If It Isn't Love, It's Friendship
By Lily in a Pond
Chapter Two - The Ramen Festival
A/N – Hey, it's me again…writing another crappy Naruto oneshot. Anyway, I had a lot of fun with the first one so I decided to give it another try. Then inspiration (not really, just a basketball) struck me and I suddenly came up with a great (or perhaps not so great) idea! The last chapter revolved around Valentine's Day, and there aren't many official and well-known holidays from then. So I decided to make up my own! The Ramen Festival, as you intelligent monkeys out there guessed, is about Naruto and his friends going to the Ramen Festival in Ramen Country.
P.S. Sorry in advance if this chapter sucks.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…isn't that enough?! Stop badgering me!!!
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It was a quiet April day in Konoha. A fine dew was shining on the flowers, and the trees were swaying softly with the morning breeze. One particular lazy ninja opened one eye, saw a terribly misshapen stuffed deer, smiled slightly, and went back to sleep. The maker of the aforementioned deer was sound asleep in her bed as well, hugging her lavender pillow and drooling on it. Another maker of a stuffed animal was sitting up in bed, polishing her abundance of shuriken. The owner of that stuffed animal was awake as well, watching Saturday morning cartoons on the pretext he was meditating. His relative was bustling around the garden, gathering a bouquet of flowers for her beloved.
Her beloved was, at the moment, screaming his head off.
"THE RAMEN FESTIVAL IS TODAY! THE RAMEN FESTIVAL IS TODAY! THE RAMEN FESTIVAL IS TODAY!"
"Shut up!" a villager yelled, sticking his head out the window and making a rather inappropriate hand gesture.
"I WILL NOT! AND YOU KNOW WHY? IT'S BECAUSE THE RAMEN FESTIVAL IS TODAY!" Naruto Uzumaki yelled back, slamming his window shut, making the same hand gesture at the man, and pulling the curtains down so he could change into his regular orange-and-black outfit. As he passed his mirror, he stopped for a moment and gave himself the thumbs up.
"You rock, Naruto! This is your big day! This is the day………the day of the RAMEN FESTIVAL!" It was noted in the Godaime's records that the last two words had been heard all around Konoha and that some squirrels had gone partially deaf because of the voice volume.
Locking his door behind him, Naruto turned around and immediately knocked into Sakura Haruno, his former teammate.
"Naruto! Watch where you're going!" Sakura yelled, bending down to pick up the groceries she had dropped when Naruto had bumped into her.
"Sorry, Sakura-chan, but today is such a special day!" Naruto exclaimed happily, bouncing on the soles of his feet.
"And what day would that be? It's just another day in April, last I checked," Sakura replied, shifting the bag from one arm to another.
"Just another day in April?" Naruto gasped, slumping against the telephone pole dramatically. "Today is the Ramen Festival! Me and Hinata are going to Ramen Country to participate in the legendary Ramen Festival!"
Sakura's jaw and groceries hit the floor. "There's an actual place called Ramen Country? And you're going there with Hinata to celebrate the Ramen Festival? And Hinata agreed to go with you willingly?"
Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Actually, Hinata-chan was the one who gave me the two invites to the Ramen Festival. She gave it to me for Valentine's Day!" he announced, puffing his chest out proudly. "Hey………you never told me what you got Sasuke for Valentine's Day…"
"I'm not telling, because it was really cheesy," Sakura replied, smirking at the disappointed look on Naruto's face. "Anyway……hey, shouldn't you be over at Hinata's house already to pick her up if you guys are going there together?"
Naruto looked confused. "Why should I do that?"
Sakura sighed. "Just do it."
Naruto shrugged, but started walking towards the imposing figure of the Hyuuga compound. "Wait, Sakura-chan, don't you want to go there, too?"
"No," Sakura replied flatly. "Besides, don't you have two tickets? If I go, Hinata won't be able to go."
"That's right," Naruto said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. A sneaky look appeared on his face a moment later. "Would you come if I told you others could come along? Others such as…hmm, I don't know……perhaps…………Sasuke?"
Sakura's face turned a bright red. "Eh – "
"Oh, and you could bring Ino along, too, with Shikamaru, those two are really entertaining together, ooh, and Hyuuga Neji and that weapons girl who's probably already engaged to him, and – "
"You only have two tickets, Naruto," Sakura reminded him. "Even if they go, how are you going to get eight legitimate tickets to the Ramen Festival?"
Naruto's grin escalated even more. "My plan is twofold, dear Sakura-chan. I'll just simply make Shadow Replications of the tickets. The Ramen Festival isn't usually a ninja thing…they won't check to see if the tickets have been tampered with."
Sakura contemplated this for a moment. "Well…I suppose all of us going on a trip would be fun, even if we were going to the Ramen Festival," she admitted. "But only if you promise Sasuke-kun is coming along!" Naruto nodded fervently. "And not a word about this copying thing to anyone, Naruto! And don't even think of mentioning my name along with it!"
"Done, done, and finished," Naruto smirked. "Now…all we need to do is to find six people who have no idea their lives are about to be turned upside down……"
Sakura smacked him around the head. "Idiot, stop making it sound like a soap opera, Naruto!"
Naruto simply grinned. Then he continued walking over to the Hyuuga compound. "This is just too perfect! With Sasuke and Sakura surrounded by two couples, they won't have a chance at resisting their feelings!"
Passersby gave Naruto frightened looks at he passed them, cackling manically.
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"Please, please, please, please, please, please go!" Naruto begged, staring imploringly into the black eyes of Sasuke Uchiha. The dark-haired teenager snorted.
"The Ramen Festival? You have got to be joking."
Naruto frowned. "Come on…what have you got to lose?"
"My pride and dignity," Sasuke snapped. "If people in Ramen Country, if that's even a real place, know I'm there, they'll talk and then the word will get out that Sasuke Uchiha has attended the stupidest festival ever created! My reputation will be destroyed! The Uchiha reputation will be destroyed!"
Naruto stared at him. "…I think that might be the longest sentence you've ever said."
Sasuke stared back at him. Silence commenced for a few minutes, then Sakura arrived at Team Seven's old training grounds.
"Are you two having another staring contest? Naruto, you know Sasuke's going to win, and Sasuke-kun, there's no point in challenging Naruto, you know he's going to lose."
Sasuke and Naruto's gazes snapped onto Sakura. "WHAT?"
Sakura shook her head. "Never mind. So, Sasuke-kun, are you going to the Ramen Festival?"
"You're going?" Sasuke asked, disbelief evident in his voice. "Why?"
Sakura shrugged. "Because a special someone is going there as well, and I want to be with him…"
Sasuke's eyes popped wide open as Naruto gaped.
"Wha…?"
"Close your mouth, Naruto; flies will get in there. And yes, Sasuke, there's someone I'm interested in who's going to the Ramen Festival as well. So, naturally, I'm going there."
Sasuke clenched his jaw. "Alright, I'll go to the stupid festival." As he stalked off, flames nearly shooting out from all areas of his body, Sakura smiled triumphantly and Naruto cocked his head, confused.
"What just happened? I thought you liked Sasuke, Sakura-chan…"
"I do like Sasuke-kun, you idiot! That was to evoke his natural curiosity and make him come along with us!"
The glimmer appeared in Naruto's eyes. "Ah, I see it now! Not only have you managed to get Sasuke to come along, you've also made him into a raving, disturbed, super-jealous monster! You are so smart, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura fluffed her hair prettily. "I know."
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"And why do you think I want to go to a Ramen Festival?" Neji Hyuuga asked scornfully, his voice laced with spite. He stopped polishing his katana for a moment and looked inquisitively at Naruto.
"Because Tenten's going to be there," Naruto said, a sneaky grin appearing on his face. Neji contemplated this for a moment.
"Fine, I'll go. But only if you promise I can express my deep emotions of anger and frustration while there."
"I promise," Naruto solemnly said. "Now go! Pack your things!"
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Tenten twirled a kunai around with her fingers. "And why do you think I want to go to a Ramen Festival?" she asked scornfully, her voice laced with spite. Naruto gaped.
"Maybe you and Neji really are soul mates," he muttered. He yelped when ten senbon came flying out of nowhere and pinned him to the wall.
"Did you say something?" Tenten asked. Naruto nervously shook his head.
"No, ma'am! Wait, I mean, yes! I said that Neji's going to be there!"
Tenten's face suddenly became impassive. "Fine, I'll go," she muttered. "But only if you promise I can express my deep emotions of anger and frustration while there."
Naruto blinked. "Okay, this is starting to creep me out."
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Sakura peered into the shiny glass window of the Yamanaka Flower Shop and grinned when she saw Ino at the counter, talking with Shikamaru, their heads close together.
"Ino-pig!" she yelled, striding into the shop confidently. Shikamaru and Ino immediately jumped away from each other.
"What do you want, forehead girl?"
"Do you two want to go to the Ramen Festival?" Sakura asked, holding out the tickets.
Ino raised her eyebrows. "The Ramen Festival? I had no idea such a thing existed." Shikamaru yawned and nodded sleepily.
"It's too troublesome."
Ino nodded. "For once, Shikamaru is right. It would be too bothersome to hire someone else to take care of the shop while I'm gone since Dad's on a mission with Shikaku and Choza," said Ino, shaking her head.
"Well, alright…are you sure you don't want to go, Shikamaru? I heard Neji's bringing his Shogi board…" Sakura said slyly. Shikamaru looked tempted.
"Well…I suppose. Shogi isn't too troublesome, I guess," Shikamaru said lazily, yawning again.
Sakura smiled. "Then it'll be perfect! Oh, and since you're not going, Ino, I'll just have to give your invite to Temari; I hear - "
"NO!" Ino shrieked. Shikamaru's eyeballs swiveled in her direction. "I mean, no, I will go. Just give me five minutes, Sakura. I need to make a phone call to Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon."
Sakura grinned triumphantly. "Well…won't this trip just be a breeze, then? You, me, Ino, five more make eight?"
"Troublesome," Shikamaru sighed.
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"How the heck did you get all your travel supplies and six pairs of Hyuuga robes stuffed in that tiny knapsack?" Tenten asked incredulously. Neji shrugged.
"They're made of a lightweight and compressible material."
"I suppose, but I only packed one pair of pants and two shirts and that's already more than enough for my sack! How did you do it?"
"You packed six pairs of robes, Hyuuga, for a three-day trip?" Sasuke sneered. "I see someone's overly obsessed with sanitation." Sakura, next to him, giggled.
"Sasuke-kun, I packed a lot of clothes, too. I also brought my swimsuit and an evening kimono just in case!"
"Just in case of what?" Sasuke asked spitefully. "In case the person you're so interested in asks you on a date in the middle of the forest?"
"In case the person I'm so interested in asks me on a date while we're in Ramen Country!" Sakura snapped. "And why are you so curious about this person anyway? It's not you're jealous," she added slyly.
Sasuke scowled and looked away. "Hn."
Ino looked on with interest. "I give those two one day before one of them cracks and makes the first move," she said to Shikamaru. He shrugged. "I guess Sasuke-kun's fan club is going to commit mass suicide when they hear of this…"
Shikamaru yawned. "Suicide is troublesome, but it does rid you of your troublesome life."
"Can you do anything but yawn and say 'troublesome', Shikamaru?" Ino asked. "You're more of a pig than me; all you want to do is sleep in and be lazy!"
Shikamaru grinned. "You got me down verbatim, Ino."
Near the tall, leafy trees, Hinata giggled at their antics. Watching three arguing couples was entertaining. She wished she and Naruto were a couple; they would have so much fun together, she thought wistfully.
"Hey, Hinata!" Naruto called, right on cue. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"S-sure, N-naruto-kun," she stammered.
"Hinata-chan…um…I just wanted to thank you again for giving me those tickets," Naruto rushed out. "Um…well, I've wanted to go to the Ramen Festival my entire life, and you probably have no idea how much this means to me! You're really someone special, Hinata-chan! Believe it!" he finished enthusiastically, flashing a toothy grin and giving Hinata two thumbs up, Gai's signature 'good guy' pose.
Hinata blushed from the tips of her shiny hair to her toes. "N-no, you don't h-have to thank m-me, Naruto-kun. You d-d-deserve n-nice things."
Naruto's grin escalated and he put an arm casually around Hinata's shoulders as they walked back to the training area where they'd all agreed to meet. "Aw, Hinata, you're always so nice!"
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While jumping from one tree branch to another, Sakura cursed loudly. The others looked at her in alarm.
"I forgot to tell Tsunade we're going away for the weekend!" she cried, slamming her fist into a tree trunk. The tree swayed dangerously before regaining its balance.
"Oh, crap," Shikamaru muttered. "She's not going to be very charitable to me on Monday. And I wanted to get a day off, too……how troublesome…"
"She's not going to be pleased at me either," Neji scowled. "And I'm supposed to be the responsible one."
"I thought I was the responsible one," Tenten interjected. Neji cocked an eyebrow.
"So where does planning Lee's entire birthday party and failing to tell him where it was fit into the category of responsible? Or what about the time you were supposed to buy snacks for us and instead brought poison samples from the hospital? Or what about the time we were with Kakashi at Tea Country, and you fell asleep during guard duty, causing the absorption of the tea to render you unconscious for three days?" Neji was prepared to rattle off more, but Tenten scowled.
"Okay, one, Lee's speed is too fast; I couldn't find him anywhere because he was constantly moving around Konoha! Two, the poison was packaged, so it looked like individual snacks! Three, Kakashi was suppose to relieve me of guard duty, but he claimed he - "
" - Got lost on the road of life, so he just had to embark on the wonderful journey of finding his true path?" Sasuke interrupted.
" - Was distracted by a house on fire with two elderly women in it, so, naturally, he had to save them?" Sakura asked.
" - Saw a young woman with bruises and cuts all over her body, so he had to take her to the hospital, which was closed, so he had to take her to Granny Tsunade, who was passed out from drinking so much sake, so he had to take her to Sakura-chan, but she was on a mission, so he had to heal her himself, which took a long while since he was inexperienced at medical jutsus, so he messed up her body so badly she died, so he had to go back to Konoha and bury her in the cemetery where his father was buried, which evoked tears and many other emotions from him, which caused him to get tissues from the most expensive tissue shop in Japan, which is in Wave Country, so he had to travel there?" Naruto said in one breath.
Tenten stared at the three in surprise and disbelief. "No, he just said he received the newest edition of Icha Icha Paradise from Jiraiya-sama."
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke's mouths dropped open in a comical fashion. "Well," Sakura said, recovering from the shock. "it looks like Kakashi-sensei has finally told a truth!"
"Amazing," Naruto mumbled, eyes spinning out of focus. "Simply amazing."
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"Neji, how far is Ramen Country?" Tenten asked. She was starting to get heavily winded. It wasn't surprising, they had been traveling nonstop for five hours now.
Neji activated his Byakugan. "Only fifty more miles, Tenten. We should keep on going."
Tenten sighed. "Fifty more," she repeated tiredly. Thankfully, Ino spoke up at that point and voiced her thoughts.
"Let's stop here. I'm tired and, more importantly, my hair is a mess," she complained.
"Stop whining, Ino. I was tired two hours ago, but did you see me complaining?" scoffed Shikamaru.
"Actually, I'm getting pretty tired as well," Sakura spoke up. "Seriously, Neji, you can't expect us to travel four hundred miles in five hours."
"I expect myself to," was his cool reply. Sakura rolled her eyes. Typical Neji and his superiority complex.
"Hey, let's stop here," Naruto said, pointing to a clearing in a patch of trees. "It's pretty clear the girls and Shikamaru need to rest, and we don't want anyone to be injured, because then they'd miss out the Ramen Festival!" he exclaimed.
Sakura and Ino looked at each other. "Well, if you put it that way - "
" - No worries, Naruto, let's go!"
Shikamaru groaned and caught the two of them with his shadow. "Getting hurt is not a wise decision . Plus, Tsunade-sama won't be too pleased that you managed to add 'injured while on unclassified trip to Ramen Country' to your record."
Sakura and Ino sighed. "Fine. I hate it when you're right, you bum," Ino added. Shikamaru grinned.
"Hey, remember what happened the last time you called me a bum?" Ino turned bright red, and immediately dropped down gracefully to the forest floor. Shikamaru followed, chuckling.
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"WE'RE HERE!" Naruto announced loudly. "RAMEN COUNTRY, SAY HELLO TO UZUMAKI NARUTO!"
Sakura covered her eyes. "Naruto…" she growled menacingly.
"RAMEN, RAMEN, RAMEN, RAMEN!" Naruto sang, dancing gleefully around in a circle. He grabbed Hinata's hands. "Come on, let's go celebrate!"
Sasuke stared him down. "I would prefer not to."
"Let's go change into cleaner clothes first, then we'll celebrate, okay, Naruto?" Without waiting for an answer, Sakura turned on her heel and started walking towards the nearest bathhouse. Ino and Tenten shrugged and followed.
"Um…I g-guess I'll go, t-too," Hinata mumbled, scurrying after them.
Naruto groaned. "Why do girls always gang up against me?"
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"Are you really going to wear that, Tenten? Even though it's a ramen festival, people are going to see you like that!" Ino yelled, trying to force a silky lavender shirt over Tenten's head. Tenten swatted Ino's hands away.
"You can't hide weapons in that," she said stubbornly.
"Who cares? There won't be any need for weapons!"
Tenten's eyes blazed, reminding Ino of Rock Lee in his 'flames of youth' mode. "There is always a need for weapons!" she screeched.
"Hey, what - WHOA!" Sakura exclaimed, ducking just in time. She shuddered, hearing the dull thunk of metal hitting wood. Tenten winced.
"Sorry."
"It's alright," Sakura said, straightening her green kimono. Ino stopped wrestling with Tenten over the shirt as she saw Sakura's sparkling kimono. Sparkling, which in this case, was used literally.
"Whoa, Sakura…is that the kimono you were talking about?" Sakura nodded and smoothed down the front of the glittering, fashionably embellished kimono. Little sparkles floating around her hair caught the light and glistened even more.
"That's the one."
"The one you were saving up for three months?"
Tenten's jaw dropped. "Three months? Do you know how many shurikens you can buy with that money?"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "I'm glad I bought this. It's a really good eye-catcher. Literally," she finished, giggling softly. Ino smirked.
"Well, we all know who's eye is going to be caught tonight, don't we?"
"Shut up, Ino-pig," Sakura snapped, but she was blushing. "Hey, where's Hinata?"
"She said something about going there with Naruto early," Tenten replied, carefully attaching twenty or so senbon to four glittery hair clips, which she put in her shiny brown hair a moment later. "See, Ino? I am being girly. My hair clips sparkle!"
"And your body clunks whenever it moves," Ino added. She fluffed her hair and smoothed down the front of her purple kimono. "Unlike mine, which has the grace and elegance like a cat."
Sakura dissolved into a fit of coughing. "Cat - " she choked, laughing. " - more - like - pig!"
Ino scowled. "Too bad all those sparkles on your kimono won't distract anyone from your forehead."
Tenten sighed, and stepped between the sparks of anger emitting from Sakura and Ino. "Let's just go before I get caught up in the middle again. I swear, if that happens again, you'll be facing the wrath of my katana."
Ino and Sakura stared at her in shock. "How'd you manage to conceal that?"
Tenten just grinned sneakily and left the room, cackling evilly.
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"You stupid slacker, why didn't you change into something nicer?" Ino repeatedly hit Shikamaru over the head. Shikamaru hadn't even bothered to change, he was still in his regular clothes and Chuunin vest. "Now we're going to look stupid, because one half is dressed like he's going for a walk in the park!"
"Yeah, but the other half is dressed like she's attending the inauguration of a Kage," Shikamaru muttered. Ino stopped hitting him and tackled him in a hug.
"Aw, Shika-kun, you're so sweet! I'll give you another chance!" Over his shoulder, she sent a look of exultation to Sakura, who was standing next to a motionless, moody Sasuke.
Shikamaru sighed and detached Ino's arms from his neck. "Troublesome woman," he muttered. Ino rolled her eyes, but latched onto Shikamaru's arm. Shikamaru didn't pull her off this time. "Hey, Ino, do you want to look around? We're already here, so we might as well enjoy it."
Ino's face split into a big smile. "How much money do you have?"
Sakura sighed. "Come on, Sasuke-kun, let's go get a bowl of ramen. I heard some vendor yelling about free samples."
Sasuke "hn"ed. Sakura stared at him.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Hn."
"No?"
"Hn."
"Um…"
"Hn!"
Sakura glared at him. "I'm pretty sure that one meant 'ha-ha; sucker!' Am I right?"
"Hn."
Tenten stabbed a tree a kunai she pulled seemingly out of air. "Let's go, Neji! I'm sick and tired of Sasuke, emotional avenger, 'hn'-ing, and Sakura, little miss sparkles and koala bears, doing this stupid lovey-dovey stuff. Come on, we are going to make out behind that shed! Now!" She dragged Neji by the arm towards a big shed. Neji shrugged and allowed himself to be pulled there.
"Who could say no to an invitation like that?"
Sasuke looked at Sakura. "Hn."
"This is annoying me to wit's end. I'm leaving," Sakura said abruptly. "Bye, Sasuke."
Sasuke? Since when does she call me Sasuke? Sasuke screamed frantically in his head. Oh, my god, there is something very wrong with this situation! I an never simply Sasuke! I'm Sasuke-kun!"
"Sakura!" he called, trying to keep the anxiety out of his voice. Sakura turned around, looking annoyed.
"What, Sasuke?"
Sasuke flinched. "On second thought, ramen sounds good."
Sakura scowled. "Yeah, too late! I'm going to meet that special person who I went on this trip for!"
Sasuke's jaw dropped. So this was a real person…hmm…Sasuke thought. There's only four people that she knows here - Naruto, Shikamaru, Hyuuga, and myself. Well…hmm……I'll interrogate Naruto first; maybe that idiot did something right for once and captured Sakura's attention.
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"Naruto."
Naruot turned around, his face red with embarrassment and anger. "Sasuke, you idiot! Can't you tell two people are making out in a dark alley?"
Sasuke growled. "I want to know what Sakura means to you."
"Now isn't the time, bastard. I'm trying to do something!" he gestured wildly to Hinata's bright red face.
"Um…m-maybe I should g-go," she whispered, pushing her two index fingers together.
"Hey, Hinata-chan, wait up! Just because Sasuke interrupted us doesn't mean we can't continue! Hinata!"
Naruto glared at Sasuke before running after Hinata. "Thanks a lot, Sasuke."
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"Bwah!" Ino screamed when she saw Sasuke pop up behind Shikamaru. "Sasuke! You - you - you - you - avenger!"
"I know," Sasuke said calmly. "Shikamaru, what is your relationship with Sakura?"
Shikamaru looked bewildered. "Er…platonic? Besides, why are you asking me? Sakura likes you."
"Yeah, I don't believe that," Sasuke replied shortly. "Wait…" he trailed off. "So all that crap she said about being friends two months ago was…crap?"
Ino sighed. "Did you really think Sakura's feelings for you would just disappear like that? And that she was serious when she claimed to be your friend? No! She's a fan girl, Sasuke-kun, and a hardcore one at that! She loves your powerfulness, and your coolness, and your patented Sasuke Smirk!" The corners of Sasuke's mouth were starting to twitch up ever so slightly, so Ino barreled on. "She will never stop loving you, never stop thinking about you, never stop stalking you!"
Sasuke's smile vanished. "Sakura stalks me?"
Ino rolled her eyes. "Well, she used to."
Sasuke shrugged. Before sprinting off, he turned to Ino and Shikamaru and said, softly, "Thank you. You've made me…realize something."
Ino and Shikamaru smiled at Sasuke's retreating back. Then Ino realized something.
"Does he even know where he's going?"
Shikamaru shrugged. "I doubt it. Hey…" he began, looking away from Ino. "Do you think I'm powerful and cool?"
"Nah……you're lazy. But," she added, snuggling closer to him and giving him a peck on the cheek. "You have loyalty, and intelligence, and leadership, and………..sweetness."
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Sakura was sitting on a bench overlooking the Ramen Festival. She could see a little spot of yellow next to a patch of dark blue eating ramen together at one of the stands. She could see Ino's purple kimono with Shikamaru's classic pineapple head walking along one of the paths littered with dried pieces of ramen. She didn't know where Neji and Tenten were, but Sakura was sure they were off somewhere, together. Everyone had someone. Everyone except her.
"Sakura."
Sakura stiffened. She knew that voice.
"Sasuke," she replied calmly, trying to keep a tremor from escaping her mouth. "What are you doing here?"
Sasuke sat down next to Sakura on the bench. "Finding you," he shrugged. "So…" he began. "A little pig told me you still like me. And let me speak first before you try and deny it." Sakura huffed and closed her mouth. "Sakura……on Valentine's Day, you told me you wanted to be my friend. I…I guess that was enough at first, but now……now it seems like you want something more. And I can respect that decision, because I am Uchiha Sasuke." Sakura snorted. "Anyway…what I'm trying to say is……well…" he sighed. "Alright, since this isn't working, I'll use a metaphor."
Sasuke picked up a leaf from the ground. "Pretend I'm this leaf." Sakura giggled and grabbed it out of his hands . She then ripped it down the middle. Sasuke's eyes popped open. He carefully picked up another leaf. "Er…I'm this leaf. You're this one." He showed her another leaf. "See, the Sakura leaf likes this one very much and the two leaves are good friends. But when the Sakura leaf finds someone else, someone who she wants to devote her whole life to and possibly even marry, the wind might blow her away from the other leaf. And then the Sasuke leaf will be lonely. So I guess what I'm trying to say is the Sasuke leaf wants the Sakura leaf to stick with him forever, because the Sasuke leaf sort of needs the Sakura leaf to keep him from getting...stepped on. The Sasuke leaf doesn't want anyone to take the Sakura leaf away. The Sasuke leaf wants the Sakura leaf to be at his side forever."
Sakura looked up into Sasuke's eyes. "Sasuke-kun…" she whispered. "I'm - I'm so sorry I got mad at you earlier; it was just spontaneous and I didn't mean what I said about the person I liked because that's you and - " She was cut off when Sasuke leaned down and kissed her. It seemed like fireworks were going off as Sakura started kissing him back and in reality, fireworks were going off. Across the streets of the Ramen Festival, people all around were staring in awe at the spectactular fireworks display. But for Sakura, nothing else registered to her. All she could think about was kissing Uchiha Sasuke. And then something happened. And then something else happened. And then something else happened. And then -
"OH MY GOD! MY EYES! THEY BURN!" Tenten screamed, covering her eyes. Beside her, Neji blanched and looked away. "SAKURA! SASUKE! PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!"
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A/N - This rating should really go up…
So, tell me if you like this chapter because I want to continue with this, with Halloween and Christmas. Thanks in advance!
Please leave a review!
- Lily in a Pond
