Konoha children's crusade Chapter 12 Part 1

Chapter Twelve: Hinata's tale: Everytime we touch.

Their first date was… interesting.

Six months had passed since the big climactic battle between the Konoha eleven and the masked Akatsuki leader. They had triumphed. Kabuto had escaped with whatever dark powers he had to wreak havoc another day. There had been a brief scuffle with Sasuke on the field, with the whole group facing off against him. Sasuke was insanely strong and ranting like a lunatic. He had fled when he was opposed with the whole Allied shinobi force. Swearing vengeance against the Leaf Village and anyone else who got in his way, he vanished. Hinata helped Naruto up from the battlefield. She stared into his eyes and gave his hand an extra squeeze. "You are a hero once again Naruto-kun!" she said to him proudly. He smiled at her in a nervous sort of way. He thanked her and excused himself.

Naruto took it hard, that once again, he had been unable to save his friend. He disappeared for days at a time training. When he was seen in the village, he was either going to or leaving the Hokage's mansion. The shouting matches he was having with Tsunade-sama were becoming legendary.

It was if something had snapped in Naruto's head. It was almost as if he had lost interest in anything that didn't make him stronger. Hinata tried to find something inspiring about this, she tried to follow his example. She had long suspected that she had water nature chakra, so she took advantage of the all the good will from the Allied shinobi force to get some advice from some friendly shinobi from the Hidden Mist Village. She had some talent at it. They taught her some of the basics, and she went on to develop a few interesting jutsu. She kept hoping that she could show Naruto. Maybe they could compare techniques. Maybe then they might sit down and talk about... things.

Hinata tried her best to be nice to him. It was hard when it felt like he was rejecting her at every turn. She would stop him on the street and try to talk to him. He would talk to her briefly, laugh and smile, but at some point, he always seemed to get nervous and their conversation would awkwardly die.

After about a month of this, he simply disappeared. Nobody saw him. Nobody knew where he was. Even the owners of Ichiraku ramen were asking after him. The Fifth Hokage took him off of missions. When Hinata tried to ask her about it, she said "If that little doofus wants to run off and get himself killed, then I can't stop him. In fact I'm glad to be rid of him!"

"But Hokage-sama, can't you at least tell me where he is? All of us are very worried."

Tsunade frowned and looked down at her desk. "I'm sorry. The location he is at is classified."

"Oh," said Hinata crestfallen. "Perhaps I could get a message to him then?"

Tsunade slumped back in her chair. "If I thought you could talk some sense into his thick skull, I'd take you there myself, even though I'd have an international incident on my hands."

Hinata looked up. "Is he in some sort of danger?" she asked with a hint of alarm in her voice.

"Not yet he isn't," grumbled Tsunade. Tsunade folded her hands and looked Hinata over. She appeared to be thinking hard about something. "Naruto is on a very secret S-rank mission right now. The four other Kage's and I made a promise to him, and we intend to keep it, as foolish as it seems right now." She looked down at her desk and looked over the pile of papers there. "He's a very driven young man. Personally, I've seen him obsess over things, but never this bad." She glanced up at Hinata again. "I wish I knew how to remind him that there is more to life than finding Sasuke Uchiha. I wish I knew of some way to convince him to come back to the village, maybe remind him of the friends and comrades he is ignoring right now." Tsunade stared up at the ceiling and thought carefully.  "I'm sorry, Hinata. I cannot violate my oath and reveal where Naruto is training." She made a small smile up at the ceiling. "But it would be silly to order every single person in the village to not try to communicate with him. I wonder if anyone here will be motivated enough to figure out some way to pass a message to him?"

Hinata blushed and looked down. "Thank you Hogake-sama," she said bowing. She turned to leave, wondering where she should begin her search.

Tsunade cleared her throat quietly. "If anyone does happen to get in touch with Naruto please tell him to inform his rapper friend that if he makes any more rhymes about the size of my 'booty' I'll break his arms. All eight of them," said Tsunade angrily. She looked at Hinata and winked.

Hinata bowed again quickly. "Thank you Hokage-sama," she said happily.

From the Hokage's mansion, she went straight to Ichiraku ramen. She bought a whole booklet of coupons for a free bowl of ramen. Hinata was grinning at her idea. Everyone knew how much Naruto adored ramen especially from Ichikaru. She ran back home and locked herself in her room. All she needed to do now was write the perfect letter. Something that would pull at his heart and make him want to come home. She got out a pen and paper and started to write.

          Dear Naruto,

I have been doing fine. How are you? The following has happened in the village while you are away…

She stopped and looked at what she had written. She crumpled up the paper and started again.

          Hi Naruto!

It's me Hinata! It's been so long since I've seen you I just had to write and ask how you are doing… So… What's up?

She looked that one over and sighed. That note was crumpled up as well and thrown into the trash.

          Naruto,

I saw these and thought of you. Please accept these as a token of my esteem and as thanks for saving my life…

"No, no, no, no, no!" said Hinata out loud. "That's too impersonal. I need to say what I really feel inside." She picked up her pen, took a deep breath, and tried again.

          My dearest Naruto,

I burn with desire while waiting for your return. How I long to see you again. I ache to have you hold me in your arms and press your lips up against mine. I dream nightly of finding you tapping on my bedroom window. I would awaken from my slumber and help you sneak inside. We would embrace under the moonlight as our mouths found each other. I would run my hands over your body as I help you undress. Slowly you would lower me down on my bed and then…

Hinata continued writing in that vein for a good ten minutes. She stopped and read what she had written. She started to blush. She read further and blushed more. She jumped and squealed, as there was a sudden knock at her door.

"Hey, Onee-san? What are you doing in there? Are you okay?" There was a pause, and Hanabi knocked again. "Hinata? Are you there?"

"What is it Hanabi? I'm busy!"

"I saw you come running in here and lock yourself in your room. Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine," said Hinata clutching the most recent letter to her chest.

"Well, can I come in?" asked Hanabi. Still holding the letter Hinata got up and unlocked the door. Hanabi stepped in and looked at her sister. "Are you sure you are all right? Your face is all red."

"Is it?" asked Hinata, trying to be calm. She tightened her grip on the letter. "It must be from me running home."

"Uh-huh," said Hanabi. She looked at Hinata holding the papers to her chest. Her eyes flickered to her overflowing trash can and to the pens and paper all neatly laid out on her desk. "What are you writing?" she asked.

"Something very personal." The papers crinkled as Hinata crushed them even tighter.

Hanabi shrugged. "Fine, don't tell me. I don't want to read your stupid love letters anyway."

Hinata blushed bright red. "How did you know?"

Hanabi laughed at her. "I didn't, but it looks like I guessed right!" Hanabi's laughter slowed down. "Have fun, Onee-san." She turned to leave.

"Hey Hanabi?" called Hinata. Hanabi stopped and turned. "How would you tell a boy you liked him?"

"In a letter?" Hanabi thought, and then shrugged. "I don't know. I've never done it."

"But if you had to, what would you say?"

Hanabi twisted her mouth in thought. "Well, if I liked someone… I'd probably say 'Hey! Hey you! I like you! What are you going to do about it?' Why do you ask?"

Hinata shook her head. "No reason, I just need a little help writing it."

Hanabi took a step forward and reached for the letter. "Well, let me see what you have so far."

"No!" squealed Hinata. She flinched and jerked the papers farther away from Hanabi. "No. It's not good enough for someone else to read yet."

Hanabi stared at her. "Ooookay… You're quite the weird one Sis." She turned and started to walk out. "If you change your mind and want me to help, just let me know."

Hinata closed the door and locked it again. Then she crumpled up the most recent letter and threw it in the trash. She stared at the trash can and imagined someone pulling out the crumpled letter, smoothing it out, and reading it. She quickly dashed back to the trashcan found that particular letter, and burned it. She then opened her windows to air the smoke out of her room, and sat back down at her desk.

She thought for a long time. "Simple, yet direct," was what she settled on. She picked up her pen and began to write.

          Dear Naruto,

I hope that you are well, wherever you are. I thought you might appreciate these when you get back to the village because it is so hard to get good ramen when one is abroad. Please come back soon. We all miss you. I miss you.

-Hinata

She folded the message and put it in an envelope with the ramen coupons. She scrawled an address on the outside, grabbed her purse, and headed out.


The courier ninja looked down at the envelope. He looked up at Hinata and then looked back down at the envelope again. "There isn't much of an address here, you know."

"I know," said Hinata quietly.

"I mean usually we have more to go on than 'Naruto Uzumaki, c/o Killer Bee, Parts unknown'. You haven't really given us much to work with here."

"I know," Hinata said again.

The courier ninja sighed. "Is there anything else you can give me here? A village they might be near? A landmark perhaps? The country they are in maybe?"

"Are you saying you won't do it?" asked Hinata sadly.

The courier ninja shook his head. "Oh no, we will certainly try, a courier ninja will deliver anything, anywhere or die trying. It's just that the harder it is the more the expense for delivery goes up, you understand? This," he said, shaking the envelope. "Is going to be pretty expensive."

"How expensive is that?" asked Hinata, opening her purse.

"Sixty thousand ryo."

Hinata's hand hesitated for a second, and then reached for her check book. "I'd like to add express delivery to that charge please."

The courier ninja sighed. "Of course you would."

The letter went on its way. Hinata felt pretty clever using the courier ninja system to do the searching for her. She considered the money well spent. Hinata also liked the letter for one other reason. It put the response completely in Naruto's hands. Hinata felt a little uneasy about pushing him too much. If anything was going to happen between them at this point, she wanted it to be Naruto's decision. She still cared for him. She still loved him. She wanted to be with him. It was just that he seemed to be pushing everyone away from him right now. There were times that she just wanted to shrug and walk away saying "Oh well, I told him I loved him… What more can I do? At least I tried." These were counterbalanced with flashes of such longing that she could barely stand it. There had to be something else she could do, she would just not give up on him, not give up on the hope, that one day, they might be... together... maybe.

It was a long four-month wait.

Ino had just had another one of her relationships go sour, this time, after only three weeks. Sakura had called the girls together to go out for snacks and maybe a movie, in the hopes that they could console her. Ino always needed a lot of consoling.  

"…I just don't understand what is the matter with all the boys in this village!" snapped Ino. "Seriously! They are all either shallow, creepy, obsessed with training, or just not interested." She rested her head down on the table. "It's hopeless!" she moaned.

"Oh, come on Ino," said Sakura, chewing on another dango. "You're just being too picky. There are lots of guys around here that would die to have a chance with a girl like you."

"Oh yeah?" asked Ino, her face buried in the table. "Name three."

"Well for starters we could ask Tenten here," Sakura pointed across the table. Tenten looked up from her drink and raised an eyebrow. "Both the guys on her team are single."

"I can't believe you would actually go there Sakura," said Ino. "I've been on missions with Neji and he is the coldest person I've ever met. Going out on a date with him would be like going to some lecture at the academy." She lifted her head up slightly. "And I'm going to pretend that you never even mentioned old bushy brows."

Tenten gave Ino a sour look. "Hey! I'll have you know that Neji is a pretty nice guy once you get to know him. He just takes a little while to warm up that's all. Once you've spent as much time with him as I have, you learn that he's kind and considerate and he's always super polite." She smiled. "It's really kind of cute."

"I wouldn't go ruling out Lee either," said Sakura. "He's a great guy. He's enthusiastic, friendly, he's always been generous to me. Sure, he may not have the handsomest face, but I saw him at his last physical, and let me tell you his body is an anatomical chart. Every muscle is right there."

Ino grunted and rocked her head on the table. "Fine," said Sakura. "Hinata's right here as well. Let's ask her for advice. Both Kiba and Shino are available."

Ino lifted up her head. "Shino?" she said incredulously. "Shino? I mean he's nice enough I guess but…" she shuddered. "No."

"So why don't you try asking Kiba-kun if he wants to do anything?" asked Hinata. "He's always been very nice to me."

"Because I'd rather not go out with someone whose idea of a dinner date is a five mile run through the woods and then cooking what ever you caught and killed with your bare hands over a campfire." Ino made a face. "Plus he takes his dog with him everywhere he goes. Everywhere!"

"Akamaru is a very nice dog," said Hinata loyally.

"Alright, so that's a no to Kiba and a no to Shino," said Sakura. "What about Sai? You went out with him before, why don't you try him again?"

Ino propped her head up inside her hands and sighed. "Going out on a date with Sai was like being starving in the woods and finding a huge mushroom. It looks mouth wateringly delicious, but you know the first little nibble will be poisonous." Ino looked up. "Never again."

Tenten finished her drink. "You know, I thought Choji looked kind of cute, after he used his chakra control technique and made those huge butterfly wings during the fourth ninja war. I mean he was tall, muscled," Tenten smiled, "all that wavy hair. Why don't you try asking him out?"

Ino squirmed. "I like Choji. He's a great guy. It's just that he's more of a friend, you know?" She sighed. "I don't know, I guess that I worry that if we went out it would kind of mess everything up." Her mouth twitched in a smile. "He was cute all skinny like that wasn't he?"

Tenten nodded. "Buns of steel."

"Most of the older guys are out. They are already taken," said Ino crabbily. "The whole allied shinobi force turned into one big speed dating session there at the end."

"That's kind of true," said Sakura slowly. "I guess you just get to know people a lot better when you fight alongside them, and you get to trust them like that." Sakura shrugged. "I guess it's as good a place to meet people as any."

"Either that or a good fight just tends to make make everyone all hot and bothered." Tenten leaned back and grinned. "I felt pretty... wound up after the battle, you know?" She looked around the table. Everyone was staring at her. "What?" she asked.

"Say, aren't Kakashi-sensei and Anko-sensei spending an awful lot of time together these days?" asked Hinata carefully.

"That's a little bit different," said Sakura. "He did rescue her from Kabuto you know." She made a small whimsical smile. "It's so romantic being rescued."

"Yeah, if you don't mind looking like a complete weakling," scoffed Tenten.

"Well, if we've ruled out everyone from Konoha, then why don't you try asking out someone from a different village?" asked Hinata. "Like Shikamaru did."

"Shikamaru?" yelled Ino, her voice going up an octave. "That little dweeb is letting that stupid Sand bitch drag his sorry ass all over the village. 'Oh, let's go here. Oh I want to go there.' She is so superficial it makes me sick." Ino sighed. "All they ever do is fight and argue. He keeps complaining to me that she always gets her way in everything." Ino snorted. "That's because he always gives in because he is such a lazy bum. I don't know what she sees in him, or what he sees in her for that matter."

"I've always thought Temari was kind of pretty," said Sakura.

Tenten smiled. "Maybe Shikamaru just likes older women?"

Ino looked away. "Yeah, well who cares. As far as I am concerned the bitch and the lazy bum are just perfect for eachother." She folded her arms and stared at her dango. "They can both go rot for all I care."

"I'm sure there have to be people from another village who you would find nice," said Hinata.

Ino sighed and shook her head. "I'm just not cut out for a long distance relationship Hinata. They are so hard." She half hugged herself and smiled dreamily. "I need someone who will be right there for me. I need to be pampered, and to feel loved. I need someone who will cook me dinner and give me foot rubs." Ino sighed again. "I need someone to be my knight in shining armor."

"Weakling…" muttered Tenten under her breath.

Ino scowled at her. Tenten just laughed. Ino sighed dramatically. "I guess I'm just destined to be a spinster… Alone for the rest of my life."

Sakura snorted. "Ino, I'll bet you've had more dates than anyone else at this table." She glanced quickly at Tenten and Hinata. "I'll bet that you've had more dates than all of us combined."

Ino laughed. "Well I know I've been out on more dates than you, billboard brow. I know for a fact that you've only had one."

"Hey, I've had two!" said Sakura, holding up two fingers. "You're forgetting that time Lee took me out to lunch."

"Oh yeah?" asked Ino slyly. "Did he try to give you a goodbye kiss?"

"No!" said Sakura, offended. "He was a perfect gentleman."

Ino shrugged. "I say it doesn't count if there wasn't any smooching." She turned to Tenten. "So how many dates have you been on?"

Tenten shrugged and looked away. "I don't know, one or two maybe."

"Really?" asked Sakura. "I didn't know this. When? Who?"

"And what do you mean by 'maybe'?" asked Ino.

Tenten squirmed in her seat. "Well, Neji's asked me to the spring festival two years running now."

"Is that so?" asked Ino raising an eyebrow. "And how many dates is that if you apply the smooching rule?"

Tenten blushed. "One, I guess."

Sakura giggled. "Well I guess Neji isn't as single as I thought."

"Really Tenten, going for a little teammate on teammate action?" teased Ino. "You're as bad as Sakura here."

"Ino!" said Sakura, annoyed. "Just drop it okay?"

Tenten sat back. "What? Who did you go out with Sakura… Was it, you know, Sasuke?"

"Nope," said Ino smugly. "It was Naruto."

"Oh, shut up Ino-pig," said Sakura, "that date definitely doesn't pass the smooching test. Are you okay Hinata?"

Hinata managed to stop choking. "I'm okay," she coughed. "Something just went down the wrong way." She quickly looked down to hide her shock.

Ino turned to Hinata. "So Hyuga-san, it's time to fess up."

"Excuse me?" asked Hinata.

"Come on Hinata weren't you paying attention? How many dates have you been on, what boys have you seen?"

"Oh... Well… No one really," said Hinata embarrassed.

"Really? No one? No one at all?" asked Tenten.

"Well, no," said Hinata, fidgeting with her fingers. "You see, my father is really strict and he won't let me date anyone without meeting them first, and then only if he gives his permission."

Sakura looked at her with sympathy. "Wow Hinata, that's really harsh… And he's never said yes?"

"No… not yet," mumbled Hinata.

"Wow," said Ino. "All right then. I guess I have had more dates than you guys."

"And how many dates was that?" asked Tenten.

"Kind of a lot I guess," said Ino.

"Oh no you don't," countered Tenten. "We had to spill everything, as pathetic as it was. You just can't back out now."

Ino sighed. "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes!" said Sakura and Tenten together.

"Fine," said Ino. She began to count off on her fingers. "I first went out with Sai, and we all know how that ended up. Then I had a date with Rokiro, that guy was a total creep. Then there was Yori, he was okay but just so full of himself. I was ready to bite off my own arm at the end of the night just to escape. Then there was…"

Hinata tuned her out. Sakura had gone out on a date with Naruto? When did this happen? The shock had hit her like a bucket full of cold water. Was this why he had been ignoring her? Hinata glanced up at Sakura. She didn't seem to be that interested in him. She trusted him. She liked him. But did she really like Naruto the way that Hinata did? Hinata sighed. That didn't really matter. What mattered was what Naruto thought.

"…I think that's all of them," said Ino with a sigh. "All sixteen. But don't you guys get it? Yes, I may have dated a lot, but where does that get me in the end? Nowhere." Ino slumped down in her seat. "We are all still in the same boat. Four gorgeous women, that no one cares about." She looked up suspiciously at Tenten. "Well three of us anyway." Tenten blushed. "Why do I even try?" moaned Ino.

"Well, you've got to keep trying Ino-chan," said Hinata. "Like everything in life you just have to try your hardest and trust that in the end everything will all work out." She smiled at Ino. "Look at me, I have a lot of odds stacked against me. I'm not popular, I'm not confident. I'm not as pretty as you or Sakura or Tenten. I keep trying to improve myself, but nothing ever seems to work out for me…" She blushed as all the girls started to stare at her. "But I just keep telling myself to never give up." She smiled to herself. "Someone very special to me once said: "Don't underestimate me. I don't quit and I don't run. You can act tough all you want! You're not going to scare me off! No way!" Hinata looked up at the sky. "He said that in a most hopeless situation, when most normal people would give up. His courage… It just inspires me to try, even when it seems like a lost cause, you know?"

Ino, Sakura and Tenten were staring open mouthed. Hinata looked down, embarrassed. "What?" she asked and began to fidget with her fingers. "Did I say something wrong?" Hinata glanced up again. She realized that they were all staring at some point just beyond her left shoulder.

"Oh my," said Ino quietly. Hinata turned.

Standing right behind her was Naruto. His hair was longer and more unkempt. He needed a shave, and the stubble on his face gave him a wild untamed look. His skin was tanned a deep golden brown. He was wearing a t-shirt and carrying his orange jacket over one shoulder. He looked like he had put on about five kilos of muscle. His t-shirt was budging tight around his chest and shoulders. He looked dusty and travel stained. He looked like he had just gotten back to the village.

"Hey," he said quietly with a half smile. "Sorry to bother you. I was looking all over the village for you."

Sakura recovered first. "Naruto! You jerk!" she yelled jumping up from her chair. "You take off for five months without a word and then you think you can just stroll back in here? We were worried sick about you!" She wound up for a swing and let her fist fly.

Naruto caught her wrist and stopped it cold. Sakura looked at him in shock. "Hi Sakura," he said calmly. "I'm really sorry I left like that. It was pretty bad of me. I apologize for making you worry." He turned and looked at Hinata. He smiled at her in a shy way. "I was wondering if I could talk to Hinata for a minute." He pushed his hair out of his eyes. "Would that be okay?"

Hinata felt the blush creeping up her face. She looked down and tucked her hair behind her ears. She was suddenly very, very nervous. "Well, we were all supposed to meet here for dango," she said, fidgeting with her fingers, "and then we were all going to go over to the…"

"It's okay Hinata, we were almost done here anyway, right?" said Tenten grinning. "We'll just finish up here. Why don't you go see what Naruto wants and we'll meet up again some other time."

Sakura looked back and forth between Naruto and Hinata. She smiled at them sweetly, with just a hint of sadness. "Yeah, don't worry about it Hinata, we will see you later. Have fun!"

Ino was still staring at Naruto her mouth hanging open. Sakura kicked her under the table. "Ow!" said Ino. She rubbed her shin. "Yeah, have fun," she mumbled.

Hinata nodded and grinned shyly at them. "Thanks for inviting me," she said politely. "I'll see you later." Naruto smiled at her and nodded. He started walking back up the road. Hinata ran for a few steps to catch up to him, and then walked with him side by side.

"What was that?" asked Ino, stunned.

"Oh, my gosh! That was the cutest thing ever!" gushed Tenten. "Do you think he likes her? Neji's told me Hinata has had a crush on him like, forever!"

"More than a crush," said Sakura quietly. "Remember how she tried to save him when the Akatsuki invaded Konoha? She almost died."

"That's not what I'm talking about," said Ino grouchily. "Since when did Naruto become such a complete hottie? And the moment he appears Hinata just swoops in and snatches him up?" She let loose an explosive sigh and put her head back down on the table. "I never have any luck with men. This is so unfair."

Naruto looked around as they walked. "Wow, the village looks almost finished. It wasn't half this big when I left."

Hinata nodded shyly, and glanced away from him. "There has been almost non-stop construction since the village was destroyed. I think we've made really good progress."

Naruto kept staring. "It looks almost finished, but it just doesn't feel right somehow." He glanced over at Hinata and then looked at the buildings again. "I keep expecting to see the Hokage mansion, or the hospital, or even the old academy. Instead there are all these new ones I don't recognize." He frowned. "It's like the time I shrunk my pants in the laundry. They were still my pants, but they were too uncomfortable."

"I felt that way a little bit at first too," said Hinata. "There are little differences everywhere that make things seem strange. But then I realized that the people are all still here, and the people are what makes the Leaf Village a village." She quickly glanced at him and smiled. "So really it is like the village is just wearing a new outfit. Underneath the fancy new clothes, the important parts are still the same."

Naruto looked at her and smiled. "I've always liked your way with words Hinata." She blushed at his compliment. "Thank you for your letter by the way," he continued." I wasn't expecting to hear from anyone. It was a... nice surprise."

"Thank you," said Hinata fidgeting again. "I just wanted to let you know that everyone here really missed you."

"Well, I really liked it." Naruto glanced at her and looked quickly away. "I was surprised though because I thought that my location was totally secure and top secret. How did you find me?"

"Oh, well, I didn't. I just sent you the letter." Naruto gave her a very confused look, so she explained. "Have you ever met the courier-nin before?"

Naruto grimaced. "That bunch of loonies? Yes."

"Well, if you give them a package and pay their fee, they are honor bound to deliver the package no matter how ridiculous the request. So I wrote you a letter with your name on it, paid, and let them take care of the rest."

Naruto looked at her interested. "That was it? And it worked?"

Hinata shrugged. "That was it."

Naruto furrowed his brow. "How much did it cost?"

Hinata looked up at him and smiled. "It doesn't matter. I haven't been spending that much these days anyway." She glanced away. "I'm glad that you liked it," she said shyly.

They walked in silence for few steps. "So has there been any news while I've been away? Anything new happen?"

Hinata thought. "Not really. There's been the same old usual missions. The Great Shinobi alliance is still holding together. I hear from Sakura that the Fifth Hokage comes back from the meetings swearing that she is ready to declare the start of the Fifth great Ninja war, but she usually calms down in a day or so." She giggled. "No wars yet."

"Well, I'm glad that Granny Tsunade is keeping her temper in check. How is everyone else?"

"Well, do you remember during the war how Kakashi-sensei left to go track down Kabuto, and instead he came back with Anko-sensei?"

"Oh yeah, she was still in the hospital when I left. How is she?" asked Naruto.

"Much better now," Hinata blushed slightly. "Apparently she and Kakashi-sensei have been seeing a lot of each other. A lot."

"Kakashi-sensei and the scary lady?" said Naruto frowning. "I don't know if I can see that one, she's so outgoing and crazy. And he's so laid back, how does that work?"

A door to a shop in front of them burst open. A tall blond kunoichi was dragging a slouching dark haired Leaf ninja by the hand. "I don't see why it has to be such a struggle with you. Come on, it's just one more store." The blonde kunoichi nagged.

"You said 'just one more store' four shops ago," whined the dark haired ninja. "My feet hurt. Why can to just admit you are looking for something that doesn't exist?"

As Naruto stared at the scene in front of them Hinata leaned closer. "There have been a few other pairings as well," she whispered.

Shikamaru groaned loudly as Temari pulled him to the next store. "Why does shopping get you so worked up? Don't you get tired of being this feisty?"

Temari stopped suddenly and spun on him. "Maybe I like the thrill of the hunt. I like to chase out my quarry, and if you had one active bone in your body you might understand that!" she fumed at him. Shikamaru leaned back from her tirade with a pained expression. Temari looked at him angrily for a second and then took two steps forward. She grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Besides," she purred, "I thought you liked me feisty?" She leaned in closer.

Shikamaru cleared his throat, and dodged her kiss. "Hi Naruto," he said pointedly. "When did you get back in town?" Temari jumped and smoothed herself down. Shikamaru nodded at Hinata. "Hey Hinata."

"Naruto!" said Temari. Stepping forward and embracing him. "It's good to see you again! Gaara will be so happy to hear that you are back in one piece. He was worried when you dropped off the face of the earth like that."

"How is Garra doing?" asked Naruto, grinning.

Temari shrugged. "Still Kazekage. Still well intentioned. He's still frighteningly competent on some things and surprisingly naive on others. Still Gaara." She took a step back and looked him up and down. "Look at you, what have you been doing for training? You look fantastic!" Temari looked back at Shikamaru. "I wish I could convince him to train more."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "If I was all body you'd get bored with me and leave. You only want me for my mind, woman."

Temari leaned into him. "I happen to like the other bits that are attached too," she said in a low sexy voice.

Shikamaru blushed. "So Naruto," he said trying to change the subject. "When did you get back?"

"Just now," said Naruto. "I met Hinata and we decided to go out for a walk and…"

"Hinata Hyuga, right? interrupted Temari. "I think we've met a few times right?" Hinata nodded. "Well let me just say that you two make the most adorable couple. When did you start dating?"

"Well…" started Hinata, blushing bright red.

"This is just perfect, I've been looking for another couple that Shikamaru and I could be friends with. I wanted to double date in this town for so long, but do you know that everybody here is so uptight about dating that…"

Shikamaru sidled up to Naruto. "Welcome to my world," he said quietly.

Naruto looked at Hinata smiling and nodding as Temari talked her ear off. "I've always thought that Temari was nice, but a little on the scary side." He cast a sideways glance at Shikamaru. "So... How's being in a relationship?"

Shikamaru shrugged and looked down. "She can be a bit of a drag sometimes." He blushed and looked over at her. A smile spread across his face. "But the times she isn't makes it all worthwhile."

"…so we will just have to set something up," said Temari in an animated voice. A clock bell began to chime, and she quickly looked up. "But not right now, it's getting late, and I still have lots more places I want to visit." She grabbed Shikamaru's hand. "Come Shikamaru!" She bowed to Naruto and Hinata. "Naruto it's always nice to see you. Nice meeting you as well, Hyuga-san." She pulled Shikamaru off

As he was being dragged away, he leaned close to Naruto. "Help me!" he whispered. A shop bell rang and they disappeared.

Naruto and Hinata stared at each other for a long moment. Naruto scratched his head and looked away embarrassed. "Well… Um… She is right about it getting late. I should probably report in to Tsunade-obachan and let her know I'm back. Then I need to see if there's a place available for me to move into for a little while."

"You don't have a place to stay?" asked Hinata.

Naruto grinned. "Well, my old apartment and all my stuff was destroyed when Pain attacked, then I slept in a tent like everyone else while the village was being rebuilt. After that I was on a boat, then I was on an island, then I was back in a tent for the war. After the war I was here in temporary housing, and then I left again." He shrugged. "I haven't had a place to call my own in over a year now."

"Well, my family has been involved with a lot of the construction in the village," said Hinata looking down at her feet. "Do you want me to ask if they have anything available?"

Naruto thought about it. "Maybe… If Granny Tsunade doesn't have anything available I might take you up on that." He looked away towards the Hokage's residence. He looked back at Hinata and opened his mouth as if to say something, then he quickly shut it again. "Well," he said weakly. "I guess I'll see you around Hinata." He turned and started to walk away.

Hinata nodded sadly. "I'm glad you're back Naruto-kun," she called after him. "I'm glad you're safe."

Naruto stopped walking. A light breeze blew along the street swirling scattered leaves into the air. "Hey Hinata," he said turning. "I was just thinking, it isn't fair for you to get me all those ramen coupons, and then use them all myself…" He scratched his head again and looked down. "I was wondering, would you like to go out for ramen with me tomorrow night?"

Hinata's heart rate jumped. "I… I would like that very much." She blushed.

"Great," smiled Naruto. "It's a date then. Is six o'clock too early?"

"No," squeaked Hinata, feeling faint. "Six is fine."

"Okay then," said Naruto. "I'll pick you up at six." He smiled at her a little nervously.  "I'll see you then." He gave her a little wave and strolled off.

Hinata clenched her hands and took deep breaths. When Naruto was out of sight, she put both hands up to her mouth and squealed. Ignoring the people staring, she raced home.

She spent the rest of the evening in a daze. Her father kept giving her disapproving looks all evening. Hanabi kept pointing it out to everyone. "Onee-san is acting weird tonight," she would whisper loudly. Hinata ignored them. Nothing could ruin her mood.

After dinner, Neji pulled her aside. "I heard that Naruto was back in town," he said casually. "I heard he was asking after you."

Hinata smiled dreamily. "We went out for a walk."

Neji raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Hinata gasped. "Oni-san?" she asked frantically. "What should I do? He's coming by the house tomorrow night to pick me up for a date! What if Father wants to meet him? What if Naruto says something stupid? What if…"

Neji smiled and shook his head. "Ah, the nerves that come from young love." Hinata turned bright red. "I think you should let Hiashi-sama meet him don't you?"

Hinata played with her fingers. "But what if Father doesn't approve of him?"

Neji raised an eyebrow. "Not approve of the hero of the Leaf Village? Not approve of the hero of the Fourth great Ninja War? The man who triumphed over the Akatsuki?" Neji shook his head very slightly. "Hiashi-sama is a very proud man, but he is also very image conscious. How could he slight such a noble man?"

"But what if Naruto does something inappropriate?"

Neji looked at her. "I suppose I'll just have to have a little talk with him about etiquette at the front gate." Neji smiled. "What time is he supposed to show up?"

Hinata hugged him. "Oh thank you Oni-san! Thank you!" She stepped back and added. "He's coming at six."