New chapter ... also need ideas for the direction of this story.
The room was filled with a sterile silence, only punctuated by the distant hum of machinery. The clean, white environment of the pathology lab radiated efficiency and precision. Dr. Naruto Uzumaki, wearing her white coat, was deeply engrossed in examining some slides under the microscope. Nearby, her colleagues, TenTen and Shikamaru, were busy with their respective tasks.
TenTen was meticulously organizing a batch of samples for analysis, her nimble fingers moving with practiced ease. Shikamaru, on the other hand, was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed. Though it appeared as if he was relaxing, Naruto knew he was deep in thought, likely analyzing some complex case details.
The intricate details of tissue samples, spread across multiple slides, consumed Naruto's attention. "These cellular formations... they're quite unique," she mused aloud, adjusting the focus on her microscope.
Shikamaru, leaning back in his chair, rubbed his temples. "Yeah, it's a troublesome case. Never seen anything like it."
Naruto adjusted the focus on her microscope, murmuring softly, "This one's a real mystery."
Shikamaru, without opening his eyes, responded, "Isn't that why we're here? To solve mysteries."
TenTen, meanwhile, was engrossed in analyzing a set of test results on her computer screen. "The molecular analysis seems to be throwing up some odd results too." Chuckled she also retorted, "And to also avoid paperwork. I saw that stack on your desk, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru groaned. Before Shikamaru could retort, there was a sharp knock on the door.
Naruto looked up, a little irked by the disturbance. "We're in the middle of something, can't people see that?" she muttered. The door swung open to reveal Mikoto Uchiha. She looked elegant as always, her poise belying her age.
"Naruto?" Mikoto's voice was tinged with a blend of affection and joy.
However, her irritation vanished as soon as the door "Mama? What a pleasant surprise!" Naruto exclaimed, removing her lab goggles. She felt a flutter in her chest, not just from the unexpected visit but also from the anticipation of seeing the women who was like a secondary mother to her. It has been a while since she last saw her.
Mikoto's eyes sparkled with warmth. "Hello, Naruto. I hope I'm not intruding. It's been too long, hasn't it?"
"It really has," Naruto replied warmly, meeting her halfway and embracing her in a gentle hug.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow peering at the visitor with a lazy curiosity. while TenTen offered a polite smile. "Not at all, please come in," said Naruto, motioning for Mikoto to enter.
Mikoto stepped in, glancing around the lab. "Quite an impressive setup you have here. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Naruto nodded, her smile genuine. "It has. How have you been? What brings you here?"
"Well," Mikoto began, "I was in the area for some family business, and I thought I'd drop by to see my favorite doctor. Plus," she added with a playful glint in her eyes, "I was hoping to treat her to lunch."
Naruto blinked in surprise but was touched by the gesture. "Of course! I'd love that," she said, beaming. However, she hesitated for a moment, glancing at her workstation and then back at Mikoto. TenTen gave Naruto a playful nudge. "Go on. We'll handle things here. You've been cooped up in this lab for way too long."
Shikamaru grunted in agreement, adding, "Don't worry. We've got this. You should take some time off."
Giving TenTen and Shikamaru a thankful smile, Naruto responded, "I suppose I could use a break. And catching up with you would be wonderful."
"Great!" Mikoto exclaimed. "Wrap up whatever you're doing, and let's go. I've got so much to share."
Naruto chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let me just gather my things."
Mikoto smiled gratefully at TenTen and Shikamaru. "Thank you. I promise I won't keep her for too long."
Soon, Naruto and Mikoto exited the lab, the sterile atmosphere replaced by lively chatter, as two set off to catch up on lost time.
The upscale restaurant had an ambiance of refined elegance. Its large windows gave a panoramic view of the bustling city below. The establishment was awash with warm hues, from its deep mahogany furniture to the amber lighting, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Tall potted plants and a trickling water feature added to the sense of tranquility. Waiters in crisp uniforms glided between tables, ensuring that every patron was treated like royalty. Naruto and Mikoto were seated at a cozy table near the window, the soft sunlight filtering through, casting a warm golden hue on the tablecloth.
As the server guided them to their reserved table, Mikoto remarked, "I thought you'd appreciate the ambiance here. It's peaceful, away from the hustle and bustle."
Naruto smiled, "It's lovely. I can see why you chose this place."
Mikoto took a sip of her tea, her eyes reflecting genuine interest. "So, Naruto, tell me everything. How have things been in the lab?"
Naruto grinned, "Busy as always. But it's all exciting work. We recently got this really challenging case, and it's like solving a giant jigsaw puzzle. What about you? I don't recall you saying anything about coming to visit the last time we spoke."
Chuckling, Mikoto replied, "Thought I'd come to check on my wayward son, Sasuke. ... You know how he's been, a fantastic doctor, a bit of a workaholic, and now, apparently, quite the overprotective dad. I've heard enough complaints from Sarada about him being overbearing so I thought I'd come to see how those two are doing."
Naruto laughed heartily. "I'm not surprised. It's sounds like he hasn't changed." She ignored the flutter in her chest, she wasn't going to mention to Mikoto that she'd finally been in contact with him after two decades ... or that fact that they were both regularly texting each other … or their one kiss. Not unless Sasuke had already mentioned it, and in that case, Mikoto would have to be the one to bring it up. Nope, definitely was not going to mention that to his mother.
Mikoto chuckled knowingly, "Oh I know, that boy needs some sense beaten into him, know anyone Naruto?" The implication wasn't lost on Naruto, who blushed slightly, but ignored it.
"Anyway," Naruto continued, trying to change the subject, "I've also been working closely with TenTen and Shikamaru. They've become essential parts of the team. Unfortunate Sai is working more closely Kaboto and their team as of recent."
Mikoto nodded. "Yes, I remember. Fumio always spoke highly of Shikamaru, said he had a sharp mind. How's his wife and kid?"
As they waited for their appetizers, Naruto updated Mikoto on her lab work, the challenging cases she's been tackling, and her life in general since they last met. She described the joys and challenges of managing a lab, the camaraderie with TenTen and Shikamaru, and the little moments of happiness she'd found in her day-to-day life.
Mikoto listened attentively, interjecting with questions and humorous anecdotes from her own life. "Speaking of family, Fugaku is having a hard time with retirement. He's so bored that he's taken up birdwatching. Birdwatching, Naruto! I never thought I'd see the day. "
Naruto laughed, that was an interesting sight.
Mikoto continued, "He's also taken up gardening, of all things, and claims he's developing a green thumb. I just let him be."
Naruto laughed heartily, "Dad and gardening? That's hard to imagine! Although I can't imagine Dad with a pair of binoculars, spying on birds. Itachi maybe, Dad? No way!"
"I know, right?" Mikoto giggled, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, it's quite the sight," Mikoto giggled. "But it keeps him occupied, so I can't complain too much. As for Itachi, he's doing well. Have you spoken to him lately? Busy with work, but he always makes time for his family. Izumi's been asking when you'll visit again by the way. With three kids now, and trust me, they're a handful."
Naruto laughed, "Oh I know, I've seen the videos Izumi shared with Rin and I on WhatsApp. I've only dealt with one. I don't know how she's working with three. And yes, as a matter of face, I spoke with him a few days ago."
Mikoto nodded, knowing exactly what videos Naruto was talking about. Somehow Sasuke ended up with a polite and calm child while her quite and genius child found himself a rowdy bunch. "Has he told you about his latest project?" Seeing Naruto's head shake, she continued. "He's currently in a phase of trying to cook. Let's just say the results have been... interesting," Mikoto said, suppressing a smirk.
Naruto laughed, "Oh? Any dishes I should be wary of?"
"All of them," Mikoto replied with a wink. "But on a serious note, his family's thriving. At least one of my sons isn't giving me a headache."
"That's wonderful to hear," Naruto laughed.
Mikoto smiled fondly, "Indeed. Let me tell you about a funny incident that happened just last week. Yori, found his dad's old shinobi gear. Before anyone realized it, he was parading around the house, wearing Itachi's old cloak and headband, declaring he was a ninja."
"Oh no" Naruto gasped, "Not the gear he paid a fortune for at Comic-Con? The one with a real sword?"
Mikoto nodded, "That's the one. Luckily the sword was mounted to the wall and too heavy for him to take out, but everything else was fair game. Should have seen Itachi, he didn't know if he was going to have a heart attack or faint. Luckily Shisui was there, and he placed Yori into a headlock while Itachi pulled the costume off of him."
Naruto burst into laughter, "Oh my! That must've been a sight!"
Mikoto leaned in, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "Now, for a truly amusing tale. Itachi's youngest, Keisuke, recently discovered the joys of makeup. The other day, he got into Izumi's makeup kit and had his brother gave himself, and the dog, a full face of makeup. Itachi was mortified, but I've never laughed so hard in my life."
Both women burst into laughter, "Oh my, does Kakashi know about the dog?"
Giggling, Mikoto nodded. "Oh sweetie, you should have seen his face when Itachi video called him showing the masterpiece his son created, poor Kakashi looked like he swallowed a whole peeled lime."
Naruto laughed, holding onto her side. She could totally imagine the look on her older brother face. "Please tell me you video taped the whole thing, Mama."
Mikoto's mischievous smile told Naruto all she needed to know. Oh, she was so glad she decided to step away from the lab, this was liquid gold. The two women continued to chat, the conversation flowing effortlessly between personal updates, funny anecdotes, and even moments of deep reflection. It was evident that the two women had missed each other quite a bit.
As Naruto made her way back to the lab, she felt her phone vibrate in her purse. Slowing her pace, she fished it out and saw a new message notification from Sasuke. A smile unconsciously played on her lips as she unlocked her phone.
Dr. Bastard: "Hey, Dr. Sunshine, did you use up all your charm on the microscope slides, or do you have some left for me?"
She chuckled, typing back, "Always have a little extra charm saved up for you, Dr. Uchiha."
She read his next message, her lips curling into a smile.
Dr. Bastard: "Did you know? When you're around, I somehow always find myself looking at the door, hoping you'll walk in."
Naruto chuckled at the flirty message. She quickly typed a reply, her fingers dancing on the phone screen.
Dr. Sunshine: "Really? Sounds like someone's got it bad. "
Sasuke's next text appeared almost immediately. "Guilty as charged. Starving. How about lunch?"
Naruto hesitated for a moment before replying, "Just had lunch with your mom, actually. We caught up at The Nouveau Table in downtown. Can't eat another bite."
There was a pause in Sasuke's responses, making Naruto wonder if she'd said something wrong. Finally, his text popped up. "Wait, what? You had lunch with my mother?"
"Yeah. Every now and then, when she's in the city or when I visit Kakashi, we grab lunch together. She's really fun to hang out with." Naruto typed quickly.
Sasuke's response took a few minutes longer this time.
Dr. Bastard: "I didn't know you two were close. She's never really mentioned anything."
Dr. Bastard: "Does she...know about us?"
Naruto smirked at the slight hint of nervousness in Sasuke's message. It was cute how he still got a little anxious about certain things.
Dr. Sunshine: "Honestly, I don't know if she knows. She rarely brings you up during our meetups. And today, she didn't hint at anything. And there was no way I was going to say anything unless she did. I'm guess you haven't?"
There was a brief pause before Sasuke sent another text.
Dr. Bastard: "Not yet, I want to keep you to myself for a little bit before telling her anything. If mother know, then the whole clan knows … and I don't want to deal with your brothers just yet."
Naruto could almost picture the look on Sasuke's face: that classic blend of a smirk and a little fear. Her brothers scared the liking shit out of Gaara, and Sasuke grew up with them. She added a reassuring note to her next message.
Dr. Sunshine: "Don't overthink it. My brothers will only make you dig your own grave before making you murder yourself. And I know, Mama is a gossip queen. Don't worry, we mostly discuss your dad's new birdwatching hobby and Itachi's culinary adventures. "
Sasuke's reply was almost instantaneous.
Dr. Bastard: "I hate you, how am I almost 40 years old and your brothers still scare the living crap out of me?"
Naruto laughed. There was a time it frustrated her that Iruka and Kakashi scared off any potential romantic interests she had, but now, she was grateful.
Dr. Bastard: "Birdwatching? Oh no, what has retirement done to him? I should go visit him soon. And what culinary adventures? Itachi didn't mention anything. Also, the next time you have lunch with her, I'm crashing it. No more secret meetings with my mother. Who knows what she'll spill and down goes my dignity."
Naruto smiled, warmth flooding her. Even through the digital realm, Sasuke's charm was hard to resist.
Dr. Sunshine: "No way, I am not giving up my girl time with Mama for you. And it wasn't a secret, not my fault you're kept out of the loop Dr. Uchiha."
Naruto could partially feel the eyeroll come through the phone.
Dr. Bastard: "Fine. But Dr. Uzumaki, the next time you go out for lunch, it better be with a certain handsome raven-haired doctor."
Laughing, Naruto shot back, "Don't worry, I've already made plans with Itachi to go for tea when he's in the city."
The three dots indicating Sasuke was typing appeared promptly. She knew she'd have to pay for that comment later, but for now, she couldn't care.
Dr. Bastard: "Oh Dr. Uzumaki, keep digging yourself a hole, once I get to you, you won't be able to leave it soon. 👿"
Naruto's heart skipped a beat, and she pocketed her phone with a smile. The weight of Sasuke's words, even in a simple text, was not lost on her.
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