Author Notes: Hello everyone and a big Thank You again to those who reviewed! Writing about the softer side of Orochimaru is surprisingly fun, so here's another chapter :)

Warnings: Definite OOC-ness and fluff.

- Chapter Start -

The Hidden Leaf's School Academy was hosting its annual Parent Teacher Day.

Naruto heeded Shikamaru's advice to attend without much protest and kept a clone in his office. He felt both guilty about missing previous years' events as well as trepidation on what Shino would report about Boruto's academic achievements.

As soon as Naruto entered the Academy grounds with Hinata and Himawari, a wave of nostalgia washed over him, prickling and warm. The Academy had been rebuilt after Pein's attack, but it was still a familiar place. He had spent countless hours here after the Fourth Great Ninja War, holed up with Headmaster Iruka as he plowed through books and learned about politics and other countries in order to become Hokage.

Naruto couldn't help wincing a bit at the memory of those stressful, mentally exhausting days and nights. Still, it was worth it. The knowledge he had gained had stood him in good stead, and relations between the Five Great Nations had never been better.

There was a good turnout of parents, walking around the grounds and chatting with each other while they waited for lessons to end. Looking around, Naruto saw the workers from a food catering company arranging several small tables and chairs under the trees at one end of the school playground. A long buffet table stood a few feet away.

Ignoring his growling tummy, Naruto joined Hinata and Himawari in greeting the other parents, his grin widening at the sight of so many familiar faces. They were students of Iruka-sensei once upon a time and now look at them all - proud parents with young ones of their own.

Indeed, the Will of Fire was as strong as ever!

This time, nostalgia hit Naruto harder, causing his eyes to sting and his throat to feel tight.

"What's this? Getting sappy in your old age, loser?"

Naruto turned to direct a wry grin at Sasuke, letting the barb slide off his back like water. Funny how quickly he had taken umbrage at Sasuke's words in the past... only to not mind them at all now. If anything, they served as a reminder that he had succeeded in saving his best friend against all odds, and that the Hidden Leaf Village was all the stronger with Sasuke's support.

Naruto would gladly take insults from Sasuke any day and be grateful for what they stood for.

"You're two months older than me, you know," he replied, nudging Sasuke in the shoulder.

Sasuke just nudged him back, his visible eye crinkling a tiny bit as their wives shook their heads and smiled, familiar with their exchange.

- o -

The school bell rang a few minutes later and soon, students were spilling out of the entrance, bright faces smiling and eager eyes searching for their parents.

"Papa, you're back!" Sarada ran to Sasuke and flung her arms around him for a tight hug before doing the same to Sakura. "Mama, you made time too!"

"Tou-chan, you're actually here?" Boruto's greeting was more laconic, but the pleased tone in his voice spoke volumes. Then he squinted. "Or are you a shadow clone?"

"Hey, I'm the real deal, you know!"

Ignoring him, Boruto grinned at his mother and sister.

"Kaa-chan, Himawari, I'm glad you're here too!"

- o -

An hour later...

After Naruto and Headmaster Iruka's speeches, students who had performed well were recognised and then it was time to enjoy lunch. Everyone patiently queued up at the buffet table, even the Hokage, to help themselves to the food. There weren't enough chairs for everyone so students and some of the parents just stood around and ate as they chatted. It was a bright and sunny day, but there were many large trees to provide welcome shade.

Hinata was sitting at a table with Sakura, Ino, Temari and Karui. Seeing that Boruto was off playing with his friends, Naruto accompanied Himawari on a walk around the grounds.

"Oh, I know him!"

Naruto looked down at Himawari and then at where her finger was pointing. A slender man with pale skin and long black hair stood under the furthest tree about twenty feet away, looking around as if searching for someone. Then he caught sight of Naruto and gave a polite nod.

"Lord Hokage."

"Orochimaru."

"Shiro-chan!"

In unison, Naruto and Orochimaru looked down at Himawari.

"Shiro-chan?" Naruto echoed blankly only to hasten after his daughter who was walking towards Orochimaru.

The san-nin crouched down, his golden eyes fixed on her.

"So you do remember me, child?"

In an instant, Sasuke appeared on one side of Naruto, Shikamaru on the other.

"I recognised you by your pretty eyes," Himawari replied, oblivious of the dark and unpleasant vibes coming from the three males behind her.

"Ah. You have a good memory." Orochimaru's cheeks acquired the faintest shade of pink.

"My friends call me Himawari."

"It's nice to see you again, Himawari-chan. My name is-"

"Wait a minute! Why does my daughter know you?" Naruto interrupted.

"And what does she mean?" Sasuke demanded. "Your eyes aren't the least bit pretty!"

"What are you doing here?" Shikamaru wanted to know.

Orochimaru stood up slowly and spread his hands, giving a placating smile.

"To see my son," he answered Shikamaru's question. "It is Parent Teacher Day, is it not?"

"Oh, you have a son? What's his name?" Himawari piped up.

"Mitsuki."

"Mitsuki-nii-san is Boruto-nii-chan's friend! I'll go look for him."

Himawari hurried off, looking pleased to be of help and leaving behind a tense silence.

"So," Naruto said, round blue eyes narrowed at Orochimaru, "when did you meet Himawari?"

"And why does she like your eyes?" Sasuke demanded.

"Where's Captain Yamato?" Shikamaru wanted to know.

Orochimaru pursed his lips, not at all pleased by the impromptu interrogation. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to come here after all. He briefly explained about the incident at the park around two weeks ago, but the other three males looked even more sceptical than before.

"That's it?" Naruto asked.

"Yes."

"You didn't give her anything?" Sasuke asked, right hand going up to his left neck to indicate what he meant.

Orochimaru's golden eyes widened in alarm.

"No, of course not! It was the other way around, she gave me something!" He could have bitten off his tongue the instant the words left his mouth.

Three pairs of suspicious eyes raked him from head to foot, making him sweatdrop.

"Himawari gave you something?" Naruto echoed.

"What was it? A right hook?" Sasuke smirked although his eyes remained unsmiling.

"And why?" Shikamaru wanted to know.

"... never mind."

"What do you mean, never mind?"

"It was nothing."

"What do you mean, nothing?!"

"Fine! It was a sakura blossom!"

Silence. Then,

"A flower?" Naruto asked in bafflement.

"Why?"

"When?"

"Yes, a flower. As a present. During hanami week."

Orochimaru deeply regretted he had come here. Suigetsu had informed him of Parent Teacher Day last night after eavesdropping on Yamato's conversation with one of his subordinates who wanted to visit his daughter at the Academy. Then Karin pointed out that Orochimaru, being a parent, had every right to go. Even Jugo said that Mitsuki would be sad at being the only child there without a parent visiting.

Orochimaru scowled. He was going to assign all three of them extra work the moment he got back!

"So, she just handed you a flower." Naruto still looked disbelieving.

"But you were in your snake form," Sasuke pointed out. "How could you accept it?"

"She... uh, stuck it to the side of my head with chakra," Orochimaru mumbled.

"Ah, that's right. Hinata taught her how to use chakra recently, you know," Nauruto agreed. Then he turned to look at Sasuke and then at Shikamaru.

Orochimaru winced as all three of them burst out laughing, knowing they were picturing what he had looked like that day.

- o -

Himawari came back a couple of minutes later, dragging Mitsuki by the hand, only to stare in astonishment at the scene before her.

Papa was laughing like she had never seen before, clutching his stomach as tears streamed down his cheeks.

Sasuke-oji-san had one hand over his mouth and his shoulders were shaking.

Shikamaru-oji-san was wheezing, bent forward with hands on knees.

And Shiro-chan - no, her papa called him Orochimaru - was glaring at all three of them, hands fisted by his sides and cheeks flushed a vivid pink.

"Papa? Why are you all laughing?"

The three males sobered at once although their lips continued to twitch.

"Ah, you found Mitsuki-kun!" Naruto wiped the tears from his face.

"Yes. Why were you all laughing?"

"Er... well..." Naruto rubbed the back of his head, looking rather sheepish.

"Father, you came." Mitsuki looked pleased. "Er... are you alright?"

"Of course."

Only Himawari saw Orochimaru's stiff expression soften as he spoke to his son. She grabbed Naruto's hand and pulled.

"Eh? What is it, Himawari?"

"We should go back to mama now," she said. "And look, Sarada-nee-san and Shikadai-nii-san are waving at us!"

"Yeah, you're right. Let's go."

As they all walked off, Himawari looked back and offered a small wave to Orochimaru who bowed to her. She hoped she would meet him again. Not only did he have pretty golden eyes and long black hair, he seemed every bit as nice as Mitsuki-nii-san.

- Chapter End -

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it, would love to hear from you :)