„rusty training"

"Focus your chakra on one part of your body.", Tsunade orders the blue-haired girl in front of her.

Hanako does as she was told but it was difficult for her. For some reason, her chakra control was all over the place.

"Damn it!", she shouts in frustration, "I'm sorry, it's just really difficult right now, I don't know why."

"That's alright, practice what I've instructed you to do—", the Slug princess got cut off by a ninja who was calling her.

"Tsunade-sama, it's urgent."

Hanako didn't bother to see what was all the fuss about, she was angry at herself for being so useless.

These are basics, I know them yet I can't perform it. I look like a total idiot.

"Unfortunately, we have to cut this training session short. I have to go to an urgent meting. I suggest you find out what's preventing you from controlling your chakra.", Tsunade says to the Shinozaki.

"Hai."

Hanako sits down as she watches Tsunade walking away. She stares up and thinks about the situation she was in.

What am I doing?

She sighs sadly.

I miss my family. I miss my little siblings. I miss mother and father. I miss Sakura-chan, and, well, Naruto-kun as well.

It has been five days since she saw her friends. Sakura was busy with her hospital duties and Naruto, well, she was still too ashamed to talk to him.

Hanako got up and decides to walk around the village. She still wears a hoodie to hide her hair in order to avoid attention.

I guess it's the right time to buy ninja tools and clothing. These shirts and tank tops that Sakura-chan gave are not for training. Plus, her hand is itching to grab on a new katana.

Damn that guy who made me lose my beloved katana.

She walks out of the training grounds and head for shops. Hopefully, people wouldn't mind her hood.

—

It was horrible. Hanako never thought that she would be lost in Konoha. How hard is it to find a weapon shop?

I should start asking around. But then again, I'm too anxious to approach someone.

Hanako rises her palms at the level of her cheeks and slams it both.

"Yosh! Let's do this.", she motivates herself as she looks around to spot someone to ask.

Hanako lands her eyes on a very attractive man with an unusual ponytail. His eyes looked lazy and he was wearing a green vest that was similar to Kakashi's.

She approaches him slowly then taps on his shoulders.

"A-ano, excuse me, where can I find a weapon shop?", Hanako asks shyly.

She never felt shy before because she never felt the need to. I mean, being a heir and the daughter of the clan leader had it's privileges. She was royalty to the eyes of her people. She needed to act calm and confident all the time.

"Hm? Oh wait, you're the Shinozaki girl that was mentioned by Tsunade-sama.", he says as he looks at the girl in front of him.

Hanako learns that the name of the guy she just talked to was Shikamaru, he was friends with Naruto and Sakura. He politely gave her the directions to the shop. Apparently, she missed it as she was going on circles. She quickly thanks him and got going because of the vibe that Shikamaru was giving her.

I swear I heard him mutter under his breath, "what a drag.", for ten times. I just asked for directions.

She huffs in annoyance.

I would've kicked that guy in the groin if it weren't for me being the new girl here. Tsunade-sama said to be mindful of my actions if I wanted to be accepted in the village.

She finally arrives at the place. It had a lot of ninja gear but to her dismay, there was only two katanas available. No one really uses it in the village so they didn't bother in making more.

She picks a black katana, it wasn't special like the one she used to wield but it will do. She bought all of the things she will need using the money that the Hokage generously provided her.

Tsunade-sama must've really wanted me to stay. Unfortunately, I can't even control my chakra well.

She sighs once again from the same thought that was bothering her.

After what felt like hours, she buys two of the same outfits for training. She giggles in excitement from what she bought as she walks back to her apartment.

Father never let me wore these! Now I get to experience more comfortable training.

She sticks her tongue out and smiles widely. She bought black shorts that goes with fishnets, she wasn't quite comfortable with the idea of showing off her legs that had scars from an accident, plus a long-sleeved white top that was cropped. She always desired for this type of outfit where she can move easily and comfortably.

"Gomen, Otto-san, you're probably screaming at me rig—", Hanako bumped into a familiar person, she looks up and quickly glances away from the blonde.

"G-gomen!", she says as she quickly walk passes him, only to be pulled by Naruto grabbing her wrist.

She looks at him shocked, not sure of what the boy in front of her was planning.

"Hanako-chan, are you mad at me?", Naruto asks her with a sad face.

"W-what? No! Of course not.", she stutters.

"Then why are you avoiding me?"

She sighs in defeat, she can't escape this anymore.

"I figured you didn't want to talk to me after the, uh, incident. I mean, you never did approach me when we were going back from the mission.", she honestly says, "Plus I'm really embarrassed of my actions, I hope you understand I was going through some kind of emotional breakdown so I made a lot of impulsive decisions.", she bows as she says this.

Naruto quickly stops her from bowing and takes her hand.

"I was quiet because I was thinking.", he says to the girl, "Wow, that was weird to say.", he flashes his signature smile, "But really, I'm not mad at you, ya'know?"

She felt weight coming off her shoulders.

"That's good to know. I was really nervous that our friendship would crumbled because of the kiss.", she blushes furiously.

"I liked it."

That statement of Naruto caused her face to look even more like a tomato.

"D-don't say that! Damn it. Are you doing this on purpose? Jerk.", she huffs in annoyance.

"Woah, you sound like Sakura-chan, that's not good."

"Sorry."

"Hey," Hanako waits for the blonde to speak but she didn't hear anything. She looks up and saw his hands wide open. She smiles at the sight and quickly engulfs him in a hug. It felt so comfortable.

"Wanna hang out?", she says as she pulls away.

"Of course!"

—

"Wow! Hanako-chan, I didn't know that you knew how to cook!", Naruto drools in sight of the delicious food served for him.

"Oh, back at home Oka-san would let me do house chores and that includes cooking. Our family was strict on having these skills, not just for fighting.", Hanako explains, "If I wasn't cooking with Giro, I would be training with Otto-san."

"Oh, and one time, Giro cracked some eggs for the first time and left a lot of shells to the scrambled eggs. We were forced to eat it even though it was disgusting because he'll throw a fit.", Hanako chuckles at the memory.

"You seem to enjoy talking about your family.", she blushes at Naruto's statement.

She stops for a bit before smiling at him.

"Yeah, I love them to the core.", she pushed away the bad thoughts she was having and tries to focus on their happy moments.

But it was hard.

Every happy memory was stained with sadness. The fact that everyone in her family died young is heartbreaking. She did her best not to break down in front of Naruto.

This is embarrassing. I cried so many times in front of him. I'm like a walking water fountain for fuck's sake.

Hanako forces to smile but it wasn't working.

"Oi, are you crying?", Naruto looks at her with concern as he notices the girl's glassy eyes.

"N-no! Fucking hell.", she says in defense, "I'm so dramatic, I'm so sorry you have to witness this.", she sits on the floor in front of Naruto.

"I don't mind", Naruto says in a low voice, Hanako looks at him confused, "All my life, I never had someone to really talk about what I was feeling ya'know?", he inhales deeply before continuing to speak.

"I'm really happy to be that person for you.", Naruto grins at the girl.

Wasn't he loved by his village? Isn't every shinobi here appreciated? This village really is unique. Back in our clan, every shinobi was treated with respect and dignity.

"All my life I was treated like a monster because of what's inside me.", Naruto opens up to the girl in front of him.

Hanako stayed quiet, it was her first time actually knowing why Naruto was always happy whenever she compliments him back when she didn't have her memories.

"What do you mean inside of you?", Hanako shows no fear in her voice which made the boy happy and sigh in relief that he wasn't

Naruto explains to her the jinchuriki inside of him and the loneliness he has gone through because of that.

"That's horrible.", Hanako says to Naruto.

"You're not scared of me?", Naruto look at the floor of her apartment. Scared of the girl's reaction to the nine-tailed fox.

"Of course not! If you were evil, you wouldn't be so kind to me."

"Really? You promise?", Hanako giggles on his childish words, it was cute.

"Yeah, I mean I was shunned by people in our town before and it was horrible.", she says, "You don't deserve that Naruto-kun."

"My family hates discrimination. Even though we were treated like royalty back in our clan, they didn't act like snobs. We were really close with everyone. My parents were so kind,", she paused a little before continuing, "which led to their death.", Hanako says with a dark tone.

"I always seem to ruin the mood whenever we hang out but I guess listening to you makes it a give and take right?", she smiles at him.

Once Naruto finishes the dish served for him, he gestures Hanako to come near him. She was confused but she still followed him.

"What is it?"

"I just want a hug. To check if you really exist."

Hanako doesn't really remember how Naruto became so affectionate to her but she wasn't complaining. Maybe it was because of the incident. Or maybe because they were finally getting to know each other.

She hugs him and smells ramen all over him. She chuckles quietly.

"Hm? Why?", Naruto pulls away from the girl.

"Nothing.", she smiles at him.

"Naruto-kun", she calls him and Naruto looks into her eyes, "You won't die on me too right?"

"What're you talking about? With that food you just gave me, I'll never ever want to die!"