Hinata was pining, yet again. She knew she was, she just couldn't help it. It felt as if it had been an eternity since she had spoken to Naruto.

She sighed as she looked up at the sky. Once more she found herself collecting fallen cherry blossoms from her family's tree. It felt like the only thing that was keeping her busy, there hadn't been many missions for her team the last few weeks.

Hinata felt her stomach turn as she thought of Naruto's arms around her during their last encounter. He had never done something like that before, she had thought that maybe...She shook her head at the thought. What possibly could have changed overnight?

He was extraordinary, she had never doubted it, for even in the darkest times of his origin story, she had seen nothing but the light he radiated. The problem now was that as a war hero, everyone saw him in the same way as she.

She felt as if he would never notice her now, not when every available kunoichi in the village and every maiden in the surrounding area was drawing hearts in their journals with his name in the center. He had reduced them all to lovestruck teenagers, every last one. How could she possibly compete with that?

If Naruto had shone some affection, maybe it was because he finally felt close to her. They had spent so many days since the war in each other's company, it was only natural. But the fire that burned deep within her? She found it almost impossible to believe he felt the same.

"Hey, Hinata!"

Hinata's head snapped up at the sound of Naruto's voice. He opened the iron gate keeping them apart roughly, causing him to fall off balance as he made his way into the garden.

She smiled at him as he tried to keep his composure, but the blush upon his cheeks confirmed that he was feeling just a tad embarrassed.

It wasn't unusual for him to stop by every now and again unannounced, but this time...it felt different. There was a certain electricity in the air, sparks that flew the moment their eyes locked. Hinata had been in love with Naruto for years, but this was the first time she felt that there was something more than pure friendliness in his gaze.

"Hi Naruto-Kun," She brushed her hair back over her shoulder and peered into his eyes, trying to see if she was going crazy or if what she had seen was real, "I-I'm so happy you're back."

"Y-yeah," He said, the pink upon his cheeks never fading.

"When did you return?"

"Last night."

"Oh, you're not tired? You mustn't have gotten much sleep," She said, boldly examining his face a little closer. She feigned worry, but really, she had missed him so very much. She wanted to memorize every crease and crinkle around his smiling face.

"I'm okay, Hinata. I got a couple of hours of shut-eye."

"That's good," She nodded.

"Um, yeah. I actually stayed up doing a little reading."

"Reading?" She asked, honestly perplexed.

Naruto chuckled, "It's kind of a long story, but...I finally read Pervy Sage's books."

Hinata immediately her face set aflame, "O-oh, that kind of reading."

"N-No!" He exclaimed, "It's not uh, not..." He groaned and put a hand over his face, "I u-um just thought it was...time..."

"I-I understand. Enough time has passed to try reading what he wrote, I understand, I do," She said, stepping closer to him, gently grabbing his hand, and moving it back to his side. He gave her a look she couldn't quite make sense of, which made her believe she had been too forward.

She was about to give him some space when she felt his fingers wrap around hers, "Thank you," He said, looking down at their hands. He didn't let go, instead, he entwined her slender fingers tightly with his.

"Y-yeah," Hinata said, trying to hide her smile.

"I um, I owe you a bowl of ramen," He managed to say.

"Is that why you came all the way over here?"

"I mean, yeah. A promise is a promise."

"Of course."

"So, are you...free right now?"

"Oh, right now? I mean...yes. I-I'm free."

"Good."

"Right."

"Do you need to tell anyone you're going into town? Grab your bag?"

"A-ah. Yes! I'll go let Hanabi know I'll be back later."

They stared at each other a moment longer, neither wanting to let go of the other's hand. But alas, Hinata, as much as it pained her, let her fingers slowly fall away and turned back in the direction of her door.

"I'll be right here."

Hinata burst through her door, threw off her slippers, and dramatically ran down the corridor to her room to collect her things. She knew she could spare a moment in front of the mirror, so she quickly ran a brush through her hair, and swiped on a strawberry-flavored gloss Sakura had gifted her before throwing it in her bag.

Content with her reflection she ran once more down the corridor and began slipping on her shoes.

"Hanabi! I'm going out."

"With Naruto?" Her younger sister asked, poking her head from around the corner.

"Yes."

"Are you going to hold hands all the way to Ichiraku?"

Hinata's shoe fell from her grasp, "W-what?"

"Don't think I didn't catch that. In fact, I'm sure half of the compound was peeking out of their windows at you two lovebirds," Hanabi said, dramatically bringing her hands to her cheeks.

"You think people...saw us? We weren't doing anything."

"Except making love to each other with your eyes."

"Hanabi! What if papa heard you talking like that!"

Hanabi brushed her off, "Onee-chan, you really think Naruto Uzumaki could walk into our side of the village and no one would notice?"

"I have to go," Hinata said, ignoring her younger sister.

"Promise me one thing," Hanabi said, running up to her as Hinata turned to the door.

"What's that?"

"Please, don't come home until you kiss him!"

Hinata felt her face turn red, "Hanabi!"

"I'm serious. I need more than the hand holding, you have no idea how long I've waited for this."

"I'm leaving."

"I would say don't do anything I wouldn't do but..."

"You're fourteen!"

"I read a lot," Hanabi said with a sly smile, "But seriously, please, something!"

"Goodbye, Hanabi."

"Good luck!" Hanabi yelled as Hinata slammed the door behind her. She stopped for a second to collect her thoughts but was caught by a worried Naruto.

"Woah," Naruto exclaimed, "What's up?"

Hinata shook her head, "Little sisters."

He laughed, "I get it, I'm always stuck with Konohamaru. I'm sure those two are one and the same."

"I can only imagine."

"So...you ready to go?"

Hinata adjusted her bag on her shoulder, "Yes, I'm starving," she clearly lied. All she could feel were butterflies in her stomach.

"Alright, let's do it," He said as he clapped his hands together, making Hinata grin.

He opened the gate and held it for her as she passed by him, "Thank you," She murmured, pausing for a second and allowing him to catch up with her.

"Anytime," He said as he bumped her shoulder slightly, twisting his lips into so bright a smile she was sure her heart was going to give out at any second.

How she would make it through this afternoon, she had absolutely no idea.