WOO! I'm glad you guys liked the first chapter! And now...for chapter 2! Which also is based on my babysitting the little blond boy...and I asked him to say Konoha..and he did...X3
Chapter 2: Two Years Later
Little feet pattered along the sidewalk; a few leaves crunching under the toddler sized blue zori. Naruto's whiskered face was pink from running. The boy was full of excitement, chasing after a butterfly. He ran with his small hands outstretched, grabbing at the air, trying to seize the beautiful butterfly.
"Careful Naruto!" Iruka sped up his pace to keep up with the two year old. Naruto stopped and looked back at Iruka and started to run towards him instead.
"Ruka!" the boy smiled, completely unaware that he couldn't say Iruka yet. "Ruka! Up!" Naruto held his arms out to Iruka and snatched at the air some more, signaling that he wanted to be picked up. "Up, up!"
"Ha, all right," Iruka smiled and picked up Naruto. "Up ya go!" Iruka held him up in the air. Naruto held out his arms and legs and laughed. Iruka gave him a spin; making Naruto feel like he was flying. He brought Naruto down, and situated him on his shoulders. "Is that good?"
"Yea!" Naruto kicked his feet. Iruka laughed.
It had been two years since Iruka began to help take care of Naruto. After the first year had passed, Iruka requested that he took some of the main shifts. He had grown fond of Naruto. The fact that the Kyuubi possessed the boy didn't matter to him at all anymore.
"Hey, Naruto," Iruka looked up; only to see a little bit of blond hair and hands clinging onto his hitai-ate. "Can you say 'Konoha'?" There was a pause.
"Ko…noha!" Naruto had a little trouble at first, but managed to say it quite clearly.
"Good job!" Iruka cheered. Naruto giggled happily, until something caught his eye.
"Ruka! Ruka, down!" he pat his head against his head and bounced around.
"What is it?" Iruka sat the hyper boy down. The first thing the Naruto went for was a small dirt mound that had formed next to the sidewalk, filled with ants bustling about, carrying in pieces of newly found bread. Naruto instantly started poking at the dirt, drawing swirls with the tip of his finger. "Naruto! Don't mess with the ant hill!" Iruka pulled the boy back up to his feet and held his hand. "Come on, let's keep walking."
Naruto looked back at the ant hill, a certain sadness in his blue eyes from not being able to play with the tiny bugs.
"Don't worry, they don't like to be bothered," Iruka smiled down at the two year old.
"Mm." Was all Naruto gave for a response. The two year old really wanted to play with the ants. Iruka saw how upset Naruto had become and quickly devised a plan. Without even asking, he picked up the boy and set him on his hip.
"I have a surprise for you," Iruka beamed. Naruto gave him a sideways look.
"What?" Naruto slurred the word some. Iruka was amused with his talking, due to the fact that he couldn't pronounce certain words. "Ruka?"
"You'll see," Iruka took a turn at the corner and headed down the dirt street. He took three more turns before he came upon a spectacular shop. Bright colors eddied around the banisters supporting the roof. Vibrant and lively toys could been seen through the large glass windows with a Konoha leaf plastered on both of them.
Naruto ogled the store, his mouth agape and blue eyes bigger than ever. He had never been taken to a toy store, and seeing the one that stood in front of him, dazzled him beyond reason. His little hands clutched tightly onto Iruka's shirt in excitement. Iruka pulled Naruto up a little more, to keep him from falling.
"Come on," he began. "You get to pick something out."
Once inside, Iruka sat him down. Naruto took off to the numerous shelves filled with stuffed animals and dolls. Porcelain figurines stared down from their high perches, while smiling baby dolls with pink ribbons and curls gracing the sides of their faces stood just above Naruto's head. Iruka easily followed Naruto, due to the fact he was the only child with sporky blond hair running around the store.
Naruto couldn't figure out what to get; there was so much to see. He wandered over to the assortment of animals resting on a shelf that was actually eye level with him. One animal in particular caught his eye. A bright green felt frog, with yellow spots on its head. Its stomach was a lime green, with a Konoha leaf stitched in the middle with a deep green thread. A pink tongue protruded from its mouth, and its eyes were closed from the smile. Naruto instantly fell in love with the frog.
"Ruka!" He cried, waving his arms around. "Ruka! This!" Naruto picked up the frog and ran over to Iruka and showed him.
"Is that the one you want?" he asked, reaching in his pocket for money. Naruto nodded his head vigorously. "All right then, let's go buy it."
There was no need for a bag; Naruto begged for the toy before they even got out of the store. Iruka smiled brightly as he watched the little toddler play with his new toy frog.
Naruto had really grown on him.
WEE! One more chapter! I just love making Naruto call Iruka 'Ruka'! It's cute+falls over+