Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! I'm taking part in the Valentine's Day Show Me the Love One Shot Challenge organised by fellow writer fanofthisfiction. Please hop over to her profile to read more about it and check out the other participating writers. I only ask that if you do read their stories, to please leave a review as a mark of appreciation.
Summary: Naruto finds himself running away from... wait. Roses?
Appreciation: Thank you to fanofthisfiction for inviting me to her Valentine's Day challenge!
Warnings: AU, spoilers for Shippuden up to the Fourth Ninja War, possible OOC-ness.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
- Story Start -
Today is a beautiful day, bright and sunny with a crisp chill in the air. Naruto Uzumaki wishes he doesn't have to venture outdoors, but alas he does. His cupboards and fridge are empty, just like his belly.
He regrets his decision the moment he steps into town which is awash with banners, decorations, flowers and ribbons as far as the eye can see, proudly proclaiming what day it is.
"I suppose Valentine's Day is fun if you have someone to spend it with," he says with a shake of his head. "Otherwise..."
He decides not to complete that sentence. He also decides not to go anywhere near the Yamanaka Flower Shop lest he's badgered into buying something, but it doesn't matter.
Schoolgirls from one of the civilian elementary schools are stationed at every corner with laden baskets on their arms, hawking flowers to anyone going by. The one approaching him looks to be around ten years old, hair caught up in two pigtails with a determined glint in her eyes. She shoves a rose in his face.
"A rose for your girlfriend!"
"… I uh, don't have one."
"For your sister!'
"I'm an only child."
"For your mother!"
"She's no longer around."
"For your father!"
"I'm an orphan," Naruto yelps as he backs away. Turning around, he beats a hasty and shameful retreat by ducking into the nearest alley.
"For your pet!" The girl yells after him.
Naruto doesn't think that Kurama would appreciate being given a flower.
I am NOT your pet, Naruto! Nor anyone's!
"Ahh, sorry, Kurama. I panicked, you know."
Huh. Says one of the strongest shinobi in the Leaf.
Naruto gives a sheepish grin now that Kurama sounds more amused than annoyed. He peeps out to see the same schoolgirl accosting Kiba Inuzuka.
"A rose for your girlfriend!"
"I don't have one."
"For your sister!'
"I'm not wasting my hard earned money on Hana-nee-san. She can buy her own roses."
"For your mother!"
"Do you know Special Jonin Tsume Inuzuka? She'll eat me for wasting my money."
"For your father!"
"Gah, stop pestering me!" Kiba backpedaled rapidly, a whining Akamaru doing the same beside him.
"For your pet!"
"Hey, Akamaru's my best friend!"
Ducking back again, Naruto tiptoes to the other end of the alley, utilising full ninja stealth mode. When he peeps out, there's no basket-toting schoolgirl in sight, but the glorious, eye gladdening sight of Ichiraku Ramen just across the road.
And it's open for business!
Naruto is positive that if he were an anime character, his eyes would be sparkling right now. He makes a beeline for the place and ducks under the short curtain.
"Hey, old man Teuchi!"
"Naruto, my first customer. The usual?"
"Yes, please," Naruto declares with feeling. Just one slurp of that hot, delicious broth and all would be right with his world. Oh man, he can taste it on his tongue already...
"Sorry to keep you waiting." A beaming Teuchi places a steaming bowl of soupy heaven in front of Naruto.
"Thank you, this looks great. Itadakimas!"
"For your girlfriend!" A rose is shoved in Naruto's face, causing him to choke on his first spoonful of broth. He goes into a coughing fit as the soup spoon drops back into the bowl.
"Hey, no disturbing my customers," Teuchi scolds, flapping his tea towel at the little menace. "Be off with you."
"B-but - Uncle Ramen!" The schoolgirl's round eyes fill with tears and the lower lip sticks out.
"Well..." Teuchi scratches the back of his head and adjusts his cap. "Tell you what. You wait outside and ask Naruto here to buy a flower when he leaves, alright?"
"Will do, Uncle Ramen!" The girl chirps, tears and pout miraculously vanishing. She heaves her basket onto the counter. "Meanwhile, a rose for your wife!"
"Eh, she's no longer around."
"For your daughter!"
"She's busy."
"No, I'm not and I'd love to have a rose!" Ayame pops up beside Teuchi. She directs a swift wink at Naruto before rooting through the basket, inspecting each one and insisting that she wants the most perfect rose there is.
Thanking her in his mind, Naruto downs the rest of his meal, drops some money on the counter and sneaks out of the stand… only to freeze.
Kiba and Akamaru are standing there, surrounded by half a dozen schoolgirls, each with identical glints in their eyes and baskets on their arms. Gulping, Naruto takes a step back.
Too late.
Six pigtailed heads turn towards him at once. Despite being - as Kurama said earlier - one of the strongest shinobi in the Leaf village, Naruto feels his heart drop into his full stomach with a tiny splash.
"For your girlfriend!"
He hears Akamaru whine and feels something grip his arm in a vice. It's Kiba, his vertical slit pupils rounded in panic.
"Run, Naruto!"
Naruto needs no further urging.
- o -
It turns out that Naruto and Kiba aren't the only targets of those persistent schoolgirls.
Crouched behind some woven baskets outside a crafts shop, they witness Shino Aburame being chased by two basket wielding schoolgirls. Looking panicked, he sends out a swarm of insects which causes his pursuers to drop their baskets and start screaming. Horrified, he quickly recalls the insects, picks up the scattered roses and buys half a dozen of them, apologising all the while.
"They're so scary," Kiba mutters and Akamaru whines in agreement.
"Yeah," Naruto says, knowing they don't mean Shino's insects.
Are you sure you're that Naruto who helped to defeat Kaguya and end the Fourth War?
Naruto ignores Kurama's jab.
"Let's see who they target next," he says, feeling braver now that he has someone with him.
Akamaru barks in agreement.
Make that two someones.
- o -
The next person they come across is Choji Akimichi who's peering down at a basket held aloft by yet another pigtailed schoolgirl.
"I don't have a girlfriend or sibling and both my parents are into food, not flowers."
"Isn't there anyone you can buy them for, nii-san?" The girl wheedles with a winning smile which makes Choji blush.
"Well... are they edible?"
"The roses?" Round eyes dart up and down, giving Choji's hefty figure a calculative look. "Of course they are! Don't they smell good?"
"They sure do. I was going to buy potato chips, but tell you what - I'll take a dozen of your roses instead."
"Done! Thank you, nii-san!"
Hidden behind some bushes, Naruto and Kiba face palm themselves. Akamaru does a face paw.
- o –
Seeing the 'Do not disturb' sign on the Hokage's office door, Shikamaru Nara sneaks off to indulge in a favourite past time - cloud watching. He finds an empty bench in a shady part of the park and stretches out on his back, one leg crossed over the other and both hands behind his head.
"Hmm, that cloud looks just like our Leaf symbol," he mumbles. "And that one kinda looks like Temari's head with how she ties her hair. Troublesome woman. Now this one - huh?"
He goes cross eyed at the pink rose held a scant inch from his nose.
"For your girlfriend!"
Blinking in surprise, Shikamaru bolts upright and bats away the rose.
"I don't have a girlfriend."
"Of course you do - this 'Temari' of yours."
Shikamaru scowls, feeling his face grow hot.
"She's not my girlfriend."
"For your sister!"
"I'm an only child."
"For your mother!"
"She'll just scold me."
"For your father!"
"He - he's no longer around." Swinging his legs to the ground, Shikamaru rests his hands on his knees and adopts a solemn expression. "He died in the recent war."
"Buy one for his grave!" Undaunted, the schoolgirl searches through her basket and produces out a white rose. "This one!"
Shikamaru huffs, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips.
"Do you have two?"
The girl nods eagerly and pulls out another.
"Who is this one for, nii-san?"
"My teacher, Asuma-sensei." Shikamaru hands her the money and takes the two roses.
"Thank you! What about your girlfriend?"
"Too troublesome. Now, I've bought two from you so tell all your friends not to disturb me."
"I make no promises!" The schoolgirl runs off, leaving Shikamaru to shake his head before getting to his feet.
Hidden behind two trees, Naruto and Kiba exchange grimaces while Akamaru hangs his head.
- o -
The next person they see is a frantic Rock Lee with his arms full of roses. He's being chased by three schoolgirls who are determined to have him purchase their remaining flowers.
"Please, get away from me!" Rock Lee shouts. "Your unbridled enthusiasm shows the Power of Youth, but I don't have anymore money!"
"You do, nii-san! We saw your coin purse!"
"But that's for my lunch! Tenten, where are you?!"
Gulping, Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru stay well hidden behind some potted plants.
- o -
After sneaking from one corner to another to get to the town, they see a familiar red wheelchair speeding towards the Hokage Tower.
"Now this is what Youth is all about!" Maito Gai shouts as he zooms past, leaving a handful of red and pink rose petals in his wake. "Kakashi, my love, I'm on my way!"
He seems oblivious to what looks like two schoolgirls clinging to the back of his wheelchair.
"Kakashi-sensei isn't going to like this," Naruto mutters and looks up at the topmost window of the Hokage Tower.
"No kidding," Kiba agrees.
In less than a minute, a white haired figure climbs out the window and presses flat against the wall.
"Kakashi, where are you!" That same window is pushed wide open and Gai's head pops out just as Kakashi vanishes in a swirl of leaves.
"Now, that is what we should all be doing," Kiba mumbles.
- o -
Two hours later...
"We're still one hundred and fifty Ryo short."
"That's not enough to repair our school canteen roof."
"We'll get drenched each time it rains!"
"And sunburned at other times!"
"Gosh, I'm so tired."
"Me too and my feet are sore."
Hiding behind the guardhouse, Naruto and Kiba exchange guilty looks. At first, they thought of escaping back to their respective homes and lying low until tomorrow. Then they decided it would be more fun to tail those schoolgirls and see how their other friends fare. As long as they don't get caught, that is.
"So, what exactly are you two doing back here?" Kotetsu Hagane peers around at them.
"What's going on? Are we expecting an attack? From who?" Izumo Kamizuki appears beside his friend, looking worried. Now that the war is over, these two chunin are once again on guard duty.
Before Naruto or Kiba can reply, they spot Hinata Hyuuga walking up to the group of tired schoolgirls sitting on the ground.
"Nee-san! Would you like to buy a rose?" One of the girls asks hopefully.
Smiling, Hinata pulls out a bulging coin purse.
"I'll take the lot."
"Oh!" And just like that, the girls jump to their feet, exhausted and glum looks replaced by beaming smiles and tear filled eyes.
"Thank you so much, nee-san!"
"You're so pretty!"
"We appreciate your generosity!"
"Happy Valentine's Day to you!"
"I hope your boyfriend bought our roses for you!"
"I hope you have lots and lots of boyfriends!"
"And that they each bought roses for you!"
Blushing and laughing, Hinata counts out her money.
"Thank you, but I don't have a boyfriend. Here you go. Can I have one of those baskets too?"
"Of course!" The girls pile the roses into a basket and hand it to her. "Thank you again, we can repair our canteen roof now!"
"I'm glad to hear that. Take care!" Hinata says, waving as they all rush off. Then she turns to the guardhouse.
"Good morning, Hagane-san and Kamizuki-san. N-Naruto-kun? Kiba-kun?"
"That's the power of the Byakugan," Kotetsu says with a snicker.
An abashed Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru step out from behind the guardhouse and approach Hinata who's smiling, her cheeks flushed a pretty pink.
"Aww, you didn't have to buy the lot, Hinata," Kiba grumbles. "Just one would do."
"I don't mind since it's for a good cause," Hinata replies.
"That's a big chunk of your money down the drain, you know," Naruto tells her. "Or... up the roof?"
As Hinata giggles, he nods at the basket in her hands.
"So, what're you going to do with all that?"
He doesn't see the raised eyebrows look Kiba gives Hinata and her deepening blush.
"G-give them away, of course," she says. "Will you three help me?"
"Of course we will!" Kiba assures her and grabs Naruto's arm, tugging him forward. "Right, Naruto?"
"Eh? Sure, you know!"
- o -
Distributing the flowers to their friends is fun now that those tenacious schoolgirls have left.
Konohamaru is the first to get a rose from them. He scratches the back of his head, turns red and mumbles thanks.
Kurenai Yuhi and Mirai Sarutobi who are walking back from the cemetery after visiting Asuma's grave, also get one each.
So do Iruka Urmino who turns redder than Konohamaru and Shikamaru who's ambling back to the Hokage Tower.
Sai looks puzzled at the rose he gets, but nods his thanks.
Choji declines his rose and declares that he prefers salty potato chips to rose petals anytime.
Tenten who is carrying an armful of blooms, says she doesn't need anymore thanks to Rock Lee who's beside her and grinning from ear to ear.
Teuchi and Ayame also get a rose each. Ayame adds them to the small vase on the counter with the one they bought earlier.
Ino Yamanaka is zipping around her shop, floor scattered with petals and ribbon ends, but she takes a moment to tuck her rose behind her ear and thank them before getting back to her rush orders.
At the Konoha Hospital, Sakura is pleased to get one and so are Tsunade and Shizune.
Finally, there are only four roses left in the basket. Hinata hands out three to Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru, and says the last one is for her younger sister Hanabi.
"Right. I have to go now," Kiba says. "Hana-nee-san is cooking and she'll kill me if I'm late."
"R-right." Hinata's eyes traveled from Naruto to Kiba. "Uhm. Thank you for helping me distribute the roses, Kiba-kun, Akamaru."
"You're welcome! Say, Naruto, why don't you walk Hinata home?"
"Eh?" When Naruto blinks at him, Hinata blushes deeper.
"Go on!" Kiba urges him. "C'mon, Akamaru, race you home!"
With a happy bark, Akamaru rushes off with him, leaving the other two alone.
"Well, uh..." Naruto scratches the back of his head and stares at the rose in his hand.
"I should go," Hinata says very softly, not quite looking at him. "H-Happy Valentine's D-day, Naruto-kun."
"Yeah, same to you, Hinata!" He holds out the rose. "You should have this."
She looks up and smiles, still very pink in the face.
"T-thank you, Naruto-kun."
She looks really pretty when she smiles. Naruto doesn't know why he's never noticed that before.
"I... don't mind walking you home," he offers.
Hinata shakes her head.
"Thank you, but it's not far from here."
"I insist," Naruto says and he's surprised to find he means it. "Let's go."
- o -
Along the way, they pass by the Memorial Stone and see Gai getting down on one knee while presenting his now drooping rose to a sweat dropping Kakashi. Hinata thinks it looks very much like a wedding proposal, but Naruto is studiously looking the other way so she doesn't say anything.
A harsh cry causes both of them to look up to see a hawk circling in the sky, as if looking for someone, talons gripping something.
"Hey, isn't that Takamaru, the fastest hawk from the Sand Village?" Naruto asks and blinks when said hawk drops a bouquet of desert flowers on Shikamaru's head. "Heh, I wonder who those are from."
"No idea," Hinata says even though she's picturing a blond and teal eyed, fan wielding kunoichi.
A few minutes later, they see the Hyuuga compound up ahead.
"Well, thanks for w-walking me home, N-Naruto-kun."
"You're welcome!" Naruto scratches the back of his head. "Hey... are you free for dinner tonight?"
Hinata's heart skips a beat before starting to race. She nods quickly.
"That's great!" Naruto gives a nervous laugh. "I, uh... it'll just be ramen, but-"
"I love ramen," Hinata assures him, smiling.
Naruto beams at her.
"That's great!" He repeats. "So, Ichiraku's then? I'll be here at seven... if that's alright?"
"It's a date," Hinata says and winces at her choice of words. She ducks her head, heat washing into her face. "Oh dear, I mean..."
"No, you're right. It is a date."
Hinata looks up to see Naruto's intent blue eyes on her. Heart thumping madly, she gives a tentative smile and sees him smiling back.
Buying all the flowers from those schoolgirls was a spur of the moment thing, but it was worth it!
- Story End -
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it and do check out the other stories in the challenge. Take care :)