Chapter 32: The Human Pinball and the Funeral of Bubbles part-2
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Hey, Hinata."
I turned. Naruto was standing there. He looked sad, staring at the Hokage's picture. He was holding a white flower.
"Naruto-kun."
"The old man is gone," Naruto whispered. "But... he died protecting us. So we have to keep getting stronger, right?"
"Yes," I said softly. "We have to protect what he left behind."
Naruto looked at me. Rain dripped from his nose.
"You were cool out there, Hinata," Naruto said. "I saw the snake. Or... I saw the snake throw up a giant cloud of bubbles. That was you, right?"
I blushed. "I gave it... a stomach ache."
Naruto chuckled weakly. "Only you could defeat a giant snake by making it sick. Thanks, Hinata."
He placed his hand on my head.
[System Alert: Headpat. Sadness Buffer Active. No tripping allowed.]
I leaned into his touch for a second. It was warm despite the rain.
..................
Life in the village slowly returned to normal. Repairs began.
I was walking through the market a week later. I needed to restock on supplies. Specifically, I needed more superglue and maybe a helmet.
"System," I thought. "I have 3,800 Shy Points. Is there anything that can help me with... normal life? I just want to walk down the street without causing a disaster."
[Shop Recommendation:]
Item: "The Social Lubricant" Lozenge. (Makes you speak clearly without stuttering for 1 hour). Cost: 100 Points per pill.Skill: "Coffee Table Sense" (Passive). (You automatically know where furniture is, so you don't stub your toe). Cost: 2,000 Points.Item: "The Plot Armor Umbrella". (Protects you from falling debris, bird droppings, and sudden rainstorms). Cost: 1,500 Points.
"I will take the Coffee Table Sense," I decided. "My toes have suffered enough."
[Transaction Complete. Your toes thank you.]
I felt a tingling in my feet. I suddenly knew exactly where every crate and bench on the street was. It was amazing.
I walked with newfound confidence.
"Hinata-sama!"
I turned. It was Ko.
"Lord Jiraiya has requested your presence," Ko said, looking distasteful. "He is at the hot springs. He says it is 'urgent training'."
My confidence vanished.
.......................
I found Jiraiya near the entrance of the mixed baths (which were currently closed for repairs, thankfully). He was peeking through a hole in the fence at the construction workers.
"Lord Jiraiya?"
"Ah, the Bubble Princess!" Jiraiya turned around, grinning. "Good to see you! How are the Bunny Fists treating you?"
"My father is confused," I said flatly. "Why did you call me?"
"I am leaving the village for a while," Jiraiya said, his expression turning serious. "I am going to find a woman named Tsunade. She is the best medical ninja in the world. And... I am taking Naruto with me."
My eyes widened. "Naruto-kun is leaving?"
"He needs to get stronger," Jiraiya said. "And he is safer with me. The Akatsuki are on the move."
He looked at me. "I wanted to ask if you wanted to come along. Kurenai said it is okay. She thinks you need... 'exposure therapy' to get over your shyness. And frankly, your luck might come in handy."
Me? Go on a journey with Naruto and Jiraiya?
(Traveling. Sleeping in inns. Camping. Just me and Naruto... and the Pervy Sage.)
[System Simulation: Journey with Naruto.]
Probability of accidental bed sharing: 40%.Probability of walking in on him changing: 80%.Probability of Jiraiya using you as bait for research: 100%.
"I..." I hesitated.
"It will be dangerous," Jiraiya warned. "We are looking for Tsunade, but we might find trouble. Two members of the Akatsuki were spotted near the border. One of them... is Itachi Uchiha."
Sasuke's brother. The man who murdered his clan.
If Naruto was going into that kind of danger, I couldn't stay here. I couldn't just knit scarves while he fought demons.
"I will go," I said firmly.
"Excellent!" Jiraiya slapped my back.
I stumbled forward. Thanks to my "Coffee Table Sense," I knew exactly where the rock in front of me was. I stepped over it gracefully.
"Hah!" I smiled. "I didn't trip!"
However, I stepped over the rock and landed on a discarded banana peel that some construction worker had left behind.
Swoosh.
My feet flew up. I did a backflip.
I landed in a cart full of wet cement.
SPLAT.
I sat there, waist-deep in grey sludge.
Jiraiya stared at me. "Incredible. You avoided the rock only to find the one banana peel in the entire Fire Nation."
[System Note: You can buy skills, Host. But you cannot buy your way out of your nature.]
"Help me," I whispered. "It is hardening."
...........................…
Name: Hinata HyugaShy Points: 1,800.Status: Stuck in Cement.New Arc: The Search for Tsunade.Party Members: Jiraiya, Naruto, Hinata.
................................
Extricating myself from a cart of drying cement was a process that involved three chisels, a bucket of hot water, and Naruto pulling on my arms while Jiraiya laughed and took notes.
"Incredible," Jiraiya muttered, sketching furiously. "The damsel in distress archetype, but with an industrial construction twist. This will sell millions."
"I am sorry," I apologized for the hundredth time as I brushed grey dust off my pants. "I should have watched for the peel."
"Don't worry about it, Hinata!" Naruto grinned, patting my back (releasing a cloud of cement dust). "You're free now! Let's go find this Tsunade lady!"
We set off leaving Konoha behind. The dynamic of our group was strange. Jiraiya walked in front, humming and scanning for "beauties." Naruto walked in the middle, practicing hand seals. I walked in the back, using my "Coffee Table Sense" to detect rocks, roots, and uneven terrain.
(Rock at 2 o'clock. Root at 4 o'clock. Safe. Safe. Safe.)
"So, Hinata," Jiraiya slowed down to walk beside me. "About that move you used on Neji. The 'moan'. Can you teach me the vocal modulation? I need to get the phonetics right for Volume Three."
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