Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. But man… It would be so BADASS if I did…
This story is inspired by a series of 'Bitch Kyuubi' deviation artworks done by an Artist named 'Croaky.' I really liked the artwork and it inspired me to write this fic. I'd encourage you to check it out. There is a link to it in my profile.
ALTERNATE UNIVERSE
Hey everyone! I'm back again! Have fun!
Chapter 7:
Haruno Sakura was not a happy camper. 'Why?' you may ask was this pink haired Kuniochi upset? On all days the Autumn Festival? A time were she would not have to perform ninja duties, train, and in fact get to dress up and have fun?
Why on earth could she possibly be upset?
Simple, because Uchiha Sasuke hadn't come.
Surprise, surprise….
That said, you could imagine that the majority of the young ladies attending the festival were noticeably disappointed as well.
Returning to the sulking pink haired girl, Sakura for the most part had contented herself to sitting miserably at one of the tables near the main dance floor. She had been looking forward to this so much… She had been SURE Sasuke would have gone with her… I mean… They were on the same team right! That meant something… didn't it?
Well, at least Sakura could take satisfaction in the fact that Ino didn't get to go with him either. Heh, that stupid blonde pig…
Still… It didn't make things much better…. Heck, even Naruto had a date!
Poor Hinata, that jerk must have tricked her into it some how. Why on earth would such a nice, quiet, and shy girl want to come to the festival with a loud, obnoxious and stupid jerk like him?
Well… Hmmm… Maybe that was being a little unfair to Naruto, Sakura admitted. Sure he was loud and definitely annoying at times, but he had a lot of good qualities too.
Like the fact that no matter what, Naruto didn't give up. Not even during their tree climbing, when he couldn't even get off the ground, he didn't stop trying. Sakura was surprised too when he had asked for her help instead of having a tantrum like she thought he would have.
Maybe the blonde shinobi was growing up a little. He wasn't nearly half as incompetent as when Team 7 first began. He seemed to have made a lot of progress since their mission to Wave country. And that Kage Bunshin technique was pretty cool… Sakura herself could only perform the regular illusionary bushin.
Now if only she could have made that kind of progress. Sakura wasn't full of herself, even though she knew she had outstanding chakra control, it was pretty useless without, muscle and techniques to back it up. Both of which the young girl felt she was sorely lacking.
Sakura sighed, at this rate; it would be her dragging Team 7 behind instead of Naruto… If she wasn't doing so already.
Sakura was the last Haruno to be a ninja since her grandmother. There wasn't much to live up to though, but there wasn't much to bring to the table either. The Hurano family didn't have any special techniques or cool blood lines… Aside from pink hair… Which, when you're a male Haruno is actually kind of embarrassing… Especially when you're showering in a gym… REALLY embarrassing…
'When this is over… I'm really going to have to start looking into finding something I'm good at as a ninja… Maybe I could be come a Genjutsu Master like that other instructor, Kurenai.' Sakura thought. 'What else if perfect chakra control good for?'
Looking around the dance hall, Sakura let out a disappointed sigh. 'Maybe I should leave… There isn't much for me here to do…'
"Hey Sakura!" Blinking, the pink haired girl turned in her seat to see a brightly smiling Naruto in a (surprise, surprise) orange Kimono leading Hinata by the hand right to her table. "What are you doing sitting here by yourself?"
"Oh, um… I was just resting… Heh, heh…" Sakura laughed nervously.
"Yeah, I know what you mean, Hinata and I just got off the dance floor. It was really fun; Hinata even taught me how to dance!" Naruto explained excitedly. "It was fun! She's a really good teacher!"
"T-thanks Naruto-kun…" Hinata blushed profusely at the blonde's complement.
"You two must really be having a good time." Sakura smiled weakly. "I wouldn't want to interrupt your fun…"
With that, Sakura got up to leave. But before she could go, her blonde teammate grabbed her shoulder.
"Ah, come on Sakura! We saw you sitting here by yourself this whole time! Come and have some fun with us!" Naruto exclaimed happily. "You can't leave after sulking here all night! Right Hinata?"
"R-right." The shy girl nodded her head meekly. "I-I've had a lot of fun with Naruto-kun tonight. You should come with us."
"Well…" Sakura thought about it and realized there really wasn't any real reason to not join them. It'd be a heck of a lot better than sitting around pouting like a seven-year-old. "Alright! What do you want to do?"
Naruto grinned from ear to ear.
"Something that I've wanted to try since we got here!" The blonde explained excitedly. Grabbing both Sakura and Hinata's hands, he led them back into the center of the dance floor.
"What are we doing Naruto?" Sakura had a confused look, the blonde just stood there wait.
"We have to wait for the song to finish." Naruto explained. "…Ah! There we go!"
"What are you doing Naruto?" Hinata asked worriedly.
"This." Naruto grinned as he cupped his hands around his mouth.
"NINJA CONGA LINE!"
Dead silence…
"You… Idiot…" Sakura Whispered through clenched teeth.
But before the pink haired girl could get her hands around Naruto's neck…
Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun DA!
Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun DA!
The entire dance floor erupted into cheers!
"No way…" Sakura gaped as a conga line began to form on the dance floor.
"Awesome! I didn't really think that would work!" Naruto exclaimed gleefully, Sakura sweat dropped. "Come on! Let's join in!"
On the other side of the dance hall, the Hokage watched in amusement as Naruto dragged both Sakura and Hinata into the ever growing conga line.
"Heh, I haven't seen anybody start a ninja conga line at the festival since… Ha! Jiraiya did it!" Sarutobi laughed.
"I heard about that. Arashi said Jiraiya would do anything to get his hands near a woman's butt." Turning around, the aging ninja smiled as he saw Kyu come up to stand next to him.
"Ah, I was curious to see if you'd show up or not." Sarutobi smiled.
"Well, when I heard that Naruto was coming I thought I'd take a look." The redhead smiled.
"Ah, yes. I believe this is the first time he's ever attend this festival." Sarutobi nodded.
"Yes, I wonder why…" Kyu thought out loud.
"Hard to say, without anyone to come with him, I suppose he simply didn't know what to do." The elder ninja guessed. "It was very nice of Hinata to come with him."
"Yes. I was very glad she asked him." Kyu nodded. "Naruto needs friends and she seemed more than willing."
"You haven't been meddling have you?" Sarutobi cocked an eyebrow upward as he turned his gaze upon his redheaded companion.
"Me? Meddle? Heaven forbid!" Kyu smiled devilishly putting her hand to her chest dramatically. "Do I look like the meddling type?"
"It seemed to be an old pastime of yours if I recall." Sarutobi smirked.
"Old habits die hard I supposed." Kyu shrugged. "But really… I'm just glad to see that he's enjoying himself. And besides, she seems like a nice enough girl."
"Oh she is. You won't find a more polite, proper and all around pleasant girl… If you can get past the shyness." The old man chuckled.
"Yes! I almost couldn't believe she was really a Hyuuga!" Kyu laughed.
On the opposite end of the Dance hall, the constantly masked ninja Kakashi sat in an open window seal, one leg dangling over the edge lazily, still in his jounin uniform only minus his green flack jacket. Arms crossed over his chest, the gray haired young man stared intently at the Hokage and Kyu with his only available eye.
If it hadn't occurred to anybody before, Kakashi usually wasn't one for big social functions. When he was young, it usually took Obito, Rin, or his sensei to drag him out to have some fun. Kakashi just felt awkward at those situations, unless it had to do with a ninja mission, socializing just wasn't easy.
But still, in memory of his departed friends, the gray haired shinobi still came to these events. Most of the time he kept himself preoccupied in a corner with a book, but this time was different…
SHE was here…
Kakashi closed his visible eye… Recalling his conversation with the Hokage a week ago.
"So I take it you're aware of our returning resident." The Elderly man asked seemly to no one. The Hokage was dressed in his normal robes, standing in the middle of his office, appearing to study an intricate wall scroll.
"Why wasn't I told that Kyuubi was back?" Kakashi asked bluntly, coming into view of the room. "… Hokage-sama." He added as an after thought.
"… I… wanted to give her some time to gain her bearings without anyone spying on her." Sarutobi explained, turning to face his subordinate.
"Forgive me sir, but even you could come up with a better excuse than that." Kakashi said bluntly. "The Fourth was my sensei and I'm currently Naruto's teacher. I should have been informed of this."
The elder man closed his eyes, deep in thought.
"I have my reasons Kakashi." The Third answered.
"… I can't possibly see any reasons why." The Jounin shot back. "This is vital information… Just on this mission, something happened with Naruto. I had no idea if it was his natural demon powers surfacing or if it was some kind of influence by Kyuubi."
"You were aware of it on the mission?" The Hokage's eyebrow popped upward in interest.
"Naruto was telling me about his friend 'Kyu-chan' before the incident on the bridge. From what I could tell, he wasn't aware that she was even his mother." Kakashi explained. "How long has she been back?"
"Since the day of the Genin exam at the Academy." Sarutobi answered.
"That long?" Kakashi looked surprised. "I would think that would be more than enough time to 'get her bearings.'"
"…" The Hokage looked to be deep in thought again. "Tell me Kakashi… What are your feelings about the woman?"
"What?" Kakashi looked somewhat confused.
"I mean… What are your feelings towards Kyuubi?" The Hokage went on.
"I… She was my sensei's wife. He loved her…. She…" Kakashi was trying to find the right words.
"Was the cause of his death?" Sarutobi supplied.
Kakashi looked at the elder man in surprise.
"You blame her for the demon attacking the village? I know you held a lot of respect for the Fourth and you were never really at ease with her." Sarutobi continued.
"That's not true…" Kakashi voice didn't sound confident.
"I remember quite well how you felt after Arashi died, Kakashi. I know you blamed her for the attacks and his death." The Hokage looked at Kakashi straight in the eye. "Can you honestly tell me that you still don't hold an ill will towards her?"
"I…" Kakashi looked away. "I don't know… Is this why you didn't tell me?"
"Partly." Sarutobi admitted. "The other part being that I really did wanted to give Kyu sometime to meet with Naruto and regain her bearings. She's been asleep for the last twelve years; she nearly died herself in that attack."
"Yes… Thank you for explaining everything." Kakashi nodded his head before turning towards the open window.
"And I'm sorry." The Hokage said, Kakashi paused in his step. "I should have told you sooner. But… Please remember, Arashi loved her, and wouldn't want you to hold on to any grudge against her."
"Yes… I know." Kakashi nodded and then he was gone in an instant. A gentle breeze blew against the curtains of the window.
Kakashi sighed. There was no way he could hate the woman his sensei loved. It was irrational to blame her for what happened. But still… a part of him felt she was a still partly responsible.
But… He supposed he'd just have to get over it.
There was nothing else he could, or should do than that.
Hyuuga Hiashi looked grim.
Well… Okay, he always looked grim, that's just the kind of face he had… Which unsurprisingly, was the kind of face ALL Hyuuga's had… Well, except for one.
His daughter Hinata, who was currently in the middle of a ridiculous conga line was the exception. She was laughing merrily, and just behind her was that… boy.
Hiashi had a great deal of respect for the Fourth, well earned respect at that. The blonde man who had been hokage had proven himself a great warrior, a young man much wiser than his years and of having a personality good for diplomacy.
The Hyuuga head had complete confidence in the sealing that the Yondaime had performed. But still, it was unnerving, and what would others say about the heiress of the clan associating with… The demon container?
Hiashi felt that this had gone on long enough; it was time to collect his daughter before she made any further embarrassment of the clan.
"Ah! Hiashi-donno, I was wondering if you'd show up." The Hyuuga head blinked, and turned around to face the Hokage, a somewhat familiar redheaded woman with him.
"Hokage-sama. It's a pleasure." Hiashi bowed.
"Oh, come now, I've told you a thousand times, no need to be so formal." Sarutobi laughed. "How have you been?"
"Very good." Hiashi nodded, eyeing the redhead suspiciously. "I'm sorry, have we met before?"
"Oh me?" Kyu asked, smiling coyly. "I visited a few times previously… But it's been quite a while."
"Ah." Hiashi nodded, instantly dismissing the woman as unimportant. "And how are you Hokage-sama?"
"Oh, I'm doing fine." Sarutobi smiled. "I love this festival. It's so wonderful to see everyone relaxing and having a chance to enjoy themselves, it truly makes me happy."
The Hyuuga head simply nodded.
"I see your daughter seems to be enjoying herself as well." The Elder man chuckled. "It's been a while since we've had a ninja conga line."
"Yes… I was just about to get her before she made an embarrassment of herself." Hiashi turned around to find his daughter again.
"Why would you do that? She's having fun." The Redhead commented.
"Her actions will damage the dignity of the Hyuuga clan." Hiashi replied instantly.
"I hardly think that having fun with children her own age constitutes as damaging to a clan's dignity." The redhead smirked.
"As the strongest clan in Konoha, the Hyuuga clan has a certain level of respect to uphold." Hiashi replied matter of factly, as if this should have already been known.
"Sounds like a lot work, upholding clan dignity." The redhead commented. "Does this clan pride make you that happy?"
"Excuse me?" Hiashi looked at her puzzled. "Make me happy?"
"Well, I simply wonder." The redhead shrugged. "Why go to all of the trouble of holding up your dignity and honor as 'the strongest clan' if it doesn't make you happy."
"The pride of the Hyuuga clan is all the satisfaction I require." Hiashi replied automatically.
"…But why?" The redhead asked. "I know a lot about the Hyuuga clan, why go to all of this trouble of making yourselves out to be so formal and great if it doesn't make you happy. Being satisfied and being happy aren't the same thing. Why should an entire clan of people simply settle for that?"
Hiashi fixed his pure white eyes squarely on the redhead's ruby one. They stared at each other like that for a moment, unflinching.
The Hokage coughed into his hand loudly, dispelling the stare down.
"I apologize if my opinion was out of place." The redhead bowed her head; her tone obviously didn't convey any sincerity for apology. "It was good to see you here Sarutobi."
With that the redhead kissed the Third on the cheek and began to walk away. But before she got more than a few steps, she paused and turned her head around.
"But I just have to ask you one more question." The redhead spoke. Hiashi craned his eyebrow up. "Is your pride worth so much more than you daughter's happiness?"
With that said the redhead turned back around and continued away.
Hiashi watched her retreating figure until she was out of sight of normal vision.
The Hyuuga head turned to face the Hokage and bowed.
"It was good to see you here sir." And then he walked off, in the opposite direction of the dance floor.
"I thought you were going to get your daughter?" Sarutobi asked curiously. If Hiashi had activated his Byakugan, he would have seen the third's sly smile.
"…" Hiashi paused, looking over at his daughter… She was really smiling… When was the last time she smiled like that?
Never, he realized. Hiashi had never seen her look so happy before. Not with him, not when his wife was alive… Not ever.
"Let her… Enjoy herself tonight." He finally replied.
That said, Hyuuga Hiashi walked off to mingle with other clan heads and important figures of Konoha. The Hokage watched him leave, a pleased smile on his aging face.
Maybe there was hope for the man yet.
"I cannot believe this! This is… Fun!" Sakura laughed as the ninja conga line continued on, Inner Sakura cheering her agreement.
"Yeah! This is awesome! I wish I had started going to these festivals sooner!" Naruto grinned. "Thanks again for coming with me Hinata!"
"N-no, Thank YOU! Naruto-Kun!" Hinata laughed merrily. "I'm having a lot of fun!"
It was sometime later when the conga line died away the three exhausted genin sat down at a nearby table. Taking a moment to laugh, catch their breath and relax.
"Hey Naruto…" Sakura asked, getting the blonde's attention. "Is this really the first time you've come to the festival?"
"Yeah…" Naruto nodded. "I've tried coming when I was younger… But there were these jerks that wouldn't let me come… and after that… I guess I just felt kinda weird coming… Everybody always has somebody to come with… a date… their parents… It just felt weird. So I decided not to bother."
Sakura looked surprised. 'That's right…' She thought. 'Sometimes I forget that he doesn't have any parents…' The pink haired girl looked sad for her companion, even though Sasuke wasn't here, she had still come with her parents at least like they did every year.
"But that's okay now!" Naruto grinned. "Because Hinata here was really awesome and asked me to come with her!"
Said girl blushed profusely and tried to hide herself in her lavender kimono.
"Really? YOU asked HIM?" Sakura really was surprised. Everyone was well aware of Hinata's incredibly shy nature.
"I um… yeah." The poor girls face was bright red to Sakura's notice, though Naruto seemed oblivious to it.
"Hey… Do you know if Sasuke showed up?" Naruto suddenly asked out of the blue.
"Sasuke? No… He didn't come." Sakura looked down at the table in disappointment.
"Pfft. What a drag. The guy doesn't know when to loosen up. Seriously, he acts all grouchy and sullen all the time and why? Because he never let's himself have any fun!" Naruto scoffed. "He needs to kick back and enjoy himself."
At first Sakura's main reaction was to instantly yell at Naruto for making any kind of insult about Sasuke at all… But stopped herself when she realized… She agreed with him!
"Heh… You know Naruto… I think you're right." The pink hair girl smiled, but it faded away when she turned her thoughts back to the dark haired boy. "He really should have some fun… He always looks like he's… (sigh) Like he can't let himself be happy or something."
"You noticed that too?" Naruto asked. "What's up with that?"
"Maybe… Maybe it has something to do with that guy he says he has to kill." Sakura suggested, fidgeting nervously with the sleeve of her pink Kimono.
"K-kill somebody?" Hinata squeaked. "Why would he want to kill anyone?"
"Dunno." Naruto shrugged. "I just hope it's not me."
"I really doubt that." Sakura stared at the blonde with a 'Are you really that stupid?' look.
Hinata simply giggled quietly to herself.
Now onto…
IRUKA THE AMAZING CHUUNIN SIDE STORY!
It was a really nice Festival this year, in Iruka's opinion. The music was good, the food was fantastic, and everybody seemed to be having a blast!
"Grrrrr…"
(Sigh)Iruka tried to ignore it, pretend he really wasn't hearing it… but he just couldn't seem to ignore the fact that anytime any woman got close to him… Anko started growling!
"Um, Anko?" Iruka asked hesitantly.
"Hm?" His date turned and smiled sweetly at him, as though she hadn't been glaring daggers at that blonde girl who had smiled at Iruka.
"Why are you growling?" He asked nervously.
"Growling? I'm not growling! Heh, heh… Boy Iruka! You better get your ears checked!" Anko laughed nervously.
"Hi Iruka-kun! You're looking sharp." A busty brunette smiled slyly at him.
"Get lost!" Anko snapped. The Brunette put up her hands defensively as she back away.
"What was that all about?" Iruka sighed.
"Fine… Look… I just get a little defensive when other girls try and steal you away." Anko admitted.
"Steal me away!" Iruka laughed. "Anko… I'm glad you think so highly of me, but I've never been really popular with women. Hell, I'm thankful to god everyday that I have you."
"Really? Oh that's so sweet!" Anko gushed. "Except that's only half true."
"Huh?" Iruka looked confused.
"Well… I might have been talking to a group of girls a while back and… I might have pointed out that you are probably the most eligible bachelor in Konoha." Anko explained, grinning somewhat sheepishly.
"I… am?" Iruka looked stunned.
"Yeah… But I don't want to get into that part now." Anko waved her hand dismissively. "The point is that almost every available woman in the village has her eyes on you now."
"I find that a little hard to believe." Iruka crossed his arms skeptically over his dark grey Kimono.
"Don't believe me?" Anko asked, she seem to be debating something for a moment before sighing. "Fine, you stay here, and I'm going to go all the way over there and bring us back some punch okay?"
"Okaaay…" Iruka didn't look like he understood point of this.
Reluctantly, Anko walked away from her date and to the long table holding most of the food and dinks. Taking her time, she gathered two cups and filled them with red punch.
When she returned to where she left Iruka, she found him surrounded by almost a dozen women.
"So Iruka, how is teaching at the academy? You seem to so do well with those kids." A blonde smiled at him sweetly.
"Yeah, I love a man who's good with kids" another added.
"I, uh… well Um…" Iruka stuttered nervously. He tried to inch away, but the group of women seemed to be closing in on him.
"You know Iruka… that scar makes you look kinda rugged." A dark haired girl commented, a sultry smile gracing her lips. "I like rugged."
"Uh…"
"Oh Iruka! I got us some PUNCH!" Anko announced loudly, getting the attention of both Iruka and the group of females surrounding him.
Most of the women shot her distasteful glares before sauntering away.
"See what I mean?" Anko gave him an 'I told you so' look.
"I… uh… wow." Iruka looked like he completely baffled.
"Don't let this get to your head now." Anko smirked. "Remember you've still got me, right?"
Blinking in surprised, Iruka looked down and Anko. She was wearing a dark green kimono with intricate white lace designs, and her hair was held up with ornamental hair pins… She looked beautiful… Just staring into those brown almond shaped eyes…
"Of course!" Iruka smiled. "With you, what does any other girl matter?"
"Heh, good anwer." Anko smiled.
Craning her head, the black haired woman, smiled as if she just noticed something about Iruka.
"You know… I have to admit… That one girl was right." Anko said as she gently cupped Iruka's chin between her two fingers, angling his face so she could look at it better.
"Right about what?" Iruka asked curiously.
"That scar does make you look kinda rugged." Anko smirked just before she pulled Iruka's head down so she could kiss him right on top of his scar. "I like rugged too."
"Heh…" The chuunin's face was turning a nice shade of pink, much to Anko's delight.
"AH! IRUKA MY FRIEND! ENJOYING THE FLAMES OF YOUR YOUTH TONIGHT!" Both Anko and Iruka flinched upon the sudden outburst directed towards them from behind.
Turning around, the young couple came face to face with none other than Maito Gia. Instead of his normal green body suit and leg warmers, Gai thankfully had the taste to wear a kimono, the color exactly matching his body suites of course.
"Oh… Hello Gai, how are you?" Iruka replied nervously.
"VERY GOOD! THE NIGHT IS YOUNG AND THE FLAMES OF MY PASSION BURN BRIGHTLY!" Gai shouted out his response. "It was fortunate that I could attend the festival this year!"
"Oh really? You couldn't make it before?" Iruka asked, grateful that Gai had finally lowered his voice.
"No, unfortunately my team and I were in the middle of a mission in Water Country when the festival occurred!" Gai explained. "But luckily, the great green beast of Konoha was able to come this year! Much to his grandiosely beautiful wife's pleasure!"
"That's nice…" Iruka nodded. "… Wait, wife?"
"Yes! I shall go get her! She will be most pleased to meet you!" Instantly Gai dashed off without another word.
"… I didn't know Gai was married…" Iruka said in surprise.
"At first I thought it was a joke… Until I met her." Anko shrugged.
"What's she like?" Iruka was very curious as to what kind of woman would marry Gai… Oh god… what did she LOOK like? (Shudder)
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Anko replied.
"Ah! Iruka! I would like you to meet my lovely wife Kimiko!" Gai said with his ever present enthusiasm.
Iruka's eyes nearly bugged out… Gai's wife was… GORGEOUS! Long wavy black hair, almond shaped eyes, an angular face, and an ample busso-
Iruka shook his head and put on a polite smile.
"How do you do, I'm Umino Iruka." Iruka bowed.
"Oh! It's so wonderful to meet some of Gai-kun friends!" The beautiful woman gushed out. Her voice like the soft rhythm of a harp. "My husband has so many wonderful friends that I'm not sure if I'll eve get to meet them all!"
"Heh… Uh, yeah, Gai sure has a lot of friends." Iruka chuckled nervously. Out of the corner of his eye, Iruka saw that Anko was trying to keep her laughter to herself.
"So… Uh, I didn't realize Gai was married… How did you two meet?" Iruka tried very hard not to stare at the woman's chest… But it was REALLY HARD! She had a really amazing figur-
Iruka shook his head again.
"Oh! I met Gai-kun several years ago." Kimiko smiled warmly, her arms circling around Gai's right arm. Her eyes fluttering as she looked up at guys face. "I was just a farm girl living in an very small and isolated village in the mountains when Gai-kun came.
"He said he was on a training journey in our mountains and I couldn't help but watch him while he trained, he was just mesmerizing! He was SO strong and HANDSOME!… I fell in love immediately!"
Anko and Iruka both stared in amazement at the love sick expression that fell over the beautiful woman's face as she stared up into her husband's eyes.
"And his words! Everything he said was poetry! His passion for life… his dedication… I begged my father until he let me come back here with Gai-kun! We were married as soon as possible and I've never been happier!" Kimiko continued on.
"And I too my Beautiful Flower! You are the rose that blooms over and over again! Each time more beautiful than the last!" Gai exclaimed.
"OH GAI!"
"OH KIMIKO!"
"GAI!"
"KIMIKO!"
"GAI!"
"KIMIKO!"
(KISS!)
"… Okay, is it me or is that just bizzare." Anko whispered. Iruka simply nodded his head in response.
While the two lovers shared their… uh… intimate moment, both Iruka and Anko slowly inched away to a safe distance.
"You know… despite the… weirdness of that… It was actually kind of sweet." Iruka smiled.
"Yeah…" Anko nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Have you ever thought about marriage yourself?"
That seemed to catch Iruka off guard and he stumbled slightly as they were walking.
"M-marriage? … Uh, well, yeah, I guess I think about that every now and then." He answered, scratching the back of his head.
"It must be nice…" Anko's smile spread even wider. "Spending the rest of your life with that 'Special Someone.'"
"Y-yeah… It's a big step though." Iruka nodded.
"You worried about it?" Anko turned to find that Iruka's face was a mixture of a wide range of emotions. It seemed almost impossible to figure out what he was thinking…
"Well… It's just… My parent's died when I was young so… I've always really wanted to have a family of my own someday. Though for a while it seemed like teaching was always getting in the way."
Anko's heart was suddenly beginning to speed up now. This was starting to get really serious.
"And now… I… I just don't want to do anything stupid like rush things and make you uncomfortable." Iruka explained, he looked really embarrassed explaining this sort of thing. "But yeah… I have been thinking about it."
Anko smiled at him. But this time is was a warm smile, gentle and filled with a feeling of real love.
"Don't worry Iruka, go as fast as you feel is right. I'm not going anywhere." Anko assured him as she kissed him on the cheek. "But not TOO slow. 'Cause I'm not THAT patient."
Iruka chuckled, a sense of relief washing over him. Smiling as his girlfriend, he wrapped his arm around her waist and guided towards the dance floor, feeling like the luckiest guy in the world.
"NINJA CONGA LINE!"
Iruka blinked as the entire room suddenly went silent for a moment…
And then…
Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun DA!
Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun DA!
Cheers erupted all around.
"Awesome! I haven't been in a ninja conga line since I was five!" Anko exclaimed excitably.
Iruka didn't have time to say anything as Anko grabbed his hand and the two of them joined the ever growing line of dancing ninjas.
Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun DA!
Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun DA!
The rest of the night went on without incident; everybody enjoyed themselves and had a good time.
It was a good thing too, because soon things would be getting a lot more interesting around Konoha, and much more hectic.
Next, The Chuunin examines begin! And Iruka finds out a big secret about Anko!