I walked slowly to the training fields, trying to draw out the walk.
All too soon, I reached the training field.
“Ayame!” Naruto called, rushing to my side. I smiled weakly at him,
“Hey, Naruto.” He frowned, noticing my depressed aura.
Wow, I thought, I must be pretty depressed if Naruto of all people could sense it.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, worry etched into his face, “Is it something the Akatsuki did? Or even…” He squeezed his eyes shut, before quickly shaking his head. Almost as if he was refusing to acknowledge something.
He opened his sea blue eyes again and stared at me, expecting an answer. I just gave him the fake smile that I’d had to use oh-so many times before.
“I’m alright.”
“Ayame!” I heard a female call behind me. The corners of my mouth twitched downwards for a fraction of a second before springing upright once again.
“Sakura!” I sung, turning to face her. I noticed Sai calmly jogging behind her, not even out of breath.
“Are you alright?” The pinkett asked. I sighed, wondering if they thought I was still the helpless little genin I was before. “Oh! Uh,” Sakura quickly corrected herself, seeing the look on my face, “I mean, y’know… Are you alright to come to training? I know your strong and all but…” I looked up at her, expecting her to finish her sentence.
“You got captured by the Akatsuki, that in itself must’ve been traumatising.” Sai inputted, not a trace of emotion in his voice.
My eye twitched when I remember Hidan carrying me away half naked.
“Not so much traumatising, more like something I’d punch someone over the head for.” Sai, Naruto and Sakura all gave me a blank look.
I stared back at them blankly,
“… What?” Naruto asked, raising an eye brow. I just shrugged,
“Don’t worry, nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about.”
“Hey people.” I heard Kakashi’s voice from behind me greet, “Seen any old woman lately? If you do, and if their trying to cross the street, then help them. It’s the ‘in thing’ these days. Makes you popular with the ladies.” Everyone, including myself, sweat dropped.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Naruto murmured, his eye twitching as he did so.
While everyone was re-thinking Kakashi’s IQ, I was mentally preparing myself for what was to come.
“Guys!” I announced, when the buzzing in my ear died down, I realised that I had interrupted their conversation. I swallowed, it was now or never.
“What is it?” Kakashi asked looking up from his book. I looked up at everyone, sorrow constricted around my chest, making it hard to breathe.
“I’m… I’m due to go back to my village…” There was silence,
“You’re village?” Sakura echoed,
“You mean the one you ran away to?” Naruto asked. I gave him a hurt look,
“I didn’t run away! I had to go there Naruto, to get stronger!” He put his hands up to say he surrendered,
“Sorry, sorry!”
“But you just got back…” Kakashi murmured, placing his book into his pouch. I was surprised, I was expecting Naruto and Sakura to have this reaction.
“You can’t go back!” Naruto exclaimed, grabbing onto my shoulders harshly, “We just got you back! We just saved you! You can’t leave!” I bared my teeth at the blonde,
“I wouldn’t go back if I had a choice!” I yelled, “I only have to go back because I’m getting married!” I instantly regretted saying what I did. Naruto’s face went slack,
“Your… Your getting married…?” I felt tears gather in my eyes, I blinked them back, forcing myself to be strong in this situation.
“Yes Naruto, I’m getting married.”
“But your only 17! Not even the legal age!” I swatted Naruto’s hands away and stepped back, wanting my space.
“My birthday is in a week, in that week everything will be getting set up.” I spared a look at Kakashi, who was deep in thought. I turned my gaze back on Naruto, Sakura and Sai. “Trust me guys, I wouldn’t marry this guy if I didn’t have to… But the village elder is insisting that he wants me to be his daughter in law…”
“Sakura said your 17, right?” Sai asked. I stared at him for a moment,
“Yes… I’m only 17… What’s that got to do with anything.”
“I think Sai’s onto something.” Kakashi interjected,
“If she’s only 17…. Then that means…” Sakura grinned.
“Oh! Yea! Ahaha!” Naruto laughed and scratched the back of his head. He quickly grabbed Sakura and whispered something in her ear. She swiftly punched him over the head,
“Idiot! How can you not understand?” Naruto anime cried and rubbed the lump on his head,
“I’m sorry! But seriously!” I looked at them all,
“Uh… I have to say, even I don’t know what you guys are talking about…” Sakura sweat dropped,
“I thought you were the smart one.” I rolled my eyes,
“C’mon. Just tell me!” Kakashi grinned and proceeded to tell me the plan. As he did, my frown became a smile, my smile became a grin, and my grin became laughter.
“You’re all genious’s! But-“ Sakura groaned,
“Why is it, that in every master plan, there’s one person who says ‘but’?” I pursed my lips,
“Just listen to what I have to say!”
“Fine fine!” She waved me off absent mindedly, “Continue.” I chuckled,
“Well, I don’t think that the village elder will be very happy…” Kakashi shrugged,
“I’ll deal with that, don’t stress Ayame.”
“We’ll deal with everything!” Naruto exclaimed, his trademark grin spread across his face.
I felt myself tear up once again,
“I love you guys, you know that right?” They all grinned at me,
“GROUP HUG!” Naruto yelled, tackling me to the ground. I laughed and stood back up, but still wrapped my arms around him. Sakura followed, and then Kakashi. I giggled and l glanced at Sai, who I noticed was standing on the sidelines, not knowing what to do.
I laughed at him and gestured for him to join in,
“Come on Sai! Don’t be a party pooper!” He slowly trudged towards us, paused, and was about to awkwardly wrap his arms around us all. What stopped him was Naruto, who reached out, wrapped his arm around Sai’s neck, and pulled him towards us full force.
What I didn’t expect to happen though, was Sai lips to crash into mine.
It was a painful kiss, if it could even be called that. Our teeth clashed and we both reared back, letting out strangled gasps.
It was silent for a moment.
“Naruto,” I growled, “I’ll give you a 3 second head start, by then, for your sake, I hope your out of sight and hidden somewhere I’d never think of looking.” Naruto cried out and jumped back,
“P-Please! I didn’t mean to!”
“I suggest you run Naruto, because I’m going to be after you too.” Sai growled from beside me.
With that, Naruto ran away crying.
“Wanna tag team?” I asked Sai with a smirk,
“Of course.” He murmured.
“One,”
“Two,”
“THREE! YOU BETTER RUN NARUTO!”