K i n k y

B y : I t a c h i s b l a c k f i r e

T h r e e : H i n a t a

--

...stand still, stay silent.
there isn't anything left here.
what am i left with now?
its over.

by my very best friend, jenna brower

--

Naruto had never felt down down in his life.

For one thing, he couldn't stop thinking about the almost-kiss he almost shared with his ex lover, Sasuke. For another, Sasuke wouldn't stop staring at him, and for a third thing, Naruto couldn't keep his eyes off of Hinata's ass. And the worst part of it was: he had no control over it.

Throughout the remaining hour of the day he considered purposely getting sent to detention so he could sneak up to the roof with Shikamaru and watch as his friend smoked a box of cigs at a time, or option two, jump off the roof while his smoker friend watched him fall to the death. Option one seemed pretty boring, but jumping was kind of out-of-the-picture.

Naruto and Kiba were sitting in Trig, bored out of their minds, when Kiba said something totally random and completely un-Kiba-like. "You know, Hinata's ass is pretty big."

Kiba was never one to point out anything that had to do with a female human. His friends called him Inu-baka, and they told him that the only thing he'd get as a girlfriend is a female dog. Kiba didn't like that joke. He told his sister, Hana, that they were making fun of him and Hana got her triplet pups out and they attacked Naruto and Choji. It was not fun, nor was it ladylike of Hana.

"Yeah. She's really pretty."

"Ha! I remember you never bothered to look at her back when we were kids."

"What are you talking about, pup?"

"Hinata would bring a doll that looked like you in for show and tell, andyouwouldn't even notice. She baked you a cupcake for your seventh birthday but she never got a chance to give it to you because you said 'I'll see you around, Hinata!' and ran off -- and you ran off for Sasuke. Didn't you like, hold his hand when you walked away?"

Naruto shook his head protectively. Did Kiba really have that good of a memory? Did he really turn the poor girl down so many times?

"What else?"

"She would follow us to the playground a lot. I was the only one who would talk to her, of course. I'd make up excuses for you."

"Man, I was really a jerk to her."

"Yeah, but you were young. We all were." Kiba sighed, looking down at his notebook that had a picture of a young Kiba, young Hinata and a young Shino Auburame all smileing up with a puppy in the middle. The pup was Akamaru, and he was now a huge dog. "I miss them. We used to be so close, but when Hinata and Shino started hanging out with Neji and Sasuke, we just drifted."

"Everyone drfited. Sasuke and I used to be inseparable, believe it or not."

"Really?"

"Yeah. We were best friends, with a very, very... detailed past."

"Oh. I never saw you with him,"

"We hung out when we were away from people. He never liked groupies."

"Now he's just a bastard, right?" Naruto couldn't help but fake a laugh. He was indeed a bastard, and a damn cute one at that. Memories filled up in Naruto's head as if they were actually happening. When he looked out the window of the classroom, he saw a young blonde sitting under a tree with a young brunette boy. When he looked at the old playground, he saw the same boys and his younger friends, Kiba, Shikamaru and Choji playing, and then, he saw the little girl, sitting all alone on the bench, fiddling with her fingers.

And although now the blonde would have wanted to be the one to comfort her, but instead he saw a young Kiba going over to bench. He couldn't change the past. He'd have to make it up to Hinata, in some shape or form. He'd work his ass off to change her, to make her a girl with high self esteem and a girl who belonged to no Clan or groupie. That girl would be herself, and be happy. And just maybe, he'd score big and actually get a date with that very girl!

Of course, they only way to get to her is through Neji, who was Sasuke's 'henchman', who was 'in love' with Naruto. To operatehis plan of action, he'd have to make a choice and decide before it was too late. He's have to lie to Sasuke to make him think that he was into him, slip by Neji with that and then help Hinata. But was 'saving' Hinata really worth breaking Sasuke's and his own heart all at once? Did Hinata really need to get out? It was Hinata who joined the Clan after all.

And that's the other thing. What if Hinata didn't want to be on her own? What if she turned down the offer? What would he do about Sasuke? What would be the consequences of even attempting to do it all? Was it worth it?

Was it really worth it?

Naruto knew he wouldn't be able to stand another heart break. Just when he was getting over it, Sasuke brought himself back into the story and now Naruto didn't know what to do. He cared about his heart, and he cared about Hinata -- but why did he care about Sasuke, too? Sasuke was long gone. Why should Naruto care if Sasuke was left broken, too?

Answer: Naruto was a good person. Sasuke was not good with coping with heart break. Up to the present, Sasuke's mind, heart and soul still dwelled and longed for his beloved family. His dead family, his missing brother... back then, Sasuke needed Naruto. Naruto thought he needed Sasuke, but it took him years to realize he needed Hinata just as much. he knew little about Hinata. He knew so little that he failed to realize that she had a crush on him for years!

How blind! The birthday, the park, everything! He didn't even notice the girl who was there for most o his life, the one who probably knew everything about him that Sasuke knew, the girl who he knew no more about than her name and her cousin. How could he not have paid attention? How could no one have told him? Sasuke knew, he said so on the bridge the previous night. Kiba knew, Shikamaru knew. Naruto seemed to be the only one knew nothing. And that hurt the blond.

Guilt filled his ever-loving heart, and it sunk down deep into his stomach, making him sick. Sick of himself, sick of Sasuke, sick of his friends, sick of listening to his teacher yell, "Naruto, Naruto! Snap out of it and pay attention!"

Wait --

Naruto's head snapped up, his forehead tinted red from resting it on the wooden desk.

"I-Iruka-sesei,"

"Stop dozing off, Naruto." The students, and Kiba, snickered in the background.

"I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei. I just feel sick.

"Then go to the nurse." Iruka sighed, massaging his forehead. Naruto obeyed, waving to Kiba as he walked out the door.

Naruto walked around the entire corridor before he headed to the nurse. He needed to get somethings off his chest.

He still had a painful decision in a matter of short time. Sasuke... Hinata... Hinata... Sasuke... What a painful thing. Why did it have to be now, of all times? Couldn't it wait until next century when they were all dead and dried bone? And of all topics. Why 'love'? Why couldn't it be butterflies or women? Why was it boy or girl? Why not peaches or apples? Why did he have to be so stupid!? Sasuke must have been right all along. He really was a moron.

Naruto made his way to the roof where e found Shikamaru, doing what he did best: smoking.

"Hey, Naruto. What are you doing up here?"

"I'm in trouble."

"Iruka send you to the office?

"No, I meant in my love life. Sasuke and I were talking --"

"Wow. You actually had a conversaton?"

"Yeah, but it was complicated. Back when we were 12... we kind of... dated, for a year. But we broke up. Then last night he told me that he wanted me back or something stupid like that, but I kind have this crush on Hinata, but I don't know if she still likes me. But I don't care. I just want to make up for ignoring her for so long, but the only way to do that is by breaking Sasuke's heart.

"I mean, I don't want to, but I really fee like I have to help her. But I'm afraid that I'll make Sasuke hurt more because he never really got over his family situation."

Shikamaru took a last wiff of his cigarrette and threw it over the roof. "Look, I think that you should sort things out with Sasuke first."

"Wha-- you don't care that I... that we're... half gay!?"

"Naruto, you are my friend no matter what, or who you are. I'm not the love guru, but I know what you are going through. Ino had a huge thing for me, and so did Temari. After a while I ended up falling for Temari. You don't choose who you love, Naruto. But if your feelings are stronger for one, sort it out."

"But... how?" Naruto said, looking out at the cloudy sky. Shikamaru sighed and looked up with Naruto.

"Sometimes it take a while. You and me are different. If you want to help Hinata, do it. But if you love Sasuke, I wouldn't bother. Hinata may not return your feelings because of the past. Sasuke hasn't changed, but maybe he will. Just give it some time before you decide."

"So, you're saying I should help Hinata get away from the Clan, but fall in love with the leader of the Clan I want her away from?"

"Sasuke and I were never friends from that start. Personally, I never liked him. But, yes, that's what I'm saying. Who knows, you might end up saving Sasuke, too,"

Naruto stood there in silence, thinking about his plan and what Shikamaru had told him. But with the advice, how could he choose? He'd never been with Hinata, ever, and Sasuke could have changed since they were thirteen. Sasuke was growing up and falling in love, while Hinata was growing up and she could have moved on.

It was like the love triangle. Sasuke loved Naruto, but Naruto loved Hinata, but Hinata... was unsure. Naruto wanted to love both of them, but there was only one of him.

"Being bi is tough." Shikamary laughed at Naruto's comment. Naruto grinned and rolled his eyes, looking up at the sky. Sasuke... Hinata... Both of them had stolen his heart at least one, and it was almost time that he made his choice, but which would it be?

"Sasuke?" Shikamaru sounded surprised and Naruto turned his head instantly. Sasuke was also surprised to see them on the roof as well, but he walked over to them, nonetheless.

"What are you doing up here?" He asked blankly, sitting beside Naruto.

"Talking. What about you?" Naruto asked weakly.

"I got bored."

"Oh." It was an awkward silence before Shikamaru said goodbye and walked back to class. Once he was gone, Sasuke got right down to bbusiness.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. I moved on you too quickly. I should have kept my distance."

"I forgot."

"Forgot?"

"Yes, I forgot. I forgot what it felt like to be so close to someone, to feel so warm next to another body. When we stopped talking, I felt empty. Don't be sorry for making me remember, Sasuke." Naruto said to the clouds. He refused to make eye contact with the other, not when he was about to make his choice.

"Naruto... I --"

"Let her go."

"What?"

"Hinata. She's part of your little 'clan'. I want you to stop making her think that she belongs there. She isn't the person you think she is. She needs to be her own person, and she doesn't need to be following you around like a puppy."