I Suspect He Has a Crush on You

The next day at school, during the lunch break, Hoshi and Sakumo found time to bring the matter up with Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya were somewhat shocked, but neither refused. In fact, both of them were a little eager to give it a try after hearing about it.

They had their own pride, too. Without having received any early education, they had surpassed most of their classmates in just two months.

This also gave them a rough understanding of their own talent. Deep down, they had begun to realize that staying at the Ninja Academy for too long would not do much for their growth.

After a general discussion, the four set the time for half a year later. Jiraiya and Orochimaru both believed they could master all the Ninja Academy's material within six months and possess enough strength to complete the Graduation Exam.

Hoshi and Sakumo also felt that bringing up the Graduation Exam after half a year would not seem so abrupt.

After discussing the matter, the four of them went out together to find lunch. They found a Dango Shop near the school and filled their stomachs.

The four returned to the classroom early. There were not many people in the class yet. Most children their age could not sit still; they would rather go hungry outside than sit in the classroom and enjoy their lunch in peace.

After waiting in the classroom for a while, Tsunade entered with Yazi.

Tsunade and Yazi had just sat down and were about to start chatting about girl stuff when Hoshi suddenly turned around and said to Tsunade, "Um, Jiraiya and the others and I talked it over. We might apply to graduate in half a year. When you get home after school, remember to mention it to Grandma Mito."

Little Tsunade nodded blankly. She did not quite understand why Hoshi applying for graduation had anything to do with telling Grandma Mito. It was only when she turned and saw Yazi's petrified expression of shock that she belatedly realized what was going on.

She let out a shriek. "What did you say? You're gradu—"

Hoshi jumped in fright at Tsunade's reaction and hurriedly covered her mouth with one hand.

"Why are you shouting so loudly? We don't want anyone else to know about this yet."

Tsunade's voice drew the attention of the few remaining students in the classroom, and they all turned to look in her direction.

What they saw was Hoshi in the corner of the classroom, covering Tsunade's mouth with his hand. Hoshi froze for a moment before slowly letting go and giving the other students an awkward grin. "It's nothing. We're just fooling around, just fooling around."

The students muttered among themselves as they turned back around. Some were envious, some disdainful, some felt they had uncovered a huge secret, and of course, some had their hearts shattered.

Most of the boys reacted like this:

"Hoshi's getting handsy with Tsunade again. Man, I'm so jealous."

"Tch, he's just a coward with the nerve but not the guts. I really don't know what Tsunade sees in a guy like him."

Meanwhile, the girls whispered among themselves. "Hey, did you see that? Hoshi's already touching Tsunade's face. I told you their relationship wasn't simple."

"Exactly, exactly. We have to tell xxx later. She didn't believe us when we told her before."

"Waaah, Hoshi is so handsome. Why does he like that fierce Tsunade? What do I lack compared to her?"

"Since Hoshi already likes someone else, I definitely don't have a chance. I guess I should join the Orochimaru Fan Club after all."

Hayate Hoshi mockery points +10001, fangirl count -1 -1 -1...

The whispers reached Tsunade's ears, making her extremely embarrassed. She stomped hard on Hoshi's foot, then grabbed Yazi and walked out of the classroom without looking back.

Hiss. Hoshi sucked in a breath at Tsunade's stomp, nearly jumping up. He endured the pain and sat back down, saying to Jiraiya, "What do you think is going through her head? I only asked her to mention it to Grandma Mito, to let Mito know in advance. Why did she get so worked up?"

Seeing Hoshi gasp in pain reminded Jiraiya of all the times Tsunade had beaten him up for no reason. He nodded in understanding and said, "You're right. Women's thoughts are too complicated. You can't judge them by common sense."

On the training field, Tsunade snapped off a twig in frustration and said indignantly, "That bastard Hoshi, honestly. If he wants to graduate, then graduate. Why did he have to tell me about it? And then he said I should mention it to Grandma Mito. Seriously, what was that even about?"

Yazi, who did not know that Hoshi and Mito had crossed paths before, looked at the sulking Tsunade, thought for a moment, and suddenly said, "Princess, I suspect Hayate Hoshi has a crush on you!"

Tsunade's face flushed at those words. She instinctively reached out to pinch Yazi's cheek. "It's one thing for those people to spout nonsense, but why are you going crazy along with them?"

This time, Yazi did not immediately apologize. Enduring the pain of having her cheek pinched, she said indistinctly, "Princess, that hurts."

Only after Tsunade let go did she rub her little face and continue, recalling the romance stories she had read. "Look, Hoshi said he didn't want too many people to know, yet he specifically told you. That means you're different from everyone else in his eyes, Princess.

"And the first thing he did was ask you to tell Grandma Mito. That shows he wants your family elders to take him seriously too, to see how talented he is.

"Besides, so many girls in the class like him and want to date him, but he hasn't accepted a single one of them. If there wasn't a girl he liked in his heart, why wouldn't he agree to their confessions?

"Princess, don't you think I'm right?"

Yazi's words left Tsunade dumbfounded and unable to refute her. Her face grew redder and redder as she kept muttering, "That has to be a joke. It can't be possible. How could that awful guy..."

Yazi continued from the side with an expression that said she had already seen through the truth. "The books say that when some little boys like a girl, they especially want to get close to her. Sometimes they even bully her. Isn't that exactly how Hayate Hoshi treats you, Princess...?

"Come to think of it, I don't think Hayate Hoshi is bad at all. He's handsome, strong, and gentle when he talks to other people. If you were dating, he'd be a pretty good boyfriend, wouldn't he?"

As Yazi spoke, she seemed to imagine Tsunade and Hoshi together. Before long, she could not help letting out a lovestruck giggle.

With a crimson face, Tsunade grabbed Yazi's mouth and squeezed it into an "O" shape. Staring at Yazi, she said angrily, "How is it Hoshi who likes me? I think you're the one who likes Hoshi. Otherwise, why do you keep telling me how great he is?"

Yazi wanted to retort, but all she could make were muffled "Mmph, mmph" sounds.

Tsunade let go, turned away, and said, "Enough. I don't believe Hoshi has any feelings for me. Even if he does, I won't accept him.

"I, Tsunade, would rather die alone, never have a boyfriend, and never experience a sweet romance for the rest of my life than have anything happen with Hayate Hoshi!"