Tenten was going to the Hyuuga compound. She just went to the hospital and has something really important to say to Hinata.
She saw Neji out in the front gate as if he was waiting for her.
"Neji." Tenten greeted him with a smile.
"Tenten." He greeted her back his face void of emotion.
"Where's Hinata-chan?" She asked.
"Inside. She's having breakfast with Hanabi and Naru." Neji said. "Why? You're so early, today."
"Naru's here?"
"She's leeching off us… Tch." Neji frowned.
"Oh… Uh… Um. I have to tell something to Hinata." Tenten said.
"What is it?" Neji asked.
"You don't need to know it's nothing really important…" She laughed awkwardly then said, "So can I go inside or do I just stand here and wait for her?"
Neji looked at her blankly, "Okay go on, talk to her if you must."
Tenten just stood there smiling at him.
"I said go on." Neji narrowed his white eyes. "What are you smiling about?"
"You look like a guard here." She looked at the Hyuuga genius who was standing tall before her.
"I'm not. I'm just out for some fresh air, okay."
Tenten was still smiling.
"Just go, Ten." He pushed.
Tenten then walked into the hallways of the manor and asked a servant kindly to where the Hyuuga heiress was. She led her to the dining room on the west wing of the house on the first floor.
The servant opened the door and said, "Tenten-san is here to see you Hinata-sama."
"Please let her in." Hinata said. "Thank you."
The servant then stalked off.
Tenten went in, seeing three girls eating their breakfast.
"Ohayo Tenten!" Naru greeted her cheerfully despite a black left eye, scratches and a few bruises here and there.
Hanabi slightly furrowed her eyebrows she wasn't used to someone being so noisy in the morning.
Hinata greeted her, too.
"You, too?" Tenten said as she sat down beside her and poked a black and blue spot on her arm. "What happened?"
"Don't do that!" Naru shouted.
Hanabi looked at her again. This time Naru received what she meant.
"Oh sorry." Naru apologized.
"Tenten would you like to join us?" Hinata offered. "I'll get Nanami to bring us some –"
"No… I'm fine I ate already. I'm just here to talk." Tenten politely declined.
"Okay…" Hinata said.
"What do you mean by 'you, too'?" Naru then asked.
"You mean you don't know?" Tenten looked at her. "Okay I'll tell you what happened."
With that Hanabi said, "I'm going now."
"Don't you want to know what happened near the market place?" Tenten asked Hanabi.
"I know what happened. My team mates told me about it." Hanabi stood up. "It doesn't interest me… Now if you people don't have anything else to say then I think I should be going now."
"Uh –Okay." Tenten uttered. She then shrugged.
They all said bye to the little girl.
"She's a bit grumpy today…" Tenten thought aloud.
"So tell us what happened!" Naru said ignoring Tenten's remark.
"Is it about…?" Hinata glanced at Naru who was still eating. "Did something bad happen?" Hinata asked her worried.
"I'm sad to say yes… I'm actually feeling so guilty now." It was evident on Tenten's voice. "I'm really sorry."
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Tell us about it already!" Naru said.
"Well… Yesterday I was going to the market place. My grandmother asked me to buy some vegetables and some herbs when I saw a crowd huddled on the street. I was curious so I decided to look. Suddenly from above I saw Sasuke doing his katon. The crowd took steps back. And some even ran. Then I saw Lee! He was the one fighting Sasuke! I was really surprised. I asked some of the people who were there earlier of why they were fighting. This guy told me that it was because Uchiha kissed Lee's girl!" Tenten then stopped and drank some water offered by Hinata.
"What!" Naru and Hinata chorused.
"Now I'm Lee's girl!" Naru then slammed her fist on the table. "What's going on?"
"I don't know either I was a bit shock! The next thing I saw was shinobis stopping them from killing together. And two medic-nins were rushing to their aid. I had a quick glance at Lee and he was really, really messed up. I didn't know what happened to Uchiha, though but I learned that he was also rushed to the hospital." Tenten said. "Oh god this is so my fault, why did I tell it to Ino!"
"No it's my fault…" Hinata stepped in.
"No it isn't! I was so curious about you guys because you were acting a bit funny when we got back from the mission. I'm really sorry Hinata, Naru…" She said looking at both of them with sincerity. "Speaking of you, Naru… What happened to you? Did Lee beat you up because you dumped him again? And because you went for Uchiha?"
"Went for Uchiha? Nuh-uh. Never! I don't like him like that. I'm still a man! And Lee didn't beat me up, he would never dare. It was… Sakura-chan…" Naru's face saddened a bit.
"I-It happened yesterday, too and because of the same r-reason. I tried to explain what happened but Sakura wasn't listening. She was too upset…" Hinata informed Tenten.
"This is overrated. Who knew just a simple kiss would lead to this? I mean this happened before, I heard that from Ino, but there wasn't much fuss before." Tenten observed.
"Ugh! Don't remind me about that! This is just horrible." Naru said finishing her breakfast. The news left a bad taste in her mouth.
"Sorry… I-I'm really sorry…" Hinata said. She was a little bit sweaty and jumpy.
Naru saw her expression. "Aww… Don't be so guilty… It was my fault, too. If I didn't go to see that Ultra Pretty Girl (1) in the waterfalls, then this wouldn't happen."
"What Ultra Pretty Girl? Now that's just confusing. I thought we were talking about the kissing? You've really got to tell me what happened. Everything." Tenten demanded.
"Anou…" Hinata started, not looking at anybody she paused for a long time fiddling her long hair.
Naru then said, "Remember when I suggested that we set camp near the waterfalls… Ah…" Naru scratched the back of her head, messing up her hair which was tied into two pig tails. "It was because I was uh… waiting for this girl I saw a few years back during one mission. And I wanted to see her again and if possible take a picture of her. But Sasuke, he was there before me, watching her too. I think I even saw him drool." Naru said laughing.
Hinata was red all over but her bangs covered half of her face.
"But really… She was so beautiful… Bathing under the moonlight, doing things with the water and I think she was dancing? We saw that… And I was surprised that after all these years she'd be there, waiting for me."
"You do realize you're a girl and that you two might be hallucinating." Tenten said in disbelief. "And why would she wait for you, huh?"
"I just saw what I saw okay! And if only that bastard, Sasuke didn't wreck my camera and lost the photo I would have proof that it all happened." Naru said pressing her belief on Tenten.
Tenten raised her eyebrow.
"It's all true, I tell you!"
"Okay okay… So what does this have to do with you and Sasuke kissing!" Tenten was a bit impatient now.
"Oh yeah back to that… So then I took the picture of the girl but it startled her and she ran away. Sasuke blamed me. Then the picture got developed and we fought over it. I was winning, you know," She boasted. "But then when I was about to punch him hard… I slipped and then crashed on him… and we kissed."
"Oh…" Tenten uttered. "So it was an accident."
"That was what Hinata was trying to prove. Right, Hinata-chan?" Naru looked at her.
Hinata was still flushed and quickly replied. "Yes! Yes that's what happened. Because I saw them… I was there."
"Wha –? Why were you there?" Tenten interrogated her; she was still a bit skeptical.
"Anou… I… I had to… pee! A-And I heard a rustling in the bush. So I decided to look in case there was an attacker…" Hinata said. Lame excuse. She was blushing hard. She could've said that she was strolling around because she can't sleep or some other excuse. But she chose that and decided to just get everything over with. "And I saw them…" Hinata then shrank.
Tenten looked at them. She looked at Naru who was looking at her and Hinata who was blushing. "Oh…Wow…"
"What do you mean 'wow'?" Naru said a little irritated.
"Ah… Eh…" Tenten waved her hands. "Nothing really."
"So um… How's Lee-san and Sasuke-san?" Hinata was concerned.
"I just visited Lee this morning. He looks much better now that the medic-nins tended to his injuries. I just brought him something to eat in case he didn't like the hospital food. He was fast asleep, though so we didn't have a conversation or anything." Tenten replied. "Sasuke I think was in the next ward they separated them in case they wake up and fight again."
Then Hinata stood up. "I have to v-visit them."
"Why bother Hinata? They're both losers." Naru said. She was quite peeved by the whole situation. Hmm… Actually peeved is an understatement.
"B-but Naru they are your friends." Hinata reasoned. "Y-You should care for them…"
"I'm not in the mood to see them… Especially Lee. He might get the wrong idea."
"I-I understand. I'll just go alone…" Hinata then went to the door and slid it open. "I'll see you later."
Tenten then hit Naru on the head.
"What was that for!" Naru rubbed her head. She was confused of what Tenten did.
"Nothing… I just had the sudden urge to hit you." Tenten grinned.
Naru looked at Tenten funny. Why are women always trying to hurt her?
…ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…
Hinata tapped her fingers together, rapidly. She just bought flowers from the Yamanaka Flower Shop. A kind gesture to Lee and a peace offering to Sasuke.
While she was in the shop, Ino told her about what happened to Lee and Sasuke. Ino said that one of them lost an arm, another rumor. She bought more flowers.
But she knew it wasn't enough. Sasuke would never forgive her and he would break their agreement like she did the moment she told Tenten about the kiss.
She was now standing in front of Rock Lee's room. She decided to visit him first.
Hinata looked at the bouquet of flowers. She thought that Lee might like dandelions.
Hinata knocked at the door, just then a nurse opened it.
"Is this Rock Lee's room?" Hinata asked in her usual quiet voice to check if the information they gave her was correct.
The nurse confirmed it. "But he's sleeping and visiting hours for this morning is almost over. Are those flowers for him?" The female nurse looked at them.
"This one is for him…" Hinata said.
"Oh. Are you his girlfriend? Are you that Naru he was passionately talking about?" The nurse said.
Hinata shook her head, "No and Naru's not her girlfriend." Hinata handed the dandelions over.
"Mm. I see one of his admirers." The nurse took the flowers.
"No… I'm just one of his friends." Hinata stated.
The nurse smiled. "Sorry if I'm so nosy. It's just that…" Then suddenly out of nowhere. "Don't you think love is wonderful? Love brings life to every one of us. It brings us joy and strength."
Where did that came from?
Hinata just stared at the nurse with her brown hair and her green eyes gleaming.
"Sorry again… I really am. I shouldn't be daydreaming like this during my shift." Then she went inside the room.
"Wait… Would you happen to know… Uchiha-san's room?" HInata asked.
"Uchiha… Hmmm…" She took a time to gather her thoughts. "He checked out this morning I think. He only had a fracture in his left arm and also some bruises."
"Oh… Uh… Thank you very much for the help." Hinata said. "I should probably go now."
"Oh okay… Bye then…" The nurse said.
With that Hinata left the hospital in search for the Uchiha.
…ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…
She was walking and walking. It has been an hour since she left the hospital. Hinata didn't know where to find him.
She reached a fork in the road one would lead her to her house and the other onto the less desirable part of Konoha. She didn't want to go back home without knowing from Sasuke. She had to persuade him to still keep her secret.
She took the other path.
The path leading to his house, the Uchiha Manor.
There were people who still live in this district near the Uchiha Manor but they were quite few. She looked at the deserted street, it is still a long walk but its fine for her as long as the others won't discover about what happened that night.
"Hinata-chan!" A voice called her.
She recognized it as Kiba's voice because of Akamaru's barks accompanying it. She turned to look at him.
She greeted him with a half-smile, "H-hello Kiba-kun, Akamaru."
"Hi Hinata-chan. Hokage-sama's got a mission for us together with Choji, Tenten, Sasuke and Naru." Kiba grinned at her. "It's for the upcoming Fire Tree Festival (2). We've been assigned to get all the lanterns up the trees."
Hinata pouted. "B-but that's the hardest part of all!"
"Yeah I know but it's going to be fun." Kiba said. "And we're not going to cover the whole training ground with lanterns. We're only assigned in this certain part of the shrine. I think so… or maybe near the big oak."
"Oh…"
"So what are you doing here?" Kiba then asked.
"N-nothing really." She said looking sideways clutching at the bouquet of flowers she was holding.
"Who gave you that?" Kiba finally noticed the flowers.
"Uh…" Hinata thought that she couldn't possibly tell him that this was a peace offering for Sasuke. She knows Kiba he would ask about it and get it out of her. "I don't know…"
"You don't know who gave it to you? Oh… I get it. You've got a secret admirer!" Kiba said cheerfully, grinning. "Haha! You've got a secret admirer!"
Well she guessed that it was better than him finding about her secret. She blushed as she looked at him, he was grinning madly. His fangs showing. "Kiba-kun!"
"What!"
"S-Stop making fun of me!"
"I'm not making fun of you." He then went serious. "Actually I'm glad that there's someone out there is willing to give their hearts to you. I mean don't you feel happy about that…?"
"Uh… Anou…" Hinata was blushing even if it wasn't true. She thought maybe she was blushing because she lied. She's really a terrible liar but now she's having second thoughts. "I d-don't… think…"
Kiba looked at her in a brotherly way. She was looking down on the ground again. "Still thinking about Naruto, huh?"
She shook her head no. No she wasn't thinking of him, at least not right now.
"Come on cheer up. Just forget about him. He's a she now. And I hear that she kissed Sasuke… And Ino said that Sasuke actually liked Naru even when she was Naruto. I mean could you believe that!" Kiba then stopped as he saw Hinata looking at some place else, her grip on the bouquet of flowers was tightening. "Sorry." Kiba apologized.
He tried to look at her in the eye but she was shying away from him.
"I really am… I just found it amusing that Sasuke's got a potential, to be gay that is. Or maybe he really is... If those rumors were true." Kiba then heard a grunt from somewhere he shrugged and then said, "But you know… It's just gossip don't let these kind of things get to you, okay?" He patted her head like she was a little kid.
Hinata looked up at him, he sure was tall. "Okay, I will."
"So I'll be going now. Remember the assignment. I don't know when we will be able to start. Tsunade-sama was so busy she didn't even tell me about it. The lanterns are still in the making so we're not really sure when." Kiba then waved goodbye. Akamaru barked and started to follow his buddy.
…OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…
A/N:
(1.)Ultra
Pretty Girl. If you don't watch fillers, then you won't
understand some things in this chapter. I recommend you to watch the filler episodes 148 to 151.
(2.)The Fire Tree Festival is a festival in Konoha wherein lanterns are put on the branches of trees in the training grounds in mid-November to welcome the upcoming winter with warmth. This is just a made up festival and it doesn't appear on Naruto.
Oh and I forgot again to mention their current ages in this fic, all members of Rookie Nine are seventeen except for Hinata she's sixteen because it's November on this fic and her birthday isn't until next month. Neji, Tenten, Lee and Untaro (OC) are all eighteen. Why bother mentioning Untaro? Because I was thinking of giving him important roles in the future...
Thanks for reading and reviewing.
