Wonderful Life
by eixirt


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 1


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

What a wonderful day to start at Konohagakure no Sato. It was definitely one of the best days in Konoha. It was like calm after the storm. Recently, an incident had occurred three days ago. There was a fire that caused great havoc for the villagers and some shinobis at that time. People ranging from children, men, and women were injured, burned, and even homeless. Several shinobis and villagers managed to save their belongings while some were unfortunate.

Currently in the Administration's Office AKA the Hokage's Office, the Godaime was talking to a fellow kunoichi, Yuuhi Kurenai.

"So, you're telling me that you need a place to stay?" asked Tsunade which earned her a nod from the Elite Jounin.

"Hai, Tsunade-sama" said Kurenai.

"Where are you staying now?" asked Tsunade.

"In a hotel, I am currently looking for an apartment that's why I ran to you, Tsunade-sama." answered Kurenai.

"Is there a place?" Kurenai asked again.

"Well… there is but." started Tsunade with a sigh.

"But what, Tsunade-sama..?" asked Kurenai.

"There's this apartment but I don't know when the owner will be coming back." said Tsunade. She looked at the Elite Jounin in front of her. Awhile ago she was happy that there was a place for her to stay in, but now, I don't think happy is the right word for it. "But then again, maybe the owner won't be coming back for awhile. Seeing that he hasn't come back for almost two and a half years, why not right?" added Tsunade.

Kurenai was brought back to reality. She could hug the Hokage after what she had said. The said Hokage was currently fishing in one of her drawers until she said. "Found it!" Kurenai saw the Godaime hand over a key. "That's the key to the apartment." said Tsunade.

'With a frog keychain..?' thought Kurenai, looking at the said key with a raised eyebrow.

"And this is the address." said Tsunade. She looked at the Elite Jounin before her and said. "Do you want me to escort you there?" asked Tsunade to the bewildered jounin.

Immediately, the Elite Jounin replied. "No, I can handle it. Thank you again, Tsunade-sama." said Kurenai as she exited the Hokage's Office.

After several minutes, Kurenai was in front of the apartment. She couldn't help but to wonder why were there people looking at her as she stood outside the apartment. She just sighed at the thought and entered her newly acquired home. The moment she entered the place, she was greeted by an odd stench.

'Somebody must have left the food in the kitchen.' thought Kurenai as she looked inside the apartment. It was slightly perfect for her. There was a bed, a kitchen, a small living room, and a bathroom.

"This place would need a lot of cleaning." said Kurenai more to herself as she walked pass a tower of ramen cups. She agreed that the place would need a lot of sweeping but it will also need a lot of dusting.

"This place is a mess!" said Kurenai, once again, to no one in particular.

Meanwhile at the Hokage's Office, a knock could be heard.

'I'm popular today. Who could it be?' thought Tsunade.

"Come in" said Tsunade.

Soon there were two familiar shinobis in front of the Godaime namely, Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya, the toad sannin. Tsunade, on the other hand, was shocked, happy, surprised, and did I mentioned shocked awhile ago?

"N-N-N-N-Naruto..!" said Tsunade as she ran towards the said blonde shinobi.

"Hey, Baa-chan..!" said Naruto with a smile.

"My… you've grown!" said Tsunade, hugging Naruto again.

"Hey there, flat-chest." said Jiraiya, making his presence known.

"Hey there, pervert." retorted Tsunade, letting Naruto go.

Naruto was about to go out the said office but Tsunade blocked his way. "Wait, where are you going?" asked Tsunade.

"To my apartment..." said Naruto in a 'matter-of-fact' way.

"Why?" asked Tsunade, blocking Naruto's way again.

Naruto looked at her as if she'd gone crazy. "I have to rest and I have to…" Naruto didn't have to finish his statement, he immediately teleported away. "Bye, Baa-chan" He said as he left the wide-eyed Hokage alone in her office with her team mate, Jiraiya.

After several hours of cleaning and arranging, Kurenai decided to take a well deserve shower. It wasn't long as she felt a presence entered 'her' apartment. She immediately closed the running water but she bet the intruder already felt her presence. So, she did one thing… hide in a genjutsu.

Meanwhile, Naruto was currently walking inside 'his' apartment. He was about to open the bathroom's doorknob when suddenly he heard a familiar shout coming from the apartment door.

"WAIT!" it shouted again. It was Tsunade with Jiraiya in tow. They ran just when Naruto teleported away from the Hokage's Office. But then again they were just too late.

Naruto managed to look at Tsunade and Jiraiya but the next thing he saw was a blur of black and white then, he passed out. After a couple of minutes, Tsunade was seated next to an unconscious Naruto. Kurenai had already changed in one of her less-revealing clothes. Jiraiya had a lump on his head for staring at the Elite Jounin.

"Ugh, my head…" said Naruto. He slowly sat up and saw Tsunade seated next to him, Jiraiya standing at the back, and this familiar kunoichi glaring at him.

'How am I gonna break it to this two?' thought Tsunade with a heavy sigh. She turned to Naruto and asked. "How are you doing, Naruto-kun?"

"Aside from my aching head, I guess, I'm fine." replied Naruto.

"Well... Naruto, I believe you've remembered Yuuhi Kurenai, right?" asked Tsunade. The mention of Kurenai's name, the said kunoichi looked at the Godaime and to the 'pervert' shinobi as she named the said blonde in her mind.

"Yes I do. She's my friend's jounin sensei." said Naruto.

Tsunade nodded and looked at Kurenai and asked. "I believe you've met Uzumaki Naruto, am I correct?"

"We haven't been introduced before but I've heard about him from a colleague of mine. But will all due respect, Hokage-sama, what is the purpose of this introduction?" asked Kurenai.

Tsunade closed her eyes and sighed. She was about to talk when Jiraiya moved in. "Why won't we let them settle in, ne Tsunade?" said Jiraiya with a 'wink'.

"Settle in?" Both Naruto and Kurenai said in chorus.

Tsunade ignored the pair and said. "You're perfectly right, Jiraiya! They have to... what is the word I'm looking for? Hmm… that's right! They have to get well acquainted since their staying in one roof." Tsunade said.

"Staying in one roof?" Both Naruto and Kurenai repeated once again.

Tsunade and Jiraiya, once again, ignored the pair and acted as if they weren't there. "You know… we should probably go." said Jiraiya.

"Right, I have to finish a pile of paperwork." said Tsunade.

"Wait!" Naruto and Kurenai shouted in chorus.

Once again they were ignored as the door before them was shut closed, leaving two bewildered and shocked ninjas behind. They both looked at the door and sighed.

"So… Kurenai-san" started Naruto.

Kurenai looked at the blonde young man before her and asked. "What?"

Naruto sighed. "… Never mind" He said as he walked inside the kitchen.

Kurenai was looking at him from the back. She was wondering what this 'brat' was doing in the kitchen. "Hungry?" She heard him ask. Kurenai just raised her eyebrow and said. "You cook?" asked Kurenai.

"I believe I asked you a question, Kurenai-san." said Naruto with a smug look on his face.

Kurenai was twitching her eyebrow as she looked at 'the brat' before her. She didn't even answer his question or even gave a retort at his statement which was making her irritated as a matter of fact. The next thing she knew, she heard the door swung open then closed. She looked back and 'the brat' was gone.

'What's up with him?-!' Kurenai thought.

After several minutes, Kurenai heard the door swung open again. She looked back and saw 'the brat', carrying some stocks of groceries. She was surprised to see that there were no ramen in the grocery bags as Naruto took all the groceries out. There were vegetables, poultry, meat, seafood, a few kilos of rice, and other food items. It was as if the said items were good for two people. Kurenai was currently watching the said 'brat' as he prepared the needed ingredients for 'their' meal. It was dinner by the way and Kurenai was cursing herself for not eating after she cleaned the apartment.

Once the food was laid on the table, Kurenai noted that the dining area has only two chairs for the dining table. She was looking at the meal Naruto prepared. She was quite impressed to see the outcome and yet the one who made the food was a guy or someone she was calling earlier as… a brat. "Dig in." She heard him say.

Kurenai saw 'the brat' started to eat. Surprised to say, she didn't expect the food to be this… tasty and yet there were just a few ingredients in it. Unknown or known to her, Naruto was glancing / staring at the Elite Jounin.

"What are you staring at?" asked Kurenai.

"I wasn't staring at you! I was just staring at you to see if you like the food." said Naruto. Once he was done stating his speech, he slapped his forehead for the mistake he had committed.

Kurenai looked at him and smiled. The said blonde seated back and started to eat his food. Unknown or known to him, Kurenai was glancing / staring at the said blonde.

"What are you staring at?" This time it was Naruto's turn to ask.

Kurenai was taken aback. She was about to shot back when a loud knock was heard at the door.

"Uzumaki Naruto! You better show yourself!" The voice shouted. This voice was somewhat feminine in Naruto's point of view and yet it was very familiar. He cursed himself as he saw the situation he's in.

"Come on man! Open up! You haven't showed yourself to us!" Another voice was heard. The voice was familiar to Kurenai. This time it was Kurenai's turn to curse herself as she saw the situation she's in.

"Hide!" said Naruto in a low voice.

"Where?" asked Naruto.

"I don't know! You're the genjutsu specialist here; hide in a genjutsu or something." said Naruto in panic.

Kurenai was about to grunt but then she just complied as she made herself invisible. When Naruto saw that everything was clear, he opened the door. Immediately, he was tackled by Inuzuka Kiba along with a not so little Akamaru.

"What took you so long? You're not hiding anything are you?" asked Kiba.

"Me? I'm not hiding anything… he-he…" said Naruto as he laughed away his nervousness while Kiba eyed him.

"Really now..?" said Kiba as he continued to eye the said blonde shinobi. "You know I have sensitive nose, Naruto." added Kiba.

'Shit!' (Naruto & Kurenai)

"But the thing is nah… forget it. It won't happen, anyway." said Kiba.

"What won't happen, Kiba?" A voice from the back was heard.

They all looked and saw it was Yamanaka Ino, clad in a Chuunin uniform.

"You see... I smelled someone very familiar here… but like I said IT WON'T happen." said Kiba, giving stress at the words "it won't".

"What the heck is it, Inuzuka?" Both kunoichis namely, Ino and Sakura asked, slowly making their patience go away.

"Maa… I smelled my sensei's scent in here." answered Kiba.

'Oh no..!' (Naruto & Kurenai)

"You know? Maybe it's just a sign that you're going to have a cold in the future." said Sakura.

"Yea… like how and why would Kurenai-san will be here in the first place?" said Ino, but then looked at Naruto.

Naruto gulped down what's left inside his throat namely, nothing. He looked at the three ninjas in front of him as they too looked at him with prying eyes.

"What..?" asked Naruto.

All three ninjas sighed. "Ino is right. Besides, this is 'the Ice Queen' we're talking about." said Sakura.

"Ice Queen?" Naruto repeated as if asking what that could mean.

"It's like this, Naruto. According to Asuma-sensei, Kurenai-san is called 'the Ice Queen' for her known prowess in Genjutsu and not only that. She is called 'the Ice Queen' because she rejected several shinobis and thus making her one of the eligible bachelorette of Konoha." explained Ino.

Naruto was just listening in every word Ino says but something caught his eyes. It was a picture frame that holds a picture of Team 8, standing proudly behind Ino. He was looking at the other ninjas in the room and noticed that they haven't noticed the said picture frame.

"You know, Ino?" said Naruto as he moved in front of the said kunoichi, pinning her to the furniture where the frame was standing. "I was wondering about something…" added Naruto.

Unknown to him, Ino was blushing at this new Naruto. It was just until now that she realized Naruto grew, literally. She even commented in her mind that Naruto looked kind of attractive.

"Are you a chuunin now?" asked Naruto. At this point, he managed to get the said picture frame as he moved away from the female blonde.

"Way stating the obvious, dead last! Of course she's a chuunin! Does that Chuunin vest ring any bells?" asked Kiba. While both kunoichis namely, Ino and Sakura, were looking at the floor both with flushed cheeks.

"Aside from visiting me, what else are y'all here for?" asked Naruto.

"Oh yea… Tsunade-sama wanted you to have this." said Sakura as she handed out a jacket similar to Ino's but only bigger and it wasn't for Chuunins.

"Tsunade-sama said that you'll be a Jounin, a Tokubetsu Jounin to be exact, starting tomorrow." said Sakura.

"A Tokubetsu Jounin..! Wow! I mean wow…" said Naruto as he looked at the jacket in hand. He was literally jumping up and down in the apartment, obviously happy.

"Uh… Naruto?" interrupted Sakura.

"Yes, Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto.

"Uh… err… nothing. We'll just go ahead, bye!" said Sakura as she and Ino moved to the door fast, leaving Kiba behind them.

Once the visitors were gone, Kurenai dropped her genjutsu, making her visible again. Naruto was still looking at the door. He noticed Kurenai sitting where she sat awhile ago. After several seconds, they both sighed at the same time.

"That was close…" They both said in chorus.

"Congratulations, you've become a Tokubetsu Jounin." said Kurenai as she picked up the wasted dishes on the table.

"Uh… thanks, Kurenai-san." said Naruto as he watched the said woman clean the dishes.

It didn't take long for Kurenai to clean the said dishes. She was currently sitting at the couch and without any warnings or whatsoever; Naruto was seated next to her. "So what now, Kurenai-san?" asked Naruto.

Kurenai looked at the blonde seated next to her then sighed. "First, please don't call me Kurenai-san. I'm contented with the Kurenai only. It kinda makes me look old. Okay?" said Kurenai.

"Then, I'll call you… Kurenai-chan!" said Naruto with a grin.

Kurenai sighed. She forgot whom she was talking with… 'The loudmouth dynamite of Konoha'

"Just how old are you, Kurenai-chan?" She heard him ask.

"Okay, second, we won't tell anyone that we live in a single apartment." said Kurenai, ignoring Naruto's question awhile ago.

"25? Or maybe 26… wait! You're 24 years old aren't you?" said Naruto, making Kurenai's eyebrow twitch in annoyance.

Kurenai was trying to calm her self. She just sighed and said. "Actually, I'm just 25 years old. Now, the third rule…" but Naruto cut her off before she could finish her statement.

"You're 25 years old and you're still single?-! Damn! Now I know what Ino meant awhile ago um… err… sorry… go on, continue with your speech he-he…" said Naruto as he scratched his nape and started to listen attentively to the said woman beside him.

Kurenai was battling with herself whether if she should whack the hell out of this 'brat' beside her. "As I was saying… the third rule is we do chores alternate meaning if you cook today then I will be the one who will cook in the next day. As for the grocery, we do it alternately again. As for the cleaning of the apartment, we do it at the same time. And as for the laundry, we do it separately and I mean SEPERATELY, you got that Uzumaki Naruto?" said Kurenai which earned her a nod from the said blonde.

"Where are you going?" asked Kurenai as she saw the said blonde, walking to the bedroom.

"To bed." said Naruto.

"Oh no you won't, you're not taking the bed. End of discussion." said Kurenai.

Naruto cocked an eyebrow and said. "Yea right… this is my apartment and I choose to sleep at my bed."

"I will not sleep next to you!" retorted Kurenai. She immediately ran to the bed, leaving Naruto standing at the floor. "Go sleep at the couch!" yelled Kurenai.

"HELL NO! You sleep at the couch." said Naruto as he ran to the bed as well. He forgot the little detail that he was in bed with a fully grown woman; he just kept on fighting (cuddling) with the said woman as she too with him.

"My… Naruto I didn't know you were ticklish… HAHA… stop it, Naruto!" said Kurenai at the start but then she started to laugh as Naruto started to tickle the said woman. He was just too strong for her, literally.

"Who's ticklish now, eh Kurenai-chan?" asked Naruto with a smirk on his face. It was just until now that he realized the position he was in. He was on top of Kurenai, 'the Yuuhi Kurenai', not to mention he was holding her waist. "Uh…" said Naruto as he took the other side of the bed. The said bed was big, big enough to supply two people in it. "Uh…" He said again.

"Just take the other side of the bed and don't you dare do anything perverted, Uzumaki Naruto." said Kurenai as she too took the other side of the bed.

"Right" said Naruto.

After several seconds, they lay there not even talking with each other. The night was evident as they both stare at the walls of the apartment. Naruto was facing the left side while Kurenai was facing the right side of the bedroom.

"Um, Kurenai-chan?" started Naruto.

"What?" asked Kurenai.

"Nothing" answered Naruto.

"Um, Kurenai-chan?" called Naruto for the second time.

"What?" asked Kurenai, slightly annoyed.

"I was wondering… where I will go after I report to Tsunade-baa-chan. I mean, where do the other high ranking ninjas stay?" asked Naruto.

"Third floor Hokage Tower, just go to sleep will you?" said Kurenai.

"Um, Kurenai-chan?" called Naruto, once again.

Kurenai sat up and said. "What is it now, Naruto?"

The said blonde didn't even move or looked back but then...

"Good night." She heard him say.

"Oh… uh… good night too, Naruto." said Kurenai as she lay back at the bed.

Morning came in Konohagakure no Sato. Some ninjas and villagers were half-awake while some were still sleeping but on the other side of Konoha… Well, that's another part of the story.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" A scream was heard all-over Konoha. It was one way to wake the villagers and other ninjas in the said village.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: How's that for a start? Shall I continue or not?

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.