Chapter 5
A/N: sorry for taking a long time to update. gomennasai minna...
Hinata! What's wrong? You can tell me we are friends!" Naruto pushed.
Hinata's tears hurt Naruto, and she couldn't stop them. "Th-that's the problem!"
"What? That we're friends?!"
Hinata wiped her tears on her sleeve and sniffed.
"Ya. You see I….you...like...I love you..romantically" Hinata couldn't even look at his face. Naruto opened his mouth but nothing came out.
"See I-I shouldn't have t-told you. You just think I'm weird now. A-and we can't be friends anymore and-"
More tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry Naruto-Kun"
Why is she apologizing?
"Hinata…Don't apologize and don't cry….please" Naruto's face was sad.
"Ok" she wiped her tears "I'm sorry"
She loves me… she loves me!
His face all of a sudden brightened and he grinned mischievously.
"Heh. So... that make you one of my fangirls...ne?"
Hinata was flustered. What? Fangirl? Me? I do love him…
"I guess… but I'm not like crazy for you or something" she said embarrassed.
Naruto pointed a finger accusingly at Hinata. "Ya, you are crazy about me. So crazy that you fought Pein to save me!"
A light shade of red brushed Hinata's cheeks. "Ya...I mean. Like" she sputtered.
"Ha! See! You are a fangirl!"
'Maybe I'll find someone who was cheering me on the whole time. Since day one. When everyone else thought I was a loser…' Naruto remembered his previous thoughts. His face is now serious.
"So…"
"So…" she answered.
"So you liked me since when exactly?"
Oh god. This was the question Hinata had been dreading. If she said 'since the academy' and he didn't like her back then, he would think she was a creep, a stalker.
Hinata tried to put herself in Naruto's place: a man just confessed to her. She didn't like him back. The man told her that he had loved her for years and was stalking her since they were kids….
I can't even imagine. I would be so creeped out!
"Since….since.." kuso! I can't say it.. "since like… the academy?" She said it as if it was a question.
There were so many answers her could give her.
That's creepy
So weird!
Are you like obsessed with me or something?
You are my craziest fangirl yet!
"N-Nani?!" Naruto yelled loud enough to wake the dead.
Totally expected.
"Please Don't think I'm weird, O-or creepy, I-i just was to shy t-to tell you back then, And now since you have like a huge fandom I thought it was now or never really, and since y-you kissed me on the cheek I thought I might have a chance but clearly I didn't. Gomennasai" Hinata rambled.
"Hinata… you might have a chance"
"Might?"
"Ya"
"W-what's that mean?"
"I might like you back"
Hinata's heart raced. Naruto's expression was unreadable.
"I still don't think I know what love means yet" Naruto admitted.
"Of course you know what love is!"
"Then why is it that I don't know if I love you?"
"I don't know"
"H-How did you know you loved me like that?"
"Well at first, I thought I just admired you. But then I realized I-i loved you like that. Because you were strong and you never gave up. And all the girls thought I was weird for not liking Sasuke-Kun. I never I was good enough for you…"
Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing. I never was good enough for you.
Hinata was so awesome, amazing, cool, strong, and beautiful. Naruto couldn't have imagined someone like her even considering him. But did he love her back? "Hinata….I really-I don't….how could you think that you're not good enough for me?! I couldn't have ever imagined that someone as perfect as you could ever even look at me that way, let alone love me"
Hinata blushed uncontrollably. This moment was so perfect, she was afraid to jinx it in some way.
"Naruto-Kun…"
"But I thought I l-loved Sakura-Chan, but clearly I don't. A-and I think I love y-you but I don't w-wanna hurt you"
Hinata never heard Naruto stutter so much in her life.
"I'll give it a try ok?"
"R-really?"
"Ya. Cuz you really make me happy Hinata. And I dunno if I love you like that or not. I'm really sorry"
Hinata's heart beat faster than her heart on a deadly mission.
"Thank you Naruto-Kun. Thank you so much. I won't let you regret it!"
"Hinata…"
Her face lit up, he loved seeing her smile.
Their conversation was interrupted with distant footsteps. Kō Hyūga turned the corner. "Hinata-Sama! I've been looking for you everywhere!"
"K-kō-San!"
"Why are you here?" Kō asked eyeing Naruto accusingly.
"I was just dropping her off at her house after-"
"A mission!" Hinata cut off.
"Ya"
It wasn't technically a lie. She was coming back from tutoring him. And it was a mission from the Hokage. She just couldn't tell Kō. Hinata hesitantly stood on her toes and whispered something in Naruto's ear that made him blush. As she walked around the corner with Kō, Naruto couldn't help but think, I can't believe someone like that loves me.
Naruto slowly walked home thinking about what Hinata whispered to him.
Tomorrow, at Ichiraku's. Three o'clock.
He let out a toothy grin as he walked into his apartment. That night they both fell asleep thinking about each other.
The next day, Naruto arrived at Ichiraku's thirty minutes ahead of time. He sat at the table and waited nervously. "Aren't you gonna order anything Naruto?" Ayame asked. "Uhh. Ya, I'm just waiting for a- someone…"
"Ohhhh. Are they late?"
"N-no I'm just a little early"
"Mmhmm… don't be nervous. That's the worst way to ruin your first date"
"How did you know?"
"Hmph. I have my ways. Heh little Naruto is all grown up, going on dates"
"I'm not little…" Naruto grumbled.
"So…tell me why you're nervous," Ayame asked innocently.
"I'm not!" He protested. "Ok. Maybe I am a little"
"Why?"
"Well she is like really pretty and nice and strong and she said she liked me since the academy and-"
"Oh! You are finally going on a date with Hinata!"
"Y-you can read my mind!" Naruto pointed accusingly at Ayame across the counter.
"Heh. No silly! She is the only girl who liked you since the academy!"
"Oh…the problem is that I don't know if I like her back"
"Aww. She is an angel. Really. You are so lucky to have someone like her care about you Naruto"
Naruto nodded slowly.
Ayame dashed back into the kitchen where Naruto couldn't see her and grabbed her phone. She quickly called Sakura.
"CODE ORANGE AND PURPLE! I REPEAT ORANGE AND PURPLE!" Ayame yelled when Sakura picked up.
"Are you sure?!" Sakura asked incredulously.
"Yes," Ayame hissed. "Come quickly with Ino-Pig!"
"Wait! They would be sure to notice me and Ino-pig eavesdropping." Sakura noted. "Can't you ninjas transform into civilians?"
"Good idea. Ayame-Chan!"
"The code word is… forehead-Pig. Ok?"
"Fine…" Sakura said and hung up.
About ten minutes later three 'civilians' walked up to Ichiraku ramen.
"Forehead-Pig" one of them whispered to Ayame. "What?! Why are there three of you?!" Ayame whisper-screamed.
"Ino-pig is out on a mission so I brought Kiba and Shino" Sakura explained.
The two other 'civilians' nodded.
"We Just had to come," Kiba said.
"M'kay. You can order anything you want" Ayame said.
Thankfully, Naruto didn't seem to take notice of Kiba, Shino, and Sakura.
Waiting seemed like forever, for the 'civilians' and Naruto, but Hinata finally walked into the small ramen shop.
"O-oh hi n-Naruto-Kun…y-you were early" Hinata greeted, sitting next to him.
"A little too early," Shino stated.
"Oh...My...God. They are soooo cute together!" Sakura cheered. Kiba rolled his eyes. "Listen we just came here because we support Hinata. Can you please stop-"
"Shut up Kiba! I need to listen." Shino hissed.
"What do you wanna order Hinata?"
"I'll order what you order Naruto-Kun"
"Yosh! Two miso pork ramen Ayame-nee-chan!"
"No prob!" Answered Ayame.
Naruto turned back to Hinata. "Say, Hinata, how about we try to get to know each other better?"
"That sounds like a good idea!" Hinata exclaims excitedly.
"Nice move Naruto" Kiba hissed "If Akamaru was here, he would be proud"
"Akamaru isn't here. Why? Because Kiba didn't want him to give away that he is Kiba and ruin Hinata's date" Shino stated.
"Precisely"
"You guys are weird" Sakura grumbles.
"So" Naruto continues, "What is your favorite food?"
"Cinnamon rolls" Hinata answered without hesitation.
"Cool! Mine is ramen!"
Hinata giggled "I knew that Naruto-Kun"
"What's your favorite color?" He asked.
"Purple"
"Mine is orange! Any shade is fine really!"
"What are your hobbies?" Hinata asked bravely.
"Hehe. Hinata… you promise not to laugh? Or tell anyone?"
Hinata thought she knew. She thought he would say he liked playing pranks.
"I enjoy gardening" he mutters, clearly embarrassed.
Hinata giggled happily. She just couldn't stop giggling and smiling when she was around Naruto.
"I knew you would laugh at me," Naruto said in defeat.
"No, no!" She laughs "it's just that we have something in common. I like pressing flowers!"
"What? How is squishing flowers fun?"
Hinata was somewhat offended, but then she realized that he probably didn't know what pressing flowers meant.
"Pressing flowers is when you get a fresh flower and press it with a book or a piece of wood onto a paper. It looks really beautiful after you remove it."
"Wow. That sounds pretty fun and cool"
"Right?!"
"Aww. I ship it so bad! What should the ship name be?!" Sakura asked.
"Shut up Sakura," Kiba said irritated.
"Should it be hinato? Naruta? Hinanaru? Nanata? Hiruto? Naruhina?" She continued ignoring Kiba.
"Naruhina sounds about right" Shino confirmed. A disappointed sigh escaped Kiba's mouth.
Ayame presented two big bowls of ramen in front of Naruto and Hinata.
"Mmm. This looks good…" Hinata said with a pleased expression.
Naruto licked his lips in agreement.
"Ne, Hinata do you wanna do a ramen eating competition? You don't have to if yo-"
"Sure! Who can eat the most bowls!"
Naruto was sure he could beat her. He ate ramen like he breathes air.
She holds her chopsticks, "ready?!"
That's when he realized that he couldn't hold his chopsticks. How embarrassing.
"Wait a second!"
"What is it Naruto-Kun?" Hinata asked nervously. "I-i can't hold my chopsticks" he grumbled in disappointment. Naruto really wanted to show her how fast he could eat ramen. Ayame didn't want there date to be ruined because of that. She handed him training chopsticks. "Here this should be easier to use"
Naruto picked them up. They had a panda holding them together.
"Awww that's cute" Hinata giggled uncontrollably. In normal circumstances, Naruto would just be annoyed, but it was so cute when she laughed. He almost melted whenever he saw her smile. Is that love? Fortunately, the chopsticks were easier to use. "Ready? Set? CHOW!"
Naruto was completely focused on getting the most ramen he could in his mouth. He didn't even look at Hinata until he finished his second bowl. Oh...my...god….
Hinata was finished with her fourth bowl going to her next. She ate like a princess in Naruto's eyes. So fast…I need to beat her! Naruto gulps down his next bowl, and the one after that, and so on. It was on his twelfth bowl when Naruto started to feel sick. He looked at Hinata and she was on her twenty-fifth bowl. TWENTY-FIVE?!
Naruto set his head on the counter in defeat.
Sakura's jaw was on the floor. Kiba snickered. "That's Hinata for you," said Shino. "Ne, Hinata I think that's enough you won already," Naruto said worriedly.
Hinata finished her last bowl and gave a pleased sigh. "That was fun," she said softly.
"Ya, I think I ate too much" Naruto groaned clutching his stomach.
"No offense Hinata, but how are you not fat? I thought you would at least as big as choji after eating all of that"
'Chaaaanarooo! You don't say something like that to a girl NARUTOOOO!' Inner Sakura thought angrily.
Hinata giggled softly. "I think it's cuz I train a lot Naruto-Kun"
"Oh"
She is so hot when she eats ramen. I should tell her but I'll seem creepy and weird.
"I think I need to walk this off. Do you wanna come with me?" Naruto offered.
"Sure"
don't forget to leave a review!
:)