Hoping

Hinata hoped that one day, Naruto would ask her to go for ramen. She hoped that one day, maybe he would blush when he saw her, and maybe he would stutter when he tried to talk to her. But, Hinata knew that probably wouldn't happen, because outgoing people didn't act shy. Outgoing people didn't act like her.

Hinata hoped that one day, her family would accept her for who she was. While she, her father and Neji were slowly healing their relationship, she could still feel a bit of contempt for how gentle and shy she was.

She hoped that, if she could, she could become a better shinobi and still be nice. Good shinobi were supposed to be emotionless. Cold. Unfeeling. She didn't want to be that way. She hoped she would never be cold and unfeeling.

Hinata hoped that Naruto would stop being stupid, (Though she would have never said that.) and see how much she liked him, so she didn't have to embarrass herself in front of him and his friends. Maybe, when Naruto got older, and maybe a little wiser, he would notice her.

She hoped that one day, Naruto would just ask her out, because he had nothing better to do. Then, they would have fun, and he would say that they should hang out together more often. Hinata hoped that maybe, after they went out on a few dates, Naruto would tell her that if she wanted to train, he could always help her out.

Hinata hoped that one day she could have a family. She hoped she could be a good mother. She hoped that she would have some free time, because she would probably have to be a mother, wife, and kunoichi all at once. She hoped that she had a responsible husband, who would watch the children from time to tie, so she could get some rest.

Hinata hoped that her husband would be Naruto. She hoped that opposites really attract. She hoped that she would become a good shinobi in her families eyes. She hoped that one day, maybe she wouldn't have to see all the death and violence a shinobi saw.

Hinata hoped that one day, everything would be okay. Maybe one day, shinobi would only be needed to help people across lands, and escort people back home. And, maybe one day, her family would apologize for the way she was treated, and except her for who she was. And one day, Naruto would tell her she was a cute girl, and get jealous if another boy took interest in her. And if Naruto became her husband one day, their children would be happy and healthy, and take care of both her and Naruto when they became old.

Hinata hoped for a perfect life. There's no such thing as perfect.

Authors Note: Updated on Febrary 14, 2006. I wrote a little more to the chapter, because this one seemed to short.