The teacher kept teaching. In his heart he felt the whole thing was odd, but he pretended not to notice. Kids that age playing at romance was nothing new.
He spoke, but few students listened. Even Orochimaru was distracted. Jiraiya, who usually slept through class, stared wide-eyed at Hiko and Tsunade.
Here we go again, Hiko thought with a wry smile. He had no idea what Tsunade wanted. If she did not want to listen, fine, but did she have to stare holes in his face? Handsome or not, he did not need this attention.
The atmosphere grew stranger until the teacher finally sighed and said, "Tsunade, even if I do not object, can we at least finish the lesson first?"
"..."
HAHAHA!
Silence cracked, then laughter exploded. Led by panda-eyed Jiraiya, everyone except Hiko, Orochimaru, and a fuming Tsunade burst out laughing.
"Alright, quiet down. Back to class," the teacher clapped.
Tsunade wanted to dig a hole and bury herself. Hiko's mouth twitched. Maybe he should apply for early graduation. At this rate, the Senju would want his head.
To "flirt" with the Senju princess was a serious charge. He would not shoulder that pot. Worse, Tsunade was still a child, and he was Uchiha. Bad combination.
"Hey, Hiko, wait for me!"
Jiraiya, healed and forgetful, bounced over as soon as class ended. Of all their classmates, he had taken the most beatings from Tsunade, yet he never learned.
"Something you need?"
Hiko did not stop, only slowed. He had nothing against Jiraiya, but the boy's antics were exhausting. How did a five-year-old even sneak into a women's bath? What was the point?
"Heh, nothing. Where are you going?"
Jiraiya was naturally friendly. He grinned at everyone and everything. His mouth, however, often got him punched.
"Training grounds. To train," Hiko said plainly.
"Ohhh..."
The word deflated the boy. Later he would rival Tsunade and Orochimaru, even surpass them in some ways. For now he was a prankster who hated practice. That would change only after graduation when all three were assigned to one squad.
In truth, among the three, Tsunade would prove the laziest, while Jiraiya, later on, would become the most diligent. Hard work made up for clumsiness. It fit both him and, in time, Naruto. Same goofy grin, same troublemaking, same weakness for women.
Orochimaru had the talent halo, always strong, always ahead. Tsunade too carried herself above the pack. Only Jiraiya looked foolish.
But once a carefree fool decided to work, he was terrifying. He would fail, fail again, and still not fall.
Hiko valued that far more than Orochimaru's cold-blooded calm.
"Come with me?" Hiko asked.
Jiraiya hesitated. He wanted to play, but an invitation was an invitation. "Together, together! Haha, it has been a while since I trained."
He strutted forward in exaggerated strides. Hiko sighed, covered his eyes with one hand, pointed with the other, and said, "Idiot. That way is the bathhouse. The training grounds are over here."
"Uh..."
Jiraiya froze mid-step, smile rigid, like someone had tapped his pressure point. He could not put his foot down or take another step.
Did I mess up again?
As he muttered in Hiko's ear, Hiko fought the urge to kick him. The boy never stopped talking. He also proved he rarely went to the training grounds.
"Hiko, when do you think we can graduate?"
"I want to grow up fast!"
"So annoying. They say I am too young and will not let me drink!"
"Hiko, are you tired? Want a break?"
Flat on the grass, Jiraiya stared at the sky. He dreamed of graduation, of growing up, of drinking pretty wine with pretty women.
HUUU...
His words drifted into Hiko's left ear and out the right. No wonder Tsunade liked to pound him. Even without provocation, his chatter alone could unleash her inner beast.
How did this chatterbox become one of the Sannin? How did he reach Kage level?
Hiko would not hit him like Tsunade did, but he had doubts. Could this really be the future Toad Sage? It was hard to see.
HUU... HUUU...
Boredom and drowsiness won. Mid-ramble, his eyelids drooped, and the snores began.
Maybe he would only grow after Tsunade and Orochimaru crushed him a few times.
Hiko glanced over. Jiraiya had dozed off in the sun, snoring in comfort. He would pay for it when he woke.
"ACHOO!"
"ACHOO!"
A chill crept in. Jiraiya sneezed awake.
"..."
Hiko was gone. The sun was gone. The moon hung high, and stars crowded the sky. He had slept until late night.
"ACHOO!"
"Hiko, that is dirty. You went home without waking me!"
"ACHOO!"
Next morning he stumbled into class, twin strings of clear snot dangling, sneezing, and accused Hiko at once.
Poor kid. Hiko almost felt bad, but he would not shoulder that pot. Hands spread, he said innocently, "I did call you. You said you would sleep until the end of time, with your beautiful lady beside you. So I let you be."
"..."
Jiraiya's face went dark. The twin strands swayed like children on a swing, nearly kissing his lips.
"Get lost!"
"Stop grossing me out!"
A blur flashed. Jiraiya turned into a cannonball and flew out the door. Hiko had thought about swatting him himself, but he did not need to. Tsunade could not stand it.
He was lecherous enough on a normal day. Sick and snotty was worse. Beautiful lady? Spare her.
"Tsk." Hiko hunched his shoulders and offered three seconds of silence for the fallen. Annoy him and nothing happened. Annoy Tsunade and you asked for it.
For the record, Hiko had tried to wake him. Jiraiya had waved him off and vowed to sleep forever with his beautiful lady. Hiko obliged. The result was an all-night nap, a cold, and two legendary lines of snot.
"You went to the training grounds?"
Flicking her hands as if dusting away the contamination, Tsunade shot Jiraiya one last glare, then turned back to Hiko.