Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

AN: Don't kill me for making another story, PLEASE… The sun DOES set in the west in Japan, correct? Ironically enough, I'm listening to 'Unfaithful' by Rihanna right now…. I hope your happy, Sheba, the chapter's 3 pages long, font 12 New Roman… snorts

Chapter 1

"Eh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h?" the girl stuttered, learning her orders. If her hair was short, you would've probably seen it stand on end, but alas, Hinata Hyuga's hair was not. It used to be, but now it was long and flowing over her back, savor the two stands that hung in front.

"Tsunade-sama, why just two ninja? Isn't Lee-kun here?" she inquired, nervously tugging at the sleeve of her over-sized purple and tan jacket, though no jacket nor coat could any longer contain the fact the Hinata was, indeed, female.

"Everybody else is on missions, and I need this done right away. I would've sent Lee too but Gai took him for a month's worth of training in the mountains just this morning."

"We'd better get going, then. C'mon, Hinata."

Hinata bowed to the Hokage and followed her partner out the door.

"Than was mean, Tsunade-sama. You know Lee would have been back tomorrow and the mission really isn't all that urgent."

"On the contrary, Shizune, it is. The whole point of the mission was not to find the treasure, but to have Naruto realize the Hinata DOES, in fact, have a crush on him."

"Then what do you plan to do with the treasure when they find it?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Tsunade asked, leaning back in her chair. When Shizune didn't answer, she chuckled and closed her eyes. "I'm going to pay back my debts, of course."

"Tsunade-sama!"

"Don't worry, the village gets some as well."

"Alright. Let's just hope Naruto's head isn't too thick to realize it."

Tsunade sighed. "Let's hope so."

- (' . ') -

Hinata followed Naruto through the halls of the Hokage's mansion. What was it that she liked so much about the ninja? Was it the way his hair spiked like the sun? Or his goofy grin? Or was it the way his blue eyes sparkled at the sound of a high-ranked mission? No, it was his strength, and character; his determination to never give up and self-confidence. Okay; and his goofy grin.

"Hey, Hinata." Naruto called out to her, sending the same burn to her cheeks that it did every time he spoke to her.

"Yes, Naruto-kun?" at least she had killed the stutter that arose with his voice. Well, for the most part.

"My tent's ripped; do you have a spear one?"

"No, only a one-person tent."

"I guess we're going to have to use that."

WHAT?!?! Hinata's mind cried out. Sleeping so close to Naruto… the thought was enough to add more color to her cheeks than what was already there.

"Hinata, are you sure you should go? You face is really red." Naruto asked, putting a hand her forehead, deepening her flush even more.

"No, I'm fine, Naruto-kun."

"Are you sure? Maybe you should go see Sakura-chan."

"No, really, I'm fine."

"Alright…."

Naruto-kun cares so much about me. Hinata thought, the colors threatening to take hold of her visage once again. She shook off the thought and followed Naruto out into the village.

- (' . ') -

"Alright, so we go west, which is… um… man, I hate directions." Naruto complained.

"It's that way." Hinata said, pointed forward.

"Eh?"

"The sun sets in the west."

"Ah, right! You a life saver, Hinata."

"It was nothing, Naruto-kun." Hinata replied, turning her head as her cheeks started to pinken.

"Alright, to the west!" Naruto declared heading in the direction Hinata had pointed out. A shady figure watched from a tree.

"So they're after the treasure…." his eyes narrowed and he chuckled. "They'll be a bump in the road." he said, before leaving the limb in a single leap.

- (' . ') -

"Naruto-kun, maybe we should stop."

"Eh? Why, Hinata?"

"Well, it's getting dark…."

Naruto looked up and nodded, dropping to the ground. They laid their things out and Hinata began fixing a stew.

"Man, I can't believe I forgot my roman." he whined. Hinata handed him a bowl of stew and some chopsticks. Naruto lifted some noodles to his mouth and slurped loudly.

"Is it good?"

Naruto's eye open wipe and chugged down some more, drawing a laugh from Hinata. Naruto stopped his rapid movements when she did so. Her entire face seemed to light up as a breeze blew her hair in front of her face. Her laugh was a sugary sound that tasted good to Naruto, better than any roman. He felt complied to make her laugh again when she stopped.

"What is it, Naruto-kun? Is something uncooked?"

Naruto swallowed his mouthful of noodles. "No, it's just that I've never heard you laugh before."

Hinata blushed and looked away.

"I like it." he ended, Hinata looking back up at him with a slightly shocked expression. Naruto continued to eat at a rapid pace, Hinata more slowly.

- (' . ') -

Hinata yawned loudly as she began to pack things up. She was picking up a bowl when Naruto took hold of it as well resiving a blushed his white-eyed partner.

"You go ahead and sleep Hinata. I'll clean up." Naruto said; his tone low and gentle.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata replied, grabbing her sleeping bag and entering the tent. Naruto doused the fire and picked up the scattered supplied, washing them off in a near-by stream. He returned and removed his jacket and forehead protector, stuffing them in his bag. He came in to the tent and about dropped his sleeping-bag. Hinata slept peacefully on her left side, facing the inside of the tent. Her hair fell loosely across her face and pillow, her breathing flowing in and out silently. She had folded up her jacket and lay in to the side, revealing her white under-shirt that clung to her frame.

Sense when does Hinata look so… beautiful? Naruto though to himself, lying down in his sleeping bag beside her. He rested his hand on hers and she grasped it in her sleep. Naruto smiled to himself as his mind slipped off from reality.