A/N: Ack! I did not know there were people who would be reading this story the second I updated it...Armyed, you rock! And so, this chapter is dedicated to you...and no it's not the same as before, I can't mess with you after all. A 1000 naruto chibi clones for all my reviewers. For everyone else, just review! It really motivates me to write better.

It felt like the hour before dawn. Slowly the solid wall of blackness melted to reveal intricately carved wooden beams, a shiny lacquered floor, nothing like the decrepit tori and walls outside the shrine. The steady light grew with no visible source and just like the sun as it breaks through the horizon, a figure appeared at the altar with benign radiance. The light exploded outward blinding Naruto's eyes. Naruto groaned and squinted up into the bright sunlight. His head hurt. He must've hit the door hard. Hinata was standing a little ways away from him staring at the door of the shrine.

"Thank heavens ! Are you okay Naruto ?", she almost yelled, turning towards him.

"Ah, yeah. This is nothing."

He knocked himself on the head with his knuckles and tried not to grimace. Hinata seemed fine though from what he could tell.

"It must hurt, mustn't it? We were about to fall down, I think the door was open but you caught hold of it just in time...and hit your head on the edge." said Hinata. She didn't sound too sure of herself.

"In any case, I guess you saved us Naruto."

"Oh, did I ? That's right, I did, didn't I?"

He didn't recall much after he had grabbed Hinata's arm, maybe it was the knock to his head doing things to him. Hinata shook the door as if it wasn't the first time, she'd done it. It rattled on its hinges but didn't open. She whirled towards him in a hurry, concern written largely on her face.

He touched his forehead and noticed a wetness.

"Ah don't touch that, I put something on it for the pain", she almost grabbed his hand to stop him but thought better of it.

"Thanks.."

There was a pause as Naruto tried to come up with something more to say. His head still felt a little slow and heavy.

He had been semi-conscious for a while there and Hinata felt very sorry for him. She was such a clutz. Naruto was almost seriously injured because of her. They both could have been badly hurt. Surely, Naruto wouldn't forgive her for something like this. She had done everything she could think of, but it still felt like it wasn't enough.

"I'm sorry Naruto", she said aloud.

"What for?"

"Because you're hurt!"

"But that's not your fault. Besides friends are supposed to look out for one another right? If I had to, I would do that again and again and..."

Hinata laughed finally, glad to see him mostly recovered.

"Me too. Friends then?", she asked hesitantly.

"Friends."

"I'm really, really glad!"

Naruto smiled back at her. He moved to get up.

"I should probably get back. Will you be all right?"

"Yea.."

"Ah, I'm sorry, I have to leave now." Hinata said again, shuffling backwards as he pushed himself up.

There was something odd about her.

"Hey, your shoes...", he said, surprised to find her barefoot.

His own feet had just acquired a brand new pair of training boots.

"I decided to take your advice...I want to walk in your shoes Naruto-kun!", she grinned, already at the end of the short lane leading into the street. Naruto watched as she waved exuberantly and took off running, her hair swaying in the wind. He felt a little strange, as he got to his feet.

"Naruto-kun?", he whispered to himself and smiled.

"Naruto-kun?"

"Eh?", Naruto almost stumbled off his seat.

Ayame was looking at him from behind the counter, apron around her waist, balancing a bowl of ramen in one hand.

"Here's your second bowl of ramen. Normally, you would have finished off the first before I got you the second. What's wrong, are you unwell?"

"Huh, no I'm fine."

"That bump on your forehead is nasty. What happened ? You can tell me.."

He wondered if he should tell Ayame that he had made his first friend. Hinata was his friend right? He was worried. Being his friend wasn't really in her best interests. Maybe he should just keep his distance. Only these shoes...He would return those of course.

"Otosan", Ayame whispered to Teuchi, the owner of the Ichiraku ramen shop.

"There's something terribly wrong with Naruto. He's not eating. He forgot to yell 'itadakimasu' and worst of all he seems to be 'thinking'."

"Thinking!", Teuchi said with horror. That was never a good thing.

"Arigato gosaimasu", said Naruto politely before accepting the bowl of ramen.

Ayame almost keeled over, bowl and all.

"That..what?", she stuttered.

"Arigato oneechan", he responded again.

"Haha yes. Ne naruto-kun. Eat up and feel better..", she said worriedly.

Hinata skipped back home. She felt so light hearted. It was remarkable what a little early morning exercise could do for you. She'd made a friend! Just the kind of friend one could wish for. 'I must train with Naruto-kun everyday!', she thought to herself.

Her feet were quite dirty by now. The mud for some reason was almost up to her knees. It must've been those puddles on the road. It had been raining after all. She paused at the gates wiggling her toes in the water. She didn't mind the raised eyebrows and open stares of the guards at the Hyuga compound. She gave them a little wave, they seemed so friendly today. Normally, they wouldn't even blink in her direction. She was so engrossed in looking back at them that she skipped right into a white blanket. Only this blanket was hard. A white hakama rather, containing the stern figure of the head of the family and clan, her esteemed father. Normally, she would be horrified.

"Ah , chichi!" she said instead, bowing graciously once before skipping away.

The women in the courtyard giggled a little at his obvious shock.

They wondered what had come over the little mistress all of a sudden. She looked so flushed with energy, although her hair and clothes were a mess. Whatever it was, it seemed like a good change.