Murder in Mathematics

Hinata: Makes a move

Hinata felt a pair of eyes watching her.

She turned to the right, expecting to find that nobody was actually looking at her and it was all in her imagination, and was shocked to find the slanted and almost angry gaze of Kiba directed at the side of her head. There was nobody in between them, though Kiba effectively sat a seat away on the bench they were perched on, even now looking at Hinata with apparent distaste. She was very put off but as Kiba's best friend assumed he wasn't deliberately glaring at her like he wanted to rip her head off and feed it to his dog.

"K-Kiba," She began over the loud background chatter of the cantina they were in, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You were watching him again."

Hinata blushed, knowing full well what he was talking about. Her fingers fiddled with the wrapping around her sandwich as she feigned ignorance.

"W-what do you mean?"

Kiba raised his eyebrow knowingly before his eyes flicked elsewhere. Hinata looked upwards too, toward the queue of people lining up to pay for their Cantina meals. Only one person stood out in that line.

Naruto Uzumaki.

Hinata blushed again and kept her eyes glued to her sandwich. It was just her and Kiba on the table, and although that was better than everyone else seeing her face go as red as a tomato upon seeing Naruto, it was still embarrassing for her. She knew Kiba felt uncomfortable about her liking the blond, for some reason he just didn't seem to approve, even though Naruto was one of his friends. Kiba continued to glare.

"Hinata," he then said, voice softer than before.

Hinata looked up at him. At least he wasn't glaring now.

"Hinata, that bozo just doesn't like you. He's too obsessed with Sakura now Sasuke's acting all loopy. He's only gonna hurt you."

Hinata felt her face go somehow even hotter. His first sentence was the only thing she had really paid attention to. And it hurt her. A lot. Suddenly she was standing, arms pushing herself up into a defiant stance.

"He is not a bozo."

And then she rushed off.

"Jesus," Kiba muttered as he watched the petit figure of Hinata melt into the crowd.

What had he said this time? Surely she wasn't upset because he called Naruto a bozo. Bozo was a funny insult! No, then Kiba realised. It was the second bit, the 'he just doesn't like you bit'. What was he doing, saying such a mean thing? And now he would have to chase her down, comfort her and tell her how much Naruto does like her. Get her hopes up again. It was coming up to the time he needed to see Pein and Konan again.

"Hinata? Hinata where are you?"

Kiba pushed through a crowd of younger years, ("Move ya' little shits.") ignoring their annoyed shouts, moving through the corridors in search of his best friend. It only took a minute or so when he found her by the English department staircase, leant against some spelling and grammar posters, expression soft as she looked at nothingness on the ground.

"Hinata," Kiba said with a sigh. He moved to stand next to her as she glanced up, "Look, I'm sorry. It came out wrong. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"It's okay," Hinata returned meekly. She paused then her expression twisted into a sad one, "You're… You're probably right anyway. He doesn't like me really, does he?"

Her eyes shone with brimming tears and cursing silently to the world, Kiba spoke, "Hey, no. I was just being an idiot. Yeah, he's a bit obsessed with Sakura right now, but… they'll come a time when you two get a lot closer."

Hinata shook her head, "N-no. Thank you for saying all of this Kiba, but I think you were right the first time."

Kiba contemplated this. He was at a crossroads. Two choices. He could either agree with her now, or tell her what she truly in her heart wanted to hear. He leant back against the wall in thought. If he agreed and reiterated the fact that Naruto didn't like her, she'd be one step closer to liking him instead… although he knew in truth it would just result in Hinata swanning around being sad, pretending to not like Naruto. If he supported her love for Naruto, like a good friend, he could probably kiss goodbye to ever revealing his love for her and…

"Shit," Kiba said aloud after coming to a decision, and when Hinata turned to him in confusion he gave a taut grin, "Hey, Hinata."

"Yeah?"

"You and Naruto. You know, if you really do like him the way you seem to, maybe you should do something about it? Like, I don't mean that in a mean way. It's just, you've never actually made a move, so to speak."

He could not believe he was doing this. And neither could Hinata.

"Make a move?" She repeated, then blushed, ducking her head.

Kiba swore once more to the world, a habit he was adopting of late.

"I could help you if you want."

Hinata met his eyes, "What… What'd you mean?"

"Like, I could actually help you… get in there… with… him."

The awkwardness was palpable, though all others walking up and down the corridor were immune to it. Only the two sixteen year olds could feel it.

"Oh… erm."

Kiba narrowed his eyes and looked away and puckered his lips, redness creeping onto his cheeks now. There was silence.

Hinata studied his face. She wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but it was clear that Kiba was actually trying to help, despite his apparent misgivings regarding her love for Naruto. She smiled.

"Yes Kiba that would be lovely."

Kiba looked back to her, his face fully red now, "Eh, what?"

"If you think its best, maybe I should actually try and… make a move."

The expression 'make a move' coming out of Hinata's small voice made Kiba smirk, and he nodded.

"Great then. Awesome. So… Operation Hinata-Move-Maker is ago then."

"Does it have to be called that, Kiba?"

"The only way I'm going to be able to do this is if I treat it like a spy movie. Let me have this."

"Hey… hehehe… Sasuke look… hey, hey Sasuke look."

Sasuke's black pupils moved to side glance at Naruto, and after deciding Naruto not worth his time, looked back to his own computer, a spreadsheet opened on the screen.

"Sasuke! Look! Hey Sasuke look!"

"What Naruto?" Sasuke finally spat, turning his head to the boy sat next to him.

"Hehehe, look, boobies."

Instead of the assigned work up on Naruto's computer screen, he had open Microsoft Paint, a crude drawing of Tsunade with over exaggerated breasts drawn.

Sasuke looked away with annoyance, though it seemed like the very corner of his lips quirked upwards very slightly, "You're such a loser."

Naruto giggled slyly, then brought up another tab, where there was another crudely drawn picture, this time of himself riding a dragon downwards, a sword pointed, with a badly drawn Sasuke riding a dragon flying upwards.

"Sasuke, look, hehehe, Sasuke."

At the other side of the darkened computer suite, Hinata and Kiba sat. Hinata tapped away at her keyboard like most of the other students, whilst Kiba eyed Naruto and Sasuke across the class. Genma-Sensei was a pretty relaxed teacher who let the kids pretty much do what they wished as long as the work was finished by the end of the day, and crucially Sakura did not take IT with them all, so Kiba felt like this fifth period IT class was the perfect opportunity to begin his operation.

"Hey, Hinata." Kiba whispered, tapping the girl on the shoulder.

She turned to him.

"So, I was thinking about our little operation, and I reckon now is a great time to get it started."

"N-now?!" Hinata yelped, sparing a worried glance Naruto's way.

"Yeah. Why, you not up to it?"

Please say you're not up to it and you inexplicitly over lunch time decided you didn't actually like Naruto.

"Well it's just… I thought maybe we'd start tomorrow," Hinata mumbled on.

Kiba shrugged, "No time like the present," he leant inwards, pointing over at the object of Hinata's desires, "Now, the good thing is we don't need to make it look at all natural. You can just go over and strike up a conversation and Naruto's such a nice guy he'll reciprocate straight away."

"W-what will we talk about?"

Kiba pouted, "Err, I dunno. What do you two normally talk about?"

Hinata looked sadly downwards.

"When you do talk… if ever."

"I… I'm not sure. We never really hold proper conversations. Just little things, when we're in a group."

Kiba sighed. Hinata looked to him, and realised that he was finding it much harder than she was.

"I could maybe go ask him for help with my work," Hinata decided to put forward, and Kiba nodded slowly.

"Yeah, yeah that might work. Yeah, go do that."

And with that Hinata stood. She looked to Genma behind his desk, who was smirking to himself as he chewed on his pen, watching something on his computer, and then she moved across the class to Naruto and Sasuke's corner.

"Just leave me alone, okay?"

Sasuke's words sounded out as Hinata came over, and she watched as Naruto scowled and looked away. They had had a disagreement again, something they seemed to be having a lot of late, Hinata noticed.

"N-Naruto."

Naruto did not hear, and instead, with a stony face, opened google and searched for a games website.

"Naruto."

Sasuke turned to look at Hinata, then quickly turned back to his work. Naruto gave Sasuke a glare, then turned to Hinata, smiling when he noticed who it was.

"Oh, hey Hinata! What's up?"

Hinata pushed her fingers together, looking down at the carpet.

"I… I was wondering if you could help me with something… maybe."

Naruto nodded, "Yeah! Sure! What is it?"

Hinata went to answer but Naruto continued.

"Just as long as it's not the work!" He leant in to whisper, "Don't tell Genma-Sensei, but I'm three weeks behind already."

Hinata winced. What now? She glanced back to Kiba, who was sitting stony faced, staring at his computer screen. She wasn't sure if he was just confused by the work or annoyed for some reason, but she really needed his help, as she was about to panic.

"Oh erm… Well I… I was going to…"

Naruto sat still, smiling upwards at her.

"I was actually going to ask you for help… erm…"

"Hmm, you need help with your work Hinata?"

Hinata turned to the source of the voice. Ino smiled up at her a few seats to the side of Naruto. Hinata looked between the female and Naruto.

"Erm…"

"Here, I'll help you. I finished ages ago."

Ino stood, smiling, and awkwardly Hinata led her over to her own seat, Naruto shrugging and turning back to his computer as the two departed.

Kiba raised a confused eyebrow as Hinata arrived back with a smiling Ino. He gave Hinata a quizzical look, to which she turned away from.

"Ino," Kiba greeted slowly.

Ino turned to him, "Hey Kiba."

"So, what'd you need help with Hinata?"

Ino leant over the girls shoulder, peering at her spreadsheet. She scrolled down on the mouse a couple times studying the screen, then frowned. "Hinata, what's up? Looks like you've done your work." She then turned and glared at Kiba, who looked even more confused. "Oh I get it. I'm here to do your work am I? That why you sent Hinata over?"

Kiba blinked, "Well… erm…" A pause of consideration, "Well, if you wouldn't mind?"

"Okay, so yesterday was sort of disastrous."

Kiba and Hinata stepped out of the doors of the front entrance to Konoha Academy. It was break time, the pair just having being released from their respective maths classes (Kiba was the set below Hinata) and noting both Shino and Choji sat on the grass, made over to them, "I mean, besides Ino doing all of my work, that was a result."

Hinata smiled at Kiba's remark as the Inuzuka spoke on.

"Now, obviously we can't let the others in on this, but I've got some ideas I wanna brainstorm to you right now."

Hinata nodded, though she was apprehensive.

Shino was the first to notice the pair coming over, and raised an eyebrow as he overheard Kiba speaking.

"What? You don't think that's a good idea? It's amazing!"

Hinata laughed lightly, "Kiba, I can't do that."

The pair plonked down onto the grass as Kiba continued.

"Okay, how does this sound? Mini skirt. Crop top, lipstick. We're gonna ensnare him with your physical beauty!"

Hinata blushed at the compliment and Kiba blushed at seeing her blush. Choji and Shino shared a look.

"What are you two talking about?" Shino questioned.

Kiba's head shot up, "None of your business, Shino." He then turned on Choji, "Nor yours Choji!"

"Well okay," Choji said slowly, as he hadn't given any indication that it was. He stood up, "I was gonna go get some more food anyway. See you all in a bit."

"So if not that," Kiba went on to Hinata as Choji trudged off towards the building, "What else?"

"I don't know."

Hinata trailed off in thought. She had been pruning for Naruto for so long now, and he had never even spared a second glance at her. Maybe Kiba was right? A change in appearance could maybe get his attention?

"Maybe… Maybe we could do that Kiba. Just, to a lesser degree?"

Kiba nodded shortly, "Right right, okay then. So, take off your hoodie."

Shino raised an eyebrow and Kiba crossed his arms as the girl hesitated.

"Hinata, it's twenty degrees out here anyway, why are you even wearing a hoodie?"

"I always wear this hoodie," Hinata murmured back.

"Yeah, and that's why…" Kiba paused and glared at Shino, who stared back seemingly uncaring. The Inzuka leant in to whisper to Hinata, "Maybe that's why You Know Who isn't giving you a second glance. He's never seen your banging body."

Hinata blushed redder than she had in a long time and once again Kiba blushed at her blushing. Shino once more stayed watching, expressionless.

Kiba wasbeing strange. She had never expected a compliment like that from him. She had never even really received a compliment from him before, or from anybody, really. At least regarding her appearance. She glanced up at him. He still looked downwards in embarrassment. She felt a rush of… something.

Slowly Hinata grabbed the bottom of her hoodie, then pulled it over head. Underneath she wore a strapped white top, the pattern grooved. There was a moment of silence, only broken by Kiba's gulp, his comment on her body clearly still weighing in the air. She suddenly felt very self-conscious, feeling the sun high in the sky behind her beat down against her rarely seen bare skin.

"Right," said Kiba, "So… so now, we could maybe do something with your hair?"

"Oh I see," Shino then said.

Kiba eyed him, "Huh? What'd you see? You don't see anything Shino," Kiba waved his hands in front of Shino dramatically, "Anything, Shino."

"This is about Naruto, right?"

Hinata looked up and met Shino's eye whilst Kiba seemed to literally growl.

"How'd you know!?"

"I am your friend, aren't I guys?" He replied steadily, "Besides. Everybody apart from Naruto himself knows about your crush Hinata. Plus, you weren't being very inconspicuous."

"Yeah yeah, whatever Shino," Kiba hissed, "You know I don't know what in-cons-cipuous means."

"You know, instead of devising all of these plans, you could just tell him how you feel."

Hinata went to speak but Kiba cut through.

"Well that wouldn't work! She needs to make him actually like her first, before she tells him how she feels!"

Hinata looked away. And just as quickly as he could compliment her, Kiba could inadvertently make her feel pretty bad again. This time he didn't notice, as Shino continued.

"I'm just saying, once it's all out in the open, whether you get the reaction you wanted or not, you'll feel a lot better."

"Hm, well don't just say Shino. This is my operation, I don't need your help!"

Shino shrugged and stood, "Fine then. I'll leave you two both to it then," he said in his typical quiet manner, before marching off to the building.

Kiba watched him go and gave off a disapproving "Tch," before turning to his best friend, "Right then, so what can you do with your hair, do you reckon?"

Hinata fingered the strands of her hair that ran down by her ears, "I'm not sure."

"Hmm," Kiba rubbed his chin, then started to move his hands into different square shapes, looking through the space between them like he had a camera filming Hinata's hair. Hinata watched with a bemused expression.

"What are you doing?"

"Visualising," Kiba returned shortly.

He continued to do this for a good half minute more, Hinata looking about the school's front with embarrassment at Kiba's gaze, before he dropped his shoulders in a defeated manner, "Oh man, I have no idea what we're doing. We need a girl." He stood and extended a hand out for Hinata to take, "Come on, let's go find Ino."

They found said blonde waiting outside the Teacher's Corridor with a bunch of their other friends, leant against the white wall along with Suigetsu, Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru. Kiba frowned when he saw them, leading Hinata over.

"Why are you guys all here?" he asked, coming to a stop with his hands on his hips.

"We're waiting for Sakura. She's having her second interview with the Detectives," Ino explained. Hinata felt her unrequited love problem suddenly feel a lot less important next to the whole murder situation that she had admittedly forgotten most of her friends were still undergoing. Then she looked at Naruto, minding his own business, bright eyes watching Kiba curiously, and all her original feelings quickly resurfaced to the forefront of her mind.

"Oh, she worried?" Kiba continued.

"Erm," Ino side eyed Sasuke, who seemed to be away with his own thoughts, "Sorta."

"Yeah, well she was one of the students who left the classroom wasn't she? I'm assuming in terms of suspects she's gonna be a lot higher on the list, she should be worried," Shikamaru put in, and Ino's face contorted at his comment.

"I left the room during the dentention!" she yelped.

Shikamaru smirked, "Then I guess you're going to be a prime suspect too then."

Ino's teeth seemed to clench like a vice, Naruto and Suigetsu laughing at her rather ugly expression.

"Hmm. Well anyway Ino could we borrow you a sec?"

Ino seemed initially confused, but then she shrugged, "Erm, sure."

The threesome began to move off, both Kiba and Hinata gifting an oblivious Naruto a leaving glance, when Suigetsu called out.

"Hey Ino, what're you doing? You said you were gonna spend your break and lunch with me today, cuz we haven't seen each other a lot lately."

Ino gave her boyfriend a dismissive shrug, "We can another time!"

Suigetsu shrugged back, moodily, and turned his head, "Fine. Whatever."

Wide-eyed Kiba led his two female counterparts away. "Trouble in paradise?" he asked, head bent back to look at Ino.

"Shut up! It was never paradise to begin with… and no, we're good!" Ino spat back, clearly not noting what she had actually said seemed to majorly contrast with the sentiment she wished to put forwards.

Kiba and Hinata shared a secret look, as both, well everybody in the friendship group, had noticed to at least some degree that the couple weren't exactly spending much time together anymore. It had initially been choked up by all to do with the murder investigation, but in truth Ino seemed relatively cool regarding that. It did honestly seem she was distracted by something else.

"So what do you want anyway?" asked Ino, "What's so important you needed to whisk me away like this?"

They all stopped by the girl's toilets.

"We need you to give Hinata a little makeover."

Ino considered this for a short second, before her mouth exploded into a massive grin, "YEAAAAAH!" She clearly enjoyed the prospect, and as Hinata and Kiba shared a celebratory glance, she then paused, "But… why?"

"What? Can't a girl want a new look?" Kiba tried, but Ino ignored him and seemed to be directing the question to Hinata.

"Well," Hinata stammered, "It's just… you know… Naruto."

Ino's eyes softened and a smirk emerged, "Say no more Hinata say no more. I feel you completely."

"So you'll do it?" Kiba questioned.

Ino nodded, pushing Hinata forwards towards the toilets, "Oh yeah, and by the time I'm done, Naruto will be slobbering at the mouth for our young Hinata here. She's gonna get some Ino Yamanaka sex appeal."

"Well don't make it too Ino Yamanaka," Kiba called after them as they went through the pinned open door, "And don't do too much! Less is more! LESS IS MORE INOOOOOOO!"

Five minutes or so later they emerged, Hinata feeling very uncomfortable in her own skin. Her hair had been pushed up into a side ponytail, and Ino had done some thickening of her eyelashes and plumping of her lips. Hinata thought she kinda looked good in the mirror, but she didn't feel like herself, exactly. Kiba on the other hand, who was fiddling on his phone waiting for the two, seemed to almost freeze in place when he laid eyes on her.

"Voila!" Ino exclaimed, exiting out of the toilets behind Hinata. She stood proudly behind the shorter girl, clearly pleased with her work.

"H-Hinata, you look amazing!" Kiba said.

Hinata's lips curled up, "Um, thanks Kiba."

"I have successfully Grease'd Hinata: Sandy style," Ino announced grandly, "She can now go forth and nab her Danny Zuko Uzumaki, and then they can fly off in a car, all because of me."

Hinata had no idea what Ino was talking about, but turned and granted her a small smile. "Thanks, Ino."

Ino went to answer, but then she narrowed her eyes and suddenly rushed off. Hinata watched her go, confused, and noted her seemingly chasing after a quick paced Asuma-Sensei who appeared to be worriedly glancing behind his shoulder at her every so often. The scene looked almost comical, but it was weird.

"Hinata, you… wow."

Kiba apparently was still in some kind of shock. Hinata turned to him, "Um, what now then Kiba?"

Kiba blinked then shrugged, "Well… I guess we go strike up a conversation with Naruto!"

Once more marching through the school in search of Naruto, Hinata with her arms crossed and feeling very much out of place, the pair found Naruto still outside the Teacher's Corridor, this time only with Sakura waiting.

"What are you guys still doing here?" Kiba questioned as he trudged over.

Hinata stuck to his back, trying to hide herself from Naruto.

"Waiting for Sasuke," Sakura returned, her voice dull, "...Even though he doesn't want us too."

She said this bit so sadly that even Kiba felt a massive surge of sympathy for her. He noted Naruto's annoyed facial expression and frowned, before continuing.

"Well Hinata and I can't find anyone else, so mind if we wait with you?"

"Sure," Sakura answered.

Nobody moved.

Kiba glanced behind himself, willing Hinata to move first with his eyes, Sakura and Naruto both clearly noticing this interaction. After an awkward backstep from Kiba, forcing her out into the front, Hinata moved over to the wall next to Naruto, and Sakura gasped.

"Wow Hinata! You look really pretty!"

"T-thanks Sakura."

Hinata glanced up at Naruto, who was studying her, and blushed.

"Yeah, she looks great, wouldn't you say Naruto?" Kiba said, nodding twice.

Naruto looked up at his friend, "Erm," he glanced back to Hinata and grinned toothily, giving Hinata a thumbs up, "Yeah! You look great Hinata."

Was that a good thing? Hinata couldn't tell. It was a compliment for sure but was it forced? She looked to Kiba to check his reaction. His expression though, was unreadable. Still, the boy seemed to press on.

"Soooo," Kiba went on, waving his hands side to side, Sakura and Naruto both watching him warily, confused by his awkwardness, "Hinata… you hungry?"

Hinata tried to read Kiba's expression, trying to work out what he was doing and where he was going with this, but she just couldn't.

She decided to play it safe, "Um, maybe. Sorta."

Kiba turned to Naruto, "You hungry Naruto?"

Naruto glanced to Sakura, "Err, I dunno… you hungry Sakura?"

Sakura glanced down the Teacher's Corridor, towards Tsunade's office, where inside Sasuke was being interviewed. "No… I'm not hungry."

Hinata cottoned onto Kiba's plan.

"I mean," she began, "I could go to the cantina to buy you something, if you'd like Kiba?"

Kiba nodded slowly, "Yesss," he said in a strange, over the top manner, earning him a completely bemused glance from Sakura beside him, "Yesss. I'll just have a sandwich if you'd please." He fished into his pocket and took some money out of his wallet, "Naruto, I don't mind paying for you to buy something if you wanna go with Hinata and choose sumin'."

At the prospect of free food Naruto's eyes lit up, "Hmm, you'd pay for me? Really?"

Kiba nodded, "Yeahhh, yeah I'd pay for you buddy." He pushed his money into Hinata's hand and nodded at Naruto again, "You just go with Hinata and choose your food. You do that."

Hinata blinked and Kiba rigidly craned his neck to indicate that she should leave. Jumping almost she gave a look to Naruto, then led the boy off down the corridor.

Sakura, who had watched all this, looked suspiciously at Kiba.

"What the hell was that about?"

Hinata was way over her head and had no idea what Kiba expected her to do now. In silence the two walked. Her head whirled with possible conversation starters. There was so much to talk about, yet for some reason so little.

"So… how goes the work?"

Naruto cocked his head, "What work?"

Hinata's mouth became a straight line, "Um… The work," she uselessly repeated.

Naruto gave her a funny look as she mentally face palmed.

"Um, but how's the whole investigation going for you, anyway?"

That was better.

Naruto eyes narrowed and he looked distantly down the corridor, and Hinata was acutely aware that his mind was likely on Sakura and Sasuke, "I don't really wanna talk about it."

So, that wasn't better.

The two reached the large grey doors of the cantina and pushed inside, the loud chatter enveloping their senses as they made their way in. They headed for the food counter line, Hinata twiddling the money in her hands, thinking desperately for something to talk about, to somehow impress him. What was she meant to be doing right now? What was the makeover for? He wasn't paying much attention to her. Was she meant to be doing something specific? Was there a certain position she was meant to be standing in to attract him, to show off her body, as Kiba had indicated?

She glanced at Naruto who was staring hard at the food behind the glass protection. He was seemingly trying to decide between an egg mayo sandwich and a chicken one, judging by how his eyes darted between the two over and over again. His face was extremely strained, as if the decision was a big one. It reminded Hinata of why she loved him so much and then… it hit her.

What had Shino said just earlier? She just had to be honest, and she would feel better…Was that really the case? The line moved up and up as people continued to get served, Naruto still staring intensely at the sandwiches, his chin now in his hands.

Was this what she was meant to be doing? Was now the time to just let him know how she felt? Kiba's little schemes had proved unsuccessful so far after all. Was this truly the moment?

The line moved up. For some odd reason, Hinata equated the dwindling line size to the time she had left to tell him of her true feelings.

It moved up again.

She so desperately wanted to tell him.

They moved again, Naruto, despite being somewhat far away from the two sandwiches of his choice, still looking at the two of them with his whole body bent in order to keep them in view, deep in thought.

They were two people away from the till now.

She, she had to do it now. Shino was right.

"N-Naruto."

Naruto turned to look at her, "I can't decide," he began conversationally as Hinata, red in the face, cut through him.

"I-I like you!"

Naruto pouted then nodded, "Yeah, I like you too Hinata. You're cool. Now, do you think I should get an egg mayo sandwich or-"

He didn't understand.

"N-no, Naruto... I love you!"

She hadn't said it overly loudly, but it was enough to earn a few onlookers. She stood, wide eyed, waiting for a response. Or rather, she stood waiting because she quite simply couldn't move. Naruto's eyebrows raised and he brought his lip inwards. Glancing around, he seemed lost for words, before he brought his hand to the back of his head and itched.

"Damn… Hinata, I… wow."

Oh no. What had she done?

"Hinata… I, I like you and all… but I kinda like… well I love… yeah, I like somebody else."

A sympathetic frown upon his face Naruto awkwardly stepped out of line. Hinata stood literally still, looking into the space Naruto had been in front of her.

What had she done? What had she done? WHAT HAD SHE DONE?

He seemed to just hover there for a second, clearly wondering if he should have said more, but then Naruto speedily exited the cantina. Still Hinata remained, frozen.

"Yo," Ukon behind her said, "You're holding up the line. Get moving!"

Gulping and not even turning to see who had spoken Hinata moved out of the line, digging her hand into her bag as she did so. She pulled out her hoodie and fitted it onto herself, before fiddling with the bands in her hair, taking them out and reverting her hair back to her usual style. Slowly she trudged across the cantina floor.

What had she done?