CHAPTER RATING: T

Episode 3: Comrades & Confessions

Naruto opened his eyes and wiped away a tear streaking down his cheek as the sun's light filled his room.

Keep true to your heart and believe in yourself, huh? What kind of advice is that?

He shook his head, cleared his vision and sat up. Before he headed towards the bathroom, he set a kettle on the stove and set out a cup of ramen on his kitchen table.

There's got to be something I can do. He thought as he stepped into the shower.

But what can I do? Is it too late? Did I make a mistake by waiting this long? Does she still feel the same way? He spent countless minutes trying to determine his course of action; but still had not come up with a plan. Entering his kitchen, he poured the boiling water into the cup of ramen before wrapping it up and letting it cook. A knock at the door interrupted his daily routine.

"Sai? What are you doing here? You've never come to my house before." Naruto stated. Sai extended his hand forward.

"Naruto, this is a thank you." Sai replied

"A thank you? What do you mean?" Naruto replied while extending his own hand and grasping Sai's.

"Thank you for teaching me what the word 'friend' meant."

"Sai, I don't understand, why does this matter so much to you?"

"Naruto, I've been called back to ANBU Root. I don't know when I'll be back…It's possible that I won't be back. Thank you for teaching me what 'friend' meant, and thank you for teaching me about bonds. It's because of you that I found who I really was. It was an honor to have been part of Team Kakashi."

"Sai…" Naruto took hold of Sai's shoulder with a firm grip. "Once you're a part of Team Kakashi, you're always a part of Team Kakashi. You'll be back one day. I know it." Sai's expression shifted into a smile.

"Thank you, Naruto."

…

So…Sai's leaving? Once he does that, it means that our team is only a three man team. Who's going to replace him? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Sai had informed Naruto that since he was leaving for Root, there would be a new teammate announced. He was supposed to meet Kakashi just outside of their old training grounds.

I wonder who it is.

Naruto arrived to the clearing, and stopped in front of the three posts that he had seen so long ago; next to the posts, there stood Kakashi and Sakura.

"Kakashi-sensei! Sakura-chan!" Naruto shouted while rushing towards them. "Do you know who the new member of our team is?!"

Sakura shook her head.

"I know who it is." Kakashi answered. "She's just not here yet. Just be patient. She'll be here soon."

"You know who it is? Then you can tell us, can't you?" Sakura said

"Do you want a hint?" Kakashi asked

Both Naruto and Sakura nodded.

"You both know her very well."

From out of the forest, they saw a figure approaching. The first thing that they noticed was a lavender sweatshirt.

"HINATA?!" Naruto silently screamed. Naruto shot a look of disbelief at Kakashi, who returned his death stare with a blissfully ignorant smile. Sakura immediately took off running towards Hinata and hugged her.

"Hinata! You're part of our team now?" Sakura asked. Hinata nodded with a smile on her face.

"It's so good to have you as a part of our team! It'll be just like when we had to accompany Amaru!" She looked back at Naruto with a smile. "Right, Naruto?"

In response, he nodded with a nervous smile. Kakashi gave him a slight push, urging him forward.

"Go ahead, Naruto. Welcome Hinata to our team." Kakashi told him. Naruto walked up to Hinata with a tense look in his eyes. He extended his hand towards her.

"H-Hinata. Welcome to Team Kakashi." He said with a smile. She extended her hand and gently gripped his.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun." She said with a slight tint of red in her cheeks. "I hope you'll take care of me."

"I promise. I will." Naruto replied, slightly blushing as the words left his mouth. His tone caused Sakura to raise an eyebrow and look at Kakashi, who returned her look with his blank expression.

Sakura jumped between them with her hands on their shoulders, she slightly pulled them apart.

"Why don't we go out to eat?!" she shouted with a wide smile.

"Y-yeah, that's alright. I can't. You guys go ahead…I still have something that I need to do." Naruto replied. He turned around and began to head in the opposite direction of the village. Kakashi nodded to Sakura and followed Naruto.

"So, I guess it's just you and me, Hinata. How do you feel about Barbeque?" Sakura asked. Hinata nodded.

"T-Thank you, Sakura-san."

"Great! Let's go." Sakura said as she began to lead Hinata towards the village.

Hinata looked back towards Naruto as she walked with Sakura, joy and concern shown in her eyes.

…

Kakashi placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"What's wrong?" He asked. Naruto pushed away Kakashi's hand.

"Kakashi-sensei, isn't it just an AMAZING coincidence that just yesterday, I told you that I've started to have feelings for Hinata..And now, Sai's left the team and the one person to take his place is Hinata?!" Naruto shouted as he approached a ledge and sat down.

"Are you angry?" Kakashi bluntly asked as he took a seat next to Naruto.

Naruto sat silently for a moment before answering.

"...not really." He said as he brought his knees up and buried his face in his arms.

"Then what's the problem?" Kakashi asked innocently. Naruto gave him a look of disbelief and scorn.

"Kakashi-sensei, I'm now in a team with one woman that I used to love and now the one woman that I do love. How do you expect me to react?!"

Kakashi sat on the ledge and didn't answer for a long time. Naruto rested his head in his arms again.

"Naruto. Do you remember what I told you, Sasuke, and Sakura on that day?"

Naruto's head lifted up.

"You said…" Naruto took a deep breath. "…Those Shinobi who disobey the rules are trash, but…"

"…Those who forsake your comrades are lower than trash." Kakashi finished.

"So, what? What does that have to do with ANYTHING?!" Naruto shouted.

Kakashi pulled Naruto's shoulder and looked at him with fierce eyes.

"You care about Sakura, don't you?!" He loudly questioned.

"Yeah."

"You love Hinata, don't you?!"

"Y-yeah…" Naruto replied. Kakashi gently shook Naruto.

"Would you sacrifice them for anything?!"

"O-Of course not!" Naruto answered.

Kakashi smiled as Naruto's face calmed down to a realization.

"That's right. That's what I thought about you." Kakashi said while patting Naruto's back. He extended his hand and pulled Naruto to his feet.

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."

…

Hinata and Sakura sat in a booth with green cushions and inlaid grills on tables at one of the most favored restaurants in Konoha, Yakiniku Q, both holding small bowls with an assortment of food on the table.

Before Hinata or Sakura were able to start eating, Hinata posed a question.

"Sakura-san…can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, Hinata. What is it?" Sakura replied.

"Sakura-san…Do you have someone that you love?" Hinata asked with her face hidden

"W-well…" Sakura replied

"Did you find a way to confess to him?"

"No. Unfortunately, I don't think it would happen. But I'm okay with that, because I'm sure that I have already confessed to him in another universe.

"In another universe? What do you mean?" Hinata asked in confusion.

"I mean, I'm fine with just being friends with him." Sakura replied.

"I see."

"So, what is it that you needed to ask me about?"

"W-well, if you did confess to him. What would you say? What would you do to have him acknowledge you?"

Sakura sat in thought for a minute, thinking about how she would go about with a confession.

"If I were you, I would be bolder. You are too timid, Hinata. Take the initiative. If he doesn't know you're there, you'll have to make him know that you're there. Do you understand?" Sakura asked.

Hinata nodded in understanding of the vague advice given to her by the emerald eyed Kunoichi.

"So…now that I have answered your question, will you answer mine?"

"S-sure."

"Who is it? Who's the lucky guy that will finally have to acknowledge you?"

"N-Naruto." Hinata whispered. Sakura's eyes widened, then smiled.

"I'm so happy for you, Hinata. Naruto will really take care of you. I know it."

"T-Thank you very much, Sakura-san."

Hinata held up her right hand, a waiter walked over and stood by her.

"Yes, miss. How can I help you?" he asked.

"I'd like to take another order of this, to go please." Hinata said while pointing to an order on the menu.

"We'll have it to you as soon as possible."

"Thank you."