Here is Chapter 9:

The truth revealed

I hide in a bush, ignoring the branches against all of my body; I activate the Byakugan and find him twenty feet away his back to me. I smile.

I see him look back in my direction but he doesn't seem to notice me but he still comes over. I hold my breath as he stands right before the bush I'm hiding in; I count to three then reach out to pinch his leg.

"What the…" then Naruto appears behind him and slaps him on the back of his head.

I get out of my hiding spot and start to laugh and point at him. He seems upset but, I could tell he isn't really, he's just mad that Naruto and me could get him like that.

"You guys cheated," he says to us while rubbing his leg and touching the back of his head.

"How?" Naruto asks him between laughs.

"You two used teamwork," Sasuke tells us I look up in the tree and ask the person up there who is laughing with us a question.

"Did we cheat Hokage?" he jumps down off the branch and lands next to us his ever present pipe in his mouth.

"No you guys did not, Sasuke lost and you two won," he nods towards me and Naruto. I high five him and he grins at me. "Didn't I tell you guys to attack him with the intent to kill?" he asks us.

"Well we couldn't" Naruto answers the Hokage, "he's our friend."

"That's no excuse when you guys practice with me you always come at me wanting to kill me," the Third says to us.

"It's different," Sasuke tells the Hokage.

"How?" he asks, we all look at one another not really wanting to answer him both boys look at me, I let out a sigh knowing they chose me to explain.

"Well you see Hokage…What I'm trying to say is…The truth is…We think…" I say all this while looking at the ground then I look up and give him a weak smile. "When it's only us three we think of it as a game but, with you its serious business," I wait for his usually lecture.

"Hinata, Naruto and Sasuke you three must understand…" he stops as he notices all three of us copying everything he was saying. He looks at each of us and throws his head back and laughs. He must have forgotten that he was smoking his pipe because it fell on the ground and he started coughing because he was choking on the smoke.

Both boys go behind him and hit him on his back, as I bend down to get the pipe and hand it to the Third.

"I must have forgotten I had it in my mouth."

"You always do," I say along with Sasuke and Naruto but they say it in a bored tone.

"Yes, well…" the Hokage says with a slight blush appearing on his cheeks as he scratches the back of his head. He then turns to both boys and asks them. "What I want to know is why both of you boys can't work together without, Hinata?"

I answer for them because they both just look at the ground or at the tree and it seems that neither of them wish to answer.

"For one Sasuke always orders Naruto around like he's the leader and Naruto the follower, he never takes what Naruto says into consideration," Sasuke looks at me, then Naruto nods at me with his arms behind his head and his head leaning against his arms. "Then Naruto doesn't want to follow Sasuke's orders so he decides to prove Sasuke wrong by doing it his way and it never works." Then it's Sasuke's turn to nod and Naruto's turn to look at me with his mouth open.

"That's not true," he semi-yells.

"Really? Then tell us one time your stupid and crazy plans work," Sasuke tells Naruto.

"Well there was that one time…" but he didn't continue because Sasuke interrupted him.

"You fell into the river and I had to save you from falling from the waterfall," he says with a satisfied smile on his lips, Naruto then gets angry.

"Remember when…" this time it was me who interrupted him.

"You fell off the tree and Sasuke and I had to carry you to the hospital," he gets even angrier.

"That time that I…" the Third this time does not let him finish.

"Your head hit a rock and Hinata and Sasuke had to carry you to the hospital," and we both nod, Naruto's face becomes' really red. He was about to go on but we didn't let him.

"You let it escape," Sasuke says.

"You broke your arm," the Third tells Naruto.

"You embarrassed her so bad that she refused our help," I say.

"You broke it," Sasuke tells Naruto.

"It was just wrong," the Third says and all four of us shudder at the memory and we nod as we recall that event that we never wish to relive ever again. I was about to go on to the next one but, I saw how Naruto was looking, so I stopped. The Third and Sasuke were about to go on too until I shook my head.

I go over to him and rest my arm in his.

"You just have to control your emotions and you'll get better," I say to him really softly so he could know I' am not insulting him.

"I can't, I can't do that," he says without looking at me. "Who would I be like if I control my emotions…like Sasuke? No, thank you," he says as he becomes his old self once more.

"True. We don't want another punk in our group," I say to Naruto as I smile at him. I look over at Sasuke and he's giving me the evil eye.

We've actually grown attached to our nicknames given to us by the villagers. At first both Naruto and Sasuke hated their nicknames but then they both have gotten accustomed to the names. Sasuke would never admit it but he really is a punk (he will deny it of course but try as he might he just is a punk) and Naruto because he wants to prove that he is not a failure.

"What do you two idiots mean?" Sasuke asks us as he crosses his arms over his chest, looking at us, his eyes showing the annoyance he is trying to hide.

"Hey Hinata…Hinata!" Naruto yells out to me I look over at him and he has a goofy smile on his lips. "Look, look I' am Sasuke," he then crosses his arms over his chest and his face becomes serious and he puts on a frown just like Sasuke's and he has this look in his eyes that says: you are all trash, I could kick your ass whenever I want.

I start to laugh really hard so hard my stomach hurts and I can't see because my eyes are all watery, I' am also afraid if I laugh anymore I might pee in my pants. The Third Hokage is also laughing as hard as me and Naruto begins to laugh along with us.

All the while Sasuke watches us with a deadly glare and the same expression Naruto had on and this makes us laugh even harder. Then Sasuke goes behind Naruto and punches down on the top of his head. Naruto crouches down both hands on the spot where Sasuke hit him, he looks a bit like a frog in the position he is in.

"Oww…what was that for?" Naruto whines as he rubs the top of his head looking up at Sasuke.

"For being a stupid-idiot," he answers. Sasuke then turns his gaze on me, I back away putting my hands in front of me.

"Now, Sasuke you shouldn't get angry over something as silly as that. It wasn't my fault it was so funny," I say to him as I continue to back away. He continues to walk towards me, I turn my head back to make sure I won't trip on anything because then he'll get me.

"Sasuke calm down," I say to him, he then stops a few feet before me looking at me.

"Hinata beh…" but the warning was too late because next thing I know I get slapped-upside the back of my head. I look in front of me and all I see is a puff of smoke.

"Hey," I look behind me, "that was a dirty trick," I accuse him. He gives me this superior look and laughs a very sinister laugh (at least I believe it is one).

"You're a liar, I' am a ninja so I' am allowed to use my talents when I want to," he says sounding like a little kid. I was about to point that out until the Third interrupted us.

"I hate to break this very tender moment," he says sarcastically, "but shouldn't you three return to the Academy? Classes started already," he looks down at his watch then looks up at us with a mischievous smile, "actually you are ten minutes late, I wonder what Iruka will do…" he asks as we run away not listening to what else he was saying. We run as fast as we can to get there as soon as possible before Master Iruka gets really angry.

"Wasn't anyone keeping the time?" Sasuke asks us annoyed.

"Well I didn't see you checking what time it was," I say to him.

"Yeah, loser, don't blame us," Naruto says to Sasuke.

"Who you, calling a loser you dope?" Sasuke asks Naruto.

"You guys, we don't have time for this," I say to both boys as we finally make it out of the forest and into the village, we slow down a bit to catch our breath.

"Why don't we skip class?" Sasuke asks us both Naruto and I look over at Sasuke surprised that he would even suggest it, he blushes and looks out into the street ahead. "It was just an idea."

"No we can't miss class remember tomorrow is the final exam to become full fledge shinobi," I say to Sasuke.

"Oh I forgot something, I'll see you guys later," Naruto tells us as he goes in a different direction then us.

"Naruto!" I yell at him but he leaves and doesn't turn back to look at me.

"Just leave him Hinata," Sasuke says to me as we enter the Academy and start to run faster, Sasuke stops right in front of the class room and opens the door, but I was running too fast and couldn't stop, so that's why I now find myself facing the wall that I just hit, I could hear Sasuke laughing at me as I remove myself from the wall and walk over to the classroom slowly. I feel my face burning red from the embarrassment as we both enter the classroom I could hear Sasuke snickering at me but, I ignore him as I face Iruka Sensei who looks at me and quite angry.

"Why are you late?" he asks us as we stand before the class.

"It was the Third's fault," Sasuke tells him as he goes to his seat abandoning me, he doesn't care what Iruka Sensei might do to him since he is the "best" student. So I stand before him looking up at him with a few tears in my eyes, hopefully he gets suckered in with my tears.

"Where is Naruto, was he not with you?" he asks me as he ignores the tears in my eyes, I let out a sigh of relief because if he seems to have forgotten about my punishment.

"I don't know, as we were making our way he said that he forgot something and had to go get it," I say as I walk slowly to my desk next to Sasuke.

"That idiot! Hinata?" he yells at me and I stop walking away and go stand in front of him once more. "Did you actually believe him?" I shake my head as I look at the ground. "Then why did you let him go, he probably went to go do one of his stupid pranks," Iruka Sensei says as he leans his forehead on the palm of his right hand, sighing really loud.

"Iruka Sensei, you know Naruto as well as I, and you know I can't stop him from doing one of his funny pranks," then Iruka Sensei looks down at me disapproval shinning in his eyes, the minute I said funny my fate was sealed. I see him as he sucks in a big breath and I lean back away from him, I wait for his lecture but, we were interrupted by another Sensei, I thank my lucky stars and I once again resume my way to my seat.

"Hinata?" Iruka Sensei yells for me once more, I let out another sigh and make my way over to him once more. "Your friend is as we speak doing one of his stupid pranks," he says to me as the whole class sighs and they all rest their heads on their desks knowing what is to come once Iruka Sensei gets a hold of Naruto. He turns to the other Sensei and ask him to watch over his class while he goes to get Naruto. I follow Iruka Sensei and he turns to look at me with a tired look to him.

"I' am coming with you," I say to him, I then feel someone next to me and I look to my side to find Sasuke there.

"Might as well find out what the dope is doing this time," he says to us in a bored tone, I smile at him as I put my arm between his and walk out with Iruka Sensei.

I can't wait to see Hinata's and stupid Sasuke's face when they see my newest prank, I laugh out loud to myself as I look at my masterpiece, well what I've completed anyway, I go back and continue it, ignoring all the yelling from below.

We arrive before the Hokage's monument and Naruto is hanging by a rope and there are some Shinobi along with the Third. I look at the monument and start to laugh next to me, Sasuke is smirking, everyone else looks at us with disgust except the Hokage and Iruka who look at Naruto with a slight smile on their lips but they soon turn serious. I see Iruka suck in a really and I mean really deep breath, so I instinctively cover my ears with my hands. I don't hear what he says but I see Naruto react and he losses his balance but, it also seems as if he's trying to run away high up there, he then realizes Sasuke and my presence.

"You guys see my greatness, huh? Sasuke I told you I' am the greatest! Hinata isn't this really cool?" he asks us completely ignoring Iruka Sensei; I know Naruto will regret that action. I nod and Sasuke just looks the other way not saying anything but, there is a slight smile on his lips. I smile up at Naruto as he starts to laugh happy with all the attention he is getting even if it is the bad kind.

We return back to the classroom and Iruka Sensei starts to yell at Naruto in front of everyone and he punishes us all for Naruto's actions and tells us to be ready for tomorrow because it's the final exam.

After class Naruto, Sasuke, and me are sent back to the monument to help Naruto clean off the paint, Sasuke complains all the way saying that he has nothing to do with this and all that but, I just take my punishment like the ninja I' am with pride.

The next morning I walk with Naruto in silence to Hinata's house, he must be really worried about the exam today. I look over at him and he is looking at the ground and he seems to be in deep thought, which is extremely weird.

"You'll do fine," I say softly he looks up at me his eyes big and his mouth open showing his obvious surprise over my comment, I look at a different direction and continue, "I mean the third time might be the charm," I smirk at him.

"Sasuke!!! I'll kill you," he yells at me as we reach Hinata's front gate, she looks at us and just let's out a sigh.

"It's really too early to be arguing don't you think?" she asks neither of us in particular, as we make our way to the Academy.

"It's never too early to annoy you Hinata," I tell her as I smile up at the sky.

"He started it Hinata; you should've heard what he said! First he sounds all nice then he says something else that is mean…" he complains to Hinata and she let's out another sigh as she looks up at the sky shaking her head probably thinking: why me? But the truth is that she wouldn't have it any other way. I smile as I see Hinata listen to what Naruto has to say and she reassures him that he will pass and to believe in himself.

It's actually true he will pass this time but, I would rather die then admit to him that I too, believe in him.

Who would've believed that I would have become friends with the Hyuga Misfit and the Uzumaki Failure, and that they make me laugh and smile way more then I ever believed I would after what happened with my clan.

I look down at the ground and clench my fist at my sides, Brother what would you say now? Do you know that I have two friends that make me forget what you did all those years ago? And with them by my side I know I will defeat you and be able to live my life in peace after we do kill you. I think to myself, I feel someone at my side and I look over to find Hinata looking at me her eyes showing her worry for me, I give her a slight smile.

"Sasuke are you okay?" she asks me softly, I nod. I feel her warm hand get a hold offist and loosens my fist so she could put her hand in mine and she gives it a squeeze and keeps holding on to it as we walk.

"Hey you two look like boyfriend and girlfriend," the idiot of Naruto says, I feel my cheeks grow hot and I look over at Hinata and her cheeks are turning red.

"Naruto!!" she says as she lets go of my hand and takes a couple of steps away from me but, then I see something go over her face and she goes back to my side and gets a hold of my hand once more and reaches out to get a hold of Naruto's arm and puts her arm through his and leans over at him and bumps her shoulder against his and he almost falls along with Hinata and Hinata keeps her hold on my hand and pulls me along and I go along willingly, smiling at the two idiots.

We take our seats in the classroom as we get ready to take the final exam, I look over at Naruto and he is quiet looking at his desk and not looking at anyone else. I really do believe that Naruto will pass this time and I' am sure Sasuke does to but deep, deep, deep down.

"You'll do good Naruto, we believe in you," then I elbow Sasuke and he looks over at us with an irritated look in his eyes.

"I don't care as long as I pass," I shake my head as I hear the two idiots argue and all the other kids look back at us and shake their heads but, all the girls look at Naruto with hate in their eyes probably wanting to kill him. I sink lower trying to hide before I hear both boys yell out to me.

"Hinata?" I just lay my head on my desk ignoring both of them.

"Where is he?" I ask Sasuke as we look all around the village for Naruto. We were too busy celebrating the fact that we became shinobi and passed the final exam that we both forgot all about Naruto. We see a few shinobi talking and we hide behind a tree to hear them talk it's weird to see so many of them gathered around such late at night.

"Did you hear the Uzumaki brat stole the scroll from the Hokage?" one asks another.

"We have to look for him and kill him!" one yells.

"No we have to wait for the Hokage to give us orders," some other shinobi tells them.

"Let's just look for him!"

"Do you want the Professor to be angry at us? We should just go to the meeting spot the Hokage told us to meet at," they all nod and the leave.

"That stupid idiot! Why would he do something like that?" Sasuke yells I feel the same way.

"Who cares, let's just go look for him, come on Sasuke hurry before they come back to look for him and try to kill him," I tell Sasuke and we both leave running for our lives looking for our friend in trouble.

We find Naruto before any of the shinobi find him but we find out that he isn't alone and I was about to go to him but Sasuke held me back.

"We'll go if he needs us," he whispers at me, I look at him wondering what he is trying to accomplish by hiding. "We have to see what is going on before we go head first into trouble," I nod trying to hold in my urge to run forward to help Naruto.

We hide behind a tree as we heard what our teacher, Mizuki tell Naruto.

"You have the nine tails fox inside of you," we stayed there as we hear Naruto run away for his life with the scroll, then Mizuki follows him a little bit afterwards Iruka went after them.

I lean my back against the tree as I look at Sasuke who looks as pale as me. I try to talk but, no words come out. I open my mouth again to talk but, nothing comes out still.

Sasuke and I stay here both quiet and lost. I feel the tears come down my face as I look at the ground.

"That's why all the people in the village hate him, huh?" I whisper at Sasuke he doesn't say anything and I don't look up at him.

I stay quiet again lost in my thoughts and emotions. Now everything is making sense the way some of the villager's saw Naruto with fear, or how they never think about Naruto's feelings or how they believe Naruto shouldn't be allowed to become a shinobi.

But, as I think it over the truth about Naruto doesn't really affect me but, my need to be with him does. I want to run after him to protect him and make sure no one harms him that none of the shinobi looking for him trying to kill him.

I was about to go after him but I felt Sasuke's hand hold onto my upper arm, I look back at him.

"Are you sure you really want to?" I look at him as if he's turned crazy.

"Yes, why wouldn't I?"

"Your kidding, right?" I shake my head, determined to do something to help Naruto. "You really are dense! He has the nine-tails in him, Hinata! Who knows he might turn on us or something."

"He would never do that!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Has he done it before? Has he harmed anyone?"

"No, but-"

"Sasuke there are not buts! He needs us, our friend needs us, that is all there is to it!" then he loosens his hold on my arm and I ask him. "Do you want to help him?" I wait patiently outside but on the inside I want to run after Naruto already. I see him think about it, he avoids my gaze as he still hasn't answered me.

I want to grab him by the shoulders and shake him. He shouldn't even have to think about it! My mouth aches to yell at him for not coming up with an answer already. I thought that Sasuke was finally considered Naruto a friend already but, I guess I was wrong.

I want to leave Sasuke behind but I wait to hear what he has to say, he finally looks up and his eyes are different, then I know what he's decided, I smile on the inside.

"Let's go save the loser," then we run off as I activate my Byakugan. A short while later we find ourselves watching as Iruka Sensei puts his headband on Naruto.

"You graduate Naruto," then Naruto starts to jump up in the air laughing, saying how great he is. We walk closer as I smile at Naruto and our teacher.

Master Iruka is injured and looks to be in pain but, he is all smiles as he watches Naruto celebrate.

"We came to help you loser but, it seems we're too late," Sasuke tells Naruto then Naruto falls on his butt as he looks back at us surprised.

"Stupid Sasuke! How many times have I told you I' am greater then you and don't need you! Hinata, Hinata!" he yells at me as he runs over to me as he points at his headband.

"Do you see it, do you? Master Iruka passed me! I get to graduate with you and stupid Sasuke!" he says to me full of energy and excitement. I smile at him as I look over at Sasuke who seems to be angry because Naruto keeps calling him stupid, I watch his eyebrow twitch and I know he's about to punch Naruto if he calls him stupid one more time.

I go to stand between them and hug Naruto.

"I knew you would, congratulation's," I hold him tighter then let go as I rest my hands on his shoulders and keep smiling at him truly happy for him because this is one step closer to his dream coming true.

I look at his face as a deep pink blush takes over his face. But, I forget about it as I look over at Iruka Sensei who is getting up.

I let go of Naruto's shoulders to go over to our teacher to lend him my shoulder.

"Iruka Sensei are you sure you should be walking?" I ask him as I stand next to him to lend him my support.

"I'm fine Hinata. What I want to know is why are you two here?"

"We heard some shinobi talking about Naruto and him taking some scroll from the Hokage. So Sasuke and I decided to look for him and here we are," I give him a fake smile.

"Did you hear Mizuki?" he asks us. I look over at Sasuke and he looks at me. "You did, didn't you?" I look over at Naruto and he looks confused.

"You know our village's secret. How do you guys see Naruto any different then before?" I stay quiet as I watch Naruto become worried as he finally understood what we are talking about, I nod my answer and Sasuke just looks at Iruka not doing or saying anything.

"I understand why the village hates him, now," I say quietly as I keep my gaze on the ground.

"You knew and you guys still came to help him out. Don't you hate him now that you know?" I look up at Iruka Sensei angry that he could even think that.

"Why should I?" I ask him my voice loud with anger.

"You answer me," my eyes soften as I look over at Naruto and tell him in my most honest voice.

"My feelings for you could never change, you are my friend. I could never hate you no matter how hard I try. You're a great person with or without the nine tails inside of you," he looks at me surprised but pleased.

"Sasuke?" Iruka Sensei looks over at him as do Naruto and I.

"I don't care, he's still a loser either way," he says directing a smirk in Naruto's direction.

"At least I' am not a loser!" Naruto yells at Sasuke.

"You are," Sasuke responds in a bored voice giving Naruto his back annoying him even more.

"I' am better then you fight me!"

"Why would I waste my time fighting a wimp-loser like you?" Sasuke says as he continues to walk away with his hands in his pockets and Naruto follows him.

"Sasuke!! I'll get you for that!" Naruto yells as they go in the wrong direction, instead of going out of the forest they are going deeper into it.

"Master Iruka we should leave," I whisper at him.

"Are you sure we should leave them like that?"

"Yeah, they'll get tired then come looking for us, come on."

"Are you telling me they won't fight?"

"Yeah, when they argue it means they are getting along or bonding. That's how they communicate with each other," I tell him as we start walking away hearing Naruto yell even louder.

"They have a weird friendship," he says more to himself then to me.

I smile up at him and say, "I know isn't it great?" Master Iruka nods his answer as he smiles down at me.

Well until next time, thanks.