Disclaimer: Yeah, I got nothing. And I own nothing. A peace out! Beware, there are cotton candy, teeth rotting amounts of romantic NaruHina fluff in this chapter to make up for the lack of it so far. So please enjoy! Now on with the fic!
~The Art of the Meal~
Choji thought it a little odd when Shikamaru suggested eating at Ichiraku's that Saturday. Normally, they went there during the week. But for some reason, his best friend seemed rather insistent on visiting the stand that day.
The large man couldn't help but speculate on what his friend found so important. Was there a big lunch special that Choji wasn't aware of? Or was Teuchi-san experimenting with a new menu item, and only serving it that day? Oh! Maybe they were having another ramen eating contest! He had been itching to test his consumption skills against Hinata-chan again.
"Oi! What are you two doing here?" called out Naruto as they approached the restaurant, shooting them both a suspicious glare.
Hinata, who was seated next to him, hid a breathy laugh behind her hand. It was well known that Naruto got very defensive whenever his friends caught wind of his and Hinata's "dates," ever since the chaos they had rot the first time.
"Calm down," said Shikamaru with a dismissive gesture. "Choji and I came to get some lunch. We aren't here to intrude. So just ignore our starving asses and pretend we're not here."
Naruto gave the pair another wary glance before Ayame popped up from behind the counter brandishing her ladle. "Naruto! Stop intimidating our customers!"
The blond immediately sweat-dropped and leaned back to avoid getting bopped on the head. "Gomen'nasai! It won't happen again!" he immediately apologized, bowing his head in shame.
The two friends then walked forward and took the empty seats to the left of Naruto. Next, Choji began to stare intently at the menu. It seemed that the stand was serving it's usual fare for the season. So why then had Shikamaru been so insistent that they come here?
Just as he and Shikamaru ordered, Teuchi said, "Order's up!" and placed Naruto and Hinata's food down in front of them.
"Yosh! It always smells soooo good! Doesn't it, Hinata-chan?" Naruto exclaimed, sniffing the bowl.
"Hai!" she chipperly agreed, taking a huge whiff as well. "Teuchi-san makes so many wonderful kinds of ramen; it is so very hard to choose."
Her glowing compliment made the elderly man blush like a school boy. "You are too kind, Hinata-chan. Now, eat up you two! Before it gets cold!"
At Teuchi's encouragement, both Naruto and Hinata instantly reached out for the jar of chopsticks. Their hands brushed together for a moment, causing them both to turn bright red. Naruto seized the opportunity by snatching up Hinata's hand, gently bringing it to his lips, and then kissing it.
His actions made Hinata softly giggle as she removed her hand from Naruto's grasp and gave him a playful shove. "Oh, you!"
Hinata then reached out her delicate hand and took two pairs of chopsticks from the jar.
"One for you," she said merrily, handing a set to Naruto. "And one for me!"
"Okay!" the blond enthusiastically declared with fire burning in his eyes, as he unwrapped them. "On the count of three!"
Together they simultaneously started counting down, as they had done a thousand times before. It was wonderful to see the young couple still take great enjoyment out of doing the simplest thing.
"One! Two! THREE!"
*Crack!* went the pairs of chopsticks as they cried out, "Itadakimasu!"
Naruto immediately dove in and started eating as Hinata slowly stirred around her broth to cool.
All the while, Choji couldn't help but stare in the couple in awe. This was truly a rare sight indeed! In the Akimichi clan, a display such as this was held in the highest of regards. To his clan, food was everything. The act of consumption was the very essence of life. It was to be revered, respected, and most of all enjoyed with the whole of a person's soul.
And this particular interaction between two people was known in the Akimichi clan as: The Art of the Meal.
When two beings share a meal in such a way, that it fully displays the depth of their love, it is seen as a sign that they have truly become one.
Choji felt a slight blush come to his cheeks, he wondered if he would ever have the honor of sharing in such an experience. A flash of a familiar golden-eyed woman with a wicked grin sped through his mind. It filled his heart for a moment with longing and hope.
The sound of a muffled snort beside Choji's left ear caused him to turn and raise a question eyebrow at Shikamaru. Is this what his friend had really wished him to see?
The dark-haired man was clearly trying to stifle laughter behind his hand, without very much success. The humor that rarely danced in Shikamaru's eyes, was all the proof Choji needed.
"You're getting better," he whispered encouragingly to his friend. "An emotional display like this would have driven you crazy just a year ago."
It was a long time coming, but it seemed that Shikamaru had finally learned the importance of reading both logic and emotions in people.
There were times in private that they had fought over the importance of both. But their friendship always seemed to have a way of providing and nurturing what the other person lacked. Shikamaru taught him that he couldn't always jump into situations and let his emotions blindly lead him through. Choji now thought and analyzed the world around him more than he ever before. And in turn, it seemed that Shikamaru had finally allowed himself to admit that emotions weren't something that needed to be closed off and ignored. They were what gives a person purpose, and makes life worth living.
Shikamaru rubbed his neck for a moment with a laboring sigh. "Yeah, well- What can I say? Guess I had a pretty good teacher."
He then glanced back at Choji with a thankful grin that filled the large man's heart with warmth. After the moment had passed, Choji turned back to watch Naruto and Hinata continue their meal.
Hinata was now gently puckering her lips as she raised a few strands of noodles out of her bowl with her chopsticks. Naruto had since gulped down over a third of his bowl, when he noticed Hinata's actions. His blue-eyes shone with warmth and merriment as he intently watched the woman sitting at his side. Delicately, Hinata began to blow on her raised bite in an attempt to cool down the perfectly cooked strands.
This caused Naruto to let out a childish giggle. "It's so cute when you do that!"
"Oh, you. Stop that!" she playfully admonished. "It is not!"
"Your nose crinkles up ever so slightly," Naruto pointed out with a teasing grin. "And when you let out a 'puff!' of air, you make the sweetest little sound."
This comment made Hinata let out another breathy laugh. "You're so silly sometimes!"
It was a good thing that Teuchi chose that moment to yell "Order's up!" and place down Choji and Shikamaru's meals or else they might not have been able to hide their laughter in quickly gulped mouthfuls of noodles. Naruto had obviously completely forgotten that their friends were even sitting there with them. That was how totally wrapped up in each other they were.
As Choji began to calm down, and properly enjoy his own lunch, he'd occasionally glance back and watch "The Art of the Meal" still playing out before him.
Hinata would lift up a mouthful of her miso ramen noodles to Naruto. He would slowly lean in and lovingly nuzzle her hair, before taking a big, enthusiastic bite. In return, Naruto would pick up a piece of his barbeque pork and raise it to Hinata's delicately awaiting lips. When she would bend forward to take a nibble, the blond would then playfully snatch the piece away. Hinata's large expressive eyes would then immediately glared in return and make a very put-upon pout, sending Naruto into another delightful fit of laughter.
The playful back and forth. The silly banter. A slight pause in the moment here, a gentle caressing of skin there. To touch, to feel, to truly enjoy a meal. No wonder his clan seemed to consider such an event a prerequisite for marriage.
The thought made Choji freeze mid-bite into his fifth bowl.
"Could it be?" he wondered. And that's when Choji knew, Naruto was going to propose.
"Oh, just look at you!" Hinata suddenly exclaimed, laughing at the piece of green onion clinging to Naruto's face. She took a napkin and dunked it into her water glass. "Oi! I'm not a child! Stop that!" protested Naruto, trying to bat-away the offending piece of cloth.
"No! Now just hold still," she gently chided him, brushing away the bit of green still stuck to his whisker marks. Her hand lingered on his cheek for a few seconds longer than it should have as they stared, completely lost in each others' eyes.
"Dear kami, don't they ever quit?" grumbled Shikamaru as Choji raised his bowl to his lips with a definitive snort.
As time went on, the ramen bowls stacked next to Naruto and Hinata grew ever higher. And a significant amount of them belonged to Hinata-chan as well. The Akimichi family held the dark-haired woman in the highest regard after she not only bet Naruto, but Choji too in a ramen eating contest to raise money for Konoha's rebuilding project. Truly, an impressive feat indeed! Undeniable proof that slow and stead bites, do in fact win the race.
Throughout the meal, the pair animatedly spoke to one another, gesturing with their chopsticks. Which eventually turned into an impromptu to sword fight that Hinata eventually won.
"Yosh!" she exclaimed, pointing her lone chopstick at his face in victory. "Ha! I finally won one."
"It would seem so, my dear lady, name you prize," declared Naruto in utter defeat.
"Oh, I can think of one..." she whispered slyly while reaching up to grab his chin. "And I believe I shall take it right now."
Naruto physically gulped for a second, before immediately relaxing when Hinata simply pulled him in for a kiss.
Which he returned most enthusiastically!
Just as it was becoming nearly impossible for Choji and Shikamaru to continue trying to contain their laughter, Hinata suddenly broke off their loving embrace and glanced at her watch.
"Sorry, Naruto-kun, I didn't realize how late it was!" she exclaimed, jumping out of her seat and hurriedly collecting her things. "I promised to help Hanabi with training this afternoon. I hope you understand."
Naruto looked at her with forlorn blue-eyes that screamed 'No! Don't leave me!' but simply offered her a sad smile. "Of course, Hinata-chan. I-I'll see you soon! Love you!"
She gave him one last quick peck on the cheek and warmly said, "I love you, too!" and then quickly made her way home.
Naruto sadly sighed to himself as he watched her dark-hair whirl in the summer wind behind her.
At this point, Choji and Shikamaru were practically bursting at the seems.
"S-So, Naruto?" the large man finally croaked out between bits of laughter. "I kinda have a question for you."
Naruto's head whipped back around and glared threateningly at the shaking pair. "Oi! You two still here? Yeah, what is it?"
"When are you planning to ask?" his question made Shikamaru finally burst out in hysterical laughter and start banging his hand on the counter. "I knew you'd see it!"
Naruto simply blinked back at his friends confused. "Huh? Ask what?"
"For Hinata to marry you," stated Choji matter of factly as he stuffed another piece of barbeque pork into his mouth.
"I- SHIKAMARU!" yelled Naruto dangerously as he leapt up and grabbed said 'friend' by the collar of his stupid shirt. "I told you not to-"
The dark-haired man simply broke Naruto's hold and roughly shoved the blond back into his chair. "I didn't! It's Choji! He figured it out on his own."
"I- WAH! How?!"
To this Shikamaru just snorted. "Don't know. He's just really good at reading people's hearts. You know that. Heck, he even knew Asuma and Kurenai-sensei we dating before Ino or I did."
"SERIOUSLY?" exclaimed Naruto in shock as he began to see his large friend in a different light. "I-well, how did you know?"
Choji's face became serious as he crossed his arms in thought. "It was because you and Hinata just preformed the sacred: 'Art of the Meal.'"
"Okay..." was Naruto's uncertain response. "What does that mean... exactly?"
A sharp flash of light glinted in the larger man's eyes. "It means that when two people share a meal with so much love and passion for life; it is a sign that their souls have already become one. The rest is only a matter of time."
"Argh..." groaned Naruto as he dejectedly rested his head down on the counter. "Why does everyone keep figuring it out?"
"You should be happy and honored Naruto," corrected Choji, staring sadly at his friend. "I hope that one day, someone will want share a meal like that with me."
"Choji... I-"
But before Naruto could finish, Shikamaru interrupted with a sly grin. "Oh, you mean like that fiery golden-eyed woman from Kumogakure?"
"I- how did!" Choji croaked out nervously before realizing Shikamaru was just fishing for information. "It's not like that. W-We just always happen to be partnered on diplomatic missions is all!"
"Oh? Really?" asked Naruto as he perked up with a foxy grin. "You have been going on a lot of missions lately to Kumogakure... I wonder why?"
This made Choji blush. "No! They just keep requesting me as the leader for some reason..."
*We quick cut to a scene of Karui clutching Bee-sensei's gray vest and rapidly shaking him. "You better ask the Raikage to request that plump stud muffin again or I'm gonna-" she says threateningly before we switch back to Choji.*
"Karui-chan and I-"
"Oh, so it's Karui-chan now, huh?" gently teased Shikamaru with a snort. "She seems rather troublesome, but I'm happy for you Choji."
"I-but!"
"Dattebayo! I remember her!" exclaimed Naruto with sparkling eyes. "The loud, violent one. I remember her beating the living snot out of me over Bee-sensei! She is something!"
"Hey, now, Karui-chan's just a very passionate person," said Choji feeling the need to defend his friend's reputation. "Besides... I mean what would she ever see in a guy like me..."
After saying this, he sighed and idly began stirring the broth left in the bottom of his ramen bowl. When Asuma-sensei died, his last major request was that Choji have more confidence in himself. The brown-haired man was much better than he used to be, but scattered bits of his old self-doubt still lingered. Over the years his friends had helped him shed most of his insecurities, and everyone in the village knew of the great generosity he openly expressed to all those around him. But one major hurdle in his life still seemed to remain; would he ever truly find love?
"Choji..." whispered Naruto, drawing his friend out of his reverie. "You are one of the most kind-hearted people I know. If this girl is as cool as you say she is, I'll bet she can see it too."
The larger man had to glance away from his blond friend, as he felt tears being to form in his eyes.
"He's right you know," added Shikamaru, reaching up to give him a supportive squeeze on the shoulder. "Don't give up on finding love just yet."
"Hai," was Choji's somewhat watery response, but kindly, both his friends chose to ignore it. "So anyway, I hope you are planning to ask me to cater this wedding. I have quite a few connections that would make it a most memorable experience."
"Of course I was! Dattebayo!" yelled Naruto, immediately accepting the offer. "And actually, I wanted to ask about something else as well. Okay, here's the plan so far..."
And so, Naruto filled Choji in. At this point, Naruto finally came to the conclusion that trying to hide it from everyone wasn't working. All his friends were going to find out. It was just inevitable. He wasn't sure how he was going to let them, but at this point, leaving it alone was getting too risky.
So if you can't beat them, put them to work!
Naruto wasn't sure if it all was going to come together in the end.
But he had to try, especially for Hinata, that was just his ninja way.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: Wow, I wrote another entire chapter about love and food... I think I've been watching/reading "Food Wars" too much. Can you tell? XD ANYWAY! Hope you all enjoyed it. It was inspired a lot by the new Naruto anime ending with Teuchi. You tube it if you haven't seen it with all the filler that's been coming out recently. It's really great, one of my all time faves. Mostly because of the visual parallel they made of Naruto and Hinata with Kushina and Minato. LOL! Also yeah, I made that one anime ending stinger with Hinata in the ramen eating contest cannon. It was such a great moment that it just has become cannon to me now. And the Teuchi ending also kinda hinted that it was, if you look at the number of bowls Hinata ate. Hehehe! Love it!
And now! Next time! How about... Some Konohamaru and Hanabi? Hehehe! I got quite a few requests to do more, and I aim to please! And as always...
Please remember to read, fav, and review! Feedback helps fuel the muse! Feed the fanfic muse!
Japanese Word Key:
Hai: Yes
Itadakimasu: It's a traditional Japanese phrase that means: "I thank you for the meal."
Otousan: Father (formal)
Tou-chan: Dad (informal)
Kaa-chan: Mother
Oba-chan: Granny
Arigato: Thank you
Kami: God or spirit
Chibi: Short, cute style of drawing
Gomen'nasai: I'm sorry
Gomen: Sorry
Bento box: the Japanese term for a lunch box, or a boxed lunch of some kind.
Shogi: Japanese chess
Kunoichi: Female ninja
Shinobi: Ninja (not sure if it's just used for males though)
Sensei: Teacher
Dattebayo: Naruto's catchphrase in Japanese. It doesn't actually translate to "Believe it!" It's just an exclamation like: Yippee! or Huzzah!