"Thank you! Come again!" Ayame smiled to the departing teenagers.
"You're welcome! We will!" Chouza spoke up as he waved at the owners' daughter. "So where do you guys want to train?"
"Hold on a few minutes. I have to stop by the flower shop to see if they need any more help." Inoiki stated.
"Why doesn't your family just hire some people to sell the flowers instead?" Shikaru asked.
"Because it's a family business. It would defeat the purpose if we let others come in and run it for us."
"Whatever." Shikaru said as she looked to the sky. What the heck does dad see in watches the clouds? Shikaru thought as a second team came forward. "I assume you guys passed. What took you so long to get here?" She asked as she looked at the members of Team 8.
"Misoa-sensei wanted us to have one of those heart-to-hearts. It took forever! And that was after he passed us!" Kouga complained. "Woof! Woof!" Michi barked beside him meaning she agreed with him.
"Hey there Michi!" Chouza greeted the collie as he knelt down on one knee. She raced up to him and allowed him to pet her. He reached into his side pocket and retrieved a treat for her to eat.
"You're spoiling her like that you know." Kouga stated with his arms crossed.
"Jealous? Would you like a treat too?" Chouza teased. Kouga just rolled his eyes and smirked. I don't like that kind anyway. Kouga thought.
"So where are you guys headed?" Shikaru asked the group; mainly Kenshin.
"Nowhere in particular." He stated.
"I'm heading home now." Shiobi stated as she turned to leave. Kenshin looked as if he wanted to say something to her, but kept his mouth shut. Shikaru raised an eye at his demeanor but also kept her mouth closed. Shiobi had almost gotten 20ft away when she stopped to stare at the sight before her.
Team 7 made their way to the ramen shop holding onto each other. Rather, Hadoshi was being helped with Hachi under his left arm and Nagi under his right. Hadoshi stopped walking when he reached Shiobi. "Hiya Shiboi!" He yelled.
He looks all beaten up yet he still has the energy to yell? Shikaru thought irritated at Hadoshi's sudden outburst.
Shiobi slightly bowed to him. "Hello Hadoshi-kun." She then eyed his team members from behind her shades. She slightly bowed to them also as she greeted them. "Nagi. Hachi." They each returned the greeting with a small bow. "Pass?" She asked them.
"You bet! You?" Hadoshi asked her back.
"Hai."
"That's great!" He put more energy into his yell that made his weight shift slightly; much to the discomfort to Nagi and Hachi. A small smile almost appeared out of the corner of her mouth as she attempted to leave again. "Are you leaving so soon?" Hadoshi asked in an almost disappointed tone.
Shiobi curiously raised an eyebrow at him behind her stringy hair. "I am."
"Stay for a bit. I want to hear about how you guys passed." Shiobi thought about his proposition for a moment. She really wanted to go home and be alone for a while…but then it was hard to ignore the son of Konoha's number one hyperactive, knuckleheaded ninja. So she shrugged her shoulders and walked back to the group with them.
"So you changed your mind?" Kouga said from his crouched spot on the ground to Shiobi.
"…" Was the only response he got from his teammate. Antisocial bug freak. Kouga thought annoyed as he pet Michi.
"You guys passed too? That's great!" Hadoshi yelled again when he saw Team 10.
"Stop moving so much Hadoshi!" Nagi ordered him. She felt eyes on her so she brought her head up to meet with Inoiki's. Although it was brief, they quickly turned their heads away from each other. Everyone noticed the little exchange-except Hadoshi that is.
"Oh I'm alright. All I need is something to eat from Ichiraku and I'm good to go!" Hadoshi reassured his team members.
"Yeah right!" Hachi growled from Hadoshi changing his weight.
"Let's just take him if it will shut him up!" Nagi urged her brother.
"I'll take him." Kenshin stated as he stepped forward to help his cousin.
"We got him. Besides, we're going to eat too." Hachi eyed Kenshin.
"Then I'll join you." Kenshin stated with his arms crossed as he eyed Hachi also. They didn't hate each other or anything like that; they just REALLY can't stand each other! Hachi thinks Kenshin is arrogant and Kenshin thinks Hachi is self-centered.
They both are the top genin in our class and they can't see eye to eye on something like lunch? Shikaru thought about the guys.
"Let's just go!" Kouga stated with Michi barking beside him. "I don't see a reason why Michi and I can't grab a bowl too."
"Will they even give that dog a bowl?" Shikaru asked.
"I don't see why they wouldn't if I'm paying for it." Defending his ninja dog.
"Say? Why don't you guys come with us?" Hadoshi asked Team 10.
"I'm in!" Chouza piped in.
"We just ate." Shikaru said dryly.
"Well…" Chouza scratched the back of his head and smiled.
Clan Akimichi and food. Inoiki thought about his friend. "You guys go on ahead, I'm going to the shop and then meet you at Ichiraku. If I can't come, I'll send a message."
"Fine just hurry up." Shikaru said dryly. Inoiki and Nagi made brief eye contact one final time before he sped toward the Yamanaka flower shop.
[Ichiraku]
"Well hello again!" Ayame greeted Hadoshi, Nagi, Hachi, Chouza, and Shikaru.
"And hello to you four today!" She also greeted Team 8 with Michi. Everyone took a seat and waited for her to begin taking their orders. Over the years, the simple ramen shop had really expanded. It wasn't anything like a huge restaurant, but it provided room for at least 10-15 people unlike 5 in the past.
The seating arrangements were Nagi, Hachi, Hadoshi, Kenshin, Kouga, Michi by his feet, Shiobi, Couza, and Shikaru. Everyone took their seat and was ready to order. Shikaru and Shiobi weren't hungry so they said if any extra customers needed a seat, they would move. The voice of an older man rung from the back of the shop, "Ayame? Could you give me a hand back here please?"
"Sure thing dad. I'll be right back everyone." She then went in the back to help her father.
"Oh but I'm hungry now." Hadoshi whined.
"Me too." Chouza agreed.
"You two complain too much! She said she would be right back for crying out loud!" Kouga nearly shouted.
"You're loud as ever Kouga." A teenage boy of 13 complimented.
"Oh! What's up Tai?" Kouga high-fived the teen that stood behind him.
"Nothing much. We just got back from a mission and stopped by here to grab a bite to eat."
"We?" Kouga asked.
"He's talking about me." A 14-year-old boy suddenly appeared behind the counter.
Hadoshi nearly fell from his stool. "Gwak! Don't startle us like that Hoji!" He patted his heart for emphasis.
"Come on! I'm just fooling with you guys. I saw mom step to the back to help grandpa so I decided so sacrifice my hunger to please yours." He then walked to the sink to wash his hands. After he was done, he tied a white apron on and put on a hat. "So what can I get for you all today?"
"The house special please!" Hadoshi and Chouza said together.
"Same thing." Nagi and Hachi said in unison.
"I'll have a diet ramen please." Kenshin requested.
"One miso soup for me and a bowl for Michi too. But don't put any eggs in her ramen though; it gives her gas." Kouga patted Michi on the top of her head.
"Water." Shikaru said.
"Green tea please?" Shiobi asked.
"What about you Tai? What will you eat?" Hoji asked Tai as he sat beside Shikaru.
"What the heck. I'll have a diet ramen with the egg that was going in Michi's ramen."
"Sorry for the wait. Are you all ready to…Tamahoji? When did you get back son?" Ayame kissed her son on his leaf headband. He blushed when she used his whole name.
"A second ago. I saw grandpa call you in the back so I took their order for you." He handed her the pad with the orders on them.
"Thank you. Why don't you stay here and wait for more customers while I help your grandfather cook these orders?" She asked her son.
"Sure thing mom." She slightly pinched his cheek before returning to cook the orders.
"Hey! Hey! Where was your mission?" Hadoshi asked the two older boys eagerly.
"Sorry no-can-tell kid." Hoji said as he gave Shikaru and Shiobi their drinks.
"Why not!"
"Confidential." Tai smiled to him.
"Bull! What could be so bad that you guys can't tell us?" Kouga asked with curiosity in his voice.
"It's because we're genin." Kenshin said coolly.
"What's that got to do with anything? Tamahoji-kun is a genin like us. If anything Tai should be the one to tell us since he's already a chunnin." Nagi spoke up.
"It's not that simple Nagi." Shikaru said before taking a drag of her water.
"Why?"
Shikaru took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She really didn't want to go into a long-winded discussion about rank and discussing particular missions. This is going to be a pain to explain.
"Genin are normally only allowed missions on a three-man team; four counting the sensei. Out of their team, Tai was the only one to make it to chunnin. So long as he is competent, he is allowed to take genin on missions up to B rank. Hoji is one of those exceptions. If the mission he takes is above genin level, he is not allowed to say anything about it until Hokage-sama gives the okay." She then took another drag of her water.
"Then why don't you try to make it to chunnin already if you're so good Tamahoji-kun?" Nagi asked.
"Maybe I'm waiting for you so we can pass together." He said sweetly to Nagi.
She blushed slightly as Hachi glared at Hoji. "Don't be so serious Hachi-kun. Geez! You really need to lighten up." He smiled as he went to help Ayame serve the ramen.
"Thank you for the food!" They all yelled in unity after eating.
"Boy Ichiraku is the best!" Chouza complimented the ramen shop.
Hoji put his left hand in front of his torso and bowed. "Well thank you very much Chouza-kun. We do the best for our customers." He then looked over at Shikaru and winked at her. "Especially the ladies."
Shikaru rolled her eyes and inwardly flipped him off. "Whatever."
Hoji saw Nagi had her head turned and eyes closed. "Jealous?" He leaned over the counter and stared at her.
"For what!"
"Ooh easy. I just wanted to know when you were going to let me take you out on our first date?"
"How about never!" Hachi growled at him.
"I was asking the lady." Hoji said sweetly while staring at Nagi.
"You're not my type." She said while meeting his eyes.
It seemed his mood had dropped slightly as his eyes quickly darted in the clearing then back at Nagi. "So you would rather have a flower boy than the son of a chef?"
Once again she turned her head and closed her eyes. "I never said that!" She defended herself. It was hard for her to tell if he was being serious or joking.
"You never denied it either." He said with a wide grin. Ayame whacked her son behind his head with a thick wooden spoon. "Ow! Mom that hurt!" He rubbed his sore head.
"It was meant to! Stop teasing her because it's making her uncomfortable! On top of that, flirting is bad for business!"
"My bad, my bad." He smiled sheepishly at his mom. She just shook her head and began to take another customer's order.
"Truce?" Hoji extended his left hand to Nagi. She took his hand expecting a common handshake; instead he kissed the top of her hand. Hachi was furious! He leaned forward to punch Hoji in the face only to have Hoji catch it in his right hand. "You really need to cool off." He smiled as he released Hachi's hand.
"This is interesting." Inoiki laughed at the scene before him.
"You been there long?" Chouza asked.
"Hmm…just long enough to see Hoji-kun get whacked with a ladle!"
"Well it took you long enough!" Shikaru said in aggravation. She then saw he had a basket of flowers handing from his arm. "So are you going to train with us or what?" She asked.
"Sorry but I've gotta run the shop until everyone gets back." He said as he sat the basket on the counter.
"I have your order Ayame-san."
"Thank you very much. Be sure to tell your mom 'thank you' for making them on such short notice." She said as she gave him the money for the flowers and took the basket.
"No problem." He saluted her as she took the flowers to the back.
"So everyone in your entire family is gone on a mission?" Shikaru asked him in disbelief.
"Yeah. Grandpa Inoichi isn't back from his mission and dad got a call early this morning. When I went to the shop, mom told me she had a mission and for us to stay with Chouza."
"Us?"
"Oh yeah! Yours and Chouza's dad came by the shop to pick my mom up. Your mom left for Suna a while ago and Chouza's mom is still on a leave of absence from missions so we are to stay with her."
Something isn't right. It's too early for mom to go back to Suna! Why would she leave without letting me know! Shikaru thought with anger in her mind.
"The academy students who left with Tsunade-sama are back. If you have a child you live with, go now and pick them up because your parents are leaving for missions now." Shiobi spoke for the first time since her conversation with Hadoshi.
"How do you know that?" Hadoshi asked with awe in his eyes.
Shiobi pointed her finger at Inoiki for everyone to see the small bug on her finger. "This is one of my father's bugs. It came over in the flowers to relay the message your parents told my father."
"What's the mission?" Kouga asked
"It didn't say."
There was an uncomfortable silence as Hoji and Tai made eye contact then nodded at each other. "I'll see you in a little bit." Hoji said to Tai in a semi-serious tone.
"Alright." Tai stood up to leave.
"Are you going so soon Tai-kun?" Ayame asked.
"Yeah I have to head over to the academy. Its' been two years since their adoption but they're still my little brother and sister." Tai said referring to his 10-year-old brother and 7-year-old sister.
Unintentionally, Kenshin and Shiobi stood at the same time and then looked at each other. "You heading home now?" He asked her.
"Yeah. You?"
"I'm going to the academy."
"Why?" Hachi asked, still upset with Hoji for flirting with his sister earlier.
"Is it any of your concern?" Kenshin asked not bothering to look at him. "Just worry about picking up your little brother." Hachi was ready to launch at him but Nagi grabbed his shoulder.
"Chill out! You're going to get us banned from here!"
"You would just hate that wouldn't you Nagi?" Kouga teased.
"What is that suppose to mean dog-breath?" She rose out of her seat.
Not an Inuzuka to hold his tongue, he stood his ground. "I mean you wouldn't be able to see your 'Tamahoji-kun' if you got banned from here.
"Alright you guys! Chill out!" Tai ordered the genin. Both just glared at him but didn't say anything to the stronger chunnin. This is bad. All of the elite ninja are being called for a mission. That doesn't leave many able shinobi except these kids! On top of that, the academy students aren't supposed to be back for another couple of days or so!
Hadoshi and Shikaru just stared at Tai. He wasn't one to yell at people, no matter how annoying they were. Something must really be bothering him to yell. Hadoshi thought sadly. He quickly jumped from his seat and faced the group.
"I have to get my little sister Kiyoshi too! Why don't we all walk together?" He urged his peers.
"I'll pass." Shiobi announced as she began her walk toward her home.
"Bye Shiobi!" Hadoshi waved her goodbye.
"Hey! Don't forget to meet us tomorrow for our first mission!" Kouga yelled. Michi barked to agree.
She turned and bowed to everyone as she disappeared into the streets of Konoha.