Bring Me Back To Life

Its been 3 years since the end of the forth shinoi war. The alliance is still intact and is showing no signs of falling apart, in fact the alliance has only gotten stronger. Relationships have formed on the battlefield and have lasted the test of time.

In the city of Konoha the gates have been opened letting in visitors and merchants from all the great elemental countries. Tonight is the fireworks festival for all shinobi and civilians to celebrate the end of the war on its 3 year anniversary.

In the hokage tower the 5 kages are sat around a stone table discussing the details of the night and informing their fellow kages of their happenings in their village.

"Naruto."

"Yes, hokage Hatake?" He answered, taking a step towards the table from where he stood at the side of the room.

"I think it would be worth while for you to show your face and see if preparations are going well for tonight."

"Hai." Naruto bowed and turned around, jumping out the window, landing from roof top to the ground.

"He seems different Kakashi." Garra said watching after his once loud friend.

"Yes. I think it may have to do with a certain pink haired woman." Garra nodded, with mutual understanding.

Naruto was by now walking along down the unusually busy streets of his beloved village. He had changed quite a lot after the war. His blonde hair was now short, he had decided to cut it because he felt like he needed a change. He now stood at just under 6" his body was now leaner and solid. Hours and hours of training were finally paying dividends. He no longer wore his orange and black track suit he had grown out of that long ago. Instead now he usually wore jeans a plain t-shirt and navy jacket with a new orange and black jacket on top. Making his way through the streets he decided he would start talking to the merchants at the town square as that was where the main parade was happening before the fireworks were set to go off at midnight.

Looking up he suddenly spotted his two, and very much in love team mates Sasuke and Saukra. They were walking hand in hand absorbed only in each other. He had no intention of playing the happy team, faking a smile around them was just to tiring. Not that he wasn't happy for them but he just didn't want their happiness thrown in his face. He quickly ducked into the crowd and moved into a side street, once he was out of their view he ran as fast as he could to get to the town square. He looked behind him quickly and slowed down his pace slighty when he saw they were not following. When suddenly he bumped into a solid a yet soft form sending him flying to the floor.

"Oof." He quickly righted himself and looked over to a violet form on the floor.

"Er sorry Hinata." He said quickly going over to help her up.

"It's ok Naruto-Kun I should of moved out of your way." He noticed how she was looking at the ground. She seemed pretty sad, actually since the war he realised she didn't smile like she use to. When she does smile it just never seemed to reach her eyes like it use to. Her eyes had lost that glint in them.

"You er... you coming to the festival tonight?" He asked trying to make conversation.

"Mmmm."

"You going with anyone?" He watched as she blushed and shook her head.

"Nah me neither...Hey er why don't we go together? You know then were not on our own all night...What do you think?" He realised he sounded so unsure of himself but the thought of being surrounded by couples yet again was just pathetic.

"I would like that Naruto-Kun." He watched as she finally looked up in to his eyes and smiled. Hmmm still not a real smile he noticed.

"Great, I'll come and pick you up from your compound at 7." He ran past her not giving her chance to say object, "I'll catch you later Hinata." He called over his shoulder leaving dust in his wake.

With more enthusiasm than he felt a couple of minutes ago he made it to the town square and made his way around each merchant and stall for the rest of the afternoon.

"Hey Naruto!" He turned at his name suddenly being called and noticed Ino making her way over to him squeezing herself through the crowd. "What's got you all happy?" She asked finally making her way over.

"What do ya mean?"

"Well your looking like the old Naruto again." She stated like it was obvious.

"Ino what the hell are you on about?"

"You got your smile back. Plus we've all noticed since Sasuke and Sakura got together you've withdrawn from the group" Naruto started to walk with Ino making his way back to the hokage tower.

"I er..I didn't think you guys would notice."

"Well we did." She said slapping him gently on the arm. "So what's brought you back to life?" She asked smiling up at him.

"I er...I'm just looking forward to tonight. I saw Hinata before and we decided we'd go see the fireworks and hang out together tonight" He said smiling even more thinking about not having to be on his own.

"Your spending the whole festival with Hinata?" She asked grabing his arm and making him stop.

"Er yeah why?" He asked noticing the evil glint in her eye.

"You going on a date with Hinata." She squealed jumping up and down on the spot and clapping her hands, "Oh my God i'm so hap-"

"It's not a date.. We're just you know spending the night together." He interrupted her. Ino stopped and placed her hands on her hips and frowned.

"Just the two of you tonight? Your not meeting anyone else?"

"Well yeah..." He trailed off.

"You guys going for food?" She asked.

"Yeah I guess so."

"Where you meeting?"

"At her house...Wait why all the questions?" He asked.

"I hate to burst your bubble Naruto but it sounds exactly like a date." She carried on walking. Naruto quickly caught up.

"You really think its a date?" He asked her.

"Naruto your picking her up, eating out and spending the night just the two of you. It is most definitely a date."

"Do you Hinata will think its a date?"

"I don't know but it sure sounds like one."

"Wait! What do I do I've been on a date before?" He asked suddenly feeling nevous.

"Well for start of you better treat her right Naruto otherwise Kiba and Shino will kill you. Don't wear your usual clothes at least make some kind of effort." She rolled her eyes taking in his attire. "Buy her flowers, actually come by my shop before heading over to hers I'll sort that out, Have a shower you stink oh and I suggest you get her father to like you and quickly." Naruto gulped at the mention on Hinata's father.

"Well I better go i'll see you later Naruto." Ino walked in to the hospital and left Naruto in a cloud on confusion as he carried on to the hokage office. A date? He kept asking himself. He really didn't know how he felt about that. He didn't mean it to be a date tonight. Not that a date with Hinata didn't sound great, it's not like she was ugly or anything. It was just...well she wasn't Sakura. But he knew Ino had a point if this was date, this would be his first date and he didn't want to blow it. He looked down at his clothes and felt the stubble on his chin. He realised how much Ino was right, he really needed to look presentable especially since he told Hinata he would meet her at her house. Noticing the time he quickly picked up pace he had a lot to do before 7.

Hinata sat in spacious room at the the Hyuga compound. She had been in a daze all afternoon since literally bumping into Naruto. Sat at her dresser she looked at herself in the mirrior. No matter how hard she tried she knew Naruto would never see her in the same light he saw Saukra in. She brushed through her long midnight blue hair avoiding her own eye contact. She just didn't know what to do, this was obviously not a date, she dared not hope. But she also to make the most of this night, especially if this was the only one she was going to get with Naruto. She looked at the outfit she had chosen that was now hung up on a hanger on her wardrobe. Shook her head of doubts and decided the time was now or never. Curling her hair in soft curls and clipped her hair up half down to her hair wouldn't get in her eyes for the fireworks. Next she applied some minimal make-up, a bit of shimmer on her eyes, black eye liner and mascara. She looked at her mother red lipstick that she only wore on special occasions. Looking at her unsure self in the mirror, come on Hinata you can do this! You have one night, let's make it count! She applied the lipstick and smiled at her reflection. Walking over to her kimono she took a steadying breath and looked at the end result. The kimono was so different to what she usually wore. Ino had talked her into it on one of their shopping trips. The kimono clung to her curves like a second skin. The silk flowed over her body and the pastel violet set off her eyes with a delicate white flower pattern at the base. The kimono was more of a modern style, for a start it had a high neck and come down in a V and showed an ample amount of cleavage. It had no sleeves but a little lace detail hanging off her shoulders. The back also came to a V about mid-back. The length of the kimono ended just above her knee. Ino had assured her the kimono looked fantastic on her. She assured her that the kimono showed just enough to be able show off what's hidden underneath, but was also deemed appropriate for an heiress of her clan. She decided on wearing her usual sandles, the hight of them made her legs look longer and the thought having to stand up all night in heels crippled her feet already. Looking at the time she realised she had a little over half an hour to calm her nerves so headed towards the family kitchen to make her self a calming tea. She headed voices in the family tea room, the door slightly open so she could just make out her fathers voice, he was obviously talking with someone else. She snook her way over to the sliding door and tried to make out the other voice, but whoever they were they were talking in hushed tones. All she could tell was that it was another man.

"Hinata." She froze at hearing her father's suddenly raised voice. She thought she was being stealthy, she was wrong. "Would you care to join me and Uzimaki-Sama for tea?" Hinata walked into the tea room not daring to look the men in their eyes after being caught snooping. She bowed at her father and Naruto then kneed opposite him. Her father was sat at the head of the table as always.

"Will you do us the honour of pouring the tea Hinata?" Her father asked. Hinata nodded her head and poured the green tea as her father instructed.

"Well where we Uzumaki-Sama?" Hiashi asked looking to the now blushing young man sat to his right.

"Err...Err.." Naruto couldn't take his eyes off Hinata, she looked so incredibly different. This had not gone un-noticed by Hiashi who held back on laughing, just. He had once been in this poor boys shoes after all.

"That kimono becomes you." He said to his beautiful daughter. "You look just like your mother." Hinata smiled up at her father, she could feel the tears that were threatening to spill. Her father never really complimented her so when he did she treasured the feeling each time, and to be told she looked just like her mother made he truly happy.

"Thank you father." She whispered.

"So Uzimaki-Sama tells me your going on a date."

"Please Hyuga-Sama please just call me Naruto." Hiashi nodded his head to the young man who still couldn't take his eyes his daughter.

"Date?" Hinata squeaked.

"Well er...I mean...It's a date if you want it to be." Naruto looked at her and realised how much they were both blushing now. Naruto looked down at the flowers that were on the floor next to him, that he had picked out at Ino's shop.

"I want her home by 1am after the fireworks is that understood Naruto."

"Yes sir." Naruto answered looking up at Hinata's father.

"you look...beautiful Hinata." Naruto said smiling at her. Hinata blushed even more.

"Thank you Naruto-Kun." she was playing with her hair now.

"Alright enough of your hormones be gone with the both of you." Hiashi laughed. "Have fun." he stood up and following the tradition Naruto and Hinata did the same. Following Hiashi to the door.

"Naruto are you not forgetting something?"

"Huh?" Hiashi pointed at the flowers Naruto had left on the ground.

"Oh." Naruto quickly picked up the flowers and in his rush pratically threw then in Hinata's face. "Er sorry, I hope you like them." Hinata smiled seeing Naruto blush. She held on to the exquisite bouquet of iris flowers. Each opened and beautiful shade of purple/blue with a stripe of yellow down each centre.

"I love them." She touched the soft petals. Finally she's smiling again, Naruto thought to himself. "I'll go put them in my room." Hinata walked out the room with Naruto following behind.

"Naruto." Hiashi said once his daughter was out of ear shot. "I will be watching you in her room, understood." He then activated his byakugan.

"Yes sir." Naruto blushed and hurried after Hinata. What Naruto didn't know was it was clan law not to use their byakugan in the compound, what he doesn't know won't hurt him, he smiled and walked to his library.