Disclaimer: It has come to my attention that Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto, and draws better than me…man, the truth hurts.
Chap. 2: A Confession
(Sakura's P.O.V)
No sooner did Naruto leave when Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, Iruka, and Tsunade came down from a hiding place of a tree.
"So, how long do we have?" Tsunade asked me setting down a wrapped box.
"I hid the weapons in his closet…it will be at least an hour before he finds a single kunai though, since I also left a few stray weapons under his bed and in his pile of dirty laundry." I grinned.
"Good strategy, Sakura, you're reputation as an intelligent kunoichi still holds true." Iruka added with a laugh.
"You're horrible." Kakashi added with a shaking of his head. Well, he was a bit true with that statement; having Naruto look for anything in his apartment is mean. Especially when you purposefully hid the items.
"Do you have the decorations?" I asked, turning my attention to Team Ten, minus Asuma. The loss of the Jonin was still a touchy subject with the group.
Ino smiled brightly and nodded her head to a (very) large box full of streamers, table covers, wrapping paper, and plastic eating utensils. She looked expectantly at Choji, who went over to the box and heaved it up. Ino elbowed Shikamaru, who grunted and walked over to help Choji.
"You know that Naruto doesn't like it when his birthday is celebrated." The shadow using Jonin commented.
"That's true, but this is his eighteenth birthday, making him an 'official' adult of Konoha. Even if he became a ninja at twelve, he was still a kid." Tsunade pointed out.
"Which gives him certain privelages…" Kakashi added.
"Kakashi, go help Iruka set up the tables." The Fifth Hokage ordered with an annoyed, somewhat dangerous look. Kakashi simply shrugged, then walked over to help Iruka while muttering 'Well, it's true…'
About fifteen minutes later Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji arrived with Gai who was humming a tune. Upon seeing Kakashi, he immediately challenged the Copy Nin to a competition of who could put up the most balloons in five minutes. Luckily, Iruka had already covered that task. Gai sighed and went to help his team set up the giant pots of ramen.
Shortly after we got the fire going, Kiba, Kurenai, and Shino arrived. Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari arrived along with Jiraiya who had escorted the three to Konohagakure.
"Well, Gaara, glad you could take time out of your schedule to come to Naruto's party." I said, giving the Kazekage a friendly hug. He stiffened slightly, but then relaxed.
"Well of course, Naruto's my friend." He said quietly. Temari had actually been trying to get her youngest brother to open up more. He was slowly progressing, he could stand human contact, though was still a bit shaky around women. I thought I'd offer some help. After seeing the Kazekage freeze up like that, and then suddenly have a desire to help Tenten and Lee make the ramen, I laughed a little. Gaara was indeed a better person.
Before noon came, a few more people came, and brought a lot more gifts. A large buffet table was set up, and streamers were lined everywhere, especially on Gai's side, who had apparently won a challenge at making his side more 'youthful' than Kakashi's.
I heard a beeping sound from a radio around my waist, and picked it up, "Yes, what's up, Hinata?" I asked through the speaker.
"Um…Sakura, I-I think Naruto-kun's found all of your weapons. He's walking out of his apartment, and heading down the stairs right now."Answered the Hyuuga heiress on the other side of the frequency.
"Shoot, Hinata, can you stall him for a few more minutes? We're almost done here, but still need a bit more time." I asked.
"S-sure Sakura, I'll try my best to distract him, but you know how he gets." Hinata replied, then turned off her radio. I then turned to the group.
"Okay everyone, Naruto's found my weapons earlier than planned, but Hinata is going to try and stall him for a while. So, we need to hurry up and- Shikamaru, will you quit staring at the clouds and help out?!"
(Hinata's P.O.V)
Great, I had no idea what to do! Distract Naruto? That's next to impossible…but I need to try, everyone's depending on me.
"Um…hi…N-Naruto-kun." I said, feeling myself get sweaty all of the sudden.
Naruto turned, then smiled brightly, "Hinata-chan, how are you? Nice weather today, especially with it being fall and everything."
I nodded, and began to feel nervous…no, don't break down now! Talk!
"So…w-where are you going?" I asked, feeling my cheeks turn pink. I don't get it, why am I acting this way still? I'm dating Kiba, and Naruto is dating Sakura. I'm happy with Kiba, honestly and whole-heartedly. Kiba feels the same for me…especially with him having been the one who first asked me out.
So why do I still get flustered around one of my best friends/former crushes?
"Well, I'm going to go and train with Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei!" He replied with his trademark grin.
There was an awkward silence that followed, and I began to shuffle my feet and figet with my fingers…just like I always do when I'm nervous.
"Oh…t-that sounds good. So how has Sakura been? I heard she's giving classes to genin that want to become medic nin." I continued, trying to take up more time.
"Yeah, she's doing great! I mean, heck, she taught me a few basic medical techniques, which is saying a lot considering my skill in that field." Naruto chuckled.
"Yeah…" I was starting to look around, trying not to show my blush.
However, Naruto noticed my discontent.
"Hinata, is something wrong?" he asked me, looking concerned.
"I…n-no, I'm fine Naruto." I lied.
"Hinata…if something's wrong, you can tell me. You're one of my best friends, and you can trust me." He spoke, putting a hand on my shoulder.
Should I tell him? Yes, even if those feelings I had for him don't really exist anymore, perhaps telling him would help me.
"Well, Naruto…back when we were in the academy together…when we were just kids…and even after that for quite a while….I um…Ihadacrushyou." I said quickly, almost making the last part intelligible. It took Naruto a second to understand what I said.
Oh no, he thinks I'm weird now…I should have just kept quiet. I turned to leave, but he held me in place.
"I'm sorry Naruto…" I apologized, looking down.
Naruto laughed, "You have nothing to be sorry for." I heard him say, a grin spreading on his face, "Is that true?"
I nodded, "Y-yes…you were my idol back then…my crush, but I don't feel that way anymore. I love Kiba, and he's a wonderful boyfriend."
"He better remain that way too, or he'll have to answer to me if he upsets you." Naruto said half-jokingly.
I laughed a bit, then nodded.
"So…why didn't you ever ask me out on a date? I'm sure I wouldn't have turned you down. I mean, heck, you were cute back then, and as long as you don't go telling Kiba this, I'd probably say you've gotten even hotter looking." He said with a huge grin, rubbing the back of his head.
"N-Naruto!" I half gasped, half giggled, "Well, I guess I n-never asked you was-"
"You felt nervous? Scared of rejection?" he offered with a curious look.
"Yes." I replied.
Naruto smiled gently, then did something I would have done anything for about five years ago. He held me in a hug, then kissed my cheek.
He winked at me, "Hinata…sorry for not noticing you as much back then. If this can make up at all, then how about if Sakura and I ever…well, um…"
"Get married?" I suggested, a smirk on my face. The change in color of his face must have been from tanned peach to deep crimson within a second.
"Yeah…when we…I mean IF we ever did…would you like to be…well, this is also only a possibility, but would you want to be our first kid's…aunt?" he continued.
"Aunt…?"
"Well, not a real aunt, um, more of a sponser, or guardian, you know," he paused to think, "A surrogate…yeah, a surrogate aunt I guess."
I was still blushing from our close proximity when I felt a few emotional tears drip down my face, "Really?"
"Oh shoot, I made you cry, didn't I? Just my luck to end up hurting a girl's feelings, especially one of my best-"
"Naruto, I'm not sad, I'm happy." I wrapped him up in a tight hug, "I'll come with you to the training grounds, that way Sakura won't beat you up…t-too much at least." I smiled.
Naruto laughed, and we started heading to the training grounds. All the way there I couldn't help but have a slight bounce in my step. It felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders, and I felt better with myself.
End of chap.2- Awwwwww! Isn't it cute? Yeah, had to put in a NaruHina scene, even if it was a bit of friendship more or less. Well, that's another chapter down, many more to go. I'm not even sure how long this one could take. Well, hope you're liking this, and please R&R, because it makes me feel special on the inside…okay, I'm done with the overkill on fluff.