Chapter 19: Change and Amends.
"You're leaving?" Naru asked looking towards the sannin standing in front of her.
"It will only be for a short time. I have been tasked with something very important that I must do." He said. "It shouldn't be very long."
"What is it, may I ask?" She said hesitantly.
"I must track down my old teammate, Senju Tsunade. Hurizen needs to speak with her." He said lying partially, Naru blinked then nodded her head. "While I am gone I want you to continue working on gathering the outside chakra, meditation... you haven't been able to focus on it." He said, she looked down. "There is something you're holding on to and you must let it go to move on." He said. She sighed and nodded her head. "You can do it." He said ruffling her hair gently, she smiled at him and nodded. "See you in a bit gaki." He said and disappeared in a swirl of smoke.
-o0o-
Jiraiya walked along the path through the forest heading towards Crater city where he knew Tsunade was and hoped was still there. Within two hours he arrived to the city that was bustling, vendor stands lined the middle of the streets. People stood around laughing and talking, children ran around chasing each other laughing.
Jiraiya walked over to the large liquor bar that was well known for it's amazing drinks and since Jiraiya knew Tsunade so well, he knew Tsunade would be there.
He walked inside and was greeted by a young girl wearing a nice kimono that was opened to show enough of her cleavage that would of greatly interested the sannin had he not be on an important mission. But it didn't stop him from drooling at the sight.
"Can I help you sir?" She purred, her glossed lips sparkling, he shook his head and sighed.
"Ahem! Yes! I am looking for a woman that I heard hangs out here a lot." He said. "Has a full figure, pale blonde hair, amber eyes, usually drunk and horrible gambl-"
"Stop! I know exactly who you are speaking of." She said coldly. "She's got the private room for the rest of the day, maybe less with her bill." She said huffing, Jiraiya chuckled. 'Same ol' Tsunade.' He thought. "Straight through the dining room, door four." She said, he nodded and pulled out a bill, she smiled accepting it, he winked and walked away.
He listened at the door hearing a stuttering voice saying something before giving a knock and walking in. He was greeted by three burly men sitting across the table with stacks of money next to them, across the table the woman he was looking for sported a big frown across her young face, behind her was a younger woman with short black hair who was trying to talk sense into the woman.
"Alright pay up lady." The man growled. "You owe me 500." He said, Tsunade snorted.
"Once more! Double or nothing!" She said shooting a shot of sake down and slammed the cup on the table a crooked grin spread on her face.
"Double or nothing!? Hah! You haven't won one damn game! You wanna keep going?"
"I said so didn't I!?" She snarled.
"Fine! Odds or evens?" He asked shaking a cup that rattled from the dice in them.
"Even!" She said, the man hummed shaking the cup for a few seconds before throwing the dice, they hit the table flipping before landing on a three and two. Tsunade gasped and her eye twitched.
"Told ya! Gotta learn when to walk away." He said. "1000, fork it over." He said waving his hand.
"About the money..." Tsunade said, the man glared at her.
"I have it." Jiraiya intersected pulling out his wallet and pulling out the bills throwing them to the man who quickly counted it all. "Now if you don't mind, I need to speak with the loser alone." He said, Tsunade scowled deeply as the others left and shut the door.
"Jiraiya-sama!" The younger woman said.
"Nice to see you again Shizune." Jiraiya said. "Tsunade..."
"What are you doing here Jiraiya?" She asked pouring some more sake.
"We need to talk."
"No." She said.
"You don't even know what it is." He said.
"Not interested." She said.
"Fine, we'll play a game." He said grabbing the cup checking the dice. "I win, you sit and listen to me." He said.
"I win?" She asked crossing her arms under her large chest.
"I will pay your debts that I know for sure you have... being you." He said and smirked, Tsunade eyed him before sighing and nodded.
"Sit." She said, Jiraiya took a seat and pulled the bottle away from her, she frowned.
"I want you fully sober and at attention when I tell you this, I need the medic Tsunade." He said, she huffed. "I need you to come back to Konoha."
"No, I told you I wouldn't come back." She said.
"I need you to." He said. "There is someone there that needs you, she doesn't know I'm here, but Hurizen and I both thought about it. He needed you years ago but he couldn't find you. Alright a young girls life and future is on the line." He said, Tsunade frowned at him.
"Who?" She asked.
"One you haven't seen in years, one Uzumaki Naru." He said, Tsunade blinked remembering the name.
"Minato and Kushina's daughter?" She questioned, Jiraiya nodded. "What do you need me for?" She asked. "Her healing and health should be fine like Kushina's thanks to Kyuubi." She said snatching her cup back.
"An incident happened a few years ago to her, it shifting the child and her life completely." He said, she hummed. "She's blind." He said, she spit out her drink and looked at him in shock.
"What?" Shizune asked in shock.
"She was attacked on her 9th birthday, some people took the child from her apartment, they took her to an abandoned building and beat her." He said, Tsunade looked disgusted at the story. "She said when they stopped she sat up and looked to see the last one, he brought his hand up with chakra over it striking her face over her eyes." He said, Shizune gasped. "They left her there to die, she said she couldn't open her eyes at all when she woke up, she managed to crawl out of the building into an alley-"
"No one bothered to help her?!" Tsunade asked.
"Come on Tsunade, you know how the others are." He said. "Especially for a jinchuuriki." He said lowly. "Anyways, Hurizen was out looking for her for a few days, he managed to find her and take her home again." He said. "He kept her eyes bandaged and tried to find you to fix it, but you didn't respond." He said, Tsunade flinched at the accusation. "He had to travel to Sunagakure for a treaty and he brought Naru with him." Jiraiya said. "They met a renowned eye doctor there that healed a little and managed to open her eyes, but they found she couldn't see anything and there was nothing he could do." He said.
"What happened to her?" Shizune asked.
"Hurizen took her in, he got her an Uzumaki summon, Mamoru." He said with a smile. "They began to train Naru in ninja ways." He said. "She's now a full fledged genin that participated in the chunin exams and passed until the tournament." He said. "She's amazing and getting stronger each day." He said.
"How does she...?" Shizune asked.
"She taught herself how to feel and read vibrations in the ground, she also uses her chakra like a sonar, when it enters her area of chakra she can see it." He said.
"It sounds like her eyes were severed." Tsunade said.
"But.." Jiraiya said. "When she taps into his chakra, she can partially see." He said, Tsunade frowned. She ran into Orochimaru in the chunin exams, he sealed Kyuubi and cut her contact to him, I unlocked it and she could see briefly." He said, Tsunade frowned.
"So maybe it wasn't severed just damaged or blocked?" Shizune asked.
"I don't know." Tsunade said. "If anything what I remember his chakra has a healing ability to it, but it wont heal normally, the only way I could get an inkling of what's going on is a full exam." She said.
"Well that's why I'm here, I want you to come back." He said.
"No." Tsunade said, Jiraiya looked at her shocked along with Shizune.
"Tsunade?!"
"Konoha may have been the place I was born and raised, it will always be my hometown, but it will not be my home." She said. "I wont return... sorry Jiraiya." She said standing up and walking out of the room leaving the two sitting in shock.
-o0o-
Jiraiya tracked Tsunade down later that evening and sat next to her, she sighed with an eye roll.
"Wont matter what you say." She said swishing her sake.
"I thought you became a medic to help people." He said. "Your grandfather-"
"Don't you dare lecture me about him!" She snarled looking at him. "I've lost too much because of that village." She said. "I quit it." She said.
"It just shows how weak you are." He said, she glared at him sipping the drink. "I get you lost your brother and love. But you don't remember saying that after you lost your brother you swore to become a medic so no one would die while you had something to do with it." He said.
"And Dan died anyways." She said, Jiraiya sighed.
"It was war, we're at peace." He said. "Tsunade you're the only one who can help her!" He said.
"It's still no." She said before gulping the cup down. "I'm sorry she's going through that but I will not return." She said.
"Tsunade, you went through two losses." He said. "But you had the ability to move on from it. Naru? She doesn't have that privilege." He said. "She's a child, a young girl that should be able to see the sun and clouds in the sky, to see her friend and family, she should be able to see the landscape around her, but she can't." He said. "She embraced the lost and got stronger." He said. "You on the other hand tucked your tail and ran like the coward you are." He said, Tsunade looked at him with a frown. "You're nothing but a coward." He said. "If you wont help Naru, I'll find someone who really means they want to rescue and heal people, not some bitter old drunk who is scared of her own shadow." He said standing. "But know you're taking the life of a young girl that you could save, you're just giving up, congratulations." He said walking away slowly leaving Tsunade at the bar slumped over with tears falling down her cheeks and on the table.
-o0o-Three days later-o0o-
Just outside the stairs leading to the Hokage tower Sasuke and Kakashi stood there after being MIA for nearly a week with no word. Kakashi looked at the boy who had completely changed since learning the truth and being freed from Orochimaru's grip.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
"No." He said with a heavy sigh.
"Sasuke … don't tell them if you don't want to." Kakashi said looking at the boy. "I'll take your side whatever you choose." He said, Sasuke looked at him and nodded his head and brushed his bangs back.
"Let's get this done." He said and walked up the steps with Kakashi and knocked on the door quickly.
"Enter." Hurizen called from the other side.
Both walked in to see Naru sitting on the couch with Mamoru laying on the floor relaxed and Hurizen standing beside her.
"Kakashi-kun, Sasuke-kun." He said in mild shock and sighed, Naru blinked in shock at her missing teammates. "Where have you two been?" He asked.
"We're just here to check in.." Sasuke said, Kakashi gulped and nodded his head knowing the boy wasn't going to say a single word about what happened.
"You have been missing for truly over a month. A week with no word." Hurizen said giving them a stern look. "Explain yourself now." He said, Sasuke sighed resisting to roll his eyes at the older man.
"Um... I'll come back another time..." Naru said, Mamoru stood up and she climbed on his back and she made an quick exit shutting the door.
"Now speak." Hurizen said sitting down looking at them both. "You missed the chunin exams, if you did not wish to take them you should of sent word instead of causing chaos thinking Orochimaru got you." He said. "Kakashi I'm surprised with you the most." He said making the jounin give a tiny flinch.
"It wasn't Kakashi's fault." Sasuke said. "I said I didn't want to do the exams, I said I didn't want to send word and I didn't want to return just yet." He said. "Blame anyone, blame me." 'And yourself.' He added mentally with anger but kept it down.
Hurizen sighed sensing something strange with the two that he couldn't place his finger on yet. "Was this the cause of the bite?" He asked, Kakashi stiffened then sighed.
"He was having problems controlling the bite near the end." He said, Sasuke looked at him shock and worried. "He couldn't stay awake and would get frustrated..." He said with a sigh again. "We just had a …. realization that maybe he – we needed some time alone to think and gain some rest." He said. "That's all Hokage-sama. I apologize about the no response but I felt it would be better for him to think and rest without the interference of others asking him questions. The fault is mine." Kakashi bowed, Sasuke frowned.
"In any case what you did is unacceptable … but seeing you both are okay I will let you off with a warning." He said. "I expect a full debriefing of your training in two days, am I understood Kakashi." He said, the jounin nodded and both walked out with a bow.
"Why did you say that?" Sasuke asked quietly.
"Because I told you Sasuke, I'll stand by your side." He said. "Go home and rest... I have something I need to do." He said, Sasuke looked at him curiously before shrugging and walked away.
Kakashi sighed and touched the ground causing smoke to appear before it clearing and his little pug Pakkun sat there.
"Kakashi what do you need?" He asked scratching his ear.
"I need you to track Naru for me." He said. "I need to speak with her." He said.
The pug gave a nod and began to sniff around before leading the jounin through town and to Ichiraku's stand, Kakashi nodded and the pug disappeared. Kakashi paused and took in a deep breath before walking in to see Naru sitting on the stool talking to Iruka and Mamoru curled up at her feet with some meat in a bowl.
"Kakashi-san. Long time to no see." Teuchi said first, Iruka, Naru and Mamoru looked at him almost making him flinch back.
"Ah .. yeah." He rubbed his head and sighed.
"What can I get for you?" He asked.
"N... nothing thank you. Um Naru?" He asked, she blinked at him. "Could I speak with you? Alone." He added looking at the chunin who was giving him a harsh glare.
"Sure.." She said standing up, Mamoru stood with a sigh. "I'll be right back Iruka-sensei.." She said.
"Alright..." He said before looking at the jounin promising him pain if Naru came back upset. They walked out of the restaurant and down the street, Kakashi was silent as they walked to the training grounds and stopped at the three wooden poles.
"What did you want sensei?" Naru asked getting down from Mamoru's back.
"Um.." He gulped and sighed and shifted before letting out another sigh. "I wanted to talk to you.." He said and gulped. "Um .." He said and scoffed rubbing his hair. "Harder than I thought.." He muttered.
"What?" She asked with some hesitation in her voice.
"I wanna apologize." He said, she blinked a few times.
"F... for what?" She asked confused.
"I haven't acted like a real comrade... I didn't trust you, I questioned you." He said. "I was trying to figure things out that were truly none of my business." He said. "I didn't just trust in your abilities, instead I had to have an explanation as to whats wrong with you and I know I hurt you many times by doing that." He said looking down. "A real teammate and comrade would of just accepted you didn't want to tell me and let it go and worked with you. I didn't." He said. "I'm very, very sorry and I hope you can forgive me someday." He said. "Maybe we could start over... but it's your call, if you wish to not see me again or … or whatever I'll understand, I failed as your sensei." He said.
Naru walked forward and held her hand out, he blinked and reached out, she took his hand with a gentle smile.
"Hi, my name is Uzumaki Naru, I like learning new jutsu, being outside, spending time with my true friends and Mamoru." She said gently, his eye widened. "I don't like to be babied, getting scolded or cruel, ignorant people." She said. "And my hobbies include training and have a relaxing, fun day." She said with a smile, he looked at her shocked and smiled with a sigh shaking her hand a little.
"Hi, my name is Hatake Kakashi, I like my team of students that opened my eyes, I dislike liars and when my important people are put in danger. My hobbies are reading, training and walking my dogs and my dream .. is still unclear." He said, she smiled at him and nodded. "Thanks Naru." He said, she moved forward and gave him a gentle squeeze, he blinked and smiled gently returning it.
"It took you long enough..." She said, he laughed and ruffled her hair gently. "You wanna come back and get some ramen with us?" She asked.
"Nah, I got some stuff I gotta check out first." He said, she nodded and waved as he walked away.
She sighed and Mamoru sat next to her.
"That was unexpected.." He said, she smiled.
"Doesn't matter, it was nice." She said, Mamoru nodded with a sigh. "Let's get back before Iruka-sensei has a panic attack.." She said, Mamoru chuckled letting her climb on his back and headed back to Iruka who instantly interrogated her but she kept it quiet with a smile.
-o0o-
Jiraiya sighed as he got packed up deciding it was pointless on Tsunade. After his talk with her the woman disappeared, even Shizune had no clue where she was and at the time Jiraiya couldn't care less. He huffed flinging his scroll on his back and let out a sigh. 'Sorry kiddo...' He thought thinking about Naru.
He walked out of the hotel tossing the keys on the desk and headed out. He arrived to the border of the city and blinked to see Shizune standing there with her pet pig Tonton and leaning against the tree behind her was Tsunade.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, Tsunade looked at him and stood up with a huff and looked at him.
"As much as I hate Konoha, you had a point." She said. "I became a medic to help." She said. "And I have been a coward." She said. "I will return to examine the girl, but no more. Once that is done and I do whatever I can, I am leaving for good, never to return." She said.
Jiraiya smirked and sighed. "Thanks Tsunade." He said.
"Let's get going." She huffed carrying her bag, Shizune smiled and walked next to her as they started their trek to Konoha once again.
-o0o-
As they approached the gates Tsunade found herself walking slower and slower until she stopped outside them. "Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked looking at the woman, she sighed and touched the necklace hanging around her neck closing her eyes before opening them and looked at Jiraiya and Shizune.
"Let's go." She said walking forward through the gates and back into her village.
Hurizen smiled as Jiraiya walked in with Tsunade and Shizune behind him.
"Long time no see Tsunade."
"You too sensei." She said nodding her head.
"I'm sure Jiraiya told you why I called for you.." He said as she sat on the couch.
"Naru." She said, he nodded. "When it first happened I couldn't find you." He said. "She has gotten stronger and even better at ninja ways since the incident, but I would still like to give her the chance to see again."
"She doesn't know you're doing this?" Tsunade asked.
"No, we didn't want to tell her and get her hopes up if you refused to return." Hurizen said, Tsunade sighed and nodded.
"What did the doctor you took her to say?" She asked.
"He said the chakra cut the points and muscles in her eyes." He said, Tsunade frowned a little. "But he said he had never seen anything like this before. Her eyes were physically glued shut from the hit." He said. "He had to use chakra water to unbind them."
"If they were severed..." Tsunade started but stopped. "What I am thinking is if this chakra was able to glue her eyes shut, it could of got inside her eyes creating a barrier that is preventing her sight. And maybe when Kyuubi's chakra spreads it can destroy or weaken it for a short time." She said.
"So can I call her in?" Hurizen asked, Tsunade sighed and nodded her head.
"I'll go find her." Jiraiya said walking out.
Jiraiya focused and found Naru's chakra at the training grounds in back, he walked in slowly and created noise so she'd know someone was there. What he didn't expect was to see Naru sitting in the grass focusing with chakra pouring off of her. Mamoru laid a few feet from her watching with a smile.
"N...Naru.." He said in shock, she perked up and smiled at him.
"Hi Jiraiya-sensei." She said.
"You've gotten chakra absorption down huh?" He asked.
"I think yeah.." She said standing up with a smile flexing her hand.
"So it seems you were able to let go of what was holding you back." He said.
"Yeah." She smiled and bit her lip. "So did you get your teammate?" She asked.
"Yeah." He said. "And actually I need you to come with me." He said, she cocked her head. "We gotta talk." He said, she nodded and grabbed her shoes sliding them on and getting on Mamoru's back and they headed to the Hokage tower.
"What's going on?" Naru asked as they got to the door, Jiraiya chuckled.
"You'll see." He said, she frowned at him, he pinched her cheek making her frown at him rubbing it gently. "Relax gaki." He said walking in first holding the door opened.
Naru got Hurizen's chakra and found Tsunade and Shizune's chakra in the room.
"Oink!" She blinked to see a small shape of chakra formed as a pig.
"Tonton." Shizune said, Naru chuckled as she got down and Mamoru laid next to her looking at the small pig.
"Don't worry, Mamoru only likes fish." She said. Mamoru smirked and laid his head down on his paws and watched the small pig walked closer and slowly towards the large cat.
"Alright Naru, I'd like you to meet Senju Tsunade and Shizune." Hiruzen said gesturing, Naru nodded and gave a small bow.
"Nice to meet you." She said. "What did you need?" She asked looking towards Hiruzen.
"I assigned Jiraiya to do a special mission on tracking Tsunade down and bringing her back." He said. "For you."
"Huh? Me?" Naru asked. "What for?" She asked.
"I want to examine the damage in your eyes and see what I can do." Tsunade butted in. "I'm one of the top medics in the world." She said, Naru blinked a few times. "So sit on the couch and I can start examining you." She said, Naru walked over to the couch and sat down with a sigh.
Tsunade walked up to her and let out a breath of air before pulling up green chakra in her hands and began to focus as her chakra traveled through Naru's head examining every little bit. Hurizen watched closely praying silently that it would work along with Jiraiya.
Tsunade pulled back with a sigh. "It was as I thought, the chakra damaged the eyes and basically put a block in them." She said. "It hardened and is impossible to get off." She said, Hurizen slumped and looked down. "But, if what Jiraiya said is true, that you can see when you tap into Kyuubi's chakra then I can create a direct line of his chakra to your eyes giving your sight again." She said.
Jiraiya gasped and Hurizen smiled and sighed. Naru blinked a few times with her jaw slack. "What do you say?" She asked.
Naru opened her mouth and sighed with a slump. "No." She said, they all looked at her like she was insane.
"Naru." Hurizen said bending down next to her and taking her hands. "This is a chance for you to see again." He said.
"I understand that …. but." She sighed. "I dunno, I guess becoming blind has helped me." She said. "When I could see I was only focused on how others looked at me." She said. "But with no sight I became better. I learned what true friendship was." She said. "I learned what it takes to be a true ninja and I don't think I ever would of truly figured it out on my own seeing." She said. "I thank you for coming all the way here and I'm sorry." She said.
"Are you sure gaki?" Jiraiya asked.
Naru smiled and nodded her head, they looked at her and saw a different Naru than they were use to. "Being blind has helped me open my eyes to things I was blinded to before." She said. "I'm happy this way. Really." She said.
They smiled and nodded. "Alright." Hurizen said and rubbed her head, she smiled gently.
"Thank you Tsunade-sama." Naru said, she blinked and chuckled quietly.
"You're welcome." She said.
-o0o-
Later that night Hurizen sat in his office smoking, he let out a sigh thinking about Naru and smiled gently. He had never expected her to say no, but she did. He saw how much she had grown up from the helpless child who only wanted to take his seat, then to the hopeless girl who had her sight ripped away from her. It made him frown that he hadn't been able to keep his promise fully of protecting and caring for Naru like his own. Of course he was there when she needed it and he would work things around for her, but it wasn't the same as being there by her side and it was because he was Hokage.
"What are you still doing here?" He looked at the open window to see Jiraiya perched on it.
"Thinking about everything." He said and sighed. "Naru." He chuckled.
"She's really grown into a fine young woman, she'll be a force to be reckoned with in the future." Jiraiya said.
"I know, that's what I'm thinking about, I promised that I would stay by her side, but being Hokage prevented me from doing so."
"Are you thinking of stepping down?" Jiraiya asked, Hurizen nodded.
"Tsunade." He said.
"She'll refuse." He said. "It was hard enough getting her to come back here."
"I have to try." Hurizen said. "I want to really watch Naru grow up and have a family by her side."
Jiraiya chuckled and nodded his head. "I'll ask tomorrow." He said and stood up walking out of the building and to his home.
"No way in hell!" Tsunade said as she stood in his office the next morning.
"Tsunade-"
"No. I already told Jiraiya, I am not staying. Why not get that perv to do it?" She asked.
"Because you're fit to be Hokage. I know you could and would protect the village and everyone in it, even if you wont admit it." Hurizen said with a smirk, Tsunade grumbled.
"You've been Hokage for years, why can't you carry on with it?" She asked.
"One, because eventually I have to make a choice and it's better now than later." He said. "Two, Naru." He said, Tsunade looked at him with a frown. "The night of her birth, I swore to Kushina as she took her last breaths that I would protect and look out for the child. I haven't been able to hold up to my promises. She got hurt because I was in here. She lost her sight-"
"But she's embraced it."
"But I still failed her. I don't want to miss anymore of Naru's growth, I want to be by her side without distractions of the Hokage business." He said. "So please Tsunade, do it for Naru." He said, she rolled her eyes.
"Fine I guess." She said and walked out muttering, Hurizen chucked and stood up to head to the meeting room with the council.
-o-
"Why now Hurizen?" Homura asked sitting at the council table.
"I have long since served my purpose as Hokage, Tsunade will be an excellent replacement. Plus there are things that I want to focus on." He said. "I know there was much protect about me taking the seat after the Yondaime's untimely death, now I have found a suitable replacement that I believe can and will lead Konoha into the future." He said.
"But wont her reputation as a gambler follow her, how will that look on Konoha?"
"She took up gambling after her losses, it was a release." He said. "We all have a past that make us inept for our titles." He said. "You can't hold it over someone's head for all eternity, it's childish and would get us no where." He said.
"Well what do you think?" The fire Daimyou said looking at the others.
"I agree her skills as a ninja and medic are superb, and her want to never lose anyone would come in handy as well." One said.
"Yes, as a sannin she has a title among the world." Another said.
"Alright, we accept." They said, Hurizen smiled gently and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Tsunade will be the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure." The Daimyou said. "Dismissed." He said and nodded.
-o0o-
"You're retiring!?" Naru asked as Hurizen told her the news.
"Yes Naru-chan." He said with a smile.
"But why?" She asked.
"Because it's my time to, I have served my purpose as Hokage." He said. "And I want to be by your side to watch you grow into a superb ninja." He said, Naru blushed and smiled.
"But Saru-"
"It's already happening Naru, I want to be at your side and be there more for you than before." He said. "I can do that now." He said Naru sighed with a frown then nodded her head.
"Okay." She mumbled, he walked up and kissed her forehead.
"It's not only you Naru." He said, she smiled and gave a small nod. "Come, let's get some lunch." He said, she smiled and walked out with him next to her.
-o0o-At the Yamanaka Flower Shop-o0o-
"What was so important Ino?" Sakura asked as she stood with Hinata, Kiba and Chouji.
"I need your help with something." She said looking around.
"What?" Kiba asked.
"Naru and Shikamaru." She said.
"What about 'em?" Chouji asked.
"It's so obvious they like each other. I mean why else would he be so protective and caring for her. Chouji don't you remember that he found Kiba and Hinata as backup for the land of Waves." She said.
"So?" Kiba asked. "We ran into him first big deal." He said, Akamaru gave a yap.
"Well he also jumped down to her in the preliminaries, came to her rescue in the forest."
"Now that you mention it, he seems to lighten up around her and she's the same way." Sakura said.
"Exactly! But Naru being as shy as she is and Shikamaru being as lazy as he is wont make the first move." She said.
"What are you proposing?" Hinata asked.
"We set them up on a date." She said.
"How?" Sakura asked.
"Well..." Ino said and thought before a smile appeared on her face and she pulled them closer in a huddle whispering her plan.
-o0o-Three days later-o0o-
Naru frowned as she sat in her apartment with Hurizen as he read the letter that was delivered via Akamaru. "That's strange." She said. "A rookie dinner?" She asked. "At Chiharu?" She asked. "Why not barbeque like normal?" She asked.
"I don't know Naru, but it's tonight and it says to dress nice." He said.
"Well yeah, that place is kinda fancy-ish." She said. "I just don't get it." She said.
"Well you can ask once you get there. Go wash up." He said, Naru walked into her bathroom taking a hot shower and heading into her room getting changed into some shorts and a long shirt that reached past them and had a small slit to the side. She brushed her hair slowly and sighed quietly.
"Here." Hurizen said walking up and brushed her hair back and left it down. "There you go." He said and slid a clip on the left and right side keeping her bangs from her face. "Beautiful." He said, she smiled with a blush.
"Thanks." She said.
"Get going." He said, she grabbed her small bag pulling it on and walked out with Mamoru and climbed on his back as he headed to the restaurant.
"We're here." He said, she slid off and sighed waiting around and sighed biting her lip. Mamoru laid on the ground relaxing.
"Naru?" She whipped around and caught Shikamaru's chakra.
"Shika, do you know what's going on?" She asked. "Akamaru dropped a note off saying the rookies were having a dinner here." She said.
"Ino came and told me, she said she'd meet us here at 9." He said.
"What time is it?" She asked.
"Almost 9." He said.
"Should we go in and get a table?" Naru asked.
"Mah I guess, it will take that woman forever to get ready." He said, Naru giggled quietly. "You look nice." He said and toyed with her hair causing a red blush to appear.
"Thank you." She said, both walked in with Mamoru behind them.
"How can I help you?" The host asked.
"Um we're suppose to meet our friends for a dinner?" Naru said.
"What would the name be under?" He asked.
"Um..." She frowned.
"Ino Yamanaka?" He asked, the man frowned before blinking a few times.
"Ah here." He said with a smile. "Follow me." He said, Naru glanced at Shikamaru who shrugged and led her through, the host set them at a small table near the window.
"Isn't this kinda small? It's suppose to be 12." She said.
"No ma'am, the reservation is for two." He said and set the menus down. "Your waiter will be here shortly" He said and walked away.
Shikamaru frowned and looked around noticing the dimmer lighting in this area and the roses in a glass, he grunted and snorted quietly. 'Damn your meddling Ino.' He thought.
"Shika?" Naru asked. "What's going on?" She asked, Shikamaru looked at the Host who stood there biting his lip staring at them.
"A certain big-mouth, nosy, troublesome girl wants to play around." He said.
"Huh?" Naru asked confused.
Shikamaru chuckled. "Ino set us up on a date." He said, Naru blushed dark red and gulped.
"O... oh." She said, Shikamaru smirked. "I... I.." She sighed quietly.
"Might as well enjoy it." He said.
"Huh?" She asked in shock.
"What?" He chuckled.
"O... oh nothing! I just... I mean it's... I mean." She sighed.
"It'll be fun Naru. Come on, lets order." He said and began to read things off of the menu for her.
Just outside the restaurant Kiba, Hinata, Sakura and limp Ino were huddled in a bush.
"So?" Sakura whispered.
"You do realize we're outside and their inside right?" Kiba asked.
"Better safe than sorry." She said, he sighed and nodded.
"They are staying." Hinata said. "It worked." She smiled, Sakura peeked from the bush and gave a small squeal and gasped dropping down as Shikamaru looked out the window.
"Nice one." Kiba said, Sakura growled and punched his arm harshly.
Ino sat up with a gasp and blinked a few times. "It worked Ino." Hinata said.
"Of course it did!" She said with a smile. "She was flustered and he reassured her." She said. 'Although he will pay for the big-mouth comment.' She thought and huffed.
"Let's get out of here, I already paid their bill." She said. "And I don't think either will leave now." She said and smiled peeking through, Shikamaru made eye contact with her and smirked.
He mouthed a 'Thanks' and she gave him a thumbs up, he looked back at Naru and began to talk with her making her laugh.