Brought Back Something from Wave...

By Andrew J. Talon

Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Naruto or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.

More fun!

Sakura sighed as she knocked on Naruto's door. The fact he was now a single parent was kind of a bombshell, but she accepted it with as much grace as she could. The biggest concern though was little Kasumi's welfare.

"Sakura-chan~!"

Which meant putting up with Naruto was worth it, if the welfare of an innocent child could be provided for. She nodded to Naruto, and stepped into his apartment. She looked around: It was far cleaner than she had remembered.

"You're cleaning! Good," Sakura said, "you don't want Kasumi-chan getting sick from it being dirty. Or swallowing something that makes her choke."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head with a grin.

"Heheh, yeah. Don't worry, I'm taking good care of her!" He said. "So is Hinata-chan! She really pushed me to clean up for her!"

Sakura nodded as she walked into the kitchen. Kasumi was busy drawing with crayons... All over the wall. She looked up and grinned at Sakura.

"Saara!" She cried. Sakura gaped at all the lines and marks on the kitchen wall.

"Kasumi-chan!" She cried, kneeling down to take the crayon from the baby, "you shouldn't do that! Naruto, you need to make it clear she shouldn't draw on the walls!"

Naruto knelt on the other side of the baby, looking at the colorful markings all over the wall. He smiled at his daughter.

"Did you do all this? Aw, it's so good!" He cuddled Kasumi, and she giggled. "You're so talented!"

"NARUTO!" Sakura barked, and Kasumi cried out in fright. Naruto stared at Sakura.

"Sakura-chan, what? So she drew on the walls! Big deal!" Naruto said. Sakura sighed.

"She shouldn't draw on the walls! It just makes a mess!" She insisted. "What if she draws on other people's walls? Graffiti makes people angry!"

"Oh," Naruto said. He cleared his throat and took away Kasumi's crayon. "Okay Kasumi-chan, you're only going to draw on paper now, okay?"

"Bah!" Kasumi grunted, "nah ba ro!"

Naruto made a clone to clean up the mess, as he held Kasumi. Sakura stood up, sighed, and walked out of the kitchen area up to the bedroom. Something had been bothering her since they'd stumbled onto Naruto's little secret, and she looked around Naruto's bedroom to figure out what. He'd gotten toys for her, and put up some decorations. She saw more drawings the little girl had made on the walls... But...

"Naruto, where does Kasumi-chan sleep?" She asked. Naruto blinked as he walked up with Kasumi, who was squirming in his arms.

"With me. In my bed," Naruto said. Sakura gaped at him, and whacked the back of his head. "OW! HEY!"

"Are you nuts?! What if you roll over and crush her!" Sakura cried, "or-or she falls!"

"I'd never let that happen!" Naruto insisted, holding Kasumi closer. "Besides, I always make sure Kasumi-chan is in the middle of the bed!"

"Well that's fine for one side, but what about the other?" Sakura asked.

"Oh! Usually I have a clone sleep on the other side," Naruto said cheerfully, "or Hinata-chan!"

Sakura stared at him.

"Hinata... Sleeps with you...?" She managed. Naruto nodded eagerly.

"Yeah! Sometimes she passes right out and so I put her on the other side of the bed so Kasumi-chan won't fall out!" He blushed a little bit, and rubbed the back of his head. "She's really... Uh... Cuddly, ya know? N-Not that we mind!"

Sakura glared.

"We're getting her a crib today, along with a lot of other things!"

"But-But Sakura-chan-!"

"I SAID WE'RE GETTING A CRIB!"

Naruto sighed.

"Fine, Sakura-chan," he said, defeated.

Huh. He didn't sound nearly as annoying or lovestruck then, Sakura reflected. Maybe she could see a little of what Hinata saw in him... And the means for her own freedom from his constant pestering for dates.

Now if only she could get Lee to adopt a child...

And an omake about how things would go with the Snow Country movie.

After liberating Snow Country and turning it into Spring Country, Naruto's team was relaxing in Koyuki's castle. Koyuki was sitting and chatting with Naruto, sitting on a couch next to him.

Koyuki: "Honestly Naruto, if there's anything you want me to do for you... Anything at all, just ask!"

Naruto: "Well... I mean you've done so much! I kind of feel embarrassed!"

Koyuki: *warm smile* "I treated you so terribly, I guess I just want to make up for it."

Naruto: "Hey, don't feel bad!"

Koyuki: *sighs, leans against him* "I just... I can't help feeling like this is all a wonderful dream I'll wake up from."

Naruto: "Hmmm... Oh! I've got an idea! I'll introduce you to someone who always cheers me up! Kasumi-chan!"

Koyuki: "Kasumi-chan?"

Naruto summons Gamakichi.

Naruto: "Gamakichi!"

Gamakichi: "Yo!"

Naruto: "Bring me Kasumi-chan please!"

Gamakichi: "Sure!" *He poofs away*

Koyuki: "Er, who is Kasumi-chan, Naruto?"

Naruto: "She's my best girl in the world! I love her so much!"

Koyuki: "Eh?! You have a girlfriend?!"

Naruto: "Huh? Oh, no!"

POOF! Gamakichi arrives, with little Kasumi. She squeals happily at seeing Naruto, and Naruto pulls her into his arms. He shows her off proudly to the shocked princess.

Naruto: "Thanks Gamakichi!"

Gamakichi: "No sweat!" POOF!

Naruto: *proudly* "Kasumi-chan is my daughter! She was an orphan like me! But now we're family! Say hello, Kasumi-chan!"

Kasumi: "Abuh wah!"

Koyuki: "Oh... So... You're a hero and a single father?"

Naruto: "Yup!"

Koyuki: "I see... You're more mature than I thought."

Naruto: "Heh! I know right?"

Sakura bursts in, wild eyed.

Sakura: "Naruto! We just got a call from Konoha! Kasumi has... Disappeared..."

Naruto: "Yeah! And now she's here!"

Sakura calmly takes Kasumi, puts her in Koyuki's arms, and then begins to beat the crap out of Naruto.

Sakura: "WILL YOU WARN PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT?! HINATA WAS IN A PANIC!"

Naruto: "OW OW OW SORRYYY!"

Koyuki chuckles and rocks Kasumi gently.

Koyuki: "Yeah, he's just full of surprises..."

Kasumi: *giggles*