Kaze no koibitō

12

Naruto woke Temari up early so that they could get to the property before everyone else. He didn't know what they had in store for today, but he knew more questions would be asked and his friends would expect answers. Temari sidled up closer to him, his coat wrapped around her and yawned.

"So...what did they ask you while I was conked out yesterday?"

"Oh...normal stuff."

As Temari faded off into blissful unconciousness, Naruto was gearing up to answer all the questions he knew were coming. His friends all gathered round in a semicircle around the tree and Naruto sighed.

"Let's try to keep this somewhat organized ok? How about we start on the far end with Kiba and work our way back until your curiosity is satisfied."

Tsunade smirked and folded her arms.

"Still in teacher mode huh brat? That's fine. Kiba, ask away."

The Inuzuka boy grinned and looked at his blonde friend.

"What's with the clothes loser? Nice duds."

Naruto chuckled and grinned back at his fanged fellow.

"It's mostly to honor my father. But...I guess a good bit of it too was that I just wanted a change. I like orange but it was time for a change. Besides, I look a hell of a lot better now, don't I?"

"Seems so. You look less moronic in any case. Welp, that's my question. Hinata, you're next."

The shy Hyuuga looked at Naruto and pushed her fingers together in her old habit. Naruto quirked an eyebrow and gave her a half-hearted frown.

"Hinata-chan, I thought we agreed you wouldn't do that anymore..."

The girl eeped and let her hands fall into her lap. Naruto smiled. She was still good old, shy Hinata.

"Um...I want to know...are you happy here?"

All head swung to Naruto and he leaned back further against the tree, absently stroking Temari's hair, causing her to smile slightly in her sleep. The girls all noticed and sighed. Why couldn't their guys (if they had one) be like that?

"I am very happy here, moreso than I ever was in Konoha. Not to say I don't miss all of you, because I do, but I'm not glared at here. I'm not talked about behind my back here in a malicious manner. People don't wish for my death. I'm...accepted here. The children don't run from me in fear or hate me because their parents say so. Yes, Hinata-chan, I'm happy here."

Hinata smiled at him sadly, knowing it was true. No matter how much she might have liked him, he would never have continued pretending to be happy in Konoha forever. The others all looked pensive and some looked away. Tsunade and Jiraiya just hung their heads, their inability to stop the people of their village from spreading hate against the boy glaringly obvious.

Shino, the next in line, seeing that everyone was becoming illogically downtrodden when they should be happy for Naruto, asked his question.

"I have a two part question."

Everyone perked up and Naruto looked at the bug wielder questioningly.

"Where did this small piece of forest come from? It's like being home in Konoha."

Naruto frowned at the choice of words. It was true that his land reminded him of Konoha, but this was his home, made by him. It wasn't like being in Konoha, because this forest was his.

"I won't answer that yet. I'd rather show you at some point, perhaps tomorrow. Trust me, it'll blow you away when you see it."

Shino, though not satisfied with the answer, nodded and pushed his glasses up slightly.