lostmoonchild: Hey, minna-san! Thanks for the reviews. It's almost one in the morning here and I decided to get chapters posted since I may be losing my internet for a while so I make no promises for next week's update. All I can promise is that I will find a way to update if push comes to shove and more than likely I will be resorting to using my grandmother's computer (the horror if she realized that her not so innocence granddaughter writes smut!) or the library (I repeat: THE HORROR!). So here's this week's chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto so don't sue.
Chapter Fifty One
Naruto could probably count on one hand how many times he had been patient although now he was wishing that he could have been allowed to leave Konoha to pick his family up. "Waiting for someone?" Shino questioned calmly.
"Yeah and they're taking forever!" Naruto groaned in frustration.
"Well, excuse us! Traveling with two kids isn't half as easy as traveling with one." A familiar voice commented in frustration.
The blonde cheered and scooped his daughter up into his arms when she ran to him, hugging her tightly before moving to hug Akina and Kenji. "Welcome to Konoha." Naruto said with a pleased grin. "We'll need to go see Granny Tsunade and then we can go home."
Hisoka pushed against her father and jumped into Shino's arms with a laugh. "Hi, Shino! That's Akina and that's Kenji. They're gonna live in Konoha now. Isn't that cool?"
Akina resisted the urge the shiver as she stared at the man, feeling as if he were staring into her very core. "It's a pleasure." Shino responded calmly. "Hisoka, is that really how we greet people?"
The girl shook her head slightly before answering, "But I missed you lots. Shichi-chan always makes me miss you."
He would have believed that had the girl not been around the Ichibi only. "For future reference, don't jump on people that you missed." Shino told her. "I know we've had that discussion after you jumped on somebody that just got back from a mission."
Hisoka's face paled slightly at the memory. "Unless it's Kiba or someone that doesn't mind." Naruto chuckled. "Did you guys have a good trip?"
"Exhausting."
Kenji stared up at Shino in amazement, trying to figure out how Hisoka could feel so comfortable around such a seemingly cold guy. "He's Daddy's friend. I like him and he has bugs that can eat up your chakra! They don't like it when I feed them Kyuu-chan's chakra or anything that belongs to the Bijuu." Hisoka explained as she held Kenji's hand. "C'mon, let's go see Granny Tsunade and Shizune-nee-chan."
"I'm almost afraid how you decided that Shizune's a big sister." Naruto told his daughter.
"Cause she don't like Sasuke-teme either."
He wasn't going to argue with her on that one or even scold her for swearing. "Let's go see Granny Tsunade so you can tell her all about Suna." Naruto sighed.
Hisoka beamed as she pulled Kenji through the streets, ever careful not to go too far ahead of Naruto and Akina. "So when do we tell them?" Akina asked softly.
"How about tonight? A bunch of my friends want to get together to celebrate so we can break the news to everyone."
Akina nodded slightly before looking around them. She could see the jealous glares that was sent her way and from how the little girl was now making sure she and Kenji stayed close, they were about to enter dangerous territory. "Daddy…" Hisoka suddenly whimpered.
Naruto picked up his daughter and watched with cool eyes as a teenage boy walked by, a sneer suddenly spreading across his lips. "Who was that?" Kenji questioned.
"Just someone whose family Hisoka stayed with." Naruto replied as he patiently eased his daughter away from a panic attack. "Then she got to live with me and we've been a family ever since."
By the time they reached Tsunade's office, Hisoka had effectively been calmed down and was crashing into the walls. "Granny Tsunade!" The girl shouted as she ran into Tsunade's office.
Tsunade closed her eyes as a sigh left her lips before she hugged the girl. "Did you have fun in Suna?" Tsunade questioned.
"Yep, and I didn't do anything to start a war." Hisoka reported happily. "I didn't even make the ANBU or anybody else declare mutiny! I wore out Matsuri-chan and she was surprised cause I called her that but Gaara likes her a lot so I decided she was okay and should be called that."
"Amazing. You may end up doing diplomatic missions one day."
Akina wasn't sure whether to be amused or shocked when Hisoka suddenly stuck her tongue out at Tsunade before darting under the desk. "Hi-Hi, be nice. Granny Tsunade, this is Akina Hara and her son, Kenji." Naruto said with a small grin.
Akina and Kenji bowed slightly, each surprised when Tsunade waved her hand as if dismissing it. "I just got your information from Lord Kazekage about two hours ago. You're at a Jounin rank as of now, am I right?" Tsunade questioned.
"Yes, ma'am. I'm also as medic, as you may remember from Hisoka's stay in Suna's hospital."
"I remember. Exceptionally skilled."
"If you say so."
"My student, Haruno Sakura, works at the Konoha hospital and there's currently a job opening there if you're interested. Kenji of course will be placed in Hisoka's class if you wish to enroll him in the Academy here."
"Yes! Oh, please say yes!" Hisoka shouted from under the desk.
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched before she pulled the little girl out from under her desk. "Go find Hebi-chan." Tsunade said calmly.
"But she's got a couple screws loose in the attic!" Hisoka protested loudly.
"One. Don't make me reach three."
With a groan, Hisoka grabbed Kenji's hand and pulled him out of the office with her. "I don't know why you make my daughter find Hebi-chan when you know she hates snakes." Naruto told the older woman.
"Because I keep hoping some important detail will knock itself loose." Tsunade responded patiently. "Now, I also understand that you two are going to get married and I'm going to assume that a date hasn't been set up as of yet."
Naruto wrinkled his nose, trying to figure out what exactly their personal relationship had to do with Akina and Kenji becoming citizens. "Hey! No trying to pry into our love life!" Naruto suddenly accused after the figurative light went off in his head.
Just what kind of relationship did Naruto have with the Hokage? They acted more like mother and child instead of leader and follower. "You can't blame me for wanting to know." Tsunade replied as she handed Akina some papers. "Sign these papers and you'll officially be a kunoichi of Konoha."
Akina glanced at Naruto and signed the papers, a sense of peace filling her. Was this the place she had been looking for her entire life? Was finding a place to truly call home honestly so great that it was a state of surprise? Shaking slightly from excitement, Akina signed her and Kenji's names before yelping in surprise when Naruto suddenly grabbed her and spun around.
"Oh, Temari-san should be coming in to see you as soon as she and that lazy guy get back." Akina said after swatting Naruto's head until he released her.
"I'm not surprised. Welcome to Konoha, Akina Hara. You should have your forehead protector by the end of today."
"Thank you."
After leaving Tsunade's office and collecting the two children, they immediately headed back to the apartment. "I'm thinking that the apartment will do for now." Naruto said with a sheepish grin as Akina looked around while Hisoka showed Kenji her room. "I don't think the kids will mind sharing for now."
"Kenji will appreciate it. He never sleeps well by himself in new places."
A giggle left her lips as Naruto suddenly pulled her to him and smiled softly after they exchanged a small kiss. "I'm glad you're here." Naruto told her.
"Me too."
A look of concern crossed Akina's features as Naruto suddenly released her and glanced towards the bedrooms. "We need to talk about something. I didn't want to say anything in our letters cause, well, I didn't think it was something that should be said any other way." Naruto told her.
"You're in love with someone else?"
"No!" A sigh left the blonde's lips. "Once word gets out that we're engaged, there's a chance that some of the clans around here are going to be questioning."
Confusion crossed her features before she asked, "Is there a reason?"
"My parents were the last of their clans and since they're dead, I'm officially listed as head of the Namikaze and Uzumaki clans."
She had gone from wandering to being a medic in Suna to engaged to a leader of two clans? She hoped Fate was enjoying its little game with her since she could have gone without being an abandoned wife and single mother. "So the other clans are suddenly going to be interested in any potential heirs?" Akina inquired as she watched Naruto fix up some tea.
"A couple of them already tried sinking their teeth into Hisoka so I really wouldn't be surprised if they thought Kenji was our love child."
If it weren't for the fact that the topic was serious, Akina would have started laughing. "So what do we do?" Akina asked patiently. "I've never played clan politics before so you're gonna have to help me out a little."
"Well, I talked to Shika since he's a clan heir. Hinata, Ino, Kiba, Shino, and Chouji's parents are all clan heads so they got a general idea. Sasuke-teme's a clan head too but I wasn't about to ask the bastard anything."
"You've already told your friends?"
"No, I only talked to Shika so he knows but he won't breathe a word to anybody. I'm telling you other people you can talk to if you need to." Naruto sighed softly. "I guess a public announcement of our engagement is going to need to be made."
She really wished she had known about this before so she could prepare both herself and Kenji. "Okay. So we go ahead and say that we're engaged. Then what?" Akina asked as she settled herself in a chair as Naruto poured her some tea.
The two talked softly about what would be expected of them in the future, each of them grateful the two children ended up staying in their room. When they had finished discussing their situation, Naruto gave the woman a wary smile. "You sure you still wanna marry me?" Naruto questioned carefully.
"Yes."
"Okay then. Should we gather up the kids so we can go meet up with my friends since I doubt a stick's gonna hold them back for long."
Giggling softly, Akina kissed her fiancé. "How about the three of us that were traveling get cleaned up first?" Akina suggested. "Then tonight when the kids are sleeping, you and I can have a little welcome home celebration of our own."
"Hell yes!" Kyuubi shouted excitedly. "I love this woman!"
Isn't that my line? Naruto thought as he kissed Akina's fingers. "I love you." Naruto told her with a grin. "Kyuu even loves you too."
"Now that's a scary thought." Akina teased softly. "I'm gonna jump in the shower. Is that okay?"
"Just don't slip and fall."
"Kunoichi, my love. Then we can get the kids in the bath and be on our way."
Watching as she retreated to the bathroom to take a shower, Naruto couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. Maybe that fate crap that Neji used to go on about was real and he was getting dealt a few good hands. He wondered how ironic it was that he had lost his parents because of the Kyuubi no Youko and yet here he was, gaining a family because of the same reason.
lostmoonchild: Just trying to imagine clan politics makes my head hurt so after all my stories are updated, I'm off to bed if Teahouse doesn't keep me up. Anyway, read and review and I'll see you guys next week... I hope.