Chapter 2: Naruto's Indecisiveness

Naruto layed on his bed; Staring at the ceiling above him, lost in thought. The lights were off and the only light that reached into his room was coming from the full moon itself. He crossed his arms behind his head for further support, closed his eyes, and sighed.

This is stupid... What the heck is wrong with me...?

The thought of Hinata taking off without hesitation bothered the blonde. He was left signing those kids autographs and taking photos with them which grabbed numerous peoples interests thus wanting him to do the same for them. It took him atleast two to three hours to get to everyone so that they wouldn't feel unworthy to get autographs or photos from and with him. Of course, for the rest of the day, he didn't see the person whom he wanted to speak with.

Sakura happened to caught up to her teammate just as he was walking back to his home. She wanted to know how things were going for him which Naruto simply replied with, "Busy". Although it was late, the green-eyed beauty suggested that the two should go for a short walk and have a small talk. Normally, Naruto would become ecstatic if Sakura would hint that she would like to have some alone time with him. However, this time was different... Naruto had things to think about and he needed to do it alone without interruption. He denied his chance to spend time with her and continued his walk home by himself; leaving Sakura with a raised eyebrow.

Naruto flipped over to his right and pulled his blue covers up to his chin.

"Hinata..." Naruto mumbled as he founds himself thinking about how Hinata swooped in from out of nowhere to put some distance between him and Pain.

Flashback

"I won't let you hurt Naruto anymore!" Hinata bravely spoke to Pain.

"Reinforcements..." The orange-haired man said slowly.

Naruto, surprised to see Hinata standing in front of him yelled, "Why did you come out here? Just run! You can't win!"

"No!" Hinata refused, "I'm just being... selfish now."

W-What's she...

"What's that mean... Hinata? Don't put yourself in danger like this, just go!"

"I'm here cause I... want to be." Hinata then paused for a moment before adding, "This time... i'm going to save you, Naruto."

Naruto's eyes slightly widened.

I... don't get it... Why is Hinata doing this? Why won't she leave before Pain-

The pinned down male's thoughts were cut short when the navy-haired kunuichi continued talking after a momentarily silence.

"I used to be such a crybaby." She began, "Always giving up before I even got a chance to start. I almost took the wrong path so many times, that I lost count... But you helped me find my way and take the correct path, Naruto. I always chased after you; wanting to catch up, wanting to walk together forever with you. You changed who I am, Naruto. Your smiling face saved me, Naruto. That's why, i'm not afraid to die here! If it means I can protect you!"

H... Hinata.. I still don't... b-but why? Naruto asked in his mind. His question was answered when Hinata finished her last sentence to him.

"Because... I love you. I always will."

A soft breeze blew as Naruto stared up at his comrade and friend in complete astonishment She had just told him that she was in love with him and her smile looked as sincere as the smile Sakura would give Sasuke back when the rogue ninja had been in the village long ago.

Naruto felt something in his heart but couldn't distinguish what that feeling was. This was the very first time someone had said they loved him. He didn't know what to say or respond at that moment. Even the thoughts running through his mind had went blank after hearing the words coming out from Hinata. That is... until she took a stance to fight her now strong opponent.

End of flashback

"Hinata... What did you mean by... I love you...?"

Naruto pondered more.

Was what Hinata said true? Does she actually love me? If she does, then what kind of love did she mean? Did she mean it in a romantic sense or in a friend type of way?

Minato's son then threw the covers off of himself and sat up, wildly scratching his head in frustration and confusion.

"Damn it!" He grunted. "Why am I even thinking so hard about this?! I love Sakura!"

The sixteen-year-old then calmed himself and placed his arm on his lap. "I mean... don't I?"

Flashback

Naruto, Yamato, and Kakashi were outside in the Land Of Iron. The ground was coated with pure white snow and snowflakes were falling down from the grey skies above. Sakura along with Sai, Kiba, Akamaru, and Lee had traveled all the way from the Land Of Fire in order to speak with Naruto.

Sakura, being the one to want to have a word with Naruto, approached her comrade when he asked what she and the others were doing so far away from Konoha.

"Naruto..." She stood about a few feet away from him.

"Yeah...?"

"Naruto I... I came here because... I needed to tell you that... I love you."

Immediately, the genin's eyes widened in disbelief. Yamato and Lee were shocked to have overhear Sakura's confession.

"S-Sakura... W-What was that? What did you just say? Cause I don't think I heard you right. Say it again...?"

Sakura, seemed to blush and had a small sincere smile. She looked away from Naruto and answered, "I guess... sure. What I said was..."

She then brought her gaze to Naruto's shocked expression.

"I love you, Naruto." The girl repeated.

The kunuichi then went on to explain about her feelings for Sasuke and how he meant nothing to her. She scolds Naruto for not listening more closely about her confession. Naruto thought to himself at that moment.

Sakura... You said you loved me and that... you're over Sasuke...

Naruto's shocked expression changed to that of a suspicious one. The space between them grew rather discomforting. Naruto went off.

"But why, huh?" He asked while spreading his hands out to each side of him, "Why tell me? If this is suppose to be some kind of joke or something, it's not funny at all, Sakura! What happened?!"

Naruto had a closed fist over his heart. He was already having a feeling that Sakura was making a false confession.

"It's nothing, really." Sakura shook her head. She then made a gesture with her hand, "I... just finally realized my true feelings. I mean, I can't continue to love a rogue shinobi; a criminal, can I? I'm not a child anymore! It's time for me to face up to reality. That's why Naruto, you can forget about that promise you made to me."

Naruto made a face at his friend as she continued speaking.

The promise...

"What's going on?!" Yamato takes a step forward, only to be stopped by Kakashi.

Naruto kept thinking to himself.

That promise I made to Sakura, about Sasuke... Doesn't she know that i'm searching for him because I want him to return home? And about her 'love' for me and her 'dead love' towards Sasuke-

"Look Sakura... What happened to you? You just suddenly started liking me?"

The medical ninja came up with a way to defend herself. Naruto glared at the kunuichi and began to have some memories of her with Sasuke flooding throughout his mind. All those times she cried for him, begged Sasuke to acknowledge her, cried to Naruto to bring Sasuke back to her, and her reaction to seeing the man she cared for after three years, gave Naruto a growing pain in his already battered heart.

Sakura proceeded to embrace Naruto, stating that he was always there for her while Sasuke was not. Saying that she now sees the shinobi in a new light while she sees Sasuke as a stranger. The words Sakura were saying had a negative affect on the hero of the Leaf. It seemed to him that Sakura was lying... Lying about her feelings for Sasuke... Lying about her feelings for him! Again, Sakura had said that she cared for him and before she could say anything else, Naruto became enraged. He pushed Sakura away from him then said:

"Quit it! Just stop, Sakura! This joke of yours isn't funny at all!"

Sakura gave her comrade a look. She then smiled.

"Why are you so upset?" She asked, "I'm telling you, I like you instead of Sasuke. I-It's like that old saying... Women are as fickle as the autumn weather."

This angered Naruto further. His grip on Sakura's shoulders tightened.

"Just stop." Naruto demanded. "I hate people who lie to themselves so just STOP IT!"

End of flashback

"I... I remember... Sakura and I began to argue... and then..."

Naruto shook his head; quickly dismissing this hurtful memory. He positioned himself back onto his bed and pulled the yellow sheets over his entire body this time.

Sakura's deeply in love with Sasuke. I know that for sure... without a doubt.

For the rest of the night, Naruto had no sleep. By the time morning came around, his eyes were red and he didn't get up out of his bed.

In the village, Shikamaru Nara was walking around in the afternoon. Earlier, he was hoping on getting some details about what exactly went on with Naruto's transformation into the eight-tails during his battle with the akatsuki member and tried to get Naruto to open up his door so he could tell him about it but the normally exuberant male was in a whole other mode today and wouldn't open up.

Shikamaru kept walking until he noticed other villagers whispering something amongst themselves and couldn't help but to listen in.

"What's going on here?" He asked a group of women, who took notice of his appearance.

"Oh nothing really too important." One woman answers, "Us four were just discussing about the Hyuga girl."

They mean Hinata.

"What about her?"

"Rumors have been spreading that she stood up to that horrible man Naruto defeated and even confessed her love to him. Haven't you heard of it? I mean, aren't you Shikaku's son? I'm sure that the news should've gotten around to people like you."

"Yes, I am his son. Also, yes... I have heard about Hinata's confession." Shikamaru replied nonchalantly. "But... why does her confessing to love Naruto have such a huge impact in the village. I mean, why do you people even care?"

"Well... Um..." The lady tries to come up with a good reason.

A familiar figure happened to caught interest of Shikaku's son and after saying, "Nice talking ladies, but I got to go", Shikamaru took his leave and followed the person who caught his eye.

"Hinata." He called out.

Hinata turned around. "Oh, Shikamaru."

With his hands in his pockets, Shikamaru strolled to the lavender-eyed woman.

This is going to be such a drag but... I gotta do what I gotta do.

"Did you need something?" Hinata questioned, putting on a fake smile that Shikamaru could see through easily.

He sighed heavily, "Listen, I need to ask you something."

Hinata waited.

"Look... not that I care or anything, but what's going on between you and Naruto? I visited his home just a few moments ago and no matter how many times I tried knocking and ringing the door bell, the guy just wouldn't open up. I heard him say something about you. Though I gotta be honest, i'm not exactly one hundred percent sure what he was mumbling to himself. However, I do understand that Lady Tsunade had a talk with you about these rumors spreading around here yesterday."

Hinata grew uncomfortable and hid her hands in her sleeves then brought it together in front of her chest.

Yes. Even the fifth hokage wanted to know what in tarnation was going on! Almost everywhere she went, she would hear something about either Naruto and Hinata and she asked for Hinata to stop in her office so that she can have a word with her about it though Hinata wasn't really willing to speak.

"I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable or anything." The shinobi noticed Hinata's gesture, "To be honest, myself and the others are just worried about you. We know you haven't been acting like your usual self, Hinata."

Hinata stayed in her position. Her bangs covered her eyes.

H-He's right... I've been crying lately but...

"I-It's n-n-none of your business... Shikamaru."

The area grew silent.

Shikamaru stretched then crossed his arms. "Oh, that's right. I came to talk to you about something else also."

Something else? Hinata thought, What could it possibly be?

"Tell me what you know about Naruto's transformation. Was you the cause of it?"

"I... was weak..." Hinata stared at the ground, "Too weak to protect him..."

"Hinata... don't try to beat yourself over it. If it weren't for you, Naruto would've been captured and ended up most likely dead. You were the only one to come to his aid. You should be proud that you were brave enough to show up at the battlefield unafraid and ready to die for the one you love." Shikamaru attempted to comfort his friend.

Hinata's heart sunk. She still felt like a failure. Without hesitation, she took off running.

"Hinata!" Shikamaru yelled but to no avail.

He gritted his teeth slightly and tightened his fist into a ball.

Man! I knew this was gonna be such a drag!

He then calmed himself and took a deep breath as he watched Hinata hurry away.

Oh well... It's not like I can make her talk if she chooses not to... Maybe i'll go find Yamato and ask about his experiences with witnessing Naruto's other transformations.

As Hinata ran blindly throughout the streets with tears in her eyes, she eventually accidentally bumped hard into someone and fell onto her bottom.

"Hinata. What are you doing?!"

Hinata looked up only to see the man who is none other but... her father.

Author's note: Well! That's it :) Please leave a review. Thanks to those who reviewed, favorite and followed. Hope you enjoyed reading this one.