28 Chapter 27 (2/2)

”I never knew that a strong woman like you had this much pessimism inside that heart of steel of yours,” Hikari commented, earning a good laugh from the Slug Sannin.

”I have my moments, Hikari-kun!” she declared before she gulped down the kami-knows-how-many cups of sake she had had.

”Well, rest assured that I would do the same thing if I was in your place. More so in my case with the ROOT and all,” Hikari softly said because he didn't miss that split second sad expression his senpai had before she immediately recovered.

”Oh, that perverted senpai of yours came by this morning saying that he would leave today with Naruto,” she suddenly changed the topics.

”About that, I want a ROOT member shadowing him. Are you okay with that?” the boy suddenly remembered his idea months ago.

”I don't know if he liked being followed, he could take care of himself and Naruto. I'm okay with it because it wouldn't hurt if they had a backup but run this by him first,” Tsunade said.

”Another thing, I got something in mind, do you think Jiraiya-senpai could teach Naruto some more of his father's jutsu?” Hikari wondered.

”As expected of a ROOT Director, you knew, huh?! Well, I'm alright with it if the knucklehead could even manage to learn at all. But if he did, he will surpass his father in no time,” Tsunade replied.

”Well, at such a young age he had mastered the Rasengan, the pinnacle of chakra manipulation. Who knew what else he is capable of, Fuinjutsu?” the boy wondered again. ”It's such a mystery as to how he had flunked three times in the academy with that much potential.”

”Well, he has his moments too. Are you going to see him off? He would be gone for a while,” Tsunade inquired seeing that her junior went silent for a few moments with an indulgent expression on his face.

”Yes, I'm going to fetch something for Naruto and checked out who's available for this long term mission,” Hikari announced before he shunshinned into his ROOT office to check the mission roaster and snatched Naruto's gift from his vault. When he had found a suitable candidate, he sent Juzo to the said man to meet him at Ichiraku Ramen. Hikari was on his way to Ichiraku Ramen, the only place Naruto could be found apart from his house and on top of the Hokage stone faces. He ran into Jiraiya who was undoubtedly searching for the blonde boy too. They greeted each other when they stopped on top of a rooftop.

”Yo, Hikari-kun!” the Toad Sannin called. ”Have you seen Naruto around?”

”No, but I know where he is and I am heading there now. Ichiraku Ramen,” the boy explained. ”Senpai, would you be averse if I had one of my ROOT shadowings you?”

”My junior the ROOT Director! The more the merrier!!” the Sannin answered in his extravagant fashion.

”One more thing,” Hikari gave his senpai a black scroll, ”this contains his father's Hiraishin and some Fuinjutsu. Try to see if you could teach him all of these. He's a bit of a blockhead so be patient with him.”

”Are you sure that he should learn all of these?”, Jiraiya's face had changed after he had heard what Hikari had said.

”Yeah, he should. We wouldn't be around every time to protect him. Best we teach him what we could and let him do the rest. I trust him.” Hikari slowly said. ”Oh, come at Ichiraku Ramen in 45 minutes outside of the stall. That should give me ample time to bid him farewell.”

”And that also gave me enough time for quick research!” the Sannin grinned before he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Hikari jumped down the roof after that and continued on foot towards the ramen shop.

The young ROOT Director was arriving at the ramen shop but from a distance, he could already hear Naruto that was inside the stall with the noise he was making. He was with Iruka who was buying the boy a bowl for the road. Naruto was explaining how he had landed an apprenticeship with one of the Sannin. Hence, Hikari decided to wait outside for a bit so that the two of them could have a moment to themselves.

”So, you're going on a long trip then?” Iruka had to confirmed after Naruto had explained with a mouth full of noodles. The knucklehead said yes before he slurped down his second helping of his Miso Char Siu Ramen that was in the extra-large bowl the shop had to offer.

”Hey, are you guys dating each other by any chance?” Hikari suddenly said as he decided to enter the shop at last. Teuchi and Ayame immediately blurted out laughing.

”No, idiot!” the two stood up and screamed at the loudmouth Hyuuga.

”Well, you guys seemed to be having ramen without me nowadays,” the dark-haired jounin said as he sat down next to Naruto. ”Old man, one Shio Ramen, please?”.

”One bowl of Shio Ramen coming right up!” Teuchi replied.

”Make that extra large and put it on my tab,” Iruka suddenly cut in as he rubbed the back of his head. The man was feeling guilty for not inviting Naruto's ramen partner along so he had to make up to the boy somehow. Naruto raised his hand at Hikari with glee.

”Oh, sweet! Thank you, Iruka-sensei!” Hikari said as he high-fived his blonde best friend. The ramen was quick to be served as expected and Hikari dug in without much hesitation.

”Now, seeing that Sakura was busy with her study with Tsunade-senpai, it is my job to give you a good set of nagging for the road. Uzumaki Naruto, we, your teammates want you to study diligently and become the strongest shinobi that Konoha had seen!” Hikari said after he had finished his bowl. Naruto couldn't resist to grin and gave his best friend a thumbs up.

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”You can count on me, Dattebayyo!!” he declared and they had a good laugh together before Jiraiya suddenly burst in.

”Huh, you're are here. Let's get going, Naruto,” Jiraiya said as Hikari excused himself for a moment from the soon to be a manly crying moment. Outside, a ROOT with a blank mask and familiar khaki robe was waiting for him.

”Are you ok with this mission, Fu? You can do it however you please but it's a long mission plus, all you have to do is shadow them and provide back up if necessary,” the young Hyuuga asked as the said ROOT kneeled before him.

”This is easy, Director. I accept,” the ROOT said.

”Well, you can switch out with Torune throughout the mission. Send me reports if there was a significant development,” Hikari added before the said ROOT shunshinned away. Naruto and Jiraiya were going out of the stall after long dragging goodbye with Iruka-sensei.

”Well, I'm off! Take care of Sakura-chan for me,” the blonde said before they high-fived for the last time. Naruto glanced over the Hokage stone faces before he held out a fish at them.

”Watch me!”

”What're you doing? Let's go Naruto!” Jiraiya was getting annoyed but the blonde wisely obeyed that pervert Sannin. As Naruto walked out if the village, Hikari had sensed a familiar chakra signature before he shunshinned there immediately. It was Hinata who was watching them in secret.

”Aren't you going to say goodbye to your love interest???” Hikari blurted out behind her. She jumped for a bit before her face went profusely read and smokes could be seen going out of her eyes.

”You have exactly five seconds to run,” Hinata monotonously said and when he turned back, veins were showing around her eyes. Hikari immediately backed up a bit, startled by the change of personality.

”Oh, hell. I'm sorry, Hinata!” Hikari pleaded as she back away from her.

”Run,” the girl simply said before a chase broke out in the town that leads to the Hyuuga compound.