Orange, Spirals and Everything Nice

Thirty-Seven: His Love, Her Memories

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters or the setting of the story. They all exclusively belong to Mr. Masashi Kishimoto in all its rights.

Hinata watched with worried eyes as she gently rubbed Akamaru's head who was lying beside the still unconscious Kiba back at the camp. Her teammate and Lee were both already out of danger, thanks to Ino and Sakura's healing proficiency. But both guys still needed rest as they have exhausted almost every shred of of their chakra just to defeat one member of the Ikizoku clan. 

Their supposedly easy mission drastically turned out to be too exhausting for everyone these last few hours, but they knew that things are only starting. 

A few minutes later, Shikamaru, Naruto and Sasuke joined the rest of Konoha Eleven to discuss their newly formulated strategies. Now that they all have a grave idea about how strong their opponents actually are, all they need to do now is to counter-attack while having the least injuries as possible. 

The team listened as Shikamaru relayed the new plan to directly destroy the Ama no Hoko before the Ikizokus complete their 'ritual' and gain absolute power from the tower. Obviously, Naruto and Sasuke will be the sacrificial frontliners for the strategy to work. 

Though instead of worrying, the team gave the strongest members their silent encouragements, fully believing of what they're capable of, as they all promise to watch their backs at all times. 

Shikamaru then warned and reminded everyone of the enemy's genjutsus. Sakura is their biggest bet against it, that's why she'll be placed on stand-by, along with Ino who'll use her clan techniques to communicate with the rest of the team during battle, and relay further information on how to defeat the Ikizokus the same way the latter converses mid-battle.

"Any ideas on how to counter the memory loss thing if worse comes to worst?" Choji nervously asked after the briefing, silencing everybody. 

Shikamaru glanced at Tenten who apologetically shook her head in response. The genius sighed and nodded with understanding. Unfortunately, the kunoichi could only secure two memory scrolls with the amount of time that they have. 

And there was nothing they could really do about it now. 

"Isn't that why you have us -ttebayo!?" Naruto's cheery voice boomed across the camp with his wide, toothy grin pasted on his whiskered cheeks. The blonde ninja even nudged the Uchiha beside him who curtly blurted out a cold "Hn."

Hinata immediately stiffened at the hero's words. 

She had so often heard those words of conviction containing the blonde's selfless will to save everyone at the cost of his own. His life. 

But this time is entirely different. It wasn't because she was afraid that he'd lose the battle---- well, it's not like she ever doubted him losing his battles---- but the heiress was terrified of the possibility that her Naruto-kun will forget about her. 

Especially now, when everything she'd ever dreamed of about the boy she loved so blindly her whole life is already hers at last.

Hinata had long stopped listening to the rest of the conversation. 

That's why she didn't hear Shikamaru explain about the memory scrolls or Sasuke's warning about anyone who'd try and help him and Naruto during the most crucial points during battle.