✗𝓝𝓪𝓻𝓾𝓽𝓸 𝓞𝓷𝓮-𝓢𝓱𝓸𝓽𝓼 ✗

NaruHina - You Noticed?

Hinata was behind a tree watching Naruto train. Again.

It was surprising how much time she spent watching someone train, rather than actually training herself. No matter, there is no stop to a teenage girl's love.

She sighed, turning away with her back on the tree. She slumped to sit down on the forest floor, listening to Naruto pant and yell in frustration as he practised his new jutsu.

Hinata had loved Naruto for as long as she could remember, and she knew exactly why. When they were only young children, Naruto had told her to keep a smile on her face. Such wonderful words, she had thought. And even when he almost failed to graduate the academy, he had such determination. Passion. Enthusiasm. That's what she admired about him. And she knew what she wanted.

She woke up the next morning at dawn. A million thoughts were rushing through her head, and the dreams from the night swarmed her mind like wasps.

Her body felt heavy all of a sudden, and she dropped back into her bed. Naruto. That's who. She had promised herself that she would ask Naruto to get ramen with her. How could she forget so easily, she thought to herself.

She dragged herself out of bed, dressing in her favourite lilac dress. She opened her door to find Hanabi, looking evilly at her.

"Hanabi?" Hinata looked at her curiously, "Nani?"

"Onēsan, you are going on a date, aren't you?" she giggled. Sometimes the girl was so immature for her age.

"N-no!" Hinata quickly denied. She wasn't lying. Technically.

Hanabi produced something from behind her back. A sunflower.

"Like your name, onēsan," she smiled. Hinata took the flower cautiously, and Hanabi scampered away.

Hinata's lips curved into a smile. That girl was full of mysteries.

When evening started to fall, she made her way down to the street, and took a deep breath. She had placed the sunflower in her hair, and started to walk to Naruto, who was standing in the street.

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata whispered from behind him. He jumped and turned quickly. When he saw her, he blushed.

"You look beautiful today..." the words escaped from his mouth. He immediately seemed embarrassed. "Um. Hi, Hinata-chan."

"N-naruto-kun?" Hinata became flustered as always. "Will you... will you accompany me... to... to the ramen shop?"

Naruto answered instantly. "Ramen?! Of course!" he grinned.

He strode towards it, leaving Hinata to stumble behind him. Hinata's face was bright red with embarrassment, but she had done it! And he had accepted!

They sat by the bar eating the ramen when Naruto spoke up.

"Hinata-chan?"

"Y-yes?" she stuttered, almost choking on her ramen.

Naruto patted her on her back, which only evoked more coughing.

"I'm okay now," Hinata whispered, still feeling awkward. Naruto nodded, and there was silence for a while.

Hinata was finishing the last of her ramen when Naruto turned to her again.

"Hinata-chan. I saw you watching me train the other day."

Hinata looked at him, startled. "W-what?!"

"In fact, I always see you watching me."

"You noticed?" she mumbled, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Always."

Naruto put a hand to her cheek. Hinata looked up into his warm blue eyes. "Hinata?"

She tilted her head.

"I love you."

"What?!" her eyes widened, and Naruto's hand slipped from her cheek to her hand.

"I said I love you Hinata."

"I-I..." Hinata stumbled, "I love you too, Naruto-kun!"