Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and I am making no profit from this story, it is only for entertainment.

Just wanted to say I think this has been my favourite chapter so far so I hope you enjoy it too!

Chapter Summary: In which Naruto spills the family history, Genma (doesn't) brag about his team and Kazuya visits a flower shop

Chapter 12: What Are You Doing? My Best

Rio's knee bounced up and down as he waited for his brothers to walk through the front door. They'd been out to Kawa no Kuni for a C-rank and were due back today. Rio was ready for them.

At the Inuzuka's today, Kiba had started shinobi training and when Rio had asked Tsume-baachan about it she had said that all Inuzukas started training when they turned six. She also said to ask Nii-san about training since they would be joining the academy in two years and that Nii-san and Kazu-nee would know best since they graduated early.

Rio knew that his brothers were amazing shinobi; he'd watched them train for as long as he could remember. When he'd asked Kashi about it, the teen was more than happy to tell him all about his brothers' exploits. Two bits of information had stuck with Rio since that conversation: firstly, that when Nii-san had been six, he was already in the academy and secondly, when Nii-san was at the actual academy entrance age of eight, he'd already been a genin for a year.

Rio was six. He wasn't great at maths. He did know though that he should be at the academy like Nii-san was at his age. He also knew that he should be training to join the academy like Kiba was. If Nii-san and Kazu-nee weren't going to bring it up, then Rio was going to have to remind them himself.

His eyes snapped towards the door as it opened and his brothers stumbled in. Kazu-nee dumped his backpack by the door with his dirty sandals and flopped backwards onto one of the sofas, his short brown hair flopping over his eyes. Rio didn't see either of them without their favourite colours very often so to see Kazu-nee in a black turtleneck was still strange to him. Nii-san followed behind, shutting the door behind him and shoving stray strands of long red hair behind his ear as they escaped his high ponytail. He wore a black t-shirt with his brace covering his left arm. Both looked tired and dirty as Nii-san also dumped his bag and sandals by the door.

"Hi Sunshine," smiled Nii-san, coming over to ruffle Rio's short blond hair before slumping into a seat across from him.

"Hi Nii-san," he greeted, silently working up to what he wanted to say.

"Hey Rio," Kazu-nee half-heartedly piped up.

"Remind me to put nettles in Genma-sensei's spare clothes on the next mission," Nii-san suddenly asked, raising his head to look at the back of the sofa.

"Only if I get to help."

"Hana would probably help distract him," Nii continued. "If he gets mad, then we can call it stealth training."

"Fuck stealth training, he'll know why we did it," Kazu-nee snapped, raising his head to peek one pink eye over the edge of the sofa.

Rio looked between the two. It was nice to have them home but sometimes Rio felt like the odd man out. He knew he was loved but listening to them now, there was a lot about his family that he missed out on. That he missed because he couldn't go with them or train with them or would just get in the way.

"Nii-san, Kazu-nee?"

Two pairs of eyes turned to look at him, both older boys now sitting up properly.

"I want to join the academy."

Nii-san's face dropped and Kazu-nee shot a look at his brother before leaning back out of sight, muttering 'you're taking this one'.

"No."

Rio steeled himself. He knew this wasn't going to be easy. Today they would see he was just as good as them and that he didn't have to be left behind all the time.

"You were at the academy at my age."

"Yes, but that was different," Nii-san shot back as he stood and went to pick up the bags.

"How?" demanded Rio, jumping up from his seat. "I could be just as good as you if you gave me a chance!"

"I went to the academy early so we could leave the orphanage," Nii-san replied, still calm as he picked up the two bags. "There's no reason for you to go early."

"You did! It's not fair that you're treating me like I'm not good enough when you won't even give me a chance!" Rio yelled, his eyes burning.

Nii-san dropped the bags, the two thumps echoing around the apartment. He turned slowly and Rio could finally see his exterior crack.

"It is not about how good you are," Nii-san chastised. "This is peacetime which means no early admittance! When I went we were still at war with Kumo! This has nothing to do with your ability!"

"Rio."

He turned to look into soft, pink eyes.

"You know we think you're the best kid ever."

"If it wasn't peacetime, would you let me go?" Rio snapped back, hating the silence that followed his question.

"Rio-"

"No!" Rio shook his head and took a few steps back. "You always do this."

"What-"

"You never tell me anything and you never let me do anything! You just dump me with the Inuzuka so I don't get in your way! I'm not a baby anymore!"

The tears were flowing now.

"You always leave me out! I can do stuff too but you don't think that I can! You don't tell me anything! I know the way the village looks at me! I know other kids avoid me and make fun of me! I know you talk about me behind my back! But nobody ever tells me why!"

"Rio, we're just trying to look out for you." He had never seen his Nii-san look so hurt.

"Stop it! Why don't you believe in me!?"

Rio couldn't even see the other boys anymore, the tears blurring their faces.

"Why don't you TRUST ME!?"

His throat hurt from the screaming. Unable to stay in the same room anymore, Rio ran to his room, slamming the door behind him. He didn't listen to see if they were moving in the other room. He pulled his spare sandals on and opened the window, fleeing.

He didn't know if he was running from his family or himself.

Naruto sniffled as a third hour passed without Rio coming home. He'd wanted to fling himself out the window after his little brother but Kazuya had talked him down. He had to let Rio calm down. He knew Kazuya was right but the sick feeling in his stomach only got worse the more time passed.

How hadn't he seen it? How didn't he know what his own little brother was thinking? How had he made him feel like this? What had he done?

He had only ever wanted the best for Rio. He wanted Rio to have the childhood he couldn't have and that meant going to the academy with kids his age, with Kiba. He hadn't been perfect, he knew that. They'd been going on only C-ranks for the past three months so they hadn't exactly been around but Rio had always seemed happy enough with the Inuzuka. He'd even started staying in the apartment on his own at night.

It crushed him that Rio thought they didn't believe in him, that he was being left behind. Rio was the reason he had gotten this far, the reason he trained so hard, the reason he was even here. Naruto had no idea what he would have done if Rio hadn't been there after their parents died.

He looked up as Kazuya slid into the seat in front of him. They were still covered in dirt and sweat from their C-rank but Naruto couldn't bear missing Rio coming home if he went for a shower. Kazuya appeared to feel the same way.

"Are you going to tell him?"

Naruto looked away from his best friend, wiping the tears away.

"Yeah," he mumbled. "I was gonna wait until the academy but he's ready now."

"Naruto, I know you want to protect him," Kazuya started, tracing the wood of the table with a fingertip. "I do too, but the kid has a point."

Naruto opened his mouth, to say what he didn't know, but Kazuya continued.

"We've been overprotecting him. He spends most of his time with the Inuzuka, a shinobi clan so we know he's aware of what this life entails. He's watched us train his whole life. Of course he's not going to understand why he can't do the same."

Naruto quietly nodded, sighing as he put his face in his hands. His head snapped to the door as Rio's chakra slowly walked up the steps of the building. Kazuya was quick to grab his shoulder, forcing him back into his seat. He wasn't even aware he stood up.

"Let him come to us," Kazuya whispered, sitting back in his seat.

For all that Kazuya was the voice of reason; Naruto could see the same tension and guilt lining his shoulders. When Kazuya thought he wasn't looking it crumpled his features and his pink eyes shone with unshed tears.

Rio's chakra made it to the door and remained there for several minutes. When the door began to open, Naruto let out his breath that he hadn't realised he was holding. His little brother walked in with his head down, fingers twisted around each other. As his head rose and his teary violet eyes met his, Naruto flung himself out of his chair and wrap his arms around Rio tightly.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered into messy blond locks.

"Nii-san, I-"

Rio cut himself off as he squeezed his arms tighter around Naruto. Naruto released one arm to hold Kazuya as the brunet joined them, face wet with tears of his own. It would be okay. They were together. They would be okay.

It took a while before the three calmed down enough to speak. Naruto sat with a cup of tea in front of him, with Kazuya giving one to Rio in front of him before sliding into the chair next to the younger boy.

"Rio," Naruto began with a wobbly smile. "I want you to listen to me before you say anything else, okay?"

Rio nodded, sniffling and wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

"There are things I haven't told you. It was never to make you feel like I didn't trust you, but these are some big things. S-rank secrets that I needed to know you could keep. Even Kazuya doesn't know it all."

Rio looked to Kazuya to see him nod before turning wide eyes back to Naruto.

"Stay here."

Naruto stood and walked to his room, crouching to retrieve a box from beneath his desk. He knew he shouldn't have this, it was terrible practice to keep evidence around but he could never bear to part with it. He brought the box back to the kitchen table and put it down, sliding back into his seat. Taking the lid off, he reached in and took out a photo frame and gently brushed off the dust. He handed it to Rio and watched the confusion cloud his features.

"This is the Yondaime Hokage," Rio stated, staring down at the old photo. "This lady with him, she's got your hair."

Naruto nodded as understanding dawned on Kazuya's face.

"You're the blond kid?"

"Yes."

Naruto reached out and pointed to himself.

"This is me on my first birthday. Tou-chan and Kaa-chan made a huge fuss; Tou-chan even dropped his Hokage duties for that one day," he smiled, sitting back in his seat. "The only time I think I saw them happier is when they found out they were going to have you, Rio."

His brother's mouth opened but nothing came out.

"I was so happy. I got to visit Tou-chan in his office, Kaa-chan took me to Ichiraku's and my godparents visited all the time. My life was going to get even better too; I was going to be a big brother."

"The Yondaime's my dad?" Rio asked quietly, staring down at the photograph.

"Our parents were Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. Our full names are Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto and Norio."

"So wait," Kazuya broke in. "When you said that your parents named you after the Yondaime's son..."

"I lied. It was the best excuse Jiji and I could come up with for why I have the name Naruto. I didn't want to lose that too."

"But why... why do you have to lie?"

Naruto looked into Rio's confused eyes.

"Our father made many enemies, Sunshine," he explained sadly. "Iwa would have come for our heads if they knew we were alive. People saw me run towards the Kyūbi in the attack and the bandages after covered up my face for the most part. It was too good a chance to pass up."

"Why don't you look like the kid in the picture?" Kazuya frowned. "I've never seen you dye your hair."

"My blond hair and whiskers were too recognisable even with the scarring. Ero-sennin used a seal that hides them. It runs on my chakra so bar dying, it'll never stop. But Rio," Naruto leaned forward. "It's important that you never tell anyone, not even Kiba. Maybe in the future when you've graduated and make chunin, but until then it's safer to keep hidden."

"I know the Yondaime died in the attack but what about mum?" Rio asked desperately.

"They both died that night," Naruto admitted. "That's something else I wanted to tell you."

Rio put the picture on the table, staring at Naruto intently. This was a lot of information but he had to know. He deserved to know.

"That night the Kyūbi didn't come to Konoha, he was released here."

Seeing the confusion on Rio's face he continued.

"There are people that act as containers for beings like the Kyūbi. You've seen me seal kunai into scrolls for missions, right?" Naruto watched Rio nod. "Same thing. The person is not the Bijū, just the container for them."

"The night of the attack the seal was weakened and the Kyūbi broke out. That's why the attack happened. The container was our mother since Uzumaki's were found to be perfect containers," Naruto recited what he'd managed to wheedle out of Jiji. "You can't kill a Bijū so Tou-chan sealed the beast back up into another Uzumaki to save Konoha since Kaa-chan didn't survive it escaping."

Horror dawned on Rio's face but Naruto knew he had to continue.

"You."

"That's why everyone hates me? 'Cause I have the Kyūbi inside me?" Rio blurted out, a hand rising to cover his mouth.

Naruto nodded, gently taking Rio's hand away from his mouth.

"You saved Konoha, Rio. The people who don't like you don't understand what you're doing. Remember, when a scroll seals a kunai, it doesn't become a kunai, right?"

Rio nodded but Naruto could see that he hadn't heard him.

"This explains a lot."

The brothers looked towards Kazuya. The other boy was smiling but Naruto could see the confusion and pain lining his face.

"I mean, you know the Hokage, Jiraiya of the Sannin and the Copy-Nin. It makes sense with who your parents are."

Naruto sent a grateful look to Kazuya for trying and looked to Rio once again.

"I can't let you go to the academy right now. They don't allow early entrance in peacetime but we are going to start training you and preparing you for when you can go," he promised, squeezing Rio's hand gently. "I know this is a lot, but you have to swear to keep this a secret. All of it."

Rio watched him for a moment and Naruto couldn't read him at all. The younger boy then nodded and stood, clutching the photo frame.

"Can I think about it all? I promise I won't tell but..."

"Of course, Sunshine," Naruto smiled, receiving the hug from his brother before he went to his room.

He felt Rio's signature settle and released a deep breath. He wasn't going to leave again. His head snapped to Kazuya as the brunet coughed, the tiredness from the mission and this whole evening hitting him.

"Your life is insane."

"Yeah," Naruto rubbed his eyes. "It's just one big S-ranked secret."

"You didn't tell him about the whole dying thing."

"No, I didn't," Naruto replied curtly, gathering the cups of cold tea and pouring them down the drain. "I told him this because it affected him. It's his family and his body. This thing is mine and I'm not going to worry him over something that's going to happen in like ten years."

Kazuya threw up his hands in surrender.

"It's your choice."

He lowered his hands and looked pensive for a moment.

"My mother's name was Arai Yua and her favourite colour was purple. My dad died on a mission when I was one so I don't remember him at all."

Naruto stared at his friend in surprise and came over to sit in Rio's seat.

"She loved to sing and worked at a bakery near our house. Our house always smelled of fresh bread," Kazuya looked down at his hands. "When the Kyūbi attacked, we couldn't get out in time. She shoved me out of the house right before it collapsed. I didn't even have time to try to find her in the rubble. A chunin scooped me up and carried me to safety. It took me two days to find her name in the list of the dead."

Naruto remained silent for a moment.

"Why?"

"Thanks," Kazuya smiled sadly. "Thank you for trusting me with your family. Someone else should know about her and I trust you with mine."

Naruto pulled his best friend in for a tight hug. This was good. They all needed this. They'd be fine.

Genma walked into the jounin standby station and melted into the red sofas with a groan. Raidō raised an eyebrow at him and Genma let out another groan for good measure.

"How're your genin?" Kotetsu grinned at him from the sofa across from him. "Last time you came in like that they spiked your senbon with a laxative."

"Damn Genma," a voice spoke up. "What'd you do to them this time?"

Anko strode up to the group, Kurenai following close behind. Anko plonked herself beside Genma while Kurenai sat more gently beside Kotetsu.

"Can they prank their genin instructor?" Izumo piped up, sitting on Kotetsu's other side and placing his steaming cup on his knee.

"With the hell Genma puts them through I think they're an exception," Raidō chuckled, elbowing Genma's face gently.

Genma shot his friend a betrayed look before hauling himself up to sit up straight.

"You may laugh but these genin are insane," he muttered. "Their hobbies are training. You try normal training methods when you got three workaholics bugging you."

"Admit it," Kotetsu leaned forward, grinning widely. "They've grown on you the last two years."

Genma stuck him tongue out around his senbon but couldn't refute him. When he was first faced with three tiny faces looking up at him, he could admit now that it had daunted him. S-rank mission, no problem. Being responsible for three kids under the age of eleven, big problem.

He'd tried his best to come up with training that would keep them safe. The dodge training had admittedly been fun but he knew it was an important skill that wasn't really taught in the academy. There was a lot about being a shinobi that wasn't taught at the academy. So it was his job to fill in the gaps and make sure that they don't die on their first real mission.

Two years later, he was confident in his genins' skill but he still tried to think outside the box with training. The more they faced in training, the better prepared they would be in the field. Genma was mostly sure that his team understood this but he supposed it didn't make it any easier. He considered their retaliation for the hard training a training exercise for them all; stealth for them and awareness for him. It was good that they could think for themselves.

He would admit though there was nothing funnier than his genin stomping towards him, yelling about whatever he had unleashed on them that day. He was only human after all.

"You got the early grads, right?" Kurenai asked quietly.

"Yup," Raidō answered for him. "Oldest turned twelve this year."

Anko whistled.

"Damn, I heard about them. Weren't they the ones in the Forest of Death a couple months ago?"

"Yup," Genma grinned. "They asked to stay closer to the village for the next while so Naruto can train his brother for the academy so we're mainly carrying out border patrols and guarding the village walls. I wanted to make sure they weren't going soft."

"Didn't you drug them and put them there while they were sleeping?" Izumo frowned.

"I left a note," Genma replied defensively.

"That said 'You're in the Forest of Death. Your training is to get out. Don't die."

"How do you even know that, Kotetsu?"

"I found the note and showed everyone," Anko cackled.

"They're genin!" Kurenai exclaimed. "You can't do that!"

"They've been genin for a couple years now," Genma shrugged, unapologetic. "I knew they could handle it and they did. They even managed to dye all my bandanas pink by the next day."

"Fuck, I can't believe I forgot about that!" Anko howled next to him, the chunin joining in.

"This is how his team bonds," Raidō patted Kurenai's arm sympathetically.

"Literally everything I've thrown at them since I became their jounin instructor, they've done it brilliantly and chucked something back at me," Genma continued. "I'd bet my next mission pay they're the best genin team in Konoha."

"Look out! Proud papa has emerged!"

Genma shoved Anko over.

"Seriously though, I've seen one of them in the hospital learning medical jutsu," Kotetsu said slowly. "I've seen the redhead too, but he was setting fire to a tree after messing up a seal. What's the story with that?"

"That's their own thing," Genma threw his hands up. "I'm not much help for them but Naruto wanted to learn fūinjutsu and Kazuya medical jutsu. I pointed them in the right direction but that's all them."

"What about the Inuzuka?"

"Hana's too busy learning her clan jutsu to pick up something else," Genma answered Izumo.

"So let me get this straight. You torture your genin with batshit training ideas and they decided that they wanted to learn more?" Anko drawled. "They are insane."

"They train with Gai too, sometimes. Voluntarily."

A shudder passed through the group at the thought of the odd jounin's workout routine.

"Are all genin teams like this?"

"I think this one is special, Kurenai," smiled Raidō.

"So special that we never see you at the bars anymore; the men and women of Konoha are suffering in your absence."

"Oh ha ha," Genma levelled a quick glare at the purple-haired jounin.

"Everyone misses your drunken ass," she continued.

"I don't get drunk; I get awesome."

"You awesomely fell off the table at the last chunin exams trying to impress that Suna chunin. You don't find quality entertainment like that everywhere."

"Shut up, Anko."

Kotetsu chuckled across from him and snagged Izumo's drink, taking a sip before offering it back to Izumo.

"I'm not drinking out of that," Izumo's face twisted in disgust. "Who knows where your mouth has been."

Genma smiled at his friend's antics. It was true that he didn't spend as much time with them. Time was that he would have been out every week, a different companion every time. He still owed Anko a drinking contest after the last one had been hijacked by Gai and his challenges. He still had that in him but his focus was his team. Even after they became chunin and went off to do their own thing he knew that they'd always be his team. He'd always be there for them. It would be fun though when they could join him at the bars.

"I'm going to enter them into the chunin exams."

His friends stopped talking to look at him.

"Not this year, though. I would have but it's in Iwa," he expanded. "Next year, since it's in Kumo."

"Makes sense," shrugged Raidō. "They are going to better prepared than most."

Genma shot a wide smile at his friend. He could always count on Raidō.

"Wait, but wouldn't the youngest be ten next year?" Kotetsu wondered. "Are we going to have another Itachi?"

"I don't think there could ever be a second Itachi," Izumo pointed out, looking around for a clock.

He abruptly stood and pulled Kotetsu up with him.

"We're on shift in five so we'll see you guys later."

"But Zumo," whined Kotetsu. "This is some prime gossip right now. They won't care if we're a little late."

"They will and we're going," Izumo huffed, dragging his friend towards the door. "You need to take your duties more seriously.

"Good luck with the genin, Genmaaaaa!" Kotetsu yelled behind him.

Genma chuckled and stood himself.

"I should go too. I've got to assess them tomorrow and see what we need to work on before the exams."

He got a grumble from Anko and a soft goodbye from Kurenai. Raidō shot him a warm smile.

"You've done great with them."

Genma smiled back and headed out the door.

The same evening, Naruto weaved his way through the village trying to help Kazuya find the flower shop one of the medics at the hospital had recommended for herbs. He felt a pulse of chakra from his friend and switched directions. It wasn't long before he spotted the purple in the near distance and he jogged up to stand next to his friend, looking at the sign above the shop.

'Yamanaka Flowers'. This was the place.

He followed Kazuya in and the scent of flowers overpowered him for a moment. As he looked around at the sea of colours, Kazuya strode to the desk where a blonde girl about Rio's age was reading a book. She looked up and sky blue eyes characteristic of the Yamanaka clan scanned them as she placed the book down.

"Hi! Welcome to Yamanaka Flowers. Are you looking for something or just browsing?"

"Hi, yeah, someone from the hospital told me here was best for herbs and flowers?" Kazuya smiled back and Naruto made his way to stand next to him once again.

"If you're look for medicinal herbs then the Nara are best for that," she said, flipping the long blonde bang out of her face only for it to settle back in place. "We can do flowers though. Any specifically you're looking for?"

Kazuya began to dig around his pockets for his list.

"Your hair is incredible, by the way."

"What?" Naruto blurted out, hand rising to touch the red strands as the girl turned to look at him.

He didn't really think about his hair other than to tie it up out of the way. Hana still liked to experiment with it though and today she'd braided two long strips on each side of his head and brought them together in a small bun. The rest of his hair hung loose in waves over his shoulders.

"I've never seen that shade of red before," the girl smiled. "Who did the braids?"

"My teammate." He dropped his hand from his hair.

"It's beautiful. Although it's kind of ruined by the orange; red and orange together are just too much."

Naruto frowned as he looked down at his orange t-shirt. What was people's problem with orange? It was a great colour.

"Tell me about it," Kazuya chuckled. "I've been trying to tell him for years but he won't listen. He should stick to blue and black."

The girl giggled and took the offered list.

"Purple will always be best though. I'm Ino," she grinned.

"Kazuya and this eyesore is Naruto."

Naruto shoved at his friend who had the audacity to dodge.

"We have most of these but I can ask my dad about the passionflower and jasmine," she shouted behind her as she disappeared through a door.

Kazuya turned to him, a mocking grin already plastered across his face.

"Shut up," Naruto grumbled. "She's basically a female you."

Kazuya laughed before moving further up the counter, drawn to a pot of delicate pink flowers sitting on the surface.

"These are cool," he mumbled, reaching out a hand.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Kazuya snapped his hand back as Naruto looked at the tall blond man that had appeared, Ino close behind. The man took the pot and placed it under the counter with a stern look to his daughter who looked faintly guilty.

"Those were nerium oleander," the man explained. "Very poisonous and shouldn't have been left out."

"Poisonous?" Kazuya asked eagerly.

"Flowers can do many things. They can kill just as easily as heal; depending on how you use them, a single flower can do both."

Kazuya's eyes brightened.

"Are you looking to become a medic? A good knowledge of poisons would be beneficial for that," the Yamanaka continued. "Though you seem a bit young for training to be a medic."

"We're genin," Naruto piped up, regretting leaving the headbands behind.

People always took them more seriously with the headbands.

"Really?" Ino leaned on the counter. "You're like academy age."

Naruto muttered about growth spurts under his breath as Kazuya took over.

"I started studying this stuff like two years ago," he stated firmly. "I know what I'm doing Yamanaka-san."

"Please call me Inoichi," the man waved off. "You're the early graduates then?"

They both nodded.

"Well, we can get you everything on this list bar the passionflower. We're due a shipment of them in two weeks so if you come back then," Inoichi told them, giving the list to Ino. "Ino will gather them up for you."

"Can I add a couple poisonous flowers to that order?" Kazuya quickly asked, Naruto shooting him a confused look.

"I can give you the oleanders and calla lilies to start you off," Inoichi nodded. "If you need any advice feel free to come back anytime. We'll make sure to label the flowers too."

"Probably for the best," Kazuya grinned. "Don't want Rio messing with them."

"Rio?" Ino popped back into view.

"Our younger brother," Naruto supplied. "He'll probably end up going to the academy with you."

Thinking on his brother, Naruto looked around the shop.

"Flowers have meaning, right? Which ones are used for mourning?"

Since he'd told Rio the truth they hadn't mentioned it since. Maybe it would be good to actually visit their parents' graves before the Rinne Festival, to help Rio come to terms with it.

"White lilies," Inoichi answered quietly, pointing to the white star-shaped flowers by the entrance.

"Can I get two bouquets of white lilies, then?"

"Make that three."

Naruto looked over to see Kazuya smiling sadly at him.

Ino finally finished gathering their order and a rainbow of colours covered the counter.

"Can you guys carry all this? We have a delivery option," Ino asked, eyeing the bundles of flowers.

"It's cool," Kazuya grinned as he handed over the yen to Inoichi. "I don't just hang out with a guy who wears orange for fun."

Naruto stuck his tongue out at the brunet as he pulled a scroll from his pocket. He had been working on a new storage seal and this was the perfect time to test it. He began picking up the flower bundles and sealing them in, moving quickly.

"That looks a bit different than a normal storage seal," Inoichi commented, coming closer after handing Kazuya the change.

Naruto nodded as he pointed to the bit he'd changed.

"Normal storage seals just seal equipment and ration bars but aren't great for fresh food," he explained, continuing to seal the flowers. "I changed the stasis component of the seal so it would store food and flowers and stuff and keep it fresh the whole time it's sealed. I also had to add a cooling component that would work on the contents of the seal and that was a nightmare."

"Oh man," Kazuya groaned at the memory. "The living room was freezing for weeks 'cause it kept going wrong."

"Like you're any better. I remember going to find food and you'd practiced your stitches on everything in the flat. We were pulling threads out of everything for days every time we wanted to eat."

"Nothing else was soft enough!"

A cough brought them out of their argument and they looked to the Yamanaka's sheepishly.

"Sorry," Kazuya offered as Naruto finished up.

"Yeah," Naruto placed the scroll back in his pocket. "Thanks for the flowers."

"Come back anytime, boys," Inoichi smiled.

They bid goodbye and headed out for home. They missed Inoichi's narrowed gaze and contemplative expression.

Thanks for reading!