Chapter 10:

After some rest, Mitsuki was able to pick himself off the street and sit down on a nearby bench. The rush of adrenaline no longer surging through him left Mitsuki feelings tired and wasn't up for any more excitement.

"I'm exhausted," he told them, his muscles aching. His friends seemed to be on a mission, but given his state, he wasn't sure he would be of any use to them.

"There's still one left," Shikadai informed them. "And it's the one I gave to Iwabe."

"We've got to go after him next," said Boruto. "We handled everyone else."

"Yeah, but we still don't know where to find him," Sarada reminded him. "And if you use your clones to help us search, it'll tire you out faster. If he's anything like Mitsuki was, he won't make things easy. We're going to need everyone in top shape for this. Let's not be careless."

"But now we know something else," said Shikadai. "The longer they're like this, the more strain it puts on the body. A person cannot handle their blood boiling for so long. Which means Iwabe will be in danger if we don't find him soon."

"All the more reason we can't stand around here talking about it, you know," said Boruto. "I know you don't want to split up and you think using my clones are a bad idea, so what can we do? We can't waste any more time."

"If only we knew where to look," said Chocho. "Their usual hangouts would be a great start and we can go from there."

"I'm not sure where they'd go unless there's something going on."

Boruto tried to think of where Iwabe would be. Training grounds, perhaps? His place? It was Valentine's Day. He might have been at an event.

"What kind of places would hand out free things to guys on Valentine's Day?"

Shikadai turned around. "We were trying to avoid the crowds, but… If it's free, maybe he would go there just to take advantage of it."

"Mom's shop is handing out one free flower to customers," said Inojin. "But I doubt he would want a free flower."

"Free food is hard to pass up. Any places doing that?"

"They do more for White Day, don't they?"

"Yeah, but there is a bakery that hands out free cookies on Valentine's Day," said Sarada. "They're sample size, but they hand them out until dusk to people walking by."

"Then let's head there and see if we can find him or ask around and see if anyone knows where he is," said Boruto.

They went to the bakery first and the woman passing out free samples said she saw him a couple hours ago when he stopped by for a free cookie. She had no idea where he would be now but saw him travel up the road where more shops were located.

Heart shaped lanterns lined the streets. The shopping area was very busy with shoppers and lovers taking full advantage of the holiday and the specials that came with it. No matter where he went, Boruto could smell chocolate.

It didn't look like Iwabe would be anywhere near this congestion, even if there was free food to be found.

Then Chocho pointed straight ahead, a determined look in her eyes. "That way."

"You see him?" Boruto scanned the crowd but couldn't find Iwabe anywhere.

"No, but I know where he is."

Boruto raised his brow.

Chocho led the way and stood at the end of the block, pointing to a food cart on the corner of the next street. "The teriyaki vender always gives out a second skewer with the purchase of one between four o'clock and six. It's four now, which means now's the best chance."

Boruto frowned. "You're basing this off of a good deal at a food cart?"

"This vender only does it on holidays, which narrows down our search for Iwabe." She grinned confidently. "Only a fool would pass up such a good deal like this one when it comes to meat."

"But tons of places sell teriyaki. And lots of places have buy one, get one deals. What makes you think he'll come to this one?"

"Because the meat this vender uses is top grade and seasoned differently from other places, making it special. The meat is not dry and he does a special rub on the meat before glazing it and cooking it, then he dips it again, making it sweet and juicy. His blend of spices is a trade secret and the chicken skewers are so delectable, scalpers have been known to show up. This is the place for sure!"

Boruto backed off, seeing the fire in Chocho's eyes when she spoke so passionately about the vender's top selling item, but he still had his doubts. There was no guarantee Iwabe would show up here of all places and they were only going to waste time waiting for him to show up.

Just as Boruto was preparing to leave to search elsewhere, Iwabe turned the corner and went up to the vender.

"Eh?!"

"I told you!" Chocho flipped her hair back smugly. "Only a fool would pass up such a chance."

As Iwabe was getting his skewers, Boruto and the rest of the group came rushing over, bombarding him with questions. He could only make out a few words, everyone was talking so quickly and over each other.

"Easy, guys. What's going on? One at a time."

Shikadai took over from there. "Iwabe, remember that chocolate I gave you?"

"Yeah."

"Did you eat it?"

"No."

They breathed a sigh of relief.

"Great." Shikadai held out his hand. "Can I have it back?"

"No."

"What? Why not? Don't tell me you got rid of it."

"No. I gave it to Udon-sensei."

"You what?!"

Iwabe jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Yeah, it wasn't like I was all that interested in eating it, so I gave it to Udon-sensei because no one had given him anything yet and I figured I might as well. If he's upset, it could make training with him very annoying."

"You gave away my chocolate to somebody else?" Chocho asked, irritated that her gift had been passed along so many times in one day. "Did nobody care enough to even try it?"

"Not now, Chocho."

"Where is your sensei now?" Shikadai asked Iwabe. "Please tell me you know where he is."

"Yeah, he said something about meeting up with some friends for dinner before the rush. He was going to meet them now, I think."

"Where?"

Iwabe tried to think. "Let's see. Did he mention the place? Oh, yeah. It was the ramen shop over that way. Ichiraku's."

"Thanks. Let's go, guys. With any luck, we can… Chocho!"

She turned around, a skewer in each hand. "What?" she asked, already munching. "I'm not fool enough to pass on a special."

They raced to the ramen shop with luck on their side. Udon was just entering with Moegi at his side. The Genin cried out to stop him and he turned.

"Did Iwabe give you a little box of chocolate today?" Shikadai asked, out of breath.

"Y- yes, he did."

"Do you still have it?"

Udon rubbed the back of his neck. "No, I don't. I know it was given to me out of pity, but then Moegi gave me something and I didn't really need the other one, so I gave it away."

"How many times is my chocolate going to change hands?!"

Ignoring Chocho's complaints, the group asked Udon one simple question.

"Who did you give it to?"

"I gave it to the Hokage."

Everyone fell silent.

"What?"

"I gave it to Naruto."

Gasp! D8

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