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The steam rising from the eggs and sausage enticed her like a curling finger. Her parents were well into their breakfast, but she had no appetite.
"Mother," She began, staring down at the chopsticks and envisioning Naruto parting his disposable ones. His breakfast must be instant noodles at this very moment, while her eyes laid on a feast. It was a Saturday morning. "Can I go out today?"
She raised her brow. Her husband was out at the village bank, putting in overtime this busy weekend. He was a financial advisor there. "For what?"
"The sakura trees have blossomed. I want to see them. Unless," She chose her words carefully, but the following still made her shoulders slump, "You also want to come."
"Ah, those things. They're not even natural sakura trees but planted by the Village of Waterfalls. We had a terrible harvest this year. There aren't enough gardeners and we've contracted them from other villages. Besides," She sighed, "Cherry blossoms become a boring sight when you become my age."
"Understood." She knew her mother would say no and grant her wish, but a part of her hoped for the opposite, and the two could see the trees together. Or in a perfect world, the four of them. Her mother, father, and Naruto.
"Fine, you can see the cherry blossoms today, but be back before the Peace Festival tonight, and be on your best behavior there. Need I remind you the Hokage graciously allowed your participation in the group kagura performance? Have you been practicing the routine for tonight?"
"Yes, I have."
"Let there be no games this time," Her mother collected her empty dishes and put them in the sink, leaving the 9-year-old with her untouched food. "Or else."
"Understood." Again.
She didn't even notice the cut on my hand from the Shuriken.
┊ ˚➶ ｡˚˚ · • . ° .
The two met up in the shopping district by Ichiraku's Ramen. Naruto's eyes went wide as he waved down his friend. "Woahhhhh! It's so weird not seeing you in that tracksuit!"
"It is?" She asked. A light blue spring dress grazed below her knees and a white, light sweater hugged her arms. She noticed his black shirt - the same he always wore - scruffed with a promising hole forming by his right rib.
"Yeah, you look great! So, what did you tell your folks?"
"Sakura blossoming viewing."
"Huh..? Isn't that until another month or so?"
"Yeah, but it was the first thing that came to my mind, and they believed me."
"Some smart parents you have," Naruto mumbled. "Well, let's go!"
The two strode side by side into town. Teuchi, cleaning the leftovers off of dishes in his ramen shop, watched them leave together. Naruto told her he was just finishing up his second breakfast there, so the meeting place was genius, and it was crowded enough to look like they're meeting wasn't intentional. He didn't understand why it all had to be a secret up until this day. She confirmed that her parents were just strict in particular with anyone interacting with her... Ninja or civilian.
