Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, I would have never made poor Gaara suffer like he did in the manga.
A/N and Warning: Sorry for the extra long delay to those who are still reading it. Sorry but been busy tiring to figure how to end this without making the characters be way different than the anime but you know what? I did not succeed. So deal with it and sorry.Also, I gave up on grammar, not good for the health.
Chapter 14 What? There is actually an ending to this story.
"I'll return for your order"
"Thank you", Sakura said to the waiter, as she took a seat across from Naruto. Naruto sat in front of her drinking as much water as he could from the cup in front of him and gargling once in a while. "Naruto, what are you doing?"
"There were a lot of envelopes. How many people can you possible invite to the wedding?"
"It was only three hundred," shrugged Sakura as she took a sip of water. "It should have been easy for you. Especially if you used your Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Naruto's only reply to this was a blank look on his face.
"Why didn't you use your Kage Bunshi no Jutsu." Sakura raised her voice a bit. She could not believe that her teammate could be so dumb. He used that technique almost every single moment except when he could have used it to his advantage.
"I didn't want to. I wanted to use the closing of the envelopes as training." Naruto tired to cover for his thoughtlessness.
"What type of training would that be?" Sakura said putting Naruto into a corner.
"Stamina," replied Naruto.
Sakura decided to let Naruto win this time since he had suffered licking every single envelope.
"Sakura, can I have some of that?" Naruto was eyeing the box that sat on the table.
"No, that's for Lee." Sakura took the box into her hands and set it down further away from Naruto. "I want to give him something when he arrives from the mission. I told him I would bake him a cake."
"But you bought that cake," Naruto pointed out, "you didn't make it."
"I tried but it wouldn't come out so I decided…"
"Wait, was that what those were? I thought that they were coals in your kitchen." Naruto began to laugh as he now knew that the black heavy items that were in the pans where actually Sakura's attempts in baking. As Naruto continued to laugh, Sakura could not find anything amusing about it and was about to react when Naruto was saved by the waiter returning for the orders.
Naruto ordered yaki undon, being the closes thing he could get to ramen, and Sakura ordered kamameshi, she decided to take a break from her "wedding diet". After the orders were placed they continued to talk.
"Oi, Naruto, I heard from Tsunade-sensei that you haven't been sent on a mission. Have you been training?"
"Hai, I have been training with Hinata-chan." responded Naruto.
"You trained with Team Ten? Why did you train with Team Ten, did you make Tsuanade-sama mad? Again?"
"No, I trained with Hinata-chan after she finished training Team Ten."
"What?" thought Kiba as he sat on the roof and listened to the conversation. He didn't know that Naruto had been training with Hinata alone…and at night! He wondered why he didn't know about this, this whole time Naruto and Hinata have been alone in the middle of the night.
"You trained with Hinata after she finished her training with Team Ten? That seems like a lot of training, why did you make her train after she trained Team Ten? I know you like to train but still you shouldn't have done that." Sakura could not help but feel sorry for Hinata being dragged to train by Naruto.
"No, she trains by herself and I just offered my help." Naruto could not fully convince Sakura on this but Kiba knew this to be true. He knew that Hinata would train by herself but she always did it by herself.
"Really?"
"Hai, and she is really good. She is almost better than yo…" Naruto hesitated as he saw Sakura look up and waited for him to finish.
"Continue Naruto, what were you about to say." This time there was no waiter to save Naruto.
"He He um." Naruto gave a smile as he scratched the back of his head. "She is better than what I remembered. Actually," Naruto then became serious. "…Hinata-chan is very good. I was surprised but she is very accomplished kunoichi.
"Hinata-chan", Sakura thought of the way Naruto said the name. She began to realize that the way that he said Hinata's name was the same why he said her name. It held some type admiration, but that couldn't be possible.
Kiba sat quietly as he heard Naruto continue to give praises to Hinata. He spoke fondly of her, how she had a determination to be recognized by someone she cared for. Naruto spoke of Hinata and her skills as an instructor and as a shonobi.
Like Kiba, Sakura was shocked to hear this from Naruto. Her feminine instincts told her that Naruto seemed to be in love with Hinata, but her mind reminded her that this was Naruto. Naruto always thought highly of anyone, no matter what gender, as long as they trained hard. Also he was in love with her. Wasn't he?
The thought of Naruto no longer in love with her made Sakura feel a bit odd. She had hoped for this day since…ever and she had imagined a burden being lifted from her but it was quite the opposite. She didn't long to have Naruto following her especially with her getting married soon but the thought of not having Naruto following her as an admirer made her a bit sad, almost as if losing a beloved stalker.
After a long meal and conversation Sakura was able to figure out the pieces that she had missed. "Naruto, thank you for your help with the envelopes." Sakura stood up preparing to leave. After the long conversation between her and Naruto there was no more doubt in her or Kiba in fact that Naruto was indeed in love with Hinata. "Probably I will help you soon with your own envelopes."
"Why, I don't have any envelopes." Naruto's reply made Sakura laugh a bit, she knew he was to dense to even guess what it meant. She could probably tell Naruto that spring is a nice time to go in an outing with someone and point out that Hinata liked outing and he would still be as clueless as ever.
"Bye Naruto, see you in a month. Thank you again." As soon as Sakura left, Naruto noticed the box on the table. It appeared to him that Sakura had left the cake by mistake and he was about to grab it when.
"I told you not to touch it." Sakura's fist met up with Naruto's face. "I told you that it is for Lee."
"I was just going to get it and take it for you." Naruto said as his body landed on the floor.
"Well you had better had." Sakura said. "Thank you again Naruto," this time leaving Naruto and the restaurant.
Hinata's kunai penetrated the tree trunk five inches. Each shot did not miss its mark and each kunai ran deep into the tree. Her eyes were activated and she used ever bit of energy she had. The image of Naruto and Sakura kept flashing in front of her eyes and Kiba's words rang in her ears. It was true; Naruto will always be in love with Sakura.
As if some was reading her mind, Hinata heard a reply. "Don't listen to Kiba."
Kiba jumped down form the roof as soon as he saw Naruto leave the restaurant. He landed softly on the ground behind Naruto and had the urge to strangle him. He did not wish to kill Naruto but just make him feel a bit of pain. Of course he controlled this urge and taped Naruto on the shoulder.
Naruto opened his eyes and looked up at Kiba's face from the ground. For some reason that bastard had tapped him on the shoulder then suddenly punched him in the face. "What was that for?" Naruto stood up and approached a calmed Kiba.
"I was hoping to see if common sense could be knocked into you. But I see that it is not possible." Kiba responded coldly making it seem as if he had taken lessons from Sai.
Naruto stopped in front of Kiba and only stared blankly. "Common sense? Why do I need that knocked into me?"
"From everything that I heard you have no clue, do you? What does she see in you?" Kiba murmured under his breath.
Naruto began to grow impatient as Kiba just stood there talking to himself. He was about leave when Kiba spoke up, "Naruto I need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Just shut up you big mouth and follow me. I need to tell you something." Naruto followed Kiba's instructions, although reluctant at first. He didn't want to go but he wanted to see what Kiba "needed" to say.
Shino walked up to Hinata and took the kunai from her hand. He extended his arm and brought it back towards his body before letting it fling forward again letting the kunai shoot out of his hand. The kunai landed on the tree ten meters away. "I missed."
Hinata looked at the kunai, it penetrated the tree. "You didn't miss. It is right there."
"I was aiming at the other tree. I guess I must still be tired." Shino turned to Hinata and noticed that the tears were gone. "Why did you listen to Kiba? I tried telling you this before I left but I wasn't able to…"
Hinata suddenly recalled the last day she saw Shino before he left on his mission. True enough he was planning to tell her something but she already knew what it was. He was planning to tell her to give up on Naruto but she did not want to hear it. Now she wished that she had heard it and not caused herself this entire heart ache.
"You don't have to say anything. I know what you are going to tell me." Hinata replied trying to beat Shino from saying what she didn't want to hear out loud. Shino continued to stay silent as to tell Hinata to continue and explain what he was planning to say.
Hinata was bit reluctant. She didn't want to say it either but she preferred to say it instead of hearing it from Shino. "I know you think I should give up this love I have for Naruto and I did try but it was too hard. But it doesn't matter anymore because I have finally realized that it can never be. Naruto is in love with Sakura"
"Hinata, I…" Shino tried to speak but Hinata ignored his words and continued in her monologue.
"It's okay because I don't love Naruto anymore. I don't feel for him the way I used to. I only see him as a friend and nothing else. "The words came out of Hinata's mouth calmly and with assurance. Shino listened quietly but did not look towards Hinata. He only looked at the faint figure that stood yards away.
Naruto stood still. He could not believe what he had heard Hinata say. Actually he did believe it but he did not like. Naruto decided to not proceed forward and instead turned and walked back to the village.
As he walked he recalled the conversation he had with Kiba. Thanks to Kiba, Naruto realized that he valued Hinata dearly but also that he felt for her more than he expected. Naruto could not recall how Kiba helped him figure this out or why he even helped. All the he recalled was him realizing it and Kiba with a red face looking as if he was angry about something.
When Naruto confessed to himself that he liked Hinata he soon understood that the reasons he wanted to train with her were not only for training but he enjoyed just seeing her.
Kiba then shocked Naruto with telling him that Hinata had always been in love with him. This part made Naruto feel something in his chest and stomach twist. "She is at the training ground. You should go see her. But if you hurt her I will hurt you…" The rest of Kiba's words did not reach Naruto as he began to think of Hinata and wonder if it was all true.
He decided to see Hinata and he left Kiba behind. "Hey baka, I'm not finished talking to you. Baka! I'm not finished." Kiba yelled out as he was left standing talking to himself.
"Baka!" Naruto began to curse Kiba as he continued to recall. He had just heard what Hinata said and understood that Kiba had played a trick on him. What was Kiba's problem, what did he have against him.
"Tell him how you feel." Hinata looked at Shino, she could not believe what she just heard. What did he mean? "That night I was going to tell you to tell him. I was never going to tell you to give up."
"B…bu…bu…but I just told yo…you that I don't lo…love…him." Hinata could not control her stuttering as she tried to defend herself. She was feeling confident earlier but now she did not feel that confidence with Shino's strong remark.
"Hinata, don't lie. You have never been good at lying. You should tell him before it is too late. Don't pay attention to what you think you saw and just tell him. Remember he is the number one ninja of surprises. He may even surprise you." Shino decided to end his conversation her and leave Hinata to think. He now needed to go find Kiba and congratulate him on his work. It appeared that Kiba had also done his part.
Naruto sat quietly staring at the ramen that sat in front of him. Normally ramen didn't stand a chance when it was placed in front of Naruto but for some odd reason Naruto could not eat it. He stared blankly at the noodles as they floated in the broth.
Had he truly believed that Hinata could love him? She came from a prestigious family, a family with a bloodline to its name. If he couldn't end up with Sakura who wasn't from a prestigious family what made him think he could be with Hinata.
No it was not possible. So he continued to sit with only the ramen to keep him company.
Hinata walked silently as she thought what Shino said. It's seemed so simple to confess to Naruto but when it came to actually planning to do it, it seemed impossible. There was no way she would be able to get the courage to tell Naruto that she loved him. Yes even though she told Shino that had given up on Naruto, deep inside she knew that he held his ground in her heart.
As she walked through the town, she noticed the lack of people around. It wasn't late in the night yet the streets seemed almost empty. There were a few people out walking, some where coming out of shops, one man in orange was sitting eating ramen.
Hinata stopped as she recognized the figure eating ramen. She was sure it was Naruto but something was odd. His posture was leaning over the counter but he did not raise his head as he ate. He only continued to stoop.
After a few minutes of thought and staring Hinata thought that possible it was time she became honest.
"One bowl please." Naruto was taken out of his daze by the sound of a female customer ordering. He did not look up but continued to stare at the bowl that sat before it. By now he could see that it was cold.
"Naruto," Naruto finally looked up and looked at Hinata. He didn't realize until he looked up, that she seated herself on the seat beside his. "Naruto, I umm…I"
Naruto could see Hinata's face begin to glow a red tint even though she had her gaze towards the ground. "Naruto, I" Hinata breathed heavily as she tried to caught the words.
After a few seconds of tiring to control her breathing Hinata finally was able to speak. She spoke the words so quickly that Naruto wasn't able to catch any of it except the last part which was, "so I will leave you alone, I just wanted you to know."
"What are you saying Hinata?" Naruto said bluntly.
Hinata looked up for a split second and saw how close Naruto's face was to hers. She felt more blood rush to her face as she began again. "Naruto, I love you but I know that you love someone else so…"
Before Hinata could finish her sentence, she felt Naruto's hand over hers. She looked up at Naruto and could see a grin on his face. "I love you too."
"But…but, I thought…" Hinata did not understand it. She had seen Naruto with Sakura together just hours before.
Suddenly, Hinata heard Lee's voice from outside. "You really made this all by yourself?"
"Of course, I can make anything." Sakura's voice answered. "I told you I would make you a homemade cake."
Hinata turned back to face Naruto but held a smile on her face. Did this mean that Naruto wasn't with…
Before she could finish her thought Naruto again interrupted her, but this time with his lips lightly pressed on hers.
A/N Somewhat done.