First Story, Review if you want, flames or suggestions

Most of it will be fluff...don't read it if you don't like it

Will get better in the next few chapters


1.Going to the Hot Springs

It was another boring day with nothing to do. He had tried to ask Granny Tsunade for some missions, but because they had just gotten over the Akatsuki fiasco, she wanted him to take a break for a while. So with nothing to do so early, he might as well get some breakfast at Ichiraku's.

Teuchi noticed a young man in an orange jacket heading in their direction. He immediately began to prepare bowls of his favorite food, ramen.

"Hello Naruto. Nice to see you so early in the morning."

"Hey Teuchi." Naruto grabbed a seat and started to think about what to do for the rest of the day. He hardly liked to do nothing on his days off. He needed something to do, but what?

Noticing that Naruto wasn't as lively as he naturally was he couldn't help but be a little concerned. "What's wrong Naruto?"

"Hmm...oh sorry. Nothing really. It's just that Granny Tsunade doesn't have any missions for me just yet, and I don't have anything to do. I hate being bored."

"Well there's plenty to do on a nice day like today. Maybe you should go down to the hot springs?" This suggestion peaked Naruto's interest, and considered it while slurping down some ramen.

"That is a good idea. It would be nice to relax a little, huh?" Naruto happily finished his ramen, and asked for seconds. "But it would be kinda weird going alone wouldn't it?"

Teuchi teased him a bit "Why don't you ask your team-mate, Sakura?"



Naruto almost choked on his food "Are you crazy?! She'd probably knock me out just for even thinking it!" However, Naruto did find this idea a bit interesting. He'd have to mull it over after breakfast.

After paying the bill and telling Teuchi goodbye, he set out to look for Sakura. She would most likely be at Granny Tsunade's office. It would be a great day to go to the springs and chill out. Maybe Sakura would enjoy him asking. Lately, Sakura and Naruto seemed to have grown closer, but not romantically. Strangely, Naruto didn't seem to mind or care that she wasn't interested in him. He liked to think of her as just a friend now.

On his way to the Hokage's Mansion, he ran into Shino, Kiba, and Hinata. The three of them looked like they were returning from a mission. They seemed tired and looked a bit mangy.

Naruto cheerfully greeted them "Hey guys. What's up?"

Kiba always taking initiative, as was expected seeing as who his partners were, replied back "Nothing much. We're on our way to Lady Tsunade's."

"Coming back from a mission?"

"Yeah. It was a pretty standard B-Ranked mission, just escorting some aristocrat." He remarked while pompously sticking his nose in the air. Akamaru similarly did the same. Hinata gave a soft smile, while hiding behind Shino.

Laughing, Naruto decided to join them. "Well since we're going the same way might as well have some company, right?"

"Right." Kiba agreed. "But what do you need to see Tsunade for?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'm not going to see Granny today. I'm gonna ask Sakura if she'll go to the hot springs with me." His face showed no signs that he had an ulterior motive for wanting her to go with him.

Shocked that he had the courage to do that he surprisingly asked "Really? You don't think she'd find that a little perverted?" He gave him a dark grin.

Naruto now blushing a little thought about it. Was that a little strange? Surely friends go to hot springs together right, he assured himself.

"I don't think so. But then again who knows what women think." He chuckled a little.

Hinata was hiding and blushing at the idea of them sharing the springs together. He couldn't do such a thing-could he? She stood silently fiddling with her fingers until Kiba said something that made her day.

"Well what if all of us go along. Then she could be with Hinata too."

"That's a great idea, Kiba!"

"Yeah sure. We wouldn't mind a little down time, right guys?"

Shino simply nodded and gave a quiet "Sure."

Hinata, however, was red in the cheeks by now. "Um.. Y-yeah I wouldn't m-mind." She looked at Naruto through the sides of her eyes and quickly rushed her gaze down to the ground again. He was looking at her! How could she feel this embarrassed from just his eyes. Those two pools of cerulean blue could have had her mesmerized all day.

"Oh hey Hinata! I almost forgot about you since you're so quiet." He remarked with a big smile showing his stunning white teeth at her. She could have stared at that face all day. Until Kiba interrupted that is.



"Well let's get a move on shall we?"

--

While Kiba's group was reporting to Tsunade, Naruto decided to look around for Sakura. While looking around he ran into Granny's loyal assistant, Shizune.

"Hi Shizune."

"Oh, hello Naruto. What brings you here? Tsunade won't give you any missions you know?"

"Don't worry about that. I'm going to the hot springs with Kiba, Shino, and Hinata. But I wanted to see if Sakura wanted to go along."

"Sorry Naruto. She's not here right now. Tsunade assigned her on a mission to gather ingredients for some antidotes."

"Oh, ok. Well I guess I'll see you later then. Bye Shizune."

"Goodbye Naruto." She noticed that Naruto had grown so much over the years. He had matured into quite the young man.

Just then the three chunnin exited Tsunade's office.

"Hey Naruto! Where's Sakura?"

"She's out on a mission right now, so it's just us. That ok?"

"Sure. That ok guys?"

Shino shocked them when he spoke up "I'm actually a little tired. I'm going home." And with that he was on his way.

"Man he is weird huh?" Naruto wasn't all too disappointed when he left. "Okay. how bout you Hinata?"

"Yeah Hinata how 'bout it?" Kiba asked with a dark grin on his face.

Hinata was flushed then became pale. "Umm i-if you don't mind N-Naruto."

"Of course I don't." He flashed her a great smile.

"W-well we better get going then." Her stutter was always apparent when Naruto was around.

Kiba was enjoying this very much and decided to come up with a little plan of his own.

--

"Well we're here. You sure you won't mind being alone Hinata?"

"I don't mind Kiba. I-it's ok."

They then headed off to the hot springs. Hinata was sitting on the edge soaking her feet in the warm water.

She let out a deep sigh "It's so nice to be here." (And Naruto is here too. I never thought I'd be at the Hot Springs with HIM of all people.) She almost was blushing as she started to move into the springs and doze off a little.

Kiba and Naruto were sitting silently in the springs for an uncomfortable amount of time. Naruto decided he should break the tension.

"Aww this is great!"

"Yeah. Too bad Sakura wasn't able to come huh?" He thought he'd try and gauge his reactions for his plan to work. However, Hinata could hear from the other side and decided to listen in.

Naruto kinda shrugged it off. "I guess. But it is nice not having to have her badmouth me while she's on the other side."

"Don't worry Hinata won't bad mouth you." He teased lightly.

"Hinata? Oh that's right. I forgot she came with us," he announced loudly. On the other side he thought he heard a sigh. "I know she won't. She's a nice person."

"Yeah. She is. Hey since you seem to think so nicely about her, you should go to lunch with her. I was gonna go with her later, but I'm too tired."

"Hmmm yeah why not? I really don't have anything else to do."

Hinata had heard this and decided to get her clothes and leave as quickly as possible.


Sort of a cliffhanger...review if you want