Oh boy, do I have some explaining to do...

So look, I know I'm an ass for leaving this story hanging for so long. And I know that as a reader, it sucks to read a story that's so sparsely updated. And I really want to give you guys the boatload of excuses that I have, but that would just be wasting time. I'm sure you all know how life can get in the way of things, and how we have to overcome certain obstacles before we can move on. I've gotten through most of that and now, after months, I finally have a large amount of free time on my hands. So I guess I'm writing again. Which is a very good thing. I love doing this and hope I can post more frequently in the future. You guys deserve it. I definitely feel like I'm back in the groove of things and I'll do my best to make sure that I don't fall back out of it.

Also, I simply must take a moment and thank Serious Sam for all of the help he has given me. He was more than willing to sit down with me and discuss the plot when I was drawing blanks, and if it weren't for his ideas and assistance I would not have been able to finish this thing. People like him are the reason I don't intend to stop writing any time soon. So, for that, and everything else, thank you.

And one more thank you needs to be doled out to the surprisingly large number of you who left reviews despite the story not being updated in months. Seeing those reviews would force me to think about this story and is ultimately what compelled me to write as soon as my schedule cleared up. Thank you, and a big thanks to everyone who has reviewed and continues to do so. I do this for you guys.

Oh, and keeping up the tradition of updating the numbers as we go along, thank you all very much for over three-hundred reviews, four-hundred faves, and six-hundred followers! Please please please don't stop! Your support means a lot, even though I don't show it all of the time. I'll start though.

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My reflection bore a wide, genuine smile that I wasn't entirely used to seeing. My eyes shone with an excitement that they hadn't possessed in ages. Elation swelled in my chest and my mind was at ease, focused on one thing and one thing alone: the time I was about to spend with Uzumaki Naruto.

The last date had been incredible, an indescribable evening that I would certainly remember as being one of the greatest nights of my life. A barrage of welcome memories flooded my mind, scenes that I never before thought imaginable. Our discussion-filled walk through the rain, sharing cheap vendor food, an unexpected swim and finally mustering up the courage to kiss him.

He was eager to meet again, and so was I. How could I not be? I loved him. I always had, and I always would. That feeling was confirmed every time I saw him. Every word that I struggled to say, every butterfly that fluttered about my stomach, every pink dusting of my cheeks. And the thought that he felt similarly to the way I did, that he reciprocated even a fraction of my love for him was almost too much to comprehend.

I stared at my face in the mirror, trying to find some blemish or mark that could potentially ruin everything. Satisfied, I took a few steps back, trying to fit the rest of myself into the small frame of the mirror. I decided to wear a red dress that I had all but forgotten. It was close-fitting, hugging my waist and flowing over my hips. My chest wasn't too exposed, and the hem grazed the bottom of my thighs. Certainly a step up from the outfit I had worn to Naruto's celebration. Dark stockings covered the exposed portion of my legs, and small red slippers that had come with the dress tied everything together. I gave a small twirl, failing to stifle the giggle that escaped me when the skirt flared out and gracefully fell back into place.

I had spent at least an hour that morning trying to find something suitable to wear. It was a bit unlike me to worry so much about clothes, however my desire to make this evening memorable for both me and him far outweighed my desire to just throw on something and be done with it.

The dress I now wore had been bought ages ago, before I lived in the house I now occupied and before I even thought that one day I'd need to look nice for a date with the Rokudaime Hokage. Yamanaka Ino insisted that I go shopping with her, and I found myself unable to say no. She practically dragged me from shop to shop, begging me to try on outfits and 'live a little,' as she put it. One good thing did come out of it though. Exhausted, I followed her into what she promised was the last store we'd visit and in the corner something caught my eye. I cautiously approached, and when I saw what it was I immediately called for my blond companion to come and take a look. She convinced me to try it on and, after she told me how nice it looked, I made the purchase.

I couldn't help but notice how vibrant I looked in contrast to my bedroom, whose white walls and dull carpet had bothered me for the entire duration of my residency. My bed didn't help, as its snow-colored sheets made it appear as if it had bled out of the walls. It was tidy and clean, but lifeless in a way that I found hard to describe. I pursed my lips, deciding that as soon as I got home I would paint it. It needed to be done, and I had pushed it off for too long. My expression softened into a smile before I pivoted on my heel and exited the room.

I quietly descended down the stairs, a cautious determination fueling each step. I reached the bottom and turned into the den, half-expecting to be met with a sarcastic comment. Tenten sat on the couch with her legs crossed, reading a rather silly looking publication that I dared not ask her about. The cover featured a woman with her arms crossed, turning her head away from a man who carried a rather sad looking bouquet of flowers. I couldn't read the title, but managed to make out the word 'love' written across the front at least three times in bold, blue lettering.

I decided not to mention the note I had found. It was something that I obviously wasn't supposed to see, and I wasn't about to bring up something so personal. It was something she needed to discuss with Kiba, and didn't involve me at all. I couldn't help but hope that she wasn't giving the Inuzuka the cold shoulder, and that she would talk to him soon.

"How does this look?" I asked, waiting for Tenten to look up from her book. She had slightly sunken into the space between two seats of the sofa, and had obviously been there for quite some time. She glanced up, her chestnut eyes locking onto me and from behind the pastel pink cover of her novel I could sense her lips upturn into a grin.

"You look amazing!" She exclaimed, slamming her book shut and launching off of the sofa to inspect me further. She fingered the fabric of my dress and ran one of her hands over a sleeve. "Have you always had this? I've never seen you wear it."

I fidgeted under her scrutiny. "I bought it a year ago and forgot about it. I... thought it looked nice. It was sort of an impulse purchase."

"Nice?" She spoke the word as if it offended her. "This isn't nice, it's gorgeous!" She walked a small circle around me, seeming to examine every inch of my attire. "Wow, Naruto is going to love this."

"You really think he'll like it?"

"He'll like it a bit more when it's crumpled up at the foot of his bed, but he'll like it nonetheless." She offered a grin, not too unlike Kiba's, and my simple response was to purse my lips and pretend she hadn't said anything. "So, do you have a plan this time around?"

I shook my head and she sighed. "I tried to plan everything last time Tenten-san, and you know how that went. I think it's best if I just let things happen. Maybe he has something in mind."

"Ugh." She collapsed onto the couch dramatically. "It's Naruto! You know he doesn't have a gameplan. Now you two are just going to walk awkwardly around, and you'll come home wishing you'd thought of something to do."

A small smile graced my lips and Tenten's expression changed from one of exasperation to one of confusion.

"What's so funny, Hinata?"

"Oh, I was just thinking. I mean, you're apparently so good at planning dates, right? And knowing what to wear and knowing when to... consummate."

I watched as her brows furrowed, and she grumbled, "Yeah. Where are you going with this?"

"I just think that those skills are going to prove useful the next time Kiba-kun comes over." One of her eyes twitched and I could make out a light shade of red that greeted her skin. I couldn't tell if she was blushing, or if she was angry.

"Don't you even-"

"You two are going to make such a cute couple, I'll bet." Her lips curled up into a small frown. "You should have a June wedding, such-"

"Just shut up already!"

"What?" It was my turn to grin. "I was just saying, the month is very pretty. And can you imagine Kiba-kun in a kimono?"

"Stop!"

"And your children will be adorable!"

"Gah!" I began to add another comment about her dowry of puppies, but the thought went unsaid when Tenten clasped her hands over her ears. She glared flatly, and after a few moments she placed her hands at her sides. "Are you done?"

"Mhm." More laughter escaped me. She looked annoyed, but opted not to voice her feelings further.

I took a seat next to her and a few moments passed before she looked at me again and asked, "Are you nervous?"

"About tonight?" She gave a nod. "I don't really know if nervous is the word I'd use... I know that I'm excited. I know that I want to see him. But I still have that voice in the back of my head telling me what could go wrong. My stomach is still kind of tight, and when I see him I'm sure my hands will quiver a bit. Honestly though, I don't think that will ever go away. I'm a little nervous, yes, but I think that I'm always going to be. What's important is that I'm not scared. I'm not worried. Tonight is going to be special, and I'm not doubting it one bit. And..." I trailed off when I noticed that her expression had become increasingly quizzical. Her brows had raised and her lips looked as if they were on the verge of forming into a slight smile. "What's so funny, Tenten-san?"

"I'm just not used to you talking so much without interruption, that's all. I kind of like it though. Spending time spent with Naruto seems to be having some positive effects on you."

"You think so?" She opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by the sudden sound of a knock at the door. We both perked up and she unexpectedly stood, grabbing my hand and pulling me up from where I sat.

"Hurry up!" she ordered in a hushed tone. She stepped around me and placed her hands on my lower back, shoving gently until I had been pushed into the hallway. "Go on!"

I didn't have time to think, nor did I have time to protest. She gave one last shove and I hurried over to the door, thoughtlessly throwing it open as soon as I could reach the knob. And just like that, it all came rushing back to me. My stomach grew tight and my heart thudded in my chest, my hands quivered at my sides and I tried to gulp down any uncertainties that may have built up in that split second.

Uzumaki Naruto stood before me, a grin etched onto his features. His eyes shone an unmistakably bright shade of azure that never failed to leave me breathless. I faltered under his unwavering gaze and struggled to come up with a fitting greeting. Before a word could escape me, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine.

"Sorry," he said as soon as our mouths separated. "I know I shouldn't just kiss you like that, but it's seriously the first thing that came to mind as soon as I saw you." His sheepish grin grew as he slid his hand through his hair.

"It's fine," I reassured him, glad to finally get a word out. "I don't mind at all." I noticed that he wasn't looking directly at me anymore, but rather his gaze had shifted to stare at my attire. I lifted my chin slightly, a new confidence coursing through me. I knew I wanted that dress for a reason.

"Wow! You look amazing!" His eyes met mine again and my head lowered instantly.

"Thank you," I stated meekly. I didn't know how else to respond.

Just take the compliment, I thought, he thinks you look nice.

"Hinata-hime, you look beautiful right now, but you don't have to do this. I don't want you to think that you have to gussy up or go out of your way to look nicer around me."

"That's not it at all!" The abruptness of my statement caught him off guard. "I just want tonight to be memorable. Sometimes I don't feel like I do enough, or say enough, and I just really wanted you to know that I'm trying."

He looked down, and for a moment I thought that I had somehow offended him. But when he looked up, I knew that couldn't be farther from the truth. "Well, I appreciate your effort. And you do look incredible, I can't overstate that. I..." He looked me over once again. "Sorry, it's just that I'm not really used to people going out of their way for me like that. It means a lot."

I could feel the temperature of my face rising rapidly, and before I could get out a timid 'you're welcome' he once again began to speak.

"I would love to just stand around and talk to you all day, but I actually have a few things planned. We have a schedule to keep. Would you mind coming with me?"

"You have plans?" I tried not to sound surprised, but most certainly failed.

"Uh..." he began scratching at the back of his neck, "Yeah, actually. You didn't have anything in mind, did you?"

"No no no, it's just that Tenten-san told me that you wouldn't have anything planned for us. It just feels good to prove her wrong sometimes. That's all." His ensuing laughter was loud but comforting, in an odd way. "I wouldn't mind going with you, Naruto-kun. Where to?"

"Well, a few places. But the first one isn't going to require walking. Do me a favor real quick and hold onto me." I knew what he was getting at immediately. I complied, wrapping both of my arms around his firm torso and squeezing my eyes shut.

"Ready?" he asked. I nodded into his side, and for the briefest of moments I felt weightless. There was no ground underneath my feet and I could no longer feel the cool autumn breeze brush lazily against my skin. And then, just as soon as it had happened, I was on solid ground again. I felt somewhat dizzy as I slowly opened my eyes.

"Sorry about that, I know you probably don't like it. But it's definitely the easiest way to get up here." A small gasp left me when my eyes finally adjusted to their surroundings. An incredible view of Konoha made itself apparent. It was close to sunset, and the sky was slowly being washed with a hazy gold hue. The ground below shimmered under the sun, the glitter of faint wetness occasionally interrupted by a dead leaf or loose cherry blossom. The trees below danced against the wind in an elaborate choreography of falling leaves and shifting branches. Buildings of various colors scattered the landscape, peeking above the trees in shades of red and blue, accompanied by the occasional dotting of green and orange. It was serene, comparable to looking at a fine painting whose every detail was captured flawlessly.

"It's beautiful."

"We're on the academy building," he said, chuckling at something. It was then that I realized my mouth had been slightly agape as I took in the scenery. My jaw snapped shut and his laughter deepened. "I know it's an odd place to go, especially for a date, if that's what you want to call this. But I really felt like I needed to return the favor."

"Favor?" I turned my head to face him, immediately noticing that my arms were still tightly wound around his body. I thought about removing them and taking a step back, but he didn't seem to mind and so I chose to stay put.

"Yeah. The other night, when you showed me that waterfall. You said it's where you went when you wanted to be alone. And I know that it probably wasn't much to you; it was just something for us to do. But that was your place. And you didn't have a problem bringing me there. That kind of openness is something that I'm still not entirely used to. And I know that the top of a building hardly compares to that waterfall, but this is where I go if I want to be alone and I thought that you should see it."

"I..." I struggled to find the proper words. "Thank you, Naruto-kun. It means a lot. And I'm not just saying that. All of this means so much to me."

His trademark grin returned, and I watched him cast his gaze sideways, trying to get a closer look at something. "I'm actually really glad that you said that, because it's a perfect segue. Remember last night, when I told you not to go outside? I said I had a surprise?"

It felt like my heart had stopped. Amidst the morning's chaos I had completely forgotten that Naruto had something planned. I gulped and looked back into his eyes, trying not to quiver in his arms.

It's fine, just stay calm.

"Of course I remember."

He pulled away, much to my disappointment, but continued to face me directly. "This isn't it, but I can show you what it is right now. Are you ready?"

I cast a weak smile and nodded. He pointed up at something behind me, a wide grin plastered across his face. "Right there," he said, eyes lit with anticipation. "Can't miss it."

I turned around, following the digit and looking skyward. The stone faces of the Hokage stared back, frozen in time and truly awe-inspiring, but that's all I saw. The six stone faces, expressionless as always, sat undisturbed as... and that's when I saw it. I don't know how I missed it at first. The face at the end – that of Uzumaki Naruto had large, red letters scrawled across it.

I was appalled. Turning my head toward the real Naruto, I exclaimed, "Someone vandalized the Hokage monument!" And he laughed. I knit my brows together confusedly before saying, "Naruto-kun, someone wrote graffiti up there. Did you know about this?"

"Did you read it?" His laughing died down and he pointed back up. "Take a closer look." One side of his lips pulled up and I reluctantly obliged, facing the monument again to have a closer look.

I had to read it twice before it clicked in my head. And once it did, I gasped.

THIS HOKAGE LOVES HYUUGA HINATA

I whipped back around to face him, heat blossoming in my cheeks as I did so. My heart pounded against my ribcage and my eyes must have been wider than saucers. "I... I-I..." I tried to say something, I wanted to tell him something, anything but I couldn't. No words left my lips, I was dumbfounded and had been shocked into some mute state. I didn't want to faint. For a second it felt like I was going to, however I managed to fight it off.

"Do you like it?" His grin returned and his eyes were still sparkling, an enchanting shade of sapphire that didn't help my current, seemingly frozen state. "Look, I know you're probably a little embarrassed. But... I really suck at this romance thing. I'm sure you've noticed. But what I don't suck at, is petty vandalism."

I again tried to say something, but stumbled over my words once more. He placed a finger against my trembling lips, shushing me.

"One second, Hime. I just wanted to add that I have so many things that I'd like to tell you, so many things that I wish that I had the words to say. Unfortunately, I only have so much room on my face to write." I let out a small laugh, and he perked up even more before continuing. "I heard from someone that you thought I didn't want anyone to know about us seeing each other, and I really didn't want you to think that was true because I want everyone to know just how incredible you are, and just how much you mean to me."

My eyes had glossed over, and a lone tear began its descent down my cheek. He outstretched a hand, placing it on the side of my face and wiping the droplet away with his thumb.

"C'mere." His smile returned, but I only caught a glimpse of it as I threw my arms over his neck and buried my face in his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to him. A few moments passed, before he whispered into my ear, "Hey, Hinata? This is really touching, but do you think you could maybe say something? I'm not sure how you feel about all of this and it's kind of scaring the hell out of me."

"Sorry," I breathed the syllable, afraid that if I spoke too loud my voice would be high-pitched and scratchy. There was a catch in my throat that I chose to ignore.

"No, don't be sorry. I kind of expected a reaction like this." His grip on me became tighter. "You don't hate what I did, do you?"

"Of course not. It was sweet, and..." I swallowed hard before continuing, "…and I'm so glad that you care. I can't begin to tell you how much you mean to me, and..."

"Hold on now, we have the rest of the day to get all mushy. I definitely want to hear what you were about to say. Just save it. No sense in using all of our best lines here." More soft laughter escaped me as he slowly separated us again.

"And Naruto-kun?"

"Yes?"

"You have to take that down."

"I will!" he exclaimed, punctuating his words with a chuckle. "I promise, as soon as this is over I'll clean it up. I just want to make sure that everyone sees it first. I highly doubt any of our friends will make a scene out of it. Err, outside of Kiba and Tenten. And Ino. Definitely Ino. Unless you really don't want it up there, in which case I'll take it down immediately."

"No Naruto-kun, you can keep it for now. But please don't leave it up there."

"Great! I want this entire village to know about us. Everyone." I sighed before he stretched out an arm and gently gripped my wrist. "Come on, we don't have too long before the sun sets, and I don't want us to be late for what I have in store. I promise, you'll love it."

Upon reaching the ground, it became obvious as to why Naruto chose not to walk to the Academy. Every citizen that we passed wore a wide grin. Some waved, nudging friends and whispering under their breath. Others clapped as we walked by. A blush coated my cheeks as I waved to a small group of gathered villagers.

"You'll get used to it," Naruto whispered, leaning in close so as not to be overheard. "It's actually not all that bad. And besides, this probably isn't even the worst of it."

"How does that help?"

"Oh, it doesn't. I just didn't want you to be surprised later." He grinned and slid his hand down from my wrist until his fingers were laced in my own. I looked down at my hand, cocooned within his and the briefest of smiles played across my lips. We turned onto the next block, this one less populated than the last. A few more waving hands made themselves visible before the villagers continued about their business.

"They're not making you nervous, are they?"

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. This actually seems to be a pretty positive reception."

"Well, would you expect anything less? I'm the Hokage. You're the prettiest girl in Konoha. What's not to like about us?" Heat flared up in my cheeks and he nudged me slightly. "Sorry, teasing. Actually, while we're walking out here, there's something that I wanted to ask you."

I looked up at him. "And what would that be, Naruto-kun?"

"I got a letter yesterday, and it was from Gaara. He said that he's getting married." He paused for a second and a look enveloped his features that I had never seen before. I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. "Anyway," he continued, "they're not wasting any time. One week is what he said. And three days after that is the Kage Summit, which you and I will both be attending anyway so, I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to come with me. To the wedding, I mean."

"I would love to!" The words left me louder than I intended them to. I hadn't even a moment to think about what he had said, to consider any other answers. My smile returned, wide and bold as I turned my head to look at him. "Of course, Naruto-kun. I'll go with you."

His lips parted into a grin and his eyes brightened until they were a mesmerizing cerulean. "That's great! You'll be my plus-one then. It's settled. And, regarding the Summit, have you chosen who will accompany us? If I recall correctly, Kakashi is giving you the choice."

"I still haven't decided, no. But I've been thinking about Temari. She's extremely capable, and I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Now that we'll be stopping in Suna, she seems like the obvious choice."

His brows knit together, and I immediately recognized the expression. He was either worried, or thinking about something.

"I don't think that would be the best idea," he finally said.

"Really? Why?"

That face came back again, and he looked towards me as we rounded another corner. "Okay, I'm going to tell you something. It's not my place to tell you, and I probably shouldn't, but I'm going to anyway and you have to promise that this stays between us until it's announced."

"I promise," I said, perhaps a bit too eagerly.

"Alright. Temari can't come because she's pregnant again. I wouldn't allow her to fight knowing that she's carrying a child. Even if there's pretty much no chance conflict is going to come up, I'm still not willing to risk it."

A happiness surged through me and I smiled for what must have been the umpteenth time that day. "Are you serious?" He nodded, much to my delight. "That's such good news! I bet they're so happy!"

"I can hardly believe they wanted to have another child. Shikadai is barely a year old. But you should have seen Shikamaru's face when he told me. He just looked so damn happy. Can't help but envy them a bit, can you?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Kids. Believe it or not, I'd love to have children of my own one day, a family. It's something I think about a lot, actually." He looked over at me and my eyes darted away. "Sorry, I probably shouldn't have brought that up."

"No, it's fine Naruto-kun." I couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation in the pit of my stomach. "I feel the same way. I would love to have children of our own someday."

He froze, before giving me a wide-eyed stare. "Our?"

Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no.

"I... I um..." My head had become a fireball, and I didn't want to think about how red my complexion must have been. "I meant... I was j-just trying to say that..." Words became too difficult, and so instead of talking I broke our stare and fixed my attention on the ground. I stood there, waiting for him to say something, however nothing was spoken. Once my face began to cool, I lifted my head to meet his gaze again.

He was smiling. Not the wide, toothy grin I was so accustomed to seeing, but something far more genuine. The heat that had abandoned my face resurged, but this time it seemed to wash over me, filling my entire body.

"Alright, let's get back to what we were talking about before. Temari's out. Anyone else you have in mind? I do need to know soon, since they'll have to accompany us to Suna and we head out in six days."

I released a few deep breaths, trying to regain my composure before continuing the previous discussion. "I can't really think of anyone else, no. But I'll come up with someone, I promise. Don't worry."

We walked another block when suddenly Naruto stopped. I turned to face him and he nodded toward the building we now stood in front of.

"There's something we have to pick up in here, but let's make it quick. I'd hate to miss the sunset just because we stayed in town for too long. The sun won't care if we're late, ya know."

Miss the sunset? But we're already outside. I shook my head confusedly and followed him inside.

The room we entered was decorated like someone would decorate their den. Pictures lined the walls, various families and couples, all smiling. I recognized a few familiar faces among them. The floors were clean, surprisingly so. The hardwood was almost reflective underneath the yellow glow of hanging lamps overhead. Small round tables were set up near the window, each surrounded by four chairs. Some of those seats were occupied, however the customers had stopped paying attention to whatever was served here and were now staring at us as if we were some attraction.

The smell of freshly baked bread wafted into my nose and my eyes widened instantly. My mouth began to water as Naruto and I approached the polished counter, occupied by an older gentlemen who wore a kind smile. He straightened up as soon as he caught a glimpse of the Hokage, and reluctantly outstretched a calloused hand. Naruto shook it and the man's smile grew.

"I have the goods you requested, Hokage-sama." He bent over and, upon standing back up, placed a covered basket onto the counter top. "Exactly as you ordered. I double-checked."

"Thanks! And please, 'Naruto' is fine."

"Well, enjoy your purchase, Naruto-sama!" We turned to leave, but his voice cut us off. "Oh, I don't mean to be rude, but... do you mind if I snap a photo of you two for the wall? It's sort of a tradition here."

Naruto looked over at me, asking for permission, and I gave a small nod in response.

"Alright! If she's fine with it then so am I." The man looked incredibly pleased as he pulled a small camera that had been concealed in his pocket. Naruto wrapped an arm around my waist and I gave a smile, waiting for the flash. The shutter clicked and we were momentarily bathed in a white light.

"Thank you very much! You two look great. You wouldn't mind if I hung this up?"

"Go right ahead!" Naruto grinned, before giving a small wave. "We have to go now. Take care!"

We left the shop, and as soon as the cool air met my skin again I began to speak. "What was that place, Naruto-kun? I've never been there before. And what did you buy?"

"To answer your first question, that's Konoha's newest bakery. Opened up last year, I'm not sure how you didn't notice. And I bought some food. Where we're going is a bit light on good eats, so I figured we should pack up."

Confused, more now than before, I followed after him. The sun was beginning its descent, and the streets of Konoha were slowly clearing as people began heading home for the evening. Naruto's steps quickened and I matched his pace. It wasn't hard to tell that he wanted to reach our destination as soon as possible, and when I glanced over at him I struggled to not laugh at his look of determination.

"We're almost there," he announced, slowing somewhat as he did so. A hint of relief could be heard in his voice. We stood at the edge of the village, and before us was a wooded area. "Just through here."

I couldn't help but think back to our trip to the waterfall. I had led him through an area similar to this. Despite autumn's arrival, the surrounding woodland managed to remain mostly verdant, the only indication that fall was here being the fallen leaves that blanketed the ground. The sun sat just above the treetops, making it look as if the forest ahead of us was glowing.

"What's through there?"

"Nothing special. Really, we just need to get out of the village for a second." He wrapped his fingers around my wrist, squeezing gently before looking into my eyes with an eager grin. "Come on."

When I had led him to the waterfall, our route was dense and difficult to traverse. Thorns dug into our clothes and shrubbery tripped us as we trekked through, but what we walked on now was an actual path. No slick patches of grass to slip on, no low-hanging branches to dodge. It was simple.

Up ahead a small clearing could be seen, and as soon as it came into view Naruto's grip tightened. "We're here," he said through a small sigh of satisfaction. "Alright, now before we continue, I have to ask you an extremely important question."

"What's the question?"

"Have you recently signed a summoning contract with the toads of Mount Myōboku?" A mischievous grin spread across his face and he released my arm, turning so that we now stood face to face.

"Umm... what?"

"I'll take that as a 'no' then!" He clapped his hands together excitedly before pulling a scroll out of his pocket. "Alright, these next few steps are pretty important. You don't have a summoning contract, so reverse summoning is out of the question. However, there is a loophole that Pervy Sage taught me. I never understood why he even showed it to me, but I like to think that this is what he had in mind."

I lifted a finger and interrupted him. "Hold on." He stopped talking, and patiently waited for me to continue. "What are you talking about, Naruto-kun? What loophole? Where are we going?"

His playful grin returned. "You'll see, Hinata-hime. I promise that you'll love it. Trust me." I nodded, and he laid the scroll out on the ground. "Do you know the hand signs for the Kuchiyose no Jutsu?"

"I've seen the technique done before. I think I remember." He demonstrated the hand signs as a reminder. "Can you at least tell me why this is important?"

"Because I'm going to need you to use that technique." I began to protest, to tell him that it wouldn't work because I didn't have a summoning contract, but was shushed when he placed a finger against my lips. "I know this is a little confusing. But you're going to see exactly why I wanted you to do this as soon as we get there."

I nodded against his finger and he pulled his arm away. "So, I just perform the hand signs and..."

"... Exert some of your chakra into the scroll, yes. But first, nick the skin of your thumb with your teeth. You need some blood to make it work."

I complied, pressing the pad of my thumb against my teeth and biting down swiftly. A small sting of pain could be felt, however I paid it no mind.

"Alright, now all you need to do is finish the technique. But you have to close your eyes while doing the summoning and after. That's the most important thing. Don't open them until I tell you to. Alright?"

I nodded and stepped forward, standing directly in front of the scroll Naruto had laid out. I let out a slow breath, closed my eyes, and began performing the hand signs.

Boar. Dog. Bird. Monkey. Ram.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

An odd feeling overwhelmed me, comparable to being transported by Naruto's Hiraishin no Jutsu. The same momentary weightlessness, right before my feet hit the ground. However, this was different because when I landed, everything around me changed. The air around me was thicker, as if my surroundings had been introduced to some newfound moisture. A rise in temperature also made itself present. Everything was warmer than it was before. The ground had even changed – wherever I was, it felt softer underfoot.

"Naruto-kun?" I called out quietly. I was met with no response. "N-Naruto-kun?"

Poof.

I whipped around, eyes still closed. "Naruto-kun, is that you?"

"Yeah, I'm here." Relief flooded me, and I released a faint sigh. "Sorry if I scared you a bit. Did you open your eyes?" I shook my head. "Good. Well, if you'd like to open them then you can go ahead." And I did just that. Slowly, like before, I opened my eyes and exposed myself to whatever Naruto had been so eager to show me. When they opened fully, a subtle gasp escaped my throat.

I was submerged in a myriad of color, each one more bright and fantastic than the last. Various shades of green surrounded me, highlighted by the deep red of growing fungi and the clear blue of sparkling water that funneled out of large, curving orange spires off in the distance. Immense columns of rock could just be seen against the horizon. The sky itself was nothing short of mesmerizing, a pale blue that slowly faded into shades of green and pink that clashed against the yellow sun.

I thought back to the woods of Konoha, the simple greens and browns of the earth that never failed to leave me awe-struck. Comparing them to this was unfair. The land around me was like something that I never thought possible. Something that I would have imagined as a child, hidden away in the Hyuuga compound. I could hardly grasp how monstrous the leaves were, or how tall everything seemed to be. Even the trees were different. They looked more like gargantuan leaves.

So many noises surrounded me that I couldn't even begin to separate them all. The rushing of water from what sounded like a nearby river. The chirping of various insects off in the distance. The sound of the leaves rustling against each other amidst the humid wind. The scent of aromatic flora and fresh water carried with it notes of the earth, dirt and grass, which all fused to make the sultry perfume of nature.

I turned to face another direction, the speed of my movement momentarily turning everything around me into a bright kaleidoscopic blur, and found that the view was unique and yet entirely the same. We were completely immersed in shifting virescence and swaying growth, surrounded entirely by the scenic landscape. I turned to face the Uzumaki who had donned a satisfied smile as he watched me examine our surroundings.

"This place is..." I had trouble finishing the sentence as I continued to stare at everything my eyes landed on.

"Amazing?" he suggested.

"I was going to say enchanting, but that works." He snickered before closing the gap between us. "So, what do you think? Do you like it here? I kind of thought this would be either hit or miss, so I'm really hoping that you like it."

"I love it, Naruto-kun." His smile grew in size. "Is this Mount Myōboku? How far away are we from Konoha? And can you now tell me what all of the summoning stuff was about?"

"Whoa," he jokingly put his hands up, "I know that you're excited but let's not play twenty questions. Yes, this is Mount Myōboku. I tried to think of the nicest place that I could take you. We've already been to Ramen Ichiraku together, and so I kind of thought that this was the next best thing." I let out a small giggle. "And I'm not sure exactly how far away from home we are, but don't worry about it. I can get us back no problem."

"And the summoning thing?"

"That's the loophole I was telling you about!" He gestured to the ground before sitting, and I slowly lowered myself onto the grass. It was long and thick, more like sitting on a bed than on the ground outside. "You see," he continued, "the easiest way to get here is through reverse summoning. But you have to sign a summoning contract with the toads here in order for them to summon you. And so they wouldn't be able to summon us both, just me. However, if you try to summon something without a contract, then you're immediately transported to its homeland. Since you tried to summon a toad, you were transported here. It's how Pervy Sage made it to Myōboku, and I figured it would work with getting you here as well."

I nodded, but still found myself somewhat confused. "Why couldn't you just transport us here using the Hiraishin no Jutsu? Wouldn't that have been the easiest way?"

He shook his head in response. "The land of toads is pretty much a realm in and of itself. I can't use the Hiraishin to get here. For example, if I was pulled into the Kamui dimension, it would be impossible for me to teleport away. Just like it would be impossible for me to teleport there. It's kind of complicated, I wish Kakashi-sensei were here. He'd be able to explain it a bit better than me."

"No, Naruto-kun, I understand. Your explanation was fine."

"Great! Sorry about having to confuse you back in Konoha. I just really didn't want to tell you exactly what was happening because I wanted to see the look on your face when we got here. It was totally worth it."

I couldn't exactly tell because of how warm the air around me was, but it definitely felt like I was blushing. "So what now? Is this the exact spot that you wanted to take me?" We were in a small clearing, not too unlike the one we had just occupied in the forest.

"Well," he said with another eager clap of his hands, "we can stay here if you'd like. Or, and this is what I'd prefer but it's totally up to you, I could take you up onto one of the highest points I could find. I want you to be able to see the sunset in all of its glory. Seriously, I can't even describe it. It's the only thing that I can think of that would even begin to rival your waterfall."

"Well, I guess the decision has been made then." I smiled and stood, leaning down and gripping his hand in my own considerably smaller one. "Come on, you said it yourself, the sun won't care if we're late."

"I love the way you think, Hime." He stood and offered a grin. "Follow me, it's not too far and there's a path we can follow that isn't too dense. Not like the 'path' that you led me through last time we needed to get somewhere." I laughed softly and he took a few steps toward the expansive growth. He spread a few leaves apart with his arms and revealed a small dirt path. "Right through there. There's a hill at the end of this thing. That's our destination."

"Lead the way, Naruto-kun."

He walked just ahead of me, guiding me through the twists and turns that the path took. I was still enthralled by everything around me, my feeling of wonderment amplified by actually walking through everything that had captured my attention moments before. I could hardly move a muscle without brushing against plant life of some sort.

"I can't believe a place like this even exists," I thought out loud. "Everything's so lush and pretty, it's almost like a painting."

"I'm really glad that you think so! I don't come here often, just because I've already seen it all. No point in coming if I don't really get to experience anything new. But bringing you here is probably one of the best decisions I've made recently. This place is so much better when you have someone to enjoy it with."

"Well why didn't you bring a friend? I'm sure Iruka-san would have liked to come. Sasuke-kun perhaps. Sakura-san too."

He let out a chuckle as we sidestepped a patch of red mushrooms that had grown out into the path. "I could have brought them, yeah. But I wanted to wait until I could bring someone special." He turned back to glance at me, and a smile tugged at his lips. "Someone like you."

I was definitely blushing now. "Oh," was all that I said, the syllable leaving me quietly.

A few minutes passed before either of us said anything else. There was hardly silence however, as Mount Myōboku continued to roar around us.

"Man, I'm starving," Naruto said, glancing down at the basket that I had forgotten he still had. "I can't wait until we can just sit down and dig in. I don't know about you, but it's been a long day for me. I'm a bit excited to just relax."

"It's been a long day for me too," I admitted. "But it's worth it."

He glanced over his shoulder, a persistent smile still lingering on his lips. "Oh, it's definitely worth it. No doubt about that. I'd be lying if I said that I haven't been looking forward to this. Yesterday couldn't end sooner."

"I very much agree." I thought back to the previous day, riddled with visits and conversations and anticipation. I tried to push away thoughts of my eventual meeting with my father. Now was certainly not the time to think about things like that.

"Path ends here!" Naruto announced, leaning over into the stalk of an enormous leaf to show me the hill he had talked about before. "Just up there, the view is great and it's more than comfortable enough. Come on."

I followed him upwards, sidestepping the vegetation. "So the top of the hill is the best place to sit?" I asked.

"No no no. There's a bunch of those tree things up there. You know, the giant leaves that sprout up from the ground?" I nodded even though he was in front of me and didn't see it. "Those things are actually really sturdy. We'll sit up there, eat and take in the view."

"Giant sturdy leaves," I said through a chuckle. "This place is beautiful, but definitely a little weird, Naruto-kun."

"Oh yeah, definitely weird. But what do you expect? When you date the Rokudaime Hokage, you definitely don't get normal."

We reached the top of the hill, and the 'tree things' were taller here than they were on the path. Tall was certainly an understatement. The stalks were wide, wider than any tree I had come across in Konoha, and the tops seemed to tower above everything else. I couldn't even begin to fathom how something could manage to grow so large.

"Alright," he said excitedly. "Any one of these is fine. Let's just pick one and hurry up there." His words weren't urgent, however they were noticeably eager. His eyes were bright and he walked in strides, anticipation obviously getting the better of him. I couldn't help but laugh a little bit.

"Hmm..." I gazed around, trying to find a leaf that seemed suitable. I could barely get over the thought of trying to find the best giant leaf to sit on. Not something one normally expects to think about in a day. A smile pulled at my lips and I pointed at something off in the distance. "That one. The one right at the edge."

"Alright, let's go." And without a warning he bolted up the nearest stalk, racing up its length and skidding to a stop once he reached the top. "Come on, Hinata-hime!" he called down. "Since when did you get so slow?" He grinned triumphantly before leaping to the next leaf.

I held back a smile and raced after him, reaching the top in seconds and launching myself onto the next. He threw a glance over his shoulder, speeding up after seeing how close I already was to catching up with him. Laughter bubbled up from within me as the chase continued. The tree that I had pointed out came into view and I immediately quickened, trying to keep up with the Hokage who ran ahead. I collected every ounce of strength and momentum and leaped forward as far as I could, sailing over Naruto's head and toward our destination. From underneath me he charged forward moving faster and faster until he passed me up and landed moments before I came crashing in beside him.

"You have to be faster than that!" he teased, triumphant grin still occupying his lips. "How can you be my bodyguard if you can't even keep up with me?"

"Well, if you intend to run from bad guys in the land of toads, then maybe bring someone faster." He laughed and lowered himself onto the leaf, stretching out and propping himself up on his elbows. He set the basket, that he had somehow been running with, to the side and patted the space beside him. The treetop was slanted downward slightly, therefore sitting down felt extremely awkward. Reluctantly I laid back, watching Naruto to see if he protested. He just smiled.

I focused my attention on the sight before me. We faced the setting sun, which seemed to cast everything around us in a warm, dim orange glow. The view from where we sat captured my attention fully. The vibrant jungle we had just occupied lay sprawled out before us, a still ocean of green that sat peacefully. The shade of pale blue that had occupied the sky before vanished, replaced by a light green that faded into a clash of pink and purple around the sun. It was certainly a strange looking sunset, but at the same time it was remarkable, and I could see exactly why Naruto had wanted me to come here.

"Thank you," I said, barely able to pull myself away from the trance of nature. "This is... amazing."

"You're very welcome, Hime." Every time he said that word, Hime, the butterflies in my stomach beat their wings harder. "I'm really glad that you like it. I've wanted to bring someone out here forever so really, I should be thanking you."

"Oh." My complexion was graced by a blush that traveled across my face. "Well... you're welcome, Naruto-kun."

He slowly extended a hand, pressing the back of it against my cheek. My face heated further and I instinctively glanced away.

"I love it when you do that," he said, laughter evident in his tone as he pulled his hand away. He sat up slightly and turned, grabbing the basket and setting it down in the space between us. "I almost forgot about this. I don't know how, because I'm starving." And as if on cue, his stomach rumbled audibly.

"I could definitely eat," I agreed. I had been so busy that morning and preoccupied throughout the day, so I hadn't a chance to eat anything. He uncovered the top of the basket and as soon as I could smell its contents, my hunger intensified.

"I figured that since this place was so humid, drier food would be fine. I mean, I would have preferred bringing something cold like ice cream, but this is fine too." I giggled and removed a small square of bread from the basket.

"So," he said through a mouthful of the freshly-baked delicacy. He swallowed before continuing. "I got to thinking last night."

"About what?"

"Well... we've known each other for a long time, right?" I nodded before taking my first bite. "And it's sort of dawned on me that you know so much more about me than I know about you. And that's not really fair. So if you don't mind, can I ask a few questions?"

"Only if I can ask one first."

"Alright. Shoot."

"What's in this bread?"

He cocked a brow before bursting into laughter. "Sorry," he said, trying to regain his composure, "I thought you were going to ask a deep question or something like that and then you talk about bread. Just really caught me off guard."

"It's a serious question. There's something in here." I took another bite.

"I'm not exactly sure, there are a few different types in the basket, I think. I'm not really a bread connoisseur. Alright, you got your question in, now can I ask a few? And if you don't feel like answering any of them then that's fine. There are just some things that I'd really like to know about you."

A flicker of worry sparked up inside of me. How much did he not know?

"Naruto-kun, you're not implying that you don't know me very well, are you?"

"No!" he exclaimed. "That's not it at all, don't say that. I know you very well. It's just that we never talked when we were younger the way I talked with everyone else. I mean, I tried to talk to you, but you'd get all red and slink away. You were always so shy around me. There are just a few little things that I wanted to ask. For clarification."

"Very well, Naruto-kun." I gave him a reassuring smile. "Ask away."

"Alright!" He grinned. "Let's start off simple. Something nice and easy. What's your favorite color?"

I pursed my lips. "Naruto-kun, you can ask the questions that you want to ask. You don't have to start off with really basic ones if you don't want to. I don't mind, really."

"Oh, that's good to hear." He breathed a sigh of relief before removing another piece of bread from the basket. "Because up next I was about to ask what your favorite animal was."

"Dogs."

"Dogs?"

"That's my favorite animal. Stay around the Inuzuka clan as long as I have, you kind of learn to love them." He chuckled and shook his head. "You can ask whatever you'd like to, Naruto-kun. I can't think of much that I would try to hide from you."

"Alright. First thing I've been wondering about goes a bit back. I know that you've cared about me for a very long time. Everyone says it started when we were kids. I know that much is true, but do you know exactly when it started? Can you think of a date or event where you just knew how you felt?"

So these are the kind of questions that he's going to ask.

A newfound nervousness made itself apparent, but I pushed it down and thought about my answer. "No," I decided, "there wasn't a date or event that really started it. I mean... I loved you for years." He nodded, knowing that was true. "And there are some things that stand out. Like when you stood up to those bullies when we were still very young. It took so much courage, something that I didn't possess. And after that I looked up to you. I admired you. I don't know when I started having feelings for you, but I don't think how long really matters. It's how strong those feelings are. That's what's important." I smiled, satisfied with my answer, and he copied the expression.

"I... wasn't expecting an answer like that. But it's what I wanted to hear, so thank you. Do you care if I ask another?"

"Go ahead, Naruto-kun."

"Alright. When Pein attacked Konoha." I already knew what he was going to ask, but I didn't want to interrupt him. "You ran down and tried to fight him off. You knew how strong he was and you knew that you couldn't beat him. So why? Why did you do it?"

"You already know the answer to that question, Naruto-kun. You needed more time, and I couldn't stand watching him taunt you like that. I knew that I wouldn't win. If I'm being honest..." Memories surged forth and my stomach grew tight. "I thought that I was going to die. I thought that would be the last thing I'd ever do." His eyes widened again but I pressed on. "I found the courage that I had been searching for. I had enough courage to face death. I knew that you could beat him, and I knew you had what it took to save Konoha, but I also knew that you couldn't do it alone and that someone needed to help. I don't regret what I did. Not even a little bit."

He stopped looking at me and stared straight ahead. The sun had lowered and the sky was darkening rapidly. The sound of insects had grown louder and the breeze from earlier returned. In the distance, the river could still be heard, the sound of freshwater rushing forth and others I was more than familiar with. But I heard none of these sounds. I saw nothing around us. In that moment, we were alone.

He finally looked back over. "Okay. Just two more, and then that's all. Do you think that you could tell me why you left the Hyuuga clan? It's a complete mystery. No one knows why you left or what caused it. It's something that I've been wondering for quite some time."

"No." The syllable left me in a harsher tone than I intended it to and a pang of regret pierced through me. "I just mean... that's something that I would rather keep to myself for now. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, I get it." He stretched out his arms and let out a deep breath. I scooted up and rested my head against his arm, and a smile returned to his lips. "You can keep that secret. This is the last question, and it's the one I've been wanting to know the most. It's really important to me."

"Alright, Naruto-kun. Whatever it is, ask away." My breath picked up, as did my heart rate. Naruto must have noticed this, because he placed one of his hands on top of mine. They trembled under his touch, however I tried my hardest to control my nerves.

"Do you still love me?"

"What?" I croaked.

"You heard me, Hime. I want to know if you still love me. If you still feel the way you used to. I know that night we were at my house I asked you, but…" He blushed a bit. I couldn't help but think it made him ten times more adorable than before. "…well, other things kinda happened and you never really got to give me an answer. So now that we don't have to worry about any… umm, distractions, I'd really like to know if any of that has changed."

I tried to say something, but once again I couldn't get a single word out. I turned over onto my side so that I could face him directly. I took a deep breath, then another; his eyes pleading for an answer. Those eager pools of sapphire that always got to me. One more deep breath, and I found the courage to say what I had wanted to say. What I'd been wanting to say since the last time I had said it, which felt like so long ago now. Something that I would never tire of saying.

"Yes, I love you." And as soon as I began to speak, all of those feelings came rushing back into me. My hands stopped trembling and my heart beat steadily. My breath calmed and my voice had a clarity that I hadn't possessed in a very long time. "I love you, Naruto-kun," I continued, "and I have for so long, like you said. And I always will. Even if I wanted to stop, I don't think that I could. I love you so much and no matter what may happen, that will never change."

And as soon as those words left my lips, his eyes lit up and his lips upturned. He looked like a child that had been given a marvelous gift. However, I had no time to admire his newfound happy expression because he wasted no time leaning forward and capturing my lips in a kiss. I was taken aback, but returned the kiss gladly. He let out a small laugh as we separated, and I didn't know why until I felt the heat my face had acquired. Even in the dark, I probably looked like a tomato.

"Thank you very much for answering those questions, Hime." That Uzumaki grin had returned, broader than ever. I scooted closer, laying my head against his chest and taking in the view once again.

"Hey, Naruto-kun?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think that I could ask you a question?"

He wrapped and arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. "Sure, Hime!" He spoke excitedly. "I'm not sure what you don't already know about me, but I'm a pretty open book. You can ask me anything."

"Do..." I tried to word the question properly in my head before asking it. "What you wrote on your face..."

"I hope you mean my face on the monument."

"Yes, that one," I spoke through a giggle. "What you wrote on it. You said that you loved me. And at first, I thought you just wrote it because that's all you had room to write. But now I have to ask..." He turned to face me, and from the simper that spread across his face I could tell he knew what I was going to ask. "Is what you wrote the truth? Do you love me?"

He furrowed his brows quizzically, thinking about something. After a few seconds of what looked to be deliberation, he gave a small smile and began to speak.

"I actually thought about that a lot, yesterday. Honestly, it's almost all I thought about. I talked to a few friends about it, I did a lot of thinking and I even took a bijuu's words into consideration. And I've never had to think that long and hard about something before. I normally just come to a decision and that's it. But you're so different than anyone I've ever met, because you make me feel things that no one else has ever made me feel. That's how I realized that this really isn't a phase, or a crush, and I don't think this will pass over. What I wrote is the truth, Hinata-hime. I've never felt this way about anyone before, and I don't think I ever will. I'm so sorry that it took me so long to get here, but I promise that I'll make it up to you, even if it takes an entire lifetime." He paused dramatically and looked into my eyes with certitude. "I love you."

The breeze carried with it the scent of flowers and water. The sound of Myōboku remained a comforting symphony, the chirp of insects and the rushing sound of the river combining to form a relaxing ambiance. The view from up here was still incredible. But I heard none of those sounds. None of those scents met my nose. And the view was invisible. From behind my eyelids, I could see nothing.

I didn't want to faint. But fighting it off like before was impossible. It was the last thing I wanted to do but the darkness surrounding my vision grew and grew, until only Naruto was visible. And then he wasn't. The color black and happiness. These are the two things that remained tangible. The darkest black one could imagine, and pure, indescribable happiness.

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And that's a wrap, folks! I'm really nervous to read what you guys think of this chapter, but at the same time I am so excited. I do love doing this, and I know that sometimes it doesn't seem that way, but it's the truth. I have so much fun writing this story and allowing these characters to explore this relationship. And I guess that's what it is now, right? This is a relationship. Cat's out of the bag. They've got nothing to hide anymore. Also, when I wrote this story I told myself that Hinata was allowed to faint once. One time. And I thought that this would be the perfect way to do that. Hopefully you guys agree! Oh, and the dress that I described in the beginning was heavily inspired by 'Hinata's red dress' by shock777 on DeviantArt. I saw that picture a few months ago and just HAD to use it in one of my chapters. Figured now was a pretty good time.

Next chapter is going to be shorter than this one, probably by a lot, but it will also be mostly NaruHina. Just some more stuff that really needs to happen and things that really need to be said before the plot can really continue. I actually have a pretty good idea of where this story is going. There's some stuff coming up for sure, so stay tuned for that.

Recommendation! Last chapter, I forgot the recommendation and had to edit it in. So, in case some of you missed it, I'm going to take a second to recommend that story again. If you haven't already (come on, you probably have) then go read Serious Sam's incredible story, My Precious People. That thing is a fucking masterpiece and I've loved every second I've spent reading it. His plot is unique and the way he portrays his characters is so different. It's just a great story and deserves every bit of attention and support that it receives.

Alright! And now for the actual recommendation. I'm actually pretty excited for this one. If you have yet to do so, then please go check out Sparks by Tenneyshoes. That story is just so good that I'm struggling to sum it up. The romance between Naruto and Hinata is so pure and real that it's almost unbelievable. The author understands the characters and relationship better than almost anyone. It is such a good read, I promise that you won't be disappointed. Please go and check it out and give the author the support that she deserves.

Oh, and if you've got a sec then please leave a review! It is the nicest thing you can do for a writer on here and it takes just a second. If there's something you liked, or something you want to say, or a critique that you'd like to make, or if you just feel like being nice, then please leave a review. It helps a lot. It truly does.

And that's a wrap! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, and I hope you have an amazing day.

Until next time!