This is the chapter I'm really proud of. And what's this? More pairings?
Chapter 6 – A Different Kind of Fireworks
Saturday. 5:57 p.m.
Finally, the night has arrived. The Konoha Fireworks festival was already off with a bang. Everybody who was anybody (or something like that) was there. Lady Tsunade, of course, was with Shizune for a safety inspection on the fireworks display. The pyrotechnics crew was waiting with bated breath as Tsunade made jotted down some notes on a small notepad and looked up. "I'll allow it."
"YEAH!!"
"WOO!!"
"I LOVE THIS JOB!!"
One could tell the Fireworks crew was pretty happy, as well as Tsunade, who walked away, pocketing her notebook.
"I thought we'd never get done with this," Tsunade said, wiping her brow.
"So what are you going to do now?" Shizune asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Tsunade said with a smirk. "There's no casinos in this village, which is an outrage in itself. So I'm gonna get drinkin'!" Tsunade ran off towards the closest bottle of saké she could find with Shizune hot on her heels.
"At least wait until the fireworks start!" Shizune shouted.
But they, of course, were not the first to arrive. Using her unique brand of "persuasion," Ino managed to convince Shino to come with her. Ino, who was currently clinging to Shino's left arm, wore a dark violet kimono with a print of the sun on her back. Shino wore a set of green formal robes which, with his sunglasses, made him look much like a dragonfly. Shikamaru had arrived earlier with Temari, whom he invited earlier on from the Village Hidden in the Sand. He had kept his normal attire and Chunin vest while Temari wore a two toned yellow and purple kimono. Neither one of them seemed happy to see each other, but Ino had actually caught them holding hands at one point or another.
Shikamaru, you player, Ino thought with a wide grin. But truth be told, she actually felt slightly envious that he asked Temari first, but she didn't let it bother her.
Naruto was also there with Choji and both were "sampling" the various foods there. Naruto decided to break tradition and dress nice for the night, wearing a blue pinstriped yukata and black sash. Choji, on the other hand, decided to stick with his normal wear since he couldn't find a date (He probably couldn't ask anyone with his mouth full all the time). Naruto's "fine dining" was cut short when he felt something tug on the back of his robes.
"WILL YOU KNOCK IT OFF?!" Naruto immediately spun around ready to punch whatever it was. He looked down to see Konohamaru with his hands over his head and Udon and Moegi not far behind him. Neither Konohamaru nor Udon decided to dress up, although Konohamaru changed his usual blue scarf to a red one with the Hokage fire symbol near the end, but Moegi did wear a little pink kimono which seemed to drop past her ankles.
"Oh, it's you again," Naruto said, unexcited. "What do you guys want?"
"What do you think we want?!" Konohamaru asked, impatiently. "We want you to play with us!"
Naruto frowned, but let uncurl a mischievous fox-like grin. "I can't! 'Cause I've got a date tonight! And I don't need you guys dragging me down!"
"Dragging you down?!" Udon asked in shock.
"Oh, we're dragging you down, huh?!" Konohamaru yelled. "Well if that's the case, then…" He stopped. Realization started to dawn on him as he grinned the same way and nudged Naruto with his elbow. "Oh, I get it! Someone's trying to get a little action, huh, boss?"
"Well…" Naruto scratched his head. "…I wouldn't put it that way."
"So who is it, Naruto-kun?" Moegi asked. "It's Sakura, isn't it?"
"Unfortunately, no," Naruto said, with a touch of disappointment in his voice. "She told me she's going with Bushy Brow."
And sure enough, not too far from there, Sakura was chatting with Rock Lee over some assuredly non-alcoholic drinks ("Thank goodness," Lee mentioned). Lee was wearing traditional white martial arts robes, but still kept his orange leg warmers. Sakura was wearing a white kimono with cherry blossom petals lining the hem and a pink sash.
"So who are you going with, boss?" Konohamaru asked. "Is she here yet?"
Naruto folded his arms and closed his eyes. Hinata still hadn't arrived yet. Did she perhaps chicken out? No, that's not like her. She's the one who asked him. And like Naruto, she always kept her promises, no matter how difficult they may be. That was his ninja way and that was hers as well! That's when Naruto felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Naruto…kun?"
The sight behind Naruto had caused him and the kids to stare in awe. Even Choji actually dropped a piece of eel sushi which was just inches from his mouth. There stood Hinata, in beautiful silk robes of violet and a white sash to hold them together. The way everyone looked at her made Hinata blush like always. Even Naruto couldn't believe just how beautiful Hinata was.
"Whoa…" Konohamaru said.
"Who is that?" Udon asked.
"She's so pretty," Moegi added, making Hinata blush even more.
"Uh…" Naruto still couldn't think of a thing to say. Now he was blushing. "Hi…Hinata. I'm…glad you made it."
Hinata tried hard to keep eye contact with him. "H-Hello…Naruto-kun."
The air between them was beyond tense. Moegi did her best to push Konohamaru and Udon away from them.
"Moegi," Konohamaru protested, "what are you doing?!"
"We have to leave them alone!" Moegi answered, adding on a wink. "Trust me."
Hinata could see that Naruto was starting to sweat. One of them had to say something otherwise they'll just be standing there the whole night.
"Na…"
"Hinata…" Naruto interrupted, "…you look GREAT!"
This comment caused Hinata's eyes to widen. She looked away from him, brushing a lock of black hair from her face. "It's…nothing, really. I only wear this for special occasions."
"You should wear it more often!" Naruto said. "I mean it! You look really cute!"
Hinata's eyes opened wider and Naruto had to put his hands over his mouth. Wait…what did I just say? Hinata was blushing so hard, it was likely that she could explode any minute. He said it…he really thinks I'm cute! It was this comment that seemed to be the "on switch" to her confidence. As soon as she was about to talk, she saw a floating heart coming out of nowhere behind Naruto's head. She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things, but soon there were two more.
"N-Naruto-kun?!"
"Huh?" Naruto turned around and screamed like a little girl. He saw flying rubbery hearts everywhere. This was due to the fact that Lee had lost his focus when Sakura finally complimented his hair and now his flying kisses were not just aiming for Sakura, but had completely gone out of control ("Oh, Sakura-chan! I love you!"). Everyone was running away screaming from the barrage of flying hearts, except Tsunade and Shizune, who tried to keep them away from the fireworks, and Choji, who actually tried to catch one in his mouth like a dolphin (or rather, a killer whale)!
"Oh, this is just not right!" Shikamaru shouted as he stood behind Temari, who blew the hearts away with her fan.
"DARN YOU, BUSHY BROW!" Naruto yelled while creating a pair of his shadow clones to help keep them away from Hinata. "CUT IT OUT!"
Naruto: Whew! Thank goodness that mess is over. Believe it!
Tenten: You know, Neji, those flying hearts could qualify as an actual Ninjutsu.
Neji: Oh please.
Naruto: By the way, Hinata, I wanted to ask you something.
Hinata: W-What is it, Naruto-kun?
Final Chapter: Show Him You Care
Naruto: WHAT?! That's it?! IT CAN'T BE THE END! IT CAN'T!!!
Author: Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to barricade Miss Hinata from her fanboys. Oh wait. I forgot. I'm a fanboy too! I'm so bad.
