Shikamaru groaned as he checked his watch while walking up the main roads in the village. He'd question all the shinobi who'd reviewed the crime where the Sun King and his wife had unfortunately lost their lives. All answers the men and women could provide matched what was inside the files he'd reviewed before leaving the Hokage building. All points on paper pointed toward him overthinking the events leading to Naruto and the others leaving earlier this morning. But he'd already gone this far into looking into this issue which meant he'd need to look into this himself.
The barbecue restaurant appeared in his vision; he approached the business and entered, finding just who he was looking for. Choji waited patiently for his order to come to the table as he lightly drummed on the wood with his knuckles. With a smile from ear to ear, Choji honestly looked at peace. Shikamaru felt a little guilty coming to tell him that they'd be heading out of the village in the morning based on an idea he couldn't let go of in his mind.
Choji's eyes widened slightly when he saw his best friend approaching the table, and he stopped drumming and waved toward him. "Sup Shikamaru, you coming to join me for some barbecue?"
Shikamaru smirked and sat across from him at the table. "Yeah, if you don't mind."
"So, Kakashi, sorry, Lord Sixth told me that you might have a mission for me to go on with you. Is that true?" Choji asked curiously.
Shikamaru sighed and nodded. "Yeah, sorry to drag you into this, Choji. I know it's troublesome."
Choji shrugged, still smiling. "As long as you know we're not leaving right now, we're fine."
Shikamaru chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. "I know better than to interrupt barbecue time. Speaking of which, I better order something when the waitress arrives with your order."
Choji chuckled and took a drink of water from the cup sitting in front of him. He sat the cup down and leaned on the table when he finished. "Alright, so tell me what's on your mind. And who all is coming on this mission with us?"
Shikamaru closed his eyes, massaged his temples, and sighed before looking at Choji again. "So our group will be us, of course. And team eight. They're the best tracking, and what I have in mind for what we'll be doing tomorrow might make you all think I've lost it."
Choji shook his head, unbothered by this. "If it's bothering you this bad, I don't think it's something we should take lightly. Plus, Ino's wrapped up in this now too. So, if something can help her, we should check it out!"
Shikamaru smiled, glad his friend had his back no matter what. "Thanks, Choji; let's hope the others feel the same way."
The waitress came with a large tray of an array of meats. She looked relieved to set the tray down in front of Choji and then turned to Shikamaru.
"Hi, what can I get for you?" She asked.
Shikamaru placed his order and ordered something strong for them to drink together as Choji began grilling the meat he'd ordered.
Naruto and his team landed outside the forest they'd traveled through to a wide-open area. It was green plains as far as the eye could see, with a dirt-beaten road leading to a village in the distance. Naruto let Toshiro down after he requested to walk with the adults, he dismissed the clone, and together they began walking down the road. A smile appeared on his face as a memory came to mind. Walking along a long road like this reminded him of traveling with Jiraiya when he was younger. His Godfather and former master had a special place in his heart that he'd look to fondly in his memory from time to time.
It'd been so long since he'd had an opportunity to go on a mission like this. Of course, Naruto, like everyone else, was thankful and glad for this somewhat peaceful time. But he'd missed this part of being a Ninja, traveling outside the village, and being out on the road. It was moments like this, a thrill of adventure and seeing new places, that put a smile on his face. He put his hands behind his head, relaxing as he led the group down the road.
He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't see Sakura looking up at him. She smiled as she watched him as she was somewhat waiting for his signature grin to appear on his face. She decided to stay quiet and allow him to relax as they walked. Behind them, Toshiro was busy asking Sai questions about art and drawing which Sai happily answered as it wasn't often someone took an interest in his craft so enthusiastically.
After about an hour of walking, the group made it to the village. Streamers were hung from the tops of buildings, and unlit metal lanterns were from above. Men and women dressed in yukata and children walked up and down the main road. Stalls of vendors were lined up next to one after the other as owners called to the walking people to come and visit their stand. Musicians performed live, providing music to the festival as they stopped and watched as they performed. Delicious smells of fried foods and desserts and games being played let them know that they'd come during a festival of some sort.
"Hello, visitors!" A man said, approaching them. He was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline dressed and black and yellow yukata. He reached into the basket he held in his hand and threw confetti into the air.
Naruto smiled and took the lead to speak with him as he was the leader of this mission. "Hey, so you all have a festival going on?"
"Oh yes," The man said, smiling. "It's our village's dream festival! You've come at a most splendid time! Are you looking for a place to stay for the night?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes, but if this festival is going on, your hotels are probably booked, right?"
"Not quite! We happen to have a large hot spring hotel resort in our village. And we've redone our recent constructions to the building. Today is the start of the festival, so we're expecting more visitors tomorrow. I can show you all to the resort?"
Naruto grinned then. "Oh boy, that'd be great!"
Sakura looked back at Ino and Sai with a raised eyebrow. They, too, looked a little weary at this man's generosity but decided to go along with it for the moment. The group began traveling down the main road while looking at the festival.
Toshiro was completely surprised by everything that was going on. As a Prince, he wasn't allowed to go to festivals in the Sun Kingdom as he had to behave and stay by his father or mother. He'd watch as people would laugh and have fun enjoying time with their families. He always wished to go out to the stalls like the other children and have fun with their parents.
"Daddy, can we play this game!" A little boy asked his father.
Toshiro stopped walking as he looked at the boy and his father. The man knelt to his son and patted his head with a grin.
"Of course, we can, son! Your old man's going to show you how it's done!" The man said happily before holding up his arm and flexing his right bicep for his son to show him his strength.
They began to walk away, and Toshiro frowned, looking down at his feet. Ino noticed that Toshiro had stopped walking with them, and she'd seen everything that Toshiro had seen. Ino put her hands on Toshiro's shoulders, and he looked up at her. Tears had fallen from his eyes, and she wiped them softly.
"I know exactly how you feel. I miss my father too." She said softly with a smile. "How's about after we get to the resort, I'll see if I can convince Sai to take us out here to play some festival games?"
Toshiro's eyes widened. "Really?"
She grinned and nodded, standing up and holding her hand out for him to take. He took it, and together they followed behind the others who'd slowed down for them to catch up. When they arrived at the hotel, Naruto reserved a large room for them to share. There were two areas for sleeping, and futons would be added for the women in their area and other futons for the men in their area. There was a large community area along with a table for them to dine at, surrounded by pillows to sit on. The group quickly settled in and gathered at the table, sitting on the multi-color pillows that rested on the tatami flooring.
"Alright, day one wasn't quite so bad, y'know," Naruto said. "But one thing is for all should take a moment to rest and relax while we're here."
Ino smiled and nodded in agreement. "I completely agree! That is why Sai and I are going to take Toshiro to the festival to play games!"
Sai looked shocked at her announcement. Ino smiled apologetically in his direction, but after seeing Toshiro cry earlier, she hoped he'd go along with it and apologize for putting him on the spot later.
Sakura smiled at hearing this announcement. "That'd be great! Toshiro, you might be able to win some nice prizes with Ino and Sai's help!"
Toshiro grinned as his eyes lit up. "There are prizes?"
"Yes," Sakura said happily. "In some games, you get to win a prize! At least that's how most festivals go back in Konoha."
Sai frowned; he was ready to take a bath, eat, and go to sleep after a day worth of travel and defeating an enemy ninja already. But suddenly, Naruto, sitting next to him, leaned closer, covering his mouth with his hand.
"Sai, do me a favor and go with them!" Naruto whispered.
Sai's frown deepened. "Why,"
"Because I'd like to have some alone time with my fiancé, y'know! Look, I'll owe you one please?" Naruto begged.
Sai sighed and stood up from the table. "Alright, let's go out to the festival."
Ino grinned, and Toshiro cheered happily, sitting between Ino and Sakura. His reaction made Sai smile a little, and both he and Ino took some of the money Kakashi had given Naruto, and they headed out of the room. Sakura sighed in relief as she closed her eyes and rested her head atop her arms that were folded. Naruto laughed a little, and she opened one of her eyes to peek at him.
"What are you laughing at?" She asked him curiously.
"Oh, I finally get a chance to have you all to myself again for a little bit. It's so much we can do, like an impromptu date! Win some stuff at the festival! Y'know, all that kind of good stuff!"
Sakura sighed a little; she guessed her being too excited to get Sai and Ino out of the room with Toshiro was backfiring on her now. She wanted to take a nap while they were gone before they got back to the room. But she hadn't had quality time with Naruto since she returned from Suna besides their engagement. She straightened up then and stifled a yawn.
"What'd you have in mind?" She asked. He grinned; a familiar mischievous look he used to make when they were genin appeared on his face as he began rubbing his hands together. It'd been so long since he'd made that look that Sakura frowned in response. "Naruto,"
"Come on, you trust me, right?" He asked.
"Of course I do!" She said before reaching for the silver chain necklace around her neck and showing him her engagement ring. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to be your wife!"
His eyes widened for a moment before frowning. "Why aren't you wearing your ring?"
"Because I don't want to ruin it when I'm fighting or in the middle of surgery. As soon as my work day is over, I plan to put it back on before you see me at home." She explained before taking her gloves off and then the necklace. She put the ring back on her finger and showed it to him. He reached toward her, took her hand, and kissed it softly before rubbing her knuckles gently with his thumb. She smiled a little, looking down at their hands. Like usual, they were warm and firm, contrasting with her smaller and softer hands.
Naruto was smiling, too, as he looked up from his hands to her. "Okay, but make sure you have it on, especially when we're in the market. So your fans don't go getting beside themselves anymore, y'know." He explained.
She raised an eyebrow before smirking. "My fans? I know you're not the one talking when your fan club still tries to flirt with you in front of me."
He chuckled. "I'll point to your ring now and say sorry; I'm taken!"
She laughed a little and shook her head. "Back to the subject before we got distracted with the ring. What were you thinking of doing?"
He grinned again and stood up from the table. "I think you'll like what I have planned, y'know. Let's go check out those hot spring baths!"
Sakura stood up from the table and walked around to meet him on the other side. They kissed each other softly twice before they split apart to get ready to go to the bathhouse.
Sai and Ino walked down the busy street of the festival with Toshiro between them. He held onto both of their hands so he wouldn't get lost in the traffic that seemed to pick up since they'd left the hotel. Ino looked down at Toshiro and smiled as he excitedly looked around the festival.
"Have you spotted a game you wanted to play, Toshiro?" She asked curiously.
He looked up at her and shrugged. "I've never been to a festival before. Is there one you like to play, Ms. Ino?"
She looked around and found a fishing game that was free at the moment and began pulling the boys over toward the table. She greeted the worker, a man sitting behind the glass tub filled with water that had held different colored toy animals. A motor on the side spanned the water to keep the toys moving. Ino knelt next to Toshiro while Sai paid the required amount of money.
"Okay, you want to take your fishing net and grab toys. Then you put the toys in the basket. I'll hold for you while you do it."
The game owner behind the tub nodded in agreement. "And we'll determine how many toys you get to keep after five tries!"
Toshiro nodded and took the plastic fishing net with paper that acted as the net. He reached into the water and scooped out two toys to start. He smiled, put the toys into the container Ino was holding and went for more. Sai watched him as he hadn't played games at a festival before himself. He'd tagged along with Naruto one year in Konoha, so he was familiar with the game. Toshiro grabbed two more toys on the second round of fishing for the toys before the net broke in the third round.
"Looks like you caught four toys!" The game man said, smiling. "You can keep them since five is the limit!"
Ino smiled, reached into the container, and handed the toys to Toshiro, smiling, looking down at the different colored plastic animals. He immediately thought they were fantastic as the animals were in poses that looked like what real animals would do in real life. They went to the next game, where children threw rings around sticks to gain a prize. Toshiro didn't win any prizes here, but he still smiled after the game, especially when Ino encouraged him to try another game.
"Better luck next time, hun!" The woman at the stand said. "Maybe your mom or dad here can show you some pointers."
Ino blushed profusely while Sai's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. Ino shook her head, regaining her composure before smiling. "Sorry, we're just doing some babysitting for a friend! Come along, Toshiro!"
The woman apologized, but Sai reassured her that it was okay while Ino led Toshiro to another game. From game to game, Sai smiled as Ino and Toshiro would laugh together. And they even roped him into playing a couple of the games, winning them two stuffed a pig and a dog which Ino insisted on carrying. They were leaving a fried squid stand and realized that so much time had passed as the sun began setting in the distance. Toshiro had grown tired of walking, so Sai carried him on his back as they walked back to the resort.
It wasn't often Ino thought about having children. But after today with Toshiro, she hoped she'd have a child as polite as he was. And after seeing how careful Sai was with the boy, she hoped that maybe after today, he'd noticed her a little more.
"I think we wore him out," Ino said softly, looking at Toshiro. The boy was sleeping, his head resting on Sai's shoulder.
Sai chuckled and looked over at her. "I'm glad, to be honest; I had a lot of fun today at the festival. I haven't been to a lot of them."
Ino grinned as she blushed a little at this. "I did too! We should totally check out the next festival we have in Konoha! I can even show you some of the decorations we do at the flower shop."
Sai looked over at her raising an eyebrow. "Decorations?"
Ino grinned and nodded. "Yeah, festivals and wedding season are popular at my family flower shop. Sometimes we do flower crowns for children, mostly for young girls. But now and then, their brothers want one too!"
"I see; that explains why you have such an eye for color. You surprised me when you helped a man choose flowers for his wife at the flower stand."
She giggled a little as the blush began to fade. "A florist needs to know a thing or two about color theory and the meaning behind the flowers she sells. Otherwise, people would be walking out with all kinds of horrible bouquets. I can thank my father and my mother for that. The flower shop meant so much to him, so I do my best to keep it going."
"Yamanaka Inoichi, yes?" Sai asked curiously.
"That's him! He was so powerful with our clan's techniques. I wish I could've learned more from him before he passed. Now that I've taken over as leader of the clan, I see why he was always so busy. But whenever I saw him, he'd always have a smile unless I was shirking off my responsibilities." She said before giggling and turning to look forward.
Sai continued to look at her. This was the most time he'd spent with Ino, and he certainly found that he was beginning to enjoy her company. There were the little things he'd noticed, like how the sunlight made her blonde hair shine brighter as if it danced across each strand. The warmth of her smile when she helped others, including Toshiro. He wanted her to continue talking as they weren't near the resort yet.
"I hope you don't mind me asking this?" She asked curiously as she looked back at him. "Did you have any family?"
This surprised him that she was curious about him. The thought of growing up with his brother under the gaze of Danzo and the Anbu wasn't a happy story to share. But some part of him wanted to share this with her so she could get to know him better. And that worried him a bit, as he wasn't sure why that was yet.
"I had a brother, but he passed away due to an illness he had." He started before taking a deep breath. "He was a shinobi and was in that certain group with me back in the village. During the war, he was reanimated, and we fought. But in the end, we ended on a good note before he was sealed away. He was the one to encourage me to continue my art. It helped when it came to my jutsu, so I'm thankful for him. I only wish I hadn't repressed my memories of him for so long. Being in the group I was in, having attachments wasn't accepted. Thankfully, team seven helped bring me back to life, to normalcy, that is."
Ino smiled. She remembered the conversation Sakura had with her in the cafe. About how Sai grew up differently than them. She was glad to have this moment with Sai to talk to him alone. And wished they'd have another moment like this in the future. They returned to the resort hotel and returned to their room. After undoing the lock on the door, they entered to hear voices behind the sliding paper door leading to the main room.
"Oh, right there!" Sakura called out.
"You mean like this?" Naruto asked.
"Oh, yes, just like that!" Sakura moaned.
Sai and Ino froze and looked at each other, their eyes wide! They both immediately went beat red with embarrassment from what they were hearing. Ino checked and was glad that Toshiro was still asleep on Sai's back.
Sai swallowed dryly and started to turn around to leave. "We should come back later."
"OH, Naruto!" Sakura moaned again, a bit more excitedly.
"Yeah, that's how I do it, baby!" Naruto replied huskily.
Ino growled and kicked her sandals off her feet. She was putting an end to this here and now. They were on assignment, not a private love vacation! She stomped over to the paper door. Sai reached out to stop her, but before he could, Ino pulled the door back wide for both to see.
"THAT'S IT; YOU TWO CROSSED THE…" She yelled angrily before she trailed off.
Naruto and Sakura were sitting by the table, fully clothed in provided robes from the resort. Naruto was messaging Sakura's shoulders while Sakura sat in front of him. Ino's mouth comically hit the floor, and Sai walked forward to stand by the door, embarrassed that he, too, assumed the worst of his teammates.
"You're back!" Naruto said happily. "How was the festival?"
Ino picked up her jaw but still blushed at how embarrassed she felt. "It was fun; Toshiro had a good time before he fell asleep."
Sai walked into the room with Toshiro still sleeping on his back. Naruto and Sakura stood up, and Sakura took the boy from Sai into her arms and smiled. Thank you both again for taking him! We already took a bath and ordered dinner. We left you three plenty of food. The owners of the hotel were very generous with their portions."
Sai smiled the redness from his face began to fade. "Thank you, but we had something a little bit earlier. I think I'll take a bath and then go to bed."
"I think I'll do the same; excuse me!" Ino said quickly before she headed to the area she and Sakura would be sharing.
After Sai and Ino left, Sakura laid Toshiro in one of the three futons in the boy's room. When she closed the door and returned to the main room, Naruto could no longer hide his laughter. He covered his mouth and lay on the floor as he did his best to cover his laughs. Sakura began laughing with him as she moved to sit beside him, covering her laughs.
"Can you believe the look on Ino's face?" Sakura asked. "She really thought we were doing it!"
Naruto continued laughing, tears streaming out of his eyes as he shook his head. "You sold it by moaning, Sakura! By far one of our best pranks to date, y'know!"
They continued to laugh, picturing Sai and Ino's faces all over again.
A/N
Hi everyone!
I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season! First I wanted to dedicate this chapter to a reviewer Mario 64. Regarding the idea for the hot spring, vacation I wanted to incorporate it into the story. So thank you very much for the idea I couldn't pass it up, especially when I thought of Naruto and Sakura pranking Ino and Sai! I also wanted to say thank you everyone for continuing to support this fanfic. I also wanted to thank the NaruSaku lovers community for adding this story as well as Naruto the alternative last to the community! It means a lot to me truly.
See you next chapter!
-Colorfulone
