Smells as familiar as his reflection spurred the young shinobi forward. His new fiance gripped his prosthetic hand, trying her best to keep up with him as he raced for his favorite ramen shop. The village had been still lately, allowing the shinobi academy to hire several new chunin teachers. This lead to the promotion and severe overload of the man he was to meet. It would be the first time they met in weeks.
"Slow down. It's not as if he'll leave before we get there, Naruto." The Hyuga heiress pleaded as they passed the shops and restaurants lining downtown Konohagakure.
"How am I still late for everything?" The blond asked himself as he drug the small woman behind him.
"It's just right around the corner. Iruka-Sensei knows you've been busy today." She reasoned.
"That's not the point. I would have been on time if it weren't for-"
Naruto Uzumaki, hero of the fourth shinobi world war, was cut off as he rounded the corner to Ichiraku Ramen. Finishing his statement was not necessary as a mob of young and hopeful shinobi crowded the once small food stand. The restaurant, possibly more than anyone, had benefited from the young man's fame. Already having had several dishes named after the hero along with Naruto himself proclaiming that Ichiraku was the best thing in the world, in almost as much fever as when he exclaimed he would be marrying the Hyuga heiress, the restaurant became the go to hangout for fans to wait around for the legendary shinobi. A large round of applause and a swarm of outreaching hands was the first thing he saw as he arrived in front of the restaurant. Hinata instinctually gripped his hand tighter, calming his nerves only slightly. The second thing he saw was the indiscreet smile of Iruka who waited patiently in the restaurant.
"Okay. Hi, how are you doing? Thank you all. Yes thank you, please don't touch my arm. Yes it's a fake." Naruto expended all the patience and understanding he had as he waded through the mob. Answering as few questions as he could and pretending he did not hear the rest.
"Thank you all very much for the support. Naruto is going to eat with his sensei now, please don't bother him." Hinata's voice was sickly sweet as she addressed her future husband's fans.
Naruto greeted the kind face behind the counter as he always had. He was glad that not everyone revered him as some sort of deity as the woman simply gave him a wave. Naruto strode theatrically over to Iruka and the principal of the shinobi academy motioned to the private dining room in the back of the restaurant.
"The private dining room?" Naruto asked as he slid open the door.
"I'm afraid we would be bothered otherwise. Not that I mind the village adoring you. They should. It's just that we don't get nearly enough time to catch up these days. It's just me being selfish." Iruka explained as he followed the couple into the dining room.
"Who could ever call you selfish Iruka-sensei? Naruto is still a person after all, the village doesn't own him." Hinata chimed in.
"I just wish I could get a moment or two to talk with my friends, or leave on a mission without a goodbye party waiting for me at the village gates. I got young shinobi showing up to my house at crazy times. Wanting to see the Rasengan."
Hinata and Iruka both laughed. Not too long ago it would have been a hilarious proposition, ninjas showing up at Naruto's doorstep, only hoping to get a look at his jutsus.
"What? It's not funny, it's a nightmare. I would fight Sasuke a hundred times, before telling a young shinobi that he will probably never learn the Rasengan. But I have to do it every day. Wanting me as a master, it's not like I'm pervy sage or something." It felt good to complain, Naruto was expected to be so perfect lately. He was far better suited to having people call him worthless.
"You know, you taking on students isn't so ridiculous an idea anymore. I'm sure lord sixth-"
"Kakashi-Sensei." Naruto cut Iruka off.
"Lord Sixth." Iruka reaffirmed. "Mentioned something of the sort to me the other day. Wanting to know if I had any students that would be a good fit for you."
"What?" Naruto exclaimed, sliding even closer to his old friend and mentor. "What was he looking for in genins for me? Tell me Iruka-sensei. Did he want the most talented genins for my team? Huh?"
"Actually Naruto, he wanted to know the students whom had the most... caution. He doesn't want a group of reckless shinobi, running around with Naruto Uzumaki on the new team seven." Iruka said, all too happy to stop Naruto in his tracks as his ego threatened to spiral out of control.
"Well I wouldn't want to start out with the geniuses. I know better than anyone, great ninjas start from humble beginnings. If I were to take a team, it would be the strays. The kids hungry to make a name for themselves. Young shinobi-"
"That are just like you? Dear?" Hinata knew better than anyone what Naruto thought made a good shinobi.
"I guess so, yeah."
"Honestly Naruto. If you had started off with Jiraya instead of Lord Sixth, you would be unbearable. You can't expect the Sixth to put you in charge of a team of yous." Iruka was having a hard time believing Naruto couldn't follow his reasoning.
"Why not? I'm great."
Iruka pinched his nose.
The rest of the dinner was enjoyable, reminiscent of the time when the two eating dinner with Naruto were the only two who would have wanted to. Being honest with himself, Naruto preferred being a celebrity to being a pariah. He just, as his fiance constantly reminded him, had to smooth his edges out. He could no longer smell himself in public or throw fits when something did not go his way. He was no longer expected to only uphold the standards of a first class shinobi but now that of a role model as well.
Iruka surprised the young man with a complement towards that end. Naruto was barely aware of the effort he had been making to clean up his image, Hinata had done most of the work. Subtly steering him towards more public relation friendly choices.
"You've really become just like him you know. The fourth was treated similarly, even for a Hokage he was popular. People just... they just gravitated to him. And now you're the same way." Iruka struck a cord within Naruto as the friendly face from the counter cleared the mess the three of them made.
"It's a shame he's not here. He'd be proud." Hinata chimed in.
"Yeah. I hope so. I should have asked him for some advice on it. He was much more likable than me."
"That's not entirely true." Kurama pitched in, through his telepathic link with Naruto.
Naruto sent a silent word of thanks to the monster inside of him. It was strange but Kurama's voice was among the most comforting for Naruto to hear these days. The nine tailed fox was not cutting him any extra slack just because he was a hero. The fox expected as much out of his host as ever, so the complements he offered were always genuine.
"So. What are you two going to do for the next few days? You haven't been back home very long, you're not going back out on assignment soon are you?" Iruka changed the subject, sensing the tension in Naruto that had come with the comparison to the fourth.
"I don't know Iruka-Sensei. I wouldn't mind a little bit of a challenge, if an S class or higher came along. Anything lower than A class is usually settled as soon as word goes out that I'll be the one to handle it. I'll probably go see Kakashi-Sensei, then maybe Sakura. Sai is busy with Anbu, actually he could need some help with something. That could be fun."
Hinata and Iruka both shuddered. The fact that Naruto considered black-ops work fun these days was a stark reminder that the lovable goofball was also the most dangerous shinobi in the world.
"Naruto. I don't like the idea of you wearing a mask." Hinata said earnestly.
"I don't think Sai would have him, Hinata. Naruto is strong but he's too loud for Anbu."
"That's uncalled for Iruka-sensei." Naruto moaned as they exited the dining room.
"Maybe. Anyway I want you to come by the academy while your home. Meet some of the kids, I want to tell them your story. A story of hard work and perseverance. And about the value of a comrade's life. It would mean a lot to them and me."
"Sure Iruka-Sensei. If you think it would help, I'd be glad to come talk to the kids."
Hinata looked delighted when Naruto agreed to spend time with the children of the village while Iruka paid the bill, though Naruto insisted he pay. Iruka was happy to pay for Naruto's food, as he had always been. It was all too nostalgic for the principal and he had to turn away from the couple as a tear or two fell down his face. He had missed Ichiraku Ramen with the obnoxious blond boy who struggled to keep himself groomed, to think that he would share the delicious food with a grown up and admirable contender for seventh Hokage and his beautiful wife was a dream come true.
Naruto allowed Iruka to leave first. Not wanting him to be subjected to the horde made of shinobi fans skulking around outside the restaurant.
As Naruto and Hinata walked out the door, a flat fifteen minutes after Iruka had cut out, the mob was excessively rambunctious. Hinata felt Naruto and Kurama's chakra become agitated as he was touched by unfamiliar hands. It worried the Byakugan master, seeing the violent orange chakra seeping out of Naruto. She knew he was doing his best to keep his smile on.
"Okay. Make way. Excuse me. Yes thank you. No, I'm sorry, I can't make a Rasengan now. It's dangerous that's why. Alright. Get out of my way, please!" The young man found himself incredibly flustered as the crowd continued to molest him.
"Get Back!" Hinata ordered, with a voice so harsh it could only be rooted in worry for her love.
As the crowd moved away from Hinata like fish away from a shark a nonextraordinary boy stepped forward. Naruto cocked an eyebrow in interest. What excuse would the boy have for needing to talk with him more than anyone else. As the boy approached the couple Naruto found himself befuddled, the boy made no effort to look the hero of the Leaf in his eyes, rather he looked through him.
A kunai appeared in his hand from thin air as he entered striking distance of the blond shinobi. Before he or Hinata either one could take a step towards the boy, Naruto caught the kunai in his artificial forearm. Naruto felt his blood boil. An unfamiliar feeling as of late. Someone had tried to kill him.
A single open palmed strike from Hinata sent the boy flying onto his rear. The crowd vanished in a manner so quick that proved they were all some level of ninja. Kurama had wrapped Naruto in his chakra, lighting the now deserted alley.
"What was that about?" Naruto asked distantly as he rubbed the hole in his fake arm.
"Why would you do that?" Hinata asked, viciously grabbing the boy by his lapels.
"I don't know. I had to." The boy said as he shirked away from Hinata's fully engaged Byakugan.
"What do you mean you don't know? Did someone put you up to this? Orochimaru?" They Hyuga demanded.
"I don't know."
"Hinata. It's okay. I'm not hurt."
"That's not the point." She snarled, her intimidating eyes never leaving the boy.
"We should take him to Sai."
"Or we could just handle it ourselves." Hinata growled, causing the boy to flinch away.
The Hyuga woman had always been able to terrify Naruto with her serious voice. He took her hand and pulled her off of the frightened boy, few things could cause her to be so intense. Stabbing her fiance apparently made the list. It made since. Naruto suspected she did not like Sasuke much at all.
"He's just a kid. He was probably put up to it. Are you even a shinobi kid?" Naruto asked.
"Of course I'm a shinobi. From Amegakure." The boy was surprisingly temperamental suddenly, as his status as a shinobi was called into question.
"That's a funny thing to say kid. Especially to me. We're taking you to Sai." Hinata explained as he jerked the boy from the ground.
"Yeah. If your from the Rain, there's no way around it. You're a prisoner kid." Naruto almost apologized.
"Says he's from the Rain? Why would the Rain want to kill you now Naruto? Did you do something?" Sai seemed to be interrogating Naruto rather than the would be assassin as the latter sat in a detainment cell.
"What could I possibly have done Sai? It's good to see you're still as much of a jerk as ever. He made no claims that he was acting on the Rain's orders. And if he had been I doubt he would have announced his village since he wasn't wearing a headband."
"Okay so what do you know?" The pale Anbu director asked.
"Nothing. That's why I brought him here."
"Well all I can do for now is hold him. I'm not going to wake Ino up at this time of night just because you got stabbed."
"Yeah, she needs all the beauty rest she can get." Naruto said pointedly, picturing blond Yamanaka that had always been less than friendly to him.
"Watch it." Sai ground out, confirming Naruto's suspicions.
"Alright." Naruto raised his hands defensively. "I'm gonna go then. I'm sure Kakashi-Sensei will want a written report or whatever. Let me know when you learn something."
"Later, Naruto." Sai called as his friend left through the door he came from.
Naruto simply raised his hand in a wave as he exited. As his hand dropped back down to his side he let out a curse. He had just wrapped the bandages around his prosthetic arm that morning. Yet another thing he wasn't looking forward to doing when he made it back to his apartment.
He was irritated, but not at all surprised, to find Hinata was waiting outside the Anbu facility for him despite him telling her to go home. His hands drifted up behind his head in his trademark pose as he and his fiance walked home together.
"What did Sai have to say about it?" She asked after a long silence.
"Says he'll get Ino to work on him tomorrow. Said he didn't want to wake her up." Naruto nudged his fiance in the ribs, as if she were Kiba and he had just told him a dirty joke.
"So?" Hinata asked.
"Well, don't you think that means they're-"
"Yes. Everyone knows they are." Hinata's eyes softened as the conversation drifted to a more pleasant topic, village gossip.
"Everyone? Even Shikamaru?"
"Shikamaru is very observant. He was probably the first to know." Hinata reminded Naruto.
Naruto answered with an innocent chuckle. "Yeah."
As they neared Naruto's home Hinata pulled his left hand down from behind his head. As they walked, hand in hand, the Hyuga woman noticed his seperated bandages. It didn't occur to her that Naruto could be injured anymore.
"You're cut." She said simply.
"No. It's the First's cells, the wound was healed right after the brat pricked me. Honestly it wouldn't have happened if he wasn't just a kid. It's hard to dial back an attack when you're going on reflex alone. I would have broke him into tiny pieces if I'd stopped him."
"Still. I wish you wouldn't be so reckless. You're not allowed to let anyone cut you on purpose anymore alright?"
"Sure thing."
"You're lying." The heiress said with an exasperated sigh.
"Hinata, I'm always careful. I can't just go blasting kids into the ground with a Rasengan every time one tries to stab me. I'm trying to be more... you know. Hokage-y."
Hinata laughed, a long and honest laugh. The memory of teenage Naruto running around hitting everyone and everything in sight with a Rasengan was something that used to be so serious. Now his biggest problem was refraining from using it.
"What?"
"You. Now you don't want to Rasengan people? It's just, I think Iruka-Sensei was right. You're becoming more and more like the Fourth." Hinata's complements were always the thing Naruto wanted to hear the most.
"I love you... Will you wrap my bandages when we get home?" Naruto seized the opportunity to ask his fiance to stay at his house.
"Naruto... Sure. As long as you write up your report of Lord Sixth-"
"Kakashi-Sensei" Naruto interrupted her concession.
"Lord sixth as soon as we get home. This is serious. You were attacked right out in the street. He'll want to get to the bottom of it. To see if Amegakure attacked his favorite shinobi or if it's some unknown enemy."
"Okay deal." Naruto exclaimed as he unlocked his door.
Paperwork was something the hero struggled with but was making a conscious effort to get better at. Kakashi had recommended he start getting used to it if he ever wanted to be taken seriously as a candidate for Hokage. The legendary copy ninja was now tied to a desk and he wanted his student to know what he was getting into.
A relieved sigh escaped the blond shinobi as he felt the comfort of his own home. Hinata kept the place spic and span these days and Naruto genuinely enjoyed being in his apartment. He hated the place as a child yet somehow he knew he would miss it. Naruto would never expect Hinata to move to such a low class apartment, though she insisted it was a perfect starter home for the two of them. He would have to find a place to move once they were married.
Hinata wrapped his arm, unnecessarily gently, as his other arm busied itself writing up the report for Kakashi. Another skill he had learned at his mentor's suggestion was writing with both hands. Though the job of a Hokage sounded less and less appealing every time, he wanted the job even more because of it.
Hinata slipped out the door a couple of hours later, leaving Naruto asleep on his couch. All the stress of the, albeit pitiful, attempt on Naruto's life had evaporated. The warm night in Konohagakure reminded her of what that goofy blond boy sleeping on his couch had fought so hard for all his life. A single young shinobi was out walking the streets, patrolling. Peace had seen the security measures of the village slip. It was something Hinata herself would talk with the Hokage about tomorrow.
Hinata knew it must be getting close to midnight as she neared her own home. She would have to apologize to her squad tomorrow morning. She had promised them to try and get Naruto out on the training fields to demonstrate what it was like to face an enemy far superior to yourself. She doubted her future husband would have the time. Best case scenario he would spend all day talking with Kakashi and Shikamaru at the Hokage's office. Worst case, making preparations to go to war with Amegakure and whatever Allies it had.
The upstart with that kunai must have been crazy to come for Naruto like that, the Hyuga woman thought as she made her way to her bedroom. Who would think that plan would work? Where did they find a boy willing to attempt it?
Hinata's mind worked itself into a frenzy as she tried to solve the mystery. Sleep would come very late, if at all for the young woman.
Naruto woke to an empty apartment. No matter how desperately he tried to convince Hinata that she could stay the night at his apartment, she would always go back to her own home after he had fallen asleep. It caused the young man to feel guilty, having his fiance walk herself home so late at night. He would have to make time to go and talk to her squad of genin today.
He snatched up the report he had written for Kakashi and hurried out his door. He was always glad to see the Hokage's office. He knew he would be forcing the sixth into retirement as soon as he could manage it. Opting for the more efficient road to the office, he jumped across the village's rooftops. It was the easiest way to avoid the hordes, just as he had once used them to escape the icy glares of villagers.
As he landed on the roof of the office his hand shot up in a wave to the stone faces behind the imposing building. Something that had started as a way for him to remember the brief time he had with his father had turned into a ritual. A compulsion.
Kakashi Hatake had felt Naruto's presence as soon as he arrived on the roof. He pushed his paperwork aside, a small smile forming under his trademark mask. As Naruto twisted the door knob, Kakashi quickly flung his signed copy of one of Jiraya's earlier works into his desk drawer. The last thing he wanted was to follow in the sanin's footsteps as the pervy Hokage.
"Kakashi-Sensei." Naruto acknowledged as he strode into the spacious office, as he had so many times before.
"It's good to see you Naruto. How was your last mission?"
"Don't you know already? The bandits were long gone by the time I showed up. They left all their stolen goods behind along with a written apology. So it was quick I guess."
The white haired man threw his head back in laughter.
"What?" Naruto asked.
"Nothing at all. Anyway. You have a report for me?"
"I do yeah. I was pretty tired when I finished it though, you may just want to ask me about it now." The blond admitted, rubbing the back of his head nervously.
"I figured as much... so the brat says he's from Amegakure. What did you do to the rain?"
"Why does everyone think I did something to the Rain? NO. I don't know why he attacked me, and I don't think he does either."
"Well you're right about that. Ino looked into his mind today. All his memories before Hinata knocked him on his rear were... sealed."
"Sealed? Like a genjutsu?" Naruto asked clueless, even now genjutsu was not something he was well versed in.
"Yeah, pretty high level stuff. There's only one person who would be able to get past it."
"Sasuke?"
"Exactly, and I have no idea where he is or how important what he's doing is. I can't call him back for this. We'll just have to hope that the jutsu fades naturally over the next couple of days. Until then I want you to remain in the village, I'll have some Anbu keep an eye on you." Kakashi braced himself as he gave Naruto the order.
"What? Anbu watch over me? Don't waste their time."
"I know you think it's unnecessary but it's protocol. You're a member of this village, and I have to do everything in my power to keep you safe." The exhausted man tried to explain.
"Okay, if you must. Just keep it limited to one at a time. And make sure they're good. I don't want to be feeling Anbu chakra all day. They're all so weird, just like Sai." Naruto ground out.
"Fine. Fair enough. In the mean time, have you considered taking a genin squad. I'm sure Iruka told you, the two of us have been working hard to put together a suitable team for you."
"I don't know Kakashi. Taking C rank missions, I've got a wedding to pay for and Hinata is already teaching her own squad. One of us needs to be working real missions. I'll have to buy a house soon too."
"Naruto, for one I know you don't need the money. You've always been very frugal and how long have you been on A rank or higher? And for two you know the Hyugas will probably insist they pay for it. So what's you're other excuse?"
"Kakashi I'm no good with stuff like that. You know it. I don't understand half of my own jutsus. It's usually just me and Kurama headbutting whoever it is until we win." Naruto tried to hide his unease with a laugh.
"Right. Well go spend some time at the academy like Iruka asked you. Then get back to me with your answer. This village needs a new team seven." Kakashi pointed dramatically to the pictures of both team sevens he was part of.
"You know a third of all team sevens turn out to be criminals."
It was Kakashi's turn to loose a nervous laugh and rub his head.
"Maybe you'll break the cycle."
With that Naruto left the Hokage to his work. He wanted to go show off in front of his fiance's genin but Kakashi had talked him into visiting the academy first. He wondered, as he neared the school, would he see some poor kid sitting on the swing all alone? Would there be some touted genius who was adored by all his peers but was shut off from having something like a friend? Would there be some busybody kunoichi to stick with them and watch after them? Was there a team seven waiting on a mentor at the school.
Probably not. He decided as he headed for Iruka's office.
