Chapter 53 - Request (1/2)

Being a ”Pro Hero” was far more exhausting than Naruto gave it credit for.

Mentally exhausting.

”How do reporters get to the scenes of crimes so fast?” Naruto complained as he collapsed on the couch in Ryuko's office. It was soft, and comfortable, and while he wasn't facing any physical exhaustion, dealing with so much publicity was just taxing on his mind. A bank robbery done by villains, a burning building with hundreds trapped inside of it, stopping a small time robbery from happening while on patrol, preventing a suicide attempt, helping the police with identifying the cause of death of a murder victim and then tracking down the killer. All of these events had happened, and each time, the second the event was resolved Naruto was suddenly surrounded by reporters who seemed to just know when and where something was happening.

Ryuko sat behind her desk and smiled.

Being in the shoes of a Pro Hero was a lot different than being a Vigilante like Naruto had been doing, where he avoided the press.

”You know, most heroes just have their interns watch from the sidelines.” Ryuko pointed out to Naruto as she pressed a small buŧŧon on her desk. What was perhaps her favorite buŧŧon on the desk. She had a point anyway though, if Naruto had interned with anyone else, he would have more than likely been told to just watch as the pros did the work. She knew his skills though, she trained him after all, and she knew he was able to handle most situations. The reason why she wanted him to intern under her, was so that she could give him the experience that he needed. She wanted him to experience a hands on experience... with dealing with reporters and the press in general. Naruto making a debut as a hero, while still a 1st year intern, would raise his popularity by showing just how competent he was as a hero.

It was a waste not to let him do actual hero work, and as long as she was there with Naruto, he didn't need to be a pro hero, since he was her intern.

”Thanks for not being most heroes.”

”Don't thank me, your potential would be wasted on the sidelines. If I believe my interns are capable, I will allow them to use their abilities where they can be useful. So, why don't you tell me what has been on your mind all day?” Ryuko asked as the door opened up. She raised an eyebrow when she didn't recognize the boy who was carrying a tray that had two cups on it. She sort of recognized his looks, she had seen a similar guy before. She didn't remember employing anyone that young though to work for her. ”You are?” Ryuko asked.

Naruto looked up.

”You're that guy... Gaara... from the Business Class.” Naruto pointed out as he saw Gaara walking into the room with two steaming hot cups of coffee on a tray. Naruto recognized him as the guy who gave him a business card, and apparently Momo one as well. He was wearing a nice suit this time though, and his super messy hair was combed very neatly to the side.

”Ah, Rasa's son he asked to allow to intern here. Thank you for bringing the coffee, and I hope you learn much while interning here.” Ryuko, in full Ryukyu authority mode, spoke to Gaara as he sat down the coffee on her desk. He took one of the cups, and walked over to Naruto, before handing it to him as Naruto sat up. Gaara stood up straight and looked at Ryuko, before he bowed.

”Thank you for the opportunity.”

'So formal... but I guess for those not in hero classes, that is kind of normal.' Naruto started to pour religious amounts of milk into the coffee, and some cubes of sugar. He got up and passed the sweetened coffee to Ryuko, before he took her black coffee for himself. Gaara was already out of the room, door closed behind him. ”Guess they didn't tell him you prefer sweet over bitter.” Naruto mentioned as he sat on top of her desk, legs hanging off of it.

She raised an eyebrow.

”My question, I would like an answer. I had hopes you would pick me, but I know you well enough to know you wouldn't pick me, if you didn't have an ulterior motive for it. I taught you practically everything I know.” Ryuko pointed out as she gave him a small, knowing smile. She enjoyed seeing him try and hide the guilt from his face, seeing as she had nailed the nail on the head with that one.

Naruto took a breath.

Why did she have to know him so well?

”... There is a girl who is suffering in this city, that I want to save. You're office is stationed here, and I knew that you were planning on letting me do real hero work. You were my best chance of saving her.” Naruto admitted with a wince. Ryuko was like an elder sister to him, and he felt really bad that he was using her. He felt horrible for using her kindness for his own ends, but he needed to do it. He needed to do anything he could possibly do that would let him save the girl as soon as possible, and prevent anymore horrible treatments to the girl herself. He didn't want to wait until it was too late, or tell the pro heroes and wait for them to get warrants, or try and do their own research into the girl before saving her. ”I've been having visions, in my dreams... of the future.” Naruto told Ryuko, and he glanced over to her.

Gone was her amusement, and she was pure serious as she looked at him.

”Continue, but how long have these visions been happening, and how often do they happen?” Ryuko didn't doubt Naruto for a second, she didn't know him to be a liar unless it was for the best. She could see it was hard for him to talk about this stuff.