AN: Oh man! I must have re-written the beginning of this at least 4 times! I had such a hard time with this one. No matter how I started, I just wasn't liking it. So here I am, I finally got this to where it feels pretty good. Honestly not my favorite chapter, the first half is kinda 'eh' but I like the second half, so hopefully everyone else will too. I have a clearer vision for the next chapter so I know it will be better. Sorry for the long wait, but here you go.
Hinata smiled as she watched Natuto enter the flower shop; she had arrived at Naruto's apartment just as her cousin had been leaving, and she had stayed, waiting to see if she would get a chance to see the blond. She had been just about to give up and go home when Naruto had stepped out of his apartment, locking his door behind him.
Since Kuranai-sensei was out on leave, they had been limited to simple missions on the days when there were no Jounin free to go with them. Her team had easily completed their mission for the day and reported back to the Hokage as usual.
Kiba had immediately run off with Akamaru shouting something about training; Shino had slipped off in his usual mysterious fashion, mumbling about collecting new specimens. With the departure of her teammates Hinata had gone off to indulge in her favorite hobby: Watching Naruto.
Oh Naruto-kun! He's gotten so....tall while he's been away.
As usual the blond seemed unaware of the fact that he was being followed. She moved silently from one shadow to another as the other ninja walked casually along the street with his hands deep in his pockets.
Though he was still the same Naruto that she had always admired, she could tell he had grown in more than just height. He whistled as he walked, something she had never heard him do as a child, and he moved with confidence and grace that had to be a result of his training.
Naruto-kun....you get more amazing every time I see you... I wonder if I should talk to him...?
She followed him as he turned into one of the main streets and made his way to the Yamanaka flower shop, The door to the shop closed with a clank and she slipped out from behind the lamppost and put her back to the wall beside the window. She reached into one of her many pockets and produced a small hand mirror. She held it in front of her and angled it so that she could see what was going on inside the store.
The flower shop? I wonder what Naruto-kun could want here. Oh my... what will I do if he's buying flowers for a girl he likes....?
Being a ninja, Hinata had been trained in stealth like all of her former classmates, but after spending several years watching her crush; she wouldn't allow herself to use the word stalking, she had become more adept at it than most of the other ninja in Konoha.
She was painfully aware that what she was doing was creepy, it was an obsession she knew, but she followed him in the hopes that someday she would have the courage to walk by his side.
She turned away from her thoughts and back to the mirror; she felt a twinge of jealousy and regret as she watched Ino and Naruto laughing together.
If only I were stronger then maybe I could talk like that with Naruto-kun....
She felt the familiar heat on her face and knew she was blushing, but she continued to watch as Ino handed a bouquet to the other blond and he started towards the door.
With a start she realized that once he came out of the store there would be no way that he would miss her. She looked around trying to decide where she could hide without having to pass in front of the window.
Hinata breathed a sigh of relief when Naruto turned back to Ino; the small pause gave her the opportunity to spring onto the roof just as the taller ninja left the store.
She peered over the ledge as Naruto carefully tucked the flowers under one arm, shoved his hands back into his pockets and walked back out into the streets whistling away.
Hinata continued to follow him from the rooftops, idly wondering who the flowers were for and where he was going.
She was so caught up in her musings that she didn't notice Shikamaru until it was almost too late. She gasped and hastily retreated a few buildings before dropping into an ally and activating her Byakuugan.
Whew! she slumped a bit in relief when she saw that neither of the young men seemed to have noticed her, Shikamaru-kun would have noticed for sure. I'll have to watch them from here.
She closed her eyes for a moment, Thank goodness that I have Byakuugan!
She watched as Shikamaru handed a bag to Naruto who accepted it happily. Shikamaru said something she didn't catch, and she smiled as Naruto pouted at his friend, before relenting with a laugh; his grin returning full force.
She moved to to roof tops again preparing to trail them as Naruto followed Shikamaru out of the ally and into the street once more.
The pale-eyed kunoichi frowned as she watched them through her Byakuugan, forced to keep some distance between the boys and herself.
She wasn't worried about Naruto catching her, she had been following him for far too long to be worried about that, but Shikamaru was a different matter.
Shikamaru-kun is smart. He's too perceptive to miss me.
She watched as Naruto and Shikamaru sat down and ordered tea; sighing as she lay flat on her belly on the cool rooftop admiring her loved one. She jumped when Lee suddenly bounded into the shop. She had been so focused on Naruto that she had not noticed the approach of the older ninja.
She frowned as the spandex clad ninja blocked her view of the blond.
I could use a bit more chakra to look through him but....
She blushed furiously at the thought of what she would see during the transition and decided she should just wait.
Just as quickly as he came, Lee grabbed onto both Naruto and Shikamaru and pulled them out of the shop tearing through the street at a speed that she had no chance of matching. She watched them with her Byakuugan, slightly increasing her chakra to follow their movements.
She saw them enter the training grounds and began to follow; exasperated by the turn of events. As she stood she let her eyes rove over the area.
Oh no! she jumped down into the street and entered the shop, Naruto-kun forgot his things!
She reached for the forgotten items and thought briefly about asking the waitress to let her have them, but deciding it would be too much trouble to explain herself, she just took the flowers and the package and left.
She looking longingly at the daffodils in her arms and took a deep breath, inhaling the lightly sweet scent.
I wish I knew who Naruto-kun got these for....
She smiled sadly at the flowers, I'd better get these back to Naruto-kun. she blushed, Now I have to talk to him! What should I say....?
She followed the familiar paths to the training grounds, taking her time, Once Naruto-kun starts training he can work for hours. her smile widened, He's always getting stronger.
She approached the training grounds cautiously, reactivating her Byakuugan so she wouldn't suddenly walk into her former classmate's training.
Hinata sighed in frustration when she saw that both Kiba and Chouji had joined the others, I'll have to move downwind or Akamaru and Kiba-kun will notice me for sure. The distance should keep Shikamaru-kun and Chouji-kun from seeing me too.
She watched in awe as Lee and Naruto fought, I can't understand why the boys fight for fun! I know they see it as a form of bonding she shook her head, but I just don't understand it.
She had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing as the two combatants flopped to the ground side by side; shortly after Shikamaru, Chouji, Kiba, and Akamaru emerged from the safety of their tree; then she saw them talking.
Naruto looked upset so she decided the risk being discovered was less important then finding out what was bothering him; she moved closer until she could hear what was being said.
Shikamaru sighed, "I have to admit, it was stupid, but at least you have a valid excuse this time."
Kiba shrugged, "Why don't you go back to the shop? The might have held onto it for you."
Oh! Naruto-kun must have noticed that his things were missing!
Naruto smiled hopefully at the Inuzuka, "You think so Kiba?"
Chouji put a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder, "It's worth a try isn't it?"
Naruto grabbed his jacket and ran to the edge of the clearing, "Yeah! Thanks guys!"
They watched as he sprang into the trees and took off at an incredible pace.
Shikamaru shook his head, "How can he still have so much energy? That guy is a freaking chakra factory!"
She started to call out to the blond, but her voice came out as a squeak, she let out a frustrated sigh as he disappeared into the trees.
No, Naruto-kun! Shoot, what should I do now?
She paced back and forth in the training grounds, hugging the packaging to her, and debating whether or not she had the courage to chase after her favorite ninja.
Hinata nearly screamed as a heavy hand fell on her shoulder; she twirled on her heel falling into a fighting stance on instinct and cursing herself for letting her guard down.
Shino raised his hand in greeting, ignoring the fact that he had just scared his teammate, "Hello Hinata."
Hinata let out the breath she had been holding and slid to her knees with the missing gifts still tucked under one arm. "Shino-kun! You scared me!"
Shino pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, "I'm surprised that you didn't notice me coming."
Hinata blushed, sensing the gentle reprimand behind the bug ninja's words, "I was thinking about something else. I'm sorry I snapped at you Shino-kun."
"It's nothing," he paused and leaned against a tree before continuing, "You were thinking about Naruto."
Hinata's blush intensified, "Why do you say that Shino-kun?"
The dark haired nin crossed his arms over his chest, "You were mumbling to yourself."
"I was?" she looked up at her friend, "Oh dear. Yes, I was thinking about Naruto-kun." she held up the packages, "These belong to Naruto-kun. He left them behind at a tea shop and I wanted to give them back to him but...."
"You got nervous and couldn't talk to him."
She tried to mutter an excuse, but she stopped when Shino put his hand on her shoulder once more, "Hinata, believe in yourself. Naruto already thinks of you as a friend. He'll be grateful to you for returning his things."
Hinata bit her lip, "You think so Shino-kun?"
Shino nodded reassuringly at her, "You're stronger than you think Hinata." he pulled away from her and put his hand back in his pocket, "You wait here. If you do I'm certain that he'll come back."
She put a hand out to him as he started to walk away, "Do you really think so Shino-kun?"
He turned back to her and nodded and Hinata could have sworn that she had seen the beginning of a smile on his face, "Yes, trust me. Naruto won't give it up easily, so give him a chance."
She started to say something else, but he sprang away in the direction of the city.
"I know Shino-kun is right, but I wonder what he is going to do. He seemed really certain that Naruto-kun is coming back here today."
She leaned on the tree that Shino had vacated, Since Shino-kun says to, I'll wait here.
She waited for almost an hour and she hardly took her eyes off of the gifts, I think I know who these are for now... she shut her eyes tightly, Naruto-kun.... I know you like her, but, I just don't want to think about it.
She was lost in thought, but her head snapped up when she heard someone crashing heedlessly through the trees.
She looked up to see Naruto running towards her, "Hinata!"
She pushed herself away from the tree, "Naruto-kun!"
He came to a skidding halt in front of her, grinning from ear to ear, "Hinata you found them! You're the best!"
Hinata's eyes widened, "How... how did you know to come back here Naruto-kun?"
The blond looked down into her eyes, making the Hyuuga blush, "Hmmm? Shino told me that you were waiting here to give them to me."
"Oh! Shino-kun did...?"
She handed the gifts to him, "Here you go Naruto-kun. I'm glad I was able to give them back to you."
Naruto grinned as he took them from her, "Thank you Hinata, you really saved me! I owe you one."
Hinata twiddled her fingers out of nervous habit, "Oh It-it was really nothing Naruto-kun..."
He shook his head, "No, I'll make it up to you some how, but I'm in a hurry so I have to get going."
"Ah, I understand."
He ran towards the edge of the clearing, then stopped and jogged back to his friend; she looked up as he smiled at her then gently tugged a single daffodil from the bouquet and held it out to her.
His eyes softened as he looked at her, "Thank you Hinata."
She tried to stutter a response, but he suddenly threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly, "I've really gotta go, but I'll take you to lunch this week. Okay?"
"Ah-ah.....Naruto-kun....yes, thank you.."
She sank to her knees as he disappeared into the forest once more; she looked down at the flower he had given her, "I got a flower....from Naruto-kun...."
She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the blossom, and tears of happiness came to her eyes, "I got a flower from Naruto-kun!"
She stared at it for a moment more before passing out against the tree with the flower laid gently across her breast.
Naruto-kun.....
