[Chapter 43: Obligatory Shopping Trip]

I hummed a tune as I twirled the locks of hair in between my fingers. Damn... why does everyone have such nice hair? I couldn't help but muse, twisting them into a simple braid. I mean, mine's better than my past one but... these guys are on a whole other level!

It was just another day full of torture— I mean, training with Shiori. It went as usual, until at the end, Shiori had gestured me into standing next to him, under the frosted leaves of our usual tree. The air was much colder now that there was snow, but it was still pretty much the same for me, being hot-blooded and all. "Are ya gonna tell me something or am I just gonna braid your hair?" I asked him curiously, tilting my head to get a better look at him.

"Just a moment," The mute adult signed, an exhale barely audible as he darted his red eyes at me. I just fiddled with his pink hair, watching the male then shift his weight towards me. "Soon, there will be a new Kazekage."

I dropped their braid. What. It was such a shock, yet I should have expected this. Blinking, I quickly recomposed myself. "I knew it's been almost two years but I totally forgot about that," I mumbled to myself, though I'm pretty sure they heard that.

"Do you know who they are?" His nimble fingers motioned back, Shiori's hand moving his hair to the side.

"Mhm, Gaara-chan," I giggled at his name. 'I don't care about politics', he said, and look at him now— how ironic. I placed a hand on my cheek. But isn't it kinda too late for that? Like, they were doing fine but to get one just now... could it be the power of plot? I darted my attention back at him, who just unfurled all my hard work. Noooo!!! "But why are ya telling me this? It's a Suna thing, right?" Why does this feel like a gateway to another mini-arc— I mean, what?

The adult had held a hand out, where snowflakes fell onto it. I huffed softly. It would have looked cool if it weren't for the fact that I was looking for an answer. "According to Tsunade, some representatives of Konoha will be attending the ceremony, to show our trust." Tilting their head at me, his arm went limp. "And you and I will be one of them."

Eh? I blinked as my heart suddenly pounded. I will... be... "Shi-Shi!" I pounced on him, which all the jonin did was just stand still. "That's so— that's great! Do you know how much I— oh! Oh! You can finally meet Kugui-chan! Heck, I can even tease the hell of Gaara-chan!" I exclaimed with a bounce in my steps, hopping up and down, enough that I could even be taller than Shiori. That was something I noticed during this time skip: we were growing. Kinda scary, the power of puberty is too strong!

"Yes, yes," Brushing me off with a— awww, he's smiling— curt turn of his body, I just giggled at their actions. "I'll be going in place of the Hokage."

Makes sense, I thought to myself, placing my hands behind my back. "Who else is going?" I questioned the shinobi.

In sudden thought, a hand rose to cover his permanently red-cheeked face. "Well, there will be..."

Huh. That's a lot of people. I noted as I scanned through the crowd. In front of me was the whole Konoha 12 gangs, all wrapped up together. Turns out, and maybe Kugui had a hand in this, we were all conveniently chosen as representatives. But then again, most of us are clan heads so what did I expect?

"Man, this is such a drag," I darted my eyes to Shikamaru who rubbed the back of his neck. "Why do we have to do this anyway?"

"Because!" Ino beside him placed her hands on her hips with a huff, her hair, oh hey it grew, whipping against the movement. "We wanna look great on our trip— don't wanna tamper our reputation, right?" She grinned, a finger pointed towards the Nara. "Besides, aren't you sick of wearing the same outfit for years?"

Ah yes, we were actually near a whole street full of clothing shops. I didn't even know this— did this happen in the anime? But we were here to buy new clothes, clothes that I'm pretty sure are the ones they'll wear in Shippuden.

"Troublesome woman." He was bonked by a nearby Sakura.

I heard a huff from my other side. I blinked, why did that sound like Sasu— oh. My eyes landed on Neji. That's why. "This is a waste of time." The brune held his arms crossed.

Tenten laughed it off, "Oh come on, it's not every day we do this so might as well enjoy it."

"That's right!" Lee piped in, ecstatic as ever. "We must strive for things like this For that is youth!"

To be honest, I didn't know what I was doing, just inching towards Sakura. "So uh," I couldn't help but say. "What are we supposed to do?"

"We were supposed to go inside but," With a twitch of her eye, her smile looked strained. "Cha— these people don't even know what to do!"

I giggled, "Well, their defense, I don't know either." Nor does the author. I mean— what? Clapping my hands together, I watched as everyone's heads turned to me. I smiled, "Why don't we split into groups of girls and boys and come back within..." I glanced up at the sky before settling on the number. "Let's say for 2 hours. Hopefully, that'll be more than enough to get new outfits."

"I don't think that's a good estimate," The Yamanaka stated, narrowing her eyes at me.

I just shrugged. "It's for the boys' sanity."

Kiba and Choji frantically nodded their heads, looking like huge bobbleheads. The girl just sighed, before gesturing us girls to follow here.

And so now starts the obligatory shopping trip.

ꆤꆤ

"Now that I think about it," I mused out loud, looking through all the racks. "I don't really have much to change."

"Why is that?" Hinata beside asked, picking up a jacket, the jacket that looked like the one she wore in Shippuden, and hovered it near her chest. "Would this be okay?" Her voice was meek as if she was embarrassed by that.

Awww, I couldn't help but gush to myself. "I think it looks cute on you!" I said genuinely with a small thumbs up. The smile on my face widened as I stifled a giggle. "Heck, I'm pretty sure Naruto would say the same thing!"

"E— eh?!" Her cheeks burst pink as her light eyes averted away. "You— you think so?" The Hyuuga raised the clothing yet it did nothing to stop her blushing face.

I let out a laugh as she only became more flustered. Even after all these years... she's just so cute! "Well," I rotated my body towards her, placing my hands behind my back. "Even if it was a little plain, I never really got sick with my outfit." I lifted an index finger. "I mean— turtleneck and shorts? People love that!" And it was really practical too!

Now that she was back to normal, Hinata hummed out in thought. "I see," The girl glanced back at me. "But is there anything you maybe want to wear?"

I twirled a lock of my hair. What did I like? "...maybe a haori?" She rose a brow so I continued. "Like— they're so simple yet they can be so pretty!" Also gives off those cool wise vibes! I blinked at I suddenly got other ideas. "Oo! How about sweatpants and uh— oh! Heelys!"

"Heelys?" The kunoichi repeated with a hint of confusion in her tone. "What are those?"

Those are my crocs. But regardless of thoughts, I darted my eyes away. I forgot those don't exist in this world. I glanced at the ground, hand under my chin. "Maybe Tenten can make them for me..." I giggled at the sound of that. Watch me zooming through all my enemies with my Heelys!

Hinata could only stare at me with concern.

౪

"So, what'd you get?" I asked Hiro, who held a few shopping bags in his hands. Behind us, Ino was screaming at the boys but we're just gonna ignore that okay?

"Should we really ignore that?" Hiro gestures to the chaos, brow raised.

I laughed, turning a blind eye like it was second nature. "Be glad they aren't getting their weapons out." I glanced back at the Hyuuga heir, pulling a chair next to a table. I sat down and placed my bags down— he did the same. "So..." I placed a hand on my cheek, leaning in. "Are ya gonna tell me?"

The boy just rolled his eyes with a small quirk of his lips. "Consider it a surprise." I childishly puffed out my cheeks, earning a small chuckle out of him. "Why do you ask, anyway?"

"Becauuuuuse," Slurring out the 'because', I let out a huff. "I already know how everyone else will look," I titled my head. "But then again, just describing it wouldn't be fun." In a displeased manner, I let out a hum... what's a good way to reveal it? It then hit me, pathetically snapping my fingers. "Wanna strip for me?"

He choked on his spit.

"Wha— what the I couldn't help but quizzically giggle as his cheeks grew red. "Why would you consider saying that?!"

My lungs hurt from laughter at how scandalous he sounded. "Wh— ha— hat?" I tried to keep my voice calm, only to fail. I placed my hands in my lap, tilting my head at him. "I've seen plenty of dicks before— it's fine."

"You what—"

I gasped, clapping my hands together before placing a hand over my mouth. "Oooooo, ya scared that I find out your dick is small?" I teased with a huge grin plastered on my face.

"My dick is not small!" Hiro burst out. Ah— And just like that, his eyes widened, body still. My eyes widened, clutching my sides at my seat. He... He said it...! In shame, he slumped back in his chair. It was as if he could feel the utter amusement I had. And if so, F. "Why do you do this to me...?" He mumbled with his head in his arms.

I giggled (okay, I may have rolled over the ground in laughter for a minute), "Awww, tsun tsun, don't be like that." The shinobi only groaned in response.

How adorable... Blinking, I noticed the hair that was usually tucked behind his ear had fallen out. Reaching a hand out, I attempted to tuck it in for him.

But at that moment, he raised his head, eyes now darted at mine.

My breath hitched— uwaaah, suddenly he's too close! Pushing down my erratic thoughts, I glanced back at his hair, only to get the full view of his face instead. Huh, even if it was one difference— "Damn, you're really pretty."

Ah. It slipped out. My cheeks suddenly felt warm and tingly but for some reason, I couldn't move away. No... he's just so pretty.

One blink. Two blinks. And then he shot away. "Ha—Haaaah?!" Hiro reeled back against his seat, eyes wide as his rigid shoulders shot up. "Wh— Princess, what was that for?!"

"It just came out???" I suddenly said it in a rush, my arms up and open. Why is my heartbeat suddenly so loud, what is going on?! "I— well, it's true though? And aren't you used to compliments??"

"Not from you!" He explained, ears tinted a nice shade of red. But then the Hyuuga frantically pushed back. "No— I mean, I— uh—" The boy sputtered, hand on his head as he averted his eyes. "Just not that!"

What? He's flustered that I called him pretty? I was confused, really confused. I mean, I mostly see things cute so, uh— wait, this isn't going anywhere. Smiling away to hide how fast my heart was beating, I cocked my head to the heir. "Really? Want me to compliment you more?"

He let out a squeak— a squeak! Kya~ that alone was cute! "Hell no! I mean— sure but, uh," Was that steam coming out of his ears? "Don't do it... so sudden."

...Huh. Well, now I'm gonna do that.

"Oi, you two!" My body tensed as I heard Kiba's voice. Ah— my tier 3 sub. We both turned our heads towards the source, to find everyone there and— why do they look like they just had a whole war that later had a musical adaptation? "We're gonna leave without you!"

"Not with that attitude, you're not." Grabbing Hiro's hand, he yelped as I pushed the chakra onto my feet, body-flickering next to the Inuzuka. I giggled as the dog boy then stumbled at the sight of me, letting go of the slightly dazed Hyuuga. "Come on, Hiro, let's go."

The boy blinked, snapping out of his daze. "Ah, uh, yeah..." He straightened up his back with a hand rubbing the back of his nape, giving me one last look before moving away.

Satisfied with his rather flabbergasted answer, I turned away. But then, as we walked, I couldn't help but pursue my lips. What was that reaction? I got reminded of Hiro's flustered state. While it was cute, it's not normal for him when receiving compliments. What was different from any other time someone complimented him?

Try all I might, I couldn't find an answer. I just shrugged, biting down a sigh. Oh well, I can figure it out later: we have a village to take over— I mean, visit!

Extra:

"Hey Tenten, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey—"

"What?"

"Wanna help me get Heelys?"

"...what is that?"