Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Before a Midnight Meeting ❯ Somber Day ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

As the sun rose and shined through Hinata’s window, it created a small square of light which crept across the floor, up her bed, and, as morning sunlight is wont to do, onto Hinata’s face.
She stirred gently from her sleep. Shielding her eyes and blinking to adjust them to the light. She looked at her alarm clock, she was late! Her clock had not gone off yet!
Stupid alarm clock.
She swung herself out of bed and slipped out of her pajamas. She slipped on a sports bra and changed into a fresh pair of panties. Then dressed in her general attire. Dark shorts and a light hoodie coat, blue sandals and her forehead protector, which she wore around her neck.
She descended the stairs to have some breakfast and shower before going to train with Shino and Kiba. She poured herself some cereal and ate in silence. Watching about the house for her father, or Neji. Neither of which were around. Probably out training together.
Hinata sighed.
She finished up her cereal and had a shower. Heading out of the house to go train with the rest of team 8.

She arrived at her teams designated training area soon after leaving her house. Kiba and Akamaru were training together while Shino was sitting very still, as if he was meditating. His beetle’s swarmed outward from his body.
Kurenai was watching the two training and congratulating them, she noticed Hinata coming and smiled at her.
“You’re late” Said Kurenai.
“I know, I’m sorry…My alarm clock didn’t go off this morning” Hinata said, she looked at the ground in a bit of shame.
“That’s quite all right Hinata” Kurenai patted Hinata’s head “as long as you’re ready for today’s training”
Hinata nodded.
“all right then” Kurenai, unexpectedly swung a Kunai at Hinata’s shoulder. Hinata quickly reacted, blocking the blow with her forearm…

Perhaps a half hour later, Hinata was panting hard. Kurenai seemed to be okay, being a Jounin she had much greater stamina than Hinata.
“Are you okay Hinata? You seem kinda out of it” said Kurenai.
“no, I’m fine, but we’ve been at it for a while” Hinata panted. She sat down on a rock to take a rest from her training.
“are you sure?” Kurenai said, reaching around Hinata and stroking her back. “something’s been troubling you for a while now, I’ve noticed”
Hinata looked at the ground, thinking of Naruto.
“no, it’s nothing” she said.
All right then, have some lunch and come on back and we’ll finish up.
Hinata picked up her bagged lunch and went off to eat alone in the forest. She couldn’t help but wonder to herself. Did Kurenai-sensei know? Did Kurenai really want to help? Or was she just curious.
She looked at her rice ball and took a melancholy bite from it.
She heard the tree branch shake as something landed on it. She turned her head and looked up at the branch and saw two legs clad in orange, hanging over the branch from behind.
Oh no! It was Naruto. Hinata gasped, something Naruto could hear. He leaned over the edge of the branch and saw her.
“Hey, Hinata? What are you doing here?” he said.
“Oh, Naruto, I was eating my lunch” she said and smiled nervously.
“well, mind if I come down and join you?” he said, a big grin spread across his face.
“no! not at all!” she blushed and he jumped down next to her, nesting himself in a place where the roots of the tree made sort of a natural seat.
“what did you pack for lunch?” said Naruto.
“oh, just some crab cakes and rice” said Hinata, looking away from him.
“wow, crab cakes? Those sound tasty!” said Naruto, licking his lips.
“would you like to try one?” said Hinata.
“sure!” Naruto said. Hinata smiled as she gingerly handed the crab cake to Naruto, who engulfed the thing with his mouth. Naruto took several seconds to sample it before swallowing.
“Wow Hinata! Those are delicious! Where do you get them?” asked Naruto.
“well, my father buys the crab and I make them” Hinata smiled and blushed.
“you made these? They’re so tasty!” said Naruto.
“thank you” Hinata giggled a little and blushed, placing her finger up to her mouth to keep her lips from quivering.
“is something the matter?” asked Naruto.
“no, nothing at all” Hinata wanted to spill everything to Naruto right now, or perhaps to throw herself onto him and kiss him passionately. To hold him and let him know how she truly felt.
But she didn’t, she only ate her lunch in silence.
Naruto finished first, then got up and waved goodbye to her “nice having lunch with you Hinata, see you later” Naruto turned around to leave, but turned back one more time “oh, and thanks for the crab cake” he smiled and leapt off, across the tree branches.
Hinata felt a little tear run down her cheek and drop off her chin, it landed on her rice ball and soaked down into it.

Hinata returned to Kurenai after finishing off her lunch, but she found that Kurenai was gone, she had left a note for Hinata.
Hinata, we decided to take the day off, see you tomorrow!
Hinata sighed, hoping that her training might have been able to take her mind off Naruto, but then again, nothing was really able to do that anymore.
Hinata walked home in melancholy silence.

Hinata walked up to her room. Laying on the bed and opening the bedside table. Getting out a book with Naruto’s picture taped to the front of it. She opened it and took out a red pen that was bound in a loop at the front of the diary.
She wrote:

Dear Diary:
I think Kurenai knows something is up with me, whether she knows it’s about Naruto I don’t know. Sometimes I wish she did and would say something rather than just ask me what’s wrong. Same with everyone else.
I had the chance to tell Naruto how I felt too, but I couldn’t bring myself to it. Why is this happening to me?
Am I just like Neji said? Will I always be so weak that I can never even bring myself to tell Naruto or anyone else how I feel? Will it be this way forever?

Hinata closed the book and held it tightly against her body. As she curled up on her bed with the diary, she began to weep softly until she fell asleep.

It’s happened to me too.