Interlude - A Lesson Between Friends
Sasuke and Naruto had joked that your genin squad didn't matter, that you would weed some gardens, guard a few civilians, and move into the more significant role of chuunin without looking back. As twelve year olds often are, they were wrong about that. The people you sloughed through those menial tasks with became a sort of extended family. You never really shook off those relationships. Sitting around a table, eating barbecue with Sakura and Shino, Naruto laughed as they caught up on a year's developments.
Smirking prettily, Sakura wagged her finger at Naruto. "You have a new nickname by the way. I heard some Jounin using it earlier today when discussing your year of training with your dad. Want to guess what it is?"
"I know all about it," Naruto groaned. "Kakashi-sensei called me by it today. I swear he was laughing at me behind his mask."
Shino quirked a single eyebrow, an expression that asked his question for these two who knew him well. Are you going to keep me in suspense all day or share the nickname already?
"Whiskers," Naruto muttered unhappily.
Sakura giggled. "It's practically a family tradition for you. Your mom is the Habanero; your dad is the Yellow Flash. You should embrace the nickname. It isn't terrible and it harkens back to your signature kill. How many chuunin do you know who've killed an ANBU?"
"Whiskers though?" Naruto moaned. "It sounds like I'm a poorly shaved sailor."
"It has character," Kiba offered. "I approve."
"Seriously? Well I'm calling you Pinkie forever then, Sakura. " Naruto smirked at her sudden frown. "And as soon as I think of something appropriate, I'm giving you one too Shino."
"You've been torturing me with offensive stereotypical nicknames for as long as we've known one another," Shino remarked. At Naruto's puzzled frown, he continued. "Bug boy, mantis man, antenna head, creepy crawlie... I've survived your worst."
Others might have missed it in the deadpan delivery, but Naruto recognized a joke in there and laughed. "Okay Antenna Head it is."
"Since we're all free at the moment, I thought maybe we could do a mission together, for old time's sake," Sakura suggested. "We haven't all worked together since Shino made chuunin. Who knows when we'll be between missions like this again? What do you guys say? Team six rides again?"
"Can't, I'm leaving on an extended mission with Jiraiya in a few days. We'll be training and spying and probably visiting a lot of bath houses if I had to guess. It's a great opportunity." Naruto didn't like disappointing Sakura-chan. She still showed her emotions plainly, eschewing the blankness most ninja learned to project by this stage in their career. On cue, her face fell, and her lip jutted out in a girly pout. "I'm really sorry, Pinkie-chan."
Shino quietly excused himself, disappearing in the direction of the washroom. Oblivious to the privacy they'd been afforded by their always perceptive teammate, Naruto continued eating his dinner.
"It's okay. Be careful out there?" Sakura leaned a bit closer to Naruto and pecked his cheek quickly, a chaste kiss that could have been shared between siblings, but that set her blushing immediately. "For luck!" she qualified quickly when Naruto looked askance at her.
"I just spent a year training with my father. Whiskers doesn't need luck," Naruto boasted. "But thanks." His chewing slowed and he cast another slow glance back at his former teammate. She had grown up quite a lot in the last year. Girls fell into a handful of mental categories for Naruto, civilians, ninja, family, and the dreaded fan-girls. Sakura had been a fan-girl but now she was a ninja and family. A new category of girl was forming for him as he sat and chewed slowly. Girls who weren't his mom who kissed him and Sakura was the first member of the club. "You know, as good luck kisses go, that was kind of a wimpy one."
Sakura, glared at Naruto. "Wimpy? What do you know about good luck kisses?"
"I don't know much about kissing at all. It wasn't covered at the academy and I've never had a chance to practice." Naruto pushed his plate back and took a long drink of water. "Want to try again? If I've learned anything in the last year, it's that practice makes perfect."
Sakura's flush turned positively magenta. "Are you making fun of me?"
"Nah, I'm asking my friend who is a girl if she wants to make out until we're good at kissing or bored with trying. What do you say?" It could go either way, Naruto knew. Sakura would either beat him upside the head and storm off, or she'd consent to experiment a bit. "If you think it's weird I won't be upset. You're just my only good friend who is a girl. I can't exactly practice this with Shino or Sasuke. I suppose I could read one of Jiraiya's books. They're supposed to be pretty informative..."
Sakura let Naruto ramble as she digested his offer. Back a couple of years ago when they first became genin, she would have jumped at the chance. She was immature and silly then and she hadn't learned what being a ninja really meant. Now Naruto was asking his old friend and teammate if she wanted to practice kissing. He might have been asking if she wanted to learn a new jutsu for all the emotional investment behind the request. That he felt safe enough with her to ask, was sort of endearing in a way.
Sakura understood that Naruto wasn't being intentionally hurtful or obtuse. Ninja graduated from the academy at twelve, when most kids start figuring out things like dating and kissing and eventually love. When you were thrust into the world and your focus became survival, some ninja failed to properly figure out the interpersonal or emotional maturity needed for a relationship. Sakura sighed to herself and refrained from punching Naruto. "That is a terrible pick up line. Repeat after me- Sakura, would you like to go out with me before I leave on my extended mission?"
Naruto paused for a long moment, then nodded with a grin. This wouldn't be a lesson in kissing, but in the social protocol to reaching kissing too. Sakura was so smart sometimes. "Sakura, would you like to go out with me before I leave on my extended mission?"
"Sure Naruto, I'd love to go on a date with you. I'm free tomorrow at six." Sakura placed a few bills on the table to cover her part of the check. "Tell Shino I said goodnight, would you?"
After consulting with Shino, Sasuke, and Kiba, Naruto determined that he should be freshly showered, teeth brushed and wearing clean clothes for his date with Sakura. The boys disagreed about whether he should bring flowers or if he ought to wear any light armor. After much debate Naruto decide 'no' to armor and flowers. It was a friend date and friends didn't bring each other flowers.
The woman who answered the door for Naruto was older and failed to smile at him. She surveyed him, arms akimbo before opening the door enough for him to enter. Slipping his sandals off he stepped inside. Did Sakura still live with her parents too? She never mentioned them if she did. "I'm Namikaze Naruto." He offered the older woman his hand and his most winning smile.
"You can call me Haruno-san." She shook his hand perfunctorily and left him standing in the entryway. "Sakura should be down momentarily. Wait here."
"Friendly sort," Naruto muttered. He studied the home from his limited vantage point and was surprised at how similar a civilian's home was to his own.
"Mom, have you seen my red sandals?" Sakura leapt over the second floor banister and streaked through the living room bare feet whispering over tile. She didn't even notice Naruto watching her scamper. "I swear they were in my closet and now they're gone." She was wearing a pretty red dress that somehow managed to not clash with her crazy pink hair. The dress fell well past her knees but a daring slit exposed her leg past mid thigh. Naruto appreciated the efficiency of the slit. If Sakura needed to fight she would be able to kick or run, and the view it afforded of creamy smooth leg wasn't too shabby either.
"Check the closet in the entryway," her mother shouted.
Naruto forced his eyes from the enticing red dress to his friend's face and smiled nervously. He suddenly wished he had brought flowers, something to distract from the awkward moment. "Hi Sakura. Ready to go?"
"Let me grab my shoes." Sakura disappeared into the closet and returned properly shod. "Where are we headed then?"
"Do you want to eat?" Naruto asked.
"I could eat," Sakura agreed. She laced her arm into his and let him lead the way. It was a friend date, but Sakura intended to do it right.
Author's Note:
There were some interesting reviews to the last chapter. A couple made me smile, one taught me something I definitely didn't know about Japanese surnames and the canon intention for Uzumaki/Namikaze. That was cool.
One reviewer noted that the title of the fic is off-putting. I'm open to suggestions on the title but have not really managed to think of anything better myself. Note that I titled the thing to begin with. Thus you can assume my best effort on that front is on the fic.
The next chapter is complete and is not Jiraiya training time. No more training. Time skip and main arc next. I'm trying to keep up a chapter or interlude every week pattern and have managed it for going on two months now. Go me ;)
Tentative prediction, but I don't think this fic is likely to run for more than twenty chapters. The main arc is tightly plotted. It should reach crisis and climax relatively rapidly.
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to any who celebrate it!
