Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Finally Found ❯ The New Training Partner ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3 --- The New Training Partner

After nearly 2 months of being released from the hospital Naruto was dying to go on a mission again. He had been happy to be home and see how his friends had been, but that feeling had worn off and he was ready to leave the village again.

His time had been spent doing the same thing day after day. First, he would beg Tsunade to send him on a mission or after Sasuke. Then, he would train with Jiraya. Finally, he would eat at Ichiraku and repeat. He did this same schedule twice a day.

After waking up one morning, Naruto headed straight to Tsunade's office. Before entering, Naruto stood at the door and promised himself that today he would get that old bag to send him on a mission. Before the thought was finished, “NO NARUTO!” came from inside the room.

“WHAT!?” Naruto burst through the door and made a bee-line for Tsunade face which was looking into a document on her desk. “What do you mean NO!? Everyone else is on a mission and I'm stuck here with Ero-sennin and you!” His voice was so strong that the air from his mouth was blowing her hair back.

“Naruto, I said no. That's it.” She said this in such a tone that let Naruto know that she would not change her mind. Her eyes never left the document in front of her. `I'm sorry Naruto, if Akutsuki gets a hold of you…. I just… You're safe here…' her mind thought words she knew she couldn't tell him.

Naruto slammed his fists on the desk and left the room screaming at Tsunade the whole way out. He started to calm down as he walked to the training grounds to meet Jiraya. Maybe some hard training would take his mind off of missions.

As he walked past the Hyuuga complex he saw Hinata standing inside the front gates. He could not explain it, but over the last 2 months he had found himself glancing at her whenever he had the chance.

Hiashi was standing in front of her and looking down at her shoulders. “I do not have time to waste training you, Hinata.” He turned his back on his daughter and began to walk away.

“… but…” Hinata could barely manage to talk as she tried to hide her tears. Naruto walked up to the Hyuuga gates amazed that anyone could talk to their own child in such a way.

“Hinata,” Hiashi spoke with his back turned to her, “no one should waste their time training with you. You are weak and will just hold them down.” He walked away leaving her standing there alone.

Hinata stood there for a second calming herself down, unaware that Naruto was only meters from her. She turned to leave the complex when she looked up and almost knocked Naruto over, again. “Naru-Naruto-k-kun!” Her face turned red and she could not hide her shock or embarrassment as she looked him in the eyes for the first time in her life. Her eyes were wide and slightly red from crying.

“Hinata that was awful. How could you let him talk to you like that?”

“Huh?” She looked down at the floor wiping away some tears from her face. She was still so embarrassed. “Well… he is my fa-father… and… he… he is right.” She tried to stop the flow of tears that were again making their way to her eyes. She desperately wanted to run away. She had rarely ever been alone with Naruto and this feeling was even worse then the nervous feeling she always got when he was near her.

“What?” Naruto was stunned by her lack of self-confidence. Every time Naruto had glimpsed Hinata his mind raced with images of Hinata standing over him protecting him from the kunai. He was so amazed at that scene and his amazement had not diminished the many times he relived it in his mind. “Hinata he's wrong.”

“Wha…?” Surprised, Hinata lifted her head to face Naruto's. Tears still in her eyes, which were still very wide.

“Hinata, that time I saw you in the forest…” Naruto paused wondering if she had forgoten, “… that was incredible.” She wiped the tears from her face.

-- He remembered that day. I didn't think he would. Did he call me incredible? Naruto-kun…

Hinata tried to hide her tears from Naruto by looking down. These were not the same tears she had been crying. These were tears of joy after hearing Naruto speak those words. “Th…Thank you…”

“Why aren't you training with Kiba and Shino today?”

She could barely speak. It took her a little bit to regain her composure before she spoke, “Kiba-kun is... is on a… a miss…mission with Neji-san. Sh-Shino-kun is on a mission… with… with… G-G-Gai-sensei.”

Naruto still could not get Hinata's scene out of his head and without thinking he looked at Hinata. “Well, I'm training today with Ero-sennin. Why don't you train with us?”

Hinata nearly fainted. She had always wanted to somehow get closer to Naruto without him knowing how she feels, but she had never even spent the day with Naruto. This was like a dream to her.

“HINATA!!!” She hadn't realized it but Hinata had been daydreaming about spending time with Naruto for about a minute already. “HINATA! So are you gonna come with me?”

She wanted to go with all her soul. She wanted to tell him “I LOVE YOU” or “OF COURSE I'LL GO,” but she couldn't say anything. She stood there as the words of her father went through her head. Her eyes hit the floor again. “I… I… I can't… I don't want… to…to hold you back…” Tears started to form again.

Naruto smiled. “Hinata, you won't hold me back, I promise.” She looked at him again for the 2nd time ever. “You're incredible and there is no way that could happen. C'mon let's go train.”

`He believes in me… I want to go… I need to go… I need to be with him…' Hinata's mind yelled out

Hinata looked up and smiled at Naruto, something he had never seen from her. He was surprised at how much different she looked when she smiled. “Ok, let's go…” Naruto and Hinata walked to the training field together to meet Jiraya.

`Thank you… Naruto-kun… `

“You're late Naruto.” Jiraya wasn't on time, but since Naruto was even later than he was he could get angry at him for it. He noticed Hinata, not being accustomed to meeting a legendary Sannin, walking a little behind him. “Oh, hello Hinata.”

“Hello, Jiraya-sama…um I'm very sorry to interrupt your training.” She knew that Jiraya was someone to be respected, so she fought every urge to stare at the ground and forced herself to look him in the face.

“ERO-SENNIN! YOU HAVE TO LET HINATA TRAIN WITH US!” Naruto had not told Jiraya of the scene he had seen. “Hinata is amazing! She deflected over a hundred kunai and saved my life! It was incredible!” Naruto was breathing heavy as the whole time he was jumping up and down yelling. A very embarrassed Hinata glowed a dark pink. Jiraya looked down at Hinata and stepped towards her.

“Incredible you say?” Jiraya shot Naruto a quick look. Naruto and Hinata both became a little embarrassed. “So you saved Naruto?” He leaned in close to Hinata, “Next time you can let one or two hit him.”

Hinata let out a little giggle and even Naruto laughed, “That's not funny, Ero-sennin.”

Jiraya stepped back from the two and lost his smile. “So you want to train with us, Hinata?” Her eyes back to her feet, she gave a small nod. “Ok, well understand that I will not take it easy on you because you are a girl or a Hyuuga. In fact, because of these factors I will expect more of you. If you do not give it your all then you will not be welcomed to train here anymore. Is that understood?”

This time Hinata's response was not so shy. This is what she wanted. She wanted to become stronger and best of all she would be with Naruto. She looked Jiraya in the eyes and nodded, “I will give it my all.”

“Ok then.” Jiraya took a step back and the smile returned to his face. “Today's training will be simple: find me and beat me.” Naruto and Hinata looked at each other mouths agape. “I want to test your strength and see if you two can work as a team because that is the only way you will even come close to beating me. And don't think I'm gonna take it easy on you two. I'm going full force. Now go!” With a puff of smoke Jiraya vanished.

Naruto stood there stunned, never in all their training together had Jiraya told him to simply beat him. Hinata on the other hand had already activated her byakugon and spotted Jiraya. “I've found him Naruto-kun!”

“Huh?” Naruto couldn't believe it. While he was momentarily stunned, Hinata had already found him. He smiled. “All right! Let's go get that pervert!”

They ran west, with Hinata in the lead, for several hundred meters before they found the spot Jiraya had been. Out of a bush came a kunai headed straight for Hinata. She froze. Although she had trained blocking kunai before she had always expected them in training. The only element of surprise came from where and not when they would be thrown. Hinata's face went white as the kunai came within feet of her body. Bracing for impact, she was surprised to hear the sound of metal hitting metal. Naruto had thrown his own kunai at the approaching and knocked harmlessly to the floor.

“Hinata are you ok?” He rushed next to her and put his hand on her shoulder. Her face went from white to red.

-- He's touching me… He's touching me…

“Yes, Na-naruto-kun. Than-k-k you.” Her words were almost inaudible. She was so happy at that moment, but still the was saddened by her thoughts. Did she have what it took? Maybe her father was right if she couldn't dodge a simple kunai.

“Hinata… HINATA! I've seen you block those before. What happened?” His hand was still on her shoulder.

“I…I froze…I… I can't do it…” She did not want to cry again but she felt tears coming on.

Naruto walked in front of her and placed his other hand on her other shoulder. “Hinata it's ok. You were just… surprised. I didn't think Ero-sennin would lay traps for us. I know you can do next time.” Naruto's belief in her made her feel warm and for a second she started to believe that her father was wrong. Hinata's face rose to his and she smiled. “See, now you promised to give it your all right?” She nodded. “We'll beat that pervy sage for sure!”

“Right!”

Hinata felt Naruto's encouragement and confidence flow all throughout her body. It seemed to eminate from her shoulders where she could still feel the touch of Naruto's hands. With her byakugon activated she found Jiraya's hiding spot again. Hinata leading the way, they came to a densely covered area. Very little sunlight made it thought the thick trees as Hinata searched for where Jiraya had gone.

In a flash, kunai after kunai came flying at them. Hinata did not freeze this time as she quickly circled Naruto deflecting the kunai with the chakra in her hands. Naruto froze as the amazing scene he had been reliving again and again in his mind was replayed right in front of his eyes. The grace that Hinata moved with was unreal. He only saw glimpses of her as she was extremely fast, but he knew those glimpses would remain in his mind for days to come.

And then Hinata saw him. For one brief second she saw Jiraya hiding in the trees. She did not block the last kunai; instead, she grabbed it and spun around sending it flying back into the trees.

Hinata, breathing hard, remained focused on the spot where Jiraya had been. The intensity that Hinata showed on her face was unremarkable. Naruto stared at Hinata not knowing what to say. He did not have to say anything as a clearing opened in the trees and Jiraya said it for him. “You know Hinata,” he was holding the kunai that she had thrown at him, “Naruto was right. That really was incredible.”

Jiraya smiled, “What do you say we turn it up a little? Follow me then.” With another puff of smoke Jiraya had vanished again.

“Hinata!”

“Right!” She quickly scanned the area and started to run north. “I found him!” Naruto caught up and ran right behind her. Soon they were standing in a large clearing with Jiraya standing in the center.

“Now, I'm going to test your close range skills. Whenever you're ready.” Naruto, needing no invitation to fight, headed straight for Jiraya. It took less then 2 seconds for Naruto to get thrown back to where Hinata stood. Jiraya looked at Hinata and motioned that it was her turn.

Hinata bent over to Naruto. “Are you ok, Na-Naruto-kun?”

Lying on his back, Naruto looked up to Hinata. “Yeah I'm fine. Hinata we need to get him or he'll never let us live it down.”

“Right!” Hinata looked at Jiraya but spoke to Naruto, “I promise you, I'll give it my all.” She rushed to Jiraya in her jukken stance.

Jiraya had expected Hinata to be sufficient in hand to hand combat, but he had definitely underestimated her. She had definitely improved her mastery of the byakugon since the Chunnin exam. He did not try to strike her as it was only training, but after some very near misses Jiraya landed a shot to her stomach causing her to fly back a few meters and fall to her hands and knees.

Naruto rushed to her side. “Are you ok Hinata?”

Breathing hard Hinata looked at Jiraya and then at Naruto, “Yes, Naruto-kun… but we can't beat him.” Her eyes met his with an apologetic look.

Naruto picked her up off her knees and looked at her eyes. “We can beat him Hinata… we just need to work together. You and me.” At this, Hinata's eyes almost welled up. The smile on her face was like none Naruto had ever seen. He couldn't help but think that she looked… different.

“Ok Naruto-kun. You..and… m-me…” Hinata could barely get it out. She was happier then she could ever remember. `You and me… Naruto and I… I can't believe he said that!'

Naruto got very close to Hinata and whispered his plan into her ear. He was so close that Hinata couldn't help but turn red. She had never been this close to him before, but she forced herself to listen to his plan. She had to do this for him, with him.

“Are you two almost done over there? I'm not gonna wait all day.” Jiraya started to tap his foot impatiently.

Naruto and Hinata looked at each other and nodded. They were ready. Hinata slid off the bulky, beige jacket that she always wore and threw it too the floor revealing a tight black-sleeveless shirt underneath. Naruto was stunned at Hinata's sudden change in appearance, but he forced himself to stay focused on Jiraya.

“Ok get ready Ero-sennin! He we come and we're gonna beat you!” Naruto ran right at Jiraya again, but instead of trying to strike him he ran by him. Jiraya was supprised.

“Um Naruto… you didn't even come close. That was pathetic?” He laugh a little.

Naruto smiled at Jiraya. “KAGE BUSHIN NO JUTSU!” A shadow clone appeared on each side of Naruto. Each ran to an opposite side of the Jiraya. He was now surrounded.

“Oh no I'm surrounded by Narutos.” Jiraya tried to sound scared before laughing very hard.

“BYAKUGON!” Jiraya was surprised as he almost forgot Hinata was still behind him. He looked over his shoulder at her just as the shadow clones started running towards Jiraya. A split second later Hinata and the real Naruto started running as well.

As the clones reached him first, Jiraya grabbed each one by the arm and spun around sending each one flying in the opposite direction. By the time Jiraya had fully spun around he was suddenly facing an extremely close Hinata. Hinata aimed for Jiraya's upper body to get him leaning back off balance just as Naruto came sliding into the back of Jiraya's legs. As Jiraya fell back onto the floor Hinata managed to hit the spots that cut off the chakra to his legs. Hinata jumped back fearing that they had gone too far in their training. Jiraya was laying on the floor several meters in front of her.

“Hinata,” Jiraya sat up slowly. “… that was very good, but…” Jiraya got to his feet. Hinata was dumbstruck. There should be no chakra running through his legs so he shouldn't be able to use them. Jiraya looked at her with a stern look. “Hinata you have not fully mastered the use of you byakugon or your chakra control.” Hinata's byakugon deactivated and her eyes hit the floor as her father's voice started going through her head.

Jiraya walked towards Hinata with a smile on his face. “But, just because you haven't mastered them does not mean you can't.” Hinata looked up at Jiraya. “But even right now, Hinata I must agree with Naruto, you are incredible.” Hinata's face broke into a large smile.

Naruto stood beside Hinata ready to go again. He rushed at Jiraya. “No, no, Naruto. Our training is over for the day.”

Naruto stopped dead in his tracks with a look of disbelief. “WHAT?! It can't be over. We haven't beat you yet.”

“Well,” Jiraya looked at Naruto and smiled, “let's call it a draw, even if you didn't really beat me. HA HA!” Jiraya laughed at his own logic. Hinata started to laugh as well, louder then her usual little shy laugh. Naruto had never heard or seen Hinata really laugh, and even though he was still really angry about not beating Jiraya, the sight of Hinata laughing made him smile and forget his anger.

“Hinata.” Jiraya's laugh suddenly stopped and he became very serious. “Until your teammates get back from their missions I want you to train with Naruto and me every day. Is that understood?” He was looking directly at her.

Hinata looked at Jiraya then at Naruto. “Yes, Jiraya-sama.” She was smiling almost uncontrollably now.

“Alright Hinata. This is gonna be great. We're gonna get so strong.” Naruto was smiling at her. He noticed that there was something different about her. He couldn't understand it, but when he looked at her he found himself keeping his gaze on her a little longer than usual. He thought nothing more of it. They waved good-bye to Jiraya and headed back home, side by side.

“Naruto-kun…” This was the first time she had called his name without stuttering.

“Yes Hinata?” He had apparently not noticed anything weird.

“Thank you… Naruto-kun.” She looked at him and smiled. They walked all the way to the Hyuuga complex with Naruto telling Hinata his different ideas for tomorrows training. Hinata would have loved to listen to Naruto for the rest of the night, but soon they were at her home.

“I'll see you tomorrow Hinata.” Naruto started walking to his own apartment.

Hinata watched Naruto walk a few steps away and wanted to run up to him and hug him goodbye. She couldn't; she knew she couldn't, but she had to do something. “Good bye, Naruto-kun.”

She even surprised herself. Her face started to glow red, but Naruto simply responded, “Good bye, Hinata” without turning around. `We will get stronger Naruto-kun… together.'