Author Note: Thank you everyone for all your reviews! I'm glad the majority of you liked what you read and would like for me to continue. And to that person who left the review with one word and left it without signing in…I can take criticism but when there is only one word, negative at that, and nothing else I don't find how that's helpful. But thanks for taking the time to read my chapter anyway.
The rest of you guys are so amazing and wonderful! TheCarnivorousPanda, DiariesAreStupid, Cherry Blossom, Flatwaffles29, Jenna, Erin Jory, takedigi, and White Moon Princess I can't thank you guys enough! I hope you all enjoy this chapter just as much. Please excuse any grammar mistakes this may have. I realize that once again I'm taking the idea from the episodes but I thought this was so cute. I'm putting my own little spin on things though so it isn't directly quoted or anything, so I hope you like it I am a little nervous you guys might not…but I'm going to put it out there anyway.
Chapter 2- Misunderstanding
Minato counted his kunai to make sure he had enough. Satisfied that there was plenty he placed them back in his pouch, closing it with a click. Stretching his arms above his head he yawned; the morning had come too quickly. It was partly his own fault since he had stayed out late training the night before but he couldn't help it. He wanted to make sure that he was ready for the graduation test that was going to be this coming Friday.
Getting to his feet he placed his pouch on his back pocket. It was a sunny day, perfect for more training. Soon his sandals were in place and he was out the door.
The training field he frequently resided in was empty as he approached it. The sun glinted in his eyes as he focused them on the tree stumps that were directly in front of him. He grabbed a kunai from his pouch and twirled it around his middle finger.
A puff of smoke appeared beside him but he didn't even blink. It was obvious who it was before he even spoke.
"I see you are out and about early. You must be getting a little nervous for the graduation exam that is approaching."
"Not nervous, I just want to be prepared." Minato stated matter of factly as he gripped the kunai firmly. With a flick of his wrist he sent it swirling towards the stump.
Jiraiya blinked and suddenly Minato was gone. Bewildered he looked behind him to see if his student had managed to trick him.
"I'm over here."
Jiraiya lazily looked over at the stumps; sure enough Minato was there, leaning against it twirling his kunai. "Wow, your speed has improved a great deal since the last time I was here to see you train."
Minato humbly shrugged his shoulders, "You've been gone for a long time Sensei."
"Yes I have, so it's been a few weeks since you met that new girl, how is she doing?"
"She manages to get herself into trouble but she knows how to get herself right back out of it."
Jiraiya laughed heartily, "Ho! That's something I have got to see. Maybe I'll have to stick around…"
Minato shook his head as he walked back towards his Sensei, "Please don't do anything pervy."
"Pervy? Me? Are you kidding? I'm anything but pervy."
A small smile played on Minato's lips as he listened to his Sensei spout on and on about how what he did was research and there was nothing wrong with it. 'He's one crazy guy, but he's pretty cool at the same time.'
A bird chirped above them, causing them to both look up at the sky. "Damn, I gotta go. I—"
Minato motioned for Jiraiya to go, "Don't worry about me; I'll see you when you get back."
With a departing nod Jiraiya vanished. Turning back towards the stumps Minato prepared himself to throw the kunai again. 'I have to be faster than what I can throw. Last time I almost didn't make it, I can't be even a slight bit off otherwise something bad could happen if I fail to catch it in time.'
Just when he was about to let it go a cry filled his ears. Spinning on his heels he faced northeast, 'What was that?' The cry came again and this time he wasted no time to spring up into the trees and to take off as fast as he could. The leaves whizzed past him as the sound of the girl increased in volume the closer he got. With one more jump he was able to recognize the voice.
"Take that!"
Coming to a halt he peered around the trunk of the tree and looked down at the ground. A glint shined from one of the boys that was on the ground. Upon closer inspection he could see that the boy was wearing a leaf headband. 'So he's a Genin. It isn't right for him to be acting this way. He should be showing his little brother the right way to handle things. He represents the village and he's doing a very poor job of it.' Minato thought sourly as he watched the boy get up from the ground.
It was apparent that Kushina had been able to land a few good punches to him, seeing that made Minato fill with pride. No one could mess with her and get away with it scotch free. His eyes widened as he predicted what was going to happen before it did. Instinctively he wanted to stop the attack from happening but he also knew Kushina was more than qualified to handle this guy.
It hurt him to watch as the boy grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to her feet. 'There they go again, why is it always her hair that gets so much abuse? I don't see why everyone thinks it's so ugly, it's the opposite of ugly. Maybe I should go help her now…'
Just when he was about to jump down he felt the change in Kushina's chakra. Instantly he stopped and watched as she began to pull herself forward. He could see the hair breaking with each step she took and see the pain that came on her face as she continued to press forward.
'Those tears…I don't want to see her cry, a pretty girl like her shouldn't ever have to cry.' Minato thought as his hand clenched in anger. He didn't realize that he was upset until the bark on the tree began to crack from his own chakra. Gazing at his hand in puzzlement he missed the last part of the fight.
Peering down at Kushina he realized that she had spoken to him.
"So you wouldn't even help me because I'm what?! An outsider?! Well…I'm getting sick of all this, you know!"
"But I…"
Shaking her head she shouted at him again, not letting him finish his sentence before running off. Minato watched as she left, "…knew you could win."
He sighed as he jumped to the ground and looked down the path she had just run. 'That was smooth. I don't know if I can ever get her to realize that I'm not out to get her…I'm not like the others. I just…'
Minato turned in the opposite direction of the way she had gone and began to walk back towards the village. He was glad he didn't run into the two boys that had hurt Kushina on his way back, because if he had he knew he wouldn't have been able to stop himself from giving them a good punch or two of his own.
The village people were out and about, all eagerly trying to get their errands done. With his hands in his pockets he passed Yamanaka flower shop. Veering back he poked his head in the shop.
"Can I help you?" A friendly woman asked from behind the counter.
"I uh…" the last thing he wanted was to be in a flower shop, but here he was, walking in.
She smiled brightly at him in understanding, "Is there someone you would like to buy a flower for?"
'Is there?' it was then that his face lit up, "Yes please, but I don't know what flower to give…"
"Well," the lady moved from behind the counter and came to stand in front of him, "what would you like to convey to this person?"
"Convey?"
"Yes, flowers can be used to say many things. They have a language of their own." Mrs. Yamanaka explained patiently.
"Their own language?" Minato looked around the shop that was filled with all kinds of flowers. How ever was he going to find the right one? 'Shopping for this kind of stuff is too hard, I'm not sure I can do this…' he thought anxiously.
Mrs. Yamanaka laughed as she placed her hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll help you. How about we start from one side of the store and make our way around until you find the one you would like."
Minato rapidly nodded his head, anything was better than him trying to figure this out on his own.
With another laugh walked to one side of the store and began to explain to him what each flower represented. There were roses and they had a ton of different meanings since there were several different colors they came in. Right away Minato knew those weren't the flowers he wanted. It had to be something else...something special.
"Hmm…well if roses and lilies aren't the ones you want then how about a sunflower?"
"What does a sunflower say?"
Mrs. Yamanaka grinned as she picked one up, "The sunflower is used to represent adoration. This person you are trying to buy for…are they someone you admire?"
Minato's eyes were glued to the sunflower as he nodded his head automatically. Now that he was looking at the flower up close he knew that was the one. When Mrs. Yamanaka laughed it broke him out of his trance like stare.
"Well then I believe you have your flower."
"Yes," he bowed, "thank you very much."
Moving over to the cash register she retrieved a small vase and filled it with water, "I'm assuming you will need one of these as well."
She had the sunflower ready for him to go by the time he pulled out his wallet and handed over the amount that was needed.
"Thank you." Minato said with appreciation as she handed him the flower.
"You are very welcome. Please come again the next time you need another flower for this young lady."
His cheeks heated up and he stuttered, "I-I-I…"
Waving her hand she motioned for him to hurry along, "I'll be here when that time comes and I'll help you then as well."
'What does she mean by that? Ladies are nice but weird at the same time. I don't understand them.' With a wave in farewell he quickly left the shop. It wasn't like he was embarrassed to be seen with a flower but he knew the rumors would start to fly if someone was to see him with one. So as soon as he neared a corner he took and quickly flashed off, making sure not to harm the sunflower as he ran.
The sun began to set as Minato sat in a tree branch, his legs hanging over the side. The sunflower was resting beside him still looking as it did in the shop a few hours earlier. Touching his stomach he swallowed. 'I have a weird feeling inside of my stomach…it feels like butterflies, but why am I having this feeling? I'm so confused.'
Looking to the left and then to the right he decided that now was a good of time as ever. Gripping the vase gently he slid off the branch and landed smoothly on his feet. Using a quick walk he neared the door and set the vase down beside it. His heart thumped loudly in his chest and he reached up and gave the door a good knock before turning tail and running back to the safety of his branch high in a tree.
It took a few seconds before the door slid open and Kushina looked around. When it was clear that no one was there; an angry look filtered across her face before she glanced down and noticed the gift that lay at her feet.
Minato watched as she bent down and picked it up. Her eyes darted to the left and then to the right before she leaned towards and it took a sniff. Once again she looked around and very timidly he heard her voice, "Hello? Is anyone there?"
He froze and pressed himself harder into the tree. 'Don't let her see me…please don't let her see me.'
When he didn't hear her voice call out to him again he took a chance and looked back in her direction. She was still standing at the door but this time she was smiling. Minato had never seen her smile so brightly before. As he sat in the tree branch above her and watched her smile he made a decision. He liked her smile…a lot, and he'd do anything in order to see her smile more often.
