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"Adohira... you're... you're...!"
The thin streak of blood trailed further down her cheek from his kunai. Panicked, he reached for his medical bag.
"I-I'm so sorry! I don't know why I reacted like that! Jeez, Pervy-Sage would always sneak up on me while I was eating ramen! That jerk knew just when to get me!"
Pulling out a bandaid from his pouch, he carefully placed it on her cheek. He smiled in relief and then looked up to her eyes. A shred of disappointment tainted them.
"You didn't recognize me." She mumbled. "Naruto..."
AH! "Of course I recognized you! Come on, how could I not? You're Ado!"
Even saying her nickname made his throat dry up. She sulked worse than Shino when he failed to recognize him. But Shino's new get-up was so elaborate. She, on the other hand...
"Then why?" She put a hand in the back of her hair, trying to push away her hurt feelings.
"It's... you just... look so different."
"I knew it," She sighed, softly laying a hand on the bandaid. "I told Ino she went overboard with the makeup. I look like a clown, don't I?"
"You're beautifffff—!"
Nearly completing the word, Naruto's gaze went to all their spectators: Sakura, Shikamaru, and Hinata who all sat silently by the bar.
"...you're Ado!"
A fuming Teuchi angrily yanked out the kunai Naruto flung moments prior from the door.
"Throwing weapons in my shop, are you...?"
Naruto and Adohira both gulped, skin turning pale in fear. They both knew full well how Teuchi would react.
"THATS IT! EVERYONE OUT! PARTY'S OVER!"
And so, Naruto's welcome home fest was no more. The shinobi sprinted out of the shop, finding themselves standing out on the street to avoid Teuchi's rage.
"Why am I not surprised?" Shikamaru sighed, fishing in his Jonin vest for cigarettes. "Naruto's back, alright."
They went their separate ways. Before departing, Sakura scolded Naruto for getting them kicked out, nevertheless, with a small laugh she couldn't suppress. Shikamaru was right. No surprise there.
"Um... Naruto?"
He turned to see the gentle Hinata, holding out a gift card in her hands. It was for Ichiraku's — 850 Yen.
"Welcome back!" She bowed, avoiding his eyes.
"Ah?! Wow, you really know how to pick 'em! Thanks, Hinata!"
A blush reddened the Hyuuga girl's cheeks, and she happily went on her way. Naruto gleefully held the gift card, imagining the steaming bowls of ramen that soon awaited him. After the dust of this chaos settled, it occurred to him that Adohira didn't run out with them.
