I was dumbstruck. What the hell was happening? I asked myself. "Fine!" I wanted to yell out but couldn't find my voice box working. So I turned around and inhaled at who I saw. It was Naruto. The cool blonde walked over to me. "Hey," he said. "Hi," I replied.

What's this guy doing here? I asked myself. Naruto then laughed a bit and said, "I saw and heard the whole thing," "What 'whole' thing?" I retorted, confused. "I saw what happened between you, Shikamaru, Kiba and that blonde girl." He continued. "You did?!" I screamed out, not even sure why I did.

He backed away from me and laughed. "Yeah, I did." He said, smiling. Naruto was acting differently than usual. He was being a bit, well, light hearted. I groaned and sighed. "What's wrong?" he asked. "It's just, everyone's acting differently! Ino's being a bitch; Kiba's just weird and you're cheerful!" I blurted out before I could think.

He raised his eyebrows and looked at me as if I were speaking a foreign language. "Wait! What I mean is… It's just…" I stammered before groaning softly. Naruto straightened his back and looked up at the sky. "It's a nice day today," he said unenthusiastically. I looked at him. "You're weird," I said.

"You think?" said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "It's just, well, whenever I'm with you I laugh, because you're funny." "I'm funny?" I said to myself. I looked at him, my mouth automatically turning into a grin. "I know I am," I said nonchalantly. Naruto ruffled my head and laughed.

"I'm not a little girl, you know!" I said, shoving him away. "Are you sure?" he teased, pushing me back. Soon, we were chasing each other around Ino's front yard. As we were, I was thinking, huh… déjà vu. After we collapsed just out side Ino's front fence, a long, white limousine pulled up a few metres away from where we were sitting.

The door opened and out stepped a sophisticated looking woman who had the air of superiority; she had long blue hair and dull grey eyes. She walked past the two of us, and then turned her head back. "Hinata?!" she exclaimed softly, however she acted nonchalantly and walked off without another word.

"Kaa-sama…" I said so softly that Naruto leaned his ear close to my mouth. "Aah," He looked at me with interest. "That's Mrs. Hyuuga, huh?" I nodded my head softly, not wanting to speak and knowing who the next person to step out of the limo was. The next person to step out of the limo was a tall, long-brown haired man who completely ignored me.

"That was your otou-san?" Naruto asked. "Yep," I replied, staring at the ground. I looked up at the limousine and my eyes widened when I realised who the next person was. "Neji-kun!" I exclaimed, standing up. I ran over to him and hugged him. "Long time no see," I said brightly, letting go.

Naruto followed me and stood beside me. "Hi, I'm Uzumaki Naruto," he introduced himself. "Hyuuga Neji," my brown haired cousin replied. He had long hair, and wore a headband over his forehead. Some people said he looked like a hippy for doing that but I said it suited him. Ever since then, we became very close, even when I was abandoned by my parents. When I first found out that I was adopted and found my real parents, I tried to stay away from them as much as I could because, well, I just felt so worthless beside them.

Since I got to know them and Neji better, I became stronger, so I could stand up to my stubborn parents. They tried so many times to lure me into staying with them. Did they think I was stupid?! I looked at Neji and smiled. "So, how's life?" I asked. "Boring, full of money as usual." Neji answered tiredly.

Neji lived with my parents and his father at the Hyuuga Mansion. His father was my father's younger and only brother. My mother, to me, was actually a mystery. I don't think she truly loved father though. They slept in the same bed but they didn't love each other.

I laughed as I thought about these things. "Ah I've got a messed up family," I sighed. "Yeah but you don't have to live under the same roof as them." Neji said, smiling slightly. I smiled and looked at Naruto then shrieked. He and Neji jumped and looked at me. "What's the matter?" they asked me in unison

"I'm missing out on school!" I screamed in their ears. "Don't worry," Naruto said reassuringly. "If you're with me, you have an excuse." "Yeah, and me as well," Neji added. "Why am I okay if I'm with you two?" I asked, ready for a stupid answer. "Because we're rich," they answered together.

"Stinking, filthy rich," I added. The three of us laughed and Neji invited the two of us to go to a formal party. "I don't want to go," I said immediately after the invitation. "Hinata-sama," Neji groaned. I usually declined all of the formal parties I was invited to.

"I hate formals!" I complained. "Aww, come on Hinata-chan. Formals are okay." Naruto said. "You say so but…" I trailed off and frowned. Why does everyone want me to got o formals so much? "Something happened once…to me…at a formal…" I said in a soft voice that was barely audible.

"Really? What?" Naruto asked. "Umm…" I paused, not ready to explain. "It happened about 11 or 12 years ago…" "11 or 12?! What's so wrong about that?" Naruto asked before Neji could respond. "I was just sitting around in a corner doing my own thing and suddenly a guy just walked up to me; he started pulling me into a deserted and dark room." I said, half listening to Naruto's statement.

Naruto and Neji were silent, intently listening to me, so I inhaled and continued. "He started to bash me up and did that for a few minutes before--" I was cut off by Neji. "Before I found her and bashed that punk up," he finished. I stared hard at my feet, and clenched my fist. Damn bastard, stupid, stupid jerk! I thought.

"So, ever since then you've never gone to another formal?" Naruto asked, moving closer to me. "Yes. I haven't gone to another formal ever since then," I answered faintly. "Hinata-sama, you don't need to worry because--" Neji started however was cut off by Naruto.

"Can I invite my friends?" he asked Neji. "Sure, it's gonna be a big formal anyway, at the Hyuuga Hall." Neji answered. "I guess I could go…" I muttered without thinking straightly. "Good! Uzumaki-san, bring your friends along too." Neji said quite cheerfully.

"Yeah, sure I will!" Naruto replied in an even more positive voice. I groaned and started walking home but Neji stopped me. "I'll take you home," he said. "Umm…" I stuttered. "My house isn't that far away," I muttered. "It doesn't matter," Neji said and opened the limousine door.

"Uzumaki-san, do you want to come to Hinata-sama's house as well?" He asked in his usual voice. "Sure," Naruto said immediately after. I groaned and got into the car. The trip was a short and boring one, I yawned all the way to my house. "Do you want to come in?" I asked politely, opening the limo door. "Yeah, sure, why not?" Naruto remarked, getting out of the car after me.

"Neji-kun, do you want to?" I asked. "No, I've got to go back to that mansion. I'll see you at the formal Friday night of this week, ne?" He said as he closed the door. "What time?" Naruto asked. "About 6 or 7 pm." Neji answered, rolling the window down. "Kay, see you then," I replied. He nodded his head and the limo drove off.

"I hope my house isn't in a mess," I mumbled. Naruto laughed slightly and faced the front door. I silently lead the way and took out my keys. "You have a small house for such a rich girl." Naruto said unenthusiastically. "I guess, but then," I faced him as I turned the handle. "I don't wanna go live with my real parents." I smiled at him and opened the door.

I cried out when I saw my parents and Hanabi huddled together in front of the door. "Wha-what are you doing?" I asked, calming down. "Why didn't you go to school?" my mother asked in a concerned voice. "The school called us many times and asked but we had to tell them we didn't know where you were!"

My mouth hung open and I stared at them. "I..I can explain," I stammered. "She was with me," Naruto said, coming to my aid. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, of the Sarutobi International Inc. Dozou." He greeted and bowed deeply. "Um… Yes. He's my uh…" I stammered not sure of what to say.

"I'm her friend." He finished. "New friend." He added, winking at me. "Why! If you were with the son of such a big company, then you should've called us and not make us worry so much!" My father said in a warm voice. "Please, do stay for dinner!" Hanabi chirped in an innocent voice.

"Wait--!" I said but Naruto said he would gladly stay for dinner. I sighed as we sat at the dinner table. "Itadakimasu!" we said in unison, my family and Naruto were smiling while I was pouting. What we had was pork congee and for dessert, since it was such a 'special' occasion as my mother said, we had mochi.

As I said good bye to Naruto he came up close to me. His head moved so close to mine and his eyes were closed. When I realised what he was going to do, I shrieked, ducked and pushed him away. He straightened up, laughed and walked away. Boy he is strange! I thought as I walked towards the front door of my house. I sighed and muttered, "Now I have a stupid formal to look forward to."

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How was that? Please review and tell me what ya think!