Simplicity is Complexity

Chapter 6: Desperate Repentance

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto, it's as simple as simple can be.

Legend:

"…": Speech

'…': Thoughts

Scene Changes are listed in bolded italic brackets.

AN: So… over 2 weeks of no updating? I am so sorry, and I happen to mean it. Life has been toying with my life quite a bit. Busy, busy, I am dreadfully busy. Please forgive me for producing this chapter so late, but stuff got in the way. Thank you all for your reviews, it did cheer up me whenever I needed some encouragement despite how small it was.

I would answer your reviews, however, I assume that the new ruling of no reviews have been passed regardless that a vast majority of authors have sent complaint mails. So, if you really want me to respond, well, do it outside of this website, okay?

Everyone, please consider this chapter a gift to those who bother to care. I will meet you all on the other side.

(Tsunade's office, next morning after the Academy Soccer Incident)

Okay, so I pissed Hinata off beyond FUBAR, but I had plenty of reasons why I considered my actions legitimate. Not the greatest decision, I knew that much, yet I couldn't be the one to blame. It could've been easier to tell her my situation only if she wasn't fake smiling during the whole ordeal. Then again… there wasn't much I could say because she knew better.

I was lazy, so lazy that I didn't put any heart in my lesson plans.

No, that wasn't half of it.

I had no love for the children… I just did as I was commanded, and I didn't have the heart whatsoever from the whole beginning.

An egoist wasn't exactly what I viewed myself to be; at the same time nor was I an altruist.

Results, an outcome where no one cared for the procedure. As long as the requirements were met, I thought it was good enough. If I was who I was three years ago, the previous philosophy was as good as blasphemy.

Man, was I wrong… Hinata wasn't the type of girl who minded the product. In fact, she cared about the developments of things, because those processes affected other factors in the future. Slipped my mind, probably, and if that theory stayed in a little longer perhaps I could've avoided quite a bit of shit. Like I said, Hinata was the careful and considerate one where she strongly believed that gaining maximum harmony and benefit with the least difficulty and hardship.

In short, she was a utilitarian.

My actions had their consequences, and Hinata (and more or less everyone) accused me for creating monstrosities. I did increase their strength and endurance, didn't I? I did a good job! The argument against my thesis was a striking blow to the remnants of my self-confidence. Hinata merely stated my methods only worked during that specific time, and afterwards, my zealots shifted roles from obedient subordinates to terrorists.

The catch was that they weren't outsiders; they were Konoha's kids! Tsunade couldn't propose to hunt down the kids using the usual tactics, since legally they were kids, and so forth, she looked for the one who was responsible for it.

That would be me, of course.

And that was why I was here in the first place.

"Naruto!" Tsunade slammed her desk as she yelled. The poor wooden table creaked slightly by her massive force. It was a miracle that it was still in tact. I had bigger issues now, and I didn't dare not give my utmost attention. Offering my best behaviour had proven useful. "What the hell have you done!"

Hinata was sitting on the couch arms and legs crossed, and while Hanabi jumped onto my back and clung on with her hands. I wasn't looking at her, but I felt her cheek making contact as she began to rub. Somehow, my mind pictured a displeased Hinata staring with some envy.

Who was I kidding? Especially when her eyes were icy, I should have been watching out.

"Ma'am!" I replied promptly, standing in an at-ease position, legs 2 feet apart from another, hands placed on my back, and head leveled high, "I understand your pain!"

"You have no idea what you are about…" she hissed, hands forming into dangerous fists that was threatening to hit me with, "You are even more troublesome than 3 years ago!"

"I don't seem to know where you're getting at."

"Sarutobi-sensei had plenty of records of your pranks in the past," she told me as she took a pile of papers before she placed them onto her worktable. My eyes felt like they widened when I saw the height of her stack. Naturally, I controlled my emotions than to act astonished.

Shinobis were professionals when it came to hiding their true selves.

"What the hell…"

"I was reading some of them when I had nothing better to do. Your stunts include painting the Hokage faces; putting bleach in public pools; adding hot sauce in Sarutobi-sensei's meals; transforming into a woman and go into women's springs; your actions promote perverted customs…"

And she went on…

How I begged of her to stop! For the sake of my safety please stop! I was in no position to argue because of my low genin title. If I gained the chunnin rank, perhaps I had a small spark of hope. As if the world was against me, two sets of energies were detected from behind my body. One exuberant, and the other one deadly.

The happy aura belonged to Hanabi, her giggles rung in my ears repeatedly, and more so as it gradually grew softer and pleasant.

Hinata's, on the other hand… I didn't think a thorough explanation was necessary. With each new prank/immoral stunt was said her killing intent increased. Surely enough, Hinata was smiling. Needless to say, there were unspeakable numbers of hidden meanings underneath. It was safe to assume how screwed I might be.

Hell, her murderous intent was so high that she could've activated the Byakugan.

I hated those eyes –only if they were used on me.

"And there you have it," Tsunade finished, causing me to snap out of my senses. Who knew how many things she listed just now? Come to think of it, what was she talking about for the past six minutes? "What do you have to say for yourself, Naruto?"

Something had to be done fast, I didn't have the time to ponder. My final resort was humility. "Ma'am!" I returned my apologies in my at-ease position, "I am sorry for my mistakes, ma'am! I plead for forgiveness…"

"That would be difficult to do…"

"Why is that?"

"Because I am pissed."

"Because you are pissed?"

"Yes, because I am pissed. Happy?"

"I know the past cannot be changed-"

"As long as the past cannot be changed, I am furious at you!" From what I could gather, she was dead serious about it. "You have done something nearly irreversible! I know the scriptures from the bible says that it's important to forgive others and be merciful, but how are you supposed to take responsibility for your doings?"

"Hai," I spoke back, "I will accept my punishment regardless of the penalty!"

The Hokage gritted her teeth, seething sounds were created as a result of her forceful rubbing of calcium. "I hate it how you apologize so quickly! How could you be so calm about this?"

"Because there is nothing else that I can do, ma'am!" I confirmed, as if it was the most correct answer available. If pride wasn't an issue at the moment, Tsunade would've slammed her head on the desk. As an honourable Hokage, such actions could not be shown, and not to someone as low ranked as a genin.

"Teme…you are taking things too lightly…"

"On the contrary," I justified, still at at-ease position, "I am terribly sorry for the damage I have caused, but my face just isn't registering to the feelings in my head."

"Do you expect me to believe that?" Tsunade was losing her cool rather fast. Hadn't she learned by now that wasting temper on the stoic was a foolish thing to do? I was lying the whole time… I felt no remorse. Sure, Uzumaki Naruto could admit faults even when his heart believed nothing of that sort, and that alone proved my skillful acting.

Talking to Tsunade wasn't all out different from communicating with a politician. It was a fact that she was an expert on politics due to her Hokage rank, but the most crucial point about it all was right in front of our faces. In short, we were professional liars.

Politicians never had a strong will to go straight for the throat and get things over with. To be honest, their motives were to go around the initial subject until they convinced their crowd enough with their "reasonable" explanations –although it meant nothing.

Which words described a politician well? It was hard to decide with the vast range. The one that suited Tsunade was a master of bullshit. For instance, imagine the two of us having a small debate. After my rebuttal and argument, it was only foreseen that she would smile and say 'Although I disagree, I still respect your opinion' right?

Wrong, bitches.

I had no idea what time era we were living in, but what I did know was people here were identical to the ones in the 21st century.

You believed that they meant their respect? Think again.

What she was trying to say was 'You deserve to die, die and burn in hell'. And then in order to keep the battle going, my brain required skillful insults soaked with insincerity and sarcasm.

As far as I could remember, Tsunade was more talented at insults than I was. Therefore, I had to be on my guard.

I cursed inwardly when her next sentence caught me unattended. That witch… she wasn't the Hokage for the sake of image. "You have changed so much, Naruto…"

Was she forfeiting? The precious rage she held before was declining to build after all the pressure and hard work. Did her age have anything to do with this? The theory 'as people grew older, their attention spans get shorter' applied here alright.

I tilted my head questioningly, "How so, Tsunade?"

"I don't even know how to say it…" she groaned exasperatedly, and slumping down her entire body onto her desk, "You've just really done it this time. Your usual pranks may get you beatings or scolding or lectures, but this… what can you do about it? How can you make this kids normal again? They are beyond repairable!"

"They are normal," I said, "Just ambitious. You need to relax, Tsunade."

"Relax, how can I relax with this hell-raising going on?"

"It will be okay," I persisted, although I had no idea what might happen in the near future. My best bet was to pretend that I knew more than Tsunade, "I think you a break would do you a great deal to relieve your stress. How about going to the hot-springs while you indulge as much liquor as your body could handle? I know you like that."

To my surprise, she was actually considering my offer. "Maybe… besides… Iruka did say that the class' performance had improved stupendously. They respect authority and leaders more than anything… perhaps you have done a good deed indirectly… Well, your old stupid self would never have came up with such an ingenious idea anyway." Ouch, what a hit on my pride and mentality. "I have to thank you, Naruto."

"How come?"

"Because you kind of gave me an urge to go to the hot-springs," she elaborated, stretching her arms upward, but accidentally she pushed out her massive breasts, "You know, I will take a small vacation, I deserve one after all. Better yet, I will go to the hot-springs now."

Unexpectedly, somebody opened the office door in a wild fling. Hinata gave a yelp; Tsunade looked like she wanted to scream; and on impulse I leaped a several feet back with a passenger on my back before my right wrist extended a long assassin-like blade, like it came out of my flesh. The density of chakra was high; it had to be powerful when I had be training for all these years to achieve a blade that could cut through anything it touched.

I wanted to know what kind of idiot had the nerve to barge on Tsunade. Fools never learned how to value their lives well, and they would see hell the moment they witness an irrational, pissed off Hokage. I almost had pity for the bastard who came in, but it vanquished once I recognized the intruder. Hanabi was tense just a second ago, but I felt her hands relaxing as soon as my body released the emotional tension. The little girl on my back looked at me funny, wondering why I halted.

"Oh, it's just you…" I muttered, absorbing the chakra from my blade back into my body, "Jiraiya…"

"Did somebody say hot-spring?" my perverted sensei asked rhetorically with a wide grin on his face.

"Jiraiya!" that voice was Tsunade's, and damn was she angry, "How many times have I told you to knock on the door!"

"But once the topic of hot-spring is raised," Jiraiya replied, "I get so excited! Each time… I can see you naked in my mind!"

I slapped myself hard this time. Sure, I destroyed some brain cells, but it would grow back… I think… Did he have to act this way twenty-four seven? Hanabi was here for crying out loud! I stole a peek over at my little passenger, and her cheeks were covered with pink all over it. Hanabi was a young one, and consequently, it was only natural for her to react to such unusual topics. Must've been the naked part, I guessed.

"Baka…" I hissed behind my hand, shaking my head repeatedly from side to side, "What an idiot…"

"Jiraiya-sama! Please watch what you say in front of people!" Hinata angrily called out, "My sister is here, you know that? I don't want any of your bad influences affecting her! She is just on Naruto-kun's back!"

The last sentence was drenched with coldness… and despite that it was small, I was certain that I picked up some envy. However, I ignored it from the time being when I gave Hanabi a small smile. It was a pleasure to see her smile back. It had been some time I saw a cute child's veritable happiness.

I first thought my mentor had my good friend guilt dwelling from within, perhaps my theories were proving to be wrong the instant I saw his sheepish grin. "Oh, oh, oh, the little Miss Hyuuga is here too? Ah, I'm sorry."

Fairly obvious to anyone that Jiraiya's apologies didn't mean much, and especially not when he still had that "grin" on his lips. Hinata should know better than to take Jiraiya seriously at a time like this. My sensei was a disappointment. Sometimes, I wished Tsunade was my mentor, and god willing then I could've learned some decent stuff instead of self-training for years.

Honestly, some guidance was appreciated!

"I don't like him…" little Hanabi whimpered in my back. It was barely good enough for my ears to catch it. While we were talking, Tsunade was currently verbally disciplining Jiraiya with loud yells, and I should have been watching Hinata more closely as she observed us during the whole ordeal.

"Because…" she wanted to ignore my rhetorical question, but I supposed that it was better for her to tell me directly.

"He's a pervert."

"Ah, so you noticed,"

"You know him, Naruto-ni-chan?" she asked, somewhat innocently, yet had the desire to know the answer.

I snorted a little, praying that she failed to hear it. Taking a short breath before I gave a sigh, I tried my best to make my response as hopeful as possible. In other words, my answer was brimming with misery. "He's my sensei, what do you think?"

"That pervert is your sensei!" Hanabi inquired with high degrees of disbelief and discomfort.

"Regrettably."

Her ensuing bold move was to move her head right beside mine. My left cheek was touching her right, and it was considerably farfetched as she pressed on with her head onto mine. Sure, it was comfortable to an extent, it was affectionate, and hell, I found it friendly. To my surprise, my cheeks burned just ever so slightly as my left eye managed to steal one small glimpse at her face. I became speechless when I noticed how endearing the small passenger on my back really was.

Shocking… she was gorgeous in her own way!

It actually made me ask myself if anyone had told Hanabi how appealing she was even as a 10 year old.

"And are you a pervert?" she cringed her eyes, requesting a very sincere reply. A giggle was heard a second later, she obviously couldn't maintain that solemnity for long when she held in no anger whatsoever.

"How lowly do you think of me?" I said back, pretending her statements damaged my image, "You picture me as a despicable individual, Hanabi-chan?"

The girl tilted her head to the side, as if she was thinking about it with some consideration. If I was blind, I might have been gullible enough to fall for it. Still, I had eyes, and my eyes spoke no lies. Hanabi wasn't the best actor yet though. At the same time, I praised her for striving.

"Yes!"

"Right…"

"I am serious!" she began to squeal and pound me repeatedly, "You are so mean!"

"I am proud of it."

We laughed it off amongst ourselves seconds later, and where as the other two old folks were happily or not so happily dealing with another. That only meant Hinata was left alone somewhere in this office, and the people she would ever have an interest to look at was us. Hanabi and I were having fun, and Hinata, unfortunately, was isolated.

I expected jealousy or dislike towards the two of us, but clearly I wasn't anticipating something as a loathsome stare before turning away to avoid any sort of eye contact. Envy was an understatement needless to say, I feared the near future deep to the core of my bones. Something just bugged me about this, and despite how badly I wanted to ignore it, the feeling liked to remain.

Perhaps I could do something than to play with Hanabi right now. I mean, I could talk to Hinata to accompany her, or even welcome her to have fun. What disgusted even me was that I didn't do that. I was selfish and cared about myself only although she had done so much for me. She was the altruist, and in contrast, I became an egotistical egoist. To redeem myself, I had a conscience where I knew I should be doing something. Executing it was another issue.

What caused me to regret most was how Jiraiya came to me before I was able to reach Hinata. It appeared that my mentor managed to find a way to get out of the mess he was in just now –even if Tsunade was merely half done.

"Naruto!" Jiraiya announced, wrapping his arm around my neck like a father would. Call me a jackass, but I never considered it as a family-like action. The more he tried to be fatherly, my negative feelings continued to grow. "I want you to do me a favour!"

"A favour?" I asked, considerably surprised at his sudden need of me. Hanabi blinked as well, wondering what my sensei could be asking out of the blue. "What kind?"

"Hinata-chan," he called out, motioning Hinata to come here, too. The girl, without objections at all, approached us silently before she gave most of her attention to Jiraiya, and the rest on her sister and I, "I really need you all to help me on this. Find as many friends as you can and invite them to a gathering."

Hinata eyed Jiraiya queerly for a second, where as my emotions mostly kept in tact. In all honesty, Hinata did have the right to be suspicious after knowing what sort of ultra, shameless pervert he really was. "What sort of gathering?" the said girl questioned, each word was carefully selected and flooded with doubt.

"A hot spring gathering, of course!"

I felt my face fell. "What…" I asked to no one in particular. Why was I not amazed?

Hinata's interrogation was beyond dry. "Why?" That was all she said.

"Because it's fun!" my mentor retorted, eyes glittering with hope, and he really imagined it as the absolute perfect defense.

"No, Jiraiya-sama," corrected the older Hyuuga girl, her tolerance thinning out quickly, "I mean why do we need to have this… hot spring thing anyway? It's not like we need it." I shifted my gaze from Jiraiya to the not-so-delighted Hinata. Was she saying what I thought she was saying? In my opinion, I interpreted it as if Hinata did not enjoy hot springs like typical women.

These individuals were rare these years indeed.

Then again, no one said Hinata was a norm. Uniqueness grazed wherever she went.

"I know that. Think about it, Hinata-chan, does it look like we need any of these things? But what is important is that you want all of these good stuff and offers."

"Makes sense…" my rider on my back muttered incoherently to my ear. I merely grinned. And it wasn't too long before I poked her butt to tease her. I was the only person who could do that to her and not get slapped.

"I think we would pass, Jiraiya," I told the said sannin, smiling lightly to show my respect and gratitude. It was fortunate enough as it was to have that pervert see one of my real smiles, and I had been putting an effort to show those who deserved it. "I think I will be busy. I rather not waste my time with these events that serves the purpose to have fun and not get anything done."

He smiled; knowing that set of answer would come out of my mouth and no one else. "And I thought I was doing something good for you for a change."

I caught plenty of problems with his sentence, but I was good-hearted enough not to burst his bubble in front of Tsunade. Also, I didn't think exposing my other vulgar facades would improve my relations with Hinata. It could simply get worse. "Good for me? What do you mean by that?"

"You've been working hard, Naruto," he heartened me while patting my shoulder instead of my back due to Hanabi's occupancy. Yes, I had been working diligently, but it was no thanks to him of course. "Aren't you tired of training? Don't you just want relaxation and not worry about anything but your own well being? Love yourself a bit more, since nobody is going to love you any more than you. Naruto, my boy, you deserve to rest."

I smirked with my head low, and thus Jiraiya wasn't able to see my mouth. Hinata, on the other hand, saw it clearly because she was looking from the side. I raised my head higher, and by that time, that smirk disappeared like it never plastered on my face once. "I hate to say this, but I never would've expected that those words could come out from those lips of yours."

Jiraiya sighed purposely. "Being an ass again, I see,"

"I don't see why not though."

My attitude was starting to have an affect on him, which was good for me as a matter of fact. Why should I have cared about how he felt at this instant? He had three years worth of time to return to me, and so my actions were merely a small percentage of the disappointment he gave me.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he inquired, crossing his arms, and looking at me with his serious face.

"You're a sannin," I replied casually, "You figure it out."

Hinata did the unbelievable. Well, it was more of she committed the unexpected within these circumstances. The girl was giggling, and it wasn't hard to assume she was laughing with me. Which part of my words sounded humourous? Could it be Hinata was just plain dark?

She must've been a sadist.

"Are you going to invite your friends or not?" He was at the edge of erupting, my sensei, I meant. I liked having power, since I adored manipulation. He handed me three invitations, and it was up to me whether to accept it or not.

In spite of the fact that Uzumaki Naruto loved being an ass, I still had some kindness nevertheless. "Thank you then," I said, shaking his hand as a form of honour before I took the invitations and slipped into my shirt pocket.

"What about you, Hinata-chan?" Jiraiya turned to the older Hyuuga sister, grinning a wide and undeniable perverted grin as he handed her 3 other invitations. Miraculously, that agitated me. At first it was something I could disregard, but now… it was another issue. I was certain I felt no jealousy. However, I knew an emotional entity was dwelling.

Time could tell me what it was sooner or later, but what worried me was it could be too late when I find out.

"Sure…" she stated, concealing her annoyance and replaced it with a weak smile, "I thank you for your generous treat. I will make the best of it."

"Fantastic! Move along now, my children, you need to find your friends now. You won't have enough time if you linger around here when we need to get going by tomorrow morning."

"So soon?" I questioned as I narrowed my right eye slightly at the news.

"Yes, yes, we must have as much fun as possible with the limited amount of time," Jiraiya explained, taking on an old-man-of-wisdom role, "Tsunade and I would make the final preparations, and all you need to do is to find guests. Are we cool?"

When he put it that way, what else could we say? "Um… sure?"

"Good! Time is short, children, move along now," he was actually shoving Hinata and I (with my young backseat driver) slowly out of the office, as if he was desperate to have some alone time with the Hokage. I wanted to trust him a bit more. I really did, yet I failed to detect which persona he was putting on at the moment.

Once the three of us were outside, his closed the door shut before I heard a small clicking sound on the doorknob.

Needless to say, he locked it pretty tight.

Unclean imageries flashed before my eyes like a time warp. What could Jiraiya do to Tsunade in a locked room? No, no… No! I didn't want to discover the horrors, the bizarre, the vulgar of his lusts!

"What are we going to do now?" asked the little rider on my back, her cheek next to mine. It was good enough to shake me out of my inner bind. Hinata, who was laughing before, changed into an unapproachable girl in less than an instant as her eyes scanned over towards us.

"I am not quite sure…" I murmured back, detesting my indecisiveness, "Should we find some of our friends, Hinata?"

"Why not," came her short answer when I expected something more informative and cheerful. "Let's get going, Naruto."

With that being declared, Hinata turned towards the closest exit before taking the lead leaving Hanabi and I behind. My passenger gazed at me, tilting her head innocently as she wondered what caused her sister to be so cold. I reassured her with a smile although I had no idea what happened either. The only resort I could fall onto right now was observe and tread carefully.

If Hinata called me without a 'kun', something was amiss.

(Moments Later)

We had been walking for thirty minutes now, and we were walking around town with no particular objective at all. At first I thought Hinata knew where the gang usually hung out, in which she did, but I wanted her to take me there so I could explain the details to them as soon as possible.

Konoha was a large town, yet it wasn't huge. And thus, there were no means to have trouble looking for a group of people; especially when we knew them since we were idiotic children.

After a long walk, I couldn't help myself anymore. I had to demand an explanation.

"Hinata," I called, giving a small boost to Hanabi so she could hang on to me easier. Luckily, she was asleep as she let out a moan from time to time. She groaned exactly like Hinata. "Where are we going?"

The leader in lead did not turn around. "Nowhere specifically," she said, "I am just killing time."

"You're not serious…" I uttered under my breath.

I couldn't believe that she picked up my words, "I am very serious."

"Shouldn't we look for our friends instead of walking around like this?"

"You don't like spending time with me?" she immediately countered sharply. Her question was so direct and to the point, yet it was a very simple yes or no inquiry. Why did it have to sound so easy but then it was actually the exact opposite?

Women… what troublesome creatures…

"I don't call wasting time-"

"Does it matter what we do when all you need is to have me around?"

What was her problem? Dear God! "Okay… we aren't 'wasting' time then. How can I feel that the moments are cherished when we didn't talk to each other for the past thirty minutes? No interactions; no eye contact; in fact, I don't think you had the intention to talk to me until I broke the silence."

"Is my sister asleep?"

I wasn't too delighted to see her changing the subject. I was too nice to her, since I allowed it to slide - again. "Why ask?"

"I don't want her to hear this…"

Although I saw no point in her logic, I gladly obeyed… somewhat. Luck was on my side at last when I spotted a large tree blooming with leaves, and therefore it cast down a shadow on the ground. I softly laid down my backseat driver onto the grass before I took off my jacket for her to use as a blanket. As soon as I knew she was still having a deep sleep, I returned to Hinata.

"So, what up now?"

She placed her heads together in front of her growing breasts; her head was low; her body trembled insignificantly except I didn't neglect it; and my first assumption was to picture her crying. She raised her head a few seconds later, and I was quite relieved only to witness a sad expression. Then again, it did appear her look was fighting to maintain unbroken.

In other words, she was suffering from tremendous fragility.

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata whispered sadly, implying that I should be holding her now. To obey, or not to obey, that was the question.

"What's wrong, Hinata?" I genuinely had concern over her well being despite my true desires were to avoid emotional messes. I was an artist of contradictions. I leaned in closer due to my not so perfect eyesight, and even so, I wasn't that bad at noticing that her cheeks were rosy from blushing.

At last, there was the cute Hinata I knew.

If I didn't react fast, Hinata could start crying, and that was something I wanted to prevent at all costs. Resorting to the only option available, I played my sympathetic role as I embraced her affectionately. I felt my cheeks burn when she sighed ever so lovingly in my chest. It soothed my thinking, and it also got my lips to curve up a smile.

"You haven't hugged me in a long time, Naruto-kun," she told me as her arms encircled my body to hold me where I was. Perhaps she did it so I wouldn't escape later on. I wouldn't run away if I didn't have to anyway.

"It's only been a week," I reminded her, nearly kissing his forehead with my head that close. Fortunately for me, I had my libido in control. I dedicated a pact to myself at that instant. And that would be have a civilized talk with my demon master using nothing but our hands… embracing… around by the neck.

"Only?" she challenged me in disbelief, more so because I took the matter very lightly. Or at least I sounded like I did. "I feel lonely without you."

"I do, too, Hinata," I swore to her that this was no lie, even if I couldn't find a motive to desire her company. "Hey, it's alright. We are hugging another right now, aren't we?"

"But I wanted this during the week,"

"I wasn't occupied twenty four seven, you know that."

"But… Hanabi-chan was always attached to you… Even today… I knew if I told her to get off your back, she would whine and complain about how I am a mean sister…"

In all honesty, I couldn't relate how Hanabi could affect Hinata's decision making? If she thought about it, Hanabi should not have been an issue. Both had rights to do whatever interested them, but as the situation was right now, all I thought about was Hinata's weakness at being more initiative.

The appearance she returned practically said that I was too stupid to realize what she was getting at. Could she blame me for trying my hardest? It was her fault for being so vague.

Okay, fine, so I was an idiot, so what? Couldn't Hinata be reasonable about it instead of wounding my dignity and insulting my intelligence?

Something sparked inside me suddenly. Fully grasping the hidden meanings with some accuracy, I attempted to isolate the problem. "Is Hanabi bothering you, Hinata? Is she doing something that you don't like?"

It didn't seem that she wanted to admit her deepest desires. Shrugging and avoiding eye contact were good examples of it. "No… it's not… really…"

I knew her better than she thought I did. Uzumaki Naruto was a cunning man behind the scenes. "Don't lie to me, Hinata," I said, rubbing her incredibly soft back repeatedly to develop a sense of trust between the two of us, "I know there is something that is bugging you. We're friends, remember? You know you can tell me anything."

"Anything?" she blinked with innocence as she asked with a happy yet hopeful voice.

"Yes. Hinata… could it be that you're jealous?"

"Jealous?" the Hyuuga princess exclaimed instantly in a volume that damaged my eardrums, "Do you even know what you're talking about!"

I believed I discovered the conflict at long last. So… Hinata was envious towards her sister.

"Hinata… what is Hanabi doing that is bothering you so much?"

"I told you it's not Hanabi!"

"Yes, it is," I urged on, not willing to abandon this fact just yet, "Or you wouldn't be reacting like this…"

"I'm not overreacting…" she persisted with her argument with not much ability to persuade her audience/listeners. Her strength dropped considerably.

Brotherly instincts took over everything I had in mind. Immediately after understanding Hinata's edginess, I couldn't imagine what I did after. I first held her cheeks with my palms gently, and as if they were being controlled by some supernatural existence my hands carefully feathered her cheeks intimately. Hinata loved affection, and of course her cheeks clearly showed me the rewards of my kindness. She then closed her eyes pleasantly, licked her lips to make it moist, and lastly readied herself to accept a kiss.

I kissed her alright, but I chose to taste her tender forehead.

She radiated like a strawberry as a result. Never had I seen such a magnificent scene after living for fifteen damn years. And I almost missed seeing it despite it was only a week.

"Naruto-kun…" she moaned, smiling with joy and utmost delight.

"What is it?"

"Do you like me, Naruto-kun?"

My face turned from happy to experiencing dreadful death. How could she demand such an answer from me as if it was the easiest thing in the world for a guy to do? To me, it was no different from receiving an order to retrieve a pair of woman's panties (I sincerely hoped there weren't panties for guys. And if there were, well, we all be damned) in her locker, and then presumed to bring it to the girl with her not finding any sort of immorality behind it.

What could I say at a time like this? I was mute, which was exactly what happened.

Calm down, Naruto, I relentlessly scolded myself over and over again, I had to force my head to act softly and precisely for the sake of my friendship with Hinata getting better or worse off. It was evident to anyone that Hinata had feelings for me regardless if it more or less could be infatuation. Despite that, I was too curious to find out than to be negligent. Whatever the outcome, I needed to deal with it and face it like a respectable human being.

Uzumaki Naruto was not good at giving up.

Oh, how I craved to declare forfeit.

I had nothing to lose, I hoped. "Hinata… I…"

She began to assume possibilities as I hesitated. "You don't like me, right? Did I do something wrong?"

Before anything transformed into dilemmas and catastrophes, I gave it my best to solve the misunderstanding. "Hinata, it's not like that-"

Try as I might, it was never quite right. Hey, it rhymed! Okay, fuck that, what I was trying to say was I failed wonderfully. She didn't quiet down, and in addition, she began to worry –greatly. "Is it because you like Hanabi-chan more than me? Am I not good enough? Am I annoying you? Do you think that I was a bitch for not agreeing with your methods? Maybe you think I am not beautiful… or not cute… maybe Naruto-kun doesn't think I am a good girl… Tell me, Naruto-kun! Why don't you like me?"

"I didn't say anything…" I replied, forcing a weak smile and begged Kami-sama to bless me the strength to laugh.

Why did that bastard never answer my prayers? Did He got a thing against me? I could count on Kyuubi more than this Kami-sama bitch.

"I know you don't like me…" she whispered, wiping a tear that actually dripped out of her beautiful, rare lavender eyes. I said this before, and I could say it once more… I truly hated when Hinata needed to cry, for it made me want to weep with her.

"That's not true, Hinata!" my volume rose unintentionally, and it was no surprise to hear a fearful squeak from her after. To the least it reached my goal to get her to listen. "I like you, Hinata. I didn't say anything about disliking you. How did you get such a crazy idea?"

"Because… because… Because you want Hanabi's company more than mine!" Good… she finally spoke her troubled thoughts. In spite of that, her rants didn't end so shortly. "Whenever she is with you, you wouldn't want to leave her side. You don't want to talk to me either… all you want is to play with her… and sing with her… share secrets as if you two are having a sleepover…"

"What's wrong with that…" I questioned, honestly shocked and with legitimate reasons, "Your sister just wants a friend, Hinata."

"I don't mind her making friends," the Hyuuga princess in my arms said. Those eyes… they were stained… full of envy, and suppressed malice. "I love to see my sister happy… but I can't do it this time… I just can't do it…"

"Why? Why do that?"

"Can't you see Hanabi-chan really likes you? She may call you ni-chan, but you and I both know there is more to it. She adores you, Naruto-kun."

I shook my head as I pulled her in closer to feel her warmth. "Hinata…"

"I don't understand… I don't want to accept this… but I can't pretend that it doesn't exist!" I originally thought she lost it. However, her following statement cleared that uncertainty of mine, but it wasn't the way I wanted it to be. "Why does she have to befriend with the person I love so much?"

The next seconds were the most horrifying amount of seconds I needed to face.

What sort of shit did I get myself trapped into?

AN: I happen to love cliffies. Why, you ask? Because it brings forth suspense. No, wait, correct that, please. I should be honest. I just like being an ass. For those who are open perverts, I am sure you guys are smart enough to know what kind of plot would be written next. I will try my best to finish it up within two weeks or so –provided if I could find some time than building Gundams.

This story really has been a blast for me so far. I do hope I could fully complete it ASAP before I have no time to do fictions anymore. Thank you all for your endless support. I truly do appreciate it.