Hello reader! Dragoon Tidus here. This is my second attempt at a Naruto romance fic. This one will be much slower, and will focus mainly on Naruto and Hinata. I will develop their relationship slowly. With that said, on with the show!

Chapter One: How the Autumn Leaf Dances

It was October 10th. He had dreamt of returning home for three years. Today was his sixteenth birthday. He was Uzumaki Naruto, Vessel of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Walking alongside Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, one of the Three Great Shinobi of Konoha legends, Naruto's sky blue eyes darted down the familiar main street of his home village of Konoha. He wanted to do nothing more than see his old friends, and maybe have a bowl of miso pork ramen. He turned to his mentor, his friend and sensei Jiraiya.

"Hey, can we stop by Ichiraku before we go see Tsunade-baa-chan? I haven't had ramen in three years!"

The white-haired man knew exactly how much the boy loved his ramen, so he nodded.

"Sure. But you go on ahead. Meet me at the Hokage Tower in two hours. We need to submit our report."

Naruto was already dashing off at a hunger-driven speed, towards the very spot Jiraiya had taken him from three years ago.

"Crazy kid. He's just like Minato was at that age. If only you could see your son now Minato. He's gotten very powerful. Maybe stronger than you were at his age. He even mastered the Rasengan in one month."

Jiraiya's gaze traveled up to the stone faces of the Hokages, and his eyes rested on the stern face of Namikaze Minato, the boy's father and the Fourth Hokage. Of course, few people in the village knew just who Naruto's parents actually were. Among the living, only Tsunade, Kakashi and he knew the truth. He watched the boy run into the adjoining street where Ichiraku Ramen was situated, and he used his Transparency Jutsu to go "researching" as the slight pervert called it.

Naruto walked slowly towards the little ramen stand, and noticed someone else was there. All he could see was the person's feet, which he could not discern an identity from just the shoes. He cautiously and casually walked towards the booth, and swung the paper lanterns out of the way, and his heart melted at who he saw. She had raven hair that flowed silkily to her waist, and her skin was very pearly. Their eyes met, and sky blue gazed upon pearl white eyes. It was Hyuga Hinata, but not the one he remembered. The Hinata he once knew was a dark and mysterious girl. The person he looked upon today was completely different. She was gorgeous.

"N-n-n-Naruto-kun? Is that r-r-really you?"

The blonde was speechless. Ayame, the daughter of Ichiraku's owner, looked him over, and whispered to Hinata.

"Sure enough. I think he might be shocked to see someone he knew. Either that, or he forgot how to talk."

Naruto was known for his stupidity around the village, but it was even better known that the heir to the Hyuga Clan was madly in love with him. Hinata never admitted or denied it, but it was blatantly obvious to everyone. Everyone except Naruto. If only he knew how I really felt about him. Maybe he'll never see it, the Hyuga thought. Naruto sat next to her, and smiled, finally breaking out of his trance.

"Hinata. I didn't know you liked ramen."

A slight blush spread itself across her face, as Ayame and her father quietly retreated into the backroom, leaving the two young shinobi alone. Hinata softly giggled. I'm all alone with Naruto-kun. I can finally talk to him, just as friends. Compose yourself Hinata. No stuttering.

"How was your training Naruto-kun? You were away for so long. We all missed you."

The blonde gave that dopey smile he always had around her, and Hinata felt her heart beat fast.

"Well, I learned how to control my chakras better. I also learned to improve the Rasengan. Jiraiya taught me about genjutsu, but I just can't seem to understand the importance."

Hinata looked concerned. He had said chakras. Shinobi only have one chakra. She felt the need to ask.

"Naruto-kun. Why did you say chakras?"

Naruto looked pained to have been asked that. Tears formed in his eyes. He didn't like to tell his friends that he harbored the great demon fox. She had a right to know however. Hinata saw his tears, and she looked ashamed. She stood to go and started to walk, but he held a grip on her hand. It was a soft loving touch, the touch she had longed for. Naruto stood, completely unaware that he held her hand in his.

"Meet me at the lake at the top of the mountains. I'll tell you there. Bring a swimsuit. I want to swim. Meet me there at midnight."

Naruto slowly slipped away from her, ashamed that he had held her hand the way he did. He was already more than an hour late for his meeting with Jiraiya and Tsunade. He quickly hurried to Hokage Tower, and stood before Tsunade, second of the Sannin. Tsunade was very compassionate about Naruto's training. He was being hunted by Akatsuki. That was the reason he had been away for three years. Tsunade spoke to Naruto, questioning him directly about his birthday.

"So Naruto. Today you turn sixteen. Do you have anything you wish to do? Or anything you want to know?"

The young ninja thought briefly and nodded.

"Well, I wanted to go up to the lake tonight at midnight with Hinata. She asked about…him."

He patted his stomach, implying the Kyuubi.

"Well, just don't tell her more than she needs to know. Oh, I have something to give you. Consider it a birthday gift from Jiraiya and I."

Tsunade handed him a small scroll. It was addressed to Uzumaki Naruto. He opened it and began to read.

Dear Naruto,

If you're reading this, I'm no longer in this world, but you my son are. It was decided by myself long ago that if I died before you turned sixteen, for the current Hokage to give this to you on that day. You are my son, and I wish I could be there to tell you happy birthday. But if you look out the window, you can see my face.

Watching you always from Heaven above,

Namikaze Minato,

The Fourth Hokage.

Naruto looked at Jiraiya and smiled.

"My father was the hero who saved this village from the Kyuubi. Now I know why you insisted on training me Jiraiya. But…who was my mother?"

Tsunade shook her head and smiled sadly.

"We don't have a picture of her. But her name was Uzumaki Kushina. A kunoichi of the former Whirlpool Village. She is buried in a private cemetery, reserved for the Hokages. She is buried there, with your father. It was also his wish for you to visit their graves on this day. Come with me."

Tsunade walked downstairs, and to the Hokage Memorial Grounds, and pointed to the grave of the Fourth and his loving wife Kushina. Naruto quietly knelt beside his parent's final resting place, and placed a cherry blossom on their grave, offering a silent prayer to them both. Standing, he politely asked to be excused, for his midnight rendezvous with the beautiful Hinata. He quickly headed home, and changed into his swimsuit, and raced towards the mountaintop, where Hinata stood in the shadows, eagerly awaiting Uzumaki Naruto.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Notes: I really enjoyed writing this out. Please read and enjoy it. Reviews are welcome. Thank you for reading.