Naruto as Tsunami followed Hinata to a place where they could talk. The Hyuuga girl was clearly nervous. She kept pushing her fingers together which was her biggest nervous habit other than her stutter. They reached a clearing in the training ground that had enough visibility that they could clearly see if they were being spied on.
When they sat down, Hinata looked like she was going to ask Tsunami something before closing her mouth. Finally, Tsunmai asked gently, "What did you want to talk to me about, Hinata-chan?"
The other girl prevaricated for a few moments before asking in a rush, "How is your brother taking having to go back to the Academy again?"
Naruto was a little stunned. Hinata had asked about her real self before, but usually just small things. She actually seemed worried about him.
"Oh, he's not going back," Tsunami said absently.
Hinata started to hyperventilate. "He gave up!?" she gasped.
"What? No!" Tsunami said, concerned for her friend. "We finally found why we couldn't do the Clone Technique: too much chakra. The Hokage tested him using a different type of clone and he passed."
Hinata seemed to calm down. "Which team is he on?"
"Oh, he went straight to the reserves," Tsunami said.
"Why?" Hinata stammered, agitated. "What about his dreams of being Hokage?"
"He's not giving those up," Tsunami said. "It's just that he noticed that he isn't treated very well by our peers or the teachers. It happens that both of us are very good at sealing. He thought it would be prudent to improve his reputation by becoming well-known as a talented sealer. Once his reputation has improved, he'll join the active forces." She paused and then added sassily, "Of course, he still has to contend with me if he wants to be Hokage."
Hinata looked relieved and finally relaxed.
"Why are you so interested in Naruto?" Tsunami asked. "You never really hung out with anyone except me."
The dark-haired girl blushed furiously and poked her fingers together some more. Tsunami was struck by an image of a shy version of Sakura talking about Sasuke.
"You like him," Tsunami said, astonished.
"Well, yes," Hinata stuttered. "He would be a very good friend, but I'm too shy. . ."
"No, you like like him," the redhead restated.
Hinata's blush turned even redder. "You can't tell him!" she hissed.
"Okay, okay," Tsunami said, holding up her hands. Inside, Naruto did not know what to do with this information. "Why, though? You seemed to mostly ignore him like everyone else."
Hinata looked at the ground. "I'm too shy and weak. I didn't think he would want to talk to me."
Tsunami lifted the other girl's chin. "You're not weak, Hinata-chan. It's true that you're shy, but that can be overcome. Naruto has so few friends that he would have welcomed anyone."
Hinata tried to sink into herself again, but Tsunami asked, "Why him instead of Sasuke like everyone else?"
Rallying herself a little, Hinata rolled her eyes. "The Uchiha is pretty, but shallow. He has everything he wants offered him, but he just sits and broods. He's not the only orphan, but he acts like he is. Naruto on the other hand, has nothing except you." Hinata's eyes started to shine. "Things don't come easy to him, but he works hard and never gives up!"
Tsunami was touched that she had managed to inspire the other girl. She started to smile to herself when the reality of starting a relationship of that kind with Hinata came crashing down on her. Hinata was as close to a princess as Konoha had, while her other self was the village pariah. Hinata's family would never allow it, even if they did not hate him for the Fox. But more than that, she did not feel that she could start a relationship as Naruto while being a teammate as Tsunami—at least not without confessing, which she absolutely did not want to do at this point.
"I'm glad my brother has inspired you, Hinata-chan," she said tentatively. "Have you considered what your family would say if you tried to date Naruto?"
Hinata looked stricken. "You're saying I should give up?"
"I'm not saying that," Tsunami said gently. "I'm saying that now is not the time. We're only 12. We have several years before we should really be thinking about marriage or anything like it. What would happen to your position in your clan if you defied it to date Naruto?"
"I'd be given the Caged Bird Seal," she said tearfully. "There are already many of the Clan Elders who think I should be given it so that Hanabi-chan can be the heir."
"I don't think Naruto would be able to take it if he were the cause of you getting that awful seal. Now, if Naruto becomes the Hokage or improves his standing in another way," Tsunami said, "it would be different."
"But that could be too late!" Hinata said.
Tsunami nodded. "It could. One of you could be married by that time or something else could happen. I don't think you should pin your hopes on Naruto, Hinata-chan. You don't really know him."
"I do!" Hinata protested with a blush. "I've watched him from afar."
"The mask he shows everyone isn't the real Naruto," Tsunami said. She wondered to herself if there actually were a real Naruto or just different masks.
"I know that," Hinata said. "That's why I like him. He tries to make everyone else happy by smiling and playing jokes, even when he's hurting inside."
Tsunami pulled Hinata up by the arms and gave her a hug. "You need to find your own strength, Hinata-chan. That's what Naruto and I have done, even though we support each other. Drawing strength from Naruto won't help you much unless you can find it in yourself to emulate the part of him that inspires you. I'll help you, of course, but I won't always be there. This is something you have to do, if you want it to last."
"Okay, Tsunami-chan," Hinata said. "Thanks for listening to me."
"No problem, Hinata-chan," she said with a wide grin. "I'm happy to do it. You'll see how strong you really are. You don't need a boy to do that, even if he's as awesome as my brother."
Hinata giggled.
As awesome as his orange jumpsuit was for getting attention, even Naruto had to admit that it was not very professional. In order to impress the shinobi-supply storekeepers that he was serious, he would need a new outfit.
After she was done talking to Hinata, Tsunami went to a clothing shop. She could have gone to a shinobi-supply store, but the place she had in mind was cheaper and she was not concerned about getting something durable. She browsed through the shinobi aisles until she found something that she like that would fit on her original form. She picked out a green light jacket with decent-sized pockets and navy blue pants with an orange stripe. She got three sets.
She went to the counter and paid. As she was picking up her purchases she saw the moment when the storekeeper recognized her as "the demon brat's sister." Most civilians seemed to pity her, which made her angry. A few thought that she might be a demon too, but they seemed to be rare.
"You know that thing is not really your brother," he said. He must have realized who she was buying the clothes for.
"I did not realize you were a more talented shinobi than the Fourth Hokage, Mr. Civilian Shopkeeper," she sneered.
"Why would you say such a thing?" the man said, offended.
"The Fourth declared that my brother was a hero for protecting us from that," she explained. "By saying that that is my brother, you spit on the Fourth's skill as a seal master and deny his last wishes."
"But everyone says. . ." the man said defensively.
"Does that 'everyone' include the Third Hokage or Jiraiya-sama?" she interrupted. "Shinobi who actually know how sealing works? The next time a shinobi buys from your shop ask her if a storage seal becomes the object sealed into it. Don't expect me or my friends to shop here again."
She marched out the door. Her threat was mostly empty. She did not have much influence. Hinata would be offended at the man, but she did not imagine that Hinata did her own shopping. She did not think that Sakura or Ino would change any habits on her 'brother's' behalf. Really, the only one she could expect to join in her boycott would be Iruka, if she bothered to tell him.
The next morning, Tsunami and her teammates met their new sensei at their training ground.
"Thank you for being on time," Kurenai said. "Reputation and first impressions are very important for shinobi. You always want to appear competent to your clients and punctuality is a big part of this."
"I've heard chuunin complain that there's a jounin that's late to everything, Sensei," Tsunami commented.
"When you have the reputation that Sharingan no Kakashi does and can back it up, then you can develop quirks like that," Kurenai said with a frown. "The only reason he gets away with it is because he can't really be replaced. That's not true of any of you.
"Now, every team has a primary role in the village. The Densetsu no Sannin were a heavy combat team. The Ino-Shika-Chou were a capture and interrogation team. The current team with their children is intended for the same role. Can any of you guess what this team's projected role is?"
The three kunoichi looked at each other and then shook their heads.
"It's fine if you don't know yet," their sensei said. "I picture this team used for scouting and skirmishing. Can you tell me why?"
"Well, Hinata-chan has the Byakugan and I can make a lot of Shadow Clones," Tsunami said. "Those are both very useful for scouting."
"That's correct," said Kurenai. "And the skirmishing?"
"Skirmishers use hit and run tactics to wear down an enemy," said Sakura, "usually in support of a heavy combat group."
"That's true in a war, Sakura-san," Kurenai said. "For team missions, it means that we're more like to get combat missions that require us to move quickly and travel light. We usually won't be assigned hard targets other than in support of other teams."
The three girls nodded.
"Now, just like teams have roles, individuals on teams have roles," she continued. "I'd like each of you to suggest what your role on the team should be, starting with Hinata-chan, and then Tsunami-san, and lastly Sakura-san."
"Most of my techniques are close-range other than the Byakugan," Hinata stuttered.
"My techniques are close-range and mid-range," Tsunami said. "I would probably be best backing up Hinata-chan or taking secondary targets. I also have Shadow Clones which are a very useful support tool with the numbers I can make."
"I don't really have any unique techniques yet," Sakura said with a frown, "but from what I've read I expect I would be good at genjutsu or medical techniques. I'm pretty good at throwing weapons too, so I expect that I should take a support role."
"Those are all excellent observations," Kurenai said. "Those are also the roles you used in yesterday's test, which I think worked well.
They spent the rest of the day showing Kurenai and each other their skills. Tsunami showed them her taijutsu, Adamantine Attacking Chains, and Shadow Clones, including her skill with Replacing her Shadow Clones. Out of the three of them, Tsunami had the most skills by far, followed by Hinata who had her advanced taijutsu and her eyes. Sakura only had the basic Academy skills.
After Kurenai let them go, Naruto returned to her apartment and then changed into her original form. He had a meeting with the Hokage and the ANBU quartermaster.
The quartermaster, who wore a squirrel mask, was receptive to buying seals from him. Naruto offered variations on storage seals and explosive notes that had different triggers and functionality than the standard ones. He also had paralysis seals, element storage and conversion seals, privacy seals, and communication seals. Squirrel was impressed the most by the rate at which he could produce the seals.
"I'll be honest," the ANBU said. "We already have a couple of suppliers that give us all of these seals, none of them are super advanced. However, we do have trouble keeping some of them in stock, due to how slow our suppliers are. I'd definitely like to contract you as a supplier, if your work tests out."
They haggled a little in order to set a price list as well as a projected first order. To the ANBU's annoyance, the Hokage helped Naruto haggle. After that, they set an appointment for when Naruto could demonstrate his wares.
After Squirrel left, Naruto remained to shoot the breeze with his grandpa figure. They were interrupted by the door slamming open. A figure even shorter than Naruto rushed into the room before tripping over its long scarf.
The boy, who looked eight-years old, picked himself up and looked around. "It was you! You tripped me!" he yelled, pointing at Naruto.
Naruto shook his head. He did not know if the kid was blaming him because he was available or indirectly due to his "furry problem."
"Whatever, kid," he said dismissively.
The kid looked indignant at being ignored and shouted, "Don't you know who I am? I'm the Hokage's grandson!"
Naruto looked at the boy with contempt. "I don't care if you're his grandmother, you lose points in my book for banking on his name instead of your own!"
The boy gaped at him open mouthed. Naruto hated people who used their friend's or family's reputation to try and get by. He himself was the son of the Fourth Hokage and the great-grandson of the last Daimyo of Uzu no Kuni. Even if he were not forbidden from mentioning either of those, he would not. He wanted to succeed by his own prowess.
He brushed by a shinobi in his mid-twenties wearing sunglasses, inside.
"Watch where you're going, ruffian," the man said.
Naruto snorted. The man was obviously not one of his fans—whether do to the Fox or his pranks, it did not really matter to Naruto. The man obviously cared about image more than anything.
Naruto lazily walked through the village without a destination. He was ignored rather than shunned. People's eyes passed over him passively rather than actively; he felt indifference rather than hate. He sighed. Things would probably go back to normal once people realized that he had changed his standard outfit.
Naruto's sixth sense was telling him that something was off. There was no danger, just something weird. He looked around and saw a square box with eyeholes following him. He used his Mind's Eye Technique to determine that it was the kid from the Hokage's office.
"You can come out now, Brat," he said.
"Just what I would expect from my rival!" the boy said as he used a poorly made smoke bomb to "cover" his escape from his hiding spot.
"Rival?" Naruto asked, perplexed.
"Yes!" shouted the boy, "Jiichan told me that you wish to be Hokage too!"
"Hokage, huh?" Naruto said. "Why do you want to be Hokage?"
"So that people will acknowledge me for me!" he proclaimed. "The only time I'm not dismissed for being a kid is when people know who my grandpa is. He named me Konohamaru after the village, but I'm only ever called 'Honorable Grandson.' I want to step outside his shadow!"
"That's a lousy reason to want to be Hokage, Brat," Naruto said. "If you just want acknowledgment, you could be a fabulous artist or musician. That would put you more outside his shadow than following in his footsteps. The Hokage is the one that protects everyone, even to the point of laying down his life!" Naruto said a silent prayer for his father. "Someone like you are now, does not deserve to be Hokage!"
"Teach me, Boss!" Konohamaru said. "Jiichan said that you were strong for your age!"
Naruto had a feeling that the Hokage was trying to distract his grandson with him to get a little peace. He had an evil thought.
"Sure, Brat," he said. "I'll tell you one of the things I did to train: pranks."
"Pranks?" the smaller boy said.
"Pranks," he nodded. "Pranks are like mini-shinobi missions. They require the same type of planning and stealth to do a good one. Are you willing to follow my rules for using pranks as training?"
Konohamaru nodded eagerly. "Lay it on me, Boss!"
"First, you're only allowed to hurt their pride. No injuries. Second, no major property damage. If it takes more than half an hour to clean up, you went too far. Third, it's all right to get caught as long as you pull off the prank. If you get a reputation, it makes it harder to pull off your pranks and the value of pranking as training goes up. If you do get caught, take your punishment with a smile. You want to be a prankster, not a punk or a bully. Fourth and last, target those that take themselves too seriously. You'll be doing them a favor by deflating their ego. Targeting those that treat you poorly for a bit of revenge is great too, as long as you follow the first two rules. Got it?"
The boy, who had pulled out a notebook and was eagerly writing, nodded energetically.
"Okay," the blond said. "Give me some ideas of what your first pranks would be and I'll give you some pointers."
Naruto smiled to himself as the other boy began to list some ideas. The Hokage should know better than to try and dump his grandson on him. He also figured that Mr. I-wear-sunglasses-indoors would be a common target. That made him smile. Who said petty revenge could not be sweet?