Series: Naruto

Pairing: NaruHina

Author: Lynns

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi

Type: Humor/Romance

Author Note: And I'm back in the game! I had a writer's block for a bit and not to mention some of the ideas I had were already used in doujinshi I was finding. Not that they were original ideas mind you, but just felt a little discouraged seeing them and then worrying people would think I was copying others. However, I decided to just say screw it and go along with one shots I had planned. With that said, onto chapter four!

Ashita

Kurama

Three years after the wedding . . .

He sighed irritably while walking up the long staircase of the apartment complex. It had been a long walk from the training grounds to here, and while he had hoped to return home without any interruptions, it seemed as if everyone in the damn village had wanted to talk to him! The only person who he hadn't snapped at had been Iruka. When he had turned around, the retired teacher had recognized him immediately upon seeing the red eyes instead of Naruto's trademark blue ones.

"I see Naruto has been training hard again! Sorry to bother you Kurama, I'll let you be on your way. Tell Naruto I'll meet up with him later in the week for Ramen!"

It wasn't a request Naruto usually asked of him when he had exhausted his chakara and needed time to recover, but when he did either Kakashi, Lee or Kiba escorted him back so that he wouldn't scare the villagers. While Naruto was the hero of Konoha and everyone had come to accept the power he possessed, they were in general still scared of him. Granted they weren't terrified or ran away when they saw that he was in control, but no one would look him in the eye or talk to him.

Kurama let out another sigh as he reached the top of the steps. In all honesty it didn't matter what the whole village thought. Naruto had been the one to erase the hatred inside of him, and it was Naruto whom he cared for as a friend, which is all that mattered.

Reaching the front door, Kurama delved deep into his mind to wake the slumbering ninja so he could be welcomed by his family.

"Alright Naruto, I got you home. Time to wake up."

There was no response.

"Damn it Naruto get up!"

This time he sent a shock of chakara to his counterpart, however it did nothing. The only thing he could hear was soft snoring.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? Usually he wakes up at this point and walks through the front door! I can't do that! If his wife and kid see me like this . . .

Kurama had never spoken to the brat's offspring, Boruto; and as for his wife Hinata they had had a brief introduction after the fight with Toneri but that was it! He wasn't really sure how Naruto's wife felt about him or if she would even speak to him while he was in control.

Well I have to do something! I can't just leave the brat's body out here! And what the hell am I scared of anyways? I am the great nine tailed fox! If his wife has a problem with me, well then she shouldn't have married Naruto in the first place!

In all honesty, he knew the Hyuuga girl was not like that at all, however with the mood he was in right now it was hard to try and think positively.

Gritting his teeth, Kurama twisted the doorknob and walked in; almost slamming the door behind him. The apartment was toasty warm after being in the fall breeze; he could also hear and smell food being cooked in the kitchen.

"Dear is that you?"

Kurama opened his mouth to shout back, but stopped himself.

Shit! If I scare his wife and kid, Naruto is going to kick the crap out of me for a month! God damn it why didn't I think of a better plan than this! Okay keep it cool . . . keep it cool. Just answer back in your best Naruto imitation voice, close your eyes and head to the couch. Say you're tired or something along those lines, lye on the couch and then I'm going to kick that brat until he wakes up so I don't have to deal with this!

Clearing his throat, Kurama answered back, "Yes, I'm home!"

He started walking down the hallway towards the living room, hoping that Hinata stayed in the kitchen and didn't come out to greet him. However his hopes died as she suddenly appeared in front him, a huge smile on her face. Kurama didn't have time to close his eyes so she wouldn't see his red ones; however it seemed that she was not scared or terrified as she looked up at him and simply smiled.

"I thought that was you I sensed! Welcome home, Kurama! Thank you so very much for bringing my husband back home safely."

The great nine tailed fox was at a loss for words. The way she smiled at him and was unafraid to be talking to him, caused his hosts cheeks to redden just a little bit.

"Y-You're welcome, Princess of the Byakugan." He knew her name well enough, but was unsure if he was allowed to call her by it.

Hinata seemed shocked at first being addressed like that, but her smile soon returned, "Hinata. Please just call me Hinata."

The redness continued to grow on his cheeks, "H-Hinata."

"That's better! Why don't you come into the living room and make yourself comfortable, I'm sure, Oh!" Hinata hunched forward slightly, her hand immediately going to her very round and pregnant tummy.

Kurama reacted instantly, reaching forward to stabilize her, "Are you okay!?"

Hinata nodded, "Yes. Sorry to scare you like that. Looks like this little one was just wanting to say hello too." She rubbed her stomach fondly before turning her attention back to him, "Are you hungry? Or do you just want to rest for a bit?"

Before he could answer, a voice from a room down the hall echoed throughout the apartment.

"Tou-chan! Tou-chan!"

Little Boruto came running out of his room; his blonde hair being in a mess after just waking up from a nap. The little ones arms were extended in a motion that he wished to be picked up by his father, however the closer he got his pace slowed down and eventually came to a stop. His blue eyes staring curiously at Kurama's red ones.

"Tou-chan?"

Crap now what do I do!?

However, Kurama didn't have to do anything.

Hinata walked towards her son and slowly knelt down beside him so that she was eye level with the child.

"Boruto honey, do you remember the story Otou-san told you about the nine tailed fox? The one that was sealed inside him?"

The child's eyes shifted off of his mother and onto him, "I remember."

"Do you remember the fox's name?"

"Kuruma!"

Hinata giggled, "Good try! It's actually Kurama. You see Kurama and Otou-san are really great friends. Sometimes, after Otou-san has been training long and hard, he is completely exhausted and too tired to make it home."

"No! Tou-chan has to make it home!"

"You're right! Which is why Kurama takes control and makes sure that Otou-san makes it home safely back to us. We don't usually see Kurama like this, but remember Boruto that he is part of our family too. So when we do see him, be sure to greet him properly, okay?"

Boruto looked back at him and a huge smile was now on his face, "Welome home, Kurama!"

He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep his lips from twitching. It had been many years since he had been this touched and closed to crying. How was it that this woman and child could affect him like this?

"Kurama! Kurama! Come see my room!" Boruto ran forward and grabbed him by the hand; slowly dragging him down the hallway.

As he passed Hinata, she placed her hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "Don't be afraid to come around more often, okay? You are always welcome here." And with that she returned to the kitchen to continue making supper.

It was then that Kurama understood fully why Naruto loved being at home so much. He knew Naruto was no longer lonely because of them, however the feeling of being part of a "family" was something he could not understand, until now.

And for the first time while playing "Ninja" with a little human boy, he was a bit sad and reluctant to leave as he felt his counterpart begin to awaken inside.

"It's time for me to go, squirt. You're Otou-san is waking up."

Kurama thought at first Boruto would be happy to hear such news, but was shocked when the little child's lip began to quiver and his arms wrapped around him, "Will I see you again? "

His throat was tight and he just couldn't find his voice to answer.

What occurred next happened so fast that Kurama wasn't even sure he fully understood what had been done. Naruto had regained control for a split second before saying his trademark move, "Kage bunshin no jutsu!"

Kurama felt his chakara being pushed into the clone; when his eyes re-opened he was staring across the room at Naruto.

"Tou-chan!?"

The blonde ninja pulled his son in for a bear like hug, "Hey there, Boruto! Of course you will see Kurama again! In fact he is going to stay and join us for supper, right buddy?"

Kurama was speechless, just what had the brat exactly done just now?

"Oh don't look so shocked! We did something like this similar during the find against Obito, remember? Anyways Boruto, you play with Kurama for a little bit longer while I help Kaa-san in the kitchen okay?"

"Why did you . . ."

Naruto stood and rubbed his son's hair, "You always seemed cranky and uninterested in meeting my family, so I never pushed the topic. However it's great to see that you like them and get along! Anytime you want to hang out with us, all you have to do is ask!" And with that, he disappeared from the room.

From that moment on in the Uzumaki home, if you happened to be passing by looking through the dining room window, it was common once a week to see two Naruto's sitting at the table.

~Owari~

Author Note: Hope you all enjoyed that and I'm hoping next week I will have chapter five all worked out!