Thank you again to everyone who left a comment and review on the story. As always, you guys are awesome.

Here is the new chapter. Let me know what you guys think.

Enjoy!

"Maybe you should get more involved in her life," said a brunette as he took a sip of sake from his glass.

"How? I don't know what more I should do." Naruto took the last of the sake from his glass and poured himself some more.

It was Saturday evening and Naruto was out with his old friend Shikamaru. Natsumi was at Ayame's place this weekend so he decided to go out for a drink since he was feeling depressed about what he found from his daughter.

Turns out, she wasn't happy with having to move between him and Ayame every week, but that wasn't the worst. Naruto felt like a bad father for not being able to see it sooner because there was a time that he had felt the same thing. Even though Naruto was an orphan, he had always wanted a family, and so he understood what Natsumi meant when he read that she wanted a normal family. She had her mother and father but she wanted them to be together like a family. He had been absent for the first five years of her life, and now that he was here, he wasn't making things any better.

"I don't know. Get involved in her school or do some activities together." Shikamaru suggested. Naruto pondered about it for awhile but then just shrugged.

"I have to go man. I have to pick up Natusmi tomorrow so I can't have a hangover." Naruto got up from his chair after placing some money on the table to cover his bill while Shikamaru did the same.

"Yeah, if my wife found out I was smoking again she'd make me sleep on the couch so I better leave too."

"Did you start smoking again?" Naruto asked as they walked out onto the sidewalk.

"Occasionally," Shikamaru smirked as he took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth.

"Man, did you even quit then?" Naruto chuckled. "Well, I'll see you around." Naruto walked away as him and Shikamaru separated going in different directions.

The next day, Naruto went to pick up his daughter from Ayame's house.

"Hey Naruto, come in. Natsumi is almost done packing." Naruto walked in as Ayame left to get Natsumi.

"Ready to go?" he asked once Natsumi arrived. She nodded in response and then they headed out after saying goodbye to Ayame.

"Dad, can I ask you a question?" Natsumi asked after staying silent for a while. At the moment they were seated in Naruto's apartment eating dinner on the table, and usually it would be loud with Natsumi always talking, but it had been quiet today. He was starting to get worried.

"Sure, you can ask me anything," he replied.

"D-do you... Do you love mom?" Naruto froze as he digested what his daughter asked.

"Why are you asking that?"

"I just want to know. Do you love mom or not?" she asked more urgently now.

"Well... yes I love your mother but it's not the way you're thinking."

"B-but why?" Naruto couldn't take the look on her face but he knew he had to be straight forward with her about this.

"It just... doesn't always work out." Naruto gave a small smile hoping that she would understand.

Natsumi stayed quiet for awhile going back to her food until she spoke again.

"D-did you know that mom has a b-boy friend?" Naruto froze. He knew about it, but wasn't sure when Ayame was going to tell her.

"Yeah," he finally answered.

"So you guys really are never getting back together?" she asked and in response Naruto only shook his head.

"Come on. It's time for bed." Natsumi got up to get ready for bed as Naruto gathered the dishes.

Before going to bed, Natsumi gave Naruto a tight hug and without saying anything but a hushed "Goodnight," she went to sleep.

The next day Natsumi stayed behind in class when school ended to ask her teacher about some questions she had been thinking about.

"Ms. Hinata, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, of course," she smiled.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"W-what?"

"I said, do you have a boyfriend?"

"I heard you the f-first time. Why are you asking that?" she asked confused by her question.

"My mom has one," she said as she kicked her feet on the floor.

"Oh," was all that Hinata could say.

"Is it, you know... bad to have a boyfriend?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Well, is a boyfriend just like having a friend... that's a boy?"

"No, not really. It means that you really like that person and want to be with them."

"Like a crush? So my mom has a crush!"

"No, it's a bit more than that," she chuckled. "Being someone's boyfriend or girlfriend means that you really like that person, or even love them, that you want to be with them and spend time with them. It's usually between adults," she added not wanting to place ideas in the little girl's mind.

"So if my mom has a boyfriend then that means she loves him like as in getting married to him and stuff?"

"I guess, if that's what she wants." This conversation was getting too weird for Hinata. What was this girl trying to get at anyway?

"So my mom has someone she wants to be with. But what about my dad?" Hinata stayed quiet not wanting to really talk about Naruto in that context. "Do you think he should have someone like that?"

"W-well I don't really know about that?"

"Ms. Hinata, do you think that my mom will, you know... forget about me now that she has a boyfriend?"

"Natsumi, she won't forget you just like that. Just because she is with someone like that doesn't mean it should affect your relationship with your mom or your dad. So don't worry so much about it. I know that no matter what your parents will always love you."

"Yeah, I know. It's just I'm a little nervous." she pouted.

"Well, it's normal to feel like that when someone new comes into your life."

"I guess. Thank you Ms. Hinata. I see my dad walking outside the school," she said as she saw Naruto through the window. "Bye!" She waved as she stepped outside the class.

Hinata took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh when Natsumi left. It was normal to have students who were going through divorce and separation to have questions like, but Natsumi was in a league of her own. She wasn't sure if she ever had anyone talk so much about this topic with her. Hinata just hoped that she was able to help Natsumi with whatever dilemma she had.

"Dad, you're so late! Let's go!" Natsumi marched up to Naruto and grabbed his hand to pull him away.

"Sorry, I thought I'd get here on time but the train-"

"Save it! I don't want to hear your stupid excuses," Natsumi said as she kept pulling on Naruto's hand as they walked to the train station.

He wasn't sure what had happened, but he was happy that she seemed better than before. Why else would she be yelling at him?

After Natsumi left, Hinata packed her stuff to head to her apartment. It had felt weird talking to Natsumi about her family because she personally knew who these people were. Well at least she knew Naruto. She wasn't sure about Ayame. She had seemed nice whenever she met her, but Hinata had always tried avoiding her because she couldn't help the bitter feeling she would get whenever she thought about Naruto and Ayame.

It was very clear that Naruto had left her all those years ago to be with his daughter and in her heart she knew she couldn't blame him for doing the right thing. It was just that he never tried being honest with her. Maybe she would've gone with him. She could have been there to support him. But he never told her the truth. However, this was not what had made Hinata uncomfortable around Ayame and Natsumi in the beginning. It was the fact that Naruto had a child with her and the bond they shared through that was something she had wanted. She couldn't help but feel depressed that even before he met her, he had already been in a relationship where someone as precious as Natsumi was created. Now all Hinata could do was try to find her peace with this fact and move forward with her life.

She had tried moving on before she found out about Naruto and Natsumi. Tenten always used to try and set her on dates with single guys she knew, but she never had a proper relationship because Hinata was afraid of trying. Things had seemed perfect when she was with Naruto and then out of nowhere he just decided to breakup. Since she never found the reason, Hinata always assumed that she had missed something or that it was her fault. This always held her back whenever she tried dating again. Now that she knew the reason, she was starting to accept the fact that she could move on.

As soon as Hinata got inside her apartment, her cellphone rang.

"Hey Tenten," she said as she answered the phone.

"Hinata! I have been meaning to talk to you but I got so busy this week and then you were with your student today and I've just been dying to tell you and I just hope it's not too late and Oh My God -"

"Tenten! What is it?" Hinata said as she cut her off in her rambling.

"Oh sorry. I'm just so excited!" Tenten squealed on the other end of the line.

"What? What's going on?" Hinata asked as she dropped her bag on the living room couch and went into the kitchen to make herself some dinner.

"Ok, Hinata, I know you said you wanted to take a break from dating and you never really found a guy you liked. But listen, girl, you have to give it another shot."

"What are you saying?" Hinata frowned.

"Okay, so there's this guy..." Hinata groaned, "Wait! Just listen! I promise he's not like the other guys I set you up with. He's just the perfect guy for you!"

"Tenten, I'm really tired of these blind dates."

"No, wait! You have to give this guy a chance. Please! I promise this is my last attempt. Please, I can't let you live this single life."

Hinata thought for a moment trying to see if she had the same reservations she used to have when going on a date. Now, she found herself to be on her guard about this but for the most part she didn't dread it. It was obvious that even if Naruto wasn't with Ayame, he was busy taking care of his daughter, and who's to say he didn't already have a girlfriend. Also, Hinata wouldn't admit this out loud, but she still felt a little angry towards Naruto for the way he left her without any explanation for so many years. She wouldn't have stopped him from doing the right thing, but she could have been saved from a lot of heart break and doubt. Maybe one more date could help her finally move on from him, plus it wouldn't hurt her to go out and just have a good time.

"This will be the last?"

"I promise!"

"Okay, fine!" Hinata huffed.

"Yay! Now all I need is to convince him to go on a date with you! That's gonna be tough. Ok bye!" with that Tenten hung up as Hinata gaped at the phone.

Did Tenten just set her up with someone who might not even want to go out with her? Hinata just shook her head in frustration and fatigue. She could deal with this later. Right now she needed food and some sleep.