Unfortunatly I dont own Naruto


Hinata stood on the wall staring out in to the horizon impatiently awaiting his return. She waited for the only man who was able to shine a ray of light in to her world of darkness. She waited for Naruto. Just than a growl echoed throughout the village, "I shouldn't have skipped breakfast."

Neji jumped up on the wall beside Hinata. "Don't worry Naruto will be back today, you should go home and eat."

"but-"

"He will have to report straight to the Hokage, I asked her to send a messenger to the Hyuuga house when he arrives."

"Arigato Neji-kun." Hinata turned off her Byakugan and headed back to the house. Reminding herself to only eat something light so she would have a reason to go to Ichiraku's with Naruto.

Neji took one more glance at the horizon before following Hinata.

Just outside of the Byakugan's range was an old man and a blond boy. "Hurry up," Naruto demanded, "I'm hungry for the worlds best ramen." The weight of the bags caused the old Sanin to hunch as he walked. His gray hear drenched in sweat on this hot afternoon. The puddles of yesterdays rain already evaporated.

"I could move faster if you grabbed some of these bags Naruto," panted Jaraiya. After a little more complaining from his sensei and a few more growls from Naruto's stomach, he finally grabbed some of the bags from Jaraiya. Naruto adjusted the weight of the bags to a more comfortable position. Once the bags were secure he sprinted towards Konoha.

Naruto dropped the bags just inside the village. It took awhile for the guards to recognize him. Naruto's face wasn't as round as it used to be. His ninja outfit was a little more subtle than his previous one and his hitaiite and a black cloth holding it on instead of the blue one. "You better report in to Tsunade-sama," the older guard said. Under the gaze of a pink haired Kunoichi Naruto headed to the Hokage tower. A few minutes later he arrived barging in like always.

"Baa-san I'm back" shouted Naruto with his trademark grin on his face, and hands behind his head. All five occupants of the room turned there gaze to the rude shinobi.

"I see you haven't changed a bit Naruto," Tsunade motioned for him and Jaraiya to sit down. Standing in the room was Konohamaru and his team.

"I want a higher ranked mission," Konohamaru whined, "my ninja skills are being wasted." Naruto got a strange feeling of deja vu. He remembered saying something similar to the third hokage. After which he was sent on a mission to the land of the waves. However unlike the third Hokage Tsunade didn't give in. She denied him of his request and dismissed team Konohamaru. After what seemed like hours Jaraiya finally finished giving his report.

Tsunade turned to Naruto. "Can you confirm that report."

"All except the part about researching Akatsuki. Instead Ero-Sennin was researching for his book. During which time he dropped me off to learn from a few other well known sensei's" Naruto started rubbing the top of his head after Jaraiya retracted his fist.

"We were supposed to keep that a secret remember," Jaraiya now looking in to the angry gaze of Tsunade, inched closer to the window. With the window a few feet away he sprinted for it. Only a chair pursued him out the window. It just missed him by an inch. The chair continued to the ground. A yell of pain reached Naruto's ears as an innocent bystander was hit.

"Naruto I have a mission for you," Tsunade reached for the paper marked C, "You know Konohamaru wanted a higher ranked mission. Well you should also know that your the only genin out of the rookie nine. In times like these we need to replenish our shinobi. Although it has been three years since you were in the chuunin exam, your battle with Neji became well known..."

Begin Flash Back...

Naruto had all his chakra points sealed. Neji was asking the proctor to declare the match. Naruto knew only one thing he would win, but how? He called upon the Kyuubi's power. The older citizens could feel the change in chakra. They knew it came from the beast. Like a dam the chakra points burst open, chakra flowing like rushing waters. The fight was not over, especially with Naruto's renewed strength. He charged Neji with all the Kyuubi's power that he had. Neji put all his energy in to a heavenly spin. The audience was blinded by the light given off by the attack. When the crowd was able to see again only two craters were visible. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see who won the fight. Finally the ground stirred as Neji dug his way out. He approached the second crater. He saw Naruto laying there unconscious. With a knowing smirk he let down his guard, he had won. Naruto became a puff of smoke just as the ground began to stir once more. Neji didn't have enough time to get his guard back up before Naruto delivered a powerful uppercut to his chin. With Neji unable to move the battle was declared for Naruto.

End Flash Back

"...This will provide you with the leadership required to become chuunin. That's all the other Kages and I believe you lack.

Naruto couldn't contain his excitement. He was jumping up and down and running around the room like a madman.

Tsunade continued, "The mission requires you to once again escort the bridge builder, to the land of waves. You will lead team Konohamaru and I will be sending Hinata with you. Even though Hinata is chuunin she is just there to observe and to give suggestions when needed." After the briefing Naruto exited to find himself surrounded by his friends. The first person he noticed was a girl with indigo hair. His tunnel vision centered on her. Her face was bright red. He didn't even notice that he was standing beside Sakura. He pushed through the crowd headed straight for Hinata.

"Oh no he's coming this way,"Hinata's blush deepened and her breath quickened. "I thought I'd be safer in the back. It's too soon to talk to him." She snapped out of her thoughts when she saw her love standing right in front of her. Using all her will and strength of a ninja she managed not to faint. "Ohayo N-Na-ru-" she couldn't take it any more and collapsed. Just before she hit the ground Naruto caught her in his arms. With Hinata out cold he finally noticed Sakura who was trailing behind him.

"Sakura-chan, can you help Hinata? There is something wrong with her." Naruto was still pointing at the passed out Kunoichi in his arms. He gently laid her down on the floor. Sakura walked over with smelling salt and placed it under the heiress's nose.

Hinata awoke to all her friends hovering over her deepening her embarrassment.

"Hinata are you okay because I need you to come with me tomorrow?" Hinata almost passed out again. Naruto wanted to be with her tomorrow. "Tsunade is sending us to the land of waves with team Konohamaru.

"Ya I'm okay N-Naruto-kun," she said with disappointment in her voice. Naruto moved on to greet the rest of his friends. When the group left for home he caught up with Sakura.

"Hey Sakura, want to go on a date with me?" Naruto asked before he was pushed back by the force of her fist. Taking that as a no he headed for Ichiraku's Ramen shop alone. Unknowing to him was Hinata following in the shadows. He arrived just in time to see an overweight man taking out the garbage. He wore a chef hat and an apron.

"Hey old man," Naruto greeted as they entered the building together. Naruto sat down and ordered eight bowls of pork ramen.

"Long time no see," said Ayame as she jotted down his order. The tall brown haired black eyed lady turned to her new customer and jotted down her order. "You're Miso ramen will be right up Hinata," she turned to deliver her orders.

Naruto and Hinata sat in silence until Hinata finished gathering her courage. "Where d did you go Naruto-kun?"

"I went training for three years with Ero-Sennin" Naruto replied.

"I meant where did you g go on your trip?"

Naruto began to tell her about his journey, when Ayame appeared with their orders. "So Naruto's got a girlfriend has he," Ayame teased. Without hesitation Naruto jumped up and started denying it. Hinata's face became sad. She tried to keep from crying but the occasional tear still escaped.

"Naruto hasn't noticed me" She ate her ramen at a speed that could rival Naruto, paid, and left. Hinata walked home slowly hoping to look fine by the time she got back. On her way she ran in to her former team mates.

"Hey Hinata what's wrong," yelled Kiba.

Hinata tried not too look at them so they wouldn't notice her red puffy eyes. "N nothing Kiba-kun, I, I just hurt myself training earlier." Shino already deduced what happened.

"Ok good night Hinata." Shino dragged Kiba behind him. He knew Hinata wanted to be alone right now.

At the same time Naruto was also walking home. It was getting dark and he wanted to see what the stars looked like from his window. Before his trip with Ero-Sennin Naruto never gave the stars a second thought. However now they meant something. The stars had a history to them. For some reason they reminded him of a certain person's eyes. He also felt like it linked him to others who happened to be looking at them right now.

From her room, Hinata looked up at the stars. For her each star resembled a person. Hinata looked at the north star. Being the brightest star in the sky she couldn't help, but be reminded of Naruto. Naruto is the strongest shinobi she has ever known."Naruto, you may not have feelings for me, but as long as I'm your friend at least I can stay close to you. However I wont let my love for you die, I promise on my nindo." She continued to look at the north star until she couldn't fight back the waves of tiredness.

Finally Naruto made it home. He unlocked his door and laid on his bed. He was feeling guilty about how he made Hinata feel. "I got to apologize to Hinata how I made her feel on our date, no not date, meeting." With the resolution of what he must do he fell in to a restless sleep.