It Should Have Been Me

It Should Have Been Me

Summary: Hinata awaits Naruto's return to Konoha while a few "friends" try to take her affection away. When Naruto does return affections are at an all time high in Konoha. Hinata searching trying to see if Naruto really is her true love.Though they try to break them apart will Hinata be brave enough to truly except her feelings and tell Naruto or will it all end in heart break, tears, and... death. Orochimaru's latest plot to destroy Konoha may make the decision for them as their lives way in the balance.

Pairings: Hinata/Naruto, Shikamaru/Ino/Temari, Ino/Sakura/Sasuke, Sakura/Lee, Chouji/Ino, Orochimaru/Kabuto/Anko/Tsunade/Sasuke, Tsunade/Jiraya, Kakashi/Anko, Neji/Hinata/Garra, perhapse more O.o;

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I never will. Naruto goes in credit to Masashi Kishimoto. Thank you for creating him and his story.

Chapter one:

Wishes of Naruto

*“Naruto-Kun I believe in you!”

“Naruto-Kun!”

“Naruto-Kun… where are you…”

“Doskette!

“Naruto… Kun… I… love…”*

Hinata awoke cold sweat glistening on her forehead. Naruto had still not returned. Lightning flashed outside. It looked like Naruto would never return at this point. She still hoped though and trained everyday with Shino and Kiba. She was developing her own technique more and more. She was awaiting the day Naruto would return and she could show him how strong she had become and how… brave. Was she brave? Wiping the sweat off her forehead she asked herself that question and was not entirely sure.

With a sigh she sat up only to flinch at the next bolt of lightning and crash of thunder. Running a hand through her slightly longer hair she got out of bed and put on her robe. Time for a little midnight training session. She grabbed her ninja tools slid her door open and walked down the hall careful not to wake anyone. She still hadn’t been noticed by her father. He always would acknowledge Neji but look at all that he had already accomplished. She quietly slid the door open to the indoor training arena. There was a Shuriken log at a wall opposite of where she had entered. A taijutsu practice dummy to the right and left of her. In the middle there was a small inlaid circle just big enough to practice two person fighting or to train by yourself.

For a few minutes she lazily threw kunai and Shuriken at the practice log either barely missing her target or hitting it head on. She had gotten much better at that. She quickly made a sign with her hands and entered Byakugan. She then walked to the middle circle threw a few kunai lightly in the air to test her speed at catching them. She then threw a few of her older unusable kunai in the air and sliced them in two with chakra. After a few minutes of this she walked to the door behind the throwing log and went into the rain. The lightning and thunder had stopped so she felt relatively safe. The cold water cascaded down her skin soaking her clothes. Eyes closed she spun around a few times like a little girl who had never before played in the rain. Then she decided to practice a little more.

"Byakugan!" She said softly and got in her stance. "Shugo Hakke Rokujuuyonshou." She said with a slight smile. And began the stunning technique she had developed her self after the chunin exams. Raindrops flew flew back from her body. Thunder claped her arms droped and water pelted her again the technique was over. She quickly ran inside to hide from the storm unknowing of the figure that had been watching her from the shadows of the dark and stormy night. Hinata quickly gathered her things and went back to her room to get some sleep. She had early practice in the morning with Kiba and Shino and she really did need to be in top shape. Slipping out of her wet clothes and into some dry pj's she slid into bed trying to ignore the raging storm around her. After awhile she went into a peaceful deep sleep.

****

Neji had for some reason or another found himself waking up to the same thunder storm he had went to sleep to the night before, wet, cold and...sticky??? Neji lifted himself up and saw a clear sheen on his crotch and also glistening on his bed spread. 'Another weird dream?' he asked himself trying to remember what he had dreamt about and also trying to figure out why he was fully clothed, damp, and smelling of rain water. He quickly got up through his bed spread and clothes in his bathtub, filled it with water to let them soak a little, and got dressed and ready for a full day of training. Stormy day or not he had to train or he would never reach his full potential. He quietly walked down the stairs from his bed room put on his shoes, grabbed an umbrella and ventured out to find Lee or maybe Ten-Ten to train with.

"Ah! Neji-San!" He heard a little ahead of him through the rain. There came a small roll of thunder as well but it wasn't as loud as last night. He peered ahead and saw Hinata standing under a tree drenched, a broken umbrella in her hand. He quickly walked to her.

"Hinata-San what happened?" He asked placing her under the umbrella with him.

"It blew out of my hand and got slit on a tree branch so I ran as fast as I could to a near by shop but I forgot that no shops are open this early so I decided to hide under this tree." She said with a small blush. Neji gave a weak smile and began to walk forward suggesting Hinata should do the same.

"Where were you going that was so important that you drench yourself to get there?" He asked trying to make the uncomfortable silence shift towards easing conversation.

"I have to practice with Shino and Kiba today. Thank goodness you came along Neji-San!" She exclaimed and started trying to wring out her hair.

"Good thing I had to go train as well. You'll probably end up with a cold. Where exactly are you going to train at?"

"I don't know I'm supposed to meet them at the academy and we will go together from there." He suddenly noticed from the side how grown up Hinata now looked. He remembered how small and frail she was when they were first introduced as children. How shy she was back then. How brave she must be now.

"Have you heard anything about Naruto?" He noted the slight downfall of her spirits at the mention of her childhood crush.

"Not a word not from Hokage-Sama, Kakashi-Sensei, Sakura-San, no one knows anything. The man at Ichiraku must surely miss him as well! Naruto-Kun was his best and favorite customer!" She said with a small smile. "I wish Naruto-Kun were here, to see how much we all have accomplished. How far we have all come..." The conversation ended on that note and the rest of the walk to the academy was in silence. Neither of them spoke for fear of saying what they thought. Both afraid of what it would mean for not only them but for all who knew Naruto. They both thought 'He's not coming back.' It had been years after but everyone still had the same wish, the wish of Konoha's "Number one Ninja, and future Hokage" to return safely.

****

"Shino-Kun! Kiba-Kun!" Hinata exclaimed running forward with a wave bye to Neji.

"Hinata you're late." Shino stated.

"What happened?" Kiba asked.

"My umbrella broke and I was stranded under a tree! Thankfully Neji-San found me and walked me here! Arigatou Naji-San!" Hinata said waving but Neji was already gone. "So where are we training today?" Hinata asked all thoughts aside except for her current task and that ever glimmering wish for Naruto.

To be continued...

Please R and R!

- Parys Kreme