Author's Note: My take on how Naruto could have approached Hinata's confession following the conclusion of Pain's Assault. Just a little something to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the anime. I thought it fitting to post it on Naruto's birthday. I might post up a second chapter for Hinata's birthday, we'll see. I want to thank my buddy Jerniman for his continued prodding and assistance.

Kokuhaku (告白) pretty much means "Love Confession"


Kokuhaku

告白

Naruto strained against exhaustion and his injuries, while passively listening to the praise and cheers thrown his way. It seemed like everyone in the village wanted to shower him in gratitude or simply bask in his presence. Well, almost everyone. The person Naruto wanted to see the most, he hadn't seen even a glimpse of in the past few hours of celebration.

The whole ordeal made Naruto feel uncomfortable. There were so many things he needed to think about and have clarified. Finally, the reluctant hero found an opportunity to slip away from the crowds. Letting out a breath, he closed his eyes and allowed the natural energies to surge within his body. He needed to find his target without wasting what remained of his dwindling strength.

Within a few moments, he was able to pinpoint his destination. Naruto carefully made his way through the ruins of his beloved village. Ignoring the destruction, it didn't take long for him to find who he was looking for. A few moments later, Naruto stopped in his tracks. His heart fluttered when he saw her perched on some rubble, conscious and alert. He fought back a rush of emotion that would have probably been a sob. His body trembled, and the battle flashed before his eyes again - every horrible moment.

He'd been so sure that she died. Convinced that his weakness had caused her demise. Yet here she was, awake, talking, and acting as if nothing happened. He knew it wasn't a dream or Genjutsu, the injuries, the whole ordeal that had unfolded were all too real. So, why hadn't she approached him when he'd been swarmed by their friends? Didn't she realize that she was the one he wanted to see the most?

Swallowing nervously, Naruto recentered himself, forcing on his brightest and most determined smile.

"Hey!" He called but his mouth was totally dry, "H-Hin...Hinata." Suddenly the stuttering clicked in his head. "I've been looking for you everywhere!" He announced with a wave trying to seem confident. The blond's voice caused the girl and her companion to turn and look at him.

Seeing her large pearlescent eyes lock onto him almost made Naruto falter in his approach. An image of her face covered in blood with a resigned smile flashed and lingered in his mind, right before she'd been ripped away. The memory felt like a stab to the heart. He was weak, powerless, and couldn't do anything to protect her.

Finally reaching her and pushing the unpleasant moments away.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you," Naruto explained in a friendly tone. Casting his gaze to Hinata's companion, another Hyūga, but not one he recognized. "...alone." He added with a serious edge as he once again allowed his eyes to land on the object of his muddled thoughts and emotions.

Hinata seemed unsure at first, breaking eye contact to look at the ground as she nervously played with her long indigo tresses. After a pensive pause, she nodded. "It's alright, Kō."

The man now known as Kō gave Naruto an appraising stare before turning to bow to Hinata, "As you wish, Hinata-Sama. In the meantime, I'll go and survey the damage done to the compound and see if anyone needs assistance. Make sure not to overexert yourself."

"Thank you, please be careful," Hinata bade, watching the jōnin disappear beyond the debris.

After Kō had left, the two weary teens looked anywhere but at each other. Stewing in awkward silence and their own thoughts. Naruto felt rather foolish. His priority was to search Hinata out, make sure she was alright, and discuss what had happened. But now that she sat right in front of him, his mind ran blank and his tongue felt heavy. What could he say? What should he do?

Letting out a frustrated breath, Naruto rubbed the nape of his neck sheepishly before opting to plop down next to Hinata. He made sure to keep a respectful amount of space between them, even though his first instinct was to hug her close to assure himself that she was really there. Warily, he allowed his tired blue eyes to linger on the ugly crimson strains pooling down the left side of Hinata's clothes. The ugly sight caused guilt and shame to twist in his gut, forcing Naruto to look away as he clenched his fists.

"So, uh… H-how are your wounds?" he finally asked hesitantly.

Hinata ghosted her fingers over the tear in her jacket, a somber smile gracing her features. "Sakura mended the worst of them. I'll probably be sore for the next few days, however," she explained, shifting her feet shyly in the dirt and rubble. Then she finally looked up at him. "What about you?" Her voice gave away the amount of concern that she held for the boy.

Naruto met her eyes for a moment before shrugging. "About the same. You know me, I always heal fast, dattebayo." He replied with a chuckle as he stretched. "I'm mostly just worn out." He admitted with a sigh, relaxing once more. His hand nearest to her twitched as he fought the impulse to touch hers.

Truthfully, Naruto was confused and overwhelmed with so many different thoughts and emotions. The horrors of his recent fight, his latest revelations about himself and the world. Not to mention the final discussion he had with Nagato, which kept replaying over and over in his mind. But the most predominant memory was when he'd been forced to watch Hinata's face-off against Nagato's final Pain and what had happened after.

It was terrifying. Seeing Hinata at the mercy of the enemy and being unable to do anything. When her futile efforts had come to an end and she lay motionless, her blood soaking into the earth, Naruto felt as if his reality had broken. When he thought Hinata had died, he no longer cared about anything, the world, his village, even himself. All he knew was indescribable pain and a sense of hopelessness. It was scary to think about how close he came to destroying himself and everything he held dear, just because he couldn't think of living in a world where she didn't exist.

When did Hinata become such a significant part of his life? Naruto had taken her presence for granted until it had been mercilessly ripped away from him. He knew now that she was both his source of strength, and his ultimate weakness. How could someone so gentle and shy hold so much power over him? These revelations were crushing yet, opened his eyes.

"...Naruto-kun, are you alright?" Hinata asked softly, touching his arm to get his attention.

Naruto looked down at her hand in awe, feeling a subtle tingle radiating from the contact. Swallowing down his anxieties, the troubled youth hesitantly took her hand into his own. It was so small, soft, and fragile. Yet Naruto remembered how these very hands had been encased in a fierce and lethal chakra not too long ago.

"Hinata…" He started, gaining the girl's attention as he stroked her hand tenderly. "The way you faced down Pain was amazing. You were really brave and badass." Naruto swallowed nervously, glancing up to see Hinata blushing at his praise. He knew he was going to hurt her with his next words, but they were important.

"But…Please, please promise me you won't do something so reckless ever again." He begged, his voice quivering a little as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He wanted to be angry, but he couldn't. She was the one person who he couldn't be angry with - not truly.

Naruto watched as Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. Her mouth parted for a moment before she offered him that same cursed smile that showed her resolve and resignation. "I'm sorry, Naruto-kun, but I can't," she replied, shaking her head and causing his heart to tighten uncomfortably.

"Hinata, why? I can't– It's just–" Naruto cut off, turning away and letting go of Hinata's hand to run his hands through his hair in frustration. His thoughts were spiraling out of control again. How could he explain this to her?

"Naruto-kun, I can never abandon you if I see you struggling or in trouble. I will always come to your aid. I'm not afraid to die if it's to protect you." Hinata explained resolutely, but this only caused Naruto's stomach to clench as fear and anger washed over him.

"Don't you get it?! If you die, you are abandoning me -ttebayo! I can't lose you too!" Naruto snapped while turning and grasping Hinata's shoulders. He desperately tried to get her to understand - needed her to understand. Her eyes were wide with surprise as she sat in silent shock at his outburst.

"When I thought you died, it was the worst pain I've ever felt," Naruto confessed, no longer able to keep the tears from spilling over his cheeks. "I was so angry that I lost control without a second thought. I didn't care about anything except destroying Pain." His words were flowing with nothing but honest feeling. "I-I almost… set the Kyūbi f-free. I would've destroyed everything, and I didn't hesitate at all." He struggled to continue his explanation between sobs. "I could have even killed you…" That was the most crushing confession, that he could have done something like that.

Hinata was shocked to see the young man she'd grown to admire over the years appear so distraught and lost. Shouldn't he be savoring his victory? He'd defeated such a powerful foe and somehow caused all of Konoha's fallen to be revived. People were calling him 'The boy of miracles' and 'The Hero of Konoha'. The villagers finally acknowledged him; one of Naruto's biggest dreams was becoming a reality before his eyes. But compared to the thought of losing her, it had become something insignificant.

It was the finals of the Chūnin Exam all over again, back when they met that morning at the training field. Naruto's confidence was shaken, and his usually unwavering resolve with it. Pursing her lips, Hinata raised a shaky hand to his cheek. Hesitantly wiping away Naruto's tears at first, forcing him to look at her as she tenderly cupped his face.

"...but you didn't. Naruto-kun, even after you lost control, a part of your heart was still aware. You made sure Pain didn't hurt me further and managed to pull the fight away from the village." She assured while watching as the revelation surprised him. His grip on her shoulders tightened for a moment, before relaxing.

"R-really?" He asked in disbelief, to which Hinata nodded.

"Yes," she affirmed.

The news caused Naruto to become further confused but also lifted a great weight from his chest. Even when he wasn't in control of himself, on some level he'd managed to keep true to himself. Closing his eyes, Naruto pulled away from Hinata to sit back and wipe what remained of his tears from his face and laugh quietly to himself as he considered everything.

"Thanks, Hinata." He uttered gratefully with a grin before shyly turning his attention to his feet, playing with the hem of his jacket. "...I still stand by my request, though." He insisted, glancing up at her briefly.

"I can't go back on my word, Naruto-kun." Hinata asserted kindly before working up the nerve to touch his arm once more. "But that doesn't mean I'd willingly abandon you either. I want to walk beside you, not leave you behind."

Naruto considered her words as he looked her over. She'd said something similar earlier before she'd been struck down in the battle, hadn't she? His mind was showing images as if it were a movie with no sound or voices.

Forcing himself to focus on her when she stood and her mouth was moving. Mentally straining to hear her words, they finally came through.

'I used to always cry and give up. I made many wrong turns, but you… you helped me find the right path. I always chased after you. I wanted to catch up to you. I wanted to walk beside you all the time. I just wanted to be with you… You changed me! Your smile is what saved me! That is why I'm not afraid to die protecting you! Because… I love you.'

The last of them was something he had never expected to hear and consigned himself to living without. However, the crisis was over, and his panic had subsided, Naruto couldn't help but blush at Hinata's battlefield confession. No one had ever said anything like that to him before. Was it similar to that scary and muddle feeling he felt? He couldn't be sure.

"Hinata…What exactly am I to you?" Naruto blurted with a hint of trepidation, watching from his peripheral as the uncharacteristically confident girl reverted back to her shy self. She tried to pull her hand away from Naruto, but he was quick to grab it as he turned to look her in the eye.

"What did you mean when you said…when you said-" He swallowed nervously, but refused to break eye contact. "-That you love me?"

Hinata found herself trapped; her earlier nerve was lost. She'd hoped in the chaos of the battle that Naruto had forgotten her words. At the time, she didn't want to die with any lingering regrets. She didn't think she would survive after all, but now here they were. She couldn't run away or hide. Would he return her feelings? Hinata could tell by his earlier outburst that she was, at the very least, important to Naruto on some level. But was it just as a comrade? A close friend?

Taking in a breath, Hinata looked down at her hand that Naruto still held in a gentle, but firm grasp. She could do this, they both needed to clear the air. Even if Naruto only considered her in a platonically familial manner, it'd be enough.

"To me, Naruto-kun is someone very precious. Originally, I simply felt content admiring you from afar. I was able to draw courage from your strength of will, and chose to emulate you in hopes of changing myself." Hinata started to explain humbly.

"But as time progressed, I wasn't happy just watching you from afar. Instead of being content just chasing after you. I wanted to walk by your side. I want to be there to comfort you when you need support. To share in your joy and laughter. To offer everything that I am to you, and you alone." She continued, spurred on by Naruto's rapt attention as he listened intently.

"Naruto-kun, what I'm saying is I want to spend the rest of my life with you…a-and when we're both ready, m-maybe even give you a family." At this Hinata couldn't look at him anymore. She certainly surprised herself and it was starting to be too much.

She wanted to run and hide at the realization of her words. "I-it's alright if you don't feel the same way. I-I understand if you'd rather just remain friends–"

Hinata's nervous ramble was cut off when Naruto pulled her in a tight embrace against his chest. She could smell the spice of his natural musk mixed in with blood, earth, and smoke. He felt so warm and strong, even as his body shuddered with suppressed emotions.

"You...You really mean that?" he asked, his tone low and husky, but still laced with lingering trepidation. Hinata nodded and felt her body further enveloped by the larger teen. Naruto had his cheek resting against the top of her head as he murmured repeated words of gratitude to the delicate girl hidden beneath his frame.

After some time, Naruto reluctantly pulled away to give Hinata a tender and sincere look of determination. "Hinata, I'll be honest with you. Truthfully, I don't know much about love, or how relationships outside of friendship work." He admitted, while absently playing with some of her hair as his hands ran up her back. It was very soft, almost like silk.

"However, I do know that a life without you in it feels cold and meaningless. Knowing that you're always watching, makes me not want to give up. Your kindness makes me want to strive to be a better person. I don't want to fail your expectations. But if you're willing to love an idiot like me," he paused the briefest of moments, "I want you to understand what you're getting into." Naruto elaborated further, furrowing his brows as he recalled the conversation he'd had with his father.

"I can't give you the life you deserve. I wish I could, but I'm still being hunted by the Akatsuki, and not all the members have been dealt with. I wouldn't be a very good boyfriend if my girlfriend always had to risk her life to protect me. I can't be that lame." he added with a mirthless chuckle.

"I need to spend most of my time training to get stronger, and on so many other things. Because of this, I won't have a lot of free time for a while. At worst, people might target you to get to me. I don't want you to be in unnecessary danger or get hurt because of me." Naruto explained, pulling himself completely away from Hinata as he allowed the weight of his words to sink in.

He wanted the future Hinata was promising him so desperately that it hurt. But Naruto wasn't naive and would rather kill himself than be the cause of her death. He wasn't going to pressure her or manipulate her decision. She needed to understand that he wouldn't always have time for her and that their relationship would need to be kept secret until the immediate danger had passed. Naruto wanted to promise her the world, but it wasn't possible given the current circumstances.

"As I said Naruto-kun, I'm willing to die to protect you. I love you with all my heart. My dream is to walk beside you. If it's not yet possible for us to walk together under the light of the sun then I'm perfectly content to start our journey under the stars." Hinata answered with conviction as she reached once more for his hand, caressing it lovingly.

Naruto didn't know what to say to that, so he chose to say nothing. Turning towards her, he slowly leaned forward, allowing his breath to dance against Hinata's skin before gingerly brushing his lips against her own. It was a soft and delicate kiss, but the emotions conveyed in the gesture lingered as they pulled apart.

"I love you too, Hinata. Thank you for having me."