She hasn't been herself since her cousin's death. He was something more to her, and she wanted to be selfish. After some time, he had finally opened up to her. He even treated her like they were siblings. She should've known he would give his life for her. He said it himself, back in the Chuunin exams, his destiny was to serve her.

Clutching her chest, she felt that stabbing in her heart at the thought. It wasn't what she wanted! She wanted him to be around, helping her train and laughing with her. Just being with her. However, she knew it wouldn't happen. The sooner she believed it, the better off she'd be.

"Neji-niisan..."

Silence reigned over her, and she couldn't help herself, the tears fell from her eyes and hit the ground softly.

"Why...? I'm not worth saving! You should've been the one to rule over the Hyuuga's. You were smart, dependable, a proud genius. Father always cared about you more than me. Even now... Father won't admit it front of me or Hanabi, but he probably wishes you lived to take over. I've always been the failure of our family. I don't understand why you would protect an heiress like me. I'm never going to be the daughter father wants..."

"What's so bad about that?"

Scared, she jumped before looking at the man she's loved since being a genin. Not trusting her voice, she remained silent as he approached his tombstone. She couldn't look him in the face, knowing he heard her depressing speech. She didn't want the man she loves seeing her so vulnerable, so weak. It's all he's had to do since they first met.

He stood beside her, a hand in his pocket. He hadn't seen the young ninja since Neji's funeral, and as much as it killed him to see her so sad; It killed him more to not see her at all. He frowned at those emotions, constantly swirling around in his belly. Each time he'd visit the Hyuuga household, Hanabi would tell him her sister wasn't around or she'd be training. What he didn't know was she hid in her room, ashamed to be seen by her friends.

"I... I used to think the same way as you... Hinata."

She turned her gaze towards him, shock in her eyes. She wanted to say something, deny how she was feeling, but she knew it was hopeless. Around Naruto, she was a mess. Everyone was able to read right through her, if it had anything to do with the blonde boy in front of her.

"But you're lucky. You have a home, a family you see everyday. They may not treat you nicely, but they're still around for you. I'm not going to say it's necessarily a good thing, having such a noble family. But, I've always wished to have parents. To feel worthless, as though you're not important enough. An outcast in your own home, I've lived that way my whole life. Obito wasn't wrong; I am scared of going back to that solitude that I somehow grew out of. I became too dependant on my team to be there, my friends I always expected to say hi to me. I became a needy, selfish boy."

"I-"

"However, I don't mind feeling that way any more. I learned to trust in my friends, my team. Everyone somehow became my family again. And you know what? It's normal to put your life on the line for people you care about. I feel that Neji's death wasn't in vain; he saved all of us. He saved me, you... and everyone who lives today. Everybody lost someone important to them in this war. Hinata... There's one thing you should know,"

Turning to face her, he gave her a comforting smile before resting his hand on her shoulder, "Neji.. He chose to protect us of his own free will. He didn't die because it was his destiny. He died because he wanted you to live. He didn't want to see you die in front of the entire village. He wanted you to live with us... To live with me."

She felt her breath hitch before bowing her head. She felt her shoulders shake, evidence showing she was crying, but she didn't want to show him her tears. She longed to hear those words from his lips, but she prayed they weren't out of pity. When she looked at him through her bangs, she saw the sincerity and seriousness in his eyes. She felt the doubt fade when his warmth wrapped around her, showing he was there for her to lean on.

"You can cry Hinata.. As a ninja, we're told to endure the pain and loss of a comrade. But, if we didn't show an ounce of compassion to the people we fight along side with, we don't deserve to say we are comrades. We definitely lose the right to call them friends, and as long as we remember those things, only then can we call ourselves true ninja."

As a Hyuuga, she was constantly berated for showing her tears to others. When Naruto or her friends are around, they willingly accepted her flaws, without putting her down. They never once spoke badly of her for being part of the Hyuuga clan. Nor did they ever compare her to her cousin. For once, she was able to be herself without ever feeling alone.

She felt her hands tighten on his jacket, as though she was fighting with herself to push him away. Feeling his arms tighten around her, she willingly caved in, relaxing into his embrace. His jacket took in her tears, wiping them away softly to show no evidence of her crying. He smiled sadly, resting his head gently on hers, allowing herself to succumb to his caring nature.

"Naruto-kun..."

He hummed, trying to focus on her words instead of the feeling of her breath hitting his partially exposed neck.

"I... I love you..."

He chuckled, causing her to look at him in shock.

"Do you remember when I called you weird back when we were kids?"

She nodded, not understanding where he was going with this.

"Well... Do you remember what I said after that?"

"How could I forget? You said you like weird girls like me." she replied before staring at the ground, a light blush on her face.

"Yeah.. Well... I take that back... I don't like weird girls like you."

Noticing her eyes widen in shock, as though she was ready to cry, he grinned, "I love weird girls like you."

Feeling her face burn in embarrassment, she hid herself in his jacket, smiling as much as he was. They both stood there, Hinata changed her position slightly so they were beside each other, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, as Hinata stared at the grave.

"Thank you... Neji-niisan."