Uzumaki and Uchiha: Journey of Love

Part 8

Naruto watched his surrogate grandfather in amusement as he examined Naruto's ninja registration paper carefully as if trying to find any kind of fault in the picture. The picture in question was rather average, if one thought that Naruto giving that squinty-eyed foxy grin with his hands behind his head was average.

After capturing the traitor Mizuki, Naruto and Iruka came to the Hokage tower to report to the Sandaime. Iruka then offered ramen in Ichiraku, but the blond genin refused politely which surprised the Hokage and the chuunin as they knew how addicted ramen he did, telling that he promised Mikoto the celebration at the Uchiha compound after the graduation exam. Iruka accepted it with a kind smile and said that he would treat him another day before coming back the ninja academy.

For Naruto, when he came to the house of the Uchiha clan head's family, greeting the Uzumaki was an angry and sweet smiling Uchiha Mikoto, alongside his best friend who was staring at him coldly, and her sister, who just came back from the TI, she looked satisfied for some reasons, which Naruto decided it would be better if he didn't know it. With the dangerous atmosphere, Naruto was sure Izumi talked everything to Mikoto and Sasuki, she would surely hide the jinchuuriki part with Sasuki though.

After some hours of interrogation and scolding for his recklessness, Mikoto pulled Naruto into a hug and whispered quiet soothing words while Izumi was petting his hair, Sasuki said nothing but moving closer to him, holding his hand tightly and wrapped her other arm around his shoulders. All of them felt disgusted and furious with Mizuki. He was wrong no one cared for the boy. Many cared for him. Mikoto's family, the Uchiha clan, the Hokage, the Ichiraku owner and his daughter, etc... Naruto was never alone with them.

The only abnormality that the Hokage could see in the picture was that Naruto had taken off his orange jacket so he was left with his black t-shirt. Hiruzen gnawed on his pipe in worry, unused to Naruto not pulling anything funny. Naruto's knowing grin at the moment wasn't helping either.

"What's the matter, jiji? Something wrong with my picture?" He asked innocently, though his posture spoke anything but. Naruto's jacket was still unzipped, not having bothered to do so after putting it back on and his right elbow was resting on the back of the chair he was sitting on as he took up a decidedly lax position, his left leg stretched out in front of him.

"Er, no, no. I'm just a little surprised you didn't...well I don't know, didn't paint your face in some ridiculous design or something...I'm still kind of waiting for something to happen. You don't have a prank planned do you Naruto?" 'Why else would Naruto seem so complacent? He must be planning something!'

Naruto sweat dropped, 'Well, look like I've made him so paranoid about my pranks that all I have to do is not pull any for a while to make him nervous. In fact, Mikoto-obbsan and Izumi-neechan will kill me if I do something 'interesting' again...' he then snickered. "No, jiji, I don't have any pranks planned. The Hokage monument was me going out with a bang. I'm on vacation from my pranking king title."

The Sandaime was unconvinced, only serving to further entertain the new genin.

"Well, I'm glad you've taken this document..." He looked at the grinning picture of the blond, "...somewhat seriously. This ninja registration book lists all those in the village with high abilities...so it's an important document."

Naruto just waved his hand flippantly, "You worry too much, Jiji. I know the limit as I'm a ninja now." His attention turned to the door when he heard it creak open, someone running in with a shuriken in their hand, causing Naruto to take action before he could stop himself. In a split second, Naruto had a kunai against the throat of whoever was stupid enough to attack the Hokage.