Chapter 5: Flame Festival
After Team 7 returned from their mission, Anko and Kakashi told the genin to head home while they made their report to the Hokage. Once they arrived, they gave a written and verbal report of the mission. Hiruzen began to read over the details gained from interrogating the trading post leader and the mercenaries.
After the Daimyo took custody of the mercenaries and Umeri, it was revealed that they were hired by the Wagarashi family from Degarashi Port to traffic drugs through caravans. The mercenaries were to pose as bandits, take the drugs, and let the caravan through. A third party offered the mercenaries a deal to sell the traders. They approached Umeri and offered him a cut if he didn't report any missing caravans to the guild. The only description they gave of this third party was that it was a man with six arms. They were ordered to tie up the traders at a specific point and leave. The next day, the people would be gone, and they would receive payment.t.
Hiruzen looked up at Anko, who was tapping her foot and griping her arm.
"Do you think Orochimaru is involved?"
Anko nodded.
"As far as I know, there are not many six-armed people around, and he is the only one who can pull off that type of body modification."
Kakashi looked over to Anko.
"But why would he go through so much effort to get traders? Not to be morbid, but I fought him before, and he could probably take as many people as he needed."
Anko shook her head,
"He doesn't like to get his hands dirty; when I was under him, I collected all the materials and samples for him. I wouldn't doubt that he is still the same. He probably has this six-arm guy over all of the acquisitions for his sick fucking experiments."
Anko gripped her arm tighter,
"To think that bastard has already affected my team. We have to track him down and stop this. "
Hiruzen held his hand up.
"Anko, we both know that will be near impossible. Jiraiya has been searching for over a decade; Orochimaru will only be found when he wants to be. In the meantime, I'll send these reports to Jiraiya to see if he can dig anything up on this six-armed man and this trafficking ring."
Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe.
"Speaking of other matters, your team has the week off, but you have another mission."
"Already, what is it?" asked Kakashi
"After your demonstration, you got Koharu and Homura on your side, but it also resulted in them giving many recommendations for how I should handle your team. The Flame Festival will start a week from now, and the Daimyo has asked us to send ninjas as representatives. Initially, I was going to send Asuma and his genin Team. Still, Koharu insisted that Team 7 should be going as Konoha's future. However, I think that meeting Daimyo at a young age will be good for them. And it goes without saying that you and Anko will accompany them to the capital.
Anko sighed,
"I can't believe we have to go through all of this political mess; this mission is just us being a glorified attraction for people to look at."
Hiruzen nodded
"I understand how you feel, but the festival will only last three days, so you won't be gone long. You only need to talk to a few people and represent the leaf.
Anko's frustration was like a storm brewing within her, visible in the way she looked up,
"Oh, now those old bastard teammates of yours want me to represent the village. I seem to remember that it was them who wanted me to stop being a ninja altogether. Why should I have to go and do their bidding?"
Hiruzen got a stern look,
"Anko, I put up with a lot from you. I understand that Orochimaru has you on edge right now. However, I still expect you to respect your superiors and show some maturity. You are being given an opportunity that you have wanted for years. Don't be petty and use this chance to show people that they are wrong about you." Hiruzen's voice was firm, his words carrying the weight of his position.
Anko's shoulders slumped, her form shrinking as if under the weight of the scolding.
"Sorry, It's just… You're right. I'll make sure to do my absolute best to represent Konoha." Anko bowed
"I'll see you later," Anko said as she quickly left the office.
Kakashi stood in uncomfortable silence, feeling like an intruder in a private conversation. The tension in the room was palpable, his discomfort adding to the unease.
Hiruzen looked over to Kakashi.
"Sorry about that. Sometimes, that girl gets in her own way; I couldn't stand for it. I know missions like this aren't your forte, but can you keep an eye out for her? This position in Team 7 is already changing how some on the council view her, and I don't want her to squander it.
Kakashi eye smiled. "Don't worry, I got it handled."
"Thank you, Kakashi, Also, keep an eye out for Naruto. His chances as the future Hokage can be diminished if he upsets the Daimyo." Hiruzen said humor slipping into his voice.
Kakashi nodded, bowed, and took his leave from the office.
Two days later, Team 7 found themselves in the bustling central shopping district of Konoha, a place known for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse array of shops.
"What's the deal, Kakashi-sensei? I thought we were supposed to be honing our skills today," Naruto questioned, his usual enthusiasm tinged with confusion.
"You can consider this a type of diplomacy training; appearance is a major asset for Shinobi," answered Kakashi
Sakura deadpanned and asked. "Don't you always wear a mask, sensei?"
"This is a waste of time," Sasuke muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Come on, guys, just consider this a team outing. Plus, this is all going on at Kakashi's dime," Anko exclaimed
"It is," said Kakashi, his confusion evident in his tone.
"Come on, let's go!" yelled Anko as she walked toward a clothing store
Kakashi sighed; the ninken would have to accept the cheaper dog treats this week.
Following Anko, they saw a store with a large sign saying Ninja Outfitters.
They entered to find a large store that sold various ninja tools, armor, and clothing.
Naruto looked around nervously. "Do I have to get something? I like my jumpsuit,"
Anko looked at him; "You do, at least for this mission; your uniform has to be different; we can't have that eyesore representing the leaf,"
Naruto looked down dejected.
Damn, thought Anko.
Did this kid have such a hold on her that she couldn't even tell him off?
She sighed
"You can keep the orange; just look for something half decent."
"Okay, I'm going to see if I can find a new awesome ninja uniform."
Naruto started to run off, but Anko caught the back of his jumpsuit before he did.
"Wait. Before you go outfit hunting, we must teach you a core lesson in maintaining your appearance as a shinobi," said Anko, her voice giving way to anticipation
Anko led them to the back corner of the store, where a young woman was manning a counter; behind her were a multitude of makeup and perfumes,
"Hello, what can I do for you today?"
We would like to show our students how to use chakra powder.
Ah, I see; the woman then squatted down and began to rummage through a shelf behind the counter.
"You know, it's worth learning how to unlock your chakra just to use this stuff."
"Ain't that the truth? I use it all the time," commented Kakashi
Sakura gave him a pointed look and said, "Mask."
The women brought up a circular tin, placed it on the counter, and removed the lid; inside was a refined white powder, a unique product in cosmetics.
"Is that makeup?" asked Naruto
"Yeah, this is used as a foundation for Shinobi out in the field; many regular products tend not to last in our line of work."
Wait, I can't put on makeup, I'm not a girl," protested Naruto
Anko rolled her eyes,
"Male shinobi put on makeup all the time, even the Hokage."
"Wait, really," Sakura said, shocked.
"You really think that I look this good all the time? I mean, I do, but that's beside the point: Ninjas are supposed to be representative of authority and respect. So how you look when you're around the village and outside can matter even in combat said Anko
"How" questioned Naruto
"Confidence and perception can decide the strategy you use in battle; if you're on a mission and are days in without sleep, and an enemy catches you with deep bags and stress lines, they are more likely to rush you, but if you look like you're perfectly fine,, then they may readjust their strategy,"
"I also heard that many ninjas feel more confident,: said the woman behind the counter.
Anko turned to Sakura,
"Go ahead and try it out; it's very easy to use."
Sakura nodded and approached the counter.
The woman then began an explanation of how to use the powder
"Okay, it's straightforward; all you need to do is channel your chakra into the powder, and once you feel you have enough, scoop some into your hand, close your eyes, and then toss it on your face,"
"Really, that's it," said Sakura, surprised at the ease of the instructions.
" Go ahead, try it."
Sakura followed the instructions and threw the powder in her face.
She looked into the mirror on the counter and saw the results. She hadn't used makeup much since graduating from the academy, and when she did, it was often ruined by the end of training.
She was amazed by the results. Her blemishes and acne were covered, and the powder perfectly blended into her skin.
"Wow," Sakura said in awe.
"Pretty cool, right," said the woman
Sakura asked the woman, "Do you have any other products like this?"
She shook her head,
"Sadly, the field of chakra cosmetics is pretty limited; a lot of the stuff is in experimental stages."
"Oh, that's too bad."
Naruto then stepped over to get a better look at Sakura,
"Wow, you're like a thousand times prettier than usual; I want to try."
Naruto then hastily reached for the tin before Kakashi caught his hand.
"Naruto, remember that this is not a jutsu; channel as little chakra as possible, or else it can have terrible results."
"Like what"
"It can explode on your face and maim you for life," Kakashi said as he eye smiled.
Naruto gulped
"" Okay, I'll be careful."
Naruto then began to channel chakra into the powder, and then he threw it on his face.
When he opened his eyes and looked in the mirror
He then smiled and began to look at his face from different angles; he then pointed at his reflection and said
"Who is this handsome devil? You know what? I think? I know why they call me the striking Naruto Uzumaki."
"Stop being dumb, Naruto," said Sakura.
"Yeah, and why do you keep giving yourself these titles" asked Sasuke
"I think you have to ask why people keep giving them to me."
The woman behind the counter laugh
"Oh, you are all such cute kids; you can keep this tin on the house; it was being used for samples anyways,"
Naruto smiled. "Thanks, lady."
"No problem, Mr striking."
She then turned to Anko.
"Would you like to buy anything else?"
"Sure, I'll get two more tins."
Anko pulled out her ryo pouch and turned to Kakashi.
"Go ahead and take the brats through the rest of the store."
Kakashi pointed at the powder.
"You aren't going to make me pay for it."
"No, wait. You thought I was serious, but you can if you want to pay for it so badly."
When Anko looked back, Kakashi was already gone.
Sakura looked through the store; the sheer amount of clothing options was overwhelming. Sakura was initially excited by the prospect of getting a new uniform; her qipao dress had torn on the last mission, and while her mom could sew it back together, she had also realized that she had been wearing it for three years, she made it her uniform because it was her favorite outfit. Still, she had changed so much since the academy; her mind returned to a memory of Ino telling her that a change in fashion can often represent your changing or growth into a new person.
But Sakura quickly realized she had no idea what she wanted to look like; the options were staggering. She couldn't imagine herself wearing most of the stuff here.
"Everything's all right, Sakura?" Anko asked as she approached Sakura.
"Yes, sensei," Sakura said, not really paying attention to her teacher, absorbed in her current dilemma.
She then looked at her Anko, more specifically, her style. It was unique, and parts of her personality could be discerned just by looking at her.
"Sensei, can I ask you a question? "
"Yeah, go ahead."
"Why do you wear what you wear?" Sakura realized that that question could be misconstrued.
"No, wait, I mean, like the reason, I'm not trying to judge you."
Anko chuckled. "Don't worry, kid, I knew what you meant."
Anko then looked up at the ceiling, constructing her answer.
"You ever get inspired by someone, and you think to yourself, I want to be like them when I grow up."
Sakura thought momentarily, and a vision of Ino popped into her head. "Yes"
"Well, growing up, I wanted to be my favorite character. It was a book series called Kunoichi Diaries, one of the few ninja-focused books with a female lead. The main protagonist was a woman named Yuhiko; she was smart, sexy, and one of the most powerful ninjas put to paper; her signature outfit was a red leather coat with a fishnet underneath. Thought it was so fucking cool growing up, so I said to myself, when I grow up, that's what I want to wear."
Sakura looked up at her sensei, surprised that so much thought had gone into her outfit. She then began to feel more insecure. She hoped to get some ideas from her teacher, but wouldn't that just be copying Anko?
"Are you comfortable with what you wear now?"
"I am, but this is the first time in my life where I feel I'm going somewhere, but I don't know how I should present myself, "
Anko looked down at Sakura.
"Don't force yourself to change into something you're not, "
Anko gestured to the surrounding racks of clothing
"I wouldn't wear most of this stuff in my life; just pick something out that you like; you don't have to decide who you want to be now; you're young, "
Anko then placed a hand on Sakura's head,
"Sometimes, you think way too much with this big old brain of yours."
"Thanks, sensei."
After about an hour in the store, all of Team 7 met up, Naruto and Sakura, with the clothing they picked out and notably, Sasuke didn't have anything,
"Hey, where's your stuff," asked Naruto
Sasuke shrugged,
"I didn't see anything in here that I wanted, plus anything I would want to wear, I would want the Uchiha symbol on it. And I already have tons of clothes, so there's no point in buying anymore."
"Yeah, but sensei is paying for it," said Naruto
"So,"
"So that means this stuff is free? You have to get something, "
"It's not free, you little freeloader. Kakashi's wallet is crying right now," said Anko
Kakashi reached into his vest pocket,
" So you paid for the makeup, so I can pay the more expensive charge."
"I don't know what you are talking about," Anko said, feigning innocence.
Kakashi sighed and began to walk to the register.
Behind the counter was an older woman
"Hello, did you find everything okay today"
"Yeah, this store is lovely," said Kakashi in a tone that was close to sarcasm
He gestured for Sakura and Naruto to put their clothes on the counter.
When the woman saw Naruto, she glared at him, which made him flinch and back up.
Kakashi then spoke up,
" I would ask you not to glare at my students; he's been with us this entire time, so he hasn't stolen anything unless there is something else about him that made you look at him that way."
The woman clammed up. " No, nothing at all,"
She then began quickly to check out the items,
"Sorry about that, sir. I hope you have a great rest of your day."
As they exited the store, Sakura asked a question.
"Why did Kakashi sensei threaten that woman?"
Sasuke perked, interested in the hidden meaning behind Kakashi's words.
Naruto was abnormally silent.
"Well, what Kakashi did there was a sign of loyalty. The woman disrespected Naruto, so Kakashi told her off. Said Anko
"But why didn't she like Naruto," Sakura then looked at Naruto,
"Did you do something to these people to make them mad"
Naruto flinched."No, I haven't even been to this store before."
"I assure you that Naruto has done nothing to hurt these people; sometimes people are just rude. I just did what I expect you to do if one of your teammates is mistreated, stand up for them."
The genin nodded, agreeing with the sentiment. Though Sasuke and Sakura felt like they weren't being, they told the whole story.
Anko spoke, "Okay, that's it for today. We'll have training off until the mission, but don't get used to long breaks after missions; this is just because the Hokage has allowed this,"
Team 7 went their separate ways, prepared for their journey to the capital.
Shikamaru wasn't having a good day. His mom had woken him early to feed the deer, and now he was leaving the village for a troublesome mission. His dad told him to use this opportunity as a learning experience since it was essential for him to have a relationship with the Daimyo as a future clan head. Now, he had to travel to the capital and be around an ocean of people instead of spending his weekend watching clouds and sleeping.
He yawned as he approached a familiar bench. Choji was already there snacking on some chips. As he saw his friend approach Choji, he gave Shikamaru a hum of acknowledgment.
"Ino isn't here yet," asked Shikamaru
Choji swallowed the snack he was eating," no you remember what she said yesterday,
Choji then put on his best Ino impression.
" If I'm going to the capital, I have to do a deep-dive into my wardrobe. "
"Troublesome"
Shikamaru sat down next to Choji, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes. His mind drifted, remembering all the times he and Choji had waited at this same spot for Ino. With all of their fathers being teammates and best friends, they had grown up together. They would often meet on this street since it split off in the direction of each of their clan compounds.
One of the things he liked about the three of them always being together was that he didn't have to change his routine. If he were put on a team with a bunch of people he didn't know, it would be a lot of effort.
"Hey, get up, you lazy bum; we're already running late." Shikamaru heard a familiar voice
Shikamaru opened one eye to see Ino dressed in her usual outfit, with a satchel around her shoulder.
"I thought you were going to wear something fancy," asked Choji
"I couldn't decide, so I brought the best ones. She opened her satchel and inside were several summoning scrolls.
"We're only going to be gone for three days. Why do you need that many outfits," asked Shikamaru
"You can never be underprepared when it comes to fashion."
Shikamaru sighed
Team 10 headed to the meeting spot, a restaurant in the village called The Dango Shop. When they arrived, Shikamaru noticed that Asuma was leaning on a wall outside the shop.
Asuma looked up at his approaching team, a lit cigarette in his mouth
"Oh good, you're here; it's bad practice to keep your fellow ninja waiting,
"What do you mean," asked Ino
Just then, Team 7 emerged from the Dango shop. And to Team 10's shock, they noticed a drastic change in Team 7's appearance. Their usual ninja attire had been replaced,
Naruto wore an open orange jacket with the Uzumaki swirl on the back, a blue shirt, and black orange striped track pants.
Sakura had braided her hair into a ponytail that went down just below her shoulders; she had a red kimono top and kept her black biker shorts; she had wrapped bandages over her arms and legs and had on small emerald earrings with a silver band.
Anko was wearing a trenchcoat similar to her usual but white with a purple inseam; underneath, she had a dark red sleeve-collared shirt, a black skirt that went down to her knees, fishnet leggings, and black shinobi sandals.
"What are they doing here?" Ino asked as she went back and forth between glaring at Sakura and ogling at Sasuke
"Well, both of our teams were assigned to this mission at the last minute, so I wanted it to be a surprise that you get to work with your former classmates," said Asuma
"Shika, Choji," Naruto yelled as he ran forward, greeting his friends.
"Hey, Naruto, want a chip?" Choji offered the bag to Naruto,
"Sure"
"So you finally got rid of that hideous jumpsuit of yours," Shikamaru said as he examined Naruto's new outfit.
"Oh, don't worry, I still have them. I like this new style, but you just can't abandon the classics," Naruto quipped.
"Them? You have more than one?" asked Shikamaru
"Of course, the guy I bought it from gave them all to me for no extra charge. Can you believe it"
"I can, actually."
Asuma spoke up,
You guys can catch up with each other on the road; if we leave now, we can make it to the capital by evening,"
"Evening, I thought the capital was close by," questioned Sakura
"It is, but we are not tree running; this is a very low-risk mission, so we are walking there," explained Kakashi.
"Okay, guys, come on, I have so much to tell you about all the cool ninja stuff I've been doing," Naruto said, gesturing toward his friends.
The genin walked beside each other, with Naruto telling Team 10 about their excursions and Sasuke and Sakura stepping in to stop exaggerations.
Ino and Sakura stayed as far away as possible, occasionally glaring at each other.
Not too far ahead, the Jonin were having a conversation of their own
"So, can I get any details on you and Kurenai? Every time I ask about you and her, she clams up on me," questioned Anko
Asuma coughed on his cigarette, "Well, you know you can't rush these things."
Kakashi looked at Asuma," I know we don't talk much, but I seem to remember when you got back to the village, you said something like, I'm going to tell her how I feel, Kakashi put a hand to his chin and looked up thoughtfully" Wasn't that three years ago at this point?"
Asuma sighed. "Yeah, I did say that it's just complicated,"
"Complicated; I never figured you for someone who dances around feelings, especially for three years," said Anko, frustrated by the lack of initiative taken between her friends.
"Look, before I left, she confessed to me, and I rejected her; I changed a lot since then, but I still feel like that asshole I was before; every time I start to talk to her about it, I just feel guilty,"
Anko paused for a moment before saying
"Yeah, you were kind of an asshole before you joined the guardians."
Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"Real comforting guys"
Asumas took a puff of his cigarette and looked up,
"I don't know why she liked me back then, I was just an angry inconsiderate douche with daddy issues, but I guess she saw something in me."
"You mind if I give some unasked-for advice," asked Anko
"I would say no, but you'll just say it anyway."
"You're not the only one who changed; Kurenai has, too. She's not the same girl who liked you. Don't let your past hold you back from being happy. Also, confess to her so she'll stop bugging me with letters."
"Letters?" Asuma raised his eyebrows
"Yeah, Kurenai is a lot more open when she writes; I come home to letters all the time, filled with just emotional blah," Anko said, exasperated by her best friend's antics.
"Letters, huh? That might be a good idea," Asuma mumbled to himself.
"What did you say"
"Nothing, let's talk about something else. How's your genin doing?"
Anko perked up, and she gave Asuma a detailed and slightly exaggerated version of her team's accomplishments.
Asuma gave an impressed whistle.
"Man, I wish my team had that amount of motivation; it's a struggle to get through team training,"
"Really, that bad?" Kakashi asked
"Our training time is cut short due to all of them doing clan training throughout the week, so they half-ass it when they do," explained Asuma
"Maybe Anko can give you some advice."
"Wait, why me."
Kakashi gestured back at their team.
"The kids put in the work, but you created the schedules and exercises and identified their strengths and weaknesses after only a few days with them. You're a good teacher, Anko, and you should take pride in that.
Anko blushed slightly under the praise.
"Fine, I guess I am an amazing teacher."
She turned to Asuma
"Go ahead and tell me a little about them."
Asuma started
"Well. The three of them have a very interesting dynamic. They are basically siblings in how they act, and the only thing that I can give them credit for is that they have outstanding teamwork. They showed that to me when they passed my test.
"Choji is a follower through and through. He doesn't like conflict, verbal or physical, and he is perfectly content with eating instead of training. Ino is the emotional leader of the three. Usually, I can only get all three of them to commit to something when she yells at them both to do it. But she hates doing any physical activity, and I think being a ninja is around eight or nine on her list of priorities in life. And Shikamaru, "
Asuma sighed, "The kid has to be one of the smartest people I ever met, and he's twelve, but it's like he's in a state of constant burnout for most things around him; they have potential, but it's hard to give guidance on techniques you know nothing about."
Anko thought over everything Asuma said for a second
"Yeah, it sounds like the three of them feel like they are forced to be ninjas, which, if you think about it, is kinda true."
"Really, how do you figure?"
"There are the kids of the most famous team in Konoha outside the Sanin, and all three of them are future clan heads. Not being a ninja was never an option.
Asuma nodded, and he resonated with that feeling of being trapped in something just because of what family you were born into.
"You should probably share your experiences with them; it might help," suggested Anko.
Asuma nodded
Thanks, Anko. I've never considered that I taught teams before, so I was just approaching this like they were a regular team; I've never been too good at what that saying you always use, looking underneath the leaves,"
"Underneath the underneath," Kakashi corrected.
"Yeah, that."
Asuma blew out a smoke ring and looked over at Anko
"Anything else, professor?"
Anko rolled her eyes at the nickname and began to think of more specific strategies.
"For Choji, you should make him take more assertive stances. Offering food as a reward for finishing team training or exercising could make him push his teammates. I have no idea what you should do with Ino. Threaten to tell her dad about her lack of effort. If that doesn't work, then my only suggestion is to talk with Inoichi. He spoils her rotten and is probably the only person who can kick her into gear."
"So, like you're suggesting, I use bribes and blackmail."
Anko shrugged
"If it works, it works."
"Wait, Do you know Inoichi?" asked Asuma.
Anko nodded.
"He was my therapist when I came back to the village. We've shared a few drinks over the years."
"Yeah, I don't know how that conversation will go; he might not have a good reaction to me calling out his parenting,'' said Asuma
"Don't worry, he doesn't have thin skin; if you just frame him as if you want to ensure she is prepared for the future, then I'm sure you can get him on board."
"What do you think about Shikamaru?"
The only thing I can recommend is that you do your best with the other two; you two know that when you are young and are gifted, it comes with a certain amount of arrogance, he just needs to get knocked on his ass by life, and you just have to make sure your team is no worse for wear when you pick him up."
Asuma nodded. "In all seriousness, Anko, the only other person I've seen give such good advice on teaching is Dad; I guess you picked up a lot from him over the years."
Anko smiled. " I guess I have."
As the capital became visible in the distance, Ino finally confronted Sakura. She eyed the bandages around Sakura's arms and legs, which looked eerily similar to how she had been wearing bandages for years.
"So I guess you didn't stop copying me when we graduated the academy; you have to do it while we're genin too."
"I'm not copying you, Ino pig; this is for utility; when I go underground, the dirt feels weird on my skin,"
"Underground? Ino shook her head. Forget about that. Tell me how you did it."
"Did what"
"How did you convince Sasuke to date you?"
"We're not, though."
"That can't be true. Sasuke actually talks to you, and when I try, he ignores me and walks away; you must have forced a rule on him that he can't talk with other girls."
Sakura felt a little heated at her accusation; she had worked hard to build a friendship with Sasuke, and Ino's behavior reminded her of how she acted just a few months ago.
"Listen, Ino Pig, Sasuke and I are just friends."
"There is no way that you don't like him anymore. Don't try to kid yourself."
Sakura lost a little confidence, realizing that what Ino said was true.
"I mean, I guess I still like him, but he has made it clear that he has no interest in dating anyone, so what's the point of pursuing someone romantically if you already know the outcome.
"That's quitter talk, true love doesn't give up,"
Sakura cringed at the phrase she once used.
"You know, for someone who is supposed to know a lot about psychology, you sure are bad at considering others' feelings."
Ino narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying that I am inconsiderate, Forehead"
Ino was actually hurt by that; she felt that empathy was one of her strongest qualities
"YES", Sakura yelled, exasperated
"You know what Im done," Sakura said as she began to walk away from Ino.
"Whatever. I didn't want to talk with you anyway, forehead."
The Jonin looked back at the display,
"Oh, that isn't good, I'll say something to Ino later," said Asuma
Anko looked at both girls, recalling some of the arguments she had with Kurenia in the past.
"Nah, don't I have a feeling they will work out their issues themselves?"
As the two teams approached the capital gates, the genin were amazed at the number of people going in and out of the city.
A figure, impeccably dressed, emerged from the bustling crowd and approached them.
"Welcome, honorable ninjas. The preparations for the weekend festivities are in full swing. Allow me to guide you to your lodgings. The Daimyo, though occupied at the moment, has graciously extended an invitation for you to join him for dinner in a few hours."
"We'll be honored," Asuma said
"Asuma, it's good to see a friendly face again," said the man
"It's a joy to see you again, Rinoda." Asuma's smile was genuine as he extended his hand for a warm handshake.
Naruto looked over to Kakashi and asked.
"How does Asuma sensei know that guy?"
"Asuma served the Daimyo as one of his ninja guards for years; he's quite famous around here."
They made their way to the Daimyo's place. The genin was shocked at how different the capital was from the village; the buildings were taller and more compact, and the streets were filled with a sea of people.
After half an hour, they approached a large gate in front of the Daimyo's palace.
Rinoda flagged down a servant and whispered something in his ear; he then turned back to the group,
Okay, just follow him to your lodgings. Dinner will be ready soon, so I urge you all to meet us in the dining room as soon as you can.
They went to the dining hall after being escorted to their lavish rooms.
The size of it was the equivalent of a Konoha street.
They entered the dining hall, a room that could rival the size of a Konoha street. A grand table, stretching as far as the eye could see, was adorned with a feast fit for royalty. The aroma of the delicacies wafted through the air, tantalizing their senses. A few seats down from the Daimyo, a cornucopia of delicacies awaited them, a testament to the Daimyo's hospitality and wealth.
The Daimyo entered. He was an older man with graying hair, wearing a formal kimono. He saw the group and began to walk toward them with his guards. He then motioned his guards to back up some. Do not smother them; the leaf is our long-term friend.
The guards back up, giving them some space
"Asuma," spoke the Daimyo; he walked forward and gave him a firm handshake; "It is so good to see you again; I understand after what happened, you wanted to get away from the capital, but we miss you here,"
"I certainly miss this place sometimes as well,"
The Daimyo then turned toward team 10, "You must be the latest generation of the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichihs clans. You know your fathers made a similar trip here to have dinner with me when they were a few years older than you. I'm grateful to have lived long enough to have met their children."
All three of them bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, sir," said Ino
The Daiyo then addressed Kakashi. "I don't believe we have ever had the pleasure to meet Hatake; I knew your father quite well, "
To most, Kakashi's body language didn't change. Still, Anko and Asuma noticed him get tense at the mention of his father.
"Well, I'm sorry to say I'm not as strong as my father, but I hope that I have lived up to his name,"
Daimyo smiled. "If the stories I hear about you are true, my boy, then you have done more than just that."
He turned to Anko, I'm sorry for my ignorance, but I don't seem to recognize you,
"Oh, my name is Anko Mitarashi. I'm a special Jonin from Konoha; it's a pleasure to meet you."
Kakashi spoke up, "She's one of the best teachers we have in Konoha, and she's the only reason our team has made such progress in such a short amount of time.
"Oh, is she now? I commend you; teaching the next generation is one of the most noble tasks you can pursue."
Anko smiled, some of her anxiety leaving her body
"I fully agree."
The Daimyo then moved on to the genin of Team 7
"And this must be the famous Team 7. Hiruzen sent me a letter about you attending the festival, and I knew I had to meet you; I must thank you for the job you did in clearing up that business with the merchant guild,"
"It was no issue for us, sir; we were just doing our jobs," Sakura said, almost choking on her
cavernous
"You're a really nice old guy. I expected you to be all stuffy and proper."
Everyone looked at Naruto,
Sakura sat there, eyes wide, mouth agape, wishing she was able to cocoon
The Daimyo broke the tension and gave a laugh.
"Oh, you would be surprised; my friendly demeanor puts many people off; what is your name, young man."
"Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage of Konoha," exclaimed Naruto
"The future Hokage, huh? Well, if you keep that confidence, I have no doubt you'll have that position someday."
Naruto smiled immensely, happy that someone so important was acknowledging his dream.
After that, the dinner went along as usual until the Daimyo at the head of the table spoke up near the end of the dinner.
"I would like to dedicate a toast to the young ninja from Konoha. I'm certain that each of you, with your unique skills and unwavering dedication, holds immense potential as the future leaders of Konoha. It is an honor to have you here tonight."
All of the genin beamed under his words.
The dinner ended with most of the occupants in near food comas, and Team 7 and 10 retired to their rooms for the night.
The next day, the Jonin were giving a talk to the genin.
"Okay, some ground rules: you guys can explore the festival, but no drinking or doing anything you shouldn't be doing; you guys may be "adults" in the eyes of the law, but in our eyes, you're still children, got it. Anko said sternly
They all nodded
"What are you guys going to do?" asked Sakura.
"All the things you guys can't do, that's why we are leaving you by yourselves," answered Kakashi
"I feel like there is some hypocrisy hidden somewhere here," commented Ino
Asuma shrugged. "Do what I say, not as I do."
The genin strolled leisurely through the festival grounds, their eyes drawn to the myriad of stalls selling tantalizing food and exciting games. Naruto and Choji, unable to resist the temptation, paused again at their fifth stall before continuing their journey.
Ino, with a playful yet slightly exasperated tone, called out,
"Come on, guys! Let's not forget the festival itself. If you two gluttons are going to stop at every stall, we will leave you behind."
Choji turned around and had a severe look on his face;
"Then, you may leave us."
Choji then gestured around at the food stalls;
"This is one of the few places in the world where you can embark on a culinary adventure, trying hundreds of foods from across the nations; we are not simply stopping just to fill our stomachs but to sate the relentless quest to find new flavors."
Isn't that right? Naruto
Naruto turned around, mouth still full.
"Yeah, sure."
"Wow, I didn't know you were so passionate about food," said Sakura
"The Akimichis hold food in high regard; it's not just a necessity for us; it's a passion, but seriously, I don't want to hold you guys up; me and Naruto will be fine by ourselves if you want to go on ahead."
Fine, come on guys, let's explore the entire festival, exclaimed Ino, excited
Shikamaru began to formulate a plan to prevent himself from walking across the entire city. He spotted a shogi cafe down the street, and he then turned to a likely ally in Sasuke and asked.
"You want to play shogi."
"Shika, why would you want to do something you always do? There are literally hundreds of things to do and see, and you want to play shogi? Ino said in disbelief.
"Yeah," said Shikamaru, bored
"Fine, do what you want for all I care. Come on, Sasuke, we can have the festivals ourselves."
Sasuke looked at her blankly.
He then turned to Shikamaru.
"Sure, I'll play; I don't have much experience, though."
"That's not a problem; it's pretty easy to pick up once you go through a few matches."
Ino watched, rubbing her eyes, as Shikarmu and Sasuke vanished down the street toward the Shogi cafe.
Ino and Sakura were left alone, leaving a tense air between them.
After a few moments, Ino started to walk forward; when Sakua didn't' follow, she turned around,
"Come on, forehead, we may be rivals, but that doesn't mean I want to go around the festival alone."
Sakura smiled lightly. "I guess I can go with you, Ino Pig."
Sakura and Ino began exploring the festival; at first, it was awkward; with both being in such a friendly environment, they couldn't bring themselves to argue. Still, after a few activities and jokes, it was as if a dam broke. They began talking as if they had barely spoken outside of arguments the last few years. They ran through stalls, trying out treats and games. They rested on a bench and watched a theater play about the founding of the Land of Fire. It was terrible, and the girls held back tears as they continued to joke about the play for the rest of the day. Their day ended when the sun began to set, and they found themselves at a shrine overlooking a portion of the city.
Sakura returned from a nearby stall, a cone of ice cream in her hand, the sweet scent of vanilla and strawberry wafting through the air. Ino, leaning against the railing, turned to her with a smile.
Here's your ice cream, Sakura said as she handed it to Ino
"Thanks, forehead."
They sat there for a few minutes before Sakura said what had been on her mind for the last few hours.
"Ino, I've been wondering... why did we drift apart?" Sakura's voice was filled with a mix of curiosity and sadness.
"Can we not do this now, forehead? I'm actually enjoying being near you."
"I'm serious, Ino," tears began to form at the corners of Sakrua's eyes.
"Spending time with you today made me realize how much I yearned for our friendship, Ino. It's a feeling I've missed for so long."
Ino eyes soften
"You already know why it was because of Sasuke."
"They can't be it."
"What do you mean? Of course, it is; we literally declared that we were love rivals,"
"No, it wasn't just that; I felt that we were drifting apart before I started liking Sasuke, "
Ino sighed.
" I didn't really feel like psychoanalyzing myself today, but I've thought about that too, and I came to a realization,"
"What's that?"
"I was more mad at the fact that I thought you were copying me than you liking Sasuke."
"What do you mean?"
"In the academy, you changed Sakura. I thought you were becoming more confident, but you kept acting like me. You became loud and pushy. You even started a fan club after me. It was just so annoying to see you copying everything I did. I became friends with you because you were you, not me. After you confessed your love to Sasuke, I took that as a final straw. I couldn't be friends with another me."
"So you acknowledge that you're hard to be friends with."
Ino smiled. "My dad taught me to be aware of my flaws."
"It must be hard to keep a list of those."
Ino laughed
"But I felt like we lost our dynamic. I am supposed to be the smart, cute, funny, extroverted one, and you are the dorky, shy one."
"Hey," Sakura punched Ino lightly on the shoulder.
Sakura looked up at the evening sky.
Thanks for telling me, Ino. I wasn't trying to copy you; I actually looked up to you.
Ino nodded. "Makes sense."
Sakura narrowed her eyes. "You really know how to ruin a moment, don't you"?
Ino shrugged. "Hey, I'm just agreeing with you; looking up to me is something anyone in their right mind would do."
"Anyway, I'm just trying to say, Ino, I won't mimic you or anyone anymore. From now on, I will strive to be the best version of myself. "
A whooshing sound went through the air as a fireworks display launched into the night sky. An array of fireworks and lights followed as the Flame Festival Fireworks show began.
Sakura and Ino watched the fireworks in a comfortable silence,