I know I deleted the other chapter one but I didn't like it - this one is much better. Much, much better. And it's more interesting and doesn't sound like a poem to me. Anyway, I do hope you like this chapter! And thank you for the reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, nor any similarity to Romeo and Juliet

Love Story

-AU- "Runaway with me Sakura," Naruto whispered. She nodded, smiling lovingly , "Yes." Two opposite people, two opposite worlds that weren't meant to collide. Yet it's a Romeo and Juliet, a love story, and opposites are meant to attract. -NaruSaku-

Chapter 1 – Arrangement

"So Shikamaru, are we getting enough funds?" Naruto questioned the pineapple-haired teen the following morning. The Konoha Motor Club needed funds, desperately and every event won meant money for the club.

He sighed and nodded, "But not enough to last us forever," he paused, "Keeping up this place isn't easy and it isn't as if membership fees are enough either." Fact is, there were no membership fees.

Naruto frowned, "So you're saying we need something to keep a steady income?" The brunette nodded in response. "Then don't worry about money, I'll make sure we have enough," the blonde continued, his tone dropping.

He'd have to use that plan

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow disbelievingly, "You already make the most money for the club Naruto, and you win a lot more than everyone." It was strange; the blonde never acted or looked this serious.

Naruto's instantaneously brightened and he grinned, "I know. I meant that I'll enter more races." 'Shikamaru can't know,' he thought inwardly, hiding his inner torment. The decision was big – no huge – and would change his life forever.

Yet he'd do it, he'd take one for the team

-----

Sakura Haruno gazed intently at Hinata Hyuuga – her best friend – and sighed. The girl had been blushing intensely since first period. And she, as Sakura Haruno, was going to find the cause of the staining red.

'But Hinata won't talk and I've tried every subtle hint I can think of,' she frowned. Maybe being subtle wasn't working; she'd have to blunt in order to learn. "Hin-a-ta chan," she sang, emphasizing the syllables.

The lavender-eyed Hyuuga startled and hurriedly faced Sakura, "Y…e…s Saku…ra-sa…n?" she mumbled, obviously embarrassed.

"What are you blushing about?" Sakura bluntly responded, smiling innocently as she did while tilting her head sideways. "You've been distracted the entire day and you've been unnaturally red the entire day too." The idea seemed to be working, Hinata looked flustered.

"I…I…I…I," Hinata murmured and gazed downward, the blush intensifying. She wouldn't, or couldn't, meet Sakura's playful, albeit questioning, emerald eyes. "I'm going to meet someone today."

Sakura's eyebrow rose, "Is that it? You're meeting someone today?" she disbelievingly queried, voice laced with haughtiness. "I meet new people everyday but you don't see me blushing." It seemed harsh, the way she acted toward the timid girl, but she was Sakura Haruno. She was queen.

Hinata's face dropped at the comment, "I'm meeting my fiancé" she whispered, continuing her downward look. She wouldn't dare face the pinkette.

Sakura's eyes widened greatly in shock and surprise, "You have a fiancé?" she asked, utterly flabbergasted. Hinata Hyuuga was engaged? Sakura hadn't known this detail yet she felt she should've.

Which best friend wouldn't want to know their best friend was engaged?

Hinata meekly nodded, "Our families decided it long ago when we were too small to care. But both his parent's died and so he was given a choice to marry me or not and he said no. Yet now, he's reconsidered and I'm meeting him today after school."

"To be honest," Hinata stammered, "I'm actually quite nervous to meet him. I only have fleeting memories of him."

Sakura immediately spoke, "Then I'll come with you for moral support." She was impressed with the idea and quite proud of herself. Now she'd meet the man that Hinata was going to marry – it was her duty as the best friend to analyze the man and make sure he was worthy.

Well, that's what she told herself

Hinata's face brightened and she smiled sweetly, "Thank you Sakura-san."

The pinkette only nodded

-----

The Hyuuga mansion loomed before him

It was intimidating to say the least

'You're doing this for the club,' Naruto chanted like a mantra. He'd take a hit for the club, for the people he loved and trusted because that's just what you did. No questions asked.

His engine purred beneath him and it brought a smile to his lips, at least that was one good thing.

He glanced at the watch he wore on his left wrist and gulped. He was five minutes late. Hiashi Hyuuga wouldn't be impressed – not in the slightest.

He approached the gate and frowned as it opened before he reached it, they'd probably seen him coming from some camera or other. 'It feels like I'm riding to my execution.'

He entered the manicured estate, and gawked at its size and appearance. Well groomed lawns of bright green surrounded each side of the cobbled path whereon he drove. At the bottom of the white-coated walls were seas of pink, blue and red flowers with names he'd never guess. The house before was like a giant (it didn't help that it'd been built atop a hill) and he gulped. He stopped his engine and dismounted the bike and lowered the sidestand. He then pulled the black helmet from his head and hung it over a handlebar.

With a quick hand through his hair, he stepped to the entrance of the mansion.

This day would not end well

-----

"So glad you could make it Naruto-san," Hiashi Hyuuga greeted the leather-jacket clad teen as she stepped into the entrance hall. He inwardly winced as Naruto's heavy-soled shoes 'tapped' on the marble tiles. They'd have to be cleaned later.

Naruto smiled lightly in response and threw his head in a greeting. Then he remembered Hiashi wouldn't know of such a greeting so he hastily offered a hand. The elder Hyuuga grasped his hand and shook it, somewhat marveling at the blonde's steady, firm grip.

"You've grown since I last saw you two years ago," Hiashi commented, inwardly disgusted at the boy's apparel but he would make no comment. "When you rejected the marriage proposal I didn't expect to see you again."

'I didn't want to see you again,' Naruto wanted to add yet contained himself. This wasn't the time, nor the place. "Well I've recently turned twenty so I'm hoping I would have grown."

Hiashi's smile weakened as they released their hand-shake, "Please follow me Naruto-san. We will go into the study where we can talk."

Naruto nodded and silently followed, not uttering a word.

The hallways blurred by, each more decorative as the last yet Naruto didn't notice. The dull thud of his and Hiashi's shoes hitting the now-carpeted floor reverberated throughout his mind. He was regretting this decision – the club would have found the funds without this madness.

He'd never fit in the Hyuuga family. The pictures that adorned the wall were filled with uptight rich people, people he couldn't associate himself with.

A smell lingered in the air, filling his nostrils as he walked. It was the smell of solitude. All that lived in these walls were caged, unable to escape the Hyuuga name. He didn't belong, no, he didn't want to belong.

He should run, run faraway and never return. He needed to escape and not look back.

Yet he couldn't.

He did this for the Konoha Racing Club

They reached their destination and Hiashi beckoned him into the dull, lifeless room. He shivered as he entered and goosebumps coated his skin. It was cold. And it wasn't from the air-conditioner.

"Please sit Naruto-san," Hiashi prompted and the teen obliged, settling uncomfortably into the plush leather.

Hiashi silently treaded to the opposite end of the table that separated himself and Naruto and sat down gracefully. "Why don't we get down to business Naruto-san?"

The blonde nodded, "I'm guessing you know that I didn't just decide to get hitched to your daughter out of the blue."

"You want something, or rather, you'll gain something," Hiashi added, his smile fading. "I know all about your little motor club that is in need of funds."

Naruto stifled a growl, "Apparently you know then," he grunted through clenched teeth. "Then can I ask why you still accepted me?" Surely they Hyuuga wouldn't for such selfish reasons. Hiashi Hyuuga would too gain something from this arrangement.

"Your father was a man of stature Naruto-san," he began, "Your mother might have been something he pulled from the street (At this Naruto's rage boiled) yet I respected your father. He had wisdom far beyond his age. You are his son, and I am inclined to believe that you shall one day be as he was."

Minato Namikaze was a well-known, well-respected man within the business community. He was a leader, the best, and a hard-worker filled with determination. He was not a prideful man, but filled with compassion. He was well-liked by all, despite his witty and playful nature. He was able to land any deal and alter any mind in his favor. The man was a legend.

Kushina Namikaze was rumored a middle-class worker. She was beautiful, longed after by many, yet the day she and Minato crossed paths no other would enter their minds. Minato pursed her, finding she was an equal to himself in nearly everything. She also held something important of his – his heart.

It was a scandal the day Kushina had been seen with a wedding band gracing her finger. It didn't help that Minato wore an almost identical ring on his finger. They married not too long after and soon an unceremonious bump was seen on Kushina's usually toned stomach.

She was carrying baby Naruto, son of Minato within her womb.

On the 10th of October Naruto Namikaze had been born a healthy baby at Konoha general hospital.

They lived a normal, happy family life until Naruto was ten years of age. Then the nightmare happened.

Minato Namikaze had been confirmed dead of an unidentified cause and Kushina Namikaze had disappeared without a sight – probably kidnapped, but assumed dead.

"I promised your father I would look after you if he died before you were eighteen," Hiashi stated, breaking the silence. "And I did until you were sixteen. Then you ran away and became a 'biker'." Disgust was evident on the Hyuuga elder's face at his words.

"We managed to track you down when you were eighteen and you refused the marriage," he paused and frowned. "But I will never forget the promise I made to your father, which is exactly the reason why I am accepting you and allowing you to wed my daughter."

Naruto nodded slowly, computing the information, "So then I guess this is a debt to my old man then?"

"Hinata has taken a liking to you too. She was devastated at your disappearance four years ago."

'Hinata-chan,' Naruto thought while remembering the shy violet haired girl. They'd grown up together with fond childhood memories. He'd trusted her greatly and loved her to an extent. Not eternal love, more sisterly love.

How much had she changed in four years? Had she grown? Had she outgrown her timid nature? Too much time had passed.

It was at that moment the door to the study was forcibly thrust open.

"Go in there Hinata-chan!" a loud, boisterous voice called and a figure was pushed into the room.

Naruto's sapphire eyes widened at the realization of the figure. It was Hinata-chan, with long hair and a feminine frame. Not that he'd thought otherwise, he just noted it now.

She was beautiful, that the young blonde could not deny. Her dark locks reached mid-back. Two side bangs framed her face elegantly. A pair of light lavender eyes were cast to the side and a deep-red blush coated her cheeks. Soft lips were pushed tightly together in embarrassment as she stood.

Yet it wasn't the shy Hyuuga that caught his attention, it was the loud one behind her.

Her waist-length pink hair was tied in a ponytail with a thin red ribbon. Bangs framed her face on each side. Bright, emerald orbs greeted him and shone in the light. They held certain mischievousness within them, something which interested him. But he knew they also held a fierceness you wouldn't want to toy with. Full lips smiled eagerly as she stood behind her friend.

Hiashi was annoyed at the interruption yet nevertheless retained his calm stature, "I see you and Sakura are excited to meet Mr. Namikaze Hinata," he coolly spoke, freezing all.

Naruto's eyebrow rose, 'So her name is Sakura eh?' he thought, swiftly meeting her playful gaze. She stared back, unable to break the lock between them. Not that she wanted to anyway.

Hinata nodded, "It's nice to see you again Naruto-kun," she whispered and bowed. "It's been a long time," she added. Sakura rolled her eyes and gently pushed Hinata forward, surprising the girl.

Naruto stood and smiled warmly, "I guess it has been awhile Hinata-chan," he confessed and awkwardly hugged the girl. He quickly released her and glanced at Sakura, seeing she was doing the same.

"Sakura Haruno," she introduced herself and held out a dainty, creamy-skinned hand. Naruto softly grasped it and marveled at the softness. They shook hands, keeping eye-contact before releasing their hands.

"Naruto Namikaze," he responded and noted her confusion at the surname. She'd probably heard of 'Namikaze' before and he didn't seem to be the fit.

Hiashi cleared his throat, gaining all's attention. "We have business to finish."

-----

Details of the wedding had been drafted and planning was to begin immediately by the time Naruto stepped from Hiashi's office. Hinata was keen to marry him, for a reason unknown to himself and Hiashi, and the date was made to be as soon as possible.

Hiashi had also promised that money would be anonymously donated into the bank account of Konoha Racing Club by that evening. To sweeten the deal, Hiashi had added an extra 'donation':

The Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa

The fastest production bike on the market, reaching a restricted speed of 300km p/h. Hiashi could it get unrestricted and with that power, Konoha Racing Club would be unstoppable.

This one he'd take for the team – easily.

Only one problem, Hinata would be at the race this Saturday. She wasn't the problem; it was her pink haired friend.

She'd distracted him the entire meeting by merely twitching a muscle or blinking. How'd he concentrate for an entire race knowing she was in the vicinity? He could still smell the scent she used and it haunted him.

He didn't like this.

He didn't like these emotions she stirred.

Naruto shook his head. He needed to go for a very long ride.

Hopefully it would clear his head, hopefully.

Well I hope that was interesting! We learn about Naruto's past in this chapter and so I hope it was interesting and so-on!

Till the next time!

Loreylock :)