Disclaimer: I have checked several resources and have found that I still don't have any ownership of Naruto or its characters. But I'm still checking.
Warnings: This story may have grammatical errors but hopefully the plot will compensate for it.
Chapter 8 Boyfriend?
"It is also tiring to train alone." Those were the only words that he said. Those were the words that made Hinata blush and smile.
"Naruto-kun, what are you doing here?" Hinata felt happy. Could he have realized that it was him that she was talking about? Hinata's heart began beating faster as Naruto walked closer to her. Her face became flushed with every inch that he pressed forward towards her.
Naruto was now only three inches away as he leaned towards her never letting the smile on his face wavier. "Let me take this from you." Naruto took the bag that Hinata held in her hand and then turned to face the training ground. "Well let's start the training."
All the blood in Hinata's face drained as she saw that Naruto only advanced towards her for her bag. She had thought he was going to do something else and then her face became bright red as she saw the image that only seconds ago she thought was going to happen.
Shaking off the image that Hinata had in her head she looked at Naruto who was already preparing for training. Why was he doing this? Did he know or was he doing this for another reason?
"Naruto-kun" Hinata needed to know the truth. "Why are you training with me?"
Naruto looked up as he set Hinata's bag down. "Because I told you that it gets tiring to train alone." Naruto still held that smile on his face. It then was caught to Hinata's attention that the smile he held was not of a happy Naruto. She had seen that smile before and the meaning behind it was always something that held some pain for Naruto.
"Is that the only reason?" Hinata knew that it wasn't but Naruto did not venture anymore in his reasons. Hinata did not want to press Naruto for an answer so she let it go as they began to spar.
Hinata and Naruto sat silently as they ended their sparring. The cool breeze relaxed the two individuals as they drank the last bit of water that each carried. Both seemed to be lost in their own thoughts as the silence between them was only broken by the sound of the rustling trees.
Naruto was the first to break the silence as he turned to face Hinata. "Hinata-chan, do you always train after the session with Team Ten?"
"Hai. Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering." Hinata raised an eyebrow as Naruto did not proceed in what he was saying. Instead he stood up and began to collect his belonging.
Hinata soon stood up and followed Naruto's lead in collecting her own belongings. Soon everything was put away and Naruto and Hinata were to take leave of each other.
"Good-night Naruto-kun, and thank you for training with me today." Hinata gave a sight bow as she prepared to turn away and walk to the Hyuuga compound.
"Okay good-night Hinata. I'll see you tomorrow and we'll train some more." Hinata quickly turned to face Naruto but Naruto had already advanced quite a distance towards the direction of his apartment.
"I'll see you tomorrow and we'll train some more" What did Naruto mean by that? Hinata turned and continued to walk towards her home still thinking about what Naruto said. Could it possibly mean that Naruto was going to train with her again? Then Hinata remembered, Naruto was talking about Team Ten. That is what he meant that he would see her tomorrow.
Naruto had joined in the training with Team Ten and she was sure that was what he meant when he mentioned "training tomorrow". But Hinata could not shake the thought that maybe he meant something else, or at least she hoped.
Naruto finished eating his dinner and walked over to his bed. The day had brought many surprises for Naruto and his mind was evaluating everything that he saw had seen.
Naruto laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling while thinking about Hinata. He thought about what Hinata said, her reason for training so much. It had shocked him that she has someone who she wanted to acknowledge her.
He knew this feeling far to well. It had only been a few years back that he was trying to win the acknowledgement of those around him. He remembered that he always tried his best and slowly he began being acknowledged by those who surrounded him.
But Naruto also knew that if it wasn't for those around him that encouraged him he would have lost hope. As he closed his eyes he began to see the images of the people who acknowledged him before anyone else. He saw the face of Iruka, The Third, Kakashi and Tsunade came up. Other faces also appeared but he snapped his eyes open when he saw one specific face.
Naruto sat up on his bed and thought of the image he just saw. He clearly saw Hinata's face. He remembered that Hinata was one of the first people to acknowledge him. He remembered her words that she had spoken so long ago. "I think you are an incredibly strong person", those words came flooding back to his mind.
As he continue sitting on his bed he thought not only of what Hinata said so long ago but also what she said a few hours ago. "She is training for someone she loves." Naruto thought out loud. "Now I am sure about it. There's no more doubt."
Naruto laid back on the bed as he closed his eyes. He was now sure. "I will help and train with Hinata-chan because she helped me long ago. I will help her gain strength to be acknowledged by her father," Naruto then drifted off to sleep.
The Konohamaru Clan was surprised it had been almost one week since Naruto joined in the training but all he did was observe. At first this seemed like a problem since they still had training sessions that took up all day but lately the sessions had been cut little by little.
"Wow look we are walking around town in broad daylight. Udon what time is it?" Konohamaru was walking around with a big grin as they walked into town after the training.
"It's five." Udon walked next to Konohamaru and both began to talk about what they would do with the free time.
"Don't you find it odd that Hinata-sensei is cutting our training and Naruto is not asking for the free ramen?" Both Udon and Konohamaru stopped and turned to look at Moegi.
"What are you talking about? Are you complaining that we got out early or are you complaining about the fact that you don't use up your money for ramen for Naruto?" Konohamaru asked but soon regretted using the sarcastic tone on Moegi.
"NO!" Both Udon and Konohamaru jumped as Moegi snarled at them. "It's just odd. I was just wondering about it. Don't tell me you two haven't noticed?"
Konohamaru and Udon looked at each other with raised eye brows then turned to Moegi and responded "Notice what?" in unison. Moegi just sighed as she saw that both boys did not find anything odd about what was going on with Hinata-sensei. She then wondered if all guys were like that. The subject soon changed and they continued to walk as if Moegi had never inquired about the situation.
As the Konohamaru Clan continued to walk Moegi continued to think about Hinata-sensei. There was something odd in the way she had been acting the past several days and Moegi wanted to know what it was. Something had changed but she could not think of what it was. She tired as hard as she could to think of what it could be but nothing came up in her mind.
"So what do you say Moegi?" Konohamaru turned to face Moegi but just found an empty street. Konohamaru and Udon looked around but they could not see Moegi anywhere. "Where did she go?"
Udon shrugged as he also had barley noticed that Moegi was gone. "She probably decided to go home."
"But she didn't even say good-bye."
"Maybe she is annoyed by us for not understanding about the whole odd thing and decided to just leave." Udon said as they stood still, still looking around to see if they could spot Moegi.
Konohamaru looked worried as he heard Udon's words. "You don't really think that do you? If that's true we got to find her. I don't want to deal with an irritated Moegi if I don't really have to." Udon nodded as both started walking towards Moegi's residence.
Moegi had reached the training ground in time to see Hinata-sensei walking off with Naruto. Curiosity had already taken a hold of her and now seeing her temporary sensei walking off with the person who originally was paid to cut training short walking together made her more curious yet. Now thinking about it, Moegi did remember that she did need more training in stealth and spying.
Hinata held a smile as she walked with Naruto to their training ground. For some reason the "their" part made her smile more. The day after the first time training with her when Naruto said "I'll see you tomorrow and we'll train some more" she seriously thought that he meant with Team Ten. But after the training Naruto started walking with her when she expected him to go to town. She wasn't complaining that he didn't go only that it shocked her.
Hinata continued to think as she and Naruto walked towards "their" training ground to train for the sixth time. Naruto had kindly offered his services and was helping her with sparring. He was also kind enough to observe how she trained Team Ten and inform her in what she needed to work on. Sometimes Naruto did not make sense in what he said but Hinata knew that he was just trying to help her.
"…and that is it. I can see you are getting stronger already" Hinata could not help but blush for the compliment that Naruto had tagged on for the analysis of the day. Surprisingly to Naruto he did not mind the blush that Hinata made. For some reason he had grown accustomed to seeing Hinata blush and for some stranger reason it made him almost blush as well.
Reaching the training ground Hinata turned to face Naruto. "Oi, Naruto-kun shall we start now." Hinata had already set her bag down and was ready to start.
"Hai" Naruto grinned as they would soon begin to take stance. "Let's begin."
Moegi sat on a tree limb as she saw both Naruto and Hinata-sensei spar. Although she could clearly see that Naruto was stronger she could tell that Hinata was giving Naruto some challenge.
Both bodies leaped into the air and the sound of metal clashing is heard as Naruto and Hinata's kunai meet. The force of each other's attacks deflects their bodies and each one is thrown backwards. Naruto lands firmly on the ground but Hinata staggers a bit as she regains balance after landing on her feet.
Moegi can see that Hinata is breathing heavily but maintains a stern stance as she stares at Naruto. Naruto gives a small grin and thrusts forward towards Hinata. Hinata blocks the punches and kicks that Naruto delivers successfully until one finally makes contact on her body.
Hinata staggers backwards and quickly regains her breath that was knocked out of her. Hinata stands up and firmly places her feet on the ground. Although she wanted to go through one training without having to rely on it she gives in as she finally activates her Byakugan. Hinata now can see the chakra flow in Naruto's body.
Naruto then moves his hands in front of him and performed a seal. Hinata could tell that he was forming the seals for the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, and sure enough in front of her several Narutos appeared.
Hinata looks from one Naruto to the other trying to find the real Naruto, but it is a hard task. Her Byakugan is of no use in identifying the real Naruto. All of the clones have chakra flowing in them which is unlike the Bunshin no Jutsu that Konohamaru used several days ago.
Soon the Narutos attack all at once. At first Hinata is able to block all punches but soon she is overwhelmed. She leaps in the air and land a few feet away from any Naruto. She sees another wave of Narutos coming towards her and she then decides to use Shugohakke Rokujyū Yonshō.
Moving her hands at an alarming speed, Moegi can only see a blur where Hinata's hands are to be moving in circular motions. Along with the blur Moegi views as a majority of the Narutos turned into clouds of smoke and the number of Narutos is greatly reduced to only three.
Hinata stops and breaths heavily, she still is firmly standing in position. Her chest rises and falls as she tries to catch her breath. She can feel that most of her chakra is gone by using her last attack but she is not giving up.
Hinata maintains her Byakugan activated but deactivates it when she sees two of the Narutos disappears in a puff of smoke. Naruto straightens up and smiles at Hinata. "I think that is enough, I'm getting hungry." Hinata can not help but smile as Naruto always ends the training based on the intensity of his hunger. "Lets go get ramen from Ichiraku."
Hinata nods in agreement while marinating the smile on her face. Hinata-sensei's smile is does not go unnoticed by Moegi. Moegi can't help but wonder if there is something that Hinata-sensei is hiding. Moegi lets her eyes wander to Naruto and then back to Hinata. Something tells her that it has something that involves Naruto.
"Ready?" Naruto called out to Hinata. Hinata walks up to where Naruto is waiting then they walk together towards Ichiraku's.
Moegi leaps down from the tree and stares at the couple as they walk away, "Something is definitely up."
Kiba returns to Konoha with Akamaru as the sun is setting behind him. It is only seven but Hinata and Team Ten were not on the training ground. It has been a week since he had last seen Hinata and he wonders how she is. He had hoped that his talk would help her decide to continue fighting for her love but it seemed that it had no affect.
Kiba continues to walk aimlessly as the dark sky above him starts to reveal a few stars. "Nothing, she has not confessed to me. I wonder if she is continuing with the idea of letting go." Kiba asked Akamaru just as they were passing by Ichiraku's Ramen Shop. Kiba continues wondering where Hinata could be when he hears Naruto say her name.
"Hinata what do you want?" Naruto's voice is loud enough to be heard clearly by Akamaru and Kiba who were ten feet away. Kiba is stunned to hear Naruto voice saying "Hinata" but becomes more stunned when he hears Hinata's voice answer back.
Kiba swiftly turns and faces towards Ichiraku's. Although the flaps cover the upper half the shop he can clearly distinguish the orange pants of Naruto and black pants of Hinata.
"Oi, Kiba-kun hello" Kiba returns the greeting to Hinata and takes the stool next to her positioning her between himself and Naruto. Kiba smiles as he sits down and takes in the view of Hinata's face.
Naruto also turns to Kiba and greets him then orders another bowl of ramen from Ichiraku. "I'll have one too." Kiba speaks out as Ichiraku turns and prepares the order. Akamaru seeing Kiba order decides to lie on the floor behind the three taking up the entire space behind the only three stools that are being occupied.
"Hinata-chan, I went to the training ground but you weren't there. Did training finish early?" Kiba begins conversation once the order is placed before him.
"Hai." Hinata replies as she looks down at her ramen and stares at the bit of seaweed that is left. Kiba presses for more than a one syllable comment but Hinata does not reply due to her mouth being occupied by some ramen. Finally Hinata responds with a comment of doing her own training afterwards.
This reply although being vague satisfied Kiba and the subject then changes to the mission that many shinobi including Ebisu are participating in. Many of the details are not known to about the mission but there have been several rumors that have been traveling around.
One fact that wasn't a secret is that the Hidden Village of the Mist had been having problems with several mysterious incidents of Mist shinobi returning dead but the cause has not been discovered. Rumors had gone around that there are several people wanting another great war between the Hidden Villages and tensions between the five major villages is growing strong.
"Yeah I heard that they sent several of the best from here to go and find the cause. They are hoping to find out who the culprit are and end the tension between the countries. That is why Ebisu is gone." Hinata commented as she looked to Naruto and Kiba.
"And the reason why Kiba didn't go." Naruto laugh trying to joke around but soon his laugh fades as Kiba respond that Naruto himself didn't go either. Hinata can't help but laugh at this and Naruto faces her "You agree with him."
"No" Hinata says between her giggling and Naruto gives a small smile and resumes eating. The conversation continues through Naruto's four bowls as each talk about the mission and when they believed that it was going to end. They were told that the mission would only last about a week or two but the two weeks mark was almost upon them.
"Also with the ending of this entire mission it means the end of your training Team Ten, Hinata." This piece of observation made by Kiba felt a bit tragic to Hinata. She had grown so accustomed to training Team Ten that the thought of not training them made her grimace. "Are you alright Hinata?"
"Hai, it's just the thought of not training Team Ten is sad." Hinata commented as she tried to surface a smile onto her face.
"That's understandable; you have been around them for nearly two weeks. But you will see them around and you will have other missions to occupy your time." Kiba smiled at Hinata trying to reassure her. Kiba then turned his attention over to Naruto. "Oi, Naruto why haven't you been out on any missions? What have you been doing?"
"Just…" Naruto takes a slurp of ramen and then finishes his sentence "…training."
All three continued talk as they finished their meal. Hinata was the first take leave as she looked at the time. "Naruto-kun, Kiba-kun, I have to be going. Good night." Hinata then stood up and almost walked into Akamaru who was lying on the ground behind her but with quick reaction she was able to safely leap over him. "Sorry Akamaru."
Naruto and Kiba turned and waived good-bye. "I'll see you tomorrow" Naruto called out to her making her give a slight blush as she looked from Naruto to Kiba and then nodded. Meanwhile Kiba just looked from Naruto to Hinata with a perplexed expression on his face.
After Hinata walked a few feet away Kiba turned to Naruto and asked the question that was now screaming for an answer in his head. "What did she mean that she will see you tomorrow?"
"Oh I am training with Team Ten and Hinata." For an unknown reason Naruto did not want to mention the fact that he also trained with Hinata alone afterwards. He did not understand it but instead brushed the idea off his mind.
Kiba only gave a short nod and resumed to finish his ramen. It bothered Kiba that Naruto was training with Hinata. He didn't understand it but for some reason it seemed that Hinata was using Naruto as the person to forget about him. He was now sure that Hinata was trying to forget about her love for him and she was using Naruto's friendship to help keep her occupied; there was no other reason for Hinata being around Naruto.
"Well I'm also leaving. I'll see you around Naruto." Kiba paid for his meal leaving Naruto behind talking to Ichiraku. "Come on Akamaru, let's go home." Akamaru rose and followed Kiba as they marched home.
The cool air of the night sky brushed Kiba's face as he walked towards his house. "Akamaru, do you believe that Hinata is still going with that idea of letting go. I mean why else hasn't she confessed and that would also explain the situation of training with Naruto."
Akamaru gave a bark and Kiba nodded in agreement. "Your right but I feel that I must do something. It was a dumb idea to wait for her to confess. I should just go up to her and talk to her. I'll talk to her tomorrow after she finishes practicing with Team Ten. I'll confess."
"What was that" Kiba looks down at Akamaru who had just barked at him. "Sorry about that. I'll get you something to eat at home."
Akamaru gave another bark to Kiba "You should have told me that you wanted something at Ichiraku's, but I promise something good when we get home," Kiba promised as they reached their destination.
During the whole training Moegi kept looking at Naruto and Hinata-sensei. She was going to figure out what was going on. She did not know what exactly it was but she knew it involved both of them. She could not help but think how much Naruto and Hinata looked like a couple when they walked away together at the end of their training the other day. But could that mean that they are…?
Moegi did not have time to finish her thoughts when Konohamaru interrupted her, "Where did you go yesterday? We were looking for you and when we went to your house your mother said that you hadn't arrived."
Standing up Moegi looked away from Naruto and dusted the dirt from her clothes. "I had something to do. Sorry for just disappearing on you two like that."
"It's okay, but are you joining us today? We are planning on going to eat and then there is this new movie that came out just…"
"I have something to do today, sorry." Moegi said cut off Konohamaru's words. "Maybe another day."
"Could it be that Moegi has a kareshi?" Konohamaru sang with a smile while Udon overheard and asked what they were talking about.
"NO!" Moegi screamed as she tried to control the redness that had crept on her face. "I just have something to do."
"Sorry, sorry. I was just joking" Konohamaru said as he backed away.
"Who has a kareshi? Moegi you have a boyfriend?" Udon asked as he walked closer to the two.
"No I don't."
"Well that explains about yesterday," continued Udon while ignoring the warning signs as Moegi was getting more irritated. "Why didn't you mention it…oof." Konohamaru could do nothing but stare as Moegi knocked Udon onto the floor while her face was still bright red. He was not going to risk his own health and stop Moegi just to help Udon.
"I told you I don't have a kareshi." Moegi screeched.
"What was that?" Moegi looked up and saw that Hinata-sensei and Naruto now stood over her. They had heard the last part that Udon had said and asked Moegi about this "kareshi" of hers.
"It's nothing just…" Moegi began while moving her hand before her.
"Hinata!" Moegi was never so glad to see Kiba-san as she was at that moment. He took all the attention away from her and her imaginary "kareshi" at the perfect moment. "Hinata-chan, are you finished with training today?"
"Sort of..." Hinata began but was cut off by Kiba.
"Why don't we go have eat Yakiniku. It has been a while since we had any and I need to talk to you."
Hinata smile but she could only think about missing out in training with Naruto if she agreed. Ever since last night and talking about Ebisu returning it had made Hinata sad because the return of Ebisu-san not only meant the end of her training Team Ten but also most likely it meant the end of her training with Naruto. And now with this invitation by Kiba made her feel torn between going to eat with an old friend or spending time with the one she was in love with.
Hinata turned to face Naruto as if to ask if it was okay to skip training that day. Naruto understood the look, "Its okay Hinata. We'll just continue tomorrow."
Hinata gave a smile and turned to Kiba. "That sounds good Kiba-kun." Hinata turned back towards Team Ten and Naruto bidding them good-bye.
As Kiba and Hinata began to walk away Kiba could not help but look back. What was the meaning of Hinata looking at Naruto when he invited her to eat? Worse was now he didn't have the option to ask Akamaru his take of it due to Akamaru staying home on Kiba's instructions. But he still held that question in the back of his mind.
"Most likely Hinata told Naruto that she was trying to forget about me and Naruto was advising her on what to do." Kiba thought as he walked with Hinata. Kiba knew that it didn't make much sense but that was the only explanation he could think of.
Naruto continued to look at Hinata and Kiba as they walked away until he heard Konohamaru and Udon talking about going to eat. Food that sounded good to Naruto, although for some reason he did not have much of an appetite. Something felt odd, ever since he saw Hinata leave with Kiba. Naruto then thought that it was because without Hinata he didn't have someone to train with that day. He would have to miss training that day.
"So where are we going to eat?" Naruto smile as Udon and Konohamaru looked at Naruto as if they couldn't believe what he had asked.
A/N I hope all who are reading this are enjoying my story so far. Finally I have reached to stage where there is a possibility of Naruto seeing Hinata in a different light but it is also means that the story is coming to a close. I feel like doing the whole Spanish drama thing,"En los últimos capítulos Kiba sabara la verdad. Un amor imposible pero quien entra en la historia. Esperen al próximo Dejando ir es duro" I just imagine it with a deep voice.
For those who don't know Spanish it says "In the last chapter Kiba will know the truth. An impossible love but who shall enter the story. In the next Letting go is hard to do." But imagine it in a deep Spanish voice.