“Please, go out with me!”
“I’m sorry. I’m not interested in romance.”
For as long as everybody could remember, Namikaze Naruto would always reject her admirers with a blunt and straightforward answer of not being interested in dating someone. It has been a famous response for the Namikaze princess as well as her childhood best friend and partner in crime, Uchiha Sasuke.
“I like you! Please be my boyfriend!”
“No, I don’t like you.”
Namikaze Naruto is what someone would say, the perfect woman. She’s the top of her class, rivaling her best friend in intelligence when it comes to academics. A masters in sealing and one of the most prominent young jounin of their generation. The Yondaime Hokage’s only child, born with a gold spoon in her mouth but never arrogant in every way. A humble and kind human being that’s always ready to help others. A rare exotic beauty with her golden hair, deep ocean blue eyes, slightly tanned skin, and an enticing body that makes every woman jealous and man bewitched.
She had everything, and that makes everyone want her.
“Um…please be my girlfriend!”
“I’m sorry. I’m not interested in dating.”
That has always been her immediate response when it comes to rejections, and imagine everyone’s surprise when it changed all of a sudden. Naruto was 19 years old, a two years member of the Anbu squad when it changed.
“Please go out with me!”
“I have a boyfriend.”
Within the next hour, the rumor about the blonde Anbu being in a relationship had spread throughout the village. The Hokage, the father of the rumor’s subject, often found himself asked about his daughter’s relationship. Everytime people would question him about his princess’ boyfriend, his only answer was “It’s not mine to tell.”
Even after almost a week of getting no confirmation about their favorite blonde’s better half, the rumor has yet to dwindle down.
Was it the Nara heir?
Shikamaru could only release a tired sigh and a mutter of ‘ troublesome’ under his breath after one of his friend’s fanbase bombarded him with questions about their close relationship. Were people really that narrow-minded that he couldn’t consider Naruto his best friend without raising the suspicion of having romantic feelings for the blonde? It’s only natural for them to be close because of both their father’s bond.
Sure, Naruto’s smart like himself, the best of their generation along with Uchiha Sasuke. She’s down to earth and really friendly. She could rope everyone into a conversation and like her. She’s the prettiest their village has to offer, and a beast in the arts of sealing. She’s like a little sister for him, but that’s just it. Naruto’s like his little sister and his romance inclination lies in the hand of a Suna shinobi with teal eyes and ash blonde hair.
Shikamaru released a dazed sigh as he remembered his upcoming date with the Kazekage’s sister by the end of the week. Years of pining for the older woman, he finally mustered up the courage to ask her out after Naruto goaded him into confessing and pushing him to be brave about his feelings. Troublesome blonde.
“Shikamaru!”
The Nara heir halted in his steps and glanced over his shoulder to find his troublesome blonde best friend with her usual company in the form of a scowling Uchiha. He could already feel countless pairs of curious eyes on them, and he suppressed the urge to roll his own orbs dramatically.
“Naruto,” He greeted, waving a two finger salute to Sasuke’s direction who only clicked his tongue in a show of utter annoyance.
“Shika! How did it go with Temari?”
Shikamaru responded with a small smile as he thanked the Namikaze princess. “It went well thanks to you. We’re going on a date this weekend.”
Naruto’s reaction of going in for a hug surprised him for a second before he responded in kind. “That’s good news, Shika!”
The curious eyes watching them doubled but went ignored. “What about you? I’ve been hearing rumors of you being in a relationship, you troublesome blonde. Who is it?”
Naruto pulled away slightly from the hug, taking a good look at Shikamaru’s face. She could see the line of curiosity, wonder, worry, and tad of protectiveness covering his handsome features. Naruto leaned in a bit closer than intended and whispered quietly next to his ear.
Shikamaru’s eyes widened a fraction at the name of Naruto’s lover, took a glance at the frowning Uchiha then laughed. He laughed so loudly that bystanders looked at him like he was crazy.
“I don’t even know why I asked. Congratulations, Naruto. You got yourself a good man.”
“Don’t I!”
When the end of the week came and the villagers could see the Nara heir going out with the known strong yet scary Suna ambassador, they threw away the idea of him being Naruto’s boyfriend.
Definitely not him.
Was it the Hyuuga prodigy?
Hyuuga Neji would admit to anything in his life, not like he could at first. When he was younger and still a fate stricken child, he would rather die than admit to something he doesn’t want to. He entered the chunin exams arrogantly but went out of it knocked down by a peg. He could assent that he deserved being beaten up by the genius Namikaze, and he could also accept that she was better than him in any way.
One of the things he acknowledged was having feelings for the blonde a few years back.
Neji couldn’t for the life of him deny that he harbored romantic affections for his friend, Naruto. It was one of his fondest experiences and most precious feelings. Liking Naruto was natural as breathing air and he often found himself wanting to be better for her and himself. She made him realize a lot of things and one of them was his true affection towards his former teammate who’s an expert in weapon handling, Tenten.
It was true that at some point he liked Naruto, but later on realizes that it was just infatuation on his part that’s why he mistook his feelings for something else. He only understood everything after he was brave enough to ask the blonde for a date, to which she replied that she wasn’t interested in people lying to themselves.
Neji was confused as to why she would think that but later on discerned that she saw something that he couldn’t.
Hyuuga Neji was in love with his teammate and would forever be grateful to Naruto for rejecting him.
Neji’s glare hardened as another fresh jonin shinobi asked him the same question he’s been receiving for a whole week now.
“Hyuuga-san, are you dating Naruto-sama?”
He could hear his girlfriend snorting, which should be unattractive in any way but heck she was cute, and his aura turned gloomier. His other former teammate started yelling about youth and love and preaching about life and friendship and anything really dumb. Lee’s voice sounds amused while Tenten’s eyes hold mirth in them as if they found the situation funny.
They did.
“For the last time, I’m not dating Naruto! I’m in a relationship with someone else! Please tell everyone that and get out of my sight!”
The jonin squeaked in fear, hurriedly escaping the area as Tenten and Lee burst out in laughter. Neji’s forehead throbbed in annoyance as he folded his arms over his chest, presence looming over the hunched figure of his companions.
“You guys are enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Lee calmed a little to answer before going back into cackling like a madman, “Indeed, Neji. It was also spot on to ask you because you used to hold feelings for Naruto.”
Neji’s eyebrow twitched as Tenten’s answer reached his ears.
“It was a shame she rejected you though.”
The next morning, the people of Konoha could see the young Hyuuga prodigy parading the village while holding hands with a blushing Tenten.
Definitely not him.
Was it the famous Copy-cat?
It was a known fact that Naruto’s former genin teacher was the famous Copy-cat ninja, Hatake Kakashi. A formidable bachelor almost reaching thirties with nothing but a bunch of kunai, summons, and Icha-Icha by his side. People of the village have known him with his surname riding on his back, and as his father’s legacy.
As far as people could see, he’s never been involved with anyone and he’s been suspiciously close to a certain blonde haired jonin even after parting from the team a while back.
People just really seemed to forget that he was Hokage's former student and his relationship with his sensei’s daughter was because of that.
Minato’s dark aura penetrated through the entire office as he heard another gossip of his silver-haired student’s possible intimate relationship with his daughter. He knows it wasn’t true since he knew who his daughter was dating but it still irked him when he thinks about it.
Kakashi and Naruto? He would castrate his student when it happens. Still, he ought to do something to stop the unsavory rumors surrounding his precious people.
“Anbu, fetch me Hatake Kakashi. Now.”
Not even a minute later, Hatake Kakashi appeared inside the room, his form lax and right hand occupied with the latest edition of the Icha-Icha series.
“Kakashi, it has come to my attention that there’s a rumor circulating in the village about your possible intimacy with my daughter.”
Kakashi choked behind his navy blue mask as he tried to defend himself. “Sensei, you know that’s not true.”
Minato stood up stiffly from his seat as he held out his hand, a sphere alreading forming on his palm. “I know, but I think I would have a nightmare if I don’t do something about it.”
Understanding his position, Kakashi bolted for the door as he ran for his life with the Hokage chasing him with a deadly jutsu.
“Kakashi, get back here!”
“Sensei! The rumors are not true! I see Naruto as a sister!”
“And I see you as my son so I have to do this.”
If it was in better circumstances, Kakashi thinks he would actually tear up a little. Instead, he shuddered as his sensei’s narrowed eyes locked on his form.
“RASENGAN!”
Kakashi’s pained cry was heard all over the village, and the people instantly knew what it meant.
Definitely not him.
Or was it the famous Uchiha best friend?
Everyone forgot when Naruto became Naruto and Sasuke. Those two would always be together in every achievement and mischief. People knew that they first met when they started the Academy but seemed to not have noticed that their mothers were best friends, and their fathers were on good terms either. Naruto and Sasuke became friends the moment they were born.
Naturally, dating rumors have always surrounded those two. They were the top of their batch, a class of their own, and were always beside each other. If Naruto cared for a lot of people, Sasuke cared for no one but her and their families. It was an immediate response to think that if they ever ended up dating, it was meant to be.
Both of them never showed interest in dating when they graduated and became genins. Both of them were busy getting better and proving themselves to ever find comfort in liking someone romantically. Both of them didn’t have time for love when they parted from team seven and joined the Anbu.
It was a normal Saturday afternoon, as normal as it can be for the deadly duo, after Sasuke was subjected to Naruto’s puppy eyes and had no choice but to accompany her to Ichiraku for ramen when the people finally knew who she was dating.
“Look, Sasuke-sama and Naruto-sama are on a date.”
Sasuke’s eyebrow twitched, sending a glare towards a bunch of young girls gossiping when they passed the ramen stand. It has been a week since Naruto’s story of having a boyfriend has surfaced in the village and people were having mixed feelings about her so-called partner. Some assumed that she was dating the Nara heir, which thankfully subsided when the said heir was spotted having a lovely date with the Kazekage’s sister.
A few of them speculated that her boyfriend was the Hyuuga prodigy but later the thought was crushed when Neji paraded the whole village whilst holding hands with his girlfriend, Tenten.
People even assumed that she was in a relationship with Hatake Kakashi which is, yikes! For Kami’s sake, they treated each other like they were siblings by blood and liked to wrestle and throw insults rather than coddling and whispering words of affection. When it reached Naruto’s ears that some thought she was dating her sort-of brother, she decided to come clean regarding her relationship.
It was fun while it lasted but the final straw was when her dating rumors with Sasuke became stronger than ever. Naruto and Sasuke, lovers? The Namikaze heiress shuddered and mentally gagged at the thought, prompting Sasuke to smack the back of her head as if he could tell what she’s thinking.
“I can hear your thoughts, Naru.”
She seriously had doubts.
“I feel like vomiting, I know what you’re thinking.”
She really doubts he knows.
“I know, loser.”
It’s starting to get really freaky that he could hear my thoughts, she mused.
“It’s not freaky when you’re saying it out loud, dumbass. You’ve been talking verbally for the past few minutes.”
“Gah, Sasuke! You scared me for a moment.“
“You’re an idiot.”
“See! This is why the idea of us dating is stupid! You like to torture and terrorize me all the time.”
“Oh, shut up! You do the same thing to me!”
“Sissy.”
Sasuke glared at the triumphed look of the blonde and relished as he got an offended reaction in return, “I don’t even know why he started dating you.”
“Excuse you, I’m a whole package.”
“Well, so’s he.”
“That’s why we’re perfect for each other, ttebayo.”
“Sap.”
Sasuke rolled his dark orbs dramatically as he eyed his best friend happily slurping the greasy broth with enthusiasm. “Are you really gonna announce your relationship?”
Naruto hummed in reply as Sasuke continued on blabbering, an unusual sight for the normally stoic and tight-lipped Uchiha.
“You know, it’s a wonder that people haven’t found out about it yet. I mean, you guys have been dating for almost six months now, and normally are disgusting when it comes to public display.” Sasuke snorted in mockery, “Some shinobi village we are.”
Naruto glanced at her duck-butt haired partner, eyes filled with amusement as Sasuke’s features became annoyed by each passing second. “Well, it’s no wonder that no one found out about it. He’s been gone for four months because of some mission Dad put him in.”
“Uh-huh, I heard he’s coming back today.”
“I know.”
“Are you nervous of seeing him again? That's why you’ve stuffed your ugly face with ramen?”
“Oh, shut up.”
“Nervous of seeing who?”
Both of them nearly jumped at the sudden intruding voice of one Hatake Kakashi, battered up and sporting an ugly bruise over his eye. The silver-haired jonin took one look at Naruto’s red face and nonchalantly commented about a certain someone’s arrival.
“I saw him exiting the Hokage tower. You might get to see him leisuring around the village with the curly haired brat.”
Sasuke snorted as he stood up, Naruto following him. “Shisui is only a few years younger than you, Kakashi.”
“He’s still a brat. He’s the one who taught you guys how to prank people! I still have a grudge when he made my hair neon pink.”
“You’ll get over it. Thanks for paying for our food, sensei!”
“You brats!”
Kakashi snapped his attention to the waiting hand of the ramen stand owner before releasing a deep breath, “Damn it.”
As Naruto and Sasuke came into a comfortable silence after laughing at their former sensei’s misfortune, a silky and velvety voice reached them as they neared the town’s square where a lot of people were normally at.
“Shisui, I think that it is best if you shouldn’t come too strong when it comes to pursuing Izumi. A maiden’s heart is fragile and vulnerable, their trust and affection is something that would be given if you would earnestly earn their attention.”
“Oh-ho, Itachi gave me some love advice. Are you speaking from experience? Is that how you caught the affection of our beautiful hime?” Shisui teased, nudging the other with his elbow.
“Unlike you, I courted my hime with utmost delicacy and seriousness. I suggest flattery and spending time is a great start to woo someone.” Itachi replied with a soft smile, a response he mostly gives whenever he talks about his lover. Shisui grumbled under his breath about fools in love before he noticed his baby cousin and their resident honorary Uchiha a few meters away.
“Sasuke-chan! Naru-chan!” He yelled, arms waving wildly in excitement as the bystanders grew curious at the interaction between four gorgeous people.
Itachi glanced briefly at his brother’s perfectly concealed perked up form before greeting the blonde beauty beside him with a tone laced with love and fondness.
“Hime.”
Naruto’s face lit up before she sprinted straight to the awaiting arms of the Uchiha heir. “Itachi!”
The Anbu captain caught the Namikaze heiress with ease, his arms circling her petite form as he buried his nose into her thick sunshine yellow hair. “I missed you, my love.”
The crowd gasped at what they heard. Itachi’s quiet voice loudly carried through the area as people quieted down after witnessing the blonde jounin jump in the arms of the famous Uchiha prodigy.
“I missed you too!”
Itachi held out a hand, softly caressing Naruto’s whiskered cheek as he took in the gorgeous form of his girlfriend before he brought up the topic that he’s been hearing ever since he got back from a mission.
“What’s this I hear about Sasuke being your lover?” He raised a curious brow, effortlessly ignoring the offending sound his brother made.
Naruto turned sheepish for a moment as she recalled what had happened. “Well, it’s been a week since someone confessed to me. I told them I already have a boyfriend so people started cooking up conspiracies about my lover. They seem to think that Sasuke was the safest bet because we’re best friends.”
Itachi’s mood darkened for a moment, eyebrow twitching in annoyance before carefully masking his expression with a not so noticeable smile. Being a skilled shinobi, naturally Naruto, Sasuke, and Shisui noticed his mood change even if he only showed it for a second.
“Is that so?” Itachi pulled Naruto impossibly closer to him, making her blush from the unexpected bold move from her lover. Normally, Itachi would only be extremely clingy and touchy when they were alone or in the presence of their family.
The attractive Uchiha heir bent down a little, face approaching the red looking Namikaze, and Naruto could see the possessiveness taking over his dark eyes. “I hope that everyone will find out who you’re dating after this.”
“After what?”
Itachi dived in for a kiss, not being able to resist himself with the temptation after being in Naruto’s presence for way too long. His left hand was cradling Naruto’s face gently as his other hand made a permanent home in her slim waist.
Naruto’s eyes were impossibly wide, knees turning into jelly as Itachi licked her bottom lip hotly. She could vaguely hear the peoples’ surprised reaction but couldn’t find it in herself to care. Naruto could feel Itachi smirking against the kiss as her hands reached out her lover’s neck for anchor. As they stood in the middle of the street making out without care, the news of the famous Namikaze heiress’ lover was finally identified.
Namikaze Naruto is dating Uchiha Itachi!
-END-