At eight years old and helping the pending Hokage get his job by making him annoyed (several times over), vandalizing the Hyuuga compound, avoiding Ichiraku's and finally getting a passing grade in the Academy, Naruto was very busy and held little patience for meeting with her own peers.

Mama still made her interact, but it was such an effort trying to get to know anyone because they were all playing Ninja Tag and Mama said that she shouldn't play Ninja Tag because Naruto was busy!

It frustrated Naruto, but she valued Mama more than anyone in this world.

She was doing her homework when Ichiraku Ayame's scent reached the young jinchuuriki's nose. Ibiki being her guest and kind of helping her with her homework, she couldn't not answer the door.

So she got up and opened it.

"Hey, Naruto!" Ayame smiled, holding out a bag. "Dad said I should give you some ramen. You're going to be needing the energy soon! Oh, and he said for me to give you this." She took out a slip of paper.

Come by the ramen stand! We miss our favorite customer!

Naruto peeked up at her.

"Dad's been concerned about you," Ayame went on. "Is this about the Kyuubi and stuff? Dad says you and him need to talk about it, but just so you know, I don't care about it."

Naruto grinned. "Ibiki-san, you didn't hear anything!" she called into the dining room.

Ibiki's irritated voice met her ears.

"I'm not doing your homework for you, gaki! Come here and do it yourself!"

Naruto sighed. "I hate ninja work," she pouted. "Thank you, Ayame-nee."

Ayame smiled. "Well, I've gotta go to work! See ya!"

She waved and skipped off.

Naruto shut the door.

"I have food," Naruto announced. "I'm going to let Mama eat it."

"Tch. Hurry up, because I've got to go on a mission," the interrogator said to her.

"...you're lying." Naruto sat down and pushed her ramen away. "Sorry, Mama, but I gotta do schoolwork first."

~:~

What are your goals in life?

Naruto stared at the question, thinking about it.

Since they were just kids, most kids would put down the standard answer.

Rescue princes/princesses! Save the world!

But Naruto's goal was… Simpler, in her mind. Simpler because it wasn't too huge and it was attainable.

Make friends, she wrote. Who aren't morons. And eat lots of ramen.

Mama sighed. I cannot believe you put eat lots of ramen on your test!

You said honesty is the best thing ever, Mama.

Please be less honest, baby girl. If you're less honest, people might actually think you're on their level.

But nobody's on my level, Naruto rather dryly told her mother.

Her mama hesitated. Not here, she admitted. But I don't want you leaving Konoha. Despite my… dislike towards Sarutobi, he does care for you. But how to bring a jinchuuriki here?

Naruto thought about it. Why not ask? She questioned her mother. If I meet this other jinchuuriki, then I might be safe.

I never met the jinchuuriki I'm thinking of, Kushina told her quietly. But according to Minato, he was nice. The old man's going to Kumo soon… Her mama was thinking quickly. Naruto blinked and refocused on her test, once more distracted as her mama spoke to her again. I bet if you told the old man you wanted to see Kumo he'd let you. You'd be protected by ANBU. And me.

Naruto hummed to herself.

True. Mama, you scare me sometimes, the girl stated frankly to her mother.

Her mama purred. I'm a chakra monster, my beloved child. I'm supposed to.

~:~

"You want to try the ramen in Kumo." The Sandaime eyed the serious child before him.

Naruto nodded. "I read in the book we have it's the only one we have a remotely friendly relationship with, because Suna's still being pouty because our Yondaime beat theirs."

The Sandaime blinked. An accurate description of Suna's current status.

"Asuma." Asuma blinked at his father. "Gather… Neko, Inu, Bear, and Snake. Also grab Genma, Raidou, and Iwashi."

"Right. This is your guard?" Asuma asked, preparing to leave.

"No, that's Itachi's and Naruto's guard."

Naruto just looked at him blankly.

"Why do I need a guard?"

Sarutobi swallowed.

"You'll be a target," the Sandaime lied, "because you'll be with me and the next Hokage-in-training."

Naruto eyes him seriously.

"Old man, you're going to die soon," she informed him. "And I really want that hat. So hurry up and give it to Crow-san, because if you don't I'mma steal it."

She flounced out, slamming the door behind her.

The Sandaime hit his head on the desk. "What did I do to deserve this?" he wept, comical tears flooding his eyes.

He had a feeling Kushina - and maybe Minato - would be laughing at him.