Chapter 7: Chasing The Fight

Hinata woke up feeling refreshed and energized. She had something in mind that day for Naruto and her to do, but she wasn't sure if he would go for it. No, in fact she knew he would probably laugh at her and call her insane. She was determined even so, she needed to test her strength; she needed to confirm some things.

She got dressed in her mission gear; form fitting black pants that stopped right below her knees and a lavender top that had a small V-neck with baseball tee sleeves that ruffled at the end, her sandals had a small heel. She was nervous stepping out of her room, taking a peek to see if anyone was in her living room. Of course, they were already outside being watchful leading Hinata to wonder if this was how they lived, sleepless nights with blood filled days. Sasuke and Sakura were near the woods talking while Naruto was sitting at her entrance.

"Hello, Hinata." Hinata's face burned as Naruto's eyes tightened, his gaze wandering down her body. "Are you going somewhere?" he asked as his eyes met hers.

"I, uh wanted to do a bit of training today." She casually stated as she walked towards the woods. "Care to join me?" She shot back a smirk at Naruto causing his lips to twitch upward. "Or a-are y-you scared?" Hinata cringed at herself. 'Stop stuttering like an idiot, if I provoke him enough, I might just succeed!'

Hinata didn't know the first thing about being an instigator, but to her amusement and horror it seemed to be something she might be good at as she let slip her next words. "Don't worry, I'll be easy on you."

Naruto's eyes widened as he swiftly stood up in front of her, catching her by surprise. His face contained a devilish smile as his finger extended and pointed at Hinata.

"It would be an honor to spar with you, again!" His white teeth were visible as he smiled wide, but it was short lived. He folded his arms as his head sunk low, disheartened. "But I cant." He whispered. His handsome features became spiritless.

"Why not?" Hinata was afraid this would happen. Surely, Sasuke and Sakura didn't need him right now. She looked over to where they were, Sasuke seemingly disinterested as he stared into the woods with Sakura accompanying him. The pink haired kunoichi abruptly turned as she felt Hinata's eyes on her and gave a charming smile while waving. 'Perhaps, Naruto already made plans with Sakura,' She thought. The dull pain that tormented her yesterday steadily taunted her.

"Hinata, I—"

"I-Its okay! If you already made plans with someone else, don't worry about it…" Hinata waved her hands frantically in the air and laughed nervously.

"Er, No, that's not why." Naruto gave a puzzled look as he scratched his head, his short blonde hair becoming more disheveled. He gave a long sigh, his eyes taking ahold of Hinata's. "I-I just couldn't bear accidently hurting you. We are not as young as we used to be, this would be different-."

"I'm not as fragile as you think I am, Naruto." Hinata understood Naruto's sentiment and was profoundly grateful to have someone as wonderful and caring as him as a friend, but she was determined not to give up, not now. She decided to use his words against him as leverage, although slightly cruel, she couldn't help but feel the hilarity in her jibes. "Assuming you could lay a finger on me."

Naruto was taken-aback by her response. His eyebrows lifted in interest as he took a step forward, his body inches from Hinata's. Her body was engulfed by his shadow as he towered over her. The mischievous look in his eye dug crevices in her own, but she was not going to back down. She widened her stance and took a mini step towards Naruto, their bodies barely brushing each other as she stared straight into his eyes. 'Ha, two can play this game Naruto. But I can play it better.' Veins started to protrude from the corners of her cheeks and snake their way up her face into her eyes. Her perception a thousand times clearer as her Byakugan activated. Naruto did not seem phased by her actions, instead acknowledged it with a smirk as he leaned forward to whisper something in her ear.

"I know what you're trying to do."

Hinata felt defeat, but asked her next question anyway, "And, is it working?"

Naruto began to laugh as he stood straight again. 'Gah! I knew he would laugh at me!' Hinata turned to hide her face of rejection and began to leave, but a firm hand stopped her. She turned to see Naruto's hand grasping hers. She noticed that his grasp was harder than Tamaki's, but she felt safer…

"I'm coming with you."

"But I thought you wouldn't…"

"I should never have doubted you, I'm sorry. You're strong, Hinata."

Hinata smiled, he always knew how to stun her with his words.

They sprinted to their destination, arriving at the field they visited the day before. Hinata couldn't stop shaking in anticipation as they walked to opposite ends of the field, her heart skipping a beat as they stopped and gazed at each other from a hundred yards away. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, but it didn't help. 'Get ahold of yourself, Hinata! I want Naruto to see how far I've come! I want him to see that I am capable…'

She placed a hand on her head as she felt a headache nearing. 'Why the hell did I decide to do this?' She began to doubt herself. Her hands trembled, what was once anticipation had turned into fear. She peered at Naruto who was observing her with a warm smile. Memories of him started to surface, immersing Hinata in their training days as kids. She smiled to herself. 'I am going to do this!' Her confidence grew as images of Naruto started to build a foundation in her heart.

Her right foot left the grass with such force and high-speed that it created a small crater in the ground as she sprinted towards Naruto. Time slowed as Hinata and Naruto dashed to decrease the distance between themselves.

'Naruto, so here we are now. I keep reaching. But you're not reaching back. Guess I'm trying to say, there's something I can feel when I breathe.'

For what felt like an eternity was only half a millisecond before their bodies came in contact with each other causing an immense tremble and bowl in the ground. Naruto had countered her palms and held her wrists in his hands.

'Watch me!' Hinata thought as she propelled herself from the ground, flipping herself over his head with his hands still firm on her wrists. As her feet hit the ground, it only took less than a microsecond before her right foot was in the air again, headed towards Naruto's head. His reflexes were impressive as Naruto immediately ducked and released his hold on Hinata's wrists. They both launched themselves in opposite directions while still facing each other to create some distance. Naruto's face held a striking smirk as he and Hinata shuffled their feet and circled one another.

"Heh, did you ever master that technique with the two lion-fists I saw long ago?" Naruto asked as he eyed her cautiously.

"Yes, I did. In fact, I modified it a bit." Hinata's fists were immediately clouded with blue chakra that reached her elbows. The chakra molded and reshaped itself, becoming a monstrous size. Yellow eyes emerged from the chakra, along with a mouth that contained sharp teeth. It resembled a lion and roared like one. But that wasn't what Hinata meant by modified.

She threw a fist in the air as if punching someone invisible. The lion flew off the end of her fists and sprouted legs and a body as it ran towards Naruto. He stood there in disbelief, the lion nearly centimeters from his body. Hinata became petrified. 'If the lion hits you full on, most or all your chakra will be sucked from your body!' "Naruto, move!"

His eyes caught Hinata's terror-stricken ones. 'Is he…admiring something?' She thought as his body flickered and disappeared. Her lion disappeared into the air and Naruto's presence became clear behind her. "Why would you scare me like that!" She says while turning and throwing a half empty punch. Her fist met his palm as his calloused fingers gripped her hand, unyielding. She looked up to see a smile on his defined face and a glimmer in his bright blue eyes. His tone was soft as he spoke.

"You are really something else, Hinata. To be concerned about me during a sparring match…" He gave a slight chuckle. "You were always so kind and caring to me as kids and even now…" Naruto paused as his hand delicately opened her fist and intertwined his fingers with hers. "Your jutsu and chakra is just as beautiful as you are."

Hinata blushed. Her heart was beating at a furious rate while her eyes widened with awe. She couldn't contain the next words that fell out of her mouth as her head leaned against his chest, tears spilling from her lavender eyes. "Then take me with you!" A warm hand rested on the back of her head as his hand squeezed hers more tightly.

"I thought you might ask." His words were gentle, but strong as he pulled away slightly to look at Hinata's face. "But I will not allow you to come with me. You are too…important to me. I need you to understand."

Hinata didn't understand, but most of all she didn't understand what she was feeling. She didn't understand what compelled her to say those words. She didn't understand what her full intentions were when she brought Naruto here to spar. But he knew. He understood everything before they exchanged blows. She felt foolish. 'So here we are at the end now, but I only want to stay with you.' Her thoughts were interrupted as two figures instantly appeared on both sides of her and Naruto.

"Sasuke! Sakura! Why are you here?" Naruto's voice held a tinge of annoyance as his fingers unlinked with Hinata's. Sakura's lips were frowning while her emerald eyes showed a look of empathy.

"We got word that it's time to strike."

Sasuke nodded in agreement to Sakura's words. "Unfortunately, we don't have time for goodbyes." He motioned for Naruto to go as he and Sakura charged forward. Naruto turned to look at Hinata, his face containing a bright façade.

"Wait for me, Hinata."

Hinata watched as with a sudden motion, he was already miles away. 'But for how long, Naruto?' She didn't know how many more weeks, months or years it would be til she saw him again.

The woods were darkened by the thickness of the trees as she moved through them with an empty heart. She felt lost now. Her mind was distorted as she continued on the opposite direction from the Three Yaban to her small house. A nagging sensation was prodding her, eating at her. A scene appeared in her mind, the three of them sitting at her table laughing. Sasuke held that handsome smirk while Sakura watched him with a charming smile on her face. Hinata smiled at the thought of her friends. Naruto's face was looking at hers though. Sasuke and Sakura disappeared, leaving an image of Naruto's whiskered face. "You are too…important to me." The words he said moment's ago came to light.

Her feet came to a halt. 'There's a memory of how we used to be.' She turned. '…That I can see through the flames.'

She took off at an incredible speed, her feet carrying her in the direction of the Three Yaban. "Byakugan!" They weren't in her range…yet. She quickened her speed. 'I will protect them!' She thought.

Her once distorted mind was becoming clearer as she envisioned Naruto. Her driving force…She thought she knew what it was. But it had just now become obvious. Her driving force…was love. She felt the burdensome weight lift from her heart as she embraced her fear and chased the fight.