The corridors of the medical facility were busy.
A number of teams had returned after dangerous missions. The Leaf shinobi had met with fierce resistance, but had seen their assignments through. There were no fatalities, but just about every ninja had come back with some kind of injury.
"I just have to check in," Sakura said to Hinata. "I'm not supposed to be on shift for a while; but, that kind of thing can change at a moment's notice when we get busy." The pink-haired medical ninja walked over and talked with a floor nurse before leafing through the most recent duty roster. "See you in an hour or so," she called out to a fellow trainee.
"If this is a bad time…" Hinata didn't want to get in the way. While her personal mission was very important to her, it paled in comparison to the health and welfare of her fellow shinobi. "I can always find time to talk with you later."
"It's fine!" Sakura smiled and waved her hand, wanting to wipe away her friend's concern. "If anything, Tsunade would chew me out for being here now, when I'm supposed to be off shift. She would tell me how important it was for a medical ninja to relieve stress and enjoy life…" She laughed. "Then, after saying that, she would tell me I was now on duty and toss me into the first case that needed an assistant."
"Thank you." Hinata bowed her head. "We have all been so busy lately. We don't have time to meet for lunch like we used to." She regretted that fact. While she never said much at those get-togethers, she always listened attentively, happy to be with friends. "You keep long hours; but, everyone is saying that you are doing so well. It must be nice…" She was going to say 'to be noticed'. Either that, or 'to have your eyes set on a future you chose'.
"It has it's moments, alright." Sakura followed her shorter friend outside. "Good and bad." She sighed. "It's great when I can help someone get better. But… it's not so nice… when…" She shook her head, not wanting to dwell on those kind of thoughts. "I hear that your team is doing quite nicely. I'm certain it's not simply because Kiba and Shino have gotten better. Right?"
"I… well… ummm…" Hinata always found it hard to talk about herself. "I suppose I am getting better. Kurenai-sensei certainly thinks so…"
"She's not the kind of person to lie about things like that, even if it would give you confidence or make you feel better about yourself." Sakura knew all too well how it felt to be a second class ninja, so to speak.
At first, she had a huge crush on Sasuke, but never really cared how much stronger and more capable he was. When Kakashi praised her for her Genjutsu abilities and chakra control, that was all she needed. It had been some comfort to her when Naruto wasn't very good. When he burst upon the scene in a big way, she wilted in his shadow.
The change started noticeably when she tried to stop Sasuke and failed. Naruto promised he would bring him back, and almost died in the process. The two of them had gone on to work very hard, trying to get stronger. The next time, when one of them went to find their former partner, they both would go.
"You're probably right…" Hinata still didn't sound completely confident.
"Giving you a false sense of accomplishment might end up getting you or someone on your team killed. I had confidence problems too, even though I might have been the smartest student in our year at the Academy. Once I found my true calling, and starting having some success, everything changed for the better."
"I see…" Hinata sighed. "I suppose I should be happy to be learning the Hyuuga techniques from Neji and my father…" Those were indeed valuable skills, especially since many Hyuuga fighters were tied to defense of the clan rather than village as awhole, except in dire emergencies. She and Neji could fit in well with just about any team, thanks to their unique talents. "But… everyone else… they seem…"
"You mean like Naruto?" Sakura smiled. "He truly is remarkable, right? He started off as the boy who couldn't pass his genin exams, and whose great claim to fame was painting graffitti on the stone faces…" She shook her head, remembering just how annoying her teammate had been. "He went on to defeat your partner in an unconventional manner." Her smile deepened when she saw Hinata blush. "Next, he defeated your cousin in the chuunin exams… saved me and Sasuske from a sand demon…" She shivered, thinking back to the day that Sarutobi had died, and the village had faced a combined attack from the Sand and Sound. "…Brought back Tsunade and Shizune… and fought hard to bring back Sasuke, who had grown more powerful thanks to that… that…" She still had trouble thinking about Sasuke, and his curse seal in particular. "Well… you know…"
"Yes." Hinata hung her head for a moment. Sakura looked very proud, talking about her teammate. How much of that look might be due to affection? How far did that affection go? "He has grown… so much… so fast…" Without me watching. Without me keeping pace. Withouthim knowing I'm alive.
"Mmmm hmmmm. Like I said, remarkable. But, some things never change, I'm afraid." Sakura scowled, mussing with her head band.
"How?" Hinata was curious. Not only curious, but jealous too. Even if Sakura didn't care about Naruto in the way that Hinata wanted to, the other girl was fortunate to have a chance to watch Naruto grow fist hand.
"I can remember the first day he returned to the village. He had gotten so much taller. He was so much more powerful." Sakura smacked her fist into her hand. If Hinata could have seen the Inner Sakura, she would have taken a step back in fear. "One of the first things that he did when we met again after so long, was to ask me if I wanted to see his newest perverted jutsu. Oooooh. Baka!" She smacked a city bench in passing. The cement cracked all the way through one support leg.
"Oh!" Hinata put her hand to her mouth. It wasn't as if she was totally oblivious to that side of Naruto, having seen him perform his Sexy No Jutsu in class before. Just the same, she felt uncomfortable realizing just how much she didn't know about him. "Were… were you happy… to have him come back…"
"Sure!" Sakura smiled. "He's my friend. Even without Sasuke, we have a very capable team." She didn't let the pain paralyze her anymore. As always, she wondered what their team could be capable of, if Sasuske hadn't turned traitor. Also, as always, she held out hope that his going was part of some plan of Tsuande's. The likelihood of that was low. "Now that he's matured some, he's actually fun to have around." She tapped her finger against her cheek the way that Tsuande often did. "Sometimes."
Hinata rubbed her fingers together. Here it was: the perfect opportunity to ask the one question she really needed to ask. But, she dreaded hearing the answer. She pictured Naruto's face. She imagined him walking hand in hand with her friend. Part of her said 'Don't ask. Forget about it. Tomorrow's another day.' But, that was true of every day, wasn't it? Another part of her said 'It's alright if Naruto likes Sakura, as long as she makes him happy'. That was true, no matter how much it might hurt her. She really did want Naruto to be happy. He deserved it. He had lived a life that was even tougher than her own.
It was a question that she asked herself which proved decisive: 'What would Naruto do?'
"Sakura… do you like Naruto… as a…" Hinata froze. She closed her eyes and repeated 'My Ninja Way' as a short mantra. "Do-you-want-to-go-out-with-him?" There. It was done. It was too late to take things back now. The words had all run together, but they were still decipherable.
"What?" Sakura looked shocked for a moment. She stared at Hinata, and then began to nod her head. She knew why Hinata must be asking that. "Well… to be honest… yes…" She hated lying; but, she was just teasing Hinata. Her quiet friend needed to be shaken up every once and a while. "We've been dating for several weeks now…" She laughed. "Not!"
Hinata blinked rapidly. She felt like she was caught in a rip tide of emotions. Her mouth was open, but she couldn't form any words just yet.
"I love Naruto as a friend, Hinata. Sheeesh. He's not someone I would want to go out with." She shrugged. "At least not yet." That last part wasn't a joke. Sakura wouldn't rule out anything. Too many strange turns of event had taken place in the past few years.
"You probably never will…" Hinata bit her lip. That came out involuntarily, in a rush. It had Sakura smiling at her. "Well… Kurenai told me about janken…" She went on to explain her teacher's thoughts to her friend.
"That's funny. I've thought the same thing myself on a number of occasions." She frowned. "But, if I ever see Naruto with a telescope, or one of those freaky horned forehead protectors, I will bury him with Isshi Resshin." She held up one finger much the way the Hokage did at times. "Tsunade's actually going to teach me summoning some day soon, too." She wrinkled up her nose. "Don't know if I'm too happy about slugs, though. Yuk!"
"Really?" That had Hinata standing up straighter. "I was hoping… ummm… I thought about learning Kuchiyose no Jutsu myself. It might be… you know…" She couldn't finish her though before Sakura grabbed hold of it and finished it for her.
"It might be a way to spend time with a certain loud-mouthed ninja?" Sakura smiled an honest and well-meaning smile. "Hoping that Naruto might be able to teach you some jutsus?" She shook her finger at her friend in mock severity. "Do I need to sign you up for a medical examination.? One with a full psychiatric evaluation?"
"No!" Hinata shook her head. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with me." She blushed. It had been obvious that Sakura was joking, but it took a while before she caught on. "Yes… ummm… I was hoping…"
"Does Naruto know that you like him?" Sakura was not one to beat around the bush. She had become more forceful and direct after spending time with the Hokage. "Did you want to talk to me to see if you would be intruding on my territory, or because you want some help figuring out my teammate?"
"Both," Hinata answered. "But, I doubt that Naruto ever knew that I… well…"
"I know," Sakura said softly. It was funny how she and the other girls really didn't take notice of Hinata's habits regarding Naruto. But, the signs had all been there to see. A school girl and genin crush. Thinking back, she felt kind of stupid. Maybe no one paid Hinata as much attention as she had deserved.
"He probably never talks about me now, either…" Hinata willed herself to be strong.
"No, he doesn't." Sakura said. "But, he doesn't talk about any other girls, either." She frowned. "I know he notices them. I've given him a couple of bruises when I caught him staring at…" Sakura coughed. "When I caught him staring at me."
Hinata thought back to Kurenai's comments on sprucing herself up some, making herself more attractive. If Naruto did indeed look at girls, would it make him notice her more? Did she really want him staring at certain parts of her, maybe thinking certain kinds of thoughts as a result? That wouldn't be her first approach, in either case. But, she wouldn't throw out the idea altogether.
"You've never seen him walking with any other girl besides yourself?" Hinata asled.
"No. Never. Not since he's been back home." Sakura stared at Hinata for a moment. "I don't want to be nosey…" Sakura licked her lips. That wasn't really true. "What made you come talk to me about this today? You've been watching Naruto along time, right? At least before he went away…"
"It's kind of silly…" Hinata shuffled her feet some. "It has to do with a fortune cookie…" She rushed to wave her hands in front of her. "But not the way you might think…" Hinata went through things again.
"What... a... situation!"Sakura exclaimed. "And out of all the boys, it had to be Naruto. I can't even guess how he might react." She frowned. "Well. it would be loud, we can safely assume that. And it would include some mention of his Ninja Way. But after that…" She shrugged. "But, even if he rejects you, he might still respect your efforts."
"Yes. I hope so…" Hinata knew that she was betting on a long shot.
"More than that. I bet that he would be very impressed." Sakura couldn't help herself. She knew that this was no laughing matter for her friend, but she just had to share the image thought that just strayed into her mind. "He might use your image in his Sexy No Jutsu, Harem Style."
Hinata froze. She couldn't help but picture the image. She blushed, took a step back, and then shook her head violently. Luckily, that worked.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. I shouldn't joke about things like that. If he ever overheard me…" Sakura pulled her hair back some. "He would never do it with me, because he would know what would happen. But you…"
"Naruto-kun would never…" Hinata swallowed hard. Sakura had mentioned perverted jutsus. "Would he?"
"Do you want to try and predict what Naruto will do… with anything?" Sakura grinned. Naruto was certainly one of a kind. That was probably a good thing. "But no, I don't think he would ever do that to you, because you never did anything to hurt him, and he always looks out for the underdog when their cause is just. Training with Jiraiya hasn't turned him into a bully or something worse."
"I wonder if…" Hinata looked a trifle concerned. "…If Naruto thinks that I'm hopeless or helpless."
"I don't think that you're helpless, Hinata. Shy, yes. Hopeless, no. I doubt Naruto does either." Sakura gave the other girl a thumbs up. "You know Kaiten. You can do Rokujuu Yonshou. You passed the chuunin exam. He's not an idiot, you know." Sakura reconsidered. "At least not in things like that."
"Yes… but…" Hinata felt a need to talk with Sakura about this. That was funny, considering how much she had obsessed on her friend earlier. "It's not being hopeless that would be a problem. Naruto admires people who are brave. He thinks highly of people… you know… who go after something… instead of waiting for things to happen."
"Isn't that what you're doing, Hinata?" Sakura rubbed the back of her head.
"In a way… but… I never would have…" Hinata sighed. "I'm doing this because of Hanabi, and what she might do…"
"Well, Naruto doesn't really need to know that part, does he?" Sakura cracked her knuckles. "I'm not saying he might end up feeling the same way about you; but, if it looks like you are taking a risk to get something you want, he might start looking at you in a different way. Who knows what he might see then? If not now, maybe some time later…"
Hinata just nodded. It hadn't been easy, facing Neji. That had hurt. It had almost left her dead. While she might not die from rejection, it still might feel like she did. But, the chuunin exam had helped her like herself more. It had gotten Naruto's attention. Even if she couldn't win Naruto's affection, she could feel good about her actions.
She blushed again. Back during that first exam, she had offered to let Naruto cheat off of her paper. When she had gone into the Forest of Death, she didn't worry about herself fisrt of all. She had hoped that Naruto would be OK. Could she trust her thoughts and actions around him?
"When I went to train with Tsunade, I went with full confidence. I didn't know what some of the boys were saying about me, regarding my talents and usefulness. I made my decision for personal reasons, but had no doubt about what I wanted." Sakura stood straighter. She was not an arrogant person, but felt that she had reason to be proud. "If I had believed what the boys all thought, I never would have tried. I might still have gone on to become stronger, but probably wouldn't have found my true strength."
Hinata blinked rapidly. She knew exactly what she wanted. It didn't matter what anyone else thought about her. She didn't care what anyone else might think about Naruto, either.
"All it took was a little bit of success, and a few word of encouragement from Tsunade…" Sakura smiled, thinking back. "Before I knew it, little successes made we want bigger successes. Small victories gave me courage, and large ones made me sure that I made the right choice."
"Yes," Hinata said, impressed. "I can see how that might work for…" She was about to say 'for a normal girl', or 'for someone with ambition'. For a moment, she saw things with a crystal-like clarity. Infatuation and obsession were nothing. They were a game for shy girls, not some kind of proof that they had hopes and dreams like everyone else. If she wasn't willing to take a chance on her own terms, then she shouldn't even want Naruto's attention. She wouldn't be worthy of him. "That might happen for me too."
"Let's go."Sakura was suddenly very abrupt. She started walking down street.
"Go?" Hinata hurried to keep up.
"I'll help you find Naruto. That's never hard when you don't want him around. But, when someone really needs him, it can take a little work." Sakura knew that all too well. Kakashi always showed up late. No one ever knew where he was. If Naruto was around, somebody usually noticed, for good reasons or bad. "But, someone usually has some clue…"
"Yes… but…" Hinata felt very excited, and terribly frightened at the same time. This reminded her of the day she had to fight a match with her father, to see if he would reconsider teaching her again. If the command hadn't come swiftly and without warning, she may have thought too much and fought poorly. "OK." She would let Sakura get her feet moving. She would let her friend find Naruto. But, she would not let the medial ninja do the talking. "But, after we spot him, I'm on my own."
"That's right!"Sakura tossed her hair. "Whether you want that or not." She suddenly stopped.
"Did you find him?" Hinata looked around. She didn't see any sign of Naruto.
"No. I just thought that I would do you a favor." Sakura nodded, looking pleased with herself."
"Favor?" Hinata wondered what Sakura was talking about.
"Your Ninja Way is a lot like his, right?" Sakura held up one finger.
"Ummm… yes…" Hinata replied.
"If you make a promise, you keep it no matter what?" The pink-haired girl held up a second finger."
"Always." Hinata nodded.
"I'm your friend, so you would probably promise me something if I asked, right?" Sakura put up a third finger. She felt her own anticipation building. This would work. She was sure of it. Shikamaru wasn't the only genius in their group!
"I… ummm… if it was something I could do." Hinata twiddled her fingers. "If it wasn't something bad…"
"But, you would definitely do something to help me, if it was good for you too. Hmmm?" Sakura held up a fourth finger. She turned her head a moment, catching sight of a familiar color.
Hinata nodded her head.
"Great!I do not have any romantic interest in Naruto now. I don't want him to start acting the way that he used to. It would drive me nuts!" She made a fist. "He might also get seriously hurt if he pestered me once too often." She relaxed. "If he found someone else to care about, I'd be safe. So, I want you to promise me that you'll try. Today. As soon as we find him."
"It…" Hinata swallowed hard. This was an 'all or nothing' moment. She couldn't break a promise. Too much thinking. Just go with what's in your heart. "I promise…" There. She had done it now. For better or worse. But, that was not enough. Sakura didn't specify what 'you'll try' meant to her.
"I knew you could do it." Sakura's thumb joined the other four fingers. She used that hand to wave good bye. "I saw some orange walk by. Over there." She pointed. "If you hurry, someone will know which way he went. See ya!" The Inner Sakura pumped her fist and shouted out a victory cry.
"Wait… I…" Hinata's voice went up an octave.
"You promised!" Sakura folded her arms over her chest and made a stern face.
"But… what should I say…" Hinata couldn't see any sign of orange anymore. "I came looking for you to find out what kinds of things he likes…" Hinata felt as if she were caught in a taffy-pulling machine. She needed to know the answer. But, she felt a building pressure to hurry, before Naruto disappeared.
"Ramen… training… Udon… anime… Soba... jutsus…Somen… manga… and…" The pink-haired girl made an 'OK' sign with her fingers. "…Squid-on-stick. Grilled. In mass quantities." She began walking. "Good luck! Remember, an ant can collapse an embankment…"
"Th-Th-Thank you." Hinata felt encouraged by that proverb. But, her shyness had suddenly multiplied one hundred fold. He legs felt weak and her throat was dry. This wasn't anything like her dreams, when fate swept her and Naruto together. But, what did she expect. Dreams were just that. Dreams. She remembered a proverb that Choji used once. 'Luck is like having a Rice Dumpling fly into your mouth'.
She began walking. Before she knew it, she was walking much faster. After a few moments, she began running. Not caring what people might think, she flashed up to the roof tops. She might catch a glimpse of Naruto from up there.
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata finally found him. He was down below, his hands gesticulating faster than she could follow. It looked like he was bargaining with a street vendor.
Once again, her feet developed glue-like tendencies. She couldn't move. Her old habits took over. Hiding behind a tall metal chimney, she watched as Naruto continued with his negotiating.
"I promised Sakura." Hinata took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out. The only promises that she ever broke were the ones that she made herself. Swiftly she jumped from fire escape to fire escape, landing nimbly on the sidewalk.
"Hey!" Some shouted from behind her. "Hinata!" It was Kiba. Akamaru was by his side, and Shino wasn't too far behind. "What's up? Want to go practice with us? We should be getting genin assignments soon."
"Indeed." That was a mouthful for Shino.
"I… ummm… well…" Hinata begn rubbing her fingers together. Practicing was a practical thing to do. They all wanted to be as strong as they could, before they were sent out as the shinobi in charge of a genin team. It didn't matter whether it was C or D class missions. Each of them wanted to prove that the Hokage's faith was not misplaced. She glanced over at Naruto out of the corner of her eye. He was marching happily down the street, holding something in his hand. "I promised…"
She said that out loud. She almost blurted things out. There was no way that she would say anything to these two before accomplishing her goal. If they laughed at her or teased her, things would be infinitely more difficult.
"Huh?" Kiba scratched under one arm. "Promised what?"
"Who?" Shino asked, pushing his dark glasses further up his nose.
"Yap. Yap yap yap. Bark. Bark bark. Ruff ruffruffruff." Akamaru pointed with his nose.
"Naruto?" Kiba asked. "Hey! He's always up for some practice. All we need to do is tell him we learned a new technique." He rubbed his hands together. "He never backs away from a little rough-and-tumble work."
"Right." Shino reached down and rubbed Akamaru's head.
"Bark. Yap yap. Bark bark bark. Ruff!" Akamaru sniffed the air. His tongue hung out."
" Naruto's got food!"Kiba's eyes lit up. He looked somewhat bestial for a moment. "That cinches it! He's our man. Later Hinata…"
"Yes." Shino sent a female bug towards Naruto. He wouldn't be able to give them the slip.
"But." Hinata froze. She couldn't speak to Naruto until her teammates were out of view. She had hoped that she wouldn't lose sight of him, if she hesitated too long. If he went to train with Kiba and Shino, she might not be able to speak to him before her father would expect her back at home. If she wasn't there when her father returned, there would be trouble. His admonishment would be bad enough. Hanabi would no doubt speak up, giving her suspicions about her sister's tardiness. "If that happens, I will have to live with it. That's my Ninja Way. I promised Sakura."
As Hinata watched, her teammates approached Naruto. Things looked grim, since Naruto was smiling and boasting about his own jutsus. They started walking off together. But, when Akamaru started jumping on Naruto and Kiba mentioned food, Naruto shook his head. Shino held out his hand, retrieved his bug, and began walking away. The other two were not about to take no for an answer.
"NARUTO!" Kiba shouted. "GIVE! DON'T BE SO DAMN SELFISH!"
Akamaru barked and then howled. He looked up at Kiba, expecting to get a soldier's pill.
"No way!"Naruto stood his ground, clutching the bag tightly to him. "There's only one. It's probably the last one in the city. I waited all week!" Hiding the bag under his arm, he did the hand seals for Kage Bunshin.
Hinata almost bit deeply enough into her tongue to draw blood. There were more Narutos than she could count. Each held a bag like the real Naruto had. Most of them took off running, in different directions.
"WE CAN TRACK YOU, YOU KNOW!" Kiba shouted.
Akamaru echoed his sentiment with a series of barks.
"Not without the doggie." The remaining clones all spoke those words at once. Naruto, who had joined the fleeing copies, worked a transformation justsu on one of the stationary figures. The clone looked like a cat. But, not just any cat.
A week or so ago, Akamaru had a run in with a rather large and spiteful tomcat. Kiba, Naruto, and Neji had been with him at the time. The dog still had some scratches on his muzzle where the irritable feline had given him a nasty swipe.
Akamaru was in a fix. He was not Kiba's dog, he was his companion. He would never abandon his friend during combat, unless he was ordered too. But, this was not combat. Naruto was a friend of his as well as Kiba's. So, it wasn't a loyalty issue. The desire to eat was nothing compared to the primal need to exact revenge.
The Naruto-cat clone hissed, strutted arrogantly, and then smacked Akamaru hard across the nose. It took off running, looking back to make certain that the dog was following. He was. Growling, Akamaru was running hell bent for leather.
"Akamaru!" Kiba cursed, using words that Hinata didn't know, and had no desire to learn. "Get your tail back here, Akamaru!" Shaking his head, he stood still a while, and then headed on his way.
"Poor Akamaru…" Hinata said. She sighed. No. Not 'poor Akamaru' or 'poor Kiba'. Poor Hinata! Now it would be almost impossible to find Naruto, if he was intent on being alone.
Then again…
Hinata had shadowed Naruto for ages. She had followed him around town, not just in the village streets, but also in the high ground and the wooded areas. She was probably the only one in Konoha who might be able to guess where he was headed. He had food. It was obviously one of his favorite things, the kind of prize he used sneak away and eat in seclusion. If he held to his old habits, there were a number of place that he might go.
The village of Konoha was surrounded on three sides by the Great Wall. On the remaining side, a great cliff stood. That was where Naruto would be. Sitting somewhere above the stone Hokage faces. As Hinata began walking towards the imposing carven mountainside, she wondered about the unshaped space flanking the fifth and most recent addition. What ninja might follow Tsunade? Could it actually be Naruto, if he continued getting stronger?
"How could I…" She stopped, feeling a sudden moment of uncertainty. Naruto wouldn't be a boy forever. Soon enough, he would be a man. If he became Hokage, any number of women might notice him. He would have his pick of the village. How could she possibly compete? "But… beauty… there's more than that…"
Yes, there was more than beauty. There was strength. Perseverance. Steadfastness. Forthrightness. Those would all be important in the woman who would offer comfort and support to the village leader, whether she was a girlfriend or wife. Could she ever fill that role? Was she foolish, hoping to catch the heart of the boy, if she couldn't hold the heart of the man?
"There certainly is." That voice was mature and silky smooth. Tsunade had been passing by Hinata when the younger woman spoke. "Beauty is a wonderful thing… but it's not the only thing…" She pushed a strand of hair out of her face, wondering what had gotten the white-eyed girl to say what she had.
"M-M-Ma'am…" Hinata blushed, hands grabbing tight to her chuunin vest.
"Relax, Hinata. I'm not going to pry." Tsunade smiled. Hinata was a cute girl, not just in the way she looked, but also in the way she acted. Too few girls could hold onto that innocence and naivety after being thrown into the life of a ninja. It was a harsh life in some ways, stealing hopes and dreams from some girls and taking the lives of others. But, for those with the right spirit, it could be a wonderful way to learn about themselves, and to accomplish things no civilian man or woman man or woman ever would. "Though, I do believe that I saw Naruto run past here earlier, chuckling about something."
"Oh… I see… he did…" Hinata felt as if the Hokage saw right through her. Could she truly read people somehow? If so, why had everyone whispered about her being a famously bad gambler?
"Hmmmmm." Tsunade tapped her finger against her cheek and frowned. Hinata might be adorable in her own way; but, she also was terribly shy. That might not necessary lead to difficulty leading a team some day, if her reluctance rested solely in social matters. As Hokage, she was faced with a difficult decision, wondering when and if she should assign a group of genin to work with Hinata, during those times when the jounin were too busy to take part in teaching. The village was going through tough times, and the young had to step up early. But, some might not be suited to the task. "Hinata, are you happy with the way things are?" It was a general question. She would qualify it in a moment, after she saw what the girl's reaction was.
"Ummm… Ma'am?" Hinata began rubbing her fingers together, but forced herself to stop. That tendency needed to stop some day soon! What did the Hokage mean? Was she talking about her feelings towards Naruto? But, she said she wouldn't pry. "Things, Ma'am?"
Tsunade didn't answer. Hinata needed to volunteer more. It would be important to see what things she chose to mention, and what she said about them. The Hokage knew that she was making her intense face now, the one that intimidated most people and caused Naruto to step up in her face and say something arrogant or brazen.
"My time with my family has greatly improved." Hinata flinched briefly, thinking about the whole business with Hanabi, and wondering what might happen if she or her father learned about her crush on Naruto. "I have done well on missions, and have been learning more skills." She looked down at her feet a moment, thinking that she wanted Naruto to teach her something. She bit her lip and forced herself to look up again.
"I see." The Hokage frowned. Hinata's life at home would never be an easy one. Hyuuga Hiashi was a stern and forceful man, one that had inordinately high expectations for the entire clan, his family most of all. "I'm glad you have reconciled with your father. That was a bad situation, one too much like the days of old." She pursed her lips, thinking. "You looked embarrassed when you mentioned skills, as if there was something you wanted to learn, but thought might only be wishful thinking." It was a question, even if it was spoken as an observation.
"Ummm… Ma'am…" Hinata swallowed hard. She wouldn't lie. Not only that, the Hokage might be testing her in some way, trying to make some judgment on her fitness as a shinobi. "Yes. It is not a common skill. It may be well beyond me." She took a deep breath. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu."
"What?" Tsunade was actually taken aback. It took a lot to surprise her these days, but that answer certainly did. "Summoning? That requires a great deal of chakra. How on earth did you settle on that?"
"It… I… because…" Hinata was well and fairly caught. The funny thing was, she knew that the older woman had not wanted to intrude on her personal affairs. She stood taller, and ran a hand through her hair. "Ma'am, I do not know of any Hyuuga who has ever learned that jutsu." That much was true. If she learned that, perhaps her father would have a great deal more respect for her. But, that was not her main reason. "It would be a strong technique that I could learn, outside of my Blood Limit." That was a sore point with her at times. Even though her clan skills were envied by many, she somehow felt that she was cheating, learning something that others could not. Again, it was not her main reason. "There is more."
"You wish to summon frogs?" Tsunade decided to be blunt. Hinata had already made her proud. The girl had been about to volunteer her feelings for Naruto. She was certain of it. "But you have no intention to seek Jiraiya out."
"Yes, Ma'am. I mean, it doesn't have to be frogs. I would…" Hinata stopped when the Hokage raised her hand.
"Do you realize what you are considering?" Tsunade would not press the point about the girl's feelings for Naruto, unless she gave indication that she wanted advice. "To summon a beast from another plane of existence requires a binding contract. It is not a game. A lot of effort can be put towards it, much to the detriment of simpler studies. It can be a very frustrating experience; but, it can also be a source of great danger."
"What kind of danger, Ma'am?" Hinata stood tall. She didn't fidget or wring her hands.
"Each summoned race may have their own 'king' or 'queen' to summon. For example, the toads have Gama Bunta, the creature that both Naruto and Jiraiya have successfully called. The snakes have Manda, who Orochimaru has called, but who might well kill him some day. I can Katsuyu, the great slug. Sandaime summoned Enma the Monkey King." The Hokage watched Hinata's face and posture. "It usually takes great strength to summon a king. It takes even greater strength to make a personal pact with one such as that. Naruto was almost killed in his first meeting with the Toad King."
"I see. But, I am not yet strong enough to summon a creature such as that." Hinata was saddened by that though, but also relieved. Pride and a thirst for power had led many shinobi down a bad path.
"Yes, that much is true." Tsunade's voice snapped very sharply for a moment. The next point was very important. "Sometimes a creature will respond to a summoning out of curiosity… or anger. If they fell they have been slighted… or if they see an opportunity to act on a whim… things might go poorly for someone playing with powers they best leave alone."
Hinata looked startled. She had not known enough to even think about such a possibility.
"Is it still something you want to pursue?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes. If she scared the girl, and she gave up the idea, good. If she didn't scare her, that would suggest that Hinata was so caught up in a word of girlish dreams that she that she had lost sight of reality. But, if she was scared… and that look in her eyes suggested that she was…the decision to proceed might speak of many things, good and bad.
Hinata stood silently for a few moments. Tsunade waved off a number of city officials who wanted an impromptu meeting with her.
"I think I would be selfish to wish it for the wrong reason." Hinata swallowed hard, realizing a truth that was bigger than one shy girl with a hopeless crush. "But, if I could learn such a skill, it would help my village."
It was the Hokage's turn to stand quietly. She placed a number of fingers around her chin, and looked Hinata in the eyes. The girl actually meant what she said. She truly had grown in some ways. "I would not suggest that you follow that path," she said. "But, I also will not discourage you. The decision will rest entirely on you. I hope you choose wisely." She nodded her head, looking intense again. "I suggest you read up on the subject. I will have some pertinent scrolls placed I your box at the Library." She smiled after that. "I won't delay you from your other choice any longer."
After that, Hinata continued on her way. She felt strange, but didn't really know what she was feeling. She had never had that kind of talk with the Hokage before. But, she couldn't let that distract her. There was a promise that needed to be kept. She might be too late again. If it was a day where Naruto was inclined to savor his food in little bites, she would be fine. However, if it was one of those times when he practically inhaled his food, he might already be gone.
It wasn't an easy climb, taking the long ziz-zag of stairs up to the top of the cliff. On the way up, Hinata checked in some of the hidey-holes used to house civilians and children during attacks on the village. Occasionally, in the past, Naruto would hang out in one of those. Not today. There were a few small cliffs on part of the way up the mountain face, where he used to bask in the sun. He wasn't there either. When she reached the end of the climb, she put her ninja skills to use. When he had a lot of food, Naruto used to concentrate on eating. But, when he had something special, he would be far more vigilant.
"I was right…" Hinata nodded in satisfaction. Naruto was nestled between a number of scraggly shrubs that clung to the perilous edge of the cliff crest. He had the bag in his lap. On top of the bag, a large slab of pastry sat, literally oozing custard. The smile on his face was near magical.
It was hard to get Millefeuille in Konoha. The name literally meant 'a thousand leaves' or 'a thousand sheets' in a foreign language, describing the large number of layers of puff pastry filled with pastry cream, custard, or some kin of fruit preserve. Good feuilletage is achieved by incorporating a good amount of cold dry butter into the pastry dough, getting bits of butter spread all throughout the dough by folding it several times. In the oven, the moisture from these pieces of butter creates steam and causes the pastry to separate, thus giving one the layers. The filling was a rich custard laced with praline. The only bakery chef mixing that filling resided in the Hidden Village of Snow.
If Akatsuki had known of Millefeuille, and of praline custard filling, they could have captured Naruto with ease.
Hinata almost made a fatal mistake. No, she didn't step on the crumbly rock at the edge of the cliff. She did something much more foolish. Anxious, and trying to calm herself, she approached Naruto just as he was about to take the crucial first bite. It was like trying to catch a cub while the mother bear watched.
"Hinata?" Naruto's voice expressed surprise, not warmth. Pastry in hand, he would not have been happy to see anyone. "Did Kiba and Shino send you after me?" He tensed up. How could anyone have found him? He had left any number of false trails. That's why he was only getting around to eating at this very moment. She must have gotten pretty skilled! He debated making a risky slide down to a rock shelf a few dozen meters below him, and then dashing into an interconnecting network of small tunnels. Even with Kaiten and the Gentle Fist, it would take Hinata a while to fight through the tunnels. He should be long gone by then.
"No," Hinata answered. "I was looking for you on my own." She saw him relax some.
"Why?" Naruto regretted sounding curt. But, he was eating Millefeuille. "I just came up here to eat in peace." He was hoping she might take the hint and leave him alone. But, even with his thinking addled by the thought of praline custard, he remembered his run in with Hanabi.
'Hmmmm. Hinata's probably not here to share this with me. Whew!'. His eyes went wide. He remembered that he needed to find out this very girl's secret. The pastry just might be the key to keeping his word. Who could possibly resist the flaky confection he held in his lap? 'Half a pastry now, endless Ramen later. It's my Ninja Way!'
"Naruto-kun… I…" Hinata was struggling to find the right words.
"Hey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude." Naruto slid to the side, allowing Hinata a place to sit. "Take a load off your feet. I haven't had a chance to see you in a long while."
"Sure," Hinata said, her heart beating quickly. There was barely room for two. That meant she had no choice but to sit against him. "I missed you…" She just bluted that one out. 'Smooth move girl! Why don't you jump off the cliff while your at it?'
"Really? I guess you all did." Naruto didn't see the look in Hinata's eyes after he dismissed her confession. "I missed Konoha." He waved one arm over the entire village, while using the other to instinctively protect his pastry. He narrowed his eyes some. "I guess a lot can happen in a two-and-a-half years." He might be able to get the answer out of her without using the pastry as bait. "Everyone seems to have grown up so much. I wonder what I missed. You girls must all have boyfriends now." Damn, that was subtle. 'Am I good or what?' The Millefeuille would be all his.
"Ummm… some do…" Hinata swallowed hard. She was feeling a bit dizzy.
"Oh. I see." Naruto scowled for an instant. She was good, too. But, the image of Hanabi appeared in his mind. She was smirking, as if she thought a future Hokage couldn't get this mission done. "So, do you have a boy friend?" He never would have asked that in a million years, normally. But, necessity is a cruel mistress.
Hinata froze. The honest answer was 'no'. But, it was a golden opportunity to say that she had a crush on him. No. She couldn't do that. It might scare him off. That wasn't the promise she had made. She had promised to try, not to crash and burn. Close to hyperventilating, she spoke haltingly. "Well… you see… I don't have one… yet."
"That's not surprising," Naruto answered without thinking. He felt like taking off his forehead protector and smacking himself silly. He was such an idiot! "I mean, you were always trying hard to get better, and had a lot of work to do." Imbecile! That was even worse. "But… now that you must be stronger… I'm surprised that you don't have to beat off guys with Kaiten or something." Yes! Great comeback. She is too shy to mention his name right away. If he kept insulting her by accident, she would never tell him.
"N-N-No…" Hinata blushed. Why did Naruto say that? Could he actually like her? Was this going to be easier than she thought? She shouldn't get her hopes up. Not just yet. "I don't have boys chasing after me…"
"Good. That would make it easier for one special boy, right?" Naruto grinned. He saw the look in Hinata's eyes. She must be thinking of her boyfriend. "You can tell me, Hinata. Is there someone you like?"
"Ummm… yes…" Hinata swallowed hard again. Did Naruto's words mean that he hoped to be that special someone? He might be shy, too, despite all his loudness. She could answer that question honestly.
"HAH!" Naruto almost stood up in triumph. That would have led to a tragic loss of pastry. "I KNEW IT!" He pumped his fist, but tried to settle down. He had no reason to act this way, as far as she might be concerned. He didn't want to give her any reason to be suspicious.
"Y-Y-You did?" Hinata almost slid down the cliff face. Naruto sounded so ecstatic. What did it mean? Did he want to go out with her? Would he ask her?
"Guys are really smart that way, you know?" Naruto thumped his chest. "So… who is this boyfriend… huh?"
"Oh." Hinata fell back to earth. Was he expecting her to make the first confession? He wasn't actually her boyfriend yet. Certainly he knew that. Did she misinterpret things? "I told you, Naruto-kun. I don't have a boyfriend… yet…"
Naruto set his jaw, and held back a shout. Hinata was going to be a tough nut to crack. He shouldn't have taken for granted that she would be a weak opponent. But, while she might conceivably be a match for Uzumaki Naruto, no one could possibly be a match for a future Hokage and a current day Millefeuille! "Tell you what. I'll let you have half of my pastry, if you tell me his name." That ought to do it. 'Hanabi, I hope you have a huge allowance. This is going to cost you big time.'
"I can't do that, Naruto." Hinata felt a need to speak her heart. It was now or never, whether or not it was a wise move. "You see…"
"Wow!"Naruto shook his head in disbelief. "You're good." He smiled, despite his initial failure. "You've changed a lot, Hinata. We don't need to work on that boyfriend thing right now. Take your time. I'm patient." There was no need to rush things. If he took his time, and let Hinata feel comfortable around him again, she would give him the answer he needed. Ramen never went out of season.
"I… OK, Naruto-kun… it's…" It sounded like he did care. But, he knew they couldn't be certain, and shouldn't rush ahead too fast.
"Maybe we should spend some time together," Naruto said. He said that too early. She would think he's some kind of dunce. No doubt she would want to spend her free time with that boyfriend. "But… if you don't want to… I'll understand…"
"Ummm…" Hinata froze again. He sounded like he was afraid of getting hurt, too. Was she dreaming? Should she pinch herself. "That would be nice."
"Good." Naruto sighed. That was close. When she paused like that, he was certain that she was going to say 'no' for sure. "So, is there anything you usually like to do? Something you always wanted to try?"
"Let me see…" Hinata told herself to play it cool, taking her time. If she blurted things out, he might wonder about her. This shouldn't sound scripted. "I always like to learn new jutsus. There's one in particular I wanted to try, but have to think more about. Lunch is always a good time to talk, especially if there's Grilled Squid. I've also been wanting to learn something about anime."
"YOU ROCK!" Naruto couldn't help himself. He jumped up. The pastry followed suit.
Using Byakugan, Hinata knew where the pastry was before she caught sight of it by conventional eyesight. She caught hold the of Millefeuille without breaking it. That had Naruto's eyes growing even larger.
"That was great, Hinata." For a moment, Naruto felt sad. It sounded like Hinata had become really cool since he was gone. Jutsus? Squid? Ramen? Too bad she already had a boyfriend…
"Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled. It wasn't just her face that did so, but her entire body, and her spirit too. Finally, something might go right in her life.