~NRK~
They found the relaxed blonde in the cafeteria.
The sight of three stacks of five ramen bowls was honestly a bit much.
"Ahh," Naruto sighed in relief, tail curling happily. "Sup?" He didn't look at them as he raised a hand in greeting.
"Sooooo," Momo snickered. "How ya feeling about all of it, Cloney?"
"Do not, I swear to God, Momo. I'm still trying to figure out how to NOT get reamed for this by the superiors, much less most of the Jujutsu World."
"W-Well, it's what it is," Mai said quickly with red cheeks. "H-Hahaha, so, uh, that date?"
"Tomorrow," Naruto said with a cupped chin. "Alright, we're heading to Shinjuku!"
"W-W-Wait, what is this?! PROGRESS?!" Nanako choked in shock as Mai burned up.
"W-We kinda squared things away… Like, an hour ago. He knows."
All of them gawked at the suddenly red-cheeked blonde who cleared his throat.
"Yeah, I-I learned some things today. Apparently, those 'things' have been that way for a good amount of years," he muttered. "So… Figured, hell, might as well fix that."
Aoi looked proud while Kokichi blinked in disbelief.
"K-Kasumi-chan, h-how?!" He whispered to his own affection target, Kasumi also looking completely caught off-guard.
"I-Is this that legendary ability?! The 'Roll With It' TROPE!?" She squawked as the two-in-question blushed some more.
"... Yes?" Naruto answered with a groan. "Look, I'm hoping this all just works out but I can't NOT try to put in the effort. If it'd been some girl I didn't know, I don't need her to make my life difficult. But since it's Mai-chan? I gotta at least be the best I can be, it's just common sense," he said without a hint of embarrassment.
They all kinda stared at this really mature blonde friend of theirs.
Mai was honestly extremely touched and proud.
She had to do the same for him.
Listening in from the doorway, the adults looked proud.
"He grew well, I'm glad," Kushina grinned as Utahime chuckled. "I know Naruto's mature for his age but, sometimes, he can truly show you how much he's grown."
"He's gone through a lot up until now, he's bound to grow into a fine young man," Ieiri smiled. "He's an accepting kid who's willing to go to bat for damn near anyone," she chuckled as they nodded. "Honestly, he's really shaping up to take on the world one day. It's sadly bound to happen."
"We don't know what the superiors will think," Minato cupped his chin. "I hope they don't get ahead of themselves," he sweatdropped as the women colored a bit. "T-This might become an unprecedented mess if they're THAT odd about it."
~NRK~
Yoshinobu kept his peace as silence reigned in the Superiors' Chamber.
"E-Explain that once more," one asked with a stutter. "Naruto Uzumaki can do what?"
"Yes, it would seem his powers are grand even if not fully-mature," the principal of Kyoto High said. "Despite his able state, at the moment, Kokichi Muta is lessened in power due to the limits of Naruto's Positive Energy."
The murmuring grew in volume as he waited patiently.
"The arrangement turned out more in our favor than we could have thought," one said while the others uttered their agreement. "Speaking of, there are a series of candidates we've looked into."
Now was his chance. "If you will, Superiors," Yoshinobu began, bringing the room's attention onto him.
"Yes, Principal Gakuganji?" Another said.
"I'm supporting one of our Grade 2s as the one up for the position."
The murmurs returned with interest.
"Who? Is it the one, Momo Nishimiya?"
"Or Hana Kotomiya? Last we heard of her, she was on a mission in Yokohama."
"Or is it Asuka Konryu?"
More and more such options were spouted before Yoshinobu shook his head.
"No, the one I wish to represent the Kyoto Branch," he paused, noting their intrigue. "Would be the one known as Mai Zenin."
That had the room growing quiet with confusion if not some rising disagreement.
'I'm too nice,' the old man thought. "I'm sure you're aware but Mai Zenin has long since built a large rapport with the one known as the Gojou's Black Sheep."
"Yes, many are aware," one old man said. "Yet, she's no powerful sorcerer, Yoshinobu. Being a Grade 2 is hard enough to believe."
"I assure you, these eyes of mine will show no doubt."
"... Speak, you know more, don't you?"
"At your leisure, yes. There's more to this," he began, confusing them. "Naobito Zenin, as I've been informed, has also placed a Binding Vow on his grandniece's person," Yoshinobu said, surprising the Superiors. "She's to have a child with Naruto Uzumaki before her seventeenth birthday. Quite perfect, no? That he, Naruto, must also find a mother to his child by that point."
The air grew awed and yet cautious.
"Why? What purpose does this serve… Unless Naobito desires more power in this realm," a woman frowned.
The murmurs grew a bit heated.
'I question if maybe I am weird,' it was almost surprising to himself to think that it wasn't weird. "Sirs, madams, there's a bit more to be said," they grew a bit more reserved. "... Mai Zenin has shown attraction to Naruto Uzumaki for a long time," it'd been the weirdest bit of conversation that he'd ever had with Yaga.
Where the man had gone on to even say things like Naruto Uzumaki being his sons' GODFATHER before joking about the boy's apparent admirer being Kuro's 'godmother'.
It'd been something he'd shrugged at, not given much thought in the past, but now it might have been the key to making this arrangement.
"Yes, it would seem from a young age that she'd become infatuated with him. I believe this might very well be the best option due to the two's already well-developed relationship," he shrugged. "Naruto Uzumaki is also the honorable sort with altruistic tendencies as you'd been informed of earlier, he will likely do his utmost to make sure Mai Zenin is comfortable."
The room was surprisingly silent, in an almost comfortable fashion, as he listened.
"I see…" There was the sound of flesh rubbing against stubble. "... All in favor?"
The many light screens hiding their faces stayed dim or lit up.
Yoshinobu didn't sigh in relief but he did nod to the majority of them being lit.
"It would seem your choice is now in effect. Inform those children," he said.
And just then a person entered the chambers, one of their guards, with a written missive.
He walked up to the center of the room before bowing to them all. "Gakuganji-dono, My Superiors, there's been a decision made at the Tokyo Branch," he said.
"Hmm, read it, Principal Gakuganjji. Will this decision conflict with ours?"
Yoshinobu gently took the offered scroll before unfurling it to decipher its contents.
'You three will be under much scrutiny,' he thought but he'd done his part. "The Tokyo Branch have decided on Tsumiki Fushigoro, sister to Megumi Fushigoro, on Principal Masamichi, Megumi Fushigoro…?" Yoshinobu read that again, confused. "... And even Satoru Gojou's behalves."
The room was baffled.
"What?" One of them said, alarmed. "I… What do they gain from presenting her?" She asked the others.
"Ahem," one of the Superiors cleared his throat. "I may know," he began, confusing even Yoshinobu. "You all may not know this but Tsumiki Fushigoro is Minato Uzumaki's prized student and the former student of Suguru Geto."
They all choked, gasped, or grumbled knowingly.
"I believe she is being put up for more than just a candidate. They're keeping an eye on this girl who goes to normal school in case she's in contact with our runaway Curse User."
Yoshinobu realized that, yes, that might prove true.
'I'm sure of one thing, that boy would likely do something to protect her,' so, in all honest opinion? Yoshinobu believed that Tsumiki was actually innocent.
Still, he shrugged. It wasn't to his benefit nor peril for her to be in this situation.
He just considered those children lucky.
~NRK~
The news was in for the group of Jujutsu students.
"S-So, this is real now," Momo said, the flat screen TV in Aoi's room casting their call to the others in Tokyo.
-...- Tsumiki just kept steaming in the background as Naruto's jaw dropped at Megumi's nod.
-Yes, I gave my blessings- The Ten Shadows-user said without preamble as the blonde's eyebrow twitched. -I did this a whil- He got enveloped by a large white rabbit who nuzzled him into silence.
-QUIET!- His sister 'roared'.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head as Mai and the others laughed.
"Look, Tsumiki-chan… I wanna hear it from you, too. Are you really up for this craziness?" He asked the blushing young woman who fiddled with her fingers.
-I-I mean… Anything for a friend, I have a lot I want to repay you for since we were kids- She burned as he looked sheepish. -B-Besides, it's what it is! If we just let weird women into our friend group, w-who knows what'll happen!?-
"... Huh."
Yuta's amusement shone through the screen. -S-So, well, ahem. With that squared away…- He looked red. -... M-Maki-chan!?-
-Hahahah, you're a worm- Maki teased as he whined. -So, what's the plan there, bud~?-
Naruto muttered something before nodding. "Yeah, we're here so… Tsu-chan, you down for a date?" He asked like he'd not been burning for the past two hours.
The others were left staring at the calm 'waters' that was their monkey buddy.
'How's he able to say that so easily?!' They all freaked out in their heads.
Maki choked. -Ha?- The slackjawed nature of her confusion had him chuckling.
"Hey, like I told the others," Naruto grinned as Tsumiki burned like a red statue. "If I'm gonna do this," he shrugged. "Do it right-Uh-oh," he tried to say.
Only for Tsumiki to faint.
They stared at the shikigami-user before laughing nervously.
-Y-Yeah, I think this might have been too much for her- Maki realized with a nervous smile.
"I'll ask her later when she's calmer. For now? I gotta figure out date plans," the monkey boy said with a cupped chin.
The blatant nature of his words hit them like a sack of wet cement.
-Ah?! He's too powerful!-
-You confident bastard, save some for the rest of us!-
Naruto sweatdropped at his friends' displeasure with… His confidence?
"I'll never understand you guys sometimes."
~NRK~
Mai nodded to the Kyoto girls in their 'Circle'.
"Girls, plans, now," she said while slapping the tatami mat of the dojo floor. "I gotta face that blonde with all my 'might'!"
"I mean, it's Naru so he could come at you from any angle," Momo snickered as Mai nodded seriously with bright red cheeks. "Geez, tell us how much you don't love it."
"I think she's gotta go with the flow," Kasumi smiled. "I mean, what more can you do? It's not like you can counter a date," she giggled.
"She's got a point," Nanako shook her head in amusement. "So, like, why not just see how a 'Naruto Date' goes and plan from there? Knowing what we do about our surprising friend, he'll bring out some hidden romance tactic that'll blow your socks off."
Mai looked utterly fascinated by the concept.
"Alright, alright, let's not raise expectations, that's how you ruin it," Momo smirked. "Besides, you got a time?"
"He just said 'sometime', I-I don't know when 'sometime' is," Mai muttered.
"Well, if Naruto keeps up with being a romance adept? It'll be soon," Kasumi grinned.
The Zenin nodded.
~NRK~
Meanwhile, with Naruto and the boys, he nodded to Aoi's idea.
"I'm gonna go tell her later today. I don't want her to wait for me to confirm a date," the tailed boy said. "As for the date, it is Shinjuku. I might as well just walk around near some clothing shops like Aoi-bro said and then hit up a small restaurant. There's not some convenient festival or anything, right?"
Checking his phone, Kokichi shook his head. "Nothing so useful," he shook his head and showed the blonde a small park having a series of games and the like. "Will this work?"
"... Yeah, I think I'm gonna try and make it fun by grabbing some of those onion rings, Mai-chan loves junk food even if she's always trying to keep her figure," he chuckled. "Outside of that? Not sure… Actually, it's there at night, right?"
Kokichi nodded, scrutinizing the article. "Yes, it seems like a big c-couple attraction," crap, could he pull something off?
The thought sent his heart into the nether.
"Kichi? You gotta just say it," Naruto smiled as he choked before glowing neon red. "I mean, in the end, I think you both have a chance."
"He's right," Aoi smirked as Noritoshi cleared his throat.
"I'm not of much experience but Naruto-kun is right, there's nothing without trial," he said in his own way.
Kokichi looked down, palms sweaty, knees weak, all of it. "I-I'll try but that's all I'll promise," he said with a full-body tremble. "Oh my God, I-I-I'm not going to survive a rejection!"
Naruto snickered, patting his back.
"You must visualize your scenario, Kokichi, what else can you do besides that?" Aoi said sagely, confusing him.
"You like Miwa-chan, there's nothing wrong with that," Naruto continued as Kokichi steamed. "I think, Kichi, the first thing ya gotta do is remember why you liked her in the first place," he smiled encouragingly, confusing the former tri-plegic.
"W-Why I like her?" He asked weakly.
"Yeah, for me… With the way things are going, I'm going to remember the things I like about Tsu-chan and Mai-chan," he rubbed the back of his head. "Like, for Tsumiki, I do think how much she wants to help her bro is awesome. She's not a fighter or anything but she knows the rules in and out, Tsumiki-chan helped me understand a lot of the Jujutsu World despite me being in it for WAY longer," Naruto chuckled. "But, amongst all else, I just like how kind she is. If I approach this like that, focusing on the parts I admire, I think that'll make this easier."
The other boys looked surprised and yet inspired.
"I…" Noritoshi looked embarrassed yet pensive. "I've no such thing in my being," he admitted. "Liking women feels natural, of that I'm sure, but I've never felt these things you all have," he directed that at Aoi.
"Hmm," the tallest, and bulkiest, of them crossed his arms with a sagely nod and smile. "Attraction is truly a minefield, men, it's not something we're capable of grasping so easily until we've tasted it," Aoi smirked at the blushing Naruto.
"He's got a point. That said, ya can't force it, Nori. If you just try and rush into love," Naruto thought of Sakura. "It won't end well no matter how much you chose to care."
"But don't take that as him saying you shouldn't try and find your type," Aoi said.
"Yep, the best way to do it, Nori, is to find someone you're sure you like and have qualities you accept in full. Mai, despite everything, is a bit vain, she's got confidence issues, and she's got a teasing streak a mile-wide," the blonde sweatdropped as Kokichi nodded rapidly.
"It's terrifying," the puppet-user said with all his heart.
"Hehehe. So, go face those parts and be willing to accept them as you try and open up to that person. It's NOT wrong to want love, you just need to be willing to accept the stuff you'll learn along the way."
The worried brunettes looked down in thought.
'The things I like about Kasumi-chan,' Kokichi's eyes closed as his face felt like exploding.
Her smiles, i-it was embarrassing to realize that came first and foremost.
Those smiles that always welcomed him, from childhood to now, Kasumi's smiles had become a haven for him that he wanted to envelope himself in for… Forever.
Her kindness, her clumsy yet thoughtful nature, despite not being the smartest she made attempts to make him feel comfortable.
His mouth pursed together.
Kasumi had insecurities, too. She had family she wanted to protect, people to support, and so she put herself through strenuous training.
"O-Oh, this?" Kasumi hid it from the mechanical boy, Mechamaru looking concerned.
[Miwa-chan, what happened? Please, I-I want to help.] He said pleadingly, the girl looking guilty as she slowly pulled up her sleeve.
And showed the trio of heavy bruises that wrapped around them down to her forearm.
"I-I figured, ya know? Just train hard and I can make something-And I did!" She said quickly, trying to assuage his fears. "I just need to rest a lot more, that's all!"
'Even that part, while dangerous, has its charm,' Kokichi thought with a look down at his open hand. "... I just want to stand by her side and possibly have her do the same for me," he admitted.
Noritoshi crossed his arms into his sleeves in thought. "What I seek is…" His eyebrows trembled. "What I want is…" His conflict was clear to see before his shoulders went limp. "You all don't know why I'm so adamant about the clan leader role, do you?"
"Nope," Naruto and Aoi said in unison. "If ya wanna tell us, go ahead."
Despite his current thoughts, Noritoshi wore a small smile. "My mother was… Ousted by my clan," he admitted somberly.
Naruto's eyes widened as his empathy grew in magnitudes. "Nori, dude."
"In the beginning, I really thought we were different, truly. You were the 'black' sheep of your family and I was what the Kamo Clan always wanted and yet… Yet, you proved that you were more capable of being a clan head than I thought I was. You were strong yet kind, unwavering yet diplomatic, I thought I was the perfect head of the clan but I was nothing more than a child. I wanted the affluence & political might to welcome my mother back into my clan."
They all stared at him, this sadly smiling young man.
"Noritoshi-kun… You've been living with that for so long," Kokichi said. "I suppose, I wasn't the only one who carried an unseen 'burden'," he smiled somberly as Noritoshi breathed out and nodded.
"A man's convictions should never be shaken but tempered," Aoi said with a smile. "I believe you just needed that and you found it."
Noritoshi nodded as Naruto grinned. "Now, I'm wondering if even being in the Kamo Clan is necessary for what I desire so much," he smiled. "I just want to reunite again."
"Wait, Nori, why don't you just go and see her?" Naruto asked, confused.
Noritoshi reddened, looking down. "I-I don't know if she'll even want to see me," he admitted.
"I think, amongst all else, you putting in all this effort means she's worth it. You need to grab that courage and see her again. While I'll try to never let it come to this, we live dangerous lives."
Noritoshi released a shuddering breath… Before nodding.
"Don't lose the chances we currently have."
~NRK~
Tsumiki kept pondering things as she did some homework.
"I-I'm now a wife-to-be," not to say she'd never wanted to be one, quite the opposite.
She wanted a happy family, a good relationship with her relatives, and a life that she could live to the fullest.
And now s-she'd be doing THAT first part a bit early.
'God, I'm not even out of high school,' it was truly a crazy situation that she'd become enraptured in. "O-Oh no, I'm going to need to take a year off?!"
"From what?" Naruto asked from the door.
"School! I'll h-have to take a year off for… A… BABY?!" Her head snapped to the blushing blonde in the doorway. "N-N-Naruto-kun?!" Tsumiki squeaked, turning a vermillion shade.
"H-Hey," he said. "Ya mind if I come in?"
Getting a rigid nod, the blonde entered before quickly sitting beside her.
Neither of them spoke, Tsumiki's hands trembling in her lap while Naruto cleared his throat.
He broke the painful silence for both their sakes.
"Look… Tsu-chan," Naruto began as she looked down with her red face. "I know this is super-awkward to you, I'm not going to try and imagine how you feel about this."
"I-I won't say it's normal," Tsumiki muttered. "I didn't think the Jujutsu World was so…" She burned as he raised a brow before snickering.
"Go on, say it."
"I-It's so stupid!"
"Yeah!" Naruto laughed as Tsumiki wore a look of annoyance.
"Who does this to kids?! We're not even considered adults yet a-and they want children?!" She burned despite her disgruntled expression. "This is so dumb!"
Naruto smiled for her as she took several soul-liberating breaths before whining.
"I'm sorry, Naruto-kun~."
"It's what it is, I'm sorry that you got caught up in this whole mess. You're one of my friends, one of the best," he smiled as she nodded. "I know you have every right to either call this off or at least be angry with me."
"This isn't your fault."
"Ehhhh."
Tsumiki pouted at him as Naruto shrugged.
"It's not like it's not about me, ya know-dattebayo?" He told her.
Caught off-guard by his verbal tic, Tsumiki grew flustered as she tried to regain her composure.
"Y-You can be a dummy sometimes, Naruto-kun," she pouted.
"Yeah, you're right. That said, I'm a dummy who cares. I want to do right by you two to make up for this whole situation. I mean, e-even if this was, like, agreed on I would but I'm just trying to do what's right."
Her embarrassment settled. "I know," she told him, looking up at her side to lock eyes with the determined blonde. 'Was this really in the cards?' Tsumiki didn't know.
She'd never considered… No, that was a lie.
Tsumiki Fushigoro had long ago considered Naruto Uzumaki as an amazing boy she had a crush on. It'd been a near inevitable thing, amusingly, you didn't just come by, explain things, help them, make her feel happy, and then 'get away with it'.
Yes, Naruto had a powerful effect on girls but that was just it.
She'd learned of Mai, she'd realized that this Zenin girl had truly been smitten so she stopped, maybe?
Tsumiki still felt things for him, it was hard not to with how much stuff Naruto did, but she'd seen him going to Kyoto as a boon for all of them.
She had time away from him, him having the same away from her, and Mai was alone with him yet everything went SIDEWAYS.
"It's just so…"
"Stupid? Yep. Still, are you sure you're onboard with this?"
She stopped messing with her fingers, took a deep breath, and turned to face him, Naruto doing the same.
"I want to help you-E-Even if this is unorthodox!" She said quickly, glowing red as Naruto's finger scratched his red cheek. "You're my male best friend, I can't do otherwise."
Naruto observed his embarrassed but kind friend before bowing to her.
"I'm sorry you're in this mess but, please, let me try and make ya happy at least," he told her in full, Tsumiki's heart rocking in her chest as she burned the bright red possible. "I'm gonna do right by you," Naruto looked up with a grin. "That is a promise I ain't breakin'."
The laughter of a man beside her made Tsumiki's heart swell.
"He's what ya wanted in a husband, yeah? I guess that brat's looking after you for good," HE grinned before fading away.
Tsumiki swallowed before nodding.
"I-I want to also help you, to make sure you're okay as well," she admitted, bowing back. "I know we can find s-some kind of 'happiness'," her embarrassment nearly stifled her but she found her wit. "A-At least, I want us to."
Sitting up as one, Naruto smiled.
"So, um, are you up for a date later today?"
She jumped, looking surprised and awed by his straightforwardness.
"S-Sure!"
Naruto chuckled, amused. "Okay, so, how would ya like to go to a park that's got some turtles in it?" He grinned as she grew excited.
"That sounds amazing!" Tsumiki beamed as he blushed triumphantly.
'Yep, definitely super-pretty,' he thought.
~NRK~
Naruto smiled on the Kyoto High roof, Mai standing beside him as they looked out into the distance.
"It's honestly an amazing view up here," Mai said, moving a bang behind her ear as Naruto nodded.
"Yep, the whole gang should probably meet up on the roofs at night so we can look at stars and stuff," he said.
"That sounds like an amazing idea."
"We'll bring it up tomorrow. Right now… Well, it's about us and the time for that date."
Mai beamed excitedly as Naruto wore a sheepish grin.
"So, later tonight, there's this small set-up in a park that's meant for couples. Are you up for going there?" He asked.
"Sounds like it'll be a fun start to all of this," she answered. "Sure, I'd love to."
They smiled at each other before taking a seat over the edge.
Sitting side-by-side, Mai made her beginning move and held his hand.
Naruto's cheeks reddened as he wore a smile, intertwining their hands and setting her soul ablaze.
Oh yeah, she was up for this!
"Wanna talk about anything?" Naruto offered her with a laugh as Mai snickered. "Thoughts, ideas, plans?" He actually looked intrigued as she colored. "Dreams?"
Dreams, huh?
"I just wanna be happy," Mai told him. "I just don't know how to keep it going."
"What makes ya happy?"
She looked down in thought before nodding. "T-This," she gripped his hand a bit tighter. "Having all our friends, being able to hang out, not worrying about my family besides Maki," Mai sighed. "Those are what make me happy."
Naruto's eyes softened. "Hey, sometimes, it's the simple stuff," he smiled as she reciprocated. "And, well, if ya just wanna do that stuff? Just train with us, hang with us, talk, tease," he waggled his eyebrows as she giggled. "Be you and those things'll come through."
She felt elated at his words and acceptance.
Mai leaned against his side as Naruto did the same.
~NRK~
Kokichi swallowed as he waited in the forests.
A familiar area where he noted the healed trees from Naruto and Noritoshi's duel that'd ended with friendship.
'Has it really been a couple years?' He'd never thought about it.
Before this, before being able, Kokichi had been doomed to a life of living in a painful tub that didn't make living even remotely desirable.
Now? He was looking at things like this with a sort of nostalgic air.
The rustle of fallen leaves and thumps of soft dirt had him looking to his side with a red face.
Kasumi blinked at him, looking a bit bashful despite her big grin.
Kokichi could feel his heart tossing around in his ribcage.
'... If I don't do it now,' when? When would be the 'right' time for him to pursue her?
When he was fully healed? When he'd acclimated fully?
When he'd died?
The more Kokichi's mind rumbled with 'answers', he got up as he realized what he was doing.
"Kichi-kun," the blueberry smiled for him as his heart settled. "What's going on-?"
She'd come here a bit flustered, Nanako putting silly ideas into her head about this 'call out'.
Kasumi had been sure it was for training, why be so flustered?
"Kasumi-chan, I-I like you a lot," Kokichi admitted with a fully red visage.
Her words caught in her throat as her face began to glow.
'Do it! Do it! Do it!' The young man urged himself forward. "I… That is the full and honest truth," he messed with his top's hem. "I called you h-here to ask you if you wanted to g-go on a datE?!" He wheezed out the last part in a high pitch.
Kasumi's head listed to the side as she messed with some of her long strands.
"D-D-DATE?!" She asked as he coughed and cleared his throat worryingly. "S-So, you l-liked ME?"
"Y-Yes!"
Her eyes shrunk before her mouth struggled to NOT smile as she steamed.
"O-Okay," she whispered her answer.
The air grew silent as Kokichi's heart shot into the atmosphere.
~NRK~
"Men, s-she said 'yes'!" Kokichi slapped the mats of his room.
Noritoshi looked barely responsive while Naruto & Aoi grinned.
"Congrats, Kichi!" Naruto said encouragingly. "See?!" He chuckled as Kokichi nodded rapidly.
"S-She said that…" He looked ready to implode. "S-She said she's liked me for years," he whispered in horror.
"Uh-Oh," the blonde paled. "Y-You got this, man, just go with the flow and respond!" Naruto's trauma yelled.
"I will! I'm just… I don't know where to go from here! We have the spot but I-I've never been on a date!"
"At ease, brethren, you two are going to ruin things like this," Aoi said wisely as both boys flinched. "Don't overthink yourselves, that is a path of year-long trials you don't NEED to go through if you just use your heads."
"... He's got a point," Naruto admitted. "Kichi? The best way to handle this, most likely, is just be ourselves and try to have fun," he offered. "You're new to all but so is Kasumi-chan," he reminded him.
Kokichi froze, blinking in surprise before his eyes widened. "I… I-I didn't even think about that," he'd know, wouldn't he?
He and Kasumi had been around each other long enough that he should have known better.
"I offered Tsumiki-chan a date already," Naruto said. "And you guys know about Mai-chan so I'm out to deepen our bonds in an hour," he told Kokichi. "Same for you?"
"Y-Yes, I told her that time since I knew it'd be easier with the four of us there instead of just us two," Kokichi admitted embarrassedly.
"It's an efficient plan," Noritoshi blinked before nodding to them.
"... Noritoshi-kun? You've been rather quiet, did everything go well with your mother?"
Noritoshi winced, trying to find the words. "I… She's had another child while I haven't seen her," he admitted, surprising them. "And I couldn't… I couldn't find my moment to inject myself into that household."
"You mean your house?" Naruto said as Noritoshi frowned. "Nori, you'll never know until you get there."
"I know. I just… I question if she even needed me in the first place-"
"She did."
They locked eyes, brilliant blue meeting gleaming obsidian.
"Don't underestimate a parent's love, Nori. Until the day comes where they say otherwise with all their heart, you're wanted. Your mom left you because she didn't want to be a burden on you, can't you see that?" Naruto asked him softly.
Noritoshi's head fell. "She wasn't…" He whispered.
"And she should get to know that," Aoi smiled as his fellow second-year student released a shuddering breath. "No more running, no more hesitation, Kokichi took the next step. Now, it's your turn," he smirked.
The blood-user gripped his knees. "And… A-And if the worst-case scenario comes to be?"
"Duh, we're here," Naruto chuckled as Kokichi smiled. "No matter what, no matter where," he grinned. "You are wanted, people want to know you, to be your friends and even family. That said, I know that things aren't that glum."
~NRK~
The plans were set as a Naruto Clone waited outside of the girls' dormitory.
Well, him, Panda, Ino, Yuta, Inuma-Okay, so ALL the boys + Mimiko were out there with him.
Wearing an white, zipped-up, short-sleeved jacket, dark orange cargo shorts, and some white-and-black sneakers, Naruto messed with a new pendant he'd bought just for this occasion as he felt the one in his pocket.
Being a bone-white thing that was shaped like the 'Yang' of the Yin-Yang symbol, its counterpart sat in his left pocket.
"I'm sure things will go well, aniki," Megumi said as Mimiko nodded vigorously.
"You just gotta make sure to have a good time! Like, for example, have a Paris Dinner," she said 'encouragingly'.
"P-Paris Dinner?" Naruto asked weakly.
"A moonlit walk!"
He grew nervous.
"Hand-holding into the sunset!"
Naruto went stock still.
"Finally, you have to bring her some ros-"
"At ease, Mimi, please. You're terrifying our boy here," Satoru snorted as Kuma tilted his head.
"Nii-chan's got this, he's got natural charm from being Nature-based!" He declared as Panda chuckled.
"Naruto's got a lot of 'fun' in him," he observed as Naruto broke out of his pale-faced worries to laugh. "He's also good at improv so we can let that one fly."
"Thanks, Panda, I mean it. I almost got lost in the worst spiral of my life," Naruto said before shooting the embarrassed Mimiko a weak smile. "Please stop doing that."
"I-I'm trying to set your atmosphere!" She declared.
"I'm sure," he said as the girls' dormitory door opened. "But don't think I'm against those ideas. M-Maybe over time, moonlit walks might work well today," Naruto said obliviously.
The others stared at him in disbelief, Rika coming out to gawk at him as well, as the monkey boy blinked.
"What?"
"?!"
Naruto froze before mechanically turning around to find a blushing young woman there. "T-T-Tsumiki-chan…" He burned before looking sheepish. "W-Well, since ya know now… Ya look amazing, Tsu-chan," Naruto threw 'caution' to the wind and complimented her outright.
Tsumiki Fushigoro burned like a candle.
Wearing a pair of thigh-high black stockings, a pair of open-toed heels, and a brown dress with short sleeves that came down to her knees, the growing young woman burned as her hair fell down the sides of her head. It was free of its usual ponytail, some of her hair parting by her left ear to reveal the moon earring on it.
"T-Thank you, Naruto-kun," she stepped out with a black purse on a brown strap going around her torso. "I-I hope tonight's g-good for you!" Tsumiki said with as much courage as she could muster.
Naruto grinned for her, holding out his hand.
Tsumiki took it before he led her away from the dorms, the women of Tokyo Jujutsu High leaning out of the door with thumbs-ups thrown the Fushigoro teen's way.
"She's got all the teachings we could give her," Maki declared as Rika looked nervous all of a sudden.
"Um, will she even be able to pull those moves off?" She asked as Mei Mei chuckled knowingly, a crow flying overhead.
"Oh, come now, Tsumiki-chan is a young lady with looks that she's now aware of. Right now, we did what we could to give her confidence exercises," the crow-user said as Satoru wore a grin. "In fact, she's got a sneaky move all of her own. We're so proud!"
"I hope that went as well as it sounds," Satoru said. "Our boy over there is running on pure manly courage, anything she does will tip things in her favor but don't think he won't have an Idiot's Mishap and pull off the world's greatest 'spells'."
"What?" Ui-Ui, coming out of the girls' dorm, blinked in confusion as Kuroi sweatdropped.
"I'm hoping she knows when to tone it down," the mother of a panda and human said.
~NRK~
The real Naruto smiled at Mai's hurrying-over form.
Wearing a black shirt, his Jujutsu Combat Uniform's pants, and a pair of black flats, the blonde waved her down before she grinned once she got close.
Wearing a sleeveless forest-green turtleneck, black tights, a pair of black short shorts, and her usual boots, she smirked at him before Naruto blushed at the hug that followed.
"H-Hey," he hugged her back, the two really getting a feel for this. 'Oh man,' t-this was only the beginning, wasn't it?
And they had to go all the WAY?! He was feeling her womanliness without a thought and felt like his heart was gonna explode!
Mai chuckled as they separated, Naruto's embarrassed grin everything she wanted at the moment.
"Come on, guys!" The Zenin waved over the other jogging couple. "We're burning evening light!"
Kasumi grinned as Kokichi wore a sweaty determined expression. "We're here!" The excited blueberry declared.
Wearing a white tank top, an open light blue hoodie over it, some black shorts, and a pair of white sneakers, the swordswoman looked all kinds of excited for their double-date.
"You good, Kichi?" Naruto chuckled as he pat his able-bodied friend on the back.
"I-I'm trying, Naruto-kun," Kokichi said, holding his chest as Mai grinned. "Be merciful!"
The girls laughed or giggled as he stood up weakly.
Wearing a long-sleeved white shirt, baggy black pants, and his usual combat boots, Kokichi tugged on his personally-favored scarf.
Looking between his friends, and target of affection, he sighed in relief at his state of attire.
'Good, I wasn't over-, nor under-, dressed,' he thought more confidently. "I-I'm ready," Kokichi admitted as Naruto smiled before he chuckled as Mai latched onto his arm.
"Alright, couples," she grinned smugly as Kasumi & Kokichi blushed heavily. "Let's go~."
The blonde shook his head yet let them away, Kasumi's eyes observing the two's locked-in arms with all the proper science and math going on in her head.
'D-Do I do that?' She steamed as they stiffly followed after the two. 'Can I do it?'
Her eyes snapped to Kokichi's trembling hand.
The young man's mind was in a similar state of disarray. 'Oh shit, what do I do?!' His mind calculated Naruto & Mai's movements, walking in step with them. 'Crap, c-can we do that, too? Isn't that too forward?!' He kept walking.
"Kichi-kun?"
'Why, m-maybe Kasumi-chan will go a bit slower? This is new to her, too! I can't fuck this up for her,' he began to sweat.
"Kichi?"
"Oh, this is good."
'But, maybe s-since she's already liked me,' he was still reeling over that one. "Oh, goodness, I'm going to mess this up-"
Someone grabbed his hand, startling him as his head snapped to the side to se-KASUMI?!
His jaw dropped as he began to tremble, the young woman's smile destroying his composure.
"Hehehe~ You were walking too fast," she beamed, confusing him.
Then, Kokichi looked behind him to find a snickering Naruto and grinning Mai.
He nearly exploded.
~NRK~
Tsumiki smiled bashfully, holding onto Naruto's hand securely as they walked down Tokyo's streets.
With many already home from work, in bars in other districts, or even still working, the streets weren't so hard to navigate. And they could easily see all the different stores, streets, and parks.
Speaking of. "Naruto-kun, where is it?" She asked.
"It's a good walk away from here, maybe five miles," Naruto said, surprising her before she blushed at his following words. "Sooo… I figured… Walk Date? We'll go to different stores, a place to eat, and maybe a little present on the way."
Tsumiki had been 'informed' of Naruto's penchant for mystical dating techniques but this had taken her feet out from under her!
She burned as he chuckled sheepishly.
"You up for that?"
"Y-Yes!" Tsumiki responded, chest warm and full of excitement. "T-This is going to be a first for me, too, m-maybe it'll become a trend," she tried to apply what she'd been 'taught'.
The way Naruto grinned, cheeks red, had made her realize she'd be smitten far worse than he would by the end of this.
Tsumiki had to 'improve' her leverage! S-So…
Naruto blushed harder as he felt both her hands wrapping around his, his eyes snapping to Tsumiki to find her own gaze going down to the sidewalk.
"Oh man," he whispered as they both blushed harder.
From above, on the rooftops, Yuta sweatdropped as the disguised group watched the two.
With himself and basically everyone else, the lowering sun worked to their advantage.
Now, if only this wasn't all ridiculous alongside their commentary.
"I knew it!" Mei Mei declared. "That little machismo is trying his usual bullshit! Quick, we need to give Miki-chan more time to get confident!"
They hurried across the rooftops with Rika sporting an excited eye.
"Yuta, you have to take notes. Girls love these things," she whispered as he blushed before muttering something.
"I-I'm trying to just let things flow like my male best friend, alright?" He whined as she snickered at him.
"The flow~ is a magical ability, Yu-kun," Satoru said with a 'sage-like' air about him. "Why, you'd be surprised to know it's at its height of power around the middle of the date!"
"Wait, is that a literal thing?" Takuma asked in disbelief. "Oh my God, it IS?!"
"Trying a bit hard there," Maki snickered as he grew determined.
"I'll have you know, Naruto's clearly a well of information on dating and what girls like."
"Yeah, and the sun's got the gateway to heaven in it. Please remember that he's also new to this and just winging it."
"Winging it, Maki-chan, you've just given me an idea," he said with a cupped chin grin.
Maki's face went flat as Mimiko giggled.
Kushina's eyes shone as she held a camera, not her phone's camera, an actual camera.
"Auntie, I swear to God, your phone has a CAMERA in it!" Satoru stared at her in exasperation.
"T-This is better!" Kushina denied as she took a photo when they landed on a bakery. "I'm so proud!" She cried, taking more photos. "He's got this 'charisma' thing down!"
"I somehow doubt that but Naruto's good at on-the-fly thinking," Maki observed.
They watched them enter a small shop of antiques.
"Oh, he's good. That's Tsumiki's hobby."
They watched the two through the window, Tsumiki's eyes going to everything before she dragged Naruto towards several things that he found interest in for her sake, most likely.
Then, she sweatdropped as Megumi chuckled.
Tsumiki's hold on a giant tanuki statue was hard to miss, her excited movements alongside Naruto's laughter telling before the blonde found her a smaller version that they bought immediately afterward.
A crow settled above the door as they left, Tsumiki's new antique sitting on her purse's strap like a large keychain.
"I didn't think they'd have so many interesting antiques!"
"Yeah, I can tell, that stuff was old."
Naruto cupped his chin. "With a little purification here and there, that guy's good and you got a little pal," he chuckled.
That small tanuki statue wiggled before barking.
"I've never actually kept one of these guys around before, Tsu-chan."
"So, this will be a new thing?" She asked, holding onto his arm without a thought as they walked across the street. "He's so cute, though."
Then the 'Roof Gang' flipped as Naruto hit her with the most CLICHE yet greatest mix-up in Romance History.
"Y-Yeah, well," Naruto burned as he cleared his throat. "I mean, you would know, no surprise."
Tsumiki blinked.
The air grew still for a few seconds before her jaw dropped as he laughed like an idiot off to the side.
"Cute recognizes cute as they say, yeah-dattebayo?"
She nearly fainted.
"That's my boy!" Kushina yelled, the only thing stopping her being Minato's quick talisman-use on her shoulder. "THAT'S MY BABY!"
The woman's mute yet no less animate excitement, pride, and JOY were hard to miss.
Even if they were all still caught off-guard by that blonde bastard.
"I-Is this the shit he's pulling most of the time?!" Maki whispered in sheer disbelief and 'fear'. "He's too powerful!"
Yuta burned as he nodded rapidly, Rika covering her mouth in shock & awe.
"H-He's not human! Who's able to pull out moves like that?!" She nearly shrieked.
Yuta kept nodding like an idiot as Satoru rolled with laughter while Ui Ui looked inspired, writing down notes alongside Ino.
"Yes, ya see, Ui-boya, that man is fierce!" The older male said as the younger one nodded sagely.
"H-He is, sister warned me that men like him weren't normal but to know Naruto-nii-chan is so strong is a sight to see," Ui Ui said in shock.
"Shake," Toge agreed.
~NRK~
The evening ride to Shinjuku was curious.
Sitting beside her husband-to-be, a fact that really had her getting apple skin, Mai drummed her fingers atop his knuckles. "So, like, dating is gonna be a weekly thing, Naru. We'll alternate," she told him as the blonde chuckled before grasping her hand with his. "?!"
"Hehe, I get it even if it's gonna be a new kinda challenge. I gotta find something cool to do every two weeks," Naruto said sagely as she snorted.
"It's fine, I've already got a few ideas."
"Damn, woman, let me think first!"
Mai's cackles were unhindered.
Meanwhile, across from them, Kasumi and Kokichi fumbled about at this step.
With his hand beside her hand, their eyes focused forward lest they meet, and their skin growing sweaty, they fidgeted with their fingers trembling before trying to cross that miniscule distance towards each other.
His hand twitched and hers jumped in response before going up on its fingertips.
They slowly danced over before entrapping his through the openings of his fingers.
The male hand freaked out before being captured and 'nommed on' by the female hand.
Naruto finished his small commentary as Mai died in her seat, the sight of Kokichi and Kasumi's 'Hand Battle' downright hilarious with her crush's play-by-play.
"S-Stop, you bastard, i-it's so mean," she whispered with the biggest shit-eating grin on her face.
"Hey, I'm hoping for them hard. That doesn't mean I won't tease 'em about this in the future," Naruto said with waggling eyebrows.
Mai felt euphoric.
~NRK~
Getting off at the right station meant they only walked for a mile to reach the well-lit park.
Hand-in-hand with Kasumi, Kokichi felt half-functional as her smaller yet incredibly calloused palms kept sliding into his grip and flexing their grasp.
He burned as she did, the blueberry attempting to lean on the brunette's shoulder before they stumbled.
Barely saving themselves the shared embarrassment, that didn't stop the wave from nearly crushing them as they did.
Kasumi felt like shriveling up and dying right then and there while Kokichi wanted to reassure her he felt honored!
Too bad the crippling embarrassment hit both ways despite it being her failed attempt.
Behind them, Naruto smiled for the embarrassed pair. "I'm honestly surprised, ya know?" He told Mai as she hugged his head, the moss head piggybacking on the blonde's back.
"Hmm, 'bout what?" She asked.
"That we aren't like that. This is literally me and you's first ever, ya know, relationship."
"I think you underestimate the calming effect ya have on me."
Naruto blinked, looking up to see Mai's shrug.
"You don't downplay it but, Naru, you accept that this is happening and just wanna do your best," she told him, a bit of a blush on her cheeks. "I wanna do that, too… It's just easier when you're also calm about it. We've been childhood friends, we've been there for a good amount of 'bad' times," Mai muttered as he nodded with a smile. "I just want us to keep on being 'cool'."
"You know how I feel, I want this to go well if it's gonna happen. It's just… God, we got thrust into s-some real crazy crap before we're both 18," he said weakly as Mai's face turned a nice pink. "I-I'm sorry for bringing it up but it's there! It's on the horizon!"
"Calm down!"
"I'm trying!"
She rubbed his cheeks and tried to help him focus. "L-Look, okay, um…" Mai hit another red point. "G-Great, now I'm thinking about it!"
"I'm sorry!" He said as she hugged him tighter. "It was stupid for me to let that out, I'm just…" Naruto groaned. "I'm thinking too much."
"N-No, you're not. You're just… Thinking."
Coming to a stop, Naruto looked up to see Mai pushing her face into her hands and shaking her head.
"I'm sorry," she whined.
"It's fine, let's just worry about that WAY later, we're supposed to be enjoying ourselves," he said as he let her down before holding her hand. "Come on, Mai-chan, there are a bunch of games to play and junk foods to eat," Naruto grinned as she perked up.
Mai burned at that bright expression of his, hugging his arm as they sped up to catch up to Kokichi & Kasumi.
"Stupid… God, I've liked you for so long," she told him as he smiled.
"I'm happy that you do, I'm not used to it," he laughed sheepishly as Mai pouted before pinching his cheek.
"Yeah? Well… G-Get used to it."
"I'm liking where this is going."
Another eyebrow waggle had her laughing as he grinned.
Damn did she love this blonde of hers. Hell, yes!
~NRK~
The walk had turned out downright amazing in Tsumiki's opinion.
Having just been seated outside of an ice cream parlor, enjoying some match ice, she saw the setting sun as another avenue of fun as they left hand-in-hand.
"This is so nice," Tsumiki told Naruto as they reached the edge of the park, the sunset causing a warm glow over the already half-lit streets. "S-So, there are turtles here?" She asked with big bright eyes.
"Yep, there's supposed to be some big ones, too," he explained as she squealed. "Best part? You can feed 'em so-Okay!" Naruto tried to explain only for Tsumiki to pull him along mid-sentence, the two passing the park entrance before rushing down stone roads covered in moss and grass.
Keeping pace with the excited Fushiguro, Naruto grinned as they slowed down by the edge of a large pond situated within the center of the park. The sight of more and more people made them confident in where they needed to be.
Especially when Tsumiki squealed at the sight of a baby turtle swimming over to them, its little head poking out of the water in interest. "W-What do we feed them?!" The young woman's head was on a swivel before she ran towards one section that had a turtle feeder before coming back with grainy pellets.
Naruto chuckled as they kicked off their shoes before sitting on the edge and feeding the turtles that began to pop out of their little holes or the bottom of the pond.
And, the more that arrived, the more the blonde got besieged by reptiles to the point of laying down with Tsumiki as the turtles roamed his body like he was a warm log.
Naruto closed an eye from a 'turtle kiss' as Tsumiki took picture after picture because God she couldn't get ENOUGH!
This was so FREAKING CUTE!
Hiding within the treeline, Kushina sniffled proudly as she took picture after picture while Minato chuckled reassuringly and pat her back.
"Okay, we're in the calming waters… This is the middle of the date, right?" Ino asked Satoru.
"Are you still on about that?" Maki sweatdropped while Mimiko & Ui-Ui took notes."A-Are you two still doing THAT?"
"I-It's important!" Mimiko burned before pulling out a pair of binoculars and nodding eagerly. "I won't miss this attention and detail!"
Maki looked ready to lose her shit while Satoru grinned before texting the picture he'd just taken.
A mere three seconds later, he smirked at the parade of emojis that Iori had just chucked at his phone.
~NRK~
They'd enjoyed the beginning of the festival a lot.
With one of the very first things they did being getting junk food, Mai had been set-up to thrive and Naruto had seen fit to try the many games with her as his support.
Like now, Naruto and Kokichi took aim with those toy rifles before taking their shots.
The blonde's tapped the side of that giant tanuki statue with a squawk while Kokichi's hit the bullseye on its noggin.
"Aw man," Naruto pouted as Mai snickered while Kokichi looked a bit refreshed by this idea.
Only to burn like a candle as Kasumi cheered.
"You did it, Kichi-kun!" She grinned.
The puppet-user choked.
Getting their 'appropriate prizes', Naruto chuckled as Mai flaunted that cute-looking squirrel coin purse on a string while Kasumi beamed with a big Blooper-shaped purse that had Kokichi hiding his face in his hands.
"Catch the fish," Mai said with a furrowed brow, using that small scooper to bound one of the small koi fishes up?! "O-Oh crap!"
Naruto swiped it out of the air before quickly, and gently, putting the animal back in the water where it wiggled before shooting out.
"Oh, man," Naruto snorted, hands still in the water as Mai burned while Kasumi giggled and Kokichi smiled. "You gotta be nicer to dah fish."
"Bite me! This scooper's flimsy!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Um, Naruto-kun?" Kasumi looked awed at the water, confusing the other couple while Kokichi chuckled at something.
"What?" He asked.
They pointed down at the water.
Naruto & Mai looked… Before Mai snorted and Naruto chuckled sheepishly.
The fishes swarmed his hand before rubbing against it often, several settling within his cupped hands while others nipped at the back.
"Um, I know they're friendly but this is a bit much," Naruto said.
Then, he yelped as Mai snapped up one of the fist by the back of his knuckles, the young woman grinning as she got it into a plastic cup full of water.
"Nice, you're good bait," she teased as the blonde gawked at her.
~NRK~
Enjoying their time in the turtle park had made Tsumiki feel euphoria she'd never dealt with before.
Walking hand-in-hand with her husband-to-be, h-her fiance basically, she smiled at him and he reciprocated in full.
They'd taken that same path there back towards Tokyo Jujutsu High.
"How'd ya enjoy it all?" Naruto asked her and got a hugged arm for a 'reward'. "H-Hehe, I'm glad. So, animal parks will be a big part in the future," he said with a cupped chin and 'sagely' nod she giggled at. "No, seriously, how many pictures did you take?" He sweatdropped as her eyes grew bright.
She squealed over the photos she'd shown him, the young man nodding at several, snickering at a few he'd taken of her with the turtles, and a few others before they got to one last one.
A shared picture with the two of them on the grass surrounded by turtles that he'd taken.
They beamed in unison, walking down the evening sidewalk towards their school.
Getting to the base of the mountain only took, what, thirty minutes? An amount of time that had them enjoying their atmosphere before they walked up the steps.
"So, we know we're fine with this," Naruto gestured to their clasped hands as they looked towards a sign and kept going. "But what about your future? I mean, what do you wanna do with your life?"
Tsumiki considered the question. "I guess you could say I'm like a lot of other girls my age, I don't really know yet," she admitted as the blonde nodded. "I like shikigami-making, I-I like looking at the rules of the Jujutsu World and observing how people break them so creatively," she said in awe.
"Ya know? I never think about it but I really should come up with a way to make the most those kinds of things."
"You literally made clones."
"Tsumiki-chan, those aren't really breaking logic, ya know?"
They considered the idea, Naruto explaining the whole thing.
"See? I'm just splitting energy and giving it a container that's reusable and made with my blood. It's basically me just combining three parts of Jujutsu, talismans, shikigami, and Positive Energy," he said.
"Well, what have you considered about Positive Energy?" She asked him.
"I know I can reflect Jujutsu."
"I remember that."
"Also, I'm good at pushing away small illusions. For big ones? I have to actually try to push out my energy. That said, there's another part to it all that me, Yuta, and my pops aren't sure about yet."
They stopped by the final platform, Tsumiki looking at him confused.
"I mean, like 'Limitless' my 'Core of All Things' is basically the ability to enhance life. I should be able to do it by abusing my maximum output but that's it. I can use it like that but I don't know what the 'passive' part is. Or, really, the part I can make passive," Naruto tried to explain, his tail popping into existence.
She looked at it in thought, mind turning. "... Wait… Naruto-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"So, what if it's the tail?"
Naruto blinked before looking at the curling appendage. "My tail's the 'base'?"
"Maybe or that's what it looks like when it's just moving through you, like Satoru-san's Limitless. If the Core of All Things is of a similar note, there has to be something to that tail," Tsumiki realized.
"Huh, so we're going by DBZ rules?" He asked with squinty eyes as she laughed. "I mean, there is a bit to it I've always thought about."
"What?" She smiled as he chuckled, bumping shoulders with her.
"Tsu-chan? I've never made a Binding Vow before."
Her eyes widened as Naruto grinned.
"I've never done it through myself or another person. I actually know how to apply Simple Domain in a weird way but I've got no Binding Vow skill," he told her as Tsumiki's mind.
It went rampant with ideas as she cupped her chin.
"... Naruto-kun? M-Maybe we should try that kind of stuff out," she told him.
"You down for some Binding Vow practice?"
"Sure! If we get Mai-chan, our friends, and our teachers, you could probably do something incredible that no one knows about."
Naruto looked excited by the idea and grinned. "Alright! Let's do that tomorrow, alright? We'll chill for the rest of the day and then do that!"
"G-Good idea! Still, um, there's one more thing."
"One more wh-"
She kissed him.
Nothing on the lips, mind you, Naruto had a feeling neither of them were ready for THAT bit of action but she'd given his mind a shock and his peck on his cheek.
Naruto burned bright red as Tsumiki nodded rapidly with a vermillion face.
"C-Come on," she pulled him along as they moved throughout the school. "L-Let's enjoy some TV!"
"Y-Yes, dear," he said, dazed.
The others popped out of the bushes in shock and awe!
"She's grown so well!" Mei Mei almost cried, dramatically holding her cheek.
"Yep, I'll say it outright, the scale is neutral," Satoru snickered as Kushina babied her camera like it was her second son. "And baa-chan's a lost cause so today got weird."
Megumi looked pensive. "Wait, so, nii-chan's never done a Binding Vow before?" He asked Minato who shook his head.
"The thing is? It's not the same. Naruto can't change the effects of cursed energy… Wait," the man's eyes widened at something.
"Oi vey, man, save some genius for the rest of us," Satoru gawked at him. "I'm still all-ears, though."
"Wait, can Naruto do another crazy thing?" Maki asked as Yuta cupped his chin while Rika settled atop his noggin.
"I mean if we put it a certain way?" He began as Inumaki nodded. "What is a Binding Vow?"
"It's a pact between 'two things'," she twitched her fingers as he nodded. "It can have effects on things like cursed energy, Techniques, and even conditions…" Maki cupped her chin. "I wonder."
"You're thinking the same thing, huh?"
"Yep. What if Naruto can't bind with cursed energy?"
"That sounds about right," Minato said. "But there's a hunch I have that makes me believe it's not impossible, at least," he smiled unsurely. "He can't 'bind' cursed energy… And maybe one other thing."
"You mean positive energy?" Mimiko asked.
"I'd say that would make sense but remember one more thing," he began. "You don't just affect cursed energy and the output of effects, you affect the effects of Jujutsu."
"I…" Megumi looked a bit baffled there. "What do you mean?"
"... Ohh," Satoru realized in disbelief, head snapping to the direction of his cousin. "H-He means like, for example, my Limitless. I've never considered it but I could probably affect how space is affected."
"Isn't that the point of Blue and Red?"
"Yeah but I mean doing more than that. Like writing code, Megumi."
The shadow-user's eyes widened. "W-What would that mean for nii-chan, though?"
"It means that there's likely an effect Naruto can do via his own vitality… Or another's," Minato offered. "It means that his kind of 'Vows' might be different in that it doesn't affect energy."
"But physical things," Kushina realized.
"T-That… Doesn't sound that crazy," Maki began to say, shocked before it all drained away while Panda laughed. "... Yeah, you mean he could do things like give me better muscles if he Vowed me to not use the energy inside? Because, ya know? That sounds nice."
The younger members theorized about it while the older ones… Well.
"I question what'd happen if he tried this on a Blessed Spirit," Satoru said to them. "If Naruto's skills affect just things like physical forms…" He let it hang.
"Yep, he might be able to re-shape someone's body. Which means he could likely do the same for his own," Kushina nodded with a smile. "... O-Oh crap," she grinned nervously. "G-Guys, you do remember how Riko is right?"
The adults, as one, wheezed.
It'd been looking them in the eye the entire time.
"So, he can become a Saiyan?" Satoru offered with a slowly growing grin as Mei Mei wore a look of wonder.
"How much money do you think he could make by being a bit more exotic?" She asked opportunistically.
The parents shook their heads.
These two were something else.
~NRK~
The park festival slowly came to a close as the two couples watched it all from the trees above.
"Alright, tonight went well," Mai said with a grin, the fish she'd won already couriered back to their school by a Naruto clone. "What did you guys think?" She asked her fiance and fellow double-daters.
"It's been awesome!" Naruto grinned. "I think we can make this a thing if you guys want: Just go on at least one double-date a month," he chuckled.
Kasumi blushed yet looked so… Taken with the idea that Kokichi cleared his throat but nodded all the same at.
"I-It's been fun," he said with a shaky smile.
"Yep! We should totally do this! Next time, let's go to an ice-skating rink!" Kasumi cheered.
"I'm down," Mai said with a smile. "Besides, we might be able to push some other pairs together. Like, hmmm… Megumi and Mimiko?"
"If Megumi's down for it, we can try," Naruto said. "Still, it's not like he's made any moves as of late… Right?"
"Wait, is Megumi-kun in love?" Kokichi asked, alarmed.
"Nah but, well, keep it quiet but Mimiko likes him."
Kasumi gasped while the puppet-user cupped his chin.
"Yep, well, we found out about that years ago," Mai said sheepishly as Naruto wore a happy smile she burned at the sight of. "L-Look! The point is, maybe that changed? Or Megu changed? It's not like he acts differently around her," she told them.
The other three shrugged.
~NRK~
Getting back to Kyoto High was honestly calming as the nighttime sky glittered above them.
"Oh, right, how exactly did they fix the mountain?" Naruto asked as Kyoto High's many large surrounding mountains came into view. "I mean… It's a mountain."
"There are a large variety of people with elemental Cursed Techniques," Kokichi told him before jumping at Kasumi intertwining their fingers. "Y-Yes! Um, w-well, it's to do with that and shikigami!"
Naruto & Mai grinned for the embarrassed pair before Mai hopped onto the blonde's back and they continued up the final steps to the landing.
Walking around Kyoto High's cleanly-paved temple streets, they eyed up the shadows cast by the moonlight over the clean buildings.
"This place really does have an 'atmosphere', huh?" Mai said.
"Yep, despite all the old biddies," Naruto chuckled as she made a pleased sound. "This isn't a 'normal' school, this is a school about spirits, curses, supernatural stuff, and more."
They stopped for a bit, considering the idea.
"Ya know," Kasumi gently held Kokichi's hand more firmly. "I never think about it," she reached out towards the moon, eyes reflecting it. "We're literally the guys in the shadows," she told her 'something'.
Kokichi stared at her before looking up with them. "We are… This… Naruto-kun, no matter what, I really couldn't thank you enough," he smiled as Naruto grinned. "Whenever the time comes, I'm on your side."
"Same!" Kasumi grinned.
"You know how I feel already," Mai smiled.
"I do, thanks, guys. Don't think that feeling ain't the same on my end. I know we're in for a rough next year so don't forget to ask for help if ya need it," Naruto said. "We can get so much stronger, so much better, and make all kinds of big decisions. We're together in this, never forget."
"Yep," the other three said.
Mai nodded as she pat his shoulders, Naruto crouching down to release her before he stood only to find Mai giving him a full-on hug.
The blonde smiled, reciprocating in full before she pulled back.
They locked eyes as Naruto wore a sheepish grin as she smirked knowingly at him.
He burned while looking bashful before she held his face and he lit up like a tomato.
She pressed her lips to his and the blonde did his best to reciprocate.
The feeling was pleasant, her soft lips were almost pillow-like, or in Mai terms 'marshmallow'. Feeling her warmth mix with his own had Naruto holding her more securely.
It was like the world didn't matter outside of them for that very moment.
Kasumi grinned at Kokichi and he smiled back, the two looking over to the other couple only to freeze like ice sculptures.
The kissing pair parted breathlessly before looking at them.
They glowed in embarrassment while Kokichi paled and Kasumi blushed.
"H-Hey," the just-kissing duo said weakly.
"F-Forget about it!" The 'terrified' pair yelped.
Naruto sweatdropped while Mai wore a sheepish grin.
Oh boy.
~NRK Out~
~Omake: Slave Dad II~
Toji stared at the others as they discussed the 'new thing' coming about.
"Let me get this straight," he began slowly, eyes closing as his face found his hand. "They're basically pimping the kid out because they're a buncha perverted old bastards."
"... That sounds about right," Satoru said as Riko rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna have to go and tell my cuz, he's not gonna handle this well," he said as he left. "Jii-chan?"
"Yes," Minato said with a shaky smile as he came over and placed a talisman on Satoru's shoulder. "Please be gentle with him."
One handsign later, Satoru vanished.
"Still broken but that's not important right now," Toji said while pointing at Minato. "Now, explain this to me like I'm retarded."
~Omake~
Three hours later, Toji stared at the screen in disbelief as Naruto demonstrated his cloning ability.
"What the hell have you done just for this?!"
-Sensei, oh my God, I just said this was BEFORE all of this!-
"Liar, you've been prepared for this day!" Toji declared as Megumi stuffed his face into his hands while Tsumiki burned like a tomato. "Look at poor Tsumiki!"
"DAD?!" The young woman shrieked.
-Hey, she has nothing to do with this!- Naruto declared with a ticking brow. -Screw this, I'm getting ramen!-
Watching him go, Toji had one thing to say.
"Man, being a wingman is easy-!?"
A large frog shikigami swallowed him up.
"DAD, REALLY?!" Tsumiki nearly pulled her hair out as Megumi rubbed the back of his head.
"Well… I mean, nee-chan," he began as his sister's head mechanically turned towards him. "It wouldn't be the worst thin-"
He'd gotten swallowed not much later.
And Maki couldn't stop laughing.
~Omake~
Tsumiki fidgeted beside her scrutinizing father as Naruto sat down and bowed.
"I'm trying to do right by her, sensei," the blonde said, head to the floor. "So, please allow me to make Tsumiki happy."
No stutters, no hesitation, and no pussyfooting around.
Toji really did know how to pick a student.
"Alright, ya have my blessings," the man said with an intrigued hum as his daughter fiddled with her fingers. "Tsumiki, even though I said that, you gotta decide if ya want to or not. That's your future on the line."
"I-It's not like I'm afraid," she pouted, looking down at Naruto who peeked up. "... I-I can't imagine what this is like for you."
"Oh, it's crazy," Naruto said, sitting up. "I wish those old geezers would have SOME idea of what the hell they were considering, the lives involved… But if I'm going to make things work, I'm going to do my absolute best," he declared, their eyes locked. "No matter what, Naruto Uzumaki will never try to fail someone, e-especially in a situation like this."
Tsumiki bowed back to him as Naruto reciprocated.
"I-I'll be in your care," the Fushigoro girl said.
"I hope I do right by you," the Uzumaki responded.
Sitting up in unison, they grew sheepish.
"Now, boy," Toji began with a grin as Naruto snorted while his daughter pouted. "What are you intentions with my child?!"
"To date her, sir!"
"Oh my God, c-can you two NOT?!"
They grinned slyly at her and Tsumiki paled at the realization.
They were SAME PERSON!
~Omake END~