Hey there! I told you it would be uploaded soon :) I am SOOO the Update Queen, Fanfiction Lady, whatever, I just rock :D anyways, I promised for it to be longer, and so I kept my promise! I hope you like it, and Review please!
Enjoy!
"Hey Hinata!" Hinata jumped up at the sudden loud voice and tripped. She started to fall when strong arms wrapped around her and caught her.
"Oh, sorry about that, Hinata," she heard Naruto's voice say, chuckling a bit.
"I-It's ok, N-Naruto." People in the hallway swerved around the two, not bothering to apologize if they knocked into them.
"What's goin on, Hinata?" Naruto asked cheerily, grinning down at her. Hinata's face was bright red.
"N-Naruto…"
"Hmm? Yeah, what is it Hinata?"
"Y-You can let go o-of me now…" Naruto then realized he was still holding Hinata around the waist. He let go and felt his face warm up.
"Oh, eh, sorry Hinata," he said, chuckling. Hinata nodded and shifted her bag. Together they started walking down the hallway, Naruto keeping close by her side in case anyone bumped into her.
"So, how're you doin', Hinata?" he asked.
"F-fine…" Naruto frowned.
"What's wrong, Hinata?" he asked. He knew she wouldn't tell him unless he asked. Hinata shook her head.
"I-It's nothing, just… I-I have to w-walk home after s-school today…" Naruto frowned.
"What do you mean? Why would you have to walk home?"
"M-My father is in a m-meeting, and my cousin i-is busy," she answered quietly. Naruto's frown deepened.
"So they're just gonna make you walk home? Do you know how to get there? Have you ever walked home by yourself before?" Questions swarmed his mind, but he couldn't help it; Naruto felt himself consumed with worry by the thought of weak, blind Hinata trying to find her way home after school.
"N-No," she answered, "B-But my father s-said I should learn t-to do things by myself…" Naruto shook his head.
"Maybe you should, but letting you get lost won't help anything," he protested, "What's your father's name?" Hinata jumped a bit.
"E-Eh, what? O-Oh… Hiashi Hyuuga, but—" Just then the bell rang.
"Aw man, I have to go, Hinata," Naruto told her, "If I'm late again I'll get suspended. See you later!"
"G-Good bye, N-Naruto…."
They were all surprised when Sakura and Ino showed up at lunch with another person. All of them introduced themselves and settled down.
"Hey bushy brow," Naruto greeted the kid, Lee, "How's it goin'?"
"Hello my youthful friend!" Lee replied loudly, "I am fine! How are you?" Sasuke groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Man, he's even louder than Naruto," he muttered. Sakura rolled her eyes, also.
"Tell me about it." Neither Lee nor Naruto seemed to hear these complaints as they continued their conversation. Even Ino had to admit that they got on her nerves a bit after a while. Hinata didn't show any emotion other than a small smile that was often on her face. The talking died down and Naruto found himself watching Hinata. She always had those dark sunglasses on that covered her eyes… what did they look like?
"Naruto, what are you staring at?" Naruto turned to the others, who were all looking at him.
"Do what?" he said stupidly. Sasuke raised an eyebrow while Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Why are you staring at Hinata?" Ino asked. Hinata's face flushed deep red. He was staring at me? Naruto blushed and shrugged, rubbing the back of his head.
"I was just wondering what her eyes looked like…" he mumbled, "You know, what color they are. I've never seen them since they're covered with her sunglasses all the time…" It went silent and Hinata could almost feel their eyes on her.
"I-I can show you if you want, N-Naruto," she whispered quietly.
"Oh no, you don't have to, Hinata—" Naruto began to protest, but Hinata had already taken off her sunglasses and set them in her lap. She drew in a breath before raising her eyes, and everyone stared at her. White, almost with a lavender tint, eyes gazed unfocused past them, and it was dead silent, and Hinata was starting to grow nervous.
"Winter," Naruto blurted out. Everyone with the exception of Hinata looked at him weird.
"What?" Ino asked.
"Winter," Naruto repeated, still gazing at Hinata, "Her eyes remind me of snow and winter. Hinata has winter's eyes." Hinata blushed and ducked her head. Ino smiled at the girl.
"I really like your eyes, Hinata," she told her, "They're pretty."
"Yeah," Sakura added.
"I agree," Lee stated, "They are like winter. Very pretty."
Sasuke simply grunted, but the others knew that was his way of agreeing. Hinata blushed deep red, a small smile spreading on her face. She wasn't used to getting this much praise, and it made her smile widen when she thought of the people it came from. Hinata slipped her sunglasses back on and it was quiet for a moment.
"I…" Everyone turned to Hinata in surprise. Hinata knew this, though she couldn't see them, and she swallowed before going on.
"I-I wasn't always like t-this…" They all stared at her.
"You mean you weren't always blind?" Naruto asked. Hinata shook her head, pressing the tips of her fingers together.
"W-When I w-was about nine," she whispered, "T-There was an accident… W-When I woke up, I c-couldn't see…" Everyone was silent. Ino rubbed the girl's arm sympathetically while Sakura looked away. Sasuke stared down at his lap as if thinking about something and Lee stared off into the distance. Naruto put a hand over Hinata's, wishing he could do something but knowing he couldn't.
"Naruto," Sakura started, "What happened with the scars on your face?" Ino glared at her slightly for the blunt question while the air tensed. Hinata could feel Naruto's hand tighten around hers.
"H-He's had them since he w-was little," she answered for him, quietly, "H-He doesn't know how he got t-them." Everyone knew she was lying, but no one pushed the subject further. Sakura glanced at Sasuke, who just shook his head. Naruto squeezed Hinata's hand lightly in thanks, and she leaned on him slightly in response. It was silent again, as no one seemed to want to risk trying to start a conversation. Finally the bell rang, and they all split up.
"You shouldn't have asked it like that," Ino said. Sakura sighed.
"How was I supposed to know?" she asked. Ino shook her head.
"Everyone has secrets, Sakura," she answered solemnly, looking her friend straight in the eye, "It's their choice whether they want to reveal them or not. We just got to know them. Hinata was obviously lying for his sake, because either she knows the truth or that's what he told them and she knows it isn't the truth. Either way, if he ever needs or wants to tell us, he will. We just have to wait for him to make that choice." Sakura sighed again.
"I know, I know… It seems everyone in this group cares about each other, but everyone has secrets in this little group, huh?" Ino laughed bitterly.
"Yeah, I guess," she said quietly, "Talk about bittersweet."
Naruto found Hinata outside after school, standing uncertainly on the sidewalk. He walked up beside her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey Hinata!" he greeted. Hinata relaxed her tense shoulders when she heard his familiar voice.
"Hello, N-Naruto," she whispered, "W-What are you doing h-here? D-Don't you usually walk h-home with Sasuke?" Naruto shrugged even though she couldn't see it and slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah, but I decided to walk you home today, if that's ok," he said. Hinata blushed a bit.
"But N-Naruto… D-Do you know where I l-live?" Naruto grinned.
"Yep! I looked up your dad's name and found the address! Turns out your dad is some big business guy!" he told her, "So just trust me, Hinata! I'll get you home!" Hinata smiled a bit when Naruto suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward.
"C'mon, Hinata!" he shouted, hauling her off the curb and across the street, "Let's go!" Hinata stumbled a bit as he pulled her along and shook her head; this was going to be a long walk.
After a while Naruto finally calmed down and they walked side by side on the sidewalk, Naruto keeping close to her so he could pull her in case they needed to turn or cross the street.
"So what do you think?" he asked, "Sakura, Ino, and Bushy Brow sit with us now. Are you ok with that?" Hinata frowned a bit.
"'B-Bushy-brow?'"
"Oh yeah, that's right!" he exclaimed, "That Lee guy. He has super bushy eyebrows and wears a green spandex thingy. It's super weird but he seems ok. But are you ok with them sitting with you?"
"Y-Yes," Hinata replied softly, noticing he said 'you' instead of 'we', "It's f-fine…" Naruto frowned down at her.
"Are you alright, Hinata?" he asked worriedly. Hinata held her breath for a moment. It seemed that Naruto always knew when something was on her mind.
"I-It's just… d-do you think of m-me as a friend, N-Naruto?" she asked even quieter than before, to where he almost didn't hear it.
"Of course I do, Hinata!" he responded immediately, "Why wouldn't I?" Hinata simply shrugged and ducked her head. Naruto paused a moment.
"Am… I your friend, Hinata?" he asked hesitantly. He didn't know why he was so apprehensive about the answer, but he felt his worry building by each second.
"O-Of course, N-Naruto," she told him, "Y-You're one of my b-best friends…" And one of my only, she thought, but refrained from adding that part on. Naruto grinned.
"Thanks, Hinata! You're one of mine, too!" They fell into a comfortable, companionable silence then, both in their own thoughts. After a few twists and turns, Naruto spotted the place he was looking for; the Hyuuga mansion, a humongous house that looked way too formal for someone as nice and simple as Hinata.
"Here we are!" he announced, walking her to the front door, "Home sweet home! Didn't I tell ya I'd get you here?" Hinata smiled a bit.
"Y-Yes, thank y-you, N-Naruto…" Naruto hesitated a moment, feeling his nerves twisting in his stomach.
"Listen Hinata, about earlier—" Hinata shook her head, interrupting him.
"It's fine, N-Naruto," she told him, "I-It's your story to tell. I-If you ever w-want to… you k-know you can t-trust me, right N-Naruto?" Naruto smiled at her.
"Yeah, Hinata," he said in a surprisingly gentle voice, "Thanks." Naruto wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. Hinata squeaked a bit at the sudden embrace, but then wrapped her arms around him and returned the hug, though her face was bright red. Finally Naruto pulled away and grinned.
"Thanks, Hinata! See you tomorrow!" Hinata heard the grin in his voice and smiled back.
"G-Good bye, N-Naruto," she whispered back, and waited a moment to listen to his foot steps walk a bit before she opened the door and slipped inside.
Naruto dug his hands in his pockets. It was starting to get colder and colder. He wouldn't be surprised if it started to snow soon. Just then he tripped over something and stumbled to catch his balance. He turned to see that it was a booted foot, belonging to a boy about his age that was leaning against the wall of an old building. Naruto glanced around and kneeled before the guy. Light snores came from his mouth, and Naruto wondered how anyone could fall asleep outside, especially when it was starting to get cold.
"Hey," Naruto called, nudging the guy's foot, "Hey you, wake up." The guy groaned and blinked his eyes open. He didn't bother to cover a large yawn as he sat up and scratched the back of his head. After a moment his eyes focused on Naruto and he blinked at him.
"Can I help you?" he asked in a bored voice. Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"How come you're sleeping outside?" he asked. The guy shrugged and stretched again.
"Well, do you go to the Leaf?" The guy nodded and stood, Naruto following him.
"Oh," Naruto continued, "Well… what's your name?" The boy rubbed the back of his neck.
"Jeez, you're insistent, aren't you? The names Shikamaru."
"I'm Naruto," Naruto greeted, holding out his hand. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at him but shook his hand anyway. When he let go he stifled another yawn before digging his hand into his pocket.
"So, you wanna sit with me at lunch tomorrow?" Naruto asked. Shikamaru arched an eyebrow again.
"You're weird," he said, "But alright." He finished with a shrug.
"Well, I gotta go," he said, starting to walk away, "See ya." Shikamaru waved a hand over his shoulder and Naruto waved back. Naruto grinned. He might have just made another friend. Naruto frowned a bit when the thought of going home came to mind. Hmm, what a bittersweet way to end the day.
There! Hope you liked it :) If not, go suck monkey nuts! I'm kidding... maybe... ^^" hehe... sorry. it's about... 2:28 am so I'm sorta loopy... But that is how much I care and am dedicated to you :) Anyways, Review and stuff por favor! And give me suggestions and what not! BYES!