Coming
Home
By Chibified Kitsunes
Chapter Four
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Shikamaru stepped into the room with Chouji right behind him. All conversation in the room ceased as they looked at the newcomers.
“Ch…Chouji?” Kiba asked astounded.
Chouji nodded, munching on his chips. Shikamaru smiled as the group looked on in disbelief. Looking around the room, he noticed that Tenten was already here and stopped short at the sight of the boy wearing sunglasses.
“Shino? Oh no! Gomen, we forgot to tell you about it!!” Shikamaru said as he smacked his forehead. “How did you know” He asked confused.
“I always have a bug placed on my teammates, so I’ll always know what’s happening around them. I found out about this meeting from the bug I placed on Kiba, see?” Shino explained as he raised his left hand up to show Shikamaru the bug crawling on it.
Shikamaru nodded and asked, “Urm, so do you would know where Hinata is now? Because she’s with Ino and they’re not here yet.”
Shino’s frown went unnoticed behind his collar as he answered. “The bug I placed on her jacket came back to me just a while ago. So I have no idea.”
Shikamaru sighed, “Well then, I guess they’re on their way here then.” And plonked himself on his previous bed and stared up into the clouds.
Neji frowned to himself as he overheard Shikamaru’s and Shino’s conversation. Much as he hated to admit it, he was worried about Hinata-sama. Ever since he had been defeated by Naruto, his whole perspective on life and destiny had changed. He had realized that destiny could be changed, as Naruto had proven.
His thoughts were interrupted by a shout coming from the door. “Ino-pig, hurry up!!”
Shikamaru sighed, “That’s them with Sakura right now.”
Sakura burst through the door panting. “Sorry we’re late!! I ran into a pig just now….” Sakura stopped in mid rant as she felt a sudden killing intent directed at her. She turned around slowly only to find Ino standing over her, eyes shadowed shuriken in hand.
Sakura shrieked and ran into the room. Ino stomped in after her over to Shikamaru and punched him over his head. Shikamaru picked himself up groaning, “Uh… Why did you do that for?” Ino snorted and turned her back on him, finally noticing the person behind her. “Chouji?”
Chouji popped another handful of chips into his mouth and nodded. “Thanks for the flower Ino-chan… It was pretty.”
Ino nodded as tears formed in her eyes. Chouji… A lump formed in Ino’s throat as she hugged her teammate. “You’re welcome Chouji. I’m glad you’re ok.”
“Ano… Ino-san….” Came a whisper from the door. Ino sighed, she had thought that Hinata had already overcome her speaking problem. Guess I was wrong. Ino thought as she pulled back.
“Just come in, Hinata.” Ino said, placing her hand on her hip, knowing the girl was too embarrassed to enter the ward.
“Demo…”
“No one’s going to laugh, I promise.” Ino replied impatiently as the other occupants waited curiously anticipating. When Hinata made no move to enter, Ino stomped over to the door and dragged Hinata in. Hinata stumbled in only to face a shocked crowd of spectators. Shikamaru’s eyes widened. Chouji blushed and continued to eat furiously. Tenten smiled encouragingly at the beet red girl, Lee was knocked back by a massive nosebleed and Kiba was sitting in shock and awe. Neji was speechless. Hinata-sama? She’s …kawaii. Only Shino seemed to be unaffected but in actual fact, he was drooling and eyes widened in shock behind his sunglasses.
Hinata fidgeted in the middle of the room, clutching the bouquet of roses closer to her chest, she twiddled her thumbs and her blush deepened. She was not used to being in the centre of attention with everyone staring at her like she was weird. Ino placed a hand over Hinata’s shoulder and whispered in her ear, “Hinata, say something.”
“Demo… I don’t know what to say…” Hinata whispered back.
Ino sighed. “Why are you whispering again.”
“Gomen, but I can’t help it…” came the soft reply
“Well, at least you stopped stuttering, but you’re blushing again.” Ino pointed out.
Hinata’s blush deepened as her head bowed down. Finally, for what seemed like ages, everyone reacted.
“Wow!!! Hinata-chan!! You look sooo pretty!!! But not as pretty as my beloved Sakura-chan. Oh Sakura-chan!!” cried Lee, suddenly recovering from the massive blood loss as he grabbed Sakura’s hand. “You are the epitome of beauty, the goddess of pink hair, will you go out with me?”
Sakura cringed as she pulled her hand away. “NO!!” She shouted as she ran to the other side of the room.
Kiba grinned a feral grin. “Yo Hinata! I like your new look!! Your outfit’s really cute! Ne Akamaru?” Akamaru barked in agreement from Kiba’s arms.
Shino grinned behind his collar and nodded, agreeing.
Tenten squealed, “Hinata-chan looks so kawaii ne Neji?” Hinata looked up blushing to see Neji’s reaction.
Hinata gasped as she watched Neji nod. “Aa, Hinata-sama you look … nice.” Hinata smiled a soft smile and watched as Neji smiled a little in return.
Shikamaru was getting bored. “Oi, does anybody have any idea what Naruto wants to tell us?”
Everyone turned towards Shikamaru either shrugging or shaking their heads or not replying. Hinata sighed, glad that no one was paying anymore attention to her.
“Sorry I’m laaate!!” rang a voice down the corridor into the room. Before Hinata could move away from the doorway, she was knocked to the ground only to find herself lying on her back looking up into a pair sea foam eyes.
“Na..Naruto-kun?” Hinata squeaked out surprised.
Naruto had been in such a hurry that he had just barged through the open door to the ward that he had not noticed Hinata standing in front of it. Realizing he had crashed into someone, he had immediately wrapped an arm around the person and used his other to brace himself, preventing the person from taking too much of the impact.
Violets? Naruto thought as his face got caught in the person’s hair. Naruto’s eyes snapped open when he heard his name called softly. Hinata-chan? Oh no! Now she must think I’m some sort of hentai! Argh! Ero-sennin! This is all your fault, now Hinata-chan is going to hate me!! Naruto cursed mentally as he scrambled to his feet.
He quickly offered his right hand to Hinata, avoiding any eye contact. Unbeknownst to him, Hinata was going through the same thing. Naruto-kun fell because of me… Oh no, what he must think of me now… Hinata looked away blushing as tears threatened to form in her eyes.
The kunoichis “awwwed” at the scene unfolding in front of them as the males experienced different reactions. Unsurprisingly, Shino had no comment and Chouji continued eating. Shikamaru complained about being bored, smirking. Kiba laughed, Akamaru barked excitedly, sensing everyone’s amusement. Neji cursed the pair’s stupidity and Lee pumped his fists into the air enthusiastically, shouting something about youth power and love.
Naruto gulped before looking up at Hinata as he prepared himself for a scolding. His mouth dropped open and hung in shock as he looked at his Hinata. MY Hinata? Naruto pinched himself, hard, convinced that it was a dream. Wincing in pain, he looked on as Hinata’s blush deepened.
Hinata’s face grew redder, knowing that Naruto-kun was staring at her. She began to get really nervous and all the lessons and tips that Ino had given her flew out the window. Her hands came together and she began to twiddle her thumbs, looking down at her feet.
Naruto swallowed as he felt a heat rising in his cheeks. Naruto checked Hinata out as a nosebleed threatened to knock Naruto unconscious. Hi..Hinata-chan’s sooo pretty… He thought. His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish before he stammered out, “Hi…Hinata-chan? Urm… You… you look different today.”
Ino and the others smacked themselves on the head. As one, they all screamed mentally, BAKA!!
“AH-Choo!” Naruto sneezed suddenly, bringing him to his senses. “ImeanyoulooksokawaiiHinata-chan.” He rushed out as his face turned bright red.
Hinata’s face was burning. Naruto-kun just said I was kawaii. Looking into his bright blue eyes, she mumbled “Arigatou Naruto-kun.” But as she was about to give Naruto the bouquet of flowers in her hands, a nurse walked by the room, suddenly dropping a metal tray outside, creating a loud noise. The teens swung around in shock towards the sound, the moment ruined.
“What are you looking at!” The nurse spat out, glaring daggers at Naruto before picking the tray up and leaving.
She did that on purpose. Why must they all be like that? Will my friends be like that after I tell them what I am? Naruto thought as his eyes darkened with sadness. Hinata looked on sadly as Naruto looked down, but not before she caught a glimpse of his eyes. Naruto-kun, why do you look so sad? She thought as she also wondered why the nurse had shouted at Naruto. She had also noticed the hate in her eyes, focused entirely on Naruto.
Naruto suddenly looked up, fox grin in place as he scratched the back of his head. “Hehehe… I guess you must all be wondering why I asked you to be here.” Seeing everyone nod, he continued, “I only want you all to know the truth because you’re my friends. You deserve to know.” Naruto hesitated before continuing, “Maybe it’s best that you all sat down cause this is going to be a shocker.”
The standing girls sat down on Naruto’s old bed and Shikamaru flopped onto his own. Chouji sat down next to the shadow manipulating ninja and Shino went over to the corner of the room and settled there.
Seeing that everyone was settled down in one way or another he began, “Remember the story we learnt in the academy about Kyuubi and Yondaime?”
“Of course! How could we forget how the fourth Hokage saved our village by killing the demon at the extent of own life? He’s a hero!” Lee exclaimed excitedly.
Naruto nodded. “Yeah, only Yondaime didn’t destroy Kyuubi.” Seeing the shocked and disbelieving faces he continued. “He died sealing it.”
“Sealing it? How?” Kiba interrupted.
“Have you guys heard of the fuuin jutsu: shiki fuujin (A/N: Enchantment Spell: Dead Demon Imprisonment) before?” Naruto explained.
:Shikamaru spoke up, “That’s the one the third Hokage used on Orochimaru wasn’t it? To perform this jutsu, the user has to give up his life to the death god in order to remove someone else’s soul. In Sandaime-sama’s case, he took away Orochimaru’s hands was it not?”
“Yeah.” Naruto agreed. “Yondaime used a series of sealing jutsus, the one mentioned being one of them. In the Kyuubi’s case, he needed two sacrifices because if he had sealed Kyuubi into himself, it would have been freed the moment he died. He was the first sacrifice to the death god, the second was a baby boy to be its container.”
“But why a baby?” Tenten pointed out.
“Because a baby would not have developed much or any chakra yet, so it is easier to seal the two together. That way, as the baby grows, its chakra will be able to handle the Kyuubi’s one.” He explained.
“So who was that baby? He has to be our age since Kyuubi attacked the same year we were born in.” Ino cried out, excited.
Naruto raised a hand up for silence. “Matte, I’m just about to get there.” The others sat confused as Naruto unzipped his orange jacket and pulled up his black shirt to reveal his stomach. “Watch my stomach as I gather some chakra.”
Sakura folded her arms in annoyance fuming, “What does this have to do with the story.”
Naruto didn’t answer, his eyes closed as he concentrated on the task at hand. Everyone braced themselves as a huge amount of blue chakra burst out of Naruto and formed a sphere around him. Neji raised an eyebrow snorting, Some charkra he says. His eyes widened as he began to see a strange spiral marking form on his stomach. That looks like the spiral I saw during the exam… Looking around, he saw the others had noticed it too.
Shikamaru’s eyes widened as understanding dawned on him. “That’s… that’s a…” he muttered shocked.
Seeing that her cousin had activated his Byakugan, Hinata followed suit. She saw nothing except for blue chakra running through his body.
Oi fox! Lend me your power! I need to show them!
[Ungrateful brat!] snorted Kyuubi before giving Naruto an incredible amount of chakra. [You’re welcome] it added sarcastically.
Thanks for the rent baka-fox…
Everyone flinched as they felt the sudden surge in power. Since when was Naruto this powerful? They thought taken aback. Hinata and Neji watched as a red chakra began at the spiral before spreading throughout the rest of the body before exploding out to engulf Naruto.
Shikamaru stared at the red chakra, Just like the chuunin exams he thought.
Neji and Hinata suddenly deactivated their jutsu and remained where they were panting.
“Neji-niisan… did you see that?”
“Aa… I’ve seen it before, after I blocked Naruto’s tenketsus during the Chuunin exams.” Neji replied inwardly fuming. How dare it smirk at me… The last time he saw it, it had shocked and frightened him as he had felt anger and revenge directed at him. He was still frightened by the sight of it again, but he sensed that it was laughing at him. Angry, Neji clenched his right fist in annoyance. How dare it? But why would it be inside Naruto? The seal, a fox, can it be?
“Neji-kun, what did you see?” Lee asked, his huge eyes blinking up at his teammate.
“A fox, grinning at me from his stomach.” The white eyed boy forced out through clenched teeth as they all watched the red chakra and seal disappear altogether.
Naruto opened his eyes slowly, waiting for the hate and anger to come. He was shocked to say the least, to see confusion and understanding written on some faces. Suddenly the eerie silence was broken by a whine. “What did Akamaru say Kiba?” Naruto asked quietly, knowing that the genin’s dog could sense how powerful an enemy was by smelling their chakra. (A/N: Is this true? By smelling it?)
Kiba snapped back to reality when he heard his name being called. Raising his gaze to Naruto’s he answered. “He said that that chakra was not normal, but very very powerful. What was it Naruto?”
Another voice rang out even before Naruto could open his mouth. “Kyuubi’s.” That single statement issued by Naruto caused the room to erupt in chaos.
“NANI?”
“You’d better not be lying Shikamaru!”
“Iie, I’m telling the truth, ask Naruto, the pieces all fit together.”
“How can this be?”
Everyone turned to stare at Naruto and as one asked, “Is this true?”
Naruto nodded sadly as he zipped his jacket up.
“Then why keep it from us?” Lee piped up.
“Apparently Yondaime wanted me to be recognized as a hero of the village. But when that did not happen, the old man issued a law. That nobody was to mention the fact that I had Kyuubi sealed inside of me to anybody, especially the children. It was so that I could lead a normal life. But look what happened. Even if they didn’t tell their children, they were still not allowed to play with me.” Naruto sighed as he explained, his eyes shut tightly as he willed himself not to cry. It was so painful, all those painful years spent alone, not knowing why he was hated.
>>Flashback begins<<
“I told you not to play with him! Get away from my child you monster!”
“Demon!”
“Why don’t you just go to hell!”
A little boy stood in the empty playground, crying his poor heart out. “Why…Why do they hate me so much…”
>>Flashback ends<<
“So are you the Kyuubi?” Chouji wondered.
“No, Kyuubi may be sealed in me, but that doesn’t mean I’m him. Besides…”
“How do you know it’s a him?” Tenten cut in.
“Hmm, well I’ve spoken to him before, and his voice is kinda deep too. So Kyuubi’s a he.”
The others nodded in understanding. Naruto asked tentatively, “So you guys don’t hate me for carrying a demon fox?”
“Are you kidding Naruto-kun? You’re my HERO! Well, after Gai-sensei of course.” Lee shouted excitedly as he held his thumb up completing the pose with an award winning smile.
“Is that why the villagers hate you so much Naruto-kun? Because of Kyuubi?” Ino added.
“It doesn’t matter now, you’ve got us now ne Akamaru?” Kiba added followed by an encouraging bark from his pet.
Shino and Chouji nodded in agreement.
Naruto hesitated “You’re not afraid?”
“Heck no!” Kiba grinned, giving Naruto a thumbs up.
Naruto smiled gratefully at his friends. “Arigatou you guys..”
“Naruto.” Naruto turned to face the Hyuuga. “I guess I owe you an apology.”
“Eh? What for?” Naruto answered as he scratched the back of his head, fox grin in place.
“For insulting you during the Chuunin exam, and saying that you would never know how it feels to carry a seal that can never be removed. For that please accept my sincerest apologies. Because of you, I now know that our destinies are not written by heaven, but written by us. Arigatou.” Neji finished with a slight bow of his head.
Naruto acknowledged the apology with a smile that reached his eyes. “Apology accepted Neji. You shouldn’t be thanking me, I beat you after all.”
Neji chuckled in return a Tenten walked up to Naruto. “I don’t care who or what you are, but thank you for changing Neji. You’ve changed many of us, in more ways than one Naruto. Arigatou.” She finished with a peck on his blushing cheek.
Suddenly Naruto was pulled away and slapped. “How dare you Naruto! How could you not tell us, we’re your teammates for goodness sake. That’s how you beat Sasuke wasn’t it, you used that monster in you to nearly kill him!”
Time seemed to stand still as everyone stared at the pink haired genin. Naruto stood in front of Sakura speechless, a hand raised to his cheek. Sakura-chan? “Now I know why my mother was so scared when she heard you were my teammate. Now I know why our team was always getting into all sorts of trouble, you were the cause of it. I hate you Naruto!”
Naruto’s heart froze when he heard those words coming from Sakura’s lips. My own teammate… Why? Everyone else accepted the Kyuubi, why can’t my own teammate acknowledge me? No matter how hard I work, no matter how hard I try, it always remains the same. In Sakura’s eyes, I am always second to Sasuke.
Naruto’s eyes hardened before he spat out angrily. “Didn’t I tell you before, not to mention that bastard’s name in front of me or any of us?”
Realizing what she had just done, Sakura opened her mouth to apologise.
“Forget it Sakura,” Naruto drawled out icily. “Whatever you say now won’t change anything. That bastard was right about one thing, you’re annoying.”
Inner Sakura and Sakura froze as her world collapsed around her. For the second time in her young life, she was hearing the same words coming from her other teammate. Gathering up the remnants of her pride she lashed out at her teammate verbally, “Whatever Naruto, I never want to see you again!”
Naruto snorted, “Like I even care, all my life I never regretted anything, but now, I regret knowing you and saving you. And saving that bastard for you, after what we all went through just to bring him back, you’re still ungrateful! Forget I even knew you then.” And before anyone knew it, Naruto had disappeared out the door.
“Naruto!!” “Naruto-kun!”
Everyone, including Lee turned on Sakura, “How could you do that Sakura? After what Naruto went through for you and the team. Why?”
Sakura collapsed to the floor, her face buried in her hands as she cried her eyes out, “I don’t know, I don’t know what came over me… How could I have said that…”
Ino looked down at her ex-friend and rival before kneeling beside her. Gathering the crying girl in her arms she comforted her, “Daijoubu Sakura-chan… everything’s going to be alright. You’re just under a lot of stress right now, we’ll talk to Naruto for you. Don’t cry…”
Sakura looked up, tears streaming down her eyes. “Ino-chan…” she sobbed “Gomen… gomen for everything… You were my best friend in the world… Can…”
Ino smiled, “Rubbish, I’m still your best friend. I’ll always be here for you.”
Hearing her best friend’s words, fresh tears gathered in Sakura’s eyes. “Ino-chan…” She cried out before hugging the blond girl.
“Sakura-chan.. we’ll talk to Naruto-kun for you. Never underestimate the power of YOUTH!!” Lee exclaimed as jumped off his bed, did a couple of full body twists in the air before collapsing to the ground. “Itai…” Lee scrambled up and flashed another award winning smile before collapsing back onto the floor, eyes swirling. “Why is the room swirling around?”
“Baka!” Tenten laughed. “There’s a reason why you’re still hospitalized you know… You haven’t recovered enough.”
Akamaru started barking loudly as the others joined in the laughter. “Eh Akamaru? What’s wrong?” Kiba asked.
Kiba sat up and looked around when Akamaru whined back a reply. “Hinata?”
“What? What’s this about Hinata-sama?” Neji raised his voice, worried for his cousin. It was his job to protect the heiress and he was not going to fail it. He had made a promise to his father and he would honor that promise. (A/N: Remember after Hiashi gave him the scroll revealing the truth about the death of his father? Neji made a promise after that. I think..)
“Relax Neji, Hinata just went after Naruto, that’s all.” Kiba reassured Neji.
“Hey Kiba, aren’t you jealous that Hinata likes Naruto? I thought you liked her.” Ino teased.
Kiba blushed. “H… How…?”
"Call it women's intuition." Ino smugly replied as she stood akimbo (A/N: Hands planted firmly at waist/hips) in front of the dog boy. "Ne Sakura-chan?"
Surprised, Sakura looked up at Ino and giggled. "Yep.. women's intuition."
Kiba growled. "Busybodies. Yeah whatever, but as you said 'liked'. When I found out that she liked him, you bet your ass I was jealous. But what can I do? She looks to me as an older brother and good friend. So I let her go but I’m sure I’ll find somebody else. Right Akamaru?" Akamaru barked excitedly, agreeing with his master.
"So you're just going to let her go like that?" Neji asked.
Sakura winked at the raven haired boy. "Are you jealous or are you just being protective? Neji-kun?"
The remaining girls giggled as Neji scowled. "Speaking of Hinata, do you think she'll be able to find Naruto?" Tenten spoke up.
At the mention of Naruto's name, Sakura's expression turned from joyful to guilty and upset. Ino put her hands on Sakura's shoulders and reassured her, "Don’t worry, we'll talk to him. We know you didn't mean it. I'm sure Naruto will forgive you… " Ino paused, grinning evilly “Forehead girl.”
“NANI??!!!”
= = = =
Hinata stopped in front of the academy just under the Hokages’ granite faces, bent over panting from running too fast. Realising she had lost sight of Naruto, she activated her Byakugan. He couldn’t have gone too far…
Searching her 360 degree surroundings, she spotted an orange clad figure sitting right above her, atop the granite faces of the previous Hokages.
Deactivating her Byakugan, Hinata walked out from under the faces and gathered chakra to her feet. Effortlessly she jumped up and landed gracefully and soundlessly behind Naruto. The bouquet of roses dropped to the ground forgotten as she watched his back shake with suppressed tears. Naruto-kun…
Hinata’s heart broke as Naruto threw his head back and screamed one single word that broke the silence of Konoha.
= = = =
Naruto ran through the streets, Sakura's words ringing through his head. I hate you…Running through the streets, he failed to notice Hinata following closely behind. He jumped into the air and landed atop the rock bearing the Hokages’ faces. Sitting down, he wrapped his arms around his knees and buried his head between them.
Why… why does it have to be like this… Yondaime why did you have to pick me? Why me? Naruto screamed in his mind, tears coursing down his whiskered cheek unnoticed.
“WHY?!!!” He threw his head back and screamed.
= = = =
Naruto opened his cerulean eyes in shock as he felt a pair of arms reach from behind him and engulf him in a hug. He had only been hugged once and that was by Iruka-sensei. Unable to deny the feelings of comfort and warmth the hug provided he turned around in the embrace. Without looking at the person holding him, he released all the years of living in pain and loneliness, sobbing uncontrollably.
“It’s ok Naruto-kun… it’s ok…” Hinata whispered into Naruto’s ear, her arms tightening unconsciously as Naruto buried his head in the crook of her neck. She brought one hand up and held his head, the other running up and down his back consoling him.
= = = =
It seemed like hours before Naruto’s sobs subsided. Self-consciously shifting in the person’s arms he caught a whiff of wild violets. Hi.. Hinata-chan?
Naruto’s face turned bright red as he pulled out of the hug to face the Hyuuga girl. “Gomen Hinata-chan…”
“You don’t have to apologise Naruto-kun…” Hinata whispered as she twiddled her thumbs and looked at the ground, finding it the most interesting thing in the world.
“Hinata-chan… Aren’t you afraid of me?” Naruto whispered, fearing the worst.
Hinata looked up in surprise and cupped Naruto’s cheek. Lifting his face to look in his eyes, “I would never fear or hate you Naruto-kun. I’ve always looked up to you, respecting you ever since the day I saw you. I saw how you faced everyone bravely, hiding your emotions under that smile of yours. Playing pranks to get people to notice you or announcing your dream to become Hokage so everyone will acknowledge your existence.”
Naruto nodded in Hinata’s hand, eyes glistening with tears. “Don’t hide, don’t deny it anymore. You’ve been doing for too long. Show the world who you truly are Naruto-kun, make them acknowledge you for who you are.”
Naruto reached up and took Hinata’s hand in his own, “Hinata-chan, I’m feeling really stupid right now. All these years you were supporting me, acknowledging me for who I am. I don’t care what the others think of me now, because I have you. Hinata-chan, I think I love you…” With that Naruto embraced the blushing and tearful girl.
Hinata was speechless. Oh Naruto-kun, you have no idea how long I have waited to hear those words. Despite what her heart and mind told her, Hinata was still hesitant. “Demo, what about Sakura-san?”
At the mention of his teammate’s name, Naruto’s eyes narrowed. He faced the girl and looked her in the eye, “I realized that Sakura was not the one for me. I spent all my time and attention on her and what did I get? Nothing, she doesn’t even spare a thought for me, all she sees is Sasuke.” The expression in Naruto’s eyes turned warm at what he spoke next. “But you Hinata-chan, you never thought that way didn’t you, you’ve been looking out for me.”
Hinata blushed and looked down at her twiddling fingers but Naruto tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “Remember the medicinal cream you gave me after my match with Kiba during the Chuunin exams? Now everytime I use it, I’ll be thinking of you Hinata-chan.”
Hinata blush deepened as she reached behind her for the bouquet. “Naruto-kun, I want to give you this… Ino-san picked it out for me.” She held the roses in front of her, head bowed not wanting to see Naruto’s reaction.
Naruto sat there dumbly staring at the flowers. Although his knowledge on flowers was very limited, he knew that red roses symbolized love, having stood in the shadows watching as villagers gave their loved ones roses. He plucked the bouquet from Hinata’s hands and set it on the ground between them.
Hinata watched as Naruto set the flowers down dumbfounded. Shocked she looked up, only to have a pair of lips meet her own gently. Hinata closed her eyes, and leaned into the kiss, savoring the feeling of her Naruto-kun’s lips pressing against her own.
Naruto was in heaven. If I even tried to kiss Sakura-chan, she would have whacked me even before I could get near her. Mentally shaking any thoughts of his teammates away, he followed Hinata and closed his eyes, enjoying the sweet moment of his first kiss. With a girl, he thought with a grimace, recalling that unfortunate incident.
Reluctantly, Naruto pulled out of the kiss and smiled, watching as Hinata opened her eyes slowly, cheeks slightly red, the sun setting behind her in the background. Hinata looked stunning in her new outfit and hairstyle. “Pearls…” Naruto thought aloud as he stared into the girl’s opened eyes. “How could I have not noticed it before, your eyes are just like pearls Hinata-chan…”
Hinata’s face flamed red under the sun’s setting rays as she heard Naruto’s comment. No one had ever commented her on her eyes before. To her, her eyes were a curse. Because of those eyes, she was the tossed out heiress of the renowned Hyuuga clan. She was too weak for the clan, she could not even beat her own sister. Hinata cursed her fate silently, her thoughts breaking as she heard Naruto saying something excitedly.
“Hinata-chan! What happened to your old ninja outfit? And you’re not stammering anymore! What happened to the old Hinata-chan?” Naruto screamed excitedly, all in one breath, not giving Hinata a chance to answer.
Hinata smiled at the energetic boy that had caught her heart. “Ino-san helped me… She cut my hair and gave me these clothes. She even wanted to give me a whole new wardrobe… She helped me gain some confidence although she must be disappointed in me.” Hinata finished dejectedly.
“Nani? Why, I think she did a great job! You look kawaii now Hinata! Well, not like you weren’t last time.” Naruto laughed nervously, scratching his head. “I kinda like this new you Hinata-chan, but don’t change anymore, I like you the way you are.”
Hinata’s face turned bright red, hearing the words come out of Naruto’s mouth. “Ino-san tried to get me to speak up, but I just can’t do it anymore…” Hinata replied, losing faith in herself the moment the words left her.
Naruto jumped up and looked down at the despondent girl grinning, “Was Ino angry with you at the hospital?” At the girl’s negative Naruto continued, “So why should she be disappointed with you?”
Hinata gazed downwards, “But I’m such a failure, I couldn’t even beat my sister to the title of heiress…” Tears gathered in Hinata’s eyes as she recalled how her father had called her useless, and had lost all faith in her.
Naruto bent over and cupped his beloved’s cheeks, “Hinata-chan, you know what your problem is? You take others’ words too seriously. I believe that others will come to have faith in you and respect you, if only you have confidence in yourself.”
Hinata smiled in between tears and nodded. Naruto used his thumbs to wipe away the falling tears before leaning towards her and whispering, “You will always be a princess in my eyes, Hinata-hime.” With that, he leaned in and secured that promise with a sweet kiss of love.
This time, Hinata pulled away shyly whispering. “Aishiteru Naruto-kun.”
“Aishiteru Hime-chan. Ano… Hime-chan, why did you change your image?” Naruto asked out of curiosity, oblivious to the reason.
“Ino-san said the only way to get you to notice me was to change my image… Don’t you like it?” Hinata pouted.
Naruto blushed as he watched his new girlfriend’s lower lip pout outwards. “NO!! I mean no, I like it, but you didn’t have to change for me..” Naruto shot out. “Besides, I kinda figured out you liked me when you gave me Kyuubi-chan.”
Hinata blinked “Kyuubi-chan?”
“Hai, Kyuubi-chan, the kitsune you made for me.” Naruto grinned enthusiastically.
Hinata giggled wondering how the powerful demon was taking the news. Naruto smiled a genuine smile, “Don’t change anymore Hime-chan, I love you just the way you are now.”
Hinata looked up shyly and brought her arms to Naruto’s neck pulling him down into another kiss. Bent over in a precarious position, he lost his balance and fell right onto Hinata. The pair blushed as they realized what kind of position they were in, legs entwined, nose to nose. Naruto, being the reckless ninja he was, threw all caution to the wind and got back to the task at hand. After all, they were lying on top of the Hokages’ heads, with only heaven looking down at them.
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A/N:The reason why Sakura is acting so weirdly is because she’s under lots of stress right now and nobody wants to tell her where Sasuke is. But don’t worry about her friendship with Naruto, it’ll get better as she tries to understand him more. In the next chapter, Ino and Sakura will have a heart to heart talk regarding their relationships and friendships.