A/N: Yeah, I know. Way to go, Naruto. But don't you think that could mean he was jealous? And being jealous means that he still feels something for her?

kichou-you really think he's gonna be happy that the main surpasses the branch? You know he's got issues!

death-angel-hikari-thanks for the compliments! they really pick me up!

houjun ri-Why don't you like Naruto? he rox!

proud bishonen whore-he is NOT a bastard! sniff

ToraHoshiWarai-he is NOT a sadist! sniff

nameinator-thanks! I tried to be original with the title...

Chapter 2: Deception

Hinata watched the sunrise from her slightly cracked window. Ever since she had found out what Shikamaru…did, she had no idea what to do anymore. She had decided to take it out on the windows in her bedroom. Not the most practical of plans.

She sighed, hugging her soft, downy pillow closer to her chest. She suddenly wished she had never heard it at all. If she wasn't so darn curious, she could have avoided this.

I have to go talk to him. She thought, swinging her legs over the bed. I can't keep hanging around him pretending nothing's wrong.

She swung the door open…

…and came face-to-face with a demon pig.

Actually, it was just Shikamaru pulling up his nostrils and his eyelids.

She screamed and fell back.

"Sh-sh-shikamaru-kun!" she stuttered, turning a delicate shade of tomato-red. "Wh-what…what…"

She stopped and smiled as he collapsed on the doorframe, laughing. "Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't be laughing and I shouldn't have done that, but…" he let lose another guffaw of laughter before helping her up.

"What are you doing here?" she asked shyly. She almost forgot that she had been on her way to see him.

"I always wake up early," he said, shrugging. "So, I thought I'd come and show you a special place. It's best to see it when the sun is rising or when it's setting."

"I…don't know…what to say." She said softly.

"Could you say 'yes'?" he asked hopefully. She looked into his deep black eyes, and she nearly lost herself.

I guess it wouldn't hurt. She thought, biting her lip. I suppose I could confront him about it later.

"Alright!" she said happily, taking hold of his hand. "Lead the way."


Naruto watched glumly as the sun rose from his 'haven'. The place he had built his relationship with Hinata, and the same place where he had destroyed it as well.

Why the HECK am I so dramatic? He thought, pitching a stone over the edge of the cliff. I'm making my life sound like some Greek tragedy.

Suddenly, he jerked up as he heard voices. It sounded like two people approaching.

I thought only Hinata and I knew about this place. He thought, brow furrowed. So who could those possibly be?

A few seconds later, Shikamaru stepped through the thick bushes and into the grass, followed by a very shocked Hinata.

"Hinata?" Shikamaru looked at her. "Are you okay?"

Naruto could feel himself burning. What was this thing he was feeling whenever he saw the two of them together? And why did it make him act crazier than usual?

"I thought you promised not to tell anyone about this place." Naruto said coolly, stepping forward.

"I didn't!" Hinata said, shaking her head. "He just…I just…we were…"

"She didn't tell me anything." Shikamaru said defensively. "I found this place out on my own. Jeez, protective much?"

"Well, what did you expect me to think when I saw both of you walking in here together?"

"There's no need to shout!"

"Who's shouting?"

"You are!"

"So are you!"

"I'm shouting so I can be heard over your shouting!"

"And I-" Naruto stopped, then turned his back. "Oh, forget it. I'm leaving."

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata murmured, watching him stomp away. She sighed. Next to her, Shikamaru sighed as well.

"Sorry." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess I sorta let my anger get the best of me. Maybe I should go apologize to him."

"Wait!" she said, grabbing hold of his arm. She immediately regretted it, though. She wasn't prepared to ask him about it.

"What?" Shikamaru asked, looking at her strangely. "What's wrong?"

She bit her lip. Might as well just spit it out. "Well…" her silver gaze rested on him. "I need you to be honest, okay?"

"Aren't I always?" he joked, and immediately wished he hadn't. The look on Hinata's face told him it was serious. "Sorry. Go ahead."

"This…is a bit…delicate. You see…N-Naruto told m-me something yesterday, and…and well…he told me something about you. Is it…t-true…are you really…killing other ninjas?"

Silence.

"You're joking, right?" Shikamaru said, grinning slightly. "That's absurd. Not to mention crazy. What made Naruto say that?"

She looked at him. "So…it's not true?"

"Nope." He said, shaking his head, his brow furrowed. "You're really serious. Naruto really said that?"

At her nod, he let loose a low growl, and a mutter of "That jerk."

"I…can't believe he'd do that." she said softly, her purple locks swinging forward, hiding her face.

"I think I'd better talk to him…"

"No." she said firmly. "I will. He had no reason to do that!"

She stood up and stomped away. Shikamaru watched her leave. He did not want to be in Naruto's shoes right now. She really looked angry.


Naruto jumped as he heard an angry shriek of "You liar!"

I think she found out… he thought, wincing. He turned around slowly, trying to look innocently puzzled.

"What are you-?"

"Don't play innocent!" she yelled, marching right up to him. "You lying, inconsiderate, insensitive, stupid-!"

"Whoa!" Naruto held up a hand. "I understand you're angry but-"

"Oh, I'm not angry!" she said, her pale, silver eyes growing wide. "I'm furious! You lied to me, deceived me, and backstabbed your best friend! Why would you do that?"

"I…I…it's hard to explain, okay?" he said, throwing his arms up in frustration.

"What, you were jealous?" Hinata asked, raising her arms as well.

"So what if I was?" Naruto asked, realizing all too late that he was digging himself into a hole.

"Then you're really confusing me." Hinata said, a little softer. "You said long ago that you didn't feel anything for me, so why would you feel jealous? Or are you trying to tell me that you actually lied that day?"

"NO! That's not it! I just…you see…it's all a…"

As he struggled to find the correct words, Hinata sighed and turned away. "I'm suddenly glad I have nothing anymore to do with you. So many lies…so much deception…"

"Hinata." Naruto said tenderly.

"No." she said firmly. "I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore. Because it's too painful. And I'm not strong enough."

She walked away, and Naruto could do nothing else but let her.


Shikamaru sighed and stood up. Hinata hadn't come back from her 'talk with Naruto' yet, and he didn't feel like waiting for her all day. He'd try to find her later.

"Damn that Naruto," he muttered under his breath. Why the heck would he go and lie about him? It didn't make any sense at all. He and Naruto had been really good friends since way back, so why the heck would he say something like that to Hinata?

Unless…

Jealousy can make people do stupid things, right? He thought, brows furrowed. Stupid things like backstabbing or lying about someone.

And maybe he saw Hinata and me getting closer, so…

He shook his head.

That stupid bastard.


Hinata slammed her palm against the small, cylindrical piece of wood. It sat there innocently, taking in her attacks.

Damn it! She thought, venting out all her frustration and anger. Why does he have to keep acting like that?

Why does he have to keep deceiving me? Confusing me?

"Dammit, Naruto-kun!" she screamed aloud, her hand finally causing the wood to split into two. She hated him so much right now. He was like pain itself. Somehow, you couldn't see him, but you could feel the mark he left behind.

Oh great, she thought bitterly, sitting down, exhausted. Now I'm doing stupid metaphors.


Naruto slammed the door to his room shut. So many emotions were fighting for center stage again, he was just sick of it all.

Dammit, Hinata-chan! He thought angrily, flopping onto his bed. Why can't you understand me? Do you think it's enough to just act like you love me?

I don't care if you don't really love me, he thought sadly. I just need to know that you understand me. I need to know that there's someone out there who can understand the pain I feel. The pain that pushes me to do things I can't even understand myself!

He stopped his own train of thoughts. "Darn it." He growled. "I really need to stop thinking like a cheesy drama actor."

A/N: Could you tell I was angry when I wrote this? And tired? No?

Good.

Sorry if it was so short. It's our exams week, see, and I just sort of ran out of ideas. Don't worry though; I'll make it up to you guys in the next chapter.

Review please! Thank you!

Okay, I'm off to study my stupid notes for our stupid exam in Filipino. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud to be a Filipina, but you can imagine how hard it is for me to understand our native language since I'm a PUREBRED ENGLISH SPEAKER! Dammit!