Elsewhere in the forest, Naruto and Hinata laid asleep against a tree trunk. Hinata had her arm rested across his moving chest, smiling with satisfaction. Nuzzling his shoulder until a distant sound of creaking trees branches made her sit up.

"Byakugan!" she formed a hand seal as her eyes and temple vessels gorged.

Extending her vision a few yards away, she could see a figure hiding in their direction. Looking more closely, she realized the figure's identity. She gasped and shook Naruto frantically.

"Naruto, wake up. Neji's coming!" she exclaimed quietly.

As Naruto and Hinata hurried to get dressed, Neji jumped faster across the trees.

"They're close, I sense their chakras."

Once he reached the clearing, there was flattened grass beside a tree trunk and as he scanned the area, fallen leaves were piled from the branches ahead of him.

"Ah-ha!" He bent down and leapt upwards, in pursuit.

As Naruto zipped his jacket, he called out to Hinata while they were leaping across tree branches.

"Do you see him, Hinata?"

She glanced back, Neji was jumping faster than before.

"Yes, and coming in fast." She replied.

Naruto, acknowledging the situation, formed a hand seal and shouted,

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In puffs of smoke, several Naruto Shadow clones appeared. He quickly spun around in mid-air, shouting to his clones.

"Stay back and distract Neji however you can!"

"Right!" The clones spoke in unison.

They spread out to different trees and waited, Naruto and Hinata carried on.

Neji leapt onto a branch and was stopped at the sound of multiple shouting voices as they descended to attack.

"Hmm, Shadow clones. Naruto's idea no doubt."

Within a few minutes, throwing rapid punches and jabs, the clones disappeared in a puff of smoke. Neji pressed on the chakra points of the clones until one tried to grab him from behind. Neji simply dodged the attack, sending the clone plummeting towards the ground below where it disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Neji gazed ahead and continued in his pursuit. Hinata searched for a place to hide, when a dark hole within a massive rock side got her attention.

"Naruto! There's a cave right ahead of us!" She pointed out, Naruto took notice as he followed Hinata. They leapt down to the grass and ran inside the cave, Naruto grasped Hinata's hand as he slid behind a cave wall. Swirling Hinata to his chest and held her close as they heard Neji get closer to the entrance.

He stood by the entrance briefly, not sensing where they were with his Byakugan. He then sped away and out of sight, Naruto and Hinata slumped down in relief.

Later on while walking casually in the quiet village, Naruto stood in front of Hinata as he wheeled her around.

"Thank you, Naruto. I had a wonderful night." She said softly.

"Not a problem." He replied, beaming ear to ear.

"But what about my father, when should we tell him we're engaged now?" She asked in slight worry.

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out. We'll just wait for now, let's do it special for everybody."

"O-Okay." Hinata replied, smiling as Naruto leaned in. Curling his hand under her chin, he planted her a loving kiss.

"Goodnight, Hinata."

"Goodnight, Naruto." She turned and leapt up to her bedroom window. After she was safely inside, Naruto smiled and walked home.

Once inside his room, Naruto let out a huge yawn after tossing his headband onto the floor.

"Man, what a night. Can't wait to-" Naruto was struck by a firm hand as it grasped his throat. Lifting him up slightly then slamming him against the wall, he saw in the moonlight that it was Neji.

Naruto struggled for air,

"Now listen, Naruto. I know what you and Hinata were up to, I'll cover you two this one time but never again. Got it?" He demanded quietly.

Naruto nodded, Neji released his grip and approached the window, leaping down to the street below. Naruto rubbed his throat as he slid down the wall,

"Yeesh, Neji. No need for a sneak attack…but thanks."

Not caring about changing his clothes, Naruto just plummeted onto his bed. Laying his head on his soft pillow, he shut his eyes and just replayed all of his nightly endeavors, smiling as they drifted him to sleep.