- A little to the side, Jeff.
The boy was standing there, concentrating chakra on the soles of his feet at the top of a two-story establishment as he watched the work they were doing below.
- Like this?
- More to the side.
- Like this?
- Hmmm - Places a hand on his chin, thoughtful - Go back a little.
- Like this?
- Perfect!
Naruto smiled and hopped down to the floor, greeting the workers with whom he had made friends rather quickly.
He had told them a half-truth about his story. He had said that the nukenins attacked them, and he and his sister ended up separated from their parents, and now they were gathering money so they could return to their village.
The workers sympathized with his story and allowed them to work there. Of course, they were paid a certain amount of money. It was a fact that both chakra users helped a lot in the time they spent there. The manual labor became easier and faster.
And although Naruto liked that place and those people, he couldn't wait to get out of there. Not only because he wanted to go back to his parents, but also because they took too many risks being there.
He didn't need to be a genius to realize it. Tayuya betrays her group and runs away with a demi-human. A short time later, a boy and a girl appear in a village, kind of far from the hiding place, and these two children can use chakra...
Very suspicious, to say the least. But at least, up to that point, no one showed up there, so it was quiet for now.
Just in case, Naruto infested the surrounding forest with his clones, and right after he saw two suspicious men leave the village in a hurry after his arrival, and he knocked them both out, he was even more alert than before.
Watching the work over his shoulder, Naruto approaches Haruki, the "leader" of those men. He was like the boss, at least of that work environment.
- I'm done here, Haruki.
He approached, sitting down at a table with some tools and taking an apple from a basket beside him.
- Quick as always, Menma. Here, your payment.
He handed an envelope to Naruto, who smiled as he put the money in his pocket. It was always great when he received his pay at the end of his shift, it gave him a feeling of independence.
- Ah, great. Time to buy some new clothes.
He threw the apple core into a trash basket not far away and got up from the table.
- Are you going to get rid of these pink shorts? So stylish.
- Ha, ha, yeah, really stylish, Kami, what an ugly thing.
- Nah, no way, you look cute... hahahahahahahahah.
Naruto snorted at his boss's mocking laughter, but smiled slightly.
- Well, I'm off.
He turned and started walking.
- How much longer before you get the tickets? If I'm not mistaken, they were quite expensive.
The boy turned and began to walk backwards.
- Not long, I think another week or so and I can make it.
- Um, you're a pretty smart kid... smart and weird, you know that? At that age and already acting so grown up.
- Well, what can I say? I guess it's in my blood.
He smiled, turning and walking briskly to Tayuya's chakra, who, as usual, was baffled.
- Well, well, well, skipping your shift, Miss Sakumo?
The girl snorted, giving him the middle finger.
- Cof, cof, well, you should know that I have already finished my shift, presence, work, and companionship all grade A. I can give you some tips if you want.
He scoffed, and the girl stood up, wiping the dirt off her shorts.
- Oh, don't bother. I'm done with my shift... oh, how I wish Haruki would give me a longer shift, there's nothing to do after I'm done.
Naruto arched an eyebrow.
- We are innocent children, he is already being generous enough by paying us, and I won't lie it's good money.
- Yeah, yeah, whatever. Come on, those clothes I got ripped too easily.
She started walking to the center of the village, with Naruto right beside her.
- Tell me about it. I know they gave us old clothes, but, gee, these ridiculous pink shorts proved to be more resistant. But shouldn't we take a shower first?
- Did you sweat or get dirty at work?
-... No... I didn't even do anything, actually, it was my clones.
- So there you go.
The boy put his arms behind his head as he ran his eyes over the village's establishments. Stores, restaurants, hotels and other places he didn't quite understand what they were.
And even after asking Haruki, he still didn't understand. Besides the adults were saying that it wasn't something a child needed to know.
- Tay... Sakumo... what is a brothel?
The question caught the girl off guard, and she turned to him with slightly wide eyes.
- Ahm... why do you want to know?
- Because Haruki and the others won't tell me. Is it like a hotel? I see men going in there and only leaving in the morning accompanied by some women... what is it?
- Hm... do you know how babies are made?
He arched an eyebrow.
- Of course I know, the man places a seed in the woman's belly with his excalibur and a baby is born. But what does that have to do with it?
Tayuya turned a rather... puzzled expression.
-... I'll ignore the "excalibur" part. A brothel is... argh, if you knew how babies are made this would be easier.
She sighed, running her hand through her hair.
Naruto arched an eyebrow, and then, with a loud laugh, gave the girl a curious look.
- What?
- I know how babies are made, hahahaha. My godfather and my 'nii-san' are perverts by nature. One day I picked up a book they were reading and found out. It's kind of weird, you put your-
- Okay, okay, enough. Okay, a brothel is where adults perform the act of making babies with total strangers just for the pleasure of it.
He grimaced.
- What? What a shitty place, that's all?
- It's... a bit more complex than that, but in short, that's all it is.
- And this is something that gives pleasure?
- Yes... I think so.
- You think so?
- I've never felt it. I didn't do it because I wanted to, so I didn't find it that pleasurable... my Kami, what am I talking to a child about? You should only know these things when you are older.
- Okaaay, so killing and warring is okay for a child, but not this? Just makes me more curious.
The girl grimaced... he had a point.
Before he could ask anything else of that sort, they finally arrived at the clothing store. It was one of the cheapest in the village, but it was good enough.
Much better than those rags they wore, they looked like two beggars who worked all day.
Although Tayuya preferred that life much more than the old one. It was extremely simpler, easier and more peaceful.
- Welcome.
The cashier's soft voice echoed through the nearly empty store. Naruto looked at her and smiled broadly in response, already walking toward the men's shorts.
Naruto ran his eyes through the men's shorts and pants, until one piece caught his eye. A black pair of pants, paired with a ninja sandal that left only his toes out and covered part of his leg.
"Okay, pants and shoes, ready."
"I didn't know you had fashion sense."
"Neither did I, but you don't know how desperate I am to burn those pink shorts!"
"Hm... I thought it suited you."
"Oh, no... no, no, no, no, no, no, don't even bother, Kurama."
"What? If you didn't have blood on you, it would enhance your femininity. You already have a doll face."
"... But you look funny today, Kurama. You've got clowns up your nine asses."
"Hahahaha, you know who would have the courage to say that to me? Nobody."
"Really? Well, I do, orange dog."
"Little doll."
"Go smell your own asses, go."
Naruto snorted softly as he walked through the store, now looking for a blouse.
As he approached some clothes, he ran his eyes through them.
First, an all-orange blouse with some blue detailing on the shoulders.
"Geez, what ninja would wear that?"
"I can think of a few."
"Argh"
After that, a red open blouse with some buttons in white and a straw hat right on top.
"Hm, simple design... but I don't think it's my style."
"Try it."
"No chance."
"What? Embarrassed to show off your skinny body?"
"Hey, I have muscles... you just... can't see them."
"Uh-huh, yeah."
He rolled his eyes.
"That outfit is not my style, I don't know... maybe if I wanted to be a pirate king."
Soon after, a full yellow outfit, with red boots and gloves and a white cape.
"Hahahaha, that outfit should only look good on someone very specific."
"What are you talking about? It would look great on you. And it seems to be pretty sturdy."
"Do you see me looking like someone who can destroy everything with one punch? Piss off."
He shook his head and walked to the next blouse.
This one seemed much more his style, and it was the color he liked. An orange long-sleeved blouse with some black lines on the hem and wrists.
"Now that's my style."
"It draws a lot of attention, don't you think?"
"It doesn't matter, it won't draw attention if you don't have anyone to draw attention to."
"... Incredible."
Naruto smiled and picked up the blouse, along with a pair of gray briefs, walking with it to the nearest fitting room.
As he changed clothes, he looked at himself in the mirror. He looked twice as good as before, that outfit really matched him.
He looked like a different boy... now he just had to cut that mane he called hair, it was already falling into his eyes.
(For those who didn't catch it, it's the outfit he wears as Hokage)
He left the provider and walked to the women's wing.
- Ta... Sakumo, aren't you done yet?
He called out to her, hearing a startled groan coming from inside.
- Damn, don't sneak up on me like that. No, I'm not finished yet. I don't know which outfit to choose.
- Pick the best one.
She rolled her eyes.
- Argh, you men, no matter the age, I swear... leave it, go get your hair cut, we'll meet at the square in a little while.
He arched an eyebrow, but shrugged, walking to the cashier and paying for the clothes.
Leaving the store, he walked quickly to the nearest hairdresser.
As he entered the establishment, he stared for a while at the woman reading a magazine in front of him. As soon as she noticed him, he put the magazine aside and stood up.
- How are you, dear? Are you here for a cut?
He nodded, and she pointed to the chair next to him. The boy approached and sat down.
- So which cut do you prefer?
He made a confused face.
- Ahm... cut the sides very small and make the top a little bigger... I think.
She smiled and picked up a pair of scissors.
Naruto's eye followed quietly as his hair slowly started to fall out as she cut it, and some time later, she was done.
Naruto shook his head slightly, impressed by the change in his appearance. He was now much more decent than before, there was no comparison.
- A beautiful little boy. You'll break hearts when you grow up.
She said, and he smiled embarrassed.
- I don't know what that means, but thank you.
He got up from his chair and handed her the money, waving to her before leaving.
Naruto looked at his reflection in the window once more, still getting used to being so dressed up. It had been a while since he had worn real clothes or had his hair cut.
The air around him even seemed different.
With quiet steps, he walked to the nearest square, where he found Tayuya sitting waiting for him.
She still wore her black cap, but now she was wearing a gray blouse under a black jacket, wore ninja pants of the same color with silver details, and simple ninja sandals.
As soon as she saw him, she arched an eyebrow.
- *Wow* okay, who knew that underneath all that mud and filth resided a decent little boy. You look nice.
He smiled smugly.
- You don't look bad yourself.
- Is this how you compliment a girl? Tsk, tsk, you won't do very well with them in the future.
- Oh, I'm sorry, glorious mademoiselle, you look like a piece of heaven in those robes that highlight your hidden beauty to ignorant eyes.
They were silent for a while, staring at each other, until they both laughed at the blonde's speech.
- I guess you can change your looks, but you can't change the way you are. Come on, I'm hungry, and maybe we can cry a little to get that guy to lower the fare.
She started to walk, with the boy next to her.
- I doubt it, but who knows.
- Seriously, why don't we just sneak on the boat? It would be much easier.
- Because he makes a living that way, it's a way to help, and they're simple, we shouldn't use our chakra for such selfish reasons.
-... Argh, forget it, I think you'll get on well with the girls in the future.
She said in a somewhat low tone, but one that Naruto heard loud and clear, making a slightly confused face, but shrugging.
- Minato, look, I understand, but are you really going to do this? I ask you to think a little more, at least until you return to the position of Hokage.
The elder tried once again to convince the man, who was more than determined.
The darkness of the night camouflaged well the group of ninjas that were preparing to leave the village.
Minato wore his Jounin outfit, the one he always wore when he went out on a mission. Kakashi and Obito wore similar clothes, but with some details similar to Shisui's clothes, who was on Minato's side.
- I've already thought too much, Hiruzen. I won't waste another minute.
- What about Kushina?
- Tell her it was a last minute mission involving the Hyuugas, she won't ask questions.
The Kage sighed once again.
- Minato...
- Please don't try to stop me. My son is alive out there, somewhere in that damn forest. He's been there for months, Hiruzen! I won't wait another second.
He said with conviction in his voice, and although he didn't like that idea and the whole situation at all, Hiruzen understood well.
He was a father himself, and he knew he would do the same in Minato's shoes.
-... What about the Behemoth... the nukenins?
- The nukenins are the ones who should be worried about us. And if that monster really is there, I think the four of us can handle it. I trust this team.
Hiruzen ran his eyes over them one more time, until he clicked his tongue.
- Okay, all right, fine. I'll cover for you... but I won't do it forever, Minato.
The man nodded, and smiled gratefully.
- Go, and I hope you find Naruto.
They nodded, and the four ninjas vanished into thin air.
Hiruzen watched the forest ahead for a while longer, until he turned and started walking to the Hokage tower.
On the way, Minato was running alongside Shisui, with his two students right behind him. All of them extremely skilled and fast, where the oldest user of the sharingan has already demonstrated an unmatched speed, surprising even Minato.
- Thank you once again for agreeing to come, Shisui.
- No need, sir. You have helped our clan several times, so it's only fair that I help you when you need it.
They nodded to each other, just before increasing their speed.