Chapter 20: Dating and Stuff

The first date, they decided was going to be in three days, which seemed so sudden to Hinata, but it was the only time they discovered was available to them in the immediate future. After that, they both had missions to complete and would be busy.

"So it's a date?" Naruto asked eagerly, his face so boyish, reminding her so much of the twelve-year-old genin he'd been. "So I'll pick you up in three days?"

"Yeah," she said when they'd arrived at the gates of the Hyuuga compound. He'd walked her home after their visit to Neji's grave.

"Hinata?" he asked with a smile, his face already anticipating the good-night kiss.

Hinata leaned up on her toes and kissed him briefly on the lips.

"Good night, Naruto."

"That's it? One teeny kiss?" He said with a teasing look in his eyes. "I won't see you for another three days! You should give me something more to remember you by."

Hinata laughed with exasperation. "You show me what you have in mind, then."

He grabbed her, making her cry out in surprise as he lifted her off her feet, his arms held her against his chest and planted his mouth over hers, opening her lips that she couldn't help but answer him with her own. Then he was licking her lips, nibbling the top, then the bottom, ceaselessly moving.

He was breathing hard when he finally broke off.

Hinata was quickly realizing that when it came to emotions, Naruto needed time to learn, feel, and sort them out. But when it came to physicality, particularly kissing and touching, he was a super quick study.

She had to laugh even as she felt herself blushing again as she looked up into his mischievous face.

He grinned at her. "See you in three days."

Naruto was so deliriously happy he told everyone.

To Shikamaru when he'd gone to pick up his mission documents at the Hokage's office: "So Hinata's my girl now. We're going on a date, in three days."

"Don't care, you pain in the ass," Shikamaru snorted even though he was secretly glad for the both of them. But he relented. "Fine. But now's not the time to be talking about it here."

Kakashi only looked on with a raised brow.

Then, "Let me know when you want to borrow my book."

Shikamaru frowned. "Hokage-sama! Please remember your dignity, the office that you hold."

Kakashi's voice was mild. "There's no rule in the books that say I can't. Hokages can read whatever they want."

Naruto left the Konoha gates early the next day waving to Izumo and Kotetsu. "When I'm back in Konoha, I'm going out with Hinata Hyuuga. On a date!"

They were snickering, but he didn't care.

"Lee, did I tell you that I'm going out with Hinata now? We're going on a date as soon as I come back from this mission."

"Yes, Naruto," his friend patiently replied. "This is the thirty-seventh time in the last hour that you've told me this. I know, because I've been counting."

"Naruto, if you mention Hinata and date one more time, I'm going to stuff my kunai into my ear," Tenten said with an annoyed huff. Then she glared at him. "Better yet, I'm stuffing it in your ear."

"Sakura, guess who's going out with Hinata now and taking her out tomorrow?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first couple hundred times!" Sakura snapped with irritation when he got back from his mission with Tenten and Lee. He'd come to check on her at the hospital. He'd wanted to talk to her about Sasuke, but she'd only yelled at him to mind his own business. But the smile she'd flashed him was elated. Naruto was glad he wasn't the only one feeling jubilant.

"Well, I'm really happy for Hinata more than anything. But I'm also glad for you, too. You're obviously ecstatic—and obnoxious—about it, but you guys are in love so it can't be helped."

Naruto continued smiling as he looked at Sakura and realized with surprise that she'd been his first crush when he'd been younger. She'd been the catalyst to this whole business of love.

He grinned mischievously at her. "You know, I still love you, Sakura."

"What the hell?!" she yelled in surprise, snapping in half the pencil she'd been holding in her hand. She glared at him but then she laughed, understanding what he meant. "I'm just glad you've finally stopped pestering me for a date!"

Her eyes gleamed at him, genuine happiness on her face. "See how wonderful it is to finally be in love with the right girl?"

He laughed, completely agreeing with her. "Yeah! Big difference! And I'm glad I finally understand all of it. But, Sakura, you're still one of my best friends. I'll never forget that."

She humphed as she leaned back in her chair, but her answering smile indicated she agreed with him.

Naruto continued beaming at her until her next question sent him into a sudden panic.

"So, where are you guys going for your date?" she asked with curiosity.

Sakura saw the sudden dread on his face and she groaned in disbelief. "You're kidding me! You're such a freaking idiot! You've been going on and on about this date and you're telling me you haven't thought about where you're taking her?!"

Naruto gulped then tugged at his hair. "Argh! I totally forgot! What should I do?!"

"Naruto!" Her fingers were flexing so Naruto backed away a couple steps, away from her reach.

"No, Sakura! I was just kidding. Don't worry!" He laughed to reassure her, but even to him, it sounded so fake. Her eyes were narrowed. He laughed again, nervously this time. "I got this! I know exactly where to take her tomorrow."

She glared at him suspiciously. "Don't ask her where she wants to go because that's totally lame."

"Eek!" There was a guilty look on his face. "Yeah, uh, no...I won't do that. That is totally lame!"

She pinched the bridge of her nose to try to calm down and waited for him to answer the question. But as she looked at him desperately racking his brain to figure out where to take Hinata for their date, she knew that he was hopeless.

"Get out! I'm so done with you!"

He left her office in a hurry, but not before he heard her sigh and say, "God, poor Hinata!"

Naruto ran into Shino and Kiba on his way home, still racking his brain for a place to take Hinata. But upon seeing them, his mood became playful again.

"Hey guys," he said, aiming an insufferable smile at Hinata's teammates.

Shino held up a hand. "Yes, Naruto. No need to say anything. Why? Because we already know."

"Huh?" Naruto said with a pout. "Shino, don't ruin my fun like that!"

Kiba smirked. "You forget who you're talking to, dumbass. I could smell you on her."

Naruto blinked. "Smell?" Then he turned beet red when he finally understood. But he was also filled with satisfaction that he'd become part of her somehow, changed enough of her chemistry to allow his scent to linger on her. He felt giddy.

Kiba laughed, punched him on the arm and left him standing on the street. "Good luck on your first date!" he called out as he and Shino both walked away.

In the end, they'd gone to Ichiraku because Hinata had insisted.

"You love Ichiraku, and I love it, too. So what's the problem?"

"It's our first date. Shouldn't it be more special, somewhere not so normal, so ordinary?" Naruto said.

Hinata wouldn't budge. "Naruto, this will be the first time we'll be going there together as a couple. I think it's the perfect place for our first date."

He shook his head. "No! Let's go to this other place, the new French restaurant that opened, the one that everyone is raving about. What's the name? Mason Shutter?"

He was dying to show her that he could be romantic, that he knew what to do with a girl. He was desperate. Naruto didn't want her to regret anything now that they were together.

She raised a brow and looked at him. "Are you talking about Maison Chateauroux?"

"Yes, that one!"

"The one where there's a two-month wait for a reservation?"

Naruto's heart sank. "Really?"

He hadn't realized—and now he was busted for not putting any thought into this first date. Damn, already he was failing at relationships!

But she laughed, took a step forward, and hugged him. Surprised because he hadn't expected her to do it, he only wrapped his arms around her instinctively as she continued to squeeze him and rubbed her nose against his collarbone. Then Hinata looked up at him, her eyes shining. "I love you for trying to impress me, but I want to go to Ichiraku. Naruto, please? Maybe we can go to that French restaurant next time?"

Naruto, please?

And he didn't have the heart to deny her when she looked so angelic and so perfect right there in the circle of his embrace.

But as he continued to hold her, he could feel her heart pounding against his chest.

"Wait, Hinata. Are you nervous?!" he asked in surprise.

She squeaked, tensing in his arms, but he only rubbed her back to help her relax.

She smiled at him then. "Yes," she admitted truthfully.

"Why?!" he asked with genuine bewilderment. "I saw you working at Suna and Kumo, talking to all those people, looking so relaxed. How come you're so nervous around me?"

Hinata's shy smile appeared again, humor making her eyes sparkle. "The difference is, I'm not in love with any of those people. I have no reason to impress them. You're the only one that matters. That's why you make me nervous."

Naruto could only gaze at her completely dumbfounded. "But…Hinata…"

His heart was bursting, he couldn't breathe. Now he was becoming nervous as he was starting to understand how she was feeling.

"That's kind of why I want to go to Ichiraku? We both know the place, it's familiar. Baby steps into this whole dating thing?" she said softly. Then her lashes fluttered as she added, "Well, dating you."

And he was gone, tipped over the edge as she admitted her truth to him. He kissed her on the mouth, uncaring that they were in public because he wasn't going to be nervous or be shy about any of what he was feeling. Not with Hinata, who had waited for him.

When he was able to look at her again, her smile was teasing.

"So Ichiraku, right? Naruto, you make me so nervous, I'm not even sure I'll be able to eat ramen."

Ugh. I'm so weak, Naruto thought as he lifted the curtain hanging over Ichiraku and motioned for Hinata to precede him into the restaurant.

It was her breathy voice that always defeated him.

But he beamed at Teuchi in greeting.

The ramen chef was there with the usual smile on his face, but his eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw them walking into the shop with clasped hands.

Ayame was there, too, and laughed at the startled look she saw on her father's face.

"Wait, Dad, don't tell me you're the only one who hasn't heard?! Naruto had practically broadcasted it to the entire world."

Hinata turned red. Yes, he certainly had. She'd gone on her mission with Chouji and Ino only to come back to the Hyuuga house with Hanabi telling everyone that Naruto had pretty much told all of Konoha that the two of them were together.

Hanabi had actually rubbed her hands with glee. "Onee-sama! He's going to give me lots of material to make fun of you! He's perfect! You have to thank him for me!"

Hinata had to chase Hanabi around the kitchen to clap a hand over her mouth because her younger sister wouldn't stop impersonating Naruto and pretend to be talking about their date.

In the restaurant, as he sipped at his miso soup, Naruto thought Hinata sitting next to him at Ichiraku while they ate his favorite food was as close to heaven as there was. He watched the dainty way she ate her ramen and her happy face talking with Teuchi and his daughter.

"We'll take that extra heaping of chiarshiu, please," Hinata said with a pleased look, reminding the ramen chef of that time four years ago.

Teuchi and Ayame looked on at them with approval, teasing them both. The four of them chatted throughout the night. Sometimes, their shared laughter echoed throughout Ichiraku, one of the safe havens of Naruto's lonely childhood.

She'd been right. He was glad that Hinata had insisted they go to Ichiraku for dinner on this first date, to spend the evening with two people who'd watched both of them grow up and had been rooting for them to become a couple.

Old Man Teuchi looked like he wanted to cry and Naruto felt so much love for this chef who'd kept him fed when he was younger and had shown his affection through the language of food.

And afterwards, Naruto walked her home and was kissing her again—again!—in front of her home, before she said goodnight and left him with a smile on his face and looking forward to the next time he would spend with her.

Naruto had walked away and was a few yards from the gate when he heard voices of men penetrate the stillness of the night. He recognized one of them as Hiashi Hyuuga's.

Sure enough, as Naruto rounded the corner, he came face to face with Hinata's father and the rest of her relatives.

Hiashi spotted Naruto and said to the other two, "I'll be with you in a second."

The others nodded at Naruto in greeting as they passed him. One of the men had a smile on his face. Naruto waited nervously for Hinata's father to speak.

"Good evening, sir."

"Naruto," Hiashi said, then remained silent as he gazed at the younger man.

Under his silent scrutiny, Naruto felt the sudden urge to explain himself. "Sir, I should've come to see you before tonight, to ask your permission to date Hinata, and I'm sorry that I didn't."

Hiashi held up a hand and shook his head. "No, there was no need. I'm the last person to dictate Hinata's life. She chose you. If she's happy with you, then I have no right to say anything."

"Sir, I—"

Hiashi interrupted him. "'Sir' seems a little bit awkward. I wish you'd stop calling me that."

Surprised, Naruto only stared at him. "Uh, Mr. Hyuuga?"

Hiashi laughed. "That's even worse." But he asked, "What do you usually call the older men of your acquaintance?"

Naruto answered without thinking, "Old Man."

"Old Man!" Hiashi repeated with a surprised chuckle. "That might do. What do you think, Naruto?"

"Sir?!" Naruto asked, unable to believe the words coming from Hinata's father, especially as he was dressed in his formal kimono and exuded so much dignity. He didn't think he could call Hiashi Hyuuga Old Man so he remained silent.

Hiashi chuckled again. "I apologize. I realize this might be awkward for you. But the only thing I have to say to you is that I hope Hinata continues to stay this joyful. If you cause her any hurt, you won't be dealing with me. You'll bring the wrath of the entire Hyuuga clan upon your head, so tread lightly, young man."

Naruto gulped. He got the message loud and clear. Hero status won't save him if he did anything to make Hinata suffer. He imagined hundreds of Hyuugas with their fierce byakugan eyes chasing him, knowing he wouldn't be able to hide from them, and he shuddered. But he would try his damndest to keep her happy.

"I won't do anything on purpose to hurt her," Naruto said, looking up into the older man's eyes, but being the kind of person that he was, he did worry that he might do something inadvertently to cause her pain.

Hiashi nodded. "I know that, but as I said, the clan is very protective of her, so it's only a warning. I am pleased for her, to see her so full of happiness, so different from before. My fault, of course. I've wronged her in the past, but she's very forgiving. You'll soon discover that for yourself."

Naruto didn't know what to say so he just nodded.

"It took me a while to understand that she's someone to be treasured," Hiashi said with a sigh filled with regret. He looked at Naruto, saw the earnest expression of love on his face and knew he had no cause to worry about the two of them. "But I think you already know that about her."

"I do, Sir," Naruto said, but he shook his head and said, "Er, Old Man Hiashi."

Hiashi smiled. "I bid you goodnight, then, Naruto. And you're more than welcome to stop by at our place, any time."

He bowed low then left Naruto staring at him. When the older man had rounded the corner and was out of his sight, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. He'd gotten out of that conversation pretty mildly. He'd been scared of Hinata's father and had dreaded this meeting, but it seemed as if the older man wouldn't go against his daughter's choice...of a boyfriend.

Boyfriend. Hinata's. Her man. So that's what he was now. Naruto was Hinata's boyfriend, and she was his girlfriend. He had to shake his head at the thought. It seemed so long ago that he'd thought of her as just a friend, one who'd always had his back.

But he liked being her boyfriend better, he thought to himself with a secret smile. There were just so many things a boyfriend could do with a girl...Naruto closed his eyes, felt again her lips pressing against his, the warmth of her hands against his back, and his hands tangling in the hair at her back.

Naruto couldn't imagine anything better than this.