Disclaimer: This chapter was very fun to write. The next few chapters will be more action-oriented, which I'm very excited about because I love writing action scenes. I made sure to take some time to reply to all the reviewers of chapter 2 and I'll do it again for chapter 3. Thank you so much for the support and I hope you all enjoy it!
She Makes Miso Happy
Chapter 3: The Will of Fire
"Ayame Ichiraku, I'm happy that you signed all the required documents. We enjoyed your demonstration on the ninjutsu and genjutsu sections of the examination," Tsunade said causing many of the instructors to murmur and nod in approval.
"Thank you, is the exam over?" Ayame asked from across the gymnasium.
"Almost, I want to see you perform that fire jutsu again," Tsunade said with a smirk. The other instructors looked at their Hokage curiously, but no one said a word. "You flinched when you performed that jutsu. If you truly want to be a shinobi, you shouldn't fear showing off what you are capable of. Even then, on your documentation, you asked to be a special reservist kunoichi that's a lot to ask for especially given your age."
"I was told that special reservist kunoichi only get called in if our nation is at war… and I'd have the ability to travel and gain more knowledge," Ayame interjected, as she walked forward towards the judges. "I promise to stay loyal to Konoha, but I need to travel and grow stronger for those I love."
"Love? Who do you love?" Tsunade asked with narrowed and furious honeyed eyes.
Ayame flinched, but she softly said, "I'll perform the fire jutsu again."
Tsunade was glaring at her so venomously that Ayame felt like running out of room. The Hokage looked at those sitting next to her and then furiously yelled, "Enough talking, get on with it!"
Jonin, chunin, and academy instructors were sitting across the brightly lit gymnasium. Ayame stood on a raised dojo platform at the center of the academy gymnasium. She felt chakra coursing throughout her body. She looked up from her toes and saw Iruka-sensei, Tsunade, and various other shinobi she had served ramen to in the past. They were staring at her, waiting for her to perform her father's jutsu, and Ayame wasn't sure if she wanted to. Was she making the right choice? She couldn't believe Naruto had influenced her to come here, but he did. She had only one hour before work started and if she passed, she'd be a genin just like Naruto.
Ayame was wearing high black ninja sandals that went up past her ankles. She was wearing a brown skirt that went down to her knees and a red sleeveless blouse, however, she made sure to tie her hair in a neat ponytail to be more presentable. Forming ten hand signs and ending with the tiger, Ayame pulled her head back and proclaimed, "Katon: Moeru Cho (Fire release: Burning Butterflies)!"
Dozens of bright burning butterflies flew over Ayame's honey-brown mane of hair towards the ceiling. All the exam proctors including Tsunade watched the display in utter fascination. The butterflies looked like Monarch Butterflies on fire as they flapped higher. Black smoke flew from each flutter of their wings. Ayame clapped her palms together causing all the flaming butterflies to explode like fireworks.
Ayame brought her hands down to her hips. She hoped she was making the right choice. She hoped Naruto would support her decision. Most of all, she hoped her father would be proud of her.
"You have passed," Tsunade said while holding up a blue fabric forehead protector with a silver plate in the middle. The metal plate had the insignia of the leaf village etched into it. "Come I want to talk with you, Ayame Ichiraku."
Ayame bowed to her audience and got off the stage. She felt conflicted that she passed, not happy like she thought she would. Did she make the worst mistake of her life? Ayame grabbed her forehead protector and followed Tsunade out of the gymnasium into the empty hallways of the academy. She noticed that the Hokage was looking at her oddly. Tsunade looked Ayame up and down and frowned, "Most of the genin candidates who passed this week joined to go on missions. They joined to fight, serve, and protect the people of Konoha! Why did you join as a specialist reservist? I don't need a conscientious objector in my armed forces!"
"I'm no conscientious objector!" Ayame yelled back at the horrid accusation. Conscientious objectors were shinobi who refused to fight. Ayame knew the punishment for being a conscientious objector was a public beheading. "I would never back down from a fight! I never had and never will!"
"You have a lot of gall yelling back at me. Your Shinobi Registration form says otherwise!" Tsunade countered.
"Tsunade-sama, I thought I had a choice when signing up to be a shinobi," Ayame said without thinking.
Tsunade growled and pushed Ayame into the metal lockers in the hallway, "A choice! We lost thousands of shinobi during the Crush! Thousands of irreplaceable lives. It's why I had to send a bunch of genin on the Sasuke Retrieval Mission! Young lady, you have a lot of talent for a ramen chef. I can see you surpassing your father as a shinobi, but a specialist reservist is a dead-end position. Why do you want to become a shinobi?"
Ayame felt her shoulder and back ache from Tsunade's strength. Tsunade released her ironclad hold from Ayame's shoulders, causing Ayame to fall to her knees. Tsunade looked down at the younger woman curiously. Ayame looked up in fear and said, "I-I, uh, I wanted to become a kunoichi because of Naruto."
"Naruto?" Tsunade repeated almost in a daze. Tsunade's eyes widened and her body jolted, before freezing over Ayame. Ayame looked Tsunade in the eyes, before she could say something Tsunade spoke, "Naruto convinced you to become a kunoichi?" Tsunade clenched her fist angrily. "Spill the beans or I'll have you arrested right here and now!"
Ayame waved her arms in fear. Sweat rolled down her forehead as she finally understood why so many people feared Lady Tsunade.
"I met Naruto when I was ten and he was six. I was coming back from the academy, and I spotted him going through the trash behind our store. I told my dad and we fed him. Whenever Naruto feared people following him, he'd come to Ichiraku's. We had to hide together in our freezer when a mob of people stormed our shop. Since then, I treated him like a little brother." Ayame's eyes welled with tears as she remembered that awful memory. Naruto's skull was bloodied from people throwing bottles at his head. By the time the mob was scared out of Ramen Ichiraku by Teuchi. Her hands were covered in blood. "We grew up together! I protected him. I cared for him, fed him, and I would do anything for him. He was never a failure or a demon. He might be thirteen, but he's more mature and better-tempered than this entire village. Konohans treat their savior like garbage."
"Ayame, I uh," Tsunade said only to stop herself and listen to Ayame.
"I want to be a kunoichi because I want to be there for him. Naruto is always putting others ahead of himself. He does it so much, he forgets the important things. I'm scared Naruto is going down a dark path. He's going to be leaving Konoha soon and…"
Tsunade's brown eyes widened, and she moved away from Ayame. Ayame observed how the Sannin's hands trembled, her chest rising with every breath, and the confliction in her eyes. Tsunade tapped her right high-heeled foot on the tiled floor then looked up at Ayame with tears welling in her eyes, "You l-love Naruto?"
Ayame nodded.
Tsunade nodded back. Ayame flinched in fear when she saw the Hokage approach her. They stood face to face in the empty hallway. Ayame closed her eyes expecting the older woman to punish her for whatever reason. Instead, Tsunade straightened up and softly said, "I believe you… We'll speak about this later before Naruto leaves. You are being placed on probation until I can figure something out."
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Ayame said courteously while bowing her head.
"Ayame, I'm sorry," Tsunade said so softly her voice carried just above a whisper. "I shouldn't have acted like that. Naruto has had a tough life and I want him to succeed just like you. I care about that little brat. If there's anything I can do to make Naruto happy, I'll do it, because I love him too."
Tsunade marched back inside the gymnasium. Ayame stood in the hallway, she smiled and then laughed in relief. She was now officially a genin.
2 Days Later
(Three Days until Training Trip)
Naruto was resting by a large wetland pond not too far from the Westside of Konoha. He was around training ground 25 a large park roughly four miles from his apartment. It was much more convenient to go here than to the other training grounds Team 7 usually frequented. Naruto sighed as he thought about his team. Sasuke was gone, Sakura didn't want him around, and Kakashi sensei had gone awol ever since Naruto awoke in the hospital. The only people he had seen over the past four days were Jiraiya, the Ichiraku, and Tsunade when he had to give her his leave of absence form yesterday. Naruto plunged his head into the pond and pulled it out.
Water flew into the air and dripped from his golden-locked hair. Every time he thought about Ayame he blushed. If he thought about her long enough, he'd need to cool down. He loved her. She made him happy. Naruto saw his reflection in the pond. A white swan glided over the water honking at him. Naruto smiled at the creature, but he frowned.
He always wanted to leave Konoha. He wanted to leave as much as he wanted to be Hokage. He wanted to explore the world and get far away from home. Growing up, he hated the beatings, the harassment, and the hate. Now that he was older, Naruto frowned as he watched the swan swimming across the pond. Another swan came out of a wetland mangrove and glided over to the other swan. Both swans wrangled their necks against one another. Both swans made a heart shape with their necks.
"If I leave Konoha, I'll be leaving Ayame-chan," Naruto said to himself. She was his most precious person, his guiding light, and she made him happy. "Would she wait three years for me?"
The swans on the pond answered with loud honks.
Naruto tied his orange jumpsuit jacket around his waist. He was hot and sweaty from trying out his new jutsu. The wind brushed his golden-locked hair back and cooled his torso. He still had on his black shirt with a red swirl as he jogged faster back home. Naruto jogged past civilians who mostly ignored him as he ran past the bakeries. Smokestacks rose from the bakery's chimneys causing Naruto to smirk to himself.
He had been practicing a theoretical jutsu that was discussed in Koga Namikaze's book The Wind Clan. The more Naruto read Koga's books, the more he appreciated the legendary shinobi and author. There were no distinct tutorials on learning new jutsu. Chapter 5 of the book outlined theories on both ninjutsu and fuinjutsu that were passed down in the Namikaze clan for many generations. After his date with Ayame, Naruto spent the last two days trying to create a new jutsu. He was interested most in recreating Koga Namikaze's burning smoke jutsu. The theory of smoke and vapor being the bridge between Wind and Fire natures sent Naruto into a deep dive into recreating the techniques.
"When the people of our nation come together under a single will! The will creates a fire!" Naruto mused to himself as he neared his apartment. It was one of the many profound and inspiring quotes from Koga's books. "There is no smoke without fire! The fallen turn into smoke and ash. One day that ash will become a diamond. Until that day I will pursue the fire!"
"Reciting the Namikaze clan motto!" Spoke a massive shadowy man in front of Naruto.
"Agh!" Naruto said crashing into a tall and bronze-skinned Jonin with a thick and scruffy beard.
Naruto groggily sat up with his arms behind his back and his palms hugging the pavement. Naruto huffed at who it was then said, "Thanks for ruining the moment Asuma-sensei."
"Sorry about that Naruto," Asuma replied with a nervous chuckle. "Came in by shunshin (Body-flicker technique). I didn't mean to knock you down."
Asuma pulled Naruto up off the ground. Naruto looked up at the tall Jonin who commanded Team Ten. Asuma was Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji's Jonin sensei. Naruto couldn't remember ever interacting with Asuma. Naruto was taken out of these thoughts when he felt Asuma dusting his hair and clothes. Dust fell from Naruto to the ground, causing him to give Asuma-sensei an annoyed look, "Thanks!"
"No problem, and again sorry for knocking you to the ground," Asuma sincerely said.
"I'm used to it," Naruto begrudgingly said with a roll of his eyes. "Exactly why did you shunshin into me?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Heard someone reciting the Will of Fire," Asuma said while looking up at the rising sun. "It was written by the Namikaze Clan, it was their motto." Asuma rubbed a white sash that hung from his waist. The sash had the kanji for Fire on it. "I used to serve as a member of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi! We were the personal bodyguards for Hi no Kuni's Daimyo. Hearing you recite the Will of Fire brought back some good memories."
"I've been reading Koga Namikaze's books. The original Will of Fire pledge leaves out all the good parts," Naruto excitedly said.
"There is no smoke without fire," Asuma said.
"The fallen turn into smoke and ash," Naruto followed. They both said together, "One day that ash will become a diamond. Until that day I will pursue the fire!"
Civilians walked past the pair chanting the Will of Fire by the bakeries. Many people stopped and listened until a small circle formed around both Asuma and Naruto. Asuma laughed and slapped Naruto on the back of the head playfully. He took out a cigarette, placed the filter in his mouth, and ignited the other end. Asuma smiled and blew out smoke, then he said, "You are an interesting young man Naruto." Naruto smiled at Asuma's praise, and he even looked up at Asuma respectfully. "I must say Naruto, I'm surprised. I heard from many of your academy instructors you weren't that talented or smart. Now that we have met, I believe they couldn't be more wrong."
"I, uh, th-thank you," Naruto said while stuttering. He was at a loss for words over Asuma's compliment. "I've been interested in their clan lately. I've mostly been interested in Koga Namikaze because I can relate to him." Naruto said while gazing toward Hokage Rock. He pointed at the Yondaime Hokage's stone head. Naruto smiled as he said, "I used to worship the Fourth Hokage. I wanted to be like him… now I'm not so sure."
"Say Naruto, have you by chance gotten breakfast?"
Naruto excitedly shook his head left and right. Asuma threw his still-lit cigarette on the pavement and snubbed it with his right foot. Asuma groaned when he saw that Naruto had a mischievous foxy grin.
"What are you plotting?" Asuma asked already dreading the answer.
"Are you paying? I uh still haven't gotten paid."
"The Sasuke Retrieval Mission," Asuma said while shaking his head. "Fine, I'll flip the bill. You took an even worse beating than Choji. A lot of people were betting on…" Naruto raised an eyebrow as he watched Asuma-sensei pause. Asuma noticed the confused look Naruto was giving him and said, "People had pools going on dead pools. Whoever died first got the big payout. I put an end to those pools when I found out. Come let us go eat."
It had been thirty minutes of awkward silence.
Naruto sat on a stool with an empty plate and an empty pint of beer before him. He usually didn't drink but Asuma offered. They both ate in awkward silence. Naruto was hungry and hadn't had much time to eat over the past few days besides a few visits to Ichiraku's after long stints of training or reading. They talked a little bit, but it was nothing more than Asuma asking him how he was holding up. Naruto just felt distant… he kept thinking about what Asuma said, dead pools.
"What is upsetting you?" Asuma asked from across the table. "I understand the strain of nearly dying. It'll get better."
"Asuma-sensei, I know I'm a jinchuriki. I know there are rules about people not talking about the Kyuubi, but rules were made to be broken," Naruto said briskly getting the Jonin's attention.
Asuma raised an eyebrow and looked at Naruto oddly, "What are you getting at kid?"
"I just want to know. How many shinobi voted for me in the pool?" Naruto saw the conflict on Asuma's face. He looked down at his lap. "Look, I'm not angry about it. I worry that a lot of shinobi hate me. If I have a lot of enemies at home, then how am I sure they wouldn't go after her."
Asuma smirked as he grasped that Naruto wasn't just talking about himself but a girl. Was this thirteen-year-old genin dating someone?
"Naruto, I think nothing less of you for being a jinchuriki. The Fourth Hokage wanted you to be treated like a hero… sometimes our leaders have too much faith in humanity. I've seen how people treat you, it is not right, and I can't speak for everyone." Asuma said roughly, he looked around the half-empty teahouse. He looked around again then leaned in closer to Naruto and said, "But there are some shinobi who don't like you."
"Who doesn't like me?"
"I can't say who. Some of these shinobi are above my pay grade and… some are more powerful than Lady Tsunade," Asuma asserted causing Naruto's eyes to widen in fear. "Naruto, if I was you. I'd watch my back because your pool grew big."
Naruto groaned and turned his head away to the bar area of the teahouse. He then looked back at Asuma and said, "I thought the village was finally warming up to me."
"You changed many hearts and minds after your performance at the Chunin Exams," Asuma warmly asserted with a large grin.
"Tsk, not really," Naruto said while folding his arms and frowning. "If I did such a good job then why I am still a genin? Shikamaru never had to face Gaara and defeat Shukaku. He has the vest, while I'm still just a genin."
"Naruto it's complicated. The Hokage died before he could analyze all the fights. It's not about winning, rather it's about leadership. Chunin require the competency and understanding to make quick life-changing decisions." Asuma said while frowning, he then realized something. "Naruto, why do you want to be a chunin so badly?"
"They get a 30,000 Ryo bonus at the end of the year. Chunin go on higher-paying missions, and they get higher payouts at the end of every mission. If I became a chunin I'd be one step closer to being Hokage and I'd have better peace of mind. I've been poor my whole life. I'm not greedy, but money can give me that peace of mind I've always wanted," Naruto sternly explained. Lately, he had been worried about one day supporting Ayame. Naruto was young, but he wanted the one thing he never had. A family. "Asuma-sensei, I'm sorry if I sounded so butt hurt about not being promoted. Kakashi-sensei never helped me out before and during the Chunin exam. I have a lot more things to worry about now that I'm dating…"
Asuma gave the blonde boy a wry look and smirked. He then softly said to Naruto, "Whose the lucky girl?"
"She's a woman, not a girl. She's the smartest, friendliest, and most beautiful woman I know in Konoha," Naruto said with rosy cheeks. Asuma's brown eyes bulged when he heard that.
"Who is it?" Asuma asked with a raised eyebrow and an earnest grin. "I promise not to spill the beans."
"I uh," Naruto started saying only to stop. He remembered being in this position before. Asuma looked at him oddly. Naruto straightened up and looked back at Asuma distrustfully. "Not to burst your bubble, but I barely know you. Why would I trust you? Mizuki, Sasuke, Kabuto, and Haku were all shinobi I trusted. I'm running out of friends I can trust." Naruto said this while looking down at his lap. He felt pain from each name he had listed. It made him remember their roles in hurting so many people's lives. "Jinchuriki aren't popular. We, uh, I mean… look, she's the first woman to ever be interested in me. I'm just worried she'll get hurt because of me."
Asuma sighed and placed his palms together, then he said, "How about this? You tell me the name of your girlfriend and I'll tell you the name of mine."
They both smirked. Naruto flashed a foxy grin.
"I'm seeing Kurenai Yuhi, she's uh you know," Asuma said only to be cut off.
"No way! You are banging Hinata's sensei!" Naruto said amazed by the revelation. "So that's why you two are always standing by each other."
"God damn it, you don't have to tell the whole world," Asuma said while looking around the whole restaurant to see if anyone was listening. Asuma sighed in relief that his secret wasn't out. He then chuckled and said, "Say Naruto, hold onto that special someone for later. You might not be my student, but I heard you are leaving town soon. Why not train with me?"
"Sure, not like I have anything else to do."
Naruto groaned as he got up. Asuma left 3,000 Ryo for the food and a tip for the service. Naruto stretched only to feel Asuma grab his hand. The next thing that happened was Naruto feeling the air get sucked out of him by the sudden shunshin over to Training Ground 10. Birds were chirping in the sky and Asuma was standing directly in front of Naruto. Asuma pulled from his weapons pouch a single white piece of paper no longer than three inches in all dimensions. Naruto pointed at the piece of paper with squinting eyes and looked at Asuma like the Jonin was insane.
"You brought me out here to show me a piece of paper?"
"You little brat, this isn't just any piece of paper. This here is Chakra Induction Paper!" Asuma proclaimed happily as if he were showing Naruto the holy grail. Naruto looked back at him confused, causing Asuma to groan and explain, "It's used to discover one's elemental nature."
"Wait what! That's so cool, I didn't know you could figure out your elemental nature!"
Asuma held out the piece of paper. Naruto went to grab it, but the much taller Jonin pulled it out of Naruto's reach playfully before saying, "Easy kid, this isn't some free giveaway at Sandal Carnival. I believe you owe me something." Naruto stopped trying to get the piece of paper. He blushed and looked up at Asuma, only for the Jonin to say, "Come on humor me, please. I'm dying to know who you are dating."
"Ayame Ichiraku," Naruto muttered before looking away with maroon cheeks.
"Holy hell! You, Naruto Uzumaki, are dating Teuchi's daughter!" Asuma exclaimed. Naruto turned his head away in embarrassment, which confused Asuma. Asuma loved going to Ichiraku's and Teuchi loved listening to Shinobi explaining their problems and affairs. Before he started dating Kurenai, he thought Ayame Ichiraku was drop-dead gorgeous. He was tempted many times to ask the young woman out on a date. "No need to be embarrassed Naruto! I mean god damn! I'm impressed, Ayame Ichiraku is one of the hottest young ladies in Konoha. Not only that, but that girl is six years older than you."
"She's not that old!" Naruto protested below Asuma's gaze. "We have a four-year age gap. Plus, her dad's fine with us dating."
"I mean no disrespect kid. All I can say is nice!" Asuma said with a perverted grin. He handed Naruto the piece of paper who huffed in protest.
Naruto walked away from Asuma with the piece of paper in hand causing the Jonin to come out of his musings. "Naruto, pump your chakra into that piece of paper. That is how you'll find out your elemental nature affinity!" Naruto pumped chakra into the paper causing it to split in half. One half ignited and turned into ash, while the other half became damp. Asuma couldn't believe what he saw, and he pointed at the falling damp half of the paper while saying, "What the hell!"
"Asuma-sensei, what does that mean?"
"That means you are one lucky kid! You have a natural affinity for wind, fire, and water," Asuma explained while looking at Naruto. "Boy, you better prepare yourself! Because we are going to spend the next five hours training!" Asuma smirked while pulling out his brass knuckle knives.
Naruto gulped. He hadn't intended to train this hard before his training trip, but here he was.
A blood-red-haired boy hovered onto a metal water tower. Orange flaring orbs reflected off the tinted eyeglasses of the boy's elephant-shaped gas mask. He was staring at the setting sun and observing his target Naruto Uzumaki. The boy scratched behind his ears near where the straps held his gas mask. His mask was the one thing that kept him sane. It kept him sharp. Without his mask, he would hear thousands of terrible voices wailing in his head. He could read most people's minds, but he had trouble with Naruto. Every time he tried to enter his mind. He'd be thrown right out. The only thing he grasped was darkness, death, and every emotion he could think of. "I'll get inside of your mind Kyuubi Jinchuriki."
He was impressed by Naruto. He witnessed the boy practicing a fire jutsu and the basics for mastering wind release. Naruto practiced both for five hours straight! Not only that but the blond-haired boy was strong. The beast Naruto caged in his belly was a clear sign of that. The boy breathed deeply from his elephant mask. "Weapons like us deserve to test our will in battle." He smiled as he watched Naruto wearily climb up his apartment's stairs. "We train and fight for this moment."
The boy looked down at the bottom of the water tower. He floated down to the rooftop right as a bright red mist appeared. A young woman appeared from the quickly dissipating mist. She was covered head to toe in a dark cloak with the hood pulled up. Her eyes were hidden inside of her hood and her lips, neck, and hair were covered by a thick white scarf. Her skin was tanned and smooth. She turned her open hood towards the floating boy and said, "Remember not to fight him until it happens."
"When is it happening?" Asked the floating boy.
"Tonight, tomorrow, who knows? The money is in an accounts payable account for when they finally do it." Said the cloaked young woman.
"You think his village will do it?" Asked the boy. The cloaked young woman nodded. He then stared at Naruto Uzumaki. The young blonde was opening his apartment door to go inside. The red-headed boy mused, "He is their weapon. Weapons deserve respect, for when you treat a weapon carelessly. That weapon will explode!"
The cloaked young woman nodded.
Nightfall fell upon Konoha. Naruto had his living room lamp turned on over his bed. He was face-deep in one of Koga Namikaze's books when he heard knocking at the front door. Naruto settled his book on his nightstand and opened his door. He was pleasantly surprised to see Ayame jumping into his arms.
"Ayame-chan," Naruto said as he caught her in his arms. Ayame's breath smelled heavily of alcohol, and she had a mostly full bottle of whiskey in her right hand. "What brings you here at this hour?"
Ayame looked down at Naruto. He blushed when he felt her sliding a hand over his right shoulder to his whisker marks. Ayame gently rubbed his whisker marks and then gave him a long kiss. She snaked her tongue past his lips and Naruto closed his eyes. His door was open, but he didn't care if the entire village walked past his apartment. She tasted like hard alcohol and orange juice. Naruto moaned with each wrestling fling of her tongue tasting and wrestling his. Ayame drew her lips away from Naruto's, she smiled wide and then said, "Naruto guess what? I signed up and became a shinobi. There's a chance, it might be one in a million… but there's a chance. If you want, we can be together."
"Wait what?" Naruto said surprised.
"Naruto, listen to me! I'm now a special reservist kunoichi," Ayame explained only for Naruto to raise an eyebrow and look at her like she had gone mad. "Special reservist kunoichi only get called into service during times of war. You made me want to pursue my dreams and if you want, we can reach our dreams together."
"Ayame-chan, this is a lot to take in at once," Naruto said slightly taken by their kiss and now these revelations.
"Naruto-kun I'll need a sensei if I wanna go up the ranks. I was wondering if I could join you on your training trip. I promise to pull my weight. I can cook, and help you train. I have plenty of money saved up for something like this," Ayame explained while Naruto closed his front door.
Naruto ushered Ayame into his home. They sat together on Naruto's sofa. Ayame settled the bottle of whiskey on his coffee table. She took out six plastic dixie cups from behind her white work uniform and placed them next to the bottle. Naruto was still blushing from their make-out session not even a minute ago. Ayame was next to the sofa's armrest, she moved her body, so she was facing his. She took Naruto's hands and placed them in her own. She opened her eyelids revealing the most beautiful light brown eyes in the world. They were eyes that Naruto could never get enough of.
"Ayame-chan, I'll speak to the ero-sensei about you joining us on our training trip. But I uh, I didn't think you liked me this much," Naruto said only to watch Ayame gasp with her hand over her mouth. "No, no, that's not what I meant. It's just I always liked you and uh… Ayame-chan, I won't leave Konoha without you."
Ayame's eyes widened in surprise. She brushed strands of her thick locked brown hair from her eyes and smiled a very sad smile. Naruto gazed at her concerned.
"Naruto remember that time we met, and I hid you in our freezer," Ayame said a twinkle of light in her eyes. Naruto nodded and listened to her. "We hugged each other for warmth. We were there for almost an hour. It was cold, and I was scared! Scared that I was going to die and that's why I kept hugging you. We were in that darkness together, I was crying, but you told me not to worry. Naruto, you were bleeding, and you didn't even shed a tear. I'll always remember you telling me not to worry." Ayame paused. She hugged Naruto and he hugged her back harder. "Ever since that day… I never wanted anything bad to happen to you."
Naruto cried in her arms as he remembered. He was frightened and bloodied from people throwing empty bottles at him. He ran to Ramen Ichiraku because that was where Teuchi fed him ramen for the first time. Back then it was the only refuge he knew. Instead of running into Teuchi, he ran into Ayame, and she hid him in the freezer. She stayed with him the whole time until Teuchi scared the mob away from his ramen stand.
"I remember."
"I told you I'd always protect you. When I saw all the hate you endure every day, I realized I had failed… I could have done much more for you. My dad and I, never wanted you to be hungry on the streets, yet I know we could have done more," Ayame said sadly. Naruto wiped the tears in his eyes with his sleeve. He had no time to react to Ayame crushing his head between her breasts in a tight hug. "Naruto-Kun, you won't ever be alone again!"
Naruto's cheeks were burning. He took a whiff of her mint and strawberry perfume coming from her breasts. Ayame hugged Naruto harder, she pushed his head deeper into her breasts. Naruto was in absolute heaven, he remained still between Ayame's massive, soft, and very firm boobs. He looked up at his most precious person and saw her blushing and smiling down at him. Naruto's hands were roaming around Ayame's neck and upper back, he didn't want to move, so he passionately said, "Ayame-chan, I always had a crush on you."
Ayame's light brown eyes widened, and her cheeks turned a crimson hue. She softly said, "You, you did?"
"Of course, I didn't like you just because you made me ramen. I always thought you were one of the most beautiful women in the whole world. You are smart. Way smarter than me, and so caring. You make me smile and laugh like no one else. I love you because you make me so happy!" Naruto exclaimed honestly.
He was impassioned and felt a giant weight come off his chest. He finally told her his feelings and the blushing, happy smirk, and Ayame's warm gaze melted his heart.
Ayame rolled her body along Naruto's sofa. She laid out with her head against a cushion and her neck raised over the sofa's arm. Naruto's head stayed between her breasts during this shuffling on the sofa. She positioned his body to lay on top of hers. Naruto's feet were next to hers. his crotch was level with hers. They were both staring at each other just inches from each other's faces.
"Naruto are we a thing?" Ayame asked with a nervous tone.
"Y-yes, if you want to be!" Naruto said impassioned by her words
Ayame pressed her lips against his and they remained like that. Naruto was on top of her, but the way their bodies were positioned he had to kiss her looking up. They both moaned together as their hands roamed each other's hair. Ayame once again pushed her tongue past Naruto's lips causing him to roll his tongue against the invader. He once again tasted the whiskey, the oranges, and her rough and delicate tongue. Their lips never separated as they wrestled their tongues, tasting each other's oral cavities, and moaning together.
It was like being struck by lightning. He felt his body, his soul, and his future surrendering to hers. They continued making out for half an hour. Their tongues traveled between each other's mouths and their lips were locked together. Neither wanted this to stop. Naruto felt Ayame pulling her red, wet, and hot tongue out of his mouth. Their lips were covered in each other's saliva.
They both straightened up and Ayame began slipping off her black ankle-high shinobi sandals from her pink-soled feet. She took off her white work uniform revealing her knee-high brown skirt and a red sleeveless blouse. Naruto blushed as he watched Ayame disrobe and shake her mane of brown hair. Ayame grabbed the bottle of whiskey and poured a sizeable portion into an empty Dixie cup. She looked up at Naruto and smiled, "Have you ever had alcohol?"
"Yes, but uh, I've only drunk beer," Naruto stammered embarrassed.
Ayame poured another Dixie cup with the same quantity of whiskey inside. She handed the spare cup to Naruto and smiled as he took it in his hands.
"Here, let's drink to us. We are both shinobi now, and I want to be with you every step of the way," Ayame said while clinging her cup and Naruto's cup together.
Ayame raised her cup and drank her entire portion in one big gulp. Naruto stared at his girlfriend amazed. He placed the dixie cup at the edge of his thick lips and drank the hard liquor. Naruto's eyes became watery as he choked and coughed down the painful liquid.
"How the hell do you drink that?" Naruto said with a bright red face from coughing. "It's so powerful."
"It's called working in a kitchen," Ayame replied while chuckling as she poured another shot for herself and Naruto. "Come on, it's good to grow some hair on your chest."
They both drank another shot. And then another. Naruto kissed Ayame before they each took their fourth shot of whiskey. Ayame moaned after her drink and said, "You are my young, handsome, and charming shinobi!"
"You are my smart, caring, and drop-dead gorgeous kunoichi!" Naruto exclaimed with a red face. He was feeling the full effect of the alcohol and wanted to sleep. "Ayame-chan, I'm getting tired."
"I don't want to walk back to my apartment. You don't mind if I crash here?" Ayame asked with crimson cheeks. She closed the cap to her bottle of whiskey and pulled Naruto up. "We have a big day tomorrow."
"That we do." Naruto looked conflicted as he saw the worry in Ayame's eyes. "If you want, you can crash in my bed, and I can take the couch!"
"I don't want you sleeping on that broken sofa!" Ayame protested while taking Naruto by the hand. "I trust you. We can sleep together!"
"Ayame-chan, are you sure?"
Ayame pulled Naruto by the hand. She walked with wobbly feet as they ventured to Naruto's bedroom. Naruto was so tired and buzzed from his girlfriend's whiskey. He lacked the will to put up any fight or protest. Naruto quickly took off his orange jumpsuit revealing his tanned and muscled body to his lover. Ayame blushed and pulled Naruto to her body. He smelled the alcohol from her breath as she whispered, "My handsome fox. How did I get so lucky?" Naruto blushed under the caring gaze of his lover.
They shared a final kiss for the night in Naruto's room. Ayame dove into Naruto's bed while he went to turn off all the lights in his apartment. He had to use the restroom and calm down after the worst erection of his life. He wouldn't dare go back to his room until he calmed down. When he did Naruto dove into his warm bed. He felt Ayame's smooth skin and her big teardrop ass against his crotch.
Moonlight filtered over one of Naruto's open blinds. Her thick and long brown hair had a heavenly hue to it as Ayame shifted in the bed. He heard her say, "Naruto your feet are cold." Ayame started playing footsy with him under the warm covers. Naruto blushed as he felt her pushing her hand against his butt. "Eh, Ayame-chan, your clothes," Naruto blurted out as he felt her mostly bare body. She was only wearing her sports bra and panties.
"Naruto, if we're going to be together, you're going to have to get used to warming up to your nee-chan," Ayame said playfully. She wrapped her ankles around his further trapping him in place.
Naruto snuggled tighter against her. His nose was in her thick mane of brown hair and his dick strained uncomfortably against her ass. He kissed her neck and whispered in her ear, "I love you."
"I love you too. You kept me warm in that freezer and you'll keep me warm here too," Ayame said before they both drifted off to bed.