They had finished training a few minutes ago and were a bit out of breath as arrived at the Ramen shop Naruto just happened to love. Naruto seemed pleased with this as much as he tried to hide it, he knew they could read him better than most people, aside from the Third and Kakashi. After all, they were his friends. 

"Wow, training was really great!" exclaimed Danny as his hand were clasped together and resting on the back of his head. He was cheerful and happy, as usual. He must have really enjoyed the training. "Though seriously, Hinata, tell me you secret."

"What do you mean?" Hinata said in a confused yet shy tone, she didn't know what he meant by that.

"Come on, I went against Naruto in a spar and I could barely hold my ground. Come on, tell me how you made it look easy." He laughed at her baffled expression; she didn't even know that she did that.

Naruto seemed to give a small glance before looking forward once more. She is way too innocent and honest. She can't even accept that she is strong. Naruto sighed and shook his head, still walking. The rest walked as well while talking amongst themselves.

Shikamaru gave a nudge to the blonde boy. "What's with the sigh?" he said as if he didn't really care if Naruto answered or not. However, Naruto could see past his carefree expression, he was worried about Naruto. The more time he spent with them, the more felt...

"It's nothing, just a thought," Naruto said honestly. He didn't enjoy answering dishonestly to him, something about Shikamaru told him to just be more open. Something about them all made him feel like that.

"I'm so jealous Hinata, you're so much better than me," Danny said, praising the girl.

"No, I'm not that good," Hinata said, her face flushed red with embarrassment.

"And modest! Come on, admit it, you get special training from Naruto-sama! You're his favorite." Danny laughed.

"I wouldn't say that... really." Hinata wasn't sure about being Naruto's favorite, just the thought made her feel weird, a good weird.

In the background, Naruto tried to resist the urge to smile. He never realized how fun it was to be around them, he wouldn't admit that aloud though.

They sat down and Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Favorite?" he questioned.

"Naruto, don't play dumb." Shikamaru sat beside him while looking through the many ramen options on the menu, trying to decide which one to choose. Naruto looked puzzled as he gave the money to pay, none argued since they knew they wouldn't win.

"Shikamaru's right. We all know Hinata's your favorite. Obviously - leaving out Rin and Sam - between me, Shikamaru and Hinata, Hinata's your absolute favorite. Am I right or am I right?"

Naruto ate silently thinking over what his ex-bully said.

Does it seem that way, really?

"Would you call it favoritism if I just trust Lady Hinata the most?" Naruto admitted that he trusted the heir. The said girl sat beside Naruto as well since Danny forced her to, her lowered head lifted in surprise. He trusts me the most.

"Yeah, of course, that's basically what I said," Danny said and thought to himself. I still can't believe how casually he said that.

"You know," Shikamaru got the attention of the group, "speaking of Sam and Rin, did you see how shaken up they were, you know over that rumor?"

Naruto had noticed. All of them noticed really. "Yeah, it's really something that cracks me up every time." Danny laughed; his bowl of ramen halfway eaten.

"So what about it, Shikamaru?" Naruto asked, wanting to get straight to the point. He saw Shikamaru give that same smirk from before.

"Well, how about we scare them a bit more," he said his usual tone, but something about it also gave out a creepy vibe.

You could visibly see a huge sweat drop on Danny and Hinata's heads. "Shikamaru that doesn't like something you would do," Hinata said softly.

"Yes, that is true Shikamaru." Naruto seemed a bit suspicious on what Shikamaru was planning. 

"My thoughts exactly, that's why I'm not doing it," Shikamaru said normally again, they had all finished their meals at that point.

Shikamaru was staring at the blonde shinobi before him. Naruto raised an eyebrow once again. Something that he had been doing a lot, along with sighing all day.

"I don't mind getting them back for some things in the past." Danny chuckled. "This going to fun!"

[-]

The sun was halfway down as the sky was painted various shades of orange and yellow. Fewer people were out and every now and then you would see people walking by.

In a distance, Sam and Rin saw blonde and they froze. "S-Sam," Rin said.

Sam got his composure and spoke silently so Naruto wouldn't hear, "Calm down, it's not like that rumor was true, right?" Instead of the sentence being a statement, it came out as more of a question.

"Yeah, but why is he here? Why is he coming to us?" Rin was starting to panic a little.

"I don't know." They whisper argued amongst each other, not noticing that Naruto was right in front of them.

"Hello," Naruto said plainly.

They jumped from shock. "Naruto-sama!" They chorused nervously.

"Is the-ere anything that y-you want?" Rin stuttered while speaking, sweat dripping down his face.

"Funny you should ask," Naruto said and did something that shocked them. He gave a smile, a sickeningly sweet and creepy smile that scared them. "I was hoping to have you for dinner tonight," he said weirdly and the two were silent for a bit.

Rin sighed in relief as it wasn't anything that seemed odd. Other than the fact he invited them for dinner. That was weird, why would he do that? He was brought out of his thoughts as Sam elbowed him. He gave Sam a questioning look seeing he was sweating even worse than he was before. "What's wrong Sam?" Rin asked.

"Didn't you hear him? He was hoping to have us, for dinner," he said, his voice shaking and eyes wide. Rin's eyes widened in horror once he replayed the question in his mind.

"You know, I need to go cut your meat so I can make it. Would you accompany me?" Naruto asked once again as if he didn't notice the horror in their eyes.

"Did you hear that? He wants to take us to the butcher to cut us up into pieces of meat," Sam said in a panic.

"So he could have us for dinner and eat us!" Rin whisper shouted.

"I-I--" Rin tried to speak through his panic and turmoil. His eyes rolled up and he fainted right there. Sam caught him and immediately turned on his heel, running and screaming.

Naruto looked at them as they disappeared to, wherever.

Shikamaru came out smirking smugly. "Wow, look at them run," Danny said, his hand on his forehead as if saluting and whistled after his comment.

Hinata came out hands clasps together in front of her. "Wasn't that going a little overboard?" She smiled feeling bad for them, even though she knew they deserved that.

"Who cares if that went overboard?!" Danny exclaimed happily. Hinata chuckled nervously.

All four stood together. Naruto stared in the direction the two left seeming as though he was thinking. Then he smiled which turned into a small laugh. The others seemed to be a bit surprised. "That was unexpected," Naruto said trying to rid the feelings in his stomach, rid the feeling of laughter and excitement. He failed.

All of them stared and where surprised Naruto was laughing with them. Not at him, but with him... They walked at talked until they ended up sitting in a field together. They looked up at the sky now full of stars, it was a beautiful sight. This was something Hinata enjoyed, and even if they thought the day was a little unfair to her, this is all that she had wanted.

To be with her friends.

"Wow, look over there!" Danny pointed towards the sky which was full of colour. The sound of sparks in the air brought Naruto's attention. Shikamaru looked up and smiled at the amazing view. This was worth it.

They sat on the grass as they watched the fireworks paint the sky. "Wow." Naruto heard a soft awed voice beside him, he moved his gaze and looked at Hinata. Only his eyes moved as he looked at her briefly before returning his gaze to the sky.

Naruto unconsciously smiled. This was fun, the most fun I ever had.

"I trust Lady Hinata," Naruto stated, getting their attention, "but I trust all of you as well."

Naruto gave a genuine smile, making them all smile as well at the rare and treasured sight, enjoying their time together.