"I wanted to tell you how much I've liked you,"

The words come out all in one breath and garbled by his limp tongue.

If it were any other woman, they'd have blinked, stared, laughed, or shrugged.

But Hinata knew those words, she heard them despite how incoherent they were.

"W-What did you say...?" she's speechless, is this a dream?

"I-...I like you, Hinata-chan,"

On any other woman, those words would mean almost nothing, but to Hinata, they blew her off her feet.

"W-What?"

Naruto swallows, trying to come up with a good lie, dammit Ino!

I'm sorry, Hinata-chan.

"I... it took me a long time to realize how beautiful you are, Hinata-chan," he steps into her, wrapping his arms around her waist, planting a kiss on her lips.

A slimy smile graces Ino's lips. Finally, she thinks, He is doing what I ask of him.

Hinata lurches away from his lips, but he's taller, so they connect. When they do, Hinata can't breathe.

He breaks their kiss, letting Hinata breathe, but he tilts his head and moves his head an inch, kissing her again. Unsure if he could keep face if he let Hinata speak.

She is surprised by the sudden, second kiss, but confusion rapidly fades, fantasizes long thought impossible convince her to give in, and gradually, she starts responding, her lips pressing back into his, experimenting with the feeling of Naruto's lips on hers.

He breaks their kiss again, but this time Hinata moves forward, kissing him hard and strong, her arms shaking, struggling to remember how to use them.

Hinata breaks their kiss, trying to fight the tears in her eyes. She's glowing with happiness.

"N-Naruto-kun... you..."

He puts his finger to her lips, thinking her reaction is the result of his chakra-imbued saliva.

His hands slide down Hinata's waist and to her ass, shoving her hips and legs into him. Hinata squeaks at the sudden loss of privacy, Naruto's warmth filling her.

"H-Hinata-chan," he licks her ear, whispering into it, "I... I want to tell you something," he swallows, "W-Will you follow me?"