Nothing Is Easy In Konohagakure
They sat in Ichiraku's bar, Naruto going on an on about his new jutsu. He really did enjoy talking to Hinata—she was one of the few people that seemed generally interested in what he had to say, and never, ever interrupted him by calling him stupid or dobe.
"And so Ero-sennin said I need to live up to the Flash. And I can't do that without making a real original move, so that's why I'm making it," Naruto finished up before gulping down the last brothy remnants of ramen.
"Ah. What are you going to call it?" Hinata asked curiously.
"I don't know. Ero-sennin and Kakashi-sensei said naming should come after developing it. Do you think that after I make it people will start acknowledging me?"
"Naruto-kun, I believe all the important people have already acknowledged you," Hinata said with a small blush, averting her gaze from Naruto and concentrating on the last piece of pork in her ramen.
Naruto paused, staring at her, dumb folded. "Yeah… I guess you're right. But I still want the villagers to acknowledge my greatness," he said smugly, flashing her a smirk. Hinata giggled at Naruto's cockiness, her hand delicately covering her lips to keep it from turning into a full-blown laugh, even though she knew he wasn't trying to be that funny.
"So, what's going on in your life right now?" Naruto asked before ordering another bowl of ramen, already knowing that Hinata would always let him order a second bowl, even if she didn't order a second one herself. Some days, she didn't eat at all—she would just sit at the counter.
Hinata looked down sadly, still unsure if she should even tell him about it. Naruto could tell something was going on because of this, and he leaned forward. "Hina-chan?"
'Naruto is the one who holds the Kyuubi…'
Hinata looked up and checked around the bar. The man who ran Ichiraku's was in the kitchen, cleaning up for the night. Ayame was somewhere else, and there were no other customers. Asking now wouldn't be so bad…
"Naruto-kun, you're the Kyuubi container, aren't you?" she asked calmly, not wanting to sound cold. Any sort of coldness in her voice would give anyone—especially Naruto—the wrong impression.
"I… I… Hina-chan, I…"
"Yes or no?" Hinata asked with a small smile, using the same words he used when he asked her out on a… well, not exactly a date, but close.
"Yeah… I am… But…" he began, attempting to explain.
"Don't explain. I see now. I understand why you strive for recognition. Naruto-kun… I don't think you're the monster. I think they are," she whispered. She stood, offered him a soft smile, and excused herself. She walked out of the bar, leaving a silent Naruto behind her as she went.
Shino stood just outside of the bar, awaiting Hinata's exit. "Are you still the coward you were all those years ago?" Shino asked coldly and smoothly, Hinata now finally aware that Shino had been waiting for her.
"What… what do you mean?"
"I commend you for asking about the Kyuubi container, and for the compliments and reassurance. But, Hinata-chan, you had the perfect opportunity to confess…"
"I… Sh-Shino, why d-do you even care?" Hinata asked, the stutter slipping out once again.
"I want to see you happy, and I myself wish to be happy as well. I, however, have no chance of happiness if you aren't," Shino explained. He walked closer to Hinata. She never would have expected what happened next—he actually touched her shoulder. He never touched anyone, unless it was during a fight. She, taken by surprise and off-guard, winced automatically.
Shino's eyes narrowed. Even if she weren't expecting to be touched, she wouldn't have winced like that. That was a wince of pain, not a squeamish wince.
"Hinata. Take off your jacket," he commanded.
"Oi, Hina-chan! Wait up! Oh…" Naruto called, stopping when he saw Shino and Hinata talking. "I'll just…."
"This isn't finished. We'll talk later," Shino said, a little more comforting than usual. He walked away, leaving Hinata and Naruto alone.
"What was that about? Man, he's weird…" Naruto observed for the thousandth time.
Hinata giggled lightly, and sighed. "Nothing…" she explained.
"What's wrong with you? It… it's not me, I can tell. You… didn't act cold towards me, and you didn't treat me any different. You… really don't care, do you?" Naruto asked, anxiously waiting Hinata's response.
"No, Naruto-kun. I do not. I believe that… that your experience as the container… has made you who you are. The Naruto-kun I…" Hinata began, her resolve to finally tell him that she liked him. Shino had given her that resolve, and she was prepared to do it.
She was interrupted during her confession when Naruto charged at her, grimacing as she fell to the ground unceremoniously. She could feel her bruises and scrapes screaming, the pain rippling through her body.
"Arigatou, Hinata…" he whispered, his face buried against her stomach. Hinata blushed, but she smiled, though she was slightly uncomfortable, and she lifted her arms to embrace Naruto tightly.
"It's okay, Naruto…" she said softly, blushing automatically as she realized that she didn't use any honorifics.
Naruto didn't seem to notice, and Hinata could feel wet, warm tears of happiness, sadness, or relief—perhaps a mix of all three—following onto her stomach. He really did look like a child at the point, and Hinata simply hugged him tightly. After a few minutes of sitting there like that, Hinata finally gathered the courage to kiss the top of his head.
She paused, waiting to see his reaction. He just sniffled, sat upright. He looked down, as if he was embarresed, wondering silently if that was what having a mother felt like, and contemplating where Hinata would get upset if he asked her or not.
"Naruto-kun… I love you," she blurted out, suddenly embarresed that she had used 'love' instead of 'like' and that she hadn't led up to it at all. Naruto's head shot towards her, surprised that she had just said something like that so out of the blue.
She stood up and turned to leave, wanting to run away from the embarrassment of having done what she just did. "Hinata!" he called standing up as well, making Hinata freeze in her tracks.
"H-hai…?" she asked, stuttering slightly.
"Go out with me tomorrow?" he asked nervously, not sure how to really ask her out.
"Sure…" she answered back shyly. "Oh! Training!" he gasped out.
"Skip it. I'll give your excuse," the cool voice of Shino sounded.
"Damn it! Have you been here the entire time?" Naruto yelled.
"I couldn't miss Hinata's confession," Shino explained, as if that gave him an excuse.
----
"Neji, you shall keep watch over Hinata's progress in her relationship with Naruto until her marriage. Understood?" Hiashi asked a kneeling Neji coldly.
"If I may ask, why?" Neji asked.
"… I do not wish her to get to the point of marriage with someone who can possibly become Hokage. Of course, I shall make it worth your while. If Hinata and Naruto do not progress, and she marries Shino Aburame, then I shall arrange for you to marry Tenten Ama. Am I correct in assuming you have affections for her?"
'Damn it--How'd he find out? Lee? Sensei? Or has he just been observing me…? Wait. That's not possible. I don't show it. It was Lee or sensei. Definitely,' Neji thought bitterly.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I shall never arrange for a marriage. It is not uncommon for Branch family members to not be married—more than half of them remain unwedded and have yet to have children," Hiashi explained coldly.
"And if I fail?"
"Then you will be disowned from the clan. You shall be exiled form the clan's house, and yet remain under the control of the clan. You'll enjoy none of the luxury of living here, but you'll continue to suffer the pain of being a Branch member and continue under my, and every other member of the family's, control," Hiashi explained coldly.
"Understood. When should I start?" Neji asked, showing no sign of his anxiety in regards to the punishments.
"Immediately," Hiashi said, dismissing Neji from his study. Who knows when Hinata would finally get over her crippling shyness?
----
Neji walked through the town, searching for Hinata. He had utilized the Byakugan, and the sooner she was found, the better. Neji had determined on his own that, if they were to find out, it would not bode well for them. He was being extremely cautious, working hard towards finding Hinata.
He finally spotted Hinata, Naruto, and Shino, lurking in the shadows, outside of Ichiraku's. Neji was far to far away to be able to hear them—and that was probably the best way to stay—but he could still lip read form afar.
'Shit. He definitely asked her out… and she replied affirmative. I must destroy their relationship before… before it gets any further. Perhaps there is some piece of information that he does not yet know? Would Hinata have gathered up enough courage, or have even thought to tell him of the wedding arrangements? There is not sure way to tell, unless I confront him face-to-face, and then, of course, Hinata would find out of the plans…' Neji mused to himself. 'Perhaps the best way would be to let them grow a little, before ruining them. Perhaps I should ask Hiashi for a favor…'
Neji walked away, sighing in annoyance as Shino finally revealed himself. 'I cannot do anything at this point. I'll report back to Hiashi…'
----
"I see. And your plan?"
"My plan is to ask Naruto to inform Hinata of a marriage meeting with her soon-to-be husband. I sincerely doubt that Hinata has told Naruto of her marriage arrangements. She may have gathered enough courage to confess, but I doubt she'll have enough courage to tell Naruto that she's an engaged woman," Neji explained.
"Go on," Hiashi instructed, leaning forward, interested in the way his nephew's mind was working. 'Just like Hizashi. When we were kids, he was an amazing prankster…'
"I also suggest that you have Hinata plan the wedding—with supervision, of course. After all, if her time is consumed doing something mandatory like that, and cannot possibly include Naruto, then they may not have time to allow their relationship to bloom," Neji continued.
"Agreed. The way this is going, we may as well make a double-wedding," Hiashi said with a smirk.
"Arigatou, Hiashi-sama. I shall continue to work with our plans, then," Neji said, dismissing himself. He stood up, gave a low bow, and exited the room. 'I'm being manipulated. I feel like a damn puppet…' Neji thought, his hatred for his uncle growing.
----
"She's skipping training?" Kurenai asked with a frown.
"Hai, Kurenai-sensei. If I may, I think that this is a positive step for Hinata," Shino said, using his extremely odd polite tone of voice.
"How is that a positive step?" Kiba demanded, growling slightly about something that Hinata was apparently being allowed to do, but he wouldn't have ever been.
"… She's on a date with Naruto," Shino explained quietly, not wanting to spread rumors—even if they were true.
"Oh," Kurenai replied, her mouth an 'O'. "Well, if you see her before me, tell her that she's undergoing rigorous training to repay this—and ask Naruto to join us in training. You two can have a day off," Kurenai said with a sigh, waving her hand and using her other hand to massage her temples. 'Perhaps Asuma can give me advice…'
"… Would you like to have lunch with me?" Shino asked Kiba coolly, the same tone of voice one would ask someone else if they would like a second plate of food.
"… Sure," Kiba finally decided, shocked that Shino had asked him on what felt to be a date. "Any particular place?" Kiba asked casually, not wanting to turn it into a date if it really wasn't one.
"Sushi?" Shino offered.
"Okay," Kiba replied loudly, for he loved eating raw fish and rice. And to have them in one meal—well, that was heaven. Akamaru even barked in agreement, and Shino smiled lightly at the happily reply from the dog.
"… Can Akamaru come, too?" Kiba asked tentatively, for most restaurants didn't allow dogs. In fact, that was the reason Kiba ate outside much of the time.
"We'll order it and eat outside," Shino offered.
Kiba's huge grin was enough of a response for Shino, and Shino simply led Kiba to a small sushi bar, located strangely close to Ichiraku's.
A/N: No, I didn't make Neji a bad character. I love Neji—and I would never make him evil. I showed his clever side and showed his motives for allowing himself to be manipulated by his evil uncle. I also decided to make Tenten and Neji's relationship harder, and I of course changed Shikamaru to Sakura, which makes it seem even harder for Hinata to get out of her marriage with Shino. The next chapter will be mostly a light, date chapter—but I doubt I'll have a lot of Kurenai/Asuma, but of course, it's there if you pay attention. ;D Kiba and Shino's relationship is also more developing, and Naruto will, of course, start training with Hinata's team.
These changes are more than slightly major, and the story may go in a more serious direction. There are quite a few more changes left to make, but I believe that the new way of doing this story is an improvement. I hope you still enjoy it! )
Good news! I have internet now! Updates will be coming more and more rapidly, now. And I will start replying to reviews. xP