Disclaimer. Nope, nothing is still mine. Also, Thanks to everyone who read the first chapter. And with that, have fun reading the next one. On with the show!
The Lessons a Hokage Needs to Learn
Chapter One: Lesson One. The art of being on time.
Naruto ran quickly through the streets of Kohona, bumping into people who were doing their daily shopping, jumping over little kids who were playing tag in the street, all in an effort not to be any more than thirty minutes late for the breakfast date that he had arranged for him and Hinata to go on that day. He dashed around a corner, weaved around some merchants who were talking about cabbages on the side of the street and screeched to a halt at his destination.
"Hey Hinata!" Hinata, who had been standing to one side of the building (a café that she had chosen to eat at because of it's charm and distance from the any Hyuuga in general) with a slightly worried look, turned relieved, pupiless white eyes, in the direction he had appeared from. A smile made its way onto her face. "Naruto," she said with a relieved sigh in her voice, "I was getting worried."
He joined her at the side of the building. "Sorry about that. I was called into the Hokage's office unexpectedly." He clasped his hands behind his head and offered her what he hoped was an apologetic smile.
The worried look etched itself back onto her face. "Is everything alright?" Her voice took on a reserved tone that spoke volumes about what she was thinking. She was afraid that he and Team kakashi were being deployed again.
Naruto looked at Hinata with a slightly helpless feeling. He knew that everyone's recent separation was taking the hardest toll on her; she really relied on, and needed, the closeness that they had with their friends. He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders reassuringly. "Everything is fine. Tsunade-Baachan just had something to talk to me about that's all." He grabbed her hands and dragged her along into the restaurant. "Now then, weren't we supposed to be eating?" He questioned her in a light tone when she tried to pull out of his grasp. "Cause I for one am starving."
Hinata looked up at him and, giving up her futile struggle for a minute, nodded into his shoulder, her cheeks slightly red at the closeness between them.
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The Next Day
"Achoo!" Naruto rubbed his hand across his nose in an attempt to displace the dust that had been kicked up when he picked up the box full of files. He looked up at Shizune who was standing in the light coming from the open door that led up from the basement. "Remind me why I have to do this again?" He managed to choke out before he sneezed once again. "Achoo!"
Shizune set down the pitcher of water that she was carrying and walked over to where Naruto was. She started to pat him down to get rid of the dirt that had gotten caked on his clothes and body over the course of the five hours that he had been in the building.
"We've already been over this Naruto," She brushed his arm off extra hard for emphasis, "The Hokage thinks that learning the filing system for the various missions will help you to become more organized, and it will also serve the purpose of helping to familiarize yourself with the various mission levels and who to send what and where."
"Humph! That just means the Tsunade-Baachan doesn't want to do this herself." Naruto stepped away from Shizune and ran his fingers through his hair. Shizune smiled at the sight. After all, it wasn't everyday that Naruto had his hair dust streaked and sticking up in odd places, even he managed (somehow) to be cleaner than that on most ordinary days. She walked over and picked up the pitcher of water and poured him a glass.
"Anyway, you're done for the day. Go home and take a shower." She handed him the glass of water and shoved him toward the door. "And remember, not a word of this to anyone."
Shizune heard his disconsolate mutters all the way out the door. She looked around and shuddered. If the mess that Naruto had managed to make was any indication then he really needed the help. As if in agreement with her thoughts, one of the piles of folders fell over and spilled papers onto the dusty floor.
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"Hey Naruto!" Naruto looked over his shoulder at his frantically waving teammate. He nodded to Sakura as she drew up alongside him. "Me and Lee wanted to know if…" she trailed off as she finally got a good look at him. She gave him a curious once over. "What happened to you?"
Naruto looked down at himself. He looked even worse in the light than he had in the basement.
"Hee hee," He grinned, "nothing. Just some training I was doing." He shrugged it off. Sakura looked him up and down speculatively. "If you're sure…well then, me and Lee wanted to know if you and Hinata wanted to go on a double date to the movies tonight." Naruto looked up at the time on the clock tower. "When?"
"In an hour." She started to walk back in the opposite direction. "Oh, and Naruto?" She looked him over again, "please get cleaned up before then." And with that she took off.
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It was full dark outside when the movie let out. The four friends walked down the road toward the center of town in relative silence. Their shoes hitting the road the only indication that they were progressing anywhere.
Finally, the silence was broken when they all reached the point where they would have to split up and go to their respective residences.
Hinata gave Naruto a quick hug, bowed to the Sakura and Lee, murmured a soft good-bye and took off for the Hyuuga compound.
Sakura bowed back to her, turned and pecked Lee on the cheek and turned to go home too. She was half-way down the street before she waved to the both of them. Lee and Naruto nodded to her once more and she disappeared around a corner.
Lee and Naruto were left in silence once more.
"So Naruto," Lee asked when he was sure that no one could hear them. "Have you heard anything recently about project J?"
Naruto looked at lee and shook his head. "Come on Lee, you know were not supposed to talk about that. You know as much about it as I do." Not entirely true Naruto thought but as much as he was allowed to tell him. Lee nodded and took a step away.
"Alright then Naruto, I'll see you around." Lee took off and left Naruto to walk back to his apartment in silence.
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Alright. I know I said the chapter would be out in a couple of days, but oh well. As always please review. Thanks. KG