The friends' gathering was already in full swing when Hinata quietly slipped through the door. The room buzzed with casual conversation, laughter echoing off the walls as old friends caught up after what felt like forever. She looked around, taking in the familiar faces and feeling a subtle warmth settle over her. She had always been part of these gatherings, yet tonight there was something different—an energy within her that she had never felt before. Her strides were a little more sure, her presence no longer hidden in the background as it so often had been.

Her hair was tied back simply, and her lavender eyes seemed to glow softly beneath the gentle light of the room. Wearing a cute yellow dress, She greeted her friends with a small, genuine smile—one that, while still shy, now carried an undertone of confidence.

As Hinata moved through the gathering, she didn't miss the way a few heads turned, eyes trailing her with subtle curiosity. The glow about her was hard to miss; there was something undeniably different, something lighter in her demeanor, and though none of them dared to comment directly, it didn't escape anyone's notice.

Naruto, in particular, couldn't take his eyes off her. It wasn't the first time he'd seen Hinata since she had grown into her role as a kunoichi, but this version of her—glowing with quiet confidence and ease—it was new to him. He had known Hinata as shy, reserved, always standing in the shadows. But tonight, the way she carried herself, the way she was engaging in conversation so naturally, left him transfixed.

His blue eyes followed her movements, every word she spoke, even as she joined Shikamaru and Ino in a discussion about the intricacies of clan dynamics. Normally, Naruto might have tuned out the details of such conversations—Shikamaru always overanalyzing, Ino diving into deeper emotional connections. But tonight, Hinata was different. Her voice was soft, yet confident, speaking with an insightfulness Naruto had rarely seen in her.

He noticed the way she held her own, even as Shikamaru, one of the smartest in their group, spoke. She didn't shy away or shrink back. She participated—offering thoughtful perspectives on clans traditions and their role in politics , even as the conversation touched on the other noble families in konoha.

Sasuke, standing nearby, joined in too, though in his usual reserved manner. His contributions were succinct but carried weight, and yet, as Hinata spoke, Naruto noticed how easily the conversation flowed between them. The exchange of thoughts felt natural, as if they had discussed these topics many times before. There was a certain rhythm to it—a shared understanding, a mutual respect. Even Sasuke's normally distant demeanor seemed to soften in her presence.

Naruto wasn't the only one who noticed. Sakura, sitting a little ways off, seemed to be paying close attention to the dynamic as well. She had always been sensitive to shifts in Sasuke's behavior, and now, she could sense something had changed. There was a tightness to her expression, her green eyes lingering a little too long on the ease with which Sasuke and Hinata interacted. She didn't say anything—no one did—but the quiet tension in her posture was enough to signal her unease.

As the evening went on, conversations shifted and people began to trickle out. The gathering dwindled down until it was time for everyone to head home. Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino left together, as they often did. The three of them walked side by side under the glow of the village lamps, the night air cool against their skin. Shikamaru, hands in his pockets, let out a long, drawn-out sigh.

"That was… interesting," he murmured, his sharp eyes glancing up at the stars lazily. But there was something more in his tone—something contemplative.

Ino, ever perceptive, tilted her head toward him, raising an eyebrow. "Interesting huh?" she echoed, her tone inquisitive. "you too noticed something different about Hinata tonight, right ?"

Choji, munching on the last of the snacks he had pocketed from the gathering, looked over at Shikamaru. "She seemed more confident," he said between bites. "But I didn't think much of it. It was nice to see, though."

Ino smirked knowingly, her arms crossed as she walked, her eyes gleaming with insight. "Oh, it's more than that. It's not just confidence—it's something, or maybe someone else." She glanced between her two friends, her voice dropping into a more conspiratorial tone. "Didn't you notice the way she and Sasuke were talking? It's like they were on the same wavelength, and no one else was quite in the room."

Shikamaru hummed in agreement, the gears in his mind already turning. He had, of course, noticed the ease between Hinata and Sasuke. He had seen it firsthand during their mission together, the quiet familiarity between them, the way they moved in sync, how they didn't even need words to communicate at times. But seeing it again, outside of a mission—there was no denying it. "They seem… close," he admitted. "I don't think it's something new either."

Ino nodded. "It's not just casual closeness. There's something deeper. Hinata's always been reserved, but tonight… she was different. Like she's been growing into herself, and I think Sasuke has something to do with that."

Choji frowned slightly, trying to piece things together. "Sasuke? Hinata? But… Sasuke doesn't seem like the type to… you know, be involved with anyone."

Ino let out a soft laugh. "True, but people change. And Sasuke might not show it, but he's definitely more involved with Hinata than we realized. You saw how smoothly they talked, how comfortable they were with each other. It's subtle, but it's there."

Shikamaru sighed again, glancing back toward the direction of the gathering they had just left. "Naruto noticed too. He was paying way too much attention to Hinata all night."

Ino's eyes flickered with understanding, her expression softening slightly. "Well, can you blame him? This version of Hinata is new to all of us, but especially to Naruto. He's always cared about her in his own way, but now that she's grown into herself… it's like he's seeing her for the first time."

Choji nodded slowly, understanding dawning on him. "I guess that makes sense. Hinata's always been there, but now she's standing out in a way none of us expected."

Ino's voice softened, her smile more thoughtful. "People like Hinata, they're quiet, they grow slowly, but when they bloom… it's beautiful. And I think Sasuke sees that in her, even if he doesn't say it."

Shikamaru grunted, his gaze narrowing slightly. "You think it's that deep huh? Troublesome..."

The three of them fell into a comfortable silence as they continued to walk through the quiet streets of the village.

Whatever was happening between Hinata and Sasuke, it wasn't just a passing thing. It was subtle, like a quiet storm brewing on the horizon. And though none of their friends had dared to point it out, it was only a matter of time before the truth became impossible to ignore.

Naruto lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling of his small apartment, his thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. The night breeze slipped in through the cracked window, rustling the curtains, but it did little to soothe the unease building in his chest. He shifted uncomfortably, hands resting behind his head, trying to quiet the noise in his mind, but one image kept returning, over and over again—Hinata.

Her voice, gentle and unwavering, echoed in his ears. The way she smiled softly, her eyes filled with warmth and a kindness that seemed endless. The way her hair was tied back, revealing more of her pale, flawless face. It was the simplest thing, yet it struck him in a way he couldn't explain. Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to push the thoughts away, but it only brought him back to memories he hadn't visited in a long time.

The academy days.

He could still see her, standing in the back of the classroom, often alone, quiet, with her head down. She was shy, reserved—barely making a sound. He had never paid much attention to her back then. At least, not until the Chūnin Exams. That moment stood out vividly in his mind—Hinata standing there, bruised and battered, facing Neji with a determination that surprised everyone. Naruto, like everyone else, had been captivated by her courage.

He remembered his fists clenching at his sides as Neji's words tore into her, ripping at her confidence, belittling her efforts. She had been afraid, trembling even, but she didn't give up. He had watched in awe as she continued to stand her ground, defying her cousin despite the overwhelming odds against her. Naruto could still hear her voice in his head, quivering but resolute, "Never go back on my word ...because that's my ninja way, too!."

That moment had stirred something inside him, something deep and profound. It was the first time he had seen Hinata's true strength, hidden beneath the surface of her gentle demeanor. She had been fighting her own battles, just like him—pushing against expectations, struggling to prove her worth.

And then, there was that moment. The one that changed a lot for him. He had been moments away from his own match with Neji, his mind clouded with doubt. He remembered feeling the weight of expectations crushing him, the fear of failure gnawing at his insides. But it was Hinata, barely able to raise her voice a bit, who had called him a "proud failure." Her words, spoken so softly but with such conviction, had broken through his fear.

"She believes in me," he had realized in that instant. Even when he doubted himself, even when he felt like he was on the verge of losing, she believed in him.

And that belief… it had always been there, hadn't it?

Naruto opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling again as a lump formed in his throat. His thoughts moved forward, skimming over years of memories. He saw her in the battle against Pain, stepping between him and certain death. She had stood there, unwavering, even knowing that she was no match for the enemy. He remembered the rage that had boiled in his blood when he saw her fall, the terror that had consumed him at the thought of losing her.

But it wasn't just those dramatic moments that stood out to him now. It was the quieter ones. The times when Hinata was just… there. A steady presence in the background of his life. When everyone else treated him like a stone, solid and immovable in their perceptions of him, Hinata had always looked at him differently. She had always seen him, truly seen him, even when he was just the loudmouth kid that no one believed in.

Naruto sat up in bed, his hands falling into his lap as he let out a shaky breath. His mind replayed the war—her strength, even in the face of losing her dear cousin. She had been stronger than him, more grounded, even when everything was falling apart. Her hand, reaching out to him, pulling him back when he was drowning in self-doubt. That slap. That sharp yet gentle slap across his face that had snapped him out of his own spiraling thoughts.

"You make mistakes, But because of those mistakes... you get the strength to stand up to them. That's why I think you are truly strong!"

Her voice, so full of conviction, had brought him back. She always brought him back. That realization hit him harder than anything else. Hinata had been there, all along. Every time he stumbled, every time he faltered, she had been the one quietly, gently, guiding him back to his path.

His mind raced through countless other memories. Her quiet smiles, her soft words of encouragement, the way she always treated him with such warmth and respect. Even the way she looked at him—there had always been something different in her eyes when she looked at him. A softness, a warmth, like she was seeing something that no one else saw. Like she saw him not as a hero, not as the loud, obnoxious ninja, but just as Naruto.

He rubbed the back of his neck, his heart pounding in his chest as he lay back against the pillows again, trying to process the sudden surge of emotions welling up inside him. Why hadn't he seen it before? All this time, he had been so focused on other things, on chasing after his own goals, that he hadn't realized what had been right in front of him.

Hinata. The one who had always been there.

His thoughts turned to the present. To the dinners they had shared with their friends, the way her voice softened when she spoke, the way she carried herself gracefully. The way his own heart seemed to respond to her without him even realizing it.

And suddenly, it all clicked.

The soft spot he had always had for her wasn't just admiration or respect. It wasn't just gratitude for the times she had stood by him. It was something deeper, something that had been growing inside him for years, without him even noticing.

"I have feelings for her," Naruto whispered into the empty room, the words hanging in the air like a confession to himself.

The realization was both startling and strangely calming. For so long, he had been chasing after a different dream, a different person. But now, as he lay there, thinking about Hinata—her quiet strength, her gentle heart, the way she had always been there for him—he couldn't deny it anymore.

He had feelings for her. Real, deep feelings that had been quietly building inside him for longer than he cared to admit.

Naruto let out a long, shaky breath, his heart still racing as he stared at the ceiling. What was he supposed to do now? What did this mean for them? For him? But even as the questions swirled in his mind, one thing was certain.

Hinata wasn't just anyone to him. She had never been just anyone.

And now that he realized it, he couldn't ignore it any longer.