"Noguchi huh... Never heard of the clan, anyway you said that led into your Chūnin exams, how did you do Naruto?" Tsunade asked as she and Naruto spoke of his past on the path to Ramen Ichiraku. Tsunade was not blind to the way that Naruto was treated by the village before or even after she became the Hokage, but listening to this Naruto's story and observing the way the common folk and some of the Shinobi regarded him even now that he is walking and speaking with their leader, the idea made her sick to her stomach. She didn't know at that moment how to proceed. The one thing she knew however is that she needed to know more, to have more information on the subject. This was why she was here accompanying Naruto to one of what seems both versions of his favorite places in Konoha.
"Right, well for my team calling it a Chūnin exam was not accurate, even before I was assigned to a team, Gramps and I had an agreement." Naruto started as if he was having a fond memory of the past.
"And that would be?"
"As a reward for intentionally failing in the ninja academy and helping capture the traitor Mizuki, I got to choose a member of my Genin squad and got to speak on my preference in Jōnin sensei." Naruto began to answer.
Tsunade remembered reading about this, even if the motives and events leading up to the event were not the same as was the outcome. She wondered what else in his life would end up matching Naruto's path so far. Then it hit her that Naruto failed because he wasn't taught properly by the staff in the academy and some had intentionally sabotaged him. Why had her sensei given a brat who wasn't even a Genin a mission like that? Did he have training before entering the academy? The questions dawned on her how much her presence meant to him growing up, and the realization of what the words he spoke to Jiraiya meant. 'Honestly, everything that you have been telling me sounds like this village is lucky to be standing during the Sandaime's second reign.' She now knew the full weight of those words, it was luck that he hadn't turned out like the Suna Jinchūriki turned Kage.
Her thoughts were brought back to reality as Naruto continued. "And Gramps put a plan together for the team I was a part of to be promoted to Jōnin if we all passed the exams." That was a surprise as her late teacher trusted in Naruto's abilities at a young age but it said volumes that he knew that whatever team he was on would be Chūnin if not Jōnin ready in what were six months at most right out of the academy.
"That's impressive, did you believe that Nara and Yamanaka would be ready for such an undertaking? You must have known that you three would have had it harder than other graduates." She continued the line of questioning.
Naruto nervously scratched the back of his neck laughing, not knowing how to respond to that question. "It was something we had to do, although..." A bittersweet smile crossed his face. "Outside looking in you could say that Ino really seemed to hate me. But I hope most of that was towards the situation we were in. At times we would get into it and there were times that I felt I pushed her too hard like in the Chūnin exams."
The way he was talking it looked as if the boy regretted his actions from that time, but as the Kage to understand this Naruto. Tsunade put aside her feelings on the matter and pressed on. "What do you mean did something happen to you two that I should be worried about? I hope it will not affect things going forward."
"No, nothing like that." The tone and mannerisms in those words that he had changed almost to convince her of that fact, clenching his hands into fists for a split second before speaking. "And I doubt that will happen here."
"And why is that?"
He pointed to himself and then to Tsunade, her making the subtle connection to the pair and Naruto's point. "This conversation is a pretty good representation of what I mean..." Naruto stopped, staring off into space before frowning. "Seriously?" He asked himself. "Why would you hide?"
Tsunade stopped in her tracks realizing that Naruto was now motionless with his focus elsewhere. "Is something wrong, Naruto?"
Throwing his glance back at her the serious face that had been gracing his features returned to neutral and became a smile as he began. "I'm sorry about this Lady Tsunade, but someone is demanding my attention, go on ahead. I will catch up with you at Ichiraku."
She didn't know why but Naruto of all people calling her that did not sit well with her, she would rather him call her Granny than something so impersonal. Although they were strangers now she had to say something. Noticing that this boy's mental state might not be what the surface appears, she decides against it despite the feeling that she should, settling for the obvious, the reason for cutting their walk short. "Is everything okay? you seem troubled."
Naruto smiled again, a smile that was a great distance from his eyes, a troubling sight to say the least. "No, at least I hope. I am going to say hi to an old friend. It's nothing to worry about, I don't know what our relationship here was but they seem to be too cautious to approach. It might be because I am with the Hokage... I just want to make sure of a couple of things before I could risk any misunderstandings."
Tsunade took some time to process what he just said and it seemed reasonable to her. "Alright, but if you don't show up within the hour I will come looking for you." She drew a piece of folded parchment from her sleeve giving it to the boy. "I was going to wait until we could be alone, but..." Drawing this out in her mind was a bad decision. "I don't know what you have been told of your birth and parents but I... I wanted you to at least know about the ones we knew."
Unfolding the paper Naruto's eyes widened at what he saw. "This is..." His eyes traveled across the page in mild shock.
The tightness in Tsunade's chest elevated just a bit, it turns out that the teen recognized the map she handed him meaning the Konoha that he came from had at least the same layout it did here. She smiled when he looked at her intently. "I would not think you would want to be living alone so I had made arrangements, the place has not been touched in fifteen years so it will take some time but I want you to know you have a home here with us, and as long as you want with me and Shizune."
As she finished speaking Naruto took her in a gentle embrace. "Thank you." He said while burying his head into the crook of her neck. It took a moment but the sign of affection was returned. "I will be off then."
"Take care."
Opaque eyes follow the pair of the Hokage and Naruto making their way across the village and they continue their conversation. 'Naruto-kun...' The thoughts of the person came to the forefront of her mind. "He's back." They spoke softly from behind a light pole. This person had no idea when they had started to follow him but the errand they were on became a distant memory as soon as that blonde hair came into view. Tsunade-sama and Naruto stopped, the Kage had given him something with Naruto hugging her in return. This wasn't the most surprising thing that this person would see, but Naruto disappeared in a cloud of smoke and appeared inches from them, a girly yelp filling the air.
"Hi there, long time no see eh?" Naruto asks the bright red Hyūga that had to be centimeters from his face.
"N-N-Naruto-kun?" The girl stuttered out trying to keep herself together. "How did you know I was here?"
Naruto leaned on a light pole and looked at the sky. "If you weren't a shinobi I would think that you would suck at stealth." He said scratching his nose, Naruto then turned to face her again. "But the how is neither here nor there the real question however is... Why are you following me, Hina?"
Hina? Did Naruto just call her that? When did he start calling her that? A nickname from him was the last thing that she thought would come out of his mouth, and with that, the whole situation was too much for the girl now identified as Hyūga Hinata. "Wh-Wha..." That was all she managed before fainting.
"Oh shit!" Naruto forced the words as he moved in front of her to catch her before she fell on her face. Dropping with her as gravity took them both, gently he was able to somehow alter the descent to lay her back first he held her up until he could sit on the roadside comfortably and lower her head on his lap. With that Naruto couldn't help but wonder about the familiarity of the situation. 'I guess you two are sisters after all. I just hope you are not as pushy as Hana was.' The thought came to mind while looking at the unconscious girl. Relaxing and looking up at the sky he was more than willing to wait for her to wake up. 'It's the least I can do as the Hina I knew took care of me at my lowest.' He silently continued his train of thought. "It would be bad if I am late to meet up with Kaa-chan though. Maybe she wouldn't mind if I brought you along."
After a few minutes, Naruto heard a voice coming from above him as he was reading a book shortly after a yawn left his mouth. "Naruto?"
His eyes met the girl who called out to him, one Yamanaka Ino. He was genuine in his surprise as the girl was sporting a haircut similar to what he had in his transformation, even wearing her headband in the same way. "Oh, you got a haircut." Naruto said in a mildly delighted tone.
"Who's fault do you think that is Naruto?" Ino said in a huff, all the while pouting. "At least if you are going to copy me, do it right." She spoke leaning to make direct eye contact with her hands down at her hips.
"I did not have a point of reference, so I improvised. As I thought, it's a great look on you. You should keep it, you look cute." Naruto said putting his book down to give her more of his attention. He noticed that her face went bright red at his words so he gave her an equally bright smile in return.
"I don't get you." She dropped down to take her spot next to Naruto opposite Hinata who was still resting on his lap trying to hide her embarrassment by looking anywhere but his face. "So should I ask about the flowers that you gave me? Did you know what... What the meaning behind them was?"
Naruto dawned a thoughtful expression looking up as if he would find the answer in the sky. When he looked at her he frowned at the longing in her eyes, he quickly replaced it with a grin shrugging at her. "What, the pink Hydrangeas? Well of course. I wouldn't have if I didn't, plus your dad wouldn't have allowed me to cover for you if I didn't. The man threw a test at me as soon as I entered the store."
Ino blushed finding her lap particularly interesting, after what she learned hours prior in combination with him seemingly not caring for Sakura in that way anymore she could not help but wonder what the boy was after with her. Then she was made completely aware of the elephant laying on his lap. "What happened to Hinata? Why is she on your lap?" She hoped the tinge of pain in her chest did not show itself in her voice.
With that said he pointed at the girl and spoke dismissively. "Why are you asking me? Ask her yourself." He felt Hinata stir trying to say as still as she could. "I am pretty sure she is awake." That said, Hinata's lifeless form sprung up. "Are you okay Hina?" Hinata, still not used to the nickname, looked at her former classmate red faced stammering out a quick positive confirmation to the boy, to her surprise he took it in all the awkwardness in stride. "That's good I thought you might have been sick or something, I am glad you are okay."
"I-i-it's nothing like... I was just feeling lightheaded." She said cupping her cheeks, her blush growing darker. The other two looked at her not believing a single word but found it more tactful to not call her out on the lie.
'Jeez, how obvious can you be?' Ino thought to herself.
"Well if that's the case, I am supposed to meet Lady Tsunade at Ichiraku. Do you want to join us? Maybe putting something in your stomach will help. And you don't have to worry about paying, I will." Hinata's eyes seem to light up at that proposition, but when Naruto looks at Ino's there was something in them that he did not want to confront at the moment. 'You better thank me later dumbass.' He thought about his other self. "Would you like to join in Ino? I have a lot of money on me since I had to come home early."
"Sure, whatever." A quick response came out of Ino's mouth.
"I would love to." Hinata replied not wanting to be left out.
"Right, then let's go." Naruto said getting up and offering both of his hands to help the girls up. The trio then headed in the direction of the ramen stall, while engaging in conversation. The topics included the boy's time outside of the village which he had to come up with. He found it easier to stick with the time in between switching with Naruto and "returning" to Konoha. He had quickly figured out that not much changed before his birth, well not what you would think. He is hoping to never spend an extended amount of time with the youngest of the Uchiha, and he is hoping above all that he never calls him a dope because once that line is crossed he will take no responsibility for Sasuke returning in a body bag.
The three of them made it to the ramen stand within the hour with Tsunade waiting, obvious to anyone that she had not ordered yet, choosing to wait on the boy. "Oh, Naruto you're here did every..." She stopped mid-sentence getting distracted by the sight of her off-world brat with a girl on each arm. "What's happening here?"
Naruto visibly processed the question asked before his thoughts were cut off by a squeal before Ayame the owner's daughter entered his vision. "Naruto!?" She said leaving her station before taking him into an embrace. "When did you come back? Dad and I really missed you being around. You have really sprouted up in such a short time. Have you been eating well? How did your training go? It's been two years. I bet you have a lot of stories, I want to hear all of them. Dad had to take today off, hey, can you come back here tomorrow? Dad will be here."
Naruto took her shoulder and held her at arm's length breaking the embrace to look her over as he could see her excitement radiating. "Calm down Aya-nee, I just got back today. I was going to see both you and Teuchi-san. I just had to see Lady Tsunade first." He said looking over Ayame's shoulder at Tsunade who was happily watching the scene play out. "Ah, Lady Tsunade, sorry for the wait."
"Did you do what you needed to do?"
Naruto looked at Hinata for a split second, Tsunade noticing, before answering. "In a way, I hope you don't mind that I invited these two to come and join us."
Tsunade gets a handle on the situation from the mortified Hinata and by the blushing Ino's expressions she got the idea to put Naruto on the spot and test how the two girls would react. "Aya was it?"
Ayame turned to the Hokage as she called, taking her eyes off the two girls that she had just noticed were there. "Oh sorry ma'am." She said letting go of Naruto and returning to her post. "Did you need something?" Her getting back into full-service mode.
"No, that's quite alright, I just wanted to know. Naruto holds you highly and you have known him since he was a child, so I was wondering how you would react to our brat bringing two girls home after not seeing him for a while." Tsunade answered while holding in a grin under a mask of indifference.
Hinata was the first to react fully getting the meaning behind the line of questioning, at the same time Ino suddenly looked down not wanting to look anyone in the face, Naruto stayed stoned face, and Ayame after fully digesting only had one thought. 'Interesting.' examining the teens. "Well, I would like to see what their intentions with him were, hopefully, you are unaware of Naruto's childhood lady Godaime. Though he will not probably say as much that he did not have the best of childhoods, if those girls had anything to do with it or taking advantage of that fact I would kindly ask them to leave." Ayame retorted with a terrifying glint in her eye.
"I know the feeling." Tsunade added.
"But knowing Naruto that is not the case. So guessing that the person you were waiting for is Naruto, would you like to put in your order ma'am." The cold temperature that had taken over returned to what it was.
"Let's see." Tsunade began looking at the menu posted over the kitchen area. "Miso pork Katsu ramen." She answered taking out a purse from her kimono.
"Right away ma'am." She said, writing the order down. "And I guess you want your usual Naruto?" She continued watching the teens take their seats at the counter on either side of the Hokage.
"Actually, nee-chan, can I get a Tonkotsu bowl? I will get my usual when I come by tomorrow." Naruto asked, smiling up at her.
Ayame was taken aback at first but took down the order anyway. "That's alright, what about you two?" She asked the girls.
"A diet ramen bowl for me." That earned Ino a raised eyebrow from Naruto.
"I-I will have the same as Naruto..." Hinata answered
Ayame looked at the girls' orders with scrutiny, she was interested in them but did not say anything about them. "I hope you don't mind that this might take some time, it's just me today so it might take longer than it usually would."
"Not to worry, I had taken the rest of the day off to talk with Naruto. So you can take your time." Tsunade answered, watching relief wash over Ayame.
"I can help nee-chan, I have eaten here and watched you cook for so long that I am pretty sure that I could lend a hand." Naruto said that with confidence Ayame not knowing that this Naruto would help her counterpart whenever he was free to do so and her father was away or off during the lunch rush.
"You don't have to worry about that Naruto. It's fine." She said as she began the prep for the meals.
"No really Aya-nee, it's no trouble. We can even catch up while we work." Naruto insisted, getting up from his stool.
Ayame feeling her fight leave her relented and nodded to him, smiling at the wide grin that found his face. "Fine, but you have to keep up with me because I am not going to slow down if you need help." She said passing him one of her dad's aprons.
"Please Aya-nee, I am a shinobi of Konoha." He retorted while putting on the apron like it was second nature before washing his hands at the sink near the stovetop. "I can handle anything."
Patting his back, moving him aside so she can wash her own hands she giggled before replying, nudging him with her shoulder all the while. "I will hold you to that."
(...)
Ino was the first to get her ramen with Naruto passing her the diet ramen that she had ordered with not much fanfare, he then turned to Hinata. "I'm sorry Hina I will have to serve you last since we ordered the same thing." Naruto spoke with a look of apology.
Hinata shook her head and smiled. "No, that is alright Naruto-kun I can wait." Her words earned a look of disgust from Ino that went unnoticed by her and the others.
Naruto looked over at Ayame who was finishing up Tsunade's order. She put the bowl in front of the Kage turning to Naruto. Before she could say anything to him the stall got more customers in Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Sarutobi Asuma. The gentleman looked to their former classmate and teammate dining with the Hokage of all people with surprise, Asuma was the first to speak. "An odd place to see you Ino, I did not expect you to be much of a ramen person." He spoke concisely, that is when his eyes landed on the same thing his former Genin were staring at dumbfounded. The sight of Naruto, and especially not in his signature orange, working as the restaurant's server was jarring at best. He quickly recovered to find that The teen had the same outfit that his wayward female student was wearing with disheveled hair the last time he had met her when she was with his nephew, and it all clicked. The happy-go-lucky mood she was in, why she was with Konohamaru, and the image of her in oversized clothes and overall lack in the usual presentation threw him for a loop and now it made all the sense in the world. He opened his mouth to make light of the situation but Choji beat him to the punch.
"Naruto? Is that you?" The rotund teen asked of his acquaintance whom he had not seen in quite some time.
Naruto did not miss a beat mid-stride as he worked looking over at the new arrivals with a neutral expression. "Hello, long time no see eh?" He said with a bright smile. 'not that I haven't seen Asuma yet, but that...' He thought looking over at Ino. "Give me a second and I can get your orders in just a minute." He turned to return to his work.
"Don't worry Naruto, I have everything handled. Go ahead and catch up with your friends." A sentence that Ayame hadn't dreamed of uttering to her surrogate brother. It felt weird to say but she did not mind it.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, you just got back. And it's been two years, I'm sure that they want to hear what you have been up to as much as I have, but you are making time for me, you should do the same for them." Ayame said with a smile.
Naruto looked apprehensive at first but nodded and disrobed out of his apron. "If you need help later just tell me."
"I will keep that in mind, so go." She shooed him from the work area with a smile. Naruto took his spot next to Tsunade with Ayame taking the newcomers' orders.
Naruto watches Ayame with great concern as she re-doubles her efforts and provides her service to the Shinobi with grace. "So when did you get back?" Asuma brought him back to reality.
"Oh... I just arrived today." Naruto replied with a smile.
"Then... When did you start dating Ino?" Asuma questioned Naruto, coming off as a parent meeting their child's boyfriend for the first time.
Ino nearly spit out the bite of ramen that was in her mouth and Naruto coughed uncontrollably as if he was choking on his saliva. "What?" Both they and Choji screamed in unison
"Since when?"
"How troublesome."
"Naruto-kun..."
Ino was the first to respond, in disbelief. There goes that, him deciding things on his own had confused everything, what was she doing in the first place? This all was too much, and she was going to make everything fix itself while having Naruto take responsibility. She readied her family's justu only to be surprised by Naruto stiffening giving her a look in return. 'Did he know what I was going to do?' She narrowed her eyes at Naruto who looked away, herself turning to Asuma with a scowl on her face. "And where did you get that from?" She asked as Tsunade looked at the situation amused and leaning in her seat.
Asuma scratched his chin and thought, he was thinking of ways to bring this up while making sure that he would not make an ass out of himself in his assumptions. "Well, when we met earlier you were with Konohamaru and well... Your demeanor." He looked at Naruto from the corner of his eye. "And it only made sense now... Look, I am not condemning it is all I am saying." Asuma could not help but sound awkward.
The subject of his inquiry sighed and looked at Asuma with a face that read understanding on her, addressing him. "I think you misread that. I did not know that Naruto was back until I ran into Konohamaru and after he was at my family's shop with him." While that wasn't the truth of the situation it was not a complete lie, as the events told did happen. "So as you can see, I'm not seeing him. I'm sure that whatever you saw was not what you thought."
Asuma took a second to think before deciding to leave the subject for now. Choji however looked between her and Naruto confused because there was something between them that neither party would confirm so he decided not to press them, Hinata had her imagination running the scenario over and over again until all the pieces from Ino's and Naruto's early interaction were put together and she lowered her head with a dark cloud over her. As for Shikamaru he was examining the menu trying to ignore the show, and Tsunade was the total opposite as she enjoyed her meal.
Tsunade deciding it was best got the attention of all her village's nin. "With that said this is actually a fortuitous encounter. Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Sarutobi, And I guess I have to include you to Hyuga…" She paused to make a motion with her hand as the shinobi all look at her, with an Anbu appearing at her side. "Make sure to close the area around this Raman stand off. No one is to enter or leave with out your knowing." The Anbu gave her a verbal affirmation as she continued and the nin disappeared. "I have a mission of up most importance for you all." She turned to both Ino and Naruto. "You both know what it is, don't you?" The two teens nodded, to the curiosity of the others. "For the rest of you, some context is needed."