Chapter 2

The Promise

As Shiho approached the academy, a yawn escaped her mouth. She had been unable to sleep last night due to the building nerves of graduation. Despite the lack of rest, she felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. A whole month had passed since she and Naruto had promised to train with each other to improve themselves. In the first week, they discovered that Naruto was underpowering his Bunshin and that the chakra control exercise had helped him to 'feel for it' more easily and determine his output.

He described the process of moulding the correct amount of chakra to putting his hand in a lake and trying to pull out an exact amount. It was difficult and he occasionally put a little too much chakra into it, creating excess smoke but it didn't matter because he could perform the jutsu without any problem now and would be able to graduate.

Despite the bruises that formed on her body, Shiho couldn't have been happier with her progress. Naruto had kept his promise to not take it easy on her during their training sessions, and she was grateful for the challenge. One spar, in particular, had resulted in a knee to her face, causing her glasses to snap and blood to pour from her nose. Naruto had hesitated for the first time, clearly shocked at what he had done. But that momentary lapse in focus had cost him, as Shiho had used the momentum from the blow to jump up and land a kick straight to his face. It was the most pain she had ever been in, yet she couldn't stop laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

As she walked by her classmates on the way to the academy, exchanging good luck wishes with them, Shiho couldn't help but think back on that moment. Naruto had apologized profusely, offering to buy her ramen, which then ended up with her meeting the people he worked with.

The Ichiraku's were nice, she only spoke with Teuchi briefly, but he seemed kind, his daughter on the other hand wields a ladle lethally. After Naruto explained what had happened in their sparring, Shiho got to witness the usually confident blonde cowering from someone.

When Shiho arrived home after sparring with Naruto, her mother's reaction to her bruised face was extreme. The ear-piercing scream that erupted from her mother's mouth startled her father, who immediately thought that something terrible had happened. Although her father, who had achieved the rank of chunin, understood that sparring could result in injuries, he was still concerned about the severity of his daughter's bruises.

After explaining that she had been sparring with Naruto after class, Shiho noticed her mother glaring at her father as if trying to communicate something without speaking. Normally, her father was the more lenient parent, and it was her mother who would scold her when she misbehaved. However, when her father gave her mother a stern look, Shiho realized that he wasn't as soft-hearted as she had thought.

Shiho suspected that her parents' reactions had something to do with her hanging around Naruto, which was why she had mentioned his name in the first place. She wanted to gauge their reactions to his name, but her mother's fury caught her off guard. It didn't make sense for her mother to be angry since Naruto didn't even know her parents and the same was true for her parents knowing Naruto.

"Just be careful when you hang around him okay?" her father had asked her, his eyes moving from her mother to her. She had nodded that night, but the whole situation left her confused.

She was left wondering why her mother was so furious, and why her father had given her a slight warning.

What was so bad about Naruto?

As she opened the classroom door, she immediately spotted the boy in question sitting in his seat. But what caught her off guard was seeing the blonde with his head buried in a book, titled 'The Plant Whisperer: How to Talk to Your Houseplants (Without Sounding Crazy)' emblazoned on the cover. She couldn't help but chuckle at how unusual yet fitting the situation was.

After their little mishap, it felt like Naruto had opened up to her more. She realized he wasn't the serious and stoic person he presented himself to be in class. It turned out, that Naruto had a brash and endearing side to him that she never knew existed, she would always see him come out of his shell when they visited Ichiraku's.

Oblivious to her thoughts, Naruto nodded his head at her as he noticed her approach, turning the page of his book.

She couldn't resist teasing him about his choice of reading material. "A ninja, cook, and now a gardener. What's next on your list of professions?" she joked, getting a laugh out of Naruto.

"Nah, the plants in my house started to look dead, so I thought I'd educate myself on how to take better care of them," Naruto replied. "But who knows, maybe I'll open up a ninja gardening business one day."

Shiho laughed, "I can just see it now, 'Leaf it to Me, I'm sure it'll be a hit."

Naruto chuckled, "Hey, you never know. Maybe I'll let you work for me." Shiho smiled, enjoying their playful banter.

As they waited for class to begin, their conversation meandered towards lighter topics. Naruto delved deeper into his gardening book while Shiho fidgeted in her seat, feeling both thrilled and anxious about the upcoming exam.

She knew that they had it in the bag and there was nothing to worry about, but old habits die hard and she just wanted to get it over with.

Soon enough, Funeno-sensei walked in, test papers in hand, and called the class to attention. He wasted no time in passing out the papers, seeming just as eager to end the day as his students were.

"You have an hour and a half to complete the test. If I catch anyone cheating, they will fail automatically and can enjoy another year of learning under me," he warned, pulling out his stopwatch and positioning himself at the back of the room for a clear view of all the students. "When I say 'start', you may begin. And don't talk during this exam either." With a click of the timer, he began the test. "Start. Good luck everyone."

As per the teacher's order, the room was filled with deafening silence, only punctuated by the sound of pens scribbling and occasionally frustrated grunts from students struggling to recall information. Naruto found himself able to answer all the questions, although he had to put some extra effort into a few of them. Now, he sat with his hands clasped, chin resting on them, waiting for the final ten minutes of the exam in silence. He suspected Shiho was in the same situation, judging by the sound of her pencil hitting the desk a few moments ago, but he didn't risk looking over at her in case Funeno-sensei caught him.

As he waited for the time to run out, Naruto started thinking about the next parts of the exam. He knew they would be tested on their physical abilities first before moving on to the three jutsu. His gaze wandered across the rest of the class, and he noticed a handful of other students in the same boat as him, waiting for the time to run out.

He noticed his one-sided rival Inuzuka Hana had her head resting on her arms. Despite her being a hothead in the ring, Naruto had to admit that she had a good head on her shoulders when it came to studying. He wouldn't be surprised if she passed the exam with flying colours. He also noticed that only one of her three ninken was with her today, and it seemed to be staring at him as if it knew he was thinking about its owner.

Not wanting to back down from the canine's intense gaze, Naruto locked eyes with the mutt and held it there, determined to outlast it for the remaining minutes of the exam. He refused to be the first one to look away, even if it was just a dog. The mutt suddenly straightened its back and perked up its ears, almost as if it was accepting the challenge.

'What am I doing' he thought ludicrously, he was having a stare-down with a ninken on the day of his exam.

At that moment, Funeno-sensei called an end to the exam, "Everyone, stand up and leave your papers on your desk. Make your way to the courtyard. Bekkō-sensei and Akame-sensei will divide you into groups and begin your physical tests," he announced.

Naruto maintained eye contact with Hana's dog as he made his way down the steps, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he watched her command the dog to move, forcing it to break eye contact. Not noticing the weird look Shiho was giving him as she bore witness to it all.

Out in the courtyard, Bekkō-sensei instructed him to join his group as the class was split into two groups to make this portion move along faster. He lined up behind a boy with platinum blond hair and waited for his name to be called out for his examination. He watched patiently, one by one as his group went through their taijutsu exam with Bekkō-sensei, wincing when one of the boys tried for a fancy kick only to land awkwardly on his writs when their sensei hit them mid-air.

"That's easily a sprain," the voice of Inuzuka Hana said from his left, surprising him as he never realised how he had zoned out watching the spars.

Nodding his head in agreement, "Yeah, surprised it never snapped" looking at the twig of a boy get back up nursing his wrist "the guy is all bone".

That got a snort from his ninken user classmate, "Yeah, and I bet he thought he was doing something special trying a move like that" Hana replied with a smirk.

Naruto chuckled, "Yeah, don't pull off a move if you ain't sure if it'll land."

Hana nodded in agreement, "I'd rather stick to what works and gets the job done. Fancy moves might look good, but they won't help you in a real fight."

"Heh, 'stick to what works'," he mocked" You do realise you have flesh-tearing mutts to help you," Naruto said with a laugh, if anything was flashy it was when she had all three of them at once attacking a target.

Hana rolled her eyes, "Hey, they're good boys, they just have a bit of a strong grip," she said with a smirk.

Naruto chuckled, "Yeah, I know, I've been on the receiving end of it a few times," he said with a small frown, remembering the times when she would allow one onto the field.

As they continued to wait for their turn, they watched as the rest of their group finished their exams. Bekkō-sensei called out for Hana next, telling her to leave her dog with it being an individual exam. "Looks like it's my turn. Good luck when you're up."

Naruto watched as Hana made her way to the testing area, her ninken staying put next to him, looking down at the pup he found it continuing from where they left off, shrugging his shoulders he lowered himself, so he was face to face with the dog, its eyes staring into his own.

Surprising him, the dog licked his face, the slimy tongue leaving a coat across his cheek. "Well, that was disgusting," he said, the dog barking in response.

Naruto's attention shifted from Hana in the distance to the dog, who was looking at him expectantly. He sighed and shook his head, the puppy eyes were hard to resist, and he scratched behind its ears, getting it to lie on the floor for further pampering.

Lost in the moment of clapping the dog, he didn't see Hana walking back over to them, done with her test. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of him pampering the pup. "Looks like you've made a new friend," she said with a smirk.

Naruto looked up from the dog and saw Hana's amused expression. "Yeah, well, he's a persistent little guy," he said, scratching the dog's belly.

"Uzumaki, step forward", the rough voice of Bekkō-sensei called from the ring, giving the dog one last pat he made his way over to the man as Hana walked back inside to carry out the next exam.

"Right kid, I'm testing you on how well your technique and form are, how accurate your strikes are and the power and speed behind them" he lifted a finger as he recalled the test factors –" along with how many successful strikes you land or block, got that?" he nodded, backing away from the man.

Readying his stance by distributing equal weight across his feet, his right foot slightly forward than his left. His fists came up to his chin to protect his face from when Bekkō-sensei would strike and also rolled his shoulders slightly forward for extra chin protection from the side, waiting for Bekkō-sensei to start.

Bekkō-sensei moved forward first, starting with a series of jabs and hooks, throwing punches with precision and speed. Bekkō-sensei tried to dodge, but Naruto was too quick for him.

Suddenly, Naruto landed a solid punch on Bekkō-sensei's chin, staggering him back. Bekkō-sensei stepped up his attacks, throwing powerful kicks and punches that were harder for Naruto to dodge. But Naruto kept going, his movements fluid and graceful as he evaded Bekkō-sensei's attacks.

As Bekkō-sensei went for a low sweep, Naruto took advantage of the momentum and twisted his body, landing a solid kick to the side of Bekkō-sensei's head. Bekkō-sensei stumbled back; his balance thrown off.

Naruto continued to press the attack, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks. Bekkō-sensei tried to counter, but Naruto was too fast for him. Finally, Bekkō-sensei landed a punch to Naruto's gut, knocking the wind out of him.

But Naruto didn't let that stop him. He used the momentum of the blow to create space and recover. But Bekkō-sensei wasn't done yet. He charged at Naruto with renewed vigour, determined to land another hit.

Naruto, however, had other plans. Instead of backing away again, he planted his feet firmly on the ground and waited for Bekkō-sensei to close in. As the sensei lunged forward, Naruto sidestepped and redirected the attack, using Bekkō-sensei's momentum against him.

With a swift kick to the back of the sensei's knee, Naruto brought him down to the ground. As Bekkō-sensei stumbled, Naruto landed a series of strikes on his opponent's back and shoulders, scoring several points in quick succession.

As the minute came to an end, Bekkō-sensei got back to his feet, his face flushed with annoyance. Naruto was breathing hard, but he couldn't help grinning. He had managed to land several good hits and had even managed to dodge and redirect some of Bekkō-sensei's attacks. It was a small victory but one that filled him with pride, even if the chunin had held back a little.

"Good technique kid" the strict taijutsu instructor complimented, actually surprising him a little. The chunin pointed towards the academy assembly hall, "Make your way in there and sit tight until Akame-sensei calls your group for the shurikenjutsu exam".

Naruto nodded his head in acknowledgement, feeling a sense of pride in his chest as he made his way towards the assembly hall. As he walked, he couldn't help but replay the fight in his mind, thinking of ways he could have improved his technique. But overall, he was pleased with how he performed.

Entering the hall, he saw that it was already filled with other students from other classes waiting for their final test. He found an empty seat towards the back of the room and sat down, stretching out his limbs to ease the tension in his muscles.

Naruto scanned the crowded assembly hall, packed with graduating students from other classes. Amid the sea of unfamiliar faces, he managed to spot a few of his classmates. He noticed Shiho's distinctive light blonde hair from across the room but decided to leave her be, sensing her nervous energy from afar. Naruto had faith in her abilities; she had improved remarkably in the past month just from their sparring sessions, and her shurikenjutsu had also come a long way. He suspected she was just overthinking things, as usual, but hoped she would perform well in the taijutsu section with Bekkō-sensei. He knew she would be a force to be reckoned with in the taijutsu portion of the exam, having seen first-hand the improvements she had made.

He felt rather relaxed despite the tension emanating from some of his fellow graduates. He had trained hard for this day and knew he was prepared. He just wanted to get it over with so he could finally focus on climbing the ranks. He decided to lean back in his seat and rest his eyes for a bit, letting the sounds of nervous chatter and shifting chairs wash over him. He knew that soon enough, his name would be called, and he would be asked to show his shurikenjutsu skills, and then his ninjutsu performance afterwards.

It had been thirty minutes since Shiho spotted her new friend walk into the assembly hall and she was grateful that he either didn't notice her or had left her to focus on her own. As she began to follow Bekkō -sensei out to complete her second last exam, she was determined to put on a good standing. She had been a part of those who were on the lower end when it came to taijutsu in class but she had risen to be able to fight at least those in the middle of her class over the last month. She would show that today.

She let the rhythmic tapping of her heel help her focus as she and the rest of her group watched the other students trade blows with Bekkō-sensei. It was clear that their instructor was holding back, as a few jabs from some of the students managed to catch him off guard, but he always retaliated with a smack of his own. The sound of the punches and grunts filled the hall, adding to the tense atmosphere. Shiho couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness as she waited for her turn.

As she watched some of her peers leave the field in tears after taking a beating, Shiho couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. She saw a student she had once struggled with nursing his arm as he made his way back into the building for the final test. It was a stark reminder of how high the stakes were and how much she had to prove in order to pass. Despite her nerves, she tried to focus on the task at hand and block out the distractions around her, determined to give it her all in the taijutsu portion of the exam.

She saw their instructor pull out a clipboard, and turn to the group, causing Shiho's nerves to twist in her gut as he zoned in on her. "Hayashi, your turn," he called out. Nodding, she quickly quelled the nerves tightening in her stomach and made her way over to stand against her instructor. To avoid breaking another pair of glasses, she took them off and placed them to the side, squinting a little more as she tried to focus her eyes without them.

With her heart pounding in her ears, Shiho nodded along to Bekkō-sensei's instructions, already knowing what he was testing based on the previous fights she had witnessed. She clenched her knuckles at her side, mentally preparing for what was to come. As he raised his hand into the academy fighting stance, she mirrored his movements and made the necessary adjustments to her stance, honed over the past month of training.

Without warning, Bekkō-sensei moved to attack, and Shiho quickly dodged by ducking and rolling under his strike. She managed to avoid his knee aimed at her chest and took advantage of his momentary stumble to land a kick on his calf, followed by another on his back that pushed him to the edge of the ring. Despite her advantage, Shiho knew not to overextend herself and quickly jumped back to put some distance between them.

As she caught her breath, she kept track of her score: 'Two hits landed'. Her heart still pounding, she readied herself for whatever Bekkō-sensei had in store next.

Bekkō-sensei by now had turned and advanced on her once more but instead of waiting she surprised him by meeting in the middle, throwing a punch to his midsection. He blocked it attempting to grab her wrist for a swing or takedown, but she jerked her arm out of his reach, following it up with a jumping knee.

Bekkō-sensei caught her off guard by stepping out of reach and throwing his kick to her side whilst she was still mid-air, throwing off her balance as she hit the floor. Not wanting to be caught on the ground she rolled out of the way bouncing back up, narrowly avoiding the strike he aimed for her body.

Her adrenaline was at a high from the close call, she could feel the sweat that had built up on her face from the short time they had been sparring. Bekkō-sensei was quick to follow up his missed strike, and he lunged forward with a punch to her face. Shiho leaned back, dodging the punch by a hair's breadth, and countered with a roundhouse kick to his ribs. It connected with a satisfying thud, and she felt a sense of satisfaction at the hit.

But the satisfaction was short-lived as Bekkō-sensei retaliated with a spinning back fist that Shiho had no time to dodge. The blow landed squarely on her cheekbone, and she felt her head snap to the side with the impact. She stumbled, her head spinning, and almost fell to the ground.

Shiho shook her head, trying to clear the haze, and saw Bekkō-sensei coming at her again. She took a deep breath, planted her feet firmly, and got ready to face him once more. Quickly regained her composure and charged at Bekkō-sensei, unleashing a series of quick punches and kicks. Bekkō-sensei parried most of them, but Shiho managed to slip in a few strikes, hitting him four times in quick succession.

Bekkō-sensei was momentarily stunned, surprised by Shiho's speed and agility. He regained his footing quickly and launched a counterattack, aiming for Shiho's legs with a sweeping kick. Shiho saw the attack coming and leapt into the air, dodging the kick with a graceful flip.

As she landed, Shiho spun around and landed a solid punch to Bekkō-sensei's side. He grunted in pain but didn't let up, launching another attack at her. The two continued to exchange blows, their movements fast and fluid as they sparred with each other.

The spar continued, with Shiho and Bekkō-sensei trading blows back and forth. A few students watched in awe as they witnessed Shiho's new progress and finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the spar came to an end, with both combatants bowing to each other in respect.

"Good showing, Hayashi," Bekkō-sensei complimented. "Make your way back to your classroom and await the final exam. Good luck."

Shiho nodded, relieved to have passed the taijutsu portion of the exam. She made her way back to the classroom, replaying the fight in her head and mentally noting areas where she could have improved. As she walked, she saw some of her peers who had also passed the test, congratulating each other, and exchanging words of encouragement.

As she entered the classroom, Shiho spotted Naruto already seated at his desk, engrossed in his book on plant care. Despite the impending exam, he appeared surprisingly calm and collected. She couldn't help but smile at his nonchalant attitude towards the test.

As she made her way back to her seat, her thoughts turned to the blonde and their time training together. She couldn't help but feel grateful for the skills he had taught her and the progress she had made in such a short time. She made a mental note to thank him again later.

The idea of being on a team with him also crossed her mind. She knew it was unlikely, but the thought of having a familiar face on her team was appealing. She had seen how he interacted with others, or the lack thereof, and felt that having him on her team would give her an advantage. Plus, it would be easier to build a rapport with a single new teammate, rather than starting from scratch with two new teammates.

But she quickly dismissed the thought, knowing that team assignments were made based on skills and compatibility, not friendships or past training partners. She would just have to wait and see who fate would pair her with.

"I take it no you didn't mess up?" he questioned as she sat down in her seat.

"No, I messed up twice in the spar, but I bounced back and managed to hit Bekkō-sensei a good amount of times. I'm positive I got a solid grade", despite her words she looked nervous saying it causing Naruto to chuckle as he flipped a page in his book.

"I'm sure you did great, Hayashi-san. We trained a lot for this remember."

Shiho smiled, she knew he was right; she had put a lot of effort and time into her training, and it was starting to pay off.

As they waited for the final exam to start, Naruto continued to read his book on plant care, Shiho occasionally asked questions on it, never one to hold back the chance for learning and it managed to lessen her nerves as they conversed back and forth.

Naruto noticed that Shiho seemed to be engrossed in their conversation, not realizing that Funeno-sensei had already started the final exam register. He respected her unique way of dealing with stress and decided not to push her out of her comfort zone.

Observing Shiho looking over at the picture of an Iris in his book, Naruto felt a strange mix of emotions. Having been content with only Ayame and Teuchi in his life, he never imagined himself forming another relationship. When Shiho had first reached out to him, he had been wary, as nobody had ever approached him like that before, other than Teuchi offering him a bowl of ramen.

Since starting the academy, he had only known her as the girl who excelled in written tests and often shied away from group activities. He had even gambled on her surname when they first spoke, hoping to avoid the embarrassment of getting it wrong. However, spending time with Shiho over the past month had allowed him to add another friend to his life, even if it was unexpected. He appreciated having someone who shared his experiences as a ninja-in-training and could relate to topics that Ayame and Teuchi sometimes had a hard time understanding.

Being able to spar was also a good thing as many years ago Teuchi didn't take too kindly to him sparring with his daughter after a punch too hard left bruises. After explaining to him that civilians don't get fighting lessons at school, he made sure not to make that mistake again, even if Ayame would pester him for a few lessons.

"…so, they like being drier?" her comment brought him back, as she read out the book's page.

"Yeah, I think I found the reason why mine died," he replied, remembering that would allow a small puddle of water to form in the soil, thinking it would help the plant grow faster. "I might need to stop by a gardening shop to buy better fertilizer as well."

"I never would've imagined you having a green thumb Uzumaki-kun," she remarked, causing him to look at her questioningly, "What would you have imagined me doing Hayashi-san?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," Shiho admitted, looking thoughtful. "Maybe something like...I don't know, training all the time?" she finished lamely,

Naruto chuckled "Well, I used to, but Teuchi told me to dial it back a bit so that I didn't get burned out, Ayame was the one that got me to start gardening a little and said that I needed a hobby and 'training doesn't count', whatever that means".

She was about to comment on how it was probably because it is good to have a hobby that is unrelated to your job – future job in their case – but she was called on from the front by Funeno-sensei. It quickly got her to stand to attention as she realised that she hadn't been focused on the exam, quickly shooting a small glare at Naruto as he laughed at her.

"Come on, Hayashi we haven't got all day" Funeno-sensei called again, gesturing to the door.

She quickly left her desk, grabbed her bag and shot one last glare at Naruto, who already had his face back in his book as she did so. Falling into line behind her sensei who took her to the opposite classroom for her final test.

Once inside she stood in front of Funeno-sensei and Suzume-sensei, her kunoichi sensei gave a small smile and nod of encouragement as she waited for her male teacher to start the exam. She noticed the log sitting on the floor to her right, which she assumed would be used for the kawarimi. The table that stood next to Suzume-sensei held a bundle of forehead protectors.

"Okay now Hayashi, we'll start with the Henge, you can transform into anyone of your choice, then you can perform the Kawarimi with the log to your right and finish up on the Bunshin" Funeno-sensei informed her as Suzume-sensei wrote something down on her pad, "Begin when you're ready".

Nodding her head, she took a deep breath and focused on her chakra. She closed her eyes and pictured herself transforming into her sensei, Suzume-sensei. When she opened her eyes, she had successfully transformed into a replica of Suzume-sensei, complete with her clothes, voice, and mannerisms. A smile of satisfaction spread across her face as she realized she had done it perfectly, receiving a small thumbs-up from Suzume-sensei.

Next up was the Kawarimi jutsu, a technique that involved swapping places with an object to avoid an attack. Shiho concentrated hard as she performed the hand seals and focused her chakra. She closed her eyes and visualized herself tethering a line of chakra out to the log and once she felt it she connect she quickly swapped her position with it. When she opened her eyes, she had successfully swapped places with the nearby log, again eyeing her sensei as they both made notes.

Finally, the Bunshin jutsu. The technique that started her and Naruto's friendship and the one that would guarantee her position as a leaf ninja. She focused her breathing as she felt her heart begin to pound faster, moulding her chakra one last time she allowed for three doppelgangers to appear alongside her, forcing down the smile that threatened to break out across her face – she couldn't celebrate just yet, her sensei could have spotted a mistake that she had missed.

She stood anxiously in front of them, hands clenched by her side, and as smiles broke out on their faces, she felt her nerves disappear and allowed pride to wash over her. She watched as Suzume-sensei approached her, with Funeno-sensei behind her.

Suzume-sensei smiled at Shiho and held out the forehead protector. "Congratulations, Hayashi," she said. "You have worked hard and earned this".

Shiho's hands trembled slightly as she took the forehead protector from Suzume-sensei. She gazed at it, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment wash over her,

As Shiho received her forehead protector from Suzume-sensei, Funeno-sensei approached her with a warm smile. "Congratulations, Hayashi-san," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I wish you all the best in your shinobi career."

"Remember, as a shinobi, you carry the Will of Fire within you," Funeno-sensei continued. "It's the belief that we have a duty to protect our village and the people within it. Keep that in mind always, and you'll go far in your career."

Shiho nodded, taking his words to heart. She felt ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead, and she knew that the Will of Fire would guide her every step of the way.

"Thank you both for everything, I'll do my best to uphold the Will of Fire," Shiho said, giving a small bow of respect to both of her sensei.

"Now it's time for you to leave and go celebrate with your family and remember to attend class tomorrow for your team placements," Funeno-sensei said.

After nodding in agreement, Shiho left the classroom and headed outside. She knew that she wouldn't be allowed to go back inside and show Naruto her accomplishment, so she decided to wait for him to finish his exam before going home. Shiho had already informed her parents that she wouldn't know when the exams would finish, so she would be home whenever she was done.

As she walked through the front entrance and into the courtyard, her eyes fell upon the tree swing across from the doors that would give her a clear view of when Naruto exited the building. She sat down on the swing and held the leaf insignia in her hands, unsure of how to wear it. She pondered if she should wear it the traditional way, on her arm, around her neck, on her waist, or sewn into her clothing. But she decided that she would make the decision later.

Placing the cloth down next to her bag, she reached into it and pulled out the book her uncle had gifted her about cryptoanalysis. The cover was a deep navy blue with gold lettering that read 'The Hidden Meanings,' and it felt heavier than it looked. She opened it to where she left off a few pages into the first section and lost herself in the content.

Shiho had only managed to read a little of the book since starting it at the beginning of the week, but she was already captivated. As she read through each page, she felt a sense of excitement and wonder at the thought of decoding secret messages and uncovering hidden meanings. She knew that it would take hard work and dedication to become proficient in cryptanalysis, but she was determined to learn as much as she could and expand her shinobi skillset.

As time passed, Shiho was completely absorbed in her reading until she was suddenly brought out of it by a flick on her forehead, causing her to yelp. She looked up to see Naruto's smiling face, his black forehead protector around his head, and the metal leaf insignia glinting in the sun.

"It's called a forehead protector for a reason, y'know" he joked, as she rubbed at her forehead.

Shiho let out a small laugh and shook her head. "I know, I know," she replied. "I just haven't decided how to wear it yet," she said, putting her book away.

He lifted her forehead protector and held it in his hands "When I took it off the table I put it straight on my head. It just feels right I dunno why", he said handing it to her.

Shiho smiled as she took the forehead protector from Naruto's hands. She turned it over in her own hands, examining the metal leaf insignia closely. "Maybe I'll try it your way," she said with a small grin, before placing the protector on her forehead and adjusting it carefully.

Naruto chuckled as he watched her. "Looks good on you," he said, admiring the way the metal leaf glinted in the sunlight. "You're starting to look like a ninja now," he added with a playful grin.

Shiho reddened slightly at the compliment, feeling a sense of pride in her newfound identity as a ninja. Changing the conversation from her, "So, what are you doing to celebrate?" she asked, she figured he would be going to Ichiraku's.

"My final shift at Ichiraku's is today," Naruto scratched his head, "I start in an hour, so I'm gonna head there, get a bowl of ramen, and get to work. You wanna get a bowl before going home, or do you need to be back home?" he asked.

Shiho considered his offer but knew she couldn't keep her parents waiting any longer. "Sorry, Uzumaki-kun, as much as I want to, I can't. I don't want to leave my parents waiting any longer," she apologized.

Naruto nodded understandingly. "Nah, I understand. Family is important," he said, gazing up at the clouds.

As they walked, Shiho couldn't help but ask about Naruto's experience as an orphan. She hesitated, not wanting to be insensitive, but her curiosity got the better of her. "Uzumaki-kun, I don't mean to sound insensitive, and I understand if you don't want to answer, but… what is it like being an orphan?" she asked gently.

Naruto smiled softly, appreciating her curiosity. "Well, I can't really compare it to anything since I don't know what it's like to have parents in the first place," he explained. "But I do have Teuchi and Ayame. They're like my family, and I love them."

Shiho nodded, understanding his attachment to the Ichiraku family. "So, I guess Teuchi-san is like a father to you then?" she asked.

Naruto grinned. "Yeah, he's always been looking out for me and giving me advice. He sure as shit ain't scared to tell me when I've been out of line," he laughed. "He's put his foot up my ass plenty of times because of it."

Shiho giggled at his words, remembering the times Ayame had scolded Naruto. "I've seen Ayame nearly take your head off with a ladle, so it's safe to say they're both good at keeping you in check," she teased.

Naruto chuckled, his face still wearing a fond smile. "Yeah, Ayame is… well, she's… uhm," he trailed off, his face turning melancholic.

Shiho raised an eyebrow, noticing the change in his behaviour. "She's what?" she asked.

Naruto cleared his throat, "She was the first person my age that wanted to be friends with me and sometimes I don't think I really deserve her is all" he said, rubbing the back of his neck "That sounds really sad when I say it out loud, doesn't it hehe".

Shiho smiled at the blonde's openness, shaking her head "It's not sad at all Uzumaki-kun, it's good to have someone close like that" she assured, "and I'm sure she thinks of you that way too".

She watched as his face went a little pink "I uhm…yeah?" he mumbled, clearly not used to talking about these kinds of things. Shiho despite herself couldn't help but laugh a little at his discomfort. If she was told that she would witness this side of the blonde last month then she would have been in disbelief but seeing it now made her happy as it meant that they were becoming good enough friends.

"Of course she does, I've only been at Ichiraku's a few times but now but I could tell that you two are close" She smiled at him, "It was nice seeing a different side of you, a less serious side that is".

"Hey," Naruto turned to her confused "What'dya mean "serious" side?" he asked, Shiho was thankful for the change in behaviour but she was more grateful for the timing as they both approached their splitting point.

Shiho just smiled at Naruto once more, taking the left path and waving, "Goodnight Uzumaki-kun."

Naruto just shook his head, a part of him still felt weird at his openness just now but also a sense of relief. He's had a few conversations like that with Ayame and Teuchi over the years but actually talking about those two out loud to someone else made stomach churn.

Thoughts and feelings he held about the father-daughter duo were solidified but new ones arose in him, and it left him feeling unsure on how to go about them. Instead of focusing on them just now, he snapped back to reality only to realise that Shiho had left a while back and his body had moved on autopilot to the street where Ichiraku's stood.

From where he was he could already see it at the end of the street. Unsurprisingly, the dinner rush had already begun as he saw a queue standing outside, the stools within the stand occupied as he spotted the legs of the patrons from under the awning.

He could already picture Ayame's face behind the counter as she rushed around taking orders and preparing takeaway bags, her face flushed, but a kind smile never leaving her lips, despite her working herself to the bone.

"Time to brighten up Ayame's day," he thought to himself as he straightened his forehead protector. Approaching the awning of the ramen stand, he could see her deftly assembling a takeout order, just as he had imagined.

Upon entering, their eyes locked, and Ayame's face lit up at the sight of him, but her gaze quickly shifted to his headband. "YOU DID IT!" she screamed, already running out to the front, her arms snatching him into a tight embrace.

"Was there ever any doubt?" he laughed as the girl held onto his jacket.

"What's going on ou-" Teuchi's voice called from the back, only to pause when his eyes landed on the blonde. A grin, matching his own, spread across his face as he set aside his hand towel and joined the duo in their embrace.

'Well done, Naruto, seriously,' Teuchi spoke, 'We never doubted you for a second.' The hug lasted a few more seconds before Teuchi was the first to pull away, customers both inside and outside observing with varying expressions, only looking away when Teuchi glanced at them.

"Let's get back to work," he said, patting the youngsters on their backs. "We can celebrate more later in private; you've earned it, Naruto."

Ayame reluctantly let go of the embrace as she wiped at her eyes.

"There's no need for the waterworks, Ayame," Naruto teased, laughing as he dodged a half-hearted swipe at his head from her. "I'm just happy for you, you jerk," she said, walking back behind the counter. "Now come help me serve customers - you can tell me about the exam while we work."

"That's fine with me" With the grin still plastered on his face, he followed Ayame behind the counter, grabbing his apron.

Dinner rush went by quickly with Naruto telling him and Ayame of his day and now that hes a ninja the things hes looking forward to, the places he might visit and the people he may meet. Teuchi would've reminded the boy of the dangers he would face but he didn't want to dampen the mood nor did he think that Naruto was stupid enough not to know.

The boy had come a long way since he first met him. The once cheeky snot-nosed brat, that made sure to be a problem for someone who looked at him the wrong way, had not only grown into a mature young teen, but he had become more sure of himself and wise to the world around him.

As sad and disheartening as it is, life isn't fair and when Teuchi first gave the boy leftovers all those years ago he knew who the kid was, but he didn't care. While the thought of a demon being sealed the kid was terrifying, rightfully so, he didn't see the point in punishing the child for being the one who had to bear that burden.

As sad and disheartening as it is, life isn't fair and when Teuchi first laid eyes on the boy and gave him leftovers all those years ago he could tell that the boy was already coming to terms with that at his young age. He himself at the time knew who Naruto was, but he didn't care.

While the thought of that gigantic, horrifying demon being sealed away inside the young boy did scare the life out of him, he didn't see the point in fearing the young curious child that was wandering the streets himself at times when others his age would be getting ready for bed, it just felt wrong to punish the one bearing the burden while not even knowing himself.

It always nagged at him every time he thought about that night. The noise of gravel crunching as a little kid dragged his feet through it, his eyes taking in the buildings, their individual colours and cracks and each stores sign's. Then when he saw those little curious innocent eyes land on him and change to an untrusty frown he had two options that night.

The option of looking away and pretending that he wasn't even there was the first option, the other was to acknowledge he was there, acknowledge that he existed in a village that was trying to pretend he wasn't. The first option sounded easy, too easy, so he gave the child a big grin and offered him a warm bowl of ramen, eventually sending him away with a takeout bag full of leftovers.

It was a welcomed surprise when the boy arrived back the next night, his hand clenching a wad of ryo and his stomach empty and growling for more ramen. As he poured his last three bowls of tonight he couldn't help but smile at the memory and compare it to the two sitting out front.

Pouring the final ladle of broth into one of the bowls he carried the three bowls with ease into the front and placed them down in front of the two teens, "One chicken ramen for Ayame and one miso with extra charsu for Naruto" he said, grabbing himself a stool on his side and sitting down.

"Thanks, Dad/Thanks, Old Man" they both replied, the three of them saying a brief thanks for the meal before they all dug in. The sounds for the next few minutes consisted of the loud slurps from the trio as they ate their meal, Teuchi shaking his head fondly at Naruto being unable to resist wolfing the bowl down as he sat waiting for them both to finish as he sipped from of a glass of water.

"So, are set to go for tomorrow?", Teuchi asked, placing his chopsticks down.

"Yeah, I should be" Naruto replied, "I doubt I'll be doing anything but meeting my team tomorrow anyways but I have all my stuff ready back home".

"Make sure you triple-check before you leave in the mornin', you don't want to set a bad first impression on whoever your sensei will be," Teuchi said.

"If they're anything like Funeno-sensei, then it won't matter how I show up, they'll have an issue about something," he remarked, resting his face on his hand.

"Well if that happens just make sure you give him the least amount of problems as you can." He advised, noticing his daughter had finished her meal "You don't want to start off your ninja career getting into bother by the higher-ups do you?".

"Of course I don't but if they start shit I'll give them bother so they think twice about doin' it again," he stated causing Teuchi's eyes to crinkle in amusement at his attitude, only for them to gaze over to Ayame.

Usually when Naruto would curse she would reprimand the blonde but her unusual silence was noticeable as he and Naruto spoke. Naruto's gaze also turned to Ayame, who had his headband in her hand, her finger trailing over the leaf engraving.

"You feeling okay Ayame?" he asked, turning his body he was fully facing her.

The girl in question had spent the past moment lost in contemplation about what tomorrow truly meant, not just for Naruto but for their little trio. Tomorrow marked Naruto's official ascent to ninja-hood, the past four years she had watched him struggle and train just to become a protector of their village.

With that, however, also came the time when he would have to depart from the village as he would frequently have to undertake missions for the village.

Over the years, as she served countless customers at the ramen stand, Ayame had always remembered the moments when shinobi patrons came by. Their stories of life outside the village often intrigued her, and some even bore the physical scars of their harrowing experiences as stark reminders. While her heart swelled with pride and joy for her best friend's success, a small, selfish part of her couldn't help but wish he hadn't passed the exam—or maybe, hadn't even enrolled in the ninja academy in the first place.

If he hadn't taken this path, she mused, perhaps Naruto could have continued working alongside her and her father at the stand. They could have envisioned a future where they expanded their business, opening another ramen stand in the village and growing it together.

However, as she traced the leaf engraving with her finger, she knew that Naruto had a different path to follow in life, one that would no doubt fill her with worry whenever he left the village for missions, the uncertainty of him not coming back made her stomach churn.

Naruto, watching the emotions flicker across Ayame's face, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. He knew her well enough to pick up on her unspoken worries. He reached out and gently covered his hand over his headband and her hand, snapping her out of her thoughts as she looked up at him and her father; both wearing looks of understanding on their faces.

"I guess we were gonna have this conversation sometime tonight," he smiled, looking back and forth between the father and daughter, "I know you guys are worried but I've been training for this for years".

His hand gently pulled the headband out of her own, "I promise I'll be careful out there and I'll come back with stories to tell you guys."

Ayame looked up to Naruto, her hand wiping at the few tears threatening to spill, "That would be nice," she said, her voice quivering ever so slightly. "Just promise us one thing though, Naruto."

Naruto nodded, his gaze unwavering, "What's that?"

She gave him a heartfelt smile, "Promise me that you'll come back to us, safe and sound, every time."

Naruto knew that there was a chance he wouldn't come back every time - he knew they both knew that, but that wasn't the point here. His smile softened slightly, looking between them both once again never being happier to have them both in his life at this moment.

"You got it, Ayame." he said, his blue eyes meeting her brown, "I promise."

Took me longer than I liked to edit this, my stupid ass thought writing dialogue was easy - it ain't. I'll try aiming for 2 chapters a month, see how long i keep to that with all the assignments I've got and will have as the year goes on.

Reviews, Favourites and Following are always appreciated :)