A week went by before reinforcements from other nations started showing up, and the construction process had hastened immediately. Naruto watched as all around him, the amount of buildings and walls seemed to triple every day.
After just three weeks, the holy grail of Konoha, the Ichiraku Ramen shop, had finally reopened. Naruto was the first customer, and old man Teuchi was sure to treat the savior of the world to as much free ramen as he could stomach for the day.
Naruto had also managed to get himself a new set of clothes. He was now dressed just as he was before with his iconic black and orange outfit. Only now, he wore his red sage cloak as well, kind of as a tribute to Jiraiya.
After a month, he had finally settled into a new apartment, equipped with a bedroom with an attached bathroom, a kitchen, and even a small living room. It wasn't much larger than his old place, though any improvement was considered a win. But perhaps the best improvement added was the phone. It was connected to an electrical line that webbed through most of the village, which meant he could call anyone that had one as well. He wanted to call Hinata, but... he didn't have her phone number.
It was estimated that the village would be fully restored in about a week, but Naruto decided he couldn't wait that long. A month was more than long enough. He needed to see her.
To his knowledge, the Hyuuga compound had been restored rather quickly. Hinata must've been kept there to assist with other tasks, because Naruto had not seen her once since they last departed. He had been all over the village, helping in any way he could. No sign of Hinata anywhere. He had hoped he would at least see her passing by or something!
Naruto walked over to the phone and picked it up, just to remember he didn't have Hinata's phone number.
"Well, shit."
Well then, if he wanted to see her, he decided he would have to track her down himself. First stop, Hyuuga compound.
Anxiety struck as he approached the large front doors. He hadn't seen or spoken to Hinata in a month now, and for some reason the thought of finally getting to see her again put him on edge. What if she didn't want to be around him yet? What if she changed her mind about the whole thing? What if her father saw? What would Lord Hyuuga think of his daughter suddenly running off with him?
Naruto temporarily managed to shake away his fears. He was going to see Hinata, no matter what consequences arose with it. However, his heart soon found itself beating faster again as his knuckles met the hard wooden door.
A Hyuuga servant answered, much to Naruto's relief. She looked confused for a moment but her eyes lit up when she realized who he was.
"N-Naruto! Um, what can I do for you?"
"Hi, I was hoping I'd be able to see Hinata? Only if she isn't busy, I don't want to intrude."
"Oh, I'm afraid you just missed her! I believe she went out looking for you as well."
What!? He must have walked right past her!
"Did she say where she was going?" Hinata couldn't have known where Naruto's new apartment was. If she was looking for him, where exactly would she have gone?
"I'm afraid not. In fact, she didn't say anything."
"Then, how do you know she's looking for me?"
The servant smiled and said, "You're the only one who makes her smile the way she was when she left. Trust me, she's looking for you."
Naruto immediately reddened upon hearing this. It was hard enough to stay composed around her, it was even harder when other people were talking about it.
"Uh, o-okay then, I'm sure I'll find her eventually. Thanks anyway!" Naruto said while turning around, eager to escape his own embarrassment.
He wasn't embarrassed to be seen with Hinata or anything like that. Hell, he considered himself pretty damn lucky. Hinata was truly one of a kind.
No, it wasn't that kind of embarrassment. It was the kind where you feel so vulnerable that you can't stand the thought of anyone else bringing it up because you know you'll become flustered. Flustered really was an understatement. She made him feel loved, and that was something he never had the chance to get used to. Even just the thought of someone adoring him, especially in a romantic way, was enough to make his heart burn. Hinata, on the other hand, lit his heart on fire.
This whole dating thing was new to Naruto. He understood his feelings, but that didn't mean he was comfortable talking about them with people other than Hinata herself. And even then, when he wasn't beaming with confidence, he still found it difficult to expose himself to her like that.
Oh well, he was sure Hinata felt the same, and if they were really going to do this, they'd have to come clean to everyone sooner or later.
Now, where could she be? If she was looking for him, she was probably somewhere he would go. His apartment? No, she didn't know where it was yet. Their camp spot above Hokage Rock? No, too far. Dammit, they should have discussed a meet up spot!
Naruto's stomach rumbled for a moment, and as soon as he decided what he wanted for lunch, he realized where Hinata had probably gone looking for him. Of course! How could he not have seen it sooner?
Ichiraku Ramen. If anyone in the village knew anything about Naruto, it was that he loved ramen more than anything else. Surely she had gone there, expecting to find him with a towering pile of empty ramen bowls at his side. His face lit up as he thought of a lunch date with Hinata. What a perfect way to meet again!
"Took you long enough."
"You mean, you knew and didn't think to help me?"
"You got it eventually. Didn't really need my help."
"Still, would have been appreciated!"
Naruto approached the ramen shop and anxiously walked through the curtain. Sure enough, Hinata was sitting down right beside his favorite seat, almost as if she was already waiting for him. She was the only customer, and old man Teuchi and Ayame seemed to be back in the kitchen. They were alone.
She hadn't noticed him yet, so he decided to play it cool. He calmed his nerves for a second, took a deep breath, and approached the spot next to her.
"This seat taken?"
Hinata instantly turned her head at the sound of his familiar voice. As soon as she was sure it was him, she quickly stood up and threw her arms around him, not saying a word.
"Miss me?" Naruto said, returning her embrace.
"You have no idea!" Hinata said happily as she pulled away to meet his gaze for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. "I always did like that cloak. It looks good on you."
"I thought a little change wouldn't hurt. I was hoping you'd like it. Where have you been? Over all this time, I've been all over the village, and I never saw you once."
"I've been busy at home. Trust me, not a day went by where I didn't want to leave and come look for you."
"Well, you found me, didn't you?"
"I think technically you found me."
"I guess I did, didn't I? I went to the Hyuuga compound but the woman at the front gate said you had just left to go look for me. We must've walked right past each other. I figured you would come here if you were looking for me."
"You know me so well." Hinata said smiling that beautiful smile that never failed to make him smile back.
"I want to know more."
"There's plenty of time for that now. Like I said, now that things are back to normal..."
Hinata leaned up and whispered into his ear, "You're. All. Mine."
Hinata backed up just enough for him to meet her eyes, and as he did, he saw a ravenous desire within them. He could tell that Hinata had missed him just as much as he missed her. Maybe more.
"You... you're trouble." Naruto responded with a grin.
"I think you can handle a little trouble, can't you?"
"I can handle any kind of trouble. Question is, can you handle the punishment?" Naruto replied deeply, stepping closer to her.
Naruto didn't know why he was acting so bold. He wasn't even really sure what kind of 'trouble' they would get into. They had kissed a couple times and even made out once for a few seconds, but nothing further. Exactly how far would they go, he wondered. He thought about it for a moment. He was attracted to Hinata, there was no denying that.
However... sex? He had never really thought about that. What he knew about sex was, well, minimal. He knew where certain parts went. Of course, he had no personal experience, and he guessed that Hinata didn't either.
He found himself becoming more curious, wondering what it would be like to see her, all of her, and to touch and feel her in ways nobody else ever would. He thought back to their second campfire, when he had rubbed her back intimately and heard her softly moan in pleasure. He almost wished he had turned her over just to see what was on the other side. His pants were now becoming tighter by the second.
Thankfully, his thoughts were interrupted as Ayame came back from the kitchen.
"Sorry for the wait! What can I get - oh, are you two busy?" She said with an eyebrow raised. She walked in on them with their faces very close to each other. Even Ayame knew that Hinata was in love with Naruto. She didn't know, however, that he finally reciprocated her feelings.
"N-No! Sorry, um, c-could we both have some ramen please?" Hinata replied frantically.
Naruto almost burst out laughing as they both took their seats. Hinata acted so bold, even after all this time away from him, but fell apart as soon as someone else noticed. It seemed that she felt the same publicity embarrassment that he felt. He was definitely going to give her a hard time about this later.
"Oh, are you two on a date? Is that why you're so red?" Ayame responded with a grin.
Ayame had always secretly hoped they would end up together. Hinata would sometimes come eat by herself, and Ayame eventually managed to get her to talk about Naruto. She heard the rumors, and after meeting Hinata, she knew they'd be perfect for each other.
"I-I, um..." Hinata's eyes darted toward everywhere but Ayame. Naruto decided to play along.
"As a matter of fact, yes we are!" He replied happily. "I mean, if that's okay with you, Hinata."
Hinata simply nodded as her lips curled into a timid smile.
"Well then, first round is on the house! Eat up!" Ayame said as she placed two steaming bowls of delicious ramen in front of them, disappearing into the kitchen afterward to give them privacy. Well, it would have been privacy if she wasn't peeking through the curtain.
"So, Hinata, what do you want to do after our date?" Naruto said while casually slurping noodles from his bowl.
"Date..." Hinata whispered, as if she couldn't believe her own words.
"Hinata, this doesn't have to be a date if you don't want it to be." Naruto said with a concerned look on his face. He hoped he hadn't made her too uncomfortable.
"Of course I do, Naruto. I just... I never thought I'd actually get this far. I never thought we would go this far. It still feels like a dream."
"Well, we aren't stopping here. If you ask me, I'd say we have a lot further to go. You're stuck with me, Hinata."
Hinata looked at him with a passionate desire in her eyes. Oh, how she adored him. If he didn't have noodles hanging from his mouth she would have kissed him right then and there, even if Ayame was in the next room.
"And exactly how far are we going to go, Naruto?" She said quietly.
"As far as you'll let me. You're the only one I want to go anywhere with, and I would go anywhere with you." He replied.
No response could have been more perfect, because Hinata knew that she would let him go as far as possible, and that she would be right there with him through it all.
"In that case, you're right. We have a lot further to go. But for now, I was hoping you could show me your new apartment after we eat?"
Naruto's heart rate sped up a bit. No, not because his place was dirty or unpresentable, but because they would be all alone. After all the tension they had built up lately, what would happen if it was finally released? He decided not to overthink it. Maybe she really just wanted to see what his new home looked like. Or maybe...
'Stop it, Naruto. Relax.' He told himself.
"You know, I can hear you when you talk to yourself." Kurama reminded him.
"Thanks for the tip." Naruto said sarcastically.
"That sounds fun. I don't have much, though. Honestly, it isn't much different than my old place."
"You don't have to cook me dinner or anything, I just want to see what it looks like. Besides, I don't think I ever got to see your old place." She replied.
"Well then you get to be the first guest at the new one!" Naruto said excitedly.
"That sounds perfect, Naruto." She said with a smile.
They soon finished their food and exited the ramen stand. Naruto lead the way as they walked back to his apartment. The path was quiet, with almost nobody in sight. The only sound they could here was the wind in the trees and their feet against the ground.
"So, um, are we like, dating now?" Naruto asked awkwardly.
"I mean, we did just go on a date, didn't we?" Hinata responded.
"Well, yes, but... I mean... what are we? What is this called? Are you... my girlfriend now?"
Hinata stopped in her tracks. They were standing under a large tree that offered a bit of shade. It was mid November, so the sun wasn't hot enough to avoid, but Hinata enjoyed the dark mood that was set by the tree.
"Girlfriend..." she whispered quietly.
"I-I'm sorry! Is it too soon? I didn't mean -!" Naruto said in a panic.
"Naruto... do you want me to be your girlfriend?"
"Of course I do, Hinata. Don't you want that as well?"
"More than anything. But, technically, you haven't asked me yet."
"What do you mean? After everything, I just assumed..."
"Naruto, make no mistake. Regardless of titles, you belong to me. And I belong to you. But I want to hear you say it. I want to hear you ask me to be your girlfriend. I want you to make this official. It would mean the world to me." Hinata said as she took his hand in hers.
Naruto gently squeezed her hand before straightening his gaze. He looked from their hands to her eyes and anxiously willed himself to ask the question he already knew the answer to.
"Hinata... will you give me this chance? A chance to make everything right, to make up for the time lost because of my lack of sense? Will you give me this chance, to love you? To keep loving you? Hinata, will you be my girlfriend, and eventually everything that comes after? It's only you. If it's not you, then it's nobody. I swear, it will never be anybody but you. What do you say, Hinata?" Naruto asked, his eyes beaming with sincerity and desperation. He needed her just as much as she needed him.
Hinata's life flashed before her eyes. She saw herself as a toddler, when Naruto had walked her home one night when she was lost... the night they met. She saw the first time he protected her, and every time after. She saw him unknowingly help her through everything she had ever struggled with. She saw herself fall helplessly in love with him all over again. That boy... she really had always belonged to him, even if neither of them had ever known it. No other person could ever make her feel this way. It was only him. She had nearly died for him once, and she knew she would do it again in a heartbeat. She wouldn't just die for him, she would kill for him. She would slaughter every last person in the world if it meant she could save him, if it meant they could be together.
She had known her answer for as long as she could remember. Now, it was time for him to know too.
"I say... yes, Naruto. I'll always say yes for you. I would have said yes years ago, and I would say it centuries from now."
She watched as his eyes widened and tears softly made their way down his cheeks. He may have only now just realized it, but the truth was that he had needed to hear that his entire life.
Naruto brought his hand to her cheek, and as soon as he did, they both closed the distance, finally feeling their lips upon each other again. The kiss was slow but unrecognizably fulfilling. Hinata felt completely at ease as they connected with each other for what felt like the first time all over again.
This kiss was different. Their first one was passionate, yes, but this one was far beyond that. It was pure love, completely absent of enticement. Hinata could feel their souls intertwining, and for a moment, everything else in the world seemed to disappear. There were no people, no distractions. The only sound she heard was the soft breeze blowing through her hair. She wasn't nervous, and she didn't care if anyone else saw what they were doing. This moment felt more right than anything.
Everything had worked out in the end, and this was only the start of it all.
They both pulled away at the same time, just enough to see each other's faces.
"I love you, Hinata." He whispered.
"I love you, Naruto." She whispered back, gently caressing his cheek.
A sudden gust of wind blew a strand of Hinata's hair into her face, followed by Naruto moving it away for her.
"What do you say we get out of here? My home is your home, and it's about time you saw it." He said.
"My... home."
They walked to his apartment, hand in hand, not caring if anyone saw. This was who they were. They were together, and they knew they always would be.
Naruto opened the door and let her in first, following behind her. Letting Hinata into his home felt right. He hoped that eventually, they would come home to each other every day, both of them connecting once more through the sweet sense of reunion.
"I turn to ask the question,
so anxious, my thoughts...
Your lips were soft like winter, in your passion,
I was lost."
- "After Dark" by Mr.Kitty
