I'm finished with this chapter...(everyone cheers)...anyways the next chapter will be Sasuke's fight with Orochimaru but in the mean time I wanted to tie up a loose end in Konoha so here it is...
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto but it would be a nice christmas present
Ch. 6: Konoha
It was a cheerful day. The sun was shining and the sky was impossibly blue. The appearance had no affect on a certain blonde ninja. He was sitting in the old training area for team 7 with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. Nope, the boy didn't look cheerful at all.
Naruto couldn't understand it. Why didn't Sakura fight Sasuke? Contrary to popular belief, he wasn't a complete idiot. He knew that if Sakura had wanted to get away she could have. The medical nin didn't even try to get away. Instead she had stood behind him quietly. She didn't cry out or look afraid. It didn't make any sense.
Hinata walked towards the fox boy hesitantly. He hadn't noticed her yet because his back was to her and he was intent on his grumblings. She wasn't sure she should interrupt him. The girl began to play with the ends of her long black hair. She had decided to let it grow after the chunin exams and now it was just below her shoulders. Hinata watched Naruto a little while longer before turning to leave.
"Oh, come over and sit down already, Hinata. I won't bite," Naruto suddenly said.
Hinata blushed a little, "I-i'm s-sorry, Naruto-kun. I d-didn't mean to i-interrupt."
He looked over his shoulder at her with a grin, "Don't worry about it. In fact you might be able to help me understand something." Now he patted the ground next to him, "So come one. Pull up some grass."
She smiled shyly at him and sat down. It had been a whole day since Sakura and Sasuke had been in Konoha. Everyone but Ino and Shikamaru seemed worried. Hinata could guess why they weren't concerned but she wasn't sure. Since she wasn't the type to jump to conclusions she kept her opinions to herself.
Neither of them said anything for a moment then Naruto broke the silence. He didn't look at her while he asked, "Why do you think she left with him?"
"Y-you mean Sakura r-right?"
He nodded. His gaze still on the spot where Sakura and Sasuke had stood yesterday.
Hinata looked at that same spot. She considered her response before speaking. The shy girl suspected she knew why but she didn't think Naruto would be happy with the answer. She looked at him through the corner of her eyes.
"W-well...i-it's possible that...t-that she s-still c-cares for h-him."
Naruto turned his gaze to her now. The blush on her face grew. Naruto never noticed how cute she looked when she blushed before. He wondered how he could have missed that.
"You mean she's still in love with him, don't you?" he asked.
She nodded.
"How could she still love him? After all he's done to her it doesn't make any sense."
"Love d-doesn't listen to logic. Well, at l-least not that kind of logic. I-it seems to have a logic all its own that doesn't make any sense."
Naruto looked at her in surprise. Hinata's responded with little to no stuttering. This was too important to Naruto. He needed a straight answer from her without the stuttering. Her voice was still soft and she had to speak slowly to keep from stuttering every word.
He sighed, "Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Sakura has always been in love with him. I didn't believe she had stopped loving him when he left."
Hinata looked at him, "You d-don't seem d-disappointed."
"I'm not really. If anyone can get Sasuke to come home it's Sakura. Just as long as he doesn't hurt her in the process."
Hinata smiled at him. Naruto blinked at her. He really couldn't believe he didn't notice how pretty she was. Was he really as dense as everyone kept saying he was? Suddenly he stood up and offered Hinata a hand.
"Why don't we go eat some lunch, Hinata? I haven't eaten at all today and I'm starving."
Hinata nodded her head and said shyly, "Sure, N-naruto-kun."
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A few hours later Naruto was walking back to his apartment. He had just finished walking Hinata home from lunch. She had been quiet as usual but he found that interesting. It made him want to make her open up to him and find out what that shyness hid. If Ino could be believed he was the only one that she stuttered that much around. What made him so different? The boy grinned and thought, 'Oh well, there's plenty of time to figure her out.'
"Naruto."
The boy turned to see Kakashi walking up to him. His sensei was smiling and waving at him. Naruto waved back and waited on the copy ninja to catch up to him.
"Hello Kakashi-sensei. What are you up to?"
"I was going to read for a while then I saw you. How are you holding up?"
Naruto didn't have to ask what he meant, "I'm ok now. I talked to Hinata and believe it or not she made me feel better."
"Oh, what did she say?"
"That Sakura might still be in love with Sasuke."
Kakashi considered this then said, "I suppose that's true. We both know she never stopped caring for him."
"No, she didn't. I just hope he doesn't hurt her again."
"Somehow I don't think he will. You know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder...or something like that," Kakashi said.
Naruto nodded, "You're right. Sasuke won't be able to let her go this time. If he could he would have left her here instead of taking her with him. I wonder how long until her figures it out."
"I don't know. Normally he figures things out quickly but when it comes to emotions he is rather slow on the uptake," Kakashi commented.
"I'd love to see his face when he does," Naruto said with a huge grin.
Kakashi chuckled slightly, "So would I actually."
"Anyways I'm going to the training grounds. What to come with me?" Naruto asked his sensei.
"Why not?"
The two of them headed off to fight.
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Naruto was walking home when he heard some water splashing. It reminded him of the time he went to get that bug with team 8. He had gone to use the bathroom one night and he had heard the same sound. When he got there he had seen a beautiful figure dancing in the water. He never did find out who that was. He had put it off as a dream.
Like last time he headed towards the sound. He was curious about the noise just as much now has he had been then. Again he saw a beautiful figure. It was dancing as if hearing a music no one else could or nature itself was her band. Naruto stood there mesmerized. He knew he couldn't be dreaming this time. At least...he didn't think he was. He pinched himself just in case.
"Ouch. That hurt. I guess that rules out dreaming," he whispered.
He stood up and walked over towards the lake. Now he could see that she was a girl, a very beautiful girl. For some reason an image of Hinata popped into his head. Suddenly she stopped and turned and looked at him. He thought she was going to run like she had the last time.
"Please don't leave. I didn't mean to scare you."
"I w-won't l-leave, N-naruto-kun," she said in a very familiar voice.
She stepped forward and he grinned when he recognized her, "Hinata...is that you?"
"Y-yes. I w-was training."
"Oh. That explains a lot."
"I d-didn't m-mean to disturb y-you."
"Ah, you didn't. I was just heading home after training," he responded with his trademark smile.
"I-I better b-be g-going home too," she stuttered.
Naruto seem to consider something for a moment then said, "Hey, I know. How about I walk you home? Do you mind?"
She smiled shyly and blushed, "T-that w-would be n-nice."
He grinned and the two began walking towards her house. When they arrived Hiashi Hyuga was sitting on the porch. He had noticed that his oldest daughter hadn't returned home and decided to wait on her. Most people did assume that he didn't care about his daughter simply because he was so hard on her. The truth was he cared a great deal. He was hard on her so that she would get stronger not because he didn't care. Hiashi also had a protective streak in him a mile wide. The father in him glared at the young boy walking beside his daughter. The clan leader in him kept calm and hid the emotions of the father from the world.
"Father," Hinata greeted him with a shy smile.
Naruto looked at her in surprise. She hadn't stuttered. He guessed that Ino was right. Hinata only stuttered when she spoke to him. He wondered why.
Hiashi noted the blush on Hinata's face and then turned to the boy. Now he recognized the blonde. He was the boy that had beaten Neji at the chunin exams three years ago. He was also the same boy that had the nine tailed fox sealed inside him. They called him Naruto Uzumaki. Neji had mentioned Hinata's crush on the boy. Apparently the Hyuga prodigy knew what he was talking about.
"You're Naruto, right?" Hiashi asked just to make sure.
"Yes, that's me. You're Hinata's father, Hiashi Hyuga."
The Hyuga leader nodded in agreement. Naruto was wondering why the man was staring. Then it hit him. He was a strange boy walking with his daughter. Naruto had once heard Ino's father comment to Shikamaru's that no one was more protective than a father over his daughter and heaven help the poor boy that gets near her. Naruto grinned and rubbed the back of his head.
"I was just walking Hinata home from the training grounds. Didn't want her to walk alone at night." He then turned to leave waving over his shoulder, "See you tomorrow, Hinata."
Hinata waved and then turned to face her father. Their eyes met. He just sat there for a moment before speaking in a calm voice.
"I was worried when you didn't come home."
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise then she smiled. Hiashi's eyes moved to look over her shoulder at the retreating figure.
"I'm glad to know that someone is watching out for you. He's the same boy that won his battle against Neji for you at the chunin exams three years ago."
"Yes, father. He takes care of everyone around him."
"You love him."
It was a statement but Hinata responded anyways, "Yes."
Hiashi argued with himself for a moment. He was still a father and to a father no one was good enough for their daughters. However, Hinata was a grown woman and she could have chosen a worse man to love. Hiashi then remembered that Tenten had said that Hinata was too shy to tell Naruto how she felt and the blonde had no clue about how the girl felt. Hiashi decided now was the time for advice not orders or protectiveness. He motioned to the spot next to him and Hinata sat down. The two stared at the stars for a moment before he broke the silence.
"I know that I have been hard on you and that may have contributed to your insecurities. Hinata, life is too short and the future too unsure to let something pass you by without trying for it."
Hinata looked at him. It wasn't like her father to speak to her like this. In fact, she didn't think he spoke to anyone like this before.
"What do you mean father?"
"You haven't told him how you felt."
She looked at the ground, "No."
"Why?"
"What if he doesn't feel the same?"
"What if he does?"
Hinata didn't know what to say to that so she remained quiet.
Hiashi continued, "The life of a ninja is an unsure life. We leave for missions and there is no guarantee that we'll return alive. You learn to grab hold of life with both hands and damn the consequences. If you don't you could miss something great because you were too afraid to try."
"But..."
"Hinata, do you really want to find out when it's too late that he feels the same? Do you want to tell him when there's nothing either of you can do about it?"
She shook her head, "But I'm afraid he won't feel the same."
He sighed, "In the end that doesn't matter. You can try and lose nothing and possibly gain everything."
Hinata had never considered it that way before. If she told Naruto and he didn't feel the same what had she lost? Nothing really. On the other hand if he did feel the same she gained the man of her dreams. Sure it would hurt to find out that he didn't feel the same but what if he did? Would it be worth the risk of finding out that he didn't like her?
Hiashi stood up, "Think about what I said, Hinata, and know that I will support whatever you choose. Good night."
"Good night, father."
He was walking a way when she called him. He looked at her over his shoulder.
"Thank you, Father."
Hiashi nodded and then continued to bed. Hinata went to bed a few minutes later after deciding that she would tell Naruto how she felt tomorrow. Perhaps after she spoke to Ino. The mind manipulator could always make her feel better and boost her confidence. Hinata knew she would need all the help she could get tomorrow if she was going to tell Naruto how she felt about him.
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Ino was thrilled. Hinata was finally going to tell that loud mouth how she felt. The blonde girl was leaning on the counter looking at the Hyuga girl across from her. Hinata was staring at the ground and playing with the ends of her hair with one hand.
"It's about time," Ino said. "I was beginning to think that you two would never get together."
"He might not feel the same way about me, Ino."
"If he doesn't then he really is an idiot."
Hinata gave a shy smile. She looked over Ino's shoulder as Shikamaru walked into the room, "Hello Shikamaru."
"Hey, Hinata."
"Guess what Shika," Ino ordered her boyfriend.
His response was a grumbled, "Troublesome. What is it?"
Ino shook her head at him and said, "Guess."
"This is such a drag."
He considered what it could be. This being Ino was some kind of gossip that was connected to someone's love life.
"Someone is getting together."
Ino smiled at him, "Yup. Hinata is going to tell Naruto how she feels about him."
Shikamaru smirked, "It's about damn time."
"You two make it sound like we were a lost cause," Hinata said.
"You were," they said at the same time.
Hinata blinked in surprise then smiled.
"So when are you telling him?" Ino asked.
"I don't know. Today sometime."
"Over dinner. Accidentally bump into him and ask him if he wants to eat dinner with you and tell him then," Ino suggested enthusiastically.
"Ino, she can't accidentally bump into him if it's on purpose," Shikamaru stated.
"Sure she can."
Hinata shook her head, "I'm going to go train for a while then I'll go find him. I'll see you guys later."
"Bye Hinata. I would say good luck but you don't need it," Ino said.
Hinata left the shop with a smile. She was glad that she went to see Ino. The girl's complete confidence that Naruto liked her was very encouraging.
Hinata arrived at the training grounds and just trained as hard as she could. When she finished the stars were out and she could see the bright full moon. Her stomach growled and she decided now would be a good time to go eat. As she turned around she bumped into something solid and strong. Her silver eyes looked up and then her face turned into a tomato.
"N-nar-ruto-kun," she squeaked.
Naruto found himself grinning at her reaction. He really was beginning to wonder if he was just now noticing how cute she was or if this was a new thing.
"Hello Hinata. I didn't mean to startle you."
"I-it's n-nothing. Umm, w-what a-are you d-doing here?"
"Ino ordered me to make sure you ate dinner because when you train you can forget things like that."
Hinata had thought that it was impossible for her to turn any redder. She was wrong. The minute Naruto told her why he was there she felt the blush intensify.
"So have you eaten, Hinata?" he asked her.
She shook her head because she had suddenly lost the ability to speak.
"Then it's a good thing Ino sent me. Come on."
She followed obediently. While they walked she fought the blush down until it only covered her cheeks and prayed that Naruto didn't know why she was blushing so much. Well, he would before tomorrow. She was going to tell him...at least she planned to tell him.
He stopped and turned to face her, "What do you wanna eat?"
"M-me?"
"Yeah. I was sent to feed you so I figure you should get to choose what we eat."
"Umm, how a-about r-ramen?" she asked him.
His face lit up with happiness. It made Hinata smile shyly especially knowing that she was the one to make him smile like that. He let her to the ramen shop and the two ate in a comfortable silence. Naruto walked her home again. When they stood in front of the entrance to the Hyuga compound she turned to face him.
"T-thank y-you for d-dinner and w-walking me h-home, N-naruto-kun."
"It's nothing, Hinata. I like hanging out with you."
Hinata felt the blush come back, "I-I w-w-want to t-tell y-you s-somet-thing."
Naruto blinked. She was stuttering worse than normal. Whatever she was about to tell him must really have her nervous. He relaxed and waited on her to tell him. Naruto was the first to admit that he wasn't normally a patient person but for some reason this was different. This time waiting didn't seem so bad.
"Ok. What is it, Hinata-chan?"
Hinata looked up at him. That was the first time that he had added the suffix to the end of her name. She saw that he knew she was nervous and was trying to make her feel better. A shy smile formed on her face.
"W-well, I-I w-wanted to s-say t-that I-I...Iloveyou."
The last bit was said so quickly that Naruto had a hard time figuring out what it was and by the time he did Hinata had run inside the compound. He debated on going after her but decided he would see her in the morning when he saw Hiashi sitting on the porch inside the compound.
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Ino stormed into Naruto's apartment the next day. When she saw him sitting at his table eating breakfast she felt her fury grow. She promptly hit him on the back of the head as hard as she could. This sent him flying across the room.
"Oww, damn Ino, what did you do that for?" he complained while rubbing the back of his head.
"How could you hurt Hinata that way, Naruto? I thought you liked her."
"What are you talking about?"
"You mean she didn't tell you how she felt about you yesterday?"
"Yeah she did but she ran off before I could respond. I was going to find her today to talk to her about it. Why?"
Ino felt herself calm down. She should have known that Hinata hadn't waited for his response. It had taken all the poor girl's courage just to tell him in the first place. That wasn't Naruto's fault she supposed.
"She's sad because she thinks you rejected her. Now go find her and fix it," Shikamaru's troublesome girl ordered the loud mouthed idiot.
"Hinata's what? Alright I'm going. I'm going," he said as he rushed out the door.
Ino smiled in satisfaction. Finally those two would get together. It was about time.
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Hinata felt so depressed as she sat on her bed. He didn't like her and now he probably hated her. She should have known that was how it would turn out. Why would he like her? There wasn't anything special about her. He probably liked a prettier girl and a more outgoing girl. Someone knocked on her door.
"Come in," she called as she stood up.
Hiashi opened the door and said, "You have a visitor."
Hinata turned and saw Naruto standing behind her father. She looked away without saying anything. Hiashi left the two of them alone. He had nearly beat the boy when he arrived for hurting his little girl. The threats he made were enough to have sent even Neji running but stubborn Naruto refused to leave. He had insisted that he had to talk to Hinata. Hiashi only asked one question.
///flashback///
Hiashi asked, "Are you going to hurt her more?"
"No. I would never hurt Hinata intentionally," Naruto responded looking Hiashi in the eyes.
Hiasha saw the flame of determination burning in the boy's eyes and something else. Naruto really cared for Hinata. This wasn't a game to the fox. Hiashi nodded.
///end flashback///
Naruto's answer got him permission to see his daughter without a fight. Naruto had then explained what had happened when Hinata had told him of her feelings. Hiashi then understood and led the boy to her room. He just hoped that he made the right choice.
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"Are you alright, Hinata-chan?"
"I-I'm f-fine."
The fire in his blue eyes dimmed a little, "You're lying to me. I'm sorry."
Her head jerked up to look at him, "W-what a-are you s-sorry for?"
"I hurt you. I didn't mean to."
She turned around so that her back was to him, "I-it's ok. I-if t-that's all y-you c-came f-for p-please l-leave."
She heard the door shut behind her and her shouldered sagged. Tears stung her eyes and she tried to fight them back. She was just about to just let them fall when a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and held her close.
"I couldn't leave you when I know you're hurting," he whispered.
Hinata looked at him in surprise over her shoulder. He hadn't left. He was still there. She also noticed that for the first time in her memory his eyes were serious. He was normally so happy and bouncy that it was a shock to see him otherwise. There were the few moments when he couldn't smile but they were few and far between and normally only happened when something important was going on.
"Naruto-kun?"
"Hinata, you didn't give me a chance to tell you yesterday but...I love you too."
Hinata blinked and was too shocked to be afraid so she didn't stutter when she said, "What? I thought I was just a friend."
"So did I until about three days ago. I began to notice things. I can't say my feelings changed because I think I felt like that the whole time and I just now noticed it."
Naruto pulled back so she could turn around and see him better. She saw the truth in his eyes. He loved her. She smiled at him and a small blush showed on her cheeks. Naruto grinned and his eyes sparked with amusement.
"Does this mean you won't stutter when you talk to me now?" he asked.
"I'll t-try not to b-but I may s-slip."
"Good. Now let's go get some lunch."
He grabbed her hand and led her out of the house to find some food. Hinata was smiling and looking at the boy in front of her. He really was something else and she loved that about him.
There...now i can focus on Sasuke and Sakura without any distractions. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I tried to keep Naruto and Hinata in character but I really don't know that much about her character and Naruto can be pretty random sometimes. Anyways I'll try to have the chapter 7 up asap...
Oh, i almost forgot...don't forget to review this chapter.
