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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto and Shueisha.

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Chapter 21: Approved Confessions

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Itachi hardly had to worry about anything related to the Clan politics. She disliked the boring chore as anyone her age and mindset, but she was keen to keep her concerns to herself.

Still, the recent events had her sitting more and more beside her father as she was told about the circumstances relating to the most recent crisis: the 'Namikaze Scandal', something that had troubled civilians and ninja alike in the last few days. It would be wrong to say that all Ninja backed Jonno-san's situation considering that many held a strong loyalty to the Hokage, but it was also true that many civilians had also started to side with their fellow businessman.

Former clients showed regret over the full story, with the once 'unified' news system now splitting evenly between a more 'you need to believe the Hokage' line, and 'this is the situation, here is the proof, you have to be insane to not think so too'. Some of the louder hecklers came along trying to pass laws to remove Jonno-san's business, but the 'ninja element' as some of the Uchiha Clan had addressed rendered the topic something that could not be dabbled in the Civilian Council alone.

And with the paralysis of politics that Konoha was undergoing, it was fair to say that some had started to grill Itachi too over her 'laidback' attitude in finding herself a proper suitor. Said attempt was mellowed by her own mother's ferocious defense (a product of her own current moody attitude as of recently with her old friend's 'betrayal), but her father conceded that something had to be done - she needed to chose someone.

The more she thought about it, the more flustered she felt as her parents had actually conceded to her own personal non-Uchiha choice.

She had skirted around for so long and-

"We would approve it if it was Jonno-san."

It was early evening, and Itachi had been called to a private meeting between her parents, her sister and... herself. No one else was there, but the four of them.

Mikoto's sudden announcement got all of them mustering surprised looks, with even Fugaku appearing somewhat incensed by the option as if he hadn't been told this beforehand or... perhaps the two hadn't discussed this as thoroughly as he would have preferred.

"W-Wait, Oneesan wants to marry Jonno-san!?" Satsuki asked in shock, recoiling fast and then... she beamed at the prospect. "That means I can get free pizzas!"

The pure deadpan mustered by Itachi made Satsuki flinch as the 'cool Uchiha girl' sure had an obsession over Pizzas, something that Itachi had to deal with regularly - or maybe it was the muted glare coming from their father at treating the matter so lightly.

"Dear, we had this talk-"

"And I understand your concerns, Fugaku-kun," Mikoto interrupted. "But, at the same time, it would work well for everyone if we used this very opportunity to spring something good out of this."

"...How long?" Itachi asked, her throat aching as she spoke, and the older woman grinned.

"A month ago. I admit that I never intrude in your friends' gossiping, but you may need to... have them hush down on your interests."

Itachi allowed herself a facepalm, but it was her father's next words that had her once more stressed out.

"Do you love him?"

Such simple question was met with a nervous effort to look away. "I-I do."

"...Is it love or-"

"I had time to think about it," She finally admitted. "I didn't make much progress as I could tell that I should not behave like a fool- he is a man with a daughter, yet I find him loving and caring with people around him, likewise, he is very respectful and mindful of feelings, which is why I feel at ease around him. He is also very corteous over my wellbeing, so I know he is a wise and mature man that could only do well to a wife."

Like me.

Fugaku's expression was difficult to grasp. On the one hand, he didn't look furious, but he didn't look either easy to decipher. Ultimately, he closed his eyes, sighed and nodded.

"Your father had been worried you had selected him since he was... well, how he looked."

"I-I admit that I find him a bit handsome, but I don't linger just to that," Itachi quipped, making the old Uchiha groan and palm his own face. Satsuki had to put a hand by her own mouth to suppress her amused grin, while their mother.

"He truly made an impression on you, hasn't he?"

Itachi nodded, smiling fondly as she replied. "He has."

Mikoto beamed back, quite pleased to see her firstborn smitten to the core and yet mature enough to know to be cautious and patient with her efforts.

"Then would it be fair for you to ask him out so we can put this 'elders being elders' issue behind us?"

Itachi nodded again, but she wasn't as convinced. She had struggled up to this point, and it felt a bit too entitled of herself to rely on her clan's weight to push a change in the status quo.

But maybe, just maybe, she had to be a bit more blunt with her desires.

I felt a bit tired.

I had been grilled in a political arena, I had been spied upon for the 'wellbeing of Konoha', I lost a lot of customers in the last revelations (good riddance), and now I was stuck with a lot of mouths to feed.

I was not exactly in the best mood as of yet. Not angry, nor moody - I was just tired of doing stuff with others. I had to speak with a lot of people, most being outright pledges of support as Fugaku, Hiashi, and other big clan heads were willing to donate contributions to keep the place afloat. I currently declined the offer as that wouldn't solve the main issue and I had enough money to have 'a few years' to decide on that.

So, I was glad it was nighttime. I had finished helping Menma getting her room prepared for her stay here at the Pizzeria after Tsunade had confirmed her interest to be her guardian 'for the time being', so I was a bit drained physically too.

A yawn left my mouth as I heard someone knocking at my door. "Come in."

The lock snapped as Ruruko stepped into the room. Differently than usual, she was wearing a fairly conservative sleepwear. Usually she would just sleep with a shirt and her panties, a condition she had to bear to not get a heat stroke due to the heat born from her chest, but right now she was wearing a sleeveless shirt with shorts.

"H-Hi... Dad."

I blinked in surprise as she usually stuck to 'Daddy' until something big was troubling her. "Hullo, sugarcube. Something's wrong?"

I was expecting her to whine again about Gaara trying to 'steal her spot', or maybe about Tsunade teasing her about her curves and the fact she was still 'quite short', but the girl just walked up to me, sat in bed and... huffed.

"Yeah."

She bowed her head.

"And... that is?" I pressed on her, and her response only made me a bit more uneasy.

"It's complicated."

...

"Did you do something I should be worried about?"

She shifted, her legs kicking softly. "Sorta. But it's part of something bigger."

I was about to further press on it, but Ruruko decided to take the initiative.

"D-Dad, why did you never marry?"

I felt taken aback by the question, and I looked away from her for a moment as I contemplated this very inquiry. She already asked me this once, and the answer was always dismissive. Maybe she had thought about tying the knot with someone?

"Well... I would say that it is a matter of not feeling into trying to expand the family with marriage."

"...Why not?"

"Do you know what I told you about the pizzeria, what I told you about how jobs are meant to be treated?"

Ruruko frowned, then nodded. "You first work to be financially stable, and then you focus about family."

"That's right," I confirmed. "When I first started this place, I had to work hard to get where I was. I didn't have money on the spot, and I had to entertain many difficult works at once, some even quick to fire me since they didn't entertain the idea of long-standing part-timers. Then, I had enough money to start this establishment and struggled to make it work. And then... you came along."

She tensed up at this, and I put my arm around her shoulder. "That's not to say you were a burden, but I had to be careful due to what you went through. You had a bit of a fragility in you due to what others did, and I knew I couldn't stress you with too many changes at once. Marrying was thus shelved and I focused on you and the pizzeria. And then things got rolling so well I just didn't see a point. I already had a stable job, and a family that will inherit it from me one day."

A tiny smile appeared on her face and she nodded.

"T-Thank you for telling me but... can you promise me you will not be too upset?"

"I will not be upset to you, I promise."

Ruruko let out a loud sigh and she turned to look at me with serious blue eyes.

"Dad... I love you."

...I see what trope just hit me. It doesn't mean I am fully able to stomach it on the spot.

"...How long?"

"A year, maybe two," Ruruko remarked truthfully. "I-I know it sounds silly, but I mean it. I love you and... and I want to be your wife."

"You're a bit too young for that."

She opened her mouth to rebuke that, but I pressed a finger over her lips.

"That's not a full rejection, but a warning to think of this more properly," I argued with her. "You are going through puberty, Ruko. You have a pervy fox inside you, and you are not familiar with many boys your age. I am not saying that your feelings are wrong, but have you put a lot of thought in this?"

For a moment, Ruruko hesitated. "I-I did. I just- it's just difficult to think smart about it."

"Love is tough. But at the same time I have to say this because you are a brave and smart girl- I can't accept your feelings right now," I honestly pointed out, and I saw her react stiffly as I pulled her in a hug. "I will give you a chance once you're a bit older. Once you are a bit more conscious of what you can do, and a bit more experienced with life itself."

"...I don't get it?"

"We put this on a waiting list fir three, four, maybe five years and then we talk about it and we can give it a shot at dating. But that's all I can promise for now."

She sighed, nuzzling against my chest. I patted her head, humming as I felt her somewhat relieved over the fact this wasn't a complete disaster for her.

"We are in this together, Ruko. If you feel upset by this we can talk this more tomorrow or whenever you want. I will give you space and time if you want to be alone with me, okay?"

She nodded, her body growing limp against me as she enjoyed the embrace.

"So... how about we cuddle up tonight?"

The blonde perked up. "R-Really? Even- even what we just discussed about?"

"Ruko, are you planning to do anything naughty on me?"

She blushed but shook her head immediately. "N-No, I am not Kurama!"

There was a little pause at that and she looked away right as I narrowed my eyes at her.

"What do you mean with that?"

Gulping nervously, Ruruko gave me an awkward look. "So... there was this one time when K-Kurama told me to..."

I listened, I frowned, I listened some more, and I frowned even more. I had one response to that:

Kurama was going to be punished quite harshly for the shit she pulled on me.

AN

Next time... loods! Finally! Still, I had to play it carefully on how MC works around the trope of Naruko falling for her guardian (yes, that can happen and yes it was a trope in the past, just not an utterly widespread one). Still, Kurama the (virgin) fox learns the true mean of paddles.