A/n: I'm so terrible I know. I've been sitting on this chapter trying to finish it for forever. I dunno I just kind of ran out of juice... AT THE FINISH LINE! Who does that? Me apparently but I hope this doesn't suck too bad. You all have been so lovely and thank you for your support.
Hinata rubbed her eyes and smiled at feeling of an arm draped over her waist. She turned over to see the only face she ever wanted to wake up to. She loved how he looked so childlike in his sleep. She caressed his whiskered cheeks, something she used to only dream of doing. The corners of his mouth turned up and his eyes fluttered open.
"Good Morning," he looked into her eyes.
"Good Morning," she smiled. He kissed her forehead then pulled her unto his chest.
"Come here," he growled and she giggled. He stared up at her and wondered what he did to be blessed with an angel.
"What," she lightly blushed at his intense gaze.
"Nothing. I was just admiring your beauty," he smirked. He could be smooth when he wanted to be.
"Naruto-kun," she giggled, "Don't say things like that. It's embarrassing."
"But it's true," he reached up and brushed the hair that framed her face behind her ears. She turned her head to look away but he caught her chin and turned her back to face him. "You're perfect. There's nothing I'd change about you. All I ever want and everything I need is you."
"You're so cheesy," she giggled as the huge grin nearly split his face.
"Aw Angel," he laughed and took her hands in his, interlacing their fingers together. "Hey Hina," his voice took on a solemn tone,"I think we should just start over y'know."
"We can't just start over, Naruto-kun. There's no reset no jutsu. We just have to move forward even it's just a step at a time."
"Yea, you're right, I guess," he sighed,"So what's our first step?" Hinata poked her lip out in thought while Naruto fought back the squeal of how cute it is when she does that. She let go of his hand, much to his dismay, then reached out and placed her fingers to his temples. She lifted her hands up as if she was holding something in between them then tossed the imaginary object over her shoulder.
"No more masks," she stated firmly,"If this is going to work we have to be open with each other."
"No more mask," he sealed the promise with a smile.
"Good," she sighed then lay her head on his chest.
"Can we go somewhere today," he asked softly, inhaling her fragrance,"I want to take you out...on a proper date but I wanna go somewhere else first."
"Let's go now."
"Really? What? Now?"
"Yea," she reluctantly separated and started getting up. She sat on the edge of the bed then looked back at him, "Come on get up". Groaning, he sat up beside her. She then hopped up and walked over to her dresser pulling out clothes. He watched as she slid some sweat pants on and one of her hoodies. She picked his clothes off the floor and tossed them to him.
"How can you be so awake," he grumbled.
"Get up," shaking her head as she walked to her bathroom. He got dressed then joined her in the bathroom.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, "I'll meet you at the gate. We wouldn't want anyone finding out I snuck into Hinata-hime's room."
"See you down there," she giggled. He left out the window he had entered through the previous night. She continued to get ready and within minutes she was at the gate. He smiled when he saw her walk out. She wrapped him up in hug like they weren't together a few minutes ago; like just yesterday he wasn't just facing the possibility of losing her forever. He went in for a kiss but was denied.
"Is this like some kinda punishment or something," he poked his lip out and pouted.
"Y-you haven't brushed your teeth," she scrunched her face up.
"Because you insisted we go now," he sweat dropped and pouted.
"C'mon," she started walking and laughing.
They strolled out unto the lush green grass. The morning dew wetting their toes as they came to their destination. A small smile spread across his lips as he looked down at their intertwined fingers. He set down in the grass and gently pulled Hinata down with him. "Hey Mom, Dad," his eyes scanned the final resting place of the former Hokages and their spouses, "I brought somebody I want you to meet." He pecked her check then squeezed her hand tightly. "This is her! You know the one I told you about, Hinata and guess what? I really do love her, 'ttebayo!"
"Naruto-kun," she squealed and covered her blushing face.
He chuckled,"What? It's true, Hina-tenshi. I love you."
"I love you too," she whispered.
He sighed and turned back to the memorial. "I would go see him but I don't want to drag Hinata all over the place but when you see him tell Pervy Sage that I found her. I found the Great One," he beamed.
"The great one," Hinata quizzically looked up at him.
"Yea it's just this thing Pervy Sage used to say," he rubbed the back of his neck, "Don't worry about."
"Naruto, my boy," Jiraiya sighed as he stored away a photo he was just staring at, "One day you're going to meet a woman and nothing will ever be the same."
"What are you talking about, Old Man," a fifteen year old Naruto squinted at his sensei.
"The Great One. The woman that will change the way you look at the world.."
"Women again," he groaned, "Is that all you can talk about!"
"Shutup and listen," he smacked his pupil on back of the head. The blonde huffed and pouted. "."
"Why should I care," Naruto huffed, "All I'm worried about is becoming hokage."
"Beside every great man is a great woman. Even the Yondaime," he smirked knowing that'd catch the boy's attention.
"Eh, the Yondaime," Naruto looked up and gave his sensei his full attention, "So, like I have to get a girl before I become hokage?"
"Never mind boy," Jiraiya shook his head and stood to his with a smirk playing on his lips, "Let's head out."
Naruto chuckled a little as he remember the exchange. How he wished the old perv was still around to watch him. His gaze drifted to Hinata, who's head was tilted and brows furrowed in concern.
"Are you ok?"
"Yea, I'm fine," he put a big grin on. She nodded. They sat out in front of the memorial for some time. Naruto telling his mother and father stories in a way that only he could. "Alright," Naruto turned and faced her, "We should split up now and get ready for tonight." She nodded her head and couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips at the sight of his bright one. "I'll pick you up later," he leaned forward and pecked her on the lips.
"Don't overdo it," she looked up at him.
"Wh-what do you mean," he averted her gaze.
"I know where you're going. So don't overdo it, okay?"
"Okay," he groaned playfully before taking off. Hinata shook her head and smiled in amusement as she watched him run off.
"Teme," Naruto shouted as he pounded on the door, "Open up the fucking door, Sasuke!" The door slowly started to open, and it obviously wasn't moving fast enough for Naruto as he pushed it open. He stared down an irritated Uchiha. "You lied to me," he shouted.
"About what," Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"You know what!" A dark eyebrow arched up as if to say, "No, I don't." Naruto sighed then shifted awkwardly, "The thing! You lied about the thing."
"What thing, idiot? You're speaking nonsense."
"You lied about Hinata! You said you did the thing with Hinata," he shouted then looked away as he pouted.
"Oh that," Sasuke smirked.
"Yea that," Naruto narrowed his eyes, "You're fuckin' asshole."
"What else is new," he snorted.
"The ass whooping I'm going to give you!"
"You came to fight," a satisfied smirked played on his lip, "Well let's play, Dobe."
"Duckbutt headed bastard," Naruto mumbled as he and Sasuke stumbled down the street. Both attempting to support the other's weight.
"Idiot."
"Ugly bastard.
"Idiot."
"Pompous asshole."
"That's a pretty big word for you," Sasuke quipped.
"Shutup, you big-headed, egotistic, insufferable-"
Sasuke looked over at Naruto and cut him off, "Have you been reading?"
Naruto looked away and a light blush dusted his dirtied cheeks, "Yea, Hinata likes books, so I thought...I might you know read some." Sasuke couldn't help it anymore and burst into laughter. "Stop it! Stop laughing at me, Teme!"
"I can't help it," Sasuke lifted an aching hand to wipe a tear that formed away.
"Well you should help it. It's creepy," Naruto frowned and cringed at the sight of a guffawing Uchiha.
His laughter died down," We're here."
"Here," Naruto looked up. He wasn't even paying attention to where they were going. His face paled as he saw the pink doormat in front of the door they stood in front of. "I-I-I can't-"
"Shutup," Sasuke rolled his eyes and rung the door bell. The door opened and emerald eyes widened at the sight before her. Both of her boys standing in front of her looking as if they'd been to hell and back. Sakura heaved a heavy sigh and shook her head as she stepped out of the way.
They both tittered into her apartment looking as if they'd collapse at any moment. "Again," she groaned as they plopped down on her couch. Sasuke just shrugged while Naruto kept his eyes glued to his lap. She rolled up her sleeves before getting to work.
"Fix him first," Sasuke nodded in the blonde's direction and both Sakura and Naruto stiffened.
"Ok," she walked over to the couch.
"No, it fine," Naruto said in low voice.
"Stop acting like a baby," Sasuke rolled his eyes, "You can't go on a date like that. Your face is already ugly enough."
Blue eyes narrowed, he opened his mouth to snap back at the Uchiha but his words died on his lips as a soothing chakra infused hand rested on his cheek, easing the sting of the cuts on it. "You have a date tonight," Sakura softly smiled down at him.
"Um, uh, yea," he awkwardly sputtered then coughed to cover it.
"Well then let's get you patched up," she went to work acessing his injuries, "Can't have you taking Hinata out like this."
"Right," he warily looked up at her.
"Naruto," she focused on healing his arm, "I'm sorry."
He looked over at her and smiled a little, "I'm sorry too."
"Besties again," she paused her healing and held her hand out with her index and middle finger up.
"Really," he laughed and arched a brow. She nodded. "You're such a kid, Sakura."Her eyebrow twitched then he hooked his two fingers with her's. "Besties." She laughed then started healing him again.
"Alright," she clapped her hand as she finished then put her hands on her hips, "Now go take a shower, you reek and for once in your life comb your hair. Get her some flowers, maybe. Don't take her to Ichiraku's and-"
"I get it. I get it," he laughed and stood to his feet, "Thanks Sakura...We'll talk later."
"You're welcome," she nodded and sighed," and okay." Naruto started towards the door, glared at Sasuke then left. "Your turn," she sat beside the smirking Uchiha, "What?"
"What would you two do without me?"
"A world without Uchiha Sasuke," she tapped her chin, "I don't know. The sun would probably be brighter. The birds would sing a little louder." A light giggle filled the room and he snorted. "Thanks Sasuke. You know, you can be pretty nice in your own weird, twisted way."
"Tch, still annoying."
He took a deep breath as he approached his destination. He really shouldn't be this nervous but there was always the risk of messing everything up...again. Then what would he do. The time without her had been miserable and thinking about going the rest of his life without her was just too much. He raked his hands through his freshly cut, blonde hair. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Naruto saw a door open. Almost wanting to close his eyes but at the same time wanting to see what the door revealed, he froze in his spot.
All the air in his lungs whooshed out at the sight before him. His hands fidgeted as he watched her seemingly glide towards him. To think he almost lost her. The closest thing Konoha had to a princess, an angel in every way, and she had eyes for him. Only him. Her opal eyes smiling and lovingly gazing at him. The corner of her lips tugging upward. He wondered if she could hear his heart thumping against his chest.
"Are you ready, Naruto-kun," her honeyed words calming his jittery nerves.
"Yes," he nodded and held his hand to her. She took his hand and it still felt so comforting how her small hand fit perfectly in his large palm. His cerulean gaze drifted down to their intertwined fingers then up to meet her gaze. From that moment on he knew, he'd never let her go. He'd cherish her. He'd love her and only her.
END