DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (I)
Ch.43 - Yamanaka Flowers III
- In Konoha -
On a radiant Friday morning in Konoha (Hidden Leaf), the sun claimed its dominion in the vast sky, an expanse free from even the slightest wisp of cloud. The zephyr, though mild, brushed against the surroundings, offering a fleeting caress, yet its attempts to provide respite from the warmth fell somewhat short. The day bore the weight of its own heat, and yet, undeterred, the denizens pursued their endeavors, resolute in their tasks. They toiled through the sun-drenched hours, driven by the promise of a forthcoming evening, an evening destined for revelry and merriment beneath the village's starlit embrace.
In the bustling streets of Konoha (Hidden Leaf), the townsfolk skillfully navigated the sunlit stretches, strategically sidestepping the areas bathed in the sun's unrelenting rays. Seeking refuge in the merciful embrace of shaded alcoves, they huddled in cooler pockets, where the sun's fervent touch was gentled by nature's canopy. The streets, awash with a myriad of souls, bore witness to a lively spectacle of human activity, the ebb and flow of movement giving birth to a tapestry of purpose and urgency.
Amid this vibrant dance of life, Asuma traversed the mosaic of humanity, a solitary figure immersed in his private contemplations. Lost in his musings, he strode with a certain deliberateness, a man absorbed by the currents of his own thoughts. Asuma found himself engaged in a quiet deliberation, contemplating the choice of flowers that would best suit his upcoming rendezvous with Kurenai. The thought had crossed his mind to casually inquire about her floral preferences, a subtle attempt to gather insight. However, he quickly dismissed the idea, recognizing that Kurenai possessed an astute awareness that would unveil his intentions. Anticipating her graceful refusal, he could almost hear her gentle words, her voice a blend of appreciation and gentle admonishment, kindly advising him against such gestures of generosity. And over the course of their relationship, Asuma had come to realize that Kurenai wasn't one for fussing over gifts. She was down-to-earth, the kind of person who only bought things when they served a purpose in her life. This understanding had settled in Asuma's mind, showing him that Kurenai valued practicality over extravagance. However, there was a minor source of irritation for him, Asuma noticed that Kurenai occasionally surprised him with gifts. While these gestures were genuinely kind, they began to stir a complex sentiment within him. He appreciated her thoughtfulness, yet he couldn't help but feel a tinge of frustration. The imbalance in their gift-giving dynamic became apparent to him – Kurenai's practicality didn't hinder her from expressing affection through presents, but Asuma found himself hindered by his inability to reciprocate in the same manner. Which is why he opted to keep this sentiment to himself, hoping that this time around, she might accept the gift he wanted to give her.
Asuma maneuvered through the crowd, making his way to his destination – Yamanaka Flowers. He had already asked Noriko for a favor. He wanted her help in choosing the right flowers for the bouquet he intended to give Kurenai later that day. With that being said, he felt relieved when Noriko responded quickly, gladly agreeing to help him.
Noriko had already asked him about the bouquet's details, but Asuma wasn't sure. Sure, he was skilled as a shinobi for his expertise lay in the realm of being a fighter, a role he excelled in. But when it came to flowers? He was at a loss for he didn't have much knowledge about them. He could have easily enlisted the help of his student, Ino, yet he hesitated. Both Ino and Naruto had a knack for teasing him, especially about uncovering his secret relationship with Kurenai. While their jests sometimes vexed him, he held a deep affection for his students, a sentiment that overshadowed their playful antics.
After a brief stroll, he arrived at the shop's entrance. Gently nudging the door, the tinkling of the shopkeeper's bell rang out. As he stepped inside, he noticed the empty counter and wondered where Noriko might be. "Huh... Guess no one's around..." he thought to himself.
"I'll just wait here till she shows up, I guess..." Asuma contemplated to himself.
"Asuma-sensei?... What're you doing here?..." Naruto's voice suddenly inquired.
"N-N-Naruto?... What hell are you doing here?..." Asuma replied, entirely unaware of Naruto's dual role for some time now.
Naruto proudly displayed an apron adorned with a stitched flower, a clear sign of his role. "Well, if you must know, you're clearly looking at an employee of this establishment, dattebayo!" he proclaimed.
"Employee?... Since when?!..." Asuma inquired, his surprise evident.
"Hmmm... Let me see..." Naruto pondered, as Asuma's gaze scanned the store for Noriko's return – to no avail. His attention returned to one of his blond students who had somehow turned into a worker at the shop he now found himself in. After a pause, Naruto had the answer. "Do you remember the first time you tested our skills, Asuma-sensei?" Naruto questioned.
Asuma took a moment, eventually recalling the incident from a few months ago. "You mean four months ago?..."
"More or less..." Naruto affirmed.
"How come I don't know about this?..." Asuma queried.
"Well... For starters, you didn't bother to ask, Asuma-sensei" Naruto replied, causing Asuma to reluctantly concede the point.
"So, Asuma-sensei... What're you doing here though?... I mean, you're clearly here for flowers, but for-" Naruto's sentence halted abruptly, realization dawning. "WAIT! ARE YOU BUYING FLOWERS FOR KURENAI-SENSEI?!" Naruto's voice rose in excitement, startling Asuma.
"WHAT?! Kid, keep your voice down," Asuma cautioned in a hushed tone, his denial evident, "And no... I'm not getting flowers for her."
Perplexed, Naruto probed, "You're not?... For who then?..."
Asuma's nerves were palpable as he stuttered, "I'm, uh... Uhhh... I-I'm getting flowers for a friend. Yeah, that's it! I'm getting flowers for a friend." Naruto regarded him skeptically but eventually brushed it off.
Then, like a bolt of inspiration, Naruto piped up, "Say, Asuma-sensei... Since I'm an employee and you're a customer here, how about I assist you!" Asuma wrestled with his apprehensions, his hesitation clear.
"Actually, I already asked for Noriko-san's help a couple of days ago, Naruto," Asuma replied, only to be met with Naruto's insistence.
"Oh, come on, Asuma-sensei... I promise I'll do a good job. And besides, Noriko-san and Ino would still be out for a while," Naruto's enthusiasm was evident.
In Asuma's mind: "Damnit... Ino's here too?..."
"Wait... You mean Ino works here too?" he asked with a touch of surprise.
"Well, yeah?!... Who do you think got me to work here in the first place, Asuma-sensei?..." he replied with a knowing grin.
In Asuma's mind: "Well no shit, Asuma... Of course, Ino works here too..."
Asuma lapsed into a contemplative silence, yet ultimately chose to decline Naruto's proposal. "Thanks, Naruto. But unfortunately, I'll pass, sorry, kid. I'll just wait for them to return I suppose..." Asuma's response drew a sigh from Naruto. After exhaling his frustration, Naruto's expression shifted, and he looked at his sensei with newfound realization.
"I see what's going on here..." he mused aloud, prompting a flutter of nerves in Asuma. What thoughts churned in Naruto's mind, he wondered.
"What do you mean?..." Asuma inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"You're doubting my knowledge about flowers, huh? Admit it! Asuma-sensei... You think I suck at my job, don't you?!..." Naruto's assertion hung in the air, and Asuma couldn't help but sigh in resignation. His gaze then wandered to the wall clock, noting the hour nearing noon. The pressing weight of unfinished preparations for his forthcoming date with Kurenai loomed. With a measured surrender, Asuma yielded to Naruto's persistence.
"*sigh* Fine... You can help me, Naruto," Asuma conceded, though he was taken aback by the less-than-jubilant reaction from Naruto. Asuma's eyes rested on Naruto, who was simply staring at him.
"What?..." Asuma queried, somewhat puzzled.
"You don't sound like you want my help, Asuma-sensei... You still think I suck at my job," Naruto asserted with a hint of reproach.
"Wha- When did I ever say that?!... I already said that you can help me," Asuma defended himself.
"You didn't say it, Asuma-sensei... You implied it, and no, I won't help you, not until you say the magic word," Naruto's stance was resolute, his challenge unswerving.
"What magic word?..." Asuma pressed, unsure.
"Stop playing dumb, Asuma-sensei... You know what it is," Naruto replied with an unyielding tone, prompting yet another weary sigh from Asuma.
"*sigh* Can you please help me, Naruto," Asuma mumbled, his words carrying a hint of resignation.
"Can you repeat that again, Asuma-sensei?... I couldn't quite hear the magic word," Naruto responded mischievously.
"I said, can you PLEASE help me. There, happy?!..." Asuma's sigh bore a clear note of exasperation. At this, Naruto burst into laughter, his amusement infectious. He then assured his sensei that he had just been pulling his leg and that he was already on board to help. Asuma stood flabbergasted, realizing he had fallen for Naruto's playful trick – a jest he probably should have anticipated, especially coming from Naruto of all people.
"Hey, sensei," Naruto's voice held a curious note, "What sorta flowers you looking for?..."
"I honestly have no clue whatsoever, Naruto. Florist's choice then I guess?..." Asuma's response came with a shrug, met by Naruto's understanding nod.
"Alright then, hmmm... Let's see... By any chance, do you know what your friend's favorite color is?..." Naruto's question unfolded gently.
"I think it's either red... Or cyan..." Asuma's words carried a sense of uncertainty, prompting Naruto's quizzical stare.
"Well, which is it, Asuma-sensei?... You know what?... On second thought, let's just use both just to be safe. Though I'm not sure if we have red flowers in stock right now, but I'll check anyway, Asuma-sensei," Naruto's response held a determination as he set off to find the shelf with red and cyan blooms.
It took a while for Naruto to sift through the shelves for the flowers that matched Asuma's criteria. "Okay, here's what we have in stock right now. Let's start with cyan since we have more flowers in this color compared to red ones. We have Ajisais (Hydrangeas), Baby Blue Eyes, Water Irises, Dayflowers, and Delphiniums. As for the red ones... We have Shakuyakus (Japanese Peony) and Akanes (Japanese Wild Ginger)," Naruto presented his findings.
"Just two options for red, that's it?..." Asuma's surprise was evident.
"Well, you're two months late to buy Kusadamas (Japanese Camellia) since those typically bloom around February to April. As for Benibanas (Safflower)? You're three months too early for those. For Higanbanas (Red Spider Lily), you're four months too early, and Hototogisus (Toad Lily) bloom around August up to October. And that leaves Shakuyakus (Japanese Peony) and Akanes (Japanese Wild Ginger), which bloom around April to June and May to June, respectively," Naruto's explanation left Asuma impressed.
"Wow... I'm impressed, Naruto. You do know your stuff," Asuma's compliment was sincere.
"Impressing people is what I do, Asuma-sensei... It's what I do," Naruto's grin conveyed his satisfaction.
"Be real with me, kid... Ino forced you to learn all these things, didn't she?..." Asuma's teasing tone rang out.
"SHHH! Are you trying to get us in trouble, Asuma-sensei?!... What if she heard you say that?!... And besides... I wouldn't say I was forced... I think a better way of saying it would be, ' I was urged'," Naruto's reply was accompanied by a chuckle, drawing a laugh from Asuma.
"Sure... Why not? Anyway, what's next?... Is this the part where I pick out the flowers, or what?..." Asuma's curiosity pushed the conversation forward.
"Well, the customer has two options: either they pick out the flowers they want, or they can just let the florist pick out flowers for them. After that, the bouquet-making starts. Once it's ready, you can come back here and pick it up," Naruto explained, bringing the process into focus.
"Got it. So does that mean you can make bouquets now, Naruto?..." Asuma's query hung in the air.
"Me?! Nah... Ino and Noriko-san usually handle the bouquet crafting. I'm more of an assistant, helping out when needed. Although Ino's been showing me the ropes in crafting bouquets lately, and I'm kinda getting the hang of it. But my main role here is more on manual labor and assisting customers from time to time, Asuma-sensei," Naruto explained with a shrug.
"I see... Do you enjoy working here, though?" Asuma's curiosity pressed on.
"You bet I am, dattebayo!" Naruto's response echoed with pride. He went on to share how much he's been learning about flowers and botany, a passion ignited by his time at the shop.
"Speaking of learning, kid... Have you picked up any new jutsus or fighting techniques lately?..." Asuma's question changed the direction of the conversation.
"Hmmm... Well, I just finished one of the books that Noriko-san and Ino lent me. Also, I'm getting close to finishing the botany book they gave me... There's another one about fuinjutsu I've been diving into, and I think I'm about halfway through. As for that Nebaiken (Sitcky-fist) scroll... Turns out it's the only volume they have in the archives! Either there are more volumes out there or the author didn't continue the series, which kinda sucks," Naruto reported with a hint of enthusiasm.
"Well, it's great to see you making the most of your free time, Naruto. Keep up the good work, kid," Asuma encouraged, patting Naruto's shoulder. A foxy grin spread across Naruto's face in response. The peaceful moment was interrupted by the gentle jingle of the shop's bell, revealing both Noriko and Ino at the entrance.
"Asuma-san! I had no idea you were already here. My apologies for the delay," Noriko expressed.
"Don't worry about it, Noriko-san. Honestly, I've been in good hands thanks to your employee over here," Asuma replied, nodding towards Naruto.
"Is that so? That's quite remarkable, Naruto-kun. And for that, I'm thinking of giving you an early bonus," Noriko stated, causing both Naruto and Ino to react with shock.
"WHAT?!" In unison, both Ino and Naruto blurted out their surprise, drawing Noriko's confusion.
"What's the matter, you two?" she inquired.
"A-Are you sure about that, Noriko-san?" Naruto couldn't help but express his disbelief.
"Of course, Naruto-kun. You've earned it," Noriko affirmed with a kind smile.
"But Mom... What about me? Don't I deserve a raise as well?... I did teach him the ropes in gardening," Ino pressed her case, a playful tone tinging her words.
"I'm well aware of that, Ino. But that's part and parcel of your role, considering you're Naruto-kun's senior here. Besides, remember that you've already surpassed the allowance I initially set for you," Noriko gently retorted, prompting a resigned sigh from Ino.
Shifting her attention, Noriko continued, "But enough about that. How about you two take a break for lunch while I assist your sensei with his da—" Before she could finish, Asuma interjected unexpectedly.
"DAA-eeear friend!" he declared with a nervous smile, causing realization to dawn on Noriko. Quickly adapting, she smoothly played along, informing both Ino and Naruto that they were now at liberty to take their lunch break.
Both blondes exchanged bemused glances, their sensei's unexpected behavior raising a collective eyebrow. Nonetheless, they decided to simply shake off the puzzlement and embrace the oddity of the moment. With a shared shrug, Ino and Naruto headed out together for a well-deserved lunch break.
- After Work -
(Somewhere in Konoha)
The clock had ticked past noon in Konoha (Hidden Leaf) but the sun still hung high in the cerulean sky, its gentle glow seeping through the emerald canopy of Konoha's (Hidden Leaf) forest. Ino and Naruto found themselves under the protective embrace of the forest, where the interlocking canopy of leaves created a soothing shade, sheltering them from the sun's direct beams. Amid this serene backdrop, the two blondes ventured forth with a shared objective, weaving through the wooded realm with determination in their steps.
Naruto's curiosity couldn't be contained. "So, let me get this straight... You're actually thinking about mixing botany and fighting just because I mentioned how Wolfsbane looks kinda pretty? And because it reminded me of that saying, 'if looks could kill'?..."
Ino's response was straightforward. "Pretty much,"
Naruto's laughter carried a hint of self-congratulation. "Well, well! I must be one heck of an inspiration, huh? You did it again, Naruto, well done," he quipped, a wry smile hidden from Ino's view.
Ino's tone oozed with sarcasm as she retorted, "Yeah, sure... Why not?..."
Naruto chuckled but persisted with another question, "But seriously though, how exactly are you gonna make this work?..."
Ino's explanation flowed effortlessly. "I already got my mom's permission to use my dad's lab kit. She's even gonna show me how to use it!"
Naruto's intrigue sparked. "That's great, Ino!" he exclaimed before adding, "That's good and all, but what're we looking for again, Ino?..."
Ino's sigh hinted at a whisper of exasperation. "*sigh* Wisteria, Naruto. We're after Wisteria..."
Naruto's response was candid. "Got it. Sounds simple enough."
"Simple, yeah right..." Ino scoffed, "We've been trekking for hours and still no sign of it," she confessed, a note of frustration tingeing her words.
"Don't you already have Wolfsbane?... Why switch to Wisteria?..." Naruto queried.
Ino clarified, "My mom thinks I should start with something less poisonous. Wolfsbane is pretty darn toxic—every part of it could send you to the afterlife. But Wisteria's no better, but it's less potent to say the least."
"Ahhh... That makes sense," Naruto nodded in comprehension, then he probed further, "You sure there's any Wisteria left around here?..."
"I swear I've seen some around here before. It can't just vanish into thin air, can it?..." Ino responded.
Naruto contemplated aloud, "I dunno... Maybe someone beat us to it?..."
Ino's retort was swift. "I doubt it. Who needs that much Wisteria anyway?" Her tone shifted as her eyes caught sight of something in the distance. "LOOK! OVER THERE!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm, dashing towards a spot where her sought-after prize lay. Unbeknownst to her, the ground beneath was muddy, and her eagerness led to a slip. Naruto, ever watchful, moved quickly, managing to prevent her fall and steady her. "I GOT YOU, INO!" he yelled as he rushed to her side.
He reached her just in time, holding her firmly. "GOTCHA! You alright, Ino?" Naruto's concern radiated as he secured his grip.
In that fleeting moment, as sunlight graced Naruto's features, a gentle blush crept onto Ino's cheeks, her thoughts momentarily adrift.
"Ino?... Ino?... Earth to Ino?..." Naruto's voice snapped her back from her reverie, and she swiftly regained her composure. "Oh, huh? Yeah... I'm good, Naruto," she replied, quickly regaining her footing and creating distance between them. She hastened toward the Wisteria vines, using the task to mask her flushed face. Oblivious to her inner musings, Naruto followed, ever ready to assist, having joined her on this mission by her invitation.
(A/N: Just finished this fluffy chapter. I just wanted to write a relaxing chapter that somehow propels the plot forward by also focusing on Ino's plans to integrate botany into her arsenal. I might take a break for a while to plan out the next chapters and what not, which means I'll write when I feel like it or something. Also, to answer anoyak111's response, I'll keep your suggestion in mind, and yes, I do plan on including the civil war in Kiri somehow. Still gotta figure out how though. Regardless, I hope y'all liked this one and I'll see y'all in the next one! Love ya! Cheers! )
(A/N#2: I FUCKED UP, I UPLOADED THE WRONG DOCUMENT LMAO)