Kakashi posts Sasuke at the front door from the inside and doesn't see Naruto greet the Hokage and his mate in the living room. Captain Haruno, as usual, is by Naruto's side. More staff enter the house and prepare breakfast, which is held privately at the kotatsu. Sakura is posted outside the room the kotatsu is in.
After breakfast, Iruka-sama leaves for his work at the Tower and the Hokage and settles himself in the living room while Sakura prepares Naruto for the first item in his itinerary. Plum Blossoms are outside double checking the carriage and the horses.
Again, Sasuke is stunned by Naruto's clothes. A peach-colored kimono with his signature flower embroidered with thread in a lighter shade, with a white obi tinged lightly with the same peach color and decorated with the plum flower in the front, and his hair embellished with more plum blossom pins. It's the first time Sasuke sees a five crested kimono outside of a formal event. He realizes this is a formal event, a formal visit.
"You can breathe easier, Jounin Uchiha," Kakashi tells him as Naruto climbs into the carriage. "I'll join His Highness in the carriage today, however, you will still be part of his watch until his carriage leaves the border or until he releases you,"
"Understood,"
"And this might be a little late, but today's itinerary will deviate somewhat. After the visit to the academy, we will go to the training ground, and you and His Highness will put on a sparring show for everyone. I'm sure the Hime-sama is excited to let loose,"
Sasuke swallows and nods, then flickers off as the carriage departs for the academy.
So much for being careful with the princess.
Naruto meets the teachers first, then listens to their teaching plans and shows him the classrooms where the children are on their break. He is then taken to tour the grounds, where the students train and play with each other.
"Where is your medic and clinic?" Naruto asks when the tour ends. "Where do you send the children when they are sick? Or hurt during class or practice?"
"Most of the teachers are equipped with basic medical jutsu," says the headmaster confidence, which is shattered when Naruto lets out a displeased hum.
"Basic medical jutsu causes terrible scarring," says Naruto as they make their way back to the building to meet with the children. "I hope the future shinobi and kunoichi of Konoha aren't sent back to their parents littered with scars on wounds that could've been stitched together scar-free by a competent medic. Wouldn't want them to think their children are being mistreated by their teachers,"
Sasuke himself was healed by a teacher when he was cut by a stray shuriken as a child. It did end up scarring.
Kakashi shoots the headmaster, who was appointed before Kakashi took the hat, a grave look. Aside from cutting corners on spending for the school, which Kakashi has tried to control by spending for the school from the Hokage's funds himself, Kakashi recently discovered he's been embezzling funds and will be fired and stripped of rank when the visit is over.
"Ah," says the headmaster trying not to cower in fear of the hokage's glare.
"You should also try to look into medics with background in child psychology. Children need guidance, not just in education, but also in understanding their needs, wants, and emotions, especially with children with a predilection for shinobi life. And for adult psychology as well—reeducation is not the answer to everything,"
Silence blankets the staff.
How a princess Sasuke's age would know how to handle children's education, and child and adult psychology he doesn't know, but he imagines it could be because despite his age, he's exposed to many of the issues of his own village, and because he's a medic himself.
"Right, I would like to meet the children now,"
The children are enamored with him. The pre-genin graduating class are a bit wary, but Naruto knows they're supposed to be well behaved and observe.
"Hime-sama, you're so pretty!" says a bright little boy, an alpha, named Hikari, tells him.
"Why, thank you!" says Naruto with a smile, "You're a handsome boy aren't you!"
The boy grins at him.
"Hime-sama, Hime-sama!" another boy, a beta, raises his hand. "I'm Minato!"
"What a special name, Minato!" Naruto comes over to him and pats his head. "You have the same name as my father, Lord Uzumaki Minato,"
Minato? As in… Namikaze Minato? The Yondaime Hokage? Naruto's father was the Yondaime Hokage? Who was the Rokudaime Hokage's teacher? Sage, no wonder Naruto's so talented. All he knew was that one of their leaders married into Uzushio's royal family—he never bothered to look up the names. Sasuke might need to educate himself a little bit more.
"Really!"
"He's a strong shinobi who protects all of us in Uzushio. Are you all eating your vegetables so you can be a strong shinobi?"
"Hai!" the entire class choruses.
"That's very good!"
"Ne, Hime-sama, do you think I can be a strong kunoichi?" asks a little girl. "Even though I'm an omega?"
"What's your name?" Naruto sits next to her at her table.
"Fuyuko,"
"Well, Fuyuko, I'm an omega, and I'm a shinobi. Do you want to see how strong you can be?"
Naruto changes into his battle dress, the same black top and orange pants, sans his haori and humors the students by wearing Uzushio's hitai-ate. "Who wants to go on a field trip?"
The children roar in excitement and Naruto can't help but join in the laughter.
That's how Sasuke ends up in the middle of a training ground with His Highness, while the children are on the side with their teachers and the Hokage. He's not surprised when word spreads almost half the village turns up to watch them.
"Keep in mind," the Hokage tells the children, "Naruto-hime-sama is an omega, and Jounin Uchiha is an alpha,"
Sasuke can't help but feel a bit disappointed when all the children cheer for Naruto and not one of them thought of cheering for their own soon to be fellow shinobi. He shrugs to himself. It can't be helped.
"Remember that there are children and civilians present, and please don't destroy this training ground," Kakashi hollers over to the pair.
Sasuke and Naruto yell out their affirmatives.
The children can barely contain their excitement and cheers, especially the omegas who are starry eyed at the fight in front of them. The civilians, pre-genin, genin, and shinobi, however, are dropping expletives left and right, in awe at what a supposed pretty and meek princess is actually someone no one should cross. Many have judged him far too easily for the way he dresses and his title.
Lightning hits trees and sets them on fire, some immediately turned into charcoal, sharp wind slices through more trees, fire erupts in the air, and bright sparks of blue and yellow explode in the sky and land on the ground creating a crater and fissures meters deep, and a shockwave and gush of wind toward the spectators. At some point electricity rains down and a tornado expertly deflects them into a bunch of charred, fallen trees.
It goes on for about two and a half minutes until Kakashi calls it off. He doesn't want to get in trouble with his sensei, his wife, and of course a queen who can also confidently kill him without second thought for letting her precious grandchild, Kakashi's equally as precious godchild, get hurt because he wanted to play.
Sasuke and Naruto land in front of Kakashi, Sasuke in a bow, and Naruto in a shallow nod. Their audience roars and the round of applause is deafening. Naruto waves to the people and shouts his thanks.
The children, the pre-genin and new genin, cheer and rush toward Naruto.
"Hime-sama, Hime-sama, that was so cool! You're so strong! I want to be like you!" is the general assessment of the cheering children. "How did you do that!"
Naruto picks up the little girl from earlier, Fuyuko and props her up on his hip. "So you see, Fuyuko-san, you can be as strong as you want to be, with perseverance. You can be the fiercest, worst winter to ever fall on your enemies,"
The child looks at him with awe and delight. "Yes!"
Sasuke thinks Naruto might just be the best summer to ever shine its sun on him.
A banquet to celebrate Naruto's arrival where he meets the lords of Konoha, and the eligible alpha bachelors are introduced to him. Shikamaru, Kiba, Neji, Choji, including Sasuke, even though they've already met. The princess is wearing a pastel orange formal furisode kimono with a large ribbon on the back.
Sasuke has learned to tolerate social gatherings. He is a noble's son; he should be well versed in gatherings, but he is also a soldier. He's spent more years in a flak jacket than he ever will in a haori and hakama as a spare.
Again, Sasuke is struck by how well Naruto is dressed. A pastel orange furisode kimono, again embroidered with plum blossoms in another darker pastel thread, with a black obi tied into a magnificent ribbon at the back, and hair decorated with shiny plum blossom pins. Very different from the tomosode Iruka-sama wears, with shades of forest green and gray, decorated with the Hatake crest. (3)
They are arranged in two aisles facing each other, seated on cushions, and in front of them their trays. Sasuke is seated next to Kiba on his left, Lady Inuzuka's son, and next to Kiba, Shikamaru, Lord Nara's son, and next to Shikamaru, Hinata, one of Lord Hyuuga's daughters. He hasn't particularly communicated with them even through their years as genin since Sasuke was immediately assigned to his post as soon as he made chuunin. On his right, some people of rank he doesn't know.
He's also four seats from the capital, far from Naruto. On the aisle parallel to them, their parents and other high ranking personalities Sasuke isn't familiar with. The first seat on the aisle on Naruto's right is vacant.
When the prominent houses have all been ticked off and presented to Naruto at the banquet hall, with him and the Hokage and his mate at the head, the first tray of food is served on the low table in front of them including the vacant seat, but no food is served to the princess. Instead, a moment later, Captain Haruno enters the hall, dressed in a formal women's hakama for easy movement, with a tray of food she serves to her patron.
A toast is dedicated to the princess, and everyone downs a dish of sake.
Kiba shoves Sasuke with his elbow. "Did you sleep with him?"
Sasuke rolls his eyes as he sets his dish down on the tray.
"Fuck's sake, Kiba. Have some decency," Shikamaru hisses at him. "That's a country's ruler,"
Kiba lets the servant pour him another dish. "Just asking. I mean, who wouldn't want to? He's gorgeous,"
"Well," says Hinata, starting on the appetizers served to them, "Father says he killed thirty jounin-level missing-nin in ten seconds, so maybe you can try asking and see if he doesn't kill you?"
The young Inuzuka almost chokes on the sake. "Thirty?" he looks over to Sasuke for confirmation.
Sasuke hums.
"No way," says Kiba in disbelief, "You're joking,"
"Nope," says Sasuke.
"So that thing this morning. That's not just a show?"
"Nope. And I think if he had used the tailed beast on me, I'd be dead,"
"I thought princesses were small and pretty, and that you rescue them! Like Hinata!"
"Excuse me?" Hinata huffs. "I can paralyze you before you can blink,"
"SORRY!"
"Captain!"
"Your Highness," Sasuke bows, finally getting close to Naruto after the banquet when all are preparing to leave the hall. "I know they've been introduced to you earlier, but these are my comrades. Inuzuka Kiba, Nara Shikamaru, and Hyuuga Hinata. We were in the same class as genin,"
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Naruto gives them a nod when they bow. Sakura is right behind him. "I did assume you were close to them somehow. You all seemed to have had so much fun seated together,"
"Well, then I hope you didn't hear anything Kiba had to say," says Shikamaru as joke.
"Oh, I heard everything," Naruto giggles behind the sleeve of his furisode.
Kiba, Shikamaru, and Sasuke pale. Hinata hides a snicker behind her sleeve.
"The tailed beast is a fox," says Naruto, "One of the many strengths the fox lends me is excellent hearing,"
"Um, Your Highness," Kiba swallows, the apology stuck in his throat. If his mother finds out about this, he'll be dead by sunrise.
"Captain Uchiha, would you be so kind to escort me to my carriage?"
"Y-yes, of course," Sasuke offers his arm since they're formally dressed.
"Your friends seem fun," says Naruto as he takes Sasuke's arm.
The captain's cheeks flush light pink with the intimate way the princess is holding onto him as he leads them to where he knows the carriage is waiting. "I actually haven't spent that much time with them," Sasuke admits. "I was installed at my post quite early,"
"I see," Naruto hums, then beckons Sasuke to bend over so he can whisper something in his ear. "Take me somewhere nice,"
Sasuke isn't sure if it's a request or an order, but Naruto's breath against his neck sends goosebumps down neck and spine. "Of course," he answers, and they flicker away into the night.
The Plum Blossoms follow quietly.
"It's Tou-chan!" Naruto exclaims when they land on his father's head. He giggles. "Tou-chan!" he yells at the sky. "I'm on your head! Kaa-chan look at me!"
Sasuke chuckles. Somehow, the princess looks, sounds, and moves less tensely. "Here," he hands Naruto a bottle of cold lemon tea he'd gotten on the way to Hokage mountain and taken a sip out of earlier.
"Thank you," he says gratefully. "Those banquets are always so stuffy,"
It's the first time Sasuke hears Naruto complain. "I never get used to them either,"
"The food is so good though! It's my favorite part of banquets, when places put their best foot forward when it comes to food," Naruto twists open the bottle and takes a long swig. "Aah~! That's so good, too! I really like this!"
"It's from one of the groceries I frequent when I come to the proper," says Sasuke, taking a long gulp from his own bottle.
"It's so good!" Naruto says again as he takes another sip.
"Oh, right, you wanted to meet Garuda, right?"
"You'd let me?"
Sasuke makes some space between them, bites his thumb, and summons the giant bird. Wind blows from giant wings as Garuda lands gracefully on top of Hokage mountain.
"Garuda, this is Naruto-hime-sama. He wants to meet you," Sasuke tells the animal.
Naruto stands there, wide eyed and in awe, and standing still to show respect. "Captain, he's gorgeous. May come closer?"
Sasuke nods.
Garuda watches as Naruto walks up to him, pausing at each step, gauging his reaction. When Naruto offers his hand, Garuda bends over to nudge the hand with his beak, then gives the princess permission to touch more of him when he presses his head into Naruto's palm.
"Oh, oh, Garuda-san, you're absolutely magnificent! Look at you, so handsome!" Naruto grins and his hands melt into the soft feathers.
The bird nudges his beak onto Naruto's cheek.
Naruto giggles. "How extraordinary,"
"Would you like to join me on a ride?" Sasuke asks. "It's a clear night. Perfect for a flight over the village, get to see a side of Konoha not many people get to see,"
Naruto gasps. "Really?" he turns to Garuda. "Is it alright, Garuda-san?"
Sasuke starts to remove his haori to give to Naruto to wear. "Here, it may get a little cold,"
"Oh, no, I have to decline," says Naruto hurriedly. "We're not allowed to wear other's crests,"
Had Sasuke really forgotten his clothes had the crest on them? Of course the princess isn't allowed to bear any other crest than his own, how stupid of him. Awkwardly, he puts the haori back on. "Ah, well, I hope you don't mind the wind chill,"
"I'll be alright,"
Garuda lowers himself and extends his wing to let them get on his back. Sasuke gets on first, then assists Naruto on. When Garuda feels they're safe on him, he jumps off the mountain.
"Captain!" Naruto shrieks, grabbing onto Sasuke's haori.
"We're fine, Your Highness," Sasuke holds tightly on to him, hand holding Naruto by his obi covered waist close to him to keep him from falling over Garuda's side.
Garuda flies back to Hokage Mountain but a considerable distance to let Naruto see the leaders up close.
"Tou-chan!" he giggles, "Do you think we can ask them do it again? His hair is wrong,"
"I don't think that's how statues work," Sasuke chuckles.
Garuda flies off away from the mountain.
"Bye, Tou-chan!" Naruto waves at the stone carvings as it becomes smaller the farther away from it they go.
They glide over the shimmering lights of the business district, past the Hokage Tower, and through the soft lights of the residential areas.
"It's so nice," Naruto looks around, hair billowing in the wind. "It's so peaceful," then he giggles. "And then like every other settlement, I'm guessing that's the red light district," he points to an especially bright spot, with more red than white and yellow.
Sasuke sighs. Out of everything he could point out he points to that. "Yeah,"
"Have you been there?"
That makes Sasuke choke on his own breath. "N-no, Your Highness,"
"Me neither," he says, enjoying the scenic views.
"I don't think anybody would think you have,"
"Eh," Naruto shrugs. "I don't get to go to a lot of places unsupervised. They'd let me go ham at war, but I can't go to a corner store without having the entire place turned upside down. Which is why I'm thankful for this little flight, Captain. It's nice to be normal for just a little while,"
A flight on a giant bird isn't what Sasuke would consider normal, but he sits on that thought for few more moments and realizes what's normal for Naruto would be just some time alone and just be and do things without someone watching over him or telling him he can't. Sasuke recalls what Captain Haruno said to him the night before.
"To be in the service of your people is a protected, sheltered, and lonely way to live. Be kind to him."
"Oh, your thumb!" says Naruto, reaching for Sasuke's right hand. "Here," he runs his finger over the bitten and blood crusty thumb, and the wound closes without a scar. Naruto pats his hand and grins at him. "There you go. Good as new,"
Sasuke notices the roughness of Naruto's hands. These aren't the hands of a person who's had everything done for him. This is a person who's worked hard with his own two hands. This is proof of his hard work and perseverance.
"Thank you," Sasuke smiles back.
"Oh, a river—!" Naruto's words become a shriek when Garuda suddenly lowers his altitude, causing him to grip tighter onto Sasuke.
"Are you afraid of heights, Your Highness?"
"No, I just don't like it when my control of gravity is taken from me,"
Garuda continues his descent, then glides over the river's waters shining under the night's bright moon.
"This is Naka River," says Sasuke, "It flows through Konoha, long and winding, and goes as far as my base. Around the base, it's generally untouched. Children like playing near and in the river in the summer, and there are shinobi posted here near the proper to ensure children are safe, and some patrol its length to ensure its cleanliness and potability,"
"It must have been so much fun playing in the water!" Naruto's eyes reflect the glistening mumbling river water.
"In the shallow parts, yes,"
Naruto draws in a sharp breath, and once more tightens his grasp on Sasuke's haori when Garuda starts to slowly lift himself father from the water.
"Do you want to go higher?" asks Sasuke.
"Higher?" Naruto squeaks.
"Higher."
Naruto grips onto dear life to the Uchiha Captain as Garuda flaps his wings to increase his speed as he ascends, and then they break through the clouds. He looks up and sees the moon closer than he's ever been able to see it before. "Oh my,"
While Naruto is looking at the moon, Sasuke is looking at Naruto. It's beautiful, the way the moon washes Naruto's radiant face with its gentle, silvery light. Naruto looks… wistful somehow.
The princess lays his head on Sasuke's shoulder for a moment, looking up at the moon as if he wishes to touch it. Then Naruto lifts his head and gathers himself. "Captain Haruno must be worried,"
It takes Sasuke a while to reply. "Of course," he touches Garuda's back and motions for him to descend.
Slowly, Garuda lowers altitude and gives them another few minutes of Konoha's lights in the blanket of the night before Sasuke steers him to land in the expansive gardens of the Hokage's residence. They hop off the bird's back, and Naruto takes a moment to thank the animal.
"You gorgeous beast," he says, running his hand over the plush feathers. "Thank you,"
Garuda presses the tip of his beak to Naruto's cheek once more, then regards Sasuke with a look and takes to skies to disappear later in puff of smoke.
"That truly was a magnificent experience. I've never had so much fun as I did before today!" Naruto says to Sasuke as they make their way to the house. "Thank you for letting me meet your summon, He's absolutely brilliant! I'm sure his loyalty to you immeasurable. Thank you for today, Captain. I will never forget it,"
"I'm glad you had fun," replies Sasuke, pleased to know that Naruto had a great time. "I think Garuda liked you, too,"
Before Naruto can reply, the Plum Blossoms flicker in in front of them in a V formation, kneeling with their heads down.
"Your Highness. We're glad you're safe," says Sakura before lifting her head. "We couldn't catch up with the bird,"
Sasuke sees the tension creep back into the princess, and Naruto's jaw tightens.
"Of course you wouldn't be able to catch up with the bird. That is the point," Naruto huffs. "And before you threaten him again, which I advise that you stop before you singlehandedly cause a war, I asked Captain Uchiha to show me Konoha. Bear in mind we are on foreign territory, so implore you to give Captain Uchiha the respect he is owed because we are in his country. Everything you do is a reflection of me because you wear my crest. While I appreciate your display of loyalty and declaration of fealty, your actions leave much to be desired,"
Sakura doesn't answer immediately. "I am only following orders, Your Highness,"
"Yes, I know. And I wish to be less strangled, if you'd allow it, for just half an hour without threatening the people around me. I can handle myself,"
"Of course," she nods, without the sarcasm this time.
Naruto takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. "Captain Uchiha, thank you for the night. If you'll excuse me, I'll be retiring for the rest of the evening,"
Sasuke watches as the Plum Blossoms rise and divide themselves to let Naruto pass. Half of them including Captain Haruno follow Naruto into the house, while the other half flicker out for their half of the watch.
He doesn't enter the house until an hour later.
"You like him," Sakura accuses again after getting Naruto ready for bed.
Naruto, in bed and already dressed in his sleeping yukata, braids his hair loosely to the side to keep it from tangling as he sleeps.
"Silence means yes," Sakura teases him, clicking Naruto's luggage shut and then sealing it into a scroll.
Naruto doesn't have an answer to that. He's already told her, people like him aren't allowed to like someone. He pulls the sheets up and goes to sleep.
The second day is just as busy as the first one.
Sasuke's back in his flak jacket, finding it more comfortable than the formal hakama he had on the night before, and waiting for instructions. At nine in the morning, the carriage is ready, and Sasuke decides to step back for today and let Captain Haruno handle His Highness.
Three minutes past nine, Sakura opens the front door to a dressed-up princess. As per usual, Naruto is dressed formally. Today he's dressed in a salmon-colored kimono, a light cool shade of pink and orange, and again, the plum blossoms embroidered with a shade paler that it seems like it catches the light, with an off-white obi.
Sasuke opens the carriage door for him. "Good morning, Your Highness,"
"Good morning, Captain Uchiha," replies Naruto easily. "I hope you're ready for today?"
"As ready as I can be," he says with a nod.
"Good," says Naruto, who then climbs into the carriage.
Sasuke closes the door, and the coachman starts the drive to Konoha General Hospital.
Naruto tries not to judge or scrutinize the hospital as he meets the people who run it. But he will be having a word with his godfather. There is much to improve, but that doesn't mean this hospital is incompetent. He's just used to more capable hospitals since of course, his grandmother wouldn't settle for anything less.
Sakura and Sasuke keep their distance and let Naruto interact with the hospital staff as they show him their facilities.
Naruto nods, points to things and asks questions, and smiles, giving shallow bows to all he meets. When they arrive at the ER, there's an elderly gentleman being treated but the nurse can't seem to find a vein in his hand, and the poor old man's hand is littered with bruises from all the failed attempts.
Sasuke watches as Naruto disinfects his hands from an alcohol dispenser on the wall, grabs some gloves from a stocked shelf, puts them on, and approaches the nurse and old man.
"Good morning, jii-chan," says Naruto with a smile. "How are you doing today?"
"Oh, aren't you pretty!" says the old man with a teary smile.
"That's very sweet of you, jii-chan," Naruto chuckles.
"Can you help me?" he frowns. "I don't feel well. And the other nurse kept pushing needles into my hand,"
"I'm sorry you don't feel so well," Naruto looks through the trolley next to him for the necessary instruments. "My name is Naruto and I'm an emergency medic,"
("The princess is a medic?" one of the officers ask in surprise as Naruto continues to speak with the patient.
"Yes," answers Sakura. "One of the best. His Highness' specialization is emergency and battle medicine and trained under Queen Tsunade herself,")
"You don't dress like a medic," the old man gives him a confused look. "You look too well dressed to be one!"
Naruto smiles warmly at him. "Well, we need to get you better. To do that, we're going to need to hydrate you first. Is it okay if I try one more time?"
"I hope it won't hurt like before,"
"It'll only be a little prick," he bends over and gently brushes his gloved fingers on the other hand, looking for a vein to pierce. When he finds one, he presses the needle in. "All done!" he tapes it up to secure the infusion set and snaps the gloves off then throws it away in the nearest trash bin.
"Really?" says the old man, surprised to see the tube already under his skin and in a vein, when the nurse from before couldn't even do it. "I didn't feel a thing!"
"I told you it'll be just a little prick," Naruto winks at him and administers to him a bag of fluids from the trolley, and adjusts the drip. "Alright, I'll let the doctors take a look at you now, okay?"
"Thank you, Naruto,"
"You're very welcome, jii-chan," he gives the old man a pat on the shoulder before returning to his company, whose jaws have dropped. He may have overlooked to mention he's a medic. "Right, where to next?"
Sasuke has experienced firsthand to be healed by Naruto, but to see him handle other people's care is stunning, to the say the least. He calmed that old man, a gentleness to him that isn't there when he's in full princess mode. Then achieved with a single attempt what the other nurse had tried and failed several times, something that should have been learned with proper basic training.
Next, they visit the children's ward. Like the academy, the children are enamored and drawn to him. It's just that this time, some of the children in this room won't be around in the very near future. Naruto spends ten minutes reading them a short story book, then another ten minutes answering questions about being a princess.
Sakura unseals some bags from a scroll. They're stuffed animals. Naruto starts to distribute them. All of them have a plum blossom made of fabric pinned to its ear.
"He can't heal them," Sakura says, loud enough for just Sasuke to hear over the squeals of delighted children.
"What?" Sasuke turns to her.
"I know you're thinking it," she says, "He's one of the most talented medical nin, trained personally by Her Majesty, one of only two people in the world who have the Strength of a Hundred Seal. Medical ninjutsu has its limitations, too. Some of these children will grow worse and die faster if he tries to heal them,"
Sasuke may never be able to know what it's like to have the power and skill to help, but still be unable to. It must be painful.
There is a solemness and silence to the princess when they leave the pediatrics department.
"He's a bit of an empath," Sakura tells Sasuke when Naruto's back in the carriage and they're following it to a function room for the state lunch. "He likes people, loves being a medic and helping, and usually he can handle himself, but there are times when situations such as those ill-fated children, overwhelm him. About not being able to help,"
Sasuke starts to think about what to do to help lighten the heaviness in Naruto's heart and mind, but Sakura starts again.
"Don't worry. Sometimes all it takes to feel better is a good cry,"
At the state lunch with the hospital officers, he pledges to send medics to teach and help raise the number of doctors and medics in Konoha and improve their skills, and to ensure the safety of the children at the academy training to enter force.
"Part of me thinks you grew up too fast," says Kakashi as they sit down for after-lunch tea and cake at the Hokage's residence.
Sakura and Sasuke are at the table with them having tea at Naruto's request.
"I think… all shinobi grow up too fast," he sighs, reaching for his cup of tea and taking a sip. "I've been studying medicine ever since I can remember,"
"When did you know you wanted to be a medic?" Sasuke asks.
"When I was six, we were on an engagement, if I recall correctly to open this new park for bikes and skateboards and whatnot," Naruto starts, "After the opening, people started playing, I was with the Queen, and while my morther and father were mingling with the people and trying out their toys, a boy on his skateboard fell off a staircase ramp while trying to do a trick, and his arm broke. Baa-chan healed it and the boy was back to playing in like, ten minutes. But Baa-chan told him to be gentle on his arm for a while and didn't let him play anymore that day.
"Ever since I saw her do that, I wanted to do that myself. I wanted to heal. I didn't want to just be… the vessel called on to fight whenever there is someone or something to fight. I know I've always said I want to surpass her, but I don't think I ever will. For now, all I can do is my best help my people and help others,"
He stands. Kakashi also rises, and Sasuke and Sakura follow.
"Godfather, I'd like to retire and end my itinerary earlier than scheduled,"
"Of course," says Kakashi, knowing the last few days were tiring.
"Thank you for your hospitality. Konoha is flourishing under your reign, and I hope you achieve it is whatever you wish to achieve as Hokage,"
"Thank you for your fruitful visit, Hime-sama. I, as Hokage, am grateful for your hand, and hope you'll grace us with another visit soon. As your godfather, I hope to see you soon in a less than stately situation,"
"Of course!" says Naruto immediately. "Just send word. I'm sure Tou-chan, Kaa-chan, and Ero-jiji will be looking forward to seeing you, too," he does away with etiquette and throws himself at the hokage, pressing his forehead to Kakashi's neck. "Come visit us in Uzushio soon, okay? It doesn't have to be a state visit,"
"I'll write," Kakashi wraps his arms around him.
Naruto pulls away and pokes at Kakashi's shoulder. "You better," he pouts, then bows, which Kakashi returns.
Naruto asks not to be disturbed for the rest of the day, and stays at the engawa and refuses company. (4)
(3) Furisode 「振袖・ふりそで」 are the most formal style of kimono worn by young unmarried women, distinguishable by its long sleeves, in this story, omegas who choose to wear it. Tomesode 「留袖・とめそで」is the most formal kimono type worn by married women, in this story, omegas who choose to wear it.
(4) An engawa 「縁側・掾側・えんがわ」 is an edging strip of non-tatami-matted flooring in Japanese architecture, usually wood or bamboo. The engawa may run around the rooms, on the outside of the building, in which case they resemble a porch or sunroom.
so basically naruto is princess jasmine lol. i hope y'all liked it lmk what you think!
