"So Sasuke, why did you get into a fight with Naruto." Kushina asked.
"He was trying to cheat off me in the test."
"I was not." He tried his best to seem innocent to sensei.
"Poor people are too lazy to study. It's surprising an accident like you wasn't aborted but I'm glad that your Mom gave birth to you and put you up for adoption. People like me need people like you, so there's people beneath us."
"Sasuke, that's enough. Leave." Kushina ordered.
"Thanks. Clearly I don't belong with the likes of him" Sasuke walked out the room.
"Why does he get to leave and I have to stay when I did nothing wrong? That nut-job attacked me for no reason."
" Because I'm worried about you Naruto. What's going to happen to you once you leave this place. You have no ambition, no drive. You were cheating off Sasuke weren't you? It wouldn't have been the first time."
He banged his fist on the table and stood up. "What would you have of me sensei?"
"Calm down." She approached him with her arms folded, showing her disapproval with the tone he took with her. "Next year you should take the university entrance exams. But you need to clean your attitude up, it will take dedication."
"Go to university for what. To become some corporate drone?"
She laughed. "You don't have to put it so bleakly."
"I would rather write novels for my Dad's publishing company."
Her eyes lit up. "That's nice to hear. I didn't know you were literary inclined. I've read quite a few of the legendary Jiraiya's novels."
He raised an eyebrow. "Which one's your favorite?"
"Forbidden hot springs adventure."
"Really?" He couldn't stop the smile from appearing on his face. He felt an intense wave of pride. "Actually I ghost wrote most of that one myself."
She giggled and started to stroke her beautiful long hair. "What girl gave you the inspiration to write that?"
"My Dad came up with the idea – he was the architect behind it, I was just the construction worker who brought it to life."
"That you did, I hadn't felt so alive since I was with my late husband." Her face went red.
"It was quite a taboo story, I'm surprised. I couldn't get behind it." He scratched his head trying to figure things out. Giving up, he asked her directly. "What drew you to it?"
"I don't know, it felt like that story was written with me in mind. The way the woman was described really spoke to me. The man sounded like a younger version of my husband. It was almost like your father knew. That's not possible is it?" The way her eyes dug into him, demanded an explanation. It was almost accusatory. He didn't like it.
"What's not possible? My Dad said that the male protagonist was based off me. Which is laughable because the character is surrounded by water and I can't even swim."
"You can't swim. Come with me, Naruto we're going to rectify that."
"What. Now?" She took him by the hand, it caught him off guard.
"Yes. It's only right. We live in a town surrounded by the ocean. Not being able to swim really is a crime. You've already missed out on so much."
He followed her into the parking area and to the scooter she was going to transport them on.
"Why do all old ladies have something like this?" He said with a mixture of disdain and admiration. It looked kind of cute but it wasn't manly.
She shook her head. "Only the cool one's. And I'll have you know, I'm not an old lady."
He rolled his eye's "Sure, I heard that you're like 40."
"That's pretty close I'm 41. You don't think I'm old do you?" She asked in a whimper of a voice.
"You don't look old. The number itself isn't important."
She exhaled. "That's a relief. " She gave him a warm smile and handed him his protection. "Here's your helmet. We'll stop by a shop to buy swimwear and towels." She sat down on the machine.
"Hop on."
"Are you sure this is safe?"
"Come on, you're with me. Of course you're safe. It's summer, we have to make the most of it. Hold on tight."
He got on and grabbed some kind of handle thing.
"Don't hold onto that. Hold on to me."
He grabbed her around the waist, just above her butt. He resisted the temptation to move his hands further down.
"That's it. Don't let go." She said before turning on the engine.
It was unnerving at first, the way the machine shot off, it was quicker than expected. And louder, especially the unrelenting sound of the wind. He loved the how her bright red hair caught the sun and waved freely. As he relaxed he began to enjoy the little ride, while simultaneously fearing for his life. Fortunately, the voice shouting 'I'm gonna die' quieted to little more than a whisper and only when an intimidating looking vehicle got close or they sped off down a hill. The latter was at least exhilarating like the drop on a roller coaster. He could get used to this.
They arrived at the shop. He was a little disappointed that the ride was temporarily paused.
"How did that feel Naruto?" She took both of their helmets and put them under the seat.
He flashed her a grin, which seemed to delight her. "Pretty good. You're right only the cool ladies ride one of these."
"Damn right. Pick any trunks and towel that you want."
Kushina went off by herself looking at the bikini's. Naruto just picked anything, he didn't really care. As long as it would fit. Once he grabbed what he wanted he followed her as she spent forever perusing various designs.
"Do you think I'd look good in this one?" She held it up, it was light blue with little red hearts on it.
"Yeah, I think you'd look good in all of them." He began imagining her wearing it.
"You're so sweet Naruto. And I think I'll match it with this towel. Alright, lets go and pay."
When it was their turn to pay, Naruto reached for his wallet.
She put it back in his pocket. "What are you doing? This is my treat." The look she shot him told him what he did was an affront to her dignity.
"Right, thank you sensei."
"Just Kushina, we're not in school. I'm not your teacher here." She scowled at him.
"Alright, thanks Kushina, well you are my swimming instructor. I could call you sensei."
She shook her head to that and handed over the money. They walked back to the scooter.
"I hope there's room for all this under the seat." He commented absent mindedly.
"If not, you can put some of it between my legs."
His mind went to the gutter.
"It all fits!" Kushina raised her hands in celebration and did basically a little dance. "Nothing's going between my legs today."
"Too bad." Naruto mumbled.
He took his seat behind her and they were off. Within a few minutes they were at the beach. It wasn't that late but the sun had begun to set.
"Lesson time Naruto. Oh, we should change first. I'll go first, promise not to peek."
That was a promise Naruto was unable to keep, he stole glances from the corner of his eye. Nothing she was able to notice. 41? Her body showed no sign of deterioration from the passage of time, much like her face. Naruto felt the blood rushing to his groin. As long as Kushina kept up her end of the bargain and didn't peak as he changed, she would be none the wiser. If she did peak, she'd be in no position to complain.
Once she gave him the signal, Naruto threw off his clothes as quickly as possible and changed into his shorts. Florescent orange.
"Alright lets go." He walked with his back towards her, he didn't need any more temptation.
"Is something wrong Naruto?" He didn't like the hints of sadness in her voice.
"No, nothing, why?"
"You just seem kind of cold right now."
He kept walking. She grabbed him from behind, forcing him to turn around. "So what do you think of my costume?" She smiled expectantly.
"It's very nice, Kushina. Well chosen." He wasn't so much looking at the design but what was underneath it. He looked at her thighs, then up to her toned stomach, then her well endowed chest until he arrived back at her eyes.
Her cheeks flushed red. "I like the way you're looking at me."
"How am I looking at you?"
"With desire." She looked downwards. "I can see it in your shorts."
He looked away awkwardly.
"Is that what's bothering you?"
"What's bothering me is that I can't swim and I'm about to make a fool of myself."
"Don't worry. that's what I'm here for. Don't be embarrassed." She grabbed his arm and ran towards the sea. "We're running out of daylight."
He winced as his feet got into the cold water.
"We have to go deeper, if you want a chance to swim."
He followed her deeper as her pale body was tinted with beautiful orange sun ray's. Her blue eyes twinkled, drawing him in ever deeper. They could barely stand.
"You know, if you do well here, I'll treat you to dessert afterwards. What's your favorite dessert Naruto?"
"Ice cream."
"Your favorite flavor?"
"Strawberry."
"Good choice." Without warning she pushed him into the water. The salt from the sea stung his eyes, some of it went down his throat as he unfortunately swallowed some water. Disgusting. Painful. He thrashed around in panic.
"Stop splashing, relax Naruto, I've got you."
He felt her arms around his stomach keeping him steady. Her touch felt good, warm, even if technically cold. There was really nothing to worry about, he could put his feet down and stand if it came down to it. Which it did.
"Now Naruto, lets go deeper."
He followed her "Isn't the current dangerous?"
"Don't worry about that."
"How can I not?" He protested.
He followed her a few more steps."
"Okay this is enough. Just try lie down on your back and try to float. You don't need to do anything, just believe."
"Alright, I believe." He said with conviction but he didn't believe. He started to sink. Yuk, salt and more salt. Her arm pulled him back up.
"Just relax. Keep your arms out to the side. What are you afraid of?"
"Everything." He said solemnly, getting back into position. He tried to relax. To his surprise he didn't sink this time. It was peaceful, he enjoyed it, so relaxing floating in the sunset to the sweet whistle of birdsong.
"Naruto you're drifting out, come back to me!"
That scared him, he looked forwards, Kushina was so far away. Was he going to drown? He started to panic, contrary to what he was told he splashed around helplessly. He was supposed to relax. How could he relax in a situation like this. "Sensei help!"
"Naruto calm down, I'm coming to you!"
He got back into position and started to float. He hoped she'd get to him quickly. Out of the blue, the waves took him for a ride, like he was on a water slide and he shot back towards the shore. He exhaled as he arrived back in the shallow waters, knowing he was safe. Still, it was exhilarating. He washed up and rested his head on the soft sand. He waited patiently for Kushina to return. He wasn't too eager to go swimming again. He guessed he didn't really need to know how to swim to go to the hot springs, he just needed to know enough not to drown.
"Naruto are you okay?" She looked relieved to see him in one piece.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"I'm so sorry I let you drift so far off. I was supposed to be watching over you." She titled her head to the side.
"It's fine, it's fine. I'm in no hurry to go back in the water, that's for damn sure." He playfully threw sand her way.
"Don't say that. You looked like you were having fun, until everything happened. Don't let one bad experience ruin a lifetime of happiness." Her expression turned to something more cheery than the lecturing teacher. "Come on Naruto, it's dessert time." She offered out her hand.