Apperance Can Deceive

Chapter 8

'Festive Fun pt 2'

I want to thank each and every person who reviewed to Festive Fun pt 1! You guys totally rock! And I'm deffinately relieved to hear that Naruto and Sakura DON'T fall in love in the manga. From my understanding it seems that they become more of a 'family'. Like brother and sister. What a relief right!

Well here is the second part of Festive Fun, hope you like it. R&R please and thank you. I like to hear your opinion on my story, whether its good or bad, its your prefrence!

p.s.

If i somehow missed replying to anyones' review, feel free to yell or scream at my stupidity!

p.s.s

I may or may not up the rating. Depending on wheter i feel like writing some pretty gory scene's and perhaps even a lemon. Whatcha think?

I do not own Naruto...I know what your thinking Thank God!


Ino sat beside Hinata on a fold out chair watching the little kids kick around a nearly flat ball under the lamplit field. Hinata had been silent for nearly an hour now, and it was starting to get to Ino. She knew that Hinata was quiet, but at least she spoke every once in a while.

One of the children scored a point, screaming out in joy. Causing Hinata to jump out of her seat a little. She had other things on her mind so she was oblivious to the game. At the start of the festival she had slipped the news clipping about the Kyuubi to Okito and sent him to the library to see if he could find anything. That was hours ago and he had yet to get back to her. Hinata was sure that the little guy wasn't in trouble. If that were the case he would have sent a signal or sighn of ditress. So the longer the otter took could only mean that there was nothing on the demon fox at all. Dashing all her hopes of finding the answers she needed without confronting Naruto directly. To do that would be to admit to snooping around his room. She hated the way she felt about it already...but if he hated her...

"Hinata-Chan are you even listening?!" Ino shouted startling Hinata once again from her daze.

"H-hai." Hinata answered shakily.

"Then you wouldn't mind?" Ino asked pretty sure Hinata had been spaced out during the conversation.

Hinata hung her head in defeat it was no use acting as if she had been present during Ino's rambling, she really had no idea what the girl was even talking about. "Gomen Ino-Chan. I did not hear what you said."

Ino smiled with a wave, dismissing Hinata's sorry. "It's ok. I just wanted to know if our team could have a little good luck outing before the chunnin exams! Good idea right! What better way to say GO GET'EM!" Ino gestured pumping her arms into the air.

Hinata laughed softly then nodded. An outing sounded like a great idea, and it was obviously a ploy to get Shikamaru hanging around Ino. "Hai. W-we could go to dinner!" Hinata suggested sounding as upbeat as the blonde Konoichi. "i'm sure Shikamaru-san would enjoy a meal."

Ino grabbed the back of her head with a nervous laugh, sweatdropping. "H-Hinata-Chan what w-woul...why...what uh...sigh Ok ok you caught me!"

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"Great job Lee-kun!" Sakura urged on the rambunctious Lee from the background as Lee hit every mark easily with little effort. The game was really quite easy for their level. The object of the game was to hit the wooden ducks, popping out of the background of the game tent, with a kunai. The two of them almost looked childish, especially to little genin waiting in line for the game. Still Sakura was completely unaware of their stares, shouting out one encouraging line after the other.

When the two of them walked away from the booth Lee had won Sakura a stuffed turtle, and himself a stuffed cat. "That was great Lee-kun! Not a single duck unscaved." Sakura replied cheekily.

Lee for once was at a loss for words, his normal replys of the flames of youth forgotten as the red tint spread across his face. "It was nothing Sakura-Chan."

Sakura shook her head with a 'tsk' "Of course it was Lee-kun."

Inner Sakura: "YOU SHOWED ALL OF THOSE LITTLE BRATS WHATS WHAT! CHA!"

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Naruto buried his hands deep into the pocket of his jeans as he walked through the festive crowd. Turned out that he wasn't exactly excited at the thought of having a drink with the fella's. He had no idea why, though, and thats what was bothering him so bad now. Something didn't feel right, there with all his friends, something was wrong. It made him angry that he could not, no matter how hard he tried, make this feeling go away. It was as if a burden as heavy as the heavens themselves were placed soley on his shoulders.

"Watch it!" Naruto was about to step directly down on Hinata's little rat before the thing squealed. Okito however didn't stop to chat. He had found out important information that he had to relay to Hinata immediately. Although he was unable to find anything relevant in the library, he did happen to come across some important papers on the demon...that just happened to be locked up tight behind the steel doors in the hokage's office where information on all Konoha shinobi were kept.

Naruto eyed the fleeing otter suspiciously before following after him. Okito had lead him directly to where both Ino and Hinata sat supervising the soccer game. Naruto watched as Okito hopped up onto Hinata's shoulder before whispering something into her ear. Hinata's eyes went wide before she gasped. Ino asked what was wrong, but Hinata just shook it off, excusing it as game excitement. Deciding that the two were up to something Naruto crossed the field to Hinata. "How's it going ladies?"

Ino just growled in frustration. "So boring!"

Hinata laughed nodding in agreement with Ino. Naruto smiled as he looked down on Hinata, if it was boring her, then he would just have to make it intersting. "Ok well this is what we'll do. Hinata, you and Ino with all the other kids against me!"

Ino laughed out loud. "Come on Naruto! You would never even stand a chance!"

"We'll see." Naruto stated simply before running up to the other kids. He explained his idea to them, and they eagerly agreed, deciding it would be an easy win. Naruto motioned for Ino and Hinata to join them. The girls looked skeptically at each other then raced onto the field. Everyone got onto their sides, waiting for the ball to come their way. Unfortunately for them Naruto had gotten control of the ball, speeding toward the goal. The kids tried to get the ball but failed miserably. Finally Naruto came to Hinata. He braced himself for an attempt to steel the ball, but was confused when Hinata let him pass right by her. Sadly though he had passed without the ball.

Hinata had sensed his awareness drop as he started to pass so she took her opprotunity. Extending her leg behind his to kick the ball out of his path, and steel it. She reached the other goal, ready to kick the ball in, when she felt a pair of strong arms warp around her. Lifting her from the ground. "Ha! What know Hinata-Chan." Naruto asked jokingly.

Ino who had been waiting for her chance, snaked past the two to kick the ball into the goal. "We win!" Hinata cheered still wrapped in Naruto's arms. The children roared with cheers.

Naruto hung his head pretending to be utterly miserable. Causing the kids to stop their cheering. Yelling out comfort after comfort to the older boy. Things like 'we just got lucky' 'your really good' and 'I bet you could beat us in a rematch.' Naruto smiled his fox like grin before screaming out, just like the way he used too. "Ha! Fooled you all! Darn right I could beat you guys! You all were just lucky!"

The kids looked from one another then to Naruto with devious smiles. All at once they charged him, capturing the blonde in a crushing dogpile, that started into a small mock fight. It was hours before the children finally settled down enough to let the battered blonde go.

Naruto sighed then smiled at Hinata with a wink. She had been watching him lovingly the whole time. He just seemed to be...perfect. As if nothing could bring him down at all, as if his depressing moods were nothing but passing phases, that would soon vanish all together. For a moment she felt as if her Naruto had come back to her.

"Why dont we get out of here Angel?" Naruto reached out a hand to Hinata, who gingerly took it with a smile.

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Naruto sat across from the little otter on a small coffee table, with an impatient scowl spread across his face. The rat was telling him nothing. No matter how much Naruto threatened the bastard he wouldn't break. It was all he could do to keep from carrying those threats out on the helpless animal. He would have to hurry this up. The clone with Hinata wouldn't last much longer, and he had to get back before the thing disappeared all together. The soccer game was a perfect distraction for Naruto to summon a clone to steal the furry beast and bring him back to the apartment. Naruto (the real one) had actually been playing the whole time in the game, at least up until the kids started to beat him. Then he was able to slip in a replacement unseen, and sneak away back here to interrogate the otter.

Okito lay on the couch tied from his neck down in chakra incased rope. He struggled to free himself yet it was to no avail. Hinata had been to busy during the game to notice the otter being taken against his will. "Hinata-Sama will hear about this."

Naruto only laughed mockingly. "I can assure you she won't. What was it that the two of you were whispering about?"

Okito sat rigidly unwilling to even reply. He would, under no circumstances, revel anything to Naruto.

Naruto looked to the clock realizing he was running out of time before the clone would disappear. With one last scowl he turned to Okito. "This is far from over rat.

Okito laughed in Naruto's face. "Ha! I'm telling Hinata-San everything! Fox boy!" Okito screamed. Realizing what he had said Okito's eyes went wide with horror. How could he have let that slip? How could he have been so utterly careless as to speak before thinking. Okito's fear only grew as he saw the scowl on Naruto's face.

So it seems Hinata was more than a theif, she was a snoop also. It didn't matter, the fact is that Naruto was pretty sure that Hinata did not know all of the details, and now...she never would. Naruto ran through the proper hand seals before placing his index and middle finger between Okito's eyes. The little otter screamed out in pain as a red light seared into his mind. He could literally feel his mind burning. He tried struggling to get free, but it was no use. The pain started to fade, as his world grew blury and darker by the moment. Till there was nothing.

Naruto finsihed the jutsu before looking at the sleeping otter. A feeling of complete remorse swept over him as he stared at the innocent creature. If only the jutsu was less painful, maybe then Naruto's guilt would subside. Still he did what he ad to do, erasing his memory of tonight was the only option. Their 'meeting' would go unmentioned to Hinata.

Naruto jumped out of his apartment window heading in the direction of his clone. Completely unaware of the eyes watching him from the shadows.


Yes this is a very short chapter. Cause well, I was sitting here reading my story when I realize. I don't like it very much, to me it feels as if it's progressing to fast...or maybe it's just me. Well ok i dont' really hate my story...i hated the writers block. Either way, im getting back to the deeper issue. No more making a happy go lucky guy just to please those who do not like the the darker Naruto. He is that way for a reason, not because I like him that way better, just because it fits more with the story.

I have an idea of where i'm going, but basically i'm just winging the whole thing. Hopefully it's not too terrible and has you guessing even a little. I'm also working on another NaruHina at the moment. So that may or may not be posted soon. As well as a request for a NaruXHinaXSaku pairing, for a friend of mine...it may prove to be a little difficult since i have neither written nor read a harem, but hey i'm up for the challenge! lol. Well R&R please and thank you.

Okito: "Next on Appearances Can Decieve! What happens when Naruto suddenly finds himself on Hinata's bad side? Will he get scorned or wiggle himself out the predicament? Then our beloved Yagao decides to dig a little deeper into Naruto' life. Confronting Jiraya about what exactly happened during the training missiong. Will Sammi-Rae- ever give me the publicity I deserve!!!!!!!!!!?"

SR (Me duh) : Course Not!

Okito: Hey! This is my time to shine not yours!

SR: Yeah, yeah...mumbles dumb rat.

Okito: Hey I heard that.

Naruto: HAHA Okito no baka!

Okito whines Hiiiiinnnnnata-Saamaa there stealing my spotlight!

Hinata: speaks over the fighting Sammi-Rae- w-would like to apolgize f-for any spelling errors. S-she does not have spell check. And thank you to all the reviewers!

SR: Wow Hina your a natural!