Predecessor

Absence

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Their afternoon tea, when made by Anko, consists of dango. Sweet and sticky, and even a savory flavor, and two sticks of a rare foreign one she'd collected on one of her missions. To wash it down, there's some green tea — but Naruto's stomach still growls even after devouring everything on his plate.

Sakura rolls up her sleeves and takes to the kitchen, quickly rolling up some onigiri in seaweed, and reheating the ramen she had had for dinner last night.

"Uwa, Sakura-chan, I didn't know you could cook!" says Naruto joyously, eyes watering ever so slightly at the gift she bestows his grumbling stomach.

"Of course," Sakura nods, "I like cooking for Anko and I. Plus, she doesn't like to cook anyway."

But something in her eyes tell him it's because Anko can't cook. Despite her genius, she has absolutely no culinary skill whatsoever.

"I've never had anyone cook me dinner before," the Uzumaki points out as he scarfs down the food. He doesn't say it a way that is intended to make the two females feel bad for him, however they grow a little wistful anyway.

"So you cook for yourself?" asks Sakura.

"Mm..." Naruto puts a finger to his chin in thought and glances to his side, "I suppose so! Instant ramen is easy to cook!"

The Haruno's face falls into a deadpan. "Naruto, that's not cooking at all! In fact, that's a disgrace to cooking!"

He laughs and waves his hand dismissively. "It's delicious so it's fine!"

However she won't have it. Putting two hands on her hips, Sakura frowns and points at hm.

"Stay here for dinner tonight," she insists firmly, not giving him a choice. "I'll show you what real cooking is!"

And the boy is taken aback, astonishment evident on his face. He can't believe what he's hearing. He has never been invited to a friend's house for dinner before.

He blinks at Sakura, processes what she's said and the tips of his ears start to redden.

"Oi," Anko calls. She's relaxing across the couch with an old dango stock between her teeth, "Ain't ya gonna interview me or whatever?"

Right, Naruto thinks. The assignment. He can't forget why he's really at Sakura's house for. It's only natural that he stays for dinner especially if he's going to be at her place for a while to do their project and put it all together.

Isn't this what everyone else does? Is this what it's like to have a friend?

His heart pitter-patters gently in his chest.

Is Sakura his friend now?

"Yes. I have written down some questions already based on what I've already researched." Sakura pulls out a notebook from her bag and turns to Naruto. "Have you looked into Uzumaki Kushina yet?"

The Uzumaki himself draws a blank. He hangs his head in shame. "N-no..."

Sakura laughs. "It's fine! I wrote an introductory piece on her already so we don't have to worry about that."

She sits down on the stool next to his.

"Uzumaki Kushina was the First Lady of Konoha during the Yondaime's short reign. Because of the collapse of Uzushiogakure, her entire clan migrated here since the Uzumaki already had a peace treaty and connection with the village.
  "History notes her to be a strong, resilient and firm woman and a formidable shinobi who achieved countless feats for the village. She was raised during a war period and was one of many who, at gennin level, succeeded in various missions during this era. She earned herself a high reputation for her beauty, incredible ninjutsu and fuinjutsu prowess — fuinjutsu being a specialty of your guys' clan."