Quite An Awkward Situation, Isn't It? Chapter Four

Summary: Some of the best relationships come out of really awkward situations, don't they?

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Kishimoto does. (leaves to sob fangirlishly, then plot, then cackle, then grin)

I'm bad about updating, aren't I? Oh, Japanese terms and definitions at the end of the chapter. :D

Review and save a moogle! (holds moogle plushie over a fire)

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Hinata ran blindly through the forest, searching high and low with her byakugan to find her teammates. Find the scroll and return, easy mission, right? Especially with Shikamaru acting as leader. Apparently not when they each had to take a different path; Naruto to the left, Shikamaru to the right, and her continuing straight. Everything started to go downhill when Naruto didn't check in over the communication device after an hour like they had planned. Shikamaru said he'd look for him and check in with her in another hour. He didn't respond when she called, bringing us to our current situation. Without warning, a loud scream pierced the still air.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata gasped, recognizing the voice. She immediately turned and started sprinting in the direction of the sound's source.

Coming upon a sight she never wanted to see, Hinata fell to her knees, tears leaking out of her eyes; Naruto was directly in front of her, lying in a pool of his own blood with several kunai piercing his body. Hands trembling, she gently caressed his cheek. His eyes slowly opened, revealing unusually dull cerulean orbs. He looked up and, catching her gaze, gave his trademark foxy grin.

"Hey Hina-chan," he whispered. She stifled a sob.

"Na-Na-Naru-k-kun..." Tears fell freely as she cradled his head in her lap. He gave a slight chuckle.

"You act like I'm already dead. I'm gonna be the future Rokudaime Hokage, you know. I won't die here."

"I-I kn-know." He smiled.

"Good. Now, Hina-chan, I want you to do me a favor. I want you to get out of here. They'll be back."

"De-demo..."

"Please, HIna-chan." Hinata hung her head, giving in.

"Good girl. Now, go!" She squinted her eyes shut to hold back tears and nodded. Standing up and taking one last glance at her love, she turned and began to run. After only running about twenty feet, however, a shadow passed overhead.

'Anenemy?!' With her mind racing, she whipped around to see the enemy standing over Naruto. Her eyes widened.

"Na-!" For her, time slowed. The figure had pulled out a katana. Slowly, the menacing blade was brought down.

"Na..."

It ran through the blonde boy's chest. Hinata froze.

'Na...Na...He...' Her mind just stopped. The figure, now noticing her, fled. Finding control over her body, she sprinted and slid to Naruto's side.

"Naruto-kun!" Tears fell in torrents. Naruto coughed up blood, then chuckled weakly.

"S-spoke too soon, I g-guess." Hinata choked out a sob. Naruto lifted a shaky hand and brushed a tear off of her cheek.

"Hey, don't cry for me. I-if I had to choose how to die, it'd be with you by my side."

"N-no-" Using her as support, he pulled himself up and leaned into her ear.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too." He smiled and planted a light peck on her cheek before slumping to the ground. His chest ceased to rise. Hinata couldn't breathe, couldn't move; her body had simply shut down.

"Na...Na...Na..."
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"Naruto-kun!!" Hinata shrieked as she jolted into a sitting position. Her shout echoed throughout their encampment and the surrounding forest, but her teammates didn't stir. Shikamaru was lying on his back with his pillow over his head and Naruto was, well, everywhere. His legs formed a 'P' shape, his right arm was flung out to the side and his left arm was shoved under his pillow. Not to mention his sleeping bag was about five feet away from him. The Hyuuga heiress sighed with relief, realizing that it was all a dream.

It felt so real, though, she thought. She didn't even notice Naruto coming up behind her until he plopped down on her left and laid his head on her shoulder.

"What you doin' up?" he mumbled sleepily.

"N-nothing, re-really." Naruto furrowed his eyebrows.

"You only stutter now if you're upset, embarrassed, or cold. What's up?"

"I'm okay, r-really, Naruto-kun. You can go back to sleep," she coaxed. Stubborn as ever, Naruto stood his ground. He traced her cheek with his hand, feeling the wet remnants of her tears. She apparently had cried in her sleep.

"You were crying. What's wrong? Bad dream?" He was sitting up now, his arm around her waist. Hinata sighed and nodded.

"I-it felt so real... You...you..." She leaned over and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his shoulder. "Don't leave me. And if we come across a split path, don't go left." Naruto gave a light chuckle.

"Alright, I promise I won't go left. I'll make sure Shikamaru won't, either." Hinata smiled.

"Thank you."
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After packing up and setting off at dawn, the mission went without a hitch and there were no injuries while retrieving the scroll, unless you count Naruto running into a tree when he got a little too into the story that he was excitedly recounting to Hinata, which, in turn, caused Hinata to giggle and Shikamaru to roll his eyes and mutter 'troublesome...'. And, to the relief of the dark-haired kunoichi, they never came across a split path.

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XD I sleep the way Naruto does- everywhere, in every position possible. The dream sequence almost made my friend cry when she was reading the rough draft. Until she found out it was a dream. Then she was mad at me. Ah, you cry too easily, Kel-chan. :3

Preview for next chapter:

Naruto glared at the potted plant.

"Grow, damn it!"

XD Next chapter will be based on a true story, no joke.

Demo: But

Arigato: Thank you

Gomen: Sorry

Dobe: Dumbass (used primarily by Sasuke)

Usuratonkachi: Clumsy idiot (used primarily by Sasuke)

Teme: Bastard (used primarily by Naruto)

otou-san: father

baa-chan: Granny, Grandma, Old Lady

nii/nee-san: Brother/Sister

Itadakimasu: Japanese phrase used before eating a meal

I think I hit most of the ones I use. I don't use that many, and I only use the basic ones that are most commonly used in NaruFiction. I don't use terms that no one would understand unless they spoke the language (as in entire sentences). :3