No One Told Me

Chapter 1

As my manager droned on and on and on about what we are going to do for my art gallery that is going to open up, I doodled a little carnation on my arm with a thin sharpie. I added some details to it with a pen to make it look more realistic. I colored the outside yellow for disappointment and rejection and the inside red for deep love then finished it off with a little quote.

Love is the reason why there is pain.
—Nagato Uzumaki

"-ruto. Naruto! Are you listening to me?" Sakura shouted, scuffing me upside the head, making the dot on the 'i' go through the quote and a little bit of the flower.

"Yes, I was, Sa-kur-a! You were saying that one or two of my best pieces will be hung in the front to draw people in then spread throughout the building so they won't lose interest. Then some stuff about me stopping by every once in a while to do some personal pieces and yada this, yada that," I moaned the last part, letting my head drop onto my arm that was stretched out across the table.

"Yes, but next time you could at least look like you were paying attention, brat," Tsunade sighed as she walked in through the front door.

"But Granny Tsunade, she makes it so boring," I whined, rolling off the chair and landing on the floor. I squirmed and flopped around, making little groaning noises as well while still trying to make a point.

"No 'buts', Naruto. She is your manager and you need to listen to her."

"But-"

"Shoot! I have to get going. It was nice seeing you Lady Tsunade, but I have to go meet another client. See you later!" Sakura quickly scrambled to get all of her stuff then rushed out the door.

"Didn't even say bye to me," I grumbled as I got up, dusting off my clothes.

"That's because you were very rude to her," Granny Tsunade growled.

Tsunade isn't really my grandma, doesn't even look like it. (Plastic surgery does wonders!) When mom and dad died, Old Man Sarutobi took me in and raised me until I was thirteen years old when he died of natural causes. Jiraiya soon came into my life along with Tsunade and they took care of me ever since. Well, Jiraiya goes around the world writing perverted books while Tsunade gambles and drinks the nights away. She's there when I need her, though.

"Not my fault she's uber boring," I frowned.

"Her 'uber' boringness is what helps you make money, so treat her with some respect! Now, tell me how you've been, I haven't seen you in a while," she mocked then immediately changed the subject. She thanked me as I pulled out a chair for her to sit in only to frown as she sat on a whoopie cushion. My eyes widened as the farting noise sounded and I started to try and make an excuse.

"Now, now, Granny, that wasn't intentional! It was meant for-"

"Who?" She quietly asked, tone deadly. "Who was it meant for? If I were you, I'd think about the answer a little bit before I say it."

I gulped and squeaked out, "Me?" Truthfully, it had been for Sakura, but she had never sat down in the chair the whole meeting.

"Good answer. Now, fetch me the sake I know you keep hidden and I won't get mad."

"Yes ma'am!" I ran as fast as I could to my room, pulled out the bottle of sake then ran back out and handed it to her.