Chapter 151: Going on a Trip
Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
Author notes
Chapter 151: Going on a Trip
"Did you miss me?" Jiraiya appeared in the doorway with his usual cheerful attitude.
"I miss going outside," Naruto replied honestly. At the moment, unless he wanted to go rogue like Sasuke, this man was his only ticket out of the village.
"I spoke with Tsunade, and she agreed to make you my official disciple!" Jiraiya declared.
Naruto gave him a skeptical glare.
"I know, I know. It's just an official thing...I won't be allowed to take you otherwise," Jiraiya explained.
"That's fine, I guess. When do we leave?"
"As soon as you're packed. But we should grab a bite first."
Naruto nodded. "Ichiraku then."
Jiraiya groaned. "Does it have to be there? I was craving some dango…"
"I won't be able to eat their ramen while we're away. So…" Naruto gave Jiraiya a firm look.
Naruto had never been picky about food, but there was something about ramen that soothed him, almost like it reached his soul. Of all the ramen he'd tried, Ichiraku's had the strongest effect.
"Fine…" Jiraiya sighed in defeat. "Ramen it is."
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After finishing a plentiful meal and grabbing his bag for the trip, Naruto walked to the village gate, where he found Jiraiya scribbling on a small notepad, catching the curious gaze of a nearby guard.
"Ready?" Jiraiya looked up from his notes.
"All set." Naruto adjusted his new sword at his belt.
"You got another one?" Jiraiya remembered Naruto breaking his previous sword while fighting Gamabunta.
"Picked it up yesterday. It's a little better than the last, but I still can't afford the highest-quality ones," Naruto said.
Especially now, after losing his position on Team Seven. The only money he had was from the reward for taking down Kabuto, but that wouldn't last forever, so he had to settle for a cheaper sword. Still, he wasn't disappointed, as it was enough for now.
"Did you say goodbye to your friends? We won't be back for a while," Jiraiya reminded him.
"Uh…" Naruto hadn't thought about that. Hinata was probably the only one who knew he was leaving.
"You're so careless…" Jiraiya shook his head. "Oh, before I forget about...here, take this." He handed Naruto a scroll.
Opening it, Naruto saw a small collection of jutsu written inside.
"I asked Asuma to write down a few wind jutsus for you. These are more advanced, so take your time with them," Jiraiya said.
Naruto scanned the contents. The jutsus were definitely more complex than the 'Great Breakthrough' he'd just learned. There was even a variant on the 'Chakra Blade.'
"Interesting… I'll study these when I get the chance," Naruto said, rolling up the scroll.
"And don't forget to thank Asuma when you see him again," Jiraiya added.
"I will, of cour—"
"Naruto!"
They both turned to see Ino running toward them.
"Oh boy… She doesn't look happy. What did you do?" Jiraiya teased. "Did you forget to tell your girlfriend you were leaving? That'll get your ass kicked."
The Chunin guard chuckled.
"People get mad about stuff like that?" Naruto thought back.
One time, his second dao companion, the Sword Fairy Liao Ming, got very upset when he left to explore some ruins and didn't return for fifty years.
'But for a few months…could it be?' He found it hard to understand.
"Naruto!" Ino called again, finally reaching him, her hands on her hips. "Were you going to leave without saying anything?!"
'She's very mad,' Naruto noted. But he didn't panic.... for he had experience with these kinds of situations. He knew exactly what to do.
He set his bag down and stepped close to Ino, their faces only inches apart.
"Ino," he said softly.
"W-what…?" she muttered, suddenly embarrassed by his closeness.
"I'm very sorry for not telling you sooner. You're right to be upset." He gently took her hands in his.
"Well… yes," Ino replied, her cheeks flushed. Her previous anger was quickly diminishing.
Naruto placed a hand on her cheek and caressed it lightly.
"This journey is something I have to do. But I want you to know that I'll miss you every day I'm gone."
"Eh?… You will?" She hadn't expected him to be this direct.
"Of course." He leaned in and kissed her.
"Mmm?!" Ino's eyes widened as their lips met.
"Oh!" Jiraiya grinned. "That's my boy."
The kiss lasted a few seconds but left Ino completely flustered.
"In the future, I'd like for you to become my Dao Companion. Will you wait for me?" Naruto asked.
Ino nodded several times, still dazed. "Sure…"
"Excellent. I'll see you soon, then." Naruto picked up his bag and turned to leave.
Jiraiya gave her one last look before following him.
Ino stood there for a moment, watching them disappear into the distance.
"Are you okay?" The gate guard sounded concerned that she might be in shock.
"Wait..." Ino finally snapped out of it. "What the heck is a Dao Companion?"
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"Very smooth!" Jiraiya clapped him on the shoulder. "You're one step closer to becoming a real man now."
Naruto decided to ignore the comment and ask something that had been on his mind. "Is there a plan for this trip? Or are we just wandering around for a few months?"
"Oh no, we've got a mission to complete."
"A mission?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Of course. We still have to work, even outside the village. In fact, we're on our way to meet the client now."
"What kind of mission is it?" It had been a while since Naruto's last mission.
"We're escorting a famous actress back to her country. The Land of Snow," Jiraiya said.
"The Land of Snow, huh?... Wait, a famous actress? Tell me more."
Jiraiya's expression turned lewd. "She's quite the beauty. Her name is Yukie Fujikaze."
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