NARUHINA ONESHOTS

☪ | insecurities

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It was Naruto’s week to pick.

So it was no surprise that the couple found themselves sitting atop the rubbery stools inside Ichiraku’s Ramen Shop. Ayame was hard at work in the back, and Ichiraku himself had only just slipped out to run some quick errands, trusting his daughter and favorite customers to watch the place.

Hinata sat beside Naruto, halfheartedly nibbling on a piece of pork. She was thinking about trying not to think, a tactic that never really worked. She simply wanted to enjoy this, to enjoy her delicious meal and the pretty lights outside and the wonderful man beside her. The sun had long set and the restaurant was mostly empty; it was like a night Hinata had dreamed of since she first met Uzumaki Naruto.

She was so busy waging a persoanl war inside herself that she didn't realize how uncharacteristically silent Naruto had been until he actually spoke.

“Say, Hinata. . .” He paused to slurp a few noodles, giving her a chance to glance at him. She almost immediately recognized what she'd dubbed his 'thinking face.' His brain was hard at work, much like her own. “Remember when we fought Pein?”

The question was so unforseen that she sat quiet for a moment, swallowing the last of her pork slice.

“Of course I do, Naruto-kun.”

Naruto nodded, tapping his lips with his chopsticks. “I do too.”

Hinata tilted her head patiently.

“I was just remembering how I was kind of. . .cornered, at one point. But then, out of nowhere, you showed up.” Naruto pursed his lips. “That was crazy, for sure.”

Hinata laughed a bit, humming in agreement. She remembered the day perfectly well. She remembered everything running through her mind, she remembered everything she could see––but the only things that had been clear were Naruto, Naruto’s face and his fallen body. There was a small voice at the back of her mind that whispered, you're going to die, and she agreed. But she couldn't bring herself to care.

“Remember when you said all that?” Naruto continued, surprising her. “I mean, I was a total idiot for missing the whole 'I love you' part, I know that now. But the other stuff. . .you know, when you repeated things I had said in the past. That stuff.” He set down his chopsticks, unusually serious.

“I wasn't really listening at the time, I'll admit. Kurama was being a brat in my mind and I was also being impaled in a couple different places, and all I really wanted to do was get you out of there. So afterwards, I didn't get to talk to you too much about it, and I didn't actually remember it for real until the other night. . .” Naruto scratched his cheek, turning to face her fully.

“Hinata, I definitely would have died if you didn't step out that day.”

Her lips parted. She couldn't move her eyes away from his, the intense blue grabbing and not letting go.

“I'm sure you wouldn't have died, Naruto-kun. . .you were very strong, even then.”

Naruto shook his head. “No, no, you're wrong. . .that day, it wasn't just Pein saying those awful things. . .it was Nagato. Do you get what I'm saying? He was in a position kind of like mine, and he was saying such terrible things. . .he pinned me, and then he told me a lot. I might have given up if it weren't for you.”

Hinata had spoken in a whisper, so his louder voice in response was like an alarm going off in her head.

It was silent for a long pause, but neither felt the need to speak just yet.

Hinata mulled over his words, every single one, until she realized it was her turn to say something.

“Why were you thinking about this?”

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, a relaxed smile returning to his face. “That’s what I'm wondering. I guess I was just thinking about how different it is now––you know, you and me––and what it was like back then. . .just like when we were on the moon, I realized you've always been there, even before I took any care to notice. It’s nice. . .to think about.”

He grinned, eyes closed, and Hinata ducked her head.

Her face was most definitely hot, yes, but she was pressing her eyes closed in a hopeless attempt to keep her tears from touching her pale cheeks.

Everything he was saying. . .it was all exactly what she needed to hear.

“Hinata?!” Naruto leaned forward, eyes wide. “Are you crying?”

She closed the distance, initiating a hug and attempting to stop the tears with his shoulder.

“Thank you so much, Naruto-kun, thank you.”

Naruto easily returned the embrace, patting her head reassuringly.

“I'm supposed to be thanking you,” he pouted.

Needless to say, Ayame was very confused when she walked in on the crying, hugging mess of a couple, and the few present villagers tried to avert their eyes, but Hinata didn't care.

She was, without a doubt, exactly where she was supposed to be.

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꒰ 🌓 ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟa / n

um hi so i updated :0

* cups hands around mouth * aNYONE STILL HERE?

ahem.

hope you enjoyed! i swear these two are my comfort ship, they're so healthy and beautiful and meant for each other and–

okiiiie, imma sign off now. thanks for reading!!

sayonara <3

- grace