Uzukaze

Friendship

I sat with Minato as we waited for the lunch bell to ring. "You are all free to talk until lunch." Shinso-sensei said. "So, who are all of your friends?" I asked. "I've got Fugaku, Choza, Inoichi, Shikaku, and you. That's pretty much it. What about you?" He asked. "You and a girl named Mikoto." I said. "Ah, yeah, she's really nice. I heard that Fugaku is planning to ask her out soon. Don't tell Mikoto though." Minato smiled. "They'd be cute together." I said as we got our lunch from under our seats.

At lunch.....

I shyly sat next to Minato. "Hey guys, this is Kushina if you didn't know her. She's really nice." He introduced. "Nice to meet you. Looks like we've got a new group member. I'm Shikaku Nara." A guy with black hair in a ponytail said. "I'm Fugaku Uchiha. Mikoto talks about you a lot." A guy with black hair said. "I'm Inoichi. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Kushina." A guy with long blonde hair said. "Hey, where's Choza?" Minato asked. "He's out sick." Shikaku said. "I see." Minato said.

"Minato, are we still down for group training tonight?" Fugaku asked. "Sure. Is it ok if I invite Kushina?" Minato asked. "Of course, after all, she's part of our squad." Shikaku said. "Kushina, you up for joining us?" Inoichi asked. "Sure! I could REALLY use extra training." I said. "Alright!!" Shikaku smiled. They were all so nice. They treated me as if I were the princess of the group, protecting me from anything.

After lunch.....

"Look at that stupid girl, thinking she's big stuff. Just 'cause she's Namikaze's friend." A voice said. "Shut up!!!" I shouted. "I got this." Minato said, turning around to face the guy who said it. "Hey. Leave her alone. She never did anything to you." Minato said. "Look! She can't even stand up for herself!!" The boy added. "Hah! If she did, you'd regret saying that!! You'd end up in the nurses office! Just leave us alone, ok!?" Minato said. I felt tears roll down my face. "Fine. Fine. Loser." The boy said. "And if you have a problem with her or any of my friends," he began, pulling out a kunai from his holster. "You can take it up with me." He finished.

He sat back down and looked at me. "You ok?" He asked, rubbing his hand on my back. "Why? Why did you do that!?" I asked, hugging him without thinking. I felt him freeze for a minute before he hugged me back. "Because you're my friend. Kushina, you mean the world to me." He said as he ran his fingers through my long hair. "Thank you." I cried. "No need to thank me. I'm just doing my job as a friend." He smiled. I let go of him and looked at him. He looked at me with a smile and wiped my tears away. "If you ever need anything, tell me." He smiled. "Thank you." I said as class started up again.

After school, Minato and I practiced our shuriken technique(mainly mine). "Wanna get a step ahead of the class?" He asked as we finished perfecting my shuriken technique that the class was learning. "Heck yeah!!" I said.

We practiced the new technique as I almost mastered it. "We should get dinner and clean up a bit." I suggested, knowing group training was in two hours. "Yeah, we can go to my place." Minato said.

We got to his place. He opened the door and held it open for me. "I'm home. I brought a friend." He said. "Welcome home." A man, who I assumed to be his father, said. "Who's this?" He asked. "My girl friend, Kushina. Kushina, this is my father." He said. Girlfriend!? "Oh...?" His father said. "No, no, no, not the one word: girlfriend, girl space friend." Minato said, his face brightening as he waved his hands in front of him. "Ok, good. Nice to meet you, Kushina. Please, make yourself at home." His father smiled. "Thank you." I said.

We had a snack and talked about different strategies for battle. "So, you need to clean up?" He asked. "Umm, I think I'll be ok." I said. "Alright. I'm going to go and clean up and get changed. Trust me, with group training, I like to get changed." He laughed as he stood up from the table and walked away, leaving me alone at the table.

He finished his shower and finished getting changed and came out. He filled a water bottle for himself and one for me. "Ready?" He asked as I took the water bottle he handed me. "Yep!" I smiled. "Dad! We're heading to training!" Minato shouted. "Alright. Be safe." His dad replied. "Alright!" Minato shouted back as we put our shoes on and left.

"So what kind of training is covered during group training?" I asked as we walked to the trading field. "Basics. Taijutsu, shuriken, and some chakra control. Just depends on what everyone agrees on and who's struggling with what." He said. "Alright." I said as we got to the field.

Everyone got there as we hung out for a while. "So, what training were you guys thinking for today?" Shikaku asked. "Well, Kushina and I aren't needing any shuriken training. Taijutsu is something I could work on and a little bit of chakra control coverage should do it for today. That's my opinion, what about you guys?" Minato said. "I personally think we should do Taijutsu today and then work on chakra control another day." Inoichi said. "Alright, anyone oppose?" Minato asked. Nobody said anything. "Taijutsu it is then." He said.

"Since we don't have even numbers today, let's do a full group training first and then if anyone wants to do one on one, they can." Minato said.

"Ready? Begin!" Minato said as people began charging at each other right away. Minato charged toward Inoichi, Fugaku, and Shikaku, who were all in a group. "Next time I wouldn't recommend standing in a group like that. It makes all of you more available to get charged at." Minato said, throwing punches and kicks at them. I stood back and watched the scene.

"By the way, Kushina, we haven't seen your Taijutsu yet." Inoichi mentioned during a water break. "Shhhhhhhh....." I said with a nervous laugh. "Please show us!" Fugaku said. "Fineeee." I sighed.

I stood near a small stump and began kicking and punching rapidly. Taijutsu was something I was ok at. "Impressive. Minato, that's someone you should keep an eye on if you know what I mean." I heard Shikaku whisper. Minato's face immediately became red. "You should keep an eye on yourself so I don't hit you." I said. "Crap, she heard me." Shikaku said.

After training, we went our separate ways, Minato walking me home. "I have a question." I said. "Go for it." Minato said. "About what Shikaku said," I began as he looked at me. "Do you....really feel that way about me?" I asked as we came to a halt.

"Kushina....honestly, sort of.....yeah." He said, looking away.

"Minato, I feel the same about you." I said.

"So.....how would you feel if....I called you my girlfriend and took you out tomorrow after school...?" He asked. "I'd feel honored." I smiled.

And that's how my night ended.