53: Eating Problems

Poor burdened Hinata wondered down the street with a sad deserted look on her face. She had no clue where she was going, but she knew she was going somewhere, for her feet moved her forward on their own accord. She crashed into something, head first sending her to land on her backside. The door opened to see Hinata's sister Hinabi at the door. Hinabi's face was surprisingly cheerful compared to how she normally looked upon her sister. Hinata stood up. "How clumsy of me, sorry imoutosan." I said standing up. Hiroka walked up to her aunt. Hinabi smiled, picking her up. Hinabi was now fiveteen. She was getting ready for her own marriage quite likely.

"It's alright, you didn't hit me. You ran into the door but you really should watch where you're going." Hinabi was the same as ever with her exact statements but she had softened much do to the necessary changes when Hinata became stronger and Neji took over. It still made no sense to her, Hinata was equally strong and possibly stronger than Neji. It was her position to be head, why did she let him be it. She didn't rebuke though, she was fine with it… now.

"I was thinking. Trying to find an answer." Hinata said as they walked inside the complex. It was the female head member's building; Hinata had stumbled into, the place she had lived. Perhaps her feet wanted to return to her old room and her sister was just a coincidence.

"What is the question?" Hinabi asked. "Maybe I can help."

"I'll ask, but not to be rude I don't think you can help." Her sister pouted, crossing her arms.

"Don't doubt me." She warned. "I may have doubted you, but you should know not to doubt me."

"It's just that it's not your field of expertise so I'll ask, not knowing what to do."

"I understand… go ahead." She replied.

"I had my second child, a son. His name is Uzumaki Naruto Ramen. Weirdly enough, however much a coincidence to his name, he refuses to eat anything but Ramen." Hinata looked at her sister who's eyes wide with surprise.

"Just Ramen?" She asked. "Like nothing else?"

"Other than that, he just keeps crying, constantly."

"That's horrible. We need to get your poor child some ramen now Hinata." She said jumping up.

"He's at Ichiraku with Naruto, if we're not careful, there will be no more ramen left in the world." I said. "I don't think he'll starve. Unless he refuses to eat anything but ramen ever again, then we'll be in trouble."

"I think that's totally unhealthy." She said shaking her head. "So what's the problem."

"Do you know how unhealthy ramen is? If he eats it he'll never grow, he'll die. I need to find a way to make ramen healthy for the both of them." She answered, pacing.

"I don't know. You were right to doubt me, what do you do with a kid who only eats ramen, other than feed it to him. I don't know how to cook Hinata, sorry." She nodded, taking Hiroka from Hinabi's arms.

"Thanks for help though." Hinata said leaving.

She walked through the streets, wondering where to go, what to do? What is a girl to do when all her baby eats is ramen? What did she use to do when she had a problem? … go to her sensei. She didn't think Kurenai-sensei could help her but Kurenai-sensei always had some advice, even advice would be useful at this point. She used her Byakugan to locate her sensei, and Shino in a the memorial stone, talking with Kiba and Emily.

She and Hiroka went there. Kiba looked at Hinata and Hiroka. "Hi guys, do you need us?" He asked.

"Sorry Kiba, I need Shino and Kurenai-sensei."

"Kurenai, Hinata, Kurenai." She corrected.

"Sorry." Hinata said, handing her daughter to the eager previous sensei. "I need you help, desperately." Hinata said sighing.

"You are aware that you're grown now. You're not supposed to come to me for help, or advice Hinata." Kurenai said, looking at her now grown student. Kurenai hadn't been in the village in a while, in and out over the last few years. It was lucky that they had picked a day where all their friends and family were in. Shino's family was back home as well, his wife and newborn child of a few months.

"Yes but it seems I've gone to everyone else, and I can't seem to find the answer. You see, I have a son now, his name is Uzumaki Naruto Ramen." Kurenai and Shino, like everyone eyes went wide in shock upon hearing the news. "He lives up to his name of being like Naruto, and liking ramen, a lot. So much to the extent that nothing but ramen will keep him, quiet. It's all he'll eat."

"He's the son of Naruto, the genetics would say he'd love ramen but to that extent, it's inhuman." Shino said shaking his head. "But what do you need from us?"

"I need a way to solve my problems. Who knows how ill Ramen can get from eating only ramen, especially being a newborn baby and all. It's dangerous to his health and I don't know what to do." Hinata said sighing.

"Mommy, is brother okay?" Hiroka asked.

"He will be, once I find the answer. I have to." Hinata told her daughter.

"Um… I'm not much of a cook Hinata. I don't know how I can help you. I guess you'd have to make noodles that are filled and soaked in non-fatty vegetables, and fruits as well as herbs and such. Does he even have teeth to eat yet to eat them?" Kurenai asked.

"No. He just plays with them, until he eats them. They're just like mush; it's not that hard but back to my problem. I don't know what to do." Hinata said scared and worried.

"I can't help you Hinata, sorry." Kurenai replied. Hiroka jumped into Shino's arms. She looked into his eyes and stared at him. Kurenai disappeared, possibly leaving to go away again.

"Help brother, please?" She begged with a sad face.

"Sorry Hiroka, but I can't." Hinata nodded, understanding how difficult the problem was to answer. Shino handed her, her daughter and she walked away with Kiba, Emily and their child Akira.

Emily handed Akira to Kiba and placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder. "I'll help you find the answer Hinata. Let's go to Ichiraku to ask Ayame what she thinks." She nodded, going to Ichiraku.

"I'm sorry I didn't carry enough money on me, sorry. I didn't think he and I ate that much. Sorry Teuchi." Hinata heard Naruto's voice as she neared the place. She walked up to the ramen bar. He jumped up hugging Hinata. "Yeah, you're here."

"Naruto, are you alright?"

"I didn't carry enough money on me Hinata. And… I ran over my balance." He said. She sighed walking up to Ayame and Teuchi, paying them.

"Sorry, Naruto eats enough for a balance but with Ramen too… I forgot to give him enough money." Hinata apologized.

"It's fine. It's not like we would have done anything, he'd just have to wait for you to come here. I'd expect you to be a bit more upset though."

"No, I know how much Naruto alone likes ramen, with Ramen too… I'm sure it's a lot. No need to be upset. I'm upset that I can't find someone who can make extremely healthy ramen that tastes the same, for Ramen." Hinata said.

"I can work on that it may take me a day or two but I'm sure it'll be worth it for them to have healthier meals. Diet Ramen wouldn't do it for them, would it?"

"Yeah it probably would but it still does need a lot of nutrients. I'm not worried about the fat count with Ramen because he needs it as a baby, but it needs to be nutritious for him." They nodded, understanding. Hinata looked to see Naruto was sitting in a chair, holding Ramen, who was sleeping.

"Arigato." Hiroka said.

"Yes, thank you. I can't wait to see that food." Hinata said walking away while holding her daughter's hand as Naruto carried her son.

"Ramen is good for everyone Hinata. Even Ramen."

"Not only ramen Naruto. It can have hazardous effects."

"Really? I only ate ramen my life and I'm fine."

"No, Sakura and Kakashi as well as I, began correcting that, and limiting you on your intake of it. If not this is how you'd turn out." She did some hand signs for a genjutsu. She had learn it from the Genjutsu Specialist, her sensei, Kurenai many years ago. This was the first time she had ever had a chance to use it.

"Ah!" Hinata what did you do to me?" She held Ramen in her arms as she sat down watching the sight unfold underneath her eyes.

"Nothing's different." Hiroka said confused.

"Your eyes can't see it, only his can but you'd be able to see through the genjutsu even if it was one used on an area rather than a person. A quality of your eyes."

"The Byakugan?" She asked. Hinata nodded. "Wow, that's cool."

"Hinata, I can't move. I feel tired. I feel sick. I don't feel like moving anymore Hinata. I want to sleep. Don't bother waking me up I'm too tired." Naruto collapsed to the ground, and slept.

Hiroka poked her father. "Daddy wake up, it's not night time yet. We aren't home yet."

"But everything is so hard, and heavy. I want to sleep Hiroka. Let me sleep."

Hinata laughed, and released her jutsu. Naruto felt a huge burden being lifted off his shoulders, and jumped up. "Hey I'm all better now." He was about to go hug-tackle Hinata before he was stopped, being tripped. "I hurt again. Ow… who keeps attacking me."

"That would be me." Lee said standing in front of Hinata. "I was walking bye when I noticed you were about to harm the child that's in her arms."

Naruto stared at Hinata for a while. "I don't see a child." Hinata sighed.

"Is he alright?" Lee asked Hinata.

"I had to teach him a lesson using Genjutsu. He hasn't recovered from the after effects of it yet. It's not his fault really, he didn't know." Hinata said. "Thank you though, but I would have been fine, anyway."

"I am aware you can care for yourself, I was just being helpful as I'm on my way back from a few month mission. I forgot how long it's been. So who's child is that?" He asked.

"Mine Lee, well, Naruto and my son, Uzumaki Naruto Ramen. He was born just recently. You have been gone for quite a long time, Tenten informed me of that."

"Yeah, I'm happy to see that you and Naruto are living happily. It is the same as old times that I miss so much. How are all the others? Are they well?" He asked as Naruto sat beside Hinata, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Yeah, they are. Sakura had a baby about 2 months ago or so. She's also now pregnant with twins. Tenten, Emily, Kiba's wife as well Ino and I all within a period of two weeks just had our second child."

"Oh, they did. What are their names?" Lee asked Hinata.

"Tenten's daughter is Hyuuga Minako Kimiko. Ino's son is Nara Kiyoshi Kane. Finally, Sakura's newborn daughter is Uchiha Naoki Hotaru. They all get along very well and Yoshi, Shika, Owen and Hiroka all adore their siblings very much."

"Is Sakura doing well? I was told that her body couldn't take that much. It would have been a few years ago, but I was sure that she had problems with her first child's birth." Hinata was surprised that Lee had known this while Sasuke, Sakura's husband didn't. Then again Lee would never tell anyone and was probably informed through Tenten or Neji or whatever who knew.

"Actually since the births are in such close time ranges the access life force given off by the birth is actually the only thing that will let her have her two children." Hinata answered him. "Lucky for her. She almost died during the birth of Hotaru."

"I'd do anything to see everyone again. I can't even find anything familiar anymore. Everything has changed in these past months." He said.

"Well why don't I ask them all to meet up at the park a week from today along with all our friends. We have been to ourselves lately. It would be nice to have a day with our friends since we had today to spend with our families. Well welcome back Lee, I have to be off with these guys."

"Your son reminds me very much of Naruto-san, Hinata." She smiled looking at her son.

"Yes, he reminds me of Naruto too. He eats and behaves like Naruto also. I guess that's why it's so funny that he was named after Naruto himself and Naruto's favorite food." She said giggling to herself. "He is very cute and adorable as well."

"Naruto or Ramen?" Lee asked.

Hinata blushed heavily. "I was referring to Ramen but Naruto is as well." She said with a smile looking at her sleeping husband.

"Well Sayonara, Hinata-san. See you next week." She nodded. Lee left, leaving a pile of leaves in his place. She sighed, what is a girl to do when she has two sleeping children and a sleeping husband to take home. It wasn't that late anyway.

Naruto stirred, "Hinata, what are we doing here? I want to sleep at home."

"That's not what you told me about 10 minutes ago. You said you didn't want to waken up, or moved."

"Oh, well… can we go home?" She nodded. "You look tired Hinata; did I tire you out with all my problems, and Ramen's?" He asked her staring at her tired eyes. Hinata hadn't notice but she felt very tired. She continued walking home until she felt herself being carried into the trees. She opened her eyes.

"Naruto?" She questioned.

He kissed her on the lips for a second as they went through the trees. "You shouldn't push yourself to do all this stuff for me Hina-chan. You just gave me a baby boy and then you're doing this all for me. I couldn't ask you to do any more. You do so much for me, I never even asked you to. I worry about how much you do, you know you don't have to, not for me, right?" He asked her, almost in begging way.

"But I'm happy to do it, everything, Naruto." Her voice replied to him through her tired lips. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I do it for you, not because you ask, but because I want to, for you." She answered, finally falling asleep.

¤ (A While After Ino Leaves Hinata and Sakura) ¤

Ino and Shikamaru arrived at the Akimichi residence. Ino pounded on the door as hard as she could, which was quite hard. Choji's mother opened the door. "Hello Ino, Shikamaru, and your children." She greeted. "What brings you here?" She asked as Ino pushed past her up the stairs to Choji's room.

Shikamaru stood there. "Can I come in?" He asked.

"Yes you may." She asked, confused why he would ask.

He nodded and entered the house carrying his daughter under his arm. Shika struggled free, so he set her down on the ground. "Where are we?" She asked her father.

"Your uncle Choji's house,"

"Why?" The ever-talking Shika asked.

"Cause your mom and I are stupid and we forgot his birthday."

"Meanie." She said sticking out her tongue and running upstairs into Choji's room, soon followed by her father.

Ino was sitting in a chair, across the room from Choji who was sitting on his bed with Shika came in. "I'm sorry Uncle Choji. I didn't know it was your birthday. I wasn't allowed to leave the house anyway." She said with a sad face staring up at her 'uncle'.

He smiled and picked up the little girl. "I understand Shika." He looked at Ino and Shikamaru, who had entered the room just recently. "So where were you guys?" He asked.

"In the hospital," Ino answered, quietly.

"Huh, why?"

"Um… well…" He looked at her, confused.

"She was giving birth." Shikamaru finished.

"Huh?"

"Yeah, I was. You see little Kane here, well… he was born on your birthday, as was Hinata's son so I really wasn't able to get out of the hospital. You also can't blame Shika or Shikamaru for not coming to see you because… because it was my fault." She finished crying.

"Yeah, mommy was asleep in the hospital. I know she still forgot but you can't be that upset with her, can you?" Shika said staring into her 'uncle's' eyes.

Ino kept crying. Shikamaru just sighed, rubbing her back. "I'm sorry I forgot too. I really could have come, and explained it to you, even brought Shika from home but I was with Ino, I forgot and Ino really couldn't come, they wouldn't let her, it would endanger her life too much."

He began laughing. "I forgive you guys. Of course I do, Ino, stop crying. I know that you have your own lives." She punched him.

"That isn't an excuse Choji." She said falling to the floor. "You've been our teammate and friend for so long and we forgot your birthday! Your birthday. How could we? We're horrible people!" Ino yelled.

Shikamaru knelt beside her. "It really is okay Ino. I forgive you guys. I really forgot to invite your properly anyway. I guess it's been a while and I'm not exactly use to remember that we don't see each other daily and having you live next door. It's my fault too."

"No it isn't. It's mine." Ino said crying. Kane began crying in her arms. Shikamaru handed Kane to Choji as he picked his wife up off the ground. She then began crying into Shikamaru's shoulder. "I'm sorry Choji. I am."

Choji leaned over to Shikamaru. "What does she want me to do?"

"As if I know." Shikamaru answered.

"Ino, your forgiven. I understand, alright?" She looked at Choji.

"Really?" She asked. Choji was surprised how suddenly she stopped. Choji handed Shikamaru Kane quickly and Ino began hugging her friend. "Thank you Thank you Thank you, Thank you so much Choji." She said hugging him. Shikamaru pulled her away from him.

"I think he got how much you thank him." Shikamaru said.

"I'm so…" Shikamaru put his hand over her mouth.

"We get it Ino; you're sorry and so happy that he forgives you."

"No, I don't think you do. Do you know how upset I'd be if anyone forgot my birthday? Then I go and forget his."

"Ino, please don't cry."

"Yeah, please. Come on." Choji said.

"I know that we haven't in a while but can I take you out for dinner, barbeque perhaps, like now?" Ino asked. "Everyone else is out of the house so I was just going to go with the girls until I heard and now I want to treat you. Please?" She begged him.

"Ino are you alright?" Choji asked. She nodded. Choji leaned over to Shikamaru. "Is there any chance she's pregnant again and having mood-swings?" He asked in hushed tone.

Shikamaru nearly choked and shook his head. "Yeah, let's go out to dinner, come on Choji." Shikamaru said using his open hand to pull his close friend off of his bed.

Ino happily hopped out of the house, with Shika. Shikamaru was beginning to worry that Ino was pregnant again, with her peculiar behavior and all.

Ino stopped at the door. "Ino, Ino, are you alright?" Choji asked. Her eyes went dead blank, her mouth went silent and her heart simply ached when she saw everything she had tried so hard to avoid since then. That day. The day their sensei passed away.

Shikamaru and Choji placed their hands on her shoulders, guiding her to sit down. They sat their in silence for a while. Choji and Shikamaru thought it was a bad idea. She was just trying to be friendly by bringing them there. She wasn't trying to cause herself pain.

"Shikamaru, can I take a walk outside? I'm sorry, please? You guys can order, I'll be right back. Promise." She said. He nodded, she walked calmly out of the place and sat down on the side of the building.

She sat there until Shika came and sat on her lap. "Mommy's sad, why?" She asked.

"Mommy just misses somebody is all."

"They won't come back?" Ino shook her head.

"I wish they would. For a lot of people." Ino said resting her head on her daughter's, she forced a smile. A little boy stumbled out of a tree. Ino jumped, catching the boy as she slid under him, cushioning his fall. "Are you alright, what's your name?"

"Mommy doesn't know." Ino was sure confused. "You smell nice, she does too." Ino giggled.

"Thanks, come along Shika, and… little boy, we can eat now. You can as well." The boy had wide eyes.

"So where's your mother?"

"Uh… at a rock… again… crying." He said sadly.

"Rock, the memorial stone?" He shrugged. Ino walked in with Shika holding her left hand and the boy following sluggishly behind Shika. Shika and the boy managed to squeeze beside Choji while Shikamaru and Ino sat on the other side.

"Do you know who he is?" Ino asked them. Shikamaru looked him over. He had red-brownish eyes and medium toned skin and black hair, fluffed on top of his head.

"I don't know." He answered. "So what are your names?"

"I'm Nara Shikamaru, this is my wife Ino, and our children Shika to your left and this little guy's Kane. This is our friend Akimichi Choji." He smiled.

"Hi, I just got here."

"Where from?" I asked.

"Uh… Sand!" He said. "Yeah, I and my mommy stay there. She comes back here to cry."

"After dinner Shikamaru and I will take you home, alright?" Ino asked him.

"K." He said with a smile that made them all happy. Choji ordered a lot and so did the boy, new to the food and all. Kane ate tiny bits of baby food while Shika ate a normal meal like the one Ino had. Shikamaru barely ate anything, being deep in thought.

"I'll come along to help you guys find his mother." Choji said.

"No, we'll be fine buddy. Have a nice night, we'll do this more often, alright?" Choji nodded, disappearing.

The first place they went to is the memorial stone. Shikamaru and stuffed he child and the foreign one, the boy under his arms as he and Ino ran through the forest, carefully. They arrived as the boy struggled to be let go. He ran to the other side of the stone. "Mommy, look, I made friends." She stood up. Her hair was black, her eyes red.

"Shikamaru, Ino, I haven't seen you guys in a while." She said with a smile. "I saw Hinata and family this morning on their daily travels as well as talking with Shino about his family and Kiba about his. I haven't had a chance to talk to you in a while. I missed a Christmas or two haven't I?" She asked.

"Yeah, you have but Hinata understood." Ino said. "It's a busy life, being a ninja and all." Kurenai was confused.

"She doesn't know." Shikamaru coughed.

"I don't know what?" Ino asked.

Kurenai sat down as her son sat on her lap. "You see… a few months before Tenten gave birth, I did." Ino was so shocked.

"By who?"

"Your sensei, before he died. Shikamaru knew when I found out; I came back to visit before I left, to escape. I was worried about the laws and such. So, I just went on stuff out there while I took care of this little one." She said with a sad but happy, carrying smile placing her hand atop her son's head.

"He doesn't know his name." Shika reminded them.

"I said I didn't know it."

"Eh?" Shika asked confused.

"Neither am I." Kurenai replied. "His surname is Kichiro. However, why I am here is to see if I can stay. The laws are strict and I'm not sure if I can for longer than this like I have, a few visits, not a lot but some. Leaving him back home, so he wouldn't get in trouble."

"Leave me." He huffed. She rolled her eyes.

Ino hadn't said a word. She just stared at the boy, Kichiro. "Yeah, so that's it. The story. This is our son, illegal but safe." She said hugging her son close to her body. "So who's that little guy?" Kurenai asked.

"Kane." Ino said quietly. "Our newborn son."

"How are you Shika? You've grown quite a bit."

"Thanks." She said similing. "I have to, to go to school."

"We're putting the first little generation in ninja training, them being geniuses and all." Kurenai smiled, but she felt sad inside, remember the how he used to talk about Shikamaru and Ino's brilliance in strategy. She knew they'd be good ninja.

"What about him?"

"If Naruto can let me stay here, and if he wants I'd let him school with everyone." Kurenai answered.

"So… it's been 4 almost 5 years now, right?" Ino asked.

"Today makes 4." Kurenai answered. Shikamaru nodded, understanding the depth of the understanding. Tears filled both of the older girls' eyes as they thought about it.

Ino, the female student of Asuma. Kurenai, the lover of Asuma. Shikamaru, the prodigy student genius of Asuma. Kane and Shika, the children of Asuma 's students and Kichiro, the son of Asuma. Today, the 4th anniversary of the day he died, all of them gathered at his death stone with heavy, saddened hearts. All crying inside or out for the person besides the three children who understood their parents were sad, but not why.

"It's also, the day he proposed." She added. "I don't think he knew about Kichiro yet, but I think he'd be proud of him. Don't you guys?"

"Of course he would be, he was proud of anyone who was proud to be who they were and kept cheerful, careless existences. I'm sure he's smiling down on us all right now." Ino said staring up. "I hope I made him proud." I'm not the only one wondering about this, Kurenai does also.