Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter 6: Dawn of the Red Moon

Journey of the Three Failures

Six: Dawn of the Red Moon

Lee リー

"Please, Lee-kun?"

"No, thank you. I am sorry, but I must decline."

"Can't you at l-least try it on?"

"I have a few body suits still; I do not really need a new outfit."

"C'mon, Bushy Brow, are you serious? You've got to admit that thing looks pretty goofy. Enemies won't even take you seriously if they're busy laughing at your green spandex, y'know?"

"Look at who is talking! No matter how much we insist you get rid of it, you are still wearing that impractical orange jacket!"

"Hey! I replaced the pants already – what more can you ask? The jacket, it's a part of me!"

"Precisely, my friend! So you understand how I feel, do you not? Therefore, I will continue wearing my bodysuit and you can keep your jacket!"

"Deal!"

Hinata sighed, dipping her head. "Naruto-kun..."

The young kunoichi was now dressed in a black jacket with sleeves that went to mid-forearm, decorated by three inch thick stripes of a beautiful, moderately light blue color down the sides and the sleeves, as well as lining all the garment's edges except for the neck, which had a blue hood instead; her black pants had similar lines of blue down the sides. A matching blue sash around the waist, which the bottom of the jacket was neatly tucked into – of course along with the bandaging on her forearm and her hitai-ate around her neck – completed the new look. Naruto, on the other hand, wore his famously fluorescent orange jacket and a dark blue pair of pants.

We were in a store in the town we had been staying in; they had apologized for their deceptions, and we had a free stay in the inn for as long as we liked. In the past few days they had rounded up bounties for some of the outlaws and bandits we had captured, and a particularly large one from Iwa for Kuri's hitai-ate – identified by the ninja registration number, which only Iwagakure had record of – and given it to us along with the original reward for helping them.

As far as money went, we were set for a good while.

Hinata frowned sadly.

"Wh– What is wrong?"

"S-so you mean after I s-s-spent this time picking out this n-nice outfit f-for you ... you won't even tr-try it on, Lee-k-kun...?"

"Wait! You are not about to–?"

"Look what you did, ya' jerk! You're about to make Hinata-chan cry!"

"I am sorry! I did not intend to hurt your feelings – of course I will try it on!" I said, quickly taking the bundle of folded clothes she held out to me.

As I started toward a changing room, I was certain I heard the slap of a high five, a small giggle, and a whispered "Goal!"

I whirled. Naruto was looking innocently into the distance, and Hinata was staring straight at me, a finger to her lips. She sniffled, eyes moistening dangerously.

"Okay, I am going!"

Thirty minutes later and feeling very suckered, I was leaving the store wearing a long sleeved green sweater and matching pants, the reddish fabric of the hitai-ate around my waist replaced by a black sash of cloth; a long black band tied around my forehead, the ends several inches past the knot and hanging to the center of my back; and the black leather straps across my body now much better fitted to secure the sword sheaths to my back.