This is my first story and I am an amateur at these kinds of things. Please excuse any grammar and spelling errors.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I do not own any phrases or characters or things of that nature.

Chapter 2 Sakura and ….

It can't be. Why is he outside? Why is he here?

Hinata's mind kept racing thinking what to do as the voice continued to question her. She was too afraid to turn around and face Naruto.

At length, Hinata turned around and saw the two bluest eyes she had ever seen. Naruto was right in front of her and she could do nothing but stare. Hinata has recently been able to overcome her difficulty of falling over every time she saw Naruto but the stuttering and fidgeting of her fingers never left. In this current situation she rather had any of those two bad habits kick in instead of standing silently in front of Naruto as if she were a pillar.

Naruto looked at her and repeated the question, "Hinata are you okay? Were you crying?"

Hinata finally seemed to be taken off the spell that Naruto always had a hold on her. "Na…na…Naruto-kun." Her stuttering finally came. "I'm okay."

"So why are you out-side? And crying?"

" It…it…it is just …" Hinata tried thinking of a lie to tell Naruto, but she knew she was a bad liar. Everyone knew when she lied. "…that I am happy for…um…um…Sakura and Lee". Naruto didn't seem to have noticed Hinata's stuttering and length that it took her to answer by believing her. Well, almost everyone knew.

Hinata's last comment made Naruto look down and do something that many wished they knew how to do, it made Naruto be utterly silent. Hinata looked at Naruto afraid that she had done something wrong. Her heart started aching again at the sight of a serious and sad Naruto.

Naruto had been on a long-term mission when Sakura and Lee had gotten together. He did not know exactly what had happen between Sakura and Lee for them to end up together.

Although Sakura had always said that she would never be with Lee, it had changed when Lee arrived at Konoha Hospital. It had already been a month since Sakura had declared her position of giving up on Sasuke; this declaration was made to herself not everyone.

Lee was badly injured when he was admitted to the hospital and was in critical condition. He had been to bold in his mission trying to do what was correct, according to him. Lee had to big of a heart to let anyone suffer and this often had gotten him in trouble. Other times he had been fortuned to escape with only a few scratches, but this time it was different. His life was in danger again and Tsunade was having enough trouble keeping Gai away from the hospital, trying to see his former pupil.

"How is he?", the man in the unsightly green jumpsuit asked.

"We are currently trying to do all we can do. You must be patient. These things cannot be rushed, the effect of Lee opening the wonder gate, the seventh gate, has made a toll on his body. It is a surprise that he is still alive. Last time I saw him in such a bad condition was years ago.

"Currently the major problem is not the torn muscles but his major organs. Most of the major organs including his heart have gone through a lot of deterioration. We have a group of medic-nin working around the clock doing all we can do. But Gai, you must understand that there is a low chance of any Shinobi making it thru this."

Those words flooded Gai's memory of what the medical team said to him after the preliminary. "He will never be able to live as a Shinobi again" That is what they said last time Lee had opened five gates of the extreme lotus, but Lee had proven them wrong and he was sure that Lee would prove them wrong again.

Meanwhile in the emergency room Sakura and Shizune were hard at work doing all they could do for Lee. Lee's opening the seventh gate of the "Eight Celestial Inner Body Gates" had indeed taken a toll on him. Sakura remembered how opening five gates caused Lee a lot of damage, but this didn't compare to opening seven of the eight gates. He was one gate away from death Sakura thought recalling all she knew about the forbidden technique.

"Sakura continue working on his heart. We must not allow his heart rate to lower anymore." Shizune's voice brought Sakura back to the urgency at hand. One bad mistake could cause Lee his life.

Sakura continued working on Lee for five hours until they were able to bring Lee up to stable condition. His life at least was stable but he had to be monitored for the next twenty-four hours in case of a relapse, which wasn't unlikely.

Shizune stood outside of the emergency room breathing heavily. She was indeed tired from all the chakra drained from her body, but had a smile that they had saved Lee. Shizune saw Sakura walk out of the double doors with the same distant look, she knew Sakura was wondering what would cause Lee to open the gates when he knew it could lead to death.

"It was his only choice" Sakura immediately looked at Shizune. Shizune had undeniably answered the question that had been in Sakura's mind. "He had to do it" continued Shizune, "it was his only choice unless he wanted countless people to die." Sakura looked a Shizune in a confused matter. This made Shizune continue.

"I don't know much of what happened but it seems that the mission no longer was a "A" mission but higher. Lee was trying to save a whole village and his pupils from annihilation. The ninjas that Lee and his team had encountered where no ordinary ninjas…" Sakura's emerald eyes stayed fixed on what Shizune said. "Lee would rather die protecting those who are precious to him than doing nothing. Those where his only choices and he chose certain death."

Leaving the hospital and having the rest of the day off Sakura decided she needed fresh air. Walking around she could not take Lee out of her head. She worried for Lee not only as a doctor would for a patient but as a person for a dear friend.

Her mind was flooded with memories of Lee at the preliminary exams and his words of not using the forbidden technique unless someone precious to him was in danger. Also for some reason her mind recalled the words that Lee had said to her. "Next time I see you I will be a stronger man. I promise."

Precisely then Sakura looked up and saw Ino watering the flowers at her family's flower shop. Ino usually helped out around the shop when she wasn't off on a mission.

Sakura decided to pay a visit to Ino and the flower shop.

Lee opened his eyes and found himself confined to a bed in a pale white room. He looked around his hospital room. He gave a sigh trying to remember what had happened, all he could recall was defeating the Shinobis that almost destroyed a village and passing out. Now here he was in a room that gave him bad memories, he looked out the window at the blue clear sky thinking, it is a great day to train.

Lee was about to rise out of bed or thought he would, not knowing that his body was too injured for him to even raise an arm, when something caught his eye. Right on the drawer next to the bed was a single daffodil in a plain clear vase. A smile formed on Lee's face as the name Sakura came to his mind.

A daffodil, last time he had had a daffodil next to him was after his battle with Gaara at the chunin exams. Just like last time, he had woken up and found it next to him. Sakura. Sakura. That was all Lee could think of now as his eyes started shinning with delight.

"How are you feeling today?" Sakura entered Lee's room for his daily check-up and to make sure he did not escape again to train. She was only doctor in charge of Lee with the occasional visit from Tsunade.

Lee smiled at Sakura as she entered the room. "A lot better", Lee indeed had recuperated most his strength and to everyone's surprise, except Gai of course, defied all odds against him. Lee was able to walk and run, as most of the medic-nin knew when they tried to hunt Lee down after one of his escapes. But him being able to live as a Shinobi was still unknown.

"Are you ready to leave the hospital? You must be tired of this room and me being your only companion." Sakura gave a faint smile. Sakura wouldn't admit it but she had grown accustomed to having Lee around the hospital and talking to him. Lee had grown on Sakura and had almost become a intimate friend.

Lee face did not show the face happiness that Sakura's gave out; he did not hide the fact that he didn't want to leave. Why would he possibly want to leave, sure he was tired of being with in the same four walls but he had the most beautiful kunoich seeing him everyday.

Lee finally gave a faint smile that was less convincing than Sakura's and replied with a simple "yeah".

Three days after Lee was released from the hospital he continued visiting Konoha Hospital, mostly because of Sakura. Before anyone knew or had time to assume that something was going on with Lee and Sakura, Lee informed Gai about his accomplishment of his secret mission.

Lee had confined in Gai that he had had a secret mission that he himself had assigned to. The mission was to capture Sakura's heart, and he had finally accomplished it.

In other words Lee had won Sakura over and they were planning on getting married.

To everyone this news came as a shock, especially Naruto, who found out after returning from a mission.

Ever since the day of Naruto finding that the girl he loved finally forgot about Sasuke but was now with Lee, changed him. Naruto still continued to be loud and obnoxious on the outside but he was in pain on the inside.

Hinata could see the expression on Naruto's face as they stood outside in the cold night air. She recognized the expression immediately. That was the same expression she usually wore when she thought of Naruto and his love for Sakura.

From outside the building, Hinata and Naruto could hear Kakashi talking about how love was important or something of that matter. Naruto couldn't help but smile at how Kakashi could actually give a pretty decent speech.

Hinata felt happy to see Naruto finally smile a bit, even if it was for a second.

"You know what?" Hinata looked up to see Naruto now had his head up high. "I also get emotional about Sakura and Lee. I mean I am also happy for them." Naruto gave Hinata a smile that made Hinata's face burn.

"I need ramen or a drink," Naruto then said as he put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky. "Want to join me, Hinata?" Hinata was shocked to say the least at this question. It sounded to her as if he was asking to go out with her, which was not his intention at all. He just thought that being with a friend could help him out.

But before Hinata could even replied someone interrupted them. "Hey Naruto, how about we make a bet." Naruto turned around to look at Kiba who was standing by the door.

"What kind of bet?"

"What else, baka? The one you mentioned earlier, see who could hold their sake better" Naruto's face seemed to show puzzlement as if trying to remember if he did make that comment. Naruto could not recall himself saying that and was about to reply when Kiba taunt him by claiming that if he was afraid it was okay by him if Naruto wanted to back down. With this Naruto was inside the building ready to show Kiba how much he could drink.

As Naruto entered the party, Kiba gave a big smile to Hinata. "Oh, Hinata. I didn't know you were out here." This was a lie because Hinata had passed by Kiba when she was leaving the room a few minutes before.

"Come on, baka. Let's start so I can beat you quickly." Naruto's voice was heard making Kiba entered the party to join Naruto. But before he entered he gave Hinata one last smile.

Hinata stood outside alone for a while longer trying to remember why she was trying to give up on Naruto again. He wasn't with anyone but she knew she had a reason to let him go. It was a good reason. Hinata recalled but after seeing Naruto, she had forgotten what that reason was.

Oh, those eyes and beautiful face. Every single time this happens to me. What is the reason again? Why have I decided to forget about Naruto? Why? "Why?" Hinata said out loud absent mindedly not realizing someone heard.

A voice came in reply, "Because"

Why is everyone creeping up on me today? Hinata thought as she slowly turned around to see who her intruder was this time. This time she was not nervous like with her last intruder because this one was not Naruto.

"Huh?" Hinata looked at Shino who was only just arrived for the engagement party. Shino stood in front of Hinata blankly staring at her. Or it seemed that why since hardly anyone could see his face. He now wore a hood and black shades on his eyes that concealed most of his face. Hinata smiled at Shino's apparent sense of humor. Nobody found it funny but a few understood that, that was Shino's best try at humor.

"Shino?", Hinata stammered with the words. "You just arrived?"

"Yes. I just finished with a mission and decided to drop by to congratulate Sakura and Lee. But what are you doing out side?"

"I saw you coming with my Byakugan and decided to come outside and greet you."

Shino raised an eyebrow at this, "why did you have your Byakugan activated?" Hinata was found out with her own lie. She knew better than try to lie, especially to Shino. Hinata redden a bit at not being able to figure out an excuse, but began to have a full blush when Shino stated that he saw her talking to Naruto and had no need to explain.

Out of all the people that knew Hinata and Naruto only a handful knew that Hinata held feelings for Naruto, most of them being their former senseis. There were a few others that included Shino and possible Shikamaru, but with Shikamaru it wasn't certain because he mostly felt anything was too troublesome to pay attention to.

Back inside, the party was just as it was when Hinata left. Everyone was having fun and it seemed it would continue like this until a loud screech was heard coming from Sakura. Sakura started yelling at a pile of clothing on the floor. A closer look would reveal that it was not a pile of clothing but Naruto. Sakura had found out about Naruto and Kiba's drinking game and had begun pounding Naruto to the ground. It wasn't that she minded the game itself, but that they were trying to make Lee drink as well.

Naruto was already drunk when he grabbed Lee and started pressuring Lee to drinking. Kiba was still a bit sober and tried to hold Naruto back but when Sakura saw this all hell broke loose and Sakura was on the verge of putting Naruto in the hospital when Lee held her back. Now Sakura was fighting to get out of Lee's grip to get the pile that was now inching its way towards the door.

This seemed to Hinata the best time to go home.

Again I repeat that this is my first story. I hope you enjoy it. Sorry that I haven't gone too much into Hinata who the story is about but I had to show how Lee and Sakura got together. Once I started writing I couldn't stop. Next time I will write more of Hinata and of what is going to happen to Naruto.

I also will like to know about beta-reader. Please more info.

Thanks