Until We Meet Again (Part 3 to the TBT Trilogy)

Chapter 2

As I got ready for the morning, I was gulping down my second cup of coffee of the day.

I knew what today was. 

Don't get me wrong, I was excited to see Naruto and Jiraiya come back. But I couldn't help the anxiety I was feeling because I knew that I was supposed to tell him the truth about us being cousins. 

I put my mug inside the sink when I finished my second cup. The caffeine really didn't help the nerves either, but at least I was awake.

How was I even supposed to go about it? "Oh hey, welcome home. I'm your long-lost cousin, by the way," No, that wouldn't work. 

I just about had a heart attack when the sound of my doorbell ringing echoed through the house.

I sighed and went to go answer it, but no one was there. I was looking around, trying to figure out what that was about, but I immediately rolled my eyes when I saw three kids running away and laughing. 

Those damned brats. 

This is one reason why I'm glad I don't have kids right now. There are three kids who go to the academy and like to play ding-dong ditch, and my house is one of their targets, unfortunately. 

I looked over at the clock and realized it was about time for them to come back. I better start heading out.

I slipped my shoes on and locked the door behind me as I left. Meanwhile, my heart was beating so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. 

Multiple ways I could tell Naruto went through my head.

Was this really the best time to tell him? The first day he comes back home?

I guess now or never, right?

"Oh, hey, Hana!" 

I jumped again since I was lost in my thoughts. Damn, maybe downing two full cups of coffee on a day when I'm feeling anxious wasn't the best idea.

I turned my head and saw it was just one of Sakura's friends, Ino. She was a nice girl; I only really knew her because she worked at the flower shop where I went frequently so I could buy flowers for my deceased loved ones.

"Are you alright?" She raised an eyebrow at how jumpy I was.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine," I nodded. "Good morning, Ino. Are you going to the flower shop?"

"Yeah, Mom needed help because we're getting a big shipment of flowers in today, and we have a lot to go through and set up," She replied. "See you!"

She walked towards the shop, and I went back to overthinking as I walked to the gate.

"Hey, I need to talk to you about something."

"Welcome back, Naruto. Can I talk to you about something?"

Damnit, what the hell was I supposed to say? Why was this so hard?

My heart pounded even more when I got to the gate. Izumo and Kotetsu were at the booth in the middle of a conversation. Kotetsu smiled at me when he saw me.

"Good morning, Hana," He greeted. "Waiting on Jiraiya and Naruto?"

"Morning," I smiled at him. "Yup, I kinda missed the kid running around and causing a ruckus," 

I chuckled at a memory I had of Naruto painting the Hokage faces and running away from the angry jonin. 

"They should be back around now," Izumo said. "How have you been? It seems like I haven't seen you around lately,"