Note: Everything before this note was on a flash drive from when I was in middle school. Chapter 6 and beyond are from recently.

Chapter 6: Not a True Ninja

Naruto and Ame enter into the shop. Ame is out of breathe. She had tried to keep up with Naruto. She sits down and tries to catch her breath. Naruto tells the adults behind the counter what had happened. They listen to him as they work. Ayame smiles at her neice.

"Sounds like you've had a busy day."

Ame is looking down at the table trying to figure out how to talk to them. Shaking slightly, she takes a deep breath and looks at them.

"Aunty Mae, grandpa, I'd like to live with Naruto if that's okay?"

Her face is bright red. They both stop looking and look at her.

"It's not thajt I'm not greatful or don't want to be around you. It's just Naruto doesn't have anyone waiting at home. And I can stay here when he is gone on missions. Plus I'll be sure to come by so I can start to learn how to make the ramen so I can help out. Please? I want want him to be alone."

She looks down blushing. Naruto looks at her in shock. Stunned that she would be willing to move in with him. Teuchi and Ayame steps back towards the door and talks quietly. Teuchi says something and Ayame sighs and nods. They come back over.

"Ame, If it's okay with Naruto then you can stay. I will visit twice a week to make sure it is clean and you have food. Naruto, you had better be respectful and appropriate. Keep her safe. Ame, every Friday night you and Naruto are to come here for dinner. No exceptions. If you are on a mission Naruto then stop by before you leave to let us know. If you need anything then you better tell us."

Ame rushes around the counter and hugs them. Each in turn smiling.

"I promise. Naruto? Is it okay with you?"

He is still staring at her in shock. She blushes darkly and goes around to him.

"Naruto? I should have talked to you first. I-I just don't want you to be alone. Plus I thought this would help us get to know each other better. If you don't want me to then I'll understand."

That seemed to sahke him out of his shock. He gives her a big hug. He holds her to him tightly. Ame blushes darkly but hugs him back. Ame relaxes and smiles. She steps back from Naruto and smiles.

"Let's eat. I'm hungry."

They had just sat down when Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi joins them. Ame smiles at them. She eats and talks with them. After awhile though Sasuke leaves to go do more training. Sakura has to leave to go do chores. Kakashi heads out to do that thing he almost forgot to do. Ame smiles and heads up to go pack her clothes and her hygiene bag. She leaves some clothes behind so she had some there for when she came to stay.

The walls of her room are a dark green like the leaves of the trees just outside her window. The window faces out into the garden below. The bedspread on her bed was grey with green and blue butterflies on it. A light green, soft, fuzzy, circular rug sits in the middle of the room.

The wall across from her window held the door to her room. Under the window was a wooden desk. To the right of it was her bed pushed up against the wall in the corner. On the leftt wall was a single dresser that held her clothes in the drawers. On top of it was all the flowers that everyone had sent her in the hospital. Her room may not have much but it was hers. Ame sighs and grabs her bag. She would see it again. She stops and goes to the flowers. Ame finds the caterpillar. She gently picks it up and sets it on her shoulder. She heads out to the garden. Stopping at a flower bed that is growing primroses.

She places the caterpillar carefully on a flower.

"There you go little friend. I hope you'll be safe here. Take care of yourself."

Ame waves bye to the caterpillar then heads out in front of the shop to meet Naruto. Naruto smiles and takes her bag.

"Let's go home Ame."

Ame smiles and hugs her grandfather and Aunt one last time before they head out. Ame follows Naruto to their apartment. Naruto rubs the back of his head when they reach the door to his apartment.

"Listen I'm not the best at keeping house. It's always just been me so I never cared much for cleaning."

"Naruto, it's okay. That's why I'm here. You do the ninja stuff. Keep me and the village safe. I'll keep the house clean and cook meals. Deal?"

Naruto blushes and nods. He unlocks the door. Ame steps in and looks around. In a corner of the room is a bed that is unkept and not made. A nightstand sits next to it. on the other side of the night stand is a bed that is made and tidy. A tea table sits in the middle of the room with a carton of milk and empty ramen cups spewd on it. On the right wall is a little kitchen area. A pile of trashbags sits against the wall and the counter. Dirty dishes sit in the sink. Next to the tidy bed is a door she could only guess that lead to the bathroom. Clothes and trash is littered all over the floor.

Ame looks around then takes off her shoes and leaves them by the door. She sets to work cleaning the house. She had Naruto run out bags of trash. After a couple of hours the apartment was clean. Ame had warm tea brewing on the stove and was making dinner. Naruto looked around at the place. He was really impressed. Ame was currently sitting at the tea table counting out their combined money then sorting them. Ame smiles and puts some of the money into his wallet. Apile gets put into her wallet, the third pile is placed in an empty ramen cup carefully will cotton to help the change from moving around. She carefully seals a lid on it then hides it in the far back of the cabinet.

"There we go. Now you have money to spend on things you want. I have my money, and the grocery money. I have a shopping list on the fridge. If there is something I forgot then please add it. I'm doing the laundry tomorrow before I head to go get my documents."

Ame smiles. She gets up and gets the tea. She just set a cup on the table for him when the timer dinged. Being careful she gets the Roast out of the oven and makes them some bowls. She smiles as she sets them on the table. Naruto starts to drool at the smell of the food. He can't remember the last time he had a nice home cooked meal. He digs right in as she sits down.

"Ame this is really good. Thank you."

Ame goes to say something when there is a knock on the door. Ame smiles and stands.

"I got it. you eat."

She opens the door to see a man with his hair pulled back into a ponytail with a scar across his nose.

"Is Naruto here?"

Ame smiles and motions for him to come in. Iruka looks around in shock. He wanted to take Naruto to go get ramen and to talk to him about his cousin. To his surprise Naruto's apartment is cleaned. There is an amazing arouma of roast, potatoes, carrots, onions, bread that has filled the whole apartment. Iruka is brought out of his shock by Naruto.

"Hey Iruka-sense. What's up?"

The silver haired girl comes in with another cup and a bowl filled with that delicious roast. She places them on the table. Pours some tea into the cup. When she looks up he can see she has two different eye colors. One blue and the other grey. She takes the seat to the fright of Naruto allowing him the guest seat across from Naruto.

"I came to see if you wanted to go get ramen. I see that you have been very busy though. Forgive Naruto of his manners. I'm Iruka. I was Naruto's teacher at the academy."

"I'm Uzumaki Ame. I'm Naruto's cousin and room mate. Please join us? I made plenty."

Iruka sits down after saying a word of thanks. The three of them eat and talk. After hearing Ame's story Iruka wanted to help her. In exchange for hot meals, he would teach her the basics in the afternoons while the food is cooking so she can catch up with the rest of the children her age.

She may not be a true ninja just yet. Given time and training I'm sure she would be of great aid to Naruto and our village.

After getting some Roast to take home with him. He bid the two a good night and left with a smile knowing that Naruto wouldn't be alone anymore. Ame cleaned up while Naruto went to get ready for bed. When he came out she grabbed her clothes and went in. She braids her hair, changes into pj shorts and an overly large tshirt that had belonged to her father. She exits the bathroom after brushing her teeth to see Naruto sitting on his bed.

"Naruto? What's wrong?"

"This feels like a dream, you know? That I am just going to wake up jand you'll just be a dream induced from a wound."

Ame goes and sits next to him and hugs him.

"I'm not going any where. I promise I'm real. You'll see in the morning."

Naruto nods then moves to lay down. Ame moves to her bed but doesn't lay down. She smiles and after he stops fidgetting, she sings a lullaby her mother use to sing to her. After she hears him snoring, Ame goes grabs Shino's jacket. Moving her sheets back she climbs under the covers. She covers herself with his jacket then with the sheets. Smiling she falls asleep quickly knowing she was home.