#gentleninja

[jinchurikihero]

Naruto was doing his best to keep his bad mood under control, a rather difficult task this day. The heavy lifting and work had been a relief after the morning meeting he had. Sasuke, naturally, came up and that lead to a fresh argument (and a nice punch from Sakura). "How come we haven't had any news on Sasuke?" Sakura had asked.

"Well, we aren't able to have many ninja out of the village right now, and those that are have more important tasks."

"More important than finding Sasuke?"

Naruto decided to jump in.

"We'll find him, but we gotta protect the village first. Can't bring him home if there isn't a home any more."

Sakura calmed down at that, at least for a while. After their tasks had been allotted, she let slip about how much she still wanted Sasuke.

"Sakura.. Why do you want him more than me? I mean, I didn't leave like he did..."

"Naruto, don't ask stupid questions."

"What's so stupid about it? He left us, so why are you still so in love with him?"

A loud cry followed and he was sent flying. After he landed, he avoided her for the rest of the day.

Sighing, Naruto walked into the ramen stall and hoped Hinata would be available today. He was beginning to become dependant on her support, even if he didn't realise it.

[gentleninja]

The next day

It had been a long night for the young Hyuga as she thought over and over both the day that she'd shared with Naruto as well as Neji's words.  Part of her couldn't wait for the moment when she'd be with Naruto again, able to see his wide smile and his warm personality, able to feel the heat of his skin against hers. But there is another part of her is worried that she'll say or do something to ruin the memory of their perfect night together. 

Neji's words that Naruto should have done something about her feelings sooner also rang in her ears.  Part of her is angry at him for getting involved in it, but she knows that his words come from a place of concern for her.  Everyone had been well aware of her feelings and her crush on him since they were all children.  Had Naruto really not known? Had he not seen it?  The blush on her cheeks, the waver of her voice when she said his name, the longing looks she'd throw over her shoulder towards him. 

Had she no responsibility to the village, to her family and clan, to her training, she would have run to him and not left his side for the whole day.  But life is not that kind. 

The village is in a flurry with the news than Danzo has been named Hokage, including her own family.  Her father has been with his advisers all morning and everyone seems to be speaking in hushed tunes with each other, wondering what this change would mean for everyone. As soon as she'd heard the news herself, her thoughts went to Naruto.  She knows that Danzo has been vocal about Sasuke and bringing him to task for his actions.  And she knows Naruto's feelings on his friend. 

Each time she made it close to the door, something pulled her back into the responsibilities of the clan: reception planning for the new hokage, a training session with a specialized instructor - Hinata watches the minutes tick by in the day.  Even Kiba and Shino could see that she isn't herself and so they didn't raise many objections when she suggested that they stop practice early.  

Leaving the training grounds, she runs through the village, scanning for any sign of him and visiting all his favourite haunts: the ramen shop and ...well, that's the only one she can think of.  If Naruto wasn't eating ramen, then were could he be? 

[jinchurikihero]

Following Up

Naruto's day has not been fantastic. Beyond the annoyed (and yet slightly guilty) looks from Sakura, the confused gaze of Sai and the cool attitude of Kakashi-sensei, his run in with Kiba had not done him any favours.

He has heard the name Danzo before. Naruto's a bit dumb, but he isn't totally unobservant. This guy was the one who trained Sai into being an emotionless drone, and with a bunch of other things that had pissed off the old hag Tsunade (and the old man, now that he thought on it), he knows that this Danzo guy is trouble. Oh, and he's also possibly the Sixth Hokage.

Ignoring the irritated ache that he hadn't been considered for the position even after he saved the village from Pain, he walks through the streets. Of course, the other part of the problem is that Danzo wants to have Sasuke killed, which Naruto could never allow! It doesn't occur to him that Sasuke is working with the enemy. It doesn't occur to him that when someone tries to kill you, you shouldn't consider them a friend any more. The common sense from yesterday, the common sense that made him try to get closer to Hinata, doesn't seem to show it's face when Sasuke is on his mind. He wants to go to Danzo and demand he changes his mind, fight him if he needs to, but something restrains that impulse.

It's a desire to see Hinata, and it doesn't occur to him that spending time with her has somehow usurped protecting his "best friend" from the consequences of his own actions. It just feels natural.

Perhaps he's come to enjoy the support she gives him. Or it may just be that she's good looking and wants to spend time with him. To him, it's so many things that he doesn't see a point in making any kind of list.

He's not concerned that Hinata won't be able to find him if she has time for him; it should be a snap for her with her eyes. In fact, he's hoping she finds him. He could use a little light in his day right now and spending time with Hinata is like hanging out in a sunny place, if he were to continue with that train of thought.

[jinchurikihero]

Confronting a Confession

It had been a few days since the mess of Pain's invasion. He had been too busy to finally do this, finally talk to the girl who had so bravely thrown herself into the fight and declared that she loved him. No, that's not right. He had been avoiding it, too.

For so long, he had been pursuing Sakura, to the point he barely realised other girls existed, but even he knew that Sakura still loved Sasuke, that he didn't even register as a blip on her radar. Not only that, but for him, love has always been a far off, near-unobtainable thing. Even now, with the same villagers that hated and scorned him for so long now calling him a hero, he didn't really fully understand it.

All these thoughts were flitting around as he dashed from rooftop to rooftop, looking for her. As he finally spotted her, he jumped down to her, landing beside her.

"Hey Hinata! How are you holding up?"

He cringed internally at the question, worrying that it's too stupid and she'd get annoyed. Then again, the gentle Hyuga had never really gotten unduly angry before.

"I.. I really need to talk to you. If that's okay."