Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mastermind ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Thanks for the reviews everyone but I was feeling a little sad that I didn't get as many as I expected but it cant be helped anyways sigh.

here it is the next chapie please be appeased.

Also thank you to my beta as who did a fantastic job.

Thanks

Mako-Chan

----------- Sakura awoke slowly from her deep slumber. Stretching and yawning, she took in her surroundings. Immediately, she recognized Shino's bedroom and memories from the night before played in her mind, making her blush a little. She had always been a little shy about that sort of thing, and even Shino had been hesitant and reserved at the beginning of their relationship. Obviously they had gotten bolder as time passed, but Sakura was still prone to delayed bashful reactions. Smiling and running a finger over her lips, Sakura tossed the comforter aside and stood. Stretching out more thoroughly, she made her way out of the bedroom door to the bathroom beside it, intending a shower. She always liked to use shower time to think. Blushing again when she remembered the ring hanging around her neck and its purpose, she decided that this would be a very long shower.

 

 

Meanwhile, Shino was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. To celebrate their engagement and the coming out of their relationship, he was fixing something special. Hearing Sakura wake and start a shower, he kicked up his pace a bit, hoping to have something to dish out by the time she finished up.

 

 

 

000000000000000000000

 

 

A ways across town at the office of the Hokage, someone was reporting in for the first time in several years. The guards had been hesitant to let him through, but Tsunade eagerly accepted him into the office.

 

“It's good to finally have you back,” Tsunade said quietly.

 

“I hope you realize that, under normal circumstances, I'd have thrown your ass into a cell by now.” There was no verbal response, but the sour look told Tsunade that he knew.

 

“I also hope you appreciate your old team for being the only thing different about the circumstances. I do appreciate you doing away with the criminal Itachi and disbanding the Akatsuki.” A curt nod was the only indication he had been listening. Tsunade sighed quietly and went on.

 

“For those actions you will be given honors and a chance at a higher shinobi rank- since you haven't been around to be tested officially for promotion. You may go. I'll send for you later. Some people who I'm sure you'll want to see will be at Ichiraku around one o'clock. Something about a celebration.”

 

“Thank you for your generosity and understanding, and for the information as well. I was hoping to look a few people up,” he bowed formally before turning to go. Tsunade watched him leave before turning back to her paperwork.

00000000000000000

 

 

It seemed that most of the shinobi of the village were gathered at Ichiraku that afternoon. Some had come by specific invitation. Others were there over an announcement that something important would be going on. Via special invitation, Temari, Kankuro and even Gaara were amongst the crowd.

The inquiring chatter of the crowd faded into silence as Shino, standing in the center of the crowd with Sakura, cleared his throat for attention. All eyes turned on them, causing Sakura to blush madly. If no one had known better, they might think that a slight flush was visible on what could be seen of Shino's face as well.

At last, Shino addressed the crowd before them, “You've been invited here for a very special announcement.”

Shino paused, uncertain. He never had been much of a talker and it was unusual for so much attention to be focused on him. Sensing his discomfort- and almost bursting with excitement- Sakura jumped in to finish for him while wrapping her arms around one of Shino's.

“We're getting hitched!”

For an entire second, the crowd was silent. Then there was an eruption of cheering and surprised exclamations- and Naruto and Lee falling to the floor to cry like babies with no pacifiers.

“Its just not fair,” Naruto whined piteously.

“Surely his introverted attitude and lack-luster emotional tendencies will wilt the tender blossoms of her youth! Why?” Lee added sadly.

“Lee!” boomed the loud voice of Gai. The source quickly appeared on the scene, wrapping Lee into a fatherly hug. “My poor, heart-broken protégé! Worry not! The springtime of your youth is on-going still and will surely bring you happiness!”

“Gai-sensei!” Lee cried, touched, and gladly returned the hug.

“Lee!”

Obviously none of this was doing Naruto any good. Now, along with being upset over “losing” Sakura, he was creeped out. Still pouting, he inched away from Gai and Lee.

“Oh, come on, Naruto, and cheer up,” Kakashi prodded Naruto with his foot, eye trained on his infamous orange book. “Look how happy Sakura is. Besides, I think Hinata is trying to get your attention over there.”

“I guess you're right,” Naruto admitted reluctantly, taking in Sakura's jubilated appearance (and completely missing any implication to go over to Hinata). “But, still, when did all this happen? I mean, they're never together except on missions, and they hardly talk even then.”

“You haven't seen them when they're alone, Naruto,” Kakashi grinned behind his mask. “I have- not that I couldn't have lived without the visual.”

Naruto and Lee, who had finally pulled himself together, looked up at Kakashi with oblivious confusion. Then they got it and the comical waterfall tears trailed down their cheeks again- more from mental trauma than from strait sorrow this time. Gai, whose jaw had dropped at what Kakashi implied, immediately began accusing Kakashi of spying.

In the meantime, a figure clad in a black cloak and wide hat stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the scene silently. Things had most certainly changed while he was away, and he didn't like it one bit. That insolent bug freak had stolen the prime candidate for the revival of his clan. He had been hoping that Sakura had held on to the crush from all those years ago, but this was clearly not the case. And she was now with Shino, of all people? Yeah, he was pissed off.

As he brooded, the crowd had begun to childishly “ohh” over the heated kiss Shino and Sakura, both blushing openly now, had deemed to appease them with. It was short and both blushed deeper as they broke apart to smile sheepishly at the crowd. Well, Sakura smiled sheepishly; Shino quickly re-zipped his high collar to hide his face again.

After a small time the crowd was settled and friends stepped forward to give formal congratulations. Ino flung herself around Sakura's neck, grinning and chattering excitedly. Temari and Kankuro hugged her and smiled. Gaara nodded acknowledgement. Naruto and Lee reluctantly gave their blessings- along with not-so-mild implications that they were free if anything should go wrong with Shino. Kakashi was more casual about it, smiling and wishing her the best- and assuring her that he had tried to persuade Naruto and Lee not to say anything.

Kurenai squeezed Shino in a one-armed hug, but was interrupted in her speech when Kiba bounded over to forcefully pat Shino on the back and crow out blatantly suggestive comments. He settled down only when Hinata came up to timidly offer her own congratulations.

On and on the people came, shaking hands and kissing cheeks and hugging and smiling. Slowly, they began to file away, eager to spread the news. Shino and Sakura were both known and respected in their own rights, so this was a big event.

The excitement wearing down, Shino and Sakura held hands, fingers entwined, and headed for the bar, close friends filing after. But Sakura was still on the high of the moment and, grinning mischievously, found herself wanting to do something crazy.

“Shino-kun,” Sakura smiled sweetly as they sat, “turn towards me, please.” He did and she went on, “Now be a dear and close your eyes, please.”

Though hesitantly, Shino did as she asked, nodding slightly so she would know that it had been done. Before he could pose the question of why his eyes were closed behind his glasses, he felt them being ripped away from his face. There was no chance to react before Sakura yanked down the zipper on his collar and all but pounced on him, sending them both to the ground.

Everyone else who had stuck around, primarily the former Rookie Nine and the Sand Trio, had been placing their ramen orders when this occurred. They all stared in stunned silence, jaws dropping as Shino the Introvert and Sakura the Quasi-Prude practically made out in the dirt.

Shino had landed hard on his butt and Sakura, on her knees next to him, was leaning into him, preventing him from resituating himself. He didn't have any complaints, though, as he gladly kissed her back.

The others looked down on them, expressions ranging from smiles to eye rolling. By the time the kiss had dragged on for three minutes, their expressions were all practically mirror images of twitchy discomfort.

“Uh, you can get up any time and eat,” Ino said to them. “You know, since none of the rest of us can…”

Blushing and smiling sheepishly, Sakura pulled away from Shino and reclaimed her seat. Shino followed a moment later, zipping his collar and adjusting his glasses on his face.

“So,” Sakura addressed Kankuro as though nothing unusual had happened,

 

“how have things been going in Suna?”

 

“Same old,” he responded with a shrug. Before he had the chance to say more, Shino had leaned over to whisper in Sakura's ear. When Sakura shivered, Kankuro decided it was best to make himself scarce and go back to his lunch.

 

“The bugs don't like ramen,” Shino muttered to Sakura, somehow managing to make the statement sound very suggestive.

 

“We'll have to compensate, won't we?” she responded so only he could hear, a coy smile on her face. Turning to the waitress, she placed an order for a bowl of pork ramen, two dishes of tempura and a bowl of edamame.

 

A few minutes later the food was placed in front of them. To the shock- and, in some cases, horror- of those surrounding them, Shino and Sakura began to feed each other. Apparently they had forgotten they were still in public, as they clamped the chopsticks in their mouths longer than necessary and flicked their tongues at each other rather suggestively.

 

“Pretty kinky if you think too hard about it,” whispered Kankuro to Naruto who sat beside him, earning a sickly look.

 

“You think so?” Naruto and Kankuro turned at the sound of Sakura's inquiry, thinking she had overheard. They quickly looked away upon seeing Shino and Sakura kiss again. From the corner of their vision, they could see Sakura lick her lips and furrow her brow in consideration.

 

“You're right,” she nodded, reaching for a bottle of sauce. “The shrimp does need more wasabi.”

 

-----------

Yep please review people I really need more comments if I don't get some more reviews I wont have a lot of motivation but theirs nothing I can do about that. And Oh ya thanks those of you who did review.

Thanks

Mako-Chan