In part of an interview, Masashi Kishimoto talked about how Naruto and Hinata spent a lot of time with one another around the village after the war. This story takes place after the war up to the beginning of my other story, More Than One Life.

For timeline purposes, we'll say the war ends in mid-October since Naruto's birthday is October 10th.

Italics are thoughts, and bold italics are Kurama.

I hate that this site doesn't have a tagging system. Here are the tags from Ao3, so you know a little bit about what you're getting into

Friendship
Awkward flirting
They don't realize they're flirting
A hint of masturbation
Fluff
Pining Hinata
Naruto is like wtf is pining…am I pining?
No beta we die like Naruto in the war
Consistent POV…I don't know her
Consistent chapter length…I also don't know her
Questioning (of feelings)
IDK guys I just needed more kinda awkward NaruHina fluff in my life
Naruto is just Naruto
Post-Fourth Shinobi War
Pre-The Last: Naruto the Movie
Naruto's a simp for Hinata…he just doesn't know it yet
Alcohol
Matchmaker Sakura and Kiba
Oblivious idiots
Google docs checks my grammar and spelling
Non-accidental accidental touching

Naruto watched her dark blue hair move slowly with the breeze. He kept the movement in sight, making his way to the front of the crowd where she stood. The people of Konohagakure silently moved aside, making room for their hero to walk unquestioned.

"Hinata?" Naruto spoke, his voice a whisper.

He came and found me, wading through all those people when he could have just stood with Sakura in the spot where I saw her save for him. Hinata thinks, looking over her shoulder to meet his gaze. She notes a bandage still on his face, while lingering scratches have faded, and the right arm of his shirt is empty.

"Naruto-Kun," Hinata replies, voice hushed, her face stained with tears. She noted that the usual happy glow was missing from his eyes, replaced with the same sad and distant look in hers. Hinata gives a silent nod, turning away from him, trying to hide her devastation. The soft, low sigh from behind her went almost unnoticed.

I should tell her when the services are over, she needs to know that I'm here for her. Tell her I'll never forget what Neji did and what she said to me during the war. As he tries to focus above her head and pay his respects, Naruto thinks, but movement distracts him. Hinata's shoulders were hunched, her arms wrapping around herself while Neji's name was read from the list of fallen shinobi.

I should comfort her. A puzzled look crosses Naruto's face as the thought enters his mind. Then, ignoring his conflicting feelings, he takes a hesitant half-step forward and places a hand on her arm. Hinata doesn't move or turn to see who's touching her, but the shaking from her silent sobs stops. Her hands slowly unwrap from her body, one coming up to cover Narutos.

As the services end, their hands fall back to their sides, and people begin to return to their homes. Kiba and Shino, who Naruto hadn't noticed, turn to Hinata. "Come on, Hinata. We'll get you some food; I know you haven't eaten much lately." Kiba lightly grabs her hand moving to guide her through the crowd.

Why are they here? And not her family. Why wasn't she standing with her clan? Never mind that idiot, talk to her. As Naruto steps forward, he feels a familiar hand on his arm. Turning to see Sakura at his side, she's motioning for them to leave.

"Hinata?" Naruto questions again, his voice louder this time, stepping out of Sakura's grip.

"Yes?" She turns, and the blush he had grown familiar with seeing on her cheeks seems to glow against her skin, contrasting sharply with her black clothing.

"Just ummm well," Naruto, for once, at a loss for words. He does the one thing he wishes someone would have done for him when he is down on himself and feels as if he has no one to count on and is all alone.

He pulls Hinata into a tight, one-armed hug. Her head was tucked perfectly under his chin. She hesitates at first but, after a moment, wraps her arms around his waist.

I hope she doesn't think this is weird. Friends can hug each other, right? Naruto questions himself.

Maybe he does care. Maybe Neji Nii-San's words reached him. Hinata thinks, feeling the tears she had finally stopped starting to fall again and soak into his shirt.

He smells like a hospital. But, hell, I don't care. Naruto-Kun could hold me forever. Without thinking, she tightens her grasp around him. Naruto hesitates for a moment before pulling her with one arm as close as he can.

"Hey," Naruto says softly. "Don't cry. I didn't mean to make you cry." He nervously rubs the back of his neck. He takes a small step backward, allowing him to see her face, his arm staying around her waist.

"Sorry, I cry at almost anything these days. Thank you, Naruto-Kun." Hinata steps backward when the last thing she wants is to leave his embrace.

"I just wanted to say that what Neji did will never be forgotten by me. And I don't want you to think you can't come to talk to me if you need to, ya know." Not bothering to move back further, leaving the small space between them. He reaches out, running his hand down her arm before gently squeezing it.

"I gotta get going back to the hospital. Granny Tsunade made me promise I'd come right back. She thinks she's figured out how to fix my arm." Naruto turns, hopefully, quick enough to hide the blush that was creeping forward onto his cheeks from the back of his neck.

I never feel this way when I touch Sakura. Naruto shakes his head as he walks back to the hospital.

"That was unexpected," Shino mumbles almost to himself, taking in the shocked expression on both Hinata and Kiba's faces.

"Food does sound good." Hinata wraps her arms around herself, not wanting to lose the feeling of his arms around her. "I'm feeling a little better after all." Her eyes follow his blond hair through the crowd until it disappears.