CHAPTER RATING: T

…

Episode 13: A Change of Heart

"I…I love you." Sakura silently repeated while she moved closer to him. She pushed him back farther until his back was pressed up against the arm rest of the couch.

Before he could react, she pressed her body against his and met his lips with her own. In his shock, he pushed her back and rolled down onto the ground. He shook his head as he stood.

"What gotten into you?!" he shouted.

"I-I've told you. My feelings have changed. I realize now that-"

"No." He replied in a deep tone. "It's too late for that."

"But we've been through so much together! Doesn't that mean anything to you?" She questioned

"I-It…" he took another deep breath and looked up at her. "For the last nine years…NINE YEARS! I've asked for your affection. I've wanted to be with you ever since we were kids…Why are you doing this to me?!"

His eyes softened as he began to speak again.

"After everything we've been through…Zabuza and Haku…The Chuunin Exams…Konoha's destruction, through all of these years, you've only looked towards one person…And that person wasn't me!"

He looked at her with eyes filled with determination.

"A lot of things have changed." He grasped his heart as he continued. "Some things that just can't be changed back. It's too late, Sakura."

Tears began to well up in her eyes as she heard his words. She noted the tough truth that he had omitted the usual suffix he would use when addressing her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Is that what you really believe?" she asked.

"It's not what I believe. It's what I know."

Sakura stood, walked towards the door, and opened it.

"I'm sorry, Naruto."

…

Naruto took a deep breath as the door shut behind him. He took a deep breath and put his hands together.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." He said rather depressingly. A puff of smoke appeared behind him.

He felt his own hand on his shoulder.

"What seems to be the problem, boss?" his own voice asked himself. The clone guided himself towards the same couch that Sakura just sat on. "Have a seat."

"So, what seems to be the problem?"

"Why are you asking me this? YOU'RE me! You know what the problem is!"

"Yep, I was just jokin' with ya." The clone smiled sarcastically. "So, how do you feel about it?"

"What do you think? Was I…Was I too cold towards her?"

The clone held his chin in his hand.

"Well…let's see." He began. "In the last nine years, whenever you asked for some time to spend with her, whenever you asked for ONE SINGLE DATE. The only person should would think about was him. Does that seem fair to you?"

"…No."

"What else is there? How much are you willing to bet that she knows about Hinata and you…or us." He said with a smile.

"Ha, you're funny."

"What? Aren't I TECHNICALLY you?"

"Let's not make this too complicated, alright?"

"Y-Yeah...Sorry. Well, let's stay on track…How much are you willing to bet that she knows about you and Hinata?"

"You don't think she would…"

"Maybe…I mean why else would she choose now to do that?"

"You make a good point…But, I'd never think that she would be the type of person to try and disrupt a relationship…"

"Look at it this way, everything I've said about her, everything that happened in the last nine years…Isn't it all true?"

"Everything you've said is true."

"Right, so were you too cold to her?"

"…No…?"

"Right. Good, my job is done. Call me again if you need help."

The shadow clone clasped his hands together and disappeared.

…

"Is that all you want for tonight, young lady?" an elderly clerk asked Hinata as she(the clerk) handed her(Hinata) a bag filled with noodles, pork, and vegetables, including naruto.

"That's all, thank you." Hinata replied in a quiet polite tone.

"Is there something special you have planned for tonight?" the clerk asked while leaning over the glass display with her elbows.

"I do." Hinata replied with a kind nod. "Thank you again!" she shouted with a wave as she began to walk away.

He asked me for a date, I'll surprise him with an uninvited visit.

As Hinata walked towards Naruto's house, she saw Sakura walking in the opposite direction, her hand rubbing her eyes.

"Sakura-san? What's wrong?" Hinata asked as she passed by her. Sakura rubbed her eyes a final time.

"Nothing, don't worry about it, Hinata." She replied. "I just want you to know that…" she placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder. "I'm…I'm happy for you."

"T-Thank you, Sakura-san…" Hinata replied. They both moved away in their own directions.

Hinata walked up to Naruto's door and raised her hand.

…

Naruto had not moved from where he sat. He had spoken his mind with his shadow clone, but he was still wondering about his actions.

Why did she decide to say this now? Wasn't…wait. She was asked to stay behind when we reported our mission…Could that be the re-

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

He approached the door and opened it.

"Hinata?" he asked in surprise. "What are you doing here? Is something wrong?"

She shook her head with a smile.

"I just thought I'd come by and…" she held up the plastic bag "…cook you something. Like a date, can I come in?"

"O-Of course!" he replied with a slight blush. "Come right in." He grabbed the bag that she held and walked into the kitchen; placing the bag on his kitchen table, he began to look for a pot to cook the ingredient. Within a few minutes, he had spread out all of the ingredients on his kitchen counter.

"How about it?" Hinata asked "I'll make your favorite tonight."

Naruto smiled.

"We'll make it together."

…

A while later, they both entered the living room with two large bowls of ramen. Together they sat on the couch, side by side. Hinata looked over at Naruto and noticed that he wasn't eating with his usual enthusiasm.

"Naruto-kun? Is something wrong?" she asked.

"No! Of course not! Nothing's wrong!" he lied.

Hinata placed her bowl onto the table and placed her hand onto Naruto's. She looked up into his sapphire eyes with her diamond eyes.

"I told you that I was here for you, no matter what the problem is, I'll be here with you." She assured him with a smile. "Now, tell me, what's wrong?"

"Well…" he took a deep breath. "Earlier tonight, Sakura-chan came here, and she told me that…that she loved me." Hinata's eyes widened at his words. "But I'm telling you the truth! I did nothing! You know that I didn't do anything with the Mizukage!" Hinata's eyes softened as he continued. "I would never do that to you! Not even with-"

Hinata placed a finger on his lips.

"I know you wouldn't do anything like that…"

Naruto deeply sighed.

"You do know what tonight is, don't you, Naruto-kun?"

…

Thanks for reading!