It's been a while, but I did promise some of you I'd continue this. One chapter for each year Konohamaru gets older! Let's see if he can do it!

Enjoy!

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He liked her.

He didn't like to think of it as just a crush anymore because it was almost a year since the feelings started. There was a brief period where he was convinced he was deluding himself into thinking he had a chance with her, but he was more comfortable accepting he wanted to take that chance than insisting he didn't. His feelings ran deeper than just liking the way she looked or being lured in by a kunoichi whose actions and appearance was different from the norm, and it was more than the added appeal of an older woman.

He liked the version of Hinata he actually got to know.

Her voice was soft and kind, but her words could be very direct and impactful. She couldn't always hold eye contact with people, but she did with him, and it felt like she wasn't focused on anyone else. She used her hands a lot when she spoke—like when she was trying to find the right words to explain something—and she had been shocked to discover she did this when he told her about it. More than anything, the young Sarutobi was enamored by how he felt like an equal when he was with her and not someone of a younger, lower status.

But there were also things he didn't like.

He didn't like how flustered she could become around others. With him, she never stuttered or flushed as bad as when she was with members of her graduating class. He didn't like how passive she could be or how easily she would give in for other people's sake. Anything that caused her to become withdrawn or trip over herself bothered him, but he had accepted those traits. Sometimes it elated his ego, because it meant she could be herself with him, but maybe that only confirmed how present the age gap between them was.

Even then, he recognized he wasn't blinded by his emotions, so this had to prove this was worth pursuing. Yes, Konohamaru was sure this was something more than a crush, and it only heightened the desire to get older so he could actually do something about it. And, really, he resigned himself to waiting because he was sure he had a lot more to learn about himself before he could feel comfortable with confessing to her.

Like what obstacles he was willing to overcome.

"Konohamaru!"

The Sarutobi froze, staring at a shuriken inches away from his nose. He exhaled, closing his eyes, and was just grateful this one didn't have him sporting new cuts. He parted his lids and took notice of the rolled paper going through the weapon. He retrieved it, seeing what it had to say:

Stay away from her.

He sighed, pocketing the paper.

"Konohamaru!"

He looked over just as Moegi and Udon reached him, worry etched on their faces. He forced a smile for their sake. "Hey, guys."

"Are you okay?!" Moegi asked, yanking the shuriken from the building.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said, shrugging and swaying with each inflection.

"Yeah right!" She waved the shuriken in his face. "You're reporting this, right? The Hokage said if this happened again, then she'll send the ANBU to investigate."

"Eh," he snatched the weapon away from her and pocketed it as well, "what do you want me to report? Someone saving me the trouble of shopping for weapons myself?" He laughed. "It's nothing, really."

"I dunno," Udon said, pausing to sniff. "You usually have cuts because of this. Don't you think someone's out to get you?"

"Pssh!" Konohamaru waved his hand dismissively. "It's probably another ninja doing this, right? If they're really out to get me, then they would have gotten me by now." He paused to check his watch. "I gotta go, so just know it's nothing to worry about, okay? And don't go tellin' Granny Hokage either!"

Konohamaru kept his cool as he walked away, but, really, that close call had him a little shaky on his feet. Stuff like that started happening three months ago, and it was always accompanied by a note telling him to 'stay away from her'. The only 'her' who would arouse this kind of assault could only be Hinata—meaning someone she knew didn't like him hanging around her.

He suspected it to be Kiba.

But he wasn't going to make a huge fuss over it anymore because these were all scare tactics, and he wasn't scared—just surprised. Besides, there was no use causing trouble for Hinata by this point.

Konohamaru walked towards the Academy, occasionally messing with his hair in case it was sticking up in places he didn't like. He traveled to the Hokage Monument and decided to take the stairs all the way to the top. As he walked, he looked over to his grandfather's face, squinting as he searched, and bit his lip, looking away. His stomach was already doing the weird bubbling he once mistook for nausea. When he was up as far as the stairs would go, he jumped onto the rocks and climbed on top of his grandfather's head. "Am I late?"

Hinata turned, sitting on the edge, and gave him a soft smile. "You never are."

He walked over to her and took a seat. "You know, I've been meaning to ask you something." He cleared his throat, looking away when her eyes met his. "How come...you want to meet up here these days? I never knew you liked the Hokage Monument so much."

Hinata pursed her lips, studying him. "Well... To be perfectly honest, I was too afraid to ask to come up here before I met you." She laughed briefly. "You never hear about anyone coming to sit up here just for the fun of it. It must be a Hokage privilege."

He peeked at her, smirking. "So you're just using me? I get it."

She laughed again, true humor in her tone, and looked down at the village. "It all looks so...clustered from up here. It doesn't feel that way once you're actually down there."

"Yeah." Konohamaru looked down as well. "Guess I never noticed it either."

A comforting silence embraced them. The longer the moment passed, the harder it was for Konohamaru to hold back a troubling smile. Being able to sit with Hinata like this was surreal sometimes. He should feel weird when his mind allowed him to alter these moments as glimpses of them being a couple, but it all felt very plausible. When they spent time together, it was always just the two of them, and being in each other's company was relaxing and perfect.

Perfect, he scoffed.

He couldn't let his mind wander too far.

o0o0o

The two continued to enjoy their time together for the next hour and a half. They talked about their teams and what missions they had been on, but overall they talked about nothing in particular. Konohamaru had to admit he liked the random topics they could come up with. Their time came to an end when Hinata had to return home for her family training. They said their goodbyes, and he watched as she got up to leave.

"Hinata," he said, a random thought bursting to the front of his mind, "you like hanging out with me, right?"

She looked at him. "Why do you ask?"

"I just think about what unlikely friends we are." He paused. "Okay, well, your teammates are pretty unlikely for you, too, but we're not on a team or anything. Most of our interests aren't even the same."

Her head tilted before she caught herself. She was surprised he had this worry. "This is all true, but I like you, Konohamaru. Our friendship feels...natural." She shrugged, smiling. "Or maybe that's just me. I'll see you later."

Konohamaru smiled back, watching her leave again. When she was gone, he looked back down to the village, staring blankly. Progressively, his ears became hot, his cheeks feeling the same, and he buried his face in his hands. "Calm down, you idiot," he groaned to himself. "You're focusing on the wrong thing."

"I like you, Konohamaru."

He pressed his hands harder to his face, smiling despite himself. "She doesn't like you like-" Konohamaru's head snapped up, and he launched himself skywards as a kunai whizzed through the air. He landed on the monument with a kunai of his own in hand only to be surprised to see the figure standing a few feet away from him.

Hanabi Hyuuga stood with her arms crossed, a stony glare on her face. "You dodged."

"Hanabi?" he said, his stance faltering. "Did you just...throw a kunai at me?"

She scowled, hurdling another weapon at him. He dodged again, only to be met with weapon after weapon flying his way. He continued to dodge and deflect, shouting questions at her she ignored, and he could hardly find a way of escape. Hanabi activated her Byakugan when she had nothing else to throw and charged at him with full force. He yelped, leaping to the nearest Hokage head, and desperately tried to avoid the chakra filled jabs the young Hyuuga was sending his way.

"Hey, hold on!" he yelled after she made a small crater in the Fourth Hokage's face. "What are you so mad about?!"

She ignored him still, each attack she made closing the gap between them. Her expression was fierce and enraged, her threatening gaze locked on him. He leapt onto the Fifth Hokage's head, barely escaping a Jyuuken to his back, and turned to face her.

"Just tell me what's wrong!"

Hanabi yelled, landing a solid, chakra-less blow to his chest. Konohamaru fell to the ground, wincing and coughing. Hanabi stood over him, her Byakugan still activated. "Guys like you are what's wrong."

He looked at her, struggling to sit up. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Stop hanging around my sister."

"Why-" He gasped, scrambling to his feet. "You're the one who's been threatening me?! What, are you crazy?! I thought I was in real danger for a while there!"

She huffed, balling her fists. "Listen to me, Konohamaru. My sister has enough problems, so she doesn't need you boys bothering her all the time. Go get your kicks somewhere else."

"My kicks? And what do you care, anyway? You don't even like Hinata!"

Hanabi scowled, ready to attack again, but she caught herself and took a step back. Sighing, she deactivated her Byakugan and looked at him calmly. "I forgot how ignorant you are. I can't believe I let myself get so worked up."

He gaped at her, fuming. "Now you're blaming me for the way you act?! You mind telling me what this is really about?"

She rolled her eyes. "My sister's body is pleasing to you, so you're bothering her with these false attempts at friendship. It's gross and demeaning to my family name."

"You have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Come now, Konohamaru. Hinata is too nice to tell you you're being a nuisance, and you're letting that filthy mind of yours take advantage of her kind personality."

Konohamaru shook, his emotions getting the best of him. "Hinata actually likes hanging out with me! I don't know just what kinda guy you think I am, but I like your sister for more than what you give me credit for!"

Hanabi laughed, shaking her head. "So, what? You think you have a crush on her? Even if you do, you're just a kid, and she's only interested in one guy."

Konohamaru flinched, his emotions taking a blow. He wanted to yell and get back on the topic of her attempts at his life, but now he wanted to forget her last comment. "I was having a pretty good day until you showed up, Hanabi." He turned away, ruffling his hair as he stormed to the edge of the Hokage Monument to sit down.

Hanabi stood for a moment, regarding him stoically. She really didn't like how Konohamaru had attached himself to her sister. Hinata would talk so fondly of him and suggested to Hanabi that she hang out with the two of them, but she always refused. For a while, Hanabi thought the two would grow apart, but it was almost a year now.

Hinata didn't even hang out with her as much as she was hanging out with him.

Hanabi scowled, leaving before she could build herself up all over again.

"Hey!"

She turned, glaring at a pink-cheeked Konohamaru who was now standing and facing her. For a moment, she was truly confused, because he seemed to be radiating embarrassment.

"I may not be Naruto, and I may be just a kid, but that's not gonna matter soon enough." He slapped his hand to his chest, his face exploding with color. "I like Hinata, alright?! And one day I'm gonna confess to her, so don't go thinkin' of me as some guy who can't tell the difference between liking someone because of how they look and liking someone because I actually care!" He pointed at her fiercely. "So threaten and attack me all you want, but you can't stop me from hanging out with her, got it?!"

The two stood as they were—Hanabi's eyebrows slightly raised and Konohamaru huffing and pointing. After a solid minute, Hanabi huffed, rolling her eyes, and walked away.

When she was gone, Konohamaru collapsed to his hands and knees, staring at the ground with wild eyes. "Why did I say that?" He groaned, pounding his fist on the ground. "I should not have said that!"

Two Days Later

"Eh..." Konohamaru paused as he reached the top of the monument. "Hey..."

Hinata turned to look at him, smiling brightly. "Hello," she said.

"Konohamaru," Hanabi greeted, looking at him with bland eyes.

"Uh... Hi." He walked towards them, eying the intruder. "Hanabi's here."

"I've been trying to get her to join us for a while now," Hinata said. "I think you two would get along well, if you actually got to know each other."

"Uh... Heh. You think so?" He rubbed his neck awkwardly. "We don't really have anything in common."

"That's not true," Hanabi said, embracing her sister much to the other two's surprise. "We both love spending time with Hinata, don't we?"

Hinata grinned, hugging her sister back and gushing about how she didn't know she still felt this way. Konohamaru grit his teeth, irritated. If this was how Hanabi wanted to play the game, then he'd play along.

Konohamaru sat next to Hinata, forcing a smile. "I never expected I'd be friends with both Hinata and Hanabi. Lucky me."

Hinata pulled away from her sister. "You still haven't told me what changed your mind."

Konohamaru laughed. "She must have been jealous."

Hanabi looked up, skillfully looking naive. "Konohamaru's going to confess something to you soon-"

The Sarutobi paled.

"-and I want to offer all my support."

"Really?" Hinata looked at Konohamaru, who instantly tensed. "What are you confessing?"

"Uh... Well, ya know... It's kind of a...a surprise, s-so-"

"So I suppose we'll have to be very patient," Hanabi finished. She looked at Konohamaru, her eyes glinting. "Don't keep us waiting too long, Konohamaru."

He clenched his fists, keeping his breathing under control. It took him a great deal of effort not to yell. "Yeah."

He would have to pick his battles with this foe.