" I was expecting you sometime in the morning, didn't think you would be in such an hurry, " said Kakashi in pajamas sitting on his desk.
Naruto places the scroll down unto the desk, and steps back.
" It wasn't my intention to be a nuisance, but I knew I would have to incommode you, " Naruto replied with his hand rubbing his nape. " Have you come to tell me you're leaving for Kumogakure? " asked Kakashi.
Naruto drops his hands into his pockets and heaves a strong sigh, " I can no longer sit back. There are things I need to resolve over there, and knowing I can get pretty busy, I wouldn't want such an issue as this to persist, " said Naruto.
" I understand, now I just want to sit back and await the results " said Kakashi, " the results? " said Naruto lifting his brow.
Kakashi gets down from his desk, and walks over to the window, where he stands gazing out at the village.
" I want to see if you can maintain this peace, that you fought for so badly, " said Kakashi. " I fought for? ", Naruto walks over and stands at Kakashi's side.
" This peace is the result of everyone's sacrifice, we all have lost something, someone dear to us. To maintain this peace, anyone concerned needs to remember why it was fought for in the first place... I cannot let the next generation get caught up in the cycle of hatred we've all had to deal with, "
Kakashi pulls his mask down, and smiles softly at Naruto. " I can see you have your own ideas now of peace, I'll be waiting expectantly as your former sensei and the Hokage, " said Kakashi.
Naruto nods then turns away, as he approached the door Kakashi turned around struck by a thought.
" Are you going with Sasuke? " He asked, Naruto stops and looks over his shoulder while placing a hand on the door knob. " Sasuke needs to be here, beside the one he loves. I will take care of this, since it's me he wants " said Naruto.
Kakashi nods and Naruto proceeds out of the office, shutting the door behind him. After the regal's departure, Kakashi turned back towards the window.
" I remain in awe of your growth... Minato Sensei will be proud of the man you're becoming, and the resolute choices you're making " said Kakashi with a wistful smile...
Arriving back at the house, Naruto found a pale blue horse outside, seeing the horse Naruto drew a small smile, while his eyes went to the patio, where sat a young dark skinned man in his mid twenties with blue faded hair cut and clean shaven face.
" You arrived earlier than I thought you would, that's really kind of you. Obos. " said Naruto approaching the patio.
Obos the young man with a smile, cross his leg over the other, and leaned back against the couch.
" It was important, I thought I shouldn't tarry and deliver it as soon as possible " replied Obos.
Obos gets up once Naruto was a couple of feet from him, and closes the distance between them by centimeters. Naruto extends his hand, Obos took it and they hugged.
" It hasn't been that long, and you already have a lot of people who miss you. Your fans mostly, " said Obos humorously, " I don't think me yet a celebrity " said Naruto separating from Obos.
" I know you're not one to acknowledge this things, but you are and they patiently await you, "
Naruto sits down, and Obos followed suit, taking his place beside the blond.
" I also want to come back, but the timing is not yet right, nevertheless it's good to see you in the flesh. So, where is the drive? " asked Naruto.
Obos dips his right hand into his pocket, fishing out a USB flash drive and hands it over to Naruto. Naruto looks down at the small object in his hand wistfully.
" Now that I've delivered this, i'm going to be on my way " said Obos getting back up.
Naruto got up as well, " I couldn't even show any hospitality, after freeloading off you for months, " said Naruto. " Don't sweat it, Ruto. I've got you, I always have the back of my friends, and who knows– "
Obos backs away while having his eyes on Naruto, " I might freeload if I don't see you in the city soon, " said Obos.
Naruto smiled watching Obos turn around and approach his horse, the blond watched his friend get on the horse, which neighed at that instant.
" Ruto. I hope what you want to take care of, with that: goes well, " " thank you. I owe you a lot. " replied Naruto.
Obos waved at Naruto, and then pats his horse on the side. The horse's eyes glowed and a swirling blue oval shaped portal appears before it, " I'll be seeing you " said Obos before his horse walks into the portal.
The portal closes, and Naruto looks down once more at the flash drive in his left hand. " I hope so too " Naruto says. Naruto leaves the patio and goes back into the house.
Fifteen minutes later, Naruto came back out; wearing a black body hug shirt with a gold zipper which starts from the middle of his shirt to the top of the collar, as well as a grey jogging trousers with pockets sealed by gold zippers. He also wore a complimentary grey Shinobi sandals.
Coming out of the house, Naruto holds a eight inches long and eight inches wide yellow scroll in his left hand, walking the blond gets over to the terrace, and goes down with one foot bent backwards and the other forward.
" It's been almost three weeks since you've donned it, do you think it's going to be weird? " asked Kurama.
' probably. But do you want to know something? ', " what? " ' it's going to be fearsome. Which I think I may need for my first encounter with the Raikage after four years ' replied Naruto.
" Then go for it. Let your power explode, Naruto! "
Naruto's irises glows immensely bright, and frosty gold chakra emancipates from his body, while a glowing iridescent swirl appear on the area of his t-shirt covering his solar plexus; then, a pitch black body hugging suit of armor appearing as a humanoid Kurama with nine lively armored tails donned him.
The frosty gold chakra recedes, and Naruto's form goes from pitch black to golden fiery white. Nine huge big black truth seeking spheres appear in a circular order behind him, meanwhile the ground beneath him began to reverberate.
Gravitational pressure builds up around Naruto, while circular gale waves emancipates below him in harmless quantity. Naruto's brightly blue luminous eyes glows brighter, and the ground crushes beneath him as he takes off to the sky above at supersonic speed: breaking through the sound barrier upon his ascent.
- SOMETIME BEFORE TAKE OFF -
Konohamaru walks through the street of Konoha, passing by civilians whom were going about their business. Though some would occasionally greet him, being an anbu the young Sarutobi could have easily avoided being seen. He however couldn't, due to his mind being crowded with his own thoughts.
Konohamaru walked around for a while, till without intending to, found himself standing in front of a shop with a sign post, upon which is written in Kanji: Yamanaka flower shop.
' I'm here?... How could I end up here of all places, what was I thinking ' thought Konohamaru, then he remembered, and thought, ' yeah, Ino Yamanaka '.
Konohamaru thought since he was already there, (holding a square shaped white paper box in his right hand) he should say 'hi'. Konohamaru approaches the door, enters and the above bell jingles, signalling his arrival.
Ino Yamanaka, sat behind a wooden counter inside the shop: which was occupied by numerous and diverse flowers, reading a book. Though, upon hearing the bell jingle, Ino rose to her feet.
" Welcome to Yamanaka flow- " Ino paused, as her eyes settled on Konohamaru whom had stood with his back to the closed door.
After several seconds passed with them both staring at each other, Konohamaru coughed into his right fist to break the silence and once the spell was broken: Ino sat back down.
And Konohamaru walked up slowly to the counter, standing a foot distance from it.
" Hi " He says lamely. Ino says nothing in return for a few seconds, then she glanced at him and asked. " Why are you here? ".
Not sure of how to answer, Konohamaru decided on what to say: " Hokage sama asked me to purchase a flower for him, " said Konohamaru.
Ino furrows her brows in suspicion, whilst looking down at a page of a book down in front of her. " A flower? " she asked, " yes. A flower, something absolutely appropriate for the Hokage to ask for " said Konohamaru.
" Are you getting defensive? " Ino asked, turning her suspecting gaze to him. Konohamaru scoffs, " why would I lie, " He retorts " I never accused you of telling a lie ". " Shit " He says under his breath, but Ino picked it up.
" Can I still get a flower? " asked Konohamaru.
Ino sighs, then she gets back up leaving the counter and coming around towards him. As she approached, Konohamaru noticed, Ino was wearing a white trouser shorts with a pink hem, in which's pockets her hands were dipped: and a black crop top vest.
Konohamaru gulped at the lethal sway of Ino's hips, he died slowly inside as he couldn't help himself from wandering into the dark recesses of his mind.
Ino came and stops in front of him. " Alright, what flower would you like to purchase? " Ino asked, and without completely meaning to, Konohamaru blurts " Orchid ".
" Huh?... Orchid uh, okay. How would you want- ", " that's what best describes you " said Konohamaru.
Ino removes her hands from her pockets, and drop them to her sides, while looking on slightly startled.
" You're thoughtful, beautiful and charming. And I shouldn't be here, but now that I am. Happy birthday, and this chocolate cake was meant for you all along " said Konohamaru extending the box in his hand forward with a smile.
Ino was not at all sure of how to react to this situation: which she was not prepared for. Her blue eyes looks down at the box of chocolate cake.
' I fucking like chocolate. I mean who doesn't ' Ino thought.
Ino decided to act unimpressed, even though she hadn't thought he would remember her birthday. Which she really hadn't gotten to truly celebrate, because of her certain cherry blossom best friend: whom has become too busy to have time for her.
Ino folds her arms beneath her bust, and stares feigning an unimpressed demeanor.
" Do you think me so easy I would be swayed by cake, and Orchid, " said Ino, " I'm not trying to sway you " said Konohamaru.
Ino scoffs again. " So what, you're just here to wish me a happy birthday and buy the Hokage a orchid?... I mean, what did I expect after you ghosted me all throughout last week " said Ino.
Konohamaru sighs. " I'm not your boyfriend okay! ", Ino laughs scornfully. " Wow " she says.
Ino clicks her tongue, " yeah, I should I have seen this coming " Ino turns away. But Konohamaru reached out and grabbed her by the arm, gazing at her slightly befuddled.
" Don't tell me you regretted it. Cause I remembered specifically asking you if you would, and you said you won't, " " and I don't " she says.
" Then? What do you mean by, you should have seen this coming " asked Konohamaru.
Ino pushes Konohamaru's hand away, and returned to her chair behind the counter. But instead of sitting back down, she disappears for some seconds below the counter, and when Ino resurfaced she was holding a purple leather purse.
Ino walks away from the counter and back over to Konohamaru.
" I don't believe a word from you, saying the Hokage wants an Orchid, and even if you were telling the truth. This is not the only flower shop in the village, go somewhere else. I don't want to have to see you, because of a one night sex " said Ino, whom was growing truly unimpressed.
Konohamaru stood there speechless, as Ino walks past him to the door and pulls it open. She clicks her tongue, " come on out. I'm closing, I have somewhere important to be " she said.
The young Sarutobi wasn't sure why he could not bring himself to utter a single word, and just did exactly as the platinum blond haired kunoichi said: he turned and goes out the door.
Ino follows, closing and locking the door, then pulling down the sign which says the shop was closed in Kanji.
" And yeah, I was an idiot for allowing you into my bed that night. I should have truly seen myself regretting, then I wouldn't have. " said Ino.
Konohamaru could only but watch, as Ino departed. And though he wanted to turn away too, and wallow in the thought of how things got this complicated between him and the Yamanaka heiress: he also had to know where she was going, even though the path she was taking was familiar.
" Where are you going this late, all alone?! " Konohamaru asked, Ino stops but kept her eyes forward.
" You're not my boyfriend, so you don't need to know where I'm going, and don't you dare follow me " said Ino.
Konohamaru concedes and Ino went her way. Konohamaru heaves a sigh, turns the other way, and walks off in strides. . .
A while after, Ino Yamanaka stops in front of Sakura Haruno's office, she places her right hand softly on the door. Feeling slightly nervous because of the thoughts that were playing through her mind.
' I can do this. I'm a big girl, there is nothing to worry about ' Ino thought.
Gathering her quickly disappearing courage, Ino tentatively knocks on the door. And ten seconds after, she heard Sakura say "come in".
Ino turns the knob, and pushes in. Within the office, Ino discovers Sakura was not alone: but with Sasuke Uchiha. She furrows her brows, looking at Sakura's slightly unnoticed disheveled hair, and her professional attempt at reigning in her breath.
The Uchiha on the other hand, was sitting at the far end of the office couch, with his chin on the palm of his hand. Trying to look innocent.
' I'm curious, but... '
" I want to ask what's going on here, but Sakura I need you to do something for me " said Ino sternly.
Sakura takes notice to the serious manner by which Ino spoke, and knew whatever her best friend needed her for was greatly important.
" Sasuke, I need to attend to her. You can go to the house, maybe Naruto is waiting there for you? " said Sakura looking over at the Uchiha.
" I'm good. I'll just wait for you at the new balcony. " said Sasuke.
Sasuke got up reluctantly, while trying his hardest to look away from Sakura, leaves the office.
" So, what do you need me for? "...
Several minutes later, Sasuke stood on the balcony; looking out at the moonlit night sky. Watching as the clouds danced through the sky.
Then, unexpectedly, Sasuke senses Naruto's Chakra levels go off. He holds unto the railing, and after a little while. Watches, as Naruto rises up into the clouds above with shockwaves and Sonic waves.
" Where in the world is he going. I must find out, " Sasuke in urgency brings one foot up unto the railing.
Then remembering his promise, Sasuke brought his foot back down and sprints back inside in a flash.
" Can you believe this? " Sakura asked in bewilderment sitting next to Ino on the hospital bed of a private room.
" I wanted to confirm it, and it's confirmed now " said Ino looking down at her hands.
Sakura takes Ino's hands with hers, and looks her best friend dead in the eye. " Tell me truthfully; is it Sai? " she asked and slowly Ino shakes her head and before Sakura could shrink back in surprise, Sasuke pulls open the door.
" Something urgent came up with Naruto, I think I need to assist him, " He said. Sakura tilts her head towards him, repressing a infuriated expression.
" You didn't need me to know that. Naruto is like a brother to you, and my friend. I don't think you need debate whatever assistance he may need of you with me, when he's the one who healed you that night. " said Sakura.
Ino in awe, watches as a big smile blooms on Sasuke's face. Then the Uchiha came in and walked towards Sakura, cups her cheeks in his hands and plants a strong, passionate and long kiss on her lips.
Sasuke withdrew. " I think you might just be the best... I'll see you very soon " said Sasuke before abdicating the room in a flash and closing the door shut behind him.
" Incredible, so that's what you've been up too. Why you paid no mind to your best friend? " Ino asked, " sorry? ".
Sasuke returns to the balcony, and jumps right off. A few moments passes, and the Uchiha, with red blazing eyes emerged with huge wings, taking off as well into the sky at an incredible speed.