Naruto and Hinata's Day

Naruto stepped through the light gate and found himself at the entrance of the Hyuga compound. Looking up, he spotted Hinata standing with her hands clasped over her chest, wearing a new hairpin in her hair. It was clear she was excited for their date.

"Hinata-chan!" Naruto called out, waving cheerfully. His exuberant greeting immediately put the Hyuga clan members on alert. They didn't have a favorable view of Naruto, especially since he had started showing interest in their eldest daughter at the tender age of six. Hinata was seen as the hope of the Hyuga clan, and Naruto's presence was far from welcome.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata's face lit up with a smile, a blush coloring her cheeks as she waved back. The clan members watched her with mixed emotions—happy to see her smile, yet displeased by the reason behind it. Their glares at Naruto were hard to miss.

Despite the hostile looks from the Hyuga clan, Naruto was unfazed. He had long grown accustomed to the disapproving stares from Hinata's family. In fact, he might feel uncomfortable if they ever stopped.

Hinata quickly approached Naruto, but upon reaching his side, she shyly stepped back a bit. Her white eyes gleamed with joy, a sight that made the Hyuga elders wince; they had never seen Hinata so radiant.

Seeing the gathering crowd, Naruto felt a sudden urge to stir things up. With a cheeky grin, he let out a loud whistle. Realizing too late that it was a provocative gesture, he quickly opened a space door, grabbed Hinata's hand, and vanished from the compound.

"Did he just provoke us!?"

"No one can stop me from teaching that kid a lesson today!"

"Even if Hiashi-sama were here, I'd still do it!"

The Hyuga clan members were incensed. They felt insulted by Naruto's audacity. However, mindful of their reputation, they restrained themselves. Instead, they decided to call upon Hyuga Neji, the prodigy of the branch house, to spar with Naruto. It was the perfect solution—Neji was around Naruto's age, and it wouldn't seem inappropriate for them to face off.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata emerged from a photo studio, carrying a stack of photos. They had taken not only their ninja ID photos but also numerous group shots, enjoying themselves thoroughly. Naruto, ever the clown, had made silly faces and poses in each picture. Hinata, more reserved, simply smiled shyly, her admiration for Naruto evident in her gaze.

As they left the studio, Hinata clutched the photos to her chest, lost in thought. Why is my heart beating so fast? she wondered, feeling a strange excitement she couldn't quite place.

"Hinata, let's go eat! How about Ichiraku Ramen?" Naruto suggested cheerfully.

Hinata panicked at the mention of food. She didn't want Naruto to know she had a big appetite, fearing he might find it unattractive or be concerned about the cost.

"I... I'm not hungry," she stammered.

Naruto, seeing through her hesitation, insisted, "But I'm a little hungry. Come on, Hinata-chan, just keep me company."

Reluctantly, Hinata agreed, promising herself she wouldn't eat a bite. As they walked through the village, both felt a serene happiness, enjoying the simple pleasure of each other's company.

Arriving at Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto pulled back the curtain and entered the small stall. The place was cozy, just big enough for a few customers.

"Hey, what do the guests want to eat?" Teuchi, the owner, greeted them warmly.

Naruto, with a serious expression, stared at Teuchi, pondering the man's true nature. There had been rumors in his past life—jokes about Teuchi being an Ōtsutsuki, which Naruto now found amusingly far-fetched.

"Naruto?" Hinata's voice brought him back. She seemed worried about his rudeness.

"Ah, two bowls of seafood ramen, please," Naruto ordered.

Hinata was puzzled. Did Naruto-kun want to eat two bowls by himself?

As Teuchi began preparing their meal, Naruto couldn't shake his curiosity. Finally, he blurted out, "Uncle, why do you always keep your eyes closed?"

Teuchi paused, looking at Naruto with a slight smile. Inside, he wondered about this curious boy.

"Child... I've opened my eyes as wide as I can," Teuchi replied, his tone kind yet firm.

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise, but then he laughed, realizing the absurdity of his question. Hinata giggled softly beside him, the tension melting away as they enjoyed their time together. It was just another day in Konoha, filled with laughter, curiosity, and the warmth of budding friendship.