The City Festival
Monday
It's the first day of the festival. The day the city was waiting for. Everyone was ready, all dressed up and heading over to the festival. The park never look so lively. There was decorations hanging off trees, balloons placed in different parts of the festival. A welcoming soundtrack was playing through the speakers that were spread throughout the park.
There was an incredible amount of people attending this festival who were both eating, enjoying the games and lining up in front of booths.
The card club just arrived at the entrance dressed casually. Naruto felt goosebumps up his arms seeing so many people crowded. This was going to be difficult for him to walk past everyone.
Ino looked deep in thought with her head tilted downward and her arms crossed. Sakura and Sara feared what she has planned.
"So it's finally here" Sasuke spoke.
"I can already smell the food" Choji said hearing is stomach growl.
"Since we won't be on stage until the last day, why not we enjoy the festival together" Sara said with a smile.
"Great idea!...everyone let's go-" Sakura said with sparkles in her eyes.
"U-um"
Another voice entered the conversation. This surprised everyone except for Ino smiled seeing her.
"Hi Hinata!" Ino said grinning at her.
"Why is she here?" The two girls thought never hearing about another person joining them.
Ino didn't tell anyone that she invited Hinata to hang around them. Luckily, she spoke with her a few days back in school. She saw her in the hall and decide to get to know her and her number. That's why she's here.
Hinata had a light blush shaking with nervousness. She felt overwhelmed not expecting to see the whole club.
"Hi-" Hinata said softly.
"It's a good thing your here...we are about to explore the festival" Ino states turning around to face the other but notice two members missing.
"Where did Sasuke and Choji go?" Ino asked.
"To the festival" Naruto answers.
"Well no matter...we will run into them" Ino said shrugging her shoulders. "Let's go shall we"
Ino grins happily for this moment. She can just imagine it now. She has this day all plan out to get the two together. Though, she will need help from her two girls who looked more worried than happy. Putting on a nervous smile when Ino glanced at them.
The five started walking in the park. Naruto and Hinata were in front of the rest of the girls which Ino did on purpose. Ino needed some alone time with them.
"Sara, Sakura...this is the plan-" Ino whispers.
"Wait wait...Ino have you thought this through?" Sara asked raising an eyebrow.
"Of course...the end of the day...Naruto and Hinata will be an item and live happily ever-" Ino said smiling big.
"Ino..listen to yourself...are you a hundred precent sure that they even have feelings for one another?" Sakura asked.
"Have you seen Hinata's boyfriend or Narutos girlfriend anywhere? Hmmm?" Ino replies crossing her arms. "I know what I'm doing...and look..they look good together"
Sara and Sakura turn their heads to Naruto and Hinata who were having their own conversation with another.
"So why did Ino invite you?" Naruto asked curious.
"I-I don't know...she said she needed help for something" Hinata said nervously.
"Help uh" Naruto said looking up at the sky. "Could it be?"
"What?" Hinata asked.
"Tell me...do you know about the other club from the other school?" Naruto asked.
"Not really-" Hinata said until getting interrupted by two characters in front of a tent.
"Come one..come all! To see your future" the male said with a black blazer bowing his head. "What lies before you...in you-"
"Is there questions that you need answered," said a red head female in a kind voice. "Want to see a glimpse of your answer...come and let your future be told"
"Answers" Naruto said softly.
"We made it to our first stop" Ino said smiling to see the fortune teller tent.
"Wait here?...why?" Sakura asked.
"To get our future told duh" Ino answered plainly.
"Why are we asking someone to tell our own future-" Naruto states until getting pushed by the male.
"Come on now...your our first customers...stop standing around" he said with a smile.
"You girls join in too" said the redhead pushing them as well.
"Woah hold on-!" Sara said until getting pushed into the darkness.
OOO
It was pitch dark. No one can hardly see a thing until a tiny light appeared in front of them soon expanding in a circle shape sphere.
"Welcome everyone" said a male voice in a quiet and distant tone.
All the girls hid behind Naruto who also wanted to have a human shield. He could see someone behind the ball of light. The glow from the ball expanded revealing a cloaked person whose mouth was only visible while his hood covered the rest.
"You must have came here for a reason….let me guess….Do you have questions you want answers too?" he asked.
"Well...kinda" Sara replies.
"We want to know what lies in the future for us" Ino responds.
"Your future….are you certain that you want to know?" he asked in a calming tone.
"Yes" Ino said with confidence.
The hooded figure slowly hovered his hands over the orb, making circular motions over it.
"I'm going to need one volunteer" He said pointing a finger to Naruto. "You seem like you might have an interesting future waiting for you"
"um...I'm fine-" Naruto said not wanting to know his future before experiencing it but Ino pushed him forward.
"Go!" Ino said impatiently.
Naruto stumbles forward and the orb glow a different colour of Orange mix with red.
"The red string of fate...that ties lives together that are destined to meet...seems like it's almost time to meet your match-"
"My match?" Naruto said in a confused expression.
"You can't seriously believe he can tell your future" Sakura spoke with disbelief in her tone.
"This is just some trick" Sara states.
"Shhh" Ino said to them. "Listen
OOO
"Times up!?" Said the red haired female. "The next group is going to enter"
"Hmm...that didn't tell us anything at all" Ino states leaving the tent first.
"Of course not….he may have said things that could be true for anyone" Sara states. "If it were real….he would be able to tell Narutos future to the letter"
"That guy really...spooked me" Naruto said shivering a little feeling goosebumps across his arms.
"Ya" Hinata agrees, letting out a big breath.
"I feel like going home" Sakura said softly tired from all that.
"Not yet!" Ino said causing everyone to jump. "There is still more left to do….this day isn't over yet!"
With that, the exploration began. The group started moving from vendor to vendor. Each had prizes to win. Everyone's mood turned from scared to competitive. Except for Hinata who was forced to tag along even though deep down, she had other stuff to do.
However, Ino had her eyes on Hinata and Naruto. Finding ways to get them to work together in the games. Sara and Sakura did tried stopping that but they find themselves wanting the prizes for their own. So many stuff animals, that were too cute to avoid.
"Uh! I was so close!" Sakura stated.
"Ahah! Winner!" Sara scream with joy.
Naruto also won the shooting game where he had to make three bottles fall over in one shot. He surprised himself. He just shot without thinking. He was given a unicorn stuff animal. He didn't have any sisters and Hinata did seem mesmerized by the animal.
"Here" Naruto said giving to her.
"O-oh you don't want it?" Hinata said with a slight blush, surprised.
"Nope" he said simply.
"Thank you Naruto" Hinata said with a smile.
Ino witness the moment but there wasn't a smile or anything. She blankly watched them smiling at each other feeling a sense of worry. She felt a few words got stuck in her throat. She shakes her head and put on a smile.
"Let's move on to the next one" Ino said softly.
The sun was slowly setting. Everyone enjoyed the games even though some were rigid. In the end, they all were smiling. Well almost. Ino was walking behind the others looking a little lost in her thoughts. She couldn't explain what was making her feel so odd. The more vendors they went to, the feeling grew more.
The all reached the exit.
"Man, that was fun" Naruto said stretching his arms up.
This was exactly what he needed. He didn't think he would enjoy himself at the beginning. He was to focus on Kabuto and how he wasn't able to do anything. The feeling was weighing him down but now, he has a clear decision from before.
"It really was.." Sara said smiling. "This was a great idea Ino-"
Sara turns to her and noticed she wasn't paying attention to them. Ino felt her eyes on her and quickly snapped out of her trance.
"Ya" Ino said putting on a smile.
"It's to bad the fireworks aren't happening tonight" Sakura said looking up at the night sky.
"They said the night before the last day, the fireworks will happen" Naruto exclaims.
"I can't wait to see them" Hinata said feeling excited.
"Everyone can't" Sakura responds and glances at Sara who was looking at Ino who didn't seem like she was with them.
"Hi Ino, what are the plans for tomorrow" Naruto spoke to her.
She didn't answer right away. It was a few seconds until she could respond.
"There is still more to do here…" Ino replies. "More to explore and-"
Ino's shifted her gaze to Hinata then to Naruto. There was something she wanted to say. It kept getting stuck in her throat.
"And?" Naruto asked raising his eyebrows.
"A-and to eat" Ino finishes.
"We need Choji for that...which reminds me..where did he and Sasuke run off too" Naruto states.
"I don't even know," Sara said. "But it's getting late...let's head home and rest for tomorrow"
"Your right" Naruto said yawning.
"Do you agree, Ino?" Sara asked her, looking her in the eyes.
"Ya" She nods with a plain expression.
Something was wrong with Ino but she doesn't know what.
OOO
Tuesday
A parade was passing through the festival. There was a band playing a cheerful song along with dancers following them. There were two dancers that stood out mainly because one of them was juggling fire sticks. The girl next to him was wearing an outfit that showed her belly and most of her legs. She had bond twin tails. There was a huge dragon float being moved around by multiple people underneath it.
Everyone in the festival was looking at the parade with amazement. Naruto was standing on the sidelines with his eyes focus on the crimson dragon float. The image reminded him of the rogue hero.
Hinata was enjoying the parade as well but felt out of place. She is a shy type and the only time she is around more people is when she is asked to help them on stuff. She is happy that Ino invited her but does feel like there was another reason why she did. Hinata glances at Ino seem like she was deep in thought. Her eyes might be staring at the parade but her expression didn't seem focus on it. Reminds her of another person.
Sara and Sakura as well notice the shift in Ino's attitude. This could be a good thing. Which is why, what they can do now is enjoy.
"Ouch! Watch it!" said the blond dancer to the pink haired male who accidentally made a stick fall on her foot.
"Tch...your moving to much!" he stated.
"Seems like an argument is about to break out" Sakura stated.
"Doesn't seem like it" Sara said looking at the two in the parade.
Everyone turn their attention at the two. The blond and the male continued their job with smiles. However, the mistake was made again but this time, the pink haired boy was able to save the blond by dropping the rest of the sticks and grabbed hold of her waist, shifting her body to a different direction before the stick fell on her foot. The quick motion made the four eyes widen a bit.
It looked like a prince was holding a princess. It felt magical like time froze around the two. Naruto gain a flashback seeing the two, reflecting back to the rogue hero. Time continued moving. While everyone in the parade was moving forward, the two shared a nervous smile and started walking with the crowd.
"Woah" Sakura said softly.
"That was smooth" Sara states.
"Hey!"
The four turned around hearing someone wanting their attention. It was a slim male who had a smile handing them a flyer.
"The garden is opening this afternoon, we hope you can come" the guy said smiling.
"Oh right" Hinata said softly remembering about this event.
"Hinata, do you know about this event?" Sara asked.
"Ya, its a garden connected to the forest. There are a few trails you can walk on and explore the garden...I was planning to go-" Hinata said until someone interrupted her.
"Lets go then...right now" Ino said quickly already walking.
"Um but-" Hinata said softly wanting to finish but saw everyone following Ino.
"Are you coming?" Naruto asked Hinata who slowly nodded.
The garden wasn't so far from where they were. Sakura notice during the walk a few couples were heading in the same direction. She could see many holding hands, the girl holding their partners arm. It was romantic. Come to think of it, this garden might be the best place to go on a date. When Sakura connected the dots she quickly looks at Sara who looked back with the same expression.
Before they could say anything, they were shocked to see a beautiful sight. There was indeed a couple of paths to take. There were grass hedges outlining each bath covered with different coloured floors. There was a white wall fence with the entrance sign on it. Butterflies could be seen flying in different directions. A little further down, they could see a bed of coloured flowers. It extends into the forest where people could be seen walking in. To make it even more beautiful, there was a small river stream flowing underneath the bridge leading in a different location.
"Wow this is-" Ino said softly and saw a couple walk past her.
Then another on her right. The two couples were going on a different path. They looked happy which stung her chest. "Why?" Ino thought with a dazed expression.
"This is...beautiful" Naruto said with wide eyes.
"How far does this go" Sara said trying to see in the distant.
"Why not find out" said a familiar voice.
This voice made Ino jolt from her spot. Naruto glances over his shoulder to see Neji and Sai together. Everyone else turned. Sara and Sakura awkwardly smiled at them thinking, "Well can this get any better"
"Ino" Neji said in a serious tone causing Ino to flinch.
"Go with me into the garden?"