The next few days seemed to last forever to Naruto. The mornings consisted of him eating breakfast with Inoichi and his family who all were excellent people. Afterwards he would help Ino do her chores, after he learned that she would get to play earlier if he did so, and they would charge outside into the sunlight. They played all kinds of different games, from Ninja in which they would attempt to subdue each other in which Naruto being faster than Ino made it slightly unfair. Target Practice with blunted kunai and shuriken. In which Ino proved the better of the two of them by a wide margin to Naruto's chagrin.
" You know one day, I'll beat you." Naruto's voice announced with his usual energy he had hit fifteen of the twenty targets while Ino had hit every single target. She was standing on his right with her hands on her hips sticking her tongue out at him. The sun was shining down on them through the trees lighting up the little clearing they stood in. Naruto could hear the yells of the other children not terribly far away from them, they were younger, they were still just out doing little kid things. Naruto and Ino however were doing more grown up exercises, they had both been told that going into the ninja academy would be tough and were given some pointers on what they could do to help prepare themselves.
"Hmmm, maybe. I've heard stories about how your dad was like super amazing at throwing weapons." Ino replied back. Naruto was in a black t-shirt and shorts, that contrasted sharply with his bright blue eyes and sunshine yellow hair. He was slouched a bit with one hand behind his head smiling.
"Yeah, Kakashi-Nii says when I get older he will train me to throw like dad did. I guess he has all kind of training from both my mom and dad to pass down to me." Naruto said as he walked up to the targets and began pulling the kunai and shuriken out of them. It wasn't much of a task as they wouldn't go to deep in the target due to their blunted tips. Still it took him a few minutes to gather up all forty of them. While he did this Ino let herself fall back onto the warm grass and let out a sigh.
" So Naruto… What do you think the academy will be like?" Her voice was uncharacteristically quiet, and Naruto turned towards her before replying
" Well from what I've overheard and been told in the mornings there will be normal classes such as mathematics and language/calligraphy, in the afternoons we will do actual exercises and ninja training." He assured her as he walked back. He tried to make his voice uplifting and based on the way she smiled as she took her practice tools back, he figured he had succeeded. They took a few more throws at the targets landing some hits before calling it and heading back towards the house.
As they approached the house they both looked around, children were running around enjoying the warm weather and freedom of the day. Naruto had spent four days here enjoying his time. Everything here was so interesting, from the flower fields that he just wanted to lay down in and be surrounded by the smells, to the multitudes of people who all seemed to at least know of him. Naruto frowned to himself, while he was happy Kakashi-Nii has kept him safe he had also kept him isolated from the greater public. If he had known that he would enjoy being around people as much as he had he would have asked to be left free to wander among people years ago.
A short time later after reaching the house Ino was walking in front of him leading him to the gate where he could already see Ino's mom waiting on them. Today they would be going to meet Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akamichi, the sons of the two current clan heads. While the kids went about and played the wives would keep an eye on them and spend some much needed "woman time" together he had heard. He was a little nervous to meet two new people at once but Ino reassured him saying
"They're really easy to get along with. Shikamaru likes to lay around and look at clouds while relaxing, Choji likes to wrestle and play around a ton and he loves talking about food and cooking." She explained as she was led onwards by her mother. Before to long they were in front of a large gate that even in the noonday sun had shadows cast over it completely. They didn't have to wait long before the gate was opened by a fairly young-looking woman with her hair in a low ponytail. Her skin was slightly pale, and her eyes were a dark color that was difficult to discern in the shadows over her face.
"Oh perfect timing I was just coming out to see if you would be here." Her voice rang out as she opened the gate more fully allowing Naruto to see past her to a heavily wooded area with several deer milling about in the shade. There were people leaning against trees and looking at the skies all around her. While looking around he even saw a man laying on the underside of a tree branch with the chakra sticking exercise.
" Naruto this is Yoshino Nara the wife of Shikaku Nara and mother of Shikamaru who you will be meeting shortly." Ino's mom said as way of introductions. Naruto moved forward and bowed to the woman.
"Thank you for allowing me to enter your home and clan grounds Miss Nara, I promise to treat them with the utmost care." Naruto enunciated clearly to the woman who smiled back at him before motioning for him to raise.
" Very respectful Naruto, my son could learn from you I think." She said giving Naruto an appraising look.
Naruto was about to continue speaking with her when he felt his jacket sleeve being tugged by Ino as he began to be dragged away. He waved goodbye to her excitedly before turning and running to catch up with Ino who had let go of his sleeve and was moving toward a shaded copse of trees. Naruto easily overtook her with his insane speed and was soon slowing himself down waiting for her before matching his speed to hers as they ran into the trees.
" He is an interesting one isn't he?" Dorothy said as they began a much more sedated pace towards a large house next to the woods where the kids ran off to.
" He certainly is. Is he always that formal?" Yoshino answered in return. Her gaze was on the trees where she could still see Naruto's blonde hair flash every once in awhile.
" Goodness no. He is simply trying to make a good impression. He really is such a good boy, but he wants to make sure everyone knows he will try his hardest." The door opened before them as they slipped their shoes off. They headed into the kitchen as their conversation continued for several hours talking about Naruto, Ino, Lord Fourth, and their dear missing friend Kushina.
Meanwhile with Naruto and Ino, they had run through the woods at great speed for about a minute and a half before they came across a clearing where a kid with pineapple hair was leaning against a tree dazing, a book rested against his chest that it appeared he had been reading before he fell asleep. Ino smiled before placing a finger to her lips and then moving toward the boy quietly. Once she was close enough she poked him right on the forehead where he jerked awake and fell to the side.
" Uhg" He groaned out as he leaned up and rubbed his eyes. " That was very troublesome of you Ino, I was just getting to the good part of a dream." The boy complained before looking at Ino and by extension Naruto who was giving him a quizzical look.
" You must be Namikaze Naruto. I've seen you around the village a few times, and you are a dead ringer for Lord Fourth." He drawled out slowly as he raised one arm up stretching before he then leaned back against the tree he was on.
Naruto stared at the boy for a moment before grinning and putting his hand forward. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow before also moving his hand forward. They met at the knuckles knocking against each other before linking up and fitting their knuckles together. They both applied light pressure to each other before they matched perfectly and withdrew their hands.
" Not many people would greet an ally on the first meeting with the Konoha Symbol of Admiration." Shikamaru said with a different kind of voice to him. Ino's eyes were wide at the display not many people impressed Shika at first meeting, and even fewer intrigued the boy.
"I've heard a lot about your clan from my Nii-san, and Ino has said a lot about you specifically. I just wanted to personally show you that I think you are someone worth admiration." Naruto said in a casual sort of way, his hands linked together behind his head as he looked up through the trees at the sun.
The day broke down from there with the kids playing together until Choji showed up and introductions were done once again. Shikamaru and Ino talked about one thing or another while Naruto and Choji wrestled and ran around. Not exactly playing, but not quite hardcore training either it was more relaxed than that. They moved and played and before long the sun was setting and the temperature was dropping swiftly. They began heading back towards Shikamaru's house where they could hear Ino's mom calling for them. Ino shivered as the temperature plummeted and muttered about the cold.
" If I had known it was supposed to get this cold i would have brought a jacket."
Naruto glanced at her before removing the light coat he was wearing and handing it toward her. It was burnt orange in color and was more of a wind-breaker than anything its material light and hardy. Ino took the jacket immediately and pulled it on as they walked. The jacket was a little long on her reaching past her hips and hanging off her arms, but it did its job keeping her warm while Naruto continued his sedated pace next to the others. It wasn't long before they exited the tree line and walked in the backdoor of the house directly into the kitchen. There before them was a lot of food spread over an overly large table. Seats spread out around the table some already filled by people Naruto recognized namely the parents of the other kids. The kids all washed up and took their own places around the table before digging in and sharing food and talk generally enjoying each other's company.
Naruto laid in his borrowed bed exhausted from the day. He really enjoyed talking and playing with others, but at the end of the day after being with people he always felt more drained than anything else. He snuggled into the blankets a little further and closed his eyes drifting off to sleep wondering how Kakashi-Nii was doing out on his mission.
Kakashi was doing well on his mission, incredibly well if he was honest with himself. He had tracked his target down to a secluded town where they were attempting to lay low. A smart plan he conceded, he would lay low himself if he had just successfully ransomed the Daimyo's Cousin back to them for an extreme amount of money. His mission was simple. Kill the man and retrieve the scroll with the hidden tracking fuinjutsu on it. Kakashi dropped onto the roof silently from the tree he had been sitting on. The target had just put out his fire and was making preparations for bed. The chimney with smoke curling out of it would be Kakashi's entry point. He had his Family Sword strapped over his back, the infamous White Light Chakra Saber. A blade he had reforged with exacting specifications and then modified by himself using his family's special techniques. He sat leaned against the top of the house for the better part of an hour breath curling out in small wisps while waiting for his target to be fully asleep. Once the smoke had stopped pouring from the chimney he pulled himself to the top of the chimney and removed the cap quietly. He placed it on the roof of the building lightly so it made no noise, and was easily accessible for his exit. He then put his hands out touching the inner walls of the chimney slowing his descent stopping himself from touching the still warm coals beneath him. He moved deliberately, slowly, flipping his body position upside down sticking himself to the chimney with Chakra as he surveyed the room with only his head peaking out. It was a fairly shoddy shack with little in the way of care or upkeep being done. He saw his target sleeping ignorant of his own impending death. He slowly crawled the rest of the way down the chimney and placed his feet on the floor. It had taken him four days and nearly twenty dead ends and traps laid out for him to finally find the man. He moved across the floor stepping over various trip wires while moving his head around on a swivel looking for other not so obvious traps.
Finally he reached the man and slowly removed his sword from it's sheath. He ran a small amount of chakra through the blade, increasing its cutting ability and reducing its wind drag to zero. He lined it up carefully and took one swift swing cleaving the man's head from his resulting headless body let out a spray of blood everywhere coating the walls and the bed. Kakashi would have been sprayed himself if he hadn't grabbed the man's blanket and used it as a makeshift shield. He took the man's head and placed it inside a special sealing scroll for confirmation of his kill. He then flipped the pillow over and dumped out its contents including the marked scroll with the money and tracking Fuinjutsu inside of it.
Kakashi grinned under his mask as he verified it was the authentic scroll. He quickly climbed back up the chimney and replaced the topper with efficiency. He checked his time by looking at the stars above his head. It was still fairly early in the night. If he hurried and cut a fairly hard pace he would be back in the village a full day and a half before he was supposed to be earning himself a bonus. He lept upwards landing in the trees and immediately started channeling chakra to his legs massively increasing his speed as he launched himself forward from tree to tree.
" I'm coming home Naruto, just like I said I would, and days early to boot." He thought to himself as he left the little cabin behind him the only note of his passing being the small wifts of his warm breath on the wind.