Im so so so so sorry I haven't posted in forever! I got side tracked with school and mid terms. But luckily I wrote a few chapters in my spare time so Im up to ch 10 but I have to type and submit them so I don't know how long it could take. This next few chapters should be worth the wait. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: why do they call it a disclaimer its not like anyone here actually thinks I own Naruto….and if they do…. I accept fan mail! )

Chapter 7

The next morning Hinata quickly showered and got dressed. She left her house before anyone else had even woken up.

She headed into the market district to buy a new coat. It was September and it was much too cold for just a shirt.

She went to the same store (Eskimos R Us hehe) and bought the same fur coat she had always worn.

Last night, Naruto had needed someone. He needed a friend and Hinata had failed him. She would not let it happen again. She increased her pace and headed towards the ramen stand with a new determination.

Naruto arrived at the stand shortly after Hinata. "Hey Hinata! Are you ready for some training?"

Naruto's usually smile and happiness was back. It was as if the night before had never happened.

Hinata grabbed his arm and pulled him into a seat. "Naruto, about last night… Im sorry… I never knew you were an orphan."

Naruto's smile vanished and Hinata saw the pain in his face. "You have nothing to be sorry for. It's ok."

"It's not ok! You must be so lonely. You have never had parents and now you don't even have your squad. I can't imagine what it feels like, but I promise you, for as long as I live, I will always be your friend and I will always be there for you."

Naruto's eyes started to water and he was at a loss for words. He reached out and pulled Hinata into a close embrace. "Thank you, Hinata".

Hinata blushed, but she still hugged Naruto back. Naruto held onto her for a while.

"Thank you so much, Hinata" He let go of her and wiped his eyes. "Im really lucky to have a friend like you."

At Naruto's praise, Hinata lost her resolve and became her old stuttering self. "Um.. s-should we go t-train now?"

"Let's eat first! My treat!"

"N-No, that's ok. I have money."

"No. I want to pay. That's what friends do, right?"

She blushed slightly and put her money away. Hinata knew there was no convincing Naruto. Even if he was up against an army he would never back down. And with his shadow clones he might actually win.

"Two beef ramens, old man!"

"So, treating your girlfriend to some ramen, eh Naruto? Good catch, she's a cutie!"

"N-No! We are just friends!" Naruto blushed a deep crimson red and Hinata was looking at the floor with an even deeper blush.

Ayame(I think that's her name… the ramen lady.. the old mans daughter… yeah) came out and noticed Naruto and Hinata..

"Awww…. You two make such a cute couple!"

"We are just friends!" Naruto and Hinata shouted in unison, their blushed growing deeper.

Ayame gave them a smug smile and whispered to her father, "They are just friends…for now!"

Naruto suddenly became fascinated with his necklace and Hinata was nervously tapping her fingers together.

"Naruto is that you?"

Naruto froze as he recognized that voice. He turned around and Sakura and Ino were standing right behind them.

Ino giggled. "I knew you guys would hit it off. You two are the perfect pair!"

"It's not like that…" Naruto said. Hinata was too embarrassed to speak

Ino smirked. "Well we were going to eat here, but I wouldn't want to intrude on your date."

Ino and Sakura waved goodbye and left.

Naruto and Hinata sighed with relief.

Suddenly Lee and TenTen burst in.

"Ooooohh! Look at you two! Finally on your first date? How cute!" TenTen squealed.

Lee gave Naruto the thumbs-up sign. "Great job, Naruto! Congrats to you both!"

Hinata's entire face turned red and Naruto started to stammer. "N-No… w-we are j-just friends!"

And to make things worse Shikamaru and Chouji came in.

"I was wondering what all the fuss was about. It seems you two are finally going out." Shikamaru said lazily.

Chouji slapped Naruto on the back. " Have you kissed her yet?"

Hinata hide her face in her hands and Naruto pounded his head into the table.

Then there was an obnoxious laugh. "Hinata? You're dating Naruto? Did you lose a bet or something?" Kiba said with a grin.

Naruto jumped up. "You take that back, Dog-breath!"

Shino got between them. "This isn't the place or the place to fight. It would run Hinata's first date. And she must be so happy to be able to share it with Naruto."

Hinata gasped and pulled her coat over her head, while Naruto continued to glare at Kiba. It wasn't long before all the rookie nine knew Naruto and Hinata were eating together.

After everyone had left and Naruto and Hinata had finished their ramen, they headed over to the training ground.

The training grounds was rather small with a few trees and a small pond. "So what kind of training were you planning on?" Naruto asked.

"Physical training."

"Well, that's easy." Naruto put his fingers in his favorite hand sign and made 10 clones. "Let's see what you can do against my clones!"

Hinata slid into her Jouken stance and Naruto's clones charged.

Hinata's balance and precision were perfect. Naruto watched in awe as Hinata destroyed his clones without getting a scratch.

He made 20 more clones and forced Hinata onto the pond. Hinata started to swirl her arms in circular motions, swirling the smoke and water around her.

Naruto's clones were being destroyed so fast that a thin mist started to form on the pond.

Naruto noticed her dance-like movements through the mist and he got a feeling a deja-vu. He tried to remember where he had seen this before. Suddenly, something clicked and Naruto remembered the waterfall scene.

"Hinata? I-It….It was you?!"

Aww so he finally figured it out. sorry for the cliffhanger but i need to keep you guys interested. see you all next chapter!