Naruto's New Home

"Naruto, Sakura, come to my house for dinner this afternoon!"

"To Sasuke's house?"

"Yeah! Kakashi, you should come too! My mother's been wanting to meet Sasuke's teacher!"

Uchiha Yoru looked at the three of them.

"I might..."

"Get lost on the path of life again? Don't give me that excuse!" Uchiha Yoru cut him off.

"Okay, okay! I'll definitely be there this afternoon!" Naruto Uzumaki nodded furiously, beside himself with excitement. It would be his first time visiting a classmate's home.

"See you there!" Uchiha Yoru waved goodbye.

Time flew, and night fell.

"What's taking Naruto so long?" Sakura muttered outside the Uchiha Clan compound.

"Sorry, sorry!"

Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head.

"I spent too long picking out clothes!"

After all, he was going to Sasuke's house. From the few clothes he owned, he had picked out something a little cleaner and tidier.

"Let's go in!"

Kakashi spoke up.

The three of them entered the Uchiha Clan compound together.

"Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, Lord Yoru and Lady Mikoto have been waiting for you!" Haku said, appearing before them in a Maid Outfit.

He then led them toward Uchiha Yoru's house.

"It's huge! Sakura, Sasuke's house is huge!"

Naruto Uzumaki looked around wide-eyed, like Granny Liu Enters the Grand View Garden.

"Keep your voice down. You're embarrassing us!" Sakura whispered, fighting the urge to smack Naruto. She was a little nervous herself.

"Come in!"

At the largest house, Haku took off his shoes, knelt down, and slid the door open.

Naruto Uzumaki was so excited that he kicked off his shoes without a thought and walked inside.

"Naruto! You can't do that!"

"It's fine, it's fine! You must be Sakura?" A beautiful woman with long, straight black hair sat in the living room.

"I am!" Sakura Haruno felt a rush of shyness. It was almost like meeting her future mother-in-law.

The woman before her had to be Sasuke Uchiha's mother.

"You like our Sasuke, don't you?" Uchiha Mikoto teased.

Sakura Haruno blushed and fell silent, too flustered to answer.

"No way! Sakura obviously likes me!"

"Idiot Naruto!" Sakura Haruno finally lost her patience and rapped Naruto on the head. Then she remembered Uchiha Mikoto was right there and immediately went quiet, cursing Naruto inwardly for making such a fool of her.

"Mom, what are you saying?"

Sasuke Uchiha came out of another room, protesting loudly, though his eyes kept darting toward Haku outside the door.

"I won't say another word!"

With a gentle smile, Uchiha Mikoto began chatting with Naruto and the others. Once the subject turned to Sasuke, Naruto seemed to have endless stories to tell.

Uchiha Mikoto was a wonderful listener. She left no one out and made sure everyone had a chance to speak. Her warmth put them all at ease.

"Where's Teacher Yoru?" Naruto Uzumaki suddenly realized Uchiha Yoru was missing.

Uchiha Mikoto made him feel something he had never felt before, as though she were family. He had been so comfortable that he hadn't even noticed Uchiha Yoru was gone.

"He's cooking!" Uchiha Mikoto said with a smile. "He said you don't visit often, so he wanted to make you something delicious!"

"Teacher Yoru can cook?" Sakura couldn't imagine that their teacher, who lazed around all day and only ever worked them to the bone, knew how to cook.

"What's that supposed to mean, Sakura? Keep talking and I won't let you eat!"

Uchiha Yoru shot her an annoyed look.

"Dinner's ready. Come eat!"

"You made all of this?" Even Kakashi looked surprised.

"Yoru hardly ever cooks. Even I have to wait ages for a meal like this!" Sasuke Uchiha said with a smug look.

"So you're calling me your big brother this time instead of just Yoru!"

Uchiha Yoru vigorously ruffled Sasuke Uchiha's hair.

Dozens of different dishes covered the enormous round table. Steam curled from them, and a rich aroma washed over everyone.

"Can we eat now?"

"Go ahead, Naruto. Make yourself at home!"

Naruto Uzumaki picked up his chopsticks and dug in.

"This is good! This one too! Stupid Sasuke, stop stealing my meat!"

"Whoever grabs it gets it!"

Sakura Haruno covered her face. The two of them were mortifying. Sasuke had lost much of his dignity in her eyes, though somehow this side of him made him seem more real.

Uchiha Yoru knew how much Naruto Uzumaki could eat, so he had made twice the usual amount to ensure everyone at the table got their fill.

Once they had eaten their fill, it was about time to leave.

"Auntie Mikoto, can I come again?"

"Come whenever you like. Think of this place as your own home! I'm sure Sasuke would be happy to have you!"

Sasuke Uchiha gave a "hmph" and turned his head away, but he didn't argue.

Uchiha Yoru added, "Why don't you just move in? What do you think?"

"What?"

"Can I really?" Naruto Uzumaki's eyes lit up.

"Of course! You can keep our Sasuke company!" Uchiha Yoru said with a smile.

"Okay! I'll move in tomorrow!"

Kakashi looked as though he wanted to say something, but after a moment's thought, he decided against it.

Uchiha Yoru waved goodbye to Naruto.

Watching Naruto walk away, Sasuke Uchiha felt strangely uncomfortable, as though something precious to him was being shared with someone else.

"What an interesting child," Uchiha Mikoto said with a sigh. "He's Kushina's son, isn't he?"

"That's right!"

"Kushina and I once made a promise. If one of our children was a boy and the other a girl, they'd marry. If they were both boys, they'd be brothers..."

Whether it was fate or not, Naruto and Sasuke had become close friends after all.

"Mom, you knew Naruto's mother?"

"Yes. His mother was a very good friend of mine!"

"Who was she? Who's Naruto's mother? Who's his father? I'll go tell him right now!" Sasuke Uchiha said excitedly.

Uchiha Yoru put a finger to his lips. Uchiha Mikoto seemed to realize she had said too much. She laughed it off, said she was tired, and promptly left.

"You'll find out someday!" Uchiha Yoru left it at that and went to bed.

On the way home.

"Naruto, why are you crying?"

"I'm not! I just got sand in my eyes!"

After taking Sakura and Naruto home, Kakashi muttered to himself, "I don't know whether this will turn out well or badly."

He had seen the ugly dealings of those in power. He simply hadn't wanted to get involved before. If the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki grew this close to the Uchiha Clan, it might provoke a fierce backlash.

Kakashi shook his head. Why worry so much? If Uchiha Yoru had chosen to do this, he must have a way to handle it.

The most important thing now was figuring out how to train Sasuke and Naruto.