Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

Chapter 3

Infirmary:

Having brought him there, Hinata, Sakura, along with Ino dragged Naruto into the Infirmary and laid him on a bed. Due to the situation that lead up to it, no one had uttered a word to one another. They couldn't think of anything to say.

After laying him down, they all simply stood in silence for a bit. It was then that somebody finally spoke up. "So... Do you want to tell us what 'that' was all about?" Ino said, breaking the silence.

Hinata froze a bit. She knew she was gonna have to answer them eventually, she just didn't feel ready to. And because of how she knocked out Naruto, she was gonna have to do this all by herself, at least until he work up, which even then may take a few hours because of the strike.

"U-um... Y-y-you see I-I... M-me and Naruto-kun... W-we um..." She couldn't speak, her words constantly jumbling over one another.

Seeing her like this, Sakura and Ino knew they weren't gonna get far. "Ok Hinata, let's start slow alright?" Sakura said, receiving a small nod from Hinata. "Alright, now... What happened while you guys were putting the papers away? You know, before... 'that' happened." She said, a small blush appearing on her face remembering it.

"W-well... N-Naruto-kun stood on t-top of a box to s-stack the papers... Then... H-he lost his footing a-and knocked over the b-box holding the k-kunai and s-shuriken..." Sakura nodded as she listened to Hinata explain. "A-as he fell... The kunai a-and shuriken also fell... B-before they could h-hit and i-injure him... I-I... I..." Hinata's blush intensified as she remembered what happened. "I rushed to him and... t-tackled him out of the way..." Now this surprised them a bit. While yes, they knew Hinata tended to try and help people sometimes, they didn't expect her to go as far as to tackle someone to do it.

"Ok... What happened next?" Ino asked.

Hinata blushed even more, if that was even possible. "W-we... e-ended up on top of one a-another... And... And..." Hinata covered her face in embarrassment as everything continued to flash through her mind. Piecing it all together, Sakura and Ino blush as well.

"Well... This is surprising." Sakura said.

"Surprising is putting it mildly. I'm still trying to process the fact that we caught Hinata and Naruto of all people engaging in a hot make out session." Ino said, causing Hinata to only feel even more embarrassed just from hearing it. "O-oh... Sorry about that Hinata. I shouldn't have said that so bluntly." She apologized.

"No... It's fine..." Hinata said meekly.

"Anyway, there's still something I'm confused about." Sakura said, gaining their attention. "I get that you two ended up kissing by accident when you tried to help Naruto out of the way. But what I don't get is... Why did you let it go on for so long?"

And there it was. The question that has been bugging the two since they helped Hinata take Naruto into the infirmary room. They just didn't get it. Even if Naruto had helped prolong it, why did she seem even more into it than he was? Why would Hinata even allow it to go on that long? And why with Naruto of all people?

Hinata seemed to be at a loss of words. How could she tell them the truth? That even she didn't really understand what came over her. It was like her shyness and insecurities were instantly pushed out and replaced with pent up lust and passion. But could she tell them that? "U-um... I... I don't..."

"Wait a second..." Ino said. "Earlier you pointed out that you in fact hold no attraction to Sasuke-kun right?" Hinata nodded. "But you do in fact like someone else?" At this question, Hinata hesitantly nodded once more, finding no reason to lie. "And you were just kissing Naruto for an extended period of time...And even looked liked you enjoyed it..." Hinata's face shifts into one of fear as Ino began to piece everything together. "So then... that means..."

Sakuara's eyes widened in shock and realization. "You... like Naruto?"

Hinata is frozen. Sakura and Ino had just figured out her biggest held secret. And not only that, Ino was well-known as the biggest gossiper in all of Konoha. If she found out any juicy gossip, she makes sure everyone, and I mean everyone, knew. And this has to be the biggest by far. The Hyuuga Princess having a crush on the prankster of Konoha? People would lose their minds knowing this. And who knows what her father of all people would think.

Despite the shock, Ino could be seen giggling like crazy. This has to be the craziest gossip material she ever got her hands on. "Oh my god, you do." Ino said. "Who would have thought? We've been trying to figure out who you liked and didn't even consider Naruto. Yet here we are."

"Yeah. I mean, out of everyone, I didn't expect her to like Naruto. I figured guys like Shikamaru, Shino, hell even Kiba had a higher chance than Naruto." Sakura said to Ino.

"Um-" Hinata said quietly.

"I know right. I mean, what part of Naruto is that appealing?" Ino replied to Sakura, not hearing Hinata.

"Well-"

Sakura shrugged. "Beats me. Not like he could compare to Sasuke. He has not only the looks, but also the skills." She sighed dreamily.

"But he doesn't-"

"Yeah. And it's not like Naruto has either. The only thing he topples Sasuke in is being consistently deadlast." Ino replied.

"But he-"

"You got that right." Sakura said. Hinata, hearing all of this at once, can feel something building up inside her. Fast. "Naruto couldn't even hope to compare to Sasuke. He's the whole package. Unlike Naru-"

"BE QUIET!" They suddenly heard a shout. Looking over, they see it was surprisingly from Hinata. "What do either of you two know about Naruto-kun?! Have either of you two had a normal conversation with him? Learned his interests? How hard he works? How much he tries to help others?!" She shouted.

The two in question stood still as they couldn't say that they have. Over the years, they never even attempted to have a regular conversation with him or even try and learn anything about him that wasn't already obvious.

"You two talk down about him like he's nothing more than what your interpretation of him is. Despite not knowing anything personal about him. How would you feel if that was constantly done to you on a regular basis?" Once again, they were at a lose. Everything Hinata was saying was true. "You know absolutely nothing about him... But I do." Their eyes widened at this. How much could Hinata even know? She's been too shy to even talk to him and consistently passes out.

"I know because I've been watching him from afar... Ever since I was a child, I've watched him... Seeing him pull through and smile despite the hardships he had to go through... It gave me courage... It gave me hope that one day... I could be like him... Naruto-kun may not be the brightest in class... or even the strongest... But... He's the kindest... most courageous boy I have ever seen... If it wasn't for him... I may have given up on myself years ago... So say what you want... But don't judge someone before even attempting to know them first." Hinata finished with a strong look on her face.

Hearing all of this made Sakura and Ino reevaluate their actions throughout the years. Despite not interacting with him, Hinata has shown that she indeed knew more than they ever did about their blonde classmate. It made them wonder if they were ever in the right to make fun of Naruto. It wasn't like he did anything negative to them in particular. Sure he was known as a prankster, but that wasn't to say he did any to them specifically. So why did they insult him?

"Oh my god..." Sakura said. "Hinata... I'm so sorry for what I said."

"Me too... We both went too far..." Ino said.

Hinata took a deep breath before looking at them. "It's alright. It's just... Naruto-kun means so much to me..." She said before looking towards Naruto's unconscious body. "His courage is my courage... His spirit is my spirit... And... Just hearing everything you two said... I felt so angry... I just lost control..." Hinata said before sighing and taking a seat on the chair besides Naruto's bed.

"We understand. If someone did the same to Sasuke, we probably would have acted the same." Sakura said, gaining a nod from Ino. Hinata smiled a bit at this before looking at Naruto again.

Seeing this, Ino realizes something. "Hinata... This entire time... You haven't stuttered once." She pointed out. This in turns surprises Hinata as she never even noticed.

Hinata then smiles gently as she looks over Naruto's sleeping face.

"Well... I guess only proves how Naruto brings out the best in me."

xXx

Later:

Having noticed how long they've been gone for, Sakura and Ino decided to leave to explain their absence to Iruka. Hinata stayed behind as to watch over Naruto in case something came up.

Arriving back in the classroom, Iruka asked for an explanation as to why they were gone for so long, also how Naruto and Hinata weren't currently with them. Sakura explained that Naruto got injured by one of the boxes and they had to help escort him to the Infirmary. They also pointed out how Hinata stayed to keep an eye on Naruto.

Hearing this, Iruka excused the two and said how he'll go and check on them after class.

After finishing up, everyone began getting ready to leave. "Alright class. Remember, we're gonna be learning about seals next time. Have good day." Iruka said as he gathered his things. Everyone nodded their heads before slowly exiting the classroom.

Iruka sighed as he leaned into his chair. Teaching can be tough sometimes. Especially when you can see the ones who you could tell weren't gonna make it far in this specific career. Now Iruka wasn't downplaying any of his students. It's just that he could tell some of them won't make it as a ninja of all things. Some just didn't have the drive necessary to better yourself and fight for the sake of the village.

Unlike one student in particular. Naruto Uzumaki. Despite technically being deadlast and a loudmouth at times, he's the most determined student he has ever had. The boy, despite already failing about 3 times and has essentially the entire village looking down on him, saying he of all people shouldn't be a ninja... He still tries... He still continues to better himself to prove them wrong. That he can be a ninja... That he can become Hokage.

Speaking of which, he should probably go and check up on him and Hinata. Getting up, Iruka began to make his way to the Infirmary. "Hm... I hope Naruto didn't try anything and got Hinata involved." He said as he reached his destination. Opening up the door, he walks inside. "Hey. I just came to-"

Right in front of him Naruto, still unconscious, had Hinata straddled atop his lap with his jacket unzipped. She could be seen attempting to lift up his shirt before freezing at Iruka catching her.

"U-uh... I-I can e-explain!"

AN: Whew! That was a doozy to write. Hope you guys enjoyed that one. Be sure to let me know who you'd like to be apart of the harem and why. Also, just leave your opinoins or suggestions. I love reading you guy's reviews. Well, catch ya later.