𝕆𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕥 𝕋𝕚𝕥𝕝𝕖

The Tell-Tale Heart

𝕎𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥

Archive Of Our Own:

Fest No Jutsu

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘

Warning: Teen-rated

𝕊𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕪

The Fourth Great Ninja War ends and Konoha is at peace; Hinata Hyuga contemplates Naruto Uzumaki's unexpected desire to spend more time with her.

𝕋𝕒𝕘𝕤

Blank Period • Canon • Canon Divergence Declarations Of Love • Drama Romance • Fake Relationship Trope Fluff • Happy • Happy Ending • Humor • Light Angst Love Confessions • Mutual Pining • Naruto Universe - Freeform • No Smut • Post War • POV Third Person • Romance Teen Rated Tooth Rotting Fluff

𝕆𝕟𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕟𝕘

Actually, this one-shot is a unique one-shot chapter for an AO3 writing event. It's a prompt exchange event called Fest No Jutsu. I selected a prompt that was offered by another Naruhina writer on AO3. The author's username is VulgarAssassin! If you're interested, check out his Naruhina stories on AO3. They're really good. Smutty but good.

I am so happy I am updating again on this website/app. It's been so long, I know, I am sorry. But here is new content for you all! There is more to come. Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to favorite/follow and leave reviews!

The Tell-Tale Heart

Today in Konohagakure, the temperature was moderately warm.

The shining sun rose high in the cloudless, blue heavens, beaming with happiness where it took center stage above.

The residents of Konohagakure, enjoyed every moment of the new day, a day of peace and fun, as the sun smiled down on them with warm but pleasant beams.

The summer breeze flowed through the busy streets of the village, sweeping green leaves within its gentle wake where they carried on powerfully, just as the ninjas, Konoha's defenders, have done each and every day.

A year had passed since the conclusion of the Fourth Great Ninja War, allowing Konoha as a whole to at last settle down.

The streets were alive with laughter and chatter, with kids flying kites and pretending to be the ninjas they idolize, racing full speed through the crowds with their arms thrust behind them as if soaring.

Smiling villagers of all sizes and ages filled the streets, setting up their businesses and outlets to cheerfully trade their produce and wares with one another.

All around, structures and residences stood tall, having all been rebuilt from the devastation that numerous battles, particularly the Pain onslaught, had wreaked upon them.

Konoha was now endowed with brand-new structures, fresh possibilities, and new beginnings.

Ninjas, villagers, and children alike were all beaming and renewed—all appreciative of the timeless peace they had gained by never giving up, by consistently standing up for what is right, and by moving onward no matter what.

Konohagakure was now at peace.

Aside from Hinata Hyūga.

In the midst of the happiness that beamed all around her, the young kunoichi found herself having quite an episode: fingers twiddling together, her breathing escalated, cheeks red, and her mind in scrambles.

Hinata traversed the streets of Konoha dressed in her typical ninja garb, accompanied by her longtime team members and companions, Kiba and Shino.

Kiba, her loud, ferocious friend, shot her a glance with his slitted eyes, lifting an eyebrow as he sensed his shy friend's worried state.

After all, it was Hinata's idea to get together so the three of them could go for a walk through the village, get some fresh air, and just spend some time in each other's company.

However, Kiba and Shino have observed Hinata to be extremely fidgety and quiet the entire time, appearing to be preoccupied with a problem that both ninjas were overly conscious about.

Hinata was unable to stop talking about it after all.

Kiba groaned and shook his head, causing his brown curly hair to tussle about, brushing against the nape of his neck due to its increasing length.

To lighten the mood, the cheerful canine ninja gave Hinata a gentle shove with his elbow—just with the side of his folded arms.

He laughed as he caught the surprised squeak that flooded out of her lips, her body jolting as a result of being shoved out of her troublesome thoughts.

"Come on, Hinata-chan, stop overreacting already. It's not that bad." Kiba remarked with a gruff tone and an amused grin, his lips stretched wide to show off his razor-sharp canines.

Due to his delighted smile, the red triangles on his cheeks raised just a touch, his features quite robust and well-defined given his maturing age.

His voice, which had become deeper over the years, was emitted in a halfhearted manner, with little worry detected within, which did absolutely nothing to calm Hinata's anxiety.

Hinata's predicament was only made worse because of it.

Her pale cheeks grew even redder, and she found herself hiding behind the curtains of her long, midnight-blue hair, unable to meet Kiba's gaze.

"No, th-this is..."

"It's just Naruto, Hinata-chan. What does it matter whether the knucklehead wants to spend time with you? Big deal."

Kiba muttered impassively once again, simply shrugging his shoulders as if everything was normal—and especially normal for Hinata.

She shook her head. There was nothing normal about her situation.

Hinata took a glimpse at her brown-haired pal through the strands of her dark hair, only to be struck by the nonchalant expression found on his tanned face.

Kiba didn't seem bothered by her predicament or even able to understand why she was feeling the way she was, for the matter. It was certainly a sight she just couldn't comprehend.

It was quite obvious why she was so worked up.

Hinata bit her lip briefly, to deal with her nerves.

"B-But every day?" Hinata exclaimed, apprehensive.

"A-Am I the only one who finds it strange that Naruto-kun is suddenly spending so much time with me? It's s-so odd."

Hinata's meek voice broke through the gaps of her delicate lips, bursting into the village's midday hum. Such comments of hers would have been drowned out by the din of the crowd, but Kiba's keen hearing picked up on her words flawlessly.

He heard her loud and clear.

Kiba shrugged.

He genuinely did not perceive anything wrong with her current "situation."

Kiba thought Hinata was acting rather ridiculously, in fact. Every time Naruto was brought up in their many conversations, she would just revert to her usual flustered self.

The mere mention of the goofy blonde ninja always causes her to flush red all over and sends her into a stuttering frenzy. Even in her primary years, she would faint just by being in the blonde's presence.

Hinata has always been a flustered mess around Naruto, but even now, after having Hinata as a teammate for so long, Kiba has never been able to understand the immense anxiousness she would feel because of the blonde.

Apart from the fact that Naruto was now regarded as a war hero as a result of his heroic deeds during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kiba still saw him merely as a hyperactive, dense, brainless knucklehead.

He just couldn't wrap his head around the fact that anyone would feel immense anxiety around someone like him.

It was all quite ridiculous.

Kiba found nothing odd or different about Hinata's frenzied behavior nor about Naruto's desire to spend more time with Hinata. After all, they were all growing closer to one another—every single one of their friends—now more than ever.

Nothing's strange there.

Shino, on the other hand, saw a different picture.

He let out a hum of curiosity, bringing to light his presence as he walked alongside Hinata.

His eyes were shielded from the sun by black shades, so others couldn't see his facial expressions as well.

One hand of his was buried in the pocket of his long jacket, while the other lifted to stroke his chin.

"Now that you mention it. That is strange."

Shino's voice emerged from his mouth, somber and monotone, phasing with the pleasant breeze around them. He too joined the conversation between Kiba and Hinata, voicing his concerns about the current situation at hand.

Hinata's dilemma.

All in all, it shouldn't really be a dilemma.

Hinata was aware of this.

Her predicament shouldn't be one that keeps her up at night, sends her in a tizzy, and leads her to become a hot, stuttering mess whenever she thinks about it.

Naruto.

Naruto was her dilemma.

Since the war has ended and all of Konoha has spent its time relishing the peace, Naruto has been exhibiting a variety of behavioral shifts—shifts that were pretty different and quite apparent—particularly because they diverged from the customary behavior tactics he has always demonstrated.

Such changes were all very unusual to Hinata, changes that she was unable to interpret or understand.

To put it simply, Naruto's been acting quite strangely toward her.

How strange you might ask?

For starters, Hinata thought it was somewhat odd of Naruto to unexpectedly develop the longing to devote every waking moment with her.

It seemed weird to her that he wanted to see her every day at the same time at Ichiraku Ramen in order to spend time with her.

Hinata bit her lip a bit harder.

She could hear him now.

"Let's eat out again, tomorrow, Hinata-chan. At Ichiraku, same time, same place. I had such a great time with you, dattebayo!"

Hinata could still clearly remember what he said to her almost a day ago when they shared a meal together at the Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

Even then, he showed signs of immense eagerness for her that she had never seen him show before.

Hinata recalled how he constantly barraged her with many subjects of discussion, even as he spoke to her while stuffing ramen noodles into his mouth.

He told her several of his own tales, including mission experiences that actually made her laugh quite a lot. More than she's ever done in her entire life.

It was all so... strange.

Don't misunderstand Hinata; Naruto's excitement was refreshing, albeit a little overwhelming.

Indeed, Hinata has always wished to spend time with Naruto, and she can't stop herself from enjoying those moments when she gets to sit beside him, shoulder to shoulder, and share a meal and a conversation with him, especially after the war is all said and done.

Sharing such moments with him has always been her dream.

Hinata relished the moments when Naruto lavished her with lots of attention, gazing into her eyes with a true sense of joy and care, and wanting nothing more than to spend as much time with her as he could.

And maybe, she's just overthinking.

Maybe, she's just blowing the entire situation out of proportion.

Maybe she was getting ahead of herself, but she was unable to ignore Naruto's peculiar behavior toward her, including the very difference in the way he spoke to her. It consumed her mind and bugged her so much.

Hinata has made a constant effort to understand why Naruto's behavior has drastically changed in the way it did toward her and why he suddenly developed the urge to hang out with her so excessively.

This was a really big deal to her.

Hinata couldn't help but mull it all over.

In the immediate aftermath of the war, Naruto changed from scarcely recognizing her to having just fleeting conversations with her to obnoxiously craving her company all the time.

It's such a drastic change.

This cannot be a coincidence, she thought.

Hinata occasionally found herself questioning whether Naruto's motives were sincere; she wondered if perhaps he was merely allowing himself to be close to her out of pity.

Pity for her losing Neji.

Yes, the war was officially over, but even so, there were still a lot of wounds that needed to be healed, and Neji's death surely left a lot of them. A lot of wounds.

Hinata occasionally finds herself becoming very sad at the mere recollection of Neji being dead, no longer living in Konoha, but instead buried with the other valiant ninjas who fought in the war.

She would frequently experience severe depression as she recalled the events leading up to his death and once more realized that he had indeed left this world and never to return again.

Hinata often thought of such depressing memories and felt their suppressive effect on her throughout her day-to-day life, and thus, she often thought that is why Naruto wished to spend so much time with her.

Because of pity. Because of guilt.

However, she always dismissed the idea, labeling herself as ridiculous for having such negative thoughts about her dear Naruto-kun.

As a result, Hinata discovers herself becoming quite enthusiastic about the alternative reason she came up with for Naruto's behavioral changes toward her.

And that was a result of authenticity.

Maybe, just maybe, Naruto has come to want to be close to her from a genuine standpoint.

Maybe he secretly yearns to be close to her, yearns to learn more about her, or, better yet, just genuinely enjoys her company.

Maybe, Naruto has come to yearn for something more.

But just as Hinata thought of such a thing, just as she allowed her fantasies to intertwine with her thoughts, she was quick to shake them off.

Hinata squealed, covering her eyes with her hands due to her lewd thoughts.

'No, no, that can't possibly be it!" Shaking off the idea, Hinata exclaimed in a frenzy fit in her mind. It was absurd for her to think that the frequent outings she would have with Naruto were anything romantic.

Yes, Naruto yearns to see her virtually every single day.

Yes, he genuinely offers to pay for her meal at each and every get-together.

Yes, he regularly gives her his jacket whenever she grows cold, without her having to utter a single word.

But...

Those were merely the acts of a friend, Hinata thought, a friend that truly cares.

'There's nothing romantic about that.' Hinata dismissed once more, hysterically shaking her tomato-red face as she hurried on carelessly, her open-toed shoes kicking up dirt every step of the way.

However, she was interrupted from her thoughts when she once more heard the voice of her enigmatic friend, Shino, speak after a little period of silence between the three of them.

"Hm, it almost seems like the two of you are dating. Maybe that's what Naruto wants."

It was only hearing those words from Shino that led Hinata to completely lose it.

She began to feel lightheaded. Terribly lightheaded.

'Me? D-Date Naruto-kun?!' Hinata practically screeched in her head. She was going to faint, she just knew it.

It was only a matter of time now.

She whipped around to face Shino, in an effort to quickly dismiss such a ridiculous notion from his head. She couldn't bear it.

Hinata sweat dropped, her cheeks flushed red, "No, no, Naruto-kun and I aren't d-dating. Dating o-or romance, for that matter, isn't possibly the reason for all of this. There has to be a-another explanation..."

"Hm." Shino rubbed his chin once more, "It's quite obvious what's going on here, Hinata-chan. Naruto's sudden and enthusiastic yearning to spend more time with you when the war is over. All of it seems to be pointing towards the possibility that his eyes may have opened after all this time." Shino hummed.

"The evidence is right in front of you." Shino expressed with a nod, as he tried to piece together the situation and come up with a solution.

Kiba, in contrast, just shrugged. He merely found the two humorous, trying to solve an issue that was so clear.

He shook his head, "Hinata-chan, come on. You gotta stop overthinking."

He brushed his shoulder against hers yet again, doing so with a groan, "Good kami, all of this Naruto stuff is getting you ridiculous, Hinata-chan. Come on, think about it. Isn't this what you always wanted?" He asked, blurting out what he knew had to be said.

With wrinkled brows, he gazed down at the midnight blue-haired woman beside him, watching as her lavender eyes widened at his remark.

He tilted his head, his expression somewhat solemn, "Isn't this time spent with Naruto, or rather, him wanting to spend time with you, something you always wished for?"

Hinata's eyes widened even more. Even her heart skipped a beat.

It was. It's all Hinata has ever wanted.

She's spent her entire life walking behind Naruto, always staring at his back, longing for him to turn and notice her.

She had yearned for him to realize her presence, to recognize all the times she had followed him, supported him, been influenced to become stronger by him, and even risked her life for him.

She yearned to be by his side, showering him with her affection and reverence.

She wished so badly he would one day look at her the very same way she looked at him.

That is all she has ever wished for—Naruto to notice her.

And now...

Hinata's breath caught in her throat as Kiba's words flashed through her mind, finally waking her up and causing her to realize what a blessing this entire situation was for her.

The sudden acts of Naruto wanting to spend time with her; and the genuine smiles he showers her with.

The big, warm hugs he gives her the moment she arrives at Ichiraku Ramen.

The jokes, the laughter, the smiles.

Everything.

Hinata finally considered every bit of her situation, and she used the opportunity to take a step outside of herself, away from the troubling emotions that were stifling her, and instead take in the situation as a whole.

Her breath hitched.

Indeed, she has always wanted this.

Always.

And now, with her eyes opened, she has realized how silly she has been.

She has done nothing but speculate about Naruto's motives, questioning herself as a whole for liking his behavioral shifts.

She was so worried and anxious about the whole thing, as well as flustered and embarrassed by being so close to Naruto so suddenly, that she entirely failed to notice the positive elements of her predicament.

But now...

A smile arose on Hinata's face and in that moment, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She suddenly felt the worries she's been dealing with for a couple of weeks now set sail and fly away.

She finally sensed herself becoming free from her worries; free from it all. All thanks to her friends; Kiba and Shino.

She really needed this chat.

Because now, Hinata could finally see the situation from a different perspective, a more positive approach to her situation, and now she finds herself a little bit more...

appreciative.

She bawled her fists tight by her chest, biting her lip briefly, "Y-Yes, this is what I have wanted." She whispered, finally voicing out her own wants for a change, voicing that she indeed has always wanted Naruto to notice her, just in the way he has recently.

Kiba and Shino exchanged a joyful grin, both ninjas flawlessly catching their bashful friend's answer even in the midst of the raucous outside noises around them.

It was undoubtedly like music to their ears, and they were both comforted by the fact that their friend's sentiments of embarrassment and worry were no longer clouding her judgment—no longer keeping her troubled.

The two men were pleased to find that their efforts had been successful and that their words of caution and contemplation had not been merely ignored or overlooked.

Kiba and Shino were certainly pleased to see Hinata finally diverted from her mental woes and the clamor of her irrational thoughts, which had previously blinded and hampered her. And ultimately, keeping her from finding happiness with the one man that almost everyone in the village knows can greatly comfort and increase Hinata's level of contentment.

Peace was now assured.

Kiba exclaimed joyfully, "See, there you go! So I say, quit your overreacting and relax! Enjoy the peace already!"

He shoved her shoulder again which actually caused Hinata to giggle, her body swaying a bit.

"Kami, if you're so worried about Naruto spending time with you, why don't you just ask him? Who knows, Shino might be right, your precious Naruto-kun might have finally woken up." Kiba teased with a laugh.

Hinata instantly gasped, her head space once again flooded by overwhelming thoughts, her body riddled with feelings of flusteredness.

Throughout Kiba's entire speech, one particular detail caught her attention the most.

My precious Naruto-kun.

Hinata's blush rushed back to engulf her whole tenfold, "H-Hey don't call him that!" The flustered kunoichi exclaimed in embarrassment before reaching over to slap Kiba's folded arm.

But her gesture of getting him back due to his teasing only pushed the brown-haired male to laugh and tease her even more.

"Oh, Naruto-kun! My precious Naruto-kun!"

"St-Stop it, Kiba-kun!"

"No! You make it so easy, Hinata-chan!"

Hinata grumbled, her heart racing in her chest as she was teased by Kiba but soon comforted by Shino.

After all was said and done, however, and after a much-needed conversation with her good friends, she found herself looking forward to the dinner get-together with Naruto.

Now, more than ever.

NHNHNHNHNH

"Heya Hinata-chan!"

Hinata blew out a deep breath, currently battling with a flurry of frantic nerves.

Once more, she arrived just in front of the location where she and her blonde-haired crush had requested that they would meet.

The Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

Now as the sun was starting to set, the sky above was painted in a rainbow of lovely hues, and a chilly breeze emerged and blew throughout Konoha's streets.

The evening arose, and Hinata once more found herself before Naruto. Her lavender eyes were riveted on the spiky-haired blonde from afar, who gleefully waved his left hand overhead, flashing the largest grin she had ever seen.

He stood there, just inches away from the entrance of his favorite diner booth, waiting for her.

His enthusiasm was apparent. His animated body language, hand motions, and even his voice alone demonstrated how enthusiastic he was.

"Hinata-chan, you're here! You're finally here! I've been waiting like...forever!"

Hinata's cheeks turned scarlet as her ears were inundated with Naruto's cherry voice, which seemed to have risen an octave as a result of his impatient act of shouting his greetings to her from a distance.

Her cheeks continued to grow redder and redder with each passing second as butterflies started to build up in her tummy.

The nervousness she always felt just by being there before Naruto returned, rooting her to her position.

Hinata took several deep breaths to calm her nerves, as well as the intense heat rising all over her face and the queasiness in her stomach. Such emotions were enough to override her stomach's empty feeling; her want for food, or more specifically ramen.

Hinata looked up once more and spotted Naruto waving his left hand still, seemingly stuck in an endless loop from a distance.

"Hey, Hinata-chan! What's wrong? Aren't you coming?"

Naruto's voice now exuded concern as he spotted Hinata in the distance, where she looked to be silently standing in one spot, and one spot only.

He even tilted his head, which highlighted his blonde, spiky locks which drooped down due to his movement, even from a short distance away.

His clothing blew constantly in the wind, a fresh attire given the circumstances following the war. His new ensemble consisted of a white long-sleeved jacket with an orange collar that was popped, gray trousers, and his usual open-toe shoes.

His right sleeve, just where his right arm should be, flew steadily in the wind, uninhabited by a limb given his permanent battle wounds from war. Such a sight served as a reminder of his hardships during the war and how vehemently he had battled; battling for what he believed in.

He was wearing his typical ninja headband there on his forehead, its tied straps flapping in the breeze behind him. Such black straps gently swayed as they appeared from behind his head to brush against his shoulders.

From a distance, his dreamy and mystical aspect was enough to steal Hinata's breath away. Hinata was truly captivated by all of Naruto's splendor.

He was there, portrayed in such a way that he seemed to gleam, like some sort of enchanted being by the scant rays of dusk light that remained.

Warmth and joy seemed to emanate from the depths of his being. He appeared to be exposed for all to see, every aspect of him—inside and out—appearing as though he were standing on a precipice in the way of a luminary light.

He was as open as a book, sweet and friendly, and he presented himself to Hinata with no deceptions or restraints.

But it was only her error of looking at Naruto too closely that ultimately made Hinata's current situation even worse.

Her breathing increased yet again. She could feel herself grow light-headed.

She clenched her fists tight, setting them before her chest, just over her purple garb.

"I can't do this. I can't do this." She whispered under her breath, once more succumbing to her stifling emotions.

But then she remembered.

She remembered the conversation she had with Kiba and Shino, and all of a sudden, a sensation of assurance and confidence swept through her, motivating her to finally approach and welcome Naruto.

She grew confident enough to shoo away her worries and enjoy this moment.

Besides, Naruto was waiting for her.

Hinata realized she probably looked like a complete nincompoop from Naruto's perspective by standing weirdly in one spot for more than a second, ignoring his frequent callings, and generally not responding to anything he said or did.

She blew out a deep breath, and this time around, she gave herself another pep talk. A more positive one.

"I can do this. I can do this. I must not keep Naruto waiting." As a correction, she whispered, but her wording was considerably more cheerful, giving her all the confidence she had been lacking.

She then raised her head, looked at Naruto, and smiled joyfully, which caused her pale cheeks to flush and her lavender eyes to twinkle.

She thrust her hand overhead and finally waved back at Naruto, "H-Hello Naruto-kun! I-I'm coming!"

Hinata watched as Naruto's smile grew at the sound of her voice, his whiskered cheeks rising forth.

He placed his left hand on his hip. He beckoned her over by his head.

""Yeah, that's the spirit, dattebayo!"

Naruto chuckled.

"Now, come on, Hinata-chan! Walk faster, I'm starving and I sure know you are!"

Hinata giggled before finally taking the first step forward.

And another...

And another...

And before she realized it, she was directly in front of Naruto, where she could see the full extent of the joy displayed on his tanned face.

His cerulean eyes twinkled majestically at the sight of her before him, his head slightly lowered due to their height disparity.

Hinata smiled and was about to say something further when Naruto suddenly draped his left arm forward and rushed it around her shoulders, pulling her body close to him.

Her body collided with his, held tight in a side embrace. With Naruto's assistance, she was practically carried forward, straight toward the Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

Hinata flushed red entirely, now on the verge of passing out.

'Naruto-kun is embracing me! He's hugging me again!' She practically screeched in her mind, fangirling.

It was never something Hinata could get used to—the sudden affection from Naruto and the sudden closeness of her body against his own.

No way.

She was so close that Naruto's own clothing was ruffled as it brushed against the fabric of her purple ninja outfit.

She was so close to Naruto that she could smell his scent, practically his citrus soap fragrance, drifting from his being and permeating her nostrils.

She was so close to Naruto that she could feel how his arm was holding her small shoulders to his body, clutching them not too tightly but firmly.

It was all so much!

Naruto snickered at the sight of the redness of Hinata's face, his body leaned against hers.

"Kami, I'm so happy you're here, Hinata-chan. Thank you so much for coming." He mumbled close, his breath brushing against her midnight blue hair, causing it to rustle against her skin.

Tingles rushed throughout her spine because of it.

The warmth that emanated from Naruto's arm—no, from his entire body—could only be compared to an incubator; it was breathing off of him with a clear goal to keep her warm.

She couldn't believe Naruto's words, let alone being so near to him. She couldn't believe that she was now tightly tucked against Naruto's chest, held in the hug he initially gave her, and led by him all the way to the ramen shop.

And along the way, Hinata was lulled by the pure delight of Naruto's closeness, by his warmth, and she began to do what she had promised Kiba and Shino she would do—what she promised herself.

She gave up.

She accepted it all.

Only then, did Hinata find herself accepting Naruto, by finally letting go of all that held her back.

She snuggled against Naruto's body, laying her head flat against his chest.

And by doing so, by committing to such deeds, they managed to significantly impact Naruto. Tenfold.

Naruto felt his heart begin to hammer against his broad chest, skipping a beat.

Now it was his turn to blush.

"You're welcome, Naruto-kun." Hinata whispered. "You're welcome."

NHNHNHNHNH

"Two large Miso Pork's! Coming up!"

The beloved founder and proprietor of Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi, handed Naruto and Hinata a big bowl of sizzling miso ramen, all cooked and ready to be devoured.

Naruto practically drooled.

With a clatter, the two bowls of delicacies were delivered to both ninjas, placed directly in front of them. The two dishes were piping hot and steaming in readiness to satisfy their cravings and appetites.

Hinata's smile widened.

Naruto whooped and cheered.

"Itadakimasu!"

With their own respective hands clasped together, the two starving ninjas hurriedly expressed their gratitude to Teuchi and Ayame for giving and blessing them with such a masterpiece—ramen!

Naruto didn't waste any time after that.

He picked up his chopsticks as best as he could with his left hand, which was now a very difficult endeavor.

He was still getting used to using one hand to carry out daily activities. It was unfortunate, but he felt confident he could deal with it.

There was nothing Naruto couldn't handle, after all.

So, after a few stumbles and failures, he grasped his chopsticks before inserting them into his bowl of ramen, which consisted of luscious noodles, dripping with pork broth, as well as additional items. Particularly, thinly sliced pork meat and a multitude of colorful, steamed vegetables.

Hinata kept an eye on Naruto at times, sneaking glances at him as he fought to eat, struggling to pick up his food with his chopsticks.

Hinata has seen this before. Given his unfortunate circumstances, Naruto seemed to struggle to eat every time they met up like this.

But that doesn't stop him.

At times, Naruto would succeed in snatching portions of his meal and tossing it all inside his mouth in one motion.

The food he managed to capture with his left hand would also at times slip away from his chopsticks hold, splatting back into his bowl.

Naruto recoiled and yelled, "dammit!" as bits of the broth rushed up and splashed all over his face. He cried out in frustration before making another attempt to eat again.

Sometimes, he failed.

Sometimes, he succeeded.

However, the entire ordeal—Naruto struggling to consume his favorite meal, the very fact that he was even struggling—made him one unhappy camper.

Naruto's groaned, a pout forming on his whiskered face, "Gahh! Just let me eat already, dattebayo." He whispered with a dejected groan under his breath.

His stomach growled profusely, constantly, and it wasn't hard to hear.

Hinata watched the scene in its entirety and she couldn't help but feel quite terrible. She hated to see Naruto struggling or in need of help. She just couldn't...

So...

She didn't know what came over her.

She didn't know where she mustered up the courage.

Hinata suddenly turned away from her meal, putting a stop to her own eating to instead face Naruto.

"H-Here, let me help." Her delicate voice emerged once more, doing so and startling Naruto tenfold.

All at once his frustrated bickering was put to a halt, as well as the dispute he was waging with his own meal.

The spiky-haired ninja turned to his left, to take into account Hinata's sudden movements.

His eyes widened as he witnessed her reach forth, and softly grabbed a hold of the chopsticks between his fingers, slipping them in her grasp.

"Wh-What?" Naruto was flabbergasted, his mouth hanging open stupidly, "Y-You'll help me?" He asked, stunned.

He couldn't believe his eyes or ears, but there Hinata was, seeking to grasp his bowl to hold, and furthermore scoop up the miso ramen noodles inside with his chopsticks.

She was willing to help him eat.

'Woah.' Naruto thought as a light pink blush began to form just above the bridge of his nose.

Hinata, who was as red as a tomato, guided the chopsticks slowly but shakily to Naruto's lips in an effort to get him to accept her offer of assistance.

She acknowledged that without his right arm, he was currently finding it difficult to perform a variety of tasks. Eating was one of them.

Hinata, with her big loveable heart, took it upon herself to feed Naruto. But she could not deny that she felt ten times more embarrassed than she ever had before.

"H-Here. O-Open." Hinata murmured, watching as Naruto slowly opened his mouth wider, allowing her to place the broth-soaked noodles onto his tongue.

She watched as Naruto closed his lips when she finally graced him with the food, which he promptly chomped down on it.

He groaned as a burst of flavor exploded into his mouth the moment the exquisite food brushed against his palate.

As he chomped on the noodles again and again, it was as if small fireworks of pork bliss shot off within his mouth, just within the dark caverns of his jaws.

Naruto groaned.

For him, eating such a delicacy as ramen could never get old. Every time he gets a chance to receive a bowl, scoop up the noodles, and slurp up the broth, it always feels like he was eating the meal for the very first time.

Naruto considered it to be one of life's greatest pleasures.

He hummed softly, "A-Arigatō, Hinata-chan." He mumbled, to show his gratitude to Hinata for her selfless deed, even in the midst of his chewing.

"D-Demo...you didn't have to do that."

While shaking his head, Naruto cast a glance down at Hinata's own bowl of ramen, which appeared to have only been touched two or three times, slowly but surely losing its steam.

The thought of being a burden to Hinata caused Naruto to frown. He shook his head once more, his blonde bangs rocking about.

"Your food is gonna get cold-"

Hinata shook her head, putting Naruto's concerns to rest, "N-No, daijōbu. Just l-let me help you, N-Naruto-kun."

"Help me..." Naruto repeated in hushed tones, his heart skipping a beat.

It was quiet for a while, with Hinata cheerfully and willingly feeding Naruto every last morsel of his bowl of ramen.

And Naruto ate pleasantly, as he settled into his thoughts, as he settled into the moment.

His blue eyes captured the scene in his entirety, the entirety of Hinata.

She was preoccupied with feeding him, giving the task all of her attention, which left her vulnerable to Naruto's gaze. She was vulnerable to all the times his cerulean eyes swept her over, and ultimately absorbed every last detail of her.

And once again, Naruto was able to fully take in Hinata for all that she was.

He focused his attention on the midnight blue-haired woman sitting beside him, noticing her every smile and her every blush.

Naruto noticed how her little button nose would wiggle a bit as if reacting happily every time he took in the food she gave him.

He was struck by how flawless her pale skin was in comparison to his calloused, tanned complexion. Her skin appeared soft, like the texture of marshmallows, and Naruto was persuaded that it was.

His blue eyes wandered further...

He also noted how red her cheeks would get, changing in color in response to her emotions, whether it was embarrassment, nervousness, or shame.

He noticed how distinct her eyes were—a lavender shade—beautifully and uniquely so.

Naruto has only caught a few glances at them, but each time he does, he realizes that Hinata's eyes, her dōjutsu, are unlike any other Hyuga in Konoha.

How could he not notice that?

Such a unique feature of Hinata's, now that he was staring directly at it, was impossible to overlook, impossible not to appreciate and admire.

Hinata's pearly, lavender eyes, so big, round, and full of light, reminded him of the brightly lit moon, which he used to talk to every night before bed. Her eyes twinkled as well, much like the stars that danced around on starry nights.

And then her hair...

Naruto's mouth subconsciously opened to make way for more food for Hinata to drop inside. He made sure to chew up what was given to him, but his eyes were now plastered on the gorgeous strands of dark hair that flowed down Hinata's shoulders, and backside.

Her hair was incredibly long, and it seemed to be growing longer and longer every day.

Her hair was dark, almost resembling black in the shadows of the night, but when the sun touched it just right, those strands would brighten up and reveal a different aspect of themselves, almost like changing colors.

Her hair would revert to a midnight blue.

It was a minor detail that some may overlook if they were unfamiliar with Hinata and her entirety.

"I-Is it good, N-Naruto-kun? You're eating the ramen so fast."

Such a soft, innocent voice Hinata possessed.

It was a sound that was not too harsh on the ears, yet nearly possessed the capability of lulling one to sleep.

Naruto had no idea how peace felt or seemed, but hearing Hinata's soothing speech gave him a genuine understanding of what gaining peace felt like, feeling it, and relishing it.

'Ahh, yes peace.' Naruto sighed in bliss.

Hearing Hinata's voice sent him into felt his entire body relax, his muscles beneath his skin easing, and before he knew it, he was slumped on the round booth seat beneath him.

He smiled, a toothy smile, "Y-Yes, the ramen...is delicious, d-dattebayo."

He forgot how to speak for a moment as he beheld the beautiful angel in front of him—a blessing in disguise—a blessing that should not be thrown aside or overlooked.

And now that the earth has finally stopped spinning so rapidly, and time has slowed down, Naruto can now think, and set time aside to fully come to appreciate his surroundings, as well as the people within it...

He can finally come to appreciate Hinata.

Naruto can finally devote his time and attention to her as he has always longed for. He can finally spend his days with her as much as he wants.

Now, he can.

Now, he can show her.

He didn't know what came over him. He didn't know, it was unlike any feeling he'd ever had before.

But after witnessing the beauty in front of him, a gentle beauty, one that is enough to stomach but leaves behind the desire to relish, Naruto couldn't stop himself from acting on his emotions any longer.

He's waited long enough.

He watched Hinata lay the bowl of broth on the table after giving him the last scoop of food that was left inside. The dish landed with a clatter on the ramen booth's table, empty only but murky, brown liquid left behind.

Hinata smiled, before turning to Naruto, "I hope you enjoyed, Naruto-ekk!"

Suddenly, Naruto found his body moving toward Hinata's position, his blue eyes hooded, now possessing a twinkle within them.

He ventured closer to Hinata, blindlessly so, now with a means of putting his sentiments into action, feelings he'd been keeping back for a long time.

He wanted to kiss her.

"Hinata." Lightly exhaling, Naruto moved forward in his chair, a little at a time. He puckered his lips in an attempt to feel Hinata's lips against his own.

But...

he did not.

A loud squeak was heard, and a brush of fabric was felt against his lips, bringing him to a halt.

"N-Naruto-kun wh-wh-what are you-!"

Naruto gasped and opened his eyes, only to be met with a sight that made him realize Hinata was certainly not on the same page as he was.

He frowned.

He felt like an idiot.

Hinata was there, her face completely red, redder than it had ever been. Her eyes were hooded, and her demeanor was wobbly. The poor girl appeared to be on the verge of fainting, desperately attempting to fight against the overwhelming urge that was building on her.

Her plump lips were wide open in surprise, and her arm was extended.

His cerulean gaze darted down to find the sleeve of her ninja apparel pressed against his lips, which had just moments before sought her own.

Hinata whimpered, "O-Oh kami, Naruto-kun, what are you d-doing?"

Naruto lunged back, now his own cheeks were red. He just thought...

"Gomen! Gomen nasai, I thought it was okay, t-to finally..."

Naruto fell silent and turned away from Hinata, clearly embarrassed.

Obviously, Hinata hasn't picked up on the signs.

Obviously, she has not caught on.

He thought she did.

He thought she knew.

All this time, Naruto's been trying to tell her, trying to get her to see.

He's remembered.

He's noticed her.

He wants her...

too.

For a while, Naruto took comfort in the silence, simply gazing aimlessly down into the murky broth in his bowl.

It was silent for a while; it was best that way.

Hinata couldn't say anything else as the events of the previous seconds replayed in her mind. Her cheeks were becoming so hot that she grew concerned for her skin.

She raised her hands and rubbed her scorching hot cheeks with up and down strokes, to perhaps cool them down. Her eyes averted downward, hiding among her dark hair to avoid meeting Naruto's stare.

She couldn't bring herself to look at him again. It was just too embarrassing for her.

'D-Did Naruto-kun just try to...?' Hinata couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe it one bit.

Naruto just tried to kiss her.

She definitely knew she was dreaming now.

Now, she certainly had no appetite to eat, to talk, or do anything. She sat in silence, similar to Naruto, and burrowed through her thoughts. Only when she caught Naruto's sudden movement did she separate herself from them.

With an emotion-filled sigh, Naruto took hold of his bowl with his left hand, picked it up, and brought it to his mouth. He began to slurp up the salty broth that was leftover from his meal, gulping it down without pausing once.

Only until the bowl was officially empty, did he place it back down on the table, doing so with another sigh.

"Gomen, Hinata-chan."

Hinata's eyes widened, and she peeked over at Naruto once more through the strands of her hair.

Naruto wasn't looking at her, but instead down inside the empty bowl before him. He gritted his teeth and bawled his left hand into a fist, digging his knuckles into the table.

"I'm sorry, not just for overstepping my boundaries but on behalf of being extremely misleading all this time."

Hinata's eyes widened even more. Where was Naruto going with this?

In order to sit up straight, Naruto shifted his body on his seat. He cleared his throat, "Ever since Pain attacked the village, everything has been a blur. I've been swamped with many different responsibilities, which has clouded my mind and robbed me of my attention. My days were filled with nothing but chaos, and then..."

Naruto shook his head, "then... the war happened and I couldn't get one moment to think. To just..." Naruto breathed deep, to calm his emotions.

"I never forgot what you said to me, Hinata-chan."

Hinata's breath caught as a result of Naruto's words, causing all time to pause. She'd never heard Naruto grow so sentimental, so emotional with her before.

She could tell he was building up to a confession.

She could tell. She could feel it.

But his words...

Hinata clutched the fabric of her pants tightly, clenching the material in her hands.

"Wh-What I-I said?"

Naruto nodded.

Only then, did he turn to face her. But when he did, she noticed the sorrow in his eyes and the solemnity on his face.

His eyebrows furrowed, "I never forgot what you did for me. It has played in my head ever since that day."

"Since?" Hinata muttered, urgently attempting to corroborate her assumptions and make certain that Naruto was speaking about what she was thinking. She was cautious not to misinterpret.

Naruto smiled, bright and wide, "Your confession, Hinata-chan. I never forgot what you did for me, back with the battle against Pain."

Finally, Naruto blurted it out.

Finally, Naruto confirmed Hinata's suspicions.

Finally, Naruto has said the one thing Hinata has always wanted to hear.

He remembered.

He noticed her.

Hinata's entire body began to tremble, as a rush of emotion came forth to engulf her whole.

All the concerns she had about that time, all the times she grieved to herself, wanting and wishing that Naruto would pay heed to her words—words of sacrifice and truth—were now all made up for.

Everything she has ever thought was shown to be wrong, misled and misinterpreted.

Everything.

Her breathing grew faster and faster as she peered into dazzling, ocean-blue eyes, and she felt herself becoming lost in them, lost within the feelings they expressed.

Naruto smiled as he reached his left hand forward to gently grasp Hinata's hand on her lap, "I was a baka back then, I know. I-I couldn't see it then." He murmured, staring into her eyes with that dreamy look that made Hinata weak in the knees.

He bit his bottom lip, brushing his thumb gently over the back of her delicate hand, "And then, w-with everything that has gone on, I couldn't show you. I couldn't show you how I felt." Naruto paused to breathe softly.

"How I really felt."

Hinata breathed hitched, her heart hammering inside of her chest. It was hammering so loudly, so strongly, she truly felt like the poor organ was going to explode.

She could not believe she was sitting before Naruto, as he confessed to her, opening her eyes to all that lies in the dark, all that was there in his heart, but oblivious to her.

Naruto beamed, "But now, I can." He whispered, "Now that we have ensured peace for Konoha, now that all battles have been laid down to bed... I can finally regard you, in the way I have always wanted to." He confessed with much emotion.

He gave Hinata's hand a little squeeze, "You've always been there for me. You have always helped me when I needed it. You always noticed when I faltered and tried your hardest to help me stand again, even when the odds were stacked against you. Even now..." Naruto shifted his gaze to his empty bowl of ramen.

His smile grew, "You have helped me even in my darkest hours, and I was a fool not to notice you and all the good you have brought into my life. But now..."

"No longer," Naruto shook his head, moving back to face Hinata, "It is time for me to take advantage of this opportunity to tell you everything. I want to now express my appreciation, gratitude, my everything, dattebayo."

He breathed, "And I'm sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise. I'm sorry if I ever caused you to think I didn't notice you, Hinata-chan."

There it was.

Naruto's confession.

He repaid Hinata, by giving her his own confession, by admitting his mistakes, his faults, and by being completely honest and truthful with her. He came clean to her, pouring all that resides in his heart.

He took this moment to shower her his feelings, now that peace was granted for them all and there was no chaos to intervene.

Naruto finally acknowledged Hinata, and her every sacrifice, her every action, her every word of assistance for his well-being.

He acknowledged it all.

At the end of Naruto's confession, Hinata was in tears, rendered nothing more than a weeping heap of tremendous joy and amazement.

She couldn't believe her day would end with Naruto declaring his undying love for her, and that her own confession was the catalyst for it all.

The spark that ignited their love story.

Hinata breathed deeply, hyperventilating from her overwhelming emotions, "Oh N-Naruto-kun. Oh kami. You d-don't know how long I've been waiting to hear those words."

More tears fell down her red, rosy cheeks, "O-Oh kami, I'm so h-happy. You remembered! Y-You-"

Naruto chuckled before unclutching her hand and snaking it up to clutch her cheek instead.

He shushed her, wiping away the happy tears that slipped down her face with his thumb, "It's okay, just kiss me, Hinata-chan. Kiss me."

And that was all Hinata had to hear. That is all she has ever wanted to hear.

Hinata lunged toward Naruto and didn't think twice of plastering her lips upon his own. She didn't pull away or resist this time.

No.

She gave in to her emotions and surrendered to the deed of love, placing her lips on Naruto's for the very first time.

As soon as the two did, it was like something delightful bloomed within their soul. A new bloom ready to harvest.

The kiss felt as though the proper puzzle piece had been put together, and everything felt right as a result.

The two hummed in bliss during the kiss, pleased to say the least that their sentiments could finally be expressed fully, that their feelings were noticed and accepted.

Finally, the two could share their all with one another, not with the burdens of the world interfering.

No.

Now, it was only them both, and they planned to spend the rest of their days together.

The kiss was wholesome, sweet, and passionate, and the two surely didn't want it to end.

The kiss was the moment that the two poured everything in their hearts into one another, all the tell-tale secrets that lay within.

In only one kiss, they were able to bring everything to the surface, pouring all that lay unspoken into it.

But soon after, the breath in their lungs ran out, and they parted ways, thereby terminating the kiss.

Naruto laughed once more to discover Hinata completely dazed, her eyes hooded, and her cheeks permanently pink.

Even so, she smiled at him, the brightest smile Naruto had ever seen.

"A-A-Arigatō, N-Naruto-kun." Was all she could mutter before her eyes closed and her body grew limp, rendering her unconscious.

Naruto gasped, "Woah!" He exclaimed, before quickly extending his left arm to grab the unconscious Hinata. He effortlessly caught her, preventing her from falling off of her seat, crashing to the ground, and bumping her head.

He held her tight to him, and had another laugh at the sight of his newfound lover unconscious, once more indulging in her primary habits of fainting when her emotions grew too strong.

Naruto chuckled. 'Aww, so cute.' He acknowledged in his head, as he gazed down at the gorgeous woman that now lay cradled in his arm, close to his chest.

She looked so peaceful, so happy, so beautiful, even in her current state.

Naruto found himself admiring her once more, which has now become his favorite pastime. Admiring his Hinata-chan.

Naruto smiled, "You're welcome." He breathed as he cradled Hinata gently, "You're welcome, Hinata-chan."

Word Count: 8.4k.

A.N. This was so fluffy and sweet, I can't lie. I had so much fun writing this one-shot and participating in the AO3 event; Fest No Jutsu! I know this was quite different than my other one-shots, much fluffier, neutral, and more spot on to the canon; or rather a what-if, type of one-shot. I really hope you all enjoyed! Leave your thoughts and be sure to vote!

The End.

Powerful_Niya