Chapter 11: Chapter 11: A Birthday Surprise!
Five months had passed since the yota situation happened, and during that time, he had made tremendous strides in both his physical strength and chakra control. He could now keep the leaf stuck to his forehead for an impressive two hours and twelve minutes, a feat he was incredibly proud of. With each passing day, he felt closer to mastering his abilities and reaching his goal of holding it for three hours or more.
As the sun set on the peaceful village of Konoha, Yuto returned to his dorm, a satisfied smile on his face.Exhausted from the day, Yuto decided it was time to rest. He lay down on his bed, the comfort of the sheets inviting him into a peaceful slumber. What he didn't know was that tomorrow was his birthday, and Naruko had been quietly preparing a surprise celebration for him, much like the one he had arranged for her.
The moon was setting as the sun was about to rise. Most of the village was fast asleep, but not Naruko. She was wide awake, her heart racing with excitement.Today was Yuto's birthday, and she had been planning a surprise for weeks. After he had gone out of his way to make her birthday special, she wanted to return the favor.
With a determined glint in her eye, Naruko stealthily made her way through the quiet streets toward the dorms where Yuto lived. She knew he was probably fast asleep,so she wanted to wake him up like he did to her. She approached his window, her heart pounding with anticipation.
After a quick glance around to ensure no one was watching, she pulled herself up to the edge of the window and gently slid it open. The faint sound of her movement stirred Yuto from his sleep. He blinked groggily, the light from the rising sun illuminating the room just enough for him to see a familiar face peering in.
"Yuto! Wake up!" Naruko whispered excitedly, unable to contain her grin."Wha—?" Yuto mumbled, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "Naruko? What are you doing here?""It's your birthday!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her feet. "Happy Birthday, Yuto!"Yuto's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and happiness washing over him. "It's my birthday?" he repeated, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep."Of course! And I have a whole day planned for us!" Naruko said, her enthusiasm infectious. "Get dressed quickly! We have a lot to do!"
Yuto couldn't help but smile at her energy. "Alright, alright! Give me a minute."Once dressed, Yuto rushed to join Naruko, who was practically bouncing on her toes with anticipation. "Let's go!" she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the door.They slipped out of the dorm and headed towards the famous Ichiraku Ramen shop. The scent of savory broth and fresh noodles wafted through the air, making Yuto's stomach rumble in excitement.
As they arrived, Ayame and her father greeted them with warm smiles. "Good morning, Naruko! And happy birthday, Yuto!" they chimed in unison."Thank you!" Yuto replied, a bit shyly."On the house today!" Teuchi, the owner, declared as he prepared bowls of steaming ramen. "Just for you, Yuto! And we have something special for you." He handed Yuto a coupon, similar to the one Naruko had received on her birthday."Wow, thank you!" Yuto said, genuinely grateful as he accepted the gift.
As they enjoyed their breakfast, Naruko couldn't help but glance at Yuto, her heart swelling with happiness. She loved seeing him smile, and this was just the beginning of his special day."After this, I have another surprise for you," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief."Another one? You're really spoiling me!" Yuto laughed.
After finishing their ramen, Naruko led Yuto toward the river that flowed through Konoha.The same one where they had a heart to heart talk before they found Guy."We're going to spend the day swimming!" she declared."Swimming?" Yuto echoed, a bit surprised. "But it's still early in the morning!""It'll be fun! Trust me!" Naruko insisted, her enthusiasm infectious.
As they reached the river, they spotted a perfect spot to jump in. The water glimmered under the sunlight, inviting and refreshing. Without wasting another moment, Naruko stripped off her shoes and jumped in, splashing water everywhere."Come on, Yuto! Don't just stand there!" she called out, laughter ringing through the air.
Yuto chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief at her carefree spirit. He quickly joined her, the cool water enveloping him and washing away the remnants of sleep. They spent hours playing in the water, racing each other and attempting to splash one another with playful water fights. The laughter echoed along the riverbank, creating a joyful melody that only friends could share.
"Let's see who can hold their breath the longest!" Naruko challenged, her competitive nature shining through."Alright, you're on!" Yuto replied, determination gleaming in his eyes.After numerous games and plenty of laughter, they finally decided to take a break and dry off in the sun. Just then, they spotted Guy-sensei approaching, a bright smile on his face.
"Yuto! Naruko! What a great surprise to see you two enjoying the day!" Guy exclaimed, his enthusiasm as vibrant as ever."Guy-sensei! We're just having some fun!" Yuto replied, a little out of breath from their antics."Fun is an important part of training!" Guy said with a thumbs-up. "In fact, I have a gift for you, Yuto!" He reached into his bag and pulled out a brand new set of training weights. "These will help you build strength!"
Yuto's eyes widened in excitement as he accepted the gift. "Thank you, Guy-sensei! I'll make sure to use them!""Now, let's incorporate some training into your fun! How about a lap around the village?" Guy suggested.Both Yuto and Naruko exchanged glances, a mix of enthusiasm and slight dread. "A lap?" Naruko repeated, but she quickly nodded. "Let's do it!"
With that, they set off with Guy, running through the streets of Konoha. It was a tiring but exhilarating experience, and they all laughed as they pushed each other to go faster. The sun hung high in the sky, shining down on them as they made their way around the village.
After their run, they arrived at a barbecue restaurant, the delicious smell of grilled meat wafting through the air. However, as they entered, the owner glared at Naruko, clearly displeased with her presence. "You can't be here," he grumbled.
But before he could say anything further, Guy stepped forward, a fierce expression on his face. "She is my student! You will treat her with respect!" His commanding presence immediately silenced the owner."Um, right. Sorry…" the man mumbled, backing off.
Naruko blinked, surprised and grateful for Guy's intervention. They settled down for a hearty meal, enjoying the food and the company of their mentor.After parting ways with Guy, who had to attend to other duties, Naruko took Yuto back to her home. "I have one more surprise for you!" she said, barely able to contain her excitement.
"Another one?" Yuto asked, his curiosity piqued."Yep! Close your eyes!" Naruko instructed, and he obliged, trusting her completely.After a moment, she said, "Okay, open them!"Yuto opened his eyes to find a cake sitting on the table. It was homemade, and while it didn't look perfect—lopsided and uneven—it was clear that Naruko had put a lot of effort into making it.
"Surprise! I made you a cake!" Naruko exclaimed, her cheeks flushed with pride.Yuto stared at the cake, touched by the gesture. "You made this for me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper."Yeah! It's my first time, and I used the books Ayame lent me!" Naruko admitted, her nervousness apparent.
As they sat down to eat, Yuto took a bite. The flavor was a bit off, not quite what he was used to, but he didn't care. "It's amazing, Naruko!" he said, tears welling in his eyes from the overwhelming emotion of the moment."Really? You think so?" she asked, her face lighting up with happiness."Yeah! I'm really touched by your effort," Yuto replied, wiping a tear away.
Naruko's eyes sparkled with joy, and she laughed, relief flooding through her. "I'm glad! I was worried it wouldn't taste good."After finishing the cake, Naruko reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box. "I have one last gift for you," she said, handing it to Yuto.
Curious, Yuto opened the box to find a pair of white goggles inside, similar to the ones Obito wore but with unique shuriken designs near the bands. "Wow! These are awesome!" he exclaimed, amazed."Now we'll match!" Naruko said, pointing to the bands she wore in her braids—the ones Yuto had gifted her on her birthday.
Yuto grinned widely. "Thank you, Naruko! I love them!"As they sat together, the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. It was the perfect end to an unforgettable birthday. Yuto felt something blossom within him when he saw naruko smile at him.He somehow knew what this feeling was.'Is this feeling love?'He thought,but suppressed those feelings for now."Today was the best birthday ever," he said softly.Naruko beamed at him,happy that her efforts had paid off.
(Pls give me some power stones!)
(Find out next time on Naruto:eye system)