I Like You

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anything pertaining there of. This story is in no way associated with official publication of the Naruto manga or production of the anime. It is a work of pure fan fiction. All rights to Naruto belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Viz and Shueisha publication.

A/N: Thoughts, Flashbacks, Present- A key to avoid confusion. Keep it in mind for later chapters.

Chapter 1: The Me Reflected in Your Eyes

There's a certain discrepancy when I see myself reflected there in those deep cerulean pools. There in your eyes, the ones that can see a person's actual soul, I am someone. I exist as an arduous human being that houses latent and unlimited potential. In truth, in reality, I am facile. I am imperfect. I lack.

I want to be the me you see; the me reflected in your eyes.

Hinata, little, shy, timid Hinata stood as a lone figure in the training grounds. She leaned with her front against the wood of one the columns that stood erect in the surrounding, her face passive as her mind wandered the vast spaces of reverie. She clutched the battle worn wood in her slender hand and closed her eyes as a gentle breeze began to blow. The trees that surrounded the grounds began to move along with nature's breath and by the way the branches danced on the wind and the leaves rustled, Hinata was inclined to think that the trees had come alive. They seemed to be moving on their own and what they were doing struck Hinata as rather rude because they seemed to be laughing. Laughing at her.

Perhaps the solitude and emptiness had amplified her imagination, or maybe she was right and nature had found her intentions to be humorous, but whatever was the case, the Hyuuga suddenly felt very, very self conscious. Maybe there was still time. Maybe she could leave without actually seeing him. Yes, it could work. She could run back home and then when he asked about it later she could simply say that she had been caught up with something else, something important. Fat chance. What was more important than what she was doing now? What she was doing now was a life altering course of action, one that she hoped worked out for the best. Of course, she'd never know if it would unless she tried and she would try despite what anyone or any tree thought.

I want to be the me I see reflected in your eyes.

"Hey! Hinata!" His voice! It was his voice. The pale colored eyed kunoichi felt her cheeks burn from simply hearing the friendly and familiar tones of his ample voice. When she saw him running towards her, large grin on his face, her heart raced at incredible speeds. When he finally reached her and doubled over to catch his breath, it was all Hinata could do to stand on her two legs. So much for running away, now she had to face this head on.

A lot could change about a person in two and a half years Hinata noticed. Naruto had grown. He was tall now and he was sporting a new look. Black and orange versus the old white and orange jumpsuit he wore constantly as a child. His face had even changed. His chin was more defined than before and his face… his face had been molded into a young man's face. When he looked up at her with a smile on that manly face after catching his breath, she noticed that it was less cocky than before as apparently even the world's number one unpredictable ninja could mature. Though… his eyes hadn't changed and Hinata silently hoped they never did because in his eyes a world of possibility existed. The person she wanted to be existed there, reflected in his blue eyes.

Nartuo straightened up and looked down at her curiously when he noticed that she wasn't quick to say anything.

"What is it? Why'd you ask me to meet you here? Do you want to spar?" The girl shook her head and concentrated on her feet. Naruto was just as impatient as ever because he had taken a detour from his schedule in order to come see his friend. He was due at the front gate to assist in a mission with his new team, Team Kakashi. He'd be reprimanded for being late but he decided that she was worth the risk. After all, he was curious about how she'd changed in the two years he'd been away. He was curious about all his friends and since Hinata was the first one to make the initiative to show him, he decided now was as good a time as any to catch up.

He watched her for a moment. She seemed tense about something and his questioning probably didn't help. It was Hinata after all. He'd be surprised they could have a normal conversation without her fainting or changing red. She was most likely trying very hard to make sure that such things didn't happen so Naruto decided he'd wait for her until she was ready to start.

It was no good. At the rate she was going, she'd be stuck as she was; unmoving. She needed to say something now or never. She looked up into his eyes, studied her reflection, then spoke.

"W… well…," she started, silently angry at herself for stuttering like a moron when she had drilled herself for hours so she wouldn't, "I really wanted to let you know that… there's a girl in the village that l…likes you…" She wanted to slap, punch, and choke herself. That hadn't come out the way she wanted it to at all. Naruto's eyes widened in sudden interest, a coy smirk played on his lips, and a little blush stained his cheeks.

"Hm?? S… seriously??" He asked, unable to hide his ecstasy. Hinata nodded slowly and Naruto crossed his arms and looked thoughtfully up at the sky.

"Hmm… I wonder who…," he said more so to himself than Hinata. Not wanting him to forget she was there, Hinata said, "It's someone you've been teamed up with before." Naruto's eyes focused on her again and he frowned slightly.

"Well that's a big help. I've been teamed up with almost all the girls here. Give me another clue."

"W…well… She's liked you a very long time Naruto-kun… but never had confidence to tell you so." She'd started tapping her index fingers together in that undying habit that expressed her nervousness. Naruto stared at her. For a few moments, time stood still and Hinata wondered if he'd figured it out. In answer, she received a frustrated sigh.

"I'm blank. Are you gonna tell me Hinata?"

"Ugh!... Erm…" Curious cerulean eyes stared at her in perplexity, slight worry played on his brow. Hinata grasped the wooden pole to steady herself. Her face was red now, completely flushed and the world was spinning as dizziness began to claim her mind. She had to tell him now. There was no turning back.

"Please don't faint! I want to know before I have to go on this mission." His voice was pleading and Hinata hated herself for being so weak, so frail. Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly she said, "It's… it's…"

"Huh? I didn't hear you."

I want to be the me I see reflected in your eyes.

"It's me!" The boisterous sound of her own voice caused Hinata to "eep!" and place a hand over her mouth in shock. She looked at Naruto who seemed dazed by the loudness of her voice and her sudden confession. The trees were still. No breeze blew. And silence was all that couldn't be heard.

"I know… I'm probably… not who you had in mind… but… but… it's true! I've liked you since that day when we were children and I was out with my father. He'd taken me out for ice cream and I saw you sitting on a bench with a cone of your own… You were kinda mean to me but I sat with you anyway and ate ice cream with you while my father talked to someone. My ice cream fell out of the cone… and… I started crying… And you gave me your ice cream and left without saying anything. I knew that then, despite you being a rascal that caused a lot of mischief, you were really a nice guy.

I watched you from that point on and…," she stopped when she saw the look Naruto was giving her. It was a mixture of confusion, interest, and weariness. She was surprised that she had managed to say any of that at all because it was a secret that she had guarded with her soul. And seeing his reaction gave her a feeling of dread. Backing away from him, she looked at anything else but the blonde ninja and said, "I know it sounds really weird Naruto-kun… but I've really learned a lot from you. You're probably the reason I'm brave enough to say any of this at all… but… I guess it's unrequited isn't it? I can imagine how weird and freakish it sounds to like someone for this long a time and not say anything but… I couldn't keep running from it. I had to tell you now more than ever because this Akatsuki thing is probably your main focus right now and I probably won't see you for a while…" Summoning up enough courage to finally face him, Hinata offered him her brightest smile. Her action caused Naruto to gulp noisily, nervously and look at her, really look at her. He was looking at her like she was a different person, like he hadn't seen this girl before him ever before in his life.

"… Anyway, I have to go now. Thanks for listening Naruto-kun and sorry for taking up your time." Hinata bowed humbly before walking past him and back towards the village. Naruto caught a whiff of her shampoo as her long ebony locks trailed behind her, having been caught on the turbulence of the newly blowing breeze. It smelled like lavender. Slowly he turned so that he watched her retreating back. She was completely different from the person she was when he first came to talk to her. She emitted a new confidence, a different confidence. And Naruto was seeing it all for the first time.

I want to be the me I see reflected in your eyes... Naruto-kun… have I succeeded?