"Thanks for taking the time and meeting me here, Hinata-san. I really appreciate it." Naruto said, leaning back onto the ground, arms crossed behind his head. Hinata blushed.
"It's alright. I sensed it must have been pretty urgent for you to want to talk to me about it."
Naruto shook his head, looking at her straight in the eye. "It's not that urgent. Let's just say I needed someone…understanding to talk to."
"So, what's wrong?" She asked, leaning on the ground as well.
"Things have been pretty hard for me lately." Naruto began, looking at the sky instead of her. "I mean, imagine how hard it was for me to realize that Kakashi-sensei taught Sasuke a cool new technique. At, first, I told myself not to be jealous. After all, maybe he sensed that Sasuke would really need help with Gaara, seeing how powerful he is. But, I don't know, I guess I just sorta let the jealousy take over." Yeah, that's it. He thought, let her know how much a jealous idiot you are. Oh well, I already said it. Can't take it back.
Hinata looked at him closely. I never saw him like this, she thought, brow furrowed. Normally, he's so cheerful and head strong, he can never sit down and talk seriously. Maybe I don't know him as much as I thought.
Silence passed. Naruto shook his head, stood up, and wandered nearer to the edge of the lake, hands in pockets. Hinata followed him.
"So, I pushed myself a little bit more whenever Kakashi-sensei would watch us train. I thought, maybe if he saw how capable I was, he would teach me a few new techniques as well. Apparently, that wasn't the case. So, I thought he would pay more attention after Sasuke told him about how I defeated Gaara. I was wrong, big time. I'm not so sure about what I'm really aiming for, myself. I don't know if I just want Kakashi-sensei to teach me more techniques, or if I just want to be acknowledged. I've been confused lately. Normally, I'd just shrug it off, tell myself that Sasuke's not worth my time, and get myself some ramen to cheer me up. But, nowadays, it's not really helping. I…I think I'm telling you all this because you're the only one I can trust, as well as the only I one I know who can probably relate." He turned to look at her, and Hinata's heart nearly broke, seeing the look on his face. Pain. Sorrow. Confusion. All those emotions were dancing in his eyes, and she had just never looked closely enough to see them.
"You…you do understand, don't you?" Naruto asked coming closer. "I've told myself to bury the past, never let the sorrow that I once felt take over. I've always put a cheerful mask so that no one else would know what I really went through. I told myself that, sooner or later, the mask would have to come off." He sighed and turned away. "I'm sorry that you had to be the first person to see it come off."
Hinata watched the reflection of the moonlight dance on the surface of the lake as she carefully thought about what to say next. This is a new side of Naruto-kun that I haven't seen yet. She thought, chewing softly on her bottom lip. I was wrong. I don't know him at all. I never even realized that all I had to do was look into his eyes and see the sorrow that was buried there. He's right, though. I can relate. I know what it feels like when it seems you're not worth being acknowledged.
"You're right. I can relate." She said softly. Naruto looked at her over his shoulder. "I know the feeling of despair and frustration when you try so hard to do your best in everything, and yet no one says 'well done' or 'nice work'. And, yes, I think I…I pretty much understand what you're talking about." She knelt down and lightly touched the water, watching the ripples branch out. "You didn't want any one to think that you were still affected by your past, you decided to act cheerful and happy. Perhaps you overdid it a little bit, and now, no one really takes you seriously. I heard from Tsunade-sama about what Kabuto-san said. He said that you didn't really have talent. That compared to Sasuke-kun, you were nothing. That just made you more depressed, although you didn't show it. So you just kept all of your negative emotions bottled up inside." She looked up at him with a small smile.
"I keep thinking about the story of Mizuki-san. You know, Iruka-sensei's friend whom you fought against a few months back. You remember, right?"
"Hai." Naruto nodded, kneeling down beside her. "How could I not remember him?"
"Well, " she continued, choosing her words carefully, "if I remember correctly, he also felt the need to be acknowledged. You said so yourself. And in the end, he finally went berserk and became evil, looking to Orochimaru as a…role model of sorts, r-right?"
"Well, yeah, but what does this have to do with anythi…" Suddenly, he broke off and glared at Hinata with such intensity that she nearly cowered back in fright. "I think I get what you're saying, Hinata-san."
Her eyes widened. She hadn't conveyed what she had really wanted to say at all.
"N-n-no!" She stammered, nearly withering under his blazing gaze. The eyes that had once been filled with sorrow and confusion were now filled with fiery anger. "N-n-naruto-kun, I-I-I-I didn't m-m-mean…"
"You mean that, if I don't straighten up or let this feeling go, I'll probably end up like that Mizuki jerk and go bonkers. That's what you wanted to say, right?"
She shook her head, pale eyes brimming with tears. She was shivering uncontrollably, and she looked like she was going to faint.
Naruto turned away, looking at his reflection in the water. Anger was etched on every detail of his face. Except…except for his eyes. His eyes were brimming with tears, and they threatened to overflow.
She doesn't understand me at all! He thought angrily, allowing the tears to spill out and drop into the water. I thought she did, but I guess she really doesn't. Hinata-san, I…I'm more than a little disappointed. I thought talking to you would make me feel better. I thought you would have great advice. Well, as before, I guess I thought wrong.
"N-n-naruto-kun," she began, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No." he said, looking at her with anger so blazing, so intense, that her knees buckled and she nearly lost her balance. "I have to go."
She watched him walk away, slowly losing sight of him as he went deeper into the shadows of the trees.
Naruto walked through the trees, impatiently brushing away low-hanging branches and eaves. He trampled through the underbrush, his mind awhirl with thoughts.
Stupid. Completely stupid. How could I have ever thought that, for once in this miserable life of mine, someone would actually understand me? I was stupid to even think, for a second, that she could give me sound advice! I should be angry at her. He stopped, confused. He didn't feel anger at all. He felt…what? Disappointment. Sadness. Emptiness
I should be angry, he repeated to himself firmly. Then why do I feel worse than ever?
He continued to walk on. Maybe he had jumped to conclusions. Maybe she had meant something entirely different.
Maybe…
Sasuke shook his head, looking at Gaara's figure enshrouded in the darkness. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting pale light here and there.
"I don't think you're thinking straight, Gaara-san." He said, brow furrowed. "I thought you and your other circus friends turned over a new leaf. Why are you asking me to do this?"
Silence passed. It was so complete that Sasuke wondered whether or not Gaara had dropped off to sleep. When it became clear that he wasn't going to answer, Sasuke sighed and prepared to jump down from the tree branch. He was wasting his time here. He had to focus all his energy on finding…
"…Akatsuki." Gaara said softly.
Sasuke whipped around. "N-nani!"
Gaara moved forward, allowing the moonlight to hit his face. "Your brother, Uchiha Itachi, is part of it, right?" It was a rhetorical question, and Sasuke knew it.
"He kept you alive because he chose you to be the one to avenge your clan's death. You are an avenger. You know that. You also know that he's stronger than any other Jounin. If you defeat…him, you'll be that much closer to defeating your brother. Deep inside, you know that as well as I do. Think about it, Uchiha Sasuke. This could be your chance to see whether or not your brother chose the right person to avenge the clan." He stood up without another word and jumped of the branch.
"He did choose the right person." Sasuke called after his retreating back.
Everything was still. Sasuke sat down, mulling over everything Gaara had told him. This could be the chance for you to see whether or not your brother chose the right person…the right person…to avenge the clan… Gaara's voice echoed in his mind.
"He did choose the right person." He said aloud, as if to convince him it was true. But deep inside, he knew that his mind was whispering two words.
I think…
Hinata slid open the door in a kind of hypnotic trance. She detached herself from her body, allowing her thoughts to completely take over. She was still distraught over the disastrous meeting by the lake.
I never knew Naruto-kun could get angry like that, she thought, barely aware of her surroundings. I…I'm a little glad he opened up. I feel as if I know him better now. She smiled in spite of herself. It was true. She knew more about him now. Probably more than Sakura-chan or Sasuke-kun did. Then, slowly, her smile faded. But, I wish now that he didn't take off his mask. It's so different from the Naruto-kun that I know. It's so full of emotions that it almost hurts to look in his eyes. Sometimes, I wonder if…
"Hinata-neechan!"
Hinata looked up, startled. In front of her stood Hanabi, her younger sister. If Hinata didn't find the situation she was currently in so depressing, she would have laughed. Hanabi stood at least two-and-a-half feet shorter, but with her hands on her hips and a look of authority on her face, you would have thought she was older.
"It's so late, oneesan!" She said, "Where were you?"
"Gomenasai, Hanabi. I…I was out by the lake."
Hanabi narrowed her eyes. "Your cheeks are red, you have that look in your eyes…you met Uzumaki Naruto there, didn't you?"
Hinata was taken aback. She tried to laugh it off. "I…I g-guess I'm pretty obvious, eh?"
Hanabi shook her head. "Oneesan, I don't think you should spend any more time around him. He was the one who beat Neji-kun in the main matches, remember?"
Hinata raised an eyebrow. Her patience was wearing thin. She didn't need another of Hanabi's speeches about how talented Neji was and how she should have supported him instead of Naruto since he was part of the Hyuuga clan.
"Hanabi," she said gently, although deep inside she felt like shouting. "I know how much you look up to Neji-kun. But I'd…appreciate it if you didn't choose whom I should spend time with. Besides," she placed her hands on her hips, mocking Hanabi's stance. "I think you forgot who's older."
Hanabi giggled.
"Hinata."
Hinata looked up. Her father was looking right at her. Then she remembered.
Oh, yeah. I forgot. I still have the usual practice match against Neji-kun. Another chance to disappoint my father. She thought glumly. Normally, she wasn't so pessimistic. However, the meeting with Naruto-kun had really lowered her spirits.
She nodded, left Hanabi, and walked towards the middle of the courtyard.
Her father nodded at her, than at Neji. The two took their positions.
"Hajime!"
Hinata's thoughts began to wander as she absent-mindedly dodged each of Neji's attempts.
I should have said it to him in a more tactful or subtle way. She thought, bringing up her arm to block one of Neji's strikes. I only meant to tell him that it was really up to him. If he decides to use the feeling of being ignored as a hindrance, it's completely up to him. She quickly jumped aside, barely managing to get out of the way of Neji's kunai. And if he decides to use it in order to fuel himself with energy, it's his decision. But than again, how do I know he would accept that advice as well? Suddenly, a jolt of pain somewhere in her midsection brought her back to her senses. With a grunt, she sailed through the air and landed hard on her back.
"Concentrate, Hinata." Her father called, looking at her sternly.
She shook her head and got up again. Otosama's right. I shouldn't let my thoughts wander. I really should concentrate. She rushed forward, but Neji was quicker. He jumped out of the way. Once again, Hinata found herself thinking of other things. Perhaps I should apologize to him. But, what if he doesn't accept my apology? What if…she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, what if he doesn't want to speak from me again? Her eyes welled up. Suddenly, another slam, to her chest this time, jolted her back to reality. This time, she stood her ground. She vainly tried to block herself, but he was too fast. He quickly delivered 7 jabs, and she slammed against the railing.
"Hinata-neechan!" Hanabi called. "Your thoughts are wandering…"
"Concentrate, concentrate. If this was a real battle…" her father's voice mixed with Hanabi's.
"Stop thinking about him! You can't disappoint Otosama again…"
"We talked about this before…"
Hinata shook her head. Everything was mixing until she couldn't discern her father's voice from Hanabi's voice and her own thoughts. Then she saw Naruto's face, full of anger, contempt, pain, disappointment. She heard his voice, full of bitterness; I have to go.
Yamero! She screamed inside her head. It was too much.
"Hinata, get up! Get up!"
"Please don't disappoint Otosama!"
"Get up!"
She stood up, her whole body shivering uncontrollably with rage. In the blink of an eye, she feinted left, right and in an instant was behind Neji. He wasn't fast enough. She delivered 26 strikes to strategic places in his back. He let loose a gasp of surprise and flew forward a few feet. She wasn't done with him. She put on a burst of speed, calculated where he was going to land, and planted her feet solidly on that spot. When he was close enough, she delivered 10 punches at top speed. The force sent him flying back. She quickly gathered chakra into both hands, than met him mid-air. She delivered the final 2 punches, watching in satisfaction as he hit the ground on his back. Hard. The smoke cleared, and she saw her father's and Hanabi's shocked faces. Her gaze traveled down toward Neji's now-limp form. Then the triumph turned to shock.
I…I did that? she thought, covering her mouth, eyes widening. I lost control again. I…I hurt Neji-kun!
He groaned as he lifted his head and looked deep into her eyes. No doubt about it, he was just as surprised as she was.
She bowed her head. "G-g-gomenasai, Neji-kun! I-I-I-I d-d-didn't m-m-mean to. I-I…"
Her voice trailed off. She turned around and dashed to her room.
Neji watched her go. He had never seen her like that before.
Hinata-sama, he thought, slowly – and painfully – getting up. He winced. The spots she hit were tender. You have definitely gotten stronger.