Well it's another update, I'm averaging about once a week, usually Tuesday, which is a lot slower than my other story I know, but this one has a fairly complicated plot and alot more characters to keep in mind. So, trying trying for the quality with this one.
It's the promised date between Naruto and Sakura! But in the end it becomes all about Kiba and Hinata.
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Obligations, links of chain and friendship.
Asa's Iron Petals clothes shop, Konoha.
Asa watched amused as the blond haired ninja turned this way and that, trying for all the world see his behind in his new pants. Her clothing shop was small and the prices were modest, but she had a reputation for being able to perform almost any retouches you wanted. An extra kunai strap which wouldn't show a bulge? A little added armour deguised as just another frill? Asa was an old hand at it all. Though the majority of her cliental were female ninja there were the occasional male ninja who were looking for ninja gear with a little class. Asa made it a policy not to judge her client's tastes, take those hideous (though highly effective) body suits that she had to make specially for Gai-san and his student Lee.
This client however was very interesting. Almost a year ago he'd been dragged in here by another very good client, young Ino-chan. At first he'd been most unwilling, but suddenly he'd changed his mind. Now he came back regulary, asking for another set of 'those orange pants you make me' he would whisper embarrassed. But once she'd taken out another pair, made specially for him, he would brighten and dash into the changing rooms. Like he'd done today. But today he'd dragged two friends into the shop.
The first was a boy of his own age, dark, sombre looking but definately classically handsome. Now there was someone she wouldn't mind dressing. He stood like a natural model, long legs, tapered body, a casual air that said I could wear a potato sack and still look hotter than any other man in the room. At the moment he wore a black non sleeved top with a high collar which set off the perfect pallor of his skin. Completmented by black long shorts, a few well placed matt silver buckled straps across his chest, elbow protectors, leg and arm wraps the young man screamed defensive. Asa loved reading people by their clothes.
The other was a pretty girl the same age, soft pink hair, bright green eyes, clear skin. She had a nice way of moving though she, like most female ninja, walked just a little too mannishly for Asa's tastes. A slender muscled body, not too tall, not too short, well defined legs, little feet. She wore a short black underskirt, with a shorter red side split skirt over top. A large belt added a little more of a feminine curve to a hipline still too young and well exercised to show any belling shape. Unlike her own hips Asa thought ruefully. A fitted net short sleeved top was covered by a sleeveless partially opened short red jacket. Smallish breasts gave a little curve to a body that was otherwise honed into a weapon. Asa noted the way the jacket lifted and presented the girl's chest. Obviously the girl was trying to enhance her femine look, perphaps she was self concious about her lack of womenly curves. But the young female ninjas often bloomed later than their normal counterparts. An inescapable fact when you lived a training schedule that would often put a professional athelete to shame.
"Sasuke, eh! Sasuke, come here." The blond ninja, 'Naruto' Asa recalled, called to his friend the black dressed boy.
The boy rolled his eyes towards the blond, a bored look on his face. Pushing off from the wall the boy strolled over. It wasn't until he'd passed her that Asa saw that he too wore a konoha forehead protector. So he really was a ninja and not just a dress alike wannabe. He wore his forehead protector looped around his back pouch, half hidden. Strange. Noticing that the girl was looking closely at a particularly chest enhancing top, Asa moved towards her to offer some free advice.
"Eh Sasuke, " Naruto whispered.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the quietness of the whisper, but noticing the furtive looks Naruto kept shooting at Sakura he obligingly leaned in.
"Whaddya think of the pants? Do they make my butt look good?" Naruto looked at him earnestly.
Sasuke wondered if glaring at Naruto would answer the question, but knowing from experience that it wouldn't Sasuke sighed.
"Why don't you just ask Sakura? She's the one you want to impress anyway." Turning and walking away, Sasuke could almost feel the heat of the blush eminating from behind him.
Naruto stood, face a hot red, turning over the idea in his head. Poinking his fingers together he tried to remind himself that such a question would probably not get an affirmative answer from his Sakura-chan, however, it would get him knocked into next week. Whatever progress he'd made recently, he felt he'd not earned him the right to ask her something like that. They'd shared a kiss, but that had been almost a month ago, and nothing had developed since.
They continued their traditional noodle meetings, training sessions, and free days spent hanging out doing nothing much. But as for getting into some very hot action together was still way in the outer stratesphere of possibilities. But Naruto was ever hopeful. After all he was a heart throb now too. He just had to keep reminding himself that.
Following Sasuke, Naruto grinned at him unfazed by Sasuke's patented 'you are a bug in my way' look. Using a low voice he said.
"Sasuke, you know I can't say that to Sakura-chan. She'd punch me for sure." His blush got hotter.
"But you could!" his grin widened. "Sakura-chan wouldn't mind if you asked her, and then you could tell me her answer. An' then if she said no, I could get the hot pants instead!"
Sasuke slid sideways a little before he managed to catch himself.
"H-h-hhot pants?" Sasuke gaped at Naruto. "Whaddya mean hot pants?"
"Well, I'm wearing these butt pants to get Sakura-chan to notice me right." Naruto looked earnestly into Sasuke's face.
Slowly Sasuke nodded.
"Well they worked real well, so I thought, if I listened to Ino's advice once I could do it again. She said hot pants would really get Sakura interested in me."
Sasuke waited for Naruto's twisted logic to find its way through into the light of clear day.
"Idiot, she's not interested in you because you wear..."Sasuke stumbled on the word 'butt pants', how stupid could you get? "...those pants." He finished.
Naruto looked confused.
"But... after I started wearing these, she started..." Naruto started to say, craning his head over his shoulder staring at the back of the magic Sakura attracting pants.
Sasuke punched him lightly in the stomach.
"Moron, just take the pants and let's get the hell out of here, before Sakura finds something to try on."
Shaking his head, Sasuke wondered how Naruto could be so dense. It wasn't the pants, or the 'heart throb' tips he said he picked up from Jiraya-sama's books that had really moved Naruto into Sakura's inner circle. Naruto had changed alot from the rude, over active, under intelligent boy he'd been. Though Sasuke was having second thoughts about increasd intelligence. Naruto actually thought Sakura was hanging out with him because of a pair of butt hugging pants?
Watching Naruto pay for the pants Sasuke wondered how much longer he was expected to waste his time following them around. Sakura had re-started her 'spend time with Sasuke' mission. Every free day he was expected to eat lunch with them then pass a little time running errands. Normal days she contented herself with having him train beside them, or at least within yelling distance so they could again eat lunch together. Missions were the sole time she wasn't trying to drag him about by the heels. Sasuke couldn't figure out what Naruto thought of all this trying to force them together all the time. Everytime he saw Sakura, Naruto was almost certainly not far, everyone in town knew about Naruto's crush on Sakura.
Occasionally he felt bad that he was still standing between Naruto and Sakura. Afterall if Sakura finally turned her full attention to Naruto that would leave her less time to waste on him. And any idiot could see that Naruto was totally lost on her, and any idiot (except Sakura) could see she'd be better off with Naruto than him.
She doesn't deserve to get hurt again by a bastard like you Sasuke. Naruto is the one who should be here.
Shivering at the cold voice of that thought, Sasuke started to prepare his excuse to get away.
Glancing over at Sasuke, Sakura sadly noted the distant look on his face, the way he unconsiously flicked his eyes to the shop door. Sighing she stopped her search for new clothes and walked over to Sasuke. Naruto joined her his old stained pants in a paper bag.
"Sasuke-kun, don't forget about training tommorrow morning." Sakura said giving him her 'cute' smile. Sasuke looked at her unsure.
"Yeah, I'll be on time. Uh I have to.."
"Naruto and I have a few more errands to run, I'm sure you'll find them boring, so I guess we'll see you tomorrow." Grabbing Naruto's hand she turned on her heel and dragged the confused ninja out into the sunlight and down the street.
Blinking furiously in the strong light she released Naruto's hand, raising her suddenly empty hand to her watering eyes. When she didn't hear Naruto following her, Sakura turned her head confused. A few steps behind her Naruto stood, his cheeks a bright red, his eyes on the ground.
"Naruto?" Sakura asked confused.
Naruto stared at his hand as if in wonder.
"Uh, Sakura-chan..." He started his voice filled with strange warm things. "Gee, I didn't think, wow, right in public...like that."
"Naruto, what are you babbling about?" Sakura asked.
"You, took my hand like that, right in front of Sasuke and all those people. And then we walked down the street... together." Naruto said scratching his head in embarrassment.
He looked up suddently his thousand watt smile shining.
"How about noodles tonight? My treat!"
Sakura turned Naruto's behaviour over in her head. It was true that Naruto was very shy about touching in public, but after all they'd kissed, once. He was silly to get this embarrassed about being dragged down the street by the wrist. Still, he was really cute with that blush over his cheeks as he waited for her reply. The familiar light feeling filled her chest as she looked at him. A germ of a fun idea sprouted in her head.
"Noodles? What kind of date is that?" Putting one hand on her hip, Sakura flipped her hair looking at him scornfully.
Naruto looked completely lost.
"Date? You want to go on a date?" He babbled, suddenly swinging between worry at her angry look and giddy surprise that she'd said it was to be a date.
Usually if he said it was a date she pummeled him and said they were just friends. Now she was saying it was a date, it had to be the new butt pants. Everytime he wore new ones good things happened, thank you butt pants!
Sakura felt a smile tugging on her lips. To hide it she dropped her head and looked at the ground dissapointment on her face, her hand curled in front of her mouth. A shimmer of tears in her eyes.
"Don't you want to go on a real date with me Naruto-kun?" She whispered.
"Eh!" Naruto spluttered, she'd called him Naruto-kun again! She hadn't done that since that night.
"No! No, uh yes! Yes!" Naruto shook his head. "It's a date!"
"Oh Naruto-kun, I'm so happy. There's a festival tonight you know. The Autumn Lantern parade is going to pass by the river. I'd really like to go." Sakura fixed her eyes on his hopefully.
"Sure, we'll go to see the parade, and then we'll go have noodles afterwards!" Naruto said excited.
Sighing on the inside at his noodle fixation Sakura let it slide, Naruto would always be Naruto. She fixed him with a stare which contradicted her previous shy look.
"You better not dissapoint me tonight Naruto, or I may never speak to you again." Leaving him a terrified look climbing on his face Sakura rushed home with that strange giddy feeling in her chest.
Two different emotions warred inside Naruto, complete elation at his first Sakura admitted official date, and terror as he remembered he didn't really have a clue what to do. In a case as desperate as this there was only thing to do. Ino to the rescue! Naruto-kun!
Yamanaka Flower shop
Inside the flower shop was cool and fragrant. A man stood bored at the counter. His long blond ponytail reminded him of someone but Naruto couldn't place the resemblance.
"Hey, is Ino in?" Naruto asked briskly, he didn't have anytime to waste.
The man looked him up and down, eyes lingering on the pants and net shirt a suspicious look in his eye. Naruto puffed out his chest at the suspicion, thinking about trying to clap the rude shopkeeper on the head.
"Sorry, she hasn't gotten back from her long term mission yet." Crossing his arms the shopkeeper drew up to full height, at least a head and half taller than Naruto.
"Yeah? Well when is she gonna be here?" Naruto asked drawing himself up as tall as he could get.
"Couldn't say, why do you want to know?"The shopkeeper added a glare to his pose.
"Gotta a date tonight." Naruto said glaring back.
The shopkeeper pounded his palms flat on the countertop eyes promising death, muscles straining.
"You! A date!" He practically screamed.
A sound of rushing feet could be heard behind the separating curtain.
"Hey! Yeah I got a date!" Naruto said angry that this idiot thought it that surprising he had a date, he was a heart throb after all.
"Over my dead body she's going on a date with you!" the shop keeper yelled fist clenched in Naruto's face.
Drawing back a little frightened by this crazy guy, Naruto wondered if there was still time to wait outside. Ino's head popped through the curtain.
"Dad! What are you doing to Naruto?" She demanded.
Both heads whipped around to face her. Her Dad turned back to Naruto.
"Naruto? So your name is Naruto, I'll have it carved onto your gravestone!" Ino's Dad promised.
"What? You're insane old man, ain't no way you can take me, I'm a Kononha Chunin."
Naruto warned jaw clenched, fist an instant away from flying into Ino's Dad's face. Before Ino's Dad could reply Ino had grabbed his ponytail and was dragging him backward behind the curtain.
"Dad, you're so embarrassing! Leave him alone!" She hissed dumping him into a kitchen chair before her mother.
"But Ino sweetie, how could you break your father's heart and date a guy that wears butt pants? How could you date?" He whined grabbing his daughter by the wrists to prevent her flying away into the big world of adulthood.
"Mum?" Ino pleaded to the women behind him.
Obligingly the women cracked the man over the head with a saucepan. Crouching over the prone body Ino touched the bump gently.
"I'm not dating him, he's trying to date Sakura. I'm helping him get it right. And the 'butt pants' as you called them were my idea. And they're called 'fitted', not butt pants." Not waiting to help her mother apply first aid Ino skipped out of the room, happy her secret was still a secret.
Naruto waited arms crossed, cheeks puffed out, eyes squinted trying to figure everything out.
"Hey Ino, I thought you were still on mission." He said as she bounced through the curtain, shoulder length hair swinging.
Ino sighed.
"What's this about a date Naruto?" She asked wanting to get to the point.
Naruto smiled blushed and scratched his head at the same time.
"Heh, these butt pants finally got me a date with Sakura-chan. She actually asked me."
Ino grinned.
Hah! I knew that forehead girl had hormones in her somewhere, just have to turn them up to drown out the ol' mouldy Sasuke fixation.
"Well what's the plan?" She asked leaning her elbows on the counter eyes glittering.
"Uh, well first there's a festival over in the east quarter, then it's back to Ichiraku for noodles!" Naruto explained.
"Oh no. Not noodles again!" Ino shook her head. "Naruto, this is your first date, you can't do the same thing as always. You have to branch out, this is your chance to show her that you really know how to show a girl a good time."
Drawing out a chair Ino motioned him into it.
"First things first, what are you going to wear?"
"Uh, this?" He said indicating his ninja outfit.
Ino shook her head.
"I'll bet you a thousand that Sakura's going to wear a yukata tonight. All we girls are." She tapped her lips thinking.
"You're going to go over to Kiba's and borrow an outfit from him, he's about your size. Next, you're going to take two bunches of flowers."
"Two?" Naruto asked frowning.
"Yes, one for Sakura, actually something for her hair or wrist, the other is for her mother. You're very lucky her father works out of town most of the time. You only have to impress her mother." While she talked Ino started wandering around the shop gathering a small handful of flowers.
"When you go to her house tonight, knock politely on the front door, give her mother the big bunch, and the little bunch to Sakura. Tell Sakura she looks very nice. Promise to bring her home early. If her mother asks you about your plans, tell her about the festival and then dinner afterwards. If she looks nervous tell her a bunch of us are planning to meet up for the festival." Moving back to the counter, Ino began constructing a bunch of flowers.
"Hey, noone's butting in on our date." Naruto complained.
"Of course not idiot, it's just to calm down her mother." Ino retorted absently fully concentrated on the flower arranging.
"You go to the festival, enjoy yourself, make sure you let her decide lots of things too. Then afterwards why don't you choose somewhere else to eat for a change? Go down to the west bank. It should be right next to the festival, there are alot of different little restaurants there. You can eat watching the river, with the moon over head, the fireflies flying."
A dreamy look came into her eyes.
" But don't go into the all you can eat Barbeque place. Uh they really rip you off." She asserted looking down at the finished bouquets.
Naruto wondered if he should write down some notes, his head hurt trying to hold it all in. Ino held out a small bunch of flowers.
"Here, it's for her hair. You slide it in on the comb, see?" Ino showed him a cleverly hidden comb underneath.
"Wow, it's really cool Ino. You're really good at this." Naruto said taking the comb delicately.
"Now get, you want to get to Sakura's house around 7.30pm, don't be late!" Ino called after the fast retreating back of Naruto. "Feh, what manners." She grumbled, happy to have helped out in the name of love.
Humming to herself she passed the tearful form of her father being comforted by her mother.
"Hey, Ino-sweetie, where are you going, I thought you might like to pass the evening with your dear ol' Dad." He called.
"No way! I'm going out with friends, there's a festival to see." Ino called back irritated.
His face crumpled even under the soothing hand of his wife.
"But I'd take you to the festival and I'd buy you what ever you want!" he pleaded.
"Sorry Daddikins, but I promised friends to meet up with them, you'd just cramp our style." Ino said cooly.
"Friends?" he asked suspicious. "Would any of them be male friends?" A dangerous edge
crept into his voice, her mother's hand crept towards the saucepan handle again.
"Yes Dad, from my team for one, and Hinata's team for another." Ino said taking her mother's place rubbing her father's shoulders.
"Oh, well I suspose they're alright. Are they alright?" He asked Mrs Yamanaka.
She nodded wordlessly.
"Tell you what, we can go out tomorrow Daddy, and we'll spend the whole day together." Ino promised mentally tallying the shops she wanted to visit.
Her father brightened and patted Ino's hand.
"That sounds good sweetie. Why don't you go get ready now?" Smiling he waved Ino out of the room, turning to face his wife he said,
"Uh, honey I'm just going over to see..."
"Sit!" His wife commanded. "You are not moving out of this house tonight, unless it's to take me to a movie!"
Grumbling he sat back down.
Inuzuka compound
"Oi! Kiba! Open up man!" Naruto pounded on the door.
He only had a little time to get ready, and get over to Sakura's house.
The door was yanked open by an older woman with Kiba's hair.
"Whadda you want you loud mouthed brat?" She barked at him.
"Gaaah! Eh, I need ta speak to Kiba, please." Naruto said sheepishly. "And quickly I have ta get ta Sakura-chan's house!"
"Ah, an emergency huh?" She motioned for Naruto to enter.
Naruto noticed that the entrance room was filled with junky looking half chewed shoes.
"I suggest you put your shoes up high. Really high, we have new puppies." Ignoring Naruto's look of surprise the woman yelled up some stairs.
"Oi, Kiba-chan. Get your butt down here, someone to see you. Some loud mouth."
Shrugging, she continued on her way into the house. Naruto stood confused one shoe off wondering if he should enter or wait there. Kiba's head poked over the stair banister.
"Hey Naruto! Thought I smelled noodles around here. Come on up, Ino's just called."
Kiba's head dissapeared for a second then returned just as quickly.
"Put your shoes up high, really high, we have new puppies." His head dissapeared again.
Quickly Naruto took off his shoes and tossed them up on a shelf. Running up the stairs he looked around for a clue as to which door was Kiba's. Akamaru's head poked through a door, taking it for an invitation Naruto pushed the door open. Kiba sat on the bed an adorable white coloured puppy sitting calmly in front of him, he had just finished tying a ribbon around it's neck and was trying to beat off two other puppies from chewing the ends.
"Crap! Naruto grab one of these little buttheads would you?" Kiba asked pushing one towards him.
"What's with the ribbon?" Naruto asked taking one and submitting to a tongue washing that left him laughing on the floor.
Kiba watched him a sideways grin on his face.
"Get up idiot, you better not ruin my outfit, Mum'll kill me." Walking over to a closet he started rummaging through the few outfits actually hung up, the others formed a pile on the floor.
"Oi, what's with the ribbon?" Naruto asked again, saving himself from the tongue washing by giving the puppy his hand to chew on.
"She's gonna be a present." Kiba mumbled.
For the first time Naruto noticed that Kiba was dressed in a blue yukata covered in white mountains.
"Eh, what's with the fancy dress?" He asked checking his hand to see if it was bleeding.
"It's not fancy dress, I'm going out to the festival tonight. I thought I'd get the ol' yukata out, Mum likes to see me wear it. It was present from my big sis." Kiba said too casually.
"Uh huh, and you're taking a puppy as a present. Hinata wouldn't be involved in this?" Naruto said an evil smile climbing onto his lips.
Kiba blushed.
"Eh? No you idiot. I just felt like wearing a yukata tonight and living it up at the festival. Not my fault if Hinata happens to be there too." A sly smile grew.
"Eh what ever, you have to help me with my date!" Naruto said standing up dumping the puppy onto the ground. "Ino said I hadda borrow an outfit from you." Naruto looked Kiba up and down critically.
"Yeah I know, you finally got your first real date."
Kiba stood up holding out an orange coloured yukata, this one had dark blue borders and little white fish swimming around the hem. A matching pair of orange pants were with them.
"This one came from my grandmother." Kiba regarded it a little while. "And she actually expected me to wear it."
Naruto looked at it sceptically.
"That's a great date outfit?" Naruto moved closer to expect it.
The puppy followed him attached to his ankle.
"Better than those mother scaring pants you're wearing now." Kiba said firmly. "Look Naruto, I know about scary parents, ya gotta tone down the whle sex symbol thing you're trying to pull when you're around them. The last thing Mrs Haruno wants to think is that your trying to jump into her daughter's pants."
Kiba tossed the yukata to Naruto who still looked at it sceptically. A pair of sandals followed still in their plastic sac.
"I have shoes you know." Naruto said trying to degage chewing puppies from his body.
"Probably not anymore." With this cryptic warning Kiba pushed him towards the stairs.
"Now get going I gotta finish getting ready."
Naruto walked down the stairs to find his shoes. His shoes were no where to be found but there were traces of blue leather here and there.
"Told you." Kiba's voice floated down. "REALLY high."
The festival
Standing on the bridge next to Sakura, Naruto munched happily on his squid on a stick. Sakura prefered to wait for dinner. Glancing over at her Naruto grinned. Sakura-chan was even more beautiful tonight than normal. She wore a light green yukata with a cherry flower pattern(just as Ino had predicted,) with her hair held back by a green silk ribbon with cherry flower decorations. And sitting just behind her right ear was the flower comb, put there by Naruto's shaking fingers.
I wish I had one of Ero-senin's books here. I could sure use a hand.
Sakura's eyes were busy scanning the crowd of festival goers looking to see if any of their friends were in sight. Naruto contented himself to stare at Sakura out of the corner of his eye while pretending to watch the floating laterns on the river. There was one particulary pretty latern right there next to the little cloud of insects flying towards him. Which reminded him Shino had been away a few days now... Naruto interuppted his train of thoughts to bat at the small cloud of insects currently hovering in front of his face. Before Sakura could turn her head to ask Naruto what he was doing, Ino appeared in the crowd before her with Chôji, Kiba and Hinata. Hinata was hugging a white puppy who was asleep in her arms. Kiba was wearing a big grin.
"Ino!" Sakura said happily.
Ino gave her an appraising look. Nodding in satifaction that Sakura was dressed as if on a real date, she smiled happily at Sakura.
"Wow that's a great outfit Ino." Sakura said a touch of jelousy in her voice.
She could never look as polished as Ino, Ino had an inner sense of style that had started when she was still a little girl. Ino was dressed in a turquoise blue yukata with green and gold flower patterns, her hair was twisted into a complicated looking bun and threaded through with flowers, she drew admiring looks from men and women all around them. Hinata was dressed much more modestly in a white and grey yukata with cloud patterns, as becomes the inheriter of the Hyûga clan her maids had told her while they chose her outfit. She had been allowed no makeup or jewellery for this 'outing without strict supervision'. Chôji looked smart in a plain black yukata with grey touches and his habitual scarf. His 5,9 frame easily towering over everyone else.
All the while Naruto was being harrassed by the cloud of insects which hovered easily out of reach dodging his swipes and trying to get even closer. Naruto tried to discreetly smell himself wondering if maybe he hadn't washed enough, or if it was the cheap deoderant he'd chosen. The insects took the chance to swoop in and drop something before him. Out of reflex he caught it. A small ear piece lay on his palm, for a long moment he looked at it dumbly. Suddenly Kiba was beside him. Glancing sideways Naruto noted that Sakura was surrounded by their friends effectively blocking her from sight.
"Put it in man, watta ya waitin' for?" Kiba hissed.
"Eh? Kiba? What's goin' on?" Naruto asked, confused as all hell.
Kiba looked at him with a one sided grin, showing a hint of fang.
"Put it in, we're gonna help you out. We figured you'd screw this up if we didn't watch out for you." Turning towards the others Kiba casually blocked Sakura's veiw of Naruto.
Quick as lightening Naruto slipped in the ear phone.
-Naruto? Can you hear me?- Shino voice sounded loud in his ear.
Covering his ear and trying to hide the motion behind Kiba at the same time, Naruto whispered back.
"Sure, that you Shino?"
-Yes, don't speak Naruto. Number one date rule, don't act like a nutcase. Just listen. We're going to be watching your date from now on, if we think somethings going wrong we'll give you some advice or try and help out.- Shino said.
"Yea-oops." Naruto stopped himself answering.
"Naruto? Are you ready?" Sakura was looking at him a little strangely.
"Sure Sakura-chan! Just watching the laterns. Heh heh." Naruto covered.
"Do you want to walk around some more? We haven't seen the right side yet." Sakura said.
"Uh...' Naruto paused to think.
-Go idiot! You haven't won her a prize yet!- Ino's voice hissed in his ear. Naruto jumped.
"Ino!" He said.
Sakura raised her eyebrows.
"In-a that case why don't we go down the right side?" Naruto finished feebly.
-Chicks dig gifts Naruto.- Kiba's voice said. –Number one date rule. That and do not piss off the big scary Daddy.-
Walking slowly they passed stand after stand packed with kids and parents. Occasionally Sakura would stop and say something Naruto would answer then silence would fall between them again.
-NARUTO! What are you doing? Say something you big dummy!- Ino's voice bounced around his skull.
-Keep your voice down Ino.- Shino said. –Naruto don't you know how to have a conversation?-
How d'ya want me ta answer, Sakura-chan's right there. Naruto thought furiously.
-Hey Naruto don't sweat it, just ask about her work at the hospital. Chicks love talking about themselves.-
-HEY!-
-Ino, talk quietly.- This time Chouji's voice floated down the wire. -Ask Sakura about her work, it'll show you're interested in her. Showing interest in a girl for more than her body is the number one date rule.-
His head turning from so much conflicting advice. Naruto turned to try and say something to Sakura. She stood under a tree, its firey red leaves falling slowly around her. She was lit by a string of laterns in the lower branches of the tree. Her head was tilted back, her lips parted in a soft smile. Naruto forgot how to breathe, his heart started to pound strangely. She looked more beautiful than ever.
-Oh Sakura, you are the most beautiful girl in the world!- Hissed Chôji.
-No! Say something more poetic!- This from Ino.
-Nah, poetry's for sissy boys. Tell her you think she looks hot.- Kiba suggested.
-Compare her to a summer's day! A flower, a star, a bloody kitten, say something idiot!- Ino wailed.
-Naruto shut your mouth and stop drooling.- Shino suggested. This Naruto did, shaking his head.
Have to take advantage of the situation! Do like in Ero-sennin's books!
Putting what he hoped was a suave look on his face, Naruto slicked back his hair again (okay he ran his hands over his hair which only sprang straight back up again) and approached Sakura.
"Ne, Sakura-chan, those leaves sure look pretty next to you." Naruto said slidling up in what he hoped was a cool way.
A collective groan was heard over the ear piece. Sakura cast her head around confused.
"I'm sure I heard something just now, like the wind moaning or something. Weird." Sakura frowned ignoring what Naruto had just said.
She almost sighed at the way her head kept turning over her conversation with Sasuke-kun that afternoon. Firmly deciding to live in the moment, at least for that night, she brought her mind back to the present.
"Are you hungry?" Sakura asked smiling at Naruto.
Naruto smiled back.
"Yeah! Uh, where would you like to go?" Naruto asked, looking left and right for a romantic looking restaurant.
"How about the noodle stand over there?" Sakura offered pointing to a little stand set up in the shade of a wall next to a quiet stretch of river. "It's not Ichiraku's, but it's probably alright."
Naruto's tummy rumbled.
-No way Naruto! We worked too hard for you to take her to a noodle stand!- Ino's voice burst into his ear.
-Geez a little class man, take her somewhere you can sit down inside at least. Like Pizza!- Kiba said.
-Pizza? That's your idea of romantic date food?- Ino asked in a horrified voice.
-Hm, hm, Ino's right, All you can eat barbeque is much better!- Chouji added.
-An Achimichi knows food.- Shino said trying to keep the peace between the three chunnins. –However, perphaps a restuarant of Sakura's favourite food type would be a good choice?-
Silence met this last remark.
-Listen to Shino these other two are date-poison!- Ino said in a stridant voice.
Sakura shook her head.
"Naruto I think I'm going faint with hunger, I keep hearing things." Still shaking her head, Sakura looked at Naruto frozen on the spot by the conflicting advice.
Ino's last advice stopped the confusion.
"Gee Sakura-chan, I was kinda hoping we could eat your favourite food tonight. You know kinda makes a change, I mean we're always eating ramen when we're hanging out." Naruto said taking his courage in both hands.
"Now that we're on an official date and all, we should mark the occasion." He clasped both hands behind his head grinning like mad.
"An official date?" Sakura asked sounding confused.
Naruto's heart sank like a stone.
"Ne, Sakura-chan you said...'
Swift as lighting Sakura grabbed his hand with hers.
"If it's an official date then we should start acting like it no?" She teased a light blush on her cheeks.
Firmly she berated herself.
Sakura Haruno, how could you be such an ungrateful pig of a girl to almost ignore the kindest, most loyal, most trusting...,Sakura stopped her train of thought, that sort of thinking led to trouble. From here on I'm giving my full attention to the man beside me, and never mind the phantoms bothering me.
Naruto didn't even hear the quiet sounds of triumph coming from the earpiece, they weren't louder than the spinning in his head and the pounding of the blood in his body. Heat flushed his face, as it always did when someone showed him an open display of affection. Usually if he got a kind look or word from Iruka-sensei, publically he brushed it off didn't do to seem too desperate for attention from the old man.
But Sakura-chan, he wanted to rub that attention on him like a scent, wear it where ever he went, especially when the villagers kept giving him the cold shoulder. Wanted to rub it in their faces. Look! Someone loves me! She loves me, this fine, beautiful, smart, strong, respected, good women loves me! Loves Me! Naruto Uzimaki, the drop out, the loser, the Kyuubi carrier, I am worthy in her eyes!
His heart hurt a little from the dizzying falls and climbs of the day. But his smile never wavered, a warm feeling grew in Sakura's chest at that smile, a feeling she was careful not to examine too closely, that way led to madness.
"Wha-what ever you say Sakura-chan." Naruto said happy to simply hold her hand like that in public.
"Are you still hungry? I wouldn't mind some Okononimiyaki. That way you could choose a ramen one and I could choose a seafood one." Sakura turned still holding his hand in hers.
An instant of hesitation and then he was there beside her the most natural place in the world to be for him. Her hand fimly caught in his, his eyes turned to her face, his open heart there on his face saying love me I am yours, because truely, his face and heart didn't know what else to say to her. Sakura felt her heart squeeze and not in a good way. Because even with the best of intentions, even with half her heart leaning towards the smiling blond beside her, the other half was walking off towards a stern eyed, silent young man waiting all alone.
-Hey Kiba? Where are you going?- Shino's voice asked.
-Eh, nowhere, it's just I got something to do, he should be alright from now on. He's got you three afterall.- Kiba voice sounded rushed.
-I guess he noticed Hinata huh?- Ino asked a little later.
Naruto wondered what that meant, he wished could just chuck the earpiece out, but Sakura seemed to have her eyes glued on him now.
-I guess this has been coming for a while now.- Shino said the smallest note of worry in his usually emotionless voice.
-Do you think your team will...- Chôji started.
-I do not think anything of the sort.- Shino said curtly. –Shall we get back to helping Naruto, we can only save one love life at a time people.-
Naruto's head was still spinning with all this talk, teams, and Kiba and Hinata, and Shino sounding worried. It wasn't until Sakura wapped him on the head with the menu board that he realised it was time to order.
Konoha Public Gardens.
Kiba rounded the last corner in the winding path. At the end was a pagoda half covered in climbing plants who bloomed at night giving a soft perfume to the air from their delicate trumpet flowers. But that scent couldn't hide the one he was following. Sitting in the pagoda half hidden in the shade was Hinata, her head lowered, hands twisted together. At her feet Sada-chan sat whining trying to climb back up onto her mistress's lap.
Kiba slowed his walk until he stopped just outside the pagoda's entrance. He didn't have the courage to go any further. He'd seen her face earlier tonight, when she'd seen Naruto and Sakura together. He'd seen her sitting silently while they'd all given their best advice to Naruto, and seen her leave just as silently when Sakura had taken Naruto's hand.
He'd really thought he had a chance. Really thought that if he gave it his best, just like Naruto, that she would turn those white eyes on him. She was hurting, he could see that, she smiled so seldom. She bore without complaint hundreds of cuts big and small on her heart, he wanted to wipe them away. He wanted to stand between her and all the hurts of the world. He wanted to make her laugh with his antics, to brighten her strict, dark world. Let a little wildness in. He wanted her to look at him with those white eyes and smile, and know that he was the cause. He wanted to watch as her gentle hands soothed away hurts with just their tenderness, not the medical training that Sakura had. Wanted to protect her from all the world.
At the beginning Kiba was happy to look out for Hinata like a never had little sister. She was smaller, frailer, more timid. In his team it was his job to watch out for her. He thought she was funny for trailing around Konoha, reliving memories of Naruto. He remembered a time when he'd thought it was cute the way she idolised him, but he never thought it was serious. And then she seemed to forget Naruto, to concentrate on her team, on her training.
And that made Kiba happy, and then he looked at her one day and she smiled and he knew. It wasn't just that she happily accepted to spend time together with him. That whatever he wanted to do that day, she was happy to tag along making no complaints. No, oneday he started to realise it was important to him that they do what she wanted to do. That it was important that he knew what made her smile, so he could be it, what made her frown, so he could remove it from her world, what made her cry, so he could rip it to shreds.
He realised he was falling for her. Then the day when Naruto returned from training and Hinata had seen Naruto again, Kiba'd realised she hadn't fallen for him. It'd been hard to bury the feelings of hurt, of rejection. It'd made him colder towards Naruto than he should've been. But he'd decided to just keep on trying. Naruto still seemed oblivious to Hinata, and until he'd turned his eyes on Hinata, there was still a chance that she would tire of chasing after a man who never saw her.
Bitterness curled his lip, exposing the little fang that marked him an Inuzuka. Turning abruptly on his heel Kiba stumbled back as Sada sank her teeth into his sandle. An uncomfortable silence grew as Kiba tried to degage the stubborn puppy from his foot without crossing Hinata's gaze. The difficult task of two people in close proximity trying to pretend the other isn't there.
Finally Hinata sighed.
"Sada-chan, release." She commanded firmly making a come here motion with her hand.
Finally happy to have some attention Sada waddled on her fat little legs over to Hinata who picked her up. Kiba shifted from foot to foot.
"If you're going home I can walk you." He said stiffly.
Hinata shook her head, burying her face into the puppy's soft fur. Kiba looked up at the roof of the pagoda, a trailing stem of vine twined down, he wrapped it determinedly around his finger.
"You probably still have a chance."
Hinata didn't need an explanation to know what Kiba was referring to. She buried her face deeper into Sada-chan's back.
Angry Kiba yanked the little stem attached to his hand. The vine covered roof trembled dirt and leaves floating down. Autumn was here, Kiba reflected shaking himself like a dog to rid himself of the leaves. Hinata raised her head, taking advantage of Kiba's occupation to gaze at him with miserable eyes.
She'd never asked for this. Many would think her bad, she felt she was bad, ungrateful, worthless. Only, how could she turn from her feelings for Naruto? Since she'd first started school and met the eternal loser who never gave up, she'd felt something light in her. Something that for the first time in her life gave her hope, that made her think she could do something herself, something incredible. Something that made watching him magic. She watched him at first with a child's admiration and crush. As she'd grown she'd changed, put her admiration to real use and fought to gain his attention. Everything she did was to make herself worthy of him.
Then Naruto left, and Kiba started and things got confused. She'd never forgotton the way it felt to watch Naruto, the way he would smile even when failing. The way her heart would squeeze, her breath stop when he won. He was the living proof of the truth she stubbornly held on to. That even if you were born without talent, you could make the grade, you could be worth something if you worked. By trying, and trying, and trying, even she could beat a natural genius, even she could make her father glow with pride to call her daughter.
Feeling her normal stupor of weakness overcoming her, Hinata stood up swaying, Sada-chan held out at arms length.
"You should take her back." She whispered.
Kiba looked at the struggling puppy. He'd been so happy when Hinata'd accepted her. The shy smile on Hinata's face changing to giggles, as the puppy licked her face. The way Sada-chan wriggled in ecstasy as he explained that she would live with the nice smelling lady. It had seemed like a sign, and now she wanted to give Sada back. As if she could wipe her hands clean of him in one swoop.
Kiba shook his head, eyes glaring at the ground. No way she was just going to back out of their almost history of love. He knew she cared even a little for him, like he cared for her.
"She's yours now. Even if I took her she'd only try and go back to you." He raised his eyes anger glinting in them. "Don't you know once you accept a dog you can't just change your mind afterwards? It's with you for life."
"Ki-kiba-kun, I-I'm..." Hinata started arms still outstretched and tiring from their load.
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY YOU'RE SORRY!" he yelled, punching the side of the pagoda.
Leaves showered down on all three of them, Sada stopped squirming and whined at the anger in his voice. The pagoda gave an ominous creaking sound before the roof collasped.
Coughing from the dust, Hinata realised there was a crushing weight on her chest. Opening her eyes, she saw Kiba's face inches from her own, felt the warmth of Sada-chan trapped between them.
They were outside, safe on the ground. Kiba had grabbed her swung her around behind him and threw her out of the door, leaping after to cover her with his body. His eyes were still angry, his face red. For an instant Hinata thought he might be angry enough to kiss her without permission, for an instant she wondered what it would feel like. Then she buried her lower face into Sada-chan to remove the chance, closing her eyes desperately.
Kiba saw the move. He grinned savagely, and leaned his face in closer so that when he spoke his lips moved against the skin of her cheek.
"You keep her. She was my gift to you."
Wrenching himself away he hurled himself into the night with a howl. Somewhere in the darkness Akamaru answered.
Lying motionless on the ground, Hinata raised her hand to touch her cheek gently. Her fingers came away wet. Putting them to her lips she tasted salt, and she knew it wasn't hers.
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Relationships are hard. How ever will these things work out! heh heh. Only the author knows!