Chapter 126: An Answer
Meanwhile—
Back in Konoha.
Moonlight bathed the village in a gentle silver glow.
For the first time in a long while, Hiashi Hyūga was quietly enjoying a small drink at home. Looking up at the bright moon above, even his usually stern expression softened slightly.
"I really let my worries get the better of me."
He sighed.
"To think I would misunderstand Naruto and the others at their age..."
"Then they left so quickly that I never even had the chance to apologize."
"Putting that kind of pressure on them this early probably wasn't a good thing."
Hopefully, my words didn't create unnecessary distance between them.
Meanwhile, at Naruto's apartment.
Inside Naruto's mental world, Minato was doing everything he could to keep Kurama distracted.
"Kurama-sama, there's actually a technique I've been studying lately. I'm still trying to understand the theory behind it..."
"Oh?"
Kurama looked mildly interested.
"You actually found something you don't understand? Let's hear it."
After Minato explained that there was no danger and everything was perfectly fine, Kurama quickly lost interest in paying attention to the outside world.
Human relationships had never been a particularly interesting subject to him.
[Son, your old man can only help you this much.]
Back in reality, Naruto and Hinata sat in an awkward silence.
Neither knew exactly what to say.
The events of the evening had left both of them flustered.
After a long pause, Hinata finally spoke.
"Naruto-kun..."
"Yeah?"
Her voice was quiet.
Very quiet.
"Back then..."
"When I confessed to you..."
Naruto froze.
Hinata lowered her gaze.
"I never received an answer."
"Even after we left on this mission, everything stayed the same as before."
"So I kept wondering..."
"Maybe I misunderstood."
"Maybe I was causing trouble for you."
"Maybe Father's actions put too much pressure on you."
Naruto stood there silently.
Then suddenly—
Everything made sense.
The anxiety he had sensed from Hinata.
The hesitation in her voice.
The uncertainty she had been carrying.
It was all because of him.
After her confession, he had been so overwhelmed by happiness that he never properly responded.
He had celebrated.
He had told Sasuke.
He had spent days feeling like he was walking on air.
But he had never actually given Hinata an answer.
And she had been waiting ever since.
Before she could continue speaking, Naruto interrupted her.
"I like you too."
His voice was firm.
Certain.
"I really, really like you."
Hinata looked up in surprise.
Naruto met her gaze directly.
Then, taking a deep breath, he declared:
"I, Uzumaki Naruto, really like Hyūga Hinata!"
His voice echoed through the room.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Hinata seemed completely stunned.
Naruto scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.
"Sorry, Hinata."
"I've never done anything like this before."
"I honestly had no idea what I was supposed to do."
"You worried about this for so long, and I didn't even realize it."
Hinata shook her head gently.
The corners of her eyes shimmered slightly.
Naruto smiled.
"But my answer is serious."
"I really do like you."
"I want us to stay together."
"I want us to become an important part of each other's lives."
"And I want us to keep moving forward together."
Hinata's cheeks turned red.
Slowly, she nodded.
The uncertainty she had carried for so long finally disappeared.
Neither of them said much after that.
They simply sat together, enjoying the peaceful silence.
Sometimes, the most important feelings didn't need complicated words.
Outside, the moon continued to shine over the sleeping village.
And for Naruto and Hinata, it became a night they would remember for a very long time.
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