[Konoha · Main gate · Noon]
As Naruto and Hinata walked back into Konoha side by side, sunlight fell across the village gate, making the wooden plaque bearing Konoha's emblem gleam. The guards at the entrance smiled when they saw them.
"Naruto-kun, Miss Hinata, welcome back!"
"Thanks for your hard work!" Naruto waved at them, his smile especially bright.
The guards exchanged glances. Naruto seemed happier than usual today. They looked at Hinata, too, and noticed her lightly flushed cheeks and faint smile. A gentle warmth radiated from her.
The two entered the village and followed the familiar streets toward the Hokage Building. People bustled along the streets, vendors called out their wares, and children chased one another through the alleys. Everything was the same as always, yet somehow it felt different.
Walking beside Hinata, Naruto kept stealing glances at her. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell across her face, giving her fair skin a soft glow. He felt his heart beat a little faster.
"Naruto-kun, you keep looking at me. Is there something on my face?" Hinata noticed his gaze, and her cheeks grew redder.
"N-no!" Naruto hurriedly looked away. "I just... thought you looked really pretty today."
The moment the words left his mouth, he froze. Hinata froze, too, then lowered her head, blushing all the way to the tips of her ears.
The air between them seemed to stand still. Neither knew what to say.
Just then, a familiar voice broke the awkward silence.
"Naruto! You're finally back!"
Naruto looked up and saw Shikamaru leaning against a tree by the roadside, a bag of potato chips in his hand as he watched him lazily.
"Shikamaru? What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you." Shikamaru walked over, glanced at Hinata, then looked back at Naruto, a flicker