Part Three: Angry Ramen
Disclaimer: I don t own Naruto. But if Iruka and Itachi are ever up for sale their mine!
An Update: Hey guys thanks for your reviews! With school I hardly ever get to write, but I finished this. Please enjoy, and I promise part 4 will be here soon.
Hinata read Naruto's letter before rereading it again. After reading the letter for the thirtieth time, the young woman nervously bit her lower lip. Naruto's words had greatly unsettled her.
The Hokage's letter was polite, genuine, and considerate; leaving Hinata in a state of disarray. Due to their altercation and constant bickering over the caged bird seal, Hinata had been under the impression that they would avoid each other's presence unless necessary. However, Naruto had broken their unspoken agreement.
It was then Hinata realized that she was angry. Clutching the letter tightly in her hand, Hinata stood swiftly and exited her office.
On the left side of the desk a pile of untouched missions were stacked in a messy pile. On the right side, a pile of jutsu scrolls were unraveled, spilling over the side of the desk. Last, but not least a bowel of hot pork ramen rested in the center of the desk, as trails of steam wafted from the bowl.
The man who had ordered the ramen, jokingly referred to as "Konoha's ramen loving Hokage," stared at the steaming bowl with an uncharacteristic lack of gusto. Picking up his chopsticks the Hokage sighed and picked up a piece of pork. Eyeing the piece of meat sadly the young man placed it in his mouth and sighed. No matter what happened in the village, with his friends, or with Sasuke ramen would always be there.
Preparing to eat another piece the Hokage froze when he heard someone knocking on his door. Glancing outside the window the Hokage realized how late it was, and blinked in confusion. It was rare for a visitor to arrive at his office at this time. Placing his chopsticks down the Hokage called to his visitor, "Enter."
The door opened revealing a very upset Hinata Hyuuga. As Hinata closed the door behind her, Naruto stood. Noting the look of frustration on the young woman's face; Naruto immediately asked. "What's wrong?"
Ignoring the fact that the Hokage was clearly concerned about her, Hinata resisted the urge to set his concern to ease; instead the young woman raised the letter in front of her face. "Why?"
The Hokage blinked in confusion, "What?" The Hokage questioned.
Hinata's eyes narrowed and she walked to the front of the Hokage's desk and held the letter out to him. The Hokage accepted the letter and glanced at it momentarily before setting it down on his desk. For some unknown reason his letter had upset Hinata, and he accepted that fact without an outward reaction. After years of diplomatic negotiations and dealing with Sakura and Tsunade, Naruto had become an expert at dealing with emotional women.
Naruto ran through his basic course of action for such a situation. Firstly, allow the upset woman to vent and say whatever she needs. Secondly, he'll acknowledge whatever she said and apologize repeatedly. Finally, he'll offer to take her to her favorite restaurant for dinner. Since enacting this tactic three years ago it had never failed the young man. "Tell me what I wrote that made you angry Hinata."
"You can't just apologize and think everything's going to be okay! We've been fighting for years, and we're not friends anymore. You think I'm another arrogant member of the Hyuuga's main branch, who has superiority issues. So stop pretending like you care about me, when you're only being nice to me to fulfill your quest to make everyone like you!" Years of built of resentment poured from the young woman's mouth as her eyes began to water.
Naruto's eyes narrowed in anger, "Don't put words in my mouth Hinata-chan." In the blink of the eye Naruto was standing before Hinata. Breaking away from his usual strategy Naruto placed his hands on Hinata's shoulders and gazed deeply into her eyes. "I am your friend Hinata, and I'll always be your friend. I've seen the way you treat the members of your clan, and how much they love you. Never once did I believe that you were keeping the sealing practice alive because you wanted to. I can see it in your eyes that you hate it as much as I do. That's why I wanted to support you in doing what would make you happy. Damn it Hinata you nearly fell apart after you branded Hanabi. I know that every time you place that seal on a member of your clan you die a little, and seeing you hurt like that kills me."
Hinata tried to step away, but Naruto refused to let go. Large tears spilled from Hinata's eyes, and she lowered her head in shame. "I thought you hated me. Why shouldn't you, even I hate me!" Weakened by her confession Hinata fell forward into Naruto's chest and cried, as her childhood friend held her tightly in his arms.
~~~
Sniffling softly Hinata looked up at Naruto and smiled shyly, before whispering her thanks. Naruto smiled before brushing away a stray piece of hair from her face. At some point or another in the night, the two had ended up on the floor leaning against the Hokage's desk.
"It's almost morning," Hinata observed while playing with the sleeve of Naruto's jacket. Naruto nodded in acknowledgement. "I didn't tell my guards where I was going last night. Neji-niisan will be worried," Hinata added after a moment of silence.
Pulling Hinata closer Naruto responded gently, "You should go. But can we just stay like this for a few more minutes. I missed you."
It had been years since Hinata's cheeks had been dusted with a bright red blush, but her signature blush appeared once her brain processed Naruto's words. Shyly the Hyuuga head stuttered out "yes," before closing her eyes; relishing the feeling of being held in Naruto's arm.