"Don't let not having a team soil your youthful fire," Gai encouraged, "I'm sure your next team will do much better and pass your test."
"Oh," Kakashi said mockingly from his book, "Did you say something Gai?"
"Argh!," Gai shouted, "Curse you and your hip attitude my eternal rival!"
"To think Gai and Kakashi have always been like this with each other while growing up," Kurenai remarked.
"There are some things and people who'll never change," Anko said.
"Speaking of change," Kurenai interjected, "I'm aiming to have Hinata as my future Genin pupil."
"You mean Neji's younger cousin," Gai acknowledged.
"That's right," Kurenai said sympathetically, "Her clan sees her as a burden for her inability to learn their clan fighting style. Regardless of their harsh view of the young girl, I know she has potential to rise above her difficulties and prove wrong all those who think little of her."
"You're already attached to the young girl I see," Kakashi remarked.
"So what's that to you," Kurenai asked.
"Just making a mental note of things," Kakashi replied with his head still buried in his book, "I heard from others that the Hyuuga heiress is a mostly shy and timid girl. But from what I've seen from time to time, I often question her shyness and timid nature."
"Why's that," Kurenai curiously, though she wondered where Kakashi was getting at.
"For instance," Kakashi explained, "She's particularly close and fond of the blond-haired blue-eyed Jinchuuriki. I'm sure by now that you're very well aware that she's been seen with Naruto almost everywhere he goes regardless of what most of the villagers say or how she's viewed by them for doing so over the years. In spite of her timid and shy nature, her courage to openly stand up against the villagers' senseless discrimination toward Naruto is most admirable, more so than the Genins I failed today and all the others I failed over the years.
"Yosh," Gai said happily, "Hinata-san's youthfulness is most radiant. I applaud her burning zeal in not to being influenced by the unyouthful spirit of those who scorn their hero."
"Like I said before," Kurenai remarked, "She has potential and I hope that I'm given the chance to bring them out."
"We'll see how things turn out next year then with the next Genin class," Kakashi stated.
(Back At The Training Ground)
Hinata and Naruto had placed their sandals back on their feet after coming out from the lake when their physical and elemental training concluded for the day.
"I'm exhausted," Hinata breathed.
"Likewise," Naruto said with a smile, "But you did pretty good today my little Moon's Eye Spring Rabbit."
Naruto moved and kissed Hinata softly on her left cheek. The gesture turned Hinata's shocked face bloody red. Naruto then realized what he did.
"Hinata-chan," Naruto panicked, "I-I-I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me! I-It just…I mean…"
Hinata touched the spot on her face where Naruto kissed. A moment later, Hinata giggled excitedly with her face still red.
He kissed me!, Hinata shouted in her minded happily, Naruto-kun actually kissed me for the very first time! That means there's a chance that in the future we'll become something more than friends!
Hinata turned to Naruto and assured, "I'm not angry at you for kissing my face Naruto-kun. To be honest, I really enjoyed it."
Naruto sighed in relief, wanting to know where the impulse to want to kiss her came from. Swallowing her own fear and nervousness, Hinata went over and kissed Naruto's right cheek in return. Now it was Naruto's turn to blush and touch the spot where Hinata kissed him, realizing that was the first time Hinata kissed him.
"Now I know what it feels like to be kissed," Naruto grinned, "It's a great feeling!"
Hinata giggled again before reaching and taking hold of Naruto hand.
"Let's go back and get something to eat," Hinata suggested.
"Great idea," Naruto agreed, "Let's get Sandaime-jiisan to treat us out to lunch!"
The pair left the training ground with their hand and fingers entwined together. It was a while before they reached the Hokage Tower but they got there nonetheless. Upon arriving, they stepped over to the secretary and told her that they were here to see the Hokage. The secretary called and informed Hiruzen of his visitors and he told her that they were allowed up into his office.
Happy that the Hokage had time for them, Hinata and Naruto hurried on their way to see Hiruzen. When the entered through the door of his office they found Hiruzen sitting at his desk going over some documents among the many other documents on his desk.
"Hey jiisan," Naruto greeted, "Are you busy? Hinata-chan and I were wondering if you'd treat us to ramen today?"
It's more like you were hoping he'd treat us Naruto-kun, Hinata thought to herself. Hiruzen looked at the two youths in front of him and chuckled, "Well I suppose no harm could come out of it. Besides I'm in need of a break anyway."
"Sweet!," Naruto said excitedly before Sandaime stood up from his chair and went over to Hinata and Naruto.
"Well now," Hiruzen said, "Let's be on our way then."
(Meanwhile)
Sasuke was still roaming about the streets of Konoha when…
"Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke just kept walking not wanted to pay heed to the one calling to him.
"Sasuke-kun!"
The girl named Sakura finally caught up to Sasuke. The boy in turned had no choice but to confront her as he turned to face her.
"Yes Sakura," Sasuke replied, "What do you want?"
"Well Sasuke-kun," Sakura started, "I was hoping that-"
Sasuke's eyes caught sight of something that caught his attention, which cut Sakura off. Sakura turned around to see what it was and found that it was Sandaime walking together with Naruto and Hinata. All three of them were heading toward Sasuke and Sakura.
"It's Sandaime-sama," Sakura acknowledged, "And he's with Naruto and Hinata."
Sasuke said nothing in reply.
"Hello there you two," Hiruzen greeted with his grandfather-like smile, "Is everything all right with you two?"
"Fine," Sasuke replied plainly.
"Everything's great Sandaime-sama," Sakura said, "Where were you going?"
"I'm out on my well-deserved break for lunch," Sandaime said, "Naruto and Hinata are here to accompany me. Would you both like to join us too?"
"I'd love to," Sakura said excitedly. Seeing the chance to be near Hinata, Sasuke accepted, "I'll accept your invitation."
Sasuke moved to be next to Hinata. The Uchiha turned to look at Naruto who in turn resisted the urge to frown at him. Sakura hurried to stand next to Sasuke.
"Well let's be on our way then," Hiruzen suggested. The group then made their way over to Ichiraku. While on the way, Sasuke turned to Hinata and said, "I was hoping to run into you earlier. I stopped by but was told that you weren't home."
"No," Hinata said, "I left after my Jyuuken training was over."
"And how's that going," Sasuke asked. Hinata lowered her head, "Not so well. I'm still having trouble understanding my clan's style though I made a some progress."
"It's better than no progress," Sasuke replied, "What you obtained from it is an accomplishment by itself. Be proud of your current success, if that much Hinata."
"Th-Thank you," Hinata said, trying to act as meek and shy as possible. Sakura looked at Hinata with jealousy and resentment, even though Hinata did nothing significant to really gain Sasuke's attention, or so Sakura believed.
What could you possibly see in her Sasuke-kun, Sakura wondered with a frown. Naruto saw the look at Sakura's face but chose not to give any comment about it.
"Hey Jiisan," Naruto asked.
"Yes Naruto," Hiruzen replied.
"The author to that Icha-Icha Paradise book was one of your students right," Naruto asked, "The one called Jiraiya?"
"Yes," Hiruzen admitted, "He's also one of the three Sannins."
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