Chapter 19

I don't own Naruto

Naruto's Baby Chapter 19

Sadoru ran the attendance roll for the next morning. When she got to Ai's name, she noticed her seat was empty once more. She sighed audibly and marked the girl absent once more. It was disheartening that the girl was going to continue to be tardy. "Okay class, today's lesson will be about genjutsu," she informed and turned to write down her lesson on the board behind her.

Zuko, from the back of the class, looked down to where Ai usual sat and worried. He noticed that she was acting very different. She seemed…distant. He looked out the window to his left and saw that some ninjas were running around. Many of whom he recognized since he grew up with most of them. Senji also knew everyone was running around, trying to make Naruto and Hinata's wedding some fantastic event. He didn't understand it. He did understand that Senji had been acting more like a jerk since the announcement. Speaking of his friend, Senji was sitting next to him, not even bothering to take notes.

What was up with him?

Zuko elbowed Senji lightly, "Hey," he whispered to make sure the teacher didn't hear him. "What's up with you lately?" He asked.

Senji smirked, "well, since you finally asked," he said, "I'm going to be the next Hyuga heir," he said. "Lady Hinata lost her title for heiress a while ago, and if Hanabi-sama gets married when she's older, then she loses it. I'm the next apparent heir," Senji explained. Zuko gave him a look of disbelief and a roll of his eyes, "why would you be the next heir?"

"Because I'm worthy, that's why," Senji said a little louder than he meant to, which earned him getting hit by a piece of chalk, thrown by Sadoru-sensei. Sadoru glared at the two boys, "detention after school for the both of you," she said, having a firmer hold of how to handle students. Zuko and Senji groaned loudly, and

Senji glared at his lighter-haired companion, "thanks a lot. I'm supposed to help with the wedding today, and I'm going to be late getting there," Senji spoke, and Zuko, once more, rolled his eyes, "yeah right, what role were you going to play? The Ring Bearer?" Zuko asked sharply.

"TWO DAYS DETENTION!" Sadoru screamed as the boys didn't seem to listen to her.

As a massive wave of shinobi flocked to get to Konoha, one girl was going in the opposite direction. Ai watched from behind some trees as visitors were on their to the North, while Ai was heading south. The girl had been traveling since last night, and despite her yawns, she felt energized. She watched as people headed to Konoha, even civilians with cartridges and horses were on their way to the main gates.

Ai stopped watching and started to travel through the forest. Her bag on her back, she walked through the woods and so far, no one had noticed she was even gone. That was a little disheartening, but she ventured forward.

The girl looked around her surroundings and realized how beautiful nature was. She had never left Konoha until now, never been outside of its walls. Now, as she was freely roaming around, Ai was more excited the further she got away from the village. The previous night of traveling got her about a few hours outside of Konoha. It wasn't until the sun had risen when she noticed the people coming, which was why she went to the trees.

She continued without much issue and then found herself. There was the path she was following along the road, despite her hiding behind trees. Ai seemed somewhat comfortable walking.

When she reached the end of the Land of Fire territory, she looked down at the valley that she would have to go down, unaware of the history that had happened to take place there.

She smiled and turned back toward the direction of Konoha, "I traveled far in a short amount of time, huh?" She said to herself. She looked down the valley and her smile faded. "I guess no one will notice I'm gone huh?" She looked around her surroundings once more before she found a path to get down the valley.

And her smile returned as she picked up the pace, and was soon running.

A twisting feeling was currently residing in Sadoru as she noticed that Ai hadn't come to class that day. The students had left except Senji and Zuko; they were still serving detention. "Okay boys," she said began, her arms crossed across her chest. "I want you both to write, I will not talk during class a hundred times."

The boys groaned audibly, which was ignored by the sensei. They grabbed their notebooks and pencils and began writing.

Iruka came in and was expecting the class to be empty, and saw Sadoru and the boys. "Oh sorry, I thought this room would be empty," he said with a nervous chuckle. "I see you have some troublemakers today," he commented.

"Yes, but it's just from talking during my lecture," Sadoru said.

"I see," Iruka said, "well I'm here to pick up Uzumaki Ai."

"Pick up Ai?" Sadoru asked, more astonished than anything.

"She's Naruto's daughter, so she'll be part of the wedding ceremony. I have her attire picked out and everything for the wedding," Iruka asked. "Do you know where she is?"

"Iruka-sensei," Sadoru started with a hint of "matter-of-fact" condescension on her voice, "Ai didn't show up to class today," Sadoru said. Iruka looked surprised by that. "She didn't come to class?"

"Right, and she's been tardy every day, and some days, she doesn't even bother showing up," Sadoru mentioned.

Iruka became very concerned. Ai wasn't the type of person to do that...was she? No, he raised her...no...Naruto raised her better than that. Something must be wrong. "Excuse me Sadoru-sensei, but I should go look for her," Iruka said and turned and left the room. Iruka hurried out of the academy and hoped that she was merely just playing hooky.

Iruka arrived at Naruto's apartment and knocked on the door, hoping for some form of reply. When he didn't get one, he knocked one more, only more frantic, "Ai. It's Iruka-sensei," he said, leaning in and trying to listen for any noise. The third time he knocked, and nothing. He didn't want to do this, but he began to slam his body against the door, hoping to barge it open. When he succeeded, he fell initially but got back up. "Ai!" He shouted and looked around the apartment. He began to throw things, and dig through large boxes, and no sign of the girl.

And he didn't notice the pencil on the counter rolling off the table Ai had placed it on before she left.

Iruka's parental instincts began to kick in. Ai was missing, and he needed to find her. He tried to calm down. Maybe she's with someone. Maybe Kakashi? No..he's been busy with getting the wedding reception-ready for Naruto and Hinata. Is she with the Hyugas? He asked himself and shook that off, no. Hinata would have told me this the last time I saw her.

Iruka had a feeling that this wasn't some prank and he tried to think of what to do now…Kakashi! He'll have to know she's missing…no, she's not missing yet. She's just…she has to be in Konoha. She couldn't have left, right?

Iruka hurried out of the apartment, and began running, jumping on top of rooftops to run and get to Kakashi fast and inform him.

Ai looked around and held her stomach. She was hungry, and the last of her travel snacks was gone. She was entering a small village, and she could see that it wasn't that different from Konoha. She walked around, keeping her eye out for a food stand. The brunette stopped and sniffed around when a heavenly aroma hit her. She followed and saw a man making some grilled meats on a skillet. She edged closer to the grill and inhaled the scents. She could feel her mouth water. The man who ran the stand noticed the child and said, "smelling's free, but a rack is about five hundred yen," he said. Ai opened her bag and knelt to the ground, digging through her supplies and remembered that she had no money. When the man eyed her suspiciously, Ai laughed nervously and grabbed her back, "I'm sorry, I don't have any money," she said. The man scolded, "then beat it, kid!" He had only raised his voice a little, but it was enough to make the girl scurry away. She hugged her bag and ran off.

The girl sighed once she was out of the man's line of sight, and slowed down to a walk. She realized she probably made a big mistake by leaving the village. At least most people knew who she was. She walked around until she stopped her slumped against the side of a building. Ai, for all of her loneliness, had never gone hungry a day in her life. She touched her hair, feeling the oil on her scale and remembered how she hadn't bathed in a few days, even before she had left Konoha. She then eyed her clothes and saw how dirty they were just from the hot summer day and sweating.

She unknowingly knew just how privileged she was until that moment.

Ai looked around and saw a man with a ninja headband on. She got up and went over to the man, pulling at his shirt to get his attention. The man was about average high, only a little shorter than her dad. Growing around shinobis, she knew that they were good people, who just wanted to do good things for their village and often protected each other. She had no reason to be scared of them.

When he turned and looked down at the girl, he seemed annoyed, "what you do want brat?"

"I…" Ai was nearly lost for words, but she managed, "um, I'm lost…can you help me get home?"

The man raised an eyebrow, "and what's your name?"

"Uzumaki Ai," she said, and the man began to laugh suddenly, making the girl jump a bit. She didn't know why he was laughing. "You're a Uzumaki? I'm calling bullshit," he said with a scoff.

"I don't…I uh…" Ai was lost for words.

"Move along street rat," the man said and shooed her away. "But mister, I-"

"Look kid; you think for a second that you're going to give me some made-up story about how you're related to the Uzumaki Naruto than move along," he said.

"But he's my-" Ai was cut off once more by the ninja, "get a lost kid, or you'll upset me," he said, and Ai backed away before running off in fear. She didn't stop running this time until she was on the other side of the village, further away from Konoha and going deep within Tanigakure.

However, a smirk appeared on her face, and she pulled out that particular shinobi's wallet that she had swiped at him. She pulled out the cash from his wallet and had about ten thousand yen in it. Ai wasn't one for stealing, but she was getting despite and he was a jerk anyway.

She felt justified.

Ai soon left the village and headed further away from Konoha.

Kakashi was making his plans with Shikamaru in his office when the door burst open. "Kakashi!" Iruka shouted, dropping the honorifics. Kakashi and Shikamaru stood there in shock. "What happened Iruka?" Kakashi asked.

"I can't find Ai, have you seen her lately?" Iruka said in concern.

Kakashi thought back to the last time he saw the girl and frowned when he realized that it had been weeks, since before the engagement. "Sorry, I haven't. Are you sure she's missing?"

"Yes. I was just at Naruto's apartment, and some of her clothes are missing, and one of the teachers told me that she'd been late going to class and some days she hasn't even shown up," Iruka said. "I don't think anyone has seen her lately."

Kakashi went over to his lover and placed his hands on his shoulders, "Iruka, calm down. Let's check all of Konoha before we freak out. She's probably with a friend or something," Kakashi said. As far as Kakashi knew, Ai had no reason to run away or for an enemy to grab her. Konoha was one of the safest places now since the war. Though the idea of her being snatched was a complete possibility. Kakashi turned to Shikamaru, "help Iruka in the search for Ai, and if you cannot find her by sunset, let me know," he informed him. Shikamaru nodded and walked out, and Iruka was about to follow him when Kakashi stopped him once more, Shikamaru having closed the door behind him.

"Iruka wait," Kakashi said, "what are you not telling me?" He asked, looking in Iruka's concern-filled eyes. Iruka looked away uneasy, but said, "I was informed that she's been missing classes," he said. "You know I see her as my child. I can't help it. We raised her when she was a baby. Just looking at her from a distance is hurtful," Iruka said. "Don't you feel like that? You raised her with me…I still see her as our child," Iruka looked more like a mourning parent then he did as a concerned educator. "I know Naruto's been busy with missions and the wedding, but who's been Ai attention?"

Kakashi lowered his head, "I do feel horrible when you lost custody, but Naruto has been trying his hardest to support her while still maturing himself. Now, Ai will have a more supportive family."

"Will she?" Iruka asked. "Hinata is too young to look after a child, especially one who's not her child. Naruto put himself in this position, and I don't know how Hinata will feel taking care of a child that isn't her's," Iruka stated. "And it seems like Ai is getting more and more cast aside and it breaks my heart."

"If you felt like that Iruka," Kakashi began, "then why didn't you go check on her before today?" Iruka's chest swelled, and his eyes widen. Why hadn't he? He could come up with a million excuses, but he knew that deep down, he thought that Ai would have the recollection to know that at one point in her young life, she could seek out Iruka's comfort.

But Ai seemed to have no memories of the years she spent with Iruka.

"I'm going to go look for her," Iruka said as he marched out of the office.

Kakashi watched Iruka leave his office and the slamming of the door that followed soon after. He looked over to his desk and picked up a particular photo that was framed. It was of him, Iruka, and Ai, before Naruto had returned to the village when Ai was three years old. Back then, it felt like Kakashi had a taste of what a family would feel like, even if they weren't related.

He hoped that it wasn't the worst case scenario.

Hinata was with her family, trying to organize the wedding. She was incredibly grateful for her clan's willingness to assist in the arrangement of the marriage. Now that she was going to be a Uzumaki, she would be officially losing her status as a Hyuuga, and her children after her wouldn't be affected by the family's restraints and traditions, even if they possessed the byakugan.

She was looking over some things when she sees Senji running over. "Sorry, I'm late!" He shouted. "I'm here now…what can I help with?" He asked, and Hinata smiled at him, "the rehearsal dinner will be in a few hours, why not go get cleaned up and your grandfather will give you the ceremonial clothing," she said, and he nodded and hurried inside. She smiled at her nephew, seeing a considerable resemblance between him and Neji. Those were dark days. After the war, they mourned his death, and it took a long time before Senji could go to sleep without crying. He was only four when his father died, the exact age when Neji's father had died.

They were both honorable men.

Hinata had decided that she would do everything in her power to make sure that Senji would know who his father and just how honorable of a man he was, and how his loss wasn't in vain.

"Hinata," The girl looked over her shoulder and saw Shikamaru walking over. "Oh Shikamaru," Hinata smiled, "what can I help you with?"

"I'm sure it's nothing, but have you seen Ai anywhere?" He asked. Hinata smile lowered and replied, "I'm afraid not. She's supposed to come to tonight's rehearsal dinner, but I haven't seen her around the village recently," she said. Shikamaru closed his eyes, "Okay, thanks."

"Shikamaru wait," she said, "is she okay?"

"We don't know, Iruka came into the Hokage's office and said she wasn't in class today and that some of her clothes are gone, but you shouldn't have to worry about it, I'm sure she's fine," Shikamaru assured. Her wedding was in three days, so Shikamaru knew that she needed to worry more about that. Hinata wasn't buying it and frowned, "Shikamaru," she said, "I'm going to worry about her. She'll be my daughter soon enough," she said. "Naruto and I weren't going to tell her until the ceremony, but I'm adopting Ai as my daughter. I know the circumstances of her existence, Naruto told me, but she's a wonderful child, and I would be more than grateful to have her as my kid. She's Naruto's family, and therefore she's my family," she said firmly. "So if there is a problem with my daughter, I expect to be told about it."

Shikamaru could sense a scary aroma emitting from Hinata, and it was the same sense that he got from his mother when she didn't want to be messed with. He sighed, "I'm looking for her, around the village. If I find her, I'll let you know."

"And if you don't?" Hinata asked.

Shikamaru was quiet, but Hinata seemed to have gotten the message. She turned and headed inside, and Shikamaru left the area to continue his search.

Hinata wasn't going to stay put. She went to her room and changed into her shinobi gear. This was her daughter, and she would find her at any costs, but first, she would find Naruto and tell her. She knew where he was…