One day late again. At least it's consistent...
This are finally back to normal with the snow basically gone. The hills here are treacherous when covered in snow.
Anyways, most of what happens between this chapter and the last is covered in the starting paragraphs, but Minato and Kushina did get Kakashi to actually introduce himself to Naruto and act a little bit like a big brother. He isn't seen too often because he has his own place and his tour in the ANBU to finish.
That should be it. Feel free to review with any questions and/or concerns!
I own nothing but my OCs. Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Changes
First day of year 4, January
To say that Naruto's life changed after his last birthday was an understatement. First, he learned that his parents were the godparents to his classmate, Sasuke. The Uchiha joined the family a few days after the school term ended. Second, Kushina enforced a varied diet, meaning that Naruto wasn't allowed to eat only ramen most of the time. His health improved greatly, and subsequently his training progressed faster. Third, the villagers' treatment of Naruto improved. Instead of hearing "demon brat" or "hell spawn", he was addressed as "honorable son", "young lord", or avoided. He didn't care. He was fine as long as they didn't hit him or anything.
His treatment at school was about the same for the last six weeks. His classmates avoided him out of fear of retribution and the teachers actually answered his questions. Naruto also approached Sasuke in an attempt to at least become friendly with the older boy. They were going to basically be brothers, after all. Sasuke returned the gesture, in small part because he didn't want conflict at home, but was hesitant to get truly close to people.
Kushina also started teaching Naruto the sealing arts and his kekkei genkai, the adamantine chains. The boy took to both like a fish to water. Minato, Kushina, and Sasuke knew that he would be as terrifying as his clan was when the training finished. However, that isn't to say that Sasuke was neglected. Quite the opposite. Sasuke was unused to the amount of attention Minato and Kushina gave; not even his own parents gave him that much when they were alive. All four worked on chakra control and taijutsu. Minato even found old Uchiha scrolls on their Interceptor style and many of the clan's other jutsus so he and Kushina could help teach Sasuke. The boy didn't want to believe they did it because they cared because if he did, that would mean he'd have to admit that he grew attached to them as well.
But while Sasuke, Kushina, and Minato grew closer, Naruto and Sasuke's relationship got more strained. The near constant presences made ignoring each other difficult and the work done on their relationship during school crumbled. Minato and Kushina had to confine both boys to their rooms at least once a day. Eventually, Kushina managed to get to the root of why Sasuke was so uncooperative. She managed to convince him that going at it alone was an awful and dangerous idea and that making friends and asking for help would be his best bet to avenge his clan. Naruto and Sasuke still had their fights, like all siblings do, but they were never as bad as the start.
Naruto and Sasuke walked to school together that day. They were silent. They had had a slightly larger fight the day before and both were still fuming. Kiba joined them on the walk and the tension eased a bit with the addition of the third boy and his new puppy ninken, Akamaru.
Minato also went back to work as Hokage the first week of January. Kushina and the boys were sad that he wasn't going to be home all day anymore but everyone was developing a little bit of cabin fever. Minato might be a calmer person, but he still had his limits. He left the house with a boxed lunch, well-wishes from his family, and a promise to be home by dinner time.
Going back to work was an adjustment. Minato was thankful the Hiruzen made a point to stop by daily with updates on the village so that he was never out of the loop. Some of staff had to readjust themselves to Minato's methods but the transition was smooth overall. Minato was just a natural born leader.
Kushina was a little lonely. She had the entire day to herself now that Naruto and Sasuke were back in school and Minato was at work. She still wasn't quite back at full strength, so she couldn't ask for any missions, but then again, why would she? She had two boys in the academy to look after. She wouldn't feel comfortable taking missions again until they were genin, until they could mostly take care of themselves.
So she was stuck.
Kushina thought to do some seal work, but she didn't have any projects at the moment. She also didn't know which of her friends were alive, discounting Mikoto. She thought to herself for a few more minutes before deciding to go for a walk. She'd always loved Konoha in the winter, and right then was a perfect time to see it.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kiba got a little attention when they walked into class, but the teacher called the students to their seats before anyone could do anything. Sasuke sat on the opposite side of the room as Naruto. The teacher then started with introductions and a review of the basic functions in math; addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Shikamaru and Choji walked over to Naruto during lunch.
"So," Shika started, "How's living with Sasuke?"
"He moved in right after year three ended, right?" Choji added.
"Yeah," Naruto sighed, "It's been interesting, to put it mildly. He refused to listen to anyone at first, even when training together. The two of us fought almost constantly. I was sent to my room so many times. But he got sent to his room too, so that made it a little better. It was like that for nearly two weeks before mom had a long talk with him. After that, he was more agreeable. I think dad finding scrolls on some Uchiha jutsu helped, too, showed him that we care."
"So you two get along?" Kiba asked.
"Ish. Kinda. It's better than what was before, but far from perfect. We still have our fights. At least we don't yell at each other or end up in our rooms anymore."
"At least there's that."
Minato dismissed the genins who had just finished their report. They had spent nearly three hours hunting down Tora the cat. What the Daimyo's wife saw in the cat, Minato would never know. He couldn't fathom why she'd want a cat that hated her. I'll just stick with the toads.
Kushina smiled as she entered the house that afternoon. She had run into some of her former classmates while out. They caught up and had some wonderful conversation. Then the question came up. Was Naruto really hers? Kushina scowled at how they asked. The disgust in their voices riled her like few things could. While she showed anger often, very few things could truly infuriate her. Their blatant display of hate towards her son was most definitely one of them. She had thought that any displays of hate and aggression at Naruto were taken care of on his birthday when Minato scared that chunin, but apparently not. She answered with a short 'yes,' then abruptly left.
She walked around the village a little while longer, saw a few more old friends, and then picked up some groceries. Feeding two growing boys and a Hokage was not easy, especially when two of them were picky eaters. She was always astounded when thinking about just how opposite her boys were in the foods they often refused. Naruto's aversion was vegetables and Sasuke's was sweets. She smiled and shook her head. She got the food and then went home, smiling while she walked through the front door.
She put the food away and made sure there was some stuff ready for the boys when they got home.
Naruto and Sasuke got home around half-past three. They mumbled hellos to Kushina, then went to their rooms. She pulled them to the living room about fifteen minutes later to work on homework where she could see them. Naruto needed a little more help than Sasuke, as expected, but he still did most of it by himself. Afterwards all three went out to the yard to train.
Minato got back to the house around five-thirty that evening. He went to the kitchen and kissed Kushina's cheek before going outside to work with the boys. They were finished with the chakra control and ninjutsu practice by then, so Minato mostly focused on taijutsu sparring. Kushina called them all in for dinner about half an hour later.
The boys went to bed around nine that night, as they were expected to every night. Most school days passed similar to that. Naruto and Sasuke eventually worked out their differences and became close, with Minato and Kushina showering both with their love. Minato struggled a little with the amount of work the Hokage position entailed, but always made sure to be home by seven at the latest each night. They all grew as close as could be.
No reviews this time :( (I love talking to you guys)
