While Shikamaru and Ino were each unlocking their potential and working hard to catch up... even Naruto was shocked and confused by the impressive strength they had just displayed in front of everyone. So naturally, little Hinata—young, curious, and easily stirred—couldn't help but feel the same.
Though Naruto's earlier affectionate gesture had already been enough to fluster Hinata to the point of speechlessness—an act so bold it could practically be called a public claim of ownership—the poor girl instantly went beet red. Wisps of imaginary steam practically rose from her head as she melted into full "steam princess" mode, quietly curling up in Naruto's arms.
And yet, perhaps because Naruto had been teasing her in all sorts of playful ways throughout the exam, Hinata was slowly beginning to adapt—just as Naruto had hoped—to the increasing intimacy between them.
Of course, that didn't mean she had completely overcome her shy, maidenly heart—the one that went wild the moment their eyes met, making her pulse race so hard she could faint from embarrassment. But compared to how she used to stammer and pass out on the spot, Hinata had unconsciously begun to grow. Now, even if she still panicked and didn't know how to react, she no longer fainted, and her recovery time from embarrassment was getting shorter and shorter.
Thanks to Naruto's deliberate planning, and her brief time spent interacting with the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, she had also started getting better at speaking with strangers. The awkward silences caused by her shy and introverted nature were slowly disappearing.
Without even realizing it, Hinata was starting to regain something she had long lacked—confidence in herself. And that, more than anything, was exactly what Naruto had wanted to see.
It was precisely because of these small, subtle shifts that Hinata—though her face still blushed and her shyness hadn't entirely faded—couldn't suppress the surge of curiosity and faint worry bubbling in her chest. After a moment of hesitation, she gathered her courage and lifted her head from Naruto's warm embrace.
"Ano… Naruto-kun?"
As she spoke, Hinata instinctively shifted a little to find a more comfortable position nestled against him. And since there was no one else around, she boldly stretched out her arms and, cheeks burning, wrapped them around Naruto's neck, clinging to him like a cuddly koala. After a pause, she struggled to suppress the wild thumping in her chest and continued speaking in a hesitant but clear voice as she met Naruto's gentle gaze.
"Th-That person who just ran past… Who was that…?"
"Oh, that?"
Hearing her soft, barely audible murmur, Naruto pulled his attention fully back to his main body. Shaking off the lingering questions in his head, he looked down at Hinata and replied naturally, indulging her closeness without hesitation.
"Those two? That was Shikamaru and Ino. Looks like they're both a lot stronger than they let on."
"E-Eh?! Shikamaru-kun and… Ino?! No way…"
Even though she'd already suspected as much, hearing Naruto confirm it out loud still made Hinata instinctively cover her mouth and gasp in surprise.
It wasn't that surprising, really. After all, during their brief time together earlier, Hinata had formed her first impressions of Ino and Shikamaru as a gentle, ladylike girl and a lazy, unmotivated slacker, respectively. But now, after just a few minutes apart, the burst of speed they'd displayed completely shattered those impressions. The sudden contrast was so shocking that she couldn't help but cry out.
"Yeah, it's a little hard to believe. But it really was them."
Seeing her reaction—which mirrored his own when he first found out—Naruto couldn't help but smile even more. He paused to suppress the urge to laugh, then shrugged with a grin and answered naturally.
"But if I had to guess, the reason they suddenly ran off like that without caring about stamina… Shikamaru probably said something dumb again and made Ino mad."
"Eh? Really…?"
Tilting her head in confusion, Hinata lowered her gaze and murmured softly for a while before continuing in a calm tone.
"But… they've already run so far ahead. Shouldn't we, um, pick up the pace and catch up?"
"Eh, don't worry. Remember the weighted gear everyone had to pick up when we left the academy?"
Naruto sensed something off in her tone but brushed it off, assuming she was just overwhelmed by how impressive Shikamaru and Ino had been. He replied dotingly without missing a beat.
"That kind of explosive speed burst can't last long. Especially with the added weight slowing them down, they'll probably exhaust themselves by the next fork in the road and collapse. So, until we reach the end of this straight path, we can pick up our pace a little without worrying about leaving them behind. If anything, this might even help speed up the exam. Win-win, right?"
"I… I see…"
Hinata nodded slightly, only half understanding his explanation but completely trusting him. Then, as if remembering something, her blush deepened, and she started looking Naruto up and down with wide, curious eyes—saying nothing at all.
For some reason, Naruto felt a sudden jolt of guilt—as if she had seen straight through him.
"Uh… Hinata? What's wrong?"
"Um… It's nothing. I was just thinking… Whether it's running into me or meeting up with Shikamaru and the others, you didn't seem surprised at all, Naruto-kun. And, well…"
Her words trailed off as if she wasn't sure whether what she was about to say would make him angry. Naruto's brows twitched ever so slightly. After a brief pause, Hinata tightened her arms around his neck and looked up, gazing directly into his sapphire-blue eyes. Her tone was soft, but serious.
"You always seem to know exactly how we're doing—whether it's our stamina or our mood…"
"To be honest, it feels like… you've known us for a long time already."