A/N: Alright, here's part one of part two for the Christmas special. I actually planned to have this all in one part… But well some big characters were introduced and well you'll see why. BUT I am already writing part two and will actually be posted as soon as I finish as a sorry.

I hope you enjoyed who I introduced in this chapter.

Chapter 10: A Cyberpunk Christmas Part 1

December 16th 2073

As the next day came to Night City, the infamous shinobi shifted their attention away from the excitement of acquiring new swords to more immediate concerns. Among these was their recent discovery of Christmas, a holiday reminiscent of Konoha's Rinne Festival. Naruto, and Sasuke who was initially hesitant, decided to host a Christmas party for their newfound friends in this unfamiliar world.

However, looming over the festivities was the daunting task of Christmas shopping for their Inputs.

"Got any ideas for Rita's gift?" Naruto asked Sasuke as they relaxed in the Party room after a late-night sparring session. They pondered their options, sprawled comfortably on separate couches.

"Any thoughts on what to get V?" Sasuke queried, his eyes fixed on his phone screen, hoping Naruto's response might spark an idea for Rita's gift.

"Not a clue. I was thinking of getting her a necklace, but she's not into jewelry," Naruto lamented. Despite their relatively short time together—just a month—Naruto was eager to find something meaningful for V.

Sasuke briefly entertained the notion of a necklace for Rita until he realized she never wore such accessories, prompting a groan of frustration. Minutes passed in silence until suddenly, Sasuke's head snapped up, a glimmer of inspiration dancing in his eyes.

"Got an idea?" Naruto inquired, observing Sasuke's restless pacing.

"Lizzie's bar..." Sasuke replied, his attention divided as he continued to mull over his thoughts.

"I don't think braindances would make great gifts for Rita and V," Naruto deadpanned.

Sasuke stopped in his tracks, dumbfounded, and turned to face Naruto. "No, you idiot... Look, Rita has known the girls and guys at Lizzie's for years. They're her coworkers, too. They might have overheard something she's been eyeing."

"Alright, what about V?" Naruto pressed.

"Ask some of the girls there? They might not know V, but they meet tons of new people every night, people who are probably similar to her—" Sasuke began, only to be cut off by Naruto.

"Similar enough to give us some ideas! Not a bad plan... Plus, it gives us an excuse to catch up with everyone and invite them to the Christmas Party," Naruto exclaimed, leaping from his seat and darting off to his room for a quick shower and change.

Sasuke followed suit, sighing at the reminder of the Christmas Party he was reluctantly co-hosting with Naruto. Initially staunchly against the idea, he found himself reconsidering after Rita intervened at Naruto's behest. Sasuke knew Naruto had played that card deliberately; after all, he couldn't refuse Rita anything.

~~~SCENE~~~

After quickly showering and dressing in their usual attire, Naruto and Sasuke added their thermal swords, sheathed and placed them on their backs, along with a surplus of kunai and shuriken distributed around their persons. They finished their preparations with a single pistol each tucked into their waistbands. While not particularly fond of firearms, they acknowledged the prudence of carrying one if the situation demanded it.

Given Lizzie's proximity to their building, merely a few blocks away, the duo opted to walk instead of seeking alternative transportation. Despite the relatively short distance, the journey took nearly an hour on foot. Jumping from building to building or sprinting would only draw unwanted attention, a risk they couldn't afford.

"We really need to remodel that first floor into a garage and get the cars and bikes in better shape," Naruto sighed as they approached Lizzie's property.

"I agree... The issue is we don't have the funds for it. I asked the workers who did the rooms for us for an estimate. They said with the addition of supports, wiring, and pipework, it was going to cost about seventy-five thousand eddies," Sasuke stated matter-of-factly, keeping his gaze forward.

Naruto choked at the price and whirled around to face Sasuke. "Seventy-five thousand eddies? They remodeled two rooms for twenty-five thousand!"

"The first floor's pipes and wiring are nonexistent. They'd practically be starting from scratch, buying everything brand new—materials and all. Especially considering what you and Jackie discussed about fixing up the cars and storing them together," Sasuke explained as they strolled through the parking lot of Lizzie's.

"We're going to have to land more gigs with Jackie... Maybe even reach out to that Militech lady for one or two," Naruto mused aloud as they approached the entrance to Lizzie's.

"What are you two doing here?" Rita questioned, standing in front of the Christmas-themed entrance with another Moxie. Their usual attire of barely-there clothing was replaced by multiple layers, and a large portable heater aimed in their direction.

"Can't we just visit the family that took us in?" Naruto responded, feigning hurt by Rita's skepticism.

"Uh huh, because showing up during business hours is really the best time," Rita retorted, rolling her eyes.

"Most of the gonks are either in a BD or busy drinking and dancing. The Moxes wouldn't mind talking to people who aren't trying to sleep with them or get drunk," Naruto countered with a shrug.

"True, true," Rita conceded, stepping aside to let the two through. However, she held her bat out and grinned wickedly at Naruto. "A little warning, though: some of the girls are a bit upset you got snatched up by V."

"Oh, come on, why did you tell them?" Naruto protested to the blue-haired Mox.

"Slip of the tongue," Rita said with a shrug before turning towards Sasuke, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. "See you in the morning."

"I'll be waiting," Sasuke replied, returning her kiss before following Naruto into the building.

"Well, where do you want to start?" Naruto asked Sasuke, taking in the familiar surroundings of the place they had called home for several months. Now seeing the interior was decorated with Christmas decorations. With even some of the girls having Costumes that complimented it all.

"Jude would probably be the best place to start," Sasuke suggested as the two made their way to the basement level of the building.

As Naruto and Sasuke navigated through the throngs of patrons and clubbers, they were stopped several times by Moxes eager to exchange greetings and catch up with the two men who had become like family to them all. Naruto and Sasuke warmly welcomed these encounters, engaging in brief conversations and extending invitations to the upcoming party. Some Moxes happily accepted, while others had to decline due to work commitments or personal plans.

After finally maneuvering past the crowds and reaching the quieter back halls of the brothel/club, the two shinobi descended the stairs. It was then that Naruto decided to voice what had been weighing on his mind. "Never thought I'd say this, but I miss it here. Our home seems too quiet."

"Sounding like you're taking after Jiraiya in some ways," Sasuke remarked dryly.

Naruto made a choking sound before retorting, "You know that's not what I mean!"

Sasuke was about to respond when a commanding voice interrupted them from behind. "No gonks are allowed back here!"

Startled, the two spun around, expecting to confront unruly patrons who had followed them. However, they were met with an unexpected sight.

"Uuuhhh... are you lost or something?" Naruto deadpanned at the girl he had never seen before, who seemed to be half his size and was currently pointing a handgun at them.

"Are you deaf or something? I said no one besides Moxes are allowed back here, you gonk fuck!" the short girl shouted, her artificially dyed white skin and mint green hair making for a striking appearance. She wore a jacket that reached to her mid-thigh, likely to cover her body, but it was open, revealing her underwear and tattoos across her neck, stomach, and right thigh.

"We're friends of the Moxes. I'm guessing you're new here?" Naruto interjected calmly, choosing to disregard the shorter girl's shouts and insults. He assumed she was a Mox, but neither he nor Sasuke recognized her, judging by Sasuke's uninterested expression.

"Friends? I've never seen you two gonks. I'm pretty sure I would recognize Mr. Broody and handsome over there," she retorted, winking at Sasuke before glaring back at Naruto, who raised an eyebrow at the comment.

"You know, you really need to stop the brooding. Too many girls find it attractive, and sooner or later, Rita is going to find out," Naruto commented, diverting his attention to Sasuke.

"I don't brood..." Sasuke insisted, though his demeanor clearly suggested otherwise.

"Hey! Don't ign—did you say Rita?" The girl interrupted, her interest piqued.

"Yes, Rita, his input," Naruto confirmed, gesturing towards Sasuke.

Finally, realization dawned on the girl's face, and she lowered the handgun. "So I'm guessing you're Sasuke, and you're Naruto," she said, pointing at each of them in turn.

Naruto and Sasuke both nodded. "Yes," Sasuke replied.

"You know... you two look nothing like brothers," she remarked, narrowing her eyes as she scrutinized them carefully.

"We get that a lot," Sasuke replied with a nonchalant shrug.

"And you're not as cute as the other girls make you out to be," she retorted, giving Naruto a once-over.

"And you look a little short compared to the other girls," Naruto fired back, folding his arms and looking away.

"What!" she shouted, raising her gun and pointing it at Naruto.

"You heard me, Shorty!" Naruto shot back, not even bothering to glance at the girl.

"You son of a bi—" she began, her finger inching towards the trigger. However, she was abruptly interrupted as a set of double doors slid open next to the two boys.

"Who the hell is screaming out—Oh, hey you two," Judy interjected, her mood shifting from irritation to happiness upon seeing the two boys. "Rebecca, why are you screaming?" she added, noticing the short girl's agitation.

"That gonk fuck!" Rebecca snarled, jabbing her gun in Naruto's direction.

"You started it," Naruto retorted, his arms still crossed as he turned away from Rebecca, sparking a shouting match between the two.

"Enough!" Sasuke interjected, his voice raising just enough to quiet the bickering duo. Thankfully, the shouting subsided, allowing Sasuke to continue. "Naruto, apologize to Rebecca."

"But!" Naruto attempted to argue, only to be met with a stern glare from Sasuke. "I'm sorry for calling you short," he reluctantly apologized.

Hearing the apology and witnessing Naruto being scolded, Rebecca couldn't help but grin. "You want me to stay here, Judy, or are you fine?" she asked.

"I'll be fine, Becca. These two are harmless," Judy joked with the green-haired girl.

"Alright, I'll head back upstairs," Rebecca replied, already turning to ascend the stairs to the first floor.

"Alright, you two, get in here," Judy instructed, stepping aside to let them enter. It was only after the door closed and Judy settled into her seat that Naruto decided to speak.

"So who's the new Mox?" Naruto inquired, gesturing towards the door.

"Becca? She isn't new. She's actually been a Mox for years now," Judy replied.

"How come we've never seen her before?" Sasuke asked, trying to recall if he had ever encountered the girl during their time at Lizzie's, which spanned nearly half a year.

"She does this every other year. She has a group of mercs she joins, and when something goes wrong with them, she comes back to us before eventually returning to them," Judy explained as she scrolled on her holopad. "She actually came back the week you two moved out. It was... something, alright."

"What happened?" Naruto prodded, unable to resist his curiosity.

Judy chuckled before responding, "Don't know the specifics, but her brother tried joining her crew, and from what I know, she doesn't really get along with him. Well, their leader gave the okay, and she didn't agree. So she left and came back here to cool off."

"And Old Lady Suzie's okay with that? I would think she wouldn't appreciate someone constantly switching between being a Mox and not," Naruto questioned.

"Once a Mox, always a Mox, that's what Suzie says. She might seem like a cold-hearted bitch, but she cares about the Moxes, regardless of whether they leave the ganger life or not," Judy answered with a shrug. "Anyways, what brings you two here? I doubt it's for a BD."

"Sasuke and I are hosting a Christmas party on the 22nd, and we wanted to see if you were free," Naruto asked with his signature grin.

Judy lowered her holopad and hummed as she tapped her chin. "Yeah, I think I can make it."

Finally, Sasuke seized his moment and stepped up. "Judy, how well would you say you know Rita?"

"I would say pretty well, why?" Judy asked, returning to idly scrolling her holopad.

"He needs help figuring out what to get her for Christmas," Naruto interjected, prompting Sasuke to try to elbow him. However, Naruto subtly blocked the attack with his arm.

"Ohhh," Judy exclaimed, setting down her holopad and grinning up at Sasuke. "Rita wouldn't be too happy to hear how you haven't gotten her a gift yet."

"I know, Judy. That's why I need some help from the people who've known her the longest," Sasuke groaned in response.

Judy continued grinning at Sasuke for a few more seconds before finally shrugging. "I might have an idea or two."

~~~SCENE~~~

"Alright, so you have an idea of what to get Rita, and we've invited who we wanted. I guess all that's left is TO HELP ME," Naruto cried as he and Sasuke walked away from the Moxes club, ensuring they were out of earshot from Rita, who was still at the front entrance.

After Judy had shared her insights with Sasuke, they proceeded to speak to others within the club. In the end, they had invited several others to their party, including Suzie Q, Mateo, and Anna, who was giving Naruto the cold shoulder for getting into a relationship that wasn't with her. Along with some others who had agreed to attend.

"At least we've got gifts for the others already," Sasuke replied, grateful for Naruto's idea to procure gifts for their friends throughout the month. This left only Rita and V without gifts, something the two shinobi agreed not to let the girls find out.

"None of it is going to matter if I don't get V anything!" Naruto moaned, rubbing his face in exasperation.

Sasuke sighed and glanced at the blonde walking beside him. "Alright, what are some of V's hobbies? You must know something; you've been talking to her for months and been dating her for a month."

"That's ironic of you to say since you needed help with Rita's gift," Naruto countered with a glare.

"Do you want my help or not?" Sasuke growled, feeling called out.

"Okay, okay... she likes a lot of different things. She likes the guitar, but doesn't have an interest in learning it. She enjoys reading, but I don't know what kind of books... And she does like guns... would a gun be a bad gift for her?" Naruto asked, uncertain.

"Anything else, Naruto?" Sasuke sighed at his brother's relentless brainstorming.

Naruto remained silent for a moment, tapping his finger to his temple before finally speaking up. "She always wanted a pet."

"Only issue with that is... Pets or animals aren't just anywhere in Night City," Sasuke commented.

Sasuke was correct. Pets, let alone animals, in Night City were nearly non-existent. If there were any animals within the borders of the metropolis, they likely belonged to high-ranking Corpos or individuals with immense wealth. Obtaining a pet required connections; one couldn't simply browse the net for one. In fact, it seemed acquiring an animal was even more challenging than smuggling illegal contraband within the city itself.

"Well..." Naruto trailed off, rubbing the back of his head.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked suspiciously.

"Remember that gig we did earlier in the month with Jackie? The one that took us to Mega Building H4?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke sighed at the memory. The gig had been a straightforward theft within the sprawling Mega Building H4. The details were simple: the husband had been suspected of infidelity, and the wife had contacted a fixer to have someone steal his laptop and download his data to see if there was evidence of wrongdoing. She had provided the address and the best times when they would both be out of the apartment.

The job had begun smoothly. Naruto, Sasuke, and Jackie had easily located their target and unlocked the apartment door. However, things took an unexpected turn when they opened the door to find the husband, an obvious Maelstrom ganger, bent over a counter while a prostitute played with his ass.

At that moment, Jackie had quickly snapped a picture and grabbed Naruto and Sasuke before sprinting out of the building, declaring, "This pic is all the proof we need!"

"What about that gig?" Sasuke asked, determined to focus on the present. Forcing himself to push the memories away.

"Well, on the way to the apartment, I think I saw what might have been a feeding bowl for an animal on the same floor where the gig was," Naruto said, rubbing his chin in contemplation.

"So what? You want to go back to the Mega Building and scour the place for an animal that we may or may not find?" Sasuke said, initially dismissing the idea as foolish. However, he soon groaned as he realized just who he was talking to.

~~~SCENE~~~

"Naruto, this is useless," Sasuke muttered as the two entered the premises of Mega Building H4.

H4 was one of twelve buildings within Night City, each essentially a city unto itself rather than typical skyscrapers. With near-mirrored designs, they reached a staggering height of fifty to fifty-five stories high, covering an area of nearly five acres. The building was a self-contained community, with stores, daycares, homes, and even community centers. For many residents, there was little reason to leave the building except for school or work.

These mega buildings had been created soon after the Fourth Corporate War to address the influx of displaced citizens in Night City. Instead of cleaning up the city borders and creating new homes, the city's government opted for these mega buildings as a solution. They were able to effectively house nearly 130,000 residents.

"Look, let's just check the floor where I saw the bowl. If the bowl isn't there, then we can leave," Naruto suggested, scanning the bustling mini city within the mega building.

Sasuke let out an exhausted sigh. "Alright, fine. But if we don't see anything, we're leaving."

Naruto agreed, leading the way to one of the many elevators that adorned the mega building. Fortunately, as the doors opened, the group of occupants had exited, leaving the elevator empty. As the two stepped inside, Naruto glanced at the digital screen to select a floor and hesitated, slowly turning around to rub the back of his head.

"Do you remember the floor?" Naruto asked, feeling embarrassed.

Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut, feeling a vein nearly pop in his forehead. Slowly, he opened his eyes and grabbed his phone to check if he still had the details of the gig. "It was floor eight," he confirmed after a quick review.

Naruto gave a small nod and reached to press the button for floor eight, but froze when he heard a shout. "Hold the elevator, please!" A female voice echoed from afar, causing the two to turn their heads in the direction of the shout.

Naruto obliged and held the elevator doors open until the woman and a teenage boy rushed inside. Taking in their appearance, the boy wore a thick sweater and jeans, with dark brown hair and a golden chain adorned with a cross around his neck—a common sight among Latinos, Naruto and Sasuke noted.

The woman, likely his older sister, had deep red hair, likely dyed, and what appeared to be a tattoo beneath her left eye. She wore a large jacket to fend off the winter chill, paired with jeans. Undoubtedly attractive, a fact both shinobi silently acknowledged if they were to discuss it.

"Thank you, I honestly expected you to close the doors," the woman said with a bright smile, clutching a large bag in her hand.

"No problem, what floor are you going to?" Naruto asked with his own smile.

"Floor eight," she replied, taking another deep breath after sprinting to catch the elevator.

"Nice coincidence, us too," Naruto remarked, pressing the number eight button and closing the elevator doors.

As the elevator ascended, it moved much slower than usual. Twenty seconds passed, and they only reached the second floor. Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances, silently wondering if taking the stairs would have been faster.

"Ugh, I can't believe they still haven't fixed this one yet," the younger teen complained loudly.

"Quiet, David," the woman hushed.

"I'm not wrong, Mom," David retorted, setting down a set of bags he had also been carrying.

"Mom?!" Naruto questioned, taken aback by how the teenage boy addressed the woman, who couldn't have been older than her mid-twenties.

Naruto's cry prompted David and his mom to look at him oddly, while Sasuke could be heard cursing at Naruto's idiotic outburst. "Yes, I am his mom... is there a problem?" the mother said skeptically.

Naruto backtracked, sensing his error. "Oh, no, it's just... I assumed you were his older sister," he hastily replied.

A blush spread across the redhead's face, and she let out a small laugh before elbowing her son. "Sister? Did you hear that, David?" she teased.

David could only groan as he tried to ignore his mom's reaction to being complimented. "Mom, please."

"He thinks I look young enough to be your sister, David!" she said with a sly grin, clearly enjoying embarrassing her son.

"Oh my god..." David muttered, looking down in embarrassment, only to hear a snort from behind him. He glanced at Sasuke, who hadn't said a word, with a glare.

"My name is Gloria, by the way," the woman said, turning back around to face Naruto and Sasuke, holding out her hand.

Naruto gently took her hand. "Name's Naruto, and this is my brother, Sasuke," he said, nodding towards Sasuke.

"You two don't look like brothers," David said, narrowing his eyes at the two suspiciously.

Before they could reply, Gloria shot her son a look, making him shut his mouth with an audible click before looking back at the two with a smile. "I apologize for my son's rude behavior."

"You're fine, we get that a lot," Sasuke replied with a shrug.

"So, what brings you two here?" Gloria asked as the elevator reached the sixth floor of the building.

"We're looking for a cat," Naruto answered, causing Gloria to look at him confused.

"A cat?" Gloria repeated, looking puzzled.

"Yes, have you seen one?" Naruto asked hopefully.

"You mean Nibbles?" David spoke up, catching the attention of the others.

"There's actually a cat?" Sasuke asked with a raised eyebrow.

David nodded. "Yeah, one of the nanas on our floor likes to feed the thing kibble. If I'm right, it's a stray. I tried asking why she wouldn't take it in, and she said something about needing a license."

"Aha, I was right!" Naruto laughed.

"Alright, well, we can get the thing and get home," Sasuke said, ignoring Naruto's obvious attempt to boast.

David let out a snort. "Good luck on catching it."

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged skeptical glances before a ding sounded, signifying that the elevator had finally reached the eighth floor. The four walked off the elevator together and moved a few steps away to stay out of other people's paths.

"Do you know where the cat gets fed?" Naruto asked David and Gloria.

"Yeah, it's past our apartment," David replied.

"Mind showing us where?" Naruto asked as he scratched his chin.

Before David could make an excuse, Gloria spoke up first. "David, show them where."

The teen let out a sigh. "Yes, Mom."

With that settled, the two shinobi fell in step with the mother and son. As the four walked on, Gloria sparked up a small conversation with the two, asking them why they were looking for a cat.

Naruto brought them up to speed, noticing how Gloria's smile slightly faltered when he mentioned it being a gift for his input.

"Well, she must be one lucky girl if you're going out of your way to get her—shit..." Gloria cursed as she looked at her door and saw a glowing red hologram in front of it.

Naruto and Sasuke glanced at the writing and grimaced, 'ACCESS DENIED, RENT PAST DUE.'

"I told them..." Gloria muttered, stopping herself before spinning around and smiling.

"David, mind showing Naruto and Sasuke where the cat is, while I call the landlords? This must have been some mistake," she said, embarrassed by what the two saw.

David silently agreed and waved the two to follow him. Once they were far enough away, David finally spoke, his voice low and feet dragging. "Landlords have been raising the rent recently… I heard mom speaking to them about getting the money soon… seems like they didn't care."

Naruto and Sasuke looked at one another, the two having a silent conversation unbeknownst to David who was in front of the two.

Small head nod from Naruto.

Shake of the head from Sasuke.

Another head nod and eyes widening from Naruto.

A glare from Sasuke and turning his head to ignore Naruto.

A punch to the arm from Naruto.

An elbow from Sasuke.

"Well, shit, the cat's here," David muttered, seeing the small animal currently eating at the kibble in the bowl.

The two brothers instantly stopped their silent argument and watched the animal eating from a bowl next to a small mountain of trash bags. It was a depressing sight to see, but one that didn't surprise the two any longer.

Naruto took a step forward, only for David to speak up. "Careful, the little one is fast. I remember seeing a group of guys spend the whole day trying to catch the thing and still fail.

Naruto looked at David and smirked before walking slowly to the cat, each step coming slow and thoughtful as he whispered to the cat. Sasuke, seeing the embarrassing act, groaned and walked ahead, passing Naruto who let out a cry of alarm.

Sasuke ignored the cries and walked up to the cat, who had stopped eating and watched the black-haired boy walk up to it. As Sasuke stepped in front of the animal, he looked down and slowly crouched and reached out, picking it up gently. He waited to see if the cat would react negatively, but when it didn't, Sasuke turned around and walked up to Naruto, depositing the cat in the blonde's arms.

"Alright, let's go," Sasuke said, already tracing their steps back.

"Is he always so… broody?" David asked Naruto, as he looked from one to the other.

"You get used to it," Naruto shrugged as he absently petted the feline's head, walking in step with David as they caught up to Sasuke.

It wasn't long before they reached Gloria, who still stood in front of her and David's apartment door. The redhead's eyes were glowing, the telltale sign of being on a call with someone.

"You said you'd give us another week! It's only been three days!" Gloria argued.

There was a pause as she listened to whoever was on the other side.

"Look, just give us until the twentieth, and you'll have the rent plus whatever else," she responded, desperation in her voice.

The three boys watched as Gloria's posture slumped against the door in response to whatever was being told to her.

"Please… it's Chris-..." She sighed, her voice trailing off as the call ended abruptly.

"Mom?" David's concerned voice broke the silence, causing Gloria to spring up from the door. She turned around with a forced bright smile, attempting to conceal any signs of distress.

"Oh, it looks like you three got the cat!" Gloria said, her voice strained as she tried to sound cheerful, though there was a clear hint of pain in her expression.

"Yeah… is everything alright, Mom?" David asked, stepping forward with concern evident in his voice.

"Yes, uhm, come on, let's go. It seems it was a mistake, but maintenance won't be able to come for a couple of days," Gloria replied, masking her inner turmoil as she tried to figure out their next move.

As David attempted to voice his concerns, Sasuke intervened, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder and guiding him away. "I'm thirsty, mind showing me where a vending machine is?" Sasuke's request granted Naruto the opportunity to address Gloria's distress.

With a forced smile, Gloria watched her son walk off with Sasuke before her façade crumbled, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she slumped against the door. "I don't know what I'm going to do…" Her voice trailed off into a murmur as she stared helplessly at her hands.

"Gloria…" Naruto approached, still absentmindedly petting the cat.

"I've been working overtime for the past three months… putting in sixty damn hours a week minimum to make ends meet. And where does that get me? Evicted from our apartment on Christmas," Gloria vented, her frustration palpable.

"Gloria-" Naruto attempted to interject, but he fell silent as Gloria continued speaking, her emotions pouring out.

"I'm sorry," she began, wiping away a stray tear. "I just don't know what to do… It feels like no matter how hard I try, it always comes up short. I can't even look for anyone to help… I have no family… no friends… not even an acquaintance. Even my ex went ahead and cheated on me when I was pregnant and then got himself killed… I feel like such a shit mom… I- I just want what's best for David…" Her voice cracked with emotion as she spoke about her son.

"Hey," Naruto said softly, placing his organic arm on her shoulder while his cybernetic one cradled the cat.

Gloria tried to shrug off Naruto's arm, but her strength failed her, and tears welled up in her eyes as her vulnerability surfaced. She considered herself a strong woman, balancing the responsibilities of being a single parent while working as an EMT. She held down a steady job, refusing to succumb to the allure of drugs or illegal activities for easy money. She ensured her son had food on the table every night, even if it meant sacrificing her own meals, yet it seemed like her efforts amounted to nothing in the end.

Feeling Naruto's hand still resting on her shoulder, Gloria looked up at him, expecting to see judgment or mockery in his eyes. Instead, she was met with empathy and understanding. There was no hint of malice or condemnation, only a shared sense of pain and sadness.

"Gloria, you aren't a bad mom… Trust me, I know terrible mothers," Naruto began, his thoughts drifting back to Kaguya and what he learned of her. "Look, if you need a place to stay… Sasuke and I own an apartment building…"

Gloria shook her head adamantly, refusing to accept any handouts, especially from someone she had only just met less than an hour ago. Though Naruto and Sasuke seemed generous, she didn't want to get by in life relying on charity.

Seeing Gloria's reluctance, Naruto persisted, his voice gentle but firm. "I'm not saying you should just move in. But, it's Christmas time. I remember when I was younger, I had no one to rely on… I even remember one year when our power was turned off because I forgot to pay the electricity bill. I spent Christmas in a dark home with no one besides Sasuke."

As Naruto reminisced, memories of that particular year flooded his mind. He vividly recalled being ten years old during the winter season, the bitter cold seeping into his small apartment. He had indeed forgotten to pay the electricity bill, a simple oversight that resulted in him spending the holiday alone.

Naruto hesitated for a moment, almost slipping up before catching himself. He added Sasuke to the story, weaving a narrative of them being together since birth. However, the truth was far different. Naruto had spent that holiday alone, surrounded by darkness as he listened to the sounds of laughter from families in neighboring apartments and the bustling streets below. All he had for company was a humble bowl of ramen, a meager meal in the silent solitude of his darkened room.

"Sasuke and I have been through our fair share of challenges, and we've come to realize that turning away help only prolongs the pain. We know what it's like to feel lost and alone. But we've also learned that accepting help isn't a sign of weakness—it's often exactly what we need to find hope and keep moving forward." Naruto reminisced about the tough times he faced and the support he received from friends and loved ones, acknowledging their crucial role in his journey.

Gloria stood quietly, her gaze lowered, mulling over Naruto's words. As his sentiments echoed in her mind, she gradually raised her head. To her surprise, she noticed David and Sasuke returning, each with a drink in hand. A smile graced her lips as she observed her son, sharing a moment of laughter with Sasuke.

In that moment, seeing her son's joy, Gloria had a realization. She understood that ultimately, pride and reluctance to accept help meant little if it stood in the way of her son's happiness. "Okay," she said with newfound resolve, "we'll check it out."

A/N: How did you guys enjoy the chapter? I hope you liked how I wrote Becca and finally introduced her.

ALSO I hope you guys liked how I introduced David and Gloria. NOW BEFORE ANYONE ATTACKS ME LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS LOGICALLY Naruto is a very selfless hero. So for him to see a mom and son evicted just before Christmas time AND know he and Sasuke have the room to take them in. I feel like it was something he would have done. Of course Sasuke would be hesitant, but as we have been seeing Rita has slowly been thawing out that cold frozen heart of his in more ways than one.

ALSO what do you guys all think Rita's and everyone else's gifts are going to be? I want to see if anyone would guess them correctly.

OF COURSE if you enjoyed the story so far and haven't done so yet. Please consider leaving a favorite and following for more. If you did enjoy and have any questions, comments OR concerns. Please leave a Review as it feeds my ego just a bit more to write. Of course my DM's are always open and if you have any questions please send me a DM too.

REVIEWS:

The Disquieting One - I am thinking up some subtle ways. But let's be honest no real changes would be made to Arasaka as even their top heads don't mean squat as the real leaders are the Arasaka family and the Corpos in Japan.

Samuel Santillan - Thank you very much.

Fishy - Thank you for the read, I hope you appreciate this chapter.

Enumeaelish666 - that's one thing I am trying to balance, I want Naruto to see the depressing world of Cyberpunk and Night City. But I want him to mature from it and keep his positive and goofy nature up.

Park Otsutsuki - and you're of course a wonderful reader. Thank you.

Porrochimaru - I am glad you enjoy the ages and the story so far. I can understand the dislike with Gloria, but she is a wholesome lady in a world of terribleness. It makes sense they would want her with one of the most wholesome heroes. I know Naruto using a sword is a bit odd, but remember he might be shit at Kenjutsu in the Narutoverse but compared to the humans in cyberpunk? He's a master. Yea the scavs need to go, I always hated how we couldn't get rid of them fully in 2077. Yes, Sasuke is seeing how no matter his strength and power. He can't simply just dominate the masses. Yea, I don't plan for him to go full vengeance or insane. Nor him losing control of Kurama as well Kurama isn't "evil" anymore to cause that to even happen. One thing I wish Kishimoto did was show how normal it was for a Shinobi to have killed another person. Which he did, but he made it seem nearly taboo for Naruto which I find so dumb as Naruto was raised like every other ninja.

BookWorm1540 - That will come in due time. Only thing is, what would cause MaxTec to want to get Naruto and Sasuke. Wink wink

Almevo - V actually leaves for Atlanta in hopes for a new start. Maybe she might still leave, or she'll still stay. Who knows.

TianYi - I always disliked how CDPR just tossed the sword in a scav factory lol

ZH99 - I had actually considered that, but I really just enjoyed the design of the Errata.

Spellbat - They will slowly start getting their group together in time.

- thank you, and keep up the awesome pfp

Krieger Techpreist - I really wish I thought of that idea sooner instead of skipping to December 15th for the swords lol. I can already imagine Sasuke being attacked by an elderly lady.

R-king 93 - thank you very much.

omes848484 - Man, I hope I don't disappoint you anytime soon then.

Artemuis - I doubt they would need to go so hard that they're launching literal Nukes around. BUT they might need some extra firepower at point wink wink.

sniperbro1998 - He probably wouldn't use them to DESTROY Arasaka, but more so to eliminate anyone who poses a threat to his claim as the head. (Father, sister)

Arbiter3670 - No one wants the boy David to get any love. Poor guy is going to be inputless.