Silver and Gold

“What language? All I say is ass…and damn…I might’ve said shit once or twice…and maybe cock-su…”

“Naruto-kun.”

“Hey, I’m a good role model!” Naruto said. “I taught her that cool jutsu.”

“She burned half of our bonsai garden with it.”

“Those plants were ugly anyway,” he said. “Anyway, that’s just one thing, and I’ve done more good than bad. I got her a boyfriend, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but I think Konohamaru’s been bringing…inappropriate magazines to Hanabi.”

“They’re growing kids; why wouldn’t they be curious? Well, what about that new way I taught her to use her Byakugan?”

She frowned at him. “Because of your…’teaching’…she told everyone in her class that Tetsu’s…” A light blush covered her face. “…p-p-penis…was extremely small.”

Naruto laughed heartily. “Hey, that was really funny! That Tetsu kid is a real pri-”

He noticed that Hinata was giving him a particularly disapproving look. He sighed.

“You need to stop hanging around Sakura,” Naruto said, defeated. “You’re getting really mean, Hinata.”

“Poor baby,” she said, teasingly, and pecked him gently on the cheek.

As he watched her, he saw the nervous flicker of her eyes. She was clearly troubled about something. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Do you...like me?”

“Of course I do.”

She stared down at the pavement. “A lot?”

He smiled. “Yeah. A lot.” He held his hands on front of him, palms facing, as Hanabi had done earlier. “Just as much as you like me.” His hands began to spread them far apart.

She grabbed his hand and pulled it down, embarrassed. Then she pulled herself into him, hugging him close, nearly causing him to fall backwards.