Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of the author. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

AN: I give up on 3rd POV, now on it is Natsuki's POV... I tried, sorry ( TT_TT )

Chapter 3

Filing all the papers sat in front of me into the correct filing cabinet, a small sense of achievement spread through me at having finished another easy but time-consuming task. Looking to the clock, I felt my eyes widened, and I hurriedly packed my things and ran out of the shop, managing just to fling a 'goodbye' out to my elderly boss at the back. I heard my feet slap on the pavement as I ran, hoping I wasn't late.

I arrived at the Ninja Academy out of breath from running all the way, damn I need to get in shape, and saw no one else there. I was worried that I was too late, but just as I was checking my watch, a bell could be heard coming from inside the building. Sighing in relief, I saw other people start to gather around the entrance to the Academy, just as children to preteens began to stream out of the building. I quietly cursed my height as other people shuffled in front of me, blocking my view of the crowd of children. I only hoped that a streak of yellow and orange appeared nearby.

Having never been a patient person, I eventually decided to elbow my way to the front. I had tried being nice, but after the last snide remark and disbelieving look I had received from these people, I had had enough. Once I reached the front, I hurriedly scanned the crowd of kids before me, and felt a little sad and worried when I saw no familiar head of blonde hair. Looking all around me, I saw a little boy swinging alone on a familiar looking swing in the shadow of a tree. I made my way to him.

"Why are you looking so down?" I asked as I sat on the ground beside him. I could wash my clothes later.

I smiled at the look of surprise that adorned his face as he looked up at my voice. "I thought you weren't here!"

"I'm short Naruto," I explained, "I actually came early, but some annoying people pushed in front of me. Sorry."

"Are you okay? Did they push you too hard Natsuki-chan?" Naruto said, jumping from the swing while pumping his little fists in the air. "I get them back for you!"

Standing up also, I took one of his fists, separated his fingers and held it in my own hand, "Don't worry Naruto, I'm fine. Next time, just come to the swing and I'll meet you here."

"Next time?" he said, still surveying our joined hands.

"Unless you don't want me to come again." I teased, a small smile on my face. Falling dramatically to the ground, I held the back of one hand to my forehead and heaved a huge sigh, "Naruto doesn't like me! I feel so sad..."

"NO!" I heard his little voice cry as he barrelled into me for a hug, "I like Natsuki-chan!"

Hugging him back, I gave him a small peck on his forehead before standing up again, "I like Naruto-kun too." Taking his hand again in mine, I walked him out of the Academy grounds, blocking him from the glares of some adults and ignoring the comments that I could hear being said.

"Are we going for ramen now?"

I just burst out laughing. Of course, after all this, Naruto would still think with his stomach.

Ichiraku's was the chosen ramen eatery, and Naruto couldn't seem happier. He was telling me all about his day, and how Iruka-sensei had been teaching them how to throw shuriken at a still target and how Iruka-sensei also gave out too much homework. Just another normal day at the academy, but his excitement was contagious.

"Natsuki-chan, did you know, I'm going to be the next Hokage!" he said through the ramen in his mouth, blue eyes and whisker marks dancing with excitement, "Then everyone will respect me, Dattebayo!"

I chuckled, already very aware of his dreams, but couldn't resist teasing him some more, his face became adorably wide-eyed and concerned, "Are you going to forget about me then?"

"NO!" Naruto cried, as I smiled at his expression, "I'm going to protect everyone in the village, especially Natsuki-chan."

"Well don't you need to do all your homework? And do a lot of practise?" Naruto's little body slumped at my words, moaning about how it wasn't any fun, and that a prank was due soon anyway, because it was 'too quiet'. "Do you need help?"

"Natsuki-chan is a ninja?"

"No, but I can try and help you."

"How?"

"Well..." I took a deep breath, preparing myself to discuss what I had gotten permission from the Hokage to do, I'd start off with little steps, "How about on some days you come to the book shop I work at and I can see if I can help you with the theory work for ninjas? Then you can concentrate on target practise and other taijutsu work on the other days. You don't want to overload yourself with work."

Naruto scratched his head in thought, before smiling at me again, "When can I come?"

"Well we can alternate between the two. I can take you to the shop after school one day, and take you to a training ground the next."

"Every day?"

"Except Sunday. Just a little everyday will go a long way Naruto-kun, but on Sunday I'll give you a treat if you've worked hard."

"Ramen?"

"A surprise."

"You'll come and pick me up every day from school?"

"If you want." I said, "I like spending time with you, and I want you to be the best you can be. It'll be hard, but I'll try and help you all the way."

Naruto smiled, slurped up the last of his ramen before slamming the empty bowl down, "Let's celebrate starting my new training with more ramen!"

I copied him, before ordering two more bowls for us. Let this be the start of a more prepared Naruto, and let it come in useful.

One month later and Naruto had improved before my untrained eyes. His aim was still a little off, but was hitting closer to the bull's-eye more often, and he understood a little more about what being a ninja meant. Naruto had taken to sleeping over at my apartment more often also, so I had bought a small but comfortable futon for him to use on his visits. Sundays as promised were his days off, and I had so far taken him to a fair one day, the cinema another, a day out hiking on another Sunday and most recently just staying at my house making lots of cookies. He had had a lot of fun making a floury mess of my small kitchen.

Naruto had been so proud one day when I went to fetch him from school, saying that Iruka-sensei had been very pleased with one of Naruto's written homework pieces. I of course treated him to ramen, boy could he eat a lot of ramen.

My friendship with Naruto grew, and I grew more and more protective of him as I spent more time with him. I had still yet to meet any of the other young ninjas-in-training, as I only glimpsed them when I collected Naruto from the academy. But I felt less lonely now that he was my friend; it was hard to feel lonely around Naruto anyway. The Hokage had granted me permission a month ago to do something drastic to help him, and I now felt ready to see it through.

One night at my apartment, just after dinner when Naruto and I were sat watching TV, I decided to open the conversation, "Naruto I need to talk to you about something."

"Huh?"

"Naruto, about a month ago I asked the Hokage something and he said I could do it," I said slowly so that Naruto understood everything I was saying, "I know I'm not that much older than you, but... how would you like me to become part of your family?" I looked quickly at Naruto only to see him apparently still staring at the TV screen, not saying a word or even making a sound. "You don't have to answer now Naruto-kun, just think about it. I don't mind if you say no, I'll still be your friend."

We finished watching TV in silence, before I hurried Naruto off to the bathroom to get ready for bed as it was getting late. I went myself to prepare for sleep when he was finished, and was soon huddled under my blankets in bed. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I felt a movement on my mattress. Looking to the source, I found Naruto crawling into my bed.

"Naruto-kun? Are you okay? Is something wrong?" I said panicking, bringing him closer to me in a hug, rubbing his back in what I hoped was a soothing manner. He had only crawled into my bed once before, and only after a nightmare. I spent ages calming him down, and stayed awake even longer when he was asleep simply worrying.

"If you became my family..." Naruto mumbled into my shoulder, "Would you be my big sister?"

"If- If you want me to be." I said, "Why do you ask?"

He snuggled closer to me, before speaking again, "I'd like you to be my sister."

I couldn't help the smile that split across my face, Naruto wants to be my brother! "I'd like that too, and I'll try to be the best big sister ever!" I said as I smiled at Naruto, he smiling back just as brightly, "Look out world! Uzumaki Natsuki is here!"

"You're taking my surname?"

"I don't have one, so why not? Now go to sleep, you have school in the morning, and I have a lot of things to tomorrow too. Sleep."

He grumbled a little, before nodding his head and laying back down on my mattress as I tucked him in under the covers. Kissing his forehead goodnight, I repositioned myself to lie facing Naruto, my new little brother, and watched him fall asleep just before me, identical smiles on our faces.