Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Little Things In Life ❯ The Lazy Days and Ramen Dates ( Chapter 6 )

Hellooooo! How's everyone? Let me start off by thanking everyone from FF and MM for reviewing and making this my most popular story so far. So far only one person (namely, Kane the Warrior) has sent in requests for other couples, so I'm gonna go off of some of those. Anyway, on to chapter six!

 

~DD~

 

It was a lazy day in Kohona. A breeze blew sluggishly through the village. All was calm for Ino Yamanaka as she tended her family's flower shop, that is, until a rather distraught looking Sakura Haruno came staggering in through her door. The blonde shot an angry glare at the other Kunoichi.

 

“Come to gloat, forehead? I'm ready for whatever you got.” She said icily. To her surprise, Sakura ignored the comment altogether and took a seat on the chair next to the counter. Slowly, she looked up until her emerald eyes were staring straight into Ino's blue ones.

 

“Ino, I'm sorry that I let Sasuke get in the way of our friendship. It was stupid.” Ino was taken aback by the sudden and unexpected apology, from Sakura no less. Seeing the genuine sign of remorse in Sakura's expression, the blonde softened.

 

“Sakura, I'm sorry too. We both kind of let a crush get between us.” She got out from behind the booth and pulled up her chair next to Sakura's. “Now, is something wrong? You don't look so good.” Sakura sighed and rested her head in her hands.

 

“I don't know. It's just, well…”

 

“Come on, you can tell me.” Ino coaxed as she put a reassuring arm around her newly regained friend's shoulder. Sakura's eyes flicked up towards Ino.

 

“It's just that when Sasuke finally did ask me out, I thought it was going to be great, and so far it's been so…not.” Ino raised her eyebrows in surprise.

 

“Really? Well, what's it like?” Sakura leaned back in her chair and ran a hand through her pink hair.

 

“When I pictured going out with Sasuke, I thought of him actually paying attention to me and doing, well, boyfriend stuff. But now that it's actually happened, it's like nothing's changed. He hasn't even started a conversation with me!” Ino sighed.

 

“Then I guess that means you don't have any juicy details about his…person.” Sakura bopped her friend on the head, glaring at her. Ino giggled a little. “I was only kidding forehead.” The two laughed a little, but soon Sakura's face turned serious again.

 

“Ino, that's not the only thing I came to talk to you about.” The other Kunoichi waited for her to continue. “Have you heard about Naruto?” Ino nodded.

 

“Yeah, Choji was talking about it this morning. Why, what do you know?” Sakura's gaze again turned to the floor.

 

“Well, I think I'm the reason he left. You see, when me and Sasuke were on our date the other night, Naruto came accusing Sasuke of `playing' me…then I said I hated him, and he left.” Ino gave a stern look to her friend.

 

“Sakura! You know what Naruto thinks of you! Why would you say that?” Sakura raised and eyebrow.

 

“What do you mean, `thinks of me?'” she asked suspiciously. Ino rolled her eyes.

 

“You mean you can't tell? He likes you, stupid!” Sakura stared at Ino, looking rather confused. Ino threw her hands up into the air. “Come on, Sakura! The way he's always talking to you, trying to cheer you up…”

 

“Protect me…” Sakura finished the sentence with a chuckle. “You're right Ino, he does like me, I've just been too blind to see it. Thanks.” Sakura rose from her seat. “I just hope when he gets back that he'll forgive me.” Ino stood up and put her hand on Sakura's shoulder.

 

“Don't worry Sakura, Naruto hasn't ever held a grudge.” Sakura gave Ino a faint smile before leaving the flower shop. Once she had left, Ino took her place behind the booth once more. Slowly, a smile crept onto her face. “Oh Sakura,” she said aloud. “You are so totally in love…if only you knew it too.”

 

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Jiraiya walked the streets of Kohona with no real destination in mind. To be perfectly honest, whenever the hermit entered this city, his perverted antics were dulled. I wonder why that is… he silently wondered to himself. As he glanced upward, he saw Tsunade looking out of her office window and slumped. Oh yeah, that's why. Jiraiya didn't know why, but whenever he looked at his old teammate, he just didn't feel like seeing other women. Maybe it's because I'm afraid she'll kick the tar out of me. He snickered to himself. Nonetheless, without the urge to visit a bathhouse, brothel, or spring, the Toad Sage was at a complete loss of what to do. After considering other possibilities, he finally sighed in defeat. “I guess I'll go eat ramen…dammit Naruto.” He grumbled. “Now, what was that place called again…” he continued to ramble to himself as he looked for the small ramen stand Naruto had dragged him to so many times before. From her window, Tsunade watched as Jiraiya walked towards Ichiraku's. She licked her lips.

 

“Some ramen, huh? That sounds like a good idea.” The woman started out of her office. “Shizune, I'm going to go have lunch with an old friend. I'll be back soon.” The brown haired women at the desk situated outside her door gave her sensei a swift nod before returning to her paperwork.

 

Jiraiya sat down on one of the stools at Ichiraku's. It wasn't long until Teuchi came out from the back to greet the man.

 

“Well, it's definitely been a long time since I've seen you here, Master Jiraiya.” The hermit gave the man a smile.

 

“You know how it is these days, Teuchi. There's always something that needs done. Now, how about a bowl of your beef ramen?”

 

“Make that two, Mr. Ichiraku.” Jiraiya turned to see none other than Tsunade sitting down next to him. He was surprised when he had to fight back the urge to blush.

 

“T-Tsunade! What are you doing here?” the Hokage simply shrugged at the question.

 

“Eating lunch, what does it look like.” Her expression softened. “And I saw you walking this way, and I figured you needed some company.” Jiraiya, the seemingly unshakable pervert, was in an all out bout to keep his blush down. Crap. He thought to himself, I thought I was over this! Damn it Jiraiya, don't do this again! He finally regained his regular modus operandi and smiled back at his ex-teammate.

 

“Thanks Tsunade. I always do enjoy company.” Tsunade was surprised to find no sexual innuendo in that sentence, and took it as an attempt of maturity on Jiraiya's part. There was a short pause as Tsunade rested her head on her hand. She seemed to be looking off into space when her eyes suddenly met Jiraiya's.

 

“Do you remember the last time you and I were here together?” The Toad Sage pretended that he was trying to remember the occasion, then let out a chuckle.

 

“Yeah, we had just passed the Jonin exams, and you finally let me take you out to eat.” Tsunade laughed at the memory.

 

“You were so excited that I said yes that you almost fell off that bridge!” the both of them clutched their sides as they laughed about the incident together. When their laughter began to subside, Tsunade wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “How did that end, anyway?” In the blink of an eye, Jiraiya's laughter was gone, and was replaced by a look of total seriousness.

 

“I had to leave because Sarutobi sensei had just told me that Orochimaru had become a missing Nin.” Tsunade's laughter subsided just as quickly. As she stared at her old teammate, she saw him reliving the event in his head. She put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

 

“Jiraiya…” he looked up at her once more.

 

“You know what the worst part about the whole thing was?” Tsunade just stared at him. With a sigh, Jiraiya continued. “The worst part about that night was that…I never got to tell you something really important.” Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

 

“And what was that?”

 

“That I love you.” The battle was over; Blush:1, Jiraiya:0. knowing too well the impending beat-down hurdling towards him, the hermit closed his eyes and awaited the firing squad. Jiraiya had never expected a firing squad to feel so much like a kiss. His eyes snapped open to see Tsunade right in front of his face, her lips securely fastened to his. When the shock had settled, Jiraiya allowed himself to return the kiss and slip off into joyous bliss… and his stool. Not a moment after, Teuchi reappeared from the back, holding two hot bowls of ramen.

 

“Alright, two bowls of our best beef… um hello?” The ramen vendor set the bowls down and peered over to counter. After staring at the couple on the ground, Teuchi turned toward the back. “Ayame! Get the mop, we're gonna need it!”

 

 

Yay! Another chapter! Okay two things to clear up; 1. For those of you not familiar with Latin, your modus operandi is your “mode of operation” or how you work. In a nutshell, your personality. 2. When I say “joyous bliss” I mean he's happy, you dirty pervs. The mop thing was a joke…A JOKE I SAY! Anyway, sorry for those of you hoping for Some Naruto stuff in this chapter. Next one there will be enough for both, but I just really wanted to get one of the minor couples present and accounted for. Once again, another Thanks to Kane the Warrior for the pairing ideas. IF YOU WANT MORE OF EM' TELL ME!!! Until next chapter!