Author's Note: Happy New Year! I've got two chapters for you. I originally had the two as one, but really they made more sense length-wise as two. But I also didn't want to leave you hanging on the line that's ended the previous two chapters :-) So I'm posting both at once! Because it's the holidays! Yay!

Chapter Twenty-Six

Honestly, Ino and Sakura had started to forget why they were there. They were in the booth right next to Naruto and Hinata and the restaurant was quiet enough that they could pretty well hear what their "targets" were saying if they really listened. But after the first twenty or so minutes… it had just gotten boring. Naruto kept making jokes, Hinata kept giggling at his jokes (were they really that funny?), and they both offered stories of what they were doing while Naruto had been training with Jiraiya out of the village.

Hinata always managed to say something kind when Naruto sounded sad regarding Jiraiya and they had both shared a quiet moment regarding Neji. But there wasn't anything particular that stood out.

Ino and Sakura weren't entirely sure what they'd been expecting. Despite the rumors going around, they knew Hinata wasn't about to make some lecherous advance on Naruto. And it no longer seemed like Naruto was planning some big confession. Sure he'd dressed up and gotten her flowers, but he was usually pretty straightforward when he intended to do something.

Plus, the food was good and the service was attentive. So they'd talked quietly between themselves about what they had discovered so far and ate their dinner, checking into the conversation beside them occasionally. They were thankful that the backs of the seats were built up to the ceiling of the restaurant. No matter how involved Naruto and Hinata were in their conversation, the young women knew their signature hairstyles and colors were way too conspicuous to miss should either the blonde or his shy date(?) be able to look over and see them.

They had relaxed for the most part when they heard Naruto exclaim from the next booth.

"Woah!"

Thinking this might finally be something interesting, Ino and Sakura looked at one another and strained their ears to hear what was going on. First it was just some talk about dessert. Not particularly juicy, but it did make both of them consider getting some!

"Ah," Hinata said, "well we've already been here for a while and I didn't want to take up too much of your time. I know you're really busy."

Was Hinata trying to cut their dinner short? She and Sasuke might really be together if she's trying to spend less time with the guy she'd literally almost died for twice. Or was she just self conscious of taking up too much of Naruto's time? That was also pretty likely...

"Huh? Don't be silly. I already said I wanted to spend time with you. That's why we're here."

Silence followed Naruto's declaration and Sakura and Ino stared at each other with wide eyes before Ino ducked under the table and popped back up next to Sakura on her bench.

"What are you doing, Ino-pig?" Sakura hissed. "Are you trying to bring attention to us?!"

"Shut it, Forehead," Ino whispered back. "I gave you the good seat because I mostly wanted to find out what was going on for your sake. But it's finally starting to get interesting!"

Sakura rolled her eyes, but pressed her ear against the back of her chair to see if she could hear better that way. If they were giving up on pretending to just be there for food then dammit she was going to hear as much as she could!

Ino did the same, grinning with excitement.

"Th-thank you. I, um, I really wanted to spend time with you, too."

Ino and Sakura stared at one another with wide eyes, their pulses quickening with adrenaline. Hinata was stuttering! She sounded like Hinata from years ago when she'd been head over heels for the blond jinchuuriki.

"Really? Like you wanted to spend time with just me?"

Oh kami, Sakura and Ino had spent years now looking underneath the underneath. And underneath Naruto's question was the real question: "You want to spend time alone with me? Alone and away from Sasuke?"

Did Hinata realize what he was really asking? Her response sounded pretty innocent and didn't include any of the previous stutter. Either she didn't quite understand the gravity of the question or she was trying to backtrack the conversation to something more friendly.

"Ah. I was actually going to see if you wanted to take a walk after this. With me. Just me. Unless you have somewhere to be which I totally understand because I only mentioned dinner so you might have already made other plans and it's fine, really."

Oh shit, it was happening. Naruto sounded way too nervous to be asking about a random stroll.

"Oh! Uh, no, I don't have to be anywhere. That, uh, that sounds really nice actually."

"Yeah? Yeah! Cool, cool."

Ino and Sakura wanted to scream or squeal or something and they were biting their lip hard to keep from blowing their cover. But IT. WAS. HAPPENING.

Another beat of silence passed and they heard Naruto speak again:

"Uh, you okay? We don't have to go on a walk even if you have the time free. I can just take you home if you want."

Oh. Oh, no. Did Hinata just realize what was going on? Did she figure out what Naruto was planning and not know how to backtrack? They knew she wasn't someone who would be unfaithful! But if she realized what Naruto wanted and was trying to get out of it, didn't that all but confirm that she was indeed in a relationship with Sasuke?

What they wouldn't give to be able to see what was happening as well as hear! They should have enlisted Hanabi! They were sure they could have convinced her to use her byakugan to spy! She was always nosy when it came to her older sister.

"It's not that I don't want to," Hinata said quietly, "but I just don't want you to keep doing things with me because you feel bad for hurting my feelings the other day."

Ino thought back quickly to the exchange that had happened the other day at Ichiraku. Blue eyes met a questioning green and Ino nodded to confirm he must be talking about that particular moment. She'd recounted everything to Sakura and it was the only thing she could think of. There were other possibilities, of course, but the timing worked out.

But that just led to more questions! Was that the reason Naruto had asked Hinata to dinner? Was all this just Naruto's over the top way of apologizing? They both knew he would go to the ends of the earth for a friend. It's possible his nice clothes, flowers, and dinner were just his way of making sure their friendship was still intact.

Dammit this was complicated.

"What?! No, that's not why I'm offering! I mean, that was part of the reason I invited you out, but not really. I did feel bad, but really I just wanted to take you out. I'd have wanted to do this with you anyway, but it seemed like a good excuse. Not that I was being dishonest!"

Scratch that last thought, then. It seemed like their original hypothesis was the more likely one. He was definitely nervous again. And he said he'd just used that incident as an excuse to get Hinata out. He liked her, right? It had to be that. But if what had happened at Ichiraku was anything to go by, Naruto also seemed to be under the impression that Hinata and Sasuke were something of an item. Would he really try to confess to his best friend's girlfriend? Hinata had loved him almost her whole life. Did he have a chance? But what about Sasuke?!

"Hinata, I need to tell you something," Naruto said.

Ino and Sakura sucked in a breath. This was it. This had to be it! The kunoichi were both leaning into the back of the seat so hard their faces were in jeopardy of being indented on it forever.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm not exactly… Hinata, I've been dense. I mean, I've always been a little dense, but I think this time I really messed up."

"Wh-what are you talking about, Naruto-kun?"

"I know how you felt about me. I didn't get it for a long time, but I know now. And even though you've got that thing going with Sasuke and you probably don't feel that way anymore, I just wanted to let you know that I feel that way about you. And I know it's too late and I don't expect anything from you, but I needed to be honest with you. I love you, Hinata."

HE SAID IT. OH KAMI NARUTO HAD SAID IT. HE LOVED HINATA. HE LOVED HER AND SHE WAS WITH SASUKE.

The adrenaline was so strong they felt like their chests were going to explode. They couldn't even focus on the next bit of conversation because it sounded like all their blood had begun rushing through their ears.

Ino realized belatedly that Sakura was gripping her hand and she couldn't tell if the shock on her face was because of Naruto's confession or if it was his confirmation of a romantic relationship between Sasuke and Hinata. Honestly, Ino couldn't figure out which was more surprising to herself.

The two spying kunoichi sat there a bit numbly, trying to come to terms with all they'd just heard. It was one thing to suspect, but another entirely to know. There were so many thoughts rushing through their minds that neither noticed the imposing presence approaching until they heard the last Uchiha's unmistakable timbre:

"What the hell is this?"

I have to say, I am probably even more excited to be moving on from this line than you guys are. But it was important that I had all points of views taken care of before the craziness goes down. That's in the next chapter which is posted simultaneously so go enjoy the chaos!