Third person POV____________

Akumi had shut herself down. The only person she seemed to acknowledge was Naruto and things didn't really seem well off.

So Team Seven started their plan. In the mornings all Team Seven would gather at The Uzumaki residence.

Naruto had made a copy of the apartment key and handed it to his teammates. Sakura and Sasuke would get started on breakfast while Naruto woke up his Nee-chan and got her ready for the day.

She was quite and Naruto for once was the one taking care of her. How many years had she been the one to wake him up, get him groomed and dressed for the day then proceed to feed him?

As far as Naruto could remember it had been a daily thing and now the roles had switched.

Naruto carefully braided his sister's hair and sat her down in the dinning table. All team seven ate in silence. No words needed to be said.

They couldn't just push her into talking or force her to cheer up.

Each day was the same process and they would go out together, train together and spend time together. They would talk to her and ask her rhetorical questions.

Everyday she seemed to get better. She didn't need someone pressuring her to let her emotions out, just people to be there for her and not discard her for not reacting the way they wanted her to.

Slowly she began to listen to them when they spoke, nod or shake her head at the questions they asked her. Naruto for once was babying her.

It had always been the other way around. If Naruto wanted to eat Akumi would stop what she was doing to cook something for him. He had always been her top priority but now the roles had switched.

Sakura got happy when her teammate acknowledged other people. She was getting better and that made her happy.

They still had missions and reconstruction service since the attack left alot of districts in ruin.

"Pervy Sage wants to take me on a mission outside of the village. I'm leaving tomorrow." Naruto stated as the Team ate dinner together.

Akumi glanced at Naruto with a slight frown. "ill be back in a few weeks. But Sakura and Sasuke will stay here with you." Naruto pointed out and Akumi bit her lip.

"If you want I can sleep over to stay here with you." Sakura pointed out.

"I'll definitely keep coming over as well." Sasuke stated and Akumi glanced at both her teammates.

"Thank you..." she muttered out.

Everyone looked at her wide eyed. It had been a couple of weeks since they heard her voice.

"No problem Akumi." sakura smiled reassuringly and Akumi smiled slightly, tears swelling at the edge of her eyes.

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At the gate all of team seven was saying their goodbyes. "Take care of him." Akumi spoke softly but sternly to Jiraya as they got ready to leave.

"Have a bit more faith on me kid." Jiraya chuckled ruffling her hair.

"You two make sure to take care of my big sister okay!" Naruto crossed his arms and Sakura placed her hands on her hips.

" Of course we will. Akumi is our best friend we will make sure she is perfectly safe." she pointed out and Sasuke nodded.

"We will keep an eye on her make sure she takes care of herself." Sasuke grumbled with a nod.

Naruto smile at the response. "Okay now that we have settled that I'm ready to go Pervy sage." Naruto smiled.

"We will be back soon." Jiraya stated and they were both off.

Akumi watched them leave, this was the first time she had to see her brother off and it felt odd. Sakura took note of the situation and gently tugged on her arm. "Let's go get some Ice cream, My treat." She whispered. Sasuke had already left saying he had a meeting with kakashi. 

Akumi slowly nodded and both girls linked hands and walked to the  shopping center to get some food.

"Sakura, I've always told you about my childhood but you never mention yours."Akumi pointed out as they sat in a park bench. Sakura blushed slightly. "Well there isn't much to tell, Unlike you guys I had a pretty normal childhood."She replied as she ate. Akumi cocked her head."And what was it like. I usually don't ask because it sounds weird but what is it like growing up normal?" Akumi asked and sakura sighed.

" I was very shy when I was little and Ami and a few of her friends bullied me. They claimed my forehead was the biggest they had ever seen.  But my mother and father would always try and cheer me up. My mom is very nice and kind but she has a temper and likes things done right. My father is a bit goofy and like to tell jokes. He is terrifed of making my mother mad." Sakura started off. She told her what she remembered of her childhood and of how her an Ino had once been friends. 

Akumi did mention that it had been a bit dumb to destory their friendship over a guy and suggested they made up. Akumi also commented on a few instances that her child had seemed semi nomal or if she had done something similar to Sakura as a child. 

It was simple bonding but by the time they were back to the apartment they had become even closer friends. 

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Sasuke was laying unconcious in the hospital and the two teammates had been told it had been Uchiha Itachi who cause the poor boy to be hospitalized. Akumi was worried and they spent countless hours there hoping that he would wake up but that didn't see that happening anytime soon. 

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Three weeks had passed and Sakura was already studying as an official medic apprentice, apparently her great memory and chakra contol was giving her the edge to becoming a high tier medic. Akumi was training again and going to visit the Yamanaka more. Her rivalery with Ino also seemed to be blossiming as the blonde was training even more now. 

Akumi was walking down the street reading a scroll on a B-rank earth Jutsu. "Hey Akumi long time no see." Akumi turned to see Kiba Inuzuka walking beside her. She cocked a brow." I guess it has been a while Kiba." She replied.

"Is Naruto back from his trip yet?" he asked her and she shook her head. "No not yet. But hopefully soon." She stated and Kiba nodded. "Hey I was wondering if you wanted to go out and eat something together?" Kiba asked and she cocked her head, was he offering free food?

" You want to take me out to eat, As in you paying?" Akumi asked to clarify what he had asked, His cheeks flushed a bit and he nodded. "Y-Yeah. I mean it's only of you want to." Kiba stammered out. "Okay, sure. When?" She asked and he was taken back. "Really? UM how about tomorrow, We can eat at the Barbacue joint." He suggested and she nodded.

"Great! Then wear something nice! I'll pick you up at your place at around 8 is that alright?"He asked nervously.

"Okay." She nodded and he grinned at her as he was about to leave. "Right, it's a date then." He quickly left.

So a friendly date tomorrow that seemed nice. She arrived at the Tea shop Tenten, Sakura and Ino had already arrived and were sipping tea and eating dango. Hinata was obviously late and hadn't arrived yet. "Hey guys." Akumi took her seat and they all looked up at her.

"Akumi you made it. Welcome to the gossip club." Ino winked and Tenten rolled her eyes when did this become a gossip club? It's a just where we hang out after training." Tenten Pointed out.

"Have you heard how much we gossip? It might as well be a gossip club, anyway we just orderded your tea a few minutes ago." Ino stated.

"Thanks." Akumi stated as she took her seat. "I'm sorry I am late guys, I git caught up in training." Hinata had just arrived and was panting a bit from her sprint.

"Don't worry I just got here too." Akumi stated as she looked around. "Where's Sakura?" She asked and Ino responded. "She went to use the restroom, she will be back in a bit." She stated as the waitress arrived at the table with the drinks.

"So anything intresting happen?" Ino asked as she began sipping her tea. "Heard Ami is dating that kid with the lazy eye who dropped out our 3rd year." Hinata pointed out and Ino gasped. "No way!" Hinata nodded. "Yup I heard it from a Kiro Hyuga, who heard it frm Tisha Hado who was told by Eiko Namure when she saw them and asked. Eiko actually went up to them and asked." Hinata stated with a nod. 

"Wait till forehead hears this. I guess there would have been few guys who would even like Ami because her attitude is shit. " Ino pointed out and Tenten nodded. "She tried to tell me I looked like a boy in a joint recess back in the academy when we were younger and I punched her in the nose. She never spoke to me again." Tenten added.

"What happened to this not being gossip club?" Akumi asked Tenten who flushed. "Well I can have my input in a conversation." 

"Hey guys what did I miss?" Sakura asked and Ino's smile grew. "Guess who Ami is dating?" Ino asked and it seemed to peak Sakura's interest. "Ooooo who is the bitch dating?!" She asked eagerly. "She is dating Lazy eye Hiyo." Ino smirked. " No way! " Sakura asked settling down on her chair and sipping her tea. 

"Yes way." All the girls chorused. Sakura smiled widely and took a deep breath. "Details. I want details." she smiled

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"So we gunna train right?" Tenten asked and they all nodded as they were already paying for their meals. "Yeah of course we are Tenten, Also you guys want to come over at my place tomorrow night around 7 p.m? " Ino asked and Akumi was about to agree but she suddenly remembered Kiba.

"Of course we can-" Sakura was cut off by akumi."I won't be able to I have a date tomorrow." She pointed out and all the girls froze. "What!!!!" they all gasped.

Akumi cocked a brow confused at why they were all shocked. "You have a date?!" Sakura yelled in shock while Ino grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "When were you planning on telling us?!" Ino was red because she gasped so hard.

"W-well I, It's just a date I didn't think much of it." She stammered out. "A date is something pretty big akumi." Tenten pointed out. "T-They're right Akumi, Anyway who was it?" Hinata asked.

"I-It was Kiba, We ran into each other today he asked me if Naruto was back and then he asked me if I wanted to eat out with me. I said y-yes..." Ino squealed cutting Akumi off before she could finish. "Oh my god, He even asked if Naruto was back meaning he is wary of your brother, This like a forbidden love novel!" She spun akumi around. 

"What did he say, how did it come to be a date?!" Hinata asked eager to hear the details. Akumi was flustered and was beginning to turn a deep shade of red. "Well then after saying yes he said he would pick me up at 8 and then smiled before saying it was a date then and waved goodbye." Akumi stuttered out. 

"She's younger than me and already going out in dates." Tenten groaned and akumi was confused. "Why are you guys so excited, It's just a friendly date." Akumi pointed out and all of them gasped.

"Of course not, He must be deeply in love with you to ask you out on a date. He will probably confess his undying love to you." Sakura swooned and Akumi turned a bright shade of red. "W-what, You really t-think so." She asked in a soft whisper making Ino squeal. 

"She's flustered! Gyahhh! Fuck coming over to my house. We have to go to Akumi's and get her ready for her date with K-I-B-A!" Ino swirled akumi around. Akumi was so flustered she put Hinata's flustered ways around Naruto to shame.

"Wait! Are you now realizing what he meant when he said date?!" Tenten asked and Akumi meekly nodded. "Oh my god you and Naruto are both really dense." Hinata mumbled in realization. "I know what I have to do, I will have to ask Naruto-kun on a date. If Akumi-chan being the smart one can't understand the signals Kiba-kun has been giving her since the Chunin exams, then Naruto-kun hasn't understood mine either." Hinata stated her new resolve but her voice was so gentle and soft it just sounded to kawaii.

"Wait, Akumi do you think Kiba is cute?" Sakura asked and Akumi was so red that her face matched her hair color. "W-what?" She stammered out confused and flustered. All three of the girls squealed. "We have to put off training, We have to go buy akumi something cute to wear for her date!" Ino chirped and the other girls nodded in agreement.

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"You look so .... CUTE!" Ino squeaked as she put lipgloss on akumi. 

Akumi shuffled in embarrassment as she patted her mint green sundress down. " D-do you really think so?" She mumbled and they all nodded. " Wow akumi you have an ass for days girl." Tenten laughed and akumi blushed. "I'm not sure, I just ..... I've never been without my ninja tools or worn a dress since I was really young." Akumi pointed out and sakura put her arm around Akumi's shoulder. 

"For 5 hours we looked for the perfect dress and shoes. Then we trained long and hard to find a perfect make up look. We endured an all nighter to talk about boys, Hobbies and Ninja training and then perfected the art of power naps and indulging in as much junk food as possible to achieve the perfect first date for you. You are the first to take a step into the dating world. Ino and Hinata can't really date much being that they are clan heirs and if they date for too long they might end up in some crazy arranged marriage by their clan elders. So you will be the first of us to date." Sakura gave a long speech.

"Don't let us down." Tenten placed her hand on Akumi's shoulder. "O-Okay." Akumi whimpered as the door bell rang and all the girls used their ninja skills to hide from view. "C-coming." Akumi called out.

Her face was bright red as she was about to open the door. She glanced back one last time to only be able to see the white of her friends eyes as they all gave reassuring nods which didn't feel as reassuring. 

'It's like they are sending me off to a battle.' Akumi thought to herself as she opened the door.

Kiba was all dressed up in civilian clothes. Akumi could smell his heavenly smelling cologne from where she stood. "Ready to go on our date?" Kiba asked and Akumi blushed so hard she could swear he could feel the heat radiating from her cheeks. She meekly nodded and closed the door behind her.

The girls watched the two of them leave from the window still. "Do you think I'm pretty Forehead?" Ino asked and Sakura cocked a brow and both Hinata and Tenten were confused. "Yeah why?" She asked and Ino pouted. "Because how come none of us have been asked out before?" And with that the girls sulked and proceeded to eat all the Ice cream in akumi's fridge.

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Hey guys I wanted to end this with a ship and a cute girl time and friendship. Honestly they would be squad goals.. smh

RosyMalik