Part 2 of my double update. Make sure you went and read chp 6 since they were both posted today. Sorry for the hiatus.
Naruto hummed to himself, a senseless tune that dipped and weaved with a moment's thought as he raced back towards the old house. He carried a rucksack, filled carefully with three large fish, fat lazy ones he fished from the bottom of the sea. He wasn't too concerned about the species, and knew that if Choji were here he'd be absolutely aghast. Naruto chuckled, so many lectures about the flavor of different fish, so many words that he'd forgotten. All Naruto really cared about was how to cook the food, one fish was the same as any other.
It was seamless, how he already naturally reorganized the two experiences of fishing into his mind. So many years of the Shadow Clone jutsu making him nearly a master at instantly accumulating and integrating the new found memories and experiences.
This was a highly useful 20 min. He now had much better control of his raging chakra already, he'd met Kurama again, and the two clones actually worked his body quite a bit, giving Naruto a much better grasp of his new old body.
This would be confusing to think of this as both an entirely new body, and yet it was in reality his old one. His body from so many years back it was hard to even wrap his head around it. But that also may just be his natural stupidity Sakura always complained about coming through.
Slipping into the house, he put down his bag, pulling the fish out and grabbing a kunai. Preparing fish was easy after so many years in a camp. And even better, having lived with so many Akamich's meant that he was actually quite good at preparing the fish in the best way to protect all the good protein stuff.
He carefully started gutting the fish, knife sliding through flesh like butter, before his hands blurred and he finished gutting and deboning the animal.
"Ah!" A gasp behind him made him pause. Standing shocked, was an older woman with lovely brown hair and king eyes. She looked haggard, but pretty. And Naruto smiled at her. Her shocked face was calming, and an easy smile filled her face, "You are a guest sir ninja. I can cook."
Naruto shrugged, before returning to his work. "You're our host, and feeding a bunch of ninjas is hard. Besides, how else can I thank you for letting us stay while Sensei is recuperating?"
She stared at him, taking in his confident hands, and somehow earnest and peaceful face. This didn't seem like one of the worried kids that had helped drag their own teacher into her home the night last. "How about we both cook?" She walked forward, finding a couple eggs, some mushrooms, and some veggies from her stores. "The fish will go nicely with these I believe,"
Naruto grinned, "You're right! Dattebayo. We can definitely make an amazing breakfast!" He started the fire on the stove, pulling a large flat pot over, "I was thinking of making some fried fish, with the animal fat I already have in my pack. So we can just add up all those goodies you have, and have a super amazing filling stir fry!"
He pumped his fist, before settling in to start finishing the prep with Tazuna's daughter. They worked quickly and seamlessly, easily accomplishing each of their tasks. Naruto was shocked by the care she took preparing each ingredient. Her hands were filled with callouses, and yet she handled each veggie soft and carefully. It was amazing. This is how a mother cooks.
The thought was startling, but filled with truth. Inari's mom was a mom in everything she did. Naruto could feel her heart in every motion she made. Her love was overwhelming.
And this was with a complete stranger alone with her. No matter his age, Naruto could kill her in so many ways, and she showed no fear.
How had he forgotten how amazing this mother was.
"By the way, I've been calling you Tazuna's daughter in my head this whole time. What can I call you miss?" Naruto blinked at her when she startled at his question, staring at him.
It only took a couple seconds for her to recover, "Oh, haha, my name is Tsunami."
"Nice to meet you Tsunami-chan. Dattebayo!." Naruto saluted her, before moving his fish over toward the now hot pan, skilfully pouring the fish in to fry. He'd take the small fish steaks off and have them as a side to the stir fry.
Naruto bounced slightly in place, mouth starting to water as the smells reached his nose.
"You're very skilled for your age." Naruto looked up, grinning when he noticed that Tsunami watching him. He carelessly shrugged, before focusing back on his task.
"Oh, yeah, I have always had to cook for myself, It's a bit of a hobby of mine." Naruto made a silly pose, enjoying the ability to be so rambunctious and free. "I am Naruto, master of making food from nothing."
"Sure you are Dobe. More like a master of being ridiculous." Naruto whipped around, staring at Sasuke's humored face. He couldn't believe that Sasuke came all the way down here to be such a, such a damn annoyance.
He stuck his tongue out at the other boy, "You're just jealous all you know who to cook by yourself is rice Sasuke-teme."
The silence was deafening, before Tsunami giggled, sitting herself at her small and rather well used kitchen table. "You guys are very close aren't you?"
"No way, I could never be close to such an insufferable guy. Do you know how many fangirls he has? It's crazy!" Naruto pointed at Sasuke dramatically, maiming the furious temper that used to so easily come from any mention of 13 year old Sasuke.
"Hn." Sasuke, that bastard was smirking. His eyes smoke clearly to Naruto that he would pay for that fangirl comment as soon as they could stop hiding their true selves.
Naruto tried his best to project back thoughts about how Sasuke started this. He didn't think the other teen cared.
Damn Uchihas.
"Hahaha, you two are quite good teammates." Tsunami was smiling widely, watching him and Sasuke both with those kind knowing eyes. And Naruto knew with certainty that this woman would not be convinced by any show they put on.
"Hn." Sasuke knew it too. Bastard just had to have the easiest verbal tick to let him get away with not talking.
Deflated, Naruto sulked to himself as he finished plating up the seven plates that had been pulled down by Tsunami. He thought Sasuke would have it the hardest, but it seems like he was always getting away easy. He'd hate the bastard if he wasn't such a good friend and teammate. Especially now that he wasn't running away in angsty power hungry shows.
"We will take this up to Sensei and Sakura-chan." Naruto grabbed two plates, before quickly moving towards Sasuke, attempting to kick the other boy in the direction of the plates. The dark haired boy easily dodged, stabilizing Naruto and seamlessly grabbing the plates.
"Urgh, Teme." Naruto pouted the whole way up the stairs, Knowing Sasuke was gloating behind him. This was going to be insufferable.
Walking into Kakashi's sickroom, Naruto took in the sight of his old teacher. Easily diagnosing the other man's symptoms after so long with Sakura as a teammate. He'd be down for at least a week, and it would honestly be surprising if he could use much chakra before day four.
"Now," Kakashi's voice was cheeky, yet hid a hint of steel between his words. " should I feel sad that my other cute students weren't here to check on me?"
Naruto blushed, shamed slightly to have been so late to check on his obviously injured Sensei. "Sorry Kakashi-Sensei, I wanted to help Tsunami-chan cook breakfast. See!" He jumped over to sit heavily next to Sakura. "It's super amazing and full of healthy stuff! Dattebayo!"
Sakura shifted next to him, and he knew that she was most likely protesting the greasy food. But the grease was good! He survived a war on campfire stir fry.
Sasuke was silent as he came over, sitting silently down on their sensei's other side.
"Good job then. My cute little students are taking such care of their old sensei. Though the glare from Sasuke makes me worried that the food may be poisoned."
The prod made Sasuke lower his eyes.
And Naruto blinked, tilting his head, Sasuke sure was acting weird. So was Sakura.
"Let's not waste this food." Thinking of her seemed to summon her to action as she helped their Sensei rise, before grabbing her plate, while Sasuke passed Kakashi his own. She took a large bite, "Thank you Naruto."
Naruto nodded, keeping quiet as he took large bite of his warm breakfast. Things were weird. And he needed to watch more.