Three Months (A Naruto Fanfic)

First Moves

Hinata ate dinner in a daze that night, not sure how to go about dating someone. In fact, this was the same predicament she was always in, wanting to go out with someone and not knowing what to do about it.

Still, she mused, this was different. Always before she'd been longing after Naruto, who never even seemed to realize she was around. Or if he did, was sweet, but blind to her feelings. The name she'd drawn from the teacup had been Chouji's. Would he look at her as if she wasn't there too?

Hiashi finished his final course and waited until the servant cleared the dish before looking around at them all. "The Winter Festival is coming up. I'm going to need guest names for the luncheon."

Hinata's eyes went wide. That's right! She'd forgotten that the Hyuuga clan always had a celebratory luncheon prior to the start of the festival. This had never mattered before, as she'd never been anyone's date at the festival before. She winced slightly as she recalled some of the escorts her father had 'graciously' provided for her each year.

"One." Neji said quietly, he too letting the servant clear his plate.

Hiashi grunted as he nodded. "TenTen again? She is a lovely kunoichi. Talented."

Neji nodded absently, his mind elsewhere.

Hinata opened her mouth to tell them that TenTen would NOT be attending the festival with Neji this year. She closed her mouth a moment later, without saying a word. Her face heated up and turned red. Poor Neji. Still, it wasn't her place to tell him.

"I'm inviting Toko Miashi and his two sons. They can escort …" Her father began, startling Hinata into acting without thought.

"No." Hinata breathed out, her voice barely a whisper.

Still, it was loud enough to stop her father as he turned to stare at her with cool detachment. "Toko-san is an important man in this village. There is nothing wrong with his sons. Would you embarrass the family by going alone?"

"No." Hinata said, a little louder. This was it. Now or forever remain silent, and marry the choice her father eventually would make for her. "I want to invite someone."

"No. Absolutely not." Shocked, Hiashi's eyes flew to Neji who was looking hard at Hinata. "He's a good man, I'll admit, but …there's no need to put yourself through asking him. You'll only faint. Again. You'll never actually ask him and end up going alone. Just accept the escort, it'll be easier. Invite him over another day. Lunch next week perhaps?" Neji said rather condescendingly, even if his intention was kind.

"You know who she would invite?" Hiashi asked, a bit surprised that his shy daughter had her eye on anyone. He'd seen no evidence of that when he'd ask her about her day each night.

Neji shrugged, a bit surprised himself that his uncle didn't already know about Naruto. "She likes …"

Hinata rushed to interrupt, something she never did. "I want to ask Chouji."

Neji stopped, stunned. Even Hanabi blinked twice at her, then grinned widely.

"Akamichi Chouji?" Hiashi asked, puzzled. He thought it over a moment and then nodded. "A good choice. Nice family, strong and with a decent lineage. Not rich monetarily, but with good political connections and they own a decent amount of land around the area. I approve."

"You do?" Hinata looked and felt a bit stunned. In fact, she'd not really considered needing her father's approval to ask Chouji on a date. Neji's comments had sort of pushed her into it.

"Really?" Her cousin asked, still looking a bit off kilter.

Hiashi nodded, even giving a tight-lipped smile at them all. "In fact the more I think about it, the more I like it. Hinata, this is an excellent choice, you surprise me making such a well-thought out decision."