❝ beautiful! ❞

is a simp for Shizuka. Like literally everyone. From how he looks at her, how he speaks about her, even how he acts. Everything revolves around her. That girl is very influential in Uzumaki Naruto's life. Like she is the only girl in his life, his world, his future.

And when Naruto saw Shizuka, together with an unknown man not far from him, everything stops. His eyes didn't move from her sight, his mind was blank, and he felt numb.

"No, no, no one is going to ruin my ship!!" Ino growled, smoke coming out from her ears. "Even though you are a hottie, you will still be crossed out of my holy book!!!"

"Jeez Ino, do you still have that book?!" Sakura gasped, moving from Naruto's right side to go straight to Ino in an instant. Taking the purple book in her hand and immediately examining it carefully. "What?! There is Sai too?!"

"You can't deny that he is hot too, Sakura!!" Ino gasped, pulling the book closer to Sakura. "Moreover, he has called me pretty~"

"What the―!! You really don't know his attitude in the team!!" Sakura exclaimed. "His words annoyed everyone!!"

"Hey! If you're talking about attitude, look at Sasuke! He's much worse!!"

"What did you say?!"

Not paying attention to the argument next to him, Naruto still stared at Shizuka and the stranger with a sharp gaze. Both of his hands went into the pockets of his pants, hiding his clenched fists. "Who is he?" asked Naruto in a deep voice, teeth gritting in annoyance.

Sakura stopped. "Oh, I don't know his name. But what I do know is he is a jounin and two years older than us," she shrugged. "they went on a mission together last week."

Naruto hummed, still focused on them. Observing how the man's eyes looked sparking and his wide smile. Oh, and don't forget those disgusting blush on his cheek! Fortunately. Shizuka was still using her stern stoic expression. From there, Naruto couldn't help but feel smug because of the girl's attitude towards him.

But when he leaned toward her, Naruto's smugness just disappeared in instant.

"No boy, no boy," Sakura muttered, shaking her head in displeased.

"Go Naruto! Show him that Shizuka is yours!!" Ino exclaimed, fuming as she pointed at them.

And Naruto didn't need to be told twice as he immediately walked towards them. His walk seemed relaxed and he immediately put his arm around Shizuka's shoulders in a friendly manner. "Shi-chan!!" he greeted in a joyful voice with a wide smile and shining sparkling eyes. Hiding the dark feeling on his heart.

"Naruto?" Shizuka raised an eyebrow, obviously confused about his sudden appearance.

"Oh um, hello Naruto," the man in front of him smiled awkwardly. But his cheeks were still flushed which made Naruto tsked inside. "You were so cool during the war."

"Thanks," he beamed with a closed eyes smile. "I really want to know your name but, Shi-chan and I have to go now!! Bye!" Naruto made Shizuka turn around with him to leave, before he looked back, flashing him Kurama's eyes.

The man who Naruto didn't want to know his name was immediately frightened and walked away. Making him grin triumphantly.

"Ok, what happened?" Of course, Naruto had guessed that Shizuka would not be fooled by his words just now. But at least she did go along with what Naruto's plans were.

"Nothing," Naruto let go of his arms from her and instead crossed them behind his head.

"Then, why did you say we had to go? Did we have a meeting or something?" She interrogates, crossing her arms. "I don't remember there was."

"We're going to a festival!"

"Huh?"

"Shi-chan don't remember, huh?" Naruto leaned forward. " Didn't I told you I would take you to every festival in Konoha?"

Shizuka looked taken aback and she blinked many times. "I thought you were just lying," she muttered under her breath.

"Hey, you know I'll never go back to my promise!"

"..I know."

○○○

Naruto waited patiently at the gate of Shizuka's house. He was currently wearing a blood red, kimono dress that went down to his ankles, with golden embroidery of nine tailed fox, with a tight piece of plain black cloth that was tied neatly around his waist, hugging his figure. His feet were nestled in black sandals. On top of all this, he wears a black haori that stopped at his shin. It was decorated with white and golden fire pattern around the hem.

His ears twitched when he heard the gates open and his focus immediately fell on the girl who stepped out. And Naruto was sure, right now, he was meeting an angel.

That girl was wearing a pearly white, kimono dress that went down to her ankle, with green flower petals decorating it. And a piece of green cloth wrapped around her abdomen, with a ribbon tied knot on her back, hugging her figure perfectly. Her feet nestled in brown sandals. On top of it all, she wears a plain pale green haori that stopped at mid-thigh length. Her hair, styled beautifully in a loose low braid down her back and she had her makeup done in a natural way.

Naruto fell silent. He can't say a word as his eyes still fixed on her.

Beautiful. Gorgeous. Magnificent.

"Oi, Naruto!"

Blinking a few times, Naruto has regained consciousness. And a red tinge immediately colored his cheeks. "Let's go!" He quickly took Shizuka's palm so that the girl wouldn't see his blushing cheeks and took her straight to the festival.

Like its name, Flower Blooming Festival, there's a limitless amount of flowers adorning the streets, with flowerbeds being placed everywhere. The buildings, painted with flowers design on them. And the streets, some of them are also painted, while others, consist of very large, circular mosaics made of wide, flats stones, which bear floral and natural motifs in their center. There were also adorned by ropes suspended high above them, their edges secured to the buildings facing the street, which had numbers of triangular flags hanging from them; vines were also used.

Naruto adjusted their hands together. Pulled her into the crowd. Like other festivals, the streets are filled with food stalls, drinks, games, and even goods. The only difference is the shapes that are made like flowers, flower scents, and so on.

"Shi-chan! Shi-chan! Look!" Naruto happily pointed at one of the merchant stalls he saw and without waiting for Shizuka's answer, immediately pulled her there.

He took a headband decorated with yellow fox ears that matched his hair with fur at the bottom and put it on. "How did I look? These are Kurama's ears!" asked Naruto, staring at Shizuka to wait for her answer.

"Huh? Kurama's ears?" Shizuka's forehead frowned slightly. "They look more like cat ears," she said with a hint of disgust. Naruto remembered that Shizuka didn't like cats. He didn't know why though.

Naruto shook his head, ignoring Kurama's screams of protest in his mind. "But it's written fox ears. And Kurama is a fox!"

"So that's fox ears. Not Kurama's, stupid," she concluded.

"Oh, you foxes are here!" Naruto turned to the source of the voice after hearing that familiar voice. And walking towards them, there was the Sixth Hokage with his usual lazy face, and his usual clothes, and Yamato who was wearing a brown yukata.

"Kakashi-sensei! Captain Yamato!" Naruto greeted cheerfully.

"What are you doing here?" next to him, Shizuka asked in an irritated tone.

"Oh? Shizuka doesn't like it when her date is interrupted, huh?" Kakashi teased, hands on his hips as he leaned forward.

Naruto watched Shizuka's face turn red. "D-Date? What nonsense are you talking about?!" she argued quickly.

"Aha! You're blushing!!"

"Stop it, you cat!! It's just makeup!!"

"Why am I a cat?! A dog would be better!!"

The blonde haired man could only blink a few times at their interactions. He just realized that Shizuka seemed very close to Kakashi and they teased each other very often. Naruto became curious about their relationship. And why are they so close.

"They were close because they did missions together before," the said teen turned to Yamato who gave him a reassuring smile, as if he could read what Naruto was thinking. "And Kakashi-senpai already considered Shizuka as his little sister. Considering that they both have no one."

"I see," Naruto nodded in understanding. Glad that he found out something about Shizuka again.

"But, looks like we have to stop them now," Yamato let out a sigh, walking towards the bickering siblings as he clapped his hands to make them notice. "Alright, stop it you two! Let us just enjoy the festival in peace!"

Luckily the two of them immediately stopped. And Kakashi immediately wrapped his arm around Yamato's shoulders. "C'mon Yamato, let's leave this love birds~"

"How many times have I told you―" Naruto chuckled, wrapping his arm around Shizuka's waist which automatically made the girl freeze.

"Let's go, Shi-chan," they continued their walk again in the festival. And yet again, something came. They were girls, and Naruto had guessed that they wanted him.

"Naruto-sama~"

Naruto was used to it.

"I'm sorry ladies, I'm here with my friend and I want to be with her in peace at this festival," said Naruto with a warm smile. "So please don't disturb me and enjoy the festival yourselves."

There was some disappointment written on their expressions, but there were some whose smiles grew wider. "Are you with Shizuka-san?"

"Eh? Yeah. Why?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion seeing their smiles widening even more.

"We'll make you even more charming for your date, Naruto-sama!" One of them shouted with joy, while taking out an object in her small bag. Two of them immediately grabbed Naruto's arm and took him to a quieter place.

Naruto didn't know what happened to him, but the girls were doing something to his face. There are also those who are playing with his hair.

"Ta da!!" she took out a small mirror and told Naruto to observe himself in it. He didn't see any change, except for one which left him speechless in shock. On the lids of his eyes, he was painted similar to his sage mode. It's just that it's reddish orange in color.

"It looks like my sage mode."

The ladies nodded in excitement. "Yes! It gives you a foxy seductive look!! And with your fox ears too!! Handsome!!"

"Really? Thanks," Naruto laughed. "But it looks like I have to go back to Shizuka. Please, excuse me!!"

And yet another new problem is Shizuka who disappeared. Naruto looked around, but didn't see a green haired girl at all. Especially in a crowd like this. He turned around, surveying every stall until he saw a green hair in a corner.

Naruto quickly approached her. And there, Shizuka was eating a flower shaped bun. No doubt it's a red bean flavor. With a few bags on her hands.

"Shi-chan! Don't just disappear like that!"

"I just bought food," she replied briefly as she devoured the food in her hand. Then her green eyes stopped at Naruto's eyes.

"Oh, they gave me this earlier!" Said Naruto, pointing to his eyes. "It's an eye thingy, I don't know its name though. What do you think?"

Shizuka stepped forward, her face leaning towards Naruto's eyes which made him immediately close his eyes. He could feel the girl rubbing his eyelids gently.

Shizuka's actions successfully made Naruto's heart beat faster. The proximity, the touch, even the sound of her breath ... he could feel it all. And he enjoyed it.

"It looks like your sage mode," she spoke after a few minutes.

"Yeah, only darker."

"You may be the only man who still looks handsome using eye shadow," Shizuka muttered under her breath. But Naruto was sure he heard it clearly. He opened his eyes in shock, which directly met Shizuka's green eyes straight away.

"Wha-what did you say?" Naruto was stuttering a little in disbelief. He didn't hear it wrong, right?

"No-nothing!!" Shizuka took a few steps back, her face already bright red. "You probably hear something. This festival is very noisy too!!"

"Eh? But I'm sure Shi-chan told me that I'm handsome!" Naruto smirked, taking a step forward which made the girl step back. Seeing that, Naruto chuckled.

"Never mind, let's walk again."

Naruto intertwined their hands and walked again. With Naruto sometimes stealing Shizuka's food which made the girl always slap his hand. However, until now, Naruto was feeling ecstatic.

"Pretty!"

"Eh?" both of them stopped and looked down. There was a little girl wearing a pink yukata. Her orange hair was in two pigtails.

"Pretty Onee-chan!" shouted the kid again, grinning broadly at Shizuka. Naruto turned to the girl next to him, seeing her flushed cheeks and wide eyes.

"Um... Thanks," she whispered with the most awkward smile she could make. Although it looks very forced and even a little strange. She also stood a little closer to Naruto, to hide herself. It was obvious from her movements that Shizuka was not usually praised for her appearance.

"For Onee-chan!" The little girl gave a flower crown she was holding to Shizuka. Her eyes shone, hoping that the green haired girl would take it.

"...thank you," awkwardly, Shizuka bent down and take it.

Naruto decided to help Shizuka and crouched too. "What's your name, pretty girl?" asked Naruto with a smile.

"Natsu! Hinata Natsu!!" she replied excitedly, looking pleased that she could pronounce her name aloud and correctly.

She has the same name as Shi-chan's Dragon!

"Well hello Natsu, I'm Naruto," Naruto said warmly. "And this pretty girl is Shizuka," then he turned back to Natsu. "why are you here alone? Where is your family?"

As if she just realized, the little girl gasped. "Oh, I was with nii-san! But I don't know why he's missing now!!" she answered without any fear in it.

"Really? You did a good job not to be scared. Now, let's find your brother―"

"Natsu!!!"

Before they had time to move, a shrill voice stopped them. And not far from them, there was a boy who also had orange hair and was wearing a light brown yukata.

"Shouyo nii-san!!" Natsu waved her hand for her brother to see. And quickly the boy named Shouyo running towards them.

"Oh, I'm sorry for troubling you!!" Shouyo bowed a few times. "I'm Hinata Shouyo! Thank you for looking after Natsu!!"

"Oh, it's okay," and after the boy opened his eyes and saw Naruto, his eyes lit up and his smile widened.

"You're Uzumaki Naruto!!" he shouted as he jumped a few times in excitement. "I really admire you!! Just wait, I will be able to become a great ninja like you!!"

Naruto blinked before giving him a wide grin. "Alright, kid! I'll wait for you!!"

Finally, the Hinata siblings left, leaving the two of them behind. Naruto turned to look at Shizuka who had been silent. He took the flower crown she was still holding and put it on her head.

Naruto took a few steps back so he could get a good look at it. And really ... Shizuka looks really beautiful. The flower crown looks good on her, matching with her dress, it complimented her looks. She looked very feminine now, and Naruto liked it. Man, he couldn't count the number of times Naruto had complimented her on being so pretty.

"You're so beautiful."

Shizuka immediately flushed red. Her mouth opened and closed, unable to utter a word. And Naruto couldn't lie that he liked seeing Shizuka blushed.

Kurama, remind me to always tell Shi-chan that she is beautiful!

Naruto chuckled. "The parade will be soon," then he looked down at her dress. "Can you jump with that?"

"...I don't know," she replied, her cheeks still flushed. "It's a little tight."

Without giving any notification, Naruto lowered his body. His hands are wrapped around her shoulders and the other is on the back of her knees.

"Wa-wait, Naruto! Wha-What are you doing, nanodayo!"

Naruto jumped onto the roof of a building and lowered her casually. "You can see the parade easier this way."

"At least tell me beforehand!!" she exclaimed, hiding her blush with the inside of her elbows.

"Oh come on, the parade's about to start."

And sure enough, the parade started right away. The streets cleared with onlookers pulled over to make way for passing carriages. The carriages were decorated with various kinds and shapes of flowers. Plus, the lights around it make the train stand out in the night. People participating in the parade wear luxurious dresses or kimonos. Coupled with a captivating fire and light show.

"Beautiful right?" Naruto turned to look at Shizuka whose gaze was still on the parade. Her eyes held curiosity and excitement, reminding Naruto like a child.

"...yeah."

Naruto fell silent again. Allowing Shizuka to enjoy this festival. Because seeing Shizuka enjoying this was much better for him.

"Naruto?"

He hummed, turned his head towards Shizuka who was already staring at him.

"Thank you," and Shizuka smiled. Not a small smile or a forced smile. It's a genuine smile. Her smile was wide, even her eyes were closed. This was the first time Naruto had seen Shizuka smile this wide.

Naruto felt his breath stop, his eyes wide. Seeing that smile that was still printed clearly in his memory. His stomach was churning, letting out a full pack of butterflies inside of it.

And at that moment, Uzumaki Naruto knew that he fell in love with her,

hard.