A/N: Part 2 is Finally Here; finished it a bit faster than I thought I would just in time for V-day weekend! Both Naruto and Hinata's past selves are now around 15-16 years old with Naruto approaching his 16th birthday soon. Just an FYI I won't be referring to Naruto and Hinata's future selves as much or at all except for small references for the rest of the story just so you guys don't get confused!

Chapter 18: Our Changes

Naruto

The smell of pine and damp moss are the first aromas to hit him; the scents of Konoha's forests coming alive in morning light.

The last time he was in these woods was around when he was 13…

'I'm back.' He breathes in, taking in the sounds of the crackling of the river, birds taking flight, and creatures of the night skittering into holes to avoid fading darkness.

The trees give way to familiar buildings and the morning market rush, warmth encircling him at seeing not much has changed.

He's home.

'I should surprise Hinata, my last letter to her said I would be back later in the week!'

"Don't go running off now kid! We have to report back in with Tsunade that we've arrived and pass along the information we gathered from the other regions." Jiraiya scolds him, stopping Naruto from leaping down to check in with just about any civilian or shinobi he sees walking by.

Even with just one hand now, his grip is tight and unwavering.

Naruto pouts, surveying the market square for any recognizable faces before his eyes widen at seeing coral pink and onyx hair huddled by a fruits stand.

'That must be Sasuke and Sakura! Wow, didn't think I would be seeing them so soon!' He beams.

"Hold on Pervy-Sage! Let me at least say hello to my team before we go!" Naruto remarks, Jiraiya loosening his hold enough for him to move to hop down from the trees to a metal awning below eagerly before he can change his mind.

'How he has so much energy despite having been up most of the night is beyond me.' Jiraiya mused, letting out a yawn as he followed him down.

"Morning you two! What brings you to the market this early, shopping for a picnic or something?" Naruto teases as he approaches the duo, jade eyes twisting to him first.

"Naruto? Wow, you shot up! When did you get back in?" Sakura remarks, comparing their heights. It's strange to have to look up at him now.

Sasuke looks over his attire quietly, arching a brow. "I see you still love orange."

Naruto only scoffed, giving his appearance a better look over as well. "Yeah, and I see you gained a strange fashion sense! You're walking around essentially shirtless with that top, cover up you know! Whose idea was it for you to take on features from Orochimaru?"

Sakura can feel herself redden at Sasuke's side stare. It wasn't only her idea (even if she didn't mind Sasuke willingly showing a bit more skin). Anko-sensei said the clothes suited him too, if only because it helped him move more easily through the shadows and that the knots reminded her of snakes…

'Ugh, now I feel dirty for even suggesting it in first place!' Sakura groans to herself, avoiding glancing back at Naruto's amused grin.

Ino has been pressuring her with questions, a knowing in her teal eyes that she hasn't been fully forthcoming on the status of her and Sasuke's non-relationship. Most of her time with Sasuke consisted lately of discussing his brother anyways. They didn't know where Itachi was at the moment and if he would even be willing to start the clinical trial drug she and Lady Tsunade had been perfecting, but it could help in clearing his lungs easing his coughing fits.

'He always keeps the other medical personnel from asking you out and he's been tracking you, I don't know why you keep denying it forehead! Don't make me have to use mind transfer to figure out what's really going on between you two!' Ino's voice teasingly scolds her from her thoughts, reminding her of how often Sasuke would visit her in the laboratory wing.

"Oh, I see! It makes sense now if it was Sakura who decided on this! If it was anyone else, you would've rejected it." Naruto taunts, stopping himself from continuing at her glare.

And to his credit, Sasuke doesn't deny his claims as he instead turns back around to look at the collection of fruits the vendor continues to put out.

"Sakura, let's get this over with. Which type of food do you think he'll like best?" He questions, pointing to the various baskets.

Sakura frowns, gazing over the mix of colorful assortments before sighing. "I don't know Sasuke. He doesn't strike me as a fruits type of person really. Didn't Kakashi-sensei say he liked momen tofu and other bland types of foods?"

Naruto furrowed his brows, Sakura filling him in on seeing his confused expression.

"Ah, we're trying to find a way to get the team member who replaced you temporarily to open up a bit more. So far most of our outings/missions have been…less than desirable." She explains, observing as Sasuke moves on to next stand selling fresh catches of the day before continuing on.

"Truth be told, he shows even less emotions than Sasuke and his attempts to communicate come off…awkward. It comes from his training and background though, during his time as a member of Root he's long since been taught to suppress his emotions." Sakura finishes and Naruto frowns at the tightening of her fists. This guy had clearly angered her more than once in spite of trying to stay calm over his personality and the circumstances he went through...

However, someone worse than Sasuke when it came to attitude and behavior; was such a thing even possible?

"What's this guy's name anyways?" Naruto questions, pausing as he feels a tap to his shoulder.

Sai.

Sakura offers him a weak smile and good morning. Weren't they supposed to meet at the training grounds in an hour? Why was he here so early?

This wasn't the introduction she wanted Naruto to have to him.

"Ugly, I saw you and the Asshole enter the market on my way to the fields. I assume you two needed help with getting the shopping done since you've been standing in front of these merchants for so long now." He states as if having read her thoughts before fixing Naruto with a blank smile.

"We're fine Sai; just looking." Sakura manages to say through gritted teeth.

'…Did he really just refer to Sasuke and Sakura by those names?' Naruto wonders, feeling a mix of horror at knowing this man will soon be buried into the earth by one of Sakura's punches and amusement at Sasuke's new nickname.

"I don't believe we've met. You must be one of Ugly's old friends, right?" Sai questions, looking back to Naruto.

Naruto scowls, but moves his hand out for a shake to keep up politeness. "Her name is Sakura! And yes, I'm Naruto Uzumaki; I'm just getting back from a training trip!"

Sai doesn't accept his handshake though, instead glancing him over. "Ah, right. I've heard much stories about you. What you've lacked in a dick you've made up for in all the benefits you've done for the village and surrounding areas."

Sakura freezes at that, fist smashing the apple in her hand to pieces while Sasuke peers back their way briefly stunned as well.

And Naruto merely blinks, unsure for a moment if he even heard him right.

But Sai continues to grin as if nothing is wrong, unfazed or embarrassed by his choice of words even when Naruto unleashes a dozen shadow clones to surround him from escaping.

'I'm going to have to join Sakura in beating this guy up!'

-X-

Elsewhere

"You still haven't finished it yet?" Obito scowls, hovering behind Kabuto once more at his delay.

Kabuto doesn't immediately respond, turning just in time to see his fingers poised up ready to attack.

"Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance!"

A vortex of fire moves to encircle him, leaping to the side wall and sucking in a deep breathe blowing out a large gust of wind taking the flames away from his work. He would quickly barrage him with a mix of fireballs or crush him with roots from underground if he didn't stop his tirade.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

The whirlwind of water and fire creates a loud burst of steam, Obito's steely glare still fixed upon him as the smog encompasses them. The earth beneath them crumbles and quakes, Kabuto studying the ground waiting for his body to possibly emerge in a surprise attack.

"If you kill me, the Rinnegan may just truly become lost forever taking all your dreams and goals with it." He states into the fog, cracking his fists.

He hadn't perfected all of his body modifications yet, but if need be he'd tap into skills Orochimaru's DNA had given him thus far.

"No matter how many alterations or injections you give into that frail body of yours, it won't be enough to finish me off." Obito muses from behind him, resting a kunai against the side of his neck as he emerged back beside him.

He would get the Rinnegan functioning again no matter how many more deaths it would take and how many people he would have to betray or sacrifice to get answers, information, or tools. Kakashi might've believed he damaged Nagato's eyes beyond repair, but the boom of technology and science over these past few years can get them working again. He just knows it.

'None of this will bring her back, you know that right? And even then, would she want you knowing the monster you've become?' Konan's voice haunts him seemingly from beyond the grave, the last words she had for him before he had crushed in her neck for even to daring to speak of Rin in such a way.

'When this is all done, Rin will understand my reasons. She'll gain back the life she was robbed of...'

By Kakashi.

He'd been practicing more with the sharingan, anticipating the moment he stepped out of the shadows to face him once more. It wouldn't be an easy fight, not when he knew he wouldn't go into the match alone.

He had to be ready, if he got the upper hand all of his plans would go to waste.

Kabuto resists his own frown from forming at Obito's clear refusal to leave him in peace, his patience wearing thin as well as he breaks out of his hold. He'd heal his injuries later, not with Obito still following his every move.

"You can't rush perfection, you all of people should know that. There are others you could had gone to besides me." He murmurs after a moment, looking away from the dissected eyes and his notes. But then again, there were few who understood the logistics of this work or would even willingly help. He only did this to keep him from meddling or further destroying all he has gathered...

Obito smells of blood once more, splashes of crimson lining his sleeves and parts of his cloak and he considers briefly who has upset him once more to make him lash out like this. Under his alias of Tobi he's normally goofy and carefree, not wanting anyone to think non the wiser of his true intentions.

But lately he has been getting frustrated, on edge. With each passing day Naruto, Hinata, Kakashi, and all of their allies are getting stronger. Strong enough to eventually be able to take him on.

The pressure of his threats delays him from getting to his real work of testing out experimentations to fully bring Orochimaru back from his untimely death, to enhance himself in having the perfect body. Anko could provide the final piece he's missing with her seal, though he doesn't know for sure if this budding theory of his will work.

He doesn't have the means to currently stop whatever plans Obito has, the second he disagrees will be the same moment he makes a true attempt to kill him like all the others or render him useless from finishing his own plans...

"I want a proper report on the status of those eyes before the end of the week. It'd be shame otherwise to no longer have your precious blueprints or even your hands to complete all that endless toiling for bringing that snake man back." Obito emphasizes before twisting away from him heading out once more.

And Kabuto watches him from the corner of his eye, sharp and focused on his back.

'Don't think I'll carry on being one of your puppets.'

-X-

Hinata

'Naruto is back?' Hinata questions herself. He wasn't supposed to return until midweek at the earliest she thought.

However, Kiba wouldn't lie about seeing his trademark blond hair and orange attire creating a scene at the market district.

"I'm telling you Hinata, it was him! Who else do you know has those features and is always stirring up one thing or another?!'

Whether it's true or not, it's a big enough distraction from keeping her focused on sparring.

"You two, stop daydreaming and focus on each other! You've yet to fully cover your weak spots!" Jiraiya orders.

Right, whoever their opponents were in the chunin exams wouldn't be taking it easy on them.

Her fingertips crackle with energy then, letting loose a stream of thunderbolts towards Naruto. He leaps just as they're about to reach his legs, taking in a deep breath before shooting down a rain of air bullets she disperses with a rotation.

"You're both lacking in control still. You need to be able to follow where your opponents are going to land or do next and have an arsenal of moves on hand for each countermeasures they take." Jiraiya advises.

Sunlight burns on her back, fresh sweat sliding down her cheeks and back no matter how quickly she moves to wipe them away.

A smile crosses Jiraiya, gesturing for them to follow. "Come on, I think a lunch break is in order! Afterwards, there is someone I want you two to meet this afternoon. We should be reaching the border of Kumo hopefully within the next hour or so if we keep up the pace."

Within their village is another jinchūruki like Naruto. A man who's not only lived with his tailed beast for years, but has managed to fully bond with said creature and not lose control of himself to its power.

'I only hope their Raikage is willing to hear us out.' Jiraiya considers.

None of the nations fully trust each other at this point, coming here without any pretense or orders from the Hokage could seem suspicious…

Jiraiya glances back over to Naruto then, glad to see him eager and ready to go.

He lights up excitedly as he moves to pick up his and Hinata's gear before wincing at the myriad of bruises he's taken from Hinata's gentle fist infused lightning attacks.

He sends her a proud grin making her redden as she accepts her bag from him.

"You've gotten faster."

Her hair had only been slightly past her shoulders then, what would Naruto think at seeing her hair now midway down her back?

"If you want to go see for yourself, you can." Neji voices, startling her from her thoughts.

They've been practicing for a few hours in the garden now, recalling an attendant already having done a morning and afternoon check of the vibrant yellow lilies Uncle recently planted and a feeding of the fish in the koi pond.

"A-Ah, no we need to keep training Neji. We can continue!" Hinata exclaims, frowning at the sensation of heat crawling into her cheeks.

Thinking about Naruto now is making her antsy, memories bubbling up to the forefront of her thoughts.

Neji only shakes his head, lowering his hands back down. "You aren't going to be able to focus and you know it. We can finish up this sparring session later this evening or tomorrow, there is no rush."

He twists and heads back into the compound, leaving her with no room for discussion.

'You really have changed him Naruto.' Hinata muses at the ghost of a smile she knows Neji is trying to hide.

Whatever commotion that had been at the marketplace has long since died away by the time she gets there. Vendors and street merchants alike gesture from meats at half price to exotic colorful spices from Suna, Kumo, Kiri, and beyond.

But all Hinata is looking for is blond hair and orange, perhaps Naruto is looking for her she considers as she weaves her way through the crowds. The fish market man states he saw Naruto earlier with Team 7 before heading off for some apparent business at the Hokage tower soon after.

"When you're in this line of work you have to be good at discerning voices!" He chirps as Hinata thanks him for his information.

'I could go to Ichiraku's, or maybe our secret spot in the woods…' Hinata debated.

"Hey Hinata, hold on!"

And Hinata turns to see Ino calling out to her, Shikamaru wincing beside her at how utterly loud she can be despite the noise surrounding them (earning him a swift jab to his chest at his complaining) while Choji wisely continues keep quiet while eating at from what Hinata can see is a new flavor of garlic flavored chips from his favorite brand.

"I'm sure you were the first to get the news, right? That Naruto is back in the village!" Ino relates eagerly when she is in close enough range.

"You haven't met with him yet, have you?" Shikamaru adds in, restraining a yawn at Ino's stare.

Hinata slowly shakes her head, puzzled by his question.

Ino lights up at that, teal eyes sparkling with mischief that reminds her far too much of Sakura whenever she's in a teasing mood.

"Great! We're planning a surprise party for him at Yakiniku Q this evening; your job will be to keep him busy while we finish the final preparations!"

'What?'

"W-Wait, how would I do that?!" She stammers out before Ino can leave. Because Naruto is curious by nature and he will pry for answers as soon as he realizes she's lying.

But Ino only smirks suggestively, clearly getting the wrong idea!

"Oh, I'm sure you'll think of something Hinata!" She purrs.

-X-

Naruto

"Are we done here now Pervy-Sage? I have other business I need to attend to than just this!" Naruto snaps once they're far enough out of earshot from Tsunade.

'I still haven't caught up with everyone yet, where are they? I want to at least catch up with Hinata before the day is over!'

Jiraiya tsks at his impatience, shaking his head. "And here I thought you had learned the importance of waiting and staying calm even in the most frustrating of situations! Maybe I should just return back the present I had for your birthday!"

Naruto pauses in rushing off ahead of him then, glancing back at him with narrowed eyes. "You know my birthday is over a month away."

Jiraiya simply shrugged, beaming despite Naruto's clear suspicion. "No harm in celebrating a bit after all you've accomplished is there? I thought you would like to celebrate early anyways; it's for your 16th after all!"

He waits until they're out of the Hokage tower, back near one of Konoha's less busy parks away from the crowds before he reveals his present from his side pocket. A small box decorated with sharp blue and yellow wrapping paper.

Naruto regards it curiously as he tosses it into his hands, shaking the contents by his ear.

"What is it?" He questions after doing a full inspection of each side.

"Open it and find out!" Jiraiya presses, scoffing gently at Naruto's behavior.

But then again, they've never really properly celebrated any birthdays or holidays together until recently. All of this is still new to Naruto, something he has yet to have fully grown accustom to…

'Hopefully being back in the village will help him to wind down enough to be relaxed and focused for the exams.' Jiraiya determines.

And he smiles as a grin finally erupts across Naruto's face at shredding into the paper.

Said grin instantly falls though as he takes in his gift.

'Condoms?' Naruto does a double take, no he isn't seeing things…

He manages his voice to a low hiss to keep from anyone hearing them, gritting his teeth. "Why the hell are you giving me condoms as a present Old Man?!"

Jiraiya looks honestly perplexed by his question, fueling his anger.

"Huh? You're going to need them kid! We went over this as I'm sure Kurenai has already done with Hinata."

'I didn't need the reminder.'

Naruto feels his face burn, Jiraiya chuckling in amusement at his pure embarrassment over this conversation again. At least he isn't going to deny that the thoughts have crossed his mind, that he is curious to see if Hinata has gotten taller too or grown any in chest size…

"We aren't even, I mean Hinata and I weren't planning yet to-ugh none of this even any of your business!" Naruto scowls, fumbling over his words.

A full blown laugh rumbles out of Jiraiya then, grin widening as Naruto's cheeks turn a deeper red. "Sometimes moments like this aren't planned!"

Ugh, there's no way he's going to admit his words hold some truth to them!

"You could've gotten me free ramen too." Naruto huffs under his breath.

Jiraiya gestures to under the condoms, a packet of coupons to try Ichiraku's newest ramen related items on the menu along with discounts to meals at a variety of up and coming restaurants around the village.

"See, and you almost tore up the gift I worked so hard to get!" Jiraiya humphs.

He doesn't stop Naruto from moving to go, leaning back against the bark of the tree taking in the warm air. There's an urgency to Naruto's steps as he crosses through the patches of high grass to avoid kids playing a game of tag and part of him wonders why they've barely crossed with any of his old classmates yet since returning…

Especially Hinata.

'They must all be planning something.' He muses, it seemed like Naruto would be reveling in his homecoming sooner than he thought then.

"Don't use them all at once!" Jiraiya yells out to him, loud enough for an elderly pair of women sitting near him to regard Naruto with renewed interest.

Naruto shifts to quickly hide his 'gift' out of sight as the woman let out a snicker in agreement the stamina of men while they're young and daring while Naruto twists back to send him a halfhearted glare.

"Shut up Old Man!"

-X-

Hinata

This isn't going to work; she just knows it.

Her eyes track as Naruto leaves Konoha's east end park, heading not in the direction of his apartment as she first imagined but back into the city…

'He's looking for everybody.'

The thought makes her stomach roil, Ino said 7:00 pm sharp. That left her with a little over 2 hours still to keep Naruto from finding one of their old classmates and ruining the surprise.

Hinata closes her eyes, weighing her options.

A strong breeze sweeps across her face, lavender opening to meet azure. It turns out she wouldn't need to think of a way to distract him after all…

Naruto came to her.

"Hinata! What are you doing up here? I've been looking around the village all day for you, you know!" He gestures excitedly, wildly pointing in the directions of the manor, the hospital, the training grounds, and even Ichiraku's.

"Sorry. We probably just kept missing each other then. I took to higher ground to get a better viewpoint." Hinata clarifies.

It isn't a complete lie, because she had been searching for him until she had been tied in to helping keep him busy until the party was ready.

"Your hair is longer." Naruto notes as he plops down beside her against the cool metal of the rooftop, reaching a hand out to twirl a finger through violet locks.

"I always wanted to let my hair grow out, like my mother's. I kept it short before in following Father's rules and clan traditions as heiress, but those days have long since passed." Hinata hums, leaning into him.

It was on the hospital's rooftop their training journey began and now Naruto is home once more, heartbeat pulsing quickly in her ears at feeling the heat of his touch again.

They haven't been close like this since they were around 13 or 14 during the year she spent traveling with him and Jiraiya, usually only able to sneak kisses and brief touches when Jiraiya was off doing his supposed 'research.'

"Jiraiya won't catch you?" Hinata asks lowly as Naruto maneuvers himself into her tent.

She'd figured he would be the most exhausted of them all, having spent the better part of the morning and afternoon enduring Killer B's raps and having to make up his own the spot before he unleashed the power of his tailed beast for him to counteract.

Fireflies dance in the path he's left, bright neon glows having highlighted the bags under his eyes. The moon is in one of its waning phases, only a partial shard of light to help him get back and forth between the tents.

"No don't worry, he was out like a log before I left!" Naruto relates as Hinata snuggles up to him as the chill of the night worsens.

And he tenses at feeling the curve of her breasts along his back, the scent of vanilla and jasmine that always lingers on her skin…

Skin always covered up.

He pushes a hand up under her shirt, blushing himself at feeling the fabric of her bra. Hinata lets out a light squeak, but doesn't stop him.

"Is…Is this too fast? I mean, maybe we should stop." Naruto questions, abruptly shifting away from her. He grits his teeth at his rising anxiety before anything has even happened, but then neither he nor Hinata have experience when it comes to this. Even if Jiraiya was in a deep sleep right now, it wouldn't be long before he awakened and saw this sight before him.

Not only would he never let him live it down, he would increase his training by an extra hour or two at least.

But this was worth the risk, slowly learning just why Hinata is the only one who can make him feel this prickly and hot.

Naruto turns her face gently towards his, cobalt orbs warm and teasing in the way they roam over her.

And Hinata curls at her toes anxiously at what she sees in his darkening eyes; lust.

"I missed you." He breathes against her lips before wrapping her close in a kiss.

"N-Naruto, wait! We're still out in a public setting!" Hinata stumbles out when his lips move to drop a kiss to her neck.

A low wolf whistle stops him from continuing, both of them freezing in place as a voice beckons to them from below.

Kiba.

"You two know you're out in the open, right?! Ah, well no matter; Ino said she finished early so we can head over to Yakiniku Q now!" He yells, not waiting for either to respond as he turns in the direction of the restaurant with Shino.

Naruto turns to send her a perplexed look on what he's even talking about, Hinata only smiling sheepishly.

"Surprise?"

-X-

Naruto & Hinata

They'd hardly had any time to truly catch up, much too awkward to try and do anything else at knowing who else might've saw them.

Naruto sits exactly opposite of Hinata, unable to revel in any of the special delicacies and colorful range of foods that have been brought out for their group.

There's so much he wants to say to her, so much he wants to discuss about the people he's met from the time she departed from him and Jiraiya at Mount Myōboku to head back to the village. A lot of new faces are within Konoha now and he wants to learn quickly who she's knows to trust and who to be wary of in tracking the Akatsuki's current movements and behaviors...

The last he recalls of hearing about any of their most prominent members is of Kakashi's battle with Konan, fresh deep cuts and wounds lining his arms and legs by the time he had returned back to Konoha with Nagato in tow.

At some point Konan had become distracted from fighting him, Genma, Gai, and the rest of the jounin. Through the thicket of vines and undergrowth of the forests her paper attacks had slowly fallen away, swallowed by a darkness none of them dared to venture towards.

A stronger opponent had taken her attention and at Kakashi's drained expression during his reporting of the mission back to Granny and Team 7 he knows it regards his old friend and teammate: Obito.

'It'd be nice to know where he is now…'

Not even Jiraiya's best spies and toads used for networking could get an exact pinpoint on his current location.

But it wasn't just Obito they needed to consider, all of the Akatsuki's members were making their preparations.

'Is Killer B still doing okay? He didn't recognize the names Yugito or Fu when I brought them up during our training breaks, what if they've already been captured then before I could properly interact with them?'

History would start repeating itself...

"Hey, are you two going to eat your beef and chicken kebabs? You're letting all your food go cold!" Choji questions, pointing to his and Hinata's relatively untouched plates.

And before either can speak Kiba pipes in, toothy grin making Hinata's cheeks go red.

"Oh, I'm sure food is the last thing on their minds!" He teases midway between chugging back his own drink and Naruto non too lightly jabs a hand against his back before he can swallow it all down.

"Funny, Ino was just saying how often she's been seeing you spending time with a girl named Tamaki! I'm sure your sister and the rest of your clan would be interested in meeting her too, especially since she's a specialist in raising cats!" Naruto smirks and Kiba coughs, wisely turning his attention back to finishing his plate of stir fry.

Hinata sends him an amused smile between bites at her dumplings (Naruto wouldn't have even known that if not for her mentioning what their other classmates had been up to on the way here), partially wishing it was just them alone and partially just happy to see Naruto back among them jokingly trying to 'accidentally' spill soy sauce into Sasuke's tea without him noticing.

"You're paying for my meal if you screw it up." Sasuke scowls at Naruto's supposed innocent expression, moving his drink and plate out of his reach.

"I have no idea what you mean!" Naruto chimes back, arching a brow at Sai's strange grin at him over his antics. He still couldn't get a read on him…

His history with Root meant he had been on the darkest missions, been ordered to hunt and kill any supposed enemies of Konoha. That fake smile held secrets and Naruto resisted a frown, turning his gaze away.

'What have you been told to hide?'

It isn't until the lights in the restaurant dim and that the checks arrive does it become clear just how late it's gotten.

'Everyone is heading home.' Hinata muses watching everyone shuffle into groups heading in opposite directions. Sakura and Ino whisper for her to be safe, double meaning lacing their words making her heart thrum.

The coolness of the night as moonlight pours over them is doing little to calm her nerves, to pretend her emotions aren't going into overdrive…

She feels Naruto's presence by her side, azure eyes watching her waiting for the right moment to speak.

"I can walk you home if you want." Naruto murmurs, sending Neji what he hopes is a disarming smile that nothing is going to happen before he allows Lee to shuffle him off to show him his latest training and youth related books he's just added to his collection.

Home? Did she want to go home just yet?

The manor is only about a 10 to 15-minute walk away, not enough time to catch up or say everything that's weighing on her mind.

Hinata shuffles at her feet as they walk along, pausing before they make the turn that will lead up to the compound. "I…I want to spend the night with you Naruto."

Naruto swallows then, feeling his own face burn as he pulls them back out of sight before one of the Hyuga's guardsmen patrolling about can potentially see them.

"Are you sure?" Naruto croaks out nervously, voice barely above a whisper so unlike his usual confident tone.

Hinata nods, her own voice too dry to speak. She leans into him, falling into his warmth and it's then she can truly feel his desire, that there is much more besides talking that he wants as well as his cerulean eyes darken. The next minute is a blur, Naruto sweeping her into arms taking them to the rooftops before anxiously fumbling at his keys twisting his apartment door open.

And his lips find hers as soon as his door shuts.

-x-

I'm back ya'll! Part 2 will involve changing up more fight scenes and canon scenarios which means I'll probably be writing a lot slower. There's different events I want to cover, but I don't want to rush any major ones. I'm not perfect, though I am trying to improve. The Akatsuki and other enemies will be on the move watching Naruto and Hinata's next actions carefully, not everyone is ready for the changes they made!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!