A Subtle Shift

11| Reopened Wounds

"We'll leave you to it," Sakura said, tossing Naruto a wave as she pulled Sasuke away, already lecturing his ear off. Sai also said his goodbyes before setting off in the opposite direction, leaving Naruto to face Hinata alone.

So much for friends, his brain muttered as the Hyuga princess approached him. It's fine. You got this. As for explaining everything... well, hopefully she won't question too much.

"Wishful thinking," Kurama's voice rumbled. "You think a girl who's helplessly in love with someone who's been missing for a decade will have no questions? You'll be lucky if this doesn't end up being an interrogation. In fact, I'm already pissed off just thinking about it. Nag, nag, nag, that's all you humans do."

Why not just give her a chance? Naruto thought, watching as Hinata ran toward him. She's sweet.

"She's also an enemy."

What? No she isn't.

"Anyone who isn't me is an enemy. I thought we established that."

Would it kill you to have at least a few humans you consider comrades?

"No, it wouldn't. Nothing can kill me, you impudent brat."

I highly doubt that.

"H-Hinata," Naruto said, taking a step forward as the princess slowed to a stop. "Hey, uh, I came back from my mission yesterday. Sorry I didn't tell you. I couldn't find you."

"Th-that's alright," Hinata said, fidgeting. "I just—I want to talk. Are you busy right now?"

"*"

"I see." She stared at her lap, thinking hard.

Naruto tried his best to fill her in on everything, except for his apparent family, Yuto, and why he was so hellbent on finding Orochimaru. He told her about the hatred poured onto him as a kid, and about how he went into isolation. He told her about the bunker, the stealing, and his sudden disappearance. He... also told her about Kurama, but she didn't seemed as shocked as he expected. In fact, he was waiting for her to lash out at some point and call him a monster, but she only listened tentatively.

"And then Sasuke found me," he finished calmly. They both sat on the a bench in front of the pond that him and Shikamaru sat at the night previous. "He took me to Sakura, who healed me, and then they took took me to Lady Hokage." Against my will, I might add.

Hinata shifted. "Yes, I know. Lady Hokage summoned me and all the other shinobi to fill us in on you yesterday afternoon."

Yesterday afternoon? Is that why Shikamaru approached me? Did he want to see what type of person I was?

"In fact... I offered to introduce you to the other shinobi our age, if that's alright with you. There's a fixed time—an hour from now."

Introduce me? What? No, I can't do that! It was never my intention to get close to anybody! They might look at him with that same expression on their faces—that of hatred, disgust, repulsion. This was Naruto's worst nightmare. His biggest fear.

So, naturally, he said, "Yeah, sure. That's fine with me."

"You're such a pain."

I know, Naruto's mind whined as he mentally face-palmed. He gave Hinata an easy grin.

"Hey, um, I know you see me as your savior and whatnot but... trust me, I'm not all-wonderful like you think." It was extremely hard to say it out loud because Hinata was one of the few people who admired him. He didn't want to lose anyone important to him, but she at least deserved to know the truth. "I have my flaws. My many, many flaws."