Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters from Naruto.

His black hair swayed gently with the breeze, his head bowed slightly as we left him. Neji's eyes were perfectly calm and collected, easily the opposite of what mine would have been. The rest of us had to go on, where I would eventually fight Kimimaru. Saving Sasuke was all that mattered, even if it meant leaving Neji, because I'd promised Sakura. I was a promise I couldn't back out of, no matter how badly I wanted to at that very moment. Neji wouldn't have wanted me to break my word, and I couldn't let myself disappoint Neji.

Hyuuga Neji had always been confident in his strength, and he had a right to be. Facing him in the Chuunin Exam was one of the biggest challenges I'd ever faced. But it proved to be well worth the effort. After that day, he learned just how strong I really am. Him and everyone watching us saw how I was able to win, but most of them don't know what I really won…

I won Neji's heart that day.

Flashback-

"Ramen!" I sang happily as we ate. I had just beaten last year's number one rookie and felt like I was on top of the world. Sakura was even congratulating me as we all ate our meal. Could things get any better? Kakashi was happy for me and Sasuke merely sat there, though less anger seemed to radiate from him today. The owner of the ramen shop even seemed happier today, 'course he always did when I walked in. He knew just how much I could eat, especially when Kakashi was paying.

I was all smiles and happiness, until a chill ran down my spine as I glanced to my left. There was another team entering and ordering. It was Tenten, Lee and Neji. They sat down on the other side of the place from us, but it still unnerved me. The way the Hyuuga was glaring at me made me know I was about to get my but kicked on the way home.

My friends managed to distract me, and I started feeling better. Besides, I'd already beaten Neji once that day. Who says I couldn't do it again? Even though I felt pretty confidant, I was still nervous but the ramen helped settle my nerves.

"It's getting late, you kids should get home," Kakashi said. It was more of an order than a statement. Sasuke got up and strode out obligingly, leaving us without a word.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura squealed and tore after our teammate, leaving me with Kakashi. I chanced a look over at the other team's table, noticing that they were starting to leave as well. A chill hit me when Neji's eyes met my own. I expected them to be filled with animosity, but all those eyes held was a sense of peace. A new feeling rushed into me unlike anything I'd ever felt before, and I felt myself wanting to hold that gaze forever.

I managed to break it anyway. I am a ninja, and I should be brave. Not scared, like I had originally thought I was. So I said good-bye to Kakashi and headed home. Taking a shortcut, I sprinted the whole way hoping to make better time than ever before.

As it turns out, there's more than one short cut to my place. I skidded to a halt as none other than Hyuuga Neji stood in my path. He eyed me coolly, his gaze moving slowly from my feet up to my eyes. Sizing me up, I guessed.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded. It was already dark giving him an advantage because of byakuugan, and I knew I was still low on chakra from the match.

"We need to talk," He said. I knew he really meant a re-match. But the way he said it, so clear and demanding, really didn't make me want to listen.

"Really?" I said sarcastically. "I have nothing to say to you."

"We'll see…Come train with me tomorrow, there's a spot in woods just past-"

"I know it. What time?"

"Noon."

"Lunchtime! No!" I exclaimed without thinking, and the way he laughed at me made my face go red. That was thew first time I'd seen him without that serious glare of his.

"Fine. How about eleven'o'clock and we go to lunch together after?"

I just stared at him like he'd mooed at me like a cow, it would've made about as much sense. I waited to see if he was serious and he was.

"Uh, yeah… Sure."

"Until tomorrow then," Neji gave a slight nod of the head and left without another word. I suppose I got lucky, the Hyuuga clan is very honorable so of course he'd plan when he was going to beat me. But lunch afterwards…What was that about?

At eleven'o'clock I strode out to where we'd planned to meet. The area was deserted, most teams practiced in other areas. Only a few moments after I arrived, Neji leapt down from a tree branch. We looked at each other in silence before speaking.

"Are you ready?" He asked, I only nodded back as his eyes went into byakuugan. I used my own kage bunshin no jutsu, and we began.

He seemed even more aggressive than he had the day before. My duplicates were merely being tossed aside, as thought they were merely in the way of a desperate search. I had to do all kinds of maneuvers just to keep him from catching me. I knew it wouldn't be long before he did, so I planned for it.

When the last clone was out of the way he dove for me and I turned, catching him and pulling him to the ground with me. Even with my chakra flow gone, my shuriken was still to his throat and his hands were pinned beneath me. I relaxed my grip on the weapon, I didn't want to hurt him. Somehow I knew I couldn't even if I wanted to. We laid there panting, me straddling him and him helpess.

"You are a better ninja than I am," Neji said between breaths. "You have brought me peace."

"Neji, you must be mental," I started to get up, but he grabbed onto my arm and held me where I was and I didn't object.

"I must be, Naruto…I love you," He watched me nervously, preparing for rejection. He must have some serious guts, I thought, I've got him pinned and a shuriken at the ready. But this explained it; the look in his eyes in the restaurant, why he caught me on the way home, what he was searching for: me. And in that moment, I realized I felt the same.

"You've gotta be crazy," I said and he looked hurt, but then I added, "To fall in love with me." He looked up at me in wonder, and I closed the space between us as my lips found his. Our tongues explored, claiming what was now theirs. I cupped a hand around the back of his neck and explored with the other, Neji following my lead. when his hand slid onto my stomach, we both heard a loud gurgle, and reluctantly broke the embrace.

"Hungry?" He laughed at me.

"Starving," I replied sheepishly.

"Then lets get something to eat, I don't want you starving to death. You need your strength," He gently kissed my neck as we untangled and headed towards a place to eat. I was loving himeven more already, and my hand found his as we walked.