A/N: Sorry for the delay.

Covid knocked me flat for awhile and devastated my update schedule, to say nothing of the side effects from long covid.

I'm still dealing with that more than a month later, though apparently its not life threatening so I have to just "ride it out" according to the docs.

Great.

With my sixteen year anniversary on this site rapidly approaching, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than I.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild, wacky world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine what remains a story and what doesn't. Simple as that.

In other words...the fate of this is up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

Consider this a preview for Everybody Wants to be My Enemy.

"He can't resist forever~!"

~Powder.

Twenty-sixth Fragment

"Cut it!"

Naruto blinked.

He blinked haaaard.

Stare. Mustn't stare. No staring here.

The hairbrush creaked ominously in his grip, threatening to snap at any given moment as her back pressed against his front.

In theory he knew Powder wasn't a kid anymore; she was much older now and of age and yes, he'd begun to notice that, but good lord did she have to take that pose with those clothes right now?! And the way she was pushing up against him, all but sitting in his lap...sage have mercy.

Vander's earlier remark came back to haunt him. "She's not gonna wait forever, mate...

No! Mission abort! Focus! He steadfastly stared at the ceiling. "Cut what? What're we cutting?"

"My hair!" Powder glanced petulantly over her shoulder with a whine. "Its gotten way too long! Cut it!"

That snapped him out of his doldrums long enough for sense to reassert itself.

"Do we have to?" He absently ran the comb through her long blue hair again, "Its a good look for you."

"Its down past my knees!" she groaned and leaned back further into him still-damnit Power!-and laid the back of her head against his chest. "Not to mention its a pain to care for." one hand reached back to absently paw at his good arm as she continued her rant, "I got it caught in the door the other day during a fight! A door! ME! Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?!

Heh.

She hadn't complained like this since she was a kid. It brought back fond memories. "You know, there are ninja techniques that use long hair."

Powder perked up. "There are?"

"Sure." He remembered Jiraiya using them to devastating effect against crowds. "I mean you could always braid it or cut it if you really want-

"No!" She whipped around so swiftly that he nearly got backlash and barged headlong into him, grabbing him in a mighty hug. "I changed my mind! Teach me!"

Wow. Had she always been this tall? Her head actually came up to his chest these days. Made him feel old, ya know?

...if you want." He patted her head. "I'll teach you. Buts it not easy-

I'll learn! She bounced in his lap with a delighted grin.

"Alright. Now hold still and lemme finish combing your hair...and get some proper clothes on! That robe barely fits you!

"You're the best!" Quick as lightning Powder darted up to kiss his cheek, burst out his lap and flung herself into the the bathroom with the resounding slam of a door. Love you!"

A moment passed. Another. Naruto waited a second more, just to be certain...

.

..

...and then.

He slumped in his chair and palmed his face.

"Yikes." he breathed out, "When did she get this dangerous...?"

A/N: Aaaaand scene. Might make a part two for this if folks want it.

Happy ending for one and all...well, mostly everyone.

Hope this brought a smile to your face.

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs, holidays are here too, meaning I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.

So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.

As ever, reviews keep this old man alive during this dark and crazy time. I ain't joking.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... Review...Would You Kindly?

No previews here. Time for an old man to rest awhile.

R&R~!