That Friday morning Marie wakes up with deep bruises under her eyes, but emotionally she is somewhat okay. She was as okay as she could be considering the circumstances.
The worst of the haze was gone last night by the time that she got through her eighth arabesque.
She yelps as she nearly topples over once she gets out of bed. She definitely overdid it.
Her expression sours as she remembers her technique being sloppy, too sloppy. Madame would've taken a cane to my shins after my third demi-plié. She winces at the memories.
She makes her way out of the bedroom, a yawn on her lips and a hand scratching at her belly. She doesn't notice an operative with long violet hair who nearly coos at her worn out disposition.
In the bathroom, she discards her pajamas in the hamper before heading to the shower. Afterward she brushes her teeth, remembering to greet the boy in the mirror. "Good morning, Naruto."
After toweling off her hair and putting in her clips, she gets dressed in a white shirt and navy shorts and heads straight for the kitchen.
Marie takes her time preparing a meal to make up for yesterday's mess. She takes a look at the clock when she's finished and realizes that she's having brunch instead. She sits at the table surrounded by a smorgasbord of breakfast foods and warm pastries, making sure to eat her fill of pancakes and toast with jam.
She finishes up the dishes and is about to stow away the leftovers for later, when she hears a knock at the door.
For a moment she doesn't move, doesn't breathe.
The knock persists and only then does she reluctantly head for the genkan, dragging her step stool behind her.
Looking through the peephole she sees a man in robes with an odd hat. The Sandaime had decided to pay her a visit.
Maybe I can pretend I'm not here.
"I can see your eye, Naruto-kun."
Shit. Ignoring the trembling in her limbs she removes the chain lock, as well as the other two locks that she had installed. Thank you again, Hideo.
She takes a deep breath and releases it before opening the door.
Soon she's face to face with the Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato, Sarutobi Hiruzen. The smile that he gives is not unkindly. "Hello, Naruto-kun."
"Uh, hi." She wants to slap herself. "Would you like to come in?"
She steps aside and the Sandaime enters the apartment, and whatever comfort the small abode gave her immediately disappears as they stand idly in the kitchen. Why is he here?
Hiruzen immediately focuses on her. "I hope that you did not forget that we would get ramen today?"
Her gaze falls to her tiny feet. Shit, that was for the afternoon? "Uh, sorry Jiji?" Marie can hear her Japanese language professor's disapproving hum. I'm so sorry Ayako-sensei. "I thought that we were going to get ramen for dinner…" She raises her eyes to see that Hiruzen's own gaze was on the food on the table. "Ah, I had a late breakfast."
The elder's eyes snap from the table to the young boy in front of him. He's thinking too deeply for Marie's tastes and in the back of her mind alarm bells are going off.
As soon as she starts paling Hiruzen reigns in his calculating gaze and offers another smile instead. "You made all of this, Naruto-kun?"
Motherfu- "Yes, I did. I bought a cookbook the other day." That's not entirely a lie… "It was actually pretty easy." She prays that her smile doesn't betray her terror. "Would you like some breakfast, Jiji?"
The elder smiles and nods before he heads toward one of her new chairs.
She puts together a plate for him out of her leftovers. She makes sure to stack on pancakes, toast, scrambled eggs, and ham.
He hums as Marie places his food in front of him. "It is very good that you learned how to cook. I cannot say that having ramen for every meal is good for you, no matter how tempting it may be."
She shrugs as she offers him the bottle of syrup, the jars of jam. She pours him a glass of orange juice and goes to the counter to set up the coffee pot. "Like I said, it wasn't that hard. I think I like it." She couldn't help her grin, cooking was always a favorite pastime of hers.
Hiruzen brings his hands together and mutters a quiet "itadakimasu." He lifts his chopsticks and takes a bite, he's pleasantly surprised. "This is very good. I did not know that you liked foreign meals, Naruto-kun."
He says it so lackadaisically that she's sure he's suspicious.
From her step stool in front of the counter, one of her hands reaches up to ruffle her hair. Her other hand has an iron grip on the hem of her shirt. Apparently anything other than a traditional Japanese breakfast is foreign? Noted. "I thought it was a little easier to make than the stuff we usually eat. Besides, if I want to be a good ninja then I have to look after myself however I can, right?"
Behind her back, his gaze becomes focused once again. "You still want to become a ninja, Naruto-kun?"
No way in hell, but I don't think I have a choice considering I'm the jinchuuriki and all that. "If… if I want to protect myself and the people I care about, then I have to become stronger. Learning to be a ninja can make me stronger." She turns on her step stool and meets his gaze straight on. This is the kind of bullshit the protagonists say right? "Am I wrong, Jiji?"
Hiruzen looks pensive for a moment before he lowers his eyes and continues to eat his meal.
Just then the coffee pot bubbles, taking back Marie's attention.
She pours two cups and brings them to the table right as Hiruzen mutters, "gochisousama-deshita."
She mutters her reply, "osomatsusama-deshita." She holds back a wince when she feels Hiruzen's gaze shift back to her. Instead she focuses on placing both cups on the table.
He looks at the mug in confusion. "Black tea?"
She almost smiles as she walks off to fetch the milk, cream, and sugar. She still isn't sure of how real life trading ventures affected this world. "Coffee."
"Ah yes, the younger generations enjoy this. I never got around to trying it myself." He gingerly takes the cup and takes a sip, his face scrunches up and she holds in her chuckles. "This is… interesting?"
The obvious lie brings Marie over the edge and she starts to laugh, soon Hiruzen joins in. They both feel the tension dissipate from the apartment. "Not everyone takes it black, Jiji. Would you like milk, cream, or sugar?"
"How do you drink it?"
She reaches her hand out to take the mug, adding a spoonful of sugar and a splash milk. "Here, this way it's not as bitter."
He accepts the mug and takes a tentative sip and then a hearty gulp. "I can see the appeal." He smiles again, much more relaxed than before. "Thank you."
She waves it off before taking a sip from her mug. "No problem." An old lesson comes to mind, she smiles. Looks like an earnest meal really can ease all tensions.
They sit in comfortable silence for a while, and before long Hiruzen gets up to leave.
As Marie opens the door, Hiruzen turns to her and places a hand on her head. "Thank you for the meal, Naruto-kun. This old man hasn't had a home cooked meal in a long while." He hesitates for a moment, before leaning down to her level. "You are still too young to join the academy, but you will be of age the following year after you turn 6-years-old. I will be sure to have you registered to begin next April."
He waits for her reply and Marie reluctantly grins, her fear tinging the expression. "I'll be ready then."
He sighs. "Please do not force yourself. That being said, I know that you will go far, Naruto-kun." He steps out of the apartment. "Your future will be grand, regardless of who you may have become."
She freezes in place and feels her stomach drop into her knees.
Hiruzen just smiles and ruffles her hair. "I look forward to seeing what you can do."
He leaves her standing at the genkan and walks away.
Marie steps back into the apartment and replaces all of the locks on the door. She slides down to the floor and clutches her hair.
I'm so fucked! She winces after a sharp tug, but it seems to be what she needs to ground herself. She breathes in and lets it out. Her hands drop from her hair, she goes to the bedroom to grab her gray hoodie.
She walks back to the genkan, getting her sandals on and flipping up the hood. She unlocks the door to the apartment and steps out.
I need help.
She leaves the building, sticking to the side streets in search of an ally.
Hiruzen smiles at the villagers as he walks back to the tower. He tries to force the discontent to the back of his mind. To think that some people are capable of such malevolence toward a young boy.
He looks out to the Hokage mountain. Wherever you find yourselves, Minato, Kushina, I do hope that you forgive me. As for your son… His mind drifts back to the blond child who holds themselves much differently than they had the previous week. If you truly are gone, then hope you are at rest, Naruto-kun. As for this new child… If it is still you but a different version of you, a broken version of who you once were… I wish them the best and will offer assistance where I can.
Hiruzen is back in his office when he remembers the small broken body in the hospital. He leans back in his chair, his neutral expression betraying the simmering anger just underneath the surface. I refuse to sit back and let that happen. Not again.
