On one summer eve
By cs-ayeka
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Chapter 4
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What a beautiful day in Konohagakure no Sato even the Rokudaime couldn't agree more. Naruto woke up in an early start. He had the greatest dream the Kyuubi could give. It was something about his red-eyed angel.
Red
The thought of the color was making him smile. He couldn't help but to chuckle the first time they've met. It was the first time he'd seen those beautiful red eyes.
Naruto was currently walking at the streets of Konoha. Some people were greeting him while some smiled at his presence. He grown accustomed to this kind of treatment since he became a Hokage.
Naruto walked but then stopped.
He was in front of a flower shop then there he saw again the color… red.
He walked inside the said flower shop.
"Oh hey, Naruto, how's it doing?" The cashier asked. It was Yamanaka Ino, daughter of the owner of the flower shop. Beside her was Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chouji, the former Ino-Shika-Cho.
"Ohayo Ino-chan, do you have any red flowers?" Naruto asked.
"We have plenty… wait, stop, rewind! Red flowers?" Ino said. She looked at the Rokudaime who was smiling then her line of sight turn to Chouji who was whistling.
"Say… Naruto, where'd you taken her after dinner?" Chouji asked.
This caused Ino to look at both shinobis frankly. "You went on a date, Naruto? With who come on tell us!" Ino said as sheexited the cashier's counter. She was shaking the said male blonde just to get an answer.
"Ino, stop that!" Chouji said as he tried to separate the female blonde away from Naruto.
"Troublesome" Shikamaru said.
Naruto sighed and looked at his friends. "Fine" He said. "Her name is Yuuhi Kurenai…" But before he could continue, Ino-Shika-Cho, yes including Shikamaru, shouted. "WHAT?"
"So… about that red flowers?" Naruto asked.
"You dated K-K-K-Kurenai-san? 'The' Yuuhi Kurenai. 'The' Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha. 'The'…" Ino said but was cut off by Naruto.
"Yes I did. Now, about the flowers…" Naruto said.
"Right!" Ino said with cheerfulness in her voice.
"I advice you to give her these" Ino said as she pointed out a bucket of red roses.
"Yosh! Give me two dozen." Naruto said.
"Wow Naruto, that's a lot… that's really sweet of you unlike someone that I know…" Ino said as she sends a glare at Shikamaru.
"What?" Shikamaru asked.
"How come you never gave me flowers?" Ino asked.
"Because you practically live inside a flower shop…" Shikamaru replied.
"Hn…" Ino crossed her arms.
"Troublesome" Shikamaru said.
"A-ano… the flowers please." Naruto said.
Without any delay, Ino worked with the flowers. She wrapped it with different wrappers with different shades of red. Once she was done, she gave it to Naruto. "That will be 1,500.00 ryou." Ino said as she pressed the amount to the machine.
/Ding/
Naruto gladly paid for the flowers and walked out the said flower shop. 'Now… for the surprise' He thought. Unknown to Naruto, there were people looking at him. Some were dazed seeing him, carrying a bouquet of flowers. It was just as lovely as the others, mainly women, thought.
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Currently at the Hokage tower, Yuuhi Kurenai was scribbling at a not-so-blank paper. Her eyes were not even focused on the said paper. She had been scribbling for almost 30 minutes.
"Hey what do you think happened to her?" Kakashi whispered to his fellow jounin, Asuma, who apparently had been staring at the said woman not even hearing Kakashi's question.
Asuma looked at Kakashi. "Huh?" He said.
"And what happened to you?" Kakashi asked at the tired looking Tokubetsu jounin, Mitarashi Anko.
Anko didn't look back. "Too many brats… can't evade…" She said as she slumped on her desk.
'What the heck happened to everyone?' Kakashi thought. He had the urge to ask everyone until… he noticed a man, carrying a bouquet of red roses. Even Anko and Asuma noticed the said man. The three of them namely, Anko, Asuma, and Kakashi, hid themselves. They saw the said man walking to Kurenai's desk.
"Probably just a delivery" Kakashi whispered.
"A delivery, from whom?" Asuma asked.
"Will you two keep quiet?" Anko said.
Meanwhile…
"Special delivery for Kurenai-chan." The man said.
"Drop the henge, Naruto." Kurenai said with a stern tone.
"Someone woke up at the wrong side of the bed, what's wrong Kurenai-chan?" Naruto asked.
Kurenai looked at him as if Naruto was born yesterday. "Your fiancée introduced her self to me yesterday." Kurenai said.
'WHAT!' (Anko, Asuma, and Kakashi)
Naruto looked down. "Oh… what else did she told you?" He said.
"Nothing much just the part that the both of you are gonna get married." Kurenai said.
Naruto sneered which automatically made Kurenai's brow raise up. "Is that so?" Naruto said. Once again Kurenai kept her brow up but suddenly Naruto pulled her wrist and ran off to find this fiancée of his, Sabaku no Temari.
On the third floor corridor, they found Temari. It's like as if she's been there all along, waiting. "Ohayo, Anata." Temari said with a smile. She looked at the woman behind her fiancée, Yuuhi Kurenai. "Ohayo, Yuuhi-san. How is your son?"
Kurenai looked at Temari with wide eyes. 'Where was this conversation heading to?' Kurenai thought.
"May I ask who his father is, Yuuhi-san?" Temari said.
At this point, Kurenai let herself go from Naruto. He looked at her, she was practically calling for help with those eyes but it never came. Temari was drilling her… verbally.
"Temari stop!" Naruto warned.
"No I will not! Can't you see, Naruto-kun, she's using you!" Temari said.
"No she can't be…" Naruto looked at Kurenai who was still speechless. "Is that true, Kurenai-chan?" Naruto asked.
Kurenai looked at him tears welling up to her eyes. But before she could answer, Temari interrupted. "Look at her! She can't even tell you who's the father of her son is! Come on, Naruto-kun!" Temari said as she pulled away Naruto away from Kurenai.
He kept looking back waiting for her answer but it never came.
He wanted to console her as he saw her cry alone.
He wanted to be there with her.
She wanted to scream her answer.
She wanted to tell him the truth.
She needed him now.
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Kurenai walked back to the office area. By the time she walked inside the room, everybody was looking at her. It was like she was broken, literally. Anko walked up to her. The moment Kurenai saw Anko she breakdown crying.
"What's wrong?" Anko asked. She was trying to calm her best friend, Kurenai. 'Something might have happened awhile ago.' She thought.
"He… h-h-h-h-he…" Kurenai stuttered between sobs.
"He what, Kurenai?" Anko asked.
"Naruto's engage…" Kurenai said.
But before Anko could ask how or why, someone interrupted her. "YOSH! THE POWERS OF YOUTH IS BLAZING UPON OUR BELOVED HOKAGE AND HIS BELOVED SOON TO BE WIFE…"
"SHUT UP, GAI!" Everybody was surprised to see Kakashi enrage but then dismissed it.
"I don't get it… why are you so angry about Naruto-sama and Sabaku no Temari's engagement?" Asuma asked.
Anko and Kakashi just looked at him as if Asuma was born with three heads. 'Isn't it obvious?' They both thought.
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It has been two weeks since the unwanted encounter. Both Naruto and Kurenai hadn't talked with each other. They will just glance at each other whenever they crossed paths, whenever Kurenai walks inside Naruto's office for a mission report, whenever Naruto himself looks for the ninjas needed in a certain mission. It was just that fast glance they shared.
Everybody in the Hokage Tower noticed the slight changes between the two. They couldn't help but to compare them.
Both sleep during work.
Both scribble during free time.
Both walk around the corridors to stretch.
Both slouch at their desk.
Both stare at nothingness.
Both don't eat during lunch.
Some even thought they were sick or something. But even if they were, why was that illness infected just the both of them? As the other ninjas thought. Even the Godaime Hokage, Tsunade, and her team mate, Jiraiya, were suspecting so many things between the two.
Tsunade remembered before Naruto went to train with Jiraiya, Naruto was found at Tea Village, Kurenai's home village to be exact.
'Did something happen six years ago?' Tsunade thought. She was currently walking at the third floor of the Hokage Tower until…
/Thud/
Tsunade looked around. She was surprised to see a small boy six years old probably. "G-g-g-gomen na sai…" She heard him say.
"Oh hello, are you lost?" Tsunade asked.
The boy shook his head and said. "No"
"Are you looking for your Mommy?" Tsunade asked again.
Once again the boy shook his head in response.
'Wait a minute! Isn't he the boy Naruto bumped into?' Tsunade Thought. "What's your name?" Tsunade asked.
"Yuta… Yuuhi Yuta." Yuta said.
'Yuuhi?' Tsunade thought but then she asked. "Any relation to Yuuhi Kurenai?" Tsunade asked.
Yuta nodded and said. "She's my Mommy."
The statement hit like a chidori to Tsunade. Everything fitted together, according to her. She was seeing, blue eyes and black spiky hair. 'Could it be this boy?' Tsunade thought.
"A-ano… are you alright?" Yuta asked the woman who hadn't stood up from the fall.
"I'm fine. Say… what are you doing here, anyways?" Tsunade asked.
"I'm looking for Naruto-san but he wasn't in his office." Yuta said.
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At the Yamanaka flower shop…
Yuuhi Kurenai walked inside the said flower shop. She was going to buy flowers for her best friend who apparently got injured during a mission. She was thankful that it was just a minor injury.
"Ah… Kurenai-san, what may I help you with?" Ino asked, trying to block her view.
Ino didn't have to do it actually, Kurenai already saw it the moment she entered the flower shop, Temari holding Naruto's arm. "Just give me a dozen of purple tulips, Ino-san." Kurenai said.
"Can I ask who is it for?" Ino said.
"It's for Anko. She's at the hospital but she's fine now. Actually, she can go out there now." Kurenai said.
"Anata, what flowers will be best for our wedding?" Temari asked, making her presence known.
"Just choose. I'm not really good with this." Naruto said.
/Ding/ Flowers purchased.
"You're getting married, Naruto?" Ino asked.
"Yes in three days time." Naruto said, plainly.
"Wow… I mean just wow… you're getting married wow." Ino said still disbelieving.
"Yamanaka-san, I think Yuuhi-san is waiting for the flowers." Temari said.
"Right" Ino said. She just gave the bouquet of flowers to Kurenai. She couldn't help but to feel a little sorry for the Jounin. Did something happen? Two weeks ago Naruto was happy when he bought two dozen of roses and now he's all gloomy. It must be an arranged marriage. Besides, Naruto will never cheat on someone, not that I really know him, closely. But still… he couldn't be.
"Um… Father, could you please assist… I'm sorry what was your name? I'm afraid Naruto didn't talk about you that much or maybe I just missed that part." Ino said. She looked at Naruto who had a slight smile on his face. "Sorry Naruto."
"You're forgiven, Ino-chan. By the way, this is Sabaku no Temari. She's the Kazekage's sister." Naruto said.
"I see… Temari-san, Father here is great with flowers. I'll just borrow Naruto for awhile." Ino said. She quickly pulled/semi-dragged the Rokudaime at the back of their shop.
"Spill it, Naruto." Ino said.
"It's an arranged marriage. Gaara did it to strengthen the ties between Suna and Konoha. Gaara chose me since I was the only guy he could trust with his sister." Naruto said.
"So what will happen if you don't marry Temari? You only got three days before you say 'I do', Naruto."
"I… I don't know what will happen. My time is simply fading fast, Ino… I don't know what to do." Naruto said.
"Since when does Uzumaki Naruto give up? Don't tell me you've already given up on Kurenai-san too?" Ino said.
"Of course not!" Naruto immediately shot back.
Ino just smiled back in response. "There's maybe some hope for you, Naruto." Ino said.
"Thanks, Ino." Naruto said.
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7:00 o'clock stated Naruto's clock. It had been a long night doing all the preparations for a short notice wedding. Naruto was currently walking at the Hokage Tower, third floor to be exact. He thanked Ino's interference that time. If it wasn't for her he would have stayed with Temari long. He could still remember Ino's voice saying that if Temari will see Naruto picking his wedding suit there will be bad luck or so on and so forth.
"Troublesome" He said.
/Thud/
"Ugh… my back…" Naruto said.
"G-g-g-g-gomen na sai…" A voice said.
"K-K-K-K-Kurenai-chan?" Naruto asked as he helped the said woman up.
Kurenai took it not even noticing that it was really Naruto. "Naru… I mean Hokage-sama?" Kurenai said.
"You don't really have to be so formal, Kurenai-chan." Naruto said.
"Have you seen Yuta-kun around? I've been looking for him ever since he was dismissed at the academy and I checked there but he wasn't there they told me that he went here. I… I…" Kurenai said not even taking a single pause.
"Kurenai calm down, I'm sure he'll be fine." Naruto said.
Unknown to them there were people watching their conversation. It was Tsunade, Shizune, and Jiraiya. They've been watching/spying on Kurenai who apparently hadn't realized she was being spied on.
"How can I calm down when Yuta-kun could be hurt? Kurenai said.
"I'd take his word for it if I were you." A voice rang.
It was Tsunade; behind her were Shizune and Jiraiya.
"Godaime-sama?" Kurenai said.
"I'll leave the both of you alone." Tsunade said but before she could go, she looked at Naruto and said. "Why won't the both of you go at your office?" Tsunade said with a 'wink'.
Both Kurenai and Naruto were looking confused at the previous Hokage. 'What's with the wink?' They thought.
When Tsunade and the others were gone, Naruto and Kurenai went to Naruto's Office. Seeing it was the best place to think, why not? By the time they got there, Naruto was the first one to enter, then came Kurenai. Naruto walked pass the couch, he signalled Kurenai to be quiet. Kurenai was wondering 'what on Konoha's name is Naruto thinking at a time like this?' Her train of thoughts were cut when she saw Naruto seated next to a sleeping Yuta.
"Don't wake him up yet." Naruto whispered.
Kurenai nodded in response, she just seated to the other side of the couch.
"You know… I don't really care if Yuta is your son or not. What I care the most is that I love you, Kurenai." Naruto said.
Kurenai was taken off guard. Well not exactly, she was frozen by those words. She wanted to hear those words coming from his lips. And six years was a long wait. Was she gonna tell him about Yuta-kun? 'Oh Kami' Kurenai thought.
"He is yours, Naruto. Yuta-kun is our son." Kurenai said more like a whisper.
She could see his surprised/shocked look on his face. "What? Were you expecting six years ago that it was just a one night stand?" Kurenai asked.
"Wha- no of course not!" Naruto said.
"Then what?" Kurenai replied.
But before Naruto could reply, Kurenai cut in. "You know what forget what I've said!" Kurenai said as she carried the sleeping Yuta by her arms, leaving Naruto alone in his office.
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Disclaimer: Naruto™ is not mine.
