The afternoon sun bathed the quiet neighborhood in golden light as Naruto and Hinata followed the seller into the house. The moment Hinata stepped inside, she felt something different—something warm, something right.

Naruto noticed immediately. The way her pale lavender eyes sparkled as she took in the spacious entryway, the way she pressed her hands to her chest, as if steadying her heart—this was the one. He didn't need to ask. He could see it in her face.

The seller, a cheerful older woman, led them further in. "This house has been on the market for a little while," she explained. "It has four bedrooms, an open-concept kitchen and dining area, and plenty of space for a growing family."

Hinata barely heard the details. She was too busy imagining it all—the soft glow of lanterns in the living room at night, the scent of home-cooked meals filling the air, Naruto coming home after a long day as Hokage and wrapping his arms around her while she stirred a pot of stew.

Naruto nudged her playfully. "Oi, you're zoning out. You already planning how to arrange the furniture or something?"

Hinata blinked, her face warming as she smiled. "Maybe…"

Naruto chuckled. "Alright, then. Give me the grand tour, Mrs. Future Uzumaki."

Hinata rolled her eyes playfully but grabbed his hand, tugging him further inside. "Look, Naruto! This could be our kitchen," she said, twirling around in the spacious room. "I can already see it—right over here is where I'd cook dinner for you every night."

Naruto grinned, crossing his arms. "Every night, huh? I thought you liked having a break from cooking sometimes."

Hinata smirked. "I do. But let's be honest… would you really trust yourself to cook anything edible?"

Naruto gasped, placing a dramatic hand over his chest. "Oi, rude! I could totally cook something edible! Ramen is a meal, you know."

Hinata giggled. "Instant ramen isn't cooking, Naruto."

Naruto pouted. "Fine, then. What if I come home late and I'm really hungry? What's the first thing you'd make me?"

Hinata pretended to think for a moment before smiling sweetly. "Something healthy, of course. You need to keep your strength up as Hokage."

Naruto groaned. "I was hoping you'd say pork cutlet or miso soup…"

Hinata laughed, squeezing his hand. "Maybe. If you behave."

The seller chuckled at their antics but gave them space, letting them explore.

Hinata's heart swelled as they stepped into one of the extra rooms. "This could be…" She hesitated, suddenly feeling shy.

Naruto tilted his head. "What?"

Hinata turned to him, fiddling with her fingers. "A nursery."

Naruto blinked, his expression softening as his gaze moved around the empty space. The idea of filling this house with a family—a real family of their own—made his chest tighten in the best way.

He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. "Yeah," he murmured. "A nursery sounds perfect."

Hinata leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his embrace.

Naruto smirked suddenly. "But you know, before we have kids, I should get my own space, too."

Hinata turned to him in confusion. "What do you mean?"

He pointed toward the next room. "That's where I'll put my man-cave. Giant TV, tons of snacks, and I can watch all my action movies in peace."

Hinata raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So where am I supposed to watch my romance dramas, then?"

Naruto grinned. "In the living room, obviously."

Hinata crossed her arms. "I see how it is."

Naruto nudged her playfully. "Alright, fine. We can put a TV in the bedroom, too. That way, if you start crying over some tragic love story, I can be there to protect you."

Hinata rolled her eyes. "I don't cry that much."

Naruto gave her a deadpan look. "Hinata, you cried over a commercial last week."

Hinata turned red and swatted his arm. "It was a really touching commercial!"

Naruto laughed, pulling her close again. "Alright, alright. I'm just teasing."

Hinata sighed, looking around once more. The house wasn't just a house anymore—it was their future. She could see it all so clearly, and the realization made her heart squeeze with happiness.

Naruto watched her quietly, admiring the way her face softened with each new dream she painted in her mind. He knew, without a doubt, that this was the home they were meant to have.

"So…" he finally said. "Is this the one?"

Hinata turned to him, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "Yes," she whispered. "This is the one."

Naruto grinned. "Then it's settled. This is our home."

He kissed her forehead, sealing the promise between them. No matter what lay ahead, no matter the struggles and challenges—this would be their place, their sanctuary.

Hinata glanced at the clock on the wall and gasped. "Oh no, I'm going to be late!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow, looking up from where he was filling out paperwork with the seller. "Where are you going again?"

"I have dinner with Sakura and Ino," she said, hurriedly grabbing her purse.

Naruto grinned. "Ah, a top-secret girls' meeting? Should I be worried?"

Hinata rolled her eyes but smiled. "Not at all. You focus on getting the house. I'll be back later."

He smirked and leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. "Alright, have fun. Don't talk too much about how amazing your husband is, though. Might make them jealous."

Hinata giggled, swatting his arm playfully before dashing out the door.

The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the cozy restaurant as Hinata stepped inside. She spotted Sakura and Ino sitting at a corner table, chatting excitedly. The moment they saw her, both girls waved her over.

"HINATA!" Ino called out dramatically. "Finally, our missing friend has returned to us!"

Sakura smirked. "Yeah, we thought you ran off and started a whole new life without telling us."

Hinata giggled as she sat down. "I missed you both too."

Ino crossed her arms, pretending to be stern. "Well, you better have, because we have a LOT to catch up on."

A waitress arrived, and they quickly placed their orders—soba for Sakura, grilled fish for Ino, and miso soup with rice for Hinata. As soon as the waitress left, the interrogation began.

"So…" Sakura started, leaning in with a sly grin. "How's married life, Mrs. Uzumaki?"

Hinata turned bright red. "W-Well, it's… it's wonderful, really…"

Ino smirked. "Wonderful, huh? So wonderful you had to sneak off and get married without telling your two best friends?"

Hinata nearly choked on her water. "I-It wasn't like that! It just… happened so fast."

Sakura huffed playfully. "Uh-huh. And you couldn't have at least sent us a letter? A messenger bird? Something?"

Ino waved a hand dramatically. "I mean, seriously! One day you're Hinata Hyūga, and the next—BOOM! You're Mrs. Naruto Uzumaki! We didn't even get to help pick your dress!"

Hinata covered her face with her hands. "I'm sorry…" she mumbled.

The girls exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

Sakura reached over and squeezed her hand. "We're just teasing. We're really happy for you."

Ino nodded. "Yeah, we are. But since you deprived us of the wedding experience, we're making you let us help with the ceremony."

Hinata blinked in surprise. "You… want to help?"

Sakura scoffed. "Of course we do! We're not letting you plan this alone."

Hinata's heart swelled with warmth. "I-I would love that."

Before the conversation could continue, Ino casually leaned in. "So… speaking of rumors…"

Sakura shot her a warning look, but Ino pressed on. "There's been some talk around the village. Something about Naruto and… a destroyed village?"

Hinata stiffened. Her fingers trembled slightly against the table. "W-What?"

Sakura elbowed Ino. "Way to be subtle, Ino."

Hinata's face paled. She knew what they were talking about, but hearing it mentioned so casually, like it was gossip—like it wasn't something that haunted her thoughts every night—made her stomach twist.

Seeing her reaction, Ino quickly waved her hands. "Ahh! Never mind! I was just being nosy. Forget I said anything!"

Sakura changed the subject immediately. "Oh, actually, we have some big news of our own. Ino, do you want to tell her?"

Hinata, still shaken, was grateful for the distraction. She turned to Ino curiously.

Ino grinned. "Sai and I are finally together!"

Hinata gasped. "Oh! That's wonderful!"

Sakura smirked. "Took you long enough."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Oh, hush. We were taking things slow." She leaned in with a smug grin. "But now that we're official, let me tell you—Sai might be awkward, but he's… surprisingly good at certain things."

Sakura groaned. "Please don't."

Hinata blinked innocently. "What do you mean?"

Ino smirked. "Oh, you know, certain nighttime things."

Hinata turned beet red. "I-I don't need to hear this!"

Sakura buried her face in her hands. "Ino, you have NO shame."

Ino shrugged. "What? We're all married or dating now. We're adults!"

Sakura sighed. "Speaking of dating… Ino, do you have to keep bringing up my love life?"

Ino raised an eyebrow. "What love life?"

Sakura huffed. "Exactly."

Hinata tilted her head. "You're… not seeing anyone?"

Sakura crossed her arms. "Well, Sasuke's still… being Sasuke."

Ino frowned. "Ugh. He's always off doing his lone-wolf thing. When are you gonna give up on him?"

Sakura looked down at her drink, swirling it absentmindedly. "I don't know… I still love him, but I don't even think I exist to him half the time." She let out a sigh. "Maybe I should just go on that date with Lee."

Hinata and Ino stared at her.

"Lee?" Ino echoed.

Sakura shrugged. "He's nice, and he actually likes me."

Hinata hesitated before saying gently, "Sakura… do you really want to be with someone just because they notice you?"

Sakura sighed. "No. But… I also don't want to be alone forever."

Ino frowned but didn't push it. Instead, she changed the topic. "Anyway! Enough aboutthat. Hinata, when are you and Naruto actually having your wedding ceremony?"

Hinata brightened a little. "Oh, um… we haven't decided yet."

Ino gasped dramatically. "WHAT?!"

Sakura smirked. "That's unacceptable. You're married! You need to get your ceremony sorted!"

Hinata giggled. "Well… would you like to start the planning tomorrow?."

"OF COURSE! I can already picture the floral arrangement" Ino shouted.

"We'd love to," Sakura added warmly.

Hinata smiled, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude.

They spent the rest of the night chatting, laughing, and catching up on each other's lives. For the first time in what felt like ages, Hinata felt like a normal girl again—just three friends, talking about love, life, and the future.

And for tonight, that was enough.

The night air was crisp as Hinata walked down the quiet streets of Konoha. The dinner with Sakura and Ino had been a wonderful escape—filled with laughter, teasing, and warm memories.

But as she made her way home, that feeling began to fade.

A cold shiver ran down her spine.

She wasn't alone.

At first, she told herself she was imagining things. Maybe it was just the paranoia that had been gnawing at her since returning to the village, since being kidnapped. Everything had changed so drastically, so fast—Naruto had changed. Maybe she was just overthinking.

But then she heard it.

A faint shuffle. A presence lurking just beyond the edges of her vision.

She kept walking, forcing herself to remain calm. It's fine, it's fine. I'm in Konoha. Nothing will happen here.

But the feeling persisted.

Her hands clenched at her sides. The small side street she was taking home suddenly felt suffocating—too empty, too silent. The usual sounds of the village at night—the distant chatter of shinobi on patrol, the faint hum of lanterns swinging in the breeze—had disappeared.

Her heartbeat quickened.

She took a sharp turn, entering a more open path, hoping that whoever—whatever—was behind her would be exposed. But there was no one.

Nothing but darkness stretching between the buildings.

Her breath hitched. Maybe she really was just being paranoid. Maybe it was just the unease of everything happening with Naruto, with the village, with—

Crunch.

A footstep. Close. Too close.

Not paranoia.

Her body stiffened, every nerve alight with warning.

Someone was there.

Slowly, she gathered her courage, preparing to activate her Byakugan—But before she could react, a hand clamped over her mouth.

Cold. Rough. The unmistakable grip of someone strong—someone trained. Hinata's eyes widened in terror as she was yanked backward, her scream muffled against a gloved palm.

A sickening whisper brushed against her ear. "Shh… don't fight Hina-Chan."