„meet my master"

𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐡𝐚

"You're dismissed.", the Hokage says. Team Kakashi with Hanako went out of the office and said their good-byes to their sensei.

Kakashi stated very clearly that they should retreat and report Orochimaru's death to Tsunade. They all agree to the idea even though some of them still want to chase after Sasuke.

"Thank you for saving me back there, Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan.", Hanako says politely as she bows.

So she can still be polite. Reminds me of her old attitude when she just came.

Sakura thought before engulfing Hanako with a hug.

"You reckless idiot! Stop being like Naruto when fighting someone, alright?", Sakura says, again, tearing up.

"Eh!? What do you mean like me?", Naruto says, "And why does she get a hug and I get punches from you!?", he complains.

"Shut up! Hanako-chan is different.", Sakura points at him.

Hanako just sweat drops at the behavior of her friends. She looks at Kakashi and saw that he was already leaving. She waves her arms at him, saying goodbye, and Kakashi does the same.

"Naruto-kun, I have a question.", the girl faces him.

"Hm? What is it?", Naruto looks at her and then smiles, "You want a kiss?"

Hanako's face reddens at Naruto's words.

Why would he say that in front of Sakura-chan?! We didn't even kiss after that mission where I came back home.

She laughs evilly before covering Naruto's mouth with her hand and shoving his face to the ground. She hears Naruto's muffled words but ignored it.

"He doesn't know what he's talking about.", Hanako says to Sakura where Sakura only rolls her eyes at them.

"Whatever, call me when you have babies.", Sakura says before dashing off, making both of the teenagers blush.

Hanako finally lets go of the blonde boy that nearly died from suffocation.

"What was that for?", Naruto complains.

"Stop saying things like that!", the girl replies with a blush, "Plus, I wouldn't ask for a kiss from you!", she rolls her eyes.

"Geez, I was just teasing. You're so mean Hanako-chan!"

"Stop saying embarrassing things then!", Hanako sighs, "Anyway, I wanted to ask you what jutsu did you use. The blue thingy."

"Oh, rasengan?", Naruto happily explains the jutsu to Hanako who was amazed by it.

They both walk home, talking about Naruto's training outside of the village.

"My master's name is Pervy Sage."

"Pervy Sage?"

"Yeah! Wanna meet him? Granny told me he just came back."

"Sure!"

－

Hanako did not expect that the master of Naruto, who he calls a pervert, is one of the Legendary Sannins. Tsunade did not only help her train, she also educated her about the traditions, practices, and history of Konoha. She has always wanted to meet the last Sannin she never encountered.

"So, you're the Shinozaki Tsunade was talking about?", Jiraiya asks her.

"Yes, the very last one. I still can't remember what happened to my clan because of memory loss.", Hanako explains to him.

While both of them have a nice conversation, Naruto was getting impatient.

I didn't know they would be talking for this long.

"Looks like Naruto is jealous of all the attention you're giving me.", Jiraiya says out of the blue, resulting Naruto's ears to perk up.

"Why would he be jealous? It's not like we're together.", Hanako rolls her eyes and Jiraiya's mouth opened in shock. Feeling sympathy for his pupil.

I thought they were together. Poor Naruto.

Naruto just huffs at Hanako's statement.

As if I'd want you to be my girlfriend!

Naruto thinks about his feelings well. His feelings for Hanako wasn't the same as to what he felt with Sakura. Whenever he's with Hanako, he just feels warm inside. It's when coming home wasn't so bad because you have someone to walk home with.

There is no doubt that Hanako is indeed attractive. He remembers Kiba bugging him if Hanako was available and that every 'guy' is going to chase after her. He admits that Hanako is pretty, maybe even prettier than Sakura. But that's not what makes him want to be with her all the time.

She's just.... her.

This confuses the blonde so much. Was this the same as having a crush or does he just appreciates Hanako being there for him as a friend? The only crush he has ever had was Sakura, how can he know?

Hanako looks at the blonde and notices that he was zoning out, thinking of something very seriously.

I guess I was too harsh on him.

"Jiraiya-sama, thank you so much for having this conversation with me but I think I have to cut it short.", Hanako points at the zoned-out Naruto, Jiraiya just chuckles at this and bids her goodbye.

Naruto was so deep in thought that he didn't notice Hanako and Jiraiya are done talking. He finally came back from zoning out when Hanako grabs him and pulls him out of the shop they were in. Hanako waves Jiraiya a goodbye and heads off with Naruto.

"Why are you so quiet, Naruto-kun?", Hanako asks the boy. Naruto just huffs at the girl.

"So you're really jealous huh? Do you like me or something?", Hanako teases him as she nudges him with her elbow.

"Of course I like you! I wouldn't be with you right now if I don't, Hanako-chan.", the boy caught Hanako off-guard.

Did he just confess?!

She blushes really hard at the boy's reply.

"W-what are you talking about!?", Hanako panics, she never experienced anything like this before, what was she suppose to do?

Then, it clicked her. Of course this knucklehead automatically thinks that the word "like" means friendship, not romantically. She laughs at herself.

"Oh Kami, I thought you confessed that you like me, as in having a crush on me.", Hanako roars with laughter, "Damn, you caught me there."

"W-what!? You meant like a crush!? No! Of course not!", Naruto blushes furiously.

"Ouch."

"Eh?!", Naruto panics even more. Hanako bursts out of laughter.

"Why? Do you have a crush on someone?", Hanako asks with a teasing voice. Keeping the smirk on her face.

Making Naruto-kun blush is so fun!

"I used to like Sakura-chan ya'know? And it made me realize that I don't know what it means to have a crush or even love someone, romantically.", Naruto says, embarrassed.

"Well, heh, you and me both Naruto-kun. I never liked anyone!", Hanako says with a nervous laugh as they continue to walk home.

"Wha－ really!? I thought you like me! You kissed me back then!"

"That was totally different plus I apologized for it. You're the one who told me you liked the kiss. Hah! You're head over heels for me.", Hanako teases him.

"Wait, so if you never liked anyone, you don't have a crush on Sasuke?", Naruto asks her with disbelief.

"Why would I like someone who literally tried to kill me?"

"I don't know..."

Every girl likes that teme back then.

"See? I guess when I like someone, ", Hanako states as she emphasizes the last part of her sentence, "I wouldn't want the one I like, or even love, to die or try to kill me."

"But I understand you, Naruto-kun. It really is confusing because you can also care about a friend a lot."

"Yeah, thanks for listening Hanako-chan. I'd probably die alone not knowing the meaning of true love ya'know?", Naruto says as arrive at Hanako's front door.

"I think of that sometimes too. So don't worry, I'll probably die with you if we stay this clueless."