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Chapter Text

Hinata Hyūga was a combat prodigy, a natural leader within her clan, and, according to her cousin Neji, "the perfect example of what an Alpha should be." However, there was one small detail no one knew: when it came to Naruto Uzumaki, all that confidence and poise vanished like a puff of smoke.

From the moment Hinata understood what it meant to be an Alpha, she knew her instincts were drawn to one person: Naruto. But approaching the most energetic and oblivious Omega in the village was a challenge greater than any training she'd ever faced.

That morning, while walking through the village with a thoughtful expression, Kiba and Shino caught up to her.

"Why the long face, Hinata?" Kiba asked, Akamaru padding along beside him. "You look like you're planning a strategic attack… or is it *him* you're thinking about again?"

Hinata froze in her tracks, her cheeks flushing red.

"Wh-what? Me? I don’t know what you’re talking about," she stammered, her trembling voice betraying her.

Shino adjusted his glasses and added in his calm tone, "It’s obvious. Every time we mention Naruto, you act like this."

"That’s not true!" Hinata exclaimed, but her panicked tone only made Kiba burst into laughter.

"Come on, Hinata. It’s time you did something about it! You can’t keep sighing over him from the shadows!"

Hinata sighed, hiding her face in her hands.

"It’s easy for you to say, Kiba. But every time I see him… I just… can’t."

Kiba raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Can’t what? Talk to him? Breathe?"

"Both…" Hinata murmured, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

---

As her friends debated ways to help her, fate decided to step in. A few meters away, Naruto appeared, walking with a wide grin and a bag full of ramen ingredients.

"Hey, Hinata!" he called cheerfully, waving at her.

Hinata felt her heart stop for a moment.

"Oh no, oh no, *oh no!*" she whispered, her face now a deep shade of red.

"Just breathe!" Kiba hissed, giving her a gentle nudge.

Before she could react, Naruto was already standing in front of her.

"Wow, lucky to run into you!" he said, radiating that contagious energy of his. "How’s it going, Hinata?"

Hinata opened her mouth to respond, but the words got stuck in her throat.

"I… uh… I’m… f-fine…" she stammered, feeling her legs threaten to give out beneath her.

Naruto tilted his head, confused but patient.

"That’s great. Oh, by the way, thanks for helping me with those reports the other day. You’re amazing, Hinata. You always save me!"

Hinata felt the world spin.

"I… you… I mean… thank you!" she blurted out, bowing quickly before bolting away at top speed.

Naruto blinked, turning to Kiba and Shino with a puzzled expression.

"Did I say something weird?"

Kiba laughed loudly while Shino simply sighed.

"No, Naruto. You’re just… a lot for her."

After her embarrassing escape, Hinata ended up at the training grounds, throwing kunai with such force that Neji, passing by, had to stop.

"Is this about Naruto again?" he asked bluntly, dodging a kunai that nearly grazed him.

Hinata dropped her shoulders and sighed, defeated.

"It’s impossible, Neji. Every time I’m near him, my brain stops working."

Neji crossed his arms, his expression exasperated as usual.

"You’re an Alpha. We’re supposed to be imposing, decisive, and capable leaders. Why do you act like a nervous genin around Naruto?"

"Because he’s Naruto," Hinata mumbled, staring at the ground.

Neji huffed, but before he could continue, Kiba and Shino appeared, as if waiting for the perfect moment.

"Hinata! We have a plan!" Kiba announced enthusiastically.

"Kiba, I don’t want to—"

"No, listen to this," Kiba interrupted, ignoring her warning tone. "We’re going to set up a casual meeting for you and Naruto! No pressure, no stress. Just two people hanging out."

"That doesn’t sound like a bad idea," Neji commented, though his tone remained skeptical.

Hinata looked at them with a mix of hope and dread.

"Do you really think this will work?"

"Of course!" Kiba said confidently. "What could go wrong?"

Everything. Everything could go wrong.

That evening, Kiba convinced Naruto to join him at Ichiraku Ramen. What Naruto didn’t know was that Hinata was already there, sitting at one of the tables with a tense expression, her hands clenched in her lap.

"Naruto!" Kiba exclaimed as they arrived. "Look who’s here!"

Naruto beamed when he saw her.

"Hinata! What a coincidence!"

Hinata tried to respond, but her voice barely came out as a whisper.

"H-hi, Naruto-kun…"

Naruto sat beside her, completely unaware of the nervous aura radiating from the Alpha.

"What brings you here?"

"I… came to eat…" she replied quickly, avoiding his gaze.

"That’s great!" Naruto said enthusiastically. "Then we can eat together!"

From a nearby corner, Kiba and Shino peeked out from behind a tree, their heads barely visible.

"See? This is perfect," Kiba whispered.

"Perfect would be if Hinata stopped looking like she’s about to faint," Shino muttered, adjusting his glasses.

Meanwhile, at the table, Naruto was chatting animatedly about his day, blissfully unaware of Hinata’s internal turmoil.

"…and then Kakashi-sensei made me redo the reports three times. Can you believe it?"

"Uh… yeah… that sounds… tough…" Hinata replied, staring intently at her ramen bowl.

Naruto tilted his head, finally noticing her odd behavior.

"Hinata, are you okay?"

Hinata felt her heart race to its limit.

"I’m fine!" she blurted out, accidentally slamming the table.

The loud noise drew the attention of everyone in the stall, including Teuchi, who peeked out curiously from the kitchen. Naruto, surprised, blinked a few times before smiling.

"Good! For a moment, I thought you were sick or something."

Hinata wanted to disappear.

---

After Naruto cheerfully said goodbye, Hinata left the stall with Kiba and Shino trailing behind her.

"What was that?" Kiba demanded, crossing his arms. "You had the perfect opportunity!"

"I tried, Kiba," Hinata said with a sigh. "But every time I try to say something important, I feel like I’m going to pass out."

Shino, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

"Maybe you should try something simpler. A direct invitation."

Hinata looked at him as if he’d suggested climbing Hokage Mountain barefoot.

"A… direct invitation?"

"Yes," Shino said calmly. "Naruto isn’t complicated. He’d probably value honesty more than any elaborate strategy."

Hinata nodded slowly, considering his words.

"Maybe you’re right."

"Of course he’s right!" Kiba exclaimed, excited. "Tomorrow, you’ll invite him out. No beating around the bush."

Hinata swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the mission she had just accepted.

"Alright. Tomorrow… I’ll do it."

Hinata woke up that morning determined. She had spent the night practicing in front of the mirror, trying to find the right words.

— "Naruto-kun, do you want to go out with me?" — she murmured firmly, though her reflection returned a nervous look.

Neji, who happened to be passing by, looked at her with some pity.

— Are you sure this will work?

Hinata frowned, determined.

— Yes! I’ll do it today.

Neji sighed, resigned, as he walked away.

---

Hinata waited patiently near the ramen stand, knowing Naruto would pass by after his morning training. As soon as she saw him coming, with his trademark smile and his orange jacket waving in the wind, her legs turned to jelly.

— Keep calm, Hinata. You can do this — she murmured to herself.

Naruto saw her and walked over, waving.

— Hinata! Great to see you. Are you waiting for someone?

Hinata swallowed and straightened up.

— I... uh... no. Actually, I wanted to talk to you...

Naruto tilted his head, curious.

— Talk to me? What about?

Hinata opened her mouth, ready to invite him, when a voice boomed from behind them.

— Naruto!

They both turned to see Kiba, Shino, Sakura, and Lee running toward them. Hinata felt her plan beginning to crumble.

— Right on time! — Kiba exclaimed, throwing his arm around Naruto’s shoulders. — We thought it would be fun to all hang out together.

— All? — Naruto repeated, looking at Hinata curiously.

Hinata tried to protest, but before she could say anything, Sakura grabbed her arm with a smile.

— Come on, Hinata. It's been a while since we all hung out.

— B-but... — Hinata stammered, looking desperately at Naruto.

Lee, ever enthusiastic, added:

— Youth’s springtime blooms best when we’re all together!

In seconds, Hinata found herself dragged by the group toward the nearest restaurant, while Naruto happily walked along, completely oblivious to the internal suffering of the Alpha.

---

The group took a long table, and of course, Naruto ended up sitting right next to Hinata. The Alpha tried to keep her composure, but every time Naruto spoke or laughed, she felt like her heart was about to burst.

— Hinata, are you okay? — Naruto asked at one point, noticing her strange behavior.

— I-I’m fine! — she quickly responded, but her nervous tone only made Sakura look at her suspiciously.

Meanwhile, Kiba decided it was a good idea to share stories from their missions, many of which involved Naruto.

— ...and then Naruto jumped straight into the trap. It was so funny! — he said, laughing loudly.

Naruto scratched the back of his neck, laughing too.

— Well, it wasn’t my best moment, but at least I saved Akamaru.

Hinata could barely focus on the conversation. Her mind was occupied with thinking about how to regain control of the situation.

— "I have to say something. I can’t let this day end without inviting him..." — she thought, glancing sideways at Naruto.

However, just when she gathered the courage to speak, the waiter arrived with the food, interrupting her once again.

— Time to eat! — Naruto exclaimed, enthusiastically grabbing his chopsticks.

Hinata sighed, resigned.

---

At the end of the meal, the group began to disperse little by little. Kiba and Shino were the first to leave, followed by Sakura and Lee. Finally, Hinata and Naruto were left alone at the restaurant door.

— That was fun, don’t you think? — Naruto said, stretching. — Thanks for coming, Hinata.

Hinata saw her opportunity. This was the moment.

— Naruto-kun, I... — she started, feeling her heart race.

But before she could continue, Naruto turned toward her with his typical carefree smile.

— How about we do this again soon? It’s great spending time with you.

Hinata froze. Naruto’s smile was so genuine, so warm, that she couldn’t help but feel her resolve melt.

— Y-yeah... sure — she murmured, unable to say anything else.

Naruto gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder before saying goodbye and walking away.

Hinata stood in front of the restaurant, watching him go, as a mix of frustration and relief took over her.

— This is harder than I thought... — she murmured to herself, bringing a hand to her forehead.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Hinata was training in the field when she was startled by an unexpected presence. Sakura, with a sly smile and arms crossed, was watching her from the side of the field.

— Hinata, can we talk for a moment? — she asked, her tone more of a command than a request.

Hinata swallowed hard.

— Y-Yes?

Sakura approached with an expression that mixed interest and amusement.

— I'm not dumb, Hinata. Yesterday at the restaurant... it was pretty obvious.

— O-Obvious? What was obvious? — Hinata tried to deny it, avoiding Sakura's gaze.

— That you're completely in love with Naruto and don't know how to tell him, — Sakura said bluntly.

Hinata felt the ground open up beneath her feet.

— I-I... How do you know that?

Sakura chuckled softly.

— Because I know you, Hinata. And because no one blushes that much just from eating ramen next to someone.

Before Hinata could respond, Kiba appeared, accompanied by Ino and Lee, all of them wearing excited expressions.

— Perfect! Now we have enough people to form a serious plan, — Kiba exclaimed.

— What plan? — Hinata asked, taking a step back, but Ino placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

— To help you win over Naruto, of course.

— But...

— No buts — Lee interrupted, raising his fist with determination. — The springtime of youth will bloom for you, Hinata!

---

The group gathered at Sakura's house, where Ino took charge.

— Alright, first thing is to make him notice your presence. Naruto is... well, a bit oblivious. So you need to be direct, but not too much so you don’t scare him.

— Exactly! — Kiba added enthusiastically. — Something like, 'Naruto, I like you, let's go out right now.'

— That sounds like an ambush, not courtship, — Sakura retorted, rolling her eyes.

Hinata, redder than a tomato, tried to interject.

— I don't think this is a good idea...

— Of course it is! — Ino said, completely ignoring her. — What you need is a grand gesture, something that will show him how special you are.

— But he already knows... — Hinata murmured, though no one paid attention to her.

---

Failed Attempt #2: The "Special" Gift

With her friends' help, Hinata prepared a small gift for Naruto: a box containing his favorite ramen, carefully decorated with ribbons and a note that read: "I hope this makes your day happier. With affection, Hinata."

— It's perfect, — Sakura said, admiring their work. — It's sweet, but not too obvious.

— Now you just have to give it to him, — Ino added, pushing Hinata toward the door.

When Hinata arrived at Naruto's apartment, she took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

Naruto opened quickly, his usual radiant smile in place.

— Hinata! What a surprise. What's up?

Hinata, trembling slightly, handed him the box.

— This is for you, Naruto-kun.

Naruto eagerly took the box.

— Thanks, Hinata! That’s so kind of you.

Hinata smiled shyly, waiting for some kind of reaction. But then Naruto opened the box, took out the ramen, and exclaimed:

— Wow, my favorite! Did you know I'm always hungry after training? Thanks, you're the best friend anyone could have!

Hinata felt her heart sink.

— F-Friend? — she murmured, but Naruto had already run to his kitchen to prepare the ramen without giving her much attention.

From a nearby corner, Kiba and Lee, who had been spying, covered their faces with their hands.

— He's a lost cause! — Kiba exclaimed.

— We can’t give up! — Lee said with determination. — We’ll keep trying until Hinata succeeds!

---

After two days and the "friendly ramen" disaster, the self-proclaimed committee to help Hinata was more determined than ever.

— It's clear that Naruto doesn’t understand hints, — Ino said, while drawing a complicated diagram on a chalkboard. — So our next strategy has to be direct, yet subtle.

— That makes no sense, — Kiba muttered, earning an elbow from Sakura.

Lee raised his hand, excited.

— How about a public display of affection? Something he can’t ignore, like... a love poem in front of the whole village!

— No way I'm doing that! — Hinata exclaimed, horrified by the idea.

Sakura sighed.

— Lee, we’re trying to help, not scare him off.

— Well then... how about training together? — Shino suggested, having arrived late but seeming up to speed on the conversation.

Everyone turned to him, surprised.

— Training? — Hinata repeated, confused.

Shino adjusted his glasses.

— Naruto likes training. If you spend time with him in his natural environment, maybe he’ll start seeing you differently.

— That’s not a bad idea, — Ino admitted, nodding slowly. — Besides, physical contact always helps.

Hinata turned as red as a tomato.

— Physical contact?

— Exactly! Like helping him up or guiding him with a technique. It’s the perfect moment to create closeness, — Ino added enthusiastically.

---

Failed Attempt #3: Close Training

The next day, the group managed to convince Naruto to train with Hinata that afternoon, though it wasn’t hard; Naruto agreed happily, as always.

— Great! Hinata’s amazing at hand-to-hand combat. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot, — he said, smiling widely as they headed to the training field.

Hinata, for her part, walked stiffly, repeating to herself that everything would be fine.

— It’s just training. Nothing can go wrong… — she thought, ignoring the chorus of giggles coming from the group of spies hidden among the bushes.

Naruto took his fighting stance, oblivious to Hinata's tension.

— Come on, Hinata! Don’t hold back."

Hinata nodded, trying to focus. However, every time she tried to attack, her mind filled with images of Naruto smiling, laughing, or simply being himself.

— Watch out! — Naruto exclaimed, dodging a strike that accidentally came too hard and almost hit him.

— S-Sorry!"ñ — Hinata cried, covering her mouth with her hands.

Naruto laughed as he got up.

— Don’t worry, Hinata. I’m fine. Let’s go again.

Hinata nodded, but before they could continue, a smoke bomb appeared out of nowhere. When the smoke cleared, Lee, Kiba, and Ino were there, pretending as if it were all a coincidence.

— Oh, what a coincidence! — Lee exclaimed, putting his hands on his hips. — We had no idea you’d be training here.

Naruto tilted his head, confused.

— Really? Because this is the most common training field...

— Well, since we’re here, why don’t we do group training? — Kiba suggested quickly, ignoring Hinata’s murderous glare.

Naruto smiled, always willing.

— Sure! The more, the merrier!

Hinata clenched her fists, her patience hanging by a thread.

---

What followed was a disaster. Kiba tried to "push" Hinata toward Naruto on more than one occasion, resulting in several awkward stumbles. Lee, in his enthusiasm, decided to show off his Taijutsu skills but accidentally hit Kiba instead.

— That was intentional! — Kiba shouted, chasing Lee around the field.

Ino, meanwhile, attempted to use her possession technique to force Hinata into taking a decisive step but was interrupted by Shikamaru, who showed up to take her to a meeting.

Naruto, oblivious to the chaos around him, simply scratched his head.

— Is it just me, or is everyone acting weird today? — he asked Hinata.

Hinata, on the verge of despair, could barely respond.

— I-I… don’t know…

Naruto smiled.

— Well, at least you’re always calm, Hinata. That’s something I admire about you.

Hinata felt her heart melt, but before she could respond, Kiba and Lee ran past again, accidentally knocking her down in the process.

— Sorry! — they both shouted in unison as Hinata got up with a mix of frustration and embarrassment

Chapter Text

After the disastrous training session, the group gathered once again at Sakura’s house to analyze what had gone wrong and plan their next move.

— It’s clear Hinata needs to stand out more as an Alpha, — declared Ino, slamming the table decisively.

— Stand out? — Hinata repeated, confused.

— Exactly! — Ino continued. — Omegas like Naruto are drawn to strong, protective Alphas. If you show him your most Alpha side, he won’t be able to resist.

— But… doesn’t Naruto already think I’m strong? — Hinata asked, a mix of hope and nervousness in her voice.

— Admiring your strength in battle isn’t the same as seeing you as a protective partner, — Ino explained.

— So, what’s your suggestion? — Kiba asked curiously.

— A heroic rescue! — Ino exclaimed enthusiastically.

Sakura frowned.

— A rescue? What are you talking about? Naruto doesn’t need to be rescued; he can take care of himself.

— That’s why it has to be staged! — Ino insisted. — We’ll create a situation where Hinata can save Naruto. He’ll see how amazing she is as an Alpha, and the rest will be history.

Hinata timidly raised her hand.

— What if… this doesn’t work?

Ino completely ignored her.

— It will work. Trust me.

---

Attempt #4: "The Heroic Plan"

The “emergency” was set up in a nearby forest. Kiba, clumsily disguised with a cape and mask, would pretend to be an “enemy” attacking Naruto during a casual walk. Hinata would swoop in at just the right moment to save the day.

— This is ridiculous, — Kiba muttered as he adjusted his costume.

— It’s for a good cause — Lee responded, hidden in the bushes to observe the events unfold.

Meanwhile, Hinata was more nervous than ever.

— Will this really work? — she asked, looking at Sakura and Ino.

— Of course it will! — Ino answered confidently. — Naruto won’t be able to resist.

Naruto arrived at the scene, completely oblivious.

— Hinata! Great to see you. Want to go for a walk?

Hinata nodded, trying not to appear too nervous.

As they walked, Kiba jumped out from behind the trees, shouting dramatically:

— Mwahaha! Naruto Uzumaki, your time has come!

Naruto blinked, confused.

— Huh?

— Prepare to fight! — Kiba continued, moving awkwardly in his costume.

Naruto tilted his head.

— Wait, Kiba? What are you doing with that cape?

Kiba, nervous, tried to stay in character.

— I’m not Kiba! I’m… uh… the great villain of the village!

Naruto squinted, clearly unconvinced.

— This is weird…

Seeing the plan failing, Hinata decided to step in. She jumped in front of Naruto, taking a protective stance.

— Naruto-kun, leave this to me!

Naruto looked alarmed.

— Hinata, wait! You don’t need to—

Before he could finish, Hinata threw a punch at Kiba, who tried to dodge but tripped over a tree root. He fell so awkwardly that his mask accidentally came off.

Naruto stared at him in disbelief.

— Kiba?

Kiba laughed nervously.

— Well, this didn’t go as planned…

Naruto turned to Hinata, completely confused.

— What’s going on here?

Hinata felt the ground open beneath her feet.

— I-I just wanted… to protect you…

Naruto chuckled softly, tapping his chest.

— Hinata, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m strong; I can take care of myself!

From the bushes, Ino and Lee facepalmed in unison.

— Another failed attempt! — Ino muttered, frustrated.

Lee, however, kept his enthusiasm.

— This just means we need to keep trying!

---

After the disaster with Kiba and the “heroic” rescue attempt, Hinata had reached her limit.

— No more! — she exclaimed as she slumped onto a park bench, her face red with embarrassment. — This isn’t working. I don’t want to keep trying anymore.

Sakura, Ino, Lee, and Kiba gathered around her, visibly frustrated.

— Hinata, please, don’t give up, — Ino pleaded. — We can still make this happen!

Hinata let out a deep sigh, staring at the horizon with her shoulders slumped.

— I don’t know… I don’t really trust this anymore. Maybe this isn’t for me.

At that moment, Shikamaru strolled over casually, hands in his pockets.

— What’s going on here? Why does it look like the world’s ending? — he asked, observing the scene with a bored expression.

— Shikamaru! — they all exclaimed at once. — We need your help.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.

— Help with what? And why do I feel like this is going to be a disaster?

— This is our last chance! — Lee interjected, fists raised. — Hinata needs your help to win over Naruto, and you’re the only one who can make it happen!

Shikamaru fell silent, glancing at the determined Ino and then at Hinata, who looked utterly defeated.

— Is that right? — Shikamaru murmured, thinking for a moment. — Hmm… I can’t let you stay like this, Hinata. I’ll come up with a plan. After all, I’m a strategy genius.

Hinata, hearing this, felt a sense of relief. If anyone could help, it was Shikamaru. With his intelligence, there was no way this could go wrong, right?

— Alright… I trust you, Shikamaru.

Shikamaru made a gesture of reluctance but then nodded.

— Let me think for a moment… ---

The next day, Hinata and Naruto were at the park, where, according to Shikamaru’s plan, the opportunity to “break the ice” would naturally arise.

Naruto, as carefree as ever, was enjoying the fresh air.

— Hinata, what a coincidence! Did you come here to train too? — he asked, smiling brightly.

Hinata, a bit more composed thanks to the confidence Shikamaru had given her, adjusted her hair.

— Uh… yes. It’s a nice day to train, isn’t it?

Just then, Shikamaru appeared from a nearby bush, observing with a calculating gaze. Hinata felt a little nervous, but she trusted the plan.

At that moment, an “enemy” appeared on the scene — once again, Kiba in disguise. But this time, Shikamaru had devised a different scenario. Kiba was supposed to “attack” so that Hinata could showcase her protective side, just as they’d initially planned.

— Stop! Don’t let Naruto escape! — Kiba shouted, attempting to “attack” Naruto with a made-up technique that clearly made no sense.

Naruto, however, stepped back, looking confused.

— Kiba, again? Do you really think you can catch me?

Kiba, unfortunately, had already started to trip over yet another rock in the path. And in the middle of the chaos, Shikamaru tried to intervene, but the situation had become more awkward than expected.

— Now what…? — Shikamaru murmured, watching Kiba land flat on his face.

Meanwhile, Naruto was completely oblivious to the bigger plan.

— Kiba, seriously? Just stop. If this is your way of attacking, you should reconsider.

Hinata tried to step in, but unsure of what to do, she ended up tripping over the same rock Kiba had hit.

Naruto quickly rushed to help her, lifting her up with a kind smile.

— Hinata, are you okay?

Hinata blushed more than ever, unsure if she was more frustrated or embarrassed.

— I-I’m fine…

Kiba got up, rubbing his head.

— Was this part of the plan? — he asked with a nervous smile.

Shikamaru gave up on the spot.

— You know what? I think we’ve gone too far with this…

---

Hinata looked at her friends, who were watching her with a mix of pity and sympathy.

— I think… I’m just not cut out for this, — she sighed, crossing her arms.

Shikamaru, wearing his usual tired expression, approached her.

— At least we tried, right? I’m not an expert on love… but if it’s any consolation, I think Naruto holds you in high regard.

Blushing, Hinata glanced at Naruto, who was still smiling, completely unaware of the emotional storm he had caused around him.

— Maybe… I don’t need to do all of this, — she murmured, feeling her heart race as she looked at him.

Even though the plan had failed, something had changed. Hinata no longer felt as lost. And though Naruto didn’t realize it yet, something subtle was beginning to bloom in his heart too.