Chapter 2

That evening the group walked for a few hours before they had to set up camp for the night. With Naruto and Hinata switching watch while Kazuya rested, they had the situation under control for the time being. When Hinata went outside at about 1 in the morning and Naruto was nodding off, Hinata came up behind him and tapped his shoulder timidly.

"Ah…Naruto-kun? I'll take over now." Hinata said. Naruto turned around and found Hinata standing behind him. He smiled and shook his head.

"Nah, its ok, Hinata-chan. You should go rest. I mean, I have a lot more energy than most people, so I can definitely handle a night-watch duty." Naruto boasted. Hinata bit her lip in a conflicted way, but turned and returned to her tent.

A couple of hours later, Hinata got the idea to make some tea for Naruto since he was staying up all night so she could sleep. She got up and exited her tent once more. She placed a kettle over the fire, and then poured a cup of tea. She looked over at where Naruto had been sitting on a log, which he was now curled up on. Hinata knelt in front of him, and shook his shoulder until his eyes fluttered open. Hinata held out a glass of tea to him, her cheeks flushed pink. Naruto sat up in a dazed way, and looked at her in surprise.

"Oh, Hinata-kun, what are you doing up?" Naruto asked.

"Oh, well I just…"Hinata stammered, "You fell asleep, so…"

Naruto noticed the cup of tea Hinata was holding out to him, and he took the glass gratefully. He smirked.

"I guess I'm not much of a night-watcher, huh?" Naruto laughed.

"Well…you could be if you just got a little rest. Please let me take it from here!" Hinata insisted.

"If you say so. I am pretty tired…" Naruto agreed, and disappeared into the tent, soon to reappear with a pillow at hand.

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata questioned.

"I wouldn't feel right just leaving you out here alone, so I'm just going to rest beside you on the ground." Naruto said, as if compromising. Hinata gave a small smile as he threw the pillow on the ground beside her feet, and was soon sleeping on the camp floor.

As dawn began to break, Hinata boiled a pack of ramen for breakfast, and then another for Naruto. She woke him up, and handed him the food.

"Gosh, Hinata-chan, thanks." Naruto grinned happily at her. She nodded, and stood up.

"I-I'm going to wake up Otomiya-san…" Hinata muttered, stumbling off to Kazuya's tent.

"M'kay." Naruto said through a mouthful of food.

Hinata lifted the tent flap, and peeked inside awkwardly.

"Uh, Otomiya-san? It's time to get up…" Hinata stammered into the shadowed tent.

She heard a vague yawn and a rustle from under the cover of blankets before Kazuya replied.

"Oh, thank you Hyuuga-san. I'll be right out."

Hinata stepped away from the tent and began packing up their supplies. Naruto leant a helping hand and Kazuya soon joined the group and helped finish the clean-up before they continued on their way.

"Hyuuga-san? I was wondering…" Kazuya began, looking upon Hinata with a shrewd expression.

"Y-Yes, Otomiya-san?"

"Do you have someone special to you back in the village?" Kazuya asked. Hinata blushed crimson red, and mumbled inaudible words under her breath.

"Um-well-I...you see…" Hinata stammered.

"You don't have to answer. I'm terribly sorry if I made you uncomfortable. It was out of line to ask such a thing." Kazuya backtracked, regretting his questioning.

"No, it's alright… And no, I don't have someone like that." Hinata said quietly.

"Oh…I see. Why not? Oh wait no don't answer that, really. I say things without thinking…" Kazuya babbled.

"I guess it's because…I'm waiting for someone…" Hinata said.

"Waiting? For someone in specific?"

Hinata flushed a darker color red.

"N-No! Not at all!" Hinata spoke quickly.

"Why are you so interested in stuff like that?" Naruto asked Kazuya, who grinned in an embarrassed way.

"Because…well I'm going to the Land of Cherry Blossoms because…someone's waiting there for me…and I've been betrothed to her for a while now. I'm going there to marry her."

"That's wonderful! Congratulations!" Hinata said excitedly.

"Thank you."

"Hmph! Marry, huh?" Naruto huffed.

"What about you, Uzumaki-san? Anyone that you like in that way?" Kazuya asked.

"I dunno…not really. I mean, I used to like Sakura-chan for a while, but she's more like a big sister to me now… and besides, she has Sasuke. I mean, when I bring him back, she'll have him…" Naruto rambled.

"Ah… I see. Say, you and Hyuuga-san should hook up! That way, EVERYONE would be happy!" Kazuya smirked.

"Ah-! Otomiya-sama!" Hinata gasped at his words, her eyes widened in humiliation.

"Oi, Otomiya! Stop embarrassing us!" Naruto snapped in annoyance at their client.

"Sorry…sorry…" Kazuya sang, skipping ahead of them.

"This guy…" Naruto said darkly, as Hinata giggled at Kazuya's actions.