Time passed quickly.
In just a few days, things started to change.
Hyuga Clan – Main Family Courtyard
Ever since Hinata met Naruto, she had been acting... different. More energetic, more focused, and a lot less gloomy than usual.
She didn't even complain about her training anymore.
Hyuga Hiashi, who usually had to repeat himself several times before Hinata picked up the pace, was surprised to see her going at the wooden training post with serious determination. Her strikes were still soft compared to others, sure—but for her? This was impressive.
"Ha! Hup!""Yah!"
Punch, step, palm thrust.
No hesitation this time.
After finishing her drills, Hinata turned to her father with a faint flush on her cheeks. "Father! I finished my training!"
Hiashi gave her a curt nod.
She hesitated. "Then… um… can I go out now?"
He didn't stop her.
Hinata bowed quickly and took off toward the gates, excitement written all over her usually reserved face.
Hiashi watched her leave. She was so different lately. It wasn't hard to guess why.
"Guard," he called. One of the household shinobi stepped forward. "Has anything unusual happened with the young lady lately?"
The guard quickly summarized everything—her encounter with Naruto, the change in her routine, and how the Anbu had been interfering more often lately.
"Should we take action, clan head?"
Hiashi waved his hand. "No. Let them be."
Once alone, he stood quietly for a moment, staring off in the direction of the Hokage's office. A small crease formed between his brows.
He was glad his daughter had found something that motivated her. But the sudden involvement of Anbu, clearly nudging Hinata and Naruto together, made him uneasy. The higher-ups—especially Hiruzen—always had a way of manipulating events from behind the scenes.
Even if something was going on…
What could he do?
He still remembered the day the village demanded his younger brother's life.
He hadn't been able to stop it then.
What could he stop anything now?
He let out a slow sigh and returned to his thoughts.
Konoha Village – Park
Meanwhile, Hinata had finally made it to the meeting spot she and Naruto agreed on.
She was excited when she left the house. But the moment she saw Naruto waving enthusiastically, jumping and stretching on a bench like he'd been waiting forever, she froze up again.
Her steps slowed.
Her head dropped.
And all the courage she had before slowly faded away with each step.
The guards who normally followed her had already been intercepted by masked Anbu nearby—standard now for anyone getting too close to Naruto. The Hyuga guards had gotten used to being "asked" to stay back lately. It was clear they weren't in control anymore.
At least it gave the kids some privacy.
"Hinata! You're finally here!" Naruto waved both arms excitedly.
"Um…"
"What took so long?" he said, hopping off the bench. "Were you doing more training?"
"I-I stopped by a dango shop… They had tri-colored dangoballs, and I thought they looked yummy… so I bought some. To eat with you." She barely got the words out without choking on her own breath.
Naruto's face lit up. "For real?! I'm starving!"
Hinata shyly pulled the dango from behind her back.
"Huh? Only one?"
"I… I ate one already. I couldn't help it…" she admitted, eyes still glued to the ground. "But I saved this one for you."
Naruto took the skewer without hesitation. "Thanks!"
He bit into the top pink dango and started chewing. But then, pausing mid-bite, he suddenly pulled the skewer back, bit off the middle green one too, and held the last ball out to her and said with full cheeks. "Here! You eat the last one! Then we both had one."
Hinata blinked.
She stared at the dango.
She stared at the part of the stick Naruto had touched.
And then her brain exploded.
Wait—this is indirect… kissing?!
Her face turned bright red, her heart started pounding, and she suddenly felt like the entire world had shrunk into a tiny ball of awkward silence. She told herself over and over not to faint.
But Naruto—being Naruto—completely missed the signs and made things worse.
He noticed she still hadn't taken a bite, so he just… grabbed her wrist and gently pushed the stick toward her mouth. "Here! Just eat it already!"
And that did it.
Between the touch, the closeness, and the sheer overload of emotion…
Hinata's brain finally short-circuited.
Thud!
She dropped like a rock.
Naruto panicked. "AH! Why'd you faint again?!"
Hinata's little "date" with Naruto was cut short, again. Her guards took her back home, one of them muttering about carrying smelling salts next time.
Naruto stood there, watching her get carried off like a princess, his shoulders slumping.
That's when Toji decided to chime in from inside Naruto's head.
"What's wrong, Naruto? Didn't you make a new friend?"
Naruto sighed. "She keeps fainting. We can't even hang out…"
Toji chuckled lightly. "So? Make more friends. Not every friend needs to pass out when they see you."
"But…" Naruto looked down. "Who else would even want to be friends with me?"
"Afraid of the Nine-Tails, huh?"
Naruto nodded slowly.
Toji's voice became more serious. "Naruto. You don't have to force yourself to be liked by people who look down on you. If someone's afraid of you just because of the fox, they're not worth your time."
Naruto looked unsure. "But… is there anyone who won't be scared?"
"Think about Hinata," Toji said. "She's not afraid because her family's powerful. They're confident they can protect her, even if something went wrong. It's not about you being scary—it's about them being weak."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Wait… So, if I make friends with kids from strong families, they won't be scared of me?"
"Exactly."
Naruto grinned. "That's awesome!"
Then he paused.
"…But who should I talk to next?"
Toji smiled to himself. Finally.
Now they could get to the real plan.
"Well, Naruto… have you ever heard the story of how this village started?"