Hey everybody, thesaiyanjedi here with another story set in my shared continuity of "Shinachiku's First Adventure."

This story is not a sequel to SFA, but another prequel. Actually, it is an evolution of something I have been promising a friend of mine for a while now. Angelz1251 has been pitching me an idea for another lemon story set around Naruto and Sakura's anniversary. I originally tried to do just that, but as I was developing it, it evolved into something a little bit bigger and broader. Now, you aren't going to see any lemon scenes in this chapter, but we will get to that later.

I don't know if this is among some of my best work, but I hope you guys like it anyway.

With that said, lets get to reading!

Chapter 1: Arrangements and Trust

'Boring...Boring...Boring...'

Naruto Uzumaki was busy at his desk writing letter after letter and singing form after form. It was just another boring day in the office. The worst part of all of it was that he needed to have yet another meeting with the Elders again, which, as usual, would inevitably lead to the two old farts arguing with him over every decision he made.

'Yep, just another day in paradise...'

There was a sudden knock on his office door. "Come in."

The door opened and in stepped a middle-aged woman with black hair wearing a black kimono with a strap around her waist. The right side of her kimono was long sleeved and the other was sleeveless, showing the left sleeve of the mesh armor she is wearing under her kimono.

"What's up Shizune?"

"Gomen Naruto, but I've got another pile of forms for you to sign."

The blonde Hokage slammed his head down on his desk. "Ow!"

The older woman felt a swell of pity for the poor man. "Sorry boss, but this is your job."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Naruto picked his head back up and started signing.

"Look on the bright side, at least you and Sakura have your big day coming up."

The blonde stopped moving his pen and looked back up. "What big day?"

Shizune narrowed her eyebrows in suspicion. "Naruto, you do remember what this weekend is, right?"

He started sweating across his forehead. Why was it suddenly getting so warm in here? "Umm...sure. Yeah! I course I remember! That right! No way I'd forget Sakura and my...umm...?"

Shizune rolled her eyes. "Anniversary."

"YES! That's it! Our anniversary is this weekend! ...Jeez! Have I really been working hard enough that it slipped my mind!"

"Naruto!" Shizune shouted in protest. "Are you telling me that you have nothing planned for yours and Sakura's big day this weekend?!"

"No! Of course I do! I'm planning on booking us a place to have dinner."

"Oh good. Where is that?"

"Club Tobirama's."

Shizune was surprised. "Whoa! Really?! That's the best reviewed nightclub in the village!"

"I know. That's why I thought she'd love it. The food's highly rated, there's a dance floor, drinks are served all night, there's even karaoke."

The older woman smiled. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. Sounds like you two are going to have a great time. But what about the kids?"

"Shina's twelve years old now, I think he's old enough to take care of his sister by himself."

"Umm...are you really sure about that?"

Naruto sighed. "Shizune, I trust my son. He's a fine young man who I can tell is going to be a fine shinobi one day. He can handle it."

"...Alright, if you say so? But are you sure that Sakura's going to be okay with that?"

"I think so...But I'll have to talk to her about it first."

Shizune figured that she'd heard enough, so she decided to just leave it at that. "Okay Romeo, I'll leave it to you then. Meanwhile, how about I come back with a fresh cup of coffee?"

Looking back at the rather large stack of paperwork still waiting for his signature, Naruto sweat dropped and looked back to his assistant. "That would be really great."

As she was heading out the door, Shizune turned around and remembered something. "By the way, I know its going to be rough, but try not to get on the Elder's bad side this time, okay?"

"I'll try, but its usually them who disrespect me, y'know."

"Lady Tsunade had the same problem when she was Hokage too Naruto, and so did Kakashi. Trust me, you've just inherited your successor's problem's."

"It that supposed to make me feel better?"

"No, just letting you know that what you're going through isn't anything other Hokage's before you haven't had to deal with also."

"Thanks," Naruto said sarcastically before sighing. "Well, at least Elder Uragi always has my back. He's at least is a good man..."

Sakura Haruno Uzumaki was in the break room at the hospital, having just gotten off her latest operation. She's helped herself to a fresh cup of coffee and a bagel while she sat down at a table.

"Good afternoon Lady Sakura."

The pinkette looked up to see a familiar face. It was a woman roughly into her early twenties with short black hair and brown eyes. This was a young woman who looked up to Sakura like a role model, not unlike how she herself looked up to Tsunade while she was growing up.

"Hello Tsuta. Please, take a seat."

The younger medical ninja happily accepted the offer. Taking a seat, she set her lunch down on the table and got down to small talk. "That was some amazing work you did today m'lady!"

"Ah, it was nothing really. I just saved a man that was having a heart attack is all."

"But m'lady, you were so calm and collected about it. That man was on death's door and you handled it like a true professional. You're amazing!"

Sakura couldn't help but blush at her nurse's enthusiastic praise as she took a sip of her coffee. "Arigato Tsuta."

"By the way, congratulations on your anniversary coming up."

Sakura put her coffee cup down. "How did you know about that?"

"Oh all of the nurses know about it, we've been gossiping about it for the last couple of days now."

"Okay, but how did you know?"

"Well, umm...yours and Lord Hokage's wedding was the biggest news in the village at the time. A date like that can stick in people's memories is all."

Sakura eyed the younger woman suspiciously for a moment, before she accepted the explanation and took another sip from her coffee. "Arigato again Tsuta."

"Has Lord Hokage said if he's planning on taking you anywhere?"

"If he is then he hasn't told me about it yet, and with the way he works sometimes and since he's, y'know, Naruto, it wouldn't surprise me if he forgot about it either."

"Lady Sakura! That's your husband you're talking about!"

"I know, I know, and I love him with all my heart. But lets face it, he was called Konoha's #1 Knuckleheaded Ninja for a reason. Who do you think is the real brains in the family?"

The two women shared an understanding, wholehearted laugh at their Hokage's expense, before Sakura continued from where she left off. "Besides..."

"Besides what 'lady?"

"Even if we do decide to go anywhere, we need to think about who's going to watch over the kids."

"Well, if I may m'lady, your son Shinachiku is twelve years old now and he seems like a very responsible young man. Perhaps he's old enough now where he can be trusted to take care of his sister until you both return?"

Sakura was very deep in thought after hearing that, the mixed emotions in her heart clearly visible. "I don't know...I mean, he is a Genin now, but...?"

"Maybe its for the best that you and your husband discuss it sometime?"

"Hmm...You know what, you're probably right." She saw the clock on the wall and leaped up in alarm. "Uh-oh, I'd better get back to work. It was nice talking to you Tsuta."

"Dōitashimashite, Lady Sakura."

"Hanami, I'm home!"

The door to the Uzumaki Estate opened up and in stepped an eleven-to-twelve year old boy with bright blonde hair and emerald eyes. The boy was dressed in an orange jacket and black shorts, with black armbands and black boots. On the back of his jacket was the symbol of the Uzumaki clan encased within the simple white circle of the Haruno clan.

The boy had a backpack slung over his shoulder, which contained all of his ninja gear and other paraphernalia. He was feeling a bit exhausted from a hard days training. 'Man, Konohamaru-sensei sure wasn't messing around today, that's for sure.'

"Oniichan!"

The excited voice of a little girl filled the front hall as a six-to-seven year old girl with bright pink hair and sapphire eyes came running in from the living room. The girl was wearing a red jacket over a bright yellow dress. She ran up to her older brother and gave him a huge hug.

"Welcome home oniichan!"

"Its good to be home sis," Shinachiku said as he wrapped his arms around her form.

A full grown woman stepped into the hall. She was the babysitter that Sakura had hired to look after Hanami while both parents were still at work. "Welcome home Shinachiku."

The boy broke up the hug he shared with his sister and bowed in respect to the adult. "Kon'nichiwa ma'am. Are my mom and dad home yet?"

"They'll be back in a couple of hours," the babysitter said. "In the meantime, doesn't Konohamaru-sensei have homework for you to study?"

The boy frowned in discouragement. "Yes..."

"Well then get to it young man, then you can waste time playing those silly video games of yours when your parents get home."

Shinachiku grumbled under his breath as he started ascending the stairs to his room.

A little less than two hours later, the front door opened and Sakura came in carrying a bag of groceries. "Hello? Kids?"

"Mommy!" Hanami ran up to her mother and hugged her legs.

"Aw! I'm happy to see you too sweetie. Where's your brother?"

"He's up in his room finishing his homework for his sensei," the babysitter said as she came into the atrium.

"Hmm...I suppose I'd better go check on him." Sakura got her wallet out of her purse and paid the babysitter. "Domo arigato for watching over the children today."

"My pleasure Lady Sakura." The babysitter bowed and waved goodbye to Hanami before closing the door behind her to start heading home.

"Hanami, sweetheart," Sakura said as she kneeled down to her daughter's level. "Why don't you go wait in the living room while I go see how your brother's doing? After that, how about I start getting dinner ready for the four of us?"

"Ok mommy!"

Charmed at her daughter's infectiously bright and adorable smile, Sakura started walking up the stairs to her son's room. Their living quarters were located on the third floor, but before she could begin climbing the second staircase, she stopped when she heard what sounded like punches and grunts coming from the family's private dojo.

Slowly opening the door, she could see that her son was indeed in there training. He had made three shadow clones of himself that he was sparring with. In particular, he was practicing judo throwing his clones over his shoulder and getting in some more practice with his mom's and Aunt Hinata's lessons in pressure point combat.

"Shinachiku Uzumaki!" Sakura made her presence known with a raised voice, one that the boy had learned long ago to always be alert of, for fear of ever saying the wrong thing and inciting his mother's wrath.

"Oh...h-hi mom." He signaled his shadow clones to take five, so they all dissipated in puffs of smoke.

Sakura stepped into the large padded room and walked right up to her son. "Shina, what's going on? Your babysitter said you were supposed to be in your room doing your homework for Konohamaru-sensei."

"I am. I already finished the written stuff, like, an hour ago. Now I'm getting in some extra training sensei told me to do today."

Sakura was impressed. "Huh...I would have thought you would be playing those video games of yours again as soon as your homework was done?"

"I'll do that afterwards."

The pink-haired mother smirked wickedly. "Okay kid..." she suddenly got herself into a taijutsu pose, "...come at me then."

The boy widened his eyes in shock. "Mom?! Are you sure?"

"What's wrong, too afraid to hit a girl?"

A vein appeared on the boy's head. He quickly got into a fighting position...About three seconds later, he charged at her with full speed.

He was striking and dodging pretty well; Sakura was having to put in more effort than she expected she would. But then, sure enough, she saw her opening plan as day. She caught his next jab and held his arm up in the air as she landed a karate chop straight into the side of his body. The boy screamed in pain, right before the she tripped up his legs and flipped him over her shoulder onto the mat.

Shinachiku landed with a loud thud. Now hurting from the waist up, he found himself on his back staring up at the ceiling, up until his mother came into view and put her hands on her hips.

"Just as I thought, you're getting pretty good, but you're still leaving yourself open on your left side."

The boy accepted his mother's hand to help him back up. "Yeah, Konohamaru-sensei keeps saying the same thing."

"Here, let me take a look at you." Sakura did a quick once-over on her son to make sure he wasn't hurt too bad. He was perfectly fine, of course. "Sorry about that Shina, but a mother has to make sure her special little guy is getting all of his proper training in."

"Mom!" Shinachiku complained in embarrassment.

"Listen to your mother son, she's just looking out for you."

The two of them turned their attention to the door of the dojo to see none other than Naruto standing there, smiling.

"Dad!"

"Hey champ, keep at it, you're getting better."

Sakura walked over to her husband and gave him a quick kiss. "Welcome home dear."

"Glad to be home honey. So what's for dinner?"

"How about wanton soup with chopped carrots and celery and pork flavored ramen noodles?"

"Awesome!"

Sakura smirked. "I had a feeling you'd like that." She then turned her head back to her son. "Shina, go wash up so you're all clean in time for dinner."

"Okay mom."

Shinachiku left the dojo first with Sakura following behind. At least, she did until Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Hey," he said. "After dinner tonight, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"What?"

"It's about our anniversary."

Sakura smiled in happiness. "You remembered."

"Hai. I've got an idea that I wanted to talk to you about, but it involves Shinachiku."

"Huh?"

"I'll explain it to you tonight."

"Mmm! Delicious!"

"Thank you mommy!"

"Thank you so much kids," Sakura was filled with delight from her children's praise of her cooking.

"Thanks for dinner Sakura. It was awesome as always!" Naruto rubbed his now very warm and full stomach and then, out of nowhere, let out a loud belch right at the table.

The room fell silent for only second before Hanami started giggling at her father's behavior. Shinachiku had a grossed out expression on his face, but when he turned his head away he chuckled to himself nevertheless.

Sakura on the other hand...she sweat dropped with an irritated expression. 'Naruto! You rude, gross, mannerless moron! At least have the decency to cover your mouth and say 'Excuse me!'"

Twelve years now they had been married, just a few months longer than their son has been alive. She loved this man, more than she'd ever loved anyone...but like any marriage, that didn't mean that it was always easy. Lets face it, Naruto has never been perfect, even for all the growing up he'd done since they were children, he still had many of the same personality quirks. That included the occasional moment of rudeness and lack of tact like now.

Sakura got up from the table and started collecting bowls and chop sticks. As she gathered her husband's bowl, she bonked him hard on the head.

"OW!"

"Serves you right! Don't go teaching the kids bad manners like that!"

"Oh come on Sakura—"

"No complaining! You're thirty-five years old, a father and the face of an entire village. You should know basic table manners."

Naruto hung his head, "Yes dear."

"Good boy."

After dinner, Naruto volunteered to help clean up. The kids went up to their rooms to get ready for bed.

"Sorry about earlier," Sakura told him. "But you do have to admit—"

"I know, I know," Naruto admitted with humility. "You were right, as usual. I'm sorry."

"Me too." They continued to clean up and load the dishwasher in the silence for about ten seconds before Sakura spoke again. "So what was it you wanted to talk about?"

"Well..."

Shinachiku was in his sleeping clothes, sitting in bed typing on his laptop computer. Then, he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!"

The door opened to reveal his father. "Hey kiddo, mind if I sit down for a sec?"

"Umm...sure."

The boy closed his laptop and set it to the side as his father came into the room and shut the door. He then walked over to the bed and sat down on to edge of it.

"What's the matter dad?"

"Oh, nothing's the matter. I just wanted to tell you that, well, things are going to be a little different this weekend."

"What do you mean?"

"Shina, do you remember that this weekend your mother and I are having our anniversary?"

"Oh yeah, I remember."

"Well, tomorrow your old man's going to book a reservation for your mom and I to go out to a nightclub to celebrate. I think it will do both of us some good."

"Oh, well that's sounds nice, but why tell me like this?"

Naruto took a deep breath. "Because your mom and I have been talking and we realized that you're growing up. You're a twelve-year old Genin now and we decided that you're old enough and responsible enough to stay and take care of the house without a babysitter."

The boy was shocked. "R-Really?"

"That's right." Naruto suddenly got really serious. "Now Shina, don't take this lightly. This is a very serious responsibility we're trusting you with. We're counting on you to be the man of the house for one night and prove the you can take care on your sister."

The weight of responsibility washed over the boy in that moment. This was a big deal for him. For once, he was getting the chance to stay home alone without an adult to take care of him. It was just going to be him and Hanami until his parents got back form their date. If he could prove to them that he could handle it, then he could prove to them that he really was growing up and that he could take care of himself. But if anything went wrong, then he could seriously loose their faith in him.

In a way he took it as a sort of personal challenge himself. Even after all these years he still had memories of that day Hanami got hurt because of him. This was his chance to prove to his parents, and to himself, that she really was safe in his hands.

"I understand dad, I promise I'll take care of Hanami. I won't let you down."

Naruto smiled in pride. "That's my boy."

He brought the young blonde into an affectionate hug before breaking it up. "Now get some sleep son, we'll talk more about it tomorrow."

"Goodnight dad."

Naruto shut out the light and closed the door. Walking down the hallway, he stopped by the master bathroom to wash his face, then after drying himself off with a towel. He then opened one to the duel doors to the master bedroom.

"How'd he take it?"

He saw that Sakura was already in bed, dressed in her sleeping clothes and reading a book which she now set on her nightstand.

"He was pretty professional about it actually," he said as he started changing out of his iconic orange sweatshirt and pants. "He promised me that he'd look after Hanami while we were out."

"He's growing up so fast," she said.

"Yeah, he is."

Naruto went to his dresser and threw on a white undershirt. He was dressed only in the shirt and his boxer shorts to join his wife in bed. He pulled back the covers and got into bed next to her. "You alright?"

"You really think he'll be alright?"

"He'll be fine. I mean, its not like he's going to burn the house down or anything."

Sakura scowled at him. "That's not funny Naruto."

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Gomen. Look, we'll talk to him about it more tomorrow."

She sighed. "I guess you're right."

"You excited?"

She smiled. "Yeah, I always did want to check out Club Tobirama's."

"It should be fun." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "I'll make the reservation tomorrow. Goodnight Sakura, I love you."

"I love you too Naruto."

The two lovers shut out the lights and went to bed in each other's arms. This weekend was going to be fun, for everyone.

Well, that brings us to the end of the first chapter. What did you think?

The idea for Club Tobirama's was very much my attempt to change things up from them having yet another date at Hashirama's restaurant. I decided instead to do a night club, I figured that I can get some good ideas out of that in future chapters.

Those of you who have read my previous stories, especially Shinachiku's First Adventure, might have caught onto a few Easter eggs I planted. Naruto references Uragi as the one member of the Elders that actually has his back, this being months before the events of SFA. There was also the inclusion of Tsuta, one of Sakura's most trusted nurses, another character from that story.

This concept of Shinachiku being trusted to watch over Hanami by himself was inspired by the second chapter of SFA, where Shinachiku tells his sensei that he has been trusted to do so before, as well as a dark episode in their past that I eventually revealed as I was fleshing out that story. I would love to hear ideas for what could happen in a scenario like this, as well as ideas for the nightclub scene.

This story won't be very long, about three or four chapters, that's it, so feel free sound off with your thoughts. Thank you so much for reading.

Until next time, see ya!