A/N: Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays. I had this planned for quite a while and I hope you all enjoy!
[Insert disclaimer here]
Special Chapter – A Year Before Honey and Kunai II
Hachiko walked down the street of vendors next to Kisaki-mama. The aged Matriarch smiled and eyed the men as she walked through the street. Hachiko didn't miss the small amount of allure her great-grandmother was emitting. For the outing, Kisaki-mama wore her most expensive and alluring attire. A dark red hanbok and pink silk shirt with, that the woman claimed could catch the eye of any man. Even in her aged state, the woman still oogled at men.
"You haven't signed a single word." Kisaski-mama said looking at her young heiress, Hachiko. Hachiko was a younger version of Kisaki, or so Kisaki claimed. The girl had her hair braided and tied off with a light green ribbon with gold designs.
Hachiko shrugged. For the past four years, Hachiko had become accustomed to the distance the people of the Land of Honey kept from her. In ways, she knew it was because she was mute and they didn't know how to sign. Despite being use to their distance and gawking whenever she signed, it was still uncomfortable. Kisaski-mama weekly brought Hachiko out to 'take a break from training'.
"You know, the new year is coming up. How about you shop now for your friends gifts." Hachiko contemplated and nodded.
"Well then, what will we look at first? Things for your best friend or should we shop first for your boyfriend." Kisaki-mama grinned as Hachiko began to blush.
'He's not my boyfriend. I've told you, he's my best boy, er, guy friend.' Hachiko signed and controlled her blush and her indifferent mask returned. Kisaki-mama sighed at that.
'At least I got her to drop her stoic face.'
"Well then let's get both of them something they can use on several occasions. I'm pretty sure your friends have gotten tired of you sending books and instant ramen." Hachiko let a little smile make its way on her face. That was the most Kisaki-mama could manage out of the young heiress in public.
"Maybe you can make them as special gift. We can buy all the materials. I was even thinking that we could buy fabrics. I know you're not a fan of the pink and soft colors, so we can get a way with getting you some cool colored fabrics and our tailor can make them for you." Hachiko nodded as she looked at her soft pink chima skirt and yellow shirt with horizontal stripped soft blue, pink and green sleeves.
Kisaki-mama smiled noting how even if Hachiko acted mature and stoic at times, she still acted like a child and hated to be coddled and treated like one. Maybe it was time to get the young girl more teen-appropriate clothes. Her budding chest on a childish jeogori shirt looked very out of place.
The two Hachimitsu entered a small clothing shop with fabrics that lined all around the walls. Hachiko's eyes immediately fell on the dark orange fabrics that sat at the bottom of the shelves.
"K-Kisaki-sama!" The shop assistant exclaimed and quickly the assistant was shoved back and an older woman in a dark blue chima and white top made her way forward.
"Kisaki-sama, it's an honor to have you and your great-granddaughter in our shop." the old woman bowed.
"Oh, no formality needed. My great-grandchild is looking for fabrics. Her wardrobe needs to be upgraded and I think she's gotten another project idea in mind." Kisaki-mama said and nodded for the old woman to look at Hachiko.
"That fabric interests you?" The old woman asked Hachiko who was knelt and touching the dark orange fabric.
'It's perfect for him.'
"We'll take that one, all of it." Kisaki-mama said and the old woman nodded.
"That fabric, although silk, not many like the color, however it seems I did right in keeping it in stock." Hachiko then stood up and spotted a unique fabric. It was red with white little flowers embroidered on the ends. Then there was a pink ribbon with little green leaf patterns.
'These are perfect for Pinkie.' Hachiko signed and Kisaki-mama asked for those as well. Kisaki-mama chose out several other colors that would suit Hachiko. She noticed that Hachiko held the dark orange and red and pink ribbons fabric carefully as to not wrinkle them.
-Back at the Hachimitsu Compound-
Hachiko stared at the formal hanbok the clan tailor made. The top was dark orange and around the middle a black belt with dark blue. The pants were black. Hachiko guestimated the height and size for Naruto. She hoped it would fit him. As she stared at the suit. She pictured Naruto in it and then figured out that on his forehead a bandana with the Uzumaki symbol would go perfect.
"Hachiko-hime?" Hachiko looked at the tailor who was a nervous. Kisaki-mama stood next to the nervous man.
'I'd like one more piece. A thick ribbon, three fingers wide with a gold embroidered swirl in the middle.' I requested and Kisaki-mama translated. The tailor nodded. Hachiko smiled a little and hoped Naruto loved the gift.
-Two weeks later in Konoha-
Sakura sighed as she took off her shoes. Sasuke-kun had gotten away from her and that damn Ino-pig dared make fun of her when she too lost track of him.
"Sakura! There's a package for you." Sakura rushed into the kitchen where her mother, Mebuki sat with papers spread all over the table.
"Kuroyama Duelo dropped by earlier but you weren't here. He asked me to tell you that Hachiko-chan wrote and sent this for you." Sakura stared at the package. It was smaller than the others and it was evident it wasn't books.
"Well, aren't you going to open it?" Sakura nodded and carefully opened the package. She gasped at the sight. There were two silk ribbons with beautiful detailed embroidery. There were a few hair pins with cherry blossoms that jingled.
"These must have cost so much." Mebuki gasped and Sakura could only agree. She had not been expecting this. Sakura touched the ribbons and hair pins. Then she saw folded paper underneath the trinkets and ribbons. She took it out while her mother admired the hair pins.
Pinkie!
Sakura shook her head. That never got old and it seemed hachi wouldn't abandon the nickname.
I got tired for sending you reading material. I figured, well Kisaki-mama suggested I instead send you something you can use over and over for formal occasions and even for regular use. My great-grandmother has heard a lot about you from me and wouldn't stop pestering that you deserved more that just book.
Anyways, I saw the ribbons and thought of you immediately. I imagine you've grown out your hair and they would contrast perfect on your hair. As for the hair pins, those I had specially made. There's a jewler here that makes just about everything. Those pin's are pure silver and the flowers are actual gems. Since you're going to be a kunoichi, I figured if you ever have to take a mission where you have to play the part of a princess lady-in-waiting, these would work well for those purposes or perhaps if you wear them for dates.
I hope this letter finds you well and you better not make a fuss over the expensive gift. I bare also good news. I'll be returning to Konoha in a year. So you can make a fuss when we meet again or do me a favor and just accept the gifts. You're a pretty girl and pretty girls need pretty hair accessories to accentuate their beauty.
I can't wait to see you in a year dear friend,
-Hachiko
Sakura's eyes bugged out and she re-read the letter. Her mother plucked out the letter out of Sakura's hands.
"Real gems. Real silver!" Sakura snapped out of her stupor.
"Hachiko-chan is very wealthy to give these out… Kisaki-mama… That's the Lady of the Land of Honey!" Mebuki yelled and Sakura looked at her mother oddly.
"She's a princess. Why didn't' you tell me?!" Sakura was officially at a loss.
"I-I didn't know." It was the truth. Sakura had never heard anything but updates about Hachi's training and well being from Duelo-san.
"My daughter friends with a princess. Oh the council is going to eat this up." Sakura sighed and took her ribbons and hairpins to her bedroom while her mother ranted about gaining political leverage during meetings. Sakura was simply happy that Hachi would return soon and with her return, Sakura hoped Hachi would forgive her for not being there for Naruto.
-With Naruto-
The sun was already down and the nightlife was only beginning. Naruto walked the streets alone, even though he knew he shouldn't have. He had put in some extra time to train after most of the afternoon he spent setting up a prank for the chunnin on guard at the gate. They often shooed him away whenever he'd just stare out at the road beyond the gates. Naruto let out a sigh as walked past the glares and hushed whispers.
"Monster. No good… Shh. Someone might hear."
'Because no one else can hear you whisper so loud, right.' Naruto silently quipped.
He kept walking but he felt so alone. He missed Hachiko-chan. She'd never abandon him. For the past four years although she was reluctant to write, she would send him gifts. Like different types of ramen from the Land of Honey. She was… One of his precious people, Hokage-jiji being the only other.
After the fallout with Haruno… Sometimes all he had were memories of better times. Like when he met Hachiko-chan and how she handn't reproached him. Not once did she let the glares aimed at him bother her… She was different from all the other girls he'd met.
Haruno Sakura, his first crush, turned out to aspire to be like Hachiko-chan. Naruto learned from Haruno that Hachiko-chan had saved her from being bullied when everyone else just stood around and watched or simply looked away. However, Haruno was not brave like Hachiko-chan. Hachiko-chan stood up against the adults. The adults. That girl had fire and Naruto was drawn to that fire in her. Now that he thought about it, everything he saw in Haruno, he had already seen in Hachiko-chan.
"Naruto-kun." Naruto looked up and saw Duelo-oyaji standing by the apartment door.
"Duleo-oyaji! How are you doing did Hachiko-chan write? Sorry I didn't stop by today, I was training ya know." Naruto smiled and noticed Duelo held a package.
"It's fine. You're an aspiring ninja but it's pretty late to be out Naruto." Naruto nodded unlocked his door.
"Ya wanna come in?" Naruto asked Duelo who shook his head.
"I'm just here to pass on a gift. Hachiko sent her gifts for the New Year and in my letter said she's fine and that she had something big to tell you and Sakura-chan but that she'd tell you herself in a small letter." Naruto beamed and took the brown package. It felt like… Not ramen.
"Thanks! I can't wait to open it. You sure you don't want to stay?" Duelo shook his head.
"I have a shift at the hospital. I'll come by tomorrow. Make sure to get enough rest alright?" Naruto nodded and waved goodbye to the man. He rushed inside the apartment and cleared out his table. He even wiped it down, this was a gift from Hachiko-chan after all and by the size of it and feel, it was going to be an expensive gift.
Naruto carefully opened the package and froze. It was clothes but not just any clothes. It was dark orange. He pulled out the orange top and stared at it with wide blue eyes.
'This is fancy stuff that those rich lords wear… Su-no Si-Silk.'
A slip of paper fell down on what looked like black trousers. He carefully put down the dark orange top and picked up the slip of paper.
Naruto,
As your right hand woman, I had to make sure you had something formal to wear for those fancy occasions. No future Hokage should go without having formal attire. Consider this practice for when you're older.
It's Mens Hanbok by the way. Men here in the land of Honey wear these all the time but this one in particular is a formal attire and of the fanciest kind, it's supposed to reflect your honor and higher standing. I had this customized just for you, Mr. Orange Hokage.
My training is coming along just well. At the pace I'm going, I'll be back in Konoha within a year. Yes. Its official Naruto, we'll meet again in year. For now stay strong and train hard, I want to see how much you've improved.
Your right hand woman,
-Hachiko
He was officially the happiest person ever! He stared at the letter and then proceeded to hug it. Naruto didn't' realize when his tears betrayed him.
Even from far away, Hachiko believed in him and now there was no way he would let her down. He screamed as he noticed the wrinkles on the letter. He smoothed it out and set it down. Then he spotted a ribbon. It was dark orange but on the middle it had a golden swirl. His finger traced the swirl.
"Hachiko-chan." He simply said and smiled. She was definitely special and he would never be letting go of her.
A/N: It's the season of giving and I gave in to this special chapter, been on my mind since November. I do believe I tied it well in to the main story and it's a nice little filler between HK and Part II. Not to mention those of you who read the latest chapter of Part II, now we have the back story to how Naruto got his orange hanbok. :D
I hope you all enjoyed this! Happy Holidays everybody!
