Her steps were mechanical as she walked to her room to change in more casual clothes. As she entered, she rapidly pasted to her neatly fold ninja gear. It was practically new. She hadn't really had the occasion to wear it that often as she took less and less mission. It was more revealing than her previous outgrown uniforms giving her the agency to move more freely.

A longing hand passed on the stretchy material of the top as an innocent smile passed onto her lips as she remembered the day she bought it.

Kakashi-sama had, not so subtly, told her to find a new uniform more adapt to her rank and her age. She understood where it came from. She has, to her chagrin, become somewhat quite known in the Shinobi world being easily recognized by foreigners just like anyone from the Rookie 11. She had also found her old gear tightening in certain spaces, making it at this point, dangerous to go on mission with it. Futhermore, as now a well-known face of Konoha's forces as well as the still-heiress of an important clan, it was quite embarrassing for her to go out and around in a teenager outfit.

This had led her to one of the many Shinobi wear shops. She had planed to buy the standard Shinobi uniform with the green flat jacket and dark pants just like Shikamaru had done, maybe adding an embroidered Hyuga sigil to the side. It had been the enforced gear during the war and she felt it was only the next step for her in term of mission clothing.

However, as she had been ready to pay, Sakura and Ino had entered the shop having seen her from outside. It was a rare sight to see the young woman out these days and they both felt like saying hello to her. The gesture made the Hyuga smile as she expressed her gratitude as they exchanged politeness, rapidly keeping up with each other news.

''What is that?'' Had suddenly asked Ino pointing the clothes in Hinata's hands.

''My new uniform.'' She rapidly answer showing it off. ''I outgrown the old one.'' She added. The two older kunoichi eyed her. It was true, she was wearing casual clothes instead of her usual bulky lavender jacket.

''But that is the standard uniform'' interject Sakura, feeling the rough material in her hand. ''Don't you want a more … unique look?'' Hinata bend her head to the side with a curious stare.

She didn't really put a deep thinking in her clothing. It needed to be simple and practical. She had to admit that lately she had made a substantial effort to pay more attention to how she presented. She needed to look more sure of her, less afraid of the world around her. She was a war veteran, it needed to show in how she was seen and how she expressed herself. Gone was the stutters, fainting, blushing and clothes that would eat her up. She wore more fitted clothes (still the least revealing possible and slightly on the baggy side), would be more poised in her step, more assured.

''With your fighting, still it would be easier for you to take a less restrictive material.'' Ino had added seeing her hesitate. That was a valid point. Hinata was agile and needed to be able to move fast to be more effective. The flat jacket was restricting and the pants, too loose around her legs, was slowing down her movement. Not in a life or death measure, but still enough to be taken in consideration. She looked around herself seemingly seeing for the first time since she entered the shop, the multitude of choices she had, making her head fuzzy.

''We can help you chose!'' Ino excitedly exclaimed, taking away the clothes from the smaller woman's arms. She was now embarrassed. She didn't want them to put on hold, whatever plan they had in mind and intruding their quality time. Sakura had hurriedly shooed away that idea in a dismissive hand movement.

''No sense! This is more fun than a coffee and talking about stupid boys. And we don't get to hang out together that often. We have to look out for each other as girlfriends.'' Those heartwarming words kept her from protesting any longer accepting eagerly their help.

In the end, after five clothing stores and hours of laughing and clothes trying, they end up back to the first shop but with an entire different option. Hinata loved it. It was different, but in a good way. Practical, simple but at the same time, so she was. She didn't look like an insecure teenager, but like a confident adult. A capable kunoichi. And for once in her life, she thought she looked like part of a group. She didn't fade out in the background and when she was put in the spotlight, she didn't stand out like a sore thumb. Next to a delighted Sakura and an overjoyed Ino, she looked like she belongs to their group. And that made her happy.

The change had been approved by her teammate and Kakashi, who had saluted the decision. It made her more eager to go on a mission, to test out her ability with this new freedom and confidence. Coincidentally, that change came with her taking a heavier role in the clan, making her go less and less on mission, leaving the mission gear at home.

She could wear it for her walk she thought, but decided against it, turning toward her wardrobe. She wasn't going to train or being warm enough to keep walking in shorts when the weather seemed cold enough to be snowing outside. Suddenly the idea to change exhausted her. She was wearing a ceremonial kimono which in itself required someone to help her getting out of. She didn't feel like calling anyone to aid her. Simply sliding in walking shoes, she took a haori to put around her shoulders and let her hair fall from the intricate buns she had done.

She hurried outside the compound wall before anyone could stop her from getting out alone.

The night had rapidly taken over the village. The coldness seemed to darken the sky, making the star brighter. Her feet brought her to the Main Street. Life was still beating as people were buzzing in and out of shops indifferent of the time of the day. She rapidly went away to quieter street where less people could be able to recognize her. Sometimes being alone was all she needed.

Once again her feet led her to a place she didn't really wanted to be: the cemetery. She could envision Neji's grave and immediately turned on her heels. 'Not tonight' she voiced in her head as she almost ran back to the more active part of the village.

She quickly came to a halt. Where did she want to go? She didn't know. She wanted to be in the quiet of the street, but nowhere was quiet. It was always buzzing, everywhere her ears would ring in and the cold in her would grow. She didn't want to go back to the deafening silence compound, she didn't want to be in the midst of the life of the street, she didn't want to be seen but the shade of the dead terrified her. So where did she want to go ? Where did she want to be ?

''Hinata !''

The buzzed in her ears stoped as she turned her head.

''Naruto ?''

His name passed her lips involuntarily as his brightening smile blinded her for a moment. In a matter of seconds he was in front of her smiling and asking her what she was doing all alone, outside when he had been calling her for the past minutes or so. She unconsciously took a step forward. He did the same now close enough for her to feel his natural warmth.

''I was taking a night walk.'' She answered back quietly enable to stop the automatic smile that would always blossom in front of him.

''Weren't you supposed to eat with us? '' He asked, pointing the shop behind him. She bent to the side to see that in fact, the entire gang was there all looking at them with curiosity. Looking at the sign she could read Yakiniku barbecue. Their usual place to meet up to catch up between mission. Her team was there looking at her, interrogation marked on their face. She frowned. Did she forget the invitation ? How long hadn't she left the compound ? How long hadn't she been on an actual mission with her teammate?

''Hey, are you okay ?'' The worried in his voice brought her back. She had spaced out. Embarrassed she nodded, erasing her frown and smiling. ''Yes. Sorry I just.. I-I forgot.'' She stuttered.

He smiled this time with less enthousiasm. She hasn't met his gaze. She looked a bit tired. ''It's okay. You can come now. We have room for you.'' On queue, Sakura passed her head thought the door waving them to come inside.

''Hinata, Naruto hurry up! It is cold outside! If you don't come now, Choji is going to finish all the meat!'' Protestations rose from their table immediately followed by laughter and jokes.

''You hear that ?'' The blond ninja chuckled. ''We need to head back inside.'' He made the move to turned and head inside but she wasn't following. He looked at her, an eery expression on her face. She was spacing out again. 'She is weirder tonight.' He thought as he reached for her hand. The contact woke her up as she looked at him, blinking rapidly her eyelashes. ''Come ?'' He asked tugging her towards the restaurant. She rapidly nodded before falling into his step as they crossed the street to meet their friend.

He let go of her member as they stepped inside the restaurant letting the delicious smell overtook their nose. Colors returned back to their face as their arrival caused a various range of enthusiast greetings.

As soon as she arrived, Hinata had been sized up between her two teammates and Akamaru both enveloping her in bear hugs declaring her how much they missed her and complaining about her busy schedule. At the same times Ino, Tenten and Sakura had also voiced their sadness of her missing their bi-monthly girls times. She had profusely apologized, promising to take more times to see them all more often. She was rapidly seated in between Kiba and Shino, a plate full of food passed to her. She barely registered to the fact that they had placed her in front of Naruto who was now looking at her curiously listening to something Lee was telling her about the need to eat well to fuel her Youth Flamme.

Something was different about her and he couldn't help but asked discreetly about it to Sakura, who was seated next to him. She shrugged before whispering low enough for him only to hear that it must be clan matters. It made sense. He hadn't seen her as much as his other friend and more often than not, he was told that she had clan responsibilities to take care of. He understood, but now that she was in front of him, he wanted to spend more times with her. To catch up. It felt that he hadn't seen her eyes in years and that kind smile she never missed to address him was suddenly making him more joyful to be present with this friend that before.

''So what are you been up to lately ?'' He asked, catching her attention from whatever she was discussing with Shino. ''I haven't seen you much around. I heard you guys going on quite a lot of missions'' That seemed to tense her up a bit, her smile leaving her face for a split second before returning more crisped. Kiba shot a glare at him as he put a protective arm around her shoulder. She flinched slightly at the contact. Where did that sensation of inadequacy suddenly came from?

''No…'' She hesitated. She didn't even know, Kiba and Shino went on so many missions without her. ''My father had me taken more responsibilities within the Clan so I have been busy. Hokage-sama was very understanding and gave me a leave, the time I adjust.'' She explained. She hadn't really had a leave of absence, she just wasn't requiered anymore for mission where Kakashi-sama would judge her presence was non imperative. She was grateful really. Her situation would have been more difficult if she had to constantly bounce between missions and clan issues. And she didn't need the pay as her minimal expenses was covered by the clan. So really it was for the best.

''That is amazing! Your dad finally sees how capable you are! '' Sakrua encourage squeezing her hand that was resting next to her plate. She returned a smile at her nodding before turning her head to her teammate. '' I didn't know you made yourself so indispensable! That is amazing!'' She genuinely beamed at them. It was great, with so many successful mission, they would quickly advance in their careers and reach their goals. Shino smiled kindly at her ruffing her bangs.

'When did their attention became so physical?' She mused keeping herself from evading there touches.

''Nah! It is lame.'' Bashfully shrugged Kiba taking a bite of his plate.

"Kiba is right." Agreed Shino. "Why? Because without you, our team is incomplete." A shy smile graced the young woman as she felt basked in their affection. She felt appreciated, the tension in her shoulder leaving.

"Awe! Why can't the two of you be as cute as them!" Pouted Ino glaring at Shikamaru and Choji. Both the men looked at each other with annoyance.

"Because you're not Hinata." The Nara responded before receiving a hard slap behind his head from his female best friend. A general laughter rose once again from the table.

From the corner of his eyes Naruto looked once again at the pretty brunette in front of him. She was laughing with more reserves. Nothing out of the ordinary here. But her gesture seemed odd. Out of place. Maybe if he had paid more attention to her before he could have said exactly what was so wrong about her presence tonight. He definitely needed to spend more times with her he declared to himself.

'And also when did so many people were all over her like this ?' He wondered. Kiba and Shino hadn't left her unattended, paying her an extra attention since she came in. It was small but overbearing gestures like the way Kiba's arm wouldn't leave her shoulder or the back of her chair, keeping her in a constant hug or how Shino would never stop filling her plate. Food that she would barely touch as her attention would always snap back and forth with one of the people at the table. They all seemed eager to keep the conversation float with her in an unnatural manner. From time to time, Shino would usher her to eat and she would complied eating a get bite before talking some more with someone. Even Akamaru had shifted under the talbe to be at Hinata's feet.

Naruto felt left out. She wasn't addressing him at all her eyes flying over his presence, pausing on his blue stares long enough for him to know that she saw him before she would respond to a question that had been asked to her. The whole dynamic of the dinner had shift ,he realized. Hinata was at his core as they all avoid the subject of her clan and her new role.

'What was that about ? Why wasn't he in the loop ?' He felt a bit frustrated. It wasn't the first time he had come to figure out that when something was about the Hyuga heiress he was the last one in the loop if he was included at all in it. Hinata was his friend too. One of his close one if he could say so himself. Then why when he came to her wellbeing or really anything about her he was so out of it. Hell! Even Sai seemed to know better than him what was happening. He tried to not fell his frustration get the best of him as he turned his full attention back to his plate and whatever Kiba was now babbling about trying to give his input to notify them that he was still following the conversation and not mulling over his feeling.

Soon enough, the alcohol they had at some point ordered arrived as they all poured themselves a glass of sake. Hinata felt it was her queue to leave. She couldn't drink. She didn't know how her body would react to alcohol with the constant stress she was under. She denied politely the glass Tenten was pouring her before standing her from her chair.

'' I think it is my time to go. I have an early meeting tomorrow morning.'' She excused herself. As soon as she talked, protests were shouted from every corner of the table.

''Come on Hinata! You barely stayed!'' Ino cried. ''We never see you anymore!'' The blond, next to Kiba stood up too to envelop the petite woman in her arm. Sakura nodded sadly.

'' I am really sorry. I miss you too, but I really need to go now.'' She apologized squeezing Ino's arm. The blond kunoichi let her go pouting some more before smiling bidding her goodbye. Kiba and Shino imitated her lingering some more whispering her to contact them more often and to not hesitate to talk to them. She was grateful and assured them, she would but at the same time she just wanted everyone to stop touching her so freely. She waved at the door, her stare for a moment, longing at Naruto.

Her breath hitched as she felt herself drown in the ocean that was his eyes. They didn't really talk and she missed him more that she would like to ever admit. But when he was around and so close she would see how much the cold would have grown within her.

''Naruto, walk her home.'' Sakura ordered, pushing the blond man up. Their momentary connection was brutally cut short as he shot a questioning look at his pink friend.

'' Oh no! Don't feel like you have to. My house is really close by.'' She deflected almost running out of the door. The blond ninja took this opportunity, he could ask her to see her later alone to actually talk together.

Standing up with his jacket he was ready to follow her outside when Shikamaru beat him to it. All eyes turned to him as he finished his sake in one shot before stepping out putting on the table enough money for both him and Hinata.

''Don't sweat it, I walk her home. I was planning on going anyway.'' He dismissed them all taking his jacket and pushing the young woman out of the restaurant waving at them before anyone could ask a question.

They all watched from the window, the two ninja talking a bit before founding themselves dumbfounded as the usually stoic man puts his jacket around her shoulder mentioning her to move with his hand on the small of her back. She didn't make any move to protest leaving with him as they talked. A shared question was on every one mouth, but Naruto was the only one who phrased it perfectly:

''What the hell?''