A Tale of Happiness and Sorrow

Written by: Wind Sage 00

Chapter 6

A trail of tears led down the streets of Konoha to the practice fields. Nothing in the world made sense anymore, Hinata had just gotten beat to a pulp by Sakura all over a man whom she felt so strongly about; yet, she wasn't even sure he felt the same way. The whole time she was running she neglected to see just how badly she was hurt. Her beautiful new dress was stained with blood and covered in dust and rubble, but her…

"Oww!", said Hinata as she grabbed her side in pain.

She wasn't sure, but she might have seriously taken damage from one of Sakura's blows. She tried to stand up from where she was sitting behind one of the three training posts, but couldn't bring herself to get back up. It was no use, her legs just wouldn't carry her anymore, and she was too worn out. She laid her head against the wooden post and tried to shut out the pain. Just then, she heard a voice call out:

"Hinata! Hinata! Hinata where are you?"

"Naruto-kun!"

Hinata shifted over to glimpse a sight of him from behind the post, but didn't see him anywhere.

"Hinata there you are!", said Naruto.

"Eeep!", squealed Hinata.

She had not seen him go around the other way and was caught off guard.

"Hinata, what's wrong? What happened back there?"

"I-I fought Sakura.", mumbled Hinata.

"Yeah, I can see that. You really did a number on her back there! What were you two fighting about anyway?"

(Looking down) "Nothing…"

"Hinata, there's a huge gapping hole in the side of your front wall…and you were both bleeding and banged up. I don't think it was nothing."

"It was just a fight between me and Sakura-chan, really that's it."

Knowing she wasn't telling the whole truth, Naruto decided to try and find the answer. He couldn't leave a friend beat and bloody alone out here anyway. So he slowly leaned and slid his back down the wooden post to sit beside Hinata. He stretched out his legs and tilted his head back to stare up at the brilliant gold and crimson sky.

"You know, I never knew you liked pressing flowers…"

"What?", said Hinata a bit confused.

"The night we sat talking on the cliff, you told me you liked pressing flowers", said Naruto.

"Yes, I do...You remembered that night?"

"Yeah…Well, you see it wasn't really me up there talking to you, but then again it was…umm, how do I say it? It was my shadow clone you were talking to, so yeah in a way it was me up there. I stumbled upon you two and canceled the jutsu, but didn't think you'd hit your head on a rock."

"Oh, so that's what happened…", said Hinata.

"Its my fault I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner about it, but you didn't bring it up and I just didn't know how to start talking about it."

(Making a small smile), "Its ok I -"

Hinata grabbed at her side again in pain.

"Hey, what happened there? Hinata, you're hurt really bad. We have to get you over to Granny Tsunade right way", said Naruto.

"No really I'm fine Naruto-kun. I'll be alright, right now I'm just tired.", said Hinata.

Naruto looked at her grabbing her side in pain and knew taking her to the hospital was the right thing to do; however, he decided to let her rest for now and eventually he'd take her to get some help.

"Ok then….So you still haven't answered my question about what you two were fighting about.", said Naruto.

(Softly) "…You"

"What? I can't hear you Hinata", said Naruto as he leaned in to hear her better.

Hinata bit her lip, and began to feel all weak and lightheaded. Her mind began racing and she didn't know what to say. Without thinking she blurted out:

"We were fighting about you Naruto-kun." "Eeep!"

What had she just said?!?

"Oh my God, oh my God. Stupid, stupid, what did I just do?!?"

Naruto sat there with a blank stare on his face; he looked like he was in deep thought. Hinata meanwhile was dying from embarrassment. She looked at him just sitting there not saying anything and instantly thought the worse.

"He doesn't feel the same way! He's going to tell me he doesn't like me, and-"

Hinata was interrupted by a slight touch that sent electricity flying up her hand to the core of her body. She looked down and saw Naruto holding her hand.

As if to himself: "I'm so sorry Hinata. I'm so sorry. No one should have to fight because of me. I spent the entire day thinking about what's happened these past few days…I've learned Ero-sennin was murdered, Akatsuki is after me again, and then I'm told by two friends that they love me…I guess I just didn't know what to do."

"I'm sure you two talked, but Sakura told me last night she loved me. To be honest, I waited my entire life to hear those words-"

Hinata cringed when he said this.

"-; but you know, when I saw the two of you fighting and both of you were hurt…there was only one person that I was worried about. And it wasn't who I thought it would be…All I remember thinking was, 'I don't want to see her cry. I'd do anything so I wouldn't have to see Hinata cry.'"

Hinata finally turned to see him, and saw he was starring directly at her. His fierce blue eyes seemed to pierce into her soul. She felt a shiver run down along her skin up into her spine and she began to feel all flushed inside.

Naruto continued, "I'm going to have to leave Konoha soon, to go far away. But I want you to know-"

Hinata put her hand on his face, let it slide down ever so gently, and then brushed back his golden blonde hair. The soft touch of her hand seemed to melt his worries away. She then leaned in and began to pull him. She had longed for this moment for as long as she could remember. That one instant in time…that one moment that surely would-

Their lips met, and Hinata held that kiss for what seemed like an eternity. Both of their eyes were closed as each was lifted to another time and space. All worries and troubles melted away as they entered a state of eternal bliss.

Hinata pulled away, and Naruto opened his eyes to see a beautiful woman staring back at him. Her pale face turned golden by the setting sun, and her large purple eyes staring back at him. Naruto was speechless. But Hinata, she felt so alive that she would burst from all the happiness inside.

Almost laughing to herself with joy: "Hmm, it was worth the wait."

END OF CHAPTER 6

*Revised and updated thanks to fan feedback. As promised the next chapter will be up shortly. For everyone that reads this, I would like to sincerely thank you for reading my work. Seeing just how many people read this story and the feedback I've been getting, has really made me try to go the extra mile. I write for the readers, and I will continue to do so as long as they want my stories. Thank you.