He swept, mopped, and dusted the entire building, it was two stories and he had no energy already as it was. If Naruto were to try and use his chakra as a means to assist, he would immediately collapse from exhaustion. His arms started to ache, and it took all his strength just to keep upright as couples filtered throughout the hall. He wasn't used to feeling so weak anymore, his body was malnourished and it was only thanks to Kurama's chakra that he was even conscious right now.
"Oh my, is that-" One of the women muttered but her husband cut her off.
She continued to take a few more glances at Naruto. The matron, Mrs. Sato, had lined up all the children from ages six to nine in a row so that the couples filing in could pick them off like meat. Judging by the warmth in the air and flowers growing outside Naruto knew it was safe to say that his birthday wasn't for a good while. He felt relieved but at the same time, mortified.
He hadn't the need to fear his birthday in a long time...
He knew not to look directly at any of the parents, so instead, he chose to keep his eyes trained firmly on the ground. Naruto wasn't expecting to go this far back in time, he was hoping to be placed around the time of the Chūnin Exams. That's mostly when everything turned to shit after all. Some time had passed as the parents asked some of the children to introduce themselves. They ignored Naruto, at least that's what he thought. The same woman from before placed a comforting hand on Naruto's shoulder, causing him to flinch.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Naruto raised his eyes slowly when he heard her voice. Something about it was familiar but at the same time, he didn't remember this kind of interaction from his past life.
His eyes met amber, the woman in front of him was very young but he still remembers her, Mrs. Yamanaka. He started seeing her and Ino together in the flower shop more frequently after Inochi's death. Naruto would visit to buy flowers for Hinata's garden, sometimes they'd give him small bits of advice on what to get her for their dates and anniversary.
He also recalls visiting the shop a few times when he was younger, she was always kind and even allowed him to buy a cactus for a fair price. Her smile was as serene as it was in his past life, and it made him wonder why he didn't notice her sooner. Naruto didn't speak but acknowledged her with a nod of his head, it frightened him how easy it was to fall back into a docile state. There were many that feigned kindness to him when he was young, and like a switch, they showed their true colors.
He wasn't sure if the Yamanaka's were like this, he hadn't interacted much with Ino or her family until after the war, and by then people had other things to worry about. Not to mention the village's new, positive, perspective of him. It's always been the civilian families who hated him the most but he didn't want to take any chances.
Mrs. Yamanaka gave him a solemn look, no child should look so exhausted and starved. It had shocked her when she noticed how healthy the other children looked in comparison to him. None of the other parents seemed to take notice, nor did they care. Rikona felt sick as the words of her friend were ringing loud and clear.
"Please, they won't let me take the boy in! They're ostracizing us from the village 'Kona, and I fear what will become of the boy if no one's there to protect him, especially from Danzo Shimura!
"I'm sure the Hokage wouldn't allow anything bad like that to happen."
Mikoto shook her head as tears fell down her porcelain face. She held onto Rikona's hands in a desperate plea, and it was the only time she'd ever seen her friend beg for something - someone - so desperately.
"I know that, but you must understand, he's grown old and if he dies I'm certain Shimura will take his place! That man took in my baby boy and now he's fighting against us!
"Rikona, I promised Kushina that I'd watch over Naruto if anything happened to her, but there's so little I can do from the shadows. I need you to please give the boy a family, keep him safe, because there is nothing else I can do!"
Rikona brought her friend into a tight embrace as she contemplated everything the woman had said. She wasn't close to Kushina like Mikoto was but she knew the habanero well enough that she could at least agree to check in on the boy.
"I'll see what I can do 'Koto, but I can't make any promises." She could feel her friend tense but Mikoto nodded anyway. It was better than nothing.
"My name's Rikona, what's yours." Naruto looked suspicious but obliged to give her his name.
"U-Uzumaki N-Naruto." He blushed, realizing how much he just sounded like Hinata.
Rikona gave him a fond smile, the boy seemed so innocent. Was he even aware of the reason why he was being treated so poorly? She prevented her face from turning pained at the thought.
'No, he probably doesn't.'
"Naruto, I know we just met but do you think you'd like to live with us? You don't have to decide right away of course but I'd like you to visit our home. See how'd you like it there, we also have a little girl, named Ino. I'm sure she'd be excited to meet you!"
Naruto was shocked, his eyes strayed to the man beside her, Inoichi Yamanaka seemed surprised as well. Why would she be willing to adopt him? None of this made any sense. Naruto was silent, a moment too long had past without an answer. Rikona's smile tensed as the thought of him rejecting her offer became more likely. Mrs. Sato noticed the Yamanaka's with a curious look on her face but the moment she saw them speaking with Naruto she looked confused, cautious even.
"Mister and Misses Yamanaka, are you sure you wouldn't like to speak with another child? It's just… Naruto here tends to be a bit of a troublemaker is all."
Mrs. Sato added when she instantly found herself on the receiving end of Rikona's, and surprisingly, Inochi's glare.
"We are quite certain ma'am." Inochi said and the matron quickly backed off to consult with the others in the room. They all ignored the furtive glances she sent their way.
Mrs. Sato's words had Naruto nodding his head as he clamped his teeth down on his tongue, he definitely didn't want to spend another day within this orphanage.
Rikona smiled "Perfect, we'll be back tomorrow afternoon so you can see your future home."
Naruto looked up at her face, she showed a warmth he'd witnessed only from Hinata. He furrowed his brows as his eyes blinked furiously in a subconscious attempt to keep the tears from leaving his eyes.
"A-Alright, thank you." He spoke softly. Mrs. Rikona held her arms out slowly and leaned in for a hug, which Naruto accepted. This entire situation should've felt weird to him, awkward even, but at that moment his age and previous timeline didn't seem to matter.
It was the second time someone had hugged him like this, in a motherly way. The first had been from Tsunade, It was comforting and at the same time, it hurt,so much. The moment Inochi and Rikona had left the orphanage Inochi turned all of his attention onto his wife. "Honey?…" Rikona hummed, feigning ignorance towards the question she already knew her husband was going to ask.
"When did we agree to adopt a six-year-old Jinchuriki? " Inochi asked as he kept his tone in a whisper, even though there was no one around to hear them, Rikona looked at him highly amused.
"Oh, because we didn't, Mikoto and I did!" She said, giving Inochi a dazzling smile. To her credit, it managed to make a dent into the deadpan expression his face had settled into.
He rose a brow at her antics causing her to sigh. "I know it was stupid dragging you here without talking to you first, but… Chi-kun, you saw how starved that boy looked -no child should have to look like that."
Inochi slowed his steps when he heard the waiver in Rikona's tone. He came to a complete stop just a few feet behind her, and when she turned around, he looked her straight in the eyes. He knew his next words would hurt for her to hear.
"Even if that child was indirectly responsible for Katsu's death?"
Rikona's body reacted as if on instinct, the tears rapidly began to gather in her eyes. Her body went rigid as a shiver ran up her spine. Every time someone mentioned her brother's name it felt like his spirit was breathing down her neck, whispering harsh words just to torment her.
"Rikona, entire clans were wiped out because of the power that boy holds inside of him. I know Mikoto-san has been looking after him from afar, but there's a reason for that.
"Even if the others manage to accept him, after everyone this village has lost, do you really think anyone would trust a single clan to take that boy in, without viewing it as a threat? The "so-called" balance we've retained since the second shinobi war is still very fragile."
Rikona wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath. She was starting to doubt herself, was it worth the hassle? Was it worth the looks of confusion and betrayal the other members would surely give if they witnessed the boy being fed within their home? Filling the empty seats their own family could not, due to their passing.
She bit her lip, all her mind kept seeing were those blue eyes, so reminiscent of the fourth's. She noticed the concerned look on Inochi's face the moment confusion overtook the boy's being - from the slightest hint of affection. She didn't want to let Mikoto down and she didn't want to see an innocent boy suffer for something he didn't have any control over. Rikona schooled the look on her face to one of determination.
"I already promised the boy a home. And I'm going to give it to him no matter what the Hokage or Council says, that boy isn't the demon that killed our people."
Inochi's stern expression softened at her words as he saw one of the main reasons he had married her. Her kindness towards others went beyond her own trauma and feelings of doubt; however…
"There will be those who want to hurt him, what happens if Ino's caught in the crossfire?" At this point, he knew his attempts at dissuading her were futile but he wants to make sure she thinks this through.
"I may have retired my headband, Inochi, but we both know that I'm still very much capable of defending our children, not to mention this village." Her eyes seemed to glow a fiery red from the glare of the setting sun.
Inochi smiled, though his eyes showed his exhaustion at the events that would inevitably lay ahead. He sighed, "Troubl-" Rikona glared at him.
"I did not marry a Nara, so you best stop acting like one!" Inochi laughed.
"Now you sound just like Yoshino-chan." Rikona sneered at her husband, all jokes aside, that wasn't funny.
"If you mention that woman's name around me again, you will be sleeping outside." Inochi's brows raised to the top of his head, his eyes wide in shock as he wasn't expecting such a foul reaction.
"Did something happen between you two?" Rikona scoffed just at the thought of what Yoshino had said to her.
"We went to the culinary class Azumi was hosting last week and that hussy had the nerve to say that even an Inuzuka wouldn't eat my cooking! Can you believe the nerve of her, to say such a thing, in front of all of my friends!? "
Inochi's skin went pale as his eyes darted across the streets of Konoha, oh how he'd love to escape from this conversation right now.
"So, when are we heading to the Hokage's to file for adoption?" Rikona was about to go on another tangent when his words stopped her in her place.
She gave him a disbelieving smile, "Wait, so you're going along with it?" Inochi nodded.
"I might be okay with it, but not only do you have to convince the Hokage and the Council, but you also need to reassure everyone else within our clan. I'll help you honey, but this will be difficult."
Rikona grew somber from his words and nodded, instantly, her thoughts turned to all the arguments she was going to make. It's been a while since she's felt this motivated, it felt similar to the missions she went on as a Chūnin.
"I'd like to go now, if you don't mind that is." Inochi sent her a smirk, he expected no less from her.
"Of course."