Happier Than Ever: A Naruto Uzumaki Love Story

Chapter Eleven: Elusive

*KAZUNA*

She didn't know how long they'd been training together, but the feeling she got from fighting the bushy browed boy was quite the rush. The only speculator still remaining on the sidelines was Naruto, everyone else had gone home a few hours earlier, leaving only the three of them and the setting sun. Bowl Cut had taught Kazuna a lot over the course of their sparring-match-turned-training and vice versa.

"We play well off of each other's strengths," he said through heavy breaths. "We should be sparring partners from now on, Miss. Kazuna."

"I might actually take you up on that, bowl cut," Kazuna replied with a grin – she'd already forgotten his name.

"Are you guys finished yet? I'm starving!" Naruto groaned loudly at the two as he sat up from his prone position in the grass.

"I guess that's my cue," Kazuna said. "I'll see ya 'round," Kazuna offered Bowl Cut a casual salute before making her way over to Naruto. She stood over the yellow-haired boy who gave her a particularly annoyed look. "You didn't have to stay and wait for me."

"Actually I did. Kakashi-sensei asked if I'd stick around until you were done so he could report back to Granny Tsunade. He and Neji left in kind of a rush after watching you for a while," Naruto said. Kazuna took no heed to their absence, finding that she enjoyed Naruto better when they were alone (but she'd never admit that aloud).

"Okay, then, let's get outta here," Kazuna said, extending her hand out to Naruto. He clapped his hand into hers and she pulled him off the ground.

"You looked like you were really enjoying yourself. I've never seen a fighting style quite like yours. I think Lee would like to have you on his team," Naruto noted, sounding almost...defeated.

"I don't think that sharingan user of a teacher you have would loosen the reins that much. Besides, the old woman said you were short a team member. It would only make sense to keep me partnered with you and the powder-puff girl," Kazuna said.

"She's gonna be pissed if you keep calling her that," Naruto warned, to which Kazuna shrugged. It's not like she'd ever win against her in a fight anyhow. "I'm starving. Do you wanna stop at Ichiraku's for dinner?" Naruto asked. Kazuna stretched her arms above her head, inevitably getting a whiff of her own BO, making her face cinch with disgust.

"I need to go home and get out of these sweaty clothes, I smell like a boy's locker room," she said. "And if I do remember correctly, you told me you'd lend me something to sleep in."

"I guess I did tell you that, huh? Okay then, we'll go back to my place and I'll heat us up some instant ramen."

With her spicy smell haunting her, Kazuna could hardly contain her anxiousness as they made their way through the village back to Naruto's apartment. As soon as he opened the door for her, she rushed inside and immediately began to strip out of her ninja attire, shocking Naruto.

"Wha-what are you doing, Kazuna?!" he yelled as he shielded his eyes.

"These clothes are all sweaty. Do you mind if I use your shower? I don't want to stink up your clean clothes," she asked, not understanding Naruto's bashfulness, but not particularly displeased by it.

"The bathroom is right around that corner! I'll bring you clothes once you're inside! I'll get you a towel, too!" he said, still avoiding looking in Kazuna's general direction. She stripped out of her underwear once she was behind the closed bathroom door. Naruto shouted instructions on how to work the shower from the other side of the door and Kazuna stepped inside, nearly melting into the drain as the hot water beat against her skin. She sighed, placing her hands on the tiled wall, letting the water slip over every crevice of her body.