"The Courting of Uzumaki Naruto"
by the Carpet Shampoo
Author's Commentary: I just love you guys so much! I wrote another chapter, that's two in one day! Plus an update to Monster! Plus a new fic, Sasuke Lovers Anonymous [this ones going out to my shounen-ai fans! Luv you guys!] You guys totally rocked, you sent in so many reviews to assure me you were reading the story. Please don't stop now?? I've been so sick these past few days and you guy's reviews cheered me right up! I'm still sick, so if something sounds weird in this chapter, I apologize.
And as for Ino, she's a sneaky fickle girl. ^^
Chapter 9: Laziness and Letters.
Shikamaru sighed. It was just the perfect day for cloud watching. Unfortunately, he could not waste the entire day as he had a date with Naruto. Shikamaru had been pondering where to take Naruto all day. There was his favorite cloud watching spot…his favorite sunset watching spot…his own house for a nice round of Go or chess. But nothing really seemed to Naruto like.
So Shikamaru figured he'd just take Naruto out and buy him some ramen. After all, that's what Naruto liked, didn't he? Its was simple, easy, and he'd be home in time to play a quick round of Go with his dad.
"Perfect…" Shikamaru thought to himself as he stood up, dusted himself off, and went off in search of Naruto…
Kakashi leaned up against Iruka.
"Typical Shikamaru…pick the easiest date out there, and the shortest…"
"But oddly enough, Naruto seems to be enjoying himself the most on this date."
"…Damn Shikamaru. Why does he have to be so smart? Iruka, you could take Naruto on a date like this and he'd have just as much fun…"
"A date with Naruto…? But I'd make you too jealous…"
"I'm still here you know!"
"Did you hear something Iruka dearest?"
"Not a thing."
"Mmm…two bowls of double pork and a big bowl of Miso ramen as dessert…This is the best date ever Shikamaru!"
"Only you would consider ramen a dessert…"
"But it's the best food ever! Even you could eat it Shikamaru, cause it takes almost no effort to make!"
Shikamaru smiled wryly at the blond boy and stood up.
"I'll be
taking my leave now Naruto…Konohamaru's coming around with the next task for we
contestants to do and I might need my energy..."
"Sure you will…Later
Shikamaru!"
"Later."
"All right contestants, here's the lowdown. We currently have a tie in leadership between Gaara and Shikamaru. Gaara, because he was the most romantic, and Shikamaru, as he was the only one to pick a date Naruto would enjoy, rather than one they would enjoy," Kakashi said, "Its very important to look underneath the underneath here…"
"Second of all," added Konohamaru, "We've decided on what you have to do next. The most romantic of all…love letters and presents!"
Iruka nodded. "Each one of you will buy or make a present for Naruto and write him a personal letter."
"A letter of utmost Love and Devotion! Unfortunately, Lee is under a vow that he shall not help you draft a letter, despite his vast romantic knowledge!"
Everyone looked around at each other nervously, Gai kind of freaked them out at times…
~Itachi Interlude~
"A letter writing contest, hm? This one I can actually participate in. Hm…How should I start this letter? Minion! Dictate!
"My dear Sasuke…Wait, no scratch that out. Write Naruto instead…My dear Naruto, I'm only doing this to piss off Sasuke. Is that a good opening? Hm…Now. Where was I? Oh yes…My dear Naruto, I'm only doing this to piss off Sasuke. I think you're hot. Is that a good word? Perhaps I should use sexy, or adorable…Do boys like being called adorable? Together, you and I could be the sexiest team of S-rank criminals ever…No offense minion, but you're just not that good looking…I, of course, would be the most sexy, as I am the great and powerful Itachi…."
~Orochimaru Interlude~
"You there! Come over here before I eat you!"
"Yes Orochimaru-sama…"
"I need you to dictate a letter for me. Address it to Uzumaki Naruto…"
"Ahem. Dear Hot Lover…
Whenever I think about you, its never thoughts that children like you should know about…"
~Kiba~
"Dear Naruto,
You remind me of a puppy…so sweet and innocent and cute. I haven't felt nearly this good since the first time I help Akamaru in my arms…
~Shino~
Shino sat down with a sheet of paper and happily sketched out a picture of two bugs for letter to Naruto.
~Ino~
"Dear Sasuke…
~Shikamaru~
Shikamaru lay asleep on the couch, not even having heard what they said the next task was about.
~Gaara~
"Dear Naruto…"
"We are the only ones in this competition who will ever understand each other…There is no one for me but you, and no one for you but me…We share the same soul…"
~Sakura~
"Dear Ino-pig,
I'm going to kill you for ruining Naruto's and my date! After I write this letter to you, I'm going to write the perfect love letter to Naruto, and then you'll be sorry!"
~Naruto~
"Dear Shikamaru,
Dude! Thanks so much for the ramen! I really owe you big time for dinner like that. We'll have to hang out sometime and do one of those boring things only you do, like play Go or chess…
~Hinata~
"Dear Naruto…."
At this point Hinata blushed like crazy and was unable to continue writing.
~Neji~
"Dear Naruto…
blah blah blah FATE blah blah, something something evil, something FATE, blah blah Main House blah blah blah Branch House, blah blah blah FATE EVIL, blah blah FATE…
Author's Commentary: WooT! Two chapters in one night! Though technically its past midnight…but close enough! The end parts of all the letters are coming, you'll see…
Look underneath the underneath.
The underneath.
((Now look underneath it and see…The Review Button! Now what could that be telling you…?))
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