"Hey, Sasuke... don't you think there's something off about the way Hinata's been looking at me?"
After leaving yet another target behind, Naruto glanced back at Hinata, whose hands were stained with blood but whose face still held a bright smile. An inexplicable chill ran down his spine.
Sasuke turned to look at Hinata, blinked, and replied, "Not really. She's been doing great lately. She doesn't hold back at all. Just now, she personally crushed that kid who tried to sneak up on her. I think it's awesome!"
'Awesome... my ass!'
Naruto felt like he was going crazy. Fine, Hinata had changed—but why did Sasuke act like it was completely normal? Was he the only one who found this weird?
"But Hinata used to be that soft, timid little white rabbit, right?"
Thinking back to how Hinata had been when they first left Konoha, and comparing her to the Hinata now—it was like night and day.
If she didn't look exactly the same, and if the Hyūga clan's Byakugan couldn't be faked, he wouldn't even believe this was the same person.
"People change. Just like you—you don't feel any guilt about killing those bandits anymore, do you?"
"That's not what I mean! I'm saying Hinata's gaze when she looks at me is off!" Naruto started to emphasize, but then he felt a predatory stare from behind him, like a carnivore sizing up its prey.
Yeah, he got it now.
Hinata had gone from being a herbivore to a full-on carnivore.
He remembered how, in the past, Hinata's eyes would dart away whenever she looked at him—especially if he stared back, she'd blush.
But now? She was the one staring at him nonstop, making Naruto the embarrassed one.
"I don't know. She looks at me the same as always," Sasuke said bluntly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Sasuke understood Hinata's change perfectly.
The old Hinata had lived her whole life sheltered by Konoha and the Hyūga clan. Now that she'd finally tasted the harshness of the shinobi world, it was normal for her mindset to shift a little.
"How about you ask Hikari-senpai? He probably knows what's going on." Sasuke said, softening when he saw how uneasy Naruto looked.
They were good friends, after all. He couldn't just keep ignoring him.
"Right! Hikari-senpai!"
At Sasuke's reminder, Naruto hurried forward a few steps to reach Hikari's side.
"Hikari-senpai, I..."
"Don't say anything. I know!" Hikari cut him off before he could finish.
Naruto: 'You have no idea. I'm living in absolute hell right now.'
Hikari continued, "Actually, Hinata hasn't changed at all. This is her true nature."
Naruto: 'What kind of nonsense is that? Give me back my cute little rabbit!'
"Sasuke, let's go scout ahead. Hinata and Naruto have worked hard, so let them rest here for a bit!"
"Got it, Hikari-senpai!"
The two of them played off each other perfectly and vanished into the distance before Naruto could react, leaving him wanting to smack them both upside the head.
'Is this how you treat your friends?!'
'Especially you, Sasuke—are you even my friend anymore?'
As the two disappeared, Naruto felt like a hunted animal. A cold shiver ran from the base of his neck all the way down to his tailbone, giving him the urge to bolt.
"Naruto-kun... do you hate me?"
Hinata stepped closer, walking right beside him, and spoke softly.
"No, no! Why would I hate you?" Naruto waved his hands frantically in denial.
"Then why do you look so nervous?" This was the first time Hinata had observed Naruto so closely. Her heart was racing with excitement, but his reaction disappointed her a little.
"I-I'm not nervous! This sweat... it's just... the weather is hot!" The more he tried to explain, the more cold sweat poured down his face.
In the past, he'd been the one chasing after Sakura. But now, with Hinata this close, he felt like his whole body had rusted over—he didn't even know what to do with himself.
"Oh, I see!"
Hinata looked up at the sun, which wasn't harsh at all, and didn't call out Naruto's obvious lie.
"To me, Naruto-kun is a very special person."
"R-really? That's an honor, I guess!" Naruto laughed it off, but his eyes kept darting forward, desperately hoping Hikari and Sasuke would hurry back. He felt like he was about to lose it.
"Naruto-kun has always shone like the sun in my heart. The old me was so cowardly—I didn't even have the courage to stand by your side."
"But don't worry. I've changed now. I can stand bravely by your side. All of this is thanks to Hikari-senpai. He helped me overcome my timidity and gave me the courage to be independent. For the first time, I feel like the future is so bright!"
Naruto: 'No, you've got it wrong. The future is actually pretty dark. Not bright at all.'
"I heard you like Sakura, Naruto-kun. Is that true?" Hinata pressed further.
The moment Naruto heard "Sakura", he snapped back to reality. He turned to Hinata with a wary look.
"Why are you asking that?"
It was common knowledge that Naruto liked Sakura.
As his classmate, Hinata should know that already.
"No reason! I'm just curious why you like Sakura."
"She's cheerful, warm-hearted, and she never looked down on me in her heart. Plus, she's really smart," Naruto said honestly.
"Personality, huh. Got it. I'll work on improving mine."
Hinata reached out and grabbed Naruto's arm. Feeling his body stiffen instantly, she frowned slightly, then pulled his arm harder, wrapping it tightly around herself.
"Naruto-kun... I've always liked you!"
Naruto: ?!
"I said it before—Naruto-kun is like my sun. Without you, I wouldn't know how to go on living!"
"The old me was like a pitiful clown. I didn't know how to express my feelings, so I kept them hidden. I never told you."
"But now I'm different. I want to protect you, and I want to do everything I can for you!"
Naruto tried to gently push her hand away, but her grip was too strong. He gave up.
"Hinata, this is... too sudden. Can you give me some time to think about it?"
"Is that so? Then I'll give you three seconds to think. After that, I'll take it as you agreeing!"
Naruto fell silent, his eyes filled with panic.
It wasn't that he didn't want to speak—Hinata had quietly sealed his tenketsu, rendering him unable to talk for the time being.
"Great! I knew you liked me too, Naruto-kun!"
Saying that, Hinata ignored Naruto's terrified expression. One hand grabbed his collar, the other rested on the back of his head, and she pulled him closer...
---
Hidden nearby, Sasuke watched in horror as Naruto and Hinata progressed far beyond what he'd expected.
"What are they..." Confused, he turned to Hikari.
Hikari nodded in satisfaction. Naruto and Hinata finally getting together—his efforts hadn't been wasted.
"Simple. Hinata has claimed Naruto. Sasuke, you should be careful."
"Careful? Careful of wha... Sakura?" Sasuke was about to ask what he needed to watch out for when Sakura's face suddenly flashed in his mind. He froze.
The thought of Sakura possibly doing the same thing to him in the future made him feel sick.
"Yeah. Sakura."
"What Hinata can do, Sakura might do too. You'd better be careful!"
Sasuke: '...!'
'For the glory of the Uchiha clan, starting today, I'm going to train even harder. I can't slack off at all.'
A future where he gets overpowered by Sakura... was far too terrifying!