Naruto woke up and went to Tsunade's office. The tower halls were quiet—only the soft echo of his boots on polished stone and the distant murmur of shinobi preparing for war. He pushed the door open without knocking.
As soon as he entered, Tsunade looked up from the scrolls spread across her desk. A genuine smile bloomed on her face—soft, almost relieved—as she stood up, chair scraping back.
"Just the person I was looking for," she said, voice warm in a way she rarely let show.
He smirked, stepping inside and letting the door click shut behind him. "Did you miss me that much?"
Tsunade immediately frowned, remembering what they did the night before. A faint blush crept up her neck, dusting her cheeks pink. She quickly locked it down—crossing her arms, chin lifting in that familiar defiant tilt.
*Ahem.*
She cleared her throat—sharp, professional. "You'll stay at the village for now. So you don't have to worry about immediately leaving anytime soon."
"Oh, that's nice." Naruto's smirk widened. "Guess I get to spend more time with you."
He walked around her desk—casual, unhurried—and hopped up to sit on the edge right beside her, one leg dangling, close enough that their thighs almost brushed. The scent of her—faint medicinal herbs, and something uniquely Tsunade—hit him like a quiet comfort.
"I'm being serious here, Naruto." Her tone sharpened, though the blush lingered. "You know the Akatsuki are looking for you. Well… more specifically Madara."
Naruto quoted with his fingers—mocking air quotes—"Yeah… 'Madara'." He understood. "When are you leaving?"
She sat back in her chair, exhaling slowly. "Tomorrow. I've already gathered all ninja, chūnin and above."
"Really? You work quick." He complimented her genuinely, voice dropping softer as he leaned in a little.
He put his hand on her chin—gentle but firm—tilting her face up toward him. He could hear someone coming down the hallway—soft footsteps approaching the door—and slowly leaned in closer.
"After this, we should go on a date," he said, their lips inches apart, breath mingling warm and close.
Tsunade blushed harder—cheeks flaming now—but her eyes fluttered half-closed, ready to meet him.
In a blink, Naruto vanished.
The door opened. Shizune stepped in, holding a stack of reports, TonTon trotting behind her with a little *oink*.
She found Tsunade still leaning forward—eyes closed, lips parted slightly, frozen mid-kiss with no one there.
Shizune blinked.
"Are you… that tired?" she asked, almost laughing. TonTon snorted in agreement, tiny hooves tapping the floor.
Tsunade's eyes snapped open. She straightened instantly—face burning crimson, hands flying to her cheeks as if she could physically hide the blush.
Naruto was gone.
She cursed him internally—' that damn brat' heart still racing from the almost-kiss.
Seeing TonTon laugh again, little piggy giggles made her eye twitched.
"Another squeal from you and I'll turn you into a kebab," she growled at the pig.
TonTon immediately froze in fear—eyes wide, tiny body going statue-still.
Shizune burst out laughing—covering her mouth with one hand, shoulders shaking.
Tsunade glared at her, then at the empty spot where Naruto had been.
"Shut up, Shizune."
But the corner of her mouth twitched—just a little. She sat back down, still flushed, and tried to focus on the scrolls.
It wasn't working.
....
With Naruto who had just waited Tsunade. He was currently standing outside of Hinata's place.
The Hyūga manor stretched farther than his apartment three times over—sprawling traditional buildings connected by covered walkways, high walls topped with decorative tiles, expansive gardens filled with manicured bonsai, koi ponds, and rows of cherry blossom trees whose petals drifted lazily in the late afternoon breeze.
The compound exuded quiet wealth and discipline; even the air felt heavier here, thick with the scent of blooming flowers, polished wood, and the faint metallic tang of chakra training grounds in the distance.
He could sense her inside—not her alone, but every ninja in the estate. Hiashi had gathered them—dozens of Byakugan users, their chakra signatures sharp and focused, moving through drills and meetings in perfect formation. The entire place hummed with controlled energy.
'Well, this'll be risky. Worth it though,' he thought, lips curving into a small, determined smile.
Naruto immediately masked his chakra completely—pulling it inward until he felt like a ghost, undetectable even to the Byakugan unless they were looking straight at him.
He moved through the Hyūga estate undetected, steps silent as a whisper on the stone paths.
He slipped past the outer guards—two branch members standing rigid at the gate—ducked under a low archway, skirted a training courtyard where young Hyūga were practicing Gentle Fist forms in synchronized silence, and wove through shadowed corridors lined with sliding paper doors and hanging lanterns.
The compound was peaceful—bathed in the soft glow of the sun filtering through leaves, the scent of cherry blossoms lingering in the air like sweet perfume. Distant birds chirped; a koi splashed lazily in a pond.
With ease, he stopped just outside her room—his silhouette casting a faint shadow against the paper door, heart beating a little faster despite his calm exterior.
A moment later, the door slid open with a soft *shhh*.
Hinata stood there—white eyes widening in instant recognition. Her long dark hair was loose, framing her face; she wore a simple lavender yukata tied with a pale sash, sleeves falling softly over her hands.
The moment her gaze met his, a deep blush exploded across her cheeks—pale skin turning rose-pink in seconds, spreading to her ears and down her neck.
"Naruto-kun! What are yo—"
Before she could finish, he moved fast—slipping inside and covering her mouth with one hand, the other gently closing the door behind him.
The room was small and neat: low table, neatly folded futon, a vase of fresh flowers on the windowsill, sunlight slanting in golden bars across the tatami.
"Shh," he whispered, smiling softly despite the mischief in his eyes. "I didn't necessarily enter here with permission."
Hinata's eyes went huge—pupils dilating as she stared at his hand covering her mouth. Her face turned completely red, blush deepening to a vivid crimson that made her look like she might combust.
Her breathing quickened against his palm; she could feel the warmth of his skin, the faint calluses from years of training, the steady pulse in his wrist.
Naruto chuckled—quiet, warm—watching the way her cheeks burned and her lashes fluttered.
"You won't be loud if I remove my hand, right?" he asked, voice low and teasing.
She hesitated—eyes darting to the side—then nodded slowly, small and shy.
He removed his hand carefully. Hinata stayed frozen for a second, lips parted, still blushing furiously as she looked up at him standing there in her room—black jacket slightly rumpled, hair messy from the wind, blue eyes bright and warm.
'Naruto-kun's in my room!' she thought, heart slamming against her ribs so hard she was sure he could hear it. 'What should I do!? I never thought our relationship would get this far. Well… I did…'
Memories flashed—nights she'd lain awake, cheeks burning, fantasizing about him in ways that were far from innocent: his hands on her waist, his lips on her neck, his body pressed close.
The thoughts made her blush blossom even more, spreading down her neck and chest until she felt like she was on fire.
Naruto watched her—saw the way her eyes went distant for a second, the way her breathing hitched, the fresh wave of pink flooding her face—and chuckled again, softer this time.
"You know," he said, stepping closer, voice dropping to a warm murmur, "you're cute when you blush."
Hearing that was an overload.
Hinata's eyes rolled back slightly—knees buckling—and she passed out cold, body going limp like a string-cut puppet.
Naruto sighed—half-amused, half-exasperated—and caught her before she hit the floor, arms wrapping around her waist to hold her upright against his chest.
'Yeah… it might be too early for that,' he thought, gently lowering her onto the futon and laying her down with care.
He brushed a strand of dark hair from her face, thumb lingering on her cheek for a second.
She looked peaceful—lashes fanned against pink cheeks, lips slightly parted, breathing slow and even.
He sat back on his heels, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Guess I'll wait for you to wake up, Hinata."
Outside, cherry blossoms continued to drift past the window.
TO BE CONTINUED