Current mood:	nervous
Current music:	HORIZON - melody

Nine Years And Counting - Naruto

AU. Minato survives after sealing the Kyuubi, and it's now up to Kushina to manage the house and look after Naruto, who happily looks after himself.
Naruto © Kishimoto Masashi, et al.


Naruto never came home from the academy earlier than five in the afternoon, but his lateness was not the reason Kushina asked him each and every time where he had gone to. She hardly ever worried about him; they shared a tacit belief that, barring another Great War, he would have enough resources to keep himself safe on a day-to-day basis. Kushina asked because Naruto's replies tended to vary, and she enjoyed listening to an avid storyteller.

Today his fingers were full of scratches and a little swollen, but he also seemed more complacent than usual. "I practiced throwing the shuriken in the forest," he said as he unclasped his weapon belt. "Most of the other kids do the same after academy hours."

"Uh-huh. So were you with any of them just now?"

"I only saw that Uchiha kid, in another part of the forest. He was probably practicing with his brother. Hey, Mom? If I have a big brother who helps me train, do you think I can improve faster?"

Kushina narrowed her eyes. "You've got me."

"Yeah, okay." Naruto seemed to think a brother was a cooler training companion, but knew better than to say so in front of his mother. "When are you leaving for tonight's mission?"

"At midnight." Kushina arranged a bowl of beef soup and a glass of water side by side on a tray. "Just between us, I'm glad I haven't had as many missions this month. I know they bring the money in and keep my skills from getting rusty and all that, but it gets tiring sometimes."

"But you're pretty good at accomplishing missions, aren't you?"

"I suppose. Here, take this."

Naruto accepted the tray from her. "Want to see me carry it on my head?"

"Is that what you've been doing at the academy cafeteria?"

He looked abashed. "Once. It didn't work out too well. Sakura-chan said I really am an idiot."

"Well, you can learn the art of carrying a tray when you're not busy throwing shuriken. Now shoo."

The door to Minato's bedroom was ajar, and Naruto nudged it open with his foot. "Hey, Dad," he said, setting down the tray on the bedside table. "Mom is busy preparing for her next mission so she's only had time to make beef soup for tonight."

There was a stirring on the bed, then the blanketed shape settled into position.

Sitting down on a stool, Naruto picked up the soup bowl with the spoon in it. "I fell asleep during math today," he admitted. "Iruka-sensei said he yelled at me but that wasn't why I woke up." He ladled some of the soup into the spoon and blew at it. "It must've been because Shikamaru prodded me with his elbow. That elbow felt like it was made of stone."

Mouth twitching at the memory, he leaned closer to the bed and carefully held out the spoon. His movements were smooth, well-practiced; he sometimes wondered why he could never be as graceful during lessons.

"By the way, did you know?" He stirred the soup, causing the fragrant steam to curl upward. "The wheelchair just came back from the shop. I saw it in the living room. Since there's no school tomorrow, think they'll allow us to roam around the forest for two hours or four?"

The blanket shifted. "You're going to show off the results of your shuriken practice?" The voice was very low, slightly raspy, and openly amused.

"Oh, man. Am I really so easy to read?" Naruto sighed, then straightened up, determined. "Yes, I guess you can say that." He gave a shrug. "And, uh, if I haven't gotten any better, you'll just have to tell me how I can."