{I don't own Naruto, or anything of any worth. u.u}

The Carving

Ch 10: Shopping, A New Experience...

...Fugaku took his scroll up again as his son excused himself. A subtle smile crossed his lips. He watched his eldest and the future leader leave the dining room. He was proud of his son. He was seeing a good future leader walk out the door. Sometimes he worried that he put too much pressure on his son, but today he saw a strong young man wanting to do something to help his family, and a small child that had some how wormed his way into all of their hearts...

Fugaku finished his breakfast and kissed his wife, "I have business to take care of I will be back in plenty of time to get ready."

"Oh, that's fine. I'm going to get them fitted for new kimonos. I might stop by the academy at lunch time and fetch Itachi-san. He has out grown his old Kimono," She explained.

"That's fine, just do not keep him out of school longer then necessary," He man grabbed a few scrolls and walked out to the entry way to slip on his shoes. Mikoto cleaned up and went to change for her outing as well.

"Boys!" Mikoto called out, "It's time to go we have a lot of things to get done today." Sasuke ran downstairs dragging Naruto. Sasuke in clean clothes and Naruto in his relatively clean hand-me-down clothes that Mikoto had fitted him with the previous day. Mikoto tisked as she thought, 'I forgot you don't have any shoes. It was a shame he was so neglected. How could he not at least have one pair of decent shoes. Well at least he looks in better condition then he showed up on our doorstep.'

"Come boys," She slipped on her shoes and Sasuke slipped his on also and almost elbowed Naruto when he just stood there then he blushed looking at the little bare feet. Mikoto quickly grabbed a hand in each of hers and walked out the front door with an adorable child on either side of her.

"Where are we going?" Sasuke scratched his nose as he looked up at his mother, "Well first I think we should get Young Naruto-kun some sandals." She saw the unbelieving look of wonder on the blonde's face.

"Shoes? For me?" He blushed and grinned at the same time.

"Yeah, you can't expect to run around bare footed all the time!" Sasuke looked around his mother's skirt.

"...And Naruto-kun needs proper underwear, socks, shirts, shorts...and a proper Kimono for the dinner tonight," Naruto gaped up at the woman. She giggled, "Naruto-kun you'll catch flies." She released his hand to close his mouth then reclaimed the tiny paw.

"Obaa-san is too kind," Naruto's eyes welled up with moisture, "I don't deserve new clothes." He wiped his tears away with his free hand, "Why?"

"What do you mean Naruto-kun?" Mikoto looked into the heart breaking ocean blue depths.

"Why would you waste your moneys on me? I'm not special 'nough," He sniffed and wiped at his face. Mikoto stopped and let go of her son.

She knelt in front of the crying child, "Naruto-kun! Don't think like that! I don't care what other people have told you. You are not worthless, you are not a demon child! You are precious, and I like you very much. You are worth it to me and Sasuke-chan too, Right?" She turned to her son and gave a meaningful look.

Sasuke nodded in agreement, "...And your really cute, Naruto!" Mikoto hugged the boy and Sasuke grabbed onto his arm. Naruto cried into the woman's chest, "Don't cry no more Naruto." Sasuke patted his arm and leaned on his shoulder to comfort him. Mikoto shushed her son and let the fragile boy finish and calm himself.

"Naruto today we will show everyone just how much you are worth. You are worthy of kindness and love and we want to give that to you," She felt the boy nod to her, "Shall we go now?"

"Uh-huh," Naruto smiled weakly.

"Come on let's go then," She stood and walked with her boys out of the compound and toward the market place.

They were getting close and Mikoto felt the child shrink back against her. He tugged on her skirt, "Obaa-san?"

"Yes Naruto-kun?"

"The shops won't sell to me, unless nobody else wants it," he tried to explain the rebuffs he expected. He didn't know that he was speaking to the mistress of the second most powerful and wealthiest clan in the village.

"No worries little one," She patted his head and hugged him closer to her side in a protective gesture, "They will sell to me." Inside she was fuming, not just that people refused to serve the child, but it was obvious to her that the child had been expected to see to his own care. What child of seven or eight could expect to shop for themselves, keep house and tend to their own clothes. She was going to see the Hokage about this and give him a piece of her mind. Busy or not, this was criminal neglect.

Naruto looked around and caught a few angry stares, but nobody approached him. Nobody spoke out of turn seeing the well known and respected Uchiha mistress. She was a valued customer and offending her could mean loosing not only an important customer, but potentially one's entire business. At the same time, serving the demon vessel could mean loosing lots of customers.

Mikoto decided to play the safest card and went to her favorite clothing shop first they sold shoes as well as clothing, both ready made and tailored, "Ah, Mikoto-sama what brings you here this fine morning." A short and stout looking woman waddled over to the taller woman and the two children.

"Kotone-san," She smiled, "How have you been?"

"I'm just fine, It's getting later in the pregnancy and Daichi doesn't want me working these long shifts, but you know those teenagers I hired are useless to run this place. I need to find some better help," She rubbed her swollen belly and Naruto noticed she was not really fat. He realized the woman had a baby in her belly. He peeked from behind Mikoto's skirt. He had never been in this store before and it was a bit scary for him. Everything looked expensive, "Oi, what's that you have hiding behind your skirt?" She smiled, "That's not little Sasuke-chan is it?"

"No, Kotone-sama, I'm right here," He stepped out from behind his mother and brought the terrified Naruto with him, "Who's this you have with you?" She frowned for a second and Naruto shifted on his bare feet nervously, "Uzumaki Naruto? Huh? When did you pick him up?" He didn't know if he should start running. He felt like he was in a lion's den wearing a raw meat body suit. Mikoto frowned and the woman took the warning.

Kotone sighed, "Well I am guessing you are here for the boy. Am I right?" Mikoto was slightly disappointed with her friend's cold reception, but she seemed to be willing to work on Naruto, and maybe his cute charms would work on her. "Let's see. Come here Uzumaki-san." Naruto froze and looked pleadingly at the woman who would be his protector, he hoped. Unfortunately she was not choosing to at this time. Mikoto gently shoved the boy toward the other woman. Kotone took him by the hand not too roughly, but Naruto trembled and flinched as she pushed him to a small bench. Kotone's face softened a bit, "It's alright. I'm not planning to eat you or anything." She smiled at him, but Naruto continued to shake and closed his eyes tightly.

Suddenly he felt something soft brush his feet. He tried to stifle the small giggle that escaped his mouth, "Ticklish little one?" She smiled wider and ran her finger tips across the bottom of his now clothed foot. Naruto laughed a little louder then slapped his hands to his mouth in shock. He looked to see sock covered feet as Kotone slipped some navy blue shinobi sandals onto his feet, "Mm-huh, perfect fit." She admired his tiny feet. Kotone seemed to warm up to the child. Mikoto was thankful, "Uzumaki-san, please stand up and I will measure you so we can find you some better fitting clothes," She lead the group to the back where the fitting rooms were, "Tell me Mikoto, what has brought this about?"

"I will fill you in later," She looked at the two boys not wanting to have them hear anything that might upset them, especially Naruto. She trusted Kotone to keep confidences, but this was probably something she should keep a lid on for a little while.

"Fine, another time, but this boy..." She looked at the thin child and shook her head, "My you are a skinny thing. Ahh-well that just means you'll be seeing me again once Mikoto fattens you up a bit."

She took a measuring tape and wrapped it around his waist and chest. She felt his fragile frame shaking as she ran her hand with the tape down the length of his arm. She measured his legs and his torso length and finally scratched out the numbers on a notebook she produced from her apron pocket, "You boys stay in here, and don't...touch...anything." She took Mikoto's arm and lead her to the store front to pick out some things, "Please tell me. Are you planning to keep the child?" She looked both curious and worried at the same time.

"I wish I could say, but I can not. Not now," She looked through the curtain and saw that Sasuke was nosing around while Naruto stood stock still, "Why do you ask."

"I ask as your friend. You could be inviting a lot of trouble if you take that boy in," Mikoto rolled her eyes, "I'm not stupid Mikoto-sama. I see that shape the child is in. I am sorry I frightened him so. I truly am, but surely there is someone else-"

The Uchiha cut her off with a stern glare, "There is in fact no one else who will step up. I am well aware of the troubles that might arise, but that boy is worth every one of them. Just look at him," Both looked and saw Naruto still standing obediently and Sasuke was pulling on his arm trying to get him to move. Naruto looked sideways at the two women. He looked as if he were about to break apart, "Fine, if you do it then do it right. If you all don't do right by that child then I will come and snatch him from you." She was only half teasing. It might have been her hormones but she was serous under the good natured smile. Mikoto read a serous threat and registered it. She nodded and let the subject drop in favor of finding some cute clothes for the child to wear.

"Kotone, I think I want blues. Like his eyes. They are so pretty. Did you notice them," The pregnant woman nodded.

"Somewhere between teal and ocean blue very pretty indeed. I'll see what I've got." She ambled over the rack looking for the sizes she needed. She handed things to Mikoto who smiled and cooed about how cute everything was.

Sasuke was still pulling on Naruto's arm and Naruto still refused to move, "Common Naruto! Let's play 'till they get back. I brought Kitsune-chan. Did you bring Ursa-chan?" Naruto only shook his head. Sasuke pulled the fox out of his pocket and ran it up the boy's arm. Naruto giggled again. Sasuke grinned wickedly. He pocketed his toy and began tickling Naruto until the boy fell to the floor rolling with laughter, "S-s-s-st-stop," He gasped out but Sasuke would not relent.

Mikoto and Kotone both giggled, "Listen Kotone, can you make Naruto a Kimono by tonight? I actually need one for Sasuke and Itachi also, but I know you could not do three. I was going to go to the that seamstress that specializes in kimonos because I need them done quickly, but I really don't want to put him through another fitting," Most shop owners might be annoyed at this, but Kotone understood.

"Yeah, I think I can have a nice kimono finished by, say three this afternoon, you just pick the fabric," Kotone walked into the small dressing room and Mikoto and she deposited the clothes for Naruto to try on then she pulled out a book of swatches to show the woman while Naruto tried on clothes. They settled on a lovely almost iridescent blue green that they thought would bring out those lovely eyes and compliment his pretty yellow gold hair. Kotone encouraged her to get the red and orange trim of flames and a fire dragon saying it would bring out his faint red highlights. When all was said and done. Mikoto walked out of the store carrying three bags of clothes. Naruto was dressed in an adorable blue shirt with a small fox kit embroidered on the front and white shorts much like Sasuke's. He had casual sandals and nicer ones for the formal dinner later.

Mikoto decided that later they would get Uchiha fans on the boy's clothes, but she allowed the boy to have an emblem of his choosing and Naruto picked one that looked very familiar to the woman. It was a swirl design and it was embroidered on the left sleeve of all of his clothing. The right or the back would sport the Uchiha fan once he was accepted into the clan. Sasuke and a slightly more confident Naruto strolled through the market place. The angry glares and mean words muttered at him seemed not to matter as much.