KONOHA'S HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS

"Rise and shine!"

"Argh go away"

"Come on Naruto, it's breakfast time" The ugly green curtains separated to show the sunny chipper view of the city. Naruto squinted at the offending sunlight, propped on one elbow, face irked. Shizune was standing with her arms spread and a smile plastered across her face, arms extended and trying way too hard.

That was, until a bird flew right into the window with a sickening thud and slid slowly down. She gasped (oh my!) and Naruto groaned, plopped back down and covered his face with the sheets.

"Tsunade ordered a special breakfast for you" she enticed in a sing-song voice. She watched blue eyes slowly suspiciously peer at her over the sheet.

"...what-what is it?"

"I don't know you'll have to check for yourself"

He stared at her for a little while longer.

She scoffed, and people thought she wasn't cut out to work with children.

OoOoO

"What this isn't even real food!"

"Of course it is Naruto"

"You lied I thought this was ramen"

"I didn't lie I said it was a surprise and I never said ramen"

"This is throw up lady!"

"It's oatmeal. Plenty of people eat it"

"How could people eat thrown up everyday!"

"Naruto quiet down, if you don't want it you can have this muffin"

A slight frown crossed his face but regardless he took a big bite. His face contorted like he had bitten into a lemon and he started to spit it out.

"Pleh...Pft...bleh...eck..."

"-Naruto! Here use a napkin don't spit it out on the table!"

"-gross what is this!"

"It's a cranberry banana muffin"

"Ugh that sounds just as bad as it tastes!"

Shizune sighed.

OoOoO

A soft sound reached Sakura's ears and she was shocked when she saw Shion trying to stifle a smile. Green eyes followed her line of vision to the blond boy, Naruto.

Sakura herself had been slightly distracted by Sasuke. Karin was still latched onto his side and they were eating with other kids that weren't in gowns. Sasuke seemed to have privileges in the hospital. Occasionally Karin would give her glances but look away just as quick, Sakura's cheeks would burn just as quick. She kept sneaking peeks hoping he would at least look at her, at least notice her even if it was coincidental but nope, just my luck she moped.

Naruto was causing somewhat of an episode and all the staff were frowning at him. She didn't see the big deal, Shizune had told her the same exact thing and nothing she had tried was as bad as Naruto claimed.

The thought itself tugged at her brain.

Sakura was leaving today, in a couple of hours to be exact and Tsunade was giving her a 'special breakfast' too. Does that mean he's leaving too? Are we going to the same place? We did come from the same place...Or does Tsunade just like Naruto a lot...but why would she he's rude and loud and doesn't seem to cause her anything but trouble. Sakura mulled over these thoughts gently turning them over in her palms.

The sound of the bell ringing brought her out of her mind.

When she snapped out of it disappointment sunk in her chest when she realized Sasuke was gone.

OoOoO

Sakura had already said goodbye to Shion and the orderlies when the police officer knocked on the door and stuck only his head in.

"Uh...it's time to go. Get dressed."

Sakura had no belongings with her besides the clothes she came with so she noticed that someone had washed them. They were warm and smelled like the cheesy soap names on the TV like Warm Summers Flower Garden or Your Mother's Clean Linen Closet. She almost rolled her eyes at herself and wrapped her jacket closer to herself.

The officer was blond and had blue eyes but he looked nothing like Naruto. The colors of the police officer were much more washed out, everything about him light and icy from his eyes to his hair.

"Officer Yamanaka, Inochi" he said with a warm smile and Sakura nodded.

"What are we doing?"

"We're waiting for someone else before we get going"

The lightbulb went off in her head at the same time she heard someone coming down the hall. She could tell it was them. Sakura was surprised to see Kakashi. He gave her a lazy hand which she assumed was supposed to be some type of a wave. Naruto stopped further away from Sakura then Kakashi did and he eyed her curiously but didn't say anything.

"Is she coming too?"

The way he said it made Sakura want to turn hostile but the distinctive click clacks of fast moving heels that could only be Tsunade caught their attention. She greeted them with a crooked smile.

"Hello Doctor" Kakashi said

"Tsunade"

"So we meet again,...here to take these two away I assume"

"Yes we are"

"I hear this one's been a handful" Kakashi said and Naruto huffed

"More than a handful than a single patient should be, (hey!)but I digress"

"I'd like to think I made things interesting around here"

"Interesting is not the word I would say...Well, I just came to drop some things off" she said and out of seemingly nowhere Tsunade produced a hat, it was a burnt orange shade and she roughly pushed it over Naruto's head. He blinked, surprised when she tossed him a pair of mittens that he barely caught. Sakura was too busy watching Naruto's dumbfounded reaction to see Tsunade's hands until her red hat ruffled her hair and was pushed over her eyes. Her mittens were pushed back into her face and Tsunade winked at her.

"Alright, you two are all set now, try not to cause too much of a riot."

Shizune smiled over her shoulder and chirped "you guys are welcomed back at any time"

Tsunade frowned and shooed her away adamantly.

"Hey don't give them any ideas my office and schedule are enough of a mess"

Inochi laughed and Kakashi tsked good naturedly and they all settled back into a calm silence...that was until it got awkward.

"Well, I've got to get back to work. Tell the old geezer I say hello"

"Will do Doctor" Kakashi saluted but no one made a move to leave just yet until Inochi cleared his throat, turning and leading them down the hall.

"Well goodbye" she said very self aware.

Sakura waved a quick goodbye and Naruto stuck out his tongue but Tsunade didn't seem as eager to joke back, instead she watched them walk down the hall with a reserved look on her face. She looked much older.

Sakura didn't hear the distant click clacks of her shoes trail off until they were almost to the elevators. It wasn't until the doors were shutting on the hospital that she realized she still hadn't seen Sasuke at all.

OoOoO

It was liberating to feel the warmth of the sun soothe the cold whip of the wind on her face. A lot had happened over the past couple of days but she felt like a different person, Sakura 2.0 and she found herself taking in lungfuls of fresh air trying not to burst into a ginormous grin like some kind of idiot.

She wasn't sure but somewhere between goodbye and the car Naruto's mood had shifted. There was a stormcloud brewing over his head he was trying to hide.

Sakura looked out the window at the passing city rather than the way the his weary eyes would shift towards her occasionally. She wasn't very interested in talking to him but she could almost feel him opening his mouth but shutting it again, words on the tip of his loud mouth, stuttering like a beached fish.

So, she turned to him.

"What?" She snapped and he looked slightly taken aback, blushing fiercely like he'd been caught stealing.

"Do I know you?" He said and she eyed him.

"No, I don't think so"

She caught Kakashi's eyes in the mirror and looked back out the window.

Naruto covered up the embarrassment with indignance and leaned into the partition.

"Where exactly are we going?" he groaned

"I thought you already knew" Kakashi said

"Yea I know where, but where"

"Ah, much clearer"

"You know-"

"We're taking you guys to the Konoha Home for Little Wanderers"

"You're joking" slipped out, it sounds like a prison for slow children and Kakashi's eyes turned into satisfied little happy half moons and Naruto startled at her intrusion.

"...yea that sounds dumb and made up" he added.

"It is very real, I assure you" Inochi said and Naruto slunk back into his seat.

"Both of us?"

"Yes" he hummed, "it's mixed but they'll separate you. The facility is huge and in the more quiet part of the city."

"How far?" She found herself asking

"It's farther than any of you have been but it's still within travel distance to downtown if you're wondering"

Travel distance, he means a good half hour. She didn't particularly like this but it seemed as if Naruto didn't either. They must've sensed their irritation because Kakashi turned on the radio and they spent the ride in silence, eventually both of them humming in tune, together. It seemed like they did it frequently.

It's was slightly distressing to realize that the streets weren't as dense with people and buildings the further they went.

OoOoO

"Alright aaaand we're here" Inochi said pulling over on a sidewalk. Sakura was surprised to find that the building looked like an old library and it was plopped on the side of a busy street with other apartment complexes on their sides of the streets. Wow, an upgrade. Naruto's face was plastered against the glass and his eyebrows were raised as if saying eh, okay.

They were let out of the car and even though the street was quiet it seemed lively. A man zoomed past them on his bike, throwing newspapers at buildings, people and joggers were occupying the streets on either sides. Naruto and Sakura were both too busy looking around to realize that Inochi had cleared his throat, and that he was holding two suitcases.

"What's in that" Naruto asked

"Your stuff" Kakashi said

"Our stuff?" He parroted.

"We managed to get some officers to get some of your belongings from the apartment before you were discharged"

Naruto looked like he didn't like the idea and Inochi quirked his head towards the building. A heavy hand settled on both their shoulders, Kakashi sighed looking up at to the building.

"Come on children, welcome to Konohas-"...

"-Home for Little Wanderers. My name is Kurenai and I'm the director. You must be Sakura and Naruto. I've heard a lot about you."

The group was standing in the middle of the entrance area, Kurenai froze for a second when she was given undecipherable looks from both Naruto and Sakura at the same time.

"Ah-uh well,...lets take a look shall we?"Kurenai walked besides them with Kakashi and Inochi trailing behind.

"So the setup here is pretty simple, the place is much larger inside than it looks from the outside. The boys section is the west wing, girls in the east wing with bathrooms at the end of each wing. Within the wings you will be separated by age. You will have at least one roommate, no way around it. The dining hall and the library study area is on the first floor as well as extra bathrooms. Since both of you are the same age you will be sent to the same school, the closest being Konoha High, which is actually a very nice school. There's really no rules here besides no fighting, follow curfew which is 10pm don't forget to check in with at least someone, pick up after yourself and no drugs, drinking etc...and usually if we have someone who is coming to adopt there is a standard procedure we have to follow but we will cross that bridge once we come to it. And of course, be respectful."

Kurenai was speaking too fast, her heels clicking like she was marking off her checklist in an otherwise empty space but she seemed gentle and kind. She clasped her hands together with a smile when they made a full circle back to the foyer.

"So,...any questions?"

Naruto still looked confused and Sakura merely blinked.

"Where is everybody?" He murmured looking around as if he hadn't just been taken on the tour.

"School, of course."

There was a moment of silence then Inochi turned to Kakashi.

"Is there anything else?"

"No, at this point we'll just have to get them situated" then, Kurenai extended her hand out for the suitcases. It took Kakashi a moment longer than it did Inochi to realize what she was reaching for.

"Oh, well, looks like our job is done here."

Kurenai gave them a polite smile and thanked them before waiting for Naruto and Sakura.

"So you're leaving?" Naruto said, unimpressed and somewhat irritated.

"Yes, we should head back to the station." Inochi said and gave them a big smile. Naruto looked towards Kakashi.

"Well, this has been fun. Take care." Kakashi lightly put his hands on their heads even though Naruto swatted it away. He fist bumped Naruto and gave Sakura a smile before turning to leave. Right as he reached the door he turned and looked like he was going to say something but instead settled for a quick "behave" before leaving. They found themselves staring at the wooden door and she could see the colors of the car peeling away from the sidewalk. It took Sakura a second to realize that Kurenai was walking away, so she followed suit not caring if Naruto followed, she frowned, thinking I should've said something...

OoOoO

When Naruto finally popped open the suitcase there was more clothes than he expected and definitely some new ones, while the gesture was nice it was not appreciated. I don't need anyone's pity. His mood instantly soured looking at the articles before dropping them back into the suitcase uninterestedly. The room was as basic as basic could be. The window was the most interesting part, taking up almost the entire height of the wall, two sets of bunk beds tucked away into the corners of the room.

The other side of the room was definitely occupied with posters and little knick knacks and a more comfortable looking bed. Well he's at school right now, isn't he? I bet he won't mind. With smug expression Naruto began opening drawers and began searching through clothes, underwear, socks and what he assumed was a diary which he dropped back in. Not tryin to make an enemy. His wandering hands found themselves in his roommate's end table as well as looking through his stacks of books and messing with his bobble heads. His mind noted the lighter, pack of cigarettes, and bottle of alcohol, besides that nothing caught his interest and eventually he plopped back into his bed. The clock read 1:24 p.m.

In his restlessness Naruto shoved everything in the suitcase into the drawers and left it overflowing when it wouldn't close.

A soft knock disrupted his forced pushing of the drawer and Kurenai stepped in with that small smile of hers.

"I just wanted to let you know that your roommate will be getting here soon his name is Yagura...if there's anything you need I'm on the first floor. Tomorrow you're starting your first day so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask either of us, dinner is at 6:30."

Naruto stared at her giving her own small smile back and she quickly backed out of the room.

Naruto rolled onto the bed, testing it out for any lumps and bumps and was satisfied with what he found. He crossed his arms under his head and stared at the ceiling, biting his cheek. Alright so I don't know anyone here besides that Sakura girl, and she's kinda a bitch, that Kurenai lady seems nice though. Maybe I'll visit the hag, she'd be happy to see me...maybe with an airhorn under her chair hehe. Alright, so this could be worse, I'll just leave if I need to it can't be that hard, you've done it before.

For some reason Naruto kept thinking about the Sakura girl and something about her was familiar. He just couldn't put his finger on it. How does she know Kakashi so well? Why is he so friendly with her anyway he thought somewhat petulantly. The thought was a bigger thorn in his side than he would have liked to admit, no way in hell was he jealous though.

OoOoO

"Uhhh...and you are?"

Purple eyes stared in apprehension at the boy sitting on the bunk bed on the empty side of the room. The shadow cast over his face made it hard to see him.

"Naruto"

"You say that as if I'm supposed to know who that is"

"...new roommate?" Naruto gave the boy a questioning look. They had a silent standoff before his backpack slid off his shoulder and onto the bed.

"Oh yea,...Kurenai said something about that"

Naruto grunted and as silence passed Yagura began to become uncomfortable.

"So where you from?"

"Suna"

"Oh..."

"You?"

"Konoha born and raised"

Naruto watched him dig around his bag, face scrunched in concentration. Yagura had long mousey brown hair and big purple eyes. The first thing that Naruto had noticed though was the big scar going straight down the length of his cheek. Still feeling resentful and agitated Naruto watched Yagura, knowing he made him uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Yagura looked like he was going to open his mouth to say something but Naruto turned around chosing to doze off.

OoOoO

Naruto jolted out of his nap by a chiming bell. Soft rustling came from across the room and Yagura murmured not looking up from his books "it's dinner time."

Naruto did not want to be the clingy new kid and resisted getting comfortable straight away with strangers and the place itself out of sheer stubborn principle so he found himself standing in front of the dining room unsure where to sit. He internally groaned, feeling heat slap his cheeks until a hand tugged his sleeve and Yagura threw him a look over his passing shoulder.

"Relax, you might as well have 'new kid' stamped across your forehead in big letters."

It was a miracle what a nap did for his mood, so he chose to play along.

"That obvious?"

Yagura winced teasingly. "No one cares though, this place is a revolving door of delinquents and degenerates."

"Yea I've noticed there's a lot kids...never seen any of them before. Which category would you fall into?"

"Ha neither, I'm just trying to wait it out until I can get out, not trying to get into trouble anymore. Most of them stay out as long as they can until curfew so I don't even know them.."

"Anymore?" Naruto smirked, shoving rice in his mouth, mischievous gleam in his eye. Yagura was humored and shrugged.

"Used to be both"

Naruto chuckled through his nose and his eyes scanned the room, looking at all the new faces. It wasn't until he had missed what Yagura said that he realized he had been passively searching for that Sakura girl.

Naruto looked at him alarmed and wide eyed.

"I asked what did Kurenai say to you?"

"Tomorrow I start school. Konoha High."

His purple eyes lit up. "Me too. If you want I could show you around."

He nodded, seceding, "alright, why though? You don't know me."

"Why? Don't want my help?"

"-no! Just curious that's all"

"Just messing with you, you seem alright. Bit down on your luck."

"How would you know that, huh"

"I just got the feeling, always trust my gut instinct, never failed me before."

Yagura patted his chest and nodded sagely before breaking into a grin making Naruto burst into a large lopsided grin. Maybe not so bad...for now.