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Hinata would be a liar if she said she didn’t remember when it all began.
She could mark it down to the day, the hour, the exact minute she and Naruto crossed that invisible line and slid into a friends-with-benefits agreement.
Halloween night. Sophomore year of college.
Konoha University was infamous for its Halloween parties—loud, chaotic, and unforgettable. None were more legendary than those hosted by the Jinchūriki Fraternity, which had only recently started accepting students outside of legacy lines.
Hinata didn’t usually go to parties like this. She preferred quiet nights in her dorm, curled up with her “stay-in buddy,” Tsukiko. But tonight was different.
Tsuki had dropped the news earlier that week—she was pregnant and heading back to her hometown.
“I just want to go to one party before I go,” Tsuki had pleaded, her smile wobbly but determined. “Just one college experience before everything changes.
So of course, Hinata obliged.
It was Sakura who swooped in to handle the details—doing their makeup and pulling together the costumes. Hinata’s assignment? A slutty angel.
She nearly fainted when she saw the length of the dress. The hem barely brushed her thighs, and the neckline… well, it left very little to the imagination.
Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea after all.
By the time they arrived, the party was already in full swing—music thumping, lights strobing, and the air thick with heat and laughter.
It didn’t take long for Hinata to lose both Tsukiko and Sakura in the crowd. Ino had been at her side for a moment, but promptly ditched her for Sai, leaving Hinata stranded.
So, she did what she always did at parties—found a quiet stretch of wall and blended into the background, a reluctant wallflower.
That was, until Sakura reappeared, balancing two cups of something neon and suspiciously strong in her hands.
The drinks loosened her up quicker than she expected.
Next thing she knew, Ino and Sai had returned, dragging her out onto the dance floor. At first, she only swayed awkwardly, letting the music guide her, but soon the alcohol kicked in, warming her veins and softening her nerves.
Hinata found herself moving with the beat, her hips popping in time to the bass. She was laughing, breathless, and just a little unsteady—but for once, she didn’t care. The alcohol made her bold, confident, like someone else entirely.
That was when she noticed Naruto slip out the door with Sakura.
In her alcohol-soaked state, Hinata followed—falling back into her old stalker habits without a second thought. She pressed herself behind a wall just outside, peeking around the corner.
Naruto stood there, shoulders drawn in as he spoke shyly, almost nervously, to Sakura. She listened, arms crossed loosely, her expression soft at first… then pitying. Hinata’s chest clenched as she watched Naruto’s face fall, the light dimming in his eyes.
Sakura gave him one last awkward pat on the arm before slipping back inside, never even noticing Hinata lurking nearby.
For a long moment, Naruto just stood there. Then he covered his face with both hands and drew in a deep, shaky breath, shoulders rising and falling as though trying to gather himself back together.
When his hands finally dropped, Hinata saw it—the mask. That practiced, fake smile slipping neatly into place. But there was something different, too. He seemed… lighter. Like he’d just accepted something, even if it hurt.
Then his eyes found hers.
Hinata let out a tiny, startled “eep!” and nearly stumbled back against the wall.
Naruto blinked, then broke into a grin. “Hinata? Were you… spying on me?” he teased, tilting his head, voice full of amusement.
Her face went crimson. “N-no! I was just—um—getting some air!”
“Behind a wall?” he chuckled, stepping closer, hands tucked into his pockets. “Kinda suspicious, don’t you think?”
Naruto always seemed to find her.
From freshman year on, he had this uncanny way of pulling her in—whether it was waving her over to join a study group, saving her a seat in the cafeteria, or dragging her into some spontaneous campus adventure. He never let her fade into the background, not completely.
And here he was again, catching her red-handed behind a wall, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I think you can come out from behind the wall now,” he teased.
Hinata shuffled forward, coming to stand beside him. The humid night pressed around them, and for a beat, silence stretched between them.
“Did you… see what just happened?” Naruto asked quietly, his grin faltering at the edges.
Hinata nodded.
Naruto turned his head toward the woodsy area that seem to be the boundary line between the house and the open area, his voice low. “I… I confessed.”
Hinata’s brows knit together. “Don’t you always confess?”
He gave a small, crooked smile and finally met her eyes. “Yeah… but this time I meant it. Seriously.” His hand came up to rub the back of his neck, almost boyish in the gesture. “And… she rejected me.”
Hinata blinked at him, the weight of his words settling in. He wasn’t just joking around this time.
Her gaze lingered on him—on the way the lamplight filtered through the trees, on how his Thor costume somehow made him look both ridiculous and impossibly handsome. He had lobbed his heart at Sakura, and she had gently lobbed it right back.
Oh, Naruto-kun…” Hinata drawled softly. Her heart squeezed with sympathy, but at the same time relief coursed through her like a river. She was an awful person for feeling it—for being glad Sakura had rejected him. It wasn’t as if that meant Naruto would suddenly see her as anything more.
“I don’t know,” Naruto admitted, staring at the woods. “I just thought if I reached out one more time… maybe she’d finally see me. The real me. Not just the goofball she tolerated.”
Hinata shook her head quickly, words tumbling out before she could stop them. “Oh, Naruto-kun, I’m sure she didn’t just tolerate you. I’m sure she loved you… just in a platonic way.”
Naruto let out a short laugh, but it was hollow, stripped of humor. “Yeah. I’m sure she did.” He turned then, eyes locking with hers. “But when will I find someone who actually sees me?”
Hinata’s throat tightened, her pulse hammering. This was it—her chance. Normally, she would shrink back, let the moment pass. Even though the fresh air had mostly sobered her, Hinata decided she’d blame it on the alcohol later.
“I see you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. She held his gaze, even as her courage wavered. “I’ve…” She paused, breath catching as his eyes widened in surprise. “I’ve always seen you.”
For a heartbeat, Naruto just stared at her, like the words hadn’t fully registered.
And then Hinata started to blabber, words tumbling out as a blush spread from her cheeks down her neck. “I-I mean, I know you just confessed to Sakura and all—”
He simply stared at her.
“—and I really shouldn’t have confessed to you right after that, it’s completely inappropriate and I don’t know what I was thinking—”
Naruto kissed her.
Hinata’s eyes flew wide as his lips pressed firmly to hers—a solid, sure kiss that stole the breath right out of her babbling. By the time he pulled back, she was frozen in place, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Naruto grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I… didn’t know what else to do to get you to stop talking.”
Hinata just stared. And stared. And stared at him, utterly shocked.
She lifted trembling fingers to her lips, as if checking whether she had really felt the warmth and pressure of his kiss.
“I’m sorry,” Naruto blurted, flustered. “I shouldn’t have done that, I just—”
But before he could finish, Hinata surged forward and kissed him.
It wasn’t graceful, not at all. Her lips pressed against his in a burst of audacity she couldn’t explain—even to herself. And if anyone ever asked her where that sudden confidence came from, she’d swear up and down it was the alcohol.
They kissed once.
Then again.
By the third, it deepened,until Naruto’s tongue brushed against hers, testing, teasing. Hinata gasped, the sound slipping into a soft moan before she could stop it.
Her whole body lit up, nerves and heat tangling together as she clutched at his costume, pulling him closer.
Naruto’s hands found her waist, thumbs brushing the edge of that too-short angel dress, teasing at the bare skin beneath.
Hinata shivered, her own fingers clutching at the fabric of his Thor cape before daring to wander higher, tracing the lines of his chest through the thin material.
He groaned softly against her lips, and the sound made her bolder. Their mouths moved together, messy and eager, teeth grazing, tongues tangling, every kiss more desperate than the last.
Naruto nipped lightly at her bottom lip, grinning when she gasped, then soothed the sting with another deep kiss. His hands roamed while hers slid over his shoulders, pulling him closer and closer until there was no space left between them.
His hands slid upward, pausing at her chest. He looked at her then, his eyes searching hers, practically begging for permission.
Hinata’s breath caught, and she gave the smallest nod.
That was all he needed.
In an instant, Naruto pulled her deeper into the woods, the muffled thump of the party fading behind them. The humid night wrapped around them as he pressed her back against a tree, his mouth crashing against hers again—hungrier, rougher, desperate.
She breathed heavily as he pulled down her top, causing her chest to spill out.
Hinata gasped as Naruto's hands deftly unhooked the clasp of her bra and stripped it away. Her full breasts were left exposed to the cool night air as he delicately brushed her hardened nipples with his calloused fingers.
With every touch and stroke of his hand, Hinata felt herself spiraling further into lustful abandon. "Naruto-kun," she moaned as he leaned down to take one of her nipples between his teeth, sucking and nibbling just enough to make her tremble with anticipation.
Her hands flew to his hair, tangling in the blonde strands as he lavished attention on her breast. The bark of the tree scraped against her back through the thin fabric of her dress, but she barely noticed—too lost in the heat of his mouth, the way his tongue swirled around her sensitive peak.
"Is this okay?" Naruto pulled back just enough to look up at her, his blue eyes dark with want but still checking, still making sure.
Hinata nodded frantically, pulling him back up for another kiss. Her body burned everywhere he touched, and she wanted more—needed more.
“NARUTO!”
His head popped up from Hinata’s chest, both of them freezing at the sound of Kiba’s voice bellowing through the trees.
Naruto’s eyes flicked to hers, darker now, still burning from where they’d left off. His voice was low, urgent. “We should… take this inside.”
Hinata swallowed hard and nodded, her cheeks flushed scarlet. “O-okay.”
And the next morning, when Hinata woke in Naruto’s bed, the sunlight was far too bright for her pounding head.
For a moment, she just stared at him — at the rise and fall of his chest, the peaceful way he slept — before the memories of the night before came crashing back.
Her face flamed. She’d had sex with Naruto-kun.
She panicked as he twitched in his sleep, his eyes blinking open groggily to find her staring abashedly at him.
“H-Hinata?” he mumbled.
She nodded quickly, clutching the sheet tighter to her chest.
“...Fuck.” He slammed his eyes shut again, and Hinata’s heart dropped like a stone. Of course. To him, it was probably nothing more than a drunken mistake.
“I’m sorry, Hinata—”
“It’s okay, Naruto-kun,” she rushed out, the lie heavy on her tongue as she willed herself not to cry.
“No, no, it’s not okay,” he said quickly, sitting up to look at her properly. His expression faltered when he saw her trembling. “Wait—oh no, are you about to cry? Please don’t cry.”
Hinata shook her head, but the tears she tried to hold back slipped free anyway.
Naruto went pale, flustered. He scrambled upright and pulled her into his arms, holding her against his chest. “I didn’t mean fuck as in ‘I regret this,’” he babbled. “I meant it like—like, ‘fuck, I probably shouldn’t have touched you while we were drinking.’”
Hinata’s eyes widened at the implication, her tears spilling faster. So he wouldn’t have touched me if he wasn’t drunk…
Her sob hitched, and Naruto panicked, dragging a hand through his hair. “No, no, oh gosh, Hinaa—” He leaned forward and did the only thing his scrambled brain could think of to stop her crying.
He kissed her.
It was a soft kiss, enough to stop her spiraling thoughts in their tracks.
“H-Hinata, what I meant was…” Naruto hesitated, his hand still cradling her cheek. “I just don’t think I’m ready to give my heart to someone else right now. And I don’t want to hurt you.”
His words calmed the storm inside her.
“I… you don’t have to give me your heart right now,” she whispered. “As long as I still have you.”
Naruto stared at her, searching her eyes. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
And then, for the first time, he really looked at her — as if he was seeing her clearly, completely, for the very first time.
“Okay,” he breathed, before kissing her again. One kiss led to another, and another, until the sheets slipped from the bed and Hinata was drowning in warmth and pleasure.
And when it was time for her to go—only after Naruto insisted on cooking breakfast (“I can’t let you leave on an empty stomach”)—Hinata promised him with a shy smile that nothing between them would change.
Except… the next time Hinata saw Naruto, she ran.
Literally.
She turned on her heel the moment their eyes met across campus and bolted in the opposite direction, her dark hair flying behind her.
Naruto froze, half-lifting a hand to wave, his expression slipping into complete confusion. “...Hina?”
He stood there, watching her retreat, a baffled smile tugging at his lips. He’d expected something—a blush, a stammer, maybe even an awkward hello. But running? That was new.
But Naruto only smirked and did what Naruto did best.
He chased.
Two weeks into November—two long weeks of Hinata dodging him at every turn—he finally caught her.
She was tucked away in the study room, alone and unsuspecting, when he slid the door shut behind him. It was nearly midnight, and with no one else around, there was nowhere left for her to run.
“So,” he drawled, leaning against the desk with that infuriating grin, “what happened to ‘nothing will change,’ Hinata?”
Her face went crimson. She stammered, but no excuse came out, only the sound of her heart thundering in her ears.
How could she possibly tell him the truth? That she’d been mortified when Tsuki teased her about the “walk of shame” the next morning. That every time she thought about their night together, her cheeks burned so hot she could hardly breathe. That she wasn’t avoiding him because she regretted it—she was avoiding him because she couldn’t stop remembering.
He dragged a chair close, leaning into her personal space until she was backed against the desk. “Still waiting for an explanation,” he said, voice low and teasing.
“I… I couldn’t stop—” Hinata began, her face turning a deeper shade of red.
“You could stop,” Naruto cut in, smirking.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I got embarrassed!” she screeched, burying her face in her hands.
For a moment, Naruto blinked. Then a faint blush touched his cheeks before his grin returned. “Well… the only way to get used to it is to practice.”
Hinata’s breath caught, her heart hammering.
And that night, in the small study room, they practiced.
It was as if a dam had broken.
After that night in the study room, they couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Hallways, empty classrooms, tucked-away corners of the library—anywhere they thought they could get away with it.
Naruto’s room.
Hinata’s room.
The school’s pool.
The gym.
Naruto’s car.
They even did it in the library once—Naruto swore Hinata had a getting-caught kink.
Still, for all their reckless encounters, the unspoken rule between them was clear: keep it a secret. They arrived separately to Tsuki’s leaving party (even though they ended up tangled in Naruto’s sheets after). They showed up at group hangouts like nothing was different. And Naruto, as always, wore that same bright smile, treating her like just a friend.
But all of that changed the night of Naruto’s election as fraternity president.
It was the after-party, and Hinata was right where she usually ended up—glued to the wall.
Sakura was practically attached to Sasuke’s hip, Ino was off at some art opening with Sai, and without her usual anchors, Hinata had no excuse to do anything but stand there, nursing her drink.
Naruto, on the other hand, was the main character tonight. He stood at the center of it all, laughter echoing over the music, energy radiating off him like a second skin. Maybe it was the win, maybe it was just him—but he seemed to shine a little brighter, and Hinata couldn’t take her eyes off him.
As usual, Naruto noticed her.
Even in the middle of a crowd chanting his name and clapping him on the back, his eyes found Hinata like they always did.
She froze when he grinned at her from across the room—that big, stupid, heart-stopping grin—and before she could look away, he was already weaving through the throng of people, cutting past congratulatory handshakes and cheers until he was standing right in front of her.
“You’re hiding again,” he said, leaning close so she could hear him over the music. “What’d I tell you about that, Hinata?”
Her face went crimson. “I-I’m not hiding.”
“Sure you’re not.” He gave her a mock squint before his lips twisted into a pout. “I haven’t heard from you all night.”
Hinata’s own lips curved into a shy smile. “I just… I haven’t gotten the chance to see you. The president was surrounded.”
At that, Naruto’s pout softened, and Hinata ducked her head slightly before lifting her eyes back to his. “Congratulations,” she said quietly, sincerity threading through her voice. “I’m so proud of you.”
For a second, the noise of the party seemed to dull around them. Naruto blinked, his grin faltering.
“Y-you’re proud of me?” Naruto asked, his voice almost stunned.
“Of course,” Hinata exclaimed, her eyes shining. “Naruto, I’ve watched you come so far. I’m proud of everything you’ve become, and everything you’ve done.”
For a moment, Naruto just stared at her. The way he looked at her reminded Hinata of that Halloween night—only this time, she couldn’t decipher the meaning behind it.
And then his face split into a wide, boyish grin. “Thanks, Hina.”
Later that night, when they found themselves alone again, the way they touched felt different. The sex they had wasn’t just heat and urgency anymore. It felt like making love.
After that night, it was like a switch had flipped in Naruto.
He was suddenly always there—always around, always more affectionate.
If they had once been subtle, cautious, careful about keeping things hidden, it seemed as though subtle had vanished from his vocabulary entirely.
He walked her to and from class. He found her at lunch almost every day. He asked her to go places with him constantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
And Hinata… she didn’t know what to do with it. Part of her wanted to hide, to protect the fragile balance they’d promised. But another part—the louder part—basked in every look, every touch, every small sign that maybe, just maybe, she meant more to him than he was saying out loud.
Sometimes, when he asked her out, she was so sure it was a date.
The way his grin widened just for her, the way he leaned a little too close, the way his hand brushed hers as if by accident—everything in her screamed date.
But something inside her always held her back from asking. What if she was wrong? What if she ruined everything by naming it out loud?
So she stayed quiet, smiling and nodding, while her heart pounded with all the questions she didn’t dare speak.
And the sex seemed different now. Better.
It was more comfortable, more exciting, more adventurous. As if some invisible barrier had broken, leaving only trust in its place.
Every touch felt easier, every kiss deeper, every thrust felt purposeful and meaningful. Like he was trying to tell her something with his body that his words couldn't say.
The way he held her afterward changed too. Before, they'd catch their breath and separate, maybe share an awkward laugh. Now Naruto pulled her against his chest and kept her there, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her skin until one or both of them fell asleep.
When summer had rolled around during the 1 year mark of this situation-ship, he’d invited her to his apartment in Konoha for the summer. Just the two of them.
They spent the whole summer cuddled together, watching movies, going on dates that weren't dates. At least, that's what Hinata told herself every time they went to the farmer's market together, or when he dragged her to that ramen festival, or when they spent an entire afternoon at the aquarium with his hand resting on the small of her back.
Not dates. Just... two friends who happened to have sex. A lot.
And if their friends started to notice—which they did—they didn’t say anything. At least, not to their faces.
Sakura would raise a brow now and then, Ino’s smirk lingered a little too long, and even Sasuke seemed suspicious when Naruto conveniently showed up everywhere Hinata was. But no one called them out directly. Not yet.
It was almost worse that way. Like living under a spotlight no one acknowledged, but everyone could see.
And Hinata was content to live in her little bubble of delusion and denial for the next two years.
At least… until graduation night.
That was when everything came to a head.
For some reason, Sakura seemed determined to fuss over her more than usual—fixing her hair, checking her nails, redoing her makeup until Hinata barely recognized the reflection staring back.
The graduation party was in full swing by the time they arrived.
Music pounded from the speakers, lights flashed, and the room was alive with laughter, cheers, and the clink of glasses. Everyone seemed brighter, louder, freer now that the weight of finals and the future was finally off their shoulders.
Hinata stuck close to Sakura at first, still a little self-conscious under the extra polish her friend had given her. She could feel eyes on her—whether imagined or real, she didn’t know—and it made her tug nervously at the hem of her dress.
But then, across the room, her gaze caught on Naruto. And just like always, he noticed her too.
She couldn’t forget the way he had swung her around after she came off the stage, high on endorphins, his laughter in her ear as he held her close.
Now, here at the party, he rushed toward her again, that same brilliant smile lighting up his face.
“Hina, you’re here,” he breathed, his eyes raking over her. The brightness in them shifted, darkened. “You look… gorgeous.”
Her cheeks burned under the intensity of his gaze, heat curling low in her stomach. For a second, the noise of the party dimmed around them, and it was just the two of them, standing there on the edge of something she’d been pretending not to see for years.
“Ehem.”
Sakura’s fake cough cut through the air, shattering the moment.
“Come with me,” Naruto said quickly. Before Hinata could protest, he grabbed her hand and tugged her through the crowd, out the back door.
Her heart pounded as he led her into the yard—the very same place where, years ago, they had shared their first kiss. But now, the space looked different. Strange.
String lights glowed overhead. The grass was scattered with flower petals. And right in the middle of it all was a giant sign that read, Will you marry me?
Hinata’s eyes widened. A proposal? But… whose?
“Naruto, we shouldn’t be out here,” she whispered urgently. “Someone’s going to get proposed to—we don’t want to—”
But then Naruto grinned. And dropped to one knee.
Hinata froze, breath caught in her throat, as she suddenly became aware of movement around her. Their friends—Sakura, Ino, Sasuke, even Shikamaru—were gathered in the shadows, watching, smiling.
Wait. Naruto proposing? What?
“Hina, there’s a lot I want to say to you, but the words just won’t come out,” Naruto said, his grin shaky but determined. “These past two years have been the best of my life. So—will you marry me?”
Hinata felt like a fish out of water, her mouth opening and closing. “B-but Naruto… we weren’t even dating,” she blurted.
A stunned silence fell over the yard.
Sakura smacked her forehead. “Naruto, you dolt—did you even ask Hinata to be your girlfriend?”
Naruto blinked, as if suddenly remembering a very important step. He leapt up from his kneeling position and pulled Hinata off to the side.
“What do you mean we weren’t dating?” he asked cautiously, eyes wide. “Was it only me feeling that way?”
“N-no—yes—no! But Naruto, you—you—how was I supposed to know we were dating?”
“What? We went on plenty of dates!”
“I thought they were friendly dates!”
“You met my parents!”
“As your best friend!”
“I told you I love you!”
“I thought you meant as a friend!”
“I said it multiple times, Hina! How could you not think we were dating? Everyone knew we were together!”
And sure enough, she could hear their friends confirming his words with nods, murmurs, and incredulous looks.
Hinata’s cheeks burned. She had been willing—no, willfully—obtuse when it came to her relationship with Naruto.
“Naruto, when would we have even begun dating? You didn’t say anything.”
“I thought it was obvious!” he shot back, exasperated. “We started sleeping together, Hina! And you said you’d take me as I am when I told you I couldn’t give you my heart yet!”
Hinata’s voice shook. “Naruto, I meant… as friends with benefits.”
Naruto blanched. His mouth opened, closed, opened again like a fish out of water.
“Friends with—Hina—what kind of friends do you know that do that?” he sputtered, gesturing wildly.
From the sidelines, Ino called out, smirking, “The kind who sneak off during study hall and don’t think anyone notices!”
Naruto whipped his head around. “YOU NOTICED?!”
Sakura groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Everyone noticed, idiot.”
Hinata covered her burning face with both hands.
Naruto turned back to her, red-faced but determined. “Fine. Then let me do this properly.”
Before she could stop him, he dropped to one knee again, grabbing her hand. His grin was shaky but real, his voice carrying louder than the party music thundering inside.
“Hyuuga Hinata,” he declared, “will you be my girlfriend?”
“Yes,” she squeaked, her cheeks blazing.
“Good.” Naruto’s grin widened before he straightened up, still holding her hand tight. “Now let’s try again.”
Hinata blinked, but before she could question him, he was already barreling forward:
“Hina, there’s a lot I want to say to you, but the words just won’t come out. These past two years have been the best time of my life, so—will you marry me?” he rushed out in a single breath.
Hinata slapped a hand over her face, overwhelmed, squeaking out another, breathless, “Yes!”
Cheers erupted around them as their friends finally broke into applause, and Naruto beamed like he’d just won the world.
And later, at their wedding, Sasuke raised his glass during the reception and deadpanned, “Only Naruto would make Hinata his fiancée before asking her to be his girlfriend.”
The room erupted in laughter.
Naruto groaned, burying his face in his hands. “why does everyone keep bringing that up?”
Hinata only laughed softly beside him, eyes bright with amusement, as she slipped her hand into his.
Because in the end, it was so perfectly, unmistakably them.