"There's a mission? And they specifically asked for me?" Naruto looked at Tsunade with a face full of surprise, feeling a bit confused. "There's no conflict between countries anymore. They support each other. Our village shouldn't be short on ninjas, right? Why do they want me to do it?"
"Even though I'm a Genin, I'm not good at every kind of mission." Naruto said, sounding unhappy.
Sakura and Shikamaru's team had gone to the moon. That Toneri guy was eyeing Hinata closely right now. How could he leave?
Plus, with his strength and reputation, who in the ninja world could order him to take a mission? It didn't sound great to say it, but he didn't need to do missions to raise his ninja rank anymore. Once he passed the exam, he could become a Jonin right away.
Though he always failed the exam.
Tsunade rested her chin on her hand and looked at Naruto with a strange expression. "Two reasons. First, it's an escort mission. The person being escorted is a country's Daimyo. The Land of Fire Daimyo thinks it's important, so he told me to try my best to meet their request."
"Second reason, they specifically asked for you because they say you're an old friend. They haven't seen you in a long time and miss you. They want to chat with you during this mission and ask you some questions."
Naruto tilted his head. "But I don't know any Daimyo."
He went through everyone he knew in his mind and couldn't find a single Daimyo. Was it a trick?
"Is that so?" Tsunade laughed, her smile a bit mean. "Anyway, you have to take this mission. It's the Land of Fire Daimyo's order. And... I know Hinata needs you by her side right now, so I told them you could bring your family. They agreed."
Oh, like that... Naruto rubbed his chin and thought about it.
Tsunade looked at him like that and said grumpily, "Do you know how much reputation an escort for a Daimyo mission can give you? Your name could spread in the Land of Fire and other countries, just like the Twelve Guardian Ninja."
"Huh? What's that about thirty-five million?" Naruto asked, surprised.
Tsunade: "...".
Asuma didn't kill you because you're really strong.
Tsunade rubbed her forehead. "Anyway, this mission means leaving the village, so you can stop the extra lessons with Iruka for now. Take Hinata and go have some fun... oh wait, you might not enjoy it much."
Just thinking about the client's expression back then,
Tsunade now saw Naruto's smile as full of betrayal.
But Naruto clearly didn't notice any of that. He just thought... there's a mission, we leave the village, I can take Hinata and go play, and no need for ninja school lessons.
Whoa, perfect!
His eyes lit up, and he got serious right away. "Grandma Tsunade, I think you're right. How can Konoha turn down a client's mission? Especially when the client is a Daimyo. This is a chance for Konoha to become famous!"
Tsunade: "...".
Naruto's full enthusiasm almost infected Tsunade.
If I didn't know you were trying every trick to skip Iruka's lessons, I'd actually believe you.
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Anyway, this mission isn't hard. The client is going to the Land of Iron. They want to talk about buying chakra metal, and also feel the hot springs there."
Naruto took the mission scroll and looked puzzled. "Wasn't the Land of Iron blown up to the sky by Kaguya?"
"Correction, it was blown up by Kurama." Tsunade said grumpily. "It's the new location. Because of Kurama's Tailed Beast Bomb, they found natural hot springs at the old site. It seems to have become a local feature, and now it's a hot tourist spot."
"If the client hadn't specifically asked for you, I'd want to go myself."
Tsunade muttered under her breath.
To be honest, she'd wanted to ditch her Hokage job and go play for a long time. That damn Jiraiya figured out her plan and ran off, leaving her alone in the Hokage office to handle paperwork.
If the Sixth Hokage wasn't under review, she'd quit being Hokage right now and go find Jiraiya.
Then send him to meet Orochimaru!
In the Land of Iron, Jiraiya soaking in the hot springs sneezed big time.
Naruto smiled awkwardly at Tsunade, who looked annoyed. "Don't worry, Grandma Tsunade. Kakashi-sensei's Hokage spot is already being reviewed. In two years at most, you can leave this job and go find the Pervy Sage."
"Get lost!" Tsunade yelled.
Naruto vanished from the Hokage office in an instant, leaving behind a cheerful "Sure thing~".
On the main street, a space portal opened. Under the stares of people who were used to it, Naruto stepped out and went to Hinata's side, where she was buying vegetables.
Hinata saw Naruto and smiled sweetly. "Naruto-kun, you're back."
"Yeah." Naruto nodded,
and happily went to Hinata's side. "Hinata, Grandma Tsunade gave me a mission. She said I can take you along. We can go to the Land of Iron and soak in the hot springs together!"
"T-Together?" Hinata's whole face turned red.
Naruto: "...".
Sometimes he really felt like Hinata thought more than he did, even though he'd been peeking at little Liu Bei since he was a kid.
"I mean, together, but separately." Naruto coughed dryly and explained.
Hinata's face got even redder. She bowed her head all the way, and only let out a soft "Mm."
Naruto looked at Hinata's shy look and felt a bit emotional. Hinata's personality was changing bit by bit, but she still blushed at everything, and that hadn't changed at all. He wondered if it would be the same after they got married.
"So, Hinata, do you want to go with me?" Naruto reached out and held Hinata's hand, asking softly.
Hinata shyly lifted her head. "Wouldn't nine be too many..."
Naruto: "...".
Nine? Nine what?
"N-No... that's not it, Naruto-kun..." Hinata waved her hands in a panic, her blush even more obvious. "I-I mean, I want to go with you... to soak... soak in the hot springs..."
By the end, Hinata's voice was so low it was hard to hear.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, feeling both amused and warm. "Yeah, then let's go home and pack. The mission scroll says we leave this afternoon."
Hinata nodded gently, her tone full of excitement. "Mm."
She was so happy to go play with Naruto, so glad to stand with him, so blessed to... hold hands with Naruto on the way home.
Naruto held Hinata's hand and didn't use any ninjutsu. He walked home step by step.
Hinata held Naruto's hand, her eyes on him, full of tenderness.
Our future will surely be like this, simple and happy.
Hinata thought her idea might be a bit greedy, but even if it was, she wanted to stand by Naruto's side forever, watching him...
Until the afternoon, that's what Hinata thought.
Naruto looked at Kazahana Koyuki standing in front of him and felt his scalp tingle right away.
He couldn't believe it and pointed at Kazahana Koyuki, who was dressed normally but somehow looked seductive. For a moment, he had nothing to say.
That's right, the most famous entertainer in the ninja world, the star of "The Princess of the Snow Country," the Daimyo of the Land of Snow, Fujikaze Yukie! Real name...
Kazahana Koyuki!
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