The Deeper Me
A/N: Hope you enjoy!!
And, I just noticed that I didn't explain about what hair colour Tsubaki has… -.-' Well, anyways, she has hair like Orihime Inoue from Bleach except hers reaches up to her knees and is a mixture of orange and brown. And instead of the Hibiscus flower pins, she wears pins that have – instead of the Hibiscus flowers – a pastel pink lotus flower in bloom.
I like Sasuke cute…:3 GO SASUKE – CUTE SASUKE!! XD HAHAHA! Sasuke has a new nickname now!
He he he he… Never thought I'd have to do research on purses… : P
Naruto Characters © Masashi Kishimoto | OC's in this Story © me (unless said otherwise).
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in ANY WAY nor form.
Chapter Four: Sasuke
Tsubaki awoke the next morning at about six in the morning. She long used to living in her house by herself, but at the same time, she felt lonely. Her being along in this house means what happened that day wasn't just a dream or a vision – nothing of the sort – but reality.
Sighing slightly, she went into the bathroom to prepare for the day – brushing her teeth, brushing her hair, etc, etc… She wore the clothes that she wore yesterday to her first day at the academy and she curled her long hair
She decided to brush up on some family knowledge, heading towards her family library after she was done.
The library was a large room, with about a hundred scrolls and over a thousand books upon shelves. There were six rows of shelves of which were where the scrolls and books were placed upon. She walked through the first shelf and on the third row of the shelf; she picked out a book that had the title 'Namikaze Jutsu' for her to start reading.
Let's see… She thought, flipping through the pages. Hmm… I've mastered the first 35 Jutsus, I think...
Tsubaki repeated this process, soaking up the knowledge within the books, until her alarm clock rang.
Thank goodness I set the alarm clock… I might've been here until the day after tomorrow! She mentally sighed. Putting all the books back to the rightful locations, she took a small, rectangular, cobalt-blue messenger bag that had golden stars embroidered on it. Within her purse was a portion of her money (please note that she actually does have a part time job every once in a while and that she transforms into herself of what she thinks she will be in ten or so years time, thank you for taking the note). Slipping on her shoes, she walked out the door, making sure it was locked and that the key was in her safety, and walked towards the Uchiha district.
| The Deeper Me |
Tsubaki waited calmly for Itachi and for his little brother. I wonder what does he looks like. She thought. Her right index finger tapped her chin lightly in an 'I'm thinking' type of expression. Hmm… Maybe like a mini-Itachi without long hair? She stifled a giggle. She was too absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice a little figure running to her. The figure clinged onto her leg tightly. Tsubaki looked down to see a mini version of Itachi – without the ponytail, of course – with his face buried in her leg.
"Are you alright?" She asked, pushing the little back a little so that she could face him near his eye level. He didn't answer; instead he buried his face within her right shoulder.
"…kind…person…" He murmured – his was voice cute, very cute, SO CUTE THAT Tsubaki nearly squealed – were it not for the fact that she wasn't the fan-girl type.
Tsubaki let the mini-Itachi sit comfortably around her hip. She stood up, waiting for Itachi. And, as if told to, Itachi appeared to her right. He was panting slightly. "Sorry… I just…Sasuke-chan…"
"I think he's here." She said, looking down at the two year old clinging onto her. The little boy looked up at her.
"You like…mother…"He murmured.
"Why, thank you." She said, ruffling his hair in a motherly way. "You're so cute… But you'll grow and become a strong, I know it… Sasuke-chan…" Sasuke rested his head on her right shoulder once more.
Itachi walked up to the two, smiling. He wrapped his arms around Tsubaki and Sasuke, leading Tsubaki to walk out of the Uchiha district.
"Sasuke-chan," Tsubaki cooed. "Would you like some ice-cream?" The little boy nodded.
"Then ice-cream you get." Itachi said.
"My treat." Tsubaki chirped.
"Yay!" Sasuke cheered.
With that, the three set off to the ice-cream stand. As they walked, they caught quite a number of attentions between both civilians and ninjas alike. Eiki Nara, Yacho Yaminaka, Ageha Akimichi, Aki Urohiya and Kouka Inuzuka were – coincidently – around the same area at that time too. Yacho and Kouka were meeting together at a dango shop; Eiki and Ageha were eating at a Yakiniku shop while Aki was doing the grocery shopping for his parents.
The five students were awed at what they saw, not that all of them showed it outwardly, and decided to stalk Tsubaki, Itachi and the mini-Itachi.
| With Yacho and Kouka… |
"Wait, are they…are they on a date?!" Kouka exclaimed. She knew they got off to a good start but this was a startling revelation. Yacho couldn't agree more. They turned to each other.
"Stalk 'em?" Yacho asked, rhetorically.
"Of course." Kouka smiled, mischievously.
| With Eiki and Ageha… |
"What the hell…" Eiki muttered.
"My sentiments exactly." Ageha replied.
"Should we—"
"After we eat."
"OK!"
| With Aki… |
"Hmm…" He whispered. "Interesting," He smiled a bit more mischievously than his usual smile. "I'm going to follow…"
"Umm…. Sir, your shopping is…" The ochre coloured, long haired counter-lady sighed.
"Oh, right…" He said, absentmindedly, turning towards the counter-lady.
"That will be 10 000 yen."
"OK." He said, getting out the money needed. The counter-lady took the money and gave him his receipt and change.
"Thank you, come again."
"We'll see…" He answered, taking his grocery and following Itachi, Tsubaki and mini-Itachi stealthily.
| Back with Tsubaki, Itachi and the dubbed 'mini-Itachi'… |
"Welcome, how may I help you?" Asked one of the staff asked Tsubaki. He had short, wavy aquamarine-coloured hair with Falu-red streaks. He was wearing a white apron with the words 'Ice-Cream Parlour' on the front with multicoloured writing.
"Umm…" Tsubaki started, looking down at Sasuke. "What flavour would you like, Sasuke?"
"…ummm…chocolate…" He mumbled, shyly.
"One kiddies chocolate ice-cream scoop in a cone, one small strawberry flavoured shaved ice with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top and…" Tsubaki said, looking at Itachi.
"One small chocolate milkshake with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sprinkles." Itachi said, placing his order.
"…coming right up!"
Itachi, Tsubaki and Sasuke waited patiently for their orders. Tsubaki heard a rustling in the bush, a little rustle in a tree and another rustling, but where, she couldn't tell. She sighed slightly, Geez, they're starting to get the hang of it, but it's so easy to detect them, especially with their chakra signatures.
As Tsubaki was thinking of ways to make them, ahem, 'lose them', the food was ready.
"Alright, here's the kiddies ice cream cone," he said, handing it to Itachi, who in turn, handed it to Sasuke. "Here's the shaved ice," He handed it to Tsubaki.
"Thank you." She said, smiling as she took a plastic spoon.
"And here's the milkshake." He handed it to Itachi. "Alright, all in all, that should be one thousand yen."
Tsubaki paid for their food.
"Thank you, and please do come again! Oh, and here's a card, buy another 7 things and you get a free ice cream cone!"
"Thank you very much." Itachi said, taking the card, before he turned and led Tsubaki and Sasuke out. He felt similar chakra signatures a while ago and he had expected Tsubaki had, too, so he let it seem he didn't notice them.
Tsubaki took a bite out of her shaved ice, while Sasuke was licking his ice cream. "Where to now, Sasuke-chan?" She asked blissfully as she took another bite of the shaved ice and some of the chocolate on top.
"The park, the park!" Sasuke cheered, happily.
"The park it is!" Tsubaki cheered. "Let's go the fast way!"
"Sure." Itachi sighed a bit, Tsubaki could be so childish, but then again, he found it cute, but childish, nonetheless. In a flash, the three were at the park, with five people groaning as they lost the chance to get some blackmail on Itachi…
| With Aki… |
"Wait a minute, what if they did that to lose us?" He asked himself, eyeing his fellow classmates. "But then, that means they know that we followed them… the last time someone followed Itachi the—" Aki paled. "They… OH CRAP! I'LL BE DEAD MEAT!" He exclaimed, but not loud enough for the others to hear. He looked at the other four with sympathy.
Well, survival of the fittest, see you people later. I may be the 'Gentleman' but that doesn't mean I want to dead. Good bye, I wish you four people the best of luck! He thought, running away.
| Back With Tsubaki, Itachi and mini-Itachi… |
The three had arrived at the park in a flash. Sasuke had finished his ice-cream quickly before going off to play on the play equipment, while Tsubaki and Itachi sat on the green bench within the park. Tsubaki blissfully ate more of her shaved ice. Itachi was watching with a close eye as to what Sasuke was doing and he was abruptly turned into 'mother-hen' mode. Tsubaki would've sweat-dropped, were it not for the fact she was busy with her shaved ice.
Tsubaki suddenly felt a strange – yet familiar – chakra signature. "Itachi…" She said, grabbing Itachi's attention, looking to her left – at one of those tunnels that kids so liked to play in and hide in. "I'll be right back…"
"Alright, be quick."
"Yep…" She set her shaved ice on the bench.
This chakra signature… it's so much like father's and yet… it's strange it has the Kyuubi's chakra too… what's going on? She sighed, walking over to the tunnel. She peered into the tunnel only to see a little, two year old, blonde-haired boy sobbing with his head buried within his knees. Tsubaki headed off to her own mother hen mode.
"Are you alright?" She cooed softly, her eyes worried for the boy. The boy looked up and the first thing Tsubaki noticed was his whisker like marks. Tsubaki reached out her arm to sooth him and she noticed that he flinched. She pulled the boy into a warm embrace. "It's alright… Don't cry anymore… It's alright; I'm here now… please don't cry anymore…" The little boy started to sniff.
Tsubaki pulled back from the embrace, her hands on his shoulders. She smiled at him. He looks so much like father… He could be… but then why… I'll have to deal with this later… She mentally made a note to do a blood test later.
"What's your name?" She asked, gently.
"Na…Naruto Uzumaki…" He sobbed.
"Well then, Naruto, I have a little friend that I'm sure that would be more than happy to play with you." Yes, this only proves how much more I have to have a blood test…Uzumaki was mum's name…
"I can't…" He sobbed. "I can't because I'm a demon…"
"Nonsense!" Tsubaki exclaimed. "Someone like you can't be a demon. I believe that, and you should too. Don't worry about what they say about you. As long as you are you then it doesn't matter, now does it?"
The little boy smiled brilliantly. "No…you're right, onee-chan." She smiled at him.
"That's the spirit!" She cheered. "Now, come on, let's go, OK?"
He stiffened a bit. "But the people… hate me."
"Don't worry! I'm a ninja in training; they'll have to think twice before staring at you funny!" She winked. "Trust me! I never go back on my word! That's my nindo, my ninja way, after all." He smiled freely.
"All right then, onee-chan!" He skipped out of the tunnel, holding onto Tsubaki's hand tightly.
"Oh, right, I'm Tsubaki Namikaze," She said, introducing herself. As they were closer, she introduced him to Itachi. "And he's Itachi Uchiha…" She said, gesturing her hand towards Itachi. She turned to see a curious Sasuke face her and Naruto. "And that's Sasuke Uchiha." She said, kneeling so that she was eye level to him. She gestured for Sasuke to come closer.
"Sasuke, this is Naruto Uzumaki. Can you play with him? I found him all alone and I know for a fact that it's much more fun to play with someone else than by yourself, right?" She smiled.
Sasuke nodded shyly, holding out a hand to Naruto. Naruto looked at Tsubaki, a bit unsure to take the hand or not. She nodded to assure him that Sasuke just wanted to play with him – not hurt him. Naruto slowly took Sasuke's hand and they both ran, laughing, as they played on the swings together.
Tsubaki smiled. "They're so cute…" She stood up and picked up her shaved ice, taking a bite of her shaved ice. "And this is bliss…"
Itachi sat next to her. "You really care a lot about children, huh?" He asked, teasing her.
She chuckled. "You say that, yet you're still a child too."
"Yeah yeah…"
The two watched as Naruto and Sasuke played without a care in the world.
| Five Hours Later… |
"…I feel like a mother watching her children play…" Tsubaki said, breaking the silence.
"…I feel like a father watching his children play…" Itachi said, at the exact same time.
"We both feel like parents… (Sigh) We're too young for this…"
The both laughed.
| One Hour Later… |
The sun was beginning to set. The celestial sphere was a swirl of carnation pink clouds, Maya blue and amber sky. Tsubaki stood up, calling out, "Sasuke-chan! Naruto-chan! It's time to go now!" The two, reluctantly, made their way towards Tsubaki, Naruto looked very depressed. She sighed. We walked towards Naruto.
"Naruto, do you have anywhere to stay for tonight?" She asked, kindly. He shook his head. "Do you want to stay with me then? I don't actually have any parents since two years ago, so having some company would be nice."
"Thank…you…" Naruto whispered, shyly, smiling.
Sasuke huffed; he was being left out, and pouted. "Naruto… Let's play together again another day!" He exclaimed, begging with puppy eyes towards Tsubaki, Naruto and Itachi.
"…alright…" They all said, in unison, accompanied by sweat drops.
"Yay!" He cheered, childishly as… well, considering he was a two year old, very childishly.
With that, the four set of to the Uchiha district. They reached their destination in several minutes, Sasuke and Itachi entered together, while Tsubaki and Naruto waved good bye.
"Bye bye nee-chan!" Sasuke said, cutely. "Bye, bye!"
"Bye bye, Sasuke-chan." Tsubaki said, waving to both Sasuke and Itachi, the former and latter waved.
"See you, Sasuke!" Naruto said, waving.
"Un!"
The two waved good bye until Itachi and Sasuke were out of sight. Tsubaki turned to Naruto.
"Naruto, you said before that you didn't have a place to stay, right?" She received a nod. "Then, you can stay with me as long as you like, I don't really like living in my current resident alone after all, it's too quiet." Naruto nodded, smiling. Tsubaki held onto Naruto's hand, walking towards the Namikaze compound.
Tsubaki-nee-chan is really nice… I feel so warm around her, I wonder, why is that?
| To Be Continued |
A/N: Hello people!
PLEASE
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Okies, this is the second longest chapter I've ever written. I might right some more in this chapter later, but I'm not promising.
Next Time…
Christmas Special: My Christmas
Several one-shot stories starring my OC's, Naruto, Sasuke, Tsubaki and Itachi.
Chapter should be out on Christmas Day or Boxing Day!
Please wait until then!