Hey. Hi. Hello. So I've come to realize that I have yet to make a NaruHina fan fiction, and that is unacceptable for me. So while I was overexciting (is that even a word?) myself about the new The Last: Naruto the Movie, I seriously wanted to know what happened within that blank gap from after the war ended to when Naruto becomes Hokage. This comes to mind and I just had to write it.

I hope you enjoy reading this little fan fic, and are you just as excited as I am for this movie?!

I do not own Naruto.

Naruto ran as fast as he could towards the gates that led outside the Leaf Village. His breaths were somewhat uneven as he tried not to trip over his own two feet, but the possibilities of falling were very high.

It has been a little over a year since the war ended, and Naruto has been pestering the sixth Hokage, Kakashi, to send him out on missions. Kakashi would send Naruto on missions alone that would take days, and during those solo missions, Naruto would sometimes meet up with Sasuke to see if he was staying out of trouble like he had promised. So far so good, Naruto would say when he and Sasuke went separate ways.

Naruto had just returned home four weeks ago from a mission, plus training, with Bee that lasted six months. When he returned home, his friends showed some slight changes to their appearance. Sakura's hair looked a lot smoother, and she even had bangs. Chōji had shorter hair, a small beard growing on his face and he looked a little bigger—or maybe it was just his round face. Naruto wasn't sure, and he sure as hell wasn't going to ask. Ino's hair grew a lot longer—the complete opposite from Chōji.

Naruto began to notice his hair was getting shorter, too. He doesn't even know when it even started disappearing. He must have been that distracted to not even notice his own physical appearance.

When Naruto returned home, he spent most of his days hanging out with whoever was free. There was only one day when Naruto had the chance to hang out with all his friends. All except for one, and Naruto had to ask.

"We haven't seen her since Neji's funeral," Kiba said with a disappointed look on his face.

"I've been hearing some rumors regarding the Hyūga clan a while ago," Shikamaru announced, catching everyone's attention.

"What kind of rumors?" Naruto asked as he leaned towards Shikamaru from across the table.

"Well Neji was next in line to be heir of the Hyūga clan—"

"I thought it was Hanabi," Ino said.

"She was, but because she is too young, they've decided to have Neji take her place until she was old enough. But since his death, Hanabi was next." Shikamaru took a sip from his glass.

"Was," Sakura repeated, catching Naruto's attention to that one word.

"It seems as though someone from the clan wants to be next in line."

"Is he from the main house?" Ino asked.

Shikamaru shook his head.

"None of you have tried to visit Hinata?" Naruto couldn't help but ask, feeling a bit irritated.

"We have," Kiba replied, the same amount of irritation in his voice, too. "We've gone down there several times, but we were always told she was in a clan meeting. After several days of trying, we were eventually told that Hinata refuses to see anyone at the moment. We've asked why, but the only thing we've ever been told is that it's a Hyūga problem." Kiba's hands tightened around his glass. "That would explain why she hasn't shown up in a while."

"Ah," Sakura quietly said, causing Naruto to turn his attention away from Kiba and to the pink haired woman next to him. "I heard Tsunade talking about the Hyūga's having a long discussion about the next heir. It was a discussion at first, but then it began to become an argument between two of the Hyūga's. That must have been Hanabi and the other Hyūga. It seems as though there is going to be a fight between the two. Maybe to see who is capable of leading the Hyūga clan."

"I've heard this member is strong. Maybe as strong as Neji," Shikamaru stated, resting his chin on the palm of his hand.

"So they plan for Hanabi and this Hyūga member to fight," Ino muttered, a look of disgust shown on her face.

Kiba sighed. "I don't think it's Hanabi who's going to fight this person."

"It's Hinata," Shikamaru finished.

"Why Hinata?" Sakura asked as she looked between Kiba and Shikamaru, a look of confusion on her face.

"Hinata is always known for throwing herself in front of others to protect them from harm," Shino said from at the far end of the table. Naruto couldn't help but think of the times Hinata had always thrown herself in harm's way to protect others she cared for. Including him. "My guess is since Hanabi is too young, Hinata volunteered to fight, not to be next in line, but to protect Hanabi from losing her spot as heir."

"Calm down, kid. Your eyes are turning red," Kurama said. Naruto hadn't realized he was taking Kurama's chakra as he let out a deep sigh to calm himself down.

"But then again, this is all but a rumor. I'm pretty sure the only one who truly knows, besides the Hyūga clan, is Kakashi," Shikamaru said as he stifled a yawn.

Naruto had gone to see Kakashi and everything the group had discussed was true. Hinata was fighting this unknown man in order to protect what belonged to the main house. It seems as though Hinata had came to Tsunade just days after Neji's funeral to be relieved from any mission or assignment until the issue had been resolved. That was over a year ago.

Kakashi had informed Naruto where Hinata might be just before he left the Hokage's room. Once Naruto closed the door fully shut, he dashed off towards the woods outside the Leaf Village.

Naruto was now jumping from tree to tree looking for a certain Hyūga girl outside the walls of the Leaf Village. He wasn't sure how long he was looking, but it had been a while since he heard his stomach growl in complaint. However, Naruto wasn't going to give up on looking for Hinata.

Naruto landed on the ground once Hinata was in his sight. She was slightly hunched over, her hair draped over the sides of her face. Blood dripped down from her fingertips from her right hand while her left hand covered her eye. She was panting heavily as she stood up straight, only to stumble before catching her balance. She removed her hand from her eye and got into her fighting stance. Naruto slowly made his way towards her and noticed that the tree in next to her was practically dented in. She was so exhausted that she didn't know that she wasn't facing the tree anymore.

He was closer to her and was about to call her name when he noticed her knees go out from under her. Naruto quickly ran up to her and caught her in his arms before she hit the ground. Naruto slowly lowered himself to the ground with Hinata still in his arms. He sat down, resting his back against the broken tree, and rested Hinata's head on his lap.

He stared down at her, ready to call for help, until he noticed she had fallen asleep. He relaxed as he continued to look down at her. Strands of her hair stuck to her sweaty skin. She was covered in cuts and bruises. Any skin that was visible showed old and new cuts and bruises, from her feet, to her face. The palm of her hands were cut and covered in blood. Her left eye that was covered by her hand showed spots of blood. She must have overused her Byakugan.

Hinata must have been practicing for a long time. Naruto wondered if she even took breaks.

Naruto removed strands of her hair that stuck to her skin, feeling her damp, yet soft hair under the tips of his fingers. He let his fingers brush over her cuts and bruises on her cheek.

"You must really want to protect your family," Naruto whispered as he stopped at the corner of her left eye. "You're a lot stronger than you think."

"Naruto!" A voice called from afar, causing Naruto to turn his attention away from the sleeping Hyūga and towards the trees. Who was calling for him?

Hinata moaned in complaint. Naruto looked down at her and noticed her squinting eyes. Whoever was calling for him was going to wake Hinata up. He placed his hand over her ears, watching her as her face relaxed. The voice continued to call for him.

During the brief silence after his name was called for the tenth time, Naruto removed his hands from her ears to summon two of his clones. When the smoke disappeared, Naruto looked to one of his clones and motioned for him to find the owner calling his name. The clone nodded and left the three alone. Naruto looked at his other clone and motioned for him to help. The clone nodded as he walked up to the sleeping Hinata, a look Naruto was all too familiar with displayed on his clones face. Hurt.

The clone slid his hands under Hinata's head and slightly lifted it high enough for the real Naruto to move away. Naruto got to his knees and removed his jacket. Once his jacket was folded, he placed it under Hinata's head and watched as the clone lowered her head onto his jacket. The clone got off his knees and stood next to a kneeling Naruto. The familiar sound of Naruto's clone disappearing filled his ears. Naruto couldn't even control his chakra he was that distracted.

Naruto reached down to remove a leaf that had fallen from a tree in her hair. His body froze as he stared down at the sleeping girl. She looked so peaceful. It was as though she wasn't fighting for her family. She was just sleeping under the warm sun. So relaxed.

Naruto closed his eyes as his lips met hers. Her lips were so soft. They were not what Naruto had imagined. They fit perfectly against his—

Naruto's eyes shot open as he removed his lips from hers. He stared down at the sleeping Hyūga wide eyed before shooting up to his feet. He felt himself blush madly as he staggered back, his hand over his lips.

He…he kissed. Naruto kissed Hinata. Oh Neji would have had his head for this. Hiashi would have his safe zone for this!

"Naruto!" that voice called for him again.

Still in shock, Naruto made his way towards the voice calling his name.

"There you are—" Sakura stopped midsentence as she stared at Naruto. "Are you blushing?"

"No!" Naruto practically yelled as he walked past Sakura.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing!" Naruto yelled as he walked faster. His heart beating quickly as though he ran three miles.

Just a little fluff to brighten your day.

It's three in the morning so it's not as great as I would have wanted it to be. But since I'm way to tired to try and fix it, you'll have to read what's already posted.

Thanks for reading.

Till next time~