Once again a more light chapter with, I think, some cuteness too, but never fear there shall be drama galore next chapter, perhaps not as much angsty stuff as some but we get some fighting so I hope you guys will enjoy that.
Once they Hirashined home-to Naruto's bedroom, they quickly headed out to the missions office to report in a successful mission before heading out once more.
It was as they were leaving the mission office that Karin came rushing up to them-and Naruto couldn't help but notice the shiny new forehead protector on her head with the familiar leaf engraved on it.
"Naruto-chan! Sakura-chan! Sasuke-san."
"Karin-chan!" Naruto met her half way, hugging the red haired girl tight, "You're gonna become a Konoha nin?"
"Yeah, yeah I am." Karin grinned, "And I know who my teammates will be-you'll meet Sai-san soon. He's ex-root, Tsunade-sama is trying to rehabilitate the younger root members-"
"Oh wow." Naruto grinned, "That's awesome, sounds like she's doing something super good by trying to help them."
"They're the Anbu that Danzo..." Sasuke's expression tightened "His illegal Anbu right?" there was anger in his voice as he tensed. "Didn't he kidnap half of them as babies."
"Yeah, yeah he did. Hence the need for rehabilitation." Karin snorted, "He's rude as hell, he's already insulted everyone he's met. His brother keeps having to interfere."
"Brother?"
"Adoptive, they've been taken in by an ex root nin who's friends with Kakashi-sensei."
"Sensei?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed, "Wait why did you-"
"Hah!" Naruto grinned, "You're on Sasuke-kun's team aren't you?"
"We're being named team Kakashi because he said you guys were the rightful team seven." Karin laughed, "But yeah, yeah we are."
"Oh great." Sasuke pulled a face, "Some guy who's probably more messed up than I used to be and you."
"What? Scared I'll kick your ass?" that was Karin and she was smirking.
"I can't believe I'll actually miss team seven." Sasuke grumbled the words, "I really hope you won't be too much of a-"
"Shush now Uchiha." Karin waved a hand dismissively, smirking at Sasuke, "Anyway Naruto-ch-"
"Seriously?" Sasuke groaned, "This is going to be hell for me. Hell."
"Don't worry Sasuke-kun." Sakura laughed, "Hopefully it'll only be a few more months, you can go to the next Chunin exams right?"
"I really hope so." Sasuke pulled a face.
"And I'll only be stuck with you for a few months too." Karin piped up, "Rin-san likes training me so I'm gonna be Chunin in no time."
"Good." Sasuke looked away, and Karin did the same, which made Naruto giggle.
"I don't get why you two can't get on-"
"He upset you." Karin said sharply, "I don't like him-"
"I mean... yeah he did but we've fixed all that-"
"Uh huh, I don't like him-"
"It's none of your business anyway." Sasuke added, rolling his eyes at Karin.
"Yeah, well if you upset her again I'm gonna beat you up-"
"Kami help us." Sakura laughed, "Karin-chan..."
"Like you could-"
"Oh I am gonna kick your ass so hard." Karin growled the words before smirking, "In fact, I think Kakashi-sensei is with Sai-san and Yamato-san right now. I think it's time for team Kakashi to officially meet." she grabbed his arm and started dragging Sasuke with her despite his startled protests.
"Naruto-chan! Sakura-chan help me!"
"No, no I don't think we will." Naruto grinned evilly, giving a jaunty wave, as did Sakura, who was giggling, one hand over her mouth to try and stifle the noises as Sasuke was dragged out of sight.
"Wanna bet home long it'll take for one of them to try and kill the other?"
"Are you kidding? Anyone who bets longer than five minutes is a total idiot."
"Good point." Naruto laughed brilliantly, draping an arm over Sakura's shoulder, "So, with my dearest cousin absconding with our teammate where should we go."
"Hm..." Sakura tapped her chin thoughtfully before grinning, "While Sasuke-kun has to train maybe we should have a relaxing day. Feel like going to the spa."
"Y'know what sure." Naruto grinned, "But no hot springs." that made Sakura laugh.
"Worried about perverts?"
"Yeah well, let's face it there's a lot of them." together they headed through the streets of Konoha, and Sakura snickered
when a few people stopped to watch them.
"Look's like you still have fans."
"Yeah I get the feeling that I'll never shake them now." Naruto laughed before pausing when a small perhaps four years old at the most, girl came rushing towards them, dressed in a rather pretty blue dress with wide shiny eyes, an eager gleam in them, her light brown hair tied up in pigtails.
"Are you Nohara Naruto-sama?"
"Uh, yeah." Naruto smiled slightly, "And you are?"
"Arisawa Ise." the little girl said her name so proudly that Naruto had to resist the urge to coo.
Sakura had no such restraint and she let out a soft 'Awe' as the girl clasped her hands behind her back.
"You saved Sandaime-sama didn't you? You're a hero."
"I... well I did help him fight-"
"Mama says your coat is like the Yondaime's. She said he was the greatest hero ever." that made Naruto's expression soften and she crouched.
"I would agree with your mama on that Ise-chan."
"I think you're the bestest hero ever-"
"That's really sweet." Naruto tilted her head. "Though I wouldn't agree."
"That's okay. Most heroes don't think they're heroes. You helped save Konoha just like he did."
"I... thank you."
"Mama said Yondaime-sama died a long time ago stopping a monster."
"He did." Naruto could hardly tell of a child for not understanding what Kurama was. "He was very brave."
"Mama says you remind her of him. She says she thinks he might have been your daddy and that's why you wear that coat."
Naruto laughed softly at that, and Sakura joined her laughter, crouching next to her.
"Your mama's right. Naruto-chan is Yondaime-sama's daughter."
"Does that mean you didn't know your daddy? I never met my daddy. He was a sh'nobi like you."
Naruto felt her heart break slightly as Sakura laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. "I never got to meet him." she told Ise gently, "Or my mama, though I do have a mama, she adopted me when I was a baby."
Ise nodded at that, "Good. I'm glad you have a mama."
"So am I."
"'Cause my mama said it was sad that you probably grew up without a mama or a daddy."
"Well I definitely had a mama even if she wasn't my mama by blood." Naruto looked around, "Where is your mama sweetie?"
"She owns the Arisawa Candy shop."
"Wow." Naruto glanced at Sakura, who gave a small nod. "Do you mind us walking you home Ise-chan?"
"I'd like that." the little girl beamed as Naruto pushed herself to her feet, pulling Sakura with her before she held out a hand to
the little girl.
"Shall I get you home now sweetie."
"Okay Nohara-sama!"
"You can call me Naruto if you want."
"Okay Naruto-sama."
Sakura stifled a giggle and Naruto shot her a dirty look as they started to walk. The shop was a few streets away.
After a few minutes Naruto resisted the urge to sigh as the girl stumbled, "Ise-chan, would you like to ride my shoulders?"
"Yes please!" and Naruto swept the girl up and onto her shoulders, gripping her legs to make sure she didn't fall as she sped up slightly, Sakura saying by her side as they walked, quiet but very clearly having to resist the urge to comment on the scene, the look on her face told Naruto that she thought it was adorable.
Ise chattered at they walked, and Naruto had to admit it was adorable, and soon enough they reached the candy store and Naruto pushed the door open, a little bell jingling to alert the woman at the counter to their arrival.
Her eyes widened when she saw who had walked in and she gasped softly.
"Nohara-sama! Oh you have my little Ise-chan."
"Hello Arisawa-san." Naruto shifted, swinging the little girl off her shoulders, which made the little girl laugh brilliantly. "I believe I have someone who belongs to you."
"Where did you find her! Ise-chan you were supposed to be staying with your auntie today."
"She's boring mama." Ise pouted, "So I decided to explore and I met Naruto-sama! She's super nice-"
"I'm sure she is." the woman gave Naruto a grateful smile, "Thank you for bringing Ise-chan back to me safely."
"It's not a problem she's a lovely little girl."
"She told me that Yondaime-sama is her daddy just like you thought mama!" the womans face went red.
"I-Nohara-sama I haven't been... I mean-"
"It's okay." Naruto laughed and Sakura giggled as the woman picked up her daughter. "I'm not going to take offense I know everyone's been whispering about me, I hear it on the streets. My ears burn."
"I only... I mean after what you did... and with that coat-you even have his family name on the back-"
"It was one of his. It was altered for me as a gift, I have the names of my parents, my father, my birth mother and my
adoptive mother. I'm not trying to hide the fact. If anything it was refreshing to have someone just come right out and ask me about it."
"Of course." the woman hesitated before nodding to herself, "As a thank you for bringing Ise home safely you can both pick out some candy-"
"We wouldn't want to impose." Sakura spoke up quickly, "We were just doing the right thing-"
"Yeah." Naruto nodded, "There's no need to offer us candy-"
"Please I insist." the woman gave a warm smile, "You've been so very kind to her."
"Please Naruto-sama! Our candy is the best-"
"I..." Naruto hesitated before nodding to herself, "Okay. Okay Arisawa-san." she accepted the paper bag bag the woman gave her, and Sakura did the same, together they filled their bags with some candy, and when they were done Sakura beamed at the woman.
"Thank you very much for this Arisawa-san."
"Really. You didn't have to-"
"I wanted to."
"I'll see you around." Naruto tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling widely, "Thank you for the candy."
"Please do come back whenever you like girls."
"Please!" that was Ise, and she was giving a huge grin, "You were so nice to me!"
"I'll see you soon Ise-chan." Naruto laughed warmly and gave a little wave as she and Sakura left the shop, Ise's excited calls echoing after her.
"We should probably take the candy home."
"Yeah." Sakura nodded her agreement, and Naruto grasped her friends arm and Hirashined them home to her bedroom, Naruto quickly setting her sweets on the bedside table before flopping down onto her bed.
"I was looking forward to the spa but honestly I just wanna wash away the sand-"
"Then you use your ensuite and I'll use the main bathroom." Sakura decided, moving to the set of draws against the wall and opening the bottom drawer, plucking a dress out of it, "Because I need to shower too."
"Of course." Naruto nodded. "I'll see you in half an hour." she quickly made her way into the bathroom, letting herself relax under hot water, scrubbing away the sand that had somehow gotten stuck in her hair.
It took a while but when she was done she climbed out of the car and wrapped herself up in her towel and dried herself off and got changed before heading downstairs to make herself some instant ramen.
She did consider making Sakura some too but the pink haired girl didn't like ramen so she settled for making some pancakes, which Sakura thanked her for when she came downstairs clean and dressed.
They sat eating their food and laughing as they chatted until they heard the door slamming open. Of course they ran out to the hall to see what was going on just in time to see Sasuke storm inside, dripping mud and ink looking beyond annoyed.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura's hand flew to cover her mouth as she forced down her shocked giggles, "What happened?"
"I hate my new team." the boy glared at them both, "Why did you let her drag me off?"
"Cause I thought it would be funny?" Naruto grinned, "So you don't like Sai-san and Karin-chan as your new teammates."
"This is going to end in murder." Sasuke vowed, "Murder I tell you." he moved towards them and Naruto jumped back laughing, "Shower! Now! Don't touch us you're filthy!"
"Fine." Sasuke glowered, "Fine." and with that he was making his way up the stairs.
