Four Friends, Two Couples.

A/N I made some changes to the final chapter. Well more of that I actually added something more. I thought the original one was a bit boring.

Chapter 4

It was after sunset, of the same day that Naruto had came back from his mission, and the four friends were at the furthest training ground in Konoha. Sakura and Naruto came together, and so did Hinata and Sasuke, all reaching at the same time. There was an awkward silence the moment they saw each other. Hinata and Sakura kept glancing on the ground. While Sasuke and Naruto look away at the forest.

"How was the mission?" Sasuke broke the silence, his gaze still at the forest.

"It was a simple one." Naruto replied. "I don't know why Tsunade Baa-chan gave me the task."

"Even if it was a simple one, I won't be surprised if you come back hurt."

"What the hell is that suppose to mean Teme!" Naruto's fist was already in the air and Sakura was holding him back. Sasuke smirked, knowing very well of his friend reactions.

"Ano, I'm just glad that you came back safe." Hinata added quickly so that Naruto would not feel so agitated anymore. And Naruto stopped struggling from Sakura's grasp.

"Arigatou Hina-chan." He gave a sheepish smile while Sasuke frowned at the quick change of the blonde's behavior when Hinata talked to him. They fell into an awkward silence again. "So what now?" Naruto asked.

"I-I think, it's better if we start with the truth." Hinata spoke, her palms clasped together on her chest. "I – I'll start first."

"No!" Sasuke abruptly interrupted as placed his hand onto her small shoulder, looking over at the couple in front of him. He didn't want her to be the first to own up to her mistakes, when it wasn't really her to begin with. It would seem unfair. She was too kind to have to go through this first. And it would make him a bad boyfriend - perhaps not officially yet, at least not to the knowledge of their friends and families. But he would make sure they'd get there - when everyone, were too at fault. He had kissed her, he had tempted her. If he hadn't...But he had not regret it and he selfishly would do it all over again. Just the thought of being with Hinata, him belonging to her allowed him to feel alive - a sort of happiness, pride, anxiety and enthusiasm - a feeling he never had felt for a very long time since the day he had lost his family.

When Hinata had voiced of her opinion and willingly be the first to start, Naruto was not surprised, he was sure that Sakura was not either. Hinata had always been the one to put the blame on her first before others. Always the first to voice when situations were awkward or tense. It does not matter what she said, but she always somehow managed to change awkward situations. She could stop a fight just by saying 'Please stop' and she did not even have to scream. A staring contest of two rivals ended just because she said, 'It's getting dark' or 'It's going to rain' or even 'If someone could walk me home'. She could make those who threw insults at others to shame just by saying, 'Those are not nice words to say. It hurts.' But when Sasuke had said 'No' and gave Sakura and him, the look. He had to agree with him, that of all people, Hinata should never be the first to say anything.

At the moment that Sasuke had said 'No' it had surprised Sakura. It wasn't because he had stood up for Hinata, Sasuke, would have stood for anyone when it deemed fit. But now it seemed different. There was something in his eyes she had never seen before, not even the times when he stood up for her, the times he had protected her. And she realized that all those time when Sasuke was there for her it had always been platonic, brotherly, team-mate. Just like when they were Genin in the Forest of Death, when he tried to protect her from the Sound Ninjas. This time, with Hinata was different. There was a burning desire to protect her more than just the girl's physical being. He wanted more because, she realized, he truly love Hinata - perhaps for the first time he; likely for the others too; actually knew how it felt to be in love.

"I don't know when or how it happened." Sasuke started, his eyes on the ground. He felt guilty. "All I knew was that I fell in love with Hinata." He looked up to his friends, to allow them to see that it was the truth. He saw Sakura's eyes soften and Naruto looked disbelieved, like he had said something unimaginable. But Sasuke couldn't blame him because he never admitted or said such words to Sakura. Hinata who stood beside him had held his hands and gave him an assuring squeeze. "Sakura. I must have hurt you in one way or another to have you in a relationship with my pretense. I wasn't thinking much when I decided to be with you. I didn't think I could ever feel the way I am now, and you were there. You were convenient. You were the familiarity that helped me cope." He squeeze Hinata's hand tighter. "And I'm sorry for taking you for granted."

Sakura had her head down now. She was partly hurt. She wasn't exactly sure why. Was it because Sasuke never loved her? Or was it because he took advantage of situation? That she was the familiarity. Yes, it allowed him to cope better. She couldn't blame him exactly, she was there for him, she had - blindly - been there for him. And even if he had told her then that he wanted to be with her just because of those reasons and nothing else, she would still have accepted him. It wasn't exactly his fault. However, she was glad at the same time to know that he's capable of having emotions and it wasn't her who helped him regained those feelings.

Everyone was quiet to their own thoughts when Naruto spoke. "I guess I could say the same about myself." He looked at Hinata. "I'm sorry. Sakura was in love with Sasuke then"

"AT least that's what I thought." Sakura quickly added.

Naruto continued "I knew that he didn't mind being with her either. And I told myself that I should move on. And you were there. You were always there. Eversince we were genins." He noticed the shocked expression the others wore. "Yes I knew. But I pretended not to know anything. I just didn't want to hurt you by telling you that I don't feel the same way. You deserved more. But when I decided to move on, I made a choice to have you. Because you were the only one whom could stand my idiocy. And you are nice, kind, understanding, gentle, patient, beautiful and more."

"Naruto-kun" Hinata spoke in a soft voice and gave him a faint smile. "Arigatou"

"Hinata. I love and care for you deeply. I'm happy being with you. You took great care of me. You are a wonderful person. Truly amazing." Sasuke shifted uncomfortably. "But I just couldn't love you like how I felt for Sakura. And I'm sorry for that."

"Naruto-kun. You are a kind person. You had been a wonderful boyfriend to me for so long. You treated me well, you gave me comfort. You made me laugh, it had always been you. Your determination never to fail, always to succeed was a motivation to me, to my life. And I couldn't have asked for anything more." Her tears welled in her eyes. Sasuke had put his arms around her shoulder. "I too care deeply for you Naruto-kun. I guess my deep infatuation for you since I was younger had me believed that I was in love with you. I never knew how falling in love really felt like. I thought I was in love with you. But it wasn't"

"It's funny." Sakura spoke. "It made me wonder, are girls generally like this? Like us? It seemed that we got ourselves easily confused by love and infatuation. But at least for you Hinata, only now you knew what falling in love is like." Sakura shifted her gaze to the grass.

"Sakura-chan?" Hinata asked in a concern voice.

"I'm the stupidest one here." Sakura continued. "Because I was already in love with Naruto years ago. I am not sure when, but I supposed it developed when we were looking for Sasuke. But I didn't know, I didn't noticed. I should have when he was in battle with Orochimaru and his four tails were released. I was worried, I was afraid that I would loose him. I remembered how he went berserk, that he couldn't hear me and all I could think of at that time was for him to come back. Just come back - I won't held against him if he broke his promise of not getting Sasuke back. The promise he made to me. I should have known better when we battle with one 12 guardians and he was kissed by that woman. I was actually jealous. And it wasn't the kind of jealousy I had with Ino over Sasuke. Yet I didn't know."

"Personally, I think all of you are stupid." A figure jumped out from the dense forest.

"Neji-nii! You- you were evesdropping on us?"

"I'm sorry Hinata. I was worried how the situation would turn out, especially, if it had you involved." Neji explained, noticing the arms of the Uchiha around his cousin's shoulder.

"This is suppose to be a private meeting." Sasuke spoke in clenched teeth glaring at the older male.

"Yes, it was." Neji glared back at him. "Unfortunately, your messed up relationships is nothing private to us."

"Us? What do you mean?" Naruto asked, before he realized what Neji meant. "Everyone knew about our- our situations?"

Neji never answered. Before he left, Neji spoke. "Hinata, your father would not be pleased if you were to come back so late again. I'll leave the backdoor unlock" With that, he took off into the darkness.

It was already past ten. They had not even realised that their confessions took that long. Yet they still stood there wondering what to do next. None made the first move to leave because it would have seem disrespectful, non-chalant of what had happened. This time, the carefree blonde aren't so carefree. The raven-haired who always regard most poeple in his life as a waste of time and was feeling torn. The midnight blue beauty, who knew she had to go home would not budge until, everyone thinks this is over. The pink blossom, one whom often with the firey determination and matuarity in her eyes looked like a child.

It was Naruto who broke the silence of conscience. "This is it?" He had everyone's attention. "Is this what we want? At least, I know I wanted to be with Sakura." He paused before he spoke again. "Hinata. Sasuke. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for things to turn out this way."

"Me too." Sakura spoke barely a whisper as she held her tears.

"Naruto-kun." Hinata spoke in tears. It was a mix of joy and sadness. She had after all been Naruto's girlfriend and spent wonderful times with him. "You don't have to apologize. It's I who should..." and she hic on her tears.

"We understand." Sasuke said, as he pulled Hinata closer to him. "And I'm sorry too."

"Are we still friends?" Naruto asked, rubbing his head.

While Hinata was nodding her head, Sasuke only replied a 'Hn'. That was enough to get Naruto and Sakura to smile.

"I better get Hinata home. If you don't mind." Sasuke said and the other couple willingly let them go.

..-..

Naruto and Sakura were still in the training grounds ten minutes after Hinata and Sasuke left. Sakura was leaning against Naruto's shoulder, as they held hands. "It's finally over she whispered." Giving a faint smile. "This doesn't seem so bad afterall." Naruto gave a nod.

"Let me see you home." He said only to have Sakura shaking her head . He peered over his shoulders.

"I want to stay with you tonight." She said as their eyes met. His eyes twinkled in delight before he went red and poked his fingers together.

"Ano...Sakura-chan..." His foot was playing with the sand, making circles. "Don't you think it's too early to celebrate doing...doing...I mean I don't mind..." And he blushed harder. "But...but..don't you think it's like disrespecting them...But if you really want..." He poked his fingers together. "Sakura-chan...you making me embarrassed..."

Sakura looked at him confused before it dawned on her what Naruto meant and gave him a punch into the tree.

"Chikan! Naruto! We are not going to do anything! Argghh!" Sakura gave and exasperated sigh before jumping off into the trees.

"Wait! Wait!" Naruto jumped after her. "Are you still staying then? Yes? No? Sakura-chan..."

--.--

He landed in front of the Hyugaa's compound back door and released the hold of her feet and she slid of his hands, his other arm which had been holding onto her waist when he had carried her stayed. She slide her arms that hung around his neck off and held to his shoulder. They stood there facing each other. She was blushing, since he had suddenly carried her in the middled of their jump. And he had purposely jumped faster and higher so that they'd have to grasp onto each other tighter.

"You really don't have to carry me all the way home." Her cheeks tinted pink because of the close proximity they shared.

"Hn" he lifted her chin up so that she'd look him in the eyes. "Do you always blush this much Hinata?" He asked, as he brushed his thumb across her lips.

She knew he was teasing her, but she could not help but blushed even harder when he spoke of her name in such tauntingly seductive tone or the way he caressed her lips with his thumb. "Sasuke..." she whispered, "it isn't nice to tease a girl like this."

He smirked at what she said. "That so?" And he captured her lips with his. It didn't last long as they were interrupted by someone's cough; obviously fake and Hinata jumped away from Sasuke's embraced feeling embarrased. Sasuke however was agitated for being disturbed.

"Neji-ni. How- how long have you been here." Hinata asked.

"Just. Go in Hinata-sama. The Uchiha and I have something to discuss." Hinata pouted slightly, with her eyebrow furrowed. She knew where this was going but she obliged anyway. Once she was out of sight, Neji turned towards the younger male. "You." Sasuke eyed the older male. "Will treat her right. Or else I won't be the only one hunting you down."

"Hn." Sasuke remembered the day Naruto shared this information when he was officially with Hinata, and he wondered if Naruto were going to be skinned alive by an army of Hyugaas. That, not including the Rookie Nine.

Neji had turned away from him, about to retreat into the compound. "She was never in love with him in the first place. Technically speaking, Naruto did not hurt her. So you can actually say that he'd be safe. But you..." Neji left the other male outside to figure that out himself.

Sasuke gave a sigh and walked back home. He hated being threaten but he hardly have a choice. Anything for Hinata, he told himself.

..-..

The news of the new couples did not take long to reach the whole of Konoha. Apparently, like what Neji said, most of their friends and teachers already knew. It was just a matter of time they would sort it out. For the commoners, most thought that this match was a better fitted one. Thou some were skeptical about the pairing but it mattered not to the four because they were happy. Whenever the Rookie Nine went out together for gatherings, the loud couple will always be the lead, whilst the quietest one would be right at the back.

A/N How was i?. I think I could do better for the ending. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.