Chapter 8 Suprise! New Orders.
The sun was waning inthe sky,sending a splash of reds,oranges and some yellows across the clouds,few that they were.
Naruto had dressed in his best kimono and had taken a nice long hot shower. He could'nt recall the last time he felt so relaxed. Taking the time to put on a kimono would've been a chore without Kage Bushin,thank the gods for his massive chakra reserves. Naruto took a look at himself in the mirror, a moment of introspection to see how he'd changed. He looked at his hands, the same hands that played with Konohamaru had killed many enemies. He looked at his eye's, bright,determined,
intense but some of the light that had been there earlier in life was gone. Ruthlessly crushed by the reality that was ninja life.
" Am I becoming vain? Man I need a vacation. Fresh Chunin and I want a month on the beach getting drunk." He mused aloud. He decided that he looked awesome as usual and checked his outfit. 'Of course Sasuke has to tell us to meet at the most exspensive resturant in the village. He's probably showing off. The dick.' Naruto jokingly thought to himself. But seriously,
how much was the dinner going to cost. Thank the gods for clan funds. The young Uzumaki tied his headband loosely around his neck. He checked himself once more, heading to the door Naruto made the decison to re-tile his kitchen.
The tile was ugly and needed to go. He slipped on his geta sandals and with a application of chakra set the fuinjutsu traps. He'd painstakinly grafted the seals himself. Naruto wall walked to the rooftop then he was off. The place Sasuke picked was also on the other side of the village. The bastard.
Sakura was almost ready. Her mom had fussed around her doing her hair, making sure her nails were done and in general being a mother hen. Sakura had only applied a small touch of make-up. She didn't like the caked on look of some civilian women. In Sakura's opinion it looked gaudy and wrong. Some lipstick and a tiny bit of foundation was all she put on. Her Father,hearing where the Uchiha heir was taking his team, Sakuno had gone in to his own closet and pulled out a kimono. It was the most beautiful kimono Sakura had ever laid her eye's on. The silk a soft pinkish white, with silver accents on the collar and cuffs. On the back a full moon was behind a blooming 'Sakura' tree, the petals looked to be made of a red-silver color Sakura could not name. None of it was annoyingly bright. It was done in a very light way. When Sakura had taken the dress from her father's outstretched hands,she almost gasped at the feeling. " Made from silk that was woven by Tsuyo Onodera,in the tradition of our family. This was woven from petals of the blossom you're named for. Tsuyo-dono took four months to make this. He declared it to be a Masterpiece." Was what had father had said. Sakura looked ready to protest when her father said, "No, your grandmother would want you to have it. She was over the moon when you were born with her hair. She was a Kunoichi, a fierce and proud woman." Sakura nodded her head. She walked to her front door,
slipping on her zori-sandals she turned to her father, " Thank you Dad,well I'm off. I'll be back late." She picked up the dress up past her knees then took to the rooftops. Being extremly careful not to damage the kimono.
Kakashi was at the appointed place,on time wearing his father's old kimono. He'd been a shorter but stouter man. It was a light blue. It was normal, but it was elegant in it's simplicity. Hiro appeared in front of him. Kakashi took a look at his teaching partners outfit. A black kimono with gold accents and the Uzumaki clan crest in blood red on the back. " So, how was your day off? We got,what three more?"
Hiro inquired with a smile. Kakashi looked at his co-Sensei,"Well my day went well. Had a Chibi-bushin tell me to be here. You tell him where I live? He said he'd get the Hokage to have Anbu drag me here. It was cute as threats go." Kakashi replied lazy drawl in full effect. Hiro shook his head,"Nah he probably asked Hokage-jiji. He threatend to buy all the cigarettes in the village then burn them. It made me chuckle."
Naruto touched down in front of his two teachers. "So how's it going? I'm ready to back on-duty, or I could go for a month long vacation.
It's a weird feeling" He stated almost whining. Hiro and Kakashi knew that particular feeling well. That was apart of being a ninja.
Naruto took out a pipe. He'd picked up the idea, two of the most important people in his life smoked. The Kyuubi's chakra that constantly leaked into his own chakra system would heal any damage. He'd secured some tobacco from a merchant from Kusa no Kuni. He'd payed around three D rank missons pay for a two month supply. He took a small pinch and filled the bowl with it, lighting it with a match.
Sasuke was almost ready. His gifts for the team would be ready at the end of the week. He had the slips to give to his team so they could pick up the gift meant for them. His Father would've been furious at the amount he had just spent. To Sasuke who was the only one with access to the clans money, knew he'd taken a spoonfull from the ocean of money. His mother would've smiled. He missed that smile. Damn Itachi.
But cutting off the immensely dark incoming thoughts he smiled. He'd done something he'd read about in a journal from a Uchiha called Obito.
He had found family outside of blood. Obito had described having a family outside of the Uchiha. That it had made his life far better. Learning that Kakashi-Sensei had been on the Obito's team was a boon as well. He tucked the journal into the open top of his black kimono. It was the one his mother had designated for formal occasions. He had a talior make an exact replica made for him. The woman was a hidden Master of the craft.
Sasuke took one last look at himself. He looked fine, so with that he left. He thought of pulling a Kakashi and arriving late,but decided against it. Taking to the rooftops he made his way towards the appointed meeting place. If Fugaku had heard he'd reserved the entire resturant for the evening the man would've died from shock, his father had been excessively cheap. Once again it was a literal drop out of the clans funds.
Sakura arrived to applause. From Naruto," Damn. Thats a pretty dress. You almost look like you don't kill people for a living." He joked. Sakura took it in stride. She'd gotten used to the particular brand of humor Naruto possesed. " And you look halfway decent today,finally decide to shower?" she jested back. He scoffed and grumbled. Hiro shook his head. The sun was almost gone from the horizon,the street lamps were lighting up staving off the darkness. The street was quite and the small amount of people moving about were doing so at a sedated pace. Standing outside the resturant, smelling the cooking meat and hearing people from the "stand" bars on the road made Sakura and Naruto yearn to eat and drink.
As ninja they were full legal adults who could smoke and drink if they so chose. Naruto had found he liked a drink Kusa villages were famous for. Bourbon, it was truly a devine concoction of flavors he enjoyed. Naruto was taking a draw from his pipe when Sasuke landed in front of the four.
"So we're here as requested" Kakashi lazily spoke. "You sound like a Nara." Sasuke stated with grin. "Maa, you wound me Sasuke." Kakashi said almost laughing. Sasuke stood in front of his team, he'd thought about this day for the last week. He spoke" Let's go inside. I've made sure no one will bother us tonight." He turned around heading into the Golden Dragon's Hearth first. Upon reaching the door it opened and a tall well dressed Akamichi opened the door. He had the clan markings on his cheeks and he had that sunny demeanour all Akamichi seemed to have.
Naruto noted that execpt for the staff he could see the place was empty. A woman dressed in a fine kimono walked up to them and had them follow her to the lounge. Sakura noticed the place was immaculately clean and lit. It was a smaller establishment,hardwood floors and tables. There were no regular tables though. Only booths meant to seat four or more. All the glassware or ceramics had gold fillegry,soft gold but not under done.
The hostess seated them and asked "May I start you all with drinks?". Kakashi asked" What kind of Sake do you have?" She looked towards the man "We have Hiroki from Kamanari no Kuni and Juyondai from Kiri. We also have Isojiman from Kono no Kabe." Oh, the Daimyo's favorite brand. Said to be a holy experince. The Hokage also liked it quite alot. He'd have to get it later in the night for now, " I'll take a bottle of the Juyo" He orderd.
Hiro was not a Sake drinker he liked Bourbon like Naruto, "What whiskey is for order?" he asked. She grinned slightly " We only have Kusa and Hi no Kuni personal favorite is the twenty one Hibiki and a close second is the Yamazaki eighteen." Hiro nooded, " I'll take a Hibiki,on the rocks."
Naruto orderd same while Sasuke orderd a bottle of Isojiman. For him and Sakura. "The four of you are probably wondering why I've asked you to come here. It's simple...I've decided to... You all are..." Sasuke felt cold under the collar. He had told himself that he would'nt falter but damn this was harder than he thought. "We know. We are family. Family doesn't always have to be blood-related." Kakashi,said smiling. Sasuke reached into his kimono. " This journal belonged to Obito Uchiha. You were a member of his Genin team. I'd like for you to have it." Kakashi for the first time in nearly fifteen years was renderd speechless. He took the offered journal of his fallen friend as if it was made of fragile glass. Sasuke had no idea of the magnitude of gift he'd bestowed to Kakashi. Hiro looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi would thank you if you hadn't renderd him mute. Obito was a close friend to him. You have given him a great gift." Sasuke nodded In the journal it was clear that Obito viewed Kakashi as a brother.
Sasuke then handed the rest of the team the slips of ownership for the jewelry he'd orderd. He gave Kakashi,who was regaining his bearings,one as well. "At the end of the week go to the store 'Hi no Hoseki' and pick up the items that the slips are for. Now lets eat and drink. We have a fight with Iwa on it's way. So I'd like to get drunk atleast once before then."