When Jiraiya wasn't around to steal his frog wallet, Naruto normally had a lot of money on him. The pay from his missions wasn't spectacular, but with no other love than ramen and the basic necessities, the Kyuubi containing ninja actually had accumulated a fair amount of spending cash. It would have been a good thing if it didn't serve as just one more reminder of how alone Naruto was even in his own village. Other people had families and significant others to buy presents for, or take out for meals. Naruto had an empty apartment every morning and evening.
Sakura tried to include him whenever she could, but her training with Tsunade often occupied most of her time, and Naruto wouldn't dream of begrudging her the few moments she had to herself. In some ways, despite outward appearances, his behavior had matured, and he had learned to give the pink-haired kunoichi her own space. Despite all that he had done, Sakura still pined away for Sasuke, and Naruto began to understand that forcing his feelings upon her would ruin the friendship they had forged over the years. Though she often abused him both physically and verbally, Sakura held a deep affection for Naruto, that much to his regret, was strictly platonic.
Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto watched the girl walking next to him as they followed Team 10 down the main avenue of Konoha's shopping district. He once regarded Hinata as a shy, dark, timid weirdo when they had started out as Genin, but having watched her fight with Neji, and spoken with her before his own match, Naruto realized Hinata possessed an inner-strength and purity of character that outshone every other girl he knew. Still slightly shy, but by no means timid anymore, Hinata had also blossomed from a 'dark weirdo' to an extremely pretty young woman. She had grown slightly taller since he had last seen her, and had certainly filled out in ways that were pleasing to the eye.
"Is something wrong, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, feeling his eyes on her, "I'm not being a bother am I?" Naruto flushed slightly, and looked away, before putting a big grin on his face.
"Of course not, Hinata! We're both victims of circumstance today. Everyone keeps insisting that we're on some sort of 'date!' Ridiculous, isn't it?" He then proceeded to make a big show of guffawing heartily. His laughter elicited a hurt expression from the Hyuuga girl who didn't say anything in return. His laughing died on his tongue, and Naruto glanced at her nervously. Was it something he had said? They walked on in silence until Ino pointed at a clothing boutique enthusiastically and ran over to Shikamaru, dragging him by his top knot into the store.
"Hrmmm… Try the black one again…" Ino said as she roved a critical eye over Shikamaru, who stood in a pair of long, gray trousers. Next to him, lay a pile of the same style of pants in at least ten different colors. Sighing dramatically, the bored looking ninja walked back towards the dressing room, his pants in tow. Chouji had been kicked out of the store after he opened his third bag of potato chips, and was currently checking out the ice cream shop next door. Hinata and Naruto sat next to Ino, privately enjoying the torture of Konoha's smartest Chuunin.
"Do you want anything, Hinata?" Naruto whispered as Shikamaru reappeared to Ino's appreciative whistling, "I'm sure you would look very nice in one those dresses Ino was looking at." Hinata fought back her instinctive wince. He was using 'nice' again.
"Naruto," Ino said as she leaned over to glare at him, "Do me a favor, and please stop using the phrase 'nice' when you describe how Hinata looks. Would you like it if Sakura said you looked 'nice' after all this time?" Naruto nodded vigorously, eliciting a sigh from both girls, as well as Shikamaru.
"Yes, I suppose that would be something coming from Forehead Girl," Ino commented with a chuckle, "Listen, you're denser than lead sometimes, Naruto. What sounds better to you – 'handsome' or 'nice?'"
"Handsome, of course!" Naruto replied with a scowl. What was she getting at anyway?
"Okay, dummy… how about this one – 'pretty' or 'nice?'"
"What? What are you—oh..." He said with a deep blush. Glancing at Hinata, who was far more red than he was, he felt himself twiddling his index fingers together. Shikamaru snorted loudly, catching everyone's attention.
"Yeah. Great. Now that the last person in Konoha finally figured out that Hinata likes Naruto, can we just stop for a minute and pick my damn pants please?"
"I-I think the blue looks good, Shikamaru-kun," Hinata offered softly. Ino gave Hinata a happy grin and tossed a thumbs-up in Shikamaru's direction.
"See, Shikamaru? Two out of two beautiful women think your new pants look good."
"You mean one beautiful woman and one nosy nag," Shikamaru commented under his breath. Ino jumped up and started to throttle him with both hands. While that went on, Naruto was trying desperately to think of something to say, as he continued to twiddle his fingers together nervously. Here was the loudest ninja in all of Konoha, and he was tongue tied…it really was troublesome when you got right down to it. Hinata glanced at him with a wistful sigh.
"It's okay, Naruto-kun," she said softly, "I understand that you don't feel the same way about me. I could never compete with someone like Sakura-san. In a way I'm kind of relieved you finally know. It hurts worse when the other person doesn't even know about your feelings. At least this way I can move on with--"
"M-move on, Hinata?" Naruto murmured thickly, "You mean you don't like me anymore?"
"No, that's not what I meant," Hinata exclaimed, "Right now it feels like I could never stop liking you… but it would be worse if I continued to bother you with my feelings…" she trailed off with another sigh, and looked at the floor. Naruto remained silent for a while collecting his thoughts while Ino finished putting Shikamaru in a submission hold. By the time the Chuunin with the IQ greater than 200 had tapped out, Naruto turned to face Hinata earnestly.
"Please don't get over me, Hinata," he said huskily, "It wouldn't be fair. I've only started to realize how I feel about you."
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata said with a trembling lip. Naruto felt himself blush again, and he gave her his trademark grin before putting his arms around her in an unabashed hug. The fierceness with which she hugged him back almost caused him to choke up. Like her, he had grown up as a child starved for love and acceptance. Like her, against all odds, he had managed to develop into a thoroughly compassionate and forgiving human being.
"I'll be honest, Hinata," Naruto said softly, "I still have deep feelings for Sakura. She's the first girl I've ever felt something for…" Hinata pulled back and looked at him solemnly. He could see the resignation in her expression, but he also noticed something that made him happy. Jealousy. If Hinata could feel jealous, it meant she was willing to fight for him.
"But more and more, I've come to realize that the feelings I have for Sakura are the devotion and affection one has for a sibling. She's been my teammate since the beginning, and because of that, we have an undeniable connection…but that connection can go no further. With you…" Naruto swallowed hard, "With you Hinata, I feel… I see the potential of what can be… not what is… and what can be, seems limitless."
"Nauto-kun," Hinata whispered, "I want us to have a connection…"
"We already have one, Hinata," Naruto replied, grinning, "We both believed in each other when no one else did… as far as connections go, I can't think of anything more important…" He sighed softly, and looked at her… really looked at her for the first time. Here was someone he could not only like… here was someone he could love…
"There are things about me… about my life that you won't understand… and I need time to get them in order…so…" He stopped as the Hyuuga girl put her index finger on his lip.
"Take your time, Naruto-kun," she murmured, "I know your life is more complicated than you make it out to be. Just remember, you're not alone… I'll always be supporting you." Naruto stared at her for a moment, and gave a triumphant laugh.
"You, Hinata… are someone I could like…love…and marry!" His exclamation elicited a deep blush and a startled squeak from her, and outright stares from everyone else in the clothing shop. Ino let out a squeal of delight, which was counter-pointed by Shikamaru's tired groan.
"Now you have got to buy her something, Naruto!" the blonde kunoichi exclaimed, "Let's go already! Shikamaru – hurry up and pay at the register!"
"You sure you want to spend more time with a female, Naruto?" Shikamaru commented glumly, "Sure, they may start out like Hinata over here, but before you know it…." He trailed off with a significant glance at Ino, who was haggling with the clerk about the price of his new pants. Naruto laughed derisively.
"Hinata is not going to end up like Ino! She's got too much kindness in her!"
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata said reprovingly, which caused Shikamaru to snort.
"What'd I tell you? If you like it troublesome, be my guest, but don't say I didn't warn you." Naruto reached out for Hinata's hand and squeezed it tight.
"Uzumaki Naruto has not, is not, and will not, ever be afraid of trouble!"
"I-I think that is because you are the source of it, most of the time, Naruto-kun," Hinata said softly, surprised at her own attempt at a joke. Naruto and Shikamaru stared at her for a moment, and she began to fidget nervously. Abruptly, Naruto burst out laughing, and slapped her on the back vigorously. Shikamaru shrugged to himself, and went back to the register, paying the clerk before Ino was thrown out by security. Regaining his composure, Naruto turned to look at Hinata, concern predominating his thoughts.
"Hinata… you're right about me. I am the source of a lot of trouble… I don't want you getting caught up in my problems… but I can't guarantee that you won't…"
"I've spent my whole life staying out of trouble, Naruto-kun," Hinata replied, "I'm ready for some 'troublesome' situations as long as it's with you." Naruto felt himself blushing yet again, and marveled at the undeniable stirring of emotions he felt when he looked at Hinata. Kakashi-sensei often said that shinobi needed to Look beneath the beneath. Naruto found yet another meaning for those words, and vowed to thank the silver-haired Jounin if he could ever pry his attention from those dirty books.
"Alright you two love-birds," Ino yelled from the exit, "It's time to get a move on! We've got at least six more stores I want to hit up. Shikamaru, go get Chouji and pick me up some green tea ice cream mochi!" Shikamaru nodded, giving her a weary salute, which caused her to laugh raucously and punch him lightly in the arm.
"I hope you've been enjoying today… I've never had um…. A um…"
"Date, Naruto-kun?" Hinata said happily, "Neither have I… but based on how this one is turning out… I want to have more."
"Of course, Hinata!" Naruto declared with a thumbs-up sign, "I'll take you on as many dates as necessary until we get it down perfect. I never give up once I've started something – it's my nin--"
"Your ninja way," Hinata said with a giggle, "It's my ninja way, too."
"If you two don't hurry up, I'll have Shikamaru shadow bind you in place and let Chouji carry you around," Ino shouted impatiently from outside. Naruto and Hinata grinned and joined hands before walking out. With his free hand, Naruto felt around for his frog wallet, and grinned as he felt its fullness. Somewhere out there was the perfect gift for Hinata… and Naruto intended to buy it.