Yes, Naruto, Everyone knew!

8. The date! ( Part 1 )

Naruto checked himself over as he approached the Hyuga estate. "Okay, clothes, Check! Flower Scroll, Check! Breath-" the blond said as he then breathed into his hand. "Eh... better pop a mint to be safe."

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a pack of mints, and stuck one into his mouth. "Okay," he mumbled as the candy dissolved. "Just play it cool, and all will go fine. ... I'm only dating one of my best friends, and if it goes badly, I'll lose her forever as both a friend and girlfriend."

The blond laughed nervously as he choked down the rest of the mint over the lump in his throat. "Yeah, no pressure. None at all!"

With a tired sigh he tried to pat down his spiky-hair again and then exclaimed, "Alright, showtime!"

And with that, Naruto walked up to the gates of the Hyuga household.

As he neared the entrance, a guard suddenly appeared in front of the entryway. Naruto froze for a moment and stared at the man... he seemed familiar somehow.

"Halt, state your name and business," demanded the Hyuga as his eyes enlarged and his veins expanded.

Honestly, with the number of times Naruto visited over the years you'd think they'd have cut out the formalities by now. But the Hyuga clan as all about tradition, now wasn't it? "Uh- Uzumaki Naruto, I have an... appointment with Lady Hinata tonight," answered Naruto nervously.

"Hmm..." replied the guard as he's eyes returned to normal. Then with a quick nod, he walked off to the side and said, "Please, proceed."

Naruto straightened his back and held his head high as he walked toward the guard. Just as he was about to pass the man softly commented, "It would seem that you have finally returned the feelings that Lady Hinata bestowed upon you..."

Naruto froze for a moment and glanced at the man out of the corner of his eye.

"You know..." he continued with a reserved air, "during the Pain attack I ordered her not to engage him, that she would only be a hindrance..."

Naruto's fists tightened of their own accord.

"I was also the one who had whisked Hinata-sama away after you protected her from those children all those years ago," explained the man in a neutral tone.

The blond's eyes went wide for a moment and then settled into a cold glare. "I remember you, now, you're Ko."

"Hai," confirmed the man as he continued to stare straight ahead, not even glancing at Naruto as he spoke. "In her youth, I was Hinata-sama's protector."

The blond's fists began to shake as he tried his best to hold his emotions in check. He remembered this guy alright. He remembered him roughly grabbing Hinata and ordering her never to associate with him again. As Ko dragged her away, right before Naruto fell unconscious, he had seen her heartbroken tears as she tried to return to his side.

"But..." said Ko neutrally, "I believe that you did a far better job of that than I, over the years."

With that statement, the anger the blond had been holding back left him. His back straightened again as he confusedly glanced back at Ko.

"Repeatedly, I had to order her to stay away from you," stated the man as a slight grin spread across his stern face. "It was the only order of mine she ever disobeyed."

Ko then glanced at the blond and whispered, "And I'm very glad she did."

Before Naruto could say anything in response, Hanabi burst though the main doors and exclaimed, "There you are!"

She then quickly ran up and grabbed Naruto's hand. "We were wondering where you've been!"

"Come on!" she exclaimed and dragged him towards the door.