"Hinata, what are you doing?" Sakura asks. She had stood across the street and watched her friend almost walk into Ichiraku Ramen three times.
"Oh, hello Sakura-c,han. I was thinking about bringing Naruto-Kun some ramen since he just got out of the hospital after so long. Still, I don't know what he likes or if he even would want me to visit." Hinata blurts out, her eyes wide with confusion. A knowing smirk crosses Sakura's face.
"He would want you to visit, and I heard what he said to you after the services. I think bringing him some ramen would go a long way. All Sai and I brought him while he was in the hospital was healthy food." Sakura smirked at the memories of the weeks of salads and fruit she had been bringing
"I think he may be sick of seeing me and my food. Come on. I know what he orders. I'll help you." She grabs Hinata by the arm, dragging her into the ramen shop.
Sakura also wanted to gauge Naruto's reaction to Hinata following the funeral. She knew Hinata had confessed to him during the Pain attack and suspected that Naruto felt the same way. And while she wanted nothing but happiness for her two friends. She knew that Naruto would need the thought of dating Hinata specifically laid out for him before he'd even realize it was an option.
"Hello, what can I do for you young ladies this evening?" The older man behind the counter questioned.
"We'd like to get three ramen to go; one is for Naruto." Sakura begins to order before she can, the man interrupts.
"Aaaahhh, my best customer!" He jokes. "Let me make three specials on the house. I hear he's been released, just waiting on that new arm."
"Yes, Tsunade-Sama thinks it should be any week now, and they'll be ready to attach it." Sakura thanks Ichiraku as they leave.
"If I knew it was that easy, I would have gone in when I first got here." Hinata sighed, her mood lightening. The two made their way toward Naruto's apartment.
"With Naruto, all ramen is good ramen. Honestly, you could have brought him the cheapest cup of noodles, and he would have loved you for it." Sakura takes note of Hinata's blush at the word love while they walk up the stairs.
"Naruto!" Sakura's voice sounds from the hallway, jarring Naruto from his nap.
"Uuuummm yeah, one second." He calls, sleep coating his voice. The pair hears the shuffle of feet, followed by a loud thud.
"Damn it! Sakura, what? I just got home and got to sleep in an actual comfortable bed." Naruto opens the door with an annoyed expression covering his face, clad in only a pair of orange sweatpants.
"Oh. Hinata." Naruto stammers; his eyes flick between her and Sakura. "Give me a second." The door closes with a snap, and Sakura doubles over, laughing, watching Hinata blink, her face turning an ungodly shade of red.
"Well, at least you didn't faint." Sakura teased seconds before the door opened again. Naruto, this time clothed in a gray shirt.
The sweet, sweet smell of ramen! He thinks, eyeing the bags in each of the girl's hands.
"Is that all you think about?" Kurama's commanding voice questions.
Naruto rolls his eyes at the fox in response. No one could comprehend his longing for his favorite food right now. As he had been hospital bound since his return, Sakura and Sai had insisted on only bringing him healthy food to 'increase his recovery.'
"You guys brought me ramen!" Sakura notices the way he addresses them both but only looks at Hinata.
"Maybe you should wear shirts when you open the door." Sakura elbows past him, placing her bag on his table. Not catching when Naruto mumbles something about thinking it was just her at his door.
"I hope we didn't wake you, Naruto-Kun, I had just been thinking about what you said, and well, I just wanted to make sure you're okay, and I thought some food might make the being home better…." She trails off, taking in his eager expression.
His hair was sticking up, more unruly than Hinata had seen since his return to the village.
He must need a haircut soon. He looks so young, though. So happy. I'm glad I came to see him this time. Hinata thinks back to the handful of times she had stood outside the hospital, hesitant to go inside, as she slides out of the bag.
"If that is what I think it is," he motions to the take-out containers, "then you are my favorite guest."
"I can't take all the credit. Sakura-chan was a big help with the ordering. This," she motions to ramen. "Is my thank you, Naruto-Kun, for standing with me again at the memorial."
"You asked me to stand with you," he references her heartfelt speech from the battlefield, "and I guess that just kinda stuck with me, ya know.".
The trio eats in silence, Hinata stealing glances at Naruto as he happily slurps his noodles.
"I'm glad you're healing, Naruto. How's having your arm back now?" Hinata questions.
"I have tons of physical therapy, but Granny thinks I'll be able to get back to some light training by the end of next week. And after that, I can finally start being useful to the village." Naruto tries to smile, but his tone conveys otherwise.
"Oh, don't complain." Sakura rolls her eyes at him. "Not having to help rebuild the village, a pretty girl bringing food to your house. And don't get me started about when you were in the hospital. Nurses ensured The Hidden Leaves hero had his pillows fluffed every five minutes. Yeah, idiot, your life is tough." Sakura reaches over to jab Naruto in his good arm.
"Hey! I was confined to that room. The view sucks. I wanna be out there, and I want to be helping." Naruto complains back. "And this arm." He motions to his now bandaged-covered right arm. "I've never had a damn wound this long. At least Hinata cares enough to bring me actual good food." Shooting her a sweet smile.
"The rumors going around the village of what they did to make it are quite interesting." Hinata gives him a curious glance.
"Do you wanna know?" Naruto asks between bites.
"Please?" She scoots her chair closer to his, resting her elbows on the table's edge.
This is one of the few times I've seen the smile reach his eyes while he was in the hospital. I'm glad I ran into her. Sakura thinks as she stands.
"Well, I have rounds and other patients to check on today."
"Yeah, yeah." Naruto motioned for her to leave, his attention entirely on Hinata.
"Well, they couldn't close the wound until the arm was ready to be connected. I normally heal faster than the average person, so the doctors had to keep checking it and making sure it stayed open so the prosthetic would attach correctly." Naruto takes his last bite of ramen, pushing the bowl away from him slightly. "I have to go into the hospital daily for them to check it and do the therapy to make sure the nerves are connecting correctly."
"How did they make it? Sakura was saying the other day that it's fully functional."
"Do you remember the white Zetsu? The guy who could seem to multiply at will." Naruto asks.
"Oh yes, Kiba, Shino, and I had a problem with him during the war," Hinata explains, being trapped in the caves and the game Kiba and Shino had played to communicate. Not realizing she mentioned Kiba, almost letting her secret slip to the imposture.
"Now you gotta tell me the secret." Naruto leans in close to her, his eyes now level with hers.
"I'll, umm, I'll tell you some other time." She manages her blush deepens.
I love you and am so happy you're alive and getting well. As Naruto leans back, Hinata thinks, lifting his chair's front legs slightly off the ground.
"I'll have to remind you." A mischievous smile covers his face. "Well, they took cells from Zetsu and grafted them into an arm using the first Hokage's DNA. Then, the doctors attached it to my nervous system and gave me a fully functioning arm."
"That's amazing!" Hinata starts as a knock sounds at the door, and Naruto stands to open it.
"Oh, Naruto, I didn't know you had company." The sixth Hokage stands in the doorway.
"Hey, sensei." Naruto greets the older man casually. "Hinata was just visiting. I forgot you were coming over." Narutos flips his chair around, resting his arms on the back.
"Well, I hate to interrupt, but this is a time-sensitive matter." Kakashi's eyes move back and forth the short distance between the pair before him.
"I should be going anyways, Lord Six." She bows slightly at the doctor and takes her leave.
"Hinata, please," Kakashi says, a slight smile reaching his eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei." Hinata matches his grin. "Naruto-Kun, I'm glad to see you're doing better." She meets his eyes, the softly glowing blue causing her heart to skip.
"Thanks for the ramen." He stands, returning her smile, reaching for his jacket from the hook by the door.
Sakura was right. Visiting him was easy. A large smile covers her face as she descends the stairs.
"Well, that must be nice having a pretty girl bring your favorite food to you." Kakashi pokes fun at his former student.
"Hhhmmpp." Naruto moves out of the door, just in time to see Hinata turn the corner. Not letting it slide that both Kakashi-sensei and Sakura had referred to Hinata as pretty.