Chapter Six

Author note: sorry for the delay, I've been sick. Anyway, here you go, and enjoy!
And a little remark concerning the fake mission Hinata mentions, that was in episode 175-176.

Splash, splash! it sounded as she stepped into the river, the water reaching to her ankles. Her feet hurt terribly and her eyes were exhausted from using her byakugan so much, causing a huge headache as well. She closed her eyes, giving them some rest, and focused on the relieving effect the cool water had on her aching feet.
They had arrived in the Country of Water two days ago and had been searching ever since. She was a little frustrated she still hadn't found a chance to carry out her secret 'mission', because they decided to go separated from each other, searching systematically, thus raising the chance to find the Lavender Tear. We will have to hurry though, tonight is a new moon... She wondered if they would make it in time. She didn't really care whether or not they would find it, but she couldn't stand the prospect of him being sad if the mission failed. If only this forest wasn't so wide, it would make it so much easier to complete this mission...Even Naruto had started to complain after two whole days of non-stop searching, except for some sleep at night and the necessary meals.
'Maybe Tsunade-no-baachan just pulled some sort of practical joke on us, to get me back for calling her 'baachan' and stuff...' he'd said. He could perfectly imagine Tsunade screaming with laughter, drooling all over her desk, punching with her fist on the desk, pointing at him, screaming 'Gotcha!' and just dying from laughter.
'W-Well, she gave us a fake mission before, b-but I don't think she would do that again, besides, why…why would she include me in such a mission if it's just to get back on you?' she'd answered.
'Hmmm, I guess you're right dattebayo...' and he had walked back to his searching area, his arms held behind his head, his famous I-knew-that-pose.
She sighed. It was time to finish her little break and go search again. 'Byakugan!' she whispered, and she disappeared into the forest...not noticing she was being watched.

It's the third day since they had started their quest. We see the endless woods covering the inland of the Land of Water. We zoom in a little. We see a river crossing through the woods. We zoom in some more. We see a small open space in the woods. We see a young woman standing on the branch of a tree. She seems to be concentrated on something.

Come on, come on, I have to find it! If we don't find it before the night falls, this mission fails! She concentrated more, trying to see more detail with her byakugan. Well, it won't be the first time my mission fails...And it probably won't be the last either...Her byakugan-sight faded a little.
Suddenly, a wave of pain rushed through her head, causing her sight to be totally darkened for a moment or two. She screamed in pain. I must have used my byakugan too much, I've crossed my limit.
She sat down against the tree and started to cry. She felt like a total failure, she couldn't do anything now. She couldn't use her byakugan, couldn't complete the mission, couldn't help the man she loved. She covered her face in her arms, hugging her knees. She couldn't do anything, she was worthless, just like her father had said.
'Hey...why're you crying Hinata? What's wrong?' a gentle voice said softly.
She looked up, and saw a concerned Naruto kneeling before her, causing the branch whereon they sat to bend over a little.
'Is there something wrong?' he asked again. 'I heard you screaming. Are you hurt?'
'I..I...eh...ehm...I...' I can't even talk properly!
'It's okay, you can tell me..' he said, trying to sooth her by placing his hand on her shaking shoulders. However, this only led to more confusion within her mind.
'Please tell me Hinata, did somebody hurt you?'
'N-No...it's not that...It's just...I'm very tired...I think I used my byakugan so much I reached my limit...Now I can't help you anymore...I'm a failure, Naruto, a failure!' she almost screamed out that last sentence as she broke down to tears again.

Failure...
The word clung in the air, stuck in his mind, although it wasn't the first time he heard it...

'Don't say that!! Don't say that ever again Hinata!! It's the furthest away from true I can think of!!' He didn't mean to yell, especially not at her, especially not now, but he couldn't help it.
'You are absolutely not a failure! In fact, you're one of the most brave people I know! You dared to stand up against the ones who thought of you as weak and worthless, and managed to change yourself!' He started to speak a little softer. 'You became stronger Hinata! I know it!'
He fell silent, breathing heavier due to this sudden outburst. A squall pulled some leaves in his face. He pushed them away, looking into the lavender eyes of the kunoichi sitting in front of him...

Does he...mean that? He...does not think I'm weak? He...thinks I'm brave? He...actually noticed I've changed a little?
This sudden 'confession' was all she ever wanted to hear from him. (Well...mostly.) She now knew for sure he had noticed her, and her change. This meant so much to her. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes again, not being able to express her happiness in any other way.

He saw her tear-filled eyes and shocked expression. He panicked, mistaking her tears of happiness with tears of sadness. Oh no! She's crying because I yelled at her, now what do I do?
'I'm sorry Hinata, I didn't mean to yell at you, I just-'

He was interrupted by two arms swayed around his neck and a soft warm body against his. W-what's this?
'Naruto...thank you...'
'F-for what?'
'For noticing me...'
'N-Noticing you? Why?'

She felt her cheeks redden. This was it. Now she had to do it. A million and one thoughts raced through her head, this was the moment she had been waiting for for so long. Could...could she do it? Could...could she tell him? Could she tell him why she was always so blushy around him, and fainted whenever he touched her, even if it was accidental?

She took a deep breath.

'B-Because I...I...eh...' ... Love you.

'Because you what?'

'I...I...erm..' ...Love you!

'What?'

'I lo-! Aah!'

Just as she almost confessed to him, the branch where on they were standing couldn't hold them anymore and broke. Producing a lot of hullabaloo, it fell down, taking the two shinobi with it. But they wouldn't be ninja, if they wouldn't be prepared for the unexpected, and they landed gracefully on their feet. Well, Hinata did...
Naruto did land on his feet, but that was all that could be said about it.

My, my...a dark figure thought, peeping through the bushes. Those brats are supposed to be my opponents? This could be fun...
He giggled, only audible to himself and the woods surrounding him, and he disappeared into the shadows.