Naruto sat at his desk as he stared at a few papers that lie in front of him. "Th-This is getting to me!" He yelled as he hit his forehead on the desk. *Tick…..Tick* His clock went. *Tick…..Tick* Every time he twitched. He really hated the ticking of that clock. He really did.
*TICK…..TICK*
It seemed to get louder. "Damn it….." He mumbled as the ticking went on. *TICK….TICK* "AAAH!!!!" Naruto screamed as he stood up, grabbed the clock, ripped it out of the wall, and threw it out the window with a crash.
"Would you stop throwing the damn clocks out the window?"
Naruto turned around and saw that his wife was standing at the door. "S-Sorry Sakura-Chan I was just--" "Whatever" She interrupted. "I need you to watch Hikari while I go do MY JOB." She said as she held put her hand, which was holding a small 5-year-old hand. "Unlike some people….."She muttered under her breath. "Hey! I do my job." He said as he pointed. "A-huh….sure" She turned and faced the 5-year-old. "I'll see you later, I love you." She said as she knelt down and kissed the child. "I love you too mommy." Hikari said as she kissed her back. "I love you too hun-" Naruto was interrupted by the slamming of the door as Sakura left without another word. "ny….."
"Daddy? Are you and Mommy still not getting along?" Hikari asked as she walked over. He shrugged and sat down at the desk. "Ok…….so what are we going to do today daddy?" She asked as she sat on the desk. "I don't know………..what do you want to do?" He asked her. She only shrugged and he sighed. The wind blew through the hole in the window and made Hikari's hair shift. She looked over to the source of the breeze and as soon as she did she got an idea.
"DADDY!"
"HIKARI!" He yelled in response. "Let's go to the flower fields and play tag or something." She said as she jumped off the desk. "Tag?" He asked. She tugged on his coat. "Yeah, or maybe we can just run around or pick some flowers." She said. "Fine…..it will keep my mind off of work for awhile anyway…." He stood up and grabbed his coat as she ran over to the door. They both walked out and were soon on their way to the fields. "So daddy? When do you think you and Mommy will stop fighting so much?" She asked as they walked past the Ichiraku ramen shop. "I don't know Hikari…..we're going through a tough time in our marriage, it's perfectly natural………..I think."
"Well I don't know much about marriage or anything……so I wouldn't know." Hikari mumbled. He looked down at her as they walked and saw that she was looking at the ground. "It will go away soon I promise." He told her; making her look back up. She smiled and hooked his pinky finger with hers. "That's a promise." She said as she shook it. He smiled and nodded. "Definitely…..and Daddy always keeps his promises right?" He asked. She nodded and let go, only to grab his hand completely. "Now let's go! The flower fields await!" She yelled as she started running. She pulled him along and he gladly let her.
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They played out in the fields for hours. They were both out of breath and ready to go home by sundown. "I'm not tired though." Hikari complained as he carried her home. "Well to bad. Your mother might get worried." Naruto told her. She huffed and hid her face behind his head. "Not fair." She mumbled. Naruto chuckled at this as they approached their door and when he opened the door he was greeted with a "THERE YOU ARE! I WAS SO WORRIED!" By Sakura. He smiled as she walked closer and started to talk but Sakura stopped him as she grabbed Hikari and started hugging her. "Where were you?" She whispered to their daughter.
"Just playing in the flower fields with daddy." Hikari told her. Sakura beamed at her husband with a death glare. He sighed and walked over. "We were just playing Sakura-Chan that's al-" "THAT'S ALL?!" Sakura interrupted. He nodded as she went on. "SHE'S 5 YEARS OLD! YOU CAN'T JUST GO OUT ALL DAY AND COME BACK LATE! NOT WITH ME AROUND!" She set Hikari down and stormed up the stairs. She then stopped and turned around half way and gave him another death glare. "Tuck her in and good night!" She growled as she turned back around and disappeared at the top.
"Are you ok Daddy?" Hikari asked as she walked over. He nodded and she grabbed his hand. "Come on……" She said quietly as she started to pull him. He stared at the ground the whole way up to her room, and as they passed his room, he glanced inside and saw that Sakura was reading a book in the bed. He saw her flash a quick glare before she looked at the book once more, then the room completely came out of view as they moved on down the hall. They walked into the small room and Hikari jumped onto her bed as Naruto started tucking her in. "Tell me a story." She said as he kissed her nose.
"A story?" He asked. She nodded and he looked around for a chair. He found one after a few moments and pulled it over to sit. "What kind of story?" He asked. She sat up and looked at the ceiling to think. "One about you and mommy." She said after a few minutes. "Me and mommy?" He asked. She nodded and he made himself comfortable. "Alright then……….."
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A young princess stood on her balcony and stared out onto her small village. It was busy with sounds as people worked and yelled at each other. She always did this; every day. "Sakura dear?" Someone asked from inside the room. The princess known as Sakura turned around and saw that the queen was on her way over. "Yes mother?" Sakura asked as her mother was only a few steps away. "Are you coming along with us?" She asked her daughter. Sakura looked over to the village again and then back to the queen. "Yeah….I was just doing my daily staring." She said with a laugh. The queen joined in on the small laugh but was soon interrupted by the door of Sakura's bedroom being opened.
"Are you two coming?" The man at the door asked. They both nodded and walked over to the man with smiles. "See you out there Daddy." Sakura said as she passed the man. Her mother stopped by him and grabbed his hand. "Come on let's go." She said as she started pulling the king in the direction Sakura had gone. He slightly laughed as they watched their daughter in the distance skip down the hall. She passed many paintings of animals and looked at each one as she skipped. Whales, Elephants, Polar bears, and much more were seen. She loved each one and wished that someday she could go see them. She finally reached the main doors of her castle and walked out, only to be greeted by the many villagers that had been waiting. She smiled and waved at them all, and saw that a few children were waving back.
"Shall we?" The king asked as he walked by Sakura. She nodded and the king led her and the queen to a small carriage. The king was on his way to a meeting with the police of the town and decided to bring Sakura along with him, since she had never left the castle before. Her mother was just there to see her baby girl leave for the first time. Sakura starred out of the small window as they passed a few shops and was completely amazed at the small dogs that she saw on some people's heads. "That is a dog right?" Sakura asked her mother. The queen looked out the window as well and smiled. "Yes it is." She told her as she leaned back in her chair. "It's so cute…." She mumbled as they moved on.
The carriage came to a stop after a few minutes and the king stepped out. "Feel free to let her take a look around dear." He said as the door shut. The queen smiled and looked at her daughter. "Hun, you can go take a look around if you want, I'll be in here reading if you need me." She told her. Sakura's face lit up and she opened the carriage door. "Thank you mother." She called out as she walked away from the carriage. She walked around for awhile and said hello to a few children that were playing with sticks and stones. Being careful not to ruin her dress, she played with them for awhile.
She then got to say hello to one of the dogs she saw and she got to pet it. 'It's so cute' She thought as she pet the small dog. The owner had a nice conversation with her as well until she finally got away. 'Next I'll go eat at a restaurant…..' She thought as she walked down the small street. She soon came across a shop that clearly said 'Ichiraku Ramen' and went in. 'I wonder what ramen is….' She thought as she looked at the chairs inside. Being a princess, she had never eaten such a thing, so she was very curious. "Hello you're highness, welcome to the Ichiraku ramen shop, can I get you something?" Th old man from behind the counter asked.
"The usual please?"
"Huh?" Sakura turned to the right and saw that a blonde boy had ordered right when he entered. "Sure thing buddy coming right up." The old man said. "Are you going to order you're highness?" The old man's daughter asked. Sakura turned her attention away from the blonde and looked at the girl that was waiting patiently. "Y-Yeah…..I'll have what he's having." She told her as she pointed to the blonde. The girl smiled as she nodded and went to the back to make the ramen she had ordered. "Are you sure you want to eat that you're highness?" The blonde asked out of the blue. She looked over and saw that he was staring at the counter. "Yeah sure why not? Why is it spicy?" She asked. She saw him crack a smile and shake his head. "Then what is it?"
"Here you are." The old man and his daughter said as 3 bowls were set in front of both of them. She blinked and looked over to the blonde who was reaching for his chopsticks. He looked over and revealed to her a foxy grin and sly blue eyes. "That's not even all of it." He mumbled as he started to eat. "Wha?" Sakura looked at her bowls and looked at the girl; who was giggling. "Naruto-kun eats a lot of ramen you're highness; when you ordered the same as him, you got all of it." She told her with another giggle. "I don't think I can eat all of this…." "Here…." The blonde known as Naruto interrupted as he sat right next to her. He grabbed her first bowl and started eating it. Sakura looked at him like he was crazy after she found out that all 3 of his were already finished.
"Do you always eat like this?" She asked as he reached for her second bowl. He nodded and started eating again. Sakura gaped at the two behind the counter and they both giggled. "Why isn't he fat?" She asked as Naruto finished the second bowl. They both shrugged and she looked at Naruto again. He reached for the third bowl but stopped and looked at her. "What?" He asked. When he got no response he looked at the third bowl. "Do you want the last bowl?" He asked. She nodded and took it before he could get it. He then smiled and looked at the two behind the counter. "You can give the rest of hers to me." He said. They both nodded and his sixth bowl was soon in front of him.
He gave a quick glance at the princess and noticed that she was looking at him too. They both blushed and went back to eating their ramen, and the two behind the counter knew what was going on. 'That was quick…..' The old man thought. 'Especially with him…..his first friend quickly into his first love….' His daughter was thinking the same thing for her blonde friend. 'He's lucky….' She thought. 'That she's the one…..'
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Soon after they finished their food they both left together. She decided to wait for him. She wanted to know a bit more about this friendly villager. "So Naruto right?" She asked. He nodded and stopped to lean on a pole. "Thank you for paying for my ramen." She said. "No problem, it's the least I could do since you actually spoke to me….." He mumbled the last part and looked at the ground. "Naruto? Are you alright?" She asked as she walked closer. "Why…..why don't you call me a monster and run away?" He asked. "A monster? Run away?" She asked. Then she noticed something strange. No one was walking anywhere near them and some people were giving him death glares. 'Is he?' She asked herself.
"Naruto? Are you the Jinchuuriki?" She asked. He immediately looked up with wide eyes as she moved on. "I've heard stories of a boy being cursed by the evil spirit Kyuubi, but I never knew exactly who it was." She stopped and looked at him. "Is that why these people are looking at you like that?" She asked. He nodded and threw his hands behind his head. "Yeah…..go ahead. Scream and run away……I don't care." "No." She responded quickly making him drop his hands to his side and star dumbfounded. "Say what?"
"You're sweet, not mean or evil." She said with a soft smile. "I think you're a really nice person, monster or not." She smiled a little more this time as she shut her eyes and he kept on staring. After a few minutes he smiled back and looked at the ground. "Th-thank you…." He mumbled; making her open her eyes. She noticed a tear hit the ground next to his feet and she ran over immediately. "Are you alright?" She asked. He looked up at her and smiled as more tears fell down his cheeks. "You're the nicest person I've ever met." He told her.
She smiled back and helped him stand up straight. "You are too Naruto." She said before she kissed his cheek. He instantly turned red as her lips met the whiskers on his cheeks. He was being kissed on the cheeks by the princess. The PRINCESS! "P-prin-c-cess?" He stuttered as she pulled away. She set a finger on his lips and winked. "Please, Naruto, call me Sakura." She said before pulling the finger away. His eyes were as wide as the full moon at that point. He was in love now. He knew it.
"SAKURA! SAKURA DEAR!"
Sakura looked away from the whiskered blonde and saw that the carriage was approaching and her mother's head was sticking out the small window. "Mother!?" She yelled in surprise. The carriage stopped next to the two and the door swung open. "Come on dear….we're going home." The queen said as she looked out. "Oh! Who is that?" She asked after she noticed the red faced blonde behind her daughter. Sakura looked at Naruto as her mother suck out a hand through the doorway. He slowly walked over and shook her hand. "N-Naruto Uzumaki." He told her. The queen flinched at the name but kept shaking it. "Let go of his hand dear. I know you know who he is." The king said as he flipped to another page in his book. She sighed and let go. "I don't hate ya kid." She whispered. "I know the demon thing is not your fault."
He nodded and took a step back as Sakura stepped inside. "I'll see you some time later Naruto-kun." She said as she blew a kiss. All he did was nod and she shut the door. The horses started to walk and the carriage was soon out of sight. He looked at the carriage the whole time as he laid a hand on his cheek; the cheek that Sakura had kissed. He had been touched by royalty. Two different beings told him that they didn't hate him…….all in one day….
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"That was a good story daddy." Hikari said as he finished. "Oh….I'm not done…..I think I'll continue it tomorrow night." He told her as he started tucking her in again. "Really? Sweet!" She screamed with joy as he walked over to the door. He smiled and turn out the lights. "Goodnight, I love you." "I love you too Daddy." She responded. He smiled again and walked out the door. And with a sigh he started walking down the hall but soon stopped as he passed hi bedroom door; which wasn't blocked by the door, it was blocked by his wife. "Why the hell did it take you so long just to say goodnight to her?" She asked as he turned around.
"I told her a story." He told her as he walked over. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "A story? It wasn't full of blood and guts like they used to be are they?" She asked. Remembering his stories back when Hikari was still a small baby he smiled nervously and shook his head. "Of course not." He said. She sighed and turned around to walk back into their room. He started to follow her in but she flung him back into the hall and shut the door with a loud. "You're sleeping on the couch again!" He sighed. Stood up and walked down the stairs to the living room. Then he plopped on the couch, shut his eyes. And when sleep finally took over, he strangely dreamed about the story he had just told his daughter.