The courtship of Naruto Uzumaki
XXVII. Naomi Uzumaki
What was this feeling, this warmth inside him? Was it happiness? It was different than what he felt when he was with Hinata, but it was in the same family. Yeah, family.
Naruto wasn't much for self-analysis so he couldn't quite put into words why he liked his maybe cousin so much—he just did.
Was it because he might finally have the family he'd never had?
Or was it some indefinable something about Naomi herself?
He didn't know, but what he did know was that as soon as he'd seen her smiling face, and heard her happy voice, he'd realized that he'd missed her, too.
It wasn't like looking in a mirror—he didn't think that they really were that much alike no matter what everyone said—but there was something so familiar and comfortable about her. He felt like he'd known her longer than just a few weeks. Hell, she felt like family. He'd never had one, but he knew what it would feel like. He'd longed for a family for so much of his life having Naomi show up just felt right.
But even he knew this familial feeling was dangerous if she turned out to be other than what she claimed to be. So he had to have some answers. He had to know if she was the real thing. Not that it would change what he felt. If it turned out that she wasn't for real—he almost didn't care. He'd adopt her. She seemed to belong to him now. She was his family now. The only way he wouldn't accept her was if she'd come here to hurt his village. Then he'd stop her, but he'd mourn her loss. Konoha was family, too, in its own way. He'd protect it with his life.
As they walked to the hospital, Naomi chatted nonstop about becoming a ninja. She wanted to learn more ninja stuff. She wanted him to start teaching her ninja stuff again. She wanted him to make time for her again. She needed him to make time for her. She made that clear in every reproachful glance, and every recriminating complaint.
He listened to her prattle indulgently. He nodded, and smiled at appropriate places, but it didn't really matter what she talked about. He just liked hearing her childish, sometimes sweet, sometimes whiny, attention-seeking voice. He remembered what it was like to seek the attention and approval of his elders. He'd been louder, more demanding, and more aggressive than she ever could be. Girls did it a little differently, but the intent was still there. Notice me! Like me! Be with me!
When they were within a stone's throw of the hospital, he finally stemmed the flow of her chatter by interrupting with mock seriousness, "Hey, when we get in there—don't you embarrass me."
"Embarrass you? What do you mean?" she looked up at him in astonishment.
"Don't you get all silly over Kiba like you do Konohamaru."
"Silly?! I don't get silly! What are you talking about?" she demanded defensively turning a bright red.
He wagged his finger at her. "You know what I'm talking about. That girly stuff—all flirty and teasing and giggly just because you think he's good-looking."
"I do not do that! I wouldn't even know how to flirt. You're really mean to say that, Naruto." She glared at him.
He held up his hand defensively. "Hey, I just call it as I see it. The way you and Konohamaru carried on the other day made me squirm. I've never heard anything like it before."
She scowled. "That wasn't how it was at all! He talked to you just as much as he did to me. You're exaggerating, Naruto."
He shook his head. "Naomi, Naomi. Naomi. I've seen girls act all giggly and flirty over guys before. I've seen two best friends start hating each other just because they liked the same guy. Don't do it, Naomi. Stay away from boys. They're not worth it."
"What?! Naruto, are you teasing me?"
He grinned. "Maybe just a little, but I still don't want Kiba as a cousin-in-law no matter how good-looking you think he is."
She giggled. "It was just an observation. I'm too young to get married."
They were still laughing and joking about flirting and boys when they entered the hospital lobby, and only stopped when Naruto heard his name uttered softly in a voice he would recognize anywhere. He looked around, and his face lit up. "Hinata! Are you here to visit Akamaru, too?" He reached out to take her hand as she halted beside him.
"Yes, I am. I've been waiting for a half hour. The nurse said he'll be able to receive visitors soon." Ordinarily, she'd only have eyes for Naruto, but she'd seen him enter the hospital in the company of a young girl who looked remarkably like him. She watched curiously as Naomi peeked around Naruto to look just as curiously back.
Naomi couldn't fail to notice the twin goofy expressions on the faces of the two people standing before her. Naruto was in love, and his feelings were obviously reciprocated. She'd known that she'd have to fit into whatever life he'd been living so long without her, but she'd thought he was as alone as she was. She thought he'd be as eager to welcome a family member as she was. She hadn't realized he had a girlfriend she'd have to fit in with, too. Would Hinata, as he'd called her, have trouble accepting her? Was she the jealous type? Would she resent Naruto spending time with anyone but her? Was that why Naruto had kept them apart up until now—never even mentioning her? She took a deep breath. It was time to find out what problems she might have to face to claim her family. She nudged Naruto's arm to remind him she was still there.
He started, and looked down at her. "Oh, yeah. I brought Naomi to see Akamaru, too. She was curious to meet a ninja dog. You two haven't met yet, have you? Hinata, this is Naomi Uzumaki, my new found cousin. Naomi, this is Hinata Huyga, my girlfriend," he announced proudly smiling from one to the other. He threw his arm around Naomi's shoulders to draw her closer while pulling Hinata in with the hand he still held. If these two didn't like each other he didn't know what he'd do. He didn't want to give either one of them up.
He'd intended to wait until the Hokage told him everything was fine to introduce Hinata to Naomi. He'd wanted their first meeting to be staged just right with each girl prepared for the meeting. He didn't want any surprises to spoil their relationship. Certainly not like this, impromptu, in public. He hadn't even told Naomi about Hinata. Now here they all were so he couldn't avoid it, but he was even more eager to get some answers from the Hokage as soon as possible. There was no going back now.
Hinata glowed from the introduction. He'd actually qualified her as his girlfriend not just a friend as she'd expected. He really did want everyone to know about them. She immediately dismissed her worries after their parting earlier that morning. He hadn't changed his mind about staying with her because he didn't like her anymore as she'd feared. His lame excuse about wanting to sleep in his own bed may actually have been legitimate. She had to quit doubting him, and just accept that he really did like her. She stood closely beside him drawn into the circle of his affection. He released her hand and put his other arm around her shoulders, looking happily from one to the other. Hinata smiled welcomingly at the girl that looked so like her beloved. She wouldn't be so hard to like.
Naruto stood as the center piece of their little love fest for only a minute, before he remembered that they were practically in public. He dropped his arms, affectionately rubbed the top of Naomi's head, and squeezed Hinata's hand before taking a step back for the girls to talk to each other.
"Wow! Naruto never told me he had a girlfriend," Naomi studied her with wide-eyed curiosity. Hinata wasn't at all what she'd expected in Naruto's girlfriend. After meeting Sakura, she'd thought that might be the kind of girl that he'd go for, but watching Naruto and Hinata together, she thought they really looked like an even cuter couple. They were actually foils for each other with her dark, delicate looks, and his bright, loud appearance. If she was nice, too, then Naomi would be happy with this new almost relative. "You're pretty. You've got awesome eyes. All the kunoichi Naruto knows are pretty."
"Naomi! I told you not to embarrass me. That goes double for my girlfriend," Naruto admonished as he watched Hinata's face grow red. He felt his own getting warm as well.
"I'm sorry. Are you embarrassed? I thought everybody liked compliments. I sure do. My new cousin never compliments me," she ended with a grumble.
"Is that true? Never," Hinata looked in askance at Naruto who had the grace to flush even more than before. "Even if he doesn't say them, I'm sure he thinks very nice things about you." She couldn't help wondering what other kunoichi Naruto had introduced to Naomi. Was she the last one to meet his cousin? Why was that? Did Naruto think she wouldn't like his cousin?
Naruto scowled. "C'mon, Naomi, cut me some slack. You haven't been around long enough for me to notice the good stuff yet. All you've done so far is complain about your work, flirt with Konohamaru, and wake me up from a really nice sleep."
She opened her mouth to hotly deny it all when a voice from behind her broke into the conversation.
"That was a big mistake. He really needs his beauty sleep," Kiba greeted them as he sauntered towards the group from across the lobby. He wasn't going to be shy around the two of them. He had to jump in, and try to get his relationships with these two back to where they were before his stupid, jealousy had caused problems. Insulting Naruto seemed just the ticket.
"Hey!" Naruto began, but what response could he make that wouldn't make him look stupid or conceited. I don't need beauty sleep. I'm handsome enough without sleep. Put a sock in it. Shut up, Kiba! None of those responses seemed clever enough.
"Hey, what? Aren't you going to introduction me to this attractive young lady who looks like she gets plenty of beauty sleep?"
Damn! Even Kiba knew how to pour on the charm. Was it Naomi that brought this out in them or did they come by it naturally, and he'd just never noticed? Maybe they learned it in a special class at the ninja academy that he skipped out of thinking it would be boring.
"I thought you two had already met. Didn't you give her directions to my place? Weren't you a part of making me lose my sleep?"
"I gave her directions, but we didn't formally meet. Hello, I'm Kiba Inuzuka. Naruto's sometime friend, and Hinata's most time team mate."
"Hi, I'm Naomi Uzumaki, Naruto's cousin. We've come here to visit Akamaru."
"He'll enjoy that. He's loves pretty girls."
Remembering Naruto's teasing, Naomi tried not to simper, and act girlish, but it was nice being complimented by a handsome guy. She settled for quiet, blushing so Naruto wouldn't tease her in front of Kiba.
Naruto decided it time to change the subject. He'd only been partly kidding when he'd told Naomi that her flirting made him squirm. If he'd thought any of the guys were in earnest, he'd seriously consider taking each one of them aside for a strict parental-like chat. "Say, Kiba, has Akamaru told you anything about the attack?"
"Yeah, but he doesn't remember much about it. He told me the who was killed man just suddenly appeared in front of him, and fell down. Before he could do anything, he felt a pain in his neck. He didn't see anyone else, and he couldn't remember anything until he heard you talking to him, and felt you pressing the wounds on his side."
"That's weird. How could someone just sneak up on Akamaru? I mean—he's got super senses. He must have heard or smelled something."
Kiba shook his head. "I wish I knew."
"Did he really talk to you?" Naomi asked curiously.
Kiba smiled. "Sorta. I do most of the talking, but he understands me so he can indicate when I'm on the right track. I know him well enough to ask the right questions. Between us we manage to get the important information across."
"Akamaru's incredibly intelligent. He and Kiba have been partners since he was a pup," Hinata added.
"Since Kiba was a pup?" Naruto inquired innocently.
Naomi and Hinata giggled.
"Very funny, Naruto," Kiba said good-naturedly. "But that's exactly what Inuzuka's call their children. We identify completely with our canine brethren."
"Do you suppose Akamaru can have visitors now?"
"Yeah. That's why I came out here. I heard Hinata was waiting. I hadn't realized she had company. C'mon, Naomi, I'll introduce you to my partner, and best friend." Kiba gestured for Naomi to follow him, and they walked ahead.
"Hinata?" Naruto said softly, and held her back from immediately joining the other two.
"Yes, Naruto?"
"Could you look after Naomi for me for a little while? I need to see the Hokage. I'd take Naomi with me, but she's playing hokey from filing right now. I don't want to get her in trouble with the Hokage."
"Of course, I can. Will you be long?"
"I don't know. I hope not."
"I can take her home with me if you don't get back before we finish our visit with Akamaru."
"Could you? That'll be great. You're a sweetheart." He bent down, and kissed her exuberantly.
"Am I?" she asked clutching his collar to keep him close to her.
He kissed her again less dramatically, but just as enthusiastically. "I guess I don't tell you that often enough. Remind me the next time we're alone to go into detail about just how sweet I think you are," he said with a grin when he finally released her.
"I will," she said blushing.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," he said, squeezed her hand then took off.
She sighed, and watched him disappear before she trailed in Kiba and Naomi's wake. She loved him so much. She was bursting to tell him so. When would he be ready to hear it?
After embarrassing himself in front of Neji's team, Naruto held his tongue until the Hokage was ready to talk to him. He didn't care so much what Lee, Konahamaru or Tenten thought about his impulsive behavior, but Neji always looked at him in that annoyingly superior way that only got worse when Naruto did something stupid, impulsive or loud. He knew that that was just Neji's way, but he still didn't like it when it was directed at him. Sometimes he'd like the chance to wipe that supercilious expression off his face just once more like he did six years ago. Of course, Neji had improved a lot since then. He might not be so easy (ha, ha) to beat this time around. Naruto sure wouldn't mind trying especially after Neji ignored him completely on the way out of the Hokage's office not giving him so much as a sneer in acknowledgment. That really burned him up. He'd always thought being completely ignored was worse than being jeered, sneered or leered at.
"Well, Naruto Uzumaki, what's so all-fired important that you had to interrupt an important briefing?" Tsunade finally asked.
"I want to know what you've found out about Naomi," he demanded. "It's been a while. You must know something by now."
She hesitated before answering. She'd struggled for days wondering what to tell him. All she really had was crazy suspicions, and wild guesses. She didn't really know anything detrimental to Naruto forming a relationship with Naomi. She'd been able to observe the child closely in the time Naomi had lived with her. She neither witnessed nor sensed anything sinister, but she wasn't willing to completely accept the child—not until she knew more. But was it necessary for Naruto to share her doubts and suspicions?
In the end, she'd settled for a half truth—which also meant a half lie. Would she ultimately regret her decision? She had to trust her intuition, but in reality only time would tell.
"I've run the tests more than once just to be certain," she began cautiously.
He waved his hand impatiently. "Yeah? And? C'mon, Granny Tsunade, I need to know."
"Why has it become so important to know right this minute?"
"I've been waiting to do it, but I was finally forced to introduce her to Hinata. I wanted to be sure it was okay before I introduced them."
"I see. Well, then I have good news for you. There really is no doubt that Naomi is related to you. You can safely call her your cousin, Naruto." The real possibility of a deeper relationship would remain Tsunade's secret until she could discover more about Naomi's past. This much of the story would hold Naruto for now.
He'd been so tense waiting for an answer that once he heard it the relief literally knocked him to his knees.
"Naruto! Are you alright?"
He pushed himself unsteadily to his feet. "Yeah, yeah. It was just a shock. I thought for sure you were gonna tell me I couldn't have her as my family."
She smiled sympathetically. "I like her, too. I'm glad the tests were positive. However, I'd still like to know more about her life up until now, and why Yukari Sarutobi was taking care of her. I'm greatly puzzled by the situation. Once most of the ninja return to the village, I'd like to send someone up to that village she was raised in—"
"Kuzu."
"Yes, Kuzu. I'd like to know if Yukari left anything behind to explain her complete absence from Konoha. Why she was thought to be dead? Why she was raising Naomi? And why she spent the last 18 years of her life in a tiny, obscure corner of the Fire Country? I hate mysteries. I'd feel more comfortable with this one solved."
"I want to be the one to go," he told her resolutely. If there was a secret about Naomi, he wanted to be the one to discover it. She was his family now.
She studied his determined face. She couldn't protect him forever. He was—or practically was a grown man. If there was a problem, he needed to know.
"Yes. I thought Kakashi, also, and maybe Sakura, as well as Naomi herself. But it could be months until we can spare any of you for this."
"Whenever. I'll go. Maybe you could think about sending Hinata with us instead of Sakura. A Byakugan might be a great talent to have when uncovering secrets," he suggested innocently.
"Don't try to be sly with me, young man. I think I know your motivations better than you do yourself. We'll see when the time comes. Neji would work just as well as Hinata, don't you think?"
"Granny Tsuande—" he began to protest.
"What have I told you about treating me with more respect, Naruto Uzumaki!"
"I don't know. I can't be expected to remember every lecture. There're too many," he told her cheekily.
"Then remember this—if you want a favor from someone, you should treat them nicely."
"A favor? I don't want a fav—oh, yeah." It dawned on him that he was asking for a favor a moment ago suggesting that Hinata make up the team to Kuzu. "Okay. I get it. Sorry, Hokage."
She smiled. "If you can't respect me, at least respect the position I hold."
He flushed. "Hey, I don't not respect you, Hokage. It isn't like that!"
"I think you've never forgiven me for turning down the position of Hokage originally. It had been very selfish of me, but you made me see the error of my ways, Naruto."
"Me?"
"That's right. You reminded me how important Konoha, its people, and the vision of every Hokage before me were. I thank you for that. Now is there anything else before you rejoin Naomi?"
"How did you know about that?"
"I knew she'd gone as soon as she left the records room. When I heard her asking directions to your place, I knew she'd be safe enough with you. Just bring her home before you set off for your patrol duty."
"Do you know everything?" he asked in amazement.
"No, but I do most things. Tell me something I don't know. Surprise me."
He thought a moment taking this challenge seriously. "Did you know Naomi and I have the same birthday—October 10th?"
Her eyes widened slightly. "No, I didn't realize that."
"Weird, unh?"
"Could be. However coincidences of that nature have been known to happen. Take care of her, Naruto. Don't tell her I knew she'd escaped my clutches. Let that be a surprise for her the next time she escapes."
He grinned. "Okay," he agreed then left to try and catch up with Hinata and Naomi at the hospital.
Tsunade watched him go allowing a frown to mar her perfect face only after he'd left the room. "Yukari," she said angrily to the closed door. "What have you done?"
"How are my two favorite ladies getting along without me?" Naruto asked when he found Hinata and Naomi waiting for him outside Akamaru's room.
They looked at each other then giggled.
He put his hands on his hips looking back and forth between them. "I guess that means you are. Is that good or bad for me?"
"How could it be bad for you?"
"Don't you want us to get along?"
"Sure. Of course, I do unless you start conspiring against me."
"We'd never do that!" Hinata denied.
"Maybe," Naomi agreed with a grin, and looked at Hinata.
He eyed them suspiciously. "I don't know about that. You keep looking at each other with secrets in your eyes and smiles."
"It's a good secret. Not at all a conspiracy," Hinata assured him.
"How can I be sure of that?"
"You'll know very soon."
"Yeah, like in nine days," Naomi added then clapped her hand over her mouth
Naruto grinned. "Nine days, unh?" In nine days it would be October 10th. Ah! That was a good secret. He wouldn't spoil it. "Okay, ladies, I'll let you keep your secret this time, but remember, I hate nasty surprises."
"What about good surprises?"
"That goes without saying. Good surprises are great. Say, Hinata, can Naomi have dinner with us? I told the Hokage I'd look after her until our patrol."
"Of course. Three are as easy to cook for as two."
"You're in for a treat, Naomi. Hinata's a great cook."
"What are we having?"
"That's not polite, Naomi." Although it was something Naruto himself would have asked.
"It's alright. What would you like?" Hinata asked.
"Anything. I'm not fussy."
"How about gyouza?"
"That sounds good. What's for dessert?"
"Naomi!" Naruto reprimanded as he followed his two ladies out of the hospital.
He listened to their discussion of the dinner menu as he walked behind them, his thoughts wandering to other things.
He couldn't do anything more about Naomi. The Hokage told him to consider her his cousin with investigation to follow so he'd accept that. In the meantime, he had to find a way to make time for Naomi and Hinata separately and together. They needed to end the mystery of these attacks so he could have more time with his ladies.
Maybe tonight something would happen on their watch to help them solve this mystery. Maybe he'd be the one to catch the bad guy. Yeah, he'd like that. The attacks seemed to be escalating, so there could be another one tonight. He could use another win under his belt. He needed all the help he could get to make himself acceptable as the next Hokage. Saving the village could be just the ticket.
He wore a wide grin on his face all the way to Hinata's house as he dwelled in his really great dream life walking behind his beautiful girlfriend and cute cousin. Despite everything, life was pretty good right now.