Love In A Mug

Chapter 6

The pharmacy was close to the train station that would take him to his parents. They lived in the suburbs not far from the outskirts of town. He moved to the city when he turned 19 and was attending school to become a chef. Then when he landed the job at Chiyo's Café he decided to stay in the city as it was more convenient for work.

Naruto found an empty seat on the train in the middle aisle and immediately took his book and EarPods out of the back pack. It was about an hour ride to his destination. He loved the time alone to read and just chill out with his music.

When he exited the train station, he hailed a taxi to take him the short distance to the uptown district. His parents had a two-story three bedroom Victorian home on two-half acres of land. They used a portion of it for a garden. It was a hobby they loved doing together, his mother always cooks and bakes from scratch. It's where his passion for food began.

He took out his key letting himself into the house. "Hey! It's me!" He announced removing his shoes by the door and slipping on a pair of slippers before making his way to the kitchen where smells of pasta and spicy sausage filled the air.

"Hello, my love." Kushina squealed wiping her hands on her apron and squeezing him in a big hug. She placed a kiss on the top of his head before releasing him. The red head was always like this with him and his older brother who was studying abroad for his doctrine as a scientist. Deidara loves his study of volcanoes. He's always had a fascination with things that exploded.

"Where's dad?" Naruto asked washing his hands so he could taste a spoonful of homemade pasta sauce. His mom made the best using fresh orange tomatoes, oregano and basil from the garden.

"Watching the game." She said rolling her eyes playfully. Naruto likes baseball but his father loved it more, not missing a game, even if it meant recording it.

Naruto chuckled. "Should have figured. When can we eat?"

"Just a few more minutes on the garlic bread. Why don't you call your dad and then help me set the table."

He nodded and went to the living room where his father, an older replica of him, was sitting on the edge of the recliner eyes glued to the tv screen with the volume up. "Come on you can't miss this one. You need to hit it out of the park." He yelled at the player who was up to bat.

Naruto could see that the game was in the final ending, and it was tied. If the player struck out they would lose. Naruto watched as the player swung. "Strike one!" The announcer revealed.

His dad groaned now halfway standing up. "You got this Nomo." He said just as the player swung hitting the ball hard, an easy home run. Nomo ran the bases as both Uzumakis cheered jumping up and down.

Minato picked up his son, swinging him around something he couldn't easily do with Deidara being as tall as him but Naruto was the short one in the family.

When they were done celebrating they heard Kushina call them for dinner. They glanced at each other before racing to the table laughing for being scolded by her, reminding them how she has her hands full being the only female in the house but she wouldn't have it any other way. This was the Uzumaki family and he was loved.

                           ..............................

Itachi sighed as he sat next to his sulking son who kept staring out the window. "Hey, buddy." He said softly. Kiyoshi had been sitting by the window for an hour excited since the morning that he would see his mother today.

"Mommy's not coming is she, daddy." Sniffling, turning away from the glass to look up at his father.

Itachi laid his hand on the small shoulder having just received a text from her. "No, she's not. She has an event to attend." It wasn't quite a lie. She had other plans that couldn't involve a child, but Itachi refused to lower himself to her level and speak of her in an unfavorable light.