(Small A/N: I decided to just get a few things over with in this chapter, I know it feels sudden, but it's sorta going to happen at some point anyways, I've been building into that for a long time.)
(Akari's POV)
It's cold. Not unbearably so, but enough to send a faint chill through the air. The wind carries the sharp, crisp scent of winter, the distant smell of burning wood from nearby homes curling around us like an unseen warmth. I adjust the high collar of my coat, shifting my weight slightly as my boots crunch against the lightly packed snow.
The village feels different in the winter. Quieter. Footsteps are muffled beneath the white blanket covering the streets, voices softened as if the world itself has decided to move at a slower pace. Even Konoha's ever-present hum—the distant sounds of merchants bartering, shinobi training, children laughing—feels subdued beneath the weight of the snowfall.
It's peaceful. Almost deceptively so.
The four of us are gathered in a now-familiar place.
The same place we celebrated my birthday.
It's strange how quickly something can become ours.
This hilltop, with its open view of the village and the slow-moving river below, has become more than just a meeting spot. It's a sanctuary. An escape from the chaos of the village,
Hinata clutches a small bundle of neatly wrapped gifts, her fingers curled tightly around them. The soft white scarf around her neck is tucked in carefully, the ends fluttering slightly in the cold breeze. Her white eyes flick between us, her usual nervousness hidden beneath quiet determination.
Naruto stands beside her, shifting his weight from foot to foot, his breath coming out in puffs of white as he tries to keep warm. His coat—an old, worn thing—looks woefully inadequate against the cold, but he doesn't seem to care. He's always been like this. Moving. Restless. Even now, with the snow falling around him, he looks like he's about to jump into action at any second. His hands are shoved deep into his pockets, but I can tell he's been fidgeting, clenching and unclenching his fists as if trying to steel himself.
Shiina, ever the observant one, stands beside me with a slight, knowing smile. Unlike the others, she seems perfectly at ease with the cold, her posture relaxed. She wears a thicker coat than usual, a dark navy blue that contrasts against the pale gold of her hair. Strands of it catch the light from the lantern we set up earlier, making them gleam almost silver.
She glances at me out of the corner of her eye.
"You're thinking too much," she says quietly.
I blink, drawn from my thoughts. "Am I?"
Her smile widens, just a fraction. "You always do."
I exhale slowly, watching the cloud of breath disperse into the air.
She's right. I am thinking too much.
Because I know what's coming.
Hinata gives her presents first. A carefully folded scarf for Naruto. A small hand-stitched pouch for Shiina. And for me—a book. Well-chosen. She knows I like to read.
Hinata clears her throat, shifting the gifts in her arms. "Um… I brought presents."
She's clearly nervous, but there's a quiet confidence to her now that wasn't there before. A result of our training, of the small, steady steps she's taken to change herself. I can't help but feel a little proud.
She hands Naruto a scarf—hand-knitted, from the looks of it. He takes it with wide eyes, surprised but clearly pleased.
"Whoa! You made this, Hinata?"
She nods, her fingers twisting in the hem of her coat. "Y-Yes. I… I thought you might need something warmer."
Naruto grins, immediately wrapping it around his neck. "Thanks, Hinata! It's awesome!"
The way her face lights up at his words is almost blinding.
She hands Shiina a small, carefully sewn pouch. "I know you like keeping small things on you, so… I thought this might help."
Shiina turns it over in her hands, inspecting the craftsmanship with an appreciative hum. "Handmade, huh? Impressive." She winks. "I'll take good care of it."
Then, Hinata turns to me.
I already know what's coming before she even speaks.
"I… um, I got you a book," she says, holding it out with both hands. "I wasn't sure what kind, but…"
I take it carefully, running my fingers over the cover. The title is familiar—an older tactical analysis on shinobi warfare and strategy. A solid choice. Thoughtful.
I glance at her, and her cheeks turn a light shade of pink.
"I know you like to read," she murmurs.
I nod once. "Thank you, Hinata."
Her shoulders relax just slightly.
Naruto, who had been watching the exchange, suddenly rubs the back of his head, looking sheepish.
"I, uh… didn't get anything fancy," he admits. "But there's something I wanna say."
Something shifts in the air.
The teasing stops. The light-heartedness fades, replaced by something heavier.
Naruto clenches his fists slightly, looking at the ground, then at me. His expression is serious in a way that feels almost unfamiliar.
He's ready.
I can tell.
"… Are you sure?" I ask softly.
He hesitates, just for a second, then nods. "Yeah. I'm sure."
I've known this was coming. Ever since I told Naruto about the Kyūbi, he's been wrestling with the idea of telling the others. Confiding in me since, because it's not something that can be said lightly. I am the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox is not the kind of confession that slips into casual conversation.
But I see it in him—the need to say it. To not hide anything from his friends. I wasn't going to stop him, after all it was his secret to tell.
"I… I have something inside me," Naruto says, his voice steady but quiet. "The Kyūbi. The Nine-Tailed Fox."
Hinata inhales sharply. Shiina, ever composed, simply tilts her head slightly, as if waiting for him to continue.
"I didn't know at first," Naruto continues. "But Akari figured it out. A beast that is made of pure Chakra can't be killed, it must be stopped by being sealed... she realised it was me from correlation between how the villagers treat me and that fact. And when she told me… I just—" He exhales. "I wanted you guys to know. Because you're my friends. And I don't want to hide stuff from you. Even though I waited a month... I just couldn't hide this."
A pause.
Then, Shiina does what Shiina always does. She smiles.
"So?" she says simply.
Naruto blinks. "Huh?"
Shiina steps forward, placing a hand on his head. "You're still you, aren't you?"
Naruto stares at her, something raw and unguarded in his expression. Then, suddenly, his shoulders relax. He exhales, a laugh bubbling out of him, light and relieved. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess I am."
Hinata, however, looks different. Her hands are clenched at her sides, her eyes shimmering—not with fear, but something else. Something warm.
Fuck! I know what's about to happen. It's too early. I mean it helps me massively in the long one, but I planned for this to happen 3 years from now.
She doesn't move immediately. She just stares at him, her lavender eyes wide. And then, suddenly—
She bows deeply.
"Naruto-kun."
He jumps, flailing. "Wha—Hey, what's with that!?"
Hinata's face is completely red. "I-I just… I admire you. So much. You've been through so much, and you're still—" She fumbles for words, looking lost in her own emotions. "I just… I l-like—"
She cuts herself off, her breath visible in the cold air.
And Naruto—bless his oblivious heart—stares at her for a full three seconds before his brain finally catches up.
"… Wait. You like me?"
Hinata freezes.
I freeze.
Shiina absolutely does not freeze.
She cackles.
"Oh my god." She clutches her stomach, barely holding herself together. "Ohhh my god. This is actually happening."
Hinata, still bowed, is practically steaming. Naruto, eyes impossibly wide, stares like he's trying to process a system error.
"I—uh—I mean—yeah! I like you too, Hinata!"
A deep breath.
"I've liked you for a while, actually. I just—uh—never really thought about it."
Hinata.exe has stopped working.
I put a hand to my temple. I need a moment. I really need a moment.
Twelve years skipped.
The funny thing? I liked this, it meant I had a lot more EXP reward wise.
12 x 5000 was literally Sixty thousand EXP.
The Rasengan Scroll. The Hakke Jūroku Shō Scroll. Five thousand Ryo.
A literal fortune of rewards.
The textbox appeared in front of me.
[QUEST: Operation NaruHina Complete
Rewards:
60,000 EXP
Rasengan Jutsu Scroll
Hakke Jūroku Shō Scroll
Five Thousand Ryo]
[You have levelled up 2 times.]
Well, I guess my plan went too well.
It's kind of impressive.
Meanwhile, Shiina is dying.
She has collapsed onto the snow, clutching her stomach as she howls with laughter. "Ohhh my god. This is actually happening. This is real life."
She had been apart of this plan for a long time now, and had probably assumed it'll take an extra year to fix Naruto's obliviousness.
Hinata, still red-faced, looks like she wants to ascend into another plane of existence. Naruto, on the other hand, is still rebooting. His mouth opens, then closes. Then opens again. He scratches his head furiously, a habit of his when he's overwhelmed.
"So, uh... what now?" he finally asks.
Hinata, frozen in embarrassment, does not respond.
Shiina wipes a tear from her eye, grinning like a fox. "Well, obviously, you two are gonna go on a date."
Naruto jolts. "A—wait, really?!"
Shiina nods sagely. "That's how this works. You like each other, you go on a date, you do cute couple things—"
"I AM SEVEN."
"That's not an argument."
Hinata, still red, suddenly finds the snow very interesting. But there's a small, shy smile on her face.
"...One date," she mumbles.
Naruto blinks. "Huh?"
Hinata steels herself, fists clenched at her sides. "J-Just one! One d-date! To see if we really l-like each other!"
Shiina gasps dramatically. "Oh, she's smooth with it."
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.
But inside? I'm pleased.
This changes things—a lot of things. A stronger bond at a younger age means Hinata will be an even bigger influence on Naruto's development. She'll be a pillar of support when he needs it most. His growth will accelerate. His control over Kurama could happen years ahead of schedule.
I planned for that to happen at 13 but at this rate... no, it would be likely to happen at that point.
Sure, Hinata might happen, but Naruto himself has to get into contact with it first.
Once Shiina finally stops cackling and Hinata is no longer vibrating with embarrassment, I clear my throat and reach into my coat.
"I have something for all of you."
Naruto's eyes widen. "You got us presents?!"
"Of course," I say simply. "It's Christmas."
I hold out three small boxes, each wrapped neatly—thanks to my system-assisted dexterity. Inside each one is a bracelet.
"Matching bracelets?" Shiina asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Symbolic," I reply.
Naruto rips his open first, grinning as he pulls out an orange-threaded bracelet. "Whoa! It even has a gem in it!"
"Lapis Lazuli," I explain. "A stone meant to represent wisdom and friendship."
Hinata gently lifts hers—a pure white band, soft and elegant. She brushes her thumb over the embedded stone, her expression unreadable before she smiles warmly. "Thank you, Akari."
Shiina, meanwhile, examines hers—a light yellow bracelet. "Hmm... I expected something darker," she teases, shooting me a look.
"I considered it," I admit, pulling my own bracelet—silver—from my pocket. "But I figured something bright suited you more."
She hums in approval, tying it around her wrist. "Good choice."
With that done, I hesitate. Because I have more gift.
For Shiina.
Taking a deep breath, I reach into my inventory and pull out a neatly wrapped package.
"...I have something extra for you."
Shiina blinks. "Me?"
I nod, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. "...Remember when you joked about me learning to knit?"
She tilts her head, confused—then her eyes widen in realization. "No way."
I shove the package into her hands, avoiding her gaze.
Shiina unwraps it carefully, and the moment she sees what's inside, she stops.
A scarf. Deep blue with a delicate flower pattern woven near the edges. The stitches were perfect, and it was obvious how much effort went into making it.
For once, Shiina is speechless.
Naruto, oblivious to the tension, beams. "Whoa! Akari, you actually knitted that?!"
I shift uncomfortably. "...Yes."
Shiina slowly lifts the scarf, running her fingers over the fabric. "...You actually listened to me."
"Of course I did." My voice is quiet.
She looks at me, something unreadable in her eyes. Then, with a small smile, she wraps the scarf around her neck and tugs it snugly.
"It's warm," she murmurs.
"Good," I say. "That's... the point."
Silence lingers between us. An unspoken conversation passing through a single look.
And then, softly—softer than I've ever heard her speak before—Shiina whispers:
"Thank you, Akari."
A notification pings in my vision.
[Social Link: The Star has reached ★★★★★★★☆☆☆]
I don't look at it.
I'm too busy pretending my heart isn't racing.
Time had passed by fast.
We ate, talked, and got some light sparring in. And finally we all decided to leave.
The snowfall had eased, leaving only the soft crunch of boots against packed snow as we begin to part ways.
Naruto stretches, yawning loudly. "Man, today was awesome! We gotta do stuff like this more often." His scarf flutters slightly in the cold breeze as he grins.
Hinata nods beside him, clutching her gift with both hands. She still looks overwhelmed, but there's a glow in her expression, a warmth that lingers even in the winter air.
Shiina smirks. "Yeah, well, next time, maybe try not to break Akari's entire timeline while you're at it."
Naruto blinks. "Huh?"
"Don't worry about it," I say softly. Smiling a bit.
"Anyway," Shiina stretches her arms behind her head, tilting her head toward the village. "It's getting late. We should head back."
Naruto nods. "Yeah! Old Man Hokage will definitely scold me if I stay out too long."
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Then don't get caught."
He pouts. "That's easy for you to say!"
Hinata stifles a small giggle. "It is late, though... I should go, too."
A pause. Then, softly, she glances toward Naruto. "W-Will I... s-see you tomorrow?"
Naruto scratches his cheek, looking bashful for once. "...Yeah. Yeah, of course."
I can practically hear Shiina wiggling her eyebrows.
With that, they exchange goodbyes, and soon, it's just Shiina and me walking through the quiet streets of Konoha.
For a while, neither of us say anything. It's not an uncomfortable silence—it never is with Shiina—but there's something heavier about it tonight.
The distant lanterns flicker as we pass, casting our elongated shadows across the snow-covered ground. The cold air bites, but I barely feel it. My mind is still racing, turning over everything that has happened, everything I need to prepare for.
And yet… something is off.
Shiina is too quiet.
She's usually the one who fills the gaps between conversation—whether it's teasing, humming, or just absentmindedly commenting on something. But now? She's just watching.
Waiting.
I don't like it.
Finally, she exhales. "...I need to ask you something."
I glance at her. "Go ahead."
She stops walking.
I stop, too.
She turns fully toward me, golden eyes flickering in the low light. Her usual playful expression is gone. What remains is something serious. Frustrated, even.
"I've been thinking a lot," she says slowly. "About things you've said. About things I remember."
A cold weight settles in my stomach.
"I know you, Akari." Her voice is steady, but there's an edge to it. "I know you. And lately... I feel like there are pieces missing."
I keep my face neutral. "You're being paranoid."
She narrows her eyes. "Am I?"
I sigh. "Shiina—"
"Do you remember when we met?" she interrupts.
I blink. "...Of course I do."
"Then tell me," she presses, stepping forward. "Tell me what you remember about those first few weeks."
I frown. "You were a brat."
"True," she acknowledges. "But that's not what I mean."
Her gaze sharpens. "You were different."
A flicker of unease runs through me.
"Different how?" I ask carefully.
Shiina crosses her arms. "You didn't act like an orphan. Not once. You never cried, never looked lost, never needed help with anything. I thought you were just tough, but now... I'm not so sure."
I remain silent, forcing my expression to stay unreadable.
"When you asked me to gather that information... I thought it was for a good purpose," She said, her eyes flickered down, almost as if she had realised something, "you used me, didn't you?"
I didn't get the chance to refute her.
And it was the truth... of course she meant so much more to me than just that.
"And then there's the way you talk." She tilts her head slightly. "Even back then, you always sounded older. Smarter. Like you weren't a kid at all. You also sounded emotionless. Like there was nothing inside you. At first, I thought that was just who you were, a stoic, more mature orphan girl, but no... that wasn't it."
"Shiina—"
"You know things you shouldn't," she continues. "Way too much for a seven-year-old. About tactics. About psychology. About how people think. The way you explain things, the way you plan, the way you always act like you're five steps ahead of everyone—"
She stops, inhaling sharply.
I watch her carefully, staying completely still.
"...You're not just some orphan girl, are you?"
Her voice is quieter now, but no less intense.
The air feels colder.
I don't respond immediately. My mind races, calculating, weighing my options.
Shiina has always been sharp—too sharp for her own good. I knew this conversation would happen eventually, but I didn't expect it tonight.
I could keep denying it. I could gaslight her, spin a new web of half-truths, distract her with something else.
But I look at her—really look at her.
She's not just curious.
She's hurt.
Not because she suspects I'm lying.
But because she knows I am.
And she wants me to trust her.
I did... but to tell her this? This soon.
A lump forms in my throat.
Damn it.
I exhale slowly, then turn away. "Shiina... would you be willing to wait for an answer?" Seeing her confused expression, I added, "I promise to tell you everything... just not right now... not tonight."
"No." Was her simple response. "Akari, I know you keep your promises, but you're not escaping this, not this time."
I suspected as much.
"Let's go somewhere private then."
Shiina watches me for a long moment and nods.
The snow continues to fall around us, silent witnesses to my truth.
I would tell her everything today. There was no way out of this.
As we walked up to the Shodaime's head, I prepared for the inevitable.