A.N. Drum roll please... AND IM BACK!

SORRY SORRY FOR THE DELAY! I found an interesting story and read it... in its entirety.

SOOO, going for the third chapter and I'm passing 10k words! So you all know this aint easy since I have a rough plot drawn out that I follow along to in my head (the voices aren't helping much either)... words are kinda getting typed while I think. So its entertaining to know that you all think (so far at least) that the story doesn't make you consider committing seppuku! Well then we got 2 of our lovely ladies introduced and we have 2 left to go! So onward ho cause I said so! (I would make a awesome sauce replacement for Killer Bee!)

oh also I'm thinking of uploading my very first fan fic a lot of sappy romance drama angst for all ya emo lovers! I'm considering it!

Seriously though go and pick who you want in the final pairing once the chunnin arc hits its set in stone and if one of our lady friends don't have a firm standing by then I'm picking the douche move and picking the ONE I WANT! Its 3 clicks away not even 30 secs of work .

Ooo now that I think about it I need a beta to I'm checking over this each time I post a chap and I'm noticing my own spelling errors T-T someone save me from the hell known as bad SPELLING!

Yeah I'm random oh well now onto the tale!

Chapter 3

Sticks and Stones Flowers to be Grown!

Ichiraku Ramen Bar

Naruto felt the strings of consciousness pull him from a deep slumber, not that he minded, he had a disturbingly realistic dream about being eaten by rabid ten story tall rabbits. He contributed this not to insanity but the damn fox trapped in his belly making a pitiful attempt to break his will power. Pitiful really, yet terrifying all the same. Creatures that are so cute in reality are not meant to have razor sharp maws and claws that can maim a man in a single blow.

With his eyes still closed his mind sifted through the memories of the night before. If he could he would have smacked his forehead for letting the proverbial shit hit the fan. Someone had learned his secret! He had a lot of explaining to do and could only pray to kami that a certain woman that smelled of dango would wait and speak to him prior to setting free the hounds.

His body ached, he groaned piteously, his lips were parched and he felt a gentle warming aura beside him. Slowly opening his eyes he was welcomed to the land of the living by the familiar sight of one Ichiraku Ayame's ceiling. The off teal blue of the ceiling was calming it reminded him of the ocean. He felt a light sigh tickle his earlobe and knew what was going to occur later on, but ignored the feeling of terror to bask in the comfort of the warm young body that lay snuggled next to him. Turning his head slowly as too not disturb his bed mate he was greeted by a silky brown mane tickling his nostrils with scents of ramen and wild raspberries.

He inwardly nodded to himself, yet couldn't find it in him to wake her. She was the closest thing other then her old man that he had to family. They never treated him harshly or overcharged him, welcoming him into their story and home like a long lost son. It wasn't the first time in the past six months that he had found himself in this position. In fact now it was a weekly occurrence, he would get into some kind of mischief and the next morning would find himself in the exact spot he was in now.

Turning his head away from the young girl, he groaned a bit louder by the sight that greeted him. 5:45 A.M. Now he had no choice if he didn't get out of there old man Ichiraku would catch him during one of his 'Daughter is resting peacefully checks' a.k.a 'Naruto isn't in her bed again patrols'. He knew of these semi random check-ins cause he'd been caught once before! The poor father nearly had a heart attack finding his daughter sleeping with the village pariah. A painful five hour discussion had taken place afterward to calm the poor man down.

The least he could do after Ayame's help was let her sleep in.

Reaching out slowly as to not shift the bed Naruto turned off the alarm. After pushing the blankets off and wriggling out of Ayame's death grip embrace, he gently laid the covers back over the still sleeping girl muttering a quiet "Thank you." he picked up the remains of his orange jumpsuit before exiting the room via window.

Naruto leaped from the windowsill down to the street below, walking to a nearby dumpster he unwound the gauze wrapped around his torso and disposed of it. He started to walk down the dusty road once more, covering a block before stopping and looking around as if trying to find something or someone that wasn't there.

Giving up on his search Naruto opted for an alternative route. "Itachi san! Get your ass out here!" Naruto waited 30 seconds after his seeming shout out to no one in particular, the streets were deserted this early after all. Naruto turned to see the flicker of leaves created by shunshin, and there before him his ANBU partner in crime stood Itachi in his trade mark weasel mask and ANBU uniform.

"Good morning Naruto kun. Am I correct to assume that your the cause of last nights disturbance?"

"Yeah so where were you dammit I nearly got myself gutted like a fish!" Naruto was in no mood for word games with his friend/trainer. "I couldn't use the ninja techniques you taught me cause the crazy lady was watching." he grumbled.

Silently Itachi strode up to stand in front of Naruto and gently poked him in the middle of the forehead. "I'm glad you had the foresight not to use them in combat Naruto kun, I would get into quite a bit of trouble for teaching you."

Irritably rubbing away at his skull Naruto glared at his friend. "Yeah, I know we made a deal. I remember, you teach I watch out for your lil bro. I keep my promises ya know." he turned around and started to walk away hands behind his head. "So ya take care of my mess?"

"Yes, I'll see you later Naruto kun." the quiet statement followed with a light rustle and Itachi disappeared, as if the conversation never took place.

With a sigh that sounded like it belonged to a man far his senior Naruto ambled off in the direction of his apartment. He figured he could use a day off, well at least only do half of his daily regimen of work out's.

Naruto smiled to himself, this was good news. Now the only loose end he had to take care of was Anko.

Anko's Apartment

With her eyes blood shot and overall feeling generally wretched, she lay in bed atop the covers still clothed in the outfit from the night before minus her trusty trench coat. Mitarashi Anko was feeling horrid, for the first time in her life she didn't know what to do and it was driving her nuts!

If she had known the blonde gaki would have been so much trouble she would have let him cop that feel for free and collect it with interest in the future. But NO she had to fulfill the womanly honor of turning the boy/man who violated her temple into paste! Now she had more on her plate then all the sake in the world could stem the migraine to come. This time though instead of being a clear cut answer on what to do, she couldn't be sure. She literally was holding the kids freedom in the palm of her hand, if what she learned hours earlier was even an inkling of what she suspected.

Memories of her conversation with the young ramen chef kept filtering through her mind.

Flashback

The pair was currently sitting in the younger girls bedroom beside the bed that held the nights topic of discussion. Ayame leaned against the wall comfortably while Anko was forced to sit in the middle of the room straight backed, she had tried to lay down only to shoot back up to attention upon earning a glare from the girl across from her. The dim light coalescing from the lamp on the nightstand casting their shadows in an eerie display upon the off white walls the sound of shallow breathing coming from the body resting upon the bed the only other noise amidst their whispered conversation.

Anko was currently on the receiving end of a scowl that could melt lead. Who knew she would ever find a girl nearly a decade younger then herself so intimidating. It had taken two hours to explain everything, she could have swore Ayame worked for her boss Ibiki! The girl had methodically picked the story apart piece by piece, not allowing her to leave a single detail out. She had just reached the end of the story of what had occurred earlier and had been the cause of Naruto's current disposition.

"So then I flared my chakra to get some ANBU to show up. Picked the gaki up argued with him bout taking him to the hospital, he convinced me to bring him here. Now here we are! No worries right?" Anko concluded sheepishly.

"So you watched, and could have stopped this from happening?" the venom laced into the younger woman's voice was dripping off of every syllable. "Why the hell didn't you jump in right away you let Naruto get hurt!" Anko saw her small frame trembling as tears built up in the corners of her eyes, she stood up and sat down beside her younger counterpart wrapping an arm about her shoulder. She felt Ayame tense at first then slowly slumped and leaned into her shoulder allowing the tears to fall.

Nearly half an hour, Anko was getting uncomfortable. The only sound she had listened to for half an hour was the soft whimpers coming from beside her. She wasn't used to this kind of thing. She was Anko the crazy snake mistress who would sooner kill you then listen to you, not Anko spill your heart out I'll be there for you. "Ya really care bout the brat don't you?" she whispered when she couldn't stand it any longer.

"You think?" Ayame sniffled wiping her tears away with the sleeve of the button up shirt she used as a nightie. "He's the closest thing I have to a sibling, when I first met him do you know how it happened?"

Anko shook her head no, hoping that this wasn't going to turn into a D&M(1). For crying out loud there wasn't any dango or sake!

"He was being beaten by a group of villagers nearly three years ago." the younger girl hissed. "I was on my way home from buying groceries when I walked past the orphanage. I didn't know who he was then or why they were doing it and tried to stop them." at this point Ayame laughed hauntingly. "they turned their anger on me and started to beat me as well. I cried for help and the villagers around me that weren't part of the mob ignored me, calling me demon lover, you know how they get."

Anko was sickened by this, three years! That would make the brats two and six respectively! Her hand unconsciously went to a pocket and fingered a kunai as righteous thoughts started to trickle into her mind.

"Anyways it didn't last long before an ANBU arrived, they tried to get me home but I refused until we got Naruto to the hospital. I had figured it out by then, my father would kick everyone out of the store when he heard people talking about a 'demon brat' I put the two together and wanted to get to know him." Ayame shook Anko from her idealism's as she continued on. "I wasn't hurt but he was bleeding and unconscious, I forced the argument and when we got to the hospital guess what! The doctors wouldn't take him in!" another hollow laugh at this. "so I carried him home and nursed him to health. Since then hes called me Ayame nee-chan and I've vowed to do all I can to help him. He and I know about his burden an-"

Anko's neck snapped around to face Ayame so fast she swore she tore a muscle. The quiet "eep" that escaped as the girl as she covered her mouth as if it would retract the statement. "He knows?" Anko's whisper startled Ayame out of her self chastising.

A glare followed by a harsh "Of course he knows how couldn't he!"

"Well I thought that maybe-" "That what all the name calling, beatings, overall hate that he received throughout the years he wouldn't figure it out? Naruto isn't an idiot and he's such a sweet boy. But none of those idiots see him for what he really is. A child not the demon he holds at bay!" Ayame was speaking in a regular tone now, gone were the whispers. "I don't understand why they cant see past for what it is, the past! They can't see past themselves and see that he's hurting just as much if not more because of their stupidity!" Ayame shot a final withering glare at Anko. "And if your one of them I swear to KAMI I will stop you from hurting Naru kun!"

Anko looked at the young girl in awe. The passion in her speech was inspiring, the conviction in her voice damn near scary. The obvious bonds that the children in the room had formed also struck another note for Anko, jealousy. After Orochimaru's betrayal it had been near impossible for for her to find friends that really cared, in fact Kurenai was perhaps the only one and she wasn't sure even she would stand up for her the way this girl was standing up for Naruto.

Had either of the two looked at him they would have seen the small grin that formed on his face.

Slowly nodding her head in understanding Anko looked at the girl who sat across from her. "I promise I won't hurt the gaki," more to her own surprise she meant it. "can I go now though? We've been sitting here for hours."

A soft smile graced Ayame's face. "Yeah sorry for that. When it comes to him I kind of go a bit crazy." she concluded rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. Looking at the prone figure on the bed beside them. "He means a lot to me." she whispered.

Solemnly Anko looked between the two, she could nearly taste the younger girls feelings on the air. She wondered if she would ever find someone who cared for her as much as Ayame did for Naruto. "Yeah I kinda got that, not many civilians would threaten a ninja." she said as she went and opened the window to leave. A quiet giggle followed Anko as she disappeared into the night.

End Flashback

An irritable buzzing was swiftly silenced by a kunai. "Stupid clock. I didn't even sleep why did the damn thing have to go off." Anko muttered to herself her eyes still closed yet sleepless, she glanced at the other clock that hung off the wall in her room. She had two for a reason, today's event occurred weekly.

It was nearly noon.

Well at least it was the weekend. She had some time to herself.

Cursing herself and the idiot who created time, she walked to the bedroom closet grabbed an outfit for the day and wandered into the bathroom. Still unable to decide on what to do about a certain blonde-haired brat.

With Naruto

Happily munching away at an apple he had nicked from a store that had kicked him out earlier that week. Naruto ignored the glares and hateful mutters that followed him as he walked towards the park in the middle of the village with a smile on his face. Internally however his mind was in a state of disarray.

'I need to find Anko and figure out where she stands in this,' he thought to himself as he watched a pink haired woman glare hatefully at him, matching her look with a grin he meandered on deep in thought. 'She knows to much especially after what Ayame nee-chan let slip last night.' he held no ill will to his semi-adopted sister, she meant well after all. Tossing the core over his shoulder not even looking as it landed in the basket behind him, he watched curiously as a group of girls about his age walked by giggling and pointing towards the center of the park. Deciding to follow them and see if he could have a bit of fun, he slipped into the shadows and waited.

Not long after he watched a peculiar sight, the three had ganged up on another and started calling her names. "Forehead!" Billboard brow!" were amongst the more colorful ones "Pinkie!" was perhaps the most droll, an obvious affront to the victims hair. Naruto looked around checking to see if anyone was going to help the poor girl and spotted a blonde running to her aid. Sitting back against the tree his hid upon he watched with the scene interested in how it would go.

Ino was not having a good day. She had gotten into an argument with her 'daddy' while shopping and run off. Purple was a good color darn it! Who was he to decide on her wardrobe! If she let him everything would have been pink, she hated pink. After escaping she had wandered about looking into stores and deciding on outfits she would force, no convince, her father to buy for her later on.

Thirty minutes had passed and now she was hungry and not willing to deal with walking back, he'd find her eventually. Heading towards the park she spotted Ami and her little gang picking on someone she didn't recognize.

She hated bullies almost as much as the color pink!

"Hey! Leave her alone!" running into the group she stood in front of Ami placing herself in between the crying girl behind her and the small group of tormentors.

"Go away Ino!" Ami sneered among a chorus of agreement by her followers. "Forehead there needs to be taught her place!"

Chancing a glace behind her Ino noted pink hair and a rather... large... forehead. Ignoring that for now she glared at Ami. "Yeah well what did she ever do to you?"

"Us?" Ami taken aback by the statement put a finger to her chin in a contemplative manner. "Well, who cares I mean just look at her! Pink hair and a giant forehead!" looking at her group of friends she saw looks of agreement and pushed on. "Anyways Ino baka get out of our way!"

"NO! Just leave her alone Ami baka!"

"Don't call me baka! BAKA!" a painful shove and Ino found herself on the ground beside her pink haired soon to be friend. Closing her eyes waiting for more she counted the seconds hoping her father would rescue her. Hearing a startled gasp she smiled to herself her daddy had saved her! Looking up to say thanks, she felt her eyes widen to the size of dinner plates as she stared at the unfamiliar backside of another blonde individual that was most definitely not 'daddy'.

Naruto cursed himself, he had used a ninja technique in public! Kami damn his good nature and inability to see someone get hurt for no reason. He would have to take care of that aspect of himself soon. When the blue haired girl, 'Ami' he was pretty sure of her name had pushed this 'Ino' he felt angry. Remembering all the times he had been attacked and stepped into the fray, intercepting the kick with a firm grip.

Not to gently he shoved the limb backwards causing 'Ami' to fall on her rear. Focusing a miniscule amount of killing intent on the girl to reinforce his words the way Itachi had taught him he whispered menacingly. "Leave them alone."

'Ami' and her gang turned white as a sheet, and stumbled back before retreating. A half assed threat of "This isn't over Ino!" called over their shoulder as Naruto turned to greet the two. Smiling his fake smile he gave a short wave and reached down to help Ino up. "Heya I'm Naruto!" 'Ugh this facade of the village idiot is painful' he added silently.

Still on her knees Ino shook her head to clear her thoughts about cute blondes with sapphire eyes. Gripping his hand she stood up then proceeded to straighten her outfit she reciprocated his introduction. "Yamanaka Ino, nice to meet you Naruto kun." she stated with a grin. She giggled softly when she saw him fluster at the familiarity.

Naruto nodded mentally filing away her reaction before helping the pink haired girl, as she got to her feet, he spotted alluring emerald green eyes clouded by the tears she had spilled. "and who are you?" he asked genuinely curious.

"S-sakura," came the stuttered answer. Naruto watched as she composed herself before she spoke with more conviction. "Haruno Sakura, thanks for helping me Naruto san." she finished off her thanks with a slight bow.

"No problem, I can't stand bullies they rub me the wron-" he was cut off by twin shouts of.

"SAKURA! GET AWAY FROM HIM!"

and

"INO! THERE YOU ARE SWEETIE!"

Naruto turned around and nearly gagged, it seemed he had saved the daughter of the pink haired lady from earlier. The man he recognized as the family head of the Yamanaka's. He had walked by their flower store often enough to know the man. Watching as the two girls ran up to their respective parents he felt a tug at his heartstrings that he ruthlessly squashed. He may have yearned for family when he was younger, but that got beat out of you pretty quickly when your betrayed by people that act nice only to stab you in the back.

As he watched the pink haired duo leave the mother destroying any hope he had to get to know the girl he felt a slight tap on his shoulder. Turning he saw Mr. Yamanaka standing behind him with a all to gentle smile on his face.

"Thank you for helping my daughter." the words held a good deal of warmth, though the mechanical nature they came out in ruined the illusion.

"No problem Yama jiji! What kinda hokage would I be if I didn't help a person in need 'ttebayo!" Naruto replied enthusiastically, hearing Ino giggle from beside her father he gave her a smile. Much to the older mans chagrin. "It was nice meeting you Ino chan." the girl blushed and father grimaced 'HA! Put that in your pipe and smoke it ya old geezer!'

"Yes well, Ino I think its time we get home." the subtle hand on the young girls shoulder was all it took. A quick wave and "It was nice to meet you Naruto kun!" later and the pair departed.

"Cya around Ino chan!" Naruto called out to their backs waving like an idiot as they disappeared into the distance. Looking around him he noted that the other families had left as well, no doubt wanting to keep their distance from him. Looking at a nearby tree he cocked his head quizzically. "you can come out now Mitarashi san." the tree shimmered in the air the lines of branches vanishing revealing Anko in her trade mark outfit, well at least half, gone was the trench coat and fishnet replaced by a light purple tank-top although it still had her usual skirt.

Shaking her head at being caught Anko walked over to Naruto with an evil smirk upon her face. "How'd ya know I was there gaki?" she asked.

"Normal trees don't smell like dango and mint." Naruto dead panned. Before adopting a serious expression. "I'm going to guess you want answers."

"Got that right brat."

Naruto once again found himself in the familiar position of a hug. Then with a flicker of leaves the pair was gone.

End chapter 3

BWAHAHA YES! OH SNAP! Itachi is his teacher, scary thought huh? Even with all the training Naruto was doing, in order for some things to come he NEEDED a ninja teacher. Was going to go with Kakashi but decided against it. C'mon Itachi is a big bro kinda guy I figured it would work specially since he's watching Naruto in this fic. The Uchiha massacre doesn't happen until Sasuke being around six years of age (at least this is what I've gathered). DUN DUN DUN its coming don't worry. So don't start bitchin bout me screwing around with the time-line to much!

Also if you think Naruto acts to mature for his age, he's a street rat. Meaning he had to grow up quick to survive.

Side note if you guys think the spat between Ino and Ami was harsh, go to a play ground and watch some girls (NON CREEPER WAY FOOLS!). Their arguments make no sense at that age. And female bullies are way way worse then their male counterparts!

For those of you that think Anko has a lot of time for the story! FUCK YOU! She does I know there's a reason for it. Maybe it's cause I have a CRAZY ASS plot set up that you don't know bout yet. She's curious about Naruto now that she knows his secret and is gonna be around. If you haven't noticed yet Ayame dint have much screen time last chapter when I introduced her... see where I'm going with this? ANKO WAS BEING USED TO MAKE INTRODUCTIONS! And generate a bit of comedic relief. Her screen time is going to diminish... soon Ku Ku Ku.

Notes!

D&M- Deep and Meaningful; ya better know what these are, unless you've never had a significant other. Tends to be chocolate or ice cream but for Anko I figured it'd be sake and dango.

Shunshin- body flicker technique. I've been saying it a lot and really shouldn't need to make a note but I am. The leaf thing they use to disappear, case closed.

UGH I hate this the chapters are going to get subsequently longer because I keep finding more and more that I need to put in to streamline the story! DAMN YOU PLOT DEVICES! Anyways if you didn't figure out that the person being introduced this time was Ino ya fail at life :P j/k but close to it. Meaning that panda... Tenten is next time! I dunno know anywho cya guys next time!

P.S. The goal is a chapter a day if not more from here on out.

P.S.S if anyone knows a translation freeware or website that can do full sentences I would really like to know. PM me or leave it in a review please and thank you!

P.S.S.S. I ramble a lot when I do these end notes I know I'm sorry. Full page of foolery FTW!

Pr1nnyDUD3. Out.