Standard Disclaimers Apply

I. winning battles left and right

"Naruto-kun?"

The soft voice that interrupted him from his thoughts was so gentle and so pleasant sounding that he momentarily debated about ignoring her so that she could say his name again.

He shook himself and wondered what the hell was wrong with him.

"Aa, hello Hinata-chan…"

"Naruto-kun…a-are you all right?"

He stared at her, startled at the way his smile slid off his face at the sound of her concern.

But even warriors can get wounded in a fight, Naruto thought, staring at his hands.

"I'm fine," he said, his eyes blank.

II. strong beyond my years

"You should be proud, you know," Jiraiya once told him, in utter seriousness. "You've earned it."

Later, Tsunade told him something similar, and added, "You've gotten pretty far that young."

Now that he recalled those brief moments of solemn praise, he felt oddly disconnected.

For some reason, he was sad too. He didn't realize it until Hinata plucked up the courage to visit him and somehow ended up asking how his mission went.

"Mission was a success," Naruto said, but admitted with an odd sort of gloom, "I don't know if it will be next time."

They both sort of realized it together; killing was no joke.

III. when I fall down

"How are you feeling?" Hinata asked, concern making her forget to be shy.

"Pretty good," Naruto said, and he gave her a smile. She gazed back at him sorrowfully.

She wasn't fooled.

"You don't have to lie to me," she said quietly, a little hurt. His blue eyes looked up in surprise, then gratefulness.

"I know," he said tenderly. "I can rely on you."

To pick me up when no one is around.

IV. I drop my sword

Kakashi, Sakura, and even Sasuke had talked to him. He felt determined again. That's what he told them.

It wasn't a lie. He was going to move on.

"I-I'm still here for you," Hinata said, afraid to meet his eyes. It struck him that she's had her share of sufferings.

Naruto gently pushed her chin up to look at her.

"Thank you."

He embraced her with something he couldn't quite name, and she stood there and closed her eyes and they both felt a little heaven.

There were tears in his eyes, but only for a while.

V. warrior is a child

In another world, they wouldn't be doing what they did. They would be less tragic.

But this is the world they are given. If they don't like the rules, they can at least protect the ones they love and do what they think is right.

Naruto grew up with one notion of Hokage, but became Hokage with another. Hinata was by his side until the end.

The two of them stood, no longer harboring childish delusions about the world, but staring at it straight together and facing it.

This was the result of my attempt to do a request. The request was actually something different, so I'll have to make another one. In the meantime, enjoy this, I guess. I won't say what I got wrong just yet—requestor wished to make it a surprise for someone. Just keep your eyes peeled for another NaruHina type of thing. :-/