Updated on February 2, 2020. The author's notes are at the bottom because they're long.
In which Utakata meets his kids, Han consoles a friend, and Naruto celebrates a holiday.
O-O-O-O-O
The morning when he had to meet his students, Utakata made sure to wear his formal jounin uniform. He hated wearing it on anything except missions. However, he knew from experience the importance of first impressions. Gotta intimidate the new kids, at least.
"Oh, so you are actually wearing your uniform today, Utakata-kun," Harusame said. He started placing bowls of food on the table as Utakata joined them in the dining area.
Utakata grunted in assent, keeping his eyes closed, too tired to say anything. It was bad enough that he had to wear the uniform, but he also had to wake up a few hours earlier than usual. He tried to rub the tiredness away. When he opened his eyes, he found Kimimaro staring at him.
"Good morning," he said with a yawn. "Why are you looking at me like that, Kimimaro-kun?"
The boy swallowed and looked down at the table. "It's just... um... I've never seen you wearing a uniform, sensei."
"Oh yeah, I guess you haven't," Utakata responded with a shrug, slumping forward on the table. I hate mornings.
"Are you excited to meet your teammates, Kimimaro-kun?" Harusame asked as he sat down, cross-legged, next to Utakata. He shook his shoulder with annoyance. Utakata sat up, yawning once more.
"I... guess?" Kimimaro answered, pulling a bowl of rice toward himself.
Harusame chuckled. He pushed food in front of Utakata before he had a chance to slump forward again,
"Don't worry," Harusame said to reassure the boy. "I'm sure they'll be good people. At the very least, I'm sure Utakata will take care of all three of you."
Utakata sighed before taking a bite of food. Silently, the three of them got started on breakfast. By the time they finished eating, Utakata was unfortunately wide awake. He stared at his student while Harusame cleaned up, making Kimimaro fidget.
"Are you ready to work with other people, Kimimaro?" he asked. "It's fine if you're not. I can talk to the Mizukage about it."
Kimimaro shook his head. "No, sensei. I'll be fine."
Utakata hummed to himself, deep in thought. I hope you are, for both our sakes.
He turned to look at the clock. The Mizukage had promised to send the genin over at ten in the morning and only thirty minutes were left. With a sigh he stood up, stretching his arms over his head.
"When the other two arrive, lead them to our usual training arena," he ordered with a yawn. "I have to check the grounds first. Can you do that?"
Kimimaro nodded his head. "Yes, sensei."
Utakata grunted. "Good. I'll wait for the three of you there."
With that, Utakata walked away, leaving Kimimaro alone to wait. He headed to the training grounds. Tiredly, he checked the posts and targets, making sure they were ready for use.
Satisfied that everything was set, he leaned against a training post. He closed his eyes and fell into a half-meditative, half-sleeping state. He didn't have to wait long until his nap was interrupted.
"Utakata-sensei," Kimimaro's familiar voice interrupted. "The other two are here."
Utakata opened his eyes. Kimimaro's eyes were lit up in happiness and it was not hard to see why. Next to him was Haku, wearing a brown combat outfit instead of his typical pink yukata. I guess it would make sense to have them together. They're the same age.
The girl who tagged along was not familiar, however. She was short, making him wonder if she was younger than the two boys next to her. She had a round and expressive face, with large pink eyes that stared Utakata up and down judgmentally. Her hair was long, a dark grey that was almost black, tied back in a bun at the back of her head. At her hip was a small sheath containing a sword. She wore a dark green dress with black leggings underneath. Around her neck was a long pink scarf.
Together, the three of them knelt down in a semi-circle in front of Utakata, waiting for him to speak. Utakata turned his gaze at them one by one. He was curious about the girl in particular. She looked familiar in a way he couldn't put a finger on.
"Good morning," he said. "My name is Utakata and I will be your jounin-sensei. I am tasked with training you."
"Good morning," Haku replied with a bright smile. Kimimaro nodded his head and the girl waved a hand.
"Well, before we train, I want to get to know the three of you," he said. "I already know Kimimaro-kun and Haku-kun, but we should all be on the same page." The three children in front of him nodded. He hummed in appreciation. They're attentive. That's good.
"Let me start," he continued. "As I said before, my name is Utakata. I like grilled eel the most and dislike sweet food in general. My hobbies are sleeping and blowing bubbles. My dream is to have a nice, long, and relaxing life. My specialty is bubble ninjutsu, water-style ninjutsu, and acid attacks."
He turned his gaze to Kimimaro to indicate for him to talk. Kimimaro straightened his back and looked at the three people surrounding him.
"My name is Kimimaro... Ka-Kaguya." He stuttered when giving the name of his clan. "I'm not sure what hobbies I have, but I like spending time with Haku-kun. I also like..." He looked at Utakata before turning his gaze down to his knees, a pink tint to his face. Utakata raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "My specialty is the Shikotsumyaku kekkei genkai," he continued. "It lets me control my skeletal structure. I... I'm not sure I have a dream."
Utakata nodded his head before turning his gaze to Haku. The other boy had visited Harusame's compound a few times, but Utakata didn't know much about him. He was curious.
"My name is Haku," he said with a kind smile and bright eyes. "I also like spending time with Kimimaro-kun." Kimimaro's face reddened and his lips quirked up in happiness. "I like flowers and my hobby is pressing plants and flower arranging. I have a kekkei genkai too. It helps me control ice and is called Hyoton. My dream is to be a useful weapon for Zabuza-sama."
"That's good to know, Haku," Utakata said, nodding his head. So this kid also has a kekkei genkai? I should have known.
Finally, it was the girl's turn to speak.
"My name is Kasumi Karatachi," she began. "I like to-"
"Wait, Karatachi? As in the Mizukage Yagura Karatachi?" Utakata interrupted. Without thinking, he leaned forward to stare at the girl closely. Up close, he realized how similar she looked to his fellow jinchuuriki. Is she his younger sister or something?
A grimace passed across her face and she nodded her head reluctantly. "Yeah, the Fourth Mizukage is my father."
"Your father? He had kids!?" Utakata gasped. He had known Yagura for years and for some reason he had always imagined him as a lonely bachelor. Though now that I think about it, we never talk about personal things. He's closer to Roshi and Han.
Her grimace turned into a furious scowl. She stood up. However, because of her height and face, she looked completely unthreatening. It reminded him of Yagura more than ever.
"So what if he did?" she shouted, glaring at Utakata. "I didn't choose who my father was!"
Utakata blinked at the girl, who looked like she was ready to bolt at any second. He forced his face into a mask of indifference. "I know you didn't," he said. "I was simply surprised that the Fourth Mizukage had any children at all. He kept his life very private, it seems."
She huffed. "Yeah, not private enough," she muttered. "I wish he wasn't my father."
Utakata's eyes widened and he swallowed, unsure of what to say. Haku and Kimimaro shifted, sharing awkward glances, equally confused. The girl collapsed back on the ground, wrapping her arms around her knees close to her chest. She pouted, making her look more like her father than ever before. Utakata sighed. It had to be me, didn't it?
"Sorry, Kasumi," he said. She looked up at him, still scowling. "Please continue. Believe me when I say your parentage is not going to change how I treat you," he lied. "All of us here have experienced... inequitable treatment because of our backgrounds. I'll make sure I don't do that to you."
"You mean it?" she asked, forehead still creased into a frown.
"I do," he nodded. "And I'm sure that Haku and Kimimaro do, too." The two boys nodded in agreement.
Kasumi sighed and stretched her legs out in front of her. She kept her eyes focused on the ground.
"Fine," she muttered. "My name is Kasumi Karatachi. I like training. I also like strawberries and chocolate. I hate flowers and flower arranging." Utakata saw Haku's eyes twitch in annoyance but she ignored him.
"My hobbies are needlecrafts," she continued. "You know, like knitting, embroidering, and stuff. My specialty is water-nature ninjutsu and kenjutsu. My dream is to become the second kunoichi to join the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist."
"It's very nice to meet you, Kasumi," Utakata said.
She pouted again, pulling her scarf up to hide the bottom part of her face. Kimimaro and Haku shifted as they waited for their teacher to speak. Utakata cleared his throat.
"Welcome to the team, everyone," he said. "Traditionally, a jounin-sensei will prepare a final test before letting you become genin."
"Wait, final test?" Haku asked, a small frown on his face. "I thought we were already genin."
"Not exactly," Utakata said. "It's a tradition for the jounin-sensei to have a final test or task and make sure you are ready to work in a four-man team."
"I see," Haku said, swallowing nervously. Kimimaro and Kasumi remained silent, staring at Utakata as they waited for him to explain.
"Usually this is something like, finding a scroll or doing a mission or fighting me," Utakata continued. "It's supposed to push the new genin with a test that's different from anything they have done before. Students that fail are sent back to the Academy."
At once, all three children's brows furrowed in worry. Kimimaro shifted, almost imperceptibly, as he stared up at him. Haku began to fidget with his fingers. Even Kasumi was affected, pulling her knees closer to herself as she leaned forward. I guess they are taking this seriously.
"However," he said. "That's too much effort for me. You all pass."
The three children blinked and their eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait, that's it?" Kasumi asked, shifting into a cross-legged position and leaning forward. "My brother told me we had to take a stupid final test."
Yagura has two children!? Utakata nodded before speaking again. "Usually, yes," he explained. "But it's too much effort to fail you. If I see any deficiencies, I will simply give you more training exercises and drills to do."
"I see," Haku said, tilting his head to the side. "So then, what are we going to do for the rest of the day, Utakata-sensei?"
"I'm going to see what your current level is," Utakata said, standing up and stretching his arms. "Show me what jutsu you know. Your skills. Your endurance. All that."
"Yes, Utakata-sensei!" the three genin said as they stood up, excited to show off.
They sure seem happy to pass so easily. He stared at his new charges in contemplation.
"Your first test is an endurance run," he said. "You will do a full lap around Harusame's estate. It's approximately ten kilometers. Kimimaro can lead the way." Kimimaro nodded, happy at being given the task. "Keep the same pace, all three of you. Slow down if necessary. When you finish we will move on to other tests."
"Yes, sensei!" the three genin said again, already moving to get started on their run. Utakata nodded and hummed to himself in approval. They sure seem excited to train. Maybe this will be easier than I thought.
"Well, get started," he said. "I'll be waiting for you here. Try not to keep me waiting."
"We won't, Utakata-sensei," they said together.
With bows of their heads, they started running, Kimimaro at the front. Kasumi and Haku kept up with his fast pace effortlessly. Utakata leaned back on the training post, waiting for them to return.
Alone, Utakata pondered over his responsibilities. He was glad to have Haku and Kimimaro on his team but the girl was a mystery. He wondered how alike she was to her father. Tired, he took a nap as he leaned on the post.
O-O-O-O-O
It was late, a few hours past midnight and Han was almost ready to leave the Room.
Earlier, they had played hide and seek with the children, using Yagura's coral to make a maze and learn about infiltration. Naruto had been surprisingly talented with the task, able to hide from everyone nearly the entire time. Fuu had been the worst, too conspicuous to stay hidden for long.
After saying goodbye to the children and Roshi, Han and Yagura had stayed in the Room to talk. While they lived together, Han always preferred to talk to Yagura's real face instead of his disguise.
While they were discussing the jinchuuriki transformations, a worried Utakata appeared.
"Utakata-kun?" Yagura asked, an eyebrow raised in surprise. "What are you doing here? It's kind of late."
Utakata's eyebrows furrowed more and he walked toward them. Han began to feel a sense of impending doom in the pit of his stomach. Utakata rarely joined them in the Room, especially late at night. He preferred to spend time with Yugito and Killer B in the mornings and late afternoons. Sometimes, he talked to the children in the early evening, but those occasions were rare.
Next to him, Yagura stood up from his lounging position on the floor. Han followed his lead, towering over both Utakata and Yagura.
"Yagura," Utakata began before stopping. He bit his lip as a thousand different emotions flitted across his face.
"What is it? Is something wrong in Kirigakure?" Yagura asked. "Or are you looking for advice on how to get a girlfriend?" Han could tell the question was a forceful attempt to bring levity to their conversation.
Utakata shook his head. "No, it's not that," he said. "It's just..." he closed his eyes and sighed. "It's a bit personal and about a shinobi in Kirigakure," he added. "Is it okay if Han is-"
"Anything you can say to me you can say to Han," Yagura said. He looked up at Han. "I trust him." Underneath his armor, Han smirked. He's come so far from the time he yelled at us to shut the fuck up.
Utakata glanced at Han with a raised eyebrow before focusing once again on Yagura. He nodded. "It's of a personal nature," he reiterated.
"Oh, so you do need help getting a girlfriend," Yagura teased. "Or are you looking more for a boyfriend? I can help with either."
Utakata rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Why would I ask for your help getting a girlfriend when Yugito is better at it?"
Yagura's back straightened and he plastered a smile on his face. Han snickered. I need to learn from Utakata on how to get him to shut up. He's a master at it.
"Fine, what's the problem?" Yagura snapped, keeping the same fake smile on his face.
Utakata closed his eyes and frowned, deep in thought. Han and Yagura waited. After a few tense seconds, Utakata opened his eyes. He stared down at Yagura with a frown. "Do you know the name Kasumi Karatachi?" he asked.
At once, Han felt a chill course through his body as Yagura's face hardened into something he had never seen before. The man wore a mask of fury and a forced attempt at self-control.
"How do you know that name?" Yagura asked, his voice cold and calculating.
Utakata bit his lip. "So you do have a daughter," he muttered.
Han startled. He had almost forgotten that Yagura had a family. He swallowed and looked down at his friend, whose face remained carefully collected.
"How do you know that name?" Yagura repeated the question, taking an angry step forward.
Utakata sighed. "I'm her jounin-sensei," he explained. "Mizukage-sama has unfortunately made me responsible for a four-man genin squad. It just so happens to include her."
"Jounin-sensei?" Yagura said in relief as the tension left his body. His voice filled with excitement as he walked closer toward Utakata. "She's a genin already? But she's only nine!"
Utakata swallowed at the sudden closeness, but he didn't step away. He nodded. "Yeah, my entire team is made up of little kids" he explained. "Haku and Kimimaro are also nine. I'm not actually sure if they are older or younger than her, though. It's a pain in the ass, to be honest."
"I see," Yagura said. He looked down at the ground with a sigh of relief. Han could only imagine what was going through his mind.
"Yeah, and I had my first look at her skills today," Utakata continued.
"Really? What was she like? Does she use any weapons? Did she say anything interesting?" Yagura asked, excitement making him step closer and closer to Utakata.
"She's... very talented," Utakata said, frowning in confusion. Han guessed he had never seen Yagura quite as excited before.
Yagura snorted in impatience. "Tell me more," he ordered. "I haven't spent time with her since she was two years old."
Han's brows contracted in pity. He got sad whenever Roshi was away for more than two weeks. He could only imagine being separated from his family for so long.
"Sure," Utakata answered, nodding while he began to gather his thoughts. "She has great endurance and taijutsu abilities. Her skill with weapons is also something to behold."
"Weapons?" Yagura interrupted. "What did she use? A staff?"
"Staff?" Utakata shook his head. "She said staffs are for weak people." Yagura took an offended step back. "She uses a sword. A wakizashi to be exact. She wants to specialize in kenjutsu and become the second kunoichi to join the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist."
"Really?" Yagura raised an eyebrow. "A sword? That's a bit of a surprise."
Utakata shrugged. "She was able to keep Kimimaro at bay when I had them spar. She was nearly perfect with her throwing accuracy, too."
"Nearly perfect?" Yagura raised a confused eyebrow.
"Haku was better," Utakata explained. "That boy has a special skill with senbon, I'll tell you that much."
Yagura paused to absorb everything Utakata had said. Han stared at his friend, watching how his face changed as he processed all the information. He could tell that he felt a sense of pride in his daughter's abilities.
"What did she look like?" Yagura asked.
"Short. Cute. Young." Utakata said. "She was wearing a long pink scarf. She had long hair and wide eyes."
"What else can you tell me?" Yagura asked. His eyes were full of tenderness Han had never seen before.
Utakata bit his lip. "She doesn't seem happy to have the Karatachi name," he confessed. "She says she wishes you weren't her father."
To Han and Utakata's mutual surprise, Yagura laughed at those words. "I can't blame her," he said. "I imagine that after my disastrous rule a lot of people hate me and my family name. In her mind, I'm the man that broke the village, made her mother and brother go into hiding, and then died."
"She... doesn't know you're alive?" Utakata asked.
Yagura snorted. "Of course she doesn't." Han could tell that he was trying hard to keep his tone of voice neutral. Silence fell across the three of them as they considered the implications.
Utakata stared at Yagura for a few seconds. Yagura waited impatiently for his next words.
"Would you like to see her?" Utakata asked.
Yagura startled back and his eyes widened as he stared at Utakata. "See her?" he asked, confused.
Utakata nodded. "We're having our first real team training session tomorrow at ten in the morning," Utakata said. "You are free to watch. Just look through my Door."
Han and Yagura stared at Utakata in shock. The younger jinchuuriki was the most private out of the nine of them. He always blocked off access to everyone else, even Yugito. Letting Yagura look through it was a giant concession for him.
"You... you'd let me do that?" Yagura asked incredulously. Han could tell that he was working hard to keep his face as impassive as possible.
Utakata nodded instead of answering. He stared down at Yagura with an indescribable look on his face.
"Thank you," Yagura said, keeping his face deliberately controlled.
"You're welcome," Utakata said. "I'll try to take good care of her."
He smiled before disappearing from the Room, leaving Yagura and Han alone.
As soon as the younger jinchuuriki disappeared, Yagura broke. He squatted down on the floor, putting his head between his knees, vulnerable in a way Han had never seen before.
Han frowned before sitting down next to his friend. He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Yagura flinched at the sudden touch but said nothing. They stayed side by side for a few minutes until they collectively decided to leave.
O-O-O-O-O
"So what are you doing for the winter break, Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked while they took a break from sparring. It was nearing the start of winter and the beginning of their break. He wondered if she would learn new techniques.
"My family is going to the capital," she answered before taking a swing of water. "We usually go there during the winter."
Naruto nodded before turning his attention to Sasuke, who was wiping the sweat away from his forehead. "What about you, jerk?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I'm staying in Konoha. We always celebrate New Year's here."
Naruto sighed in relief. The few days he had spent alone during the summer holiday had been pure torture for him. He was glad to have at least one other person to keep him company. He looked back at Hinata.
"So why is your family going to the capital anyway?" he asked.
"My father... doesn't like to stay here during that time," she answered after some thought. "My mother has some cousins who live there too, so we usually celebrate my birthday with them."
"Wait, your birthday?" Naruto leaned forward until he was almost nose to nose with Hinata. "It's almost your birthday?"
She leaned back away from him, almost nervous. She nodded. "Yes, December 27."
Naruto considered her words, tilting his head to the side and rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You should've told me earlier," he whined. "I would've had more time to buy you something, ya know!"
Hinata chuckled. "It's okay, Naruto-kun," she said. "You don't have to get me anything."
"Yeah, but I want to," he retorted with a pout.
He would have to get something for her before the break started. For his birthday, she had given him a small box of chocolates with a homemade card. While he knew her present couldn't have been expensive, he loved that it came from her. He wished he had more time to think of something suitable to give her. Deep in thought, his gaze turned to Sasuke before he realized something else.
"Hey!" he shouted, making both Sasuke and Hinata jump at the suddenness. "I don't know Sasuke's birthday! Don't tell me it's tomorrow or something!"
Sasuke frowned as he turned his attention back to Naruto. "If you must know, it was July 23. Right when the summer holiday started."
"Oh, okay," Naruto said with a sigh. I have a lot of time to think about what to get him, then. They lapsed back into silence as they stretched tired muscles and took sips of water.
"Hey, loser," Sasuke said, uncharacteristically breaking the silence.
Naruto automatically glared at Sasuke. "What is it, jerk?"
Sasuke fidgeted and looked away from Naruto. "My mother said you can stay with us during the break," he said. "At the very least she told me to invite you to stay overnight for New Year's Eve. Do you want to?"
Naruto blinked in surprise as Sasuke's words set in. Spend the holiday with Auntie? That sounds awesome!
"Wait, really?" he asked. "Isn't that normally, like, a family thing?"
Sasuke shrugged. "Mom said you can come if you want. You're not spending it with anyone else, are you?"
Actually, I usually spend extra long with the jinchuuriki. He couldn't say anything about the Room, however, so he shook his head instead.
"Are you sure I can go?" he asked. He had been going to the Uchiha compound more and more, staying overnight every other weekend. Nevertheless, the idea of spending a major holiday with them sent a shiver of nerves running down his back.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "If you couldn't, I wouldn't invite you," he said. "Now, show me what you got, this break has gone on for long enough already."
Naruto grinned before running to the middle of the sparring grounds in wait for Sasuke. Perhaps he was too distracted thinking about the winter break because he lost the next three rounds.
O-O-O-O-O
"Naruto-kun, wake up, it's almost time," a soft voice said, shaking him awake gently.
Naruto stirred and sat up, blinking. Next to him, Sasuke also rose, rubbing the sleep away from his eyes. He stared at him for a second in confusion before he remembered how he got there. Oh yeah, it's New Year's. We have to make a wish. Slightly more awake, he stretched his arms over his head and yawned.
On the last day before the winter holiday, Naruto had given Hinata her present: a chocolate bar and a voucher for free ramen at Ichiraku. Sasuke had given her nothing but had been kind enough to mutter 'Happy Birthday' to her. She had thanked them both with a smile before leaving.
For the rest of the winter break, he had gone to the Uchiha compound nearly every day. He trained with Sasuke in the morning, breaking only for lunch. After that, he always helped Sasuke's mother with whatever cooking or cleaning needed to be done. While he didn't always stay for dinner, he ate at their house more often than at his own. On New Year's Eve, he had stayed overnight to celebrate and watch the first sunrise.
To Sasuke's disappointment, Itachi had not joined in the festivities. Instead, his brother had arrived home shortly before midnight. He had sat with them only long enough to eat before disappearing into his room. While Sasuke's family said nothing about his attitude, Naruto could tell that they were disappointed to not have him around. After midnight, Naruto and Sasuke had been sent to bed, only to wake up later to watch the first sunrise of the new year.
"It's time to make your wish," Sasuke's mother said, trying in vain to comb through Sasuke's hair. "It's the first sunrise of the year, so make it count."
Naruto and Sasuke grunted their assent, too tired to talk. Grumbling, the two boys left the comfort of their futons and followed Sasuke's mother. She led them outside and up a ladder.
By the time he was sitting on the roof, Naruto had woken up. Shivering, he rubbed his hands together and shifted closer to Sasuke. If he says anything, I'll push him off the roof.
However, Sasuke must have felt equally as cold, because he also moved to sit closer to Naruto. Side by side, they rubbed their hands together and shivered.
Sasuke's mother chuckled. "Cold, boys?"
Naruto nodded furiously, too frozen to speak. He was relieved to see Sasuke agreeing with him. A few seconds later, he felt a heavy warmth settle over his shoulders. He looked up. Sasuke's father stood over them, placing separate blankets to cover them both. Relieved, he wrapped himself in its warmth.
"Th-thank you, Uchiha-san," he said through chattering teeth.
"Thank you, Father," Sasuke said, wrapping himself with the blanket.
Sasuke's father nodded before taking a step back and looking out at the horizon. "The sun will rise in a few minutes. Be ready for it."
Naruto grunted his assent before turning his gaze to the east. As they waited for the sun in silence, Naruto thought about what to wish for. He had wasted his birthday wish and he didn't want the same thing to happen again. He had even asked for help from the other jinchuuriki.
Unfortunately, they had been no help. Utakata, Yugito, and Yagura had snorted and said wishes didn't come true with magic. Killer B had rapped something about making his own wishes come true. Roshi and Han had only shrugged, telling him to think about it himself. Even Fuu and Gaara had been useless.
While Gaara had tried to help, he had been confused about the idea of making wishes at sunrise. Fuu, on the other hand, had only recommended things that were physically impossible. He was not sure if wishes could come true or not, but he knew that no amount of magic would make his apartment made out of candy.
Frustrated and mind still blank, Naruto turned to look behind him. Sasuke's mother and father sat side by side. Unlike him, they appeared comfortable in the cold, not shivering or moving at all. Apart from his family was Itachi. Like his parents, he sat motionless and stared out at the horizon.
Naruto frowned to himself and squinted as he looked out at the land in front of him. It was still pitch dark, with the stars and the moon as the only sources of light. He pondered the question of what to wish for before he finally came to his solution.
A few seconds later, the first rays of sunshine appeared, illuminating the forests in vivid orange and yellow.
"It's time, boys," Sasuke's mother said. "Make a wish."
Naruto stared out at the horizon. He felt a smile tugging at his lips. My wish is to get a higher score than Sasuke in class!
Wish made, he turned to glare at Sasuke. Like Naruto, he looked out, deep in thought. When he noticed him staring, he glared back.
"What do you want, loser?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto snorted. "Nothing," he said as he turned his head away. You better be ready to lose, jerk!
"Hn," Sasuke grunted in retort but said nothing else.
"Happy New Year! I hope we can enjoy many more years together," Sasuke's mother said.
She stood up, brushing non-existent dirt from her dress. She walked toward them, balancing perfectly on the roof. She sat down between Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto moved away, but she pulled him in for a hug. Blushing, he allowed her to wrap an arm around him. If Sasuke says anything, I'll burn his homework.
To his relief, Sasuke said nothing disparaging. Instead, he also allowed his mother to pull him in closer. "Thanks, Mom," he said.
"Happy New Year, Auntie, Sasuke, Uchiha-san, Itachi-san!" Naruto yelled, turning his face to each of them in turn.
"Happy New Year, Naruto," Sasuke's father said as he walked to stand behind his wife. Itachi said nothing but he moved marginally closer.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted, burrowing closer to his mother's side. Naruto grinned as he leaned his head against her shoulder. Mama's boy.
Together, the five of them watched the sky change colors in silence. With the sun fully risen, Sasuke's mother sighed. She stood up, extricating herself from Naruto and Sasuke.
"Well, I think it's time for breakfast," she declared. "But first..."
Naruto turned his face to look up at her in confusion. What else is there to do? The sun is up!
She grinned when she saw the look on his face. She dug into her dress pockets and pulled out red envelopes. She handed one over to Sasuke before giving one to Naruto.
"Here, this is a present for you two," she said. "Try to spend it wisely."
New Year's money? Embarrassed, Naruto blushed and bowed his head down. "Thank you very much, Auntie."
"Thank you, Mom," Sasuke said as he tucked his present into his pocket. While he was less enthusiastic, Naruto could tell that he was equally grateful.
"You're welcome." She grinned at them one last time before turning her gaze to her oldest son, who was hovering silently behind them. "Oh, Itachi, come here."
Naruto saw confusion flash across Itachi's face. Silent, he left his post and walked to his mother's side.
"What is it, Mother?" he asked, his face as impassive and tired as always.
"I hope you didn't think I had forgotten about you!" she said as she dug through her pockets once again. "Happy New Year, Itachi." She took out a third red envelope, extending it out for Itachi to take.
Itachi's eyes widened marginally in surprise. "For me?" he asked. "Why?"
"Do I need a reason? You're my son," she said, a small smile on her face.
"Oh," Itachi said as he took the red envelope in his hands. He bowed his head down at his mother as he tucked the gift into his pocket. "Thank you." He said nothing else as he took a step back, distancing himself from his family once more.
Naruto saw some strange emotion flash across his eyes. He frowned to himself. What's his deal?
"Well, I guess that's it," Sasuke's mother said as she stretched her arms in front of her. "Now, who wants breakfast?"
O-O-O-O-O
A/N: Utakata just gets more and more responsibilities.
So I decided to edit the previous chapters cause I wasn't vibin' with them anymore. However, this was not a one person job. Thank you so much to Amationary and LegancyZ for helping me do this humongous task!
Now, while the chapters have been edited, they are cosmetic changes in regards to word choice, B's raps, using past tense, and other minor things. I have not changed any of the story although I have added a few asides and statements from the characters here and there. You don't have to re-read it from the beginning at all because the story is exactly the same!
Chapter 26 will be out next week, probably on Saturday! Unless you're reading this in the future and the chapter is already out, I guess.
You can talk to me on Tumblr (waffledogwrites). You can send me questions about this fic or life in general if you want. Thank you so much for reading!
Next chapter: Utakata sasses Yagura.