Chapter 3: A kiss to say I love you

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Hinata awoke the next morning to find herself, sleeping soundly on a bed in the hospital. The sheets that obviously had her tucked in the comfort of the bed were scattered, twisted and knotted in a ball. She had noticed she was in a gurney, as vague flash backs of the previous night etched back into her mind. Then at that moment, she sat up with both of her eyes wide and in fear as she bellowed for someone. "Where's Naruto?"

"Do not worry, he is fine. He is seeing lady Tsunade. It's amazing how the he heals. The Kyubi sure is a wonder. Also, we have to get going as well. Apparently, during our training, we are going to be sent on a yearlong mission. To where, and what it is all about; I'm in the dark, which is why we must make haste and get there before the fifth loses her patience." Explained Neji, as he pointed at the chair that contained her clothes, that the nurse took off of her, and placed a typical hospital gurney on.

Hinata quickly stood up, grabbed her clothes and dashed towards the bathroom located in the room. "I'll be waiting for you by the Hospital entrance, Hinata. Your father should be already at the Hokage's tower."

With that, Hinata scurried to take off the gurney and dress her self in a matter of minutes. When she finished, she then proceeded to the hospitals entrance, and caught up with Neji, as they both proceeded to the tower with smiles on their faces. It seemed that their long journey was about to begin.

Naruto stood, as he smiled in front of the one he called Granny Tsunade. Her look was as stern as ever, as Naruto remembered correctly. She obviously hasn't changed. Naruto then managed to focus back in on Jiriaya's speech on their progress with his Training. "… Unfortunately for Itachi and Kisame, we ran away in the nick of time. As soon as the proceeded towards Konohagakure, they managed to stop, though they got Naruto with their poison."

Tsunade managed to sigh, as she fell onto the back of her chair. It seemed at that moment, she was a little annoyed at the ordeal. "Very well. As long as Naruto and the village are fine, I guess you did a good job, Jiriaya. None the less, while you complete the last year of training with the Hyuga's, I will be sending you on another mission."

Tsunade closed her eyes, as she nodded, and both Jiraiya and Naruto looked over to see the approaching Hiashi, Hinata's father. Naruto then immediately thought of Hinata, as he remembered waking up this morning to see none other then Hinata sleeping upon his chest. He tried his best not to wake her, as he used his clones to manipulate her body so she wouldn't recognize his departure. He didn't want to leave, but Jiraiya was indeed waiting for him to meet up with the Hokage.

Naruto snapped out of his daze, as he saw Neji and Hinata dash in the room, both out of breath. A smile began to creep upon Naruto's face as he also slightly blushed. He wasn't particularly sure why he was, so he tried his best to ignore the feeling, oblivious that it left its mark upon his face.

"I've been contemplating this mission for several weeks now. And I feel Jiraiya you are the only one capable of doing this job. I've gotten Shikamaru, Ino, Choji and asuma to attempt this mission, but they've ended up unsuccessful, and at this moment they were the strongest team we have. But now, your team has just surpassed them."

Tsunade smiled, as she looked up to her former teammate. Jiraiya half frowned and half grinned, unsure what she was talking about. "What are you referring about? Are you 'enlisting' me to the Konoha ranks?"

Tsunade followed up Jiraiya's question with a simple nod. "The mission I've requested is to notify the Kumogakure of the oncoming attack from Akatuksi. Our Intel advises us that they will be heading there in a bout a years time. Appearently they want to use Kumo as a point of base for their resurrection. The only problem with this mission is Kumo has had a lot of rogue shinobi targeting it, and practically set up a wall around it."

Hiashi then began to finish Tsunade's request. "This barrier is in such a formation, that ANYONE passing through to Kumo will be in the sight of these rogue's. Our Intel also tells us that these special shinobi are, in fact, hired on by Akatski."

Jiraiya sighed, as he didn't much approve of these missions he's been assigned, but he need to fulfill them in order to insure the safety of the village he once called home. "So what is this mission you are assigning us?" Asked Jiaiya, adding a smirk grin to his comment.

"Your mission is to break through the rogue's wall of defense, and make it into Kumo. They will be expecting you at anytime. After you break into Kumo, you are to help Kumo eliminate the rogues. Kumo is secretly training their shinobi for this moment also. And so far, both the Hyuga's and Naruto's style seem to best fit the situation." Explained Tsunade as she slammed down on her desk a file, with what Jiraiya assumed was information on Naruto, Hinata and Neji.

Naruto was a bit unsure, feeling he should be searching for Sasuke, but a mission was a mission, and he couldn't let his home down. Plus, he was doing it with someone he liked…no, loved. He looked over at her, as Hinata caught him staring at her. She smiled back at him slightly blushing. He managed to smile back. "I will dismiss Neji, Hinata and Naruto to make preparations for tomorrow morning. Hiashi and Jiraiya, I want you to round up Hatake. I still need to talk about some matters concerning the other genin. Naruto, Neji and Hinata; you may all go."

With this Naruto followed by Neji and Hinata exited the room, as Hiashi and Jiaiya smirked. "I wonder how well this will work out? If Naruto will let Hinata cloud his judgment or vice-versa?" Added Jiraiya looking over at Hiashi.

Hiashi managed to grin a little more noticeable. "I've been wondering the same, Jiraiya. Hinata is showing many weaknesses to her affection for Naruto. Will it get in their way? They will both need to search much deeper to succeed in this mission. I see failure as it is, leaving Neji to either exert himself, or to death. None the less, Jiraiya they will be in your care."

With that, both Jiraiya and Hiashi flickered, leaving Tsunade by herself. "Shizune, bring in the sake… I think I deserve a break."

Shizune then managed to acknowledge Tsunade as she stormed past the room, making Tsunade slightly grin.

(Outside the tower)

Naruto, Neji and Hinata slowly walked down the road, as an awkward silence hung in the air. Neji was a little perturbed at this, as both indicated how much they liked each other. That silence was broken as Ino, Choji and Shikamaru finally caught up to Naruto. "Naruto, hey Naruto, wait up!" Yelled Shikamaru, as he now dashed to catch up.

Naruto paused and turned around to see Shikamaru, Ino and Choji. "Hey Shikamaru, hows it going?"

Shikamaru managed to smile and slightly laugh, as did Ino and Choji. "Not too bad! I see your back in town, but for how long? I thought you went out to train for two years with Jiraiya?"

Neji cut in with his explanation of his own, as he drew their attention away from Naruto, motioning Hinata and Naruto go off. Slowly and surely, they both managed get away, without anyone noticing their departure, as the conversation between Neji and Shikamaru began to heat up.

Hinata and Naruto slowly walked towards the open training field as they noticed the sun was now officially over them both. The awkward silence continued to haunt them. Naruto tried to talk but a sudden fear overwhelmed him, and he found it almost impossible to talk, and at every failed attempt he managed to sigh. Hinata thought every time he sighed, it seemed like he was getting angry or fustrated at her because she didn't talk.

Finally Naruto managed to shake his haunting fear away. "So, um… how have you been? I mean, while I was gone?"

Hinata managed to gulp, but her confidence seemed to comeback. "Well… if you really want to know…" Hinata paused as she looked away, not wanting Naruto to hear what she was feeling while he was gone. She was thinking that it would upset Naruto.

"Listen, Hinata, I want you to tell whatever is on your mind. Please don't be afraid what your going to say. I don't want you to tell me half lies, I want you to be truthful and loyal to me…"

Hinata stared into Naruto's eyes as he spoke. She could tell she was the one in Naruto's eyes. She felt an uncontrollable blush overcome her face, as she looked done at her feet, ready to respond to his request. She was willing to tell him everything that was on her mind. "Well… Naruto-kun… I felt scared, that in one years time, I wouldn't be able to see you, or else there would've been someone… else. I was worried that you wouldn't acknowledge my existence or want to be frein…"

Naruto abruptly cut off Hinata, as she saw an expression he had never shown since the time she knew him. "Hinata…Listen when I promised, I would be back, I made that promise for a reason. For all these years, I can't believe I was so oblivious. I hate myself for that," Began Naruto, as Hinata managed to silently coo his name as she was caught deep in a trance deep with in his eyes, " and unfortunately I can't change the past, but the future… The future is something I can change. Listen Hinata, I was unsure of this feeling I was getting. I was bothering me so bad while I was training, that couldn't sleep at night, nor concentrate properly. Until one day I asked Jiraiya about it. He said it was love. And that one person I love Hinata, is… that person is….y…you!"

Hinata froze. The words she heard were the ones she had always dreamt of hearing. She thought at first it was some cruel joke that everyone was pulling, but when she saw the expression on Naruto's face, she knew right there and then that it was official. He was serious. He had begun to flush red too.

Naruto stared into her eyes. He somehow gently lifted his calloused hand and placed it upon Hinata's soft cheek. Hinata gasped at his touch, as she forgot to breath in, leaving her lungs to burn, needing oxygen. Finally she gave in to her lungs and took a breath as the hypnosis took over.

Naruto managed to close his eyes as he snapped out of the animal like trance. He then looked up at Hinata's blood red face, noticing his hand was rubbing her soft, delicate and creamy cheek. Before Naruto became lost once more in his trance, he quickly removed his hand. "Uhhh… I'm sorry, Hinata, I didn't mean to make you so nervous…"

Hinata managed to smile, and slightly giggle. This was something Naruto had never seen Hinata do. He was kind of embarrassed about her expression, because he didn't know how to interpret the giggle she made. Naruto slightly blushed more, as Hinata picked up on it. She managed to calm herself down, as she now noticed Naruto seemed agitated. "Naruto… it's fine! I enjoyed when you rub my cheek like that. It's just when you looked me in the eyes, you caught me off guard, that's all."

Naruto looked at her, as he felt slightly relieved. He felt a little better knowing he didn't offend her. He was glad he didn't make a complete ass of himself. He sighed as he looked at her, then up at the sky. He wanted so hard to show Hinata how much he had 'loved' her, but he did not know how to properly show it. Hinata then jerked suddenly as her alarm began to ring on her watch, screeching its time limit had expired. "Naruto-kun, I don't want to leave… and I want to spend time with you, but I need to return to the Hyuga household for my parting ceremony."

All though Naruto didn't want to part, but like her, he had to finish a couple of things like her before he went back into the wilderness. Naruto looked up to see Hinata walking towards the village. "Hinata," Began Naruto, as Hinata managed to stop and face him, "do you think we can spend more time together, tonight?"

Hinata was finally experiencing what she had always wanted to feel; to be loved, to have someone that wants to spend time with her. She giggled and ran up to Naruto, and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Oh, you forgot, didn't you? The Konohagakure festival is tonight! So I expect to see you later!"

Naruto was semi stunned at her demand. He really didn't know what to do at this very moment. To hinata he resembled a deer caught in a cars headlights. "Naruto-kun, are you there?"

Naruto then snapped out of his world. "Oh… ah…. Haha, sure! I'll pick you up around nine?"

Hinata managed to smiled and nod her head in agreement, as she did the unexpected; she grazes Naruto's lips with a good-bye kiss. Naruto was surprised. He was not expecting a lot of things she did tnight, but this was one of the actions he thought was not plausible… yet. Naruto watched her run into the distance, as he quickly leaped into the safety of the village as well