Shadow: Okay, back to the plot.

Naruto: So, was the last chapter like a filler or something.

Shadow (grinning): Haha… you caught me.

Naruto: you are so evil

Shadow: I know.

Arisa sat the bowl down in front of Choji who promptly broke the chopsticks and started to eat. She sighed and sat back. It was a slow day with most of the ninjas out on missions except for Choji, Hinata, and Naruto. Konoha itself seemed to fell lazy today as it was already 11 and there was few people going about their daily business.

Arisa's head perked up when she heard her name being called by Ichiraku, "Arisa, would you like me to show you how to make ramen soup?"

Her eyes shown with excitement, "Yes!" she declared. She had been in Konoha for a month or so, but every time she asked to learn how to make the soup, she had been told she wasn't ready yet.

"Okay, first you boils the water." The old man began.

Two days later led to seven failed tries, a wary Ichiraku, a depressed Arisa, and terrified customers. Arisa slumped over in her seat, head in the arms that were folded on the counter, "Ug, I'll never get it right!" she groaned, turning her head to the side to watch Ichiraku clean up the mess in disappointment.

I've never been so bad at cooking before. It just came so easily, but now I'm about to die I've failed so badly. I can't help it if I don't care about ramen. It's so stupid any ways! She lifted her head, Maybe that's it, I need to care about it. I will not fail! I have to make it!

"Okay! Ichiraku, let me try it out one more time!" she exclaimed, a fist in the air. He looked over warily, "Are you sure."

"Damn it! Forget this! Who wants to cook something as stupid as ramen anyways!" she exclaimed as she burnt the overly salty soup. She shoved the pot away and stalked out of the restaurant.

As she huffed she heard a grinning voice ask, "So how did it go?"

Arisa shot Naruto an I'll-kill-you-if-you-speak-to-me-about-such-things look. "Go away."

"Not very good I guess." He said, grin still on his face. Arisa just glared at him, "Well then, I guess we'll have to brighten your mood!" he reached over and grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers and pulling her lightly down the street.

"N-naruto? What are you doing?" she asked, flushing.

"I'm taking you on a date!" he exclaimed, without looking back at her. When Arisa came even with him, she saw his smile.

"A date?" she asked. "Where?"

"To dinner!" he exclaimed.

Arisa rolled her eyes, dinner with Naruto was ramen. So she was completely shocked when they entered a nice restraint that didn't even have ramen on the menu. As they sat across from each other Arisa glanced at the menu, then around the place. It was nice, not fast-food, ramen, or a buffet, but not five star spend a weeks wages on it expensive. She smiled, bring up her menu to hide it.

As they finished dinner with Arisa kicking Naruto for saying something stupid, they left the restaurant hand in hand. Together they simply walked down the streets of Konoha, pointing out little odd things.

At one point Naruto turned to Arisa, "Did you really do that badly cooking the soup?" he asked.

Arisa grinned nervously, "Uh, yeah. It really sucked."

"Why?" he asked.

She shrugged and looked away, "I don't know, I guess it's how Choji said I just don't have enough feeling to cook it."

Naruto just watched her for a second, then nodded, "Fine, okay." He said, determined, then began to pull her off somewhere.

"Uh, Naruto where are we going?" she asked.

"You're going to cook ramen for me." He said, then stopped, "Of course I don't have the ingredients at my apartment. I guess we'll have to go to yours."

"Naruto! You baka!" she said, viens popping out on her forehead. He just laughed nervously.

A few minutes later they entered Arisa's apartment and started search through the cabinets looking for ingredients. When everything was set out on the counter, Arisa stepped back and scrutinized everything.

"Okay, I think that's it." She said, then looked at Naruto, "Are you sure you want Ramen? I mean we just ate half an hour ago."

"Come on, please!" Naruto pouted and Arisa couldn't refuse that puppy dog look.

"Fine." She grumbled. Then she started cutting up some green onions and put some water on to boil.

There was a knock on the door. Arisa looked over to Naruto, asking him with her eyes to open the door since she was currently in the middle of three different things. Naruto shrugged and walked over to the door, swinging it open.

"Uh, Naruto, what are you doing in Arisa's apartment?" asked Sakura. Behind her was Lee, Sasuke, and Tenten.

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" he asked, turning the question around.

Sakura looked down at the basket of fruit and books in her arms, "Well, when we heard that Arisa was having a hard time with ramen, we decided to bring her a fruit basket and a couple of cook books. It was Tenten's idea." While she spoke, the group entered her apartment without an invite and started to make themselves at home.

"Arisa-chan what are you doing?" Lee asked, looking over her shoulder.

"I'm trying to make ramen." She said, stirring the boiling mass.

"Um, do you think that maybe you should start with instant ramen?" Lee asked, nervously. He had heard about how bad her other ramen had turned out.

"Lee!" Tenten exclaimed, elbowing him in the side for being rude.

"Do you think that that would work?" Arisa asked, oblivious.

Tenten sweat dropped, "No no, I'm sure this will be fine." She looked at the pot, "Uh, Arisa I think it's burning."

"Ah!" Arisa exclaimed, turning down the stove and stirring it quickly, soup sloshing over the side.

While the hectic mess was being made in the kitchen, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke were talking/fighting in the living room. Sakura was sitting on the couch while Sasuke sat on the arm and Naruto stood.

"So what are you doing here Naruto?" Sakura asked.

Naruto grinned nervously, rubbing the back of his head, "Well, uh, we just got back from a date." He said.

"A date, with you?" Sasuke scoffed, "Who would go on a date with you?" he asked. Sakura just laughed nervously, not mentioning that she had gone on a date with Naruto before.

"Hey what's wrong with me?!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sasuke just looked him up and down, "Do you need to ask?"

Sakura sweat dropped at the intense emotions of murder flying around, they never had gotten over their not so playful bantering.

Arisa sighed as she dumped the pot of ramen soup down the sink, "Sorry guys." She said as they choked over the black smoke. Lee had enough sense to open the window. The group migrated to the living room instead.

Arisa stood in front of them while Sakura still sat on the couch with Sasuke on the arm next to her, Tenten and Lee occupied the love seat across from the couch. Naruto had taken over the overly large couch chair that had its back to the kitchen.

"Um, maybe I could make you all something to eat, as long as it's not ramen." The group backed down, afraid to try anything after watching her burn the pot of ramen.

"They don't need anything." Naruto said. He reached out his right hand and grabbed her wrist. In a quick movement that could only be pulled off by a ninja, he swiftly pulled on her, knocking her off balance and causing her to land neatly on the chair that he was in, right between his legs. Then he snuggly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her so her back was pressed against his chest.

Arisa blushed. If the others thought anything about this show, they didn't say anything. Everyone talked for about an hour or so, but then they gradually stood to leave. Arisa wanted to see them to the door, but Naruto wouldn't release her. So she ended up just calling good-bye from her seat. Lee was the last one out, and winked as he closed the door behind him.

Naruto then leaned his head forward to rest on her shoulders, "Finally, I thought that they would never leave."

"Um, N-naruto?" Arisa asked, stuttering as she felt his breath on her neck.

"Yeah?" he asked, and Arisa could tell he was smiling.

She shook her head, "Never mind."

He pulled his head back, "What?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, tell me!" he exclaimed.

"Naruto." She growled at his insistence, and got up from the comfortable chair and Naruto. "You sure know how to ruin a mood."

He laughed, with that fox smile. "Really?" then he pulled on her wrist again, but softer this time. Arisa rolled her eyes, then let herself be pulled down, this time in a kiss. His eyes were closed and his kiss was soft. She grinned against his mouth. Situating her legs so that she was straddling him, she wrapped her fingers in his blond hair, pulling his head back. She stopped when their heads were vertical and fiercely attacked his mouth in deep, passionate kisses.

"Mmm." He groaned, putting his hands on her hips, pulling her closer to him.

She smiled then pulled back with a giggle. "Uh, Naruto, what I wanted to ask was, does this mean that we're going out?" she asked.

His eyes opened and he stared up at her with the deep blue eyes, "Yes." He answered with a surly nod.

She smiled, "You don't have to act like it's a business deal." He just smiled back. Arisa's smile slowly dropped. She got up from on top of him and walked to her kitchen where she started cleaning up the mess from earlier.

"Arisa?" Naruto asked at her sudden change of mood. She didn't respond and kept scrubbing the pot. "Arisa?" she dried her hands on a towel, but still didn't turn around. Then he heard her sob, "Arisa!" he rushed to her and spun her around. Tears were falling down her face and she started sobbing like crazy. "Arisa, what's wrong?"

"I-I-I c-c-can't!" she said and Naruto watched as she broke down in front of him. He placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to steady her.

"What?" He asked, not understanding her at all.

She turned away, and took breaths, calming herself and stopping her tears. When she stopped crying she said, without turning back to him and his large mans on her shoulders, "I-I-I'm here to learn to cook ramen. When I'm done I'm going to move on. I have other forms of food to master. Please, please, lets not take this any further."

"Baka." Naruto said, giving her an icy glare. Arisa turned to look at him in surprise, "Baka, you're scared aren't you. You're absolutely terrified of being hurt when you leave."

Arisa couldn't say anything. She just watched him, "If you think that your emotions can just disappear, you're wrong." His hands dropped to his sides and were clenched into fists, his teeth were gritted.

"N-Naruto." Arisa stuttered, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—."

"To do what!" he said, teeth clenched in anger, "Forget it. I'm not going to put up with this, damn it." He turned on his heal and stalked to the door. When he reached it, he pulled it open then turned to look at her, "Arisa, I—." he shook his head then walked out of the door.

Arisa stood with her back to the counter, "Well, that went well." She said, with a sad smile, wiping tears out of her eyes.

"Oy! Naruto, are you hungry? We were just about to go get something to eat!" Choji called to him as the blonde walked towards the small group with his hands in his pockets.

Naruto looked up, "Hn? I guess." He shrugged.

"Naruto are you feeling okay?" Sakura asked, putting a hand to his forehead.

"Yeah." Naruto said with another shrug.

Choji led the way while Naruto, Sakura, and Ino follow closely behind him. Naruto was being extremely quiet. It had been three days since the night he had gone over to Arisa's apartment. He hadn't been to Ichiraku's since.

When the group entered, Naruto marked quietly to himself that Arisa wasn't in sight. Ichiraku took their orders and made their bowls. Sakura asked where Arisa was, but the only response she got was a "Not here." Ichiraku looked depressed for some reason.

"Hm." Ino, Sakura and Choji frowned.

Ichiraku slid the bowls in front of them. Naruto looked down before saying, "Hey, old man, this isn't what I ordered."

Ichiraku smile lightly, "I know, but it's a special ramen made up just for you. On the house."

"Really?!" Naruto brightened despite himself.

Ichiraku nodded before turning back around to fiddle with stuff. Naruto delicately tried a bit. As the soup hit his taste buds his face lit up. Quickly he woofed down the bowl. It was promptly replaced with a new one.

Half way through the third bowl he took enough time to say, "Old man, this is the best ramen you've ever made!"

The man looked at him, then slowly shook his head, "I didn't make it." He said quietly.

"Hm? If you didn't make it, then who did?" Naruto put his bowl down. The others all exchanged glances in worry.

Ichiraku looked down at his old hands, "I-I didn't. Arisa-chan did. She made it this morning. She told me to give it all to you."

Naruto frowned, "How did she know I would come by?" then he looked at his three companions who all gulped guiltily. "Did you—?"

Sakura shrunk away nervously, "Um, she talked to us earlier and told us to invite you here. But," she looked at Ichiraku, "I thought that she would be here."

Ichiraku's lip quivered, "S-She said that she had learned how to make ramen. She said thank you for everything, but she knew that it was time for her to move on."

Naruto slammed his fist down on the counter, "Why didn't you say so earlier?! Where is she? When did she leave?"

Naruto stood, ready to chase after her. Sakura tried to calm him while Ichiraku shook his head, "It's too late Naruto. She left a couple of hours ago. She said she sold her apartment and everything but some clothes and what she came with. Arisa's long gone."

Naruto slumped down on the ground "No." tears stung his eyes.

"She asked me to give you this." Ichiraku passed a letter to Sakura who handed it down to Naruto. Naruto ripped it open. "Dear Naruto" It read, "I'm sorry to leave like this. I finally completed the ramen. Choji was right, you do have to put your emotions in it. I was able to make this ramen because of you. I'm giving it to you, and only you. Ichiraku himself hasn't had any. Please, enjoy it because I don't think I will ever be able to make ramen for anyone else. And Naruto… thank you. Yours, Arisa.

Naruto gripped the letter in his fist and gritted his teeth. He put his elbow on his knees and his head in his hands. "That Baka! She really did leave didn't she. She really did leave."

Naruto tilted his head back and laughed at the bitterness of it.

Shadow: Wow, that hurt to write.

Naruto (sobbing): then why did you write it?

Shadow: I don't know, I just write what comes to me.

Naruto: You are horrible.

Shadow: I know.

Naruto: Does it at least have a happy ending?

Shadow: You'll just have to wait and see. (muttering) although I don't even know myself.

Naruto: WHAT!?

Shadow (laughing nervously): Hahaha… um… please review.