Naruto Uzumaki- of the Land of Fire

Life After Seven Years

The sun was barely above the horizon, but Cana could hear the sound of splitting wood and the scampering of small footsteps as they ran passed her door. With an inward sigh, she left the warmth and comfort of her bed, grabbed a jacket and headed out the back door. Smiling, Cana found herself looking at a familiar sight.

Standing by the chopping mound, a broad shouldered, blonde haired, blue eyed nineteen year old. He wasn't the tallest man, but he was well built and hard-working. Standing beside him, a scrawny, black haired, five year old boy was yapping away. Unlike her son, Naruto was dressed for the day. He had on a long-sleeved black t-shirt, cargo pants, and black work boots. A pendant hung around his neck on a long chain, and his black jacket and blue scarf were laying folded on the ground. He already had a large pile of wood chopped and now stood talking to Aido.

"Okaasan! Oniisan says he isn't going to the festival!" The distress in her son's voice was hysterical. Naruto looked over his shoulder at Cana, gave her a sly smile and a wink before turning his attention back to her son.

"Well someone didn't do their chores, so now I have to do them instead of going to the festival."

Cana wished she could laugh as a look of horror spread across her son's face when he realized what Naruto meant. Without delay, Aido rushed passed his mother and back into the house. Naruto chuckled, and went back to chopping. Going back inside, Cana left Naruto to his work, helped her son with his chores, and readied herself for the day.

Naruto usually tried to come a little later in the day, so not to disturb Cana-san or her son, but after last night he'd had no desire to be at home. He had gone into town first to see if anyone needed help with the festival preparations, but sadly all that was left involved cooking. So he'd come to his neighbor's knowing that there was work to be done. Aside from cutting firewood, Naruto took a look at the outside of the house and found a portion of the roof that needed repair before the onset of winter and that a few of the windows needed to be resealed.

Cana could see Naruto taking a look at the house's exterior from the kitchen window. As a widow, she was grateful to have a young man like him around to keep the house in good condition, but she also wished she didn't rely on him so much.

"I cleaned my room and fed the cat... what now?"

"You can take this out to Naruto and tell him that we will see him at the festival tonight."

Aido practically skipped outside, when he found Naruto his oniisan had climbed onto the roof was clearing off some leaves. Aido quickly joined him, being careful to listen to Naruto about where to step and to stay away from the edge. The two boys talked as they worked, Naruto asked Aido about school and his friends, in this way keeping the conversation one-sided while mostly listening to Aido and mading a mental list of everything he would need to fix the roof, windows, and repaint the front deck.

"So why are you here so early?"

The question caught Naruto off guard and he almost lost his footing, "Couldn't sleep, too excited for the festival tonight." It rolled off his tongue easily, but it was caught.

"You're lying." In the future he'd have to be more careful, the five year old was getting more perceptive and he knew Naruto too well to be lied to.

"You're right, but that's the answer you're going to get so be happy with it." Naruto stated jokingly, but the look of disappointment was clear on the younger boy's face.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING UP THERE!" Cana had come outside because she hadn't seen the boys in the yard when she'd gone to look, now she found them standing on the roof as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You idiots, get down now!" 

With one look at her face, the boys quickly climbed down from the roof. Aido quickly ran back into the house, leaving Naruto to deal with his pissed mother. Cana was more shocked and frightened than angry, Naruto understood this but still figured it would be best if he took his leave.

"I'll be back with some supplies tomorrow or the day after, there are a few things I would like to get done before I leave for camp."

"Have someone to help you." Cana said with exasperation. "Someone other than my klutz of a son!"

Naruto smiled and waved as he turned toward the road leading to town. He was almost off the property when a small body came up behind him and hugged him around the legs. Aido quickly released his grip, his face red, and ran back inside shouting:

"See you at the festival!"

It was dangerous for Naruto to be left to his own thoughts after last night so he made his way to the blacksmith's and got to work on a customized order that had recently come in. Even with a few years under his belt as a full-time blacksmith and part-time carpenter, Naruto could still feel the master blacksmith's gaze on him as he worked every now and then. To some degree it comforted him, but for the most part it was creepy.

Truth be told, the old man didn't want to be working today... but with one look at Naruto, he knew the boy needed something to do so he made himself content making sure the boy didn't set anything or himself on fire. Naruto kept working until his stomach grumbled and he got to a good stopping place. He and the old man made their way into town for some ramen where they bumped into a few acquaintances of Naruto's.

"No surprise finding you here, Naruto." Quinn was about a year older than Naruto and other than being a prick, he was a skilled carpenter and enjoyed his work.

"Of the two restaurants in this town, I'd have to be at one of them if I wanted anything to eat. Same goes for you, I guess?"

"Actually we came to find you." Shima was the apprentice of the town's doctor, and despite being younger than Naruto he was very adept at his work and in his knowledge of the human body.

"There's a real surprise." The old man grunted.

Ignoring him, Quinn continued, "The old bridge over Bloody River partially collapsed last night, we were wondering if you could lend a hand?"

"You fools just can't expect him to drop everything, Naruto has prior commitments. And what about the damn festival!" The old man did have a point, but truthfully Naruto was already eating faster and standing up to go at the same time.

"Tomorrow then, in the morning?"

Naruto nodded, his mouth full, and the boys walked off. The two were left to eat in peace, taking their time and ordering seconds. This was his life, common, and without anything really extraordinary happening on a day by day basis. Naruto had people who he felt obligated toward, people he cared about and people who watched out for him. Truthfully, the only things he had to worry about were his own inner demons.