"Hinta-chan!" Hinata whirled her head around. She thought she had heard Naruto's voice. Sure enough, he was there and heading in her direction. A little stunned, it took her a while to notice that he was calling her name.

"Na" she stuttered "Naruto-kun. Konichiwa" Naruto smiled as he caught up to her. Hinata was always so polite. Really, he should have talked to her a long time ago.

"Hey Hinata, are you busy?" After a furious head shake his smile widened. "Wanna have some fun?" An extremely red face nodded. 'That's great! We'll just… we'll… uh…' Naruto seemed at a loss for thoughts and words. Really the things he did for fun was spy on the women's bath, mark graffiti, play pranks. He hadn't done any of those things recently but just the same, he didn't have a long list of things to do.

Hinata's blush went away and a sweat drop appeared. They had been standing like this for a little over 5 minutes now. "Naruto-kun" She didn't feel very articulate when he was around. Rather shy, but if she was going to have a chance to spend time with Naruto she could muster up some courage. When Naruto's eyes looked up at her she smiled nervously again. "Would you like to go for a walk?" It wasn't much, but Naruto's eyes lit up none the less and she felt a small sense of victory.

"Yeah! A walk! Let's walk!" He practically shouted at her. Hinata smiled. She didn't mind that people were turning their heads at all the commotion. Naruto was just like that, she didn't mind at all.

The sun was on its downward fall and Hinata knew she would not have all the time in the world she listened and chuckled from time to time as Naruto told her all about his hopes and dreams. She knew them all already, but it was nice to hear them again, and his voice.

"Neh Hinata." She looked up at him "What do you want to be?" They walked past the last shop and building. Now they were wandering along the forest. A few shouts and cries could be heard in the distance from training gennin.

"Eh?" her eyebrows furrowed a little. She was so used to listening to him she really didn't know what to say about herself.

"What do you want to be?" Naruto persisted. He had said all of his goals, twice actually. He wanted to know a bit about Hinata.

"Well, a ninja" She started. Normally she would have been too scared to say anything else, but she had warmed up a little around him. She picked a random flower and stared hard at is as she opened up her thoughts. "I want to be a petal."

"A petal?" Naruto looked at her strangely. Like henge into one? As soft as one? Purple? She wanted to be purple maybe?

"I don't want to be the center of attention. I can't handle that, and I wouldn't know what to do." She thought about her family and how she was not fit to be the leader. "But that doesn't mean I'm useless. I want to be a part of it. Not just any part. I want to add to its beauty, make it part of what it is" She didn't have to be special, she just had to help. Didn't have to be noticed specifically, perhaps just the people next to her.

Naruto was greatly confused. What did this have to do with flowers? Well, petals. Maybe she slipped up and meant to say she wanted to be a pal. Petal, pal. Yeah that could work. "Don't worry Hinata. I'll be your pal" Naruto grinned at her showing his teeth.

Hinata looked up at him with surprise on her face. She hadn't finished but it occurred to her that she was talking more for herself than for him. He didn't fully understand what she was saying, but that was ok, because she did.

"I'm not a princess Naruto, but I'll be a ninja. I'll be your friend." She spoke a little boldly. More so than she had ever before. 'I guess he brings it out in me' she thought. 'Strength'

Naruto smiled at that. No one had said they'd be his friends before, at least not in that way. He knew he had friends. Tsundae, Erosenin, Kakashi, Iruka, Sakura and Sasuke kinda. Even some of those other guys; and Hinata was a friend already. No one had ever phrased it that way before and it felt good to hear. He had missed a lot during the earlier part of his childhood, but it wasn't over yet and he'd treasure anything he got.

Hinata was looking up at the sky. Looking at the blending of colors as the sun set. She was about to comment about how late it was getting when she was wrapped up in a hug from Naruto. Crushed to his chest she could see nothing but orange. Feel nothing but his warmth. Smell nothing but the sweat on his body and the small bit that was just him. A fox she thought. He smelled a little like a fox.

Naruto let go with another grin on his face. "That's right Hinata. Ninjas. We'll both be super strong ninjas." He turned and headed back for the village. "Come on"

Hinata ran after him feeling a sense of freedom and power she had never had. She could be strong. She could be brave. She could be anything if Naruto kept grinning at her the way he did.

The two ran off, nothing much, just a couple of kids running into the night.

"Say Hinata, does Sasuke have any weaknesses?"