My Wife's Name
Cerulean eyes looked down searching the wiser grey of the woman's. Several thoughts swirled through his head as the newly discovered Naruto tried to form a coherent thought. He couldn't understand how the granny knew who he was. He covered his tracks, he hid his whiskers, sure he left his hair alone but he found out that most people didn't recognize him without the whisker marks. Simple makeup hid them and even the most skilled shinobi couldn't find him, but this stupid old granny did.
"You know about Naruto-sama! As in Uzumaki Naruto, right?" Yoshiro came bounding up towards Tomoko, "Jifu told me stories about Naruto-sama! How he rescued a Koutaishihi, and fought demons, and, and…"
As the boy continued to rant about the stories Naruto had told him, of his own childhood, shame filled every surface of his heart. The weight of memories pulled harder on his shoulders than it had in years. Happy times of eating ramen with Iruka-sensei, training with Ero-sennin, fighting with Baa-chan. Horrible memories that should have been buried in the farthest part of his mind; the chidori tearing into his shoulder, watching his friend's corps be defiled by freaks, and so many people turning their back, leaving him there to rot.
The voice of Tomoko brought Naruto to the present. Away from the mind numbing pain and disgrace he felt.
"I knew Naruto-kun. He was a bright boy, always smiling, laughing. No matter what life threw at him. He was the sun of Konoha. The reason I brought you in here was because you remind me of him. You laugh just like him. Come home with me and I can give you a nice place to sleep and rest. My grandchildren might even be there so you can play with them."
"Naruto is real? He was BORN HERE?" Yoshiro was to busy jumping about the room excited to be in the birth place of his hero and idol that he didn't notice the puzzled expression of Tomoko. Turning to her Naruto spoke up.
"I didn't know that Naruto was a real person. I told my son stories that I heard while traveling the villages." Within that simple statement Naruto was able to convey every request needed. They didn't know who he was. Perking herself up Tomoko started for the door.
"Yoshiro-kun I can tell you many other stories of Naruto as we travel to my home. Would you like that?" The child literally stopped breathing afraid that if he did he would wake up. Running up to the woman Yoshiro grabbed her hand.
"Really? You can tell me more stories of Naruto-sama?" The elderly woman took on a grave expression.
"Why yes I can tell you the stories Naruto-sama wouldn't have wanted you to know. Of a mischievous childhood, pulling pranks, and running from the law. That boy was a sure hand full." Tomoko from the corner of her eye gave Naruto a meaning full glare which he promptly ignored. "Come this way boy! And off we go!"
The stooped woman walked surprisingly fast for her age but Naruto kept pace with her, following closely to listen to the conversation they were keeping.
She started with his pride and joy, the Hokage monument painting, from her side of course. She told his son of his exploits of terrorizing the town. Stories of how buckets of paint would rain down on men who were mean, graffiti on walls, and annoying the ninja populace. What she didn't tell Yoshiro was that the mean people, were men that had beaten him in the street, graffiti had been put on the stores that wouldn't sell him anything, and he had only annoyed the ninjas who called him a demon day in and day out subtly harassing him with out the Hokage's knowledge.
Drawing near a traditional Japanese house Tomoko pointed it out.
"That is my house and you two will be staying there as long as need be." The house wasn't extravagant but no one would be embarrassed to live there. It wasn't falling apart and was in good order. The lawn was clean and the outside of the house was freshly painted awaiting the summer heat.
When they made their way into the house they passed discarded toys from Tomoko's grandchildren. The entry way was littered with them as well as the good sized dining room.
Motioning for Naruto and Yoshiro to sit, Tomoko made her way in to the kitchen to prepare them a snack and tea. Looking over the breakfast counter she listen to Yoshiro retell Naruto his own childhood to him. In his mind Naruto would fill in the blanks adding in a few things here and there but would silently listen to his exuberant son nodding in the correct places.
"Jifu? You're quiet. Is something wrong?" Light blue eyes looked into dark blue, the purple dancing in and out, teasing him of his wife that was heavy with their second child. "You miss Kaa-san don't you?"
Lazily looking into his son's eyes he reached over and ruffled his hair.
"It creeps me out how well you can do that." The only response from the three year old was an odd glance and a growl at his father to get off him. Hearing Tomoko shuffle in the kitchen Naruto stood to help her with the tea. He took the tray as she slid past him to his son. Handing him cookies she picked him up and stared into his eyes.
"Now I have only two rules in this house. When the adults are talking you wait for them to finish and then don't break anything. Everything else is fair game. You can play with the toys but stay in the yard keep the door open and be close enough so your father and I can hear you."
A quick "Yes Obaa-san" a few squirming motions to get free and the boy was gone.
Turning back to blonde Sr. Tomoko tried to read his soul. Naruto fidgeted under the dominating gaze of his elder waiting for the dreaded question. Heaving a sigh Tomoko threw herself into her chair.
"He is just like you Naruto. If he had the whisker marks and the same blue eyes he would be you."
"Okashi-san I put make-up on our faces." Startled she looked at him for any lie as he sat down in the chair opposite her. Making himself comfortable he poured Tomoko tea then himself some. "My wife has drilled into me some manners. I have changed and I can only hope for the better."
Grey eyes studied him taking in his physical condition. He was fit and well toned but not that of a ninja. Ninja's were muscled and sleek, ready to kill and disappear. This Naruto was muscled more in his upper body, like he had been carrying heavy loads for years. He had broad shoulders that would intimidate lesser people, but he also had an air of gentleness that calmed the soul.
"Naruto how are you. What have you been doing?" Tomoko paused a minute to gather a shaky breath, "Where have you been?" Silence echoed through the room as Naruto considered each question and how much he would and could offer.
"I am doing fine, Obaa-san. I have been making a family and a new life. I have been in a… tiny village that doesn't give a damn about the outside world. I've been happy." This new silence was different for the two people in the room.
Naruto was happy for the quiet. He had time to gather his thought on where to start, time to think about when to lie.
Tomoko, on the other hand, was reeling. He had finely found happiness. He had a family and a life. It sounded like, to her, that people loved him finally.
"Where to start? Well, hell I don't know. Where do you want me to start?"
The older woman thought for a moment.
"You came back after training with Jiraiya-sama, saved Kazekage-sama, then fought and brought back Uchiha-san. From there you helped the Hokage and Toad-sennin fight Orochimaru and bring down the sound village. You were finally getting something, the village's respect. You then left again with Jiraiya-sama to continue training and become stronger, to become Hokage. What happened? You just disappeared!"
Taking a moment Naruto lost himself in the memories. The smell of sake in the air when he first saw his wife, drunk yelling, and whores, lots of whores. The scene was anything but perfect. He was having a drink with his sensei at a brothel when he heard her over the yelling.
"I went training with Ero-sennin, right. For about a year I was traveling with him and then I saw her." Naruto chuckled a bit, "We went to a brothel to get some sake. I heard her singing. Kami she is beautiful. It took me two years to marry her. We had a baby the same year and moved to a village with no affiliation to any of the other villages or the outside world for that matter."
Tomoko was engrossed in Naruto's story. The only other thing she wanted to know was why he had left, giving up on his dream, and why was he here if he had been so happy there. She waited for Naruto to continue but he seemed to have no inclination of doing so.
"Well why are you here now?" Naruto sat straighter in his chair as if he had been found stealing a cookie from his son.
"I, um, well, got laid off." A slight frown marred his features as Naruto glared into the table, shifting in his seat.
"You got what?"
"There weren't enough jobs in that tiny village. I had apprenticed under a carpenter and well the village didn't need another one so, I got laid off. They kept the old got rid of the new. Not that I was bad or anything. I was really good! Just," Naruto heaved a dramatic sigh. "When we left the village we heard that Konoha needed some workers. My wife suggested it."
Staring off into space Naruto just stopped. He thought about how the hell he had ended up in this situation. Making excuses for granny.
Tomoko knew a whipped man when she saw one. If Naruto's wife said jump he asked how high? If she said run he asked how far? She wondered if this woman knew who she had under her thumb, one of the greatest shinobi to ever come out of Konoha.
"What is her name?"
"Her name is Kouchou Miyako."
Tomoko's withered face was drawn taunt and her eyes grew wider as she recognized the name.
"You married her?"
A.N. You know what I forgot… I don't own Naruto and if any of you think I did… shame. I wouldn't be writing this if I did now would I. Thank you for the support you make my day brighter. Tell me your favorite parts of your lest favorite!