Hinata Hyuga arrived at the Leaf Village gates just after sundown with happiness in her heart. She had been gone for the last 4 days on a delivery mission to the Stone Village, so needless to say, the prospect of sleeping in her own bed instead of on the ground in a makeshift campsite was at the forefront of that happiness. For all the experience she had, plopping down in the serenity of her own room and resting her head on a real pillow after returing from a mission never got old.

"I'll turn in my report to the Hokage's office, then straight home to bed", the young heiress thought to herself as she stepped through the oversized, green gates that protected the Leaf.

The streetlights of the city were coming on and its many citizens were beginning to close up shop for the evening and return home to their families, more than a couple straight to bed just as Hinata was planning most assuredly. The violet-haired shinobi breathed deeply as she made her way to the Hokage's office, soaking in the comfort of the cool, almost-night air, saying hello and waving to the good people of the Leaf who recognized her. She had made quite a name for herself not only as one of the Hyuga, but for her valiance in the war. It felt strange to get so much attention, but it paled to what Naruto receives on a daily basis.

Naruto... Just the name was enough to bring heat to her cheeks and a slight buckle to her knees. Unfortunately, they hadn't had much time to talk since the war ended. As soon as the ninja army disbanded and everyone returned home, reconstruction efforts began quickly and they needed all hands on deck, and Naruto was deactivated from live missions, so the chances to see him were sparse.

To say it was frustrating would be an understatement. So much had occurred between them during the war, so much she wanted to discuss and talk to him about. Truth be told, at this point, Hinata wondered if it was a subtle rejection. It's been a year, who needs that much time to think?

She was lost in all these thoughts and more as she came upon the Hokage office. Most ninja entered without knocking, but she never felt comfortable doing that. Damn those Hyuga manners! She rapped on the door relatively silently a few times.

"Yes, yes! Come in!" a familiar voice boomed from the other side, brimming with energy even as the rest of the world was winding down. "But be sure and appreciate my manly good looks as you do!"

A smile crept across the white-eyed girl's face as she slowly pushed the door open, stepping in and bowing quickly.

"HINATA! EXCELLENT TO SEE YOU RETURNING, YOUNG PRINCESS!" the quirky Maito Gai bellowed with excitement, whipping his wheelchair around to face the Hyuga completely, his smile as bright as ever, "Look deeply into my fiery eyes and tell me of your tales of battle! THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH BURNS WITHIN YOU DEEP DOWN, I CAN JUST FEEL IT!"

"Gai, you know it was just a simple delivery mission for the Tsuchikage. Why are you hassling the poor girl?" Kakashi exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose with eyes closed.

"SHE'S IN THE SPRINGTIME OF HER YOUTH, KAKASHI! WITH HER RED-HOT-BLOODED NATURE, SHE VERY WELL-"

Kakashi held up one hand to silence his impassioned rival, his other stretched toward the now jounin rank ninja. Though it wasn't obviously visible, there was a warm smile under Kakashi's mask to match the one in his eyes. "Thank you for your work, Hinata. I won't make you recount the entire journey, I trust everything went well. You can go as soon as you turn in your report."

Gai cracked a glimmering smile and bowed his head, "Cool as ever, even in your old age, my eternal rival!"

Hinata couldn't help but giggle slightly. Their relationship was certainly eccentric if not fun. Probably tiring as well, too.

She produced a small scroll from her ninja pouch and placed it in Kakashi's open hand, bowing again after doing so. "Thank you, Lord Sixth. Gai-sensei. Have a pleasant evening!"

Kakashi placed the scroll on the far corner of his desk and waved affectionately, "You too, Hinata. Goodnight."

Gai opened his mouth to no doubt echo something similar, only at much higher volumes and youth-related, but was silenced by Kakashi before a single syllable was uttered. Muffling a giggle, she spun on her heels and exited the office quickly, down the spiral suitcase to the road, and toward the Hyuga Compound.

It was a quiet walk, as they usually are this time of night, which was more than okay with her. It was excellent time to simply think and relax, both of which luxuries in the ninja world even today. Turning down her block, she was debating whether to make cinnamon rolls once she got in or something a little simpler, maybe some ramen even, when a familiar voice cut through the night air and stopped the Byakugan expert in her tracks.

"Hey, Hinata. Long time, no see, eh?"

Approaching her in what seemed like super slow motion, Naruto, clad in his orange jumpsuit and Hokage cloak, smiled ear to ear as he spoke. "Just getting back from your mission, yeah? Welcome home, ya know!"

Hinata's emotions, much like her cheeks, completely flooded in that single instant. What should she do? Wave back obviously, but what else? Maybe she should flip her hair a little? Oh god, her hair was dirty and probably smelly from the mission! No showers on the road obviously. A handshake might not be the best idea then, either. That would be proper, right? Granted the last time they were in close proximity they were holding hands, but a handshake is kind of like holding hands... right? Whatever! He's getting close, just speak! Say something, anything!

"H-hello, Naruto. I'm very pleased to see-"

Before she could finish the thought, let alone the sentence, she felt her body enveloped completely in the tightest embrace she's ever felt. Naruto, smiling as big as ever, draped his arms around her and squeezed like she would fall over if he let go. Which, if we're being completely honest here, she might. She had almost forgotten the effect Naruto had on her, but this was a hell of a reminder, that's for sure. At this point, she was just hoping he couldn't feel her knees shaking.

The ironic part being, Naruto was hoping the exact same.

The two held tightly in that embrace in the middle of the street for an unnaturally long time, yet it somehow passed in an instant for the pair. Naruto retracted his body and placed his hand behind his head, smiling sheepishly.

"Heh.. sorry about that. Just really happy to see ya, it's been too long! Been missing ya like crazy!"

Hinata locked her hands together and held them in front of her, both because she wasn't sure what else to do with them and to prevent the strong possibility of her jumping right back in for a second hug. "S-same here... Naruto," she whispered, "How... how have you been?"

"Good! Really good! Still learning how to be the big dog around here, but Kakashi-sensei has been teaching me a lot! How have, uh... you been?" he responded with genuine interest. She had been a made a jounin as soon as she got back, and he really didn't handle A and S rank missions yet. Mostly dealing with the chuunin/genin lower ranks to get his feet wet when it came to that. She probably had all kinds of wicked stories to tell he couldn't wait to hear!

"Um... good for the most part, I suppose..." she responded, desperately trying to make eye contact but not being able to hold it too long. Damn his adorable smile, it always did cut her to the core.

"Great! How about I walk you home, yeah? If it's cool by you, of course," he said, nodding in the direction of the Hyuga Compound. The urge to grab her hand and lead her there was strong, but he resisted... begrudgingly so. It wasn't the right time, at least not yet.

She nodded excitedly, those old butterflies she felt surfacing just like they used to. Some things never change, eh?

Luckily it was just a couple hundred feet away because the walk was completely silent.

"Thank you... s-so much, Naruto. It was great to see you even if... just for bit," she offered up, placing one hand on the door as she gazed into those deep cerulean orbs of his. Had to be careful though, she's liable to get lost in those bad boys. Good God, did she really still have it so bad for Naruto after all this time? Probably why her front doorknob was doubling as a crutch right now.

"Yeah, I... like I said, I really missed you, Hinata. We really need to talk some more, ya know?"

"Yeah... we really do," she returned, watching as Naruto leaned against her doorframe and still towered over her. This Hokage business has really matured him, yet, he still managed to be himself through it all. Classic Naruto. She smiled inwardly, watching as he moved with grace on her porch.

Naruto cocked his head a little and took a deep breath, seeming to actually think before speaking. And we all know how often that happens...

"SO!", he said, his eyes darting around a bit before meeting hers, his hands tucking themselves into his underarms as he leaned on a lighting fixture, "would you maybe want to, uh, ya know, want to... I don't know, get something to eat or something sometime?" Voice cracked slightly at the end of that sentence. Hopefully she didn't catch that...

It's strange. Hinata had no trouble fighting an army of Zetsu clones or staring down the Juubi itself, but Naruto asking her out? Oh yeah, those weren't butterflies in her stomach. Those were pterodactyls.

"I..." she stammered a bit, questioning her own consciousness at this point. Certainly this wasn't a lucid dream or something, that would be borderline cruel! "Would absolute love to, Naruto. Anytime you'd like." She smiled warmly back, trying to maintain her cool. A signature of her growth as well because it wasn't long ago merely seeing Naruto sent her to the ground.

Naruto half-smiled and nodded his head, "Cool. How's, uh... how about tomorrow? Say, 8 o'clock? My treat of course." He inched closer.

Fighting the urge to squeal like a schoolgirl, Hinata clamped down on her lower lip and replied with sharp series of nods, turning the knob and stepping foot in. Naruto shuffled his body around to stay facing her, leaning forward ever so slightly.

"Awesome! Looking forward to it, I'll pick you up right here!" he said with genuine excitement through a toothy grin, "I promise it won't be ramen either, hehe!"

Hinata giggled and shook her head, "Anywhere with you is fine, Naruto. I can't wait either."

Surges of elation shot through his heart as he heard that. Man, she really was something special. Definitely not a ramen date.

"Okay, well, I'll piss off now! See ya tomorrow, Hinata! Sleep tight, don't let any of Shino's bugs bite, all that! Hehe!" he instinctively shot back to his hands-behind-the-head phase and grinned like a madman, slowly turning and walking off the porch, "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, Naruto", Hinata replied as she closed the door, her heart pounding loud enough it was making her chest hurt. She watched silently from inside as Naruto strolled down the path to the street and slowly disappeared from view until she was sure it was safe.

"I HAVE A DATE WITH NARUTO!" she exclaimed at volumes that most wouldn't expect possible from her vocal chords, hugging herself and spinning several times before falling on a nearby couch. She basked in the glory of that statement for several seconds before the realization set in...

"I have... a date with Naruto... Hmmm..."