"My goal?" Tsunade asked, sounding unsure herself.
"My goal is to make sure you achieve your goal, Master!" Hinata declared confidently.
"Hinata, I don't want your life to be all about me, though," Naruto said. "What goals do you want for yourself?"
"This is what I want for myself, even before you used your Living Puppet jutsu on me," Hinata replied, catching Naruto off-guard. "Ever since you saved me from those bullies, I've been wanting to repay you. I just never figured out how, or if I would even be allowed the chance. Now, I have been, so I decided! I'll do my best to help you, Master! Any training you undergo, I'll be there to make sure you don't overexert yourself and succeed! If classes at the Academy are hard, I'll help you understand so you don't fall behind. If someone's putting you in a bad mood, I'll help you get back on your feet. Please, if you don't want to see me as your puppet, then at the very least let me be your friend!"
Naruto could barely comprehend Hinata's words when she rushed forward and hugged Naruto, refusing to let go. After a while, Naruto returned the hug and started crying. "Thanks, Hinata; I swear I'll cherish our friendship for as long as I live!"
As the two children hugged each other for a long while, Shizune leaned down and asked, "Master does appear to be quite the charmer, doesn't he?"
"Don't tell me you're falling for him now," Tsunade said.
"Not in the slightest; I'm too old for him. But the way he's able to get people to rally to his side when people actually take the time to listen..."
Tsunade looked at the boy she was now bound to serve and said, "Yeah...that kind of natural charm is hard to come by these days, isn't it?"
Naruto eventually released the hug, smiling at Hinata before asking, "What about you two? What will you do?"
"Well, I was thinking about getting a job at the hospital," Shizune said. "We do need a steady stream of income, and I do happen to know my way around medical jutsu."
"Of course you do; I taught you, after all," Tsunade said. She then turned to Naruto and said, "I still need a little more time to think of what my goal will be. For now, it's making sure you get on the right path to achieve your goal."
"I understand. I'm sorry for putting you in this position," Naruto said.
"Forget it; you're not at fault."
"Hinata, if you're up to it, Tsunade and I can teach you some basic medical jutsu so you can help Master if he gets injured and either of us are unavailable," Shizune offered.
"That'd be great! Thanks, Shizune!"
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