Chapter 06
Going around the kitchen preparing a meal, Naruto and Sakura sat on the chairs in silence, their eyes following a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl reaching out inside cupboards and shelves and pulling out ingredients. She was wearing some of Naruto's clothes, surprised that she could no longer find hers and asked if their apartment was robbed sometime during the night, which Naruto shook his head no. The night when Sachiko prepared dinner for the first time was a real feat for Naruto, and a surprise for Sakura, and this time her skills were top notched.
After some twenty minutes, a full breakfast was laid out, consisting of egg rolls and fish, miso soup and a small bowl of picked vegetables and steaming bowls of rice.
"Let's eat!" Sachiko cheered as she began eating, which Naruto and Sakura were forced to do the same. The three ate in silence, still trying to digest on what just occurred here. This was the second time another phenomenon has occurred upon Sachiko, and the rapid age growth was starting to scare him a bit. Sakura thought around those lines as well, observing Sachiko's eating habits that were a sorry sight indeed. She seems like a tomboy to begin with. At Sachiko's age, her body filled out quite nicely and just about anyone would think she's more mature than her age in comparison to her own.
Sachiko stopped midway when shoveling rice in her mouth as she sets her eyes between her father and Sakura, her eyes twitching from all this unnerving silence. Setting her bowl down with a sharp thump, Sachiko began speaking her mind.
"Look, old man, I don't know what's going on here but all this silence is really creeping me out."
Naruto blinked several times as he shook his head.
"No, no. It's nothing really." Naruto grinned nervously before trying to change the subject. "Wow, these egg rolls are fantastic! I hadn't have breakfast like this in a long time!" He continued eating.
Sachiko gave her father an odd look before turning her attention to the woman sitting on her father's side.
"Sakura-baasan, I didn't know you were going to visit today or I would have made a much better breakfast than this." Sachiko grinned sheepishly.
The word 'baasan' got Sakura peeved, which a throbbing red vein was clearly showing on her forehead. Instead of going through her time and tested method of answering to anyone calling her an old woman using her fists, even though Sachiko meant to call her 'Aunt Sakura' as a form of respect, she just grits her teeth.
"Well, I have to talk about your father about something important."
Sachiko nodded her head knowingly.
"I see, I guess this is all about an A-rank mission or something. I won't pry, though, but," redirecting her sights to her father, she continued, "Dad, when are you gonna give me a better mission? I'm already a chuunin for gods' sakes."
Naruto dropped the bowl of miso soup he was drinking from, causing the hot contents to spill on his pants as he screamed in pain. Sakura stood up on shock as she spilled cold water on his pants.
"CHUUNIN?" Naruto yelled. "You mean I'm the only one left who's still a ge…" His rant was interrupted by Sakura placing a hand over his mouth as she laughed nervously.
"Don't mind your father, he just had a bad day and all." Sakura turned to whisper at the shocked Naruto. "Remember, she think you're Hokage so deal with it!"
Naruto calmed down a bit, and recalled that Sachiko did recognize him as the village leader.
Sachiko returned to the table, reaching out a pair of orange pants and blue boxers, which caused Sakura to blush slightly at the sight of it.
"Just get to the bathhouse and clean yourself up, old man." Sachiko frowned.
Breakfast stopped from there after Naruto changed out of his miso-stained pajama pants to his regular shorts as Sachiko cleared the table. Naruto emerged from the bathroom carrying a plastic pail with shampoo, liquid soap and the like inside as the three headed out to the bathhouse when someone knocked on his door. Sachiko answered the door to see Tsunade and Shizune, which the two wondered why Naruto would change to his Oiroke-no-Jutsu so early in the morning.
"All right, Naruto, you can drop the henge and move aside. I want to see how Sachiko is doing since Sakura is taking her time to report to me."
"Eh? What was that, obaa-chan?" Naruto came to the door behind… Naruto's perverted jutsu?
"Naruto?" Tsunade called out in shock as she shifts her eyes at the smaller girl in front of her. Though slightly shorter than Sakura, this 'girl' could almost pass as an adult, which she was quick to notice her chest and figure, something she never had during her younger years and made her slightly envious.
"Ummm, are you okay, Tsunade-baachan?" The girl asked.
"Huh?" Tsunade snapped out of her stupor. "Have we met before?"
"You don't remember me? It's me! SA-CHI-KO!" Sachiko chimed, followed by a foxy grin.
A Sannin as powerful as Tsunade would always keep a calm exterior in a life or death situation. However, this was nothing compared to what she was looking at and the only thing she could do is faint, which Shizune managed to catch her from behind.
Naruto, fully dressed in his usual garb waited rather impatiently on the bench as Tsunade was performing a physical examination on Sachiko. It was already nine AM, according to the wall clock in front of him and Tsunade sent Shizune to meet the council to tell them of a delay due to an emergency call, which they took it as an understanding. After another hour of waiting, Tsunade emerged from the examination room with Sakura as Naruto stood up to start asking questions.
"So, how is she? What's causing her to grow up so rapidly?" Naruto asked.
Tsunade frowned at that though, and it was clear that Sachiko was no ordinary child… young woman… she shook her head vigorously to get her back to reality before answering Naruto.
"As much as I could tell you, Naruto, is that Sachiko seems to be a healthy young woman. And as for her age spurt, I still can't figure out what is causing it. Maybe we can start asking her some questions but you have to do it without me since I'm practically late for a meeting with the council."
"Can I go see her now?"
"Go ahead, she's just getting dressed up." Tsunade nodded.
Naruto rushed in to the room as he saw Sachiko sitting on the table getting dressed. What greeted his eyes was the fact that Sachiko was still putting on the blouse that Sakura lent her while still in her undergarments.
"What the hell?" Sachiko screamed as she covered herself up.
Naruto gasped and stuttered gibberishly before turning to the other side to find a pissed-off Sakura with her fist in a tight ball.
"Look! I can explain!" Naruto pleaded.
"Pervert!" Sakura screamed, her fist connecting squarely at Naruto's jaw that sent him flying through the wall to the outside.
The news of Sachiko's age spurt has caught the attention of the Rookie Nine as well as Gai's team and some jounin involved as they all converged together outside a ninja gear store. Even Temari of the Hidden Sand was present, since she comes and goes to the Hidden Leaf as a go-between for the upcoming Chuunin Exams and was kept up-to-date with the help of Shikamaru. Some of the girls were inside to help Sachiko in getting dressed up in her ninja gear as the rest were asking Naruto some questions.
"Must be tough having a teenage daughter. I can feel your pain, though." Yamanaka Inoichi placed a sympathetic hand over Naruto's shoulder.
"Pain? Well, sure it's going to kill my budget once she steps out of that store and I have to pay for all the things she needs, you know, girly stuff that I don't even understand."
"Maybe, but you should definitely watch out during certain times of the month." Inoichi nodded in understanding. "I've been around to watch Ino go into this frenzied emotional fits whenever she's in her time of the month."
"Huh? I don't get it?" Naruto asked dumbly.
"He means once Sachiko starts having her period." Kurenai joined in to assist Inoichi, which made Naruto green from the thought of it. The door of the shop opened with a jingle of the bells as they all turned.
Everyone watched in anticipation, with Naruto at front row and center as they all saw Sachiko in her attire of her choice. The girls inside were even surprised, seems that Sachiko's fashion tastes were nothing like Naruto's or even their own. Sporting a green tank top that showed much of her midriff, and topped it off with a black leather vest. She wore tan shorts that showed much of her legs and black kneepads. Her arms were covered in an arm-length leather gauntlets and wearing knee high sandals. To finish the effect, she wore her hair in a ponytail and wearing the leaf's hiai-ate on her forehead.
In short, she was a beauty with the looks of a professional kunoichi.
Several jaws dropped to the ground, and others were admiring this young kunoichi. Naruto stood there, somehow bursting with pride to see his little girl all grown up, despite the fact that Naruto only had Sachiko for over a week.
Inoichi could only reminisce the time when Ino wore her hiai-ate for the first time that brought a tear in his eyes as he placed his arm across Naruto's shoulders.
"It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it, to watch your daughter grow up to take on life the way she can. I'm sure you've done all you can to guide her to become a great kunoichi… someday…" Inoichi begins to break down in sobs, only to be taken away by Nara Shikaku as he pats his back to comfort him.
Naruto mind was wrapped on what Inoichi has said, and somehow it made him feel guilty. It was a shocker at first, which in the past few days he watched Sachiko grow from a little kid to a young woman. He had so much plans in store for Sachiko, teaching her everything he knows, even though it was only a handful of it. Regardless, it was something he worked so hard for and would be glad to share it with this young woman.
He watched Sachiko being surrounded by men, especially from Chouji, Kiba, and Rock Lee along with a few young chuunin as she enjoyed exchanging words with them as if she's one of the boys. Somehow, his fatherly sense begins to kick in, feeling the need to protect her from these… wolves, which he begins to fume a bit. Rock Lee excused himself to Sachiko with a bow as Naruto watched him walk to where he was standing. Judging from the reddened cheeks, he bows to Naruto.
"Naruto-kun, I mean… Father, please allow me to escort Sachiko-san around the village!" Lee exclaimed.
This shocked the poor boy stupid to find someone else calling him father.
"What the hell? Who gave you the right to call me father?" Naruto exclaimed as he crossed his arms and puffed out his chest, as well as wondering why he said those words. Everyone was witnessing this, much to the chagrin of Tenten.
Naruto flinched a bit as Lee raised his head to meet eye to eye with tears.
"Please, allow me to prove myself to you if I am worthy to take your daughter's hand!" Lee begged.
Naruto felt dizzy from the shock he just took. He wasn't ready to become a father-in-law to any boy who comes near his daughter.
Sachiko was hearing all of this when she moved away from the crowd and grabbed her father's arm wrapped hers around it. Anyone could mistake for a fact that they appear like lovers.
"I'm flattered, Lee-san, but I'm not interested in getting into a relationship. Besides, my father is the only man in my life right now." Sachiko grinned.
Sakura, Hinata and Ino were shocked to hear all this, and it seems that Sachiko was getting too close for Naruto's comfort even though they're father and daughter as they all started to seethe and would want nothing more to teach her a lesson.
Shizune was watching it with a bit of humor in her eyes, decided to break up this little escapade before it turns into something worse.
"While I am in favor of a little family bonding," Shizune began, at the same time eyeing Naruto and Sachiko, "but not too much of it, Tsunade-sama sent word of a mission for you, Naruto-kun. A B-rank mission."
"Really?" Naruto beamed, knowing that B-rank missions pay really well.
"Yes. You and a team will be heading towards the Land of Wave. Looks like insurgents from the former Gatou group of thugs wants to take over the village to start their own organization. I want you to put a stop to them."
"Great! When do we leave?" Naruto exclaimed.
"As soon as you can and once your team has been assembled." Shizune smiled a bit as she pulled out a sheet of paper from her robe.
"The team members who will be on this mission is… Haruno Sakura, Hyuuga Hinata, Yamanaka Ino, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Tenten and Rock Lee."
The people present nodded when Shino asked a question.
"These insurgents, I am guessing they are formidable, considering the number of ninja involved."
"They are, Aburame-san, although there is not enough information to know who these people are. But one source indicates that a former Seven Swords of the Mist is behind the invasion."
Naruto grunts as he clenched his fists together upon hearing those words.
"Okay, we'll meet at the main gate after an hour."
"Good. Because you'll be leading this team as well, Naruto-kun."
The team members were shocked to hear this. Despite the fact that Naruto is the only genin in their group, they thought he was unfit to lead them despite of the strength he displayed. Naruto's eyes widened a bit upon hearing that he will lead today's mission. Sachiko grinned as well, knowing that having the Hokage for a father would ensure the mission's success until her eyes widen on a realization.
"Shizune-san! I want to be on this mission as well!" Sachiko called out.
Everyone was already looking at Sachiko, as if she just lost her mind until Kakashi approached her.
"I'm not sure about that since the roster has been filled out. Besides, we still haven't seen your skills as of yet."
Sachiko frowned at the masked jounin as she took a stance.
"You want skill, I'll show you skill!" Sachiko lashed out.
Kakashi backed off a bit as he felt an impressive killing intent she was unleashing when Shizune stood between the two.
"Okay, okay. How about this: I want you to pass Kakashi-senpai's bell test to see if you have what it takes. If you can grab them, then I can include you as well."
It would be an interesting sight to see Sachiko in action as everyone in the group headed towards an available training area. Standing in the middle of a large clearing, Kakashi pulled out a single bell from his pocket and tied the string on his left side.
"I assume you know the rules, right?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeah, I have to come at you with an intent to kill!" Sachiko exclaimed.
"Good." Kakashi smiled as he shifts to his stance. With his left hand, he pulls the head protector at the correct position, revealing his Sharingan. "Don't hold back, okay?"
"Don't worry, I won't." Sachiko grinned as she summoned a giant shuriken from the scroll.
What seems like years between the two combatants, one full minute has passed just when Sachiko began her first move as she hurled the giant shuriken at Kakashi. Jumping high in the air to avoid being cut in half, his eyes followed on Sachiko's movement, which did justice to her claimed rank as chuunin as she pummeled Kakashi with a series of punches and kicks. It was more like a brawl, with no special finesse or recognizable style that can be seen from clans within the village. Somehow, Kakashi reminded her so much of Naruto when it comes to close-quarter fighting.
With a clean kick on her midsection, Kakashi was able to put Sachiko at bay as she crashed to the ground. Naruto watched this and was about to charge Kakashi when Sakura stopped him.
"Don't, Naruto. You know as well as everyone who took up the hiai-ate that pain and injury is all part of being a ninja."
Naruto glares at Sakura a bit, not wanting to admit it, but she was right. All he could do was give his daughter his support.
"Get up! You can do it!" Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs.
Kakashi landed just a few feet away from Sachiko, lying on the small crater from the kick she took. His eyes widened when her body bursts into smoke, leaving behind a piece of log.
"Gotcha!" Sachiko yelled, twirling her large shuriken to cut Kakashi to ribbons. It was the same effect as the blades slashed him across the chest until he pops out of existence.
"Hummm… Very good, but not close enough." Sachiko's eyes widened to hear the sound of Kakashi's voice whispering close to her ear with a kunai slightly piercing her on the neck.
"Heh, guess again!" Sachiko exclaimed when the ground between her and Kakashi bursts out, to reveal another Sachiko as her hands shot out to land an uppercut. Kakashi managed to dodge in time, only to feel three more feet planting on both his sides and back. The Sachiko that everyone thought was cornered swung her leg in a high kick as it landed on Kakashi's chin with a force to send him flying.
"U-ZU-MA-KI!"
Up in the air, Kakashi watched in horror as the real Sachiko was already on top of him, and at her left was a clone moving her hands around the real Sachiko's hands and pumping it with chakra.
"RASENGAN RENDAN!" Sachiko shouted as she pushed the small spinning chakra at Kakashi's gut. Just when she thought it was a victory, Kakashi's body explodes in a puff of smoke before the Rasengan could even disperse.
"You almost got me there. And I am impressed that you managed to form the Rasengan in your combo." Kakashi spoke from behind Sachiko, unable to believe that he was able to use a kawarimi even at that range. Kakashi wrapped his arms across the girl's midsection, performing a Konoha Kage Buyou, the Leaf Shadow Dance. As they descended to the hard ground, Sachiko fought to release herself from the hold, as Naruto began screaming at them.
"Get away! Let go of her, Kakashi!"
It was too late. The impact of this fatal backdrop was completed, followed by a huge cloud of dust and smoke. As Kakashi stood in front of Sachiko, her upper body buried in the ground with her legs hanging, he could only sigh as he began to dig her out of the ground. Before he could reach out, his eyes widened in shock, followed by a weird sensation that he felt violated in a very uncomfortable manner.
"My old man taught me this. You're probably the first one I've ever used this on. I hope you won't have a hard time especially in the bathroom. Take this! Taijutsu no Ougi!"
"SENNEN GOROSHI!"
Kakashi was launched in the air like a cannonball, his hands holding on his backside as he collides to a tree face first. It was a comical sight to everyone, as most of the girls were blushing since Sachiko managed to shove the tiger seal right up the copy ninja's rectum. As Kakashi begins to slide down from the tree and lands on his back, his eyes were swirling around as he groaned. The moment he opens his eyes, he hears a jingling sound as he looks up to find Sachiko tossing the bell in her hand.
"Did I pass, Scarecrow?" Sachiko chuckled as she flashed her foxy grin.
Kakashi held his head to relieve him of the pain as he shook his head. Just about everyone gathered around the two fighters, all were trying not to believe what happened, especially Naruto.
"Damn, if she can land the Sennen Goroshi on Kakashi-sensei, I think she can be stronger than me." Naruto felt depressed for a moment, until he smiled at Sachiko, feeling the pride swelling in him.
"You did great, Sachiko-chan! You finally got Kakashi-sensei in the ass!"
Sachiko smiled as she rushed to embrace her father!
"I did it! I did it! I'm on the team!" Sachiko cheered, much to the chagrin of some of the girls who were taking Naruto with some interest.
Maito Gai helped Kakashi up as Shizune walks towards Sachiko with a smile on her face.
"Very well, you have thirty minutes to get ready. Meet everyone at the gates to begin your mission."
The nine-man team waited patiently at the main gate for Naruto and Sachiko as Shizune was giving her speech to everyone.
"Remember, you guys, Sachiko may seem a bit odd to all of us and she recognizes Naruto as her father and thinks that he's Hokage. Just remember to play along and follow his orders. You don't have to be so formal, by the way."
"Though it kills me to face that idiot with respect, I guess I don't have much of a choice." Kiba grunted, followed by Akamaru's growl.
"Just bear with it for a little while. Even though he may not use his head much, we all know that Naruto is capable of dealing with any situation, even though if he's punching now and asking questions later."
"Here he comes." Hinata called out as the rest looks at the road headed towards the village. Naruto and Sachiko were running at full sprint carrying their backpacks.
"Sorry we're late." Sachiko gasps as she leaned with her hands on her knees to catch her breath. "We came across this old lady who's having trouble with her groceries and as thanks she treated us to her home-made ramen."
Naruto and Sachiko felt the incredulous gaze of everyone at present. Kakashi could only smile as he spoke.
"That's okay, the same thing happens to me."
Sakura could hardly believe the blatant lie that these three shared as she huffs and began her trek towards Wave Country, allowing others to follow suit.
It was a long way to Wave country, as most were walking in an almost leisurely pace. Sachiko and Naruto were talking (or shouting) animatedly and acted as if they were siblings rather than father and daughter. It was an interesting sight to see, where Sachiko's similarities are Naruto's own, especially when it concerns certain jutsu.
"So, Sachiko-chan, I guess you managed to learn the Rasengan." Naruto said.
"I know, and I still don't forgive you for putting me through hell in order to learn it. Good thing Granny Tsunade was nearby or I'll be curling up in pain due to chakra burn."
"How long did it take you to learn it?"
Sachiko raised an eyebrow as she looked at her father.
"Don't you remember? It took me six months to learn it since I'm not as special as you are."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"I mean it's the Kyuubi. It gives you more chakra and since you had it since you were born, it's like your body's composition keeps changing to keep up with all that chakra."
Naruto felt a cold shiver running up and down his spike, not knowing when he ever told her about the Kyuubi, or the fact that she knows that he is a Jinchuuriki. Everyone close by was listening in, and just about all of Naruto's former classmates already know the truth behind Naruto.
Sakura was observing the two as well, and wondered how much Sachiko knows about herself. Her sudden growth would scare any normal human being for one, but if she were to think more carefully, she would thought that Sachiko was trying to catch up to her present age. But that was a story of another time. Right now, Sachiko was clinging on her father's arm, and that caused Sakura, as well as Ino and Hinata to be rather peeved.
"Naruto," Sakura called from behind them, "you shouldn't let Sachiko-chan cling on you like that. People will get the wrong impression."
"It wasn't me, Sakura-chan!" Naruto explained, her hand pointing at a smiling Sachiko who leaned her head on Naruto's arm.
"Well, you haven't been disciplining her enough, then." Sakura marched in to pry Sachiko-chan away from Naruto. "As for you, young lady, I know you love your father but you can't be too close to him. People will think he's go this weird urge when it comes to young girls.
Sachiko-chan only returned the glare as she pulled her arm away from Sakura's grasp.
"What do you know, you old witch?" Sachiko screeched. "As if the village once appreciated what father did for them and I remember the stories about him being hated all because he's a Jinchuuriki."
Sakura was shocked and downright angry with what Sachiko just said.
"Did you just call me a witch?" Sakura fumed as her hands begin to tremble and flare with chakra.
"That's what I said and I'll keep saying it whenever I want!" Sachiko yelled. "Just because you and the old man are on friendly terms doesn't mean I have to like you. It was just fine with us two living together and I accepted the fact that my mother is already gone, and I don't care about it anymore."
It was just that. Naruto raising a girl whose life revolves around him wouldn't want another woman to destroy that special relationship. She was fiercely protective of her father and the though of him remarrying would take that all away. It opened Naruto's eyes on a certain question that he was dying to know as he pulled Sachiko back on his side.
"Listen, Sachiko-chan, as much as I adore you and all, you shouldn't be rude or vicious to my friends. And why wouldn't you talk or care about losing your mother?"
Sachiko's angry gaze softened a bit as she turned he head away from Naruto.
"It's not that I care, Pops, but I just thought I don't need one since I've never even met her. I just stopped caring when you were raising me yourself and those were the best times for me."
Releasing is grip from Sachiko's arm, Naruto can relate to her somewhat.
"I know how you feel, and remember I lived through life which is far worse than you growing up without a mother's love."
Sachiko softened considerably at Naruto's words, and somehow it angered her even more as she pulled her father in a tight embrace.
"That's why I will never get married. I don't want to leave your side since Konoha considers you as a monster when you were young. I want you to experience what it's like to be loved by a family member." Sachiko said tearfully.
Naruto was taken back at Sachiko's words, as he sighs a bit and ruffled Sachiko's hair.
"I'm glad you thought that way, but as your father, I want you to find your own happiness. You can't spend the rest of your life helping others find their happiness if you cannot find one of your own." Naruto smiled patiently.
"I know. But for now, it's just the two of us." Sachiko smiled.
Everyone who was witnessing this drama was smiling in their hearts, even Shino despite of his ominous silence that he was known for. Somehow, the girls, not including Tenten, felt a tugging in their hearts, somehow they would want to become a part of their life and would do anything to prove Sachiko that she needs a mother.
The trek took another hour at most, as Naruto surveys the area and believes to be the place where they will be turning to reach Wave Country. Ordering everyone to leap for the trees, the entire trip took another two hours until they reached a large body of water in their general direction. From far away, they could see a large lake and a bridge that connects to the once small and poor village, now brimming with life and vitality. Setting foot at the start of the bridge, Naruto and his group stopped to read the sign.
"The Great Naruto Bridge." Sachiko's eyes were wide as plates. Even Naruto was shocked to find this. For the rest who have heard about the mission from Kakashi, they didn't think that Naruto has influenced this village in a big way.
"I never knew you were a celebrity, eh Naruto?" Kiba joked as he grabbed Naruto in a headlock and began grinding his fist on his head.
"It's amazing, Naruto-kun." Hinata spoke with pride.
"Well, first thing to do is to go to Tazuna's place and ask around for some information about these bandits." Naruto ordered as he crossed the bridge. One thing he never counted on the moment he's inside the village is the face of many of its denizens who were looking at him. One shouted at the direction of Naruto's group.
"He's here! The hero of Wave is here!"
Just about every man, woman and child who have learned about Naruto and his friends that liberated their village from an evil man crowded around him in a boisterous cheer. Naruto, who wasn't used to this kind of fanfare, could only waved his arms to greet the people, urging the people to cheer even more loudly. The village chief was even there to greet the hero, a wise old man, as he bowed to Naruto and his group.
"It gives me great pleasure to meet the Hero of Wave. It was thanks to your efforts and encouragement that this village is now free from Gato's hand."
"It was nothing, I guess." Naruto chuckled nervously as the village leader took them to the town hall and had someone fetch the old bridge builder to be present. Ironically, it was also the very day the village is holding their third annual ramen contest, much to the delight of both Naruto and Sachiko as they began filling their stomachs with what the ramen bars all over the village has to offer.
After lunch, and Naruto declaring the winner of the ramen contest, the village leader decided that it's time to discuss about why they were summoned in the first place. Tazuna lead the discussions as Naruto introduced everyone in his team, with Sachiko as the last. This brought the poor old man to grasp his heart, as if he's trying to fight the urge to get a heart attack.
"It's a long story, old man, and I don't think I have the strength to tell it all over again." Naruto grinned sheepishly.
"If… If you say so, brat." Tazuna stuttered a bit, much to Sachiko's anger at Tazuna calling his father a brat.
"Hey! Don't call him that!" Sachiko seethed.
"Now, now, Sachiko-chan. It's just our way of being familiar to each other." Naruto scolded as Sachiko hung her head down and apologized.
"Man, her attitude's just like the brat here." Tazuna mumbled to himself before continuing.
"About three weeks ago, I was summoned to another village to begin construction of another bridge and everything went smoothly. Of course not until three days ago when this band of thugs began sabotaging the project. I don't know why, but they claimed to be Gato's men. They were being ordered by some guy with a sword, claiming to be one of the Seven Swords like Zabuza.
"It was terrible. A lot of good guys were killed or injured. Seems like the nightmare of three years ago was starting all over again. That's why I requested the chief to call for you guys."
Naruto lowered his head to think.
"Did this Mist ninja give you a name?" Sakura asked.
"Not really, they just refer to him as 'boss'." Tazuna answered.
It was a base tactic even for Naruto. Strike enough fear and a small village such as this would easily crumble before their might.
"How far is the bridge from here?" Shino spoke.
"About half a day's journey. Some of the injured ones are already here and are recuperating even as we speak.
Naruto nodded to Tazuna as he faced his group for his instructions.
"There are nine of us here and it includes two medic nins. I want Shino, Tenten and Ino to head to the bridge to provide some protection. Hinata, Lee and Kiba will start scouting the perimeter of the bridge since their radios would reach that far in case they decide to attack. Sakura-chan, I want you to start mending the injured workers while Sachiko and myself will guard the village."
It was a well-balanced plan, allowing each member to be utilized according to his or her skill while also adding a person of above average attacking power. Even Shino couldn't find any fault on Naruto's strategy, since he thought the reason he was left to guard the bridge is to allow his bugs to scatter, thus informing him of any security breaches. Tenten can take out enemy waves with her attacks and Ino can be there to heal the injured. The scout team was just as good, using Hinata's Byakugan to search out any of the insurgents, thus signaling Lee as the sniper of sorts as he rushes in to take out the enemy while Kiba and Akamaru can use their enhanced hearing and smell to detect an enemy presence. What more, since Naruto and Sachiko can summon shadow clones and can fight using the Rasengan, they can pretty much over the entire village under their protection.
"Damn, that's a good plan, Naruto. Since when did you become so smart?" Kiba asked.
"I'm inclined to agree with Kiba. Why is that?" Shino spoke.
Naruto scrunched up his face as he thought. With a shrug he answered, "Dunno, really, I just picked out random people out of impulse." Naruto chuckled as he scratched his head.
Everyone in the room fell down in shock with a loud crash.
"You're still an idiot, aren't you, Naruto?" Sakura growled, which Naruto could only turn his head away in a huff.
The three teams are in position the following morning, where Hinata's team scouted the surrounding forest near the unfinished bridge while Shino's team kept a firm eye during the construction when they came with Tazuna and some new workers in the morning. It left Sakura tending to the injured, and occasionally the sick that a long line was formed in front of the village's small hospital.
Naruto and Sachiko walked around the village, looking for something out of the ordinary. Though Naruto was slightly oblivious of his surroundings to the point he couldn't distinguish one bug to another, Sachiko took her duty quite seriously as her eyes roamed around the village and its people. There was nothing out of place in the village, and compared to the first time Naruto visited, it was anything but poor. Various shops and markets surround the single strip of road, where market owners sell their wares and competing for cheap prices to gather customers.
As the two turned to a corner, Naruto spots a large house with a high, hay-thatched roof just above the clearing. The shoji, or a sliding paper door, was opened to allow air to enter the large house. Outside, a woman was hanging the laundry on bamboo sticks, which brought a smile to Naruto's face as he and Sachiko approached the house. Once they were close enough, Naruto called out her name.
"Tsunami-san!"
This caught the woman's attention as she moved away from the clotheslines to see who was calling her. She finds two young blondes, where the male was a familiar sight, given to the unruly hair and the whisker marks on his face.
"Naruto-kun?" Tsunami called out.
This brought a smile on his face as Naruto ran the rest of the way to meet Tsunami almost on eye level. The woman was looking at Naruto with an observant eye, now looking at how much he's grown after three years. He looks more handsome, despite of his baby face, yet it was the grin that she could never forget as she pulls the young man in an embrace.
"It's good to see you again, Naruto-kun!" Tsunami smiled.
"It's great to be back." Naruto said as he returned the embrace. The two pulled apart after a few seconds.
"So, where's Inari at?" Naruto looks around to find the kid.
"My son left early to go to school, and seems to have taken a keen interest in architecture. He was hoping to be like his grandfather, and not only build bridges." Tsunami answered proudly.
Naruto smiled at Inari's effort when he and Tsunami heard someone clearing her throat, only to find a girl of Naruto's age and looks as well.
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't notice you. My name is Tsunami and I am Tazuna's daughter."
"Glad to meet you, Tsunami-san. My name's Uzumaki Sachiko, I'm Naruto's daughter." Sachiko returned the bow and grinned.
It took her a few seconds to register everything the girl said as Tsunami stood in silence with a vacant expression on her face. Naruto and Sachiko waited for a few seconds when they noticed that Tsunami seems to be falling on her feet. Naruto managed to catch her before she could hit her head on the ground.
"Pop, how come every time you introduce me to someone, they either faint, shout or burst out laughing?"
Naruto could only look at Sachiko sheepishly as he carried Tsunami inside the house.
After a few hours, Tsunami heard everything about Sachiko's appearance and how they are related. Tsunami took it all in slowly at first while Sachiko waited outside on watch. In the end, she could only accept for a face that Sachiko is truly Naruto's child, and in a world where anything can happen, she takes it as the truth.
"The way you described her sudden age spurt, I take it may happen again some time in the future, right?" Tsunami queried.
"I dunno about that, Tsunami-san, even I'm confused about what's happening. But I made a promise that I won't leave her no matter what." Naruto declared, which brought a knowing smile on Tsunami's face.
"I'm glad to hear that, Naruto-kun. And as a parent, I may have a few pointers, especially when dealing with girls at her age. Of course it's different when they are shinobi, but there are times a girl will just have to act like a girl, and honestly her tomboyish behavior will bound to break."
"Heh, I feel like a novice compared to you, though. I mean, I only had her for like ten days, and I feel like killing any guy who comes near her." Naruto grimaced at the thought of it.
Tsunami laughed a bit. "It's just natural, Naruto-kun. Deep down, you still see Sachiko-chan as a little girl and you can only wish she would just stay that way. Problem is, that's not how life intended for us."
"I know!" Naruto groaned. "I mean, she's gone from four, to seven and now fifteen in a few days! And I won't be able to teach her some of my cool moves because she already knows them!"
Tsunami felt guilty for laughing at Naruto's expense, but she couldn't help it, given that he's only fifteen years old. Just when she was about to move to a different discussion, Sachiko entered the house with Sakura.
"There you are! I've been looking all over the place, you idiot!" Sakura growled, causing Sachiko to stare hotly at her.
"Sorry about that, Sakura-chan. We're just having a conversation here." Naruto grinned.
Sakura could only close her eyes and exhaled a long sigh before facing Tsunami with a smile. "It's great to see you again, Tsunami-san."
Tsunami stood up as she ushered the two girls in. Sachiko, instead stood at the stoop of the door, explained that she has to continue her rounds and urging her father to do the same.
"Well, I guess I have to be out there as well. See you later, Tsunami-san." Naruto grinned as he exited the house. Just as the door was about to close, Sachiko shot Sakura an angry glare until it was closed completely. Tsunami was quick to notice this as she noticed the sad look in Sakura's face.
"You seem tired, Sakura-san. I'll get you some tea so just make yourself comfortable." Tsunami said as she heads towards the kitchen to brew some more tea. While the kettle was building to a simmer, Tsunami observed Sakura from her vantage point, wondered why Sachiko-chan was openly hostile to her. Though she has an idea or two of her own, she though of hearing it straight from Sakura. Once the tea has been served, Tsunami began to interrogate Sakura in the most innocent way possible.
"Whenever I see Naruto and Sachiko together, I'm sure people would think they were fraternal twins who are close together."
Sakura was about to drink the tea halfway when she stopped.
"Is something wrong?"
Sakura snapped back to reality as she forced a smile on her face like everything is fine with her.
"No! Nothing's wrong, Tsunami-san! What gave you the wrong idea?" Sakura was denying it straight out and her gestures were animated.
"I see. Well, when my husband passed away a few months after Inari was born, I though my life would start falling apart if not for my father and for my son or I would have gone insane a long time ago. I remember that time when Kaiza came into the village after saving my son from drowning. At first I was a tad bit wary of the man, yet the way he gotten along with Inari, I thought he may be able to save us, hoping that our family would be whole once again.
"When Gatou has taken him away from us, my heart just broke in a million pieces, and Inari suffered more than I have. I thought this was it, the beginning of the end if not for the fact that Naruto snapped him out of it, drilling into him what it means to be lonely and what it means to fight for what he or his father believed in."
Sakura listened to Tsunami's story until the end, and somehow saw no relevance to whatever she was trying to point out.
"It's a sad story, and I'm sad for your loss, Tsunami-san." Sakura lowered her head.
"When I saw Sachiko glare at you, I thought it would be a good example."
Tsunami took a sip of her tea after she spoke those words, which shocked Sakura.
"Listen, when Naruto told me of the night when she was seven, she wanted nothing more than to have a mother, and that's why she was trying to hook Naruto up with his Hyuuga Hinata. When she grew up after her ordeal that almost lost her life, she felt somewhat overprotective, and I believe you know the answer to that right?
"A child who was raised by a single parent would believe that only he or she could take care of the parent. She believes it so strongly, that if the time comes that a parent would find love all over again, she'll be willing to lose life and limb to break it apart. Otherwise, all those years of caring for the parent would be meaningless if they allow a stranger to enter what she considers her entire world."
Sakura's eyes widened at the revelation. Sachiko wasn't being mean because she considered anyone within and beyond Naruto's age group that saw her father as a monster, but because she as given up in hopes that someone might love her, as well as a father in hopes that she will have a complete family. It has nothing to do with Naruto having a cute daughter, but because Sachiko was raised to be kind and time and again her hopes were dashed to the ground.
"What should I do, Tsunami-san?" Sakura whispered just loud enough for Tsunami to hear.
Tsunami took the girl's question to consideration and answered.
"In order to get to the single parent, they must cross the mountain that is their child. With boys, they may be a bit easier, but a girl can have a hard time adjusting, thinking that she is what her father only needs. There are no tactics, I'm afraid, but you have to be kind and courteous and hopefully the girl will open up to you."
Sakura nodded half-heartedly, but from the inside was a growing and fierce determination to prove herself to be worthy of becoming Naruto's wife, and maybe Sachiko's mother.
It was already late in the afternoon as the sun was slowly setting on the horizon, painting the sky with a brilliant splurge of orange and gold. He was walking around the village, in a way to patrol the area, when he spots a store that sells flowers. He approached the storeowner and ordered some.
"You off to visit a girl, Naruto-sama?" The kind flower shop owner asked.
Naruto grinned as he answered, "No, not really, but I'll be visiting an old friend up in the forest.
The shop owner nodded and understood the gist. After all, he was among the many villagers who banded together to face Gato's cronies and knew who those people were.
It took an hour to visit that said place as Naruto walked. Near the mouth of the forest were two mounds of earth. The only thing he recognizes was the huge zanbatou, or a very large sword used by the strongest front line soldiers. Placing the flowers on each gravestone, he read the names out loud.
"Momochi Zabuza. Haku."
He noticed that Zabuza's weapon, which he clearly remembers as the Kubikiri Houcho, was cleaned and polished, possibly by one of the villagers and noticed some gray ash on the mounds due to the spent incense. This thought has put a smile on Naruto's face as he began talking t their graves.
"Hey. It's been awhile, right? You should take a good look at me, I mean, I've grown taller. I haven't much to say, but I guess I have to take it from the start.
"If you're watching, from heaven or hell, then maybe you're wondering why there's a kid, or woman in my apartment. Her name's Sachiko, Uzumaki Sachiko; a girl who claims that she's living in her correct timeline, which I would fond out that she's from the future. It was a real shocker even for me, to have a kid. I dunno if I should be happy or not, but I guess deep down I am. I never had any parents or family to look after me, and believe me, Sachiko was a godsend who can cook."
At that moment, Sachiko hears the voice of her father as she approached. She finds Naruto standing before two graves and was about to join him when he heard him speak clearly.
"I don't know what I'm going to do, Zabuza, Haku, I mean, Sachiko-chan is real cute and all, but she doesn't belong here, or this timeline for that matter." Sachiko's eyes widen in shock as tears started forming. "I mean, she believes that I'm Hokage. But the truth is that I'm only fifteen and just a genin and I think she's even stronger than I am since she claims to be a chuunin. It sucks, really, not having an idea on how to take care of a girl who's aging rapidly, and talk about mood swings or periods really freaks me out. What's worse, she's like a tomboy who wouldn't even bat an eye on any guy she meets. I'm not sure if she takes her dense nature after me, but anyone can tell I'm not that old enough to have a daughter despite of how she sees it. But every time I thought of not meeting her and just return everything back to normal, it somehow hurts my chest as if I'm about to lose something precious. You could have seen me run a couple of D-rank missions in a day just t make ends meet since genin aren't paid well. But looking at her smile whenever we go shopping or eating sukiyaki, I just didn't have the heart to turn her away."
Naruto pauses for a moment to reflect upon his words as he chuckles a bit.
"But I did make a promise to her when she was seven, and that was only a few days ago, and I will never take back those words. As long as Sachiko-chan needs me, then she can rest assured that I will protect her with my life."
The sound of sliding dirt interrupted Naruto as he snapped his head towards the source of the sound. He found what he was looking for, and at the same time not prepared as he saw Sachiko with her knees folded to her chest and her arms wrapped around it. Her eyes were wide with shock and tears as Naruto kneeled down in front of the girl and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Sachiko-chan, what happened to you?" Naruto nudged as he shook her a bit.
Sachiko broke away from her stupor as she slowly raised her eyes to meet Naruto's when she suddenly clings to her neck and sobbed.
"Dad, who am I? What am I? What is happening to me? Are you really my father, the Rokudaime Hokage?" Sachiko sobbed.
Naruto gritted his teeth, realizing that Sachiko was listening in on his conversation between him and the grave. He never felt more foolish in his entire life, but to avoid her from the truth would hurt her even more.
"Sachiko-chan." Naruto spoke. "What I am about to tell you is the truth, and I'm not sure why you showed up in my apartment. Hopefully I could get some answers soon enough, okay? Even if you don't know or probably insignificant, you just have to trust me."
Sachiko has never seen her father act so seriously, even though she knew that her father was always a prankster that made Konoha even livelier. She nods her head and wipes the tears from her eyes as Naruto pulled her up on her feet and headed towards Tazuna's house.
