After that, I adopted Naruto and began raising him. I'd always walk him to school and when it wa time to pick him, I would always be there. Naruto would tell me about his day and how he needed help on his homework. Of course I would help him out. 

I even helped him study for test and quizzes, and he'd pass with a score of 100. 

While Naruto was at the academy, I'd walk around and do some shopping. As I was doing my errands, I'd hear the villagers whisper about me, about how I've been spending so much time around Naruto. 

I'd often hear things like, "What on earth is she thinking?" or "There has to be something wrong with her."

I honestly didn't care what the village has to say about me. They can spread as many rumors as they want. It won't bother me. I care about Naruto and I'm going to keep caring for him while being there for him every step of the way. 

But now that I think about it, ever since I adopted Naruto, not once has he called me 'Mom'.

We're family, aren't we? I mean, I want us to be family. Then again, I guess it's up to Naruto.

Today, I was waiting outside the academy for Naruto as I noticed many kids were with their parents, telling them how they passed the exams and became a ninja.

"I'm sure Naruto passed, too. I've been helping him study for this because he was so desperate to become a ninja." I said to myself. I looked around, studying each kid as I tried to look for Naruto. "Where is he?" I mumbled.

I waited for another few minutes and started to get worried.  I ran inside the academy to see if he was there, but he wasn't. "Where could he have gone?" I asked before running out of the academy. Worried, I began searching for Naruto.

I started off by going to his favorites places, hoping that I would find him there. I searched for about an hour and he was nowhere to be found. "This is bad. Naruto, where did you go?" I said as I panted with my hands on my knees. "Naruto!" I called, loudly. 

*****

The sun was descending quickly than I had hoped. I've searched high and low for Naruto and I couldn't find him anywhere. I even went back to the house to see if he was there, which he wasn't. I sat on the swing in the playground, feeling helpless and defeated. 

Did Naruto run away from the village? Did something happen at the academy that caused him to run away? "Naruto..." I whispered, tears filling the brim of my eyes. The sun had faded away as it welcomed the dark sky.

No! I can't give up now! I know Naruto is still here somewhere! I got off the swing and ran into the woods. The only place I hadn't looked yet. The woods.

When I got there, I heard the voices of Iruka and Mizuki. What the heck are they doing here? I ignored them and kept running. Naruto has to be here. He has to. 

"You are the Nine-Tailed Fox!" I froze in my place when I heard those words. "Oh, no..." I whispered in shock. "That's why you will never be accepted in this village! Even your beloved sensei hates your guts!" Mizuki yelled. 

I started running again until I spotted Mizuki, Iruka, and Naruto as he had a scroll strapped to his back. I gasped when I s Mizuki throw a giant shuriken towards him. "Die, Naruto!"

"No!" I yelled. I quickly ran towards Naruto and shielded him the weapon as I felt it pierce my back. "Haru!" Naruto and Iruka said at the same time. "Thank goodness, you're safe." I said, smiling at Naruto in relief. 

"Haru... Is it true? Is the Nine-Tailed Fox really inside me?" Naruto asked as he looked up at me. "Naruto..." I whispered. "Did you know about it?" He asked. 

My eyes softened as I debated to him. I didn't want to break his heart. "Haru, tell me. Please... Did you know?" Naruto repeated. "...Yes." I answered, hesitantly. His eyes widened at my answer. "But why? Why didn't you tell me?" He said.

"Naruto, I wanted to tell you. So many times, I did. But I couldn't bring myself to do so because I didn't want to hurt you. I wanted you to be happy. I saw how the villagers looked at you, how they treated you. No child should have to face a reality like that. That's what made you special to me. That's what made you important to me. I cared about you and I wanted to stay by your side. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Naruto." I apologized. 

Naruto stared at me with wide eyes before running off. "Naruto, come back! Naruto!" I called, reaching out to his running figure. I lowered my head as I closed my eyes tightly with tears leaving my eyes.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to keep the truth from you. I just... wanted to make you happy. Oh, Naruto... What have I done?" I whispered.

Naruto's POV

I can't believe her! She lied to me! This whole time! She was only pretending to like me! I was fooled! She's just like everyone else in this village!

I hate her!

Haru's POV

"Haru, listen! You have to go after Naruto!" Iruka yelled to me. "I can't..." I said, quietly, my hair covering my eyes.

"Naruto won't forgive me. He'll never forgive me. How could he? I've hidden the truth from him."

"Snap out of it Haru! You're the only one who can talk to Naruto!

"But-"

"You can do it, Haru! You care for him, don't you? Then, go after him! You're the one he needs right now! Now go!" Iruka yelled. 

Iruka's right. I can't give up! Not now!

I took the weapon out of my back and kicked off the ground, running after Naruto.

"Naruto! Naruto, where are you?" I called. "Naruto, please! I know you're out here! Please come out! It's okay!" I called. "You're such a stupid woman, Haru. You don't honestly care for that beast, do you?" Mizuki said as he approached me.

Where the hell did he come from? Oh, who am I kidding? He's a ninja. Of course he'd be able to catch up to me.

"Naruto is not a beast." I stated with a frown. "Heh. You always did have a soft spot for kids. What I can't believe is that you've grown to care for a monster like him. Oh, I get it. You think of him as if he's your own son, don't you?"

I frowned at him as it was the truth. Yes, I did think of Naruto as my own son. Even before I adopted him, I thought of him as my son. He was so innocent, so fragile. I only wanted to protect him from this harsh world that we live in.

"Hahaha! Oh, this is too hilarious! You actually like that that thing?! After he killed your parents?! I can't believe you!" Mizuki said. I lost my temper and punched him in the jaw. I must've hit him pretty hard because when he spit at the ground, he also spit out a tooth.

"You shut your mouth, Mizuki. Don't you ever... talk about Naruto that way. You know nothing about him," I said, coldly.

"True, the Nine-Tailed Fox might have killed my parents, but it wasn't Naruto's fault! He was just born, so you can't blame a baby for the attack! Naruto is not the monster here. He never was Right now, the monster I'm looking at is you, Mizuki. Yes, I may not be his real mother. But at least he has someone in his life to care for and take care of him. Even if we're not related by blood, Naruto... Naruto..." 

My hand balled into a tight fist, then looked at Mizuki straight in the eye. "Naruto is still my son!" I yelled at him. Mizuki stared at me with a bored look before laughing. "You were always so naïve, Haru. Nothing but a stupid woman!" He insulted.

"Sure, I may be stupid, naïve, and I may even have the mind of a child. But at least I have a heart. Unlike you and the rest of these people of the Leaf. All of you can drop dead for all I care." I said. 

Mizuki punched me in the jaw, making me fall to the ground. I glared up at him as he stood over me. "Here's an idea, Haru: Why don't you just die?!" He yelled, taking out a kunai knife. 

I gasped when Mizuki got kicked in the face by Naruto. "Naruto!" I said in shock. "Don't you ever talk about Haru like that. There's no way I'm going to let you hurt her." Naruto said. "Naruto..." I whispered. 

In the end, and I'm sure most of you have heard this already, Naruto beat up Mizuki, using Shadow Clones he learned from the scroll. 

"Naruto!" I ran over to him and fell to my knees, hugging him. "Oh, I'm so glad you're all right." I said, relieved. "Haru, is it true what you said back there? Do you really think of me as your son?" Naruto asked.

"Of course it's true! All of it!" I insisted as I broke the hug to look at him, my hands resting on his shoulders. "Naruto, I'm so sorry I kept the truth from you. I only wanted to protect you." I said with tears falling down my cheeks.

"It's okay, Haru. I forgive you. But..." Naruto trailed off as he looked at the ground. "What is it? You can tell me." I said as I held his hands. "Would it be okay... if I called you 'Mom'?" He asked. "Oh, Naruto," I hugged him again as my hand rested on the back of his head.

"I'd like that more than anything." I said. "Really?" Naruto asked. "Really." I confirmed. Naruto hugged me back as he started to cry. I hugged him tightly, wanting to stay like this with him forever.

'I'm right here, Naruto. I'll always be here. Now and forever, I will stay by your side.'