Ah… many of you most be steamed with me as I have been neglecting my writer's duties. My bad! But as the end of the year is approaching I am finding less and less time to write but I promise to post two more chapters before summer break. Fyi im not sure if I will be able to post much during summer… Make sure u add my story to ur story alerts so you will be notified when I post. And remember to keep reviewing! Next award will go out on the 200th review. Although im not sure what it will be… and now for the greatest chapters so far! (insert applause here)
Disclaimer: ok so I ran out of sarcastic disclaimers… its not that easy. Anyway ill try something else, ill just post some of my favorite sayings.
A closed mouth gathers no foot. Second place is the first loser. Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else. Atheism is a non-prophet organization. Borrow money from a pessimist, they don't expect it back. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines. Energizer Bunny arrested and charged with battery. Error, no keyboard. Press F1 to continue. Silence is golden, duct tape is silver. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose.
Ok now back to my story.
The next day Hinata woke up and stretched her arms with a morning laziness. However as yesterday's events flashed though her head she found her self jumping out of bed with joy. She had a date with Naruto!
But something small nagged at her from the back of her head. That's right! I fainted at the hospital… How did I get back home?
She got up and walked throughout the complex looking for her father or Neji, wondering if one of them brought her back. She found her father training Neji in the courtyard.
"Um… G-Good morning Father."
Hiashi stopped his training and turned to look at Hinata. His eyes were stern and unforgiving. He turned and left the courtyard.
Hinata turned to Neji for an explanation.
Neji shrugged. "You didn't come home last night. Naruto brought you back around midnight. You were unconscious. Hiashi is still very suspicious of Naruto."
Neji turned to follow Hiashi, but stopped and looked Hinata in the eye. "If I were you, I'd avoid mentioning Naruto around your father." He turned and walked out
Hinata glared at his back defiantly and stuck out her tongue.
"I saw that."
Hinata gasped and ran into the kitchen. Her gaze drifted towards the kitchen clock and she let out a small "Eep!"
It was already 7:45! She was going to be late! (For a very very important date! Hehe Ignore the Alison in wonderland reference.)
She quickly ran back to her room and showered. She rushed out and into a clean set of clothes.
There wasn't enough time for breakfast so she skipped it. She brushed her teeth and made sure she hair was smooth and straight.
Then, she ran into the kitchen at around 8:10. She spent the next 45 minutes there, cooking lunch for Naruto. Naruto had said he loved her cooking so she had to make sure it was perfect for him.
She placed all her food into a backpack and headed towards the front door. She check the time as she ran towards the door.
It was 8:57. If she ran fast enough, She could make it to Naruto's house on time. Suddenly, Hiashi stepped out and blocked Hinata from leaving the house.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"Um… well I …uh…"
"You're going to Naruto's, aren't you? What's going on between you two?! He demanded.
"N-Nothing… we just…"
Neji walked past the kitchen and noticed Hinata's predicament. He trusted Naruto and knew Hinata would be safe in his hands. So he decided to help Hinata out.
"Hiashi!" Neji called out loudly.
Hiashi turned towards Neji slightly, but it was enough for Hinata to break past him and run out the door.
She ran all the way to Naruto's house where he was waiting for her outside on his doorstep.
"Hey Hinata! Sleep good?"
"Yes. Thank you for taking me home after I passed out."
"It was nothing." He stood up and slung a backpack over his shoulders. "Ready to go?"
Hinata nodded. She wondered what he could have planned for their date. "So Naruto… where are we going?"
"Well… Iruka has been asking to see me again. So I thought we could make a real quick stop by the academy."
Hinata didn't mind at all and followed him all the way to the academy. She would have followed him into the depths of hell, just to be next to him.
They arrived at the academy where all the young students were running laps around the field. Konohamaru was the first to notice him.
"Hey, Naruto!" Konohamaru yelled as he jumped onto Naruto's back. Miyuki and Udon followed and they each held onto one of Naruto's legs.
"Hey now! Come on! I'm going to fall over!"
The other children noticed all the excitement and became envious of Konohamaru's fun. It wasn't long before Naruto was dog piled with every student in the class.
Naruto became to tilt back and forth with the weight of all the kids' weight. He tried to steady himself, but he failed as he fell face first into the ground.
Hinata began to worry that Naruto had been hurt. She took a tentative step towards him. However, Iruka and noticed her worry and laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Just watch."
Naruto started to lift his face off the ground and Hinata's worry vanished. He had a huge smile on his face even though he had fallen on his face and had twenty kids jumping on him.
He patiently played with each of them, letting them play with his ninja tools and he even let them try on his headband.
Hinata smiled. Wow. Naruto sure is great with kids.
Iruka walked over to Naruto and made the children return to their laps. Only Konohamaru stayed behind.
"So Naruto… who is that girl?" Konohamaru asked. She has been staring at Naruto this whole time with that look on her face…
"Oh! I get it. She's your…" He raised his pinky finger and smirked.
"Wait! It's not like that!
Iruka laughed. "Seems that you two finally got together." He patted Naruto's head.
Hinata was always watching Naruto in the academy. Even though he was my worst student, she was always so happy to be in the same class as him.
"So Naruto…When did she tell you?"
"Tell me what?" He looked back towards Hinata. She blushed and averted her eyes.
Iruka stepped back in shock. He still doesn't know how she feels?!
"Well… Iruka… I had better go. I have plans."
"Ok, Naruto. Don't be afraid to stop by and visit me."
Naruto bid his farewells and ran back to Hinata. "Ready to go?"
Hinata nodded.
"OK. Follow me!"
Naruto lead Hinata to a dock overlooking the pond. "Let's have lunch here."
"OK" Hinata sat next to Naruto and took off her backpack. She began to open the pack, but Naruto tried to peep inside.
She quickly closed the backpack and smile at Naruto. "It's a surprise." She moved her pack to her other side where Naruto couldn't see it.
She pulled out two cups of homemade ramen. "Could you go heat some water?"
"Sure." Naruto's mouth had already begun to water at the sight of Hinata's homemade ramen. He grabbed a kettle filled it with water. He then walked off to build a fire.
Hinata watched him go and as soon as he out of sight she began to panic. She frantically checked her refection in the surface of the pond. She began to visualize everything that could go wrong.
What if he doesn't like my cooking? What if I fall into the pond? What if I accidentally burp? Omigosh! What if he tries to kiss me? Her cheeks grew hot and color seeped into her face. What if he likes the kiss? Hinata's eyes glazed over and her face burned crimson. He'd put his hands on my… on my….
Hinata gasped and leaned over the dock to splash her face with cold water.
"Hinata? Are you ok?"
Unfortunately for Naruto, Hinata had not been expecting to turn around and see Naruto's face inches from her own. She did the first thing to pop into her head.
She screamed.
The scream scared Naruto so bad that he reared back and dropped the scolding hot kettle.
Without thinking he reached out to catch the kettle and stupidly grabbed the hot sides of the kettle.
He held back a scream of agony as the flesh on his hands began to sizzle. Even as his hands burned fiercely, he managed to calmly set the kettle on the dock without spilling any of it.
"Oh my God, Naruto!" Hinata yelled. "Look at your hands! Why didn't you just drop the kettle?"
Naruto started to blush a light shade of pink. "Well.. If it had fallen some of the boiling water could have spilled on you."
Hinata gasped and fought to hold back tears at Naruto's concern for her safety. But that happiness quickly turned to grief as she realized it was her fault that he dropped the kettle in the first place.
Try not to be a burden.
Her father's words echoed throughout her head and the held back tears began to pour down her face.
"I'm so sorry, Naruto. I'm nothing but a burden to you… and everyone else!" She yelled in between sobs. She had been bottling up her pain for years now and it was finally spilling out.
Naruto had been surprised to see her tears, but what really upset him was the look in her eyes. It was the same look he saw in Gaara's eyes and in his own eyes. It was the look of someone without a purpose. Someone who thought their existence was useless.
He couldn't bear to see it in such a kind girl's eyes. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
Hinata looked up at him and suddenly stopped crying. It was not his touch that silenced her, it was the pain she saw in his eyes.
"I know that feeling all too well. The pain of being alone and useless… it's unbearable." Naruto's voice cracked and he closed his eyes. "I remember when I used to hate every person in this village. They threw rocks at me and chased me with sticks. I remember it like it was yesterday. But then I found people who were precious to me. Iruka, Sakura, Sasuke, Kakashi, and… you."
Hinata blinked in surprise and blushed a light pink. I'm precious to him?
"They saved me from being alone and I can never thank them enough for that. But you, Hinata, you have Kiba and Shino and even Neji. They all need you… and so do I. But I think your father is the problem. You can't stand to disappoint him, but he only sees you as a burden."
Hinata winced. He had hit the nail on the head.
"If that's the case then get stronger! Train and train until you are strong enough to prove him wrong!"
Hinata gave him a weak smile. "Thanks, but I'm not sure I can do it alone. Do you think you could help train me?
Naruto frowned for a split second. He knew that he wouldn't be here for much longer. Jiraiya would be back soon, but there was no way Naruto could say no to her when she was like this.
"OK! I'll train you for as long as I can!" Naruto smiled.
Hinata smiled back, but she knew there was something he wasn't saying. But she would deal with that later.
Hinata gathered all of her courage and reached over to grab Naruto's hand. She grasped it and squeezed it gently. Naruto winced in pain, but didn't let go.
Suddenly, it dawned on Hinata.
"Oh! Naruto! You burnt your hands!"
"Heh… I almost forgot." He said looking at his blistering hands.
Hinata reached into her backpack and pulled out some long, white bandages and ointment. She took Naruto's hands and gently applied the ointment and wrapped them in bandages.
"Thanks Hinata! You'd make a great nurse."
Hinata blushed at the compliment. She reached for the kettle and filled the two ramen bowls with steaming water.
"Mmmm… I don't think I have ever had homemade ramen before."
Hinata noticed his bandaged hands and blushed. "Ummm… I don't think you will be able to hold your chopsticks."
Naruto looked at his hands and his face fell.
"But I could feed you if you want."
Naruto's face brightened. "Would you really do that for me?!"
"O-Of course." She picked up her bowl and her chopsticks and pulled out a long strand of noodles.
Naruto opened his mouth wide and Hinata, nervously, placed the noodles into his mouth.
Naruto's mouth was in heaven. He closed his eyes and for the first time actually savored the taste of the noodles.
"Oh my God, Hinata! This is the best ramen ever!"
Hinata blushed and giggled as he opened his mouth expectantly.
Hinata was having the time of her life. I'm actually feeding Naruto! And we are sharing the same chopsticks! Just like a boyfriend and girlfriend would!
She would grab some noodles and place them in Naruto's mouth. Then while he was slowly chewing the noodles she would put some into her own mouth.
This really is the greatest! I can't believe I'm sharing a bowl of ramen with Naruto!"
They sat there eating ramen until both bowls were gone. They then went through several rice patties and pork buns, which both earned Hinata compliments on her cooking.
However, they were quite messy and Hinata had to constantly wipe Naruto's mouth with a napkin. But hey, who's complaining?
After they were finished they sat at the end of the dock, telling each other about some of their past missions.
Naruto would over exaggerate his part in each mission, but Hinata believe every word he said. Hinata's missions were never quite as exciting as Naruto's, but he listened to them as if they contained hidden clues to a cave filled with ramen.
They kept talking until the sun began to set, causing the sky to fill with brilliant colors.
"Oh Naruto… It's so beautiful." Hinata sighed.
"Yeah… It sure is. Hey! That reminds me." He quickly stood up and grabbed Hinata's hand, earning him a deep blush. "There is a place I want to show you!" He ran off pulling Hinata behind him.
Naruto ran for ten minutes, finally stopping at the top of a hill, near the Hokages' faces.
"This … is … my favorite… spot to … watch the sunset. Naruto said panting.
Hinata gasped in shock. The location was perfect. The hill gave them the perfect altitude to watch the sunset. The brilliant colors refected off the surface of the faraway lake.
They two stood there for a while, just enjoying the brilliant display of colors. Suddenly, Naruto snapped his fingers.
"I've got it! The perfect name for this place! Hinata's Hill." Naruto said
(A/N Hinata's name translates into sunshine so its sunshine hill catchy right?)
Hinata's eyes began to fill with tears. The moment was perfect. She sat next to Naruto and laid her head against his shoulder.
Naruto was surprised, but her touch comforted him and he wrapped his arm around her.
Hinata sighed happily. This is it. This is complete happiness.
They sat there for an hour just watching the sunset and enjoying each other's warm company. They remained even after the sun had set. The stars had come out replacing the sun's brilliant colors with a vast tranquility.
Naruto glanced over at Hinata and smiled. She was fast asleep with a peaceful smile on her face.
He took off his jacket and softly wrapped it around her. He picked her up and placed her on his back.
She began to awake when she felt warmth against her cheek. She opened her eyes to see her arms wrapped around Naruto and her face touching his.
She smiled, still half asleep and leaned forward and gave Naruto a kiss on the cheek. She then whispered into his ear, "Thanks for the best day ever."
Naruto's face grew hot and a blush formed on his cheeks. He looked back to say your welcome, but she was already fast asleep again.
Naruto carried her all the way to her house. He gently placed her on the soft grass in the courtyard just inside the Hyuuga complex.
Then he walked back to his own apartment, hoping she could forgive him for what he was about to do.
YAY. Another cliffhanger! I hope you all enjoyed this fluffy chapter as I sure did enjou writing it. The next one should come out soon. Sometime next week maybe. Remember to review!
Next time. Naruto makes a decision that affects Hinata's life forvever. But is that choice what she really wanted? Find out next time!