The Other Festival
Naruto ran up the stairs to the roof where his suspect would be. He opened the door and saw Sasuke eating a sandwich without a care in the world.
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouts grabbing his attention. "Did you see someone planting their lips on my cheek!?"
"...No?" Sasuke responds looking at him. "The kiss was there when I came"
"Really.." Naruto said sighing, laying on the wall. "So the person who did it must have done after Sara's shift"
"...possibly but why do you care?" Sasuke asked.
"I need to know the reason" Naruto answers. "No one would just randomly kiss someone"
Sasuke took another bite of his sandwich. He may not have seen the kiss being planted but when he was going to check on Naruto, Sara wasn't the only person he ran into that night. A familiar face was walking down the hallway alone. It was out of the ordinary since, everyone were outside. There wasn't a reason for someone to be in the building. She might have been the one that planted that kiss but, knowing who she is with, he can't tell Naruto.
"You should drop it" Sasuke said finishing his sandwich.
"Eh?" Naruto said.
"It's not important" Sasuke said waving his hand goodbye and walking back inside.
Naruto was irritated by him. He doesn't understand what he is going through. He won't stop searching until he finds her. Naruto walks back inside. He heads over back to class and was surprised to see a few students come up to him.
"Hey, your the guy from yesterday!"
"...you looked cool when you were playing those cards"
"...Can we play!?"
Naruto didn't know how to respond to them. Plus, he doesn't even know who they are. Soon, more students came up and started crowding Naruto. This was trouble. One started talking then the other. Many questions and many comments. Some were repeating and others were stupid. Naruto went on his tippy toes to look over at his lonely desk. He tried going pass them but they wouldn't allow him.
"H-hey..how about later...can you guys please-" Naruto ask kindly.
"Wait...you run the card club"
"Can I join"
"It looks fun"
His eye started to twitch and his smile went crooked. He wasn't going to get to his desk anytime soon. His eye soon shift two the two girls walking into the classroom through the first entrance. Ino and Sakura made it back together from lunch and were surprised to see a crowd of students talking to Natsu.
"Eh?...when did this happen!?" Sakura said shocked.
Ino stared at Naruto who was looking back looking like he needed help. She glances away and walks over to her seat. Sakura didn't think Naruto would get this much attention from yesterday. It didn't look like Naruto was comfortable either. Thankfully, Iruka came into class.
"...what the?...everyone back to your seats!" Iruka said raising his voice.
The crowd shrinks until Naruto was left, letting out oxygen he was holding in for some time. Iruka had a confused expression, not expecting Naruto was the one that caused that crowd. Naruto went back to his seat and lays his head on his desk.
"A-alright class..let's begin our lesson" Iruka said turning to the board, still surprised.
Ino pulled out her notebook. She quickly shifts her eyes to her left. She saw Naruto facing the window. She looks at the blank page in front of her and begins tapping her pencil on it with a slight frown.
OOO
Once school was over, Ino got up from her desk and started heading out to the club room, after saying goodbye to Sakura. Naruto had his head on his desk the whole time. Reason being, he fell asleep. Sakura notice how he didn't move one bit and was worried. She walked over to him and tapped his shoulder.
"Naruto?" she calls him.
"UH?" Naruto quickly raises his head turning it dramatically.
Naruto was taking in his surroundings, a little scared at what was going on. One minute he was in class with a bunch of students and the next, empty. Even the light outside was darker.
"W-whats going on?" Naruto asked Sakura.
"Class is over….are you ok?" Sakura asked raising an eyebrow.
"Oh..ya ya" Naruto said quickly rising from his seat. "Didn't catch much sleep last night"
"Oh I see...well you were working during the festival" Sakura replies.
"Ya.." Naruto said sighing, not wanting to be reminded.
"...whats the matter?..I hear your club did well" Sakura states.
"I know...but...now I'm faced with the aftermath" Naruto responds.
"Oh...the fact that your getting notice now...scares you" Sakura said with a evil grin.
Naruto didn't reply and walked past her to the second exit. Sakura started following him.
"oh..I'm right" Sakura said grinning with joy.
"...hmm..I have a meeting now...so...go home" Naruto said walking toward the staircase.
"Oh I see…" Sakura said looking at the direction he was going. "So your club room is on the last floor"
"Ya-" Naruto said until realizing this situation.
If he remembers correctly, Ino didn't want any of her friends to know that she is in the club, let alone the club president. If Sakura were to follow him to the club room and see Ino. Naruto will have hell to pay. Not just by Ino, even Sakura who was in the same level of scary as Ino. He needed to figure out how to distract her.
"I-i mean-" Naruto said turning to her.
"...what?...you said you have a club meeting" Sakura said crossing her arms. "And you clearly know where it is"
"...I-i.." Naruto said trying to think of a way out of this.
"But I guess you don't want me to know" Sakura said shrugging her shoulders. "I'll leave you be"
"Really?" Naruto asked surprised of her action.
"Ya" Sakura said nodding. "I can't keep you all to myself-...I-I mean!..I need to go home too!"
Sakura was blushing from her mistake of words. She quickly turns around and walks awkwardly away.
"B-bye Naruto" She said nervously.
Naruto wasn't sure how to respond to that. He scratches his head and starts walking to the stairs. Moving away from what she said, the thought of how Ino would act during the club worries him. She was still mad during class. He makes it to the club room and notice the door was open.
Upon entering, he sees Ino putting a notebook in her bag. There wasn't anyone else around.
"Where is everybody?" Naruto asked.
Ino flinched, surprised to hear him. Though, she didn't turn around and kept putting her things away.
"...Sara and Sasuke called last minute telling me they couldn't make it...so I told Choji the meeting is cancel" Ino answers and walking out the door, not batting an eye to Naruto.
"...and you didn't text me.." Naruto said with his hair shadowing his eyes. "Wait a second!"
Naruto quickly grabs Ino by the arm, stopping her from leaving. Naruto needed to fix this, problem, they are having. He can't deal with this.
"What" Ino said in an angry tone.
"Yesterday...you have the wrong idea" Naruto said in a serious tone. "Someone planted that kiss on me when I was sleeping right after Sara's shift and before Sasuke….I wasn't...fooling around with anyone"
"tch...I didn't say that-" Ino said clenching her teeth.
"Well that's what your imagining isn't it" Naruto said looking at her with a serious expression. "Here I thought, you thought of me a little more better"
"...wait, I-" Ino said looking back realizing what he said.
"...I guess….the queen of hearts never changes" Naruto said letting go of her arm. "...your still the same as before"
Naruto starts walking out. Ino stood there shocked with her mouth slightly opened. That wasn't what she wanted to hear. She clenched her hand so hard wanting to feel pain by her nails. She lowered her head. "...thats not it….I wasn't thinking that you would….damn it...why" she thought leaning against the wall feeling her heart ache. "...queen of hearts...queen of hearts….I hate hearing that" she thought clenching her teeth. She watches Naruto walking down the stairs. "...why….does it hurt"
OOO
Sara was getting ready to leave school grounds but notice Sasuke walking in the direction she was planning on going in. She didn't think it was coincidence, judging from his expression. It was cold and determined. She quickly runs to his side.
"Sasuke" She calls him.
"Uh, Sara...where are you going?" Sasuke asked turning his head to her.
"...somewhere..and you?" Sara asked.
"...none of your business" Sasuke replies.
"Well I guess...are destinations overlap" Sara exclaims.
"...tell me where you really are going" Sasuke asked knowing that she's hiding something.
"..hmm…" Sara replies, not sure if she should tell him.
"Is it about what happened to Naruto?" Sasuke asked.
"So he spoke with you" Sara said not too surprised.
"Ya...he was determined to find the girl" Sasuke responds. "Though, it won't do him any good"
"Wait, so you know who did it?" Sara asked.
"...yes" Sasuke replies.
"Then you must know.." Sara said pulling the letter out. "This?"
"A letter?" Sasuke said taking it.
"I read it...even though, it wasn't meant for me" Sara said with a soft chuckle. "It's an invitation for Naruto….to a festival happening today in another school….it wants Naruto to see the card club in that school"
"Did you tell Naruto?" Sasuke asked in a serious tone.
"No...it didn't sound like a friendly invite….I wanted to check for myself if-" Sara exclaims.
"Good.." Sasuke replies. "Its better if Naruto didn't read this"
"Why...what do you know Sasuke?" Sara asked noticing how serious he was getting.
"...there is a person in that school...Naruto shouldn't meet" Sasuke answers.
"You sound like you know Naruto from before" Sara states. "I don't see you as close buddies in school"
"I do because...we were childhood friends" Sasuke answers.
"Childhood friends...like Ino-..wait a second!" Sara said realizing something big. "Does that mean...she and Naruto"
"Ya...but seems like they don't remember each other" Sasuke exclaims.
"ok...I understand Ino not remembering but Naruto...should have remember Ino" Sara replies.
"...no, the kind of person Naruto was before is not like he is now….he was goofy and more…..happy" Sasuke said until stopping.
"Really now...what changed" Sara asked.
She looks straight ahead noticing a school was having a festival. It was big and colourful. It was filled with decorations. They could hear laughter and music as well smell good food.
"This is it" Sara spoke.
"...ya, let see what he wants" Sasuke said glaring ahead and taking his first step into the festival.
"He?" Sara asked confused.
OOO
Sasuke and Sara were exploring the festival. It was basically the same thing like theres. Everyone was enjoying themselves and having fun. Though, Sasuke isn't here for that. The letter already proved his suspicions. Kabuto wants Naruto. He may not be in good terms with Naruto but seeing how much that card battle with Kabuto affected him, he can only imagine how he will act if he meets Kabuto face to face.
Naruto doesn't express his emotions as much like when he was young. He keeps it in but that's not good. It isn't until someone pushes the right button, that will cause everything to explode. Sasuke needs to separate the two.
"What are we looking for Sasuke?" Sara asked.
"This schools card club" Sasuke answers. "That's when we find him"
"Him who!?" Sara asked still in the dark.
Sasuke eyes were drawn toward a bulletin board. He walks over and notice the many posters for many clubs but one stands out from the rest. The one at the top and center of the board. The card club which was being held on the first floor of the school. Sasuke looks for the entrance and starts making his way there with Sara following behind.
Sasuke found the card club room and saw people playing cards but, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Meaning, nothing that would draw any attention to this room. Plus, he doesn't see Kabuto.
"Where's Kabuto?" Sasuke asked one of the members.
"Kabuto...why do you want him?" he asked.
"...We were invited" Sasuke said showing them the invitation. "Where is he?"
"Those lips" said the female member remembering the colour. "Its Temari's"
"Follow me then" the other member said walking out the door.
This was getting a little too suspicious for Sara. She wasn't too sure what she got herself into. Sasuke didn't seem scared or worried. She is kinda glad that she was with him. Though, from what the girl said before, those lips were from Temari. If memory serves Sara right, Temari was the girl with Naruto yesterday. "...How much did you show her that would make her fall for you" she thought surprised.
The two were led to the basement of the school. Now, Sara was scared too the point that she was hiding behind Sasuke for protection. Scary basements in a different school is a big no for her.
"You will find him in here and the rest of the club members" he said opening the door too him.
Sasuke and Sara eyes widen noticing how big the room was. There were about six long tables inside the room with many students around them. Sara looks over to one of the tables and saw money being dropped on it.
"What is this?" Sara asked.
"Why are you two here?" Temari asked with her arms crossed.
"This" Sasuke said showing the letter in between his fingers.
"Where did you get that from!" Temari said taking it quickly. "It wasn't meant for you"
"Its meant for Naruto right?" Sara asked with a glare. "This place….is this what you wanted to show him-?"
"...well well…what a surprise" Kabuto spoke noticing Sasuke.
"Kabuto" Sasuke said with a cold expression. "I see you haven't changed"
"...I would say I've changed a bit" Kabuto replies, showing his dyed hair. "So what brings you here?"
"The letter address for Naruto...it was you who sent it?" Sara asked.
"...I don't have an idea what your talking about" Kabuto responds.
"I was the one who sent it and Naruto should have been the one that came here" Temari said in a pissed off tone.
"Why...exactly?" Kabuto asked curious of her actions.
"well...I faced him in a card match and it was fun...so I thought it would be fun if he came here" Sara exclaims.
"To gamble.." Sara said not liking this. "Isn't this illegal to have in school?"
"I have my ways" Kabuto states. "Then again, you decided to take his place….Sasuke"
"hmph...I came to tell you…" Sasuke said staring into his eyes. "Don't bother with Naruto"
"Oh" Kabuto said with a slight smirk. "What gives you the idea that I was in the first place...this is the first time we are meeting after many years"
"...when Temari came to our school….it became clear to me….your wanting something that involves Naruto...he still hasn't forgotten about you" Sasuke exclaims. "Neither have I….you've caused him to hate card games, you messed with his head causing him to shelter himself….and it seems like your doing the same thing here"
Sasuke looks around the room and notice the players looking depressed and in pain. He can see some fall to their knees after losing everything they have. The winners were full of joy and wanting more.
"...Gambling I would say...is the dark side of playing cards" Sasuke said. "If your not going to back off from Naruto...I'm going to force you"
"And how are you going to do that?" Kabuto asked interested in what he has in mind.
Sasuke quickly pulls out his deck of cards and made him face the Ace of Spades.
"In one game...of speed" Sasuke replies.
Everyone in the room went silent. They stopped playing their games and looked at the person who dared to challenge Kabuto. Sara felt the tension between Sasuke and Kabuto and wasn't sure what she should do. It seems like they have history. Though, hearing that Kabuto was the person who made Naruto hate playing cards, that was unbelievable.
However, after seeing how he was running an illegal gambling room, it makes sense. Sara didn't like him. Ever since they arrived, he had a smirk and a face that looked too happy. It was like he was waiting for this day for so long. While, Sasuke looked like he was ready to strike him down.
"...I would be glad to take your challenge but" Kabuto replies. "I have some...card club business I need to do but….I can..have you challenge the stars of the card club"
Two people were walking behind Kabuto. Sasuke shifts his attention to them. They were Kankuro and Gaara.
"Who knew someone had the courage to face you, Kabuto" Kankuro replies with a chuckle. "He must be good"
"I can assure you...Sasuke is the fastest when placing a card down" Kabuto states with a grin. "Unless, you gotten slow over these years"
"I can assure you...Sasuke is fast!" Sara said staring at them. "Like lightning!"
"Like lightning uh" Kankuro said smiling. "Well then...let's see how is your speed compared to mines"
"The only person I want to face...is Kabuto" Sasuke said glaring at Kabuto.
"Sorry, that doesn't work here" Temari said getting in front of him. "Not just anyone challenges Kabuto….he decides who he challenges...but the people who he doesn't...they have to get through the three of us"
"You heard her" Kabuto said shrugging his shoulders. "I'll be going back to work now….its nice seeing you"
"Wait a second-" Sara said until getting blocked by Gaara who didn't show any emotion. "Ah…."
Kabuto starts walking away. Sasuke bit his tongue and stared at Kankuro who was standing in his way.
"If thats how it is" Sasuke said gripping his cards tightly. "I'll challenge all three of you!-"
"Hang on Sasuke...you can't do this alone!" Sara states. "I'm going to play too"
"Two against three….not quite fair isn't" Temari said smirking.
"How can it be fair…" Sasuke said in a serious. "...since you plan on cheating to begin with"
"Cheating" Sara replies shocked.
"If they work for Kabuto….they must have learned his tricks….that's how…" Sasuke said. "He won against Naruto"
OOO
Naruto arrived home and was laying on the couch with the tv on his favourite show. The rogue hero. He was laying on the couch wondering what this episode will bring.
The scene started with a view of the city under the night sky with the moon shining brightly over it. The city was quiet and many people were staying up at the sky. There was a sound that shakes the ground. It sounded like large steps from some animal. Yusei can be seen standing on a roof while his friends were on the ground. He was looking at the horizon.
"Whats happening?" Kira asked fearing what was causing the sound.
"...something powerful is coming" said a male sensing danger.
It wasn't long until a loud roar echoes through the city causing everyone to freeze in place. Yusei eyes widen seeing a big pair of wings open.
Naruto mouth opened from what was going to happen. From the episodes before this, Yusei and his friends were travelling to this city were he was finding his evil twin who was made of his darkness, a clone named Slayer. They found a lead in this city but what was going to happen next surprised him and everyone.
"Dragons" said another character.
There wasn't just one. Multiple dragons were in the sky. There was one dragon that Yusei had his eyes on. There was someone on top of that one.
"...Isn't this a surprise….you again" Zane spoke with a smirk.
Naruto shivers seeing Zane again. He hasn't shown himself after so long. It was a mystery why he was gone but Naruto thinks, this new arc will be more than the dragons.