I have alot of time on my hands so I thought I'd make another chapter. Hope you guys like the story so far :0).

Naruto thoughts Hinata ThoughtsNaruto Text Hinata Text

I do not own anything but the story line.

Chapter 3: So We Meet Again

It was an early spring morning. Naruto got up early to get his morning jog in, so he made his way to his closet to search for some clothes to wear. He finally found something he wanted to wear and put it on.

He wore a black shirt, blue shorts, and some tennis shoes. He didn't put on his leaf head band like he normally would because he didn't feel the need to. He was going to eat breakfast before he went on his jog. He looked through his pantry and spotted nothing. That gave him something to do later on today.

He jogged to his favorite ramen shop in the hopes that it would be open early so he can eat breakfast. Luckily, it was open. Naruto smiled happily and walked to Ichiraku's and ordered his favorite ramen. He was in bliss everytime he put the chopsticks to his mouth . The aroma was perfection and it was like he was on Cloud 9. Teuchi was a great cook.

Naruto finally finished his fourth bowl and paid his bill. He continued his morning jog contently without a single worry in his mind.

"He hit you!" yelped Ino.

"Ino, not so loud.."

"Unacceptable. Hinata, you're tougher than that. Did you beat his ass?"

"No... I just sat there. I-I didn't know what to do.. I made him so angry." Hinata cried softly.

"What happened wasn't your fault. He should never have put his hands on you.

Ino has always been a good friend to Hinata when she needed it most. Although the blonde girl was Konoha's gossip queen, she knew how to keep a secret. Hinata didn't know if she was going to regret telling her about the altercation with her father, but she trusted that Ino wasn't going to say a word about it.

It's times like these when it helps to have friends. Hinata found it extremely difficult to make new friends because she's a social misfit. She wasn't the prettiest girl in school like Sakura and Ino. Nobody really paid attention to her, she was just there.

She always wore clothing that would hide her figure much to Sakura and Ino's dismay. Hinata thought somebody should want to talk to her not because of what she wears but because of who she is.

Problem with that is, that Hinata had no clue who she is or how she wants to be. Sure she had a future ahead of her but she didn't know which path to take. She was skilled with her martial arts, but she wasn't much of a fighter. She loved to bake but being a baker wasn't her cup of tea. She liked baking for fun not for a living. The pale girl can do anything that she set her mind to, but she was bringing herself down.

"Gosh, Hinata. You really oughta stop wearing those giant coats."sighed Ino,"Your figure is something to die for. Any man would go drooling over you."

"I'm not interested in that type of attention. I only have eyes set on one person."

"That baka bassist in Reckless? That's only in dreams, sweetheart."

"He's different." Hinata explained.

"You only talked to him once. I highly doubt that you guys will fall head over heels with each other."

"It happened with you and Chouji. I think I may have a chance."

"Hmph."

Ino always liked being right about everything. She and Chouji have been in a secret relationship for about five months. Hinata thought Ino was being a little hyprocritical about Naruto possibly taking a liking to the timid girl. Hinata let it go because it wasn't something to get mad about.

"I think I'm going to get some groceries. I'll see you around." Hinata got up and called over Ko.

Grocery shopping wasn't Naruto's favorite thing to do. It involved looking for things and adding up prices. It was all too much for the blonde. Naruto looked impatienly through the meat department in the Konoha supermarket.

What the hell is the difference between ground beef and ground turkey?!

The blue eyed boy was interrptued when he saw the pale eyed girl. He called her name and she looked at him. He smiled and walked towards her.

"What brings you here?"

"Just getting some ingredients for my chocolate pie I'm making later." she smiled brightly.

Naruto noticed a small bruise on her soft cheek bone. It puzzled him. That bruise wasn't there the last time he saw her. Did her fight with her father get physical?

"Hina, why is there a bruise on your face?"

She didn't think anybody would notice. She hid her face and muttered, "I just ran into my door."

Naruto knew that she wasn't telling the truth. He wasn't sure if he should push the subject so he left it alone. If it needed to be brought up again then it would happen. He squinted his eyes at her and watched her get even more uncomfortable.

"Um Naruto-kun?"

"What is it?"

"I can give you a piece of the pie if you want."

"That'd be nice. You can give it to me tomorrow if you'd like.."

She nodded. She hugged him good bye and they parted ways. Their encounter was extremely awkward but it left her in a better mood.

His hug... Made me feel safe and wanted.

A short lived hug was all she needed to find hope out in the world. At that moment she promised herself to break out of her shell and never hold back. She would be fearless and not give to shits about what anybody had to say about it.

She would define herself.