Somehow, after that big twist from Shouta, everyone decided to make an outing the next day to buy gears for their trip to the forest lodge. Unfortunately, Shoto have to visit his mother at the hospital while Katsuki have no desire to do something as pansy as shopping. So other than those two, everyone all agree to visit the biggest mall in the area to get their things. Naruto isn't sure that he needs to buy anything but following them won't be a loss.

He could check if there is any strategic game out. The choices lately have been nothing but an absolute bore. Instead of epic storytelling, there seems to be a lot political agendas force feeding. So he haven't gone to the game store for quite a while. As he checks the online store for any good games, the people around him starts separating into groups to find their own things. Before he knows it, he's all alone with Hinata whose voice asks him, "Naruto-kun? Is there anything you want to buy for the trip?"

He looks up found her alone, "Where's everyone else?"

She smiles with a soft exasperation and fondness in her eyes, "They are already in groups to look for their own things," She then asks, "What about you? Are you going to buy a big bag?"

Naruto hums, "I already have a big camping bag. My Dad and I used to go mountain trekking until life got extra busy. What about you? Anything you want to buy?"

Hinata hums, "I still have the bag that I moved out with. I can just use that. And we already have our sleeping bags from when we do work study under Eraserhead. Hmm...ah! Bug repellents! We definitely need those!"

Naruto smiles, "Let's just walk around first, yeah?"

Hinata blushes, "Oh...okay..."

Naruto look around as he walks and found Izuku walking with Ochaco. He shakes his head in amusement before the talk with Izuku returns to his mind. Hinata looks at the list in her phone, distracting him with her soft voice, "...outdoor shoes. I only have my jogging shoes. Maybe I should get one for trekking? But will I have time to break it in? The list did say to wear shoes that are comfortable..."

His tail unconsciously curls around her for without his permission. Naruto bites his lower lip, trying to think of things that he might need. He's fine wearing whatever shoes. After all, to him, sandals are the best shoes. Sure, he had a big fight with Minato about trekking shoes once but he's most familiar with sandals. Even now, he is wearing sandals.

Suddenly, the hair on his tail fluffs up, catching Hinata's attention, "Naruto-kun?"

He frowns, "Something's wrong..."

He turns his head back to where Izuku once was but the boy is no longer in sight. His tail splits into 9 as his ears twitch around. He lifts his nose, sniffing. He seldom use his nose to track but he can. There is just no reason to use it before. Then...a familiar scent of decay reaches him and he starts to follow it.

Hinata feels her body being dragged along, "Naruto-kun? What is it?"

Naruto gulps, "Bloodlust...someone is giving out bloodlust..."

He follows the scent and found a man in a dark hood walking away from a pale faced Izuku on a bench wrapped around a palm tree. He immediately reaches the pale face boy while Ochaco is calling the police. Lifting Izuku's chin, he found bruises in the form of fingers around his neck. He gulps, "Was that Handyman?"

Izuku nods, "Y-yeah..."

Ochaco finishes her call and sobs, "I'm sorry, Izuku! I shouldn't have left you alone!"

Hinata wraps an arm around her shoulders, "It's okay. It isn't you fault. You don't even know that there will be a Villain walking around here,"

Ochaco sobs, "I'm sorry..."

Izuku smiles at her, "It's alright, Ochaco. It isn't your fault,"

Naruto frowns as he messages Yagi, "We should at least inform all the right people,"

[Handyman made contact with Izuku. He strangled him but Ochaco managed to interfere]

Within moments, Izuku's phone rings and he picks it up, "Hello? Ah, Yagi! Y-yeah...I'm alright...yeah...no, Ochaco managed to get to me before he did anything worse...no, he didn't anything more because we are in public and he's alone...yeah, we'll be more careful...yeah...okay, I'll see you there," He puts the call down and looks at Naruto, "Yagi said that he wants to meet me,"

Naruto nods, "When?"

"Later this evening,"

Naruto decides, "I'm coming with you. I don't think you should be left alone, Izuku. Not with their interest in you and all,"

The mall's siren echoes all around them and people immediately tries to get out. The rest of the class gathers around them and they all fusses over Izuku's bruised neck. The police soon found them and starts to question Ochaco before taking Izuku under the custody. Naruto and Hinata follows them as they live in the same building. During Izuku's questioning by Naomasa, Naruto reviews what he know about the League of Villain. So far, it is clear that All For One is the mastermind through Handyman. But just like with Akatsuki, they can't fight back without proper information or location of the mastermind.

Hinata asks, "Will Izuku be okay? They seem to have an unhealthy interest in him,"

Naruto hums, "There is nothing we can do other than to be more vigilant. You should be wary too, Hinata. Your Quirk might interest them too,"

Hinata purses her lips, "Don't worry. I won't let them nab me," She then pokes his side, "You should be more careful too, Naruto-kun. Izuku barely did anything during the USJ incident but they are already showing an interest in him. If they get their hands on you..."

Naruto pats her head with a smile, "You don't have to worry about me, Hinata. I can handle myself just fine,"

Hinata sighs with a dissatisfied pout, "Sometimes you are too 'mature' for your own good,"

The door to the interrogation room opens, releasing Izuku from his questioning. Naomasa smiles at Naruto and Hinata as he guides them to the entrance. Minato looks at them and steps closer, asking, "Is everything alright?"

Naomasa nods, "Everything is under control,"

Not exactly fine but manageable. Naruto looks at Izuku and the bandage around his neck. He frowns at the sight and Izuku quickly reassures him, "I'm fine. Just need to be careful not to use my voice too loudly,"

As they walk out of the building, they found Yagi waiting. Naruto takes Minato and Hinata away while the two talk. Minato stares at the skeletal man curiously, "I didn't know that you know Tsukauchi-san's friend,"

Naruto looks at him, "You know Yagi?"

Minato shakes his head, "I've seen him around. How do you know him?"

Naruto shrugs, "We met a year ago when we were training down by the beach. Since we keep crossing each other, we became friend. Yagi's a Pro-Hero, if you want to know. He also works at U.A,"

Minato blinks, "Really? He doesn't look like he can throw a punch, though,"

Naruto smiles at the irony, "Yeah. He's retired from the scene. He look like because of an injury from a fight,"

Minato frowns, "Naruto..."

Naruto looks at him, "We'll be fine...it isn't anymore dangerous than you being a policeman,"

Minato sighs and pats his head before looking at the girl awkwardly standing between them, "And who is this young lady?"

Naruto's ears twitch, "Oh! This is Hinata. Hyuuga Hinata,"

Minato smiles, "Is that so? Well, good to put a face to that name at last!" He greets her, "Can I call you Hinata?"

Hinata blushes, "Y-yes! Ano..."

Minato beams, "Minato is fine. I heard you took good care of Naruto here. I'm sorry for the inconvenience,"

Hinata shakes her head, "N-no! I like taking care of Naruto-kun!"

...

Her face burns red as her head registers her own words. Minato's smile only brightens while Naruto's tail fluffs up along with his red face. Minato nods, "I see, I see. Then please, take go~od care of Naruto-kun,"

Naruto tries to step on his foot but Minato is already hiding them away from him. He whines, "Dad~!"

Hinata is combusting, "Y-yes! I'll take very, very good care of Naruto-kun!"

Naruto sighs as he rubs a palm over his red face, though his tail is wagging at her flustered declaration. He glares at Minato who seems to have taken a shine on Hinata. After all, she is probably the first girl that Naruto actually show a positive interest in. All the girls who had known him were all rejected and depending on their intensity and stubbornness, Naruto can be a gentleman or a complete ass.

Minato then asks, "Do you mind riding in my car? I can take you home,"

Hinata fidgets, "Will that be alright for you to leave?"

Minato nods, "They have given me leave in light of this situation. Besides, Inko is here too," He looks to see Izuku comforting his mom, "Come on. Let's go greet her,"

When they reach the crying mother, Izuku looks up to see Minato, "Uncle Minato! I'm sorry!"

Minato shakes his head, "You boys are growing up. This world is a dangerous place and the career you chose is going to be even more dangerous," He pats Inko's shoulder, "You need to let him grow, Inko,"

Inko sobs as she slowly tightens her hold on her baby, "First, the USJ. Then the matter at Hosu! And now, they are targeting him! How can I not be worried, Minato?!"

Minato sighs, "It is fine to worry. I'm worried too. But they are fine. Now let Izuku breathe,"

Izuku gasps from where Inko have been smothering him with her tight hug, "Thanks Uncle Minato. Uh, sorry about dragging Naruto in this,"

Minato snorts, "Knowing Naruto and how he always fuss about you, I won't be surprise if he jumps in after you. You should know how he's like, Izuku," He then jingles his keys, "Alright! I'll drive you guys home! Inko, how'd you get here? I thought you said your car's engine was giving you problem?"

Inko wipes her tears, "Oh. I hailed a taxi. I'm just lucky that one stopped when I did that or it might have taken me longer to get here," She then smiles at Hinata, "And this is?"

Izuku introduces them, "Oh! This is Hinata. She lives in the single unit building across from ours,"

Minato frowns, "Alone? Where's your family?"

Naruto sneers, "They threw her out because they are scared of her Quirk,"

Inko frowns, "Oh dear. That is not good. You are welcome to come over for dinner whenever, Hinata," She then starts sobbing, "Oh!! My Izuku is growing up! He now have a girlfriend!"

Hinata flusters, "W-what?! We-we are not like that!!"

Izuku quickly nods, "Y-yeah! Mum! I think I like someone but it's definitely not Hinata! No offense Hinata,"

Hinata shakes her head, "That's alright. I think I know who you like, anyway,"

Minato cheers, pumping his arm, and pats Naruto's back, "Yes! You got a chance, boy!"

Naruto blushes, "Dad~!"

Izuku teases him, "Well, he's being a pussy right now, though,"

Naruto smacks him with his tail, "Shut it, Broccoli,"

Though the ride back is quiet, with Naruto sitting in the middle due to being the tallest, the swaying of the car forces Hinata to press up against him. He blushes as the side of her softness brushes against him now and then. Meanwhile, Hinata is doing her best to not faint as she have never this close to anyone, let alone Naruto. Also, his scent is sticking to her brain. It is fortunate that Naruto's body is more similar to a human than a fox as he apparently lacks the stinky glands that fox have all over their body. At least that was his argument after a pretty sweaty training. But he still have a distinct scent that's all masculine.

The torturous ride is soon over and the trio climbs out of Minato's small car. The man is frugal enough that he doesn't feel like buying a big car. Thus the squeezing. It isn't a problem when it's just Naruto and Izuku. But add in Hinata and the back is a tight squeeze. But it is doable so nobody complain. Still, Minato smiles as Naruto walks Hinata to her building.

Inko smiles, "She seems like a nice girl," She looks at Izuku, "Are you sure you don't like her?"

Izuku blushes, "I like her as a friend. Besides...Naruto is weird with her,"

Minato blinks, "Weird how?"

Izuku isn't sure that he should spill his friend's problem to adults but maybe they can help him understand Naruto's reluctance to confess better, "Well...like he talks like he's going to confess to her whenever someone tease him or ask him about her. But he never did. I don't get it and I tried talking to him. I would have done more but Naruto always believe that things like romance between two people isn't something I should meddle with. So I don't know how to help him or Hinata because everyone in class notice this attraction between them. And Naruto is kind of possessive with her. I understand Hinata. She's shy...Naruto sometimes compare her awkwardness with mine. Once he said that there's two of us now and he's stuck in the middle," He sighs, "But Naruto's reluctance just make no sense to me. He's so decisive in this sort of thing before,"

Minato hums, "Should I talk to him? What do you think, Inko?"

Inko, being the mother figure for Naruto since they moved to Musutafu, is also a little out of her depth, "I'm not so sure, Minato. Naruto is unnaturally mature for a child and I don't want to meddle in this sort of thing. Maybe you should wait for him to talk to you?"

Minato presses the floor button of the elevator, "You got a point,"

Meanwhile, Naruto is a little awkward as he walks Hinata to her building. She looks at him before saying, "In the end, we didn't buy anything,"

Naruto looks at her, "Well, there's always tomorrow?"

She frowns with a slight pout, "But it won't be a class outing like today,"

Naruto smiles at her, "You're cute when you pout,"

She blushes a bright red, "Naruto-kun, you..." She sighs before stopping and facing him. He stops and blushes at the look of determination that she's giving him, "Be honest with me?"

He gulps, "What do you want to know?"

She fidgets a little before asking, "Do you..." She breathes in deep, "D-do you l-like me? B-because...you...t-the things you s-said...they are confusing me," She bites her lip before looking into his eyes, "I n-need to know. Because I...!" She stops, blinking back tears before shaking her head, "I'm sorry. This is stupid. I should-,"

He grabs her wrist, understanding her frustration. It must have taken a lot out of her to even confront him like this. He have been thinking a lot whenever he have free time. And even when training himself, he's thinking about it. He gently but firmly turns her to face, cradling her small face and tilting them to look at him. She's trembling, her lips are trembling, her lashes are trembling, her whole form is quaking with confused emotions. He sighs as he thumbs her lips and her cheeks burns red.

Instead of the expected kiss, he pulls her into a tight hug, "I'm sorry, Hinata. I know that it sounds like I'm joking but I don't understand this either. I want to be sure. Absolutely sure. But at the same time, I want to be fair with you. So...do you mind if we talk...at your place? Please?"

Hinata blinks, the confusion in her gaze stronger. But she trusts him and so invites him to her room. Naruto looks around to see a more lived in room. Well, it have been a whole semester and they will soon be greeting summer vacation. Hinata apologizes as she rush to clear up the clutter, "Sorry about the mess!"

Naruto smiles, "No. It's alright. It certainly looks better than my own room on a busy week,"

The amount of time Minato have to nag him to clean his room. Just thinking about it makes him smile. Growing up an orphan, he only cleaned his room when Hiruzen was scheduled to visit. The only good thing about the orphanage was teaching kids how to clean up after themselves. They did teach kids basic living like cleaning and cooking hot water, at least. But Naruto is sure that there should be more but he got kicked out at age 3.

"Naruto-kun?" He looks to see Hinata pouring two glasses of apple juices, "Come take a seat,"

Hinata remembers that off handed comment from him about disliking citrus and anything associated with the fruit. He smiles as he takes a sip before saying, "It's going to sound insane but...it is my truth,"

She looks at him, "I'm...listening..."

He explains, "I never mentioned this to Izuku or my Dad because it really doesn't make any sense. I had looked up the internet and through numerous myths to try and make sense of this but even though there are beliefs out there about it, there are barely any record to prove it and I think I know why," He looks at Hinata, "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

Hinata blinks, "Re...incarnation?" She looks confused, "Y-you mean like...dying and coming back as another person? Like that?"

Naruto chuckles, "I wish. My name in this life is the same as my past. But this is certainly not the world I left. I am certain because...all those forest trekking activities I did with my Dad was just another way for me to figure out if maybe...there are remnants of the people I grew up with around. But in this world, there is only Japan and not Hi no Kuni. There are Heroes, Villains, and Vigilantes. Not Shinobi. There are national armies, the JSDF and not Samurai. There are Quirks but not chakra or Ninjutsu. I was completely blown away but what can a 4 years old do anyway, even with the mind of over 40 years in my head there is precious few that I can do. Reveal myself? What good will that do? I'll just attract crazy people. Go back? Where to? I already died back in Konoha," He sighs, "So I just lived my life here, starting over. Maybe this would have been easier if reincarnating mean losing my memories," He looks at her, "Crazy, right?"

Hinata bites her lip, one slender finger tapping her glass with her sharp nail. She then says, "Have you visited psychiatrists?" She winces at her question, "S-sorry! I don't meant to say that...that you..."

Naruto hums, nodding, "Reasonable reaction. But I know the past is true because the skills and the experiences of that life followed me into this life. I am not a genius. I just experienced more than your average teenager," He explains, "The mixed Quirks I have are completely of this world. But my skills in class and everything else? Those are from my past. It isn't just because I train to at least reach the peak level of what I can do once. That level of power is impossible for me now. Not without chakra," Not without Kurama, "It is why I seem more mature than other boys my age and why I am confident with my advises. I have been where they are. I have gone through the growing pains of becoming a Hero...though I do not consider myself one,"

Hinata remembers something. An exchange between Shura and Stain. The way Shura can still move despite Stain's Indomitable Will pressing down on them, powerful enough to even cause hardened Pros to kneel. Shura didn't kneel. All he said was; Stain sure killed a lot. His odd martial art that no one can pinpoint the origin of. His throwing techniques that looked out of this world. Everything that are odd or strange about Naruto...suddenly makes a lot sense.

She looks at him, clarity in her gaze and Naruto smiles, "I like you, Hinata. I really do. But at the same time...I don't know if this is right. Physically, I am your age. But mentally, I am All Might's age. Not to mention, you are a dead ringer for a girl who once loved me and died. I realized too late that I loved her back. That is why...I couldn't bring myself to really confess to you and ask you out. Because I don't want you to be a replacement of her. I want to be certain that the girl I'm going out with is you and not the ghost of someone else," He smiles at her but his smile is tinged with a deep sadness, "That won't be fair to you,"

Hinata's eyes widens, understanding dawning on her. A part of her is flustered but most of her is sad. That Naruto is seeing another girl through her. But at the same time she is touched that despite his own confusion, he is doing his best to be fair to her. He doesn't even try to take advantage or manipulate her.

Naruto bows his head deeply, "I'm sorry,"

As he leave her apartment, Hinata wonders what she wants from Naruto. A part of her also question if dating her will make Naruto a pedophile. Despite being physically her age, can he be considered one? And what about her? How does she really feel about all this? She sighs, "Somehow...my first possible teenage romance is a lot more complicated than I imagine,"

There are so many things to consider but...Naruto is truly a respectable man for being honest with her. Though it must have been extremely hard for him to come clean. She doesn't even know if she can measure up to that.