Author's note:

As I am writing a pen & paper RPG with a fellow group member, I came up with this little story based off of it and wanted to share it with you.

In this story I am using the names we assigned to the five main characters as listed below.

Please, read and review. Have fun!

AsukaIshimaru

*

AzureFang – Sayuri

BreezeDancer – Ama

CrimsonFist – Mamoru

MidnightBlade – Masamune

ScarletBlaze – Akio

The Summer Festival

After the latest Chuunin Exams Konoha had plunged into the heat of early summer and the sun's rays were glistening on the surface of the Naka river. This morning Sayuri stood knee deep in the cool water and practised her Suiton. She was still enraged by Akio's mocking voice as he had boasted during the Chuunin Exams. In the end the fight had ended in a draw and both got promoted to Chuunin, but the blue-haired girl didn't forgive him so easily for his demeaning behaviour. So here she was, training all morning under the scorching heat of the sun, sweat beading on her brow and imagining she uppercut the Katon-user with a fist made of water again and again, while she burned through her Chakra reserves. Panting hard she stopped to stem her hands on her knees.

“You sure are a hard worker,” she heard a low rumble and when she peered against the sun she was glad, the large shadow blocked the way and she could see Mamoru's smiling face. “You don't even take a break from training on a hot day like this,” he observed as his jog came to a halt. The bulky Doton-user obviously wasn't cutting a slack either. “Is that a new Jutsu?” he asked.

Sayuri nodded, her mouth a firm line. “I want to show Akio once I master it completely. Next time our fight won't end in a draw.”

Mamoru frowned and eyed her before he broke out into a broad grin. “I like it,” he declared. “I can help you train, if you want,” he offered.

Sayuri flashed him a thankful smile. “I appreciate it,” she nodded and waded out of the streaming water of the Naka river. As she stood before him she blinked up at the much taller Shinobi. “I could use some hints at Taijutsu and defense...”

Mamoru nodded and stemmed his fists on his hip. “Will do.” Together they shunshined to the training fields. A light breeze blew over the grass and whispered in the treetops surrounding the fields as they reappeared. “Ready? Go!” For the next two hours they sparred without a pause, without a reprieve. Only the dull noises of their *s and kicks and blocks could be heard, as they were all over the place. The summer sun kept burning.

When finally they stopped it was already afternoon. “Thank you for the hard work!” they both bowed to each other. Sayuri was pretty exhausted but also contented. Training with Mamoru was always intense but also effective. She felt she had learnt a lot today. “See you tonight!” Mamoru wished, then jogged onwards. She knew he would soldier on and complete his training regimen, but she reckoned she had earned a refreshing break. So she went to the hot spring. It was hot already, and she figured, if she went into the spring, the summer air would seem cool afterwards.

Apparently Sayuri wasn't the only one who had had that idea, as Ama was already lounging in the pool. “Sayuri, come bathe with me!” the blonde cooed and waved at her. Sayuri said nothing but stepped a bit awkwardly into the hot water. Once inside she sighed and relaxed though. “Ah, this does the world of good,” she breathed.

“Right?” Ama smiled and scooted closer to her fellow Kunoichi. “Ne, Sayuri. Are you going to the summer festival tonight?” the blonde beauty wanted to know.

“Oh, right. That was today, wasn't it?” Sayuri blinked and sighed. “I don't know yet. Maybe. The fireworks are always nice,” she drawled.

Ama gushed: “Indeed. And you know what? Akio asked me to go together. Imagine that!” Instantly Sayuri's mood turned sour, and she tuned out Ama's rant. Maybe she wouldn't go after all. She really didn't want to see Akio's grinning face as he drooled over Ama's cleavage. And next to Ama Sayuri felt ugly and dull anyway.

Later, on her way back to her home she noticed movement beneath the trees. Curious, she approached and realised it was Masamune. The Raiton-user was again on his own, keeping to the shadows. She knew he was a bit socially awkward but she didn't mind. For a while Sayuri stopped and watched him practise his swordplay, totally focussed and lost in his own world. She smiled.

“Mind if I join you?” she then asked and drew her shortsword. Masamune stopped and eyed her, then nodded curtly and took a stance. They readied their swords and waited. The faint breeze blew a few leaves through the air and one of them gently floated to the ground between them. They took it as a starting signal and struck; Masamune was so incredibly fleet-footed and his slashes were fast as lightning, but after the training with Mamoru Sayuri felt she could parry anything.

A *, a feint, a block, a slash, a counter. For a good while they sword-danced around each other, the clanking of their clashing blades filling the air. But suddenly they both stopped and sheathed their swords. Their eyes met and they nodded at each other; mutually agreeing their brief fight was over.

“Let's continue where we left off last time,” Masamune taciturnly stated. Sayuri nodded and flashed him a brief smile. Ever since they had heard that Naruto and Yamato had created a combined Jutsu they wanted to try one themselves. So they practised and tried on a regular basis, but kept it a secret from Ama, Akio and Mamoru for now. They wanted to surprise them. Maybe their combination wasn't the easiest to accomplish, but they progressed and slowly their Jutsu took shape. It was a weird shape though, which reminded of a dreadful creature which leapt the opponent, but they thought it quite effective and kept that shape.

“Ranton: Ghastly Spectre no Jutsu,” they shouted and released the storm coming forth from Sayuri's Suiton and Masamune's Raiton. The Jutsu didn't last long, yet they were close to perfecting it. They tried a few more times before they ran out of Chakra. Exhausted they sat beneath a tree. “We're getting there,” Sayuri acknowledged. Masamune nodded. For a while they shared agreeable silence.

Until Masamune caught her unawares: “You going?” She blinked at him in askance. “The festival,” he elaborated curtly.

“Ah,” she voiced and sighed as she lowered her gaze. “I don't know yet. I like the fireworks, but I… to be honest, I don't want to see Akio and Ama get all flirty and stuff.”

Masamune nodded and made a gruff noise. “I like fireworks, too, but...” he murmured.

“But you don't like the crowd, hm?” she smiled sympathetically at him. He nodded.

Sayuri hugged her knees and peered at the swaying treetops. “I guess, no festival for us then...” After all she was a little disappointed she couldn't wear her Yukata, but then again she didn't have anyone to dress up for. She really wished she had a boyfriend, so she didn't have to feel inferior to Ama and didn't have to listen to Akio's teasing words anymore.

For a while they said nothing, but then Masamune mused aloud: “We could still watch the fireworks from the meadow behind the Hokage tower. Not much people there, and no Akio and no Ama...”

Sayuri couldn't help smiling. Sometimes he really was sweet. She nodded and made an affirmative noise. “See you tonight then, Masa...” Sayuri beamed at him as she stood, then darted off home. She would need some time to dress her Yukata after all… and maybe her 'date' would appreciate the view, too.