• Chapter Six •

"Yaruka," the hokage spoke, shattering the silence of their walk to return into town, "I assume you don't have acquired shelter, nor currency to survive?" He turned to face the small boy, who bit his lip in realisation at his own state of living. A finger stretched upward to stroke his lower lip, as he shook his head hesitantly.

"I don't, please accept my apology for this inconvenience." The boy bowed his head momentarily, before earning a soft snort from the sage beside him.

"Well mannered brat."

"I will see to fitting you into a vacant apartment, though I hope you understand you will have to repay our efforts with a way of working." Sarutobi raised a brow, to analyse the childs reaction, who only bowed yet again, though to disguise his childish grin.

"I understand, Lord Hokage, Master Jiraiya. Thank you, I really mean it!"

•••

Clothes shopping hadn't been as simple as he remembered. Once the toad sage had guided the boy through the streets, the address of his apartment being the destination, he had leant a small portion of coins, mumbling a swift "get yourself something, and give that damn brat his clothes back." - of course, the brat being Naruto. Yaruka couldn't thank him enough, bowing and nodding and apologising for his inconvenience, until the sage himself had to raise his voice. Though, only the second day had passed, it had felt as if the memories were from over the years, as he was merely a guest in this world, watching from above, collecting the inhabitants emotions.

Yaruka roamed the array of clothing, viewing assortments of shirts and jackets, though a reminder that he hadn't the slightest idea on fashion, or what suited him, crowded his shopping trip. In his arms, he only held a skin tight turtle neck - though will clearly be seen as oversized on the boys small frame - which only deemed appropriate for a ninja in his eyes. He gazed at the fabric in his grasp, his fingertips running over the thin material, as he held it up to view it sincerely; nothing special about it, the material being black and airy, loose, as if made for the purpose of ninja, which Yaruka found simply magnificent. He smiled tp himself, returning it to his clutches, as he simple roamed to view the choice of jackets to wear over it.

The raven haired boy strolled through a later aisle, somewhat at the back of the small shop, and hadn't needed a chance to even view his options. His eyes were immediately drawn to a satin-like apparel to the sleeves; a jacket hung almost too fear from his reach, the deepness lf the black radiating within the stores light. The sleeves were sleek, and bore a beautiful gold at the cuffs, the same gold being sewn into the body of the jacket, a dull yet beautiful glow to its appearance. He knew at an instant he'd have to be wise when choosing apparel for his lower area, the moment he payed for his desired outfit leaving him with only a few coins to spare. He hummed as he left the store, a satisfaction to his lips, though an anxiousness to his stomach. He glanced upward at his own uncomfortable state, adopting the accustomed feeling of 'ruining' - as he called it - the story so carelessly. His eyes ran over a particular blonde girl, bags in hand, as she wandered the busies roads.

"Hey, Ino!" Yaruka called from the store front, waving his hand stretched far above his head, the girls attention easily snatched from her business. As the two locked to each others eyes, the girl averted her gaze eagerly, attempting to disguise the rising pink over her cheeks with the shelter of her hair. Oh no, Yaruka's stomach hummed without a hunger, this is the sickening sensation I was supposed to avoid. He trudged forward to close the large gap between the two, and at further inspection, the flower from previous events still remained in her hair. "Are you on a break?"

"I suppose so." She nodded, her hands gripping the bags in front of her, a simpleness to her words. Yaruka copied her movements, though averted his hands to scratch his bottom lip, his fingernail stroking the skin.

"Um, Ino?" Yaruka spoke after a brief silence, the girl's eyes fixed on the boy in front of her. "If it's not too much to ask, do you happen to know where this is?" He tugged a small portion of torn paper from the depths of the pockets owned by Naruto's shorts, which then he noticed how much his clothing horribly clashed. He urged the parchment towards the girl, who only gazed at it, before nodding in confirmation.

"I do, but isn't a man supposed to walk the lady home?" Her hands moved to sit upon her hips, a forced pout to her lip. Yaruka smiled at her attempt to appear uninterested in the boy, even though her blush and lingering stares said otherwise. The sickness within his stomach had forced him to regret the kind gesture he had paid toward her, the lingering pain sending pangs to the rest of his body. He only bowed in response.

"I'll repay the favour one day, I promise. It's just I only just arrived here, and it is a little embarrassing to ask, but-" Ino interrupted his rambling with a tap of her foot, and a small demand to stand up, which he did.

"It's not a problem." She shrugged, turning away from the boy with a wave of her wrist. "So, what are you shopping for?" She began at a slow pace, Yaruka only needing to hop forward in order to meet at her level.

"Actually, I need help on that too..." He laughed sheepishly, his finger returning to his lips.

"Do you boys know how to do anything for yourselves?" Ino scoffed, hiding her face from the boy beside her. Yaruka shook his hands furiously, his bag of the two articles of clothing nearly slipping from his wrists.

"It's just clothes!" He defended himself with a snort, returning the grudged behaviour, though ensuring the tinge of playfulness. "I need to know where I can buy shorts, that's all!" Ino only humphed at his words, and gestured for the both of them to turn.

"Follow me then, if I'm taking you to that place then we might as well just stick together." Her words spoke quickly, almost in forced annoyance. At that moment, the illness of the boy's stomach had dissipated, and replaced itself with a bundle of butterflies.

"Thanks, Ino."