Hey guys! I hope you have good holidays!
It was Sakura who met them first, her hair pulled up into a messy bun, her white coat buttoned half way down and a pen tucked behind her ear.
She raised an eyebrow when she spotted them, making her way up to them quickly, "Naruto-chan, Itachi-san, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah it is." Naruto smiled, "It's perfect actually. How do you feel about becoming a Jounin in a couple of months?"
"Becoming a Jou-" Sakura paused, blinking slowly. "Woah, woah hold up a second. Sasuke-kun and I both said-does that-"
"Yeah it means that." Naruto nodded, a wide smile on her lips as she stood up, which was just in time for Sakura to give her a tight hug.
"This is amazing Naruto-chan. I am honestly so so happy for you right now."
"It's literally a dream come true." Naruto admitted, "I've wanted it since I was a kid y'know?"
"If there's anyone who's capable of looking after Konoha it's you."
"I like to think so." Naruto laughed softly, a wry smile on her lips.
"Don't think you can go giving me orders now." Sakura winked, "I'll punch a hall in your new office wall if you go doing that."
"Hm... maybe I should order every shinobi who leaves the village to take rations of instant ramen with them-"
"Itachi-san." Sakura's head snapped to the side to focus on the Uchiha, "Please do not let her do that."
"Why is that up to me?" Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"Because we both know you'll be her official advisor and if you don't do it I'll get Rin-san to do it and Naru-chan would probably prefer I didn't do that-"
"Sakura-chan you traitor!"
"You love me really." Sakura grinned teasingly and patted Naruto's hand consolingly. "And Konoha will worship the ground I walk on for saving them from your ramen obsession."
"Itachi-san, 'Kura-chan's being mean to me."
"It's okay Naruto-san." Itachi nodded very seriously, "You'll be okay."
"Don't encourage her." Sakura pointed at Itachi threateningly before letting out a laugh, "Kami help us all is all I can say."
"Definitely." Naruto nodded seriously, "Though not for the reason you're thinking, Karin is planning a party-"
"Oh kami." Sakura blinked, "We're all doomed aren't we?"
"She said to tell you and mom to go home as soon as you can."
"I'll see when I can get off-I have at least one more patient to see."
"I've been ordered to keep Naruto-san busy until Karin-san comes to get us so feel free to take your time."
"I will." Sakura smiled, "Anyway I need to get back to work, but honestly Naruto-chan I am so happy for you."
"Any idea how long it will be until mom shows up."
"It shouldn't be long-she was finishing up an operation I think so she'll probably be here soon."
"Great." Naruto grinned, "You go look after your patients, Itachi-san and I can wait for mom."
"Of course." Sakura grinned slightly, a gleam in her eyes, "Look after her and make sure she does nothing crazy Itachi-san-"
"I don't need Itachi to look after me!"
"Don't worry Sakura-san. She's in good hands." Itachi laughed, "Our future Rokudaime can't go wandering around without a guard-"
"That literally makes no sense." Naruto protested, "Isn't a big part of the whole Kage thing that the Kage is one of if not the
most powerful shinobi in the village?"
"They also happen to be the most important person in the village." Itachi pointed out, "The very heart of it. The person who's death would cause the most damage-look at what happened when your father died. If it hadn't been for Sandaime-sama I have no doubt that there would have been multiple attacks by villages like Iwa and Kumo."
"Hush." Naruto pouted, "You don't need to go around making sense."
"I'm very sorry, here I thought you were hiring me for my logical thinking skills."
"Yeah right." Naruto shot back with a laugh, "I'm hiring you for the famed Uchiha looks of course, you'll intimidate any fanboys-"
"You say that as if you've had run ins with fanboys" Sakura snorted, "I mean, you definitely have them but you haven't had any run ins yet-"
"See, see Itachi you'll scare off the fanboys by being prettier-"
"Yeah that's not how it works." Sakura laughed "But good luck with that-and Itachi-san good luck with Naruto-chan."
"I believe I may need it." Itachi remarked wryly as Sakura gave a wave and headed off.
"That was rude." Naruto nudged him with her shoulder, "You don't need luck to deal with me."
"You're ridiculous Naruto-san."
"Yeah, but that's part of my appeal."
The light hearted almost bickering continued until Rin arrived, looking somewhat flustered, "Sorry I took so long you two. Is everything okay?" her brows were furrowed with concern.
"No, no nothing's wrong." Naruto grinned, "I just wanted to talk to you, sorry if you panicked and thought something was wrong. It's definitely not. It's good actually, really good-"
"Hm." Rin's eyes narrowed thoughtfully before widening. "Oh! Oh I think I know, that grin you have, I know that grin that's your 'I got what I wanted grin."
"I certainly have." Naruto gave an innocent grin as she stood up, hands behind her back, "So, what are you doing in two months time mom?"
"I'm sure you're going to tell me."
"Think you'll be able to come to my Inauguration-" Naruto was cut off mid sentence by Rin pulling her into a squeezing tight hug.
"Oh congratulations honey." Rin's voice was filled with pride, "You're going to do an amazing job princess."
"I know." Naruto pressed her face into her moms shoulder, closing her eyes and letting out a breath. "Baa-chan told me today."
"Seems like you impressed her over your week of training."
"I thought I'd be waiting another year or so."
"You're ready honey." Rin pulled back, hands either side of Naruto's face, "I know that you're probably gonna get nervous once the excitement wears off but you're ready Naruto-chan. I have faith in you honey. I know you can do this. And no matter what else happens you won't be alone you know that right?"
Naruto nodded, "I know. I have you and Baa-chan and Ero Sennin and Kakashi-sensei and team Seven and Itachi-san and Karin-chan-"
"You have everyone." Rin laughed, "You don't need to make a gigantic list."
"Boring." Naruto smiled, reaching up and placing her hand over her moms, "I'm gonna be okay, I know that if it ever gets overwhelming I have people around to help. Itachi-san's agreed to be one of my advisors."
"That's good." Rin smiled at Itachi, "You make sure that my daughter doesn't get too lost in her work okay Itachi-san."
"I'll do my best." Itachi laughed, "I feel like I've agreed to be a glorified babysitter."
"Hey!"
"You have." Rin nodded with a laugh, "I truly do wish you all the luck in the world Itachi-san."
"Ugh you're the worst mom." Naruto laughed, shoving her lightly, "You're so mean."
"Oh hush honey I'm your mother it's allowed."
"Hmph. Anyway, I dunno what time you'll be finishing work but Karin-chan has decided that we have to have a party to celebrate so be warned that when you do get home she'll be barking orders."
"Ah," Rin nodded, "Well I finish in an hour, have you spoken to Sakura-chan yet?"
"Yeah she got here first, she said she'd head home after dealing with her last patient." Naruto shrugged. "So I imagine she'll be being bossed around by Karin-chan soon."
"Well I'll be sure to head home as soon as I can to get my marching orders." Rin laughed, "And you?"
"I have been ordered to keep Naruto-chan out of the way until Karin-san comes to get us." Itachi explained lightly.
"Ah, the truly difficult job." Rin laughed, "Good luck with that Itachi-san-"
"I'm not that bad!" Naruto pouted, "You're all so mean to me."
"I do apologize Rokudaime-sama." Rin flicked Naruto's nose, "Now off with you. Take the chance to relax."
"I will mom." Naruto laughed, giving a small wave of her hand before turning to Itachi, "So, where should we go Itachi-san?"
"Perhaps just a walk since we had Dango earlier." Itachi suggested.
"Sounds good." Naruto grinned at the Uchiha, "Lead the way then, since, y'know, you're responsible for keeping me out of the house?"
And together the two of them headed out of the hospital, strolling through the streets of the village, eventually wandering into some of the wooded areas, finding a clearing with a stream in, which Naruto promptly sat down in front of, smiling softly as she let out a happy hum. "I love it out here."
"I can tell." Itachi followed her lead, raising an eyebrow as Naruto crossed her legs and tugged her sandals off. "What are you doing?"
"Relaxing." the blonde promptly unfolded her legs and dipped her feet in the shallow water, cold and refreshing against her skin.
"The water's got to be freezing Naruto-san." Itachi pointed out, "Surely your feet are cold."
"Nah." Naruto gave a small shrug, wriggling them slightly, "It's a nice feeling."
"If you say so."
"You should try it."
"I'd rather not." Itachi's lips twitched into a slight smile, "But you go ahead and enjoy yourself."
"Hah, you don't need to tell me to do that." Naruto declared lightly, standing up, feeling the water moving slightly as it flowed around her, the uneven stones smoothed by the current beneath her feet. "I just love feeling close to nature. Especially since I learned sage mode."
"It is impressive for someone your age to have accomplished so much." Itachi's voice was soft, "You and my brother, I think together you have the potential to become the strongest shinobi in generations."
"Why thank you." Naruto grinned, "I shall take that as a very good compliment. Honestly though Itachi-san I just feel at peace like this."
"You look it."
Naruto smiled but didn't respond, closing her eyes as she stood, stood perfectly still, letting the feeling of the world around her sink into her.
She wasn't actively drawing in nature energy, all she was doing was reaching for it, basking in it, she felt as if her senses were sharper, she could hear the faint rustle of the leaves in the trees, the soothing noise of the stream trickling around her, the faint birdsong.
And there was the steady thump thump of Itachi's heartbeat and the inhale and exhale of his breathing.
When she opened her eyes she smiled very softly at Itachi, who raised an eyebrow. "What were you just doing? I don't think I've ever seen anyone stand so still. You could barely see your breathing."
"It's a part of being a Sage." Naruto padded through the shallow water back to Itachi, sitting down next to him once more and flopping back onto the grass, "Staying perfectly still to become one with nature-it's not easy believe me."
"I can imagine." Itachi chuckled, "Especially for someone like you, you always seem to me to be full of energy."
"It's a problem." Naruto laughed, "It was so hard for me, I'm not the best at just being still-or I wasn't."
"You seem to be very good at it now." Itachi remarked wryly.
"You'd probably be pretty good at it." Naruto pushed herself up so that she was resting on her elbows as she looked at Itachi thoughtfully, "But it's not that simple obviously, becoming a Sage is super hard work."
"Shall we see how still I can be?"
"Sure." Naruto laughed as Itachi shifted so that he was cross legged, and Naruto watched as he went as still as he could-and it was better than she'd done at first.
She watched him curiously.
Before her Sage training she'd have been in awe at how still he sat, she probably wouldn't have noticed the slight movements, subconscious shifting.
She sat up fully, and she saw Itachi shift some more, responding automatically to her movement.
She let out an impressed hum, "Not quite as still as you need to be for Sage mode but pretty good." Itachi opened his eyes as she spoke.
"It's incredibly difficult. I don't think I'd realized how hard being completely still can be."
"No one ever does." Naruto smiled softly, "It might sound weird but learning how to be that still is as physically and mentally exhausting as training for hours on end."
"Especially for someone like you." Itachi remarked, "You're so full of energy. It really is amazing that you managed to master it."
"You're no slouch yourself Itachi-san." they settled into a comfortable quiet for some time before Itachi spoke again.
"Naruto-san. I'd like you to promise me something."
"Oh?"
"Don't allow your duty as the Hokage to take away your spirit."
