Okay. So I've actually been wanting to write this kind of fic for a long time. Like a year or so. This will be a Older!Fem!Naruto (aka Naruko) and Minato and Kushina have their 2nd child on the day that Madara attacks. Most everything will be canon, however! There will be changes to the original story and timeline. These will be explained in the next chapter, and this chapter is me telling you where I plan on going with this and technically it's the actual beginning of my story. I'm going to try and keep this fic as realistic as possible but since I'm only just getting back into the swing of writing for my other fics as well, updates will be sporadic and slow. but I shall hinder no further, you already read the summary. Enjoy!
Post Fourth Shinobi War, Kushina POV
"Naruto, are you absolutely sure that you want to do this? I can tell you from experience that it is not easy." I looked at my eldest, concern for her heavy in my chest. I knew that she was 22 already, but she was talking about doing something I never could have imagined her doing.
"I know it won't be easy, Mama. But since when has something not being easy ever stopped me? Never, I tell you!" She was wearing her typical Jonin outfit: long sleeve black top with the sleeves rolled up to a 3/4 sleeve, black gloves with knuckle guards and the shinobi kanji for "spirit" on the left guard and "fire" on the right, her knee length apron skirt with black shorts going to mid-thigh showing underneath, her weapons holster strapped securely to her right thigh, and her ankle combat sandals.
Looking at her I could see her own father shining through her, with only a hint of myself. Not many knew how exuberant he could really be when he wasn't on a mission or he truly got excited about something. I always thanked Kami for that. That I got to see him every day of my life just by looking at the beautiful lifes we created. Her and Menma both, even though the boy took more after me with his red hair and fairer shade of skin. Its hard to believe that even he is 17 now.
"Yes, my little kit, I know that it's never stopped you. But taking on a Genin team is hard. You have to lead them and show them right from wrong. You have to be able to protect them- don't you dare interrupt me young lady!- and you need to have a level head. Dealing with 12 and 13 year old children is more than enough to test what patience you have and max out even our stamina."
I watched my only daughter as her toothy grin died down to a small smile. One that looks just like her fathers mellow one, and I felt my heart skip a beat. This was her smile that she reserved only for family and her closest friends. The ones she allowed to see her for who she truly was, and not just the sunny disposition that she put up as a front. She quietly placed her right hand in a fist over her heart before looking at me with those eyes that threw everyone off, one violet like mine, the other azure blue like her fathers.
"I want to follow in Papa's footsteps and if I get to teach the next generation of Shinobi all the wisdom of those who have taught me? Even better. If I want to become Hokage one day, and have a whole village look to me for guidance and support, then where better to start than teaching my own students? I've wanted a team of my own for years. I want to build and nurture the bonds of comrades with my own hands. I want my team to know what it's like to look not only ahead of them to see what their future can be, but to look to their left and right and see their futures with their precious people. This team will mean the world to me and I can only hope that I can become as great as Papa was to Kakashi-baka to my own students. Does that make any sense Mama?"
I could see the hope alight in her eyes, and I crumbled. The girl always did know just how to bring me to tears, "Oh! My little kit is all grown up! Waaaah, come give me a hug and kiss! That doesn't mean try and run! Get over here kit! Dammit Naruto! Let me love you!"
Aiko POV 13 Years old
I was finally a Genin. And today we got to meet our sensei! I was on a team with Inuzuka Mamoru and Nakayama Tadashi. Mamoru was a loud boy with short, wild brown hair and the typical slited eyes of the Inuzuka. He had the typical red triangles adorning his cheeks and carried around what appeared to be a pure black wolf pup. He often wore a plain brown wide collared shirt underneath a long black overcoat with regular black Shinobi pants and sandals. Tadashi, however, wasn't quite the opposite, but more often than not he tended to be quiet and reserved. He had short orange hair and dark brown, almost black, eyes, but from the few times I had talked to him, he seemed very kind. Gentle even. Not at all the type of person who you would think would like to become a Shinobi. He often wore a plain red shirt that had obviously seen better days, and slightly-too-baggy-for-him black pants with well worn Shinobi sandals. The almost humorous thing about Tadashi, though, was how quickly his temperament changed when someone teased him. The boy could go from completely docile to straight rampage within seconds!
"Listen up class! Today, you will be meeting your Jonin sensei's. The information I am about to go over, you guys should already know, however, I will go over it again just for those of you who may have forgotten already. Teams 1, 10 and 4 through 7 are still in rotation at the moment so you will be Teams 2, 3, 8, and 9. I will announce your teammates and when I am done with that I will bring the four Jonin sensei's in and they will call for their team. Everybody clear?"
"Yes Iruka-sensei!" the class answered back.
"Very well. Team 2 is..." The excitement was killing me! Who would my sensei be?! I could feel the nervous ball of energy turning uncomfortably in my stomach, "Team 9 is Hara Aiko, Inuzuka Mamoru, and Nakayama Tadashi."
"Yo! Iruka-sensei! How goes the academy life these days?" All of a sudden the door burst open and a woman came bounding into the classroom. She had lengthy, wild blonde hair that was secured tightly into a high ponytail, with only her bangs swept over her left eye and two long strands hanging down on each side to frame her face. Her eyes were closed tightly due to the huge grin she wore. She was also wearing a Jonin vest, a long black shirt underneath and an orange skirt.
"Dammit Naruto! I told you to wait outside with the others until I called!" Iruka-sensei scolded the new arrival, pinching the bridge of his scarred nose between his fingers.
"Whoops. Well I'll go wait then..."
Iruka-sensei let out a billowing sigh before giving in to the woman, "No, no, there's no point now. Just go get the others. And don't get Lee too hyped up! That's the last thing I need right now..."
"You betcha!" The blonde, Naruto, promptly turned on her heal and cupped her mouth, "Hey guys, it's okay to come in now!"
The door to the classroom slid open with a swiiisht and in came three more Shinobi dressed in the Jonin uniform, "What a drag. Why are you always such a troublesome woman Naruto?"
"Naruto-hime! Your flames of youth burn as bright as always!"
"Naruto, how do you always manage to stir up trouble? I need some pointers dammit!" "Woof Woof!"
"Will you all just shut the hell up and stand at the front! Dealing with you brats back when you were in my class was bad enough!"
The four Jonin ultimately wound up at the front of the classroom, all standing shoulder to shoulder, looking out into my class. I couldn't help but stare at Naruto-san. She was beautiful, but more than that, I had heard of her power too. She was one of the most lethal Kunoichi to have ever been recorded and she is said to have carried most of the Fourth War to boot!
Man, oh man, I really really hope that she's my Jonin sensei! So cool!
"Alright. So now that the Jonin have lined up and settled down..." the last part was a growl, "I will let them introduce themselves and announce whose team they will be taking on."
"I vote Shikamaru goes first!" Naruto-san called out.
"What a drag. Fine. My name is Nara Shikamaru. I'm a Jonin and I am 17 years old. I was on Team 8 as my generations Ino-Shika-Cho formation. I'll be taking Team 2."
I breathed a sigh of relief. As sure as I am that Shikamaru-san would be a good sensei, I can also tell that I just wouldn't be able to live up to my dreams quite the way that I want to if I were on his team.
"Guess I'll go next. I'm Inuzuka Kiba, and this is my partner Akamaru. I am 17 years old and I will be the sensei of Team 8, which also happens to be the same team that I was on back in the day!" "Woof, woof!"
Again I couldn't help but be relieved. But then the Jonin wearing the green spandex suit and tacky orange leg warmers spoke up, "Team 3! Fear not, for it is I: Lee-sensei! I will ensure to push you so that your flames of youth will burn brighter than ever before!" When Lee-san was finished introducing himself (read: deafening everyone), it was finally Naruto-san's turn.
I watched with giddiness as Naruto-san looked out into the crowd of faces, a small smile adorning her face and the look in her eyes gentle, "Hello. My name is Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto, and I will be the sensei for Team 9. I am 22 years old, and have been a Jonin since before the War. I look forward to working with you all and I sincerely hope that I can lead you in the direction that you hope to go."
I have stars in my eyes. I just know it!
"YYYESS!" I shouted, popping up out of my seat with my fist in the air.
The girl next to me, Hikari, looked up at me with an irritated look in her eye, "Why are you even yelling like that? You're just embarrassing yourself."
Looking around, I realized that everyone was staring at me, and I could feel a slight blush on my cheeks, but one stare caught my attention. Naruto-sensei. She looked at me with pride, and some other emotion that I can't place. It was like she was encouraging my excitement, and even joined in it herself. I could feel my grin grow once more, and my excitement bubble up from my belly once more.
"Because I got the best sensei of them all! Of course I'm gonna celebrate!" and I stuck my tongue out at her before laughing out loud. All the sensei's chuckled alongside me, as well as some of the students.
"Alright Team 9! For our first team meeting, meet me on the roof in 10 minutes." Naruto-sensei called out to us.
"Yes sensei." All three of us replied to her with no hesitation. She simply winked before she sunshined out of the room.
Naruto POV
I was dying of nerves inside. My own team! Alright, Naruto. Now is NOT the time to be having second thoughts! Just because D rank missions suck ass doesn't mean that having a team will be all that bad! You'll get to watch them grow and learn. You'll be the one teaching them! Yeah. Yeah, think of that. That helps.
***Flashback***
"Naruto," I was playing in the living room, my best friend Itachi a few feet away, and Shisui lazing on the couch. We had been always been inseparable and we were looking over all the things that we would be studying in the Academy together. My Papa was hesitant about me going to the Academy so early, 'especially at times like these' he always said, but Mama was determined that Itachi and I stay together. 'They're gonna be so cute when they grow up!' she would always yell, hearts in her eyes, but Papa would always glare at Itachi if he was there, or simply pick me up and hold me close and say 'The only man my little Naru needs in her life is me. Isn't that right my little angel?' I was always so confused when he would ask that, which irked me because I hated not knowing. 'Yeah! I love my Papa! He's the coolest!' I would always reply. Mama would pout, but it made Papa happy again, so I was happy.
"Right here Papa!" I called back out to him. Just then Papa walked into the room and noticed the other two.
"Shisui, you know that you're actually supposed to be supervising them, right?" Papa asked the elder Uchiha.
"Yes Minato-sama. They haven't really done anything but look over Academy information and what they will be studying though. Unless you mean..." The boy let out a nervous chuckle and looked between his little cousin and me.
"Yes. So has the day been quiet?" Papa asked.
"Papa, he already told you that!" I yelled, walking up to him and craning my neck so that I could see him, then lifting my arms up in a silent demand to be held, which I knew would never be denied. I love my Papa.
He picked me up as expected and I gave him a loud kiss on the cheek and wrapped my arms around his neck. I missed him so much.
"Alright, Naru, I'll let him off the hook for now. But only as long as you never let anyone take you from your Papa."
"I'll kick their butts Papa!" I said with a wide grin.
"Promise?" He asked me.
"I promise Papa. Can we have ramen tonight Papa? Mama said we could if you said yes. I really really want some! Please?" I begged with a pout.
"Say goodbye to your friends first and I'll think about it, okay?" He said while putting me back down.
I gave Itachi and Shisui quick hugs goodbye before skipping after Papa into his bedroom where I hopped on the bed and watched him take off his hitai-ate.
"I wanted to talk to you about something before you started the Academy tomorrow, Naruto. You know I have my own team right?"
"Yup! Rin-Onesan, Obito-Aniki, and Kakashi-Baka!" I had known them for as long as I could remember. Some of my first memories were of Onesan and Aniki holding me and playing with me, but I always called Kakashi-Baka a Baka because he was always talking about 'rules' this and insulting Aniki all of the time.
"That's right my little Naru. They were all Academy students once, but most importantly, I always tell them what I tell you. What does Papa like to say about comrades, Naruto?"
"You always say that comrades are the most important!" I reply dutifully. Papa gives me one of his biggest grins, the one that only me and Mama ever get to see.
"That's right, and I want you to remember that the kids that you are about to go to school with will one day be your comrades, and that it is very important to make your own judgements about them. Don't let other people's opinions of them sway your own. It is very important to get to know the ones who will one day fight by your side."
"Like how Onesan tries her hardest to be kind to others when she can, even Kakashi-baka?"
"Just like that, Naru." I grinned at him as he picked me up and carried me towards the door, "Now, since you're so smart, why don't we go pick up some ramen so that we can eat with Mama once she comes home tonight?"
"Yay!" I squealed out, my arms wrapped around my Papa, with the sure knowledge that he would always be there to guide me. And buy me and Mama ramen, of course.
***Flashback End***
I chuckled a bit before glancing at the door from which my new little Genin would be coming from. They should only be a moment or two more...
As if summoned by thought alone, the door to the roof swung wide open, revealing two boys and the girl that had jumped out of her seat earlier.
"I told you she was waiting for us already! Now hurry up you two. No dawdling. I refuse to keep my new sensei waiting for us." The girl commanded the two boys. I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. It reminded me of Sakura, from Itachi's younger brothers Genin team. The team that basically adopted me after the tragedies with my own team...
"Good morning Naruto-sensei." The quiet drawl of one of the boys pulled me from any memories that I had almost fallen into.
"Good morning, Team 9. As you all know, I am Naruto. Now, we'll be doing introductions. This is more for me so that I can get to know my cute little Genin better. Do any of you want to go first?" I asked, looking more expectantly towards the girl, as she was the one showing the most enthusiasm.
"Well why don't you go first so that we can see how you want things done?"
"Maah, Maah, well, my name is Hatake Kakashi. I have a few likes, a lot of dislikes... My hobbies, you don't need to know... My dreams? Haven't really thought about those."
I couldn't help the laugh that erupted from me at that moment. Geez, is it just me or is history repeating itself here? These three remind me so much of Menma's team that it's almost too much to keep in.
"Alright then. All I want is your name, likes, dislikes, hobbies, and maybe some dreams you have for the future. Like so: my name is Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto; I like training, my family, and ramen; I dislike traitors, those who hurt my precious people, and the hospital; some of my hobbies include training with my younger brother, cooking with my mother, and teasing the Hokage; as for my dreams? Well, everyone knows that I want to surpass my father, and become the greatest Hokage, but between you three and me? My most precious and important dream, is to have my own family to love and take care of."
I smiled down at my team, some of my previous jitters gone. These three would be different.
"Ooh, ooh! Lemme go!" the (obviously) Inuzuka boy called out next, hands waving wildly in the air.
I smiled at him and nodded, "Go on."
"I'm Inuzuka Mamoru and this is my wolf partner Kaname! She's pretty awesome, just like me. Anyways, I like Kaname, my clan, and pulling pranks, I dislike when people underestimate me or treat Kaname badly. Hobbies include training- we have that in common sensei!- and coming up with new prank ideas. I don't really have any dreams right now though. I just know I want to be a strong Shinobi!"
"That was very good Mamoru-kun. It's very nice to meet you and Kaname."
"I suppose I should go, as I'm the only one who hasn't made a ruckus yet."
I looked to the far right where the other boy was sitting quietly, waiting for his turn, and taking his time observing. I nodded to him.
"My name is Nakayama Tadashi. I like riceballs with salmon, and reading at the Library. I dislike being made fun of because of my clothes or my hair. My hobbies include gardening and running, and my dream is to one day be able to live in a real home with a family all my own, instead of living at the orphanage."
I couldn't stop the sad smile that crossed my face; after all, I could feel my own heart breaking for this boy.
"I completely understand. While I was not an orphan myself, one of my old teammates were. I had to struggle through my childhood with only one parent who was often away on missions, leaving me with my little brother fairly often. I admire you for making it this far, Tadashi."
The young boy with vibrant orange hair looked up at me and all I could see in his dark gaze was gratitude. For what exactly, I couldn't say, but it was there.
"I suppose I can go next now! My name is Hara Aiko. I like the stars and eating all types of fruit, but cherries are my favorite, I dislike anything having to do with spiders or laziness, some of my hobbies are reading, writing, and telling stories, and my dream is to become as strong as my ultimate hero and fight by their side one day!" the young girl exclaimed. I liked her very much already, but I noticed out of the corner of my eyes how the two boys rolled their eyes. I wanted to know what that was about, but before I could, I checked the position of the sun and realized it was getting a bit late.
"Alright!" I yelled, startling the younger three and clapping my hands together, "it's time to get down to business. Now, I know that the three of you have passed the graduation test, however, there is one more test that you must take which will be administered by yours truly. This test will determine whether you become my official team or whether you go back to the academy. This test is very important and I urge you all to take it seriously."
"Naruto-sensei, what do you mean 'go back to the academy'? We've already graduated." Aiko asked while raising her hand.
"I mean exactly what I said. Should you three fail my test, you will be sent back to the academy and will have to repeat your last year and graduate again."
"WHAT?!" Mamoru yelled. He had a look of shock and horror plastered to his face and it made me want to laugh because of how much it reminded me of my own reaction to this news back when I graduated the academy, "But sensei, why would they give us all this hope and let us graduate if it's just going to be snatched away from us anyways?" the boy continued.
"Now listen, and listen well. This will hopefully only be the first lesson I teach you three and you better take it to heart." I said, my voice quiet and deadly serious. I could already tell that I wanted to take this team on, but I could not allow for such thoughts to run rampant in their heads already.
Mamoru, Tadashi, and Aiko all looked to me, and I made sure that I had their undivided attention before continuing, "Just because it seems like your hope will be lost does not mean you should give up before even trying. You should never give up, period. Failure is never something you should fear during training, because failure is simply a stepping stone to lasting success. When it seems like the world is against you, and that hope is hopeless, that is when you must fight the hardest. Always fight for your dreams, and I swear to you that even if nothing goes as you planned, you'll turn out better for it in the end," I smirked, repeating the words that my brother once uttered to Sakura, "that's the promise of a lifetime."
Aiko raised her hand, "Sensei... I've had a question that I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, but if this might be the only opportunity I have to ask, then..."
I walked forward, kneeling before the young girl that reminded me so much of both myself and my brothers teammate that it was almost silly, "Aiko, you can always ask me anything you want to know. Even if by some wild chance you three don't become my team, and I really do want you three to be my students, then you can always seek me out and ask me. I will always be there for you." I smiled at her and patted the top of her head.
She sent me a shy smile, "Well I was wondering... if you have ever considered taking on an apprentice. I have always wanted to learn from you and I am really excited that you're my sensei."
I blinked for a moment, "Apprentice eh? Well, I never really thought much about that, mostly focusing on getting a team, but I think having an apprentice would be a really great idea, especially if my only candidate shows a lot of potential," I grinned at the girl with a wink, "however, if you intend to become my apprentice, I must tell you that because I am not willing to play favorites, that it won't be official until you become Chunin. You're teammates deserve my attention and time just as much as yourself. Do you understand?"
"Yes sensei." She replied, a small relieved smile on her face.
"Good. Now, all three of you will meet me in training field 13 tomorrow at 0800 hours. No later. Also, I recommend that you either eat very light breakfast, or just wait to eat altogether. Do that, and I promise to take you three to my favorite restaurant after for lunch. Okay?"
"Yes sensei." the three little Genin dutifully replied.
"Good. You are all dismissed." I said before hopping off the academy and taking to the roofs to get to the Hokage's office quicker
Third Person POV
Kakashi was supposed to be a busy man, however the sight that Naruto came upon while sliding open the window to his office was one she had become rather familiar with.
Lady Tsunade was sitting across the man and was obviously frustrated. Kakashi himself was kicked back in his chair, face stuffed into his Icha Icha book, and making a point to ignore Tsunade's building anger and high pitched words.
"Kakashi-baka, why are you ignoring your duties?" Naruto sighed as she came in through the window.
"Naruto! Tell him he needs to stop perving and get the damn paperwork done!" Tsunade yelled at the poor girl who was unfortunate enough to show up during one of her famous fits.
"Maah, maah, why do you always yell at me? What have I ever done?" Kakashi replied offhandedly with what was supposed to be an innocent tone.
"Because if I had to suffer, so do you! No one is going to do your damn job for you Kakashi!" Tsunade pointed out vehemently, "Naruto! If you don't get him to do his paperwork, then I'll make sure that a miscellaneous order is found in the archives with my signature on it that prohibits the sale of ramen in the village." she continued.
Naruto looked horrified, before looking over to her oldest friend and realizing that he was still reading as if he didn't have a care in the world.
Before Kakashi could even realize it, there was an enraged blonde with a creepy smile on her face, and hair having come out of it's band, waving around just like her mothers did when she was angry, grabbing him by the front of his robes and pulling his face up to hers so that he could feel her breath wash across his face. This didn't really help his man downstairs remain calm, however the look in her eye that promised pain and misery should he not heed her next words did.
"Kakashi-baka~" she said in a low, sing-songy growl, "If you don't finish this paperwork in the next hour, and I lose my ramen, I can promise you that you will feel my wrath, and I will make sure my mother knows the reason for the lack of ramen too..."
Kakashi gulped.
There were few things that brought fear into his heart, but an enraged duo of Uzumaki women was at the top of said list, "Y-yes hime!"
"Good," she said as she dumped him back down into his chair, "and since you agreed so kindly to my arrangement, I've decided to finally let you in on a little secret to help you along your way." Naruto said, a familiar twinkle in her eye.
Kakashi and Tsunade, though knowing the danger of that twinkle in the Jonin's eye, both just had to know what on Kami's green Earth could possibly help with paperwork, "What?"
"Kage Bunshin."
At her simple reply, both of the Kage's blinked. Blinked again.
"Why the hell..." Kakashi began.
"Did I never think of that?" Tsunade finished.
Naruto simply laughed, the look on the two's faces absolutely priceless in her book, before slipping back out of the window from whence she had come, but not before tossing back behind her, "I'll be back in one hour Kakashi-baka. It'd better be done."
Sitting in his favorite tree on training ground 3, there was a young man who was clearly deep in thought, and honestly wasn't paying much attention to the world around him.
Menma was having a weird day.
First, his older sister, who he adored and idolized to no end, was taking on students of her own, which was weird. Second, Sakura was acting really strange.
Ever since Menma had brought his best friend, and her childhood love, Sasuke, back to the village, with his friends help of course, she had been doing everything in her power to be around him as much as possible. Which was weird.
Menma wasn't like his sister. He was no prodigy. At least, not with book smarts or strategy the way she was. No, he was more of a ninjutsu person, while she specialized in stealth and intelligence gathering. He was a frontline fighter, she was the preemptive strike. They were both very much like their parents, but he was more like their mother, right down to the love of pranking and his straight red hair. His eyes were his fathers though, and he was told that if not for his hair, that it could be possible that the Yondaime had simply chewed him up and spit him out.
His sister, Naruto, however, looked like their mother, except with dad's hair and one blue eye, the other a deep violet like their mother's. Their mother and those closest to the family all agreed that she acted more like Minato though, with her relatively calm demeanor, strategists mind, and inclination towards fuiinjutsu. Menma was also good at fuiinjutsu, but Naruto was well on her way to becoming a master.
Back to his original line of thinking. Sakura was being weird, and he didn't know how to think of it. He could still clearly remember when Sakura and himself had been sent to an alternate dimension by Madara, where his father had actually been alive. Where both of Sakura's parents were gone. The worst part? He was a single child. The most awkward part? Having to answer to his sister's name. Also, it had been strange that the docile, and sweet Hinata, who was dating Kiba in this world, had been dating him! And she was determined to get Sakura, the girl he had had an unrequited love for since he could remember, as far away from him as possible. They had learned some lessons, and managed to get out of it relatively okay.
Suddenly there was a rustling in the leaves as someone approached the young redhead.
"Hey there Kit. What are you doing looking so deep in thought like that? That's usually Naru's territory." his mother said to him, a wide smile splitting her face as she pinched his whiskered cheeks.
"Mooooom!" Menma called out, lightly attempting to knock his mothers hand away with no real results.
"C'mon kit! You can tell your Mama anything right? Oh, whatever happened to my sweet little boy that used to let me carry him everywhere, huh? Why couldn't you stay my little baby, Menma?" Kushina playfully pouted.
"Because that's just stupid. Why would I want to stay a little brat all the time anyways? I still don't get why Onesan wants her own team." Menma huffed. Its not like she didn't already basically have one with his own team. She had led them most of the time with Kakashi-sensei as his second in charge, since she had been a Chunin, and soon Jonin, when she started aiding his team.
Kushina simply laughed, "You know, Menma, Naru isn't going to just leave you in the dust. She loves and cares about you, but you are an adult now. And she wants that team so bad because she wants to follow in your father's footsteps. You know this. Now, I know that that isn't what's actually bothering you. So what's on my little boys mind, huh?"
Menma looked at his mother for long moments before finally sighing, "It's Sakura-chan. I don't know why but she's been acting weird lately. Not in a bad way really, but just out of character? Yet not. It's giving me a headache!" Menma reached up, ruffling both his hands rather undignifiedly through his hair, "I just don't understand!"
Kushina wanted so bad to laugh. She really did, but somehow managed to keep herself together, so as not to embarrass her son, "Well how do you mean? Give me some examples and I'm sure that I can help you understand."
"Well, she's just been trying to hang out with me or go with me everywhere whenever she's off at the hospital, and from what Sasuke-teme tells me, she doesn't really interact with him or talk to him at all when I'm not there, but from what I see when I am there, it's just like we're regular team 7! We joke and eat and all that just like normal teams do, but when we separate she always goes with me, and not Sasuke-teme. You know? The singlular guy that she professed her love for for years since we were children?" Menma finished hotly. He just couldn't help the hot curl of frustration with that last sentence. He had always loved Sakura, but Sakura had loved Sasuke. Sasuke had loved the thought of revenge. It pissed him off.
"Well, it certainly sounds to me like Sakura moved past those feelings for Sasuke-kun, and is trying to show you that she wants something with you."
Menma looked at his mother like she had lost her damn mind, "But if that were even true, then why wouldn't she just say so? I'm not a Yamanaka. I'm no mind reader, dammit!"
At this point, Kushina did laugh. Her children had some of the strangest quirks, from Naru's obsession with ramen, much like her own, and all things that defy tradition, to Menma's resolute denseness and inclination towards pranks. This was one of those moments of Menma's where his dense mindset got the best of him, and he just could not for the life of him recognize that the girl who he thought would only ever consider him a friend, wanted him to ask her out on a date. Or maybe just kiss her. It was just too funny, because it reminded her so much of his father that it was ridiculous.
"Menma, she was trying to be subtle, while being obvious enough to get even your attention. Which it appears she did, but I'm pretty sure that this is backfiring in her face pretty badly."
"Backfiring in her face? Will she be okay? Should I get Tsunade-baachan to take a look at her?" He quickly switched from frustration to concern.
Kushina damn near fell out of the tree, laughing, "No, Menma! Just.. just go ask Sakura-chan out on a date, and I promise you that she will tell you yes this time." Kushina finally managed to get out.
Menma simply looked at his mother doubtfully, but got up anyways to go do exactly that, "Fine, but if she rejects me, you owe me some dango, mom."
Kushina simply smiled as she watched her son jump off to go ask the love of his life out on a date.