Ch 6: Orange, Tomatoes and Lazy Shadows

The sun was setting for the day.

It had been a few days since the completion of the Shokugeki between Souma and Mito in which, unsurprisingly for Naruto, Souma was the winner. It was just pure preparation and dedication on Souma's part that won him that Shokugeki and Naruto knew how arrogance just may have been one of the key factors to Ikumi Mito's lose to him. Thinking back to it, he was also surprised and had a hearty laugh when he heard that Souma did not join the RS but had Mito become a member of it by pure misunderstanding on everyone's part.

Currently, Naruto was walking towards the gates as the day was slowly coming to a close in the academy. Treading the path to the main gates with very little students actually seen roaming around, what with their chauffeurs taking them away in their rich, noble private cars, Naruto didn't mind the seemingly lonely peaceful walk whilst shaking his head at the Shokugeki results. He loved walking. It felt more natural to keep on your feet and experience your surroundings instead of just sitting inside a confined space, in this context a Car, and looking out like a caged bird. It didn't help that the campus was very vast, filled with flora and fauna, making you wonder about and Naruto loved every part of it despite not having completely explored the whole campus yet. Naruto found himself being more calm and happy. Giving his final greetings of the day to Souma and reminding him of the events coming up, his plans for the week, as he walked back to his dorm rooms with Megumi, Naruto had made a beeline to the institute's gates. There was an event coming, and Naruto was giddy about it.

'Yeah I heard about it from Isshiki-senpai a while ago. We're all preparing for it in the coming days and I'm excited for it. I hope you finish your work nii-san, I'll miss you in class. We both have to go through this. Pass this and prove my mettle to tou-san and you.'

Naruto laughed as Souma's words rang in his mind and with some encouraging words towards Megumi and telling Souma that he would return during the event, Naruto had again started walking. Kurama neatly wrapped around his shoulders, in a more laidback manner, with his ears and tails fully visible, Naruto approached the entrance gates. Looking at the slowly darkening skies he pondered that it might take him a while to reach his intended place to be but he had no problems with that. He had already planned it all a little.

Let it be known Naruto didn't like planning - surely you jest but nah! Naruto was impulsive, very much so - but he knew sometimes he had to sit back and do it for himself.

"rrrrRrrRrrrrRRRRRr~"

A faint sound of purring came from the right side as it caught Naruto's attention, to which he turned and before you know it, produced and drove a pocky stick right into the incoming hole of a mouth towards him. Hungrily chomping on it Naruto sighed and spoke, "You need to lay off your pocky, senpai. Bad for your teeth as well."

NOM NOM

"Yeah I don't know why I'm even saying this to you of all people shheesh."

Unsurprisingly again, as if it was the norm for him now, Naruto was tackled with a hug and his head slipped straight into the waiting bosoms of the person he just fed pocky to - aah yes, the resident, unmatched, wild, seat 2 of the Elite Ten. Now take a somewhat normal person, he would be flustered at the act. Hell, if this was the old Naruto from a few years ago he would have been a sputtering fool with a face as bright as a tangerine.

Now though, he was just used to the tactics since he had enough of the bosom hugging from a certain "Slug Princess" that didn't know privacy and called him "Brat". Didn't help she had knockers for days and he was one of the few people she truly considered her family and vice-versa.

'How I miss ba-chan for some reason now?', he shook his head and strained to come out of the hug as he slowly stood back up and away from the occupant's nuzzling face. The "Slug Princess" was back in Hōkkaido; and, no lie, he really missed her around him - but now, a pouting face and voice greeted him back in the present,

"Mouuu, Naru-chin. Senpai just loves you too much you know."

"Yes senpai. I shall never tell anyone how much your love for my soba and Eishi-senpai is all but your hopes and dreams of eternal glutton." BONK! Aah yes, there was the bonk that he should've expected.

"Rii-iin-dō-sen-pai. Say it."

"Yes, Rindō-senpai. I love you too."

A cheshire grin was the only response he got. He shook his head with a smile and Rindō proceeded with a question as they started walking. Kurama slowly slithering over to Rindō's hands. She was very ecstatic at the fox warming up to her. Rindō adored the fox kit that had warmed up to her in the days she had become a good friend to Naruto. Kurama became very accustomed to her when before he didn't like others touching him much aside from the Yukihira family and the Uzumaki family.

"You going home?", there was a nod. "So where do you live anyway? Mind having me over for one day?" Rindō started. "I could even bring Ei-chin and we could have a cookout! Wild cookout!"

Looking at her nuzzling with Kurama, Naruto replied, "That's great and all but I'm still not telling you where I live. As usual, it will still be a secret from you, dattebayo!"

"Really Naru-chin? You wanna go there?"

She coo'ed at the fox nestled in her arms, continuing, "Kura-chin, isn't he being too rude to me, ishnh't huee~~~"

Yeah, she became a mush nuzzling into Kurama's fur and Naruto knew it, with the way her words became a mess in the end of her speaking. He watched her play with Kurama and him purring back at her with the nice, subtle rubs he was getting. Naruto spoke again,

"I think you just want to steal Kurama away from me by the way you have been giving him attention lately. Wait, you're not thinking up ways of cooking him up are you?" Naruto's eyes started panicking gradually as he spoke and ended his words like that. He had come to know about the prime aspect that drove Rindō's cooking and he could damn well say, she was one of the most dangerous, and genius in terms of wild-game cooking. He knew she was no joke, being the second seat and having such vast repertoire of cooking techniques for the wackiest of wild-game dishes, it tended to make Naruto wonder. He peered in to her, as he stopped and gazed into her with even Kurama stopping his purring and seemingly sneaking a glance upon the creature that had him in her mercy right now.

Rindō smirked at him as she loomed in closer to his face with an even more suspicious wide grin. Holding Kurama with her left hand and holding him close to her chest she bopped Naruto's nose that was very close to her and she gave him a brief kiss with a lick on the tip of it.

Teenage hormones and instincts took over as Naruto's trickster persona was subdued by a massive blush on his face as he exasperatedly pointed at her while taking lanky shaky back steps.

"Wh-wh-wh-wh-bu-bu-bu-huuuhhh-bu….!"

"Look at your face silly Naru-chin." Rindō spoke with that smile still plastered at her face. "Is Naru-chin blushing?", she proceeded to laugh quietly, right hand on her mouth, giggling with Kurama. Naruto couldn't believe it. Wait was Kurama laughing at him too?! Curses! Rindō-senpaii!

"Whatever!", puffing his face up and pouting, Naruto turned and kept walking. His face still glowing from the act cuz he had mostly never had anyone kiss him like that. He was used to the usual hugging and teases but kissing was just too personal besides the platonic, friendly kisses he got from his family members.

Rindō kept walking behind him with Kurama, giggling as both of them had reached the gates. Naruto turned towards her as she handed Kurama back to Naruto, him slithering over to his shoulders and wrapping himself up. "Nice Trick still" was heard and Naruto smiled.

"You'll come tomorrow?"

That question made Naruto stop in his tracks as he was about to turn and head out the campus grounds. Looking back at Rindō he said, "I won't be coming to the academy for a few days until the event."

That statement made Rindō's eyebrow to rise as she waited for him to explain.

"I'm going to be visiting someone in Nagano. Told the Ojī-san and requested a leave for a few days but I'll be there during the event don't worry. It's gonna be my first experience after all."

xx A Day Earlier xx

A knock on the doors to the office of the 'Food Demon King' Senzaemon broke him out of his work on the various papers and folders he was checking. A voice, his assistant's, called out, "Shokumaō-sama, there is one Uzumaki Naruto here who would like to see you."

"Send him in." came his reply and the doors opened to the form of Naruto as he entered the huge, decorated office room of the head of the institute. "Aaah, Naruto-kun. What brings you here today? I hope the classes are going well?"

"It hasn't been boring Jī-jī." he grinned. Senzaemon had a small smile on his face being addressed in that way but he didn't dwell much on it as Naruto continued, "But yeah, I had a request. I wanted to ask for a leave of absence for like a week. Probably from tomorrow."

Senzaemon furrowed his brows as he had no qualms on the request but he asked, "That's okay and all, but shouldn't you be requesting this leave from your homeroom and class teacher?"

"Yeah I know but since I figured I would have to have your approval for this I just thought of meeting with you first hand to ask for it. Two birds with one stone I guess." Naruto rubbed his neck as he giggled.

Senzaemon smirked and said, "That would be no problem. I can grant you that but I just want to know your reason for the leave. Also, you should remember that the first years are going to have their first ever training camp. You will need to attend that to move on with your studies in the academy. Do you understand?"

"Yeah I got that. I'll be there when it's time. I promise and I never go back on my word 'ttebayo."

"Ok, Naruto-kun. So tell me why do you need this leave?"

"You know my situation don't you? My real family, as you told me, is kinda scattered right now. I know they are all based in Hōkkaido and that even though they aren't public much they are well respected in all the parts of the food industry but it's a long way to meeting them now with me currently studying in your academy." Senzaemon nodded his head and kept his focus on Naruto. "So yeah, basically during one of my travels, I met my cousin and her father briefly. She is an adopted Uzumaki and today she sent me some texts. She gave me a tip that he would be in Nagano. I wanted to go meet him. I wanted to get some answers if you don't mind."

Senzaemon closed his eyes slowly and while pondering over it he released a breath he was holding in. He knew the circumstances surrounding Naruto was harsh. Growing up an orphan isn't a really good thing if even the orphanage you were sent to was lacklustre in everything. To top it all off, Naruto was also kicked out of it. Senzaemon thought he knew how Naruto, still a kid in his eyes, who had lost so much and seen so much from his baby steps, felt like. It was a miracle that he was also given such a blessing to be picked up by a good samaritan.

He still respects the man Naruto calls his true grandfather. Ichiraku Teuchi. A man of good heart. He still remembers that one day he had met up with the man. It was after both Naruto and Souma got settled in to their respective residences after the admission and he still remembered what Teuchi said to him.

'Naruto. He is a good kid. Even when he seemed to have lost almost everything he still had so much brightness in him. You and I both know how the world can work don't we? We've seen things. People fall apart and he was just a kid when all this happened to him. I still grief over my mistakes in my family but Naruto. When he came into our lives, he changed it to something beautiful. He always put himself first as he slowly grew. Far from the little kid I found him that night. The fright in his eyes. The fear in his body. The way he carried himself that night to what he has now become. He has grown so much. I cannot thank you or Jōichirō-san for all the things you did for him. He deserved to know about his family Nakiri-dono. Thank you for that.'

Senzaemon also remembered himself asking if he would need anything to just give him a call to which Teuchi only laughed and said.

'Come now. Look at us. I am an old man too now, Nakiri-dono. I have lived with happiness. I have faced my sorrows and I have everything with me right now. Ayame is my treasure. She is everything to me as much as Naruto. Both of them are enough for this old man making ramen for a living. And don't worry Nakiri-dono. If Naruto heard me taking favors from you he would be pranking the household and you for a whole month, and I don't know about you but I do not want my new house to be doused in pink or orange and decorated with flowers for a whole month.'

They both laughed at that as Senzaemon was brought privy to the various pranks that Naruto did on the many disrespectful, pompous customers that came around. Learning about Naruto's dislike for the 'Elite' as one might say. It was a very nice meeting between the two old bones and there was planted a small seed of friendship between them which had only grew as time slowly passed.

His eyes focused back on Naruto and he nodded. Pulling out a paper sheet he handed it to Naruto after signing his signature. Leaning back in his seat as Naruto took it Senzaemon said, "Take this to your homeroom teacher and give it to him. I have granted you a week's leave and I'm expecting you will not miss the training camp."

"Thank you, sir and you have my word on it." Naruto smiled at the grant.

"I hope you get your answers my boy."

"Me too jii-jii. Me too."

xx Present xx

"So yeah. I got some things to sort out before I attend the event." Naruto said while Rindō listened intently. She moved towards Naruto and poked him in his chest while puffing her face up, saying,

"I swear if you miss the event you will be sorry mister!" saying that she pulled him in and gave him a nogging in his head as Naruto kept switching between pain and laughter. She let go of him but kept close as she said, "You better not delay your return. I need to eat that soba again or I'll sic Momo at you, understand me!"

Now that was a threat like no other. If Rindō was obsessed with his soba, Momo had a whole another level of sweet tooth that he only exacerbated with a Fondue Cake he had made once for the top five seats, but that was a story for another time. In short, he did not want an irate Momo sicced upon him. An irate Momo was one of the cutest Momo you could encounter and one had no defence to it. Naruto hurriedly nodded to which Rindō just grinned and hugged him one last time.

"Have a nice trip Naru-chin." She petted Kurama as well saying, "You too Kura-chin. Make sure to look after this dork."

Kurama gave an inaudible yip but he had a purr come out as she brushed her hands to his fur one last time. Waving back at Naruto she made her way back towards the campus while Naruto just stood there for a few minutes as she disappeared into the foliage. Her red hair being the focus to his mesmerized eyes as he glanced at it for a few more moments before shaking his head and making his way towards the train station to get on one of the trains going to Nagano tonight. His last thoughts as the academy's gates disappeared into the horizon behind him were mostly of the soil, and the distinct aroma of the forestry that surrounded the campus.

'She smelled like Bellflowers'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxlinebreakxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kyushu was nice.

Probably one of the best places one could buy the best tomatoes from, he was pleased with the travel. It didn't help that he was just rich like that and he could afford to fly out on his own just like that without any repercussions. Being a member of the Rookie Nine that has been dominating the cooking circuit in the academy he was attending, coupled with his family's own prestige and name, gave him a good amount of leeway in all things of his life.

His family. The Uchiha, were also one of the most respected families in the country. The name had been passed down since the Edo period being one of the members of the Tokugawa shogunate council. Now they were mostly luxury resort owners also with heavy investments in the food industry, mainly their own brand of Extra Spicy Food challenge competitions in their resorts and owned restaurants which attracted people in thousand, elite or otherwise. Also, nobody could forget the time when, then family head, Uchiha Madara had actually humbled a once brash and young Nakiri Senzaemon, who went on to become the famous 'Food Demon King' but that would also be a story for later. For now, we focus back on the aforementioned person sitting inside the flying jet.

"Bocchan-sama. We will be landing at Matsumoto very soon.", came the voice of the butler who was currently serving the person that was mentioned. Said 'Young Master' person was a young man with a blemish free face, bangs framing around his eyes, slick black hair with a blue tint and wearing a very casual black-tinted grey tee with a round neck and silver khaki shorts. He had on some white Gordan shoes with red stripes lining it and he had on a Rovex watch on his wrists.

Looking out the window of his own private jet and seeing the night life of Matsumoto come into view he nodded at the butler's words and asked, "Has nii-sama called upon me?"

"That would be a negative, Bocchan-sama. Although, Mikoto-sama called a few moments ago while we were flying and had asked for you to not shirk around your research society's works. She also wishes for you to return as soon as possible or, if I may quote "That boy is meant for a whole lot of spanking if he doesn't listen" she said.", came the reply with the aforementioned young master suppressing a shudder.

"Tch, whatever. Tell her that we will be visiting the shrine and then making our way back home. I need to visit this place once in a while and she knows it as well."

"Of course, Bocchan-sama." And with that, the butler settled down into his own cabin in the front portion of the private jet they were in.

Landing at the airport, giving his gratitude to the pilot, they got in to the very long limousine that had been waiting on the exit. Seating by himself in the huge cabin-like interior of the vehicle all alone as it started to move, the young master took out his cell phone and scrolling through his contacts he stopped at one with the initials U.N, thinking to himself whether he should call him.

'Oi, the hell are you doing looking into my cooking again?!'

'Your handling of the shrimp is hurting my eyes. You do not shell the shrimp that way to make Odori ebi.'

'Oh yeah, you've been nit picking on each of my steps, why don't you show me?'

'Watch closely.'

(A few minutes later)

'How the hell?! Didn't you start this with me today?! Cheater, you knew the technique beforehand!'

'No, you're just a dobe.'

'Teme!'

Before he could delve into more of his memories, a call interrupted his train of thoughts as he looked down and saw the caller named Nara. He picked it up, "What is the occasion Shikamaru. You never call me unless you absolutely need to."

"Hello Sasuke, I wanted to ask if you're heading towards Nagano." Came the reply/answer.

"I landed and am currently en route to the city, yes. How did you know?" the person now known as Sasuke asked.

"Troublesome. Doesn't take a genius to know you'll make a stop at the local shrine near Zenkō-ji when we got the word you had flown out to Kyushu."

Aah yes, it wasn't a secret for the majority of the Rookie Nine that he always made a stop at the city for his own purposes whenever he flew out to the island.

"So what's the purpose of this call?"

"I'm currently in Nagano as well."

"Let me guess, you're in Miyota."

"Had no choice. Kaa-san had me bring some of our wild game meat for Obaa-san's family. Reached here today. So troublesome."

The lazy reply just made Sasuke shake his head as he knew how much of a sloth his friend was. He was also getting sleepy as the night had slowly started to fall so he told him, "Meet me at our usual spot. Tomorrow nine in the morning. You can take the train right?"

"Man so early but I can do it."

"Ok then, we'll discuss our things tomorrow. Do not be late Nara Shikamaru."

"Troublesome." And the phone call was done.

Sasuke wasn't surprised that Shikamaru was here. His mother was from Miyota so he would've been in the prefecture someday anyway. He just didn't expect him to be here when he was arriving as well. Sasuke guessed that it was probably due to his mother giving out an application for his travels and Shikamaru just trying to coincide his plans with his own. It didn't bother Sasuke as he respected Shikamaru a lot for his intellect and had partnered with him in various dishes as well. As his eyes slowly started closing, Sasuke didn't resist the slumber that took over as he drifted off to sleep. Never knowing that a really surprising encounter awaited him in the city.

xx Next Morning xx

Blinking his eyes, Sasuke slowly let it adjust to the light that had seeped into his room. He wondered how he even reached the room when he could clearly remember himself falling asleep in the limo. Leaving it as his butler's work Sasuke stretched out himself as he sat up in the giant queen sized bed and gave a big yawn. He removed his blanket, making his feet touch the floor covered in warm floor mat as he then proceeded to stand and walk over to the balcony of his room. He was in one of his personal suites in the city's most prestigious hotel that was partly owned by his family as well. Looking at a distance he could see the wonderful scenery of the hills and forests and the surrounding small high rises of the city beneath. The sun was slowly rising amongst the hill crevices and the soothing bird call from the nearby forest had him in complete euphoria.

This was truly a pleasant way to wake up.

The door to his room opened as his butler entered. He bowed once and said, "Bocchan-sama, your schedules have been cleared for today. You are free to do as you wish for the whole day."

Sasuke nodded and replied, "We will be departing in a few hours to Raizen's. I need to meet up with Shikamaru and discuss some things."

"As you wish Bocchan-sama." Saying that the butler checked his watch and continued, "Your bath is ready and breakfast shall be done in a few. If that's all?"

"Bring me my meal in here. I will proceed to our arrangement in an hour."

"As you wish Bocchan-sama." And the butler left.

Looking back at the view from his balcony for a few more minutes he proceeded to do his essential morning routine. An hour later, he was seen walking towards the hotel's entrance as he proceeded to enter the limo that was prepared to take him to his destination. Entering and being seated at the limo, he pulled out his phone and dialled to the known ID of one Nara.

"Hello Sasuke."

"Shikamaru, are you there yet?"

"Twenty more minutes and I'll be there. It was a hassle to wake up but thing is I can't sleep much in this place anyways. Troublesome."

"I'm headed towards Raizen's. Be light on your toes and get there."

He cut the call and proceeded to sit more comfortably whilst looking out the tinted windows. His thoughts ran rampant. Family. Business. Name. Respect. Sasuke had it all in the form of a title. As far as he could remember he was always coddled and had to act perfect by his father. His brother, miles away from the house currently, had always been his pillar of strength and inspiration but after the incident, his family was currently in a much more positive state. The thing that surprised Sasuke however was when he realised how much his mother felt more free after everything and his brother being more endearing than before. They had changed in subtle ways but Sasuke saw it all.

Then one day, he met a young blonde haired sunspark who just didn't know the meaning of fear. He was a walking celebration within himself. All he knew were possibilities, optimism and hope. He had a hunger for new skills, open in his perception of the world. He showed Sasuke, that one did not need to have doubt on oneself for anything. An endearing person through and through whom he then came to know of being a member of one of the most respected families too. His running thoughts came to a halt as his limo came to a slow stop and a voice called out to him from the front.

"Bocchan-sama we have arrived at the place."

Sasuke shook his head off the thoughts and said, "Stay one corner away as usual. No need for you to block off the customers from entering the alley."

"Hai Bocchan-sama."

Nodding, he got out of the car and saw they were parked around a normal alley a bit on the outskirts of the city limits. Mostly a residential area, this was a very sentimental place for Sasuke. Less people around and not many cringeworthy paparazzi to worry about, Sasuke made his way towards a small restaurant named 'Sea Food Raizen'. After a brief walk he entered the establishment, seeing a few customers inside still. The interior was all wood, with traditional woodblock prints and ukiyo-e paintings littering the walls with a few Toro hanging from the ceiling for the dim and mellow lighting inside. As he was looking around the restaurant, he felt someone's gaze set upon him as he turned around and saw a young woman smile at him with a tray in hand as she bowed soon after as she reached him.

"Welcome, Sasuke-chan. Are you well today? Please have a seat." She spoke in a cheerful and friendly manner as she directed him towards a secluded part she knew to keep open for certain guests.

"It's been a while Hotaru-san and I'm good, thank you for asking.", saying that Sasuke sat down in his offered seat as she nodded.

She proceeded to ask, "Would you be alone today or are you expecting someone as well?"

"I am expecting one more.", came the reply and Hotaru nodded.

"Shall I bring the usual?"

"Hai, and please give my regards to Utakata-san as well."

"Of course. One bottle of Nama-zake and two servings for steamed rice with black Miso Cod coupled with pickled sides coming up."

With that said, Hotaru went outside the private booth to get her orders ready for him. Sasuke glanced at her retreating form for a few moments but quickly focused back on checking his social media on his phone. Scrolling through the sns pages he could see how much his brother was doing well. He glanced at the various news on the state of the cooking industry and there were headlines surfacing about the annual first year training camp of Tōtsuki's. Sasuke had one of his eyebrows raised thinking back to whether that blonde dobe would be attending it and how his food is going to make an appearance. He decided to have someone from the inside of the academy give him updates on the camp's situation. The festival was still in his priority and that would be the day he would show his cooking to him.

The ultimate dish of an Uchiha.

"Welcome Shikamaru-chan. This way please." He heard Hotaru's voice chirp out as he looked towards the entrance and saw the aforementioned person be there. He wore a sleepy expression with a spiky ponytail, a short-sleeved grey jacket with black stripes over a green tee, a pair of silver hoop earrings that were traditional for his family to wear, a jeans and sandals. One thing to note about the Nara was that the boy hated wearing anything shoe related. 'It's a hassle to get them off' he said once and Sasuke could only roll his eyes at that.

Shikamaru entered the private booth as Hotaru told them that she would be coming back with their orders pretty soon. She left to look after the other customers as Sasuke started the conversation with Shikamaru as he was getting comfortable. A deep sigh of relief came from Shikamaru as he sat on it.

"It's rare for you to travel like this Shika."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at that. Sasuke just sat in silence after that to which he just sighed and responded, "It's been a while since you called me this endearingly."

"It's a private setting with no paparazzi. I feel like this is one of the only few places I can be frank with you and a few other people."

"Troublesome. Well you are an Uchiha."

"Do not follow the crowd now Shika, you are better than that."

"Yeah I know that." Shikamaru sat himself more comfortably and continued, "The Chūshokukoso (Journeyman Chef) exams are going to be underway in a few weeks. This time it's going to be held in Kutchan. Students from all around Hōkkaido are coming."

"The Kiridaigaku Culinary Academy huh?"

Kiridaigaku or 'Great Mist School and Culinary Academy' was the premier culinary institute and university of the Shiribeshi subprefecture and was one of the five main culinary schools that made up the Geiki Culinary Institute and Research Facility. The institute being situated in the capital city Kutchan, one of the wettest regions in the island, the students thrived in a different type of cooking that they called 'The Hidden Mist Coctione'. A very basic technique that almost every student learns in that academy, utilizing liquid nitrogen and dry ice in various methods of their cooking.

Sasuke knew that Kiridaigaku had a notorious reputation for having one of the most cutthroat competitive Shokugekis in their academy. It was basically your life, respect and honour on the line which is why even though they had some of the lowest number of students in their school didn't change the fact that those fewer students could challenge some of the best as well. Evident by the way his brother's partner had cooked for him once and showed him the difference in their cooking skills. Although never being able to beat his brother, the Kiridaigaku alumni had one of the most amazing ways to create extreme seafood dishes, be they sharks, king crabs or the deep ocean fishes as well.

"This year would be harsh and tough then.", came Sasuke's response. As he said that, their order was brought in. Hotaru entered the booth and served them with their food and drinks and after organising everything she left them to their devices, reminding them to call if they need anything.

The next few hours they spent inside the booth consisted of them talking about the examination and about their family situations. They had a hearty meal and discussed more about the festival that Geiki and Tōtsuki would be organizing during the fall. They were excited about the coming months and were all the more getting ready for it. Paying for the food and greeting the owners they walked out of the establishments as it was getting to be high noon. The sun was up as Sasuke said,

"I'm about to head to the shrine. We'll fly to Hōkkaido tomorrow morning and you can stay in my suite tonight as I told you."

"No problem. Thanks again for taking me with you."

"If I knew any better I'd say you made your plans just for a free ride home."

"You cannot prove it."

"True, for now."

"Troublesome." And both of them smirked at that as both of them walked towards the limo that Sasuke brought and had his butler park it in an inconspicuous path. Just before they could reach the limo, Shikamaru's eyes caught something.

Tapping at Sasuke's shoulders he had to ask him, "Doesn't that blonde mop of hair look familiar or am I just seeing things due to the sake?"

Sasuke gave his words some heed as he look into the distance of the road Shikamaru pointed and truly, how much could his travelling get more surprising. First Shikamar, but that was just a matter of time but, the blonde mop of sunspark?

"It's not the sake Shikamaru. It's exactly what you are seeing." Saying that, Sasuke started to walk towards the figure they had seen, with Shikamaru on tow. He signalled his chauffeur and butler to wait for a few minutes as he and Shikamaru made their way.

Uzumaki Naruto was in Nagano, and there was no way Sasuke was going to not meet him up close after so long. Sasuke's face had an unseen gleam to it which Shikamaru picked up and the last thing he, again, had come surface on his mouth was the very eloquent and expressive,

"Troublesome."

A/N: Please Support Me On patreon.com/The_Alchemyst

For Every 5 People Who Join My Patreon, 2 Extra Chapters Will Be Posted!