Thx so much for reviewing!:D I may have not said it before, but please, no flames. If you don't have something nice or constructive criticism to say, then please... hit the back button without a second thought. ^_^ And if you don't use this common sense, then your flaming reply will be deleted. So there. HA!
Hikari: *sighs and shakes head* You're not being very nice.
Me: What are you talking about? They're the ones not being nice! That's why we call them flamers! Besides, I don't like nasty comments... it just shows how the person really is on the inside.
Hikari: There you go again!
Me: I just don't like them there, you know? It sticks out like a sore thumb and I just want to get rid of it... *looks around, eyes wide* Hikari! You're making me ramble on and on and the readers don't like that!
Hikari: *giggling to herself* Took ya long enough to figure that out...
Me: *sighs* Sorry about that... Anyway, this is actually a record chapter for me because it's over 11,000 words long... Yeah, I have no idea how that happened.
Hikari: Disclaimer: Destiny does not own Naruto! Just me, of course.
Me and Hikari: HAPPY READING!
Ch. 7: The Connection
The sound of a heartbeat echoed in a dark room. Hikari opened her eyes, looking around her curiously. The room was hazy-like, in a dream-like world . . . So she was dreaming.
The room was spinning ominously, all in different dark shades that confused Hikari.
Then, came a voice.
"Is there really no one here with me? Am I all alone . . . ?"
The voice belonged to a girl. It was a crisp, fresh voice that spoke out like twinkling windchimes. Yet there was a darker undertone to it, a subtle quietness. But it was the sadness in her voice that caught Hikari's attention. Her words, the emotions lacing her voice, reminded Hikari of herself. Before she met Naruto . . . When she had been all alone.
"I'm here, you're not alone." Hikari spoke in a comforting voice, hoping to shed light unto whoever spoke.
Darkness suddenly enveloped Hikari, until there was nothing but black in her vision.
She screamed before being thrusted out of the dream and coming awake.
She was panting heavily and sweat ran down her face, but more than that, she felt cold. The icy coldness of that darkness wrapping around her, suffocating her—it chilled her to the bone. She shook her head, trying to calm her racing heart.
She had to get a hold of herself! Why was she shaking so much?
Once her nerves were calm, she quickly got out of bed and proceeded to get dressed.
Due to Iruka-sensei getting hurt, along with Mizuki's betrayal, the Academy would be closed for three days. Postponing the announcement for new squads for the graduated Genin.
Hikari and Naruto planned on training and catching up with their friends. Since they would be beginning missions as soon as they were put on a squad.
Hikari stopped brushing her hair. A squad. What if Naruto and her were put on separate teams? What if she was put on a squad full of people who resented her?
Hikari, for the second time that morning, shook her head. Trying her hardest on dispelling those doubts and bad thoughts from her mind. She knew she shouldn't dwell on them, at least not yet.
So, with a bright smile, she left her home and began running down the streets of the Leaf Village. Her new headband shining in the sunlight on her forehead.
Hikari arrived at Naruto's apartment. She fished the key out from underneath the welcome mat and silently opened the door. Wincing as it squeaked.
It was very dark, so she knew Naruto was still sleeping. She looked over at the clock and it read eleven o' clock. She sighed, Naruto always did sleep-in . . .
She tiptoed over to his bed, trying not to make a sound. Naruto was lightly snoring and was the picture of ease, his face peaceful in sleep.
Hikari smiled, almost deciding to let him keep sleeping. Well, almost. He really did need to get up.
She leaned down, her mouth very close to his ear. "Naruto . . ." she whispered so softly, before suddenly shouting, "WAKE UP, NARUTO!"
Naruto's blue eyes shot open and he jumped so high his head hit the ceiling.
Hikari couldn't help it, she laughed at her friend and he plumped back down on his bed, rubbing his head with a groan.
"Ow, jeez Hikari!" he complained, a huge red bump on his head now.
"Sorry, but you needed to get up." She giggled out, her gray eyes smiling at him.
"What! Why?" he demanded, and Hikari pointed at his alarm clock.
"Eleven o' clock already? I need to get ready!" And Naruto zoomed to find his clothes. "Why didn't you get me up sooner?" he yelled out as he went into the bathroom and Hikari tried cleaning up his messy bedroom.
"Well, I actually kind of slept in myself . . ." she murmured while smoothing his bed covers down and thinking back on her dream . . . the voice . . .
Naruto stuck his head out while brushing his teeth. "Sleeping in? But you never sleep in!" Naruto said, shocked.
"I know, it must have been because of the really weird dream I had." Hikari said, eyes closed.
"A weird dream . . . ?" Naruto asked, quickly going and spitting out his toothpaste before smiling in the mirror. Yep, squeaky clean. He then ran out and joined Hikari, already fully dressed. "So tell me about this dream you had."
Hikari looked up at the ceiling. "Well it was strange, all I could hear was a heartbeat, and I was in a dark room. Everything started spinning and then I heard a voice."
"A voice?" Naruto asked, confused, and Hikari nodded.
"Yeah, but I've never heard of the voice before. It was a girl's voice, and she sounded so alone and afraid . . ." Hikari remembered it so well, even if the rest of the dream was just a big blur. She couldn't forget the voice, it was like it was connected to her, someway . . . .
"Then what happened?"
Hikari shook her head. "I remember telling her not to be afraid, that I was with her, but then I woke up." She didn't know why, but she didn't want to tell Naruto about the darkness in her dream.
Naruto looked down at the floor, and then his stomach grumbled. He grinned cheekily and Hikari giggled.
"We'd better get something to eat." Hikari said while Naruto scratched his head.
"I second that!"
Hikari then noticed the headband Iruka-sensei gave him and picked it up. "Naruto . . ."
Naruto looked at her as she held out his new headband with a smile. He grinned and took it, tying it tightly to his forehead.
"Now let's get something to eat!" he said eagerly.
The two walked down the busy streets of the Leaf, the sound of talking and children laughing could be heard all around. It was the sound that Hikari always loved to hear.
"So where do you want to eat at? I vote Ichiraku's!" Naruto said, which made Hikari wonder why he even asked where to eat since he always chose Ichiraku.
Before Hikari could answer she saw a familiar face in the crowd. The face belonged to one of her closest friends.
"Hinata!" she sang happily, and Hinata turned, hearing her name being called.
She had been looking at a display outside a shop when she heard the familiar voice belonging to Hikari. Once she saw them, she instantly smiled. She had remained great friends with both Hikari and Naruto, as well as the others, though not as much as the two bright ones.
"Hikari! Naruto!" she spoke in her soft voice that came out unbearably sweet. Hinata now wore a cream-colored hooded jacket with a fire symbol on the upper right and left sleeves and fur around around the cuffs and hem, with navy blue pants and ninja sandals. Her hair was still in a short, leveled hime-cut style just above her forehead, with chin-length strands framing her pale face. Her Leaf Village headband was tied loosely around her neck.
"Hi, Hinata!" Hikari greeted her, eyes bright.
"Whatcha doin'?" Naruto asked her as they met in the middle of the street.
"W-well I was actually about to get some lunch . . ."
"Really? Awesome! We are too!" Naruto said, grinning.
"Can we join you, Hinata?" Hikari asked her, to which Hinata nodded.
The three went into a restaurant called Dango's N' More, where they got a small round table to themselves—Naruto grumbling all the while since it wasn't Ichiraku.
Hinata glanced up shyly at Naruto and he looked at her questioningly.
"Y-your forehead protector . . . so you got to graduate too?" she asked him and he smiled.
"Yep! Looks like I won't be left behind!"
The girls smiled at him while the waitress brought them their drinks and special appetizers called Nikudango—which were sort of like meatballs.
After tasting them, Naruto instantly started wolfing them down.
"Wow, these things are actually pretty tasty!" he commented with a mouthful.
"Of course they are, silly. Now calm down before you choke," Hikari told him lightly, amused.
Just as she said that, he instantly started choking. Hikari quickly handed him her glass of water and he chugged it down, washing the dangos down from his throat and relieving him.
"You all right?" Hikari asked him, her and Hinata concerned and he smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah, but I accidentally downed all of your water, Hikari . . ."
Hikari sweatdropped before smiling. "That's okay, I can always order more—"
Naruto suddenly shot up, loudly slamming his hand onto the table. "Waiter, we need more water!" he yelled, catching the attention of everyone in the open restaurant.
Hinata blushed while Hikari tried pulling Naruto down.
After that fiasco, their main meal had arrived and while eating Hikari looked at Hinata.
"So what will you be doing after this, Hinata?"
"Hm? Oh, well I have some shopping to do . . ."
"Great!" Hikari smiled at her. "I do too, do you mind if I tag along?"
"U-uh, no, I don't mind . . ." Hinata said, offering a smile and Hikari looked over at Naruto.
"You can come too if you want."
Naruto instantly clammed up. "S-shopping? No thanks . . . I'll just go find something else to do." Naruto knew all to well what shopping with Hikari was like. And if you added another girl, it probably would equal insanity. Hikari loves to shop. And once she got in that spirit, there was no stopping her.
Hikari stared at him before shrugging. "Suit yourself."
After eating and paying, they went back out into the busy street where they bumped into more familiar faces.
"Well, well, it's a small village after all." Came the lazy voice of none other than Shikamaru Nara.
They gazed at their friends and instantly brightened.
"Kiba! Shikamaru! Choji!" Naruto said their names. Shikamaru still looked the same as ever, fairly long jet black hair tied in a spiky ponytail with narrowed brown eyes. His outfit was rather plain, consisting of a green lined mesh T-shirt under a short-sleeved grey jacket with green edges, adorned on both the sleeves and the back was a circle with a line through it, brown pants, and blue sandals. He had his headband on his left arm.
Choji still had his spiky, brown hair, swirl marks on his cheeks, and like the rest of his clan, he has a much more robust physique than most other ninja. He wore brown shorts, a long white scarf, a short-sleeved green jacket over a white shirt with his clan's symbol on it. His legs and forearms were wrapped in bandages. His forehead protector was also worn like a bandanna around his head with tufts of his hair sticking out.
Kiba had messy brown hair, sharp black eyes with vertical slit-like pupils, pronounced canine teeth, and sharp nails. He also has the distinct red fang markings of the Inuzuka clan on his cheeks. He wore dark greyish pants reaching to his calves and a grey, hooded fur-lined coat, with the hood usually placed on his head. His headband was tied to his forehead.
"Akamaru!" Hikari said as the little white pup came begging at her feet. With bright eyes she picked him up and held him in her arms as he barked happily.
"Hi Hikari, Hinata," Choji spoke while eating potato chips. It was Sour Cream and Onion flavor today.
They both muttered a "Hey" before Kiba started pointing at Naruto, appalled.
"Hey, how do you have a headband?"
"Huh?" Naruto spoke, as if just remembering it was tied on his forehead for all to see. He then got a sly look. "You mean this? Well I earned it!"
They gasped. "No way . . ." Kiba spoke before Shikamaru smiled.
"Well, congratulations."
"Yeah, now we've all graduated!" Choji said, referring to their old group of friends.
Hikari nodded excitingly. "I just wonder if any of us will be on teams with each other."
Kiba then turned to Naruto. "We were just fixin' to go to the training grounds, wanna come?"
Naruto's eyes instantly brightened, thinking to himself that this was a great excuse to not go shopping. "Do I ever!"
"Would you ladies like to come with?" Choji asked Hikari and Hinata.
They shook their heads. "We've got shopping to do." Hikari told him, as much as she really wanted to go, she knew Naruto would have fun without her.
Shikamaru shrugged. "All right then, have fun."
"Y-you too," Hinata told them and they waved them off before both girls headed down the shopping district.
"Okay, so what's the first thing on your list?" Hikari asked as they walked and Hinata pulled out a piece of paper and began looking it over.
"Let's see . . . I-I just have to pick up a few kimonos for father, and then grab some groceries." Hinata said softly, putting the small list away.
Hinata led Hikari into a store that sold different kinds of kimonos, which were usually expensive so Hikari never ventured inside it before.
Hinata went straight to the front desk and asked about the kimonos she was picking up. While the Hyuga heiress did that, Hikari gazed curiously at all of the kimonos.
She rubbed her hands against several, feeling the different textures—some were made in satin cloth while some from wool or cotton. She closed her eyes briefly, imagining what it would feel like to wear one.
Hikari shook her head. It was wrong of her to picture herself in one, knowing she would never be able to afford it.
Best to get all of these thoughts out of your head, Hikari. She told herself, but all of the mental berating was thrown out of the window as she gasped.
Her gray eyes found a kimono piece hanging on a rack toward the middle.
She felt her feet unconsciously taking her toward it as she soaked in every detail. It was the same gray color as her eyes, a black kanji for light on the upper right breast plate. Blue flowers and petals lined it from top to bottom, all of them appearing to be falling in disarray as if a wind carried them in the fabric. She wasn't sure what kind of flower it was, it didn't look to be from any around here. Maybe Ino would know?
As she neared it, she rubbed her hand across it. It was as smooth as silk, unbearably soft, yet it was thick, not thin like most silk fabrics.
And she could actually see herself wearing this! It wasn't filled with different colors to blind someone, it was simple and beautiful.
Hikari took a look at the price tag and instantly her mood dampened. Why did it have to be so much? She knew she wouldn't be able to afford this.
But maybe when I'm assigned missions I can start saving up my money from them and buy it! Hikari thought, instantly brightened.
"Hikari, I'm all done." Came Hinata's soft whisper of a voice, carrying a bag with the kimonos in it.
"Okay, I'm coming!" Hikari told her, smiling now, and they both left the store.
Countless hours later, and the two still hadn't made it to the grocery store. Well, they would have if it weren't for Hikari wanting to go into every store possible.
She only bought several things, but she liked to browse the merchandise a lot.
Hinata was starting to see why Naruto didn't go with them . . . Hikari was a shopaholic, or she would be if she had more money.
"C-come on, Hikari." Hinata said as she dragged her friend out of a weapon store.
"Okay . . ." Hikari said sourly, the weapon store had a lot of cool items, perhaps she could make Naruto go in there with her later. Her eyes then locked on the store Hinata was taking her to and she easily got out of the shy girl's hold. "Time for groceries!"
Hikari excitingly went in while Hinata sighed, and tried to catch up with her exuberant friend.
The two kunoichi's grabbed a basket and started going through Hinata's list while Hikari picked up a few things that she needed and what she thought Naruto might need.
She always had a tendency to look after her best friend. Especially since the day she found the spoiled milk that had been expired for weeks. Hikari mentally shivered at that; from then on she always checks up on his food.
When Hikari found the ramen, she picked up a few bowls for herself and Naruto.
Hinata noticed this and smiled, knowing the knucklehead's love of ramen. "You sure do look after him a lot . . ." she whispered, smiling since she found it sweet at how very close they were-they always encouraged her with how how bright and cheerful they were.
Hikari looked up and returned Hinata's smile. "Yeah, someone has to . . ." She laughed lightly, carrying the ramen and other food with her to the counter.
After they paid, they went back out on the streets. The sky was just starting to turn darker as the evening came in.
"Hinata, I had a lot of fun today," Hikari told her truthfully.
"Th-thanks, I did too . . ." Hinata spoke, happy that she had her friend with her, that she didn't have to be all alone.
Hikari's eyes got brighter as her smile grew. "We should definitely do this again sometime!"
Hinata clammed up at that idea, already having gone through one shopping trip with the girl. Hinata didn't think she could survive another!
Hikari looked confusingly over at her friend but brushed it aside, counting her blessings that she at least got to spend one day with her shy friend.
The next day, Hikari woke up, having slept dreamless and pleasant. She dressed quickly and headed over to Naruto's.
Naruto made sure this time that he didn't sleep in, or he'd be going today with a deaf ear . . . He was sitting at the table eating breakfast when Hikari knocked and came in.
"Good morning, Naruto!" Hikari told him, smiling.
Naruto turned around in his seat and gave her a grin. "Hey, Hikari! Want some breakfast?"
"Sure," she said, and made herself at home. The two shared the rule of "your home is my home, and vice versa."
"So did you have any other weird dreams last night?" Naruto asked her from across the table.
Hikari shook her head. "Nope, I didn't have any actually . . ." she said, remembering the girl's voice and the darkness. She suddenly remembered something that Hinata had told her yesterday. "Oh yeah, we have to go for our pictures today."
"Huh? What pictures?"
"You know, the ones that will be for our ninja profiles."
"Oh . . ." Naruto said, and began thinking of ways that would make him stand out from all the rest.
"Well, I'm going to go ahead and walk on over there now, it's going to be held at the Hokage's mansion. See ya there!" Hikari told him as she left and Naruto waved at her.
I know what to use! Naruto thought as he hastily went into his room to find the white paint-like make-up.
"Listen, kid. Are you sure you want me to take your picture like that?" The photographer man asked, looking annoyed.
"Just do it! Come on already!" Naruto said with impatience and the photographer grumbled, out of all of the kids today this one was the . . . weirdest.
"Don't blame me later . . . Say cheese!" And with that, Naruto's picture was taken.
Afterwards he went and washed up and headed over to the academy to meet with the Hokage, where Hikari already was.
Sarutobi looked over the image of the boy sitting in front of him. His ninja profile picture was posed to make him look intimidating, with his skin as white as a ghost and red markings adorning the white skin. The only thing similar of the two was the spiky blond hair and same orange suit. Hikari's image was natural and looked effortless, her pixie face smiling into the camera. Sarutobi almost chuckled at that. The poor camera man was probably blinded afterwards.
Naruto laughed. "At first, you know, I didn't know exactly how to do it. It took me like three hours to work it out and stuff, but I finally got it. Like, an art project on my face but only cooler." Naruto said casually, proud of his work while Hikari looked uncertainly at him. She tried talking him out of it but he insisted.
"Take it again."
Those three words busted Naruto's bubble. "No way!"
"We can't accept this photo." Sarutobi told him calmly, as if they were discussing the weather.
"Yeah? Well I'm not doing it again!" Naruto said stubbornly, to which him and the Third had a glaring contest.
"Naruto . . ." Hikari whispered, pulling on his sleeve to try and get him to stop.
Naruto growled. "Transform!" Suddenly there was a puff of white smoke and Naruto was replaced with a tall and gorgeous blond girl with nothing on.
Hikari slapped her face. Oh Naruto . . .
"Pretty please, Lord Hokage?" she whispered seductively, and Sarutobi yelped in surprise as he was knocked over with a nose-bleed.
"Lord Hokage!" Hikari shouted, standing up and running over to him.
Naruto was taken aback that it worked and was left speechless.
A little boy peeped into the room through the cracked door. His face set into a frown as he watched them.
Sarutobi sat up with the help of Hikari, calmly rubbing his nose with a handkerchief. "That's the Sexy Jutsu, you say? Very tricky. Much too tricky, don't do it again."
Naruto laughed lightly as the Hokage continued.
"Look at this photo—you can't even tell who it is! This serves as your Ninja ID for your missions and training, which is the key to your future. How is anyone going to identify you when you look like a clown?"
"Well, fine! How am I suppose to know all of this complicated stuff anyway?" Naruto countered with a whine and Hikari sighed at her friend, remembering how she had explained it to him the night before, though he probably wasn't really listening to her since she brought over ramen . . .
Suddenly, the door slid open and in came a running little boy.
"Old man, I challenge you for the title of Hokage!" he yelled in a squeaky voice, heading straight towards Sarutobi with a shuriken in hand. Hikari instantly braced herself, readying her light inside while pulling out a kunai from the holster attached to her right leg.
Only a few steps in, and the little boy tripped and fell flat on his face. He had brown hair that was up in a spiky ponytail with dark eyes that were somewhat narrowed and he wore a helmet on his head. He had on a long blue scarf and a yellow shirt with gray pants.
Sarutobi quickly took notice of Hikari's ready stance, how she was already in the defense for him. It caused him to smile.
"Uh . . ." Naruto mumbled at the little boy's entrance.
The little boy started crying, holding his hurt face.
My grandson . . . Another headache. Sarutobi thought to himself.
Hikari dropped out of her stance and returned her kunai to its holster. She grew concerned over the little boy and wondered why he tried to attack the Hokage.
"Thank you for defending me, Hikari." Sarutobi said and the white-haired girl turned around and gave him a smile.
Then, a man appeared in the doorway just as the Hokage's grandson rose up. He wore a dark blue suit with glasses and a hat-like tie on his head with the Leaf Village headband in the front. He was generally a tall, skinny type of guy. He was Ebisu, a personal trainer for elite ninja.
"Ow, something tripped me!" The little boy said, still rubbing his face and looking around.
Ebisu looked around him. "Are you okay honorable grandson? And by the way, there's nothing here for you to trip on, it's pretty flat."
Naruto looked at the little boy. Who is this shrimp?
And that's when the little boy and his teacher noticed the blond youth.
The man gasped. It's that kid! Hm. The Nine-Tailed Fox. Of course, he's the worst kind of trouble maker! And then he looked over at the Hokage and gasped again when he saw the white-haired girl standing by him. And she's here too! The Angel of the Leaf! But why would those two be together . . . ?
The little boy walked up to Naruto and pointed his finger in his face. "Alright! You're the one who tripped me, aren't you?"
Naruto got frustrated, a red tic mark forming on his head as he stood up, grabbing a handful of the little boy's scarf. "You tripped over your own feet, dork!" Hikari was about to yell at Naruto to put him down but the man beat her to it.
"Hey, you! Take your hands off of him right now! He's the honorable grandson of the honorable Third Hokage!" The man shouted, waving his arm out to Sarutobi who just sat there watching.
"Keep me out of this." Sarutobi muttered in disdain while Hikari looked in shock.
Naruto looked from the Hokage back to the little boy, seeing some resemblance, but not a whole lot.
That stopped him, like all the rest. Ha! Now that he knows who I am, he won't dare lay a finger on me. The little boy thought smugly. "What's the matter, huh? I thought you were going to hit me, tough guy! Afraid 'cause the Third Hokage is my grandfather?"
Naruto instantly got ticked. "I don't care if he's your grandmother!" He suddenly smacked him in the head. "So believe it!"
"Naruto!" Hikari shouted, running over to him.
"Ow!" The little boy said as he fell. This guy's . . . different.
The man in charge of the boy instantly started freaking out.
This is not looking good . . . Sarutobi thought, closing his eyes.
"Hey!" Hikari whispered, trying to shake the little boy awake.
"Hmph. Serves him right!" Naruto said, nose in the air and Hikari looked sharply at him.
"Naruto, he's just a little kid." She told him, and then the little boy started waking up.
Hikari looked back at him, smiling. "Oh, you're waking up! Are you all right, little one?" she asked him in a bright voice.
He was immediately dazzled beyond belief when he opened his eyes to Hikari's smiling angelic face.
"So . . . pretty . . ." The little boy could only utter as he had hearts in his eyes. Just like an angel . . .
"Come on, Hikari, let's ditch this place." Naruto said, already up and leaving.
Hikari stopped looking at the little boy to look at her friend's retreating figure before finally laying him softly on the floor and catching up to Naruto.
Ebisu gathered his student up and started talking to him. "Listen carefully, you are the honorable grandson of the honorable Third Hokage. You cannot let a riftraft like this draw you into a fight. Even though he deserves it."
The Hokage's grandson was miles away, thinking about the strange boy and girl from before . . . What were their names? Naruto? And . . . Hikari?
"You see, he's far beneath you, you mustn't stoop to his level. As your elite ninja trainer, I am never wrong which means I'm always right. I'm far above the other trainers so heed my every word." He explained, turning slightly and putting a hand on his waist, pushing his dark glasses up his nose. "Your goal is to become the next Hokage and I can teach you the best way to do it. Indeed, due to my great skill I can take you easily to the top, but you must always stay close to me. You understand me? Right, honorable grandson?" Ebisu turned to look back at him to find no one there!
He looked from side to side before shouting dramatically, "Where'd he go now?"
"I think he followed Naruto and Hikari, but I have no idea where they're going." Sarutobi spoke, in the time that Ebisu was talking he had already taken out his pipe and began smoking it.
"He's with Naruto? That's a disaster!" He said before running out of the room and down the hall. "HONORABLE GRANDSON!"
Sarutobi sighed both mentally and physically. How did he get to be like THAT? My grandson's quite determined, that was his twentieth sneak attack today. And if he starts running around with Naruto, he's sure to get even worse. Let's just hope Hikari rubs off on him, after all, she's tamed the fox.
Naruto and Hikari were walking down the street, unsure of what they would do next.
"Naruto, I told you putting all of that make-up on your face would probably get you in trouble . . ." Hikari told him and Naruto laughed lightly, hands behind his head, carefree.
"Hey, maybe I'll actually start listening to you one of these days."
Hikari smiled at his cheeky grin and looked up at the blue sky. "Yeah, then I'll know you've grown up." She closed her eyes while Naruto fell dramatically.
"What? C'mon, Hikari! I have grown up!" he shouted and his best friend giggled at him.
Behind them, the honorable grandson followed closely behind them, using poor disguises.
Naruto and Hikari could hear him and peeked behind them and the little boy hid underneath a huge cloth, his feet sticking out of the bottom.
The two genin shared a look before smiling and continuing their walk.
They headed toward Ichiraku to get them a bite to eat. Hikari kept peeking behind them at the little boy who was trying to keep up while still trying to remain secretive about it.
As they neared Ichiraku, Hikari turned around to face the Hokage's grandson.
"Hey, would you like something to eat? We're going over to Ichiraku's if you want to come!"
Konohamaru almost tripped over his scarf as he stopped and looked at the white-haired girl in shock.
No way! How could she have noticed me? he thought incredulously, he was so sure that they hadn't seen him!
"I dunno, Hikari. Are you sure about this?" Naruto questioned, his arms resting lazily behind his spiky head.
She looked at him with a confused expression. "I don't see a problem with it, besides, he's been following us around for a while now." It's already getting late, so he must be hungry like us.
At that, Konohamaru's stomach grumbled loudly. He covered it up in embarrassment.
Hikari smirked lightly. "See? He's just as hungry as we are." She said, closing her eyes and walking into their regular ramen stand.
The boys followed soon after, sitting on either side of Hikari.
"Naruto! Hikari! How did your pictures go today?" Teuchi asked with a cheerful smile as he started preparing their usual. After years of service from the two kids, the ramen chef knew what they liked best.
"They went great! Well, almost great . . ." Hikari shot a look at her blond friend beside her who grumbled.
"That's just Naruto though, isn't it?" Ayame spoke up as she came out from the back, carrying a pitcher of water with her.
Hikari giggled while Naruto just grumbled even more, crossing his arms and looking away.
Ayame prepared their waters and looked at Naruto as she set a glass down for the young prankster. "Aw, cheer up Naruto." She smiled, and he instantly returned it while reaching for the glass.
After setting one down for Hikari, Ayame looked at Konohamaru who had silently been watching the scene before him.
"And who's this?" she asked.
Hikari and Naruto looked over at them. That's right, they hadn't even got his name yet!
Ayame's face then lit up with recognition. "Wait, aren't you the honorable grandson of Lord Hokage?"
"Hey, you're right . . ." Teuchi muttered as he looked from cooking the noodles to see the small boy.
Konohamaru's anger and annoyance started building up with their words until he finally exploded. "MY NAME IS KONOHAMARU!"
Everyone stared in shock at the boy as he breathed out heavily from his outburst, red face slowly cooling down.
And then he quickly ran out of there. He didn't know where he was going, he just knew his feet were taking him somewhere. He just wanted them to know his name, to not call him by what he's always called by, 'honorable grandson.' He hated it. Hated to not be recognized as a person, as Konohamaru.
It was night out, and he reached a darkened street where there wasn't any people around and he rubbed his tears away.
Suddenly, a trashcan to his side was knocked over and he looked over in slight fright. That was when he realized where he had wandered out to. A dead-end alley where the desperate were.
Thieves, hungry wild animals . . . Anything and everything that would take advantage of a little boy like him, especially given his heritage . . .
Konohamaru physically breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed it was just a stray cat who knocked over the trashcan, it ran away swiftly.
"Dumb cat . . ." Konohamaru muttered to himself before smiling once again and turning around to head out of there.
"Hey, kid."
The voice, and the burly figure right in front of him made his smile disappear and caused him to start trembling.
The man before him was a mountain compared to his small size. He looked very unclean, torn and dirtied clothes and his dark hair was messy and knotted.
"You got anything on ya?" The mountain man asked in a raspy voice.
Konohamaru trembled a few feet away, shaking his head no.
"Aw, well then, that means you're useless to me." The man grinned in a sadistic way that made the little boy's stomach churn uncomfortably, and he began walking toward Konohamaru.
"S-stay away!" Konohamaru meant to sound brave, but his stammering didn't help.
He continued to step away from the burly man until his back hit against a hard wall. No way out.
Konohamaru's trembling got worse until he started to whimper as the man closed in, a dark intent in his cold eyes.
As the man reached for him with his giant hands, a sudden light whisked in front of Konohamaru, lighting up the place. The light was warm to Konohamaru, and it made his fears go away, but to the man it burned his hand as if he just stuck it in a fire. He stumbled back and howled in pain.
"Get away from him!" Naruto barked out loudly, suddenly aiming a strong kick to the man's head.
While the man was recovering from Naruto's kick, Hikari instantly appeared in front of Konohamaru.
Konohamaru's gaze had been transfixed on the bright stream of light when Hikari had appeared in front of him, the light disappearing in her place.
Where did that light go? he questioned in his thoughts as he felt a warm hand against his face.
Shocked out of his daze, he looked up into the concerned gray eyes of Hikari. "I-It's you. What are you doing here?" he asked, but his voice was still a little shaky.
Hikari smiled in a comforting way. "We came to get you."
"For me?" Konohamaru questioned, eyes wide.
The sound of Naruto's battle cry could be heard as he shoved the giant man off of him and Hikari looked over at him.
"Naruto!"
"I got'em," Naruto told her, dodging a blow from the man.
Hikari turned back to Konohamaru and reached out her hand. "Konohamaru, let's go."
Despite the situation they were in, Konohamaru looked up at Hikari with shock. "You said my name."
She nodded, smiling down at him. "That's your name isn't it?"
"Yeah!" he said, his voice rising.
"Okay, then." Hikari said, and Konohamaru took her hand and she led him around Naruto and the giant man.
Hikari could tell he must have been intoxicated, with the stench and hazy look in his eyes.
"Okay, I'm done with going easy on you!" Naruto said as he was nearly hit with the man's fist.
Naruto formed the handsign and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A puff of white smoke surrounded the alley and then four other Naruto's were present.
Konohamaru's eyes went wide in excitement. "Awesome!"
The man's eyes went wide with fright, was he seeing things?
Before he knew it, the clones pummeled him into the ground and he went unconscious.
Ebisu, above them on a building, had watched the two Genin protect his student.
So it seems the rumors about them are true. Hikari wielding light and Naruto having taken out Mizuki using a Jonin-level skill . . . he thought, pushing his glasses up his nose.
"That was amazing, Naruto!" Konohamaru shouted, in higher spirits than before.
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Aw, it was nothin'!"
"And Hikari, you saved me with your light before, thank you!" His eyes suddenly dimmed as he looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry I yelled before."
"Why did you yell?" Naruto asked.
"'Cause it feels like no one even cares who I am. All they see is the honorable grandson of the Third. They don't even know my name . . ." he muttered, and Hikari shared a look with Naruto and they nodded.
"Well, we recognize you." Naruto said with a smile, his demeanor suddenly very understanding.
"Come on, Konohomaru." Hikari said, stretching her hand out for the little boy to take.
"Yeah, the ramen's gettin' cold!" Naruto said from beside him.
Konohamaru's eyes began to sparkle. Is this what it feels like to be recognized?
"Alright!" he said with a cheeky grin, eyes closed.
He took Hikari's hand and the three walked back to Ichiraku's.
Meanwhile, Ebisu dropped down beside the man man from before, who lay unconscious.
"Hmph. A lowlife like you shouldn't be wandering the streets." Ebisu said, grabbing him by the back of the shirt to take him to the Leaf Village police.
At seeing the happiness on his student's face, though, he had to smile. He may not like the fox demon, but the boy himself he has yet to get to know, and then there's the Angel of the Leaf . . .
Thank you, Naruto, Hikari. The Jonin thought before going on his way with the man in tow.
Naruto, Hikari, and Konohomaru arrived at Ichiraku and saw three bowls of ramen waiting for them.
"There you are! Eat up, it's getting cold." Teuchi told them, smiling.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Naruto said before digging in.
"Thanks, Teuchi." Hikari said before she dug in.
Konohomaru sat there, his mouth starting to water at the appealing smell wafting in the air from his bowl.
"You gave us quite a scare there, Konohomaru." Teuchi suddenly spoke up and Konohomaru looked up, shocked.
"Go on and eat up," Ayame told him sweetly, which made him smile.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" he copied Naruto's words from before.
Hikari smiled from beside him while Naruto seemed to not have heard, eating blissfully away at his now second bowl.
The next day, Hikari and Naruto decided to train by the river just outside the park. The liked to think of it as their secret training place, since no one else came here.
Naruto threw kunai at Hikari, who blocked them with her light.
"Now, Naruto!" Hikari signaled, she had been wanting to test out her light, to see if it had any weaknesses or limits.
"Right!" Naruto yelled, summoning a few dozen of shadow clones.
They surrounded Hikari, and she brought out more light, a steady stream that surrounded her body. Naruto's shadow clones charged at her, fists and kunai ready.
Hikari only had to focus a little bit, using small amounts of chakra, and the light went right through each clone, causing them to disperse. She's learned that the light, when against opponents, heats up to an unbearable degree upon contact against those Hikari faces. The heat it gives off usually causes them to flinch in pain, or cause shadow clones to completely disappear.
Whereas if it's trying to protect someone, it becomes warm and comforting.
It acts upon Hikari's will. It is her will. If she feels threatened, it's in defensive mode, angry it becomes powerful, scared-comforting.
Hikari watched as it wrapped around one Naruto and squeezed him so tightly it puffed away.
But what is the light? Why does she have it? These were questions that were still left unanswered . . .
"Gotcha!" Naruto's voice broke Hikari out of her thoughts as she looked to see him aiming a kick towards her.
She jumped up to dodge him, the light still around her, moving with her.
But then a Naruto shadow clone was just above her. Before she had time to dodge, he planted a kick that sent her flying back toward the ground.
Hikari crashed into the earth, knocking the breath out of her as dust flew up around her. Naruto really did have a mean kick . . .
When the dust began to clear, Naruto noticed that instead of Hikari lying there, it was a log.
Suddenly he felt something hit him in the back of the head and he fell to the ground. Hikari stood over him, her foot on his head.
Naruto's remaining shadow clones puffed away while he growled. "No fair . . ."
Hikari had been smiling at her win until she heard Naruto. She removed her foot and allowed him to sit up.
"What do you mean 'no fair?' It's perfectly fair! I just used Substitution Jutsu." She told him and he just looked away with a "hmph!"
Hikari smiled at her friend. "Hey, how about I go find us something to eat and report back?"
Naruto looked back at her. "And then we can have Round 2?"
Hikari nodded and Naruto shot up. "Okay then! You go get something to eat and I'll wait here and refreshen my skills. 'Cause this time around I'll win!"
She rolled her eyes. "Sure you will." She smiled playfully.
Naruto took that as a challenge. "Well if you wouldn't use that light, then I would win definitely!" Naruto shouted.
"Not using my light would be like you not using shadow clones." Hikari told him in a reprimanding tone.
They held each other's gazes before they both broke down and started laughing. They just could never do serious arguing without finally laughing about it. That's just how they were.
"I'll be back soon," Hikari told him and Naruto waved her off with a grin.
As soon as she was gone, Naruto sat down and tried to think of a strategy for beating Hikari in the next round. Since learning Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, he's practiced with it a lot, sometimes with Hikari and other times when he trains alone.
The Jutsu has become second nature to him now.
"Wait, maybe next time I should use Substitution Jutsu and then attack her with a shadow clone . . ." I mean, she used it, why can't I?
Konohomaru was there, having watched them before and knew it was time to confront him.
He jumped out of the bushes, giving a battle cry and Naruto turned around in surprise.
Konohamaru had pulled out a wood plank and Naruto caugh Konohamaru by the wrist before he could hit him.
"Are you crazy?" Naruto shouted, and he let go of his wrist.
Konohamaru landed in front of him. "So you were able to dodge my move, huh? You're sharp, just what I would expect from you." He said in admiration.
"Konohomaru what are you doing here?" Naruto asked him, slightly annoyed since this was suppose to be a secret place between him and Hikari.
Konohomaru completely ignored the blond and pointed at him. "I'm going to be your apprentice!"
"Say what?" Naruto shouted.
"Show me that jutsu you used before!" Konohamaru's eyes lit up.
"What? Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
Konohamaru shook his head. "No, the other one! The one you got the old man with!"
Naruto had to think back before he finally remembered. "Oh! You mean Sexy Jutsu?"
Konohamaru nodded his head vigorously. "Yeah, that one!"
"Why do you want to see that one?" Naruto asked, confused.
"So I can defeat Grandpa Hokage and become the new one! Please, Boss?" Konohamaru pleaded.
"Huh? Boss?"
"Yeah, you're the Boss! Boss! Boss! Boss!" he chanted, which made Naruto grin and scratch the back of his head.
"Well how can I refuse?"
Together, Naruto and Konohamaru walked the streets of their village.
"So, the first step to learning the Sexy Jutsu is learning how to control your chakra." Naruto began and looked over at the little boy. "Do you know what that is?"
Konohamaru nodded. "Chakra is the elemental life energy that is used to perform jutsu. The Ninja Arts combine physical energy from each cell in the body with mystical energy which is intensified through training and experience. When these two chakra's mix, special hand signs allow the ninja to focus this combined energy for advanced jutsu." He explained, reading from a scroll.
"Know it all! You were just reading that whole thing!" Naruto shouted.
They wandered down the road a little more until Naruto stopped.
"Okay, now it's time to take it to the next level."
"Huh?"
Naruto turned to him. "Believe it! Time to transform and show me what you can do."
"Uh, okay . . . What do I transform into?" Konohamaru asked.
"Just think of a really pretty girl you've seen before and transform into her."
"A pretty girl . . . ?" Konohamaru muttered, he never really thought so much about girls, but now that he was . . .
"Okay, boss!" he said, ready.
"Alright, transform!"
Konohamaru formed the signs and a puff of white smoke surrounded him.
Meanwhile . . .
Hikari arrived back at the training grounds with a smile on her face, carrying a bag with two to-go boxes for her and Naruto.
"Naruto! I'm back—Naruto?" she questioned, looking around, noticing the quietness and emptiness of the place.
Where is he?
"Naruto!" she shouted again, checking the area. She didn't sense him, but . . . where could he have gone?
Puff!
Konohamaru performed the Transformation Jutsu, and out came . . . Hikari?
Well, it sort of resembled her . . . white hair, gray eyes, pale skin . . . except this one was a little too, well, proportional . . .
Naruto fainted and Konohamaru came out of the jutsu and ran over to his teacher.
"Naruto?" Konohamaru muttered in concern over him.
Naruto suddenly shot up, hitting Konohamaru over the head.
"Ow, ow! What was that for?"
"For transforming into Hikari, dummy!"
"But you said to transform into a pretty girl! Don't you think Hikari's pretty?"
Naruto instantly froze, a light blush coming to his whiskered cheeks. "I-I, that's beside the point!"
Konohamaru caught him and gave a sly look. "You like her, don't you?"
If possible, Naruto's blush intensified though he tried to will it away. Unfortunately, it just got worse.
Konohamaru gave a laugh. "Naruto and Hikari sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G—"
Naruto hit him over the head again, this time a bit harder.
"Ow! Quit hitting me!" Konohamaru complained, rubbing his aching head.
Naruto turned his back. "If you're not going to get serious, then I will no longer teach you."
Konohamaru instantly stood up. "Sorry, Boss. I'll get serious!"
"Then no transforming into Hikari, got it?"
Konohamaru nodded. "Understood. I'll do whatever you say, Boss!"
Naruto nodded, "Then next we need to do some research on female beauty."
They went to a store that sold adult magazines and such, completely forbidden to kids like them.
They silently snuck in while the owner was asleep. Naruto led Konohamaru to a stand filled with women magazines.
He picked one up and flipped to a page of a girl in a bikini. Naruto and Konohamaru started drooling and giggling, their eyes wandering.
The noise woke the owner up and he appeared behind the boys, dangling a whip in his hands.
"This is not a library, Naruto!"
Naruto and Konohamaru let out a "yikes!" before they were forcefully kicked out. (Well, Naruto anyway . . .)
Ebisu appeared above the Hokage monument and looked down into the village, trying to find his student.
Naruto! What has he done with the honorable grandson? he thought angrily. He knew it had to be the fox boy, Konohamaru had been talking non-stop about him.
"What's his evil plan?" he asked out loud. "Where did they go?"
Hikari was wandering around town, looking for her friend.
It's not like him to just take off like that, she thought to herself, slightly worried. What if someone took him?
Naruto and Konohamaru had been practicing in a forest and now sat down for a breather.
"So what's this obsession you have for your grandfather?" Naruto asked him and Konohamaru looked down.
"My grandfather named me Konohamaru, after the ancient name of the village. And besides you guys, no one even knows that . . . That's why I have to become Hokage now so everyone will recognize me!" Konohamaru said, clenching his fists and Naruto looked away in thought, they were so much alike . . . Both striving toward the same goal.
"Get real! You think people are gonna accept a squirt like you?"
"Huh?" Konohamaru looked at him.
"A kid just can't turn into a Hokage after a day or two."
"What?" Konohamaru exclaimed, standing up.
"It's not that simple. You keep saying Hokage, Hokage! To really be a Hokage, you know what you'll have to do?"
"What? What is it?"
Naruto grinned a challenging grin, his blue eyes fierce. "You're gonna have to defeat me in battle!"
Hikari was walking along the forest trail when she saw Ebisu standing there.
What's he doing here? Hikari thought when he suddenly disappeared into the forest.
Hikari decided to follow him, who knows? Maybe he'll lead her straight to Naruto!
Sarutobi stood on top of the Hokage Mansion, looking up at the Hokage Monument.
His thoughts on years and years ago . . .
Not just one, but two memorable nights that would change the village.
It happened just a few days after Naruto's birth and the attack of the Nine-Tailed Fox and its sealing inside the child.
A group of ANBU were called outside the village to a small area where a few families lived.
Some of the people there claimed sightings of a small cave. It seemed that the tremors the Nine-Tails caused forced it out in the open.
But it wasn't just that, inside the cave was a strange type of sealing. One that the Third himself journeyed to see.
Deep in the cave lay two Kanji's side-by-side. Engraved in the rock wall.
Angel, and then Light.
Sarutobi had never seen anything like this. Why put those two words together?
He formed a hand sign and focused his chakra before touching the wall and pushing his chakra inside it.
Suddenly, a voice entered Sarutobi's mind.
Have you come to awaken the Light? The pure voice said to him, and as Sarutobi looked up and saw the woman before him, he knew he was in his subconscious mind.
Before him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his long life.
Her hair was so white it was blinding. It was so long he didn't see an end, it twisted around her as if it were alive. Her skin was pale, but not as white as her hair, it was parted in the middle. It cascaded down her heart-shaped face and flowed freely all around her, she was shrouded in a sparkling light.
The woman's features were definitely different than any . . . human. She looked like something from a fairytale, full of fairies with cute faces, and extreme beauty.
She had the most softest, lightest blue eyes, and she wore a kind expression.
Suddenly, a single white feather floated from above and touched Sarutobi's forehead.
Then it happened. Images and voices of the ancient times went speeding by behind his eyes. He understood everything now, what she was, who she was.
As he looked back into the angel's face, he immediately bowed. He was humbled by her presence, but why show herself to him?
"Raise your head, dear Sarutobi." The woman spoke, her voice was sweet like honey.
Slowly, Sarutobi did so and stood back up, admiring the being before him once again.
She was clad in a long and flowing white dress, an angel of complete white.
"You . . . You know me, you knew I'd come." Sarutobi said it as a statement of fact, for this woman was all-knowing.
"Indeed I do. I foresaw you coming here, which is why I chose you."
"Chose me?" Sarutobi questioned, confused as to why an angel to her degree would need help from him.
She nodded, and her face grew serious. "Listen closely, for what I am to tell you will determine the fate of your world and mine."
And the angel told him a tale, a secret tale that he kept in his heart for years to come.
At the end of her story, she formed a Kanji in front of her using the light as a makeshift pen. It glowed as white wings formed around the woman before they encased her completely.
She took the form of a dove and flew straight through the kanji. Sarutobi noticed the meaning had been "seal" and it went inside the bird as the creature turned into light before melting into his own body.
Throwing him out of his subconscious and back into reality.
"Lord Hokage!" His two ANBU guards shouted frantically as they caught him after he stumbled. The other two ANBU guards were stationed outside at the entrance.
A sudden rumbling alerted Sarutobi and the two with him as they watched the rock wall slowly move away.
It revealed what looked to be a hidden room, and one of the ANBU stepped in cautiously.
They noticed that unlike the rock cave, this room that was hidden was made of a dark crystal formation.
Sarutobi quickly noticed the tiny bed of crystal in the middle and went to it.
"What is it?" One of the ANBU asked, both of them looking inside the bed of crystal.
There was a deep blue fabric layed down where a baby lay upon it. The baby girl had porcelain white skin with pixie features and already a head full of snow white hair.
The ANBU gasped.
"What is an infant doing here?"
The sharp voices awoke the slumbering baby from her peaceful sleep. She began wailing and the shinobi bodyguards didn't know what to do.
But the abnormalness of all this didn't faze Sarutobi, since the angel trusted him with her secrets, he knew just who this child was.
"Hikari." Sarutobi said her name, and as if in response, the baby girl stopped crying.
She opened her eyes to reveal mist gray orbs and they stared up at the old man who said her name.
Immediately she began giggling, her eyes bright as she reached for Sarutobi.
He couldn't help the smile that stretched across his face as he reached his hand out toward her.
Her tiny hands wrapped around one of his fingers and Sarutobi chuckled. Hearing how happy he sounded brought delight to little Hikari.
Sarutobi picked her up and wrapped her in the deep blue fabric that she lay in.
"Hikari . . . Would you like to come to the Leaf, dear one?" Sarutobi asked the baby but she only giggled and began curiously playing with her hair.
He chuckled again. "I guess that's a yes."
"But, Lord Hokage, is it even human? Why was it kept in here, and for how long?" The ANBU man questioned.
Sarutobi held the baby close and looked at his ANBU guards.
"She will be called the Angel of the Leaf. She has been sent to us by a race that was our beginning. Trust in my judgement, she is no threat."
Sarutobi has never went back on his word. He's watched Hikari grow, and watched Naruto as well.
Oh what strange events have already unfolded, Minato. He thought while staring at the Fourth's carved face. First with your son, the bearer of a Tailed Beast. The destructive power would slowly consume if not for light. Hikari came along soon after his birth, the purest child to tame the darkness within him. Someone who will understand him, inside and out. Sometimes I wonder if it was a pure stroke of fate that allowed the girl to awaken at the right time . . . She seems to get along with us humans quite well.
ο ~ ◊ ~ ο
"I found you!" Ebisu said as he landed above Naruto and Konohamaru on a tree branch.
They both turned around at Ebisu's disapproving stare.
"What do you think you're doing with my student, Naruto?" he asked as he landed in front of him.
"Teaching him awesome jutsu unlike you." Naruto told him.
"That's right! Naruto's teaching me to become Hokage, so don't get in my way!" Konohamaru yelled, and Ebisu only smirked and pushed his glasses back up his nose.
"Oh, please. Naruto as your teacher? To become Hokage you must be skilled at a thousand jutsu, which I can help you achieve. You don't even know one jutsu—"
"Transform!" Konohamaru abruptly shouted, a puff of white smoke surrounding him.
As the smoke slowly receded, out came a brunette girl . . . with nothing on. "Sexy Jutsu!" she winked.
Ebisu had a flushed face and screamed.
Hikari heard the scream and followed the sound.
Konohamaru came out of the transformation with disappointment. "Hey, he's not defeated . . ."
"What—What was that? That demented Naruto has taught you such monstrosity! I will not stand for it!" Ebisu shouted, completely mortified.
Uh-oh, what did Naruto do now? Hikari thought, having just came into Ebisu's angry rant. Really, it was nothing new to her.
Naruto clutched his fists at the teacher's words. They all think so little of me, well, I'll show them!
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Suddenly, dozens of Naruto clones appeared, causing Ebisu to stop what he was doing—trying to drag Konohamaru away.
Ebisu smirked, standing in the center and pushing his glasses up. "Hmph, you think you can take me on with such a jutsu? I'm a jonin, a highly skilled warrior, I will not be made a fool like Mizuki."
"Oh yeah? Well we'll just see about that, Sexy Harem Jutsu!" All the Naruto's shouted before transforming . . . into the revealing blond girl again.
They all surrounded Ebisu, throwing him kisses and leering him with words.
The teacher finally couldn't take any more, and was thrusted ten feet away with a major nose bleed.
Naruto came out of the jutsu with a proud grin and Konohamaru ran up to him, cheering.
Hikari decided to take a look at Ebisu, but found him out cold.
Later, as the sun began to set and Ebisu had been taken care of, Hikari and Naruto found themselves walking by the park.
"You know what Konohamaru told me?" Naruto said to his friend.
"What's that?" she asked.
"That he was no longer my student because we're both rivals. Says he's gonna surpass me and become Hokage."
"And what did you say?"
He grinned. "That one day when we're really strong, we'll have a battle to decide the next Hokage."
Hikari smiled to herself, Naruto gazed at the sky above in thought as seconds passed.
Hikari sighed. "They'll be announcing squads tomorrow."
"What? That's tomorrow?" Naruto shouted, completely forgetting about that and Hikari stopped and looked at him.
"Yeah, I told you!"
"But we still need to train before then!"
"So? Let's train now!" Hikari said and started running toward the forest. She looked back at him with a smile. "Last one there has to buy lunch tomorrow!"
"What? Hang on, Hikari!" Naruto yelled and ran to catch up to her as she giggled.
A fleeting thought came to her though, What if Naruto and I are separated?
Plz review! Reviews would make me soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy!:D