Minato and Kushina had just left the house, taking Rin with them.
The air quieted down the moment the door shut behind them.
Naruto let out a deep exhale, scratching the back of his head before turning to look squarely at Obito and Kakashi. His blue eyes carried a mischievous glint, but his tone was serious.
"So," Naruto began, "how do you plan on saying it?"
Obito blinked in confusion, tilting his head slightly. "Saying what?"
Naruto widened his eyes, then spread his hands in exasperation. "Your proposal, of course! Don't tell me you dragged us into all of this without even figuring that out?"
Kakashi, leaning lazily against the wall with his hands stuffed into his pockets, gave Obito a long look. His uncovered eye was calm as always, but his voice carried quiet weight.
"Obito," Kakashi said evenly, "you really need to think this through. A proposal isn't something you improvise. If you don't put your heart into it, not even Naruto will be able to help you pull it off."
Obito furrowed his brows, clearly not used to being lectured on matters of the heart, then raised his head proudly. "Fine, fine. If you want me to think, I'll think."
He closed his eyes dramatically, tapping his chin, and after a few moments spoke with conviction:
"I want the proposal to be in a place where cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The sun shining gently through the petals, the breeze carrying them through the air. I'll stand at the end of the path, stretch out my hand as Rin walks toward me… and then…" His expression softened, his voice lowered, "I'll propose to her with all the affection I've held for years."
Obito's eyes practically glazed over as he envisioned the scene. His lips curved into a dreamy smile.
"In Deidara's words…" Obito murmured, almost to himself, "this is art."
Naruto looked at him as though he had completely lost his mind. Kakashi, however, didn't bother hiding his reaction.
With a sigh, Kakashi slapped Obito on the back of the head, snapping him out of his fantasy.
"Wake up," Kakashi said flatly. "It's almost September. Cherry blossoms bloom in April. Unless you've secretly mastered time travel, you won't find any blooming trees right now."
Obito rubbed the back of his head where Kakashi smacked him, grumbling. "What's so difficult about that? I can just use Wood Style. I'll solve it myself!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Mokuton, huh? Are you sure you can pull off something like that?"
Obito crossed his arms with a smug look. "I can manipulate wood, grow trees, even make structures. Of course I can grow some cherry blossoms."
But even as he said it, doubt flickered across his face. He quickly admitted: "Well… I can't exactly create blossoms with that kind of vitality. I can grow, but I can't sustain delicate things like flowers. That's not really my specialty."
Naruto rolled his eyes so hard that Kakashi chuckled. "Figures," Naruto said. "But I know someone who can handle that. Captain Yamato. His Mokuton isn't just about creating wood and buildings—he can bring real life to his creations. Flowers, plants, entire forests… I've seen him do it. Hell, he could even build you a house if you wanted."
Kakashi gave a small nod. "Yamato's Wood Style has enough vitality to create the effect you're after. He could definitely do it."
Obito's eyes lit up, his worries instantly melting away. "Perfect. That's exactly what I need! Naruto, hurry up and arrange it for me."
Naruto folded his arms, staring at him. "Slow down, idiot. Have you even bought an engagement ring yet?"
The room froze.
Obito blinked. "Uh…" He scratched his cheek awkwardly. "…No."
He then turned his gaze toward Kakashi, eyes hopeful. "Kakashi, lend me some money. I'll buy one now."
Kakashi let out a groan. "Seriously? Why am I the one covering for you? I don't exactly have cash to throw around."
Obito frowned, glaring at him. "You're a Jōnin. You were almost Hokage. Don't tell me you've got no savings. What the hell have you been doing all these years?"
Kakashi raised a hand in mock surrender. "Hey, hey, don't look at me like that. I've got my ninken to feed, and trust me, they eat a lot. Their food bill alone drains most of my pay. Saving money has never exactly been my strong point."
Obito's jaw tightened. He looked like he was about to explode.
Naruto, however, just grinned and leaned forward. "Relax. I've got plenty of money."
Both Kakashi and Obito turned to him in disbelief.
Kakashi tilted his head. "You? Naruto, when you were a kid you were so poor you couldn't even afford fresh milk. Don't tell me you suddenly struck gold. Where exactly did you get all this money?"
Naruto waved them along casually as he started walking. "Don't worry about it. Let's just say I've got more than enough to cover this. You'll see."
Kakashi narrowed his eye suspiciously, but Obito's face darkened as realization struck. "Wait… don't tell me… this money… it's from the Akatsuki, isn't it?"
Naruto smirked. "Bingo."
Obito's face twisted. "You've gotta be kidding me. That's all the money the Akatsuki made through missions, bounties, and… ugh… Kakuzu's obsession with finances. That guy saved every single ryo like his life depended on it. His dream was literally to retire with a mountain of cash. And now…" Obito sighed deeply, rubbing his temples, "…it all ended up in your hands."
Naruto gave a careless shrug. "Konan handed it all over to me. Every last coin. I don't even know how much there is—it's just… a lot. Too much, honestly."
Kakashi asked cautiously, "How much are we talking?"
Naruto laughed lightly. "Enough zeros that I stopped counting. Trust me, it's more than enough."
Obito groaned again, but said nothing more. What was done was done.
After a short walk through the streets of Konoha, the three arrived at a jewelry store Naruto had visited before.
The plump shop owner immediately recognized Naruto and rushed forward with enthusiasm. "Naruto-sama! Welcome back, welcome back! Please, come inside, sit down. Tea, quickly, bring tea for our honored guests!"
The man's round face beamed with joy, but his sharp eyes betrayed the shrewdness of a seasoned merchant.
"So," the shopkeeper asked with a grin, "who's the lucky one proposing this time?"
Naruto pointed at Obito. "He is. But I'm covering the bill."
Tea arrived quickly, and while a female clerk guided Obito through the display cases, Naruto and Kakashi sat sipping their tea.
Naruto leaned back, shooting Kakashi a sly grin. "You know, Kakashi-sensei, Obito's making the leap. Don't you think it's about time you found someone too?"
Kakashi shook his head firmly. "Not interested. Women are too much trouble. I'd rather spend my time with my copy of Icha Icha Paradise. Speaking of which… did Jiraiya-sensei tell you when the next volume is coming out? I've been waiting forever."
Naruto nearly spit out his tea. "You're hopeless. But I did hear something. Jiraiya-sensei said the next volume might come with… illustrations."
Kakashi's eye widened. "Illustrations?!"
Naruto nodded seriously. "Yeah. He wants Sai to draw them. Which means it'll take a little longer, but… it's happening."
Kakashi froze, processing. Then his eye curved into a smile beneath the mask. "This… this could change everything."
Naruto sighed. "Yeah, or completely ruin Sai's reputation as an artist. But whatever."
At that moment, Obito waved them over. "Hey! Stop gossiping and help me choose already."
Naruto and Kakashi joined him at the counter. Obito pointed at two sets of rings—one diamond, one gold.
"Which one should I buy? The diamond ring, or the gold one?"
Kakashi frowned. "What's the difference?"
The saleswoman smiled warmly, her voice professional and soothing. "Diamonds represent eternal love. A diamond lasts forever, symbolizing unbreakable bonds. Gold, on the other hand, symbolizes depth of feeling—love stronger than gold, unwavering and unyielding. Both are popular choices, though diamonds are more common for proposals."
Kakashi turned to Obito. "Well? Which one do you want?"
Obito rubbed his chin, indecisive. "I don't know. They both look good. What if Rin prefers one over the other? What if I choose wrong?"
Naruto rolled his eyes, pulling out a storage scroll. "Why make it complicated? Buy them both."
He unsealed the scroll with practiced ease, slamming his palm onto the seal and shouting, "Release!"
With a puff of smoke, bundles of money spilled onto the counter.
The shopkeeper's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Naruto-sama! This way, please, this way!"
Naruto casually picked up a bundle and set it down. "Actually, you know what? Throw in an extra pair for Kakashi-sensei while you're at it. Same design."
Kakashi's visible eye widened. "Wait, what? No, no, I don't need—"
Naruto cut him off with a grin. "Consider it an investment in your future."
The shopkeeper bowed respectfully. "At once, Naruto-sama!"
As the clerks scrambled to prepare the rings, the young women working the shop whispered and giggled, their eyes shining with admiration for Naruto's casual display of wealth.
Kakashi and Obito exchanged glances. For once, both of them felt the same thing.
It was damn good to be rich.
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