As The Apple Blossoms

Salmon Sashimi

"Heh, I can't believe you actually came?!" Naruto snorted at the man.

"Whatever moron," Sasuke responded, looking away from his (best) friend.

Sakura watched their exchange with disappointment, but on the inside she felt ecstatic. She had missed the old team seven. That was until she realized they weren't alone, that a girl stood besides Naruto. Someone she had never seen before. Sakura smiled at the girl.

"Hello, I'm Haruno Sakura, and you are?"

"Misaki Honami," She responded, still looking quite dumbfoundely at Sasuke.

"Well Misaki-san, this here besides me is U-"

"Uchiha Sasuke," She cut off the pinked haired girl, finally getting up the courage to speak to her hero. "I know, we've met before."

All of them, including Sasuke looked at her in confusion. Turning towards the Uchiha, Honami brought her hands up towards her chest and intwined them.

"You probably don't remember since it was a long time ago, but it was during the war and in Shimogakure. A man you were with, named Suigetsu, was going to kill me, but because of you he didn't. You saved my life, and I'll forever be indebted to you. Thank you for saving my life, Uchiha-san!"

He looked away from Honami, responding quite rudely, "I didn't do it for you."

"I all ready know, and it's fine. Even if it was only on a whim I am still alive, and for that I owe you my gratitude." A gleam appeared in her eyes. "Please let me cook you dinner."

"No-"

Sakura cut him off, "He'd like that!"

She found it sweet how someone wanted to repay Sasuke for being the hero that she always knew he was.

"Great!" Honami's cheeks were flushed.

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In the end they had decided that she'll cook him dinner after the ceremony. As of now, Honami was in the room she'll be staying at, preparing to meet the other chefs. It was nerve recking, knowing that soon she'll met people who would judge the way she cooked. They were the real professionals.

... Ones whom she'll be in charge of! Honami suddenly felt queasy. What if she failed? What if she led wrong, she'll surly pay dearly for that. No! She had to stay strong, she had to believe in herself.

She'll make her late grandmother proud, the woman who gave her a dream. A knock on her door took Honami out of her head. On the other side stood a man with honey blonde hair and light lavander colored eyes. He gave her a warm smile.

"Hello, I am Tachibana Mikoto."

"Hello Tachibana-san," She greeted confused. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Still smiling at her, Mikoto responded with a, "Actually, I was assigned to assist you in preparation for the upcoming festivity."

Ah! He was talking about Uzumaki-san's coronation. Hopefully he wasn't bothered by the fact that the Hokage had made her in charge. She must have made her uneasiness obvious if Tachibana-san saw the need to comfort her.

"You shouldn't worry so much, I'm sure you'll do just fine. If Hokage-sama chose you as the leader then that must mean he saw something special in you."

"Yeah, like who my grandmother was," she wanted to say, but instead decided to thank him for his reassurance.

"What are you thinking we should sever?" He inquired.

"How about salmon sashimi with a bowl of rice and miso soup."

"All right, I like that idea."

Honami wasn't finished though. "The sauce should be made of sweet ginger, spicy wasabi, and savory soy sauce."

"And the beverage?"

"Koshu saké for the adults and Konacha tea for the others. Lastly, let's make Yuzu lemon pudding as the dessert since it pairs well after eating salmon."

Mikoto smiled at Honami, saying, "See, I knew you had it in you Misaki-san."

She smiled at him in gratitude, before letting the smile drop to say, "Now let's tell the rest and hopefully they won't give us too much of a problem."

"Don't worry so much Misaki-san, I'll back you up every step of the way." Honami could only hope he kept his word. She knew that to keep their reputation, some people would be willing to do anything.

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"Salmon sashimi as the main course, really?!" One of the chef exclaimed in disbelief, not believing that their leader made such a decision. "Why did you even choose that, especially since this is a ceremony we are talking about!"

The rest of the chef criee out their agreement, also not believing what Honami requested. Honami only looked on in disappointment. Of course the others decided that Honami was a reckless newbie. They probably still couldn't believe thag the Hokage made some so young, so inexperienced as their leader. It was more than likely insulting.

Mikoto kept his promise to Honami and defended her the best that he could. Watching them all argue, Honami only had one option if she wanted this to end.

"I am the leader, I decide what we make and what I settled with was salmon sashimi. Now I hope you will all respect my decision, but if you cannot then I will remove you from this job."

After saying that, everyone quit their complaining. They knew just how important it was to work for the seventh's Hokage banquet. Most glared at her, annoyed that she was willing to pull something like that. Honami felt bad, she trully did, but to do her job she had to play the bad guy in this. They just didn't have time for doubts.

"Well done. I commend you for pulling through." Mikoto declared.

Smiling sadly at him, Honami responded, "Thank you, I just wished they weren't opposed to my plans."

"Misaki-san, you know that there will always be someone who doesn't agree with you. Some would even disagree just to start something."

"Even though I know that, I still dislike the fact that I had to say something like that to get them to start working with me."

Honami resented that fact. Her grandmother taught her just how important respect from one another is. How much better it is to work with someone who wouldn't try and sabotage your hard work. Honami didn't resent people, but she wasn't deluded enough to believe them all good. There was so many different types of people in this shinobi world.

Honami just tried to do her best to follow the rules that society put upon her and everyone else. She wasn't a bad person, in modern society terms, but she also wasn't a very good person either. She was just Honami, the girl who loved to create.