A/N: Hey All! So I've had this in the works for a few days and I've finally worked up the courage to post it. This is kind of my take on Naruto and Hinata's relationship during that blank period with some slight AU elements. At this point I'm kind of going to write this stuff as it comes to me, but a real plot may come to the surface. Anyway, I'm doing this as a bit of fan service for myself but I also wanted to see if anyone else likes it. So I figured to hell with it. Anyway it's 2:30 in the morning and I need sleep. Enjoy!

Making it a Date:

A week and a half after the Last

The sun was setting over the Village Hidden in the Leaves and signs of winter were upon the village. The trees remained leafless, the temperature was chilling, and smoke rose from every chimney. Most people were carrying on with their daily lives whilst some people stayed in their homes, frightened of the night, not wishing to see the moon ever again.

Kakashi Hatake's rule was still going well, surprisingly well and all was relatively peaceful. Except for a few rouge shinobi here and there, or minor political dispute. And of course, the Leafs resident hero and knucklehead Naruto Uzumaki had just made it back from the Land of Wind after a joint nation training exercise.

*image pans to Naruto making his way to the Hokage's office

"Ughhh, of course, the one-time Kakashi-Sensei isn't stuck in one of his weird pervy novels he's making me turn in an 'after action report.'" The blonde thought with a forlorn huff, looking down at his hastily assembled report. He really did try to make it legible, and with no typewriter on hand, he had to make do with a permanent marker and about 30 seconds of concentration. Making it through the halls of the enormous building Naruto arrived at the main office door, he gave it a few good knocks and waited.

"Enter!" Kakashi's voice sounded from the other side. Naruto entered the office space but couldn't help and notice the other presence in the room. A burly man in a brown trench coat with a mane of red beard and an eyepatch, stood adjacent to Kakashi, now staring at Naruto with one cold blue eye.

Naruto's eyes animatedly reduced to the size of peas and a sweat drop formed on his face, "Uhh... Kakashi-Sensei… Who is he?" Naruto pointed for added emphasis

"Naruto this is an acquaintance of mine, and you shouldn't be so rude to strangers." The copy ninja said peevishly shaking his head and dismissing the other man.

"So Naruto do you have the report I requested on the joint ninja training exercise?" Kakashi inquired hopefully, also praying that Naruto's writing skills had improved since his last report.

"Sure do!" Naruto handed the silver-haired ninja the paper with a victorious smile and twinkle of teeth.

As Kakashi opened the paper, he immediately frowned stress lines forming on his face. The report read, "the mission went really good, I think that we should keep doing this. -Naruto Uzumaki." There was a massive splotch on the paper too.

"Naruto, this is barely a full sentence- why is there a stain on the middle of the page!?" The older man asked disappointedly.

Naruto touched his fingers together clearly embarrassed, "I may or may not have spilled instant ramen on that… But I don't know what else you want me to say, I just got back, you can't expect me to go on missions and write stuff." He huffed.

Kakashi groaned, "You could have at least made more of an effort with your penmanship, but oh well."

Naruto's attention span was wearing thin, there was a certain someone he wanted- no, needed to see, "will that be all Kakashi-Sensei?"

The Hokage looked to make sure there weren't any other assignments requiring Naruto's skills. "Yup, things are quiet now, so you're free until I send for you-"

In a flash, Naruto was out the door at full speed nearly tripping over Guy in his wheelchair, and set a course to find a certain lovely lavender-haired girl.

Kakashi groaned aloud, "Oh why do I even bother!" He placed his head in his hands, when Guy wheeled up to his desk. "I know just how to cheer my comrade up, how about we have a youthful contest to see who can balance the heaviest object on their nose!" Guy flashed Kakashi his signature smile and thumbs up.

Hinata had just got done visiting her father at the hospital and decided to make her way to the market square to buy some yarn. She wanted to make a token for Naruto, something he could take on his missions to know she was always thinking of him. They hadn't had much time together since the moon mission, which only furthered her desire to be with him. So she set out to make something for him, "Perhaps I'll buy him some of those instant ramen bowls as well, he loves them so much." The girl thought.

She sighed dejectedly, she wanted so desperately to spend more time with him, but it would seem the world had other plans. Just as soon as they had confessed their love, he had been called away on a mission.

She perked up upon remembering the note he left her the day he set out. "Hinata- Going out to train with the Hidden Sand, I promise as soon as I'm back I'm going to find you and sweep you off your feet… or something – Your knucklehead."

As she turned an illuminated street corner, she was hit by something unbelievably fast, and she fell backward. She had closed her eyes expecting to smash her head on the ground, but she found that something had kept her from falling. She opened one eye and saw two blue ones looking right back at her. "N-Naruto?" He pulled her into a warm embrace, picked her up off the ground and spun around, "Hinata! Boy that was lucky, huh. I was just heading to see you!" She couldn't help but giggle heartedly at his overt display of affection.

"I told you I was going to sweep you off your feet!" He laughed out. All of Hinata's previously downcast thoughts took to the wind in place of pure joy, it seems that her wishes had been granted. "I didn't think you'd be back from your mission so soon…" Her quiet voice trailed off a smile gracing her lips.

"But here I am! Believe it! I actually convinced Gaara to let me off the hook early so I could come to see you." The blonde stated releasing her from his embrace and looking into her eyes. "Really? Just for me, you said that?" She asked averting his gaze a crimson blush forming on her face.

"Of course! I told Gaara about us-" he grinned, "and he understood immediately how much this-you mean to me. So here I am!" She could hear the sincerity in his voice, causing her to blush even more. "Anyway, are you hungry? Ichi Raku is less than a block away- *He waved his hands dismissively, as if they were on fire* unless you don't want ramen, that's perfectly understandable! Ramen in the afternoon pfft no way doesn't make sense who would want that? Ramen is only a breakfast food- wait that doesn't make sense either… hold on" He continued mumbling to himself leaving Hinata with a confused and partly worried face.

"Naruto?" She asked he stopped rambling and brought his eyes to hers again. "Is everything okay?" Her pale eyes searched his blue ones inquisitively.

"Yeah! Heh-uhh yup-" He began to touch his index fingers together, embarrassment etched on his face. "It's just that someone told me it wouldn't exactly be a good idea to go to a ramen stand for our first date."

Flashback:

"Hey, Sakura! Wait up" Naruto frantically yelled trying to catch up to the pink haired kunoichi. Sakura had not been having a good week, with long shifts at the hospital, dealing with a potential moon landing and a slew of other… personal issues, she had just wanted a bath. Yet, here came the person she had least wanted to see at the moment. Naruto was running to her no doubt intent on spilling some kind of nonsense out of that gaping abyss of a mouth. She clenched her fists in irritation, prepared to strike the current source of her displeasure.

"Sa-Ku-Ra! Why are you walking faster? Hey are yo-" Naruto felt a fist connect with the side of his head and flew several feet into a cabbage stand.

Sakura's forehead veins bulged, "NARUTO I SWEAR YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD REASON TO BE PESTERING ME ON MY DAY OFF! CHAW!" She cracked her knuckles waiting for his response.

Naruto gulped visibly, "No please Sakura, I just wanted to ask you something!" He rubbed the bump on his head with a grimace. Sakura merely huffed a strand of hair out of her face, her curiosity, and suspicion, raised. "And what exactly would this question pertain to? Hinata?" She grinned, his lack of response showed that she was right.

"Uhh, how did you?" He blinked a few times, had she just read his mind?

"Are you kidding me? Look Naruto, at this point, I can read you like a book so spill." She put her hands on her hips. "What do you want to know?"

Naruto got up and brushed the decimated remains of cabbage off of his body.

"Well you see, I-I want to take her out, but I've never done that sort of thing before. It would technically be our first date and I dunno I want to make it special." The blonde said sheepishly, looking up at his friend with eyes that screamed for assistance.

Sakura giggled she really never gave Naruto enough credit, he was an idiot, but when it came to Hinata, he was always so sweet and thoughtful. She saw this even before he realized he had loved her.

Word had spread quickly amongst their friends about Hinata and Naruto's 'new' relationship, and it wasn't her who spilled the beans, or Ino, it was Shikamaru of all people.

"What's so funny?" He frowned

She broke from her thoughts. "Oh nothing, I just didn't realize you could be such a sap. If you were any other person, I would tell you to go all out to make a good impression…" She paused for a moment, "But that clearly isn't a problem, in this case, seeing as you both are clearly past impressions. So my advice is, make it simple, but make it special too." Again she paused for breath. "Which means you should be alone, and NO Ichi Raku!" She made sure to add emphasis on that last note.

"But what if she wants Ichi Raku?" He asked, an innocent enough question but it immediately caused Sakura to halt in her tracks.

Sakura's face then turned into a shadowy image of horror similar to what Captain Yamato would do at the campfire. "I really *knuckle crack* doubt *knuckle crack* Hinata *more cracking... WANTS TO GO TO RAMEN STAND!" Her face returning to a normal, smiling Sakura, "Any way that's my advice, good luck Naruto! Just remember to make the night about her, and it should all work out great."

And then the medical ninja skipped away, giddy at the prospect of Naruto and Hinata finally going on a date. This would make for some good gossip down the line.

*End flashback*

Naruto gulped after concluding that blast from the past.

"Our first date," Hinata whispered a wisp of a smile forming on her lips, this would be her and Naruto's first date. "I can't count my blessings enough, it's not a dream anymore," The dark-haired girl thought.

Naruto's expression changed to a thoughtful one, "yeah, kinda funny ain't it, most people go on dates and then fall in love, but I kind of like being the exception." He laughed a little rubbing the back of his neck.

Hinata couldn't help but smile radiantly at him, every time he mentioned his love for her, it made her soar, like a bird in the sky.

"Well I leave it up to you my lovely lady, we go wherever you want to go." He stated most endearingly.

Hinata thought for a moment, "I think Ichi Raku would be excellent." She wanted to go somewhere that was special for both of them, and as absurd as it may seem, Ichi Rakku held a special place in her heart. Whenever she walked past the old ramen stand, it would cause her to think of Naruto, and the multitude of memories they, and their friends had shared there. Not to mention the owners of the joint were some of the few who had accepted Naruto early on like she had.

"Seriously? A-are you sure? You don't want to go somewhere... fancier?" Uncertainty laced in his voice.

"I am." She said quickly with confidence and sincerity.

"Well then off we go!" Naruto flashed her a toothy grin, before hoisting her up bridal style, "Although I can't have my lady slogging in the mud like some ordinary woman!" Hinata squealed before laughing at his outrageously macho statement.

The night had gone amazingly, it was so amazing that he and Hinata ended up having a contest to see who could eat more ramen, and Hinata won. This came as a surprise, not just to Naruto, but to old man Teuchi and Ayame.

"Well, I must say Naruto you've found quite the catch, pretty, polite, and has excellent taste. You should count your blessings son!" The old man commented causing Hinata to giggle into her hand and Naruto to grin.

"You bet, although she's the one who caught me if I'm being honest." This made the old man shake his head with a smile. "Well young lady, anyone who can keep this rascal humble is always welcome here. Next time you stop by it's on the house."

Hinata smiled and thanked him for his generosity, and the young couple went on there way. It was completely dark now and the night sky was twinkling with thousands of stars.

"Well I should head home now Naruto, I have to visit my father in the morning..." She trailed off sad that they had to part ways, and also upset at the current condition of her father. He may not have always been the most supportive, but he was her father none the less, and it seemed as though he was trying to do right by her now.

"I can walk you home if you want, wouldn't want you getting taken from me again." He offered, recalling the last time he hadn't taken her home.

Hinata's smile returned and she nodded, "I would love that, thank you Naruto." Naruto offered her his arm and she wrapped hers around it, they both loved being close to one another, basking in each other's warmth.

They carried on like that for a while, enjoying one another's presence, the Hyuga household was on the other side of the village meaning the two had a ways to go. It was so peaceful.

"Hinata?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, Naruto?" She said his name with a warmth that made his heart skip a beat.

"I just wanted to hear your voice is all." He smiled contentedly.

She didn't know how to respond to that except for with a smile. She felt fuzzy on the inside, sometimes the things he said, and the way he said them, made her melt.

Once the pair had made it to the compound, they stopped and looked at one another. "Thank you for this night Naruto, it was wonderful," she said warmly.

He scratched his face a wide smile on his face, "Of course, I'm glad you had a good time... you know I can pick you up and keep you company at the hospital tomorrow. Kakashi-Sensei said I was free for the next few days so I figured we could spend some more time together that is if you want me too." He looked at his feet sheepishly.

"That would be great." It would be nice to have someone to keep her company at her father's bedside, especially his company.

Naruto grinned stupidly, cupped her face and kissed her deeply, just like that night under the moon. After her initial surprise, Hinata returned the kiss in earnest, both of them basking in each other's love.

They broke apart and rested their foreheads together, "I love you Hinata." He whispered

"And I love you, Naruto."

They both bid each other good night, each of them smiling, awaiting the next day.

A/N:

So yeah, tell me what you think, did you love it, did you hate it, or are you somewhere in between? I tried my darndest to keep them in character but this is my first fic for Naruto. I'd love to hear some constructive feedback. I should note again that this is my first time seriously venturing into a romantic setting so bear that in mind. As for the plot of this story, there really isn't much of one at the moment, but I'm always open to suggestions. I have the second chapter done, but I'm waiting to see what you guys think of this first one. (Please don't crucify me for grammar be helpful not hurtful.)

Thanks for reading!