Chapter-108

"This is new..." were Naruto's thoughts as he stood in an airport, carrying a bag on his shoulder. He sported a black leather jacket, gray pants, white shoes, and a red cap covering his hair. In the bustling airport line, Shiori stood behind him, dressed in an orange sweatshirt, a white skirt reaching her knees, and white shoes, dragging a suitcase with wheels.

With a faint smile, the red and white-haired teenager felt happiness that Uzumaki decided to accompany her on this trip. Passing her hands through her sweatshirt, she felt relieved that the blonde didn't recognize the garment, the one he gave her at the sports festival. She didn't want him to think she was obsessed. Her mother insisted it brought luck.

"Please leave your belongings on the belt for inspection and pass the items you carry in your pockets through the box," instructed the security attendant conducting the X-ray check on the shinobi's belongings. Naruto complied, removing everything from his pockets.

"Sure," he said, taking out some coins and his phone. As he went through the metal detector, he faced another security check. Security knew well who he was and the lingering public distrust, but Uzumaki remained indifferent.

*Rhinnn* *Rhinnn* *Rhinnn*

His old phone rang annoyingly, prompting him to sigh in annoyance. "Shiori, could you answer it?" he asked lazily, as he spread his arms while a security guard passed with a portable metal detector. Nodding, Todoroki left her luggage on the conveyor belt and picked up the phone.

"Hello, Uzumaki Naruto's phone," she answered the call, surprised to find an unscheduled number.

"Shiori-san?" a female voice came through the speaker.

"Yaoyorozu," the mixed-haired teenager, recognizing her class president's voice, replied calmly. She maintained her typical unfriendly attitude, especially when conversing with classmates.

"Huh? Well, yeah, I was calling Naruto-san. Is he available?" The black-haired woman asked cautiously, trying to conceal her surprise at Todoroki answering Naruto's phone.

"Right now, he is being checked by security guards. He is accompanying me on a trip to I-Island. I don't think he can help you now," she explained calmly, passing through the metal detector and taking her ticket from the assistant.

"..." An awkward silence ensued, and Shiori checked the phone, thinking the call might have been accidentally disconnected.

"Yaoyorozu-san?" Todoroki prompted, waiting for a response. Another thought crossed her mind: since when did Naruto have a phone? And why did only the class president have her number? Was there something between them, like the close relationship Ibara had with Naruto? "..." giving a heavy sigh, she squeezed the phone tightly, while a thin layer of cold air escaped her right arm.

"I'm here! I'm sorry, I was taken by surprise that both of you were going to that place. It's a coincidence, since I was also planning to go with some guests. But since you already invited Naruto-san, well, I hope to see you there," she said before abruptly ending the call, leaving the serious teenager to turn off the phone in silence.

"Who was it?" Naruto asked, surprising Shiori, who simply shrugged.

"Yaoyorozu-san wishes you a safe trip," she responded plainly, handing the phone back to the blonde. He raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn't press further. Putting away the phone, he took his bag and headed to the designated station to catch his flight, closely followed by the silent red-haired half.

….

"Daughter, something wrong?" On the other side of the city, we found ourselves at the Yaoyorozu residence, where the two residents were having breakfast at a large table with a variety of food. Our attention fell on the oldest of the black-haired girls, watching as her daughter hung up the phone and let her head fall against the table.

"Todoroki invited Naruto to go to the island-i..." growled the teenager, raising her head to take a cup of tea and drink. Giving a snort, she tried to compose herself.

"My girl, is it jealousy?" thought a smiling Majime, finding her daughter's failed attempts to get the young shinobi's attention cute. "You know you should still go. I know that this weekend there will be a formal celebration, since All Might will be a special guest. And since several young people from different parts of the world will be there, it was planned to do a kind of dance. Didn't you think it would be fun to go and maybe get closer to Naruto-chan? What do you think?" she asked as she took a sip from the porcelain teacup.

"Sounds good..." thoughtfully, the teenager got up from the table. She had to make some calls and hope that she could bring some of her classmates. With that idea in mind, she left the dining room with a plan.

Hours later…

High in the sky, a plane flew over at nine o'clock. Closer to one of the windows, we see Naruto, his gaze lost while impatiently waiting to land. He was not a fan of planes, and although many liked to fly, he preferred to keep his feet on the ground.

Coming out of his thoughts, he felt a weight on his right shoulder. Turning his gaze, he found Shiori, who had not been able to stay awake after the 6-hour flight. The shinobi with a vacant look watched the pretty teenager give soft sighs as she slept comfortably on his shoulder. Moving his right hand, he was about to touch Todoroki to wake her up.

But he didn't. For a strange reason, he only kept his gaze on the girl's face. In his opinion, it reflected innocence and purity worthy of an angel. Sighing at those childish thoughts, he rested his hand on the girl's back, who just continued sleeping. Without the shinobi noticing, he slowly fell asleep.

"..." Slowly opening her eyes, Shiori felt the blonde's calloused hand on her back. Leaning against him gave her a warmth that she never thought possible. This sensation was only below that of hugging her mother, and that was a lot. "I wish this would last longer..." she thought as she slowly closed her eyes again and fell asleep.

"Do you have to leave again?" Natsumi asked dejectedly, in her older brother's room, watching him pack for another mission. Currently, the red-haired girl was only five and close to turning six.

"Yep," smiling, the older Uzumaki packed several items into a backpack. Closing it, he looked at his younger sister, who looked discouraged leaning on the door frame. "Hey, don't be sad. It will only be a few days," he said calmly, seeking to reassure the little redhead, who puffed out her cheeks in a pout.

"You promised me and Satsuki-teme that we would spend the entire afternoon together," she complained, crossing her arms and looking away. "Onee-chan, are you going to break your promise?" she asked seriously, only to be picked up by her older brother, who kept her on the ground.

"Have I ever done that?" he returned the question with a big smile, which rubbed off on the little girl, who shook her head.

"No! And it's because an Uzumaki never breaks a promise!"

"Well said!" Putting his younger sister down, the shinobi took his backpack to go to the door, with Natsumi holding his right hand firmly. "How about you accompany me to see Oka-san to tell her about the mission?" he proposed, making the little redhead very excited.

"Yes! Then we'll all go together for Ramen~!"