Ashes (A Naruto Fanfic Book 6)

Chapter 19

Ryo scowled when we emerged from the room.  "Took you forever..."

I looked at him, attempting to make breakfast as Itachi watched amused.  "Learning a new skill?"

He pursed his lips.  "Don't start."  I simply smirked as Itachi instructed him to flip the eggs lazily.  "Dammit!"

I giggled as I wrapped my arms around Itachi's shoulders and boosted myself up to cross my legs around his waist.  "How long has he been at it?"  He craned neck to look at me then shook his head.

I looked out of the window, and he followed my gaze.  "Walk?"

I blinked at him.  "You're helping Ryo."

We both looked at him, cursing under his breath as another yolk broke.  "He'll do fine til we get back."

Ryo and Aya looked at us.  "Go, we got this."

He smirked, and we were on the Hokage heads.  I scoffed as I dismounted to get closer to the edge.  "Didn't take much, did it?"  The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, and I was entranced as his arms wrapped around me.  The morning rays were soft, slightly obscured by a few clouds.  I leaned back into him.  "The village is peaceful this time of day..."

He kissed the top of my head.  "It is."  We watched as the village came alive as rays of sunlight washed over it.  Too soon, it was complete, and I sighed.  "Now, let's see what they came up with." 

I smiled at the amusement in his voice.  "Let's find Minato first.  Then, we can talk to Ibiki later."

...

"Are you sure about this?"  Minato had a worried expression etched in his face.

I nodded.  "We are."

He smiled.  "I would be honored to give you away. You're my daughter, after all."

I hugged him.  "Thank you, Minato..."

We returned to the apartment, and Chihiro raised an eyebrow.  "Why did you leave me with them?"

I looked at the spread on the table and bit my lip.  "We leave them alone often..."

She rolled her eyes.  "You shouldn't. They almost burned the place down... or Ryo did until Aya stepped in."

I covered my mouth.  "Thank you for cooking."  We sat and looked at the table again. The eggs were varying degrees of cooked, the rice was dry, but the pork looked like it was in decent shape.  I looked up at Itachi, who was eyeing it all suspiciously.  You left him... now you must partake...

He glanced at me.  We can just...

No, Uchiha.  I put what looked halfway decent on our plates and watched as everyone tentatively tasted it.  I took a bite of pork because it was safest.  Aya blanched,  Chihiro had a hand over her mouth, Itachi just stared at his plate, and I chewed slowly.  Aya made this... not bad...

Ryo coughed loudly.  "Okay... this is horrible."

I laughed.  "You tried, but may I?"  He nodded, and I took up the rice and eggs.  Itachi sat at the counter as I worked.  I began to fry the rice, adding soy sauce and other seasoning, then adding the eggs, carefully picking out shells that I saw.

I started to boil water on another burner and put whole eggs inside.  "Why didn't you take the meat too?"

I smiled over my shoulder.  "It's decent."

Ryo scoffed and crossed his arms.  "Whatever..."

I chuckled, put the rice in a serving dish, and checked the eggs.  I poured out the hot water and started running cold water over them before peeling.  I returned to the table and set them down.  Chihiro was clearly pleased.  "Nice."

Ryo frowned.  "Uh... this won't kill us, right?"

I chuckled.  "Try and find out."  Everyone filled their plates and tested it.  Itachi looked fairly surprised, and I pinched his side.  "You aren't the only one that can cook, Uchiha.  You've had my cooking before."

Ryo chuckled.  "That was a long time ago, but you saved what I made rather than starting over."

I shrugged.  "Mess up enough, and you know how to fix it."

Chihiro giggled.  "I remember when people would try to teach us.  They saved so many meals we ruined it was hilarious."

I nodded.  "We were in the Land of Lightning when B and the Raikage finally got us on the right track."

Aya and Ryo looked at each other.  "Killer B?"

I nodded.  "Him and his brother are intense, but they can throw down in the kitchen."

Itachi looked at me, curious.  "That's an isolated group... how did you get to know them so well?"

I shrugged.  "Music..."

Aya sat back, finishing her food.  "They love Kunoichi and Hinata.  Pretty much partied every night there."

Ryo was getting seconds.  "Yeah, that's how we perfected our cover."

Itachi thought for a moment.  "I don't remember any Lightning nin at the party."

I smirked.  "They were the entertainment... A and B didn't attend, but I didn't expect them to.  I still need to have words with them over that regardless."

He arched a brow.  "A and B?"

I chuckled.  "Lord Raikage... Minato's met them.  That was an interesting story."  I pushed my plate away, full.  "Speaking of B, I need to speak with him..."

Aya leaned forward.  "For Naruto..."  I nodded.  "Why not train him yourself?"

I shook my head.  "My use of the Kyubii and his will vastly differ. However, B can get him on the right track."

Ryo nodded.  "Makes sense, speaking of..."

I shrugged.  "I don't know."  He sighed.  "I know, it's beginning to annoy me as well."  Chihiro looked confused until I heard a scratching at the door.  "Speak of the devil."

I went and pulled open the door, glaring at fox scratching behind his ear.  He dashed past me, and I closed the door, then faced the man who appeared in his place.  "You look upset."

I frowned.  "What in the hell were you doing, Kurama?  It's been weeks."

He shrugged.  "Got what we needed. That's all you need to know."

I narrowed my gaze.  "Better be good."

He began to dissolve into golden chakra flowing into my eye.  "It is..."