After a few days of some much-needed rest, Naruto felt as good as new. He smiled to himself as he stretched out and took in the winter sun that gently peaked through his window. It was one of those rare mornings where everything felt right. He pulled the covers up to his chin and contemplated going back to sleep for five more minutes. He figured it was still early in the morning, no one needed him today.

His plan was thwarted, though, by an overly enthusiastic Konohamaru who noisily opened the door to his apartment and jumped onto Naruto to wake him up.

"Boss! Come on! It's already nine!"

"Stop lying, no it's not," Naruto mumbled sleepily.

"You're just going to sleep away the few days you have off?"

"I was sick."

"You're fine."

Naruto sat up, a pouty look upon his face as he genuinely asked, "Why do I have to get up?"

"You're not going to see Hinata off?"

"That's today!?" Naruto bolted out of his bed and hurriedly threw clothes on, hastily dug through his fridge for the bag he had prepared the night before, and promptly rushed Konohamaru out his door and onto the already hustling and bustling village streets.

"Come on, boss. You guys aren't even married yet and you're already this forgetful? I bet Hinata would never forget."

Naruto stopped in his tracks, "And how do you already know that we're engaged?"

Konohamaru was about to reply when Naruto held up a hand and answered his own question, "Nope, don't even tell me...Hanabi told you."

Konohamaru reddened, but nodded, "She was really excited. She called me the morning after, mostly to make sure I'd take care of you though," he said, referring to the fact he walked Naruto back to his apartment from the Hyuga compound and stayed with him throughout that first night just to make sure he really was as okay as he claimed to be.

As much as Naruto hated the fussing over him, he knew they all did it for Hinata's peace of mind.

"Thanks for that, by the way...and for waking me up today. But let's pick up the pace, they always leave right on time, you know?"

The pair began running towards the village gate, where Hinata was already waiting for the rest of her teammates to arrive. Upon seeing Naruto and Konohamaru, her brow immediately furrowed.

"Naruto-Kun! What are you doing up? I already said goodbye to you last night."

"Ew," Konohamaru muttered under his breath, to which Naruto replied with a swift hit to the back of his young protegee's head.

Hinata looked at them questioningly, but Naruto played it off, "I just wanted to see you off, that's all. Now that we're...you know. It just um, it didn't feel right knowing you were leaving and...I...um...I packed you this..."

He held out the bag he had grabbed earlier, looking away bashfully. It took everything in Konohamaru not to laugh at the older brother he so adored.

Hinata smiled so widely you'd have thought Naruto was asking her to marry him all over again.

"What's this?" She asked as she opened the bag. Naruto looked down as she pulled out his handcrafted surprise, "Did you make me onigiri!?"

Naruto nodded, remembering the painstaking process and how Hanabi had willingly volunteered to teach him how to make the simple dish. He had been bored out of his mind while "taking it easy" and had the brilliant idea to thank Hinata by cooking for her. Thankfully she had been so busy the last few days preparing for her mission, she hadn't noticed he was working so diligently just to successfully make four perfectly shaped rice balls.

"Naruto made that for you?"

Naruto turned to see Kiba and Shino right behind them and groaned, "Please don't make this into a thing."

"What do you mean? I think it's simply adorable," Kiba said as he walked up to Hinata and poked through the bag Naruto had given her, "They smell great too."

Akamaru barked in agreement, making Hinata giggle.

"You didn't happen to make any extra, did you?" Shino asked as he pushed up his glasses.

"Yeah, nii-chan. I want to try one too."

Naruto sighed, "Sorry guys, they're only for Hinata, okay?"

"Is it because you put in a special ingredient?" Kiba asked, inspecting one of the tightly packed rice balls.

"What's that?"

"Love," Kiba crooned, holding his hands to his cheek.

Hinata snatched back her treasured rice ball and yanked Kiba away from Naruto roughly. Shino merely chuckled as he passed by Naruto and patted him on the back, "Didn't know you were a man of many talents, Naruto,"

"O-oh. Well, you know..."

Shino nodded, "Yeah, I do. It's nice to see Hinata getting something made for her. She's always the one feeding us."

Naruto smiled as he looked away, "You're telling me. It's the least I could do after everything she does for me."

He turned to glance over at her as she chided Kiba, her delicate hands protectively holding the onigiri to her chest. Hinata made eye contact with him for a brief moment, and it proved to be too much for either one of them. Equally flushed, they both looked away.

Since they were formally engaged, the couple had been a tad shyer around each other. The goodbye last night was tender, slow kisses and lingering touches. But he had hesitated to go further, not for lack of wanting to, but simply because the thought of it overwhelmed him. It was no longer Hinata he was with, it was his almost wife, the future mother of his children.

It was almost as if they were back where they were a year ago, simply wanting to explore each other's touch, memorize the other's lips. He was seeing her through new eyes now, a tad more infatuated and a little more head over heels for her than before—if that was even possible. He wanted to take it slow now, really keep his word about not sleeping together until the wedding.

He wanted their wedding night to be an unforgettable experience for them both. Like the first time, but better

Naruto had thought they had gotten over this stage of their relationship, but now he was kind of hoping it lasted forever. He liked how flustered she made him, how his heart raced when he thought of her eyes upon him. It was like falling in love with her all over again.

"Earth to Naruto!" Kiba snapped, "We have to get going."

"O-oh. Right. Well, be safe," He said solemnly, nodding towards the trio.

"No worries, we'll take care of your girl," Kiba easily looped an arm around Hinata's waist and pressed her into his side. She looked up at him and rolled her eyes, as if he had done the action hundreds of times. As if she was used to it.

Naruto hated the thought of someone else's fingers wrapped around her. Of her pressing herself against someone else.

He knew he was being ridiculous. Still, the pang of jealousy was something new. It seared through him, hotter than Kurama's chakra. He'd never felt anything like this before.

He hated it.

Still, Naruto tried to play it off. He knew that the bond of a team was a sacred one. The love between those three was like the love he had for Sakura and Sasuke. If there was anyone he could trust to protect Hinata with their lives, it was Shino and Kiba...even if Kiba was a little too affectionate at times with his fiance. He could forgive that though...for now.

"I know you will. Thanks, guys."

Hinata broke away from Kiba and walked towards Naruto, pulling him off to the side and away from prying eyes. She looked down at the bag he had given her and then at him, "I can't even put into words how much this means to me."

"Aw, Hina, it wasn't that big a deal," He said, brushing a strand of hair off of her face.

"But it is, n-no one has ever packed me a meal for a mission..."

"Really?"

"I've always cooked for our household, and well, I'm the only one who would think to pack Bentos for our missions."

"Well, if they're any good...I'll always make you some for when you leave. I mean, you like onigiri right? I wasn't sure."

"I do, especially if you made them for me," She gushed.

"You'll let me know if they're good?"

She nodded, "Of course."

"And you'll be safe?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell them?"

She peered over at Shino and Kiba, who were chatting with Konohamaru, "Yes, actually. If that's okay with you?"

"Of course. I think I'm going to talk to Kakashi and Shikamaru while you're gone as well."

"We should have dinner with everyone to celebrate," Hinata suggested, her eyes bright and sparkling. It took everything within him not to kiss her right then and there.

"Yeah, of course. It's not every day we get engaged," He said as he wrapped his arms around her.

He felt her breathe him in as her nose perched upon his shoulder. He hoped she thought he smelled like home, like comfort. That's what she smelled like to him after all.

"Hey, we don't have all day here!" Kiba yelled.

"Yeah, yeah," Nauto muttered, using one finger to bring her chin up slightly. He could feel his face flush as she made eye contact with him, "Love you. Please be careful."

"You're being so silly, Naruto-Kun. We'll be back before you know it. But, yes, we'll be safe. And yes, I love you too."

He felt Hinata get on the tips of her toes and before he could say anything, her lips were firmly pressed against his. And before he could think, her mouth slightly parted and her tongue met his in a kiss that was a little too graphic for her teammates to witness.

Luckily, they didn't. Hinata was getting too good at making their public displays of affection oblivious to the unknowing eye.

Alas, it was over before it started, and Naruto was left with a longing feeling he knew he was going to get to know far too well until the night after they exchanged vows.

"I need to go," She whispered.

"I know."

"You have to let me go for me to be able to go."

"What? No way."

"Hinata, come on," Kiba pleaded, "Shino's boring us over here with his bug talk. Let's go before I fall asleep."

"Coming!" She yelled, trying to untangle herself from Naruto's embrace.

Instead, he pressed her harder to him, whispering in her ear, "No you're not. At least, not yet. Maybe when you come back?"

She turned bright red, "Eh!? Naruto-Kun!"

"I haven't touched you in a long time, Hinata."

"Yes, and we're keeping it that way."

"Are we?"

"You said it yourself."

"Not even a taste?"

She took a deep breath as she finally broke free, "Goodbye, Naruto-Kun. Be good while I'm gone."

"You didn't answer my question!" He yelled after her.

"Have dinner ready for me when I get back and we'll talk."

Naruto laughed as he watched her run up to her teammates, her hair flowing behind her. So carefree, so happy. Yes, it was definitely one of those days where everything just felt right.

"Nii-chan?"

"Yeah?"

"She's only going to be gone for two days."

"I know," Naruto said, holding his gaze upon the village gate as team 8 finally departed.

"Yeah, I know you know, but I thought you needed a reminder."

"Why?"

Konohamaru placed his hands behind his head protectively before saying, "You look like your heart was ripped out of your chest. You're like..so uncool now, boss."

Instead of going for his head, Naruto punched his arm, "Watch it, kid."

"You two are going to be unbearable, aren't you? What am I saying...you already are."

"Alright, enough."

"What, are you blushing? Wow,"

Naruto turned and began walking, Konohamaru having to jog a bit to catch up to Naruto's long strides. The two started heading back to the heart of the village when Konohamaru's stomach grumbled loudly.

Naruto smirked as he said, "I was going to invite you out to ramen, but since I'm so uncool now..."

"Your treat?" Konohamaru asked expectantly.

Naruto nodded as he ruffled Konohamaru's hair, "Yeah, as long as you let me keep some of my street cred."

"What street cred? You lost the last of that when you made that onigiri."

Instead of retaliating, Naruto burst out laughing. He turned to his young protege and asked, "Race you to Ichiraku?"

"You're not supposed to be running!" Konohamaru yelled after Naruto as he got a head start.

"If I get there first, you're paying!"

He felt the cold nip of winter bite his cheeks, and the promise of his future fueling the giddiness that traveled from his head to his toes. Everything was just as it should be. He hoped Hinata felt the same way.