Chapter 158: Date with girls
After I used some quick ninjutsu to fix the wall, I turned to Tsuna. "So, Tsuna, when are we leaving?" I asked, eager to get back to business.
Shizune, who was standing nearby, answered before Tsuna could, her tone calm yet firm. "Naruto, I think within two days we can leave. There's still a few things we need to wrap up before we head out."
"Two days, huh?" I nodded, mentally preparing for the next steps. "Alright, sounds good. I'll take that time to rest and make sure everything's set."
Tsuna gave me a sharp look but didn't say anything more, probably too tired to argue further. I could tell she had a lot on her mind, but we all needed to focus on the bigger picture.
"Alright," Tsuna finally said with a weary sigh, her earlier irritation seemingly fading. "Make sure to stay out of trouble during those two days, Naruto. I don't want to deal with any more messes."
I grinned mischievously. "I make no promises," I replied teasingly.
Shizune rolled her eyes but smiled slightly. "Just make sure you're ready. There's no time to waste after those two days. We'll need you sharp for the next phase."
"Got it," I said, giving her a thumbs up. "I'll be ready. And don't worry, I'll behave... mostly."
With that, I turned and walked out of the room, feeling a little lighter now that the confrontation was behind me. Tsuna and Shizune would handle the last bits of preparation while I had some time to rest.
But as I made my way to my room, I couldn't help but think about the upcoming journey. A lot was at stake, and things weren't going to slow down. Still, it was nice to know I had people who would back me up—and that included my favorite stubborn Hokage.
As I walked into my room, an idea struck me—why not spend these two days taking each of my girls on a date individually? I had never done that before; it was always in a group. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to give each of them some special attention.
So, with determination, I walked up to Tsuna's door and called out, "Tsuna, let's go on a date!"
But as I entered, I froze for a moment. There was another figure in the room, a woman with long brown hair facing away from me.
I couldn't help but grin. "Oh, if it isn't Mei, my precious," I said, recognizing her immediately.
She turned around, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement. "Naruto, you certainly have a way of making an entrance," Mei replied with a playful smile.
I walked toward her, feeling a surge of excitement. "What brings you here, Mei? I wasn't expecting a visit from you," I said, my tone lighthearted but genuinely curious.
Mei's smile widened as she glanced toward Tsuna, who was sitting at a nearby table, seemingly aware of the situation. "I was just paying a visit," she replied, her tone smooth and teasing. "I heard you were planning something, so I thought I'd join in."
Tsuna, still sitting at the table with a raised eyebrow, looked over at me with a knowing glance. "You didn't think I wouldn't notice your little plans, did you, Naruto?" she said with a smirk. "Seems like you're trying to juggle your attention between a lot of people these days."
I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my head. "I mean, who could resist spending time with all these amazing women?" I grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Anyway, since you're both here, how about this: why not make it a group date today?"
Mei raised an eyebrow but seemed intrigued. "A group date, huh? That could be fun. But don't think you're off the hook for that individual attention, Naruto," she said playfully, clearly enjoying the idea of having some quality time with me, even if it meant sharing it with Tsuna for the moment.
I glanced at Tsuna, who seemed slightly more open to the idea than I expected. "What do you think, Tsuna? A group date?" I asked, still trying to gauge her mood.
Tsuna sighed but smiled in a way that showed she wasn't as opposed to the idea as I thought. "Fine, but only because I know you need to make up for all your little schemes, Naruto. Just don't drag it out for too long."
With that, I felt a sense of relief. This was going to be fun. Spending time with both of them, making it a day of shared laughter and memories, would be exactly what I needed before the next big task ahead.
I thought it over for a moment. Even though it wasn't a one-on-one date like I originally planned, having all the girls together still felt like a fun idea. Plus, with the snow-covered Land of Iron as the backdrop, it would be a unique experience.
Excited, I set off to find Shizune, Temari, Kuratsuchi, and Mabui. I asked each of them if they'd like to join me for a date, and to my relief, all of them agreed without hesitation. The evening would be spent sightseeing around the Land of Iron, and despite the snow, it could turn out to be a memorable experience.
As I prepared for the evening, I thought about how different this date would be. The cold and snow would make it a fresh experience. I could already picture us bundled up in warm clothes, laughing, and enjoying the view as the snowflakes gently fell around us.
"Well, this is going to be interesting," I muttered to myself, looking forward to what the evening would bring.
As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the snow-covered landscape, I gathered everyone together at the inn. The girls were all dressed warmly, each of them sporting cozy coats and scarves. The crisp winter air made their cheeks rosy, and I could already tell this was going to be one of those days I'd never forget.
"That evening, as the snow continued to blanket the Land of Iron, I met the girls near the inn we were staying at. Each of them had bundled up in warm clothes that suited them perfectly. Tsuna looked as regal as ever in her fur-lined cloak, Mei had a playful air about her with her scarf draped elegantly, and the others—Shizune, Temari, Kurotsuchi, and Mabui—looked equally stunning in their winter attire.
"Alright, everyone," I said, clapping my hands together to gather their attention. "Tonight, we're going to make the most of this beautiful place. Sightseeing, good food, and some fun—what do you say?"
The group nodded, a mix of excitement and curiosity on their faces.
We started by exploring the main streets of the Land of Iron, which were lit with warm lanterns that created a cozy atmosphere despite the cold. Snow-covered rooftops and icicles hanging from the eaves made the whole place feel like something out of a fairy tale. The girls seemed to enjoy the serene beauty of the surroundings, and I couldn't help but feel proud of organizing this.
As we walked, I made sure to interact with each of them individually. With Tsuna, we talked about her thoughts on the upcoming plans. Mei teased me about how I was managing to juggle everyone's attention. Shizune quietly pointed out interesting details about the architecture. Temari admired the strategic layout of the streets, Kurotsuchi had a mischievous grin as she threw a snowball at me when I wasn't looking, and Mabui expressed her appreciation for the calm atmosphere compared to the chaos of the ninja world.
Midway through, we stopped at a cozy restaurant that specialized in hotpot. It was the perfect way to warm up after walking in the snow. The conversation flowed easily, with stories and laughter filling the air. At one point, Mei and Kurotsuchi had a playful argument about who could handle spicy food better, which ended with a hilarious coughing fit from both.
After dinner, we ventured to the edge of the village where the view of the snowy mountains was breathtaking. The moonlight reflected off the pristine white peaks, creating a magical glow.
"I have to admit, Naruto," Tsuna said as she gazed at the scenery. "You did good this time."
Mei smirked. "Looks like he's not just a troublemaker after all."
I grinned, feeling a warmth in my chest despite the cold. "I just wanted to make sure everyone had a good time. You all deserve it."
As the night wore on, we started making our way back, the snow crunching softly beneath our feet. Each of them seemed content, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Even if the ninja world was chaotic, moments like these reminded me of why I fought so hard to protect the people I cared about.
"This was a great idea, Naruto," Mabui said quietly as we reached the inn.
"Yeah," Temari agreed. "It's not often we get to just relax like this."
"Let's do this again sometime," Shizune added with a smile.
I nodded. "Count on it."
As everyone headed to their rooms, I couldn't help but smile. The night had been perfect, and it was a reminder that even in the middle of challenges, taking time for the people you care about makes it all worthwhile.