I snuggled into Naruto's side and sighed happily.

Naruto laughed and shifted. I love his laugh. It's one of the many things that I love about him. After all, all boyfriends have their cute moments.

"What's wrong?" I asked when he sat up.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about the first time I said I loved you."

"Oh. Haha that was funny." I thought back to a year ago.

~flashback~

The breeze picked up slightly. My bangs got into my eyes and I before I could move them myself, Naruto-kun appeared in front of me.

"H-h-hi Naruto-kun."

"Hey I just came to tell you something important."

I looked up with hopeful eyes. "Yes?"

"We're going on a mission together." Naruto said before grinning at me.

"Oh, I see."

"Is something wrong Hinata?"

"No….it's nothing."

"Okay if you say so. Gotta go report to Grandma Tsunade. Later."

"Bye!" I called as he dashed back.

Why? Why can't I just come out and say it? Why can't I tell Naruto-kun how I really feel? I'm such a baka. Oh well, at least I get to go on a mission with him. I blushed to myself and quickly sketched Naruto-kun and I kissing. That'll never happen Hinata! Don't lose yourself in a pointless fantasy…..but what if it does happen?

~the next morning~

"Good morning my youthful comrades!" Guy-Sensei shouted as Naruto, Lee and I arrived at the front gates. "Too early for Super Bushy Brows youth rant." I heard Naruto mutter.

I giggled loud enough for Naruto to hear. He laughed with me until Lee came over.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing at all." I covered. Lee punched the air. "Then let's begin our mission my youthful friends!"

"Oh God not him too." Naruto whispered to me.

"Oh well. At least I can keep you company."

"Yeah. Thanks Hinata."

"Y-you're welcome."

We finally set out to the next village. Their village sought help from us to find the Long Lost Treasure of Ringo no Ki. Every couple minutes I would look over at Naruto, only to find the same reaction every time, thoughtful.

"Naruto? Are you okay? You seem troubled."

"Hmm? Oh, Nothing, just think about how everything is going back at the village."

"I'm sure it's all fine Naruto."

"Yeah. You're probably right. Hey, sensei. What type of treasure do you think it is?"

"C'mon you two it takes three days to get to the village. Let's get there in half the time! Full

speed ahead my youthful pupils."

"Yeah! Go Sensei!" Lee cheered.

"Can't we take a break? Sensei, we're tired." I complained.

"No! Use your youthful energetic ways! Where's your fighting spirit?"

"Floating down a river." Naruto retorted.

"You have no respect for sensei!" Lee pouted.

"Old Bushy Brows shouldn't be shouting about youth at this time of the morning." snapped

Naruto.

"Guy-sensei is not old!"

"Yes, he is." I spoke up.

For a quick moment, Guy-sensei and Lee paused and looked at me with surprise. They went back to their rush after Naruto glared at them. I pretended I hadn't noticed Naruto standing up for me.

After half an hour, Guy and Lee allowed us to take a break. They didn't want to stop working so they patrolled the area. I was getting hot and needed to cool down. Naruto wanted a chance to sit down after the long run.

"Ahhhh! The water is so beautiful!" I exclaimed.

"So go in." Naruto said with a smile.

"Ok." I slowly waded into the river. The minute my feet touched the cool water I squealed with joy. I realized then that I wasn't being serious about the mission like a real ninja would. I sighed before plopping down on the river's shore.

"What's wrong Hinata?" asked Naruto.

"It's nothing I just remembered the mission and how I was being childish just now."

"So? There's nothing wrong with that! There's nothing wrong with having fun every now and then." He said with a cocky grin.

"But we're not kids!"

"Yeah but adults don't need to be uptight all the time. Besides we're not adults just yet."

I turned around. I heard his footsteps approach me. They slipped into the water and he paused. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if he was going to tickle me or do something weird but instead he splashed me when I looked over at him.

"C'mon Hinata, lighten up." he smiled at me.

"Oh yeah? Who's gonna need to lighten up now?" I asked, splashing him back.

Naruto began to laugh too. We had a splashing fight until we were both soaked and had cramps in our sides. He trudged over in his sopping clothes to a nearby hill. When he took his shirt off, I felt like my heart had stopped. He looked over at me and I quickly focused on the fact that I was shivering.

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah." I shivered again.

I stepped up to grab a towel when my foot slipped on a rock. I closed my eyes, waiting to feel the pain but none came. I opened my eyes and saw Naruto holding me to his bare chest.

"Umm…arigato Naruto-kun."

"You're welcome Hinata."

We stayed like that for a moment and, to my shock, Naruto leaned down almost centimeters away from my lips. I didn't know what to do or think but my body reacted on its own. My eyes began to close.

"OK companions! It's time for us to depart! No more breaks until we reach that village so pack up and let's move!" Lee yelled before going wide-eyed in surprise.

"Wow. I didn't see that coming." Lee said with a smirk.

Naruto helped me stand up straight then looked at the grass for awhile. Then, all in a blur, Naruto grabbed Lee's collar and said, "Don't mess with me Lee or this will be the last thing you see." He held up his fist to Lee's face. He went pale and nodded. Naruto reached for his shirt, put it on, and left.

"Wait, Naruto!" I called after him as Lee trailed behind me.

"What's wrong Lee? You're so pale!" I heard Guy-sensei say.

"Naruto!"

"What?" he yelled as he whipped around. Naruto caught his breath when he noticed it was me.

"What was that about back there?"

"Lee needed to mind his own business! I was so close to-"

"Close to what?"

"Never mind," he mumbled, "let's go."

"What's wrong Naruto?"

"I WAS SO CLOSE TO KISSING YOU OK?"

I paused and before I knew it, my lips were pressed against his. He tasted like ramen and river water. The kiss was sweet and gentle. When we finally stopped for air, I didn't know what to say, even though I couldn't say anything because I was out of breath.

"I'm sorry. I've wanted to do that for awhile now."

"D-d-don't be." I stuttered.

Naruto smiled at me and I blushed.

"So…this would probably be a good time to tell you that I-"

"COME YOUTHFUL PUPILS! IT'S TIME FOR DEPARTURE!" Guy-sensei shouted.

Sigh, another moment interrupted by yet another baka. Don't worry Hinata, you'll find out what he was gonna say soon.

"That sucked."

"What?"

"Someone else interrupted us."

"You can tell me later right?"

"Sure."

We finally reached the village within ten minutes and got to work. Naruto and I covered the rural part of the village while Guy and Lee went to inspect the urban division. I stayed silent, trying to focus on the mission, but to no avail. All of my thoughts were racing in my mind, questions following behind them. Why did he kiss me? What was he going to say? Does he know that I like him? Did Lee tell him? Did Guy-sensei tell? Does he like me too?

"Hinata! Come on!"

"Huh? Oh, right…sorry."

"I think I see something at the end of that cave."

"Let's go."

Naruto and I got to the back of the cave and noticed a key. We reported to Guy and Lee about our findings.

"This is the key to the Long Lost Treasure of Ringo no Kei!" the village leader exclaimed when we turned it in. "Where was it?"

"In an abandoned cave." Guy-sensei reported

"What exactly is the Long Lost Treasure of Ringo no Kei?" Lee asked.

"And how would we know that it really was the treasure?" added Naruto.

"The treasure was said to grant wishes. The treasure was found by a poor man, who was the founder of this village. Our leader had wished for his life to become prosperous and so it did. Oh, and the treasure can only be found and used by someone with a pure heart. You'll know that it'll be the treasure when you see the person you admire most." The leader explained then went to go talk with Guy-sensei in another room. Lee started to pace through the room.

"What's wrong Lee?"

"I'm worried about whether or not we'll find the treasure."

"That's it?" Naruto scoffed.

"Well, I'm also wondering if I'd be able to find the treasure."

"Hinata, I think you'd be able to find that treasure." Naruto said.

"Really?"

"Sure, you've got a pure heart."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"Uhhh….Naruto? Hinata? Can you guys see what I'm seeing?"

"Yeah, maybe."

"So do I."

"We probably see a different person…who do you see Lee?"

"I-I-I see a mix of Sakura-san and Guy-sensei."

"Ick." Naruto complained.

"I see Naruto-kun." Hinata mumbled.

He looked over at her for a second then chuckled to himself and muttered, "I see Hinata." This time it was her turn to be surprised. Hinata then turned pink.

"You know what this means don't you?" Lee realized.

"Yup. WE FOUND THE TREASURE!" Naruto shouted, doing a victory jump.

The three cheered and in the moment of excitement, a figure approached and began to clap.

"Well done you three. Now if you don't mind, I'll be taking that Treasure."

"I know that voice…" muttered Naruto.

"It can't be." Hinata whispered going pale.

"Oh my god..." Lee managed to choke out.

There, at the end of the cave, stood the one person whom they hadn't seen for quite awhile. There, not ten feet away at the beginning of the path, stood the man they hadn't suspected to be in the same situation with them. There stood Uchiha Sasuke.