Title: Habenaria Radiata
Rating: M
Pairing: Pre-Sasuke/Naruto
Warnings: None for this chapter
Summary: AU. Since the day he was born, Naruto was cursed. Cursed to be the son of the Fourth Hokage, cursed to the title through blood. But he's out to prove himself, to better himself and prove he's more than just his blood, more than just his father's son.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters.
Author's Note: This update came rather quickly, I hope anyone reading this doesn't mind. Updates will come regularly when I'm not working. I have at least the entirety of the first series planned out in this AU timeline so hopefully updates will be regular. I thank everyone that read the first chapter already, seeing as it was posted less than 24 hours ago. My ramblings aside, do please enjoy the second chapter. I apologize for any mistakes as I basically skim beta my own story.
Habenaria Radiata
Naruto beamed as he sat on the stairs, arms holding the stair as he rocked back and forth staring at his sensei. "Ne, nii-san, where did you-""Naruto, I'm your sensei now, so it would be appropriate for you to call me 'Kakashi-sensei'."
His nose scrunched in distaste, his tongue rolling over the sound. "That sounds weird.""Wait, so Naruto knows you? Isn't that an unfair advantage for him?" argued Sakura, hands on her hips, staring her sensei down.
"Depends on how you define 'know'," he hummed, pulling out his book. "Naruto's father was my sensei. I was around Naruto constantly when he was young. He latched onto the title and it stuck." He licked his finger, turning a page. "As for 'unfair advantage', I grew up around the brat, I already know he has no talent."
"Oi! Nii-san!"
"Sensei," he corrected. "But my past is not the point of my current exercise. The current exercise is for me to get to know you three and for you three to get to know each other." Another page turned over. "You, with the pink hair, you can go first."
"Oh." Sakura sat up straight, flattening her hair, putting stray pieces into place. "What exactly do you want to know, sensei? Getting to know someone can mean a lot."
"Name, likes, dislikes, anything you want to share, I'm not really particular."
"Well, my name is Haruno Sakura. I like, um, well, it's more of a person that I like." Her eyes shifted to the quiet boy next to her, his eyes trained straight ahead, not even paying her heed. She blushed in embarrassment, bringing her fists to her mouth, shaking back and forth. "And well, my dislikes…I think I dislike..umm…NARUTO!" she blurted out, covering her mouth immediately. "What I mean is-"
"OI! How can you dislike me?! I don't even talk to you much, Sakura-chan! Geez!"
"THAT'S A LIE! WHO COMES UP TO A GIRL AND SAYS 'YOU'RE PRETTY' AND RUNS OFF!" she shouted, pointing her finger at him accusingly before stopping herself and sitting down. "I'm sorry, most honorable son, I didn't mean to shout at you.""WAIT! I'm getting called out for something I did when I was 8? How is that fair?! And don't call me that! And why is telling a girl she's pretty a bad thing?! You are pretty, geez! You're like my mom!"
"Are you calling me old?!"
"ARE YOU CALLING MY MOM OLD?!"
"Now, now," Kakashi called, making a down motion with his hand, eye still trained on his book. "Sasuke, why don't you go next?"
"But I wasn't done," cut in Sakura, afraid she had made a bad impression.
"That's fine, we'll have plenty of time to learn the rest. Sasuke, go ahead."
Sasuke sighed, raising his head from his folded hands. "My name is Uchiha Sasuke, I like training and dislike useless people." His eyes shifted pointedly at Naruto for which the boy glared, raising his fist and punching the Uchiha across the back of his head. Sasuke groaned in pain, immediately turning, grabbing a fist full of Naruto's orange coat, glaring at him. "You really want to start this, dobe?""Now, now, violence is never the answer," hummed Kakashi, turning another page, waving his hand at them. "Sasuke, drop Naruto, you can pummel each other later. Naruto, introduce yourself and make it short."
Naruto huffed, pushing away from Sasuke, sitting down. His hands went to his hitai-ate, puffing his chest out in pride. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto and my likes are-"
"I thought your last name was Namikaze?" Sakura interrupted."SENSEI! SAKURA-CHAN INTERRUPTED ME, -TTEBAYO!"
"Now, now, no need to interrupt." Another page was turned, Kakashi making the same motion as before.
"Anyways, my likes are ramen and my mom's sweets, she makes the best cakes in Konoha and my dislikes are being called 'most honorable son' and Uchihas with stupid haircuts, dattebayo."
Sasuke stood, ready to pummel Naruto right at that moment when their sensei stood, closing his book. "Well, that was informative, now wasn't it?"
"Were you even paying attention?!" All three of his students called in unison, making him blink.
"I was paying attention enough, come along, I have a test for the three of you."
Naruto hopped up, arms crossing behind his head. "Is it gonna be the bell test? Dad used that against you guys, right? He told me all about it."
"Did he tell you how to get the bells?"
"Well, no, he said that's something I'd have to figure out the answer to when the day came, dattebayo." Blue eyes shifted to the sky before going to Kakashi. "Hey, did my dad pick you as my sensei on purpose?"
"Believe it or not, Naruto, not everything is dictated by your family name. This just happened to be randomly decided."
"Not everything, but close to everything, -ttebayo!""Why is he even complaining?" Sakura sighed, coming to stand by Sasuke. "Are we supposed to say 'poor rich boy has everything handed to him?'. I mean, he just doesn't know how good he has it. He has no idea what its like being a normal person, that's why no one in class likes him. He puts on airs like he doesn't like it, but we all know he loves the attention and-"
"Don't talk about things you don't know anything about," he cut off, picking up his pace, coming to walk next to Naruto. "Oi, dobe, my mom told me to ask if you're coming for dinner on Friday or not."
"Friday?" scratching his head in recollection he beamed, giving a thumbs up. "Yep! Dad is working late that night so me and mom are going to come over and we'll take leftovers to him after we're done. Your brother is coming home on Friday, right, -ttebayo?"
"That's what he said."
Sakura blinked and ran to catch up to the other boys, not sure why Sasuke had randomly shunned her. Had she said something wrong? "Oh, your brother? What rank is he?"
"ANBU."
"That's so cool, Sasuke-kun! What animal mask does he wear? Is he well known?"
"His is a cat," he answered walking ahead of the group. Naruto looked at Sakura, feeling sympathy for the girl."You don't know much about Sasuke-teme, do you, Sakura-chan?"
"Eh?! I know enough! Like he likes girls with long hair and he likes girls that can cook."
"Sakura-chan, you're really pretty but you're clueless when it comes to Sasuke-teme, -ttebayo."
"Are you calling me stupid?!" she yelled, raising her fist punching him her hardest over the back of his head.
"OW!" he cried, covering his head, crouching on the ground. "What was that for?!""Alright, enough you two, save your energy for training because as Naruto knows, this test will be no easy task." Holding up two bells he smiled behind his mask and the task was set.
Naruto panted, laying on the ground, his arms above his head. Sakura lay next to him her hair splayed out, her eyes red from what Kakashi had said was a rather cruel genjutsu, and maybe a bit to harsh for the 12 year old girl. Sasuke looked over at them, his breathe short and muscles aching but all together he was the least effected by the endless fruitless test. "So, what did we learn?" Kakashi questioned, turning a page in his book.
"This test was about teamwork," answered Sasuke, stomach growling as he eyes looked over at the bento boxes Kakashi was currently guarding."And what did you three lack?"
"Teamwork," Naruto pouted. "But, sensei, Sasuke is my rival! Why is it my responsibility to bail him out?"
"Oi, usuratonkachi, who are you having to bail out? What good did you do other than a shadow clone?"
"Better than Mr. I shot fire out of my mouth, -ttebayo! How was that meant to do anything?!"
"You were both show-boating," Kakashi inputted. "You were trying to show up each other, which in turn was your disadvantage, and you, Sakura-chan. You had an opening to help Naruto, you could have easily snuck in and helped him retrieve a bell, instead you responded to a genjutsu of Sasuke."
"But I-""And how did I know to use Sasuke against her?"
"Because she stated in her introduction that she liked me," Sasuke answered."Correct! You made clear that your weakness was a person, just like Naruto made his food, but his father has no doubt trained him to ignore obvious traps like bento boxes left in the open."
Rubbing his growling stomach, Naruto groaned. "I wanted to go for them so bad.""However, though you avoided the obvious trap you opted into working alone. You put a rivalry before a friendship and on the battlefield that could lead to death. Sasuke, you showed a similar sentiment. You were more interested in showing every trick in your arsenal as opposed to helping your friend. I know it's not the ideal thing that you want to hear, but there maybe a time one day where you'll have to put aside everything and do what is right but Shinobi law, understand that."
The book closed with a dull thump, Kakashi rising to his feet, picking up the bento boxes. "Going ahead and eat, and play nice."
"Alright! Oi, teme, give me your daikon radish. I know you don't eat them so don't even come up with an excuse."
"Whatever, just take the thing."
"In exchange you can have my tomatoes," he beamed, picking out the round fruits, placing them over into his box. Sakura stared between the two of them, feeling like she was staring at the unattainable.
Friday morning when Sakura received a letter in her letter box a number of things came to mind. Another mission was the first, they had done several since Monday, mainly D rank things, very simple things like deliveries or raking and gardening. Sasuke and Naruto found it all trivial but they weren't allowed anything higher, even if Naruto's father was the one dishing out the assignments. She learned quickly that the man was very kind and very fair, even when his son was concerned. From what she saw he treated Naruto the same as any genin that walked through Hokage tower.
With this thought planted firmly in her mind she opened the letter, staying at an unfamiliar scrawl. It wasn't Sasuke's handwriting, she had seen it over his shoulder many times, he was very neat when writing. Naruto's was really messy, she had seen that when he signed his name. No, this scrawl was hurried but precise. Maybe her sensei's?
You're invited to dinner at Uchiha Manor. 18:30. Do not be late.
The squeal of excitement that came from her mouth was only audible to dogs, she was sure. But once her eyes registered the message and reread it enough time for it to get to her brain she was unable to keep from crying in joy. She had to pick an outfit, and a ribbon for her hair, and the right make-up, the right shoes, this would be the most important night of her life and she couldn't show up looking like a washed up commoner.
With Inner Sakura screaming in joy over meeting their future in-laws Sakura ran to her room spending the next several hours designing an entire wardrobe from head to toe before heading out, telling her parents not to wait up.
It had taken her several hours to decide on the pink sundress she was currently wearing. It was almost like her pull over she wore for ninja activities except it was an actual dress with spaghetti straps and a hem ending at just above her knees. She had made this dress with her mother last summer, making it pink with white sakura petals on the bottom half of it. A pair of pink strap sandals adorned her feet, these were picked up in the market for cheap. Together the pieces looked good together and were complimented by the white daisy she put in her braided hair. She felt it was the perfect outfit for a young lady greeting her could be, would be, future in-lawns. Accompanied with light touches of make-up and glitter, the package was legs grew shaky as she approached the gates of Uchiha manor, two men standing guard outside it, both obviously Uchiha if their coloring was anything to go by. "I-I was invited for dinner with Uchiha Sasuke-kun," she told them, berating herself for stuttering. The two men nodded, moving to the middle of the gate, pushing it open. The right Uchiha looked around, calling for an escort. Many Uchihas walked past, looking at her, giving her looks that clearly said she did not belong here.
"I'll escort her," a low voice answered, the two guards bowing low at the waist. Sakura turned, her inner's mouth dropping open in shock. Drool ran down her inner's mouth as the girl stared at the Uchiha dressed to the nine in Anbu gear, his mask situated to the side of his head as common with ANBU not on duty. "This way," he motioned, leading her off in what direction she didn't care. If she thought before there wasn't a human on this planet as beautiful as Sasuke she was dead wrong.
"U-um..I'm Haruno Sakura. I-I just graduated from the academy," she stuttered, blushing man glanced back at her, his onyx eyes meeting her own green ones and her inner couldn't help but swoon. "Uchiha Itachi. I'm an ANBU captain."
"O-oh? Really? That's really cool. You look so young, you must be very talented."
"I'm 17," he answered, continuing his path through the rows of homes. His answers were short, but polite, unlike Sasuke's own who tended to have a slight undertone of an edge to them. She wondered faintly if the two were closely related somehow. They were both Uchihas, so of course they were related, but were they like cousins? Second cousins? She didn't know."Nii-san!"
Sakura could hear herself audibly gasp in shock as the Uchiha Sasuke came hurrying down a set of wooden steps, hugging the man in front of her tightly. Itachi smiled, returning his younger brother's hug. This was the first time she had ever shown Sasuke show any form of emotion other than indifference and it was definitely the first time she had seen him smile. His smile was not a disappointment.
"You said you'd be back before I graduated."
"Ah, sorry, the mission took longer than expected. I heard you passed with top marks. Congratulations, little brother."
"My scores weren't near as high as yours, but don't think I won't grow my skills. Next time we spar, nii-san, I'm going to win."
"OI! Sasuke-teme! How about I beat you and then I can beat Itachi-san FOR YOU?! I'm going to be next Hokage after all, gotta test out my ANBU captain." Sakura turned to Naruto, blinking in surprise at how casually dressed he was, in nothing but pajama pants and a white tshirt. She opened her mouth to scold him when Itachi cut her off."I apologize, I was being rude. Little brother, a friend of yours was outside." He motioned to her, Naruto waving.
"Sakura-chan! You look nice!"
"Thank you, Naruto, but what on earth are you wearing?" she gritted out.
"Eh?" he looked down. "I always wear this when I'm at Sasuke-teme's place, it's comfortable and Mikoto-san told me to be comfortable."
Mikoto-san?
"The dinning room is this way," said Sasuke, motioning with his hand before going back up the steps that led to the walk way. Sakura blushed as he sandals clacked against the wood, an echoing roar over Naruto and Sasuke's own bare feet. One sliding door, two sliding doors, when they got to the third Sasuke stopped and slid it opened, Naruto running inside like he lived there himself. Sakura paused next to Itachi, removing her sandals.
"Tadaima!" the man called out alerting a black haired woman to his presence. Sakura was certain this apron wearing housewife type was Sasuke and Itachi's mother. The woman had soft eyes echoed only by her even softer smile. She came through to the entryway, a soup ladle in one hand which she brandished at Naruto telling him not to break another of her vases.
Uchiha-san's voice was soft as she greeted her eldest son. "Welcome home, Itachi." Her steps were silent as she moved forward, giving her son a kiss on the forehead. "Your father is waiting to hear all about your mission."
"Has he congratulated Sasuke yet? Discussed any of his missions?"
The woman shook her head in dejection, giving a small frown.
"Then, until he does, he won't be hearing about my missions."
His mother gave a small nod before turning to Sakura, her hostess smile returning. "You must be Haruno Sakura, Kushina told me you'd be joining us. Everyone is already in the sitting room if you care to join them. Itachi, get changed and washed up, if you please."
"Sorry for the intrusion," Sakura bowed, the woman before her shaking her head telling her it was no intrusion at all. Itachi politely acquiesced to his mother's request and proceeded off to a different section of the manor. Sakura swallowed a growing nerve building in her throat before stepping up to the tatami mats and walking into what she felt was the lion's den.
What she expected was far from what she found. Her projection of Uchiha etiquette was fancy clothing, straight backs, and pencil thin frowns with engaging conversation. She came upon the opposite. Naruto had his head laying in a red-headed woman's lap, the woman dressed in a simple blue dress, her bangs pinned back by a simple barrette. This women didn't seem phased by the blonde at all, in fact she was lovingly rubbing her hands through the mess of spikes atop his head. Sasuke was laying opposite them, a smile on his face as he laughed at some kind of anecdote the red-head spoke.
Blue eyes found Sakura's, a big familiar goofy grin filling the woman's feature. "Come in, -ttebane!"
"Yeah, Sakura-chan, come join us, -ttebayo."
"You're Naruto's mother," she whispered, louder than intended, making the woman giggle."That's my given name, -ttebane. Everyone else calls me Kushina."
"Or red-hot habanero, ne, kaa-chan?"
"Oi, brat, remember who you're talking to, -ttebane."
Apprehensively, Sakura came forward, taking a seat next to Sasuke who immediately sat up. "I'm Haruno Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto's teammate."
"Kakashi told me, dattebane. Thought it was rude that you weren't invited, so I had him send word to you. Thought we could get to know you. Sorry my husband won't be here tonight, but he's busy, -ttebane."
"He better be busy finding us a good mission! I'm tired of the sad D-ranked stuff!" groaned Naruto. "I want real ninja work, dattebayo."
"Naruto, you know-"
"You either talk to him or I won't speak to you for the duration I'm home!"The occupants of the room looked up at the rather calm but still demanding voice. Two voices were coming from the room next door, one silently muffled while the other was clearly audible.
"Every time I come home you do this! You rain praise on me and shove Sasuke away into a corner, I'm tired of it! And every time you use the same excuse that I'm the heir, that I'm more important! Why is one son more important than the other?!"
"They're at it again," Uchiha-san sighed, placing food on the table, looking down at her hands. "Sasuke, come help me with plates, please."Sasuke looked to the separator before standing up and heading into the kitchen.
"You want me to choose?! Is that what you want? I choose Konoha, I always have and I always will. If anyone deserves to be the head of this clan it's Sasuke, like I've told you several times over. I'm not interested. Why don't you try showering him with love and affection and see how he grows?"
"So, Sakura-chan," Naruto began, trying to find a subject of conversation to ease the tension in the air. "It'd be better if we could get a C-rank mission right?"
"I'm done! Disown me. I don't care."
Sakura's eyes stay trained on the separator, her mouth try to form a coherent response as the paper door slide open. Itachi stared at everyone in the room before giving a small smile. "I apologize for my behavior," he bowed. "Kushina-san, how are things?"
"They're great, -ttebane. Naruto just graduated and he's been going on missions a lot lately, earning a bit of allowance every time. Teaches him responsibility, makes him strong, -ttebane. Which means he can treat his mother to ramen!"
"EH?! Why do I have to treat, -ttebayo?!"
"OI! UNGRATEFUL! I CARRIED YOU FOR NINE MONTHS, -TTEBANE! LEAST YOU COULD DO IS BUY YOUR MOTHER RAMEN!"
"Kushina-chan, no need to yell," Uchiha-san laughed, bringing in the last of the food, Sasuke on her heels with the plates. The two Uchihas set the table, calling everyone over, Naruto being the first to the table, taking the cushion next to Sakura. Sakura gave a small smile, not really wanting to tell Naruto that she wanted to be next to Sasuke, what with both their mothers in the room. Sasuke, did however, sit across from her, next to his elder brother. Itachi placed his hand on his brother's head, smiling fondly at the younger boy as their mother took one of the two remaining seats. "So Sasuke how is it being genin?"
"Boring," he answered, starting to fixing his plate. "The missions they give us are so pointless."
"Don't scoff at the simple tasks, Sasuke. Even the smallest task is still a form of training, you may not realize it but you can hone the most basic of skills during D-rank missions."
"Are you telling me you gained your speed from raking leaves?" scoffed Sasuke.
Itachi chuckled, shaking his head. "Chasing Harada-san's cats. She lost those things daily. I was stuck chasing after them every day. I think it was the Sandaime's idea of a joke.""I believe it," Naruto coughed out through a mouth full of rice. His mother glared, the blonde swallowing with a gulp. "That old man was always giving my dad a hard time.""I have a random question," Sakura voiced, everyone at the table looking her. Her face reddened, her hands twisting her dress. "Um, Kushina-san, I noticed Naruto calls Kakashi-sensei by 'nii-san' and um, I was just wondering if you ever planned to have another child. Not that you have to! It just seems like Naruto likes to accommodate and well-"
"Don't be embarrassed," Kushina smiled. "That's quite an astute observation, actually, -ttebane. You see, Sakura-chan, I can't have anymore babies. Naruto was my only one so he thinks of Kakashi-chan and Sasuke-chan and even Itachi-kun as his brothers because he can't have one by blood."
"Oh, but why not?"
"Well, the Uzumaki are the hosts of the nine-tailed bijuu, Kurama. Uzumaki Mito was the host before myself and when she was close to passing I was chosen as the next host. However, during childbirth the seal weakens which is the perfect opportunity for extraction of the beast without harm to the host. Unfortunately, someone had planned ahead and had attacked us during the birth of Naruto here-actually, it's a long story, you probably don't want to hear it, -ttebane."
"The nine tails was released," Itachi continued. "I remember, because I could see it from here. Sasuke slept through the whole thing, but I remember seeing it. You really don't forget seeing something like that. That was the night Sandaime Hokage passed away, he was elderly then, and the story goes that as Yondaime Hokage prepared to end his life Sandaime Hokage stepped in, transferring all of his chakra to Yondaime before distracting the beast long enough for Yondaime to reseal it into Kushina-san. That is how history goes in the scrolls."
"That's about right, -ttebane," beamed Kushina. "Either way, the extraction and resealing not only thoroughly pissed off Kurama but ruined my chances of having children. Not that I regret it. I was ready to die that night protecting Naruto, it was thanks to my husband and Sarutobi-san that I got to see my little boy grow up."
"Events like that are what made my little boy a pacifist," Uchiha-san chipped in, giving her eldest son a bright smile."Eh? A pacifist, but Itachi-san, you're an ANBU, surely you've had to-"
"I do, what is necessary, even if I do not agree with it. There's something you'll learn to understand, Sakura-san. Obeying Shinobi law does not always mean listening to what is in one's heart. Doing what is right and doing what you believe is right are to completely subjective ideals. It's not the perfect life, and sometimes I truly wish I did not live it.""Now, Itachi, don't talk like that. What would Konoha do without you," his mother chided.
Itachi shook his head. "They have Sasuke, once he makes ANBU they won't need me anymore."
"Hey! You can't quit! You have to be my ANBU captain, you can't trust the next Hokage in the hands of that teme!"
"Language!" Kushina scolded, pushing on her son's head in warning.
"Trust me, Naruto-kun, Sasuke will be a much more capable ANBU captain. Better than I ever was," praised Itachi, making his brother hide his face in embarrassment. "Now, I believe we've been ignoring the lovely young lady. Sakura-san, we are well acquainted with each other, but we seem to not know you."
"Oh, um, I don't really have a special background or anything. I live with my mother, Mebuki, and father, Kizashi, in town and, um, I'm not sure what my ninja specialty is. I guess I'm good at learning things, and I learned E-ranked skills fairly quickly but I'm no prodigy like Sasuke-kun."
"Give it time, Sakura-chan, sometimes it takes longer to find ones specialty, -ttebane. Kakashi-chan will help you, no doubt about that. Just get his nose out of that book long enough and you'll be set," Kushina said, giving her a thumbs up, echoed by her son who also stuck his thumb out rather dramatically."Ah, it's getting quite late, you'll need a box to take to Hokage-sama," Uchiha-san said, getting up from her seat, heading to the kitchen for a box. "He doesn't like beets, right?"
"That's right! But give him extra radish, that way Naruto and I can pick them out for him, dattebane!"
"And give him a big slice of pie, -ttebayo! I need to sweet talk him to give us a good mission and we're out of mom's pie!"
"That's because someone snuck it into their room last night and finished it off, -ttebane."
"I can't help, -ttebayo. It was so delicious! Dad's right, -ttebayo, you make the best food in Konoha!Itachi stood, gathering his plate. "I'm going to excuse myself to bed. Sasuke, it's going to be chill tonight so you can sleep with me if you'd like."
"Nii-san! I'm not 5 anymore, I don't need to sleep with my brother like a child!"Sakura blinked, her attention turning to Naruto who was laughing hysterically. "T-teme still sl-sleeps with his 'nii-san'! C-can't br-breathe!"
"Shut up, dobe! You still sleep with a giant stuffed frog!"
"You leave Gama-chan out of this, teme!""Why is this about age? My room is more central so it's warmer as opposed to your room that's against an outside wall. It's sensibility, it has nothing to do with age," elaborated Itachi, as his mother brought back the leftover box.
"I would actually prefer you sleep in Itachi's room tonight, Sasuke. We can't have you catching chill and your father won't want to start a fire for a minor temperature fluctuation." She handed the box to Kushina, the red-head thanking her with another large smile. Kushina stood, tapping her son on the head, telling him to say his goodbyes so they could get going.
Naruto jumped up, waving his arms over his head, practically jumping up and down as he said goodbye to everyone repeatedly. Sakura watched as they said goodbye to each other like they were all family, and then she realized she had to work even harder to be just as important.
THEREISALINE THAT GOES HERE SO BLEH! LOOK! NONSENSE! P*%)* ##$POI
"Dad! We brought you dinner!" Naruto yelled, bursting into his father's office, holding the wrapped box.
"Thank you," he smiled as his son dropped the box ontop of the mountain of paperwork he still had. "Try to keep your voice down, you don't need to wake the village."Covering his mouth, Naruto whispered a sorry, climbing into a chair, folding his legs beneath him.
"Where's your mother?"
"Ah? She was right behind me?
"I was," Kushina chuckled, entering the office, closing the door behind her. "Then someone took off running. Mikoto hopes you can join us next time."
"I can try," he smiled, sliding some paperwork aside to bring his meal forward. Removing the fabric, he pulled the lid up, licking his lips. "This looks great, Mikoto really outdid herself. Nothing compared to my wife's cooking though.""Sooooooo," Naruto began, rocking back and forth. "I love you, daddy!"
Minato's chopsticks froze in mid-air, rice poised before his open mouth. His eyes closed, the rice finding his tongue, chewing thoughtfully. "What do you want this time, Naruto?"
"What? I can't just tell my dad I love him?"
"You can, but every time you use 'daddy' there's generally a request for money, toys, or trips to the beach accompanied on the end."
Knowing he had been caught, Naruto scratched his head, diving into his request. "I was wondering if you could find us a better mission to do! Something that's not lame like raking or chasing cats or something. You know, something that actually involves ninja skills, -ttebayo."
"I thought you didn't want me to give you special treatment? You wanted me to treat you like everyone else."
"I do! But come on, the hand book says genin are allowed C-rank missions, dattebayo! Can't you find us a good C-rank mission? Please?"Minato shook his head, digging around his box. "I was actually considering it. A request came in early for an escort to the Land of Waves. The man, Tazuna, needs protection from bandits is what the request says. It's something simple, but gives you a chance to get a bit of experience outside the village."
"Really?!" Naruto jumped up from his seat, running over and hugging his father. "You're the best! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" His elation was short lived as a realization hit him. They would be traversing to a village outside of Konoha, while it was still in the Land of Fire it was not Konoha, which meant one thing. "How many escorts are you putting on me?"
"One ANBU, who will be following in the shadows just to make sure the mission goes off without a hitch."
"DAD!"
"Naruto, no arguing. You're a genin and my son, and I've made a permanent spot in most of our enemy's bingo books and how do you think they'd get to me?"
His lips turned outward in a pout, his arms crossing over his chest. "Through me."
"Exactly. Your escort is just there to make sure no unwanted company comes through trying to get at you. They have also been forewarned that in the event that your chakra changes colors and becomes visible that are to incapacitate you immediately."
"Dad!"
"Naruto, there are to be no arguments on this subject, is that understood?"
"You're worrying about me like I don't know how to control it. I mean, Sasuke is with me, right? Mom said the love of a best friend, or family member, or a lover suppresses, dattebayo. Was that a lie?"
Kushina walked over to her son, wrapping her eyes around him, her hands over his stomach. "We're not worried about you're ability to suppress it, -ttebane. But you see how people regard me even if I am the Hokage's wife, very few accept me, -ttebane."
"Naruto," Minato stood, placing his hand on his son's head. "For your safety, we can not let it get out that you're the jinchuuriki, understand?"Naruto understood. No one could ever know that the beast they all ostracized his mother for being was actually himself. No matter what.
-chapter 2 end-
