It was mid-noon in Konoha, and everyone was outside, catching up with friends, buying things, and living their normal lives.
Naruto was among the crowd as well, going in and out of stores, and checking up on the street corner stands as well. The Hokage had given him the day off, and Naruto was enjoying lazing around the village, doing nothing.
He decided to stop off at the Yamanaka's flower shop as he passed by more stores. Better thank Ino for that book, even though I still don't get what she gave it to me for, he thought to himself. Though he had gotten to know the girl over the years, the fact still remained that the blonde-haired kunoichi could kick his ass three ways to Sunday, and he had learned it was always best to thank Ino for whatever she did, no matter how stupid it may have been.
He stopped at the foot of the doorway to the shop, and stared in amazement.
The shop was completely packed. People were piling over each other, trying to get to the counter and check out their purchases, so that they could leave the bustling crowd. Ino was trying her best to help the customers out, while Shikamaru was at the counter, trying to ring up the purchases as fast as he could.
Naruto pushed his way up to the counter, and leapt over the counter top to end up next to Shikamaru.
"Need help?" Naruto asked innocently as he slipped on one of the shop's work aprons.
"You think?" Shikamaru replied sarcastically, before handing over the counter to Naruto.
The rush lasted for a good four hours before it finally died down. After the last customer left, Ino declared that the shop was closed, and the trio began closing up shop. Ino counted the money collected for the day, Shikamaru checked the remaining inventory, and Naruto swept the floor.
When they were done, they left together, Ino hitting the lights off on the way out.
"So, I guess having a girlfriend isn't as troublesome as you say it is, huh Shikamaru?" Naruto asked slyly.
Shikamaru blushed, while Ino laughed.
"Hey, he's only working with me because he loves me," Ino said.
Shikamaru just snorted and looked up at the sky, looking for clouds.
"And what was that supposed to mean?" Ino asked heatedly, her infamous anger beginning to boil.
"So, what are you two lovebirds doing now?" Naruto asked distractingly, trying to avoid a homicide, as the three set off down the road.
"We were going to go eat some quick ramen before we head home, you want to come?" Ino asked. Shikamaru looked at her in amazement and said, "You have to ask?"
Thirty minutes later, they were all sitting at the Ichikaru stand, waiting for their orders to arrive.
"Oh, by the way, thanks for the gifts yesterday guys," Naruto said.
"No problem," Shikamaru muttered.
"Did you read that book yet?" Ino asked imploringly.
Naruto shook his head. He was about to ask Ino why in the world she bought him the book, but the ramen came at that moment, and he quickly averted his attention to the meal before him.
Six bowls of beef ramen later, Naruto was leaning back in his stool, contented. Shikamaru and Ino simply stared at him, amazed at how much he put away.
"I've seen you do that countless times, and I still can't figure out how you do it," Shikamaru remarked.
Naruto grinned and quickly paid for his ramen meal.
"Who knows?" Naruto replied, "Well I'm going to go and leave you two to some quality time."
Shikamaru glared at Naruto, while Ino just smiled and nodded. Naruto headed out the stand, giving one last wave before exiting.
Right as he walked out, he ran into a passerby, and they were both knocked down to the floor. Though Naruto was a touch angry, he got up to help the pedestrian on their feet.
"Thanks Naruto-kun…"
Naruto did a double take as he saw that the person he had bumped into had been Hinata. The thing was, he barely recognized her. She was still wearing her Leaf forehead protector around her neck, but it seems that she had discarded the usual winter coat for a small button down sweater, and underneath, a shirt that fit rather tightly, especially in the area of her chest. Naruto stared in disbelief, thinking about how beautiful Hinata looked, and trying not to think dirty thoughts, before she snapped him back to reality.
"Naruto-kun, anything wrong?"
"Yes… I mean no! No nothing the matter here, everything's just fine. Yup, I'm just chipper. 'Anything wrong'? Why nothing, how could anything be wrong when you're here," Naruto babbled. He suddenly realized what he had just said, but it was too late.
"Wh…what was that last bit?"
"Uh…" Naruto babbled as his mind drew blank, and his eyes continued to roam across her body.
God damn you, THINK OF SOMETHING!!! Naruto silently screamed at his dead-pan imagination.
…Man, Hinata is HOT… came the response to the plea.
NO, NOT THAT! Naruto thought angrily.
While this was going on, his eyes were still roaming, and Hinata started to fidget under his gaze.
"Ummm…I'm sorry Naruto-kun, but Father seems to be calling me. I…I'll see you later?" Hinata said, making the last part seem more like a request than a statement.
Naruto nodded dumbly as Hinata walked passed, crimson red tingeing her cheeks. As she walked away, Naruto instinctively lowered his eyes so he could get a look at her back side.
Oh man, she is really REALLY hot… Naruto's subconscious said.
Naruto shook himself and quickly ran the opposite way, but not without a last glance at the retreating form of the Hyuuga heiress.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Naruto muttered as he raced pass the bystanders, "I'm no pervert!"
But Hinata sure did look nice today… he admitted in his thoughts, and he continued running until he ended up at his desired destination, where he promptly laid down from exhaustion and fell asleep, thoughts of Hinata still haunting his mind.
The sound of rushing water could be heard crashing throughout the canyon. The falls were beginning to tinge with a rose color as the retiring sun setting over the Valley of Ends. Passing birds noticed a small figure lying on one of the huge statues facing each other, sleeping peacefully. They paid him no mind, except for one of the flock who as it passed by, decided to land on the leaf-like symbol of the blonde shinobi's forehead protector and also catch up on a quick nap.
Unbeknownst to either of the sleeping pair, two pairs of eyes were watching them.
"So do we go now?" a heavy voice inquired, laced with blood thirst.
"No, let's wait until the prey has awakened, and then…and then my brother, the hunt shall commence!" responded a sly, oily voice.
The dark duo slipped into the shadows, still watching the prone form, eagerly waiting until it awoke.
well, three chapters up...sorry it took so long...i'm just a really really lazy guy...so sue me...anyway read and review...and tell me if the storyline is moving too fast...sorry, i don't really plan these things out, i just go with the moment