WHAT!" Sakura gasped, her hand to her forehead, and blushing.
"I'm not giving up!" Naruto grinned.
He winked and ran off.
Author: Hinata will be fine! (Read the next chapter!)