The Slug and the Fox

by Cmartin-Panda Productions

She was an orphan from the very beginning, raised by Tsunade and Shizune. They traveled the world as nomads, seeking out money for odd jobs and away from the bloodshed and war of the Shinobi nations. But that all changes when they encounter Naruto Namikaze, the son of the 4th Hokage. Sakura soon realizes that she has more in common with this boy than she or her inner friend thought

2. Chapter 2

Author's Note from Panda: Well rock me Amadeus, 43 favorites, 46 follows, and 12 reviews; all in 10 days after publishing the first chapter. Either we have a loyal fanbase or we struck gold with this story. Here is hoping that the second chapter can meet all your expectations. Just leave a review telling us if we nailed it or what suggestions you would make to improve this story. And as always, enjoy.

---

The 5 of them, plus their prisoner set off early in the morning at a dead sprint. Time was of the essence to save the 4th Hokage's life and they couldn't afford to delay. For two days they ran with little rest to make it back to the Leaf before it was too late.

"There! There's the gates!" Naruto called out to the group. The gates to the Leaf village had appeared in the Horizon, which meant good news for them all. They were nearly there and Naruto's father would get the proper care he needed.

"Halt, who goes there!" A chunin working at gate security called out to them. A suspicious looking group headed towards the gate at high speeds.

"Move or be trampled! It's an emergency!" Jiraiya called out to them. "We have a doctor here to save Lord 4th!"

"A doctor for the Fourth? I still can't let you in without-" The chunin was cut off when his superior officer smacked him upside the head.

"What are you, blind? That's Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade of the Sannin. Let them the fuck in, numb-nuts!" The Jounin ordered.

"Y-yes sir!" The Chunin stammered before stepping aside to let the group bolt in, but not before tossing Kabuto at their feet.

"A gift your you! He's the traitor from the Chunin exams!" Jiraiya called out as they continued to run.

The two guards just looked down at the groaning one eyed man.

The group then sprinted their way to the hospital and the front desk, where a lifelong fan of Tsunade's greeted them at the front desk.

"Lord Hokage's room? Third floor, room 302, the one with all the ANBU." The girl quickly responded to Tsunade's questions.

"Good. Sakura, Shizune. With me. Naruto, you wait here with Jiraiya. We'll have your dad as good as new in no time." Tsunade instructed.

"I'm going in with you." Naruto stated firmly.

"No, stay here. we need no distractions and as much room as possible." Tsunade said firmly before the 3 medics took off down the hall.

Naruto punched a wall as Tsunade and her two assists sped off down the hall. There they came across four ANBU stationed outside a patient's room.

"Halt, who goes there?" The most senior ANBU asked.

"This is Lady Tsunade of the Sannin. She's-" Shizune instructed before being cut off by the ANBU.

"One second. Weasel, check her for henges and any other illusions." The senior ANBU ordered. The shorter dark haired man nodded and looked over Tsunade with his three tome Sharingan activated.

"She is who she says that she is." Weasel reported.

"Good. Hurry up! He's only got a day left."

"He's got a lot longer now that I'm here." Tsunade said.

The ANBU then opened the door to the room next to the one they were guarding.

"Why did you open this one?" Sakura asked.

"It's a diversion, Sakura." Tsunade responded.

Curious, Sakura took a peek inside and saw a few doctors standing over a blond-haired man lying in bed with machines hooked up to him. And a sad looking red haired woman sat in a chair right next to the sick man's head, reading a book.

"Oh..." Sakura replied as the 3 medics walked inside, Tsunade shoving the doctors out of her way.

"I beg your pardon? Who do you think that you are?" The head doctor exclaimed as he was shoved aside.

"Someone who knows what she's doing." Tsunade snapped before she started assessing her patient. There, the red head looked up at the sound of a familiar voice.

"Tsunade...? You're back!" The woman exclaimed in shock.

"Hello, Kushina. Yes, I'm back. Your son is back too. He's outside." Tsunade said as she got to work assessing her patient.

"Oh is he?" Kushina lit up like a flower that had been budding for months.

Sakura got a good look at the woman. She was beautiful, there was no other word for it. And the way she looked up in awe and hope, she reminded Sakura so much of Naruto.

Kushina then signaled to one of ANBU hidden behind Sakura in the corner. "Please fetch my son."

'And to think, Naruto called you prettier than her.' Saiken reminded her.

The woman remained seated as the ANBU stepped outside and found Naruto waiting behind the door.

"Mom!" Naruto called as he ran up to hug the woman for all she was worth.

"Are you okay sweetie? You're not hurt anywhere right?" Kushina asked as she held her son tightly.

"I'm fine mom. How's dad?"

"ARE YOU FLIPPING KIDDING ME?!" Tsunade barked. Making everyone else in the room who wasn't in a coma jump. "You halfwits couldn't treat THIS?! What kind of morons did I leave in charge?!"

"What what?!" Naruto asked.

"Nothing that you would understand, but the bottom line is, he'll make a full recovery." Tsunade replied.

"His Chakra network was almost completely blocked off from a seal and he has a paralytic toxin in his system." Shizune clarified.

"Really?" Kushina asked with teary eyes. She had been sleeping in his room and sitting by his bedside for over two months now. To hear that he would make a full recovery was such a relief.

"Yes, really. I'm completely appalled the medical staff here couldn't treat this. It's absolute child's play." Tsunade scoffed.

"I beg your pardon. We did everything we possibly could." The head doctor defended.

"Well then your best wasn't even close to good enough." Tsunade barked before beginning the process of removing the venom.

"Shizune. Work on getting rid of that seal. Sakura, help me remove the poison." Tsunade instructed.

"Yes, M'Lady." Sakura said as she helped Tsunade with the poison.

---

For what seemed like an hour, Sakura and Tsunade had finished removing the poison just as Shizune finished with removing the seal to Minato's chakra. It was at that moment that Tsunade sent a jolt through his body to get the 4th Hokage out of his coma where he began to stir awake.

"Honey?" Kushina asked quietly as she and Naruto leaned in close.

"Uuugh...Kushina...?" Minato groaned. He felt like he had the worst hangover ever.

"Dad!" Naruto cried as he pounced his father in a tight hug.

"Hey champ...how you doing?" Minato asked weakly.

"I'm good. Me and Pervy Sage brought Tsunade to wake you up." Naruto said.

"Tsunade...?" Minato asked as his half opened eyes focused in on the Sannin herself. "Well I'll be damned...it's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too. You've got yourself one heck of a son. You should be proud." Tsunade praised.

"More than I ever could be..." He smiled weakly as he patted Naruto on the back. Naruto blushed but was too relieved to see his father well again to be embarrassed.

"Lady Tsunade, I can't thank you enough for making our family whole again." Kushina bowed deeply from her seat next to the bed.

"Thank your son. He practically dragged me here." Tsunade smiled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some doctors to chew out."

"Please wait. When will we be able to take my husband home?" Kushina asked.

"We'll have to keep him here overnight for observation. Just as a precaution."

"Well then, we'll stay here the night." Kushina decided.

"No Kushina. You and Naruto go home for the night." Minato said.

"But dad, I wanna stay with you..." Naruto protested.

"No buts. I can tell by your smell you've been running for two days straight. And knowing your mother she spent all of my time in a coma sleeping at the hospital with me. You both need your rest." Minato said firmly.

Naruto and Kushina sighed, but nodded. Then Naruto had an idea.

"Can Sakura-chan come over?" Naruto asked, making both his parents raise their eyebrows.

"Who is Sakura-chan?" Kushina asked.

"That would be me." Sakura said as she raised her hand sheepishly.

Kushina and Minato eyed up Sakura very closely. For a moment, none of them said a word.

"Well I was just about to offer Lady Tsunade and her assistants the spare bedrooms in our home. Until they choose to leave of course." Minato said.

"Lady Tsunade, would you be interested in this offer?"

"Oh...I don't know..." Tsunade sighed.

"Please, Lady Tsunade." Sakura begged. "Please?" She clapped her hands together in prayer and got on her knees.

Tsunade saw that same look from Naruto. She couldn't really make these two separate after what they've been through. It would tear them apart.

So... she came up with an idea.

"I suppose we could for a few days." Tsunade said slyly.

"Only...a few days...?" Sakura asked sadly.

"Yup. Gotta find a place of our own you know." She smirked.

"Are you serious?!" Sakura's face lit up like a million-watt bulb. All her life she had traveled with Lady Tsunade and Shizune, and all her life she had secretly wished to have a stationary home to call her own. Some place to come back to. Now she was getting it.

"Yeah. I think 25 years is a long enough vacation. Settling down would be a nice change of pace. Plus, the quality of this hospital is abysmal. I'll be dead in the ground before this establishment sinks back down to the level of boonies free clinic." Tsunade stated.

"I bed your pardon?" The head doctor asked.

"You have my pardon. And my permission to leave for the day." Tsunade said.

"You can't just come in here and take over the place like you own it." The Head doctor barked.

"Actually, she can." Minato said seriously. "Had it not been for her showing up, I would have been dead if left in your care."

"My Lord. I assure you. We did everything in our power to save you. Perhaps an intern or a nurse made a mistake with one of the tests and it led to a false diagnosis."

"That sounds a lot like you pushing the blame on your subordinates. While as you are in charge. Their mistakes are your own, and I shall not have the Head Medic of my ninja village be a man that cannot accept blame or criticism." Minato stated. "Move your things out of your office. If you'd like a job tomorrow. You can speak with Lady Tsunade then."

"Oh, I won't need him if he isn't willing to learn how to do things properly." She then turned to the rest of the staff present. "That goes for the rest of you as well. I will not have a bunch of monkeys working under me. If you want to keep having a job here, you are all going to be retrained by myself and Shizune."

Tsunade then walked out the door. "Spread the word through the break room. A storm has come to this hospital. The Slug Princess is back." The staff felt a chill run up all their spines.

"Hoo boy..." Shizune sweat dropped. Well, at least she no longer had to do odd jobs anymore.

Minato couldn't help but chuckle. "Good to have her back. The Leaf just wasn't the same without her."

Sakura smiled. She had not seen Lady Tsunade like this in a long time. It was like a fire had been lit inside her and turned into and inferno.

"Now then. Naruto, why don't you take your mother and your 'friend' Sakura to our home? Show her where she'll be sleeping. Maybe show her around the village afterwards?" Minato suggested.

"Sure thing dad." Naruto said as he offered his mother his hand to help her stand up. "Come on Sakura-chan." Naruto said as he supported his mother as she walked ever so slowly from one end of the room to the other.

"Oh, and Sakura. I want to see you in my office once I get out of here." Minato said.

"Um, of course, sir." She said as she followed Naruto lead his mother by the hand out to the hallway. She walked so slowly.

"What are you thinking, Lord Hokage?" Shizune asked.

"I wanna see about making her a Leaf Shinobi." Minato replied.

"That would be..." Sakura was speechless. "I'd be honored sir, I mean... Lord Hokage." She bowed deeply.

Minato chuckled. "Please, call me Minato. I hate that stuffy Hokage stuff."

Sakura blushed. So informal, and with the strongest ninja of arguably the strongest ninja village.

"Yes sir, I mean, Minato."

Minato just smiled. "Run along now. I got some matters to discuss with Shizune."

Sakura smiled before joining Naruto and Kushina. Minato waited until he was sure they were out of earshot before addressing Shizune.

"My wife needs help. Badly." He said seriously. "These damn doctors here don't know how to treat her properly. Since the Kyuubi broke free of her when Naruto was born, she has been weaker than a newborn kitten."

"I saw. I'm afraid that even with a proper examination and treatment, her condition is permanent." Shizune said sadly.

"My wife and I have long ago accepted that she will never be a shinobi again. But even if she got back up to civilian strength it would be a huge burden lifted off our shoulders. Please, do everything you can." Minato pleaded not as a Hokage, but as a concerned husband.

Shizune sighed with a heavy heart. "We'll...do our best. But, don't get your hopes up, sir."

"At this point, it's all I have left." Minato said before dismissing Shizune.

---

Sometime later, Kushina unlocked the front door to a rather lavish house that Sakura looked at in complete awe. She was staying here?

"Please, make yourself at home. The bedrooms are upstairs. Pick any that isn't mine, my son's, or Jiraiya's. We have servants who help out around here with cooking, cleaning, and gardening. Just treat them with politeness and they will be happy to assist you with anything." Kushina explained as they walked inside, past the master staircase and through the hallway leading to the kitchen with huge windows that looked out upon a lavish garden filled with some of the most beautiful and fully grown flowers Sakura had ever seen.

"Holy crap... I've never been in a house this nice before..." Sakura gasped in awe.

"You like it?" Kushina smiled as she looked back at Sakura.

"I think like is an understatement..."

Kushina giggled. "Well I'm glad. We so rarely get visitors it's nice to show off my home to someone who appreciates its beauty."

Sakura then turned to Naruto. "Naruto-kun. You never told me you lived in such a fancy house." She exclaimed in shock.

"You never asked." Naruto shrugged.

Kushina had to stifle a giggle. 'Naruto-kun? I may be a grandmother before I die after all.'

"Would you like a snack, Sakura?" Kushina asked.

"Oh yes, please. And... could I trouble you to use the shower? Been running for two days straight."

"By all means. Matilda!" Kushina called.

A rather large woman wearing a simple workers uniform came in from the pantry.

"My Lady? Oh, I didn't hear you come in, I'm sorry. I was merely restocking the pantry." Matilda said before noticing that Naruto had returned as well.

"Little Naruto. You're back." Matilda exclaimed with joy. "Safe and sound."

"Yup. Great to see you, Matilda." Naruto smiled politely.

"I trust that your mission was a success?" Matilda asked. "I've been praying for your safe return and your father's wellbeing."

"He's fine now. Lady Tsunade saw to that. She and her two companions shall be staying here for a couple of days. If you could get their rooms ready and help Sakura with the showers, that'd be lovely." Kushina requested.

"Oh of course. It would be my pleasure." Matilda smiled.

"Sakura, what would you like for a snack? I can have the chef cook you up some ramen." Kushina offered.

"Ramen? It's that noodle soup right? I don't think I've ever had it." Sakura admitted. An eerie silence befell the room she was in and Sakura could have sworn she heard a cricket chirping.

"Oh Lord you've done it now." Matilda said.

"What? What did I do?" Sakura asked.

"WHAAAAAAAAT?!" Both Naruto and Kushina yelled at the top of their lungs, causing Sakura to cover her ears.

"Gaaah! What's with the screaming for?!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Ramen is kind of sacred in their family. Just smile and bare it." Matilda advised her.

'Oops...' Sakura thought.

"Oh I don't think so, dear. If you're going to be in this house, you have to appreciate the fine delicacy known as ramen." Kushina lectured.

"One does not simply say they have lived without eating ramen at least once in their life." Naruto added.

"Ayame! Teuchi! Front and Center!" Kushina bellowed. Her body might have been weak as a new born kitten, but her lungs could still roar.

Said people came rushing into the foyer as quickly as they could.

"Yes, M'Lady?" Ayame asked.

Kushina pointed an accusing finger at Sakura followed by Naruto. The two chefs knew they only did that to those who have come into their home without ever having had ramen or even appreciate it due to being served sub-par Ramen.

"This girl...has never eaten Ramen before. Three bowls of your finest Miso Pork. On the double." Kushina ordered.

Ayame and Teuchi both gasped. It was blasphemy that this girl never had Ramen before.

"Leave it to us." Teuchi said seriously.

"We'll make her the best ramen she could ever get." Ayame added before they both dashed into the kitchen.

'The hell just happened?' Sakura thought in confusion.

'I have no idea...' Saiken said in equal confusion.

"Naruto, take her to the dining room after you both wash your hands." Kushina ordered before grabbing a nearby cane to help her walk.

"But what about my shower?" Sakura asked.

"Ramen first, then shower." Kushina said sternly.

Sakura sighed. "Ugh, fine."

Naruto led Sakura to the downstairs bathroom where they both washed their hands. From there, he led her to the dining room table where Kushina had eased herself into a chair and a servant pushed her chair in. Shortly after that, Teuchi brought out a tray with 3 bowls of piping hot Ramen.

"I believe I've outdone myself this time." He praised as he set a bowl down in front of Kushina, then Naruto and finally Sakura.

"We'll be the judge of that." Naruto jokingly said as he picked up his chopsticks.

Sakura looked at what was in the bowl before her. a mess of noodles floating in delicious smelling broth, topped with a blend of spices, pork meat and fishcake toppings. The aroma alone was making her stomach growl something fierce.

"Oh man...that looks so good." Sakura said eagerly.

She looked over and saw Naruto and his mother already eating with gusto. The cute look on their face were nearly identical.

'The apple don't fall far from the tree as it were.' Saiken observed.

'Seriously.' Sakura thought before picking up her chopsticks. She twirled some noodles around them while getting a piece of pork with it. She was never really open to trying new things, but she wanted to be accepted by Naruto and his mother. So...

With a swift motion, she stuffed her bite into her mouth and expected it to be salty or some other kind of awkward flavor. Instead what she got was a blissful array of wonderful flavors that she never even knew existed.

"Oh my God..." Sakura said aloud.

'Another joins the coven.' Kushina thought with a smirk.

"This is amazing!" Sakura beamed before devouring her Ramen.

"Told you you'd like it." Naruto said as he slurped his bowl.

Sakura didn't reply. Instead she continued to devour her Ramen like it was the first time she's ever had food.

By the time she was done, Kushina was on her second bowl, while Naruto finished off his third.

'Damn...this family really loves Ramen. Now I know why.' Sakura thought.

'And now you do too.' Seiken thought.

'Oh big time.' Sakura thought as she was handed another bowl of ramen. The next thing she did was predictable at this point. She started devouring it.

After 5 bowls of Ramen, Sakura let out a content sigh and patted her now full belly.

"Oh man...that was... BELCH " Sakura blushed when she let out a manly like burp. "Oh...excuse me..." She said with a deep red blush.

"Wow...nice one Sakura-chan." Naruto praised.

"I second that." Kushina giggled.

Naruto stood up and patted his belly. "Gonna go use the bathroom." He said while Sakura sipped some mango juice. When he was gone, that's when Kushina had a devilish smirk.

"Okay, spill." She said suddenly.

"huh? Spill what?" Sakura asked.

"You know what. I have never seen my son so happy before he met you and don't tell me its 'We're just friends,' I see the way you two look at each other." Kushina stated.

Sakura blushed madly. "W-w-well...we are...just friends..."

Kushina gave Sakura a skeptical look.

"...for now..." Sakura squeaked out, her face redder than Kushina's hair.

Kushina had sparkles in her eyes. "So you do like my son!" She said giddily. "I gotta say, that's a huge relief for me."

"A huge relief? How so?" Sakura asked, curious.

"Simple...I don't have very long to live." Kushina said sadly. The air around her grew heavy.

"What!?" Sakura exclaimed.

"Kidding." Kushina smiled. "Sorry, bad joke. When you are as sick as I am you have to find some humor in it."

Sakura just stared at the women. She didn't find this very funny.

"But in all seriousness, I am very weak. So weak that I'm prevented from being there for my son in many ways that a mother should."

"Oh my god...no one has been able to fix this?" Sakura asked.

"There is nothing to fix really. I don't know if Naruto told you yet, but I used to be the 9 Tails jinchuriki before him. It was extracted from me and if I wasn't an Uzumaki I would most certainly be dead." Kushina explained.

"Oh my god...no, he never told me. And we have a connection there as I'm the 6 tails Jinchuriki."

"Well my, my, how rare it is for two jinchuriki to meet. Even rarer still, a current jinchuriki to a former jinchuriki." Kushina chuckled.

"I didn't even know what a Jinchuriki really was until about a week ago really."

"Is that when you learned that you contained a Tailed Beast?" Kushina asked.

"Well, no. I've always known that I contained a tailed beast, but I never knew why. It was Saiken that told me most of it." Sakura said.

"Saiken?" Kushina asked.

"Oh, that's the 6 tails' name. I talk to her every day." Sakura smiled.

Kushina went wide eyed. "You talk to your tailed beast...?"

"Oh yea. She's really nice. A bit annoying at times, but she's like an imaginary friend that I will always have with me."

"I see...well that's...great." Kushina said, not sure of what to make of this.

"She was...a misjudged tailed beast..." Sakura said sadly. "My village had attacked her and she fought back in self-defense. Sadly...my parents were killed during that...she didn't do it on purpose, they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't blame her for it."

"Well that's very big of you, Sakura. I wish all the people in our village had your courage." Kushina said as she sipped her broth with a spoon.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.

"Oh nothing. So back to my original point. I'm glad my son found a 'friend' like you." Kushina smiled as she bowed her head. "Please take good care of my son."

"Uh...yea..." Sakura chuckled sheepishly with a light blush.

"Hey I'm back." Naruto declared as he entered the room.

"I'm gonna get my shower done. Um...where is it?" Sakura asked.

"Matilda, could you please show Sakura to her bedroom's bathroom." Kushina requested.

"Wait, my bedroom has a bathroom?" Sakura asked in awe.

"They all do, sweetheart. Makes it easy to have diplomatic visitors over." Matilda answered. "And it would be my pleasure, M'Lady." Matilda replied.

"Awesome..." Sakura gasped in awe as she was led away by Matilda.

Once Sakura was led away, Kushina now decided to take it upon herself to get some similar answers from her son.

"She's a cool girl." Kushina said.

"Oh you have no idea." Naruto said without thinking, making Kushina grin devilishly.

"Oh yea?" She asked.

"Yeah. She's my age, but she's a full blown medic. She's super smart and scary strong. I saw her punch this summons snake as big as the one that attacked our village, she punched it and sent it crashing to the ground. Plus, she's super nice." Naruto listed off.

"And she's pretty too." Kushina said, trying to get her son to tell her more.

"Oh yeah she is. I said she was even prettier than you." Naruto said without thinking.

Kushina was taken aback. There was never a girl he would consider prettier than herself. "Wow that's...pretty high praise there."

"Yeah. You're not made are you?" Naruto asked.

"Oh no, not at all." Kushina giggled. 'Yea, he likes her.'

"So, what is she to you?" Kushina asked.

"My friend?" Naruto asked, confused.

"Uh huh. Do you like her?"

"Well, yea. She's my friend." Naruto reaffirmed.

"That's not what I mean. Do you like her?" Kushina pressed.

"I don't think I understand the question." Naruto admitted.

'Sage of Six Paths, my son is dim.' Kushina thought as she put on a bright smile.

"Well in any case, that's great that you made a new friend. And so talented too."

"Yea she's amazing." Naruto sighed.

'Oh my god, he's crushing on her real bad.' Kushina thought giddily. 'Too bad he's too dumb to know that he's crushing. Ah well, all part of the fun I guess.' Kushina sighed.

---

Upstairs, Sakura walked into her room for the first time and was instantly floored by how luxurious it was.

"Woooaahh...I sleep here?!" She exclaimed.

"Yes, you do sweetheart. While the rooms don't contain a TV like you would have in a hotel, the closet space is ample and the bathrooms are stocked with towels and everything else you could need." Matilda listed off as she opened the curtains to reveal the beautiful garden view and the secret swimming pool hidden from the kitchen view.

"Ooohh...woooow..." Sakura said in awe.

"Yes, it is rather impressive, isn't it? I've helped Lady Kushina and the gardener with many of the plants you see there." Matilda smiled.

"It's beautiful..." Sakura said in awe.

"Thank you. Perhaps you can help us with it one day. It's one of Lady Kushina's favorite things to do. Right up there with marathoning action movies."

"I'll be sure to do just that." Sakura smiled.

"Here, I'll show you the bathroom." Matilda said as she led Sakura to the bathroom. It was a double door bathroom so right off the bat she knew it was going to be luxurious. Hardly anything in this house wasn't. Once those doors opened, she squealed.

A stone shower stall with 10 angled shower ports that were all angled to one spot. There was no curtain or door, just a 2'ft tall wall section where she could have full view of the outside. The windows were sectional bay windows with a perfect view of the garden.

Next to it, was a large tub with Jacuzzi jets. Next she saw the counter that was made of chiseled limestone with two sinks. then there was the toilet offset from the sink. The floors were polished marble tiles as were the walls and above the sink was a large mirror with lights framing the glass.

It was the bathroom that dreams were made of.

"This is the guest bathroom?!" Sakura squealed.

"It is. Lord Minato sometimes has many foreign diplomats come to visit and he prefers the personal touch to hospitality. That means putting up with a few snooty men and women who wouldn't settle for a mere shower." Matilda explained.

"It's amazing!" Sakura squealed, but then she realized that with that large window, there was like zero privacy. "Not much on privacy though."

"Who says? The windows are one way. You can see out of them, but not in them." Matilda informed.

"This place is incredible." Sakura said in awe.

"So now you have a tough decision. Tub or shower?" Matilda giggled.

"Why not both?" Sakura giggled back.

"So one then the other?" Matilda asked.

"A tub to relax and then a shower to wash it all away." Sakura decided.

"My my, someone is ready for the spoiled life." Matilda laughed.

"After living like a nomad for 13 years? Hell yea I am!"

Matilda giggled. "Well, you make yourself at home. Just press this button if you need anything." She said as she pointed to a grey button on the side of the wall.

"Thank you. I'll be right out." Sakura said as she unpacked her things.

"Allow me to help you." Matilda said.

"Oh no that's okay. I like my things in a particular way." Sakura waved off.

"Very good. I'll return back to M'Lady's side. You sure that you don't need anything? A snack, specific brand of shampoo?"

"I just ate 5 bowls of Ramen so I'm good. And I use whatever shampoo... actually, do you have any strawberry scented shampoo?" Sakura asked as she let down her hair.

"We do in fact. I'll have to go fetch it."

"Thank you." Sakura smiled as she turned the water on in the tub and removed her heeled boots.

Matilda left and Sakura started taking off the rest of her clothes. First she went for her up and pulled it over her head, revealing her...wrap? She always wore it while being on the road to keep perverts away. She undid her wrap and her rather firm B sized bosom was exposed.

'Ugh...so good to get that off...' Sakura thought. It was the first time in over a week since she's taken that off.

She then worked on removing her skirt, letting it fall to the floor, then her shorts and her stockings. leaving herself in just her panties when she heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Sakura called.

"It's me again. I've got your strawberry shampoo, fresh from the hallways supply closet." Matilda said.

"Oh okay. Come in." Sakura invited.

Matilda walked in just as Sakura shut the water off. That's when she noticed her lack of apparel. "Oh dear me. I'm sorry."

"No you're fine. We're both girls so what's the problem?" Sakura waved off.

"It's modesty, child. Certainly your mother taught you that." Matilda said.

Sakura frowned sadly. "No... she and my dad were killed..."

Matilda gasped. "Oh my, I'm so sorry, my poor child."

"It's okay...it was an unfortunate circumstance..."

"Still though, if you'd ever like to talk about it, I'd be willing to lend an ear."

Then Matilda saw the intricate seal on her chest. 'That seal. It's just like the one Little Naruto has on his naval.' She realized.

'Oh no...' Sakura thought. No point in denying it now. "I'm the 6 tails Jinchuriki. My parents were killed by the 6 tailed slug, but it was an accident."

Matilda gasped. "Oh my..."

"Saiken was just defending herself and my parents were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't blame her for it."

"Well that's a little beyond me, being a civilian and all." Matilda admitted.

"Well regardless. It's in the past now and she has since apologized for it." Sakura sighed.

"Right, so, will that be all?" Matilda asked.

"Yes, thank you." Sakura smiled before checking the water to be warm, the exact perfect temperature.

"Well, I'll leave you alone. You have a nice soak." Matilda bowed before making her way out of the bathroom and closing the door behind her.

Sakura sighed before pulling down her panties, leaving her completely in her birthday suit. She carefully stepped into the hot water and eased herself into it.

"Ahhhhh...I so needed this..." Sakura sighed contently as she let the jets message her sore joints.

'You're...sure you're okay about what happened to your parents?' Saiken asked shamefully.

'I am. I was too young to remember them and I don't regret the time spent with Tsunade or Shizune. And you've been a good friend to me.' Sakura thought as she cracked her joints.

'Still though...I still feel really bad for what happened...'

'Saiken, its fine. You know I don't blame you and you didn't mean to do what you did, you were defending yourself and they got too close.' Sakura then yawned. 'Its fine...'

'It doesn't feel fine. But thank you...'

'Just don't worry about it...' Sakura thought as she continued to relax. She was starting to feel really sleepy.

'Hey, I just happened to think of something that you should do. Don't wear the wrap anymore.'

'Huh? Why?'

'So Naruto can drool over you more.' Saiken smirked.

'What!? I don't want him...drooling over me!' Sakura exclaimed.

'I didn't mean like he would be drooling on you. I meant that he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off you.'

'Now why would I want that?'

'You're crushing on him, aren't you?'

'Yeah… and?'

'Well, what if he is for you?'

'Well then we'll talk about it, won't we?' Sakura thought nervously.

'Besides. You're taking up roots here anyway. I don't think any of the creeps you've met on the road would be here.'

'But Lord Jiraiya is here.'

'And? Like Tsunade would let him do anything, neither would you for that matter. Come on, he just opened his home up to you and helped get you 3 to the Leaf and end a life of living like a nomad. I'm not saying to let the girls out in front of him, just lose the wrap is all.'

'Fine.' Sakura thought.

Sakura yawned again. This bath was really loosening her up. soon, she started dozing off until she fell asleep.

---

Downstairs, an hour had gone by and still no sign of Sakura emerging. Naruto was getting concerned.

"Um, has Sakura been in the shower for a long time, or is it just me?" Naruto asked anxiously.

"It's been about an hour." Kushina said as she sat in her recliner, reading a book.

"Maybe I should go check on her." Naruto thought aloud.

"You don't need to do that Naruto, I can-" Matilda said before she was cut off by Kushina.

"Ah shhh shhh shhh, no you can go get her Naruto." Kushina said with a smile and Matilda realized what her employer was doing.

Naruto raised an eyebrow but got up off the floor and made his way to Sakura's room. Once he arrived at the door, he knocked but there was no answer.

"You're a very mischievous woman, Lady Kushina." Matilda smiled.

"They both have feelings for each other so why not help it along?" Kushina giggled.

"Poor boy is too innocent. The shock could kill him." Matilda teased.

"He's almost 13. he'll figure it out sooner or later." Kushina smiled her mischievous smile.

Naruto knocked again, but still no answer.

"Sakura-chan?" He called, but still nothing. Now he was really worried.

He opened the bedroom door and saw that her stuff was still here, but she wasn't.

'Did she leave?' Naruto thought with dread. He had hoped she didn't. Then he heard something in the bathroom and looked to see that the door was still open a crack.

He knocked lightly but there was still no answer, so he gently pushed it open and his eyes bulged out.

There she was, completely in the buff, sleeping in the tub with the jacuzzi jets still going.

"S-sakura-chan?!" Naruto exclaimed, enough to wake her up.

"ZHT! Huh, what?" Sakura asked as she splashed her way to consciousness.

'Oh Lord, did I fall asleep in the tub?' Sakura thought as she looked over at the other person standing in the room with her with a dopey look on his face and a single drop of blood dripping down his nose.

Down in the living room, Matilda was pouring Kushina and herself a cup of tea.

"How do you think it's going?" Kushina asked.

"PERVERT!" Sakura screamed, filling the entire house with her shrieks.

"Like that, Ma'am." Matilda replied.

"No, no! It's not like that! You've been in here for a whole hour and we got worried!" Naruto defended while looking the other way.

Sakura threw a soup bar at Naruto, hitting him square in the head.

"GET OUT!"

"I'm sorry!" He yelled before running out of the bathroom.

Kushina sighed as she took a sip of her tea. 'Lovely.' She thought. "Matilda, would you mind going up there and calming Sakura down? I'd do it myself but..."

Matilda put down her tea cup with a smile. "You never have to ask, M'Lady." Matilda replied as she headed upstairs, passing a blushing Naruto on his way down.

"She's pissed..." Naruto said while nursing the bump on his head.

"Ha ha, apparently." Matilda chuckled.

Once Matilda made it to Sakura's room, her bedroom door was still open, but could hear sobs from the bathroom.

"Sakura? Honey? It's me, Matilda." She called out as she neared the door.

"(Sniff)...come in..." Sakura responded.

Matilda stepped inside to see Sakura sitting on the edge of the tub wrapped up in a towel. She was crying her eyes out.

"Sakura, sweetie...what's wrong?" Matilda asked softly as she walked over to her.

"...he saw me..." Sakura sobbed. "...I thought he was my friend...but he's just another pervert..."

"Now, now...he didn't mean to look I'm sure. It had been over an hour and he was concerned for you. I'm willing to bet that because you didn't answer his knocks, because I did hear him knock quite a few times, that he got worried and came in to check." Matilda explained.

"H-he did?" Sakura asked hopefully.

"Yes, he did. Now he's down stairs rubbing a bump on his head. How did he get that?"

"I... threw a soap bar at his head..." Sakura shamefully admitted.

Matilda giggled. "Well the poor boy is downstairs and I think he's a little shook'en up. He probably feels bad for making you upset."

Now Sakura felt ashamed of herself. "Oh... I'm such a..." She sobbed before feeling herself being wrapped up in a warm hug.

"It was a mistake, it was all just a big misunderstanding." Matilda soothed as she petted Sakura's wet hair. "If you just apologize I'm certain that he'll forgive you."

"...e-even after...I...yelled at him and...threw a bar of soap at him...?" Sakura sniffed.

"Trust me child, he'll forgive you. His heart is too big to hold a grudge like that." Matilda said.

Sakura continued to sob, but nodded.

"Now...how about you continue to get cleaned up and come down stairs and talk to the poor boy? He is a little dim, but he has a big heart."

"Okay..." Sakura sniffed.

"How about I help you out? I've got more than enough experience helping out Lady Kushina." Matilda offered.

"Okay..." Sakura repeated.

"Where did you leave off?" Matilda asked.

"I...just wrapped a towel around myself..." Sakura said.

"Well if you take care of your neck down I can handle your hair." Matilda smiled.

"Okay..."

"First, let's drain this old water out and get some fresh water in." Matilda said.

"Okay..."

Matilda pulled up the plug to let the dirty water flow down the drain so fresh water could be put in its place. Once the water was gone, Matilda turned the knob to add fresh water that was at just the right temperature.

"You can remove your towel and slide back in now." Matilda instructed.

Sakura nodded and removed her towel and pushed it on the floor. She slid her body back into the water as it was filling up and laid against the back wall of the tub.

Matilda then took Sakura's hair and dipped it under the water. Getting it nice and wet to add the shampoo, which she lathered into her hair with a little scalp massage. Once it was good and soapy, Matilda then flipped her hair over to get the hair in the back of Sakura's head then repeated the same process of lather and massage.

Matilda hummed a soothing tune as Sakura rubbed a soapy washcloth along her skin.

The older woman then poured water into Sakura's head to wash away the shampoo to repeat the process with conditioner.

---

Within minutes, Sakura was out of the tub drying herself on the nearby wooden bench while Matilda combed her hair, starting from the very ends and working her way up to get all the tangles out.

"You didn't have to do this, but I appreciate it." Sakura said, now a lot calmer.

"It's my job, dear. Plus, I like taking care of people. It's what I live for." Matilda smiled.

"Did you ever think about becoming a doctor?" Sakura asked.

"No, I can't say that I ever did. Even so, there just wouldn't have been enough money there for me to go to medical school." Matilda said a little sadly.

"Who said about paying anyone? I was trained by Lady Tsunade and she's right here in the village. I'm sure she wouldn't mind training you."

"That sounds lovely, but I'm at that certain age that I just couldn't keep up. No, I'm better off helping people in other ways. Smaller ways." Matilda smiled. "But thank you."

"Fair enough." Sakura said as she finished drying her lady parts. She could feel the tugging on her hair and began to think about things. "You know, I've been thinking of cutting my hair."

"Any particular reason?"

"It's too long. Sometimes I sit on it." Sakura stated.

"What if I told you that Little Naruto loves long hair on girls?" Matilda teased.

"Wait, he does?" Sakura asked with curiosity.

"He does." Matilda said.

"Huh..." Sakura had to think about it. She had come to terms with crushing on him and now wanted to look good for him. But at the same time, her hair always got in the way. Shortening it a little shouldn't be too much of a big deal. "Can...you cut it to about here?" Sakura asked as she reached behind her to mark out the spot where she wanted it to be cut to, which was about a little more than halfway down her back.

"You know I was kidding, right?" Matilda smirked.

"I'm not." Sakura said seriously.

"Well I can still cut your hair." Matilda said as she went to fetch the scissors from the drawers.

"Thank you. Believe it or not...and don't you tell Naruto or Kushina, but...I..."

"You don't have to tell me. I figured you liked him like that." Matilda said.

"Kushina also figured it out. That's why she sent her son up to check up on you in the first place."

"She sent him?!" Sakura exclaimed with a blush that covered her entire face.

"She wanted to 'help you two out' as she put it."

"Oh really..." Sakura grumbled. God, she would get around to asking him out on her own time, not on someone else's.

"Look...I get she wants to see her son with someone nice. Lady Tsunade wants to see me as well as Shizune with someone nice as well. But I will get around to asking him out when I feel the time is right. Or if he asks me out." Sakura said firmly.

"Of course. I apologize on her behalf. Lady Kushina can be very...eccentric... But she always means well." Matilda said as she wrapped up Sakura's hair in a towel.

Sakura sighed. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to snap like that. It's just...between my master, the 6 tails and now Kushina, it's starting to get on my nerves. I've only known him...what, a little more than a week now? I would like to wait at least a full month, you know? I barely know the guy."

"Of course. I felt the same way about my own husband. These things take time, but for older women like us it seems so obvious and we can't help but project. Just do what feels natural and things will work out." Matilda smiled.

"Thank you." Sakura smiled.

"No problem." Matilda said as she stood back up. "How about I fetch you some fresh clothes? Let you finish freshening up?"

"Did you cut my hair already?" Sakura asked.

"Oops, my mistake, I've forgotten." Matilda said.

Matilda then unwrapped Sakura's hair from her towel and started combing her hair again, this time however she took the scissors and delicately began snipping off her longer bangs to Sakura's specified length.

"Would you like me to braid it?" Matilda asked.

"Hmm...I don't think I've ever had my hair braided...sure, why not?"

Matilda got right to work, braiding Sakura's hair into a weave that wrapped around the back of her head. (Like Asuna from Sword Art Online abridged.)

While she was doing that, Sakura had draped the towel over herself to at least pretend to be modest.

"So, you said you were trained by Lady Tsunade. How is that?" Matilda asked.

"Ugh...It was a pain in the ass to be blunt." Sakura groaned, remembering back to the countless hours of back breaking training.

"How so?" Matilda asked.

"Well, learning to be a medic was only part of my training. The other training was to become as strong as she is. Which, by the way, if you're not absolutely precise on your chakra control, it can wreck your body."

"Hmmm... I see..." Matilda said. She didn't see, being a civilian, but decided to take Sakura at face value. After a few more minutes, Matilda was finished with Sakura's hair.

"All done, sweetie." She smiled proudly.

"Really?" Sakura asked before she stood up to see herself in the mirror. One look was all it took to make her gasp.

"Oh wow." Sakura breathed out. She never had her hair done like this before. It was simply stunning that it could look this good.

"I know right, you look beautiful, darling." Matilda smiled.

"Yea...well, save for not wearing any clothes at the moment."

"Yes, besides that." Matilda laughed.

"Although, I gotta say, I don't think Naruto could resist this." Sakura smirked before striking a pose in the mirror. "He already saw me, now he has to work hard for it."

"Oooohhh, damn right girl. Work it!" Matilda cheered. Sakura couldn't help but giggle. This was the most fun she's had.

"I gotta say though. Your chest is quite above average size for someone your age." Matilda admitted.

"Comes with Lady Tsunade's training." Sakura shrugged.

"I was gonna say. Just what is she feeding you? My own daughter would have loved to know your secret."

"Training and diet, really. I can eat whatever I want because I'm very active. The training also boosted my metabolism so I burn off just as much calories as I take in and I still get to keep a rockin' figure."

"Amen sister." Matilda laughed.

Sakura laughed along. "Alright, I need to get dressed now."

"Yes. Like I said earlier, do you want me to fetch you some clothes while you freshen up, or something else?"

"I have another outfit like what I was wearing, just less revealing."

"Sounds good. I think I can find it." Matilda said as she opened up the door to enter the bedroom.

Sakura just went back to admiring herself in the mirror. 'Damn...like this, he'll be glued to me no matter what.' She thought.

'Is it me or do you change your tone a lot?' Seiken thought.

'Hey, if I'm that easy to read, I might as well roll with it now. Besides, it's not like I'm gonna give in easy or any time soon.'

'Fine, whatever. Just don't lead the poor boy on. Guys have a notorious time picking up signals.'

'No I won't do that. I'll just be like I have been around him. No changes. But, I do need to talk to him about what happened earlier...I gotta apologize for that...'

'And if he were to ask you out?'

'Um...well...I guess, if it happens then I'll accept. But he's a little dumb so who knows what will happen?' Sakura replied before going into the bedroom to see that Matilda had laid out her outfit.

Sakura put on her outfit of a sleeveless red jacket with a pink skirt and black spandex shorts.

"You look amazing, dear." Matilda praised.

"Thank you. I feel amazing." Sakura said. She couldn't remember the last time she had a bath so nice. The closest she ever got was visiting the hot springs every now and again. Usually all she had to content with were hotel showers.

"Well, what say we mosey on down stairs? I now a confused boy who needs a talking to." Matilda suggested.

Sakura nodded, although she was nervous. This was about to be a very awkward moment for the two of them.

---

Downstairs, Naruto had been listening to his mother's laughter the whole time.

"Mom..." Naruto groaned. "It was embarrassing..."

"I'm sorry, I know it was terrible, but consider it your punishment for pranking Ayame with those worms." Kushina said.

"Worms? That was three months ago!" Naruto exclaimed.

"And I said I'd get you back for her sake." Kushina said.

Naruto just grumbled in protest.

"Did we miss something?" Matilda asked as she walked in with Sakura in tow.

"Not really. We were just...oh...wooow..." Kushina breathed out when she finally got to see Sakura. It was like night and day from before.

Naruto wasn't facing in Sakura's direction at first, but he knew she came into the room.

"Sakura-chan...I'm...really sorry about earlier. It was-" He cut himself off when he saw her now. More modest clothes than before, but her hair was done up in a way that made his jaw drop. And her chest seemed to double in size from the last time he saw her. "I...I..." He stammered.

Kushina and Matilda couldn't help but giggle.

"It's okay Naruto, really. I was out of line too. I didn't realize that you were there looking for me. Let's just forget it ever happened, okay?" Sakura smiled.

"Uh...uh...s-sure..." Naruto stammered. He had never seen anyone so beautiful before.

"Good. Now then, how about you show me around? I wanna see the sights." Sakura smiled a smile that made Naruto's heart skip a beat.

Naruto snapped out of his stupor and smiled. "Sure!"

---

As they left to go look around the town, Tsunade was going over Kushina's medical file on the hospital while Shizune stood by her side.

"Complete and total destruction of her chakra network...damn..." Tsunade cursed as she set the file down on the desk and sighed.

"There's nothing we can do, is there?" Shizune asked.

"Sigh...There is a couple of ways, but not without risking her life. The first would be to create a whole new chakra network for her core to channel through. The next would be to do a complete network transplant. Both have a high fatality rate. The last one would be to enhance her physical therapy." Tsunade listed off.

Shizune nodded as sweat formed on her forehead.

"Her physical therapy through us would be a much more efficient way to get her back to at least a manageable level. She'll have more pep in her step, but what surprises me is that she's even still alive. Having the 9 tails extracted from her should have killed her." Tsunade said.

"It's that Uzumaki blood is what saved her." Shizune deduced.

"Yes...which is why I'm going to talk to Minato about these options." Tsunade said before standing up.

Tsunade and Shizune made their way back to Minato's room, where he was putting up a fuss about staying in bed.

"Seriously, I feel 100 times better now." Minato protested.

"Well, you're still staying one more night." Tsunade said firmly before grabbing a chair and sitting down next to his bed. "Besides, we have a couple of things to discuss."

"What about?" Minato asked.

"About Kushina." Tsunade said, earning a serious, yet hopeful look from Minato.

"You have a few options for her." She started. "But first, her chakra network was completely destroyed and only her core remained intact. So, there is no repairing her network."

"Yes, the doctors told us as much 12 years ago." Minato said sadly.

"So here are the options. Option one; make a completely new chakra network from scratch. Her core is still strong and we should be able to map out a new system using what remains of her network as a guide. Option two is a complete network transplant with a compatible donor. Mind you, these two options, if successful, would bring her back to Shinobi status, but it has an 80% fatality rate each, roughly."

"I see, and is there a third option?" Minato asked.

"The last option would be a more enhanced physical therapy done by myself and Shizune. It's much more efficient than what the bonehead doctors here have done, but it will take longer. The end result would make her a lot more mobile than she is, but she can never mold Chakra again."

"I see..." Minato sighed as he leaned against his bed. He had expected as much bad news. He looked out the window for a few moments to think.

"You know we've had this conversation before. Me and my wife about what we would do if we were ever presented with the option to give her back her full strength. To make her a shinobi again..." Minato reminisced. "Do you know what she told me? She told me, 'What's the point? Even if I became a ninja again you'd still keep me from going on missions.'"

"And if she could, would you?" Tsunade asked.

Minato closed his eyes. "No, I wouldn't. I couldn't." He admitted.

"Well then when I release you, we all have some things to discuss. Will she risk her life to become a Shinobi again? Or take the safe route and remain a civilian?"

"You don't understand. She understands this, she told me herself. She can never be a shinobi again because she's my wife. The wife of a Hokage. Should she ever get hurt, killed, or kidnapped out in the field. Hell, if it ever happened to Naruto...the village wouldn't have a Hokage anymore. It would have a father and husband worried out of his mind. The most powerful man in the Land of Fire, off making rash and impulsive decisions on the slim chance of it keeping his family safe. That is the nightmare scenario." Minato explained.

"She also told me this..." Minato said.

flashback

"So the doctors want me to risk my life? For what? A chance at getting my chakra back and still being a stay at home mom?" Kushina asked.

"My sweet tomato, listen. There are other jobs for you inside the Leaf. Jobs that only a ninja can do. I want you to be happy and I know you'd hate bumming around the house all day." Minato tried to placate his wife.

"Sparky, I don't care about being a ninja. I was ready to give up being a kunoichi when I married you. I was ready to give it up when you became Hokage. I was ready to give it up when I learned that we were having Naruto. Alright? I want to be a great wife to you and an amazing mother to Naruto. I want a family. And I won't risk that just for some powers I don't need anymore." Kushina said firmly. "Do you understand me?"

flash forward

"I see..." Tsunade sighed. "Then...I'll put her down for the enhanced physical therapy. With her circumstance, it should take about 3 years to complete, maybe shorter. It will take place in your home for 4 hours a day each day, with either myself or Shizune there. It will alternate day by day and for the first several months, this will be the norm until I start to see improvement."

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I shall inform my wife beforehand to confirm that this is what she wants." Minato bowed from his seated position in bed.

"Is there anything else I can do?" Tsunade asked, to which Minato started to speak before being cut off by Tsunade. "That doesn't involve an early discharge?"

"Tell me about your student perhaps? I'd like to know about this girl my son has become smitten with." Minato smirked that devilish smirk of his.

"What would you like to know?" Tsunade smiled.

"Well, everything." Minato shrugged.

"I had adopted her from a small village that had been attacked by the 6 tails. Actually, attacked isn't the right word for it. The 6 Tails was attacked and it was only defending itself." Tsunade started. "Her parents were killed when they got too close to the 6 Tails' attack, leaving poor Sakura with no family."

"That's terrible. What happened to the Six Tails?"

"I sealed it inside Sakura."

Minato took in a breath and sighed. "So, she's the 6 Tails Jinchuriki I take it."

"Yes, she is. however, she has learned to communicate with the 6 Tails and it even works side by side with Sakura. Just a few days ago, she was able to calmly and effortlessly control the 6 Tails Cloak up to two tails." Tsunade added.

Minato looked at Tsunade like she had dropped from the moon. "That is...extremely impressive."

"I agree. She's no longer the scared little girl from 8 years back. She's a strong willed and blossoming woman who is dedicated to helping those closest to her. I trained her in medicine and still doing so as well as gave her my physical training."

"However, there was a moment when she had lost control of Saiken's power." Tsunade said seriously.

"Under what circumstances?"

"When Naruto was injured. We had encountered Orochimaru and Kabuto, the latter of whom is sitting in your prison right now, and Kabuto hit him with a jutsu that nearly stopped his heart. That was a week after Naruto and Jiraiya found us."

"Is that so? I'll be sure to pay this Kabuto a visit down in the T&I department." Minato said.

"Kabuto works for Orochimaru so treat him with the same courtesy you'd treat a traitor. But when Sakura saw that Naruto was dying, it sent her into a rage and took on the 3 tailed cloak. Something made her stop just short of ripping Kabuto to shreds and we were able to capture him."

"I see... I have to ask this as the man in charge of keeping this village safe. Is Sakura a threat to this village as a jinchuriki?" Minato said with very serious eyes.

"No, she's not. Saiken does its best to keep Sakura even tempered and can usually talk her out of any situation that would cause her to go into a rage. The 6 Tails is gentle and caring in nature, but will defend itself if attacked."

"Very well. I trust your judgement, just don't expect the rest of the councils to be so open to allowing another jinchuriki to live in the village." Minato said bitterly. Throwing Tsunade and Shizune for a loop.

"Councils? What do they matter? You're the Hokage. You have absolute authority." Tsunade said.

"In times of war, yes, but these are times of peace and things have changed since you left the village 25 years ago."

"How so?" Tsunade asked, not liking the sound of this.

"I'm afraid that one of the Third Lord's last acts was to create two new councils in the Leaf to act as a system of checks and balances to the Hokage position. The Clan Council and the Civilian Council." Minato explained. "The Clan Council being run by the shinobi side of the populous. Dealing with matters involving shinobi rules and regulations as well as laws concerning them. They are supposed to only be made up of respected shinobi from our forces, but in elections the winners are always heads of major ninja clans. Changing the name from the Shinobi Council to the Clan Council. The Civilian handles the laws governing the day to day lifestyle of the village itself. Setting trade and taxes. I still have to approve everything and can veto any proposal I see fit, and in times of war all power is to be given to me to avoid the gridlock of peacetime democracy. But I have lost a lot power as Hokage." Minato said.

"So, it's all a bureaucracy now..." Tsunade grumbled.

"Your master felt it was necessary. In order for the village to move forward into an era of peace it needed to modernize and not be run by the whims of one man. Even him." Minato said.

"Well I can tell you right now. If they refuse Sakura then they are damn fools. Her skills and strength are almost comparable to mine in terms of combat. Her power using the 2 tailed cloak outmatches mine and Jiraiya's put together and she's a medic in training with my medical skills. She is quite literally the perfect Shinobi if there ever was one."

"And that would be all excellent credentials, except for..." Minato hesitated.

"Except for what?"

---

Meanwhile on the other side of the village, Naruto was showing Sakura around to all his favorite hangout spots.

"Man this place is huge...and you guys call this a village?" Sakura asked in amazement.

"Kinda redundant I know. I'm told it used to be a village back when it was founded, but as it grew nobody bothered to change the name. Probably because a ninja city just didn't have the same ring as ninja village." Naruto chuckled.

"Yea I guess...but still, this is quite amazing and I've been to the Hidden Cloud Village in my travels.

"No way, what's that like?" Naruto asked as he led her across a red wooden bridge.

"It's actually not as big as here, mainly because it was built in and on a mountain range."

"No way, that's insanely cool." Naruto said.

"Yeah. Still, I think I prefer the Leaf. It's got a more charming feel to it, you know? A real friendly vibe." Sakura smiled as she looked at all the cute little shops while Naruto ignored the stares he was getting.

"Ooh. Let's go in there." Sakura pointed to nice looking shoe shop specializing in ninja foot wear. A shop that Naruto recognized.

"Uhhh...how about a different one?" Naruto said nervously.

"Why, what's wrong with this one?" Sakura asked.

"Nothing. Just uh...this other one is better." Naruto said quickly as he tried to pull her away.

"But the boots in their window look so cute!" Sakura protested. "Just a quick peak in, just to try a few pairs on." She said as she freed herself from Naruto's grip.

'Great...' Naruto thought in dread.

Sakura quickly made her way into the shop and it was like a girls paradise for shoes. "Woahh..." She said in awe.

"Hello there, how can I help you?" A middle aged lady asked Sakura as she came from behind the counter.

"Is it okay that I browse and try on shoes? Specifically that pair in the window?" Sakura asked as she pointed to the pair of shoes she saw in the window.

"Of course, my dear. Do you know what your size is? I can fetch you a pair right now." The kind old woman offered.

"Um..." Sakura paused before she knelt down to take a look at her shoe size just as Naruto walked in behind her. "Looks like it's a 5. Hard to tell honest-"

"You, get out!" The old woman snapped in a harsh tone.

"Huh? What did I do?" Sakura asked.

"Not you, him!" The old crow pointed at the boy standing behind Sakura. It took her a second to realize that the woman was referring to Naruto.

"I wasn't doing anything." Naruto defended.

"He just walked in here, what's wrong with that?" Sakura asked.

"What's wrong is that brat is still breathing. Get out of my shop or I shall call the Police!" The woman shouted like she was being threatened.

"Woah, what did you just say?!" Sakura snapped.

"Young lady, you know who that is, right?" The old bat asked.

"Yes, Naruto Namikaze. Son of the 4th Hokage. What's your point?"

"He's the son of a demon is what he is! Not our beloved Hokage!" The woman snapped.

"A demon? Excuse me?" Sakura barked, not buying this lady's accusations.

"Oh, don't tell me you're one of those demon lovers too. You can get the Hell out of my shop as well. The village doesn't need your kind around here." The woman spat.

"Honestly, I have no idea what you're talking about. I just arrived here today with my master Tsunade Senju." Sakura said.

"I don't care if you've come back with the reincarnated 2nd Hokage himself. I will not service demons or demon lovers of any kind in my place of business." The woman folded her arms.

"Oh, so now you go and accuse tourists to your village who know nothing about what goes on here. How are you still in business with such crappy customer service?" Sakura snapped.

"Oh, insulting my business now, are we? That's just like a demon lover to change the subject." The woman snapped.

"If the shoe fits, wear it." Sakura smirked.

"Oh, very clever. Maybe you can tell that to the Police when they come to arrest you two for loitering and trespassing. I'm calling them right now." The woman said as she retreated behind her counter to pick up the phone.

"Pfft...ignorance sure is bliss in this town ain't it? Come on Naruto. Let's leave this crotchety old skank to live with her head up her ass." Sakura huffed before turning to walk out with Naruto in tow.

Naruto did just that as a crowd began to gather around the shoe shop where people had heard screaming. "Yeah that's right, run demon. Run and hide!"

"Hey, there's a shit stain in your building! Oh wait! It's just you!" Sakura snapped back. The woman continued to scream as Sakura lead Naruto away. "So, I take it that was what you were so hesitant to tell me before."

"It is..." Naruto said as the crowd that gathered began to push and shove one another. Thankfully the cops had been called and were already on route.

"Pfft...you could have told me. I've dealt with it before." Sakura said like it was no big deal.

"I very much doubt that." Naruto said. "Not on my level anyway."

"Oh no. We were only chased out of the Hidden Grass Village by townsfolk with weapons and threats of being killed. That was back when I was 7 and Saiken's chakra leaked out on accident. They're just ignorant pricks, they don't know any better."

"Oh sure. You got to run away from them and never looked back. Me, I had to live with them..." Naruto said bitterly.

Sakura was taken aback. "What?" Then her eyes grew dark. "What did they do to you..." She growled.

"What didn't they do? I've been attacked, called names, ignored, and hated all because I have the Kyuubi inside me, all because of the incident 12 years ago on my birthday." Naruto tightened his fist as the memories came flooding back. "The parents who didn't outright hate me would tell their kids to stay away from me just so that their kids wouldn't face the same treatment. I had no friends growing up. Just my parents and the servants we have working for us."

Sakura tightened her fist in anger. "Those miserable, ignorant..." She had to stop before she lost control and took a deep breath. "Breath, Sakura. Breath...calm down..." She said to herself.

"But that wasn't the worst thing they ever did..." Naruto said.

Sakura held up her hand. "Tell me later, please. I'm already on the verge of snapping."

"Maybe I won't. I'm sorry I mentioned it, just forget it." Naruto said as he thought back to that day.

He was 10 years old and his mother had been working tirelessly for years on her physical training. All to regain the strength she had lost the night that the Kyuubi was extracted from her. She had finally gained enough strength to be able to walk down to the market Square with her own two feet, for the first time in 10 years. Naruto and Minato felt such joy as they led her down the road, stopping at each of the shops. The ANBU staying hidden, but close behind.

All was going great until some faceless man walked near to Naruto and spit on his mother's face.

Naruto didn't remember the next few minutes all that well. He might have attacked the man, or his father did, or maybe the ANBU interfered beforehand. All they knew after the fact was that the man hated Naruto's mother because she was a former jinchuriki.

He was a total stranger to Naruto. He had never met Naruto's mother or even had a conversation with her, yet he decided that he hated her enough to spit on her in the streets.

It made Naruto shake just thinking about it.

He wanted to scream, kick, get into a fight, rip that man a new asshole. His mother cried that day. He wanted to unleash the Kyuubi and reduce the population of the Leaf to just himself and his family. Then there would be no more hatred left to feel.

"Just know this, Naruto-kun. One day, their actions against you and, god forbid, your family will come back to bite them in the ass. Karma is a two way street." Sakura said firmly as they continued to walk.

"There is no Karma, Sakura-chan." Naruto said grimly. "If there was, I'd be completely justified in unleashing the Kyuubi."

The two of them didn't speak for the entire walk home.

As they walked in the house, they were greeted by Matilda who always seemed to have that warm smile.

"How was your walk?" Matilda asked.

"Abysmal..." Sakura grumbled.

"It was fine." Naruto said quickly, hoping not to worry Matilda, who was in many ways like a second mother to him.

"Oh dear...she got a taste of the villagers' ignorance, didn't she?" Matilda asked in a concerned tone.

"Yes, sadly...but it's a good thing they don't know she has the 6 tails." Naruto said.

"They wouldn't dare do to me what they did to you. Because I WILL fight back."

"No, Sakura-chan. That's the one thing you won't do." Naruto said firmly.

"Oh? And why is that?"

"The last thing that needs to happen is for you to give them a reason to hate us. By us, I mean you and me. you said Karma is a two way street, well lashing out at them will only fuel their anger which will get the councils involved. My dad could very well be removed from office if not executed for letting in a second Jinchuriki without the approval of the council. It would ruin not only you and your surrogate family, but me and my family as well. Just please. If they do start to treat you badly, ignore it and try to get away. Don't engage them." Naruto explained seriously.

Sakura wanted to protest, but she knew he was right and took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay, Naruto-kun...I won't do a thing. I trust your judgement so I'll go along with what you think is best."

"Thank you, Sakura-chan." Naruto smiled sadly.

"It still isn't fair though..." Sakura insisted.

"I know it isn't...but the best thing to do is to not give into them." Naruto said.

"Yea, you're right..." Sakura sighed before putting a hand on his shoulder. "And hey...if you do ever wanna talk more, I am a good listener."

Naruto looked back at her with sad eyes, but nodded. "Okay Sakura-chan. Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Sakura smiled.

Ding-dong. Went the doorbell.

"Now who could that be?" Matilda thought as she went to go check.

She opened the door and in the doorway stood a police officer with black hair and dark eyes. "I demand to speak with Minato." He said with authority.

"He's still in the hospital." Matilda replied. Her eyes narrowed as she recognized exactly who this man was, and if it was up to her, he would never be a welcome guest in this house.

"In that case I'll need to speak to the other woman in charge of this house." The man said as he tried to take a step inside only to be blocked by Matilda.

"Now why do you need to go intimidating a sick woman?" Matilda asked.

"Move aside please." The man ordered.

"The law states that without a warrant a Police Officer may not enter the premise of private property without an invitation. And it'll be a cold day before I invite you in, Fugaku Uchiha." Matilda all but spat.

"You will respect me." Fugaku growled.

"Respect is given to those who earn it, not those who demand it." Matilda shot back.

"Naruto...who is that?" Sakura asked.

"Fugaku Uchiha. Head of the Clan Council, head of the Uchiha clan and chief of police...and a pain in my families ass." Naruto all but growled.

"You'd do well to watch your language when speaking to your superiors, boy. They might get the wrong impression." Fugaku spat at Naruto.

"In case you've forgotten. This compound is protected by the ANBU. Not your Police." Naruto stated. Making Fugaku's vein bulge.

"Is that a threat? Boy." Fugaku growled.

"Just a statement. Sir..." Naruto growled back.

The two stared each other down for quite a while. Enough to even make Sakura start to get nervous.

She almost sighed in relief when Fugaku blinked first.

"This is a waste of my time. I'm off to see your father. The next time I see you it had better be with a better attitude, brat. Perhaps your mother can teach you in the meantime." Fugaku said as he turned to leave.

"At least my mother knows how to treat people right." Naruto spat.

Fugaku didn't acknowledge his response as he kept walking until he reached the gate leading outside the compound and vanished from sight.

"Asshole." Sakura spat.

"Indeed." Matilda agreed. "But he has a great deal of power in this village and we need him on our side."

"I think that power has gone to his head." Sakura said.

"He's an Uchiha. Any power would go to his head." Naruto spat as he returned deeper inside his home.

Matilda sighed. "Sadly, he's right. The ones that doesn't seem to be that way are his sons, Itachi and Sasuke."

"Itachi is alright, but Sasuke is just as big of a prick as his father." Naruto spat.

Sakura just looked on in confusion and uncertainty. 'Do I really want to live in this village?' She thought.

"God, it's got me all pissed off." Naruto muttered to himself.

"How about you two go to the arcade to wind down? I'll bring you both some snacks and soda." Matilda suggested.

"Arcade?" Sakura stopped to ask. "You have an arcade in this house?" Sakura asked.

"In the basement." Naruto said emotionlessly. Truth was, it was a gift from his parents to him, who couldn't go to the arcade after school to make friends since the owner was a demon hater. So they bought a couple of machines for their son to play with in the wreck room. In the hopes that one day he would have some friends to bring over and show it to one day. And until today, all he had to show it to was the bratty kids of Daimyo's and a few other Lords. All of whom made a point of saying that their game room was bigger.

"Come on, I'll show you." Naruto said.

Sakura nodded and followed Naruto downstairs to the basement.

They reached the end of the stairs and turned left at the bar/theater lounge, where Naruto opened up a double door to a dark room and flipped the switches on the walls. The multicolored lights of the arcade games lit up before the house lights did and the duo found themselves facing a legitimate arcade of games to play. Face Blasters 2, Crazy Canoe, Frogs-Snakes-Slugs, Road Fighter V, Kid Pac-Man, House of the Nearly-Undying, Scrabble, and many more.

"Sweet Sage!" Sakura gasped out in amazement. "What doesn't this house have?!"

"A mini train and a slide. Dad said that he didn't want me to grow lazy moving from one place to another." Naruto said as he pulled out a coin from a nearly bin with the Namikaze four point circle surrounding the Uzumaki spiral.

"Here, the machines eject all coins as soon as they accept them, so you'll never run out." Naruto informed.

"That's just awesome..." Sakura said in awe. She might never want to leave this house now.

"You can keep that coin, we make them for nothing. That way you can always play these games. That is, if you want to..." Naruto said, being reminded of his lonely childhood after today.

"Are you kidding?" Sakura asked, making Naruto hesitate at the fear of being alone again. "All around the nations I hold the highest scores for all of these games. You couldn't pull me away from here!" She smiled brightly.

'Never mind.' Naruto thought happily. "High scores? You obviously haven't played against me then." Naruto challenged.

"Is that a challenge?" Sakura asked innocently.

"I don't know..." Naruto said as he swaggered up to get right in Sakura's face. "Is it?" He smirked.

'Oh my god...he's right in my face...' Sakura blushed.

'Kiss him.' Saiken teased.

Naruto held another coin right up in between their faces. "Show me what you've got." He smirked.

Sakura looked at the coin and smirked before grabbing it. "You're on, Fox boy."

"Ladies first, Slug girl." Naruto smirked back.

"Don't mind if I do."

---

After a whole two hours, they were dead even in Kid Pac-Man. tied up 9 games apiece and this one would determine the winner of the whole thing.

"You look kinda tired, Slug girl. Feel like slowing down?" Naruto teased.

"Hell, no Fox boy. I'm just getting serious." Sakura shot back.

Sakura was so close. All she needed was the last power pellet and she'd win the whole-

BLONK

"SHIT!" Sakura cursed.

"Ha ha, oh no, you almost had it..." Naruto said with fake sympathy. "You just needed that one power pellet and ooooooohhhh..."

"Yea yea, yuk it up..." Sakura grumbled.

"Oh, I will yuk it up." Naruto smirked as he started high fiving a million angels. "Hail to the King, baby."

"I gotta say...no one has ever been able to beat me at this game..." Sakura said softly.

Naruto stopped high fiving a million angels to look at her. "Well you know. Spend your afternoons at home, waiting for your dad to come home to train you and you end up getting pretty good at these games." Naruto said.

"I figured." Her sad frown turned into a bright smile. "I gotta say, this is the best challenge I've ever had. It was always so boring beating those scrubs in the public arcades in my travels that no one had ever given me a challenge before. But you..." She said as she started walking up to him. "You were by far the best and I'm proud that I lost for once."

"Tell me about it. Those sons of lords I talked to you about could never play for crap. Apparently their arcades were so big because they'd play a game once, lose, and then never play again." Naruto chuckled.

Sakura giggled. "Well that aside, I think you deserve a reward."

'Ooooh what are you going to give him?' Saiken asked.

'Hmm...I'm not sure honestly...'

'A kiss maybe?'

'Now why would I do that? I still don't know him well enough.'

'I'm not talking about locking your lips with him. Just a friendly peck on his cheek. Nothing wrong with that, is there?'

Sakura thought it over and she had to admit that Saiken had an interesting point. Besides, she kinda wanted to anyway.

'Ehh...what the hell? It's just a peck on the cheek.'

"What kind of reward?" Naruto asked.

"Close your eyes so I can get it for you." Sakura smiled.

"Wait, hold on. I've got a great idea." Naruto said.

"Like what?" Sakura asked.

Naruto held up his finger for Sakura to wait one second as he ran into the closet and pulled out a little spinning dial on a board.

"What the heck is that?" Sakura asked.

"The Wheel of Punishment." Naruto declared. "Something the Fire Daimyo's left behind a few years ago after the Great Gathering of Lords party at my house. He made all us kids of lords pay games with this as the penalty."

"And... what are the chosen penalties?" Sakura asked.

"Well it's got a variety of options. Reveal your darkest secret, wear donkey ears the rest of the night, eat something nasty of the winner's choice, go find dog poo to step in, kiss someone of the winner's choice, jump in a pool fully clothed, strip naked, be the winner's cup bearer, and a few others I can't remember off the top of my head." Naruto said. "Poor Resly Crinkle. His father still makes him wear donkey ears every time the Daimyo's son comes to visit."

"Uh huh...I'm...not sure I wanna do that for a couple of reasons." Sakura said hesitantly as she stared at the strip naked option.

'It's still got that kiss option though.' Seiken pointed out.

'That's true, but with my luck, I'd get the naked one.'

"Well we don't have to you if you don't want to. I just thought it could be a fun little thing we do. Every time we beat each other at these games, the loser has to spin the wheel." Naruto said.

'The loser, huh?' Sakura thought. the possibilities if he lost were endless. Then she came up with an idea. "Well if we do that, then we each gotta do it for every time we lost."

"Oh, you wanna do it like that huh? Fine by me. 5 spins for you and 4 spins for me. And you go first." Naruto said.

"Haaa...fine." Sakura sighed. She gave the spinner a quick twirl, hoping to land on everything BUT strip.

The dial began to slow its spin, going over dog poo, donkey ears, strip naked, and finally landing on...

"Jump in a pool." Naruto declared as the dial rested on that exact spot.

"Eh...could have been worse I suppose. So, let's make a list of everything we gotta do after we've taken our spins." Sakura suggested.

"Oh no. You gotta do the punishment now, in order." Naruto said.

"But I just got out of the bath!" Sakura complained. Literally, not 3 hours ago.

"You still gotta do it." Naruto smirked.

"Oh, fine...a deals a deal." Sakura sighed as they both made their way upstairs, Naruto carrying the board.

After a few moments, they made their way to the deck of the pool where Sakura was able to get a much better look at it now.

"Will nothing in this house cease to amaze me?" She asked as she viewed the sparkling clear water, the faux rock waterfall that went into the pool, diving board and a large water slide.

"Yea, it's cool, ain't it? Well, hop to it." Naruto smirked.

"Yea, yea..." Sakura sighed before making her way to the diving board. She climbed on and did a few jumps before jumping off the board, doing a couple of flips in the air that ended with a graceful dive into the water.

"Damn...she's got great diving skills..." Naruto said in awe just as she resurfaced.

"That wasn't so bad." Sakura said as she swam to the stairs and walked out of the pool, her clothes complete soaked and clinging to her body like plastic wrap. "You're turn."

"Alright." Naruto said as he spun the wheel and it landed on...

"Dog poop." Sakura smirked.

"Crap." Naruto cursed.

"You're right, it is." Sakura laughed.

Naruto grumbled as he walked back inside his house and down the hallway to the front door, followed by Sakura who was dropping wet.

"Hey kids." Kushina said as she watched them walk by and saw Sakura dripping wet.

"What are you doing?"

"Punishment game. Gotta go find some dog poo for Naruto to step in." Sakura explained.

"Ah, I see. Carry on, just wash your feet before you re-enter the house." Kushina said.

"Will do." Sakura smiled as she and Naruto went down the hallway, only to be greeted by Tsunade and Shizune being invited into the house.

"Sakura, we're here. Why are you soaking wet?" Tsunade asked with curiosity.

"We're playing the Punishment game. Every time one of us loses to a game, we have to spin the dial and do the punishment it says on the board. I got jump in the pool fully clothed and Naruto got Step in Dog Poo." Sakura snickered at the last part.

"Uh huh...well, alright then. Have fun." Tsunade said.

The two of them walked out the door and onto the street. "So, where are we going?"

"The Inuzuka compound. If I know one place that has a lot of dog crap, it's there. They train ninja dogs." Naruto grumbled.

"Ah, good thinking." Sakura said.

"Come on, let's get this over with." Naruto said as he took off in a ninja sprint down the road, followed closely behind by Sakura. They passed by the Hyuga compound, the Aburame compound, and finally the Inuzuka compound where Naruto held up the hand signal that told Sakura to freeze.

Sakura and Naruto came to a stop and looked upon the compound before them. "So, this is it I take it?"

"Yup. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any poop on the streets, so we're gonna have to sneak in." Naruto groaned.

"Losers first." Sakura smirked.

"Who's a loser?" Came a voice behind them.

Naruto and Sakura turned around to see a boy with a puppy on his head, with two dark red markings under his eyes and a hood that made him look like he had a mane.

"Oh uh... hey Kiba." Naruto said sheepishly.

"What are you doing here? You know my clan doesn't like your family." Kiba asked before eying Sakura. "And who's this?" He asked coyly.

"I'm Sakura. Ever hear of the punishment game?" She asked.

"A few times. That's where you keep punching each other in the arm until you flinch. Then you get punched twice for flinching." Kiba said.

"That's one of the options yes. He landed on dog crap so...that's why we're here." Sakura stated.

"Is that so?" Kiba smirked. "Well you've come to the right place. Allow me to escort you inside." He said with sarcastic curtsy.

"Gee...thanks a lot..." Naruto grumbled.

Kiba led the two of them into the compound, earning a few disgusted looks from some of the clansmen. Even after saving the Leaf from Gaara and the One Tails, he was still widely branded as a demon, even though, a lot of people had changed their tune.

"Don't mind them. They're just dogs growling." Kiba said.

"Oh, so you guys use dog puns on your own clan too?" Naruto said sarcastically.

"Hey, we don't bow to dumb jokes. We're always testing for weaknesses to exploit. That's how we determine who is the pack leader around here." Kiba said as he led them through to the kennels. Where the chicken wire playpen was absolutely filled with puppies.

"Aw! They're so adorable..." Sakura gushed. she always had a soft spot for puppies.

"You like them? Go on and pet them. They could use some affection." Kiba said.

"Can I really?" Sakura asked with sparkling eyes.

"Yup. Have at it." Kiba smiled.

Sakura squealed before hopping over the chicken wire, where all the puppies came rushing towards here and covering her with affection.

Sakura giggled as the puppies all licked her face and nuzzled her affectionately. "Ohhh...I want one so bad..."

"Where did you meet this girl? I've never seen the pups so happy." Kiba asked.

Naruto looked at Kiba with suspicion. "I met her out in Tanzuka when I was looking for the Sannin Tsunade to help my Dad. Turns out she is her apprentice."

"EH?! She's the apprentice of a Sannin?!" Kiba exclaimed, having heard the tales of the Slug Princess. "Isn't she that famous medic with the boobs so big you could lose one of these puppies in them?" Kiba gestured to the puppies playing in the pen.

"Yea, that's her." Naruto nodded.

"My cousins have told me all about her. The horny devil dogs." Kiba grumbled.

"Yea...but Sakura-chan is nothing like Tsunade. She has a temper, but she's like a complete polar opposite." Naruto praised.

'Sakura-chan?' Kiba thought. "How so?"

"It took me a whole week to get Tsunade to agree to come save my dad while Sakura-chan was willing to head here to help us right from the start without even knowing who I was or who my family was. She is kind, caring, sweet, and above all else, smart. But I learned the hard way to never piss her off." Naruto listed off as he watched Sakura from where he was standing.

Kiba looked at Naruto, who was watching Sakura with an expression he had never seen from him before. It could only mean one thing and he was smart enough to realize it. "You really like her, don't you?" He smirked.

"Well yea. She's my friend." Naruto said.

"Dude...believe it or not, but I think of you as my friend. Hell, just about our entire class thinks of you as a friend now. Even Sasuke has a newfound respect for you after the Chunin Exams." Kiba admitted.

"Oh yeah right. Thanks for the bullshit, dog breath." Naruto said.

"Hey I'm serious. Ya beat up a 100 meter tall Sand Demon and suddenly you're everyone's friend." Kiba said. "Even I gotta give credit where credit is due."

"Yeah right." Naruto scoffed.

"Fine, don't believe me you freakin' loner. But I think I'll hang and around you two today. Be funny as Hell to watch the so called Prank Prince faces these so called punishments." Kiba decided.

"Whatever floats your boat." Naruto shrugged.

"So, is "Sakura-chan" seeing anybody or what?"

"Um...I don't think so. Why?" Naruto asked.

"Well I wouldn't want to let a babe like that slip through my fingers, now would I?" Kiba smirked while Akamaru yipped in approval atop of his head.

"Hell no! She'd never go out with a jerk like you!" Naruto snapped.

Kiba smirked, sensing a challenge. "And who would she go out with? You?"

Naruto then stepped right into Kiba's face. "Maybe." He huffed.

"Is that a spine I see on you?" Kiba mocked.

"Kiss my ass, dog breath."

"Maybe if it was Sakura-chan's." Kiba smirked, right as Naruto slugged him in the teeth.

Kiba reeled back and grabbed Naruto by the collar while Naruto cocked back his fist to give the Inuzuka heir another knuckle sandwich.

"Oh my god, Kiba, this one licked my cheek. Can I keep him?" Sakura gushed obliviously as she walked up to them carrying a black and white spotted puppy in her arms. The boys pushed themselves off of one another in the hopes that Sakura didn't see them fighting.

"This little guy is so adorable...he just curled up and fell asleep on me..." Sakura said lovingly towards the puppy in her arms.

"Hey that's great. But no, I'm afraid those puppies aren't for sale. Our clan trains them up to be ninja dogs, not house pets." Kiba said.

"Aww…" Sakura pouted as she gave the mutt more kisses on the head.

"Come on, let's have Naruto fulfill his punishment. That ought to cheer you up." Kiba smiled.

"Yeah…" Sakura agreed, making Naruto grumbled. Sakura then put the puppy back in his play pen with the others. It broke her heart to see all of their adorable little paws pressed up against the chicken wire, trying to get her attention.

Kiba led Naruto out to the back of the shed where a large tub that absolutely REEKED of dog poop was waiting for them.

"Now we make a point to keep the kennels and the yards clean. Then we harvest the dog poop for fertilizer to make some extra cash on the side. But thankfully we've got a fresh batch, just for you." Kiba smirked.

"Oh no..." Naruto grumbled, making Sakura snicker.

"I did my punishment so you gotta do yours." Sakura smirked.

"And you gotta do 4 more after this." Naruto reminded her.

"Oh I know." Sakura replied.

Naruto started walking towards the tub and was instantly met with the smell. It made him gag and wretch just being near it.

"50 Ryo says he chicken's out." Kiba said to Sakura.

"100 says he'll do it." Sakura countered.

"200 says I'll stick my whole foot in it." Naruto called back.

"300 if you put both feet in." Kiba countered.

"I wanna see your money first. Both of you." Naruto said.

Sakura gently set down the sleeping puppy and pulled out her coin purse and produced 300 Ryo, Kiba doing the same.

"600 Ryo, here I come." Naruto said as he grit his teeth, held his breath, and jumped into the tub of puppy poop.

Sakura couldn't help but gag. "Oh god that's gross..."

Naruto then stomped his foot like he was crushing grapes. Just to let there be no doubt in anyone's mind.

"Pay me, bitches." He smirked.

"Here you go, poopy toes." Kiba laughed as he handed over his cash.

"H-here...urgh..." Sakura gagged as she handed Naruto her money.

Naruto smirked as he took the money and stepped out of the tub, his feet and his sandals were absolutely caked in the stuff.

"O-oh god..." Sakura turned green before taking off to a nearby bush to yak up her lunch.

"You know...if she wasn't doing it. I would be." Naruto said. "You got a hose I could use?"

"Yes, we do. By all means." Kiba coughed.

"Thanks. Where is it?"

"Behind this shed."

"Sweet." Naruto said before he went around the shed to hose his feet off.

"That kid has issues..." Kiba deadpanned before hearing Sakura hock up a wad of bile and spit.

"Yea, no kidding..."

"And what's your story? Everything I've heard about Lady Tsunade, she doesn't strike me as the type to willingly be a mother." Kiba asked.

"That's...a rather long story really." Sakura said hesitantly, remembering back to when Naruto told her not to reveal her jinchuriki status.

"Well I'm not gonna pry if it's too personal. Still though, I'd like to get to know you. Do you have family somewhere else? Are you living here from now on? Do you have a boyfriend?"

"My only family was killed by the 6 tails, probably, and no I don't."

"Whoa. Killed by the 6 Tails? I'm sorry. My family lost a lot of members to the 9 Tails 12 years ago. Along with my dad." Kiba admitted.

"I heard bits and pieces of the 9 tails attacking, but not the whole story." Sakura admitted.

"Well, what do you know about Jinchuriki's?" Kiba asked.

"Everything. Even about Naruto being one and his mother being the former Jinchuriki to the 9 tails."

"Whoa, that's not exactly a subject you talk about so casually around here." Kiba said.

"Why not?" Sakura asked.

"Because it's...a very touchy subject around here and it can set some people off." Kiba informed.

"Right, I understand." Sakura sighed.

"Yeah just...just be careful who you mention it to." Kiba said as Naruto came back around the corner.

"Alright. Next punishment." Naruto said as he clapped his hands together.

"Oh, if I must." Sakura sighed as she grabbed the board that was resting on the shed. She spun the spinner and it landed on...

"Donkey ears?" Kiba asked, growing intrigued.

"Oh, that's fine. Better than my first one." Sakura shrugged.

"What the Hell are donkey ears supposed to mean?" Kiba asked.

"I gotta wear some fake donkey ears on my head for the rest of the night." Sakura said simply.

"Well I don't have any donkey ears back home. So we'll have to go buy some." Naruto said.

"I got ya covered there. I'll meet you back at your place." Kiba offered, knowing that many shops refuse to let Naruto in.

"What? You don't have to do that." Naruto said.

"Call it, my burning desire to see this one in donkey ears." Kiba said.

"Um...okay?" Sakura said, a little weirded out.

Kiba just gave her a knowing look and Sakura realized what he was getting at.

"Ooooh...okay." Sakura nodded before handing Naruto back the board. "Since my punishment is delayed, you can take your turn now."

"Fine. Naruto said as he spun the wheel of punishment and it landed on...

"Reveal my darkest secret?" Naruto said.

"Oh my...um...you wanna say it here or wait till we get home?" Sakura asked.

"Say it when I get home, and preferably without Kiba hearing it."

"Okay." Sakura nodded.

"Well then, you two make your way back and I'll catch up. You want me to bring some others over?" Kiba asked.

"No, don't do that." Naruto said.

'I'm totally gonna do that.' Kiba thought.

"Alright, I won't do that." Kiba said.

Kiba led them out of the compound and parted ways with them for the moment to go fetch the Donkey ears.

Sakura and Naruto walked back to the Namikaze mansion in silence. Whatever Naruto's secret was, he was stewing about it in extreme concentration. They made it back inside and Naruto led her back down to the basement bar area, where he had her sit down on the bar stool while he poured them both a hard glass of cherry vanilla cola.

"This is hard for me to say, Sakura-chan. I hope you know that I'm only telling you because I absolutely trust you."

Sakura couldn't help but smile at that. Not about the secret, but about the fact that he said that he trusts her. "That means a lot to me to hear you say that..."

"No worries..." Naruto said as he took a deep breath.

"My deepest...darkest secret is..."

Sakura gulped.

"That I am the jinchuriki to the Nine Tailed Fox." He deadpanned.

Sakura sweat dropped. "That's...nothing new..."

"Well it's all I've got." Naruto said as he took a sip of his drink and Sakura could see him smirking at her.

"Oh is it now? I don't buy it. Spill, now." Sakura demanded.

"Well what did you expect to hear?"

"Oh, I don't know. Like you did something terrible that you regret, you took something and sold it for money, you have a crush on the most unexpected person in the world, you've done some questionable things, shit like that."

"Maybe some sick prank I once pulled?" Naruto suggested.

"Yea, now you get it." Sakura nodded. 'Damn...thought he'd go for it.'

"Let's see..." Naruto thought as he swished his drink around.

"There was this one time I was in class, like maybe 3rd grade and I had to pee really bad. But the teacher wouldn't let me go. I begged him, but he wouldn't let me go. Said that I should have gone during break." Naruto began.

"Okay, go on." Sakura urged.

"So naturally I peed my pants. I wanted to get up to go to the bathroom and try to clean myself up, but the teacher caught on to this and had me stand in the middle of the class in front of everyone. Just so that I could be an 'example' to others." Naruto thought back bitterly.

"Wow, that's fucked up..." Sakura growled.

"Oh yeah. My dad actually got involved. Saying that the teacher went too far. The headmaster said that this teacher had been known to do this to other students in the past. So he got a few days suspension and a warning." Naruto took a big gulp of his drink.

"That's it?! If he has a history of this then freaking fire his ass!" Sakura exclaimed in anger. "Woow..."

"Technically he had warned me repeatedly throughout the year. That was his excuse anyway. But I got my revenge." Naruto said.

"Okay, I wanna hear this. What did you do?"

"Oh, well I had this brilliant plan in place. Real simple and elegant too. I'd set up a high pressure aerosol can of yellow paint underneath his desk. I even got my mom to help me with remote detonation jutsu. I told her that I wanted to get a leg up on practice. Anyway, so the paint can would have exploded on my command, covering the jerk teacher's crotch and make it look like he peed his pants with paint."

"That's not the end of the story though, is it?" Sakura asked.

"Oh no. See it was good, but I never settle for anything less than great with my pranks. And there is one more half to this story." Naruto smirked.

"Kirito Yakamora, one of the many bullies that used to pick on me."

"You framed him, didn't you?" Sakura asked.

"Aw, way to spoil the story." Naruto pouted.

"Sorry...I have a habit of figuring things out quick." Sakura said sheepishly.

"Well whatever, might as well fill you in on the whole back story." Naruto shrugged. "Kirito was one of those big chubby kids that bullied everyone that wouldn't act as a subordinate to him. In my class, that left only me and Sasuke-Teme to oppose him."

"Sasuke...that police guy's son, right?" Sakura asked.

"Yup. He's also an asshole, never forget that." Naruto pointed out.

"Right...anyway, continue."

"Anyway. Back in the Academy, he kept mostly to himself, even if he was always doing everything better than me and scooping up all the girls for his fan club." Naruto grumbled.

"Right, but getting back to Kirito..." Sakura said.

"Right, right, anyway, Kirito would always pick on me. Mostly because I was the Hokage's son and he thought that I thought that I was better than everyone else. So he and his cronies would beat me up. And I had to not fight back as much as possible since I didn't need any worse of a reputation. Ya know?"

"Understandable."

"Yeah, so this made them pick on me more. Until the peeing incident of course, when the teasing got even worse since he finally actually had something on me."

"So... your revenge backfired partially."

"No, my revenge didn't backfire. Just hold on, I'm getting to it." Naruto insisted.

"It just so happens, that on the night I snuck into my classroom to plant the paint bomb, I found my teacher's school rule book on his desk. And believe you me I wouldn't have skimmed through it if I didn't have to wait inside the classroom, waiting for the janitor to finish cleaning the hallway so that I could finish my own work." Naruto explained. "I found the passage about student expulsions and it gave me an evil idea."

"Ooooh...do tell." Sakura said, now sitting on the edge of her seat.

"So instead of just pulling the prank the next day and getting my revenge, I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone. So I bided my time and left the paint bomb under the desk. Months went by and the memory of my peed pants faded away. I just played the model student for all those months, let the other kids get in trouble and let my teacher set his sights on them. Until finally with only two months left in the semester my moment came." Naruto said deviously.

"Kirito had gotten in trouble with our teacher, probably for talking back. So the teacher was on his case that day and had Kirito come over to the front of the board. I waited until Kirito was right behind the desk with the teacher. The teacher then looked over elsewhere with his crotch facing the desk. Kirito put his hand underneath the desk for some reason. Months of patience and I triggered the paint bomb." Naruto smirked.

"Oh god! Oh god! Tell me what happened!" Sakura demanded giddily for more juicy bits

"A huge bang went off, the whole class jumped, yellow paint went everywhere below their waists, and when the two stumbled out from behind the desk they were covered in the stuff. The entire class laughed harder than when I peed my pants."

"Did Kirito get expelled?"

"No, but by the way the teacher was acting, he wanted to kill Kirito. He started manhandling Kirito after he saw the yellow paint on the boy's fingers. And the whole class backed up that they saw Kirito stick his hand underneath the desk before the bomb went off. So the teacher took Kirito right down to the Headmaster's office. I had to bite my fist to stop myself cheering." Naruto smiled at the memory. "But anyway, apparently when they got to the Headmaster's office, he saw bruise marks on Kirito's arm. So they fired the teacher and Kirito merely got held back a year since they couldn't prove he didn't pull that prank." Naruto said as he poured himself another glass. "And that's my deep dark secret. I pulled the greatest prank of the year, got my jerk teacher fired, and held my bully back a year."

"That's freaking awesome." Sakura all but laughed.

"Yup. And besides the demon that lives in my stomach. You are the only other person who knows it." Naruto said.

"Knows what?" A girl asked, making Naruto and Sakura look over to see the group of kids having entered the basement.

"W-what the..." Naruto gasped out. "Kiba! I told you not to!"

"Well I did it any-Sweet mother! Look at all of this!" Kiba exclaimed as he eyed the wonder that was a bar and arcade. It was bigger and better than the one in town.

"Woah...impressive Naruto." The blonde haired girl whistled.

"Damn man...sweet game room." The pineapple haired one agreed.

"H-h-hello, Naruto-kun..." A meek voiced brunette girl spoke.

"Wow man, is that Road Fighter V?" A chubby boy exclaimed.

"Impressive collection." The kid in a trench coat and sunglasses praised emotionlessly.

"What the Hell are you guys doing in my house? Who let you in?" Naruto asked.

"Kiba said we were invited." Ino said.

"I'm proving a point, Naruto." Kiba said firmly before turning to the group. "He has it set in his mind that we don't like him as a friend."

"What?" The blonde haired girl exclaimed, with hurt evident in her tone. "Naruto...why would you think that? That hurts our feelings for you to think that."

"Yeah Naruto. That hurts. I'm so hurt that I'm going to go mooch off your private arcade. Like a true friend would." Kiba said before entering the game room, followed by all the other guys.

"Troublesome." Sakura heard one of them mutter as they entered the game room and started playing Crazy Canoe.

"Well it's not like I've had a lot of evidence to the contrary." Naruto said as he decided to pour his remaining "guests/friends" a drink.

He then felt a soft hand on his shoulder. he turned to see the blond girl looking at him sadly. "Naruto...We know we were wrong in the way we've treated you and we want to make it up to you anyway we can...that comes from the bottom of our hearts..."

Naruto blushed at Ino's soft touch and gentle face growing nearer to hers. Undenounced to him, a certain pinkette and brunette felt their blood pressures rising.

"Oh! Sakura I almost forgot." Kiba said as he tossed her the donkey ears.

Sakura blushed as Naruto and both these new girls saw her have to put on the ridiculous looking brown donkey ears.

"Oh right! We didn't finish that yet." Naruto realized.

"Finish what?" The blonde girl asked.

"Punishment game, Ino!" Kiba called.

"Ooh, fun. What's it for?" Ino asked.

"For beating each other at Kid Pac-Man." Sakura said simply.

"I'm sorry, you are...?"

"Sakura Haruno. Just moved here today."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ino Yamanaka and this is Hinata Hyuga." Ino introduced herself and her brunette friend.

"Where did...you come from if you don't mind me asking..." Hinata asked nervously.

"Well, I've been a nomad for 13 years of my life, but originally I'm from the Hidden Star Village." Sakura informed.

"Is that so. What made you leave?" Ino asked.

"My...parents were killed by the 6 Tails..."

The two girls gasped. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Ino said.

"I was taken in by Tsunade Senju and trained by her as well. I was only a baby when it all happened."

"Lady Tsunade? That's incredible." Ino said.

"How come she took you in? that doesn't sound like something she'd do." Hinata asked with curiosity.

"Oh...um...it's because..." Sakura looked to Naruto for answers. Could she trust these other kids with a sensitive secret as hers?

"You said that she took pity on you since you were just a baby when your parents died." Naruto said.

"Really? Are you sure it isn't because you're the Jinchuriki for the 6 tails?" Ino asked, earning fearful looks from both Naruto and Sakura. "I can read minds."

"This isn't going to become public knowledge, is it?" Naruto asked Ino seriously. For he knew of her infamous reputation as a gossip queen.

"No...I can tell that this is a very serious thing that should STAY BETWEEN ALL OF US!" Ino yelled out to the others in warning. "But seriously, I may be a queen of gossip, but I know how the townsfolk will react to having a second Jinchuriki in the village."

"Thank you..." Naruto sighed in relief. "Thank you so much..."

"Eh...don't worry about it." Ino waved off. "Consider it part of our repayment to you for everything we've done."

"Consider it forgiven then." Naruto said Ino held up her cherry vanilla cola on the rocks with a lime wedge. "To new friends." She said, inviting everyone seated at the bar to join her.

"To new friends." Ino and the others present toasted.

Naruto gulped down the entire drink, and for the first time since Ino and the others had arrived, he smiled.

'As I looked upon the solemn young man with a guarded heart, I felt my own heart race as he projected that dazzling smile of his so rarely bestowed upon anyone else. I knew then that the gap between us, once as great as the vast ocean, had shrunken.' Hinata thought to herself.

"So, what's the 6 Tails like?" Ino asked.

"Actually, she's really nice. Very kind and sweet. She actually is very sorry she killed my parents. Turns out, she was only defending herself when the ninja of my village attacked her. By the way, she's a giant 6 tailed slug." Sakura explained.

"A slug? Ew..." Ino said.

"Hey, she's cool. And she gives me a lot of chakra to heal patients. Slugs are actually adept in healing abilities."

"Doesn't make them any less slimy." Ino said.

"Eh...you get used to it after a while." Sakura shrugged.

"Oh Sakura-chan..." Naruto grinned as he pushed the board in front of her.

"Ugh..." Sakura groaned before spinning the spinner. It spun around until it landed on...

"Oh god..." Sakura blushed.

"Oh...bad luck for you..." Ino sweat dropped.

"S-s-strip n-naked?" Hinata said aloud.

"Oh come on! You already saw me once, do I REALLY need to reveal myself again?!" Sakura protested without thinking.

"You did what?!" Kiba exclaimed from the game room, causing him to crash his virtual canoe into a riverside schoolhouse.

Sakura's face turned beet red. "N-no! I mean that he saw me when he walked in on me while I was taking a bath!" Sakura defended.

"Oh, that's different." Ino said.

"But still! Does it really have to be twice in one day?!" Sakura continued to protest.

"You're the one who wanted to have multiple punishments." Naruto reminded her with a smirk. "This could have ended with you jumping in my pool."

"Ugh..."Sakura groaned in protest. "Fine, but the others have to leave. Either that or we move to a different room-"

"Giggidy." Kiba smirked.

"-NO SEXUAL! Because I really don't want to show myself to everyone thank you."

"Wait, hold on a second, Forehead." Ino said.

"Forehead!?" Sakura exclaimed.

"You have a pool?" Ino asked.

"Yeah? And you don't?" Naruto asked. He thought for certain that all major clans had stuff like pools and whatever else.

"No. Most of our collective clan money goes to maintaining the essentials for all those living in the compound." Ino grumbled, having had this conversation many times with her father.

"Well it's only me and my parents who live in our compound. So I guess that leaves us some extra funds for stuff like pools and arcade machines." Naruto shrugged.

"Huh...how about that..." Hinata said.

"Well, back to me seeing Sakura-chan naked..." Naruto said.

"Maybe I'll take your eye as payment." Sakura grumbled.

Naruto gulped in fear.

"Yea, I already agreed to it so don't push your luck." Sakura growled. 'God I can't believe I'm about to do this...'

"Anyway, back to what I was saying. How about we all leave you to your punishment and we'll go take a dip in the pool. Then you two can meet us outside." Ino said.

"You never said anything about taking a dip in my pool." Naruto said.

"Well I implied it. Do you have a changing room?" Ino asked, causing Naruto to sigh.

"Right next to the pool is a shed with showers and a boy and girl changing room. Just follow the stone pathway through the garden." Naruto said.

"Awesome, come on you guys!" Ino called to the others. The others all moved away from their games and followed Ino out to the pool, leaving Sakura and Naruto alone.

"I really can't believe this is happening again..." Sakura groaned before she worked on removing her skirt.

"Wait, hold on." Naruto said as he walked over to the couch and turned the big comfy love chair around so that he could relax while getting to watch the show.

"Okay continue." He said as he leaned back and took a sip of his drink.

"You're just milking this as much as you can, aren't you..." Sakura's eyebrow twitched.

"Yup." Naruto grinned.

'Dohohohooo...you're lucky I have a crush on you...' Sakura thought as she dropped her skirt on the floor.

Next, she worked on unzipping her shirt and then remembered. 'Shit, I didn't wear a bra…damn it.' She thought as Naruto got a good look at her chest right below her collar bone.

'What's that?' Naruto thought as he swore that he saw familiar runes tattooed on Sakura's skin.

"Wait a second, stop." Naruto ordered, just as Sakura was ready to unzip fully just to get it over with.

'Oh thank god...' Sakura thought. "Why?"

"Those markings." Naruto pointed to Sakura's tattoo. "That's your seal keeping your tailed beast inside you, isn't it?" He said, leaning forward in interest.

"Huh?" Sakura looked down to see that most familiar seal. "Yea...it's the one Lady Tsunade used to seal Saiken in me."

"That's weird." Naruto said as he stood up and lifted up his own shirt. At first Sakura was embarrassed, but then saw what he was trying to show her, his own seal that appeared around his naval. A seal that looked remarkably similar.

"That's...the same as mine...sort of. Mine doesn't have those 5 markings."

"Woah, that's...really crazy."

"Lady Tsunade said that the second Hokage created this seal. Who placed it on you?"

"My dad. On the night of my birth..." Naruto said. The two just stood there in awe before Sakura remembered that she was standing in front of him half naked.

"Ah shoot, I should finish." She said.

"No, wait." Naruto held up his hand.

"What?" Sakura asked.

"That's good enough. I've seen enough." Naruto stated, turning his head away.

Surprisingly, Sakura was stunned at his sudden change of heart. The fact that he was so intent on her stripping earlier and now going against that made her chest warm up. He was acting like a real gentleman right now and that made her happy. Sakura sighed. 'He's so...what's the word? Chivalrous?'

'Yea, that's the word.' Saiken replied.

"Naruto..." She said softly.

"Just, put your clothes back on. Or just put a bathing suit on. You do have one, right?" Naruto asked.

"No, I don't." She said as she pulled her skirt back up.

"Did you go shopping or something?"

"When have I had time to do that? We always focused on stuff that would just cover me as we traveled. We never bothered to shop for swim wear."

"I don't know. I just thought that you did." Naruto shrugged.

"No, I never did..." Sakura admitted before zipping her top back up.

"My mom may have a spare."

"I doubt it would fit. She's taller than me."

"Yup." Naruto said as he put his glass away in the sink. "So come on, lets go ask her."

"Now hold off there, mister. You still have two more spins." Sakura smirked.

"Let's call it a break. I wanna go for a dip." Naruto said.

"Oh just spin it!" Sakura said as she spun it herself on his behalf. And it landed on...

"Jump into a pool. Can do." He smirked.

"With your clothes on." Sakura reminded. "Fine...whatever."

"Well since I already spun, you're turn." Naruto said.

"Alright." Sakura said before spinning the spinner. "Honestly I think I've done the worst one so-"

"Kiss someone of my choosing." Naruto said.

'Oh my god...I got the one I was hoping he'd get...dammit. He's so dim he wouldn't even think to choose himself.' Sakura thought sadly.

'Oh man. Who could I have her kiss that would be so embarrassing?' That giddily to himself.

'Ugh...you are such an idiot...' Kurama groaned.

'You got something to say?' Naruto asked.

'This is possibly the best opportunity you get her to kiss you, and you would rather embarrass her further? Really? Are you trying to make her hate you?'

'Now why would I... wait a minute...'

'Yes, for once in your life, think about it. This is a golden opportunity you're throwing away here.'

'Why do you even care?' Naruto thought.

'Fun fact. Our nervous systems are linked. In layman's terms, I feel what you feel. So I actually get something out of you experiencing pleasurable things.' The Kyuubi explained.

'So, wait...that means...you know exactly how I feel about her?'

'That's part of it, yes. But that's not what I was talking about.'

'What are you talking about?' Naruto questioned.

'Oh never mind. Look. Let's just say that I'll help you avoid doing stupid things when it benefits me and neither of us has to try to be each other's friend.' The Kyuubi thought.

'Works for me.' Naruto said.

'Good. Now...have her kiss you. Not someone else. You'll thank me later.'

'Gosh its taking him a long time to pick someone.' Sakura thought as she looked upon Naruto who had a blank and far off stare.

That's when Naruto snapped out of his stupor and looked Sakura dead in the eyes. "I want you-"

'Here it comes...' Sakura thought dreadfully.

"-to kiss-"

'Oh maaaan...'

"-me..."

'Dang it, I knew it...I knew he was too freaking dim to-' "Wait, what?" Sakura asked. She wasn't quite sure she heard him right. She saw the blush on Naruto's face as he tried to keep the serious look on his face.

"I, uh...I said...I want you to kiss...me..." Naruto repeated.

Sakura's eyes slowly went wide as that warm feeling she had in her chest once before returned, this time several times stronger.

"Y-you want me to...kiss...you...?" She breathed out. 'YES!' She thought with unbridled joy.

"Just on the cheek." He added. Not sure if he was ready for his first kiss. Or that he'd want to force it on anyone.

"Um...okay..." Then Sakura chuckled. "You know, that was originally going to be your reward from me, but you wanted to do it this way."

"What, seriously?" Naruto asked.

"Seriously." Sakura smiled.

The little irony fairy then punched Naruto right in his jewels.

She leaned her head forward and kissed his cheek. It wasn't a quick peck, but a tender and pasting one that seemed to make the two of them want even more.

After a few moments, Sakura pulled away, but still maintained a close proximity to him. "How was it?"

"It was..." 'The most amazing kiss I've ever had in my life.' "Really nice. Thank you." Naruto smiled.

"Just really nice, huh?" Sakura giggled, but mentally she was kinda hurt. 'Only really nice...? It felt so much better from my end...'

It wasn't very noticeable, but Naruto could see the tiniest bit of hurt in her eyes. Maybe she thought it was better than that, but how could he honestly tell her that?

"Um...can...I have one...?" Sakura asked shyly.

'Okay...so she does like me.' Naruto thought.

'So? You just gonna leave her hanging? Maybe get her on the forehead. Remember what she said about it?'

'No. Did she say anything?' Naruto thought.

'She said it was her most hated feature. She told you that back in Tanzuka.'

'Oh right. Thank God you remembered.' Naruto sighed.

'Don't mention it. If there's one thing I know from being in your mother, it's that you never keep a woman waiting. And right now, your Vixen is waiting for you.'

'My what?' Naruto asked.

"Naruto... I'm waiting..." Sakura pouted.

'You're fucking this up...'

"Is... everything oka-" Sakura froze when Naruto pulled her head down because she was taller than him and planted a kiss, right in the middle of her forehead

'H-he's...kissing my forehead...' Sakura thought while looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Never. Never has anyone, not even Tsunade or Shizune, done this before. She could feel fireworks going off in her body as her mind slowly started to turn into a blissful state of mush. It was a feeling unlike anything she had ever experienced before.

In that moment, she had snaked her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him. She wanted this moment to last as long as possible and she wanted to make sure that he wasn't going anywhere.

'Saiken...I'm falling for him hard now...' Sakura thought happily.

'So, I take it you're not going to wait a month then?'

'I don't know...it's...wow...'

Saiken just smiled. 'Then go get him my dear.'

Before Sakura could do anything, they heard a tapping on the glass and looked over to see Ino in a purple bathing suit waving at them.

Naruto pulled away, but remained in Sakura's grip. She didn't want to let go.

"I think they're waiting for us." Naruto said softly.

"Let them wait...just...do that again..." Sakura demanded softly, giving him a look that he couldn't possibly refuse.

"Y-you...like it that much?"

"I'm not going to lie...it was the best experience in my life..."

"R-really?" Naruto asked.

Sakura stood up and gave him one more peck on the cheek. "Really." She smiled before running out the door and urging Naruto to follow her to the pool.

---

Meanwhile, back at the hospital...

Minato was just watching some TV in his hospital bed, just getting through this night he had to sit through. He didn't see why he had to stay, but for the sake of keeping Tsunade even tempered he decided to suck it up and stay one more night. Especially since Tsunade and Shizune were getting started on Kushina's first physical therapy session. That's when he heard a tapping coming from his door.

"Enter." He said, wondering who could be visiting him in his sick bed. 'Nothing good.' He imagined.

The door flung open to see a noticeably irate Fugaku Uchiha.

"Hello Chief Uchiha." Minato spoke.

"You and I need to talk." He spoke with utmost authority.

"I don't suppose it could wait for me to return to my office the day after tomorrow? Once I've fully recovered and spent some time with my family. I have just woken up from I believe a 2 month coma." Minato said as he put away his book.

"I just received a complaint from the owner of Sport Track Shinobi footwear that Naruto entered her store illegally with a girl with pink hair. Saying that they refused to leave when asked, verbally threatening her and destroyed a few shelves of her merchandise."

Minato raised a quizzical eyebrow. "First off, it's not illegal for my son to enter a shop. Second, I highly doubt that he or Sakura would do anything of what you just said."

"Oh, so you know the second perpetrator as well?"

"She just arrived here today and doesn't know of our ways. She has been traveling with Lady Tsunade for the last 13 years and she is her student."

"Is that so? A shame that she has quickly associated with such riff raff. Perhaps she shall change her ways and become a promising shinobi for the village." Fugaku stated.

"That's my son you're talking about." Minato growled. "And if Tsunade's report of her work is anything to go by, she's more of a shinobi than almost half of the Uchiha clan."

Fugaku popped a vein on his forehead.

"Plus, it wouldn't surprise me of my son ends up dating this girl. They seem to be quite smitten with one another and I bet you by the end of the week, they'll be dating. So, that being said, I would advise you to leave those two alone if you value your job." Minato said sternly.

"I do not care for any low born girl, no matter who trained her, especially when it comes to dating my son." Fugaku snapped. "And you know very well that you have no authority to remove me from my position. This is not why I came here today."

"Then why did you come here, Fugaku? Because all I've seen you do is threaten me and my family with bogus charges that would get thrown out of court the second a judge laid their eyes on it. So I ask again, why are you really here?" Minato snapped. Fugaku then reached into his back pocket and pulled out a file folded in half and threw it on Minato's lap.

"And what is this?" Minato asked.

"Your forced resignation. Had you been in that coma of yours a day longer, the twin councils would have voted to remove you from power and instilled a new Hokage to take your place. Something we should have done the day of your coma in my mind, but no matter." Fugaku said as Minato thumbed through the papers, seeing the same registration form signed by the same council members over and over again, each one having more names than the last. On the list from the Clan council he saw Hirashi Hyuga, Shibi Aburame, Choza Akimichi, and...

"The new head of the Sarutobi clan signed this?" Minato said allowed in horror. The Sarutobis were his closest allies being the clan of the late 3rd Hokage.

"You're running out of friends, my Lord." Fugaku sneered. "Soon we won't need you to be in a coma to come to a consensus that you are unfit for command of the greatest shinobi village in the world."

Minato held back his rage. The cheek on this man, it was infuriating.

"And then what? You'll put an Uchiha in the Hokage office? And who might that be? You?" Minato snapped.

"Whoever is most fitting for the task. I just thought I'd give you some friendly advice. Soon everyone in the entire village will know the greatness of the Uchiha house and acknowledge it. I just prefer that you knew it first." Fugaku sneered.

"Not everyone, Fugaku." Minato bit back as one of the youngest ANBU opened the door for the Police Chief.

"Itachi, please show Police Chief Uchiha to the front entrance of the hospital." Minato smugly requested.

"As you wish, my Lord." Itachi replied.

"Chhh..." Fugaku grit his teeth, but didn't give either men the satisfaction of refusing their offer. Itachi then silently led him to the hospital entrance and Minato breathed a sigh of contempt.

'I'm more than certain he forged that document. I have known those clan heads since we were in the academy. There is no way they would turn against me.' He clenched his fist and anger. 'I would have Itachi or Kakashi in office before him...'

A moment later, Itachi appeared back by the Hokage's bedside.

"It is done, my Lord." Itachi reported.

"Thank you weasel. Sorry for using you like that." Minato sighed as he leaned back in bed.

"It's okay, my Lord. My father is the kind of man who needs a reminder every now and again of who is in charge." Weasel said.

"Yes, but for how long will I remain in charge?" Minato thought aloud as he threw the files onto a nearby night stand, out of his sight.

"Unfortunately, my lord...that document is legit. I checked it myself...I'm very sorry my lord."

"Damn it..." Minato cursed.

"We can send agents to the clan compounds to investigate their standing alliances now that you have awoken from your coma. I'm certain that many of them only voted because they lost hope that you would awaken in a timely manner and need a strong leadership head in place for the next village emergency." Weasel counseled.

"You can, but I'm afraid that there would be no change...so, I need to start looking for a successor."

"Sir, you don't mean..."

"I do. I've put in 13 years of my life into this job. Hoping to make a real difference outside of the battlefield. I've been met with nothing but bureaucracy and gridlocked politicians all trying to get the biggest piece of the pie." Minato grumbled. "It's wore me down and I'm exhausted..."

"Sir please, don't let any untrusting ears hear you say that." Weasel warned.

"Oh let them find out that they broke me. Let them feel satisfied about themselves. I've still got my family and enough accumulated wealth to laugh right with them when I retire. Until then they are stuck with me." Minato grumbled.

Minato sighed. "I have two possible candidates to take my position; Kakashi, and you."

"Sir?" Weasel said, a little shocked.

"I'd have preferred it to be my son, but I guess that makes me no better than Fugaku, huh?" Minato chuckled.

"No sir, all your decisions are in the best interest of the village, not just your own blood." Weasel protested.

"I wonder about that sometimes..." Minato mused. "Anyway, this still won't happen for at least three more years. I might even add Tsunade or Jiraiya to the roster of candidates by then. So don't worry about it." Minato said.

"I feel that you should know that you will always have myself and the ANBU by your side, even after you retire."

"I appreciate that, but you all will serve the village and the bearer of the Hokage mantel first and foremost. Remember that."

"Of course, My Lord." Itachi nodded.

---

Back at the Namikaze estate...

"So, do you understand your options?" Tsunade asked Kushina.

"I do and I agree with my husband on the physical training." Kushina said.

"I figured you would and honestly, that makes things easier on all of us." Tsunade smiled.

Matilda soon joined them with a tray of tea. "I got something to share, Lady Kushina. Something I think will bring you and Lady Tsunade great joy." She smiled.

"And what is that?" Tsunade asked politely.

"I went downstairs to check on the children and saw Naruto and Sakura holding each other and kissing." She beamed.

"Well shoot. That sounds like a reason to toast. Do you have any sake?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes, but I think wine is better for this occasion." Kushina smiled. "Matilda, can you run downstairs and fetch a bottle of the 41?"

"Of course, M'Lady." Matilda bowed before heading downstairs.

"Well hold on a second. How were they kissing?" Shizune asked.

"Sakura kissed Naruto on the cheek first and then he kissed her on the forehead. But they looked sooo in love..." Matilda gushed.

"Ooohhhh...my baby is growing up so fast..." Kushina gushed.

"Oh my god, that's so adorable." Shizune squealed.

"Matilda, be sure to bring over four glasses." Kushina ordered.

"Oh I don't think that would be appropriate, Ma'am. I am your servant after all." Matilda said, just in case Tsunade was one of those stuffy types that didn't approve of workers drinking with their employers, but Kushina would have none of it.

"Nonsense, you're my friend Matilda, just as much as you are my employee. Just because I pay you doesn't diminish our friendship." Kushina said.

"Enhances it, really." Matilda shrugged.

"There you go. Now chop, chop, please."

"Of course, M'Lady." Matilda smiled before leaving for the basement.

"You've got a very nice servant there." Tsunade said. "Wish the ones I had growing up were so nice."

"All of my servants are really." Kushina smiled. "Minato made sure of that."

Just then, Matilda returned almost as soon as she left. "You have a visitor, M'Lady." She said before a masked man with silver hair walked into the room.

"Well if it isn't little Kakashi! Come on in!" Kushina beamed.

"Lady Kushina. I'm 30 years old, can you please stop referring to me as 'Little Kakashi...'" Kakashi grumbled.

"Nope." Kushina grinned.

"Shall I fetch a 5th glass, M'Lady?" Matilda asked.

"Yes please." Kushina said.

"Actually that won't be necessary, my Lady. I'm not staying long." Kakashi said.

"Oh nonsense. You know you're more than welcome here anytime you wish. Besides, it's a special occasion."

"What occasion is that, my Lady?"

"A couple of reasons. Minato has awoken from his coma, thanks to Lady Tsunade." She said firstly.

"I heard, it's part of the reason I am here." Kakashi admitted.

"Well save it for a moment, because the other reason is that...my little boy has fallen in love with Tsunade's student." She gushed.

"Is that so? Little Naruto has fallen in love? This is cause for celebration." Kakashi said. "And I assume you approve, my Lady?" He asked Tsunade.

"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way honestly." Tsunade smiled.

"Very good, but the reason I am here is for Naruto. The last of my three pupils has returned and I was hoping to get some team training scheduled before our next mission." Kakashi admitted.

"Of course, but it will have to wait a few days. Minato comes home tomorrow and he just got back today. Plus he's entertaining friends right now."

That threw Kakashi for a loop. "Friends? With all due respect, my Lady. But Naruto doesn't have any friends."

"Oh, is that so? How about you look to the pool." Kushina smirked.

Kakashi stood up to go look out the pool and realized that there were now 7 other children enjoying the pool with Naruto. Most of them were the heirs to major clans and only one of them Kakashi didn't recognize with pink hair. They were splashing and swimming and laughing.

"Well I'll be damned..." Kakashi breathed out in awe.

"Told you." Kushina sang.

"Well I'll still have to politely decline that drink. I've got a date tonight." Kakashi said.

"Oh really?" Kushina smirked. "Little Kakashi has a date, does he?" She teased.

"I do. Thank you very much. I don't just spend all my time reading Lord Jiraiya's books." Kakashi defended.

"Ho boy..." Tsunade sighed.

"Anyone I know?" Kushina asked.

"If you must know. It's Anko." Kakashi said.

Kushina laughed. "That sadist? Good luck."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kakashi asked.

"You deserve a classy woman. Someone who will keep you in line, someone who would always be there for you..." Kushina said.

"Someone like Shizune?" Tsunade smirked.

"L-Lady Tsunade!" Shizune protested, her face almost as red as Kushina's hair.

"Oh don't give me that. You're 33 and still single. Hell, I'm willing to bet you're still a virgin." Tsunade scoffed.

"Only because the only men I've gotten to hang around with the past few years have been nothing but creeps and losers because that's the only men you hang around with!" Shizune released in one breath before gasping at what she had said. Years, nearly decades of living as Tsunade's ward were finally being let out into the daylight.

"Woah." Kushina said.

Under any circumstance, Tsunade would put her ward in her place...if it wasn't for the fact that it was true.

"Wow Shizune. I've never heard you speak to me that way before." Tsunade said. "Where is that wine? We need to toast my ward growing a spine." Tsunade requested.

"Right here." Matilda said as she returned with a dark colored bottle and 4 glasses.

"Thank you, Matilda." Kushina said as she graciously accepted her glass.

"Oh. You didn't say it was a 41." Kakashi said.

"Well you said you weren't going to have any on account of your hot date." Kushina smirked.

"Yea, yea..." Kakashi grumbled.

"Matilda, could you find another glass for Kakashi. A small one."

"Right here." Matilda said as she pulled out a shot glass from her pocket.

"Odd that you had that in your pocket." Kakashi said.

"I've been doing this job for a long time." Matilda answered as she started pouring everyone a glass. Once the glasses were full of fine wine, Matilda passed them around.

"A toast. To the next generation. May they bring peace to our nations." Kushina said.

"A toast to change." Tsunade added as they all clinked their glasses.