Ruka Hiden : Tangled Paths, Love's Redemption

Twenty

In a cozy corner of the village's main café, Ruka found herself seated with Sakura, Ino, Tenten, and Hinata. The café's ambiance was filled with the soft murmur of conversation and the enticing aroma of freshly brewed tea.

Ruka leaned back in her chair, savoring the relaxing atmosphere. Her recent mission had been intense, and she was grateful for the chance to unwind and catch up with her friends. The conversation was light, punctuated by laughter and the clinking of teacups.

"So, Ruka," Sakura began, a playful glint in her eye, "you and Gaara make quite the team. I heard you two were all over the place during the mission."

Ruka chuckled, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Yeah, Gaara's got a knack for making things go smoothly. We managed to get in and out without too much trouble."

Ino exchanged a knowing glance with Sakura, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, I see. Sounds like you two are getting pretty close."

Ruka's blush deepened, and she tried to play it cool. "Well, we've been working together a lot lately. It's just part of the job."

Tenten raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Just part of the job, huh? That's not what I heard."

Ruka laughed, her embarrassment turning into amusement. "Alright, maybe we're close. But it's all professional."

Ino, with her characteristic curiosity, leaned forward. "Speaking of relationships, Ruka, have you finally moved on from Kiba after your breakup?"

Ruka's expression faltered, and she looked down at her tea, the smile slipping from her face. "I... haven't really kept up with how he's been doing. How's he been since I was gone?"

Hinata's gentle voice broke the silence, her gaze compassionate. "Kiba hasn't been his usual self. He hasn't been hanging out with the guys as much, and he seems... less energetic than before."

Tenten nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's been quieter lately. It's like he's been missing something."

Ruka's heart ached at the news. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "I see.."

Sakura reached out, placing a comforting hand on Ruka's. "Hey, you deserve to be happy too."

Ruka took a deep breath, trying to absorb the weight of her friends' words. The news about Kiba struck a chord within her, a reminder of the unfinished business and lingering emotions she had left behind.

-

-

The sun cast a warm glow over the Sarutobi compound as Ruka settled into her office, a small room lined with bookshelves and scrolls. Today, however, the room was dominated by an array of colorful applications neatly stacked on her desk. The Sarutobi Clan's advisor, a portly, balding man with an expression of unshakable seriousness, had delivered them earlier in the day with a grand flourish. He was convinced that Ruka, as the head of the clan, needed to consider her future—specifically, in terms of marriage.

Ruka eyed the applications with a mix of skepticism and resignation. "So, let me get this straight," she began, her voice tinged with irony. "You think that the best way to secure the clan's future is for me to get married? And you've handpicked these... candidates?"

The advisor, a man named Hoshino, nodded enthusiastically. "Precisely! A strong family foundation is essential for the clan's prosperity. These applications are from the most eligible bachelors in the village. I've personally vetted them."

Ruka picked up the first application, skimming through it. "Let's see here... Hiroshi Yamanaka. Hm, seems nice enough. He likes gardening and has a steady job. He might be a decent choice."

As she continued through the stack, her expressions ranged from amused to horrified. "Here's one from Daichi Nara. Claims he's a master strategist and loves long walks. Sounds promising."

But then she came across a name that made her almost choke on her tea. "Ebisu... seriously?"

The advisor's eyes widened. "Yes, Ebisu is highly regarded for his dedication to training the next generation."

Ruka rolled her eyes and burst into laughter. "Are you kidding me? This is the same Ebisu who once tried to convince me that learning the Sexy Jutsu was a crucial part of our training. And who's also been known for his... rather questionable behavior. I'd rather marry a cow."

Hoshino shifted nervously. "Ah, I see you have strong preferences. Perhaps we can look at other options."

Ruka sifted through the remaining applications with renewed vigor. "Let's see what else we have here."

Her eyes landed on a particularly neat and well-organized application. "Yamato, huh? Wood Release specialist, just like me. This could be interesting."

The advisor perked up. "Indeed, Yamato would be a suitable match. You two could produce offspring with a powerful Wood Release technique."

Ruka raised an eyebrow. "You think so? Have you considered that Yamato and I barely get along? We'd probably end up fighting over who gets to control the wood in the garden."

She continued flipping through the applications, her mood swinging between amusement and exasperation. "And where is Kakashi's application?"

The advisor looked confused. "Kakashi Hatake? He's the Sixth Hokage. Surely he has better things to do than... marry into the Sarutobi clan."

Ruka leaned back in her chair with a smirk. "Well, when I was five, I wanted to marry Kakashi. I was quite smitten with him back then."

Hoshino's face turned serious. "I see. Well, if you're serious—"

Ruka quickly interrupted. "Oh, no, I was just joking . I'm really not looking to get married right now."

As she tossed the final application aside, Ruka's gaze caught a glimpse of the advisor's nervous demeanor. His forehead was glistening with sweat, and his hands trembled slightly.

"Is everything alright, Hoshino?" Ruka asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

The advisor cleared his throat, his voice wavering. "Ah, well... there's a slight issue."

Ruka arched an eyebrow. "What kind of issue?"

"There's a... uh, long line of applicants outside the compound," Hoshino admitted, his face reddening. "They've been waiting for their chance to be interviewed by you."

Ruka's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? There's a line? Like, a literal line of people waiting to meet me?"

Hoshino nodded sheepishly. "Yes. They were informed that the head of the Sarutobi Clan would be considering marriage proposals soon."

Ruka stood up, shaking her head in disbelief. "So you mean to tell me that not only did you pick these... interesting candidates, but now there's a crowd outside hoping to be next in line? This is just... too much."

The advisor's face was a picture of embarrassment. "I apologize. I didn't anticipate this reaction."

Ruka sighed, her amusement mixed with frustration. "Alright, let's get this over with. I'll talk to the applicants, but I'm telling you now—none of them are going to impress me enough to change my mind about marriage."

She walked toward the door, shaking her head as she opened it to reveal a surprisingly orderly line of hopeful suitors, each clutching their own application and looking both nervous and hopeful.

As Ruka greeted the first applicant with a strained smile, she could only hope that this would be a short, humorous ordeal. She glanced back at Hoshino, who was still visibly sweating, and couldn't help but let out a small laugh. The situation was absurd, but at least it made for a memorable story.