Nanny or Mommy

Chapter 18: The Date

Disclaimer: I Don't own Naruto.

The ride to the festival was quiet but it wasn't an awkward kind of silence it was comfortable. Like Naruto said it wasn't too far it only took about 15 minutes it was the parking situation that was tedious.

From what Sakura could see the whole street was shut down and filled to the brim with people. The lights and outfits were amazing that she couldn't help but stare. "Amazing right?" Sakura nodded never taking her eyes off of the bustling scene.

"I haven't been to the festival in a while but I'm sure I can remember where my favorite place is. Come on." Sakura got out the car with Naruto and was so excited. She'd been to a festival once in her life and that was when she was a kid. She was so focused on the festival she didn't notice Naruto move up beside her until she felt him grab her hand.

"Na-Naruto!?" She was surprised but she didn't pull her hand back.

"It's easy to get lost in crowds like this." He winked making her face explode in red as he pulled her along.

"What's on the agenda?" Sakura asked tightening her grip on Naruto's hand when they walked through a particularly large crowd.

"Since we didn't eat dinner yet we'll first get something to eat then we'll wander around play some games and at 10 watch the fireworks." He answered slowing down so he wasn't pulling her but walking beside her since she still wasn't quite comfortable walking in her yukata.

"That sounds fun." She was excited to start doing things he didn't think she would be so happy about it but she was. Her happiness was sort of contagious he just couldn't stop smiling while holding her hand.

"You'll love the ramen here it's the best in the whole wide world." she giggled noticing his eyes glisten while imagining eating a bowl of his favorite food from his favorite place.

"I guess I'll eat it just today." He grinned at her promising her that this would not be the last time she'd eat ramen especially with him.

Noticing where they were Naruto suddenly stopped. She looked questioningly at her date who stopped so suddenly and was just staring at something across the crowded street. She really hated being so short and unable to see what caught his attention. "There it is." He said as if he was in some kind of trance.

"There what is?" Naruto finally looked down at her with a bright grin before once again pulling her that way.

"Here it is Sakura-chan the best ramen in the world." Sakura finally got a clear view of what Naruto was looking at while fanboying and found a small comfy shop serving bowls of ramen. "This is Ichiraku Ramen." She looked from the restaurant to the stupidly grinning blonde and wondered what she got herself into.

"Well ok let's go in." She didn't know it but those words alone made Naruto the happiest he's been in a while. When you have kids, a busy job, and you're famous you don't really have the time to go out and eat at your favorite places.

"Trust me you'll love it any kind of ramen you can think of they got," Naruto spoke a mile a minute just about ramen alone Sakura didn't find it annoying but actually quite adorable. She never thought she'd see a grown man so excited about ramen. Sakura knew he liked the food but this was a whole other level.

Naruto held open the door for Sakura like a gentleman allowing her to go in first. It wasn't a big place considering it's a food place but it was kind of homey especially the atmosphere.

"Hey old man long time no see," Naruto said catching the attention of everyone in the shop much to her displeasure. She wondered if he forgot that he was famous and drawing attention like that would ruin everything.

"Naruto?" An old man said from behind the bar.

"Yep." Naruto once again grabbed her hand and pulled her to said bar. He pulled out the stool and waited for her to sit before taking a seat himself.

"It's been a while Naruto thought you forgot about us." Naruto waved off Teuchi's comment while taking the place in. Nothing's changed and Naruto was happy for that. "And who's your lovely date?"

Naruto smiled before introducing the two. "Old man Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan old-man."

Sakura glared at him for that sad excuse of an introduction. "Oh sorry, Sakura-chan that's Teuchi."

"Nice to meet you Teuchi-san."

"Just Teuchi is fine. Now, what can I get you two?"

Naruto was practically bouncing in his seat when he started ordering. "You already know what I want old man a large bowl of miso ramen."

"I guess I'll get the same but a small I'm not a glutton like this guy." She chuckled when she heard Naruto whine her name.

"Coming right up." Teuchi went to the back to prepare their order leaving the blonde and pinkette to their date. Sakura looked around further when something on the wall caught her attention. She didn't want to draw attention to it by standing up to get a closer look but it seemed she could already tell what it was.

On the wall was a picture of Naruto and a woman with dark hair and a small shy smile on her face. She looked like both Hanabi and Himawari so Sakura immediately knew who it was.

She stared at it for longer then she would have liked but she just couldn't look away from the happy sight. There were words under it but she couldn't read it from where she was sitting.

"Saku—"

He looked so happy next to his wife with his wide grin that he barely showed her. She felt something foreign inside her the more she looked at the picture.

"Sakur—"

Was this feeling jealousy? Was she jealous of how happy Naruto was with Hinata?

"Sakura!" She snapped her head to the one who was calling her name. She couldn't believe she zoned out like that.

"W-What?" Naruto had a look of concern upon his tanned face. She kind of felt bad for causing him to worry about her.

"Are you ok you kind of zoned out there." She wondered if she should tell him about the picture but she just had to know.

"I was just looking at that picture of you and your...wife." She now regretted bringing up the picture because now the conversation was extremely awkward.

"Ex-wife." He sighed also looking at the old picture that was currently putting a wrench in their moods. "That was back when we were just friends."

"Hm short hair." She said noticing how different he looked now compared to then.

"Yeah, I thought that cutting my hair was a good idea at the time." He chuckled remembering his parents freaking out when he suddenly came home with short hair. "I thought I looked too similar to my dad. I know dumb reason."

"It's understandable you two do look alike. But I do like you with longer hair." She meant it as an offhand comment but she knew it was more than that.

"Oh really?" He said flirtatiously.

Sakura blushed when she noticed him looking at her suggestively. "Naruto." She said warningly.

"You started it." He started chuckling and leaned his head against his hand.

"Naruto when's your birthday?" She suddenly asked out of the blue.

"Why you gonna give me a birthday gift?" He jokingly asked.

"Just tell me. Since you know everything about me I need to know everything about you."

"Fine. October 10th anything else." He said like a smart ass much to Sakura's annoyance.

"Everyone can't do background checks on people. Now tell me your favorite color." Her temper flared from how difficult he was being.

"Orange."

"Really?"

"Yep it may not seem like it's my favorite but I'm definitely wearing the color every day." He wiggled his eyebrows comically causing the desired effect he was hoping for; which was to make Sakura laugh.

"Ok ok, I've always wondered...what made you decide to become an actor?" She asked once her laughter died down.

"Well I originally wanted to become a prime minister but then I discovered I could just act as one." He joked.

"Naruto be serious why this career?" She said.

"Alright, I can only say at the time it was more of a hobby, a side thing while trying to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. But as I got into the roles more and more I can only describe it as living a ton of lifetimes in one lifetime and experiencing different jobs." Sakura nodded now understanding where he was coming from. She found his words to be heartwarming.

"Is it like escaping reality?"

"Kinda. Now, what about you why do you want to become a doctor?" He asked.

"Oh did the background check not tell you all that?" She picked wearing a smug smirk.

"You're going to hold me to that forever aren't you?" Sakura simply shrugged before thinking about his original question. It was sort of personal and they weren't really all that close. But he told her why he decided to act so the least she could do was tell him her reason.

"Well my mother years back was diagnosed with breast cancer and through that hard time, I was with her every step of the way which meant I was in the hospital a lot. Seeing so many sick patients...I don't know it just inspired me to become a doctor and do something about it. I want to be able to cure people." She didn't mean to dampen the mood but the tears in her eyes just weren't going away no matter how many times she blinked.

"Wow I didn't think you could be any more amazing but here you are proving me wrong." Sakura quickly dried her eyes with a deepening blush on her face.

"You think I'm amazing?"

"Of course I do you're not only taking care of my kids but striving to become a doctor. You're more than amazing you're phenomenal!" He said as he happily listed why the woman in front of him was breathtaking. "Besides we wouldn't be here if I didn't think these things."

For a long moment, she was stunned, awestruck even that her boss felt so strongly about her. What was she supposed to say to something like that? Luckily for her, she didn't have to come up with anything because Teuchi chose that moment to pop up with their order.

Sakura looked down at her bowl and knew that her meal was going to be delicious just from the way everything was laid out in the broth.

"Ready to try the best ramen in the world?" Naruto grinned handing her some chopsticks. His happiness was intoxicating just like his kids'. Sakura nodded and with that, they put their hands together and said, "itadakimasu."

She separated her chopsticks and dug into the steaming bowl of ramen. The instant the noodles touched her tongue her taste buds exploded. Naruto was right the ramen was on a whole other level. She was reveling in the taste that she didn't even notice the blonde beside her eating while watching her reaction. He wasn't the only one waiting to hear what she thought about the ramen the owner himself was waiting.

Once she swallowed her first bite she spoke. "This is the best ramen I've ever had."

"Yep, she's keeper Naruto." Naruto grinned at Teuchi appreciating his approval of the pinkette.

"Heyy." She said warningly while trying to enjoy her ramen.

"What do you want to do next Sakura-chan?"

"Games." She said happily. She was looking forward to winning prizes for the kids and maybe even herself.

"Ok, I'll win you something."

"No need I'll win myself something." She said nonchalantly. From a few spaces down Teuchi chuckled to himself. He knew that type of woman she was the complete opposite of Naruto's previous wife.

Naruto shook his head, "just let me do it." He said slightly pouting at her stubbornness.

Sakura rolled her eyes but nonetheless relented...for now. "I just hope you're good we're not leaving without prizes." She grinned darkly as her competitive nature poked through. Naruto sweat dropped all of a sudden he wasn't sure if not letting Sakura try was a good idea.

"Uh on second thought we both can try. To double our chances."

"Oh really?" Sakura said with a knowing smirk.

"Yes now hurry up the night won't be young long."

Sakura wondered why he was rushing her when he wasn't done eith—he was done. Her eyes widened as she stared at his empty bowl while hers was still only half full.

"How!?" She screeched while pointing at his bowl in shock.

"I like ramen." He simply stated as if that explained how he possibly ate a large bowl of ramen in a few minutes. In the end, Sakura just decided to ignore him and finish her own food.

"Hmm, should I get another bowl?" He asked himself aloud making Sakura damn near choke on some noodles. She side eyed him as he called Teuchi over to order another large bowl. She sighed and continued eating her bowl of ramen.

...

"Come on!" Sakura growled pulling the blonde away from the ramen shop. She was so angry she could hardly contain it.

The pinkette Just couldn't believe how much he ordered and ate and how long they ended up staying. The only reason she got him to leave was to threaten his life. Now they only had and little over half an hour before the fireworks started and she wanted to play some games.

"Sakura-chan..." She couldn't say anything to him just pull him until they were a safe distance away from the ramen shop. "I'm sorry." He apologized.

"I haven't had it in a while and things got out of control." Still, she didn't say anything to him only kept walking a little bit in front of him. "I really messed this up huh?" Naruto sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets watching the back of the pinkette's head.

Sakura stopped suddenly almost causing the blonde to run into her. She slowly turned around and eyed him closely looking to make sure he was actually sorry. After a moment of silence and staring she sighed and pointed to a stall that had balloons on a wall. "Win me something then I'll forgive you."

He didn't move shocked that she was even talking to him after he royally messed up earlier. Once the shock wore off he grinned and grabbed her hand that she wasn't using to point and nodded excitedly. "No problem Sakura-chan."

He walked over to the stall and it was harder then it looked even though he lost a few times he could tell Sakura wasn't upset about it. She even joined in and won easily and instead of keeping the gift for herself she gave it to him.

They played other games too and won some prizes for the kids before it was time to view the fireworks. Naruto knew the perfect place to view the fireworks that weren't too crowded when he used to go to the festival.

They approached the area that had a single red bridge over a small body of water. It had the perfect view of the sky and was pretty far from the bustling crowds. "Wow." She said looking around them excitedly

"I knew you'd like it. I found this when I was still in my teens." Sakura didn't say anything since she was so mesmerized with the sight. Naruto guided her to the bridge so she could see where exactly the fireworks would be.

"Sakura-chan I want to say thanks for letting me take you out on this date. I know it wasn't an easy decision with me as your boss and all." He nervously scratched the back of his head as he spoke.

"I'm kind of glad you were able to convince me." She smiled shyly up at him the moonlight reflecting off of his ocean blue orbs just right. She was entranced.

"Does that mean I have a chance for another?"

"Don't push it, Baka." They both laughed as they got lost in each other's eyes until suddenly an explosion broke them from their trance. The firework show was starting much to the amazement of Sakura. Naruto leaned on the railing of the bridge staring up at the fireworks. He thought about his previous times at the festival and how different Sakura and Hinata were.

When he took Hinata to this festival they had the time of their life as...friends. They never came back once they got married.

"Naruto." The blonde shifted his eyes to his left wondering why Sakura called him. "Are you ok?" He sighed looking back up at the fireworks silently asking himself that question.

Sakura nodded to herself evidently he confirmed something for her. "You know I've only known you for a little over a month and I like to believe we've become friends in that time. I can name a few occasions when you had this same look on your face before. We're on a date yes, but we're still friends. I'm all ears Naruto."

Naruto bowed his head going through his thoughts in order to find something to say. What could he possibly say? Oh, I'm just thinking about my ex-wife and how much fun we use to have, but I'm also having fun with you too. No way could he say that especially if he wanted another date from her. So he came to a decision to not bring Hinata up at all.

"I'm just thinking about the kids and how they would have enjoyed this." He wanted to ease her worries but instead, it made things worse. Her brows furrowed and her lips formed a scowl she definitely didn't believe him.

Oddly enough the pinkette didn't call him out on his lie. She just watched the fireworks with a deep frown on her face. The fireworks lasted an extra 10 minutes before finally they ended signifying the end of the festival. "We can stay a little longer if you want Sakura-chan I don't mind." He waited for a reply but instead got nothing but silence in return. It was frustrating how bad he was messing this night up.

"Was this a mistake?" She whispered to herself but due to the silence of the forest, he could hear her clearly.

"What?"

"Nothing let's go back to your parents' house we have to leave tomorrow." Evidently, she didn't want him to hear what she said. Should he leave it alone or bring it up right now? He couldn't think long because she was about halfway out of the forest.

He'll confront her about it later besides next week it would just be him and her alone in that big house. She can't avoid this forever.

.x.

Meanwhile flying all the way back from the states to his birthplace was the one and only Sasuke Uchiha. Dark and mysterious were what most of his fangirls called him and was also the reason they liked him so much.

Sasuke eyed his phone reading the text he received from his brother a day ago. His deep black pits reread the text still quite surprised by the horrible news he received.

Sasuke went to the states to escape his crazy family and their judgment but it seemed he couldn't be gone for too long.

In two simple words, his older brother was able to uproot everything Sasuke was working towards. For the thousandth time, Sasuke read those words that could be interpreted as two things. The text said, "mom's gone."

What did that mean he wondered but was too afraid to call and find out. He would get to the bottom of this one way or another.

"Dad?"

END

A/N: Arc Complete and Sasuke have now entered.

On another note Mission: Baby new chapter is complete and the rest of that story I went back and revised so maybe reread and get ready for the new chapter. :p