Disclaimer: I own nothing except my name

Ch. 9

A couple minutes passed in silence on both ends of the apartment until I heard giggling: Giggling!

"Aha! He's alive and ticklish it seems" Antonio exclaims happily and I smiled as Naruto laughed and relaxed in the presence of Antonio, knowing he's ok.

So now they are talking, laughing and cracking jokes at one another as I smile and hummed a tune while chopping the veggies and breading the chicken. Getting the rice ready and boiling the water for side dishes, I covered the frying chicken and throwing the veggies in the boiled water; I covered both up and washed up. Grabbing the plates and utensils, I placed them on the counter and stepped closer just as Antonio finished up and Naruto got dressed.

"So, Miss, what kind of clothes was you thinking of for this here young man, might I ask. You know how far my range of clothes goes and you also know the pricing, so what will it be?"

At this question, Naruto's head snapped up, surprisingly not getting whiplash from the speed it went and then Naruto started sputtering out a sentence but neither Antonio nor I could decode the rambling words coming from his mouth as we looked at Naruto sputtering and fumbling with his pants that ended up tripping him to fall flat on his face.

"Well now that that's settled, first I want to know how long it will take to finish and be sent here."

Thinking on this for a bit, Antonio scratching his head while turning a half circle and at the same time Naruto got up and rubbed his face from falling on it.

"Well, Miss Roxanne, my guess estimate for a whole new wardrobe, plus shoes and accessories, if I'm not mistaken, and delivery charges, in which I will personally make it a priority package, so I'm guessing it will be here by Monday. Now as for the payment..?" Naruto started up on his sputtering nonsense sentence.

"Great, Monday is just great! And just like our arrangement before, I'll send word to my accountant and you'll have your payment by morning, so there will be no delay"

Nodding with a smile, Antonio flipped one page of his notepad and waited for my instructions: "As for the type of clothing I've been thinking of: the usual tops such as sweaters, t-shirts, button up shirts (both short and long sleeved), and tanks of various types. The bottoms are jeans, khakis, shorts and sweatpants. The feet areas are socks, of course, dress shoes, sneakers, sandals, oxfords, and boots of different types. Also other types such as jackets, vests, cloaks, and formal wear for special occasions. The usual accessories includes: wrist and arm bands, thumb and pinky rings, earrings (loops and studs), necklaces and chokers, sunglasses (all different and a lot), hats, caps, and bandanas, ties and whatever else you might think we need that look good on Naruto. Colors will be natural colors, dark colors, and along with camouflage, of course. Any other colors can be added if you think it necessary and I'll send word out before I head to school tomorrow, so you can get started the second you are back to your office. Are we in agreement?"

Flipping his notepad close and stashing it away with the pen, grabbing his coat, he slipped it on, and then Antonio smiled and nodded.

"Great! I'll see you to the door and Naruto can go wash up while I do that, so we can eat, ok Naruto?" I think the shock overwhelmed his frail brain because he nodded in a daze and made for the bathroom.

Closing the front door behind me, Antonio turns to me and chuckled: "I can see why you like him, he is so cute"

I nodded smiling. Antonio then bowed to me and I bowed to him, in respect. One last smile, he took off and I went back inside and went to the kitchen.

Filling up a plate, I heard Naruto exit the bathroom and before he could say some sort of excuse regarding the clothes, I cut him off.

"Naruto, before you start and say I'm being too generous and you don't deserve it and that it's too much: Don't. I have everything I need in life, and my savings fund keeps going up no matter what I spend it on, so there is no need to worry about it. For being my friend and my first one at that, this is a thank you gift. Don't try and talk your way out of it because that's not going to happen anytime soon. Just accept it as it is, okay?"

Turning around from facing the kitchen counter, I held two plates and set them on the little table, smiling at Naruto but it faltered when I saw the expression on Naruto's face. His lip is trembling and unshed tears in his eyes. I walked around the table quickly, thinking something happened while my back was turn and stood in front of Naruto. He smiled a teary smile before hugging the life out of me:

"Thank you, thank you so much. No one has ever done anything for me and you have been just the greatest, thank you" Hugging him back, I figured out what had happen: I had given him a gift. Probably the first and only gift he has ever gotten and so I smiled, hugging Naruto tighter. Letting go, I brought my hands up to his face and wiped away the tears.

"Come one, let's eat before it gets cold" Nodding, we both sat down and started eating and laughter could be heard throughout dinner.

After dinner, Naruto helped with the dishes and put them away, then we sat on my bed and I told Naruto about my life outside these walls. Not my whole life, of course, there are some things that shouldn't be told until it's a right time but I did tell about my travels around the nations and staying in the forest and living off the land. Told a tale about how I killed an elk the first time for the meat, fur and produced tools out of the bones. Even the first time I saw the ocean on both sides of the world and throughout my nonstop talking, Naruto listened to every detail closely with wonderment and amusement.

I had no idea it was getting late until Naruto yawned and it being contagious, I yawned too. Looking up at the clock on the wall between the doors, my eyebrows raise in slight surprise: "Wow, I've been talking for so long, it getting pretty late and we do have class tomorrow"

I stood up and stretched my muscles from sitting down too long and Naruto mimic my moves. "Come on by in the morning and we'll walk to the academy together, ok?"

Brightening up at my comment, Naruto nodded: "Oh yeah, for sure I'll be here in the morning" I walk him to the door and when he opens it, Naruto turn to me.

"Good Night Roxanne and I'll see you in the morning" "Good Night Naruto and sweet dreams" One last smile, he left and I locked the door but before I turn away from the door, I heard an exclaimed 'yahoo' from the hallway and I knew it was Naruto.

Getting ready for bed, I brushed my teeth and combed my hair before I climbed in. Sending up a prayer of thanks to the spirits, who are watching over us and to my parents for I now have a friend after a long time without one. I fell asleep with a smile on my face and I knew in my gut that Naruto had one too.

Ch. 10

The sun shined brightly though my window and it made me wonder why I was sleeping on a comfortable bed and not the dirt ground. Opening my eyes at my surrounds, I then remember everything that happens yesterday and I smiled at the memory. Getting up I stretched the sleepiness out of me and proceeded to do my morning routine that consists of sit ups and push-ups before I head to the bathroom. After a 30 minute shower, I wrapped a towel around my body and went out to the main room and to my 'closet', to pick out my outfit for the day.

I was heading to the bathroom when I heard a knock at the door, so I unlocked it, opened it and standing there looking around is Naruto, whistling away. Upon hearing the door opening, he turned and had an eyeful of a half-naked girl at the door and his whistling stopped dead in mid tune. The reaction is common from the male species: eyes wide as dinner plates and blushing red as a tomato. I laughed it off

"I'll just be a few minutes, Naruto, help yourself with sandwiches in the fridge and I'll be back" In a trancelike state, Naruto walked in gawking at me and nodded absently. Closing the door after he came in, I smiled and went in the bathroom.

15 minutes later, I reemerge from the bathroom, dress and ready for the day, adjusting my wristband and running a hand through my hair for a slightly spiked look. I smiled at Naruto who just finished off a sandwich and held one out for me, thanking him and ate it in 3 bites. Wiping off my hands, I finally got a good look at Naruto and I sighed in relief that Naruto didn't put the orange jumpsuit back on and is wearing the clothes I picked out for him yesterday. From the freshly scent of Bounce, I guessed he washed them and threw them in the dryer last night after he went home.

His clothes kind of collaborate with mine: his is dark grey khakis and grey shirt to my beige cargo shorts and white long sleeved shirt. My tail swishes around behind me in joy and Naruto watches in swaying in awe. I giggled at this and looked up to check the time; we have 30 minutes to go, so I snapped my fingers to get Naruto's attention.

"Come one lets go" Turning to the door, Naruto fist pumped the air and a 'yea'; we headed out into the sunny morning.

Locking the door behind me, I walked over to the railing and put out a small piece of paper, with a pencil and wrote out a message to my peoples regarding the purchases from yesterday. Rolling it up as small as it can go; I tied it to a pigeon's leg and quietly gave it the coordinates. As it took off, as did we, down the steps and out into the still quiet streets of Konoha.

By walking and not jumping the rooftops, we got to the academy grounds with 15 minutes to spare, Naruto and I chatted about what to do during our after school training and once again my eyes noticed the two girls from yesterday: Pinky and platinum blonde. Looks like they are waiting and I'm guessing it's for us, so I sighed in a huff. I nodded my head at them for Naruto to see and his face broke out into a broad smile when he saw pinky standing there.

As we came closer to them, they noticed we were coming and also noticed Naruto with his new image; their eyebrows hid themselves in their hairline in disbelief.

"Wow Naruto, you look different, did you get a haircut?" Platinum blonde asks,

"No that can't be it, and did you get taller or something?" Pinky looks him up and down, trying to figure it out. Smirking at this, I shake my head at their confused looks and Naruto just smiles ear to ear.

"Anyways ladies, good morning and what do we owe the pleasure of your company this fine morning? Is it so our arrangement is still in place?" They smile in unison

"Yea, same as yesterday and Sasuke is inside as we speak. We also have a girl standing by to sit next to you two, is that alright?" motioning my hand for them to enter first, I replied:

"Fine and dandy as long as you know what you are doing"

Following them in but staying a ways away behind so to give them space. Naruto walked side by side and I started talking about what we are going to do today after school. Getting into class and once again the discussion on who sits where begins right away, loudly and I ignored them in favor of Naruto who started making suggestions on our activity later on. Walking passes the girls in their heated argument, we made our way up to the same place we sat yesterday afternoon and continued talking.

"Hey Naruto!" called someone on my left and we both turn towards the sound and there stood a bushy haired guy with red triangle markings on his cheeks and the same pineapple haired guy who was asleep yesterday.

Standing by our desk, Naruto replied back: "Hey guys, what's up?"

"Is there something different about you today?" The red faced guy asks checking out Naruto head to toe and probably thought he might see an answer on Naruto physically for his question. At least he's looking in the right place since the answer IS right there. Naruto scratched his head for a moment in thought and then it hit him.

"Oh, I got a new outfit! Instead of my usual orange getup, Roxanne picked this out for me, isn't it cool?" Naruto then stood up and twirled once around to show off his attire and it made me happy that he is happy.

"Oh hey Roxanne, this is the guys I sometimes hang out with (or get in trouble with, he whispered) this is Kiba and Shikamaru" Standing up next to Naruto, I shook hands with them

"Hey, I'm Roxanne, what's up?"

"Not much (yawns) just too early to be up for school (yawns) damn, I'm going to go sit and sleep for a while, nice meeting you" The one called Shikamaru said as he walked away and fell asleep the second he sat down on his desk.

"Ha-ha that's Shika for you, smart as hell but lazier then a sloth. So what are you guys talking about?"

"Oh just this and that, you know?" Raised an eyebrow at me for me short answer and I sat down facing him. Naruto chuckled before clapping me on my back

"Yea, we were talking about what do to later on and so far we haven't really figured it out but it'll come to us soon"

"Oh cool, cool. Hey I heard what happen yesterday after classes let out (Kiba whispered) as did everyone else. Sorry about that, dude, you both didn't get hurt or nothing, right?" Checking us over with his cat-like pupils

"Nah, nothing happen to us but everyone else got slimed by the rotten veggies" Naruto explained and Kiba smiled in return, just then Iruka-sensei came in and everyone went back to their seat except for Kiba.

"Mind if I sit with you guys today?" We nodded in confirmation and he pulled out an extra chair by my left and sat down.

I surveyed the kids around our classroom as Iruka talked and saw Pinky and Blondie sitting on Sauce-guy's row but he wasn't paying attention to the front. Instead he is staring at me but not smirking or glaring like before, just looking as if he's studying me with interest. Raising an eyebrow in question to his staring, he quickly turns around to face the front and I could faintly make out a light blush on his cheeks 'how odd'.

Class went on, we took notes and before recess came, Iruka saw Shikamaru sleeping with his head on his arms on the desk and so Iruka yelled at him to get up, even threw a chalk in his direction but Shika just mumbled: '5 more minutes Ma' and turned his head the other way. We all snickered at first and then laughed out loud when started yelling and his face turned red with a large vein sticking out of his neck, it was hilarious. Anyways after Iruka gave up and calmed down, he let us go for recess break and everyone filed out, even Shikamaru when he realized it was break time.

At the side entrance, where everyone takes their recess break, is a rack on the left side of the doors filled with sporting equipment, so I grabbed 2 mitts and a baseball. Handing one to Naruto, we both ran out to the open field and started throwing the ball to each other. At first it got to simple so we moved back 2 feet and it helped a lot. Naruto and I started making small talk as everyone else did their own thing: the girls are giggling in a huddle of sorts and looking at Sauce Guy, who sat on the steps staring at us play catch with a blank expression on his face. No boredom or glares or anything and that's…funny.

Kiba, Shika and a fat kid came over from their stance by a lone tree in this area,

"Hey guys, want to join?" Naruto asks them and throw the ball back to me

"Yeah, grab some extra mitts and we'll throw the ball around" Kiba and the fat kid nodded but Shika declined and said he'll just sit back and watch.

Kiba ran to the rack of equipment and grabbed 2 more mitts and came back, handing one the kid. In a four way square, we threw the ball around, interchanging here and there and chat started up.

"Oh, Roxanne this is Choji, he's Shikamaru's best friend" Kiba introduces

"Hi" (Choji grunts)

"Yeah, he doesn't say much but he is a good listener" Kiba mentions with a smile and throws the ball to Naruto as Shika chuckled: "Got that right"

Throwing the ball around was a good idea, got to know the guys that Naruto sometimes hang out with and even what they are into: Kiba has a family that adores dogs and trains with them. Choji's family are eaters, from what I can see (eating munchies when he's not throwing the ball) and can expand their body parts to magnificent sizes. Shika I already know is a smart kid but lazy as hell and a sleeper too. Kiba has a dirty mouth, as much as I and Choji pretty much grunt his responses.

Inputting his 2 cents, Shika mentions how Kiba has a puppy following him or is being carried in his hoody. Bark! His hoody barks in confirmation as a little white puppy head pops out.

"Akamaru meet Roxanne, Roxanne meet Akamaru" I walked up to Kiba and looked at the little puppy and he looks at me too, then I leaned in closer and sniffed him.

Akamaru sniffed me too and barked in a gentle manner.

I smiled at him and nodded: "Nice to meet you too, Akamaru" Held out my hand to him, his paw stuck out and actually shook mine.

Letting go, I walked back to my spot and Akamaru barked again: "He likes you" Kiba says and I say I like him too.

Ch. 11

The bell rang to warn us that we have less then 4minutes to get back into class and Naruto, getting surprised by the sound, ended up throwing the ball way over me and I could reach it.

"Oops sorry Roxanne"

"S'ok I'll get it, you go on in and I'll meet you inside" He nodded and headed in with the guys as I walked a ways away to the misfire ball. Picking it up and heading back, I played with the ball: throwing the ball up and catching it but doing that, I didn't notice someone waiting by the entrance. I stopped throwing the ball and stepped by the rack to put them away but I stopped mid-way.

There, sitting on the steps, is Sauce Guy looking at me with the same blank expression from earlier and so without losing eye contact with the guy, I put the mitt and ball away and he stood up from his seat on the steps. I walked around the concrete railing and he took a step down, so we stood face to face at the bottom of the stairs. Sauce Guy is the first to look away and clears his throat:

"Hey"

That's it?

I raised an eyebrow at this

"Hey" He clears his throat again

"Um…listen, I want to apologize for yesterday. I lost my cool and that normally doesn't happen…ever. So…um…I'm sorry" When those words left his mouth, he looked up at my gaze and I nodded once, so he continued:

"We got off on the wrong foot yesterday and I like to start anew. My name's Sasuke" He held out his hand to me. I looked at the extended appendage in curiosity, then at him and shook it. "Roxanne"

Letting loose of his hand quickly but not too quick for him to notice and started up the steps to the entrance. Sasuke fell in step with me and opened the door for me in a gentlemanly manner, I guess. I just raise an eyebrow at him but refrained from saying a word and walked in.

"Listen um…what you are doing after class?" I glanced at him for a second then looked ahead "Naruto and I will be hanging out after classes, undecided on what to do though but we still got all day to think about it"

"Oh" Is that disappointment I sense in his tone?

"Oh well if you're not doing anything maybe we can hang out some other time?" Is that hopefulness? It sounded like it.

I looked at Sasuke from the corner of my eyes and saw a small blush on his cheeks. I stopped outside the classroom door and turned to face him, with a hand on the door knob. When Sasuke looked up from staring at his shoes with renew interest and started to fidget a bit under my stare, I pitied him, a bit.

"We'll see"

Opening the door, I gestured for him to go first and saw the smallest smile grace his feature before his look of indifferent replaced it. I breezed by him up to the levels and sat back in my seat; Iruka started class up again when we all were seated.

Naruto nudged me on my side and I looked at him in question: "What's up with that?"

He gestured to Sasuke in confusion and I smirked at Naruto before turning back to the front but leaned over to whisper: "He apologized for yesterday and I made him blush"

Naruto eyes widen slightly at this bit of information "He actually apologized?" I nodded and Naruto smiled a small smile as we both paid attention to Iruka.

Lunch came around slowly and when the bell rang, we took off but this time Kiba, Shika and Choji joined us and they suggested a BBQ place that lets you fry up your own meat on a small grill like pit on your table. On the way Naruto complained that he wanted ramen and I promised him that next time it will be ramen but this time I wanted to try something different.

He pouted for a full minute until I slipped my arm around his waist and gave him the cutest puppy dog look I could muster, even went as far as nuzzling him. He caved right in and blushed tomato red as the guys snickered quietly around us.

Following Choji since Shika says that he knows it better than anyone else, we walked into a nice looking restaurant and host showed us a window seating booth. Shika and Choji sat on one side of the booth and the 3 of us sat on the other end, I sat on the outer end of the booth and Naruto sat in the middle. The waitress came by and took our orders for lunch and beverages and we sat waiting, chat it up for the time to pass.

Then I heard them mention something about an important test, a test that will officially classify us a level one Shinobi: a Genin and it's coming up in a few weeks.

"A Genin, what's a Genin?" "Well, a Genin is a beginner's level for a Shinobi, you do the easiest and lowest missions and work your way up. There are 3 levels for a Shinobi: Genin, Chunin and Jonin. As you probably already know, there are 2 Ninja Academies in 2 nations and we take classes to learn the basics of a Shinobi. Let's say from grade one until the beginning of Jr. High we learn the basics in Taijutsu, Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, along with the proper ways to defend ourselves. When we reach the age of 12, we take the exam and if we pass then we 'graduate' and receive our headbands to show others we are now a full fledge Ninja. We no longer have to go to classes but are assigned a 4-man cell: 3 students and 1 Jonin. With a 4 man cell, we go on missions in or outside the village and if the mission is completed, then we get paid after we come back here to the village" and that ladies and gentlemen, is the longest I've heard Shikamaru speak. Hahaha!

"Oh so when is this exam and where?" No body answered and I was going to repeat the question but the waitress came back with our orders. Handing each of us a plate, she placed 2 large plates next to the grill thingy filled with uncooked pieces of meat and right away Choji got to work. Picking up a few pieces with his chop sticks and laid them on the grill thingy: self-cooking or help yourself cooking. I've haven't seen anything like it before and I have been to many places.

Anyways after everyone is cooking their pieces of meat, I asked the question again and this time someone answered.

"I say in about a month, give or take a few weeks but yeah" Kiba says and pops a piece in his mouth. I smiled at his answer and grabbed some meat for myself to cook and grill them up good and tender. Whilst eating I wondered what the exams are supposed to be on? One thing is for sure though; Naruto and I will be working our butts off to make damn sure that we pass with flying colors.

Eating our fill, we paid the bill and left the restaurant, taking our time walking back to the academy. Choji, who just had lunch, is now munching on a bag of chips that he pulled out of nowhere, weird.

"Naruto (he looks at me) we are going to be training today and every day after until our exams. We are going to work hard, so hard that it'll take us forever to get back home even if it means that our muscles turn to jelly or if our minds turn to mush. I sure as hell ain't going to just sit around and not do anything while everyone else is working their asses off. So what do you say Naruto?" "Damn rights we going to work hard, I am so in!" Fist pumping in the air and I slung an arm around his shoulders, chuckling at him and his cute blush.

"What about you guys?" Naruto asks the other guys

"Choji and I will be training together, like always and almost every day"

"And I'm training with my sister and her dog so Akamaru and I can be in sync like her"

"Nice" Slipping my arm off Naruto's shoulders and looped it with mine as we all walked in comfortable silence, and I unwrapped my tail to let it flow behind me.

"How is it that you have a tail, Roxanne? (Kiba asks) I don't think I've seen anybody else have one anywhere"

"Neither have I, Kiba and I've been around. I've had my tail for as long as I can remember and I think I was born with it"

"You think? Isn't there like pictures of you as a baby?" Shika and his 2 cents ask.

"Nope, not that I can find in my home back in my old village"

"Weird, usually people have pictures of themselves as babies but then again, Naruto doesn't have any either"

"Well that's one of the many things I have in common with Naruto" A big smile and chuckle came from Naruto and the hand that is not occupy with mine, rubbed the back of his head.

Next chapter will be delayed as I have yet to complete half of it because believe it or not, I already have the ending in my head BUT I have no idea how to approach it.

Also I'm following the show not the manga as I have seen the show (uncut version) many times and

So I am willing to listen to input and ideas and it will be much appreciated and I will thank those in my next upcoming chapters.

PS: Also have a sequel for this and I have no idea if it's a good idea to put it up…should I?

Reviews are welcomed in any form or sense, as long as you read my story and give your 2 cents about it, Thanks!