It's been three days since Hinata was finally released from the hospital, three days since she could finally sleep in Naruto's comfortable bed, and…three days since she finally got the heart of the love of her life.
Her relationship with the boisterous blonde was nothing like she imagined it would be…it was even better.
She knew practically everything about her crush but she didn't know that he could be so romantic and loving and gentle. Naruto is definitely not someone you would describe as gentle. He was blunt, determined and direct, he doesn't hold anything back. And that had shown on the third day when the Hokage requested Naruto to come to his office. Seeing the pervy thief there and finding out that he was unharmed after he left them alone in the office was enough to set him off, but finding out that the old man wanted the pervy old man to train him after he had complained about Ebisu made it even worse. Plus, Ebisu had his hands full with his grandson. However, his mood switched in an instant after Jiraiya had promised to teach him a killer new jutsu.
"Really? Is it going to be something really powerful and destructive?" He punched the air in excitement.
Jiraiya chuckled. "Well, I guess you will have to find out, and I think it's best that we start right away as I've heard that you made it to the final rounds in the chunin exams."
"Of course I made it! Who do you think you're talking to?" Naruto puffed out his chest proudly. "Ok, I'll go let Hinata know that I'll be busy today and then we'll meet at the…" He looked at Jiraiya dragging out the last word.
"The hot springs." Jiraiya finished.
"The hot springs?" Naruto's chest deflated as he looked at him quizzically.
"Yes, but we aren't going there for a bath or for the other reason you both probably have in your head."
Hiruzen exhaled the puff of smoke he was holding in.
"Alright then, see ya later at the hot springs, I guess." Naruto was about to leave but Hiruzen's voice stopped him.
"And how is Hinata?" He smiled widely seeing a slight blush on his favorite genin's cheeks.
"She's never better. Believe it." He said calmly.
"I'm glad." The Hokage nodded and with that Naruto dashed out the door.
Meanwhile, Hinata was grocery shopping for a special dinner for her and Naruto. "Hm…tomato sauce or sweet chili sauce?" She quietly mumbled to herself looking at the sauces on the shelf.
"I'd choose the sweet chili one."
"Hm?" Hinata turned around to face Kurenai who also had a half full basket in her hand. "Oh! Kurenai-sensei!" She greeted cheerfully.
"Hello, making dinner for…the special someone?" Kurenai smiled raising an eyebrow making Hinata blush.
"W-well…yes. I w-want to surprise him…again…" She looked at her feet while Kurenai chuckled.
"So, he's not making you cook for him?"
"No! Of course not." Hinata answered quickly.
Kurenai was a bit surprised at her slight outburst. "Well, well…looks like Naruto is rubbing off on you a bit, hm?"
" That…is what Hanabi told me when I went to visit her today. Have I really changed?"
"Yes, you have. Now tell me, what kind of dish requires this kind of sauce?" Kurenai asked stepping towards the shelf and picking out a jar of pickled radishes.
"It's a dish that my mother used to make. I always watched her make it when I was little. Oddly I remember every detail so I'm trying to make it myself. But they don't sell the sauce that she used anymore so I'm trying to find a replacement for it."
"Ah, I see. That's very special. Trying to get Naruto's heart through his stomach?" She chuckled again.
"Umm…actually…" She fidgeted with her fingers, her cheeks turning rosy again.
Kurenai looked at her wide-eyed. "Wait, you two are…"
Hinata nodded slowly.
"Hinata, that's great! I'm so happy for you two." She ruffled her hair gently.
"Thank you."
"So how has it been between you two?"
"It is…like a dream…" Her hands gripped the handles of the basket.
Kurenai smiled widely. This was such great news. She knew how unhappy the former heiress has been. Her life pretty much went downhill after her mother passed. So to see her finally happy filled her with relief.
"So how is the restoration of your compound going? I walked passed it the other day. Seems that they have already put up the stone structure."
"Yes, the base of the walls is almost complete and now they are getting started on the roof."
"Excellent news. I have to finish my shopping then turn in for a mission with my team, so we will have to finish this conversation some other time." She said waving goodbye which Hinata returned.
"Yes, have a great day, sensei."
"Likewise."
Hinata then turned back to the shelf. "So sweet chili it is."
And the sweet chili was obviously a good choice. Hinata tried the almost finished dish and was delighted to see that it tasted almost the same as the one her mother used to make. "I hope Naruto will like it too."
Speaking of Naruto…the sun is going down and he still hasn't returned from his training session with the Toad Sage. Hinata didn't know if she should worry or not. He was with a sanin after all. He wouldn't let anything bad happen to him, right? As if on cue she heard the door slowly open. She almost dropped the spoon she had in her hand as she rushed towards the door. She almost gasped seeing a ruffed up and partly wet Naruto struggling to take of his sandals. As he straightened up she jumped over to embrace him but he quickly put his hands in front of her to stop her. She looked at him in surprise.
"Don't hug me, I stink." He smiled.
She smiled but it quickly disappeared. "Are you hurt?"
"No, just exhausted." He walked in unzipping his jacket and peeling the damp piece of clothing off of him. The black shirt that he wore underneath was also damp causing it to cling to every muscle on his torso.
Hinata blinked rapidly to pull herself together. "Why a-are you w-wet?"
"I passed out so Pervy Sage splashed me with a bucket of water to wake me up." Naruto grumbled in annoyance.
"Oh, dear." Hinata put her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. "You passed out?"
"I'll tell you about it later, now I gotta go take a shower so I can finally give you a hug. I missed you."
She blushed. "I missed you too."
He winked and disappeared into the bathroom.
Hinata hurried to set the table and when Naruto got out from his shower running his fingers through his wet hair, he sat down and motioned for her to sit in his lap. She blushed heavily but complied.
A bit of gentle kissing later, she was still in his lap as she feed him a spoonful of cooked rice with the sauce.
"Mmmm…amazingly delicious as always. How do you do it?" He teased.
"Well, when you put your heart into it..." She teased back making him grin.
"So, how did your training go?"
"Pervy Sage took me to the hot springs and told me to walk on the scorching hot water. Thanks to you helping me with my chakra control I didn't fall in. I could have turned into a boiled clown fish…"
She laughed. "Oh, Naruto."
"Yeah, but I guess that's why he did it. But then he had me sign this contract with my blood."
"A summoning contract? He's teaching you a summoning jutsu?" She blinked.
"Yeah, that one. I'm gonna be able to summon a giant toad whenever I need it, believe it!"
"Oh! So how is that going?"
Naruto paled a bit but then blushed. "Well…uhh…not so good… I can't summon anything bigger than a tadpole… He wants me to do it with the fox's chakra but I don't know how to get it to come out."
"Maybe…you should try wasting your normal chakra first, the fox's chakra will then be all you have left."
"Yeah, that'll work! Man, you're so smart!" He smiled at her and she blushed heavily.
"Now, let's finish this food and go to bed!" He took another big bite.
After they were both full and the table was clean they kept going back and forth about who is going to do the dishes. Naruto insisted on doing it but Hinata claimed that he's too tired. Eventually Naruto gave in and let her do it. He walked towards the bedroom with a pout.
"I'm waiting for you in bed…my little cuddle fish." He stuck his tongue out playfully.
Hinata burst out laughing. "You're so silly."
"That's why you like me." He teased again.
…
"N-no…"
He turned towards her in shock. "H-huh?"
"T-that's why…I love you…" She gulped. She had said it. She didn't stutter or faint. She just said it. She just finally said it…
Naruto stood frozen in front of the bedroom door. No one has said that to him before. He knew Iruka loves him, and the Old Man and Ayame and Teuchi too, but they have never said it. He felt a warm sensation spread out of his stomach streaming through his whole body, most of the warmth was concentrating around his heart. His jaw finally unfroze and he muttered out: "What?"
Hinata's hands unfroze and she wiped the soap suds off of them and turned to face him. But she didn't notice that he moved from his spot in front of the door so as soon as she turned around he cupped her cheeks with his hands and pressed his lips onto hers. She squealed into his lips in surprise and her eyes widened as he swiftly moved his hands of off her face and gripped her hips lifting her up on the counter. He wrapped his hands around her waist and she wrapped hers around his neck detangling his almost dry golden locks. The moment could have lasted forever but the need for air struck both of them so they parted breathing heavily.
After he caught his breath again Naruto pressed his warm cheek against her cool neck and whispered: "I love… you too…"
A tear escaped her eye and her still heavy breathing intensified. "Naruto?" She panted.
"Yeah?"
"I think I'm g-going to faint…" She held onto him.
He chuckled. "I guess It's bed time then."
It was a busy day in the streets of Konoha. The final round of the chunin exams was coming, which is considered to be a huge event and many people and wealthy guests will be coming to the village so experience fights of the best of the best so merchants and stores made sure to be stacked and polished in case some of those wealthy people want to splash the cash somewhat.
The Yamanaka flower shop was just as busy, especially since Ino had some free time now to run the shop by herself while her mom did housework and things she didn't have time for before.
While it was boring sitting at the counter all day sometimes the people who walked into the shop made it a bit livelier…like who walked in now.
"Hey, Ino." Sakura greeted.
Ino looked up from some roses she was trimming. "Oh, hey Sakura. What brings you here?" Ino greeted, dropping the mean nickname just like Sakura had.
"My dad wants some roses for my mom for their anniversary. He's out getting her a gift so he asked me to get the roses. Plus, I wanted to say hello." Ever since her uncomfortable interaction with Naruto, Sakura has been trying to become a nicer person and rebuilding her friendship with Ino was the first step. And the first step is usually the hardest as the two still argue about Sasuke from time to time.
"Coming right up." Ino smiled picking up some roses and starting to wrap them in decorative paper.
"So…has anything interesting happened here these days?" Sakura asked trying to start up a conversation.
Ino left the roses for a moment to look at Sakura. "Actually there was. Naruto came in like five times last week getting different flowers each time. My guess is that they were for Hinata." She winked with a sly smile.
"I bet."Sakura smiled then she sighed. "Well, I know she likes him but I honestly never thought that Naruto would fall for her. I mean, I'm glad he did but those two are so…different from each other. Do you think it will work out?"
"If the current status of their relationship is anything to go by, I'd say that it could work out. I'm still surprised that he got a girl before Sasuke or any other guy from our class at that matter. And Hinata is so quiet…for her to get a guy before any of us…"She trailed of getting back to the roses.
"It's meant to be, I guess…" Sakura muttered.
"Yeah…" Ino sighed. "Considering how much he liked you, it's hard to believe her got over you so quickly."
Sakura's head snapped towards her and she opened her mouth to fire back at Ino but what she wanted to say died in her throat as she quickly shut her mouth. "That's not…he…" She turned away.
"Aren't…you glad that he finally left you alone?" Ino asked.
"I…don't know…it feel kinda strange because I'm so used to wanting to punch him every time I see him."
Ino was about to giggle at that but her eyes widened. "Well don't punch him now, he'll fall into my petunias."
"Huh?" Sakura was confused…until Ino pointed at the door through which Naruto was walking into the shop.
"Oh, hey Sakura, sup?" He smiled at her.
"Hi Naruto, nothing…much..." She replied somewhat lamely as her mouth dried. She has never seen Naruto wear an outfit without any orange in it. He was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and gray shorts. He had a grocery bag in his hand. It was for a romantic meal judging by the lavender scented candle peeking through it…and by the fact that he came into a flower shop.
"What will it be today?" Ino looked up at him.
He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. When he raised up his arm Sakura could tell he's been training his butt off…and judging by his butt she could tell that Hinata was a pretty good cook.
Taking a bouquet of white lillies he had purchased he waved goodbye and left.
"Wow." Ino commented.
Sakura nodded in agreement.
"Well, here are your roses." She handed Sakura the rose arrangement.
"They are beautiful! Thanks Ino." Sakura marveled her friend's handy work.
And back at his apartment, Naruto marveled the display of food, candles and flowers on the table. "Hopefully she likes it!" He grinned. It was about time he tried to cook and do something for his roommate, especially after what had happened last night.
"I love you…"
She went to the Hyuga compound to check on things and he took the opportunity to do something special for her.
Then he heard the door open. He turned towards it and Hinata walked in with a grim expression on her face. Seeing the things on the table and a smiling Naruto made her eyes widen but her expression became even more grim.
Naruto's smile dropped. "What's wrong? I made something for you, you don't like it?"
"Oh, Naruto…I… I don't know what to say…" It was barely a whisper.
"You don't have to say anything, ya know."
Her face didn't change.
"Are you ok?" His concern was growing.
"The compound will be finished soon…I will have to leave then…" The tears came. "I d-do not w-want to l-leave…"
He quickly embraced her. "Is that what you're upset about? You know you can sleepover any time you want."
"I know but…I like it here…a lot…with you…" She sniffed.
He faced her and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "You know I'll always be with you, same bed or not, I'm here for you."
She nodded and finally smiled. "There's that beautiful smile!" He teased.
"Come, the food will get cold." He led her to the table and pulled her chair for her.
"What is this for?" She looked at the beautifully made table.
"Just because." He winked.
As they ate Naruto was glad that the food actually did turn out good and Hinata liked it.
"So…will you be training with Lord Jiraiya today too?"
"Yeah."
"Could I come along…and watch you? I just want to spend as much time with you as I can." She blushed.
"Sure. Maybe you could even help me master this summoning thing so I can get to the other jutsu Pervy Sage wants to the teach me."
"Other jutsu? What is it?"
"I don't know what it is exactly but Pervy Sage called it uhh…what was it… oh, yeah…
…the Rasengan!"