Hard to believe but I am back. I truly and deeply apologize for the very long wait of this chapter and for updating period. Sudden new interests and other things held me back from getting out this chapter for you all.

I greatly appreciate all the reviews you all left me for it was them that helped me get back into things. Lots of thanks and ItaNaru plushies for you all!

So enough of all this drabble…on to the chapter.

Disclaimer: Same as always, I don't own Naruto.

Chapter Five: Family

"They were amazing pieces otou-san. I wish you were there to see them," Naruto said as he helped his father clean the studio. "I know you would've liked them."

"I'm sure I would have. A shame that he hasn't put them into a gallery yet, then others would be able to appreciate his work just like you and Haku," Arashi commented, straightening out the rack of paints.

"Otou-san, what do you think could be his reason for not putting them into a gallery?" Naruto inquired of his father, wanting to know the older male's opinion on the matter.

"His reasons are his own. Many factors could have come in the way of making the decision. Whatever those factors are, only he knows them. We can only assume and take a guess as to why," Arashi replied wisely, though not giving a direct answer. Though given the position of the elder Uchiha heir, he had a few guesses as to the reason why.

The ring of the doorbell interrupted any more talk between them. Since Naruto was the closest to the doorway, he made his way through to answer the door. Arashi watched his only son go with a small smile on his face. Ever since Naruto came home from the Uchiha estate, there was a slight difference to his son. There was a certain glow to him that he'd seen before when Naruto looked at fine art. However, this time there was slight difference that made him wonder what had caused it. Perhaps he would receive an invite to see the older heir's work should things proceed as they are.

Naruto skillfully navigated through the crowded spaces of the house. Since they were cleaning through the studio, they had to place all of the works in various places throughout the small house. They placed them all carefully and in strategic places so as to walk around easier. The young blond picked up his pace when the doorbell rang once again.

"I'm coming!" Naruto called out so as to appease whoever was on the other side of the door. Seconds after he called out, he reached the door and opened it.

"About time brat. Shouldn't keep guests waiting."

"Tsunade-baa-chan! Ero-sennin too!" Naruto exclaimed loudly, surprise evident on his face.

"Long time no see brat," Tsunade greeted the young blond with a fond smile. "Are you going to let us come in or what?"

"Ah gomen! I would but we're cleaning up the studio so it's a bit crowded now," Naruto informed with a sheepish look. "If you don't mind the cramped space then you can come in, otherwise you'll just have to sit out here."

"Naruto, who's at the door?" Arashi called out, arriving at the door a second later. A smile appeared on his face at the sudden guests they had. "Oba-san! Jiraiya-sensei! What a surprise this is! You usually call before you come over."

"I can't come visit my nephews whenever I want?" Tsunade inquired in mock hurt. "A surprise is good every once in a while isn't it?"

"Well, we're cleaning up the studio now. If I had known you were coming, I would have put it off for another time," Arashi reasoned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

"Don't worry about it. It's a nice day out so we should enjoy it," Jiraiya suggested with a grin.

"Not a bad idea, sensei. Naruto, can you go get some drinks for us?" Arashi asked his son who readily complied, going back into the house and prepare the drinks.

"How have you been Arashi?" Tsunade questioned the blond haired man.

"Just fine. Naruto's doing well in school and everyday is a new inspiration," Arashi responded, a bright smile on his face.

"Arashi, how have you really been?" Tsunade asked again seriously. Arashi stared into his aunt's brown eyes and knew that he wouldn't get off that easy. He gave a small sigh as he sat back in his seat.

"We're hanging in there. Once in a while I manage to sell a piece but that money is for managing the house and bills. So far I haven't found someone to fully sponsor my work into a gallery yet," Arashi admitted, running a hand through his unruly blond locks.

Tsunade looked at her nephew with saddened eyes. She knew what she was about to say next would spark a fire in the blond male but she still had to say it. "You know Arashi, there is still a place for you. No one has claimed it yet."

"I have no more attachments to that place for name for that matter," Arashi said rather coldly, blue eyes hardening into cold sapphires.

"I know you left to pursue the path my brother did not approve of, but please at least think things more thoroughly. Think of where you and Naruto will be in the next few years or even months," Tsunade tried reasoning logically. "There is still time for you to take over the company. With your genius, it wouldn't take you long to rise in the industry," Tsunade continued to urge the man.

"I chose this path because it was what I wanted, not because my father didn't approve of it," Arashi proclaimed with conviction. "We may be in a slump at the moment but I know that things will be getting better soon. No matter what you say, this is what I want to do."

Tsunade sighed in defeat. She knew that this is what he would say yet she had to try. She wanted what was best for them, but if this was what they wanted then she would give them her support. She looked toward Jiraiya and saw that he was smiling proudly at his former student. She knew that he would back Arashi and Naruto one hundred percent.

Unknown to the adults, Naruto had listened in on their conversation. He had a proud look on his face. He knew that although they could have had a better living style, they would not trade the world for what they had. Although it was at the expense of not knowing his grandfather, all of his friends and other relatives, his precious people, partly made up for the loss. Putting up a bright smile, he went outside with the tray of drinks in his hands.

"Ne Itachi-kun."

"What is it Kumiko-sensei?" Itachi questioned when said teacher didn't say anything else.

"What do you think of taking the classes on a trip later this year?" Kumiko suggested, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Where would you want to go?" Itachi inquired, a bit of curiosity in his tone. He had learned from working with Haraguchi Kumiko that if she wanted to do something then she would go all out, meeting any means to get what she wanted. He had a feeling that she wanted this trip to be a place where students don't usually go.

"I have an idea, but I'm probably or most likely going to have to ask permission from the principal and school board," Kumiko said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, I'll think of how to convince them. That has to be done first before any planning can be started on."

"Do you intend to tell me where this place is or am I left guessing?" Itachi questioned, interest piqued. He really wondered where she would want to take two art classes. Well wherever it was, he wouldn't expect anything less from Haraguchi Kumiko.

"In time, after I get it approved," Kumiko promised with a grin. "For now I'll leave you guessing. By the way, how's the family since your sudden return?"

"I'm not sure I even want to there," Itachi replied, rubbing his temple. Just thinking about his family and the situation he's currently in gave him a headache, something he didn't want first thing in the morning. "Although I've already expressed my disinterest in the family company, my father is adamant in me inheriting it."

"Although my situation was slightly different, I know how you feel," Kumiko sympathized with the Uchiha heir. "At least my father allowed me some free time to do what I wanted before I agreed to return. What do you plan to do?"

"I still don't know yet," Itachi admitted with a small sigh. "I was hoping you'd help me with that."

"Gomen, but that's the ultimate decision you'll have to decide for yourself," Kumiko said with a shake of her head. "But I'll be here if you ever need my advise or support," she offered to the male. "For now let's worry about these art classes and what to teach them next."

"Hai," Itachi said, glad the subject was dropped. Although he was the proclaimed prized genius of the Uchiha family, he has no idea of how to go about the situation at hand. He supposes it best to just go along with things as they came and make a decision later on. For now, he'd play his role as a college student being an assistant to a high school art teacher.

"Looks like the rumors of what the art classes did the previous year were true," Kumiko mused as she observed her advanced class work on inking techniques. Giving her students ink pens and paper, she simply instructed her class to copy what she had already done on her paper that was in front of them. She saw that there was a few that knew what they were doing; among those were Sasuke, Haku, and Naruto and maybe two or three others. Itachi was observing the students as well, keeping his comments to himself. Neither teacher nor assistant helped any of the students no matter how many times they asked.

"Haraguchi-sensei!" Sakura whined loudly, disturbing a good majority of the students in the room, causing them to mess up.

"What is it Haruno?" Kumiko inquired, humoring the girl. Kumiko learned very early that if one didn't answer to the girl's calls, she would keep calling in a loud, whiny voice. Kumiko was surprised that she had yet to snap at the girl for her insistent calls.

"May I go wash my hands? I got ink all over me," Sakura asked showing her hands, obvious evidence that she had no experience with using those kinds of ink pens.

Kumiko glanced at the clock and noticed that not much time had yet passed since she gave them their task for the day. Washing hands now would be pointless. She decided to enlighten her student of this fact. "There would be no point in washing your hands now. They would eventually get ink on them again."

"My hands won't get ink on them again sensei," Sakura said as if it were a fact.

"And why pray tell they won't?"

"Because I'll be using my own pen." With that she pulled out her own pen, which was a blaring hot pink with glitter.

Kumiko visibly flinched at the offending color, not at all hiding her dislike for the blaringly bright color. Even Itachi showed the slightest twitch in his eyes at the color. After a second more, Kumiko composed herself but couldn't stop the twitching that developed when handling the girl. "Haruno, you may not wash your hands until I say so. Stop wasting time and return to your assignment. And never bring that pen to class again. You are to use what I provide for in class unless told otherwise."

"But sensei –"

"Haruno," Kumiko interrupted in a no nonsense tone.

Sakura backed down at that tone. She went back to her assignment without any more complaints. Itachi held back his amused smile at seeing the art teacher roll her eyes and gave a silent sigh of exasperation. He wasn't the only one that saw though. Sasuke himself was fighting to keep the smirk from getting any bigger than it was. Haku was hiding his amused smile behind his hand however his eyes gave him away his mirth. Naruto just showed a small smile as he continued to work on the assignment.

Minutes before it was time to go, Kumiko told the class to clean up. "Everyone listen as you're cleaning up and washing your hands. I'm hoping you all understand the reason behind the assignment today. For those of you that didn't," here she paused and discretely settled her gaze at a certain female duo. Only Itachi caught her though. "Today's exercise was for me to see how much experience you had in inking. I'm proud of those that even remotely knew what they were doing. For those that don't and just did whatever to make it look like you knew what you were doing, you're going to have to work hard to catch up with the rest.

"I don't want to spend too much time on inking but if you need the help ask. The main reason we're doing this now is because I'm hoping you'll apply some of the techniques somehow to your manga projects. It's not required but it would be nice if you did. Tomorrow I'll go over the techniques used for the exercise you just did," Kumiko lectured glancing over the class making sure they listened. After seeing everyone absorb what she said, she dismissed the class right at the bell. "Be careful on your way home"

"Arigato gozaimasu Haraguchi-sensei."

With that the students began filing out of the classroom when they finished cleaning up, some giving their own farewells to both teacher and assistant. Kumiko rolled her eyes once she heard complaints from a certain duo about how their hands were still blotted with ink even after all the scrubbing they did. Itachi was able to keep his indifferent expression but inwardly he smirked in amusement.

"Remind me to get earplugs when we start painting," Kumiko noted, knowing she would have to prepare herself in advance, else she would have headaches everyday.

"When will that be?" Itachi inquired of the art teacher.

Kumiko thought about that for a second before cursing silently. "Better yet, remind me to get them after this manga project is over. Hell, I'll just get them on my way home cause I know I'll need them."

"Wise investment. Perhaps you could get me a pair as well," Itachi mused though he wasn't kidding in getting some earplugs himself. Hearing the girl whine nearly made his ears bleed. If that were to happen then he'd probably be dead by now.

"I'll get some for anybody else that may need them too," Kumiko muttered as she began to straighten the room up.

"I'm sure the class will appreciate your sentiments," Itachi commented as he went and assisted Kumiko in straightening out the room before leaving.

"Yo Itachi, what are you doing?" Shisui asked his cousin when he entered the latter's room. Despite revealing his return to Japan to his parents and their insistence to move back to the main house, he still stayed at the apartment that he shared with the others. It was bad enough what his father wanted him to do but being in the man's presence would worsen the ordeal.

"What does it look like I'm doing Shisui?" Itachi questioned back, not once stopping in what he was doing.

"Looks like another sketch. You've been on a roll lately with all these sketches. A sudden bout of inspiration?" Shisui wondered as he looked at the rough sketch that Itachi was doing. No doubt a soon to be masterpiece once he did the final product like all the others. "You really should put all these in a gallery. They're all collecting dust this way," he suggested.

"When I feel like it," Itachi said plainly. "Is there something you needed Shisui?"

"Not really, just wanted to see what you were doing," Shisui answered with a shrug of his shoulders. He watched Itachi put on the last touches of the sketch and looked at it as a whole. He knew this on would turn out amazing as well. "Your muse must be something or someone interesting."

"Why do you say that?" Itachi inquired as he put his graphite pencils away.

"I've known you for years Itachi and have seen you develop your own style so I'm proud to claim that I can recognize your work. However, these last few pieces, I don't know, they're a bit different," Shisui observed as he looked over the said completed works around the room. "Not drastic changes though. Just subtle changes that people wouldn't notice unless they're really looking for them. For me though, they pop out like daisies."

"It never hurts to try something new Shisui," Itachi said in a bit nonchalant way, though he was pondering what his cousin was saying. He glances over the last pieces as well. Since Shisui mentioned it, he too saw the slight changes in his style. He guessed he owed it to his new muse.

"I guess so. By the way, the others wanted to know if you needed anything from the grocery store," Shisui relayed the late message before leaving.

Itachi blinked at the sudden change of subject but dropped it and replied, "Pocky."

"More? You go though that like it's a necessity," Shisui said, astonishment on his face.

"It is," Itachi simply said.

"Yeah to you maybe but not the rest of us," Shisui muttered before leaving Itachi to his work.

"Aniki."

Itachi turned around; already knowing whom it was because there was only one person who called him that. Sasuke stood there after the class had been dismissed for the day. He had already taken out the earplugs that Kumiko had provided for him. Although they helped, they were only able to muffle the whining only so much. He supposed they were better than nothing. "What is it Sasuke?"

"Okaa-san wants to come over for dinner," Sasuke relayed the message to his older brother. He then turned toward Haku and Naruto who were waiting for him. "She also wanted me to invite you two since aniki mentioned you two to her."

"Really? I'll have to ask otou-san since it's on short notice but I think it should be okay," Naruto replied with a small smile.

"Same here," Haku second on what Naruto said.

Itachi thought about the situation at the moment. On one hand he didn't want to go anywhere near where his father was. However, on the other hand if both of Sasuke's friends were there then it may not lead to his father's talking about him and the company. He mentally weighed the pros and cons, seeing which out-weighed the other. However, when his gaze landed where it did, he decided it wouldn't be so bad.

"I'll be there later. I need to get some things first," Itachi accepted the invitation. Sasuke just nodded and left the classroom with Haku and Naruto not too far behind, leaving Itachi and Kumiko, who had been silent the whole time, in the room to tidy up the place.

Being the bystander, Kumiko observed the exchange with interest. She had firmly believed that Itachi would have turned down the invite, wanting to avoid confronting with his father. However, she didn't factor in that Haku and Naruto were invited as well and was slightly surprised that he accepted. Then again, she probably shouldn't have when she saw where his gaze landed before accepting. Things were definitely going to get interesting from here on out.

"Itachi-kun, I had heard you've been working on new pieces one after another recently. So you have a muse now," Kumiko lightly teased with a hidden grin.

"Shisui told you," Itachi said indifferently, although he was thinking of ways to torture his cousin for saying anything.

"He did," Kumiko confirmed for the Uchiha heir. "Don't worry. He hasn't told anyone else," she quickly informed when she saw him narrow his eyes. "What I want to know is, how come the sudden inspiration?"

Itachi had contemplated this question to himself numerous times already, but had yet to find any reason for it. He knew what or rather who was the cause but he didn't know the reason why the person with sun-kissed locks and sapphire blue eyes gave him such inspiration and urge to pick up a paintbrush and paint.

Before going out the door, he turned back to the famous artist who wasn't really expecting an answer so soon. "I don't know. I'll let you know when I find out." With that he left.

Kumiko let out a smile at his hopelessness.

It is done. Again I apologize for the very long wait. Hopefully, I'll be able to add this in to the steady pace of things I have to do now. Thanks for reading!

I got lots of different answers when regarding if you all wanted to see any other pairings. I'll let you all keep telling me which ones you want to see for a while longer because I still don't know. So if you want to see a particular pairing, leave a review!

- Kuraihoshi