"Izumi, stop fiddling with my dress!"

"But, Sarame, i-isn't it a bit showy?" Izumi couldn't help but feel vulnerable wearing her best friend's dress that was lent to her for the evening event.

It was a tight crimson red color dress that went from her shoulders to her upper knees. It was an off-shoulder and a backless dress which made her feel almost naked.

She wore a light silver earring that dangled in place and her hair was tied up into a fancy bun.

"Girl, look at me." Sarame stops Izumi from walking further. "You look s-e-x-y...relax and just enjoy this evening!"

"But what if people stare at me."

"Honey, people will stare at you. You're beautiful, kind, and like I said sex—."

"Okay okay, I get it. Stop being so loud!" Izumi cups her friend's mouth with her hand.

--

"Alright! Izumi, we're here!" The girls stand in front of the entrance to the newest building of the hidden leaf established by the 3rd Hokage.

They can see a crowd of people heading inside the entrance and began to follow the way.

"Izumi, Sarame! Long time no see. Welcome in!"

"Iruka sensei!" Both were happy to see Iruka at the door leading people inside.

"Are you a doorman or what?" Sarame had been curious.

Iruka sensei laughs. "Well, you can somewhat see it as some protective measure. The third had instructed some of us teachers to make sure there wasn't any trouble during the event. He wanted everyone to feel welcomed and safe."

"Ah, gotcha!" To their right and left they can see other senseis meeting and chatting up with other guests.

"It was nice to see you Iruka. We'll be heading inside now." Izumi and Sarame walked inside and past the entrance.

As they walked further into the building they were amazed to see the whole crowd of almost everyone from the hidden leaf.

People were dancing, chatting, and eating. Everyone looked gorgeous in their formal clothes.

It was the first time they had seen everyone together like this after the establishment of this new building.

"Everyone, may I please have your attention." The third Hokage had stepped forward on the balcony with his two Anbu guards.

Everyone in the crowd stopped and turned in the direction of the balcony. Then stayed quiet to pay attention to the old man's welcoming words.

"It is my great pleasure to welcome everyone from the village and my deepest joy to see us all here together for this lovely evening event."

"Not so long ago our village had been given many S-ranked missions and in all these missions had led a positive impact on the king in the land of fire."

"As a reward for fulfilling all these missions by our very own shinobi of the leaf, we have been awarded this establishment for events such as tonight. So enjoy this wonderful evening, dance, eat to your heart's content, and enjoy the art of this establishment. But lastly don't forget to applaud our very own talented shinobis. Thank you."

Everyone clapped after the Hokage's words and then continued what they had been doing before.

"Izumi look, it's Fugaku and Mikoto! Gosh, they both look so dashing!"

Izumi looked in the direction her friend had pointed. She can see the smiling couple. Mikoto had her arms wrapped in Fugaku's inner elbow while chatting up with other leaders of different clans.

To the side of the couple, she can see Sasuke chatting up with Naruto and Sakura. Then not so far from them she saw Itachi and Shisui.

She began to blush at the sight of Itachi. He wore a tux and had his hair typically the way he had them with the longer strands tied into a ponytail below. She can see him talking with Shisui and smiling back at his best friend's words.

"Come on Izumi let's go say hi!"

"W-wait I...I don't feel too comfortable with this dress. What if —."

"Izumi, stop talking nonsense, and let's go!" Sarame quickly grabbed hold of Izumi's hand and rushed toward their direction.

"Izumi, Sarame. How wonderful to see you both this evening." Mikoto looked at Sarame and then at Izumi. "Izumi, don't you look very stylish, I love your dress."

"Haha...ha. T-thank you Mikoto. Actually, this is Sarame's dress. I was just borrowing it for this evening." Izumi began to blush.

"Izumi, Sarame. Great to see you both this evening." Fugaku had returned after grabbing a drink for both him and Mikoto.

"Mind if I take my dear Mikoto for a dance?"

"Oh for sure go ahead!"

Fugako and Mikoto headed over to the center where people were dancing.

"Izumi I'll be right back! I see some of my friends from the academy. I'll introduce them to you after!"

"Okay, see ya Sarame!"

Izumi was left alone. She could feel some people staring at her and began to feel the embarrassment coming back.

She noticed that Itachi and Shisui had still been chatting just a few feet from her until they noticed her.

"Hey, Izumi! Over here!" Shisui had finally noticed the girl standing by herself.

She looked at their direction and walked closer to the circle.

"Shisui. Itachi. It's nice to see you guys this evening."

Izumi began to feel nervous. She could feel Itachi staring at her and tried her best to avoid as much contact as she could.

"Well, you look rather showy tonight Izumi." Shisui had never seen Izumi with such vulnerable clothing. Tonight was the first time he and Itachi had seen her with such exposure.

"You see this doesn't belong to me. It's Sarame's." Izumi tried to hide her blush as best she could and at the same time explain.

She felt embarrassed wearing it, especially in front of Itachi. She could feel the tension from their stares so she decided to talk to break the silence.

"Shisui, Itachi. How have you guys been? You guys both look very nice. Did you guys meet up with anyone else?"

"Well, not really. We did see Iruka sensei earlier, some of our Anbu colleagues, and the third Hokage was just here chatting with us before his speech."

"Ah...that's great! I was just chatting up a bit with Fugaku and Mikoto early on. They both look very dashing."

"You guys want anything to drink or eat perhaps?" Shisui stepped out of the circle.

"No thank you."

"Itachi?"

"No need."

"Alright. I'll be right back."

Shisui had left Izumi and Itachi alone.

"S-so I heard you've been promoted to a higher rank in the Anbu. You must feel very accomplished."

"It's nothing really. As long as I can protect the village, that's all that matters."

"You've done so much for the village. I wanted to celebrate it with you...and Shisui of course!" Izumi began to blush again.

Itachi responded with a slight chuckle.

"Celebrate in what way?"

"Ah...I haven't thought that far."

"Izumi! Izumi!" Sarame had come back but wasn't alone.

"Izumi. Meet one of my friends! This is Haku from the Haruno clan. We were both in the same class from the academy."

"N-nice to meet you, Izumi. Sarame told me s-so much about you." Haku turns his head sideways to hide his blush and his nervousness.

"N-nice to meet you Haku."

"Y-you look very beautiful, Izumi. I l-like your dress. It totally suits you."

Izumi blushes after his words. "T-thank you." She looks over at Sarame and she can see the grin coming from her best friend's face.

"Excuse me. But I have some matter to attend to." Itachi couldn't take the situation any longer so he decided it best to excuse himself.