I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

I'm sorry if I took too long writing this, but I was recovering from shock halfway through it.

I write this chapter in honour of my drama-queen friend who is a giant bookworm and a hardcore FuuNaru shipper. She has been diagnosed with the late stages of leukaemia and is now in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Royal Children's Hospital. 

Get well soon, my friend.

"Why are we doing this again?" the tall brown-haired man grumbled.

"Shut up," his companion hissed. "We're not supposed to be here, remember? We're only here to make sure I repay a favour."

"What, meaning the whole fiasco that happened over a week ago?" the brunette man snorted.

"I'll have you know because of that "fiasco" I got a girlfriend!" the second man snapped.

"Yeah without his help you probably would've remained single for the rest of your life," the first man snickered. 

"Shut up or so help me I will knock you out with my staff and then have Sakura castrate you and then defenestrate you!" 

"Highly doubt that. You need me for your "scheme" to work."

". . ."

"You know I'm right."

"I hate you, you know that?"

"You may have mentioned that more than once every day of our lives."

"Shut up."

"Shut does not go up."

"Why does everyone say that nowadays?!"

"'Coz a certain blonde Uzuchiha is around nowadays."

"Screw that blonde idiot."

"Says the boy who got covered in pink paint and fooled by a simple seal and blindfold," the first man snickered.

His companion growled but said no more as they neared the Hidden Village in the Leaves. "Hurry it up and make yourself look like a civilian. We're only here to tell them the plan, not to aid them in it."

"Hopefully," the first man muttered.

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothin'."

"U-ta-ka-ta!"

"Ya-gu-ra."

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"Naruto, do you mind helping me out? "

"What's up Kakashi? Need me to buy diapers again or something? " Naruto questioned the white-haired Hatake.

"Sorry Naruto."

"It's cool," Naruto assured his sensei. "Obito would have no idea what to get and would most likely buy out the whole shop, Sasuke would just buy the wrong type or something completely different and Sakura would just buy way too much and too many unnecessary baby products." 

"Yeah. . ."

"I'll be there in hopefully thirty minutes," Naruto said.

"Thanks Naruto."

Naruto hummed to himself and opened the door of his house and stepped outside to the warm sunshine. Ever since Kakashi and Rin had their twins, Naruto found less and less time to be with his siblings and friends. He was always the one called upon to help because, as stated before, Obito wouldn't know what to buy, Sasuke would always get the wrong thing and Sakura would buy too much and eventually not have the actual product they asked for.

Naruto huffed out a breath and stuck his hands into his pockets, debating whether or not to hitch a ride on his skateboard or to simply walk. Given the warm weather, he might as well just enjoy a short walk.

"Hello Naruto-kun!"

In the few months that Fuu had been transferred to Konoha, she fit in almost immediately with the Leaf Legion, and Tsunade had made her an official Genin. Fuu was currently preparing for the Chuunin Exams that were coming up soon. Naruto thought wistfully of the one he and his friends had gone into when they lived another life.  

"Hello Fuu," the blonde greeted. "How are you?"

"Kind of bored, to be honest," the green-haired jinchuuriki answered, falling beside him at a walk.

"Well then, care to join me as I run an errand for the new parents?" Naruto smiled. He might as well have some company while he was at making decisions.

"Gladly," Fuu smiled back.

"So how is preparing for the Chuunin Exams?" Naruto asked as a starter for small talk.

"Going pretty well. Mio and Ritsu have their teamwork down to pat and Mio's little sister, Asuza, has finally stopped following us everywhere," Fuu informed him, her hands swinging loosely by her side.

"Considering how you mentioned your teammates, do Mio and Ritsu often fight?" Naruto guessed.

"As much as you and Sasuke-kun."

Naruto reddened slightly. "We do not fight that much!"

"I beg to differ," Fuu deadpanned. "Nearly every day when I see you, it's always you and Sasuke-kun bickering about this or that. And if it's not bickering, it's "sparring". You both should really tone down the jutsu use. I can tell Sakura is getting quite annoyed lately, mostly because you two keep on injuring each other."

"But that takes the fun out of it!" Naruto pouted in protest.

Fuu merely chuckled. She had slowly started growing closer to Naruto as a friend, and she tried to make her crush on him as non-obvious as she could. It was hard, because she loved him so much it hurt, and would probably continue to do so because according to Chomei, she had been in love with Naruto in the former future, and if she still had her feelings for the blonde Uzuchiha. . . she knew she would love him far longer than forever.

"Yo, Naruto! Fuu!"

"Oh, hey Kiba," Naruto greeted, walking over to the Hyuuga heiress and Inuzuka heir that had just come out of the weaponry shop. 

"What are you and Hina-chan doing?"

"Nothing much. I just needed some new weapons and Kiba-kun tagged along," Hinata explained, smiling. "That aside, what are you and Fuu doing?"

"Running errands for the new parents," Naruto sighed with a tired smile. 

"Ah," Hinata nodded understandingly. "Well, make sure you don't lose Fuu, okay Naruto?"

"Lose her?" Naruto looked confused. "Why would I lose her?"

"Maybe walk too fast and she gets lost," Kiba shrugged nonchalantly. "Just keep an eye on her and keep her on track. She has a tendency to space out or get distracted."

"Uh, sure. Thanks for the advice, I guess?"

"See you Naruto-kun," Hinata smiled and waved as she and her unofficial boyfriend walked away.

"Those guys are weird," Naruto muttered to himself before he looked over his shoulder and called, "C'mon Fuu, unless you want me to go on without you!"

The green-haired jinchuuriki jumped in surprise but hurried up to him. "Sorry Naruto-kun!"

'Huh, Kiba may be right. She does seem to space out a bit,' Naruto thought to himself as they resumed their walk.

"Hang on a sec, I wanna get something," Naruto told his companion and entered the shop that was to his left.

"Naru!"

"Hey Ino," Naruto nodded in greeting towards the blonde who was in the Yamanaka Flower Shop.

"What are you doing here today?" Ino smiled, running up to him.

"Ah, just thought about getting a few tiger lilies for Rin," Naruto said as he smiled lazily.

Ino giggled as she chose four tiger lilies from the batch by her right. "You're becoming a lot like Shika lately, Naru. Something on your mind?"

"Nothing much, just a little tired from running around like an errand boy for the new parents," Naruto explained as he exchanged the lilies for some ryo. "Thanks Ino."

"No problem. Just make sure the flowers go to the person you're actually giving them to, okay?" Ino winked.

"Actually giving them to?" Naruto echoed, confused.

"Never mind," Ino grinned, waving it off. "You'll understand soon enough, my innocent cinnamon roll." 

Naruto raised an eyebrow but decided not to question the particular food that he was being compared to for some odd reason, bid goodbye to Ino and left the shop.

"Let's go Fuu," Naruto jerked his head as a gesture to come over to his companion who was hovering uncertainly by the door. 

Fuu seemed to light up and skipped to his side. Naruto cocked his head and then took one of the tiger lilies from the small bundle and tucked them behind Fuu's left ear. The Seven-Tail's jinchuuriki coloured up slightly at the unexpected action, and touched the lily tentatively.

"Suits you," Naruto nodded in approval before abruptly turning heel and continuing down the path.

Fuu watched Naruto walk away with a slight blush on her cheeks, still fingering the lily until Chomei barked at her to wake up and catch up with the blonde, which she did in a very big hurry. Naruto noticed that after that, Fuu had a only-slightly noticeable spring in her step. And that, for some reason, brought a smile to his face.

Naruto glanced upwards briefly at the shop sign that read "Babies R US" and purchased some diapers with expert efficiency, leaving within ten minutes.

"That was quick," Fuu commented.

Naruto shrugged. "This is why I am the one running the errands. Ke and Obito would take the whole day and Saki would buy anything she thinks is cute, which is pretty much everything."

As they continued on their way to the apartment where Kakashi and Rin lived in, the two passed the Nara heir and Akimichi heir lying in their trademark places, watching the clouds and eating chips.

"Hey Shika," Naruto greeted simply as Shikamaru returned the greeting with a lazy wave of the hand.

"Cloud gazing again?"

"Yeah, you running errands again?"

"You know how it is with the unreliable three."

"They're lucky they have you as their reliable errand boy," Shikamaru drawled with a lazy smile. "And I can think of someone else who is lucky to have you as their friend, if not anything more."

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"You'll understand soon enough," Shikamaru waved his hand as if to dismiss the issue.

Naruto was now thoroughly perplexed. "First Ino and now you? What is going on?" The blonde Uzuchiha shook his head.

"Just leave it Naruto," Choji piped up. "Chip?"

Naruto lifted the corner of his lip in a lopsided smile and took a single chip from the packet his friend offered, Fuu following his lead after Choji gestured towards her as well. 

"Thanks Cho, we've gotta go now. C'mon Fuu."

"Coming!"

"So how are you liking Konoha?" Naruto questioned his companion, tipping his head back to look at the bright blue sky.

"It's nice. Nicer than home," Fuu admitted. 'Because you're here,' she added silently.

"Good, it's nice to know that you like your new home," Naruto nodded. "So what do you like? We might be passing some shops on the way to Kaka-sensei's home, so as long as it isn't a shopping spree we can take a few detours."

Fuu smiled at the kindness hidden by carelessness as she said, "I like dango."

"There's a dango shop just a few blocks up. Anko always goes there, so pray to Kami we don't bump into her," Naruto sighed, making Fuu giggle a little.

"What was that about not bumping into me, gaki?" a female voice asked out of nowhere as an arm snaked around Naruto's neck and held him in a headlock.

"Anko, let go please."

"You're no fun, gaki."

"Fine, you can buy us dango then," Naruto stated in an annoyed voice.

"Hai hai," Anko said dismissively, finally letting the blonde boy go. "I guess I do owe you a big one after you took the Cursed Seal off me."

Naruto nodded and the three made their way into the dango shop that came up a block further. Anko bought them two sticks each and nine for herself, bidding an immediate goodbye the moment her dango sticks arrived.

Naruto swallowed the sweet pink ball, noting that Fuu ate her dango backwards with the green ball first. He was fairly surprised when he spied a familiar couple outside the shop and so he gestured for Fuu to go and the two went outside.

"I didn't know you liked dango," Naruto said as a way of greeting them.

"Well hello to you too, Naruto," Tenten chuckled. "Neji and I were just checking out this shop. We kind of got bored of dumplings, you know?"

"Dango is a kind of dumpling. . ."

"Yes, well normal dumplings tastes different from dango," Neji stated as if that fact alone solved everything.

"Can't argue with that," Naruto agreed as he finished his first stick. "Well as a customer, I'd say don't go in there unless you like really, really, really sweet stuff. The dango is pretty good but a bit sweeter than most."

"Thanks for the review," Tenten laughed.

"Have fun on your date," Naruto winked as he slid past them.

"You too," Neji called back with a light smirk.

"We're not on a date," Naruto said bluntly as he turned around to correct his brunette shinobi friend.

"Sure, sure, whatever," Tenten grinned.

Naruto rolled his eyes and waved before moving onward, a slightly subdued Fuu keeping pace with him. Naruto looked at her from the side of his eye and wondered, 'What got her so down? Maybe it was the mention of a date. . . curse Neji's big mouth, he made everything so awkward now. Gah, I should do something to make her less embarrassed. Besides, I guess it does look like a date.'

Meanwhile Fuu was thinking, 'Does Naruto-kun really think going on a date with me is so bad that he would reject the very idea so bluntly? He didn't even get flustered or anything.'

"Oh, we're here," Naruto said as he came upon a very familiar building. "You wanna come in with me or wait out here?"

"Um, I'll wait," Fuu said uncertainly.

Naruto shrugged. "Sure, don't go anywhere. I won't be long." And he jumped over the railing and knocked on the door.

"Kaka-sensei, the diaper delivery has arrived."

The was door opened by an eye-smiling Kakashi. "Thank you so much Naruto, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Rin really needs her sleep and I am busy making sure the twins don't get up to too much trouble."

"I understand," Naruto smiled as he offered the bag of diapers to the new father. "Oh, and I got some tiger lilies for Rin."

"Thanks Naruto, sorry to take your time like this," Kakashi smiled apologetically. 

"It's no trouble, things have been going rather slowly now. You know, since there aren't any new threats coming up and stuff."

"Enjoy the peace while it lasts," Kakashi advised.

"And don't you let your guard down," Naruto returned.

"As if," the white-haired Hatake snorted. "With a family, my guard is up 24/7. You better have yours like that too, especially if you have a new precious person."

"I do?" Naruto cocked his head to the side.

Kakashi chuckled. "My young, inexperienced student. . . you will soon learn what I mean."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Naruto muttered.

Kakashi gave him another eye-smile and the two parted ways as twin voices crying out drew Kakashi back into his home.

"Let's go meet the Leaf Legion at TG 7," Naruto suggested as he landed quietly beside Fuu, making her jump.

"N-Naruto-kun! Uh, sure. But what's TG 7?" Fuu asked in slight confusion.

"Training Ground 7."

"Oh. . . I'm an idiot."

Naruto chuckled. "Don't worry, Ke just made that up a few hours ago. We plan to introduce the abbreviation to them so most people will be looking for the T&I or something like that."

As if on cue, a blur of navy blue sprinting alongside a blur of green spandex came barrelling towards them, kicking up a storm of dust behind them as the raven Uchiha's voice screamed,

"OUTTA THE WAY!" 

Naruto whipped around and narrowly dodged his brother as Sasuke sped past him, however Fuu was not so lucky and got knocked over by Lee. In the speed the spandex-clad boy was travelling in, Fuu was spun around by the momentum at the exact same time Naruto turned around to see if Fuu was okay.

The result?

I'm sure you can all guess.

They kissed.

Fuu's cheeks immediately resembled Sasuke's favourite fruit (vegetable?) as Naruto just stared unblinkingly into the amber eyes directly across him. 

When the blonde finally blinked, he seemed confused for a moment before blinking rapidly and pulling away quickly. Naruto backed up a bit, staring at Fuu with wide eyes before he turned and ran off without another word.

Fuu watched Naruto run away and felt shock, embarrassment, joy and hurt course through her being. Shock, because she had just kissed the love of her life. Embarrassment and joy were for the same reason. But hurt? She was hurt and slightly confused as to way Naruto had run away from her after that, without even saying anything. Heck, he didn't even seem all that flustered or embarrassed when they kissed! Was that an indication that he didn't return her feelings even in the slightest?

Upset, the green-haired jinchuuriki sprouted her insect-like wings and flew off in a small cloud of dust.

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"Oh you have to be f---ing kidding me," the grey-haired, magenta-eyed Mizukage muttered under his breath. "What kind of moron kisses a girl, whether it be intentional or accidental, and then runs off without saying anything? Honestly, I should give him a piece of my mind!"

The brown-haired, brown-eyed man beside him sweatdropped. "Cut him some slack, he's only six. And completely oblivious to the concept of love, might I add."

"Yeah, he's six, and yet he manages to make friends with other six-to-seven-year-olds who are in love, and manages to get together four people who didn't even know they were in love!"

"Four. . .?"

"They set up Itachi Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha before they set up me with Mei."

"Oh yeah, I remember Naruto telling me that."

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"Are you f---ing KIDDING me?! " all of the Leaf Legion screamed inside their minds, the telepathic link going by Ino's jutsu so they could leave Naruto out of their planning schemes.

"He just KISSED her and then RAN OFF?! " Tenten yelled.

"What kind of IDIOT is he? " Neji sighed.

"I am so embarrassed about AND for my brother," Sasuke groaned as he buried his face in his hands.

"Same," Sakura sighed.

"You should be," Ino griped. "He's a numbskull who can't figure out what love is when it happens to him even though he is surrounded by people who are in love - his age no less! - and he helped set up the two Uchihas and the Mizukage with his childhood friend! "

"A very good point. . ."

"And that's what makes it all the more depressing! " Sasuke cried dramatically.

Sakura sighed. "C'mon you guys, Naruto probably went to TG 7 to find us. Let's go get him and try to explain whatever he needs to be explained."

"Lord help that child," Neji groaned.

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"Naru. . . no, no, no, no, no. . ." Sakura squinted as she spun around slowly, taking in the training ground's surroundings, searching for her blonde blob.

"No, no, no no no no. . . yes! There he is!"

The Leaf Legion burst into a run and dashed over to Naruto, who was sitting curled up in a ball against a tree trunk, blue eyes blank as he stared at nothing.

"Oh, he looks bad," Ino noted. "Traumatized, even."

"Probably not the best time to apologize for pushing Fuu onto him, right?" Lee questioned.

"Dude!" Sasuke groaned.

Sakura rolled her eyes and went over to her non-biological blonde brother. "Naru, Naru what's wrong?" she asked softly, crouching down in front of him and rubbing the blonde's back.

Naruto didn't respond.

"Here, let me Pinkie," a voice interrupted as he crouched down and shuffled next to Sakura.

Sakura's eye twitched at the name but nevertheless moved over, her hand still on Naruto's back. Her eyes then widened as she saw the stitch running down his face, and she remembered the night when Naruto, Sasuke, Gaara and two other jinchuuriki crashed into her room with one of said jinchuuriki harbouring a poisoned wound.

'Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage,' she thought. 'Formerly the one who made the Hidden Village of the Mist the "Bloody Mist", until this future when Naruto broke him out of someone's control.'

Yagura stared into Naruto's blank eyes. "Na-ru-to."

When the other jinchuuriki failed to respond, Yagura groaned softly and shuffled over, putting his mouth by the blonde's ear. Whatever he whispered, it worked as Naruto jolted out of his trance, jackknifing up and tackling Yagura to the ground, hands around his throat.

"WHAT THE HECK YAGURA I WENT TO SO MUCH TROUBLE AND THEN YOU GO AND -"

Yagura quickly wrestled the smaller boy and rolled on top of him, clapping his hands over Naruto's mouth.

"Shut it Ruto, I only said that because you were blanking out and you were worrying Pinkie over there," Yagura hissed. "Other than that, why the hell did you just run off and leave Fuu alone?!"

Naruto's glare lessened into an empty stare. "I didn't know what else to do, and who are you anyway?"

Yagura blinked and then fell sideways off the blonde, staring in disbelief up at the sky. 

"It's Yagura under a Henge," Utakata supplied. "I am under one as well."

"You, the one who set up Izumi and Itachi, didn't know what to do when you accidentally kissed a girl. Boy, you have got to be kidding. Please tell me you're kidding."

Naruto stared blankly. 

"Oh my freaking Kami, you're not joking!" Yagura cried. "Utakata, he's not joking! "

"No sugar honey iced tea Sherlock," Utakata replied sarcastically. "I congratulate you on your findings. How long did it take you to realize that?"

"Haha very funny," Yagura replied with just as much sarcasm.

"Alright you two, enough bantering. Honestly, you're just as bad as Naru and Ke," Ino sighed.

"I don't know if that's supposed to be an insult or compliment."

"It's obviously an insult, idiot!"

"Who are you calling idiot, idiot?"

"You, obviously! You're the only idiot around here! In fact, calling you an idiot is an insult to all other idiots in this world!" Utakata cried.

"Now that's taking it too far!" Yagura growled.

"Both of you shut up!" Hinata yelled, finally having enough. "We're here to help Naruto-kun understand whatever is happening, and you're not helping. If you two can't stop bickering like little children then you might as well go home! But if you actually want to help then I suggest you shut up and behave your age! You're both older than all of us at the moment, so act like it!"

Everyone was staring at her with open mouths and wide eyes. Since when did Hinata Hyuuga lose her temper?

"We'll stay," Yagura muttered.

"If you are then you have to apologize to each other," Hinata said firmly, hands on hips.

"Sorry," Yagura and Utakata grumbled to each other, avoiding eye contact. Hinata huffed at the reluctance and insincerity of the apology, if it could be called one, but let it go. 

Kiba had stars in his eyes as he exclaimed, "My girlfriend is so hot when she's mad!"

Hinata went red and hid behind Kiba. "S-Sorry, I guess I kind of lost it when they kept bickering like Naruto-kun wasn't the main reason we were here."

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry Hina-chan, they really did need someone to tell them off, ya know."

Yagura muttered something not-so-nice under his breath, but wisely chose not to make a scene.

"Anyway Ruto, sorry for carelessly racing Lee like that through the village," Sasuke apologized.

"Yes Naruto, sorry about that. And I'm sorry for pushing Fuu and made you guys uh, connect," Lee said sheepishly.

Naruto's eyebrows moved slightly at the wording. "It's alright, you two. You didn't mean it, right?"

"Uhhhhhhhmmmmm. . ." the Leaf Legion thought simultaneously.

"Ah. . . my youthful friend of course we did not mean it!" Lee cried at once. "It was uh, a chance happening!"

"Yeah, totally didn't mean it! Like Lee said, it was a chance happening!" Sasuke babbled nervously. "I mean, it could've happened to anyone! You must have really bad luck."

Naruto sweatdropped. "Um, okay? But anyways, you know how you guys gave up explaining this "love" concept to me a few months ago?"

"Oh Kami, that was a hellish day," Ino muttered to Sai.

"Do you have at least an inkling as to what it is?" Yagura pleaded.

"Is it what I'm feeling with Fuu?"

Yagura punched the sky, screaming, "YES! NARUTO FINALLY UNDERSTANDS! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER!"

Naruto sweatdropped. "Actually, I was just guessing. I don't actually understand what this type of "love" is."

Yagura immediately deflated and a cloud of sorrow hung over his head, raining heavily. Naruto laughed awkwardly as Utakata patted his friend's back, a mini version of the same cloud above his own head.

"I'm sorry!" Naruto whined. "But I honestly don't know, someone please explain this to me!"

"This is getting too depressing. . . my innocent cinnamon roll," Yagura sighed as he walked over to pat Naruto's head.

"Why am I being compared to Hinata's favourite food? For the second time today?" Naruto asked blankly.

"You will understand, hopefully by the end of the day," Utakata sighed as well as he moved beside Yagura and sat down on the ground, gesturing for the rest of the children to sit as well.

Once they were all in a circle, Hinata clasped her hands together and leaned forward.

"Now, what do you not understand, Naruto-kun?"

"Everything."

"Be a little more specific, please."

"Uhm, well I don't understand why I feel the way I do with Fuu. It's kind of like the desire to be her friend and then as soon as we're alone together I don't really know what to do, and I think I come off to be rather stand-offish."

Hinata giggled. "I can honestly imagine that now. You being stand-offish with a girl, I mean."

Naruto pouted but continued anyway. "And then I do things without realizing them, like putting a flower in Fuu's hair."

Ino immediately smirked at that. 'I knew it ~' she sang mentally.

"My dear, innocent Naru," the Yamanaka cooed, "we shall now teach you the ways of love, as you have already started progressing."

"Progressing. . .?" Naruto echoed in confusion. "How?"

"Baby steps, Naru, baby steps," Sakura reminded, smiling as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders. 

"Hai," Naruto sighed. 

He didn't really like being babied all the time, but what could he do? He was the youngest (minus Hinata, but she understood more things than he did) and he had two not-that-much-older siblings who always fussed over him, and the rest of girls from the legion (not always counting Tenten) were always fussing over him too.

"Now what do I need to know?"

"Dear child," Ino began, "when you felt the desire to become Fuu's close friend, what did you do?"

"I talked to her. . .?"

"Uh-huh, good. And how did you act today? How did she act?"

"She acted normal, I guess. I invited her to come with me on the errand since she was bored. She was very energetic and kept bouncing around a bit. And I already told you, I kind of acted a little stand-offish."

"A little?" Tenten snickered.

"I was quite stand-offish."

At the look the Weapon Mistress sent him, Naruto sighed and conceded, "Alright, maybe I was very stand-offish."

Tenten snorted. "That's better."

"Ignore her, Naru," Ino said breezily. "She'll be marrying into a clan full of stand-offish people the second they are old enough. To marry, I mean."

Tenten immediately went red as Neji choked on thin air.

"The heck Ino? Don't just say stuff like that out of the blue!" Neji cried indignantly.

"Your girlfriend was the one who brought it up," Ino said dismissively.

"I did not!" Tenten exclaimed.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata said, ignoring the three of them, "how did you feel when she was close to you? Did you have butterflies in your tummy? Were you feeling nervous?"

"Eh, not really," Naruto admitted. "I guess I just felt. . . detached. Emotionless."

"Odd," Ino commented as she sat back with a frown. "Most people who are in love won't feel emotionless or detached when they are around the people they are in love with."

"In love with?" Naruto echoed. "What do you mean?"

"What she means is, you're in love with Fuu. Everything you just told us points to the one sign that says "NARUTO UZUMAKI IS IN LOVE WITH FUU". You like her in a romantic way, and you want to, for lack of better terminology, spend the rest of your life with her," Yagura deadpanned.

"But I wanna spend the rest of my life with my siblings and friends," Naruto said blankly.

"Not that way," Yagura groaned. "You love your siblings and your friends, yes, but do you love them romantically? No, because that would be incest and to be blunt, gross." Yagura screwed his face up in a disgusted expression.

"Incest? What's that?"

"Basically two people who are too closely related to uh, have a relationship," Sakura inputted quickly, shooting Yagura a glare.

"S-Sorry," Yagura muttered. "But anyways, you love Fuu romantically. If you still do not understand, then ask Neji and Tenten!"

"Why us?" Neji and Tenten cried in unison.

"Because you're older than him and you're in a relationship with each other," everyone minus Naruto deadpanned at them.

Neji huffed as Tenten rolled her eyes.

"Okay, so I guess you could describe this sort of love like um, butterflies in your stomach," Tenten started. "It makes you feel warm and safe. You bounce between exhilaration, euphoria, increased energy, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, trembling, a racing heart and accelerated breathing."

"None of those," Naruto said flatly.

"Well then you are clearly abnormal, since we can all see you are in love with Fuu. In a subtle way, but in love nevertheless," Tenten retorted. "Honestly Naruto, I really don't get you sometimes."

"It is as clear as day that Naruto is in love, but he does not show any signs of being in love. Why? It is because he does not realize it," Shino stated.

Sasuke whined, Sakura sighed, Ino fell onto Sai's lap and Tenten buried her face in a griping Neji's shoulder. Kiba face-faulted as Hinata pinched the bridge of her nose while Lee muttered something about "my comrade shall see the youthful ways of love". Shikamaru muttered his trademark "troublesome", falling backwards to stare at the clouds as Choji sighed and opened up a new packet of chips. Yagura's eye twitched and Utakata shook his head.

Naruto merely cocked his head.

《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》  

At last, the blonde Uzuchiha finally asked the one question everyone was waiting for.

"I'm in love. . . with Fuu?"

"YES you, you. . . oblivious MORON!" the entire Leaf Legion, including the stoics as well as Yagura and Utakata screamed.

Naruto sweatdropped. "You guys didn't have to take it that far. . ."

"It took us five f---ing hours to make you understand, which involved a conversation which included us trying to make you understand the basic concept of love, another one on what a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship is, a third one explaining what you do and what you become and why you marry, and two very detailed explanations about making love! All of them being an hour long and each and every one of us being an example!" Neji griped, glaring at Naruto for making them all go through the humiliation.

When I say all, I mean all of them. 

Well, excluding Shino. He took great delight in all their humiliation, though, even if he didn't show it being the stoic Aburame he is.

Naruto smiled lopsidedly and then stood up and stretched, looking at the slightly darkening sky before walking towards the village centre, hands stuck lazily in his pockets.

"You know where to go?" Sasuke called without looking at his brother.

"Yeah, see ya."

"Why would he need to know where he's going? And where is he going?" Hinata asked curiously.

 Sasuke gave a small, lopsided smile. "He's going to Fuu."

The Leaf Legion smiled as they sat back and watched the sky darken. Their "little brother" (to some anyway) and leader (to all) had finally progressed on his journey to find love. They would crash, yes, but for now they would relish in the joy of finally getting through to the unbelievably dense jinchuuriki.

"We'd better get going, too," Yagura finally said, interrupting the peaceful silence. He got up quietly as Utakata followed his lead.

"Our work here is done," Utakata agreed, smiling at the children lying down on the grass.

"Now you all take good care of him, you hear?" Yagura demanded.

"Hai," they all answered, except for a lazy duckbutt. "You can count on us."

"Uchiha?"

Said Uchiha lifted his head slightly to smile reassuringly at the child-like Mizukage. "I won't let anything happen to him, and I'll be sure to make him completely understand love. Obviously he doesn't know all of it, but enough to make him realize he is in love. I am his brother, after all. It's my duty."

Yagura smiled. "Thank you, Uchi - Sasuke."

"No problem. Now you two better get going, you've wasted a day here," Sasuke urged. "I bet the paperwork stack will be towering by now."

Yagura paled and started to run but was jerked back by his collar by an amused Utakata.

"Not so fast, where do you think you're going Mizukage-sama? " the brunette joked as the Leaf Legion stifled chuckles, watching the taller shinobi wave goodbye as he dragged a kicking and yelling Yagura to the gates.

"So, when do we crash?" Sakura asked.

"Meh, leave 'em be," Kiba yawned, falling backwards with a whump. "I might take a nap. . ."

"I agree," Hinata said softly, laying down on her boyfriend's stomach. "It's been a long day, and explaining things to Naruto-kun is exhausting."

Looking at the young couple slowly fall asleep, the other children started feeling drowsy as well. Sai laid down on his side and Ino snuggled closer to him before both fell asleep. Neji stretched and stifled a yawn, and he laid down with Tenten's head on his chest, the latter already asleep. Sasuke and Sakura curled up in a C, both of them completing their mini circle. Shikamaru was already asleep, and his best friend followed shortly. Shino quietly laid down straight as Lee bounced up and then fell back down with a random spurt of energy, falling asleep the second his bowl-cut-styled head hit the grass.

Soon they were all lying down on the grass, sleep already enveloping them.

《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》  

Naruto's footsteps were barely heard, even with heightened senses. He had known immediately where the amber-eyed, green-haired jinchuuriki girl was, and wasted no time heading there the minute the thought came to him.

Naruto winced silently when he heard quiet sniffing, and knew that Fuu was crying. He was pleasantly surprised to see her sitting on the Fourth's head. His father, and the one he always sat on as a child, and even in this future.

Naruto mentally debated on how to approach the girl. He'd never been good with people when they were crying, and if his friends were right and he was in love with her, it would be an effort to not seem stand-offish. Honestly, he was starting to think his friends knew him better than he knew himself. Not that it was a particularly bad or ridiculous thing.

The blonde Uchiha rolled his eyes and thought, 'To hell with it, I'll just wing it like I normally do.' He took a few steps forward, quiet like he was a stealth mission, standing behind Fuu for a minute before speaking.

"You know, this is my favourite spot to think, too."

The green-haired jinchuuriki jumped and scrambled up, wiping furiously at her eyes as she did so. Fuu turned around quickly to see who was behind her, and her heart sank as she saw Naruto in all his cold, indifferent glory.

"S-Sorry for taking it up. . . I-I'll be going now."

Naruto sighed mentally as Fuu started walking, and debated once more whether or not to stop her or to wait for another day. Deciding it should be over and done with now, he twisted around and grabbed Fuu's wrist to stop her from leaving.

Fuu froze as she felt a hand grasp her wrist. There was only one person here apart from herself, and she was fairly sure Naruto didn't want to talk to her or even see her at that moment. After that kiss. . .

"Don't go just yet. I need to tell you something."

Fuu's heart sped up a little at the words spoken in a low monotone that was so different from the cheerful tone the blonde normally used. 

'He wants to talk. . .'

Fuu slowly turned around, and was surprised to find that even though Naruto knew she wasn't leaving, he still kept his hold around her wrist. His touch warmed her while the grasp worried her. Was it a bad or good thing he was trying to say? 

"Yes. . .?"

Naruto hesitated. "Uh, I don't really know how to say this, but the girls have been talking to me and -"

"Girls?" Fuu's heart plummeted to the centre of the earth. Was he trying to ask her for advice on how to court one of them?

"Ah, I mean Tenten, Ino, Hinata and Saki," Naruto said hurriedly when he saw her expression. "They were talking to me about a concept that I didn't really understand before."

"And you need help understanding it further?" Fuu guessed.

"Eh, not really. I mean, I don't fully understand it, but I kind of get the idea and I was thinking that oh look at that I'm babbling," Naruto groaned.

Fuu giggled. "What's the concept?"

"Uhm. . . love?" Naruto phrased it like a question instead of a statement.

Fuu's smile faltered but stayed on her face. "So are you in love with someone, then?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"And who is this lucky girl?"

Naruto chuckled at that statement. "She's always saying "lucky" when she introduces herself, you know. It's kind of like my Uzumaki verbal tic, only she doesn't say it that often."

'Great, so this girl has something in common with Naruto-kun already,' Fuu thought miserably. 'And where does that leave me? A friend? Or just a fellow jinchuuriki? '

"Hey, snap out of it Fuu," Chomei snapped. "You don't even know if he's talking about you! You say "lucky" when you introduce yourself!"

'I highly doubt it,' Fuu mumbled. 'I mean, I didn't exactly say it when I met him.'

"But you did in the former future, now get out and focus. Kurama's kit is getting worried."

"Hello? Fuu?" Naruto waved his hand in front of her face, blue eyes worried. "Anyone home?"

Fuu blinked rapidly. "Yes, Naruto-kun, I'm fine. So who is this girl? A Konohite born and raised?"

"Konohite. . .?"

"Just a word I made up for someone who lives in Konoha. You know, like meteorite?"

Naruto chuckled. "Good one. No, she's not a "Konohite", as you call it. She transferred here recently."

'Crap, is it that new girl that showed up today? ' Fuu thought immediately, confusing Utakata's henge for a girly look.

Chomei facepalmed at his host's ignorance. 'But to be fair, Utakata's henge did have rather long hair, and she didn't know it was Utakata,' he thought to himself.

'How does she not realize it's her? ' Naruto thought to himself as he saw her subtle, panicky look. 'She's the only girl who transferred here recently! '

"Maybe try a different tactic, Kit," Kurama suggested. "Ask her how to court a lady on how she would prefer it and then use it on her. If that backfires, then just blurt it out."

Naruto would've yelled at the fox for his last sentence, but chose to ignore it and make the mistake of taking the Bijuu's first piece of advice.

"So uh, yeah she transferred recently an uh, I kind of want to know what I should do to uh, you know, ask her out. What would you prefer?" he stumbled.

"W-Well why ask me?" Fuu stuttered out.

"Because the girls would tackle me to interrogate me on all the things I know and if they know her before starting a full-on background investigation on the poor girl, and I don't want that to happen," Naruto said, sweatdropping as he remembered what Sakura had threatened if he ever fell in love.

Fuu forced a light-hearted laugh. "That does seem like your overprotective sister."

Naruto flashed her a grin. "So, what would you suggest?"

"Um, maybe ask her out on say, a walk maybe and then take her to your favourite restaurant," Fuu said slowly, an image of her dream date with Naruto forming in her head. "And then when you're done eating, take her to your favourite place in the entire village and then. . . confess to her, I guess. At any rate, no matter what you do, I'm sure she'll say yes. Unless she's taken, that is," she joked.

Naruto laughed. "Sure, that sounds great." 

'Walk? Tick. Favourite restaurant? Unticked. . . meh, whatever. Take her to my favourite place in the entire village? Already there.'

"Have fun with your girl, Naruto-kun," Fuu said with a slightly sad undertone as she made her way to go.

"Hey, don't you wanna help?" Naruto asked.

Fuu's heart pounded against her ribcage. He wanted her to help him court another girl? One that she probably knew? The very idea was heartbreaking, couldn't he see that?! 

"No," she said in a low voice.

"What?"

"I said no!" Fuu turned around in a fast motion, her amber eyes filled with angry tears. "No, I do not want to help you!"

"Why? I mean -"

"It hurts, Naruto, it hurts!" she yelled. "Can't you see that I. . . ugh never mind. I just don't want to see you with another girl, okay?! It was bad enough trying to help you court another girl, but helping you do that is a different matter entirely!" 

Fuu turned around and wiped her eyes, whispering, "I know I can't make choices for you. . . but the least you could do is make it a little easier on me."

Naruto mentally kicked himself. He had taken it too far, and his "acting" was probably too realistic. Ke and Saki had often complained they didn't know when he making stuff up or telling the truth, because his composure was always the same. 

"I'm sorry," he said at last.

"Don't be," Fuu sniffed, angry with herself for breaking down and yelling at him.

"Could you at least tell me why it hurts?" Naruto asked tentatively. 

"It's nothing. . . it's stupid, really. Leave it alone."

"I don't like seeing one of my friends cry," Naruto insisted firmly.

Fuu winced. She'd just been friend-zoned, whether Naruto knew it or not.

 "I said leave it alone. Why don't you go get your girl. . . it's getting late. Most girls I know love it when they are taken out at sunset."

"Fuu," Naruto said in a warning tone. "Tell me what is wrong."

Something snapped inside of Fuu, and she spun around with fire blazing in her eyes. "Just leave it alone! Why can't you respect my wishes and do that?!"

Naruto didn't even seem fazed by her outburst, and that fuelled her anger more.

"Because I care about you," he said simply. 

And just like that, her anger sizzled away like a bucket of water had been dumped on top of it.

"Care about me?" she said bitterly. "If you cared about me, then you would've realized that it hurts for me to talk to you about courting another girl, it hurts for me to give you advice on it, and it hurts to see you with someone else."

Naruto frowned. This wasn't going like planned. . . but then again, when did Kurama's plans go exactly how it was meant to be?

"Hey!" an indignant fox cried out, but was ignored.

Naruto sighed. "You know Fuu, I care about you more than you know, and I'm sorry I didn't realize it hurt you to talk about this."

Fuu looked away.

"You know, tonight's not going the way I planned, though I'm sure it wasn't even going to in the very beginning after Ke and Lee did that stupid race."

'Does he regret kissing me? '

"I guess what I'm trying to say is. . . I love you, Fuu."

Time literally stopped as Fuu stared at Naruto's endlessly blue eyes that did not betray any emotions Naruto might be feeling.

'Cold and distant, like he always is,' Fuu thought wistfully. 'Was it just because he didn't know how to react to love? '

"Naruto-kun. . ."

"You don't actually have to say anything if you don't return the feeling, you know?" Naruto said with an arched eyebrow.

Fuu started giggling as a tear slipped out. This tear was a happy one. More of those happy tears started sliding down her cheeks, and soon Naruto was freaking out slightly.

"Sorry, did I say something again?" the blonde fretted, eyes darting around for his friends who weren't anywhere to be seen. "Did I offend you or something?"

Fuu nearly choked on her giggles at his ignorance. "No, Naruto-kun. And you know what? I love you too, Naruto-kun. I have for the longest time."

Naruto smiled, relieved. "You honestly scared me, you know. And for the record, no, I did not realize until now."

Fuu laughed as Naruto moved forward to envelope her in a hug. She fit perfectly with her head tucked right underneath Naruto's, as she was conveniently a head shorter than the blonde. Fuu had never felt more safe and warm in her life.

"Took you long enough, idiot," she laughed as she savoured the warm feeling of being embraced by her long-time crush. 

Naruto laughed as well. "Calling me names now, are we?"

Fuu was about to retort when she made the mistake of looking up. Her breath hitched when she saw endlessly blue eyes staring into her own amber ones. They were still apathetic and cold, but there was a flicker of tender affection this time.

Naruto gently pressed his lips to Fuu's forehead, the latter's eyes widening at the unexpected action.

'Ah, screw it,' Fuu thought as she tilted her head upwards even more.

Naruto's eyes widened slightly as his lips moved backwards slightly from Fuu's forehead and met the girl's lips not a second after. 

Fuu was slightly blushing as this was the well, not first first kiss, but a first kiss nevertheless. Hey, maybe it was their first kiss, since they were now officially a couple. They were one, right?

"Of course we are," Naruto chuckled in her mind, making her jump a little.

Suddenly there was a giant pop and the two broke apart quickly, looking at their surroundings as colourful streamers cascaded down on them, showering them with bright colours. Naruto laughed as he flicked an orange piece off Fuu's shoulder. Fuu giggled, amused by the sudden, small celebratory party as she looked up at the endless shower of colours.

"You guys go all out, don't you?" Naruto grinned, looking at his brother who held two party poppers in his hands, both of them already popped. His gaze travelled around and saw that the entirety of the Leaf Legion had popped their two party poppers at the same time, explaining the giant "pop" when they kissed.

"You know us," Sakura winked before gliding over, slipping her arm around Fuu's and leading her over to the girls who were waiting for the green-haired jinchuuriki.

"Congratulations, Naruto," Gaara's voice sounded through the blonde's head.

"Thanks Gaara! "

"Took you long enough to realize, idiot," Yagura teased.

"Shut up Yagura, be glad he even realized at all," Utakata groaned. "And get on with the paperwork! Stop using Naruto as an excuse to stop! And by the way, congratulations, Naruto. You've finally progressed."

"Um thanks, I guess? " 

"Finally," Yugito spoke through the Bijuu Telepathic Link. "I was wondering when you two would get together. It's common knowledge between the jinchuuriki and Bijuu, you know."

Naruto immediately flushed, and a quick glance at Fuu told him that his new girlfriend had been listening.

"Sorry if love is a hard concept to grasp," the blonde grumbled.

Yugito laughed. "I expect you two to be in Kumo soon and tell me about how much Naruto messed up, you hear me Fuu? "

"Hai," Fuu answered smilingly.

"Yugito~! " Naruto whined. "Stop it! "

"Stop what? Teasing you? "

"Peace, guys! " Roshi cried. "Let the boy have his moment, he finally grew up! "

"Thanks Old Man Roshi, but what do you mean by "finally grew up"? "

"Ah, never mind. Congratulations, Naruto! "

"Suspicious. . . but thanks."

"Great job Naruto," Sasuke grinned as he slapped his brother's shoulder playfully. "Although you did make such a mess out of it in the beginning."

Naruto held up two fingers. "Peace man, turn around, stick one up and put two down," he sang as he rotated his fingers backwards, put up a third finger, took down the first and third until his middle finger was all that was left.

Sasuke's eye twitched as he repeated the crude gesture.

"Alright you two, that's enough," Sai intervened. "Congratulations, Naruto."

"Thanks Sai," Naruto grinned, lowering his hand. 

The rest of the boys also offered their congratulations, which Naruto accepted with a sunny beam. After the spontaneous celebratory moment, Naruto looked out towards the view of the village. 

"You know, it seems so fitting that we're having a small celebratory moment on my father's head. . . it kind of feels like he's here, witnessing this moment, ya know?"

Sasuke smiled and slung an arm around his blonde brother. "They're always watching, Ruto. Including your mother. And I'm sure they're proud of you. Now we just have to face a very ecstatic Mom."

Naruto suddenly paled. "Aw crap, I'm gonna have to introduce her to the family, aren't I?"

Sasuke grimaced. "And then Dad is gonna ask me when I'm gonna get a girlfriend. Honestly Ruto, I half wish you hadn't realized you were in love yet! Would've spared me a lot of trouble."

"Troublesome," Shikamaru, Naruto and Sasuke both remarked at the same time. Shikamaru sent the Uchiha brothers a bored look as Sasuke and Naruto started chuckling.

"Well, whatever. We can always do it another day. Tonight is going to be a day for celebration and fun," Sasuke stated.

Naruto grinned. "I couldn't agree more. Hey, would Mom be mad if we postpone introducing my new girlfriend for say, three months?"

Sasuke laughed. "I bet she'd be pissed, but yeah, why not?"

Naruto laughed. "That'd be so like Mom. Hey, here's a thought. Maybe I'll introduce her when you get a girlfriend."

"Not likely," Sasuke snorted. "I have no interest nor do I have someone interested in me. I'll probably stay single until the rest of my life."

"Not if I have anything to do with it," Naruto stated, eyes twinkling.

"Oh brother," Sasuke groaned. But he was smiling.

Fuu shifted her eyes to watch the brotherly moment, a soft smile crossing her lips as her eyes softened at the sight of her beloved laughing and smiling freely. 

'I have real friends now. I am truly accepted here, and the love of my life is with me. Thank you Naruto, for giving me these joys of life. I am and will always be indebted to you. I love you from the bottom of my heart, Naruto Uzumaki.'