#narukari

Naruto’s eyes lowered, focused on the ground. “Maybe not, but we’re still family.” And then everything went silent, or so it seemed. Her breath hitched, and her crimson orbs widened in shock.

“What?” she whispered, “What are you talking about?”

“Well, we’re both Uzumaki, right?” he asked casually.

“I’m an Uzumaki?” she mumbled, mostly to herself.

“What?” Naruto jolted. With a sudden revitalized energy, he grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly, “You mean you didn’t even know you were an Uzumaki?!”

“N-no,” she stuttered, slightly terrified. She wasn’t used to people getting in her personal space and he was just staring at her as if she did something wrong. She blushed when she realized how close his face was. “You got a problem?” she snapped. This brought him back to his senses, and he backed away from her, muttering apologies.

“So what name have you been going by this whole time?” he asked, less franticly this time.

She shrugged nonchalantly. “None. I was an orphan for most of my life until Orochimaru found me.” She watched as his eyes softened and almost felt a sort of tenderness towards him. No one had ever really cared for her before, at least not that she remembered.

“What happened to your parents?” he asked her somberly.

“My mother ditched me and my father right after I was born. I never knew her. My father got sick and died when I was very young. The only thing I remember about him was that we had the same red hair.” She was feeling nostalgic as she recalled blurry memories of her father with his bright scarlet hair sticking out clearly. The blond boy still had that look of sympathy on his face, and it pissed her off.

“Look you,” she barked, “I don’t need your pity, so wipe that stupid look off your face!”

He snickered.

“What’s so funny?! Are you making fun of me?!” she hissed.

“No,” he chuckled, “It’s just when you get mad you remind me of my mom.”

“Your…mom?” she asked skeptically, “I thought you were an orphan.”

“I am, but I was able to meet my mom in…well…it’s sort of hard to explain…it was kind of like a dream I guess. She told me all about the Uzumaki clan, and how they got either wiped out or scattered.”

“How do you know about me then? I didn’t even know.” she asked suspiciously.

“Sasuke told me.”

“How did he-?”

“He found out from Kabuto.” He finished, practically spitting out Kabuto’s name with disgust.

“I see,” she sighed, “So what are we? Cousins or something?”

“Heck if I know.” He grinned at her, and she felt her body getting warmer. “I’m just happy that I have family, ‘ttabayo.”

“Family, huh?” she breathed. Such a foreign word. She’d never had one of those before. She’d lived this long without it, so it wasn’t like she needed it. But still, if her whole clan was like Naruto, then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

“You know, you could always come back to the Leaf with me,” he offered.

“Why? So your friends can lock me up again?”

“They won’t,” he assured.

“What makes you so sure?” she scoffed.

“Because you fought with us and helped heal our comrades. You didn’t have to.”

“I’m still the enemy,” she sighed.

“They won’t hurt you. I promise, and I never go back on my word, dattebayo!” he said forcefully, pointing his thumb at himself. She could feel the tears welling up. She’s never had anyone care for her this much. So this is what having a family was like.

“You okay?” he asked concerned. She quickly wiped away her tears and coughed into her hand.

“Fine,” she said, her tone on the borderline between bored and annoyed, “It’s not like I have anywhere else to go anyw-“

“Great!” he cut her off, engulfing her in a huge bear hug. She blushed furiously.

“Hey! Get off, you idiot!” she feigned outrage.

“Sorry,” he chortled sheepishly.

“Geez,” she sighed, wiping invisible lint off of her pajamas. She looked up and saw that he was standing, his hand reached out.

“C’mon, you look tired. I’ll carry you there,” he said warmly.

“All the way to the Leaf?”

“Sure thing!” he said as he started walking, “It’s not too far away!” He started panting really loudly, his hands on his knees. “Man, how hot is it out here?”

“Moron,” she yelled, “You can hardly even walk! If anyone should be carried, it’s you!”

“I guess you’re right,” he chuckled guiltily.

Her eye twitched in annoyance, and if it weren’t for the fact that she was exhausted, she would’ve smacked some sense into him. Just when she thought her brain was about to explode, she heard light snoring. It seemed he had finally worn himself out.

Man, she thought, is this really the same guy who fought so hard in the war?