Disclaimer: Naruto is not and will not be owned by me.
Thank you to the following who reviewed, for without your lovely reviews, I may have decided to sit in a corner and read my manga instead!
CloeyMarie: Glad you liked how I made the characters! I really like how Naruto turned out! And Ino was definitely gonna be in the fic!
Bungeecord: After my friends' support (but for the most part, blackmail) I decided to come up with the sequel! Thanks for reading! It isn't as depressing as yellow roses ne?
Lexy499: Muchos gracias for reading!
Doctor Meowzie: oo, pinay po ako na may halong Chinese, salamat for asking. Hehe. If you understood that, well, you're like me! Heheh…
Shijou no kiseki: Yep, it was not the end, but if the other bout of laziness continues..hmmm..
Pampers
Yinyang-sensei
Jellybean 89
Mana-chan
Lover of violet: Sakura-chan's birthday is March 28, spring in the northern hemisphere is around late March to May. Hope that answered your question.
Ilychlenin
The sequel to Yellow Roses
The Talk
Chapter II
By chiea
The office of the Godaime Hokage, the only female Kage in the history of Konohagakure was a place where every command of hers was given, where she exercised her right as the leader of one of the most powerful hidden villages, where her authority was most felt, like the way her fist made contact with the skull of her former team mate and current beau (which was what the man said but the Hokage herself denied for countless times) for trying to get a good look at the cleavage currently peeking from her low cut shirt.
"Tsunade-hime What was that for!
The current Hokage was glaring at the silver-haired man, eyes blazing with fury..
"You idiot! You're such a pervert Jiraiya! That's why I didn't want to go through this plan at all! What if it backfires! She will have your head and that very stoic suitor of hers will close all your chakra points!"
The man who she called Jiraiya shook his head and smirked at the now raging woman..
"Trust me princess, after this, I doubt that man would have any trouble with.."
A soft knock was heard before a raven haired woman peeked inside. She frowned at the mess the office was currently in, before looking at her Mistress, then at the perverted sannin.
"I've spotted him walking a few blocks away. If you want the plan to push through, Jiraiya-sama..-
"You have to leave!"
Tsunade finished her apprentice's sentence for her and stood to push the sannin out of the office.
"But if I go now, I won't see the fruits of my labor! How lovely the cherry blossom would look in- "
"OUT!"
With a grunt, he disappeared in smoke. Just in the nick of time too, for after a few moments, the door opened to reveal a man with a pair of sharp silver eyes, the captain of one of the finest ANBU squads and the current patriarch of one of Konoha's most noble clans, Hyuuga Neji. He bowed politely to the Hokage and awaited her instructions.
"Hyuuga, I will reveal the details of the mission as soon as all the shinobi involved show up. I hate repeating instructions. Take a seat."
The young man nodded and sat quietly on one of the plush sofas near her the Hokage's desk. His eyes remained looking forward but he was actually looking around the room. His attention was caught by a basket of red fruit placed on the coffee table on his far left. His eyebrows twitched visibly when a little memory clicked.
FLASHBACK
It was another attempt to make his feelings known to the petal haired kunoichi. He hasn't planned it at all, it was his quiet cousin who had unknowingly started the chain of events by asking a favor of him during one late spring morning.
"Neji-niisama, I was wondering if you could give these to Sakura-chan. I have a lot to do today and I can't possibly go out to do it on my own. Will it be all right?"
Had she asked this favor years ago, he would have done it but inwardly curse for being tasked to do something so mundane as the favor. At the moment however, he settled for a slight nod, his relationship with his cousin have been repaired, not only by the fact that he was named the heir to the clan, but because he finally understood his cousin and because he was used to doing anything that she asked, not that it was very often at that; old habits die hard after all.
He turned to look quizzically at the covered basket that was handed to him. Hyuuga Neji carrying a basket, won't Hisashi be so proud of him.
Not.
"She really likes those so much, so I try to give her some if it's harvest time. Well, I'll see you later Nii-sama."
She disappeared in the hallway leaving Neji alone.
By late afternoon he still has not found her. Even pride did not keep him from asking her whereabouts, probably because of the inkling of worry that he felt for her. From what he heard from Shikamaru, she had no mission whatsoever and was in the village somewhere..
"She's probably training somewhere. Either that or she's in the hospital.. You know her, troublesome workaholic.."
No matter how much he wanted to gently correct Shikamaru's opinion of Sakura being troublesome, he had restrained himself because one, the Nara is known to be one of Sakura's closest male friends and second, he was telling the truth; if Sakura was given a choice between staying home and relaxing and that of staying in the hospital to help or sent in a dangerous mission, she'd pick the latter.
After mumbling an almost inaudible word of thanks, he was on his way again. He was even hastened when he noticed that Shikamaru was looking at the basket that he was carrying. He still did not know what he was bringing; he refused to take a peek at the contents. But curiosity began to take over him, but being Hyuuga Neji was almost synonymous with "insufferable pride" so he settled for the nest best thing. With a smirk, veins appeared around his eyes enabling him to see the insides of the basket.
One of his brows lifted with his discovery. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he failed to notice that he strayed from his original destination, the park. He had ended up in Area 24, one of the many shinobi training grounds.
Boom!
It sounded like the ground was being pounded with immense strength. Then another thought hit him.
'Why didn't I think of it before..'
He was greeted by deep holes on the ground and a shinobi who was breathing deeply. The wind played gently with the locks that were freed from her braid. Sweat trickled on her face as she tried to control her breaths. Her emerald eyes were burning with determination. She clenched a gloved hand before disappearing into thin air. She appeared twenty meters from where she stood a second ago, arm posed to launch a punch. An earth shattering noise (literally) was heard, when her hand made contact with the dry earth before it crumbled into a crater ten meters deep and wide.
A smirk was clearly displayed on her face which he still found lovely despite the trails of sweat. She was obviously pleased by the effects of her strength on the earth. Who wouldn't be? How many kunoichi do you know that could cause so much destruction with a single blow? Only her and her mentor. She was taught the ability to yield such an immense strength by controlling her chakra perfectly; a skill that belonged only to select number of shinobi, including himself. He saw her back stiffen; soon enough, he was met by a rain of senbon. Being the ANBU that he was, he was able to evade each one. Someone had obviously maddened her earlier.
"I told you Naruto, I'm training! And if you're not going to spar with me, go home!"
The idea that she mistook him for the town's maize haired, loud mouthed, annoying shinobi would have angered him to no end years ago, but this was now. What he felt was only a drop of jealousy that she was expecting another. Then again, that explained that the attack wasn't for him. Good enough.
"I'm not Uzumaki."
That deep baritone monotone voice.
"Eh? Neji-san!"
The scarlet blush that covered her cheeks, and the blatant chastised look that she was currently sporting was enough of an apology for him..
'3…2…1..'
"I'm so sorry Neji-san! I thought that you were Naruto and.. And.. I'm such an idiot… Honto ni gomen nasai.."
She bowed to him, and refused to look up at him in the eyes.
"It's no big deal.."
Obviously, Naruto was pestering her to relax or something to that effect. The blonde meant well and only hoped for Sakura's happiness, but sometimes, he was too pushy for his own damn good.
The fact that she hadn't replied made him think that she didn't hear him, he was about to repeat what he said when he noticed that she was looking at the basket on his left hand..
'Is Neji shopping….'
It was like a switch on her mind was flipped and Inner Sakura was rolling on the floor, laughing like there was no tomorrow..
'He's shopping! Neji going shopping! Nyahahahahaha! Wait…On the training ground?'
A slight blush tinged his cheeks.
"Hinata-sama asked me to bring this to you. She is engaged in another activity today and couldn't bring it to you herself."
Her lips formed a small oh and she nodded in understanding. He handed her the basket, and kept his gaze on her face. She took it wordlessly and opened the top.
Suddenly, it was like the light had pierced through a thick cloud after a rainy day, her lips formed a wide smile that was directed at the contents of the basket. Neji couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. But the thought was kicked out of the window when she turned her eyes to meet his, with the same bright smile on her face.
Goodness, finally destiny is up to something good.
"Arigato gozaimasu, Neji-san! And please thank Hinata-chan too. She knows how much I like them and gives me more than I can eat whenever she has some in your house."
"I will tell her that.."
Neji was content to leave her alone, his day was completed when she gave him one of her most radiant smiles, even if the reason behind it was some evil fruit.
'Stupid fruit..'
"Anou..Neji-san?"
He turned to face her deeply blushing face which seemed to grow a darker, due to her exposure to the sun or exhaustion, he did not know (dense aren't we?)
'What if he thinks you're too desperate? He might hate you!'
"Uhm.. I was wondering if you wanted to share these, I mean I can't possibly eat everything on my own… But if you're busy, I'd understand.."
'Good call Sakura! At least you sound like you're being polite!'
Neji shifted his gaze at the basket, he couldn't look at her straight at the eye.
"I'm not busy.."
"Okay.."
The two of them walked away from the humongous craters Sakura created a while ago. They settled beside on a meadow beside the river. She washed her face with the cool water while Neji tried his best not to look too interested. She dried her face and arms with a small towel, making it look like she just took a long bath.
'Let's not GO THERE Neji!'
She sat down demurely, with her legs tucked under her. She opened the basket and examined the contents, as if she were looking for something. To an outsider, it may look like that they were a married couple out in the woods to have a picnic, all you needed were a few kids and voila! To people living in the bustling village of Konoha, it may very well be. With just a slight push, well shove was the more appropriate word; the village may find itself a new happily married couple.
"Aha!"
Sakura was holding a packet of some sort on one hand, in the other a small bowl.
He gave her an inquiring look, as if to ask, why the triumphant face?
She looked sheepish for a moment, then spoke.
"Promise you won't tell anyone, Neji-san?"
He nodded and waited for her to continue.
"It's going to sound weird but you know I like eating those, right?"
She pointed at the heap of crimson fruit lying on the opened basket and nodded, seemingly not getting where the conversation was headed.
"You see, I eat them with salt.. Lots of salt.. You can laugh you know, Hinata-chan was really weirded out at first too. I won't take offense, really.."
"I put pepper on takoyaki.."
"And I really.. what did you just say?"
He hmmphhd and reached out for the packet of salt before opening and placing it all on the bowl.
Sakura finally got what he meant and smiled softly. When Neji caught her upturned features, he returned the smile as well, although not as wide as hers, but the emotion behind it was the same. She placed the basket in front of him so he could pick some fruit. He did and she followed suit. To her surprise, he dipped it in salt before placing it in his mouth.
"Aren't you going to eat, Sakura?"
She nodded dumbly and dipped the fruit on the bowl before eating herself. He watched with barely concealed interest how her lips looked as red as the fruit, as soft as the fruit, as tasty..
'Damn it!'
He would have bashed his head on the ground at the moment, but she was there, he would never live it down if she thought he had a mental disorder of some sort.
He looked at her again, this time focusing on her deep jade eyes.
What he saw then made him think that he could spend the rest of his life this way, get lost in her eyes forever, to stay beside her and never leave her again. It was relaxing and comforting to be around her but at the same time, he felt like he was at the edge of a cliff, holding on for his dear life. What won't he give for a life with her.
'You should tell her then..'
His thoughts seem to finally agree with his heart. He swallowed the lump in his throat and took a deep breath..
'It's now or never..'
"Sakura.."
Emerald eyes turned to gaze at him, knocking the wind out of his lungs.
"I've wanted to tell you that.."
"Sakura!"
At that moment in time, he wanted to rip the person into paper thin shreds then put in a box then burn it then throw the ashes to the sea.
"Kiba!"
Scratch that, he'll chop him to little pieces, then grill him in an open fire, then cut him to even smaller pieces then stir fry him with mushrooms then feed him to sharks or better yet, to akamaru, that large dog of his.
"What a surprise, Kiba! What brings you here?"
She was smiling at Kiba, who was panting a bit due to running. She returned her smile with a toothy grin. Both were unaware of the very dangerous aura a certain prodigy was emitting behind him. It would have been given signal number four if the man was a typhoon. However, he was worse, a living, breathing prodigy who could kick anyone's ass to the moon if he really wanted to, more likely if you made him angry or..say jealous.
"I was just passing by the area but I kinda picked up your scent, so I followed you here."
'He was smelling her? He was fricking smelling her! There'd be hell to pay dog-boy! Byaku..'
"Oi Neji, I didn't see you there! What's up!"
'You'd be if you don't go away..'
"Oh Neji's here because Hinata-chan asked him to give me these.."
She showed him the fruit she just bit and Kiba nodded.
"You're favorite right?"
She spoke chirpily.
"Hai! Would you like to join us?"
'Say NO!'
Neji and Sakura were both unaware that the same thoughts were running in their mind.
"I'd love to! Right, Akamaru?"
Inner Sakura was tearing her hair out while Neji kept thinking of ways to annihilate a certain Inuzuka.
However, on the outside, Sakura listened to Kiba speak with fervor while Neji's face remained impassive as always. Neji noticed that she continued eating without dipping the fruit in the salt. Needless to say, nothing important happened afterwards, thanks to an annoying, loquacious, dog-boy whose timing was as atrocious as his coat in spring.
END OF FLASHBACK
At the end of the trip to memory lane, he wanted to crush the fruits in front of him out of frustration.
'Damn you for making Sakura like you better than me! Damn you Kiba for liking her and coming out of nowhere when I'm about to tell her! Damn you!'
His glaring competition with the fruits was cut short when the door opened again. A woman, whose hair was tied in a bun and wearing a Chinese collared shirt came in. Behind her was a tall man who was wearing a large coat covering the lower part of his face. His eyes were covered by his dark tinted sunglasses.
"Aburame Shino and Tenten.."
Some may think that the pearl eyed prodigy regarded the woman as his friend so he chose to acknowledge her by her given name or that due to a certain anomaly regarding the series; that she had no last name whatsoever. (Is her first name Ten and last name Ten also? Can someone help me on this one? Nishi nishi..) But in reality, he was simply addressing them together, they were husband and wife.
"Neji! Long time no see! So how are things between you and.."
She wiggled her eyebrows and he snorted back in reply.
"I don't know what you're talking about"
"Sakura-chan!"
If he had been drinking tea, he would have gracelessly spitted out each drop. He was about to clamp Tenten's mouth with his very own hands, mindful of the stare of the Hokage only to find out that..
"Nice to see you again, Tenten-chan!"
'Oh, she's here.. She's here!'
She was standing by the door with Nara Shikamaru behind her. She smiled at the occupants of the room. Tenten smirked when she noticed that Neji was a bit flustered by the attention.
"Now that everyone's here, I would like to begin the mission briefing. Sakura, please help yourself to the basket over there."
"Strawberries!"
Sakura launched herself on the basket before stopping midway. Tsunade was a good master, who ensured that her protégé learned all the techniques she knew and mastered them as well. She knew how to reward ones deed, especially when she earned it. But she hasn't done anything yet, so why the basket. Then to her horror, she remembered something. Tsunade had a habit of giving gifts when she felt guilty about something. It was like an apology, without the words. That could only mean one thing. The mission was..
"Oh no.. Tsunade-shishou.. Don't tell me that.."
"Unfortunately, you have been assembled for an espionage mission. And you, Sakura are the star."
To be continued..
I'm alive!Hahahaha! As you can see, it took me nearly or past a month to come up with another chapter.
School was holding me down, you see?
Actually, it was more like it swallowed me whole and burped my bones out. Lovely mental image isn't it.
About When the snow melts I have the next chapter typed but I'm not that happy with it so I'm working on it again. Just wait for the next one okay?
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Do you think Neji's hot? I do! Nishi..nishi..
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Arigatou gozaimasu for reading!