A Surprise is Waiting

Departing from the Training Grounds

Leaving the site, Kiba was the first to break the silence.

"Man, this is awesome! We get to hang out with the others and enjoy a free meal at the same time. Count me in!"

"Yes", said Shino quietly. "Team mates and colleagues should include one another for such functions, in order to promote mutual relations." Aburame Clan's star genin was mildly fixated over being unable to join the Sasuke Retrieval squad, and had made several pointed comments about the mission afterwards.

"Sheesh, are you still on about that? I told you about it right after we got out of the hospital, didn't I? Cut me some slack here!"

Before Shino could counter-comment, Hinata brought the boys back to the original topic.

"Ano, I am glad Kurenai-sensei and the other Jounin sensei included us. It would be nice, to spend time with everyone outside of a mission".

Upon hearing that, the boys abandoned the debate and continued discussing dinner plans, although to be fair it was really Kiba who spoke, with occasional interjections from his team mates. As they group prepared to head towards their respective homes the boys turned to face Hinata.

"Oh yeah, Happy Birthday again, Hinata!" exclaimed Kiba. Shino smiled and nodded, reiterating the other boy's comment. Shino then asked her,

"Would you like for us to join you in a celebratory lunch?"

Hinata's eyes matched the clear smile on her face upon hearing this, but she declined her team mate's kind offer.

"Arigatou, Shino-kun, Kiba-kun, but there's no need for that. I would much rather that we wait for this evening. See you later." She, Kiba and Shino parted ways.

My family, Kurenai-sensei, and my team mates Shino-kun and Kiba-kun have made me feel wonderful. But even though I know it's impossible, I still wish that I could hear it from Naruto-kun as well.

The Hyuuga Compound

Hinata was surprised to see a package waiting for her at home. The branch members on duty told her that it arrived shortly after she had left for morning training. It was a small package, only slightly larger than her hand, but her heart leapt and tripled it's rhythm. Simply labeled was:

To: Hyuuga Hinata

From: Uzumaki Naruto

Naruto-kun? He sent me a birthday present?! This- this isn't a dream, is it??? Those who noticed her face as she rushed inside her bedroom all shared the same thought: "Doesn't she seem to be in a hurry?"

Until recently, Hinata and Naruto were not as close as she would have liked. He was a boy painfully oblivious to the finer side, sometimes any side, of social interaction due to a lifetime of neglect and abuse. It was true that he saw how nervous and quiet Hinata became in his presence, but it never clicked as to why. Remembering how it used to be before they were an item…

She was truly happy that they had begun to connect more, and that he recognized her worth. No one wanted to bring up bad history, but it is a fact that Hinata struggled with deep self esteem issues since childhood, something accentuated by her family. In a twisted way, her cousin Neji trying to kill her, albeit during a match, was the best thing to have happened for her. Naruto cheered her efforts, causing her to realize that people never know until they try. Even though she was unconscious and on the brink of death, Shino and Kiba told her everything that transpired after.

With her blood, Uzumaki Naruto made a promise that he would avenge the victim of her cousin's brutality (her). Risking death, he finished learning a technique to prepare for the match: Hyuuga Neji vs Uzumaki Naruto. Fighting with everything he had, his subsequent victory changed her life. Realising that Fate could be fought with self belief, Neji starting truly living his life, which led to the opening of her father's perspective, that ultimately resulted in Hinata's current family peace. Her love interest did not realize how many things she was grateful for were only possible because of him. Her surprise party for his birthday was a token of the rich feelings she held for him.

Hinata snapped out of her reminiscence, and thoughts once again pondered as to what he had sent her. With slightly trembling fingers, she opened the package to find … a box; it was plain wood, but the distinctive feature about it was that charka had been used to join the pieces. Sighing relief, she gathered her resolve and slid open the lid to find… a wooden kunai. Confusion was her initial reaction to this item, until the symbolism caused something from her etiquette classes to resurface.

The instructor had been lecturing all day about the proper decorum for gift giving. "In some places, giving a clock as a present is tantamount to sending a death wish. To a different, but related degree, sharp weapons such as swords, daggers or even kunai represent detachment of relations. Usually an intent as such is expressed with a plain item, as jeweled or decorated blades are often given as highly respectable gifts; the latter also pertains to those weapons with historic value. Value of gifts can be determined…

A disbelief and dread began to spread fear into Hinata's veins. Was it true? Could it be that Naruto-kun, for whatever reason, had decided that their relationship was no longer desirable? Determined to find another meaning for the "gift", but failing to do so she sat down,legs seemingly too weak to support her, and her heart raced for a different reason now.

In a small, defeated voice she whispered, "Naruto-kun has, has most likely realized that I-I-I… Naruto-kun must have come to see me as a weak kunoichi. He is training with Jiraiya-sama, maybe even spending time with other girls. And I… and I… he m-must have realized that he was mistaken about liking me… when he could have any girl better than me…" Tears slid down her clearly heart-broken face as the reality established itself in her mind.

The boy she had harbored feelings ever since their academy days, feelings which seemed to grow instead of fade over time, had told her that he wanted nothing more to do with her. She told herself that Naruto was a kind young man, and that letting her know in this manner was his way of softening the blow. It still didn't make any difference, of course, but his consideration stopped her from being crushed completely.

In complete contrast to her morning, a deflated and distant Hinata began to prepare for a dinner which she no longer felt enthusiastic about attending.