Leorina woke up with a knot in her stomach the next morning. 'Ugh I have to go on a mission with Hinata today.' she thought. She said out loud, "The only thing making it barable is that Naruto's coming too." She sat on the edge of her bed for a few minutes and then stood up and walked to the bathroom. She took a shower, brushed her hair and teeth, and got dressed. She packed her backpack and was about to leave when she noticed Spikes' pipe. "Oh yeah how could I almost for get him?" She unscrewed the top and a snake-like pipe-fox-spirit flew out and wrapped around her neck and shoulders. "Hehe Spikes, you've gotten stronger and you have a new look." Now instead of one stripe and an all black body, he now had one going down his back, blue tipped ears, and one going down his stomach. Leorina walked out and looked at the Hokage Faces. 'I hope to see Naruto's face up there one day.' she thought. She blushed thinking of the spiky, blonde haired boy. Suddenly a loud voice broke her thoughts. "HEY LEORINA!!!!" It was Naruto. He came running to her, looking excited. He stopped at the sight of the pipe-fox. "Hehe look like he's gotten stronger and he likes you." Spikes tilted his head slightly and then flew over to Naruto. "Looks like he's happy to see you again." Leorina laughed. Spikes hung onto Naruto while they walked to the gates. They met up with Hinata. Leorina had to hold back a growl and a frown. "Hey Hinata." Naruto said. Hinata blushed red and didn't say anything. 'OOO....k' Naruto thought. Leorina folded her arms and walked past Hinata. "Spikes come here." Spikes flew over to her and rested on her shoulder. They all set off to Sunagakure to meet up with Gaara and the others. They walked in silence for the first few hours before Naruto finally asked, "Who's hungry?" Hinata and Leorina both said, "I am." Naruto started a fire and made ramen. They sat and ate. "It's getting late maybe we should set up camp here." Hinata suggested. "Yeah why not." Naruto agreed. Leorina set her bowl down and Spikes quickly flew to it. "I'm not very hungry." She set up a tent and went inside. Leorina heard Naruto and Hinata talking and laughing. "Did that really happen?!" Naruto asked intrigued. "Yes it did." Hinata answered, obviously enjoying the time with Naruto. 'They sound like they're having fun.' Leorina thought, somewhat upset and sad. Leorina continued to listen to Naruto and Hinata's conversations. Spikes was still with Naruto 30 minutes later. "Well I'm gonna go to sleep good night." It was Naruto's voice. He came into Leorina's tent first to drop off Spikes. "Leo here's, hey whatcha doin'?" he asked. "Oh just looking at pictures of us when we were younger...and holding onto the little stuffed fox you got me." Naruto noticed one of it's legs was sewn on. "What happened to its leg?" he asked. Spikes flew off of Naruto and started to play fight with it. "Spikes happened." Leorina stopped Spikes before he bit off another limb. Naruto chuckled and laid next to Leorina. Leorina blushed when she felt his arms go around her. "Leorina you feel really comfortable." He moved against her. "Hey Hinata good night." "Good night Naruto." came Hinata's voice. Leorina wrapped her arms around Naruto and smiled as she put her head in his chest. Spikes coiled into a corner and went to sleep. "Naruto?" "Yeah?" "Thank you, you're comfortable too." Naruto smiled and kissed her forehead. Leorina blushed and closed her eyes. Naruto pulled a blanket over them and held onto Leorina again. He closed his eyes. He realized that as they laid there together that he actually loved Leorina and he knew that she loved him too. He whispered before drifting off to sleep, "I love you Leorina."