„newfound purpose"

The four teens went back to the village safely. There were no threats or battles that happened on their way back, and they were glad. The information that they found gave the group a hard time thinking, especially the blue-haired girl.

"Welcome back, it's good to see you all with no scratches.", Tsunade greets them.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama.", Neji replies with the usual stoic look on his face.

"So, Mia, what have you discovered?"

The girl looks at her, telling the Hokage the same thing she told her companions not long ago.

"I see, so you're a ninja?"

"Yes, I trained hard with my katana. I also practiced ninjutsu specializing the water element, you'd be surprise how many jutsus my family has invented that are not common with your, well, usual teachings.", Hanako tells truthfully, she has nothing to hide anyways.

"If you're worried about me attacking your village, I have no reason to. But to make you feel calm I'm okay with someone guarding me.", she added.

"Yes, I've pondered on that subject as well.", Tsunade says, "You see, you can be an asset to the village Hanako. I could make you a Hidden Leaf ninja if you would like."

Hanako was taken aback by the female Hokage's statement. Is she hearing this right? Why would the Hokage give her an easy access in becoming a ninja of this village? Wouldn't it be a high risk for them?

"I guess it won't hurt accepting your offer. I have no goals or purpose anyways considering everyone I've met is dead or missing.", Hanako says with a straight face.

"There are conditions though, especially that the Akatsuki is after you. Although it's not new to us considering that some of our ninjas has always been targeted. As long as you're strong enough to protect yourself and the village, you're good to go."

"What about the conditions?", the teen asks seriously.

"You'll be trained under my watch.", Tsunade answers, causing the girl to widen her eyes.

Trained? By the Hokage? What is she exactly planning to do with me? Someone training me besides my father is a bit unusual. But I'm in no position to complain.

"Alright, I'm okay with that."

Naruto has been oddly silent ever since they've left the village. This made the blue-eyed girl worried. Feeling bad and too embarrassed to even address what happened, she just decided to not bother him at all.

Naruto, on the other hand, kept thinking. He isn't familiar with the feeling he was experiencing. He admits that he is fond of the girl, maybe even too much. He never felt it when he was with Sakura, and he thought he liked her. The blonde reached the front door of his apartment and stepped in. As usual, it was empty

and lonely.

Why did I let her drink alcohol? She's probably thinking I took advantage of her.

Naruto sighs sadly. He didn't want to lose her. She made him feel so special. Not only is that, but everything about her beautiful beyond words he can ever express.

He didn't really have the time to think about the supposed feelings that he had for Sakura since they would always be so busy. They bonded over missions but it didn't really connect them to a certain level like he and Hanako had. In fact, the two weeks that he spent with Sakura and Hanako, he realized that that was the only time he had a relaxing moment with Sakura. It wasn't only about the mission or bringing Sasuke back.

It was about them, and Hanako made that happen. Hanako made them feel accepted and relaxed. For once in their life, they were being silly teenagers hanging out and getting to know each other.

I didn't think that was possible to do.

Whenever he thinks about Hanako, it was something different. It wasn't just because she was pretty. She had this effect on him that whenever he sees her or talks to her, he would feel a lot better.

—

"Hanako-chan, I need to go home and do some errands. Naruto is probably home so if you need anything, just go to him.", Sakura explains to the girl she's walking with.

"Hm, alright. Thanks Sakura-chan.", she replied.

Hanako walks to the direction of her house, making sure that her head is covered with the hood that she's wearing. Tsunade told her that she didn't have to hide her hair anymore, but she's scared of everyone judging her again for such a natural thing in her life.

It won't hurt if I hide it, right?

As she walks to her apartment, she notices Naruto standing in front of his front door. She watches him quietly, he looks like he's thinking about something. She stares at him for a couple of minutes when finally, the boy went in his apartment. Hanako wasted no time as she sprints quietly to her door which was two doors next to Naruto's.

That was close.

Hanako lays down on her bed, thinking about the situation she was in. She's now a member of Konoha.

"I was trained to be a ruler." she sighs, "I guess that burden is gone now."

"A ninja from Konoha, that doesn't sound too bad. I've been trained to protect people at all costs ever since I was a kid."

I guess once Naruto-kun becomes Hokage, I would help him and be by his side fighting enemies.

If it's possible that the tension and awkwardness around us disappear.

She grabs a pillow and screams her frustration into it as she remembers what she did that night.

I can't believe I did that. I kissed Naruto-kun! I'm so fucking dumb my ancestors would be so disappointed at me for being such a flirt.

She touches her lips, remembering what it felt like. She blushes and tosses the pillow she was holding.

The girl never had close relationships back in her clan. She was very family-oriented. If she wasn't cooking an experimental dish with her siblings, she was training with her father. There wasn't really a "friendship-building" scheduled in her life.

Now that she's left with nothing, she feels empty. However, Naruto and Sakura was helping to fill that void she has. That's one of the reasons why she dreads herself for kissing Naruto. It was too sudden.

He probably thinks I kiss a lot of guys out of the blue. That was my first kiss ever! Damn it.

Hanako closes her eyes, an attempt to stop thinking about things. Minutes later, she falls into a deep sleep that was badly needed.