My deepest apology to all my readers...I do feel guilty for the long hiatus when I've promised a chapter soon... lots of assignments came up and stuff :( So here's chapter 7! I actually started it as soon as I finished chapter 6, but didn't get the chance to finish it . I haven't written anything in English for such a long time...everything has been in Japanese for the past month (I'm not joking) so please bear with my, hardly-improved, from bad to worse grammar :)

Enjoy!

Sasuke thought facing Hinata was his only concern, he didn't think that Naruto's existence after that mission would make things complicated as well. Naruto tried his best to shine in missions, but inevitably failed...miserably.

"Hey Sasuke-kun, wait!" Sasuke was on his way home, he had to wake up quite early after a night without sleep, he couldn't get the image of Hinata's stomach out of his mind.

"How about right now, we work on our teamwork, just the two of us..." Sasuke then cuts her off.

"You're the same as Naruto. If you have tome to bother me, practice a jutsu of two, because frankly, your ability is below Naruto." which was true, Sasuke may seem like the kind of person who doesn't pay attention to his surroundings unless he's interested, but he is actually well aware of everyone around him. Sakura always does the least amount of work, Sasuke doesn't completely blame her, Naruto always tries to prove himself by accomplishing Sakura's part. Sasuke made an excuse to leave them, he actually just wanted to be alone for a while.

The training grounds should be free around this time...maybe I should-

He heard something behind him when he left the intersection. Usually, Sasuke wasn't the kind of person who enjoys meddling around people's matters, but he sensed something wasn't right. He climbed up a tree nearby to analyze the situation. Two foreign ninjas, the male had Konohamaru held up, Sasuke randomly picked up a few pebbles from the ground, he swings back up the branch and threw the pebbles exactly at the intruder's fist before he could punch Konohamaru, who immediately dropped him.

"What are you bastards doing in our village. Get lost."

"Kyaaa!" Hinata had been thrown back from Kurenai's kage bunshin. Kiba ran towards her and caught her in time.

"You alright?" he let her down. The team were exhausted, they hadn't had a break for quite some time. Hinata's last juuken made the bunshin disappeared, but it took a lot of effort from the members.

"Kiba, why don't you and Shino collect the shurikens." Kurenai waited for the two boys to leave her sight.

"Hinata." she looked down at her. Hinata was covered in wounds from the training, Kiba's signature attack and Shino's bugs left marks on her worn jacket. She looked up at her sensei, her body covered in scratches and pain spread through her exhausted body.

"Your father requested to see you. He asked when you'll be available." Kurenai wasn't heartless of a sensei, sure she was strict to her students, but she was also a kind mother figure to them. She spoke to Hinata in a comforting tone, even with the harshest criticism. Hinata looked back down at her numb legs. Hiashi wanted to see her? What for? She remembered clearly he didn't want anything to do with her, Hanabi is and will always be the only one he sees in his eyes. She recalled the conversation between her father and mentor, never in her life was she able to forget.

Kurenai looked up in the air, a messenger bird flew by. Kiba and Shino had by now, collected the shurikens.

"Team dismissed. I have to report something back to the headquarters." then poof, she disappeared.

"I'm beat." Kiba set the weapons aside and laid down on the grass with his whole body spread around. Shino was more refined compared to Kiba, rarely showing any expression on his face, but his team could tell he had no energy left in him. Hinata was sweating under her jacket, but was too embarrassed to take it off. She stood back up, a painful sting covered her body in aching pain.

"Hinata, my advise for you is to rest, you shouldn't over work yourself." Shino finally spoke.

"I-It's alright, I-I can manage." Hinata's too stubborn to listen when it comes to training. She wanted to hide herself deep into the forest and curled up alone like a lost kitten. On every mission they're were assigned to, Hinata would fail at every one of them, even simple ones. Her team mates always had to save her in the end of the day – they don't find it troublesome.

Pull yourself together, Hinata! she clapped her cheeks together and smiled.

"Oi, Hinata, are you okay?" Kiba looked at her strangely when she slapped her own cheeks.

"I-I'm fine, P-Please don't worry!" she replied with a thin smile.

"Shino and I are going to train nearby, call us if you need any help."

Finally, she's alone. She took off her jacket, her body was still aching in pain from her previous training drained her motivation to move forward, but she did not care.

He appeared out of no where, Sasuke couldn't even sense him when he was right beside him. That level of sneakiness is on the same level as Kakashi's. This boy with red hair stopped the male, Kankuro from embarrassing his village, Sasuke assumed he is the leader telling by the faces they show when they saw him. They were terrified of him, as if he was a monster, the words he spoke were cold and lifeless. Sakura attempt to stop them, trespassers aren't welcome to Konoha. The female pulled out her pass.

We have come to your village to take the chuunin selection exam."

Chuunin Exam...interesting.

"Hey you, what's your name." Sasuke jumped down from the tree branch.

"Sabaku no Gaara...I'm also interested in your name." he asked.

"Uchiha Sasuke." he replied with a smirk. He was overwrought, he had met someone strong that made his blood boiled. He had the sudden urge to train, he wanted to pour all his energy out.

Sasuke noticed someone walking rather slowly in front of him. It was Hinata. Her head had been kept down and drained, possibly from missions and training, Sasuke thought.

"Do as you wish, Hyuuga doesn't need her...a loser below in ability to this 5 year younger Hanabi...such a pity that Uchiha boy is not a Hyuuga. He would make a much fitting role as heir than her."

"Ah. Did you have training?" Sasuke's voice broke Hinata away from her memories.

"How's your-" his excitement from meeting Gaara were put aside as soon as he saw her. Sasuke was about to ask Hinata about her stomach wound, but the image just won't shake off. He shyly looked away.

"Your wound..." Hinata blinked, why was Sasuke acting to distant all of a sudden.

"I-It's fine." she held onto her left arm.

"Did you get hurt again?You're prone to getting hurt, aren't you." he asked with a grin, he was trying to clear the uncomfortable blush on his cheeks. That grin, he's mocking her weakness, Hinata is prone to falling into such depression and jealousy, but she is still young.

"Y-Ya...I-I guess I am." she didn't dare to look at Sasuke in the eye, she didn't want to hate her best friend because of her own weakness. Her vision wondered around in unease. Sasuke sensed something wrong with Hinata, he was bothered by her idle gaze, but he couldn't figure out what was bothering her.

"I-I have to go. S-See ya." Hinata walked pass him without any eye contact.

"Wait!" Sasuke grabbed onto her arm.

"You're acting strange today." he whispered.

"I-I'm not..." Sasuke grew frustrated, Hinata continued to look away.

"I'm the only person in this world that know if something's wrong with you." He was right, they had been together for years. Even Hinata's own father wouldn't know what was wrong with her with all the time he was given.

"Just tell me what's wrong." Sasuke grew impatient, he was never a patient person to begin with. He focused at her eyes. They were lavender, as he looked deeper, they turn slightly gray when Hinata's feeling insecure or uncomfortable.

"I-It's nothing. I'm just t-tired, t-that's all." Sasuke didn't buy it, but it knew better to force it out of her. He loosened his grip, Hinata took this advantage and jerk her arm back.

"Just leave me alone! I don't want to see you!" she pulled her arms back forcefully. Sasuke was astonished, Hinata never does that before, not even when she's feeling agitated from countless harassment from play mates.

"I don't think I'll be able to visit you tonight. B-Bye." she took off rather quickly, Sasuke, still stunned didn't even had the chance to reply.

It was almost sunset, Sauske has spent all of his time training with his Sharingan, though, training alone won't help much. Hinata's actions today bothered him, he grew frustrated with mind reading games, he had enough of this nonsense with his brother, he doesn't want to repeat it again with Hinata. He threw the last kunai from his pocket towards the thick tree trunk, the impact echoed into Sasuke's ears. He stood back up to straighten his back. Void. He felt empty after pouring his thoughts out.

Maybe Hinata might want to train, to get what ever is in her head cleared off. he looked up at the setting sky, Hinata should still be around town at this hour she wouldn't return until dusk. He searched around town for her, and to think his fangirls had settled down for their teams and concentrate on other matters, he was wrong. They wouldn't stop flirting and following him everywhere he went.

This is getting out of hand...why can't they just leave me alone? Sasuke grew impatient and frustrated, searching for Hinata was difficult enough, the fan girls screamed every minute Sasuke did something they described as 'moe' made him insane. In a nick of time, he spotted Hinata straight ahead, she was carrying a bag full of groceries heading towards Kurenai's home. Sasuke pulled his hands from his pocket to try reach out to Hinata, the sounds of squeals haven't left him made him paranoid.

"Hina-"

wait, the fan girls are still following me. He felt the girls close to him, watching his every move, listening to his every breath.

If they find out about my relationship with Hinata, she would have to suffer...

Sasuke halt his steps, footsteps behind him stopped too. He shove his hands back into his pocket and turned to the girls with a glare.

"Stop following me or I'll really get angry." he spoke in the coldest tone he made. The girls, of course, accepted his warning and each dismissed themselves. Sasuke let out a sigh of relief within him, Finally, he caught up to her, his arms reached out to give a light tap on her shoulder, but something held him back. Hinata's words hurt him, did she really mean it? She had never said anything like that to him before, he was confused. Sasuke kept his pace close to Hinata, her mind were too occupied she didn't notice Sasuke behind her all along. Sasuke thought again. If Hinata didn't mean what she said, she would have apologized to him, but if she did, would Sasuke just be asking for more scares to their relationship by being ignorant? He no longer care at the last draw when they had exit the shopping district and towards the residence.

Who am I kidding? I'm Uchiha Sasuke! I don't do things other people's way! She's my best friend and I'll deal with what ever crap she'll throw at me later!

"Hey." Hinata was startled by Sasuke's presence. He smiled to her, an awkward smile, but it was still a smile. Hinata didn't look entirely pleased to see him.

"S-Sasuke!" Hinata was strangely surprised to see him, they see each other every day yet, they never get bored of each others company.

"Are you okay?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow and a grin.

"Y-Ya...maybe." she started fidgeting with her bags.

"Let me help you with that...Kurenai's just around the corner right?" she nodded without raising her head while the bags were taken away from her. She glanced back up at Sasuke, who's just taller than her by a few centimeters, smiled back to her and walked ahead.

"W-Wait..." Hinata gently tugged on his shirt, Sasuke was pulled back form her strong grip. Hinata had a wide blush across her face when he turned back to face her, she wouldn't stop looking away and biting her bottom lip. Like a hamster trying to squeak. Sasuke waited, obviously Hinata had something to say.

"S-Sorry..." she spoke in a soft voice. Sasuke stared at her blankly, deep inside, he held an urge to hug her, kiss her and do whatever he wants with her without guilt.

"I t-took my anger out at you...s-sorry..." Hinata felt too embarrassed to apologize for her weird behavior, she does apologize often, but this is just too much for Sasuke to take in. She loosened her grip and shrunk her arms close to her chest again. Sasuke let out a sigh, she's too adorable to be mad at. He set the bags on the floor and reach out to her. Hinata shut her eyes, if Sasuke were to punch her in the face or yell at her for being an idiot again, she would understand.

"Idiot." he lightly tapped her head and stroked her hair. Hinata tilted her head upwards, she was expecting something more brutal and vulgar from him.

"Who do you think I am?" he grinned. Hinata finally smiled back.

"have you eaten? Let's go to Ichiraku Ramen, it's not too far-"

"a-actually." Hinata interrupted.

"I-I was on my way to your apartment to m-make dinner.." Sasuke thought back. These groceries weren't for Kurenai, but for him. Sasuke's chest were crushing him, guilt was eating him alive.

"L-Let's just eat out today. I'm already hungry...by the time you finished making them, I would have starved to death." Hinata giggled, Sasuke was trying to cut her some slack, and she noticed.

"Okay." she offered to carry the other bag, which Sasuke agreed to (his arms was still sore from training anyway).

"I wonder if N-Naruto-kun will be there." Hinata smiled to herself and walked shyly. Sasuke's heart dropped when he heard her spoke Naruto's name.

phew, I finally finished this chapter! fingers cross I'll update xD thanks for reading!