Ayame couldn't help but smile. Naruto was in the process of finishing off his 7th bowl of ramen, this one currently above his head as the last bit of broth and the tiny noodles plopped into his mouth.

With any other person, Ayame would have been offended, but there was something about Naruto that made it far more difficult for her to get mad at him.

Zoning out for a minute she thought back to her first meeting with Naruto.

It was during lunch, and Naruto had painted over the Hokages' Mountain, and in the process of running for safety, had ended up on their street. He had jumped into the booth with the sole intent of hiding, but after smelling the ramen, ordered some. At first she had gone out back with her father, who was going to serve him, and she had tried to persuade him to kick Naruto out.

But Teuchi insisted that since Naruto had paid, he was going to serve him, and wouldn't listen to her.

After his 12th bowl, Naruto had become a welcome customer at Ichiraku's, and the two had gotten used to Naruto's lack of manners, becoming one of Naruto's first real friends.

Naruto placed the bowl on the stack of the first six, exhaled and smiled, then took something out of his pocket.

"Geez Gama-chan, you're not so skinny anymore!" he said. Ayame, not having fully heard and understood Naruto, turned on him, her wooden spoon held high at the ready, but then she realized that he was talking to his wallet. Indeed, the green frog was notably fatter than usual.

Naruto pulled out several bills and put them on the counter, thanking them then turned to go, and almost ran into Hinata. "YAH! Jeez, Hinata, you scared me!"

"Oh-h. I-I'm sorry, Na-Narut-to. I didn't mean-"

"It's okay Hinata. How are you doing?" The question caught her off-guard.

Twiddling her thumbs and looking away from him, she mumbled a quick "Fine", gulped, then asked how he was doing.

"Well, I don't remember much, but other than that… I guess I'm fine."

Unable to remain in his presence without turning any redder and risking another faint, Hinata turned to run away, but a warm hand softly clasped onto her shoulder.

"Wait, Hinata. Where are you running off to?" he asked her.

Nearly fainting, she mumbled something indistinct about home, to which Naruto happily said: "No problem! I'll walk you home!"

Maybe she was finally adjusting to Naruto's continued attention, because as he said those words, she didn't faint.

However, throughout the journey, Hinata kept tripping and stumbling, especially when Naruto asked her a question that involved more than just a one word answer, and when he looked her in the eye for extended periods of time.

Their conversation during the walk was awkward.

Of course Naruto did most of the talking, and quiet Hinata happily resigned herself to movements of the head, one word answers and a continuous smile.

At the gates of the Hyuuga mansion they both stopped. Hinata was glad; no matter how much she wanted to stay by Naruto, she would let him think her a klutz. How could he love her then?

After exchanging goodbyes, Hinata slipped into the compound, and as the gate began to close she leaned to her side just a bit to catch one last glimpse of Naruto. She squeaked when she realized that he was looking right at her, waving goodbye, that beautiful smirk on his face.

She kept watching him as he turned around, waved one last time, then stuck his hand in his pocket and walked off into the sunset.

Hinata collapsed against the gate. He had walked off into the sunset, but he'd looked back. No-one had ever done that before.