Chapter Six

As June rolls in Hinata finds she's forced to abandon the sweatshirts she's gotten so attached to. It's clear that they're in for an early summer, but she knows that if she wasn't dying of heat she'd keep herself covered up all year long.

She self-consciously runs her hands over her arms where the scars are still most distinct. Naruto has already told her not to worry about it- they're not a big deal. Which is easy for him to say, she can't help thinking. What with his perfectly unmarred skin and the muscles that show when he's not wearing his shirt… Which has been more and more often lately.

Already blushing, Hinata quickly shakes her head to be rid of those thoughts. They're a prime subject in her mind recently. She's immensely relieved that it doesn't show on her face… or that Naruto's just too oblivious to see it there.

Speaking of, he's running across the grass this very moment. As he nears the house, she notices that the sun lighting up his yellow-blond hair and tan skin gives his entire body a golden glow. She ducks her head and quickly retreats to her room in the back of the house as he walks through the door.

However, when his loud, booming voice doesn't attract the attention of his grandparents (who are still sleeping and have grown used the noise over the years) he goes searching for her. She looks up as her door flies open, pretending she hadn't just been watching him.

"O-oh… Naruto-kun." Her voice has fallen to a whisper every time she speaks his name which only causes her to blush harder, but Naruto doesn't see very far beyond this. Though he does see that her face is abnormally red.

"Good morning, Hinata-chan. Hey… your face is really bright… are you sick or something?"

"N-no… I'm sure it's just the heat." She doesn't drag her gaze from the floor.

"Oh," he says, easily accepting this answer. "Well staying cooped up in here all day can't be helping."

Hinata doesn't answer. She isn't sure how Tsunade feels about her roaming the woods anymore. To be honest, sometimes it seems like Tsunade isn't sure how she feels.

Be reasonable, she tells herself, She's probably just trying to keep you safe. Remember what happened the last time you went adventuring through this forest?

Hinata almost laughs aloud at her silent thoughts. Because no, she doesn't remember. 'Adventuring' may not even be accurate. She still can't remember what she was doing in these woods in the first place. Not knowing is eating her alive, but at the same time she knows there's a part of her that doesn't want to know, and sometimes… she wonders if that's what's blocking her memories.

"Hey… Are you listening?"

She looks up, startled. "Sorry. What?"

"You do need to get out of the house," he decides.

Considering her attitude recently, Hinata could have thought up many excuses for being outside should she be accused later on. Though she doubts she would have the courage to defend herself. It's not just that she hates to think of imposing upon Tsunade's hospitality. She's found that she's a very passive person. But she lets Naruto take her hand and pull her out of the house. Her cheeks go red as he pulls her deeper into the woods but does not let go of her hand. Finally, he stops abruptly and releases her.

"Oh, crap!"

"What?" she asks, startled.

"I was supposed to have extra lessons with Iruka-sensei today!"

Before she can stop herself, Hinata giggles. "Aren't you always late anyway?"

"Well, yeah… but he said we were gonna go over something important today. I'll see you later, Hinata-chan!" he calls over her shoulder, already racing off.

She watches him with a smile on her face and figures that she might as well not go back now and enjoy her time in the outside world. Though… now that she's out here, she's realizing just how hot it is. Even under the shade of the trees the humidity wraps around her like a blanket.

Her mind wanders to the stream. She's made a point to visit it every time she is outside. She isn't sure why, but it's become her… rock of sorts, though it feels strange to such a thing about water. She's comfortable there. But she'd be the first to admit that she's never gone farther into the woods than the stream. It's like her barrier… and the force field that's keeping her away from something at the same time.

Hinata reaches her destination and sits on the bank, dipping her feet into the water. She shivers at how cold it is, but on a day like this, it's refreshing at the same time. She's so relaxed… just beginning to consider just slipping her entire body into the little river when her eyes are startled open by the bushes nearby rustling.

Slowly, her heart returns to its normal pace, reassured that it's just an animal… which is why she's even more surprised when a girl stumbled into the little clearing.

The girl is a bit younger than herself and looks just as surprised to see her. It's the recognition in the girl's eyes that make Hinata look her over, and with the biggest start of all, she realizes that she recongizes the girl as well.

Not by name, but this younger girl has the same black hair that she does, though this girl's hair is long and reaches down to her waist. She looks into her face and sees her own eyes. The white eyes that look almost lavender in just the right shade of light, the pupil nothing more than a miniscule circle just a shade darker than their irises.

The girl has come closer and is taking in her scars in a sort of fascinated horror. Self-conscious, Hinata wants to tear her eyes away from this mysterious girl who looks so much like herself, but she find that she can not.

Slowly, the girl reaches out a petite hand to touch Hinata's cheek, as if she's making sure she's real. When her hand touches a solid human body, tears gather in her eyes.

"Hinata!" she whispers before flinging her arms around her.

Review please!

I felt this was a little shorter than usual, but the story should pick up a little after this…

I don't own Naruto!