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Hinata never was the selfish type she told herself but she wished that she had been when it came to Naruto. Today she agreed to meet with the blonde village hero. It had been several weeks now since they were meeting as friends only and she was so glad that they could still be friends. Something deep inside of her still wished that things were different and that Naruto would see her as something more than friends.

Naruto arrived at the front of the Hyuuga compound where Hinata nervously stood waiting. He greeted her and they started walking towards the training grounds. After a lot of small talk and catching up with each other…Or more like Naruto talking about anything and everything as Hinata hung on his every word they sat under a tree.

"I made a promise Hinata," Naruto said his tone shifting to serious now.

"P-promise to Sakura-chan?"

"No, nothing like that. I mean I did promise to bring Sasuke back...," he rubbed the back of his head and grinned continuing, "What I mean is I made a promise to Sasuke."

"Sasuke-kun?"

Hinata was clearly confused by what he said. She blushed thinking that Sakura might not be the reason he couldn't return her feelings after all.

"Um…well Naruto-kun that is ok I guess you and Sasuke-kun can be happy to…um I mean you…

"WHAT! Hell no. It's not like that. Not like that at all," Naruto said.

"Oh…sorry Naruto-kun. I um never thought you were into guys…Sorry," Hinata said turning red from her mistake. He had kissed him though so what was she supposed to assume.

He noticed how uncomfortable she looked and quickly said, "It's fine Hinata."

Usually he wouldn't be so aware of Hinata's discomfort and shyness but since they became closer friends he tried to be a little more sensitive to her.

"Um…so you made a promise," Hinata quietly brought him back to his original train of thought.

"Hinata…Sasuke is crazy about you," Naruto said as if that explained everything.

"What?"

"From the time we were kids I knew and I thought with all that has happened he would have changed but one of the reasons he told me he came back was you. He still feels the same," Naruto said almost proudly. Misquoting his friend's words with glee ever the troublemaker.

"But Sasuke never even talked to me since he left how can he feel the same," she questioned barely a whisper.

"If things had been different…I mean I told him you have feelings for me and he just said…he said that was obvious all along. Also that I was an idiot for not seeing it," he said sadly looking at the timid bluenette.

Sasuke-kun noticed my feelings for Naruto-kun.

Her face was red as usual at Naruto's words.

"Naruto-kun I-I should have told you all this time. You're not an idiot," she said.

His smile returned, "Yeah. Sometimes teme talks all big but he's really struggling with a lot of heavy stuff."

His clan was murdered and he stopped being the little Uchiha kid that smiled with her and Neji-niisan. Then again he left betraying the village and yet Naruto-kun still thinks so highly of him.

"Even if Sasuke-kun has feelings for me…I-I don't think of him…I don't-

"I know, I know Hinata," he held her shoulders so she would look at him, "I don't think he expects you to have feelings for him back or anything so it's ok."

She jumped at the sudden contact, "T-thank you for telling me."

"Yeah. I just selfishly want to give Sasuke something to live for you know. Maybe not love but he could see you as a friend…all of us as friends. Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, Geji-Mayuu, TenTen, Shino, Kiba, Akamaru, Iruka-Sensei, Kaka'-sensei…all my precious people I mean," Naruto said his wide grin making her heart melt.

"I'd try to do it for you Naruto-kun," she smiled back at him.

There was a time when even Neji-niisan…but no Sasuke-kun has so much darkness is it possible to-

"The thing is," Naruto interrupted her train of thought, "Sasuke is…well Sasuke doesn't really like to be talked to…or hang out with or anything really. Nevermind this is going bad…um the only thing Sasuke really likes is…Well…So I'm not even sure if he'd be friends with anyone and even if I consider him a friend he's still cold and distant…a real bastard."

Hinata laughed at Naruto's descriptions of his best friend and added, "But he's your family."

She understands completely. Hinata you are so amazing.

"I'm really sorry that I couldn't return your feelings. I just can't stop the way I feel about Sakura-chan," he said apologizing once again feeling it was never enough.

"I-I'm alright Naruto-kun."

"It's just that you are so nice and I feel like a jerk-

"You can't help that you really love Sakura-chan."

"I'm sorry."

"Naruto-kun?"

"I think I made a mistake telling you about Sasuke. It is bad enough that I can't return your feelings and now…" he trailed off staring out at the training grounds. The sky was starting to darken and he didn't want to keep her out here all day just to keep apologizing and feeling guilty.

"We are still friends. S-so I am glad that you told me. When we were kids Sasuke-kun was different. Even Itachi-san and Neji-niisan were different. I may never love him but if you consider him a friend maybe I can too someday," she said breathing a deep breath as she blushed looking in his eyes again.

"You're great Hinata," he hugged her and she let out a little eep!

"Naruto-kun I only said maybe," she pouted and he let go of his hold on her.

"Still everybody in the village is treating Sasuke the same way they treated me all those years ago…I guess they do have a reason but still…You are one of the few that will even be willing to try," he said sadly.

Naruto-kun always gave second chances to his friends. I am only following his example.

"Naruto-kun you need to find out if Sakura-chan can return your feelings."

"I think she has," he said looking solemly at his lap.

"Eh?"

"She told me she loves me but…there were other circumstances…It's not like I didn't believe her but I…Sasuke…I called her a liar," he said frowning at the memory.

'Naruto…we need to talk…' she said into the cold air.

Confessing her feelings for him suddenly in front of their friends and sensei.

'What did you just say Sakura…did I hear you right…maybe say it again?' he questioned.

'Naruto…I said I love you,' she repeated.

There was no way he heard her right it had to be a dream.

More words were said between them but did it matter since he dismissed her with, 'I hate people who lie to themselves.' They were words that went misunderstood. He just couldn't believe that Sakura ever stopped caring for Sasuke like she claimed.

"That's…I-I can talk to Sakura-chan," Hinata said hearing the sadness in his voice as he told his tale.

"You'd do something like that for me?"

"Y-yes."

Of course she would you idiot! Hinata almost died for you twice dattebayo!

"Thank you but I'd never do something…I wouldn't let you do something like that. I have to face Sakura-chan myself."

"Then I wish you happiness whatever may happen," she said smiling at him. Because Naruto-kun you deserve to be happy. You've done so much for all of us.

She was glad Naruto would have a chance at happiness but heartbroken that her chance was fading. Even if Sakura didn't return his feelings it seemed Naruto was telling her over and over they would only be friends. Telling her that he never felt that way about her and it hurt. This was the second time Naruto talked to Hinata about her confession to him only this time it had the added information about Sasuke's feelings.

"Thank you Hinata," he said eyes looking determined now.

"Promise me you'll talk to Sakura-chan soon," she said softly.

I am ready to let him go. I think I can do this just look at how happy she makes him.

"I will. I promise I will tomorrow," he said standing to his feet now

Hinata followed his lead as they began to walk out of the training grounds. She only hoped for the best for him as she smiled at his determined face. When Naruto wanted something he would give his whole heart to go after it.

Whatever may happen I'll support you as a friend from now on.

Construction crews continued to work all around the village and they passed a few workers who kindly greeted Naruto. His dreams were coming true right before her eyes. She grinned happily for her friend.

Look around you they all acknowledge you now Naruto-kun. I'm so happy for you.

Hinata had a lot to think about now. How would the clan acknowledge her and what did her future hold now.