I present the newest chapter:

The Punk, the Misfit and the Failure

It has been exactly six months since I first talked to Naruto and let me tell you it has been just as difficult as I imagined Sasuke will not talk to Naruto he just looks down at him completely ignoring him then Naruto will get angry and start yelling, complaining to me about Sasuke, this always happened for the first three months but then the last three moths they finally did speak to each other and I really don't know if I like it.

Don't get me wrong I truly love that they talk now but all they do is argue with each other. Sasuke always starts but Naruto being Naruto continues then he begins to yell at Sasuke. Then Sasuke starts talking down to Naruto and Naruto continues to yell at Sasuke. That's all they do, argue with each other and towards the end of each argument they always turn to me and ask me who is right and who is wrong. They never, ever let me out of it they always want me to chose sides and I' am getting really, really tired of it.

Then Sasuke tells me that I'm not allowed to bring Naruto to his training ground.

For the past six months I've listened to him but now I will show Naruto the training ground.

Everyday during the week I alternate between the two.

Today I'm supposed to meet with Naruto to hang out with him. After school we go to his favorite place to eat ramen, I grab him by the wrist and drag him away right after he is finished paying.

"Hinata why are you in such a hurry?" he asks me as I keep dragging him by the wrist towards the forest.

"I want to show you something," I answer him without looking back at him.

"Really?" he asks me excited but, then he takes his excitement down a notch. "Where is it at?" he asks me as we enter the forest and I let go of his wrist.

I turn around to face him; I rest my hands on the small of my back and smile at him. "In the forest, I think you'll like it." I continue to walk backwards fully aware of my surroundings.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because Sasuke will be there," his easy-going expression changes into one of him smelling something rotten, he stops and does an x with his arms.

"No way! Today is supposed to be just you and me, Hinata! Not that stupid idiot! You know I hate him, he's a stupid-no-talent-kid," he says to me. I stop walking backwards and go stand in front of him.

"Naruto that isn't very nice," I say to him with a frown.

"Well he isn't very nice," he mumbles to me as he looks at the ground and starts kicking the dirt.

"I know," I smile at his surprised expression. "He's rude, mean, not very funny, moody, but he's our friend and we only see the good things like how smart he is, also he's a genius, a bit childish, talented, loyal but most of all if he didn't have us he'd be a loner. Just like either of us. We all need each other, Naruto, we need one another."

"Yeah but, I bet he doesn't consider me a friend," he tells me his voice turning kind of sad but, then he looks up at me and smiles then laughs, turning into the Naruto he likes to show the world. I put my arm between his and we continue walking.

"You see, Sasuke is a weird kid. He never tells me what he's feeling but, I could tell that he does consider you a friend in his own twisted way. Believe in me Naruto, he see's you as a good friend, one of only two." I say to him as we continue walking arm in arm. He doesn't say anything as we continue to walk in silence.

I look over at him and he has his eyes closed and a silly smile on his lips. I look at the ground and smile not wanting to say anything or do anything to ruin this perfect moment.

"What are you two idiots doing?" I hear Sasuke's voice from above us, I look up for him but don't find him so I activate my Byakugan and I see him up on the left side of the tree closes to us he jumps down from the branch on to the ground he looks at me his face hard with anger. I look at him totally confused I knew he would be upset but he doesn't have to be that angry. I see him look at my arm, the very same one that is connected to Naruto's, he comes over to us and pushes Naruto away from me and Naruto falls to the ground.

"Sasuke!" I yell at him as I go around him to make my way over to Naruto.

"I thought I told you not to let that idiot know where my training ground is, why did you disobey my order?" he yells at me as I completely ignore him.

"Naruto how are you, could you get up?" I ask him, he smiles at me as he gets up.

"Yeah, don't worry Hinata that stupid idiot isn't strong enough to keep the future Hokage down," he turns towards Sasuke. "Hey, what is the big idea?" Naruto yells at Sasuke as he walks over to him.

"I don't want losers like you to come to my training ground," Sasuke tells Naruto.

"Why would I want to go to this stupid training ground, because if it is yours then I'm sure it is stupid and lame!" Naruto yells at Sasuke.

"I guess you won't know because you will never see it," Sasuke says to Naruto in an angry voice.

"Stop it," I whisper.

"I don't want to see your lame training ground," Naruto yells at Sasuke.

"Don't worry you won't ever set foot in it, only Hinata is allowed and she thinks it's really cool," Sasuke tells Naruto.

"So, she only thinks that because she's really nice but, I bet she thinks it really sucks."

"Stop it," I say a bit louder as I look at the ground as I stand up. Remember, Hinata just like you practiced in your room, all you have to do is act, you could do this, it's not that hard, acting is not hard, I think to myself.

The truth is for the past two months I've been practicing for this day. I knew that the day would come when I would have to go to the extreme and become like one of those over dramatic girls that cry and get angry over everything. I take a deep breath for strength and I look at both boys with tears going down my face, I think of something sad like a the forest being cut down and I know I have a sad expression on my face, I want to smile for my success but if I do then I'll blow my cover. They continue to argue as I suck in a deep breath and yell.

"STOP IT!!!" They both look at me as if I've gone crazy, Naruto looks a little scarred and Sasuke looks like he doesn't believe me. I put my hand over my heart and tell them in a really soft voice that I practiced really hard to perfect. "You guys please, stop arguing…it hurts me here to see you two like that," I look at Naruto and I could tell he believes me I could see a few tears threatening to come down as I look over at Sasuke I could tell he is doubting me that he doesn't believe me. "I love you both and I can't take seeing you guys like this," okay now look at the ground like you are truly sad and heartbroken, start to cry harder, there that is just perfect, now start to hiccup and let your face look as if your in pain, now look up. "I can't take it much longer…if you guys continue like this then…then I'll…I'll have to stop being either of your guy's friend." I say to them as I put my fist in my mouth pretending to bite down on it, then I see Sasuke react and come closer to me, probably to remove the fist from my mouth. I fall on my knees to the ground and put my hands in my hair and bend my head on my bent legs and start mumbling nonsense hoping they won't understand anything I say.

I feel someone put an arm on my back I look up slowly, tears still coming down I make a another expression that I've been practicing really hard to perfect.

I look up at Naruto still hiccupping a bit, my lower lip caught between my teeth but then I remove it and my lower lips start to tremble a bit, my pale blue eyes becoming bigger then they usually are showing a combination of being torn between two friend, feeling helpless, sad, and vulnerable.

Naruto now looks like any minute he will burst in tears he starts to rub his eyes with his sleeve. I smile on the inside knowing he truly believes me I lean over to the side to see if Sasuke is watching instead I find him leaning against the tree looking all around him and not at me. I lose my balance and find myself lying on the ground on my side.

I get angry and get up to go yell at him, I knew this would happen Sasuke only reacts to anger. I square my shoulders ready to do battle with him. I think back to all the times I've seen him angry and copy him. Hey this acting thing is pretty cool maybe when I'm older I could become an actress or something…nah never mind I'll probably still be a shinobi. I sigh on the inside on the outside I look similar to Sasuke's face hard with anger that I don't really feel, my eyebrows in a deep frown, focused on one person only.

He looks over at me looking a bit lazy but when he see's me he stands up straighter and looks around probably trying to escape me because in all the years we've known each other he's never seen me like this. I really and I mean really want to laugh at Sasuke's expression he look like a deer caught in by a pack of wolves once again I find myself smiling on the inside.

I stand in front of him and push him hard against the tree he was leaning against just a minute before.

"Hey, what the hell?" he asks me in his all too familiar angry voice, can he not come up with any new voice, I'm not as scared as I used to be of the same voice actually it's getting quite annoying.

"What the hell is wrong with you, you jerk," I yell at him, he looks at me as if I've gone crazy.

"Hinata what's wrong with you? I bet Naruto has something to do with this."

"You are such an idiot!! It has to do with you too! Do you think I like to be pulled in direction then at the same time being pulled in another direction?" they both look at me a bit confused not really understanding what I' am saying but, I don't care, I'll make them understand. "Well let me tell you both losers that I don't like it at all! I dislike that you two always argue, I'd be okay if you argued every once in a while but, all the time? No, I want you guys to get along a bit better, I understand that you two are extremely different but that is not the true reason why you can't see eye to eye, what is going on between you two, huh?" I ask Sasuke then I look as his face turns pink and he suddenly can't look at me, I look back at Naruto and he too is blushing and looking at the ground. "What is going on?" I ask them truly and utterly puzzled at their reaction, they still don't say or do anything. I feel real tears fall on my cheeks and I wipe them away, I tell them in my genuine voice, that's a bit low because I'm kind of talking to myself.

"You guys if this really keeps going on, I really can't be your friend, and I will not be your referee. I need you guys to get along at least a bit better, also I do not want to be pulled into an argument between you two and have to choose sides. I want to be able to go out with the both of you; I want to hang out with you two. I want you two to get along, I want you Sasuke to see how funny Naruto is, most of the time he's really silly but, deep down he's a serious guy but he likes to have fun. And, Naruto I want you to see how Sasuke is not as serious as he really is, he just tries to act like a grown up but in reality he's just a kid like you and me, all the adults see him as the last Uchiha they are all expecting great things out of him but, they don't understand that he is just a kid like you and me. I really wish you two could get along because what will happen when I'm not around anymore, will you two not be friends anymore, or what? You guys must understand that I won't be here all the time to be your babysitter, I can't watch you two all the time, not that you need it, but the truth is it's highly recommended," I smile at them both. "I just don't like seeing my two best friends not getting along, so you either get along or you could say good-bye to me," I say to them as I run away from both of them I run towards the way Naruto and I just came through. I really hope they could talk this through.

I look as Hinata runs away from us both, I really believe her, I think she really will not be our friend anymore if I don't get along better with stupid Sasuke.

I scratch my head and sniffle, the way Hinata was acting really got to me, she would be a great actress if she really wanted to do that, just remembering the look she gave me while on her knees with her lower lip trembling, makes me blush, or how her pretty eyes become all big, that pretty much sucked me in. Hinata really is such a cute girl, more adorable then all the other girls, yeah, that is right!

I look over at the cause of all my problems as he too watches as Hinata runs away, almost as if he could sense me looking at me turns to face me. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at me through slit eyes, totally accusing me of something without saying a word.

"You, made Hinata cry."

"You made her cry."

"You know what, I don't want to argue with a loser like you so we will have to act as if we are getting along better until Hinata actually believes us then we will go back to how we used to be," he says to me as he starts to walk away.

"You're an idiot; do you think she'll believe us?" I ask him as he stops to look at me.

"Do you honestly believe she won't, did you not see her terrible acting skills? Of course she'll believe us, she's a loser like you so she won't be able to tell the difference," he says to me in his high and mighty voice of his, like he knows everything.

I stay quiet as I think back to how dark and lonely my life was but thanks to Hinata it's different she's changed my life for the better. She brings the kindness that I've been craving, she doesn't look at me with hate in her eyes, she actually believes in me. I think that's what changed that I know there is someone out there who believes in me, sure Iruka sensei does but it's not the same as having someone my own age, sure she's a girl well a cute girl, I laugh at my thoughts but, all that matters is that I have someone I could call a friend.

Well there's Sasuke but he's a whole different story. I don't really see him like a friend more like a rival in more ways then one.

"I think we should get along better," I say to him he stops and turns around to face me looking irritated that I interrupted his walk.

"Why should we, genius?" he asks me as he folds his arms across his chest once more.

"I want to be friends with Hinata and if it means I have to get along with you then I'll make that sacrifice," I tell him proud of my comment and I too fold my arms over my chest.

"Well it doesn't really matter to me," he says as he turns around to walk away once more.

"You really are stupid, you know," I say to him as he stops to look back at me looking just as angry as ever, I too feel angry that he could say that about Hinata. "You act as if you don't care but you know you can't really live with yourself if you can't be with Hinata and talk to her. You are like me you need someone to talk to, and she understands us both. Yet, you are willing to break that friendship up just because you don't want to get along with me."

"I don't need anyone, I was fine before," he says to me as he turns around to face me not walking away again. I think I'm making some progress with him.

"I doubt it. You need her and me just as much as we need you. Your really stupid for taking Hinata and my friendship for granted." I tell him then I continue. "Are you telling me that you'd rather be alone lost in your own thoughts, then to have someone you could talk to and have them try to understand you? Are you saying that you want to go back to your loneliness? I've seen the way you act around Hinata your different, your not as uptight, you smile more, you actually laugh, and you look like a normal kid, not some kid that's angry at the world," I say to him he looks me over trying to find something.

"How would you know?"

"Because before Hinata actually spoke to me, I found myself drawn in by your and Hinata's friendship. Can you believe I envied you, a stupid jerk like you? But, Hinata has this thing about her that makes you want to be her friend, no one can honestly hate her, aren't I right? You've felt it haven't you?" I ask him.

He doesn't say anything as he looks at the ground probably thinking over everything I said, at times I'm truly proud at myself, like I' am right now, I smile.

"How do you know all this?" he asks me as he keeps looking at the ground.

"Because, I was lonely before you and Hinata came along. No one tried talking to me or wanting to become my friend, everyone acted as if I was never around; I was ignored, well that was before I met Hinata, and you. It sucks doesn't it not having anyone being all by yourself having all your dark thoughts to yourself," I say to him. I close my eyes as I sit on the ground looking up at the trees waiting for him to say something.

"Okay, I'll try to be nicer to you but, I'm still calling you a loser, dork, stupid, and all the other names I always call you. I'm not doing this for either of you but, I need people so that I could order around," he says to me with a slight smile on his lips as he leaves.

I just sit here thinking of everything good I just did.

Maybe ten minutes later it dawns on me that I was left alone and I don't know my way out of the forest, then I remember Sasuke's smile. I get up quickly and start to run in the same direction Sasuke and Hinata left.

"SASUKE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!"

A few days pass, then it turns into months then a year has gone by since Naruto and Sasuke agreed to get along better and it hasn't improved that much but, now Hinata is not afraid to intervene and she always gets them to stop, for the time being of course. But, there are times that Hinata can't even do anything about it, so what does she do? Is that what you are asking yourself?

Well it's quite simple she leaves, when she does they continue to argue but a couple of minutes of arguing by themselves they notice that Hinata is no where to be found so they go and look for her. She doesn't necessarily hide but, more like goes and does things she wants to do like, go by some flowers, go to the library to study, go shopping, buy some sweets, or anything that a normal girl would do. But they soon find her and they get along for a while longer but, once again they argue.

The thing about this is they always threaten to beat each other up but they never do.

Now a year later they were walking around the village looking for something to eat other then ramen since Naruto already ate, when they heard…

We were walking around on a Saturday afternoon looking for somewhere for us to eat when we overheard some shinobi talking.

"Oh, look there is the punk, the misfit and the failure, who would've thought that they all would've become friends? They look so weird together," he says.

"I know who would've thought that a Hyuga and the last Uchiha would've been friends, if it's not weird enough why not throw into the mix the Uzumaki brat," the other shinobi says as they both walk away. I stand there looking at the men's backs as they continue to walk. I look over at the two boys and one looks angry and the other looks confused, I shake my head as I look to the ground then I walk on leaving them behind but, they soon follow me, neither saying anything.

"Don't you wonder which nickname belongs to whom?" I ask them and they both look at me like I've gone mental. "Really don't you want to know?" I ask genuinely interested in what they have to say.

"I don't know should I care?" Naruto ask us both.

"I think you should," I answer him and I look over at Sasuke waiting for him to answer. "Is something bothering you?" I ask him as I elbow him.

"No, just leave me alone," he says to me, I keep looking at him trying to figure him out then I turn to Naruto.

"I bet Sasuke is the punk," I tell him.

"No, he's the failure," Naruto says to me as he smirks at me and I laugh.

"Shouldn't you guys be angry instead of laughing?" Sasuke asks us.

"No why?" I ask him.

"They are calling you idiots a misfit and a failure," he says to us I just shrug.

"It doesn't hurt me because I know I'm a misfit," I turn to Naruto and say, "you see I told you he was the punk."

"No, he is the failure, I bet you a bowl of ramen," he tells me truly excited.

"Okay, your on, who should we ask?" I say as I use my index finger to pat my chin then I see Shikamaru resting on his back on a bench with Chouji sitting next to him eating a bag of chips, Shikamaru is lazily looking up at the sky with an arm behind his head. If anyone knows about this it should be Shikamaru, I put my arms between each of the boys arms and drag them over to the bench.

"Hey, Chouji how are you today?" I ask him he looks up at me his mouth full of chips so he just gives me a thumbs up I smile at him then I turn to Shikamaru who is looking at me. "Shikamaru you can't even lay on your own bed or what?" I ask teasing him.

"You may think it's funny but it's not my mom won't let me she makes me run out and do errands so I decided to come here instead of staying at home," he says to me, I nod, he then looks over at Sasuke and Naruto and nods at them. Naruto nods back but Sasuke just looks at him.

"I have a question and I think you could answer me," he looks up at me waiting for me to continue. "We heard some shinobi talking and they called us the punk, the misfit, and the failure, have they been calling us that for a while?"

"Yeah, ever since Naruto joined you guys," he says then Sasuke looks over at Naruto accusing him with his eyes not saying anything and Naruto is just looking at Shikamaru nodding.

"Which nickname belongs to whom?" Sasuke asks him.

"You're the punk," he nods at Sasuke, he looks over at me, "the misfit," and then he looks over at Naruto and says, "and the failure."

I turn to look over at Sasuke and tell him, "I told you," and then I look over at Naruto and say, "Sorry Naruto but you owe me a bowl of ramen," then I smile at him.

"Your wrong Shikamaru, Sasuke is the failure," Naruto tells Shikamaru.

"No, it's you loser," Sasuke says to Naruto.

"Actually I'm not wrong it really is you dork." I see that Naruto is about to argue but then I put my hand on his arm and look him in the eyes and say.

"Naruto who cares what other people think, I know you aren't a failure, because out of everyone in class you are the one that tries the hardest and you never give up. So don't believe what anyone says of you just believe in yourself that's all that matters," I smile at him as I squeeze his arm, he smiles at me.

"Hinata, why do you always have to encourage him? You shouldn't lie to him, he should hear the truth," Sasuke says to me, I could tell Naruto was going to say something to get them to fight all over again so I talk instead.

"Sasuke I' am not lying, I really do believe in Naruto, just like I believe in you," then I turn to look at both Chouji and Shikamaru, "I also believe in you two." Chouji smiles his thanks as he continues to eat his chips and Shikamaru just yawns.

"Yeah, sure can we go eat now?" Sasuke asks me. I nod then I look at the two on the bench.

"Do you guys want to come with us?" Chouji right away stands up to stand next to Naruto and finishes up his bag of chips and nods; I look over at Shikamaru he looks tired.

"Yeah sure, I guess I' am a bit hungry," he too gets up but he stretches a bit before walking over to us.

"So what are you guys in the mood for?" I ask they guys.

"I don't know I' am to lazy to decide," Shikamaru says to me as he yawns.

"A buffet!" Chouji says really excited.

"How about…Ichiraku Ramen?" Naruto suggests. I hear two of the boys sigh as one is actually considering it.

"Idiot," I hear Shikamaru mutter.

"Loser," Sasuke mutters at the same time.

"Actually that doesn't sound so bad," Chouji says, I sigh and I turn around heading back where we started, but, then I feel two different pair of hands get a hold of my arms I look to each side to look at both boys.

"We are not going to eat at Ichiraku Ramen again, I' am really sick of it," Sasuke says to me, I then look over at Shikamaru and he says.

"I really don't want to eat ramen today." I look over at Naruto and Chouji and they look at me with a puppy dog look in their eyes and I sigh as I look down at the ground.

"I don't want ramen either but, if you are still hungry after we eat then we will go to Ichiraku Ramen, okay?" I ask all the guys and three out of the four nod, I look over at Sasuke. "Right Sasuke?" he looks at me then I could tell he was defeated and he nods and lets go of my arm to continue walking, then Shikamaru let go of my other arm and started walking again at a much slower pace. "So where are we going to eat?" I ask them.

"How about…Ichiraku Ramen?" Naruto asks all excited I sigh once more and put my hand on my forehead and shake my head at the ground.

"Are you stupid or what? Did we not decide to go after we go somewhere else?" Shikamaru tells Naruto.

"It's no use just ignore the idiot," Sasuke says to Shikamaru as he too lets out a sigh.

"I' am not stupid or an idiot, I just really, really want some ramen," Naruto whines, "Please Hinata?" he asks me.

"Don't you dare, Hinata," Sasuke warns me.

"Yeah, Hinata if you do then you will die," Shikamaru warns me. I just keep looking at the ground and continue to walk forward ignoring all except Chouji who seems to be debating where we will go to eat. I hear the other three boys arguing and I smile up at the sky happy to have some really great friends.

The years go by as the three friends learn more at the Academy and they all train together at Sasuke's training ground, there's also a good change in Naruto and Sasuke's relationship as the two get to know each other and challenge one another. But it doesn't matter how hard they try but, Naruto just doesn't really get any of the ninja arts. Hinata tries to help him but it's no use, he just doesn't get it and it's no use asking Sasuke for help all he does is make fun of Naruto because he can't do anything really.

Three years go by and soon the day to graduate comes and our three heroes try to get ready for the final exam. Will they pass?

Stay tuned for the next chapter, until then, thanks.