A lightning-fast flash of movement.
"Huh?"
"Ah?"
"Hmm?"
A flash of brilliant golden light.
A figure rushing straight toward them.
In less than a second.
The distance he crossed.
Naruto appeared right in front of Hinata, his right hand reaching out just as it always had.
"Hinata."
His voice was gentle and calm.
"Naruto-kun?"
The moment the boy and girl met each other's eyes.
A brief daze.
Memories of the past came rushing back.
"I want to talk with you alone. Is that okay, Hinata?"
The coldness from before was gone, and so was that overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity.
In that moment, all she could feel was the warmth and familiarity of the Naruto she had once known.
Hinata had her convictions.
But at the same time,
she had her own hopes, too.
"Mm!"
The girl looked delicate.
But deep down, she was more steadfast than anyone.
Meeting the gaze of the person she loved most,
Hinata gave a slight nod.
Without a moment's hesitation, she reached out her right hand.
The moment their hands clasped,
"Hinata?"
"Hinata?"
Shino, Kiba, Lee, Ino, Sakura, and the others standing nearby all changed expressions.
Might Guy even instinctively started to rush forward and stop them.
But Kakashi reached out and held him back.
"Guy!"
After Kakashi gave him a meaningful shake of the head,
Might Guy hesitated for a moment, then stopped.
Naruto, however, paid no attention to anyone else's stares or actions.
The instant Hinata reached out her right hand,
he felt the softness and warmth he hadn't known for two years.
Looking at the lovely face of the girl before him, smooth and delicate to the touch,
Naruto's expression softened further.
He gently pulled her closer with his right hand and wrapped his left arm around her waist.
"Whoosh!"
Naruto immediately