Chapter 3: Picnic

After that embarrassing end to their first sparring session, Naruto asked Hinata if they can train together again next time. She agreed and promised to be on the same spot at the training grounds at the same early morning the next day. He couldn't help but feel excited that he tried sleeping so early or probably because he didn't get that much sleep the night before. Still, he didn't get much sleep that night because of that lap pillow he got earlier. It was an embarrassing experience, but he's very happy. He's hugging his pillow tighter than usual just thinking about it and he couldn't stay still to save his life. Shit, something's wrong with him.

Their next training session was uneventful, but equally fun nonetheless. He promised to focus better to avoid accidents, and while he still got hit here and there (juuken is just so had to defend against, he admitted to himself), he didn't get knocked out and flat out embarrass himself. After several minutes of sweating it out, he started to feel much lighter and he's starting to regain some of his rhythm back. It seems Hinata knew his pacing so well. He was really glad to do this with her. He imagined doing this with an equally hardworking Rock Lee…and yeah he'd probably be dead by now due to exhaustion. He even got to eat breakfast with her, with a delicious onigiri and hot tea made by her to conclude their training.

Maybe they can continue this training session some more. He forgot to ask her before they parted ways, but maybe Hinata will still be there tomorrow, at the same spot on the usual time. He'd just surprise her tomorrow…yeah that's the plan. He's really looking forward for tomorrow.

It was a big disappointment to arrive there with no sight of Hinata. All his excited energy just went down the drain. He was even thinking of pranking her a bit to surprise her! He probably should've asked her yesterday. Maybe Kami-sama wanted to punish him today for even just thinking of pranking Hinata.

Where did she go today? Using his senjutsu, he found her chakra in the direction of the Hyuuga compound. She's probably still sleeping, he mused. Oh well, since there's no longer the motivation to train today, might as well just return back home and catch some sleep.

It was during his late breakfast at Ramen Ichiraku that he caught sight of Hinata together with her teammates, dressed in her usual mission gear, with a gentle smile across her face. He noticed that she's been looking happier lately. Well, all of them were happier after the war, but Hinata seemed…glowing lately. Glowing..? Where did that come from?

Team 8 looked to be heading out of Konoha. A new mission, perhaps? He's been snoopier nowadays (he only did it when it concerns Hinata though…), so he abandoned his half-eaten ramen (he's still struggling to eat left-handed) to greet them before they got out of sight.

"Oi! Hinata! Kiba! What's up?"

"Hello, Naruto-kun!" She always greets him with that endearing smile, he suddenly felt slightly warmer than usual.

"Yo, Naruto! What are you doing here?" Kiba returned the energetic greeting.

"…I'm also here, Naruto." Shit, he forgot to greet Shino…

"Arf! Arf!" …and Akamaru as well.

"O-oh hey Shino, Akamaru! Sorry about that…hehe…"

He cleared his throat to remove the sudden awkwardness.

"I was eating lunch! Wanna join me for some ramen?"

"Ummm, sorry Naruto-kun, but we have a mission today."

"Oh I see. Where to?"

"We're going to Koshien Forest, just north from here. It's a mission commissioned by Shino's family, you see." Kiba joined in on the conversation.

"Oh wow! So what's it about?" It's the first time he heard about a shinobi submitting a mission request to fellow shinobi.

"Research." Shino simply said. No follow up. Maybe Shino wanted him to ask back.

"Research?"

"Yes."

"…"

"…"

Is getting information from him this hard?

"Ummm…about what?"

Hearing that question, Sino's sunglasses showed a glint and his mouth curved slightly upward…or was it just his imagination playing mind tricks on him? Despite knowing him as much as his other friends from the academy, this guy is a total mystery for him…

"There were rumors of new insect species found within the heart of Koshien Forest. That forest is still not much explored, with conflict between nations preventing such exploration before. Now, we can scout the area some more and get new data of different insect species freely. We would like to get them first. Why you ask? Because it is our family pride to be the first to discover such creatures."

Wow, that's the most he heard from Shino. He didn't even ask back this time. He's not that much interested in insects, so…

"Well, we need to head out now or we will not have time for picnic. See ya later, Naruto!" Kiba decided to end the conversation so they can leave out of the village soon.

"Wait, what picnic?"

"What I said. Hinata prepared lots of food for us to eat lunch over there. Might as well enjoy the nature while we do the mission."

Picnic outside Konoha? Getting to eat Hinata's cooking? Damn, he would love to join! He has missed going outside the village, and Hinata's cooking since her hospital visits.

"Ummm…ne…can I come and join you guys?" He's praying internally that Hinata would say yes…

Hinata was about to respond when Shino beat her to it.

"No."

It took a while for Shino's response to register in his head.

"No!? Why Shino?"

"Because it's a mission."

'Yeah that makes sense…"Naruto thought. He can't just barge in and join in a mission without being assigned by the Hokage. Still, he's known for not being a stickler for rules.

"C'mon Shino! This is more of a fun activity than a mission! Please…"

"No."

"Shino-chaaaan!"

"We don't have funds to pay for additional shinobi."

"I'll help you guys for free! Please…Hinata?" It's so uncool to plead like this, but it's Hinata, so she would understand…right?

"Ummm…we would like you to join us Naruto-kun! But please ask Hokage-sama for permission first. We will wait for you at the gates. Is that fine with you, Kiba-kun, Shino-kun?" Hinata really gets it, that's why she's the best.

"Sigh…Okay fine let's do it! Hurry up Naruto! 5 minutes at the village gates or we'll leave you!"

"Alright! Thanks Hinata! You're the best!" With that, he headed toward the Hokage's office in blinding speed, ignoring his half-eaten ramen. He didn't hear their conversation afterwards.

"Hinata, you're spoiling Naruto so much. And he's still not your boyfriend."

"I agree."

"Kiba-kun! Shino-kun! I-it's not like that…"

"Just don't do lovey-dovey stuff when we're out of sight." Kiba said with a snicker.

"Arf!" Akamaru seemed to agree with his master.

"Kiba-kun!"

If only Naruto was there to see Hinata's red-lit face…

Naruto successfully joined Team 8 in their "mission" after some convincing from his Kakashi-sensei. Well, bribing him with a promise of a new copy of the latest Icha Icha novel did the trick. Seriously, he can't understand the appeal of the book (and to think he co-authored some of them)…

The lunch picnic was really fun. Hinata did prepare a lot of food, like it was good for more than 4 people (plus a large dog)! While he already heard a lot of Kiba's stories from Hinata before, it's great to have this bonding time with his friends other than the usual Team 7. Being focused with Sasuke and war before, he really needed more of this to catch up with everything. And it really helps when he's munching delicious food.

"All of this is so good! You'd be a great wife someday, Hinata." He unconsciously blurted out loud what his mind was currently thinking.

"W-what did you say?" She looked surprised, her eyes wide trained on his eyes.

"What?" Oh no. Did she hear everything he said?

"…" No response, but her eyes are still focused on his eyes, like they are reading his mind.

"Ummm…y-you see, I…ah…" He couldn't come up with a decent explanation. It was just a good compliment, right? And yet he get tongue tied just repeating the same sentence.

He couldn't take his eyes away from her. He was stunned like last time. And he felt like his cheeks are starting to burn hot…

The moment was ruined when they heard fake coughs from their other friends and a fake barfing from Akamaru (seriously, can that dog understand what's happening?). He finally looked away in embarrassment, mad blush still present (and he missed Hinata looking away as well, with a blush that can rival his).

Despite feeling embarrassed and awkward at that moment, he must admit, he was really glad to say that to Hinata. He didn't understood the feeling completely, but in the back of his mind he knew that he needed to tell her that, that he needed to let her know that he thought of her as somebody who is nurturing, despite feeling embarrassed to say that out loud.

-Chapter 3 End-

End notes: This latter part of the chapter was not meant to be included, but when the episode of the kid Naruto praising kid Hinata about the onigiri she made entered my mind, I just included a picnic scene as their young adult moment instead. And I was watching a baseball clip, so I named the forest Koshien.