Captain Blues: I'm so sorry for the long wait. With my health and other factors, I had to take a tiny break from things. From this chapter on, this fic will be updated monthly (If I do have more time, I may crank out more chapters) with that said, let's get into it.
Ansatsuken
Chapter Eighteen: A New Morning
[Theme of Konoha (Morning):
Royal Capital from Legend of the Dragoon]
"Mommy, Daddy, wake up," a tiny voice said as small hands pressed against Naruto's back to shake him awake.
Naruto's bleary eyes opened at the combination of the tiny hands and voice. He turned around to see Emi's beaming smile, which caused a drowsy smile to form on Naruto's face.
Carefully dislodging himself from Haku's arms, Naruto turned around to face his daughter and ruffled the girl's hair, causing her to smile. "Morning, Emi-chan," Naruto whispered
"The sun is out. Can we go play?" Emi asked.
"Shhh," Naruto shushed. "Don't want to wake up your mom," He whispered.
"Sorry," Emi bashfully replied, her voice now in a whisper. "The sun is out. Can we go play?" Emi asked again, her voice faint to Naruto's ears.
Naruto glanced at the clock on the wall.
7:45 A.M.
"Hold on, little one," Naruto whispered to Emi before he turned back to Haku and pressed a kiss to her shoulder, causing her to drowsily hum.
"Naruto?" she sleepily questioned.
"I'm going to take Emi out to get some breakfast," Naruto said.
"Hm. Okay," Haku mumbled. "Love you…."
"Love you too," Naruto whispered as Haku drifted off to sleep.
Naruto carefully got out of bed and said to Emi, "Come on, Little Smile, let's get you ready."
Emi nodded before she lifted her arms to Naruto, who instantly picked her and carried her out of the room. Naruto carried Emi to the bathroom and said, "Alright Emi, let's get you all ready to start the day. You have your toothbrush Kaede-san packed for you?"
Emi nodded and quickly ran out of the bathroom. Naruto summoned a clone and commanded it with, "Go to my old apartment and grab my toothpaste, towels, soaps, shampoo, and some of my clothes from when I was a kid. Everything should still be clean….I think."
"Gotcha, Boss," the clone said before he quickly jumped out the bathroom window. One of the nice things about this place was that it wasn't too far from his old apartment, so he could quickly grab the items he needed from there.
Emi finally returned after five minutes with a glittery, small purple and blue toothbrush in her hand. "Very good," Naruto said before the clone hopped to the edge of the window with all of the requested items. "Thanks," Naruto said to the clone.
"No problem and to answer your question, the small clothes were clean, thankfully," the clone said before it gave a smile at Emi and poofed out of existence.
Naruto smiled in relief before he looked at his little girl and told her, "Alright Emi, we're going to get you all washed up for your first official day out in Konoha. You ready?"
Emi nodded, but Naruto could see that the girl was a little nervous. "I hope everyone likes me…." Emi mumbled.
Frowning, Naruto crouched down to Emi's level and patted her on the head. "Like you? They'll love you," Naruto replied knowingly. "And I should know. I loved you from the second I saw you."
"Really?" Emi asked, her blue eyes radiating happiness.
"Of course," Naruto replied as he kissed her forehead. "I was so sad to take you back to Kaede's that first day. I even cried. But Haku-chan cheered me right up."
Emi frowned and gave Naruto a tight hug. "I don't like Daddy crying," Emi mumbled against his neck, which emotion to fill his chest. Naruto felt his eyes glistening, but he shook his head and hugged his little girl back.
"Daddy won't cry anymore. I promise," Naruto told her before he gently separated her from him and added, "And an Uzumaki always keeps a promise. That's my Nindō after all."
"What's a Nindō?" Emi asked with a scrunched-up face. "It sounds like food. Can we eat it?"
Naruto grinned and said, "I wish. But no. It's not something you eat. It's um…." Naruto paused, his face scrunched up in thought. "It's kind of like my motto. Or um….A promise that I tell myself every day. That's a better way to put it," Naruto told her.
"Hm. Okay," Emi said, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
"Alright Smiles, let's get you all freshened up. Then, we're going on an adventure to get some breakfast for us and Haku-chan. How does that sound?" Naruto asked.
"Oh! I want pancakes!" Emi exclaimed, excitement in her eyes.
"Then pancakes it is," Naruto said. "Now let's get you ready to go so we can grab some."
Emi happily nodded and as Naruto stepped out of the bathroom, he noticed Haku coming his way. "I heard Emi scream about some pancakes?" Haku asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
"That's what woke you up? Pancakes?" Naruto cheekily asked.
"My favorite breakfast," Haku told him as she walked up to him and kissed his lips briefly, but sweetly.
Naruto blushed and said, "Since she wanted pancakes, I was going to get some take-out from Keiko's Breakfast Shack to bring back, so we can all have breakfast But since you're up…."
"Say no more, Naruto-kun," Haku said with a bright smile. "I'm going to help Emi wash up. After that, lead the way." Haku kissed Naruto's cheek and made her way inside, causing Naruto to hear Emi's giggling.
Naruto sighed out and leaned against the banister with a pleased look on his face.
What a fantastic start to his morning.
Emi, now dressed in a white shirt with a spiral on the front, orange shorts, and blue-green sandals, sat on Naruto's shoulders as he and Haku jumped around the village.
"Having fun up there, Emi-chan?" Naruto asked as she screamed in excitement.
"Faster!" Emi commanded as she gripped a bundle of Naruto's hair in each of her tiny hands.
Naruto laughed and quickened his pace but also being mindful of his little Sapphire. Naruto still couldn't believe that this was his life. When he left for Wave, he had no way of knowing that he would be returning with a beautiful girlfriend and a precious daughter.
It was almost too good to be true but Naruto would not look this gift horse in the mouth.
"Mommy, Daddy, look! It's Uncle Sasuke!" Emi exclaimed.
Naruto looked down to see Sasuke strolling the road below, looking bored out of his mind. "I wanna say hi!" Emi said.
Naruto didn't know why Emi called Sasuke her "Uncle" but he wouldn't hurt her by saying otherwise. He just wishes she gave the title to someone who wasn't a dick. But whatever his little girl wanted, she would get.
He would not allow her to be disappointed with life like he was.
"Wanna go say hi?" Naruto asked Haku, who nodded.
"Might as well. We'll be comrades in arms once my test ends today, so I might as well forge those bonds now," Haku said.
"Right away, Smiles," Naruto said as the dup jumped off the roof and landed in front of Sasuke, startling the last Uchiha. "Sup, Teme," Naruto said.
"Good morning, Sasuke-san," Haku said with an amused look to Naruto, who grinned in response.
"Dope, Haku," Sasuke replied.
"Hi, Uncle Sasuke," Emi chirped.
Sasuke seemed taken aback by the name and looked at Naruto in confusion. "It's a long story," Naruto said.
"I see," Sasuke said before he turned to Emi and replied, "Hey, squirt. How's the d-Naruto treating you?"
"Mommy and Daddy are getting pancakes for breakfast," Emi said. "Do you want some too?" Without waiting for an answer, Emi looked down and asked, "Daddy, Mommy, can Uncle Sasuke have pancakes too?"
Naruto could see how alarmed Sasuke was and felt a little mischievous. "Sure," Naruto instantly replied before he shot Sasuke a smirk and said, "Unless you want to break your poor niece's heart."
Sasuke had murder in his eyes as he glared at Naruto but Haku said, "You don't have to join us if you don't want to."
Sasuke stared at her for a moment before he looked at Emi and gave a tiny smile. "I'll be happy to join you guys for pancakes. I guess this was fate. I was getting ready to have some breakfast myself."
"Oh, can we invite Auntie Sakura too?" Emi asked.
"Sure, Smiles. What do you say, Haku? Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"Sakura-san has been very kind since we met. I say we should invite her as well if she's awake," Haku said.
"Your daughter's the one kidnapping me, dope. It's her choice," Sasuke replied.
"Alright, let's go grab her," Naruto announced.
"Yay!" Emi exclaimed happily.
The little group made their way in the direction of Sakura's house, while Emi looked on in wonder at the area around her.
"So, why is she calling me Uncle Sasuke?" Sasuke asked while Emi was preoccupied with the surrounding area.
"Well, it's complicated by last night, I found out who my parents were," Naruto answered. "And it turns out, our mothers were best friends."
Sasuke blinked in surprise.
"That was my reaction too," Naruto said. "So I guess from Kakashi telling us that, she has the image in her brain." Naruto then grinned as he added, "Plus, she thinks you like being around me."
Sasuke snorted and said, "I think I like Zabuza more."
Naruto snorted as well before the pair found the Haruno residence. "Alright, we're here," Naruto announced.
"Emi-chan, do you want to go knock on the door with me?" Haku asked.
Emi nodded excitedly.
Naruto took the small girl off his shoulders and placed her on the ground. Emi ran up to the door and knocked on it as Haku trailed behind.
After a few moments, the door opened to reveal Sakura's mother, who immediately was surprised at Haku's appearance.
"Excuse me, Haruno-san. Forgive me if we have awakened you. My name is Haku and I was wondering if Sakura would like to accompany Naruto-kun, Sasuke-san, and Emi-chan to breakfast?" Haku asked.
"Well first off, Haku-san, I was awake already, so no worries," the matriarch said with a smile. "Sakura is currently resting but I would be happy to check and see if she can," Meb
"Can I come to wake Auntie Sakura up too?" Emi chirped.
Almost immediately, the woman cooed as she crouched down to Emi's level and asked, "And who are you?"
"I'm Emi," Emi happily answered before she turned to Naruto, pointed at him, and said, "That's my daddy." She then pointed at Sasuke and added, "And that's my uncle. And this is my mommy," Emi said as she looked at Haku with a bright smile. "We wanna invite Auntie Sakura for pancakes!"
Mebuki tilted her head as she looked at the pair and then at Haku.
"It's a long story," Haku said with a serene smile.
"I can't wait to hear this story," Mebuki said. "But, I suppose that can wait. Until then, why don't you three come in? And Emi-chan, why don't you help me wake the girls."
"Okay!" Emi said as she Mebuki took her hand and led her inside, with Haku, Naruto, and Sasuke following after her.
Sakura was buried deep underneath her covers, with Ino nestled against her, both snoring away when she heard her door open and her mother's voice say, "Oh Auntie Sakura. Wake up, you have a little guest."
Sakura grumbled incoherently and buried her face into Ino's neck.
She heard her mom whisper something undecipherable to someone before she heard a familiar voice scream, "Wake up, Auntie Sakura!"
Sakura felt a small body land on hers, causing her to groan in surprise. "Huh?" Sakura questioned as she leaned up, only to see Emi on her chest. "Emi-chan?" Sakura questioned drowsily.
"Hi, Auntie Sakura," Emi said. "Your mom said for me to wake you up like this."
Sakura looked at her deeply amused mother, who said, "That's your niece, kiddo."
"When did I become an aunt?" Sakura asked, despite her tired smile as she ruffled Emi's hair.
"You tell me," Mebuki said before she tilted her head and gave an amused sigh. "No matter how old you two get…."
Sakura was briefly confused until she realized that Ino was still sleeping at her side. "I thought you two would outgrow sleeping with each other at sleepovers," Mebuki said.
"Whose that?" Emi asked.
"That's my best friend, kiddo," Sakura answered.
"Well, wake her up. Your two teammates are in my living room. And expect answers on this little bundle of blue-eyed joy," Mebuki said before she walked out.
"Right, right," Sakura said to her retreating mother before she looked at Emi and said, "So, what are you doing here?"
"Daddy and Uncle Sasuke are getting pancakes for mom and me and I wanted you to come," Emi answered.
"Aww," Sakura cooed with a bright smile.
"That is so adorable," Ino's exhausted voice said as she leaned up off the bed and ruffled Emi's hair. "So this is Naruto's kid? She's hella adorbs."
"Hello! I'm Emi!" Emi said.
"I know," Ino said, a little more awake. "Your Auntie told me all about you last night, you cute little dumpling."
"What's your name?" Emi asked.
"I'm Yamanaka Ino. You can just call me "Auntie Ino," okay?" Ino asked.
Emi nodded happily and said, "I have another auntie! This is the best morning ever."
Sakura covered her ears as Ino let out a long cooing sound. "I've only met her for a few minutes. But I will kill everyone and then myself if anything happens to her," Ino told her.
And for some odd reason, Sakura believed her.
"Do you want to come for pancakes too, Auntie Ino?" Emi asked.
"Darn right I do!" Ino answered. "I'm starving right now."
"Same here," Sakura said. "Emi-chan, why don't yo-"
"YOU DEFEATED MOMOCHI ZABUZA?!" Her mother's voice shrieked out.
"Welp, I guess this is how the morning is going to go," Sakura sighed out.
Ino chuckled, nudged Sakura's shoulder, and said, "Come on, Forehead, we need to get ready for breakfast with our cute little guest!"
"I think your mom took that pretty well," Naruto said as the group stepped out of the Haruno home.
"If by "pretty well" you mean, "fainted in shock and offered to take care of Emi for you," then yeah, it went pretty well," Ino snarked as Emi sat on her shoulders. "I can't believe you guys got such an awesome mission for your first C-Rank."
"Neither can we," Sakura and Naruto said in unison before Naruto noted, "I can't believe how quickly you took a shine to Emi-chan."
"I love her so much. I mean seriously? She's a total sweetheart," Ino said before she looked at Haku and said, "And I can see where she gets it from. You are the perfect gentlewoman."
"Why, thank you, Yamanaka-san," Haku said.
"Call me Ino, Haku-san," Ino said with a smile. "Besides, I'm this little cutie's aunt. So consider us family."
"I suppose I shall do that then, Ino," Haku said with a smile.
"This is all pretty nice but I'm starving," Sasuke said with a frown. "Now let's go."
"You know, why don't we make this like a rookie team thing?" Sakura suggested. "I mean, it'll be our first official gathering since we became shinobi. Plus, we gotta introduce Haku and Emi to everyone."
"I mean, that doesn't half bad…." Naruto said before he looked at Sasuke and asked, "But I'm sure Sasuke is going to slaughter us if we don't eat and I'm about ready to help him. Maybe we could do that for dinner tonight?"
"A group dinner? Ino asked. "That sounds awesome. We should totally do that!"
"With that settled, let's grab some food and head back to my place. My stomach is about to cave in on itself," Naruto announced.
"Ditto. To Keiko's breakfast shack we go!" Ino exclaimed.
[Theme of Breakfast Shack:
Alright from Persona 5/The Royal]
"That is so romantic," Ino said with hearts in her eyes as she stared at Haku. After preventing the poor maître d' from being murdered by the hungry, unstable duo of Naruto and Sasuke, Team 7, Haku, Ino, and Emi had finally finished with their plates of food.
Well, the girls were.
Naruto and Sasuke were in the middle of an eating contest, with neither backing down while Emi cheered them both on.
"I didn't even get all those details," Sakura said with wide eyes. "I mean, I knew Naruto was looked at as a hero after defeating Zabuza but, to have done all of that for Wave. No wonder they treated him like that."
"Forget Wave, I'm trying to figure out how Naruto became this guy with a heart of gold," Ino said. "I mean, no offense Haku-san, but Naruto wasn't like that at all before he left. So it's just taking me by surprise."
"That's the thing with Naruto-kun," Haku said with a fond smile to Naruto, who was glaring daggers at Sasuke. "They're layers to Naruto-kun. To the outside world, they'll see the version of Naruto that you know, Ino-san. But if he trusts you, you'll see the real Naruto. The Naruto that made me fall in love with him."
"Ah! I finally found you all. Ah, and you have Ino to boot," Kakashi said as he pulled up a chair in between Haku and Sakura. "Good morning my lovely students."
"Hey Sensei," Sakura said.
"Kakashi-san," Haku and Ino politely said.
"Kakashi-Jiji!" Emi exclaimed as she reached out to him. Kakashi laughed, grabbed the girl, and sat her in his lap.
"I see Naruto and Sasuke are getting along as usual," Kakashi noted as Naruto and Sasuke continued to shovel pancakes into their mouths at top speed.
"What's up, Kakashi-sensei? We don't have a team meeting today, do we?" Sakura asked.
"Not at all," Kakashi said. "We have a mission today."
Sasuke and Naruto stopped and turned to Kakashi and asked, "Mission?" with their mouths full of food.
"Well, For you, Naruto and Ino, yes," Kakashi said.
"Naruto and Ino?" Sasuke asked once he swallowed his food.
"That's right. All of you have missions but to shake things up, our teams of been switched," Kakashi announced. "Team 8's sensei, Yūhi Kurenai should reach out to both of you tomorrow morning. So be prepared."
Kakashi then looked to Naruto and Ino then said, "And you two will be accompanying Hyūga Hinata, Rock Lee, and myself to the village of Faiāgāden."
"I mean, no complaints but why are we being split up?" Sakura asked.
"As the Hokage explained it last night: With the rearranging of the teams, this is to teach you rookies that your status quo won't always be that. Sometimes, you'll have new squadmates and Jōnin leader to team with."
"I see why," Haku said. "With this being a big village with a lot of Shinobi, this will be the best way to build rapport with one another along with what the Hokage mentioned."
"Exactly," Kakashi said. "Unfortunately, with how serious this situation with our mission is, we have to leave right away."
"Leave?" Emi asked as she looked at Kakashi. "But Kakashi-Jiji, I just got Daddy and a new Auntie. I don't want them to leave…."
"Hey," Haku whispered as she grabbed Emi and situated the small girl into her lap. "It won't be for long, Emi-chan. Both Naruto-kun and Ino-san will be back safe and sound."
"B-But my first mommy and daddy said that too…." Emi whispered as her eyes glistened.
"Emi-chan," Naruto whispered while Sakura and Ino frowned at this.
Even Sasuke's eyes softened at this reveal.
"Hey, it'll be okay," Naruto told her sweetly. "Haku-chan is right. We might be leaving for a little while but Ino and I will be back."
"Yeah!" Ino said. "And when we do come back, we're going to have a girl's night, Emi-chan!"
"Girl's night?" Emi asked.
Haku also looked curious at this.
Sakura nodded, "It's basically where we spend a night over someone's house, eat tons of ice cream, do each other's hair and watch movies. It's super awesome."
"Really?" Emi asked with excitement.
"Really," Ino said with a big smile.
Emi stared at Naruto and Ino and whispered, "Do you both promise?"
"I promise," Naruto said. "And what do Uzumaki never do?"
"Break their promises…." Emi recounted.
"Yeah! And neither does a Yamanaka!" Ino shouted. "So we'll be back. No worries, okay?"
Emi sniffled and nodded, "Okay…."
"I hate to break this up but we're needed immediately," Kakashi said before he ruffled Emi's head. "I'll make sure to protect them, okay?"
Emi nodded.
"You both have two hours to prepare," Kakashi said. "I'll see you guys at the west gate."
Naruto and Ino nodded before Kakashi disappeared in a plume of smoke.
"Well, that put a damper on things," Haku sighed out before she turned to Naruto and Ino. "We should get you both prepared."
"Which means, we have a quick shopping trip to get to," Ino announced. "We should start now, Naruto."
"Right," Naruto said as he stood up. "You guys want to come with?"
"Of course, we have missions tomorrow," Sasuke said.
Sakura nodded.
"And we're coming with to see you both off, Naruto-kun," Haku said.
"Then, let's go," Naruto told them.
Captain Blues: And this chapter marks the end of the fluff chapters. I decided for Naruto and Ino to start their friendship bond with Emi being the key to that. The next chapter will have Hinata and Lee meet Emi and Haku and the official start of the mission. Until then! See you guys next month!