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Chapter Twenty Seven
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The sun was shining brightly as Kiba smiled at Hinata. She was shocked at first but seeing as how it was only a friendly gesture, she closed her eyes and smiled back. Shino acknowledged what the two had done and he himself had trouble fighting back a smile but like all other things that were difficult he accomplished.
If it weren't for Shino's dark glasses you would be able to see the happiness on his face. Yes today was indeed a happy day. Even Kurenai-sensei seemed more lively than usual. Hinata didn't know if it was because of the man who had just treated them to a rather expensive lunch but something told her it was.
Yes, the third hokage himself treating the entire team to lunch and then sticking around to chat with each of them, was something to be happy about.
He greeted everybody with a smile and Hinata was shocked to find out that he knew her name. She secretly wanted to talk to him more but shyness got the best of her. He must have somehow noticed this though because he stayed by her side and talked to her for a little longer.
When he had left Kurenai-sensei informed them on how lucky they were to have such a caring Hokage.
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Lucky wasn't the word Hinata was looking for at the moment. Maybe they would have been lucky if the oh so caring Hokage wasn't lying down dead in a casket before them all.
Hinata was holding back tears just like everybody else who stood before the memorial site, except for Konahamaru. He wasn't holding back any tears for they were streaming down his childish face in large puddles.
Lowering her head, Hinata was relieved that she wouldn't have to look at the picture that was placed above the casket. A smiling picture of him, whose bright idea was that ? Was it supposed to make people feel better ?
The smiling memory of him only made things worse Hinata realized as a single tear slid down her pale cheek.
She then felt a wetness on the back of her neck. When she lifted her head the rain poured down and over the crowd of people. It was almost like the angels were crying, or atleast that is what Hinata thought.
As Hinata's head was resting up something caught her eye. Turning her head, she was able to see Naruto.
His shoulders were shaking violently but she could see his face he wasn't crying that or the rain was covering it up. His arms were pulled to his side and he was clenching his fists so tightly they were turning purple.
A deeper sadness filled Hinata at the sight before her. She had never seen him any sadder than at this very moment. Her brain told her to look away but her eyes stayed glued to him. Wiping away the single tear, she then realized for the first time just how badly she wanted to hold him.
Indeed, she wanted to hold him but not in the way or for the reasons most people would think. She couldn't remember a time when she ever wanted to hold him as a way to signify love for the other or just to be able to say to herself she had. No, she wanted to hold him in hopes that one day he would smile and it wouldn't be fake.
Sometimes she could mistify herself for hours on how nobody was ever able to realize all his smiles were fake. The possibility that nobody cared entered her thoughts but she quickly pushed it away.
Even if nobody cared about him, not that it were true, but even if nobody did, wouldn't all the care she had for him make up for that ?
A nudge of the shoulder interrupted her thoughts. Then she remembered. It was her turn to lay a flower down on the casket.
Hinata grimly made her way over and when she stood before the picture of the former Hokage of Konaha, two simple thoughts ran through her head.
The first one being, that the Hokage was dead. Very dead. His heart had long since stopped beating. He wasn't going to be sitting in his tower ever again and soon enough the memory of his face would all but fade away.
The second though being, he shouldn't be. No he very much shouldn't be. It was clear that just about every single persong standing here would gladly give their life to just so much as have him for one more day.
No it wasn't right ... but it was reality.
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From a considerably fair distance Naruto could be seen leaning against the side of a bridge. He was looking down at the water as the incoming rain pounded against it. His clothes and hair had been soaked for quite a while but he didn't seem to notice or in fact care.
The lost expression on his face made Hinata's stomach dropped. She had seen the same expression on everybody else and no doubt she also had the same one but there was something about seeing it on the one person you could expect never to be down or maybe it was just seeing it on somebody you cared about so much.
Hinata looked behind her and could see a small group of kids who refused to leave or even let go of the casket. Few people had left though.
They just wandered around in circles like they were lost without their hokage.
Hinata turned back around and smiled at Naruto. They acted the same way she would act if something ever happened to Naruto.
Naruto turned his head to see Hinata.
Hinata blushed for he might have seen her smiling at him. She didn't want him to think she were heartless after all. Smiling at a funeral just wasn't the kind of thing you'd normally do.
Naruto made no means of acknowledging her, he just turned his head back to gaze at the mirky water. Knowing Neji would be after her soon to escort her home she walked onto the bridge.
When Naruto didn't talk or so much as move Hinata regretted even coming near him. She turned herself around to walk away but Naruto caught her by suprise as he began to talk.
"Hey Hinata-chan."
Hinata turned around nervously unsure of what to do next. She didn't have much time anyway for Neji would get her soon.
"Hello Naruto-kun."
An eerie silence passed between them before Naruto began to speak again.
"Why ? Why did ... old man Hokage have to die ?"
Hinata wasn't at all shocked by his question. She had asked herself the same thing ever since she heard the news. Hinata came to his side and looked down at the water also.
"He was protecting ... us." Hinata smiled at her answer.
"That doesn't justify it ... not at all. That doesn't explain why he's gone." Naruto said grimly.
Hinata jumped a little at his response and Naruto couldn't help but notice it.
"I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't talk to anybody right now. I should just be alone."
Hinata wanted so badly to scream no at him. How would being alone at a time like this help any ? The last thing Naruto needed was to be alone.
Naruto turned his back on her and took a few steps foward.
"I don't mind talking." Hinata spat out at an alarming speed.
Naruto stopped and turned around.
"But it bothers you right ?"
"No." Was all she could say as Hinata lowered her head.
Though Hinata was good at hiding it, she was deeply offended that Naruto would even begin to think that it bothered her to talk to him.
Naruto paused as Hinata rose her head. Blush engulfed her cheeks but Naruto assumed the redness was due to crying or something similar. Naruto's voice still held the grimness as before but he nodded and motioned for Hinata to follow him.
As he walked in the opposite direction of the crowd of people Hinata looked back and saw Neji in the process of saying his goodbyes to his own team members. She quickly ran to Naruto's side.
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Naruto sat down on a bench and Hinata sat beside him. It was still pouring rain so they were both now completely soaked. The wetness soaking through Hinata's bra was begining to irritate her but she ignored it and directed her attention fully on Naruto.
She waited for him to speak but he just sat there looking at the ground. Hinata feared this would take longer than the time she had so she broke the silence.
"Naruto-kun ... I was supposed to leave with Neji bu-"
Naruto cutt her off in mid-sentence.
"Don't worry about him." He said sharply.
Hinata nodded and also looked at the ground. She wouldn't admit it to Naruto but she didn't want Neji to find her and drag her home.
Hinata's face took that of a worried one and Naruto wasn't in the mood to give sympathy.
"You can leave if you want to walk home with Neji so bad."
Hinata almost bit her tongue at that. That wasn't what she meant at all.
"I don't mind talking with you it's just if he finds me ... he ... uh will make me leave."
Naruto sighed and stood up.
"I didn't mean it like that ... it's just ..."
Naruto grew impatient with her studdering and pauses.
"Come to my apartment then."
Inside Hinata was overwhelmed with joy. She would love to go with him, of course she would have hell to pay when she finally had to leave but that aside she would love to go.
Hinata opened her mouth to speak but Naruto didn't wait for an answer or a response. Grabbing her by the hand, he led her through the streets of Konaha. She was shocked by this but shook it off with a simple smile
It didn't take long for them to reach his apartment. Standing outside of the door Naruto reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. Hinata could tell he was troubled because it took him a few tries before he could get the key into the hole due to the constant shaking.
Hinata was about to step foward as he opened the door but instead he grabbed her hand and jerked her so roughly she almost tripped.
When he let go of her hand Hinata walked to a window he had left open and shut it. The rain had poured inside and a couple of books that were laying on the floor were completely ruined.
Hinata turned around to see Naruto with his back against the door while hugging his knees. His face was hidden so Hinata didn't know if he was crying.
She stood there for a minute unsure of what do next. When Naruto lifted his head and Hinata could see that he wasn't crying she slowly inched her way over to him.
"Naruto-kun ?" She asked while sitting down by his side.
Naruto remained silent and Hinata felt that she had somehow done something wrong. She turned to look at him and when she did he let the entire weight of himself lean against her.
Hinata smiled and blushed. He looked up at her and Hinata could feel herself grow even a darker shade of red.
"It's not fair." He stated plainly before letting his head rest on her shoulder.
Hinata blushed but didn't know what to say next.
"Why did he have to die ?" Naruto continued.
Naruto clenched a fist and punched the floor.
"If it were anybody else it would have been okay but why him ?"
Hinata pulled away and Naruto lifted his head and looked at her in confusion.
"Listen to yourself Naruto-kun. Even I can tell you why he died, it was because he wanted to be the hokage. He wanted to make it his responsibility to protect us. He wanted to die for us."
Naruro was shocked and Hinata could tell but then in the blink of an eye it turned to anger.
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY HE WANTED TO DIE!!!!"
Hinata jumped and pressed the tips of her fingers together.
"I'm sorry Naruto-kun ..."
Naruto stood up and laid down on the bed or more correctly the mattress that wasn't far away. Hinata thought she heard him mumble an apology but she wasn't sure. Either way she couldn't have him mad at her.
"Naruto-kun," She began while walking over to him.
He looked up at her but said nothing. She smiled and then dared to grab his hand. Hinata was blushing madly as she pulled Naruto to his feet.
"You shouldn't be laying down. You'll get the bed wet."
Naruto looked into her eyes and smiled causing her to blush deeper. She looked away and began to speak.
"Then I guess I should be ... uh ... leaving."
Hinata looked to Naruto to say goodbye only to find that he was still staring at her and smiling. She quickly looked away as the blush that had just begun to fade reappeared.
"Wait." Naruto said before running to a nearby closet.
He pulled out a black umbrella with a red spiral on it and handed it to her.
"Here. I know it's kind of useless since we both are already soaked but you can use it anyway."
Hinata gripped it tightly in her hands.
She looked up at her to ask if he was sure he wanted her to take but before she said a word he answered for her.
"I want you to have it."
Hinata smiled.
"Thank you Naruto-kun."
Hinata opened the door and closed it behind her. When she was near halfway down the hallway Naruto reopened the door and yelled to her.
"Oh and if Neji gives you any problems just tell me!!!" Naruto said with a smirk.
Hinata only waved to his remark and went on her way.
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As Hinata went on her way she stopped on the same bridge she had seen Naruto on. Looking into the water she smiled. Today wasn't anywhere near pleasant but just having Naruto in it brightened things up a lot. As her thoughts continued on from there she lost herself as she smiled carelessly at the water.
"Hinata-sama!!!"
Hinata turned around sharply to see Neji running for her. She looked around for anybody else but they were gone. Even the casket had been moved. Still looking around for somebody that might prevent Neji from doing what she thought he might do, Neji stopped her searching by jerking her chin to the side and then up to look at him.
"Where the hell have you been ?" He retorted coldly.
"I- ... I was ... uh ..." Hinata stammered.
Hinata gave up on giving an excuse and just waited for everything to blow over.
"I'm not going to cover for your sorry ass anymore. When we get home if your father asks what took us so long I'll tell him."
Hinata began to tremble.
"No!!!" She said in a childish plead.
Neji didn't smirk at this or anything he would normally do at the moment he just proceeded to ask her questions and he was determined to get an answer.
"Where the hell were you ?!?!"
Hinata began to sob and Neji let go off her chin. He grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her head.
"Uh ... what are you doing ?!?!" She screamed in shock and pain.
"You're going to tell me where you were. I didn't ask the last time and I gave your father a good excuse but this time I want to know."
Neji bent her wrist further to where a popping noise was heard. Hinata screamed in pain and then decided to tell him.
"I was with Naruto!!!"
Neji let go of her wrist and Hinata immediately began to massage it.
"You were with him ?!?!"
Hinata ignored Neji as she looked over the bruising flesh.
"Answer me." He said and then delivered a punch to her stomach.
"Yes ..." She managed to say while catching her breath.
Hinata let herself fall to the wooden bottom of the bridge while she continued gasping for breath. She heard Neji's footsteps and feared he was going in Naruto's direction.
"No ... Neji ... don't go."
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Is Neji going to fight Naruto ?!?! Is Naruto still upset about the death of the village's loving Hokage ... Will Hinata ever catch her breath ?!?! Find out in Chapter Twenty Eight.
Okay another chapter and as you can imagine I'm so tired of writing ... -not!!! Anyways review, and take in to consideration what I put in my notes at the top of the page.