#QUIT DRESSING AS MENMA

[aparticularbandit]

me, squinting: yuta i know your voice from somewhere where is it

me, five minutes later: YUKIATSU. THAT ASS.

[hypersomniaaboutsleeping]

💫 FROM NARUTO TO BORUTO FANFICTION💫 #6

Official name: Unexpected

Only here on En here. From author personally.

There are five days left before the start of school..

He could fool around, watch TV, play with your sister.. Yes, all this has already been redone, and Himawari just left to look for a suitable teacher who crossed paths with the Hyuga clan, who will be able to unlock her potential.

And this means that almost the whole family will not be there, and Boruto flatly refused to go.

And, frankly, he regretted that he had quarreled with his father again.

It's important for their family.

"So what should I do now? Sarada, I think, is already busy, so she hasn't answered since morning.. Does Mitsuki use gadgets at all? I hardly found a kettle at their house! And the numbers in any case, no .."

Boruto lazily stretched.. There wasn't much choice left.

-.. "THE MARTIAL ARTS CENTER IS CLOSED FOR REPAIRS"? Until the fifteenth?! Came the second time called..

- USARATONKACHI GET OUT OF THE WAY!

He wouldn't even have realized who bumped into him at the same second if only one person hadn't called him like that..

..And of course, both of them rumbled right into a nearby grocery cart.

- WHAT THE HELL HAS COME OVER YOU!

- RUN, YOU IDIOT!

Menma jumped up, offering his hand. He looked like a disheveled, oddly enough, imp.

Boruto got up on his own, dusted himself off, and later noticed the chase.. He did not think anymore, but rushed after the topic.

As it turned out, Uzumaki was not the only one who could jump on roofs.

Uchiha-Uzumaki only grunted contentedly in the jump, catching up.

It looked like they were about to break away from the chase, and Menma was quite stretched in a smile...

...It turned out that he did it early, slipping on the tiles of someone else's very decent house. Someone's curious head popped out..

- What's interesting there?

- It's nothing Mom! - There was a hasty rattling of a spoon.

- Well, stand there, you little weasel!

Hearing a familiar voice after these two, Boruto had no difficulty guessing who Menma's pursuers were.

- Iruka, Kakashi-sensei, I have nothing to do with it!

- Then why are we running? - Hatake didn't seem tired of the chase at all. He just stared menacingly.

And here's Iruka.. Give me from above to catch my breath in this world, and not the other..(No wonder Kakashi called him an old man not so long ago)

- Why did you freeze, you knocked over the cart with me!

They took off again, sometimes overtaking each other, then running together.

- Actually, because of you!

- I didn't ask you to help me! You could have just disappeared! - And stuck out his tongue, turning into the already familiar street. To guess where exactly, it was not difficult ..

A second of delay... They catch both of them.

- I didn't expect your participation, Boruto. - Kakashi remarks with a bit of disappointment.

- Just like his father. And since he's not here, let's figure out the older sister, plowing for the benefit of the family of the second prankster. Aren't you ashamed? She's trying. Iruka continues.

Menma only tries to escape, which also ends unsuccessfully.

Boruto is still trying to prove that he was not involved in this. However, he is unlikely to be believed, he did it himself..

Ninja quickly get to the residence of the first, gallantly knocking.

- Kumiko-san, you're already home, aren't you? Your parodying offspring?

The door was unlocked. Other pairs of shoes appeared... That was the first thing Kakashi noticed. Alerted..

The water was running in the bathroom. Perhaps a polite thief? Although judging by the calmness..

A girl, barely dressed, appeared from the corridor.

- Menma, what have you done again?! And you're in league with him, as soon as you were left unattended? Don't you feel sorry for the heads?!

They were immediately pulled by the ears, scolded, and only then asked..

- What did these guys do? Not a robbery, I hope, or worse?

-K-Kumiko-sama, nothing too serious..

Iruka exchanged glances with Kakashi. They mentally said, "they will be punished even worse if we don't come up with something else," and changed their faces, building benevolent mentors.

- Let them fix what they've done. They painted the Hokage here, and ran away! Do you have a couple of buckets and rags? One for each, and let them drag themselves to wash through the whole block, to the former shine. - Umino came up with it quickly. - And here's what to do with the cart..

- What happened to the cart? Hijacking? Ruin?

- Rather the second. Unfortunately, you will have to deal with this, and we will.. We'll make sure they get there. They are already waiting for you on the square in front of the MAC.

- A...

- Martial Arts Center. You are similar to your brother, they will find out.

- I hear it again, only when I have to pay..

Mikoto wanted to say a few words to the instigator.. But he was already on the street, quickly turning around, but still taking buckets.

Boruto, if possible, began to be rightly indignant..

- Shut up, huh? Just help me not to carry these rags on myself. Otherwise I'll call Mitsuki, he's like a saint with you. He doesn't yell, he doesn't pretend to be stupid, he doesn't want to become a Hokage. - Menma snorted.

- What are these criteria, dobe!? I'm not stupid in any way and I'm not yelling. And in general, say thank you for helping.

- Fuck you. Follow me to the mountain, let's see how you concentrate the chakra! Maybe we can peel off your dad's face.. Or maybe he will come and admire the under-eyes, let him study fatherhood!

Uchiha-Uzumaki turned around. The eyebrow arched, the eyes narrowed..

- Did he leave yours for himself too?

- Yeah. But no one taught him to be a father. And yours is still trying, well, what can you do when you got married out of debt.

- YES, YOU FU....

For such words, Bo got really angry, starting to beat with rags, and Menma ran away.

However, running around with buckets is still a "pleasure".

In the meantime, one person was looking after them. And he was only upset.

- And who was chosen to be a jinchuriki..

..Menma listened. My insides ached - "you're missing, you're missing!", but there was nothing dangerous, except for the gloomy elderly caretaker of the pedestal.

- Why else can't we pass? The copying ninja together with the teacher sent us to wash our faces! Let's skip it, we won't fall down like some kind of youngsters!

- Why wash them?

She looked at them. At first with indifference.. Then her eyebrows arched in surprise, looking in the direction of the monuments..

- If you can walk on vertical surfaces, I will be glad not to look for equipment. You painted it yourself, and wash it yourself. It's not for an old woman to do this.

- We can. Give me the rags, Bo, you're out of breath like a locomotive!

Only when they had already descended (not without difficulty and possible slip) did the black-haired man not give the rag to a fellow in misfortune.

- Get down from here and go. You can say that I kicked you out, they'll take your word for it.

Uzumaki looked at him for a minute.. Then down..

...And flew back to the city. A couple of abrasions, of course, will remain, but..

"Is he really not as biting as he likes to show himself? Ugh, like Uncle Sasuke.. Maybe there is something good in you, little devil.."

He bought chips, mojito on the way.. And he went to Sarada's house. He can't sit alone, can he?

...When he heard the scream, he went to its source.

- Are you guys okay? Do you close the doors at all or do you like the guests so much?

Looked into the house..

[peachmuses]

sociieties asked: ❛ would you like to go somewhere a little more private? ❜ menino

she's flushed , with wide pupils sitting on top of his lap - and she swallows as his head dips next to her ear and she breathes out slowly, fingers tightening around his neck. ( she hadn't thought the idea of a club would have been a good idea / it's not her scene usually. too loud / too many flashing lights / too many people and she prefers ways to escape being in the clear -- but somewhere between the second and third glass of pink wine, she ended in menma's lap with his hands on her hips. ( part of her thanks hinata and sakura for dragging her out tonight / for fixing her hair and doing her make up and putting her in this dress that she wasn't a fan of at first - but now, doesn't mind quite as much as before / despite the fact that they had left her alone the minute they had gotten inside of the club - after telling her she couldn't leave for at least an hour. ) she hadn't expected to run into menma / who hadn't expected to run into her either, apparently. " menma-kun, " she breathes out, soft / desperate, ( pink wine makes her bold. she forgets this. ) and she blinks, smokey glitter purple capturing in the lights before teal move to meet his and she's pressing her glossed lips against his, humming out an affirmative. " no one - " she gasps as she shifts her hips downwards, " is at my place. " as far as she knows anyways. her father more or less stays at the family house, while ino, before going off to college had chosen to stay in the apartment above the flower shop that's been passed down her mother's side. she shares it with her two cats ( marmalade and jam ) and sakura has a key which is how she was able to get in and basically kidnap ino to get her out of the place this evening -- but ino thinks she can forgive her this time. she can be embarrassed tomorrow.

[dayseternal-blog]

hi! do you know any fics where naruto and hinata aren’t together but naruto gets jealous by little acts like someone flirting with her? thank you!

OOOOOOOOHhhhh, nice 😏 yahh I love this

An in-the-process-of-realizing-his-feelings Naruto!

Jealous!Naruto Fics

“Spring Break” by @char-lotteral - Rated M, College AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. Naruto’s so in love with Hinata, his feelings paralyze him from even talking to her.  Will a week together be the kick they need to finally face each other honestly?

“Something New” by @waterrolls​ - Rated G, Canon-Compliant, One-shot. Can a clueless boy ever figure out romance? Maybe, and definitely not without the help of friends who have the couple’s best interests at heart. Or, how Naruto and Hinata got their changes in uniforms.

Chapter 18 from “Postscripts” by waterrolls - Rated T, Canon-Compliant, Short one-shot. (1) I have a Drabble request for youuuu. Maybe a jealous naruto (classic I know!) but like during shippuden days where he doesn't even know why he's jealous? Maybe some person flirting with her on a mission? I dunno up to you! ️

Chapter 42 from “Postscripts” by waterrolls - Rated T, Canon-Divergent, Short one-shot. Hello! I have a drabble request for you, could you please do one of an older (19 year old) Naruto going to the past and flirting with 16 year old hinata in front of his young self, to make him jealous and reminisce of how beautiful and kind hinata always was?

Chapter 45 from “Postscripts” by waterrolls - Rated T, Modern AU, Short one-shot. Hi there! I hope this ask finds you well. So i would like to give an idea for a drabble. Here is the thing Naruto is an ice hockey player and Hinata is his gf(or soon to be gf if you know what i mean). I leave the rest up to youu! Take care:)

Chapter 48 from “Postscripts” by waterrolls - Rated T, Canon-Divergent, Short one-shot. But I would like to see how you're going to write a situation wherein Sasuke's showing interest in Hinata in his subtle ways and Naruto's in denial (or oblivious) he's in love with Hinata but couldn't quite control his jealousy or perhaps, tensed over the matter

“White Kunai” by @magmawrites - Rated M, Canon-Divergent, Multi-chapter, Complete. A series of violent rapes and murders targeting long, dark haired, young women have caught the attention of the Hokage. Her plan? Use a qualified, long, dark haired kunoichi as bait. The only one that fits the criteria? Hinata.

“Ultraspectral” by Orifiel - Rated M for nudity and implied sex, Canon-Divergent, One-shot. When Hinata agrees to pose nude as Sai's nightly art model, she is unprepared for the aggressive reaction of her platonic friend Naruto, who quickly becomes a nuisance as he makes several riotous attempts to sabotage the project.

“secret lovers” by @quirrrky​ - Rated T, Canon-Compliant, Series of related one-shots. After the Fourth Shinobi War, Naruto was gradually falling in love with Hinata and the whole village of Konoha knew it…Well, aside from him.

“Idol Gossip” by @vegebulsoup - Rated M, High School AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. Hinata promised herself she would finally admit her feelings to Naruto on their senior class trip to Tokyo, but her plans change when she’s mistaken for a famous pop idol. (This has Menma in it, but this is a NaruHina fic).

“Day 12: Flirting” from “Proud Failures to Proud Parents - NaruHina Month 2016” by xHinaLovex - Rated T, Canon-Divergent, One-shot. It was perhaps ironic, certainly unexpected, what the rookies saw unfolding between two of their own.  After years of Naruto being entirely oblivious to Hinata’s affections, now it seemed it was her turn to be oblivious to his own.

“Oblivious” by PervyNinja - Rated T, Canon-Divergent, Multi-chapter, Incomplete. After the war, Naruto is not the only one to be approached by admirers - Hinata is oblivious, Kiba, Shino & Akamaru are protective and Naruto is just so confused.

“A Push in the Right Direction” by Shawny Wong - Rated T, Canon-Divergent, One-shot. Kiba and Shino are ticked off. Hinata’s many suitors have become a real nuisance. No matter how often she turns them down, they keep coming back! If only she had a steady boyfriend…

“Hogwarts AU” from “Tales of Two Ninjas” by @magmawrites​ - Rated T, Magic AU, One-shot. Going to a school of magic only means the growing witches and wizards face the same trouble as growing muggles plus more. They will learn a lot more than magic at this school. They’ll learn to love.

“Tsukuyomi Boyfriend” by @peppercornpresses​ - Rated G, Canon-Compliant, One-shot. Over a year has passed since the great Shinobi War, and people are finally starting to open up about their Infinite Tsukuyomi Illusions.

“Jealousy” by Cheating Death - Rated M, High School AU, One-shot.  Naruto realizes he’s really into Hinata, but who’s that senpai hanging around her?

“Why would innocent little Hinata be out dressed like that?” (One-shot) and its follow-up “On Any Given Day” (Long One-Shot) by @utsus - Rated T, Canon-Divergent. Hinata tries to move on from Naruto, right when he realizes he wants to keep her.

Untitled by utsus - Rated T, Canon-Divergent, One-shot. Prompt: True love is one soul residing in two bodies.

Chapter 32 from “Between the Trees” by utsus - Rated T, Canon-Divergent AU, One-shot. NaruHina Prompt: (because it was hot as heck here today) how about NaruHina and bathing suits.<3

Okay, that’s a lot!  But I’m sure there’s more!  If anyone can think of others that fit a jealous, oblivious Naruto, please point them out!

[a-strange-inkling]

SASUSAKU Month Day 6: Sharp Edges

Rating: T (for language)

Summary: “Sakura-chan’s got lots of prospects, but she’s all sharp edges and none of them can get through unscathed.” he told him, giving her a smirk. (Road to Ninja AU, Sequel to Patterns, part of the 2nd Chapter of a story I’ve been working on)

Chapter Two:

Brotherly Love

Outside of missions, Sakura had avoided Sasuke. For many reasons, but the most primary being that she wasn’t sure he fully believed her when she told him that she hated him that night in the woods when certain things occurred that she didn’t want to think about. It wasn’t hard to do, he had other prospects in rotation, there was always a different girl saying goodbye to him at the bridge before their squad left for missions. This time it was some civilian girl, a tall one, almost as tall as him with assets the size of pumpkins.

Sakura sat on the railing, legs crossed, reading the fourth book of the Arrangement series where all her investment rightly belonged. Though, she might have noticed him give the random girl, who was not the same one from a week ago, a peck on the lips before she skipped merrily along.. Sakura knew it was wrong to notice the thickness of girl’s calves, or to think that she was a little old to be skipping around like that, but both thoughts did cross her mind. She couldn’t control thoughts crossing her mind, could she? No.

“Morning, Sakura.” she heard Sasuke say, as he leaned on the railing beside her with a content sigh.

“Morning.” she replied shortly, keeping her attention on her book, all the while thinking how unfair it was. He was kissing girls right in front of her and now that she knew Menma had feelings for her, she couldn’t give him a friendly peck on the cheek or harmlessly flirt to get back at him. Apparently she had a moral compass and had to be considerate of people’s feelings while Sasuke got to do whatever the hell he wanted.

She scowled behind the shield of her book at the thought, when she felt his gloved hand gently pat her bare knee. “How are things?” he asked. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Fine.” she said simply, pivoting her body away from him.

“That’s good… What are you doing tonight?” he asked.

“Not you.” she told him airily.

“Your loss,” he replied with a shrug. “But, not where I was going, my mom wanted me to invite you guys over for dinner tonight.”

She perked up a little at that, Menma was off the table, but maybe she could go back to some older tactics. “Will Itachi be home?”

“No.” he replied firmly, his whole demure changing. “He’s still away visiting his fiance’s family.”

“Hmm, fiancé,” she pondered. “Not wife.”

Sasuke shook his head at her, not at all amused.

“Bummer, I can’t make it,” she replied, getting back to her reading.

“Why not?” he asked.

For one thing, his sexy, older, and far more intelligent brother was not going to be there. Also, he could be bringing that pumpkin hauling giraffe to dinner as well. Alright, she admitted that was a bit uncalled for, but she still wasn’t going to be trapped at a table where she couldn’t ignore his playboy antics.

“I’m busy.” she replied. “...Also, family dinners are not my thing.”

“I know.” he said, his voice softer than before, more sympathetic.

“Don’t.” she warned.

“Don’t what?” he asked, already sounding tired.

“Don’t pity me.”

“Kami, Sakura, I wasn’t!”

“Right.” she didn’t like when he went all soft like that. She didn’t like how it made her feel, nor did she know what to do about it.

So, by default, she was a bitch.

“Fine… I’ll just tell my mom you turned down the offer because you hate her cooking.”

She lowered the book with a threatening glare. “Don’t you dare bring your mother into this.”

Sasuke beamed brightly. He knew far too many of her weaknesses. “It’ll probably make her cry, you know how sensitive she is.”

She looked skyward to the heavens. She would have liked to think that was an exaggeration, but she knew Mikoto-san well enough to know that could very well be the case. “Why so keen that I come?”

“I’ve missed you.” he shrugged again.

“Your new friend going to be there?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“Why?” he asked smugly. “Would that bother you?”

“No, why would it?” she asked calmly, a cool shrug of her shoulders. “I was just wondering.”

“If you say so.” he grinned up at her. “She won’t be there, squad members only.”

She hated the relief that she felt, but managed to turn back to her novel with a curt nod. “Alright, fine.”

“Great.” he smiled. “She’s already making your favorite.”

…

“Aren’t you going to go in, Sakura-chan?” Menma asked, coming to stand beside her, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. She had been waiting for him at the gate of the Uchiha Compound, because she was not going in by herself. Fugaku intimidated her, Mikoto overwhelmed her with her concern and kindness, and Sasuke was Sasuke.

“Didn’t want to go in alone.” she confessed.

“Great, cause I didn’t either,” he breathed in relief. Social gatherings of any kind were also not his sort of thing, but for a completely different reason.

She glanced down at his pretty array of flowers and suddenly felt stupid. She hadn’t thought to bring a hostess gift.

“Damn it.” she stomped her foot and crossed her arms.

“W-what?” Menma asked. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing you did, Menma-kun.” she told him with a huff. “You’re so thoughtful, I didn’t think to even bring anything for Mikoto-san.”

“Oh, well,” he looked down at the floral arrangement. “That’s easy, here.” he divided the flowers and gave half to her.

“No, that’s not fair,” she shook her head and placed up a hand.

“It’s okay, Sakura-chan.” he insisted, pushing the flowers up to her chest, being uncharacteristically bold this evening. “I didn’t even think to, my mom did, she bought the flowers herself. What are teammates for if not to help each other out?” he asked with a beaming smile.

She smiled back, accepting his offer. She liked Menma, she really did. He was quiet and thoughtful and really would make somebody a wonderful boyfriend. He was easily the most amiable of all her classmates and would probably be a good match for her harsh demeanor, as he never brought out that side to her. Plus, he already liked her... so why not pursue him?

Because, you’re in love with me. Sasuke’s unwelcomed voice rang in the back of her head, making her face fall.

That was not the reason. She was not in love with him. That was insane. She didn’t even like him. As she said, to his face, she hated him. She simply didn’t see Menma that way, that’s all. That didn’t mean by default that she was in love with Sasuke.

Together they walked the cobbled path and crossed the threshold into the Uchiha compound. The smells emitting from the house wafted around their noses pleasantly. Shogayki. They really were making her favorite meal.

“Sakura-chan!” Mikoto greeted happily, taking them both by the arm. “And Menma-kun too! Come in! Come in!”

“Hello, Mikoto-san,” Sakura replied warily. She loved Mikoto-san, she did, but the Uchiha matron often overwhelmed her with her affection and motherly concern. It wasn’t that it wasn’t appreciated, but Sakura was set in her parentless ways, and it was always difficult when someone tried to fill the void that could never be filled. “Thank you for having us.” she said as she and Menma both held out their flowers to her.

“Oh!” Mikoto cried, speechless, accepting her gifts. “These are lovely! I must arrange these in a vase!”

With that she was away, down the hall, but before either Sakura or Menma could panic too much about being left alone with no instruction, Sasuke emerged from around the corner, dressed even more casually than usual. “Hey.” he said with a shrug, shoving his hands in his baggy pockets.

Sakura raised a brow. He seemed a little off, not his usual smug self. Quite a difference from his mood early that day.

“Hey, Sasuke.” Menma greeted. “You okay?”

“Yeah, sure. Come on, we’re eating out on the patio.” he said, leading them out to the yard where lights had been strung and the table set as if she and Menma were visiting royalty.

Menma turned to Sasuke excitedly.

“Yes, Menma, you can feed the coi.” Sasuke told him, before the boy could ask, handing him a bag of flakes which the blond took and ran off toward the pond without another word. “Don’t go overboard!”

Sakura peered up at Sasuke. “What’s your problem?” she asked.

“Hey, Sakura.” he drawled sarcastically. “How are you? I’m great. Thanks for coming. You look nice.”

“Fine, be a prick.” she replied with a half shrug. “I don’t care… wait!” she turned and grinned wickedly at him. “You’re only this upset when…”

“Is that you, Sakura?” the rich, silky voice of Uchiha Itachi filled her ears, nearly making her melt where she stood. She turned over her shoulder to find him approaching from the house to join them.

“Hello, Itachi-kun.” she greeted with as much composure as she could muster. He crossed the distance between them and he took her by the arms, looking her up and down in emphasized awe. “You grow more and more beautiful every time I see you.” he told her, making her duck to hide her silly smile and burning cheeks. How quickly this night had improved. No wonder Sasuke was pouting. “How’ve you been?”

“I’m well, thank you.” she told him, glancing over at Sasuke with an amused grin. “I had no idea you were going to be here tonight.”

“None of us did.” Sasuke pointed out in an overly cheery voice. “He surprised us.”

“Yes, I’ve been summoned by the Hokage, quite unexpectedly,” he said. “Cutting my time with Hana’s family short, unfortunately.”

“Oh, will your lovely fiancé be joining us this evening?” Sakura inquired, tilting her head innocently.

“No, it was best she remained at her family’s summer residence, she doesn’t get to spend a lot of time with them these days.”

“Shame.” she replied serenely, noticing Sasuke look skyward from the corner of her eye. Itachi was not only sophisticated and devastatingly handsome, but he also loved to dote on her to get under Sasuke’s skin, just as much as she loved to fawn over him. It was a mutually beneficial relationship.

“And you?” he asked her. “Any romantic prospects for the lovely Haruno Sakura these days?”

“Not at the moment.” she replied with a shake of her head.

“Well, that does not make any sense.” he raised an elegant brow, inclining his head towards his brother cockily, quite aware he was the superior of the two in her eyes. “Does it, Sasuke? Sakura is too beautiful and talented to not have any suitors.”

Sasuke scoffed, his gaze sliding from Itachi’s to hers. Sakura, cursing herself, could feel heat climbing up the back of her neck all the way to the tips of her ears. She was glad she wore her hair down.

“Sakura-chan’s got lots of prospects, but she’s all sharp edges and none of them can get through unscathed.” he told him, giving her a smirk.

“It seems all the good ones are taken already, Itachi-kun.” she lamented, ignoring the younger Uchiha with a slight shrug of the shoulders.

“Ah, just as well.” Itachi sighed wistfully, taking a bold step toward her. “Age and duty may separate us, Sakura, but I must admit I would still be quite jealous of whoever wins your heart.” He concluded with a slight touch of her chin with the curl of his forefinger, much to both her and Sasuke’s surprise, before continuing on his way.

Even for their teasing banter, that was a bit much for Sakura to handle and she let out a small manic giggle, staring after him with a small bite to the corner of her lip.

“He is so cool.” Menma breathed, watching in awe from across the way, as all the coi flakes fell into the pond, slipping from the bag that went slack in his hand. If only he could charm Sakura-chan like that.

“Smooth.” Sasuke commented from behind, making her turn back to him. Now she was the one with the smile. There was no losing for her in this situation, only for him.

It was all really childish for her, but those weekly girls kept dancing around in her head with their flowers and kisses from him and she found she didn’t care.

“Come on, Sasuke, I thought you weren’t the jealous type.”

His gaze narrowed slightly at that, because they both knew that wasn’t the case when it came to Itachi. Everyone took his older brother seriously and saw him as the most exceptional shinobi, Sasuke no matter what he did or how he progressed was just the unfocused playboy, having little to no regard for his studies or his future. There was some real deep rooted family issues there that Sasuke never addressed and probably never would.

“What?” she asked him. “I’m not allowed to flirt with anyone?”

“No, not anyone.” Sasuke told her. “Just not my brother.”

She didn’t like the finality in his voice, it sounded as if he had some real say in the matter.

“Or Menma, it seems.” she pointed out. “So, just whom am I allowed to flirt with?”

“Tch.” his mask hadn’t really been on securely that evening, granted, but now it was slipping and she could see just how agitated he was.

Good. The not so nice side of her subconscious could not help but sneer.

“You know, this ploy between the two of you was amusing at first, but it’s really just getting old.” He told her, quick to go back into hiding behind his smug ass persona. “You going to keep it up after he’s married too? I’m sure Hana will appreciate it.”

“Oh, relax.” she scolded him. “It’s harmless fun.”

“Yeah, I can see you get a real kick out of it.”

“A girl can dream, can’t she?” she replied. Yes, that was a nice blow to the teeth. Now for a knee to the balls. “But don’t worry, Sasuke, I know I’m not good enough for Itachi.”

Sasuke’s brows raised high, while she just smiled sweetly back, knowing she had just set of a detonator in his brain. It would take a minute for him to unscramble. She was getting good at this verbal sparring, soon she could be kicking his ass in this arena like she did on the training grounds.

“I mean, really, who is?”

Bet you wished you brought your pumpkin hauling giraffe now? She thought to herself, watching him work quickly to counter the attack. Too low, too far maybe? The nicer side of her subconscious suggested. Huh? Sakura didn’t hear from her too often, and never when Sasuke was around.

She was suddenly aware of the gravity of his gaze, he looked like he wanted to throw her off a cliff or kiss her. She wasn’t sure which. She felt some panic stirring at her core and grew agitated.

There was no losing tonight, or did she forget?

“Here’s an idea, Sakura.” he pointed out, far too calm after that low blow for her liking. “If you really wanted to make me jealous, why don’t you flirt with someone you actually have feelings for.”

It was her turn to be dumbfounded.

“Oh wait,” he said with mock realization. “You can’t.”

[vesperlionheart]

The Barn 9

[part1][part2][part3][part4][Part5][Part6] [Part7][Part 8]

It was years ago, before the accident, before the forgetting, before she grew up too much to know better when she first saw what it meant to be on the outside. It was back then, before she knew, she thought that maybe there would be a place for herself in that world.

Every other month she and her mother spent a tea on the property with several other branch family members. It was a time when those in the good graces of the main house were invited to vye for favor.

Families with children always did better.

That was where Sakura met Tayuya but it wasn’t until a little later that the main family children were allowed to mingle with their ‘lessers.’

Karin was older than the boys, being around Sakura’s own age. Even as young as nine she left an impression that she was only waiting for the world to be worth her time. She was clean and neat, skinny and tall, all things Sakura wished she could be.

Karin was a striking child for how pretty and proper she was standing among the adults looking down on the branch children through her red rimmed glasses that needed to be pushed up every so often. She was the daughter of Mito’s first born son and the oldest grandchild, but neither father or mother were still alive to raise her, so she was absorbed into Naruto’s immediate family to maybe be a potential future coven leader. That prestige made her a memorable figure.

But Naruto was a different sort of memorable.

He was young, too young, but there was a flood in the world around him, leaking out of his poor control that was meant to save his magic from waste. He couldn’t hold it all in with any level of skill or learned control, so he just let it seep out of him because he always had more to burn.

Sakura felt the jarring in her bones before she saw him. His presence raced ahead of him, clouding the air with burn magic, fraying her nerves. She watched the corner of the house, waiting for the grandson of Mito to come through that door like the terrible, ugly force he was. When he stepped over the threshold it was like being tricked. He was tiny, much younger than her, and too adorable looking for such acidic, burn smelling magic.

Behind him, his twin trailed in, eyes downcast, hair darker but still blond. His chakra was burnt around the edges too, but he didn’t leak it like his twin did. He seemed to have a better control over it, or maybe he just had less of it.

Kushina had looked Sakura and a few other distant cousins over, before deciding she only like Tayuya and maybe the pink haired one if she had more magic than she let on.

And that’s how the bi weekly lessons started. Once every two weeks she would spend the weekend ‘sleeping over’ at her cousin’s home to live and learn her heritage.

She lived that way for years, and grew to know her cousin as they aged into their magics. Tayuya was all wild all the time. Karin was clipped and perfect in her spells, memorizing latin to emphasize her casting. Menma was a brute, terrible and awful in the power he could summon.

Naruto….

Naruto was the horror you never saw coming.

“Sakura, it’s been so long. You haven’t changed a bit.” Naruto reached over and slapped his twin with the back of his hand. “See, I told you.”

Menma just grunted, leaning back to glare at Sakura while Naruto stepped half a step forward and crossed his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels. His grin was goofy and disarming.

“It’s not been that long. I was there for Mito’s funeral.”

“Not that it mattered,” Menma huffed. “No one thought you cared anyway.”

Sakura felt the skin around her eyes grow tight, but she bit back the snappy remark she wanted to hurt him with and instead forced herself to inhale. The air was crisp and pumpkin flavored in her lungs when she exhaled.

“People are allowed to think what they want, I guess.”

“It’s too bad that’s not the reason you’re here to see us, through.” Naruto said. He threw his arms back behind his head and laced his fingers under the base of his skull. “Mother said you would show up here like this.”

Something cold and sharp entered her heart at the sound of his voice, suddenly lower and slower. There was weight in his words that hadn’t been there before. It made her have to swallow and lick her lips wet before speaking.

“I don’t know what you heart, but yeah, I was looking for you. The both of you have something you shouldn’t.”

“She said you would say that too,” Naruto sighed.

“Well, your mother isn’t stupid then. I didn’t think she was. Then, did she also tell you why I would need to ask you to give up those two?”

“Yeah, she mentioned something like that. She said that you would ask for them back if you were getting ready to contest the inheritance order. I mean, what do you need six familiars for? All that power smells fishy, don’t you think Menma?”

“I only pulled out five,” Sakura interrupted sharply.

Menma whistled, looking at her like she was a dog that should know better than to not heal at the dinner table.

“Kakuzu is number six. None of us want him.”

Sakura scowled. “I already told him no. There’s no way I would do something like that.”

“See,” Naruto interrupted. He looked to his brother with wide eyes and a boyish smile. “I told you she wouldn’t take the old lady’s leftovers.”

“That’s not the issue I have with it,” Sakura replied sharply. “There’s no need to take a familiar and it’s demeaning to that person’s personal freedoms. Zabuza and Kisame aren’t summons from a netherworld.”

Menma snickered, shoving his hands back into the pockets of his black, leather jacket. “Could have fooled me. They looked like monsters.”

Sakura took the moment in which both brothers turned to each other to snicker over their shared joke to scan their body for signs of something that could have been Zabuza or Kisame. Konan had made herself a paper flower because she was a paper witch, but all Sakura knew of Kisame and Zabuza was that they were water class witches-er, shinobi. Kisame looked like a shark and Zabuza looked like a barracuda if she had to pick something sinister and deadly from the sea. Neither Naruto or Menma looked like they had anything unusual in addition to their dress that could be the summoned boys.

“But,” Naruto said, letting his chuckle fade away. “It seems those two weren't the only monsters you get to worry about. Want to introduce us to your friends over there?”

Sakura glanced over her shoulder to see Konan with Gaara on her arm, looking quite put out with thinly pressed lips and a simmering glare to her eyes. Gaara was just as dour, but Konan made it seem stylish.

“They’re not bonded either,” Menma murmured, tilting his chin up at the pair. “Funny thing, don’t cha think, bro?”

“I told you I had no intention of taking a familiar. I have no use for one, my life’s not in danger and there is no war among the unmortaled races. I liked my life without the magic in it. That part wasn’t a lie.”

“I still can’t believe you,” said Naruto.

“That’s a first,” Sakura snorted. “Weren't you the brat yelling that over and over again in the gardens as a child?”

Naruto flushed and his eyes flashed red when his brother laughed behind him. The blond turned on his heel and hissed a sharp ‘shut up’ at Menma before jerking his hand to the side. His magic burned hotter around him and the air shimmered in effect. It was wasteful, but Naruto could burn all day long and still be ready to go, so it didn’t matter to him.

Around them, the people attending the celebration continued to play and mingle, but subconsciously they turned away from Naruto and Sakura, not aware of the why or how, and found interests elsewhere. The voices still carried, but there was a notable difference in the noise volume of the immediate areas.

“Someone is going to notice,” Konan hissed to Gaara, glaring at people who were walking away. “What is that brat thinking?”

Naruto scratched at one of the scars on his cheek and glanced back over at Sakura. “Do I still look like that same little boy, Sakura chan?”

Sakura folded her arms, holding her elbows across her front. “You grew up a little bit, but not enough to move past throwing tantrums when you don’t get your way,”

“But you’re the one here asking for things that don’t belong to her.”

“People don’t belong to people.”

Naruto rolled his eyes. “They’re not people they’re shinobi. They’re not witches that can share demands. Right now, they’re at the mercy of their betters until they gain new bodies or forge contracts. How much magic have you seen them use?”

Sakura forced herself to shrug. “Enough to know they have it.”

“That magic is all that’s keeping them corporeal. They run out and they return to the void. It’ll only be a matter of time before they forge a contract with someone just to save themselves from that sad fate in the realms of madness. Really, you should know all this by now. It’s not like you were the one the called dead last in classes?” He made a shocked face in mock. “Oh wait, that couldn’t have been you because you weren't there. I beg your pardon.”

“Even I know that much,” Sakura muttered. “I said I would find a way around that.”

It was Menma who laughed next. “Don’t bother. Even if you did abandon those silly convictions and take those two there as familiars, you wouldn’t have enough magic in excess to take on the other boys. Familiars spend your magic. You don’t have enough for more than two. Not even Mito granny had more than five at a time, and two of them were human.”

Sakura let go of her elbows and moved her hands to settle on her hips. “So you think I should leave those two to you because you can handle the magic drain? Humor me, what would you do with them?”

“Sorry Sakura chan,” Naruto cooed playfully. “That’s coven business only. You said you were better off without us, right?”

“You can’t answer because there is no good answer. Witches haven't needed to amass power for any decent reason since the sixties.” She spoke even though she doubted the remembered the history of the coven collapses from that era, when witches turned on their own for petty land grabs and blood feuds. Witches hadn’t lived like mafia scum in decades. “Your world is fine.”

“And you would know that how?” Menma taunted, sounding bored.

Sakura rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic.”

“Did you know about the new sound coven poaching our witches, then?” Menma went on, lifting one hand out of his coat pocket to inspect his nails. “Or did our precious branch house cousin not tell you herself. She’s joined a new pride and is burning for a different war song.”

Sakura tried to remember hearing about that, but the details hadn’t ever come up. Last Sakura heard, it was only a boyfriend that Tayuya had latched onto, not a new coven.

“So?”

Naruto clicked his tongue at her nonchalance. “You’re spineless if you think it’s nothing. Maybe you’re fine and dandy living a life without magic, but some of us still know better. A new coven blooming in our lands is as good as a war cry. Watch yourself that you not be swept up on the wrong side.”

“You think that’s a good enough excuse to hold onto Kisame and Zabuza? Your paranoia makes it okay to keep people like pets.”  

“You don’t know any better,” Naruto growled. He snapped his teeth at her and she saw the shape of his canines a little more pronounced than the others. His magic flared a bit more, too. “Run away if you’re not going to entertain me.”

Sakura reached into her own magic and felt it sing in her bones with just a hesitant prob. “You want me to entertain you, kid?”

Menma’s eyes went wide as he looked to his twin. “You idiot, not here!”

But Naruto wasn’t listening. HIs eyes, once so wide and clear with the most beautiful shade of blue, now burned as red as his magic. The scars on his face turned darker too. He leaned into his magic with a manic grin.

Naruto pulled out a card from his back pocket, long and thin like those belonging to a tarot deck. Sakura could see enough to know there was an illustration, a boarder, and a banner along the bottom with a title. He moved his fingers and the cards split; one became two.

“Try and take them if you think you can.”

Sakura’s eyes narrowed as more of the details became clear to her. The first card was of a figure with blue skin, the other with a man colored gray. Both were surrounded by waves and frozen in a moment with their eyes closed. Icons danced around their heads in lovely detail.

“Let them go, you know it’s not right,” Sakura said. She spread her arms out and her bones felt tickled with more magic.

Magic leaked out of Menma first, spilling like wine from a goblet to splash on the ground and turn sentient enough to run a trail around them, closing them inside a barrier that shimmered. The rest of the world would never know the things they did from inside.

“You seriously going to do this you crazy bitch?” Menma hissed, looking pained as he watched his twin and then her, inflate and glow with more magic. He pointed to where Gaara and Konan were outside the barrier, looking lost and searching for a way in.  “It’s two on one.”

“Not quite, boys.”

Menma whiled and Naruto craned his neck back to see the dark haired figure towering there. Madara grinned down at the pair of them, red eyes glowing with wicked color.

“It’s rude to gang up on a lady,” he chastised with a wagging finger.

“Madara, go! I’ve got this, get outside,” Sakura interrupted, remembering what the twins had said about the shinobi using up their magic and slipping backward into the madness. She thought she had a year to figure out to save them all, but if Madara used his chakra magic here, then how long would she have left with him?  

“No can do, love. I’m in it with you no matter the outcome. Plus, you couldn’t believe I’d really turn away when I saw such an uneven fight slanted in a brat’s favor. Really, look at this kid.” Madara jerked his chin at Naruto. “What a spoiled beast.”

Menma turned and took a step back towards his twin, so that they were back to back. “You’re not involved in this, so don’t risk it, shinobi.”

“He’s an Uchiha,” Naruto hissed. “Look at his eyes, just like Sasuke.”

Madara’s smile faltered and the first signs of annoyance made the pattern in his eyes mutate and shift into something new.

“That’s a rude thing to say about someone. I assure you, I’m completely and wholly unique here, but if you have to test me to know that, then be my guest.”   

“Not like you’ll be able to do anything with those eyes of yours. You try, you’ll use up all the magic you need to sustain a corporal form.” Menma looked away from Madara to Sakura. “You going to let him burn away for you and your pride like that? I thought we were supposed to be the heartless ones.”

“Madara, I don’t want you risking it,” Sakura hissed, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes. She remembered fingers in her hair and long braids down her back at the cusp of midnight. “I don’t know how to help you yet.”

“Sure you do. They said a bond as familiar would do the trick, love. You’ll not find anyone more willing than me.”

“I don’t want to do that,” she confessed.

Something in her tone made him pause and glance back over his shoulder at her. He swallowed and then dropped his head. “I...It won’t come to that, love. Let me run your defense.”

If she had to, if it turned terrible enough, she would have done what was needed to save him. She could see it playing out. If there was no other way, Sakura knew she would have forged a contract with Madara, but did he know that? Was Madara the type of person that would take advantage of that sort of situation and force her hand to get what he wanted? How much did he want than contract? What was he willing to do to get in on a blood oath as her familiar?

Could she risk it?

Sakura touched his neck and he never expected it, so there was no resistance from her magic. She saw his eyes go wide and then swivel her way as the rest of his body went limp.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, using more of her lips than her voice to convey the meaning of her heart. She blinked and looked up to the twins, moving to stand in front of Madara. “It’ll only last five minutes, but by then this will be over.”

“You think you could really take on the two of us with just yourself?” Naruto laughed. “That’s pathetic for a smart girl like you. What’s gotten into your head?”

“I don’t need to beat you, I just need to win,” Sakura mumbled into the collar of her dress before lifting her head and letting the magic bleed into her eyes. She felt them flash green and then the energy was in her hands.

Naruto was there too.

More fox than boy, he skipped in under her arms and then came up under her chin with fingers sharper than claws. It forced her back and he swiped again, missing just as much. Sakura pulled magic over her arm and the calcium made them thick with an extra layer of protection that inspired the most awful sound when Naruto dragged his claws through it.

The extra layer spread all over her body and she felt it build up around the temples on her head like glittering horns.

“That’s new.”

Menma chuckled, pulling a switchblade out of his leather jacket. He gripped the wood handle and grinned before a wind as wicked as his smile followed the swipe of his arm, arching towards her.  

Naruto’s voice was an echo, just as mocking as he flickered out of view, ducking to avoid the blast of magic charged wind. Sakura was fast but not fast enough. She crossed her arms in front of her and braced, taking the brunt of the force with a cry.

It rang out in her head, the same though again and again. Holyshitholyshitholyshit. She was actually doing it, she was fighting Naruto and Menma all on her own using magic. What was she thinking? This wasn’t something she should be able to do. Karin was one thing, but the twins…

They were a level she could only watch and try to keep up with. What had she been thinking taking both boys on? She was going to end up in magic bits. What-was-she-thinking?

‘You don’t need to beat them, just win.’

Sakura’s eyes flickered to Naruto’s back pocket and she saw the shape of the cards. The borders were metallic bronze and gold, catching shreds of light greedily as Naruto moved.

Sakura pushed more of her magic into the calcium deposit at the edges of her skull and let the horns grow. With a final push the layers of her horns began to flake like petals on a overgrown bloom. Sakura pushed even more into the spell and let the quartz clear flakes drift until the world around her was awash with petals. With the light and her hair, some of them seemed pink to her.

Sakura surged and the distribution quadrupled until it was impossible to see through, and that’s when she moved.

She was slipping in between her own petals, low to the ground and turning sharply behind Naruto. She had a hand in his pocket and lifted the cards. ‘Just like the bell test.’

She moved once more only to feel something like a car ram into her side. She went flying along with the rest of her petals as Menma’s cyclone spread out. He shook his hands and the winds ruffled his hair one last time before settling.

“You weren't supposed to hurt her,” Naruto growled to his cousin.

“You were the one that clawed first.”

“Please, if you couldn’t tell that was playful I don’t know what to say other than get your eyes checked. Lay off, idiot, there’s blood on the grass now.” He shrugged and then muttered something else. “Plus, only I’m allowed to hurt her.”

Sakura blinked and looked down to see her side shredded and raw. Blood leaked over the rips in her dress and smeared in the grass. That was her blood, but the pain hadn’t caught up with her yet. She had a few more seconds of shock left.

“You’re the idiot,” Menma grumbled, stuffing his knife back into his jacket and glaring down at Sakura. “You can finish this without me. I’m going to eat.”

Sakura grabbed at her side, even as the wounds started to slowly close on their own, remembering how to knit at speeds no other human possessed. It was a trait she could thank the clan for. All Uzumaki witches healed like miracles. Still, everything hurt just the same.

“Ignore him, Sakura chan,” Naruto chirped, going over to her. “I should say sorry too, I forgot to pace myself. It goes so fast, you know. It’s been awhile since I had to pull my punches so bad. Mom said I wasn’t supposed to hurt you too bad.”

Sakura groaned as the adrenaline began to wear off and the pain seeped back in like an angry ghost. Her side screamed in pain as more blood trickled over her fingers. It was healing, but slowly.

“She’s a smart woman, your mother,” Sakura gasped, panting from the pain.

Naruto stopped where he stood and watched for for a moment. Sakura looked up and saw his eyes were strangely transfixed on her wound. The glee was gone from his smile.

“It was never a fair fight,” he said.

“I’m not as smart as you thought I was.”

“And I’m not as stupid as you thought. I’m even nicer than you think too. See, I’m going to let you keep the cards you lifted from my back pocket and even cover with mom when she finds out about it. You wanna ask me why?”

Naruto knelt down in front of her until their eyes were level.

“Why?” Sakura ground out.

Her teeth were chattering as panic made her shake. Her body was in a state of shock, healing and flooding with chemicals that helped her fight and flee but not think.  The magic keeping them hidden from prying eyes still sparkled and Madara still lay where she dropped him. Nothing else changed.

Naruto grabbed at her neck and his finger wrapped around her throat, shaking her. He pulled her forward and his eyes were red and burning. His chakra, usually blue and flighty, was crimson and smelling of wildfires and searing flesh.

“I don’t need them,” Naruto hissed. “Build yourself up and come for me if you dare, I will always win.”

“I don’t want anything to do with you,” Sakura gasped, feeling the air thin in her throat under the pressure of his fingertips. It made her see stars.

“I’m the child of prophecy, not you.”

Naruto shook her and Sakura fell onto her side, hitting the grass with the side of her face. She felt her horns break away. The rest of her bone armor flaked off her as the magic in her jumped loose. She wasn’t holding onto it anymore so it had no reason to stay where she grew it.

Naruto was still leaking magic and there seemed no end to it.

What had she been thinking?

Sakura dropped her eyes and lay still in the grass, her throat bare and her hair a mess over her face.She breathed heavy, feeling pain in her hand almost as bad as in her side while Naruto just stood over her. He kicked at the grass in front of her face and she flinched. It was enough to get him to chuckle.

“I don’t know what she was so worried about. You’re nothing to spare a second thought on. It’s a shame though, we could have been great friends. Would you like that, Sakura chan? We could be friends and those two in your pocket could be my gift to you. I like the sound of that.”

Sakura closed her eyes.

“I don’t want anything to do with you or your family or magic.”

“So brave. You’re lucky I like you. I’d have popped you otherwise.” He snapped his fingers in front of her face and Sakura glared up through the wetness caught between her lashes. “I’d pop you just like that and no one would care. Remember that the next time you come into my house and strut your pretty ass through the halls like you own the place.”

The last thing he did was show off his claws and then drag them down across her face in a motion too fast to see. Sakura cried out, tasting the blood leaking into her mouth. The taste was bitter and stung when her tears spilled from her eyes.

Naruto stood and left her, laughing as he passed through the barrier.  

Sakura didn’t move for a while, feeling the magic start to melt away from the barrier in bits and pieces. It wouldn’t come down all at once, and hopefully by then she would be up and on her feet again.

But Sakura didn’t want to move.

It was when only the barest traces of magic still remained that Kakuzu stepped through and picked her up.

[thefreckledone]

fluff friday (saturday) “ghibli/runaway” {keep yourself a secret} [narusaku]

dedicated to @obsessed-lass who reminds me of my love of narusaku when I first read naruto. you’re great!

this is a castle in the sky au that I want to expand when I have time. I have the worst time management skills, lol.

“You sure you’ve got this under control?”

“You can count on me!” Sakura exclaims, hefting buckets filled with coal onto her shoulders. “Go on! I know Asuma wants you home in time for dinner.”

Kurenai chuckles, eyes soft as she ruffles Sakura’s hair. “He does kick up quite a fuss if I’m not home when the station actually closes. Should I bring you some of his pastries tomorrow?” She grins. “If I tell him it’s for you he’ll even bake them fresh.”

“You’ve got yourself a deal! Will he make—”

“The berry tart with extra strawberries? Of course,” Kurenai says before tossing the keys to Sakura. “I expect you here bright and early to open up. Hiruzen will panic if we aren’t up and running on time.”

“Got it!”

Sakura watches as Kurenai takes the elevator out of what is affectionately termed “The Pit,” before returning to her task. She dumps the coal into the bins by the trains, prepping for the bustle of the coming day. Sakura places the buckets back in the closet and snatches up the ring of keys.

Sakura cannot keep from grinning as she weighs the keys in her hand, looking over all the myriad of sizes and shapes to them. There are thirty-seven keys in all and her absolute favorite is the large bronze key that locks the gate. It is an old key and oxidized in a way that makes most of it appear green.

She feels stately and otherworldly as she turns the key in the gate, locking the passage between the station and the railroads. Sakura loops the key ring into her belt, grinning as they thump musically against her thigh as she walks.

A high-pitched, whining noise makes her pause. Sakura looks up, blinking as a red light descends from the sky.

A shooting star?

No, she can tell as it comes closer that the light is emitting from a necklace worn by a boy.

Sakura races in his direction, climbing the slope to one of the many precarious balances that cross above the Pit. They’ve been expanding the station, have been for years and the work is never done.

With an ease born of experience, Sakura steps out onto the plank and eyes the boy’s descent. She positions herself beneath it, balancing and bracing herself to catch him.

Sakura squints against the gleam of his necklace as he descends fully into her arms. The necklace’s glow fades and Sakura gets a better look at the boy.

He is unconscious and dressed oddly in garish hues of orange and blue. His face is strangely marked with lines on each cheek but Sakura is more focused on his hair. It is the color of sunlight.

Sakura cradles him close, listening attentively to the creaking of the board beneath her as she moves back to safer ground.

When she turns her face back to the boy, crystalline blue eyes meet her.

The boy is awake.

“Who are you?” he asks, squirming out of her grasp.

“I’m Sakura. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” he blusters, brushing off his clothes. He glances away and back again before bending over in a formal bow. “Thank you. My name is Naruto. I’m not completely sure how I came to be here, but I’m grateful.”

“Of course,” she replies, flustered by the antiquated gesture. They stand in silence for a moment before Sakura says, “Do you have anywhere to stay the night?”

He opens his mouth, falters, and shakes his head.

“Would you like to stay with me?” Sakura asks. “You can take my bed for the night.”

His face splits in a smile so bright that Sakura loses her breath. “That would be wonderful, thank you.”

And that is how Sakura meets Naruto.

“Who are they?” Sakura asks, ducking back behind her house. She eyes the men in long black coats embellished in red clouds with suspicion. They don’t fit into the sleepy town of Konoha.

“Pirates,” Naruto spits the word and it is the most vitriolic thing Sakura has heard out of his mouth. “They’re called Akatsuki. They want the treasures of Uzushio.”

Sakura tightens her mouth and firms her stance as she catches the flicker of fear in his eyes. “They’ve chased you before?”

He hesitates for a brief moment before nodding.

“Okay,” Sakura says. “Give me a second.”

She ducks back into her house, heading into the room on the second floor. She listens to the soft hooting and cooing from the owls, all in various stages of sleep. Sakura opens their cages and sends up a brief prayer for their safety.  

Sakura goes back out to Naruto, taking his hand in hers. “I’ll protect you from the pirates,” she promises rashly. “We’ll need to go into town. I have to give Kurenai the keys and hopefully we can shake them in the crowd.”

Naruto nods, not looking all that pleased with the plan but trusting her regardless. Something in Sakura is warmed by the notion, but she is quickly distracted with slipping past Akatsuki unseen.

Something goes wrong along the way, an unsure foot along the cobble, a perceptive glance around, something happens in a way that the tall blue one looks upon them with a disturbing grin.

“Konan, I found them!”

Sakura mutters the word Asuma said once when all of the pies burned while they were playing cards.

Naruto looks impressed.

“Come on!” Sakura hisses, dragging Naruto into the morning crush of people.

“Sakura!” Kurenai exclaims. “What on earth is going on?”

“This is Naruto,” Sakura says. “There are some bad people after him. I’m going to help.”

There is pride coloring Kurenai’s voice as she says, “I expected nothing less.” She draws Sakura into a brisk, warm hug. “Go on. Asuma and I will take care of them.”

“Thanks, Kurenai!” Sakura replies, bussing a kiss across her cheek before passing her the keys. “You need these more than I do but don’t worry; I’ll be back soon!”

Kurenai looks at them, rather, she looks at Naruto. “I’m not so sure you will be, dear.”

“C’mon,” Naruto says, tightening his hold on Sakura’s hand, brushing past Kurenai, and ducking into the nearby alley.

“Naruto!” Sakura scolds as she picks up her pace to keep up with him. “That was quite rude!”

“Sorry,” he mutters, casting his eyes about. “I’m just worried. I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

Sakura squeezes his hand. “You aren’t a burden! You’re my friend. Besides, my parents always believed in Uzushio.” She pats the map at her belt. “They’d be proud to know I’m keeping up the search.”

Naruto smiles. “It’ll be an adventure.”

“The very best,” Sakura says firmly. “First, however, we need to get away from the pirates. I think the train station is our best bet.”

“Didn’t you give the keys to Kurenai?” Naruto asks, following her as she begins to weave among the maze of buildings.

“Yeah but Hiruzen has a set himself. He always gets there before dawn and opens the train station. He always complains when we show up on time, saying that we’re late.” Sakura giggles.

“Sounds like quite a guy,” Naruto says.

“He’s the best.”

Sakura guides Naruto along her favorite path into the Pit, mindful of her surroundings. It still comes as a surprise, however, when Naruto is tackled to the ground.

“Running away was quite naughty!” an angry voice declares and Sakura prepares herself to yank the boy off of Naruto.

She stops, however, when she sees his face.

He has Naruto’s face. If not for his eyes and hair, Sakura would call them mirror images.

“Who are you?” she demands, gathering herself and pushing him free of Naruto.

“Menma of Fire,” he replies, red eyes cool and distant. He looks her over and sniffs, clearly finding her lacking. “And who are you, urchin?”

“None of your business!” Naruto declares, hopping back on his feet. His nose is bleeding but his gaze is hard as he stares at Menma. “You need to leave me alone!”

“You need to come with me, Naruto,” Menma says. “Just imagine what we can do together.”

“I already told you no! Why won’t you just leave me alone?” Naruto demands.

Sakura strikes a leg out, sweeping Menma’s feet from beneath him while distracted. He tumbles and, at the sharp angle of the slope, slides far away from him. Sakura winces in sympathy as he catches on hard edges but she doesn’t feel too bad when she sees the relief in Naruto’s eyes.

“Let’s go,” Sakura urges, eyes up on the lip of the Pit. Already, it is dotted with the pirates and men dressed in the same uniform as Menma. For the moment, they seem preoccupied with each other but that won’t remain the case for long. “Hiruzen will be able to help us get out of here.”

Naruto wavers, clutching at the pendant at his throat.

“Naruto,” Sakura says, waiting until he looks at her. Their enemies are closing in around them and they are in a precarious position that requires some finessing. She needs to get them out of here safely. And for that, she needs Naruto. “Naruto, do you trust me?”

Naruto looks at her and for a moment he looks so much older than his twelve years. Sakura feels as if her soul is bared to his eyes, scorched beneath his scrutiny. His hand tightens on the strange pendant and he smiles as he pulls it free from his body.

Sakura knows she’s passed some sort of test, though what kind she couldn’t say.

“It’s strange really,” Naruto says, grabbing her hand and pressing the pendant into it. She feels a shiver go up her spine and, for a moment, the pendant is heavy. The moment passes and Sakura wonders if she just imagined it. “I trust you Sakura.”

Sakura grins. “Good. What I’m about to ask of you is going to require all of that trust.”

Naruto nods, entwining his hand around hers, the pendant firmly sandwiched between them. “I’m ready when you are.”

Breath quickening, Sakura stares at the crane jib and hook that are moving slowly nearby. It is headed their way and Sakura tenses in preparation. She can do this. “When I say jump, jump.”

Naruto nods, his confidence in her obvious in his eyes.

Sakura takes a deep breath, tightens her hand on his, and says, “Jump.”

They jump.

[popipapepu]

Menma & RTN-Hinata :3

I prefer Menma’s black hair tho <3 I think Menma’s personalities like Sasuke+Garaa.. He just too shy to say “i love you” to RTN-Hinata, but he finds her cute when she annoyed or sulking (you can say Menma is sadistic type).. And for RTN-Hinata, i love to draw her with lipstick! XD When she married with Menma, she dressed carefully and not-so-openly (i mean, she not showing her skin quite often).. Still temperamental and always seducing Menma..  But she also always nagging when Menma didn’t do what she says :B

[angsarapblog]

The only Wagamama I tried in my life was the one in Auckland, first was their branch in Sylvia Park and next was one in High Street but sadly early July this year they had shut their doors. It was quite sad for me as I liked this place and their food, I so loved it I even recreated one of my favourites in their menu called the Teriyaki Steak Soba.

Before their doors shut, I was not able to grab my last dish from them as we were on a holiday in Europe back then, luckily there is a Wagamama in where we were at that moment and it was inside Tivoli Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark. Unlike the New Zealand branches this one was quite huge, which reminds me of the restaurant Cha Cha in Berlin, I guess they had the same concept.

Located at the back of the park near between the Bumper Cars and the Flying Trunk, there is also an entry in Tietgensgade street if you don’t wish to visit the park. Like I said the place was huge, perhaps it can sit more than 200 people easily, and the time we came in there was quite early for Danes lunch time, probably around 12:30 as there were very few people inside.

We started with some Peach Iced Tea (Kr 36.00) as we wait for our order. Few minutes later the order started coming and service was quite fast. I guess because there were a few people when we came in.

First item that came was the Grilled Duck Ramen (Kr 157.00), prepared with tender, boneless duck leg splashed with citrus ponzu sauce in a vegetable noodle soup. dressed in chilli, seasonal greens and coriander.

Then came the Shirodashi Ramen (Kr 147.00), made with slow cooked pork belly marinated in bulgogi sauce on top of noodles in a rich chicken broth with dashi and miso. topped with pea shoots, menma, spring onions, wakame and half a tea-stained egg.

Third was the Wagamama Ramen (Kr 152.00), a loaded ramen made with grilled chicken, barbecued pork, prawns, chikuwa and mussels in a miso, ginger and chicken noodle soup., topped with half a tea-stained egg, menma and spring onions.

The last order was Katsu Curry (Kr 144.00) for a change, since the first three were noodle soups. This one is prepared with chicken coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs, covered in an aromatic curry sauce served with sticky rice and a side salad.

The food was Ok, I find the New Zealand ones are much tastier probably because of local taste preferences. Flavours of the ramen broth was quite mild, but the ingredients used were great, salad on top was fresh and crispy and the toppings was tasty, I especially liked the pork belly on that Shirodashi Ramen. Kastu Curry on the other hand was phenomenal, crispy tasty and moist inside.

Overall the food was good, place was very clean, and the service was amazing. It was quite pricey compared to the New Zealand ones but it’s in Denmark, most of the things here are expensive. Just think of this, that Wagamama Ramen cost NZ$35.00 and the drink is NZ$8.50, with that price I can eat three really good bowls of ramen and two similar drinks.

Wagamama Address: Tietgensgade 20, 1704 København, Denmark Phone: +45 33 75 06 58 Website: https://www.wagamama.dk/restauranter/tivoli

Wagamama Tivoli (Copenhagen, Denmark) The only Wagamama I tried in my life was the one in Auckland, first was their branch in Sylvia Park and next was one in High Street but sadly early July this year they…

[vesperlionheart]

Inheritance prompt 10 with the Uzumaki clan. >=)

Of course.

“Yeah, but it’s not a literal marriage, right? That’s insane, and probably illegal,” Sakura asked over the speakerphone while lining her eyes with black liquid until they were perfect wings.

“You’ll have to clear that up with the family in question. Those were the only lines pertaining to you in the will,” Kakashi droned on, likely reading something while he also spoke over speaker phone. “You’re meeting with them today, correct?”

“As soon as I hang up I’m heading on over there.”

Sakura pulled away from the mirror and blinked a few times. She liked the ritual of painting herself up if it was before something that made her nervous. A test was less stressful with the right lipstick. A job interview turned into a cakewalk with enough mascara. It was at times like these she missed Ino most.

“You need an escort?”

“You think I need one?” she laughed.

She looked like a princess but she knew no amount of make up would make her right hook any less lethal. Her phone slipped off the side of the vanity and started to fall. Before it could fall halfway she grabbed it also pinned the wet rollers that were starting to tip over the ledge. Her speed wasn’t anything to sneer at either. If she was one of Kakashi’s top students that should count for enough.

She heard his sigh on the other end and set her phone back down, making sure it was flat on the table top this time. “You’ll call after your meeting, otherwise I’ll show up on my own and make sure my favorite student’s not being forced into a literal child bride contract.”

“I’m hardly a child anymore.”

“Same difference to me.”

She changed out her studs for dangling earrings, almost finished. “Hey, you never know. I might end up taking advantage of the inheritance if they are cute.”

“You don’t even know who they are, or what they are.”

Sakura checked her hair once more in the mirror. It looked light and fluffy, perfect for a night in sock rolls. “Doesn’t matter to me. I’m heading out now. I’ll text you when I get more information.”

Kakashi sounded like he wanted to say more but she cut off the call and dumped her phone into her purse, keys already in hand.

The Uzumaki clan’s compound was actually pretty far north, up in the mountains where the hot springs were famous and roads were thin. The clan was pretty traditional from the sounds of it. They ran an inn famed for its own private hot springs that made it a local jewel for the village.

It took her over an hour to make it driving the way she did. Halfway there she knew she could never move so far north, she was too used to multi lane highways and plenty of space to speed on straight roadways.

She pushed her sunglasses up onto her head, pinning back her hair. She whistled low at the sight of the sprawling manor. Not bad if this was what she got to marry into. The idea still made her laugh. All her friends thought it was laughable as well, but a few had been concerned, taking it seriously.

‘If they’re really traditional they may stick to it,’ Hinata told her, speaking from personal experience.

Sakura’s plan had been to look as prissy as possible and be her usual self. That was sure to scare them off and make them want out of the deal as much as her. She wasn’t this old and still single without a reason.

On the first level there were stairs down to the restaurant part of the inn and stairs up to the rooms. A hallway led back to the springs. Sakura stopped at the receptionists desk and waved to the girl impeccably dressed like a woman straight out of history. ‘Cute.’

“Hello,” Sakura greeted, still cheerful and excited to see more of the inn before going back. “I’m Sakura Haruno. I have an appointment here I believe with Kushina Uzumaki.”

The woman nodded, wordless and opened the book to scan the list of names. She found one and glanced up at Sakura before reading whatever note had been beside the name. Sakura watched the girl swallow and stiffly raise her eyes again. “One moment, madam. I shall phone them now.”

Sakura grinned when she saw the old fashioned rotary phone that looked like it belonged back at the turn of the century. It was perfectly elegant, like so much of the inn.  Sakura took a step back and entertained herself with the wall art to give the girl the feeling of privacy while on the phone.

“Yes….yes, she is….is she-oh, um….yes, I think so. Of course. Yes.”

Sakura heard the ending of the call as the hand piece was returned to the cradle with a click. Sakura turned back around and waited to be addressed, noting a vein of nervousness in the woman’s posture now.

“Kushina Uzumaki is expecting you in the gardens. Follow this hallway out and turn left away from the springs.” The girl gave further instructs and Sakura thanked her for them before going off.

The hall seemed to go on forever. Sakura swore she saw that same ink painting on the wall before. It was so odd, because she knew she hadn’t turned left or right. There was something off about the hall.

She forced herself to stop and concentrate on her breathing. She felt her mental spirit mount with the determination to break through any spiritual barrier or illusion and opened her eyes again. She could see the end of the hallway but didn’t walk towards it. Cautiously, she turned on her heel and saw behind her a red fox.

“That how you welcome all your guests?” she joked with a wry grin. It tensed at her tone and she bared her teeth at it, sending it running off into the shadows.

No wonder Kakashi had been worried about her. The spiritual side of her training was not her strong suit, since she switched over her focus to the physical side of things three years back. Still, she was his best student, so illusions cast by demons of such a low level weren’t something she was concerned about, even if she didn’t come from a clan.

She found the garden, but it was empty. Her senses tingled and she carefully set down her purse on one of the tables before turning slowly and seeing the same fox from before, only this time it had more than one tail and beside it was a black forest fox.

“I’m not sure if this is worth it, but I’m here, so I might as well humor the family,” Sakura hummed, pretending to be more concerned with her nails. “You going to bite me or talk, kit?”

“You’re the one Tsunade sent?” a new voice hissed. Sakura glanced back over her shoulder to see a female fox, standing atop one of the tables.

“I’m the one she mentioned in her will. A matter which I wanted to clear up, because I thought it was absurd to come across such an odd inheritance stipulation. I’m guessing this is the part where you try to eat me, or was the story about Kushina being here a lie?”

“She’ll be here if you’re worth speaking to.”

“I’m really not. I’m nothing special and I just wanted to be polite before putting this whole misunderstanding behind us,” Sakura joked, waving her hands. “You wanna just let me go and we can pretend this never happened?”

“We would of if you didn’t break through the illusion. Now we have to…” the black one dipped his head before the fox beside him-a twin-finished the sentence.

“-See what kind of meat Tsunade left us!”

Sakura felt the fox fire behind her but ducked fast, snarling at the thought of her hair being singed. She hadn’t picked the right sort of shoes for this sort of nonsense. The tags were pinned to the garter under her skirt and she slipped a couple out with ease before throwing one like a dart at the female fox. It stuck her with a yelp and Sakura activated the seal that canceled out fire.

“No more of that, kit,” Sakura teased, using her banter as a way to ground herself in battle. It was the next best thing if she didn’t have sour candies to chew on. She hadn’t been expelling demons long enough to be able to manage without some sort of crutch, like Kakashi or even Might Guy. She was still learning, but she was confident she could handle three adolescent kits.

The black one lunged for her, inflating in size until he was bigger than a dog, but Sakura caught him by the throat and slammed him hard into the ground, knowing he wouldn’t get up, demon or not. That was the price of over estimating her.

“Menma!” the other fox cried, running towards his twin.

Sakura was fast and grabbed him by the tail before yanking him back and flipping him up onto his back. He tried to grow under her, suddenly thick with chakra, but Sakura supplanted her heel on his neck and bared her teeth, another paper seal between her fingers. The girl fox was still caught in the first one.

“Of dear, my precious babies were quite embarrassing,” a new voice cut in, followed by hand clapping.

Sakura stepped off the fox’s throat and turned to the woman with long red hair. Sakura released the seal binding the female fox and her fire down and as soon as she was free she dashed for the woman Sakura guessed to be Kushina. The one under her heel ran to his brother, whining and chirping.

“If I knew it was going to have been like this I would have traded in the heels for flats,” Sakura sighed, tone level as she turned her back to the woman and reached for her purse. When she turned around the female fox was a red haired girl wearing glasses and looking flustered.

“You looked superb regardless, Sakura chan. I’m so glad Tsunade recommended you to us,” the woman cooed, folding her hands and smiling brightly. “You’re adorable.”

In spite of herself, Sakura felt herself blush. “Ah, thank you. I suppose the marriage contract was just a farce to get me here and see what I could do?”

On the ground the two fox brothers had turned back to boys and the one she knocked down was starting to rouse, surprising Sakura. The Uzumaki were a hardy bunch if he was waking up so soon.

She had been right about them being twins though, the only difference between them was that one had dark black hair, but both sported whiskers. They looked to be around her age, which was surprising, since neither had more than two tails.

“Oh no, dear, that isn’t true at all. We fully intend on engaging you to one of our clan’s children.”

Sakura blinked, staring up from the boys. “What?”

Kushina kissed the girl in glasses’ head and pushed her forward. “This is my niece Karin. On the ground are my sons, Naruto, and the darker one is Menma.”

Sakura was still struggling with what was said earlier. “…What?”

“Oh, and my husband is out, but he’ll introduce himself later. He’s really looking forward to having another girl in the family. It’s been hard on Karin being the only one. Speaking of that, which do you prefer, girls or boys? Or do you not care?”

Sakura felt numb in her bones. “………What?”

“And I know the boys are close, so you could take one or both depending on how you feel.”Sakura felt her eyes widen. “Or just marry them all, that could work too. Mostly in the past it’s just been two spouses, but there have been a few that took three or four into the marriage. It’s better for the kits that way.”

Sakura couldn’t keep her voice from cracking. “…What?”

The woman clapped her hands again, eyes bright and shocking blue in a way they hadn’t been before. “You’re tired from the long drive here though, so we’ll get your room ready in the family suite. Karin, want to take Sakura’s bags?”

“She doesn’t have any.”

“Poo. You’ll have to share for the night then. You look to be almost the same size.”

Sakura took one step backwards, robotically turned on her heel, and walked the rest of the way out, down the hall, past the front desk, to the parking lot and into her car. She didn’t panic until her key was in the ignition, failing to turn the engine. Nothing responded, not even the lights.

Still stiff as a fawn, Sakura got out and popped the hood, realizing in horror that her car was empty. There was literally nothing under her hood. It had all been magicked away.

Sakura grabbed her purse from the front seat and started to walk down the driveway, back out to the main road. She walked for maybe fifteen minutes before realizing she was caught in another illusion. This time the spell was far stronger and Sakura felt herself rightly trapped. When she turned around Kushina was there and the pair of them were back in the parking lot outside the inn. The Uzumaki matriarch smiled kindly, as if she thought it was cute a human had tried to break the spell on an illusion cast by a matriarch.

“Lady,” Sakura stated, voice cracking, “it’s not going to work. Your kids all will hate me. I beat them up on our first meeting. They’re going to resent that forever.”

“I doubt that. You’re perfect for this family. Karin will adore you for your seal work, it’s not often someone can trap her or seal her fire with a hand drawn tag. And if you’re worried about the boys, well…” She smiled to herself slyly. “I’m afraid your beating had the opposite effect of what you’re claiming.”

“No, I know what this is. You’re just in it because you need a human with chakra in the bloodline. I’ve heard this story before. It’s no different then how it was with the Uchiha, so you can drop the act.”

Sakura might have imagianed it, but at the mention of the Tengu clan Sakura had tangled with in the past the bright blue of Kushina’s eyes flickered red. Still, her smile never faltered.

“You don’t have to worry about the Uchiha while you are here. You’re safe.”  

“I’m not marrying your kids.”

Her frown was more of a pout. “But you don’t even know them! Don’t you wanna get a little closer to my cuties before you make a decision?”

“Not really,” Sakura laughed, feeling on the edge of hysterical. “I wanna go home and wear my ‘worldly’ lace pajamas, eat junk food like french fries, gummy bears, and ice cream, listen to a music player that doesn’t use a needle, and watch Game of Thrones like any self respecting woman of the modern age. I’m not dressing up like a shrine maiden and cooking for a man for the rest of my life.”

“You wouldn’t have, we have plenty of servants for that sort of thing. We’re actually quite modernized, you’ll find. The boys read comics and Karin even has a Netflix account.” The woman’s smile stretched up. “Also, no one is going to complain if you want to wear naughty lingerie in this house.”    

“I’m not!” a voice called from back inside the inn. Sakura couldn’t tell if it was Naruto or his brother Menma, but guessed it was one of them and it made her blush.

“Still, it’s a marriage. I…I can’t. You need my help expelling spirits I would be willing to hang out and help, but I can’t… just marry into your family. Tsunade made a mistake. My name shouldn’t have been in that will.”

The woman seemed to wilt. “I understand if you’re really that opposed to the idea, but please stay the week with us. Just seven days at the inn, complements of the family. Get to know the kids a little and then make your decision at the end of those seven days. That’s fair, right?”

Sakura glanced up over the woman’s shoulder and saw the three kids all standing in the entryway. Naruto was smiling brightly just like his mother while supporting his dark haired twin. Menma looked up and met her gaze, only to blush and duck his eyes. Behind them Karin watched wordless, masking her expression.

None of them looked dangerous, and the situation was vastly different then when the Uchiha had breached the subject with Kakashi. No one was demanding she make any dramatic life changes or give up anything important. They didn’t sound like the type to force their way either, if Kushina really meant what she said about the seven days. There was really no way Sakura could break through the illusion on her own, so Kushina had all the power to demand more from her if she thought it necessary.

If she renegade on her deal after seven days Sakura would call Kakashi.

“I didn’t pack for an overnight trip.”

Kushina’s eyes lit up along with her smile. “We have anything you could possibly need on hand. Just tell us what you need and our fox spirits will run and grab it for you.”

Sakura let her purse slide off her shoulder to the crook of her elbow as she sighed and relented. “Fine. Seven days.”

“Of course,” the mother cheered, taking Sakura by the shoulders and leading her back into the inn building. “You’re going to love it here, though. It’s a life time of pampering you have to look forward to if you choose to make this your home.”

Naruto and his brother were quick to clear the doorway for them, but Sakura didn’t miss how they kept themselves close as Sakura was led on a tour of the estate. Karin watched critically and Sakura felt her every move recorded by the girl’s mind.

“So we can call you Sakura chan, right, Sakura chan?” Naruto cheered, hopping alongside the group.

Sakura could only swallowed and nod as they led her around and set up her up in a room. 

True to her word all the things she requested showed up in the hour thanks to the inn’s fox spirits. She went to bed that night, not knowing how well she would sleep, but surprised how soft the futon was under her.

“Is it done?” Kushina asked, looking up at her husband with a soft smile as he entered their bedroom that night.

Minato frowned, stripping off his outer layers. “As best I could, but Kakashi is not any average human. He’ll remember her before the month is up, and he won’t be happy to know I suppressed his memories. Sakura is precious to him.”

His wife waved a hand and rolled her eyes.

“He’s not the only one who understands her value. And I don’t need him to forget her forever, just long enough for Sakura to fall in love with one of the kits. Did you hear Naruto going on and on about her after dinner? Oh, you will. The boy is smitten if ever I saw it. He’s almost as bad as Menma, but there’s no saving that child from the love bug. One punch and he was sold! I knew Sakura chan would be perfect for my boys.”

“Oh, did you now?” Minatoa asked, sliding into bed beside his wife. “What about our lovely niece? What did she think of our house guest.”

“Her nature is to be weary, but she’s far too fascinated with Sakura to be safe for long. I hope it ends happy for all of them and no one gets their heart crushed, but it’s just all my hopeful wishing.”

Minato kissed his wife and turned off the lights. “We’ll see in the next seven days, won’t we?”