Hinata did not enjoy confrontation.
While she was not one to give up, thanks to Naruto's influence, she was not one to rush into something which would cause any sort of conflict. Hence, why, three days after she came to the decision she had to speak to Naruto, she was hiding in her room finding herself rearranging some of her belongings.
It wasn't that she didn't' wish to speak to him, but she didn't want to drudge up any unpleasant emotions. He has had such a difficult life until now and the last thing she ever wanted to do was bring about any discomfort to him. The mere thought made her skin actually crawl.
And yet when she had organized all of her training gear, weapons, kimonos and lotions by color, season and function she knew she was avoiding what must be done.
Was she or wasn't she a ninja.
Disgusted with herself, she placed the kimono in her closest and with a firm shake of her head, she snapped out of her negative thoughts.
She had to do this.
She needed to let him know he could be himself around her, and she would not expect anything. She needed to be strong and firm, like the bamboo reed, ready to bend when needed, but strong beyond measure.
She could do this.
Hinata grabbed her training bag and walked out of the compound, her head held high.
oooooooo
The plan was simple enough. Find him, talk to him and then move on with their lives. She was sure after she sat down with Naruto and explained her reasoning, he will understand why she did what she did and he could be normal around her again.
She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. She would not give up. She would not walk away from something that needs to be done just because it was difficult. Naruto had taught her about courage and bravery and persistence. If she just allowed things to continue as they were, then she was spitting in the face of their nindo. That was something she would not do and would not allow to happen.
Since returning from the Iron Country with Sasuke in tow, many things were different. One of them being a seriousness on his face was more apparent now than ever. Before, those moments were hidden and Hinata herself had only seen it a handful of times, but over the last six months, she had noticed he had matured.
The maturely looked good on him. The weight and responsibility of his dreams and abilities were very heavy, but they looked good on his broad shoulders.
It was 9:57 am. He will with Rock Lee at Training Grounds #12. Naruto always pushed himself to train-after all being the next Hokage, you needed to be the best, but after the events of the last six months, he returned with a fervor to train she had never seen before. If he didn't have a mission, his day would look like this:
He would train with Lee until about 10 each morning, then meet up with Kurenai-sensei around 11 for a couple of hours to work on his genjutsu and then off to eat, only to return by himself to the training field at 1 until about 6.
A very familiar blond head came into view as Hinata stepped over the wood markers and walked into the training field. At first all she could see was streaks of green and orange collided with each other, then arms, legs and torsos began to appear as the punches and the kicks became more exact and powerful.
Rock Lee signature hair glimmered in the morning sun and his effervescent smile almost blinded her in the light.
"I am most impressed, Naruto. The Flames of Youth are strong with you."
Naruto actually panted but gave the other boy a smile and said, "Thanks Lee! This was one kick ass workout!" He walked towards the nearest log and picked up a towel he had left there. Rock Lee was the first to notice they had company.
"Ah Hinata-Sama! How are you this fine morning." Lee turned his grin to her and Hinata returned it, generally happy to do so. She always like Rock Lee. Maybe because he always had a similar drive like Naruto's or maybe because he always pushed himself against her cousin. Who until Naruto had defended him, had been difficult to be around.
Thankfully, while Neji would never been warm, at least it now seemed he tolerated her presence.
"And a good morning to you Rock Lee-san. Am I interrupting your training?" Lee gave off a big shake of his head. Much like a dog shaking off water, sweat shot off his hair around him like a sprinkler.
"No, no. Naruto and I have completed today's training. " The other boy mentioned in the sentence had not said anything about her sudden appearance. She could feel his blue eyes on her, but knew he had no idea what to say.
"Rock Lee-san, do you think I may speak to Naruto-kun alone for a moment before he has to leave." Hinata said all this to Lee, and avoided looking to her left. She could feel Naruto stiffen at her request and shock registered on his face. You can do this, a voice whispered in her ear. You can talk to him and it will all be okay. The voice sounded surprisingly similar to the boy now looking like he had a crab stuck in his throat
She knew the last thing he wanted to do was wait for her. She knew he wanted to bolt into the air and disappear in to the trees, but she also knew he was more than that. His pride and courage would not allow him to run away, and so it was then that Hinata Hyuga used Naurto Uzumaki's nature against him to get what she wanted.
She tried not to think about what she just thought and with a deep breath, charged forward to make this as painless as possible for all them.
"I would like a moment, Naurto-kun to speak to you before you head off to met with Kurenai-sensei."
She saw him gulp and his normally cheerful face looked petrified. Her soul ached, knowing such a change was due to her.
"Sure Hinata." He said quietly, nothing like the blusterous boy she always admired.
Hinata moved towards the log he had just picked up his towel from and sat down. She didn't' signal him to do the same, but he followed suit and sat down next to her. She didn't look at him, but could feel the tension ebbing off him.
This will end now, she thought.
"Naruto-kun. I want to say thank you."
He said nothing, just remained as still as the log they sat on.
Hinata continued, and started to the speech she had carefully constructed in her head.
"When I faced Pain all those months ago, I never thought before that moment, I would ever have the courage to tell you the truth. "
He winched at the mention of Pain, and Hinata was sure if she activated her Byakugan, she would see his heart beating rapidly. It wasn't' just the fight he was remembering.
"I am sorry I was so selfish and did not think of what my actions would do to you and make you feel."
He scrunched his face and he said, "What do you mean."
Hinata turned and looked at him. Straight in the eyes.
"I never meant to make you uncomfortable."
Shock registered on his face, he opened his mouth, "You don't-"
Hinata put up a hand to silence him. The still of that day, the one she always searched for each morning, overcame her. Hinata welcomed it again and allowed it to seep into her bones.
"I do. And why wouldn't the whole situation make you feel uncomfortable." She looked away from him and gazed at the trees at the edge of the field.
"As I said, I never meant to make you uncomfortable by knowing my feelings. I told you that day because, " She took a breath to steady herself, " I did not think I would survive. Like I had said, I went to save you, not by defeating Pain, but by perhaps giving you some more time. I had not entered the crater to tell you anything. I entered to stop your pain, to stop him from hurting you. I could not stand seeing it a moment longer.
I didn't expect the moment I landed and faced him, words started to spill out of my mouth." She gave him a rue smile, " And when I started talking, I couldn't seem to stop."
She looked at him again. Trying to convey her sincerity in her eyes.
"I meant everything I said." His eyes grew wide just like that day, and she continued, " But I don't expect anything from you."
Confusion marred his features.
She answered his silent question, "I mean, you don't have to do anything, Naruto-kun." She said his name softly and touched his hand, "The only thing I want is your happiness. That happiness does not have to include me. I don't expect you to feel anything for me, now or ever. The only thing I wish for is for us to be friends, if possible."
His face grew dark and his eyes dropped down.
"So you didn't mean what you said."
Hinata pulled her hand way in shock, she shot up from the log and said, "Of course I did." The stillness swirled around her and the anger she often kept buried so deep inside pushed out, licking around her mouth and eyes.
"You have been avoiding me since returning the village. Since we didn't have a close relationship to begin with and you are not the sort to purposely avoid another's company, I knew what I had said made you feel awkward around me."
With each word, she started to walk in a circle, unknowingly her charka broke through her anger and blew little clouds of dust around her.
"I want you to be comfortable again, Naruto-kun. I don't want you to think I need you to do anything or respond in a certain way. Regardless of what you do or who you become, I will always love you." The last three words came out, as they did all those days ago, firm and clear.
Wow," he said, blinking. "I think that is the most you have ever said to me at one time."
Maybe her nerves got her on edge, or maybe some of the stillness solidified or she became another person, but Hinata burst into laughter.
oooooooo
It reminded him of bells. She actually closed her eyes and hugged herself while the it continued to pour out of her.
He couldn't help it. He started to laugh, and the sound melted into the air around them.
After a couple of minutes, Hinata sank down and sat again on the log, small tears rolled down her face.
He sat there for a moment, wiping his own eyes, and felt relived for the first time in months.
How did she know he felt so conflicted? He never knew what to say to her after the attack. Her face calm and still most of the time, and her eyes never betrayed anything beyond what they had always been- distant friends. But he always remembered the look of her as she rushed to protect him. He always carried the sound of her voice, and the firmness of her tone.
The few times he had meant to go to talk to her, she always seemed to be around others, and it made him question-had she meant what she said?
Did she even remember? After all the wound she had been inflicted could have affected her memory, or may even worse.
She regretted what she said.
He supposed, the last thought more than anything else, caused him to freeze up and not even approach her when he saw her. What if he talked to her and she said it was all a mistake and while she cared for him, it wasn't what he thought?
Then again, Naruto thought, looking at the smile on her face, he had no idea of what he should have said to her. Hinata was always a girl in the shadows. Someone he admired for her persistence and strength, but he honestly didn't know her. He had nothing besides a few moments in the last few years to hold as a foundation, and yet she professed to love him.
At the moment she said it he believed her. He believed she believed it and was willing to die for that belief. But honestly, he didn't know what he felt for her.
Over the last few months, he had been watching her without her knowing. Gathering some information about her without trying to raise any flags. Last thing he needed was Sakura or Neji or Ino making it into a huge deal.
All he did was observe and whenever her name came up in conversation, which happened more often with her sensei than not, he would pay attention.
There were things he already knew, such as she was the heiress to a clan. She wasn't thought of as a worthily successor. She is shy, kind, and willing to help those in need.
Also according to Kurenai-sensei, who couldn't cook to save her life, was an excellent cook.
Naruto happened to experience this first hand when he come over to Kurenai-sensei house one day and the delicious smell of a freshly cooked lunch permeated the air.
"Dig in," she said with a grin. When he gave it a weary look, he had after all tried her motoyaki a few days ago, she laughed and said, "Don't worry I didn't cook it. Hinata did."
To say it was tasty was like saying the sun was warm.
He also noticed how hard she always trained, especially when she thought no one was watching. She was always polite to everyone around her, regardless of their rank, which he knew wasn't the same for the rest of the clan members.
She always looked tidy and composed.
And during all this time, he couldn't think of a single time she really laughed or raised her voice in anger.
Expect for right now. That realization made him feel more relaxed. Hinata was acting like her real self. Like the girl dancing in the field each day. This girl, he could talk to, and maybe try to sort out the big ball of confusion all messed up in his head.
"Hinata." He said to her, the smile dimmed a little, but she turned calmly towards him and again stared right into his eyes. Her pale eyes were so disconcerting. Almost white, but a slimmer of lavender around it.
"Yes, Naruto-kun."
"Thanks." He gave her a huge smile. "I needed to hear that." He looked away and kicked the ground with his toe, watching the dust run away from it.
"I have wanted to talk to you, but didn't know what to say."
"You just said it."
He scrunched up his face again and looked at her. She rose from the log and gave him another sweet smile.
"Wut?"
"You said, 'Thanks'." The smile grew, " that is all I needed."
Naruto gave her a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his neck, "Hey Hinata?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want to get some lunch? I want to get a quick bite before heading off to Kurenai-sensei's."
She smiled and felt the heat on her cheeks.
"Of course."
The smile bloomed , "Awesome! Let's get some ramen!"
He grabbed his bag, swung it on his shoulder and started to headed towards Ichiraku's.
Hinata grinned and followed.
Walking next to him, side-by-side.
