Dropping off Hinata off with Neji and her father, both of whom gave Naruto a mixed glance of both gratitude and frustration, had been quite the ordeal. He couldn't really blame them. It was, after all, partly his fault she had almost gotten herself killed. Hiashi was the first to recover, and cleared his throat for Naruto's attention. "Naruto?"

Naruto snapped to attention. "Y-yes sir?"

Hiashi raised a hand, placing it on the young shinobi's shoulder. "Thank you."

His brow furrowed at this. "What? Me?"

Hiashi nodded. "You saved the village. And you've given Hinata something I never could."

Naruto scratched his arm nervously, not sure what the head of the Hyuuga was getting at. "What's that?"

"Courage."

Naruto felt a smile spread across his face at this. "Lord Hyuuga, I couldn't have done any of it without her. Make sure she knows that."

Hiashi nodded as he picked up the still unconscious form of his daughter. "Just call me Hiashi. Now, how did this happen? She was up and walking around a few minutes ago when you returned…"

Neji cleared his throat. "Ah, that would be because Naruto just asked her on a date, Lord Hiashi."

Naruto broke into a cold sweat when he saw the eyebrow of Hiashi Hyuuga twitch dangerously at that, though was calmed somewhat by Hiashi's words. "Well, I'm sure you'll take care of her."

Naruto nodded emphatically at the imposing man, until a small smile broke out onto his face. As Hiashi turned to head back towards the temporary camps being set up for those whose dwellings had been destroyed, Naruto turned on Neji. "What was that for? Are you trying to get me killed, Neji!?"

The long-haired Hyuuga smiled serenely at Naruto. "My apologies. It just slipped out." He chuckled as he patted Naruto on the shoulder, then turned to run after the retreating form of Hiashi.

Naruto shook his head and grumbled "bastard" before making his own way to the camps.

It had been a long day of rebuilding the village, and Naruto found himself finally able to unwind now that he was away from the prying eyes of the villagers of Konoha. It was both incredible and unsettling being the hero. He loved that people were finally paying attention to him, but he also found that they were looking to him for guidance, looking for the ever present smile that was on his face. Naruto had had years of practice at plastering on a fake smile to not let his true feelings show through, but it was nice sometimes for him to be able to brood, and amongst the villagers who were busily rebuilding, there had been no time. Now that progress had stopped for the day, though, Naruto was able to get some much needed thinking in.

He found himself at one of the only remaining landmarks of the Hidden Leaf, the Hokage Monument. He felt a lump in his throat as he looked at the face of his father carved into the stone. He quickly leapt up to the top, and perched himself on top of the Fourth Hokage's head, nestling between one of the crevices that made up Minato's spiky hair. After removing his jacket, exposing his black shirt beneath, Naruto closed his eyes and leant him head back, replaying the events of the day in reverse. His promise to Nagato, back to his defeat of the sixth Pain, then stopping at his conversation with his father.

Minato had told him that he believed in Naruto. This was one of the most exhilarating things the ninja had ever been told. Naruto cared less about the fact that his dad was once Hokage, he was happier to hear that his father trusted him as Jiraiya-sensei had. Pervy sage… The events of the day started to rush back. Naruto felt tears welling in the corners of his eyes as he stared into the sunset over the debris of what was once his village. His head dropping into the circle of his arms, he was too lost in his emotions to notice the presence that was steadily approaching him from behind.

"N-Naruto?"

His head shot up at the sound of his name, and he turned to see Hinata standing a few yards away. He quickly attempted to wipe away the tears from his eyes, only for them to be replaced by fresh ones. He dropped his head once again, both embarrassed and upset with himself. "H-hey Hinata."

She looked down, not wanting to embarrass him. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I can go if you'd like."

Naruto's head shot up again. "No! I mean, you can stay." He gave her a small smile and patted the spot next to him. Blushing, Hinata went over and sat next to him. "Hinata?"

She looked over at him, and felt her heart constrict when she saw the unshed tears still in his eyes. "Oh Naruto…"

He grinned at her, trying to ignore his sadness. "I'm fine, really. But I wanted to ask you, what are you doing up here?"

She felt herself blush. "Er, well, I-I, followed y-you."

Naruto raised a brow, looking her up and down. "Really?" he said with his grin widening.

Her face turned the same color as the setting sun they were watching. "Mphf…"

Naruto put his hand over hers. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to embarrass you. It's just flattering that someone actually thinks I'm work following." He smiled as he squeezed her hand.

Hinata snuck a glance at him. He was still staring off at the sunset, his grin slowly dissipating. Suddenly, a burst of confidence built up inside her. "If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that you're worth following, Naruto. Like I said earlier, when Pain… well, when I said that watching you gave me courage, I meant it."

Naruto squeezed her hand once again, and a pensive look went across his face. "So, if that was true… was everything else you said true? Do you… do you really love me?"

Hinata kept herself from passing out by sheer force of will. "Y-yeah…" It came out in a whisper, Hinata hiding her face in her hands.

She was surprised when Naruto's arm went around her shoulders. "Hinata. I'm not making fun of you. I just, I've never ever in my life been told that another person loves me. I…" he took a deep breath. "Sorry, I'm not good with words, but, I think I'm… happy. Content? Bottom line is, don't be embarrassed, Hinata."

She looked back up at him. "I almost lost you today, and now, hearing you say that… I'm happy, too. So h-happy." Quiet tears started rolling down her cheeks in relief. Naruto, noticing this, pulled her closer. She turned her head into his shirt, letting small sobs wrack her. The day had been so hard on both of them, and now that she knew she wasn't being outright rejected, Hinata couldn't help but let the waterworks flow.

Naruto wasn't quite sure what to do, but he was content to just sit and hold her, and that's what he did. He figured a tear stained shirt would be worth it. After Hinata had gone from sobs to simple hiccups and now and again, Naruto noticed her shivering. He hadn't known quite how long they had been like that, but it was long enough for night to have fallen, as the moon was now prominently in the sky. He took his jacket and draped it over her. She threw him a look and mouthed "thank you."

Naruto, for the first time since coming back to the Leaf, was satisfied with the way things had gone. He soon felt Hinata's breaths lighten, and a glance down told him that she had fallen asleep. He wanted to stay up to study her face, but unfortantely, the land of sleep soon called his name as well. The two of them fell asleep beneath the stars of Konoha, each of them secretly hoping that the other would still be there when they woke up.