Disclaimer: I do this again because in a world where lawsuits have become a trend I do not wish to follow in it. I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters. I wish I could but what can I do?
Chapter 4 Mistaken Identity
It had been three days since Naruto left on a mission with Shino. Hinata was still trying to forget about Naruto, but she knew it had been three days because of Shino. She was concern about Shino and that is why she was counting the days, at least that was the excuse that Hinata kept giving herself for counting. Hinata truly felt that if she wanted to find happiness she had to let go of Naruto, and although Shino couldn't finish his advice, she was almost positive that he was going to say to let him go. Now she needed someone to give her advice in how to do it.
Hinata stood in front of the Hokage's office waiting for Sakura to exit. Hinata seldom talked to Sakura but she had a message to give her. Hinata was growing tired of waiting but since she had nothing to do and her training was done for the day she decided to continue to wait.
Finally after twenty minutes Sakura exited the room looking exhausted after finishing her training with Tsunade-sensei. Sakura had continued her training upon Tsunade request. She didn't understand why since she was the best medic-nin there was, she was even able to surpass Shizune, but Tsunade still continued the training and she could do nothing but obey.
Upon exiting Sakura saw Hinata waiting in front of the doors. "Hinata-san, if you are going to see Tsunade-sensei she is in her office."
"No, I um I came here to deliver something for you." Hinata extended a small package to Sakura. Sakura stared at the package as if it were an explosive note. She had never expected to receive something from Hinata. Sakura accepted the package with a smile but the smile held a hint of confusion. Hinata sensed Sakura's curiosity and felt she must put an end to it.
"It's from Ino. I ran into her while I was walking down the streets. She asked if I was coming here and I told her yes and she asked me to bring this to you."
"Oh. Arigato Hinata-san" Sakura pulled off the string that held the package in place. Upon removing the paper wrapping the smile that she held faded in an instant. Hinata grew alarmed when she saw Sakura's reaction and the fact that the vein on Sakura's temple was pulsing. It shouldn't have been a surprise since the package was from Ino. Ino and Sakura had recently started to get along but there still was tension between the two after years of rivalry.
Hinata saw that Sakura's face seemed to be frozen in the state it was in, glaring as if she could she would burn the package with her eyes. Hinata knew she should say something but was afraid to much to say anything.
"S…s…Sakura-san", Hinata continued cautiously in case Sakura vein exploded, "are you o…okay?"
Hinata saw the vein reduce speed and Hinata began to relax a bit. At least enough to stay closer than two arm's length of Sakura. Sakura turned and face Hinata and gave a non-convincing smile, "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Although Sakura tried to compose herself and looked as if she had succeeded in calming down, the fact that she still continued clenching her teeth told otherwise. Sakura continued to reassure Hinata that she was fine, "It's just that Ino-pig!…I mean Ino is playing those silly childhood pranks again." At the mention of Ino's name Sakura clenched her teeth further than seemed healthy for the teeth.
Just as Sakura was about to throw the package into a bin that was on the side of the wall, Hinata's curiosity got the better of her. With the Byakugan activated, Hinata peered at the package.
With the Byakugan, Hinata could see the image of a small child. The child's forehead seemed disproportioned to the rest of its face except for overly huge eyebrows and perfectly round eyes. It was then that Hinata grasped what it was. It was an exaggerated drawing at the possible future child of Sakura and Lee.
Hinata couldn't contain herself and began to laugh. She tried to muffle the sound by turning around and covering her mouth but it was too much to handle.
Sakura heard a soft sound behind her and turned to see Hinata facing in another direction clenching something in her mouth.
"You saw it didn't you?" Sakura asked trying to figure out if Hinata would be capable of doing something such as seeing the portrait that wasn't hers.
The laughter ceased with Sakura's confrontation and Hinata turned around with her head down. She was ashamed of what she did, but more ashamed that she had been caught. "Hai. But I am sorry for laughing, it's really adorable and I couldn't help it." Hinata hoped that this was enough to compensate for what she did.
"I guess it is funny if you think about it." Sakura looked over the portrait, "Do you really think that it is adorable?" Hinata nodded in agreement. "Fine I'll keep it. I think Lee-kun will defiantly like it. Thank you for bringing it to me Hinata-san" Sakura then turned around to leave.
Sakura looked at the hand that had kept her from walking away; she had taken only a few steps when Hinata stopped her from leaving. "Hinata-san?" Instantly Hinata removed her hand looked at the floor. At this rate she would be able to know every single fiber in the carpet. Sakura did not reproach her for what she had done. Instead she stood silently waiting for what Hinata had to say. Sakura knew that Hinata wasn't the type of person who grabs hold of people without a good reason.
It astonished both girls the next words that Hinata spoke. "I…I was wo…wond..ering if y…you would have …tea…with me. I need some advice" Sakura was taken aback that Hinata wanted advice. Hinata was stunned that she had the courage to say what she needed to say.
"Sure" One simple word but it made Hinata happy and nervous all at the same time.
Hinata felt tense as she sat in front of Sakura with the tea between them. She began wondering what had caused her to ask Sakura for help. Did she honestly plan to ask Sakura for help? Hinata was starting to feel that it was a bad idea. A very bad idea.
Sakura on the other hand was full of curiosity. Hinata and Sakura weren't exactly friends, they were nice to each other but that was the extent of their relationship.
"What can I help you with Hinata-san?" Sakura asked as she took a sip from her tea. Sakura's emerald eyes stayed settled on Hinata's eyes waiting for an answer from its owner's mouth. Hinata's eyes darted from left to right scanning the room as if ready to flee. But instead of fleeing Hinata spoke in a soft voice, so soft that Sakura had to lean in to listen. "What?"
Hinata spoke a little higher to help Sakura from staining her ears in attempt to hear her. "I wanted to know how you gave up Sasuke."
If Sakura was surprised at Hinata boldness of asking for tea she was now shocked at this question. Sakura almost choked on the bit of tea that she was in the process of swallowing when Hinata finally decided to talk.
After coughing and drinking a bit of tea that Hinata offered Sakura said in a raspy voice. "What?" Hinata once again inquired about how Sakura gave up on Sasuke. Sakura stood shocked and only stared at Hinata while analyzing the situation. She was almost sure that Ino had put her up to this, or worse Lee.
Ino wouldn't waste a chance to humiliate her and probably paid Hinata to do this to her but then again, Sakura thought Hinata wasn't the type of person to go along with something so underhanded. No, Hinata was no Ino. But Lee, maybe Lee didn't trust that she had fully given up on Sasuke and had asked Neji to make Hinata ask her. But this situation was also impossible because Neji didn't like to get involve in other people's lives, especially Lee's.
Hinata peered at Sakura who seemed to be in deep thought and knew it was a mistake to ask Sakura. Hinata began to apologize "Sakura-san, I'm sorry I should have ne…."
"What are you talking about, it's okay….But why do you want to know?" Sakura had come to the only option, which was that Hinata was being fully truthful and would have never asked if it wasn't truly important.
This turn of events made Hinata once again uneasy knowing that she should continue since she was the one who initiated it. After taking another sip of her tea to get courage Hinata finally said the words she had been to afraid to tell anyone. "I am trying to give up on someone I love and I need advice."
Hinata had said the words so quickly that if Sakura was not been used to having commands thrown at her at that pace in the emergency room she wouldn't have caught its meaning.
The blood began to rush to Hinata's face as she waited Sakura to answer. To Hinata the silence was long and nerve racking but it only took two seconds for Sakura to reply to Hinata's comment. "Have you told him?"
Hinata's face drained of all blood and became pale. What Sakura asked was not what she had hoped for. Truly, Hinata didn't know what she had hoped for but this was definitely not one of the responses she hoped for.
Sakura continued "Because if you haven't told him it will make giving up on him harder." Sakura took another sip of tea and placed her hand in front of her making her look like Tsuande-sama. Sakura continued in a serious tone that also sounded like Tsuande-sama. "If you have told him it makes a difference in how to give up, based on how he reacted… Who is it that you love Hinata-san?"
"Who?", this is what Hinata had feared the most. She couldn't tell the woman, that was friends with Naruto, that she was in love with him. Sakura might laugh or in worst case scenario she would tell Naruto.
"Who is the man that you want to give up?" Sakura began to stare down Hinata hoping that this would cause Hinata to let it slip and say a name.
"It is…um… someone I have known," squeaked Hinata.
Sakura gave a heavy sigh. She wasn't dumb, she could have guessed that much. No Sakura was not giving up she will have to figure out who was the man was. One part of her wanted to know so she could truly help Hinata out but the other part of her wanted to know out of curiosity.
Sakura tied once again to get a name, "Yeah but who is it? Do "I" know him?" Sakura kept her gaze upon Hinata hoping Hinata would speak the name this time around.
The silence between them continued until Hinata finally decided to speak. "All I can say is that you do know him. We were all genin at the same time. He is very kind and determined. He can be loud sometimes but he has helped me many times and is really sweet."
Sakura began to analysis all the men she knew to figure out which one was the one Hinata was in love with. Sakura went one by one of all the men she knew and based on all the qualities it seemed only a few fit except the loud part. Only one fit that category and that was Naruto, but then again Hinata said he was loud sometimes and Naruto was loud all the time so he was eliminated from her choices.
"So why do you want to give him up?"
"I want to give him up because…" Hinata continued, "Because like you I want to find happiness. He doesn't even look towards my way. He doesn't feel what I feel for him."
"So you already have confessed to him and he rejected you, huh." Hinata felt so ashamed of never really telling Naruto about how she felt. But she didn't want Sakura to know because if she knew Sakura probably wouldn't help until she confessed. Lying was the only way to get help.
Sakura sat silently as she began to study the situation before continuing. "Does anybody know other than me or the man you love?"
"Shino knows but only him. You are the second person that knows, other than that no one else knows. Nobody and I want to keep it like that. Please don't tell anyone Sakura-san."
"You really haven't confesses have you Hinata-san?" Hinata widened her eye at Sakura's revelation. "Hinata-san you have to confess."
"No I don't want to. I just want to forget. Please Sakura-chan, just help me" Sakura saw the pleading in Hinata's eyes and the suffix –chan that she had added to her name. She honestly wanted help.
"Okay. I'll help you." Sakura and Hinata continued to drink tea and talk all the while not realizing there was someone outside who was listening to their conversation.
Kiba paced back in forth in his room while talking to no one in particular. "I can't believe it. It just has to be. Who else could she love?"
It had been two hours since he got home. Kiba was walking Akamaru after dinner when he heard Hinata-chan's voice. Her sweet voice brought Kiba close to the restaurant but didn't enter when he heard the conversation that she and Sakura-san were having. Instead of entering Kiba stood close to the wall as to hear what the two kunoich were talking about.
He felt his heart pounding as each word that Hinata said reached his ears. He heard her say that she was in love with someone, someone who was a genin with her. That someone is very kind and determined. Has helped her many times and is really sweet. All of those qualities only point to one person, HIM!
Kiba started to talk out loud to Akamaru who was lying on the ground looking tired and ready to sleep. "Right Akamaru who else fits that. I was a genin with her, I am kind and determined. I have helped her many times and I am very sweet. There is no other person that fits that category."
Akamaru barked in response to what Kiba had just said. "What? Shino? Yeah he fits the category but she said the man she loved didn't know and Shino knows. It can't be him." Kiba smiled triumphantly as if he won the argument against his dog.
Akamaru once again barked this time making Kiba become serious. "Okay she did say that he was loud, but come on. Naruto, ha ha. That baka. Hinata-chan will never go for a guy like that. She is too smart for that. Also she said he was loud sometimes, that baka is loud all the time." Kiba continued to laugh at Akamaru verdict of who he thought it was as if it were a hilarious joke.
To worn out to continue debating, Akamaru decide to just let his master believe what he wanted and sleep. But Kiba wouldn't let him, Kiba continued to talk. "I have to tell her that I know. If I tell her we can be together."
Kiba smiled at his plan. "But I can't…" Kiba continue his pacing causing Akamaru to whine. "I can't tell her because she will know that I overheard her talking to Sakura. She might think I was spying on her. But if I have her confess her feelings to me then ….OH NO!"
"Akamaru! Wake up!" Akamaru open his eyes and looked lazily at his master. Honestly, if Akamaru wasn't so loyal to Kiba for being a great master Akamaru would have just slept through Kiba's dilemma. "Sakura-san was giving Hinata pointers in how to give up her love, right?" Akamaru barked in affirmation to the information.
"That is why she was so quiet when we had dinner that night. Hinata-chan was probably trying to confess her feeling to me but me and my big mouth kept talking and didn't allow her. That is why she probably thinks that I didn't respond to her. I have to do something for her not to give up on me, but she doesn't want me to know."
Kiba began to think of ways to encourage Hinata to not give up but confess her love, but he couldn't think of anything. "I need a walk. Come Akamaru lets go." Akamaru began to whimper as he left his warm bed to go out in the cold night air following Kiba.
The next morning the air was crisp as Hinata finished her morning training and was about to check if she had any missions for that day. She felt rejuvenated and happy. Talking to Sakura-chan had helped her a lot, she had taken the burden of keeping her love for Naruto a secret off her shoulders, okay she didn't say it was Naruto but it still felt good tell someone.
Sakura-chan had given good advice. "Keep busy and hang out with friends." That is what Hinata was going to do, follow Sakura-chan's advice but not all of it. Hinata whispered to herself "I don't care if confessing is the first step to anything I am not going to do it."
"Hinata-chan" Hinata instantly looked up and saw Kiba coming up to her. Kiba looked tired as if he didn't get much rest last night. He didn't have a mission, as far as Hinata knew and Akamaru seemed perfectly well rested.
Kiba maintained the smile that he had on his face as he went up to Hinata. "Kiba-kun you look tired. Did you have a mission?" Hinata looked at Kiba and saw how tired his eyes looked. It not only looked as if he hadn't slept the night before but that he had stayed up all night long worrying about something.
Ignoring her question, Kiba continued to smile as he saw Hinata and knowing that she loved him. Looking into her ashen eyes Kiba instantly placed his hands on her shoulders making Hinata uneasy. He looked so serious even with the smile he maintained.
"Hinata-chan…" Hinata began to feel uncomfortable and alarmed because of Kiba. Her face began to have a tint of red to it causing to Kiba's beliefs to be confirmed. Kiba mistook Hinata's blush as a sign of her being close to the one she loved.
Kiba couldn't contain himself any more. Growing impatient heproceeded to talk. "Hinata-chan, I know…"
"Y…you…you know w…w…what?" Hinata reply all the while trying to escape from the grip that Kiba had on her shoulders.
"I know that you…OW!" Kiba immediately let go of Hinata's shoulders and bent down to rub his leg. To Kiba's surprise and Hinata's, Akamaru had bitten Kiba on the leg.
Hinata took this chance to get away and told Kibasorry butshe had to go see the Hokage for a mission. As Hinata left, Kiba continued to rub his leg all the while glaring at Akamaru.
"What was that for?" Akamaru whimpered and took a few steps back while having his head down.
"I was in the middle of telling Hina…" Kiba fell silent as he realized what he was about to tell Hinata.
With guilt Kiba apologized to Akamaru. "Sorry Akamaru. You were trying to help me out right? I was about to ruin it wasn't I?" Akamaru barked in agreement. "Well I guess I have to figure out a way to tell Hinata-chan. Let's go Akamaru."
Hinata was walking away from Kiba as fast as she could. She couldn't understand what had come over Kiba or Akamaru. But she didn't have time to figure it out, she had to see Tsuande-sama.
As she reached the door to Tsuande-sama office, the doors suddenly opened. Hinata froze in place as she saw Shino exit the room with Naruto was right behind him.
Just want to say that those who are kind enough to read this, I hope you are enjoying it. Also I want to say thanks to those who gave me reviews. I do enjoy reading them, all five of them. Thank you.