𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐆𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍

To Protect

It had been almost two years since Hanara was sent off to the Cryptanalysis team, and she was liking it. She wasn't always stuck in there decoding codes, because if she was, she would have definitely gone insane. Besides, she also took the Jonin exams one month ago and passed, so life wasn't just missions and decoding.

Right now, Hanara was taking a stack of the newly decoded codes to the Hokage's Office so that she could check them over and place them in the Archives.

Knock knock.

"Come in!" Lady Tsunade answered.

Hanara took in the people in the room, finding Sakura, Shizune, Shikamaru, Jiraiya and Naruto.

Wait, Jiraiya and Naruto?

'Oh. They're back... things are going to get hectic. Isn't there a war that begins with this? I- I need to prepare, or I'm going to die young. Again. But what do I prepare for...? Uhhh, think about this later, Hana. You're in public!'

"Hi Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, Temari, Jiraiya," she greeted, not paying much attention to their conversation as she walked up to Tsunade's desk and dropped off a stack of papers.

"How do you get through all these so fast?" Tsunade groaned.

"Secret," she responded with a small grin before turning to Naruto, "So, you're back, huh? Did that old pervert teach you anything?"

"You better believe it!" Naruto cheered, "I'm back and stronger than ever!"

"Look at you," Shikamaru smiled, "Who'd ever believe that you're the same idiotic-"

Hanara snorted, 'Great use of tact.'

"Well, I mean, you've changed, haven't you?" he said, taking in Naruto's new appearance.

'I bet he only changed his outfit because it got destroyed or something.'

"You bet I have!"

"He hasn't changed one bit," Sakura sighed.

Shikamaru slumped, "I didn't think so."

"We better get used to his loudness then," Hanara remarked.

"Give me a break, Sakura," Naruto groaned.

"Hey, does that mean you're my opponent, Shikamaru?" Naruto asked after a moment of silence.

"Opponent? What are you talking about? I just came here to drop off some paperwork," Shikamaru responded.

Naruto turned to Hanara, but she cut him off.

"I'm not your opponent, for whatever it is you're on about."

"Then... is it... uh, what's your name again?" Naruto asked, turning to Temari.

Hanara facepalmed, "Even if you don't remember her, look at her headband. Lady Tsunade wouldn't give you a foreign shinobi for an opponent."

Temari growled, "You don't remember me?"

'He only saw you in the Chunin Exams while he knew us since we were children. It makes sense, I guess.'

"You won't find your opponent here, Naruto," Tsunade sighed, "He's outside."

"Eh? I'm not fighting a tree or something, right?"

'Oh, honestly.'

"Just go look," Shikamaru groaned.

Naruto looked out the window and found Kakashi. After catching up for a bit, Naruto rummaged through his pouch and pulled out a book. A pervy Make-Out Paradise book.