disclaimer i don't own naruto.

HINATA

prologue

He didn't play much of a role in her life at the time. She only knew him as Naruto's best friend from out of town – nothing more, nothing less.

Nine-year-old Hinata sighed as she doodled absentmindedly on the corner of her notebook. Uzumaki Hinata. Yes, she had a crush on her blonde friend. She didn't even know how it started. Was it those bright blue eyes so full of the energy and life her family members lacked? Or that unbreakable will that seemed to reach out to even the meekest of girls such as she? Maybe that never-ending charisma of his?

It didn't help that their dads were.. friends of sorts, if having to meet each other because of their positions as Hokage and clan leader counted as a friendship. The point was, their families were involved, and so too were the children. Naruto had been her friend since kindergarten – it wasn't a surprise she'd eventually develop a crush. He was the sun, and she just happened to be attracted towards the sun.

And the fact was… there were rumours he liked her too.

"Hinata!" Naruto called out as the last school bell rang. Said girl turned around to see her best guy friend running towards her. "Ne, let's hurry today! Okaa-chan said she'll have a surprise waiting for us!"

Hinata fumbled with the books in her bag before chasing after her friend. She had quite the busy family, so she always went home with Naruto as they were practically next-door neighbours. The girl hurriedly weaved through the masses, making sure to keep an eye on Naruto. When she finally reached the car, she discovered what their little surprise was through the rolled down windows.

"SASUKE!" Naruto all but screamed out to the heavens as he flung the car door open. He was greeted by the annoyed face of one Sasuke Uchiha, the legendary boy who Naruto always spoke of in both the disdain and admiration that you could only find in their strange brand of friendship.

"Naruto…" his mother mock-seethed from the driver's seat, warning him to get in and behave already. Hinata could almost feel the anger waves radiating. Taking Naruto's sitting in the backseat as a cue, she opened the car door to sit in the front, politely greeting Kushina as she did so.

It turned out that Sasuke had moved from the Cloud Village to the Leaf and so, would be attending Konoha Primary the next year, much to Naruto's joy. And the reason he was currently in the same car as them? "Oh… Mikoto-san just told me to take care of him today, send him sightseeing and meeting his friends and all," Kushina had all but cheerfully explained.

Hinata was a little disappointed, if she were to be honest. This guy decided to just randomly drop in and steal a little of her time with Naruto away… She tuned out the rest of the conversation until she was dropped home. Let the bromance bloom a little, she supposed. He'll only be here for today.

Naruto's friend didn't cross her mind for a long time afterward.

author's note

oh god, someone stop me from starting fanfics. pls. idek anymore. - sobbing -