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Chapter 23 - Family Matters

"It's good to have you back," Genma said as he and Amaya walked through Konoha.

"I was only gone five days. You can't be that clingy," she teased as he snatched at her hand, catching it only because she wanted him to.

"I think I can. Every time you leave is an opportunity for you to decide to stay gone."

The auburn-haired shinobi stopped. "Why do all the men in my life think I'm some scared rabbit going to bolt at the slightest breeze?" Hurt coated her words, though she hadn't known it existed until she heard the pain in her own voice.

Genma heard it too. "I didn't mean…. I just don't want to lose you again. That's all. I'm sorry."

She shook her head, kissing him. "You don't have anything to apologize for. I'm the one that didn't realize it bothered me."

The Tokujo smiled and the couple continued walking. "Well, then I'll say nothing more about it. By the way, there was something I wanted to ask you. How do you feel about dates?"

"What about them? They don't bother me, if that's what you're worried about."

"No. 'Date' just sounds so...formal. Uptight, I guess. Am I making sense?"

"Not really, but I think I get it anyway. So what do you propose we do instead?"

"Just...hang out?"

The playful words on Amaya's lips died as she caught a glimpse of orange and a defeated expression. Returning her attention to the brown-haired nin, she kissed him before taking her hand from his. "How about we hang out at that sushi place I love tonight around 8? I haven't been there since I rejoined the village."

"Sure. I'll see you then."

As Genma walked away, she caught up with Naruto. The Genin's hands were shoved in his pockets and he bit his lip to control himself. The auburn-haired Jonin laid a hand on his shoulder. "Naruto, you okay? I heard you and Sasuke made it to the finals. I thought you'd be celebrating at Ichiraku's."

"Not hungry," he mumbled.

"What's wrong? Maybe I can help?"

"...Can I stay with you tonight?" He glanced at her when he realized his presumptuousness. "If you have the room, that is."

"Sure. I've got room. Come by around 10." She tried to keep her building worry from her voice, but Naruto gave no indication he'd noticed as he thanked her and walked away, shoulders still slumped. Amaya hoped he'd be okay until then.


"You should've seen him, Genma. He was so upset." Amaya rested her head in his hand while they waited for their sushi.

"Should we ask for the food to go? You could invite him over earlier."

The auburn-haired Jonin glanced up at him. The Tokujo looked as worried as she felt. "You were one of his guards when he was a baby, weren't you?"

"Yeah, when he was first born and lived with the Hokage. I'd watch him when the Sandaime would bring him to his office." He took his senbon from him mouth and rolled the weapon between his fingers. "I used to think he'd never stop crying. But I'd touch him, even the slightest touch worked, and he'd quiet down."

"Would you really be okay with just leaving? I mean we still have over an hour before I'm supposed to be home."

The brown-haired man laid a hand on Amaya's. "Go on. I'll stay and eat and you can pick up some ramen for the both of you. He'd like that."

"He'd love it. Thanks for understanding, Genma." She smiled at him, squeezing his hand between both of hers.

"Anything for you, my dear. And anything for him."


Halfway home, a bowl of ramen in each hand, Amaya realized it would be fun getting into her apartment. Luckily, and to her increased worry, Naruto sat with his back against her door. "Hey, Naruto, want to grab my key from my front pocket? My hands are a bit full."

The smell of ramen wiped the deep frown from his face. "You got Ichiraku's!"

"Only the best," she said, a smile quirking up one side of her mouth.

Naruto took the bowls from her instead, so Amaya could open the door herself. Their subsequent meal was quiet except for Naruto's enthusiastic slurping. The pair settled onto one of Amaya's couches, cups of tea in hand, after they'd finished their meal. Amaya waited for him to speak first, but when she realized he wouldn't, she spoke up. "So what's up?"

Naruto took his time gathering his thoughts and they slid into another prolonged silence until he broke it. "Am I stupid? I know I can't compete with Sasuke, but does Kakashi-sensei think I'm too stupid to bother with? Does he even like me?"

"Of course Kakashi likes you. He cares about all three of you. He's just never been good at showing it. But why would you think he thinks you're not worth bothering with?"

Naruto stared down at his empty cup. "After the semi-finals, I asked Kakashi-sensei if he'd train me and he refused. Said he couldn't because he had to train Sasuke. Sometimes I think he favors Sasuke just because they both have the Sharingan. I mean, I can understand needing to train him. Who else is Sasuke going to learn about that from? But I don't think that's why Sensei won't train me. He gets this look in his eye sometimes…. And it reminds me of how everyone in the village looks at me. Like I'm some kind of monster."

"Naruto..." Amaya stopped, unsure of herself, unsure of how much she could say. She set down her cup, took the Genin's, and pulled him into a hug. The tears he'd been holding back flooded down his face and he hugged her back fiercely.

"What if the Fox is all anyone will ever see?" The young shinobi said through his sobs. He clung to Amaya as if she were a life-line. And in a way, she was. He never talked about the Fox, not with anyone, for fear it might remind them of the hate so many people had for the tailed beast and subsequently him. If he talked about the thing inside him with a friend, that hatred might spread to them too. But he couldn't do this alone anymore.

"Naruto, look at me." When the blond complied, Amaya continued. "I won't lie. There will be people who'll never see anything but the Kyuubi when they see you. That's their loss because they'll never know what a wonderful young man you are. I promise you, though, Kakashi isn't one of those people. The Fox killed someone very special to him and sometimes even the best of people fall back into old memories and old hates. But there are also people who see you for you and admire your hard work, your dedication, your love of life. Kakashi's one of those people. So is Iruka and Haku and the Third. So am I."

"But Sasuke and Sakura…. All I wanted was for Team 7 to be a family. What does it matter what everyone else thinks if your family doesn't like you?"

"Sometimes families don't get along. They bicker, squabble, get annoyed with each other. But they still care about each other."

"I guess…." Naruto wiped his eyes and pulled away, embarrassed by the tear stains on Amaya's shirt. "Thanks, Amaya-sensei."

She hugged him again. "Anytime. Why don't we get you off to bed? I've got some things to do if I'm going to find you a trainer tomorrow and you need some sleep."

"Really?" The grin on Naruto's face was infectious and she couldn't help but smile back, despite what she was about to do.

"Yep. I know exactly who to ask. If I can find him. But while I look into that I've got someone in mind to train you for the time being."

After an enthusiastic hug from the Genin that knocked her to the ground, Amaya sent him off to sleep in her old room. He fell asleep quickly, exhausted but happy. The auburn-haired Jonin left shortly after, knowing it would take her all night to gather the intel she needed. Then tomorrow she'd introduce Naruto to his interim trainer, find the man she really wanted to train Minato's son, and if there was any time left, kick Kakashi's ass to Suna and back.