The Catch
Sakura loved spring. Especially since the cheery blossoms were in bloom. Since she was named after them, she felt like she would have good luck with anything that came her way. And that anything happened to be Naruto.
Naruto looked utterly perplexed while he walking towards Sakura with his hands in his pockets and his head hanging on his neck. He steadily made his way towards her and looked her warmly in the eyes.
"Would… um… you... um... go on a date… with me?" Naruto finally managed to get the last words to pass his lips.
"Well… um… yea!" Sakura said as the shock of the question wore off.
"That's good! Meet me at Ichiraku Ramen at 7o'clock," Naruto turned the other way with a grin shining on his face.
"Wait! Naruto where are you going?"
"I have to see Granny Tsundae about the mission!"
Naruto ran towards the hokage's office, whereas, Sakura kept walking with a confused look on her face but with a glow in her heart. She loved spring.
Naruto barged into the office huffing and puffing since he had ran the whole way there.
"Tsundae!" he panted.
"You cannot just run in here without knocking first!" scolded Shizune.
"It's fine Shizune. I told him to come when he had made up his mind on whether or not he is taking up this mission," corrected Tsundae.
"Please forgive me for my carelessness, Lady Hokage!"
Turning towards Naruto, Tsundae sighed and rested her chin on her folded hands. "So have you made up your mind on the mission?"
Naruto took at the letter that she had written to him. "Yes, I have made the decision to take the mission," he answered.
"Even with the catch?"
"Yes."
"Even though you…" she was cut off quickly by Naruto slamming his fist on the table.
"Yes! I will complete this mission and I'll be welcomed back! Not matter what happens!"
Irritated, "Than you didn't understand what I wrote! I wrote, 'But the only catch is that everyone will believe that you have died and failed the mission with all the other squad members!'"
Naruto let his head hang on his neck as a single tear leaked onto his cheek.
"I understood what you wrote, but once we complete the mission, won't we be aloud back into the village?"
Tsundae motioned for Naruto to sit for she didn't know if one person's soul could handle all this information. Especially, since his glass was filled to the brim. She explained everything that would happen once they completed the mission and if they lived.
His only response was, "I came in here happy and excited; I'm leaving depressed and heartbroken."
She grinned and said, "I usually have that effect on people."
"How troublesome," Shikamaru said aloud. First, his new girlfriend hasn't visited from the Sand Village for some time. Second, the chuunin exams were driving him crazy since he had to be one of the proctors. Finally, Ino, his teammate was called on a mission with four others. This wouldn't usually bother him but ever since Asuma had died, he had been busy helping Kurenai with her son Koji and Ino had been the one that did most of the work. Without her, he was physically helpless.
Even thought Kurenai was good with kids, she had been called on many missions that would last weeks.
"This is such a drag," he breathed as he walked up to Kurenai's door.
Ino approached him so quietly that he jumped when she spoke.
"Hey Shikamaru!"
"Ahhh! You're so troublesome Ino. You almost gave me a heart attack!" complained Shikamaru.
"Well sorry! I was just going to say good-bye in case I don't see you tomorrow."
Shikamaru noticed that Ino seemed to be hiding something with the way that she kept her gaze towards her feet. Puzzled, he sighed and asked what was wrong.
"Why do you think anything's wrong?" she stuttered.
"Well you never wished me a farewell before and you never fidget or stutter when you talk. Is there something you know that we don't?"
"No! I mean, nothing!" Ino quickly answered and turned and went the other direction.
All Shikamaru could say was, "Woman," and he entered Kurenai's house.
