Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Outpours additional read
Finally an update! Hooray!
Just some notes please. Though this is not the real second part of Outpours, but rather consider this as some sort of additional read. It's a flashback of an event with some form of connection to Outpours. Much kinda like a filler, functions like one too, co'z the author is already picking her hair out of frustration so as how to write Outpours part 2.
I hope you'll like it.
Worth
She drew a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled, the air mingling with the warm steam of the hot spring. Sakura closed her eyes, letting herself relax; the warm pool of water undoing the stress in her muscles. It has been quite a while since the pink-haired kunoichi had given herself some due rest and relaxation. In the past years, all were about training and sharpening her ninja skills. Adding to that, the recent mission of rescuing the young kazekage; and of course their current mission now.
Yamato-taichou's idea wasn't really bad, Sakura thought. The onsen was great and she needed to cool her head anyway. The initial atmosphere around their newly formed team wasn't what you can actually call pleasant and cooperative.
Sakura glanced around; she had been alone in the hot spring for some minutes now. The other women had already gone off; and even though she wanted to get out of the water, she can't. One of the ladies forgot a towel and had to borrow hers instead, promising to come back with a replacement.
"Ahhh… Finally, peace and quiet." Sakura sighed in content. The temperate pool now empty of gossiping women; and no more noise, particularly those of Uzumaki Naruto, can be heard from the other side, the men's bath.
Sakura glanced back at the wooden fence immediately behind her, the one that separated their bath from the men. They've probably finished, she assumed and leaned in against the rocks.
"Sakura-san! Here's the towel!"
Her green eyes look up; a woman was now placing a new towel beside her belongings by the edge of the pool.
"Thank you so much!"
"Oh, it was nothing Yuhime-san." Sakura smiled back.
"Sakura-san, aren't you going out for the festival? I hear the manager had set up a grand fireworks display this night," the lady with long black hair asked.
"Uhmm. I think I'll stay here for a while…"
"Ok then." And off the lady went, leaving her alone again.
…
The hot spring held a calming effect, to the point that it was almost hypnotizing. Sakura had her eyes closed and was absentmindedly moving her hands across the water in a back and forth motion. Only simple idle thoughts swam in her mind. For a moment, she thought of considering the festival, she would love to see the fireworks. Maybe she should, she thought, holding up one of her hands which now felt a bit wrinkled.
And then, in the middle of that dreamy reverie, something snapped her out of it.
There was a voice coming from the other side of the fence.
"Sakura-chan…" it said.
The voice belonged to Uzumaki Naruto.
"Naruto?" Sakura choked, eyes widened and now fully awake.
"Hai, it's me." Naruto responded, his voice clear. Sakura wouldn't be able to see, but on his side of the spring, he had positioned himself by the fence, seated down, his back leaning on the wood.
"Oh, I thought you already left."
"Uh… I de… decided to... stay behind." He seemed to be swallowing his words.
Sakura took notice. "Are you ok? You're not drowning over there are you?"
"I.. I'm fine Sakura-chan!" He lied, and hoped Sakura didn't notice the shake in his voice. Fine was the least he was now. Naruto clutched his stomach which seemed to be twisting itself into a dozen knots. Three years with Jiraiya and he had seen loads of women, and yet, it was only her that could encourage this sort of feeling which involved a racing heartbeat that bordered on becoming a heart attack. And he can't even see her face at the moment.
"Good, because if you are, I certainly have no plans of coming over there and rescuing you." Sakura told him, in a tone that warned him he better not be trying anything funny.
Naruto had to grin.
That's her. Either she's crushing my head or leaving me off to die.
Naruto brought his hand up to his neck, feeling his throat. He gulped. Come on, say it! He commanded himself. He looked down at the piece of paper half-crumpled in his fist. The first written line said: Sakura-chan, would you like to talk?
Naruto ran a hand through his hair.
Well, I got past the Sakura-chan part… Come on Uzumaki, just five words more!
"wu..wu…would…" Naruto croaked out, but Sakura cut him off.
"Uhm…… Naruto…" Sakura began.
"Naruto, would you… like to talk?" Sakura asked, rather unsure. She tried to ignore the voice in her head that went: What are you saying?
"About… what?" Naruto replied through his shock, still surprised from the sudden turn of events, which seems to be quite favoring him.
"Oh… Just anything... like what did you do in those three years?" Sakura found herself brightening up. "Your adventures out there, outside Konoha..."
"Adventures? More like torture. That ero-sennin was completely heartless," he told her.
Naruto's script now lay forgotten.
Sakura smiled, she can almost imagine Naruto's face contorted into a frown, which really was.
"He wouldn't let me eat if I can't get a ninjutsu right." He continued. "And when we are not in practice, he'd tell me, 'you're a growing shinobi Naruto, this is part of your training!' Naruto gave his best imitation of Jiraiya's tone and voice.
"As if going to bars and flirting with women were relevant." He added.
Sakura laughed. Naruto never failed to encourage this refreshing feeling whenever he was in his happy moods. And it hit her.
BARS! FLIRTING WITH WOMEN!
"Just kidding Sakura-chan! I was kidding! It was a joke!" Naruto said out loud to save himself. He was already moving towards the center of his pool, fearing that Sakura might crush a hole into the fence, and grab his neck.
…
Sakura was thinking how absurd the situation was, talking and yet not seeing each other's faces, but a rather lengthy conversation went on from there, even though they simply chatted about everyday things, just the usual goings-on.
About Sakura surprising everyone as she crushed the arena floor during her Chuunin exam. Or about Naruto getting tied down a cliff as Jiraiya's form of punishment. How both of them had to endure their unpredictable mentors.
Or they went on to talk about other Konoha ninjas, realizing some things do change, or stay the same. Like how big Akamaru had grown, and Kiba just as noisy. Or how Lee had recuperated perfectly, and still just as emotional like Gai-sensei.
And though not aware of how much time had passed, both finally felt that it's getting pretty late.
"See you Sakura-chan!" Naruto got up from his position, turning to face the fence, his lips curved into a small smile.
"Good night Naruto," Sakura returned as she got up from the pool and reached for her towel.
…
And that's when she saw it.
Picking up the white cloth, she discovered a parcel of colored paper, a pretty laced ribbon sat on top of it. The wrapping itself was beautiful; the paper was printed with detailed sakura blossoms dotted by golden ink. She began to wonder what could be inside. Something quite worth a lot, she was sure.
And Sakura was so surprised she can't bring herself to react. Her mouth hung open, but no words seemed to be getting out.
And then she heard him say, his voice clear even beyond the fence.
"I'll be waiting by the gate, near the bridge."
And she heard the sound of his footsteps, running away. What he just said, Sakura didn't understand.
Then she spotted a note that the ribbon held in place. Sakura carefully read.
In Naruto's sprawling handwriting and across several ink blotches, it said:
Dear Sakura-chan,
Just something I want to give you.
You can consider this as three years worth of birthday presents. Hope you like it.
Naruto.
P.S. Would you like to see the fireworks tonight with me?
-End-
Final author notes:
Thank you so much for those who reviewed! I never expected it to reach that much number. Thank you, thank you, and thank you! For those who placed this on their faves, on their alerts, on the C2s, and everyone who took time to read Outpours, I am forever grateful.
And yes, I am working on Outpours part 2. I have finally written the first paragraph. So much for progress. Please forgive me, it might take quite a while, err… a long while.
Again, arigatou gozaimasu!