Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this innocuous interlude. Oodles of respect for Masashi Kishimoto, the creative force behind Naruto. Please do have patience with me and with the ninja who's greatly missed.

FIVE: HEALTHY APPETITE

The three of them loitered in one of the tide pools, the resort's final stage in the pampering process. Iruka wasn't sure if the rosy cast to his skin was from too much sun or all the scouring. But the warm water felt soft, and his muscles went limp.

"Anyone else hungry?" drawled Kisame.

"Starved."

"I know a place."

Iruka shook his head. "Not a bar …?"

"Not this time."

He hummed and forced his eyes open. His companions were similarly sprawled in clear, shallow water. Other guests were giving them a wide berth, gravitating to some of the larger pools further along the beach. No surprise there. But Iruka was a little surprised to find both of them staring.

Wonderful.

Iruka let his eyes close again and tried not to think about the fact that he was about as vulnerable as a man could be. And being ogled.

Kisame sloshed to his feet and bent to offer Iruka a hand. "They have towels and robes. Then food."

Itachi was already out of the water, a towel over his head as he knotted the belt on a robe. They reclaimed their clothes, and Iruka stepped into his sandals. As they slowly made toward their inn's back entrance, he wished their weren't quite so many stairs in his near future. Not that he couldn't use the work-out. But … how would Itachi fare?

"Take him," ordered Itachi. "I can follow."

"Wha–?" was all Iruka managed before he was pulled into a grinning Kisame's chest.

The flex of forearms and slight jostling of clasped hands at Iruka's back told him that Kisame was forming seals. Chakra swelled, and they were carried off by a teleportation jutsu, which dissipated in a swirl of mist.

Iruka managed a soft, "Oh."

They were back in their suite. A moment later, Itachi appeared. Instead of Konoha's signature leaves, his jutsu dispelled with a handful of black feathers.

Iruka murmured, "Oh, my."

Kisame grinned down on him. "Impressed?"

"I am." He shook his head and laughed breathlessly. "Ninja arts?"

"Just the basics, really." The Mist nin gripped Iruka's shoulder, then clumsily patted his cheek. "Rest up a bit, then I'll take you to dinner."

Itachi appeared at his side, proffering a water bottle. "Drink."

Iruka thanked them warmly, retreated to his room, and firmly slide the door shut.

No lock. As if such things mattered against ninja.

He turned and started, then covered his face with both hands. "Ninja arts?" he inquired softly.

"Hmm," agreed Itachi.

"Did you need something more?"

The younger man held up a squat pot of salve. "He was too rough with you. There are abrasions."

"Where?" Iruka checked his arms, kicked out a leg.

"Lie down," Itachi ordered.

What else could he do? Maybe Itachi wanted to impart his message immediately?

But all Itachi did was fold aside Iruka's robe in order to apply the ointment, which didn't have much in the way of scent, but it cooled and soothed. When he was done, Itachi simply lay alongside him on the single bed, face to face.

"Thanks," Iruka whispered.

"Hmm."

"I could sleep."

Itachi murmured, "Then sleep."

"Too hungry," he admitted. "Aren't you?"

"Not especially." Red suffused his eyes, and tomoe reeled lazily. "Sleep."


Iruka woke when a big hand closed around his ankle.

"Look at you two," grumbled Kisame, who prodded Itachi's foot next. "You know I can tell you from your clones, right?"

"No, you can't," Itachi countered, eyes still closed.

Kisame snorted. But then he asked, "You guys okay?"

"Do not fuss."

"Who's fussing? I'm hungry enough to eat both of you. Dress so we can go."

Itachi opened his eyes.

Kisame's gaze slid sideways. "Or I can bring something, if that's what you want."

Iruka sat up and raised a hand. "I am trusting you to lead us to good food in great quantity."

"Can do. So stop lollygagging in bed."

Itachi rolled gracefully to his feet and glided out without a backward glance. Iruka dressed in the clothes he'd prepared for this mission. Indeed, some pieces were the same soft, well-worn, ordinary things he'd worn in the mountain village. They were like old friends. And they brought back good memories.

In a way, they helped him slide back into his role. A civilian with a weak constitution, who happened to make a few friends while away from home, hitting it off well enough to want to meet up again. To relax in good company.

When Iruka emerged, Kisame lounged against the wall by the door. "About time," he grumbled.

"Sorry."

Hesitating a beat, Kisame ordered, "Lemme know if anyone gives you the eye. Like earlier."

"I will." Glad of back-up, Iruka added, "Thanks."


The restaurant wasn't far, and it wasn't a bar. Though they did serve liquor, and Kisame called for hot sake.

Iruka had a hard time feigning a poor appetite, but Kisame kept ordering more, assuring him that the sea air could make a man hungry. Itachi nursed a cup of tea and tasted anything Iruka slid onto his plate, but he seemed distracted.

"So when's my drinking buddy due?"

"Tomorrow." Iruka knew he'd told them before, but conversation was flagging without the garrulous photojournalist to liven things up.

Kisame's smile turned sly. "We'll take good care of you until that guy makes his entrance."

Iruka managed a wan smile and focused on a dish of crisp fried squid that their server brought. So he was lost in his own thoughts when someone leaned against the back of his chair and cheerfully asked, "What kind of entrance am I meant to make?"

He turned, startled and stammering, to stare up at the familiar rumpled hair, clay brown eyes, and purple tattoos. "Y-you're early!"

"So are you." Sliding into the seat next to Iruka's, he greeted Kisame and Itachi and flagged down a server to take his order before turning the full force of his attention back on Iruka. "Did you miss me?"

"More than I'll admit." Iruka really hoped the others couldn't tell how giddy he felt.

Kisame drawled, "You left him all on his lonesome, where just anyone could snatch him up. Good thing we were here."

He regaled Sukea with a moderately exaggerated version of Iruka's near-miss with a would-be stalker, with most of the emphasis on Kisame's superiority in any competition. Which brought on an entirely predictable drinking challenge.

"Oh, you're on, but not tonight." Looping an arm around Iruka's shoulders, Sukea reeled him in and dropped a casual kiss in the vicinity of his temple. "Long day. Early bedtime. I hope you understand."


End Note: originally posted on October 20, 2021. 1,101 words.

Author's Note: It's release week for the fifth book in my original series, the Amaranthine Saga. If you find you like my writing, I hope you'll check it out! ::twinkle::