Please read: So, this is the first time I've written anything in years. Literally. I am well aware that there may be many things to fix and that my grammar and wording might be off. But, I am my only editor and it's hard for me to notice these things.(Plus I am too out of practice to know where and how to fix them automatically). I highly encourage constructive criticism and please bear with me as I move the story forward and make eventual changes. Thank you.
Note: Sadly, I don't own Naruto or any of the characters.
"Oi brat! I think that's enough!"
"Eeeeh?! But baa-chan, I'm just getting started!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes as her grandson Naruto reached over for his fourth bowl of Ramen.
She and Naruto were at his favorite place to eat, Ichiraku Ramen, or as Naruto would say, "The best ramen in the world."
The owner Teuchi, or 'old man' as Naruto affectionately called him, grinned.
"Lighten up, Tsunade. He's hungry."
She sucked her teeth and gave Teuchi a pointed look as Naruto grabbed his bowl and began wolfing it down.
This had become a habit. Naruto had been coming here since he was a small child. Teuchi grew fond of him and fed him until he was out of breath and nearly bursting out of his clothes. Tsunade would reprimand him and Teuchi would wave her off, insisting it was normal for a growing boy. It didn't help that it happened to be Naruto's favorite food.
But Naruto was 20 now. This amount of eating wasn't normal and the only way he was growing was wider.
"Did you even chew?" she added, more to herself than him.
He ignored her, once again, reaching for another bowl.
"Aren't you full yet?" She demanded, tempted to snatch the bowl away.
Naruto simply grunted and continued slurping his noodles.
Teuchi gave her a sympathetic look and mouthed "leave him."
No, she couldn't just leave him.
Naruto's parents died when he was 4, leaving him in the care of his grandparents, Tsunade and Jiraiya. They took him in with no qualms and attempted to raise him to the best of their ability.
Unfortunately, things were rather challenging . Jiraiya was a writer, specifically an erotic novelist who, although popular with those who read those sort of books, not popular enough to make a steady income. Tsunade's bad temper and bossiness lead to her losing many jobs. She was a doctor, but refused to work under anyone. She wanted to make the rules and be in charge. This resulted in Naruto being raised in a lower middle class life for most of his childhood.
His classmates shunned him for his run down shoes and plain orange jumpsuit that he seemed to wear almost everyday. Still, Naruto kept his head up and did his best to keep pushing forward.
He found solace in going to after school clubs several days a week, in order to keep himself busy and possibly find a new hobby.
When he was 12, he discovered Martial Arts. His school offered Martial Arts 3 times a week after school and Naruto attended each and every class. It became his "go to" when things were particularly rough at home or at school. He practiced day and night until Tsunade had to practically drag him inside for dinner.
Jiraiya too had been passionate about Martial Arts when he was younger and although rusty from lack of practice, offered to train Naruto in his free time. He loved the way his grandson's eyes lit up when Jiraiya performed a new move, and chuckled when he huffed and pouted over not being able to copy it right away. Naruto insisted that they had to stay outside until he did it perfectly.
Jiraiya was full of life, even though his health was rather terrible. He drank, smoke, and had quite the unhealthy diet. He had to struggle to keep up with Naruto and would often stop to have a coughing fit. When Naruto would run over to him worried, he would shoo him away and insist that he was fine.
Tsunade was charmed when they came in after a long practice and Naruto spoke in rapid fire about what new moves he learned, or how we was slowly becoming 'better' than a child in his class who was older than him.
His grandparents supported his enthusiasm and wanted to see him happy. So long as Naruto kept his grades up, they scrounged up whatever money the could to put him in extra classes outside of school. Naruto was thrilled, promising he would do his best and hoped to one day become a better fighter than his grandfather.
"I want to be the best fighter in Konoha!" He would shout, pumping his fist enthusiastically.
At 17, he was keeping his promise. Naruto was not only in the top ten of his class, but one of the best in his Martial Arts classes. He had even made a few friends! He was by no means stuidous or very school oriented but he appreciated how hard his grandparents worked to make him happy. He wanted to make sure their money didn't go to waste.
Everyday he would come home from school, do homework, study for at least an hour and rush outside to practice. When Jiraiya was with him, they talked about how their days were and Naruto would ask how his books were coming along. Naruto always playfully called him a pervert, due to the traumatic event of Naruto attempting to read one of his books. Jiraiya would respond with mock hurt until they both grinned, Jiraiya's booming laugh echoing as he ruffled Naruto's hair. He was well on his way to accomplishing his dream, until Jiraiya died.
Jiraiya's health was declining more and more over the years, and soon he was doing more watching and talking than participating in the practice sessions with Naruto. He didn't want Tsunade or Naruto worrying about him, so he continued on with his daily routine. But one day, while walking home from the grocery store, he felt great pressure on his chest. Next thing you knew he was on the floor, with paramedics surrounding him.
Naruto was distraught. Jiraiya was not only Naruto's grandfather, but was practically his father and best friend. They would stay up late, much to Tsunade's dismay who insisted on needing her 'beauty sleep', laughing at Jiraiya's many tales. He spoke of his younger days, when he was considered to be one of the best teen fighters in Konoha and, he added quietly in case Tsunade was awake, how the girls were all over him. Tsunade somehow always heard and barked that it was all lies.
Naruto would snort and agree, reminding him of the numerous occasions where he would get slapped and chased by girls in hot springs because he was peeking on them for 'reasearch' material'. Jiraiya would grin and respond saying that's how he met Tsunade. She was the toughest girl he had ever met, and when she caught him snooping, he ended up with a black eye and love at first sight. Naruto lived for these moments. He couldn't lose Jiraiya. He wouldn't lose Jiraiya!
Unfortunately, he didn't have a say in the matter as Jiraiya died in the hospital, a few hours after Naruto and Tsunade left from visiting him. They were there for hours already, and Tsunade had to pull the boy by the ear just to get him to leave his grandfather's side. When he found out Jiraiya died, he was in denial. They were at home when Tsunade recieved the call and Naruto rushed to hospital saying it couldn't be true.
After that, the bright eyed, determined child tsunade once knew was gone. He stopped practicing his martial arts, distanced himself from everyone around him, and slowly fell into a depression.
It took a while for Tsunade to realize that something was terribly wrong. At first she shrugged it off as mourning, and assumed it was normal to go through these things.
Hell, she wasn't doing any better. She would fall asleep reading his books, and wake up every morning clutching the blankets, hoping Jiraya was by her side. She laid in bed and cried until she forced herself to wipe her tears, drag herself out of bed and make Naruto breakfast.
Naruto however, was eating his pain away.
Tsunade had a new job and worked long hours to provide for the house. She got lost in work, using it as a distraction, and noticed less and less what was around her. When she came home from work and checked on Naruto, she saw many empty soda and beer cans, opened bags of chips and pizza boxes, but thought nothing of it. I mean, he was a teenage boy who didn't know how to cook and had to eat. That kind of thing was normal, wasn't it? When she realized that it was indeed not normal, it was too late. Naruto had put on a lot of weight and was indifference towards life, but she knew he was still suffering and couldn't dare bring herself say something that might hurt the boy's feelings.
It was 3 years later, and Naruto was in the city university with no friends, over 200 pounds, and had long since given up his dream to be stuck in his room moping all day.
"Stupid" she muttered, huffing. How could she be so stupid? If she just would of opened her mouth, or worked less hours than maybe..
"Neh? Another one already, Naruto?"
Teuchi smiled kindly at Naruto. Jiraiya was one of his loyal customers for many years. Naturally, when Naruto and Tsunade stopped by one day, Jiraiya no where to be found, Teuchi had asked with a smile if he was out looking for 'research' material. Naruto started bawling and Teuchi attempted to cheer him up by feeding him. Naruto used it as an escape, and it had gotten out of hand.
Tsunade slammed her hand on the table.
"Naruto, that's enough. We're leaving."
"But I-"
"NO buts! Get up."
Naruto grumbled, scooted his stool back and jumped down, shaking the table as he did. Naruto rubbed his bulging tummy and grinned.
"Later, old man!"
Teuchi smiled sympathetically and waved.
"Goodbye Naruto."
Tsunade and Naruto took the long way home, stopping to stroll through the park. Tsunade chatted with the kind, older lady that was always in the area selling balloons and little trinkets. Naruto waved politely and stood to the side, only making out bits and pieces of the fast spoken Japanese. Tsunade and Jiraiya raised him speaking mostly English but stuck to their roots by living in an area with mostly Japanese families. He hardly went out, unless it was to go to school or do an errand for Tsunade. Even that was a struggle.
He knew what was being whispered about him at school. He knew almost everyone in his small neighborhood and almost everyone knew him. Day after day the pitying waves and smiles, the laughter, the looks of disgust as he walked by; It was too much for him to bear. He tried staying inside and away from people as much as he could. Going out to eat and taking the long was home was Tsunade's only chance to spend time with him.
When they got home, Naruto went straight to his room. He plopped onto his bed and rubbed his tummy.
"Man, I'm really full. 6 bowls! I should cut back a bit," he thought to himself. He stretched lazily and after a few minutes slowly stood up. He went to his drawer for pajamas and took out a pair of long, striped sleeping pants, a tank top and his favorite sleeping hat. As he changed, he couldn't help but look in the mirror.
He was fat, that he couldn't deny. He had stomach rolls, back rolls and his breasts resembled those of a girl. He frowned and opted for a long sleeved shirt instead.
"When did I get like this?" he though to himself, but quickly shook those thoughts away. He wasn't so bad. The life he lived wasnt so bad. It was better than crying every night. Better than wanting to bring someone back from the dead.
He didn't need friends, didn't need hobbies or a social life. What he needed was food and sleep.
He turned on the tv and layed back down to watch some pointless drama.
He heard a knock on his door.
"Come in, baachan."
Tsunade groaned "Don't call me that, I'm not old. Shouldn't you be studying or doing something productive or even hanging out or whatever you kids call it these days?"
Naruto snorted and paid her no mind.
She sighed in annoyance.
"I'm talking to you, Naruto."
"No, I shouldn't be." He said simply.
Tsunade restrained herself from strangling him. Once again, she refused to interfere because she knew it would hurt his feelings. She spent so much time trying to be strong for Naruto, trying to go about her life normally to show that life goes on. But it wasn't enough.
She glanced up and looked at a poster that Naruto still had up of his favorite (or rather ex favorite) fighter, Uchiha Sasuke, who happened to be only a few years older than him. Before Jiraiya died, Naruto used to always watch his matches, admiring the way he fought. He always took the time to calculate his movements, and when he punched, kicked and glided around his opponent, it seemed natural and easy. When Naruto found out he retired at 20, he was furious and highly disappointed.
"I mean who does that? Just up and quits, why would he do that? I looked up to him, that teme!" he shouted, throwing his pillow at the tv. Tsunade smiled, remembering.
After Jiraiya died, he never watched a match again. It hurt to see that her grandson was just giving up something so special to him to live this pitiful life. She had to do something!
"I have to go to work, call me if you need anything. I left you some money on the kitchen table. Please, if you're hungry try to order something than Ramen or pizza with extra cheese and bacon."
She cringed just thinking of the amount of calories.
"Yeah, yeah. Ja ne."
Tsunade reached down, kissed him on the forehead and walked out of the room, closing the door.
In these past years Tsunade had become a world renowned doctor. She was known for her hot headed determination and doing everything in her ability to cure any and every patient. She was able to recite medicines, symptoms, causes, and treatments from memory and her knowledge extended to things such as natural medicine and internal chakra. She was always inspired to study chakra, as her dad was one of the top doctors in japan and had placed a high value on chakra and its connection to strength, health, vitality and healing.
When she got to her office Tsunade grabbed her white coat and noticed
her assisant and head nurse Shizune running to her immediately.
"Tsunade-sama, we have several patients today, one hip injury, one gunshot, one high fever, one stomach virus and of course,"
She paused, taking in a breath.
"Paperwork," she added, handing over a coffee and a large stack of papers.
Tsunade grumbled, deliberately only took her coffee and walked over to her desk. Shizune smiled, she knew her too well.
"You know the paperwork is necessary, Tsunade-sama. I'll leave it here." She placed the paperwork on her desk and left the room.
Shizune was one of Tsunade's closest friends. They were in the same medical school and Tsunade had spoke often of Naruto and Jiraiya. When Jiraiya died, Shizune was the only person she broke down to. She cried on her shoulder and told Shizune how she didn't think she could go on and how she was tired of trying to be stay strong all the time. Shizune comforted her and reminded her that she was only human, and that it was okay. She also reminded her that she didn't always have to be strong, but that Naruto needed her, and she couldn't just give up. To this day, Shizune remained a loyal friend and Tsunade's back bone.
Tsunade flipped through the paperwork nonchalantly then reached in her hidden drawer to pull out a bottle of sake. She poured herself a tall glass.
Kami knows she'll need it.
As she continued flipping and signing through papers, she stopped at a patient request form. Since she was a well known doctor, many people sought to have her be their main physician. Especially the rick folk with high standards. Due to the high volume of requests, she asked Shizune to place all requests in a folder, so that she can review them at some point in the future. If she left this here, there had to be something in particular that Shizune wanted her to see.
"Maybe a family member or something? Well, she could have simply asked instead of making me read all of this damn-"
Uchiha Sasuke. That was the name on the paper.
She flipped the paper over and back, sure she was hallucinating.
Nope, there it was, light as day.
Uchiha, Sasuke
Age: 23
Sex: M
Date of Birth: 7/23/1990
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Complications:
Claims to have frequent shoulder and back pain. Interested in chakra healing methods. Willing to pay any amount.
She briefly went over his listed medical history and saw that Shizune made a small note at the bottom.
"Thought you might want to see this."
Tsunade snorted. Of course she wanted to see this. She grabbed her phone and stored his number. She knew what she had to do.
There! Haha, I hope that was alright! I wanted to make a note that I don't know jack about Japanese, chakra and medical stuff. I hope it sounded realistic enough though.