"Hinata?" Naruto whispered, trying to make out the face of the girl who was huddled up on the step.

Her body flinched in surprise. "O-oh! Naruto! Y-You're still here."

"I stayed behind to help the old man clean up… What are you still doing here?" He took a step closer now and could see tears lining the rims of her eyes. When she didn't answer, he attempted again.

"J-just getting some fresh air…" Here words sounded forced, like they were barely managing to climb out of her throat, and the tone sounded sad. Naruto was not convinced.

"Well, do you mind if I sit here with you?" She nodded and he took a seat next to her on the step. Naruto gazed up at the sky, it was especially clear tonight. "Whoa, the stars sure look amazing, huh?." She gazed up too and Naruto thought he saw her mouth curl into a fleeting smile.

"Y'know…" He let out a heavy sigh.

Hinata turned to face him, a curious look on her face.

"It finally feels like everything's finally going right for me here. I have friends now and the people of the village aren't afraid of me anymore… it's like I finally get a taste of the life I always wanted— all the stars are aligned… and now I've gotta leave it all behind…"

Her eyes couldn't contain the tears any longer and hot, heavy drops fell from her eyes as a sob escaped her mouth.

"Huh?" Naruto's eyes widened. "Oh man, Hinata, I didn't mean to bum you out. Please don't cry!"

She wiped her tears away with her sleeve. "I-it's not that…"

"Well what is it then?" Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder and shot her a concerned look.

She forced her words out between sobs and sharp breaths. "I'm— just— so shy…"

Naruto looked even more confused. "Yeah? So, you're al little shy… that's nothing to be this upset about…" He leaned in closer.

"I've- been- so afraid to tell you how I feel— and if I don't do it tonight— then I have to wait three long years."

"Tell me… how you feel?" He was now definitely confused. "Wait… Hinata, what are you talking about?"

She burred her head in her hands "I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU" The words were muffled by her hands over her mouth but Naruto heard them clear as day.

"You're.. in love with me?"

She nodded.

"Well that's just great!" He let out a frustrated sigh.

Hinata's head perked up. That was not the reaction she had expected. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she felt like she was going to vibrate off the step.

Naruto ran his fingers through his hair. "A beautiful girl confesses her love for me and now I gotta wait three long years before I can even take her on a date. This just isn't fair!"

Hinata blushed a deep red. 'That's what he was frustrated about? Not being able to go on a date?' She let out a small chuckle.

Naruto turned to her with a serious look of concern. "I mean for all I know, when I come back in three years you could be dating some other guy! Why did this all have to happen right now!?" He rubbed his hand over his face.

"I'm sorry… that's really my fault…" Hinata whispered. "I've been meaning to tell you for years…"

"YEARS!?" He turned to her in a pleading tone. "How long have you felt this way!?"

The question caught her off guard. How long had it been? She tried to do the math in her head but lost track. "I-I'm not really sure when it happened. I can remember feeling a deep admiration for you the first day I met you at the academy…"

Naruto tried to recall. "Hmmm… I can hardly remember you back then."

"It's not hard to see why." She chuckled admittedly. "I tend to blend into the background."

"Oh- no I didn't mean-"

"It's okay…" She smiled at him.

"But I sure remember you… You rescued me from those bullies on the playground."

"Oh yeah!" His eyes lit up as if the memory had hit him full force. "They were teasing you because of your eyes… boy I sure showed them, huh?" Naruto blushed and chuckled as he recalled getting beat up by those bullies pretty badly.

"It didn't matter that you lost the fight. You stood up for me, and that was the start of when I started to fall for you." She was meeting his gaze now.

"And after all this time, you never thought to tell me sooner?"

She blushed. "I- I wanted to but—" She paused. There was really no reason why she didn't. Her nerves always got the better of her. She got in her own way. The timing never seemed right. None of these reasons seemed credible enough. "I guess… I didn't know how you would respond…"

"Are you kidding? Think of all the ramen dates we could have gone on?" He was staring off in the distance, as if he was imagining what his life would have been like if she had told him sooner.

"If I had had a steady girlfriend, who knows if I'd even agreed to go on this crazy training mission with Pervy Sage tomorrow!?" He buried his head in his hands again, clearly mourning the loss of the years he could have had with Hinata.

Although she was flattered by this sentiment, and was blushing intensely at this point, she furrowed her brow at this last statement. "No— you need this training!"

Her tone shocked him and he turned to face her, "Being Hokage is your dream and this training will help you get there!" She was staring deeply into his blue eyes with an intensity that he had never seen from her before. "You are Naruto Uzumaki and you do not give up! No matter how hard the task ahead is!"

The passion in her words ignited something in him and without thinking, he propelled himself forward and pushed his lips onto hers. He could feel her inhale sharply with shock, and then quickly settle into the kiss and reciprocating.

"You're right…" He whispered.

"I just wish… I would have known that there was someone out there who believed in me all this time…"

She shot him a sad smile. She was clearly filled with regret as well, despite how happy these past few moments had made her.

"I know this is foolish of me to ask…." He mumbled in a low raspy voice. "But… will you wait for me?"

Her eyes lit up. The thought of Naruto asking her to wait for his return was not even a question to be considered. "Of course." She whispered, placing her tiny hands atop of his.

His body relaxed as he let out a sigh of relief. "I know three years is a long time… but I promise when I return, I'll take you on a proper date. Flowers— dancing— whatever you want! You name it!"

"How about some ramen?" She chuckled.

Naruto got up to his feet and pulled her up with him. He pulled her into another kiss followed by a firm embrace. "It's a deal." He whispered before releasing her.

"Can I walk you home?" He said, holding out a hand.

"Sure!" She smiled, taking his invitation and grasping onto his hand, interlacing their fingers.

The walk back to the Hyuuga compound was short and quiet. Everything that needed to be said had been said. Years overdue, perhaps but now all out in the open. It was as if both Ninja were at ease for the first time in a long while.

They had made it to the entrance, and the two released their grip on each other's hands. To Naruto's surprise, HInata was the first to speak.

She brought a hand up to graze his cheek. "I know your nervous about this training mission. I know you're scared that everything will be different when you come back… but I promise… no matter what happens, no matter what changes, I will still be here waiting for you."

Naruto's eyes glistened as he stared down at her. Somehow she knew exactly what to say to calm his anxious mind about his upcoming mission and the events of this past evening.

"Just promise not to forget me." She chuckled.

"Are you crazy!?" He hollered, chuckling at her response. "Hinata! Now that I know how you feel about me, it's all I'm gonna think about!" He blushed and she blushed back.

"Don't forget to train hard and stay safe too."

"Don't worry, I will."

"Then I guess this is it…" She inhaled deeply and let out a heavy sigh.

"Yeah… I guess so. See you in three years?"

"Hurry back." She said, giving him one final peck on the lips before disappearing into the Hyuuga compound.

She squealed as she entered the doorway. Hanabi was there waiting for her to return and understood this squeal to be a good sign. She gave her sister a thumbs up before returning to her room. There would be time to discuss the events of the evening with HInata later, but for tonight, she would let her be.

Naruto took a long way back to his tiny apartment. He reflected back on everything that had just happened. Arguably, the last few hours had just changed his life. Now he didn't fear the changes that might happen in the village over the next three years because he had someone waiting for him. He had someone who loved and admired him and was rooting him on. Apparently, she had been there all along, hiding in the shadows of his life and believing in him from afar— but no longer. From now on, she would be by his side, if not physically, then in spirit, as a guide to always lead him back home.

A/N: The end! Hope you liked it! Thanks for reading and for being patient while I completed this story! I may write a sequel but will upload it as a separate story in the future.