The next day, Hinata was walking along the quieter streets of Konoha, towards her favourite book shop, when the silence was broken by a loud wail. Hinata's head snapped up. It sounded like a child crying. Running towards the sound, she stumbled upon a scene that warmed her heart. Naruto, having also heard the crying, was already crouched beside the child, asking her what was wrong. He looked up in surprise when he heard Hinata's footsteps approaching.

"Oh, Hinata-chan. Didn't expect to see you here."

"I often come here to visit a book shop I like." Hinata replied with a small smile

The attention of the two youth switched back to the little girl in front of them.

"Why are you crying? Are your parents around?" Naruto asked gently

"N-no" the little girl gasped between sobs

"Did you lose your parents?" Asked Hinata, crouching beside Naruto and the child.

"N-no!" The little girl sobbed again.

Naruto smiled warmly. "Don't worry, we're here to help. Whats your name?"

"M-Melody" the girl stuttered, finally quietening down her sobs.

"What are you doing here alone Melody?" Hinata asked with a gentle smile

The girl's sobs seemed to quieten completely under the warm gaze of the two youth. Putting on a brave face, she said "I was following my big brother. He always goes off and plays without me. He says I can't come because I'm a girl." Hinata and Naruto glanced at each other, Hinata with a small amused smile, before they turned their attention back to Melody.

"So today, I decided to follow him. But he was faster than I thought he would be, so I lost him, and now I'm lost." And with her last few words, Melody dissolved into a fit of little sobs once more.

"Hey, there there, no need to cry." Said Naruto comfortingly

Hinata reached forward and brought the little girl into a hug.

"It's ok, we're here now. We can help you get home." She said while patting the girl's back.

The little girl's sobs got louder. "Y-yea, but I'll s-still have noone to play with."

Naruto and Hinata looked at each other. The same idea played in both their eyes. Naruto pointed to his back, then gestured toward the Hokage rock face. Hinata nodded in agreement.

"Hey, its alright Melody. We can play with you."

Melody leaned back and looked hesitantly up at Hinata. "Y-you will?"

Naruto leaned forward between them with a smile. "Of course we will! Say, do you want a piggy back ride?"

The little girl's face lit up. "Yea!"

And with that she climbed onto Naruto's back and the two ninja jumped onto the rooftops. Melody began giggling straight away. The two ninja smiled at each other as they ran. Hinata's heart warmed tenderly at the sight of Naruto piggy-backing Melody. "He'd make a good father..." She thought absently. Realising where her thoughts were going, Hinata's cheeks exploded into colour. She looked away to hide her embarrassment over what she was thinking. Lucky for her, Naruto and Melody were caught up in laughing together as Naruto executed a few big leaps into the air. 10 minutes later they reached the Hokage Rock Face, the central monument of their village. Naruto took one quick look at the stairs running along its side before whooping loudly and leaping up three sets of them. Hinata followed quickly behind, grinning at Naruto's enthusiasm. Melody was having the time of her life, squeeling happily like a kid on an amusement ride. When they reached the top, Melody went silent for a second, before exclaiming with awe "Woooow. It's beaaauutiful." Naruto smiled up happily at her.

"It is, isn't it? I used to come here all the time when I was your age. It was my secret hiding place."

"Woah" Melody exclaimed again. "Thats so cool!"

Hinata watched as Naruto's smile become melancholy. "Yea, I didn't always come here for cool reasons though." He gently placed Melody down on the ground. "When i was little, I didn't have any friends. I would always get bullied, too. Coming here was my way of getting away from it all, and relaxing my mind."

Melody stared up at him with wide eyes.

"It can be your special spot too, if you like." Naruto said with a smile.

Melody nodded her head vigorously. "I'll take good care of it." She said seriously.

Naruto ruffled her hair affectionately. "Atta girl". He said with a smile. "Don't let anyone bring you down. There are always friends out there waiting to be made. You just gotta keep trying. I did, and now I have plenty of friends to play with." Naruto shot a cheeky look in Hinata's direction. Hinata smiled affectionately, remembering yesterday's water fight.

Melody's eyes widened further. "Yes sir!" She said with new-found respect.

Following Naruto's gaze she looked at Hinata. "Are you his friend now?" She asked seriously.

Hinata nodded with a gentle smile. "I consider Naruto to be one of my most precious friends." She answered seriously. Naruto's eyes widened. Then a smile spread over his face. "I consider you a precious friend too..." He whispered quietly. Melody stared back and forth between them, noting their warm-hearted gaze toward each other.

"Wait a second. HOW special exactly? Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?" She asked suddenly. The two jumped in surprise.

"Wha-uh, well" Naruto seemed to have lost his capacity for words.

"N-no" Hinata stuttered shakily.

Melody looked between the two of them, unconvinced. "Well." She said matter of factly. "I think you should be."

The shinobi and kunoichi looked at each other with wide eyes. Somehow Hinata had never pictured their moment of truth happening quite like this.

"U-uh, I mean, do you...want to?" Naruto asked lamely

"I-I wouldn't mind..." Hinata trailed off, with flaming cheeks.

"Oh, really? I mean, I wouldn't mind either, but..." Naruto suddenly stared at her in shock. "Are you saying you're ok with being my girlfriend?"

Hinata stared back with eyes as wide as his. "A-are you saying y-you accept?"

Both shinobi and kunoichi didn't know what to say.

Melody broke the silence. "I think this means you're a couple now."

Naruto and Hinata looked down at the smug little girl, and Naruto laughed. Melody giggled too as Naruto ruffled her hair. And the three of them were left laughing on the mountain-top, Hinata's heart feeling like it would burst from her chest. Naruto's eyes sparkling with mirth and joy.

After safely transporting Melody home, and making promises to stop by to see her again, both kunoichi and shinobi walked awkwardly beside each other toward the town centre.

Naruto broke the silence. "Did you really mean what you said, back there?"

Hinata summoned up all her courage. "O-Of course I did. I wouldn't l-lie about something t-this important." Damn that stutter that always came out at moments like this!

Naruto chuckled warmly, causing Hinata to turn to him in surprise. "I know you wouldn't. I guess it was just reassuring to hear it again out loud."

Hinata smiled shakily in understanding.

Naruto continued speaking, "It's like, I mean, I'd only recently realised it myself. That I, you know..." Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously. "Ahah, I'm not very good at this am I? It was so easy with Sakura..."

Seeing Hinata's expression, he realised the mistake in his words.

"A-Ah not that Sakura and I ever got together or anything! She always rejected me." Naruto's expression turned thoughtful. "But somehow, I always found it easy to approach her about stuff like this, and get back up after she rejected me. But with you, it's so much harder...I think it's because this relationship is more...real, you know? Like, more important somehow..."

Naruto looked the other way in embarrassment, before he could see Hinata's response. After a few minutes of silence, he chanced a quick glance in her direction and froze. Hinata's face radiated joy. He'd always admired her smiles before, but this...it was like the sun had just come up on her face. Naruto didn't care how cheesy that sounded; no words could better describe what he saw.

Hinata's joy was infectious. Soon Naruto found himself grinning like an idiot too. The two ninja walked side by side in silence the rest of the way to town. Neither was quite confident enough yet to hold the other's hand, or yet ready to explore the implications of their new relationship. It seemed that for tonight, walking beside each other, and sharing in each other's company was enough.