Long time ago, there was a demon monster striking the village of Konoha [木の葉がくれの里], known as Nine-Tailed Demon Monster a.k.a. 九尾の横 [Kyuubi no Yoko]. The monster was so powerful that a single shake of one of its tail alone may cause a giant tsunami. Many lives were lost during the Kyuubi attack. Even the ruler of Konoha who was also the strongest man in the village, Yondaime Hokage (Fourth Hokage) was no match for the violent monster. Desperate with the situation, he sealed Kyuubi inside a newborn baby, once and for all with the cost of his own life. The name of the newborn baby was Uzumaki Naruto.
The village of Konoha was saved, but Yondaime Hokage died after defeating Kyuubi and his position as the ruler of Konoha was returned to Sarutobi, the third Hokage. Meanwhile, Naruto lived a very hard life during his early childhood because he was alienated by nearly the whole villagers, fearing that he was a reincarnation of Kyuubi. Only a few person knew the truth behind Naruto's genesis, including the current Hokage himself. Most of the children avoided him, fearing that he might become a monster. However, there were still some kids who were willing to become his friend, including a shy girl named Hyuuga Hinata.
Hinata often spent her times alone picking flowers during her times. Sometimes she trained her ninjutsu arts from her father Hiashi, but she often gave up and said that she was not as good as her cousin Neji. One day, she was bullied by some boys while picking up some flowers.
"What are you picking, pretty girl?" one of the boys asked her.
"Hinata trembled with fear. "Mmm... morning glories..." she replied with fear.
"Morning glories, huh?" another boy raised his voice. "What for? As a present for your boyfriend...?"
Hinata became frightened. "N-n-no..." she replied. "I picked the flowers because I like them."
"You like them, huh...?" another boy asked. "Well then, there's no reason why you should have those flowers!" he began snatching the flowers and yelled.
The boys moved forward and seized her flowers, leaving Hinata in tears. "No..." she cried as the boys took away her flowers. "Please don't take my flowers!"
Suddenly there was a loud voice from behind. "Give her back her flowers and leave her alone!" a stranger shouted. "Get lost!"
The boys looked behind. This time, they became frightened. "Demon monster...!!!" they yelled and ran, leaving the flowers they took earlier behind. It was actually Naruto who yelled at the boys.
After the group of naughty boys fled away, Naruto came and approached Hinata who was still crying. "Are you okay?" he asked while returning Hinata's flowers that he took back from the naughty boys.
Hinata wiped her tears and looked and Naruto. She began to smile. "Yeah, I'm okay now," she replied. "Thanks for saving me."
Naruto smiled. "Just a small matter," said Naruto. "Don't worry about that."
Then Hinata brought Naruto to the garden where she usually picked her flowers. Hinata stared at Naruto. "You're... Naruto, that Kyuubi monster guy, am I right?" asked Hinata.
"Yeah," replied Naruto, "and your name...?"
"Hinata... Hyuuga Hinata," she replied shyly and began to blush. "Everyone says that you're a deadly monster but you appear as a hero to me."
"Really...?" Naruto felt surprised. He couldn't believe his ears. How could a guy who was said to be the reincarnation of Kyuubi become a hero? It was the first time he was acknowledged as a hero. "Do I really look as a hero?" he asked again.
"Y-yeah, trust me!" Hinata tried to convince her hero. "You came and... saved me from those naughty boys. Who knows... in the future you will become... the legendary hero in Konoha..." she began to blush again.
Naruto looked at Hinata. "Yeah, of course I will!" said Naruto with full determination. "I will never die before I become the next Hokage! I want all villagers in Konoha acknowledge me! So I want to protect this village from enemies with my own life because I love this village!"
Hinata was surprised when hearing Naruto's words. Suddenly she had an extraordinary sensation, a feeling that she never had before. She felt her heartbeat was increasing. Her face became red. What was she feeling right now? Was it the feelings of affection, or was it the feelings of love? It seemed that the word 'love' from Naruto became the key of her heart. In other words, she started to have a crush with Naruto.
Then Naruto felt something strange at Hinata. Her face was already red. Was she having a fever? "Hey Hinata, are you alright?" he asked. "Your face is all red now." He put his right hand on Hinata's forehead.
Hinata felt surprised. It seemed that Naruto had found out. "I-I-I'm alright," the shy Hinata replied.
Naruto looked at Hinata. "Oh, okay..." he said. "Tomorrow is our first day at the ninja academy right? Well then, see you again tomorrow! Bye!" he waved his hands and fled.
"Okay," Hinata smiled and waved her hands towards Naruto. "I-I'm waiting... for you there... tomorrow..."
Yes, that's right. Hinata was waiting forever for him, hoping that one day they will be together. Was it a beginning? She hoped so, even though she was still too afraid to confess directly to Naruto... but someday he might be hers, right?