Mission: Baby

Mission: The Search

Chapter 16:

Mission: The Search

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Naruto sighed as he left the place they were staying at to find somewhere to get food. He hated seeing Sakura so defeated and sad it made him feel incapable.

Naruto stuffed his hands in his pockets as his mind replayed the look on her face when she told him to get Jiraiya. He had never seen her look so distraught.

Without even realizing it his feet took him back to the ramen shop they were just at yesterday. He sighed when he smelt the delicious smell of ramen broth. This was what he needed. Lifting the flap he walked in and noticed how crowded it was. It must be the lunch rush. He thought to himself.

Naruto sat at the bar waiting to be served all while ignoring his growling stomach. His thoughts wandered to their new roommate. He wasn't sure how to feel about the woman. According to Sakura, she had no friends and nowhere to stay which was strange. He'd thought she'd have at least one friend assuming she's been in this village for quite a while.

"What can I get you?" He snapped out of his thoughts and noticed the lady who gave them some information yesterday taking his order. "Hey, it's you where's your kid and wife?"

"My kid is sick so I'm just grabbing lunch for them. By the way, you wouldn't know where a dango shop is would you?" He nervously chuckled awaiting her response.

"Sorry no dango in the village." She said apologetically.

"It's ok can I get four large bowls of beef ramen to go." He grinned when she nodded and went in the back to make his orders. Naruto looked around at the people around him eating and talking. There was something off about them even if they were laughing and talking with friends he could sense something. Perhaps disguised fear that at any moment their tormentors would walk right in.

He felt bad for them. To live in constant fear for not only your life but the lives of people close to you. He was going to put an end to it no matter what. Naruto sighed and turned back around as soon as he did he could feel someone's eyes on him. He tensed when he sensed movement coming closer to him. He wasn't sure what he was going to do if the person was possibly dangerous. He didn't have much time to think about it because a hand gripped his shoulder.

"Hey, you're the guy who tried to help Aimi yesterday." The man whispered taking the seat beside Naruto who was currently calming his racing heart. It took everything in Naruto to not let his instinct take over.

"Uh yeah, you know Aimi?" The Guy was pretty average looking with brown hair pulled back into a ponytail and dark brown eyes that he noticed sparked with an emotion Naruto couldn't discern. He looked about Aimi's age.

The stranger nodded quickly before elaborating. "We're childhood friends although she is a year older than me. Have you seen her around I went to the hospital to visit her but she was already released."

Sakura-chan said that she didn't have anyone.

"She's currently staying with me...and my wife." He blushed still not quite used to calling Sakura his wife.

The guy nodded. Naruto waited a moment as silence settled over them. If he was being honest he was expecting the guy to well...go away. Naruto's fingers drummed against the table top as he waited patiently for his food to come. He could be a very patient person if the villager just sat there quietly but unfortunately, he didn't instead he started whistling and Naruto's patience snapped. "Can I help you with something?"

"Hm? Oh yes, I would like to see Aimi." He grinned catching Naruto off guard.

"Sorry, no can do. No offense but I don't exactly trust you and Aimi has not mentioned you at all."