Chapter 2: Ino's Plan
"Miso chashu omori, please." (Spicy large noodles topped with barbeque pork.)
Ayame smiled and handed him another bowl. "That's your 18th bowl today, Naruto. Who's gonna pay for all that?"
"Kakashi-sensei, of course!" the boy kept on eating. He didn't mind the stares give by some people as his bowls piled higher and higher.
Kakashi, who sat beside him, heard that and put down the Ichya Ichya Paradise book which he was reading earlier. "Naruto, I'm not gonna pay for all of that! I don't want to spend my money just for something I didn't eat." And he picked up his book again. "And don't you dare disturb me. I'm gonna see what happens next."
Ayame gasped. "No one's gonna pay for that?"
Kakashi sighed. "Fine. I'll pay just for you, Ayame. And don't do this again." Next time, I'll not go together with him if he eats. I'll end up paying everything.
Naruto beamed. "Arigato, Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi waved a hand to silence him. "Yeah, yeah." And went on reading.
Ino pointed to the ramen shop near them. "Come on. Let's eat, Sakura. My treat! I'm getting hungry."
Sakura nodded. "As long as it's your treat."
They went inside the ramen shop. There were lots of people there. Ino went over a table and grabbed a seat. "One bowl of ramen please." She looked at Sakura. "What will you have Sakura?"
"The same."
"Okay, two bowls of ramen, then!"
Naruto finished eating his ramen (finally!). He was about to go out when he spotted two familiar people who just arrived. Sakura and Ino! "Kakashi-sensei. Sakura-chan's here."
Kakashi didn't seem to hear him so he decided to approach the girls.
"Hey, Sakura-chan! Ino!"
Sakura glanced at the familiar voice. "Naruto-kun?"
Naruto arrived at their table. "Hello!"
Ino nodded. "Hi! Sakura and I were just dropping by to eat."
Naruto smiled. "Just finished eating."
Sakura was silenced. Ino nudged her friend in the elbow and mouthed the words, Say something.
"Care to join us, Naruto-kun?"
"My treat! You can join us!" And she grabbed another chair and sat down on it just so that Sakura and Naruto will be sitting beside each other.
"Another bowl of ramen sounds fine." And he went over and sat down next to Sakura.
"Now, now. Just talk about something while I go get the ramen."
Naruto and Sakura just nodded. Ino left them and went to get the ramen.
"Hey, Sakura-chan."
"What is it, Naruto?"
"How are you doing? Are you and Sasuke doing fine?"
"I'm doing fine without him. And he doesn't even like me." How can he be thinking about Sasuke at a time like this?
"Oh." He just smiled. "Kakashi-sensei is over there." He pointed out.
Sakura stared at him. By now, Naruto had grown taller. Taller than her actually. And she looked over to where he was pointing. "I'm sure he doesn't want us disturbing him. Nothing can keep him from reading that book."
Naruto nodded. "He said that to me a while ago. I wonder what's with that book."
"I never want to find out."
"Me too! I just can't imagine Kakashi-sensei reads that stuff!"
"So do I! It's just that he doesn't look like the kind of guy who does so!"
They burst out laughing. From a distance, Ino looked at them and nodded approvingly. Sakura-chan's doing just fine. And it's good to see her smiling and laughing once again.
She got their order and hurried back to the table. "Here. Now eat."
"ITADAKIMASU!"
They began eating until they finished.
"That was great!"
"You said it!"
"Thanks for the treat, Ino!" Naruto grinned.
"No problem." Now, I must get leave them so that they'll be alone together.
Ino began to stand up and head out. "I gotta go now. I promised that I would be back after three hours. Or else Asuma-sensei will kill me if I'm gonna be late again. Ja!" She went over to Naruto. "Hey, please take care of her, okay?" Naruto nodded. "Of course I will." She waved to Sakura. "See you next time Sakura! Ja!" She winked at her best friend and ran away.
"Bye, Ino!" Sakura waved back.
Naruto looked at Sakura. "So, what shall we do?"
What's with Ino? She's giving me a chance to be with Naruto? If so, thanks for that!
"Sakura-chan!"
Sakura gasped. "Nani, Naruto-kun?"
"You're not…"
"What?"
"Forget it. As I said a while ago, what are we gonna do?"
"I have no idea."
Naruto looked around. There were too many people. Too crowded. His face brightened. "Got it!" And he grabbed Sakura's hand and ran with Sakura tailing after him.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."