Chapter 2
Inoichi"Are you sure about this Yamanaka-sama?" The Sandaime asked. "This is far and above what you were tasked with doing."
"Hokage-dono, this has absolutely nothing to do with the task I was assigned. I'm doing this for Naruto and for my family." Inoichi answered firmly.
"Very well. I'll put the request through. Bring him by after classes end for the day. I'll have the paperwork ready." The Hokage said with a sigh.
"Arigato Hokage-dono." Inoichi bowed before leaving. If this didn't get a reaction out of Naruto, nothing would.
Ino
Ino was sitting in class listening to Iruka-sensei. She yawned and let her head lean to the side and rest on her hand.
Iruka spoke. "Alright everyone, we're coming closer to the end of the year. Once you get back from winter break there's no more room for mistakes. During the final semester we will be heavily examining your skills and abilities. These will help us assign you into your three-man cells." and on and on he went. The day drug by at a snail's pace, but finally, mercifully, the day ended.
As she walked out of the academy with her friend's she was surprised to find her father waiting by the doors.
"Hi daddy." Ino said with a smile.
"Hello sweetheart."
"Why are you here daddy?"
"I'm actually here to pick up Naruto-kun. We have something to take care of. Do you know where he is?"
Ino stared at her father confused. "He should be coming. He's usually the last one out."
Inoichi nodded. "Thank you sweetie. Head on home, your mother is waiting."
"Ok daddy." Ino replied with a smile and ran off to catch up with her friends.
Inoichi
Inoichi watched his daughter run off before turning back to the doors of the academy. Soon he saw the young boy in his care walking towards him. He called out.
"Naruto-kun, over here." He watched as the boy walked up to him.
"Hello Yamanaka-sama. Why are you here?"
Inoichi fought to contain himself. "Well Naruto-kun, there is actually something we have to see the Hokage about. And before you ask anything, it'll be easier to answer your questions upstairs. So follow me?"
Naruto nodded and fell in step beside Inoichi. They wound their way up through the academy building until they were standing in the Hokage's office. The pair bowed. And the Hokage stood from his seat behind the desk.
"Hello there Yamanaka-sama, Naruto-kun, welcome."
"Hello Hokage-dono." Inoichi replied.
"Hokage-sama." Naruto greeted the man.
The Hokage smiled. "So Naruto, I know that you're young and this is probably unknown to you, but do you know what the Konohagakure Series 16 forms are?"
Naruto nodded. "The Series 16 forms all deal with foster care and adoption."
The Hokage nodded. "Very good, in that case I would guess that you know that you are currently under a Form 16D?" To which Naurto nodded. "Then can you tell me what this form is?" The Hokage handed Naruto a scroll. The boy looked over the outside.
"Form 16B? I can guess what it is. But why did you give this to me Hokage-sama?"
"Open it and read the last for me Naruto." Inoichi watched with bated breath as Naruto did as the Hokage bid.
Naruto slowly unrolled the scroll and moved to the end of the scroll. He seemed to read it quickly before beginning out loud. "Konohagakure Center of Bureaucracy, Form 16B. Certificate of Adoption. 'We Yamanaka Inoich and Yamanaka Noriko hereby declare that we wilfully and joyfully and of our own free will, choose to formally adopt you, Uzumaki Naruto, as our Son. And impart onto you all the rights and privileges thereto as one of our children. We promise to love and cherish you through the excitements and challenges of life as a member of our family.' Signed this 19th of December, in Konohagakure." Naruto was visibly crying and had trouble even saying the final words out loud. He slowly turned to Inoichi. "Is this real?"
Three simple words. But they cut through Inoichi like a knife. Those three words were all that he needed to know that he had made the right decision. It proved to him, that despite everything that he'd been through and as much as he tried to keep people at bay, Naruto just wanted a family. Inoichi smiled brightly at the boy and kneeled down.
"Yes Naruto-kun. It is real. If you sign that form, you will officially become a member of my family." Now Inoichi is a Jōnin with decades of experience. But even he couldn't perceive the blur of blonde hair and black clothing that rushed into him from where Naruto was standing. He looked down to see the boy hugging his chest fiercely and crying again. It took some time for the boy to calm down, but he did eventually. He stepped back and rubbed the tears out of his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Ok, so where do I sign?" the boy asked.
Inoichi laid the scroll out on the Hokage's desk and showed Naruto where to sign. The boy moved to sign but stopped and looked conflicted.
"Naruto-kun? Is everything ok?" Inoichi asked.
"I don't know what to sign. Am I Uzumaki Naruto, or Yamanaka Naruto?" The boy looked back at his new father.
The Hokage chuckled. "Whatever you want to be called is what you sign." Naruto nodded and seemed to slip into deep thought for a time. In the end he leaned over the form and signed; Yamanaka Naruto.
Ino
Later that evening Ino was sitting around the table with her parents and Naruto as they explained that they had officially adopted Naruto and that he was now her brother. In all but blood they were actually family. She stared at her new brother and, for the first time in 3 years, she saw that spark of life that used to fill his eyes. It was small and hidden deep, but it was definitely there. And more importantly he was smiling. Ino hadn't seen him smile in a very long time.
The four spent most of the night talking. Mainly Naruto asking questions, and just as the new siblings were headed off to bed, Ino heard him ask.
"Um, I was wondering if Yamana- I mean, Kaa-san, would you take me clothes shopping tomorrow? I feel like it's time to change my look?" Ino heard her mother giggle and say that she'd be happy to. She then asked Ino if she'd like to come along.
"No thanks mama. I wanna be surprised by Naruto's new look." Her mother chuckled again and ran her fingers through Naruto's hair.
"I think you're due for a haircut too." Naruto shrugged out from under her hand. And growled a little, but all this caused was Noriko to giggle more and hug the boy. He complained but smiled the whole time. "Alright you two. Off to bed." She released him and ushered them up the stairs.
Ino opened her bedroom door and was stepping in when she turned to her new brother. "Goodnight Naruto. I'm... I'm glad you're my brother now." She smiled at him. He smiled back.
"Thanks Ino. Goodnight…. sis." He said the last word quickly before closing his door. Ino smiled wide as she entered her own room. She had a brother.
Alright there you guys go. I know this is kinda short. But I promise you, more is on its way.