Adventure 34: A Night With Friends

Minato was walking with Jiraiya and Naruto in the town. Naruto was babbling about the kind of food he was going to buy and Jiraiya was sighing. Minato chuckled to himself. He wasn't sure what had brought along the change in Jiraiya's tune but Minato had a feeling that Jiraiya had felt guilty. Minato felt a little bad too –he had been a bit harsh—and he resolved to apologize when they got to wherever it was they were going to eat. Along the way, Minato heard a familiar female voice amongst the crowd.

"Mina-chan~!" Alu waved from a bit behind them. Naruto paused as did Jiraiya as Alu caught up. "Eh, what are you guys doing in this town?" Alu asked cheerfully.

"Training and looking for someone," Naruto replied. The old hermit nodded. Minato wondered what Alu had been up to and where Usagi was.

"Usagi is still doing his own thing…I was heading back to our Inn….where are you going Mina-chan?" Alu asked, looking curiously and bubbly at Minato.

"I …I was going to go eat with them…didn't know when you two would be back…" Minato replied, feeling a little resentful. Alu must've noticed because she chuckled apologetically.

"Eh…well…how was your training? Make any progress with walking on water or climbing trees?" Alu asked.

Minato sighed. "Not…exactly..I tried for a while but then I began to hang out with Naruto and I just spent the rest of my time watching him trying to make air exit a rubber ball…" he replied. Alu nodded. Naruto furrowed his brow.

"We were going to eat, do you and that other guy already have plans?" Jiraiya asked.

Alu nodded. "Actually, I was wondering if I could snatch Minato away…after all…I did promise to help him with his training…"

"I don't mind feeding him and Naruto first," Jiraiya said cheerfully. Alu nodded and grinned then.

"…Well…if Minato wants to eat with you guys then that's no problem! I'll go find Usagi in the meantime!" Alu waved to them before dissapearing into the crowd again. "Remember Minato," she said as she dissapeared, "…we're at the Little Creek Lodge!"

Minato watched her dissapear into the crowd. "Funny kid," Jiraiya remarked with raised eyebrows. Minato scratched his head, and gave Jiraiya a sheepish grin.

"I don't disagree there…but…" Minato's eyes followed her as she got further away from their line of sight, and people began to block her from his view, "…her heart is in the right place…" Jiraiya watched Minato keenly. Minato knew that the Old Hermit was no doubt comparing him to the Fourth or something but that was to be expected. Minato was at least confident that he wasn't the Fourth. If Kushina had said he wasn't then that was enough for him.

"I'm hungry! Let's eat!" Naruto interjected with his usual energy and pouting. Jiraiya sighed and they entered into a small restaurant. Jiraiya slid in next to Minato, and Naruto got his own side all to himself at the round booth they were sitting at. Naruto instantly began to read the menu with fascination.

"You're really excited about eating out…." Minato pointed out with a small smile. Naruto lowered his menu, shooting Minato his excited grin.

"Well, I don't eat out often, besides Ichiraku…in fact…this is …this is kind of the first time…I've eaten with you two in a while in a sit down place, " Naruto babbled, looking bubbly and he blushed a little as he gazed at Minato, hiding a bit behind his menu. "….to be honest…it makes me happy…"

Minato felt a little warmed inside from Naruto's words. He smiled back at the kid. Jiraiya observed the actions between the two blondes. He was smiling. Minato looked at Jiraiya and Jiraiya busied himself with looking at a menu. "Minato, what are you ordering?" Jiraiya asked, and Minato figured he was trying to make small talk.

Minato looked at his own menu. "I- I ah…not sure," he replied honestly. There were a lot of interesting options on the menu. Minato didn't want to be a burden and he felt kind of bad. He sighed. Jiraiya glanced to him.

"Don't rush it," he said, "…and don't worry about the cost…money isn't an issue," Jiraiya said placatingly.

Naruto snorted. "You bet it isn't, Pervy Sage…you have more 0's in front of those Ones than…" Naruto began to count on his hands, "…than I have fingers and toes!" he finished, showing both of them all five fingers on both hands. Minato did the mental math. That was a lot of zeros. He raised his eyebrows at Jiraiya who was smiling very guiltily and embarrassedly at Naruto.

"W-well as I said before," he began and Minato let out a small pfft. The scene of Naruto giving Jiriaya the chiding lecture, for some odd reason, Minato couldn't help but find this situation almost comical. Jiraiya and Naruto both looked to Minato who shot them an embarrassed smirk.

"S-sorry…it's just…It's fun hanging around you two," Minato chuckled. Jiraiya seemed to brighten at that.

"Ya really mean that, Mister?" Naruto grinned.

"Course I do," Minato nodded. "Also….I'm sorry…" Minato glanced to Jiraiya who was gazing at him. Jiraiya blinked confused. Minato fiddled with his menu, not really looking at the different steaks but pretending to.

"Sorry? For what?" Jiraiya asked perplexed. "…If it's about looking like-" but Minato shook his head quickly.

"No…it's not that," Minato admitted, "…it's…I spoke a bit…no…a lot harshly to you…earlier…I …I'm sorry…" Minato mumbled, and he couldn't make eye contact. Jiraiya looked momentarily puzzled but then he broke into a smile. Minato was staring intently into his menu so far in that his nose was touching the salad section when he felt someone ruffling his hair. Looking up disgruntedly from his menu, he saw the Perverted Hermit smiling at him, good naturedly while mussing with his hair. Jiraiya took his hand off of Minato's head once he had his attention.

"Don't be…I have been neglectful…It was unfair to Naruto…" Jiraiya turned back to Naruto who was watching them both with interest. His menu was on the table and to the Ramen section. "I've just been…I really have been trying to gather information…" Jiraiya sighed. Minato exchanged a glance with Naruto. They could both tell that for the Old Hermit's tricks, he had been doing work –at least it sounded like he had tried.

"Well, you're treatin' us to food so it makes up for it! I'll eat my froggy's worth in food!" Naruto said gleefully. Jiraiya raised his eyebrows.

"Do that and you'll be bigger than Gambunta, kid," Jiraiya snorted. Minato chuckled again. Naruto got into another argument with the Pervy Sage but Minato was content. He felt calm with these two. It was interesting. Minato did let his mind wander though to prospects of finding Kushina. He wondered about Alu and Usagi and then his mind wandered to Miku. He wondered why the snake-eyes ladybug was still in his mind. Snake-eyes…were they lucky? The only snake eyes Minato could think of were Orochimaru's and he didn't want to think about that guy if he could help it. This must've shown on his face because Naruto waved his hand in Minato's face. Minato blinked, brought back from his musings.

"Hey Mister! You zoned out again," Naruto pointed out.

"Ah…erm…I was just…thinking," Minato replied meekly. Jiraiya continued to observe Minato. Minato wondered what was on the Old Hermit's mind. He looked to be in thought as well.

"Well, what are you going to eat?" Naruto pressed.

Minato sighed. "I…I don't know," he said fidgeting.

"I'm going to have their all Beef Ramen! After that I'm going for their alaskan fish, and then I'll try their BBQ'd Eel!" Naruto listed off the food he wanted to try. Jiraiya began instantly bickering with him about him not being made out of money. Minato looked back at the menu. He wasn't focused on it though. SO much was happening. Minato hoped that he would be better prepared for whatever would come in the future.

A while later, Minato was outside the Lodge he was staying. Naruto grinned at Minato. "Come and train with me again sometime! I can help you with your training too!"

Minato nodded. Jiraiya gazed up at the twinkling night sky before turning his attention back to Minato who was watching him along with Naruto. "Yes, you're welcome to travel with us or train with us…I was actually wondering…if you wouldn't be interested in joining Naruto and myself as we gather intelligence on someone I'm looking for…"

Minato thought about it. He felt an instinctive pull telling him that this should be his next step –but at the same time – Usagi and Alu were in his mind. Weren't they important too? Minato shook his head but smiled at them. "I will keep that in mind…perhaps another time," he said, giving them both a warm but apologetic smile. Naruto pouted.

"Why not, Mina-chan!" he demanded, "….ah…come on…it's more fun when you're with us!"

Minato chuckled awkwardly. "I …I have a duty to Alu and Usagi as well," he said gently, and he bent down as Naruto crossed his arms, a childish pout on his face and his eyes squeezed shut tight. Minato ruffled Naruto's hair to Naruto's indignation.

"H-hey!" Naruto growled disgruntledly but paused as he saw Minato's warm smile. His annoyed expression softened if but a little but he was still a bit pouty. "I got my hair the way I like it!" he griped. Minato chuckled stepping back. He gazed at the two of them.

"Thank you both, I had a good time today," Minato nodded his head, being polite and honest. Naruto grinned at him and Jiraiya gave him also a silent nod.

"Well, we'll see you around then! Pervy Sage, where are we headed?" Naruto pressed.

"I don't know…we still have a couple days left I believe…I think I may have a lead but I have to wait until I get more intel before I can confirm anything," Jiraiya admitted. Naruto nodded.

"Bye, Mister!" Naruto waved to Minato. Minato bid farewell to them both. He watched them dissapear into the crowd. The man with a giant scroll on his back, weird red sandals, and long white spiky hair down his back…and the short blonde whisker faced kid. Minato thought they made a comical pair indeed. Smiling Minato entered the Lodge.

Minato found his room without a problem. He knocked since this place had doors instead of sliding door rooms. The door clicked and Usagi popped his head out, looking a bit bleary eyed. "There you are," and Minato had the feeling that Usagi had been pulled from his dream-land.

"Ah…sorry, I lost track of time," Minato said meekly.

Usagi waved a hand dissmissively, allowing Minato to enter. "It's fine. Find your rare red-haired beauty yet?" he teased Minato. Minato glared at him, a small blush warming its way into his face.

"N-no and…-and I don't like her like that!" Minato retorted indignantly.

Usagi laughed quietly. "Whatever you say," and he grinned. "Eh, I'm going to bed….good night, sleeping beauty," and his response was met with yet another pillow to the face.

Minato found himself alone once more. He wondered if Alu was already asleep. Looking to his left, near the wall furthest from them, the wall between the door and the wall where the table was, was Alu sleeping on the floor in her own sleeping bag. So they were all in one room. Minato wondered if there wasn't enough money to cover two rooms –then Minato realized he probably could've asked Jiraiya about money…but Minato didn't want to be a burden. Still…maybe Minato could earn some money from the Hermit. There was an idea. As long as it didn't involve him having to spy on girls in hot springs or well, anywhere, Minato figured he could probably earn some money. He also meant to ask Usagi and Alu if he'd be doing any actual ninja missions. Minato needed fighting experience –not that he was particularly thrilled at the thought of going out and facing the possibility of death.

Minato got ready for bed as well. He rolled on his side, and fell asleep after drifting. The strange lady bug still loomed in his mind. Why wouldn't that image go away?

A/n: I wrote this chapter because it does move the plot forward. I wanted Minato to have a fun time with these two and also so that Pervy Sage and Minato DO get along. It was a fun chapter. Heart warming, the LADY BUG IS IMPORTANT GUYZ. *cough. Foreshadowing. *cough. JK, all you wonderful readers already knew that lady bug was a hint that Minato would be seeing "snake eyes" veeerrry soon. Right? Thought so! Whee ! REVIEW. I loved the reviews I've been getting. It's great to hear what people like. If the pacing seems slow, I apologize, but I promise, next chappy, things pick up! Read and you'll know what I mean!