Tsunade's Advice
AN: Hello, This is my first fanfiction. English is not my first language nor my Second. There will be some grammar mistakes, I'm sorry beforehand. Thank you for reading this fic.
It's a very long and tiring day for the Godaime Hokage, Senju Tsunade. Times like these are what make her wish she can have a bottle of sake for some break, alas, that damn Shizune took all the precious sake that she had sporting some bullshit about professionalism and all that. She even took the sake from the hidden compartments that she can't even remember hiding in the first place.
"Tsunade baa-chan!" Here comes another loudmouth who is not her boisterous teammate.
"What is it, brat!" She lifted her head from the paperwork she was doing silently thanking the annoying brat she regarded as brother/nephew/son for giving her a distraction from the paperwork.
Uzumaki Naruto is the resident troublemaker and is regarded as the most unpredictable ninja. Who is currently huffing and puffing standing in front of her. And is unusually silent from the loud greeting he just gave her.
"Baa-chan….umm…what is love? I mean I know what that is but I can't tell the difference between the love. If you know what I mean."
Sufficed to say that the question surprised the Godaime is an understatement. But at the same time, she remembered that this was the 12-year-old boy who was hated by the entire village and didn't have anyone more than a handful of people until recently.
"That's a rather unique question Naruto. What prompted you to come up with that? And why did you want to ask me of all people about that?"
"Well I can't ask Ero-sennin cause you know" which she understood given the antics of her old perverted friend "And I can't find Shizune-nee…and since you had a lover in the past, I thought you'd be the best person to ask this."
"I guess that's fair enough but you didn't answer my first question though." Still curious about the thought behind the question.
"Well when I was eating with Sakura at the Ichiraku, we were joined by team 8. Then as I was greeting them, one of them Hinata suddenly became red in her face and when I checked her temperature with my hand on her forehead, she suddenly fainted. I don't know what I did and when I asked Kiba about it, he just said that I'm stupid and they walked away. When asked Sakura about it, she said that Hinata probably likes me or something and she got red cause got shy or embarrassed"
"I mean, I don't understand why would she be embarrassed about that. And Sakura just said that I should ask some adult about this."
'Hmm...I guess it's still better that he came to me, If he had gone to some other person, they would have just pushed him into liking someone he doesn't even know that much and he only considers as a friend'… "Well good that came to me first brat. Otherwise, Jiraiya or Kakashi just encouraged you not knowing any better. Tell me what kind of girl you like?"
"Huh?... I guess someone who's strong, confident, and likes me even though I have Kyuubi?"
"Well liking isn't enough, there's a difference between liking and loving, your teammate Sakura may like you even though you have a Kyuubi. But she may not love you, 'cause she loves that Uchiha teammate." Which is hard to accept but he has to face it sooner or later, in which the sooner is the better. "At the same time, there are different kinds of Love, like romantic, familial love"
"Huh? So familial love means something like Shizune-nee loving me like a bother right? She said something like that and acted as my Big Sister"
"Yes exactly, just like a Mother loving her child and a Sibling love."
"So? Hinata has something like romantic love towards me? Like a love between a Boy and a Girl?"
"Or between a Boy and another Boy?" As soon as she said that the expression on his face made her laugh enough to hurt her sides.
"Ok, I understand it, somewhat but I don't know anything about Hinata other than what normally everyone knows. How am I supposed to like or love her in a romantic sense? I..I don't know what to do Baa-chan?"
"Relax brat, who said anything about you have to like or love her back?" which made him stop to pulling out his hair.
"What do you mean? I have to like her back or say something to her right?" came the confused question from his mouth.
"No brat you don't need to. Especially when she didn't even say that she likes you in any sort of way. You can take an example from your teammate."
"But Sakura didn't like me back 'cause she likes Sasuke right?"
"Then why didn't Sasuke like her back even though Sakura confessed to him so many times?" that made him start thinking again. "You don't have to like someone just because they happened to like you. It's your life, and you're still 12. You don't need to think about stuff like this until at least for a couple of years.
Which is similar to how used to behave. You don't need to shout about how awesome you're and wear that much contrasting colored clothing for a ninja no matter how you like the color Orange." Which made him frown but still nodded nonetheless getting a smile in return.
"Okay I understand, I won't shout anymore and get some new clothes".
"Good, remember Naruto, no one wants to teach an impatient brat who shouts and won't listen, no matter how much potential you have." She said that in a soothing but stern voice just like a mother. "And you have to remember, no matter how you feel, you are an important person in this village, you are the village Jinchuriki. So, many parties want your power on their side and they do anything to get the Kyuubi, while you may think that they would send some men to capture or eliminate you, the most used method would be seduction, which can work excellently cause you're still a teenager with hormones. And if you happen to be attracted by the enemy, their jobs become very very easy.
Even if you happen to like someone, don't trust them. Like them, but never give your trust away that easily, especially when you're out of the village during the Training trip. You understand?"
"I…I..understand Baa-chan" nervously nodding his head because of the sudden firmness of Tsunade.
"Good, you're a growing boy Naruto, so listen to Jiaiya okay?" 'Good he is listening, I should mention to Jiraiya about training him in the elemental techniques and use of shadow clones, It can advance his growth as a shinobi very greatly.' "And don't think about the Uchiha too much, I will talk to Sakura about her foolish crush, I'm sure she forgets about her crush during her training. If he doesn't want to come back, then we can't exactly convince him, The only way I see him returning is either as a prisoner, a criminal, or a dead body. And next time don't make foolish promises that will endanger your life"
"But how can I become a Hokage when can't even save a friend from the path of darkness?!" came the shout that she was expecting.
'sigh' "Friends don't try to kill each other Idiot." She got the feeling of saying this to a brick wall, God this kid is stubborn as shit. "Okay, brat think about it, What if Sasuke harms the village or any of your friends, What are you gonna do?" which made the Jinchuriki silent yet again. "That same way of thinking is what made Sandaime hesitate to kill Orochimaru. Now you see what the Snake did? He killed two kages and tried to destroy Konoha.
Look kid, If he wants to come back, if will accepted with relative ease unless he has no other criminal record. You understand? No other Leader will be as lenient as me, that too because I don't want you to think of me not giving the Uchiha a chance. Your biggest Objective is now Akatsuki, and not just becoming S class ninja, but to be able to defeat S class. To defeat people like me and Jiraiya, without breaking a sweat. That's your goal, not trying to play catching up to your supposed rival or some other bullshit."
After some minutes of thinking and coming to a conclusion, Naruto finally spoke "I understand baa- Hokage-sama. I will become the strongest ninja in Konoha and become the Hoakge after this eliminating Akatsuki. And I will protect Konaha from whoever tries to harm it, whether it is from other villages or Akatsuki or even from my Friend."
"Good, and become strong and make me proud brat." She sent him off with a final hug.