Published at 16th of September 2024 6:31 pm

Chapter 44 A Glimpse of Kindness: The First Meeting of Naruto and Hinata Part 2

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Naruto, excited by his newfound friendship, bounced on his feet with boundless energy. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over Konoha, and the air grew cooler. Hinata stood quietly beside him, her hands nervously clasped in front of her. She still couldn’t believe what had just happened. Naruto Uzumaki—the boy everyone whispered about—wanted to be her friend. It was more than she could have ever hoped for, but it also left her feeling a little anxious.

Naruto turned to her, his grin never fading. “Hey, Hinata! Do you wanna play or something? There’s a cool place over by the river where I like to hang out! We can go there!” he suggested eagerly.

Hinata blinked, her pulse quickening. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go, but she wasn’t used to spending time with someone like this. Growing up in the Hyuga clan meant her time was usually filled with training or strict lessons on family duty. Her timid nature often kept her at a distance from others, and now, Naruto was pulling her into his world so quickly.

“I-I don’t know… I mean…” she stammered, feeling torn between her natural shyness and the small spark of excitement growing in her heart.

Naruto, as usual, didn’t give her time to think too much. “Come on! It'll be fun, I promise!” He grabbed her hand, his grip firm but not forceful, and began leading her toward the riverbank.

Hinata’s eyes widened as she felt his hand in hers. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and her feet stumbled a bit as she tried to keep up with his enthusiastic pace. She didn’t pull away, though. A small part of her didn’t want to. It felt nice—warm, in a way she had never experienced before.

As they reached the river, the sight took her breath away. The evening sun reflected off the water’s surface, creating shimmering golden ripples that stretched out as far as the eye could see. The soft sound of the current flowing by was peaceful, and for a moment, Hinata felt a calm she hadn’t known in a long time.

Naruto plopped down on the grassy riverbank and stretched his arms behind his head, looking completely relaxed. “See? Isn’t this place awesome? I come here all the time when I wanna think or just get away from the village for a bit,” he said, his voice quieter now, as if the calmness of the scene was starting to affect him, too.

Hinata hesitated for a moment before sitting down next to him, her hands nervously folded in her lap. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, unsure of what to say. Naruto was always so full of energy and confidence, but right now, sitting beside him, she saw a different side of him—one that seemed peaceful, even thoughtful.

For a few minutes, they sat in silence, both watching the river flow by. Hinata’s heart was still racing, but the peaceful atmosphere helped calm her nerves little by little. She found herself feeling… comfortable. It was a strange feeling for her, but not an unpleasant one.

After a while, Naruto spoke up, breaking the silence. “You know, it’s weird,” he began, his voice thoughtful. “Most people don’t really like me. They think I’m annoying or… something. But you were different today, Hinata. You stood up for me, even though we didn’t really know each other. Why?”

His question caught her off guard. Hinata’s breath hitched, and she glanced down at her hands, unsure of how to answer. The truth was, she didn’t entirely know why she had stepped in. She had felt something—a deep empathy for Naruto’s situation, for the loneliness he tried to hide behind his smiles. Maybe it was because she saw a bit of herself in him.

“I-I don’t like seeing people get hurt,” she whispered softly, her voice barely above the sound of the river. “And… I know what it’s like to be alone. I just wanted to help.”

Naruto turned to her, his blue eyes softening as he listened. “You’re alone too?” he asked, sounding surprised. “But you’re from the Hyuga clan, right? Don’t you have a bunch of people around you all the time?”

Hinata nodded slightly, feeling the weight of his words. “I-I do… but it’s not the same. My family expects a lot from me, and… I don’t always live up to what they want. It’s hard to explain,” she admitted, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

Naruto’s expression grew serious, something she wasn’t used to seeing. “That sucks,” he said bluntly, but there was an understanding in his voice that made Hinata feel like he really got it. “I know what it’s like to have people expect things from you. Even though nobody really likes me, I still wanna be someone important. I wanna be Hokage one day, so everyone will finally see me.”

Hinata’s eyes widened slightly. She had heard him say this before, but hearing it now, in such a quiet, personal moment, made her realize how much that dream meant to him. Naruto wanted to be acknowledged—not just as a prankster or the outcast kid, but as someone who mattered.

She smiled softly, her heart swelling with admiration for his determination. “I think you’ll be a great Hokage, Naruto,” she said quietly but with sincerity in her voice.

Naruto blinked in surprise, and then his face lit up with a huge grin. “Really? You think so?” he asked, his excitement returning full force. “That’s awesome! You’re like the first person who’s ever said that!”

Hinata nodded, her cheeks flushing again. “Y-yes… I believe in you.”

The words felt bold coming from her, but they were true. Naruto had something special—something she had always admired from afar. He was strong in ways she wished she could be.

Naruto, clearly touched by her words, looked at her with a newfound appreciation. “Thanks, Hinata. You’re really nice. I’m glad we’re friends now!” he said with genuine warmth.

Hinata’s heart skipped a beat at the word “friends.” It was such a simple word, but for her, it meant so much more. She wasn’t sure how to respond, so she simply nodded, smiling shyly.

As the evening turned into twilight, the two of them continued talking, their conversation flowing naturally, even with Hinata’s quiet, reserved nature. Naruto told her stories about his pranks and the trouble he got into, and Hinata found herself laughing softly at his antics, something she rarely did around others.

The sky gradually darkened, and stars began to twinkle above them. Naruto yawned, stretching his arms above his head. “I guess it’s getting late. I should probably head back soon,” he said, though there was a hint of reluctance in his voice.

Hinata nodded, realizing she needed to return home as well. If she stayed out too late, her family would worry—or worse, her father might get upset. She stood up slowly, brushing off her clothes and feeling a little sad that the day had to end.

Naruto jumped to his feet and gave her another one of his big, confident smiles. “Hey, Hinata, let’s hang out again sometime, okay?” he asked, his voice full of enthusiasm.

Hinata’s heart fluttered, and she nodded quickly, her face turning pink once more. “Y-yes, I’d like that,” she replied softly.

“Great! I’ll see you around then!” Naruto said, giving her a quick wave before turning and running off toward the village.

Hinata watched him go, her eyes lingering on his retreating figure. For a long moment, she just stood there, feeling the warmth of the evening breeze against her skin and the strange, unfamiliar sense of happiness that had settled in her chest. She had made a friend today—a real friend. And not just any friend, but Naruto Uzumaki, the boy she had always admired from afar.

As she turned to walk back to the Hyuga compound, her mind was filled with thoughts of him—his smile, his determination, and the kindness he had shown her, even when he had no reason to. Her steps felt lighter, and for the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel so alone.

Little did she know, this moment—this simple act of kindness and friendship—would be the beginning of something much greater. Their paths had crossed in a way neither of them could have predicted, and from that moment on, their lives would be forever intertwined.

End

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