It took him two days to properly understand what equipment was needed for the new life awaiting, longer to write a letter that might make some sense to the father, and even so, he did not manage to muster the courage needed to send the implicating paper. Hesitation took him at every turn, often he would sit at the small desk which had come with his home, rest his back against the spinning chair, his head would look up towards the ceiling a sigh would escape for contemplation. It was in luck that the shop owner had a good heart, for she'd aided him in moving the crib and mattress into his home.
There were very few in his crooked memory whom he could count as so considerate; perhaps that was why he had taken himself a step further in gracious manner, inviting her into his house for tea in respect for her kindness. It was far more than a shock that had gripped his chest when she had enthusiastically agreed to meet him the next day at lunch, before giving him a grin and running off in the direction of her store with a skipping step and a wave. In candour, he had merely stood outside his door staring for lack of understanding her demeanour, then within his own pride and happiness, he had grinned himself hands behind his head and skipped inside; feeling for once a warmth within his mind and heart, a pool in his belly for the possibility of a friendship outside of shinobi circles and within his own village of common -directed- detest.
Shaking was making his hands falter from their much simple task of making an appropriate tea for them both; naturally, under his lack of knowledge or experience, it wasn't to be a traditional ceremony, still, for his determination, he would do his best and hopefully manage a comfortable and reasonably propitious attempt. There was no tea-room by the misfortune of it being a modernized and cheap house, he would take the protocol outside into his blossoming small garden. He had much to fix as it were, he only had a few green shrubs, grass and stepping stones in truth, though he had begun to plant some flower bushes about for colour. It would suit for the ceremony, however, as he had none in extensive food, he would only be properly serving a thin tea in respect for old manner. He was in want to keep Kamaji-san comfortable, hopeful for a calming atmosphere to avoid her becoming wary of him, it was luck that he had a garden for the service at all.
He had few sweets, however, he had been gifted with Dango by Ayame-chan a few days priour, as he had rarely tasted the favoured item. It was the ideal specialty for tea with a new acquaintance, he only hoped she would understand his difficulty in producing a proper, ritualistic, ceremony. With anxiety crawling upon his spine, he put the supplies out onto a cleared area within his garden, before returning inside when he heard the quiet knock on his door. It was improper of him, still, under his rearing, he had only a plain sky blue Yutaka to wear as a formality; as it were presently. Even so, he answered the door with a grin as she bowed graciously, he faltered upon the vision, entirely unaccustomed to the sight, but he regained himself quickly as she took off her sandals and entered, she naturally wore a properly formal Houmongi of sakura pink with elegant patterns of branches and blossoms in spring; it was beautiful in compared with his worn Yutaka which could hardly be expressed as visiting wear.
"Thank you for inviting me." Her kind smile made him flinch, though she looked a little stricken by his attire she said nothing, and he lead her with the best decorum he could manage, into the garden. "Naruto-san, I feel it only appropriate that I should apologize for how I may have treated you in the past." There was little said, though the implication of village behaviour so natural it had become habitual, made him falter in step even as he was to open the screen door leading to to the tea he had prepped. His lips thinned in thought, his eyes narrowed in direction of the floor as a fist wanted to form; instead, however, he sighed in a release of resentful emotion building for remembrance. Turning to his guest he offered a small smile in seeing her ashamed hazel eyes looking upon him, and the bite she had done to her own glossed lip, he had no want to make his guest feel uncomfortable nor remorseful for a past she could do nothing about.
"Thank you, but really, it is normal for me, and as much as I hate it, if I stayed angry forever I would never have the chance to make any friends." Her eyes implored into him at the words, something grieving crossing her features before she hesitantly smiled herself, and bowed her head in a brief manner of regard and acknowledgement. "Now, let's enjoy some tea!" It was upon automatic that he pumped a fist in her direction as he would one of his comrades after a job well done, only he wasn't expecting her to enthusiastically bump her fist into his own and decree a loud 'yeah!' in return. A laugh escaped him brightly for the sight as she too grinned whence he opened the door. He did -rather hiddenly- shake his hand out behind his back for the pain of her unexpected strength.
As they sat to enjoy their ceremony a light conversation joined them, as they began to speak in lightened tones about the ninja academy; as a matter they both understood. Naruto found the woman afore him to be bright and open if, a slight apprehensive for precaution's sake, she had no issue discussing of her own experience within the academy, wherein the blond learned that she had indeed been a kunoichi- one whom had been fully trained, and considered a prodigy in Taijutsu. That was, until she was encouraged to quit by one of her friends after an accident wherein she became pregnant and forced to take a leave of absence, just as himself. Of course, unlike himself, she had stopped her ninja career entirely as her mate had died while in service, and her family had disregarded her as their child. In empathy, he offered her his sympathies, she gave him a kindred smile that hardly lifted her visage, yet spoke in volumes for her appreciation.
"So, there is much rumour around you Naruto-san, though I cannot believe most are true. Do tell me about yourself?" He took a sip of his tea in ponderance, not knowing what he might say, attempting to gain an idea with how he and Sakura had spoken before she had decided to free herself from his company; for yet a reason he did not understand.
"There isn't much to say, I'm a shinobi, my favourite food is ramen, um…" He scratched at an unexpected itch at his head, truly unknowing of what was appropriate, and disregarding the formality of the ceremony he was hosting. Much to his own surprise, she giggled as if it were normal.
"Well, what about your pregnancy? There must be a story to that." A blush dusted over his cheeks in its so colourous red, and took a great sip of his tea, in distraction prepping more for the both of them.
"That was bad timing, I got caught ill-prepared for my heat and, well." Kamaji-san nodded in tandem to his words, obviously aware of their familiar Omega-fitted dilemma. There wasn't much to say on a problem all of their secondary gender understood without explanation. A piece of her bronze-toned hair fell before her nose, as she put down her own cup for a refill, and granted him with a shrug and a wink.
"Then how about I start? You can tell me more about yourself at a later date." He gasped for her words, blinking wide at the offer. Though she said nothing in reaction to his own incomprehension of her show of trust. A finger came to rest ever so gentle upon her lower lip in a display of thought, a pondering expression befitting her, as she smiled in kind. "Let's see, I'm seventeen years old, a single mother of a one-year-old; I had my son when I was sixteen. I inherited my father's baby store by accident when he died from the flu last year, and hadn't taken me off his inheritance." Her giggle was loud, but her irises were mournful as she spoke of her deceased parent, Naruto said nothing unto it, not knowledgeable enough on the subject to showcase all the sympathy he wanted. "Technically speaking I'm a retired Jounin of Konoha." Another shrug as she sipped at her tea once more.
In curiosity Naruto found himself asking, "what about your son, what did you name him? And how did you decide?" As it were, he was still overflowing with various concepts, numerous and each brilliant in their own manner. Her laugh was brightened in comparison to his confusion.
"Through a lot of soul-searching and a knowledge of what I wished for him I chose Hiruzen, I know it's rather boring, but I wanted him to be a great man, and I'm sure he will." Naruto found a resonance with the name and nodded with a slight giggle for his acknowledgement. He understood the representation behind her decision well.
For all that he were as a shinobi and all that he knew her father was, he wanted something equally as representative. In true candour, he had the want for Jiraiya to be within the village, in complete knowledge of his daughter whence he choose a name. Therein, that they made the decision together; but in that same candid nature, he knew that was unlikely. Still, many concepts had come to his mind after having found out about his new life, no certainty had struck him in sudden realization, but there were a few names that came from light-hearted memory, those that would garner well for his future daughter. A sip of tea, and he spoke in respect with a rare joy filling his cup and smile. "I have only a vague idea, I know she's going to be a girl, but I only have a few names in mind, and that's the only information I'm going on!" He pulled at his sun hair, a grimace of humour upon his face as Kamaji laughed along.
"I thought of 'Tsunade' because I know her, and she's always been pretty kind to me. But that's a bit old-fashioned." Kamaji-san twisted her lip up and shook her head in a firm negative as a response. He agreed with her evaluation. "See? Sounds stupid for the new generation. Oh!" She gave a 'hum' to his sudden sound looking up to him with a tranquillity she hadn't possessed in demeanour previously. "My mother's name was Kushina, she's dead now of course, but it is rather tough-sounding, of course, that's probably because of the Sasunoo legend…" Rethinking brought him to a different conclusion, mainly that it wouldn't be suitable. However, Kamaji turned to direct upon him then, amusement coating her visage.
"You don't actually need to come up with anything yet, you're not even showing, I think there are a few more months left to decide." He smiled, scratching at the back of his neck, already minorly embarrassed for being so concerned of a name he needn't decide for eight more months. While perhaps impossible, he did have the resolution hidden away in his mind to wait until Jiraiya returned- even if such a hope was irrational. Her visage lightened, complacent and compassionate, near soft as hazel irises sparkled as did the warming gleam of her smile; "what about her father? What would they think?" Naruto found himself scoffing upon such a question, for it was a fair query; what would Jiraiya think? Therein, would he even give an opinion? It was a hidden fact from him that he was indeed having a baby, writing a letter to inform the man was nye impossible by his illiteracy and the secrecy of just who her father was.
"He doesn't know. Yet." That earned him a reprehensive glance, yet still, he laughed in good humour, indeed as she followed suit. Both of them for the fact that neither of their children's fathers' were about with them at their small tea ceremony enjoying the calming tea. They two both stood at the same time, as Kamaji made a great grin.
"You're very fun Naruto-san, thank you for this. I hope we can be friends." It was a light bow, and he returned it with a certain lacking grace.
"Well yeah! But, just call me Naruto, no need to be formal with me." It was indeed her turn to bare the surprised expression, though it looked well on her, as it melted back into her warm twinkle of a smile.
"Then please do the same for me Naruto-kun." They walked lightly to the door, and in turn his grin stretched wide over his cheeks.
"Of course, Kamaji-chan!" Then, in the most gentile way, and to his utter surprise, she wrapped her arms around him, as if he were a porcelain cup. A hug, a concept he had only truly seen upon rare occasion, not to have experienced in for himself. Though, she removed herself rather quickly to much for him to give a proper return.
