It was a couple weeks after Naruto had returned to Konoha. He had been catching up with everyone, some people demanding more attention than others. But he was slowly making his way through the Rookie Nine, finding out what everyone was up to, and what he had missed out on.

However, Naruto had noticed someone following him, a rather familiar presence that stayed just close enough to see him, yet too far away to attract attention. A presence that had yet to 'catch up' with him...so he figured he might as well go and talk.

"Hinata, what are you doing? Have you been avoiding me?"

"...No, Naruto-kun...I've...I've just been so busy."

"Oh? Anything interesting?"

Hinata's face just fell at this point...Naruto could tell whatever was going on...it wasn't good. He'd probably have to get details out of Neji...but maybe there was something he could do now.

"The clan elders...they want me to fight Hanabi for the title of clan heir."

"Ouch, that sucks...but you have, what, 5, 7 years on her? That shouldn't be a problem!"

"I always get so nervous when fighting her...I can never win. She's just stronger with Jyuuken than I am."

"No, Hinata! I believe in you..."

As Naruto trailed off, Kage Bunshin appeared, and began producing a rock beat.

Naruto stood up from where Hinata had been sitting, and began to sing.

"Sometimes when your hopes have all been shattered
And there's nowhere to turn
You wonder how you keep going
Think of all the things that really mattered
And the chances you've earned
The fire in your heart is growing
You can fly, if you try leaving the past behind
Heaven only knows what you might find"

Hinata felt feint...Naruto-kun had never sang a song just for her before! It had taken all of her nerve not to flee as Naruto-kun had approached, and to actually answer Naruto-kun's questions...

Listening to the lyrics, she wondered. Yes! I do wonder how I keep going! My life has been so caught up in observing yours...it's all that's mattered to me. Have I earned something?

At that point, the fire was growing in more...private...places than Hinata's heart.

"Dare - dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare"

Naruto-kun believes in me? And is telling me that I should believe in me, too? But, but...It's not that easy! Hanabi always wins! True, I've never been able to get myself to fight her full out...maybe that's what's stopping me? Maybe I just need to...'take a stand'?

"Everybody's trying to break your spirit
Keeping you down
Seems like it's been forever
But there's another voice if you'll just hear it
Saying it's the last round
Looks like it's now or never
Out of the darkness you stumble into the light
Fighting for the things you know are right"

Geeze...Hinata nearly snorted at the beginning of the latest verse. Yeah, ain't that the truth. And this WAS the last round...This was her last chance to stay clan heir. But if this was how the Elders were going to play...Well, she KNEW that she would make the better heir, that she would be the only one to try and end the caged bird seal, and if she had to fight for it, she would (if Naruto-kun believed in her, that is).

"Dare - dare to believe you can survive
The power is there at your command
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare"

Naruto had pulled Hinata up, from where she sat. He looked her in the eyes, confidence oozing out of him. Hinata just lapped that up...if just watching Naruto had inspired her to survive to where she had...him singing to her, stating his clear confidence in her was boosting her to untold levels. Of course, these levels were not quite at what a normal person's confidence would be at...but they were a start.

"Dare - dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
The power is there at your command"

Hinata was feeling it...The power WAS in her hand, damnit. It always was...she had just never reached out to take it. Now, though...there was nothing to stop her. She WOULD beat Hanabi, she WOULD remain clan heir, she WOULD...

"Dare - dare to keep all your love alive
Dare to be all you can be
Dare - 'cause there is a place where dreams survive
And it's calling you on to-mmppphh"

...Start making out with Naruto.

After all, HE had been the one telling her that she 'held the future in her hand'...it wasn't her fault that she had been holding his hand at the time.

Author's Notes: The Song- "Dare", by Stan Bush (From Transformers: The Movie…the original one).

The lyrics make such perfect sense for Hinata, and with the new Transformer's Movie coming out….The song's from the original movie were fantastic.