Hello everyone, I'm having a pretty good day with my pain management so I figured today was a good day to write. I still don't own Naruto, Kishimoto-Sensei is still the legitimate owner. One day though…one day.

Previously on A Cruel Fate: The preliminary matches that are taking place between the second and third rounds of the Chunin exams were progressing steadily. Naruto and Hinata had a moment to catch up with one another and it was there Hinata realized Naruto was dealing with an internal struggle. Right after, Naruto managed to defeat Kiba in a two-vs-fifty match, surprising everyone with his ability to use shadow clones. Followed by this match was Hinata Hyuga and her older cousin Neji, who seems to look down on the Heiress. After an impressive showing from Hinata, it was clear she was no match for Neji, but that didn't stop her from standing strong. Something that irked Neji into attacking her relentlessly. This attack provoked Naruto into action, something that Sakura alone seemed to be terrified of. And now…

Chapter 13: I want you to know, you were wrong…

"How…what…what just happened?" Sakura was just as shocked as Ino sounded. From their point of view, it was a blink of the eye, but to someone like Kakashi, it felt like time was moving faster than that. He didn't know if he would make it in time, but the fact that he wasn't the only one to act, made him sigh in relief.

"Calm down Naruto" Kakashi's calm tone did nothing to hide the seriousness of the situation. On the one hand, Kakashi, Gai and Hayate were doing their best to restrain the blond who was currently thrashing against them. The animosity radiating from him was raising some suspicious eyebrows, even from Gai and Hayate. Kurenai, along with Shikamaru's Sensei, Asuma, were restraining Neji Hyuga. Though Neji didn't seem to be phased by what was going on, the subtle twitch in his eyes, and the way he looked ready to attack or defend told Kakashi that the Hyuga was also prepared to intercept Naruto.

"Naruto you have to calm down" Kakashi repeated, but the boy just refused to listen. He continued to thrash about, barely forming complete words as he growled and acted more like an animal than a human.

"Let me go. Let…me…go" he strained, fighting to break their grips.

"Get a medic already would you!" Kurenai yelled. She was kneeling next to Hinata. She had only moved from restraining Neji when Asuma assured her to do so. Just to be on the safe side, Gai moved to Neji's other side, leaving Hayate with Kakashi.

"She has no pulse!"

"This isn't good, she's got maybe ten minutes at best."

"N-Naruto-K-Kun"

Immediately upon hearing Hinata's weak and strained voice Naruto ceased his thrashing to get to Neji and instead started to fight against his captors to get to Hinata. It wasn't until the medical ninja started to lift Hinata onto a stretcher did they decide to let him go, though they didn't remove themselves from a direct path to Neji.

"Hinata!" Naruto yelled, rushing towards her. He slid to a stop next to her—taking her hand in his. "Hinata, you're gonna be okay, okay?" the blond watched as Hinata's eyes struggled to focus on him.

"D-don't…h-hurt…h-him" though it was pained for her to say, the plea was not lost on Naruto. She could tell, even in her nearly conscious state, that he understood her. The rage that was present in his eyes when he took her hand was still there, but it looked as if Naruto finally remembered himself.

He nodded; "I won't" though he wasn't sure why he was agreeing not to tear apart Neji Hyuga for hurting her, he knew that doing so would hurt her more.

"Hey you, loser" Naruto was barely listening to the voice calling to him. So, when he turned, it was a subconscious act. "I have two pieces of advice for you. First, if you intend to be taken seriously as a shinobi, learn to keep your mouth shut instead of cheering. It's disgraceful" Neji's demeanor was still rubbing Naruto the wrong way, and as he took a step forward, he stopped. He looked down to see Hinata's blood pooled in front of him. He looked around him and noticed a lot of her blood spattered around him.

"Second, once a failure, always a failure. You can't change that. Hinata understood this until you and your false words gave her hope. Learn your places in the world." Naruto knelt down and dragged his fingers through Hinata's blood. The warmth was quickly fading from the liquid but Naruto wasn't phased by this. It wasn't the first time he had gotten blood on him. It wouldn't be the last.

"You know…the feeling of someone else's blood on my skin always reminds me of what it was they said" Naruto lifted his fingers to his mouth. The eyes on him did nothing to stop him from licking his fingers, much to the disgust and horror of his classmates.

"You can tell a lot about someone by the taste of their blood" Naruto's eyes locked onto Neji's who, just like the others, looked shocked.

"I wonder…what yours tastes like…I look forward…to finding out." the stone faced look on Naruto as he stared at Neji gave Sakura the same feeling as the one she got when Sasuke broke Zaku's arms. It was the malicious feeling that she got when Orochimaru attacked them in the forest. It was a feeling of icy depths threatening to swallow her whole if she strayed to far from the surface. The feeling of unforgiving death.

"Pray. Hope. Whatever you want to do. Do it. Pray. Hope whatever, whichever…do it and ask that you and I never have to fight" Naruto's words were directed at Neji, but it unintentionally affected everyone. Even the seasoned Kakashi felt his pulse quicken at the murderous intent in his student's words. This wasn't the same smiling, happy-go-lucky kid he had seen before. This was the Naruto that the third Hokage had told him about. The one that first came to the village. The one eyed Jonin looked far up into the balcony to see the third looking down at the scene, and even though he was so far up, Kakashi could practically trace the lines on the Hokage's worried face.

"Naruto, come with me" Kakashi ordered. He walked past the blond not bothering to wait for him to reply. The blond stood a few seconds longer locked onto Neji; the latter had a smug smirk on his face but Naruto could tell. There was disgust buried beneath it. It was then Naruto turned on the spot and started to follow after his sensei, even without looking he knew the stares he was getting from his fellow Genin were the same as Neji, disgust. More than that, it was fear. All except one.

Naruto looked up to his right to see the red-headed boy that was picking on the grandson of the third. He looked to be excited maybe. A quiet longing escaping him as his two teammates stood by him with nervous looks on his face. His eyes never left Naruto, and even from the hall, the blond knew those green eyes were still watching him.

"Naruto" Kakashi finally stopped. He turned to face his student, a look of disapproving in his one visible eye.

"What is it?" Naruto asked dismissively. He leaned up against the wall opposite Kakashi and turned his attention to him.

"I think it's time we—" "Kakashi-Sensei, Naruto" the two of them turned to see Sakura running towards them.

"Sakura?" the Jonin didn't show that he was annoyed at the interruption, instead choosing to smile at her arrival. "What brings you here?" he asked, hoping that it was nothing serious.

"I saw you guys walk off and thought something was going on" she answered. Kakashi shook his head.

"Not at all. I just thought it best to get Naruto some space." Even as he spoke the words, Naruto had already started walking back towards the arena.

"I'm fine" the blonds voice echoed off the walls as he continued walking. "Everything's fine" he added before disappearing through the doors at the end of the hall.

"Sakura" Kakashi looked at his other student; "What happened in the forest of death?" he asked. His tone suggested there was no room for lies or arguments. Sakura took a deep breath as the memory of both Naruto and Sasuke acting like completely different people swam through her mind.

"Naruto, wish me luck." Naruto was walking towards the steps of the balcony when Rock Lee landed next to him. The green-clad ninja smiled widely, reassuring Naruto in a subtle way.

"Ah, yeah. Good Luck, Lee" he replied. Naruto looked towards the center of the room as he walked up the stairs. There, in the middle stood the boy with red hair. Though he was about to fight Lee, Naruto couldn't help but feel that this boy wanted to attack him more.

"N-Naruto" Ino looked as if she wanted to run for the hills, but with Shikamaru and Choji on either side of her, she was trapped.

"Naruto, don't worry too much" Shikamaru looked as lazy as ever, but his voice carried everything that it needed to—concern. While he wasn't outright going to address what happened or what Naruto did, he wasn't going to treat the blond as if he was a monster. Choji was busy munching on some chips, but he nodded in agreement with his teammate.

"Y-yeah…thanks" was all Naruto managed to say. Though he wasn't worried, he figured it was best to let them say what they felt they needed to. It was at least good to know that they weren't running away from him like he thought they would.

"Lee, I give you permission!" Naruto, as well as Shikamaru, Ino and Choji turned to see Gai giving Lee a thumbs up. Lee was currently standing on the statue head behind Hayate—all eyes on him. As they all watched, Lee's smile grew wider and wider as he sat down and removed what appeared to be weights. Kakashi and Sakura both returned. The former took a spot next to Gai, but his eyes weren't on Lee. They were busy studying Naruto, while the former looked guilty and relieved at the same time. While Kakashi had assured her not to worry too much about the bruise on Sasuke's neck, she couldn't help but worry still. Moreover, hearing Kakashi tell her the exact same thing about Naruto going ballistic did nothing to ease her mind. The only thing that did put her a bit at ease was Kakashi's promise to look after both of them. Surely, someone like Kakashi would be capable of doing so.

"How's Lee doing?" Sakura asked Naruto, but he shook his head.

"I wasn't paying attention." He admitted, though she could tell it was the truth, she could also see that Naruto was fully immersed in what was going on now. She turned in time to see Lee dropping his weights.

"Is that really going to—" she didn't even get to finish her sentence before she was cut off by the massive crash that ensued from the weights hitting the ground.

"That Gaara guy's sand protects him from everything, and Lee can't use anything besides Taijutsu" Ino whispered to Sakura and Naruto. She still looked nervous being around him, but she put herself on Sakura's side, effectively using the pinkette as a blocker.

"Can't use anything but Taijutsu?" Sakura asked in disbelief.

"That's right. Lee was born with the inability to use even the most basic Ninjutsu and Genjutsu. But his passion to become stronger allowed him to put all his efforts into Taijutsu. Because of that, Lee is now a Taijutsu master!" Gai's words were boisterous and proud, and with a quick flick of his wrist to signal Lee to go, Lee vanished.

"He's…gone?" Naruto was in utter surprise. "I didn't even see him move" he admitted. With all his training, he couldn't come up with an explanation as to what was going on.

"Look" Sakura pointed towards Gaara who was busy trying to figure out where Lee was. All anyone could see was sand being blasted away from any-which way direction.

"Lee is…kind of amazing" Naruto mumbled, in absolute awe that someone like this even existed.

"It's good for you to see this Naruto. It might make you realize a few things" Kakashi suggested. He didn't know the whole story of Naruto Uzumaki, and since the boy was well-guarded against talking about himself and his past, Kakashi knew exactly what it was Naruto needed. To realize there were other's lost and trying to find themselves—just like him.

Naruto however wasn't listening; he was absolutely invested in watching this match. So much so, that when Lee finally landed a punch on Gaara, he couldn't help but let out a loud 'Yeah.' Gaara's teammates looked just as shocked as he did that Lee managed to land that punch. Lee's satisfied smirk translated well for Naruto. A boy who was written off because he couldn't use ninjutsu or Genjutsu and became a master in Taijutsu. That's what hard work looks like. "Lee really is…kind of cool."

The crowd watched as Lee kicked Gaara into the air. Repeated kicks to push his opponent further and further away from the protective sand, and it was only when they were far overhead that Lee's bandages began to wrap around Gaara. But Lee hesitated for just a split second, something Naruto wasn't sure he meant to do but it looked to be enough.

"Where are you going Naruto?" Sakura asked him as he started to walk away.

"I'm gonna go see Hinata"

"But don't you want to see who wins?" Ino was just as confused as Sakura when she asked, but the usual shrill tone in her voice wasn't there.

"I already know who'll win." He answered, and though it left a bitter taste in his mouth to even admit it, he couldn't deny that Lee wasn't going to be able to overcome whatever Gaara is.

"Hey, Naruto!" Sakura called after him, chasing him into the empty hall. She looked back at the arena, shaken to be alone with her teammate so soon after his outburst against Neji.

"You should stay and cheer for Lee, I'm sure it'll mean a lot to him" Naruto's voice was quiet and sounded miserable to the pinkette. Something she wasn't sure was because of what was weighing on his mind, or because of something else.

"Naruto…are you okay? Like, really, okay?" she wasn't sure what made her ask, but something in her made her realize she never really noticed if Naruto was ever down about something.

"What do you mean 'really, okay?'" he turned to look at her, one eyebrow cocked as he observed her.

"I don't know. I mean, you just don't seem like your normal self, that's all" she replied, a sad smile on her face as she wasn't even sure what normal Naruto was. "What is it?" she asked, as Naruto focused on something behind her. He walked past her and stood at the door to the arena, there was Gai standing in front of Lee. Gaara glaring at them both.

"Lee…lost?" Sakura's disbelief wasn't shared with her companion as Naruto was well aware that whatever caused Lee to hesitate cost him the match. He couldn't hear what Gai was saying, but he could see him hug Lee as tears fell freely.

"Gai-Sensei must really care about Lee" even as Naruto spoke those words, he couldn't understand why he felt sad about it.

"I guess Lee is precious to Gai-Sensei" as Sakura took a place next to Naruto, her words reminded him of Haku. How he told Naruto to find something precious worth fighting for.

"Say…Sakura…do you have something precious?" he wasn't sure why he was asking, but he couldn't help but wonder if she had found something that drove her.

"Something precious? Uh, well…um…I guess…"

"It's okay, Sakura. You don't have to tell me" Naruto mistook his teammates embarrassment as unwillingness to share what it is she holds dear, and instead watched as medical ninja began to run towards them, Lee on a stretcher between the four of them. Sensing that she might have given him the wrong impression, Sakura pushed her trepidations to the side and nudged him with her elbow.

"You know Naruto, if Hinata is someone precious to you, you should tell her" She encouraged. However, she wasn't expecting the sad look in his eyes when he turned towards her causing her breath to hitch. It was for the briefest of moments, but she saw it. The pain and sadness that she saw only once on Sasuke's face when they were a few years younger. It was gone in an instant though, replaced by a smile that she was beginning to suspect was forced.

"Maybe I should" he replied, but the smile didn't match his tone. It was longing mixed with something she couldn't put her finger on. All she could do was smile and nod in response as she watched this boy, that she knew nothing about walk away from her, down a poorly lit hallway, before disappearing beyond the bend.

"That's everything that was relayed to me, Lord Hokage" Kakashi was standing in front of the Hokage's desk. The latter now deep in thought after hearing Kakashi explain what apparently happened in the forest of death.

"I think we need to keep Naruto under a watchful eye. If he loses control again like Sakura described, then not only will he be a threat to whomever he attacks, but he'll be a threat to himself as well" Iruka's worried expression, that of a caring sibling, was not lost on the leader of the leaf or of team seven.

"Lord Hokage" Iruka demanded after a few moments of silence. "We have to do something!" he all but yelled.

"Iruka" Hiruzen pulled on his pipe, letting out a plume of smoke that lingered overhead; "I understand your concern, I have them as well, but we cannot make Naruto feel as if we don't trust him. Surely you wouldn't want all the progress he's made here to be undone because we don't give him the chance to prove he is capable of managing himself?" the third's accusing eye made Iruka feel small.

"No…but—" "Iruka, should the time come when Naruto is forced to choose between the path he wants to walk and the path he was forced to walk, should we not allow him to make that choice alone? If he sees us trying to guide him to specific path, he may very well believe that we see him as nothing more than the monster he thinks himself" Hiruzen interrupted, causing Iruka to be left standing with his mouth open.

"Actually, about that Lord Hokage" Kakashi spoke up, getting both men's attention. "I know a bit about Naruto from what you've told me, but I feel as if you have been as forthright about him as I would like. Just where exactly did Naruto come from? Surely you must know more about him than you told me" Kakashi said, causing both Iruka and the third to sigh.

"Sit down Kakashi. You're right. I didn't tell you everything I know, and honestly, I don't know much more than you" the third admitted, taking another pull from his pipe.

"Well, aside from the nine-tailed fox and the fact that he disappeared a few years ago to a place called the dark room, what else do you know?" Kakashi prodded, leaning forward in his seat.

"That's it. That's all we know. Naruto himself doesn't know much about this dark room that he was kept in, and we still haven't found any solid leads on it. Aside from that, we only know what Naruto knows" Iruka admitted. It pained him to say it, but they were no closer to stopping those responsible than they were years ago.

"I see" Kakashi looked to be contemplating something. He stood from his seat and turned to the door; "My apologies for being so forward, Lord Hokage." Without another word the cyclops Jonin exited the office, the door shutting behind him making a dull click.

"I worry that whatever it was that happened to Naruto in the forest of death will not be the last time Naruto will undergo such a state" the third turned to look at Iruka, a weathered and somber look upon his face. Something Iruka wasn't capable of hiding.

"I'm sure Naruto will be more capable of reason should that time come again" Hiruzen reassured, but even he was hard pressed to believe that. Naruto being a child still would make it difficult for him to overcome flooding emotions. Especially since they were still new and strange to him.

"I'm sure you're right Lord Hokage" though he was agreeing with him, the Hokage knew Iruka didn't fully believe that either. Something they would share together in silence, for saying it out loud would require them to face a hard truth—Naruto could one day become such a threat that needed to be dealt with.

"Sorry they wouldn't let you see Hinata" Sakura comforted her teammate.

"Yeah, but I get it. They were still doing whatever they were doing to help her. I guess I'll just have to go another time" Naruto shrugged. Though it was killing him inside to not know how Hinata was doing.

"You really care about her, don't you?" Sakura asked, and though she was teasing him, she couldn't help but be curious as well. Just what was Hinata to him?

"Yes" he answered without hesitation, taking her by surprise. "Hinata was the first friend I made. And though sometimes she can be a little odd, I like her" he smiled to himself, unaware that Sakura was completely floored by his confession.

"Y-you…like her?" she repeated, unsure she heard what she thought she heard.

Naruto turned to see her shocked expression and smiled; "Yes, I do" he nodded, then he suddenly had a realization; "Oh, I like you too Sakura. Though you're a bit bossy sometimes, you're a pretty great friend" he said, frustrating his teammate.

"Is that all she is, a friend?" she pressed, wondering if the blond was this oblivious or if he was purposely trying to annoy her.

"I don't get what you mean?" he replied, making her eye twitch.

"Do you only like Hinata as a friend?" she clarified through gritted teeth.

"Is there another way to like someone?" he asked, his head tilting to one side.

"Yes!" Sakura yelled, bothered that he didn't know this. "How do you not know that?" her voice cracked as she yelled, and Naruto's eyes went down in response. "I'm sure if you asked Hinata, she would tell you that she likes you too" she said. "Oh, shit. I just threw Hinata under the carriage. Why did I tell him that? I'm such an idiot" Sakura was busy damning herself so much that she hadn't realized Naruto hadn't responded to her.

Sakura sighed; "Never mind Naruto, forget I brought it up" she said, glad that her being angry at him for not understanding and her little outburst didn't garner more questions. Even if it was completely stupid of her to say anything in the first place.

"Is that why you're always looking at Sasuke? Because you like him as more than a friend?" he suddenly asked. Sakura felt her cheeks grow hot as she turned away from the blond. She didn't answer and instead the two of them sat in silence for a while.

"S-so, you have a month to prepare for the next part of the Chunin exams. Are you going to ask Kakashi-Sensei to train you?" Sakura, having had enough of the silence turned back to see Naruto staring at the clouds.

"No. I'm sure Kakashi-sensei will want to train Sasuke. If either of us at all" he didn't take his eyes off the clouds and instead threw himself back to lie against the backrest of the bench.

"What will you do then?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure if I should even fight" Naruto admitted, and again Sakura was surprised.

"What do you mean? Don't you want to be a Chunin?" she demanded, standing in front of him.

"I guess" he finally looked back at her, causing her to take a step back. He had a cold look in his eyes again. "Say, Sakura, if you see Sasuke before me…tell him he wins our fight by default."

She wanted to ask what he meant by that but couldn't find it in her to stop him from walking past her. There were a lot of things she wanted to say to him, but the look in his eyes kept her quiet.

"What's eating away at you, Naruto?" she asked aloud, watching as her teammate walked away from her. Even at this distance, it looked as if there was a weight pressing down on him, and there was no way for her to help him. Just like there was no way for her to help Sasuke.

"Naruto, just the person I was looking for" Kakashi smiled down at his student.

"Yeah? What for?" Naruto asked suspiciously. He was used to Kakashi always being late or always doing what he wanted, so the fact that he was looking for him seemed odd.

"Well, I wanted to let you know that, while I know you're probably going to ask me to help you prepare for your match, but I won't be able to. So, I found someone more than capable of doing so" Kakashi's nonchalant demeanor didn't bother Naruto as much as it did Sakura. Though, Naruto also didn't care that Kakashi always acted detached.

"No thanks"

"Now, I know—wait did you say no thanks?" Kakashi, who was expecting Naruto to argue his decision jumped down from his perch to walk with the boy who was already leaving him behind.

"Yeah, I wasn't going to ask for your help. I don't need a replacement teacher" Naruto clarified, not slowing his pace one bit.

"Are you not taking this seriously Naruto? You do know who your first opponent is, right?" Kakashi asked, insisting that the boy stop. Which he only did after Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not worried about Neji Hyuga" Naruto looked up at Kakashi with nothing in his eyes. No fear, no hate, no anger. Just nothing.

"You should he worried Naruto. Neji is said to be a prodigy. You can't walk into that fight and expect it to be easy, you'll need to prepare" Kakashi insisted, but Naruto shrugged.

"The way I see it Kakashi-Sensei, the only thing I need to worry about is not breaking any promises. Other than that, there's nothing else that matters" the blond sighed; "Are we done? I want to be there when Hinata wakes up" he asked. Only after Kakashi nodded, did the boy start to walk away.

"I'm not sure that you're thinking about Naruto, but you need to focus. This isn't a fight you can win without preparing beforehand" Kakashi sighed, knowing full well that if Naruto was going to fight Neji without some way of keeping his own anger in check, then he would most definitely lose control. And this time, the Jonin wasn't sure how easily they would be able to get him to snap out of it.

After walking through the village, dealing with Konohamaru, the third Hokage's grandson, and Konohamaru's private Jonin instructor, Naruto finally made it to the hospital where he just had to wait to be let in to see Hinata. Something that he was growing inpatient with. He was just about to complain when the man behind the counter nodded that he could go in.

"Finally!" he muttered in exasperation.

"Give her a moment she's still changing!" the nurse tried to tell Naruto, but it was too late as Naruto had already opened the door. He and Hinata locked eyes for a moment before not only her but he as well went red in the face.

"Sorry!" he shouted before slamming the door in his own face. "Oh, crap. Oh, Crap…Oh, crap" the only thought running through Naruto's mind was one that wasn't very reassuring. While he was unfamiliar with things like romance and love, even instinctively the blond knew that walking in on a young woman changing was not something to be proud off.

On the other side of the door, Hinata was frozen in place by what just happened and likewise was unable to think of anything other than the fact that the boy who her heart belonged to saw her changing. It was a while before Naruto heard any movement on the other side of the door, and it was a longer while before Hinata's small voice called out his name giving him the okay to enter.

Once he was inside, and firmly seated at her bedside, neither of them could make eye contact with the other, let alone say a word.

"T-Thank y-you for c-coming t-to s-see m-me" Hinata was the first to break the silence and it was only because she knew that if she didn't Naruto would leave without another word.

"Y-yeah. I wanted t-to you know, m-make s-sure you were o-okay" Naruto replied. The nervousness in his voice made Hinata giggle. It was something she wasn't familiar with and seeing how flustered he was made her feel more at ease.

"Naruto-Kun, you d-don't have t-to be embarrassed" she managed to get out. Though she said it, she couldn't help but still feel embarrassed by the whole thing. He did see her in her underwear after all.

"No, uh…I was just…I was just…" he couldn't think of a suitable lie for why he was so nervous and instead chose to remain silent. Hinata giggled again drawing his attention. "Sorry. I'm pretty lousy at this, aren't I?" he asked, he rubbed the back of his head and smiled. The familiar gesture made Hinata swoon. There was the Naruto she knew.

She shook her head; "N-not at all. It was an a-accident after all" she said, causing him to sigh in relief. "I uh…they told me that y-you'll be going a-against Neji in the first m-match" the memory of fighting Neji made Hinata feel small. The difference between them was vast and if she ever wanted to get stronger, to change, she would need to work even harder.

"Yeah, I wouldn't have it any other way" Naruto admitted. His tone made Hinata frown. She knew that her crush carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, something she wished he would be more open with her about, but she also knew that when he used that tone, there was little she could do to dissuade him.

"Naruto-Kun, promise me you won't get hurt" she demanded, and for once Naruto felt small in front of her.

"I wasn't planning on it" he replied uncertainly. What was this feeling? He was being drawn in by her. The warmth she radiated enveloping him, greeting him as an old friend. He hadn't even realized he was leaning forward in his seat, his eyes glued to the heiress.

"And don't hurt Neji, either. I know he can be cruel and sometimes outright unlikeable…but Neji—N-Naruto-Kun?" Hinata's words fell short as she turned her attention to the blond, his cerulean eyes transfixed by her. "A-are y-you o-okay?" she asked, unsure why her mouth was suddenly dry.

"I won't kill him" Naruto absentmindedly replied. He was standing now, hunched over and moving steadily closer to her.

"K-kill? I-I d-don't…w-what?" Hinata was so focused on what Naruto had said that she hadn't even realized his hand on hers.

"Hinata…I…want to…get closer" Naruto whispered. He wasn't even sure why he was standing or moving ever closer, but he felt it in his heart that if he stopped, he would regret it.

"C-closer?!" Hinata was still unable to comprehend what was running through the often stoic's mind, but the closer she got, the less she cared. "N-Naruto-Kun is gonna k-k-kiss me?" she thought as she could practically feel his breath on her face.

"Say Hinata…do you…like me?"

The two of them were eye to eye, and the moment the words left his mouth, Naruto knew that it was the wrong thing to ask. Hinata's eyes grew wide and she began to sputter incoherent word one right after the other. Naruto moved away from her as he watched Hinata try to explain something he wasn't even sure she knew that she was talking about and before either of them knew it, the moment passed.

"Oy, Hinata, are you awake?" Naruto turned to the door and watched it swing up as Kiba and Shino, as well as Ino and Sakura both stood in the doorway. "Oh, Naruto, you're here already?" Kiba was the first to enter and the first to greet the two. Hinata's face was still very beet red but she managed to stop her rambling.

"Hey everyone, I was actually just about to leave. Have to start preparing and all" Naruto dismissively said. He stood from his seat and bid them farewell, stopping next to Sakura who was still at the door. "I want you to know, you were wrong Sakura" the look of confusion was mirrored by Sakura who wasn't sure what he was talking about, but the look of defeat coupled with Naruto's confusion made Sakura feel bad—though she couldn't pinpoint why.

"N-Naruto-Kun…" Hinata outstretched her hand as the door shut behind the blond, something that only Sakura seemed to notice.

The lot of them sat and chatted for a while before a nurse came in to tell them that visiting hours were over. One by one they said their farewells until it was just Hinata and Sakura. The nurse insisted she leave as well, and after a few moments of persuading, Sakura earned herself five extra minutes with the Hyuga.

"How are you holding up?" Sakura asked, which was a really dumb question even to her, but she didn't want to flat out ask what was on her mind right away.

"I've been better honestly" Hinata answered, and though she gestured to the hospital room, that wasn't what she really meant.

"Being able to spend time with Naruto must have been nice" Sakura suggested, something she was sure would lead to the question she really wanted to ask.

"It was, I think" the heiress admitted. "I don't know what happened" she continued, her eyes conveyed a thousand different emotions, but the only one that Sakura could see was the same ones in Naruto's eyes when he left.

"Did something happen?" she questioned, retaking her previous seat. She propped herself up on her elbows, leaning forward with hungry curiosity.

"Not really. We were t-talking, and then Naruto leaned towards me I t-think t-to k-k-kiss me—" "NARUTO KISSED YOU!" Sakura shouted in giddy disbelief. "How was it? Was it awkward? Did you like it?" realizing that she wasn't listening and instead was being nosy, Sakura smiled nervously; "Sorry" she said, before letting Hinata continue.

"No, he didn't. He got r-really close. Like, really c-close. And t-then h-he a-asked me if I l-like him" Hinata couldn't get the words out without turning red, let alone without being mortified that she hadn't even answered the question.

"Well, what did you say?" Sakura, dying to know what happened, all but demanded the answer.

"I d-didn't?" Hinata replied. The look on her face made Sakura frown, sympathy etching her young brow.

"Yikes. That must have been rough" the pinkette was about to ask what Naruto said but then it dawned on her; 'I wanted you to know you were wrong' the words he spoke to her as he left finally made sense. Naruto asked Hinata if she liked him just like Sakura had told him to, and the lack of answer must have made him believe that Hinata didn't feel that way about him.

"Oh, damn" Sakura sighed, catching Hinata's attention.

"What is it?" she asked, looking at the pinkette for some sign of what was wrong.

"I may have accidentally told Naruto that you like him" Sakura's discomfort was immediately overshadowed by Hinata's stunned anger.

"How could you do that? I told you that between the two of us? Why would you go and tell him before I…what did I ever do to you!?" the Hyuga demanded. She sat up right, her pale eyes glaring at someone she thought she could trust.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell him. He's just so stupid sometimes and I blurted it out and he didn't say anything afterwards so I thought maybe he wasn't paying attention because he has a tendency to not listen to what I'm saying and then when he was leaving, he told me I was wrong and I think I might have really messed up here…didn't I?" Sakura rambled. By the time she was done, Hinata seemed to grasp exactly why Naruto left with such a defeated look on his face.

"Get out" she ordered. The ice in her voice left no room for discussion.

"I'm really sorry Hinata" Sakura said again, her hand on the handle of the door.

"I'm very angry Sakura-San…I just need some time alone" Hinata replied. It was her way of telling Sakura she needed to leave but that this discussion wasn't over.

Once the door closed behind the pinkette, Hinata found herself mimicking one of Naruto's habits of staring out at the sky. The moon, half complete and half hidden behind clouds, shined dully across the night sky.

"Oh, Naruto-Kun…" she sighed, wishing more than anything that she answered with honesty instead of bumbling like a fool. She watched as the clouds swallowed the half-moon whole, leaving nothing but a pale outline behind it. Little did she know that elsewhere in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Naruto too was staring at that same pale moon.

A moon that reminded him very much of the eyes of certain Hyuga Heiress.

AN: I know some of you wanted that kiss to happen, I can almost hear you guys cursing me out for teasing you like that, but all good things with a little patience. I know some of you will be upset that I glossed over the Lee/Gaara fight, but that fight to me was amazing originally and I didn't want to change it. I didn't even want to try and change it. Unfortunately, Lee loses but I think the fight really shows how badass he is over all and I wanted that to stay the same.

If you've been keeping up so far, you'll notice that I'm going almost episode by episode, cutting things out here and there and with that being the case, we should be meeting one of my absolute favorites really soon.

Let me know what you guys think, if you enjoyed this particular chapter or could have done without it. Tell me what you want more of or less of, and as always, thank you for joining me on this journey.

Until next time.