DISCLAIMER: I do not own NARUTO or any of the characters created by Masashi Kishimoto
A/N Here is chapter two I'm going to try to get out a couple more chapters in rapid succession, but I need a beta so if any of you reading would be able to help it would be much appreciated. PM me if you are interested in being a beta. Well here we go
Chapter 2: A New Family a better path
Naruto couldn't believe his luck, not only did he find a new toy with the three prong kunai but also run into the kind father and daughter who actually looked at him and had something other then the cold stare. They had a look of warmth and welcome what a day. Ayame was leading Naruto by his had to a bathroom. She then spoke.
"Naruto I need you to take your clothes off and wrap a towel around yourself."
"Oh okay! dattebayo" Naruto instantly started to remove his tattered rag.
Ayames eye went wide and a blush filled her cheeks "No! let me turn around first. let me know when you have the towel on."
"Oh okay?" Naruto was confused. In the orphanage young children were cleaned in groups. He was usually excluded, unless one of the directors made too much fuss on his stench. He finished stripping and wrapped the too big towel around his waist.
"I'm ready nee-san" Ayame turned around and saw the young blonde covered in dirt, cuts, and bruises he was so small who could do this to such a small and bright eyed child. She shook her head.
"Alright Naruto-kun take a seat by the sink" she pointed toward the cleaning sink. He eagerly complied. Ayame walked over and prepared the cleaning bucket with water, soap, and sponge. Taking her position behind Naruto she first soaked him in water then began to was him guiding him in the proper etiquette of cleaning being carful around his wounds. When most of his body was finished she gave him instructions to clean the rest of himself while she went to get him some other clothes. Naruto beamed at her.
"yes nee-san" Ayame left the bathroom and searched for some clothes to fit the small boy. His old clothes were torn beyond recognition and looked terrible All she could find were her old Ichiraku working clothes. Well they're clean and the right size. So she grabbed the white uniform, apron, and bandana and called into the bathroom,
"Are you finished Naruto-kun?"
"Yes nee-san. I'm done" Ayame entered and handed the new clothes to Naruto. She turned around while the boy started to put his new clothed on.
"Finished" Naruto said Ayame looked him over. He looked so cute in the working clothes. with his blue sandals around the white robe and the apron with Ichiraku printed on it. He had a small pout on his face while holding the white handkerchief.
"What's the mater Naruto-Kun?" Ayame asked
"There is no Orange. It's my favorite color and seems to make people notice me." Strange she thought with the was he was beaten up you would think he would want to hide more, but it seemed for him is was about getting seen good or bad. Ayame could only wonder what it felt like to be ignored so harshly
"You know what, I think we have an orange handkerchief that you can have." she smiled at him.
"Really! Thank you so much Nee-san" Ayame went back to the closet grabbed the orange handkerchief and tied it onto Naruto. With the orange handkerchief wrapped around his head in a band to keep the hair out of his face (think headband but orange) they headed downstairs to the restaurant. When they reached the bottom of the stairs Naruto was greeted with the most heavenly aroma he had ever smelled. Teuchi smiled at Naruto and said
"One hokage sized helping of miso ramen with pork" He placed the bowl that was wider then Naruto shoulders in front of him. Naruto grabbed some chop sticks and started to dig in. When the first noodle hit the young boys lips his eye lit up and he looked at Teuchi and had a flabbergasted look.
"This is the best thing I have ever had. How did you do it otousan?" Teuchi smiled down at the boy.
"Maybe I'll teach you someday. Ha Ha Ha!" Teuchi was happy to see his ramen being appreciated with such fervour. The child had nearly inhaled the ramen and patted his belly in contentment.
"That was so good."
"Ayame-chan I'm going to close the shop for the night." Teuchi told his daughter "Start to clean up the dishes and the store. Have young Naruto-kun help you" Naruto nodded happily. He really wanted to help such nice people. "I'm going to head to the Hokages office. I really need to talk to him." 'I really need to make sure Naruto-kun will be okay.'
Ayame looked at Naruto "Okay Naruto-kun come on lets sweep up the front then you can help me with the noodles"
"Yes nee-san. dattebayo" the little Uzumaki skipped to help Ayame. Teuchi smiled at the pair put up his hat grabbed his coat and left for the Hokages tower.
The Sandaime was not having a backward and forward day. First the war with Kumo would be over soon. He received the offer of peace from the Raikage, and the emissary would be arriving in about two months. He had to get all the visas and logistics figured out for their arrival. This was good mixed with the bad of paperwork. Then the report that Naruto Uzumaki was kick out of the orphanage. He couldn't understand why the villagers were so backwards on this. Naruto was the hero his father made him. He kept the kyubi jailed, everyday he was protecting this village. Did these fools not realize that if Naruto died the kyubi would truly be reborn and there was no yoindaime here this time to stop it. Most just kept the bare minimum of his rule and ignored the boy creating his drive to get even unwanted attention. Hiruzen Sarutobi wished he could spend more time with the 4th's legacy, but he had a war, a village and country to take care of. He felt he really needed to retire, but no one was up to the job yet.
Hiruzen frowned he was going to have to punish the orphanage director and the anbu assigned to watch Naruto. Another pair of victims to go to the T&I division. Hiruzen read the report on Naruto in front of him. He had disappeared for a while, but had been found as a guest in a small restaurant, Ichiraku Ramen, the owner of which was on his way to the tower. There was a knock on the door and Hiruzen's secretary let herself in.
"Lord Hokage Danzo Shimura is here to see you"
"Hmm, let him in" Hiruzen replied. The secretary bowed to the Hokage and left the room. Danzo entered right was Hiruzens age with half his face covered in bandanges walking with can. Hiruzen scowled at the old war hawk he did not need this now.
"Lord Hokage it seems as if you've misplaced a rather important piece on your board." Danzo said in his slow drawl.
"If you are speaking about Naruto Uzumaki Danzo, rest assured he is safe now. What is with this line of questioning?" Hiruzen didn't have time to deal with his old rival.
"As usual you have been lax with your tools Hiruzen. The kyubi jinchuriki is a very potent weapon not to be let off his leash so easily." Danzo replied
"What do you want Danzo?" Hiruzens temper was growing short.
"Let me take the boy. I can turn him into a tool of excellent caliber that will support the leaf. With the power he holds no other nation would dare attack us. He could keep our ranks strong." Danzo was trying to make his point know to the hokage
"No!" Hiruzen cut Danzo off before he could continue leting a little KI out to ensure his old rival didn't continue. "Naruto is not some tool to be used and thrown away at your earliest convenience! He will grow as a normal member of the leaf and protect it of his own volition, not a brainwashed puppet!"
Danzo shrugged the KI off "But what will you do?"
"That is what I will decide as Hokage! Now leave and never bring this up again." Danzo knew he was not going to change his old rivals mind. The sentimental old fool. Danzo left the office his mind occupied with how to keep the leaf strong and now soft with the ideals of Hiruzen.
Danzo thought 'Well I can't get him directly, maybe I can maneuver around that old monkey. His counselors were much more open to reason. He needed a leash placed on the boy and quick. Perhaps a limit of his maneuverability out of the village. It was a start. Yes I have not lost yet' Danzo past an old ramen chef in the hall as he kept his inner monologue to himself.
Teuchi walked pass the half mummy and felt a chill. What was this sense of foreboding. Hm maybe it was nothing, well he was at the hokages secretary no time to think about that now. He was about to talk to the secretary when she looked at him and said.
"Please enter Ichiraku-san the Hokage is waiting for you" it seemed weird to be let in so quickly, but he wasn't going to complain. Teuchi entered the Hokages office to see him smoking his pipe with a smile on his elderly face.
"Hello Teuchi how is Naruto-kun doing?" The Hokage greeted warmly. Teuchi was surprised at the familiarity of the Hokage and that he already knew why he was here, but he was the Hokage must've been a ninja thing
"Naruto is doing well lord Hokage, but I have some questions about how he ended up being picked up from the street by my daughter."
"Apparently the director of the orphanage was beating the poor child and kicked him out this morning." the Hokage replied with a distaste in his mouth. "is he being too much trouble?"
"No lord Hokage, quite the opposite" Teuchi replied "He is very eager to please and seems desperate for attention. He is a fan of my ramen and no one of evil like my ramen, kind of a family intuition lord hokage."
"he he he" chuckled the Hokage "seems like you have a soft spot for him"
"you could say that Lord Hokage. I just don't want to see Naruto-kun hurt again" Teuchi replied honestly.
Hiruzens mind was starting to work "Hmm.. Would you be interested in fostering Naruto Teuchi? The village will of course give you compensation for his room and board, also a stipend to take care of other needs. I don't have a place for Naruto as of yet and him staying with you may do him some good."
"Well.." Teuchi started to think he is so young and he did seem to bring a brightness with him when he smiled. Can I really take care of him? Where would he go if I didn't? Teuchi then thought of the brightening of his eyes with his first taste of ramen and made his decision. "I will lord Hokage but only if he wants to stay with us."
"Fair enough. See my secretary on the way out. She has some forms for you to sign with a manual for the rules of orphans in Konoha. And Thank you Teuchi you are doing me a very big favor." Hiruzen replied to Teuchi 'this day did end up being one of his better ones' the hokage thought.
Teuchi returned to Ichiraku to find Ayame preparing the kitchen for tomorrow with Naruto. They were making the noodles. Both were covered in flour and laughing as they were kneading the dough. Teuchi smiled at the scene
"What are you two doing?" Teuchi asked
"Nothing much dad. I'm teaching Naruto-kun the ramen business." Ayame responded
"Yeah Ayame-ne asked for help and for her I will always help. dattebayo!" Naruto beamed
"Hey Naruto-kun how would you like to stay here with us?" Teuchi asked. Naruto stopped kneading the dough and slowly turned to look at Teuchi.
"Are you serious?" he asked in disbelief
"If you continue to be a big help here and mind both myself and Ayame-chan you can stay here as long as you like"
Naruto jump up in the air leaving a cloud of flour in his wake "Yes! Yes! I would love that dattebayo! This is the best day of my life!"
"Good now that that's settled lets see how your noodles are turning out Naruto-kun" Teuchi joined his family to prepare for the flocks of ramen lovers tomorrow.
Bang Chapter 2 done. Thanks for reading. Again I am looking for a Beta and am very new at this and could use the backup for structure, flow, and writing.