The Fifth and Sixth Jidai
Summary: Rokudaime is in love with his attendant.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. And I really don't want to either since it's getting way too complicated and I would end it in a really slap-dash way and I'm probably sure the fans will all hate me when I change the title of the manga to 'Hinata' because I honestly favor her more than any other character...as you'll see in this fanfiction.
Author's Notes: This is a Hinta-centric fic that I must warn you-is very confusing. I'm the author, and I'm completely aware that there are several scenes that will be hard to follow, especially since we'll be going back and forth in Hinata's timeline while the perspective would be changing here and there as well. This is mainly due to the fact that this story was actually two individual stories with the same concept-Naruto falling in love with Hinata, his secretary. I realized one of my stories was moving on VERY SLOWLY in a painstaking snail-like pace where Hinata finds out she's going to be secretary way before Naruto even becomes Hokage. In my other story, Naruto's already Hokage and is realizing he has the hots for Hinata and moves this fast. I've decided to mesh these two together, because I thought it would be cool for readers to see how much Hinata cares for her job and for Naruto, while highlighting Naruto's brashness and maybe his lack of consideration for how much Hinata has sacrificed for him. I felt like this concept really highlights Hinata's character, and this story is just that-me gushing over my favorite character. There's no other way to put it, really. I'm sure if you love Hinata you'll dig this story, but if you think she's ok, I must warn you this might be really hard to follow.
To make it a little more clear, the Naruto-persective stories will be titled 'Rokudaime-Era' meaning Naruto's already Hokage and Hinata's already his secretary, while the 'Godaime Era' will be when Tsunade is still Hokage and Shizune is training Hinata to become the next personal assistant. I know it's not very clear yet-but hopefully by the end of this chapter you'll realize the flow of things. Again, this is only a fanfiction written by a person who can't write, so I hope nobody expects too much out of this. Lol.
Terms:
Godaime Hokage- Fifth Hokage aka...Tsunade
Rokudaime Hokage- Sixth Hokage aka...Uzumaki Naruto
"Jidai" means Era. Yeah, just to confuse people and to make my title sound a little cooler. I can say 'Godaime Jidai' and 'Rokudaime Jidai' but for some reason that's too much Japanese to be thrusting in an English fanfiction.
Important note: This fanfiction was originally posted on Archive of Our Own-not that I'm saying that this version is any different...except that the one on Archive of Our Own comes with PICTURES. So If you're interested, find the link in my profile! Thanks!
((Rokudaime Era / Present Time))
It was a brutal break up.
A lot of crying, a lot of name calling on both their ends, and finally a very, very messy fight where she did most of the throwing and kicking while he ducked and dodged. At the end of the long battle, she left looking as if she got the brut of all the force that was put into the fight, and he knew that he looked like he always did except with a few more ink-stains on his cloak, and a surplus of ruined belongings and documents. Sweaty and covered in running mascara, she left with a slam and a final scream. He rubbed his face once he felt her presence had disappeared completely and sank back into his seat. He realized there were a few more clutter on his desk that didn't get picked up and thrown across the room, and swept it off his desk in an attempt to express his own frustrations.
It seemed that the Rokudaime Hokage didn't know how to end relationships well. This wasn't the first time he had to sit down in his office that looked more like a post-battlefield. It was the second time he had broken up in his office, and yet it ended exactly like it did the last. Even some of the choice words he threw at her sounded the same. She expressed her emotions through a crackling vocal chords and called him the sort of name that left him wondering if people still thought of him that way.
But despite the hurtful words she said, and the fact that he was back to being single, he hadn't regretted finally blowing up and telling her that they were through. He was glad he broke up with her, and at the end, thought it went a hell of a lot better than the last-last breakup.
He just couldn't believe what that woman was thinking.
No, more like he just didn't understand what goes on in a girls' brain, period. It was an utter mystery to him, and it made him sometimes want to pull his hair and go absolutely mad!
You don't get me at all, Naruto! She had screamed at him seconds ago.
You understand war tactics and Morse code, but when your girlfriend gives you a blatant hint that they're afraid of how distant you've gotten-you act like you don't have a clue as to what's making her go ape-shit crazy!
Just a mere two years in office, and he's already broken up with four women, and each one had similar reasons for breaking up with him that he couldn't exactly do anything about. His schedule, his distance, his lack of understanding her emotions, and what not. Naruto couldn't help these things for obvious reasons, and he had always assumed they understood his position as the strongest shinobi in the village, that he was a busy man. But this last breakup had a new reason thrown into the mix.
I see the way you look at her! Your fucking secretary-how cliché is that?
He always went after the strong-willed and over-confident women that resembled his own demeanor. Kurumi was a great girl because of that. She was most definitely strong-willed, over-confident, extremely sexy, and had gorgeous orange-red hair that he thought slightly resembled his mother's. She was also very needy, and obsessive, and rough, and had the dirty mouth of a sailor that he thought he liked. But her recent accusation had him grit his teeth and want to actually hit her. He knew it was wrong to hit a woman, but all of his affections he thought he had for her left every single time Kurumi spoke badly of the one woman that didn't yell at him and ask him to move in together, or demand for a copy of his apartment key. Kurumi had no right thinking that there was anything going on between them-she was crazy.
He just didn't know how he was going to come out of his office knowing that she was out there and had heard every single word. He blushed crimson at the very thought. Kurumi was very public about sharing her opinion about the woman that sat by Naruto's side as his personal attendant.
Just as he was thinking about her, a knock sounded on his door.
"Hokage-sama? May I come in?" her gentle voice pried.
Naruto walked up, and opened his office door as an answer. "I'm...sorry." he said and bowed his head. "I'm sorry she...jumped you like that, Hinata."
The woman that stood before him was blushing a furious red at his comment. He hadn't seen that in the longest time and stared, realizing she had drowned out that habit of blushing and fidgeting long before he became Hokage.
Gone were the days where Hinata Hyuuga was a mousy girl that fidgeted and spoke in a near-whisper. The girl had grown to be a fine Hokage's assistant soon after her promotion to Jounin, and served under the Godaime Hokage before being passed to Naruto. She had years of political science and Konoha history under her belt that she presented using a calm waver-free voice. Hinata's shy demeanor melted away after the first few months of working under the previous Hokage's attendant Shizune who had encouraged her to stand straight and dress to impress. Dignitaries and important officials that would come to see the Hokage would become extremely fond of the well-spoken and highly cultured girl that stood by the Hokage. The old jacket, shy demeanor, and fidgety pokey-fingers were all exchanged for a clipboard and sharp looking kimono-suits that accentuated her mature twenty two year old self.
Yet, her old tendencies of thinking positively, undying kindness, and looking at the best in people had never melted away. Though professional, she had also let Naruto take a peak at her clean and wholesome soul, and Naruto had found she really was one of the kindest shinobi he had the fortune to meet. When she entered the room, it was natural for him to freeze and stare.
He didn't think it was weird. She had quickly and easily become the most reliant person in his life. He looked up to her just as much as she had looked up to him.
"Hokage-sama." Hinata was clutching at her clipboard nervously to hide a portion of her blushing face, "Do not apologize for someone else's actions. Kurumi-san must have obviously been under some serious stress. She has been getting a lot of tough missions."
"Wh-why did she do that?" Naruto asked, searching for answers in Hinata's small face. Her blush was slowly fading away, and some of her hair had slipped out of her usually neat hairstyle when she was tackled earlier. The strand of dark, purple-black hair stuck to her neck from obvious cold sweats that soon followed after Naruto and Kurumi started their fight. His eyes flashed toward that curled lock of hair and he suddenly had an urge to wipe the curve of her neck with his thumb and feel her pulse. These sudden urges were getting harder and harder for him to ignore.
Hinata shrugged, and shook her head either saying she didn't know or didn't know what to say.
"Did she hurt you?" Naruto asked and took a step forward and grabbed a hold of her wrist.
"Please, Hokage-sama." Hinata looked away and jerked her wrist back. "Thank you for your concern, but I am fine, I am a kunoichi of the leaf, first and foremost, and a small shove shouldn't arise your concern. You should be more worried about yourself."
"After she...pinned you down and kissed you like that?" Naruto snapped, his voice rising. "Hinata-that wasn't ok! You should be angry too!"
"But I'm not." Hinata sighed, "Maybe a little...upset, but I know why she did it, and I can't help but think that you didn't handle it very well with her."
Naruto's eyes widened. "You're...siding with Kurumi?"
"All I'm saying is that you may have overreacted. What she did wasn't nice, but you could have been more mature about it."
Naruto was shocked at her response. "S-she molested you! I protected you and you're saying I should have cared more for HER?"
"She's your girlfriend, Naruto-sama!" Hinata emphasized with a small frown that pinched her eyebrows together. She had even slipped into her old habit of calling him by his first name.
"Was my girlfriend. Not anymore." Naruto huffed and shuffled back into his office, carefully stepping over a broken vase on the ground. "Get a janitor to clean this up." He ordered over his shoulder.
He heard silence behind him, and if he turned around he was sure he were to see disappointed eyes stare back at him. The mere thought of her being upset at him did strange things to his insides again.
He sighed. "Please."
"Is that all?" Hinata was already in the midst of closing the door over her voice.
"Send word for Shikamaru." Naruto muttered. "I need help with these documents."
"I can help with that, Hokage-sama." Hinata offered.
"No, you can go." Naruto wouldn't look back at her. He relaxed the moment he heard the door to his office click shut.
You want her, don't you?
Kurumi's words echoed in Naruto's mind and he suddenly realized why he was so upset when Kurumi attacked Hinata. Kurumi opened his eyes to what he had been feeling for Hinata for the past year. It wasn't just fondness for how she treated him as a boss, but seeing Hinata attacked so brutally had formed a fear in his gut that he usually reserved for his closest friends. She was still his friend, a really close friend, and he realized that Hinata was just...more important than Kurumi. He and Kurumi weren't that close yet-how could she do that to Hinata? What did Hinata ever do to her?
The scene played in his head just as he heard Hinata click the door to his office shut. In solitude, he recalled how Kurumi barged into his office without warning and barked at the Chuunin team that was going over mission reports to scram. When he got up and asked what the matter was, Kurumi ordered Hinata to come in. Naruto tried to stop his raging girlfriend, and tried to ask what the matter was, but before he knew it. Hinata had poked into the room as her obedient self, and was suddenly grabbed by collar of her kimono, and was callously thrown onto the floor of his office.
Naruto suddenly felt overwhelming fury at seeing Hinata being thrown so violently on the floor as a rain of documents she was holding got tossed into the air, a fair of slap-dash confetti tumble around the trodden assistant. Kurumi pinned Hinata down a second later and before Naruto jumped over his desk to try to save Hinata, Kurumi kissed her. Girl on girl. Despite Naruto's perverted teachers showing him the wonderful arts of perverted ninjutsu, Naruto had never seen it up front before in real life. He froze.
Hinata's shy, innocent mouth; merely was open after the breath was knocked out of her lungs was soon invaded by a foreign tongue. He watched Hinata's eyes widen and her arms wave wildly before pressing into Kurumi's shoulder and desperately trying to get her off.
Naruto shouted at her to stop without realizing what he was saying. He couldn't hear or grasp exactly what was going on until he heard his voice call Hinata's name more than his girlfriend's. He grabbed a hold of Kurumi around the arms and trying to yank her off without using all of his force. Kurumi was making Hinata cough and choke in the forceful kiss. He heard Hinata gag a couple of times and turn her head away, but Kurumi kept the attack going by following her movement and smearing her lips over the poor girl to keep her shouts of protest muffled.
"GET OFF OF HER!" Naruto then up and threw Kurumi off of Hinata and picked her up protectively. He and Hinata gaped in shock as Kurumi rolled all the way to the other side of his office, and crashed into Naruto's prized plants he kept by the large Hokage office windows. The woman laid there for dramatic effect, wanting Naruto to rush forward to help her, but Naruto kept by Hinata's side.
"Did you wanna join us?" Kurumi asked and lifted her head from the ground to shoot Naruto a hurt and absolutely enraged glare.
Naruto gulped, as the memory ended and his gut was filled with that red hot rage again. He took deep breathes through his nostrils and leaned on his desk with his arms to calm himself by counting backwards in his head. Kurumi was a mistake. She was too crazy, too brash, and she was constantly worrying that he was getting bored of her. She had none of that self-confidence that Naruto had thought she had.
And why Hinata? Why did Kurumi feel the need to target his poor Hinata?
He rubbed his eyes again, since he knew the answer to that question very well. Kurumi was jealous of Hinata, pure and simple. It wasn't like Kurumi was subtle or mature about it either. She didn't surprise Naruto with half of the things she said today in their last fight-she didn't like Hinata because she was so close to him, and she wanted him to know how uncomfortable she felt that Hinata was always around. Kurumi was known to be a tough gal, and a very beautiful woman with vibrant hair and a fit body. Yet, standing next to the dark-haired and plain secretary who only dressed in black, one would simply assume she'd feel safe that she was so much more exuberant. Kurumi, however, noticed something else.
Hinata was loved. The majority of the shinobi in the village absolutely adored her. Kurumi might have had confidence that she was a great looking girl and was a lot sexier than Hinata, but Kurumi was smart when she realized that looks weren't everything. Hinata might be plain on the outside, but she had a beautiful heart that made her shine from the inside out. Kurumi saw how shinobi young and old would pause briefly to either speak or acknowledge Hinata's existance before going into seeing the Hokage. The biggest mystery for Kurumi, was that Hinata could do all of this by just being her calm and soft-spoken self.
Naruto himself could remember how many times Kurumi would look over her shoulder at the shy woman and ask why she was so popular. Naruto would honestly say, 'because she's awesome', and of course that didn't quell the fear that Kurumi was starting to develop. Kurumi would then grab at Naruto's arm and ask, 'who do you think is more sexy? Me or her?' and of course Naruto knew the answer to that...
Who's sexier? Kurumi, easily.
But who was smarter, kinder, faster, braver, softer, and always, always looking out for everyone but herself? Who was the one that always had his back and was constantly diving into situations to save him from more work or organize free time in his schedule so that he could spend a date with his girlfriend/?
Hinata.
Kurumi shouldn't have done what she did to her, and Naruto couldn't shake his anger out of his system yet at the memory of Kurumi forcing herself onto Hinata. But Hinata had already forgiven Kurumi herself. Hinata brushed it off like it was nothing.
For some reason Hinata's reaction to this whole event had made the realities of what Kurumi said sink in even further. He was absolutely amazed by her, now that he thought of it. Who does that? Forgive a person and feel sorry for them that easily? Naruto knew he couldn't, and he was renown for his role as a beacon of peace and acceptance.
You look at her...Kurumi's voice repeated over and over, and all the while flashes of Hinata's face came into view. Some where teary-eyed, some were smiling, some were simply of her glancing toward the door just as she set down his morning tea...he suddenly had an entire library of faces that she made and he was overwhelmed at how this had made him feel.
He may have broken up with Kurumi that day, but thanks to her shoving and kicking and screaming he finally was able to drill through his thick skull a very deadly and devastating revelation.
Naruto was in love with Hinata Hyuuga.
((Godaime Era))
*Flashback three years ago *
Konoha started to hustle and bustle way before the crack of dawn. Everyone had to be familiar with waking up at around five in the morning at least once a week if they were to survive a mere Genin routine, if not, you'll simply get the customary wake up call from Guy Sensei and Lee as they started their thousand-meter dash around the city shouting and hooting their calls for a bright youthful day.
Hinata was lucky she always thought of herself as a morning person. Since she was forced into Konoha's morning regime even before she was old enough to run, she had never found it odd to wake in the middle of the night to start her chores or finish her breakfast. It wasn't until she reached the title Jounin, however, that she suddenly found her routine completely flipped. No longer did she start her day at five in the morning preparing breakfast, doing her morning exercises and cleaning up her sister's mess. No, as a Jounin, she worked with the moon, and slept with the sun. And at times even that wasn't enough, and she'd go a day or two sleepless just to combat and keep up her Jounin scores.
Hinata absolutely hated being a Jounin. She just couldn't see the silver lining of this prized title.
There were many things about being a ninja that Hinata disliked, but achieving the title of Jounin only carried a multitude of heartaches for the poor, kind-hearted kunoichi of Konohagakure. Every mission entailed promises of excitement, but it also came with the responsibility of solo missions, timed accomplishments, a higher degree of competitiveness amongst her peers, and to top it off, many of the missions included assassinations.
It had been a half a year since Hinata achieved Jounin status amongst her other teammates Kiba and Shino, and for that half year her skin turned an even paler shade of white, her eyes started to darken, her sleeping habits were abysmal and her strength was starting to slip. It was about time her 'Jounin vacation' would start soon. A 'Jounin vacation' was given to Jounins at least once a month-where they could rest and recuperate. They were given optional missions that they were free to turn down. Since Hinata, and her peers were new Jounin, they weren't given their freebie until they had experienced the new life schedule of a Jounin for a solid half-year. But everyone was ready to settle down and take a breather. Everyone was excited for this hectic lifestyle to take a pause and simply get some good shut-eye, and maybe a sun tan.
Hinata assumed she, and the rest of her Jounin peers were being sent to the Hokage towers at five in the morning to recieve their week-long recuperation get-away. She would get her generous pay from her lastest mission, and she could splurge on a face pack and a few of those girly icecream Sundays topped with cut up bits of her favorite pastry-cinnamon rolls. She sighed at the thought of treating herself to absolute bliss, and pressed her hand to her chest at the thought of sleep-a dreamless sleep that would make her sharper and more ready for her next long bout of Jounin duties.
When she reached the Hokage monument, she wasn't surprised to see Genin ninjas, from freshly out of the Academy to those who simply were Genin until they were in their late twenties, gathering around with their Jounin instructors to discuss tactics for their D-rank missions. She watched sleepy-eyed as the energetic young ninjas chatted merrily to one another ready for their day to start.
Hinata, yawned, ready for her day to end. She covered her yawn as daintily as possible as she walked up the flight of stairs and finally toward the level where the Hokage office was. She noticed the hallway toward the Hokage office was clear, and instantly realized that something was amiss.
This was usually the time that ANBU officers were getting their missions for the day, or at least the Jounin instructors in charge of the Chuunin and Genins to get their mountain of missions for the week.
Hinata glanced around, even activating her blood limit to confirm that it was only her that disturbed the silence of the hallway before walking into the reception area of the Hokage towers. She caught sight of Shizune immediately and walked up to her.
Shizune looked fresh and energized, with her short hair recently rinsed and washed and her tiny pet pig snug in her arms. She balanced the fat thing on her hip while scribbling something down with her free hand onto a scroll that was rolled open on her desk. Shizune paused when she felt the presence of another ninja but looked up calmly and professionally. She offered a curt nod when she saw Hinata.
"Hello Shizune-san." Hinata greeted. "Good morning." She bowed politely.
"Hinata-chan!" Shizune smiled, she glanced down at her schedule, which she kept on a clipboard hanging directly behind her. "Punctual, as per usual. Come on in, the Hokage is just finishing up on claim reports."
Hinata nodded curtly, and invited herself into the Hokage office without further ado. She saw the Godaime Hokage, Tsunade, hard at work at her desk. A lamp lit and a pile of paper work was strewn all around the floors of the office already. Tsunade, although fifty, looked top notch for her age, some even went as far as saying she looked as young as thirty! However, Hinata saw that several years as the Hokage had done a strain to the elder woman's eyes, and Hinata smiled fondly at the fact that she had a pair of glasses with invisible frames propped up on her face as she studied some forms before her. She quickly tucked them away the moment Hinata shut the door behind her. The Hokage never liked to be seen actually using her reading glasses.
"Hinata, right on time." The Fifth Hokage muttered to mostly herself as she heard the door open and shut. She finished up her last sentence she was writing before finally looking up to greet Hinata with eye contact. "Good, you're awake." She nodded and offered a joking smile. "How were the past few months of being a Jounin been for you?"
"It is a lot harder than Kurenai-sensei made it look. I have much to learn." Hinata answered softly, and couldn't help but rub her eye quickly as she felt one of her lids flutter, trying to shut itself for a much-needed, much prolonged sleep.
"Hm. You are a hard worker, Hinata. Which is why I called you here today."
Hinata's heart rose in her chest. She was getting her vacation!
But where were her friends? A subconscious thought arose in the back of her mind. Usually the rest of the Jounin that had graduated into the rank alongside of Hinata would get to have their first Jounin vacation together so that they could have a big celebration extravaganza.
But then Hinata quickly reminded herself she was usually the only one out of her friends that came right to the Hokage office on time. Kiba and Shino, as well as Ino, Chouji, Lee, Ten-ten, and the rest were definitely just a few seconds late...
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Hinata quickly said, clearly distracted by the thought of her absent friends.
The Fifth Hokage nodded with an 'umph', impressed with Hinata's poise. "You are also a fine looking woman now."
Hinata didn't know if she heard correctly, but did recognize the compliment. She heard versions of this compliment sprinkled here and there ever since she became old enough for marriage when she turned 17, she became used to the sudden praise toward her physical appearance, but paid it little mind. It was people simply being nice to the heiress after all, their words didn't actually make any sense. Hinata didn't change much in appearance, so she always modestly blushed and shook her head.
"You are also very organized, and your mission reports have amazed me these past several months. You are detailed, clean, and precise in each case. For a Jounin undergoing their first six months, this is an amazing task, Hinata. You were under stress, a new schedule, lack of sleep, and I still can understand every bloody word in your report. They. Are. Excellent."
Hinata blinked groggily now. She didn't know where this sudden praise was coming from, but she had to honestly say she wished her friends would pile in soon so that the Hokage would take some attention off of her. All of this praise made Hinata feel strangely out of place.
"But now I want to talk to you about something serious. Take a seat."
There it was.
Hinata suddenly grew frightful at the mere suggestion. Her eyes widened, and she felt all of her sleepiness from before suddenly evaporated. Her mouth slightly agape, and her heart pounding in her ears, Hinata felt her body automatically reacting to the order and seating herself subconsciously in front of her leader. Suddenly the thought of her missing peers were far from her mind, she couldn't even remember exactly how she got in the office! Her Hokage was suddenly interrogating her and she probably wouldn't be able to answer as quickly and professionally as she wanted-she hadn't slept in what felt like forever!
"H-Hokage-sama." Hinata bowed her head, ready for the onslaught of disappointment.
"I'm sure you've probably heard the rumors, but I'll be stepping down from my current post in a matter of years. I'm personally hoping three. No, make that two."
Hinata blinked up at her Hokage, she heard a small crack and noticed she accidentally popped one of her knuckles as she squeezed them tightly. She unraveled her fingers from each other, realizing they were causing more of a distraction, and forced them to simply grip the sides of her seat.
Hinata gulped. "I have heard those rumors."
"And you know who I want as my successor."
Hinata nodded. "Naruto-kun." His very name gave her the same affects of a small dose of caffeine, her eyes widened more, her face filled up more, her heart raced a little more.
"Wrong. I was thinking of someone else." The Hokage spoke darkly.
Hinata's eyes furrowed, her eyes blinked rapidly disbelieving what she was hearing. "Who could possibly..." she must have not heard right.
"Shikamaru. Shikamaru would be a better Hokage than Naruto."
Hinata's eyes widened. "Wha-wha-" she couldn't help but feel tears in her eyes. "Oh Hokage-sama this is...this would be devastating for Naruto-kun! Shikamaru-kun is a very intelligent ninja, and I respect him with all of my heart but I always thought-I know Naruto will be wonderful! It's been Naruto-kun's dream all along! It would crush him! It would absolutely-! He's destined to be Hokage!" She started to blabber, and she realized tears fell from her eyes like a streaming river the next second. She had also failed to notice the sly smile on the Hokage's face.
"I was only joking, Hinata. Calm down." The Hokage laughed, even though Hinata was crying, she loved joking around at this time of day just as her Jounins were coming in all groggy and disoriented while she had to be forced from a wonderful slumber. "I'm sorry, that was a little too soon. Calm down-but I do want to talk about that squirt."
Hinata blushed on cue. The Orange-clad ninja still had a death grip over Hinata's heart. He was the one that inspired her to become stronger when everyone else claimed she was weak. And although everyone told her he didn't deserve her outlandish affections, he was the only one who confirmed to the rest of the world that she was trying. He was the one that pushed her forward to become the woman that she was today.
And that was just one of the reasons why she was utterly, and hopelessly in love with him.
Joking about Naruto in front of Hinata was the worst idea one could think about, and Hinata herself didn't know how to stop her tears even after hearing that her Hokage was only joking. The thought of Naruto not becoming Hokage had been a more horrifying thought than Hinata had realized. Even after taking long breaths to calm herself, the stream wouldn't stop.
"Hinata." The Hokage continued with no mind to the fact that Hinata was still looking utterly lost after the last 'joke', "What do you feel about being a Jounin?"
"It...is a rewarding position. An honor. I am forever grateful that I'm serving my village to the fullest."
"You aren't though." The Hokage said briskly.
This didn't help the stream of tears that were already blurring Hinata's vision. Hinata blinked stupidly. The harsh words stung in the air like a hot slap to the face. Hinata merely said the things grateful Jounins would say to a boss ninja, even if you didn't mean those modest words all the time, she knew she indeed felt like she was working to the fullest. The harsh slapdown of this comment, made Hinata shiver and her earlier suspicion of harsh scolding heightened.
"What I mean to say is, even though you are an outstanding Kunoichi, and you have blossomed in your Jounin career," the Hokage continues, "You were always better at other things other than Shinobi duties, correct?"
Hinata saw where this was going...somewhat. She had to admit she's heard her father talk to her about 'other duties' she could fulfill for her clan, including marrying some wealthy man and having many white-eyed children, but she was hoping the Hokage wouldnt' bring that up. She was still afraid of the possible job offer that the Hokage was going to thrust in her face any moment from now.
Say good bye to the Cinnamon-bon-bon Sunday Extreme, Hinata thought sadly. The thought of her wonderfully girly icecream treat grew little angel wings and flew away from her hopes and dreams.
"You are an elite, Hinata. You now have the skills as a top-class ninja to defend even the strongest of shinobi. Your kanji skills, history knowledge, political finesse, and much much more...would make you the perfect candidate for this next position, but you will have to stop your current Jounin duties. Do not worry-" the Hokage saw the pale look on the poor girl's face and offered a smile, "You will always keep your position as Jounin, you have proven yourself worthy of that title many times over. But I think you'll be happier if you stopped doing missions."
Hinata was confused. "An inactive Jounin?" her eyes widened, "Will I have to work...from home?" the very thought made her last mission of decapitating an evil drug lord in Kumogakure seem like a breeze compared to the thought of accepting clan head and having the Hyuuga elders breath down her neck. "Are...you making me take over my father's position?"
"Oh heavens-no." Tsunade sighed, "Though I have thought of your father and that Hyuuga clan of yours-that can be a bit of an issue."
Hinata frowned, so her clan wasn't involved in whatever new job position Tsunade was trying to offer her. In fact, it sounded like it would make her clan unhappy.
And if her sleepy mind recalled earlier-Tsunade mentioned that this was about Naruto.
"I think you'll work best if you worked from here. The Hokage towers. We need a shinobi like yourself to watch over this place, and use your natural skills to make life for a Hokage easier."
Hinata blinked. "A Jounin guard? Aren't I...too young to be taking such a position?" she asked. The only other Jounin shinobi that were able to get such an easy, yet high-rank position was if they had decades of experience under their belts. To work directly for the Hokage would mean years of hard work, or an extremely high IQ like Shikamaru. Hinata had none of those things, and she wasn't sure what claiming an office Jounin title would exactly do to her rank. Not that guarding the Hokage tower wasn't an important job, but like Hinata thought earlier, it was a normally easy routine. It only became difficult if the Hokage was under attack-which does happen more often than one would think, however it is a far cry easier than going on A-rank missions every week and battling enemy-nins every other day.
But a Jounin Guard duty would mean an actual schedule. Hinata wouldn't be called out of her bed as soon as she got home from Konoha to tackle on another solo mission, or forced to group with other Jounins on an assassination mission on a night of a New Moon. Hinata realized that being on guard duty would bring back the good old days of waking up on time. Going to work at an easy hour, and seeing the sun.
Though it would probably make her look slightly bit lazy to accept such a high-ranking position so early in her Jounin career, Hinata couldn't ignore the lovely benefits of having a schedule. She wasn't like other shinobi who hated being strapped down by the clock, Hinata actually liked organization, she was raised to embrace it, and even had to grow up organizing a grand portion of her clan chores in order to get her ready for more complicated organization if she ever took over the clan.
Hokage was shaking her head though while Hinata had a million thoughts run through her mind.
"You're not experienced enough to take on an official Jounin Guard position, I'm afraid." The Hokage said with a gentle smile, "We customarily give those positions to Jounins who have young children."
Hinata nodded, she knew this already, "Of course. I...know this but..."
"I was thinking more along the lines of Hokage's assistant." Hokage finally revealed.
Hinata blinked, "Isn't that...Shizune-san's job?"
"Yes, it is." Hokage nodded curtly, "And she's damn good at it, too. But she wants to retire as Hokage's assistant the same time I retire as Hokage. These are actually customary traditions I'm afraid; the Hokage's second hand likes to be the second hand of only one Hokage. Shizune doesn't see herself becoming very helpful if she has to take orders from Naruto."
Hinata beamed instantly.
"S-So...Naruto-kun will be Hokage!"
The Hokage beamed as well, taking note that Hinata was already extremely loyal to her future Hokage.
"This is exactly why I thought you would be perfect for being our next Hokage's assistant. You will be crucial in shaping Naruto up to be the fine leader we all know he will be."
Hinata felt absolutely light headed.
"When do I start?" Hinata heard herself say in a breathy, dreamy voice. She was so overcome with this sudden joy. She was wide awake, she wanted to cry out and...and...sing! She hadn't wanted to do that since the day Kurenai-sensei's baby was born.
Hokage beamed. "So you'll take the job?"
"Oh, I would be so honored, Hokage-sama!" Hinata gushed, naturally infatuated by the idea. She had pressed her hands to her chest and she blinked away the last of her tears. Hokage snorted, seeing just how smitten the young jounin really was to the oblivious boy. "I..." she suddenly paled though, "Wait a second."
Hokage waited a second.
"I'm...I'm going to be Naruto-kun's se-se-secretary?"
"Well," Hokage felt like she needed correct. "It's better to call it 'Hokage's hand' or...even 'Vice-Hokage'."
This didn't help, Hinata suddenly gasped dramatically, and stood up on her feet, shoving the chair back and making it loudly slam onto the floor.
"W-w-wait." Hinata quickly said. "I would be working with Naruto-kun every day then."
The Hokage had thought of this too, and was glad that Hinata brought this very troubling issue up.
"Yes, about that...crush of yours..." the Hokage just cut in rather bluntly. "We do need to...discuss that if you want this position."
Hinata felt around for her chair again, and only then noticed that she had flipped it on it's back. She righted her chair, sat on it again, and gave her Hokage all of her undivided attention.
"You can't love Naruto if you want to be his secretary. I mean-in a romantic way, you understand?"
Hinata paled. "Um. I-I don't though!" Hinata tried lying as she tried to muster a very casual shrug.
Her Hokage retaliated by giving her the dumbest looks imaginable. A mix between 'are you kidding me' and 'knock it off'.
Hinata gasped, and hung her head, covering her eyes with one of her hands as she tried her shield herself from the look the Hokage was giving her.
"I admire your love toward him, Hinata. That's actually one of the reasons why I picked you. You need to love your Hokage to protect him or her with your life! But you must work on being able to properly pronounce yourself, and your future Hokage. Being nervous around your own Hokage...can speak volumes in the eyes of a foreign dictator. It can loose your position as his second-hand-man completely if you don't work on it."
Hinata heard the 'if' in the Hokage's cautionary words and slowly lowered the hand that was covering her face. She glanced up at the Hokage through her bangs.
"I won't be stepping down from my position right away, and Shizune needs to train you in the art of politics and what not way before we alert Naruto that he will be my successor. But you must promise to work on your...nervousness toward Naruto. I cannot force you to stop loving the boy, Hinata, but you must understand that it's important to be professional in front of the eyes of Konoha and the rest of the Shinobi world. Naruto can not have an infatuated school-girl being his secretary."
Hinata winced at the very thought. She was tempted to start poking her fingers, but fisted her hands, and lifted her head.
"If I can prove that I can act professionally around Naruto-kun, then you are saying that I may be his secretary?"
"His right-hand-man." Corrected the Hokage, nodding.
Hinata blushed, at the mere concept of being in the same building as Naruto, but to constantly be working with him and interrupting him, and being the closest female worker...
The thought was very tempting. Not to mention she can stop going on those random and draining Jounin missions. Sure, Hokage office duties were no laughing matter and she'd have her work cut out for her...
But she'd be working with Naruto and a schedule, not to mention the sun.
And she would keep her status as Jounin.
It sounded like a win-win scenario for her.
"I will take the job." Hinata said firmly, determination flaring in her eyes. "I...I will be the most professional Right-hand-man for our next Hokage."
"Thatta girl!" the Hokage cheered as well. "Oh one quick precaution." She held up a finger, and also dropped her enthusiastic smile that she was wearing only a second ago.
Hinata blinked.
"Remember when I said I can't force you to stop loving Naruto-I have to warn you that the council members can."
Hinata blinked again, not understanding.
"Meaning-if word comes out that Naruto and his secretary are hiding a secret...romantic relationship." Hinata flared like a fire cracker, "It can jeopardize everything Naruto had worked hard for. Get my drift?"
Hinata's eyes widened. She knew exactly what the Hokage meant, and frankly, was a little shocked that the Hokage thought she had to spell it out for her.
"That means even though you're working with Naruto. NEVER, and I mean never should you try to romance him off his feet. Am I clear? The Hokage will stay your boss, not your lover. For life."
Hinata quickly nodded though, she understood full well the moment the Hokage offered the position what it meant. Hinata was always a professional first, after all. Again, she felt a little embarrassed that her Hokage had to clarify the 'terms' so bluntly to her. The mere thought of doing such...activities with Naruto would make her faint after all. Despite what everyone teases her about, Hinata hadn't been able to even daydream the possibility that one day she and Naruto could be a couple. She admired him, and loved him, yes, and wished she could be good enough for him, but for some reason, it ended there-hanging. It had always felt this way ever since she confessed to him on a battlefield millions of years ago...and he had never said a word back about it!
"O-of course! Hokage-sama. I am very well aware of this! I completely understand!" she said breathily. "I wouldn't ever want to stand in the way of Naruto-kun's dreams."
"Even if he offers to step down as Hokage for you-remember that you don't want to be the person who makes him give up on his dreams. I've seen what that kind of damage does to a relationship, and trust me-even if Naruto falls head over heels for you and wants to give up on his dreams, you would never forgive yourself once he gets put in an uncomfortable position by the council members."
Hinata nodded curtly and seriously. Her eyes stern. She understood completely. She would never shame Naruto. Never. She was confident that she wouldn't.
"When do I start?" Hinata repeated, this time-clearly and professionally. She sat tall and proud in her chair. Not a hint of a stutter or a nervous jitter in her form.
"Shizune!" Hokage called out instead, turning her direction toward her office door. Her assistant slipped into her room as quiet as a ninja, bowed curtly, and briskly walked up to her side. Hinata watched how Shizune walked all the way until she positioned herself side-by-side with her Hokage behind the Hokage desk, facing Hinata.
"Hello Hinata-san. I'm assuming I'm called here because you've agreed to be my understudy." Shizune's kind face said. The toy-like pet in her arms, Tonton, oinked a greeting as well.
Hinata bowed, "I am greatly honored. I look forward to working with you, sensei."
Shizune glanced at the Hokage and smirked. She didn't have to work on politeness on this kunoichi, Hinata had it down pat.
"We're going to start your training officially starting next week, Tuesday-five o' clock am, meet me at my office." Shizune instructed.
"A week from now?"
"Yes, your fellow peers will come in soon-and we'll be handing everyone their much needed Jounin vacation."
Hinata sighed in relief. So she was right to assume that Jounin rookies were long overdue their first vacation.
"Before they start pilling in and messing my office up." Snorted the Hokage, "We have a favor to ask you."
Hinata nodded.
"We would like to keep your position as an understudy a secret." The Hokage explained calmly. "Nobody is to know that I already have Naruto in mind to be my successor. I want people to think that I just gained another assistant. Toward the end of my term, however, I would like to see you take most of the responsibility of the office before Naruto takes charge. It is only when I reveal that Naruto is my official successor that you can inform your friends and family that you were actually an understudy, and will take over Shizune's position as the Hokage's vice."
Hinata nodded, it didn't make that much sense for the Hokage to be picking Naruto's secretary so early, but she had noticed that Shizune's workload was no laughing matter. Hinata realized it did make sense that the Hokage would need multiple assistants.
"Since you're Jounin, and a Jounin assistant for a Hokage is highly esteemed, I'm sure your father and your clan will not worry over the fact that you are not on constant Jounin missions to improve your rank."
Hinata nodded, she felt this way too.
"However, if they have a complaint over your new schedule, you will have to organize with Shizune a way to keep them happy. If the Hyuuga were to find out my plan of making you Naruto's secretary before Naruto's candidacy is official, they can do whatever it is in their power to make the transitional stage from Jounin to Hokage for Naruto, very difficult. You must remember to inform us if you suspect any sort of disturbance in your clan. Try to keep them happy-if this position isn't enough for them, we'll give you missions, if they seem fine-you keep your schedule here."
This made sense, and Hinata agreed with the Hokage's logic, she nodded and made a mental note of this. The Hyuuga elders did not want Naruto to be the next Hokage, they were afraid he would get involved in their clan politics.
"We also realized that you are heir to the Hyuuga clan...and we see this position as sort of a warm-up to what clan politics can be like. You can learn some very good leader-skills in this position." Shizune explained to Hinata. "If your father has any doubts, he can try and win a debate with me." Her eyes sparkled, "Then and only then can he get you to quit being a Jounin assistant."
"But I doubt that it'll get that messy. In any case, welcome to the family, Hinata. You are now officially doomed to a life of papercuts, and ink-blots." The Hokage said in a dramatic tone. She then got up, and bowed to her. Shizune mirrored her Hokage's movements.
Hinata instantly shot up to her feet at the sudden gesture by two ninjas way above her rank and age, and bowed twice and thrice back. Her hair looked like a rumpled mess by the time she stood with her face facing the ground in a stable bowed position.
"N-no! The pleasure is all mine! Thank you, Hokage-sama! Thank you, Shizune-sama!" Hinata gushed.
* End Flashback *
((Rokudaime Era))
"Hokage-sama? Hokage-sama?" a distant voice was calling out. Naruto was staring at a vase on the far left side of his office, his mind was still reeling over the break up with Kurumi and the revelations she had left to dwendle on.
Naruto blinked. "What?"
"Hokage-sama, were you even listening?" sighed the voice of a tired sounding old friend of his. Yamato Taicho gave him a pitiful look.
"No...sorry." Naruto admitted slowly, as he pushed back his golden locks out from his forehead, skewing his forehead protector and revealing extremely tired looking eyes. "Didn't sleep much...last night."
"Girl problems?" Yamato guessed correctly, and Naruto scoffed but didn't try to lie. Yamato was unnaturally good at telling when people lied to him, and Naruto was an especially bad liar, he didn't need to be reminded of his lack of skills in the acting department in front of his old mentor. "Hokage-sama...I couldn't help but hear about your break up with your latest...lady friend."
Naruto snorted in response.
"Might I be of service?" Yamato offered. "I don't know much about women myself, but it does feel better to talk about it sometimes."
"We don't have time for my problems." Naruto sighed. "It's ok, I'm listening now, you were saying something about the new geographic locations for Sunagakure?"
Yamato Taicho sighed, "Yes, I was saying something along those lines a good twenty minutes ago...Hokage-sama, I think you may be a little tired for this sort of talk. I'll reschedule with Hinata to meet with you when your mind is good and clear." Yamato decided and started to reach toward the maps he had laid out on Naruto's desk, he rolled them up silently and Naruto reached up sluggishly to help. In a matter of seconds, Yamato Taicho made himself scarce, and soon a very upset Hinata stood in his place not a beat after he was gone.
"Hokage-sama...what was that?" Hinata asked.
"That?" Naruto gave her the look that told her to elaborate.
Hinata patiently unfolded the arms that were keeping her clipboard tightly pressed onto her chest and opted to place it down on his desk and bow her head to give him a very serious look. "Yamato Taicho gathered all of that information for you; it took him an entire week with a staff of both geographers and experienced decoders to figure out the exact location the new hidden villages after the North-East Panther war." She explained all this calmly.
"I know what it was." Naruto pouted, but he did start feeling a little guilty.
"Oh, well I was covering it just in case you were still totally out of it, like you were yesterday." Hinata explained shaking her head with worry. "So you must realize that it's important to stay awake when you're one of the first few people who gets to see the new maps of our continent?"
Naruto blinked and his back straightened.
"Are you mad at me?"
Hinata sighed and slumped her shoulders her arms falling limply to her sides. "No, I'm not mad." She frowned. "Worried, yes, but not mad! I know how stressed you've been...but it's been a good week now, Naruto-sama." Hinata said gently. "And work is piling up...and...well...I hate reminding you...but my three-day weekend is coming up...tomorrow...and I'm wondering if you'll be ok while Shikamaru takes care of my shift..."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Huh? Break-? Oh shit!" Naruto jumped up from his seat. "Shit-Hinata, I'm so sorry! I forgot!"
"Oh! It's nothing!" Hinata desperately started to wave her arms around herself like it was nothing, "It's really not a big deal. I had forgotten about it myself...but I did promise a few friends I'd see them this weekend...and...well, I'm considering canceling if we have to push your geography lessons to this Saturday..."
"Send Yamato back in here then! I'll get this done right now-go take your break starting today."
"Really?" Hinata looked shocked at the mere suggestion, yet she was starting to smile.
Naruto's eyes softened. "Yeah, of course. You earned it."
Hinata's face instantly split into the biggest smile. "You'll be ok?"
"Shikamaru's already been warned, hasn't he? We'll be fine." Naruto said guiding Hinata out toward the reception room. He noticed how bubbly she was at the prospect of taking a day off, and felt a little guilty, while at the same time giddy himself at the sight of how happy Hinata was. She hadn't taken a break since for a while now-it's been three months since the last time he could remember. She hadn't taken a break since the last time she came back from a mini-vacation and found Naruto crying in fetal position under a pile of work that Shikamaru failed to organize.
"Right. Shikamaru-kun." Hinata nodded with a placid smile. "He's not lazy at all, he can handle it."
Naruto snickered when he heard her soft voice actually having a go at trying to sound sarcastic.
"I'll make sure that when you come back after your break, that everything will be in order." Naruto promised, his hand still resting on the back of her obi as they walked through his office doors.
"Will I come back to you crying in your office?" Hinata teased.
"If I'm crying, it's only because I'll have missed you." Naruto smirked. He only realized once he let it slip how...uh...romantic it could have sounded. He realized he was blushing when he automatically started to pull on the collar of his shirt to let some much needed air cool down his body.
Hinata laughed softly behind a dainty hand, not even glancing up at him to realize his most ridiculous red face. "Three whole days! How are you going to survive?"
"You laughed like that the last time, but it seriously wasn't a joke." Naruto whined pathetically, he froze when she reached over to lightly press a warm hand on his forearm.
"Relax, you've been in office for a good, what...it's been two years now? You're going to be fine, I was only teasing you." Hinata giggled softly and walked over to her desk, briskly leaving Naruto's side. She picked up her planner and a few of her personal belongings such as her favorite pen and a stray kunai biting into the top of her desk. She stuck everything carefully in her purse and gently laid down a list for the substitute assistant to look over.
"You...you got everything?" Naruto asked nervously. His palms got sweaty at the very sight of her leaving the office. She was always last to leave the office, even he went back home earlier than she did on normal days...it was weird being in a switched position.
"If Shikamaru makes my desk messy." Hinata said in her normally sweet voice, "Tell him I know how to make his life really, really difficult." She then ducked her voice in a whisper that obviously Naruto wasn't supposed to catch, "I'll sneak caffeine into his system for an entire week so he can't get a decent nap."
Naruto laughed outright and watched when he saw Hinata go-but not before she stopped by a Yamato that was still gathering his maps in the reception area and politely ask him to go back into the Hokage office for round two.
For some reason, Naruto felt so distracted by the sight of her leaving, he just couldn't help but groan at the eager face of Yamato Taicho as he walked back into Naruto's office with his arm full of maps. He knew Hinata was going to bitch at him when she came back to office and realize she had to book poor Yamato Taicho into his exclusive Saturday schedule.
Yamato wasn't blind though, and caught Naruto sigh as he glanced over at Hinata's now empty desk.
"Can you call Shikamaru to take Hinata's place starting today?" Naruto asked Yamato, "After all this, of course?" he gestured toward the stupid looking maps.
"Yes, Hokage-sama, of course." Yamato Taicho glanced at the tired looking boy, "Are you all right? You look very...worn."
"I had my time off last week...why did I waste such precious time just sleeping on the couch?" Naruto asked himself out loud, almost forgetting Yamato was there as his audience. "I should have assigned myself a cool mission or something. It would have cleared my mind."
"Hokage-sama," Yamato said sternly, "It looks clear to me that you obviously need to talk about this."
"No way." Naruto muttered, grumpily. "I'm fine. Peachy. Open those maps and let's look at those...squiggles." he plopped down on the desk and propped his face in his hands, ready to pay some attention.
"Hokage-sama, I might not be in my proper place when I tell you this but...Hinata-san is a very nice girl." Yamato Taicho said.
"Yeahhhh?" Naruto dragged out, wondering where this conversation was headed. He lifted a suspicious brow. "What are you on about?"
Yamato Taicho realized that Naruto was a little daft when it came to subtle hints like these, so he outright and said it, "I think you two would make a very nice couple."
"What?! Whoa, Yamato-Taicho, come on! Whoa man! Calm down. Whoa!" Naruto shouted and jumped to his feet, waving his arms about and even scooting back his desk a bit with a firm shove from his foot to distance himself from the observant eyes of his former mentor.
"I think you should be the one calming down, Naruto-sama. It was a simple suggestion, no need to flip tables over it." Yamato snorted as he dumped his maps on Naruto's desk, and a few he propped up on the chair by his side. "Because if you don't make a move on her, I know a handful of men who have been trying...and you never know when they might succeed." He sent Naruto his infamous ghost-like stare, that still sent shivers up Naruto's spine.
"What?" Naruto scoffed. "Nuh-uh, nobody flirts with Hinata- I'd know! I see nearly everyone in Konoha interact with her."
"No one flirts in front of you, no." agreed Yamato. "But once your door is closed and you're not looking, Hinata-san can her fair share of dashing suitors hovering by her side."
"Nuh-uh." Naruto denied, this time a little softer, and more child-like.
"Yes." Yamato shrugged. "Well, since you're not interested, it's not a pressing matter. Shall we move on?"
"Wait!" Naruto said, he was biting the nail on his thumb and was observing Yamato closely. "You ain't lying to me right? Cause you can't lie to your Hokage! It's punishable by death."
"No it isn't." Yamato scoffed.
"How many guys are we talking?" Naruto asked in a harsh whisper, cupping his mouth with his hands.
"Who wants to know?" Yamato whispered back.
"YAMATO TAICHO! Your Hokage has asked you a question, damn it stop fooling around." Naruto ordered, smacking a firm hand on his desk and frowning.
"Well, the whole village knows that Juonji Hyuuga has his sight set on Hinata-san."
"Old news." Naruto said, relaxing a whole lot and waving it off. Juonji was also very shy and didn't have the guts to say anything to Hinata, for that Naruto was sure.
"Kakuzou Irie, he's been giving Hinata Hyuuga flowers."
"His family tends to the graveyards." Naruto said and felt another wave of relief knowing that Kakuzou, too, with his lanky arms and glasses that were too big for his face, would probably not step forward to ask Hinata out on a date, "The flowers are always meant for Hinata's mom."
"Keisuke Kaerumichi." Yamato finally supplied a name that made Naruto bristle.
"Eh? But...they broke up." Naruto blinked.
Keisuke was Hinata's boyfriend around the time that Naruto had gotten word that he was going to be the Hokage's successor. Keisuke was a great guy-the kind of guy that girls would brag about, and yet Hinata had always been strangely secretive about her romantic life. It wasn't until Keisuke and Hinata were broken up that Naruto even knew that they were together at all. And boy, did Naruto feel weird feelings then. Keisuke was a tall, well-built ANBU soldier with broad shoulders and a dimpled smile. He had wild brown hair that fell to his shoulders and a deep sexy voice. A classic heart-breaker type guy that actually had a decent head on his shoulders. Keisuke was also one of Kiba's oldest friends, and Naruto himself had met him a couple of times when he was younger and had thought he was an okay guy.
"Apparently that doesn't mean Keisuke still doesn't have it bad for Hinata-san. He still believes they'll get together again, and there are rumors saying they are, in fact, still together but it's kept on the down low so that Hinata-san's family will not intrude on their relationship for the second time." Yamato said. "Obviously you are very sheltered from this, Hokage-sama, this gossip has been around for quite some time."
"Yeah, well, gossip isn't fact." Naruto said, flustered. Keisuke always did say kind words to Hinata, and they did have a few private jokes that Naruto had eavesdropped several times that left him feeling a little empty inside.
"You look nervous."
"YOU look nervous!" Naruto retaliated childishly. "You ready yet? I'm going to die from boredom."
"Hey brat." a voice barged in, and Naruto gawked when his door was rudely opened while he was in the middle of a meeting. Standing outside was none other than the former Hokage, the Godaime Tsunade. "You're not busy right?" she asked, not even glancing at Yamato.
"Tsunade-sama! You can't barge in like that!" Shizune was right by the Hokage's side in an instant, just like the good old days, panicking over her master's behavior. "Naruto-kun might be in a meeting?"
"This is urgent." Tsunade waved off and walked in, and finally nodded toward Yamato in a silent apology, "Besides, the brat used to barge in without knocking or without proper warning all the time. This is payback."
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune groaned. "Please, let's wait outside."
"Where is Hinata?" Tsunade asked, ignoring Shizune. "I didn't see her by her desk, and there are several people out in the reception who says they've made an appointment with you."
"Hinata's on her break." Naruto explained calmly and nodded in greeting toward Shizune. At least she had the decency to treat him like the Hokage. Unlike the former Hokage who still waltzed around as if she still owned the place.
"Ah, of course... She hadn't gotten one of those since forever." Shizune pinched her lips, obviously in disapproval.
"You overwork her, and she's going to up and leave one day." Tsunade warned.
"What do you want." Naruto snapped, irritated and moody beyond belief. Both Yamato and Tsunade were a combination that made his patience run thin...and it was already paper thin to begin with.
"I'll just...bye." Yamato sighed dejected as he gathered his maps quickly and fled the scene. Shizune shot him an apologetic look and a quick bow as he left and shut the door.
"That was important!" Naruto pointed dramatically toward his door it made a resound 'click' sound. "Shizune, can you tell him to come back?" he whined like a child, and kicked his feet as he looked over at the former assistant.
"Uh, hello? Does she look like she's your assistant? No. She's mine. Hands off." Hokage snapped and grabbed Shizune's sleeve before she could blindly follow orders. "But seriously, yeah-can you cover for me while I'm talking to the twirp?" she asked. "And tell the people at the reception to come again when Hinata's here."
"Wait!" Naruto shouted, Tsunade finally pushed the final button. He was now up on his feet and glaring at them with his weight leaning on his desk, pointing another offended finger toward the former Hokage. "Are you patronizing me?"
Shizune bowed and muttered a 'Tsuande-sama' in acknowledgement before shutting the door.
"No I'm not. By the way I'm impressed you know that word, I guess that dictionary I gave you has come to good use." Tsunade said in a very petty tone. She took a seat on the small wooden chair that stood across from Naruto. Naruto wouldn't sit down as he crossed his arms and glared at her.
"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Naruto figured it out. Tsunade already sounded accusing and angry; it was a matter of time before his eardrums would be blown to bits. He was able to catch onto these things quite quickly now that his main job was to listen.
"Big trouble." Tsunade hissed, "I heard about your latest girlfriend breaking up with you."
Naruto scoffed, "Are you here to give me girl advice too?" he turned around to face the potted plants he had assorted on the window sill, and mindlessly started to rub his thumb nail on one of the leaves. "Cause if you are, I wouldn't call that 'urgent'."
"This isn't advice, it's a warning. I've heard the rumors about why that latest girl broke up with you-and I'm here to tell you you're treading on thin ice by not drowning out those rumors as soon as you heard them."
"What rumors?" Naruto muttered, showing clear signs of disinterest.
"That you are head-over-heels over Hinata-your secretary."
Naruto whipped around and pinned Tsunade with a fierce gaze, "Are people actually saying that?"
"Yes." Tsunade glared back. "And you need to put a stop to it, you're ruining both your and Hinata's reputation-and I swear to god-that girl has worked her butt off to get where she is today so you better not ruin this for her."
"Me? I didn't do anything! They're flippin' rumors, Tsunade-no-baa-chan! Can't you see that?"
"Was your latest girl right when she said that you were interested in Hinata?"
"More like she had a thing for Hinata!" Naruto snapped back fiercely-"You know what she did? She up and-threw Hinata on the ground and tackled her-slobbered all over her face and bit her and stuff! I don't know what I ever saw in her." Naruto finished, in a pained voice as he looked away from Tsunade so she wouldn't see that underneath it all, he was just hurt that he had misjudged a girlfriend again.
"All in front of you?" Tsunade asked.
"Yeah!" Naruto said in a weird voice, as if that was obvious. "She was all 'do you wanna join us' afterwards, fuck no, I don't wanna join that-Hinata looked like she was having a heart attack."
"She wanted to see if you looked like liked what you saw, Naruto. It's classic Kunoichi style to wring information out of their men. Who was this girl?"
"Kurumi." Naruto supplied. He was back to fingering his plants, this time more carefully as not to hurt them. The other plant had a deep scar where his thumb had been rubbing it.
"The red head?" Tsunade recalled, "You have a thing for bright-haired women, don't you?"
When Naruto didn't give her a haughty reply back, Tsunade sighed, realizing she was really pushing it. He was already in a sour mood, and she could tell that he was also pretty tired.
"You aren't in love with Hinata, right?" Tsunade asked in a careful voice.
Naruto turned around and gave her his poker face.
"No. I'm not." Naruto said.
Tsunade stared at him for a while and then she frowned, "Good, because you two will never work."
Naruto instantly looked annoyed, "Yamato Taicho said the opposite."
"Ya-Yamato? Why would he bother asking you about Hinata?" Tsunade's voice rose, "Have you been talking girl troubles to your ninja? The men that work for you?"
"He simply guessed-I didn't say-"
"Why did he guess, though? Why was he able to guess you had a thing for Hinata? He doesn't listen to rumors and he only picks up on things he sees with his own eyes. Oh god, Naruto-Please, please, please, tell me you didn't just lie to me a second ago." Tsunade hissed, closing her eyes and clearly escalating in ire. "I will make you hurt in places you don't even know about, so you better not have lied to me."
"N-no! NO!" Naruto quickly made a look of absolute horror and waved his arms frantically around his face. "I wasn't lying!"
"Lying to a Hokage is punishable by death."
"I'M the Hokage, though!" Naruto whined. "Besides I heard that's not true!"
"I'm the former Hokage! I know the law!" Tsunade thundered
"Nuh-uh!"
"Why did Yamato say-"
"I don't know! Yamato's weird!"
"Has any other ninja asked you about Hinata?"
"No!" Naruto held up in hands to show that he wasn't hiding anything. "Nothing, honest!"
"Good." Tsunade huffed and relaxed in her chair. "Because if you did love her, and you did make a move on her, Hinata will not respond. I'm certain that Hinata is already struggling with this newfound rumor that you're interested, and I think it's your responsibility to put it out."
"How do you put out a rumor like that, though?" Naruto accidentally plucked out another delicate leaf and sighed. "I'm not good at stuff like that."
Tsunade waved the question away, "Hinata doesn't love you, Naruto. I made sure to find that out before she took this job. I've spoken to her about the importance of being professional, and she took that order to heart-you though...make your own rules, are struggling to be professional, and simply follow orders from your heart. You are a good and reliable Hokage because of these 'flaws', but Hinata's professionalism is making you an outstanding Hokage. I know this will be hard for you to understand so I'll say this slowly. Stay. Away. From. Hinata." She punctuated her last bit with a tap of her manicured nail on her armrest. Naruto finally turned to stare at Tsunade, and she saw that pained look on his face. "If you want to keep her by your side, you're going to have to get over your little crush."
"Geez." Naruto finally wheezed through his tight chest, everything suddenly made no sense. He slowly sat down on his chair and took another long breath of air. "Is it that obvious? I mean...that's all it is though, right? A crush."
Tsunade's eyes widened and got up on her seat, this time being the one to look down at Naruto. "YOU LIED TO ME!"
Naruto stuck his fingers in his ears and whined. "Calm down Tsunade-no-baa-chan. Everyone lies."
"I swear, Naruto..." she shook her fist at him, but paused. "So you do love her."
Naruto shrugged. "No? I dunno. Love is a pretty hefty word...but she is pretty sweet." He said looking off into the distance. "I've never fallen for a girl like Hinata...she's too quiet, and polite...and...well...out of my league."
"She is. So you should give up." Tsunade said, looking extremely nervous.
"Yeah." Naruto said, his mind and voice seemed like they were in dreamland. "Yeah, I know."
"Naruto?" Tsunade reached over and grabbed Naruto by the face-squishing his cheeks together. "Look at me, Naruto."
Naruto did, albeit reluctantly.
"You don't love her." Tsunade said. "I knew this was a possibility...you two working together for a while in close proximity but trust me...you're simply flattered that she's stuck by you this long."
Naruto gave off an offended snort, but in this position, where his cheeks were mashed up together, he made the noise that resembled an angry pig.
"You spend more time with her than anybody, you're realizing how nice she is, and maybe you've finally noticed that she's got some nice curves on her-" Naruto's eyes wandered again as he started to daydream on that little tidbit, "BUT" Tsunade shook his face in the grip of her hands and forced his eyes back on her angry gaze. "It's not going to happen. You two are now an iconic symbol of our entire country, and the council of elders are looking for ways to tarnish your image so that they could replace you with one of THEIR candidates for Hokage, I've mentioned to you before that Hinata's keeping you in this office not only because she's a Hyuuga and she's good at organizing, her father's in the council and he wants to keep her in this high ranking position. If you so much as look at her differently in front of the council, her father will make her quit."
Naruto's eyes widened and he tried to shake his head, but Tsunade forced him to nod up in down as she kept a steady grip on his jaw.
"Yeah, she'll up and leave. So you better not lay one flirty word on her, and if I ever hear of these rumors starting again-I better hear that you're dating another red-headed someone soon after to drown out those rumors right away." Tsunade hissed. "I'm not trying to punish you, Naruto-you just have to be patient. Once you're stronger than the council I don't care WHO you're dating, but as of right now-I want to keep you in office, and so does Hinata!"
She let go of Naruto roughly-shoving his face away. Naruto rubbed his cheeks and glared petulantly at the top of his desk. He looked exactly like a child that was severely scolded, and acted the part too.
"Well...then do you know if she still likes me?" Naruto asked softly. "She did when we were..." his voice trailed off, realizing he didn't remember exactly when she had confessed to him, or even when he finally realized that she had liked him when they were younger.
"She's grown up." Tsunade sighed, "Besides, all of those nervous habits you used to see when she was around you? Blushing? Fidgeting? Poking her fingers? You notice how they're gone?"
Naruto nodded, already looking extremely sad.
"It's because she doesn't feel that way about you anymore." Tsunade explained calmly. "You have to understand...and Hinata's not one of those girls you can be persistent with...she really cares about you and your career...don't do this to her."
Naruto kept that pouty frown up, and didn't even make a move to acknowledge Tsunade anymore. He had his arms firmly crossed, and his chin resting on his chest.
"Stop acting like you can't have what you want, Naruto." Tsunade finally said in a tired voice. "You've got everything you've dreamed of. The role as Hokage, respect, honor..."
"But what about love, Baa-chan." Naruto cut her off. "Why can't I have that too?"
"You can." Tsunade said gently.
Naruto sighed, knowing full well what she was going to say next.
"But not with Hinata."
To be continued...