secret lovers

After the Fourth Shinobi War, Naruto was gradually falling in love with Hinata and the whole village of Konoha knows it…Well, aside from him. Chronological One-Shots / Canon-Compliant / Post-War / Pre-Last / Contains references from Hiden novels.

Disclaimer: Characters and several scenarios in this work belong to Masashi Kishimoto et al.

entry twenty five

prompt

Someone sees Hinata as a strong kunoichi, but Naruto didn't seem to be happy about it.
And Naruto has a special ramen?

*Excerpts from Shikamaru Hiden (direct Viz translation and TL by Cacactua) are enclosed in [/]*

/unsettling/

["Hey! It's Shikamaru! Where're you going in such a hurry, huh?" The man raced over to Shikamaru, a smile spreading across his lips so childish it was hard to believe they were the same age. Three lines on either cheek, crystal-clear blue eyes.

"I could say the same thing to you. What're you up to so early, Naruto?" Shikamaru called the man by name.

Uzumaki Naruto.

"I couldn't really sleep last night, dattebayo. And I woke up early, so I went and had some ramen at Ichiraku. Just on my way home now."

"Are they even open this early?"

"They're open twenty-four hours now," Naruto said, gleefully.

"That doesn't mean you have to go and eat ramen, of all things, first thing in the morning."

"I could eat ramen breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

"That's not something to brag about."

"Half my body's made of ramen," Naruto noted proudly, with a straight face.

A sigh naturally slipped out of Shikamaru's mouth. "You know, you're the hero who ended the Great War now. Think about your health for five seconds."

"The hero thing's the hero thing; ramen is ramen!"

"I don't get that logic at all."

"Heh heh heh!"

Naruto laughed as he rubbed at his nose, hadn't changed in the slightest from their days at the academy. Naruto lived in a straightforward way, as genuine as ever. His forthrightness had changed the people around him. All this was no mean feat. Or rather, it was a stunt no one other than Naruto could pull off.

Upfront and honest, Naruto had cherished since childhood the dream of one day becoming Hokage. From the time when no one would have anything to do with him, back when he was all attention-seeking mischief, he had insisted and continued to insist that he was going to be Hokage. In the beginning, no one believed him. But now, everyone in the village thought the next Hokage could be no one other than Naruto.

Naruto was the sun. In his body, he housed an inexhaustible flame, a blinding, shining sun. Anyone bathed in that passion opened their heart and became his friend.

But because of its light, the sun did not know the shadows. Whatever darkness he found himself in, he never lost his light. Which was why, in the truest sense, Naruto did not know the shadows. No matter how impossible the situation might appear, he never gave up on his quest to save everyone. Naruto was that kind of man.

And Shikamaru thought that was the man Naruto should be. Genuine and straightforward in the face of any and everything, Naruto should continue to be the sun.

When the light is strong, the shadows are also strong. Someone had to bear the burden of those shadows.

Shikamaru felt like that was his role. There was really no one more perfect for the job, given that his own specialty was manipulating shadows.

Naruto would be the Hokage, and Shikamaru would be Naruto's officer. That was Shikamaru's dream: to always be by Naruto's side, to pick up the shadows slipping through the gaps in Naruto's light.

"What're you doing?" Naruto asked.

"Taking a walk."

"So early in the morning?"

"I think a walk's way more morning than eating ramen."

"True."

They both laughed.

"You got the day off?" Shikamaru asked, after a while.

"As if. Someone somewhere always comes along with some annoying mission. I haven't had a day off in six months. I'm out on another mission this afternoon."

"Someone somewhere" was Shikamaru. "I get those missions for your own sake. Quit all your grumbling and just do them."

"I just want a little time off at least."

"You're a candidate for the next Hokage. People are watching you. This is the most important time in your life. Have some self-awareness."

"I know, I know. But, you know."

"No buts," Shikamaru said, as if speaking to a sulking child. "Everyone in the village recognizes your ability now, which is exactly why you need to perform as many missions as you can and make them all think, 'Yeah, it's Naruto or no one.'

It's been two years since the Great War. If you think they're going to approve you just because you're the hero who ended the war, think again."

"Yeah, yeah." Naruto pursed his lips before opening his mouth wide in a yawn.

"My belly's full now. Maybe I'll go home and sleep a bit again."

"Don't oversleep."

"Yup." Naruto grinned broadly, eyes narrowing, and walked past Shikamaru.

"Hey! Naruto!" Shikamaru called over his shoulder.

"Hmm?" Naruto said, absently, turning around.

"You're gonna be Hokage. Don't forget."

"I never stopped saying it. That's my ninja way."

"You mean our ninja way."

"Yeah."

Waving his right arm in broad sweeps, Naruto turned and started walking again.]

Naruto covered his yawn as he walked down the street of Konoha. He found it difficult to sleep last night. Lately, his bed was getting colder than usual, he didn't know if it was the changing season or what, but it felt like something else. He had to admit that he was really tired, however something deep inside him was feeling restless and ramen was his only solution and probably the only thing that could warm up his heart.

On the other hand, he was really bothered by Shikamaru. His friend didn't appear that bothered before than what he seemed just now. There's gotta be something and he was going to get at the bottom of this.

Naruto just finished his mission, which consumed almost his whole day. Damn, he wasn't able to get ramen for lunch.

["Hey Sakura-chan, are you listening?" Naruto irritably asked, leaning his elbows against a pile of books that came all the way up to his chest. He was speaking to Sakura's back as she was rushing along the length of the bookshelf that covered the wall.

"Sai hasn't been around for over a month now, and Shikamaru's suddenly turned incredibly cold and stiff around me. Hey, don't you think he's hiding something from me?"

"I don't!"

Sakura's exasperated voice made Naruto wince.

"What happened to your mission?"

"It ended today."

"Then quickly go to Ichiraku's, eat some ramen, head home and sleep!"

"Whaaaaat, but it's been so long since you stopped by the Hokage Residence. You've finally shown your face…You're acting so cold as an original member of team 7."

Sakura furiously turned around to face her pouting friend.

"Right now, I'm already overwhelmed with working with Tsunade-sama on developing a system for medicinal jutsu, as well as working on the structure of the Union's system. I've got to go through documents left over from Tsunade-sama's time as Hokage! I don't have any free time! I can't listen to your gossiping! Understand?"

Huffing, she turned back to face the shelves. "Besides, haven't you been hanging out with Hinata lately? Wouldn't it be a better idea to go and have her listen to you properly instead of bothering me?"

"What? Are you jealous?"

Sakura turned around with a furious expression, her fist slamming against Naruto's head.

"Obviously not! I decided to wait for Sasuke-kun, you know!"

"Y-yes ma'am…" Naruto answered. Suddenly his eyes changed to look a bit more serious, and Sakura, noticing, paid a little more attention to what he was saying.

"But lately, I've just had this really bad feeling dattebayo."

"Is the Nine Tails making a fuss? Don't you think you're misunderstanding something?"

"You're cruel, giving my judgement zero trust…" Naruto muttered, flopping onto the floor in a sulk.

"It's because if you are rightly worried, there's nothing you can do. Both Sai and Shikamaru are brilliant shinobi. Even if they end up in a situation where need your help, then they'll ask for it. And if they can't, then the Hokage will tell you to go save them."

"Ehhh, I can't trust Kakashi-sensei to know when to do that."

"You're much worse than he is!" Sakura exploded, giving him a kick in the shin. Naruto shot back to his feet, wearily keeping a distance.

"Stop talking about things you can't help, and concentrate on your missions. That's what Sai and Shikamaru would both want you to do. Especially Shikamaru. He's been working himself to the bone in the Union and the village so you can become Hokage! You can't let all that be in vain."

"I know he's working for me…but that's exactly why I'm worried -ttebayo."

Sakura let out a sigh.

"Get a hold of yourself. They're comrades who've believed in you all this time, they're not gonna die meaningless deaths."

"Don't talk so ominously about death!"

"Oh, for goodness sake! I say one thing you get upset, I say another you still get upset. You're being a real pain, dattebayo!" Sakura used Naruto's own phrase against him. "Go home and sleep!"

Sakura threw Naruto out of the room.]

Naruto rubbed his hand on the area affected by Sakura's wrath. Indeed, it would be a better idea if he would have had talked with Hinata instead, if only she was here and was not on a mission. His recent missions didn't match hers these weeks and Naruto was feeling more tired than usual.

His face lit up. That's what ramen was for.

"Ochan! The usual, please!" Naruto greeted as he raised the store's curtains up to get himself in.

"Naruto-kun?"

What greeted him was the sight of Hinata behind the counter. She had a white cloth wrapped around her head just like Ayame's, her hair was on a ponytail and she had with her a white apron. Most importantly, she was cooking ramen!

"Hinata?" Naruto asked; with eyes still sparkling, he could not help the sudden burst of happiness inside his chest and suddenly, his world was now full of life that he got that massive boost of energy he needed.

"The shop will be running twenty-four hours, so I presented myself to help Ayame-neechan to let Teuchi-jiisan rest for a while, since he wasn't feeling well." She informed him as she lifted up noodles using the strainer.

Is this even true?

"Oh, yes, Naruto. That's true. In fact, Hinata-chan here prepared a special set of Chasyu just for you." Ayame answered him. Although he didn't mean to say that out loud, it was just…it's unbelievable. There's just something heartwarming about Hinata cooking and working with ramen.

"For me?"

Hinata played with her fingers, while it's Ayame who answered for her. "You're our favorite customer, aren't you?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah."

He glanced up at her and Hinata smiled at him gently.

It suddenly became tight in his chest.

Hinata and ramen.

However, before he could make something out of it, Ayame placed his bowl in front of him.

Hinata was obviously nervous if Naruto-kun would like the experiment she did with the chasyu. She thought of him, while making the set and this was the moment of truth for her. With Ayame, they waited not a beat before Naruto slurped his ramen.

"Mhmm!" Oh, good lord! It was just great!

The broth and noodles were just the same, but the Chasyu was very unique, enticing his taste-buds that he couldn't even hide the satisfaction forming on his face. It was too delicious, he was about to cry.

"Woooh!" He let out, breathlessly. "You…It's…Hinata…You cooked this?!" Hinata released her tight grip on her apron and nodded sharply. "It's…I don't know...The best, Hinata. It's the best. You're the best. I just don't know what to say."

Hinata demurely smiled in victory, while a cute shade of pink appeared on her cheeks. "Naruto-kun"

Ayame pulled Hinata close to her. "So you liked it, huh? You better wake up early so it would be Hinata-chan to cook ramen for you."

Naruto grinned widely at Hinata. "I will, definitely!"

Few customers came by, most of them were also surprised to see the Hyuuga Princess assisting at Ichiraku's, but in Naruto's perspective, the crowd was all drowned down. His attention was locked on Hinata as she prepared ramen for everyone with a sweet smile on her face.

Even after he finished everything and went back home, Naruto's satisfied grin never washed off. He laid his back on his bed and wrapped his body around his pillow.

Hinata and ramen.

Naruto just couldn't take the sight off his head, nevertheless that tiring feeling was gone, that nagging restlessness was oddly not present and he was able to sleep peacefully.

In a heartbeat, he rushed to Ichiraku's. Hinata will be out in a while for her mission, he couldn't miss the ramen she made, not for the world.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata greeted, happily.

"Hinata!" Naruto excitedly beamed at her as he took a seat.

She immediately prepared him his most anticipated ramen and he instantly forgot that he still had a lot of missions to attend to. He instantly forgot that he wanted a rest. Just this. Just everything he was having right now was enough to give him strength, even enough for him to forget about the world just for a few minutes.

"That's a limited edition ramen, you know, Naruto. You better feel lucky that we serve that only to you as well. Hinata-chan is the only one making it, since it's her own recipe."Ayame winked at Naruto. "Hinata-chan's future husband will surely be lucky. She just doesn't know the secret recipe to our ramen here, but she also had her own secret chasyu."

Naruto looked at Hinata with wistful eyes. Hinata's future husband.

"Hinata-sama," an unfamiliar voice rang, catching Naruto's attention. Standing right beside him was a man. He looked so well-kempt and honorable.

"Oh," Hinata muttered as she looked at the man quizzically.

Naruto saw how the man smiled at Hinata and he was not a fan of that smile. Soon, they began talking, while Naruto ate his ramen in quiet, but his ears were very attentive. The said man was from a shinobi clan affiliated with the Hyugas. He knew Hinata since they were children, but Hinata didn't seem to remember him at all. Naruto scoffed. Their conversation was just common childhood stories, until it turned a grim route.

"How 'bout we go out, Hinata-sama?"

"W-What?"

"On a date, I mean."

Naruto broke his chopstick half-way through his ramen. Hinata didn't see it happen as she was too overwhelmed by the jounin's brazenness to ask her out, but Ayame gasped at what was happening. They're finally getting some action.

Naruto took heavy inhales and exhales. His face was turning red and he was definitely fuming. He finished his ramen in one-go and stood up. He could not watch what was happening at Ichiraku's and was about to walk out of the shop, but something inside him acted and he couldn't stop himself.

"Hinata," he stood close behind the man making sure that he was standing tall and he was towering him. He flashed Hinata a sincere smile. "Thanks for the ramen! I'll see ya' 'kay?"

"Y-Yeah," Hinata said anxiously with hopes that Naruto-kun didn't misinterpret what happened.

Naruto turned around, but before he exited the shop, he made sure to send the man a message. He got it across by sending him a death-glare Kurama would be proud of. Well, the bijuu was proud, for Naruto somewhat heard him chuckle.

Temari, who just entered the shop in the middle of the event, went out to follow Naruto immediately.

"Wow, that's a nice way to call dibs."

"Huh?" Naruto turned his head towards her direction. "Temari?"

The blonde lady shrugged and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder as if she was giving him an important piece of advice. "You know, it's really difficult to figure out the difference between being friends and lovers, especially when you're both very close."

"Oh, I see…" Naruto smiled playfully. "You're talking about you and Shikamaru."

Temari got flustered and immediately denied. "That! That's not…Hey!"

"You're here, because of him, right?"

"Tch! You're quick to point out others, but you can't even realize your own!" Temari aggressively rebutted him, but her face turned sullen. "But you're right. This is all about, Shikamaru."

Naruto heard Temari out and immediately bolted to the Hokage's office to squeeze out all the information about Shikamaru's mission from Kakashi-sensei. Reinforcements were sent to help out Sai and Shikamaru at the Land of Silence.

["Hey, from now on," Naruto sternly said, "If anything happens, tell me first."

"Aa." Shikamaru closed his eyes and nodded.

Naruto let go of the back of Shikamaru's collar and stood up.

"Come on." Naruto held out his hand.

Shikamaru silently took it.

Naruto pulled him up with one smooth, strong motion, and Shikamaru was immediately back on his feet. Shikamaru envied how Naruto could be so honest and straightforward. And he thought that for Naruto's sake, he had to try and be more honest too.

"This is the last time…"

"Huh?" Naruto tilted his head at Shikamaru.

"This is the last time I'll act like a kid."

"Aa."

"After all, I'm gonna spend all my time after this babysitting a kid." Shikamaru said, poking Naruto in the chest.

"Hey, who're you calling a kid?"

"Who do you think?"

The two looked at each other, and burst into grins.]

Naruto was in-charge with the investigation at the Land of Silence with Sakura assisting him as Sai was still being tended for the wounds he obtained during the mission. Sakura noticed that as the days passed by, Naruto's strength was depleting and she knew that it was something chakra transfer could not cure.

He was exerting too much effort on this mission, not even taking a single break. Sakura knew that he was simply trying to get his mind off something. It was time to eat lunch, they were stuck at eating cup-noodles and Naruto was being unlikely quiet. There could only be one reason for this…

"So who's jealous, now?" Sakura teased

Naruto just raised his head, looking at her querulously. A week without seeing Hinata and he looked so over fatigued.

"I heard that Hinata started helping at Ichiraku's for the meantime and there's someone else, aside from you, who happened to find her ramen delicious."

The blonde downed his noodles and kept the trash away. "Thanks for the meal."

Sakura was annoyed. Was he thinking of dodging this topic again like how he usually did?

"Amazing, right, Naruto?"

"Yeah, Hinata's amazing!" Sakura smiled. Amazing―the keyword to get him talking. "She's really kind to volunteer herself to help at Ichiraku's even if she also had missions of her own. I wonder how can she do all of that though."

"Wow, you're energetic now, aren't you? Who would've thought that Hinata has that kind of power over you."

"What?" Naruto asked not quite getting her right.

"Whenever you're with her, don't you just feel exceptionally happy? It's the thought of her that inspires you, and I know that whenever you're tired from missions, you just look forward to see her and go have ramen. Don't deny, I can see it." Sakura commented dreamily.

"Uhh, you mean ramen?" Naruto tilted his head. Sakura-chan had a habit of talking way too fast, he couldn't understand her sometimes. "I mean, I always look forward to it after missions and whenever I think about it I feel really happy that my troubles will be gone and away. I just love it dattebayo."

"No. I mean, Hinata! Don't you feel that way about her too?"

Naruto looked at her with wide eyes and smiled.

"Well, yeah…I do." His expression turned solemn and calm, looking like he was picturing something. "I always do."

"Mhm...'kay? So?" Sakura asked as if she was expecting Naruto to do something.

"What? Ah, I know. You wanna try her ramen too? Well, you should, actually! She makes the best of the best at Ichiraku's! Simply, the best!"

"Simply the best? Hinata or ramen?"

"Hinata!" Naruto proclaimed proudly.

Sakura sighed in relief. But still….How did their conversation go from Hinata to ramen to Hinata?! There was just too much non-sequitur in it that even she, herself, couldn't figure a way out.

Nonetheless, at the end, Sakura held no right to confess Hinata's feelings. It would be a great disrespect if she'll take away her friend's honor to express her own love with all her heart.

Perhaps, this conversation was probably one of those where she had to let it go. Never mind, even if she can't get Naruto to realize his own feelings, she could still encourage Hinata to profess. That would likely be much better.

"It wouldn't be a shock if she'd be a great wife to someone else someday." Sakura said, imagining what kind of family Naruto and Hinata would have. Secretly, she was praying deep inside that their child won't bother hers in the future.

Naruto's heart suddenly jumped. Hold up! It looked like it sounded wrong for Sakura saw that mortified look he briefly showed, until he sadly turned his attention to the ground.

"And you could be someone else's husband, you know." Sakura tried to ease, but it didn't seem to make him feel any better.

"It's not like I'm going to marry just someone else, Sakura-chan! You know me better than that." Sakura nervously smiled. They both meant different things. "There's no need to be bothered about me –ttebayo."

"I'm not worried about you, idiot!" I'm worried about you and Hinata!

Aside from the topics about Team 7 and their duties, everything she seemed to tell him always go at the wrong foot. Sakura knew it too well and it annoyed her sometimes.

Naruto crossed his arms at the back of his head, positioning himself for a nap. As he looked upon the sky, his mind danced around the conversation he had with Shikamaru.

That's right. He was still being a kid. He can't even figure out all these mixed-up feelings. That's why he needed someone like Shikamaru to babysit him.

Babysit.

How would it feel like to babysit a kid? How would it even feel like to have a kid of his own? Would he have one?

He released a heavy breath.

Everyone was growing-up.

Especially Hinata.

Up until now, he could not take away the image of Hinata as she cooked ramen. His thoughts would further head down to her tending at the kitchen caring for her simple yet warm home. And then, small and chubby kids would run up to her. She would give them kisses on their foreheads and would wrap her arms around them, cradling them into her warmth.

His heart was swelling and he didn't know what to make out of it. A smile formed across his face. It was distant and bittersweet.

"She'd definitely be a great wife."

He whispered to himself, but Sakura heard him murmur and never missed the little tear that ran down from his eye.

She regained her resolve. She have to pull things together. For the sake of her dear friends! "Chaaa! Come on now, move! Let's get this over with so you can hang out with Hinata at Ichiraku's!"

Naruto stood up, questioning yet re-charged. "At last! It has been a week since I've eaten ramen dattebayo!"

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that." Sakura rolled her eyes. "Remember, I don't want to see you crying while wearing a pathetic face just because you have your heart broken. Bear that in mind!"

Naruto was running fast across Konoha. Evening had fallen when they returned back to their home village and Sakura volunteered to report in his stead. He was hoping that the young girls who were following him around were on their own missions and that it was Hinata, who was cooking behind the counter at Ichiraku's.

As soon as he swayed open the curtain to shop, he saw Hinata's expectant smile and he brightened up.

"I'm back!" Naruto greeted, almost helplessly―like he was gone for a very long time and finally, he had come back home.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called out, full of anticipation, it was as if she was waiting for him to come back home after a long period they hadn't spent with each other.

The yearning in Naruto's eyes and the relief and joy in Hinata's―they both appeared like a couple who had been missing each other's arms. The only thing lacking was a tight hug and a surrendering kiss.

"Rest for a while, Naruto-kun, while I get the ramen ready for you." Hinata gently spoke and he did what she told him to. "I'm sure you have been tired. It has been a week. I'm actually…"

Hinata hesitated to speak, but she felt the need to let him know. "I'm actually looking forward to your visit."

"Doesn't matter, y'know." Naruto exhaled comfortably and said with so much honesty. "I'm home now, Hinata."

They both shot their eyes at each other.

Hinata's heart stopped. How long had she been imagining him saying this to her as she welcomed him home.

Naruto felt his words were so right in every angle and how much he wanted to say it again and again and again to her. Why?

However, before he could even process everything that was running in his mind, a shinobi entered the shop.

Damn!

It was the same jounin who asked Hinata out. Naruto didn't know why but he just didn't vibe well with this guy. Whenever he's around, he was feeling the irrational need to one-up him. It was like he was destroying his sanctuary and more like wrecking his home.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata reached out a bowl of ramen to him, he assisted her in doing so, but without turning away his glare at the shinobi who was looking admiringly at Hinata.

Tch!

Hinata soon attended to the shinobi who engaged a small talk with her, while Naruto minded his own business. Well, fifty-percent of his brain minded his own business while the other fifty was keenly eavesdropping―breaking a pair of chopsticks or two upon hearing that the said jounin was eating daily at Ichiraku's since he had been gone for a week in the Land of Silence!

He mildly shivered and looked up at her. She had a smiling face while talking to that guy. What? Was she liking him back too?

Fine, fine, he let it slip. Like, what was his right to stop Hinata from dating someone?

Even so! Who the hell knew what this guy's intention was! He couldn't just barge into her life just like that. Hinata was not just a simple kunoichi. She's a damn strong kunoichi, who never gave up in the midst of despair. She had a heart of gold and had a smile who could warm up anyone's heart. And most importantly, to him, she could make the perfect wife.

Naruto grabbed a cup of tea to calm himself down. Perhaps, he was just exaggerating things. He knew that Hinata would be disappointed if he'd just run his mouth without thinking.

"A great kunoichi like you deserve to be out there, showing the jutsus I know you could do so marvelously. It would be a shame if you would be stuck at home cooking."

With furrowed brows, Naruto looked at Hinata and he didn't miss the little hint of sadness in her eyes.

That's it!

Thoughtlessly, Naruto stood up and rushed toward the shinobi.

How dare he? How dare he spoil his precious image of Hinata having a happy home! Everything, just everything! The meals she'd cook and the kids she'd love, it was a sweet picture that his heart set upon. He'd let no one, even this jounin guy, tarnish that!

"What the hell are you talking about?" Naruto grabbed the guy by the collar and took him out of the shop just to be safe that he's damage nothing if ever a fight would ensue.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called out as Ayame nodded at her worriedly. She took off the cloth wrapped around her head and the apron she was wearing, hurriedly following Naruto-kun outside.

Hinata never wanted attention and what more she would not like was two men fighting because of her, because of a misunderstanding!

"What do you know about, Hinata, huh? You barely even know her! "Naruto said in aggravation as he released the shinobi. "She doesn't need to show off her flashy jutsu just for the world to acknowledge her as a strong kunoichi!"

Hinata clutched at Naruto's arm, convincing him to calm down. "Naruto-kun."

However, he didn't listen. He had in him the need to get this off his chest. He had to do this, this was him. "Hinata doesn't need to change a thing. Not a single one! I don't give a damn if she'll end up as a clan head, as a jounin sensei, as a Hokage, as a medic-nin as a housewife or whatever! She would be perfect for whoever she wants to be just like how she has always been."

Everybody had been silent even Hinata who was feeling troubled about what's happening. She was floored. The passion she had seen in Naruto-kun as he spoke about her was the same as the one he had during their Chuunin exams while she fight against Neji-niisan. It was deep. Deep enough for her to hear it straight from his heart.

Her clutch on his arm tightened and it caught his attention. He saw her pleading through her eyes and he immediately pacified himself. He didn't want to disappoint her nor make her cry in anyway. "Let's go, Naruto-kun."

Without a word, he let her take him away, forgetting about the jounin, his ramen and even the people around them.

Hanabi was just in time to witness everything, not to mention that she also had their father with her. After she learned that her onee-chan would be helping at the ramen shop, she got excited and invited their father to have their dinner there. However, what welcomed them was not the special ramen made by her sister, but the shocking profession of one Uzumaki Naruto, much to their surprise.

Hanabi also noticed that shift on her father's features, he looked more contemplative about the blonde's act. Probably, he was as equally stunned as everybody who saw what happened.

"About what happened…" Naruto started. They were both silently standing side by side at the foot of the Hokage rock as they watch the night sky. "Have I upset you?"

Hinata just looked up at him. She had to be honest.

"A bit." She answered carefully.

"I'm sorry." He looked at her, asking as if he was begging. "Do you like him?"

"No! No! It's not like that! It's just that…" Hinata calmed down after being flustered. The last thing she wanted was to be misinterpreted and to lose her chance to be with Naruto because of this. "It's a little inconvenient, I guess."

Sadness hovered his eyes and Hinata was certain of it.

"But I…" A smile started to form on her face. "I really appreciate that you think about me that way, Naruto-kun."

Naruto grinned, reflexively. Trying to steer away the conversation to a lighter mood, he interjected, "Definitely, not Neji."

"Huh?"

"Since you don't like that guy, I'm guessing who it is whom you like." Naruto said half-heartedly as a part of him was wishing that she liked no one.

"No, definitely not Neji-niisan!" Hinata protested. Then, she added thoughtfully, "Not Shino-kun and Kiba-kun."

Naruto playfully covered his gasp. "Don't tell me it's Sasuke!"

Hinata giggled and shook her head in disagreement.

"Well, it's always him. Can't blame me –ttebayo."

Deep inside, Hinata was hoping Naruto would drop his name. It would make her confession a lot easier and sooner.

Naruto was thinking of every shinobi Hinata was close with. Then, he thought of himself. He gulped hardly and discarded the thought away. He harshly scolded himself. What was he thinking!

"A-Anyway! What I mean to really say is that…" He was feeling unusually nervous for certain reasons that he couldn't look Hinata in the eyes. "…that person you want to be with…He should respect whatever decision you'll make in your life. He must know how to acknowledge you for who you are."

Naruto-kun…

Naruto swiveled away, hiding his face from her sight. "Me…I'll-I'll honor whatever path you wish to take. Since, I know it's you, Hinata. I believe in you."

Hinata let the words sink in for a brief moment as the silent song of cicadas and the villagers' voices fill the night.

"Hinata..." Naruto spoke her name with earnest voice, looking at the ground. "You know…You've always brought me something delicious to eat, you've always taken care of me and you're always concern about my well-being. It's like, when I'm with you, I never feel like I'm an outcast. You have always been a kind person that's why I know you'd create a happy home."

He secretly peered at her as her eyes widened. Her heart could not help but beat so loud from his words.

"Remember that mission with Kiba?" Naruto turned up at the sky, reminiscing. "When you gave me that bento which looked like me? Until now, Hinata…I still think the same about you. Nevertheless, it doesn't matter what you want to be, you'd be great just the way you are."

She felt weak at the knees. She was so near at keeling over. This could be the right time to tell him that he had been the one for her for so long. He didn't really need to be a hero for her and she just loved him for whoever he was and he would be.

Courageously, Hinata tugged at the end of his cuff. Naruto turned to look at her.

"Naruto-kun," Her breathing was getting ragged and her face was paler in anxiety. But this was it. The perfect time. He was waiting in anticipation, as if she was about to say what his heart had been longing to hear all this time. "The person I want to be with…it's…"

"Hinata!"

Their attention was caught by Shino, whose voice contained wariness. "I'm sorry to disturb you and Naruto, but we are called by the Hokage. It's an emergency."

Her lips quivered like she was about to cry. Not now.

Hinata started moving―her fingers gently grazed away from the cuff of Naruto's sleeve as his hand automatically extended to reach out for her, but she slipped away before they could even touch.

A shooting star cut through and its light sliced in between Naruto and Hinata up above the night sky, appearing as though the galaxy separated them apart.

He watched as the shadow blurred her image. Inside him, stirred the need to tell her something, if he only knew what it was. The nagging restlessness and the emptiness…They were back to haunt him that night.

Oh my god! What did I do here? I got carried away! Asdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiop! Now, you know why the title is unsettling. Because even I was unsettled. I hope you are too. That's probably what Naruto was feeling about as well in this moment.

*Sighs* If you guys, want me to make a canon-divergence one-shot extension of this chapter, where Hinata actually confessed, I would! Just say it! Because I couldn't get over this.

I just felt like this was some indie movie where there was no definite ending. So unsettling.

This Chapter.

Anyway, you might ask what will happen next. Since, this is Hinata and Naruto we're talking about this conversation would likely not have a follow-up. Hinata would find it awkward to re-open the conversation while Naruto might just feel so excited to hang out with her to think about what recently happened between them, especially when they have missions apart, so yeah.

We have Shikamaru Hiden in here to show the timeline and to ride with the tide canonically, but I still couldn't get over with what happened by how I ended this chapter. So I should just better dissect this on the next chappie.

Previous Chapter
I'm really glad that you liked how I portrayed Hinata's mission clothes. And yes, some sense is finally getting to Naruto.

Again, for anything under the sun, just drop 'em. Ii really do appreciate your reviews from the bottom of my heart!

Your Quirky Novelist
Fern~

CHAT TIME!

RavenShadow, LB Cat, Project-amakura & That pansy: OMG! Thank you so so much! Even you all really inspire me to write!

PartyinLA: Yes! Yes! I just couldn't get these NH headcanonc off my head. I feel like they are being cowards by not showing Naruto and Hinata before The Last happned, so I;m doing them a job. Hopefully, I'm delivering it well. I believe that a lot happened between them before the film and the gap must be filled.

Ahu: Yes, I'm really planning to pull off a sort-of sequel! I'm actually thinking of a title rn. Thank you soooo much! Just as I thought, that part would cause squeals.

EmalynPeachPixie: We will. We will have a Temari and Hinata interaction since it was a bit shown that they got quite close during the OVA where Naruto became the Hokage. Yup, I am planning for a sort-of sequel series as well which can be read even without reading secret lovers, but I still think it's a lot better if readers have read this one beforehand.

mj1011: I guess, this chapter answered your jelly Naruto prayer. Mwahahaha!

kayna96: Same here! He should man-up now!

kawaiihinahime08: IKR! Come on now, Naruto! We all know that Hinata's new mission clothes got you shookt. I bet he didn't sleep that peacefully that night.

Itsxoi: Riiiiiigght! I really made it a point to show how much he respected her. I guess this was what set Hinata apart from those girls Naruto liked, even Sakura. At one point or another, he transformed as her in sexy justu mode. I doubt he'll do the same with Hinata. It's like showing the depth of what he really felt for her. Gawdd, nevertheless, he was still a perv!