Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto
Piece of the Puzzle
Chapter 4: Their First "Not a Date" and an Important Lesson
Naruto and Momo were currently at the Ichiraku Tsukemen restaurant, formerly the Ichiraku Ramen bar. Ayame turned it into a tsukemen bar after returning from a learning trip. In the years since the business had expanded considerably.
Ayame herself now managed the restaurant after her father retired. Even though she and her father no longer cooked themselves the quality of the food was just as good as it always was.
Naruto and Momo had been given a private table in a secluded area where they could eat in peace. It was a gift from Teuchi and Ayame to Naruto for his years of loyal service, and to celebrate his recovery. Here he could eat all the ramen he could afford in peace and quiet with his friends.
Upon entering the restaurant the two had been immediately led to their table and served their usual meals. It seemed the restaurant now had lookouts on hand to alert the staff whenever Naruto was on his way so he would not have to wait.
Although the restaurant was mainly tsukemen based now, it did still serve ramen as well as other dishes. Naruto was eating a large miso ramen with pork and extra fishcake toppings, and Momo was enjoying her tsukemen.
They had just finished their first bowls, and were taking a break before ordering another round. Naruto decided to use this opportunity to get to know his temporary student better.
"So Momo, you seem to really like tsukemen." Naruto said to Momo.
Momo, who up to now was focusing on enjoying her tsukemen and not on her "not a date" with Naruto was caught off guard. Having finished her meal, she was now trying to avoid imagining herself on a real date with Naruto. Luckily, his question gave her something else to direct her attention towards.
"Tsukemen is my favourite food. My parents took me here once and I've been coming back all the time ever since. It's weird, because my mother and father don't really like it that much. Not only that, but mother doesn't like spicy food and father doesn't like anything sweet, but I do."
Naruto appeared pleased by that response.
"I know what you mean. Ramen is my favourite food, and I've been eating it here since Ichiraku was a small ramen stand and old man Teuchi and Ayame ran it by themselves."
Momo smiled at that. Being alone with Naruto seemed to be easier now that they were in a comfortable environment and discussing something they both enjoyed.
Having found a common ground in a place they both enjoyed the "not a couple" continued to get to know the other better while occasionally stopping for another course.
"So what else do you like?" Naruto asked Momo. "I learned a bit from your parents, but I'd like to hear about it from yourself."
"I like learning new ninja techniques, but mainly because my parents usually teach me and I like spending time with them." She answered.
Naruto appeared to show no reaction to that, but inside he felt a twinge of pain.
'I never knew my parents. I wonder what I could have learned from them if they survived. If, no, when I have kids of my own I'll teach them everything I know.'
Naruto then decided to speak up before the silence became uncomfortable.
"I always loved getting to learn new techniques, but it was years before I learned anything good. For what felt like forever I only knew how to do the transformation, replacement, shadow clone, rasengan and summoning techniques. On the plus side I learned to use them very well."
Momo perked up at the mention of the rasengan and summoning techniques. The first was created by the Fourth Hokage, and known only to a handful of ninja. As for the summoning technique, it required a contract and those were rare.
"Do you think you could teach me the rasengan?" Momo asked while trying to look as cute as possible.
Naruto stood no chance against that. His future wife may only be twelve, but she was a very cute twelve year old that no one could say no to.
"Sure I will. It's an A-rank technique that takes quite a bit of chakra and control to pull off though. I don't know if there's enough time for you to master it before the finals, but I can show you the steps to learn it."
Momo smiled at that, and was inwardly cheering.
'Yes! He's going to show me how to do one of his signature techniques! All I had to do to get him to teach me was just look cute, which is easy for me.'
It was a good thing for Naruto that Momo did not realize at that point just how easily she could manipulate him. Unfortunately for him, she would eventually.
"What about your summoning technique? Would you let me sign the toad contract?" Momo asked Naruto.
The toads, while typically used for spying by Jiraiya, and later Naruto, were most famous for their use in battle. Particularly the behemoth battle toads, Gamabunta the toad boss, Gamahiro the dual long blade user, and Gamaken, who wielded a pike and carried a shield. Being able to summon them for help would give anyone an edge in battle.
"I'm sorry Momo, but in order to be accepted by the toads as a summoner requires you to summon the toad boss, which takes an immense amount of chakra, and undergo an initiation ceremony, which involves immense amounts of alcohol. You'll have to wait until your older and developed your charka reserves a lot more."
Momo was disappointed by that, and showed it by pouting a little. She actually accepted the explanation, but was hoping to try to get something more out of Naruto.
Naruto, seeing Momo appear upset by his refusal to let her become a toad summoner, tried to cheer her up.
"Don't worry about it. You can still become a hawk summoner like your dad. I think the Uchiha clan even has a cat summoning contract. Sasuke did say that your clan had them as familiars."
That perked Momo up a bit. Hawks and cats did have more uses outside of battle.
"It's actually kind of funny. I really only need to summon the toads for scouting and heavy combat, which I can do just fine with my shadow clones. I would actually be better off with a more specialized summon in an area that I'm weak in." Naruto explained.
"I get it. There's not much point in summoning a giant creature to do your fighting when you can use the chakra needed to summon them just as effectively yourself." Momo replied.
"I take it that's why you wanted to be able to summon toads then. The heavy hitters would be useful to anyone who's not a chakra powerhouse. Too bad you need to be one to summon them."
Momo nodded in reply.
'There's goes my plan of summoning a giant toad to squish my competition in the chunin exams, and my fanboys.'
It was a very good thing Naruto had no idea what Momo was thinking, although he would eventually figure her out.
"So what else is there about you? I know your likes, so what else can you tell me about yourself?" Naruto asked Momo.
"What would you like to know?" Momo asked in reply, happy that her crush had so much interest in her.
"Eh, when my team first introduced ourselves to Kakashi-sensei he asked us what our likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams and goals were. I think that would be enough to go by. I already know your likes so we'll just go with the rest"
Momo had an easy answer as she had given it once already.
"Well, since we're skipping likes my dislikes are anything that tastes bitter, and my fanboys."
Naruto chuckled at that.
"I hate bitter foods too. I can't relate to the fanboys since I don't have any. At least I hope I don't."
Momo laughed at that.
"Seriously though, I've never had a fangirl problem, but your dad really did. In fact, your mom was his biggest fangirl."
Momo paled at that as she imagined her biggest fanboy succeeding in his quest for her heart.
'I will do everything in my power to make sure my fanboys fail miserably. Naruto is the only man for me!' She thought to herself, while ignoring the voice in the back of her head that said her father probably made the same vow at her age about his fangirls.
Luckily for Momo she inherited quite a few traits from her mother. Aside from being lucky enough to know her future husband at a glance, she would be strong enough to turn down anyone other then her chosen, regardless of the number or strength of their efforts.
"What about your hobbies?" Naruto asked to continue the conversation.
"I like bonsai care. It's nice and relaxing." Was Momo's response.
At the mention of her hobby, Momo took on a relaxed look. Even the thought of it was calming for her.
"Huh, I like watering plants myself. I didn't think we had so much in common."
It was a good thing Momo was in her happy place or the realization of just how compatible she was with Naruto would have put her into mild shock.
"I didn't either." Said Momo.
It was true. Momo had tried to learn everything she could about Naruto, but all she could learn was information related to his career. Personal information like this she could only learn from those closest to him, and she was keeping her interest in Naruto a secret, for obvious reasons.
"So what are your goals in life?" Asked Naruto.
"I want to be a great shinobi like my parents." Said Momo.
Naruto found that answer acceptable.
"I have the same goal as well, but I have to surpass the Yellow Flash and Red Hot-Blooded Habanero. I think you have it easier."
Momo was in a very good mood now. She of course knew of who Naruto's parents were and how strong he will have to become to surpass them. Between that and their obvious compatibility, she was sure she had found the right man for her.
'He and I are almost perfect for each other! We have so much in common, and he has such strong parents. I can just imagine what kind of family we'll have…'
Momo's thoughts trailed off once more as they were filled with visions of her dream future with Naruto.
Naruto, still oblivious to Momo's fantasies, which was for the better, asked his final question.
"So what's your dream then?"
Momo, who was coincidently thinking of her dream at that very moment, once more became the shy girl she occasionally turned into in Naruto's presence.
"Umm, it's kind of private." Momo mumbled out in reply.
Naruto didn't pry further. For once, he had a feeling what Momo was thinking of.
'If Momo is anything like Sakura her dream is get married to her perfect man. Sakura met Sasuke when they were six, so has Momo met that guy yet?'
Naruto then resumed his cluelessness over Momo's affections towards him. At this point, their next round of ramen and tsukemen arrived, and the future couple began to happily eat their favourite food.
Present Day, Uzumaki household…
"That was our first, "not a date." Naruto explained to his children.
Hayao and Himeko sat in quiet awe of their father. They were putting all of their boundless energy into paying attention to Naruto's story, not wanting to miss a single detail.
"We ended up going on several more over the years, not that I knew that back then, of course. Your mother and I didn't go on a real date until her eighteenth birthday, but that story is still a way off yet." Naruto said.
'Probably not very appropriate for you two either. I'll have to give a censored version.' He mentally added to himself.
"So where was I? Oh yeah! We had just left Ichiraku and I was walking your mother home. Before I dropped her off I had one last secret of my strength to share.
Fourteen years ago, Uchiha district…
Naruto and Momo were now standing outside of her house. Naruto turned to Momo, and bent down so he was now at eye level with her. What he had to say now was important.
"Momo, I have one last secret to share with you for how I came to be so strong. This is the most important quality for anyone to have. Before I tell it to you, I need to know one thing."
Naruto took a moment to remember when he was first asked the question he was about to ask Momo. He didn't think much if it at the time, but it ended up leading to one of the most important lessons he would ever learn.
As for Momo, she was anxiously awaiting what Naruto was going to do next. He had grown silent on the walk back, and she was getting nervous.
When they made it to the front door of her house Naruto suddenly lowered himself so they were now at eye level. Now Naruto said he was going to reveal the deepest secret of his strength. Momo's heart was racing at the thought that he trusted her with it. Finally, she was able to respond.
"What do you need to know?" She asked, a bit shyly.
"Do you have anyone special in your life?" He asked in reply.
Momo was taken aback by that, mainly because she misinterpreted what Naruto meant by "special."
'He wants to know if I have a boyfriend. Does that mean he's interested in me?'
Naruto continued on, echoing the words of his fallen friend, unaware of Momo's thoughts.
"When people are protecting something truly precious to them, they can truly become as strong as they need to be."
That snapped Momo out of her fantasy and brought her attention back to Naruto.
"Remember this Momo. True strength doesn't come from the number of techniques you know, or how many boulders you can crush with a single blow. True strength comes from within."
Momo was surprised by Naruto's careful choice of words as they seemed to indicate that it wasn't the library of techniques her father knew or the simulated super strength her mother had that made them strong.
"When someone fights only for themselves, they can only count on themselves. When they fight to protect someone or something else, they can count on the support of everyone they hold precious."
Momo nodded as she took in the lesson as if Naruto was revealing to her the secret of life itself.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is you need to find your own reason for being strong. Mine is so I can protect everyone precious to me. Why do you want to be strong Momo?"
Momo thought that over.
'I want to be strong like my parents so they'll be proud of me and bring honour to the Uchiha name. I want to be strong so I can someday raise a strong family of my own. I want to be strong so I can impress the man I want to have that family with.'
Having found her answer, she gave it to Naruto.
"I want to be strong for my family." Was her simple reply.
Naruto smiled at that, not needing Momo to elaborate further.
"That's good. I know you'll become strong, and not just from my help, but because you want to become stronger for the right reasons."
Now it was Momo's turn to smile from Naruto's words of encouragement.
"There's just one more thing." Naruto said. "Doesn't all of this sound familiar to you?" He asked Momo.
Momo, being the smart girl she is figured it out right away.
"It's one of the principles behind the Hidden Leaf Village's will of fire."
"That's right. It's the most important lesson for any ninja of the Hidden Leaf to learn."
The sun had begun to set now. Naruto stood up and addressed Momo one more time.
"It's getting late now, so this is it for today. I'll see you first thing in the morning to continue your training. Don't forget what I told you. See ya Momo!"
With those parting words Naruto walked away from the Uchiha Manor and back into the main part of the village.
"Bye Naruto-sensei." Momo replied, a little upset to see him go.
With that she then entered her home to see her family, and prepare for the next day of her training with the man of her dreams.