Four days later. Naruto stood in his apartment with a large smile on. The smell of paint was a little bit small, but he could ignore it. Otherwise, his apartment was done. He had removed the plastic and it was all so... beautiful. His eyes widened in delight and in joy and he couldn't help, but feel tears gather in his eyes.
See. A lot of hardwork and patience could achieve a lot. Even if he was small and was a midget, but it was something. More than something. He had never done anything like this before. And in as much as he felt the longing ache to share it with someone, Naruto knew it to be impossible. And he was gradually accepting that and he wouldn't cry. He rubbed his eyes and exhaled and then he grinned.
This was nice. He went to his kitchen and took the ramen he had prepared on his own and grinned. He turned on the TV and sat down on the mat eating his food with relish.
Yeah. This was nice.
On the other side of the village, in the Hokage's office, Kakashi and the Hokage had a stare off.
Inoichi watched the two sparingly, occasionally glancing at the two reports in his hands which were very clear and concise and telling him practically the same thing. He knew deep down in his heart that a change in attitude wasn't something strange, it was unexpected but considering the incident, Inoichi wouldn't say it was surprising. What was surprising was how it had become Naruto's own personality.
Inoichi didn't get it, and as a member of the hidden leaf, he found it quite good for Naruto to act this way. It was keeping him safe and lessening the aggression the village had towards his presence. As a parent however, it was a little worrisome. If Ino had such a change he would be incredibly worried, but this was Naruto, his life was nothing like Ino's and he was also nothing like Ino so that was that.
And although he was loyal to his Hokage, he could tell that the continuous reports of Naruto's character from the other ANBU had more to do with the man's emotions and uncertainty than anything else. And Inoichi wasn't sure how to feel about that too.
The blonde looked at the eighteen year old ANBU captain who's posture was tense and he could tell that the teen was losing his patience. Then again, Naruto was his bottom line. The teen probably never realized it up until now.
That was good.
Then the blonde looked at the fifty plus year old Hokage. He certainly didn't know how old the man was today. However, he was too old, and he should have long retired if it weren't for the fact that Danzo would take over. That would be a disaster above all else. So the village was stuck with the third Hokage and Inoichi would have to deal with what that entailed.
Which was today's conversation and the reason for the stare off.
"Naruto doesn't need therapy" the ANBU dog said once again with an edge to his voice and Inoichi agreed with that point. Naruto didn't need therapy and this would be doing more than damaging his peace as far as the interrogation specialist was concerned. However, "yes he does, it is quite concerning that his reports had gotten like this" the Hokage would not give in. Inoichi wasn't sure if it had to do with the fact that Naruto had stopped wanting to see him or the fact that the man couldn't predict or... influence Naruto's character.
Inoichi's heart chilled at that. And he had a feeling that's where the teen's train of thoughts were. It would explain why he so adamant this time.
In addition, dog was eighteen now, and an ANBU captain so he did have some power for opposition. And Inoichi felt that even if he didn't have the power, dog would now interfere because Naruto was safe and beginning to be truly happy... A different kind of happy and a different kind of acceptance. It was more than good and it was healthy for the blonde.
However, it made Naruto even more unpredictable and less inclined on shouting on rooftops and yelling words of earning the villages' acceptance through being Hokage.
On protecting the village.
Inoichi's heart chilled even further. Things had gotten out of hand, and he was starting to wonder if there was much difference to Danzo and the third Hokage. One did things in kind of secret but everyone knew, this one hid behind a smile.
He looked at dog who looked to be withholding killing intent and he shuddered. Dog could never beat the Hokage, however, he was ANBU captain, and eversince he became ANBU captain he had gone on the biggest rampage with quite a number of kill counts...and he was young and ...angry.
It took a lot to get an incredibly loyal subject like dog to be angry, but the third Hokage had done it. And if they fought. The third would get seriously maimed because dog was determined to protect Naruto at all costs now.
The third Hokage sighed, okay maybe Inoichi was thinking too much. He looked at dog's stance and nodded to himself, yeah he was thinking too much.
"Hokage-sama you are full of guilt and are getting too old. Naruto doesn't need therapy, I will not let you ruin his peace. He's had enough of pain as it. Let him deal with it. He does better alone than he ever did when you were his grandfather"
No. Inoichi was not thinking too much. Dog's words were clear, if that sneer was anything to go by. He saw the third Hokage's bearing change and he knew that the man was about to bring out his seniority which would break everything apart and it seemed the old man could not see that.
He cleared his throat. "Hokage-sama, dog-san is absolutely correct" the third Hokage's eyes narrowed and Inoichi's smile became faint.
Eh.
"He's right about therapy, I've analyzed the reports and I think Naruto is doing well. I understand your concerns, so I will simply go and see him myself and confirm it" Inoichi said and he could feel the third Hokage slouch. But. Dog. He never did. And Inoichi knew that the third Hokage had already tried to cross the kid's bottom line more than once and this time, he had finally succeeded.
The ANBU captain disappeared and Inoichi bowed and left to the bar. He looked at Shikaku and Chouza who gave him curious looks and he waved his hand. He would tell them later.
"I need two bottles"
Now he needed a drink.