Naruko's New Regimen
It was late in the evening when Tsachi escorted Naruko to the Hokage's office. All she knew going in was that she wasn't going back to the apartment she had grown accustomed to for a long time. As she walks with Tsachi, she still remembers the talk they had a few nights ago, how she almost kissed him in the light of the moon; his distance afterward, even when he woke her up this morning and told her to start packing... There was a sense of detachment that wasn't there before.
As they stepped in, Naruko saw a group of people waiting; Tsunade & Shizune, Kakashi (who she couldn't help but glare at after the day he put her through), the Pervy Toad Sage Jiraiya & a few others she didn't recognize at all. "Please, Naruko, sit down. I have some news.", Tsunade states with a gentle smile as she directs the transformed Spirit Host to her seat. Naruko sits down, smiling back before asking, "What's going on? Am I going somewhere? Did somebody figure out what's wrong with me?". The Hokage shook her head, yet maintained her gentle smile before continuing, "No, but after much deliberation, we have devised a plan.".
Naruko looked at Tsunade, then gazed around the room to stare momentarily at everybody else. As her eyes fell back on the face of the Hokage, she paused before asking, "What kind of plan?". Suddenly, a small toad popped up out of nowhere & hopped in front of Naruko. "Might I explain, Lady Hokage?", the green toad croaked as it stood on the desk. Naruko blinked, rubbing her eyes & ears before staring at the animal. "Did... did it just talk?", she exclaims in surprise. The toad glares at the confused girl before stating, "I am not an 'it', child. I am Fukasaku, heir of the Great Toad Sage and Ambassador of Mount Myoboku.", he turns back to the Hokage before adding, "Is this, person, always so impolite?".
Everybody laughs at this, except Fukasaku & Naruko, prior to Tsunade's response, "She means well, and you grow accustomed to it.". The toad strokes his small, white beard as he studies Naruko; all the while he makes an odd noise, like a cross between croaking and humming. Finally, he says, "Very well. If Jiraiya vouches for her, she can come, on the condition that she swears to take direction. I won't bother training an impudent brat.". Naruko's eyes go wide again, looking around at everyone before blurting out, "Training? From a frog? So you've all given up on me, and passed me off on a frog?". Fukasaku lets out a low croak before yelling, "I'M A TOAD! T-O-A-D, TOAD! Call me a frog again, child, and you will regret ever laying eyes on me!". The young girl scoffs, brushing a few blonde strands from her face before firing back, "Too late for that.".
Everybody looks like they want to reprimand Naruko by this point, & it makes her uncomfortable. She sinks into the chair, gazing at the floor timidly before she feels a hand on her shoulder. Naruko looks up to see Tsachi standing beside her, smiling gently as he inquires, "Can I speak to her privately for a moment?". Tsunade nods, waving them off as she directs Jiraiya to come closer. The two walk outside, Tsachi leans against the door & he states, "This is the best thing for you, Naruko. In fact, it's quite an honor. You're going to train to be a Sage.". She sighs & crosses her arms before replying, "I don't see why I have to go to some weird mountain where talking toads live to do that. Why can't I stay here?". There's a brief pause, each of them looking into the others eyes before he answers, "Lord Jiraiya was trained by the toads, and he's one of the strongest ninja in the world. You're in an unconventional situation, and traditional training hasn't helped. So now, we're trying an unconventional solution. Give it some time, Naruko, and it might just help.".
Naruko uncrosses her arms & steps closer to Tsachi before responding, "Fine, I'll do it, but only on one condition. You have to tell me why you've been so distant.". The awkward tension between the two heightened rapidly before Tsachi rubbed the back of his neck. A part of him wanted to tell her the truth, that she's really a boy, but he's already been defiant enough against the Hokage. Finally, he replies, "Besides the fact that you're fairly younger than me, there's somebody else. Somebody I really have feelings for, and... and I don't want to ruin what could happen between her and I.". Naruko nods understandingly before walking to the door of the Hokage's Office and opening it. They all see the hints of melancholy in her body language as she tries to hide it with a bright grin, "Ok, I'll go. Apparently it's a great honor, who knew?", she laughs loudly while walking back in.
Tsachi starts to walk off, when Kakashi appears in front of him out of nowhere. "So tell me, is it odd that I think Naruko listens to you too much?", Kakashi inquires as they walk together. Tsachi shrugs as he sticks his hands in his pockets, "I don't know, probably. This whole situation is messed up and odd; in fact, the sooner Naruko becomes Naruto again, the better.". The gray-haired shinobi murmurs slightly before stating, "Definitely. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss the knucklehead.". Tsachi turns to face Kakashi before retorting, "I think everybody does. The village just hasn't been the same since everybody saw Naruto in that burning crater. Now, if you'll excuse me...". They wave each other off, with Kakashi firing back, "Yeah, I've got more important things to do too.".