Kichimaru Tomaka, emotional ninja

Chapter 4

As soon as I exit the Genin Corp headquarters I'm tackled by a hyperactive 6-year-old.

"Aniki!" He shouts up at me through his beam from his spot hugging my legs. My lips quickly form into a matching grin and my eyes crease with glee at simply seeing Naruto. It's only been a few years since I've met the small blonde boy, but I could honestly say I felt like his real older brother. We met up almost every day after my shift and get dinner together, usually at his favorite ramen stand, before I walk him home and return home myself. While my wallet was certainly lighter after meeting him, and the higher-class courier missions I've had to take can vouch for that, my heart was equally lightened and I loved him.

"Naru-chan! How's my cute Otouto? ~" I coo at Naru-kun, who quickly pouts at my teasing. "Sorry, Naru-kun you're just so cute." I reach down and pinch one of his rabidly reddening cheeks. Naru-kun grins up at me, all too used to my cooing and happy to accept my affection. Naru-kun finally releases my legs and stands back before answering me.

"Good! But I had to go to class today!" He crosses his arms and sticks his tongue out at even just the thought of the academy, making me chuckle at him.

"Ah, I remember homework," I reach up and pull down my hood before clipping my bangs back and holding out my hand for Naru-kun to hold as we both start walking towards Ichiraku Ramen, both of us used to this daily routine. "I was terrible at it." I dead pan down at his giggling face.

"I hate homework! It's too hard." We continue to make idle chatter as we walk down Konoha's sun bathed streets. It's warm and bright, and birds softly call to each other from the forest surrounding us. I love my home.

Now that I've started taking higher-class missions, usually to the Konoha outposts outside of our walls, my schedule has completely changed. I rise early with the sun and report to headquarters before running scrolls, like updated orders or personal mail, to the chunin stationed outside of the walls. I get back to headquarters with any returning mail just in time for a late dinner with Naru-kun, then I head home to my family and help put the kids to sleep. Thankfully, my increased paychecks mean Kaa-chan only has to work lunch shifts. Now she gets the younger kids ready and to school in the morning before heading to work with Tou-chan, but gets off in time to pick up the kids and make dinner. Seeing Kaa-chan's dark undereye circles completely disappear is well worth the additional work to me.

"Teuchi-ji-san!" Naru-kun runs ahead of me to enthusiastically greet Teuchi-san, our favorite ramen chef, and jump into one of the many seats lining the counter. I can't help but roll my eyes and laugh at Naru-kun's vibrant energy, but I quickly join him and greet Teuchi-san and his daughter, who make the best ramen in Konoha.

"Teuchi-san, how are you! Ayame-chan, you've gotten so big!" The 11-year-old girl with nice long dark hair smiles and waves at me from her station stirring the pots as the older chef returns the greetings.

"Naruto-kun, Kichi-kun, welcome back!" Teuchi-san cheerfully says. "The usual?"

"You bet! Believe it!" Naru-kun answers with a bright grin. I crease my eyes shut to show my smile and nod my agreement.

"Coming right up!" Teuchi-san steps further into the kitchen to begin making our dinner. I turn to Naru-kun and laugh at his eager expression.

"Oi, didn't we eat here yesterday? You love Teuchi-san's ramen that much?" I ruffle his soft blonde hair as I smile down at him, pull down my face mask in preparation to eat and lean my cheek on my other hand.

"You bet! It's the best in the world!" Naru-kun exclaims passionately. We recount our days as we wait for the ramen, but before long two steaming bowls are set in front of us and we dig in with a happy, "Itadakimasu!" We eat in comfortable silence, besides the heavy slurping of Naru-kun, and enjoy the companionship. I'm always happy to spend even time doing next to nothing with Naru-kun.