Hello my wonderful readers! I was so shocked to see how many reviews we got last chapter! Wobbleman and I were truly pleased and touched, and we're so glad that you liked it!
o0 I've also realized that we've somewhat abused poor Sakura...everyone hates her now. Note to self: Don't let someone who hates a character -cough- Wobbleman -cough- control her. Haha, just kidding Shawn.
Anyways, this chapter is going to be kind of short unfortunately because I'm leaving in like 15 minutes and need to go get ready - but I'm e-mailing my copy of our story so far to myself at my grandparents' so hopefully I'll be able to put up another chapter tonight or tomorrow. So, enjoy for now!
Also, thank you to Sherbet Mayhem for the absolutely meaningful review. -gives you cookie- That review absolutely made me sooo happy all day long, made me want to shovel my way through the junk of the day just so I could put up another chapter. Thanks again!
Chapter Twelve - Hypothetically
Neji stepped down the stairs to see Kiba pacing the room angrily, knocking occasional items off of the tabletops. Even Akamaru was scared and laid curled up on the couch, whimpering. "What's going on, Kiba-kun?" Neji asked him as he approached.
"It's that stupid Naruto, that's what's wrong! He's such a jerk! You're not going to believe this, but he ran straight to Sakura after Hinata left! He's just toying with Hinata!" A sharp jolt went through Neji as he realized what he had done, even if he didn't know he had at the time. 'I'm the one who led Sakura to Naruto...he didn't go to her, she came to him...but why would he follow her? What Kiba's saying can't be true.' He snapped back to reality as he heard his name. "Huh, what?
Kiba groaned. "I said that Hinata can't handle that, and I asked you if you agreed." Neji nodded and sat down on the sofa, looking at Kiba.
"Kiba, I have a question for you...do you like Hinata?" Neji looked at him seriously and Kiba blinked.
"Of course I like Hinata. We're in the same squad, after all. And she's my friend."
"But I mean...like like." He felt silly using that term, like he was in kindergarten or something.
Naruto could not sleep, even though things seemed to be going okay for him he could not sleep. "I just need some fresh air - that's all. I'll just go on the roof for a while and then I'll be able to sleep for sure," he said to himself, then climbed out his window and walked up the wall to his roof. "What is 'good enough' anyways? How am I supposed to let 'good enough be' when I really don't know what that is? Is Sakura good enough, or am I just kidding myself? I mean Hinata is pretty, smart, even funny at times, I really like her and I know she liked me for who I am. Who am I trying to fool, she said she did not love me..." he thought out loud, talking to various objects on his roof, and then out of no where a few of his brain cells jump started and it clicked in his head. "But she was crying when she ran away, she does love me, she just wanted to protect me from her family...she didn't want me to get hurt," he said to himself, but anyone looking at him would think he was telling the vent on his roof. "I have to talk to her, but she is probably at her house, but I can't go there, especially at this time of night. And what about Sakura, I'm kind of with her now. Things were so much easier when no girls liked be, or at least when I thought none did," he scowled then sat down on his roof top and just thought.
After a 25-minute glaring contest between Kiba and Neji, Kiba finally snorted and turned his head. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't."
"Then, if you did, hypothetically," he added as Kiba glared at him again, "don't you think it would make her feel better if you let her know?"
Kiba shook his head. "No, because even though I do I know that she likes Naruto, and I truly like her so I don't have selfish gain in mind, I only want her to be happy, and she's...was, happy with Naruto, and really really likes him, and even though sometimes I might get a little jealous and wish that she liked me like she does him, I won't interfere and I'll support them because that's how much I truly do care, and that care comes from my heart rather than my hormones." He leaned back in the chair he had sat down in, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes, drifting into thought.
"..."
"...and that's all hypothetically, of course."
Neji rolled his eyes.
Rock Lee entered the village, he had been on a mission in the water country and knew nothing of the happenings that had been, well, happening. He was not expecting for anybody to be up, let alone Naruto, and talking to a vent nonetheless about some crying girl, then Sakura. Once Naruto had finished his 'conversation' Lee jumped onto Naruto's roof. "Hello Naruto-kun I could not help overhearing you, and was wondering if you would like to talk to a person about you problems," Lee said sitting down across from Naruto.
"Oh hello fuzzy-brows," Naruto said to Lee in a normal tone. "Well are you sure you want to know, it is kind of crazy and overwhelming."
"Naruto-kun we are friends and as such, I want to help you, after all that is what friends do, despite what difficulties may be ahead," Lee said in his usal save-the-day tone.
"Well okay, but don't say I did not warn you," Naruto said and then for the second time told the tale up until where they were now.
Lee was a little shocked by it all and at first had only one response: "Wow."
After some time had passed with meaningless small talk between Kiba and Neji (Kiba offering if Neji would like to stay the night, too, to look after Hinata) and Neji's persistence of the topic of Kiba's "hypothetical situation," which he vehemently denied.
"Face it Kiba-kun, you can't hide it. Remember? Byakugan?" Neji smirked as Kiba scowled.
"Fine...maybe..." Neji decided to take that, it was close enough, and laid back in satisfaction. A few moments later Hinata came downstairs, smiling and heading towards the door.
"Where are you going, Hinata-sama?" Neji asked her.
"To Naruto's. I'm going to take your advice and go tell him how I really feel." Kiba and Neji exchanged nervous glances and Kiba sighed as Neji nodded his head solemnly.
"Hinata...there's something you need to know...come sit down for a minute..." Hinata complied, confused.
Lee was not disturbed by the Sakura part of the story, he had gotten over her within the last year and was currently Tenten's boyfriend. "Well Naruto you are in a really bad position aren't you, but it seems to me that you are in love with Hinata and that is what the glory of youth is all about: love. So go to her now Naruto and tell her how you feel! Embrace her until the sun rises in the morning!" Lee said dramatically, standing up and doing one of his many hero-like poses pointing towards the sky and tears of joy rolling down his face.
"...Fuzzy-brows it's night time and I think that's a little drastic..." Naruto said raising an eyebrow to his dramatic friend.
"Nonsense that is youth and vitality, you must Naruto-kun," he said in a saddening tone.
"I will tell her EVERYTHING the next time I see her, I promise," Naruto said doing the 'Good-Guy pose.'
"Okay then, I have faith everything will work out for you Naruto-Kun," Lee said but sadly thought, 'But if you wait you'll miss the sunrise and it won't be as romantic,' to himself.
Hinata sat with her head bowed, soaking in everything Kiba and Neji were telling her. She didn't want to listen, she wanted to hit them, hit something, but she knew that they were doing this for her own sake. After a couple of minutes of silence, Kiba put his hand on her back and she looked up smiling hopelessly, tears running down her face. "It was a silly idea, anyways. I never had a chance..."
Neji and Kiba looked down in guilt. "Kiba-kun has something happier to tell you, though, Hinata-sama." Neji looked at her hopefully.
"I do? Oof...oh yeah, I do..." he murmured as Neji jabbed him in the side with his elbow. He sighed and looked around. "Look Hinata, Naruto might not have-"
Hinata cut him off. "You don't have to try to cheer me up, Kiba-kun. It's not like I didn't see this coming eventually. I just...I don't know, I was hoping that I could be happy..." She got up from her seat and began walking towards the door when Kiba and Neji stood up abruptly.
"Hinata, wait!" Kiba said loud enough for her to hear, beckoning for her to come back but she shook her head and ran out the door into the night, still crying. Neji and Kiba looked at each other and sighed in hopelessness.
N A R U H I N A
Nara Shikaku: Lol, many people agree with you upon reading this.
M0nk3y: Thanks! I'm so glad you like it!
kyubii: Thank you!
Sherbet Mayhem: -sniffles- This was my most meaningful review yet! -huggles you to death- Thank you so much! And I absolutely love your story (and highly recommend others to go read it). I hope you continue to enjoy our story! Again thank you so much for the wonderful review!
Gangsta Swordsman: Aw, thank you so much. Shawn and I are having a lot of fun writing this story.
kyubii: Wow, them's fightin' words! -glances over at an angry Sakura- Lol
SandGoddess: 00 That's a lot of emotion built up there...lots of anger...Lol, thanks for your review! I'm glad you like it!
Jess Anime: Glad you're enjoying it.
iloveanime2009: Lol, yeah, not many people are too happy with Sakura right now. Thanks for another review!
Well, I hope you all read, review, and enjoy! I'll put up more ASAP! If I have to, I'll buy some time down at the library after school to put up another one. You all rock!
Skidoodle