This kid was a born lady-killer! He had a beautiful foreign kunoichi eating out of his hand! Even I couldn't pull that off when I was young! Jiraiya continued dreaming up material for his new book as he followed his student and his date back to the Training Ground.
Halfway there, Naruto received the memories of a Shadow Clone that had just dispersed-the clone had spent a long time talking with Shizune. She had come to ask him to stop being hostile toward Tsunade, telling him about Tsunade's late younger brother, Nawaki, and Dan, the love of her life. She had also explained that the necklace had belonged to the First Hokage and how much it meant to Tsunade.
Naruto and Yugito were evenly matched in their sparring. Yugito's Fire Release and Lightning Release were far more refined than the Wind Release Naruto had yet to fully master, but Naruto had the edge in speed and taijutsu. Neither of them was good at genjutsu because their chakra reserves were so immense.
They fought like that for hours, laughing and joking. Neither would admit defeat after a match, and they always insisted on another round.
"Ready for another round? I'm definitely winning this time, Yugi-chan! Don't think you can trap me with those ninjutsu again," Naruto teased.
"Whatever you say, Whiskers. Just hurry up and admit I'm stronger than you," the kunoichi from Kumogakure replied with a laugh.
"All right, all right, you two. Isn't it about time you called it a day?"
A voice came from behind them. They were sitting on the ground, watching Naruto's Shadow Clones climb trees and practice Water Walking upside down, training the flow and control of chakra in their hands and feet. When they turned, they saw the renowned Toad Sage. His usual sloppy, lecherous air was gone, replaced by the awe-inspiring presence of a powerful shinobi.
"Miss Yugito Nii, may I ask why you're here with my student?"
"Ah-Lord Jiraiya! I came to deliver Lord Raikage's reply to the intelligence and request you sent... but with Lord Hokage dead and no new Hokage chosen yet, I couldn't get into Konoha at all. A few days ago, I saw Naruto-kun training here and came over to ask him about it. When I learned he was looking for the new Hokage, I stayed to get to know him a little better." Yugito explained nervously, afraid of angering one of the Sannin.
"Calling him '-kun' already, are you? Are you sure that's the only reason you stayed?" Jiraiya suddenly broke into a lecherous grin, instantly turning back into the infamous Pervy Sage and making both young shinobi blush scarlet.
"Well... I, I..." Yugito stammered, unable to get the words out. In truth, she had fallen for the blond boy, but she wasn't ready to admit it yet, at least not in front of Jiraiya. "Lord Raikage's reply is right here! We need Lord Hokage's approval before we can finalize the agreement on reconnaissance and border cooperation. Only then can I go back." She quickly pulled out several scrolls and handed them to Jiraiya, successfully changing the subject.
"All right, then stay with us until we convince the new Hokage to return to Konoha. That old woman is still pretty resistant, but I'm sure she'll come around eventually." As he spoke, Jiraiya sealed the scrolls inside a larger one and put it away. "By the way, kid, how's your Rasengan coming along? The bet ends tomorrow."
"I'll definitely master it tomorrow. I'm sure of it! My chakra control has improved so much this week. If I can't manage it now, I probably never will." Naruto spoke firmly, determined to win the bet.
"Anyway, Miss Yugito, we have something important to take care of tomorrow, so we won't keep you any longer," Jiraiya told the girl.
"Wait, Pervy Sage. I'm walking Yugi-chan back to her hotel. You told me yourself that you should always walk a girl home after a date." Naruto blushed again as he spoke, sheepishly admitting that they had indeed been on a date, not merely training.
"Oh? A date? Not bad, kid, not bad at all. Well, have fun with your new girlfriend." Jiraiya's teasing made both young people blush even harder.
"Damn it, Whiskers, why did you tell him it was a date?" Only after Jiraiya left did Yugito finally manage to calm herself enough to speak to Naruto.
"Ah, sorry, Yugi-chan. I thought you wouldn't mind. I just wanted to spend a little more time with you. If you don't want that, I'll leave now instead of walking you back." Thinking she was angry, Naruto felt his heart sink. He turned to head into town, convinced she didn't like him at all.
Seeing the boy turn to leave, Yugito felt as though someone had clenched a fist around her heart. Especially when she heard him stop using the affectionate "Yugi-chan," she instantly panicked.
"Naruto, wait, don't go! I'm sorry, that's not what I meant! I was just a little embarrassed about being called out on our date in front of Lord Jiraiya. I'm not angry. Please don't go, okay?" As she pleaded, she ran up and hugged Naruto tightly from behind.
Naruto froze, then smiled again as he realized she wasn't angry with him. "Okay, Yugi-chan, I won't go. Come on, I'll walk you back to your hotel." As he spoke, he turned in her embrace and hugged her back.
They sat and talked for quite a while longer before heading into town side by side. Halfway there, Naruto reached out and took her hand. Yugito shifted her fingers slightly, intertwining them with his.
A few minutes later, the two shinobi reached the entrance to Yugito's hotel and said their goodbyes. Just as Naruto was about to turn and leave, he suddenly leaned in and planted a quick, gentle kiss on Yugito's cheek. Yugito instinctively closed her eyes, and a catlike purr actually escaped her throat.
"Yugi-chan, did you just purr?" Naruto teased with a laugh.
"What! N-no! I don't make sounds like that!" she lied stubbornly, without the slightest hint of conviction, making Naruto laugh again.
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