He was sure it was the loss of blood, there was no other possible explanation. But all he could think about at the moment was how soft Hinata was. He had never felt more comfortable than he did at that moment, his head on her shoulder, her hand intertwined in his. It was almost enough to make him drown out the sounds of Sakura's yelling and the pain of his lost limb.

"You're comfy."

She blushed as she looked down at him, "Go to sleep, Naruto-Kun, you need to conserve your energy."

"Not sleepy," He muttered through half-lidded eyes. The weight of everything that had just happened was hitting him at once. Not mentally, no, that would come later. Physically, though, his body was shutting down.

"Yes, you are."

"I'm not."

She brushed back his dirtied blonde hair as prying eyes watched them from all corners. Wondering if he was okay, wanting to know why it was Hinata that was caressing him in a manner far too familiar for the relationship they had remembered the pair having.

Sakura, and the remainder of the Konoha 11 for that matter, knew, though, from the moment Naruto and Hinata joined hands on the battlefield they were endgame. Now it just had to click for Naruto.

That moment wouldn't come now, though. He was so doped up from the medicines Sakura managed to scrounge together that, quite frankly, everyone was amazed he was still sitting up and talking. The adrenaline had to have stopped pumping by now, in fact, Sasuke had already passed out next to him.

"Can you put your hand on my cheek again?"

"W-what?"

Naruto lifted their interlocked fingers and roughly placed her palm to his sticky cheek, "Like this."

"O-oh, I see."

"You did it before, on the battlefield."

"Yes, I did."

"Why?"

Hinata knew he wouldn't remember this conversation, still, she couldn't choke out the words she had so bravely said to him before, "...Because."

"Because?"

She couldn't do it. She just didn't have it in her to confess yet again when she knew full well he wasn't in any kind of state to hear or even understand those words she uttered earlier. So instead she indulged herself and said something she never would have had he been fully conscious.

"You have cute cheeks," she said playfully, pinching him gently.

He chuckled, "It's the whiskers, right?"

"It's definitely the whiskers," She said, finally allowing herself to trace one with the very tip of her finger.

Naruto chuckled, catching her hand in his once more, "I like this Hinata."

"W-what do you mean?"

"The old Hinata would never fight by my side. You've been such a badass lately, and you don't get all stuttery around me either. Well, not that often anyway."

"You think I'm a badass?"

He nodded and roughly pulled her closer, "Don't tell Sasuke, but I think fighting beside you was so fucking cool," He paused for a moment and looked into her eyes, "Fight by my side more often, yeah?"

She felt faint at hearing those words, but she tried to stop herself from showing it. She was a badass now, she couldn't turn back after all the progress she had made.

"Yes, Naruto-Kun. Of course."

He brought his forehead to hers, bright blue eyes studying her, looking into the depths of her soul.

She forced herself to look at him as well, as much as it pained her to see his right arm was now gone, the bruising around his face, the black eye that was swelling to double its size.

Still, through it all, he was grinning from ear to ear.

His gaze followed hers and he shrugged, "Casualty of war, you know? I guess I just won't be able to feed myself for a little while."

"That's the only thing you're concerned about?" Sakura mumbled under her breath as she began bandaging him up for transport. She had just finished up on Sasuke, he was snoring peacefully beside them.

Had it been any other moment in time, Hinata would've moved her face away from Naruto's. Unwrapped her hand from his. It was inappropriate after all, considering they were nothing more than comrades at this point.

But she had forgotten there was anyone else around, couldn't hear Sakura's banter, didn't acknowledge the looks or stares. And she told herself she was crazy if she thought they were only comrades.

She didn't know what they were now, but comrades didn't even begin to cover it.

When she heard Sakura get up and go over to gather more supplies, she leaned in closer to him, her nose slightly grazing his. She was just so grateful that he was alive. That they had made it. She didn't care about anything else right now, only managed to say, was "I'll feed you."

"Y-yeah?" He mumbled.

"And help you with anything else you need."

"You're the best, Hinata," He said, pressing his hand to her cheek this time.

"I'm just happy you're alive," She whispered.

He nodded, tracing the side of her face lightly, "I couldn't stop thinking about you the whole time."

"W-what?"

"I just...wanted to keep you safe."

"N-Naruto..."

"Just like you tried to keep me safe."

She put her hand over his and squeezed, trying to ground herself in the moment. Had Sakura not been right behind them, she would've leaned in and closed the space between them. It was all she could do not to press her lips to his.

From the look on his face, it was like the same thought was crossing his mind. So when Hinata heard him say, "I think I'm going to pass out," she was caught completely off guard.

"Shit, grab him!" Sakura yelled as she dashed towards them, trying to soften the blow.

Hinata managed to grab a hold of him, letting him lean on her once more.

"Is he really okay?" She whispered to Sakura.

The pink-hair kunoichi smiled knowingly as she ruffled Naruto's hair, "It's going to be a long road ahead of him, but with some help along the way I'm sure he'll be good as new."

He began snoring slightly, and then loudly. Hinata tried not to laugh, knowing she would rouse him if she did.

But, clearly, sleep was something Naruto just couldn't seem to hold onto, as he awoke within a few minutes and guiltily looked up at her, "Sorry, I just sort of fell asleep on your shoulder."

She squeezed his hand and whispered, "You need to rest. You're safe now, Naruto-Kun. Just close your eyes, we'll be leaving soon."

"Will you stay with me?"

Hinata rested her cheek upon the top of his head and responded, "I won't leave your side, Naruto-Kun. Not ever."

"Okay, cool."

She had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing. In a day or two, when he was well-rested and conscious, he wouldn't remember a thing.

But she would.

Until then, though, she'd protect him just as he protected the village. Just as Sakura said, it would be a long road ahead of him, ahead of all of them really. The casualties of war were more than those they saw on the surface.

She didn't want to think of that though, not now. Not while she was holding his hand and feeling his heartbeat in time with hers.

They had survived, in the end, and that was all that mattered for now. She wouldn't dare think of those who hadn't. Not now.

Her heart wouldn't be able to bear it.

"Let's get Ichiraku when we get back," He mumbled as he curled into her side.

Hinata smiled and wrapped an arm around him, "I'd like nothing more, Naruto-Kun. I'd like nothing more."