-OneShot-
Two years had passed since the Fourth Great Ninja War, and the village of Konoha was basking in the peace that had been so hard-earned. The streets were busy with the usual hustle and bustle, with shops open, children laughing, and the scent of fresh food wafting through the air. Narumi Uzumaki walked alongside her best friend, Sakura Haruno, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine. Narumi's unmistakable golden hair fluttered in the breeze, and as usual, her presence drew the eyes of almost everyone they passed.
Narumi had grown even more beautiful over the years, and her bright blue eyes were filled with the same energy that had always defined her. Admired for her beauty, strength, and kindness, she had countless admirers in the village. But despite all the attention, Narumi was oblivious to much of it, her thoughts preoccupied with something—or rather, someone—else.
Beside her, Sakura couldn't help but smirk as she noticed how people glanced at her friend. Narumi's popularity had skyrocketed since the end of the war, but she still seemed as unaware of her own charm as ever.
"Look at you," Sakura teased, nudging Narumi playfully. "You'd think the whole village was in love with you."
Narumi shrugged, barely paying attention to the admiring looks she received. "What? They're probably just wondering where I got this awesome jacket," she joked, tugging at her usual orange jacket.
Sakura rolled her eyes, her smirk deepening. "Sure, sure. It's definitely the jacket. But speaking of admirers..." Her tone grew slightly more serious, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You've got your hands full, huh? Especially with a certain someone."
Narumi blinked, confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Sakura sighed dramatically, stopping in her tracks to face her friend. "Come on, Narumi, don't play dumb. Everyone knows about Hinata."
Narumi's heart skipped a beat, though she kept her expression casual. "Hinata?" she repeated, her voice slightly higher than usual.
"Yeah. You know, tall, handsome, a complete sweetheart. The same Hinata who confessed to you during the battle with Pain? Ring any bells?"
Narumi flushed slightly, turning away to hide her face. "Oh, that," she muttered, trying to brush it off, but the memory of Hinata's heartfelt confession sent a ripple of frustration through her.
Sakura stepped in front of her, blocking her path with a raised eyebrow. "Narumi, don't act like it's nothing. It's been two years. Two years since Hinata told you how he felt. You've barely done anything about it."
Narumi fidgeted, feeling her chest tighten. "I've been busy, okay?" she said defensively. "It's not like I don't care about him… It's just—"
"You're avoiding it," Sakura interrupted, her voice softening. "I get it, love can be confusing. But Hinata isn't going to wait around forever, Narumi. He might start thinking you don't feel the same."
Narumi bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. The truth was, she did care about Hinata. A lot. But love? That was a whole different battlefield she hadn't prepared for. She didn't understand her feelings enough to know how to move forward. She was scared to mess things up, especially when Hinata had become such an important part of her life.
Sakura noticed the internal struggle on her friend's face and sighed. "Look, I'm not saying you need to have it all figured out right now. But if you keep waiting too long, Hinata might give up on you."
The thought hit Narumi harder than she expected, sending a jolt of panic through her. Hinata, give up on her? She had never even considered that possibility. He had always been there, quietly supporting her, his soft lavender eyes filled with nothing but admiration and care.
She didn't want to lose him. But what if she already had?
"You think… he'd really give up on me?" Narumi asked quietly, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Sakura softened, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I think he loves you, Narumi. But I also think he needs to know if you love him too. He can't keep waiting forever."
Narumi stared at the ground, her mind swirling with thoughts of Hinata. She didn't know what to say, what to do. For all her strength and bravery on the battlefield, matters of the heart were a whole different challenge. And Hinata… he deserved so much more than her uncertainty.
Sakura smiled, giving her a gentle nudge. "Just think about it, okay? Don't let a good thing slip away."
The memory of that day played out vividly in Narumi's mind, a memory she had tried to push aside but that always lingered. The day Konoha was nearly destroyed. The day Pain attacked.
The battlefield had been a chaotic mess of destruction and despair, with Narumi at the center of it all, determined to protect her village, no matter the cost. But when Pain's towering figure had seemed insurmountable, she had been hit with a force she wasn't expecting.
Not from the enemy, but from Hinata.
As Pain's Deva Path loomed over Narumi, she struggled to move. She had been pinned down, helpless, as the battle raged around her. Pain's words had been cold, his power terrifying. The weight of his control was suffocating. But just when she thought all hope was lost, she had heard a voice—a voice filled with determination and love.
"Narumi!" Hinata's voice had cut through the chaos, and before she could fully process what was happening, he was there—standing in front of her, shielding her with his own body.
"What are you doing?!" Narumi had shouted, panic rising in her chest. "Get out of here! It's too dangerous!"
But Hinata had only smiled at her, his pale lavender eyes soft and unwavering. "I'm not leaving you," he had said simply, his voice calm despite the danger surrounding them.
Narumi had tried to protest, but the words had died in her throat when he spoke again—this time, his voice trembling with emotion.
"I love you, Narumi."
The world had seemed to stop at that moment. The battle, the chaos, the destruction—it all faded into the background as Narumi's mind struggled to comprehend what he had just said. Love? Hinata… loved her?
He had continued, his words flowing with a sincerity that made her heart ache. "I've always loved you. I know you've never noticed, but I had to tell you. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you and you didn't know how I felt."
Narumi had been frozen, unable to respond, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief. How could Hinata, the quiet, gentle boy she had known since childhood, feel something so deep for her? And in the middle of a battle, no less?
But before she could say anything, before she could even process the weight of his confession, Pain had struck. He had sent Hinata flying, her friend's body crashing into the rubble with a sickening thud.
"No!" Narumi had screamed, her heart shattering at the sight. She had struggled to her feet, her rage boiling over. The pain of seeing Hinata hurt had ignited something inside her, something fierce and unrelenting.
And that's when she had lost control. The Nine-Tails' chakra had surged through her, turning her into a force of nature, driven by anger and grief.
But in the aftermath, when the battle was over and Konoha was saved, Narumi had never truly been able to face what had happened—what Hinata had said. His confession lingered in the back of her mind, confusing her, frustrating her. She didn't know how to deal with it then, and she still didn't.
Narumi blinked, snapping back to the present as she and Sakura continued walking through the village.
"What's on your mind?" Sakura asked, sensing the shift in Narumi's mood.
Narumi sighed, running a hand through her messy blonde hair. "I just… don't know what to do, Sakura. About Hinata. I feel like I'm stuck. I don't want to hurt him, but I don't know how I feel."
Sakura gave her a sympathetic look. "It's okay not to have all the answers right away, Narumi. But you need to talk to him. Be honest, even if you're not sure about everything yet. He deserves that."
Narumi nodded, her heart heavy. "Yeah… I know."
But even as she said the words, the fear of what might happen next weighed on her like a lead weight. She didn't want to lose Hinata, but she wasn't sure she was ready to tell him what he needed to hear.
And with every day that passed, she felt the walls closing in.
It was a calm afternoon in Konoha, with the gentle breeze carrying the sounds of laughter and conversation from the training grounds. Hinata sat cross-legged beneath a large oak tree, watching Akamaru chase his own tail while Shino quietly observed a group of insects crawling on a leaf. Kiba, leaning against the tree with his arms crossed, smirked as he eyed his childhood friend.
"You know what, Hinata?" Kiba teased, breaking the peaceful silence. "You're probably the most admired guy in the village right now. Strong, quiet, from the noble Hyūga clan, but there's one thing you absolutely suck at."
Hinata blinked in confusion. "What's that?"
Kiba's grin widened, and Akamaru barked as if joining in on the joke. "Getting a girlfriend!" he said, laughing loudly. "You've got all the girls swooning, but you've been in love with Narumi for years and still haven't confessed!"
Hinata's face turned beet red as he tried to stammer a response. "I… I-It's not that simple, Kiba. Narumi and I… I just don't know how to—"
Before he could finish, a familiar voice interrupted. Hanabi approached the group, arms crossed, a playful smirk on her face. "It's true, Hinata. You've been following Narumi around like a lost puppy since the academy. You couldn't even take your eyes off her during training."
Hinata turned a deeper shade of red, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment. "H-Hanabi! Don't say it like that…"
Kiba chuckled, clearly enjoying Hinata's discomfort. "See? Even your sister knows. If you don't make a move soon, someone else will."
Shino, ever the quiet observer, nodded solemnly. "Kiba's right. Love requires action. Prolonged hesitation breeds regret."
Kiba's grin turned mischievous. "You know what? Let's help you out, Hinata. Why don't we give you a little push? We'll call the Konoha 11, have a little… intervention."
Hanabi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of intervention?"
"We'll get everyone to meet up—except Narumi, of course. I've got an idea that'll finally make Hinata confess. Trust me, this is going to work."
Hinata's eyes widened in panic. "W-Wait, Kiba! What are you planning?"
Kiba simply grinned. "You'll see."
The familiar scent of steaming miso ramen wafted through the air as Narumi sat at Ichiraku, hunched over her favorite bowl. She twirled the noodles with her chopsticks absentmindedly, her mind drifting. Lately, thoughts of Hinata had been creeping into her head more than usual, but she shrugged them off, focusing on the warmth of the ramen in front of her.
Just as she was about to take another bite, she felt someone plop down next to her. Ino and Sakura slid into the seats on either side of her, grinning widely.
"Hey, Narumi!" Ino said cheerfully. "Mind if we join you?"
Narumi raised an eyebrow. "Uh… sure. What's up?"
Before they could answer, Kiba, Shino, and the rest of their friends arrived, crowding into the small ramen shop. It was an odd sight—everyone gathered together in one place, without any real reason. Narumi blinked, confused.
"What's going on? Why is everyone here?"
Kiba grinned, crossing his arms. "Oh, you didn't hear? We're here to celebrate."
"Celebrate what?" Narumi asked, feeling more puzzled by the second.
Ino smirked, leaning in as if she was about to reveal the world's biggest secret. "We heard Hinata has a girlfriend."
Narumi's chopsticks slipped from her fingers, falling into her bowl with a splash. She stared at Ino, stunned. "What?"
Kiba nodded. "Yup. Apparently, he met her on a mission to Suna."
Shino added quietly, "It's been going on for a while now."
Narumi's heart sank, her stomach churning with a strange mix of disbelief and pain. She had never considered what it would feel like for Hinata to be with someone else. Her mind buzzed with confusion. She couldn't believe she was feeling this… jealous?
Before she could even begin to process the information, the door to Ichiraku swung open. Hinata entered, his soft lavender eyes glowing under the shop's warm lights. And walking beside him was a beautiful blonde woman—her hair as golden as Narumi's, flowing gracefully down her back.
Narumi's heart stopped. Her world seemed to crumble in that moment.
Hinata glanced at her and smiled, but Narumi barely registered it. Her focus was on the girl beside him—the girl who wasn't her.
Narumi's hands trembled as she tried to pick up her chopsticks again, but she couldn't. The tightness in her chest grew unbearable. She could barely hear the chatter around her as her vision blurred with unshed tears.
Without a word, Narumi abruptly stood, knocking over her chair in her haste. "I… I have to go," she muttered. "Something came up."
She bolted from the ramen shop, leaving her unfinished bowl behind—a sight that shocked everyone who knew her.
The moment the door slammed behind her, everyone froze. The gravity of the plan hit them harder than they expected.
Sakura was the first to speak. "Narumi just… left her ramen unfinished."
Ino's eyes widened. "I didn't think it would hit her that hard."
Hinata, who had remained silent through the entire exchange, now looked horrified. "Wait… what just happened? Why did she run off?"
Kiba, realizing the emotional mess they had just created, pushed Hinata toward the door. "Don't just stand there, Hinata! Go after her! Now!"
Hinata hesitated for a moment, but when Sakura joined in, shoving him forward, he sprinted after Narumi.
Narumi stood on top of her father's monument, the Hokage Mountain, staring out at the village below. The familiar sight, which usually brought her peace, was now a blur through her tear-filled eyes. She clutched her jacket, trying to steady her trembling heart, but the overwhelming realization kept crashing over her like waves.
I love him.
She hadn't known it—hadn't realized it—until that moment when she saw Hinata with someone else, laughing, smiling. It was like the ground had been ripped out from under her, leaving her adrift in emotions she didn't know how to process.
He's slipping away.
Narumi squeezed her eyes shut, tears escaping down her cheeks. She had faced life-threatening battles, fought on the front lines of war, but this—this feeling—was something she couldn't fight. She felt powerless, and it terrified her.
"I was so stupid…" she whispered to the wind, the guilt sitting heavily in her chest. "I took him for granted. All this time…"
The sound of footsteps behind her broke her thoughts. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was—Hinata. His chakra, usually so gentle and calm, now radiated with worry and urgency.
Narumi quickly wiped her tears, determined to put on a brave face. She couldn't let him see her like this.
"Hey…" she began, turning to face him, forcing a weak smile. "Sorry I ran off like that. I just… wasn't feeling great. But congratulations… you and your girlfriend…"
Her voice cracked despite her efforts, and she turned to leave, unable to bear seeing him happy with someone else.
"Narumi, wait!" Hinata's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist before she could go any further. "It's not what you think."
She paused, her heart pounding as she looked back at him. His lavender eyes were filled with guilt and concern, a storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface.
"I need to explain," Hinata said, his voice soft but firm. "That girl at Ichiraku… she wasn't my girlfriend. It was all a misunderstanding."
Narumi blinked, confused. "What do you mean? She… she looked like…"
Hinata sighed, releasing her wrist but not stepping back. "That was Temari. She was using a transformation jutsu to help with the plan. Kiba thought it would make things more believable."
Narumi's mouth fell open, and she stared at him in disbelief. "Temari? But… she didn't even feel like Temari. I should've known. I'm a sensor, Hinata. I should've sensed her chakra!"
Hinata's expression softened as he watched her struggle with her confusion. "You didn't notice because… you were too upset."
Narumi clenched her fists, the weight of his words sinking in. He was right. She had been so overwhelmed by the sight of him with someone else—so consumed by her jealousy and sadness—that she hadn't even been able to sense something as basic as a transformation jutsu. Normally, she could pick up on that kind of thing without even trying.
I didn't notice because… I was afraid of losing him.
She suddenly felt embarrassed, ashamed even, for how blind she had been to her own feelings.
Hinata took a step closer, his voice soft but earnest. "Narumi, there's no one else. There never has been. You're the only one I've ever loved. Since we were kids, it's always been you."
His words cut through her like a blade, and Narumi felt her walls crumbling. Her chest tightened, tears welling up once more, but this time she didn't hold them back. She had been running from her feelings for too long, and now, standing here in front of him, she couldn't deny them anymore.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm the one who should apologize. I… I've kept you waiting for so long. I didn't know how I felt, and I was scared. But when I saw you with someone else… I realized I can't lose you."
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he seemed lost for words. Narumi's tears fell freely now as she continued.
"I love you, Hinata," she confessed, her voice trembling but sincere. "I just… I didn't realize it until now. I've been so blind, so focused on everything else, that I didn't see what was right in front of me."
Hinata's heart swelled at her words, relief and joy washing over him. Without thinking, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if he was afraid she might disappear. Narumi buried her face in his chest, her sobs muffled against his shirt as she clung to him.
"I've waited so long to hear that," Hinata whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought… I thought maybe you'd never feel the same."
Narumi smiled through her tears, her heart swelling with both relief and regret. "I'm sorry it took me so long… I've never felt this way before. I didn't even know how to recognize it."
Hinata pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. "It's okay," he murmured, his thumb gently brushing away her tears. "You're here now. That's all that matters."
Their faces were inches apart, the tension between them palpable. And then, without hesitation, they closed the distance, their lips meeting in a soft, tender kiss. It was the culmination of years of unspoken feelings, finally released in a moment that was as gentle as it was powerful.
As they pulled away, Narumi couldn't help but laugh softly, wiping the remnants of her tears. "This is the first time I've cried like this. You're the only one who's ever been able to make me feel this way."
Hinata blushed, looking away in embarrassment. "I… I didn't mean to make you cry…"
Narumi laughed again, the sound light and full of warmth. "I'm glad you did. Because now I know for sure."
They stood there, side by side, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The village below them was peaceful, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions they had just navigated. But now, with everything out in the open, they felt lighter—freer.
Narumi looked up at him, a soft smile playing on her lips. "So… you've really loved me all this time?"
Hinata nodded, his eyes still filled with that same gentle devotion. "Since we were kids. I just… didn't know if you'd ever feel the same."
Narumi's smile widened, a warmth spreading through her chest. "Well… now you know."
Hinata grinned, his usual shyness momentarily replaced with a rare confidence. "Yeah… now I know."
They stood together, the weight of unspoken feelings finally lifted. And as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the village, they both knew that this was only the beginning of something even more beautiful.
-end-
note:
This is my first story. I've always liked pairings of a genderbent Naruto and Hinata, and there are too few out there.
