Chapter 44

The journey to the sand

30 minutes after Naruto left Kakashi, Shikamaru had met him at the gates of the village.

"You ready Shikamaru," Naruto asked him as he got closer.

"Yeah, I did just get back though...last week" He made a look like there were other things he'd rather be doing. Naruto didn't want to hear Shikamaru whine, so he didn't ask.

They had been traveling for about an hour when Shikamaru asked Naruto some questions about their journey. "So we're going to get Hinata back, right?"

"Yeah, that's the plan," Naruto said as he kept his pace.

"What if she doesn't want to come back," Shikamaru stated matter of factly.

Naruto stopped "What's your problem? You've had a look on your face since we met today, do you really not want to help me?" Naruto asked him point blank.

"It's not that I don't want to help you Naruto," Shikamaru began, "But is this really what's best for Hinata?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto growled.

"Come on, don't act like you haven't seen it," Shikamaru pushed.

"What?" Naruto replied

"She's in pain because you reject her again and again, anyone with a brain can see it. I want to do what will make you happy, but not if it means seeing her so unhappy." He stood frozen in his spot, wondering if Naruto might try to punch him for saying that.

"She only looked unhappy when she left, she never looks unhappy when she's with me," he tried thinking back, trying to remember a time where she was unhappy.

"That's my point Naruto, she wants to be with you, not be your 'friend'. When we went on our mission together to get supplies I could see the pain written on her face. I've heard you tell people that you're just friends and seen the look on her face right after you say it. Haven't you noticed that after you spend a lot of time together how she goes out training? Her hands come back shredded," Naruto made a blank face "I guess you didn't," Shikamaru paused. "It's like you don't really notice her, and she deserves better than that." He finished.

"I do notice her," he started. "It's just like with Sakura…"

Shikamaru started to shake his head and glared at Naruto.

"That didn't come out right. What I mean is, it was like when I couldn't tell my feelings to Sakura, that's what happens with Hinata. I just can't bring myself to tell her how I feel," Naruto sighed. "I guess you have no idea what I'm talking about, never mind Shikamaru." He gave up. He would have enough trouble trying to explain this to Hinata when he saw her again…

"I think I know what you mean a little, it's like you like her and think about her all the time, but then when you're around her you play it cool and don't say anything, she wouldn't even know you liked her." He finished.

"That's exactly what it's like," Naruto said as they started walking again, he eyed Shikamaru "Can I ask you something?" he asked.

"Yeah," Shikamaru replied

"The reason you don't seem excited about this mission, is it…do you…like her too?" he asked reluctantly.

"No, no," he reassured "There is someone but it's not Hinata." He said regretting it as soon as he said it.

"Who? Naruto asked, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he added.

"Thanks," Shikamaru said, he wanted to keep his secret to himself.

"Man now I have to know, tell me tell me, who is she?" he started pleading with Shikamaru.

"Never mind I said anything Naruto, just forget it." Shikamaru pushed.

"Not a chance," He began trying to find people to guess. Shikamaru knew Naruto wouldn't give up and didn't want to spend the rest of the journey playing this game.

"Is it Ino?" Shikamaru made a disgusted face. "Oh, I know, what about Sakura?"

"Temari" Shikamaru uttered to Naruto, "But keep it quiet, I don't want this getting out."

"Temari?!" Naruto looked at him like he was crazy, "You like her?" he said in disbelief.

"What's wrong with her?" Shikamaru asked in a grumpy tone.

"She's just so pushy sometimes." Naruto added

"look who's talking," he said, half smiling.

They walked in silence for another minute.

"I'm hoping to see her when we get there." He added.

"I'm just hoping Hinata can forgive me and will come home. I want to tell her how I feel if that's what it takes to show her…"

"Good luck Naruto," Shikamaru started laughing, just the idea of Naruto professing his love cracked him up.

"Shut up Shikamaru!" Naruto yelled at him in a playful tone. "Seriously though," he started again. "Do you think she could still like me after all this, I hope I'm not too late, you know. I don't think the village is even the same without her."

"'the village' or you?" Shikamaru pointed out.

Naruto paused before answering "me." He hadn't realized the extent of his feelings for himself. He just knew that he needed her back, he didn't think about all the whys, there were too many to count.

"You're lucky that you found someone from our village, things ultimately will not work out for me even if I were to pursue Temari because we don't live in the same village. That's one reason that I don't want to say too much to her, and also because I'm a little worried she might end up rejecting me anyways." Shikamaru started to move even faster and Naruto matched his pace.

"You're crazy Shikamaru," Naruto mentioned "If you talked to Gaara I know he could find a way to make it work between the villages, and Temari definitely likes you."

"It's hard to tell with girls sometimes. To be honest I'm not sure what she thinks of me. She runs between hot and cold so often." Shikamaru tried to reason what men had pondered since the beginning of time.

"I know what you mean," Naruto replied. He did know what Hinata thought of him though. He remembered her laying her life on the line for him a few times, and there was that night in the hospital when she told him what she liked about him, she really surprised him. When he heard Shikamaru talk about not being sure about Temari's feelings, he wondered if that was probably how Hinata felt. If he thought about it, he never made an effort to tell her, he was worried about how she would react. She had overcome this feeling several times to reach out to him, and he realized that Hinata was a lot braver than he was when it came to love.

Several hours later they reached the half way point and decided to rest for the night. The guys didn't talk anymore about girls although the conversation lingered on both of their minds.

The next day they were headed out bright and early again and proceeded to the Sand to bring back Hinata.