Naruto stretched his arms as he got ready to have a good game. He was in P.E currently, as Gai sensei announced they would be playing basketball again today.

Naruto grinned when Gai chose him as the captain for team A as usual. He really felt good when he saw how far he had come from the mischievous, attention seeking boy he had been in middle school. Until he had met Sasuke, who seemed so cool and yet so lonely.

Sasuke was one of the people who saw right through Naruto's façade of the happy go lucky kid. Somehow, Naruto had done the same. Being the only one to look right through Sasuke's tough exterior. And that was how they had become friends somehow. Either that or Naruto never left him, sticking like glue throughout the years.

Sakura had become a great friend for him through the years despite being quite bossy and annoying in the beginning. But then again, the bold attitude was the whole reason Naruto had had a crush on her before. Right now, he only felt his affection zoom towards a certain pearl eyed girl who was standing at the back, sighing at the thought of basketball.

Naruto grinned. Oh boy, he was going to choose her on his team before Sasuke bastard this time. He saw Gaara walk to her and say something to which she gave a soft smile.

Naruto was happy and surprised at the same time when Gaara, the stoic redhead, whom it had taken months to befriend (he'd even had to fight him), had become so comfortable with Hinata. But then again, she did give off a comforting aura. Naruto had seen even Sasuke be comfortable around her and that was saying something.

As if feeling his gaze on her, Hinata turned to Naruto and smiled. Naruto felt his heart rate speed up and his grin widened for her. He saw Sasuke gaze at him in his usual bored manner as Gai told him her was captain of team B as usual.

"Sasuke, you get first pick." Said Gai. Naruto was determined to pick Hinata this time before she got snatched away or felt left out. He looked at her as he walked to Sasuke.

Sasuke noticed the way Naruto looked at Hinata with his blue eyes shining brightly. Sasuke smirked. Yeah, Naruto was totally going to pick her first thing on his team. Too bad he was so easy to read. And annoy.

"Hinata." Sasuke told him lazily as he eyed her jump up when her name was spoken. Looks like she had not gotten picked first ever before. She looked around before she believed it really was her being picked the first in basketball.

Sakura and Ino frowned at not being picked by Sasuke first again. "What? Why do you need her? You can't pick her." Naruto asked Sasuke, annoyed. Sasuke smirked.

"I don't see why I can't pick her."

"You knew I wanted to pick her this time." Naruto glared while Sasuke turned away, smirking.

"I did not. Go on make your pick dobe."

Naruto glared as he looked at him and then looked helplessly at Hinata who gave him a nervous smile. He sighed before picking Kiba.

Sasuke was such a bastard, he decided. They picked their respective teams and Naruto growled at Sasuke before the game started.

Naruto was determined not to let Sasuke's team win. Oh how he would enjoy as he, along with his team mates would be scrubbing the lockers after school. Preferably with toothbrushes. He smiled sadistically, which was unusual for him, before he remembered Hinata was in the opposition too. Man that complicated things.

They played for a while and both teams were playing good. Naruto had to admit, everyone was doing okay. Except some of the girls. The score was 17-18. Sasuke's team still needed one basket to balance out the score.

Sasuke had the ball as Naruto watched him being cornered by Naruto's teammates. Naruto grinned. They were just about to snatch the ball when Sasuke threw it at someone who was very awkwardly standing at a side with Sakura, also in Sasuke's team.

"Hyuga, pass it to Tayuya." Sasuke instructed to Hinata who fumbled with the ball but managed not to drop it. The boys now turned to her as Naruto thought 'Uh-oh'.

Hinata dodged a boy and ducked from another and ran towards Tayuya who was approaching her. Suddenly, someone pushed Tayuya and she fell to the gym floor. Naruto tried to see the person responsible but he did not see anyone in particular.

Naruto saw all his teammates turn their predatory gazes on Hinata and make their way towards her. Naruto also made his way there, to take the ball and save Hinata.

He pushed the others in his way and cornered her. "Give me the ball." He told Hinata, his eyes pleading with her to understand this was for her. She almost listened until she glanced at Sasuke who looked at her with a frown. She looked determined again.

She ducked from beneath him and ran, Naruto's team tailing her. Naruto sighed. He again tried to make his way to her. She threw the ball to Juggo, who was her teammate this time, just before someone tripped her face first.

Naruto knew she would hurt herself really bad if she fell and ignoring his team's yells to snatch the ball from Juggo who scored almost immediately, he ran towards Hinata before she fell.

Expecting the hard ground, Hinata was surprised when her face made contact with something hard but not as hard as the ground. She opened her eyes to see her forehead on someone's chest.

Naruto stopped in his tracks. He saw Sasuke Uchiha, as the person who had save Hinata Hyuga. Her head currently rested on his chest as she looked up and stared into his eyes while he looked back.

If Naruto wasn't dense, he'd think this was a tender moment. Nevertheless, he was thankful to Sasuke for saving Hinata from falling.

"You're too clumsy." Sasuke told her, ruining the moment. She immediately straightened up, eyes narrowing. She looked at Karin, who was the 'coincidentally' the person who had tripped her. But why did she look so shocked and horrified?

Come to think of it, why had the game stopped and why was everyone staring....

She realized she was still standing with Sasuke's arms around her. Her cheeks flushed slightly. "Thanks Sasuke."

Sasuke realized he still had his arms around her and removed them quickly, as if burnt, while still expressing a nonchalant expression. "Whatever."

Naruto came to Hinata, concern on his face as he smiled slightly. "Hinata."

"Naruto-kun." She said, turning to him and rubbing her wrist lightly. "You okay?" he asked and she nodded and smiled.

Sasuke and Gaara turned away simultaneously. The bell rang, indicating it to be the end of the period. "This was a tie. It would seem like no one gets to clean the locker today." Gai told them with a brilliant smile "Change my youthful students and get back to classes."

"I'm sorry...I couldn't even protect you." Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head.

"I don't need protection Naruto-kun." She laughed softly as Naruto thought of her to be very fragile. She was not, however. She watched Sasuke walk by her. He'd surprised her when he saved her from falling. "Besides, Sasuke-kun was there."

Sasuke pretended not to notice the way she said his name, as if finally coming to terms with him. He just walked off.

"Still....I'll try to be there for you next time." Naruto said, as students filed out of the classroom. "I know you'll be." She said, reassuring him.

"Uh...Hinata, would...you like to go on another date with me?" he asked, not caring that they would be late for class.

"Of course." She told him with an easy laugh "Don't tell me you still had your doubts."

"Okay, I won't tell you." He grinned at her and she laughed at his antics. They started walking to the exit to the lockers.

"This weekend?" she asked him. "You bet." He told her.

Needless to say, Naruto was in a really good mood when he went to politics class next. "Naruto, are you sure you're fine? You're not grumbling anymore." His junior and friend, Konohamaru said. Konohamaru was 3 years younger than Naruto, meaning he was in freshman year. Being brilliant though, he was taking politics in Iruka's class with the junior year students.

"I just got a date." Naruto announced.

"Whoa boss, that's amazing. But tell me, did the girl have an accident or something? A deformity?" Konohamaru asked, mockingly.

"A deform....SHUT IT KONOHAMARU. She's amazing, honestly." Naruto said, turning dreamy again.

"Does she have a name? You're making this up, aren't you?" Konohamaru asked.

"No way. She's Hinata Hyuga." Naruto told him with his eyebrows knitted together.

"No way! The Hinata Hyuga is dating YOU?" Konohamaru asked, slightly annoyed as he had a crush on her.

"So? What do you mean ME?" Naruto asked.

"Enough chatting you two. Shut up or I'll kick you out." Iruka reminded them they were still in class. They both huffed.

"Yeah Iruka sensei." They said simultaneously and didn't talk after that.
______

"Hey Teme." Naruto said as he recognized that duck butt hair style. Sasuke gave him a bored look before stuffing his hands in his pocket and continuing to walk.

"Guess what? I have a date with Hinata chan for tonight!"

Naruto saw Sasuke's expression break slightly for a second before he regained his composure. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"I want you to tell me how to ask her to be my girlfriend!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sasuke stopped walking. "Your girlfriend?" he asked as if it was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.

"What about it?" Naruto challenged him through his gaze.

"You sure she's the one you wanna ask?" Sasuke asked him.

"What's wrong with her?" Naruto asked, slightly annoyed. What did he mean by that? Hinata was great. She was awesome.

"Nothing. And that's the point. She's fine but you're pretty dumb." Sasuke pointed and started walking again. Naruto followed and frowned.

"She's cool with me as I am. At least girls don't like me for my looks." He said.

"Technically they do. You're popular, remember?" Sasuke pointed out again. Naruto ignored that.

"And just because she's the only girl who hasn't fallen head over heels for you doesn't mean she's not amazing."

Sasuke looked genuinely pissed at his comment and Naruto grinned in satisfaction as Sasuke stalked off. "I'll call you after our first kiss tonight!" Naruto called out after him.

He walked to his own neon orange car with a satisfied grin.
____________

"Hinata, are you going somewhere?" Neji asked as she came out of her room all dressed up. She was looking really pretty in that sparkly silver top over a black tango skirt, knee length boots and her hair in a low ponytail as her bangs fell on her left eyebrow.

"On a date." She replied casually.

"Naruto?" he asked, from his spot near the oven, where he was heating his pizza. She nodded.

"He better not try anything funny." Neji growled. "Loosen up Neji." Hinata told him as she fixed her hoop ear rings.

"I am loosening up. I'm letting you go without supervision, aren't I? Come to think of it, that could be dangerous and unpractical. Perhaps I should come with you." He said, having second thoughts.

"Uh-I don't think that will be necessary." She said, nervously because what Neji said, Neji did.

"But..." Neji started when the blare of a car horn cut him off.

"Oh, looks like he's here. See you later." Hinata said and ran out the door before Neji could say anything. Outside the door, the neon orange glowed as Hinata spotted Naruto smiling cheerfully. She smiled and opened the passenger side of the door.

"Hey Naruto-kun." She said.

"Hinata-Chan, you look beautiful." Naruto told her as he drove the car straight.

"So where do you wanna go?" he asked her as she glanced out of the car. She shrugged. "I don't have any preference in particular. Did you have anything in mind?" she asked him.

"I did. Do you wanna go to the movies? The latest horror movie is in town." He said excitedly.

"Maybe not horror." She suggested, remembering what the previous horror movie had led to.

"It's going to be fun, seriously." Naruto told her. She nodded. How bad could it get?
__________

They walked out the theatre after the movie was finished. Everyone almost had a heart attack when the spirit reincarnated in another host at the end of the movie, red eyes flashing menacingly. Those red eyes reminded her of someone but she shook the thought out of her mind.

"Did you like the movie?" Naruto asked her as they walked out of the building to the parking lot. Hinata nodded.

"I kinda liked your screams better. They were amusing." She teased him and he looked slightly abashed. "Yeah, that wasn't very...impressive."

She laughed and Naruto paused just to look at her while she was right. Sasuke was right in stopping to hear her laugh every time they were together in class (yes, Naruto had noticed). Sasuke...Naruto had told him he would kiss Hinata. Could he do that?

Sure, he had kissed a lot of girls but he didn't really care much about them. With Hinata, he cared what she thought about him. He didn't want to rush into anything. But her lips did look very appealing.

"It wasn't very impressive but I still had fun." She told him. He thanked Kami she would not blackmail him for his screams.

"Hey, you wanna eat somewhere? I'm hungry." He announced. She nodded. "I am pretty hungry too."

"Have somewhere in mind to eat?" he asked.

"I don't really know that many food places. I think you'd make a better choice for food places." She shrugged. Naruto thought about it. Ramen was the first thing that came into his mind but he would make a total fool of himself if he took her for ramen. How about that barbeque place?

"I know this really cool barbeque place. Wanna check it out?" he asked.

She shrugged and they walked to his car together and rode off to the barbeque house. The building seems pretty impressive to Hinata.

They ordered and Hinata noticed Naruto was easy to talk to. He was especially passionate about certain things like basketball and his dream of becoming the president.

"Why do you want to become the president anyways?" she asked him.

"Eh, growing up, I've always been inspired by my father. Plus I want to change the world for better at some level at least. What's your dream?"

"I've always been told I have to be the heiress when I grow up so that's always been my dream. To be strong like my father and gentle like my mother."

"You think you want to be a business tycoon then?" Naruto grinned. She smiled and nodded. "I guess."

Their order arrived. "That was fast." Hinata commented.

"I know. That's why I love this place." Naruto told her as he noticed her digging into her food. So, she was comfortable around him to eat like that. He liked it.

"Do you have any siblings?" she asked, after chewing a bite.

"Nope. You?" he asked. She nodded. "I have a younger sister, Hanabi and Neji's always been like a brother too."

"Man, your cousin is really scary." Naruto admitted "It took guts for even someone like me to go to the basketball trials with your cousin as captain even though he was in sophomore year then."

"He was captain when he was in sophomore year?" Hinata asked, amazed he could surpass the older boys.

"Yeah. When we arrived in school, he was the most popular guy in school. Everyone seems in awe of him." Naruto told her.

"Wow. He never told me." She said, thinking of why he would not tell her.

"How about you? Did you like America? How's Japan for you? And ya know, your life in America?"

Hinata looked slightly nostalgic but then she began. "Well, I was almost 6 when I moved to America was my parents. I don't remember Japan much but I like it, always have. And living in the states was fun. I wasn't always too confident but my friends in the states helped."

"Did you have a boyfriend back there?" Naruto asked.

Hinata looked up in surprise on this question, whereas Naruto kept looking at his plate while his voice was low as if he was ashamed he was even asking that.

"Yeah, I've dated people before." She told him, her tone amused.

"Why did you break up with him?"

"Things...really didn't work out. What about you?" I found out I was engaged and I wanted to meet my future husband.

"Eh, I've dated too many people to count." He informed her "But I've never had a serious relationship. I'm considering changing that."

Hinata noticed his mischievous smile before turning away, her cheeks red slightly. They started to talk about basketball after this. Naruto noticed Hinata was also easy to talk to, not like other girls. Not too uptight but not too casual either.

After they were done, Hinata tried paying which Naruto thought was very considerate but he would not let her pay. "That place is great." Hinata told him as they walked to Naruto's car together. "I know."

"Are you going to drop me off at home now?" she asked. "Yeah, just after I show you something." He told her. She nodded.

He drove somewhere she did not recognize. "Are you planning to drive me to a secluded area before you kill me?" she joked.

"Possibly." He said, looking over at her smiling face. They drove to a road which Hinata had not seen before. It led to a big tower. The tower looked old but it was beautiful.

"I've never been here before." She said, taking in the beauty of the tower in the night light of the moon.

"Not many people come here anymore. This is Sarutobi tower. It was built in the memory of President Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was originally from Konoha. Let me show you." He took her hand and they stepped towards the tower. It had doors which were locked and there was a flight of stairs right to the top balcony of the tower.

Naruto stepped up those stairs and she followed suit. Naruto hoped she would like this place like he had. It was quiet. Sometimes, even he liked the silence. He had not originally planned to show her this place as he considered as something sacred and personal.

But then, he had seen her eyes and he had wanted to show her this place. "How do you know about this?" she asked.

"Konohamaru showed it to me once." He told her.

"Konohamaru? He's named after Konoha?" she asked, giggling.

"Yeah. Hates his name. Smart kid, kinda skinny, brown hair, hangs around with me sometimes." Naruto asked. Hey, maybe she would recognize him.

"Oh...so he's Konohamaru." Hinata remembered.

They were on the top of the balcony. Hinata gasped when she saw how beautiful Konoha looked from the top of the secluded tower. The place looked like a dark sea with tiny lights brightening it up from the tower.

"Naruto....this is beautiful." She gasped out. Naruto grinned and came up besides her to hold her hands.

"I'm glad you like it." He said in a soft voice. Hinata looked from the view to Naruto whose face was lit up due to the moonlight and he seemed out of this world.

She saw him lean in. She panicked at first but calmed herself. No one except Ken had kissed her before (she was drunk when she kissed Sasuke). Hinata closed her eyes and leaned in as their lips connected and she felt a jolt of electricity go through her whole body.

They broke apart for air and Naruto leaned his forehead on hers. They both decided not to speak and ruin the moment. Naruto looked into her eyes and her lips curved into a smile. He took that as a good sign and kissed her again.
________

Hinata smiled to herself as she lay in her bed to fall asleep. She could not believe it had happened. She had kissed Naruto... at the top of the tower like in movies and she had enjoyed it.

He had driven her home with a happy grin. Before she left the car, he had stopped her. "Hinata..." he had said.

She had just looked at him interrogatively. "I-uh....will...um"

Hinata had never seen him lost for words so she waited. "I...Hinata, will you be my girlfriend?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

He saw her expression stiffen and he regretted asking. Was he crazy? This was only the second date!! He was panicking when she spoke.

"Of course." she said as she grinned before giving him a short kiss on the cheek. He was dumbfounded as she walked out of the car, telling him good bye and she'd text him later.

He was just stayed still for a whole minute when the realization hit him and he whooped loudly with happiness before driving away happily. Not knowing, Hinata was watching him.

Naruto was her...boyfriend. She smiled.
_____

Sasuke was about to sleep when he received a text from his annoying best friend. What did he want?

He opened the text and the content left him blank. Date was successful. I kissed Hinata...not just once for the record. And I asked. She's my girlfriend now.

Sasuke waited for Naruto to send him a 'just kidding' text but no luck. Sasuke did not what came over him suddenly as he threw his phone across the room where it skidded across the floor and stopped after contact with the wall.

He didn't give a fuck as he turned off the lights angrily and thought of ways to eliminate Naruto. But he did not care though, obviously. He was just...frustrated.
______

"...he asked you to be his GIRLFRIEND?!" Sakura yelled, causing the passersby to stop and looked at her strangely.

"Sakura, could you please keep it down?" Hinata hissed, looking at Sakura.

"No but really, he did?" Ino asked, still awed.

Hinata nodded. "Before dropping me off at my place."

"Oh My God, what happened next? What did you say?" Sakura asked, stars in her eyes.

"Of course she said yes. Right?" Ino demanded.

"Duh." Hinata said, smugly.

"Oh MY God, you are NARUTO UZUMAKI'S GIRLFRIEND!" Sakura yelled, squealing with excitement. Ino just stood there smugly, as if she knew it would happen eventually.

Sakura's yell was heard by everyone in the hallway. They stopped and looked at Hinata, who's eyebrow twitched.

"Oh my God, Hyuga Hinata is dating Uzumaki Naruto?" came several gasps. Hinata slapped her forehead and glared at Sakura who shrugged. "They were bound to find out later." Sakura said.

"Whatever, let's get to class." Ino said, dragging them through the hallways. The three girls didn't notice Sasuke Uchiha standing hidden by his locker, now aware of everything that had occurred because of what they were talking about.

He hadn't meant to listen in really. He had just walked to his locker and seen the two loud mouths walking next to Hinata who was telling them something and he had hidden because he did not want to be seen by them.

Hiding there, he had (unfortunately) heard everything they were talking about. He did NOT need the details of how Naruto's date with Hinata had gone. It was....disturbing.

He walked to literature class in a revolted and disturbed manner. He went and took his seat next to Hinata.

"Hey." She said, smiling, forgetting they had had a row before.

"You're dating the dobe now?" he asked, already knowing the answer. She studied his face before nodding.

"I am." She affirmed. That kinda stung, he noticed.

"Finally." He said to himself. He remembered it was him that had told them to date other people. Now, she had and he needed someone too.

"Yeah. How about you though?" Hinata asked.

"None of your concern." He told her, more roughly than he wanted to. What was her problem if he dated someone or not.

"Yeah, I suppose it isn't." she said and waved at Naruto slightly who was looking at her with a happy and affectionate (Sasuke almost puked) face.

"He really likes you." Sasuke stated. She nodded.

"Sasuke..." she started. Sasuke cut her off. "It's okay. We're okay."

Sasuke ignored everything else but the look of content on his best friend's face. Naruto deserved her. He did not. Neither did he want her.

Somehow, his brain ignored the last part.
____
The news of Hinata and Naruto dating spread out like wildfire. It was on the school blog before the third period started.

"Well, so much for GaaHina." Temari said walking up to Hinata during recess with a helpless smile.

"What's that?" Tenten asked, catching up to them.

"My ship name, that's just sunk." Temari sighed.

"You mean Hina and Gaara?" Ino asked, popping out of nowhere.

"Too late for that now." Sakura said, grinning widely while Hinata muttered out a surprised 'excuse me?'

"Yeah. And they looked so cute together too." Temari admitted.

"Hey, she looks cute with Naruto too. In fact, she looks cute with everyone." Tenten said sitting on a bench with her lunch.

"Yeah, yeah. Quit buttering me Tenten, I'm still not speeding up your and Neji's relation." Hinata winked, causing Tenten to stammer in surprise.

"W-what do you mean?!" she asked, looking at her lunch tray.

"It is so obvious you like him, why don't you ask him out?" Ino asked, stuffing her face with fries.

"A cheerleader should not eat that, but yeah Ten go for it." Temari said, disapproving of Ino's eating habit.

"I don't know what you guys mean." Tenten tried to look clueless, failing amazingly.

"Whatever. When's Konoha's next match?" Ino asked.

"The next match is Between Mist and Stone." Temari said, having memorized the schedule "After that its sound vs. Konoha."

"But there's the summer break coming up soon enough?" Sakura questioned, checking something on her phone.

"Yeah. The match between Mist and Stone is this weekend and the rest will be after the summer break." Temari told them, munching her lunch hungrily.

"You never did tell me, is Naruto a good kisser?" Tenten asked.

"Tenten!" Hinata said; her cheeks red with embarrassment.

"Tenten's asking the real questions." Ino and Sakura laughed while Temari's mouth twitched as she said that.

"Oh, is that Naruto calling me to eat lunch with him? Oops, gotta go." Hinata said picking up her tray and walking away.

The four girls stopped their laughter and noticed Hinata was already gone. "Wait...I don't see Naruto anywhere." Ino noticed.

"Me neither." Tenten said.

Temari and Sakura just smirked knowingly and shut up, changing the topic.
_______
Hinata sat on the roof with her lunch, enjoying the feel of the wind in her hair, whipping it across her face. The roof was always abandoned. She came there sometimes. It was...peaceful. And she could look over the whole school grounds which was a remarkable feat.

"Enjoying the view?" someone remarked from behind her. Hinata, who was sitting on the abandoned ledge, almost fell off, startled.

"Geez." Said Sasuke as he came closer to her.

"Sasuke....what a...surprise." She said, recovering herself. She moved off the ledge in case he decided to push her off.

"I am not going to push you." He said and she wondered if he knew telepathy.

"And no I'm not telepathic." He answered for her again and she just blinked. "Hey, you never know." She remarked.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I always come here." He answered. "I've come here a few times and I have never seen you around."

"Most people don't." He said, more to himself.

They both said nothing, just looking over the grounds in a comfortable silence. Wait...when did the silence get uncomfortable around them again?

"I'm sorry." She said to him, breaking the silence. He did not answer at first.

"For what?"

"I don't know. For what happened? For us, I guess." She sifted awkwardly.

"Us?" he asked, arching his eyebrow.

"You know what I mean."

"It wasn't your entire fault." He said after a few minutes.

"Yeah, you were being a slight jerk." She said it for him because he did not look like he was going to admit it.

"Like you were any better." He smirked. She knew they were okay now.

"I admit I was not. Friends?" she asked, extending her hand to him. He shrugged and took her hand and shook it. He looked over the school grounds after that.

She found herself looking in the same direction.
_________

Author notes: This chapter marks the beginning of the new and final arc. This will be longer and most of the important one. Don't kill me for the NaruHina. This is important for future SasuHina. They need to realize their feelings by themselves, without an engagement binding them forcibly. 

Also i figured i'd be killed in my sleep if i did not add some Sasuke and Hinata moments so i edited the chapter to make it more easy for SasuHina die-hard fans of the story. 

Comment, vote and follow. Let me know what you think. I hope you like the update. Until next time, leave me some love.