Let me know what you think! ;3

"So Naruto…What are your intentions with Hinata?"

"Damn it Kiba, for the millionth time, I don't have a crush on Hinata!"

"Sure you don't," Kiba leaned back in his chair, interlocking his hands behind his head while a coy smile played on his lips. "You just happen to think she's 'amazing' and the bravest kunoichi you know. You just happened to be curious if we were dating –"

"You never gave me an answer to that, by the way," Naruto grumbled.

"– and straight up just checked her out earlier. But yeah, you don't have a crush on her."

"Shut up," Naruto retorted lamely, shoving a large amount of noodles into his mouth forcefully. "Just cut to the chase baka, are you two dating or not?"

"Maybe we are," Kiba shrugged nonchalantly and Naruto furrowed his brows angrily. "She's a total babe, I can basically get her to do whatever I want and she won't complain because she's too shy to speak up–"

"Don't talk about her like that." Naruto growled fiercely, slamming his fist down onto the table and glaring daggers at Kiba who grinned in response.

"God, you are totally into her," he held his stomach as he laughed loudly, causing Naruto to groan in exasperation, throwing his hands into the air before dropping his head down onto the table.

"Alright fine, I maybe sort of might like her just a little bit. So kill me! Just don't say things like that about her," Naruto slumped in defeat, trying to mentally prepare himself for the onslaught of teasing from Kiba.

"Hinata is my best friend idiot," Kiba replied with a laugh and Naruto peered up at him quizzically. "I mean I love her in a sisterly sort of way, but we're not dating."

Naruto let out a frustrated moan, mentally picturing himself slamming his fist into Kiba's face repeatedly while he wondered what was wrong with his friend's brain that he couldn't have just told him that the first time he asked an hour ago. He might not be dating her, but that didn't mean he didn't currently hate him any less.

"So let me ask you again," Kiba leaned forward, suddenly serious. "What exactly are your intentions with Hinata?"

Naruto gulped, surprised by how stumped he was by the question. What exactly were his intentions? Did he even have any in the first place? So maybe he liked Hinata a tiny bit, no big deal. Why did he have to act on his feelings so quickly when he wasn't even sure he understood them? Would she even want to date someone like him? Sure he wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but he had improved a lot over the years: he did save the entire world, after all, ending a cycle of hatred and bringing about the beginning of an era of peace that had never been seen in the world. He'd grown taller over the past few years and was next in line to be Hokage, so he wasn't exactly the loser of the bunch anymore. But Hinata was, Hinata. She was calm, and pretty, and shy smiles, and kindness, and grace, and dignity– she embodied everything that was great in the world…And she was already in love. He sighed.

"I don't have any intentions, she already loves someone else," he said quietly, arms crossed as he stared at the floor, then the window, then the fridge – anywhere that wasn't Kiba.

"EH? What do you mean she loves someone else?!" Kiba almost yelled in complete bewilderment. Hinata loving someone other than Naruto did not even seem like it had the remotest possibility of happening anytime in the next million years. Naruto could be a homeless bum, a rogue ninja, or even marry someone else and Kiba was two hundred percent positive that Hinata would continue to love him with everything she had, supporting him happily while aching in silence.

"She told me she already loves someone! She told me that she knows who she loves and that he smells like coffee and rain and – and ramen. He smells like ramen damnit, and he's not me," Naruto huffed angrily, clutching his hair in frustration as he banged his head down upon the table once more.

Kiba blinked. Then blinked again. And blinked a third time, before finally bursting into such an uncontrollable fit of laughter tears formed in his eyes and Naruto had to use all his will to stop himself from flinging his body across the table and murdering Kiba Inuzuka.

"He smells like ramen?! Kami, you are the biggest idiot I have ever met," he sputtered out between chuckles, wiping the tears from his eyes as a peeved Naruto glared at him with pure killing intent. "What exactly do you remember from the war, baka?"

"The war?" Naruto repeated, finger tapping against his lips as he searched through his mind. "I mean I remember beating Madara and Obito."

"Before that, baka."

"I mean, I remember the Ten Tails attacking, and all of the Alliance fighting together?"

"Before that! What about Pein, what do you remember about him attacking the village!?" Kiba exclaimed.

"Of course I remember Pein! I remember him destroying half the village and then beating him and everyone coming back to life! What's your point?!" Naruto yelled, frustrated at his confusion in where his friend was going with his line of questioning. Sure he didn't remember much of the specifics, but a lot had gone on in the past year how was he supposed to remember every single thing that happened?! I can't even remember what I ate for breakfast this morning! Granny Tsunade has been dragging me into a million different meetings discussing all kinds of new policies, the war seems like it was years ago!

"Gah, idiot!" Kiba slapped his forehead with his hand in exasperation. How can you have forgotten Hinata confessing to you!? She almost gave her life for yours! Twice! He used all his will to resist the temptation of smacking his blonde comrade across the head.

"Forget it, you'll figure it out eventually," he muttered before his eyes suddenly became serious, standing and fixing his eyes on the window.

"Eh, what's going o-"

"Naruto!" he heard a feminine voice scream desperately from outside and his eyes widened. "Naruto, help me!"

"That's Sakura!" Naruto stood quickly, eyes wide as the echo of his friends scream rang in his ears. He ran toward the door, reaching to fling it open before feeling Kiba grab his arm and pull him back roughly.

"Baka, what the hell are you doing!? Sakura's in trouble, I have to help he-"

"She's not in trouble." Kiba said seriously as he fixed his gaze on the window with furrowed brows.

"Please, Naruto!" He heard her call out for him and attempted to pull his arm free from Kiba's grasp only to feel his grip tighten, and he deeply considered calling out her name when he heard another voice.

"Did you find him, Sakura?" he heard Ino's voice as Kiba gestured for him move to the window, holding a finger to his lips. He stood next to Kiba, masking his chakra as he peeked out the window.

"Ugh, it's not working you guys." Sakura stomped her foot in frustration as he gazed at her, shocked to see her completely unharmed.

"What the hell," he began before being shh'ed by Kiba.

"Remember what Hinata said," Kiba whispered to him. "They'll do anything to find you."

"He has to be around her somewhere, I could've sworn I sensed his chakra on this side of the village," Tenten pouted as she approached her two friends. "Where could he be hiding?"

"Hey, that's Hinata's house isn't it?" Ino pointed in their direction and the two boys eyes widened as they pulled back from the window suddenly, sinking to the ground and looking at each other anxiously.

"Yeah! Maybe that's where he is!" he heard Tenten exclaim happily and he cursed under his breath as he began figuring out an escape plan.

"There's no way he'd be there, she's way too shy to let him stay there and he barely even notices she exists in the first place," Sakura scoffed and he watched Kiba's fist clench and brows furrow in anger. What are they talking about? Naruto wondered. He noticed Hinata, didn't he?

"Yeah that would be the last place he would try to hide, she'd probably faint before she could even offer. Come on, let's look somewhere else," he sighed as he heard three pairs of feet fade into the distance and peeked out of the window to find the coast clear.

"Tch, those girls sure have a lot of nerve talking about Hinata like that!" Kiba shook his fist at the window angrily.

"I can't believe Sakura would try to trick me like that." Naruto muttered in disbelief and Kiba sighed placing his hand on his friends shoulder supportively.

"I guess we can't really blame them, that damn potion is making them crazy. I still think they're assholes though," he added angrily as he walked back into the kitchen with Naruto trailing behind him.

"Hinata wasn't kidding about how obsessed they'd become." Naruto slunk back into his chair and began devouring his now cold ramen without pause.

"Yeah, she's pretty smart," he nodded his head with a smile like a proud father. "Hey, she's back!"

Naruto looked at him in confusion, his expression clearly saying how can you tell and Kiba responded by tapping his nose with a sly grin, before the duo heard the door handle twist and footsteps enter the house.

"Hinata!" Naruto called out cheerfully, much to Kiba's amusement, as he leaped out of his chair and bounded towards the living room. "How did it g–TEME?!"

"You're dead, baka."

"If you will not give up on these girlish dreams to find a suitable husband, then you cannot become the new Head. You may be the eldest, but you are too soft to rule this clan alone."

"How can you find him unsuitable?! He is the bravest shinobi any of us has ever seen, and he's done so much for the village–!"

"Despite his many achievements, we cannot permit you to wed outside of the noble clans. Especially when he has…"

"So that's what this really is about. It has nothing to do with nobility, you won't approve because he is a Jinchuuriki. It's because of the Nine Tails that any of us are alive and yet you our Elders, who are supposed to be the wisest of us all, are too proud to see it."

"The reasoning is unimportant. Naruto Uzumaki is not a viable suitor."

"If the greatest shinobi– no, if the greatest man in the world is not good enough for you, then…Then I refuse to become the next Head of the Hyuuga clan. I revoke my standing as the eldest and decline the position of Head of the Hyuuga clan."

"…Then it is decided: Hanabi shall henceforth be the new heiress and next Head of the clan. That is our final decision."

Hinata bolted down the street clumsily; her vision blurred as fresh streams of tears rolled down her cheeks while the memories of the past hour flooded her mind. Her feet pounded against the ground roughly and loose strands of hair fell against her face, but she could only feel the aching in her chest as pain consumed her. And as she arrived at her destination she fell to the ground, dissolving into sobs and clutching the grass beneath her.

"D-Did I make the right decision, nee-san?" she asked between sobs, gazing up at the name carved into the cold, black stone. Silence was the response, and she wrapped her arms around herself as sheer loneliness enveloped her.

You would know what to do, you always had the answer I needed…Neji. I don't know what to do anymore. I chose my own fate; would you be proud of me?

However she wasn't even sure, she thought as she lay strewn across the ground, that the fate she chose was worth it. She couldn't imagine in what universe her sobbing on the dirty ground while just having given up her rightful place as head of her clan for a boy who barely recognized her existence much less reciprocate her feelings could possibly be worth it.

No. It doesn't matter what anyone says or thinks; Naruto will always be worth it.

"Hn, crying in the dirt doesn't seem very befitting of a Hyuuga heiress," a voice spoke from her left flatly, and she didn't have to look up to know whose familiar presence was leaning against a tree a couple feet away.

"I-I'm not the heiress anymore though, a-am I? But you already k-knew that, didn't you Sasuke?" She spoke between sobs, looking up at him with eyes still brimming with tears as he looked back at her unwaveringly with his signature blank expression.

"Hn," he replied shortly, shoving his hands into his pockets and moving to stand in the spot next to her. He gazed at the KIA Stone silently, though she knew which name he looked at. She wasn't the only one who had lost a brother in that cycle of hatred.

"I gave up everything," she found herself laughing bitterly as a tear ran down her cheek. "I worked my entire life to prove myself to them, and I just threw it all away for a boy that doesn't even remember that I'm in love with him." She bit down on her lip as she choked down another sob, closing her eyes tightly as Sasuke stood unmoving beside her.

"That's what you get for loving that dimwit, Hyuuga." It wasn't exactly sympathetic, but she knew it was pretty much the closest he could get to sympathy. She sighed and found herself wiping the tears from her face roughly before bringing herself to her feet, dusting the dirt from her kimono. She may not be heiress anymore but she was still a Hyuuga, and Hyuuga's carried themselves with pride. She stood beside him, each staring at the stone in silence.

"You know why I'm here," he stated matter-of-factly and Hinata merely nodded her head.

She appreciated that about Sasuke Uchiha. He didn't allow people to wallow in self-pity and could recognize when someone didn't want to talk about what was bothering them, which worked well for him because he didn't give one fuck about what was bothering people anyway and well for her because she didn't like talking about her problems to people either. He just always seemed to know what was going on and what bothered people. He didn't push you to speak; he just expected the best of those around him and in effect made everyone around him strive to be at their best. Silence was welcome, and that was something Hinata could understand.

"Y-You're looking for Naruto, aren't you?" she asked, sniffling one last time before looking at him. "Why?"

Now that was what Sasuke could appreciate about Hinata Hyuuga. Sasuke had no patience, and unlike every other girl he'd come into contact with (and somehow the complete opposite of the one he ended up with) she got straight to the point. He didn't like weakness, and despite her reputation Hinata Hyuuga knew how to hold herself with pride for the sake of her clan and constantly strove to improve. He understood her desire to prove herself to her family, and so in effect the two shared an odd but very fitting sort of friendship.

High-pitched squeals rang through the air, an indirect response to her question and Sasuke glanced at her.

"You know why."

"What makes you think I know where he is…" she asked softly, trying not to sound too suspicious and he gave her a blank look. She sighed before turning away from him.

"C-Come with me and I'll explain on the way. Just promise you won't hit him."

"Hn."

Hinata glanced between her door and Sasuke standing next to her nervously. She knew she didn't have any other choice but to open the door for him unless she wanted it broken down, which she knew he wouldn't hesitate to do, for by now she was sure he could sense Naruto's presence inside her home (it was about as subtle as a jackhammer in a library. She could feel the anger radiating off of him as sure as she could feel the wind blowing around her, however his face betrayed no hint of emotion. She bit her lip anxiously as she unlocked the door and turned the handle, contemplating what she could possibly been thinking when she told him of Sakura's actions that day.

"Hinata!" she heard Naruto call out happily and a smile worked its way onto her face as he bounded excitedly into the living room from her kitchen, Kiba right on his tail. "How did it g-TEME?!"

"You're dead, baka."

She saw his smile immediately shift into shock and before she could open her mouth to reply he was suddenly shoved against the wall by his furious friend.

"What the hell is your problem, Sasuke?!" Naruto yelled in confusion and anger as Sasuke raised his fist to pound him into oblivion before Hinata grabbed his arm.

"You promised," she reminded him harshly, staring unwaveringly into his now red eyes. "It's not his fault."

He glared at her harshly before hesitantly lowering his fist and pushing Naruto away from him. He closed his eyes and took a breath, opening them to reveal onyx eyes.

"Does anyone want to explain what the hell is going on here?" Kiba approached the group cautiously, glancing between a confused Naruto, a nervous Hinata, and a pissed off Sasuke. "Hinata what are you doing with Sasuke?"

"And why the hell are you trying to punch me, you asshole!?" Naruto added angrily, shaking his fist at his friend who glared in response.

"Be grateful you aren't dead, baka." Sasuke responded coolly, crossing his arms and glancing at Hinata who looked away guiltily.

"U-Um, we ran into each other and he was looking for you. I explained what happened earlier a-and also, may or may not have accidentally mentioned whathappenedbetweenyouandSakuraearlier," she sputtered out quickly, she smiled guiltily as Naruto and Kiba stared at her incredulously.

"Explain." Sasuke glared at his friend as he began to head into the kitchen, before stopping and glancing at Hinata over his shoulder. "Don't you have something you need talk about?"

"Oh," she glanced at Kiba nervously. "C-Can I talk to you, please? In private?"

Kiba nodded, eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he followed her silently into another room, trying to ignore Naruto's harsh glares against his back.

"Not you." Sasuke pulled Naruto into the kitchen as he began to follow the two.

"But-"

"She said private, dobe."

"Teme bastard, how'd you run into each other anyway?" Naruto pouted childishly, plopping himself down into a chair in the kitchen.

"I found her crying in the dirt by the KIA Stone," Sasuke replied boredly, taking a seat across from the blonde. "That's not important, explain to me why-"

"What do you mean it's not important, something is obviously wrong with her!" Naruto stood angrily, making his way out of the kitchen only to be pulled back by Sasuke once again.

"Do you not understand the meaning of 'private', idiot?" He looked his friend up and down– from his rough hair and anxious eyes, to his deep frown – and an amused smirk appeared on his face. "It all makes sense now."

"What makes sense now, asshole." Naruto glared at him angrily, very much not liking being out of the loop and not knowing what is going on with Hinata and why she was crying and hating Sasuke's pompous smirk that clearly stated I know something you don't, baka.

"Why you've been asking about Hyuuga for the past month." Sasuke crossed his arm and looked across the table at his flummoxed blonde friend.

"Pft, I-I have not been asking about her for the past month." Naruto scoffed, looking away from the avenger when he felt heat begin to rise to his cheeks.

"Hn, 'where is Hinata,' 'how long will she be gone,' 'when is she coming back,' 'who is she with,' 'what if she gets hurt'," Sasuke mocked, smirking when he saw a tint of pink on Naruto's cheeks.

"So maybe I asked about her a couple times, what does that have to do with anything?" Naruto picked at the edge of the table, trying to seem uncaring and show no emotion as onyx eyes stared him down.

"You're in love with Hyuuga," Sasuke told him, smirking when red flashed across Naruto's cheeks. "Tch, she's totally out of your league idiot. Well, she was-"

"What do you mean was?" Naruto leaned across the table, frowning as Sasuke waved off the question with a bored expression.

"Hn, it doesn't matter," he stated though Naruto found it mattered very much. "Explain to me why Sakura keeps telling me she's in love with you and your new girlfriend, why the two of you kissed, and why she's been running around the village all afternoon looking for you."

Naruto gulped, suddenly feeling as though he was being interrogated by a teacher or the Hokage and feeling deeply in trouble though he knew he didn't exactly do anything personally for Sasuke to be angry with him.

"Technically, she kissed me." Naruto muttered, looking away from the Uchiha before he could capture him in a genjutsu. "It's really not my fault, I'm the victim here."

Sasuke looked at him with eyes burning like the flames of hell as he gazed at Naruto, no doubt contemplating the most efficient yet most painful way of murdering his former teammate and Naruto held his hands up defensively.

"Well it's the truth! I accidentally dropped a love potion on me okay, and it makes every girl become obsessed with me for 24 hours. Hinata says it's not real love, just "infatuation" or something like that. I'm not trying to steal your girlfriend if that's what you're thinking teme, I don't like her like that." Naruto glared at his friend across the table. Sasuke held Naruto's eye flatly for a full minute before leaning back in his seat, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

"Idiot, so when does it wear off." Sasuke asked, obviously wanting to know how long he would have to put up with Sakura's ranting and obsession with his best friend.

"Eh, tomorrow around 1. I'm hiding out here with Hinata until then," Naruto responded and Sasuke quirked an eyebrow.

"I thought all the girls were obsessed with you, so why would you stay with one?" Sasuke asked before a smirk appeared on his face. "Unless you're just trying to take advantage of the Hyuuga, though you didn't need a love potion for that."

"Baka, what is up with you people thinking I'm trying to take advantage of Hinata!?" Naruto yelled angrily while Sasuke stared at him with an amused expression on his face. "She wasn't affected by the potion, I don't know why though."

"Tch," Sasuke scoffed at him with disbelief. "You really are an idiot. It's obvious to everyone that Hinata is already in love with– "

"No, Hinata. I've always supported your decisions and encouraged you, but this?! This is too far, even for you," Sasuke was interrupted by Kiba stormed past the kitchen, heading towards the door with angry determination while Hinata followed with an expression of despair.

"Kiba, just wait!" Hinata reached out for him, gasping when he pulled his arm out of her reach.

"What's going on?" Naruto demanded as he and Sasuke entered the living room, feeling anger rise in the pit of his stomach at Kiba's harsh treatment towards his teammate while Hinata refused to meet any of their eyes. He looked at Sasuke for answers, only to find the Uchiha had found the wall very interesting all of a sudden and looking very much like he did not want to be involved in the current squabble.

"Go ahead and tell him, Hinata. Tell him what happened at the meeting," Kiba demanded and looked at her expectantly, surprising Naruto with the angry tone he used. He didn't know much about their relationship, but he was pretty sure Kiba would never talk to Hinata like that.

"What happened at the meeting? Hinata?" He tried to meet her eyes but she turned away from him, and he felt anxiety prickling in his gut. Kiba growled, slapping a hand to his forehead in exasperation.

"She gave up being the heir! She gave it up and now Hanabi is going to be the next Head!" Kiba jerked his hand in her direction, furiously responding to Naruto's question in Hinata's place as she looked at the floor silently.

"What?! Hinata, why would you do that?" Naruto asked in complete shock. She seemed so much more confident about becoming the head when she'd left them, what could have possibly happened between now and then that she would give up everything she'd been working for?

"That's the magic question, isn't it? Why don't you ask her that, I'm out of here," Kiba spat out bitterly, yanking the door open and slamming it behind him as he stormed out. Naruto looked at Sasuke in confusion but he just sighed, wondering how he'd gotten himself involved in the middle of all of this drama.

"I'm leaving as well, this isn't my business." He walked to the door, raising a hand boredly in goodbye before closing the door silently behind him and leaving the two standing in silence.

"Hinata…?" He approached her warily, reaching a hand out and gently touching her shoulder. "What did he mean you 'gave it up'?"

She managed to smile slightly as her silver eyes filled with tears and sorrow, and Naruto felt his heart ache as she continued to stare at the floor.

"I gave it up," she responded quietly with a dejected shrug as tears threatened to flow over her eyelids. "I-I believe my exact words were 'I refuse to become the next Head of the Hyuuga clan'."

"Why!" Naruto exclaimed, looking at her with disbelief. "Hinata, why would you say that to them after working so hard!?"

"I had to," she replied. "Or else I couldn't be with the one I love." He felt a streak of pain in his chest and, putting his hand on her other shoulder turned her to face him.

"But why?" he whispered and he looked up at him then, smiling sadly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Because losing him would hurt more than becoming Head would could ever me happy. Because if I were forced to choose between him and everything I've worked for my entire life, I would choose him every time."

And before he could contemplate his actions, he pulled her towards him and enveloped her in his arms.