Naruto Karyuden

Chapter 51: Academy Days X - Tangled Threads

ACADEMY DAYS X - TANGLED THREADS

Yamanaka flower shop

There was a lot of work involved around the Shinobi Union meeting. It was such a big gathering, much bigger than what the security measures at the time could handle. But, with the work of the Sensory Unit, the new Police Department, and the ANBU, it all went off with no issue.

Now, it's time for Ino to relax a bit. Back in the flower shop, surrounded by flowers and doing what she loves. Some might think it's a step down, that getting behind a counter is less exciting than leading teams, managing personnel, barking orders... and it is. That's also why it's such a breath of fresh air.

The way Ino sees, it's exactly because she has such close contact with the people that she can do her job as a shinobi better. You also just need to relax in general.

Right now, the shop has a few people looking through the selection she has; some looking for bouquets for a loved one or a potted plant to spruce up the home.

One person she didn't really expect to come into her shop, ever, was Naruto. And yet, here he is, walking through the door, setting off the little bell, and looking around like a lost puppy.

"Naruto, hey!" Ino greets him. "What brings you here?" She leans over her counter with a smirk. "Trying to woo Hinata?"

"Uh, something like that?" Naruto scratches his head.

"What, just going to mildly impress her?" Ino chuckles. "Setting the bar low, I guess that's a strategy. Unless..." Ino steps back in faux shock. "It's not for some other girl, is it, Naruto? Tell me you're not-"

"Of course not!" Naruto interrupts in a louder voice than he intended. The looks he gathered make him shrink in his spot so he steps closer to the counter to talk more privately. "What kinda guy do you take me for?!"

"I'm just kidding, Naruto, geez. Alright, what do you need?"

He shuffles his foot on the ground, drawing imaginary shapes. "Uh, well, I was thinking, and I wasn't really sure how to do it and I figured since you run a shop and all that you could help although I dunno if there's a-"

Ino snaps her fingers to draw his attention. "Naruto. I can't help you if you don't tell me with what."

"I... wanted to ask..." He grumbles before looking up at her with eyes pleading for help. "How do I propose?"

Ino stares blankly. She doesn't blink for a good while as she absorbs his question. After a few moments of very awkward silence, a smile creeps across her face. The smile grows wider and wider into a grin before she shrieks with glee and reaches over to hug him.

Everyone else in the store raises the brow at the reaction.

Ino lets go of her death grip and addresses the patron. "Alright, everyone, the store's closing. This is an alpha level code red emergency." She goes around the ones present to hurriedly assist them with their purchases. "Grandma's birthday? Chrysanthemums." She picks out a bouquet and moves to another patron. "Hanging pots? Have to go with Begonias."

Once everyone is out, she flips the 'Closed' sign and locks the door, and turns around with a wide smile. "Alright, what do you have so far?"

"Um, nothing?" Naruto rubs the back of his neck, knowing he's ill-prepared for all of this.

"Oh, you poor boy." Ino gives him a sympathetic look. "We have a lot to work on."

"Hey, look, it's not like I had a chance to ever learn this stuff. Or anyone to teach me to begin with. And besides, Hinata's from a big clan so I dunno what the deal is."