The silence didn't end when they left the hospital room. It followed them as the walked to the training grounds. Each was so trapped in their own thoughts, coming up with their own reasons for Naruto's defection. They hadn't known where they were walking to until they got there. They had been following Sakura and she had lead them to the old Team Seven training grounds.

She sat in front of the middle pole, "On our first day of training, Naruto got tied to this pole by Kakashi, because he tried to steal Kakashi's lunch." The others smirked and giggled a little, Naruto would do something that stupid. "I thought he was an idiot then, just like everyone else, I guess." She smiled sadly, lost in the memories this area offered her.

"Why are we talking like he's dead? He's not," Kiba stated. "He's fine and now he's home. No more reminceing about how Naruto changed our lives! Now we get to make new memories." He looked at everyone. They knew he was right. Each one of them had spent time in the last five years to think of Naruto, to miss Naruto, to wonder what happen to him. And now that time was over.

"Right. He's home," Sakura agreed. "They both are."

"We should give them the benefit of the doubt. Let them explain before we jump to any conclusions," Shino stated. Sakura nodded in agreement. They probably had a great excuse. An amazing one.

"It looks like rain, perhaps we should head home. Tomorrow will be…interesting. We should rest up," Neji spoke firmly. The others walk in separate directions, each headed home. Sakura sighed. She was startled when she realized Hinata was still there next to her.

"Hinata?" She knew the look in those pale eyes. It was the same one she had. Sadness and a hit of betrayal.

"We went out. On a date," she whispered, looking down, away from Sakura.

"Who?"

"Naruto and I. We went out. A few times…a few months before he left." Hinata didn't move. She looked at the same spot on the ground.

"He never mentioned…"

"We weren't telling people. We didn't want my father to find out. But we were together. We were…we were in love." With this revelation, she peered at Sakura.

"It's hard to picture Naruto in love," Sakura smiled, "But I bet he would be good at it." He was affectionate and attentive. He would be a good boyfriend…husband…father. He would be a good man. He probably was a good man.

"He was. He was a great boyfriend. Before he disappeared for five years."

"You loved him for so long, you waited 3 years before. Did you wait another five?" Sakura asked. The rain had begun to fall gently.

"I don't know. I don't know if he is the same person. I don't know if I am the same person." Sakura knew that uncertainty. She had felt that uncertainty for many long years.

"I know what you mean."

"Are you still waiting for Sasuke?"

"Maybe." The rain fell harder.

"We should head back. Before we catch cold." Hinata was glad it was raining. It hid her tears.

"We probably shouldn't still be waiting. They broke our hearts," Sakura said, and Hinata knew she was crying too. At least someone could understand.

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She should have gone home. But it had been so long. She just wanted to check. To make sure he was still there, in that white room, in Kohona. He was. So was Sasuke. It was late and she thought they would be sleeping. Luckily she heard their voices first, so she remained in the hall, unnoticed and listened to her teammates. She heard Sasuke first.

"Tsunade said you could leave tomorrow as long as you behave. Though, if I were you I would probably choose to stay away from all the eyes."

"They're more interested in you than me, I'm sure. You are the last Uchiha heir after all. Me, I'm just the boy with the demon. Actually, you would think that would make me way more interesting than you." She heard Sasuke laugh. It was a very foreign sound. She wasn't sure he had ever laughed before.

"You will always be more interesting than me, nii-chan. Thankfully." Nii-chan. That was the second time she heard him call Naruto that. They had grown so close. Where did that leave her? They were brothers…what was she?

"You really are boring. Someday the pretty girls will realize that…and then turn their unwanted attention to me."

"Please, you haven't shown any girl any attention. You are too caught up in the past…preoccupied with a quiet little heiress that probably hates you."

"Shut up, teme!" That was loud, but not angry…it was more pained. As if he knew it was true. But prayed it wasn't.

"Sorry. But it could be the truth, nii-chan. Maybe she moved on. Five years is such a long time."

"We'll face tomorrow when it comes. We should find Sakura first. We owe her a lot. She deserves some type of explaination."

"And an apology."

"Tomorrow is going to suck, huh?"

"Probably."

"At least obaa-chan let you stay."

"You are a grown up now, Naruto. Maybe you should call her Hokage."

Naruto laughed. "That will never happen. I gotta keep all the power from going to her head!"

"You should get some sleep. You are looking a bit peaked." Sasuke's concern was evident in his voice. He really did treat Naruto like a younger brother, even if it was only by a few months.

"Stop. This isn't your fault. At all. So stop it, already!"

"It was that jutsu. It wasn't ready to be put in battle. It drained you."

"No, it was me. We hadn't slept in a day in half and I was wasting chakra, like usual."

"Just get some sleep. You'll need to be rested tomorrow. Who knows what Sakura will do to use tomorrow."

"We deserve it." Naruto yawned and she could tell he was falling asleep.

"Yeah, we do."