"No."
"Yes."
"No. Absolutely not!"
"Oh, come on! Don't be a party pooper!"
The Hokage had announced the week prior that Konohagakure would be hosting a special festival to greet many foreign travellers. He didn't specifically say why Konoha was hosting these people, but Akira had narrowed it down to a few options. First, was the economy. Konoha got many visitors for festivals and made a lot of money doing it. This time of year, there weren't any celebrations or holidays that required a festival. Maybe the reason the Hokage hadn't given a reason for the festival was that he'd never admit to doing it for profit. Second, was fun. There was a possibility that the Hokage was bored and just needed an excuse to get out of all his paperwork. Akira had seen the way he stared at the piles of documents at his desk. And lastly, which was Akira's most reasonable and likely idea, the Chūnin Exams. It was about that time of year.
The Chūnin Exams were an opportunity for Genin to be promoted to Chūnin. Originally, when these exams were first created, each village would hold their own individual exams. Following the Third Shinobi World War, the Chūnin Exams were held twice a year and open to all villages, with villages taking turns with hosting responsibilities. These shared exams improved relations between the villages, presented up-and-coming ninja to clients, and provided an economic boost to the village that was hosting. Normally, festivals weren't held, but Hiruzen Sarutobi was probably bored as well.
As it was customary of Japanese festivals, everyone was encouraged to wear something other than their shinobi uniforms for the festival. Sakura, however, was taking it one step further by insisting that Akira let her pick her yukata and do her makeup.
"Sakura Haruno, I am not letting you slather makeup on my face or choose my yukata," Akira insisted. They were walking down main street now, passing underneath lanterns and ribbons being set up for tonight's celebrations. "Besides, I may not even go. I've got tr—"
"If you say training, Akira Uchiha, I will hurt you," Sakura growled.
"Okay, okay. I'll let you pick my yukata but you're not putting makeup on me."
"Yes! Deal!"
Akira groaned and Sakura pulled her by the arm all the way to one of the clothing shops that lined the main street.
"What—Sakura, I already have plenty of yukata at home! I don't need a new one."
"Akira, tell me the truth. What colours are your yukata?"
"Well, I have some grey ones. I think I may have a blue one."
"Bo-ring," Sakura exclaimed. "You need some red, some green, or maybe some purple?"
"I am not wearing purple," Akira muttered. "It's too... feminine."
"Okay, so that rules out pink too."
Sakura sighed and began going through several racks of clothes. Akira shook her head, amused, and began looking through the racks herself. After a few moments, however, Akira got bored and her gaze wandered to the streets. Her eyes wandered over the people rushing about, carrying things meant for the festival, or even just their regular business. But there was someone in the crowd that Akira didn't want to see. He was casually leaning against a street light, a wry smirk plastered on his face. With her jaw set in anger, Akira marched on the door. The man seemed amused.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Sakura called.
Akira glanced at her for a moment and when her gaze returned outside, the man was nowhere to be found.
"Damn you."
"What is it?"
"Nothing," Akira lied. "I thought I saw someone."
"Yeah, right. I bet you were trying to get away," Sakura said. She held up a few yukata. "Look, I think these would look good on you. Go try them on."
"Hey, no one said about trying anything on!"
Sakura stuck her tongue out at Akira and pushed her into the changing rooms. There were a wide variety of complaints as she attempted to take off her uniform in the small space and more as she tried to figure out which way the yukata was meant to be worn.
"Oh, quit complaining."
"Hey, the last time I wore a yukata I was five years old!" There was a small struggle and Akira emerged clad in green. "Does this colour really suit me?"
"Wow, Akira..."
"What?" Akira groaned. "That bad?"
"No! It looks so good on you!" Sakura said happily. "Honestly, I thought the red was going to look better on you but that green... Have you always been this pretty?"
"Pretty?" Akira fake gagged. "Don't say those things."
Both girls laughed and after purchasing new yukatas for themselves, they headed to Sakura's house to get ready. Her parents had to stop them from bickering once Sakura insisted on the makeup again. Akira won that battle, but she was forced to compromise by letting Sakura play around with her hair. It was pulled up in a bun of some sort and Sakura had stuck several flower pins in it. Akira kept tugging at her yukata, which Sakura readjusted at least three times, and they eventually went out into the evening to enjoy the festival.
Paper dragons danced through the air, lanterns were hung from every available space, and the streets were lined with candles that cast Konoha in a warm, comforting glow. Vibrant music made its way to everyone's ears and many people danced along the street, smiling and laughing. Akira and Sakura lined up at the taiyaki cart and watched several dancers go by. Akira jokingly imitated them, which sort of made her look like she was a twitching spider, and Sakura laughed so hard she dropped the taiyaki she'd just bought.
"Oh, come on," she whined.
"I'll get you another one," Akira laughed. "Stay here and don't let the dancers take you."
Akira went back to the taiyaki cart and waited in line. She was looking up at some of the lanterns when she felt someone tap on her shoulder.
"You!"
It was the strange man again, Maru as he called himself. Once again, a wry smirk was plastered on his face.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here!?"
"Enjoying the festivities," he said calmly. He rose a small doughnut to his mouth and ate it. "What else?"
"Do you have—"
"The authorisation? This time... I do."
Akira frowned.
"Why are you here?" she asked. "What do you want from me?"
"I suspect you know why I'm here—why everyone is here."
"It's Chūnin Exam season."
"Quite right, my dear," the man said. "As for what I want from you..."
The man took a step closer to her. He was taller than her by at least a head and while Akira should have been intimidated by his presence, his strange demeanour just made her curious.
"I don't know yet."
"Well, you better make up your mind," Akira said. She turned to purchase a taiyaki for Sakura. "I'd like to know what you want from me so that I can be rid of you."
"Your words, they hurt," the man said sarcastically.
Akira scoffed. She walked out of the line to the cart and started to walk back toward Sakura. The man followed her a short way and Akira stopped once Sakura was in sight. She turned to tell the man to leave her alone, but he was gone. Akira sighed and shook her head.
"Hey, who was that?" Sakura asked as Akira got to her.
"I don't know." Akira handed Sakura the taiyaki. "I met him last week. I think he's here for the Chūnin Exams."
"Chūnin Exams? Is that why you think the Hokage planned the festival?"
"Well, that's what the guy said."
"What guy?"
Akira and Sakura turned toward the voice. It was Kiba who'd spoken, and he was accompanied by Shikamaru, Kai and Hinata.
"Kira?" Kiba said, surprised. There was a faint redness on his face. "Have your eyes always been so blue?"
"Uh... yes?" Akira said, confused.
"Huh, I never noticed. Well, uh, I—"
"Well, you look really pretty, the both of you," Kai interrupted, pushing Kiba aside. He linked his arm with Akira's. "Now let's go see the music show before Kiba has an aneurysm."
"Come on, Hinata, let's get ahead of these idiots," Akira chuckled, tugging the girl by the sleeve.
"O-okay."
Akira, Sakura and Hinata grabbed some yakitori on their way to the front of the stage. The boys came up behind them and shoved off a few others who were trying to claw their way in front of the girls. A few musicians were already on stage, tuning their instruments in a cacophony of sounds. Soon, other musicians joined them, including one of the friends' old teachers from the Academy, and music filled the air without effort, like the waves filling holes in beach sand; the sound rushing in and around every person listening in. Some reacted to the beat, others continued in chatter, but it always spoke to them in some matter. A lively tempo lifted everyone, elevated the spirit or moved them to dance. As the people around her began to twist and sway, Akira looked around at them, smiling.
And, across the way, she spotted Kakashi. She didn't try to get his attention, but just as she was turning away he looked over, and she smiled at him. Kakashi waved back at her, but he ducked moments later, seemingly avoiding a man in a green tracksuit.