Team Harmony

SFT49: More Training

Hinata woke up groggily to a dark room with the only light coming from a street lamp right outside their window. She slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes before massaging her temple, hoping to rid it of the throbbing. Then she gasped when she remembered that Naruto needed his next dose of medication, quickly moving to her feet and rushing to her desk.

She saw a note from Naruto and relaxed when she read it. He found the instructions she wrote down and took the capsules so he didn't have to wake her.

Come get me when you wake up! I'm sure we'll both be starving -Naruto

As if on cue, her stomach growled loudly and she giggled to herself before quickly taking a shower to start getting ready. It would be nice to just sit down, relax, and eat food with one of her best friends after all the anxiety she had the last few days.

With freshly washed hair, clean clothes, and brushed teeth, she left the inn in search of Naruto. She knew he would be training somewhere just outside of the village, and a quick observation with her doujutsu confirmed it. She decided to take her time.

"So I hear the brat is up and well. You cured him," she heard from behind her, catching her by surprise. Because it was Tsunade, the shock wore off quickly and she turned to face the Sannin before bowing respectfully.

"He's resumed his training," she replied, ignoring the name she called him even though it rubbed her wrong.

"Tell me what you did."

"I gathered the ingredients used for many common poisons, ground them up together, added rosemary extract, and turned them into oral capsules," she explained.

"Why did you assume I would use a common poison? I could've easily used something more advanced and deadly, and you could've killed him." Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest, staring down at her sternly.

Hinata refused to back down. "I made deductions that led me to that conclusion. You don't truly want to kill a child just to test if someone is worthy enough to be your student. Had it been someone deemed an enemy, it would be different."

The Sannin stared at her for a long moment before smirking. "You made the right choice given the information you had. I respect that." Then she tilted her head, looking at her up and down. "I think you'd make a decent student. If your friend wins the bet, consider me your teacher from now on."

Hinata, though part of her wanted to be stubborn and refuse, knew she was never going to get another opportunity to train under someone so talented. And with Naruto being trained by a Sannin and Sasuke training under Kakashi, she didn't want to get left behind. "I'm in your care," she said confidently, bowing her head again.

Tsunade smirked. "Already expecting me to lose?"

"Yes," she replied promptly, causing the older woman to laugh. "Naruto will win and bring you back to Konoha."

"Why so positive?"

Hinata looked directly into her eyes, unwavering. "Because he doesn't go back on his word. It is our team's ninja way," she stated.

Tsunade got a faraway look in her eyes as she responded. "Your team, huh? Then it's not just him..." It seemed more as though she was talking to herself and Hinata decided not to pry. She knew how private the woman was. The Sannin had no more to say and turned to leave, but stopped when Hinata called out to her.

"Tsunade-sama?"

"What is it?" She questioned, not unkindly.

"When you saw Orochimaru, how did he look?" From what she was told, sealing away his arms was said to have caused him immense pain, but she wanted to know for sure.