🌸 After I was done with my breakfast which Mikoto prepared, I left, not wanting to disturb them any further, but not before thanking them for their hospitality and apologized for fainting earlier. It was already afternoon when I stepped out from the main house. Everyone would be heading for lunch already; since I had my breakfast pretty late, I decided to skip that afternoon meal.

On my way to the training grounds, I spotted a figure with midnight blue hair in a ramen stall.

I didn't know Hinata eats ramen..

I immediately spun on my steps and headed towards her. Much to my surprise, she was not alone. Through the gap of the cloth hanging in front of the stall, I saw a familiar blonde with sun-kissed skin.

Naruto?! Hinata with Naruto?!? I tried hard to refrain myself from laughing out loud.

I entered the stall and chuckled,"I didn't know you fancy Naruto, Hinata."

Hinata instantly snapped her heads towards my direction to see my smirk. Her eyes were as wide as saucers and a bright blush spread across her pale cheeks; a mixture of horror and embarrassment screamed from her facial expression.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Pouted Naruto, obviously offended.

"S-Sakura?!" Her expression then changed and her eyebrows furrowed, giving me a glare. She left her seat and grabbed my shoulders harshly, but the blush was still evident on her cheeks. "Where were you?! I was looking everywhere for you, Sakura!!"

"E-Eh..? Sorry Hinata.. I was in the Uchiha compound.." I said while scratching the back of my neck and ignoring Naruto on purpose.

"Teme's house? What are you doing there?"

"Oh?" Hinata raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you fancy the Uchiha's, Sakura." Directing my words back at me, completely catching me off guard.

"I was helping Mikoto-san to carry her groceries and she kindly invited me for breakfast. I couldn't decline now, can I? Plus, it's not only Sasuke's house. It belongs to his parents." I fought the blush wanting to show itself.

"Oh, but I didn't say Sasuke, I simply mentioned about the Uchiha clan." Her grin got wider as red replaced the light peach colour of my face.

"His house must be huge!" Naruto exclaimed with glee.

In an attempt to escape from Hinata's tease, I decided to converse with Naruto instead. "It definitely is! It is even huger than mine!"

"Well, if you marry him then that house will be all yours." Hinata winked.

"HINATA!" My face completely shamed my pink hair.

~~~~~

"Tell me why am I stuck with you brats again." Tazuna grounded in frustration.

"Stop calling us brats, old man!" Naruto shouted.

"We are supposed to protect the bridge builder, not have a fight with him." Kakashi sighed.

We have been challenged to take on a C-ranked mission, considering three from our team are among the top students in class. This mission is to escort the bridge builder, Tazuna, back to his village of the waves.

Sounds easy. Looks easy. I looked around and spotted nobody. No thieves or rogue ninjas too.

🌻It has been a few days since my encounter with the boy, Neji. As I have said to myself, I did not tell a single soul about it. Ever since that meeting, he stopped following me around. I assumed my 'stalker' was him since I no longer feel any presences after he declared that I am the real Hyuga heiress. However, something felt odd. Their presence felt different. I shook my head and sighed.

I have to stop thinking about this. I must focus on this mission.

"Something wrong, Hinata?" Sakura asked softly.

"No, nothing is wrong." I lied and put on a deceitful smile.

SPLASH!

Sakura and I immediately starred at the puddle Naruto stepped on. He gave no mind to it and continued to walk.

I narrowed my eyes and turned to Sakura. She was alarmed too.

"HEADS DOWN!" Kakashi shouted and pulled Tazuna to the ground with him.

Naruto!

On impulse, I jumped on Naruto and landed on the ground together with a thud.

🌸 I was afraid that Sasuke was not quick enough to digest the situation, I faced him and pushed him to the ground; apparently, he had the same thoughts as I because he headed to my side as well and pulled me along with him.

Swoosh!

A very large sword swung above our heads and it was caught by a tree trunk.

"Whoa, how many pigs can that thing chop?" Naruto voiced out gulping down his saliva, obviously thinking about ramen with lots and lots of pork. How did he think of ramen from a sword? I have no idea.

Hinata had an irk on her forehead and punched his head so hard that he face slapped the ground.

Good job Hinata! I gave her a thumbs up which she returned the same gesture. Except that she winked at me and pointed my waist. Clearly confused, I looked down and blushed beet root red.

His arms are around my waist!!

"S-Sasuke.. Y-You can l-let go of me n-now..." I am not someone who stutters, but I rarely come in contact with boys, so please excuse my shyness.

"S-Sorry.." He reluctantly removed his arms and stood up. I followed suit. Awkwardly enough, we were the last pair to stand up.

"Enough with your lovey dovey moment already?" A foreign man spoke who appeared from the bushes with his huge ass sword retrieved.

He definitely mean a lot of trouble.

🌻Finally heightening my senses, I suddenly felt a familiar presence.

Neji's here?! But why??

==

Dedicated to RedzzAF for your votes on this story!

Published: April 2015
Edited: 18 April 2017