They walked side by side through Konohagakure, the village alive around them in a calm. Just life moving forward, one step at a time.
The streets were busy but not crowded. Shopkeepers stood outside their stalls, calling out friendly greetings and daily deals.
A pair of academy kids darted past them, laughing loudly as one nearly tripped over his own sandals. Somewhere nearby, oil crackled over a grill, the sweet scent of dango mixing with warm bread and faint traces of incense drifting from a shrine down the road.
Naruto stretched his arms behind his head, hands clasped as he walked, posture loose. His gaze wandered from rooftop to rooftop, taking everything in like he was seeing it for the first time.
"You know…" he said casually, breaking the comfortable silence, "I don't usually get to do this."
Hinata glanced at him, curiosity soft in her eyes. "Do what?"
"Just… walk around," he replied with a small laugh.
She smiled faintly at that. "Me too," she admitted quietly. "I'm usually training… or reading alone in my room."
Naruto turned his head toward her, surprised. "Really? That's it?"
Hinata looked up as she thought about it, fingers fidgeting together for a moment. Then she met his eyes again and gave a shy shrug. "I don't really do anything else."
Naruto blinked, genuinely stunned—then his expression softened into a warm grin. "Well… I guess you just found something new to do."
Hinata tilted her head, confusion and curiosity mixing as her heart skipped a beat. "And that is?"
He looked straight ahead, trying—and failing—to sound casual. "Walking around with me. If you want, I mean."
Her cheeks flushed instantly, a soft pink spreading across them. She lowered her gaze for a second, then looked back up, smiling—small, sincere, and unmistakably happy.
"Yes," she said, voice gentle but sure. "I'd like that."
They continued walking, steps naturally falling into sync, the village unfolding before them.
They passed a narrow row of shops tucked between taller buildings, their wooden signs swaying gently in the breeze. One small stall stood out—warm steam curling up from a metal tray, the sweet smell of batter and red bean paste hanging invitingly in the air.
Hinata slowed her steps without even realizing it.
Her eyes flicked to the taiyaki for just half a second—long enough to betray her—before she quickly looked away, posture straightening as if she'd been caught doing something wrong.
Naruto noticed immediately.
He followed her gaze, then smirked. "You want one?"
Her eyes widened in panic. "N-no! I mean—if you want one, that's fine! I don't— I wasn't—"
She waved her hands slightly, words tumbling over each other as her cheeks warmed.
Naruto chuckled, soft and amused, stopping in front of the stall. "Relax. I want one."
Before she could protest again, he ordered two. The vendor handed them over, the fish-shaped pastries still hot to the touch, steam escaping as Naruto turned back to her.
He held one out.
Hinata hesitated, then reached for it carefully. Her fingers brushed his—just for a moment—but it sent a small jolt through her. She froze for half a heartbeat before pulling back, clutching the taiyaki with both hands like it was something precious.
"T-thank you," she said softly, eyes lowered but smiling.
Naruto scratched the back of his head, watching her take a small bite. Her expression brightened instantly, eyes softening as she chewed.
'…Does this make me a simp for Hinata?' he thought, lips twitching.
He shrugged it off almost immediately.
Worth it.
They continued walking, each holding their taiyaki, the space between them somehow warmer than before—filled with quiet smiles, shared glances, and a simple moment neither of them wanted to end.
The silence between them wasn't awkward—just comfortable. The kind that didn't demand words, only presence. Their footsteps blended with the soft sounds of the village: leaves rustling overhead, distant chatter, the occasional clang of metal from a smithy somewhere far below.
After a while, they reached a small park tucked away from the main road. Tall trees stretched skyward, their branches weaving together to cast cool, dappled shadows over winding stone paths.
A few villagers sat on benches, chatting quietly or simply enjoying the breeze. Wind chimes hung from a nearby post, chiming softly whenever the air stirred.
Naruto slowed and stopped near a railing overlooking the lower part of Konohagakure. Rooftops spread out beneath them like a living mosaic—smoke curling lazily from chimneys, people moving through streets like tiny pieces of a larger picture.
"This place hasn't changed much," he said, resting his arms on the railing. "I used to come here a lot when I was younger."
'Well… not me,' he corrected internally.' The previous Naruto.'
The thought passed quickly, leaving behind only a faint sense of nostalgia that felt real enough.
Hinata nodded, gaze drifting over the view.
"I remember seeing you sometimes," she said softly. "You always looked like you were thinking really hard about something."
Naruto smiled faintly, eyes unfocused as old memories surfaced—lonely afternoons, quiet anger, stubborn dreams. "Yeah… I probably was."
He leaned more fully against the railing, shoulders relaxed. Hinata stood beside him, hands folded neatly in front of her, close enough that he could feel her presence without touching her.
"I'm glad," she said quietly.
He turned to her, curious. "About what?"
"That you asked me to come with you today," she said, meeting his eyes this time. Her voice trembled just a little, but she didn't look away. "I… I'm really happy."
Something warm stirred in Naruto's chest—the same feeling from earlier, only deeper now, steadier. Not loud or overwhelming. Just right.
"I'm glad too," he replied honestly.
They stayed there for a while, watching the village breathe and move beneath them, neither of them in any hurry to leave.
---
By the time they climbed higher, the path opened up onto the base of the Hokage Monument. The massive stone faces loomed above them, carved into the mountain with quiet authority, gazing out over the entire Leaf Village.
Naruto stopped, hands on his hips, eyes shining. "Always wanted to visit this place."
Hinata smiled, her voice low and awed. "Me too. I like the view."
"Yeah," he said, looking out over the village spread endlessly below them. "Me too." Then he grinned, confidence slipping naturally into his tone. "Get ready—one day you'll see my face on this wall."
Hinata blinked, then laughed softly. "I can't wait to see that. Though… carving your spiky hair might be difficult."
Naruto chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, probably. But I still want it there. In fact, I want it more detailed than any of the others."
Hinata giggled, light and unrestrained. "You wouldn't want anyone getting your looks wrong."
He smirked, turning toward her with a knowing look. "See? You get it, Hinata."
Naruto watched her from the corner of his eye as they stood there, the quiet stretching comfortably between them.
'This is going way better than I thought, he admitted to himself. Good. At least now I know the mission won't be awkward.'
He shifted his weight against the railing and glanced at her. "So…" he said casually, breaking the silence, "what are your goals, Hinata?"
Hinata didn't flinch.
In fact, she smiled—soft, almost relieved—like she'd been waiting for the question.
"My goals?" she repeated quietly.
She looked out over the village for a moment, gathering her thoughts, the breeze gently stirring her dark hair.
"I used to think my only goal was to change myself," she said honestly. "To stop being weak. To stop hesitating. To become someone my clan could be proud of."
Naruto listened without interrupting.
"But now…" she continued, fingers tightening slightly around her sleeves, "I want more than that."
She turned to face him, her eyes steady—still gentle, but no longer uncertain.
"I want to become strong enough to protect people," Hinata said. "Not just with my fists, but with my heart. I want to stand on my own—without fear—and make choices I won't regret."
Naruto blinked, genuinely surprised.
"That's… a really solid goal," he said. "You've already come a long way, you know."
Her cheeks warmed faintly, but she didn't look away this time.
"Seeing you keep moving forward," she admitted, voice soft but clear, "it pushed me to do the same. I don't want to just admire strength anymore. I want to have it."
Naruto felt something click into place.
He smiled—wide and sincere. "Then I think you're already on the right path."
Hinata returned the smile, smaller but brighter than before.
"And you?" she asked after a moment. "What's your goal, Naruto?"
He leaned back, eyes lifting to the sky.
"For now?" he said thoughtfully. "Protect the people I care about. Finish what I started. And make sure the future doesn't end up repeating the same mistakes."
He glanced at her again, grin returning. "Guess we're not that different."
Hinata nodded, her heart beating a little faster.
' I think I like him even more now' she thought.
TO BE CONTINUED