Meet the Parent

Chapter 2 – Shopping with Iruka

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Despite how painful and taxing on his funds it was, he felt he had learnt a lot from Teuchi and Ayame. He was almost positive that, at least manners-wise, things at the Hyuuga compound would go smoothly. The next thing he had to take care of was clothes shopping. Given his past, he had never had a reason to go out and buy fancy clothes, and he was never invited to any gatherings that required such a thing.

Naruto grumbled. 'This formal thing is such a drag.'

Since Naruto knew next to nothing about shopping, he mentally deliberated who he should ask for help. He crossed Sakura's and Ino's names off the list almost immediately. The pinkette had dragged him shopping once, having complained that he wore too much orange, and that it was unbefitting of a ninja. After several hours they had traversed dozens of stores, spent thousands of ryo, and come out of it with several bags full of clothes, the vast majority of which Naruto never even wore.

He figured Ino was pretty much the same, only she was the biggest gossip in Konoha, and he was sure if he told her the reason behind wanting to get new clothes, half of the village would have known about it by the time the sun had set. He had considered asking Tenten, but she was far more of a tomboy than the other two, and besides that, she was out of the village on a mission.

Gai had a lot of spare time on his hands these days, having been permanently confined to a wheelchair after the war, but no way in hell would Naruto ask the taijutsu master for fashion advice. Kakashi wasn't an option either, as he was too busy with his Hokage duties. Aside from that, Naruto wasn't sure about his fashion sense either, what with his habit of keeping his lower face hidden, as well as his perverse fascination with Jiraiya's Icha Icha novels.

In the end, the blond had decided ask his older brother figure for help. Iruka had never let him down, and he was a lot more normal than the other adults in his life. By the time he reached the academy, Naruto knew it was nearly time for classes to finish for the day. Standing beside a tree located near the entrance, he used his Touton no Jutsu (Transparent Escape Technique), which he had learned from Jiraiya, to blend in with the bark. The last few times he had been to the academy he had been swarmed by fangirls. He shuddered at the memories, feeling a pang of sympathy for Sasuke.

Before too long the bell rang, signalling the end of the day, and scores of joyful students rushed out, happy to finally get to go home. When Naruto sensed that the area was clear, he cancelled his technique and strolled into the academy, his hands in his pockets. He walked over to Iruka's classroom and peered through the window, grinning when he saw his former sensei wiping down the chalkboard.

"Hey Iruka-sensei!" he called as he opened the door.

The academy teacher seemed surprised at the sudden intrusion, but nonetheless appeared grateful that his favourite student had come by. "Hey Naruto, it's good to see you. What brings you to the academy? Surely it can't be to offer to give any more class demonstrations," he chuckled.

Naruto shuddered, mentally cursing Iruka for bringing that up. The last time he had volunteered as a guest speaker for Iruka's class, he was involved in an incident featuring duct tape, pencil shavings, sandpaper, a closet, and the ever dreaded fangirls. He glared at the man. "No, I have a problem and I was hoping you could help me with it."

After Naruto explained the situation to Iruka, the older man looked down at him with a pleasant smile on his face. "Well Naruto, you made the right choice in coming to me for help. Still," he added his smile changing to a smirk, "I can't help but think this is all a bit sudden. Next think I know, you'll be asking me to help you buy a suit for your wedding."

The blond blushed and tried to glare at his sensei, who just laughed in response. "I'm just kidding Naruto. Although there is some truth in what I said. You're growing up, and soon enough you'll have a family of your own to take care of." He paused. "I'm proud of you Naruto. You've come a long way from the loudmouthed blond who once painted the Hokage monument."

Naruto blushed once again at the praise and scratched the back of his head. "Ahh, thanks Iruka-sensei. Now, can we get a move on?"

Iruka nodded. "Sure thing, just give me a minute to finish packing up my stuff.

Several minutes later the pair were walking down the street away from the academy, with Iruka leading the way. "A formal dinner at the Hyuuga compound eh? Looks like someone's moving up in the world," he chuckled.

Naruto fought back the blush this time and snorted. "Well, if I'm going to be Hokage once Kakashi-sensei retires, I gotta get used to stuff like this." The older male nodded, not seeming surprised by the answer. "Say, Iruka-sensei, where exactly are we going?"

The academy teacher smiled at his former student. "I was wondering when you'd ask. An old acquaintance of mine owns a place called Kensei's that sells clothing for all types of formal occasions. I think he'll have just what you're looking for."

Naruto nodded in response. Given that he was in completely uncharted territory, he trusted that the chuunin knew what he was talking about. Eventually the two stopped before a small but well maintained building, and Iruka led the way inside.

There was a lone man standing behind the counter reading a book. He raised his head at the sound of customers and grinned at who he saw. "Ah, Iruka-san, it's good to see you again!" He then noticed the other person standing beside Iruka, and had to do a double take at what he saw. "Well if it isn't Uzumaki Naruto! What a pleasant surprise!"

Naruto eyed the man behind the counter with interest. He was a short, thin fellow, clad in a green changshan with a yellow trim, black pants, and a black bowler hat, with a fu manchu moustache framing his jaw. However, it was the familiar orange book he had in his hand that caused Naruto to narrow his eyes slightly. 'Seriously? Is every old guy in this village a pervert?'

Iruka saw where the blonde's eyes had wandered to and cleared his throat before he could say anything. "Naruto, this is Ma Kensei, he and I go way back."

Naruto waved a hand in greeting. "Pleased to meet you."

The moustached man bowed low. "The pleasure is all mine Naruto-san. It's an honour to have you in my humble little store," he said with a grin.

"Indeed," Iruka chuckled. "Now Naruto, why don't you go and have a look around and see if anything interests you? I need to catch up with Kensei-san for a bit, but I'll be with you shortly."

The blond nodded and left the two older men to their business as he started browsing the different aisles. He saw all manner of fancy looking clothing, most of which he was completely unfamiliar with. He found it slightly overwhelming; it was as if he had stepped into a completely different dimension. Shaking the thoughts from his head, he turned towards the kimono section and started searching for something that piqued his interest.

Several minutes later, Naruto, eyes sparkling in wonder, had found what he believed to be the perfect kimono. The blond stared in awe at the piece of clothing before him; taking in its pure orange colour and sleek yet simple design. He would never claim to be an expert on fashion, but Naruto knew this was some top-of-the-line stuff.

"Are you serious Naruto? That thing is hideous!"

The blond frowned as he was broken out of his daze, and turned his head away from the orange kimono to glare at Iruka, who had no doubt finished talking about some less-than-savoury topics with the shopkeeper. The scar faced chuunin's eyes were wide open and his mouth was twisted into what looked like a disgusted frown.

"You've got to be joking Iruka-sensei!" Naruto retorted. "It's perfect! Let's get it!"

Iruka's frown deepened and his eyes widened; something Naruto didn't think was possible. After a few moments the academy instructor shook his head furiously from side to side, muttering under his breath, "No, no, no, can't let that happen! Disaster! It'd be a disaster!"

This piqued Naruto's curiosity. "What would be a disaster Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka stopped his shaking and turned his shocked gaze onto the blonde. "You wearing that… that abomination into the Hyuuga compound!" he exclaimed. "They're not used to having such glaringly bright… things walking through their halls! You'd probably blind them, and you know how sensitive they are about their eyes!"

Naruto frowned at that. While he didn't like having his favourite colour be disrespected, he certainly wanted to make a good impression on Hinata's family. And if that meant swallowing his pride and conceding defeat to Iruka, he'd do it. "Ok Iruka-sense," he muttered, "you win. I won't buy it."

Iruka let out a deep breath. "That's a relief." He smiled. "I'm sorry about this Naruto, but you know I only want what's best for you."

The blonde's lips quirked into a small smile. "Thanks Iruka-sensei… but can we get a move on then?"

The chuunin chuckled. "Of course. Now, let's have a look at what Kensei-san's got in stock."

Naruto followed Iruka through the store, and was led through several aisles. He was shocked at how many different types of kimonos there were, as well as the variety of patterns they had. One kimono in particular, which looked as if someone had tipped a tub of paint onto it and smeared it with their elbows, made him want to gag. 'And Iruka-sensei thought my fashion sense was bad… at least I don't dress like a clown.'

His mind immediately formed an image of Sasuke dressed in a clown suit, entertaining little children at a birthday party, and he snickered. Aside from that thought, traipsing through the aisles looking at kimonos was a chore. There were so many different types that he didn't see anything that stood out as good. Most of the designs were just… boring, lame and non-expressive. That just wasn't Naruto's style. At least Iruka seemed to know what he was doing.

"Ah-ha!"

At the sound of Iruka's voice Naruto stopped walking, and followed the chuunin's gaze with his own to see what had caught his attention. His eyes widened slightly as he took in a sleek blue kimono that was neither too dark nor too light, with a dark blue, almost black, belt around the middle. It actually looked kind of cool in Naruto's opinion.

At that moment Kensei appeared, and Naruto briefly wondered whether the moustached man had been following him and Iruka around while they browsed the store. "A most excellent find, Iruka-san," commented Kensei, stroking his moustache. "Yes, I can see the appeal of it. Made from my finest silk and with a shade of blue perfectly matching Naruto-san's eyes… you have a good eye for quality my friend. As you can see, the obi isn't too large, but its dark blue colour provides a perfect contrast to the light blue…"

Naruto ignored Kensei's ramblings and stared at the kimono with interest. He tried to picture himself wearing it, confidently strutting through the Hyuuga compound, a sea of awestruck, pale eyes trailing his every movement. He couldn't help but grin at the thought.

"… it would perfectly compliment the kimono, don't you think Naruto?"

Naruto was broken from his thoughts by Iruka asking him a question. "Huh, what?"

The chuunin gave him a stern, almost scolding look. "I was saying, Kensei-san has been kind enough to find a haori that he believes would perfectly compliment your kimono, and I must say I agree with him. What do you think?"

Naruto turned his gaze over to the shopkeeper, who was holding a dark blue coat-like object – a haori – that was the same colour as the obi of the kimono they were looking at, with a light blue cuff at the sleeves. However, what really caught the blonde's attention was the inside of the haori, which was a dark shade of orange. Naruto grinned widely. "This is perfect!"

Kensei chuckled, and Iruka gave a small smile. "I'm glad you like it Naruto," he told his former student. "Would you like to go try it on?"

The blond frowned. Trying on clothes was something he absolutely despised. It made him feel like he was a doll being paraded on display. "Uh…"

Luckily, Kensei came to his rescue. "Not to worry Iruka-san," the moustached man commented jovially, "I had Naruto-san fitted the moment he walked through the door. I can assure you that the kimono and haori we have here are perfect for him." At Iruka's questioning look, Kensei grinned. "It's a handy skill I've picked up over the years."

Naruto perked up, and Iruka relented with a sigh. "Well ok then, if you're sure."

With that the two shinobi followed Kensei to the counter, where a pair of simple black geta and white tabi socks were resting. At Naruto's look, Iruka answered, "I took the liberty of finding you appropriate footwear for tonight. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Naruto mumbled, before giving the chuunin a grateful look. "Thanks a bunch Iruka-sensei… I don't know how I would've managed this without you."

Iruka gave him a warm smile. "You're like my little brother Naruto, it's practically my job to help you prepare for these things."

The blond blushed as he turned to Kensei and took out Gama-chan. "How much do I owe ya?" he asked the shopkeeper.

A grin formed on Kensei's face. "That'll be 5000 ryo."

Naruto paled as his thoughts trailed to his 'training' with Ayame earlier that day, and how sad and deflated Gama-chan looked afterwards. He shuddered at thought of the financial state he'd be in after buying these clothes, and his stomach churned at the prospect of ration bars for meals.

The sound of a cash register beeping broke Naruto from his depressing thoughts, and he cast a surprised look at Iruka, who had just been handed a receipt from Kensei, along with a bag full of the clothes he bought. What had brought this on?

As if Iruka could read his former pupil's mind, he smiled. "I know what you're going to say, but consider this an older brother giving his younger brother a gift," he said, handing Naruto the bag.

"Thanks again Iruka-sense… I really appreciate it." The blond accepted the gift, an immense feeling of gratitude swirling inside him, and inwardly resolved to buy Iruka a present after his next paycheque. Perhaps he would enjoy a ticket to those new hot sprints that opened up recently on the outskirts of Konoha? Sai and Kiba had told him good things about the place.

As the two shinobi left the store, a smiling Kensei bowing as they did so, Iruka turned to Naruto. "Nervous about tonight? he asked?

Naruto scoffed. "Please, it's just dinner with some stuffy old man, how hard can it be?" However, despite the outward confidence he was projecting, the blond felt slightly nervous about the whole thing. The concept of it was so alien to him, and while he wouldn't care as much if it was just his ass on the line, it affected Hinata as well. He wanted to continue seeing her, and that meant he needed to make a good impression in front of her father. World saviour or not, this wasn't really something he could fight his way out of.

Iruka gave him a knowing smile and chuckled. "Ok, just checking." He then came to a halt. "I'll come by anyway an hour before you have to leave, just to check up on you and see if you need any help.

Naruto stopped walking too, noticing that they had just come to a fork in the road, and would have to part ways. He felt a slight sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, but forced a smile on his face and turned to the chuunin. "Thanks Iruka-sensei… really. You've been such a great help to me today, I don't know what I would've done have done without you."

The scarred man gave a small laugh and ruffled Naruto's hair, then turned to the left and began walking in the direction of his house. "I'll see you tonight Naruto," he called back, lifting his right hand as if to say goodbye.

"Yeah, see you then," Naruto spoke under his breath. The sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach deepened, and he suddenly felt alone and somewhat… frightened? 'Get a grip you moron!' he told himself, again forcefully curving his lips into a smile. 'You kicked Madara's ass, you kicked Kaguya's ass, you kicked Toneri's ass… this should be a piece of cake, right!?' The fake smile was then replaced by a stern frown. 'Right?'

The now sulking blond turned to the right and started walking home, his mind thinking up ridiculous scenarios, most of which involved an enraged Hiashi closing all his tenketsu, then literally booting him to some obscure location in the shinobi world. He shuddered suddenly as he pictured himself landing in Killer Bee's bathtub as the Hachibi jinchuuriki practiced his rhymes, and not for the first time cursed his imaginative mind.

AN: That's chapter 2 done! I would've liked to get this chapter out a bit sooner, but I was extremely busy this week, and aside from that I had a bit of trouble trying to make the shopping trip as interesting as possible. I think it turned out alright in the end. Feedback would be much appreciated.

Realistically, the next chapter will most likely be up by the following weekend. As much as I'd like to be able to write more often, teaching during prac is exhausting the hell out of me. Until next time!