The Adventures of Uzumaki Naori
Summary: A compilation of one-shots about Naruto's youngest child Naori, her friends, and the Uzumaki family.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters mentioned in this story. I only own all OCs described.
Author's note: I took a little writing break but I'm back and going to try and be more consistent in creating stories. I know I said I wasn't sure if I wanted to expand my alternate universe Naruto Fanfiction but here I am, back again.
For first-time readers this series is a continuation of the world I built in my fanfiction Truths Under Moonlit Skies, I describe it as the love story I would've wanted instead of Naruto The Last. This series is a compilation of one-shot stories ( no more than three parts to one story ) about the Uzumaki family but more specifically my OC Naori Uzumaki who was introduced in the last chapter.
For my returning readers, thank you again for joining me on this journey. This series will follow Naori and the next generation of leaf Shinobi (OCs). This is more of a coming-of-age Fanfiction as opposed to a heroic tale of the new gen surpassing their parents. There will be baddies but they will pale in comparison to the likes of Pain, Madara, or Kaguya. I just don't want this to be that kind of story. Also, I don't watch or read Boruto the only thing I'll probably reference from that is his ninja class and his relationships with them. Kawaki doesn't exist here and neither do space ninjas reigning hell upon the leaf, in my mind, Boruto isn't canon.
Anyway, I'm ranting but without further interruption,
Introducing the class roster:
Naori Uzumaki
Chiyo Nara
Sora Akimichi
Asami Yamanaka
Suki Inuzuka
Ren Inuzuka
Tourne Aburame
Jeni Tanaka
Katsuo Uchiha
Mirei Sarutobi -Hyuga
Hiruzen Sarutobi -Hyuga
Insert random filler character for the plot
Chapter 1- Naori's First Word
Kakashi Hatake. Infamously known as Kakashi of the Sharingan, The Copy Ninja, and the Rokudaime Hokage.
He was lying awake in his bed staring at the ceiling of the inn. Pakkun lay next to him relishing the feeling of Kakashi's hand stroking his back.
Tracing the scar on his eye Kakashi allowed himself to think about the tragedies of his past.
His mother's death.
His father's suicide.
The first death of Obito… and then the second.
The death of Rin.
The death of Kushina.
The death of Minato sensei… and then the second.
The death of the Third Hokage.
The death of Jiraya.
The death of Asuma.
All of Kakashi's childhood and a majority of his adulthood have been surrounded by death, war, and pain.
Kakashi ran his hand through his hair and let out a deep breath.
" You okay there boss?" Pakkun asked.
"Just lost in thought I suppose," Kakashi responded gently, then continued petting his ninja hound.
After experiencing so much loss Kakashi remembered closing off his heart. The ninja world was cruel, growing attached would only hurt him in the long run.
But the Third Hokage gave Kakashi a gift that he could never repay the old man for. He gave Kakashi a family. A messy and dysfunctional family but a family all the same.
Team 7.
Naruto.
Sakura.
Sasuke.
Those three became the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
They prevailed through the darkness and found their way and Kakashi wished he could've done more for them, the way they did for him.
It's been years since his students have greatly surprised their teacher, they have grown up and had families of their own, and they have made great contributions to the ninja world and helped bring peace and stability to the lands.
Sasuke travels the world protecting the Leaf from enemies that would want to harm them.
Sakura is a skilled doctor who runs the most advanced hospital in the nation.
Naruto has achieved his dream of being the Hokage.
All of his students are grown up, and if he was being honest with himself he was a bit lost.
When he passed along the title of Hokage to Naruto he never thought that his life would be…. Idle.
There is no longer a need for Kakashi of the Sharingan or The Copy Ninja.
Sure he is glad that there is relative peace in the world but he's never had free time before, he was always on jobs, and he was always busy.
Sure he occasionally took a job, or he went on vacations with Gai and spent his hard-earned money. Much like the one he was on now. But something was missing in his life.
—
A few weeks later Kakashi and Gai returned to the village. The streets are filled with citizens in the market square. The sun is shining brightly, the leaves are swaying gently in the wind and Kakashi breathes it in.
This quietness, this joy, this is what everyone sacrificed their lives for and suddenly he is trying to stomp down his previous thoughts. Damming himself for jinxing the peace. His lack of purpose was his issue.
Suddenly Kakashi is grabbing two blonde blobs from barreling past him.
"Well look what we have here?" Kakashi said as he held onto his two hostages.
"Kakashi- sensei you're back from your trip?" Naruto said happily as the older man held him by the neck of his shirt.
" And what pray tell, is our beloved Seventh Hokage doing running through the streets of his village?" Kakashi asked as he released the older blonde from his grip.
" SOMEONE was upset so they graffitied the stone faces on Hokage Mountain," Naruto said as he glared and pointed at his son.
"It's your fault, you stupid old man." The younger blonde yelled and crossed his arms.
Kakashi sighed.
When he was Hokage he had no one waiting for him at home. He could dedicate the long hours that sometimes turned into days without repercussions. But Naruto had a wife and two kids who needed him to be there for them in a different way than the way the village people needed him.
The guilt he tried to push down earlier was readily rising to the top.
" Naruto! Boruto!" Hinata panted as she ran with a small child on her back.
" Big brother! Papa!" Himawari said cheerfully as she and her mother caught up with them.
Kakashi let go of the blonde who had given up trying to free himself from his grip.
Hinata glanced worriedly between her husband and her son.
Naruto rubbed his hand across his face and sighed,
" I get why you are upset, but we've talked about this. I know I said I would do better. I'm sorry for missing today."
"Boruto being Hokage is not easy and from the looks of it being the Hokage's family isn't any easier," Kakashi said gently as he placed a hand on the blonde's head as he'd done so many times before to his father.
" It sucks… we were a family before you gave him the stupid hat," Boruto said bitterly as he pushed Kakashi's hand off.
"Boruto!" Hinata chided her son.
"Whatever, Sorry," Boruto mumbled as he stormed off toward his family's home.
" I'll come with you," Himawari said as she ran after her brother.
" I'm sorry about that Kakashi- sensei," Naruto said nervously.
"Don't worry about it, he reminds me of another rambunctious blonde hot head I used to know," Kakashi said as he ruffled the older man's head.
Hinata smiled at the two. It has been a while since they saw Kakashi in the village and she knows her husband is eager to catch up with his mentor.
" Kakashi-sensei would you like to come over for dinner?" Hinata asked as she adjusted the toddler who was sleepily rubbing their eyes.
"Yeah Kakashi- Sensei," Naruto agreed excitedly.
"I wouldn't want to impose," Kakashi said as he rubbed the back of his head.
" It is no imposition, you are family after all," Hinata said gently.
Family Kakashi thought.
How did he fit into their family?
For a moment Kakashi thought. When he was busy being Hokage, Naruto had his children. Now by all means they weren't strangers but they weren't as close as he secretly hoped they'd be, same with Sakura and Sasuke's daughter Sarada.
Slowly Kakashi nodded suddenly, uncomfortable with the idea that the people he considers family are almost strangers to him.
"I'd love to join you for dinner." Kakashi lied to the gentle Hyuga his insecurities were his own and it would be nice to join them for one night.
As they walked to the Uzumaki family home a fat hand caught his attention.
"Shsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnnsjajbwbsnj" Naori babbled seriously. Her lavender eyes stared intently at him.
Hinata and Naruto laughed at their youngest fascination with the former Kage.
"She's gotten much bigger than the last time I saw her," Kakashi said softly as he gave the child one of his fingers to hold.
"Lady Tsunade said we should be expecting her first words any day now. Boruto and Hima want it to be their names, they introduce themselves to her at all hours of the day and Naruto is not any better secretly, whispering "Dada" to her while she is sleeping." Hinata said joyfully.
Naori reached for Kakashi and for the rest of the walk over she was cooing happily in his arms.
" You should see Hiashi's song and dance for it to be Jiji he showing off his gray hair and his old man smile trying to soften her up on his old people's niceness" Naruto pouted.
At the Uzumaki home Hinata began dinner while Naruto and Kakashi sipped sake as they formed a sort of circle around Naori with Boruto and Himawari.
Naori sat on a colorful mat, surrounded by plush toys and picture books. Her lavender eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her tiny hands explored the world around her. She babbles incoherently, testing the limits of her vocal cords.
Kakashi Hatake, ever the stoic observer, sat cross-legged on the floor. His eyes followed Naori's every move, pausing the story of his latest victory over Gai he singled toward Naruto.
"Hinata! HINATA! SOMETHINGS HAPPENING!" Naruto was delighted. He knows that his mother asked him not to gamble but he has 60 ryo on Naori's first word being dada.
"Sai can suck it.
He will suck it.
Ha." Naruto thought. As Hinata came running into the living room joining the circle.
Hinata knelt beside her daughter, her expression a mix of anticipation and tenderness. "Come on, Naori-chan," she coaxed. "Say your first word." The Uzumaki household buzzed with excitement, Naori blinked up at her mother, as if pondering the weight of this moment.
Then, with a determined look, she turned her attention to Kakashi. His silver hair framed his face, and the mask concealed his mouth, but his eyes held a softness to them.
"Kaka-ji," Naori said, her voice clear and unwavering.
The room fell silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Kakashi's eyes widened imperceptibly, and for once, he was at a loss for words.
"Did she just-" Naruto began, but Hinata placed a gentle finger over his lips.
"Yes," she whispered. "Naori's first word."
Kakashi cleared his throat, masking his emotions behind his usual calm facade.
"Kaka-ji," he repeated, testing the syllables on his tongue. It felt foreign yet strangely comforting.
"It must be the gray hair," Boruto grumbled to Himawari.
" Well he does look like a Jiji," she replied cheerfully.
Naori giggled, her eyes wide with curiosity. She tugged at Kakashi's silver hair, and he winced. Kakashi wondered how he, the legendary Copy Ninja, had ended up in this predicament.
"Naori-chan," Kakashi said, "I suppose we're stuck with each other for a while."
From that day forward, Naori's first word became a special bond between her and Kakashi. She would toddle up to him, her small hand tugging at his sleeve, and say it again and again. "Kaka-ji." " Kaka-ji"
He read her picture books, taught her basic ninja hand signs (much to Naruto's horror), and even shared stories of his childhood. Naori listened with rapt attention, her innocence melting away walls Kakashi hadn't realized still surrounded his heart.
When Naori stumbled and scraped her knee, Kakashi patched her up with gentle precision. He carried her on his back during evening walks, pointing out constellations and telling her about fallen comrades.
Kakashi recounted tales of Minato Namikaze, the man who had been both his sensei and Naori's grandfather. He spoke about Kushina Uzumaki, her grandmother whose fiery spirit lives on in the Uzumaki children.
And in one of those moments, Kakashi understood something that had plagued his mind since his retirement, he was still needed.
He is still precious to someone.
Naori Uzumaki had woven herself into Kakashi's heart and he vowed to protect her just as fiercely as he had protected Konoha.