The very next morning as the sun brought a new day over Konoha, Hinata rose along with it. She didn't know how she was able to fall asleep after the excitement of the previous night, but clearly, her rest was very short lived.

She didn't want to appear too forward, so she knew she couldn't rush over to Naruto's home first thing in the morning, but since she had accompanied him before she knew that he had therapy at the hospital before noon. What better excuse to stop by and drop something off for Sakura and casually bump into him?

So Hinata spent a few hours anxiously killing time by reorganizing the bookshelves in her room and silently willing the clock to move faster. Shortly before she departed she went about the kitchen quietly, packed two Bentos, and quickly gathered her things before slipping out the door. The last thing she needed was a meddling Hanabi asking about what had happened last night or where she was off to now.

She headed down the worn path towards the heart of the village with her head in the clouds and a coy smile that hadn't left her face in hours.

Hinata was so distracted that she didn't hear the footsteps behind her, that is, until none other than Sasuke Uchiha tapped her on the shoulder, asked, "Heading to the hospital?", and effectively startled Hinata so badly she fell backward onto him.

Sasuke chuckled as he gently pushed her back onto her feet, "Be careful there. Don't need you to go to the hospital as a patient, do we?"

"Sasuke-Kun. Oh! Sorry." She could feel the flush upon her cheeks, but nonetheless lifted her bag and with a smile said, "I packed a lunch for Sakura-Chan, just wanted to deliver it to her before she took her break."

Sasuke lifted a neatly wrapped bento with a flourish, "Great minds think alike."

"O-oh. You already have that covered."

"The least I can do after she left me breakfast this morning," He shrugged, "But, you know, yours wouldn't be a complete waste. Naruto's finishing up his physical therapy, I'm sure he's starving too."

Hinata averted her gaze, which only made Sasuke give her a knowing look, "Let's walk together. I was going to pop in and check on Naruto anyways."

She nodded, "I'd like that."

The pair made polite conversation until they reached the hospital doors. Sasuke was greeted by the nurses at the reception desk warmly, making Hinata suspect this was not the first time he came to visit Sakura during her shift.

He led them down the hall to the small office where Sakura usually sat in between patients, and with a quick motion he knocked on her door as he peeked his head in, "Thought you might be hungry."

"Sasuke-Kun!"

"We both actually thought you might be," He said as he gently pulled Hinata through the doorway.

"Hi, Sakura-Chan."

"Hinata! What a surprise, you brought me lunch too?"

"I didn't know Sasuke-Kun was preparing one for you as well."

Sasuke raised a brow and glanced at Sakura, who understood immediately, "That's alright, but we wouldn't want it to go to waste. Naruto's just wrapping up down the hall, why don't you go say hi?"

"Sasuke-Kun suggested the same thing, how funny."

"It appears we're all on the same wavelength this morning." Sasuke quipped.

Sakura got up from her seat and nudged Hinata back out into the hall, "Come on now, before he gets going. He's in room 327."

Hinata took a breath, nodded, and headed down the corridor. She could feel Sasuke and Sakura's stares upon her back, and while that would normally unnerve her, it made her want to laugh out loud. It seemed she had a whole team rooting for her, how could she not feel empowered?

She heard Naruto's hearty chuckle before she even reached the door and noted how the sound made her heart flutter. Not that it was anything new, but, knowing what she knew now? It was like feeling it for the first time all over again.

A nurse emerged from Naruto's room with Tsunade, both looking aggravated.

"Will that boy ever learn?" Tsunade said as she turned into the corridor and rubbed her temples.

Hinata was thankful that Tsunade didn't notice her and instead the pair turned in the opposite direction. The last thing she needed was someone else making a comment about her visiting.

"Naruto?" Hinata asked as her knuckles lightly grazed the door.

"Hinata!" Naruto turned to look at her, bare-chested and still slipping on his shirt. He took a pause as he noticed the bag in her hand, "Is that for me?"

"Well, Sasuke had already made one for Sakura-chan so I figured we could have lunch together instead. They mentioned you were just finishing your session."

"I'd love that," A wide smile spread upon his face as he struggled with his shirt.

"D-Do you need some help with that?"

"If you wouldn't mind, actually."

Hinata put the bag down on a small table directly next to him and grabbed the cotton shirt out of his grasp.

"Alright." She muttered.

Hinata tried to reach over his left side and quickly realized she should probably stand directly in front of him. She honestly didn't think about it twice until his piercing blue eyes looked up at her intently.

"Arms up."

Naruto struggled with his bandaged arm, which made Hinata instinctively step between his legs to get closer and stabilize his injured limb. Upon doing this she quickly pulled his shirt over him, and within seconds had him clothed and ready to go.

Hinata, though, didn't step back. Emboldened by the events of last night, she lifted a hand and brushed his short, tousled hair back.

She felt his hands on the small of her back, burning through the material of her jacket. She wanted so badly to press her lips to his, and was contemplating doing so when she heard Tsunade exclaim, "Didn't I say no strenuous activity? That includes whatever plans you have with your girlfriend, Naruto."

The pair unentangled themselves in an instant, making Naruto angrily reply, "What the hell, Grandma! We weren't even doing anything."

"Sure, I'm sure you-" Tsunade, who hadn't realized who it was cozied up with Naruto, suddenly took notice of Hinata. "Hinata! You and Naruto, huh? When did that happen?"

Hinata pushed her hair off of her face attempting to muster a reply, but Naruto quickly stepped in, "It's new," he said, intertwining Hinata's fingers in his.

Tsunade took notice and laughed, "Well, it's about time." She turned to look at Hinata and reminded her, "Don't let him do anything too crazy with that arm. I'm entrusting you with him."

Hinata nodded solemnly and squeezed his hand, "I-I'll take care of him."

"Good. Well then, Naruto here is a prescription for some pain medication. I know you don't want it, but I also know you're going to defy me and train anyway, so take them afterward. But take it easy on the damn arm, okay? I can only do so much.

"Thanks, grandma. Appreciate it."

"Alright then, I'll be seeing you soon. Ah! And please take the make-out session elsewhere, we have patients who need the room."

Naruto groaned as Tsunade left the room, "I'm sorry about all that."

"It's okay."

He looked at their hands, still linked, upon his lap, "So, are we eating lunch?"

"Of course, maybe we can sit outside somewhere? It's really nice out today," She offered.

"Great, and about what Grandma Tsunade said?"

"Yes?"

"Is this about to turn into a make-out session? Because I think I also know a spot we could go."

Hinata smacked Naruto on his left arm, causing him to laugh out loud. She quickly tried to say, "We haven't even...haven't had our..."

"First kiss?"

"Y-Yes."

"You know, we could change that," He said, pulling her down gently so that she was at eye-level with him. She could feel his breath quicken as he once more tipped her chin towards his and leaned in.

Inches, mere inches away. Hinata felt herself grow light-headed as his lips neared hers.

"Oh, I forgot to give you-"

Naruto groaned loudly as he unwillingly pulled back once more, "Grandma Tsunade! Come on, this is so not cool!"

She laughed as she placed a slip of paper next to Naruto, "One more prescription. And I mean it, get out of here you two!"

Hinata, who would usually feel mortified to the point of wanting to disappear, started giggling the moment Tsunade left the room.

"I'm glad you think this is funny." Naruto pouted.

Being forward seemed to be the theme of the day for Hinata, so she embraced it. She quickly pecked Naruto on his cheek before whispering in his ear, "Our time will come."

Naruto's face reddened immediately, which Hinata relished.

He cleared his throat, grabbed his jacket, and quickly got up, "You're right, as always. But I'd like that to be sooner than later."

She nodded in agreement, grabbing the bag and then taking his hand in hers firmly said, "Wouldn't we both?"

Hinata did not know if her sudden confidence came from knowing that Naruto reciprocated her feelings, or if her prayers had finally been answered and she had blossomed into the woman she knew she could be. But either way, she hoped it wasn't all some blissful dream. In fact, she made sure to give Naruto's hand a gentle squeeze just to make sure.

She could certainly get used to this.