Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, though I wish I did. What can I say, he became very good looking in Shippuden!

Author's note: Ah, man, I now have three work in progress stories on this site. Oh well. I began writing this after we found out Hinata survived. My friends who read these for me think its my best one yet, probably because I was just like Hinata in school, just a little more sarcastic. Here it goes!

I was walking home after finishing up some remedial training. I had just gotten out of the hospital, now fully recovered from the wound I had sustained defending Naruto from Pain. I still had the scar on my upper right abdomen to show for it.

I glanced around the village, still a work in progress, despite the rebuilding efforts that had begun after the Akatsuki attack three months ago. Was it only three months ago? It doesn't feel like it has been that long since, but I was in critical condition for most of it. That's what happens when you damage your liver.

"Hinata!" a voice called out. I turned around, my pale lavender eyes widening in surprise.

"Sakura, Ino! What are you doing?" I gasped out, shocked to see them. I thought they were still pulling double shifts at the hospital while Tsunade-sama continued to recover. At least she is out of that coma. I don't even think Jiraiya got beat up as badly as Danzo did when she found out what he had done while she was incapacitated.

They caught up with me and each took one of my arms. "Now that you are out of the hospital, we have some important business to take care of," Sakura announced.

"What business?" I asked, completely clueless.

"Shopping, the best kind. You need some new clothes, Hinata," Ino happily said.

"Why? My clothes are just fine," I protested.

"Not for a date. A certain ninja we know has been asking us for advice about dates. We know he is going to ask you out," Sakura grinned at me.

I began to blush, "Who is this ninja?" hoping for a certain ninja, and praying it wasn't one of my teammates.

She smirked in reply, "Just a certain hyperactive, knuckleheaded, talented ninja named Naruto Uzumaki."

My blush deepened as I began to hyperventilate. Next thing I knew, I was laying in the street with Ino and Sakura leaning over me. They were laughing.

"Here is your first rule for dating Naruto. You can't faint every time he touches you," Sakura replied while still laughing. "We don't want him to bring you to the hospital right after we finally released you."

I blushed again, "Are you sure? Naruto-kun is going to ask me out?"

They began laughing again as Ino helped me to my feet. "We wouldn't tease you about this, Hinata. He is going to ask you out," she reassured me.

"What should I wear?" I asked, hardly able to believe that Naruto, who I had been crushing on since I was eight, was going to ask me out.

"That is why we are here. Tenten is going to meet us at the store. We will help you find the perfect outfit. Besides, we all have dates we need to prepare for," Ino grinned.

"Who are you all going out with?"

"I finally accepted a date from Lee," Sakura replied with a blush, "Tenten is going with Neji, big surprise, and who are you going with, Ino?"

"Chouji, you won't believe what I had to do to get him to ask me out," she replied.

"You asked him out instead?" Sakura smirked at her friend.

"How did you guess?"

I giggled at the banter, and then stared as we entered one of the best dress stores in Konoha. I had never worn a dress like these, the formal wear in my clan was kimonos only. "I can't wear these," I weakly protested.

Tenten came out from behind a rack of dresses. "Oh, yes, you can, Hinata. You're a pretty girl; don't be afraid to show it. Your father will not disown you for wearing a dress on a date."

"Well…" I murmured, looking over the beautiful dresses. I had plenty of money saved from my missions, so price wasn't a problem. I just normally wore my coat, a mesh t-shirt, and leggings.

"Hmmm, what would look good on you?" Ino mused, looking at my hair, eyes, and skin tone. "I think violet would be a great color on you, maybe also a dark blue. Silver and white would also go great with your coloring."

"I like violet," I murmured.

"How about cap sleeves and a long skirt? That will make you appear taller," Sakura suggested.

I nodded. In the years Naruto had been gone from the village, he had gotten quite tall. I was the shortest of us four kunoichi, and a little sensitive about my height.

"Don't forget heels, to really make you taller. Not to mention, they make your legs look great," Tenten winked at me. I blushed again.

"Hinata, what size do you wear?" Ino asked.

I told her my measurements and her eyes nearly popped out her head. "Are you joking?"

"No, Hanabi had to measure me last week for a new formal kimono," I replied, a little embarrassed.

"Take off that coat, Hinata." I did as they ordered. "Girl, I would kill to have half your curves. If you ever wear that coat again when it isn't winter, I will make Neji break into your room and steal it so I can burn it," Tenten threatened.

I gulped. She was serious, and I knew she could get Neji to do that. "I promise I will only wear this during winter."

"Good," Sakura nodded. She and Ino went tearing through the store, picking up some dresses, discarding others, and getting into arguments about styles and shades of color. Tenten began examining shoes while I looked at jewelry.

About fifteen minutes later, Ino and Sakura came back with their spoils. "Hinata, we've found the perfect dress for you!" Ino announced as they shoved me into a dressing room with a lilac colored dress. "Put it on and show us!"

I shook my head in amazement of my bossy friends and followed orders. The dress was a soft lilac silk, snugly fitted, showing off my figure, but the skirt, which hit me at my knees, was slightly flared, making it easy to walk. The collar, cap sleeves, and the hem were trimmed in a dark violet. I shyly gasped at myself in the mirror. I looked amazing, not the shy, slightly clumsy kunoichi I usually saw.

I exited the dressing room and saw my friends begin to clap. "That is a perfect fit!" Ino sighed, "I am amazing."

"Nice and sweet, but just a little sexy," Sakura analyzed, "Hinata, I think you will knock Naruto unconscious."

"Are you going to get the dress?" Tenten demanded.

"I do like it," I admitted, doing a little twirl.

"It's official, the dress is perfect and now onto our quest for shoes!" Ino exclaimed. I quickly changed back into my clothes, again examining my scar. This represented the day I had finally confessed my feelings to the boy I've admired and loved since our days at the academy. It was a large price to pay, but it had started this. I just hope he will be gentle with my heart. It's been wounded too many times already. I stopped my gloomy introspection, and left the dressing room, carrying the dress in my arms.

The shoes were easy; we picked a pair of dark violet dress sandals with four inch heels. I had never worn shoes with heels that high before, but I liked them. Finally, I found a silver necklace, bracelet, earrings, and hairpiece. The other three all found things for their respective dates, but they were mostly focused on me finding the perfect things.

As we left the store, I gave my thanks to me three friends, wishing them luck with their respective dates, and began to head home, carrying my purchases.

"Hey, Hinata-chan!"

I stopped dead in my tracks. I couldn't believe it. And yet here he was, calling my name. Whatever happens, girl, you had better not stutter or faint! I ordered myself. "Naruto-kun! How are you doing?" Yeah, no stutter!

"I'm great, Hinata-chan. How are you feeling? I see Grandma Tsunade finally let you out of the hospital." He was starting at my with his bright blue eyes, looking a little nervous. He took a deep breath, "Thank you for helping me with the battle against Pain. I couldn't have defeated him without you. I just wish you hadn't nearly been killed."

"You're welcome, Naruto-kun," I replied, blushing just a little, "As for getting hurt, it is all right. I am fully recovered."

He took another deep breath and met my eyes again, "Do you mean what you said to me, right when you got in between the two of us?"

"I always speak the truth to you, Naruto-kun," I replied with a strength in my voice I didn't know I had, "Yes, I meant every word."

"Why? I am just a knucklehead, according to everyone here."

"I want to tell you, but not in the middle of a street," I quietly replied, still meeting his eyes with a steady gaze.

"Do you want to go out sometime, Hinata-chan? Just to get to know each other better, and maybe you could answer my question. What do you see in me that no one else sees?"

"I see what others overlook," I said, "Yes, I would really enjoy that. I'd love to go out, Naruto-kun!"

He gave me a huge smile. "How about tomorrow night?"

"Sure, at about five?"

"Okay, I'll meet you at your house at five."

"No, not at my house!" I exclaimed, "I don't think my father likes you, Naruto-kun. I'll meet you outside my home." I don't even want to imagine my father's reaction to this!

He nodded, understanding, "Not a problem. I'll see you tomorrow, Hinata-chan." Catching me by complete surprise, he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you again. Maybe something can come from this." He gave me a different smile, a little more nervous and tender, and then took off.

"See you, Naruto-kun," I whispered, my mind was racing to process everything that had happened. Naruto-kun kissed me! With that thought, I was again passed out in the street.

I came to with Neji shaking my arm. He smirked at me as he helped me up, "Did you just encounter Naruto again?"

"He asked me out, and kissed me on the cheek," I whispered, trying not to pass out from overload again.

He started and then smiled. "I won't tell Hiashi-jisan," he promised while helping gather my spilled purchases. "When is your date?"

"Tomorrow night at five," I replied as we headed home.