A/N: THIS IS NOT A PART OF THE STORYLINE. Merely an omake type of thing. I'll get back to the actual fanfiction later, but I just wanted to write this real quick. Please read this still because it's cute (or at least I think it is xD). I promise not to abandon this story and to get back to writing it soon~ Also, this seems to happen at some point in time when Kakashi wasn't yet their teacher, but they had decided to join the competition together. Don't know why I wrote it like that...
"Hey, Naruto," Sakura called out as she approached Naruto who was sleeping on the bleachers inside his father's gym.
"Wha…?" The awaking boy grumbled, scratching his stomach with the napping Vulpix in his lap.
Sakura's fists trembled with rage before she shouted, "Wake up, you idiots!"
Both owner and pokémon jolted awake, shivering with shock and fear.
The pink-haired girl crossed her arms. "Seriously, you guys, it's the middle of the afternoon!" she complained.
Naruto sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, Sakura-chan…"
"And to think I came all the way to ask you…" she looked away.
Naruto's face grew red and his heart thumped in his chest. To ask me out…? He thought. To ask me out! The question roared in his head, anticipation rising.
"…if you wanted to go the festival tonight…"
"Oh, Sakura-chan, I would love—!"
"…with everyone. Sasuke-kun and Iruka-san are coming along. Your dad is probably coming too."
"…Oh." Naruto moaned, disappointed. Still, that should be fun and getting the invitation from Sakura was enough to make his heart smile. "Yeah, I'll be there!"
"Great. Sasuke-kun really wanted you to go I guess, he was the one who told me to invite you," Sakura said casually as she exited from the gym. Naruto sat there in silence.
"Sasuke… why…?"
Booths created lanes of excitement. Games and food lined colorful halls of the festival, lanterns lighting the way. In traditional dress, girls laughed as they purchased snacks, dolls, and toys. Boys handed over coins, playing each game they saw. Somewhere in all the exuberance, a person was singing with an Altaria tweeting by their side.
"Wow, this is so cool!" Naruto said to Vulpix who was trailing by his side. "Everything's so pretty!" Vulpix mewed happily in agreement.
"Hey, Naruto!" A familiar voice called out. "Over here!"
Naruto and Vulpix dashed over to meet Iruka and Sakura who were munching on Okuyaki (something much like takoyaki*).
"Awesome, you made it!" Iruka said to Naruto. "We got you some too," He handed a stick of Okuyaki to the Naruto, but the boy wasn't paying attention because he was too busy staring at Sakura who was draped in a spring inspired kimono.
Noticing his staring, Sakura smiled at him. "So, do I look good?" She said, brushing back a few strands of hair that refused to remain pinned up or slung behind her ear.
Naruto nodded, a strong blush covering his face.
"Good," Sakura giggled. Her eyes then burned with determination. "Then I can woo Sasuke-kun with my unbeatable beauty!"
Naruto's shoulders sank. Of course that's all she cares about! He thought with a mental sigh.
The three strolled around with their pokémon in tow, Azurill and Vulpix occasionally begging for something with impatient and childish squeaks while Happiny was content watching all the happy people and bright colors pass her by while she rested on Sakura's shoulder.
"Hey," someone grunted from behind the joyful group.
"Sasuke-kun!" The trio called out simultaneously, except Naruto who dropped the honorific and said the name much more dully.
"So, you actually showed up," Sasuke scoffed to Naruto whose face scrunched into a scowl.
"I should be saying the same to you!" Naruto yelled in reply. The rivals glared at each other. "Why'd you want me to come anyway?"
"I was going to come for my own reasons, but Sakura told me she was going too, I figured it'd be best for the team if we all attended," he said seriously.
"Your own reasons?" Naruto muttered.
Sasuke said nothing to this, instead walking by to relive memories as he walked on dirt trails.
Sakura frowned. "He looks sad. He didn't even pay any attention to me." She whined.
Naruto watched as the moping Sasuke switched from staring at the sky to staring at the ground. What could be wrong? He decided he'd deal with that later as a different inquiry came to mind.
Naruto raised an eyebrow and said, "It's weird to see Sasuke without Gastly anywhere nearb—"
Then, a haunting presence emerged from behind, a sick yet familiar cold followed by a thick yet misty tongue slowly rolling over his back. Naruto froze, shivering from the intense, disgusting feeling of horror that rushed through his veins. Iruka and Sakura could only stare, experiencing a little bit of the fright themselves. A scream was lodged in Naruto's throat as Gastly cackled cruelly before the floating from behind Naruto and chasing after his owner.
Finally the blond was able to let out a loud, "AAAAAH!"
The charizard crashed to the earth floor with a mighty cry.
"No, Charizard!" A random, nameless character shouted, running to his pokémon's side before returning it to its pokéball. He then walked off, head hung low with shame.
"Hey, kid!" Minato shouted to the random trainer with a grin. "Don't be so down! You did well. Just keep working hard, okay?"
The nameless kid grinned and nodded, excitedly running off to the nearest pokémon center.
"Who's next?" Minato shouted as Ninetales dug its paws into the ground.
"Me, me, me!" Several trainers hollered.
Minato laughed casually. "Now, now, one at time, will you?"
"There you are!" Iruka said as the group came upon the yondaime gym leader of Konoha, battling challengers not too far from the festival booths.
"Iruka, Naruto!" Minato called out happily, hugging the two. "Having fun?"
"Yeah, everything's really pretty, isn't it?" Iruka said.
"From what I've seen, it is. I've mostly been over here."
"What? Take a break. Enjoy yourself."
"But—"
"But nothing, the parade's about to start!" Iruka told him, beaming.
Minato smiled back. "Oh, all right!" He turned to the mob of eager trainers. "Sorry, everyone! See me at the gym, okay?" There were a few groans, but most remembered the parade and ran to the festival alleys to wait for the first of the parade train.
The group of five then joined everyone else on the sidelines, standing ardently wishing for the parade to begin. Just as it became too much to bear, a man turned the corner of the first booth dressed as a Raticate with a colony of gorgeously decorated Raticate following him. Next in line was a singer then two people in a Tauros costume and a herd of dressed up Taruos.
"I don't get it," Naruto whispered to Sakura. "Why these pokémon?"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Idiot!" She laughed. "You really don't get it?"
"Is this your first time to this festival?" Sasuke asked with condescension lingering in his tone.
Naruto glowered at him. "Who asked you?" Then he stuck out his tongue.
Not wanting anymore fighting, Iruka butted in.
"It's the zodiac from the Land of the Iron. They have an ancient story that twelve pokémon entered a race and the way their years are labeled are based off the order the pokémon came in. First place went to Raticate, then came the Tauros followed by Electivire though some argue that it was actually Raikou who came in third, but I digress. Fourth was Lopunny, then was Dragonite, Arbok, Rapidash, Mareep, Primeape, Combusken, Arcanine, and last was Grumpig," Iruka explained. "Each year we put these twelve pokémon in extravagant clothing and accessories. The pokémon of that year is the only one of its kind in the parade and is carried by four men."
"Wow!" Naruto replied with childlike curiosity and excitement. "Which is this year?"
"It's the year of the Lopunny!" Sakura squealed with Happiny. "We can't wait to see how cutely or beautifully they have dressed it!"
"Me too!" Naruto said staring wide-eyed as all the charmingly clad pokémon passed by proudly, the crowd letting out noises of delight. He soon noticed the still glum look on Sasuke's face as the extravagant sights passed before his eyes. Once again, Naruto decided to push this to the back of his mind for the moment, the Electivire finally exiting and a wonderfully veiled Lopunny entered. It was cloaked in a detailed kimono that accented its bright red irises and pink nose. Along with the veil and a red ribbon that tied its ears together, the Lopunny had several other head decorations as well as flowers and other beautiful garnishing sitting at its feet. It stood on a platform carried at the corners by four commonly and identically dressed men.
"Whoa!" Naruto bellowed.
"Pretty!" Sakura exclaimed as Iruka and Minato simply gazed amazedly at the pokémon.
After the parade winded down, people began spreading off in different directions. As the embellished Grumpigs disappeared from sight, Minato looked around.
"We should get moving too," the gym leader said.
"Where's everyone going?" Naruto asked.
Minato patted the boy's head. "To find a good place to watch the fireworks."
"Fireworks?" He repeated elatedly.
"I know an okay spot around—" Iruka began.
"No," Sasuke interrupted drawing all eyes on him. "I know where the best place is."
"This is great!" Sakura said spinning on the hill covered in soft green grass. The pokémon played in the wide space, wrestling each other and yipping.
"How'd you know about this?" Iruka questioned, looking around at all the space and green.
Sasuke merely looked to the ground, saying nothing once more.
This time, Naruto couldn't ignore it. He would prefer Sasuke be a prick as usual rather than this indifferent attitude.
"What's your problem?" The loud blond shouted as he shoved at Sasuke's chest. "You've barely been talking and you've had this sad look all night! It's bumming everybody out!"
"Naruto!" Sakura and Iruka shouted angrily. They were about to stop him, but Ninetails stood in their way, growling. The two looked to Minato who wore a serious look.
"Let him handle this," he said and the pair backed down.
"How's it your business?" Sasuke shouted in reply.
"You invite me out here then act like an ass! I think it's my business!"
"You wouldn't understand anyway!" Sasuke shoved Naruto back.
"Why, you—!" Naruto tackled the brunette to the ground, the rivals rolling down the wide hill in a tussle.
"Sasuke!" Sakura called out, worried.
Halfway down, they pulled away from each other, panting and glaring, covered in dirt.
"You idiot," Sasuke snarled. "Look what you did." He sat down, exhausted.
Naruto lay down on the meadow, arms and legs stretched out, chest heaving. "Just… tell me… what's wrong…"
Sasuke bit his lip, putting on the most hatred-filled expression he could manage at the moment. Naruto was going to say something or at least he wanted to, but he had no idea what to say.
Then a boom erupted in the air and colors scattered across the dark blue night sky. The two boys looked up at the marvelous burst of hypnotism. More exploded in the air, different shapes and sizes, Raticates, flowers, Butterfrees , Tauros, hearts, lots of Lopunnies, dazzling Milotics, eloquent kanji, and more images that dropped jaws or stretched people's lips across their faces.
As these pictures blazed against the stars, Sasuke's eyes glazed over with pain, memories swimming through him as though he were sitting there again years ago, young, naïve, and laughing. His eyelids fell, the orbs beneath them burning with too many emotions for Sasuke to sort out, then they all rushed away and turned to peace when Naruto placed his hand on the brunette's shoulder.
"You know," Naruto said sitting up and gazing at the fireworks with a bright smile. "My dad never took me to this festival or much stuff really. I've never done stuff as cool as what I've got to do with you guys tonight. I'm really glad to make all these new memories with everyone. You should be too!" Naruto turned to Sasuke who stared back, astounded. Then, he laughed. He threw back his head in laughter in fact. Naruto was confused at first, but after a short pause he joined in, somewhere in the laughter the two had begun insulting one another playfully.
"You're such a loser!"
"Prick! I'm trying to help you!"
"That was so mushy!"
Sasuke wiped his eyes from laughing, but Naruto knew the truth. The two then leaned back on the hill to finish watching the show as the others came running down the meadow to join the boys by their side.
That night, everyone left with the warmth of new memories filling them and the hopes of future ones to look forward to next year. Well, that's all. Good night!
A/N: *The real food is takoyaki fried octopus (tako). I took the Japanese name for Octillery (Okutank) and merged it with takoyaki as a little joke. :-)
I've realized I haven't read this fanfiction in a while. I think I'll go back and read some chapters for the memories and to remind myself of the hell's going on xD