"So… that's your trainer?" Satsuki sounded sardonic though now that Haruto had gotten better at reading her expressions, he knew she was partially amused. "Are you a pervert like him too?"
Haruto made a face. "Ew, no." Silence reigned and Haruto suddenly felt awkward as they walked in the bustling streets of Konoha, side-by-side and an almost companionable aura around them. He didn't know why, but his rapid heartbeat was annoying loud in his ears; when Satsuki glanced at him curiously, his heart felt like it wanted to leap out of his chest, his eyes darted rapidly around the streets and landed on a tea shop.
He cleared his throat awkwardly. "You want to eat… uh, dango?" Haruto wasn't particularly fond of dangos but it was sweet enough and it was on the top list of the menu.
Satsuki's face darkened. "No. I hate sweets."
Haruto hummed, storing that little bit of information in his head for later use. He contemplated pulling the girl into a restaurant and just eat there but he didn't like being stared at like an item, and he knew Satsuki did not appreciate being appraised. But eating while walking wasn't exactly healthy or polite. "What do you wanna eat?"
"Going on a date is not all about eating, you know," Now, Satsuki sounded seriously amused; he chanced a glance at her and noticed that her lips were tugging up into something resembling a smile—his heart must've missed a few beats, he need to get his mother to check on him, maybe he had some heart problems? "We could still do other things."
"Like normal civilian couples?" Satsuki looked bored at the prospect but Haruto ploughed on. "I thought you said you wanted to look like you're normal." She shot him a brief glare for throwing her words back in her face but he merely grinned and dragged her towards the closest cinema, which was, conveniently, next to a book store.
As one, the two clan heirs darted behind a wall to hide. "What's Kakashi-sensei doing here?"
"A better question: why are we even hiding?" hissed Satsuki, irritated. "It's not like we're doing anything wrong."
"Uh, it felt instinctive."
"Good answer."
"Well, let's come back later," Haruto started pushing Satsuki away from where their sensei was giggling over a book; what was his problem? "In the mean time, why don't we…" his eyes wandered again but this time, he spotted something of interest. "Play gambling?"
"We're underage," Satsuki remarked snidely but she didn't resist as Haruto pulled her along.
"I'll win a few things, you'll see." The ease and confidence Haruto carried as he placed his bet was unnerving, even her older cousins were forbidden from entering this place underage and yet, the redhead looked like he was completely at home here. Seeing her questioning look, he said, "My mom always comes here, regardless of the warnings she gets and she has brought me along with her ever since I could walk."
So he'd been there since he was a toddler? While he was playing, Satsuki let her eyes and mind wander. She was quite bored, she'd rather spar than this. Why weren't civilians bored when they do these things? She'd never understand them.
"Um, Satchan," Haruto called her by her shortened name and she was mildly surprised to find that she wasn't that irritated. She grunted in acknowledgement. "I won a few thousand ryos but that's it." he hesitated before he said, "Why don't we spar?" which brightened her mood considerably.
She nodded, and suddenly, in a mood to jest, shoved Haruto. "Beat you there, idiot." And took off.
Haruto remained baffled for a moment before he ran after her. "Hey!" he yelled. "Play fair and square, bastard!"
When Satsuki craned her neck and shot him a look, his breath was stolen as she briefest of a genuine smile crossed her face before she sped off into the distance. Haruto grinned, taking chase; they didn't need to follow the civilians way of a date and how they court the one they like…
Satsuki's punches and kicks were hard and fast, he kept up though, deflecting and delivering his own hit. When they turned to their exceptional arsenal of ninjutsu and genjutsu, things only got more heated up, the more danger, the stronger the blows she dealt him, his heart picked up speed faster, as he saw her dance around the battlefield, her crimson pupils spinning and assessing and she was beautiful .
Their bodies moved in unison in the same pattern: hit-dodge-counterattack-sidestep-punch-deflect-insert a few jutsus here.
…They were shinobi, playing dangerous games and dancing a deadly tune was how they usually tell someone they like that said person.
***
"She thinks you're a freak, you know," continued Haruto dryly, not noticing how his mentor's shoulders were twitching uncontrollably. "She also said that she didn't think that there was—"
Jiraiya had had enough. "Shut up about her, you brat!"
Haruto stopped mid-sentence, blinking owlishly at his mentor's depressed and pissed off face, before he grinned, finally understanding what the big guy's problem. This was an ammo he wouldn't be letting go. "Oh, that's right," he drawled. "I forgot. You won't understand half the things I'm saying since you never had a date before. I'm so sorry I forgot."
"Why you little!"
Haruto laughed, ducking out of Jiraiya's swipe, evidently pleased that he'd rile his sensei up. Jiraiya scowled heavily, crossing his arms moodily, childishly saying, "I see… I guess I should just leave and continue my research instead of wasting my time teaching brats who don't respect their eld—"
"Now, now," interrupted Haruto, sliding before Jiraiya, raising his arms in a placating manner, grinning sheepishly. "I was just kidding. What is our lesson today?" His golden eyes scanned the area as he spoke, but the thoughtful look dropped into a frown when he saw the hot-springs behind them.
Seeing his student's disapproving look, Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "Calm down. I'm here to teach you chakra control."
"I already learned that!"
"Can you walk on water?" Jiraiya pressed, doubtful when the Senju nodded forcefully. "Can you do it when you're fighting?"
Haruto stopped his vigorous nodding, considering. "No idea. Never tried. But that's not important! There's this asshole in the Chunin Exams who works for Orochimaru bastard! He placed some sort of seal on the… you know… and my chakra control's been shot to hell! I broke my fingers when I tried to use Mom's super-strength!"
"You should've told me earlier," said Jiraiya; no wonder Haruto failed terrifically when he battled his shadow clones and was unable to concentrate. "Where? Show me."
Haruto didn't hesitate to do so, watching impatiently as Jiraiya crouched and examined the seal, stroking his beardless chin and frowning in contemplation. "Please don't tell me you can't do anything about it," grumbled Haruto. "I'm against Hyuga asshole Neji in the Finals and this will be a hindrance!"
"Shut up, brat, don't you dare underestimate me!" Jiraiya grumbled, standing up from his crouch and Haruto only had a split second to see his mentor's fingers glowing with characters before the air was pushed from him, he choked. "Gogyō Kaiin!"
Haruto rubbed his aching stomach but when he stood on the hot water again, it was easily executed. He grinned, performing the hand seals necessary for his favorite technique and this time, when they fought, he did not sink. Jiraiya watched his progress with a satisfied grunt.
"Well," said Jiraiya as Haruto dried himself with a towel. "I guess it's time you learn how to make use of your tenant's power." Haruto stiffened, turning to face him with wide eyes, disbelief etched onto his face. Before he could explode however, Jiraiya hurriedly continued. "Come, now, he makes your life harder, shouldn't he be working on how to make it easier, else he might die along with you?"
Haruto's scowl did not leave his face. "Are you fucking kidding me?!" He snarled in a harsh whisper, lowering his voice when a few people glanced their way.
Jiraiya sighed. This would be a long one-month for sure.