Appearances Can Deceive

Chapter 3

'Who need's Friendship?'

First off if you did NOT go back and re-read chapter 2 you will not understand ANYTHING that's going on now. Got it? Good. So if you didn't read it go back now and do it. If you have……read on.

I want to give special thanks once again to each and every person who reviewed. Especially Lizi! For changing chapter 2 and things while I was grounded. Luv ya's

Naruto couldn't help but notice the curious looks he received from the shinobi he passed. It was annoying at the most. He didn't look that much different, and even if he did they needed to stop their damn staring! He even caught some of them loathingly glaring him down. If looks could kill he would be dead by know. Same old Konoha!

"Calm down Kit! You're getting worked up for nothing again!"

Naruto let out a low growl, but did as he was told and headed up the stairs toward the Hokages office. Two guards were standing just outside the door but Naruto paid them no mind as he pushed the large doors open to greet the shocked hokage and one very calm ANBU.

"You wanted something baa-Chan?" Naruto walked to an open chair and took a seat across from Tsunade, and next to the ANBU.

"Stop calling me baa-Chan Damnit!" Tsunade looked from Naruto to Uzuki. "Sorry about that. I'll have to think it over and get back to you. But if you think she is ready, I'm sure she is."

Yugao nodded "Arigato Hokage-San." Giving Naruto one last glance she left.

Tsunade sat down and held a hand to her temple. Readying her self for the scream that was going to erupt from Naruto when she gave him the news. "Alright, down to business Naruto. Jiraya has briefed me on the last 2 and half years, and needless to say I'm concerned. He told me you have been acting strange…"

She waited for Naruto to yell but nothing happened. He stared at her with a less than interested look. His eyes half way from drooping shut. So she continued. "I can see he wasn't lying. However! That's not the reason that I've called you here."

Naruto squinted his eyes in annoyance. Why didn't she get to the point already! He wanted to scream. To burst out insult after insult the way he used too but he remained collected. "What is it you want Tsunade-Sama. I have other things to attend to." He said emphasizing Sama.

"Ur…umm." Tsunade coughed and cleared her throat. He was definitely starting to worry her. "I-I wanted to tell you that you are eligible to compete in the Chunnin exams this year. Jiraya has told me that you could at this point be jounin level, but I can't advance you without you being above genin level!"

Naruto remained impassive and Tsunade was starting to feel something eerie creep up her spine. "Don't I need two more genin for a three man team?"

"Huh?" Tsunade was so uneasy she hadn't noticed Naruto speaking.

"Don't. I. Need. A. Three. Man. Team." He emphasized and dragged out every word, treating Tsunade as if she was nothing but a confused little child.

Naruto could see the vein starting to stick out on her forehead. It only made him smirk; he didn't have to be a loud mouth to get to people. Making them feel beneath him worked just as well.

"Yes, I was getting to that! Uzuki-San has requested that I allow Hinata-Chan to compete this year. So if you decide that you would like to compete you will be paired up with her and as far as I know Ino Yamanake."

"Perfect! You'll be the only competent member of the team!" Kyuubi's voice was dripping with venom.

'Hn, whatever. So I have to carry the team. Either way, I'll be a Chunin then move up to Jonin. I'll also have to get some information on this Uzuki person.' He had the general idea that it was the ANBU that was in the room a few minutes ago. Naruto calmed Kyuubi and turned his attention to Tsunade.

"I'll compete." Was all he said before standing to leave, Tsunades holler for him to come back fading in the air.

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Hinata greeted the Hyuuga guards and headed into the compound. It had not changed at all in the last few years. The house was still very plain and 'traditional'. Just the way her father liked it.

'Speaking of father.. .' Hinata rounded the corner, ending up beside the training arena where Neji and Hiashi were going at it relentlessly.

Now that Neji had advanced to Chunnin; Hiashi was pestering him 24/7. She would feel bad if it wasn't for the fact that if Neji didn't want to train he would just say so and not even bother with Hiashi.

Hinata looked around and found the person she wanted to see. Hanabi sat at the end of the walkway, watching her cousin and father fight. Hinata made her way quietly over to her little sister. Gliding as if on air, not making a sound. Hanabi didn't have time to react as Hinata grabbed her from behind and scooped her into a tight hug. "Happy Birthday Hanabi-Chan!"

Hanabi let out a small squeal and Hinata sat her down. "I brought you something." With that Hinata pulled out the flowers from her jacket. (00 wonder how she managed to hide them like that.) Okito took that moment to make his appearance to come out from the shelter of her hair and jump onto Hanabi's shoulder. Tickling her face with his whiskers.

"Thank you nee-san." Hanabi tried hard to hide the smile that wanted to form on her face, but was failing miserably. No one really made a big deal about Hanabi's birthday, or any other Hyuuga's for that matter. Except Hinata, Okito, and Yugao.

"Ahem." Hinata and Hanabi looked up to see a rather unpleasant looking Hiashi. "Nice to see you Hinata, I trust your doing well these days."

Hinata frowned. 'So the old man is still sore about my moving in with Uzuki-Sensei' she bowed respectively and gave Hiashi her sweetest smile. "Yes very well Oto-San. I see your doing well as well." She turned toward Neji and gave a small bow. "I was only here to give Hanabi her gift, and ask if all three of you would join me for a celebratory dinner tonight."

Hiashi looked from his eldest daughter to Hanabi, who seemed to be pleading with her eyes. "What time should we arrive?" was the only thing he could say.

Hanabi silently screamed in joy and waited for Hinata's answer "Eight o'clock." Hinata grabbed Okito from Hanabi's shoulders. "Good bye Oto-san, Neji-nii-san, Hanabi-Chan."

Hanabi waved goodbye, while Hiashi and Neji continued their training.

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Hinata looked at the clock that hung above the stove in the kitchen. Two more hours until Hanabi's birthday celebration. Party favors were scattered around the kitchen, a half hung banner hovered in the doorway, and it was an absolute mess. Not to mention Kiba was no where to be found. When he had promised earlier that day to stop by and help her out.

"Lucky for me Yugao-Oneesan isn't home." Hinata smiled down at Okito who took to eating some of the food she prepared. At first Hinata had referred to Yugao only as Uzuki-Sensei, but as time progressed Yugao became more like an older sister to the girl than a teacher.

Okito's head snapped up as the sound of the front door opening was heard. Hinata gave Okito a weird look. "Its only Yugao or Kiba, why are you getting so worked up? They have an extra key remember?"

Naruto walked down a hallway to a door on the left. Hinata stood facing the other direction near the sink with the little rat sitting beside her. He looked over the room and saw what looked like the remains of a hurricane.

"Not much of a house keeper is she?" Kyuubi chuckled and Naruto couldn't help but smirk.

"YOU!" Okito knew it couldn't have been Yugao or Kiba. He sprang from the counter and headed toward Naruto only to see him disappear. His scream caught Hinata's attention as she turned, from chopping vegetables, to be greeted by nothing but a hanging banner.

She looked at Okito and tried to scowl, but found it impossible when she saw the worried expression on his face. 'Where did he go?' Okito was baffled when Naruto disappeared right before his eyes.

"Okito are you sure you're okay." Hinata walked over and picked up the little otter and cradled him in the crook of her one arm. Then turned to see a smirking Naruto leaning against the kitchen sink. She flew back with an 'eep' almost losing her balance. Luckily she concentrated chakra into her feet quick enough to stay upright.

"Naruto-Kun? W-What are you doing here?" Hinata pushed down her feelings of surprise and stayed calm. 'The door was locked! How the hell did he get in?'

"An advanced Jutsu I learned while traveling. Using concentrated chakra to unlock almost anything." Naruto stated flatly as if reading her thoughts.

Hinata narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms careful not to stab herself with the knife still in her hand. "You could have knocked on the door."

Naruto didn't answer.

"How did you know I was here?" The curiosity was eating at her and she was dying for him to speak, say anything.

Naruto made his way casually over to Hinata to grab the knife and place it safely in the sink. For some reason seeing her with a weapon made him slightly uneasy. "I came to tell you that you, Ino, and I will be in a three man team for the Chunnin exams." After saying that Naruto brushed past Hinata and out of the house.

The Chunnin exams? That means Yugao went to talk to Tsunade-sama.

Yugao had kept Hinata from the Chunnin exams for the past two years. Claiming that she would only let Hinata compete, when SHE thought Hinata was beyond a Chunnin level. So the fact that Yugao had personally arranged for her to enter this year, made her ecstatic.

Ino however was a completely different story. Ino could have entered the Chunnin exams both years, but hard times had befallen the Yamanake's. Her mother had passed away and the flower shop had started to plunge, with the opening of an even grander flower shop a few miles down the road. With her father going on mission after mission. Ino was stuck with managing the shop. Ino had known it would eventually go under, but she stuck with it. But within another year, and with the help of a secret admirer, the flower shop had gotten back into business.

Hinata's smile had quickly turned to a frown as she ran out of the house, running as fast as she could to catch up to Naruto before he rounded the corner of another building. "Wait!" She didn't know what was happening with Naruto, but she had been so happy to see him earlier, even with the little argument all she really wanted to do was glomp him to death, only to wind up huffing away.

Naruto turned to see Hinata running after him with maddening speed. He quirked a brow and waited for her to say something. The girl was starting to amuse him more than she should, which slightly angered him.

Hinata lunged at Naruto and caught him in a bear hug that lasted for several minutes, before he finally placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder and pushed her back at arms length. She smiled brightly threw squinted eyes. "What are you doing?" He asked.

His voice was a low, and cold, like icicles stabbing at her. But Hinata could catch the hint of curiosity. "Would you like to stay for dinner Naruto-Kun?"

Naruto drew back his hands as if on fire and stared dumbfounded at the girl. Since when was Hinata this outgoing? For that matter when did she start hugging men in the streets?

"No" was all he said.

Hinata frowned and pretended to pout. Giving her best impression of a puppy dog face, but it did no good as Naruto turned and walked away. She wasn't going to give up that easily! Naruto needed a friend know more than ever, and that friend was going to be her! Hinata refused to believe this serious faced Naruto was permanent so she yelled out to him. "Ok Naruto-Kun. If you need to talk…I'll always be here for you."

Naruto froze. 'What is she trying to do?' He didn't need her friendship…or anybody else's. He'd seen where friendship could get you. An image of Sasuke turning his back on him flashed threw his mind. "Don't bother."

Another chapter done. YAHOO! Well I hope I succeeded in making Naruto seem…well…cold. Isn't Hinata so sweet? Trying to help Naruto out….as a friend…nothing more...YEAH RIGHT!

Hinata: "Keep in touch for more NaruHina sweetness. Next Chapter: Hinata, Ino, and Naruto meet up for some preliminary training. What new Jutsus have they learned, and who will win in a fight between Hinata and Ino. (Better yet why are they fighting in the first place?) Find out next time on Appearances Can Deceive."