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The Day after the Exams
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Kakashi was standing in Sasuke's hospital room, leaning against a wall. Kagura was working on the boy's seal to analyse it. Two other Anbu were in the room with them, serving as guards for the Uchiha boy.
The atmosphere was tense. The only one not worried about Orochimaru and the seal was Sasuke himself.
"When can I leave? I have to start training for the tournament," Sasuke complained for the third time. His body was connected to all sorts of beeping instruments.
He seemed fine, healthy. But no one could figure out what type of seal had been placed on his neck. Or what it was supposed to do.
"You'll get to train once they are finished here."
"I can't read the sealing formula. Not without some more hints for the key," Kagura said, turning back towards Kakashi. "I have never seen anything like this before."
"She doesn't even know what she's doing," Sasuke complained before ripping some of the wires off. "This is a waste of time."
Kagura raised a brow at him, then threw a grin at Kakashi. "I see you have not one but two brats as students."
Kakashi stared at Sasuke with a tired eye. "You stay in that bed." When Sasuke continued fumbling with the wires, ready to jump out of bed, Kakashi messed with his hair before pushing him back towards the cushion. "I said you are staying in that bed."
He listened to the boy's complaints while he struggled to free himself from Kakashi's grasp.
"Sasuke, if you stay here like a good boy until these people are done with you, I have a surprise for you."
"I don't need a surprise."
"You sure? I was going to offer a special jutsu. And special training."
Sasuke stopped struggling in an instant. He slapped Kakashi's hand away and his teacher let it happen. "What jutsu?"
Kakashi smiled. "A special one. You'll like it."
The promise of private training and a new jutsu finally made Sasuke sit down again. He impatiently eyed Kagura and the Anbu around him, telling them to hurry up.
Kakahi told him he'd be back soon, that he'd had to check on Naho.
Kagura stopped him before he could leave, still a grin on her face. "I always imagined you as this strict authority figure. I admit I'm slightly disappointed, but I'm still waiting for that visit at my place."
He ignored her, though her hand on his arm did not go unnoticed. "I'll be back soon, so you better behave," he told Sasuke and vanished.
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Kakashi quietly entered the hospital room of his other student. It was strangely tranquil. There were no Anbu guards, no wires and beeping machines. No one was arguing, and no one tried to find information on the mysterious seal Orochimaru had left on Sasuke's neck.
Naho lay on her healthy side. It was past noon, yet she was still sleeping peacefully. At least he didn't have to worry about this one, he thought to himself as he sat down on a chair in front of the window. Sun rays touched his face. They felt warm on his skin.
Kakashi stayed for a while. He had work to do. With the tournament coming up and Orochimaru seemingly involved with Sunagakure, Konoha was on edge, nervous. But mostly he would have to worry about Sasuke from now on.
The warmth of the sunlight made him sleepy. He closed his eyes for just a moment, and suddenly, he wasn't sure anymore whether he'd been asleep or not.
Naho eventually rolled onto her back and opened her eyes, sleepily rubbing her cheek. "Sensei?"
"You've slept for quite a while. Are you feeling better?" He smiled at her, trying to forget the worries that were on his mind.
Naho nodded. "What happened at the Chuunin exams? Are they over?"
"Yes, but I'm afraid you weren't chosen for the tournament."
He carefully observed her reaction, still curious about her mental state. The wound on her shoulder was deep, but not severe. The other wounds the Forest of Death had left he couldn't see.
"I don't really think I'm ready to become a Chuunin yet, so it's fine. I wouldn't have anything to show to the daimyo. How is Sasuke? Is he participating in the tournament?"
Kakashi nodded, and her gaze dropped instantly.
"Sasuke will be fine, right? That seal on his neck, is it something dangerous?"
He wanted to reassure her, but technically, he didn't know. No one knew what Orochimaru's intentions were. It made no sense that he'd attack mere Genin during the Chuunin exams. There was no gain.
"I'm sure he'll be alright." He got up again, telling her he couldn't stay.
She still had a worried pout on her face when he left.
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Sakura was standing in the entrance hall of the hospital, flowers in her hands. Naruto was with her. They had wanted to visit Naho, but she'd been asleep, and then tried to visit Sasuke, but were told that visits were not allowed. The latter worried Sakura.
Ino and Shikamaru approached. They were on their way outside when they spotted their former classmates.
Ino greeted them with a smile, and immediately started chatting. She was in good spirits, contrary to Sakura who looked the gloomiest out of the four.
"How is Chouji? I'm so bummed I didn't get to see any of your fights," Naruto said, mostly to Shikamaru. Ino had always been one of the people he liked least in his class, partly because he knew that Sakura hated her for many years. Though that seemed to have changed.
"He's good, only a small fracture." Shikamaru answered.
"How is Sasuke?" Ino asked. "I heard visitors are not allowed."
It bothered Naruto that she only asked about Sasuke. It was obvious she wanted to know whether she could see him or not. So Naruto decided to change the topic. In an especially loud voice he said, "I heard you passed and were even chosen for the tournament, Shikamaru! That's awesome!" His eyes fell on Ino, a smug grin on his lips.
The girl immediately knew what he was implying. "At least I participated! What were you doing during the Chuunin exams, Naruto?"
Shikamaru sighed as a fight broke out between Ino and Naruto.
"Keep it down," Sakura scolded. "We are in a hospital."
Ino and Naruto both fell quiet in an instant. Mostly because neither expected Sakura to actually be angry. It was obvious she was tense, even to Naruto, so he tried to cheer her up by saying that surely, they would be able to visit Sasuke later.
Ino carefully observed the situation, before putting on a smile for Sakura and saying, "Hey, we were planning on going to the festival this afternoon, once Chouji is out of the hospital again. Kiba's team is coming too."
"I don't know, Ino. I…"
She wrapped an arm around Sakura's shoulders and pulled her closer. "I won't take no for an answer. You are coming! It'll be fun. Almost like a reunion of our old class. We have to celebrate that the Chuunin exams are over."
Sakura stayed quiet. It felt wrong to her. She couldn't understand how almost all of her former classmates ended the exams uninjured. They were healthy and happy enough to go on a celebration. Yet her teammates were both in the hospital. One she wasn't even allowed to visit. And then there was Rei, who had never been a part of her team, but she still felt strangely connected to her. Because she could have been Rei. She could have participated with Sasuke and Naho, and then she would be the one dead now.
"Hello, Sakura? Are you there? Anyone actually awake behind that big forehead of yours?" Ino snipped around in front of her eyes, pouting at the fact that her friend was ignoring her.
Sakura managed a weak smile.
"Anyway," Ino said, somewhat giving up. "We are meeting at 5. You should come." She ran a hand through her long blond hair and left the hospital. Shikamaru sighed, shortly waved at Naruto and Sakura and followed his teammate, who was already telling him to hurry up.
Naruto crossed his arms in front of him, a sulking look on his face. "I wouldn't want to go to a stupid reunion with Ino and the others anyway. It's a good thing she didn't ask me. You aren't planning on going either, right? We have more important things to do. Like making sure that Naho and Sasuke are alright."
Sakura wanted to reply, but then spotted Kakashi, who was on his way back to Sasuke's room. She pushed past Naruto and speeded over to her teacher. Immediately she bombarded him with questions on how Sasuke was doing and why she wasn't allowed to visit.
Kakashi wore his usually bored expression. The one that normally bothered Sakura, but today, it felt reassuring.
"Don't worry, Sakura. It's just a precaution. He's doing just fine."
She wished she could stop worrying. But she had never seen what happened during Sasuke's last match. She'd been at the hospital with Naho and Naruto. "Sasuke won his match, right? And he wasn't hurt?"
Kakashi nodded. "He'll be discharged tomorrow. And he's well enough that I'll start training him for the tournament."
"We are training again tomorrow?" Naruto interrupted happily. He'd already felt left behind when Naho and Sasuke participated in the exams without him and was now looking forward to going back to his normal daily routine. Training with his friends all day long and then maybe having dinner if they were up for it, that was the life he was looking forward to.
Kakashi hesitated for a moment, before saying, "Sorry, Naruto. The three of you will have to train by yourself for the rest of the week. I want to make sure Sasuke is properly prepared."
Naruto sulked and wanted to complain, but Sakura was quicker.
"The opponents for the tournament have already been drawn, right? Who's Sasuke fighting against?"
Kakashi looked down at her. "Gaara."
"Gaara?" Sakura gasped. "The Kazekage's son who almost killed Lee? And who sent all those other Genin to the hospital with crushed limbs? You can't, Kakashi-sensei. You can't let Sasuke fight against him." Panic spread in her as pictures of Lee's fight with Gaara returned to her. So she pleaded to her teacher to stop Sasuke from continuing with the exams.
"Sakura," Kakashi spoke in a calm, but also cold voice. "When you are a shinobi, you cannot just quit because your opponent seems strong or cruel or dangerous. I know what happened to Lee is awful. But it's reality. If you can't accept it, it might be good that you did not participate in the Chuunin exams."
She stared at him like he had just punched her directly in the face. It wasn't what she'd expected at all.
Naruto stepped up, ready as always to defend his teammate. "Why are you saying something like that, Kakashi-sensei? Sakura is just worried. We all are. That Gaara guy is fucking crazy!"
Naruto went silent. His memories still held the feeling of having his own arms and legs crushed by Gaara. His Shadow Clones had felt it, and it was now part of his memory. That and the lurking darkness inside of him that had lashed out each time he was close to the red haired boy.
"You two should go home. Naho and Sasuke both need rest."
All three of them were depressed for their own reasons. Kakashi left.
Naruto would have been the one to try and cheer Sakura up again, but he too was lost in thought. She noticed.
"You wanted to go on the date with the others, don't you? The one Ino talked about," she said to change the topic to something more cheerful. Her voice was understanding, and instead of a mocking grin, there was a soft smile on her lips. "Let's go together. It might be fun."
"What? No, I don't!" he protested. It worked, and Naruto quickly forgot what he'd been thinking about. "I absolutely don't want to go. I'm sure it'll be boring. I'd rather spent my evening with you and Naho, and Sasuke too."
"You heard Kakashi-sensei, they need rest." They started walking down the hallway of the hospital again. The conversation with their teacher had reminded Sakura that Lee was injured as well, and that he too deserved a get-well-soon-flower.
"There's still a tooon of things I'd rather do than spent my evening with Ino. And you heard her, she didn't even invite me, so even if I did want to go…" Naruto had his arms crossed behind his head, trying to look casual and not invested at all. But Sakura knew him long enough.
She smiled. "That's just Ino. Her niceness is buried beneath a mountain of snarky jokes and mean nicknames. But just because she didn't ask you directly doesn't mean you aren't invited. After all, she knows you belong with me."
Naruto stopped. "I belong with you?"
The air around her changed as she realised that Naruto did not interpret the sentence the way she did. She wanted to punch him, but somehow felt too exhausted. So instead of punching, she just padded his shoulder.
"Like teammates, obviously. We are a team, so you go where I go. That's why we all went into the Forest of Death together, right?"
Sakura continued down the hallway. Naruto ran after her. "Sakura, I…" He wasn't quite sure yet what to tell her when he reached for her hand, but he did so anyway.
His hand never found Sakura's. They'd reached Lee's room and were interrupted by Tenten storming out of the room. She almost crashed into Sakura.
Neji followed, slower, more composed.
"Sorry," she apologised, and quickly wiped over her eyes just to make sure. "How is Naho? I was just on my way to see her."
"She was still sleeping when we visited." Sakura noticed the dark circles around Tenten's eyes and realised that she wasn't the only one who had trouble sleeping last night. She figured the most she could do for her was to follow along with the topic. "But the doctors said that she's fine. Just exhausted from using too much chakra."
Tenten nodded and excused herself. Neji went after her, ignoring both Naruto and Sakura.
Gai was sitting next to Lee's bed. Sakura was relieved when she saw Lee had his eyes open, and was staring out of the window. His teacher was sobbing.
"I brought you a flower," Sakura said and reassigned one of the many flowers she'd brought for Sasuke.
"Thanks, Sakura." The usual enthusiasm in his voice was missing.
"Hey, bushy brow! You look kinda bad, but I gotta say, your fight was pretty cool! You almost had him!" Naruto said with enough enthusiasm for both of them.
It didn't help the gloomy atmosphere in the room. The lights were off and none of the sunshine from outside actually reached inside.
"Naruto, let's leave again. Lee should rest too." She quickly put the flower into a vase and left it at his bedside. Gai thanked her.
She left the room again and dragged Naruto with her. It was almost like he'd been oblivious to all the suffering and darkness. He couldn't understand why they had to leave so abruptly, after all, he wanted to ask Lee about the jutsu he had used in his fight. He wanted to learn it too.
"Let's see if Naho is awake again," Sakura changed the topic. After Sasuke and Lee, she prayed that Naho was awake and well. She needed to see that at least one of them was fine.
Naho's room was at the complete opposite side of the hospital. And all the sunshine that was missing in Lee's room bathed hers instead.
Sakura's heart felt lighter again the moment she saw her teammate smile and greet them.
Naruto too speeded past her and jumped on the chair next to Naho to start a light-hearted chatter.
Sakura decided to leave all the flowers she'd brought for Sasuke in Naho's room. It was a good place for them. They fit right in, and Naho was delighted by the gesture.
They stayed there together, just the three of them, until a nurse came to tell them that visiting hours were over.
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When Kakashi entered the conference room, he wasn't the last to arrive. The Hokage was standing in the front of the room, waiting patiently. Naruto's three Anbu guards were sitting in front of him. None of them was wearing a mask, and it was the first time Kakashi saw all of them in one place. There were no surprises about their identities. Kagura already threw grins over to him again, Komachi he had talked to often before, and the third one, Kosuke, he had figured out long ago as well.
Kosuke was casually leaning back in his chair, looking like he was about to fall asleep. Kagura was resting both elbows on the table in front of her and one could have almost mistaken her for a mere bored student instead of a member of Konoha's special unit. Komachi was the only one who was sitting straight, hands neatly folded in her lap, and her eyes were focused straight ahead.
Kakashi sat down far enough away from them. He definitely wasn't planning on socializing.
It was the third meeting already he had to attend that day. The other two had been emergency meetings because of the Chuunin exams and Orochimaru as well as a potential cooperation between the latter and Sunagakure.
Kakashi suffered from a headache already. The word "war" had been mentioned more than once, and that was something he did not enjoy thinking about. He'd experienced one himself already, and he did not need another. Especially not now that he had four students to worry about. They weren't ready. None of them.
Jiraiya eventually appeared with a smile on his face, almost like he had not been part of the other two meetings as well. He was already on his way to Kakashi when he spotted Kagura and Komachi, and sat down with the Anbu instead, commenting on the beauty of both women, and how he would love to be a Jinchuuriki as well if those two were his guardians.
Kagura wrinkled her nose at him, Komachi told her to just ignore him.
"Now that you are finally here, Jiraiya, I would like to discuss our plan for this week regarding Naruto. Some of his guards have voiced their concerns about his safety."
"He has three guards. Two of which are true beauties. And one of them my trusted student." Jiraiya grinned at both Kagura and Komachi. "Are they not enough to keep him safe?"
"In case you haven't paid any attention at our other meeting today, there is another, potentially hostile, Jinchuuriki in our village. I don't want Naruto to run around in a village infiltrated by Sunagakure, their Jinchuuriki and Orochimaru."
"Watch your choice of words, Komachi. So far, we have no evidence that Sunagakure are plotting against us."
"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage." She slightly bowed. "But even if we disregard the threat of a potential betrayal of Sunagakure, and Orochimaru, whatever he would be plotting. I still do not think that Naruto should be around Gaara. I don't know how, but I feel like Sunagakure's Jinchuuriki is having a negative influence on Naruto and the kyuubi. While Gaara is here in Konoha, I request we find a way to isolate Naruto. He mustn't find out that Gaara is a Jinchuuriki like himself. Not with how unstable the Kazekage's son seems to be."
"Gaara will stay here until the tournament is over. I understand your concern, but I am not sure yet how to isolate Naruto. At least not without the boy noticing." The Hokage was still considering when Komachi's eyes already wandered to Jiraiya.
"You, weren't you supposed to be the godfather? Go take him and go on a holiday."
Jiraiya was taken aback, unsure if she truly meant him or not. "I'm afraid the boy doesn't like me very much."
"How can he dislike you? He is Naruto."
Jiraiya laughed, then shrugged, then laughed again. "I might not be the best with children. I never know what to say and how to act. Maybe I have scared him off a bit because of that."
"You've had Genin before. It's true you might not be the best, but you managed with us. You will too with Naruto."
Kakashi quietly observed the exchange between Komachi and Jiraiya, reluctant to get involved himself. He wondered how someone like Jiraiya could produce a student like Komachi. Their behaviour could not be more different. But then again, it had been the same with Minato.
Jiraiya scratched his head. "You see, Naruto is different. He isn't just a Genin. He's… he's Minato's son. I don't know how to approach him."
Komachi frowned. "Have you tried inviting him to ramen?"
"Komachi is right, Jiraiya. It would be favorable if your relationship to Naruto improved. And I believe it is a good idea that you take additional care of him until the tournament is over. We have to make sure he is safe."
"So what am I ordered to do here exactly?"
"Naruto's safety will be your priority during your stay here in Konoha," the Hokage announced.
"May I voice a suggestion?" Komachi asked, then waited for confirmation from the Hokage. "Today Kakashi promised Sasuke special training. From what I understand, they are leaving Konoha on a training's trip. It is a good way to keep an eye on Sasuke. And it's not hard to tell that Naruto is jealous. So do the same with Naruto." She glanced at Jiraiya. "Tell him you are a legendary shinobi, assigned to teach him. You two can spend the week in the forest as a form of survival training."
Jiraiya was not convinced. But the Hokage liked the woman's suggestion.
Kakashi was just glad that no one asked for his opinion for once. Usually, he was the first person that was called when there were decisions to be made involving Naruto or Sasuke.
"And what if the boy doesn't want to leave the village with me? As I said, he's not too fond of me."
"You will figure something out." The Hokage smiled. "At any rate, from now on Naruto's safety is in your hands. You are all dismissed."
Kakashi pushed himself up. Kagura came over.
"You know, I might not come across like it, but I do have some self-worth buried somewhere. And I don't beg. At least not repetitively. So either you follow me home right now or I want my seal back."
Kakashi's hand vanished in the pockets of his vest, and after a bit of fumbling, he pulled out the seal that Kagura had given him. It was all crinkled, but still intact.
Kagura stared at it for a moment, surprised on the one hand that he actually still carried it with him and disappointed on the other that he decided to give it back.
"I told you this wasn't a good idea. You should be more careful whom you give something like this too."
She quietly nodded and took it back.
Before Kagura could turn away and leave, Kakashi said, "Thank you for taking care of Sasuke today."
"No need to thank me. It's my job."
There was something about her that Kakashi liked. He thought her attractive. And she attended to the safety of one of his students. It put them on the same side of the rope.
But most importantly, she seemed uncomplicated.
"Can I still accompany you home?"
Her eyes slightly parted as she couldn't quite believe her ears. But her usual cheeky grin soon found its way back, and they left together.
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"Jiraiya," the Hokage called and stopped Jiraiya from leaving their meeting when everyone else was gone. "I've found Tsunade. It seems she's living in a city not too far away."
"You were looking for Tsunade?"
The Hokage sat down. He waited for Jiraiya to do so too, but continued when his former student didn't move. "I always thought I had found the best successor I could hope for in Minato. And after his death, I waited for a shinobi of his caliber. I wanted someone like Minato. Someone who was at least his equal, if not more. And now I am old, and when I reflect on my life, I see many faults." He glanced at Jiraiya. "You are the only student I have left, Jiraiya. All the others, I have failed."
Jiraiya frowned, a frown that quickly turned into a mocking grimace. "Geez, what are you getting at, old man? Is this some sort of late midlife crisis?"
The Hokage ignored his comment. "I have sent shinobi to bring Tsunade back. Though I realise this might be the wrong time. Too late. I always prayed she would come back to Konoha one day on her own terms, but… You will protect Naruto during the tournament. But after that, I want you to go and bring Tsunade back. I have a feeling you are the only one who could do that."
Jiraiya scratched his neck. To him, this day was a pain in the ass so far. He didn't know how to approach Naruto, and he certainly did not know how to approach Tsunade. Though he did want both of them in his life.
"Why now?" Jiraiya asked. Tsunade had left before Naruto had even been born.
"I'm not getting any younger, Jiraiya."
"So you are planning on making her Hokage?"
The Hokage fumbled with his robes and pulled out a pipe. He lit it, and offered the first puff to Jiraiya, who gladly accepted. "I'm considering it. Tsunade… I have not seen her in a long time. I don't know what kind of person she is today. But I do remember the little girl that was my student, and that couldn't wait to step into her grandfather's footsteps."
"You know she gave up on that dream a long time ago."
"Some dreams never die. They might get buried beneath our troubles and worries. But true dreams don't just vanish." He took a puff himself, before announcing, "But if Tsunade should truly prove unfit, or unwilling, you, Jiraiya, will be my next choice."
It did not exactly come as a surprise to Jiraiya. He grabbed the pipe and took another deep puff. "I'm not," he driely replied. "I will not become Hokage."
"Then you better make sure Tsunade returns," the Third smiled.
He frowned. "I'm happy I know how to write my name. I'd make an awful Hokage, let's be honest, Hiruzen-sensei. Is there no one else?"
"I have considered Shikadai. He's a smart person. Lazy, but utterly smart. I trust he would do a good job, at least when it comes to political decisions. He would make a good advisor for you or Tsunade. But you, Jiraiya. You achieved your dream already. You became a legendary shinobi. Everyone knows your name. A Hokage has to be like that. A Hokage needs to have made a name for himself. And everyone should respect that name alone."
"If Orochimaru was still here," Jiraiya wondered. "Would you choose him instead?"
"If he was still here, I would consider it, yes. But if he was still here, a lot would be different. If Chiyome was still here, I would…"
Jiraiya interrupted him by turning away and shaking his head. "Let's not."
"You were all my students. And in another world, you would all make fine Hokage. In a world in which I had been a better teacher."
Jiraiya got up, ready to leave. "It wasn't your fault, old man. You were a good teacher. Sometimes, life just doesn't turn out the way we want it to. It's no one's fault." He stopped for a moment as sadness spread on his face. "At least three of your students are still alive. I only have Komachi left."
"Death might have been the better fate for Orochimaru. It could have saved his honour at least. "
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Naruto was shifting his weight from one leg to the other and back again as he waited for Sakura. He wasn't sure yet whether he really wanted to meet all his old classmates, except for Sasuke. Or rather, he wanted to, but going out with a whole group of people made him nervous. He had never been part of big groups. All throughout his Academy years, he had been the one to not get invited to these kinds of events.
Him and Sakura.
Sakura hadn't been like him. She'd had friends. At least the kind of friends who hung out with her during breaks and would sit next to her in classes. Sakura was never the last to be chosen when it came to forming teams. In that regard, she wasn't like him.
Sakura was popular until it came to big group events. As soon as their classmates had to choose between inviting Ino or Sakura, Sakura became a bit more like Naruto.
It was the reason he had always thought they could become friends.
But now Sakura and Ino had somehow buried their year-long feud. Why and how Naruto didn't know.
His nervousness slightly vanished when he saw Sakura approach, but doubled again once he spotted Ino next to her. Suddenly he worried that maybe he wasn't invited after all, and that Ino would yell at him to get lost any minute.
The two girls were laughing and giggling when they arrived next to Naruto, but then quickly stopped. Sakura greeted him nicely, and even Ino threw a hello his way that did not sound mean or angry at all but casual.
It irritated Naruto that she wasn't nagging at him. It was almost like she barely even realised he was there. The two girls walked on ahead to the restaurant where they would meet the others, and were soon chatting happily again.
Naruto watched them while following behind. They were discussing the Chuunin exams and Ino told her friend of everything she had experienced. He had things to say and ask as well. Anything regarding the Chuunin exams interested him. But Ino clearly wasn't speaking to him. And somehow, Naruto could not find the right time or words to join the conversation. Ino and Sakura were their own unit, one he didn't belong to.
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Their meeting at the restaurant was hectic. Everyone greeted everyone and people started to talk to one another, all seemingly random. The space around them was small and Naruto felt pushed from one place to another, until he accidentally bumped into the table of a couple trying to enjoy their meal.
Sakura told him to be more careful.
They sat down. It made Naruto anxious. He felt the urge to jump towards the table to get the best seat, but the best seat was next to Sakura and she was still standing.
It all seemed so natural when the others chose their seats, like they didn't have to think about it at all. Everyone seemed to know their place.
Chouji sat down first and grabbed the menu. Shikamaru slid down the bench next to him and Ino sat next to Shikamaru while simultaneously, Shino and Kiba chose their seats as well.
Sakura then sat next to Ino, but there was no spot left for Naruto on that side of the table.
He was the last one standing, together with Hinata, so he sat down next to her on the two remaining chairs, wondering why Sakura hadn't chosen to sit next to him. Their team was the only one to not sit together, and the only one that had half its members missing.
"Are Sasuke and Naho still in the hospital?" Shikamaru asked Sakura, not Naruto.
Sakura nodded, but told him they'd get discharged in the morning.
Kiba started a conversation that involved Naruto, and Hinata too stumbled a question at him every now and then. But their words barely reached Naruto. He wanted to be part of Sakura's conversation. He felt left out.
It was like there were two groups sitting at the table. Naruto belonged to Team 8, Sakura to Team 10.
"Hey Hinata, I heard your opponent in the tournament is Neji. Are you nervous yet?" Ino eventually asked her across the table and turned the two conversations into one, long after their dinner already arrived.
"I'd eat some more steaks if I were you. Neji is scary." Chouji didn't have a lot to say during dinner. He liked to give all of his attention to the food, making sure he got the best pieces of meat and would savour them properly.
"I saw Neji training on my way here," Shikamaru noted.
Hinata's glance dropped and it was Kiba who answered for her.
"Hinata will be fine. We worked hard all year, so one more evening of training or not doesn't change the fact she's well prepared." He clapped her on the shoulder for support, but Hinata only grew smaller.
"He's a year older though. So he's worked hard for two years now. It's only natural that Neji would be better than her, so don't worry about it Hinata." Ino's words were meant to make Hinata feel better, but they certainly didn't give any confidence to the girl.
Naruto turned to Hinata with an annoyed pout on his lips. "Don't listen to her. You can totally beat Neji. You just need to believe in yourself! I'll definitely be cheering you on in your fight; you are a lot nicer than Neji."
Hinata blushed, and didn't quite know what to say except for a short "thank you."
Choji was munching on a piece of steak as he turned to Ino to continue the conversation. "Also Neji is like a prodigy. He's like Sasuke, only good grades and -"
"Neji is nothing like Sasuke!" Ino yelled at him over their plates and Choji almost choked on his meat. "Neji is super arrogant, and he doesn't even belong to the main family of his clan. Sasuke on the other hand just makes the perfect husband for a young and beautiful clan heiress like myself." Her voice became softer when talking about Sasuke, and her cheeks blushed as she giggled to herself.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, Choji murmured a short comment about Ino looking crazy.
The table fell quiet. Not even Sakura had the energy to stand up to Ino. Talking about Sasuke only made her sad and worried.
Naruto noticed, and he blamed Ino. So he put on a confident grin, and raised his empty fork at Ino. His voice was full of spite when he challenged her. "Does Sasuke even know you exist? 'Cause I spent the last few months with him and he's never even mentioned you."
Ino crossed her arms at him. "He'll realise eventually that I am the best and only option. I mean, I am the only clan heiress who's his age. Apart from Hinata, but we all know the Hyuuga won't marry an Uchiha."
Hinata cringed at her words. It made her remember the reality of her clan.
"Who cares about your stupid clan talk? I don't, and neither does Sasuke." Naruto continued their argument. He was now yelling across the table. Other people eating in the restaurant turned their heads towards them, but Naruto barely cared about that. "You are just an arrogant hag who thinks she's so great. But actually you annoy everyone here!"
"Hey you two, let's calm down. People are already staring at us," Sakura tried, addressing both of them at the same time.
Ino laughed. Sakura's words barely even reached her. "I'm annoying everyone? Have you ever looked into a mirror? You think clan affairs are stupid because you don't understand them. You might be a Hokage's son, but you have no idea about anything." Shikamaru tried to calm her down as well, but that made her only more furious. "You weren't even good enough to participate in the Chuunin exams, so don't act like you know Sasuke so well. He'd be better off on my team!"
Naruto clenched his teeth and dove his hand into the plate full of fermented cabbage. He grabbed some, pressed it in his hand, and then threw it across the table right at Ino.
Ino screamed, and so did Sakura who sat right next to her.
"I can show you how good I am right here and now! Once I'm Hokage, you will realise that everything you said today is just full of garbage."
Ino jumped up, hitting the table in the process. The cups and glasses wobbled dangerously, but Ino didn't care about that. "Are you retarded? This is my favourite dress!"
Ino was about to crawl over the table to inflict physical injury upon Naruto. What exactly she was going to do, she didn't know yet. But Sakura held her back, and so did Shikamaru. She yelled at them to let go of her when suddenly, the owner of the restaurant stood in front of them.
A minute later, the fight between Ino and Naruto was over, and the Genin stood outside. The door fell shut right behind them.
"I can't believe they threw us out. Are you two happy now?" Sakura snarled at them, and for a moment, Shikamaru feared she would now join the fight as well.
"I wasn't finished eating yet, Ino," Choji complained. He walked over to the window, and looked inside with a sad look on his face.
"You two really are acting like children," Kiba commented, trying his best to sound all wise and grown up.
Naruto and Ino exchanged dark glares. A small spark would have been enough to light their fight anew.
But slowly, the cold outside air managed to cool Naruto's head down. He noticed now that his hand was sticky and smelled of old cabbage. Ino had the same stuff sticking to her dress, and Naruto was slightly proud of himself.
Then his eyes fell on Sakura, who helped her friend clean it up with a paper towel.
"I can't believe Naruto ruined my dress. It was a new one as well," Ino complained, but she wasn't looking at Naruto anymore.
"So, is this evening over already? We didn't even make it to dessert," Kiba asked.
Ino looked up at him, thinking. "We could get a takeaway somewhere. I need to go home and change, but I don't think my parents would mind if we ate at my place."
Naruto felt like someone punched him right in the stomach. He could see where this was going. Everyone around Ino started nodding. Everyone was about to go to Ino's place. And he'd be the only one left behind.
His mind raced to find an excuse to tell before it became apparent that he would not be invited.
Hinata was quicker this time, and asked, "Is Naruto-kun coming too?" The question was directed at Ino, but she shyly glanced at the boy.
Ino did not look amused. "I don't know. Are you coming too, Naruto?"
He didn't know what her question was supposed to mean. But it didn't matter. Naruto had already concluded that he wasn't going.
"You know, I still have stuff to do today. Important stuff. I don't want to waste my time hanging out at Ino's place. But I hope you guys have fun."
He immediately turned around on his heels and left. He didn't want to see their reactions. This way, he could at least pretend they were disappointed that he left.
He walked down the road he'd come from, kicking away stones that were in his way. Something told him that the rest of his week would look exactly like this. Him, alone. Without his team, there was not much left for him.
"Naruto!"
The voice was familiar, and when he turned around, he saw Sakura running at him.
"What are you doing? Don't you want to come with us to Ino's place?"
Naruto crossed his arms behind his head. He wanted to give off a casual impression again. "Not really. I'd just end up throwing more food at her because she keeps pissing me off."
"Come on, Naruto. She's not that bad. Just… don't start arguing with her all the time."
"Why? How come you like her again all of a sudden. You two hated each other for years."
Sakura touched a strain of her short hair. "Ino and I… I guess it was my fault we stopped being friends. Not hers. I felt a bit…" Sakura blushed and took a moment to consider whether she really wanted to share this. "I went invisible next to her. She helped me so much that I didn't know whether I could actually do anything myself. And so one day I decided that I'd live my own life." She shook her head, smiling. "But really, this doesn't matter. Let's just go back to the others."
Ino approached them. As soon as she saw the two, she stopped and called over, "Are you two coming or not?"
"See? She's asking you too."
Naruto looked at Ino, then at Sakura, and shook his head. He had not felt like he belonged at any point throughout the evening. He wanted it to stop.
"You go. I still need to buy groceries before the shops close."
Naruto turned away. He heard Sakura explain to Ino that they wouldn't come, and in the next moment, Sakura was right next to him.
"Mind if I join you then?"
Naruto didn't understand. "But everyone else is going to Ino's."
She sighed. "I guess I'm still too worried about Sasuke to enjoy myself anyway. Besides, it feels wrong to have fun while he and Naho are still in the hospital."
Naruto wasn't quite convinced yet, but he didn't stop her from walking next to him.
"But you really shouldn't have thrown fermented vegetables at her, Naruto. That stuff stinks."
Naruto pouted and his hands vanished in his pockets. "I think she deserved it," he shortly declared.
"For what?"
Naruto stopped so he could look at her. "Ino is always the centre of attention, no matter where she goes. It's been like that all throughout our Academy years and it was the same tonight as well. Doesn't that piss you off? You said so yourself, you become invisible next to her. So do I. It's stupid and you shouldn't be friends with her."
Sakura was a bit taken aback by his words, at how angry he was.
"She already has everyone on her side, and now she is trying to take Sasuke from us. And you too. You sat next to her, not me. Why?"
She stared at him. Naruto stared at his feet and pretended to find that one twig lying on the ground utterly interesting so he wouldn't have to look at her.
"Naruto, you are my teammate. And my friend. But Ino is my friend too. I spent most of my day with you already. I wanted to chat a bit with Ino too."
"She doesn't need you."
"That's not how friendship works."
Naruto chose to stay quiet until they reached a grocery shop. He could tell that somehow Sakura disagreed with him, and that he didn't want. Yet he couldn't understand her point. Because what was friendship anyway?
Sakura observed Naruto as he put instant ramen after instant ramen into his shopping bag, followed by some potato chips and bread.
"This is what you eat all day, huh? Please tell me you at least cook something healthy once a week."
He blinked at her. "I don't cook."
"Come on, Naruto. No one can survive eating only this food! Now I know why you want to eat out every day after practice." She considered for a moment, then an idea came to her. "Hey, how about we have our own little celebration after the tournament is over? I'm sure Sasuke is busy until then, but once it's over, we could all meet up and cook dinner together. I can show you some easy recipes."
Naruto instantly loved the idea. "Like a pyjama party at someone's house?"
She nodded. Naruto's eyes sparkled. He had never been to one of those.
"If you promise that the next time I spent time with Ino, you will not throw cabbage at her. I'm the only one who's allowed to do that, okay?"
"Deal," he said, and they continued their shopping trip together.
.
.
A/N:
Anyone else here up for a good Naruto&Sakura friendship? Because I definitely am! ... so there might be more of that in the future!