Back again! ... been a while, huh? hehe ^^" sorry about that... I'm sorry! sorry sorry sorry, I got... distracted :) If you noticed many of my other unfinished stories on here... haha ^^ buttttt, I got this done and uploaded, so yay! Hopefully you like it :) Anyways, umm... Sorry! and,

Enjoy!

Hinata sighed sadly. She was sitting under a tree in the forest of Konoha, staring down into her lap as her thoughts ran back over the 'conversation' she'd had with her father earlier that day.

"You're worthless!" Hiashi growled at his oldest daughter, who was straining to pull herself off the ground. They had been sparring, and Hiashi had gone all out, never giving Hinata a chance.

"Hanabi could pass your rank easily even at her age!" he went on, "You're a disgrace to the royal family. I knew I should never have allowed you to become a ninja."

"F-Father—" Hinata had now straightened into standing, and she tried unsuccessfully to interrupt her father, every word from him stinging her heart like a thousand needles.

"No, that's enough," Hiashi snapped, turning his back to her, "Leave, now."

Hinata felt tears come to her eyes again and tried to push them back. Why? Why did she have to be so weak? Maybe if her father, actually believe in her… Hinata shook her head; she couldn't blame others for her not being good enough. She needed to train even more now…

Hinata wiped away her tears, but couldn't force herself to stand. Her body ached; ever since that morning, her father's words, she'd gone to the training grounds and practiced. Then she'd come here for more privacy, and finally she couldn't train anymore. Hinata sniffled a bit. At least no one could see her like this… No one could see how weak she was right now…

"Hinata?"

Naruto wandered around the town aimlessly, his thoughts drifting. Mostly they ended up at Hinata, whom he couldn't keep out of his mind lately. It baffled him how one person could e so amazing. After comforting him and letting him sleep in her lap, Hinata had offered to walk him home. He'd declined, since he felt he'd taken enough from her, and Hinata had simply smiled and left.

Naruto shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. She was so amazing… how had he not noticed her before? It was as if now he was seeing an entire new side of her that his younger self had been too oblivious to recognize.

Just then he heard a sniffle and looked up to realize he'd wandered into the woods without even noticing it. Following the sounds of sniffling and shuffling, Naruto finally reached the source and stopped in his tracks.

"Hinata?" The poor girl jumped and looked up at him with wide eyes. He was shocked to see that they were bloodshot, and she had dark circles under them. She ducked her head and started wiping her face with her hands.

"Oh N-Naurot, I-I um, I was just…" Naruto's eyes softened as the girl stuttered and kneeled before her, taking her wrists in his hands to stop her frantic attempt at covering up her tears. Hinata looked at him in surprise.

"Are you ok?" he asked softly. Hinata blushed and ducked her head.

"I-I'm fine, N-Naruto…" Naruto slipped a hand under her chin and raised her face so that she had no choice but to look him in the eyes. He observed thos milky, gray-ish orbs, and saw the sadness embedded in them, making his heart wrench. Hinata's eyes started to fill with tears as she gazed into his understanding, deep blue ones, and shook her head.

"I-I… my dad… I-I'm…. worthless…." Hinata choked out, and Naruto let her fall into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. He stroked her hair calmly, whispering kind words to her. She cried into his shoulder for who knows how long, but Naruto wasn't bothered. Instead his mind was racing. From what she had said, Naruto guessed that her dad had somehow convinced her that she was worthless.

He felt anger start to build in his chest. How could someone, let alone her own father, tell Hinata she was anything like that? Naruto could spend hourse listing the good qualities she had. Why couldn't her father see them?

Eventually Hinata's sobs quieted and she pulled away a bit, though Naruto didn't release her. Hinata's face turned cherry red and she avoided looking him in the eye, making Naruto smile.

"You alright, Hinata?" She jumped a bit at his voice and her name, and finally she looked up at him. Her face burned, but she gave him a small, grateful smile.

"Y-Yes… I-I'm fine… Thank you, N-Naruto…" Naruto nodded.

"But why are you crying? What happened?" Hinata's eyes grew somber again and she looked down at her lap.

"I-I was just thinking… I-I'm kind of useless…" she mumbled, "I'm n-not a very good ninja, and… I-I'm too nervous… I just get in t-the way of great ninjas like y-you…" Naruto's eyes widened for a moment before hardening.

"That's just stupid!" Hinata jumped and looked up at him with huge eyes.

"You're an amazing ninja, and an amazing person, Hinata," Naruto stated, looking straight into her eyes, "and if someone can't see that, they're blind! You could never get in the way, Hinata. You're too nice and kind to make anyone think of you as a burden or anything like that. Whoever thinks that is an idiot." Hinata stared at him with wide eyes as Naruto tried to breathe again after his speech. Suddenly she threw herself into his arms, wrapping hers around his neck.

"T-Thank you, N-Naruto," she whispered into his shoulder. Naruto was frozen from shock for a moment before smiling and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"No problem, Hinata." Just then Kakashi appeared in front of him, seemingly out of thin air, and Naruto jumped, making Hinata turn and let out a squeak of surprise. Kakashi grinned under his mask.

"Oops, hope I wasn't interrupting anything!" he told them, chuckling a bit. Naruto and Hinata both blushed.

"But the Hokage wants to talk with both of you," he went on, "So you'd better get over there." Naruto and Hinata both nodded their understanding and stood, taking off towards the village. Kakashi shook his head.

"Ah, to be a kid again…" He wandered away, pulling out his book and flipping to the book marked page.

The two made it to Tsunade's office to find Kiba, Shino, and Sai also there. Tsunade sat at her desk, her fingers laced together in front of her and an amused smirk on her face.

"Nice for you to join us," she snapped lightly.

"Hey there, granny Tsunade!" This earned Naruto a glare from the older woman.

"Shut up, Naruto," she growled, and then went on in a lighter tone, "You all will be going on a mission tomorrow early in the morning. Your duty is to escort a family from here back to their homeland. Kakashi will give you more details about it later." Naruto glanced around and frowned.

"But hey, where's Sakura?" Hinata's gaze dropped to the floor, which was missed only by Naruto.

"Oh yes, Sakura is helping me out at the clinic," Tsunade told him, "Besides, this family is very superstitious, and asked specifically for a group of five or a multiple of five people. Crazy, I know, but if you insult them I'll chan you to a rabid dog. Now all of you get out and go get ready for your mission."

They all left the Hokage building and Naruto grinned at Hinata.

"Isn't this great, Hinata?" he announced loudly, "We're going on a mission together!" Hinata blushed and smiled a little.

"Yes, N-Naruto." She listened as he continued to babble on, with a small smile on her face. Naruto, you truly are a unique person…

"That was a great idea!" Sakura announced, "Lucky the family's crazy, 'cuz I really didn't want to go!" Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"Are you saying you don't like our missions?" Sakura giggled nervously and rubbed the back of her head.

"Of course not, sensei…" Kiba sighed.

"I just don't see why I have to go…"

"Why are you complaining?" Shino asked. Kiba rolled his eyes.

"'Cuz that idiot Naruto is gonna take forever to get around to noticing Hinata!" Shino shook his head.

"I wouldn't be so sure…" Tsunade rubbed her temples.

"Whatever, all of you, just SHUT UP!"

There we are! Hope you liked it :) It was kind of... well... idk... sooooo... anyways :) Sorry again and I hope you're not mad at me! :D Anyways, review and stuff, byes!