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Waking up to the smell of pancakes was Nora's favorite scent in the whole wide world! She practically floated downstairs, allowing the whiffs of the scent to carry her. She sat on her knees on the tatami matt nearest the kitchen table.
Naruko, and Kushina were still asleep, which gave the young adults time to talk amongst one another. Ren, noticeably, was already dining on some pancakes. Eating one very slowly whilst savoring the chocolate chips used in the batter. Nora looked over to stove, seeing Naruto standing there once again in the green apron!
"Sup Fireball, making me some pancakes?" Nora asked her second best friend in the whole wide world!
The blonde smiles, finishing two plates at once before walking over. He sat her plate down in front of her, and immediately it was all so wrong. She looked at the gridded, harden, batter cakes. She twitched as she saw the floating blue syrup of blueberries and juice. They formed tiny pools in the divots of the grid cake!
Naruto sat down, pouring the blueberry syrup onto his. Noting Nora's look of pure betrayal he smiles sardonically at her, "something wrong there Thunder?" He playfully questions while going ahead with the cutting of his waffles.
Waffles, that was what was wrong in the entire world this morning. Pancakes were the Gods greatest gift to Remnant, but whoever made waffles essentially smashed their boot into a pancake and called it a day! To quote a certain wolf, from a new animated film she watched last night with Naruko, she found the idea that she would be served waffles simply…
ABSURD!
"Um, Fireball, not to knock a gift horse in the mouth…" She noted the stares looking back at her, "whiskey tango foxtrot is this?!"
"Well, Princess Thunder, I figured that you would enjoy my famous blueberry waffles. Go on, Nora, take a bite out of 'em~" He teased her with sly grin formed squarely across his face, as if the blonde had been transformed by a madman.
"Y-you bastard," she breathed with shuddered horror whilst watching Ren eat deliciously perfect pancakes! "Ren, I'll give you my blueberry waffles for a couple pancakes…please!"
Ren took a deep breath, nodding his head, "nope."
So, it was treason then? This is how her dear Ren would betray her, his best friend and secret love interest?! She watched him, longingly whilst he took more chocolate chip cookie pancakes into his mouth, her hand outreached and twitching. Whimpering as Ren gave it a chef's kiss. "You've outdone yourself Naruto."
"Aww thanks buddy, say, Nora…how are my waffles?" He said that damned word again, making her left eye twitch! "I think I may actually secure myself a girlfriend before too long, after all everyone loves an Uzumaki's cooking!"
"Ren, please, I'll do anything for some pancakes!" Nora whined a little still, watching as Ren took another one of those fluffy cakes apart. "Please, Ren, for me?"
Ren took a moment, nearly breaking his composure before coughing into his hand. "Nora," he looked right at Naruto, "Naruto made you waffles…be nice and eat them."
"Don't be chiding our lover too hard, Rennie." Naruto countered Ren with a evil smirk, noting the faintest blush on the pink-eyed youths cheeks. "Damn, what a poker face!"
"Wh-what?!" Nora blushes madly whilst unable to stop her mind from going into the gutter.
It failed miserably because Nora didn't have filter. She imagines an alternate world where she walked on Ren and Naruto. They were making pancakes, just for her, really good pancakes. They both had six packs in real life, so was it so wrong of her to imagine the thousand different ways syrup would've flowed down between them.
Both of them wearing nothing but green and magenta aprons. Maybe a white chef's hat, and maybe just maybe…Nora was having a little too much fun imagining this as a trail of blood fell from her nose. They would probably beckon to her, "Chocolate chips Nora…with blueberry sauce," and all of her hormones would be screaming one thing!
HELL TO THE YES!
In this little wet daydream, she saw pink kanji floating around these two. It was like a reference to a particular favorite show of hers. Something involving Stardust and Crusaders. Nora was a woman of…cultured tastes!
"We can make so much damn money off a video like that on MistralNet, let alone ValeTube, or AtlasHub!"
Ren looks at Nora, who was sitting there, her eyes in the shape of pulsing cartoonish hearts. Drool running down her mouth, plus a smidgen of blood from her nose. He chuckles under his breath, "I think we broke her, Naruto."
"Nora, I'm kidding, I made you pancakes in the microwave…you got pranked!" Naruto called out to her, watching her immediately snap back to reality.
"Whoa mama that was hot! I mean, whoa, oh thank you for making pancakes! I mean I definitely wasn't daydreaming of you two…no…that's just sill hehe~" she nervously at the end before getting up and walking over to the microwave.
She opens the white door of the machine, seeing perfectly cooked…chocolate chip WAFFLES!
Naruto struggled to breathe as Nora roars out in frustration! She ran over to him, tackling down and started to comically choke him! "Look here, Foxy, you'll give me my damned pancakes, or I swear to the Gods I'm going to hogtie you!"
"Ooh kinky~" Naruto teased before she just madly blushes, "Ren?"
"Who I am to judge, Nora, there's rope down in the basement. After all, we are in a kink shame free zone here…we're amongst equals." Ren stated serenely whilst finishing his pancakes.
Nora whines before getting up, "stop teasing me you two!"
Naruto and Ren both fist bump each other from across the table as she left the room. The older teen, Ren, gets up and walks over to the fridge. He pulls out Nora's chocolate chip pancakes and puts them in the microwave. He calls over to her, smiling brightly.
She turns around, and the orangenette nearly tackled him.
"Oh Ren, you do you care!" She declared before squeezing him tightly, smiling all the while.
Naruto went to raise his hand up, only to get a glare from her aqua eyes. He immediately puts the hand back down, smiling shyly. It was a game between them all, no one truly played it seriously. Flirtatiously teasing Nora was Naruto's forte, whilst Nora's was getting them both flustered, and Ren was too chill to ever be caught lacking except on very few occasions.
The perfect dynamic between the trio of quirky, hyperactive, knuckleheaded teens!
Naruto was carrying bags of rice up from a pond. Several farmers were in the pond, picking at the rice. The blonde Hunter in training was carrying around one hundred pounds of rice upon his shoulders. Sweat rolled onto a black headband on his forehead.
The small farming town of Mori located a few miles away from his family's home in the woods. Nora and Ren were right behind him, both wearing the same headband. Volunteering their time to this small community, just like Naruto did every weekend. Getting to the town's center, the trio deliver their rice loads to a merchant.
"Old Man Teuchi, Ayame around?" Naruto asked whilst dropping his load off to the ramen merchant.
The old man laughs a little, "she's out with the flu today."
"Oh, dang it, well I'll be sure to brew some herbal tea for her back home! Old Man, you remember Nora, and Ren, right?" The blonde asked whilst holding his hands toward his two childhood friends.
Teuchi remembers them rather fondly, smiling brightly, "the young lioness and the monk? I remember when you little tykes used to run around Mori, causing trouble."
"It was always Nora and Naruto's idea to use the paint." Ren reminded the old man whilst throwing his two friends under the boss, secretly the magenta figures painted on some of the buildings has been his doing. "I had nothing to do with anything of the sort."
"Wow, thanks, Ren. Don't worry, my back is going to get an extra massage from the wheels you decided to both run forward and then in reverse over me with!" Naruto stated whilst faking backpain, feigning a hurt expression, "some friend you are!"
Nora herself was putting on a hurt face, "Ren why would you throw me under the bus?"
The Monk, as his nickname given by some of the villagers for his constant meditation, sighs. "I'm sorry about the stick figures, back when we were kids, Teuchi." He apologized whilst rubbing the back of his head, noting the laughter of the man.
"Don't sweat it kiddo, well, you're a young man now. Would you three like some ramen? I can make you each one bowl on the house!" The old ramen cooked emphasized whilst looking directly at Naruto, "you understand just one, correct?"
The blonde looks bashfully away, biting his cheek, "I don't eat that much."
"Um, Ru, there's literally a menu special called the Naruto Special. Fifteen bowls of miso with pork, and narutomaki." Nora pointed out whilst looking at the menu, and then looking at the old man, "I need to the deets."
Naruto blushes whilst looking away from Nora, crossing his arms, "don't go into details."
"Too bad, the young lady asked first. Anyway, back last year, Naruto had come home from Sanctum. After you two elected two elected to stay and help with some school projects. In, what I can only describe as a frenzied hunger, he came in and ended up consuming twenty bowls of ramen." Teuchi explained whilst chuckling, "and he had forgotten his wallet at home."
"I'm still sorry!"
"Don't be, you paid the debt back by working for me last year. Have you noticed that Naruto and Kushina's ramen got way better?" The old man thematically takes a bow, "and the master gives himself a bow."
Just as they were talking, shamisen and drums began to sound in town. A group of people were walking, wearing haori and kimonos. Playing a rhythmic march whilst people around them held paper figures in the shape of one of the Sacred Beasts. Nora watched as the little girls of the group clumsily danced to the beat of the drums, spinning around after every fourth step. A small float with an anvil was rhythmically getting beat.
"Looks like a festival going on, which Sacred Beast is it?" Ren inquired whilst seeing the large monkey-like figurine being manipulated to dance around a makeshift volcano.
Naruto turns himself around, looking over to gathered parade, "Oh yeah it's Sun Goku's March!"
"Oh, isn't that the large flame monkey with the octopus tails?!" Nora remembered whilst looking at the figure, "what was he supposed to represent again?"
"Son Goku is the Sacred Beast of battle, pride, honor, and the mountains. In his hands, we forge ourselves from the metal of the mountain." Naruto simply repeated what he was taught as kid, "oh boastful is the monkey king of the fruit mountains, and guardian of his clan."
Nora and Ren look at Naruto, who was taking a seat as some people came from behind the shop and took the rice in. Nora voices her question first, "who is your favorite Sacred Beast?"
Naruto blushes whilst rubbing the back of his head, "it's a tossup between Gyuki and Kurama. Kurama obviously is my family's patron, but Gyuki is the Sacred Beast of music, writing, and lightning."
"From what I read," Ren spoke up whilst reading the menu, "I think mine would be Saiken."
"Makes total sense given how you're constantly laid back." The blonde agreed whilst turning around to look at the menu, "I'll take the pork miso!"
"Of course, you would." Teuchi laughed before getting to work, "Lioness…Monk?"
"Vegetarian ramen for me, extra carrots." Ren spoke up before closing the menu, handing it to Teuchi, and they all looked at Nora.
The orangenette had a fire in her eyes, declaring what she wanted, "I want Sun Goku's delight."
Naruto and Ren pale at that, with the latter looking at her, "Um Nora…that's made with hot peppers."
"I like the burn! it means it's got some fight in it!" Nora stated with fire in her eyes, "hook me up Old Man!"
The ramen cook bows, "yes Queen Lion."
"I'm queen of the ramen~ I'm queen of the ramen~" Nora teased whilst looking at her two best friends, "what?"
Naruto took a deep breath, "you'll be the queen of the bathroom in a few hours."
"Every queen needs her throne~"
"Damn it Nora," the blonde cursed whilst blushing, "thank Gods we have two bathrooms."
"Indeed, Naruto, are you we going to attend the festival tonight?" Ren inquired whilst looking at his only male best friend, "I can probably pick up a haori from a shop."
"Ooh, I want a kimono!" The orangenette stated whilst smiling brightly, smelling the peppers from in the kitchen.
"Can you keep the obi wrapped up this time?" Naruto inquired whilst blushing at a particular memory, "because remember the last time…"
Nora slyly grins whilst leaning back in her seat, "my bad they just flung out there, you know!"
"Not helping, Nora," the blonde groaned before suddenly feeling a slap on his shoulder. "Ouch!"
"Oh, quit whining!" A pinkette stated whilst suddenly gripping the shoulder and hoisting herself besides Naruto, "you've always had the shoulder slapped by me!"
She had on a green sleeveless dress with a red circle in the back of it. Her green eyes casted light to those she viewed, and her bright smile painted warmth. She had blue trousers on to contrast her green dress, and tan sandals. The pinkette wore a red headband that put her short hair into a small ponytail.
"Sakura?!" Naruto and co. shouted whilst noting the shorter hair of the pinkette, it used to travel down her back.
Sakura sat there besides Naruto, smiling brightly, "I just got back from Atlas. Let me tell you something, they say it's cold there, but Mantle isn't too bad."
Naruto laughs before blushing whilst looking at her, it had been nearly two years since he last saw her. He had to admit, she looked more beautiful with the shorter hair. "Hey, Sakura, you finally coming back to Mori for a little bit?"
"Only for a little bit," she answered whilst stretching her hands out, "you'd be surprised that we have a Ninshū sect way up north."
"No crap, really? I thought Atlas was all about science and stuff like that." Naruto thought aloud whilst rubbing his chin, "meet anyone there?"
Sakura blushes a little bit before rubbing the back of her head bashfully, "I met this guy who's father runs a dojo in a lower end of Mantle."
"So," the blonde felt crestfallen a little, "are you two…"
She sighs before rubbing her arm, "we're talking about it. He's a sweet guy, I actually met him in Atlas's prep academy."
"What's his name?" Naruto inquired whilst looking toward her, smiling still.
Sakura smiles softly, "Lee, he's an expert marital artist like his father."
"Means he's flexible~" Nora pointed out whilst making the boys and Sakura blush.
"Oh, hey there Orange!" Sakura greeted Nora whilst waving her hand up, "Forgot you and Pink were here."
Ren casually nods his head upwards before noticing someone walking toward them. "I knew I'd find you all here, seriously, almost two years and you haven't changed a bit…none of you." A teen with brown hair styled in a spiked upright ponytail stated.
He had on a black shirt with green cuffs. His brown cargo pants had some of his shirt hanging loosely over the sides instead of tucked in. His ears were pieced, with small stones on the lower lobe. Overtop of his upper clothing was a flak jacket not too different from Naruto's own. His had a pair of sunglasses in them, along with a bow strapped over his back, and quiver on his right hip.
"Shikamaru, my man, what's going on?" Naruto greeted him with a fist bump, whilst noting his new look, "nice clothing man, Pharos did a number on you didn't they?"
Shikamaru laughs under his breath, "my family is just getting back to Mori. Kind of figured that I stop by, at least hoping to see you all again before going to Beacon."
"Wait, what, you've already heard back?!" They all exclaimed minus Ren at the same time, watching him smile proudly.
Shikamaru points his left index finger at his head, "all about the brain power. I aced my final exam. In fact, I have a paper published on aura theory."
"Look at brainiac over here, c'mon, get a bowl with us!" Nora exclaimed whilst dragging Ren and her over to another seat, "sit sit sit!"
The young man sighs before taking a seat, "nice to see you hyper as ever, Nora."
"I pissed her off something fierce earlier," Naruto chuckled whilst playing with his thumbs a little. "Something about her hating waffles…"
"You coated it in blueberry, who the hell does that?! Who in the eight hells eat waffles to begin, they're just crusty pancakes!" She stated angrily whilst standing atop a metaphorical hill, willing to die on that hilltop as well.
Naruto mumbles under his breath whilst sniffing the air, "pancakes suck…"
"Those are fighting words, Fireball!" Nora exclaimed whilst having flame in her eyes, "we can go right now!"
Shikamaru chuckles, looking at them both, "nice to see that no one has changed a bit…though Sakura seems be thinking of something else."
"Yo, Shikamaru," Ren held his fist up, leaning back from next to Nora. "Cloud staring lately?"
"Thought about going to do so before the festival," he told Ren before looking up. "Wanna join me?"
"Sure, I need to mellow out before dealing with a bunch of people anyhow. These two right here are like dealing with bickering kids," Ren stated whilst pointing at Nora and Naruto at the same time.
"Wheels on the bus go bump-bump-bump, bump-bump-bump~" Nora and Naruto sang at the same time, whilst both glaring at Ren.
Ren immediately imagined himself as the bus driver, but instead of saying sorry, he threw the bus in reverse. A small snicker formed on his lips at the thought, as malicious as it was, sometimes he needed to throw his friends under the bus. The smell of ramen caught his attention as Teuchi brought the original trio's orders out.
He stops, nearly dropping the bowls, "I guess the gang's back together. Sacred Gods help us all."
Shamisen players lined the town square of Mori as Sun Goku's figure was danced about. Taiko drums rhythmically beat to the music whilst, several dancers dressed in orange and red danced about. Red rice was being served, whilst shops were opened with summer gifts.
Of course, leave it to Nora Valkyrie to be the only girl who found a white kimono with pink hearts all over it. Naruto had personally tied her obi into a double knot, making sure that an incident like last didn't happen. She was wearing white running shoes, unlike the others who opted for traditional footwear. She had a golden hairclip in her hair, whilst she and Ren didn't exactly subscribe to Ninshū, they grew up with Naruto who did and often joined in festivities.
Especially since they were all of drinking age now!
Naruko was dressed in a small orange and red kimono, with the symbol of The Nine Tails Kurama on the back of it. She had her hair in a single bun, whilst wearing earrings with opal in them. Her red, wooden, sandals clacked against the cobble stone street.
Naruto's haori had the print of the large fox and he wore a red hakama. Around the hakama was an orange sash, from his Hunter's uniform. He wore black sandals on his feet, and his fox ears on the top of his head were painted with temporary dye with red tips.
Kushina's kimono was flower printed with Higanbana Flowers which were Kurama's personal symbol. Her obi was tied in a way that made her appear to have nine small tails behind her, and her hair had been put up in an ornate bun.
Ren meanwhile forgone any traditional Ninshū clothing, and opted to wear a button up green shirt, and black cover jacket. His equally midnight black pants matched his jacket, and he wore large green sandals on his feet. His headband was pink in color, a black lotus flower in the middle.
The blonde watches several children ran dressed in costumes of The Nine Sacred Beasts. They were playing tag, and whilst the sun was just now beginning to set, lanterns and lights began to already come alive in Mori's center!
Mori herself was a small town, located in the northwestern part of The Kingdom Of Mistral. It was a "free" settlement. A settlement that directly didn't get backed financing from the government, nor followed the same laws. There were several of those in and around Anima. Between Grimm, bandits, and a slew of other issues, sometimes it was best to let sleeping dogs lie.
The population of this small town was around nine hundred, with most of them following Ninshū since the founders of this free village set it up as a religious protest back one hundred years ago! Now in a world where religion didn't exactly matter, save that Ninshū was more esoteric compared to The Brother Gods, Faunus God, and several others.
The drums began to beat rapidly, with them coming to a sudden stop. Atop a podium, an older man with blemishes across his face, stood up on the podium. A microphone to his lips, he claps his hands as the musicians take a bow! The crowd, and Naruto with co. followed suite. The old man coughed into his hand, his white hair balding underneath the large cap he wore.
"Welcome one, and all, to Mori's annual Sun Goku Festival! Tonight's festivities is made to honor The Sacred Beast of battle, pride, honor, and mountains! For it was Sun Goku, who forged our iron souls! Tempering us under the waters of challenge, so that the weld could come true!" The old man spoke with a fervor, beating his chest with one hand. "As with other Ninshū settlements around Remnant, we come together in spirit, so that our prayers and understanding with each other might be recognized."
He motions with his hands toward the food carts, gift shops, and various activities. "I beckon any foreigner to our humble town, enjoy the spiced red rice, and engage with us. We look forward to our exchange of culture with you, and if anyone has any issues, as chieftain of this town rest assured our security has been doubled tonight!" His words proclaimed whilst he claps his hands, "Celebrations!"
"Celebrations!" The crowd cheer back, whilst the music began to pick up again.
The Old Man came down from the podium, walking over towards Naruto and co. and his falling toward Kushina. "Lady Kushina, it is good to see you and the family about. Tell me, have you considered my offer to take over my station?" He asked her whilst the partygoers went about their celebrations.
Kushina beckons Naruto to take Naruko and the others into the celebrations. He dutifully obeys, taking his friends and sister into the dancing. The matriarch of the Uzumaki family crosses her arms, smiling, "are you sure that it's appropriate for a woman to take the station?"
"Bah, some of the older traditions of the past were bygone anyhow. Besides, your family founded our town one hundred years ago during the religious revolts in Mistral. Your great grandfather, rest his soul, risked his life fighting Grimm everyday to build up our sect here." He said whist stroking his small white goatee, "it would only be natural that leadership fall back into line with you, Princess."
"Hiruzen," she smiles softly, "I miss being called that nickname…"
"Ah, the joys of youth. I remember when you were just a small little tyke running about here, onery as you were, until you met their father…" Hiruzen chuckles at the fond memories of the two children, with Minato constantly getting his haired pulled. "You always picked on him, it was a shocker to me when you two got pregnant as early as you did…"
Kushina blushes a little bit, chuckling nervously. "Better to start the family sooner and have the children out of the house before we turned fifty." She offered up whilst rubbing her arm, "plus Minato was going on a mission as a new Hunter…and well…it was a risky one."
Hiruzen nods his head while smiling, "Minato would be proud of them both, such good children."
"I'm honored by that, Hiruzen, truly. As for the position of chieftainess of Mori…I'll have to think about it. Naruko is talking about starting training in Sanctum next year. Perhaps you got one more year left in the tank?" She hinted whilst recrossing her arms, watching over his shoulder as Ren and Nora danced.
Naruto and Naruko were dancing with each other, dancing in a circle with their backhands against each other. they briefly separated to the drums, spinning around and clapping before rejoining. She briefly remembered her and Minato doing the same thing when they were young, Gods, that was so many summers ago.
She turns back to Hiruzen, "Naruto is applying to Beacon. I was surprised that he didn't apply to Haven, Leonardo was already willing to accept him in."
"Naruto has turned into his father," he stated whilst throwing her off just a little bit. "Mori's yellow flash son has become Mori's number one, hyperactive, Fireball. It's no surprise that he would seek to make his own legacy…speaking of legacy…"
Kushina shook her head, smiling softly, "no girlfriends just yet…"
"Ahh, well, Naruto was always his father's son. A bit of dense piece of metal in that head of his, I reckon that he'll need to find a strong woman that'll probably have to beat it into him." Hiruzen jokingly pointed out whilst looking over his shoulder, "young Naruko activate her semblance yet?"
Kushina nods whilst holding her hands out in front of her, "our bloodline runs strong evermore."
A sudden commotion fills the crowd as one of the large lanterns was knocked over. Fire began to spread across one of the displays. Hiruzen watched as some of the crowd began to panic. "Oh no!" Hiruzen began to move to intercept, with the flame spreading toward the float.
Only to suddenly see Naruto hold his hand out with golden aura flaring around him. The crowd watched as the flames gathered toward his palm, some even oohing openly whilst he spun on his heel. He flames seemingly danced to his own will, it wasn't a part of the show, but he played it perfectly to get the crowd back to celebrating mood.
Kushina smiles watching the flames form into a small ball in his hands, "he's probably the greatest user of our family semblance since his great grandfather…"
Holding the ball up in his hand, he then brought it down toward his lips before blowing on it. The little specks of flames transformed into birdlike creations from his semblance. Some of the children chasing after the embers, which remained safely out of reach. The blonde bowed whilst using his fingers to control the movement of the fire birds! Making them corkscrew higher until they faded like reverse shooting stars.
"Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week ladies and gentlemen!" Naruto cheerful called out before hearing the crowd clap, with some the locals cheering his nickname.
"Fireball!"
"Fireball!"
"Fireball!"
His mother pinches her nose when he feigns a pensive look on his face, "oh dear here he goes…gotta show off now."
"Do you all want to see a fireball in action!" Naruto called out whilst hopping onto the stage, "I can make this whole street brighten up, if you all want!"
Some of the foreigners were looking nervously, with Sakura amongst them just crossing her arms. She remembered when he used to have issues controlling his semblance. What a difference two years made for him! Shikamaru meanwhile was walking over to a fire extinguisher, just in case before Naruto did something really stupid.
Nora meanwhile was whooping, "light this mother up, Ru, woohoo!"
"I know it's out of date everyone, since Kurama's festival isn't until October! However, since my family every year does a fire dance with our semblance, I figured this is the perfect opportunity to practice! Son Goku is also a representation of the forge, thus he does need a little bit a fire, dattebayo!" Naruto cheerfully pointed before taking a deep breath, "alright everyone! Stand back, and watch the show!"
Hiruzen was also pinching the bridge of his nose, "and there is you poking out of the boy…gah…he knows doing your semblance is public out festival is taboo."
"He's nearing seventeen, nothing much I can do about him now." Kushina reminded him out whilst, walking forward, "might as well join him. Lessens the chance of a Chomei Incident."
Hiruzen shuddered at the memories, a whole float going up in flames, luckily the only one on it was Naruto…who walked out of the fire stark naked. Whether that was intentional, or not, the little prankster had made some hard work go literally up in smoke.
He spent a whole month doing community service from dawn till dusk, throughout his entire winter and spring breaks!
Naruko suddenly went running to stage as well, with her little legs allowing her to leap up. Ren was also moving toward a fire extinguisher, just in case. He looked at over Shikamaru, nodding his head in respect at his preparedness. Indeed, if this was going to end up an incident, at least fire safety was taking care of!
"Can we get some music," Naruto called out, raising his arms up, "something a little quick pace!"
Taiko drums began to play rapidly, while shamisen players began to rhythmically play to an equal tune. Naruto watched as his mother took a deep breath, forming a single hand seal, the tiger seal. She had a red aura appear over her whilst sweeping her hand out, capturing all the flames from lanterns in the area.
Got up on one leg, spinning around as the flames formed thin lines of where she guided them her pointed index and middle fingers. His mother's eyes having turned from violet to crimson, she then formed a single hand seal by placing thumb on her middle and ring fingers. Her pinky and index finger pointed out, taking the hand seal in the shape of a fox. Suddenly the flames intensified in the air, forming into a butterfly! The crowd oohing and aahing at the sight, especially as she made wings flap. A clap of her hands before interlocking her thumbs and flapping her hands like wings which made the construct of fire burst into miniature butterflies that scattered around the sky! Tiny shooting stars they made as the sun finally went down over the mountains, casting darkness across the town save for the lantern fire.
"Um," Naruko took a deep breath her own eyes turn red. "I can do this…I can do this!"
She draws the butterflies back, spinning on her heel. The gathered flames formed a slightly malformed sphere in her hands, which struggled to keep itself together. She began to roll the ball over her shoulders, spinning it on her left hand's finger when it rolled back into the palm. Taking a deep breath, and then pressing her lips toward the ball, she blew hard.
"Kitsune Art: Fire Manipulation!" She mentally screamed out before the flames took the forms of rings in the air, as the music picked up, her hands began to make them spin around each other.
A bright smile appeared over her mother's face, whilst Naruto secretly was helping maintain their form with his semblance. He smiles softly at her though, she had come a long way since they were younger! Music getting louder, she claps her hands before weaving a couple of hand seals taught to her by her mother.
The flames intensified from the increased focus. She took a deep breath before looking toward her brother. The blonde smiling whilst standing in front of her now. He only had one hand seal formed and ready, and smiled. "In honor of Son Goku, normally I'd create Kurama…but…he still has a couple months away!" Naruto said jokingly before forming the monkey seal, "So, let's celebrate!"
Spinning on his heel rapidly, the flames began to twist, forming a firestorm in the air. Hiruzen got nervous, but watched as Naruto suddenly stopped. He grabbed at the air, making the flames turn red hot! Jumping up, slamming his leg down on the stage in a pose the flames changed colors again to orange, and slowly back to red.
Spinning low, four tails of flame begin to form. Getting up in the same motion, he used both sets of his index and middle finger to manipulate the flames like he wanted. He created a mountain before adding the flaming trees and fruit. The crowd was in a fever pitch, oohing and aahing constantly. Even Shikamaru was impressed as he watched his normal rambunctious friend maintain perfect control of the flame.
Suddenly they all contracted together into a large ball, making the crowd murmur. That was until Naruto roars out, like a great beast with his roar. The flames suddenly took the shape of the four-tailed Sacred Beast. It too mimicking the same type of roar, and then dispersing into embers across the crowd. Kushina and Naruko guiding the embers back into the lanterns to reignite them.
The crowd was explosive, clapping and cheering, some even asking for an encore! Kushina, Naruko, and Naruto all bowed at the same time before all of them shouting.
"Happy July Festivities from Mori!"
The night dragged on, with Naruto and co. having watched his mother take Naruko home. The little girl had been exhausted as the night dragged, the impromptu performance had warned her down. Now, inside of a small tavern, whilst they all conversed. Drinks were getting poured, with Ren keeping his sensibilities about him along with Shikamaru.
Sakura chugged back a saucer full of sake, "I remember that Chomei Festival Incident plan as day…you walked out of the flames in the nude!"
"I keep telling everyone I didn't do that on purpose," Naruto drunkenly pointed out whilst throwing a sake bottle back. "I was literally standing in the flames, and nothing was happening save my clothes burning!"
"I wish I could control fire!" Nora whined a little, making everyone stare at her, "what?!"
"Nora, no offense, but you would be a walking bomb. I mean, your emotional state is tied heavily with our kind of semblance. The more were angry, the hotter our flames burn." Naruto stated before taking another drink, "or how happy we are."
"And since you're bubbly nearly twenty-four-seven, well…" Ren took a deep breath, "I don't think blue is your color anyhow."
"Why would I be blue silly, flames don't turn blue!"
"Um, Naruto's does when he gets really angry!" Sakura pointed whilst remembering a small incident about a beringel going after Naruko, "never seen a Grimm get turned to ash so fast."
The blonde blushes whilst rubbing the back of his head, "yeah, but at a certain point they start to reflect back onto me."
"Blue flames, seriously, that must look so frigging cool!" Nora exclaimed whilst thinking about him sitting in a funnel of blue flames, "you'd look like a total badass!"
"Yeah, I even bet his eyes turn blue if the flames do as well!" Sakura pointed out, tempted to ask Naruto give them a demonstration.
The blonde got up, stretching as he sipped greedily from a sake bottle. "Technically I call them Matatabi Flames, since well…she's the Sacred Beast of flames. Don't know why, for my semblance being passed down as Kitsune, I have them…so far I'm the only one who can!"
"Naruko told us the story back a few years ago, basically she almost got snatched up by a beringel. Needles to say, Naruto's burned it to ashes after first contact." Shikamaru pointed out whilst keeping an eye on his intoxicated friend.
He took a deep breath, watching as Naruto took another drink, "I'm ready to go bed guys!"
"Light weight!" Nora slushed before leaning on Ren, "Isn't he Rennie~"
"I'm not even drinking Nora…so how would I know how potent the rice wine is?" Ren questioned whilst patting her head, "are you drunk?"
"Yes, and may-hic-yep!" Nora declared before laying all of her bodyweight on her best friend.
Music began to pick up outside as Naruto stretches before getting up. "I'm going to go dancing, any of you fine ladies want to join me?" he hanged in the air before already swaying to the music from outside.
Sakura got up, smiling a little as she recognizes the rhythm outside, "Goddess Of Fire?"
"I swear I had nothing to do with it!" Naruto laughed before stepping out into the plaza from the bar, they immediately clasped hands before kicking each other's feet.
Jumping in place after each kick, both separate before doing a mirrored spin with one another. Their backhands connected whilst they moved around each other. "So, tell me about Lee!" he yelled out over the loud thumping of the taiko drums whilst taking her hands, swinging each other in a circle much like some of the more expert dances of the crowd.
"He's adorkable in his own charming way, always hyper, nonstop go-getter! He's got very strong liking for the color green!" Sakura stated before both of them jumped at the slamming of the drums, "are you jealous or something~"
"Not even a little bit, Sakura! I mean, you're of my childhood friends, why would I be? If you don't like me that you, you don't like me that way! I just hope he treats you right," Naruto stated before catching before she tripped over her cherry blossom kimono, "got cha!"
"My hero," she playfully stated whilst rolling her eyes before both stood side by side, shuffling to the taiko drums. "I'm surprised that they haven't broke out guzhengs."
Naruto blushes a little bit before chuckling, "I actually got into playing music last year."
"About damn time, honestly, what is it? Electric guitar, you always had an affinity for rock music." Sakura pointed out whilst spinning with him as they danced side by side before back stepping three four paces.
"Hah, got you beat on something! I actually picked up shamisen and violin!" He told her much to her surprise whilst jumping forward and recovering the four paces lost in the dance, "I know. The shamisen you can understand, because I replicate any rock song I like easily, but violin? Your probably asking yourself, why?!"
"Yeah, I am, that's a random thing even for you. What, did someone make you bet again?" She inquired inquisitively whilst watching grab her hands as they spun around each other, "Well?"
"I did it because I wanted to show that, despite being a so-called country bumpkin, I could easily play violin if I put my mind to it!" Naruto stated with gusto, and fire in his eyes, "Are you still playing drums?"
"Well duh, I got to beat up on something other than idiots!" Sakura replied with bright smile, "want to make a band or something, screw the noise of hunting?"
"Pfft, please, I am better Hunter than musician!" Naruto retorted cheekily before the music started to picks up, "want me to do the thing?"
She smirks before nodding her hand whilst watching him separate from her. Immediately activating his semblance, he had small stream of fire come into his hands before molding it into a clone of himself. Sakura watches as him and the fire clone of himself did the same dace. Bouncing on foot whilst cocking their elbows before shimming to the left and right.
They pointed at each other before both spun mirrored to each other whilst bouncing on the same individual foot. The fire clone and him smack their hands together, with the clone bursting embers around him. Naruto directed them right back toward a torch, which reignited with ease!
"I love being able to control fire," Naruto boasted before seeing some girls staring at him. A single ember hung near his lips before he winked at them and blew them a literal fiery kiss whilst cerulean eyes glowed. He walks away from them, nonchalantly with a teasing, "ladies~"
"I see you got more flirty over the last two years," Sakura noticed whilst they headed more toward gaming section of the town square. "Why don't you have a girlfriend, I mean seriously, Ren has Nora…Shikamaru has someone I'm hearing. You're the only one without anyone."
"Oof, laying it on a little thick there," Naruto feigned hurt whilst looking up toward the broken moon. "I'm just waiting for that one special feeling, dattebayo."
Sakura laughs under her breath, padding his shoulder, "sometimes you got to make that feeling happen, Naruto."
"I know I know, sheesh, thanks mom~" Naruto teased before dodging a smack to the back of his head, "I got more aware of that coming by the way!"
"Shit, well there goes my-got cha!" Sakura suddenly yelled out when before smacking on the head with her other hand. "Still got it!" Except when she looks, her was using his right forearm to block the second smack. She purses her lips, "okay, then color me impressed."
"Sakura," Naruto smiles before looking back toward the moon and letting go of her hands, "is it weird that I don't know what I want?"
"Not exactly, but I hope for your sake you choose an honest girl. Because if I hear them hurting, I'm going to smack them upside the head, cha!" She yelled out her verbal tic, whilst smiling proudly and pumping her right arm.
He smiles before walking with both hands behind his head, "I want someone who'll be willing to take the leap with me…you know? I don't want something fleeting, I want something that's forever!"
"Jeez, hopeless romantic much?" Sakura teased him before getting a small punch on her shoulder in return, "ouch!"
"Ah put a sock in it!"
Those Who Are Precious To Me!
"No matter what culture you're from, everyone loves music!"
Billy Joel
Naruto slides the door open to his house as he dragged Nora with the help of Ren inside. She was giggling like a madwoman! Her face was blushing red from alcohol. "Ooh, getting carried upstairs by my two best friends…for some reason I feel like this would be some steamy scene in any other story~" she slurred while getting her feet picked up by Naruto.
"Nora, what are even talking about?" Ren questioned, although he slightly chuckled at her slurred words whilst helping Naruto carry her upstairs.
Kushina, Naruto's mother peers downstairs, "she, okay?"
"Sloshed!" Nora triumphantly called while getting carried up the stairs, "Mrs. K, look I got both of them!"
Kushina shook her head laughing, "gods help you Nora, never change."
"Don't-hic-plan on it!" The orangenette called out before passing out, and immediately going dead weight.
"Oh shit…" Naruto nearly stumbled, "why is it when someone goes limp it feels their weight increases so damn much!"
"You good?" Ren asked whilst he cleared the top of the stairs, slowly walking backwards with Nora. "I really appreciate this, I didn't plan on Nora getting sloshed."
"Welcome to the town where the legal drinking age is friggin fifteen," Naruto laughed whilst letting her feet droop, "I'm going to go set up sleeping beauty's bed!"
"Okay, just scoot it a little closer to me…sometimes she had nightmares." Ren pointed out before Naruto peered his head out of the room, smile laced across his face, "what?"
"Uh huh, nightmares, got it." Naruto teased before popping back into the room, getting straightened out.
Ren stood there, and it clicked, "perverted fox…"
"Okay, she's ready, c'mon!" Naruto yelled out whilst getting two red solo cups and making them act like directors for trafficking. "Beep, beep, beep!"
Ren gently lays Nora on her shikibuton, smiling before covering her up. "Goodnight Nora," he whispered before patting her head and exited the room. "So, Kung Fu Ninjas Six?"
"Does the Uzumaki Family sigil have a spiral inside of a fire symbol?" Naruto rhetorically questioned before looking at his mother, "we're going downstairs…we got pickle juice, right?"
"Yep, top left in the fridge. Figured I'd pour some in a mason jar for one of you, should've guess it be Nora though…firecracker as she is." His mother stated whilst walking over to Ren and Nora's guest room. "I'll keep my ears wide open for her, just in case she wakes up with that nightmare."
Ren smiles, looking at her before saying how he felt, "thank you, mom."
"Love you too Rennie, get down and kick Naruto's butt…I got our orangenette."