AUTHOR SAYS: SPOILER ALERT! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED: Neji is alive in this story. I got the inspiration from this story by reading other Sasuke/Hinata stories. So i went out of my way and created a name on here and am now writing my very first story, this story.

Legend:

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

"Jutsu"

Chapter One - Don't Stray

xxxxxxxxxxxooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Your making her uncomfortable." Shino muttered, he wanted to smack his idiot friend countless of times for the way he was ogling the blushing Hyuuga.

Kiba scratched the back of his head with a grin, "Sorry Hinata, it's just...you look so beautiful." He complimented, their was a tint of red on his cheeks.

Hinata nodded her head, "T-thankyou Kiba-kun."

"Hinata? Wow is that you?." Someone asked from behind.

The trio turned. Hinata smiled warmly at her two friends and nodded her acknowledgment. Shikamaru blinked a few times in awe before a grin similar to Kiba's adorned his features. "You sure know how to spruce up, huh?." He said.

"H-hai, actually Shino-kun picked this out for me." She replied.

The female beside Shikamaru smirked, "So he does like other things apart from those creepy little bugs of his."

"There not creepy T-temari-san." Hinata cut in, "His bugs are who he is."

Temari smiled, her argument lost. "You are way too kind Hinata." She said.

Shikamaru suddenly yawned, "Well, we should go inside, we don't want the Hokage cutting our paychecks in half." He said, he motioned for Temari to take his arm which she did.

Kiba followed suit and held out his arm for Hinata, "Comeon Hinata, grab on."

Hinata giggled and with her free arm offered it to Shino, "Let's go, Shino-kun."

Behind Shikamaru and Temari, the trio laughed on their way inside the big hall. Hinata was trying her best to hide behind the two boys as best as she could. Everywhere she looked, their were countless amount of men gazing upon her as if she were naked. She pinched her team mates gently and gave them looks of betrayal. This being the first time she tried such an expression, ignited more laughter from them.

"Sorry Hinata." Shino said.

"Yeah, sorry Hinata." Kiba said.

"Hey Hinata, you look beautiful." The pinkette said with a smile.

"So that's what you've been hiding all these years." Ino said with a wink.

Hinata blushed. She decided to study Sakura's dress carefully, noticing somewhat that Sakura did the same. The yukata she was wearing was a light pink of shade, filled with a deeper pink of sakura blossoms, and if Hinata had to guess, the bow she was wearing was a of a pink colouring also. Her hair, though short, was pinned slightly to one side, and from the small beads holding her hair, their was an assortment of jellewery dangling to the left of her head. Hinata wanted to hide in a corner, Sakura was truly beautiful, something she was not. That's probably why she couldn't have Naruto.

"I-i can see why now." She whispered, bowing her head.

Sakura pulled Hinata into a hug, "Let's forget what has happened and just have fun tonight, ok?."

Hinata smiled in defeat, "Y-your right, let's do this for Naruto-kun."

The tension seemed to ease from the small group when the girls broke free from the hug. Sakura took Hinata off Kiba and Shino's hands, and led her to the table mean't for their entire group. When they got to the table, there were already a few of their friends seated and waiting for them.

"Hey guys." Ino greeted, she took a seat beside Lee.

"Sakura-chan, you look amazing." The brilliant blonde said, who unknowingly broke Hinata's heart just a bit more.

'Let tonight be a night of celebration, and not sadness, Hinata-sama.'

Hinata glanced over at her cousin and their eyes locked. His message still replayed in her mind from two hours ago, and the look in his eyes said it again. Neji narrowed his eyes at her seat and she took the hint quickly. Though he was rash at times, he knew when to help her out in situations like these. Hinata sat down slowly.

"You clean up pretty nice yourself, Naruto." Sakura replied, "Don't you think, Hinata?."

Hinata blushed, "Y-you look very h-handsome tonight, Naruto-kun."

Naruto willed himself to look away from Sakura and gaze at the lavendar-haired beauty sitting. The entire table, Sakura included, noticed the sharp intake of breath he'd taken while gazing at her. She was absolutely beautiful he noted. Unlike Sakura's yukata, Hinata's was more revealing and exotic of sorts. It was to be expected however, being the heiress of the Hyuuga, her yukata was probably imported from a very expensive store from another village.

He gave her a toothy grin, "Man Hinata, if i wasn't here with Sakura-chan, i would've definately asked you to be my date."

A glass was thrown in Naruto's general direction, unknown to the blonde, but it was caught by Sakura. TenTen elbowed her boyfriend roughly, "Neji." She hissed.

"Hero or not, i will not allow you to disrespect Hinata-sama while in my presence." He muttered.

Naruto held his hands up defensively, "I was just kidding Neji. Besides, the only girl i have eyes for is Sakura-chan."

Shikamaru glanced over at Hinata. 'You can do this Hinata.' He thought, taking notice of the way she held herself with a genuine smile.

"Hey guys." An all to familiar voice greeted.

"Sai." Naruto greeted happily, standing to shake his friends hand.

"I see Sasuke bitch isn't here." Sai said.

The girls bar Temari gasped, while the boys shook their heads. Sai and his nicknames, they were becoming more and more filthy worded everyday. Nobody answered his question, because the answer to that question was simple: No one knew where he was.

Chouji patted the seat beside him, "You can sit by me Sai."

Sai smiled, "That means i'm your date, right?."

Everyone laughed, "Just sit down you weirdo." Sakura said with a giggle.

Suddenly, the hall went silent. The Fifth Hokage had finally made her entrance. Beside her was Yamato, Kakashi, and Shizune with TonTon in her arms. They slowly made their way to the stands, and on her own the Fifth took the podium by herself. In her hand was an orange like Yukata the was folded.

"Good evening people of Konoha." She boomed. The hall grew with cries of joy and the fifth smiled, "As you know, we have won the war. And thanks to our will of fire, we were able to run the enemy out of our village."

"Yeah, you said it baa-chan." Naruto cheered, he was louder than the rest.

Hinata's eyes never left his excited form.

"Which brings me to my next topic. My reign as hokage has finally reached it's limit."

Naruto's smile faltered, "Huh?, what? why?." He wondered outloud.

Kiba smacked his head, "You are so clueless idiot." He mumbled.

"And to think his father was the fourth." Temari whispered.

Tsunade's eyes locked with Naruto's, "I hereby pass this robe onto the sixth Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto."

Cheers were heard way outside the village. The sudden announcement had the blonde speechless. Everyone at his table stood to hug him, even those from the top stands like Kakashi and Yamato came to congratulate him. Naruto was clueless about the whole thing he soon realised and the only people that didn't approach him as of yet was Hinata and the absent Uchiha Sasuke. Hinata wanted to wait for her turn, because even if she tried to get to him, it was only a matter of seconds before their table would renew in numbers of village people. She giggled to herself at the sheer number of people surrounding their table. She excused herself unknowingly and decided to go outside for some air.

Hinata lifted the end of her yukata up so that it rested above her knees and jumped. She kept jumping until she was standing on top of the Hokage's tower. She dropped the ends of her yukata and sighed when it covered her legs again.

'It's cold tonight.' She thought, gazing lovingly at the village below.

She was really happy. Not only did the love of her life become Hokage, but, and she was sad to admit it, but the girl of his dreams had finally answered to his call. It was during the end of the war, when Sasuke had changed sides to help them defeat Madara and Obito, did Sakura choose Naruto instead of the avenger. They were at a stand-off and each had summoned their respective beasts. Sakura on Katsuya, Sasuke on Manda and Naruto on Gamakichi.

"She t-threw any insecurities away b-because she thought we were a-all going to die, s-so she proclaimed h-her love for you t-then and t-there." Hinata whispered. A lone tear rolled down her cheek, "She was always b-better then me, s-stronger, wiser, more b-beautiful."

Hinata wiped her eyes and her thoughts drifted back to the comforting but straight-forward words from Neji. 'One day, he will open his eyes and realise to late, what was always in front of him, Hinata-sama.'

Byakugan activated, Hinata spun on her heel, "Hakke Kuushou." She said. Eyes centred, body language ready to fight, a wave of chakra bursted from her thrusted palm, yet made no contact.

"Show yourself." She demanded. This cruel and evil chakra had a familiar air to it, one that sent shivers down her spine.

Gone was the stutter and her fear, before him was a strong Kunoichi. His blood red eyes, never wavering, glared, "Don't ever stray from these eyes again, Hyuuga."

"Uchiha-san?." She whispered confused, she blinked her eyes many times to discover this was not an illusion.

She didn't know whether or not to let her guard down, however he helped make that decision go out the window when he moved forward with his katana. Hinata slouched in her stance, "Hakke Rokujuukaiten." Hinata spun like a hurricane, and blue chakra, her own, suddenly bursted to life all around her and the katana mean't to harm her rebounded a few metres with it's owner.

'Use it in a life or death situation, Hinata-sama.'

Hinata nodded, she would heed her cousins words, "Please Uchiha-san, i don't want to fight."

He smirked and vanished, only to reappear before Hinata. His katana sheathed, he swept her feet from beneath her. However he was taken slightly back when she started rotating again, midfall. Impressed, Sasuke leapt back. When she stopped spinning, Hinata stood as firm as ever.

"Please Uchiha-san, i don't want to figh..-"

She was against the pillar in a matter of seconds, hands held above her head, her yukata suddenly loose from her neck to her stomach. Widened eyes stared into bloodfilled ones.

"You allowed this to happen." He hissed, his lips were dangerously close to her own, which is why Hinata turned her face away.

"What do you want?." She asked, if she was going to go out, then she'd rather go out honorable and not cowardly. She dared look back at him, and though her eyes allowed him to see some fear, she held her nose up high.

"You wish to die?." He hissed, not to pleased with how easy she was to accept death if he wished it.

"I've done my best Naruto-kun." She said smiling, "I hope i made you proud."

She was ignoring him.

Sasuke growled and threw her not so gently to the ground. Hinata gasped as she made contact with the hard surface.

"I'll be watching you, Hyuuga." He whispered darkly.

He vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Hinata there to think over this odd incident, and the hidden meaning behind his last words to her.

A week had passed since Naruto's rise to Hokage, and it was a week since the incident between Sasuke and Hinata. Everyone that night had asked Hinata where she was, more so from her two concerned team-mates and an angry Neji. She told them alittle of the truth, because she really did go outside for some air. Events leading to Sasuke, well she told herself she would withhold what happened for the sake of Sasuke who was still trying to grow accustom to the village again. To think, only four months had passed since the war, and at that time even villians became allies. Orochimaru had joined their side, even Sasuke and his band of followers, including Karin had changed over. So much had changed, and because of that so many lives were able to live today.

"Hey Hinata." A happy voice said.

Hinata was so lost in her thoughts, that she didn't realise her feet had brought her to Ichiraku's. She blushed when noticed how close Naruto's face was to hers.

"U-umm...-"

"Naruto, give her some space." Sakura said, punching him lightly on the head.

Naruto rubbed his head and listening, moved from her personal space, "Are you here for some ramen as well?." He asked.

Images of her and Naruto eating opposite eachother made Hinata gulp. She couldn't possibly tell them her mind had a way of controlling her actions more than she did. She was about to answer the bright smiling Hokage, until she felt a presence behind her. She noticeably tensed, raising suspicion between Naruto and Sakura. This eerie feeling was none other than the very person she was avoiding, Sasuke.

Hinata decided not to answer, instead she opted for an out, "I h-have to go." She said with a bow.

Sakura frowned, "Don't mind Sasuke-kun, Hinata, he's always brooding."

"Hn."

"I have o-other p-plans." Hinata's eyes met with onyx ones, "Have a good day Uchiha-san, Sakura-san, Naruto-kun."

"Uh ok, see you later Hinata." Naruto said. Something was off, his gut twisting told him so.

Hinata didn't get that far though. She was confused, but confusion was quickly replaced by shock. Her wrist was being held firmly, and with blinding speed she was spun around roughly. The rush and force of his strength had her leaning completely against him, her chest against his harder one and her face somehow in the crook of his neck. Horror was written all over her face.

"What the hell teme?." Naruto snapped. The only reason he hadn't interfered earlier was because he was recovering from the initial shock of what was unfolding before his eyes.

Sakura stood beside Naruto, a hand over her heart, "Sasuke-kun, what do you think your doing?." Their was pain in her voice.

"Your lying." He said, ignoring the two bystanders. A sad description for his team-mates.

Hinata tried to pull away but to no avail, "L-let me g-go."

"Let her go Sasuke." Naruto said, he placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "Let this be your very first order from me."

"You heard the hokage Sasuke-kun, you better listen." Sakura tried to joke, but it was obvious this scene was quickly becoming uncomfortable.

"Hn." Sasuke released her, but not to roughly like the first time they had a confrontation.

Hinata bowed hurriedly and was off in a sprint. As they watched her go, Naruto and Sakura turned to see Sasuke gone also.

"What the...where did he go?." He wondered, now he was really curious.

Sakura shrugged her shoulders, willing the pain and jealousy away to answer him, "Comeon Naruto, we're on a date, remember?."