How the hell did it come to this? He was a ninja trained to beat the shit out of bad guys, capable of dressing and setting a wide assortment of wounds. And yet, here he was standing on a bridge in the middle of a summer festival dressed in clothes that were probably more expensive than anything he owned.

And he was getting paid for it.

True to their word his team had allowed him to pick the mission. A simple mission that was pretty much babysitting some princess. Naturally Said princess hated Naruto at first, then two and a half hours later they were best friends. Somehow all that had led to him - for some reason it had to be just him - escorting Naruto around the festival in order to drop off a package to the boy that the princess was in love with.

Sakurai tapped his foot on the bridge, flinching eyes straining to spot Naruto in the sea of people that were coming his way. Why did they agree to meet up at dark on a bridge? Why did he even agree to this in the first place? This smelled like way too much like a date with Naruto.

Might as well just get it -

"Sakurai!" Naruto bounced out of the crowd clad in a soft blue Kimono. The only reason that he could even tell it was her was the way she spoke his name and the whisker marks on her cheeks. Beyond that, it was like he was looking at a whole new person. She looked clean for once, and her normally greasy hair looked soft and silky to the touch. It was like years of grim had been taken away to reveal a cute girl.

She had the slightest bit of makeup on as well, just some orange eyeshadow that made her eyes really pop in the dark.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, they would not let me go! But look!" She held up her arms clutching her sleeves, her wooden sandals clacked on the bridge as she spun around for him. "They did all this for me! What do you think?"

"You look super cute Naruto." Especially the way she had her hair down, flowing down her back like liquid sunshine that was only highlighted by ten million gigawatt smile. Her cheeks were stained the slightest bit of red.

Naruto beamed at him. "Thanks, Sakurai! You look pretty hot too! Now come on! Let's go enjoy the festival."

"We're on a mission." Technically at any rate. "Can we please focus on-"

The radio in his ear buzzed, Kakashi's dull voice coming into his ear like his sensei was right behind him. "The target has yet to arrive, act natural, enjoy the festival."

Of course. Sakurai looked to Naruto her happiness would be an epidemic, and might even be the cure for depression in the way that a concentrated dose of two hundred puppies would be. With a sigh he allowed himself to smile at her - just because he was smiling did not mean he was happy that he was smiling. "Okay fine, are you ready to-"

She hooked her arm under his and pulled him towards one of the food stands. "First we should try the Takiyaki stand, then after that let's go try and play some of those festival games, oh and we can try on masks, and then we can go to the dance, and then we can find some cool place to watch the fireworks!"

"Wow, that's a five-step plan Naruto, I'm actually impressed."

She swatted his arm.

"Hey! Sakurai! I can plan stuff out! Especially when I'm excited and I do awesome stuff all the time in fights!" Also known as an example of how dumb luck was an Uzumaki kekkei genkai. "Besides that's not all, during the fight works you're going to become so overwhelmed with emotion that you allow me to kiss you. On the Lips."

Sakurai snorted. "Ha, Naruto the only way I'll kiss you is if you're the Hokage."

"Really!" Her face lit up like the sun. She grabbed his hand and forced their pinkies to hook. "You promise right? That when I become the Hokage I'm allowed to kiss you."

"Fine, I promise that you can kiss me all you want once you become the Hokage." The odds of that happening were about as likely as Naruto turning into a grade A babe that would leave Ino in the dust. Or as likely as Sasuke being in love with Naruto.

"Yes! Just wait! I guarantee you won't regret this!" She hooked her arm under his again, walking like they were a couple that never quite made it out of the honeymoon phase.

The food was bland, but Naruto ate it like it was the best thing ever. "You know, I bet you can cook better than this."

Naruto nodded chewing happily. "Maybe, but it means a lot that you bought it for me, Sakurai."

Why the hell was he so important to this short obnoxious little girl. Even if she cleaned up pretty, it'd all be ruined in a day when she started training again. "So what game do you want to play?"

"Hmm, oh let's try the goldfish catching game!"

As with all things, not luck based Naruto had no skill in catching a goldfish. Even Sakurai struggled to get one onto the paper with resorting to using chakra. Still, he managed to catch one. It was a sickly creature that looked like it wouldn't make it to the end of the night.

"You're so awesome, Sakurai! Can I have him I promise to take care of him!"

He felt bad that Naruto meant it. She would care for that fish until it died, which would be in five hours while they slept. "Uhh, sure If you really."

Full body hug and a million thank yous followed afterward.

The other games proved to be even bigger rip offs and in the end, all he won for Naruto was a stuffed rabbit. Not even one of the big ones. A small one that went on a keychain. Still in Naruto's eyes that made it all the better because now she could carry it with her always.

A boom followed by the sky turning brilliant shades of green signaled the end of the festival. "Sorry Naruto, it looks like we won't be able to try on masks or dance."

She snuggled into his arm like a cat, eyes focused on the fireworks. "That's kay, I'm just happy to spend time with you Sakurai, this has been the best birthday ever."

"Wait this is your birthday? I thought it was in October!"

"It is," Naruto allowed a sly grin on her face, never taking her eyes of the fireworks. "But you missed all of my other ones so I'm letting you make it up to me."

A buzz came from his earpiece. "Mission complete package has been delivered. Hope you enjoyed your date."

Moments later the radio buzzed again, the only sound that Sakurai heard over the fireworks was Sasuke grunting.

AN: Fluff? FLUFFFFFF!