Authors Note: Here we are after much longer than I had hoped. My apologies. I toiled with a part of this for a while and got stuck but I figured it out. And now with all of that sorted we are onto the chapter. I don't have too much to say. So without further ado, I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.


Neji could hardly believe the rest of his afternoon had gone so quickly. He left the hospital with time to spare, hoping to think over a few things before he was thrust headlong into chaperoning. First and foremost on his mind was, for the first time in a while, not the jutsu he was attempting to discover. No, instead his visit with Sakura played over in his mind as he walked down the streets of Konoha.

His own thoughts were astonishing and, in a way, preposterous. He rarely had time to train these days yet he had stepped out of the hospital considering pursuing the equally busy Haruno Sakura. It was not logical, nor did it seem feasible. Yet he had heard that in such instances logic and reason had very little to do with it. Still, the idea did not sit well with him and he found himself mulling over it. The more he thought about it the less he found himself thinking about the sense of it and the more he found himself going over his busy schedule in an attempt to find time for such a pursuit- another fact that that concerned him. He had just about come to the conclusion that he would forgo his morning meditation to see her only to remind himself that there was no guarantee that she would be free every morning. In fact he was positive that she was rarely free at such a time, thus he kept moving things around in his mind. The only way he could see around it was to somehow convince Naruto and Hinata to take a night off here and there, specifically when Sakura was free. He liked her and if he could he would spend more time with her.

He was so engrossed that he almost failed to notice Lee making a sprint in his direction. Thankfully he did notice and all thoughts of Sakura were put on hold. After a quick discussion involving a flurry of 'youth' and 'fiery passion', he agreed to train with his old teammate for a short interval. He could not claim to be surprised but just as Sakura had promised he was fit as a fiddle. There was no more pain, no more delays, and no more pesky flow issues with his chakra.

All of Lee's attacks were thwarted quickly and efficiently. He was so thrilled to be back in the saddle that he was tempted to march down to the hospital and insist on thanking Sakura some how for her assistance. A part of him wondered if that was just an excuse to see her again, for he would not have considered such actions with any other medic. Any such gratitude would have to wait. The sun set informed him that he was expected back for the dreaded date. He realised, quite abruptly, that until he was released from his most recent obligation there was little point in planning anything. His free time was not really his own until he was set free from the duty he had reluctantly agreed to. He would be obligated to join Naruto and Hinata on any and all outings and it was not fair to ask them to put their plans on hold. Accompanying them on dates left him no time for his own and so he decided to wait.

Lee was as animated as ever, tearily wishing the him luck whilst spouting off some nonsense about Naurto being in the blossom of springtime youth, making Neji wish he had never mentioned why he had to cut their training session short. He raced back to the estate and took a shower just in time to emerge and find Naruto waiting impatiently in the courtyard.

As it happened Neji did not have to make small talk or wait for Naruto to wander over. Hinata's chakra signature floated down the hall and soon enough she emerged dressed in a clean training outfit.

"Hinata-chan!" It was as if a light went on. The blondes face lit up and his posture straightened. In a flash reminiscent of his late father the worlds saviour was at the heiress' side. For her part the normally pale woman went instantly red when strong arms captured her and for a second Neji was concerned that she might revert back to old habits. Thankfully Hinata fortified herself and responded by drawing closer to her beau. One calloused had drifted dangerously low on the young woman's back but remained just within the bounds of what their grandfather would have considered decent, though not acceptable.

"You call this your best behaviour?" he asked, his tone as dry as the dessert dunes of Suna. He had been right to infer that the two might be nauseatingly cute. It was the perfect way to describe what he was witnessing. The sun kissed skin of Naruto's nose nuzzled Hinata affectionately causing the young woman to stutter breathlessly whilst smiling. Neji had thought about the limits of what would be acceptable on his watch and decided to stick to the more traditional guide lines for everyones peace of mind. Hand holding and hugging would be the limit, for now at least.

Naruto blinked big blue eyes back at his exasperated stare. "Well you see we've been dating secretly-"

"Stop," he commanded, his voice more than a little curt. Truth be told, he had suspected as much. It was hard to feign ignorance when all the signs pointed to the truth. In the past Hinata would not have been able to look the jinchuriki in the eye let alone hold his hand, which suggested that she had been spending a considerable about of time with him. Still, he could claim ignorance if all he had were suspicions. "Don't tell me anything you don't want the council to know."

"Ugh, fine. Way to be a buzz kill." Blue eyes rolled into what could only be described as a shady sidelong glance at the man who stood near by. He had thought that having a friend watch over them might be a a good thing. In retrospect they may have chosen the right friend for the wrong reasons. With Neji as the guardian they were beyond reproach, but he was unlikely to bend the rules, not without plausible deniability as to the goings on. The issue at hand was how they would go about life without Neji Noticing. Neji noticed everything. Naruto sniffed. He had a potential solution but he had hoped it would not be needed. "Seriously, are you going to be like this the whole time?"

Hinata tugged at Naruto's sleeve. "Nii-san is just doing his job Naruto-kun," she reminded him gently.

"I know, I know," he said, his terseness evaporating as quickly as it had arrived. A word from her brought the easy going smile back to his whiskered face. "I'm just glad to be out with you Hinata-chan. I thought we might stay casual for our 'first date'."

"I-Ichrurakus?" Her eyes lit up. How many times had she envisioned herself sitting next to her beloved Naruto in the restaurant that was like his second home without having to hide the fact that they were on a date? Too many to count and today it was finally going to happen.

Naruto wanted to shout but he had been working on a more diplomatic tone. Kakashi had informed him that his enthusiastic shouting, while endearing, was not going to suit every situation. He would need to learn to adapt to different situations whilst remaining himself at the same time. The woman next to him was one of the few people who truly accepted him. As such he had been making it a point not to take for granted her accepting nature and always checked to see if she was truly interested in what they were doing. "Yeah, but if you want we can go somewhere else."

His back peddle was noticed and Hinata shook her head vigorously. "N-n-no, Ichirakus is great." Her fingers gripped the edge of her purple and grey jacket nervously and her pupil less eyes darted between the two men. She was unsure about something, he could tell, but he was not sure what exactly.

Neji raised an elegant dark brow. His thoughts were clear, so much so that even the normally oblivious Naruto caught on with ease.

"What? " Naruto asks indignantly. When the questioning gaze did not falter Naruto sniffed. "Ichirakus is the best." His grumble did not go unnoticed, but it remained a grumble, failing to crescendo as it normally would have.

Scepticism emanated from the male Hyuuga at the statement. In all the years they had been going to the small ramen stand he could never claim that they were his personal favorite. Ramen, while nice on a chilly day, was not something he would eat everyday. He was over ruled in that department. All of Konoha now deemed ramen to be the food of champions and he supposed there was some truth to it. Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama, Namekaze-sama, Kakashi-sama, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had all eaten there regularly at one time or another and all were considered legends in their fields. Even Gaara had a fondness for the meal.

Still it did not seem to be the place to take someone on an offial date. When Neji thought of a date the image he conjured was one that Tenten had spouted off to him after a date with one of the young men she was seeing. He could never recall any of their names, but he did vaguely remember what she said. Something about flowers, an expensive meal, and a walk home ensured that when the young man called for a second date she was all too happy to agree. Lee had been taking vigorous notes while he just wanted to get on with their training session. In the end the wistful expression she wore had etched a basic outline of a date in his mind. This was not really what she described but in a way it suited the pair before him.

"I don't mind, really Nii-san. I love ramen." Hinata's eager statement was full of excitement. He examined her smile and found it to be genuine. With that he gave up on going to eat elsewhere and resigned himself to ramen for a while. Under normal circumstances he might have continued to gripe but decided against it. The more he thought about it the more Ichiraku's made sense. It was a safe place for them. Somewhere too formal would prove difficult for Naruto, as would a place where he was not accustomed to the food. The little stall was cosy, the food a favorite of the two who mattered most, and the owners knew them. Perhaps the most important factor was that no one would think anything of the three shinobi going there. The lovebirds could have their first official date with little to no scrutiny or intrusion.

There were broad grins from behind the coutner as their most consistent customer graced the small but well loved outdoor stall. Ayame whipped down the counter quickly in anticipation of their arrival. Naruto tended to sit in the same place if he could and at the moment there were no other patrons. "Naruto-kun, the usual?"

A proud grin stretched jovial features to their limits as he shook his head and took his normal seat at the counter. Hinata slid onto the stool next to him, for once not hiding her own bashful smile behind a curtain of black silken bangs. "Nah, today's special. It's my first date with Hinata-chan."

The man whose name Neji could never recall but he knew as 'Pops' due to Naruto's boisterous greetings waved his ladle with eyes wrinkled in a broad grin that stretched from ear to ear. "Congraduations you two! I'll make something to mark the occasion."

"A number 4 for me please." Pops nodded and got to work on the new creation he had in mind for the lovebirds and what could be considered the simplest dish on the menu. He was perfectly happy with his choice though he realised that Naruto had clearly expected everyone to order the same thing. Blue eyes blinked owlishly at him in confusion. Whatever his thoughts were he kept them to himself and waited for their drinks to arrive.

The atmosphere was calm and friendly inside the small stand. Ayame and Hinata chatted amicably as the former made tea. Naruto peered around the pair to glance at a small cafe near by. At first Neji thought little of it but after whiskered cheeks turned in that direction three more times in less than a minute and a half, he decided to find out exactly what was so interesting.

She was hard to miss, sitting on the bench with her coffee held delicately in one hand. He was not sure how he had not spotted her before. Pink hair swayed in the gentle breeze and the street lamp lit up her side of the bench outside the cafe, illuminating the lightly tanned skin of her legs and the high points of her face. The ever darkening sky complimented her natural coloration and she was completely at ease, almost as though she was there by mere coincidence. But he knew better. She was positioned in the exact spot he would have chosen if he were to observe the couple; the perfect spot for Naruto to look back to her for her reassurance.

Her free hand waved at the blonde, egging him into joining Hinata in conversation, something he did with an awkward hand at the back of his head. Neji saw Sakura shake her head, throughly entertained by her friends antics. With the couple and Ayame now fully engrossed in a conversation, which he paid no attention to, he was at a loss of what to do.

He stood, excusing himself quietly though he was sure neither of them noticed. They were far too engaged in their conversation to pay him any mind. He took a few long strides across the street, his trajectory clear. He gave her plenty of time to move or pretend like she was not watching. She made no such attempt, waiting for him instead.

As he got closer she lifted her cup to her lips peering at him over the cardboard rim with an impish smile.

"Hello Neji-san. Fancy seeing you here." The clever medic took a sip, never letting her smile full of knowing and bemusement leaves her face. Her voice was melodic, and a fact that he had noticed earlier that day and many times before but the way it reached out to him in twilight made it seem as though the rest of the world was but a murmur around them.

"Indeed," he said, stopping just before the edge of her black heels. She made wearing them look effortless, which to his mind was impressive considering how uncomfortable they looked. Just like her shishou and senpai she sported the black heeled sandal like a trademark, the pink polish that matched her hair twinkling back at him. He could not begin to express how thrilled he was at finding her there. It solved his dilemma of creating time to see her. He knew it was not mere coincidence and also knew the she was not here for him. Naruto's assurance seeking glance in her direction earlier had spelled out her presence clearly. "I see you've been roped into this as well."

Cherry pink locks swayed in time with the movement of her head. "I like to think I volunteered," she said leaning back to get a better look at him, squinting for a split second. Her discomfort was due to the dying sun light streaming straight into her eyes. With a minor adjustment of his stance he rectified the issue. Green flickered towards the ramen stand and then fixated on his own enigmatic orbs, something he found only a select few were able to manage. "Naruto said he needed moral support. Besides, it's only fair. You're here to make sure that Hinata-chan's virtue is kept in tact and I'm here to make sure Naruto doesn't make a total ass out of himself."

It was a valid fear. Naruto was well known to put his foot in it, particularly where women were concerned, more specifically where Hinata was concerned. It was only right when looking at the situation through that lense that the single person in the village that could quite literally knock some sense into the man be close at hand. Sakura also happened to be one of the few people who could talk sense to him. She was the best choice.

"That was prudent of him," he admitted, genuinely impressed that the normally impulsive Naruto had thought ahead.

Pink glimmered across her cheek bones and he picked up on the way each strand of fine hair shone the light of the street lamp. "He is taking this very seriously, as I am sure you can imagine."

Neji could imagine and he could also see it with his own two eyes. Naruto was dedicated to the Hyuuga princess and for that Neji could not fault him in the slightest. He had hoped for some years that Hinata would get all of the things she wanted in life. This development was a major step in that direction. Neji could worry a little bit less about her, remanding her emotional care over to Naruto whom he knew would be a most devoted partner. This whole process would go much smoother with that confirmed, particularly if he could count on Sakura's support for Naruto.

With that a thought occurred. If Sakura was here then she was free, and while he was not technically unoccupied there was nothing in the rules that stopped her from taking part in the excursion. "Would you like to join us?" The question slipped out smoothly and it appeared to take her off guard a little bit for she simply stared at him for a few more seconds as she thought it over.

"I don't know if that's..." she began and quickly trailed off. She was concerned about getting in the way, something he could easily relate to. He was aware of his own failings. He was not the most social creature nor was he adept at human interactions of a more comical or emotional nature. If left alone with Hinata and Naruto he might hinder their evening. Admittedly that was part of his job, but he wanted it to seem like a real date. Having Sakura their would help; or at least he hoped it would.

Therefore when he saw that she was wavering between a yes and a no, he lowered and softened his voice. "I would be grateful for the company." He did not know how else to express it. He felt like a third wheel. With her present it would eliminate that. In fact, with Sakura there, he might begin to enjoy himself inspite of the other circumstances at play. And if she did not he was tempted to stay right there with her, watching from afar. The empty space next to her looked inviting, far more so than the ramen stand. She searched his face looking for sincerity, and so he did his best to show her what she was looking for.

This time she understood. Her legs stretched before she stood. "Well, when you put it like that, how can I say no."

The walk back to the ramen stand was short, quiet, and pleasant. He did find that he had to shorten his steps to allow her to walk a leisure by his side but he did so willingly. They entered the stall, Neji holding up the awning to let her enter uninhibited only to discover that he did not need to. She was petite, a fact he a known but was now rediscovering. The length of her legs and the slenderness of her figure were deceptive. Her competence coupled with her personality made her seem like a much more imposing figure when she wished to be. Standing at his side her head would have been about chin height. Without her heels she would have barely reached the tops of his shoulders. Needed or not, she appreciated the gesture and entered the warmth of the stall which managed to stay piping hot even in the coldest weather due to the stoves.

His charges had been so wrapped up in each other they had not noticed his departure but now turned to greet them. "Sakura-chan!" the pair chimed in chorus along with the proprietors of the now famous ramen stand.

Sakura closed her eyes and waved her hands taking the seat next to Hinata. "Hello everyone, don't mind me. I'm just here to keep this one company. Pretend like we don't exist." The pair took her at her word and continued slurping at their noodles with wide smiles and rosy cheeks.

He had been hoping her presence would ease things, but it seemed that they were too at home in her company. With the sannin now wedged firmly between himself and the couple Naruto and Hinata were all giggles, blushes, and canoodling. He quickly averting his eyes when the sight of Naruto feeding Hinata noodles made its way into his perhiferals.

He heard Sakura chuckle and focused his line of sight on her, something he was finding easier and easier. "You look uncomfortable Neji-san."

Her deduction was correct. He was uncomfortable. The seat was too hard, the countertop a little sticky from whomever had been seated there prior regardless of the brief cleaning, and the sound of slurping always got on his nerves. "Hn."

His confirmation brought a hum to her vocals. She sipped at her coffee thoughtfully. "Is it because of Naruto and Hinata or because you would rather not be playing mother hen?"

She was perceptive; always had been. The way her inflection fell on the words she had already had a pretty good idea as to what was bothering him. She merely wanted confirmation, just as she had when she had been examining him. He appreciated her lack of assumption and could honestly say it was refreshing to have someone ask him instead of putting words in his mouth. "They are adults," he clarified, hoping to convey what he truly meant by that. It was more complicated than that and yet it was not.

Much to his relief she beamed at him. "Agreed," she said leaning in to whisper in his ear the scent of fresh apples invading his senses. "To be honest I'm just glad he finally noticed. I have to admit I was a little worried she might give up, but all of that effort was worth it."

The knowing smile, the jingle in her voice, all pointed to one conclusion. "You knew," he stated, leaning into the secret she was sharing with him. Now that she was out of the hospital he found that her professional demeanor had altered to a much more friendly and playful version of herself, which he recalled from years past.

"I helped set them up. He can be dense but a few shoves in the right direction did the trick." Her voice dipped down a velvety timber that he had never heard her use before. He normally would have associated that with a more serious line of conversation, and she was serious but there was a teasing in her tone. The jovial quality laced into her deeper tone was like a melody and he could have continued to listen to her talk well into the night. In fact he intended to. He could also see how it might be easy for someone to get lost in conversation with her and spill all of their secrets. It would have been easy to confide in her. "She asked for help and I knew he was just too much of an idiot to see what was right in front of him. I couldn't reject her request. I think you might know a bit about that too."

His brow shot up and he realised that not only had she set them up but she had most likely had been aiding in their secret relationship to some extent. Haruno Sakura had helped orchestrate their debut into the world. It was a testament to how much she loved the two of them both individually and together. She was honored to have assisted them, no matter how much or little they needed her.

The rest of the meal was pleasant, with them paired off amicably. Neji had always been interested in the wealth of knowledge she possessed and used the opportunity to ask her about her work and training. Before he knew it they were wrapped in a discussion on centrifugal force and the way motion played with the physical manifestation of chakra outside the body.

Long before he was ready the sound of a hand patting a protruding belly made its way over to them. "Well that was excellent as always. Where to next?" Naruto rubbed his belly in satisfaction looking to his companion for guidance as they all moved to stand.

Hinata looked around nervously. Even amongst friends, being put on the spot could cause her discomfort. Her body language screamed the desire to either hunker down or run but she did neither of those things. Twisting her jacket over her stomach she deffered the decision to another, without stuttering. "Sakura-chan?"

Sakura searched their expressions for a moment, making sure they were all aright with her making the choice. She pivoted on her heel and took a confidant step into the street. "I thought we might get some shaved ice." He was not sure how she had managed to pick the one single sweet treat he liked but she had and he was not going to complain about it. Instead he was going to make sure it was the right stand, for one could not have shaved ice from just any old pedlar. Once again she seemed to read his mind. "There is a good stand by the Kage monument."

He had to admit that he was not surprised to find that she was already turned in that direction, the swing of her hips beckoning him to follow her. He had not minded before and he certainly did not now.

The open space before the faces was not so green as one might have expected. It had been cleared in the construction and as such the perfect space for various different food stalls. Not too far away was a noodle stand and the scent of fried udon and beef filled the air. As they approached the cart Sakura pivoted on her heels, walking backwards to make sure she could see everyone. "What am I ordering?"

They all waited for their shyest member to begin. Hinata traced a line with the toe of her shoe in the dirt which formed a makeshift path that had been worn into the earth by people just like them looking to beat the heat and find a spot under the shade of the near by trees. "A l-l-lemon for me, thank you Sakura-chan."

"Orange, of course," Naruto said with a snicker. Having been made aware of his connection with the bright color he had been going out of his way to incorporate it even more into his routine. To many it seemed like he was doing his damndest to make the color orange senonomus with Uzumaki Naruto, his own personal branding.

He had intended to offer his assistance with getting the cooling treats, but she was too quick. She had his sleeve between her fingertips and it did not take much coaxing to pull him away form the tree that the couple in his charge had found themselves under. With a skip in her step Sakura approached the stall only letting go of his sleeve to reach into her pouch to retrieve funds. The young man behind the ice maker spotted her candy colored tresses and froze up. "One lemon, one orange, one cherry, and one..."

"Lime, please," he said, to the man at the stall. The young teen who had been staring at Sakura quickly went about getting their orders. one by one the vibrant ice mounds made their way into their hands. Her cherry flavor was the last but as soon as she had it she thanked the young man and turned towards the couple that waited for them.

She took a small bite of her treat, her eyes closing in joy. A small hum emanated from her throat made his whole body stop, his mouth just above his own cooling treat. For the briefest instant he spotted a swipe of her tongue over her pink lips and he was frozen to the spot, completely transfixed. "Mmmm, I just love shaved ice in the summer. Always hits the spot don't you think?"

"Hn," he said snapping out of it just in time for Naruto to run up and remove the lemon and orange shaved ice from them. He raced back to his girlfriends side and once they each had their shaved ice he grabbed Hinata around the waist just as he had earlier.

The hero let a foxy grin take over his features, particularly proud of himself. His chest was puffed and his eyes glimmering. And who could blame him? He was finally able to announce to his city, to the world, that he and Hinata were officially a couple. Life could not have been better. The four of them walked quietly for a time, silently heading back in the general direction of the Hyuuga estate.

One by one they finished their dessert. When Sakura began to search for a bin Neji extended his hand out to take her finished carton. She handed it to him gratefully. He quietly slipped the cartons in a near by trash can and promptly returned to her side in a few strides. Naruto let out a long but pleased yawn. His arms stretched over his head and then, none too subtly, turned towards his lady love. "Aren't the stars the best?"

Hinata leaned into the embrace hardly noticing the stars at all. "Yes, they are beautiful," she said, a bit breathless at the feel of Naruto's fingertips on her full cheeks.

Neji was about to object, for he could see where this was going, when green filled his vision. The blacks of her pupils to shrunk in the street light. All he could do was stare, a state he was finding himself in far too frequently. Slivers of emerald, jade, silver, and gold were intricately woven together like cracks in glass bottle that had yet to fully break. He leaned in, facilitated by the layers and facets of her colorful irises that had locked onto his own. "Just look at me Neji-san. No need to report what you don't see, right?" she asked, with the same coy smile he had noticed earlier set firmly in place.

"Hn." He reacted on instinct, not sure exactly what else there was to say. She had stolen the words from him, robbed him of all sense and he did not know what to make of that. There was a lot, he mused, he would need to think over when the moment ended, much he needed to take into consideration. For now he was content to take her in, for looking into her eyes was like looking into the depths of her soul. What he found here was not perfect or innocent- which of them could claim to be such- but beautiful and strong, just as he knew her to be.

A thump from behind her made Sakura turn her head, the swish of her hair just missing his nose. What he did catch was the hint of apples that she left in her wake. "Oh for heavens sake," she said with a small stamp of her foot at the sight before her, a move that brought little cracks in the concrete to creep out from under her foot.

Hinata was slumped down in Naruto's arms. The young woman was awkwardly held up from under her arms. her head fell back and in her limp state she was eventually going to slip to the ground in a puddle. "Sakura-chan, what do I do?!" he screamed frantically. The shout did not rouse the limp woman in his arms and he continued to panic, attempting to hoist her back up and wake her at the same time. Instead of waking her it looked considerably more like he was shaking her.

Sakura rushed over with her chakra activated peeling the heiress from her beau. One arm scooped up Hinata and supported her against Sakrua's chest while the other arm pushed at Naruto's. "Stop flailing about like a chicken." Her words left her moth just as her fingertips left Naruto's person and all parties involved realized what was happening before his feet left the ground. Sadly there was little Sakura could do. Her teammate went flying headlong into a near by brick wall. A loud thump made Sakura and Neji grimace simultaneously. When the man failed to clamber back towards them the two chaperones jogged over. Sakura and Neji looked at each other and then down at the man who was now knocked out on the ground. Sakura let out a long sigh. "Well, shit," she said, the glow of her hands bringing a green tinge to their corner of the world.

It was all he could do not to laugh. The twist of his lips went unnoticed by his companion who was too busy checking over their charges for injuries. "I believe that might be the end of the night."

Sakura huffed. Her dismay, which existed alongside carefully veiled humor, twisted together in her voice and the set of her shudders. "What a way to end their first date. I feel awful."

When he spoke his tone was soft but direct and it cut straight through her growing guilt. "Suiting though." Sakura thought it over and slowly she came to see his perspective.

"Now that you mention it, I suppose it is. They were bound to end a date like this so it might as well be the first one." Her serious tone denoted so much truth that for a short time they just stared at the scene before them. Neji felt the rumble in his chest and the noise caught her attention. It was contagious and slowly she joined him, now that she knew that the lovers would be alright. Their laughter filled the quiet street and in due course subsided.

As entertaining as the predicament was they could not be left on the road side. Sakura kept her chakra flowing and healing while she reached for the heiress. "Well, let's get these two back home," she said lifting Hinata to his awaiting arms before turning to pick up the hokage-to-be. "Kami of all the things to happen. If only she hadn't fainted." Her lament was accented by her hoisting the tall man into her back. She stayed close enough to keep one hand on Hinata's leg while the other focused on Naruto.

He had to agree. That would have spelled the end of the evening even if Sakura had not knocked out Naruto by accident. "We must get her past that," he mused both to himself and in the hope that he might have some assistance in this endeavor.

Neji felt the soft bump of a hip and Naruto's knee into his leg. "That's the spirit Neji-san," she said with a grin that warmed his chest and tugged on his lips.

A stirring from Neji's arms alerted him to the fact that Hinata was coming round. He never saw her eyes open though he knew she must have caught sight of Sakura and Naruto, the later being carried on the petites woman's back. There was a small whimper and then a pale hand raised to her forehead. "I fainted didn't it?" Dejected and forlorn the mumble was just barely audible but both nins heard enough to get the gist.

Sakura nodded, doing her best not to knock into Naruto's hard head. The glowing green hand resting on Hinata's shin patted the young woman whilst never halting the healing session she was conducting. "It's alright. And don't worry about him, he's fine." Her words were accented by a mumble and a nuzzle to the side of Sakura's cheek by the man in question, a motion that was oddly platonic despite his proximity. Hinata just nodded curling up in embarrassment.

The green glow of her charka was as reassuring as ever and he knew that the injured pair were in good hands, even if one of the injuries had been caused by her. It was strange but he would honestly say he had not spent such an unusual but enjoyable night out in a very long time. It was all thanks to her really. As they approached the entrance to the estate, the Hyuuga kanji and symbol looking over them with each step. He had been wanted to express his appreciation and the closer they got to the Hyuuga house the closer she would be to leaving. It was now or never. "Thank you for joining us, and for earlier."

"Anytime," she chirped returning her hand to hold Naruto under his knees. How she had managed on the walk over Neji did not know but he could only attest it to her monstrous strength.

The Huuuga male intend to say more but the words stilled in his throat at the sight of one of his family members waiting just inside the entrance of the estate. "What is the meaning of this?" The Elder demanded, not sure what to make of his granddaughters bleary expression. Hinata passed him and slipped onto the lantern lit veranda looking for the comfort of her room.

"She fainted and I accientdly knocked him out," Sakura stated with no sign of shame, only amusement. The powerhouse on her back shifted snuggling into her as if she was a teddy bear. A mumble was followed by a snore and Sakura hoisted him up to get a better grip. It was a sight that distinctly reminded Neji of that creature Naruto had looked after fo a time. The Uzumaki's heels were dangling close to her shins and his long arms were threatening to squeeze her shoulders too tightly but she did not seem to mind much. "Don't worry, I'll take him home. Night Neji-san." With a tilt of her head she turned and walked into the night.

"Hn." The Elders characteristic grunt was filled with dissapproval, but if she noticed she did not let it get to her. She kept walking with her head held as high as holding Naruto would allow.

"Good night Sakura-san." He had not expected his whisper to be heard. He said it so quietly he barely registered his own words, but when she turned around and waved a hand from her hip she smiled so brightly he was convinced she had. His lips tilted up when the warmth that she radiated from her being spread through is chest.


Neji looked around the table. It was rare for him to join in the morning meal. He was never one for family functions and that extended to daily activities too. He much preferred to take his meals alone, especially morning ones. He was not a morning person or so he had discovered over the course of many years with Konoha's green beasts, both of whom were eager early risers. Even Tenten was more attuned to the mornings than the evenings. So he trudged through the morning sessions diligently, albeit in a grump for years and over time everyone learned not to get in his way. He supposed that was why they all gave him a wide birth.

Usually when in town he chose to eat on his own before the others and meditate until he awoke fully. Yet here he was, braving a social breakfast with his family. Well, as social as a Hyuuga meal could get. His uncle and The Elder sat in stone cold silence, their differences from the day before carrying overnight. Neji did not see that standoff going away unil Hiashi was able to do something about the courting situation.

Hinata and Hanabi appeared to be ignoring the tension between their elders for different reasons. Hanabi, like himself, was not one for mornings and had zombied her way to the table for a much anticipated injection of caffeine and a small bite to eat. She was unlikely to care about much else until the fog that effected her thought process lifted. Hinata attempted to hide a blush and a prominent smile behind the glaze of her mug but they all knew she had little hope of keeping her joy a secret. She had finally made her debut with Naurto the evening before and unless he was much mistaken they would be going out later as well.

Neji set his rice bowl down along with his utensils. Pale eyes focused on his cousin when his head turned, watching for a moment as she hummed a happy little diddy to herself. He did not think she meant to celebrate out loud for her whole face turned tomato red when she noticed his gaze on her.

"Y-Y-Yes, Nii-san?" Her stutter was prominent, a sign that he had unintentionally made her nervous. He could only hope that more time with Naruto made her less sensitive. It was bound to, for there was not a bashful bone in the blondes body.

"I did not realise you were such good friends with Sakura-san," he stated in an attempt to bring up the woman who had plagued his thoughts the entire evening before. She had struck a cord in him. Their evening together had confirmed that he liked being around her and, truth be told, he wanted to spend more time with her.

"Yes, she has been a wonderful friend," Hinata said, the fondness in her tone was unmistakeable able and brought a gentle crease to her eyes when her cheeks raised.

A wrinkled hand reached out for the tea pot that sat in the center of the table. "Haruno Sakura? The medic?" His grandfather asked, suddenly showing an interest in their conversation.

Neji would have snorted had the noise not come from Hanabi before he got the chance. His little cousin rolled her eyes. The idea that their grandfather had not recognised Sakura the night before was laughable. She was one of the most recognisable nins in the world due to her unique coloration and highly specialised skill set. The elders gaze narrowed at his youngest grandchild choosing not to say anything and wait for Hinata to answer his question. With her point gotten across Hanabi tucked back into her beverage. A curtian of black bangs shone when Hinata tucked her head down, as she had never been able to look the older man in the eyes. "S-S-Sakura-chan is very close to Naruto-kun," Hinata explained diligently.

The older mans brow scrunched and rose at the same time, a sign that he was about to draw an unnessicary conclusion from Hinata's description. In an attempt to keep his cousin from getting frazzled, for outside of her family and old teammates there were two precious people whom she would hear no ill against, Neji interjected. "They were on the same team," he explained with deliberate punctuation on certain syalbles to make sure his grandfather was paying attention.

"I recall," The Elder stated dryly. His frown was firmly in place as he continued, "she is powerful, though her temper is unseemly."

Neji did not know how his grandfather managed to compliment someone and then immidetly follow the praise with harsh judgement. As for the temper, he had always thought Sakura was more fiery than outright aggressive. When she did lash out it was almost always because her ridiculous teammates were up to something. Regardless it had been sometime since Sakura had stepped in to correct the more stubborn members of Team Seven. "It is part of her charm," he explained, the words clearly defensive.

"The lesser of the evils that one might inherit from Tsunade-sama," Hiashi mused. He had a fondness for the woman in question who's temper only appeared when prompted by her unruly teammates. She had calmed considerably once exiting her teens and was a pleasure to speak to. He was also aware of the reputation she held in the village. Few could claim to be so well respected by the public, both at home and amongst other nations. Her efforts in the war and her subsequent care for the traumatized children made her a favorite in their midst. She was not from a shinobi family nor was she arrogant in her achievements and that endeared her to civilians around the world. Many a young girl wanted to be like the renowned Sakura-hime. She was her masters protege, and Konoha could not have been prouder to have a daughter such as she. Hiashi cleared his throat. "I believe it was that spark that made it possible for her to thrive under Tsunade-sama's tutelage where others might have failed." His uncle made an excellent point. There were few that could thrive under Tsunade's strict regimen. Even Shizune had not completed the course. Sakura wore the symbol of her power proudly for the world to see. No one could take that from her. "It was there long before she began her apprenticeship."

"Sakura-chan has always been quite spirited," Hinata aquiested with a great deal of humor lacing her tone. Neji did not need to guess as to what had his cousin so bemused. More than once or twice Sakura's animated personality had gotten her into hot water and had earned those around her a peace of her mind and fists.

"That is one way to put it," their grandfather scoffed and then finally quieted, focusing on his traditional breakfast.

Neji decided to ignore him. It tended to be the best way to deal with the elder. Being passed over did make the man cross but ultimately Neji did not mind him being cross so long as his derisive tone remained on his side of the table. He returned his attention to the subject at hand, namely the woman whose beguiling stare had haunted him all evening. "Do you spend much time with her?"

"Yes, she has been a great support." Hinata smiled thinking back on all of the help Sakura had been. Was it not for her there might have been no relationship between herself and Naruto. The black haired beauty set her tea down and turned her full attention to her curious cousin. Unless she was mistaken Neji was asking after their beloved Sakura-chan for a reason. She could only hope it was what she thought it was.

"Will she be likely to join us again on the next outing?" His face was set intently on her, waiting for an answer. He was trying not to come off too eager but if he was honest with himself he was. He wanted to see Sakura and if she agreed to it, then they could preform his chaperoning duties together, a possibility that made the whole affair far more appealing.

"What brought on the sudden interest Nii-san?" The two stared at each other. Without a word he went back to eating, suddenly thankful to have ventured out to the family meal. Hinata did her best to hide her mirth but a part of her was deserpate to have another date as soon as possible. She was already excited enough with the simple prospect of seeing her beloved Naruto again without having to hide but now there was the added bonus of setting her Nii-san up with one of her best friends. For whether he knew it or not, he liked the pink haired sannin a great deal. Hinata would be damned if she as going to let this rare admission, no matter how small, pass her by without doing anything about it. "I will ask Naruto-kun to bring her along."


End Comments: Ok, so I realize that Naruto getting knocked out is unlikely but it is the sort of thing that might happen in the more relaxed parts of the anime (ie. the fillers). For anyone who is curious I am still updating Breath of Fresh Air. Now that Consider All Options is wrapped up and this chapter is now out, that is my next project. I also have an epilogue of sorts for Undercover, but that will come later. And for those of you who have been asking I do have a SakuSasu in the works and a potential GaaraSaku. BUT I won't publish those until I am done with BOFA. As always I have no beta (though recently someone did offer for this fic- I am thinking about it, I promise!) so please forgive any mistakes you find. I do my best to fix them when I spot them. Review are always greatly appreciated, but please no flames. I hope you enjoyed this. Until next time!