My longest chapter yet, 1403 words. Yay! Okay, now that that's out of the way, on to reviewer responses.

warprince2000: Well, you're certainly consistent in your reviews. Do you just review every story you like and copy and paste for each one?

Blood red nin: Thanks, randomness is fun, and it will continue to pop up every once in a while. Thanks, I will try to keep you satisfied.

game2002: Thanks for the compliment. I doubt any serious villians will show up, but some random sound nins could show up to get beat down.

Peter Kim: Okay, whatever you say. My assisstant says that this takes place just before the battle against CPU 9.

Firehedgehog: The Happy Reviewer strikes again. Thanks, I can always count on your review to brighten my day. In exchange for the plushi, here is a 2-liter bottle of coca cola. Keep going.

kitsuneofthedarknessflame: My long-named reviewer. Wow, you're getting almost as happy as the reviewer above you. In my experience, kinkiness is great for killing writer's block, but you'll have to try it for yourself. Thanks for the cookie; I loved it.

thestoneox: I don't know much about One Peice either, believe it or not. My assisstant is the one that does. Just for you, here is a summary of the characters: Luffyrubber man, Zoroswordsman, Sanjikicking chef, Ussopstory teller with slingshot, Choppershapeshifting reindeer, Namitheif/navigator with staff, Robinarchaeologist that can make limbs appear anywherein her range of vision. Hope that helps. The ages for the ninjas are somewhere around 16, it really isn't going to matter too much. The conveniently located ramen stand is a running joke, you will see it every time I mention that conveniently located ramen stand (see?). Thanks for the compliments, I really enjoy Family of Friends.

Well, that covers everybody. If you want to see your name in my fic, all you have to do is review. Enjoy the chapter! Please R&R

Chapter 7

Nami stormed into the clearing, followed by Sakura. "Have you seen Luffy? He was with two others wearing the same headband as her." Nami said, pointing at Sakura.

"Yeah, they just passed through here. They went thataway." Chopper said, pointing in the direction of the clones, which could still be heard running through the forest.

"Thanks. Come on Sakura; the quicker we catch them, the sooner we can beat them senseless." Nami said, making her way in the direction of the noise.

"Something seems fishy; even Naruto can be quiet when he's trying to escape trouble." Sakura muttered under her breath.

"You coming or not?" Nami called back.

"I'm coming!" Sakura said, catching up with her impatient friend.

Moments later, Sanji walked into the clearing. "Ah, Robin, pray tell me, did you see which way the lovely ladies went?" Sanji inquired.

Robin sighed. 'Might as well send him off on the wild goose chase as well. Nami is not going to be happy when she realizes what Chopper and I did, especially if Sanji catches up with her. "Of course, Sanji, they went off in that direction not three minutes ago." Robin told the chef.

"Thank you; I will not forget this service you have done for me." Sanji said as he continued his favorite pastime, chasing beautiful women.

(some time later)

"Where are they! It sounded like we were right behind them for a while, but now I don't see any trace of them!" Nami said, visibly flustered.

"Well, as I was trying to say earlier, Naruto's favorite jutsu is the Kage bunshin, which allows him to make flesh-and-blood clones of himself. I suspect that we've been chasing only clones." Sakura said calmly.

"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Nami exclaimed.

"I tried, but you were already running through the trees. Well, we might as well head back to the village." Sakura said, turning in its direction.

Sanji walked into the clearing. "Returning to the village sounds like an excellent idea. Allow me to be your escort, my lady." Sanji said, holding his hand out to Sakura.

"Who are you?" Sakura asked, a little surprised at the man's sudden entrance.

"Sadly to say, he's one of my crew mates. Pay him no mind. You were saying something about returning to the village?

"Correct. It's going to be easier to wait for them than to find them anyway. Who knows? They might be at the village right now." Sakura said.

"Well then what are you waiting for? Let's go!" Nami said, charging off through the trees before turning back to Sakura. "Aren't you coming?"

"Yeah, but the village is that way." Sakura said, pointing in the other direction and starting off. "Didn't you say you were a navigator?"

"Shut up." Nami grumbled before following Sakura.

"Wait for me, my dears." Sanji said as he ran after the pair.

Pukken led Kakashi to a tree. "Here they are, Kakashi."

"Thanks Pukken; you're dismissed." Pukken disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Kakashi looked up at the tree and saw a stranger, Naruto, and Hinata. 'So my informant was correct; Naruto is with Hinata, and they're even holding hands. Sheesh, I was starting to wonder if he was ever going to notice her.' Kakashi noticed the stranger jump down and start back to the village. 'Well, I guess I'll follow him. Hinata has worked hard to be alone with Naruto; there's no reason I should mess with the situation.' Kakashi thought as he tracked the strange man.

Naruto, Hinata, and Luffy sat in a tree, watching Nami and Sakura go off in the direction of the clones. "Well, that takes care of them. What do you guys want to do now?" Naruto asked the others.

"I'm hungry; I'm going back to pick up our leftovers from the restaurant." Luffy said as he started back to the village. "You're welcome to come if you want."

Naruto and Hinata shook their heads. "No thanks, we're still full."

As Luffy headed off, Naruto turned to Hinata, "What do you want to do?"

Hinata was startled out of her reverie. "What? Why do you ask?" Hinata asked, trying to recover her composure.

"Well, you've been following me all day. I thought you might have something you wanted to do." Naruto said, unaware that he had fulfilled many of her dreams already.

"Well…" Hinata had to think fast to find something to keep her with her favorite blond ninja. "Would you mind just walking for a while, I'm a little tired." She said nervously. 'Naruto will never go for that; he prefers constant excitement. Now he'll leave, and in addition to that, he'll think I'm weak. Well, today was good while it lasted; it will probably never happen again.' Hinata thought, her face dropping with every depressing thought.

"I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget that not everyone is a stamina freak like me. Hey, I have an idea; this will keep from tiring you further." Naruto said.

"What are you going to do—?" Hinata nearly yelped in surprise when Naruto picked her up and put her on his back. "What are you doing?" Hinata said in surprise, the blood already rushing to her face.

"You said you were tired, so I'll carry you, and you just tell me where to go. This will keep you from getting any more tired" Naruto said simply.

"Oh…okay." Hinata said, her blush starting to fade. "Well, I guess we can go back to the village to start." Hinata suggested.

"Hang on." Naruto said as he started off through the trees. "Hey Hinata-chan?" Naruto questioned.

"Yes, Naruto-kun?" Hinata responded.

"Do you mind being around me?" Naruto asked, nervously.

"No, not at all. I like being around you." Hinata responded, a blush rising to her cheeks. 'Oh why did I say that? Now he'll go back to thinking I'm a weirdo.' Hinata thought miserably.

"Why?" Naruto asked suddenly, interrupting Hinata's thoughts.

'Here goes nothing' Hinata thought. She took a deep breath. "I guess it's because you never give up. And you're always so kind to everyone. And you always believe in me." Hinata finished quickly.

"Thanks Hinata-chan, no one's ever said such kind things to me." Naruto said quietly.

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata questioned.

"Yes, Hinata-chan?" Naruto answered, his grin returning.

"Why did you bring me along today?" Hinata inquired, interested in his answer.

"Did I do that?" Naruto thought for a minute, and then chuckled. "I guess I did, didn't I?" He chuckled again.

"What's so funny?" Hinata asked, once again thinking of the worst possible reasons.

"It's just that I realized that this is the longest time I've ever been around you, and it all started with a bowl of ramen." Hinata looked puzzled. "Don't ask." Naruto said, "You really don't want to know. I guess at first, I brought you along because I didn't want you to have to face the angry mob behind me. When you didn't protest the first time, I assumed you didn't mind, so I kept bringing you with me."

"Why would I mind?" Hinata asked.

"Well, it may come as a shock to you, but I'm not the most respectable person in the village." Hinata giggled. "I just thought that perhaps a member of the most prestigious clan in Konoha might be ashamed to be seen with me." Naruto said, his cheerful façade slipping for a moment.

"Don't ever think that again, Naruto-kun. There's no one else I'd rather be with than you." Hinata said kindly.

"Do you mean that, Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked solemnly.

"With all of my heart." Hinata replied softly as she leaned her head on Naruto's shoulder and relaxed.

"Thank you, Hinata-chan." Naruto's grin returned. "Well I guess we'd better get back to the village. Wouldn't want anyone to think you've been kidnapped, would we, Hinata-chan?" Silence. "Hinata-chan? Naruto turned his head to the side and came face to face with the now sleeping Hinata. "Heh, guess she wasn't kidding when she said she was tired." 'She's so beautiful when she's sleeping; I don't think I'll wake her up.' Naruto thought as he quietly made his way back to the village. When he arrived at his house, he discovered a problem. Hinata wouldn't let go.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. As a preview, I will say that there is going to be some naruhina fluff next chapter. As if that weren't enough, there will be a surprising revelation as well. What could it be? Just wait and find out!