--On a walk deep in the woods of Konoha--

Naruto: "...and that's the best reasoning I can come up with. I trust in the other two to be alright with the decision, they're strong enough to move on without me beside them."

Neji: "..."

Naruto: "Did I say something wrong?"

Neji: "I'm a little disappointed."

Naruto: sigh "I thought there was something wrong with the method I used to pick the right girl."

Neji: "That's not it. I'm disappointed in myself. I didn't think you could make your decision in such a well thought out way."

Naruto: laughing "You've changed so much since we first met! I like you a lot better this way."

Neji: letting out a short chuckle "Seeing the world through Uzumaki Naruto's eyes makes everything different."

Naruto: "I guess it does, I..." Naruto paused to look off in the distance. "...I see, looks like we have company."

--Back at the Cabin--

Ino: "I'm so bored... I wish Naruto-kun would come back I want to have some fun."

Sakura: "If you're so bored, why don't you just go home Ino-pig?"

Ino: "As much as Naruto would love to see you two wrestle naked in the mud, I think I'll stick around and make sure that doesn't happen."

Sakura: "... I just thought of something."

Ino: "Hmm?"

Sakura: "Naruto brought extra towels because there weren't enough, and you said he had been asleep most of the time he was here, Hinata-chan."

Hinata: "Hai, what about it?"

Sakura: "He looked awfully clean and smelled awfully good when he picked us up from the woods."

Ino: "Wow... I'm surprised you remember him hoisting the two of you over his shoulder after your brawl. But what's you're point?"

Sakura slowly cranked her head toward Hinata, eyes wide and pupils dead white, her eyebrow twitching.

Sakura: "You were in the bath with him, weren't you?"

Ino: shrug "What's wrong with that?"

Sakura: "They didn't have enough towels, so they were in there naked."

Ino: "How shrewd. I still don't see what's wrong with it."

Sakura: "If he's been asleep... she was doing things to him in the bath while he was asleep. She already did it to him at his apartment!"

Ino: cracking her knuckles "Oh ho. I get it now. Well, I can't have you getting that close to him without me there... er... my permission."

Hinata started darting her eyes around the room. The situation was becoming bad for her. He eyes rested on the front door and she put on a look of surprise.

Hinata: "Na-Naruto-kun, you're back?"

The other two turned to face the door, hinding the kunai they had pulled out behind their backs, and saying "Welcome back, Naruto-kun" in unison. Before they could look back Hinata dove out the window and they each smacked herself on the head before sprinting to the door.

They nearly bowled over the young man standing at the door as they crashed through it. When the girls regained their senses, Ino shouted "What... what are you doing here?"

As Hinata dove out the window, she was so surprised at the figure standing there that she had no time to react. He caught the girl in his arms. His grip was firm, his muscles powerful. She felt her weight totally supported in his arms, the shining aura of the sun behind his head as she looked up. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

Naruto: "Nice entrance. It's no dynamic entry but I'm definitely impressed."

Hinata: "Thank god! Naruto-kun ... you came back for me."

Naruto: "I'm glad to see you too. But right now, we've got something important to do."

-- --
(sitting in the cabin, eating)

Ino: "What the hell is going on exactly? Explain it to me properly"

Shikamaru: "The situation is this: The Hidden Village of Sand was attacked yesterday by an invading army from lightning. They moved in fast, killed a lot of people, destroyed key installations then fled when Gaara began the counter attack. Even though they've been driven back to the edge of the Wind Country's territory, a smaller group infiltrated Sand's secret scrolls room and took some very important and powerful scrolls. Seems as though this smaller group intends to take the longer route back and skirt through southern Fire Country territory. This group is considered elite, so Godaime-sama has classified this as an S-Class top priority mission."

Neji: "We're to catch them, but even Gaara was unable to scratch these guys or catch them."

Shikamaru: "It's simple. We're going to ambush them, and we have more power here than most armies would. Choji and Lee will be catching up in a little bit."

Naruto: "Before we go, I need to have a talk alone with the girls, separately."

(With Ino atop the trees)

Ino: "Confession time?"

Naruto: "You would never be my first pick for a wife. I'm flattered you have real feelings for me, and if you wouldn't mind, I'm going to need an adviser for Hokage. You may act loosely, however I value your opinions."

Ino: "... it wasn't what I was hoping for, but thank you. I'll gladly accept, for your sake, Hokage-sama."

Naruto: "I'm not quite Hokage yet... and Ino... if I didn't have them, I'd have gladly accepted you."

Ino: "Thank you... I have received your feelings."

Naruto turned to leave, as she watched his departing form descend to the cabin, a single tear fell to the floor.

Ino: "... Naruto... sama."

-- --
(Walking through the woods)

Several minutes passed in silence. Sakura didn't know what to expect. It felt like years had passed since the two had met, since that sad pulse of chakra crashed through the village. She felt alone once again, even with so many people around. The silence between the two became unbearable.

Sakura: "Naruto, I never..."

Naruto: "I know."

Sakura: "... it wasn't..."

Naruto: "I know."

Sakura regarded him for what seemed like minutes. Finally he turned and smiled that big stupid grin that he always showed.

Naruto: "I was in shock for a while, so it didn't come to me right away. I've had plenty of time to think, though."

Sakura: "Then... you know how I feel. You know that I love you?"

Naruto: meeting her gaze "I've known all your feelings for years. So much so that my heart pained every time you felt sad."

Sakura: "Then, do you love me too? You've been saying so for years."

Naruto stopped in his tracks, and so did she.

Naruto: "Sakura-chan, I'm an adult now. I've been selfishly chasing down my dreams for years. Tsunade-baachan is making me Hokage in less than 6 months time. I can't act like the kid I was, because I have a responsibility to the village."

Sakura: "You... can't mean... you'd sacrifice everything... everything between us for..."

Naruto: "Before I can become Hokage, I have to settle things with Sasuke once and for all. Watch our battle for yourself, then you won't have any hesitation choosing between us."

Sakura: "But the one I love is..."

Naruto: "Love isn't something you can dive into without all of your conviction. You should know, because I learned that from you."

Sakura: "..."

Her lips pursed to say something, but couldn't. She looked into his eyes, endless puddles of strength lie in them. She closed the gap between them. Her arms reached up to his shoulders. Her eyes closed, her head angled up toward him. Then she felt his all too short embrace.

Naruto turned to leave and meet the last girl, leaving Sakura to sit with her thoughts in silence.

-- --
(Sitting by the stream)

Hinata's face seemed as if it would burst, blood spilling out of her all too red cheeks. She stared at the ground, poking some dirt around with a twig. The sound of Naruto's breathing overshadowed the sound of the stream, the birds, everything else; nothing existed to her with the exception of him breathing in and out. She savored the air, it's taste was crisp and fresh, if not slightly cold. The warmth in her arms and legs somehow eroded away, a shiver running through her body.

Naruto scooted next to the girl and put his arm around her. She felt his warmth exude through to the exposed skin on the back of her neck, and the chill she felt melted away. The shivering remained.

Naruto: "You're cold. I'm sorry to drag you out here."

She turned her head to face him. She stared in his eyes, so deeply that she saw her own reflection.

Hinata: "Not at all, I'm just happy you would meet with me again. We've become very close lately."

Naruto turned his sights to the stream.

Naruto: smiling "Closer than I've been to almost anyone in my lifetime."

He let the words hang, and drift through the air before continuing.

Naruto: "If I asked you to return to the village and wait for me, would you?"

Hinata: "...why?"

Naruto: "This is a dangerous mission. You've taken very good care of me, and I want to be sure you're safe before I take this task on. If I were to lose you I..."

He had no more time to speak for his fiery words were quelled by the gentle caress of her lips. After a while, he needed air, so he finally detached himself, gasping for breath, his heart racing.

Hinata: "I've waited many years for you, Naruto-kun. My heart has finally reached yours, and after the last few weeks, I believe... no I trust that your heart has reached back. I will not leave your side. I will be your strength."

Naruto: "Hinata, I could die on this mission... you could... die."

Hinata: "I've said it before, Naruto-kun. If you are to die, you will not leave this world in solitude as you have lived in it. My life and yours are bonded, nothing will come between that."

Naruto: "What if I told you I've chosen to be with Sakura? You should go home because that's what I've chosen!"

She flicked him on the forehead.

Hinata: "I don't need Byakugan to see right through you. You love me. Don't run away. Don't take back your words. Isn't that your way of the ninja?"

Naruto: "That's completely unfair!"

Hinata: giggling "Even if you fell in love with her, love is a war. I won't give up on you so easily."

She stood and turned to leave, but she paused, turned and held out her hand.

Hinata: "Come on, everyone's waiting for you, Hokage-sama!"

The smile on her face couldn't lose. Grinning back, he took her hand, laughing as they strode back to their friends.

--Back at the Cabin, yet again--

Naruto: "... and right when I was about to get hit, my buushin sneaked up behind the guy and pulled his pants down. It was classic! He even had boxer shorts with little hearts on them, I almost feel sorry for the guy."

Hinata: can't stop laughing "Ahahahah... I ... hahaha... please, no more... hahhahaha... can't breath!"

Apparently she found this story far funnier that it was, because her arms were holding her sides, and Naruto was guiding her along through the doorway. When they entered everyone turned to look and stare.

Naruto: "What?"

The two other girls looked at each other, back at Hinata, then back at each other again. When the two of them had returned from their conversations, each had come back withdrawn, with solemn expressions, and nothing to say. Hinata, on the other hand, was plagued with laughter.

Lee: "Naruto-kun, Chouji and I are here, our forces are all assembled. Before we left, Godaime-sama asked that you take charge of this mission."

Naruto: "Huh? I've never led a mission with anyone my own age, let alone made up of anything but gennin. Why am I in charge?"

Shikamaru: "Naruto, you're going to be Hokage in about 5 months. If you can't lead a team like this, maybe you should consider a new career, like taste tester, or village idiot."

Ino: giving a swift punch to Shika's head "Right. I've compiled an inventory of all our equipment, a map of the area, and calculated the farthest distance they could have traveled in the available time. I've also taken count of our rations."

Naruto: speechless for a minute "Good work."

Ino: smiling "Will you be needing anything else? Something to drink or I could make you some food before we set out?"

Naruto: looking serious "Put your head together with Shikamaru and find the best terrain to ambush the enemy. I want you to organize the team into ambushers and pair up with one other person for infiltration. You're our only infiltration specialist."

Ino: smiling widely "Hai, Naruto-sama!"

Shikamaru: "Sama? ... I'm starting to hate him more."

Chouji: laughing "If you wanted that respect chomp you should have become Hokage yourself. But you're not blond enough for the job."

Naruto: "Sakura, we could probably use some herbs and other medicinal stuff or something to help out. Go get whatever you can in the next 15 minutes. Hinata will help you."

Sakura: "Hai, Naruto." I'll pry some answers out of her while we do.

Lee: "What about the rest of us?"

Naruto: "Chouji, keep eating, you're gonna need lots of stamina for this. Neji, have Ino and Shikamaru give you some spots to scout out, and find their exact location on the double. Lee.."

Lee: "Hai!"

Naruto: "Get me a ham sandwich."

Lee: "Ossu... what??"

Naruto: "I can't think on an empty sandwich, I mean stomach."

Lee: "Where am I going to find a ham sandwich here? And why am I finding a ham sandwich?"

Naruto: "A ninja is supposed to look underneath the underneath. When you find the sandwich, you'll know the true meaning of why I asked you for it."

Lee: "I get it! I'll be back in a flash!" -- Rock Lee sped out the door.

Neji: "Naruto, if you screw with Lee's mind, you'll leave me with nothing fun to do."

Naruto: "I just wanted to know if Fuzzy-brows would do it. I guess some people never change."

He looked at Ino busy at work. She noticed him watching her, looked back and winked at him.

Naruto: "... and others change for the better." Makes it kinda hard not to want her... I probably shouldn't be thinking about that now... especially with this business between Sakur... I mean Hinata and me. I hope Sakura makes her decision soon; it would make things a lot easier on Hinata and me. I hope Ino will be okay though.

-- --
Somewhere in the Fire Country Woods

Sai: "She told me that she left Orochimaru because she wasn't into his lava lamp collection, but the way I see it, he dumped her."

Sasuke: "Hey Sai, it's a bit of a trip, have this sucker, you suck on it and it's got like 30 different flavors embedded in it.

Sai: "Thanks!"

15 minutes later.

Sai: "Ah sann weel mah songue"

Sasuke: "You can't feel your tongue because I put a local anesthetic in your sucker, sucker. Now I can have a few hours of quiet."

Sai took out a picture book and made a drawing. He then pointed from the picture to Sasuke.

Sasuke: "... I have a small penis?! Grand Fireball Technique."