CHAPTER ONE: MY NAME IS HINATA

CHAPTER ONE: My name is Hinata
I've always felt like a creep when it came to him. That arrogant frat boy smile he flashed everytime he walked in a room with his loud group of friends. That intense blue stare he loved to make people lose themselves into as he ran in circles about his fascinating life stories on the outside world. He had always been a sucker for adventures, anything adrenaline pumping, wether it be going on illegal car races with the boys or throwing Al the craziest parties in Konoha. He was bad news, and God did I know it.


Standing on his blessed 6"3 inches, his smug blond hair always slapping his forehead as if to constantly remind him of how absolutely terrific his beauty was, this man was a sight. And yet he was always oblivious to me... Constantly blind to the thousands of signals I would throw his way to finally notice me.


I mean walking up to him would have definitely helped my case, but that wasn't an option. I never had that boldness in me. Naruto Uzumaki was simply too striking of a sun for me to ever think he would have the time of the day for me and my boring and dull aura.


So for years I stayed in the back, fangirling by moments, running away from him by others. My teenage years had been a bloody circle of obsession over one sole blondie male, who I always believed never knew my name, until today...


- Hinata?


It was winter, the streets were filled with crowds of people as Christmas Eve was literally the next day. Festive Christmas spirit was lighting the city. So how was it possible that in this crowd full of people, with the thick and ugly-winter-hating-blouse she had on and probably the ugliest scarf on earth did her former high school obsession recognize her ?


Her nose red from the freezing cold, eyes stuck wide in shock, she stared. She stared long and hard... Because yes, it was really Naruto Uzumaki, class 4-0, 3rd floor, number 130th student by grade count, best soccer player on the team at Konoha highschool, graduated in 2002... You get the picture... but yes it was really him. And she couldn't understand how it was humanly possible for him to be even more beautiful in his late 20s now ? Sorcery indeed.


That gorgeous face intensified in beauty as his lips stretched to each corner of his face to form the most perfect smile she had seen in a hot burning minute. And yes, she was sure she had just gasped, and she was certain he heard her as he approached her with one sole grocery bag and stopped right in front of her.


- It's actually you. Took me a minute back there to come up to you cause I wasn't sure it was you.
His eyes scanned her face and she suddenly remembered how incredibly embarassing she had dressed up to run this quick errand by the corner store. She had always believed she was one of the luckiest people in the city to live so deep into town at one of the cheapest rents, but today she would start reanalyzing her feelings about this. Because how on earth is it that almost 12 years after graduating highschool she meets the man she once manifested with every crystal piece she could find in Konoha in the most horrid outfit ever.
Mentally scratching her face, an awkward giggle escaped her lips as she adjusted her Covid protecting face mask.


- This is crazy... she whispered. And Naruto laughed.


- Right ! Been quite a few years now. Didn't know you lived in Konoha now, last I heard about you was 5 years ago, in the group chat for your brother's wedding. He mentioned you had traveled ? Was honestly surprised to not see you there that day.
She smiled awkwardly, because this just reminded her of how invisible she had always been to him, this man absolutely had no clue she had actually been there the entire time. She had even been the bridesmaid that day, holding flowers and all that good bridesmaid stuff... Was she surprised though? No.


Images of that wedding day came rushing through all at once, she remembered she had been staring at him so much she had been scared to burn a hole in his perfectly polished tux. Because boy was he hot that night. And thinking about that night...
She suddenly remembered he had come with a plus one, who had been wearing a very expensive diamond ring on her finger back then. Logically, by now they should have been married right?


That thought in mind, her eyes immediately zoomed in on his left hand. But too bad the bag of groceries he was holding hid her curiosity relief.
Realizing she had been silent the entire time her mind was doing mental gymnastic, she finally returned his smile though he couldn't see it under her face mask.


- Nice to see you... You look great! She added more enthusiasm at the end to hide her nervousness. She never really knew how to interact with him.


- So do you. When did you come back ? He asked as he picked one of her 5 grocery bags up as if to help her loaded packages.


- Oh you don't have to, I don't live that far... she contested quickly, immediately nervous about being alone with him. But he rolled his eyes before picking another one.


- That looks too heavy, come on where you headed?


- I- looking up at his face, ready to debate, she could already tell she wasn't going to win. This man was known for always trying to help others.


A nostalgic laugh escaped her and he smiled


- Exactly, he said as he picked a third bag from her.


- So tell me, when did you come back to Konoha? I had heard about you leaving for good after graduation right ?


He started walking towards a blue Audi parked very close to the entrance of the parking lot, so she simply followed.


- I went to Tokyo, I was accepted at a good university there, so I was based there for 9 years.
He nodded before unlocking the car with his car key, before gesturing to open the trunk. When the trunk automatically opened, he dropped his bags in the back before turning around to face her.


- By the way, where are you headed?


And suddenly she brust out laughing. This man had jumped to her rescue like he always did with others without even knowing where she lived, which actually didn't consist of getting a ride at all.

Because it was the building facing the supermarket she came out of before bumping into him.


After calming down a little, she noticed he had that mocking smirk on his face she was so familiar with.


- I live right in front of the supermarket actually.
He turned to follow the tall building she was gesturing to and then turned back to her to laugh at the situation as well.


- I guess you're basically home then, he said after calming down a little, leaning on the car while watching her.


- Yeah, so don't trouble yourself too much, I'm fine.
He nodded before closing the trunk. The next second, he turned to pick her bags up before handing one to her. And that's when she noticed his sole, naked left ring finger. The look of surprise on her face must have been very loud, because she heard him the next second.


- Wasn't the one I guess...


Immediately feeling bad for being caught, she looked away. But he continued, this time with an obviously forced joke.


- Some may even say I dodged a bullet, you know...
She nodded quickly and took the rest of her bags from him swiftly. That made him laugh which she returned jovially.


- I guess imma let you get home then
She nodded again, at loss for words from seeing him so randomly. She had not been prepared for this, so she didn't know how to handle it.


As she was about to turn around to walk away from him, he called out her name. Turning to face him, she saw him walk closer.


- By the way, are you going to be at the highschool reunion party we're throwing for next week?
YIKES.


She had actually heard about this event. She'd received tons of group messages from the girls asking her to finally come to this yearly event they loved throwing. In the 12 years since graduating from Konoha Highschool, Hinata had actually not participated in none of them. Sometimes she would actually not be available, other times she would purposely avoid attending because of what's his name and his ex-new found lover.


Sakura had actually been harassing her just this morning to make it a point to come. The girl was turning thirty the next month and wanted a proper highschool reunion, and if Hinata had been considering going at all, the fact that Naruto was going to attend in all his 6"3 sexiness and naked left finger was definitely sealing the deal.


She nodded again.


- I can't not be there, Sakura will have my throat if I don't come this time again.


He laughed and walked backwards.


- Alright! I'll see you there then !


- You bet.


She said, as she stared at his beautiful figure disappearing into the shadows of the night. Street lamps only showing his very expensive car. This man was definitely doing well, and she was happy. Everyone in town knew he had not had the easiest childhood, so she was happy for him and all his successes.


After graduating from Konoha years ago, Naruto had actually decided to take car racing to whole new level and signed to an agency in Australia. Where he had met his ex-fiancée. She had been checking on him on a regular basis through the media sharing his successes and losses, his milestones and scandals.

She probably knew everything about the man. Up until that article that announced he had asked his then girlfriend to be his wife. Then it had become too painful for her to keep track. So she stopped, for her own sanity. And she was actually happy despite the obvious heartbreak that happened, he was still in the top 10 of the Formula 1. She was proud.


Walking back to the entrance of the parking lot, she stumbled when his blue Audi parked right in front of her. Window sliding down slowly, he put out his phone with an aloof smile.


- Give me your new line, just in case you're thinking of ditching on us again, imma make sure I camp in front of your building that day if you don't show up.


- Oh God please no, she begged jokingly, before taking his phone and adding her phone number in it.


She quickly handed it back and as he was reading her details she noticed a weird smile, and the next second a flash shocked her as he took probably one of the worst shots in existence and added it as a contact picture.


-ABSOLUTELY NOT! She screamed but he screeched the car and fled quickly, leaving her in a hysterical laugh.


- He's not changed ! She laughed harder every more minute that passed.

Hinata thought she had healed from her stalking tendencies. She had actually tried. By throwing herself into her loads of work that made her very successful she had almost stopped obsessing over Naruto and his girlfriend. That was probably why she hadn't been aware of the huge scandal that had taken place 3 years ago. Almost two years after seeing them at her brother's wedding.

Apparently, according to the press, the young woman who he had asked on one knee to be his wife had actually been unfaithful to him with her ex boyfriend, and that for 3 straight years of relationship.


She could only imagine what he had gone through back then, living all the way in another country to juggling between car racing, championships, brand deals and her. And yet she did that. Some people actually did not deserve to be loved, and she was one of the few lucky ones, and ruined it.


She could only feel immense satisfaction as she was reading the new update about the ex-fiancée sharing that she was now going through a divorce with the man she had cheated on Naruto with. And of course it was from cheating. Because men will always be men, she should have known better.


An evil chuckle escaped her lips as she closed her laptop to take a sip of her tea. At the same moment her phone lit up for a notification.


SAKURA SENT A VOICE NOTE*


Sighing already she played the audio and a very hilarious and absolutely non frightening Sakura was once again trying to bargain with her to come to the event. She had not replied to her previous 3 messages about it, and Sakura was known to be persistent.


Putting her tea cup away with a laugh she smiled as she texted her back.


- I will be there, you can take a breath now.
The response was immediate.


- YESSS! I'm sure everyone will be happy to see you again !


- I'll be happy as well, she added before her phone rang for another notification. This time it was an unknown number.


UNKNOWN NUMBER SENT A PICTURE*


She opened the iMessage conversation to find an old highschool picture of the whole high school friend group. Sasuke, Sakura, Gara and Naruto in the front center and Hinata and her brother at the edge. She looked shy per usual, isolating from the lense, almost scared of being in frame.


The number sent another message


- Best promotion of Konoha Highschool in my opinion


She smiled as she realized it was probably Naruto's number


- Definitely, seeing this ignites so many good memories, thanks for sending me this


- Sure, he replied


And suddenly lost, she didn't know what to say so she just decided to close the conversation and leave it at that. But as she got up away from her phone, it rang again.


Walking back slowly to her sofa where it was laying down she stared at his new message in awe.


- What are you doing tomorrow ? He had asked
And suddenly she remembered the next day was Christmas Eve, she had actually planned to finish working on a few projects due for the next month.

At 27 years old, indeed her Christmas enthusiasm had already faded into boredom. She didn't have time to decorate her place with pretty lights or mount a Christmas tree just for the hassle of having to demount it just a few weeks later. Yes, a complete boring adult if you asked her.


Hesitating for a few seconds, she texted back:


- I had a date with my tv and probably some hot chocolate with a some paper work on top.


He replied immediately with laughing emojis before the 3 dots for typing got active. And boy did she stare at it in amazement. She couldn't believe this was really happening. Naruto and her had never texted before.

They had interacted a few times before in school, in town, but it had always been very brief because 1 - Her brother was a complete douche who always scared every guy away from her, 2 - She had a stage presence level of 0.2, 3 - He was popular, way too popular, 4- She was scared shitless of interacting with him. So yes, this was all very new to her.


- Alone ? He asked again


And almost immediately she replied:


- Yes. Why ?


And the typing dots went at it again for the longest 40 seconds ever, before the new message popped up.


- Well me too, wanna rectify that?


Falling backwards on her sofa in a hysterical screech Hinata couldn't believe it. Naruto was asking to spend time with her. Just a few hours after meeting her randomly in the street, what was this ? She absolutely loved every moment of it.


After a few minutes of fangirling mentally she calmed down and texted back


- I'm down, what do you have in mind ?


This time he sent a voice note and she mentally screeched again.


- I was thinking going to see the fireworks in town or a chilled dinner at my place ? Lemme know what you're comfy with, and if you have any other idea you can share too, I'm not really the best at making impromptue plans that are convenient to everyone.


Taking a large gulp of her tea, she replied with her own voice note with a slightly higher pitch of her voice which would actually be hilarious to anyone that knew her normal day to day voice.


- I'm down for both, walk in town and then dinner?


- Perfect, do you want us to order or cook?


- Terrible cook, you can scrap that, I'll bring a cake though, I bought some today


- Great, I guess that's the plan


- Was great seeing you again, she texted before immediately regretting and freaking out at the bold message.


- I was happy to see you again too, especially since this time you didn't run away or hide in some corner


- ...


He sent a few laughing emojis before the conversation went dead. And that's when she was convinced this man wasn't as oblivious as he made it seem. And boy was she right.

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Jawrell