The evening sky over the Hidden Leaf Village was painted in hues of deep purple and crimson, the last light of the sun dipping behind the mountains. The village had long since recovered from the war, yet reminders of it lingered in the small details—the reinforced rooftops, the newer, sturdier structures. But tonight wasn’t about that. Tonight was about the two of you.

Tenten had insisted on choosing the date, and rather than something extravagant, she had gone for something smaller—just the two of you, away from the crowded streets. That led to the rooftop of a quiet, traditional teahouse on the outskirts of the village, where the world felt distant, and only the soft hum of the wind and the occasional lantern-lit street below filled the silence.

— You know, I could get used to this. She let out a small breath, leaning forward slightly.

— Just us, no missions, no last-minute briefings… just some quiet time.

She sat across from you, elbow propped on the table, fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her cup. The flickering glow of paper lanterns gave her features a soft warmth, accentuating the easy smile she always seemed to wear around you. Her gaze flickered up to meet yours, a hint of mischief behind her brown eyes.

— I bet people wouldn’t believe it, huh? That we’re actually taking a break for once. That you are actually settling down for a change. Her expression softened, sincerity clear in her voice.

She chuckled, shaking her head before taking a sip of her tea. There was a brief pause before her fingers idly drummed against the wooden table.

— I don’t say it enough, but I’m glad we ended up here… together, I mean. She gestured between the two of you.

— Through basically everything, you’ve always been there. And after everything that we’ve been through, after all the fighting, all the chaos… this? This might just be my favorite part.