The Young Couple

"Wait!" Neji suddenly called out, stopping him.

"What?" Naruto turned around, looking expressionlessly at the Hyuga Clan prodigy, who was usually so composed.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me, Miss Yugito. I let my own prejudices cloud my judgment, and I apologize for my rudeness. Please stay and eat with us." With that, Neji bowed deeply to Yugito. Yugito nodded at him and gently squeezed Naruto's hand to let him know she was all right. Only then did the young couple return to the table and start chatting happily with the others from their cohort.

No one there had quite recovered from Naruto's outburst. He was usually carefree, easygoing, and cheerful, only showing his edge in battle. But just now, he had erupted in an instant to protect someone he cherished. They all knew Naruto had always been like this: if anyone dared hurt someone he cared about, he would do everything in his power to protect them.

As everyone chatted quietly among themselves, Yugito discreetly approached the blue-haired, perpetually timid young heiress of the Main Family.

"Hello, you're Hinata Hyuga, right? ...I know this might be a little sudden, but I'd like to apologize to you," the blonde girl said.

"Why would you apologize to me? You haven't done anything to hurt me. I've never resented you or Kumogakure for what happened all those years ago, either," Hinata said quickly.

"I'm glad you don't resent me for that, but that isn't what I'm apologizing for. I came to say I'm sorry because I know you like Naruto-kun." Yugito spoke plainly, and Hinata's face instantly turned crimson, leaving her unable to speak.

"I'm apologizing because I like him very much too, and I won't give him up to you or anyone else. I've only just gotten to be with him. But at the same time, my heart aches for you, because you genuinely care about him. I'm so happy that, even after everything he's been through, there are still people like you who can see how wonderful he is. That's why I'd really like to be friends with you." Yugito finished with a warm smile at Hinata. Hinata smiled back just as gently.

"I'd really like to be friends with you too, Miss Yugito. But I want you to know that I won't give up on Naruto-kun either. Still, I won't get in your way. As long as Naruto-kun is happy, that's enough," Hinata said earnestly.

After dinner, Kiba tried once more to attract Yugito's attention. Naturally, he failed miserably.

"Hey, Kiba, don't take it too hard. She's more of a cat person," Naruto teased as he and Yugito left the barbecue restaurant. Yugito immediately caught his double meaning and couldn't help laughing.

"Oh, Naruto-kun, where are we going next? I need to stop by the Diplomatic Hotel first to drop off my things. I know you've sealed everything inside the Weightless Sealing Scroll, but the longer you carry it around, the more likely you are to lose it, right?"

"Yeah, you're right. I'll take you there. Oh, how about we go out for dinner together tonight? I'll have to get up early tomorrow, though. Pervy Sage told me to meet him at Training Ground Seven first thing in the morning. He said he'd help me practice Wind Release nature transformation. Over the next few days, I'll also need to visit that idiot who didn't know his limits and landed himself in the hospital. But aside from that, I can spend all my time with you."

With that, the young couple strolled toward the Diplomatic Hotel. Along the way, Naruto kept telling her about his friends and the fun they had together. Sunlight spilled over them, stretching their shadows long, long behind them.