In which Naruto gets a big surprise and Utakata tries to be cool.
O-O-O-O-O
After that initial fight with Sasuke, Naruto always invited Hinata to their training sessions.
While Hinata was not as fast or strong as Sasuke, her fighting style meant Naruto was constantly dodging her attacks. When she did manage to hit him, it was enough to take him out. Even with the power of the Kyuubi, it took his body a few minutes to heal the damage. The best solution was to simply avoid her strikes entirely.
He could tell that Sasuke liked her company, too. At the very least, he had taken to joining them for lunch every once in a while. Unlike with Naruto, however, he had no disparaging nickname for her.
"Oof! I'm beat!" Naruto yelled as he collapsed onto the grass. He had been sparring non-stop since the Academy let out. A short distance away, Hinata and Sasuke sat down, also exhausted.
"Finished already, loser?" Sasuke asked with a smirk. Naruto might have found his words more threatening if he weren't struggling to breathe.
Naruto smirked back. "I could do this all day, ya know."
Hinata giggled but said nothing. Naruto closed his eyes as he relaxed on the grass, cradling his head between the palms of his hands. Together, the three of them quieted down as they allowed their breathing to get back in order. No one spoke and Naruto allowed the peace and quiet to settle over him like a security blanket. This is nice.
To his surprise, it was Sasuke who broke the silence first. "Hey, loser," he said.
Naruto turned to him with a frown. "What do you want, jerk?"
"My mother asked me to invite you over for dinner tomorrow," he said. "And to spend the night. She said that I am to do anything to convince you."
Naruto frowned in confusion. "Spend the night?" he asked. While Sasuke's mother had invited him over for dinner a few times, she hadn't insisted that he stay overnight. "Why does she want me to stay over?"
Sasuke shrugged, face deliberately neutral. "I don't know," he said. "I think she wants to celebrate Itachi's promotion. He's a jounin now."
"Wait, really? Already?" Naruto sat up to stare incredulously at Sasuke. Fuu was only one or two years younger than Itachi and only a genin. He also remembered Utakata and Yugito becoming jounin when they were fifteen or sixteen years old. I guess Itachi must be really talented.
"Yes," Sasuke nodded, looking both proud and jealous. "He's twelve."
"Twelve?" Naruto repeated, surprised. And I thought Fuu was cool for becoming a genin at ten!
"But that's not the point," Sasuke said, trying to refocus the conversation. "My mother wants you to come over."
"Me?" Naruto pointed to himself, confused. He had never thought Itachi particularly cared about him enough to invite him to a party.
"She also wants me to invite you," he continued, turning his gaze to Hinata.
"Me too?" she asked, surprised.
"You need to ask for permission first though, right?" Sasuke asked.
"But... why me?" she asked. "I don't think I've ever met your brother..." She pushed the tips of her fingertips together.
Sasuke leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Whatever he said, Hinata's eyes widened and she grinned.
"I'm not sure if I can go, but I'll ask for permission," she said, a smile on her face. "If I can't, I'll send a present with you."
Naruto scowled in confusion. What the heck did just Sasuke tell her?
Sasuke nodded at her words and stood up, stretching his arms over his head. "Well, I should go home," he said, pointedly ignoring Naruto's scowl. "See you later, Hinata-san, loser."
"See you later, jerk," Naruto said.
"See you tomorrow, Sasuke-kun," Hinata said.
Without any other words, Sasuke walked away.
Copying Sasuke, Hinata stood up and stretched her arms in front of her. She extended a hand down to help Naruto stand up. Grateful, Naruto took her hand.
"So what did Sasuke tell you?" he asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing important," she answered with an enigmatic smile. "Just that he needs more people to make it a real party."
Naruto raised an eyebrow in confusion. He shook his head. He exchanged farewells with Hinata before walking back home. I guess I'll see what the heck they were talking about later.
O-O-O-O-O
"We're almost there," Sasuke said as the three of them neared the entrance to the Uchiha quarters.
Naruto and Hinata hummed in assent. While he already knew the journey like the back of his hand, it was Hinata's first time visiting the Uchiha compound. To their relief, she had received permission to walk with them after the Academy ended, so long as she was by the gate before sundown. While Naruto was disappointed she would leave the celebration early, it was a small price to pay for her company.
"This way," Sasuke said as they walked through the entrance and into the compound. Within a few minutes, they arrived at Sasuke's house.
"Mom! I'm home!" Sasuke yelled as he took his shoes off at the entrance.
"Welcome home, Sasuke!" Sasuke's mother stuck her head out. She smiled when she saw that both Naruto and Hinata were there. "And you brought your friends, too!"
"They're just my training partners," Sasuke muttered, although he didn't seem particularly bothered by her words.
His mother sighed good-naturedly before walking to stand in front of Naruto and Hinata. She turned her gaze to Hinata first.
"Good afternoon, you must be Hinata Hyuuga," she said. "My name is Mikoto Uchiha. It's very nice to meet you."
"Likewise, Uchiha-san," Hinata said with a bow of her head. "Thank you very much for inviting me into your home. It's lovely."
Hinata is so polite. Sasuke's mother turned her gaze over to Naruto. She smiled when she saw the large backpack slung on his back. "So you packed things to stay overnight, Naruto-kun?"
Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Sasuke told me Itachi is a jounin now and we have to celebrate!"
She covered her mouth as she chuckled. "Well, we are always happy to have you over," she said.
Naruto felt his face flush. He focused his eyes on his sandals as he took them off. He didn't know if he would ever get used to her being nice to him. At his side, Hinata also took off her shoes. Together, they donned slippers and stepped inside.
"Would you three like something to eat while we wait for your father and Itachi to arrive?" she asked as she led them to the dining area. "Or drink?"
"Tomatoes?" Sasuke asked, trying to look nonchalant. Naruto almost rolled his eyes. That guy is obsessed with those stupid things.
"Sure, Sasuke," she said with a bemused smile. "I'll cut up some fruit and tomatoes for you three. Just wait."
She left them as she walked to the kitchen. Silently, the three of them moved to the low table. Without weapons or fists in the way, they stared at each other awkwardly, wondering what to talk about.
"So... Itachi is already a jounin?" Naruto asked, breaking the silence.
Sasuke nodded. "A few weeks ago actually. They're already talking about him joining ANBU." The same as the day before, his voice emoted a combination of pride and jealousy.
"That sounds really cool, Sasuke-kun," Hinata said, trying to keep the conversation going.
"His brother is real scary, though," Naruto whispered to Hinata. "He always has this super serious look on his face, ya know."
"I heard that!" Sasuke said, sounding annoyed. Naruto grinned and scratched the back of his head. Hinata giggled.
"Here you go, kids," Sasuke's mother said as she set a plate full of snacks in front of them. "I'm going to go start on dinner. Call me if you need anything."
"Sure, Mom," Sasuke said.
"Thank you, Uchiha-san," Naruto and Hinata both said, nodding their heads in appreciation.
She smiled. "You're welcome, kids. Dinner shouldn't take too long."
O-O-O-O-O
With nothing else to do until dinner, the three of them decided to get started on their homework. To Naruto's dismay, both Hinata and Sasuke finished quickly, leaving Naruto behind as he struggled with math.
"You're supposed to multiply them, not add them!" Sasuke yelled.
He looked close to breaking as Naruto struggled with fractions. It was the most emotion he had seen in Sasuke's face for a while. Hinata suppressed a giggle at his reaction.
"Sorry, jerk," Naruto muttered as he erased his answer. "Guess I gotta follow your genius advice."
Sasuke opened his mouth to retort before huffing and looking away with a pout. That time, Hinata couldn't suppress her laughter and she snorted. Naruto grinned at her as he wrote the correct answer down. We should do homework together more often. His reactions are hilarious.
Naruto continued going through the problems with Hinata's help when they heard a sound at the door. Broken out of his sulking, Sasuke sat up straight and smiled.
"Father is home!" he said, sounding excited. Without waiting for them, he walked away toward the front door.
I'll finish this later. Naruto closed his notebook. He stood up, walking side by side with Hinata to meet with Sasuke. When they arrived at the entrance, Sasuke was waiting for his father's attention as the man took his shoes off.
"Welcome home, Father," Sasuke said.
"Thank you Sasuke," he grunted, not looking in Sasuke's direction.
"Welcome home, Uchiha-san," Naruto said as he walked closer. While the man was not as scary as the first time they met, there was still something intimidating about him.
"Hello, Naruto-kun," he said. His gaze turned from Naruto to Hinata, who stood next to him. She fidgeted slightly as she bowed her head down deeply.
"Good evening, Uchiha-san," she said. "My name is Hinata Hyuuga. I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance."
Sasuke's father nodded his head. "My name is Fugaku Uchiha," he said. "The pleasure is all mine."
With the formalities out of the way, he stepped inside. The three of them followed after him like a line of ducklings.
"Welcome home, Fugaku," Sasuke's mother said while stirring something on the stove. "Dinner will only take a few more minutes."
"Of course, Mikoto," he said. "I brought what you asked for, too."
Without another word, he placed a box carefully on the kitchen counter. Naruto looked at it. Something important must have been inside because Sasuke's father put it far away from the edges.
"Thank you, Fugaku! We'll need that for later," Sasuke's mother said. She smiled, eyes bright and cheerful. Sasuke's father only nodded in return. He turned his gaze back to the children following behind him.
"I will take off my uniform," he said. "Help your mother set the table."
Sasuke nodded. "Yes, Father."
Satisfied, his father walked away while the three children headed to the dining room. Working together, they cleared the table of their homework. Naruto moved his backpack to Sasuke's room and took the opportunity to use the toilet. When he returned, Hinata and Sasuke had finished setting the table. They sat side by side whispering to each other. They stopped when they saw Naruto standing by the entrance.
"Oh, Naruto! Hello!" Hinata said. Naruto frowned.
"What were you two talking about?" he asked as he sat down next to Hinata, putting her in the middle.
"Oh, nothing important," Hinata said easily, an honest smile on her face. Naruto's frown deepened. There's something going on. I can feel it.
"Dinner is ready!" Sasuke's mother said as she stepped into the dining room, arms full of food. She set the dishes down at the table. Naruto felt himself drool at the sight.
"Mom, where is Itachi?" Sasuke asked.
"Oh, he said he had some work down at the Hokage's office," she said, waving her hand. "He sent me a message saying that we could start without him." She returned to the kitchen to pick up more dishes.
Naruto's frown deepened. I thought this was to celebrate Itachi's promotion. His hunch that something strange was going to happen intensified. He glared at Sasuke and Hinata, daring either of them to crack, but their faces were impassive.
"It smells good," Sasuke's father commented as he walked inside. He had changed from his armor into a more casual yukata.
"I tried to make something for everyone," Sasuke's mother said as she set more dishes on the table. She returned to the kitchen.
Sasuke's father hummed in agreement. He sat down at the table, directly in front of Sasuke. Sasuke fidgeted marginally at the attention as he straightened his back. In the middle, Hinata knelt unflinchingly, perfectly poised and disciplined. Naruto copied them, although he was sure that he's moving too much to be anywhere near their level.
Sasuke's mother returned, holding the mysterious box from earlier. She placed it at the center of the table. Naruto's eyes immediately gravitated toward it. I wonder what's inside.
She sat down, next to Sasuke's father and in front of Naruto. She gave him a smile. Naruto relaxed. Her presence was always enough to calm him down.
"Thank you for the meal, Mikoto," Sasuke's father said with a nod of his head.
Her smile widened. "You're welcome! Now, before we start, I'd just like to say a few words."
Naruto waited patiently for her to speak before he started eating. To his surprise, instead of saying something about Itachi and his promotion, her eyes turned to Naruto. The other people at the table followed her lead as everyone focused on him. Naruto fidgeted again.
"Happy birthday!" she said with a grin. She took the lid off of the box. Inside was a cake. On the top Naruto could read the words 'Happy Birthday!' written in frosting.
Around the table, the others clapped their hands as they congratulated him. Naruto felt his face heat up and he looked down at his knees. It's my birthday!? Did I forget again?
"Happy birthday, Naruto-kun!" Hinata said from his side, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.
"Oh... uh... thanks," Naruto whispered, keeping his eyes focused anywhere but the people congratulating him. Hinata broke the hug to sit back on her seat cushion. She beamed at him. Naruto returned the smile uncertainly. I guess this explains a lot.
He turned his gaze back to Sasuke's parents. Sasuke's mother was smiling while his father maintained the same serious expression. However, he could tell that the man was mildly amused based on the look in his eyes. On Hinata's side, Sasuke rolled his eyes. His reaction was enough to snap Naruto out of his shock.
"Thank you very much," he said. He bowed his head down to Sasuke's parents. "I've never... uh... had a birthday party before." Well, not in the physical world at least.
Her eyes softened. "It's always a good time to celebrate," she said. "I hope we can spend many more birthdays together."
Naruto nodded his head, lost for words. He felt his throat getting choked up and his eyes filling with tears. He clenched his hands into fists. He pushed his emotions back and forced a smile on his face.
"Thank you very much, Uchiha-san," he said. "I really appreciate it, ya know!"
"You're welcome, Naruto-kun," she said. "Now, without any further ado, let's eat!"
Relieved to have something to do, Naruto started on his meal. It was as good as he had expected. At his side, Hinata ate slowly, taking little bites, graceful as always.
As soon as they finished eating, Sasuke's mother cleared the table. She returned from the kitchen with a knife, a lighter, and a camera. She lit a candle at the center of the cake, pushing it so that it was in front of Naruto.
"Make a wish! Blow out the candle, Naruto-kun!" she ordered as she gave the camera to Sasuke's father. He began to take pictures, keeping the same serious expression.
Unsure, Naruto blew out the flame before realizing his mistake. Wait! I forgot to make a wish! He almost begged to light the candle again, but Sasuke would make fun of him forever if he did.
He let her take the cake away as she cut it into neat little pieces. She handed the first slice to Naruto before giving a piece to Hinata and then to Sasuke. Finally, she served herself and her husband small slices.
"Would you like some milk to go along with the cake?" she asked.
"Oh, uh, sure," Naruto muttered as he glared at the cake in front of him.
"Please, Uchiha-san," Hinata said.
"Yes, Mom," Sasuke added.
She left and returned holding three glasses and a carton full of milk. She started serving them. Without any further hesitation, Sasuke dug into his dessert while Hinata took little bites at his side. Naruto followed their lead as he tasted cake for the first time in his life. At once, his eyes brightened and he hummed in happiness. Wow! So this is what a cake is like!
He ate his dessert quickly, talking and laughing with Hinata and Sasuke about whatever came to mind. Occasionally, Sasuke's mother or father asked them to pause for a picture or asked them questions about their training. They answered honestly, talking about taijutsu and shuriken training.
"I should leave," Hinata said once she finished eating her slice. "Ko is probably already waiting at the entrance."
"I see," Sasuke's mother said. "Fugaku can walk you there. It's safe in the compound but you never know."
"Thank you very much, Uchiha-san." Hinata stood up gracefully. She bowed her head down deeply to Sasuke's parents. They returned her greeting with nods of their heads. She turned her attention back to Naruto as she dug for something inside her pockets.
"Here, I bought something for you, Naruto-kun," she said. "It's not much, but I hope you like it."
She placed a small box inside his hands. Naruto was overwhelmed with emotion once again. Blushing he bowed his head to Hinata in gratitude.
"Thanks, Hinata-chan, you're the best," he said. Hinata smiled at him, her cheeks tinted with pink.
"Come, Hyuuga-san," Sasuke's father said as he stood up and walked away. "I'll escort you to the entrance."
"Thank you very much," she said. She turned her head to smile at Naruto and Sasuke in turn. She waved goodbye. She walked away, leaving Naruto, Sasuke, and his mother in the dining room.
"Well, I guess I should clean up," Sasuke's mother said. She began to pick up the remaining dirty dishes.
"I'll help!" Naruto declared as he stood up, empty plate in his hands. He started to pick up everything.
"Oh, Sasuke-kun," she said. "Could you please find the second futon? It should be in the linen closet of my room. Set if up for Naruto-kun, please."
Sasuke nodded and left his mother and Naruto to their tasks. Together, they piled all the dirty dishes together and took them to the kitchen sink. At once, she got started on her task, her back turned to him. With nothing to do, Naruto stared at her, unsure of what to say.
I should thank her again. Yugito and Mama would never forgive me if I didn't say anything. He swallowed to gather his courage. He stood at her side.
"Oh... uh... Uchiha-san," he began. She paused at her task and stared down at him, drying her hands on her apron.
"What is it, Naruto-kun?" she asked. She looked at him with a smile that made his stomach twist in some indescribable emotion. She tilted her head to the side as she waited for him to speak.
"I just wanted to say, th-than-," he felt the words catch in his throat.
To his extreme embarrassment, he felt tears rolling down his face. He wiped at his crying eyes, ashamed of his weakness. He tried to rein back the tears, but the buildup of emotion only increased. Before he could do anything, he started to cry, sobbing pathetically as he stared at the floor. He hoped Sasuke would take a long time setting up the futon or he would never live it down.
"Th-thank you," he managed to say through his tears. "You're very kind to me." He bowed his head.
Immediately, she knelt in front of him, making him flinch back at the sudden closeness. She wiped his face with the sleeve of her dress.
"It's okay, Naruto, you don't have to say anything," she said. He didn't know if he was imagining that her eyes were shinier than usual or not.
She pulled him into a hug, pressing his face onto her shoulder. He considered fighting it, but the need for comfort was too strong. She held onto him for a few seconds as he let his tears out of his system. For the first time in a very long time, he wished more than anything that his mother had never died in the Kyuubi attack. Is this what having a mother is like?
Eventually, he took a step back, embarrassed. It was bad enough to need comfort from the other jinchuuriki, who had known him since he was a baby. Being comforted by Sasuke's mother was a different level of embarrassment. He wiped his runny nose and his eyes with his sleeve.
"Thank you," he said when they broke apart, although she kept a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm not a baby anymore, ya know."
She smiled, eyes looking sad for a reason he couldn't explain. "It's fine, Naruto-kun. Enjoy being a child. The opportunities to cry will be few and far between once you get older."
Naruto grunted in assent. He forced a grin on his face. Part of him still wanted to keep his arms wrapped around her shoulders, but he held back. "Thank you very much... Auntie."
He bit his lip, waiting to see if she would resent her new name, but she smiled instead.
"I'm glad I got to know you, Naruto-kun," she said.
She took a towel and cleaned his face. Naruto let her without any complaints. He knew how obvious it would be to Sasuke and his father that he had been crying. He hoped Sasuke wouldn't lord over him for too long about it.
"Hey, Mom, I found the futon," Sasuke said as he stepped into the kitchen. Naruto turned his face away while she returned to the kitchen sink. He already makes fun of me for so many things. Crying at my own birthday party will just be the worst one yet.
"Good," she said. She had her back turned to them as she washed the dishes. "You two should take a bath while I finish cleaning up. Since you don't have school tomorrow, you two can stay up late if you wish."
"Sure, Mom," Sasuke said. To Naruto's dismay, Sasuke turned his attention toward Naruto, who was trying to keep his face hidden away.
"Hey, loser," he said. Naruto flinched and Sasuke's mother sighed. "You heard Mom, go take a bath. You stink."
"What'd you say to me, jerk?" Naruto retorted, turning his angry gaze to Sasuke.
Sasuke blinked in surprise when he saw Naruto's face. However, he said nothing disparaging, even though it was obvious Naruto had been crying not too long ago.
"The water is already hot," Sasuke said, skillfully not talking about the state of Naruto's face.
"Sure," Naruto muttered. "I'll go." He turned his gaze back to Sasuke's mother one more time. He bowed. "Thank you very much for the cake and dinner, Auntie."
She chuckled. "It was the least we could do, Naruto-kun." She returned to her task at the sink.
Naruto followed Sasuke to get ready for bed. Once they had changed into pajamas, they spent the next few hours arguing about their homework. They stayed up, yelling at each other, until Sasuke's mother came inside and ordered them, calmly yet firmly, to go to sleep.
With grunts of annoyance, they crawled into their separate futons and turned off the lights. Naruto lay awake, trying to fall asleep. He wanted to join the Room and have a second birthday celebration there. He was starting to doze off when Sasuke spoke up.
"Hey, loser," Sasuke muttered.
"What?" Naruto's heart beat faster as he worried Sasuke would make fun of him for crying earlier.
"Happy birthday," he said.
Naruto stared at him in shock before he giggled. "Thanks, jerk."
"Hn," Sasuke grunted as he turned his back to Naruto. Naruto kicked him, causing the other boy to groan in annoyance.
Naruto giggled again as he stared up at the ceiling. Sasuke is not so bad, ya know. A few minutes later, he had fallen asleep.
O-O-O-O-O
Outside of the testing room, Harusame sat, exuding poise and calm. Utakata waited at his side, appearing equally relaxed.
Inside, however, his heart threatened to beat out of his chest. Is Kimimaro ready? Is he prepared to be a genin? What if he doesn't meet the minimum benchmarks?
For the past few months, he had been getting to know Kimimaro more and more. While at first he had been shy, never speaking unless spoken to first, the boy had become much more confident. While still reserved, he was less afraid to speak or to show his emotions.
Haku's company had been a major influence as well. After that incidental meet-up, the other boy had visited the estate a few times. He was kind and patient, allowing Kimimaro to relax and smile. While the two spent their time apart from Utakata, he had seen them together gathering flowers and chatting.
Haku had also helped Kimimaro with his academic work. While his jutsu skills were amazing, he struggled with reading and writing. He often became embarrassed whenever he couldn't immediately understand something. However, Haku helped him, explaining things slowly and clearly.
After months of training and practice, Utakata had finally recommended Kimimaro for graduation. The Mizukage had agreed with a grin. The very next day, she had ordered Utakata to take Kimimaro to the testing center for his graduation exam.
Kimimaro had gone alone into the testing room, face impassive except for a small frown. Utakata and Harusame had wished him luck, telling him they would wait outside. While Utakata had not been nervous at first, as the clock ticked by, he couldn't help but worry about his student. Is he ready? He's only nine!
Since he couldn't do anything, he waited outside, the only sign of anxiety being his twitching eye. After what felt like days, the door to the examination room opened. Utakata and Harusame immediately turned their heads to look.
One of the instructors from the Academy was at the door, Kimimaro at his heels. Utakata's eyes immediately gravitated to his student, looking for signs of distress or disappointment. Instead, he saw only happiness, excitement, and a Kirigakure hitai-ate held inside his hand.
A wave of relief and pride washed over Utakata as he walked, intentionally slowly, toward his student. Harusame followed a short distance behind him, a happy smile on his face.
"So you passed?" Utakata asked although the answer was obvious.
Kimimaro nodded his head. "Yes, sensei. It was easier than I expected."
"Good job," Utakata said. "I'm proud of you."
Before he could change his mind, he placed his hand on top of his student's head. Kimimaro blushed at the praise, staring down at the floor. Utakata wondered if he would ever get tired of the sight. Despite his earlier promise to look like a cool and intimating teacher, he grinned.
"How was the boy's performance?" Harusame asked the proctor.
"A true prodigy," the instructor answered, face serious. "His taijutsu skills were some of the best I've seen since a girl who graduated a few months ago. Only his academic skills leave any room to be desired. I can easily recommend him to begin active duty as a genin."
Harusame nodded. "That's good to know."
Without any other words, the instructor bowed his head down to Utakata and Harusame before turning around and leaving. They waited for him to be out of earshot before speaking again.
"How does it feel to be a genin, Kimimaro-kun?" Harusame asked. His eyes were kind and he offered the boy a congratulatory smile.
Kimimaro shrugged. "It feels the same, Harusame-sensei," he admitted. "I haven't really learned anything new."
"That means you're already well-skilled," Utakata said. "I'm not sure who your jounin instructor will be, but they will help you take your abilities to the next level."
"Jounin instructor?" Kimimaro asked, eyes wide and confused. Utakata cursed himself. Did I forget to tell him about team assignments?
"New genin are almost always put into groups of four," Utakata started to explain. "Three genin and one jounin. The teams do missions together and improve their skills until they are ready to become chuunin. However, you may stay as a genin for the rest of your life if you desire."
"Oh," Kimaro answered. He mulled over the explanation, a small and nervous frown on his face. I guess he's worried about who else will be on his team.
"Don't fret about that for now, Kimimaro-kun," Harusame said once he saw the look on the boy's face. "No matter who your teammates are, you will always have us for help and advice. But it's also important to get outside of your comfort zone and meet new people, too."
Kimimaro looked at Harusame for a few seconds, processing his words, before nodding. With his master's reassurance, the boy already looked calmer. However, he still appeared nervous about the prospect of working with new people.
"We should celebrate," Utakata declared, trying to distract him. "It's not every day that someone becomes a genin."
Kimimaro stared up at him, eyes wide, before he nodded. "How do we celebrate?" he asked.
"Let's go out to eat," Utakata said. "Something fancier than usual."
"Like sashimi," Harusame added. "Or eel."
"Or eel," Utakata agreed. His mouth began to water at the thought of his favorite food. "You should decide though, Kimimaro."
Kimaro frowned thoughtfully before shaking his head. "I'm not sure, sensei," he said. "I don't mind."
Utakata shrugged. "We'll figure it out," he said. "Let's go."
Together, they left the Academy and headed outside. Harusame led them to the restaurant district, Utakata and Kimimaro falling behind him quietly. From the corner of his eye, Utakata saw Kimimaro throwing an occasional glance at the new hitai-ate clenched in his hand. I wonder if he's ever gonna put it on.
"Here we are," Harusame said as they reached the end of the road. "I've heard good things about this place."
He stood outside of a large restaurant that seemed to specialize in seafood. Utakata's stomach growled in hunger. The eel here is probably delicious.
They walked inside together. Harusame was looking for the host when a man wearing an expensive-looking yukata stepped in front of them, a furious scowl on his face.
"You can't come in here," the man declared.
"What? Why?" Harusame asked, taken aback by the interruption. "What have I done?"
The man shook his head. "Not you," he said. "Them." He pointed to where Utakata and Kimimaro stood side by side.
Kimimaro flinched and looked down at his feet. His face reddened in shame and his shoulders tensed. Utakata placed a hand on his shoulder, making the boy looked up at him. Utakata rolled his eyes and yawned, long used to cold treatment from the villagers. To his relief, the tension in Kimimaro's shoulders lessened and he stepped closer to Utakata's side.
Harusame glared at the man. "These two are shinobi of Kirigakure," he said, voice loud and thunderous. "You should be on your knees thanking them for their service, not turning them away."
Actually, Kimimaro hasn't done any missions yet.
He left Kimimaro's side to walk toward Harusame, who looked seconds away from punching the man.
"Master," he began. "Don't worry about it. Let's find a different place. Somewhere better."
Harusame turned his gaze between Utakata and the man, grimacing. After a few tense seconds, he nodded and took a step back. Utakata led him out and Kimimaro followed at their heels, completely silent.
"They shouldn't treat you like that!" Harusame exploded in anger once they were outside.
Utakata shrugged. "It's fine, master. I'm used to it. It happens often enough, I don't even bother to argue with them."
Harusame sighed, frustrated, before he nodded his agreement. "Fine, let's try somewhere else."
Utakata grunted in assent and began to walk down the street in search of a more welcoming restaurant. He had taken only a few steps when a masked ANBU appeared in front of him.
"Good afternoon, Utakata-san," a soft feminine voice interrupted.
Utakata looked down. Whoever the ANBU was, he had never seen her before. She was tiny, possibly even shorter than Yagura. He wondered if he was talking to a child, but the voice sounded too mature to be that of anything but an adult.
He suppressed an annoyed sigh. "What seems to be the problem?" he asked.
"Mizukage-sama wishes to speak with you," she said. "It's urgent and you must go now."
That time, Utakata couldn't suppress his sigh of annoyance. All I wanted to do was eat. He turned around to look back at Harusame and Kimimaro, who were standing behind him.
"You two go on ahead," Utakata decided. "I'll join you for lunch later. I'm sure you can find a decent place to eat without me."
Harusame shook his head. "No, we'll go home and make something instead. I doubt Mizukage-sama will keep you long. By the time you get to the compound, food should be ready."
"All right," he answered. He bowed his head to his teacher and nodded at Kimimaro. "I will see you two soon," he said. "If the meeting takes longer than I expect, I will send a message."
"Okay, Utakata-kun," Harusame said. Kimimaro only nodded, still red-faced from their recent encounter at the restaurant.
Utakata turned back to the ANBU, who was patiently waiting for him. "Let's go," he said.
Without waiting any longer, they flickered away. They traveled on top of the roofs toward the Mizukage's office and entered through the window. As always, Mei was at her desk, Ao keeping a watchful eye over her from behind. Ameyuri and Zabuza were at her sides, ever vigilant. The ANBU agent flickered to stand behind the Mizukage and next to Ao.
"You wanted to speak with me, Mizukage-same?" Utakata began. He bent his head forward in a polite bow.
"Yes, I did," she answered. "I am to understand that Kimimaro has recently become a genin."
Word travels fast.
Utakata nodded. "Yes. He seems very happy about the promotion." And nervous about having someone new as an instructor.
She smiled. "That's good to know. When we first found him, we were... unsure if he would be suited to serve as a shinobi of Kirigakure."
"I believe him ready, physically, intellectually, and emotionally," Utakata defended his student.
She nodded. "Well, now that he's a genin, he can receive a weekly stipend. We will help him find a place to live and he can move out from Harusame's estate in a few days."
"Wait? Move out?" Utakata's eyebrows contracted into a frown.
Mei stared at him for a second before nodding again. "Yes," she said. "He can live by himself in an apartment. We can search for somewhere suitable, although he is free to look for one himself if he so desires."
"But... he's only nine!" Utakata protested before he could stop himself.
The Mizukage and her guards stared at him, raising their eyebrows in surprise. With a lot of effort, Utakata managed to school his face into indifference.
"He's only nine," he repeated, calmer than before. "He is free to stay with us for the indefinite future. We don't mind his company."
"Aww, Zabuza-kun, isn't that cute?" Ameyuri said with a smirk. "I think Utakata-kun likes little Kimimaro. It reminds me of you and Haku-kun."
Zabuza laughed at her words while Mei's eyes crinkled happily. Ao actually smiled, tilting his head to the side. Only the ANBU remained unphased, her emotions hidden by her mask. Nevertheless, Utakata felt an aura of amusement in her body language. He felt his face heat up in embarrassment.
The Mizukage bit her lip to contain her giggles before speaking again. "That's not the only thing I wanted to talk to you about, Utakata-kun," she said. "If anything, I think this second thing is even more critical."
Utakata frowned as he felt a sense of foreboding building in his stomach. "What is it, Mizukage-sama?"
She grinned and the foreboding feeling intensified. "We haven't talked about Kimimaro's jounin sensei yet, have we?"
Utakata shook his head.
"Well, a while ago, we decided that if Kimimaro graduated before the start of winter, we would form a team with the most promising new shinobi of Kiri," she explained. Utakata nodded at her explanation. It makes sense so far.
"Of course," she continued. "We had to think very carefully about who would be both strong enough to teach him, but also who needed more experience." Utakata felt a bead of sweat roll down his back.
"In the end, there is only one choice." Her grin widened. "We have chosen you to be his jounin instructor," she announced. "After the past few months, we are even more sure that you are the right person for the job. Good luck, Utakata-sensei."
Utakata stared speechless at his Mizukage before his gaze turned to each of her guards in turn. He waited for the inevitable moment when they declared it a joke, but it never came. He swallowed. Why me!? I just want to sleep and go on fun missions sometimes!
"I... uh..." Utakata tried to answer but he had no idea what to say. "I'll try to be a satisfactory instructor for whoever is on my team," he eventually said.
Mei hummed, satisfied. "Good to know," she said. "I will send your two new students to Harusame-shishou's estate at ten in the morning. You can get to know them then."
Utakata swallowed and nodded. He hoped his face didn't show how nervous he truly was. He cursed his life and his luck. Why does it have to be me?
"Am I dismissed?" he asked, bowing his head. He had a lot of things to think about and plan.
"You are dismissed," the Mizukage confirmed with a nod. He bowed down, first to the Mizukage and then to her guards.
Without any further hesitation, Utakata left, jumping out through the window. He ran through Kirigakure in a daze. He tried to come to terms with the responsibility of training three new genin, but he couldn't. He was already familiar with Kimimaro, but the identities of the other two remained a mystery. I hope Kimimaro gets along with them.
When he arrived back at the estate, he headed to the kitchen first. Immediately, he was greeted with smiles from Harusame and Kimimaro.
"That was fast," Harusame commented. "I haven't even finished cooking lunch yet." He pointed to the kitchen counter, where many ingredients sat, waiting to be cooked. Next to him, Kimimaro stirred a pot, adding blocks of tofu to it.
"No, Mizukage-sama only wanted to talk," he admitted as he walked to Kimimaro's side.
He stared at Kimimaro, trying to come up with a way to explain their new situation. The boy shifted uneasily, waiting for Utakata to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. The kitchen fell into an awkward silence as Utakata considered what to say.
"You have a strange expression on your face," Harusame finally interrupted. "What has you so worried, Utakata-kun?"
Utakata sighed and shook his head. He was not sure if he was glad that Kimimaro would keep being his student or upset about having more work to do.
"Good news, Kimaro," Utakata said, keeping his gaze focused on the boy.
"What is it, sensei?" the boy asked, fiddling with the sleeves of his yukata.
Utakata sighed. "I'm going to be your jounin instructor," he said. "The Mizukage just told me you will be in a team with me as the squad leader. I'm not sure who the other two genin are, though."
Kimimaro's eyes brightened in happiness and for a second Utakata forgot how much work was ahead of him. He smiled.
O-O-O-O-O
A/N: Writing this chapter actually made me tear up a little. Mikoto and Naruto interactions are some of my favorite things.
If you still use Tumblr, my account is waffledogwrites. You can send me questions about this fic or life in general.
Next chapter: Utakata meets his new charges.