We arrived at Ichiraku Ramen, the familiar aroma floating in the air, a balm after the intense conversation in the Hokage's office. Teuchi, the owner, greeted us with his usual warmth from behind the counter.
"Hokage-sama! What an honor to have you here!" he greeted with a bow, then his eyes fell on me. "And Naruto! Haven't seen you with old Sarutobi in a while. Welcome!"
"Hello, Teuchi-san," I greeted with a genuine smile. Naruto's memories were full of this man and his daughter's kindness; they were a small oasis in a past sea of hostility.
"It's always a pleasure to visit your establishment, Teuchi," Hiruzen replied with an affable smile, the weight of the earlier conversation seeming to lift a little. "Two bowls of miso ramen with extra pork to start, please."
We sat down on the stools at the counter. While Teuchi skillfully prepared our order, Hiruzen picked up the thread where we left off, his tone now more relaxed, more familiar.
"So, Naruto," he began, observing me with his wise eyes. "Now that you're officially a Genin and… with these new circumstances," he said, clearly referring to my eyes and the mental clarity we discussed, "have you thought about your next steps? Beyond tomorrow's test, of course."
I reflected for a moment, sipping the delicious broth Teuchi had just served us. "Training, I guess, Gramps. Understanding these eyes better, mastering my chakra, learning new jutsu…" I paused, searching for the right words. "I want to be strong. Strong enough to fulfill my dream and… to protect the people starting to matter to me in this new life." My answer was honest, born from a mix of my own ambition and Naruto's residual longing to be acknowledged and protect others.
Hiruzen nodded slowly, an understanding look on his face. "Strength is important for a shinobi, certainly. But remember my warning, Naruto. Don't let power blind you to the true heart of a ninja: the will to protect. And speaking of protecting… or perhaps impressing…" A playful spark lit his eyes. "You seem to have something else on your mind besides training, don't you?"
I tensed slightly, but his tone was kind. I decided to be direct, leveraging the connection we had reinforced. "Well… yeah, Gramps. Actually, I wanted to ask you something…" I cleared my throat, feeling strangely nervous, an echo of teenage Naruto, I suppose. "Not for nothing, but… would you happen to have some money you could… lend me?"
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised but amused. His chakra reflected genuine curiosity. "Money, you say…? This is the first time you've asked me for something like that, Naruto. And what would it be for, if I may ask?" he inquired, his tone tinged with humor.
I felt my cheeks warm slightly, a physical reaction that caught me off guard. "Well, you see… there's a girl… from my class…" I began, a bit awkwardly despite my usual composure. "I'd like to treat her to a decent meal… you know, to… get to know her better. I want to start off on the right foot, do things properly. But, honestly, my finances aren't exactly stellar right now." I finished with a somewhat forced smile.
The surprise on Hiruzen's face transformed into a genuine, hearty laugh, drawing an amused glance from Teuchi. "Hahaha! So that's it! A first romantic interest, eh, Naruto! Of course, my boy! That's what grandfathers are for, to support these important… diplomatic missions!" He wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. "But tell me, what's the lucky young lady's name?"
"Her name is Hinata… Hinata Hyūga," I replied quietly, feeling a bit embarrassed by his enthusiasm. I recognized, with my prior knowledge, that this was a significant step. "She's… she's good to me. And kind. And well… I'd like to get to know her better, as a person."
"A Hyūga! Wow, you aim high, my boy," Hiruzen commented with a mischievous grin. "They're a proud clan, but Hinata has always seemed like a kind-hearted young woman, with a quiet strength. She seems an excellent choice. Well, Naruto, how much do you need for this important undertaking?"
I hesitated for an instant, calculating mentally. I knew decent restaurants in Konoha could be pricey, and I wanted to be able to choose without worrying about the cost. "Maybe… would 50,000 ryō be okay? To make sure there's enough… and, well, I admit I have a pretty good appetite." I smiled, thinking about the ramen.
"Fifty thousand… Hahaha! Alright, Naruto, alright," Hiruzen said, laughing again as he pulled out a somewhat worn leather wallet with a playful monkey design from his robes. "Here." He held out a considerable wad of bills. I counted quickly: 100,000 ryō. "Take her somewhere decent, have fun. And behave like a gentleman, understand?"
I stared at the amount, astonished by his generosity. "Wow… Thanks, Gramps. Really! I don't know how to thank you."
"Consider it a late graduation present and an investment in my… well, in Naruto's happiness," he said with a warm, genuine smile, his eyes reflecting deep emotion that the Six Eyes perceived as a mix of affection and nostalgia. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm afraid the paperwork really is waiting, and I've already imposed enough on my free time. Enjoy your ramen and good luck with your date."
"Bye, Gramps. Take care!" I said as he disappeared in a swirl of leaves, leaving me with a half-finished bowl of ramen and a warm feeling in my chest. The gesture meant more than the money.
I finished my delicious ramen (Teuchi never disappointed), paid the bill (leaving a good tip thanks to the Hokage's generosity), and left Ichiraku with a new purpose and a fuller wallet. I had to find Hinata.
I expanded my perception with the Six Eyes, searching for her unique chakra signature: soft, gentle, but with a core of warm, latent strength. I located her. She was at Training Ground 8, still with her newly formed team. Perfect, I still had time before it got completely dark.
Leaping agilely across rooftops, occasionally using my Wind Cloak to cushion long jumps or silent landings, I reached the vicinity of Training Ground 8 in about ten minutes. I stopped among the trees, observing. Team 8 (Hinata, Kiba with Akamaru, and Shino) were finishing their first activities as a team with Kurenai-sensei. They looked tired but focused after what was surely an initial assessment or introductory exercises following their assignment. I waited patiently for Kurenai to give them final instructions and dismiss them with an elegant gesture.
As Kiba and Shino started walking away, and Hinata paused for a moment gathering her things with neat movements, I stepped out from the trees.
"Hey, Hinata!" I called out as I approached, trying to sound casual and friendly.
She jumped and turned, her face instantly flushing an adorable red upon seeing me. "O-oh! H-hello, N-Naruto-kun!" she stammered, nervously fiddling with her index fingers.
Kiba, who hadn't gotten far, turned at my voice. "Huh? Naruto! What are you doing here, lurking around our assigned training ground?" he asked, his tone slightly challenging, while Akamaru jumped off his head and came to sniff me with canine curiosity. Shino also stopped, observing me silently through his dark glasses. Kurenai, who was already leaving, paused and looked at me with a raised eyebrow, an amused smile playing on her lips.
I gave Akamaru a friendly pat on the head. "Hey, Kiba, Shino, Kurenai-sensei. I just came looking for Hinata."
Kiba eyed me suspiciously. "Hinata? What for?" he asked, stepping slightly protectively in front of her.
"Came to keep my promise, Kiba," I said, turning to Hinata with a warm smile. "Coming to eat with me, Hinata-chan? I invited you this morning, remember?"
Hinata's face turned an even deeper shade of red. She was speechless for a moment, her large, pearly eyes fixed on mine, but then, to my surprise (and Kiba's), she nodded timidly. "Y-yes… N-Naruto-kun. I-I'd like that… v-very much."
"Great!" I replied, my smile widening. I looked at her team. "Well, if you'll excuse us…"
Kurenai smiled openly this time. "Go ahead, have fun. Hinata, see you tomorrow to really get started. Good work today on the evaluation." Kiba still looked skeptical, muttering something about 'weirdos popping up out of nowhere', but Shino simply nodded.
I gently took Hinata's hand, a gesture that made her jump and turn even redder if possible, but she didn't pull away. We started walking, leaving a grumbling Kiba behind. I decided to take her to Yakiniku Q.
The place was lively. We sat at a somewhat secluded table. At first, Hinata was incredibly nervous.
"Do you like Yakiniku?" I started, as I placed some pieces of meat on the grill. "I confess I don't come here often, but I've heard it's good."
She nodded timidly. "Y-yes… it's… g-good."
"Glad to hear it," I said, smiling. "Hey, how was the first session with Kurenai-sensei? Looked like she was assessing you carefully."
"Y-yes… K-Kurenai-sensei is… very professional. T-today we did… a-an evaluation of our skills and practiced… b-basic genjutsu and… h-hand-to-hand combat," she replied, her voice a little steadier.
"Sounds intense for a first day," I commented, offering her a cooked piece of meat. "It's been a crazy day for me too. After everything that happened last night and becoming a Genin... it's like my perspective on a lot of things suddenly shifted. Don't know if you get what I mean."
She looked at me with curiosity in her pearly eyes as she accepted the meat. "Sh-shifted?"
"Yeah," I affirmed, watching her reaction. I wasn't going to talk about the Six Eyes, not here, not so soon. But I could be honest about the general impact. "It's like… after such a big ordeal, everything feels different. The importance of training, what it means to be a Konoha ninja… it's clearer now."
She seemed to reflect on my words. "I-I think… I understand a little. A-after a difficult test… sometimes things look… different."
"Exactly," I said, relieved it didn't sound completely cryptic. "And speaking of tests, you told me at the academy you wanted to be stronger. That's an admirable goal, especially with the pressure I imagine you have in your clan."
Her shoulders tensed slightly and she lowered her gaze. "I-I… just don't want to… d-disappoint… Father… or the Hyūga clan," she murmured. "I-I need to be stronger… to be useful."
I leaned forward slightly, speaking sincerely, using the perception my Eyes gave me to add conviction to my words. "Hinata, you are strong already. You have incredible willpower, I can… feel it. Sometimes the hardest part isn't training more, but believing in yourself. You have great potential, you just need to trust it and let it out."
That direct gaze and my words seemed to have a strong effect. She blushed deeply, but this time she didn't look away immediately. She looked at me, her bright eyes holding a mix of surprise and… hope? "Th-thank you, Naruto-kun… Y-you're very kind to say that. N-nobody…"
She didn't finish the sentence, but I nodded, indicating I understood. I changed the subject to lighten the pressure. "So what do you do to relax? When you're not training or thinking about clan expectations."
A small, shy smile appeared on her lips. "I-I... sometimes... p-press flowers... that I find near... th-the training grounds. I-it helps me… calm down."
"Pressed flowers? That sounds very peaceful. Must require a lot of patience," I commented, genuinely interested. "Do you have a favorite flower to press?"
And so, little by little, the conversation flowed. We talked about flowers, Shino's quirks (about which she had surprisingly sharp observations), Akamaru's loyalty, even different types of tea. I discovered she had a quiet sense of humor and a soft, pleasant laugh that came out when she felt comfortable. It was… nice. Natural. Much more real than any forced interaction. We ate until we were stuffed (and yes, Hinata had a healthy appetite, though she ate with exquisite delicacy).
After dinner, I walked her back to the Hyūga compound. The sun had almost completely set. We stopped in front of the imposing entrance.
"Well, here we are," I said. "I hope you had fun, Hinata. I had a really good time."
"Y-yes… i-it was very nice, Naruto-kun. Th-thank you very much for inviting me and… for listening," she replied, now meeting my eyes more frequently.
"I'm glad. I hope we can do it again soon," I suggested.
"Y-yes… m-me too, Naruto-kun…"
There was a moment of silence. I could have left. But my SI nature, that of someone who knows the "end game" for these characters, pushed me to take a calculated risk. It was a second life; passivity wasn't an option.
Before I could overthink it, I gathered my courage. I closed the small distance between us, gently took her hand – making her gasp in surprise – and drew her slightly towards me. I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers.
It was a brief, soft kiss. I felt her initial surprise, the momentary stiffness. But then, she relaxed, and even responded shyly for a fleeting instant before I pulled away. Her face was incredibly red, her eyes wide and bright, but there was no fear or rejection, only deep shock and… happiness?
"Well, Hinata… rest well," I said again, my voice slightly huskier, trying to maintain a calm smile even though my heart was pounding.
"Y-you too… Naruto-kun," she replied, her voice barely a whisper, but with a new, surprising firmness.
I turned and walked away, feeling her gaze on my back. A goofy grin spread across my face as I walked towards my apartment. What a day, I thought as I finally dropped onto my bed much later, the memory of the kiss, the warmth of the conversation with Hinata, and the ominous promise of Kakashi's survival test mixing in my mind as I closed my eyes.
Hi and sorry for not updating, but well, I have a job now and don't have much free time left to write, but I promise to try and update more often 😃