Let's get into some pining Hinata and yes she can cuss

Hinata sat, legs crossed, rolling a loose thread from the rug she sat on between her fingers. Ino's parents had decided to take a step back from the flower shop, buying a house in the new part of town and leaving the apartment above the shop to Ino.

Ino had asked (demanded really since they all somehow managed to get a Friday night off) for a "girl's night." Ino had made face masks, blending different plants from the shop that were known for their healing and restorative properties. Tenten and Sakura had run by the store grabbing a few bottles of fruity wine and Hinata had brought some handmade snacks. She sat, sipping her third glass while Tenten and Ino complained about the lack of interested men in the village.

"Like Hinata would notice," the sound of her name drew her out of her daze "not with all the time she's been spending with Naruto-Kun," Sakura smirks as she mimics Hinata's sweet tone saying Naruto's name.

"What?" Hinata asks, voice a bit louder than normal.

"Don't 'what' us." Ino meets Hinata's eyes with a knowing look. "Ever since the war ended anytime the two of you are out in the village, save when it's time for missions, you're almost always together."

"No, we're not!" Hinata blushes looking down at her thighs, thinking over the past seven months. Sure she had memories of Kiba and Shino, walking to and from the Hokage's office, getting food after missions, meeting at the library, or going to meet him. Memories of the three girls sitting next to her, laughing and having more carefree times than they had ever had before. But her memory was also full of blue eyes and blond hair. Soft, accidental touches, the tight feeling in her stomach when he laughed at something she said and smiled at her.

"Oh, so that wasn't you that I saw walking down the street last week, sharing a popsicle with Naruto?" Tenten questions, a brow raised.

"Well yes, he ran into me, spilling my drink so he offered to share."

"Come on Hinata, it's just us, we all know." Sakura scoots closer, placing a reassuring hand on her knee. "No one's here to mock you or poke fun. Yeah, it's Naruto and he's well Naruto. And he may be an idiot but he's a great and kind idiot at that." She laughs "I would know seeing as I've spent no less than a week with him each month since, save when he was training since I was 12."

"Saying it out loud makes it true." Hinata mumbles, face turning as red as the wine.

"But you've already said it out loud and to him." Sakura raises an eyebrow at her.

"During battle doesn't count plus I don't think he even remembers."

"Would it make you feel better if we all told you who we like?" Ino asks

"No, you all are so open with your feelings I already know. For you," Hinata looks up at Sakura "it's Sasuke, always has will be. Ino's been trying to get Sai to ask her out on a date for the past month and Tenten's having a fling with the delegate from the Mist."

"The fuck?" Tenten blanches, the normally calm girl shocked.

"You learn a lot when you don't talk much."

"Hinata." Three voices sound at once

"Is that what you're worried about?" Sakura asks "That he's so loud and outspoken while you're not. Because trust me no relationship needs two Narutos." The three giggle into their wine.

"Yeah, I can hardly stand when he clones himself," Ino says, rolling her eyes before draining her glass.

"No, no, it's not that." Hinata starts, suddenly feeling a bit bold (she'd either thank or curse the wine later) "it's that he'll never notice me. I'll never be more than the nice girl, the quiet girl. The girl who makes a good friend. I'm not the funny one, or the one to show off their body. There's no reason for him to ever look at me as more than a friend so why should I even say it."

"Oh." Tenten moves, placing an arm around her shoulder "Don't cry."

"I don't think I will," Hinata says, bringing the glass to her lips, and draining it before holding it out to Ino to be refilled. "I'm just frustrated."

Three pairs of eyes looked at her, all three asking, begging her to say more.

"Just, I don't know, how is he so oblivious? How does he not see how I feel? You guys have said it, Kiba and Shino said it and for fucks sake I feel like everyone except him knows." The other girls look at her mouths slightly open.

"I don't even know why I care about him this much. He frustrates me to no end. Some days I'll tell myself that I'll stop, move on, and find someone who returns my affection, then the next day he's running into me spilling my drink and offering to tell me more about how his closest father figure died someday as we share his ice cream."

"He offered to talk to you about Jiraiya?" Sakura asks, her voice small

"Yeah?"

"He's never talked about him to any of us, never even mentioned him."

Sadness claws at Hinata's insides, he's never talked about losing the man who helped raise him, who trained him. He's never had anyone he'd want to share that with.

"I think Naruto's stunted, emotionally," Ino says, handing Hinata a full cup. "Growing up with no parents, no friends really, no one to show him, love."

Hinata blinks slowly at the last word. Yeah, she had told him once, in the throws of battle, when she thought she was about to lose him. But she hadn't said it since. Not to herself, not to anyone.

At that, the device at Tenten's side goes off like a bell.

"Well that's my 'fling'" she winks at Hinata "he must be done with the meeting, gotta go ladies." She grins, tossing her cup in the trash before making her way out the door. Silences fill the room.

"I just wonder if it's worth it," Hinata says to no one in particular. "I just don't want him to feel forced into returning my feelings."

Ino sighs, moving to fill the spot Tenten had left open at Hinata's side.

"He just drives me crazy, I can't even begin to explain why I have feelings for him.

"Fate." Ino mummers, Sakura rolls her eyes. "No seriously. I know it's just old superstitious stuff, Sakura tells her about what you were telling me the other day."

Sakura explains she had been there when Naruto was questioned about the Infinite Tsukuyomi. He had talked about Sasuke shielding them from its power, things that were already common knowledge.

"But Hinata, did you when you were captured by it, did you shout out for him?"

"No?" Confusion was heard in her voice and seen on her face. "I thought about him, though, thought about how if anyone would save us it would be him."

"Huh. Well, maybe Ino's right. Naruto heard you. He tried to get to you but Sasuke held him back. I won't lie, you guys are connected in some way. You two always seem to know where each other are and without knowing you orient yourself around each other. It's kinda funny to watch how long it takes before you're side by side whenever you're in a room together. Or how we can all be out walking in a group and somehow you two always end up next to each other."

Hinata just stared at her, running over scenarios in her head. She knew she was drawn to him, but could it really be the same for him?

"See. Soulmates." Ino nods her head.

"I mean." Hinata pauses. "Are soulmates even real?"

"Well maybe, and I'm sorry yours is a dumb ass." Sakura laughs.

The girls continue the gossip, Ino gushing over the other boys in the village and finally having time to date.

Hinata had been quiet letting the other two banter back and forth at each other. Her head felt warm and fuzzy, her thoughts full of Naruto's hand on her arm or the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. "And he's just so damn attractive." Hinata lets out a long sigh, setting her drink on the low table and falling backward.

"Now this I want to hear!" Ino says with a glee-filled giggle.

"Gods when he trains at the practice field and takes his shirt off, Kiba gets me every time. I can't even concentrate." Hinata covers her red face with her hands. "Last time he had the audacity to pull his shirt up and wipe his face before going 'oh hey Hinata." rolling her head to the side to look at Sakura. "He said 'hey' and I almost ran into a tree!"

"Aaaaaannd" Sakura draws

"He didn't even notice. That idiot just kept training while I looked on like a complete fool. Kiba had to excuse himself, he was laughing so hard. Have you seen his abs, his arms?! He's so strong, it's not fair." Hinata huffs rolling over onto her stomach. "He's so fucking hot," Hinata mumbles into the rug.

"I think she's broken." Ino laughs

"I think she's drunk." Sakura pats Hinata on the shoulder

"I think I love him."