Chapter 19: Dreams of What Could Be
The moon hung high over the Hyuuga estate, casting a serene glow over the compound. Inside one of the rooms, Naruto lay on a futon, his arms loosely wrapped around Hanabi, who clung to him like a lifeline. She nestled her head against his chest, her steady breathing signaling she was already asleep.
Naruto smiled softly to himself, marveling at how much peace he felt in this moment. Despite the battles, the training, and the distance that had separated them, being here now—together—felt like coming home. Slowly, he drifted into sleep, the weight of Hanabi's trust and affection grounding him.
--
In another part of the estate, Hinata sat alone in her room, her Byakugan active, its gaze piercing through the walls to the scene she knew she shouldn't be watching. Naruto and Hanabi. Together.
Her heart ached.
It wasn't jealousy—not entirely. She had loved Naruto for so long, held onto her feelings through countless missions, trials, and moments of doubt. But seeing her younger sister so at ease with him, so naturally connected to the boy she had idolized, made her feel… lost.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she deactivated her Byakugan and lay back on her futon. Staring up at the ceiling, she allowed herself a moment of vulnerability.
"What now?" she whispered into the silence.
Hinata closed her eyes, memories of her childhood flashing through her mind—training with Neji, watching Naruto from afar, dreaming of a future where she could stand by his side.
But that dream had been taken away before it could even begin.
As sleep claimed her, Hinata fell into a dream, one that painted a different future.
--
In her dream, Hinata stood in the middle of Konoha's training grounds, surrounded by familiar faces. There was Kiba, his wild grin encouraging her to push harder. Akamaru barked playfully at her side. Shino stood quietly nearby, his gaze steady as always, offering silent support.
"Kiba, Shino," she heard herself say, her voice stronger than she remembered. "Let's work together. I want to improve—no, I will improve."
The scene shifted. She was older now, standing next to Kiba, the two of them laughing after a mission. There was a warmth to their interaction, an ease she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Maybe this is what I've been looking for," she thought.
But then the dream shifted again, and she found herself sitting with Shino beneath a large tree. His calm demeanor was a soothing presence, and for the first time, Hinata felt like someone truly understood her quiet strength.
"Shino," she said softly, "thank you for always being here."
His response was simple but filled with meaning. "You're stronger than you think, Hinata. You always have been."
As the dream shifted once more, Hinata found herself standing before a familiar face—Neji. He smiled at her, a rare, genuine smile that reached his eyes.
"Hinata-sama," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that made her chest tighten. "You're no longer the girl who doubted herself. I'm proud of you."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she reached out to him, but before she could speak, the dream faded, and Hinata woke with a start.
--
The first rays of dawn were breaking through her window. Hinata sat up, clutching her blanket tightly. The ache in her chest hadn't disappeared, but the dream had given her clarity.
Naruto was Hanabi's now, and she couldn't change that. But her future didn't have to end with her first love. There were others who cared about her, people who had always been by her side.
Taking a deep breath, Hinata rose from her bed, a newfound determination settling in her heart.
Her time to find happiness would come. And when it did, she would embrace it wholeheartedly.
The streets of Konoha were bustling with life as Hinata walked through them, doing her best to focus on anything other than her thoughts. The morning sun had lifted her spirits momentarily, but as the day went on, she couldn't escape the reminders of what she didn't have.
Everywhere she looked, happy couples strolled hand in hand, sharing laughter and tender moments. She saw Shino quietly chatting with a kunoichi she didn't recognize near the training grounds, their subdued yet warm interaction making her heart ache slightly. Even Kakashi, known for his aloofness, was spotted sitting on a bench in the park with Kiba's mother, Tsume, casually feeding her dango.
Hinata tried to shake off the growing melancholy, reminding herself to be happy for others, especially Naruto and Hanabi. But as the day wore on, her resolve began to falter.
By noon, she found herself sitting alone on a park bench. The gentle rustle of leaves and the sound of children playing nearby did little to lift her spirits. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, her mind swirling with questions.
"What did I do wrong?" she whispered to herself.
She had always admired Naruto, even loved him, but perhaps she had waited too long. Maybe she hadn't been bold enough, strong enough, or confident enough to show him how she felt.
Her hands tightened into fists on her lap. "Maybe I should just..." She hesitated, feeling the weight of her next thought. "Maybe I should ask Father to arrange a marriage for me. At least then, I wouldn't have to keep hoping for something that won't happen."
Just as she began to rise from the bench, a voice called out to her.
"Hinata? Is that you?"
She turned, startled, to see Shikamaru Nara approaching her. He looked as laid-back as ever, his hands stuffed in his pockets, but there was a slight smile on his face as he regarded her.
"Shikamaru," she said softly, blinking in surprise.
"Didn't expect to see you out here by yourself," he said, stopping a few steps away. "Everything okay?"
Hinata hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. Shikamaru wasn't someone she had spoken to often, but his calm and easygoing demeanor made him approachable.
"I... I just needed some fresh air," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Fresh air, huh? You look like you've been sitting here, overthinking something for a while."
Hinata blushed, her gaze dropping to the ground. "Is it that obvious?"
"Only to someone who's good at reading people," he said with a shrug, moving to sit on the bench beside her. "Mind if I join you? I could use a break from babysitting the new Genin teams."
Hinata nodded, feeling a small sense of relief at the distraction.
For a while, they sat in silence, watching the children play in the park. Shikamaru didn't press her for details, which she appreciated. It was as though he understood she needed time to collect her thoughts.
Eventually, he spoke up. "You know, sometimes we get so caught up in what we think we're supposed to have that we forget to notice what's already around us."
Hinata glanced at him, surprised by the insight. "What do you mean?"
Shikamaru leaned back against the bench, folding his arms behind his head. "I mean, life's not always gonna go the way you want it to. But that doesn't mean you can't find something good along the way. Sometimes, it's just about being open to it."
His words lingered in her mind, resonating in a way she hadn't expected.
"Shikamaru..." she began, hesitating. "Do you think it's wrong to want something that you can't have?"
He opened one eye to look at her, his expression thoughtful. "No, it's not wrong. But if you keep holding onto something that's out of reach, you might miss the things—or people—right in front of you."
Hinata mulled over his words, a small spark of clarity beginning to form in her heart.
"Thanks, Shikamaru," she said softly, offering him a shy smile.
He gave her a lopsided grin in return. "No problem. Just don't go driving yourself crazy over whatever it is you're thinking about. Life's too troublesome for that."
As he stood to leave, Hinata found herself feeling lighter, as though a small weight had been lifted.
"Shikamaru?" she called out before he could walk away.
"Yeah?"
"Would you like to join me for lunch?"
He blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but then his usual smirk returned. "Sure, why not? Just don't expect me to pay."
Hinata giggled softly, and together, they left the park, her earlier worries fading into the background.
As Hinata and Shikamaru walked through the streets of Konoha, the conversation between them began to flow more naturally.
"So," Shikamaru started, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, "are you going to tell me what had you looking so down earlier, or do I have to guess?"
Hinata hesitated, her fingers nervously clasping together. "I… I guess I've just been thinking about the past a lot lately. About Naruto."
Shikamaru nodded, unsurprised. "Figured as much. You two were close back then, at least in your own way."
"I wanted to tell him how I felt," Hinata admitted quietly. "Before the Chūnin Exams, three years ago. I kept thinking I would have more time, but... I waited too long. Now he's with Hanabi, and they're happy. I really am happy for them, but…"
"You still feel like you missed your chance," Shikamaru finished for her.
She nodded, her expression downcast. "I just… I wish I could find someone who makes me feel like Naruto did. I don't want to keep holding onto something that isn't mine anymore."
Shikamaru gave her a thoughtful look, his hands in his pockets. "That's fair. But if you're looking for someone, you should focus on what makes you happy—not what you think you missed."
Hinata smiled softly. "You're right. Thank you, Shikamaru."
They walked in silence for a moment before Hinata turned to him, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Can I ask you something?"
"Troublesome, but go ahead," he said with a smirk.
"Why aren't you with Temari? Everyone seems to think you two are…"
Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know what everyone thinks. But we're not. Temari's just... Temari. She comes to me for advice sometimes, and that's it."
"Advice?" Hinata asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah," Shikamaru replied. "Apparently, she wants to ask out Tenten. Figured I was the only guy she could talk to without causing drama with the others in her group."
Hinata blinked in surprise before a small laugh escaped her lips. "I didn't know that."
"Yeah, well, now you do," Shikamaru said, smirking slightly. "You can stop assuming I'm secretly dating her or whatever."
As they reached the food stand and ordered their meals, the conversation took a lighter tone. Shikamaru's laid-back humor kept Hinata smiling, and for the first time in a while, she felt at ease.
But just as they received their food and prepared to sit down, two familiar figures approached from the other direction.
"Shikamaru? Hinata?" Naruto's voice cut through the air, his face lighting up in surprise.
Hanabi was beside him, holding onto his arm with a cheerful grin. "Fancy seeing you two here!"
Hinata froze, her heart racing as Naruto's blue eyes shifted between her and Shikamaru. His gaze landed on Shikamaru with a curious, questioning look.
Shikamaru smirked, leaning back slightly. "Relax, Naruto. It's only a date if Hinata wants it to be."
Hinata's face turned scarlet at his words, her hands shooting up to cover her cheeks. "A-a d-date?!" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Naruto blinked in confusion before Hanabi nudged him aside, stepping closer to her sister.
"Don't let me interrupt," Hanabi said with a teasing smile. "Hinata, have a great date! And don't forget to tell me about it later, okay?"
With that, Hanabi grabbed Naruto by the arm and dragged him away, ignoring his protests and confusion.
Hinata sat frozen, her thoughts a whirlwind of embarrassment and shock.
Shikamaru chuckled, his expression amused. "Guess I wasn't wrong about this being a date, huh?"
Hinata buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled. "I didn't mean for it to be…"
"Relax," Shikamaru said, his tone light. "No pressure. Let's just eat. Besides, it'll give me more time to figure out why I let myself get caught up in all this troublesome stuff today."
Hinata peeked at him through her fingers, his smirk making her feel slightly less embarrassed. Taking a deep breath, she lowered her hands and offered a small smile.
"Thank you, Shikamaru," she said softly.
"Anytime," he replied, picking up his chopsticks.
As they began to eat, the atmosphere grew more relaxed, and Hinata found herself laughing at Shikamaru's dry humor. For the first time, she wondered if perhaps her future didn't have to be so lonely after all.