Sorry folks. This one's gonna be a short one. And about Jiraiya, I was desperate for a plot device and he practically begged me to put him in. So I did. To bad he'd regret it, though.

Chapter 4 – Nonsense with Ero-Sennin

Seconds later…

"All right. What did you want to talk about?" Jiraiya said, sitting on a random bench by the river. He was sporting fresh bruises, a black eye, and spots of blood on his clothes, courtesy of the teenage kunoichi (with one exception). Why? What was on those papers? Turns out that one of the female leads happened to have medium-length pink hair, bluish-green eyes, and a rather "outstanding" forehead (before anyone says anything, this female lead was actually 22 years old).

"We're looking for Naruto," Sakura said, causing Jiraiya to look up at her. "We know he trains with you from time to time, so…" But Sakura couldn't finish as the old pervert was trying hard to hold back his laughter.

"Okay, stop," Jiraiya said. "I know where you're going with this." Jiraiya grinned widely, causing Sakura to step back. "Admit it. You want to ask Naruto to come to the Festival with you, riiiiiight??"

It was this comment that caused Hinata to twitch, Ino to sweatdrop, and Sakura to back away from the crazy old man. "It's not like that at all!" Sakura yelled, causing the perverted hermit to stop laughing in the blink of an eye. He knew that, despite his rank as a legendary ninja, Sakura had the potential and the will to beat the ever loving snot out of him. "Look. We've been trying to help Hinata with her self-confidence, so we're trying to set her up with Naruto for the Fireworks Festival."

Jiraiya looked over at Hinata, who averted her eyes. Hinata put up her arms, as though trying to shield herself from the perverted hermit's gaze. If he's as perverted as Naruto says he is, she had reason to fear that he might be able to see right through her clothes. However, as soon as he noticed her ghostly white eyes, Jiraiya closed his own eyes and let out a small laugh. "I should've known. It had to be old Hiashi's girl."

"Hiashi?" Hinata looked back at Jiraiya, a little surprised. "You know my father?"

"Know 'im?" Jiraiya laughed. "Please. Back in the day, we were drinking buddies at one point. Boy, that man could sure make me laugh."

Hinata's eyes widened comically, in a fashion similar to that one scene in episode 185. My father…drinking?! She imagined Hiashi Hyuga and Jiraiya, perhaps about 15 or so years younger, both laughing from a drunken stupor. Go away! Go away! Go away! Hinata quickly, and quite literally, shooed away this disturbing thought.

"Anyway," Jiraiya continued, "if you're looking for Naruto, he's probably at Ichiraku Ramen. The way I see things, the kid practically lives there."

A gust of wind blew past the four of them as the girls stood there in stunned silence. Honestly, they really should've known. Actually, Hinata did know but couldn't say anything before and after Jiraiya made his entrance. And who could blame her?

"Thank you, Ero-sennin!" Sakura said as the three of them left. Well, two of them left, but Hinata stopped halfway.

"I told you before, my name is…" Jiraiya started angrily, but was interrupted by a soft voice.

"Thank you…Master Jiraiya." Hinata bowed quickly and left with the other two.

Jiraiya stared as the girls ran off. Hinata…and Naruto? His forehead protector gleamed as a great idea made him smile like an idiot. He waited until the girls were gone before he started scribbling on a small notepad. The one-sided love from the quietest girl never seems to reach the loudest boy. What will she do? What will it take? I'm a genius!


Naruto: Ichiraku's Ramen is even better than ever!

Hinata: N-Naruto...kun?

Naruto: Oh! Hey, Hinata! You want some ramen too?

Hinata: Actually, I...

Naruto: Uh, your face is turning red again. Are you sick or something?

Next Chapter: Finding Naruto

Sakura: There's no way he's this stupid.

A/N: Ooh! Now we're getting to the good parts!