Chapter - 2
"How are you feeling, Rick?" The girl who brought Rick to the village asked as she walked inside the hospital room.
"Why are you so late, big sister Rin?" Rick complained with his arms crossed and face puffed up like a pufferfish.
It has been two days since Rin, along with her friends, brought Rick to her village. She has been visiting him daily, bringing him food. In these two days, Rick dropped his guard around her, and now they were good friends. None of the other two boys bothered to show up once to inquire about his well-being, but he was happy with just Rin being there.
"Why is this chunk of meat complaining first thing in the morning?" The silver-haired boy asked, closing the door behind him.
"Big sisss...!" Rick called out for Rin in his support.
"Kakashi! You don't bother showing up for the past few days, and when you do, the first thing you do act mean to Rick?" Rin reprimanded the silver-haired guy.
"Yeah, tell him, big sis," Rick cheered. Then he asked," I am not fat, am I?
Kakashi just ignored them. He grabbed a chair and sat beside the window gazing outside.
"You are not fat, Rick. Maybe, just a... bit...," Rin paused, thinking of the right word, "chubby," she said.
"Why did you shutter? You also think I am fat." Rick started wailing again.
Helplessly sighing, Rin sat beside Rick, "Why are you crying? Let me in you on a little secret. You might be unaware of this, but girls really dig the cute, chubby types," Rin said, "Once you walk out of the hospital, I am certain that the village ladies are going to gaga over you."
Wiping his tears, Rick looked at her, "You are not lying, are you?" sniffing, he asked.
"Why would I?"
"So, you also like the chubby types?" Rick asked.
Hearing Rick, Rin's eyes turned towards Kakashi, who was gazing outside the window minding his own business.
Her gaze remained fixed on Kakashi for a good couple of seconds before she turned towards Rick once again, "I only like Rick," Rin said, kissing Rick's cheek.
But Rin's earlier actions didn't go unnoticed by Rick. When he heard Rin, with a playful smile, he said, "Liar." This one word from him left Rin embarrassed.
"We need to get going," Kakashi brought an end to their playful moment, "The fourth wants to see him," he said, leaving his chair.
Rin nodded and walked out of the room. A couple of minutes later, she came back accompanied by the doctor and a nurse. The doctor gave Rick a thorough examination before giving him permission to leave and telling him to come for a check-up later that week.
Wearing his tattered clothes, Rick followed Rin and Kakashi out of the hospital.
"After meeting the fourth, let's go for some shopping," Rin suggested, to which Rick nodded happily.
Instead of going towards the centre of the village, Rick was lead to the tallest building just below the mountain plateau. On the building was inscribed 'FIRE' in big, bold letters. Behind the building were four sculptured faces from one end of the plateau to the other.
When Rin saw Rick looking at the sculptures on the stony mountain, she said, "I never got the chance to tell you anything about our village. Wanna hear?" Rin asked.
Rick nodded.
"This village is called Konoha, 'The Village Hidden in the leaves'. Do you see 'Fire' written on that tall building? That's the name of our country, 'The Land of Fire'. The sculptures behind that building are that of our chiefs from the beginning of the history of this village. From the left is the first, second, third and the current fourth Hokage. The building is his official residence as well as office. We are headed there to meet the fourth Hokage."
"So Hokage is the most powerful person in the village?" Rick asked.
"Not only powerful but also the most respected person in the village. It is not easy to become a Hokage," Rin explained.
"Do you think even I can become a Hokage?" Rick asked.
But before Rin could answer, Kakashi smirked, "A small meatball like you? Don't even dream about it."
"I may be small, but my cuteness is my weapon. Unlike you, whose foul mouth, short temper, and arrogant look makes it impossible for anyone to like you," Rick said, but then he looked at Rin, "Well, almost everyone."
Rin blushed hearing Rick. Rick's words hit Kakashi pretty hard, and he was about to smack him when Rin intervened, "We are here."
Kakashi took the lead and started climbing the stair on the sides. Rin and rick followed him. They walked to the highest floor of the building and were soon standing in front of a large door.
Kakashi knocked on the door, and after getting approval from the inside, the three of them walked in.
Inside the room were few people. Among them was a familiar face. The black-haired boy who was with Rin and Kakashi on the day they found Rick. Aside from the black-haired boy, there was an old man with a pipe in his mouth, smoking, and a yellow-haired man donned in a robe around his shoulder. He had a headband wrapped on his forehead, just like Rin, Kakashi and the black-haired guy.
"So, you are Rick?" The yellow-haired man asked with a smile. For some reason, the smile was so pleasant that for a second, Rick wanted to drop his guard around this unknown person.
Shaking his head, Rick stopped his heart from faltering, placing his arms on his waist and said with a childish arrogance, "So you are the fourth Hokage?"
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