Chapter 8: A Lost Rainbow

It was Valentine's Day in Kohona Village. Girls crowded around Sasuke to give them their chocolates, and he accepted them all—whether he wanted to or not. Sasuke abhorred Valentine's Day. Too much uneaten chocolate, too much garbage, and he had to return all the love he didn't want on White Day. Usually he paid it with a smirk in their direction or a quiet hello, but never with something important. Though, today, he noticed more glances from Hinata than usual. Maybe he would have to put another note for her to meet? They haven't met since those few months ago in the summer where they… Sasuke blushed slightly, which made the girl that just gave him chocolate squealed.

'I'm not blushing over you. I don't even remember your name,' Sasuke thought irritably. He noticed Hinata glancing at him once again. 'What do you want, Hinata?'

Hinata usually made 5 chocolates every year. One for her mother, one for her father, one for Hanabi, one for Neji, and one for Naruto, but this year—she made six. Along with everyone else's, she made a special wrapping for the sixth chocolate. It had raindrops on it. Naruto's had instant ramen stickers on it, but every year—she'd chicken out at the last moment.

She sighed. She probably wouldn't be able to give one the one for Sasuke either. With all those girls surrounding Sasuke, she couldn't even get near him. However, Sakura left her alone now—which was a bonus. Hinata looked aloofly to the chalkboard at the front of the room. 'I wonder… if my words got to her?'

Again sighing, she looked at Naruto. He was alone and didn't seem to have any chocolate. He probably was grumbling about how Sasuke had so much chocolate and probably didn't eat it all. Hinata stifled a giggle and got up to try give Naruto her chocolate… when Sakura walked up to Naruto. Hinata's heart stopped.

'W-what are you doing, Sakura?'

"Naruto, I made this chocolate for you," Sakura said softly. Naruto blushed and took the chocolate happily. The happiness on his face shone so brightly that Hinata's heart sunk deeper into darkness.

"W-wow—this is great, Sakura!"

Hinata's heart tore. She was supposed to do that. She was supposed to get that reply from Naruto. Hinata looked to her lap, which held the ramen-wrapped chocolate for Naruto. She gripped it tightly, crushing the chocolate heart hidden within the wrapping.

"And, Naruto…do you want to go out with me?"

Hinata shut her eyes and covered her ears. 'No more! I don't want to hear anymore!'

"O-of course, Sakura! I would love to go out with you!" Naruto exclaimed. Hinata didn't have to cover her ears because she heard it anyway with the way Naruto is so loud. Tears stung her eyes and she tried her best to hold them back.

'No, I won't believe you! What you're saying isn't true—you're lying to me, Naruto! You're LYING!'

She gasped slightly. 'But Naruto is the one I believe in. If I don't believe him… then who will I believe?'

Abruptly, Hinata got up and left the classroom. When she found her teacher, she mumbled, "Iruka-sensei… I do not feel well. I think I should go home."

"Well, you do look paler than usual. Go ahead."

She thanked her teacher and hurried out of the school, leaving a crumpled chocolate on her chair with the wrappings of instant ramen stickers on it.

Hinata dashed into the woods and jumped up into the tree where she and Sasuke had their second date. Running up the tree trunk, she found herself on a strong branch at the top of the tree. The leaves hid her; she was lost somewhere where no one could find her. Then, only then, did the tears fall as she hugged her knees and hid her face.

"Where's my rainbow now…? Where is our ninja way?" she asked. "Naruto… who will I believe now?"

End of Chapter 8: A Lost Rainbow

Author's Note: OH CRAP. I was wondering why there were so many words in the story. Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to do that. Last time I checked, it was only this chapter. Oh FUDGE. Oh well, for you people who have read it ahead, BONUS. XD I'm really sorry about that. Gosh, that happens to me so much. STUPID COMPUTER. I pressed SAVE! -goes into fury-

Wants a better computer,

Sammy