Hiashi forced himself to walk away, rather than come out of hiding and demand an explanation from Hinata. He wished to know who her boyfriend was, and where she got the new style from, but considered his daughter's change. If he would burst into her life in such a vulgar manner, he would lose her completely; she would always defy his will and become an unsuitable heir to the Hyuga family.
Hinata trained until morning. She stopped for what looked like a break, to see if there was any presence of her father lurking about. Satisfied by the fact that nobody was watching her, she put her shoes back on and walked back to the social part of Konoha.
Naruto woke up from a knock on his door. His head felt like it was splitting in half, and his muscles were so sore, that he dropped to the ground when he tried to stand up.
Upon hearing a loud thud on the ground, Ino burst in through Naruto's door. "Hey, blondie," said the girl coming over to the kid on the floor to help him get up.
"You shouldn't be talking," replied Naruto.
Ever since several months beforehand, there had been a chain reaction of change in people's personalities. Naruto was undergoing a special training he created for himself, formed from the advice of a very confused friend of his named Kiyoshi. He started playing chess with himself, writing down all possibilities he had for his next move, and choosing the best. The training stabilized his mind, he was able to think seven moves ahead, and consequentially his clear and flawless thinking calmed him down into a cool, yet social teen.
Hinata's confession changed her completely, in both; mind and appearance. She was no longer shy; Naruto's acceptance wiped all her doubts off clean, and nobody could intimidate her or make her feel sorry for herself. Her old sweater was long gone, replaced by a sleeveless black shirt, with her forehead protector tied around the waist, and a loose scarf around her neck. She even made attempts to color her hair every once in a while, but Hiashi always forced her to wash the dye out.
Ino had given up on good looks ever since the arrival and quick departure of her love. She had destroyed her shallow and immature self when she started training for the boy named Kiyoshi, trying to better herself to find a place in his heart. Her love didn't return from his mission, but kept changing her never the less. She became good friends with Naruto, seeing what Kiyoshi saw in the former sergeant loudmouth. And now failed to see what she once saw in a boy named Sasuke. She watched Sakura in pity, as her good pink-haired friend wouldn't give up hope on Sasuke's return.
The changes in several of Konoha's ninja brought on more change in others, creating new links and bonds of friendship throughout Konoha, thus making the village smaller and familiar to everyone. People became less prejudicial, the dawn of a new generation was starting to change the old one's heart. Yet it still wasn't enough for the seniors of Konoha to stop hating the Kyubi, no matter how much control the Jinchuuriki had over the beast.
Ino picked Naruto up, "What the hell happened to you?"
Naruto groaned, trying to remember the previous night. He was so sure that he didn't go partying or get drunk, but the feeling he had felt too much like a hangover. "Oh yeah... I was being chased by everyone."
Ino didn't ask, for she didn't want to know. Naruto was a good friend, cool and considerate. But the misfortunes were still on his back, and he didn't know how to shake them off.
She brought him to the kitchen, sitting him down on the floor and rummaging through his nearly empty refrigerator. "You're so immature... you have to go grocery shopping more often."
Naruto remembered back to the previous evening, "I went grocery shopping yesterday... those damn dogs made me lose my food..."
Ino stared at him blankly; she was trying to force herself to drop the conversation, but her fun loving self kept screaming to ask what happened to Naruto. "Well, I guess we can go to Ichiraku for breakfast."
Unspeakable joy brewed in Naruto's eyes, "Sure, let's get some people to come with us."
"Let me guess... Hinata?"
"Yeah. Who do you want to bring?"
Ino sighed, "Sakura."
Naruto blew a raspberry at the name. Several months back Sakura used a jutsu on him, making him hate her. Unfortunately the effect was permanent, and now he couldn't stand looking at the pink-haired girl without mumbling an insult. "Fine..."
They took a good half an hour to pick the two girls up from their homes, and were finally on their way to Naruto's favorite source of ramen.
Hinata giggled at her jumpy boyfriend, "Naruto, I think it's time to admit that you're addicted."
The boy of the group smiled, "Silly Hinata, Ichiraku ramen isn't addictive..."
Sakura joined in, "I thought so too, but you are proving me wrong." Naruto blew a raspberry in her direction. She smiled, "Oh, grow up."
Ino stepped in between the two, seeing Naruto getting ready to tackle Sakura into a nearby garbage bin. "So Hinata, have you told your father about Naruto yet?"
Hinata looked down, "That's a dangerous choice. He's not the kind of father that would tolerate, let alone approve my relationship with Naruto."
"And Naruto... you're fine with this?"
Naruto put his arm around Hinata's shoulder, "I'll wait. No need to hurry."
Hinata continued, "He followed me last night, my father." Everyone's stares were fixed on her. "I snuck out to visit Naruto, and he started following me. He knows that I have a boyfriend, I'm just lucky that he didn't force it out of me."
Ino became concerned for the girl, "Hinata, are you... afraid?"
For the last few months, Hinata was a fearless warrior, as long as she was side by side with her boyfriend. Nothing could touch them if they were together. Ino knew this, and was surprised to see Hinata afraid. But she understood the reason perfectly, Hinata wouldn't want Naruto fighting her father, and she feared that it was inevitable.
"Yes," whimpered Hinata. Then let off a surprised yelp as Naruto picked her up by the waist.
"Hinata, I won't fight your father, you have to trust me. I would never let it get to that." whispered Naruto in her ear, and then pecked her cheek with a quick kiss.
Sakura watched the two lovebirds in envy. She would give anything to have that kind of relationship with Sasuke, but it was not meant to be. Her loved one was consumed by hate, and spat back out as an empty shell of a man, seeking nothing but revenge.
Ino also watched Naruto gently handle Hinata, softly putting her back to the ground. "I wonder where Kiyoshi is..." thought the blonde girl.
The four of them arrived at the ramen bar and placed their orders. While they were waiting, a familiar voice came from behind them, "Naruto? A ladies man? Well now I've seen everything."
The blond boy turned around to see Shikamaru lazily sitting on a lamppost. "Shikamaru! Where have you been?" exclaimed Naruto.
"Sand Village..." smirked Shikamaru.
Naruto gave him an inquisitive glance, "How'd it go with..." Naruto didn't want to give Shikamaru's secret away. There were three girls within earshot, so Shikamaru could only give one of two possible answers.
Naruto hoped that Shikamaru would say that he'd tell him later, but instead, Shikamaru's the answer was, "None of your business."
"Ouch, that was harsh," thought Naruto.
To Shikamaru's surprise, the former spas-master gave off a calm shrug and signaled him to join in on their breakfast. "What's wrong with Naruto? What has been happening while I was gone?"
Shikamaru met the infamous Kiyoshi at one point, but left for his mission an hour after Kiyoshi. He didn't know what change brewed in Konoha, the relationship between Naruto and Hinata, the loss of prejudice, or what happened to the person who was the cause of all the change.
Not that Naruto didn't realize Shikamaru's absence disallowed him to watch the change of his comrades; it was just that Naruto didn't care enough to tell him what's been going on. He knew that Shikamaru would catch on fairly quickly without his help, so he let it go and wrapped his hands around Hinata.
Shikamaru was confused beyond grasp. "Did Naruto finally see Hinata? Couldn't be... he must have had help. But who would go out of their way to help them?"
"Oi, Shikamaru." said Kakashi, surprising everyone. The rather large group turned around, listening to what the copy ninja had to say. "Good thing so many of you are gathered here, I won't have to go hunting you down one by one."
Naruto knew what this meant. Kakashi wouldn't go around hunting people down unless there was a mission to be handed out. The boy was twitchy for an adventurous mission, already forgotten what had happened to Kiyoshi that summer. "What's the mission, Kakashi?"
Kakashi shook his head, "No mission... party!"
The teens were startled by the word; they've never had a general party planned out like this. "What kind of party?" asked Ino.
"A dance."
Naruto tackled Kakashi into a lamppost, shaking it, and making Shikamaru fall off and raise a dust cloud. He knew what these parties were about; couples, dating and obviously enough, dancing. What angered him is that this was planned, while Ino didn't fully recover from Kiyoshi. He would assault Tsunade later on that night.
"Naruto!" exclaimed Hinata, running up to him and dragging him away.
Kakashi got up and dusted himself off, "I don't know what to make of that reaction. Are you happy or mad?"
Naruto calmed down; he was making a scene, in front of a small crowd, as Hinata's boyfriend. "I'm sorry."
Ino took Sakura and walked away from the group. "Thanks Naruto, but I'm fine," thought the blonde girl, glancing back at boy.
Kakashi sat down beside Naruto, "What was that about?"
"Ino's not recovered, she must be in a world of hurt right now."
Shikamaru's confusion roared and echoed through the mountains. "Hang on a second. Ino's not recovered from what? Where is Kiyoshi? And how come you are considerate enough to care about her feelings?"
The three remaining team members from that summer's mission told Shikamaru what had happened while he was away. Down to Hinata's confession, every known detail the mission, and the death of Kiyoshi's love; Hikari.
"So what happened to him?" asked Shikamaru, stunned by the heartbreak of the story.
"Nobody knows. He's either dead, or wandering this world without aim," replied Kakashi
"Oh boy, this is troublesome..." thought Shikamaru. "Why hasn't anyone tried to search for him? Having a broken heart makes people do stupid things."
"It wasn't Konoha's number one priority, and he can't hurt himself physically."
Shikamaru shook his head and looked over to Naruto, "Can you imagine if Hinata died?" Naruto's face tightened with shock, he hadn't considered this before, and he didn't want to. "It's not physical damage that a person goes through, it's mental and spiritual.
Kakashi got up, leaving the three remaining teens to converse. "Don't forget, party tomorrow at eight. Shikamaru, you might meet someone there for yourself."
Naruto snickered, "Who's clueless now?" Kakashi ignored the comment and ran off in search of more teens to invite. "Shikamaru, maybe you should..."
Shikamaru cut him off, "Be quiet Naruto. I'll talk to Tsunade about it. Speaking of which, I'm not very pleased with you."
"What do you mean?"
Hinata was lost; she had no idea what they were talking about. "What is going on?"
"Will you please tell her?" asked Naruto.
Shikamaru got up and started leaving, "You love to spread this around don't you? You didn't have to tell Tsunade about it."
Naruto was surprised, "I didn't tell Tsunade anything, she must've figured it out herself."
"I'll ask her today. In the meanwhile, be quiet."
Hinata stared at Naruto blankly, as sadness fell over her boyfriend's face. "What was that about?"
Naruto was disappointed to have nearly lost a good friend for no good reason what so ever. "Please, Hinata, don't ask me. I don't want to keep secrets from you, but I don't want to be put in these kinds of situations. It's not my secret to share."
"I understand."
Shikamaru stared at the clouds as he walked down the streets of Konoha, heading towards the Hokage's building. He didn't know how to feel; his reasoning kept shifting points of view and feelings on the subject. The whole reason he got a chance for something as amazing as a vacation to Suna, was because Tsunade knew his secret. Would that mean Naruto couldn't keep his mouth shut? Or did Shikamaru just get mad at a good friend for something he didn't do? "Troublesome..." thought Shikamaru