Chapter 23 - Late Night.

Pairing: Naruto x Uchiha Mikoto.

This is a half note and half chapter… chapter. This isn't edited. Please read the author's note.

A/N: Wow, yes, hello I'm alive. Okay, I got something important I want to talk about. I haven't updated in forever, I know that. I'd normally come up with an excuse, but at the moment, I'm not really sure I'm okay with the direction of the story.

I'm releasing what I have of this chapter to say this to you, and get your input. Because I've been tempted to rewrite this story from the Kusa arc and up for a while. Problem is, I don't know if I'm too hard on myself in regards to what I've written.

I've had a hard time taking a standpoint to properly view this story, and see it as good or bad. There are things I'd probably change if I wrote it today. So what do you think? Is this story worth anything, or should I try doing it over?

Also another note is below here.

I wrote an; Uchiha Self-Insert back in the second war, Naruto and Fairy Tail crossover, Dual SI Fairy Tail story of my beta and me.

And it's all literally just in my folders. If any of these spark your interest, then let me know in a review or a PM. If there is enough 'hype' about these, then I'll probably edit the chapters and release them.

Naruto's Room.

As Naruto laid in bed that evening, he couldn't seem to sleep. He had a pretty nice evening, eating some of his precious bowls of ramen sent from the divine gods above. And then just going home, and now, he was here.

His fingers were folded beneath his head as he blankly stared at the ceiling. He didn't feel that tired anymore.

He shouldn't be that surprised. He had most likely slept over his desk for a few hours after all. He also slept after he got home last night, so, his sleep schedule had just been screwed over by his usual night activities.

As he was just laying there, he had a mental debate with himself about whether or not he should go out tonight. In the end, he decided against it.

Sasuke would need him in the morning, and if something went wrong, and there were for example stronger opponents than first anticipated and he got delayed, or he got injured for that matter, then he wouldn't be able to keep his promise.

So with a small sigh, he stared a hole into his ceiling, 'This sucks…' He in the end sweatdropped and sat up in his bed.

With a small look out of the window, he stared up at the moon through the blinds. He felt tense in his entire body for some reason.

If he had to guess, then it was because he wasn't doing anything. F9r years he had done everything to stay busy, and now that he could relax, he just wasn't able to.

That restless sensation of being idle didn't sit well with him, not with everything he had on his mind. All the things he had to do.

"Screw this," He eventually just groaned out slowly, stood up, and grabbed onto a shirt from the day before.

As he put it on, he walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, almost tripping over his own feet in the process.

Who knew walking downstairs blindfolded by a shirt was a bad idea?

'Perhaps some tea would help?' He wondered and grabbed a cup from one of the shelves.

Which then reminded him.

He didn't know where they put the things to make it… So for a good solid ten minutes, he walked around in the kitchen, trying to look for it.

"Do you need some help with that?"

He felt a sense of deja vu as he with his head stuck inside a cabinet slammed the back of his skull up against one of the shelves.

With a low-pitched mumble, he withdrew his head from the cabinet and rubbed the back of his head.

Opening his eyes with a confused gaze, he looked up at the stairs and saw a certain raven-haired woman staring down at him with the most amused expression.

Though, the sight of her clad in a nightgown, with a robe mind you, made him almost clap a hand over his eyes to stop himself from looking. Despite his cheeks reddening in the dark, he decided not to openly facepalm to keep up his appearance.

All those words and teasing from the day before were still stuck like glued to his brain. And they certainly made their effect evident now.

'Stupid no filter Inuzuka and alcoholic Senju women .' He thought to himself. Those two had been by far, the worst

The latter had talked about homewrecking, and the former like they were already dating. How was he, as a guy, supposed to react now?

"Why aren't you asleep?" He asked, a sheepish grin splitting his lips.

She took a couple of steps down and walked toward him, a tilt of her head as she leaned up against the kitchen counter, "I could ask you the same thing."

"I asked first." He countered whilst pointing an accusing finger in her direction.

Mikoto smirked, "Hah, never heard about women first?"

"I go in for equalization," Naruto smirked back and crossed his arms over his chest.

The raven-haired woman put a thoughtful finger to her cheek, "Oh is that so? Then why do I find it so odd that you're a high-ranked Shinobi in a military dictatorship with a background within a black ops organization?"

Almost falling face-first into the ground, Naruto pouted and looked away, "Tch, fine you win."

"You're a couple of years too early if you want to beat me," She mocked and blew him a childish raspberry.

Naruto rolled his eyes, but found himself unable to stop a smile from forming on his lips, "Anyhow… why are you up?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "Couldn't sleep, I guess I have a lot on my mind right now."

"Something wrong? You seemed fine earlier." Naruto commented, a frown settling on his face since he had a pretty good guess about the reason.

With a small pause, she just stared at him until a heavy sigh escaped her lips, "All this talk about Shinobi today, and training just brings back memories of that day… It seems to get worse at night."

Naruto gave a nod and a comforting smile, "Yeah, it's silent at night. It just brings it to the surface, I know it all too well. There are no distractions to keep it at bay at this time."

"Is that why you always took all those night shifts at ANBU?" She asked.

He nodded his head, "I mean yeah, it gave me something else to think about. And it usually makes me too tired to even think about it at all, but it just bottles it up for another time."

"So it didn't really help in the end…" She concluded with a small frown.

With a shrug, he sat down at the kitchen table, "It was nice in the moment, but the 'aftershock' was unpleasant, to say the least."

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do. While I'm thinking about saying yes to forming a team with you, I'm worried. It'll not just affect me, but everyone else here too. What would happen to Sasuke if both of us ended up on a long-term mission?" She mumbled, dark waves of hair shadowed her eyes as she sat down beside him.

Naruto rested his cheek on his palm, "Akari and Karin are here, he wouldn't be alone. And the old man isn't cruel, he'd never set us up for a long-term mission knowing that Sasuke could be having a tough time."

She gazed up at him from the corner of her eyes as she clenched her robe, "Are you sure?"

He gave a confident nod in return, "Certain of it. And should the old man try to pull some tricks which I doubt he would, I promise I'll sort it out. You have my word."

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she raised her head with more spirit in her features than before, "How can an idiot like you say so many right things?"

"Oi, I'm trying to help and you're insulting me?" He pouted with a grunt.

She shook her head in return and leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder, not sure why she did it, but the comfort felt nice. "You know I'm messing with you, right?"

"Well, I hope you are," He commented with a slight playful nudge to her ribs with his elbow.

There was no audible response from Mikoto, as she just stared at the table. He didn't comment on it. There was a lot on his mind, and he did his best to be there in the moment for her.

Ever since his parents and brother had died, he had had a hard time with things like this. Emotions and being straightforward with people you cared about had become hard, because if you had to face your problems…

You also had to face the pain. Hence why he had avoided facing his issues for so long.

Which was why this time he wouldn't turn a blind eye to it anymore. Not his own problems, and definitely not the problems of people he cared about.

It was easier said than done, but he knew that both Mikoto and Hiruzen were right. The pain he had kept in for so long, it would never get better unless he let it out.

So, when he looked at her, he wanted to stay there to prevent her from making the mistakes he did. Because he cared about her.

He had been too good at running away and hiding in his own bubble of self pity, but he wouldn't allow her to do that.

"Let's do it then,"

Naruto blinked, "What?"

The dark-haired woman lifted her head with a slight smile of confidence, "Let's team up, and see how it goes?"

"Only if you're sure, I don't want to force your hand," He replied in a soft tone with his lips that started to curve upward into a happy smile.

As if it was a spreadable condition, she couldn't help but mimic it, "Certain of it. I trust you, Naruto… If you say everything will be okay, then I believe your word."

"Then it's a deal, I can't wait to work with you. I swear it's gonna be so much fun, I can barely wait to get started!" He exclaimed in an almost too loud tone, loud enough for Mikoto to shush him, to which he sat down with an embarrassed grin as he scratched the back of his head.

She shook her head at his antics, her smile slightly fading, but still present on her face as warmth spread throughout her chest, "You should go to sleep, you have an early morning tomorrow."

"Yeah, you're right. Are you coming? You'll need your rest too." He asked with a small smile.

She remained silent for a while, a clear unease in her gaze but she still forced a smile in return, "Don't know, my room is empty and I don't really want to be alone."

"I guess that despite the smile, the thoughts are still bothering you?" He assumed and tilted his head in a worrisome manner.

"I guess you can say that…" She sighed as the forced smile fell, and her expression fell into that of a blank one.

He frowned before he punched his fist into the palm of his hand, a smirk spreading his face as a new resolve found its way onto his face, "Well! Then we can play some shogi, oh… or I could teach you some fuinjutsu for when we start going missions!"

Instead of a forced smile, a genuine one found its way onto her face as she shook her head, her black locks moving in tune with the movement as she interrupted him in a soft tone, "Naruto…"

"Y-Yeah?" He stuttered, a pink hue on his cheeks as he realized he had perhaps gotten a bit too into it.

"You'll need rest, you made a promise." She reminded him.

He exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders, "That may be so, but I ain't leaving before you do."

"You're unbelievable…" She face-faulted at his stubbornness.

He gave a small snort as his arms crossed carelessly over his chest, "A lot of people tell me that, no biggie."

There was a moment of silence as she stared with her onyx eyes. She didn't want to force him to stay up for her sake, but at the same time, there was selfishness in her head telling her to keep his company for as long as she could, "Say… Naruto-kun?"

"Hm, what is it, Mikoto-chan?" He hummed, a bit taken off guard from the affectionate suffix as he scratched the back of his head.

"It's just… you remember that time where I felt bad, and you kept me company throughout the night?"

He turned his head in a thoughtful manner, as he remembered the time he had kept her company through the night on the limited space of the couch, and how the morning had ended up, "O-Oh, yeah, what about it?"

"You said if I ever needed it again, you'd be there, right?" She asked with her eyes downcast at the ground, a tight clench in her chest as she raised her hand up to scratch her cheek.

While he felt a nerve pinch in the gut of his stomach as the endless teasing remarks came back to the surface, he quickly discarded them upon seeing that it had taken a lot from her to ask this of him. From what he could remember about the Uchiha, many of them were proud.

Perhaps that mixed with the uncertainty of wanting to bother him had refrained her from asking before. Even if he had been strong in his resolve to tell her that it didn't matter when and where because he'd always be there for her.

He smiled, even though she wasn't looking at him, as he stepped forward. With his arms spread out, he wrapped them around her frame and brought her in for a hug. He could feel her give a small jump of surprise, as he kept a moment of silence.

Itachi had been similar to this, he never asked for help unless it was directly forced upon him. Pride, or uncertainty, he didn't know which he'd say this was. Nervousness even perhaps.

It didn't matter either way.

"Of course, if anything is ever troubling you, I'll be right there with you. You don't deserve a restless night, so if I can help you, then you don't even have to ask me I'll gladly do so… That's a promise of a lifetime."

Her eyes widened as she just listened to his words. It brought a sense of calmness through her, as her gaze softened. She didn't look at him, but she stared aimlessly into space as she leaned her cheek up against his chest.

It was warm, and she could hear the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat. She listened to it for a while, as the relaxed sensation through her started to wash away the unease she had been fighting off through the day.

She didn't know how he did it, but his mere presence was enough to make her feel at ease. Her eyelids eventually got so heavy she closed them, and her heavy arms reached up to wrap around him in return.

A drowsy tone came from her a couple of seconds later, as she without nervousness at all asked, "...Could I stay with you then?"

He stared down at the top of her head, as he raised his hand to rub his palm up and down her back, for a minute mesmerized by the shade of black her long hair was, "As I said, of course, anytime…"

A memory flashed to life, as she remembered his one demand from when it had first happened, "As long as you don't get pushed onto the floor." She snorted with a fit of giggles breaking through and settled for the fabric of his shirt to quiet her laughter.

"Yeah please don't push me onto the floor, I quite like my bed…" He sweatdropped with a crestfallen gaze.

She wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye as she broke free from the hug, "Then let's go, need to get some rest before Sasuke has to get to the academy."

"After you." He chuckled with a small mock bow and watched as she moved past him, and ascended the stairs.

He turned off the light and followed after, as a silence fell over them. No needs were needed to be spoken as they entered his room, and climbed into the still luke-warm sheets of his bed.

He felt a bit nervous as he climbed up under the sheets, he couldn't silence all the teasing he had endured, and the talk he had had with his sensei.

Though, she seemed totally at ease. Which was all that mattered, and managed to make him smile at her expression.

Her eyes were closed as the sheets were wrapped tightly around her, all the way up to her neck, her face half-buried into the comfort of the pillow as the reassuring sound of her heavy breathing filled the room.

'She really must've been tired,' He figured and fought the urge to reach over and run his fingers through her hair, but in the end, failed as he carefully moved the strands of hair away from her face.

He retracted his fingers just as quickly, as a guilty sigh escaped his lips. 'What am I doing?' He thought to himself. He couldn't deny that he thought she looked pretty at this moment.

Relaxed and snuggled up, right beside him. Even if it were just because he wanted to get rid of her loneliness and make sure she knew she had someone around that cared, he couldn't help but let all those thoughts get to him.

Itachi would surely kill him if he realized where his mind had started to wander off to in these moments.

As sleep started to claim his, as his ocean blue eyes were still gazing at her sleeping face, he wondered what exactly to do.

Perhaps, he should ask someone about this feeling spreading throughout his stomach was…

Hmm, maybe Yugao would be willing to hear him out. She had always been a big sister to him, even if he had audibly claimed the opposite, he couldn't deny that she had always looked after him.

Yeah, he'd have to ask her tomorrow if he got the chance.

As I said at the top, this is like a "half" chapter so I could voice my issues. This is what I had written so far. Do you think it should be rewritten? I realize that some people may find the pace stupidly slow if the pairing is the main thing you wanted to read.

I've just in general had this thought for a long time that I didn't know exactly what I had to do. I know there are a lot of people that have been a bit iffy that's it been 123k words with not as much as a kiss.

So I'll put this question up for you, what do you think? Should I continue from where I'm at, or just rewrite it?

If the majority wants me to continue, then I'll delete this "half chapter" write a complete chapter, and release it again. So instead of chapters 22,5 it'll be the actual chapter 23. I hope you aren't too annoyed by this update, I figured I might as well voice my issues with this story. I'm generally asking because I can be quite hard on myself in terms of quality, if I start to feel like it's not good enough I lose motivation to write it. That's pretty much what has happened with all my stories.